News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. View the night sky with high quality telescopes. SATURDAY, JULY 23rd OAK FLAT PICNIC GROUNDS We look forward to the peaceful dark skies of Oak Flat, the many and varied TAAS telescopes surrounding the observing field. Go nine miles south of Tijeras on #337 to the Oak Flat exit on the left; one mile more to the Oak Flat Picnic Grounds, turn left and follow the signs. Gates to parking and field access will open at 5:30pm and sunset is at 8:21pm--be sure to arrive early to get parked, set up scopes and talk with members and visitors. We have both the Juniper and Yucca areas available for parking ( restrooms are at Yucca only). There will be signs at the entrance to Oak Flat Picnic grounds indicating directions for parking and for telescope owners to access the field. Remember to bring water, bug spray, a chair and warm layers for the evening chill. We are planning for the opportunity to observe with the public and show them--and ourselves-- the wonders of New Mexico skies Full article and map on www.taas.org; taas@taas.org for questions Woman shot year after step-dad, cousins murders Step-daughter Stacy Gumbs, 28, believes since that incident, she and other family members would have been targeted by the criminals who murdered Mathews. On Friday, Gumbs almost met her death in a similar fashion when a gunman shot and wounded her near her home at Fazal Avenue, off Penal Rock Road, mere meters away from where her step-father was gunned down. Up to yesterday, Gumbs, remained warded at San Fernando General Hospital in a stable condition, having sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and shoulder. It was on December 13 when Matthews, also called Shortman and Sprainy, was shot dead after he had returned home from a parang lime at Lachoos Road. His relatives had told Newsday back then that Matthews had been threatened and wrongfully blamed for the death of Gumbs cousin, Roger Romain, 35, who lived next door. Romain was ambushed and gunned down in front of his home on May 17, last year. The latest incident in which Gumbs was shot on Friday, occurred shortly after 2 pm when the woman was driving her beige-coloured Mazda 323 car along Fazal Avenue. A police report stated the gunman emerged from the bushes and opened fire on the car. There was another occupant in Gumbs vehicle, Mario Meade, but fortunately he was not injured. The report stated Gumbs, after been shot, managed to continue driving the car but eventually crashed into KMS Barbershop on the corner of Fazal Avenue and Penal Rock Road. The gunman, police said, fled the scene on foot. The wounded woman, as well as Meade, were rushed to hospital. Meade was treated and discharged while Gumbs remained warded. Since Matthews killing last year, members of the Gumbs family have repeatedly called for police officers to conduct regular patrols in the area because of what they suspected there would be a reprisal killing. In the aftermath of Mathews killing, Gumbs had told Newsday last year: It was frightening when Roger was killed and now that Michael is killed, is real stress. When Sunday Newsday revisited Gumbs home yesterday, it appeared that no one there. A resident said he is not fearful of living in the area because crime is everywhere in the country and not just at Penal. Police were unable to confirm if last years killings were linked to Fridays shooting of Gumbs. No arrests have been made for the murders nor the latest shooting. Inspector Ramphal and Sgt Ramsingh of at the Penal CID are continuing investigations. Mans body fished out of Gulf Up to last evening, police were yet to positively identified the man, who is of East Indian descent and is believed to be in his 60s. A police report stated that shortly before 10 am yesterday, a fisherman saw the man in the water with his hands raised to the air. Minutes later, a group of fishermen went out in a boat and spotted the mans body floating. They pulled the man out of the water and into their boat and took him to shore. The man was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The man, who is medium built, was wearing a long blue track pants and a striped brown T-shirt. Persons with information regarding his identity are asked to contact the nearest police station. San Fernando Police are continuing investigations. The magic of a childrens camp Its nothing short of remarkable watching a group of 20-odd youngsters create a geological marvel in a matter of minutes in what would have taken centuries. Of course these arent real volcanoes. They are made out of bits of recycled newspaper, but that doesnt stop one little boy from asking whether it is safe to carry his model home. The children are gathered in Catherine Boodhoos recently renovated garage turned classroom for her daily summer camp which runs from Monday to Friday. A veteran secondary school teacher, Boodhoo has had over 16 years experience educating teenagers, but recently turned her attention to nurturing younger children, helping them to realise their full potential. Boodhoo describes the opportunity to help children as a blessing and despite challenges for adequate funding and location, she remains determined to enhance the overall development of children. Together with fellow teacher, Narace Ramdass and assistants, Afiya Pascall and Shania Ramroop, Boodhoo, has helped reach out to almost 30 children in the area through her camp project and has been credited with helping improve their literacy skills. It really is a calling. This initiative was really an innate desire as a teacher to help bring out the best in children at a time when children are exposed to so much negative criticism and it has been such a blessing to be able to bring this into reality. As a resident of Palmiste, I noticed that the need for educational standards to be lifted and for the pursuit of excellence in speech, deportment and other fundamental areas that would attest to the wealth of talent that resides within villages. Boodhoo explains her motivation comes from a desire to see an improvement in the quality of teaching young children are exposed to, citing that in her experience as a teacher, children entering the secondary school curriculum after the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination, do not perform as well as they did in Standard Five. I elected to teach the lower forms and was pleasantly surprised that the students were gifted in many areas and needed that special attention that is often taken for granted at the secondary level. I started to develop my skills in teaching and refine particular activities and lesson plans to adapt to younger children. This love for teaching and children developed into a deep passion for providing that right kind of environment to make a positive outcome on a wider scale. She says the objective of the camp is to help nurture and enhance the lives of all those enrolled under her, an objective she is determined to achieve. Needless to say teaching six-year-olds is more challenging than 16-yearolds yet it was a challenge I was willing to accept as mine, and the tutors who partnered with me, our growth and development were being reshaped by our involvement with the children. Today there are 26 little ones under Boodhoos care, each of them sporting broad smiles as they bade me a hearty welcome to their camp. Upon entering the classroom, the sense of warmth among the children is almost overwhelming, as older campers were seen helping their younger peers glue their newspaper volcanoes together. A little boy looks up entreatingly as an older camper shows him how to properly fold his volcano into shape, before long the younger camper plants a loud kiss on his helpers cheek, a look of surprise falls over her face before she bursts into laughter. Boodhoo explains that in addition to conventional academics, the children are taught the importance of proper social interaction and are encouraged to show care and affection to one another. Activities she says which help promote healthy growth and ingrains a deeper sense of respect for others. They are keen to show love, attention and often simulate the hugs and good positive words that all the tutors show. We have adopted the word beloved as our theme word and so each child is called beloved. Prayer is an essential start and finish of each day and the kids are allowed to pray on their own and lead prayer on a daily basis. Despite this only being the camps first year in operation, Boodhoo has already enjoyed modest success and growing popularity. However, she says her greatest success lies in the improvements she has made with the children she interacts with on a daily basis, several of whom have either experienced some form of trauma in their lives or are suffering from learning disabilities such as autism and dyslexia, which would have placed them at a disadvantage in a traditional classroom setting where individual attention and where individual attention and specially crafted lesson plans are largely absent. Children who have been exposed to traumatic circumstances as well as those who may not ever undergo training to correct learning disabilities, have now been exposed to methods in teaching and a social environment that would allow them to read, write and think positively. They interact with other students who are considered high achievers and together they cohabitate well and provide peer support that promotes healthy competition and camaraderie. With a group of approximately 25 five kids the atmosphere is energised and filled with dynamism. And the energy is definitely there, as the campers, some as young as five years, scuttle busily about the classroom, helping their peers and congratulating each other on their work, before they are shuttled outside to put their creations to work. Mixing a teaspoon of vinegar and sugar, Boodhoo and her assistants pour lava into the opening of each volcano. Its a priceless scene as nearly two dozen campers huddle together and look on in wide-eyed wonder as foamy red syrup begins to rise from the mouths of each volcano. Though the programme has enjoyed some success and is growing rapidly, Boodhoo says much of the camps operations are paid for out of her own pocket and insists that hers is not a money-making scheme. Renovating the garage into a classroom, equipped with air-conditioning and outdoor plumbing was expensive, it took about $10,000 overall, but it was worth it. I dont charge exorbitant fees like some other summer camps because this isnt something I aim to make money off of, thats not a part of my vision and I am happy to have found others like Afiya, Shania and Mr Ramdass who share in that vision of helping children. Getting the camp off the ground and establishing a name in the community has been hard work, she says, but the pay-off is in seeing each child believe in themselves. As the sun begins to set and the last of the campers are taken away by their parents, Boodhoo wastes little time and already begins drawing up tomorrows activity plan. Prof Deosarans call to duty He is willing to set aside a part of his hectic work schedule to visit all of the secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago as part of a crusade to empower the nations youth. The problems affecting many of the young people in the education system demands it, he insists. I am willing to go to every secondary school at the senior level, free of charge, and explain what it takes to be empowered and to overcome obstacles and create a more civil future, Deosaran said on Tuesday in an interview at his home in Champs Fleurs. He said, though, that Education Minister Anthony Garcia must sanction the initiative. Youth empowerment is the impetus behind Deosarans latest book, Inequality Crime & Education in Trinidad and Tobago: Removing The Masks. His dedication at the start of the publication supports this thrust. It reads: I wish for the dispossessed and socially disadvantaged that they develop the will to survive, to progress, to fight social injustice and inspire others. Launched in March at th Radisson Hotel, Port-of-Spain, the book explores the inequalities plaguing the education system and its relationship to crime, presenting scenarios which, research has shown, have fuelled the problems. Deosaran also offers solutions for minimising the problems over time. He said while the book has received a more than favourable response, there have been mounting calls from principals for it to be used as a resource tool in secondary schools. If this is so, the message of empowerment would become live and direct to students, particularly in schools that are not performing as they should, Deosaran contended. To this end, the former independent senator revealed that a private company has agreed to sponsor a donation of the book to some 100 secondary schools throughout the country. Following the launch, the criminologist told Sunday Newsday that he had initially sent copies of the book to former principal of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies Prof Clement Sankat who subsequently convened a panel discussion about the publication. Copies of the book, Deosaran said, have since been sent to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Education Minister Anthony Garcia, and Minister in the Ministry of Education Lovell Francis. Alluding to his proposed plan to visit secondary schools, Deosaran, who has written more than a dozen publications on crime, youth, education and the justice system, reasoned that there must be consensus from those in politics to drive public policy. These issues have political implications to move things forward, he said. In the meantime, Deosaran said young people, many of whom he believes have fallen prey to these setbacks, needed urgent attention. We have to relax the politics and include some more professionalism and consensus in dealing with crime and education, he said. There is too much undue animosity, suspicion and unnecessary divisions when we are faced with challenges of crime and education. Observing that the issue was a matter of public service, Deosaran said at least three academics (names withheld) have already expressed an interest in joining him in the initiative. It will be a missionary crusade for youth empowerment in Trinidad and Tobago, he said. Given the state of the country, Deosaran insisted that all professionals should accept the challenge to work beyond the call of duty. It cannot be business as usual, he said. We have to tame the rat race in the society and broaden our horizons. This week, Deosaran said, he plans to have the book lodged at several tertiary institutions, including the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTATT ), the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University o Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ). It will be available for lecturers and graduate students as well as at public libraries, he said. Specifically, Deosaran said Inequality Crime & Education in Trinidad and Tobago, highlights what he called the injuries and inequalities that have plagued the education system in the post-1970 era.. He noted the rapid expansion in schools construction, largely due to pressures from the population and an ensuing quick political response by the government of the day, gave rise to challenges in quality education. Deosaran, a former chairman of the Police Service Commission, said the book also attempted to recognise and measure these disadvantages and inequalities so as to sensitise the policy-makers about the urgency required to deal with them. He claimed several reviewers have pointed out that the situation had very deleterious consequences for young people when they either drop out, fail academic exams or remain chained to their disadvantaged position. This dilemma, Deosaran said, facilitates invariably youth crime, a psyche of poverty, teenage pregnancies, gang formation and drug abuse and trafficking. Deosaran observed that the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA ) examination - the key platform for enrolment in secondary school - remains a necessary evil, placing untold stress on both parents and students. He argued that while there was need for a competitive exam of some kind, the existing system reflected the fact that some schools, mostly denominational, have churned out better academic performers over the years. Deosaran also observed that certain groups of students, by virtue of social class, gender, ethnicity, parental background, place of residence, often do not enter the schools of their first or second choice - a phenomenon which results in premature frustration and a self-fulfilling prophecy that contributes to a static social stratification system. The 372-page book, Deosaran said, offers a ten-year strategic plan containing some 14 suggestions to move the system out of such doldrums in such a way that we will not weaken the strong and successful in order to strengthen what is relatively weak. One suggestion called for the provision of financial assistance for a select group of appropriately trained teachers to serve in schools that have been described as academically under- performing. They must be trained in adolescent psychology and especially for the boys, issues relating to risk-taking, he said. You cannot lock up every boy and teach them Mathematics or Language Arts. There must be parallel incentives. We are all different. Everybody cannot run the same race from the same point. However, he noted: Until such time, the SEA seems here to stay but there really needs to be an initiative to broaden the quality of education at all levels across the country. Deosaran said charter schools, privately- run educational institutions, also aggravated the dilemma of social inequality in education. In the publication, some attention also was paid to the Concordat, a long-standing, binding document between the various denominational groups to select 20 percent of the students entering their schools annually through the SEA exam.. The Concordat can only change through meaningful, sustained consultations with school boards. It cannot be done dictatorially or arbitrarily. It will lead to political upheaval without that consensus, he said. But the publication is not all gloom and doom: Deosaran also emphasised opportunities for youth empowerment by encouraging young people to overcome the social obstacles so as to lead better, more productive and civil lives. All we have to do is look at the prisons system to get a disturbing idea of the high number of young people under educated and dis-empowered, he told Sunday Newsday. Deosaran also noted that the colonial system, in which emphasis was placed on conventional academic subjects and traditional professions, has, for the most part, been transmitted to contemporary society. As such, vocational subjects do not have the glamorous outlook like the sciences or the arts. But the book shows how to cure this ailment So, does he ever feel that his publications and recommendations, over the years, have fallen on deaf ears? Deosaran said although a lot of professionals do feel that their policy-oriented research do not get the kind of official accommodation such work deserve, he has had mixed fortunes in that respect. He recalled that the Ministry of Education, under former minister Hazel Manning, had accepted several of the reports to promote a culture of peace for schools in the country. I had done research with over 60 secondary schools, principals and parents to produce recommendations and one of the fortunate things that came out of that was the introduction of school safety officers, he noted. Deosaran said, however, that there were several reports on juvenile delinquency which still remain to be considered. I am still counting my blessings in that regard, he said. Deosaran said he was hopeful, though, that some good will come of his latest publication. The power of the Abacus Research has shown that when in use, the simple rectangular bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires stimulates the brain and its the reason in 2011, educators Roger and Roma Seebaran introduced the Universal Concepts of Mental Arithmetic Systems (UCMAS) to Trinidad and Tobago. Roger is the local franchise holder and managing director of the local chapter with seven established UCMAS centres across the country where children between the ages of four and 13 are being taught the art of performing mental calculations quickly and accurately without the use of any electronic tools. UCMAS has its origins in Malaysia and was founded by Malaysian professor, Dinnoh Wong; to date the UCMAS programme is in 57 countries and growing. Trinidad and Tobago was the 41st country to join. Roger explains he and Roma, his wife, became interested after reading about it in a foreign newspaper. In 2010 we were introduced to a classroom that was doing the UCMAS and we were asked to select any of the kids to perform the calculation, they performed all the calculations and that had us fascinated. We asked for scientific proof of the programme and the statistics where the child was actually accelerating and we saw it, he says. The Seebarans were immediately sold on the concept and felt they had to bring it home and so set about purchasing the local franchise and to date has not regretted the move. Roger says he has seen tremendous growth and success following the introduction of the programme. Hundreds of youngsters have enrolled at the UCMAS centres which are located in Philippine, Point Fortin, Preysal, Chaguanas, Portof- Spain, Trincity and Sangre Grande. His students are among the top performers at Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examinations. In 2013, he tested the international waters with his son Sean at a UCMAS competition at the headquarters in Malaysia and out of 8,000 competitors, Sean placed third. He is now a form six student at Naparima College. The brain of any individual especially the kids is limitless, observes Roger. It is like elastic, you keep on stretching it. Last year, at the local leg of the Trinidad and Tobago National Mental Arithmetic competition held at Naparima College, San Fernando, Ryan Tullah, of Balmain Hindu School and Aaron Mohammed of San Fernando TML Primary School, placed first and second respectively. They were only two years in the programme, he boasted of UCMASs three and a half year programme. According to Roger, the UCMAS mental mathematics education program builds the ability to solve mathematical problems in record time by visualising the Abacus. He went on to explain: This programme stimulates both the right and left sides of the brain. While the left side is used for logical calculation, the right side is working to visualise the calculation, therefore the brain is trained to become more flexible and effective. It trains the students to use the left hemisphere (logical side) to manipulate the virtual Abacus (image) on the right hemispheres (abstract side). The training will also lead to the development of the right brain as learners would be using their right brain to create an image memory while performing the calculations mentally, Roger adds. The use of the Abacus not only fosters and strengthens the brain functions, it promotes confidence in calculation, leads to greater mental capacity including mental endurance and how to summarise. He explains mental arithmetic training will help any child to retain knowledge better and become proficient in any subject especially mathematics. On September 24, over 400 UCMAS students are expected to participate in the annual Trinidad and Tobago National Mental Arithmetic Competition to be held at Naparima College. But even as they prepare for that, there is a much bigger event to look forward to as 12 students will be heading to Dubai in November to participate in an international UCMAS competition. Roger is seeking corporate sponsorship for the trip which he said will see each competitor accompanied by a parent/guardian and the cost is $35,000 per parent/ child. We are confident we will do well, Roger declares. He had this message for the adults. It is important to cultivate the proper thinking habit and skills of the children in order to help them in their future development, Roger tells Sunday Newsday. Looking at all the achievements, we may find that all are based on the fact that mathematical principle is the mother of all sciences, and mathematics is the root of all mathematical principles. In order to have a strong nation, we must first have strong people and to have strong people they must be properly educated BAIL SYSTEM UNFAIR TO THE POOR The former President of the Law Association and long-standing member of the Police Service Commission also welcomed the expiry of the anti-gang laws and end of strict laws stipulating no bail in relation to firearms possession, saying it had not been demonstrated that the laws were effective. Instead, he said, these laws were dangerous and easily subject to abuse. Jairam cautioned the State on overcrowding in prisons, saying inhumane conditions on remand simply serve to radicalise accused persons and breed criminal violence. The Law Reform Commission member also endorsed proposals for accused persons to be given own bail, and for the revival of long-discussed plans for the use of electronic tagging or ankle bracelets. He further said the State should consider the establishment of bondsmen or bond dealers who would operate on a contractual basis. Jairams comments came in the wake of Fridays disclosure by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi that about 700 persons have invoked their rights to apply for bail and secured it, yet still remain in prison simply because they are unable to satisfy bail conditions. Under the Constitution there is the presumption of innocence, Jairam said. And we must also remember the principle that he who alleges must prove. So when the court adjudicates that the person is entitled to bail but you are from a family that cannot afford it or you dont have any close relatives who will be able to post bail, it is unfair and that is clogging up the system. We need to look at the system. The senior counsel continued, Very often when a lot of these persons cannot secure bail, it is because they or their family often do not have the property or money. We need to do something more to revolutionise the system. Bail is intended to ensure the person that is charged returns on the adjourned date. Of the bail and anti-gang laws which expire on August 15, Jairam said this may not necessarily be a bad thing. I dont know that the anti-gang legislation had the desired effect it was meant to have, the senior counsel said. How many were convicted? Maybe one or maybe none at all. Are law enforcement officials using these powers effectively? You lock up a person and then what? Something is very wrong. Jairam continued, It may not be a bad thing that the law has expired, so that we rethink this whole concept of bail. If the laws were extended, we would simply go on all honky dory and that would just overcrowd the system. We need to reset the whole concept of bail. The Law Association under two successive administrations has opposed the extension of bail and anti-gang legislation. The provisions include measures which automatically deny bail to an accused person who may have possessed a firearm or imitation firearm and criminalises gang activity. However, the application of these laws have been controversial. For example, at least one minor was jailed by a magistrate for a stunt involving a toy gun, and in 2011 the State was criticised for the mass invocation of the anti-gang measures during a state of emergency. Most of these gang cases were discontinued by State prosecutors citing lack of evidence. Jairam called on the Government and Opposition to work to reset the system. There are number of things we can do but the political will must be there, the senior counsel said. I think the Government can pass legislation but it may require a special majority in Parliament and the Opposition ought to collaborate and cooperate on this issue. Crime affects all of us. We cannot be divisive about crime. There has to be a new procedure. Of electronic tagging, Jairam said, Perhaps we need to introduce ankle bracelets and own bail. This will ease up the prisons. We have to take a holistic view. You cannot cut off people from their family. You have to allow them to keep in contact. He further suggested a system involving the use of probation officers. If someone says they cannot satisfy the bail conditions, maybe a probation officer does a check to verify this, the lawyer said. The magistrate can say okay we will give you bail but you have to carry a bracelet and report to a police station, your movements are restricted: you are not to go to San Fernando something like that could work rather than keeping the person in jail just because they cant post the bail. He further suggested bondsmen could be deployed, similar to systems in place in some US states and the Philippines. Said Jairam, Why cant we have bail bondsmen like in America? He takes your bail and if you abscond, he will hunt you down. The current system is a colonial-imposed system. We need to think out of the box now. Crime has gone haywire. We have to think of novel ways of dealing with it. The senior counsel warned the overcrowded prison system may simply be making things worse. Why are we remanding prisoners every ten days? he said. These little things make a difference. The overcrowding is bad. We need to treat people humanely. The inhumane conditions are radicalising prisoners. It breeds contempt and violence. Children are too fat He was speaking at the 25th Annual Diabetes Symposium hosted by the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT) in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine and held at UWI Faculty of Engineering. Deyalsingh, who on Friday reported that he was hospitalised due to dengue, said he was supposed to be in a bed resting and it is his also his anniversary and instructed those in attendance not to tell his doctor or his wife that he was there. He stressed he was not there because it is his duty but because non-communicable diseases is his passion and the issue of childhood obesity is very dear to me. He reported that from 2000- 2010 rates of childhood obesity increased by 100 percent. Now that is a frightening statistic, he added. He continued: If that does not scare the country into action nothing will. He said DATT and other associations can do what they can but without a national non-communicable diseases policy their work will not bear the fruit as they would like. Deyalsingh stressed that chronic obesity is not a medical problem but a social and societal problem and the solution is not pharmaceuticals and building more hospitals to chop off more legs. He also said while people suggest the Health Ministry should target children in schools the true target should be in utero and in the womb. He reported statistics from scientific researcher Professor Surujpal Teelucksingh that less than one percent of mothers have HIV, and mother to child transmission had almost been eliminated, 100 per cent of mothers are tested, and though less than five per cent of mothers have a sexually transmitted disease, 100 per cent of mothers are tested. He said for diabetes it is estimated in Trinidad that 15 per cent of mothers are diabetic and will develop gestational diabetes and could produce an overweight baby. He explained that these 10 to 12 pound babies contribute to maternal deaths and there is a chance the baby will be diabetic. He said the plan is to have a national testing policy for diabetes in pregnant women. He reported this is part of the NCD policy which they hope to roll out in a couple weeks and is currently before Cabinet for approval this week. Deyalsingh said part of the conversation he would like to lead, once he and the ministry have the NCD policy approved, is to get children to absorb the information that is out there. He stressed that without information obesity cannot be managed. He reported some of the issues are that mothers are no longer breastfeeding, are eating wrong things and have no physical activity. Symposium chair Andrew Dhanoo, in his remarks, said it was the first time in a long time that a Minister of Health attended one of their functions and he pointed out that Deyalsingh himself is at risk of developing diabetes. He also said for the first time in human history children might die before parents due to NCDs. He reported that in a study of primary schools in South Trinidad, one third of the children were either overweight or obese, and he extended this to all primary schools in the country. And these children, if we dont make steps and make strides forward, soon they going to become overweight and obese adults and become diabetic and have a greater burden on the healthcare system, he said. Dhanoo stressed adults need to work with the children. Karim wants trade school to help youths Speaking in the wake of last Sundays brazen killing of reputed gang leader and businessman Selwyn Robocop Alexis and two other men in Enterprise, Karim called on members of the business community in the region to support him with the venture. I am calling upon the business community to join with me in establishing a trade school and homework centre in the Enterprise area so that we may address the drop-outs among our young people and the older ones who would like to re-skill and re-tool themselves, thereby making them more marketable for various jobs, he told Sunday Newsday whilst touring a project at Montrose Government Primary School. Karim said he had already written letters to the Ansa Mc AL conglomerate, which operates the ABEL Block Factory and Ansa Mc Al Motors, seeking assistance in this regard. When you go through Enterprise, there are many young people who are just liming on the blocks or are on the streets and it would be easier to provide a facility in Enterprise for residents to access programmes as opposed to having them commute to areas outside of the area, he said. Karim, who served as tertiary education minister in the former Peoples Partnership administration, also called on the Youth Training & Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP ) to consider increasing the availability of community-based programmes for residents of Enterprise and other parts of the country. It is my view and that of many others, that the significant problems we face today cannot be solved with the same level of thinking such as when they were first created and identified, he said. Karim said he also was deeply concerned about the growing number of single-parent families in the constituency and the burdens being placed on mothers. He suggested that food cards be re-implemented as an interim measure for those who are unemployed and unable to maintain their families while they improve their marketability and move away from the dependency syndrome. Saying he was very concerned about the loss of lives to crime and violence and its impact on families and communities, Karim repeated his call for the implementation of a police post in Enterprise but also appealed for the construction of a full-fledged police station, in the long term. This will be easily accessible to all residents who may require its services as opposed to leaving to travel to Chaguanas at the divisional headquarters, the police post in Longdenville or the Cunupia Police Station, he said. It will also present the opportunity for the protective services to rapidly respond to any requests from the area as opposed to having mobile patrols from neighbouring police stations. Heavy fighting erupted in Malis restive north between the Tuaregs of the Coordination of movements of Azawad (CMA) and the pro-government militias of the the Platform Movement causing dozen deaths and casting doubt on the viability of the fragile peace deal. The clashes, which took place on July 21-22, broke out in the town of Kidal with heavy weapons, including mortars, the UN Mission in Mali said in a statement. At least 20 people were killed and 40 others wounded in two days of fighting in Malis north along the borders with Algeria putting the shaky peace deal under strain. The renewed violence highlights the increasing fragility of the deal signed a year ago between the government in the southern capital Bamako and the two armed groups. The deal was meant to end a decade-long cycle of armed violence. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, along with the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, condemned the recent clashes in Kidal between the two armed groups and deplored the fact that the fighting endangered the civilian population. Moroccos main tourist cities of Marrakech and Agadir saw French tourists reservation drop significantly in the aftermath of the Nice terrorist attack which left 84 dead on July 14. According to figures released by the French Travel Agencies Union, reservations by French tourists fell by 38% in Marrakech and Agadir since the attack took place, as fear of foreign travel is becoming more and more prevalent, Moroccan daily Al Khabar reported. A similar drop of about 30% in French tourist arrivals was registered in the summer of 2015 for reasons similar to the fallout of the Nice attack. To reduce its dependency on European tourists, Morocco is launching a charm offensive to attract more tourists from promising markets such as Brazil, China and Russia. Despite its political stability, strong tourism infrastructure and diversified offer, Morocco continues to bear the brunt of the instability plaguing the region. The volatile political and security conditions in the wider region are making it harder for Morocco to reach the goal of receiving 20 million tourists by 2020. The Tourism Ministry expects the number of tourist arrivals in Morocco this year to stand at 10.4 million. The United States expressed support to Moroccos decision to reintegrate the African Union (AU) saying this reintegration will benefit the whole of Africa. We welcome Moroccos request to reintegrate the African Union, said Assistant Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, who was last week in Morocco, part of a Maghreb tour that also included Tunisia and Algeria. In a first response by the US administration to Moroccos move to get its seat back in the African Union, the Assistant secretary of State said this is a very important step. The fact that Moroccos voice is heard within the African Union council is a very good thing and the model represented by Morocco, a strategic partner of the United States within this grouping, is also a very good thing, said Tony Blinken in a statement to the media in Rabat on Friday. The US official said he was confident that Washingtons partnership with Rabat in Africa will be further strengthened in matters of security and economy. Besides the majority of African States that welcomed Moroccos move to reintegrate the pan-African organization, France also hailed the Kingdoms return to the AU, saying this decision constitutes an important contribution to the growing integration of the African continent and that France encourages such integration. A united Africa is indeed a factor of peace, stability and development for the continent and the rest of the world, said Spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, Romain Nadal, at a press briefing. Last Sunday, July 17, Morocco officially requested to regain the African Union after 32 years of an empty seat policy within the pan-African organization. Today, Morocco wishes resolutely and unequivocally to regain its place within its institutional family and to continue to live up to its responsibilities, with even more resolve and enthusiasm, King Mohammed VI said in a message addressed to the 27th summit of the African Union that was held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. Our friends have long been asking us to return among them so that Morocco may take its natural place within its institutional family. That time has now come, the Sovereign underlined in his message. The following day, 28 AU member states addressed to the AU Chairmanship a motion welcoming Moroccos decision and pledging to work so that this legitimate return be effective as soon as possible. The 28 signatories of the motion also promised to act for the immediate suspension of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from the activities of the African Union and all its bodies, to enable the AU to play a constructive role and contribute positively to UN efforts for a final settlement to the regional dispute over the Sahara. Several African countries, which did not sign the motion, later on voiced backing to Moroccos return to the African fold. These include Egypt, Madagascar, and Rwanda. Likewise, many NGOs, including the Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization (AAPSO,) hailed Moroccos decision to reintegrate the AU as smart and wise and deemed this return as natural and logical, given the Kingdoms leadership role in the continent. Afghan protesters from Hazara minority stand at the blast side after suicide attack in Kabul. Photo: Anadolu Agency/2016 Anadolu Agency Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, was the scene of horrific carnage after explosions rocked a peaceful protest and left at least 80 dead and more than 230 wounded. ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre, allegedly carried out by suicide bombers who blew themselves up. It was the deadliest attack in Kabul since December 2001. The attack specifically targeted the Hazaras, a Shia minority in Afghanistan and a group thats faced discrimination in that country. Hazaras had gathered to protest and demand that an electrical power line that was being constructed pass through Bamiyan Province, which has a large Hazara population and desperately needs the infrastructure. An Afghan protester stands near the bodies of victims at the blast site. Photo: WAKIL KOHSAR/This content is subject to copyright. A report on Amaq News Agency, ISISs media outlet, claimed responsibility for the attack, and said two fighters blew themselves up. Afghan investigators believe three people tried to detonate suicide vests: One succeeded in blowing himself up, another was shot by police, and one suspects vest malfunctioned and did not go off. That assailant is believed to be at large, reports the New York Times. ISIS, which follows an extremist version of Sunnism, considers the Hazaras, as Shiites, its enemy. The Islamic State has waged attacks in Afghanistan, but theyve been concentrated in the eastern provinces, where the militants are battling with Taliban fighters for territory and clashing with government forces (and U.S. troops). ISIS had never succeeded in attacking Afghanistans capital city until now. the first trailer is better, but im so excited i hope this is a fun movie Reply Thread Link lol i love this emoji Edited at 2016-07-23 11:55 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I'm a huge HP fan, like I used to annoy people with how obsessed I was with it. But I'm not even a little bit excited for this. Reply Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I'll go see it though, but I find that this is just going to be ... blah Reply Parent Thread Link Same. We got three copies of HP and the Cursed Child delivered to the library yesterday and old me would have been like OMG YASSSSS. Now I'm just opening the box to see if there are other books I need to process. Reply Parent Thread Link same Reply Parent Thread Link I'm the complete opposite lol. I've never been a fan, but I really want to see this. Probably because I have a soft spot for Eddie Redmayne (I still think he's weird looking though) Reply Parent Thread Link I think Eddie looks at home in this film. Like, he always wanted to do Harry Potter and to see him in this makes his excitement come across genuine. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link He seems the best thing about this movie. And while he's annoying and ugly, the camera loves him. Reply Parent Thread Link yup Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I'm like "honestly, who could care." about this. If you do, cool, it's just ecch, hate the time period. Reply Parent Thread Link seriously i'm flaccid Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I'm gonna see it opening weekend but not like, the first showing the theater has to offer. Reply Parent Thread Link Right like why is this so beige and boring?? When this movie was announced I thought it'd be about Newt's adventures the world over, discovering and documenting magical creatures. They should have just called this Fantastic Beasts: Lost in New York. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ia though that's how I feel about pretty much everything post-Deathly Hallows. Love the original 7 books, not really interested in all this new stuff outside of them Reply Parent Thread Link I was (am?) a huge HP fan and I am not excited either :-/ To me it seems like The Hobbit vs. The Lord of the Rings (books); One is simpler and is written for children (Hobbit), and the other is an entire world written for adults (LoTR). This seems more like it's for children, and just feels like it's all been done before. That being said, it looks very pretty and I definitely want to see it once it's on DVD. Reply Parent Thread Link That song still gets me. Reply Thread Link I'M GONNA BE 80 YEARS OLD AND STILL TALKING ABOUT HOW THE HP THEME SONG GETS ME Reply Parent Thread Link i think it looks fun! thats all i really want. i know its not going to be another hp but since i didn't love the hp movies, i hope i at least love this since i cant read the book version Reply Thread Link Here's why @carmenejogo insisted her #FantasticBeasts character was left-handed: https://t.co/FbnhyHODul pic.twitter.com/EarL2SAz5F Pottermore (@pottermore) July 12, 2016 i guess the head of magical state is an inconsequential role i guess the head of magical state is an inconsequential role Reply Parent Thread Link how long is her screen time? are token supporting role castings in a sea full of white actors "progressive" to you? asking for a friend Reply Parent Thread Expand Link A high rank in universe doesn't necessarily mean she has a meaty role in the movie or even a strong influence on the plot... have you ever read a work of fiction before ? Edited at 2016-07-24 12:04 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Lmao, why people always do this? PoC rightfully criticize a movie and a Stan comes and shows a clip where a poc is shown like for 0,2 seconds like if that matters, but I forgot that poc have to be thankful for the crumbs they get. Reply Parent Thread Link I love movies that have magic in a different time period (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell etc). Is Colin the bad guy? To see him in a fantasy film like this is nice. Hope he had a lot of fun on this film - I know I would dressed in those costumes and waving around wands. Slightly OT: I went to Wizarding World in Orlando and I finally purchased a robe! :) So proud. Hufflepuff pride forever. Reply Thread Link Did you get a scarf too?! Reply Parent Thread Link colin said his character is a good guy, but just kinda by the books hardass so it comes across that way Reply Parent Thread Link Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is so perfect (the book) Reply Parent Thread Link IDGAF. I'm here for this, tbh. Even if the storyline is a steaming pile of shit, I'll just gawk at the gorgeous vintage outfits / 1920s scenery. Reply Thread Link idgaf i am 10 again and I am excited for this movie. November can't come fast enough and that song lord gets me excited too! Reply Thread Link This looks good and like something I'd enjoy even as a standalone, but it's lacking the magic of HP, even with that music at the end. It just seems a little too blockbuster, when I was hoping for more zaney adventures. Also, what was that scene where it looked like the woman was getting dressed or something? I hope I misinterpreted that, cause that's just unnecessary. I like that they had POC in magical species, not just white goblins. Reminds me of the LoTR criticisms. Overall, excited to see this when it comes out. Reply Thread Link i wanna see this but i want to read the book first. Reply Thread Link the book is basically a textbook/field guide, there's not any story in it. JK wrote the script as an original story. Reply Parent Thread Link ohhhhh lmao good to know. Reply Parent Thread Link Huh. Is Colin Farrell supposed to be a good character? I couldn't tell if he was fighting Eddie Redmayne in some of those shots. I'm just really not excited for this tbh. Like I'm sure I'll go and see it, but I can't even begin to imagine how they're going to make this a trilogy... Reply Thread Link omg this is going to be a trilogy? will they stretch out the story of the book like jackson did with the hobbit? Reply Parent Thread Link it's not just one story, it's an entire series though Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I wouldn't even call it a "book," haha, it was like a forty-page pamphlet on different magical creatures. There was no story. =/ At least The Hobbit I think had a valid reason for being three movies, even if the finished products were less than what I'd hoped for. But I have no idea how they're going to justify this. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i mean i'll watch it but only bc it's slightly related to the HP universe. Reply Thread Link i think she looks pretty (not the clothes tho) Reply Thread Link It's so cool that she's so close to her gal-pal-cousin <3<3 That would be a pretty dress if it didn't have those weird arm warmers. I really like the bottom part. Reply Thread Link where did this 'girl- cousin' joke come from? Reply Thread Link Sailor Moon. In the Japanese version there was a lesbian couple, but in the American version they were changed to "cousins." Reply Parent Thread Link ugh ngl I'm bummed Cafe Society is being successful, I'd just want Allen to go away. Reply Thread Link He's only going to go away when he dies and even then he's so thoroughly venerated by so many filmmakers he'll pretty stick around forever as an influencer. :/ Reply Parent Thread Link yeah, that pisses me off. I've commented on some posts about him (and polanski) on facebook from media/news websites and such, and usually get angry replies or 'Zzzzzz', I'm just like really? That's your best clapback? But I stopped because I got tired of getting stupid messages on my inbox. Reply Parent Thread Link It depends on what your definition of successful is. Yes, the critics liked it, but so far the box office is so-so. It cost $30 million, and in two weeks it's made just over a million. It may make up its production budget, but the jury is still out as far as it being profitable. Technically it should at least double that before it shows a profit. Reply Parent Thread Link i'm honestly baffled? the trailers make the script seem like something out of freshman screenwriting 101. it's AWFUL. Reply Parent Thread Link Cafe Society looks so basic. Reply Thread Link "My style is a little edgy and different ... Its boring if I look like everyone else." lmao isn't she always dressed exactly like all her friends in candids? Reply Thread Link Kristen Stewart is the poster child of, 'I'M NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS' Reply Parent Thread Link her normal clothes are literally always jeans and a t-shirt lmao if she's talking about the red carpet...ok I guess her style is 'different' Reply Parent Thread Link I guess she doesn't think it's boring to copy her previous girlfriend for her red carpet looks, tho. So many single white female vibes going on, but she's never been known for her originality in anything. Soko didn't let her get away with her cheating, either. She made a sad post on her IG about how she "hates cheaters," and followed it up with a long rant about how when she finds "the one," it will be someone who knows how to be faithful, kind, honest and real, lol Basic jeans and tees are all she ever wears in real life, she's always looked like one of the crowd.I guess she doesn't think it's boring to copy her previous girlfriend for her red carpet looks, tho. So many single white female vibes going on, but she's never been known for her originality in anything. Soko didn't let her get away with her cheating, either. She made a sad post on her IG about how she "hates cheaters," and followed it up with a long rant about how when she finds "the one," it will be someone who knows how to be faithful, kind, honest and real, lol Reply Parent Thread Link Why haven't there been posts about this?! Omg ontd would love it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I really like the length of her hair. That dress is also (almost) pretty. Wait, there's nothing pretty about that dress. Edited at 2016-07-24 10:13 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link I saw her in a commercial for the army when I went to the movies on Friday. Reply Thread Link that dress would look awesome on me! want. Reply Thread Link the logos on that dress, jfc Reply Thread Link lolol I just noticed those. I change my mind. I don't like the dress. Is it outlined by a planchette? Reply Parent Thread Link that's chanel for ya Reply Parent Thread Link the dress is horrible Reply Parent Thread Link I was thinking of her movie Speak recently for some reason. so messed up. Reply Thread Link She was so good in that. Reply Parent Thread Link i don't like Jimmy Fallon but I do like twister, so I'm giving the clip a shot Reply Thread Link lol mte Reply Parent Thread Link That's the most Kristen Stewart thing she's ever said. Reply Parent Thread Link wow she is way too in her head while she talks. it's kinda sad to me lol. she's clearly overthinking everything she says thinking of how it could be perceived. Reply Thread Link I am a girl and I am going out with a girl and we don't touch in public. Sometimes I really want to simply hold her hand but I am always terrified anyone who knows me could see it. It's been the worst part of the relationship, to pretend we are just friends. Reply Thread Link Recently, a group of oil companies led by Chevron announced a $36.8 billion investment deal for the development of Kazakhstans Tengiz oil field. The sizable new investment is virtually unprecedented in the prevailing low-priced oil economy. For Astana, only a small number of major projects have been cemented in recent years and this is the largest of the year so far. As ambitious and daring as this investment is for oil companies, it also brings a great deal of risk and opportunity for Kazakhstan. Increased production and exportation will influence relations with its powerful neighbors, and in turn become a key component of the developing trans-Asiatic trade environment. Astana has increased its oil output annually over the last 3 decades, increasing from 59.5 to 81.8 million tons per year between 2004 and 2014 alone. This increase is a part of Kazakhstans plan to reach 130 million tons per year by 2020, though infrastructural issues have slowed growth. Kazakhstan and the oil economy In 2014 Kazakhstan was the worlds 15th largest producer of oil, and this years investment will bring it substantially closer to the top 10. The country will continue to become a more important source of global oil, as its proven reserves totaled 30 thousand million barrels in 2014. This will increase energy competition with Russia and the Middle East, while also forcing Kazakhstan to contemplate its dependence upon other countries oil purchases. 62.3 percent of Kazakhstans economy is accounted for by crude and refined petroleum. By far its biggest customer is China, whose 2014 purchases accounted for roughly 25 percent of Kazakhstans oil economy. As the world has seen through the interdependence of Russia and Europes energy economies, asymmetric dependence can have substantial effects on policy. Implications for Kazakhstans trade strategy This presents both a risk and an opportunity for Kazakhstan, which stands to gain a great deal from Chinas One Belt One Road initiatives, but must also protect its economic independence throughout Asian economic shifts. The state of relations with China has not gone unnoticed by the Kazakh government, which developed policies such as the 2050 strategy to properly navigate shifts like One Belt One Road and development of the Silk Road. The true test will be whether Kazakhstan is able to balance both political and energy relations with China, which could wield its economic influence in Central Asia for political motives. On the other hand, Kazakhstans considerable borders with China and Russia will continue to be a major pathway for the coming Silk Road, providing a very strong position in overall East-West relations. Related: How Much Does The U.S. Spend Per Day On Petroleum Products? Kazakhstans geographic location will become an increasingly important factor as the Silk Road develops from East Asia through Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Roadblocks in Kazakh-Chinese relations could prove detrimental to trade with the West, which would be subject to any new trade tariffs or taxes in Central Asia. Increased investment into Kazakhstan may also place a focus on Kazakh-Russian relations. Kazakhstan is the second largest oil producer of the former Soviet Union, and relations between the two are historically stable. Kazakhstan tends to be predicatively pro-Russian, but as it gains its own economic might and independence, it risks aggravating its Northern neighbor. Russia benefits, and will continue to benefit, from Kazakhstans economic growth, so long as Kazakhstan retains its amicable relationship. Looking Forward To properly interpret the Kazakh-Russian relationship, it will be important to watch the growth and expansion of both countries energy sectors. Both have developed complex relations with China and remain heavily dependent upon its purchases. The further rise of Kazakhstans production may become a roadblock in relations with Russia, depending upon how the Kazakh government utilizes its growing influence. The potential for economic competition between the two countries will increase, as the two wrestle for clients in Asia, Eurasia and Europe. Therefore, as the coming investment unfolds, risks and rewards lie within Kazakhstans relations with its large neighbors as well as its geographic placement in the future of trans-Asiatic trade. Kazakhstan lies at the crossroads of many influences. Its success in economic diversification with the coming oil boom will be instrumental to both its own independence, as well as the fluidity of trade in the region. By Jonathan Hoogendoorn via Global Risk Insights More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: It is unsurprising that the world should be incredulous at the explanations given by the Turkish Government as to the origins, sponsors, and actions of the putsch which was attempted against it on the night of July 15-16, 2016. Indeed, the great difficulty is to avoid considering the conspiracy theory that the entire event had been orchestrated by Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself. We have discussed the entire incident in separate analysis, taking on face value the events as reported, and the ramifications. The event was cut from whole cloth. It was too perfect, and the responses too com-plete. Its outcome could not have been more favorable to the President and his ambitions. And as with all conjuring, the audience was complicit, and the scale of the deception bold and outside the scale of comprehension of Turkeys traditional allies and supporters. What Erdogan did and achieved regardless of whether he had staged the patently-unworkable putsch himself was breathtaking in its scope and objectives, and was initially successful in consolidating his power and removing Turkey from the secular, Western-oriented path of the Presidents nemesis, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The fact that the leaders of the putsch have not been credibly identified (some officers have been blamed, true, and some military personnel went along with the affair, believing it to be a genuine attempt to over-throw the President), and the blame so laughably assigned to convenient enemies, makes it necessary to question the reality of events in Turkey before, during, and after the incident. Whatever actually happened, it is clear that Pres. Erdogan has with the catalyst of the alleged putsch completely transformed the strategic position of Turkey: its alliances and dependencies; its chances for survival, and the fate of the region which is vital not only to its inhabitants, but as a nexus of global trade. The Russian Government knows very well just how mercurial Pres. Erdogan has been, and how he has tried and failed to confront Russia strategically. It was Russia which essentially defeated Turkey in Syria and Iraq, and possibly in the Caucasus and Balkans. To cut through the niceties of the transformation, Pres. Erdogan has nominally capitulated to Moscow, even though he uses the old Soviet mechanism of peaceful coexistence (cooperation publicly; confronta-tion discreetly) in his new relationship with Russia. Hitler and Stalin each employed this stratagem against each other. Russia today is under no illusions that the Turkish President has suddenly become its friend, and Moscow will not let down its guard. But it cannot ignore the reality that Turkeys capitulation, for whatev-er reason, must be seized. What are some take-aways from what has happened? 1. Turkey has now formally declared the U.S. (and therefore NATO) as its enemy. Pres. Erdogan has blamed the US Government for the coup attempt which many inside Turkey and the Middle East will believe, given the US recent history of advocating regime change and he did so in a way which offers little chance of revision, also publicly crediting Russian Spetsnaz troops with sav-ing his life during the putsch. [How did they get to Marmaris to do this?] As a bonus to Russia, he also said that the shooting down of the Russian Air Force Su-24 strike aircraft over Syria in Novem-ber 2015 was done by CIA pilots. The Russians know how it happened (Turkish F-16s engaged the Su-24), but listen patiently to the Erdogan big lies. Related: All Or Nothing For Erdogan: 200,000 Purged In Race For Absolute Power 2. If logic prevails, the US and other NATO states will have to remove their military and intelligence assets from Turkey or risk them being even more compromised than they have become over the past few years. NATO will have to suspend Turkey from membership, something it has no mecha-nism, effectively, to do. Instead, as with the EU, it keeps waiting for Turkey to fess up, say you got me, copper, and resign from NATO. Why should Erdogan do that? He will stay in NATO and the EU negotiations as long as he can extract economic and political benefit, even as he for his own ideological reasons undermines those institutions. And no-one has the nerve, in NATO states (particularly during a US Presidential election year and a meltdown in the EU) to initiate Turkex (Turkish exit) procedures. And no-one in NATO or the senior member states has actually done the calculation as to how to structure global and regional strategies without Turkey, or how to remove Turkish officers from NATO facilities; how to manage the region without Turkey. These were things which should have been considered, and the warnings of this journal for many years should have been heeded. 3. If Washington and London are not too busy with their own tactical distractions, they should be looking at how to remove their strategic levers from Turkey and place them in the UKs Sovereign Base Areas, in Cyprus. This time there should be some real negotiation with Cyprus on the matter, also indicating that, finally, the issue of the Turkish military occupation of northern Cyprus can no longer be ignored. 4. Turkeys public war with Russia is on hold. Will Erdogan secretly continue his jihadist proxy wars? Yes. For Russia, in many respects, this has been a strategic coup de main: It has Turkey in a position where, to survive, it has had to capitulate to Moscow, albeit unwillingly and temporarily. For Moscow, the goal will be to ensure unfettered access through the Black Sea and Bosphorus to the Mediterranean, and to put an end to the Syrian war. What this may mean is that Russia itself could be a de facto guarantor that Turkey would not be broken up by the current civil war. Perhaps it will not go that far. Perhaps Moscow will just say that, for now, it would not support the Kurdish (and other) irredentists in Turkey. Moscow seems unlikely to surrender its other neo-allies, either: Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, Iran. Frankly, Moscow wants to return to good relations with Western Europe, something the US Barack Obama Administration interrupted. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov knew all this when he was negotiating in Moscow with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the Syrian crisis on July 15, 2016. By Gregory R. Copley via Defense and Foreign Affairs More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Steeple chasing has become something of a hobby and it has led me from St. Johns to St. Francis to Trinity to another Trinity and beyond. X X For a long time Ive had my sights set on St. Michaels on the West Side and Im still planning on getting there but one day I noticed a sleek little church tower just south and I decided to investigate. What I found was that in true small-waukee style, the history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2466 W. McKinley Ave. is entwined, at least initially, with the history of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, 1046 N. 9th St., and other 19th century Milwaukee notables. X X The story goes that Trinity sensed a new need for a Lutheran school on the citys growing West Side, in part to relieve overcrowding at its own school and simultaneously accommodate member families who were moving west. (A school history booklet suggests the school was at least in part a competitive response to the fact that new public schools were planned for the neighborhood.) X In 1883, Trinity member John C. Koch an attorney and later two-term Milwaukee mayor donated land on the northwest corner of Cold Spring and Lipscomb (todays McKinley Avenue and 24th Place, which has also been called 24 1/2 Street) and a 26x46-foot, two-story school was opened later that year. Within three years, the school became independent of Trinity and began to host religious services. At the same time, $350 was raised with an eye toward building a church for this nascent German-speaking congregation. Koch and his father-in-law, hardware magnate John Pritzlaff -- the latter had gifted the land for the current Trinity, too -- donated two lots west of the school and plans were drawn up for a church. Because everyone knows the church must get pride of place on the corner lot, the school -- which already had 186 students by 1888 -- was hoisted up and moved to the middle of the block and in 1887 the cornerstone was laid for Bethlehem Lutheran Church, which was completed the following year. More interesting than the school building move, perhaps, is the fact that a decade after the church was built, the congregation, led by Pastor Johann Schlerf, decided to expand and solidify the building. X But it did not put on an addition, at least not in the traditional sense. No, workers, sliced the church in half and moved the northern part 30 feet north and a transept was built in the newly open space. Were it not for the photo above, I wouldnt have believed this was the method. To accomplish the solidification, the wood church was entirely veneered in cream city brick. That solidification worked, metaphorically, for the congregation for decades and by the 1950s it boasted a congregation nearing 2,000 members. But in recent years, that began to wane. The school closed in the 1990s and was briefly leased to a voucher school operator. But it didnt shut its doors for lack of enrollment, says Pastor Micah Wildauer, who arrived from his native South Bend, Ind., in 2006 to lead Bethlehem and nearby Hope Lutheran. "They were at capacity. They just could not seem to balance the books financially without raising tuition too high," he says. When Wildauer arrived, the church finances were inadequate, he says. "We were renting out the school at the time and that was basically what we were balancing our budget on. Fifty percent of our budget was renting that out." But, he says, the school wasnt paying its bills and church finances got worse. A bequest of $167,000 arrived and helped for a little while, but it wouldnt last forever. And the congregation was dwindling. "(We would get) probably 30 to 40 on a good Sunday," Wildauer estimates as we stand in the sanctuary. "Our roster had over 100, but we were never able to stay on top of that. A lot of people -- even when we said we are revising our roster, we want to know if you want to be a part of this -- still said, Yeah, yeah Ill be there. They wouldnt show up or whatever. "On Aug. 11, we had a (final) service just for members, at which I saw people who I have never seen before that were claiming to be members. They (said) were sad that it was closing down and they wish they couldve done something. Well, they couldve shown up on Sundays. That wouldve been a start." Wildauer said the closing of the school affected turnout. Also, some families moved away and joined other congregations. He guessed that there was a roughly 50-50 mix of members that drove in and those that lived in the area and doesnt believe that demographic changes in the area led to the churchs demise. "I heard right away when I came that the neighborhood changed," he says. "(But) there were people there, and churches are composed of people, so the neighborhood hasnt changed ... ethnically perhaps, but there are still people and the church is always about proclaiming the message, getting it out there and getting people join them in the ranks. "The only reason ... the only rationality behind (citing the location as a factor) would be if you had a neighborhood and suddenly it was a field, (and) you had cows and you had a pack of wolves running around. " So while Trinity soldiers on, Bethlehem shut its doors last year, holding its last worship service in August. Wildauer has accepted a call to go to Togo and leaves for France, to learn French, later this year, before continuing on to West Africa. Meanwhile the church sits in limbo. And its a shame. Its a beautiful building and the architects who worked on the expansion phase, giving the building its current look, were Cornelius Leenhouts and Frank Voith. The Wisconsin Architectural Inventory notes that Charles Kindt built the original church and Charles Tempelmann was the mason that clad the structure in brick. Inside, a Gothic altarpiece is balanced with the Gothic organ case up in choir loft, which runs the width of the sanctuary. The area beneath it was closed off to create a narthex during a 1955 modernization and redecoration. Most of the sanctuary is now baby blue and white, with some maroon and gold trim and most of the decoration saved for the tracery above the altar. Early photos of the church, from 105, 1913, even 1938, show stenciled paint decoration throughout the space. A renovation in 1938 led to the replacement of original chandeliers with hanging lanterns in the sanctuary, and the installation of, what a church history describes as "German antique and English cathedral glass" windows. X The inventory notes that, "Bethlehem Lutheran is a fine example of late 19th century cream city brick churches. Its single spire facade is influenced by German country edifices." That description seems to ignore the two diminutive spires flanking the central spire, which has a clock and a belfry. X "Three bells remain in the steeple," says Wildauer. "There is a large bell and two smaller, twin bells which reside above the larger. The larger is rung by two external hammers. The other two are on wheels. Only one rings via an electric circuit to the narthex. A small room half way up the steeple and above the organ can be found. In it contain ways to set the clocks, and who knows what else from. A small shaft remains where one could pull the rope which would ring a bell, perhaps when there was only one." X X Normally, I could vouch for this personally, but I met my match in Bethlehems tower. The steps up and the floor of the first level, above the organ room were so deeply caked in bird and maybe bat guano -- as well as a bird skeleton -- that I decided this climb could only be undertaken with a face mask and boots -- neither of which Id brought along. But the rest of the church appeared to be in more or less good condition, though there was a staircase in off the narthex that Wildauer suggested should be avoided. And, not unexpectedly, there were some signs of water damage. A cream city brick parsonage, built to the north of the church in 1889 was demolished. The school was also expanded a couple times, with the latest change coming in the mid-1950s. At the end of the 50s the unexcavated church basement was dug out and a fellowship hall and offices were constructed, along with a tunnel to the school. X X In that basement there are other small tunnels more like crawl spaces that appear to access the buildings foundation and perhaps some infrastructure. The heavy door to the school tunnel is still visible, but has been sealed. X Access to the school (pictured above and below), in general, is discouraged because of its condition. But I peeked in and saw the hall upstairs, along with some classrooms and an office on the first floor. The brick boiler room attached to the back of the school was added in 1953. X "Luther Church down in Illinois has come and they just bought an older building and are redoing it and thats why there are pews missing (here)," says Wildauer, noting that some items are being sold, others donated, to other churches. "Weve had an offer or two of folks who are interested in the alter piece and rear windows. Our woodworker in our congregation, hes down in the Harley valley there, he estimated it would probably cost you $400,000 or 500,000 just to rebuild this altar from scratch. Not that were looking to sell it. X "That 25-rank organ up there," he says, gesturing up at the choir loft, "is another one that is around $500,000 to build it from scratch but we can sell it for maybe $5,000. Thats what he said. Most of it would be refurbishing and moving. Thats where all the expenses are now." Though theres no sign out front, the church is available for sale or rent, according to church council member Tyrone Dumas. "The Bethlehem church property is for sale," he said. "In fact someone could get the church, the vacant lot and the school building about one-third of the block for less than $100,000. We think someone could benefit from the deal big time. We are currently going to rent it out to a church with an option to buy." X X Recently, the congregation opened the 1888/1898 cornerstone to see if there was a time capsule inside. "Youd be amazed. When we opened it, we didnt think there was a box," says Wildauer. X "It just didnt fall out of it. We really had to dust it off. It looked like there was some mortar right there so we actually cut through to find it. And they had reopened it in 1898 and put more things in there." X The box included, among other things, photographs of Pastor Schlerf and his wife Elizabeth, newspapers of the day and photographs of the expansion of the church. These treasures are a testament to Bethlehems long, vibrant past. I hope that the congregation -- or a buyer -- finds a way to build an equally vibrant future on this corner. Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website The Western public doesn't know it, but Washington and its European vassals are convincing Russia that they are preparing to attack. Eric Zuesse reports on a German newspaper leak of a Bundeswehr decision to declare Russia to be an enemy nation of Germany. This is the interpretation that some Russian politicians themselves have put on the NATO military bases that Washington is establishing on Russia's borders. Washington might intend the military buildup as pressure on President Putin to reduce Russian opposition to Washington's unilateralism. However, it reminds some outspoken Russians such as Vladimir Zhirinovsky of Hitler's troops on Russia's border in 1941. Zhirinovsky is the founder and leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party and a vice chairman of the Russian parliament. In a confrontation with the editor of a German newspaper, Zhirinovsky tells him that German troops again on Russia's border will provoke a preventive strike after which nothing will remain of German and NATO troops. "The more NATO soldiers in your territory, the faster you are going to die. To the last man. Remove NATO from your territory!" Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed his frustration with Washington's reliance on force and coercion instead of diplomacy. It is reckless for Washington to convince Russia that diplomacy is a dead end without promise. When the Russians reach that conclusion, force will confront force. Indeed Zhirinovsky has already reached that point and perhaps Vladimir Putin also. As I reported, Putin recently dressed down Western presstitutes for their role in fomenting nuclear war. See also this. Putin has made it clear that Russia will not accept US missile bases in Poland and Romania. He has informed Washington and the imbecilic Polish and Romanian governments. However, as Putin observed, "they don't hear." The inability to hear means that Washington's arrogance has made Washington too stupid to take seriously Putin's warning. If Washington persists, it will provoke the preventive strike that Zhirinovsky told the German editor the Merkel regime was inviting. Americans need to wake up to the dangerous situation that Washington has created, but I doubt they will. Most wars happen without the public's knowledge until they happen. The main function of the American left-wing is to serve as a bogyman with which to scare conservatives about the country's loss of morals, and the main function of conservatives is to create fear and hysteria about immigrants, Muslims, and Russians. There is no sign that Congress is aware of approaching Armageddon, and the media consists of propaganda. I and a few others try to alert people to the real threats that they face, but our voices are not loud enough. Not even Vladimir Putin's voice is loud enough. It looks like the West won't hear until "there remains nothing at all of the German and NATO troops," and of Poland and Romania and the rest of us. This is what you need to know about Donald Trump's GOP. At the convention in Cleveland, Alex Jones, a prominent peddler of conspiracy theories, was in the hall as a special guest. Jones sells paranoia. He is a 9/11 truther who claims that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were in on the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. He has promoted the idea that dissidents in America will be rounded up and placed in FEMA camps. His website maintains that the tragic Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax orchestrated so gun safety advocates could demonize gun owners. Jones tells his followers that the world is controlled by a global cabal--a coven of elites who can handpick the president of the United States. And in Cleveland this week, Jones was a celebrity. (Trump has praised him in the past.) During the convention, he was often in the company of Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to Trump and veteran bad-boy political operative who also likes to sell conspiracy theories. Stone wrote one book asserting that LBJ killed JFK, and a more recent Stone volume claimed that Bill Clinton was a serial raper. Two years ago, Stone tweeted that Hillary Clinton should be executed for treason. In Cleveland, he organized the largest pro-Trump rally of the week, and he said he was meeting with Trump staffers. The Stone-Jones vision is a dark one: Corrupt and tyrannical evildoers are in charge, and they must be removed -- by death, if necessary. The existence of the United States is threatened by enemies at home, and extreme measures are called for. And Trump has encouraged and exploited this fear and hatred. Winwick Hospital, Electroconvulsive therapy, 1957 (Image by liverpoolhls) Details DMCA The Mad Hatter raised a sagging wrist. "No worries, they would never have let you in until they had me properly medicated." He pointed to a couple of folding chairs next to his bed. "Sittez-vous." Alice leaned over and stroked the Hatter's forehead. "You're burning up." "Literally," said the Hatter. "I just couldn't take it any more." A sigh. "They said I was 'mad as hell' and stuffed me in this place." He nodded at the bars on the windows. "Can't have delusional fictional characters running around free, you know." "Delusional?" The Rabbit's whiskered jaw dropped. "Why you're the only one who sees things clearly as they are?" "Exactly," sighed the Hatter. "I hereby renounce my previous observations and now adopt the party line. No more explaining that 99% of the world's population want world peace, thriving local communities, safe homes, life-affirming health care, broad and wise education, good jobs with comfortable retirements and pensions years before death, et cetera, et cetera. I will now shout from the rooftops that terrorists are in our midst, endangering us and our loved ones at every corner so that we must give up our privacy and our rights, and sacrifice our serfish (sic) lives for the endless Machiavellian battles that ensure the war, oil, and corporate industries and the .001% continue to gain obscene profits from their investments." He pointed at a pen and paper on the side table. "Here, I'll sign the confession to that effect. It's all the Muslims' fault. War is Peace. Privatize the Profits and Socialize the Losses." "No!" The Rabbit grabbed the paper. "I won't let you. You've gone mad!" "Me?" the Hatter cried. "You--if you think that I'm not going to support the mainstream line that crazy Muslim jihadists are truly attacking civilians in the US and all over Europe, that nasty Syrian rebels have turned against the US, that a Turkish coup attempt was only an excuse for a tin-pot dictator's purge, that Iran is suicidal, and that Russia is just waiting for the opportunity to be annihilated by NATO nuclear weapons. Bad Muslims. Bad Russians." "Aw, come on, Hatter. I don't believe that's what you really believe," said Alice, sounding surprisingly clever. The Hatter looked startled. "Did she really say that?" He brushed away a tear. "Ah, my dear, only a crazy character would believe that we are treading closer to the abyss of global warfare in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast and East Asia. That events are being exacerbated and manipulated to create fear and hatred among peace-loving peoples, so as to promote the support of military actions in multiple arenas. That the vision is to maintain the hegemony of a Western Axis with Middle Eastern satellites and agents, to steal and control natural financial resources from conquered feudal serfs and to break up functioning alliances and countries into stone age pieces and neutralize and manipulate international competition and control. If I were an American, I would be ashamed to acknowledge such a strategy." "But you're English," Alice countered. "I think we all are, aren't we?" "Great point, Sister," the Rabbit said. "Maybe then we can all Brexit from this insanity and find a place where we can create a peaceful country with a balanced and supportive social democracy like Chavez tried to build in Venezuela." "And that's going really well, Rabbit," snorted the Hatter. "Of course, the Western Axis would never get involved in Venezuela," the Hatter scoffed. "No, maybe we could ride out the next decade in Costa Rica, if we pretend to be Republicans. There's always the secret installation under the Denver Airport. Or we can go to Antarctica or the Arctic Circle. I hear Greenland is very cold this time of year." "Count me in, Hatter. An igloo's almost like a rabbit hole. And the snow can absorb any unwanted nuclear radiation, so--" "Don't move!" Three orderlies and a nurse burst into the room holding a straitjacket. "Cuff the Lagomorph," the nurse shouted, "And give him a half milligram of Haldol IM STAT!" "What about the girl?" asked one. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Recently Paul Craig Roberts recounted a conversation he had with James Jesus Angleton, a former head of CIA counterintelligence, in which they discussed strategies that the CIA employs to dupe the American and global public, with a view to perpetrating criminal agendas, cloaked beneath the lie of "national interests". Angleton explained to Roberts that, "intelligence services create stories inside stories, each with its carefully constructed trail of evidence, in order to create false trails as diversions. Such painstaking work can serve a variety of purposes ... Then if the official story gets into trouble, the backup story can be released in order to deflect attention into a new false story or to support the original story." The strategy of "stories within stories", and using competing narratives to confuse, to distract, and to lead the public down false paths (red herrings) is entirely consistent with the 9/11 crimes, the subsequent "War On Terror", and the criminal invasion of Syria. The official stories explaining the 9/11 false flag are bundled with hidden stories, "limited hangouts", and "distance from accountability" strategies -- all serving to daze and confuse North Americans in particular, to the point where we revert to passively accepting the narrative of the day and the overarching lie that supporting the neo-con war agenda is patriotic. The first 9/11 story -- Story A -- identified al Qaeda and Bin Laden as the primary perpetrators, but this story is being supplanted by another story -- story B -- which features Saudi Arabia as the villain. No doubt Saudi Arabia played a role in the crime and the on-going cover-up, but "Story B" is also a "limited hangout" in the sense that only a limited part of the story is "hanging out". It also serves to provide cover or "distance from accountability" for some of the major villains who are still shielded from the glare of the spotlight. Additionally, it serves to lead us down false trails (red herring) that divert public attention from the hidden agenda of global war and poverty. The Saudi Arabia limited hangout does beg an important question though: Will the CIA's Wahhabi mercenary outfits --- ISIS, al Qaeda/ al Nursra Front, and all the fraudulently labelled "moderates", be targeting Saudi Arabia next? The same strategy of "stories within stories" is occurring with the West's criminal war of aggression on Syria. Professor Tim Anderson explains in an interview that "Washington's plan for a New Middle East - with compliant states across the region - is failing. Their Plan B is to partition or otherwise divide Syria and Iraq. Their Plan C will be to withdraw while pretending that they have helped bring peace to the region." The original Plan A: to quickly destroy democratic, pluralist, non-sectarian Syria with Western and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) backed terrorist invaders --- with a view to setting up a stooge Wahhabi-style dictatorship, is failing. Not only are the terrorists being defeated on the battlefield, but the psy op "strategy of disassociation" is crumbling as well. More and more people are seeing through the lies of the "moderate rebel" story: the Western/GCC - backed "moderates" (all of whom share the same strategic ambitions as ISIS and the West) are at least as bad, maybe worse than their "comrades in arms", "ISIS". When U.S State Department spokesperson Mark Toner explained that they might put a "pause" on funding the so-called "moderates", who publically and brazenly chopped off the head of a Palestinian boy, the "strategy of disassociation" was beheaded as well. Plan B is also failing, at least in Syria, since the "balkanization" efforts at creating ethnically or religiously-based enclaves within Syria is hitting the wall of Syria's longstanding culture of religious freedom and pluralism. Syrians identify themselves first and foremost as Syrians, and not according to their religious affiliations. Hopefully, Plan C is around the corner. The West will pretend that it has achieved peace, and it will withdraw its disgusting terrorist proxies. The ugly truth about the genocidal Western designs for Syria -- well documented for years by sources including former Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief Michael Flynn, by Generals Dempsey, and Clark, by Vice-President Biden, and by publicly available Defence Intelligence Agency documents, as well as from other open source documents -- is increasingly being accepted. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Articles Listed By Date List By Popularity Search Title Date Between Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 1 of 2 First Last Back Next 2 View All (5 comments) SHARE The Descent into Tyranny Here we are, trapped in a thoroughly despotic regime, the culmination of a gradual slide into tyranny that has taken decades to unfold. How did we let this happen? There isn't even a Gestapo. There is no Stasi. We still have choices at the ballot box. And yet we are just about as close to one-man rule as Germany ever got, and we are not far behind on the collapse of liberty. What fools us-and what fooled the Germans-is that i Monday, February 24, 2020Here we are, trapped in a thoroughly despotic regime, the culmination of a gradual slide into tyranny that has taken decades to unfold. How did we let this happen? There isn't even a Gestapo. There is no Stasi. We still have choices at the ballot box. And yet we are just about as close to one-man rule as Germany ever got, and we are not far behind on the collapse of liberty. What fools us-and what fooled the Germans-is that i SHARE On Range Anxiety This article discusses the merits of providing a guaranteed minimum income as a way of restoring balance to our economy, rescuing lives that are presently headed toward progressive distress and dysfunction, and restoring some vitality to our democratic aspirations through the assumption of shared obligations. Tuesday, April 24, 2018This article discusses the merits of providing a guaranteed minimum income as a way of restoring balance to our economy, rescuing lives that are presently headed toward progressive distress and dysfunction, and restoring some vitality to our democratic aspirations through the assumption of shared obligations. (1 comments) SHARE "Crooked Donald! Lock him up!" There are many reasons to question the legitimacy of the election of Donald Trump. Nevertheless, there appears to be a reluctance on the part of the Democratic Party to represent that position, even though surely that conviction is widely held within the party. This article discusses the issue in its particulars. Wednesday, April 18, 2018There are many reasons to question the legitimacy of the election of Donald Trump. Nevertheless, there appears to be a reluctance on the part of the Democratic Party to represent that position, even though surely that conviction is widely held within the party. This article discusses the issue in its particulars. (4 comments) SHARE "Crooked Donald! Lock him up!" There are many reasons to question the legitimacy of the election of Donald Trump. Nevertheless, there appears to be a reluctance on the part of the Democratic Party to represent that position, even though surely that conviction is widely held within the party. This article discusses the issue in its particulars. Wednesday, April 18, 2018There are many reasons to question the legitimacy of the election of Donald Trump. Nevertheless, there appears to be a reluctance on the part of the Democratic Party to represent that position, even though surely that conviction is widely held within the party. This article discusses the issue in its particulars. (12 comments) SHARE Russian monument in memory of 9/11 This is a good time to reflect on the beautiful monument that was built on the shores of New Jersey in commemoration of the events of 9/11. One large teardrop, appearing to form slowly, occupying a hideous crack where none should be in a human edifice. Saturday, April 14, 2018This is a good time to reflect on the beautiful monument that was built on the shores of New Jersey in commemoration of the events of 9/11. One large teardrop, appearing to form slowly, occupying a hideous crack where none should be in a human edifice. SHARE On Suffering One of the concerns of Medicine is the relief of suffering. The opiate crisis is evidence that we are not doing very well. That should not have come as a surprise. Thursday, April 5, 2018One of the concerns of Medicine is the relief of suffering. The opiate crisis is evidence that we are not doing very well. That should not have come as a surprise. (27 comments) SHARE Re fitness to serve, we have things backwards Presently we appear to be in a situation in which the unsuitability of the President to serve is fully evident to his own staff, and yet the staff is engaged in a project to preserve the Presidency of Donald Trump--almost irrespective of what that might entail in terms of the fortunes of the country. Sunday, January 14, 2018Presently we appear to be in a situation in which the unsuitability of the President to serve is fully evident to his own staff, and yet the staff is engaged in a project to preserve the Presidency of Donald Trump--almost irrespective of what that might entail in terms of the fortunes of the country. (9 comments) SHARE Stranger in the South We need to dispose of the notion that the Civil War was a good war. Rather, it foisted a pathology upon our land that is still reverberating. The spasm of lynchings in the South was a reaction to Reconstruction. It was the vengeance of the disempowered, the losers in war and in the subsequent imposed peace, unleashed upon the defenseless. This scourge restored the most reactionary elements to power in the South. Tuesday, January 2, 2018We need to dispose of the notion that the Civil War was a good war. Rather, it foisted a pathology upon our land that is still reverberating. The spasm of lynchings in the South was a reaction to Reconstruction. It was the vengeance of the disempowered, the losers in war and in the subsequent imposed peace, unleashed upon the defenseless. This scourge restored the most reactionary elements to power in the South. SHARE On John Anderson -- A Brief Essay As Los Angeles was once again being buffeted by high winds, with early morning sunlight giving an overcast sky of smoke and haze an eerie, ominous gray-orange glow, I found myself thinking back upon John Anderson and the path not taken back in 1980. Later that morning, I peeled back the pages of the newspaper and found John Anderson's obituary. Tuesday, December 5, 2017As Los Angeles was once again being buffeted by high winds, with early morning sunlight giving an overcast sky of smoke and haze an eerie, ominous gray-orange glow, I found myself thinking back upon John Anderson and the path not taken back in 1980. Later that morning, I peeled back the pages of the newspaper and found John Anderson's obituary. (5 comments) SHARE The Nuclear Arsenal and Global Warming our trillion dollar program to refurbish our nuclear weapons arsenalis going forward with very little controversy, debate, or even broad awareness. We know, however, that everyone involved in the decision chain remains persuaded that these strategic weapons are intended as a deterrent. The moment these weapons are actually unleashed, all predictions are off on what might happen once the smoke of battle clears. Saturday, July 23, 2016our trillion dollar program to refurbish our nuclear weapons arsenalis going forward with very little controversy, debate, or even broad awareness. We know, however, that everyone involved in the decision chain remains persuaded that these strategic weapons are intended as a deterrent. The moment these weapons are actually unleashed, all predictions are off on what might happen once the smoke of battle clears. (6 comments) SHARE The Populist Path Out of Partisan Stasis-- Light At the End of the Tunnel The Republican Party, in attempting to delegitimize the democratic party and its President has delegitimized itself. There's a populist solution that could help disgusted, disenfranchised voters on both sides, and his name is Bernie Sanders. Sunday, January 10, 2016The Republican Party, in attempting to delegitimize the democratic party and its President has delegitimized itself. There's a populist solution that could help disgusted, disenfranchised voters on both sides, and his name is Bernie Sanders. (25 comments) SHARE Climate Change: Doubt is not Enough Global warming deniers have used the strategy of raising doubt about the facts, following the very successful reliance on such strategy by the tobacco companies. Those who saw the danger have engaged the critics in an ongoing contest of competing claims. This has it entirely backwards. It is not what is known that should frighten us. Rather, it is what is not known. Monday, January 4, 2016Global warming deniers have used the strategy of raising doubt about the facts, following the very successful reliance on such strategy by the tobacco companies. Those who saw the danger have engaged the critics in an ongoing contest of competing claims. This has it entirely backwards. It is not what is known that should frighten us. Rather, it is what is not known. (10 comments) SHARE The Predator-Prey Society we have bifurcated into three species--predator, prey, and parasite... How does this wretched system sustain itself? The powers that be are doing a good job persuading the hoi polloi that the threat to their well being comes from the bottom rather than the top--from the immigrants; from the needy; from the undeserving underclass Tuesday, December 22, 2015we have bifurcated into three species--predator, prey, and parasite... How does this wretched system sustain itself? The powers that be are doing a good job persuading the hoi polloi that the threat to their well being comes from the bottom rather than the top--from the immigrants; from the needy; from the undeserving underclass (3 comments) SHARE Caging the Nuclear Genie Any large-scale attack on Iran by Israeli forces would likely come at the price of the destruction of Israeli society as we know it. A significant risk is that the major cities will be made uninhabitable, and that would be the end of the society that Israelis have constructed. Monday, November 30, 2015Any large-scale attack on Iran by Israeli forces would likely come at the price of the destruction of Israeli society as we know it. A significant risk is that the major cities will be made uninhabitable, and that would be the end of the society that Israelis have constructed. SHARE Our Moral Burden After the Torture Revelations Coming to the US in 1951 as an 11 year old from Germany, I was seen as an emissary from the nation that was seen as categorically evil. I thoroughly absorbed and accepted the judgment of collective guilt that my new country had imposed. And now that same principle demands that I must also accept responsibility for the torture that was committed in our name. Sunday, December 14, 2014Coming to the US in 1951 as an 11 year old from Germany, I was seen as an emissary from the nation that was seen as categorically evil. I thoroughly absorbed and accepted the judgment of collective guilt that my new country had imposed. And now that same principle demands that I must also accept responsibility for the torture that was committed in our name. (4 comments) SHARE We Have Black Swans A lack of future-orientation seems to characterize our society and our politics these days. This is happening even while our ability to shape future events is increasing substantially. Even the close call at Chelyabinsk last year did not have major policy repercussions. By contrast, Native Americans had an ethic of preserving the integrity of the environment unto the seventh generation, even while they had only limited means Saturday, January 4, 2014A lack of future-orientation seems to characterize our society and our politics these days. This is happening even while our ability to shape future events is increasing substantially. Even the close call at Chelyabinsk last year did not have major policy repercussions. By contrast, Native Americans had an ethic of preserving the integrity of the environment unto the seventh generation, even while they had only limited means (1 comments) SHARE A Lesson in Potholes Our near-term economic performance depends on our attention to infrastructure concerns and to our societal needs. This is primarily a government burden, which requires more taxation. Saturday, September 18, 2010Our near-term economic performance depends on our attention to infrastructure concerns and to our societal needs. This is primarily a government burden, which requires more taxation. (3 comments) SHARE Ruminations on the San Bruno Fire Fire hazard after earthquakes is one of a number of societal concerns that could lead to economic recovery via a focus on infrastructure improvements. Friday, September 10, 2010Fire hazard after earthquakes is one of a number of societal concerns that could lead to economic recovery via a focus on infrastructure improvements. (3 comments) SHARE The State of Labor The check-mating of Democratic initiatives in Congress increasingly means that progressive causes must be served by private initiative to the greatest degree possible. The cause of labor is the most obvious case in point. Monday, September 6, 2010The check-mating of Democratic initiatives in Congress increasingly means that progressive causes must be served by private initiative to the greatest degree possible. The cause of labor is the most obvious case in point. SHARE Worrying a Fragile Social Cohesion Religious belief may be the key animating impulse behind a fragmenting social cohesion in the US. If so, a frustrated progressivism must choose its causes wisely. Sunday, April 4, 2010Religious belief may be the key animating impulse behind a fragmenting social cohesion in the US. If so, a frustrated progressivism must choose its causes wisely. Page 1 of 2 First Last Back Next 2 View All 80 ppl killed in Kabul KABUL: Islamic State group claimed responsibility for twin explosions Saturday that ripped through crowds of Shia Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 80 people and wounding 231 others in their first major attack in the Afghan capital. The bombings, apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country well known for Shia-Sunni harmony, came as thousands of Hazaras gathered to protest over a multi-million-dollar power line. Charred bodies and dismembered limbs littered the scene of the attack, with ambulances struggling to reach the site as authorities had overnight blocked key intersections with stacked shipping containers to control movement of the protesters. As a result of the attack 80 people were martyred and 231 others were wounded, the interior ministry said in a statement. Based on initial information, the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers...The third attacker was gunned down by security forces. The wounded overwhelmed city hospitals, officials said, with reports emerging of blood shortages and urgent appeals for donors circulating on social media. The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than IS, strongly denied any involvement in the attack. IS claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq news agency, calling it an attack on Shias. Two fighters of the Islamic State detonated their explosive belts in a gathering of Shias in... Kabul, Amaq said. The attack represents a major escalation for the IS group, which so has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The National Directorate of Security, Afghanistans main intelligence agency, said the attack was masterminded by Abu Ali, an IS commander in Nangarhars volatile Achin district. The attack came as thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand that a multi-million-dollar power line pass through their electricity-starved province of Bamiyan, one of the most deprived areas of Afghanistan with a large Hazara population. The horrific attack on a group of peaceful protestors in Kabul demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life, Amnesty International said in a statement. In a statement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was deeply saddened by the carnage, adding that the casualties included security officials. Holding protests is the right of every citizen of Afghanistan... but terrorists entered the protests, and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens including members of security forces, the presidential palace said. The protest march was largely peaceful before the explosions struck as the demonstrators sought to march on the presidential palace, waving flags and chanting slogans such as death to discrimination. The 500-kilovolt TUTAP power line, which would connect the Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with electricity-hungry Afghanistan and Pakistan, was originally set to pass through the central province. But the government re-routed it through the mountainous Salang pass north of Kabul, saying the shorter route would speed up the project and save millions of dollars. Pakistan also strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist acts in Kabul that resulted into the loss of a number of precious human lives and left several others injured. The government and the people of Pakistan extend their sincere condolences and profound sympathies to the families of the bereaved people and convey their earnest prayers and wishes for early recovery of those injured in this heinous act of terrorism, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Jobs that Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised are in short supply. The Empire State Development Corporations task is to bring jobs to New York. So when it released its job creation efforts for Gov. Cuomo three months tardy, we might add it was late on the Friday afternoon before the long Fourth of July weekend. It was a pretty clear indication that the Cuomo administration was trying to bury some bad news. And it worked. It has taken us nearly three weeks to catch up with it, and we suspect most of you have not heard much of anything about the lethargic job numbers. Gov. Cuomo devised Start-Up NY to attract out-of-state technology companies to New Yorks college campuses, while also addressing the states abysmal reputation for high taxes and excessive government regulations with a robust advertising campaign. Empire State Development Corporation spent $45 million on television commercials to promote the program the first year. Unfortunately, the Empire State Development Corporations report did not have the type of fireworks we usually witness on a Fourth of July weekend. In year one, 54 companies created 76 jobs. In year two, 105 companies created 332 jobs. The Empire State Development Corporation called that momentum and said jobs should grow more quickly in succeeding years. Nonpartisan business groups called it an utter failure. Gov. Cuomo insisted the program would supercharge the state economy. But there was nothing super about any of the numbers. A week after the Fourth of July report, New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced that the states management of the Excelsior Jobs Program another arm of the job creation effort lacked oversight. The Excelsior Jobs Program was intended to exchange millions of dollars in tax credits with private companies for job creation. But the state Comptrollers Office said the private companies were not being held accountable. DiNapolis audit urged the Empire State Development Corporation to take a more active role in oversight of the program. ESDs oversight leaves a lot to be desired, DiNapoli said. ESD needs to stop lowering the bar and giving companies a pass when they fall short of promises. ESD needs to ensure these businesses are not taking advantage of state taxpayers. The audit found that ESD did not exercise due diligence when approving any of the selected companies. The agency did not provide auditors with documentation verifying the 25 companies met all the required benchmarks for the program. Verification was also unavailable when it came to agreed-upon job targets. None of this is good news. Worst of all may be what is going on with the Buffalo Billion project another Cuomo pet project aimed at revitalizing the city of Buffalo. That project is being investigated by federal prosecutors for potential conflicts of interest and improper bidding that has focused on two former top aides for Gov. Cuomo. So if you are wondering where the jobs are that Gov. Cuomo promised, you are not alone. So are we. Local editorials represent the opinion of The Post-Star editorial board, which consists of Publisher Terry Coomes, Controller/Operations Director Brian Corcoran, Editor Ken Tingley, Projects Editor Will Doolittle and citizen representative Stuart Ginsburg. CHASS held a press conference earlier this week where they threatened to close down public Senior High Schools nationwide for the 2016/2017 academic year if the government did not pay subsidy arrears owed them. Subsequently, the GES held a press conference where it accused some heads of schools of delaying the process by submitting required data on students late. But GNAT also joined in the fray and suggested they might embark on a nationwide strike in September 2016, if the GES does not pay the arrears owed CHASS. Public Relations Officer of the GES Rev Jonathan Bettey in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM said this issue has to with CHASS and not other teacher unions. I dont know where they are coming from saying that they will go on strike if we dont solve the issues of CHASS. NAGRAT, GNAT, any other teacher unions are not part of CHASS. If they are members, they are not standing in as CHASS. What we are telling GNAT is that they are teachers; we are solving the issues for CHASS members. The Ghana Education Service has nothing to do with GNAT, NAGRAT or any teacher union as far as subventions, capitation grant, progressively free education; all the concerns that were raised by CHASS. GNAT has nothing to do with this he added. READ ALSO: GES director general warns CHASS against closure of schools He also revealed that GES had begun meeting with the appropriate stakeholders to solve the issues at hand. Dont fall for LOAD SHEDDING GUIDE -we have confirmed with the@ElectricityCoGh : the document is a Hoax!, government said in a post on Twitter. Meanwhile, workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have blamed President John Mahama for their inability to publish a load-shedding timetable for consumers to enable them to plan their activities. The timetable for the current load shedding also called dumsor is ready but the president says we should not publish it, the workers told Daily Guide newspaper. Samuel Tetteh Agbetor, chairman of the Western Regional Workers Union of ECG, said: Dumsor is back, and the government should be bold enough to allow ECG to announce the timetable for load shedding. Former president of Malawi, Joyce Banda and her family carried the wreath and laid it on the tomb. It was not an event for speeches. Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh was one of several government officials who graced the ceremony. President Mills died at the 37 Military Hospital on July 24, 2012. The man Mills Prof. Mills won the 2008 presidential elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), defeating the New Patriotic Party's candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the run-off. Prof. Mills was a native of Ekumfi Otuam in the Central Region. He was born at Tarkwa on July 21, 1944, and was educated at Achimota School and the University of Ghana, Legon. The late President earned a Ph.D in Law at the age of 27 from the London University's School of Oriental and African Studies after completing his doctoral thesis in the area of taxation and economic development. He had a long teaching experience at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana before becoming the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. This was the first time a sitting president of the Republic of Ghana passed on. He was a great man. President John Evans Atta Mills was without an iota of doubt, a unique African leader. Even as Ghana continues to mourn because of the unfortunate passing of Professor J.E.A. Mills, Pulse.com.ghbrings you five of his top memorable quotes. 1. "I have always said that I will be President for all Ghanaians whether they voted for me or not, and without consideration for which part of the country they come from. It will be my duty as President to heal wounds and unite our dear nation. I intend to pursue relentlessly all avenues for entrenching peace and unity in all parts of the country as I am enjoined by the constitution to do." 2. "As we approach the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections, it is my prayer and hope that we shall continue to preserve and maintain the peace, remain united and focused as people with one destiny. We can hardly achieve meaningful development if the citizenry on whose behalf we are managing the country do not support and cooperate with us." 3. "I will not condone actions that will pitch one citizen against the other as a way of settling political scores. That is unacceptable and will not be the Ghanaian way of doing things. The Ghanaian way should be that, under the Rule of Law, and with the benchmark of due process, any violations of the laws of Ghana will be addressed in the manner that is fair, balanced, and right in the sight of God." 4. "As a people, our greatest achievements have come when we have lived up to the ideals that unite rather than divide us and have attached ourselves to a common sense purpose. Let this day not just see us enjoying just the holiday part of it; let us find time to reflect on the way forward as we strive to build a Better Ghana. We must reflect on the legacies that our forebears bequeathed to us; consider what we have added to that legacy, and commit ourselves to leaving a solid legacy for the generations after us." His unique brand and legacy was characterized by his personal humility and devotion to the Christian faith, his unflinching believe in and support for peace, his unbridled respect for the rule of law and his often self-effacing and tension deflating sense of humour. President Mills died at the 37 Military Hospital on July 24, 2012. John Mahama served as vice president under late President Mills. Prof. Mills won the 2008 presidential elections on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), defeating the New Patriotic Party's candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the run-off. Prof. Mills was a native of Ekumfi Otuam in the Central Region. He was born at Tarkwa on July 21, 1944, and was educated at Achimota School and the University of Ghana, Legon. The late President earned a Ph.D in Law at the age of 27 from the London University's School of Oriental and African Studies after completing his doctoral thesis in the area of taxation and economic development. He had a long teaching experience at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ghana before becoming the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Dumelo has taken his support for the NDC up a notch, saying that unlike the NPP, his party [NDC] was a non-violent one that would not resort to bathing members with acid. His new declaration comes after the wife of the late NPP Upper East Regional Chairman Adams Mahama, testified against Gregory Afoko, the prime suspect in the murder of Mr. Mahama. Adams Mahama died in 2015 after a party member allegedly poured acid on him. Gregory Afoko is a brother to the suspended National Chairman of the NPP, Paul Afoko. READ ALSO : Whether you like it or not, Mahama has won 2016 elections John Dumelo was speaking to a group of NDC faithful in Wa when he threw the insinuations at the opposition party. Some people are violent, they will chase you with sticks, and they will pour acid on you. But remember that you belong to a good party, John said in response to cheers of NDC slogans from the crowd. In effect, John Dumelo was calling for NDC party members in the area to be proud because they had joined a good party, where they wont be bathed with acid over dissenting views. He further stated that I am proud to be an NDC person and I know each and every one of you is proud. One day, each and every one of you will be blessed with so many things. So basically, this is my second time in Wa, the first time I was here was in 2009. The next time when I am coming, I am going to bring the other actors who are my friends to come and interact with everybody, John promised. Nuhu was responding to an inquiry made by Punch News, in connection to a post he made on Twitter, where he allegedly called a fan a bitch and a whore. ALSO READ: Actor shares adorable photos from family vacation According to reports, the fan screen grabbed the actors comments and displayed it online in a bid to expose him for his so-called indiscretion. The actor denied making the comment when he was questioned by reporters, saying What would make me to call a fan names? He said, Go and meet the person who put it out there and let her explain to you. I have no time for such a thing. My time is for progress. I do only positive things and nobody has called to discuss them with me. I have promoted a lot of people, I have put up posts that people should go and get free healthcare services. During the last International Womens Day, I celebrated a lot of my female friends and colleagues and nobody is talking about it. I dont know why people should call me about this one. Popularly referred to as the "King of Kannywood", Nuhu has appeared in Hausa Cinema films, and 80 English Language films. 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! According to Punch News, the rapist was arrested by the mob around 3 PM on Saturday, July 23, 2016, in Ikorodu. Recent reports revealed that residents in Ibese, Ikorodu, are of the opinion that the suspect arrested earlier by the police is not the real Badoo. The unlucky rapist reportedly sneaked into a Celestial Church of Christ in Itesiwaju, a suburb of Ibese, and abducted an eight-year-old girl, while a vigil was ongoing, Punch reports. The rapist, whose real name has not been disclosed allegedly raped the girl to coma and left her to die. He was captured later in the day when he returned to the community. ALSO READ: Suspected thief beaten to death for stealing laptop in Lekki An eyewitness, Fola, while narrating the incident to Punch, said, They stripped him naked and beat the hell out of him. One of the youths suggested that he should be set to fire and others agreed. They felt the police were not doing the needful on Badoo, who was arrested sometime ago. Yari said he has always had a cordial relationship with the lawmakers, adding that there has never been any problem between them. Yari said There has never been any bill brought to me by the House of Assembly that l did not assent to nor have l ever spent money without their approval. This failure of the legislators to follow the right channel led the people of the state to suspect that the lawmakers were planning evil. Adding that As members of the same political party, we have always discussed the problems and prospects of our party and proffered solutions. At the moment, the only challenge we have is that of security, which we are now adequately addressing with help from the Federal Government. The Zamfara state House of Assembly accused Yariof misappropriating N11b bailout fund, N1b agricultural loan released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) among many other alleged offences. The state Governor however said he did not spend any money without the approval of the lawmakers. Ngige said the country would have been a laughing stock among the international community if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was allowed to remain in office. He said There was virtually nothing in the countrys reserve, despite what the PDP government officials were telling Nigerians. But the APC government has started organizing the economy by formulating policies that will put smiles on the faces of our people. The minister also assured Nigerians that the President is working hard to make sure that the current hardship people are facing comes to an end. Ngige said Buhari was shocked at the level of mismanagement that went on during the PDP administration. Speaking on the job creation initiatives of the current administration, the minister said For instance, the Federal Government has created job centers in all states of the federation where the unemployed will be exposed to skills acquiring on various trades. We are also introducing empowerment schemes and our party members will be given priority. In addition, government is also planning to introduce scholarship and bursary schemes and our party members will also be the first to benefit from it. The state Government had reportedly approved the sum of N750m for the lawmakers to purchase Jeeps, but they decided to share the money because the price of the vehicles had gone up. The lawmakers were then given N10m each to purchase vehicles, but some of their colleagues felt that the leadership cheated them, and reportedly called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to sort out the matter. As result of the confusion in the state legislature, a group under the aegis of Concerned Benue Youth for Good Governance, (CBYGG) has called on the lawmakers allegedly involved in the vehicle purchase scam to resign. The Daily Sun reports that the Secretary of the group, Casmir Ode, said We are saddened because this development and allegations, though yet to be proven, have not only ridiculed the integrity of the House ,it has made a mockery of the anti corruption stance of the Samuel Ortom led administration. As if that is not enough, the business of legislation has remained dormant since this scandal broke out and some bills before the House that are very important and critical to this administration have remained stagnated. It is therefore our considered opinion that in view of the implication of this saga and the fact that a ridiculous picture of the House has been painted to Nigerians and the outside world as a result of the ongoing probe, the leadership of the House should honourably resign in order to save the House from further mockery. We also recommend a recall of any member found liable at the end of the EFCC probe so that the House can be cleansed and repositioned for service delivery. Reports also say the Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom has also exonerated the lawmakers of any wrongdoing. A pressure group, Benue Youth Alliance (BYA) also called for the resignation of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. James Okefe. A Niger Delta militant group, Ultimate Warriors, who claims to be speaking for other groups in the oil rich region, dismissed the governments decision to hold talks with MEND alone. According to Vanguard, the groups spokesman, Sibiru Taiowoh, said We are by this statement, however, giving the Federal Government a three- week ultimatum to name its own dialogue team, comprising of renowned foreign observers and delegations from the European Union. After the government had named its dialogue team, we and others, under the Supreme Council through the government of the Niger Delta states, will name our representatives. They also said the President is not being truthful about the much talked about dialogue with militants. Adding that Whatever the President is hiding should be made bare. They talk so sweetly when they face the international community or they have foreign visitors, but lack the will to do the just and equitable thing in the region. They should stop this deceit and face the reality. This is a propaganda taken too far. How can he say the international oil companies, IOCs, are reaching out to the militants groups when even the government has not been able to do so? So it is the IOCs that are wasting billion of dollars to pay soldiers to secure their facilities that now have the means to talk with agitating militant groups more credibly than Nigeria state. The militants also commended the South South/South East Lawmakers Forum for lending their voice to the Niger Delta struggle, saying We want to use this medium to salute the dogged and bold steps taken by the South South/South East Lawmakers Forum for lending their voice to one of our core demands- the allocation of 65 percent oil blocs to Niger Delta people. Adding that We actually demanded 60 per cent of the oil blocs but in their wisdom they decided to up it to 65 per cent, which is still a fair deal to us by the Nigeria nation state. The position of the lawmakers only shows that they are at home with us on this struggle. The government had earlier said oil companies in the region are negotiating on their behalf. MEND also said the Federal Government chose to dialogue with them as progressives, and not criminal elements. The militant group in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, said The Niger Delta Avengers, internet-based militant groups such as Joint Revolutionary Council, Ultimate Warriors etc., an Ijaw opportunistic tribal assembly, which were compromised to keep silent during the six (6) years of Goodluck Jonathans misrule and neglect, pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs and miscreants all fall under this category. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies as revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, July 21, 2016. These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative, which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region. Ribadu was the Adamawa state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2015 elections. He said Thank God I am back, I feel happy to be back; I want to thank the party for the confidence reposed in us. The party requested us to return and we are back to work for Adamawa and Nigeria as a whole. Reports also said Atiku, Bindow and two others had protested Ribadu's return to the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun. Speaking on Ribadus return, the Adamawa state Chairman of APC, Ibrahim Bilal, said This party is built with you, we called on you to return and you responded positively by going to your wards to register, visited your local government office and now you are in the state party office. You are special to us and you came at the right time when we needed your support for the coming Saturday local government election in Adamawa. I have briefed the governor Jibrilla of your coming and he is happy about it. Nuhu Ribadu was the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Rivers Governor said this on Saturday, July 23, 2016, during a visit to the scene of the fire incident. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier said Governor Wike should be held responsible for the INEC office fire incident. The party also alleged that the commissions office was burnt down by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs. Speaking to journalists during the inspection tour, Governor Wike urged politicians not to see politics as a do or die affair. He promised to provide an alternative office for INEC so they can carry out the July 30, 2016 rerun elections in the state. The Governor also warned the commission not to use the incident as an excuse to postpone the elections, saying Rivers people have been mobilised, and are ready to cast their votes. Wike said We will make sure that this does not dampen the spirit of INEC. I have directed the caretaker committee chairman of the local government area to immediately rebuild the burnt office. The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside also slammed Governor Wike for allegedly threatening Senator Magnus Abe. Ize-Iyamu had served as the Secretary to the Edo state Government during the tenure of Chief Lucky Igbinedion. Oshiomhole also accused Igbinedion and his deputy, Chief Mike Oghiadohme of stealing government funds. The Governor said he was going to report the three former officials of the state to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This is coming on the heels of reports that Ize-Iyamu had vowed to probe Oshiomhole. The Edo Governor said These PDP leaders should be ashamed, I am looking at the books now because I just wanted to work and look forward because for me, my task is not to be reversing. I have spent too much time fighting, I just wanted to work so I dont want to look at the books. But when I see the snakes, the scorpions, the pythons, all these people that God cursed, they are trying to cause confusion, I called for the books. When I am going to Anigbette, I will carry the vouchers where Oghiadohme, Ize-Iyamu and his Oga, where they appropriated money, they call it for the construction of Anegbette bridge. Ize-Iyamu also dared Oshiomhole to probe his activities while he was in government. The Edo Governor also said In their books they claimed they built the bridge but no bridge on ground. Everything must go to Abuja. They collected the money in full, even to Ayoha my mothers village they ate the money. I will publish them for our traditional rulers to see, they claimed they did the road from Jattu-Ayuwa-Iyuku and they collected the money they pocketed it. God will definitely punish them, that is why I am warning our brother, (Oghiadohme) he cannot afford a fight. He abandoned his people while he was in power and today he is talking nonsense. For seven and half years they planned to impeach me, but today I am standing and they are out of power. God impeached them. Suddenly, as I was about to call my group of political discussants to boast of our international prowess, something struck me and I wondered wait oh! Wait oh! Chika wake up oh! No be Naija wey get plenty security issues wen e never solve wan go EPP Germany so? This is not trivialising the killing of innocent people in Germany or denying the fact that terrorism has to be tacked head-long, but the truth remains that Nigeria has enough security issues it has not resolved. My deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who died in the unfortunate domestic terror incident. When I read the press statement issued by Femi Adesina, I wondered if the Federal Government has descended into the arena of kiddies April Fools day pranks, but my calendar quickly reminded me that we are in July. What made it clearer was that I have been praying to God for my July salary to come quick. Joor, dont blame me. The thought kept ringing in my head, so this no be Apray Foo (April Fool) joke? So Buhari really read this statement out for Adesina to write? Or did the revered spokesman and composer of the wailers tune scribble the speech while having breakfast? Wait oh! Duro na! what does Nigeria want to offer Germany apart from a shoulder to cry on? I know by now, those who are more patriotic and vast than I am in international politics have picked their stones to throw. I kuku ready for una before I carry my pen to write. So faya on. Dont get me wrong, Nigeria is gifted, and has a lot of things Germany can benefit from, but in the context of helping Germany fight terrorism, what do we have to offer? I know the cheerleaders will say the Army is winning the war on terrorism. Nice one. My question is how has it epped the family members of the missing students? What of those who were reportedly killed in the shopping mall called Benue state by marauding Fulani herdsmen, who have become untouchable to the extent that the Federal Government is negotiating to create grazing reserves for them? Anyway, that is another days matter. The Niger-Delta shopping mall that produces the milk that fattens the federal chiefs, has experienced constant attacks by the Niger Delta Avengers. Yes, I know there are talks of a dialogue going on, but the Federal Government spoilt the matter when, according to reports, they said the oil companies in the Niger Delta region are negotiating on their behalf. I said according to reports oh! Before they say Sambo Dasuki gave me arms purchase money to buy Bread and Ewa Agonyi (Beans). I no fit shout oh! Before I forget, what of the South-East shopping mall, where Biafra agitators are calling for their right to freely exist on their own? Is it finances we want to offer to Germany? When Kemi Adeosun has said that she cannot come and kill herself in this technical recession period? Is it weapons we want to offer to Germany to help them fight terrorism? The massive fraud that characterised the proposed purchase of arms for the war against Boko Haram left our gallant soldiers paralysed and scampering at the war cry of the newest member of the sect who carries a matchet. Abi na Giant of Africa title give us the impetus to overstate? My warri friend say Over-skill dey kii monkey suntimes. I wonder what Angela Merkel of Germany will say when she hears that Broda Bubu offered to help her country fight terrorism. If she was a typical Nigerian woman, She will say Chai! President Oby (Obama) wonders shall never end. See me see wahala! See what this small boy that killed people in the shopping mall has caused. President Obama might just reply and say, Angee let it be, we all have to say something at times like this. President Buhari, Nigerians are nursing wounds from shots in the economic shopping mall and many poor folks are finding it hard to feed daily. Please write a letter. The Munich shopping mall shooting has brought two things to the fore, and they are that: 1. Frustrated citizens can go to any length to express their anger or let out their frustration. Reports say the shooter was mentally disturbed, because he had been bullied severally. 2. The wrong ideology can turn the innocent of souls against his country. These are some of the the issues the government should be writing a letter to Nigerians about, and telling them how they can be solved, but the Federal Government communication and information team so far, has just been acting like a Gestapo (Nazi Secret State Police) propaganda machine. The Daily Sun reports that plans have reached the final stage to flag-off the campaign of the AIT boss. Before commencing his bid, Dokpesi is expected to visit the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, George Eghabor to get his royal blessing. The AIT boss will also embark on a tour to meet PDP delegates who will be attending the upcoming convention of the party. According to Dokpesi, It is in furtherance of my democratic ideals that returning power to the people must first begin with discussions with the people. Meanwhile, efforts to end the feud in the PDP has constantly hit a brick wall, following the insistence of Ali Modu Sheriff that his tenure as chairman of the party will end in 2018. Sheriff was removed during the PDP convention in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, on Saturday, May 22, 2016. According to The Daily Post, the prophet disclosed this information in an interview with The News. He however declined to explain how the story came to be, sharply saying, I dont want to go into that. But I thank God. TB Joshua, popularly called "Man of God" by his followers also addressed rumours about him formally being a Muslim before setting up SCOAN. He denied the allegation, expressing that the only ties he had with Muslims was when he attended an Islamic school. I was born a Christian, my parents were Christians. The only connection I had with Muslims was that I attended Ansar-Ud-Deen school, Ikare. I attended 10 different secondary schools under one year. Concerning stories of being mentored to use magic by a Kaduna Mallam, he said, If somebody taught you how to do something, will you be greater than he is?" "Tell me, somebody taught you how to write, can you beat that teacher? Can you beat that teacher? Can you beat your editor-in-chief in writing? Where then is the Mallam? Speaking at a summer university in Baile Tusnad, Romania, the outspoken Hungarian leader again tied increased security threats to increased migration and cited Trump's proposals at the Republican National Convention to combat terrorism. Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president on Thursday with a speech that outlined an increased intelligence effort, an end to a "failed policy of nation-building and regime change" and a total suspension of immigration from states "compromised by terrorism." Orban sought to buttress his own security proposals with those points. "I am not a Donald Trump campaigner," he said in the televised speech. "I never thought I would ever entertain the thought that of the open options he would be better for Europe and for Hungary. "But I listened to the candidate and and I must tell you he made three proposals to combat terrorism. And as a European I could have hardly articulated better what Europe needs." "The second thing, said this valiant American Presidential candidate, is to abandon the policy of exporting democracy," Ortban said. "I could not have said it more precisely." Orban said Western countries acted recklessly to remove the undemocratic but stable regimes in Libya, Syria and Iraq without guaranteeing stability in the aftermath, exposing Europe to a mass wave of migration. Worse, he said, instead of supporting the regimes that try to control the civil-war-torn countries in North Africa and the Middle East, Europe criticises them for democratic shortfalls. "If we keep prioritising democracy over stability in regions where we are unlikely to succeed with that, we will create instability, not democracy. That is the big lesson with regard to the current events in Turkey, too." New York Post reports that the US Presidents half brother said I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. He also said Clintons use of a private email server also put him off adding that She should have known better as the custodian of classified information. On the issue of same-sex marriage, he said President Obama and Clinton support the idea, adding that I feel like a Republican now because they dont stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me. Apparently, the Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, felt elated when he heard that the US Presidents brother said he would vote for him. Trump, on his Twitter page, posted saying Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else! According to United States public records, Malik Obama lived in Maryland and worked as an accountant. He is also a registered voter in the United States of America. Two DeWitt, Iowa, residents were killed Saturday in a motorcycle crash near LeClaire. Michael Dann, 28, and Trista Nath, 25, both of DeWitt, died in the one-vehicle crash. Emergency responders were called to the scene at 7:20 p.m. Saturday at 277th and Territorial Road near LeClaire. According to a report by the Iowa State Patrol's office, Dann was driving a 2016 Indian motorcycle, and Nath was his passenger. They were traveling west on Territorial Road while going around a curve. Dann lost control and went off the road. Both riders, who were not wearing helmets, were thrown off the motorcycle. Dann was transported to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, where he died. Nath was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report. MedForce was called to fly the victims to the hospital, but thunderstorms that rolled in prevented the helicopter ambulance from making the attempt because of lightning, high winds and heavy rains. Police closed Territorial Road while they investigated the scene. The accident remains under investigation. The LeClaire Police Department assisted at the scene. -- Thomas Geyer MUSCATINE Jami L. Loeffler, 62, of Muscatine, formerly of Keokuk, Iowa, died Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Premier Estates of Muscatine. She was born Sept. 26, 1953, in Keokuk the daughter of Roger Earl and Bernadine Gail Bennett Loeffler. She was united in marriage to Ronald Hayes, and to this union was born one son, Jame Charles Hayes. They later divorced. Jami graduated from Keokuk High School with the Class of 1971. She then furthered her education and graduated from Southeastern Community College in Keokuk and later attended Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for two years. Jami had been employed for the Keokuk Community School District for 10 years and then at the Childrens Psychiatric Hospital in Iowa City. She had also been a volunteer at the Keokuk Head Start. Jami was of the Christian faith and had attended several churches in Keokuk through the years. Jami had a love for art and was gifted in painting, drawing and ceramics. She created beautiful pieces for her family and friends to enjoy and they will be left as remembrances of the artistic ways she used to express herself. Jami lived a simple life and enjoyed doing the things in life that made her happy, even when she was told not to. She leaves behind treasured memories that will live on in her familys hearts forever. Jami is survived by her son, Jame Hayes and his wife Amanda of Muscatine; two grandchildren, Andrew Everett Hayes and Macy Jame Hayes; one brother, Jon Roger Loeffler of Keokuk; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, and grandparents. Memorials may be made to the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health, 4600 3rd St., Moline, IL, 61265. A graveside service was held July 24 at the Little Mound Cemetery in rural Keokuk. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.vigenmemorialhome.com. So there we were, eleven 60-somethings, sitting around a table sharing brats, drinks and conversation. We have been meeting like this, off and on, for more than 30 years, sharing the synchronous stories of our journeys through life. In the beginning, most of us were still single, so we talked about our prospects. Then it was getting married and buying a house and maybe remodeling a house. That was followed by the birth of children. We shared the joys, pride and, sometimes, the pain, worry and uncertainty of being parents. Work and jobs have always been topics, but more than that, we talk about ourselves because everything one of us is going through, everyone is going through. How our 401(k)s survived the Great Recession was a topic. Challenges of aging parents and then the deaths of parents were shared. Politics has been chewed on, sometimes heatedly. At our recent gathering we were interested to hear that our die-hard Republican the one who bought a lifetime supply of Richard Nixon postage stamps so he'd always have some is not intending to vote for Trump. Books and travels have been happily passed around the table. Italy is the most-shared destination, while one couple visited their daughter when she was in the Peace Corps in Mongolia and drank fermented mare's milk. Joint replacement (I'm referring to bones) has come up a time or two. Most recently, downsizing and retirement actually doing it or just thinking about have taken center stage. And there is some conversation about grandchildren, but not to the extent that photos are passed. What brings us all to this table is that at one point in time a relatively brief point eight of us worked for the Quad-City Times. (Three are spouses.) This was in the late 1970s, when the office was in a building on Davenport's 2nd Street, east of where the MidAmerican Energy building is now. It wasn't locked during business hours, so people could and did come in off the street and appear, unannounced, beside one's desk. The legendary Forrest Kilmer was our editor, and we often went to dinner at Bishop's. Eventually everyone else left for jobs in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. Given the brevity of our time together and the multitude of people we've met since then, it's perhaps surprising that we still make the effort to get together, meeting in one of our home cities. But those early friendships, those early shared experiences, forged when we were in our 20s, imprinted us for life. We don't want to lose each other. Maybe we don't want to lose who we were then young and full of possibility and when we get together, we get that back. And we understand each other because we understand each other's shared experiences. The personal, the cultural. We don't have to explain stuff to each other. We just know. The effect is energizing and reassuring. It is worth the drive. Last week, governors convened in Des Moines to discuss some of the problems we all confront as chief executives of our respective states. Lets be clear, we didn't all agree on who should be the next President of the United States. But we recognized that millions of hard-working families depend on our ability to work through our fears, differences, and disagreements. Recent, deadly gun violence in Florida, Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas makes our need to reach political accord even more urgent. In order for our democracy to function, citizens must have faith in their representatives, and their representatives must give citizens reason to have faith. That means that we can no longer tolerate the bitter partisanship that engulfs our political discourse. And we must stand together and reject all forms of hatred, bigotry, and divisiveness. This November, Americans must come together to defend our values and defeat Donald Trump before he tears our country further apart with his hateful and divisive rhetoric. The choice is clear. Hillary Clinton has spent her life fighting for families and children and working across the aisle to make progress on pressing issues like affordable health care, gun violence, and climate change. Hillary Clinton believes that we are stronger together, and in order to grow as a nation, we must produce an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. Shes also laid out substantive plans to help America navigate its complex 21st-century challenges. Donald Trump is simply unqualified and temperamentally unfit for the presidency. He has spent his career making himself rich at the expense of working Americans. Donald Trumps business record includes four bankruptcies that wiped out shareholders and jobs. He outsourced the production of his apparel overseas, failed to fully pay hundreds of small businesses, and even established a fake university that preyed on people to max out their credit cards and tap their retirement savings. His hateful, offensive language and bigoted, dangerous policy proposals have divided our country. Donald Trump has defended his call to ban Muslims from the United States by comparing his plan to World War II internment camps. He has said there needs to be punishment for women who have abortions. He continues to praise dictators like Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi, and Saddam Hussein. And hes offended just about everyone, from women, immigrants, and racial minorities, to the poor and physically disabled. Instead of advancing important conversations and providing thoughtful solutions to our nations problems, Donald Trump would rather bully his opponents and ask the public to trust him because he has a very good brain. But with each hateful tweet and incendiary statement, he creates new schisms and more problems for us to solve. So while Bernie Sanders and Democrats stand united behind Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump has failed to unify his own party, let alone our nation as a whole. That means that a Trump presidency would result in hyper-partisan gridlock and deeper divides across America. Only Hillary Clinton has the potential to get real results for both parties. She believes in an America where everyone counts and where we each play a unique role in building our future together, regardless of your race, gender, ethnicity, or religion. This November, we have the chance to vote for tolerance, unity, and to prove that what binds our country together will always be greater than what divides us. A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the belief that were stronger together and thats a vote Ill be proud to cast. Everything will be just fine, said the figureheads of Iowa's GOP. The party will rally around Donald Trump and his presidential bid. But the picture of unity painted throughout convention week by state GOP leadership didn't always square with the grumbles from delegates in the wee hours of the morning. Trump is an "unconventional candidate," party leaders said. Gov. Terrry Branstad pointed to relatively high turnout in February's caucus as evidence that the brash real estate mogul has brought new voices into the party. Branstad is right. For now, it's Trump's party. A lot of mainline Republicans aren't happy about it. After the speeches ended, delegates descended on the bar adjacent to their hotel. Into the wee hours, they griped about Trump's electability. On several occasions, some went so far as to look ahead to 2020, or even 2024, before a sigh and a swig. The convention itself was more about what's wrong with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton than what's right with Donald Trump. You'd have been considered unstable if, a year ago, you predicted right-wing Sen. Jeff Sessions, of Alabama, would take to the convention stage and blast free trade deals. Free trade has long been the mantra of both major parties. But, again, the GOP is Trump's party now. National GOP agents spent the week grappling with the rank-and-file discontent. The main stage in Quicken Loans Arena was a court bench used to indict Clinton for her private email server, misjudgments in the Middle East and, of course, the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. GOP standard-bearers, particularly Speaker Paul Ryan, did a fine job of listing Clinton's faults. They said little about Trump's upside, though. That was reserved for his family and small cadre of true believers in Congress. The smaller stage of mid-morning breakfasts was the preferred choice to remind those unhappy with Trump's candidacy what 12 to 16 consecutive years of Democratic rule would mean to the GOP cause. "There are two words that say why someone should vote Republican this year: Supreme Court," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, repeated every time he clutched a microphone. Trump's questionable allegiance to the cause nor his lack of interest in government aren't insurmountable problems, the narrative went. The specter of four young Clinton appointees on the U.S. Supreme Court should be enough to scare straight any delegate whose commitment might be waffling. "If you're looking for a perfect candidate, go home, read your bible and wait for the second coming," Former Sen. Rick Santorum told Iowa delegates Wednesday morning. By all accounts, the dissonance between party bosses and the rank-and-file wasn't isolated to Iowa. Colorado's delegates were roundly booed Tuesday night when they refused to comply with party rules and willfully bind their votes to Trump. Colorado's protest was overruled by the party. Washington D.C. pulled a similar stunt. Some Republican power-brokers were already jockeying for position in the event Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is ousted following a Trump defeat in November, Politico reported Wednesday. On Wednesday night, Sen. Ted Cruz, winner of Iowa's GOP caucus, exposed the rift on a national stage by refusing to endorse Trump. Delegates booed the disloyal Texas senator off the stage. And all the doubts and rancor are happening against a weak opponent in Hillary Clinton, who just can't put the deeply flawed Trump away, polls show. Party leaders came to Cleveland facing an uphill battle. They had to convince delegates to fall in line, knock on doors and rally around Trump, a man with no ground-game to speak of. And they might have left Cleveland well short of that goal. There's universal agreement among Republicans that Clinton shouldn't be president. But an awful lot of them feel the same about Donald Trump. NATION Hoax calls cost Coast Guard $500K The U.S. Coast Guard says it's looking for a man who has cost the service about $500,000 after responding to nearly 30 of his fake distress calls. the Coast Guard says the 28 calls have originated from around the area of Annapolis, Maryland. Each call involved the same male voice and used an emergency radio channel. He's been making the calls since July 2014. The two most recent calls were made on the night of July 21 and the early morning of July 22. The Coast Guard also says hoax calls distract rescuers from real emergencies, putting both the public and the responding crews at risk. One dead, 2 hurt in shooting Richmond police say they are continuing to investigate a shooting near Virginia Commonwealth University that has left one man dead and two people injured. A police press release says the early Sunday morning shooting possibly stemmed from an argument between two groups of people. Police say the victims are not VCU students and that the incident is unconnected to the university. Responding to a report of people being shot, officers found two men and one woman wounded inside the common area of an apartment building at 2:45 a.m. The university says on its website that the shooting occurred after a fight at a party. 3 hurt in Orlando club shooting Police in Florida are investigating a shooting that happened early Sunday near a nightclub in downtown Orlando. Orlando Police say the shooting happened near the Venue 578 nightclub and that three people were injured, one critically. The two other victims had minor injuries. Mynews13.com is reporting that the fighting started inside the club before it moved outside. Employees told the station that they saw a man fire his gun in the air. A second fight then broke out. Later, more shots were fired in the club's parking lot. Club officials estimate 600-700 people were inside the venue at the time. WORLD Mexican mayor shot to death The mayor of a town in one of Mexico's most violent drug corridors has been shot to death, the second mayor killed in Mexico in two days. Ambrosio Soto was mayor of a township that includes Ciudad Altamirano, a known haven for drug traffickers in southern Guerrero state. The municipal website said Soto died Saturday, while his party, the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, said he died in an ambush Sunday. The party said the mayor had taken "special protection measures, after he dared to file complaints and complained that the security patrols had abandoned" the area. The party said 75 mayors have been killed in the last decade. Iran detains Iranian-American Iran's judiciary has confirmed the detention of an Iranian-American who was visiting family in Iran, the country's semi-official ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The report did not name the Iranian-American involved or say when he was arrested. It quoted the spokesman for the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, as saying that the man was arrested in the city of Gorgan on unknown charges and then referred to the Iranian capital for investigation. On Thursday the U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Iranian-American Robin Shahini has been detained in Iran. His girlfriend said she was worried Shahini was arrested over online comments criticizing Iran's human rights record. She said he was arrested in Gorgan, where he was visiting his family. She said that Shahini's sister told her Iranian authorities took him into custody on July 11 and that he has not been heard from since. Shahini, 46, left Iran in 1998 and lived in San Diego. He graduated in May from San Diego State University. Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, which means he cannot receive consular assistance. There are three dual nationals and a Lebanese man who have been detained in Iran in recent months. The four, who have ties to Britain, Canada and the United States, all are believed to have been detained by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force charged with ensuring the country's Islamic government remains in power. The charges they face remain unclear. In previous cases involving dual nationals, like the detention of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, officials initially announced indictments had been handed down without providing specifics. Later, Iranian news organizations with close ties to security services offered details of the charges. South Dakota is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the United States: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Badlands, and if you mentioned Wall Drug to nearly any stranger from New York to Los Angeles, they would know the place made famous by free ice water and 5 cent coffee. While the attractions themselves generate nationwide interest, South Dakotans do an amazing job highlighting these wonders and creating additional opportunities that continue to draw people from across the state, nation, and world. These larger-than-life landmarks hardly need an introduction, and for South Dakotans, neither do other statewide treasures like the Missouri River one of my favorite spots in all of South Dakota and Spearfish Canyon that winds its way through the Black Hills National Forest. The canyons natural beauty is evident to anyone who has driven from Spearfish down to Cheyenne Crossing or spent time hiking or camping in the canyons forest. These are good ways for visitors young and old to experience the canyon, but I believe were missing some big opportunities on this now-federally owned land. After hearing Gov. Daugaards concerns about Spearfish Canyon, I led the states congressional delegation in drafting legislation that would facilitate a land transfer between the federal government and the state of South Dakota that would include nearly 2,000 acres of land in the Spearfish Canyon and Bismarck Lake areas. If enacted, the federally owned land would be turned over to the state in exchange for several parcels of state-owned land in Pennington, Lawrence, and Lyman Counties. Take a look at state parks across South Dakota, and its pretty clear why we are pursuing this land transfer. State officials have repeatedly shown their ability to both protect the wide array of South Dakotas natural resources and provide access to the opportunities they offer. Thats exactly what we need in Spearfish Canyon and Bismarck Lake: a strong emphasis on conservation so these resources can be made available for future generations, and at the same time, a willingness to provide greater access to these recreational areas. Its my job as your elected representative to make sure the federal government is held accountable to the people of South Dakota. Transferring these acres from federal to state control will fulfill that responsibility and help create more outdoor opportunities for South Dakotans and the millions of visitors to our state each year. As Dewey Brooks drove his tractor from Wisconsin to Mount Rushmore, he realized that his 75-year-old farm machine had more uses than transporting him across multiple states. When youre going 12 miles an hour entering into these little towns and youve been on the tractor all day ... you dont feel like driving around for some place to eat," said Brooks, 64, of Wonewoc, Wisc. "I took canned vegetables and canned soup along and about two miles before my journey was ending, I would put these cans on the tractor engine, and when I arrived to my destination, I had a hot evening meal." On May 16, Brooks boarded his 1941 John Deere Model B tractor and began the roughly 1,000-mile journey from Wonewoc to Keystone, to visit the national monument, fulfilling a promise he made to his family to drive his fathers old tractor to Mount Rushmore. The tractor had been junked in the woods for 43 years. I said, Lord willing I want to make this tractor run again, and I want to drive it to Mount Rushmore ... . This year, I realized that Mount Rushmore and the John Deere are both 75 years old. I thought this is the year to get it done. Tractor a part of the family Brooks arrived at the monument on May 23, which would have been his fathers 101st birthday. His father was born May 23, 1915, and died in 2001. The tractor was special to Brooks because it has been a part of his family since 1942, when Brooks says his father and uncle, who owned a dairy farm, decided to purchase the tractor. The dairy farm still houses the barn in which the old tractor hauled the wood that was used to build the barn and work the farmstead. He remembers the day the tractor stopped working. I was 16 years old. We were cutting firewood with the tractor. We had a saw on the front of it. Its called a buzzsaw, at least it is in Wisconsin, he said with a laugh. We did not notice that the tractor had no oil pressure, and we ruined the engine." In 1993, Brooks and his older brother, Dale, decided to retrieve the old tractor from out of the woods. Thats when he promised his family that he would one day drive it to Mount Rushmore. Bringing it back to life In 2010 I met a retired John Deere mechanic and he gave me the inspiration to tear into it," Brooks said. "We started bringing the tractor back to life. I did not do any appearance restoration on it. I left all the bullet holes, all the original dents everything in the tractor but I spent time to make it run good." Brooks, who owns a body shop, made the trip standing up on the platform of the tractor while making his way down the shoulder of roads in Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. Farmers used to love to ride in the field standing up because you can see so well. I rode standing up most of the way. I only sat down 10 minutes at a time maybe every hour or so, just to rest my feet. Brooks spent $405 on gas during the trip. Every morning before starting out for the day, he would carefully check over the tractor and say a prayer. My prayer was for safety, not to break down, and my prayer was thanking God for the wonderful people I was meeting on the way," Brooks said. Those people included a sheriff who pulled him over just to meet him as he was crossing the Missouri River; a stranger who invited him to park his tractor at his home so he could rest for a night; two business owners in Keystone who befriended him; and the staff at Mount Rushmore who welcomed him with open arms. Just friendly people, Brooks said. I cannot over emphasize that because it just brought out the best in Americans." Each week the Senate is in session, I travel back and forth from my home in Sioux Falls to Washington, D.C., for hearings, votes and other meetings. While I love representing South Dakotans in Washington, its no secret that Im happiest when Im home in South Dakota, hearing directly from you. So, as I head back to spend several weeks traveling the state and connecting with you, I wanted to share some of the big things weve accomplished in the Senate over the last 18 months and look forward to hearing what you think. Our top priority has been to focus on policies that boost Americas economic security and strengthen our national security. We passed the first significant education reform bill since 2002, the first major trade promotion authority bill since 2002, the first significant reforms to Social Security since 1983, and the first major environmental law reauthorization since the 1990s. We worked hard to pass legislation that prevents states from imposing unworkable mandates on the food supply and protected the homeland by passing the National Defense Authorization Act, key cybersecurity reforms, and sanctions against the North Korean regime. I knew serving as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee would give South Dakotas interests the national attention they deserve, and the results speak for themselves. Congress passed and the president signed my bipartisan bill that makes landmark reforms to the Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency that oversees our nations rail system. These reforms will make the agency more accountable to the people who depend on rail transportation, like our agriculture producers. The president also signed the first multi-year highway bill since 2005 the longest since 1998. And all Americans will benefit from the aviation security reforms I authored as well as the consumer protection provisions included in the bipartisan aviation bill that I helped get to the presidents desk. All of that is good news for states like South Dakota where a safe, reliable, and effective transportation system is critical. While a lot was accomplished, theres a lot more we tried to do. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats and President Obama have made it difficult to approve must-pass bills like the Department of Defense appropriations bill, which would fund our troops, and the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which would fund key infrastructure programs and support our veterans. Despite bipartisan attempts to reach an agreement, Democrats opposed a $1.1 billion funding bill that would have helped tackle the nationwide Zika threat. Im most disappointed, though, that amid all of the threats we face from terrorist groups like ISIS, President Obama has yet to lay out a concrete and comprehensive plan to defeat the group and its radical ideology. These are important issues, and they deserve to rise above politics. If our paths cross this summer, please stop and say hello. I cant do my job without knowing whats important to you, and your feedback on what Im working on in the Senate is invaluable. If we dont catch up in person, you can always call my office, write me a letter, or send me an email. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you this summer. NEWELL | Top-notch speakers gathered in Newell to spread the word of positive activities, leadership, character and ethical behavior education along with prevention efforts in hopes that all community members can learn to form lifelong habits so that they can have healthy, contributing and rewarding lives. The training at Newell City Hall ran from 7:45 a.m. with registration and refreshments until 4:45 p.m. with an evaluation and review time. The training included six high-quality presenters, hosted by the Whatever It Takes Coalition. It began with a presentation by Joan Lindstrom, the Western Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, who spoke about how tobacco affects a person's health. She brought along up-to-date tobacco data as a handout. "The FDA is going to try to educate the public on the risk of E-cigarettes," Lundstrom said. "South Dakota Quitline in all 50 states has one of the most effective quitlines." JDC Commander Joe Guttierez spoke about juvenile trends, changes and service available in South Dakota. He has worked at the Juvenile Services Center for the Pennington County Sheriff's office for the past five years. "No matter what environment you come from, it's still a choice," said Guttierez of some of the youth he works with. He said peer pressure is a joke and that it is still the choice of the individual to participate in anything. He said he believes kids do things to fit in, and that it comes from within the individual. He shared a website called RedBookRights.org to encourage people to educate themselves and their children. After a short break, Sgt. Tony Harrison, Pennington County DCI and marijuana educator, shared a light-hearted delivery of a serious issue the many types of drugs out there law enforcement deals with regularly, with a special focus on marijuana-related issues. Harrison has spent 20 years in law enforcement, eight of those years working solely in the area of Narcotics with the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. He worked undercover to make drug buys, spent thousands of hours investigating drug crimes, talking with drug users, dealers and manufactures, and most recently has submerged himself into the marijuana culture. He has recently been transferred to the domestic violence department of the sheriff's office. Harrison spoke about drug levels and how different drugs are categorized by the federal government. "Level one is no medical value and high level of addiction, and level five is a low level and has medical value," Harrison said. The level of the drug is involved in sentencing. After a lunch break, Dave Jansa and R. Matt Walz, Keystone Treatment Center, a SD/ND Territory Representative Public Policy Strategist, discussed Alcohol and Your Health: A Wellness Focus for Prevention. These two men are working to form the South Dakota Alcohol Policy and Alliance. "Alcohol is costing us a lot of money from the taxpayer side," Walz said. "Seven out of 10 child abuse cases involve alcohol." Elaine Jensen, Butte County auditor, brought along a cost analysis for drugs and alcohol for Butte County. In 2006, the total expenditures for the departments of sheriff, state's attorney, judicial, jail, juvenile detention, and court appointed attorneys, and mental illness was just shy of $100,000. It escalated each year until the 2015 figures showed a whopping $1,564,124. "That was 40 percent of my general fund budget," Jensen said. She said the only place they can ever cut to help pay for alcohol and drug-related crime costs is from the highway department, and the costs for these types of crime were $200,000 more than what the overall highway budget was. The last speaker of the day, Nora Boesem and her husband, began fostering children in 2011 and have fostered more than 100 children for the state of South Dakota and the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe. She was a recent speaker at the TEDx Conference in Rapid City on June 22. TED is a global foundation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Boesem began Roots to Wings in 2008, a non-profit to help advocate and support people living with FASD. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. "When our first foster children were diagnosed with FASD in 2012 and I asked for help, I was told there was none," Boesem said. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be so severe that is can be contrary to life." Boesem also started a parenting group with support of BMS in Rapid City, and in 2009 she was appointed to the governor's mental health board. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and is currently working toward her MSW at Arizona State University. She spearheads a program called Facing FASD. Boesem spoke about What FASD is and Ways to Deal with FASD. She talked about how these disorders affect the brain. The Coalition provided the opportunity for continuing education credits through the Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Professionals. The entire training and meal as well as activities and door prizes were provided free by WIT Coalition. MINNEAPOLIS | The FBI is appealing to the public for help in solving a decade-old murder on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation in central South Dakota. Victoria Jane Vicki Eagleman, 33, disappeared the weekend of July 28, 2006, from the Lower Brule community, southeast of Pierre. The body of the 5-foot-3, 120-pound Lakota woman was found Aug. 23, 2006, in a culvert along Medicine Creek, just off the Native American Scenic Byway in Lower Brule. On Friday, the FBI'S Minneapolis division doubled its original reward offer to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her disappearance and death. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the FBI in Pierre at 605-224-1331 or South Dakota State Radio at 605-773-3536. Editor's note: As Pennington County firms up plans to relocate and expand its local drug and alcohol detoxification center known as "detox," the Rapid City Journal is publishing a two-part series on the center and some issues surrounding its operations. Part I ran on Sunday, July 17. The series concludes today. A success story for the drug and alcohol detoxification center in Rapid City began on a November morning in 2014, when commands from Rapid City police officers pierced the cold air, and a suspect stood as though frozen. Suddenly, he raised his hands and dropped two baggies as he did so, perhaps hoping they would sink into the freshly fallen snow. Instead, they landed on top of it, their crystal-meth contents clearly visible. Inside the mans trailer house, the police found syringes and pills and other signs of drug use. Amid that toxic mess, there was a 3-year-old girl. The girls mother, Amanda Fanella, was one of five adults in the trailer who tested positive for drug use. The little girl and her 6-year-old brother, who was at school during the raid, were taken into state custody. The adults were arrested. I fell to my knees, Fanella said later, recalling her reaction to losing her kids. Fanella was a methamphetamine addict. Her primary pursuit in life was scrounging up $50 every couple of days to get more drugs. Sometimes, she shoplifted and sold the ill-gotten goods to come up with cash. By the time of the trailer-house raid, her addiction had already gotten her arrested for petty theft, and for failing to send her son to school. Now she was facing her first felony charge. It should have been rock-bottom, but it wasnt. She pleaded guilty to meth ingestion and was placed on probation and ordered to undergo evaluation and treatment for drug addiction. Three months later, Fanella was pulled over for running a stop sign, and one of her passengers was caught with digital scales covered in marijuana residue. Fanella was taken to jail for a probation violation, where she again tested positive for meth. It was then, finally, after meth had turned her into a thief, a negligent parent, a felon and a probation violator, that Fanella decided to fully face her addiction. She went to the City/County Alcohol Drug Program, or detox facility, on North Lacrosse Street in Rapid City and asked for help. Drug use with dad Fanellas path to that pivotal moment really began in California, where she grew up. She remembers her father being abusive to her mother before he left the family. At 14, according to Fanella, she saw a friend shot to death in a gang-related incident. In high school, she experimented with cough medicine and pain pills to numb her anxiety as she moved through four different high schools in two years. During her 10th-grade year, she dropped out. She saw her father only periodically during her childhood, and when she reached adulthood she went to live with him in South Dakota, where he had settled. Fanella said her dad was addicted to pain pills, and she started taking them, too. Soon, both father and daughter were breaking down the pills and injecting them. Eventually, they moved on to injecting meth. These days, the 26-year-old Fanella tells her life story in a matter-of-fact way, and its only when she talks about her dads enabling of her addiction that her eyes moisten with tears from a combination of anger and sadness. He didnt force me to do it, she said. But when youre influenced by your father, and all you want to do is to be close to him its kind of hard. It was, in fact, her dad who dropped the baggies of crystal meth that morning outside their trailer when the police showed up on Nov. 25, 2014. Hes now serving a sentence for drug-related crimes at a minimum-security correctional work facility. Meth takes its toll Fanellas own drug-fueled run-ins with South Dakota law enforcement began in September 2013, when she was arrested with a male suspect for trying to steal a $50 socket set from a Sears store. She pleaded guilty to petty theft and was ordered to pay a fine of $120. About five months later, in February 2014, a principal reported Fanella to authorities after Fanellas then-6-year-old son missed 24 days of school. Eight of the absences were unexcused, while the reasons cited for the others included illnesses and head lice. It was brought to our attention on 2/3/14 that the home the family is currently living in is not adequately insulated and is believed to have resulted in the entire family battling illness, the principal wrote. However, no doctor notes have been provided. Teacher had difficulty completing his 2nd quarter assessments because attendance has been so poor. Fannella was charged in March 2014 with the misdemeanor crime of failing to send a child to school. In her application for a court-appointed defense attorney, she listed no job, no income and no assets. The prosecutor eventually agreed to defer the case if Fanella sent her son to school consistently for the remainder of the school year and for the first three months of the next school year. It was about three months into the next school year, in November 2014, when members of the local Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team showed up at the trailer Fanella shared with her children, her father and an assortment of other adults. Detox becomes first step Fanella did not go to detox after the trailer-house raid. She did attend eight weeks of intensive outpatient treatment, but she knew even as she was completing the program that she was not ready to go it alone. I looked at my counselor and said, Im not ready, Fanella recalled. She said, Theres nothing I can do. The weekend after graduating from the program, Fanella started using meth again. When she tested positive for meth after a traffic stop, it was a violation of the probation she'd been granted after the trailer-house raid. Facing prosecution for that violation, she decided to seek admittance to detox as the first step in a more committed attempt to break her addiction. She was admitted and spent four nights in the sterile-looking, windowless facility in the basement of the county-owned detox center on Lacrosse Street. After the last trace of meth was gone from her body, she was accepted into an intensive inpatient treatment program, where she lived for nine months. Meanwhile, the prosecution of her probation violation continued, along with a new ingestion charge. She emerged from those cases with orders to pay various fines and court costs, and with another chance at probation instead of further jail time. She thinks her acknowledgement of her addiction and her decision to seek help at detox may have won her some leniency. Counting her time in detox and treatment, she said shes now gone about 13 months without using meth. She has a job in the food-service industry and has regular visits with her children, who are living with one of her sisters after a stint in foster care. Fanella lives with a co-worker now but would like to have a place of her own eventually. She would also like to regain custody of her children. During these first months on her own after completing treatment, shes focused on small victories. And the local detox program was a critical component of her ongoing recovery. Ive never been proud of myself, she said, until now. Those imagining the future of downtown Rapid City envision a more vibrant area from West Boulevard to the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The Draft Downtown Master Plan issued earlier this month lays out steps to connect those two areas while adding job opportunities for graduates, housing options and creating a couple of activity spaces similar to Main Street Square. We want to continue to grow on the investment weve seen downtown, said city long-range planner Sarah Hanzel. The city is asking citizens and businesses for input. The West Boulevard Historic Neighborhood Association already has voiced concerns about activity that may encroach on the residential area. Hanzel says planners hope to connect the neighborhood to the rest of the downtown area while keeping what makes each neighborhood special. Hanzel said physical ways to do that include changing streetscapes, lighting and walkways. All the development over the years along Mt. Rushmore Road brings up valid concerns for the residents in the West Boulevard Historic Neighborhood, Hanzel said. Thursdays first open house public review of the plan drew nearly two dozen people to the Journey Museum for conversation with planners. Board member Patrick Roseland said the West Boulevard Neighborhood Association was initially upset about not being contacted about the plan in its beginning stages. Concerns grew when members saw the initial plan and found development would be encroaching on their homes. They took a few blocks into west border of West Boulevard and east of St. Joe and South street, in all about six blocks that they took, and are calling it the Downtown Historic Core, Roseland said. He said they knew there was a desire to spread out the downtown business district and they were concerned about that extension being so close to their neighborhood. However, planners assured Roseland and others that more housing options is the goal for that area in ways that wont disturb the historical character. "We tried to better highlight the goal and make it clear that the intent of the plan is not to have development that is detrimental to their neighborhood," Hanzel said. "What we hoped to do was make it clear that while that is an urban neighborhood with proximity to commercial development, the plan is not to go in and do construction. We want to emphasize the preservation of buildings in the historic district." Roseland said he left Thursdays open house, "feeling more comfortable about it." "There are still a lot of unanswered questions," he said. "But they are going to answer those and keep us in the loop now." On the other side of town, the "innovation district," will offer Mines students and grads more options for internships and jobs in their fields, and nearby housing, Hanzel said. Two more places similar to Main Street Square also are planned. Hanzel said they would like to see one adjacent to the School of Mines and another possibly on Third Street, although Second and Fourth streets are options. I dont mean a public square with fountains, but more like gathering places for people, Hanzel said. It will be a mix of open space, retail and dining. The draft plan and all appendices are available on the project website at rcdowntownplan.com. The year-long creation of the plan involved consulting firms, city departments, the Business Improvement District, Destination Rapid City, downtown stakeholders, civic partners and the community at large. The process began last fall and included an online survey that received more than 1,500 responses. There also were interviews with focus groups, stakeholders and a design workshop. The public comment period on the draft plan began July 8. The evaluation includes open houses where the community is invited to attend and come and go as the event goes on. No formal presentations are given, but city staff and consultants who worked on the plan will be available to discuss the draft. Remaining open houses will be conducted 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 26 and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 27 at the Journey Museum, 222 New York St. The city Public Works Committee will weigh in on July 26, the Legal & Finance Committee on July 27 and the Rapid City Common Council on August 1, during each board's regular meeting. The plan provides a road map for the citys downtown future and we encourage the public to read the plan, provide feedback by writing, calling or attending the public open houses, Hanzel said. Gone for weeks, the bronze bust of revered Rapid City leader Everett Ep Howe turned up actually head down in bushes on North Street Friday night. The missing artwork, valued at $10,000, was reported to the Pennington County Sheriffs Office at 8:30 Friday night and caretakers from the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce began work to reclaim the statue about 9:15 p.m. It is completely unharmed, Howes granddaughter Tara Mechaley said Saturday. She said she was asked to identify and authenticate the art. The Pennington County Sheriff's office said a passerby told officers he accidentally discovered the piece while escorting his children playing Pokemon Go, the free site-finding game now hugely popular with mobile device users. He said he decided to take it home in Hill City then thought it might be better to give it to the police, Mechaley said. The chamber in social media lauded the efforts of Deputies Doug Kimball in Hill City and Rapid City-based Eric Fenton for recovering the important metallic portrait. On the way back to Rapid City, Ep even got to go on a couple calls the chamber reported. Howe died in 2004 at age 88. By then he was a local legend for long supporting community service groups and local military personnel, gaining Ep Howe Day honors from Ellsworth Air Force Base. He was a partner in a local construction firm that built such things as the concessions complex at Mount Rushmore. After the 1972 flood, he was handed the community rebuilding assignment for the Rapid City Area Disaster Foundation. He was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1999. Given that legacy, it was quite a shock when we found out it had been taken from the chamber, Mechaley said of her maternal grandfathers likeness. No leads have developed in the investigation of the busts theft, said Julie Jensen, executive director of the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau. She said it was not an easy task to take the bust, which was secured to a wooden pedestal behind a locked door in the chamber's second-floor offices at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Personnel have since scoured facility monitoring video footage in hopes of catching a glimpse of the art being removed. Anyone with knowledge of the busts theft is asked to contact the Rapid City Police Department or Pennington County Sheriffs Office. ABERDEEN | It took a lot more than three clicks of slippered heels to spark the idea and creation of a family-oriented theme park in Aberdeen. That much is obvious as Storybook Land celebrates its 40th and, appropriately, ruby anniversary. Doug Johnson, director of the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, credits Leo Weber, Ben Benson and Bob Gruman with being the wizards behind the popular destination. After taking some inspiration from Storybook Island in Rapid City, the city put in motion some of the first steps to enhance a portion of the 210-acre Wylie Park. They included a land and conservation grant in 1973, thus turning the area from buffalo pasture to a blank page for a children's story-themed park. Gruman doesn't remember any grand opening to the park, because progress was so slow in the early days. But 1976 saw the installation of its first features the "Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater" house and a water mill added to the creek. Gruman is chairman of the Storybook Land Committee for Sertoma Club. The organization took the project under its wing in the early 1970s, establishing a close-knit partnership with the city. "Bob's been here all 40 (years)," Johnson said, while visiting in his office along with Gruman, late last month. "I've been here 36 of the 40." Johnson began with the city as a park superintendent and was eventually promoted to director. Creative force Leo Weber, who ran Weber Floral for years, was essentially the illustrator for the early look of Storybook Land. He created many of the fiberglass fairy tale and nursery rhyme figures that inhabit the park. His creative spirit, work ethic and generosity meant the figures were made at a fraction of what they would cost had they been purchased. "Leo built a lot of those early items, built them over by his floral business. He was kind of self-taught," Johnson said. "We didn't have the funding, so without that low cost and those hours of volunteerism," Storybook Land might not have had the initial momentum to become what it is today. Weber contributed more than a dozen statues and displays before his death in August 1997, according to American News archives. He was 87. One of his last projects was the "The Cat and the Fiddle" in 1996. It was paired up with "The Cow Jumped Over the Moon" that Weber had created earlier. Weber's first creation "Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe" was done in 1980. Gruman remembers Weber as being very particular in crafting just the right looks for his projects. Lasting legacy Ben Benson has been a member of the Aberdeen Sertoma Club since 1965 and was its president in 1978-79. He was a member of the Aberdeen Parks and Recreation Board from 1974 through 1980. He was the former chairman of the Sertoma Club's Storybook Land Committee, prior to Gruman taking the role. In 2005, when he was 83, he was still volunteering and built the "bad witch's" legs from mannequin parts donated by Dacotah Prairie Museum. Through the years, he worked with Weber on numerous projects. During a 2005 American News interview, Benson had said of Weber, "He taught me everything I know." Benson is still an associate member, but is no longer active with the Sertoma Club. Slow, steady growth In the early days of Storybook Land, growth was steady but slow. The first features, besides the "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater" house, were the "Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe," ''Goldilocks and the Three Bears," ''The Cow Jumped Over the Moon," ''The Three Little Pigs" houses, "Old MacDonald's" farm and a pheasant pair all to the credit of Weber, community and Sertoma volunteers and area artists. Once folks started visiting the park more regularly, Sertomans became even more determined in their fundraising efforts. The group, with help from some city funding, was able to work on larger projects, such as the Noah's Ark visitors' center. The ark was also built largely by volunteers in 1981 for around $14,000. Castle construction The park's most momentous leap came in 1987 when it opened the cornerstone of any fairy tale story. "What really brought this thing together was when we were able to get this castle built," Gruman said. "That really provided us with a facility for activities and children's events," Johnson said. The castle cost about $300,000. The Sertoma Club raised $100,000, with the city providing matching funds. The rest of the money was raised through a buy-a-brick campaign and community fundraisers. More than 1,800 commemorative bricks were sold for $25 each, according to "Storybook Land," a biography of the park put out by the Sertoma Club and the Parks and Recreation Department. The castle put the park on the map as a prime family destination, and with the attendance spike, it generated more interest, which helped get the attention of more donors. "We are amazed at the generosity that exists in this community. You go out to solicit for these projects and you rarely get turned down. It brings a lot of traffic to the community in the summer," Gruman said. New visitors' center Nearly three decades after the first visitor center was built came a new one, with a gift shop, restrooms and an activity room. It cost roughly $1.3 million and opened in 2009. Much of the money was from Sertoma donations. While the price tags of features like the carousel, balloon ride, roller coaster and an upgrade to the Storybook Land Express train easily break six figures, there is no admission to the park, in keeping with the Sertoma spirit. Modestly priced tickets to the rides generate revenue that goes back into the park. "It's Sertoma who raises the money and the public who contributes to building these projects," Johnson said. "The city's role is administering the operation, maintenance and upkeep." He estimated that $6 million in private donations have been invested in Storybook Land through the decades. Currently, the city and Sertoma are finishing off fundraising for their latest projects, like Humpty's Great Fall gravity coaster that opened last year. The work never really stops, and there is no end in sight for Storybook Land's growth. Gruman is hoping more younger people join the Sertoma Club to make it and the park's future strong for the next generation. For now, "there's no retirement plan (with Sertoma), so we have to keep working," Gruman said. "Seeing all the kids out there playing, that's payment enough for me." PIERRE | The 2016 presidential campaign is one for the ages and the aged. Republican nominee Donald Trump turned 70 on June 14. Democratic nominee-to-be Hillary Clinton will be 69 on Oct. 26. Trump would be the oldest president if he wins. Clinton wouldnt be far off. The record-holder is Ronald Reagan. He was 69 years, 349 days old when he was inaugurated Jan. 20, 1981, and just shy of age 78 when he left the White House. One mans life doesnt make a rule, but his second term raised questions about what age might be too old. President Barack Obama will be 55 on Aug. 4. No one is questioning his mental acuity as he finishes. For a while this past winter and spring, many people looked at the Republican and Democratic fields of candidates and wondered: Would a third Obama term (if legal) be such a bad thing? Were now at a point where the two major party candidates are older than standard retirement age and could be collecting pension checks. Because of their proximity in ages, its difficult for either side to argue that Trump or Clinton is too old. Its also difficult to say America is getting its best. For many, Trump triggers disgust. For many, Clinton triggers distrust. For him, its deliberately insulting tweets. For her its blatantly unsecured emails. And the guy who was polling so well among younger voters in the Democratic primaries and caucuses, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is older than both of them. He turns 75 on Sept. 4. One of Trumps children, Ivanka, made an appeal to her generation on Thursday night, saying she hasnt automatically voted Republican or Democratic but favored the best candidate. She also put forth what might be the winning answer for her father. Ivanka Trump, who turns 35 on Oct. 30, talked about the disparity in wages for women and men. The largest gap, she said, was between working mothers and men. This should be Hillary Clintons issue as the woman in the contest. Yet Donald Trump, presuming he would follow through if elected, is appealing to the demographic blocs where he is weakest. The paradox is that Trump also is essentially telling business owners they need to spend more, on average at least 20 percent more for working mothers on their payrolls. Thats roughly what South Dakota teachers on average are getting a 20 percent bump with the tax increase approved by the Legislature last winter. People change jobs and change cities for 20 percent raises. Trump also is trying to connect with women on community safety, especially mothers who have lost children to street violence. That, too, was Clintons issue. Trump shared the same convention stage as Peter Thiel who proclaimed he is openly gay. That is another paradox. The Republican National Committee approved a resolution in January that started transgender-bathroom fights in many states. Here, Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed state restrictions but agreed to a lawsuit fighting President Obamas non-discrimination national policy. The week in Cleveland attempted to show a more inclusive Donald Trump. The 100 days ahead will tell us whether that is the case. Now comes Hillarys week in Philadelphia. RAPID CITY | H. LaMar Dodson, 89, passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2016. H. LaMar Dodson was born Nov. 21, 1926, in his grandmothers house near Lewiston, NE, to Grant and Mazilla Dodson. He was one of seven brothers and spent his first few months living in a sturdy sod house before the family loaded their belongings onto a railroad boxcar and moved to Venango, NE. LaMar enjoyed his childhood on the family farm and graduated from high school before joining the Navy during WWII for a two-year hitch aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Munda Bay. He met Bea Dahl, one of his brothers schoolteachers, when he returned home and they were married in 1947 a union with the love of his life that lasted almost 69 years. They moved to New Underwood a few years later where they ranched and farmed with their three children for over 30 years. Not long after buying the ranch, he and two neighbors dug the holes to install the first telephone poles in the area in order to obtain 'party line' telephone service. Voted Outstanding Farmer of the year in 1960, he loved to joke that he had been very busy, out...standing...in his field! At his wife's urging, LaMar officially retired in 1989 and bought a home in Rapid City, but remained active for several years in the harvesting and calving seasons at his son's ranch in New Underwood. He had an unshakable faith in God and as his residences changed, he became a member of three separate churches, serving as a trustee for 28 years in one of them, a deacon in another and organizing the Overseas Christmas Box Mailings in yet another. He was active in many farm organizations and served an elected term as County Chairman of the Soil Conservation Board. A trip to D.C. in the late 1970's to join more than 30,000 protesting farmers seeking policy change through the AAM "Tractorcade to Washington" was a very eventful and memorable experience. LaMar served as President of the New Underwood Lions Club and helped with various fundraisers and service projects. Driving his 1948 John Deere tractor or his 1966 Red Chevy in local town parades became a favorite activity for LaMar and parade attendees could always count on seeing him wearing a wide grin and sporting a friendly wave. Continuing his volunteer efforts long after retirement, he particularly enjoyed 'patrolling' for the Rapid City Sheriff's Department (keeping the community SAFE from unlicensed campers!) and assisting volunteer friends with Meals on Wheels deliveries. A highlight in his later years was a WWII Veterans Honor Flight trip to Washington, DC. His commitment to walking a mile every day paid off on that trip! He was proud to have visited all 50 states in his domestic travels and enjoyed trips to many foreign countries. LaMar loved fishing, hunting, and playing cardsespecially a satisfying hand of 'Somerset' at reunions with his beloved brothers. Grateful for having shared his remarkable life are his wife, Bea; son, Steven (Michaela) Dodson of New Underwood and granddaughter, Lisa Dodson of Colorado Springs; daughter, Kathleen Dodson-Smith (Craig Smith) and granddaughter, Kelsey Dodson-Smith of Minneapolis; daughter, Nancy McGinnis of Spearfish and grandson, Clint (Jenny) McGinnis, and great-granddaughter, Mila McGinnis of Fort Collins. Survivors also include two brothers, three sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at South Canyon Baptist Church, 3333 W. Chicago St., in Rapid City, with visitation one hour prior. Reception immediately following at the church. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 29, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A memorial has been established. An online guestbook may be signed at the Kirk Funeral Home website. Flags across South Dakota have been at half-staff for most of the last two weeks. Following the violence perpetrated in Dallas, France and Baton Rouge, President Obama issued three consecutive proclamations calling for the lowering of the flag. Even though our state has not been directly affected by this recent senseless violence, we are not untouched. We too feel the losses, and we mourn with the rest of the nation. The assassinations of police officers in Texas and Louisiana weigh particularly heavily on our hearts. The sad events in these cities have reminded me how critically important our state, local and tribal law enforcement officers are to our communities, and that they deserve our appreciation. The vast majority of those who enforce our laws live selfless lives. Theyre courageous, hardworking and dedicated individuals. They work long hours and willingly put themselves in harms way to protect us. They dont know what theyll encounter when they approach a vehicle or knock on a door. Their spouses and children make sacrifices as well, adjusting to the hours of the job and assuming brave faces when their loved one responds to an emergency call. Still, law enforcement officers are not perfect. Sometimes they make mistakes, and unfortunately, there will always be a few who do not represent their profession well. But just as it is unacceptable for police to stereotype or target individuals based on the color of ones skin, individuals should not stereotype police officers based on a few bad actors. Stereotyping is wrong and individuals should rather be judged individually and slowly. When mistakes are made, deliberate processes must be followed to review the facts, and legal consequences must be assigned as justified by those facts. Vigilante justice has no place in a civilized society. It is because of the men and women who enforce our laws that we live in a free and civil society. There are many places in the world today where people live in chaos and face daily uncertainty over whether theyll be able to protect themselves and their families. Because of our law enforcement officers, South Dakota is not one of those places. As we mourn the senseless loss of life, occurring in so many places this year, let us also resolve to express our support and appreciation to those who protect us from violence. Let us show respect for the law and for each other, and convey our appreciation to those who put their lives on the line to protect us. Teens and preteens from Darby, Hamilton, Corvallis and Stevensville participated in Community Cooking Connections a cooking class that served free meals to the community, July 18-22. The program was started by a local teen who believing healthy lifestyles are a result of family meal times. It began in Hamilton in 2007 and now the cooking and serving takes place in Corvallis. Wendy Fawns and Pat Meakin are the adult supervisors. The program has teen and college mentors that cook with the apprentice chefs. The program teaches about the benefits of families eating meals together, nutritional food preparation and serving skills. For the young learners, there is a focus on critical thinking, leadership skills and a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. It provides free community meals and is a fun place of encouragement. Students in the program shared their thoughts on the class while they were at the commercial kitchen in the Corvallis Methodist Church making meatballs for the evening dinner. Chef Jaide Cain, 13, said she likes cooking and feels great about the free community aspects. Jenna Ellis, 8, said she likes to come because it is a break from her brother and learning to help out helps her mom. Olivia Pedraza ,7, said she likes making chocolate chip cookies. Cambree King, 10, said it was her first time cooking and she likes the great compliments the patrons give her about the food she made and her skills as a server. Gabe Pedraza, 10, said he likes to see the smiles on the faces of the people who come to eat. He liked cooking the chicken alfredo crepes. Anola Goodson, 15, is cooking for the first time. Teagan Sowders, 10, said he enjoys making German pancakes in an oven. Rachel Walkef is a senior chef in her fifth year of Community Cooking Connections. This is a program that demonstrates how hard work can be fun, change lives and can provide a meaningful reason to learn, Fawns said. The recipes for meatballs varied depending on kid preferences. Hamilton resident Becca Poliquin, 20, was selected as one of 25 Under 25 by the Forward Montana Foundation in Bozeman. The organizations focus is on Montanans from high school to age 30. Its 25 Under 25 program identifies and celebrates Young movers and shakers from across the state who are shaping the present and future of Montana, according to their website. Poliquin moved to Hamilton when she was 16. She attended Hamilton High School for a year when she was selected to attend Montana Girls State. There she was selected a Girls Nation Senator, went to Washington, D.C., met the president and graduated in 2014. She studies at Carroll College and was nominated by her former college debate partner. The 25 Under 25 is a new program by Forward Montana, Poliquin said. They want to highlight young people in Montana that are working to make Montana better. I didnt know I was nominated until I was selected. Poliquin said she was nominated because of her debate experience with Carroll College. I had a lot of success my freshman year, she said. I won an award like Rookie of the Year for the Northwest and that is the most successful a female Carroll debater has been. Poliquin said she has been to two national tournaments and took part in a showcase debate against the Irish National Champion. Poliquin said she is working to make debate more accessible to women. Debate has a really high turn-over rate for women, she said. It is lofty, men dominated and male rhetoric dominated. I attended an all female tournament in Seattle and have attended a lot of equity forums. Im the vice-president on the Carroll debate team and I want to make it a friendly place for women. Poliquin said it is important for women to engage in debate to help them see the world. Debate helps you see the world in multiple facets, in shades of gray and with nuances, she said. I think it is important for everyone to engage in that type of education and sometimes women miss out. Poliquin said debate is a lot of fun but she knows women who have tried it and found it to be not accommodating. Poliquin said she is an English major, will soon switch to history and was well prepared by Hamilton High School. I took the most AP classes that I could, she said. I took the AP government test before they had the class and that made them decide to add the class. Hamilton High School was absolutely instrumental in preparing me for college. I started doing speech and debate there and thats when I found my passion and found a college I loved. Poliquin said being selected one of the 25 Under 25 is a nice little pat on the back. It is a feather in my cap, she said. Im active in the Helena writing community and have spoken at open nights for women, presented on research panels on feminism and Ive done readings for lit magazines. When you do that and love it, its nice to have all your efforts be recognized together as a whole. It feels good. The Forward Montana Foundation celebration for 25 Under 25 will be 57 p.m. on Aug. 5 at Bank Street Pocket Park in Bozeman. Guwahati, July 24 : Security forces on Sunday had foiled a major bid of Paresh Baruah led ULFA(I) after recovered four IED's from Upper Assam ahead of Independence Day celebration. According to the reports Assam police, army and CRPF had jointly launched operation at Bahalhbi area under Sapekhati police station in Charaideo district and recovered a powerful IED weighing 2.5 kilogram. Security forces also apprehended two ULFA(I) militants in connection with and they were identified as Nirab Saikia alias Nityajit and Haren Rajkonowar. In separate incident security forces recovered two IED's from Tinsukia railway station and Dibrugarh old railway station. On the other hand, police and army had recovered a powerful IED weighing 3 kilogram from Kamarchuki village in Dibrugarh district. A top police official said that the outfit group has planned major explosions in oil rich Upper Assam districts ahead of I-Day celebration. 'We have already sounded high alert across the state and launched massive operation against the militants,aA the police official said. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati, July 22 : To control flood and soil erosion of the Brahmaputra river, Assam government will send a expert committee group to China to study the management of Hwang Ho river which also known as Yellow river and the World Bank will bear the entire expenses of the tour. The World Bank will extend technical expertise, know-how and funding to Assam government to control flood and erosion of the Brahmaputra and turn the mighty river into that of immense resources. It was decided in a meeting of the delegation of the World Bank with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his office chamber at Assam Legislative Assembly in Guwahati on Friday. The WB delegation told the Assam CM that taming rivers like Mekong, Mississippi and Brahmaputra pose a great challenge. 'Brahmaputra River cannot be compared to any other river and efforts will be made by the World Bank to bolster the anti-erosion measures initiated by the Government with technical expertise and know-how to turn it into that of immense resources,aA the delegation pointed out. Acknowledging the fact that controlling Brahmaputra River is a Herculean task, Sonowal said the State Government has accorded priority to solving the problems of flood and erosion and help from the World Bank would give the much-needed impetus. Pointing out to the tremendous water resources potential of the State, theAssam CM said that the State Government wants to make the economic edifice strong, vibrant and resilient by controlling the Brahmaputra. Sonowal said that many affected people whose land was gobbled up by the Brahmaputra pushing them to penury view the river as that of sorrow. The State Government wants to change the negative perception of scores of affected people towards the Brahmaputra River which constitutes the lifeline of the State and turn it into that of happiness and prosperity by according top priority to the problems of flood and erosion,'A Sonowal said. The Assam CM emphatically pointed out that besides building the economic foundation of the State on the vast resources of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, the State Government has also accorded priority towards strengthening the Inland Water Transport system. The Assam government has submitted a comprehensive Assam Flood Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project to the tune of Rs 1500 crore to the Central Government. The Centre has made an in-depth evaluation of the project and handed over to the World Bank for necessary sanction. * A power point presentation was made by the Water Resources Department on the occasion. The meeting was attended, among others, by Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Commissioner and Secretary to Chief Minister, senior officials of the Water Resources Department and officials of World Bank. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Afghans help a man who was injured in a deadly explosion that struck a protest march by ethnic Hazaras, at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016. KABUL, July 24: The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a peaceful protest in the Afghan capital on Saturday that killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 200, marking the first time the extremists have struck Kabul and raising fears of their growing strength and capability in Afghanistan. The attack was the deadliest to hit Kabul in 15 years of civil war. It struck a demonstration by Afghanistan's Hazara ethnic community, who were marching for a major regional power line to be routed through their home province. The Hazaras are Shiite Muslims, most Afghans are Sunnis. Footage on Afghan television and photographs posted on social media showed a scene of horror and carnage, with numerous bodies and body parts spread across the square. Bloodied survivors were seen being dragged clear for help, others walked around dazed or screaming. Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, but one of them was shot by police before he could detonate his explosives, according to Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said that three city district police chiefs were injured and another three security personnel were killed. Witnesses said that immediately after the blast, security forces shot in the air to disperse the crowd. Secondary attacks have been known to target people who come to the aid of those wounded in a first explosion. Road blocks that had been set up overnight to prevent the marchers accessing the city center or the presidential palace hampered efforts to transfer some of the wounded to the hospital, witnesses said. Angry demonstrators sealed some of the area around the square, and prevented police and other security forces from entering. Some threw stones at security forces. Outside hospitals, huge queues formed as the public offered to donate blood. The Afghan Interior Ministry said that 81 people had been killed and 231 wounded in the bombing. The ministry's deputy spokesman, Najib Danish, said the blast was the biggest in Afghanistan since 2001, when the Taliban launched their brutal insurgency after they were toppled by the 2001 U.S. invasion. According to the presidential spokesman, Chakhansuri, the organizers of the march had been warned of the possibility of an attack. "We had intelligence over recent days and it was shared with the demonstration organizers, we shared our concerns because we knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to our community," he said. Senior Hazara leaders were notably absent despite having attended a similar protest in May. The organizers could not be immediately contacted for comment on Chakhansuri's allegations. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its news agency, Aamaq. IS has had a presence on Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, mainly in Nangarhar province, for the past year, but this is the first time the extremist group has struck the Afghan capital. The bombing raises concerns over IS's growing capabilities in Afghanistan. Officials believe the fighters are made up of disaffected Taliban insurgents and members of Pakistani militant groups, and that they receive some funding and arms from IS in Syria and Iraq. In Nangarhar they have fought Taliban fighters as well as Afghan security forces, sometimes seizing control of whole districts in the east of the province. A surge in the number of attacks worldwide linked to the Islamic State group has been seen as an attempt to distract from a string of battlefield losses suffered by the extremists in Syria and Iraq, where the borders of their self-styled caliphate are shrinking. During the holy month of Ramadan which ended at the start of July a series of attacks, most linked to the Islamic State group, killed nearly 350 people in eight countries. Ghani has announced an upcoming military offensive in Nangarhar, expected to start within days, aimed at eliminating IS from the country. The Taliban issued a statement denying involvement in Saturday's attack, describing it as an attempt by IS to "ignite civil war." The statement may in part reflect the animosity between the two militant groups; Hazara were especially persecuted during the Taliban's extremist Sunni rule between 1996 and 2001. Ghani declared Sunday a day of national mourning. He ordered a commission be set up to investigate the incident and described the attack as a clear effort to divide Shiites and Sunnis. The Interior Ministry issued a ban on "any kind of public gathering and demonstration" for the next 10 days. The move could be aimed at controlling any outbreaks of sectarian animosity. The second-most deadly attack to hit Kabul since 2001 also targeted Shiites and was seen as an attempt to stoke sectarian violence. In 2011 a suicide bomber attacked worshippers marking Ashura, when Shiites commemorate the death of the prophet Mohammed's grandson, killing 70 people. That attack was linked to a Pakistani militant group. The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, denounced the attack. He said in a statement that "we strongly condemn the actions of Afghanistan's enemies of peace and remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the National Unity Government." The U.S embassy in Kabul also issued a condemnation. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the "heinous attack was made all the more despicable by the fact that it targeted a peaceful demonstration." He said the U.S. and the international community stand firmly with the Afghan people and their government "to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability and prosperity." The head of the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, called the attack a "war crime" because it had specifically targeted a large number of civilians. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "despicable crime" that "targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights." Violence had been widely feared at the Hazaras' demonstration, the second to take place over the electric power line. The so-called TUTAP power line is backed by the Asian Development Bank with involvement of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan routed the line through the Hazara heartland of Bamiyan province, but was changed in 2013 by the previous Afghan government. Leaders of the marches have said that the rerouting was evidence of bias against the Hazara community, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's estimated 30 million-strong population. They are considered the poorest of the country's ethnic groups, and say they suffer pervasive discrimination. CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal KATHMANDU, July 24: CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the latter's office in Shital Niwas today. During the meeting, matters relating to the latest political developments were discussed. Following the meeting, Chair Dahal said that President Bhandari was expecting for an easy outlet to the present political discourse. He further added that President Bhandari assured him that no controversial steps would be taken by her in that regard. Similarly, chair Dahal further said that the political course will be forwarded as per the constitution, prevalent law and practice to given an easy outlet to the present impasse. RSS KATHMANDU, July 24: The National Private and Boarding Schools' Association Nepal (N-PABSON) has urged one and all not to cause any physical damages in the educational sector. Issuing a press statement here today, N-PABSON Chairperson Karna Bahadur Shahi has drawn the attention of the concerned authority towards the incident where an unidentified group of persons set Ideal Higher Secondary School's bus in Lalitpur last Thursday. Chairman Shahi has also appealed to the protestors to resolve their issues through talks and dialogue and out an end to strike. The government has been demanded to free schools from the fear of vandalism and other untoward activities. RSS Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the governments recommendation to President for removal of constitutional hurdles for formation of a new government was not unnecessary. The four time Prime Minister Deuba has said so while taking part in the discussions over the no-confidence motion on Sunday. During the function Nepali Congress president Deuba not only criticized the incumbent government but also underlined the need of national consensus to implement the constitution. KATHMANDU, July 24: Protesters including the President of the Youth Association Nepal (YAN) Rajiv Paharai have demanded immediate action against the Nepali Congress lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh for making unbecoming remarks against Prime Minister KP Oli in the Legislature-Parliament yesterday. Pahari, addressing a protest rally organized in Baneshwar today demanded to probe into the citizenship certificate of Singh as well. He also challenged Singh to prove PM Oli as a 'mental patient' otherwise, he should publicly apologize and Speaker should suspend him from the post of Member of Parliament. Meanwhile, YAN spokesman Prabhat Bikram Katuwal urged all to strengthen national unity to strengthen the nationalism adding that it was the responsibility of youths. RSS Tony Lloyd challenges Home Secretary to back local policing Editor's Choice, Law & Order, Politics Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd calls on the new Home Secretary to give local police the resources it needs to fight crime and make Greater Manchester safer. Speaking as new Home Office figures show that recorded crime in Greater Manchester has increased by 12% between April 2015 and March 2016, he said: Rising crime rates will be of concern to local people, as local policing is still over-stretched and under-resourced. Looking at the crime figures in detail, we have continued to see an increase in sexual offences, with more victims coming forward. We need the resources to deal with these and traditional crimes such as burglary. Thats why I call on the new Home Secretary to back our police service and make sure it has the means to keep our communities safe and protect the vulnerable. Amber Rudd says she is committed to cutting crime and keeping this country safe and secure. I challenge her to come good on her words. Sexual offences and violent crime have once again seen the biggest increases in reported crime, while theft, vehicle crime and shoplifting have also gone up. Robbery and burglary offences have stayed at similar levels. For the first time, the national figures include an estimate of cybercrime across the UK, showing that one in ten adults has been a victim in the last year. Tony added: Fraud can have a devastating impact on peoples lives, with criminals finding more sophisticated ways to prey on people, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Fraudsters dont adhere to regional or national boundaries, so by including fraud offences in the national figures we can get a more accurate picture of the scale of this issue across the country. We must do more to tackle fraud, and enable police to work together to target criminals, protect the vulnerable, and to raise awareness of how to report it. Recorded crime statistics for rolling 12 months ending March 2016: All crime 225, 414 12% increase Sexual offences 5,841 18% increase Violent crime 52,174 25% increase Shoplifting 16,712 6% increase Vehicle offences 23,911 9% increase Theft 105,822 5% increase Robbery 3,523 0.3% decrease Burglary 28,079 0.4% increase Criminal damage and arson 34,272 15% increase Drug offences 4898 24% decrease Facebook Comments Shirley Contreras lives in Orcutt and writes for the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society. She can be contacted at 623-8193 or at shirleycontreras2@yahoo.com. Her book, The Good Years, a selection of stories shes written for the Santa Maria Times since 1991, is on sale at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, 616 S. Broadway. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A classy, atmospheric take on the hysteria of new parenthood, Ali Abbasi's Shelley wears its influences boldly on its sleeve (and right there in the title), only the Frankenstein's monster here is a baby born by way of our modern medical miracles. Louise and Kaspar are a thirty-something couple well along in their successful twentyfirst century careers. They have chosen to live in the pleasant isolation of a picturesque lake (pregnant with islands) in the Danish countryside. Enabled by their wealth and privilege, they grow their own food and even forgo using electricity for the sake of simpler, slower living. The only thing missing from their life is that they cannot biologically have children. When a young Romanian housekeeper, Elena, arrives on their dime and quickly bonds over wine and intimate conversation, Louise appeals to her to act as a surrogate mother. The delicacy of such an interaction is not lost here, and some of the films best work takes place in the psychologic set-up between two very different women. I have no doubts these kinds of proposals happen in real life and perhaps they go professionally and smoothly as they possibly can. When they happen in the movies, any astute viewer knows things will not go anywhere near according to plan. The offer to Elena is thus: instead of her working for them for two or three years in Denmark, they will give her enough money to afford to return to her own young son (and extended family) with enough money to buy an apartment in Romania and make a step up in her current family lifestyle. Elena would need to lend her womb for nine months or so to one of Louise's frozen eggs thereby artifically inseminated by Kaspar's seed, and carry a child to term for them. The director establishes the misty lake countryside early in the picture (blessedly bringing back the slow zoom!) perhaps to evoke the insular isolation where Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley hung out for the summer in 1816 with Lord Byron, Percy Shelley and a few others whereby she conceived her iconic novel on the modern Prometheus. She effectively realizes Elena and Louise, the former, a practical minded but open girl and somewhat experienced mother who quietly scoffs at Louise's license towards spiritual healers, crystals and other new-age paraphernalia. Elena's patience begins to be seriously tested as Louise starts to take over responsibility for her body as the baby grows. A glass of wine or snuck cigarette, a rash or even Elena's weight sizzle with conflict, and the tension between whether or not to go to doctor is palpable. Who owns what in this transaction of bodies and life? Louise's perceived anxieties over new motherhood in someone else's body starts to push the tone towards a favourite cross-cultural, upscale freak-out film of mine in recent times, Magic Magic. However, in a bid that fails to address so many consequences of this first and second act build, the writer-director seems to say, to hell with the consequences, I'm going to pack another film in the final act. Now I like that other film, in fact, I'd love to see another hour of that other film, but really, I question the motives and intent to not deal with what is so elegantly set up in the initial core thesis of the film. It takes a rare filmmaker to pull off a Psycho or an Audition, and a bold attempt is made in this, Abassi's first feature, but it leaves too many details unaddressed. For the record, I am not one to dwell on plot holes if the artistic choices are daring and yield treasure. However, with the careful tone of the film so meticulously established, is smashed by a its third act yank with a more slavish pandering to genre conventions (however upscale in their execution!) Realistic characters simply go too far, too fast and the last act felt too rushed to this viewer. I get the notional that parenthood radically changes everyone who attempts to do it right; it certainly does. But it does so gradually, and the process involves a village, no matter how isolated your choice of lifestyle. Patience is a virtue. There are, nevertheless, many effective images (one involving Leo punching the air several times, another involving the return of the new age shaman to consider the child) that brings in the male side of things, and together there some superb interpretations of how motherhood and fatherhood are never exactly how you would imagine it, particularly the stress levels when you are doing it on your own. But so much potential is left on the table here. And I have to be *that* guy who points out one of the films key supernatural elements involving water (baptism) and pain. Because the hospital, birth and hand over of the baby is glossed over, I find it rather lazy that the screenwriting and filmmakers never address how you kind of have to bathe the baby a few times before discharge. In her rush to examine the themes of parenthood, she forgets to glue things properly together. I would say this might not bother me for many films bud it did for this one. If your film is about consequence, perhaps one might be wise to consider the consequences of not considering the consequences. This film would require at least another hour to do so. And I wish could have spent another hour with the quality front-loaded, character based filmmaking that Ali Abassi is clearly capable of. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). In the wake of a sudden, traumatic death of a loved one, shocked survivors struggle with the aftermath of grief and the necessity to make practical decisions like funeral arrangements. So last fall, the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office launched a victim services unit, which sends volunteers out to aid survivors of unexpected deathshomicide, suicide, drowning, or fatal crashes, or if theres a house fire where someone dies, explains community engagement deputy Jessica Wion. Twenty-two volunteers, in teams of two, sign up for twelve-hour shifts. In one case in November, two volunteers and a sheriffs sergeant visited the home of the victim of a fatal car accident to meet the victims spouse, family, neighbors, and fellow church members. Says volunteer Edwina Jarrett, When we realized there were children, we automatically gave them the information about Eles Place, which supports grieving children. Jarrett learned about the program while attending the sheriffs Citizens Police Academy. Other volunteers were recruited from community groups. All went through twenty hours of training. Sheriff Jerry Clayton emails that the volunteers allow our deputies to focus on the accident or crime scene, confident that the victim or family is being well cared for and supported. But partly because the service isnt yet well known, in the programs first eight months, the volunteers responded to just seven situations (four other families declined assistance). We are now expanding the type of crime that we will respond to, Jackson emails, so I anticipate that number to increase soon. A female Oakland police officer who was involved in a major collision in her vehicle in East Oakland Saturday night was shot at by a male suspect while still stuck in the vehicle. The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 73rd Avenue and Holly Street in East Oakland, as CBS 5 reports, and the officer was ambushed by an armed African American male in his 30's. Luckily, she was not struck by his gunfire, and was soon transported to Highland Hospital to be treated for her collision injuries. KRON 4 puts the location of the shooting at the 1900 block of 73rd Avenue and Weld Avenue. It remains unclear whether she was pinned inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting or not. In a show of support for the officer, Mayor Libby Schaaf and other city leaders visited her in the hospital, where she was reportedly alert and conscious. The suspect remains at large. Meanwhile, the Chronicle just published a piece about how high tensions are running between cops and citizens, particularly in the East Bay. The piece cites the reports of a man with a rifle on the pedestrian bridge over I-80 last week in Berkeley that set off a major manhunt, which came close on the heels of the ambush that killed three police officers in Baton Rouge. Berkeley officer G.Y. Brown who's spent 27 years on the force tells the paper "It's absolutely gotten worse" since Ferguson, in terms of racial tensions on the streets. Brown, who is African American, says that she often gets taunted by protesters who say "Youre not really black," and "Youre token" because she's in uniform. Sgt. Chris Stines of Berkeley, who is white, tells the paper that what really scared him recently was an incident in which police responded to a report of a man with a loaded semi-automatic rifle, which he refused to put down. The guy ended up surrendering without incident, but he said they had a difficult time clearing the crowd away for safety "because everyone had their phones out and insisted on staying to film everything." Related: State Says It's OK For Oakland To Put Civilian In Charge Of Police; Sergeant On Leave Was Fired Before SIOUX CITY | Raleigh Zucker has her sights set on a new mission for Transit Plaza. "We want to make it a discount center," said Zucker, manager for the Sioux City shopping center at Transit Avenue and South Alice Street. "Because there are no discount centers here that I know of. Everything is high end or regular price. So I thought if it gets to be discount, itll be a little unique." Transit Plaza is already home to three flea markets -- Sweet Repeats, Anytime Auctions and Treasures, and Mission of the Messiah Thrift Store -- and a discount furniture store -- Unclaimed Freight Furniture. The furniture store has been at Transit for a decade, while the flea markets are more recent additions. Anytime Auctions and Treasures holds auctions every Sunday. Zucker said theres space for lease for even more discount retailers. With high visibility just off Lewis Boulevard, and ample parking, the shopping center offers advantages to help attract customers. Tammy Schnetzer, owner of Sweet Repeats, said the abundance of flea markets in the area is good for business. "The more flea markets you can get in one area, the better off you are," Schnetzer said. "Because everybody carries their own kind of stuff and does it their own way." "We can all succeed, we just need to work together." Transit Plaza, which was once one of Sioux Citys largest shopping centers, has had to refocus its efforts following the loss, in recent years, of some of its largest tenants to new retail complexes such as Lakeport Commons. "It has slowed down a lot in [Transit Plaza]," said Rod McFarland, owner of Anytime Auctions. "You get out to the mall, and the common areas, and Singing Hills Boulevard - they're more of the big majority of the retail shops. Without your big name retailers, it slowly dies off." In addition to the aforementioned discount stores, Transit Center also is now home to a fitness center, a game room supply center, a flower store, a vacuum store, a restaurant, and a horse tack and shoe repair shop. Zucker said she continues to search for a tenant for the 20,000-square-foot space that Fareway vacated in 2012 when the Boone, Iowa-based chain relocated its Morningside supermarket to 4276 Sergeant Road, across from Southern Hills Mall. "Im working really hard," said Zucker. "Id like to have a grocery store, but theyre afraid because of Fareway. I do think a discount grocery would be great." Zucker said she also is in talks to add a convenience store to the plaza, which she said would be a great asset to the neighborhood. A new Mexican restaurant will open at the former House of Q location before Labor Day of this year, she said. "I've been a busy camper," she quipped. There are also plans for the Transit Plaza merchants to engage in a large advertising campaign, but no concrete developments have been made yet. Several of the tenants are enthusiastic about the possibility. This would be kind of promoting all the merchants going in together, promoting the Transit Plaza shopping center down here," said Bob Roe, owner of Bob Roe's Point After at 2320 Transit Ave. "We kind of got away from those promotions, it kind of died out, but were trying to revive it." About 20 years ago, many of the Transit Plaza merchants engaged in such promotions. These endeavors also included community events such as a petting zoo and reindeer visits during the holiday season. One of the knocks against Disney has been that despite a wide variety of princesses in the companys TV and film productions, there has not been one to represent the Hispanic population. That changes with the launch of Elena of Avalor. The new animated series for the Disney Channel is set in a fictitious world, but the princess and the country where she lives definitely have been inspired by Latin cultures and folklore. The series will follow Elena (voiced by Aimee Carrero), a 16-year-old ascendant to the throne of the fairytale kingdom of Avalor. Carrero, who was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up in Miami, knew from the moment she was cast this wasnt just another in a long line of acting roles. I think about the importance every single day. Its an incredible honor. There are no words to describe it, Carrero says. I guess thats not good for you since you are writing a story. Carrero found plenty to say about the show, which exists in the same world as the mega Disney Jr. hit Sofia the First. Its a little easier for her to talk about the series now that the first season has been completed. Seeing little girls dressed as Elena, who tell her how much they are inspired by the character, has been enough to bring her to tears. Carrero knows how they feel since she spent a lot of time at Disney World, where her uncle worked and an Imagineer. She was moved as a youngster by the Disney princesses, especially those who showed an adventurous side such as Mulan, Jasmine or Cinderella. What she sees as an adventurous quality she calls curiosity in herself. Carrero is certain she got into acting because she was curious what it would be like to be another person. In a moment of pure honesty, Carrero admits that acting came along by default because she couldnt sing or dance. Its worked out so far as her credits include Level Up, Blue Lagoon: The Awakening, Devils Due and The Americans. Shes also one of the stars of Young & Hungry. She hopes to be able to continue with that series or star in a potential spinoff along with doing the voice work. Elena of Avalor is the first voice work for Carrero. She loves the challenge because it gives her the chance to work with a different kind of partner, the animators. And, there are the writers who have created a character who while not perfect is very positive and willing to learn I hope people pick up that leadership is not about power, Carrero says. Its about doing what is best even if that comes at a great sacrifice. I hope that kids can see that. The bigger picture is that now Disney has a Latina princess to go along with the other princesses from around the world. There are no plans now, but because her series is animated, theres always a chance a Disney princess might stop by to visit in the future. Carreros choices for guest spots include Tatiana, Mulan or Sleeping Beauty. Carrero laughs and says that Snow White would probably be terrified of Elena. The rest of the cast includes Jenna Ortega, Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown, Carlos Alazraqui, Emiliano Diez, Julia Vera, Christian Lanz, Jillian Rose Reed, Joseph Haro and Jorge Diaz. SIOUX CITY | When Gerri O'Donnell visited St. Vincent School of Nursing in 1958, the Granville, Iowa, native didn't intend to study there, but as she toured the school with one of the Benedictine Sisters, she knew it was where she was supposed to be. "I still do square corners on my own bed," said O'Donnell, who learned the basics of nursing arts -- how to make a bed and give a bath -- from Sister Agatha, who also drilled into her students' heads the importance or reading medication labels three times before administering drugs to patients. The nursing profession has changed dramatically since O'Donnell, now of Sioux City, graduated from St. Vincent in 1961, and even more so since Verna Welte, of Sioux City, earned the black stripe across her white starched nursing cap -- the designation of registered nurse -- in 1955. O'Donnell, Welte and Barb Small, a member of the school's last graduating class, will join more than 70 fellow alums to reminisce Sept. 10 during an all school reunion at the Sioux City Convention Center organized by the St. Vincent Alumni Association. St. Vincent School of Nursing shuttered its doors in 1972. The women say likely due to a lack of Benedictine Sisters to teach and the high cost of running a school. At the time, nursing diploma programs were folding across the country as education shifted to colleges and universities. "I just thought the diploma program was excellent in sharing the hands-on and the book part. I was just perfect," said Small, of Sioux City. "I still think those diploma nurses today are the best ever who graduated." Living and learning St. Vincent School of Nursing, located at Sixth and Jones streets, was founded by a group of Benedictine Sisters who opened St. Vincent Hospital in 1907. The Sisters cared for patients until the fall of 1911, when St. Vincent School of Nursing admitted its first class of nursing students. The school was the first nursing school in Iowa to offer training in critical care. Welte and O'Donnell recalled wearing a white dress and white cap with white pantyhose, white leather shoes and a blue and red cape. The cape was abandoned sometime before Small, of Sioux City, arrived. "We had to starch them," Small said of the caps, which were decorated with small black dashes in the corner. Students received a full black stripe when they became registered nurses. When Welte was a student at St. Vincent, she said she lived in a house because the dorms hadn't been built yet. Each house, where 8 to 10 students resided, she said, had a house mother. By the time O'Donnell was admitted, between 30 and 40 students were living and learning in a three-story tan brick building, where capital letters above the glass front doors still spell out St. Gertrude Nurses Hall on what is now Mercy Medical Center's campus. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the city's other Catholic hospital, merged with St. Vincent in 1977 to form Marian Health Center, which changed its name to Mercy Medical Center in the summer of 1999. Classrooms were located on the lower level. The upper two floors were used as dorms. O'Donnell said her room had one closet, which she had to share with her roommate. They slept in single beds and bathed in a community shower down the hall. When Small arrived, the school had grown so much that four students were assigned to a room, now furnished with bunk beds. "We had a house mother as well in 72' and there were rules. You had to be in by midnight on Friday and Saturday and otherwise it was 10 during the week. You were reprimanded if you weren't in," Small said. School days began at 6:30 a.m. with Mass. A full day of classes or clinical experience -- taking care of patients under supervision -- at the hospital followed. All three women say they learned a lot from longtime Sioux City physician George Spellman, who they described as an "innovative" doctor who knew everybody's name. "If Iowa City was doing it, we were going to be doing it," Welte said. "We were the second city in the state to start dialysis. We were the first city in the state to start a chemical dependency unit." O'Donnell recalled a patient she cared for who had Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. She was only able to breathe with the help of an iron lung, a medical ventilator that was often utilized for polio patients. "We were able to spend probably seven or eight hours with the iron lung, so that was a good experience," she said. "That was a privilege to rotate us there." In 1952, Sioux City hospitals treated 923 cases of polio, a viral disease that causes paralysis. Fifty-three patients died locally at the height of the epidemic when Welte was in school. After one of the nursing students came down with polio, she said the director of the school forbade all nursing students from caring for polio patients. O'Donnell chimed in, "She was not able to graduate from the nursing program. She was at the Marcus nursing home. They even put in a generator to take care of her." Times have changed Attending school at St. Vincent wasn't all work and studying. When the weekend rolled around, some students headed to the Tomba Ballroom, the current home of KCAU-TV, and Shore Acres, now the Sioux City Community Theatre, where dances were held. Others went to the roof of St. Gertrude Nurses Hall to sunbathe, until word got around to the Sisters that patients could see them from their hospital windows. Small said students once turned a dorm room hallway into a slip n' slide with soap and buckets of water. The house mother wasn't pleased when she saw water dripping down to the floor below. "It always seemed like there was plenty to do if you could just get out of the place," Welte said. In the hospital, it wasn't uncommon to see doctors puffing on a cigar or cigarette at the nurses station in the early 70s. Small said she knew when the orthopedic surgeon was in the department she worked in by the smell of his cigars, which he snuffed out before entering a patient's room or the operating room. "That was just accepted because people didn't know about the hazards of smoking then," Welte said. "All nurses took cigarette breaks and those of us that didn't wished we would've." Small recalled funeral home hearses picking up injured patients instead of an ambulance and bringing them to the emergency room, where nurses tended to "every lump and bump." Before urgent care centers came along, ERs took care of the patients who didn't know where else to go. "We did punch biopsies to look for cervical cancer. We did blood transfusions," Small said. "We would code someone in a room and come out and do an out-patient procedure." Welte remembers the first death she witnessed, that of a young woman who succumbed to cancer. She said death is something "you never get used to." "Therapists were unheard of. We could go to the chapel, but there was no one who said, 'You need to see a therapist,'" she said. "I think you were dealing with so much that you just learned to accept it and make the most of it and help the patients and families get through it. That was the most important thing." The death of a four-year-old boy stands out in Small's mind. She said the child, who was unconscious, was carried into the ER by his stepfather. Upon examining the boy, she said bruises found on his body and his head injury didn't seem to jive with the stepfather's story that the boy fell from a stack of hay bales. "We lost the case in court. We didn't feel that we ever did justice for that four-year-old," she said. "So today we have a child advocacy center to work with those kids and families." Welte marvels at the ways the health care field has changed. She said patients are more involved in their health care decisions than they used to be. The knowledge base that today's nurses have, she said, is "overwhelming." Welte charted on paper. Today, nurses document on computers at the bedside. They specialize in areas such as critical care and pediatrics, go on to do research and become hospital CEOs. "The only thing that hasn't changed is the human body," Welte said with a chuckle. SIOUX CITY | After recent fatal attacks against police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana some police departments are taking special precautions to protect officers. Police in Minneapolis, Baltimore, Seattle, New Orleans and some other U.S. cities have directed their officers to double up while on patrol while racial tensions are still high from recent police shooting deaths. Siouxland law enforcement leaders say such tactics are not feasible for their departments. "We don't have the staff," Woodbury Sheriff Dave Drew said, adding there isn't a need for such measures in the area. "No," Sioux City Police Capt. Marti Reilly said simply to the talk of doubling up patrols. Reilly said there is no need for the precaution in Sioux City, because to present a danger "you would have to have the support of radicalized people, and I don't think we do. I just really think we have a good relationship with all members of the community." "When events like this happen, the public seems to they are always behind us but they seem to come out more," Drew added. People have shown their appreciation with numerous other acts such as anonymously picking up the tab at restaurants for officers in uniform. The SCPD also has seen the outpouring of local affection for its officers. Reilly said preschoolers have brought treat bags to the station, people have left doughnuts and someone made hot dogs in the station parking lot over the lunch hour. "It's been really kind of reassuring that our community has gone out of the way to make sure we know they appreciate us, and we appreciate them back," Reilly, who oversees the department's Uniformed Services Division, said. "It does make you feel you are living in the right place." "I cant think of a place that I have been in the last week where someone hasnt came up to shake my hand and tell us, 'We are praying for you guys and we support you,'" he said. "The public rallies around us. They see these events and realize that 99 percent of the people support law enforcement." However, that remaining one percent has turned violent against three local officers in the last three years. In February, Isaiah Mothershed, 19, while handcuffed, reached into a sofa and allegedly shot and wounded Sioux City police Officer Ryan Moritz in the leg. Officer Jill Ohm was shot in the face and seriously injured while on duty on Oct. 3, 2014. Jamal Dean shot Officer Kevin McCormick in the head during a routine traffic stop on April 29, 2013. McCormick suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Officers are aware they are putting their lives at risk every day, and the recent attacks provided a stark reminder. "The one thing that (Chief Doug Young) told us was don't overreact, don't under react. Stay on your toes, stay sharp. Intensify the awareness of your surroundings," Reilly recalled. "The deputies encounter situations all the time that can be relatively dangerous," Drew said. "We just tell them to have a head on a swivel ... (and) you got to be really cognizant of what you're doing." Nationally, tensions were first sparked in 2014 after the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white officer in Missouri, which led to the widespread Black Lives Matter movement. Reilly said he is not aware of any active minority group frustrations with law enforcement in the city, but credits again the department's relationship with the community. "We have a good relationship with local NAACP people, and I think if anything was going to cause problems, if they had any word of it, they would communicate it to us," he said. Sioux City NAACP President Flora Lee agreed with his assessment, and wants to continue working with local law enforcement. Sioux City's Human Rights Commission and NAACP worked with the police department to develop a public forum called "Driving While Brown." The forum was created to foster discussion and cooperation between law enforcement and citizens after the high-profile police shooting two years ago in Ferguson, Missouri, as well as the shootings of local police officers. "There has been a lot of communications with those joint projects, and I think we need to continue to do that," Lee said. Lee assures that the recent attacks on law enforcement officers by African-American suspects in Dallas and Baton Rouge are not related to the Black Lives Matters movement. "The Black Lives Matter Movement is not a violent movement. It's a movement that says, 'Hey, there's many of us blacks that are being incarcerated, being killed, let's keep in mind why is this happening," she said. According to the American Automobile Association, fewer than half of todays teens obtain their state-issued drivers license when they turn 16. AAA cites a few reasons why these teens eschew what used to be a rite of passage: no access to a vehicle, its lost its social status, insurance is too expensive and there are other means of transportation available to them. Ordinarily, this would only be a footnote in the, My, how things have changed since my day file, but from my experience as the director of a non-profit resource agency I am concerned about how it portends an even bigger societal barrier called the ID Divide. I hardly blink when asked to produce ID while paying by check or credit card. I bring ID with me to quicken the pace of the voting line and to gain entrance to staged public events, such as concerts, and, of course, Im always ready to show ID to airport security. In the world of helping agencies, though, we are spending more time calling around, searching for ways to help our clients get identification documentation because a lack of proper ID is an absolute barrier to moving out of poverty into a financially stable situation. Applying for a job? Your employer needs a copy of either one primary form or two secondary forms of ID. Applying for help with housing? Government programs for housing and other forms of assistance require official ID. Cash a check or money order? Banks require ID to complete financial transactions. If you require medical attention, health care providers must have verification before proceeding with any service. There are many circumstances that create an ID issue for individuals. In domestic violence situations, the abuser often destroys all personal items belonging to the spouse and children or the survivors abruptly leave a dangerous environment without their belongings; homeless people are vulnerable to assault and theft of what little they have; people with addictions or who suffer a mental illness often lose their ID; prisoners re-enter society without any documentation; and natural disasters care little what they annihilate in their path of destruction. In one relatable instance that left a deep impression on me, a hard-working family recently lost everything in a fire. In the aftermath, both parents kept working full time and two children worked part time outside of school hours while they searched for a new home at the peak of Sioux Citys housing shortage. They had exhausted emergency assistance for their motel rooms, so while they were saving money for a security deposit they were also paying for their temporary lodging. To be eligible for a government program that helps with that deposit, they had to produce a birth certificate for each family member, but some were missing due to the fire. In order to make a breakthrough, an agency advocate helped this family collect, complete and submit all of the proper paperwork to request birth certificates from another state. Each state has its own form, its own fees and its own list of what they will accept before issuing certified- or state-issued identification, so it takes time, money, internet access, long-distance phone calls and perseverance to successfully navigate this process. For some folks, especially homeless, the process can be extraordinarily daunting and expensive. Birth certificate fees vary by state and only cashier checks or money orders are accepted. To get a photo ID at a Department of Motor Vehicles office (or at a courthouse where DMV offices have been closed), you must produce documents to prove your name, Social Security number and residency in that state. States list several different documents that, combined, will meet their requirements, but it can also become an absurd cycle. Women often must produce a marriage certificate because their name has changed since birth, so they need to have a photo ID or birth certificate to get a copy of their marriage certificate. Vital records offices can offer alternatives, but unless you have an agency advocate how would you know that? To help prisoners, Iowa and other states DMVs will accept prison ID, release forms or even a notarized probation officers statement as one of two accepted documents, but not all states will. The ID Divide is an easily overlooked, but very problematic barrier that totally shuts down economic mobility and requires a level of funding and staff resources that are very challenging for helping agencies to sustain. A helpful step in the right direction would be for state governments to issue no-fee state IDs to homeless or indigent persons based on a range of attainable, alternative documents. Next week: Jim Wharton Katie Colling is the executive director of Women Aware, a private nonprofit agency. She was elected to two consecutive terms on the Woodbury County Extension Council and serves on several civic-organization boards. She and her husband, Ron, live in Sioux City. By not, in effect, legislating from the bench by reinterpreting the state's Constitution, the Iowa Supreme Court made the proper ruling earlier this summer in a case about voting rights for felons. Next year, the Legislature should do its part and take the lead in further study and discussion of this issue. In a 4-3 decision on June 30 in the case of a woman who lost her right to vote after a 2008 drug conviction, the Supreme Court ruled the Iowa Constitution's lifetime ban on voting for anyone convicted of "any infamous crime" extends to all felons, thus upholding the state's permanent ban on a convicted felon's right to vote. What, exactly, did Iowa's founders mean by "any infamous crime"? Did they, in fact, mean "any felony"? We were uncomfortable with having the Supreme Court rewrite the meaning of "any infamous crime" and do not believe executive action is the proper course to follow on voting rights for felons. (Gov. Terry Branstad in 2011 issued an executive order reversing former Gov. Tom Vilsack's 2005 executive order in which he created an automatic process for restoration of voting rights for all felons who completed their sentences.) Rather, we believe the Legislature should take another look at this issue with an eye toward providing clarity by debating, then adopting a specific, reasonable definition for "any infamous crime," either through an amendment to the Constitution or, if possible, a change in Iowa Code. The issue is squarely in the General Assemblys hands," University of Iowa law professor Todd Pettys told The Des Moines Register following the Supreme Court's decision. "The Legislature clearly has a central role to play here, and if they dont want all felonies to count as infamous crimes they can enact legislation that says so." Iowa State Sen. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, said she will pursue a change in state law. In my opinion, the majority ruling seems to invite the General Assembly to amend current Iowa Code to redefine infamous crime for purposes of disenfranchisement as something other than all felonies, Wolfe told The Register. I certainly think the average Iowan would not agree that all felonies, every category of felonies, reaches the level of infamous crimes. We agree with Wolfe and do not believe this is a one-size-fits-all matter. To his credit, Branstad in May adopted changes designed to streamline the process convicted felons must follow in seeking to have their right to vote restored. Still, we believe our state should go further. Iowa is, in fact, one of only three states (the others are Florida and Kentucky) to permanently bar convicted felons from voting unless they complete a process for restoration. As a state, Iowa should want convicted felons to become rehabilitated, productive members of society after they have served the punishment for their crimes and should support this goal through action. To these ends, we encourage state lawmakers to revisit the subject of voting rights for them during next year's session. The road to the vote of no confidence was painful, even deadly. The numbers were potentially much closer. Three former prime ministers Michael Somare, Mekere Morauta and Julius Chan voted with the opposition but a fourth, Paias Wingti, decided just before the vote to support the government. He could have brought with him up to 26 votes, and this may have triggered others to abandon O'Neill. IN WHAT seemed to be an overwhelming display of strength, the PNG Parliament last Friday voted by 85 to 21 to retain Prime Minister Peter O'Neill until the 2017 national election. In PNG, with a weak party system, votes of no confidence are the major way PNG changes prime minister between elections. Until the start of the year, O'Neill's dominance appeared supreme but escalating economic problems and attempts to close down the police fraud squad after the arrest in April of the Prime Minister's lawyer, a Supreme Court judge and the attorney-general led to growing student and civil protests. Police fired into student protesters on 8 June as they tried to march to Parliament when it was due to consider an earlier vote. Parliament immediately adjourned until after a constitutional deadline for such votes. Frustration continued to build. A student was killed and buildings destroyed as tensions spread to a university in Lae. The churches expressed displeasure. Pilots started an effective strike. Port workers said they were ready to down tools, and doctors and nurses threatened to walk off the job. Against the wishes of the government the Supreme Court intervened, ordering that Parliament meet to consider a much deferred no-confidence motion. The government quickly set up 'camp' at a resort in faraway Alotau to minimise the chances of its members being enticed to the opposition. The party system is very weak in PNG. The government controls a very big money stick as opposition members lose full and timely access to $4 million each year for spending in their electorates. On Friday, the debate on the no-confidence motion was limited to two speeches on each side before the debate was gagged. The opposition reiterated concerns about the Prime Minister's refusal to face corruption allegations in the courts a situation exacerbated by his sacking of the attorney-general and the Commissioner of Police, defunding the anti-corruption task force, attempting to dismiss the heads of the Police Fraud Squad and failing to establish the much-promised Independent Commission Against Corruption. The opposition also emphasised economic mismanagement. The PNG economy has been in serious in decline since 2014 with a 7% fall in employment, 16% drop in business sales, 4% drop in private sector credit and a fall in real non-resource GDP per capita of over 5%. Government cash shortages and foreign exchange restrictions are hurting business and public services. The government response focused on the importance of political stability in times of global uncertainty and, in reference to O'Neill, that he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in the courts. So what happens now? The most likely scenario is a reluctant compliance with the parliamentary vote and a focus on the 2017 election. Civil society will be determined to do what it can to ensure a free and fair election. For his part, O'Neill will be intent on maintaining his increasingly strong grip on the police and defence forces. It is likely he will try to corral the media, especially social media, which continues to be an irritant. If civil unrest continues, an emboldened PM may use instruments such as a state of emergency to stifle opposition (one was declared earlier this year to collect power bills). Recent developments in Turkey indicate how the power of the state can be used to suppress opposition. If he feels under threat, a state of emergency could even be used to justify deferring the election. However, the centralisation of power in the Prime Minister's office and selective application of constituency funds provides a huge incumbency advantage. O'Neill is a tough and canny politician. If re-elected, his tendency towards autocracy could entrench a pattern of slow decline in democracy and impair development such as happened in Zimbabwe. And this creates opportunities for greater influence from countries with less democratic and market-oriented belief systems. The strategic imperatives for Australia are complex. We need a friendly and cooperative PNG, and O'Neill knows it. A Papua New Guinea governed by a tough, authoritarian leader who knows how to ruthlessly manipulate the tools of state control would be something new and challenging for Australia to deal with on its northern border. After World War I, Prime Minister Billy Hughes argued that the former German colony of New Guinea should become a mandated territory under Australia's control rather than Japan's. This imposed major economic, political and moral obligations on Australia. Hughes' far-sightedness meant the history of World War II for Australia was very different as there was not a well-entrenched Japanese army in New Guinea in 1939. In one of the two speeches supporting the Prime Minister on Friday, Morobe Governor Kelly Naru quoted from the Chinese proverb: "patience is power". There are some unfolding scenarios to our very near North which make that a very worrying proverb. Paul Flanagan is director of PNG Economics. This article was published in todays Australian Financial Review There will be several New Yorkers in attendance at the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton, who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 2001 to 2009, will accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday. The speakers at the convention will include some of the Empire State's top Democrats, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer. Among those working behind the scenes is Amy Dacey, an Auburn native and the Democratic National Committee's CEO. She has been helping lead the party's efforts to prepare for the four-day event. Dacey, who has served as the Democratic Party's CEO since January 2014, was one of the players involved in selecting Philadelphia as the host of the convention. Philadelphia beat out a handful of other cities, including New York City. It will be the first time "The City of Brotherly Love" has hosted the Democratic convention since 1948. Before Philadelphia was selected, Dacey and other Democratic officials visited the city and other finalists. A site selection committee was tasked with focusing on a few key areas, including finances, logistics and security. "This is an incredibly long process," Dacey said in a phone interview with The Citizen. "It's going to be an amazing convention in Philly." Dacey added that Philadelphia "had so much to offer." "I think that it's an incredible city for its diversity and it's got a great story behind it ... All the delegates there are really going to enjoy their experience," she said. Leading up to the convention, which begins Monday and wraps up Thursday with Clinton's remarks, Dacey said the city and Pennsylvania state officials have been great partners in organizing the event. The convention's impact will go beyond the next four days in Philadelphia. With Clinton, the Democratic Party is seeking to retain control of the White House. Democrats are also hoping to win U.S. House and Senate races throughout the country to chip away at GOP majorities in Congress. Democrats also have a chance to counter the messages delivered at the GOP convention, which was held last week in Cleveland. "I think that voters will see that we really do share their values that we have an understanding of what the issues of the day are they're most concerned about and that we want to come together to find solutions moving forward," Dacey said. "I think (the convention) is going to be a great venue to do that." The convention will give Democrats a national stage to communicate to voters outside of their own party. Independents are crucial in any election, especially in presidential races. And even Republicans who haven't been won over by GOP nominee Donald Trump could be listening to what the Democrats particularly Clinton have to offer. "I think you'll see a stark contrast ... With their nominee, the divisiveness he's caused, certainly the rhetoric he's using, I don't think that that's the kind of leadership they want for the country and I don't think they want the party to reflect that either," Dacey said. Aside from the political themes of the event, Dacey is looking forward to catching up with some friends from New York. She plans to spend time with the New York delegation in Philadelphia. Among the delegates planning to attend the event is Auburn Mayor Michael Quill. This will be the first time Quill, a Democrat, has been a delegate at the convention. The convention will kick off Monday with a program that will include prime-time speeches by first lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, was Clinton's rival during the Democratic primary. On Tuesday, former President Bill Clinton will headline the prime-time program. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to speak Wednesday. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's running mate, is expected to speak that night. Clinton will be the featured speaker Thursday. She will cap off the convention by accepting the party's presidential nomination. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The number of Latino American entrepreneurs has risen substantially. According to the Kauffman Foundation, the number tripled in just two decades. According to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, this will lead to a 1.4 trillion dollar boost to Americas economy. Cathy Hackl is a Costa Rican-American Emmy-nominated broadcaster turned PR pro, tech innovator, social media and live video consultant and public speaker. TODAY Show co-anchor Al Roker called Cathy a force of nature. Shes the organizer of Latin@s in VR, a virtual community that seeks to empower and connect Latinos in the virtual reality, augmented/mixed reality, 360-degree video, and live video spaces. She is also a pioneer in the immersive public relations field. Her experience working in the U.S., Latin America and Spain created opportunities with media and brands like Teradata, TNT Latin America, Applebees, Telemundo, Mashable, The Huffington Post, FOX News, CNN en Espanol, Silicon Beat, NTN24, CNN, ABC, FOX5, Discovery Channel, and Social Media Week. Fluent in English and Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Cathy works with brands to craft 360 degree video and VR content strategies for connecting with Hispanic and mainstream audiences. Small Business Trends first met Hackl at the September 2015 Periscope Community Summit, and a few weeks ago again via phone to discuss her new partnership with Kim Garsts Boom! Social marketing agency. * * * * * Livestreaming Social Media in Spanish Small Business Trends: Congratulations on working with Kim Garst. Shes great at live streaming engagement. Tell us about your role at her agency. Cathy Hackl: Kim recently added me to her team to expand live streaming training to the Latino community. Well be launching her first digital products in Spanish. Shes rated one of Forbes Top 10 Social Media Influencers and I was already very familiar with Boom! Social. Its exciting and an honor to work with her. Small Business Trends: What are some of the new trainings people should know about? How do those tie in to your brand? Cathy Hackl: Product offerings include Periscope 101 en Espanol, Periscope Growth Domination en Espanol, Periscope Profit Machine en Espanol and Periscope Profit Machine en Espanol VIP. Each of these can be enhanced with strategic guidance. As Boom! Socials first Hispanic Marketing Evangelist, I have a passion to help other Latino entrepreneurs succeed. I help Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and I also work with brands who are trying to reach the Latino community, especially Gen Z and Millennials. Im on a mission to serve the ever-growing U.S. Latino and Latin American entrepreneurial community by providing them with education, insight and advice on how to use social media tools and technology to grow and get more sales. I also help brands craft an engaging and targeted strategy for reaching the Latino market. Small Business Trends: Tell us something about yourself that you dont talk about often. Cathy Hackl: I worked as communications director for Ellas 2.0, which used to be Women 2.0s Spanish-language counterpart. Ellas 2.0 is a brand that focuses on providing content, community and conferences for entrepreneurial women innovators in technology. Small Business Trends: How can cultural knowledge help a small business? Cathy Hackl: For many small businesses, the value of adding cultural knowledge is huge when planning their marketing strategies. Simply having materials translated into Spanish isnt enough, especially if youre posting digital content to social media. And we feel the new trainings will fill a huge gap for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, not only in the U.S., but globally. Spanish is the worlds second most utilized language! Small Business Trends: What are the Spanish and English websites for the new offerings? Cathy Hackl: Everythings at espanol.ScopingForBiz.com and Kim Garsts site is BoomSocial.net. My site is CathyHackl.com Images: Cathy Hackl and Kim Garst This is part of the Small Business Trends Livestreamed Livelihoods interview series featuring sessions with today's movers and shakers in the livestreaming world. Robert (Bob) Wesley Boyd Jr., 68, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at Georgetown University Hospital in the arms of his loving family. Bob was born September 20, 1947 in Roanoke, Va. to Robert and Dorothy Robelen Boyd. After attending William Fleming High School, Bob went on to Virginia Tech where he graduated in 1969 with an Aerospace Engineering degree. On April 29, 1972 Bob married Karen Leigh Wright and they shared 44 beautiful years in both heart and mind. In June of 1979 Bob and Karen had a wonderful son, Wesley Woodson Boyd. Since childhood Bob was fascinated by airplanes. He pursued this passion for almost 50 years as an Aerospace Engineer at Pax River. He attended the US Navy Test Pilot School and was Test Pilot Engineer of Class 69. His early work included projects with the A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, and F-14 Tomcat. Later in his career he was one of the first engineers to work on drones, culminating his career when his last project, the X-47A Pegasus, was successfully launched and recovered from an aircraft carrier. With this milestone complete, Bob retired and began to focus on his other passions: music and travel. Music was a great love of Bob's since childhood. He sang with St. Maries Musica, Southern Md. Light Opera Company and the Chesapeake Swing Band, where he also played saxophone. Over the years Bob traveled extensively across the globe, enjoying many trips with his family throughout Europe. He is survived by his wife, Karen of St. Mary's City, MD and son Wesley and spouse Dawn of Wiesbaden, Germany, sister Dorothy Bunny Bowen and spouse Leland of Placitas, New Mexico and two brothers, William and spouse Gina of Seattle, Washington, and Richard and spouse Dreama of Roanoke, Virginia. Also, two much loved nieces and one nephew. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 11 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, 47477 Trinity Church Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686 with a Memorial Service celebrated by Reverend John A. Ball at 12:00 p.m. Interment will following in the church cemetery. A reception will follow at Trinity Church Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Maries Choral Arts via their website: www.smchoralarts.org/ or at 46516 Short Acres Lane, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. COLLEGE PARK, Md. (July 24, 2016)With big differences in economic policy separating the presidential candidates, leaving voters to sift through the speeches at the back-to-back political nominating conventions this month, one researcher said there's common ground that could help boost wages, create jobs and close the socioeconomic status gap. Alice Rivlin, senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, said tackling the nation's deteriorating infrastructure could be an economic unifier for the nation, and some changes in tax policy could help the nation's overall economic picture. One of the major policy elements, according to Rivlin, a former Federal Reserve Board vice chairman and former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, would be a large-scale investment in national infrastructure, which Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, whose supporters are still wary of a Clinton candidacy, both included in their economic platforms. GOP nominee Donald Trump, too, considers infrastructure investment a priority. "I think there's a pretty wide agreement that our infrastructure, especially roads, bridges and water systems, for example, are deteriorating. There's a lot of evidence of that. There's also evidence that modernizing infrastructure would help the economy grow faster. In the long run, it improves the productivity of the workforce. In the short run, it creates jobs," Rivlin said. Infrastructure development and improvement have historically been a bipartisan effort, agreed upon by both liberals and conservatives, she said. "It was a good thing to be seen as in favor of improving the roads whether you were a Republican or a Democrat In recent times though, the parties have been so deadlocked that they haven't been able to pass a substantial infrastructure bill, or even solve the problem of the Highway Trust Fund," Rivlin said. The Highway Trust Fund is funded by the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, which has not been increased in more than two decades. The fund pays for road and other mass transportation projects. The fund has been running on a deficit, with financial issues beginning in 2014. There have been several short-term legislative solutions to patch the problem, but it's predicted to run out of money this summer. Clinton, Trump and Sanders have all included large-scale infrastructure investment in their economic reform platforms. According to Sanders' website, he would invest $1 trillion over a five-year period to create roughly 13 million jobs. Clinton also discusses her plan for infrastructure on her website, though without the hard details in Sanders' plan. Trump addressed infrastructure as a job creation platform during his acceptance speech. "We will build the roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and the railways of tomorrow. This, in turn, will create millions more jobs," Trump said. While he hasn't listed specifics about the projects, Trump told New York Magazine in an interview of a "trillion dollar plan" that would generate 13 million jobs, much like Sanders' plan. This coming week at the Democratic National Convention, Clinton will likely expand on her infrastructure investment plan, which is less extensive than either Trump or Sanders' plan. Clinton's website describes a $275 billion investment, less than a third of the trillion-dollar plan Trump and Sanders tout. She may also provide specifics on the number of jobs her plan would create. Rivlin connected infrastructure development and another hot-topic this election seasonimmigrationthough in a different manner than Trump, who has vowed to sharply curb the flow of foreigners into the U.S. "Infrastructure is clearly pro-growth and does create jobs," she said. "There's great controversy about immigration. I think that immigration is also pro-growth and adds to the labor force. And one of our problems is that we have an aging labor force and immigrants tend to be young and hard working and quite productive. So I disagree with Trump on limiting immigration." Voters, however, are concerned about immigration and the economy and want some clarity on national policy. Barbara Ogden, 46, is a Baltimore resident who supports Sanders for not only political, but humanitarian reasons. "I've felt like there's this socioeconomic tension that's just been building And here luckily someone's come in to stand up for the little guy before it gets so bad that people take matters into their own hands," she said. She sees Sanders as a politician who is aware of the issues voters face, and constructed a platform around that. "The way he presents his information, it's almost like he's acknowledging what's wrong," Ogden said. Hillary Clinton, in contrast, she said, is "just giving the same lip service that I'm accustomed to people like that giving. It was nice to hear somebody acknowledge that there are problems. There's a lot of really disenfranchised people." Frank Waxman, 71, a retired banker from Woodstock, Maryland, originally a Kasich supporter who is now backing Trump, disagrees with large-scale federal spending using tax dollars. But he is in favor of the infrastructure plan. "At least I'm getting something for it," as it will provide not only jobs, but roads and bridges, he said. One of the things that appeals to Waxman about Trump is that he is looking to reform taxes and shift power away from Washington. "Anything that reduces Washington, D.C., government makes me very pleased," he said. Tax reform also has appeal in rectifying some of the nation's economic issues, Rivlin said. In an April 14 speech, she suggested that lower tax rates are possible without losing revenue, if "we were willing to cut back on the special provisions that mainly benefit higher income people." "Trump is in favor of reducing tax revenues. So the government takes in less money. I'm not," Rivlin said. Trump's method of reducing tax revenues is through tax reform that would include a simplified tax system, and tax reductions for the middle class. It's one of the centerpieces of his platform, as he described in his nomination acceptance speech Thursday. "While Hillary Clinton plans a massive tax increase, I have proposed the largest tax reduction of any candidate who has run for president this year, Democrat or Republican," Trump told his party faithful. "Middle-income Americans and businesses will experience profound relief, and taxes will be greatly simplified for everyone." Clinton plans a tax break for working families and small businesses, and when the Democratic National Convention opens on Monday the public may learn more details. Waxman favors the Trump style tax reform, but is skeptical it will happen. "We've been hearing about tax reform for years, it won't happen," he said. Rivlin said one of the major issues facing voters, whether Democratic or Republican, is not only determining which candidate will be effective, but who means what they say. "They have to sort out the rhetoric from the proposals and vote for candidates that they think have solid proposals to make things better." Washington (United States), July 23, 2016 (SPS) - Polisario Front called Friday on the United Nations Security Council to take urgent measures to restore MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) to full functionality and to establish a direct, high-level negotiation process between the Polisario and Morocco. In a letter sent Friday to the chairman of the Security Council, the representative of the Polisario Front at the United Nations, Ahmed Boukhari, exhorted the UN body to take actions in the allotted time and to get Morocco's commitment to respecting the mandate of MINURSO." "MINURSO must be able to work without any kind of interference or restrictions of movement, while defending the principles of UN peacekeeping mission." Three years since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2285 (2016) on MINURSO, which sets a deadline for the return of the expelled mission's civilian component, Morocco is still in flagrant violation of Security Council's decisions and the international law," he noted. (SPS) 062/090/700 The death of NATO appeared to be all but written on the wall in the wake of the failed coup attempt when Turkish Labor Secretary Suleyman Soylu said during a live interview with Haberturk television that "The US is behind the coup" a statement that Ankara still refuses to condemn. The situation became worse as the countrys provocative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that the US extradite the "head of terrorist" referring to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara claims was behind the failed government overthrow effort while the crowd sang "death penalty for Feto" Conflict News (@Conflicts) July 16, 2016 But it was Prime Minister Binali Yidlirim who really lowered the boom threatening to go to war with "any" country that supports Fethullah Gulen a direct reference to the United States. MOSCOW (Sputnik) A blast shook the Afghan capital on Saturday during a peaceful protest over the planned 500kW power line project. According to the Afghan Interior Ministry, 80 people died and 231 were injured. Among those killed and injured in the attack are members of the country's defense and security forces who were ensuring safety at the rally when the explosion occurred. "The Secretary-General condemns todays terrorist attack in Kabul. This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights. The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of Afghanistan. He calls for those responsible for this attack to be brought to justice," a statement published at the UN website on Saturday said. BEIJING (Sputnik) The incident occurred in the city of Jingjiang in the eastern province of Jiangsu, Xinmin Wanbao newspaper reported. The blast occurred during repairing works on a ship. The explosion could have been caused by detonation of fuel. Local authorities organized search and rescue operation after the blast. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The airport has been reopened as police officers, who were searching a plane arrived from Sydney, found no evidence of explosives, New Zealand Herald newspaper reported. People were evacuated after a cleaner had found "some sort of message about a bomb" on board of the plane. Passengers left the jet before the message was found. Meanwhile in Queenstown.airport evacuated due to bomb threat.this world is messed up #queenstown pic.twitter.com/94ZvBKNcZ8 Pablo (@pabzm) July 24, 2016 A recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help New York growers and craft beverage producers, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Friday. Barley crop insurance was only available for farmers in a minority of New York's 62 counties. The USDA will now make the program available for farms in 29 more New York counties by 2017, according to Gillibrand's office. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said expanding the program will help the craft beverage industry, particularly breweries that need barley to make beer. For farm breweries, it will ensure the producers can abide by a state law requiring a certain percentage of their beverages are made with New York-grown products. "This is great news for our farmers, who can finally feel secure if they decide to grow barley, and it is great news for our brewers, who will have access to a large and reliable supply of barley," said Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. To celebrate the USDA's announcement, Gillibrand visited Full Boar Craft Brewery in North Syracuse. The brewery, which opened in June, is one of several new craft beverage producers in central New York. Eric Petranchuk, co-owner and brewmaster at Full Boar, said finding grains grown in New York can be difficult. "It's either very expensive or poor quality," Petranchuk said. "Giving farmers access to the necessary insurance to protect themselves should lead to more growers, better quality and lower prices for brewers." Gillibrand's swing through upstate New York Friday also included a roundtable discussion at Abandon Brewing Company in Penn Yan. The senator held a roundtable discussion to collect input that will be used to draft the next farm bill. Prior to passage of the last Farm Bill, which came in 2014, Gillibrand held similar roundtable discussions to get feedback from farmers and other interested parties. "The next farm bill is still two years away, but we must address our farmers' current problems while looking forward to make the farm bill as strong as possible," she said. Many in Japan dont like this, but, on the other hand, the US forces in Okinawa ensure the countrys security, thats why during the 1940s and 50s the locals had nothing against the sizeable US military presence on their island, he said. Many of them earned money working at and around the US military bases, manning local stores, restaurants and bars. When in 1972 Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture again, the US bases didnt go anywhere and the overall psychological atmosphere began to change. The Okinawans were getting tired of the disproportionate presence of US military personnel on their island and the Americans often contemptuous disregard of the indigenous population. By the mid-1960s the situation had come to a head with local residents holding rallies protesting against crimes committed by the US military personnel, Andrei Fesyun continued. He added that regional authorities always side with the local dwellers in their bid to keep their American guests in check. In other words, to lock them up inside their bases with only occasional trips to the city. In Tokyo, meanwhile, the government continues to view the US military presence in Okinawa as a guarantor of national security, and there have been cases of the Prime Minister refusing to meet the Okinawa governor face-to-face. And still, regional authorities enjoy considerable freedom of hand including the right to prevent a relocation of a military base. Thats why Tokyo has to look for negotiated solutions to the conflicts that occasionally arise between the central government and local administrations. Cambodia is not an exception here as in many countries outside players are looking for ways to bring to power a government they can manipulate. They did it in Ukraine and they are now trying to do it also in Syria and Turkey. Cambodians have seen a US-planned coup bringing General Lon Nol to power. And one by China, when the country was run by the bloody regime of Pol Pot and Ieng Sary and became a Chinese protectorate. Only recently Cambodia, under strong pressure from Beijing, came out in support of Beijing over the issue of the South China Sea, Vladimir Kolotov said. He still doesnt think that Phnom Penh is 100-percent toeing Beijings line because many in Cambodia accuse him of being pro-Vietnamese. The truth is that Hun Sen is simply trying to pursue a balanced policy and swim between two waters. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Fenech also said that it is necessary to investigate, why French intelligence services failed to expose terrorist cells responsible for the attacks. "I have to acknowledge that since the terror attacks on Charlie Hebdo, Hypercacher Supermarket, Bataclan and the recent tragedy in Nice nobody was punished, nobody demanded to revise the political course, no high-ranking official was removed from the office. I am beginning to think that the concept of responsibility disappeared in this country. I do not know whether those responsible for the tragedy in Nice will be punished," Fenech told RT in an interview. Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss noted that the Prime Minister has indicated she will not trigger Article 50, the formal mechanism for leaving the EU, until there is a concensus approach to Brexit. Attorney General agreed that all parts of the UK, including the governments of the devolved administrations, should be able to take part in developing the UK's approach to the negotiations. "But this does not mean that any of the parts of the UK have a veto over this process so consultation most certainly, but veto I'm afraid not." He stressed. Tory MP David Nuttall (Bury North) voiced concerns that the UK could end up being "held to ransom" by Scottish nationalists who "will never be satisfied" no matter what the government does. "I think the prime minister has been clear that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, and that means all of the United Kingdom." Attorney General replied, adding that it is important that all parts of the UK have an opportunity to contribute to the negotiations. On June 23, a referendum was held in the United Kingdom, in which 51.9 percent of voters supported a withdrawal from the European Union. The Scottish National Party, is pressing for a deal that would see Scotland remain part of the EU after 62 percent of Scottish voters backed remaining in the bloc in the Brexit referendum. In June, Sturgeon pledged to secure a special status for Scotland in relation to the European Union after the Brexit referendum. Scottish voters took part in an independence referendum in September 2014 that saw 55 percent of voters backing Scotland's continued membership of the United Kingdom which was formalized in 1707. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Friday, a 18-year-old German-Iranian man opened fire in a crowded Munich shopping mall and a nearby McDonald's restaurant, killing nine people and wounding 27 others before committing suicide. "Gun control is an important issue. We must do everything to restrict access to deadly weapons and to control them. How could a labile or even mentally ill 18-year-old man get a firearm? That must be investigated," Gabriel told Berliner Morgenpost daily newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. MUNICH (Sputnik) According to the n24 broadcaster, the revised number includes people who suffered not only from the shooting, but from panic in the city. On Friday, an 18-year-old German-Iranian man opened fire in a crowded Munich shopping mall and a nearby McDonald's restaurant, killing nine people. Madrid asked London for additional information on the July 20 incident. "We are going to request explanations and clarifications from the British authorities," a spokesperson for the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday. Spanish authorities have complained that London failed to tell them that HMS Ambush, an Astute-class nuclear fleet submarine of the Royal Navy, was undergoing training close to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory that Spain claims as its own. But London does not appear to think that it is necessary. "We are not obliged to inform the Spanish Government about the movements of our Royal Navy vessels in international or UK territorial waters," the Gibraltar Chronicle quoted an unnamed source in Whitehall as saying. Once Article 50 is triggered then there is a two-year, a maximum two-year process It may be sooner than that, that will be part of the negotiations which the Prime Minister is leading, he said. McLoughlin also noted that it would be difficult to call an early general election in the country, but the Brexit process would be started before then. On July 14, a truck rammed into a large crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice. At least 84 people, including children, were killed and hundreds of others were injured. The attack was carried out by a 31-year-old French-Tunisian, who according to some reports, was loyal to the Daesh terror network. Another attack recently took place in Munich, Bavaria, where an 18-year-old German citizen of Iranian origin opened fire at passers-by, killing at least 10 people and injuring 27 more. German police denied rumors connecting the perpetrator to terrorist organizations. According to editor-in chief of the magazine "National Defense" Igor Korotchenko, the shooting in Munich once again demonstrates the short-sighted migration policy of the EU and incorrect assessment of security threats. In contrast to reports of the local police, he also argues that the perpetrator is likely to have connections with Daesh terrorists. "I am sure that the IS [Daesh] was behind the events in Munich. The mass murder of people in the European city should be classified as a terrorist act. Today the whole Europe is at risk; it is a direct consequence of the fact that the EU politicians have disorganized their secret services, claiming that the main European threat today is Russia," Korotchenko told RIA Novosti. The Munich shooter wrote his own "Manifesto" and did not copy the one Norwegian far-right mass murderer Anders Breivik wrote, Heimberger said. "That is not true," Heimberger said answering the question if Breivik's "Manifesto" had been discovered during the search at the gunman apartment. Majority of Munich Mall Shooting Victims Not German Citizens The majority of Munich shooting victims did not have German citizenship, Heimberger said. "Victims had following nationalities: Hungarian, German, Turkish, German, Turkish, Kosovo, Greek, Stateless," he told journalists at the press conference, adding that only two of the victims had German passports. German Police Rule Out Political Motive Behind Munich Attack German police continue to believe that there was no political motive behind the Munich mall shooting, while it has been confirmed that the suspect was under psychiatric supervision, Munich Prosecutors Office spokesman Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said Sunday. "The statement that the crime was not politically motivated is still relevant," Steinkraus-Koch said at the press conference broadcast by the N-24 television channel. He reminded that there had been claims of the attack suspect suffering a mental disorder. "This has been confirmed. During a search of his home, we found medical records that indicate to anxiety disorder, depression," the spokesman said. Medication drugs have also been found during the searches, Steinkraus-Koch said. According to the spokesman, the attacker had spent two months in a hospital in 2015, after which he had been on outpatient examination. He added that the attacker had been both on stationary and outpatient examination with regard to his illness. "The mental disorder which I mentioned was social phobias, it means that the suspect was afraid to communicate with other people. It fits in the picture that his parents were able to paint for us This is what has led to depression," Steinkraus-Koch said. On Friday, the 18-year-old German-Iranian man opened fire in a crowded Munich shopping mall and a nearby McDonald's restaurant, killing nine and injuring 27 others before committing a suicide.. Port Byron has a new mayor. Mayor Burnett has stepped down and Ronald Wilson was chosen to fill the position. Here is hoping that Mayor Wilson brings a new and exciting outlook to the job, and has many progressive ideas on how to move the village forward into the 21st century. I have lived in Port Byron for a good number of years, and I must say that I am amazed how many times the crosswalk and sidewalk at the red light intersection have been reworked. Wouldnt it be better to reshape the sidewalk so that trucks turning south from Rochester to South Main could turn without running over the sidewalk and post? Port Byron drivers have been sharpening their driving skills by dodging and weaving around all the potholes left by the ongoing waterline project. This forces one to ask when the roads might be repaired? The town office building now has an automatic door, one of those doors that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This has greatly amused the undisciplined children of the village who seem to delight in hitting the open door button and running away. This might be the same gang that determined that the summer shall be spent tipping over the outhouse on the ball fields. The police are reportedly on the case. We tend to go through this cycle of highs to lows when it comes to local history news. Back on Feb. 26, I attended a meeting of Mentz, Port Byron, Weedsport and Brutus, where the possibility of rewatering the old Erie Canal between Port Byron and the Centerport Aqueduct near Weedsport came up. After the meeting, I wrote a Facebook post about the meeting that received 1,102 views and 33 likes. For my little Facebook page, that is a huge positive response. I have heard that this project might be dead, as far as the cooperation between the local governments of the four communities is concerned. If this is true, it is sad news. A rewatered canal between the two villages would be a great asset to local people who enjoy walking and biking along the trail, and for garnering some local tourism. Why can so many communities across New York tap into these rich resources, and we seem to run the opposite way? Add to this bit of news that last year's momentum around the rehabilitation of the Brigham Young house has seemed to have greatly slowed. It is good that the resource continues to be preserved, but it would have been nice to see an active rehabilitation taking place. In a continuing effort to do new things at least, new for us at the historical society I have been filming and tossing up on our Lock 52 YouTube channel videos of local sites. I started with sites in the Montezuma Heritage Park, as the nice folks in Montezuma have been talking about this idea for some time. Its a rough effort, as it is a process with a steep learning curve. But it is a start, with more to come. Check it out. I condemn the murder of Pavel Sheremet and I urge the authorities to do everything possible to investigate this crime. In the interest of freedom of expression and freedom of information, it is important that those responsible for the murder of Pavel Sheremet are brought to justice, Bokova said. Pavel Sheremet worked on popular news web site Ukrainian Pravda and led the news program called Radio News. Sheremet was killed in a blast when a car he was traveling in blew up in the heart of the Ukrainian capital. The Interior Ministry said the explosion had been caused by a bomb, probably remote-controlled. "I am shocked and have nothing to say," a local resident said. On Friday evening, the woman was informed by her friends that she shouldn't go out because of the shooting that took place in the center of the city. "And I really planned to go there with my little one," the woman said, adding that she got really scared when she heard the news. "Windows and doors are all closed. I was glad that my husband was at home," she added. Ankara (Sputnik) More than 13,000 people have been detained after an attempted coup in Turkey, local media reported. "Up to date 13,002 people have been detained. In Istanbul 3,879 people have been detained, in Ankara 2,734, in Izmir 197, in other provinces 9,192 Detentions are continuing," Yildirim told A Haber TV-channel on Saturday. He added that almost 8,900 detained people are military including more than 2,300 officers. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian military delivered two metric tons of humanitarian aid to the Syrian province of Latakia, a daily bulletin on the Russian Defense Ministry website said. "Low-income families of Slayeb al-Turkman (Latakia province) have received 2 tons of humanitarian cargos with flour, rice, and canned foods," the bulletin issued on late Saturday said. Daesh terrorists clashed on Saturday with US-backed fighters in the Syrian town of Manbij, a town that US Defense Secretary Ash Carter described as the terror organizations pipeline to the rest of the world, engaging in a fierce defense of the jihadist stronghold and ignoring a deadline to evacuate. The jihadists refusal to abandon Manbij has led to growing fears for the safety and wellbeing of civilians trapped in the city which has long served as a supply route for Daesh from neighboring Turkey and a territory that some US military analysts are now referring the terror organizations "caliphate" or land controlled by the self-proclaimed prophet and Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as opposed to Raqqa. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), composed of joint-efforts by the Syrian Kurdish YPG and certain factions of the so-called Free Syrian Army, penetrated the town one month ago, but have been unable to seize the territory and remain locked in a blood-stained struggle against the terrorists. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier reports had the death toll standing at 10 with 20 more wounded. The tragedy occurred in a mostly Shiite Muslim area during the morning rush hour. The attack was carried out using an explosive belt, a law enforcement source told Kuwait news agency. No terrorist group has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far. Earlier in July, Daesh attacked the central district of Baghdad leaving 290 people dead and 180 injured. "Syria is ready for the intra-Syrian dialogue without preconditions, hoping that this dialogue will lead to a final resolution, which will be determined by the Syrians themselves. Without foreign intervention. With the support of the UN and the international community," the statement obtained by RIA Novosti said. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such Daesh, as well as al-Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia and a range of other states, are not part of the deal. A few years ago, Yevgeny graduated from the same school as his father, and as Ryafagat Khabibulin, with whom Yevgeny made his final flight. Fearless Romantic As his friends recall, Yevgeny was a romantic and extremely kind-hearted young man. When his beloved graduated from university, Yevgeny came to her graduation in his army uniform straight from service, got up onto the stage and in front of everyone proposed to her. In September 2015, the couple got married. He continued his service, while his wife Katerina got a job at the Pskov Regional College of Arts. He was kind, responsive, and honest. When the turmoil in Syria started some left their positions so as not to go to war, but he never condemned anyone. He said he could not do that, Katerina recalls him as saying. I want to fly, it's my job, so in early June, he left for East. I asked him: Zhenya you're not afraid? and he replied Why should I be afraid? This is my profession, Ive studied this. Yevgeny stayed courageous and fearless throughout his short-lived service in the army. Did Not Like to Recall the War Ryafagat Khabibulin was a legendary ace in the armys aviation corps. Almost 80% of Colonel Khabibulins personal flight books are filled with hours and minutes of flying during actual combat conditions. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Six people were killed and over 10 were injured in a shelling of the central neighborhoods of Damascus on Sunday, a hospital staff told RIA Novosti. "As a result of todays shelling, six people died and over 10 citizens have been hospitalized," the hospital staff said. Two shells exploded in the Shaalan district in the city center, a few others blew up in the area of the old town and near Thawra Street, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday authorities had imprisoned over 13,000 people on accusations of treason, including 8,831 soldiers and 2,745 judges 36% of the entire Turkish judiciary. "The cleansing is continuing, and we remain very determined," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech late Wednesday describing opposition as a "virus" within the Turkish military and state institutions that had spread like "cancer." Joseywalesful Daniel (@Joseywalesful) July 24, 2016 Many worry that the governments dragnet has extended well beyond those who could have been connected to the botched coup plot or even sympathizers to the cause in light of President Erdogans move in June to pass a constitutional amendment revoking legislative immunity for Kurdish opposition lawmakers from the HDP. Erdogan also successfully pushed to expand the countrys terrorist laws to extend to virtually any opposition member deemed by decree. Syria Today (@todayinsyria) July 24, 2016 Erdogan has proven to have a tenuous grasp of the notion of civil liberties and democracy cracking down with wanton fury against opposition journalists and, in fact, criminalizing nearly all forms of opposition to his government. Still many wonder whether the increasingly autocratic Turkish government is willing to execute thousands which would all but forever exclude the country from the European Union and NATO limiting Erdogans level of influence on the international stage. Conflict News (@Conflicts) July 24, 2016 Equally troubling are the prison conditions for those accused of treason, an imprisonment of the kind that may be worse than death and that is to persist indefinitely for those convicted. The conditions evidenced in the photo below suggest that whether or not the accused are formally executed their time may be limited. Will the Erdogan regime fly off the rails even further and engage in a public horror show leading to the deaths of thousands? The leadership may overestimate their hand in light of NATOs decision to increase funding to Turkey following the 1980 coup where over 650,000 individuals were arrested, over 500 were executed, and hundreds of others died in prison. That appears to be the case with the Turkish Labor Minister accusing the United States of being behind the coup attempt in an interview with HaberTurk last week followed by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim threatening all-out war on "any country" that supports alleged coup mastermind and US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen a not so veiled warning to the United States. Additionally, the rift between the United States and Turkey once thought to be impossible looks to worsen in the coming weeks as Washington continues to deny Ankaras extradition request citing US law that expressly prohibits extraditing an individual without sufficient evidence a condition not required in Turkey. Jeff Dygert has worked for the city of Auburn for much of his life. The 46-year-old was hired in 1994 as a firefighter for the Auburn Fire Department. His resume reflects his rise through the ranks: Lieutenant in 2001, captain in 2006, assistant chief in 2010 to chief, a position he's held since 2011. Those promotions, he said, felt "natural" in his progression through the fire department. But as the finalist to become Auburn's next city manager, Dygert said he's considering the opportunity as a major change in his career. "It's humbling, to say the least," he said. "I guess the big thing is if the council is supportive, if other city staff is supportive, that's a huge help and consideration for me." On Tuesday, Dygert will meet with members of a community focus group that's been tasked with providing feedback to the hiring authority, the Auburn City Council. The fire chief has held the interim city manager's job since late March, balancing those duties during council's search for someone to replace former top administrator Doug Selby, who resigned April 15. The city initially advertised for individuals with the following requirements: A master's degree in public administration or a similar field with five to seven years of experience as a city manager, assistant city manager or department head; or a bachelor's degree in a related field with 10 years of experience. The advertisement, intentionally or not, aligned with the qualifications of all of Auburn's full-time city managers since 2000. All three Selby, Mark Palesh and John Salomone came into the job with relevant backgrounds: Selby was the former city manager of Las Vegas prior to taking the Auburn job in 2011, while Palesh and Salomone signed on in 2007 and 2000, respectively, with experience as municipal managers. All three have master's degrees: Palesh and Salomone studied public administration, while Selby focused on biology and has a doctorate in environmental engineering. Dygert, then, would be an unconventional candidate. He has an associate degree in fire science from Corning Community College and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in public administration from American Military University. Among his other accolades, Dygert was named the state's Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2015 and graduated from the Leadership Cayuga program in 2011. Auburn Interim City Manager Jeff Dygert to interview for full-time job In the search for Auburn's next city manager, lawmakers believe they may have found their pi Auburn councilors ultimately received more than 40 applications from the initial advertisement, but found no finalists from the bunch. They then turned their attention to Dygert; when Dygert's candidacy was announced earlier this month, Mayor Michael Quill said he thinks the council "is very much on board in moving forward" with Dygert's hire. Dygert said while education and past job titles are important in evaluating individuals, he has experience managing people who have been successful in their pursuits. Dygert also said he brings a strong local knowledge base and an established professional network to the table though the observation, he added, is not meant as a criticism against past city managers. Salomone, Palesh and Selby were all new to the city government. "I think that's huge," Dygert said of his local connections. "Sometimes the ability to have that network is a major part of trying to get business taken care of." According to city records, Auburn has never hired an interim city manager for the full-time job, although some have served for longer than a year in the temporary role. Bruce Clifford, who served as city manager from 1966 to 1990, was later called upon as an interim city manager in 1998. Nevertheless, several councilors said Dygert's experience and leadership elevate his qualifications for the job beyond his formal educational background. Councilor Dia Carabajal echoed Dygert's sentiments regarding educational degrees, saying a person's schooling can serve as a measure for employers to evaluate that person's background. In Dygert's case, Carabajal said he has demonstrated leadership skills in his career that no other candidate in the council's search was able to show. "There are so many things that make us qualified for positions that we take many that have nothing to do with college degrees," Carabajal said. Councilor Jimmy Giannettino said Dygert has had a very distinguished career as a fire chief that made him stand above any initial applicants. He also noted the focus group's input, to date, as very important. The group has met twice since its appointment to discuss prospective city manager candidates, with members identifying the candidate's ability to balance community presence with business administration as an important quality. "What I've seen in the last three months indicates leadership in addition to managerial skills," Giannettino said before adding, "(The educational background) is important, but it's not everything. I'm comfortable with moving forward to the next step, which is the focus group meeting." There is no danger of a coup attempt in Turkey, that is for certain. Our people can be calm," Kurtulmus said, as broadcast by the A Haber television channel. On July 15, the coup attempt took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured during the failed coup excluding the victims among the plotters, according to the country's authorities. The number of Syrian settlements which have joined the reconciliation process has reached 209, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday. "Within last 24 hours, truce agreements have been signed with representatives of 2 inhabited areas in the Latakia and Aleppo provinces.The total number of inhabited areas, the leaders of which had signed reconciliation agreements, has reached 209," the ministry said in a daily bulletin on its website. McGurk is now on a visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss with the countrys authorities the cooperation and engagement to further the [US-led] coalitions campaign to ensure a lasting defeat of ISIL [Islamic State] in Iraq and Syria. The anti-Daesh military alliance was created in 2014 and consists of 45 member-countries. Russia, who has operated outside the coalition, launched a separate military campaign last September after Daesh claimed to have down the Russian passenger Airbus A321 over Sinai Peninsula. Since then, the sides have continuously attempted to coordinate their actions in the Middle East. Talking with Sky News Arabia on the issue, the envoy said that the US has ruled out Russias participation in the ongoing campaign. He explained that Washington does not trust Moscow, as it supports Syrian government materially and militarily in the conflict. Poland announced the acquisition of the simulator that is now operational two weeks ago and the system is now operational. Trainees are able to employ the full range of weaponry for the MiG-29M platform including the GSh-30-1 gun, R-27, R-73, and R-20 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), S-8 and S-24 unguided air-to-ground rockets, as well as OFAB-100-120, OFAB-250, and OFAB-500 unguided bombs. The move to train Polish fighters with and for the MiG-29M comes in the wake of Poland demanding that NATO stage a permanent troop presence on its border with Russia a demand that the defense alliance agreed to during the Warsaw Summit. NATO has ramped up its provocations on Russias border in recent months culminating in the massive Anaconda War Games featuring over 30,000 forces and heavy equipment in an effort led by the German Army on the 75th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. US and Ukrainian forces commenced the 15th iteration of Sea Breeze on July 18. The 2016 exercises involve about 2,300 personnel and 25 vessels from 13 nations. Sea Breeze is an annual air, land and maritime exercise designed to improve maritime safety, security and stability in the Black Sea, according to the US Navy. Russia has protested the presence of US and NATO warships in the Black Sea, citing a 1936 convention that restricts warship tonnage in bodies of water for nations that do not border the waterway. KABUL (Sputnik) Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar is planning to agree on the purchase of Russian helicopters for the country's Air Force during his upcoming Moscow visit, the press service said Sunday. "One of the major aims of the visit is to purchase Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters for Afghan Air Force," the press service said in a statement, adding that Kabul is expected to negotiate maintenance and repair as well. During the visit, which is set to kick off on July 25, Atmar is expected to meet with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. The aircraft, designed and manufactured by the Sukhoi Company, made its maiden flight in 1977. It was meant to compete with fourth-generation US fighters, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle. A total of 809 Su-27s has been produced since the 1980s. "Intended both to defeat US fighters over central Europe in a NATO-Warsaw Pact conflict and to patrol the airspace of the Soviet Union against US bomber incursions, the Su-27 survived the end of the Cold War to become one of the world's premier export fighters," the senior lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky explained. The fighter aircraft has been in service in Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. China has produced a derivative of the Su-27, known as Shenyang J-11, since 1998. The Hindustan Times reports that India has expelled three Chinese journalists working with the Chinese-owned Xinhua news agency following concerns flagged by intelligence agencies. The journalists visas were revoked and the individuals were banned from re-entry into India a move that can worsen relations between the two countries at a time when tensions are at a fever pitch. The journalists must leave India by July 31. The three reporters who were banned from India include Wu Qiang who heads Xinhuas bureau in New Delhi and Lu Tang who manages the Mumbai headquarters. A third journalist, She Yonggang based out of Mumbai was also evicted. The Hindu newspaper quoted Indian government sources who downplayed the severity of the diplomatic row saying, "The three journalists had overstayed their visa and subsequently they had received several visa extensions. So we asked them to go back as it is no longer possible to give them visa extensions." TOKYO (Sputnik) According to the news agency, the two foreign ministers will attend the Regional Forum on Tuesday in the framework of ASEAN meeting. Ri was reluctant to disclose any details of his trip to journalists, yet nodded in approval, when asked about his meeting with Wang, the agency said. On July 16, a group of mid-level military officers staged a coup, but failed to seize the power. Erdogan and his supporters have blamed influential US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen for the events, launching a major crackdown that has left more than 60,000 military personnel, police officers, judges, civil servants and teachers fired, suspended or detained. The crackdown presents at least a short-term challenge for Turkey, Portugall noted. "If you remove military commanders, many in law enforcement and the judiciary, as well as scholars and teachers, at first there will be no one to replace them. This implies that certain institutions will not be as efficient as they used to be," he said. On the other hand, Ankara has the second largest military in the alliance. As a result, "for any fired general there is a colonel ready for a promotion," the analyst observed. A New York City man died in an apparent drowning when his kayak overturned on Skaneateles Lake Saturday. State police said the accident was reported at about 3:18 p.m. Saturday near Tamarack Trail in the hamlet of Mandana, on the west side of the lake, south of the village of Skaneateles. Troopers said Brian A. Bonanni, 57, of New York City, had been found face down in the water near an overturned kayak and was brought to shore by residents near a dead-end fire lane across from Tamarack Lane. Police said that CPR was initiated and Bonanni was taken to Auburn Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police had been withholding the man's name Saturday night until his next of kin could be notified. An autopsy will be scheduled to determine the official cause of death, police said. The Skaneateles Fire Department and New York State Police responded to the call. Police said Saturday night that the investigation is continuing. BRUSSELS (Sputnik) According to Carcaci, the resolution will call on the Belgian government to remove anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the European Union. "Most probably it will be done in October," Carcaci, who is a member of Belgian opposition People's Party (PP) told RIA Novosti. "By subjecting this resolution we open discussion on sanctions which primarily damage Belgian businesses, in particular crops producers," Carcaci added. In just a few months, Turkish President Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have turned from friends to enemies, and then again returned to friendly relations and a state of harmony, the article said According to the newspaper, most Western leaders have not openly expressed their solidarity with Erdogan after the attempted military coup took place in the country on July 15. "[] Putin was the first to openly express his support for the Turkish President, declaring the unacceptability of anti-constitutional actions'. While Europe has urged Ankara to abide by the rule of law, the Kremlin has not commented on the issue and will continue to do so," the author said. Dottori suggested that Turkey's recent foreign policy U-turn could serve as the main reason why Washington wanted to see new faces in power. "I think that it happened primarily because the Americans were not happy about Turkey mending ties with Russia. To me, it is the only event that could have sparked concern in the Obama administration," he noted. Relations between Moscow and Ankara went into deep freeze after Turkey shot down a Russian bomber out of Syrian skies on November 24, 2015. They were recently restored after Erdogan apologized to President Vladimir Putin for the incident. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to NDTV broadcaster, Oli accused Nepali Congress in conspiracy against his government. According to the media, Oli noted that he was being punished for the "good work" he has done on improvement of relations with India and China. The no-confidence move was put forward by the Nepali Congress and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPNM) also known as the Maoist Center, which has withdrew support from the coalition government. At the same time, Erdogan's actions cause ever growing concerns across the EU. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz urged Europe to maintain its strength and refrain from trying to implement the refugee deal "at any cost". Former EU Ambassador to Turkey Marc Pierini sees the reason behind Erdogan's actions in a sharp change of his priorities, Deutsche Welle wrote. "Earlier the Turkish President considered European norms as the main criterion for all his actions, but now the EU is being seen only as an obstacle to the establishment of a presidential republic, and therefore membership in the EU is no longer a strategic goal for Erdogan," Pierini said. On Tuesday, Lavrov will take part in the sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers meeting. The EAS is a major platform for the Pacific Rim countries to discuss the strategic issues of the regions development. The EAS comprises 10 ASEAN states, as well as their dialogue partners Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States The EAS foreign ministers are set to determine the agenda for the upcoming EAS summit, which will be held in Laos in September. Later that day, the 23rd session of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is set to be held. The Forum comprises 27 countries including 10 ASEAN member states and the 10 ASEAN dialogue partners. "The ministers will also exchange views on urgent global and regional issues, including the Korean peninsula, Middle East, Afghanistan," Zakharova said. Meeting With Kerry On Tuesday, Lavrov will hold a meeting with his counterpart Kerry. Their previous meeting in Moscow on July 15 concluded with the sides agreeing on specific steps to end fighting in Syria. "The biggest threat for NATO today is a miscalculation by Russia that it could outmaneuver the Alliance by creating a quick fait accompli inside NATOs borders," states the General. "This is based on the Russian assumption that it has a significant time advantage over NATO and that the allies could, through intimidation, uncertainty, and disinformation be influenced not to escalate a limited conflict into a full-fledged one." The fantastical scenario holds at a premise that the Kremlin somehow ignorant of the legal requirements of the NATO treaty that would require the United States to intervene immediately if a partner nation was under siege by a foreign threat something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long assured he is well aware of. "I think that only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO. I think some countries are simply taking advantage of peoples fears with regard to Russia. They just want to play the role of front-line countries that should receive some supplementary military, economic, financial or some other aid," Putin explained near a year ago. In his recent interview to The New York Times the Republican candidate said that in the case of Russian aggression toward NATO members, including Baltic countries, US would only come to their military aid if those countries fulfill their obligations to America. "You can't forget the bills. They have an obligation to make payments. Many NATO nations are not making payments, are not making what they're supposed to make. That's a big thing." The mogul stressed. Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg criticized the remark, noting that concurrence within the alliance is essential. Meanwhile, Baltic members immediately hit the panic button. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to the Reprieve organization report, 33-year-old Haroon Gul arrived at Guantanamo Bay detention camp in 2007, after he was passed to the US military by local Afghan forces. Since than he has never been charged or received a trial. This week, Gul had the first hearing in nine years. "Guantanamos Periodic Review Board (PRB) ruled this week that Haroon Gul, 33, must continue to be detained indefinitely without charge or trial because his plan for what he would do post-release was insufficient," the organization said in a statement. Organization noted that in the past, Gul could be identified mistakenly by the US Government. One of the issued emails revealed, for example, that Wasserman Schultz criticized Sanders for not being a member of the party saying that he would never be a president, according to NBC News. "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement on Sunday, as quoted by NBC News. Malik currently lives in Kenya, where he was born and raised. But for many years he had lived in America and worked there as an accountant. He is registered to vote in Maryland and so he has decided to visit the US once again just to cast his ballot in support of the real estate giant. According to the US leader's brother, the final straw came when FBI director James Comey announced his recommendation to not prosecute Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while she was a Secretary of State. "She should have known better as the custodian of classified information ", Malik asserted. Obama also confessed that he was frustrated with the steps Washington had made that resulted in the death of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, whom he called one of his best friends and to whom he dedicated his 2012 biography of Barack Obama Sr for "making this world a better place." "I still feel that getting rid of Khadafy didn't make things any better in Libya," He told reporters. "My brother and the Secretary of State disappointed me in that regard." Another major disappointment and reason why Obama doesn't want to be a Democrat anymore is same-sex marriage that "doesn't appeal to him". Polygamy, however, appeals to him perfectly, as Malik reportedly married multiple times. He refused to tell New York Post exactly how many wives he has, claiming that it is a "personal information". President Obama looking at his half brother Malik Obama right now like pic.twitter.com/b1edjVPE6P According to the newspaper, Malik Obama even owns a cap with Trump's slogan "Let's make America great again". The Republican candidate's reaction was not long in coming. "Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me." He wrote on Twitter. "Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!" Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 President Obama and Malik's father left Kenya in 1959 when Malik was a year old and his mother was pregnant with his sister Auma. At the University of Hawaii Obama Sr. met and married the president's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. The two brothers were in their mid-20s when they first met, each served as best man at the other's wedding, but their relations appear to have gone sour in recent years. President Obama, 54, has seven half-siblings from both sides of his family. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Last week media published a report based on Iranian secret documents claiming that major restrictions against Iranian nuclear program would be eased in 13 years. This would allow Tehran to update over 5,000 centrifuges and to obtain a nuclear bomb. "The parts [of the document] published were confidential and were supposed to remain so Our assumption is that it has been leaked by the (IAEA) Agency," Kamalvandi said, as quoted by Press TV, adding that Tehran will lodge a protest with IAEA. On July 14, 2015 Iran and the P5+1 group of countries the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain plus Germany signed a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which guaranteed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. Iran agreed to admit IAEA inspectors to locations the agency seeks to verify the absence of nuclear material and activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Racing Hill, the 1-5 favourite, overpowered the field as he captured his elimination in the 50th edition of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids in 1:49.1, while Manhattan Beach found late racing room to take Saturdays other $25,000 elimination at The Meadows. Those two will be joined in next Saturday afternoons $400,000 Adios final by Check Six, Lyons Snyder, More Dragon, Fernando Hanover, Another Daily Copy, American Passport and Big Top Hanover. Big Top Hanover earned his berth in the field of nine as the fifth-place finisher with higher career earnings. Five of the six entrants trained by Ron Burke made it through to the final. The draw for Adios post positions is set for Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and can be seen on Meadows Live! The connections of Racing Hill and Manhattan Beach will choose their post positions, with the others drawn randomly. Racing Hill boasted the strongest credentials in the field, having won the final of the $500,000 Hempt Memorial and finishing second in the Meadowlands Pace and the final of the North America Cupeach of those a $1 million event. If that gruelling schedule of five tough races in little more than six weeks took anything out of him, it wasnt evident in his Adios elimination. The son of Roll With Joe-Chasing Ideals made the front with an extended quarter-pole move for Brett Miller and thwarted the first-over challenge of Check Six to down him by three-quarters of a length. Early leader Lyons Snyder finished third. Hes just ultra-sharp, said Tony Alagna, who trains Racing Hill for owner/breeder Tom Hill. He felt so good coming out of the Meadowlands Pacehe was so fresh and jogged greatthat I felt good about bringing him here. If the final had been an open draw, I probably would have preferred that he sit in so we could make the final. But with the new format this year, its important that you get to pick your postespecially with a bunch of Burke horses making the final. You dont want to draw the nine-hole against a big entry. The victory pushed Racing Hills lifetime bankroll over $835,000. Manhattan Beach saved ground for most of the mile before Matt Kakaley sent him through a seam in mid-stretch. He held off the Lightning Lane charge of his stablemate, Fernando Hanover, to defeat him by a neck in 1:50.2, a career-best clocking. Another Daily Copy, who fronted the mile, saved show. Kakaley said he wasnt worried about being pinned late. If Id had to wait for the passing lane, hed have got through, he said. There was no worry there. He raced really good in the Meadowlands Pace, and he raced good today. He was sneaky good a few starts before the North America Cup. Hopefully he brings his A game next week. Burke conditions Manhattan Beach, a Somebeachsomewhere-Benear gelding who soared over $200,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Geoffrey Lyons Mound and Wingfield Brothers. As thoughts turned to Tuesdays draw for post positions, both camps seemed to be heading in the same direction. The inside here is tough to get off, Miller said. I got away fourth today from the rail, and I was leaving just about as hard as I could. I could live with post three, but I think Id rather have post four, right around there. Kakaleys reasoning was similar. I dont want the one or two-hole, he said. Probably three or four. Pure Country Streaks To Fifth Straight Stakes Win Pure Country continued her relentless march to a second straight divisional title, capturing her fifth consecutive victory in Saturdays Pennsylvania Sires Stakes action at The Meadows, part of the Adios eliminations card. Shesasmokinlady took the other division in the $159,350 event for three-year-old filly pacers known as the Romola Hanover. Pure Country won all 10 starts at two en route to her Dan Patch Award. While shes lost three of nine outings this year, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Montana appears to have elevated her game to a new level, with victories in the finals of the Fan Hanover and the Lynch and two straight PASS splits. Ive never driven a filly like her, said winning driver Brett Miller. I dont know if Ive ever driven a colt like her. She might be the best horse Ive ever driven. To race at the top level like this every week and be that good its amazing. Shes one of the smartest fillies Ive ever sat behind, and she has the heart of a champion. The couple times I got beat with her, it was probably my fault. In the Romola Hanover, Pure Country grabbed the lead with a quarter-pole move, easily thwarted the first-over challenge of I Said Diamonds and defeated the pocket-sitting Darlinonthebeach by two and a half lengths in 1:50. Shezarealdeal earned show. Jimmy Takter trains Pure Country, who now boasts $1,418,833 in career earnings, for Diamond Creek Racing. Shesasmokinlady also made the front past the quarter for trainer/driver Ray Paver and owner/breeder Iris Horowitz, and had just enough in the tank to hold off Newborn Sassy by a nose in 1:50.4. Call Me Queen Be completed the ticket. I figured if I got away third today, I wasnt sitting, said Paver of Shesasmokinlady, who now has $144,795 in her bankroll. She usually doesnt get tired, but she looks for a horse to race. A horse never really got to her until late. Although she may reach the PASS final or consolation leg, Paver said a stakes payments snafu has left Shesasmokinlady with only one definite stakes engagement the Keystone Classic at The Meadows. Saturdays program also featured five divisions of the $100,000 PA Stallion Series for three-year-old filly pacers; as with the other stakes on the card, this one became Miller Time. Miller won two splits, giving him four stakes victories on the day, while trainer Michael Hall enjoyed a stakes double. The highlight for Miller and Hall was the 1:51.1 win by Dismissal, which lowered the stakes record of 1:51.3 previously held by Icommandmyspirt and matched earlier in the day by A List Hanover. Hall owns Dismissal, a daughter of Western Terror-Her Mattjesty. The other three splits went to Terror At Night, Kryptos and Square Dancer. A List Hanover saw her stakes record fall, but she turned in a huge performance, challenging first over for longer that winning driver Dan Rawlings intended. The more I grabbed her, the more her gait became less than perfect, Rawlings said. So I let her go as fast and as far as she could. Gingertreescarlett finished second, three lengths back, with Nips Beach Girl third. Hall trains and leases A List Hanover, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Allamerican Nadia. Terror At Night also converted a first-over trip to victory, edging by early leader Hug A Dragoness by half a length in 1:51.4, a lifetime mark. Donnas Beach completed the ticket. Shes one of the laziest fillies Ive ever driven, Miller said. You have to make her do her work. When she made the front, she thought the race was over. If youre on the front, its not as bad, but if youre passing somebody, she pulls up as soon as she gets by. (With files from The Meadows) Community House on Broadways annual Care Campaign ends July 31, and the nonprofit is still well short of its $200,000 goal. Director Frank Morrison said Friday that Community House had raised $132,500, or 66 percent of the goal. He increased the fundraising target this year to offset the lack of county funding and reduced funding from United Way. The Care Campaign is the shelters main annual public fundraising effort. Last year, Community House raised $153,000 of its $190,000 goal. The money helps sustain the shelter during the summer, when people typically dont donate as often. The nonprofit severed ties with Cowlitz County in March because officials were frustrated with the Housing First and coordinated entry approach to homeless, which emphasizes rapid shelter before addressing the root causes of homelessness. As a result, Community House lost more than $70,000 in funding, about 13 percent of its revenue. Its very reasonable to have asked for that amount, Morrison said, though he acknowledged that $200,000 is a lofty goal. Adding to the shelthers financial burden, Community House provided about $100,000 earlier this year to CORE Health, a Longview mental health clinic Morrison founded. Cameron Carson, operations manager at CORE Health, said the facility grew faster than predicted, and they needed additional money to treat patients in February and March (before the facility entered into a new contract). Carson said the county declined to provide the mental health center additional funding, so Community House stepped in. It was a pretty exponential amount that Community House paid, he said. As a result, Morrison said its imperative to meet or exceed the $200,000 goal. He said there arent many cuts that can be made to the 11-person staff, which is already spread thin. He acknowledged that $70,000 is a lot of money to raise in just a week, but hes not giving up hope. Weve seen crazier things happen, he said. If Community House doesnt raise the money, Morrison said the staff will search for other means of financial supportthrough grants, asking for donations or talking to specific supporters. We believe in our community, and weve done this for almost three decades, Morrison said. Were more or less challenging the community to provide that extra care thats needed. A federal judge Friday sentenced a Longview woman to five years in prison for raping a toddler to please her boyfriend. Joanna Jean Olson, 44, was indicted in September on charges of producing, distributing and possessing child porn following an FBI sting. According to court documents, Olson took graphic cellphone images of a two-year-old girl in her home and sent them to her boyfriend, Antonio Boleware of California. An undercover FBI agent communicated with Boleware via the online messaging service Kik. That investigation led to Olson, who used to work for PeaceHealth. In a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan that was quoted by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Olson wrote: I totally accept responsibility for my crime. I was desperately looking for love, and fell for the wrong guy. I did whatever he asked. According to the Seattle PI, Boleware pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges and faces years in prison. Hell be sentenced July 29. Hours after talking him down off the Lewis and Clark Bridge on Friday, police found the same 24-year-old Longview man walking on the railing of the Allen Street Bridge. He was arrested again Friday and Saturday on other criminal charges. Anthony Kenneth Dow was arrested for disorderly conduct by Kelso police, but the day ended with him released on his own to seek medical attention at St. John Medical Center, according to a Kelso police report. After trying for about 45 minutes, authorities succeeded at getting Dow back onto the deck of the Lewis and Clark Bridge on Friday, according to the police report. But the report states that Oregon authorities on scene declined to charge Dow with a crime, and because he made no specific statements regarding suicide or an intention to jump, he wasnt taken for involuntary medical treatment. A Washington State Patrol trooper then dropped Dow off at 500 Allen Street (the Love Overwhelming shelter, where the officers originally wanted to take him, was closed at the time), according to the police report. Then, around 11 a.m., a Cowlitz County sheriffs deputy found Dow walking on the railing of the Allen Street Bridge. After a testy exchange between the two, the man got off the bridge. Dow told the deputy that he would jump the next time, according to the report. The deputy eventually handcuffed Dow and jailed him for disorderly conduct. According to a police report, Dow later told a jail staffer that hed inserted several packets of heroin into his rectum, and he worried one had broken. Jail staff suspected it was a ploy but requested Dow be taken to the hospital anyway. District Court Judge David Koss ordered Dow be released on his own recognizance, but jail Director Marin Fox Hight wanted him taken in for involuntary treatment. Kelso Sgt. Kirk Wiper said he didnt believe Dow met the criteria for involuntary treatment. On Saturday, Wiper said he didnt believe Dow was a danger to himself or others, which he said is the legal threshold for committing someone for involuntary treatment (under Washingtons Involuntary Treatment Act, or ITA). He has a history of similar threats, and he hadnt acted on any of the previous things hes been (saying), Wiper said by phone Saturday. He complied with our directives for the most part. It just didnt appear that he in any way met the criteria of an ITA. After Wiper dropped him off at St. John Medical Center in Longview and pointed the way to the emergency room, Wiper reported that Dow turned to Wiper, smiled and said Naw, I just needed to poop. Wiper wrote that Dow immediately asked someone for a cigarette. According to Wipers report, a hospital nurse later told police that Dow never checked in to the hospital. Dow was arrested again Saturday morning by Longview police and booked into jail on suspicion of reckless driving and third-degree driving with a suspended license. Americas top spymaster offered contrarian assessments of some key issues: warning against hyping the threat posed by the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate (terrorist group) Jabhat al-Nusra, cautioning against Obama administration plans to share intelligence with Russia on Syrian targets and questioning Turkish claims that last Fridays coup attempt was organized by a cleric living in the United States. National Intelligence Director James Clapper made the characteristically blunt comments in an interview Wednesday. He expanded on a warning he made in an interview in May that the United States cant by itself fix the problems of the turbulent Middle East. Clappers skeptical view is shared by President Obama and has reinforced the administrations wariness about committing military force in Syria. Clapper began the wide-ranging discussion by questioning the recent groundswell of concern about Jabhat al-Nusra. He said that the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate poses only a nascent danger to the U.S. homeland and doesnt approach the threat posed by the Islamic State. Jabhat al-Nusras ability to attack the United States and Europe is aspirational rather than imminent, he said. Clappers skepticism about Jabhat al-Nusra is matched by his wariness of collaborating with Russia in strikes against the group, an approach that Obama has tentatively approved. Ive expressed my reservations about, for example, sharing intelligence with [the Russians] . . . which they desperately want, I think, to exploit to learn what they can about our sources and methods and tactics and techniques and procedures, he said. Based on Russias record of failure to deliver on promises, what is it theyve done that gives you confidence that if we do more with them or share more intel . . . theyre going to improve? Clapper asked. Clapper underlined that Obama faces a bleak set of alternatives in Syria. All our policymakers have are bad choices. There is no good choice here. He continued: It seems theres a lot of rhetoric that makes you think, Gee, this is really simple. If we just did this, were good to go! Well, no. Syria is just unbelievably complex. It just makes your head hurt. Like Obama, Clapper doubts that earlier U.S. military or paramilitary intervention in Syria would have helped. I was around for all the deliberations in 2012. . . . There was the big debate then about supporting the opposition, being much more aggressive and all that. Had we been, I dont know that wed be in any different situation now, other than that we would have invested more blood and treasure. Asked whether Turkish allegations that cleric Fethullah Gulen planned the attempted coup passed the smell test of credibility, Clapper answered: No. Not to me. He said that Secretary of State John F. Kerry was right on the ball to press the Turks to back up their extradition request with evidence of Gulens involvement. We havent seen it yet. We certainly havent seen it in intel. The coup attempt complicates the Syria situation, because a lot of the people purged were key interlocutors with the U.S. against the Islamic State, such as the Incirlik air base commander , he said. This is going to set back [counterterrorism] in general, because the Turks are going to be consumed with this and its implications. Clapper said that in this period of uncertainty, its vital that the Turks stay in NATO. Clapper said that the United States should stop hoping for quick fixes in the Middle East and hunker down for a protracted period of instability and violence by al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and successor groups. Were going to be doing this for, I think, a long time. This is going to be the normal for us. Clapper, a Cold War veteran, offered a final contrarian observation: that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be as strong as he appears. We watch public opinion in Russia, and I think his popularity may be a little brittle. Given the strains on the economy and the impacts on individuals unemployment, wages, pensions its not clear to me that the rhetoric about Russia as a great power exerting itself in far-flung places like Ukraine and Syria is going to continue to resonate with the Russian public, he said. This is giving me a headache, talking about this, Clapper remarked at one point during the 90-minute conversation. He noted the amazing contrast between the simplicity of campaign debate and the complexity of real decisions. People may imagine that U.S. military power can just clean clocks in places such as Raqqa and Mosul and be done, he said, but the world doesnt work like that. The five-week Students in Need drive closes today after raising about $35,000 to help Lower Columbia College students stay in school. Thats more than double the drives initial goal of $15,000 goal. The success of the first annual Students in Need campaign has been unbelievably great, said Rick Parrish, publisher of The Daily News, which organized and ran the drive. Our community continues to be generous and gracious beyond words, and it speaks to how much folks want to help those working to help themselves. The money raised will go to the LCC Foundation, which it will use for its LCC Student Success Fund. The fund helps students cover the cost of tuition, textbook expenses, GED testing fees, emergency childcare expenses and even emergency transportation. Its been an honor that TDN has been willing to partner with us on this, said Sheila Burgin, Assistant Director of the LCC Foundation. Since the funds development, the college has used it to distribute $54,571 among 178 students. The average tuition award from the fund is $500, while the average award for textbook expenses is $200. A little bit of money can go a long way to helping people go towards completion, said LCC president Chris Bailey. If they can complete their degree or certificate, theyre more likely to get an interview and get a job. Increasing retention and completion are two big goals for community colleges, Burgin said. The money disbursed helps both causes. Burgin shared an anecdote from one LCC student who stayed in school because of money provided from the Student Success Fund. The student was a single mother and domestic violence survivor. The funds provided her with things like groceries and car repairs basic things a lot of us take for granted, Burgin said. While students do get assistance to pay for their school, sometimes they have problems with other things, too. Bailey said that the money will have an immediate impact. It will also affect the families of these people, and conceivably even for generations to come for those families, Bailey said. According to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, for every dollar commnity college students invest their education causes a six-fold increase in cumulative future income over the course of their careers. The money donated through Students in Need will help LCC students stay in school and graduate, then will pay off through the rest of their working lives as they make more money and get better jobs, Parrish said. Its a great long-term economic growth strategy for the local community. Dreambit, the new software that will let you picture yourself how you would look in the future have been developed by the researchers of University of Washington U.S. And it doesnt just end here, it also lets you imagine yourself with different hairstyles in a totally different culture. In this era where everybody is obsessed with their looks, people are eager to know what they would look like in the near future. Not that, they cant Photoshop themselves to know the same, but Photoshop needs time and skill both. Dreambit makes the work easy, all you have to do is take a selfie, upload it and choose the year, hairstyle and culture you want to see yourself in. Example curly hair, India and 1930s. The software will then analyse the photo, cuts the face out of that photo, and then inserts it into photos it finds on the Internet based on your search query. Itll even colour-correct and try to adapt your face to match the new image. The software is basically a face swapping search engine. Dreambit uses various algorithms in a unique way to mix the images such as facial processing, recognition, three-dimensional reconstruction and age progression. Developed by Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman, UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering, who also developed automated age progression software with her team that only focused on a persons face reported that the app has more serious applications like finding a person whose identity has been hidden on purpose in a different part of the world, with a different hairstyle. Or a child who last been lost for years can be found by creating his/her picture under different circumstances. In a US news release she said With missing children, people often dye their hair or change the style so age-progressing just their face isnt enough. This is a first step in trying to imagine how a missing persons appearance might change over time. hidden Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha is scheduled to hold his first meeting with CEOs of mobile service providers on Monday to discuss industry issues in general and call drops in particular. The minister has called a meeting with chief executive officers of telecom operators to discuss industry issue, including call drops, an industry source told PTI. This will be first meeting of Sinha with the telecom leaders. On the one hand, the Telecom Ministry is gearing up for mega spectrum auction which will see airwaves worth Rs 5.66 lakh crore up for grabs. On the other, Sinha has to address the issue of call drops as the Supreme Court recently struck down telecom regulator TRAIs order of making operators compensate users for every call drop subject to a limit. In fact, to check call drops, Trai has demanded more teeth, including imposing a fine of up to Rs 10 crore on operators and jail term of up to two years for their executives, prompting the telecom companies to term such powers as draconian. Sinhas other priority will be framing of regulations on the much-debated Net neutrality issue where battlelines are already drawn between telecom operators and Internet-based content providers. As such, TRAI has started a pre-consultation process and already got written comments from industry stakeholders and members of civil society. Maximum consumer complaints for poor service and call drops have been received against Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communications in the last three years. As per data shared by Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha regarding poor services and call drops received by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), nearly one-third complaints received in the first half of 2016 are against Airtel. TRAI has received 9,720 complaints for poor services, as per data available till June 30, 2016. In this, 3,257 complaints have been made against Airtel, 2,130 against Vodafone, 1,526 against RCom and 997 against Idea Cellular. PTI tech2 News Staff Cyanogen has allegedly cut down 20 percent of its workforce as its OS fails to attract phone makers and audiences. The job cuts mostly impacted people working only on the open source side, reports AndroidPolice. Citing sources close to the matter, the report adds that Systems and QA teams in Palo Alto and Seattle have been asked to leave, along with employees and smaller offices in Lisbon and India. Meanwhile Re/Code claims that the job cuts come as a result of the startup working on a new strategy that is being overseen by Chief Operating Officer Lior Tal who has joined the company recently from Facebook. Several top executive are already believed to have quit. The startup had raised a lot of money in the bid to offer an alternative to Google's version of Android, but had failed to do so. The AndroidPolice report states that employees were called into meetings and asked to leave. Steve Kondik, himself is said to have conducted layoffs in Seattle. Out of the 136 people, 30 have been reportedly fired. The jobs cuts are due to company's plans of a major strategic shift, which reportedly involves 'pivot to apps'. "It's not clear what such a pivot would entail - perhaps in some way it could involve the company's MOD initiative, but that's total speculation," the report adds. There was no prior notification and employees who didn't lose their jobs were asked to not make it work, and the ones who did were asked to leave. "They had generic human resources meetings rather ominously added to their calendars. So, everyone who arrived at Cyanogen Inc. in Seattle did so to lose their job (aside from those conducting the layoffs). That's a bit grim," points out the report. hidden An aircraft powered by solar energy left Egypt on the last leg of the first ever fuel-free flight around the globe. Solar Impulse 2, a spindly single-seat plane, took off from Cairo in darkness en route to Abu Dhabi, its final destination, with a flight expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. The plane, which began its journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, has been piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies. "The round the world flight ends in Abu Dhabi, but not the project," Piccard told Reuters a few days before takeoff. Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel, its four engines powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells in its wings. It relies on solar energy collected during the day and stored in batteries for electrical energy to fly at night. The carbon fibre plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car can climb to about 8,500 metres (28,000 feet) and cruise at 55-100 kph (34-62 mph). "The project is a big promotion of clean technologies around the world and the legacy of Solar Impulse is the created international community," Piccard said. Last week, the solar-powered aircraft landed in Egypt for on its penultimate stop. The flight's takeoff from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates was delayed due to a heatwave in Saudi Arabia. "I started to dream about this project 17 years ago in 1999 when I finished my hot-air balloon landing in Egypt, so 17 years later I take off where the balloon landed," Piccard said. Reuters Bogra UP chairman succumbs to gunshot wounds Bogra, July 24 (UNB)-A newly- elected union parishad chairman, who received injuries in a gun attack at Atbaria village in Gabtoli upazila 14 days back, succumbed to his injuries at a private clinic in the district town on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Tarajul Islam,40, son of Jasmat Ullah Mollah of the village and the newly-elected chairman of Sonara union of the upazila. Family sources said an unidentified young man through his window had asked Tarajul to rise from bed early in the morning on July 9. Just as Tarajul moved to leave bed, the young man opened fire on him, leaving him critically injured in the head. He was admitted to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Khawja Enayetpur Medical College Hospital and later to Square Hospital in Dhaka. As his condition did not improve even after an operation at Square Hospital, he was brought back to a private clinic in Bogra district town where he was on life support and succumbed to his injuries around 10pm. Gabtoli Police Station sources said Tarajul might have been killed over political rivalry. Police also arrested a man after the victims wife filed a case. DBCCI President missing Hassan Khaled Prominent businessman and Dutch Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) President Hassan Khaled remained missing since Saturday morning. Khaled remained traceless since 9:30 am on Saturday, an official at the DBCCI told UNB referring to his family members. I met and talked to him on Thursday last, the official said mentioning that a general diary has been filed with Dhanmondi Police Station in this regard. Noor-e-Azam Miah, officer-in-charge of the police station, confirmed that a GD was registered on Saturday night and they were trying to trace him. The DBCCI officials said Khaled was busy organising a single country fair in the Netherlands in September last week. -- Dhaka, July 24 (UNB) Fury erupts at Merkel amid Munich shooting rampage Sunday Express : As the horrifying scenes from Germany's third largest city sparked outrage across the world many in German pinned the blame directly on the country's leading politician and her open door policy on migrants. Mrs Merkel cut short a holiday in the Alps to return to the country but she has still not addressed the nation about this latest terrifying attack. Her chief of staff Peter Altmaier told AFP 15 hours ago that she Chancellor was on her way to Berlin. And he said she was being "constantly briefed" on developments in the southern city, but she has still not offered words of comfort to an on edge nation. She said: "We do share your pain, we suffer with you." "The cabinet ministers concerned are on their way to Berlin," he added but there has been no sign of an intention to communicate with the nation since Friday night. Police revealed the gunman who killed nine people and injured at least 20 others at a Munich shopping mall is an 18-year-old German of Iranian descent Ali Sonboly. Sonboly complained that he had been bullied for seven years before firing his handgun into children in a MacDonalds restaurant. Police are probing claims which suggest Sonboly - whose father works as a taxi driver - lured some of his young victims to their deaths with a promise of a free burger Erdogan shuts schools, charities in first state of emergency decree Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan acknowledges the crowd as he arrives at parliament. Reuters, Istanbul :President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup.A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days. The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Erdogan has accused Gulen of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed. Gulen denies the accusation.Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticised a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party.In his decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan also extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this would facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt.Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood".Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government's control.Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting - which usually takes place every August - will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff.Erdogan, a popular but polarising figure who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday, saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup.The emergency allows Erdogan and the AK Party government, who are mildly Islamist, to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary.. Dog squad operation carried out in Ctg Airport Chittagong Bureau : Operation of Dog Squad as a part of IRENE operation against trafficking of arms, explosives deployed in Chittagong airport from 6 am on Saturday in order to check illegal trafficking of arms, ammo and drugs through the imported containers to avoid any kinds of violence, militancy in the country using these contraband explosives by the terrorists. BGB, RAB, Police, customs and civil aviation authority extending cooperation to the operation. Airport sources said till 12 noon, 4 international flights landed the airport and any sorts of explosives, arms were detected from the passengers and lugsgage, said Deputy Director of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Deptt SM Shamimur Rahman. Sources said this operation is simultaneously carried out in the airports of Dhaka, chittagong and Sylhet. Mentionable that following the terrorists attack and resisting the militancy, combing operation of dog squad IRIN is introduced in the country from July 8 last like 33 other countries of ASEAN and Pacific regions . Primarily, the combing operation was launched in airports first and introduced in land ports and sea ports in phases, sources said. Regional Laison office for Asia and Pacific under World Customs Organisation(WCO) is coordinating the operation of dog squad, sources said.Earlier similar operation was launched in Chittagong Shah Amanat International airport for three days.The combing operation IRINE conducted operation for 2 days in chittagong port on July 18 and 19 and any sorts of explosives, arms etc were found in the seaport, sources added. Pakistan in trouble at 57-4 after Root hits double century James Anderson dismissed Shan Masood on the third day morning of 2nd Investec Test between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford on Sunday. AP, Manchester :England rode on Joe Root's career-best 254 to declare on a massive 589-8 and Chris Woakes' triple strike left Pakistan in trouble on 57-4 at stumps in the second test on Saturday.Woakes got rid of Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and nightwatchman Rahat Ali on day two while Ben Stokes had Younis Khan caught behind. Pakistan still trails by 532 runs with opener Shan Masood on 30 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq on 1.Root's double century off 406 balls spanned over 10 hours with 27 fours, and was backed up by half centuries from Woakes and Jonny Bairstow before England declared after tea.Top-ranked test leg-spinner Yasir Shah made an unwelcome double century of his own, finishing on 1-213, the most runs conceded by a bowler at Old Trafford after England resumed overnight on 314-4.On an easy paced wicket, Pakistan fielders dropped two catches and gave little support to their bowlers after England resumed the day on 314-4.Root had added 14 to his overnight 141 when Younis spilled a low catch off Shah as the lone slip. Woakes, who came in Friday as the nightwatchman, showed aggression from the onset and even sliced a six over third man off Mohammad Amir while hitting eight fours in his knock of 58.Woakes shared 103 runs with Root for the fifth-wicket partnership before giving a return catch to Shah for his first wicket in the 39th over of the innings as England reached 427-5 at lunch.Root continued to bat resolutely and went past his previous test best of an unbeaten 200 - against Sri Lanka two years ago at Lord's - when he reverse swept Shah for a boundary to raise his second double century in 44 test matches.Ben Stokes contributed a quick 34 before Wahab Riaz won a caught behind decision through a referral as the left-hander went for a pull but the ball feathered his gloves.Bairstow (58) gained from wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed's dropped catch when he had reached nine and dominated a 106-run stand with Root, who hit only two boundaries in the second session.England showed an urgency to declare soon after tea. Root swept part-time spinner Azhar for three successive boundaries before he skied Riaz (3-106) and Hafeez dived full length to pluck a two-handed catch.Captain Alastair Cook declared after Bairstow holed out at mid-off to give Riaz his third wicket but Amir was by far Pakistan's best bowler with 2-89 while the third left-arm seamer Rahat picked up 2-106.Pakistan's opening pair of Hafeez and Shan Masood survived the new ball pair of James Anderson, returning to the test side after missing the first test through injury, and Stuart Broad.But Woakes, who picked up 11 wickets in England's 75-run defeat at Lord's, got the breakthrough in his first over when he induced an outside edge of Hafeez's bat to Root in the slips.Azhar's torrid series continued when he lobbed a gentle one-handed return catch to a leaping Woakes and Rahat couldn't get his bat out of the way off Woakes' short pitched delivery to spoon an easy catch close to the wicket.In between Woakes' strikes, Younis glanced Stokes behind the wicket as Pakistan's top order crumbled on a wicket where England appeared hardly troubled in five sessions. Angst against bachelors must go PANIC gripped thousands of bachelors living at residential messes in the city as police are raiding such facilities to nab militants. College and University students and office going bachelors are facing serious uncertainty in the situation while house-owners remain in doubt whether or not to rent houses to bachelor tenants. A sense of panic is chasing house-owners after the attack in Gulshan Cafe and subsequent disclosure that militants lived in a rented flat in the area to prompt police to enhance watch on tenants and house-owners. They want to make sure the identity of tenants now before renting houses or flats to young people. News reports said many house-owners who rented their houses to bachelors are now asking to vacate them. Nobody is ready to take risk of militants who may be living in those messes. Police search and house-owners' extra cautions are turning bachelors' life unlivable in the city. Students live in constant fear as police raid their messes at midnight. Specially thousands of admission seekers to colleges and universities who come from middle income rural families are passing an uneasy time now to find living accommodation. Meanwhile anxieties of their guardians run at the peak. It is indeed a highly critical time never experienced by bachelors in the city before. It is highly unusual now as students are watched at schools, colleges and universities. Not only students are panicked, their guardians are also passing sleepless night as to what report may come on the activities of their wards. We don't know when such vigilance on common students would end, because the government believes that the specter of militants' attacks may only be held under control by watching all students; which is not fair. It is true law enforcers must scan each and every corner to deny hide out to militants but widespread harassment of students may also prove counter-productive at the end. We know most educational institutions have not sufficient hostel facilities or rented accommodation. But when students attempt to hire a flat or house, house-owners now obviously look at them with suspicion. Although by refusing to rent, they also incur huge financial losses. But the arrest of a leading university teacher who rented his flat to militants of Gulshan attack, knowingly or unknowingly we don't know, made most owners nervous to rent their flats to persons not known to them. In our view the environment must immediately improve to make the search of militant selective encouraging house-owners not to be panicked in renting houses to bachelor students. Militants may be screened out in many other ways. Flood situation worsening : Reach people relief and rescue soon REPORT published in a national daily on Sunday said 85 primary schools in Sunamganj district have suspended teaching for the last one week due to heavy flooding as water is rushing from upstream Indian hills. The situation is also turning precarious at Sylhet, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajgonj, Nilphamari, Pabna, Kurigram and part of Faridpur. Flood in Surma basin does not depend on local rainfall. Similarly Jamuna-Brahmaputra and Padma-Ganges basin is also affected by heavy rainfall in up the stream Indian territory. So, if heavy water flow continues all major rivers will cross danger mark to make the situation worse. Meanwhile river erosion has devoured last land to Padma at Charbhadrashan, Bogra and some other areas making homeless thousands of people who need food, shelter and drinking water along with thousands in other flood affected areas. More than half million people have become marooned, crops destroyed in the field, homes partially damaged and scarcity of high land to protect animals has become a serious problem in this situation. It appears that schools and colleges in most flood affected areas have suspended regular academic activities as it become risky for students to reach the academic institutions. But since mist of them have submerged, their rehabilitation would be a gigantic task for that the educatioin directorate must be ready. Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the flood situation may further deteriorate because India has already opened the dam at Gazaldoba on Teesta river in the upstream of Bangladesh border. The monsoon rain has already started in Bangladesh and the onrush of water from India is poising the big threat for major flooding in the country. We must ask the government to monitor the flood situation without respite and arrange speedy distribution of relief goods to affected people who are trying to live at temporary shelters. Rehabilitation materials for the homeless people from flood and river erosion must reach there as soon as flood water will recede. They would also need seeds and fertilizer to plant new crops and agricultural extension officials must be vigilant everywhere to give assistance to farmers as they would need. More important is concern about public health. Waterborne disease may hit most people while diarrhea and such other sickness may appear in anaemic form. In our view concerned government agencies must be high on alert to stand by the people both at the time of high flood and afterwards. Saving people, their property and helping them to plant new crop in the field must be high on the card until flood will recede to help people to start normal work at the field. Tech-based crimes be tackled with tech Facebook closed 40 users' IDs linked with militancy M M Jasim : The Facebook authorities have closed 40 users' IDs responding to the request of Bangladesh Government as the later requested to close 80 IDs related to the militancy and terrorism. Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Dr Shahjahan Mahmud revealed the information to the media in the city on Sunday. "The law enforcing agencies gave the BTRC at least 80 users' IDs and 30 web pages to close permanently as the users insist the people to involve in militancy. We have sent the list of the agencies to the Facebook authorities to take measures following our request. The Facebook authorities responded us and closed 40 users' IDs," the BTRC Chairman said. He also said, Messenger, Line, WhatsApp, Viber, Tango and other apps are now under surveillance by the BTRC. "The BTRC is the technical body. We do not judge the documents uploaded by the users. We just follow the direction of Home and Information Ministries," he said. However, experts are of the view that blocking social media or closing Facebook users' IDs cannot be a solution and technology-based crimes should be tackled with technology. They said that the government could close the Facebook users' IDs requesting the Facebook authorities. But the criminals have the access to open new IDs in a short time. The experts laid emphasis on the strengthening of technology capacity to face the problem. Former President of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Shameem Ahsan said, "The users' have access to create new or use alternative sites to implement their assignment. "The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), which has been working under the Home Ministry, needs to be strengthened technologically so that it can be used as a platform for all forces," Shameem Ahsan said. IT expert Mostafa Jabber said, "Only technology can tackle technology-based crimes. The government should enhance its technological power," Jabber said. On April 30 this year, the Facebook authorities responded to the Bangladesh government's request to give the users information related to the terrorism for the first time. The Facebook authorities provided some data related to 16.67 per cent of requests made by the government between July and December 2015, according to its latest Global Government Request Report released on April 26, 2016. As per the report, the Bangladesh government made 12 requests seeking information on 31 Facebook users during the period. "We respond to valid requests relating to criminal cases. Each and every request we receive is checked for legal sufficiency, and we reject or require greater specificity on requests that are overly broad or vague," said the report. The site also restricted four types of content following the government's request. "We restricted access to pieces of content alleged to have violated local law regarding blasphemy, pursuant to a request from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission," it added. Earlier, the government made 16 requests seeking information on 37 users in the first half of last year. But the Facebook authorities did not respond to any of the requests. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government moved to block six social apps - Facebook, Messenger, Line, WhatsApp, Viber, and Tango - citing security reasons stemming from its decision to award the death penalty to two Jamaat-e-Islami leaders on November 24 in 2015. The decision came after the country's Supreme Court upheld an earlier ruling to execute the pair for crimes committed during the 1971 War of Liberation. This is not the first time that social networking sites have been blocked in the country. In 2010, Bangladesh invoked a 'temporary ban' on Facebook after satirical images of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) were uploaded and shared. At the time, the BTRC said the images had hurt religious sentiments of the majority Muslim population. Thousands of demonstrators had also taken to the streets demanding a ban. Talkers under scanner TV channels asked not to live telecast anti-militant drive, rescue operation of natural disaster, accident Sagar Biswas : The critics, who seem very unhappy over the role of law enforcers, would be brought under close surveillance of security agencies to find out whether they have any connection with militancy. "Some people raise questions over working process of police in the television talk shows. I humbly say that, as a servant of the republic, our constitutional and legal responsibilities are to provide security to the people. It is also our duty to take legal step against them, who create obstacles to discharge the said duties," said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asauzzamn Mia. He was talking to newsmen at the DMP Headquarters in the city on Sunday. If they [critics] are dissatisfied with police activities, than they are 'patrons of militancy and terrorism', the DMP chief said. "Their possible link with recent militant activities is now under scanner of the law enforcement agencies The militancy is being spread due to partial analyzing of Holy Quran," he said. He said: "An international media-link has been created relating to the militancy. The SITE Intelligence runs news whenever there is any occurrence by the militants. It's part of an international plot. In this criterion, the Gulshan attack was also an international plot. We've started close monitoring to stop further occurrence of Gulshan like incident." The DMP Commissioner alleged that a vested quarter is spreading rumour to create panic across the city. They spread rumours saying that there will be further attack within 48 hours, or the present government will be collapsed I urge the people, not to pay heed to the rumours. We know, which is intelligence information and which is rumour." Meanwhile, the government and private television channels have been directed not to telecast live episode of militant attack, natural disaster and even rescue operation of any accident. Official sources said that the Ministry of Information has sent letters to 26 television channels, including BTV, pointing the issue on July 19. The letters, signed by senior Assistant Secretary Akhteruzzaman Talukdar, said: "If the television channels conduct live telecast, it hampers the rescue operation in natural disaster or accident and crackdown operation against any militant group." In this backdrop, the ministry asked the television channels not to telecast the incidents anymore. Secretary to the Information Ministry Martuza Ahmed told The New Nation last night, "We've sent letters to the television channels not to live telecast such incidents anymore. The directive was in effect since its issuance." When asked whether the government will take any step against the television channels those continued live telecast on Gulshan militant attack, the secretary said the decision is yet to be taken. The high-ups of the government, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed severe annoyance over the role of some private television channels for broadcasting the security forces' action live from Gulshan when Spanish restaurant Holey Artisan Bakery came under militant attack on July 1. "Such types of live broadcast hamper operation of law enforcers against militants and terrorists. Besides, the rescue operations during natural disasters and calamities are also hampered for the same. So, the government has made the request," Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said. Principals asked to keep watch on students activities Staff Reporter : The Education Ministry on Sunday gave 20-point directions to the madrasa principals and superintendents to prevent stalk of militancy in their institutions. The directions are: Not to leave campus without emergency, to arrange anti-militacny rally at each institution with the participation of the teachers, the students and the guardians, to enhance surveillance on students' study, the principals' monitoring of the activities of the residential students, to form anti-militancy committee, to increase co-curricular activities in the institution, recital of Quran and rendering of Islamic songs must be increased, to ensure the recitation of national anthem and hoisting of national flag every day, to form anti-militany committee in and around the institution, each madrasa principal will have to take the responsibility of his or her institution, the teachers must take step to remove evil elements from the students, the teachers must be students-friendly in the classrooms, to ameliorate ethics and morality among the students, not to use the students for personal reason, to communicate all the guardians continuously, to teach the students about Islam correctly by the united efforts of the teachers and the guardians and to increase the teachers attention to the students. The Education Ministry gave the directions at a view exchange meeting with the madrasa principals in the city's Krishibid Institution Auditorium on Sunday. About 1,200 principals, superintendents and senior teachers from all over the country took part in the programme. Chairman of Madrasa Board Professor AKM Saeef Ullah presided over the programme, while Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was the chief guest. Secretary to Education Ministry Md Sohrab Hossain, Additional Secretary (Madrasa) SM Ehsan Kabir, Director General of Directorate of Madrasa Md Billal Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Islami Arabic University Professor Md Ahsan Ullah, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamiatul Modarresin Sabbir Ahmed Momtazi spoke the programme. Additional Secretary (Development) of the Education Ministry A S Mahmud presented the keynote paper in the programme. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said, the Education Ministry found the university teachers' involvement in militancy. The ministry was compelled to expel them. "The principals and the teachers must increase surveillance on the students. The students' all activities should be brought under the teachers' monitoring. If a teacher makes any abnormal behaviour by students it should be informed to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer," the minister said. Nurul Islam Nahid said, there is no militancy in Alia madrasas. It was wrong information that the militancy had been produced by the madrasha teachers, he said. "The madrasa is not the venue of militancy. We did not find any information in the past and now we have no information about it. Modern education is being delivered in the madrasas," he said. Nahid also asked the media not to brand the madrasa students and teachers as militants. Militants get foreign funds Financial regulation very weak: Experts Local militant groups are successfully raising funds from local and foreign sources, but no effective step has yet been taken to block the funding sources.Even, they are enjoying 'covert' funding support from donations, non-profitable oraganisations and businesses, evading the government scrutiny, sources said.The issue of militant financing came to the fore after the sophisticated militant attack on a cafe in Dhaka that left 28 people dead, including 18 foreigners.Gunmen entered the Cafe with sophisticated arms and ammunition to carry out the massacre, renewing the question of funding sources of local militant groups."Homegrown militant organisations, including Jama'atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami (HuJI) acquire funds from various sources. Major funding for these organisations comes from the illegal cross border trade like small arms, narcotics and fake and foreign currencies," an official of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of Police told The New Nation on Sunday, asking not to be named.He said some Gulf nations, neighbouring countries and a section of expatriate Bangladeshis are also contributing to the militant funds. JMB has around 5000 active sympathisers across the globe who regularly donate part of their earnings to the militant campaign here"Now these groups are getting 'overt and covert' financial support from a religious-based political party, enriching the financial base of the extremist groups," the CTTC official said.The official further said militant groups have been receiving foreign and local funds for years to make new recruits, operate hidden training camps, acquire arms and ammunition, and learning how to use weapons, assemble bombs and stage attacks.When asked, the police official said they have information that spiritual leaders of homegrown militants have travelled to Afghanistan and Syria to gain support from international jihadist groups, including the IS."We are keeping a close coordination with international communities and building up intelligence capability on stemming the tide of illegal financial flow into the country as well as terrorism," he said."Local militant groups are receiving the funds from local and overseas sources," Dr Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled, a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) told The New Nation on Saturday. Of the funding sources, he said, foreign funds are mostly donations and it is coming though illicit channels. Besides, domestic financing is mobilized from businesses, charitable and non-profitable organisations."Individuals at home and abroad are providing their 'ill gotten' money to the local militant outfits," he said, adding, "They are sending it to alternative systems to evade the government scrutiny".When asked, Ibrahim Khaled said, the issue of obstructing terror and militant financing could not be ignored considering the ongoing wave of the militant attacks in the country."We must stop the source of terrorist funds to root out militancy and terrorism from the country," he said.The former BB deputy governor observed that the country' is yet to make any headway in preventing money laundering and terror financing due to weak financial regulation and oversights by the concerned agencies."The recent trend of militant attacks suggests that local extremist groups are successfully raising funds from various sources to carry out the attack. They are managing the funds secretly, but regulators are yet to trace the sources of funds and their financiers," Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former BB governor told The New Nation yesterday.When asked, he said, "We have to reexamine our regulatory policies and practices in regard to stop the sources of militant funds from outside the country."Combating militancy and terrorism is our topmost priority. So, we are sincerely working on the issue," Home Minister M Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The New Nation on Saturday."We are not only looking for militant dens but also looking for terrorist funds emanating in the country," he added. The Minister said a number of business firms and non-profit organisations belonging to members of a particular political party have come under the government scrutiny for their alleged link to terror and militant financing."We are keen to annihilate the financial network of extremist groups for firm handling militant political parties and their leaders to root out terrorism militancy from the country," he added. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war? You voted: The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. Perhaps it's the state bureaucratic machine once again bogging things down. Or perhaps it's local officials not being organized and efficient enough in the planning and permitting process. It's probably a little of both. Wherever the answer lies, though, about whom or what is to blame for the slow progress in the Owasco Flats restoration project, it's well past the point where all officials and agencies state and local make it a priority to get the physical work started. A project that's been in the works for more than five years, the Owasco Flats restoration would be a huge step forward for water quality in Owasco Lake. The flats have largely dried out over the years, making for a runway for all the pollutants that travel toward the southern end of the lake when there's precipitation or melting snow. Bringing back those wetlands will create a natural filter that keeps harmful materials from entering the lake. The project seemed to be rolling forward smoothly during the spring, when county officials spoke of needing some final sign-offs from the state before work could begin. But just as Cayuga County project leaders were getting ready to put out bids for the work, they learned that more review is needed from the state Environmental Facilities Corp. That agency, meanwhile, has said local officials have made some unspecified changes to the project that require more review. Read between the lines of the words from both sides, and you can't help but worry that there's a danger this project won't start by the fall. And that could well push it into next spring or summer. And that's just more time for pollutants to further degrade the quality of Cayuga County's largest source of drinking water. We've already seen a similar story as it relates to Owasco Lake water quality work. Remember the Dutch Hollow Brook remediation project that was suspended for a while in 2015 because the much-hyped state funding was being held up by paperwork? These issues are one reason we have elected city, county, town and state representatives. They can and should use their clout to demand better of the agencies that are supposed to be implementing these projects. The situation in Owasco Lake is serious. All of our elected local and state lawmakers will tell you that, and they'll all have it near the top of their priority lists when campaigning for office. But the true measure of how much they care about fixing this problem is in the results, and voters should demand that their representatives put a little more effort into making sure these Owasco Lake projects get done more quickly. Phillip McGrath, of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Anna-Jonesboro, recently won the firm's Ed Armstrong Award for his exceptional achievement in building client relationships. The award is named after Ed Armstrong, who built a successful branch office and contributed to his community of Grand Island, Nebraska. Phillip was one of 1,908 of the firm's 14,000 financial advisors to receive the Ed Armstrong award. "It's truly an honor to receive recognition for building relationships with those clients we serve," McGrath said. "And it's quite inspirational to receive an award named after a firm legend such as Ed Armstong who was dedicated to individual investors and understood each investor's unique financial goals." The Associated Press CARBONDALE A building that city leaders have called "blighted" on a main corridor into the city has arrangements to be demolished. The former Horizon Inn will be torn down, according to Carbondale City Manager Gary Williams. He said the City Council accepted a low bid from Dore & Associates Contracting Inc. of Bay City, Michigan, for $538,400. After the city obtained the property in October 2014 from the Jackson County Real Estate Tax Trustee for $1,914, according to tax records, it attempted to entice a developer to take control of the property. Williams said the city put out a request for proposals in February, hoping a developer would purchase the property and demolish it. No responses came back to the city, which didnt surprise the city manager, especially because of the size of the property and Carbondale being a tertiary market. It is rare that some developer is just sitting there waiting for an opportunity like that, he said. The cost of the demolition is $538,400. The city also dedicated $25,000 in contingency funds and $6,600 for engineering services, according to city documents. The bid documents sent out by the city had a 120-day bid schedule within it, Williams said. The city hopes to have the demolition complete by the end of the year. He said once the building is down or even before the city will begin to talk about how to market it. We really dont have any expectations, Williams said. It is positioned well for retail or commercial use. Carbondale ready to redevelop Holiday Inn property CARBONDALE City Manager Kevin Baity said the city is in the process of writing a request f He said being a main corridor to the city, it is important to revitalize that part of town. Panda Express has a shell of structure at the gateway of the corridor in the place of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken. Also, Caseys General Store has a site plan meeting this coming week with the city about the former Phillips 66 gas station. He said those investments, coupled with the city improvement the Horizon Inn site, will be huge improvements. When you start to see revitalization projects, it ends to spur other developments, Williams said. ELIZABETHTOWN A one-time ambitious, popular Southern Illinois priest who spearheaded the creation of Camp Ondessonk in 1959, and nearly 50 years later was defrocked by the Vatican after allegations surfaced he sexually abused youth campers when he was director, has died. Robert Vonnahmen, 85, was reportedly quietly buried in Elizabethtown in early May. It doesnt appear that an obituary was written on Vonnahmens behalf, at least not one that is available online or otherwise readily accessible. Vonnahmens death was announced this past week by the St. Louis chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. In the 1990s, Vonnahmen was at the center of a Catholic Church sex abuse scandal that rocked Southern Illinois, and ultimately resulted in the removal of 14 priests, including Vonnahmen, and one permanent deacon, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, which oversees parishes in roughly the bottom third of the state. In a statement, SNAP Director David Clohessy accused local Catholic officials of neglecting to make known the passing of a man he referred to as one of Southern Illinois most notorious pedophile priests. Clohessy said he heard about Vonnahmens death by word-of-mouth, from an individual associated with the church. Clohessy said that same person told him Vonnahmen was buried in Elizabethtown a few days after his death. The newspaper was unable to confirm any information about Vonnahmens arrangements from church officials or others. The Madison County Coroners office confirmed Vonnahmens death. In response to an inquiry, a representative from the coroners office told the newspaper that Vonnahmen died on May 8 at Faith Care Center, a nursing home in the Metro-East city of Highland. Vonnahmen was a hospice patient. Though Vonnahmen was dismissed from the clerical state nine years ago, Clohessy said he believes it is an obligation of church officials to officially note Vonnahmens passing. He said their doing so may provide some sense of closure to the defrocked priests alleged victims, and would be a small step for Catholic Church leaders to make good on the promises of transparency with regards to its handling of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by church leaders. This is a painless, common sense, simple decency thing to do a no brainer, Clohessy said. He said it could have been done through a simple announcement from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville headed by Bishop Edward Braxton. The Belleville Diocese did not return a phone call seeking comment as of press time. For the good of the church It was Braxton who announced in 2007 the decision by Pope Benedict XVI to permanently dismiss Vonnahmen from the clerical state. Of all the priests removed from their parish positions in the 1990s, in light of allegations of sexual abuse of minors dating back to the 1950s, in the Belleville Diocese, Vonnahmen was the only one defrocked. A decision to strip a man of priesthood can only come from the Vatican, the highest level leadership of the Catholic Church. At the time, Braxton said in a statement the decision was made for the good of the church. Vonnahmen never faced criminal charges. By the time his alleged victims came forward, the statute of limitations for such crimes had elapsed, though Vonnahmen was sued in civil court at least four times, including in a lawsuit filed as late as 2014 by a Breese man referred to in court documents as J. Christ, a pseudonym to protect his identity. J. Christ claimed he was abused by Vonnahmen in the 1970s at Camp Ondessonk when he was a young camper, according to The Associated Press. Some lawsuits have been settled out of court; others were dismissed, not on the merits of the cases, but because it was ruled the statute of limitations had passed. Illinois has since made changes to the time child victims of sex crimes have to come forward, and there was continued discussion in the General Assembly this year about whether the statute of limitations should be removed altogether when the abuse occurs to child, as it often times takes years into adulthood for a child sex-victim to understand what happened and that it was not his or her fault, cope with it and decide whether they want to press charges. Vonnahmens religious resume Vonnahmen was the inaugural director of Camp Ondessonk, a position he held for 26 years, until 1985. His dates of service were confirmed by current camp director Dan King, who noted that Vonnahmen was removed from the camp ministry more than 30 years ago. Weve got far more history without him than with him, King said of Vonnahmen. Camp Ondessonk, located in the unincorporated Johnson County community of Ozark, is operated as a ministry of the Belleville Diocese. The rustic, outdoor Catholic resident camp steeped in tradition has hosted thousands of boys and girls over the years. It wasnt until eight years after Vonnahmen left the camp, in 1993, that a diocesan review board found him unfit for ministry in the wake of allegations of abuse of minors, and removed him from the position of pastor he held at the time at the St. Joseph Church in Elizabethtown, a Hardin County community located in deep Southern Illinois of about 300 people. Around the time he was removed from his parish, Vonnahmen also was at the forefront of building the San Damiano Retreat Center, described as a getaway for people of all faiths, that spans parts of Hardin and Pope counties. In an area between Elizabethtown and Golconda, the religious oasis, complete with Mediterranean-style buildings and large religious statues nestled in the Shawnee National Forest, sits atop a 200-foot cliff that offers stunning views of the Ohio River. Vonnahmen also lived on the property for a period of time in a tax-free home estimated to have cost at least $350,000 to build, according to a Belleville News-Democrat article quoting a then-Pope County official miffed about not being able to levy taxes on the property because of the nonprofit status of the organization that built it, the Catholic Shrine Pilgrimage Inc. In that article, the leader of the nonprofit said it was not Vonnahmens retirement home, but a retirement home for all priests known officially as St. Francis Lodge. It was unclear to the newspaper for how long Vonnahmen lived there, or whether other priests are currently living there or have ever lived there. An inquiry was made to the nonprofit, but had not been responded to as of press time. According to the latest Form 990 of the nonprofit available for download on Guidestar, which compiles information on nonprofits, the organization has assets and fund balances totaling more than $2 million, mostly in land and buildings. The fact that Vonnahmen was provided a luxurious retirement villa was a longstanding source of irritation cited by Clohessy. He said it was offensive, given the lifelong scars his alleged victims must live with. Under the same nonprofit umbrella, Vonnahmen additionally directed a travel agency and led group trips to Catholic pilgrimage sites worldwide, a position he continued to hold in an official capacity for nearly a decade after he was removed from the ministry. Vonnahmen resigned in 2002 from the board of directors of Catholic Shrine Pilgrimage, the nonprofit that runs the travel agency and the San Damiano Retreat Center, according to a 2007 article form the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about Vonnahemns defrocking, though the article states he continued to act as a consultant to the travel agency and lead trips through at least 2006. In 2007, when he was defrocked, Vonnahmen reportedly was given the unwanted distinction of being the first priest to ever be laicized meaning, returned to laymans status from the Belleville Diocese, in its then 120-year history. Fallout of the sex-abuse scandal Clohessy points to Vonnahmens unannounced passing as what he sees as leaders continued refusal to deal openly with systemic child sex abuse in the Catholic Church that dates back decades. In 2002, the Boston Globes Spotlight Team of investigative reporters brought the Catholic Church sex scandal to the forefront of national conversation and forced a more comprehensive response from the church. But Clohessy said it seems the churchs lack of recognition of Vonnahmens passing signals leaders would just like to forget its past mistakes and all the pain their inaction caused victims. The Boston Globes volume of articles that kicked off in 2002 painted a picture of a church organization that was aware of a multitude of allegations of sexual abuse by priests of minors in parishes across the country, but that despite this knowledge, largely failed as an organization to take appropriate and reasonable actions to disclose accusations to law enforcement, parish and community members so that claims could be properly vetted and vulnerable children protected. Boston Globe journalists were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their work regarding the churchs sexual abuse crisis in 2003, and it became the subject of the movie Spotlight, released in 2015. According to a 2014 report from The Associated Press, the Vatican revealed that year it had, during the past decade, defrocked 848 priests who were accused of raping or molesting children and sanctioned another 2,572 priests accused of sexual misconduct with lesser penalties. This information was the first-ever breakdown provided on the churchs official response to the 3,400 cases of abuse reported to the Holy See since 2004, according to the article. Allegations against Vonnahmen Three men made formal accusations against Vonnahmen in the 1990s, prior to the lawsuit filed by J. Christ in 2014, all but one regarding allegations from years prior when the plaintiffs were youth campers at Camp Ondessonk. The victims cited various but similar reasons for waiting decades to come forward, including that they did not think they would be believed because of Vonnahmens holy status. One man, then living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, claimed in a civil lawsuit he was seduced and sodomized in 1981 when he was a youth camper at Camp Ondessonk. That man was quoted in an article by The Associated Press at the time saying Vonnahmen had told him that if he disclosed what had happened, Vonnahmen threatened to tell his parents that he tried to burn down a building and kill a horse. He stole my dignity, my spirituality and my body, the victim was quoted as saying. Another man from the Carbondale area also filed a lawsuit alleging Vonnahmen initiated a sexual relationship with him when he was 15 years old and that continued for 16 years thereafter. According to court records, that man testified he did not come forward until adulthood because it wasnt until after other reports surfaced of allegations of Vonnnahmens abuse of minors that he realized his relationship with the then-priest was not special. After speaking with a therapist, the man testified he became more aware of the inappropriate nature of the relationship, and the degree to which he was taken advantage of as a child. The man testified that Vonnahmen had told him their conduct was not sinful and was part of Gods plan for him. The lawsuits were dismissed with rulings not on the merits of the accusations but that the statute of limitations had passed. Another Carbondale man previously employed by the church-affiliated Golden Frontier Tours also accused Vonnahmen in the early 1990s of unwanted sexual advances. His claim was settled out of court, and both the accuser and his lawyers are barred from discussing terms of the settlement per the agreement, said Diane Speir, a Murphysboro attorney who represented that man in what she described as an employee discrimination case. Speir said that when that case made headlines, she received calls from at least five other people, alleging that they also were victims of Vonnahmens. She said that most chose not to go public with their allegations over statute of limitations concerns. But she recalled it as a very difficult time for many. She said that time was even more difficult for people considering coming forward because people in the community were more likely to believe priests over victims. Speir recalled some of those individuals calling her cell phone at night in tears as they recounted painful memories of alleged abuse by the religious leader. I hope this brings some closure and peace for victims, Speir said of Vonnahmens death. She said she was not aware he had died prior to being informed by the newspaper. A plea for closure Given the seriousness of the allegations against Vonnahmen that led to his defrocking, Clohessy said Bishop Braxton knows those alleged victims might sleep a little better tonight if they knew Vonnahmen cant hurt kids anymore. But, like bishops have done for centuries, Clohessy said, Braxton makes the self-serving, but irresponsible decision to keep silent. When the newspaper reached out to the Belleville Diocese on early Friday afternoon, a woman who answered the phone took a detailed message about the nature of the newspapers request for comment. That call had not been returned as of press time. The woman said the priest who typically serves as spokesman was not in the office on Friday. The ocean is big. July in Southern Illinois is hot and sticky. Illinois residents are fed up with their ineffective state government. All three are understatements of the same weight. The ocean will remain immense. July is what it is. But, it is up to us to remedy state government. Throw the bums out, is the default rhetoric when people are fed up with their elected leaders. And, between now and November there will be plenty of bluster about just that. The political ads inundating the airwaves are already bludgeoning us. The knee-jerk reaction from many corners is to impose term limits. That is a classic case of treating the symptom while ignoring the disease. While the anti-incumbent fervor is running high, there is a high likelihood that most incumbents will be returned to Springfield. There is a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) element at work in this exercise of the absurd, but the stark reality is most of our state representatives and senators live in carefully crafted districts that all but ensure their re-election. Its as if a person is granted tenure when elected. While it might be cathartic for Illinois voters to literally and figuratively clean house, it would have little long-term effect if district lines arent redrawn in common sense fashion. That possibility was dealt a setback earlier this week when Diane Larsen, a Cook County judge, issued a ruling that removes an initiative from the November ballot. The initiative would have put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that takes away the General Assemblys power to draw district lines. The proposed amendment would have empowered an independent commission to draw district lines Under current Illinois law, the lines are redrawn every 10 years, essentially allowing the party in power to stack the deck against the opposition. How ridiculous is the process? Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, was drawn out of his district in 2012. According to Illinois law, he was allowed to run for one more term in his old district. If he sought re-election this year, he would have had to move across town. Does anyone really believe that line was drawn totally by coincidence? Southern Illinois Universitys campus is in two senate and two representative districts. Two more remarkable coincidences. Remedying this issue is proving to be difficult. Larsens ruling was the second time in three years that an effort to change the process was thrown out. The Illinois Constitution only allows initiatives that affect the structure and procedure of the General Assembly. The Chicago Tribune reported this week that opponents of redistricting successfully argued the ballot question didnt do enough to change the basic structure of the General Assembly as an institution. While change is difficult, it can be done. Iowa has instituted a system in which a nonpartisan staff recommends a map. The map is still subject to approval by the state legislature. Ohio in 2015 passed an initiative that will end gerrymandering. Seeking fair district lines, rather than leap-frogging directly to term limits, seems the logical first step for Illinois residents. If district lines are drawn so that representatives actually have to serve a constituency rather than a carefully selected clientele, government should become more responsive. And, contrary to popular belief, not everyone in Springfield is a bum. It is counterproductive to remove the conscientious public servants simply because their time is up. Husband and wife team Brian Konefal and Paola Fioravanti from Coppa Cafe are mixing a bit of Flagstaff with a taste of Europe to make the gourmet dining experience more approachable to residents and visitors alike. The comfy cafe nestled in a strip mall off of Milton Road with its warm yellow walls and eclectic mix of antique tables and chairs was recently named by Phoenix Magazine the No. 1 place to eat in Flagstaff and said this might be Arizonas best restaurant. The magazine also stated the dining scene in Flagstaff is "so good, were ready to declare Flagstaff, pound-for-pound, the best food town in Arizona. For Konefal and Fioravanti, the praise is the culmination of five years of hard work in a town they love. The couple met in culinary school in Italy and spent the next two years working for free at various one- and two-star-rated Michelin restaurants. If you want to work for the best restaurants in Europe, thats how you do it, Fioravanti said. Its like an unpaid internship. The working conditions are harsh. Employees are expected to work long hours, are often yelled at for the smallest mistakes and have maybe one day off every two weeks, Konefal said. The reality TV-show Hells Kitchen may seem unreal to Americans, but its just another day in the life of a chef in Europe. There are some perks: apprentice chefs are usually provided an apartment or place to live near the restaurant and eat with the other staff at the restaurant. They also get the experience of learning some of the finest techniques of gourmet cooking. After working for a number of restaurants in Spain and Italy, the two returned to the U.S. and settled in San Francisco, where Koenfal worked with one top chef and then moved to New York to help the chef open his own restaurant. The couple then partnered with a group of investors to open a new restaurant in Boston in 2008, but the economic conditions werent right. They left the business and started the long cross-country trip back to San Francisco, stopping in Flagstaff, Konefals hometown, to visit his brothers. Fioravanti, who grew up in Brazil, fell in love with Flagstaff. How can you not fall in love with this place? Its beautiful, she said. The couple had just enough money to open Coppa Cafe on Milton Road. The mission of the restaurant is to bring a piece of Flagstaffs outdoor culinary delights inside and pair it with European cooking techniques and flavors. The couple seek out ingredients that are unique to Flagstaff and Arizona, such as pine buds, wild mushrooms, cactus, yucca buds, ferns, fruits, pinon nuts and Arizona beef. They grow a number of fresh greens and herbs in raised beds in the small patio at the back of their restaurant. They cure a number of meats and cheese and pickle a number of other items, such as local fruit and ferns, in storeroom next to the dining area. Koenfal has been known to forage for some of the more exotic local items from Flagstaffs surrounding forests and catch trout for the restaurant. At the same time, the couple features more familiar items such as salads, meatballs, steak and fries, and fresh fish on their menus in order to reach those diners who might not be ready to try something so different as a clay baked duck egg with risotto. People sometimes have a fear of gourmet food -- they expect tiny portions with wild artistic flairs and high prices, Koenfal said. The couple tries to make sure Coppas seasonal menus include some dishes that have familiar ingredients and filling portions for customers who may not be in the mood or are not as adventurous for something so exotic. At first they just served lunch and dinner at Coppa, but a recent illness pulled Fioravanti out of the restaurant and left Koenfal without his right-hand pastry chef and business partner for more than a year. I just couldnt keep up, even with the excellent staff that we have, he said. The couple had to cut the lunch menu, which disappointed many of their fans. But they have recently added a happy-hour menu that features light snacks, salads, cured meats, sandwiches, fries and drinks three days a week at a smaller price. They now offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. They still offer dinner four days a week with a tasting menu that offers nine courses or a regular menu that offers a variety of individual dishes, and a pre-dinner three days a week that features a three-course meal for one price. Seating is limited, so reservations are encouraged. You can reserve a seat on their website, www.coppacafe.net, on the app OpenTable or by calling the restaurant. In the intricate web of many familial structures, love vacillates as high times give way to insane lows. But with dark days unfolding, the members cope with caustic wit and for others a bottle. Such is the case with the Weston clan of Oklahoma. Between their pasts and tumultuous current affairs, the heat slowly cranks to full blast. After all, it is August: Osage County. Theatrikos staging of this tragicomedy opens at the Doris Harper-White Community Playhouse Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays from July 29-Aug. 14. Tickets are $11-$21. To learn more or purchase tickets, call 774-1662 or visit Theatrikos.com. Happy family Playwright Tracy Letts words on the page and his hand-picked actors performances have gathered multiple awards. It is one of only six plays in history to have won the triple crown: Tony Award for Best Play, Pulitzer Prize for Drama and New York Drama Critics Circle Award. His characters are more real than imagined, as he rooted this 2007 work firmly in his own life. The local actors are equally comfortable with each other, too. They share both a half-dozen Viola Awards between them and a blood-like bond. Linda Sutera portrays the absolute antithesis of her off-stage self in this play, directed by Nancy Wonders. With a penchant for pills and cigarettes, Violet Weston fluctuates between moments of lucidity and aggression, swinging verbal jabs at already fragile egos. Im not doing the method thing, believe me, Sutera said of her character: an addict-in-denial hinged on two bottles. Instead, the actors have researched, watched videos and held pot-lucks in character. The results are organic recreations of their respective roles for all their hilarity and misery. Becky Daggett plays Barbara, one of Violet and husband Beverlys three daughters. Her husbands, Bill (Joe Maniglia), indiscretions have caused Barbs claws to come out with nuanced turn of phrase. Their daughter, Jean (Kari Joy Thomas), is a typical 15-year-old: smart as a whip and eager to rebel. Even still, the veteran actress expressed this is her most challenging role yet. Shes not someone who I felt like I got right away its taken a lot of work, Daggett said, noting other roles have been script heavy, but its not that. Its the emotional content of the role that makes it challenging and also fun. Buddha figure Beverly, played by Suteras real-life husband, Tony, at least acknowledges his alcoholism and failings as a poet. Sutera noted the trick of his role was to hinge Beverlys action on charm, his devotion to Violet and to literature. He has to be somebody they want to come back, Sutera said, noting his characters keystone disappearance. And Beverly, at the onset of the play, fires up that charm when he interviews Johnna, a Cherokee woman (Danielle Kelly), for a caretaker position to help Violet during her treatment for mouth cancer. As the play offers a stunning glimpse at the archetypal American family, Johnna becomes the all-seeing eye over the Westons. Her prominence in the play, reinforced by her position above the action center stage, is a new experience for the 21-year-old actress in her first-ever role. Nancy says she bears witness, Kelly said, to everything: the chaos, the compassion, the drama. And I really admire that about my character; I feel like I have a part of that Zen mode in me. Tony added, In some ways its the most difficult role. You dont get to scream and cuss. Shell hit you with a frying pan if you get out of line, but its just the understatement of how she stays with it until shes become an essential feature. In control But the rest of the family is the tornado around Johnnas eye of the storm. When Barbs sister, Karen, played by Adrienne Bischoff, carts her new boyfriend, Steve (Warren Doody), to a very private family affair, dark undertones subvert any calm the Westons couldve claimed. Though their experiences are extreme, it is the rawness and tangibility of the group of aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters and daughters that sets this work apart. Angela Keith plays Violet and Beverlys daughter, Ivy. In Keiths working life, she is a psychologist and the parallels have not been lost on her. She noted the relationships illustrated in August will be as familiar as the characters as they actively sort their dysfunction and decide when to loose themselves from their parents control. I think we have real-life analogs, Bischoff added. Maybe a little dialed down, but theres nobody here the audience wouldnt recognize. I mean, its life. 100 YEARS AGO The street paving is coming along nicely. City Engineer C. M. Brooks has his hands full with watching his stakes, making grades, and keeping ahead of the concrete gang. Leroux Street is receiving the attention of the swamper, who is putting it down to grade. Upon returning from a dance at Williams on Tuesday night there was an auto accident near Maine when a cow decided to cross the road. The auto overturned. Miss Josephine Rowe was rendered unconscious for the time being. Fred Thompson has two broken ribs. No one else was injured although the cow was killed and the auto greatly damaged. The following party brought the accident victims into town. A good-sized cloudburst on Monday near Cosnino put water over the tracks for a considerable distance. The rainy season commenced immediately after the Republican State Convention adjourned at Prescott. It has been ordained by the City Council that the City of Flagstaff should be a weedless town regardless of the fact that vacant lots have heretofor run riot with debris and weeds to the utter disgust of the neighbors who have endeavored to improve their properties. 75 YEARS AGO Got a rattlesnake? Postmaster George Babbitt received a letter from a gentleman in the East who has a great desire to own rattlesnake skins. Mr. Babbitt will gladly furnish the name and address of the buyer. There is no need to bring the snake to the post office. Skinning can be done at the scene of the snakes habitat. Spanish dinners 50 cents. Steak or chicken by appointment at Marthas Spanish Kitchen, 123 N. Leroux. T.A. Stahl who has been with the railroads since 1887, retired on the 5th of July. He began as a telegraph operator with the Baltimore and Ohio line and after working his way west with other lines came to us in Flagstaff as agent in 1916. The State Patrol has been trying to control traffic by airplane. It appears that they can be successful with the addition of a connection with the ground forces. 50 YEARS AGO The 1966 NAU Foresters Summer Camp is learning by doing. It is the only good way to assure that the graduates have proper professional training to do their forestry work well. They are clearing doghair thickets, which will allow the remaining trees room to grow and flourish. The students are learning to be skilled in the use of double-bladed axes, riding the bucking whirly-gig power saws and manipulating 17-foot pruning saws. Dr. Charles O. Minor, Dean of the Forestry School. The City has accepted the traffic plan as outlined by William Costello of the Highway Department that was included in the area transportation study and expects to implement the one-way street plan within the next 30 days. 25 YEARS AGO Tuesday nights ADOT forum at Sinagua High School on the impact of dumping tons of salt on our roadways led to citizen protest about the damage to vehicles and the City Council saying it will not approve the use of salt on our roadways. H. Tues. 87 L. 47 Thurs. Rain Sun. & Mon. 0.64 + 0.01 Sat. The Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association and the late Jimmy Evans have been recognized for efforts to improve the citys center. DORA was awarded two Main Street South Carolina Inspiration Awards during the Municipal Association of South Carolina's annual meeting held July 16 in Charleston. The late Jimmy Evans, the former president and owner of AMCO Construction Company, was posthumously honored with the 2016 Main Street SC Downtown Service Award. Evans died in January. DORA Board Chairperson Jeanna Reynolds said, We were extremely excited about these awards. As a matter of fact, Orangeburg won three out of seven Inspiration Awards that Main Street gave. Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said, "I think that we're on our way to a better Orangeburg." He said Orangeburg can be an example for other municipalities that are working to improve their downtowns. "I am so appreciative that we won those awards because it shows the citizens of this city that we're not just standing still. We're making progress in the area of development, improvement and beautification so that we can be attractive to those that wish to move here and can see that kind of progress," Butler said. Evans was very active in the community and served on various boards and committees, including as chairman of DORA's board of directors. A believer in the value of downtown development in both his professional and volunteer work, Evans' company was the general contractor for several of the city's recent facade grant recipients. In working on that project, he went above and beyond the grant requirements to beautify the downtown areas. Main Street SC Manager Beppie LeGrand said, "Jimmy Evans truly left his mark on downtown Orangeburg." Evans' company provided in-kind staffing for the Orangeburg Downtown Farmers Market. He was also the general contractor on the renovation of 1122 Church St., which created a concept shop and rental-ready space downtown. Evans award was accepted by his wife, Tracy. Also during the MASC annual meeting, DORA was awarded the 2016 Main Street SC Outstanding Business Development Program Award for its efforts to recruit new business and support existing ones in the downtown area. DORA renovated the property at 1122 Church St. to create a space ready for business occupancy while creating positive buzz for downtown Orangeburg. The project took a vacant space from disuse and renovated it to include historic details such as exposed blank ceiling and brick. LeGrand said, "DORA and its innovative pop-up shop is a great example of how Orangeburg's downtown is becoming a vibrant and successful place to locate a business." The renovation was sponsored by DORA with support from community partners including the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce, Cox Industries, South State Bank and First Citizens Bank. Allied Air and Orangeburg Redi-Mix also sponsored elements of the renovation. A pop-up gift boutique which provided residents with a Valentine's shopping opportunity earlier this year was the second such attempt to showcase the downtown area. The Surcee pop-up shop was also open in December. Next, DORA plans to work with the private sector to create a cluster of rental-ready properties and launch a recruitment plan to fill them with businesses that meet the needs identified in the 2014 Community Vision plan. DORA was also awarded the Main Street SC Award for Outstanding Promotion for its "Paint A Good Word" art contest for children in grades K-12 in 2015. Area children were asked to paint their interpretation of good words, including many of the Orangeburg County Community of Character traits and words such as peace, joy, family, love, laugh and more. The Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, which helped initiate the program, received 326 entries. Of those, 50 were selected and posted in windows of downtown merchants the first week in April in 2015. Some art was also displayed in vacant buildings. Reynolds said the contest, resulted in several thousand people as far as foot traffic in downtown. That was a great idea that the board thought of. Following the widely promoted contest, the elementary school winner used the iPad he won to produce a short video about the downtown farmers market and the "Paint A Good Word" contest. LeGrand said, "Using creativity and imagination, DORA gave Orangeburg residents a reason to be proud of their community and show off that pride." Main Street South Carolina equips residents with the knowledge, skills, tools and organizational structure necessary to transform their downtowns, neighborhood commercial districts and cities or towns into centers for activity and economic growth. Richard Nixon fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox in the infamous Saturday Night Massacre in October 1973 as part of Nixons mad scheme to obstruct the FBI investigation of the Watergate burglary in which Nixon himself was involved. Fortunately, the FBI, the media, the courts and Congress pursued the investigation, forcing Nixon to resign and convicting many of his accomplices of massive corruption. In 1978 Congress passed the Ethics in Government Act, which required the judiciary to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate executive branch officials accused of criminal misconduct. The act provided that the special prosecutor could only be removed for good cause. The South Carolina General Assembly passed the 1975 Ethics Act, the 1991 Ethics Act, and the state grand jury laws in the context of the Watergate scandal and Operation Lost Trust in an effort to attack the problem of public corruption in South Carolina state and local governments. The state grand jury act provided that the attorney general, if he had a conflict of interest, could designate someone to exercise the authority of the office of the attorney general over the matter in which the attorney general was conflicted. This provision was the authority on which Alan Wilson twice relied to designate 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe to prosecute the corruption case against former House Speaker Bobby Harrell and then to investigate and prosecute any other cases discovered as a result of the Harrell prosecution. The state grand jury law does not provide that the attorney general has the authority to remove a designee with or without good cause. In March 2016, Wilson announced he was terminating Pascoe and offered as cause allegations that Pascoe was tainted, was somehow leaking information to the media, did not know what he was doing, had been too lenient to Harrell, and had made false statements. Wilson adduced no proof of the allegations. Wilson did not allege that he had unlimited authority to decide who prosecutes cases and, in law, he has no such unlimited authority. In the federal and state constitutional systems in the United States, no public official, as Nixon found out, has unlimited authority. The separation-of-powers principle allocates limited authority to officials in the executive branch, of which the attorney generals office is a part, subject to the checks and balances of the judicial and legislative branches. In South Carolina, the judiciary has the power to decide who can and cannot handle legal matters and to set standards of conduct for all attorneys, of which Alan Wilson is only one. Public officials must always have legitimate justifications for their decisions. And the Supreme Courts ruling that Wilson cannot remove Pascoe without good cause does not diminish the attorney generals authority to act in an arbitrary and capricious manner and without good cause since he never had unlimited authority and arbitrary powers under the law in the first place. Circuit Judge Clifton Newman signed off on the document on which Pascoe and Chief Mark Keel of SLED also signed to empanel the state grand jury as required. Newman therefore determined that Pascoe had the authority of the Office of the Attorney General to sign off on the document. The South Carolina Supreme Court also found that Pascoe had the authority to sign off. The fact of the matter is that the Office of the Attorney General is not personal or proprietary to Alan Wilson but institutional and has been often exercised by assistant attorneys general and private counsel and other designees hired by the Office of the Attorney General. In fact, Wilson handles very little legal work himself and relies on other attorneys to act for him, including in the argument made before the Supreme Court by outside counsel. The South Carolina Supreme Courts decision to reject Wilsons scheme to dismiss Pascoe was in accord with the courts duty to see that justice is done, that attorneys not handle legal matters in which they have a conflict of interest, that public officials like the attorney general not take official actions based on political friendships, emotional sensitivity or personal animus, and that under no circumstances should there be either the appearance or the substance of obstruction of justice and an inside fix of criminal investigation and prosecution. John V. Crangle, attorney at law, is executive director of Common Cause/South Carolina. A group of citizens and pastors gathered Saturday in a call for solidarity and unity following violent episodes in the U.S. Organizers decided we needed to do something in light of the events that took place across our country and be proactive to try to ensure that none of these events take place right here in our community, the Rev. Benny L. Everett III of Antioch Baptist Church in Bowman said. I think its important because its going on and we need to call attention not only to the events that are taking place, but we need to call attention to a system that is broken, he said. This is not a police issue, its a systemic issue and until we address beyond the surface, these problems will continue. The group gathered at the monument on South Carolina State Universitys campus commemorating the event that has come to be known as the Orangeburg Massacre. They marched to downtown Orangeburgs Memorial Plaza. Everett has family connections to Corey Jones, a man who was shot in Florida on Oct. 18, 2015. A police officer has been charged with manslaughter in his death. These acts are unacceptable and all of us must be a part, within reason, to prevent them from happening in the future, Orangeburg Mayor Michael C. Butler said. I believe if we let God order our steps, this nation will rise to its true meaning and all of us will live in peace and harmony, he said. The Rev. H.T. Gainey of Good Shepherd Community Ministries said it is important for the citizens in Orangeburg to come together and know its not us against them or you against me but we are together. When all groups come together on one accord with a common ground to having peace, unity and love nothing but great results can come from it, Gainey said. We want Orangeburg to be the pillar where other cities and counties across the state and nation can look and see how weve done it and how they can do it as well, he said. The Rev. J.P. Sibley of New City Fellowship believes kairos moments are needed to build strong and lasting relationships. These are moments where its not about necessarily what happened in the past, its not necessarily about whats going to happen in the future, its about right now, this moment, standing together, seeking the face of God together, he said. We need to participate in those moments with other people, especially when its not your thing, Sibley said. Sibley believes in taking time outside of normal interactions and extending a hand or sharing a meal. Id love to see pastors having other pastors into their homes for meals across denominational lines and racial lines, he said. Sibley and his wife had a pastor join them at their home six months ago for dinner. He said it was the first time hed ever been asked to come into a white persons house, Sibley said. Thats a simple step. Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Mike Adams pledged that local law enforcement is working to ensure that events seen elsewhere dont happen within this community. Were committed to our community. We will not do things that bring dishonor to ourselves, to our community or to our citizens, he said. You look at people pledging their support for us and I think its equally important that we pledge our support to you. Adams said the events that he sees around the country will make officers more dedicated to serving justly. I think it deepens the resolve of the law enforcement officers who are in it for the right reasons, who do the right things and it strengthens our resolve to continue to build the ties with our community and continue to work even harder to maintain the trust of our community, he said. The Rev. Arthur W. Goforth of Mount Zion Baptist Church said the theme of Black Lives Matters does not mean other lives in the county do not matter as well. Were here today to affirm that black lives do matter. Thats not to insinuate or assert that Asian, Latino or white lives are not important but simply that black lives do matter, he said. All the bones in my body matter but if I break my leg, the only one that Im going to pay attention to is that broken leg. All the houses in our community matter, but its the house thats burning down that the fireman goes to, Goforth said. Butler thanked everyone who made an appearance and marched. He said the community must continue to pray for the lives of those touched by the violence and must work together to prevent future incidents Violence serves no purpose in society. While we are different in terms of belief, culture, religion and gender, it is imperative that we come together to find common ground, he said. Jo Ann Owens said the event went well and is glad the conversation is being started. With everything thats going on, I think its a good start to let people know that we can come together as one, law enforcement, the community, the church, everything can come together as a whole and make things better, Owens said. She said, All it takes is conversation. Gainey said future plans include a community forum. The musicians of Orchestra Northern Arizona (ONA) know firsthand that exposure to and participation in live symphonic music can be transformative, and for the last six years, ONA has provided local musicians, amateur and professional alike, with a place to learn and perform symphonic music. Now, ONA is expanding its community-based orchestral model to serve Flagstaffs young musicians through a new youth orchestra, Youth Orchestra Northern Arizona (YONA). Spearheaded by ONA members and the parents of young musicians, YONA will offer a sustainable source of music enrichment for youth while encouraging artistic excellence and committed participation. Opportunities for youth are a key to a vibrant, well-rounded community, and the presence of a youth orchestra says a lot about our quality of life in Flagstaff, said YONA organizer and ONA musician Carrie Odem. Many of the musicians in ONA enjoyed being part of a youth orchestra in their younger days and describe it as a wonderful experience. Those early experiences even helped some of our musicians decide to move to Flagstaff, simply because we have a community orchestra and they wanted to continue playing." Music enrichment in a full orchestra setting fosters a lifelong love of orchestral music and of playing in groups, Odem said. This type of musicianship, along with opportunities to perform for the community and a place to connect with their musical peers, is what young musicians can expect as YONA members. Odem hopes that ONAs own success, evident in the orchestras rapid growth and its positive reception by the Flagstaff community, will carry over to the new youth orchestra. Since we have enjoyed such success as an organization it was not such a large leap to conceive that this model could be replicated for a youth orchestra," Odem said. "The talent of our artistic director, David Cripps, along with the dedication of our all-volunteer board, our fantastic musicians, and our audiences, has been instrumental in ONAs growth and success. The youth orchestra will truly be a reflection of the community it grows out of. YONA will be under the direction of Cripps, who played principal horn for the London Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. Cripps also has extensive experience both as a horn instructor and as a conductor in orchestras the world over. Membership in YONA is open to any musician 19 years of age and under, and students from across Northern Arizona are invited to participate. Our goal is to supplement and support the music programs that exist in our schools, Odem said. This has always been one of ONAs goals -- to provide accessible, educational music experiences for the youth of our community. The enthusiasm from our board members, private music teachers, school teachers, and our friends and fellow musicians with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is now fused with the energy of the young musicians coming in as part of the first YONA group. We are very pleased to have this opportunity to expand our service in this way -- to pay it forward to Flagstaffs young musicians. Registration and general information for YONA is available at www.orchestrana.org/youth-orchestra. Students are invited to sign up through the website now to receive updates, music, and information about summer activities. The first rehearsal is slated for Aug. 22, at 5:30 p.m., in the Flagstaff High School band room. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani over the terror attack in Kabul. "We were deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and injuries as a result of a horrible terror attack committed in the capital of your country. We are outraged by this horrifying terror attack and consider it necessary and important to carry out a joint and resolute fight against terrorism,"- President Aliyev said in a letter of condolences. "On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed and the whole people of Afghanistan, and wish those injured the soonest recovery. May Allah rest the souls of those who died in peace!"- said President Aliyev. Representatives of Azerbaijani Armed Forces will attend the international event to be organized within the NATO`s Operational Capabilities Concept program. The servicemen will also join international training conference in Germany. The OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairs expect the sides of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to strictly adhere to the ceasefire, the OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chair James Warlick said, RIA Novosti reported. We expect from the sides strict adhering to the ceasefire, which has largely been provided after the meeting in Vienna. Any resume of the use of force will be strongly condemned by the mediators and co-chair countries," Warlick said. He stressed that the mediators called the sides for implementation of the agreements made in Vienna and St. Petersburg, which include the expansion of the OSCE monitoring group, the coordination of proposals on creation of investigation mechanisms of frontline incidents, the continuation of negotiations, which could lead to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. It was encouraging for us to see the resumption of substantive negotiations between the sides in Saint Petersburg. The expansion of the monitoring mission is the next step. Along with these efforts, the co-chairs have not stopped working with the sides on the investigation mechanisms proposal," Warlick said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Oil Ministry of Iran is in talks with Chinese and Tajik banks over billionaire businessman Babak Zanjanis debt case. Aliakbar Mahrokhzad, the head of legal affairs division at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has said that his organization is following the case in order to collect Zanjanis debt to the ministry, SHANA news agency reported. According to the official, Zanjani has proposed settling his debt through banks in China and Tajikistan. Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption as the 42 year-old businessman was convicted of fraud and economic crimes earlier this year. He was arrested in December 2013 over accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue during sanctions era. In a live television broadcast on Saturday night, President Ashraf Ghani addressed the nation following the deadly Daesh suicide bombing in Kabul city earlier in the day - which claimed the lives of at least 80 people, TOLO Newsreported. Ghani condemned the attack that also claimed the life of at least one journalist. He said: "I will get revenge on those who shed the blood of our citizens." Ghani said it was a tragic day and he ordered Sunday be a day of national mourning. He said: "Our enemies, by attacking civil liberties, think that they can divide us. But they will fail." Ghani confirmed that one of three suicide bombers, that had joined demonstrators at the mass rally Saturday, had been gunned down by security forces before he could detonate his explosives. "I have directed a special commission and the attorney general to investigate the incident and find those responsible," he said. The Ministry of Interior on Saturday night confirmed the death toll had risen to 80 and that over 230 people were wounded. United Nations Assisted Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the attack against a peaceful demonstration. In a statement issued by the organization, it said the two explosions occurred at Dehmazang Circle in Kabul city "targeted a peaceful demonstration, causing horrendous levels of civilian harm." "This attack is particularly heinous because it targeted civilians as they exercised their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression," the statement read. "An attack deliberately targeting a large, concentrated group of civilians amounts to a war crime. This incident is an outrage that cannot be justified. It is an attempt to spread terror amongst civilians and stifle the freedoms that Afghans have sacrificed so much to obtain. The United Nations stands firmly with the people of Afghanistan as they seek to exercise their fundamental human rights," said UNAMA chief Tadamichi Yamamoto. "I reiterate that international humanitarian law prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and international human rights law requires the government and non-state actors to respect and protect the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. The perpetrators of today's attack must be held accountable." Resolute Support also strongly condemned the attack. "Our condolences go out to those who are affected by today's attack," said Resolute Support Commander Gen. John W. Nicholson. "We strongly condemn the actions of Afghanistan's enemies of peace and remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the National Unity Government." The Resolute Support commander also praised Afghan law enforcement officials and medical personnel whose efforts prevented additional casualties. The United States Embassy in Kabul also spoke out against the attack. In a statement issued by them, the embassy said it condemns "in the strongest terms the cowardly bombing attack that has claimed scores of innocent lives in Kabul during a peaceful demonstration in which citizens were exercising their constitutional rights." Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack earlier Saturday. The incident happened after thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Dehmazang Circle in the capital to protest against government's planned routing of the 500kV power line project. Despite media claims that the killer is Iranian-German but his identity is still not clear for the Foreign Ministry, Qasemi said on Saturday, reported. He noted that the Foreign Ministry has ordered its diplomatic mission in Germany to collect enough information about the alleged teenage killer. Iran condemns killing of innocent people in Germany and condemning acts of violence and terrorism are parts of Irans policy principles, the official added. He noted that Iran as one of the victims of terrorism condemned the incident immediately after the attack. Certain states which are fathers to al-Qaeda, Daesh and Taliban are manipulating the incident as part of their psychological war against Iran, Qasemi said. He said that Iranians across the world are the best foreign residents and nobody will believe certain states propaganda against Iranian society living abroad. Qasemi also condemned the terrorist explosion in Afghanistan, adding that no excuse is accepted for killing the innocent people and acts of violence and terror are condemned anywhere across the world. Munich police Chief Hubertus Andra in a meeting with Iran's Consul General Abdollah Nekounam said that the Munich terrorist attacker has nothing to do with the cultured Iranian people living in Germany. Investors, mainly Arab and foreign nationals, poured Dh57 billion ($15.51 billion) into Dubais real estate market in the first half of 2016, according to the Dubai Land Department's (DLD) transactions report. As many as 26,000 investors from 149 countries, with the majority being GCC nationals, invested in the Dubai market during the period, the report issued by the DLD's Real Estate Research and Studies Department said, according to a Wam news agency report. Sultan Butti Bin Merjen, director general of the DLD, said: "The Dubai real estate market has managed to maintain its robust appeal this year and is now emerging as one of the foremost property investment destinations in the world, bolstered by the decline in some regional economies and serious challenges faced by other countries around the globe." The report revealed that GCC citizens contributed Dh22 billion ($5.98 billion) to the Dubai property market from 8,000 transactions. Out of this, Emirati investment amounted to Dh14.523 billion ($3.95 billion) from 4,543 deals. Saudi citizens came in at second place with transactions reaching Dh4 billion originating from 1,946 investments. In the third place were Kuwaiti nationals with 743 investment transactions worth more than Dh1 billion, followed by nationals from Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. Arab investors from outside the GCC contributed more than Dh7 billion to the real estate market in the first six months of 2016, with 7,577 transactions made by 16 different nationalities. DLDs report revealed that Jordanian investors were ranked first with 765 investments worth more than Dh1.5 billion. They were followed by Egyptian citizens who invested Dh1.37 billion stemming from 710 transactions and the Lebanese whose investments amounted more than Dh1 billion from 423 transactions. The total value of foreign investment in the Dubai real estate market reached more than Dh28 billion, drawn from 14,314 investments belonging to 149 nationalities. Indian nationals came in top of this investor field, making more than Dh7 billion worth of property transactions arising from 3,656 transactions. The British were listed second with a total of Dh4 billion worth of property transactions resulting from 2,010 deals, while Pakistani investments were third with Dh3 billion from 2,073 transactions. Qatars Ezdan Real Estate Company has installed about 262,000 water-saving devices in more than 15,000 of its Al Wukair residential units, resulting in a reduction of up to 60 per cent in the overall water consumption. Group COO Dr Mousa Al Awwad said that Our strategy in supporting the rationalisation programme stems from the vision of the State of Qatar that pays an exponential interest in matters of environment, health and education. This vision inspired us to devote our efforts to preserve natural resources, in order to make our experience a successful example in this field. Ezdan Holding Group has been a pioneer in partnering with Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) through a memorandum of understanding, which thank to Allah Almighty, we were able to implement a large portion of its provisions, he added. He noted that the group plans to convert its compounds in Doha, its hotels and malls into fully water saving facilities in the short term. We are proud to abide by the national vision of development and the preservation of the state's resources for a more prosperous future for our children, he said, praising the efforts of Ezdan Real Estates technical staff, who strived to implement the agreed program in all villages in a record time. Ezdan Real Estate acting general manager Omar Al-Yafey said: The specialized team has spared no efforts to implement this project during the previous period, and was able to accomplish the task with great success. Now, we have already started to witness positive results, showing that between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of water has been conserved, and in some cases, even higher. Al-Yafey confirmed that all new projects are equipped with the latest water rationalization technologies, mainly Ezdan Oasis. The project will include more than 9,000 units, he said, noting that its first phase will be operational by the beginning of next years Q1. Ezdan Holding Group was honoured during the 4th Annual Tarsheed Ceremony for its great support to this program that aims at rationalizing and optimizing water consumption, as well as spreading awareness about the importance of preserving it. In March 2014, Ezdan Holding Group chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah al-Thani and Kahramaa chairman Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari signed a memorandum of understanding to consolidate their efforts and support he National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) and its mechanisms and initiatives to limit the daily water consumption per capita. TradeArabia News Service The Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has signed a MoU with Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK, to offer joint professional and academic programmes starting from September 2017. Northumbria Universitys Newcastle Business School was named the UK Business School of the Year in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards last December, and it recently achieved double AACSB accreditation in Accounting and Business (making it the only business school in Europe to earn such an accreditation). The agreement signed by QFBA and Northumbria University is a great achievement for the academy and the university which will lead to a strategic cooperation in various technical and scientific fields in addition to the exchange of expertise and professors to provide the best accredited academic and professional programmes, said a statement from the Qatari institution. Meanwhile, Northumbria's innovative programmes for QFBA students provide them with the knowledge necessary to compete in an increasingly globalised economy and boost their employment prospects, through which they can exercise the skills and knowledge gained in the academic and professional programmes offered in partnership with the university, it stated. Through the technical and scientific programmes that will be presented in partnership with the university, beneficiaries will learn about the latest scientific developments in areas of interest, in addition to the best practices in these aspects, it added. On the new programmes, Sheikh Fahad Faisal Al Thani, the chairman of QFBA, said: "Our academys agreement with Northumbria University represents a milestone in our tangible contribution to the realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030." This agreement is poised to play a key role in harmonising training qualifications with the evolving job market needs, while powering the financial sector in Qatar and the region with an entire generation of well-qualified professionals, capable of elevating the profile of their organisations as well as Qatar as a preferred business hub that attracts investments and businesses, he noted. CEO Dr Abdul Aziz Al Horr said: Our partnership with Northumbria University opens a world of opportunities for Qatars youth. Through this agreement, we will be presenting a package of various scientific and professional programmes that harmonises with the needs of the labour market in Qatar. The programmes will sport a qualitative aspect and international recognition for the national and international reputation that the Academy and the University enjoy, he added. Prof Jon Reast, pro vice-chancellor (International), Northumbria University, said: "We are pleased to embark on this new relationship with QFBA to provide the academys students with state-of-the-art undergraduate and post-graduate courses that will sharpen their knowledge and enable them to compete in the global job market. Our universitys approach to creating a distinctive learning experience that engages, empowers and inspires achievement is simple but powerful. We have top academics that work with students at every stage, to maximise their potential, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Nepal's Prime Minister K P Oli resigned on Sunday, nine months after coming to power, minutes before parliament was to vote on a no confidence motion he was likely to lose. Oli, 64, was forced to quit after allies of his multi-party coalition deserted the government accusing him of not honouring power sharing deals that helped install him as prime minister in October. "I have already submitted my resignation to the President when I met her before coming to the house," said Oli in a speech in parliament just ahead of the scheduled no confidence vote. - Reuters Inside the Murdoch Center in Flagstaffs Southside neighborhood Thursday, Flagstaff Police Chief Kevin Treadway walks the Police Departments fledgling Citizen Liaison Committee members through last weeks fatal officer-involved shooting of 32-year-old Donald Myers. The shooting could not have happened at a more emotionally charged time. Days earlier, a gunman had killed five officers and wounded nine more in Dallas as Black Lives Matter activists were protesting that weeks shooting deaths of two African-American men by police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota. Citizen Liaison Committee member Lina Wallen, who is past president of the local NAACP branch, said ongoing violence is why Flagstaff needs the committee. I am hoping in the future we wont need it anymore, but right now, I think that we need it really badly, especially considering about whats happening across the nation in terms of perception about law enforcement, Wallen said. I dont want that to happen in our community. The Citizen Liaison Committee's mission is to enhance FPDs relationship with the community and facilitate the flow of information between the police and civilians by giving community members another way to provide feedback, report crime and express their concerns. The committee meets once a month and holds a community open house every three months. It has been eye-opening to us how little understanding there really is in the general community about why we do things and about crime in general," Treadway said. So far, the members report, FPD officials have been receptive to their input. I think the committee creates a good line of communication between the citizens of Flagstaff and our police department, said committee member Jesse Dominguez of La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Association. It heads off (some) problems before there are problems. Then if there are problems, its an avenue to communicate that to the police department. There is evidence police-community relations in Flagstaff have improved in recent years. In 2015, for instance, Flagstaff Police Department received 56 complaints, compared to 114 in 2012. An average of 15 to 20 percent were declared by FPD supervisors to be at least partially substantiated. Meanwhile, the number of letters of appreciation from community members increased from 25 to 76. Six complaints in 2012 and nine complaints in 2015 were filed by Native Americans, the racial group frequently cited by local recent anti-police protests as the primary target of discrimination in Flagstaff. Treadway is preparing a presentation on arrest demographics for a future committee meeting to address that concern. George Villas, a local activist and a member of the Flagstaff and Ferguson panel, said he was not surprised by the Dallas police shootings in light of recent controversial killings by police. In 2014, he called for the creation of a citizen review board that would have oversight of FPD discipline, policies and procedures. He is not satisfied with the Citizen Liaison Committee, which has none of that oversight power. The police are doing exactly what they have always done and are trained to do, Villas said. It is time for us as a community to stop trying to negotiate with police and call for their immediate disarming and disbanding." Citizen Liaison Committee members said they dont have to be on an oversight committee to make positive changes. Some people may be afraid to go to the police, so we need this committee to be there to be a bridge to the police, said committee member Rose Toehe, formerly of Native Americans for Community Action. I think the main thing is to have a trust factor around the committee so that people can trust us to speak for them if its needed. Treadway said there are many reasons why he recommends against an oversight committee, including costs associated with hiring investigators and staff, and possible delays in addressing citizen complaints. He also does not think it would be appropriate for Flagstaff. Such committees are rare and typically result from a federal investigation. Treadway is not the leader of the Citizen Liaison Committee, the community members are. They represent a racially diverse selection of representatives from neighborhood associations and special interest groups, including Northern Arizona University, the NAACP and faith-based organizations. After SB 1070 was enacted in 2012, Treadway drafted an executive order calling for a liaison committee but it took shape after the 2014 Flagstaff and Ferguson panel at the Murdoch Center. There, panelists and residents talked about what they felt was racial profiling by FPD against African-American, Latino and Native American residents. Roxana Cardiel de Niz of the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council was one of the community members who worked to help FPD form the Citizen Liaison Committee. She said it is working to address concerns raised at the Ferguson meeting, but it is a work in progress. There have been a few success stories. When a woman who did not speak fluent English felt her domestic violence case was being mishandled due to miscommunication, Cardiel de Niz and Treadway were able to bring in a detective to do a new interview with better translation. And when NAU Ethnic Studies professor and Ferguson panelist Frederick Gooding informed committee member Deborah Harris about a video of an FPD officer pointing a gun at an African-American NAU student in April, she and Treadway met with him to discuss how the student was about to throw a large rock at another man who had hit him with a car. Treadway is now tapping Gooding to develop a course for FPD officers about avoiding implicit bias the unconscious prejudices that can influence, for instance, an officer to feel more threatened by a young black man than a young white man. Gooding said Treadway has made good on his word to continue to stay open to dialogue about better community relations. But he cautioned it will take more than just sensitivity training to fix racial tensions between the police and the people they are supposed to protect. We are in a state of emergency, Gooding said. A Civil War is upon us. Our humanity is at stake. Senseless deaths on both sides of the ledger are too costly for us to endure. While more than half of the IT and business decision-makers (ITDMs and BDMs) expect a new disruptive technology or service to be introduced within the next two years, IT departments arent feeling prepared for the changes, a report said. About 45 per cent of ITDMs and BDMs believe a quarter or more of their IT workforce will not have the skills they need to succeed five years from now, added the new global report from Wakefield Research and Juniper Networks, an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks. The ICT sector plays an integral role in creating long-term, sustainable economic and business growth in the Middle East. Juniper supports its customers in the digital transformation journey by investing in network innovation, said Adrian Pickering, vice president of Middle East and Africa at Juniper Networks. True innovation requires an understanding of the value that technology delivers. Now more than ever, savvy technology investments are vital to maintaining a business advantage. The C-Suite doesnt need to code, but leading a company strategy for growth requires a strong relationship between those who set the strategy and those who execute. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (84 per cent of ITDMs and 84 per cent of BDMs) admit their organisation would perform better if their current C-Suite were more tech-savvy. A lack of investment in IT creates a barrier to innovation, preventing business from keeping up with the pace of change and staying competitive. Nearly half of the respondents (46 per cent of ITDMs and 50 per cent of BDMs) expect it would take one or more years for their company to develop and support an improved product or service if challenged by a competitor. Thats time they may not have given the speed at which disruption can hit. To remain relevant today, organizations need to address impending industry disruption by rethinking their IT approach to ensure they are investing in ongoing innovation. Market advantage is more likely to last when leadership stays at the forefront of technology innovation. To stay ahead of the disruption curve, organizations should prioritize network automation investments. Study results show that both ITDMs and BDMs see IT and network automation as essential for their companys future competitiveness. Nearly three in four respondents (70 per cent of ITDMs and 72 per cent of BDMs) say theyre excited by the opportunities network and IT automation create for their company. Of the ITDMs already using software-defined networking (SDN) or network functions virtualization (NFV), nearly all (93 per cent) say its given them a significant edge over their competitors. ITDMs at companies that have adopted SDN report greater benefits and capabilities than they originally expected; respondents were most likely to report cloud interconnect, virtual data center and security automation as the business benefits of SDN adoption. ITDMs at companies that have adopted NFV reported greater benefits and capabilities than they originally expected; respondents were most likely to report that NFV adoption enables virtual security, virtual routing and WAN optimization. The study, commissioned by Juniper Networks, was conducted by Wakefield Research via an online survey of 2,704 respondents in the US, China, Australia, Japan, India, UK, Germany and France. TradeArabia News Service Rescue workers inspect the site of a totally damaged car on the Nuerburgring racing track in Adenau, Germany on July 23. According to police, the car, which was on a so-called tourist ride on the track, was flung from a curve due to excessive speed into a group of marshals and another vehicle which previously had a slight accident at the same spot. Both occupants were killed, two marshals injuries are reported to be severe and the other car driver slightly injured. EPA/Thomas Frey Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia were the only major hotel markets in the Middle East to experience increases in revenue per available room (RevPAR) during Ramadan 2016, new data showed. Makkah saw RevPAR increase 8.3 per cent, driven by a 3.9 per cent rise in occupancy and a 4.3 per cent lift in average daily rate. RevPAR grew 2.6 per cent in Madinah, with occupancy up 1.5 per cent and ADR up 1.1 per cent. Muscat, Oman, witnessed the steepest decline in RevPAR, down 24.8 per cent during Ramadan from 18.6 per cent during the May 2016 year-to-date period. The Ramadan RevPAR decrease in Muscat was driven mostly by a 14.0 per cent drop in ADR. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE, each saw a similar pattern, with larger performance declines during the Ramadan period, albeit at different paces. Specifically during Ramadan, Dubai reported flat occupancy but an 11.6 per cent decrease in ADR. Abu Dhabi reported a 7.7 per cent decline in occupancy and a 7.2 per cent drop in ADR. Performance in Manama, Bahrain, was heavily affected by the holiday. For the May 2016 year-to-date period, RevPAR was up 2.2 per cent compared with the same period last year. During Ramadan, RevPAR declined 18.9 per cent, which was mainly a result of a 12.7 per cent decrease in ADR. - TradeArabia News Service Russian state airline Aeroflot and the UAE's Jumeirah Group have announced a partnership offering members of the Aeroflot Bonus loyalty programme the chance to earn one mile per $1 dollar spent at Jumeirahs 22 hotels and resorts around the world. Jumeirah is also offering 5,000 miles to Aeroflot Bonus Members who stay at any Jumeirah hotel for 15 nights or more a year. The points are based on eligible rates on consecutive nights or a cumulative number of stays. Alison Broadhead, chief commercial officer, Jumeirah Group, said: We are delighted to announce our partnership with Aeroflot Russias flagship carrier and one of the largest airline groups in Europe. Jumeirahs hotels and resorts in Dubai and other countries such as London, the Maldives and Mallorca, have always been popular with Russian visitors and this partnership provides significant potential for Jumeirah Group to reach affluent Russian travellers - the country is one of our top source markets. Jumeirahs hotels and resorts are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world. The Dubai-born brand has played an integral role in driving the popularity of the city as a global destination for international travellers and holiday-makers. Jumeirahs current portfolio includes 22 hotels, resorts and residences across Europe, Middle East and Asia including 10 in the Middle East region. There is a robust and growing pipeline of new openings including properties in Oman, Jordan and Abu Dhabi. The first to open will be Jumeirah Al Naseem, the 430-room luxury hotel that forms the final part of Madinat Jumeirah. Reservations are now open for stays after December 1, 2016. The Aeroflot Bonus Programme is the largest frequent flyer loyalty programme in Russia and CIS countries. Currently the programme has more than 5 million members. Members of the program earn miles for the flights with Aeroflot Group and companies of SkyTeam Alliance. The number of miles depends on the rate and the distance of the flight. Miles can be spent on the award ticket, upgrade or exchange for the numerous awards of the programme partners. - TradeArabia News Service International Travel Week-Abu Dhabi (ITW-Abu Dhabi) will officially host the inaugural World Halal Tourism Summit Ministerial Forum World Dialogue this November, highlighting safety and security in tourism industry. The forum, which will be attended by UAE-based diplomats, tourism ambassadors, hoteliers, safety and security professionals and UAE government officials, will address issues such as challenges and opportunities for high risk tourism destinations, government security and safety protocols and technological advancement, among others. Taking place on November 22, 2016, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, ITW-Abu Dhabis World Halal Tourism Summit Ministerial Forum World Dialogue aims to deliver a high level debate of ministers and key stakeholders on Intra OIC tourism co-operation and the real world challenges of implementation. Additionally, the forum will discuss issues such as tourism safety and security, government role on tourism promotion and challenges and opportunities on halal tourism. Commenting on the inaugural World Halal Tourism Summit Ministerial Forum World Dialogue, Andy Buchanan, executive organising committee director, said: With recent terror attacks that have happened on several tourism facilities and destinations, ITW- Abu Dhabi aims to address tourism security and safety during its inaugural WHTS Ministerial Forum. Participants will have the opportunity to discover, learn and share knowledge with industry professionals and leaders which in turn will assist them in defining and improving the future of their own business. ITW-Abu Dhabi is a progressive and evolutionary event which has developed from last years World Halal Travel Summit. The 2015 edition enjoyed unprecedented success, where the summit yielded impressive results, generating more than $18.4 million worth of business on the show floor, and a further $73.5 million stemming from opportunities directly created at the event. With more than 6,000 travel professionals expected to participate in this years ITW-Abu Dhabi, this transformative five-day event is hotly-anticipated to be the premium platform for the global halal travel, medical and shopping tourism industry. ITW-Abu Dhabi will run from November 21 to 25 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. - TradeArabia News Service RAWLINS David Throgmorton was ready for an energy boom in 2008. He bought vocational training kits for high school and middle school students. He helped establish a festival to promote a new energy future. He even preached a new tomorrow to grade school students. But here in Carbon County, where fossil fuels once were king, Throgmorton wasnt ecstatic about a new oil play, gas deposit or coal mine. He was excited about wind. We easily had two classes of high school students, two successive classes of graduating high school students, who were convinced wind power was going to be their future, said Throgmorton, director of the Carbon County Higher Education Center. That was the year Power Company of Wyoming, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Corp., announced plans to build south of Rawlins the largest onshore wind farm in the United States. Many local officials were ecstatic. Carbon County long ago became a misnomer in this desolate stretch of central Wyoming, where the last coal mines closed in the 1980s and the main sign of the Shale Revolution was the frack trucks passing through on Interstate 80. Power Company of Wyomings 1,000-turbine wind farm promised new jobs and tax revenues in a community where economic life revolves around the state prison and a nearly century-old refinery. The only problem: That future has yet to materialize. When it didnt come to pass, it was hard to keep the enthusiasm up, Throgmorton said. Many of the higher education centers students have since moved on to robotics and 3-D printing. Eight years on, Power Company of Wyomings plans remain a testament to the potential and the challenges of transforming Americas top coal-producing state into a wind energy leader. The Denver-based firm is nearing the end of a laborious federal permitting process. The company has said it could begin work on a haul road and infrastructure as early as this year. But company officials say their plans could be derailed by state lawmakers proposal to raise Wyomings wind production tax. Legislators say raising the tax could help stem a $600 million revenue shortfall, but Power Company of Wyoming representatives warn higher taxes could make the $5 billion project economically unfeasible. If you asked does Wyoming, A, support wind or, B, hate wind, youd have to say B, said former Wyoming Infrastructure Authority Director Loyd Drain, who now consults for a Venezuelan wind developer seeking to build an 840-megawatt wind farm near Medicine Bow. Its so shortsighted. We could have more wind development than we have today had we not tried to drive wind out of the state. The National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that 50 percent of the best winds in the continental U.S. are in the Cowboy State. In stretches of south-central Wyoming, where Power Company of Wyoming has proposed erecting 1,000 turbines, the average annual wind speed can reach 26 miles per hour. Yet no new wind capacity has been installed here since 2010, even as wind installations boomed nationally. A lack of transmission capacity has hindered new development in Wyoming. Permitting facilities on public land takes years. And there is this: Many in Wyoming simply do not like the sight of windmills or what they represent a transition away from the fossil fuels that have long powered the state. Nevertheless, there are tentative signs of a wind boom here. Viridis Eolia Corp., the Venezuelan developer, expects to bring 30 megawatts of new wind power online in Carbon County next year. The first stage of development is on private land. Viridis hopes to have 160 megawatts of power up and running on state land by 2019 and the remainder of the project, which is on federal land, operational by 2022. A Chicago-based company has proposed building a 120-megawatt facility to the west in Uinta County while a Salt Lake City-based developer began erecting turbines for an 80-megawatt facility outside Glenrock this summer. Still, danger abounds for would-be wind developers. Viridis and Power Company of Wyoming are at least partially reliant on transmission lines that have yet to be built. Transwest Express, another Anschutz subsidiary, is in the ninth year of permitting its proposed 730-mile line connecting Power Company of Wyomings wind farm in Wyoming to southern Nevada. A final decision on that transmission line is expected in the third quarter. And neither development has yet to ink a deal to sell its power to a utility. There are great opportunities, but probably were going to have to compete for them, said Robert Godby, a professor of energy economics at the University of Wyoming. Other states are pushing wind development, he noted, while technological advancements have helped turbines become more efficient at lower wind speeds, undermining Wyomings competitive advantage. Assuming theyll just show up here is probably being too optimistic, Godby said. Youre going to need state action and support, and unfortunately Wyoming has been lukewarm to the sorts of efforts that would be needed. Everything from a transmission effort to a renewable generation industry, and then finally tax policies. The debate comes at an especially fraught time for the state. Unemployment is at its highest level since the Great Recession. The mining industry, which includes oil and gas, shed 5,500 jobs between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016. State economists reckon the 55 percent contraction in taxable energy sales over that period represents the greatest year-over-year drop in Wyomings history. An expansion of Wyomings nascent wind industry could help limit those losses but is unlikely to ever provide the employment and tax base of fossil fuels, analysts say. In 2014, the states coal sector employed more than 6,000 people and contributed roughly $1 billion in annual tax revenues. The wind projects proposed by Power Company of Wyoming and Viridis would triple Wyomings wind capacity to about 5,400 megawatts, or enough to power around 1.6 million homes. Together they would create 5,000 jobs during construction and around 200 permanent positions, according to Godbys estimates. Power Company of Wyoming expects to generate $780.5 million in tax revenues over the projects 20-year-life span. Even renewables most ardent backers acknowledge the limitations of what the industry can offer the state. I will tell you up front, it will be a significant contribution but it will never be anything that approaches the extractive industries like oil and gas and coal, said Bill Miller, president and CEO of Power Company of Wyoming. Gov. Matt Mead, in hopes of spurring additional job creation, has listed the recruitment of turbine manufacturers as one of his leading policy initiatives. But it remains an open question whether Wyoming could entice such a business to the state. While the scale of Wyomings wind projects might be large enough to attract renewable manufacturing, analysts say, turbine builders have already set up shop along Colorados Front Range. Vestas, a Danish turbine manufacturer, now employs 3,100 people at its three locations along the Front Range. Our project, if it were the only one, is still a large project. But 50 miles south of the border youve got a major manufacturer that wouldnt need to duplicate anything in Wyoming, Miller said. You look at the other major manufacturers, theyve got their other facilities already established. Unless youre going to see a huge amount of growth in Wyoming, I cant imagine anybody establishing a manufacturing facility here. On the Overland Trail Ranch, the rolling stretch of high prairie where Power Company of Wyoming has proposed its project, there are few signs of the planned wind farm. A fence line flickered with fluorescent ticker tape, part of the companys efforts to reduce sage grouse deaths. A smattering of meteorological towers that once gauged wind speed and direction remain. Eight years of data collection have already produced a comprehensive wind map of the area. Grazing cattle are the most common sight. But back at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, David Throgmorton is gearing up once again to teach students the skills needed to service the future towers. The program essentially amounts to training electricians, the main difference being a wind technician needs to employ the same skills at 300 feet with the wind blowing, Throgmorton said. The higher education center director remains as enthusiastic as ever over winds prospects here. He believes the new jobs will help keep young people who love Carbon Countys open spaces and its hunting and fishing opportunities from moving away. He also believes this is Wyomings chance to play a role in Americas new energy economy. But he also fears that Wyoming may miss its chance. America is in a wind boom. If the state fails to act now, Throgmorton said, the opportunity may pass it by. So when they butt-stroked me to the head from an AK-47 and I was bleeding down the side of my face and they threw me back in the cell I could Helping Others Stuff the Bus with school supplies Each year, it costs families between $60 and $100 for basic school supplies for one child. Common supplies include pencils, crayons, highlighters, permanent markers, colored pencils, markers, dry erase markers, binders, safety scissors, erasers, notebook paper, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, pocket folders, white school glue, backpacks and a plastic supply box. The Casper Area Education Foundation (CAEF), the Natrona County School District (NCSD), and The Salvation Army have once again partnered to conduct the annual Stuff the Bus drive; a community-wide school supply drive to benefit students in need. The campaign encourages the community to donate simple school supplies at local businesses. Donations will be distributed to families in need at a School Supply distribution event prior to school starting in August. Donations can be dropped off around town at Reliant Federal Credit Union (Plaza Drive and Landmark Drive branches) ; Platte Valley Bank, 3131 SW Wyoming Blvd ; NCSD Central Services, 970 N. Glenn Rd. ; SunSations Tanning Salon, 1220 W. Collins Dr. ; Keefes Flowers, 632 CY Ave l Foxhill Apartments, 1900 S. Missouri Office Bldg. 30. Cash donations are also accepted at casperedfoundation.org Make fleece blankets The Fleece Blanket Project provides a time of fun and fellowship while working on a community service project to benefit others. The group will be meeting at First Christian Church, 520 CY Avenue, Saturday, August 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, September 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This informal group welcomes volunteers of all ages from churches, agencies, and groups, as well as anyone who would like to help cut and tie fleece to make blankets to be given to the homeless and those in need in Natrona County. To date, volunteers have made 190 blankets which were given to individuals and agencies that provide help to those in need of warmth and comfort. In addition to volunteering your time, you may donate fleece (2 yards each of two complementary colors/patterns). Bring sharp scissors if you have them or just come and tie! Parking is in back of the church. If you have any questions, please call First Christian Church at 234-8964. Blood donors have chance to win Ranger Blood Donors who give at United Blood Services blood center or blood drives through September 9, 2016, will be automatically entered to win a 2016 Polaris Ranger 900XP in the Rollin Up for a Ranger Giveaway. We are excited to offer this giveaway particularly now because donations have been down, said Jennifer Bredahl, regional donor recruitment cirector, United Blood Services. We encourage new and existing donors to participate in this fun promotion to ultimately save lives and to ensure our supply is strong enough to respond to any emergencies or traumas. To make an appointment please call 877-827-4376 or go to www.UnitedBloodServices.org. To save time, donors can now fill out their Fast Track Health History Questionnaire online at www.UnitedBloodServices.org the day of their donation. To donate blood, volunteers must be at least 16 years old (16 year old donors need a minor donor permit which is available online) and be in good health. Must be 18 years or older to win. Offer applies to participating United Blood Services blood centers and mobile blood drives operated within Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Thanks to Blue Envelope Pathfinder Boat and Fishing Club would like to thank Blue Envelope Health Fund for their donation of an AED. This piece of equipment will be housed at Pathfinder Marina and would be used in a life saving event. The board and members of Pathfinder Boat Club thank you for your generosity. Suggestions for food bags The Wyoming Food for Thought Project is now providing weekend food bags to nearly 600 children in Natrona County weekly. While all donations are appreciated and used, this year the staff has compiled a list of things to donate monthly, in order to stock the shelves of the pantry at the program center. Here is a list of suggestions for the entire year: July, canned vegetables; August, Chef Boyardee products; September, pork and beans; October, cereal; November, soup; December, canned chili. Donations can be dropped off any time at Food for Thought drop site locations, which include Great Harvest Bread, eastside WAC, Reliant FCU, Mary Ann's Beans, Casper College Library, Aspen Ridge Dental, and the Food for Thought Program Center, 900 St. John St. Grownup Stuff Patio talks at trails The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) is once again hosting summer afternoon programs on pioneer and Wyoming history. These short interpretive programs, ranging from 20-45 minutes, are free and open to the public. July 30, 1 p.m. Native American Spiritual Traditions: Stop in and help us welcome back Willie Leclair, Wyoming's resident ambassador for the Eastern Shoshone people! Willie brings articles of worship and describes their significance as he explains a Shoshone spiritual perspective on the world and the human being's place in it. This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with a Shoshone cultural interpreter! July 31, 1 p.m. Pioneer Doll Making: During the early days of America, children often played with dolls. Dolls could be soft and cuddly, such as a rag doll or made from other items found in the home. Dolls were easy to make and were generally made from scraps of fabric already available. Since these dolls were homemade, surely no two were ever the same! Join NHTIC volunteer Jean Smart as she illuminates the most popular of these early American pastimes. For more information, please contact Jason Vlcan at (307) 261-7780. Four Casperites in state Dem delegation Four Casper Democrats will be among the 18 Wyoming delegates attending the National Convention in Philadelphia July 24-28. Michael Bond, Natrona County educator, Mary Hales, Wyoming national committee woman, Brenna Cain and Matthew Frias (alternate) were chosen at the State Convention in Cheyenne on May 9 to represent Wyoming. Of the 18 delegates going, seven represent Hillary Clinton, seven represent Bernie Sanders, and the four super delegates represent Clinton. The super delegates are from the Wyoming Democratic Partys elected leadership; they are State Chair and Vice Chair, National Committee Woman and National Committee Man. Wyoming will be represented on three national DNC committees during the convention. On the Platform and Credentials committees, representing Bernie Sanders, will be Richard Kusaba and Michelle Argento, respectively, while Bonnie Brown Koelb will be on the Rules and ByLaws committee, representing Clinton. Ana Cuprill, Wyoming Democratic state chair, said the states 2016 Platform adopted at the May 9 convention will be considered along with those from all other states during the National Convention. Republican legislative and commissioner debate The Natrona County Republican Party and the Natrona County Republican Women will be hosting a Republican primary Legislative and County Commissioner debate on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at the Ramkota in the Theatre Room. It is open to the public. The doors will open at 6 p.m., and the debate will start at 6:30 p.m. We will be doing the Legislative Debates first for House Districts 37, 56, 57 and 58; followed by the County Commissioner candidates. Each House District will take approximately 30 minutes and the commissioner candidates will be 30 minutes and start approximately at 8:35 p.m. Questions can be submitted to chairman@natronagop.com or there will be an opportunity to drop them in a basket the night of the debate. No questions from the floor and no personal attack questions -- issue questions only. The moderator will be Brian Scott Gamroth, Natrona County state committeeman. Monthly vets service July 29 The Natrona County United Veterans Council and the staff of the Oregon Trail Wyoming State Veterans Cemetery conduct a monthly memorial service for those known Wyoming veterans who have died since our last memorial service which was held on June 30, when we honored 58 Wyoming veterans. This months memorial service will be held at noon, Friday, July 29, in the Tom Walsh Chapel at The Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery. All are welcome to attend. This memorial service is provided on behalf of a grateful state and nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by each of these veterans. The veterans name, Wyoming community and branch of service is read at roll call. There is a rifle salute, taps, and the folding of a flag. Date Night at the Museums The Casper Museum Consortium is holding its 6th annual Date Night at the Museums on Friday, July 29, 2016. A ticket to Date Night means VIP tours at four museums in Casper, transportation all evening, catered gourmet food at all the sites, and a cash bar with specialty drinks, all for only $90 per couple. This is your chance to escape the ordinary date night and do something fun and unique, says Rachel Hedges, Marketing Coordinator for the Consortium. This is great for couples who have been together 50 years, or this is the perfect first date. The caterer, Flat Iron Grill, will be serving a Caribbean-inspired menu at each location throughout the evening. We will begin at The Science Zone at 5:30 p.m., where we will enjoy some appetizers. The Science Zone Explainers will be on hand to show you animals in the Zoo Zone and let you play with their current exhibit Design Zone. Then we hop on the Casper College bus and go The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center for the main course and a special presentation by historian Bruce Berst that is perfect for this election year. Back on the bus, we will go to The Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum on the grounds of the WWII Army Air Base, where experts and historians will tell stories of Wyomings military heroes and showcase an exciting recent addition to their collection. Finally, we get to enjoy our Caribbean dessert at The Werner Wildlife Museum. We will visit the new Taxidermy area, the new Childrens Area, and all the animals on display where you can get up close to the Grizzly Bear, Bison, and Polar Bear. Register via PayPal at our website: www.caspermuseums.org, or in person with cash or check at The Science Zone, 111 W. Midwest. Space is limited. Last chance for ghost tours Casper Theater Company will host the downtown Casper Ghost Tour on Thursday and Friday, July 28-29. This will be the last week of the tour until next summer. We have done more research, added some new stories, and a new tour guide. This tour will excite you with creepy stories from business owners and employees of downtown businesses, on sightings of the paranormal. You can bring your cameras and as you pass through the alleys take photos, and find the phenomenon not found by the naked eye. Reservations are required for this tour by calling 267-7243, where you can find out times, ticket location and starting point of the tour. The cost is $25 per person and is filling up fast. Please come join us for a summer tour to intrigue your senses and make your skin crawl! Wyoming Blues Challenge Calling all Wyoming Blues Bands and Solo/Duo Blues acts. Here's your chance to represent Wyoming in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge. Prelims will be held on August 7 at the Alibi Pub in Laramie and August 20 at the Attic above the World Famous Wonder Bar in Casper. Finals will be held on September 18 in the ballrooms at the Parkway Plaza. If you think you have what it takes, contact Rick Davis at wyomingblueschallenge@gmail.com to get rules and receive your entry information. New displays at senior center What is Zentangle? Zentangle is a fun, relaxing ,easy method of drawing that creates structured images. Visit the Senior Center at 1831 E. 4th St. to view this fascinating display of amazing drawings by local artists. Also featured is a collection of Japanese collectibles including pottery, clothing, dishes and more. For more information, call 265-4678. Veteran Cigar Night Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., all veterans are invited to Veteran Cigar Night at the Casper Cigar Company, 4717 W. Yellowstone Highway, sponsored by Casper Cigar Company. There is no cost to attend. This is a time and place for our community's combat veterans to relax and share their stories with other combat veterans while enjoying a good cigar. Veterans receive 20 percent off cigars. For more information, call Josh Cruse at 307-337-4400 or josh@caspercigar.com Submit to miniature show ART 321/Casper Artists Guild would like to invite all artists to submit entries in our 22nd Annual International Miniature Art Show 2016. You can find the specifications on entries and entry forms by visiting our website at art321.org and looking under Exhibits. Fees and entries are due July 30, 2016. The show opens to the public on August 4, 2016, and closes August 27, 2016. Cash awards and ribbons will be given. Size of cash awards will depend upon number of entries. Dr. Valerie Innella Maiers is the show judge. She teaches art history and museum studies in the Visual Arts Department at Casper College. With the never-a-dull-moment Republican National Convention wrapped up, a handful of local Democrats are gearing up for some excitement of their own as they head off to the Democratic National Convention. Its an exciting year for local delegates pledged to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders as five of the six representing the First Congressional District are from Flagstaff and all are from northern Arizona. Its quite an accomplishment for local delegates, given the districts enormous size, said Patrice Horstman, a Clinton delegate who lives in Flagstaff. I think most people who were involved, and the reason we got so many people involved, is they see it as historic. We really wanted to be a part of history, Horstman said. The convention in Philadelphia will be four days of intense activity not only on the convention floor, but at caucus meetings, speeches, fundraisers and networking events. For Sanders delegate and Flagstaff city councilmember Eva Putzova, it will be a chance to meet other Sanders supporters and progressive politicians. We're organizing beyond the campaign," Putzova said. These are people that are talking to each other in various forums thinking about whats going to happen beyond the convention. Political negotiating Despite what became a tough primary election, local Clinton and Sanders delegates said they are generally satisfied with the Democratic platform negotiated between the two candidates campaigns. Horstman, for example, said the inclusion of causes Sanders championed like a $15-an-hour minimum wage and an emphasis on income disparity makes the platform stronger. Compromise is a necessary part of the process, said Dave McKell, a Flagstaff resident and Sanders delegate. Its kind of like making sausage; politics is a practice in pragmatism. I think by and large Im satisfied, he said. He lauded Sanders for staying in the race long enough to gain bargaining power in the party platform negotiations. When it comes to the general election, McKell, Putzova and Joe Bader, an alternate delegate, all said theyll vote for Clinton. I'm not a Bernie or bust, McKell said. From a Bernie perspective, Donald Trump is too much of a threat. Putzova and Bader emphasized, however, that they want their presence at the convention to serve as a reminder to the Democratic Party about the strong support that still exists for Sanders policies. Its not as much the presidency, its really about changing the politics and the policy direction in which this country is going and we understand it takes longer than one campaign cycle, Putzova said. Bader and Putzova plan to wear shirts and buttons opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a position the Clinton campaign refused to adopt in the partys platform. While the focus is on the presidential nomination, other important business happens at the convention where delegates can have an impact. Bader brought up the possibility that the rules and bylaws committee could vote to eliminate superdelegates, a move Sanders was pushing for that would dramatically change primaries in years to come. Ripple effects Having local delegates heading to the Democratic National Convention benefits politics locally as well, Horstman said. As part of their effort to get elected to the Arizona delegation, Horstman and Doug Ballard, another Clinton delegate from Parks, amped up outreach to local Democrats and recruited many new precinct committeepeople, which got more people engaged in the political process. I think there's a new energy and when you talk about how that could translate politically, we see people more involved in state and local, not just presidential politics, Ballard said. It also makes local voters feel like they have more of a stake in the process if people they know or people from the community are representing them at the national party convention, he said. For McKell, who is a professor emeritus of sociology and social work at Northern Arizona University, the experience of attending the convention will inform what he brings back to the classroom. I want to be a role model for the students coming in, to say Im an activist Im willing to go out in the community and engage, he said. A fire in Ten Sleep Canyon about 7 miles north of Ten Sleep closed a portion of U.S. Highway 16 on Friday and forced evacuations, according to a news release from the Washakie County Sheriffs Office. Highway 16 is closed between Ten Sleep and Buffalo from Wyoming Highway 435 to Sheep Mountain Road, the release stated. Alternate routes are strongly recommended, and access Saturday for one-way traffic was available by piloted car. The Hatchery Fire has burned 3,000 acres, and multiple structures are threatened. Mandatory evacuations went into effect Friday evening for Dear Haven, West Ten Sleep Lake, all cabins on West Ten Sleep Lake Road, fish hatcheries, Meadowlark Lake Lodge and campgrounds around Meadowlark Lake. The BLM Worland Field Office closed North Brokenback and South Brokenback roads for public safety. Our first concern is for the safety of the firefighters and the public, said Incident Commander Scott Campbell. We are working hard to minimize the risk to residences and structures in Ten Sleep Canyon and in the Deer Haven and Meadowlark areas. The Cliff Creek Fire burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of the Sublette County community of Bondurant expanded to just over 19 square miles Saturday. People evacuated earlier this week from rural areas near Bondurant were allowed to return to their homes Thursday morning, but evacuation orders remain in effect in Teton County. U.S. 191/189 has been reopened. For safety reasons in the fire area, passing will not be allowed in passing zones, and drivers should not stop along the roadway or park in pullouts. The Lava Mountain Fire burning in the Shoshone National Forest northwest of Dubois has continued to grow due to strong winds and has charred nearly 4 square miles. Evacuations were ordered for residences from Timberline Ranch to the Long Creek Subdivision, as well as the Teton Valley Ranch Camp. Other residences from the Triangle C Ranch to the Roaring Creek Subdivision and Big Diamond Ranch are warned that they should have emergency items packed and ready to leave if needed, according to a news release. Parts of the Continental Divide Trail also remained closed. The Beaver Creek Fire, burning 24 miles north of Walden, Colorado, remained unchanged Saturday. The fire has charred nearly 40 square miles. It is currently being managed on the Routt National Forest in Colorado and the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming, according to a news release. Thunderstorms with the potential for lightning were predicted for Saturday, increasing the chance for new fire starts. Lower humidity and increasing winds were also a concern. Firefighters continue work to protect structures near priority areas, and identified additional structures in need of protection to the north. The Arden Fire, burning about 35 miles east of Greybull in the Bighorn National Forest, has grown slightly to 523 acres. It is being suppressed with firefighters on the ground and aerial support. Groung crews were making progress Saturday on the fire by maximizing natural barriers, according to a news release. No structures are currently threatened. The area around the fire has been closed off to the public. Weather in the area Saturday was dry with gusty winds. Editor: I understand Chuck Gray is in a management position for the company his father owns, Jan Charles Gray. As such, Mr. Gray must assume some of the responsibility for his company's actions. Recently his company was fined $25,000 by the Federal Communication Commission for FCC violations. His company has admitted to breaking the rules and will have to pay the $25,000 fine. In addition, his company has paid $21,000 in back wages to former employees in a settlement announced by the U.S. Department of Labor. In view of the above, can the voters of HD 57 trust Chuck Gray to make wise decisions as legislator? Editor: Leland Christensen was honored recently with the 2016 Legislator of the Year Award from the Foundation for Government Accountability for his exemplary work as a state senator. As a current candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, this prestigious recognition further highlights Leland as the preeminent contender who will very best represent Wyoming in the U.S. Congress. One only need review Lelands extensive and broad experience base to understand why he is recognized as the best of the best. His background in agriculture as a youth and formative years in small business (logging industry) as a young adult provided him with the foundation of understanding hard work and perseverance. His leadership talent and expertise were honed by military service as a member of the 19th Special Forces Airborne Army and the National Guard. Leland concurrently served the citizens of his community for 20 years as a deputy sheriff, putting into action the Wyoming Code of the West precepts. Lelands commitment to community continued when elected and reelected as a county commissioner following his military and law enforcement service. After two terms, he was again elected and reelected as a state senator and now recognized as Wyoming Legislator of the Year. Wyoming needs and deserves to have Leland Christensen as our next Representative in the U.S. Congress. Please join me in voting on Aug. 16th for Leland Christensen! MEXICO CITY Fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero denied in an interview published Sunday that he is getting back into the drug trade or trying to muscle in on the Sinaloa cartels operations. Caro Quintero is a fugitive with a $5 million reward on his head after being erroneously released from prison in 2013, where he had served 28 years of a 40-year sentence in the 1985 kidnapping, torture and murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena. He has since been ordered recaptured, but was interviewed while on the run by the news magazine Proceso. Caro Quintero said was very worried about reports he was in a dispute with the Sinaloa cartel. I dont have problems with any cartel, said the drug lord, who appeared simply dressed and was interviewed in a humble shack. Jorge Gonzalez, the attorney general of the northern state of Chihuahua, said earlier this month there was evidence that Caro Quintero may be trying to muscle in on the Sinaloa cartels operations. The area on the border between Sinaloa and Chihuahua states has seen an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. Believed to be around 63, Caro Quintero said, I was a drug trafficker 31 years ago, but said that stopped in 1984 with a raid on a massive marijuana ranch he ran. I have stopped being a drug trafficker and I repeat, please, leave me in peace. That kind of disavowal may not convince many people. Caro Quintero will deny anything and everything, said Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. But Caro Quintero knows that for him to survive being on the run, now that theyre looking for him again, he needs money. ... Hes got to get involved in the drug trade. What hes doing is denying that hes trying to carve out a piece of territory where he can traffic ... but right now he is going to deny because he is not anywhere near powerful enough to take on in a frontal assault the Sinaloa cartel. Caro Quintero said that after he was released he had a friendly meeting with now-imprisoned drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. He came to greet me, Caro Quintero said. The two men ate breakfast together. I told him I didnt want to have anything to do with illegal activities, Caro Quintero said. He said he had a similar meeting with Ismael El Mayo Zambada, another top Sinaloa cartel leader. Caro Quintero walked free in 2013 after a three-judge appeals court in the western state of Jalisco ordered him released on procedural grounds after 28 years behind bars, saying he should have originally been prosecuted in a state, rather than federal, court. Mexicos Supreme Court later annulled the order, saying Camarena was a registered U.S. government agent and therefore his killing was a federal crime. An arrest warrant was issued for Caro Quintero, but he had gone underground after his release. Fueled by better-than-expected job growth, falling foreclosures and rising new-home sales, the first half of 2016 produced a long-unseen stability in the local housing market. And while no one is ready to uncork any champagne, industry observers say the improvement in the first six months of this year is cause for cautious optimism. You can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel, said Eric Gibbs, president of the Tucson Association of Realtors. You can almost touch the end of the tunnel. Especially promising, he said, is the volume of sales in the $200,000 to $299,000 range about 26 percent of total sales which indicates move-up sales for homeowners previously stuck. The average new-home sales price was $299,000 in June, and the average resale home price was just over $223,000. Im very cautious because were not completely out of the woods yet, Gibbs said, but weve had a positive six months in fact, the best first half since the crash. In the first six months of the year, 1,051 permits for new homes were issued an increase of more than 25 percent compared to the first half of 2015, when 892 permits were issued. Foreclosures were down to 937 in the first half of 2016, the lowest level since 2007. Its a major drop from the peak year of 2011, when 4,001 homes were foreclosed in the first six months, data from the Pima County Recorders Office show. Those staggering foreclosure rates contributed to the market slump as sellers of nondistressed homes had to compete with the rock-bottom sale prices of homes that were sold at auction. Moving in right direction The health of the housing market is critical to Tucson. A healthy homebuilding sector and housing market is important for our community because it signals our economy is moving in the right direction, said David Godlewski, president of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. Plus, new homes means more new jobs and more revenue to local jurisdictions to invest in parks, roads and public safety. So, whats changed? The confidence in the housing market is directly tied to job recovery, said Ginger Kneup, a housing analyst. The Tucson metropolitan area averaged 2.8 percent growth in the first three months of 2016, which could mean 10,400 additional jobs this year, data from the University of Arizonas Eller College of Management show. Tucson has performed well ahead of national employment growth rates in 2016, said Kneup, owner of Bright Future Real Estate Research LLC. I will breathe a sigh of relief when there is evidence that we, as a community, can sustain this level of job creation over the long haul. The highest job growth has been in education and health services, financial services, and professional and business services. There has also been some growth in the government, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality sectors, Eller data show. Big employer announcements such as Comcast and Caterpillar Inc. have fueled optimism because they bring attention to Tucson. It gives us credibility and brings in the affiliated industries, Kneup said. And, we do a good job of incubating those businesses. Another positive is the number of infill projects local builders have developed on empty lots and on former school sites. The opportunities to own a new home in central Tucson have been few and far between in the last 10 years, Kneup said. I believe that these infill projects have brought buyers out of the rental market as well as lured them from existing homes into newly built homes. Even though the raw numbers for these projects are comparatively small, they are highly significant as part of a well-rounded housing market with many buyer options. The largest number of permits issued in June was 23 for Meritage Homes La Estancia community near Interstate 10 and Wilmot Road. Other builders in the top five were for communities outside the city limits, data from the Southern Arizona Housing Market Letter show. Challenges still ahead As good as it seems, challenges still linger. Were still having issues with inventory; every month were declining in listing as some folks are still underwater or at break-even points and cant move yet, Gibbs said. There were 4,175 actively listed single-family homes at the end of June, down 17 percent from June of 2015, numbers from the Multiple Listing Service show. What would make me feel comfortable is when we start to see resale inventory rise, Gibbs said. Homes that were bought in 2006, 2007 and 2008 then well know people are coming out of the hole. Still, 2016 does present hope and even pessimists are tired of being pessimistic. Recovery is a long process, Kneup said. The housing market wont be fully recovered until the level of distress drops below 5 percent, as it was in the early 2000s. Foreclosure sales are about 11.5 percent of all home sales, recorders numbers show. Successful retesting of a ballistic missile interceptor made by Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has paved the way for long-term production contracts worth more than $2 billion. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency says it found the cause of the failure of a Standard Missile-3 Block IB missile during a complex intercept test last October and has tightened quality-control procedures to solve the problem. The agency said the failure didnt resurface during two successful, non-intercept test flights to of a new rocket-motor nozzle in May. That finding will support a request for full-rate production of the SM-3 IB, part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, though there is no firm timeline for the request, MDA spokesman Chris Johnson said. The MDA has said it plans to buy up to 246 SM-3 Block IB missiles through fiscal year 2021 at a cost of $2.6 billion. In December, the agency awarded a contract worth $541 million for production of 52 missiles and added support work bringing the total contract value to $636 million. But funding of that contract was held up pending a review of the Oct. 31 test failure, which was part of a complex, multi-target test. The MDA has ordered 35 SM-3 Block IBs as part of its fiscal 2017 budget request. The MDA failure review which included an inspection of Raytheons Tucson missile plant by MDA officials found that excessive O-ring lubricant caused an internal component to not arm during flight, Johnson wrote in an email. An O-ring is a type of gasket or seal used between round components. The MDA and Raytheon have implemented new testing and process controls to limit the amount of O-ring lubricant used in production to prevent future failures, and missiles completed under that regimen were used in the May test flights, Johnson said. Existing missiles will be examined during recertification, he added. Prior to the tests in May, the SM-3 IB had been successful in seven of nine test flights, according to MDA records. A Raytheon spokeswoman confirmed the corrective actions and said the successful tests will open up future production. Nothing has been found to prevent continued production of SM-3 Block IB, Raytheon spokeswoman Amanda Schildt said. Raytheon is working closely with the MDA to resume missile production and deliveries. Raytheon, Southern Arizonas largest private employer, says it has delivered more than 70 SM-3 Block IBs to date. The Block IB missile, which adds a two-color target seeker and advanced propulsion and maneuvering capabilities to the previous SM-3 IA version, is deployed aboard some Aegis-equipped ships and is planned for a land-based system under construction in Romania. Key components of the SM-3 Block IB missile are made in Raytheons Tucson-based Space Factory, including the missiles avionics package, guidance section, seeker and guidance unit. Final assembly of the SM-3 IB missile takes place at Missile Systems highly automated missile plant in Huntsville, Alabama. Meanwhile, Raytheon is working on a larger, longer-range version of the SM-3 on track for deployment in 2018. Co-developed with Japan, the SM-3 Block IIA has bigger rocket motors and a larger, improved kill vehicle that allows it to destroy threats earlier in flight and protect larger regions, Raytheon says. Last December, the MDA awarded Raytheon a $543 million contract to procure 17 Block IIA missiles, though only $10 million was obligated at the time. When renowned land-speed racer Rick Vesco tries to break the 500-mph barrier later this summer, a little bit of Tucson will be along for the ride. Vesco hopes the advanced turbine-engine controls that Tucson-based Arizona Turbine Technology has supplied for his Turbinator II streamliners helicopter engine will put him over the top in his quest for a new class world record for a wheel-driven car. Vesco has his sights set on being the first to pilot a wheel-driven car to an official speed over 500 mph, but he notes that a lot of other racing groups are set on the same goal. The holy grail is to be the person who goes 500 in a car, he said. Arizona Turbine Technology, founded in 2014 by University of Arizona alumnus David Crowe, provides advanced controls for industrial turbine engines used in generators and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, pumps for the oil and gas industry. The companys controllers use special software that monitors engine performance and modifies fuel flow by the millisecond for greatest efficiency, said Crowe, the companys CEO. We can test the technology in a lab, but how cool is to test it on the salt flats? said Crowe, who will travel to Utahs Bonneville Salt Flats to help with the record attempt with on-site tuning. Vesco, who broke his first land-speed record on a motorcycle as a 16-year-old in 1961, said the Tucson companys technology will help him break the wheel driven record of 458.481 mph his late brother, Don, set in 2001 aboard the Turbinator IIs predecessor. He plans to do that at Bonneville later this summer. 5,000 horsepower CAR The Turbinator IIs power plant was familiar to Crowe, who worked for turbine engine maker Honeywell as a young engineer and has since worked to develop controls to adapt aircraft turbines to industrial use. Put one of those bad boys in a car and, well We have a unique situation here where we have a helicopter engine with about 5,000 horsepower in a race car, said Vesco, who along with his late father, John, and his brother is a member of the Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame. Vesco said Arizona Turbines technology will help manage exhaust gas temperature from the Turbinator IIs Lycoming T55 gas turboshaft engine, which limited performance when his brother set the record. Perhaps more importantly, the local companys electronic engine-management technology can control wheel spin, automatically adjusting for changing conditions within milliseconds as the car travels down the course, Vesco said. There is no human that operates that quickly, so its safer, Vesco said, adding that the system also can automatically shut down power in an emergency. Thats a key capability when running a car on Bonnevilles salt-crust surface, Vesco said in a phone interview from his office in Rockville, Utah. Racing groups have struggled to deal with degradation of the salt surface. Bonnevilles Speed Week was canceled the last two years because of wet weather and degraded course conditions, said Vesco, who co-founded a group advocating restoration of salt lost from nearby mining. Speed Week, run by the Southern California Timing Association, is so far still on for Aug. 13-19. Organizers say one 8-mile course is ready, along with 5-mile and 3-mile courses, but Vesco said the Turbinator II ideally needs an 11-mile track. While turbojet- and turbofan-powered cars relying on jet thrust have topped 700 mph, Turbinator IIs turboshaft setup transfers power to the wheels. Because the Turbinator II is heavier than the Turbinator that Don Vesco drove in his record run, Rick Vesco says if the latest racer gets the record it would be in a different class. ARIZONA TECHNOLOGIES The Vesco project has brought in other local partners of Arizona Turbine Technology. Pirtek Palo Verde, a custom industrial hose service, is providing all of the hoses and related components for the Turbinator II including hydraulic hoses and fuel lines. Its pretty cool that theyre breaking their own record and can keep it going, said Matthew Mejia, general manager of the local Pirtek operation. It takes us into a whole different industry, with our hoses and our company, Mejia said. The company is a sponsor of Tucson Speedway, which runs NASCAR races, and parent Pirtek USA sponsored an Indianapolis 500 race car this year. Though the work with the land-speed racer is exciting, Crowe seems just as excited about Arizona Turbines main business. Crowe started Arizona Turbine in 2014, soon after leaving a company he co-founded, Tucson Embedded Systems. Arizona Turbine, which has seven employees, is working to develop higher-efficiency fracking pumps, including a current project refurbishing two mobile fracking rigs. The company is partnering with a Norwegian firm on a new, more powerful fracking-pump design. With a stack of helicopter engines at Arizona Turbines shop on South Nogales Highway, Crowe also is looking to make integrated turbine generating systems for industrial uses. And the company is partnering with Honeywell to industrialize Honeywells AGT-1500 turbine which powers the M1 Abrams series of main U.S. battle tanks by incorporating it into a multi-fuel, one-megawatt generator. One generator design Crowes company is developing is capable of generating 3 megawatts of continuous power, using multiple fuels including gases released in oil drilling and usually burned off at the wellhead. The use of so-called flare gas would give operators on-site access to free fuel, while excess heat from the generators can generate fresh water from steam. Were taking military technology and reapplying it, Crowe said. If we can generate 3 megawatts of electricity on throw-away fuel and produce fresh water at the same time, thats a good deal, he said. Crowe, a Yuma native who got his first job as a UA engineering grad in 1989 at Honeywell Aerospace in Oro Valley, said much of the technology hes developing is Arizona-based. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra, The Loft Cinema and the Childrens Museum Tucson have been awarded $60,000 grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts the largest amounts given for the 2017 fiscal year. The Arizona Theatre Company snagged one of the next-largest grants, for $47,000. But that money likely wont come to the company until the fall. The grant was contingent on ATC putting on its 2016-17 season, which earlier this summer was questionable after the company announced that it needed to raise $2 million. The company, which mounts seasons in Tucson and Phoenix, made its goal last week. Steve Carr, an ATC spokesman, said the state commission will review the companys grant application in the fall. ATC in early July received a $78,909 grant from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, which awarded Phoenix-area arts groups more than $865,000 in grants. In this age of ebbing government support for the arts across the country, we are thrilled that Arizonas commission is still going strong, and that they have earmarked a grant for Arizona Theatre Company, said ATCs acting managing director, William Russo, in a written statement. Both the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture have shown ATC generous support and belief in the value we provide to the states cultural landscape. The state commission handed out nearly $2.3 million in grants, double what it gave out last year after lawmakers kicked in $1.5 million from the so-called rainy day fund. Interest from the fund could provide additional grants, state arts officials said in a written statement. TSOs grant was the largest the orchestra has received from the state in recent years, said President and CEO Mark Blakeman. And its almost three times larger than what we received last year, he said. The arts commission said the orchestras new family focused programming, including concerts centered on the music of animated films including Fantasia in 2014 and Pixar in Concert last year, contributed to helping the TSO secure the larger grant. The grant also will support future artistic programming from TSO music-director-designate Jose Luis Gomez, who will program his first season in 2017-18. Blakeman said the commission was impressed by Gomezs interest in bringing Latin-flavored music to Tucson. Blakeman said the grant is an affirmation that the TSO is on the right track in changing its narrative of who we are and what we are doing and what we are sharing with the community, especially in its family programming that is reaching audiences that dont look like the typical symphony audiences. I think theres payoff from a lot of a hard work from a lot of people in the organization and its about reshaping how the community views the orchestra, he said. The Childrens Museum grant comes just as it is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. It also comes 14 months after the museum opened a satellite early childhood museum in Oro Valley. It was wonderful. Talk about a pleasant surprise, said Executive Director Michael Luria, who said the $60,000 grant was the museums largest from the state in its 30-year history. Luria said the increase in funding is largely due to the museum expanding its budget from $1.3 million to $1.6 million to accommodate the second facility. The museum will mark its 30th anniversary next Saturday with a special $3 admission, special events throughout the day and an ice cream social beginning at 2 p.m. at the museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. Details: childrensmuseumtucson.org Its always disappointing to see Arizonas most divisive politician get more publicity on the national stage. But there was Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio up on stage at the Republican National Convention last week, making claims that were outlandish even for a political convention. We have terrorists coming over our border and infiltrating our communities and causing massive destruction and mayhem, Arpaio told the delegates, to chants of Build that wall, build that wall. We have criminals penetrating our weak border security system and committing serious crimes. That kind of fear-mongering has been standard for Arpaio since even before the days of SB 1070, the law that sought to codify racial profiling as a tactic against illegal immigration. It gave Arizona a massive political black eye that we thought might be healing until Arpaios appearance on national television reminded the rest of the country just how dysfunctional Arizona can be on immigration. HARDLY ALONE But Arpaio is hardly alone. Republican nominee Donald Trump stoked the fires of resentment and ignorance in labeling Mexican border-crossers drug dealers and rapists, then declaring he would build a wall that would secure the border and make the Mexican government pay the $12 billion bill. Further, his position on the 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S. is that they should all be deported just how they would be identified without violating the civil liberties of millions of American citizens he hasnt said. The fact that the illegal immigration debate has come down to such simplistic and uncompromising rhetoric should be a lesson to those in Congress who had the power to pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform plan but failed to exercise it. Both Arizona senators served on the so-called Gang of 8 ad hoc committee that pushed through the Senate a bill to strengthen border security and create an eventual path to citizenship that, in most cases, would have taken at least seven years and sometimes 10 or 12. But House speaker John Boehner, intimidated by cries of amnesty by the tea party movement and members like Paul Gosar of Flagstaff, blocked passage. Failing congressional action, President Obama issued an executive order that has allowed immigrants brought here as children illegally by their parents to get a college education. A subsequent order to allow the parents of some of these so-called Dreamers to get temporary visas was overturned by the federal courts as executive overreach. PARTY LEADERS COWED So now we come to a presidential election in which the Republican nominee has reverted to pre-Gang of 8 demagoguery that has cowed the party leaders who disagree with him into silence. Sen. John McCain has said he has no use for the amnesty crowd, but he also wants more security on the border he mentions high-tech towers -- before he will consider relaunchng any comprehensive reform talks. If border security were an issue with a majority of Americans or even Arizonans, we might give Trump credit for at least tapping into widespread fears, But poll after poll shows that illegal immigration is not a high-ranking concern compared with middle-class wage stagnation, health care costs, student debt, drug abuse, gun violence and global warming. There are 15 million residents along the border and $500 billion a year in trade, and a recent scientific survey of residents on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border showed little enthusiasm for a wall but high demand for more efficient border crossings. Meanwhile, arrests of illegal border crossers have slowed from a high of 1.6 million a year under Reagan to 330,000 under Obama, while deportations under the latter are the highest of any president. EXCLUSIONARY WING Its only when Trump, Arpaio and the tea party nativists gin up selective statistics and anecdotes that illegal immigration gains traction with the exclusionary wing of the Republican Party that also opposes free trade and international defense treaties. It is less than coincidence that the America First slogan of the Trump campaign was the name of the isolationist, anti-Semitic movement opposed to the U.S. joining British in the fight against the Nazis. The lack of a comprehensive immigration reform plan also has consequences for the millions of Middle East refugees seeking safe havens. A country with its act together on undocumented immigration is far more likely to welcome temporary refugees and asylum-seekers than retreat to the kind of knee-jerk fear-mongering against an entire religion coming out of the Trump campaign. We acknowledge, however, that party conventions are not the place for measured discussion, much less complex policy pronouncements. Well await the presidential debates to learn which party has a plan that gets beyond sound bites and name-calling. In the meantime, wed hope the candidates remember that the vast majority of those in this country illegally tell survey takers they are here for economic opportunity and a better life for themselves and their families. And studies show those aspirations have not come, for the most part, at the expense of American jobs. In the sense that we were all immigrants once with similar hopes, there has to be some common ground big enough for all parties to stand on. The moment can conjure only one feeling dread. The family gets home from that cool San Diego vacation, a week of beach time, breezes and walking-around weather. On the drive home through Yuma, the display inside the car shows the outside temperature climbing to triple digits and staying there. A stop along the way lets the family know that blistering temperatures well into September await. The saving grace is that the trusty air conditioner at home will make it bearable because, after all, its a dry heat and keeping cool isnt impossible in Tucson. And then the front door at home swings open. Heat from inside the house blasts the family, along with the unmistakable musty scent of a home that has been without air conditioning for a week or so. Whats next? Depending on whats wrong with the air conditioner, a homeowner is looking at a bill of a couple of hundred dollars to thousands. Melinda Bernal and her family got a double-whammy this year by having to completely replace the air-conditioning units in both their main home and their guest house, which is occupied. The price tag for each was more than $8,000. Its just awful, she said. Its such a big ordeal. The second unit was diagnosed two weeks ago with a leak in the system holding the refrigerant, which cant be fixed, requiring the whole system to be replaced. The first unit was the victim of the dreaded burned-out compressor. Bernal and her family didnt experience the vacation scenario, but Mike Whitacre, owner of Jett Mechanical, a local heating and cooling company, said that an air conditioner malfunctioning while the homeowner is away can multiply the cost of repairs, not unlike the additional damage that can be done to the engine of a car when it continues to run without oil. Similarly, if an owner senses something is wrong with the unit and doesnt get it fixed, it can get worse to the point of replacement. Wade Hamstra, owner and vice president of Hamstra Heating & Cooling, said homeowners have to realize that their air-conditioning unit is the most expensive appliance in your house and should be treated at least as well as that other expensive possession, your car. Unfortunately, he said, homeowners rarely do the equivalent of looking under the hood when it comes to their air conditioners. Your air conditioning, if its a good unit, could be anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000. Taking care of it is a huge deal, Hamstra said. But like anything else, its out of sight, out of mind until something goes wrong with it. Something that consumers in Tucson and Arizona in general have to consider is the fact that big companies are building AC units that run in all climates. Were a very extreme environment. Youre putting in a unit that was designed to handle 100 degrees outside and we have days where its 115. Its like having a Jeep and you go off-roading every single weekend. Contractors recommend maintenance at least once a year, preferably twice significantly less than the four or five times a year that a car owner should change the oil in the vehicle. And that is about the only prevention a homeowner can do so the air conditioner doesnt go down during another hot summer. The next question, if you still havent taken that summer vacation, then becomes, do you leave the equipment on or off while away for an extended time? Again, like a car, Whitacre said, putting the unit to sleepeven for a short timeis not good for it. I advise that the equipment remain in the cooling position, but you can raise the temperature, Whitacre said. If there are no pets, I would raise the temperature not to exceed 90 degrees. It keeps the humidity in check. It also keeps the equipment lubricated. If the equipment is in a sit-still position, that can also cause electrical and mechanical issues. The effect of keeping the equipment running goes beyond keeping it in working order, Whitacre said. You want to cycle equipment occasionally because if you dont do that, especially in the summertime in Tucson, you can develop mold issues inside the home because humidity can gather, and it can create other issues. You can lose your candles, it can damage your paint, it can damage your carpet fibers by getting too hot. Therein is the answer to the age-old question: Is it better and less expensive to leave your air conditioner running when youre out of the home, whether daily for work or longer for a vacation? On its website, Tucson Electric Power advises raising the temperature of the air conditioning 10 to 15 percent while youre away and not shutting it down. I leave mine at 85 degrees, Whitacre said of where he sets his thermostat while hes not home. The mental anguish of having air-conditioning problems in the summer is only a portion of the toll on a homeowner. There is the hit to the pocketbook. If youre lucky, the issue is something small, like a capacitor, which is a component that regulates the operation of the motor. Homeowners can expect to pay about $250 to replace a capacitor, which includes the diagnostic call and the actual repair, Whitacre said. But if youre not home and a capacitor goes bad or isnt replaced right away, the motor still will try to run and can then overheat, leading to more-expensive repairs like replacing the compressor, generally the most expensive repair short of replacing the entire unit. Replacing a compressor costs, on average, about $2,000. Depending on the unit, it can be in the $1,500 range or can go as high as $3,000. For the customer with limited means, organizations such as the Pima Council on Aging and Community Home Repair Projects of Arizona have programs to assist with arranging repairs and paying to get the work done right away to avoid what can be a dangerous situation in the summer heat. When a customer calls during the summer, Whitacre said, every call is an emergency. Air-conditioning companies do everything in their power to provide same-day service, or at least within the first 24 hours. That is a challenging thing for all of us, Hamstra said. When we get those first couple of days that are 105 (degrees), 110, we get a massive number of air conditioners going down across the valley. Every single AC company is busy. Every single AC technician is working 60-70 hours a week. And then theres the stress of picking a reputable company that might be getting thousands of your hard-earned dollars based on a snap decision made necessary by the importance of getting your air conditioning back to handle Tucsons brutal heat. There is not a local referral service geared specifically toward air-conditioning contractors. The Better Business Bureau has ratings and reviews on its website. There are other online sources of information with reviews. But in the end, its a bit of a crap shoot when there are about 200 air-conditioning contractors in Tucson, many of them, according to Hamstra, small, one-person businesses. Hamstra said a significant amount of his business comes through personal referrals from customers. Bernal said she got a referral for her air-conditioning contractor from her daughter, who knew someone at her sons school who had a contractor they trusted. Tucson is a very word-of-mouth kind of community, Hamstra said. We do get quite a bit of our business from one person telling a neighbor or telling a friend. I encourage people to get online. Research the heck out of us. As it gets tougher to climb the border fence or cross the desert undetected, more migrants are seeking asylum at legal ports of entry and creating a new challenge for border enforcement. Since 2010, inadmissibles Customs and Border Protections name for people who are caught at ports of entry without legal status, or those who are barred from entering the United States because they have a criminal history or are considered a terrorism threat have risen 30 percent in the four field officers along the Southwest border: San Diego, Tucson, El Paso and Laredo, data obtained by the Arizona Daily Star show. Most of this growth stems from increasing traffic through Laredo, which now has the highest number and share of people coming through. Nearly 50,000 people have passed through the Texas port with two months left in the fiscal year, up from 24,500 in 2010. In Tucson, the number of Guatemalans showing up at ports of entry surged from 28 in 2010 to 2,323 so far this year. But overall traffic at ports here has stayed fairly steady because of a decrease in the number of Mexicans crossing the border into Arizona. Statement of fear starts asylum process As soon as people who turn themselves in at an official crossing point say they are afraid of returning to their home country, it sets in motion the asylum process, which can drag on for years. More and more on the Southwest border, the new challenge is mixed flows, said Doris Meissner, former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute. The basic illegal immigration of young men or younger Mexicans who are purely coming for job function is basically behind us. Recent migration trends are dominated by Central American families and minors who have more complex reasons for coming to this country fear of violence, gangs and other dangers, Meissner said. Cubans are responsible for a large share of this growth. Since fiscal 2010, the number of Cubans presenting themselves at Southwest ports of entry has grown from 5,500 to nearly 34,000 as of June of this fiscal year. Cubans seeking to flee their government come here to take advantage of the United States wet-foot, dry-foot policy, which allows them to stay once they reach the U.S. Many more are entering through Mexico than Miami, the traditional route, in part because of tighter enforcement on the coast. The practice is so common that Cuban migrants have given it a new nickname: dusty foots. As relations between both countries begin to thaw, many fear this policy will change. Meisner said the increase in the number of Cubans might also impact flows from other countries. Cubans present themselves at ports of entry because they know theyll be admitted, she said. As word gets out, she said, others likely will try to do the same thing in hopes of getting an immigration hearing. Court dysfunction While political and economic conditions push people out of their home countries, experts say that smugglers and even some immigration attorneys are quick to adapt to more successful migration routes. If you have families or unaccompanied minors, a really good smuggler is able to earn his money by creating less danger and less likelihood of harm. At the same time its less trouble for the smuggler because you just go through the port of entry and ask for asylum. People seeking asylum in the United States can file an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where an asylum officer reviews their case. If the case ends up in immigration court, asylum seekers can wait three to six years for their claims to be resolved due to increasing backlogs. Immigration courts are under-resourced and underfunded to the point of being dysfunctional, said Dana Marks, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. A recent hiring push aims to bring on as many as 55 new immigration judges by Sept. 30, she said. But recruiting and training judges doesnt happen overnight. There are 276 immigration judges nationwide, she said, 20 of whom are primarily in management, which means they hear few cases. Last fiscal year the Department of Justice, which manages the immigration courts, hired 23 new judges, but 22 retired. Nearly 500,000 cases are pending in the nations immigration courts. New kind of migrant not a One-year trend The shift to the ports of entry means border enforcement has to be looked at differently, said Meissner. Whats happening in Central America, a large share of this, is not a one-year phenomenon or surge, she said. Its an enduring phenomenon and that presents a new challenge for border enforcement and a challenge that requires different kinds of resources and a different kind of response than simply building up enforcement personnel along the Southwest border. The number of Hondurans showing up at ports of entry, for instance, decreased temporarily in 2015 as Mexico stepped up enforcement efforts along its southern border. But so far this fiscal year it has rebounded to nearly 4,000 people, most crossing in the El Paso and Laredo field offices. In 2014, almost 4,700 Hondurans showed up at official crossings. Whats needed is a robust hearing system and a timely adjudication system, which both must be properly staffed and expanded, said Meissner. That will help the United States be effective and relevant in the challenges for border enforcement that we are facing now and likely to face in years ahead, she said. This week, the state is taking applications for licenses to print money, practically. The catch is, you have to propose a money-printing site governed by one geographic principle: proximity to medical-marijuana card holders. These licenses, of course, are for new medical-marijuana dispensaries. Through July 29, the state is accepting applications for 31 new dispensaries, on top of the 99 existing licenses. Theyre the first new dispensary licenses available since the state started issuing them in 2012. The high financial potential contained in these licenses illustrates the weird link between a substance we consider medicinal under the law now, but that we may turn into a recreational-use product in November. And it points out some of the problems with the legalization initiative well be voting on. This years so-called Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is being supported by the same people who pushed the medical-marijuana law, an initiative passed by Arizona voters in 2010. After we passed the law, the Arizona Department of Health Services set up rules for issuing licenses. Because marijuana was being dispensed as medicine, the geographic areas used to define where licensed would be issued were defined by public-health boundaries: Community Health Activity Areas, or CHAAs. The idea was that everyone in a given CHAA could have relatively good access to a medical marijuana dispensary or, if not, be able to grow their own. Importantly, anyone who got a license had to keep doing business in the area where they were licensed for three years. Then they were free to move elsewhere. After the three-year period that ended for most licensees in August 2015, a handful did move, always to the Phoenix area. A particularly popular destination: Scottsdale. In May, that East Valley city passed new limitations on how close dispensaries can be to each other. With this round of new licenses, there will be more, almost all of them in the Phoenix area, two of them in Scottsdale. Thats because the state Health Department picked the location of the next set of marijuana dispensaries based on the concentration of medical-marijuana cardholders. As a result, of the 31 areas the Health Department selected for new licenses, 25 are in metro Phoenix. Three are rural in Lake Havasu City, Yavapai County and Superior/Kearny. Three are in the Tucson area on the northwest side, on the far east side, and in eastern midtown. If marijuana is to be viewed as medicine as it is now under state law its strange that the state process would put more dispensaries in areas that already are served, especially metro Phoenix. Now, its long appeared that young men have been using the system just to get high. In April, the last month for which figures are available, 28 percent of all Arizona medical marijuana cardholders were between ages 18 and 30, the highest percentage of any age bracket. And statewide, purchases spiked to more than 400 pounds on Wednesday, April 20 4/20, the day of the annual marijuana celebration. To the extent that there is a real health need for dispensaries, theyre less needed in metro Phoenix and more needed in places like Kingman and Camp Verde that lost or never had dispensaries, marijuana-industry insiders told me. Instead of opening up more locations in the city, they should have opened them up in the rural area, said Vicky Puchi-Saavedra, who owns Earths Healing dispensary, 2075 E. Benson Highway. The smaller cities are getting left behind. Theyre not really taking care of the patients. Now, leave aside the notion of marijuana as a medicinal product and look at it as what it might become: a substance adults can consume for whatever reason they want, the way people consume it on the black market. The initiative we are to consider was pushed by the medical-marijuana industry, in part because it benefits current dispensary owners. Other efforts at legalizing marijuana tried to open up the business to new marijuana merchants, but they didnt gather enough signatures. The one well be considering gives existing medical-marijuana dispensary licensees the exclusive right to open what people are calling adult-use marijuana dispensaries in other words, recreational pot stores. Until 2021, additional licenses will be issued only if the number of marijuana dispensaries is less than 10 percent of the number of Series 9 (liquor store) licenses in the state. In other words, current dispensary owners are likely to have a monopoly on the adult-use marijuana market for some time if we pass this initiative, possibly for four years after licenses must be issued in 2017. And thats what makes the licensing process so potentially lucrative and flawed. We are giving licenses to dispense marijuana as medicine largely in areas that are already served by dispensaries, not where the marijuana-medicine is lacking. And with these licenses, we are offering the opportunity to be on the ground floor of a business selling marijuana to the general public for purposes of getting high, but basing their locations on the density of medical-marijuana patients. The health department, of course, cant know how the initiative vote will turn out, and its obligated to issue new licenses. But its a screwy way to establish who will likely get to sell pot to anyone over 21, and where they can sell it. Pima County sheriff's detectives believe a man who robbed a bank in the Tucson area today also robbed the same bank in 2015. They're asking for public help in identifying him. A Sheriff's Department spokeswoman, Deputy Courtney Rodriguez, gave the following account in a news release: Today at about 11:45 a.m. deputies with the San Xavier Patrol District responded to a bank robbery at the Wells Fargo inside a Safeway store at 2940 W. Valencia Road. The robber was described as Hispanic with a light complexion, a mustache and light brown eyes. He was middle aged, approximately 5 8 tall, and had a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black hat with yellow writing or symbol on it, a blue denim shirt, jeans, black shoes, and prescription glasses. No one was injured during the incident. The robber implied a weapon as he demanded money from bank employees. Detectives believe this is the same man who robbed the same bank on Sept. 11 of last year. Anyone with information on him is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME. Donor disappointment in University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart is hurting the schools fundraising efforts, one of the leaders of its current fundraising drive says. Donors who have been steady supporters of the UA have suspended their giving, Sarah Smallhouse, co-chair of the $1.5 billion Arizona Now campaign, wrote to one of Harts bosses a few weeks before Hart announced she plans to retire as president in 2018. My impression is most donors want to see her gone ASAP, Smallhouse, herself a major donor, said in an email to Arizona Board of Regents member Bill Ridenour, who at the time was a trustee on the UAs fundraising board. Much of the ill will stems from Harts decision earlier this year to take a paid position on the board of for-profit DeVry University, Smallhouse wrote. The DeVry situation amplified hard feelings and added to concerns that the commitment to excellence at the UA has indeed been abandoned by its president, she said. It isnt clear if Ridenour shared the fundraising co-chairs comments with fellow regents. He didnt respond to requests for comment sent to his work email and regents email over a three-day period last week. Smallhouses emails are dated May 13. Hart announced her departure decision June 10 at a Board of Regents meeting in Flagstaff. Hart declined comment last week on the concerns Smallhouse raised. Other UA executives acknowledged a slowdown in giving, but said theres no way to know for sure whats behind it. Donors make philanthropic decisions (either positive or negative) based on all kinds of reasons and timetables, said John-Paul Roczniak, CEO of the UAs fundraising arm, the University of Arizona Foundation. It isnt feasible to accurately attribute decreases or increases in gifts to any one specific reason, he said in an email. The campaign overall has been highly successful and is on track to end earlier than planned, he added. Gregg Goldman, the UAs chief financial officer, said the downturn could be because the campaign is nearing its end and may not have the same momentum as at the start. The Arizona Daily Star obtained Smallhouses emails through a public-records request and also reviewed two years worth of online progress reports for the Arizona Now campaign. The public phase of the fundraising drive began in 2014 with more than half the $1.5 billion already raised in what the UA described as a quiet phase. Donations boomed in the year or so after Hart announced the campaign in April 2014, less than two years after she took over as president. In the 2015 school year, for example, the UA raised $293 million an average of $24.4 million a month. The monthly average dropped to $17 million in the 2016 school year just ended, for an annual total of $205 million. Between January and June this year the time frame in which protests arose over Harts DeVry job donations averaged $14 million a month. As of June 30, the campaign needs $40 million more to reach its goal, which is expected to take until late fall or early winter, said Goldman, the UAs finance boss. If that forecast holds, it equates to average giving of $6 million to $8 million a month in the final stretch of the campaign. As well, the UAs new budget predicts a 9.6 percent drop in private gifts in the school year just starting a decline of $8.7 million, even though the UA plans to spend an extra $4.7 million to hire more fundraising staff. That sort of dip is common after a major capital campaign ends, the UAs Goldman said. A local downturn in donations would run counter to current national trends. Giving to education is expected to rise by more than 6 percent both this year and next, according to recent research from Indiana Universitys Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. We project stronger growth in giving to education in 2016 and 2017 than in overall giving, said philanthropy expert Una Osili, the Lilly schools director of research. This may be due in part to the increasing interest of donors and especially wealthy donors, foundations and even corporations in funding higher education, as well as a growing role for philanthropy in K-12 education. Smallhouse said last week in an email interview that she never intended for her comments to Ridenour to become public. She said she thought the emails were private and didnt realize they could be released as public records. Smallhouse isnt alone in the view that Harts DeVry job is having a negative effect. Regents CEO Eileen Klein has told board members that it is eroding public confidence in the entire state university system. The Star also obtained Kleins email through a public-records request. The regents, who collectively are Harts employers, have said little in public about the situation, which has sparked hundreds of complaints from faculty, students, alumni and state legislators. Critics say Hart should be spending all her energies on the UA and that she tainted the Tucson schools reputation by attaching herself to a questionable enterprise. Many have called for her to resign or be fired, but according to her contract, Hart did nothing wrong. Regents policy doesnt require university presidents to seek board approval for outside work. Hart accepted the DeVry post in February, two weeks after the Federal Trade Commission launched a lawsuit that alleges DeVry deceived its students about their employment prospects claims DeVry denies. Hart has said she believes the firm is on solid ground and said she took the position on her own time to help DeVry students reach their potential. The corporate post pays Hart $70,000 a year plus $100,000 in stock, on top of the $665,500 pay package she receives from Arizona taxpayers. Shes believed to be the only sitting president of a major American public university to serve on the board of a publicly traded, for-profit education firm. The Board of Regents plans a national search this fall for Harts replacement. Outgoing board chair Jay Heiler has said Hart could exit the UAs top job next year once a new leader is in place. She plans to stay on at the UA as a tenured professor, as her contract provides. Harts presidential contract doesnt expire until June of 2018 so, barring any changes, taxpayers could end up covering two presidents salaries until then if a new leader comes aboard next year. The too-close-to-call Congressional District 2 race in 2014, which spurred a recount and several legal actions, is still front and center in the minds of the two Democratic candidates attempting to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally. Every phone call, hand they shake and fundraising email sent are crucial as they attempt to rally the Democratic base as well as make inroads with undecided independents and registered Republicans. McSally beat then-incumbent Ron Barber by 161 votes two years ago. Before either Victoria Steele or Matt Heinz can run against McSally, the two former state legislators will face off in the Aug. 30 Democratic primary. Both had moderate success in passing bills in a Republican-dominated Legislature, although it has been several years since Heinz worked in the state House. Steele stepped down earlier this year to dedicate herself to campaigning full-time for Congress. Together, the pair have raised over $1 million , though that is short of what McSally has raised so far. She faces no opposition in the primary. Heinz, who ran in 2012 in a special election to fill then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords seat, has raised more than $819,000, compared to the $196,000 raised by Steele. Heinz, emergency room doctor at TMC Heinz rarely mentioned his Democratic opponent during a 40-minute interview. Instead, he focused on why McSally was wrong for the district, which covers all of Cochise County and a part of Pima County. After working in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Heinz says he disagrees with McSally on various policies. I saw the incumbent doing things that I believed not to be in the best interest of Southern Arizonas voters, he said, arguing McSally put politics ahead of the district. I just really didnt like what I saw. For example, Heinz wants to ban people on the no-fly list from being able to legally purchase guns. While there have been procedural votes on the issue, there has not been a formal floor vote in the House on the no-fly, no-buy gun issue in the last few months. A gun owner, Heinz said some District 2 issues are more important than party politics. We saw this with Gabby (Giffords) and we saw this with Ron Barber, you dont do everything the Democratic leadership says. You do what is best for your constituents, Heinz said. The emergency room physician at Tucson Medical Center announced in 2015 that he was running against McSally. Seeing thousands of patients a year, Heinz says his job gives him a unique perspective on the community, not only in terms of its acute health-care needs but in the lives of its residents. A single work shift might have him talking to a cross-section of the community, saying one bed might have a homeless vet next to a struggling single parent without insurance alongside a wealthy retiree. His approach to solving problems is also unique in the race, arguing the rules are different in the ER. You dont convene a committee to fibrillate, he said. He disagrees with McSally on some issues, including health care, comprehensive immigration reform and gun control. Vowing to stand up to the gun lobby, Heinz said he would have participated in the recent House sit-in with members of Congress to demand gun-control reform. It is absolutely clear that people with violent criminal histories shouldnt get a gun, he said. He also vows he would work to close the so-called gun-show loophole. While working as a state representative, Heinz wrote legislation that gives low-income women access to breast- and cervical-cancer screenings and treatment. Steele, counselor and reporter Steele said she has seen numerous issues that needed to be addressed. She spent several years in the Legislature in the minority party and still believes one person can make a difference. If you are not at the table, you are on the menu, she said. Gun control was an issue for Steele in the Legislature, but she faced problems getting her bills heard. She said she knew there was no chance it would pass, but Steele authored a bill restricting adults from giving a 14-year-old an automatic weapon. It wasnt even introduced, she said, noting the Legislature is not ready for serious gun reform. Steele said she also would have participated in the sit-in at the House over gun control. Despite the fact that Congress failed to pass legislation after that protest, she believes Democrats moved the needle in terms of the public discussion on the issue. Democrats are tired of being stepped over, she said. Additionally, Steele supports more comprehensive background checks, closing the gun-show loophole and banning gun sales to people who have been ruled by a judge to be a danger to themselves and others. She blames obstructionists in the Congress for the gridlock, but notes some are controlled by the gun lobby. They are just doing what theyre told, she said. Top priorities for Steele include helping to improve the local economy to create higher-paying jobs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and addressing climate change. Two Democratic newcomers are challenging an incumbent in the primary election for Legislative District 10, which includes eastern midtown and most of Tucsons east side. Voters will choose two candidates in the Aug. 30 primary who will go on to run against Republican Todd Clodfelter in Novembers general election for the districts two seats in the state House. Incumbent Stefanie Mach is fighting to keep her seat against challengers Kirsten Engel and Courtney Frogge for a third term, and the other seat is vacant, since Democrat Bruce Wheeler will be stepping down at the end of the term. What issues do voters in your district tell you they are concerned about? Engel: Education. Education. Education. Voters in my district want good schools, affordable higher education and respect for our hard-working teachers. Frogge: Legislators who undermine our public schools and our economy. They want forward-looking, sustainable solutions that give every Arizona family a fair chance at success and ensure a bright future for the next generation. Moreover, LD10 voters share a sense of disenchantment with the current political system. That system is failing Arizona families, as politicians spend more time trying to score political points than working together for solutions. Voters in LD10, and across our state, want legislators who will work to bring people together, build coalitions, and get results that matter in their daily lives. Mach: Education is a top priority for the people in LD10. Early childhood education, teacher retention, vocational technology, safe classrooms, affordable higher education are all examples of issues that concern people with whom I have spoken. Transportation and water infrastructure improvements are important as well as prison reform. All of these issues lead back to true economic development and a strong job market. Ultimately, people just want to have their hard work valued so that they can support themselves and their families. How do you intend to get your ideas passed through a House that has a Republican majority? Engel: My entire career I have negotiated with people who do not always agree with my positions. I have always been a strong advocate for my ideas and know how to work with others to get them to the table to hammer out an agreement. I am resourceful and a hard worker. I will work on new solutions to break through age-old stalemates on our regions priority issues of education funding, economic development and environmental sustainability. Frogge: As a fifth-generation Arizonan born in LD10, with nearly 10 years of experience working for issues and candidates across Arizona, I know how to build coalitions and bring public pressure in support of a cause. Having built coalitions in nearly every county in Arizona, I understand the districts and, more importantly, the voters represented by Republican legislators. In many cases Ive worked alongside those same voters on behalf of a cause. That combination of institutional knowledge and on-the-ground experience means I have the tools to identify our common ground and get results for Southern Arizona. Mach: Politics is about relationships. If one honors their word, follows through on promises, shows respect and maintains integrity throughout the difficult process of making laws, a person can get a lot done. Because my colleagues know that I am more concerned with accomplishing goals than taking credit, I have been successful passing bills in colleagues names and my own. I work well with fellow legislators and concerned stakeholders to accomplish goals together. Improving my knowledge base and experience with a diversity of issues has also increased my ability to succeed as a member of the minority party. What is the most important issue that you expect to be voting on in the next year or two, and how will you vote? Engel: Creating a dedicated, permanent funding source for public education at all levels. Right now we spend more on inmates in private prison than we do on students in our schools. We need to flip that formula in order to reverse the years of funding cuts that are standing in the way of our students and our states achievements. Frogge: Funding public education. The cuts must stop. Ensuring great public schools is the most important way to give our kids the tools for success. Its how we keep our economy strong and attract new businesses to our state. And its a reflection of our values: as a fifth-generation Arizonan, I know that we must do everything we can to keep our promises to future generations of Arizonans. Thats why I will always vote to support our kids, our schools, and our educators and I have the skills, experience, and relationships necessary to build consensus and get results for our schools. Mach: People like to believe that improving our community is as simple as taking one action. The truth is that we must pull many levers to advance our state. In Arizona, we need to do more to improve education; however, it isnt as simple as increasing teacher retention programs for quality educators. To learn, kids also need: proper healthcare, a safe way to get to school, enough nutrition, vision screenings, a stable household etc. I intend to vote understanding the complexity of what it takes to make a society great. Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. Twitter: @caitlinschmidt Mining activity in and around the Atascosa Mountains just north of the border with Mexico in Santa Cruz County dates back to the Spanish; perhaps overseen by the Jesuits, and later Mexicans, who prospected heavily for gold. Heightened mining operations occurred during the 1870s when prospectors arrived in the Arizona Territory, reworking the old Oro Blanco Mine near the border. Multiple claims were staked on the Oro Blanco vein resulting in the settlement of Oro Blanco. The Oro Blanco camp began with a population of 40 miners, increasing a decade later to 225 people, including land baron, miner and cattleman James A. Robinson. He was then Arizonas wealthiest man, who reportedly lived at the site in 1899 with a fortune estimated at $1.8 million. The town was sustained by additional mines classified as the Warsaw group consisting of the Yellow Jacket and Ostrich mines. A mill was erected at the Ostrich Mine during the 1880s. It was equipped with a roasting furnace that treated the refractory sulfide ores. The mills operations were overseen by the Orion Co., and the ore processed came from the Montana and Warsaw mines. The Warsaw mill built in 1882, along with another mill built two years later by the Esperanza Mines Co., treated ore from the Blain ledge. Milling ceased in the late 1880s, only to be resumed a decade later with many small mills built to service the Oro Blanco and Golden Eagle mines. Several amalgamation and cyanide mills were also built in the early 1900s. Concentrating tables such as the Wilfley Table, designed by Arthur R. Wilfley in 1896, were heavily used in the area. These tables consisted of a rectangular deck measuring around 6 feet by 12 feet with an adjustable slant. Riffles composed of wooden strips ran from the feed end to the discharge end. A slurry of ore mixed with water was sent down in a diagonal line while the entire device used a reciprocating motion. Minerals were separated by their specific gravities, captured behind the riffles and discharged at the end. The lighter gangue, or worthless, material was washed over the side. Although the table was not efficient in the separation of finely ground material, it was credited with having captured over 65 percent of the sought-after minerals. By 1931, Santa Cruz County was credited with having produced over $1.2 million worth of gold, over a quarter of which was a byproduct from copper and lead ores. Amado Station, 36 miles northeast of Ruby, served as a railroad junction connecting the local mines to the Nogales branch of the Southern Pacific Railway. Louis Zeckendorf of Tucson took a personal interest of the Montana Mine in 1907. It was historically the greatest-producing mine in the district. It proved to be a notable lead-zinc-copper deposit accessible at the Ruby townsite. Production increased under the Goldfield Consolidated Mines Co. in 1916 and a decade later by the Eagle Picher Lead Co., credited with having erected a 250-ton flotation mill onsite. A total of 773,197 tons of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc were milled by the time the company ceased operating the mine in 1941. Later leased by Hugo W. Miller of Nogales, the Montana Mine produced a total of 2,000 tons of ore shipped prior to the depression of the zinc-lead market and the closure of the mine in 1952. The nearby Austerlitz Mine, 2.75 miles northwest of Ruby, provided access to a flat vein of gold. Early production in the 1890s comprised a minimum recorded figure of $90,000. It produced a marginal product in the 1930s and was later acquired by Fred Noon in 1959. Other producing mines in the district include the Tres Amigos, Dos Amigos, Old Glory, and Margarita . The product from these mines, with several thousand feet of underground workings, averaged 10 ounces of silver per ounce of gold. The Margarita Gold Mines Co. operated a 50-ton cyanide mill, producing marginal lots of bullion supplied by water from Old Glory Canyon. While active claims continue to exist throughout the district, there currently is no large-scale production of gold. Flagstaff City Council candidates have been given the chance to answer a weekly question in no more than 150 words. This weeks question: The city of Flagstaff has operated without an increase in the property tax levy for the last five years. Do you agree or disagree with this policy, and why? Council ADAM SHIMONI The City needs diverse sources of revenue: if it doesnt come through increase in property tax, it must come from elsewhere. Flagstaff could raise secondary property tax by two percent each year. Had it increased over the last 5 years, the City would have generated $1.7 million in needed revenues which could support social services, education, environmental programming, animal welfare, and public works. Instead, Council passed bond initiatives, increased sales tax, and increased recreation fees, library fees, etc. However, general fee increases are applied evenly, neglecting to address major inequalities in our community. Implementing property tax increases could bring revenues without unequally burdening our most vulnerable citizens. To put the value in perspective, an owner of a $300,000 home would be taxed only $75 in property taxes yearly over the last five years if the tax had increased. I think Council should explore implementing some property tax increases. CHARLIE ODEGAARD I do support the past trend of not raising property taxes. With good governance comes with responsibility for overseeing the City of Flagstaffs Budget. The City Councils duty to taxpayers is to be responsible and transparent with taxpayer money. I cannot promise I will never support raising property taxes, but I can promise you that I will be responsible and transparent in the budgeting of property tax revenue and other uses of your money. Property tax increases should not go forward from a council members casual motion, and certainly not ever be retroactive. If property taxes were to be increased, it should only be after cost-benefit analysis of well-defined and well-understood projects and purposes. Property taxes should not be raised with the rationale that not raising taxes constitutes lost revenue. The questions that concern me are: which candidates for City Council favor raising property taxes retroactively going forward, and by what percentage? JEFF ORAVITS The budgetary situation over the past several years has not justified raising property taxes. Through better budgeting practices and an improved economy, Council has turned the multimillion dollar budget shortfalls of 2012 into multimillion dollar budget surpluses today. These practices have led to an increase in the citys rainy day fund, bringing it from a dwindling $8,000,000 in 2012 to over $14,000,000 today! Because of better budgeting practices, Council has done a lot of good things for the community, such as increasing police pay, Fourth Street crosswalks, police body cameras, enhancing Bushmaster Park, and SO much more, ALL without raising your property taxes. If given the opportunity, Ill continue to lead the way with common sense budgeting practices so that together we can continue getting things done for Flagstaff. JIM McCARTHY Sensible taxation provides critical infrastructure and important services, but we should keep taxes as low as possible. Our tax system should be fair and just. The city property tax levy the amount the city collects from property taxes is less than 22 percent of our total property tax bill. The remainder goes to schools, etc. With increased sales taxes and fees, the city has balanced the budget without increasing property taxes. However, inflation has devalued the levy by approximately seven percent in the last five years. As expenses go up because of inflation, it might become necessary to increase revenue. Only if really needed, I would support increasing the property tax levy rather than increasing the already-high sales tax. Although tourists pay some of our sales tax, higher sales taxes also hurt the Flagstaff residents that can least afford it. Higher sales taxes also depress local business sales. JAMIE WHELAN I disagree. On the surface the idea of no new taxes sounds good to four members of the current council, but I question the wisdom of such a rigid approach. Saying the city will not increase the property tax levy means that revenue to fund the city will have to come from other sources. They have increased the sales tax, a regressive tax that targets low income earners. The issuance of debt (bonding) carries high interest costs. Council has increased fees while providing fewer social services. The 2% adjustment in the property tax levy over the past five years would have raised $600,000.00 for the general fund. Now Council is asking voters to approve another bond for a new municipal courthouse a possible $12 million costing the taxpayers $7 million in interest! It's time for honest discussions about how the city raises revenues and what makes the most fiscal sense. KARLA BREWSTER This question is a little misleading. It is true we have not increased the property tax levy, but that doesnt mean an individual or business has not had an increase in what they pay for property taxes, as the assessed valuation could have risen, causing an increase in what they pay. If that has happened, then it would mean that the city did gain more taxes from that property, even keeping the levy flat. If we did increase the levy, that property or business owner gets a double whammy from both an increase in the levy and a possible increase in the valuation. Just because we can raise the levy without going to the voter is not a good reason to do so. Flagstaff ranks 20th lowest, out of 50 communities that have a primary property tax in the state, according to the League of Cities and Towns. Mayor CORAL EVANS I was elected in 2008, the worst years of the recession, I voted to not raise the tax-levy. However needs for investment in infrastructure and services have continued to increase, we need to pick up the trash, repair roads, fund the police/fire departments. Weve made up for stalled property-tax revenues by creating other taxes/fees/bonds (e.g. road tax). We increased our reliance on sales taxes, which are regressive disproportionately placing the burden on the poor. Theyre volatile, fluctuating with the economic climate. Relying on sales-tax is irresponsible fiscal policy. We increased fees for services (fees are taxes). Decreased funding to the fire department lead to new fees for inspections, hurting Flagstaffs small businesses. The levy increases would average $4 on a $300,000 home annually. When politicians say theyre against tax increases but enact other taxes/fees/bonds to fund government services it is disingenuous. As Mayor I will advocate for full financial transparency. JERRY NABOURS Every year I have voted against any tax increase that is not approved by the voters. I do not believe in raising taxes just because we have the authority to do so. The City has been fiscally fine for the last few years, no additional tax has been necessary. A 15-year-old girl was struck and killed by a train in Willcox at about midnight Saturday morning, the Willcox police chief told the local newspaper. The Arizona Range News quoted Chief Jose Rios as saying Mariah Contreras was part of a group of kids playing chicken with the trains. "'Please do not go on the tracks to play,' said Rios, explaining that one cannot estimate the speed and distance of the train and how quickly it will reach you," the newspaper reported on its website Saturday. The Willcox Police Department said Rios' statements to The Arizona Range News would be his only comments Saturday. Contreras would have been an incoming freshman at Willcox High School, the newspaper said. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends during this difficult time," Justin E. Jacobs, spokesman for Union Pacific, said in a statement. Syria Intense airstrikes hit five clinics in Aleppo Government air raids struck at least five medical facilities in the northern province of Aleppo, where violence has intensified in recent weeks amid a siege by government forces, Syrian opposition activists said Sunday. The activists said the air raids began late Saturday night and continued until after midnight, killing at least five people across the city, including an infant. The International Committee of the Red Cross tweeted after reports of the air raids on the provincial capital of Aleppo and the nearby town of Atareb: Harrowing news: More hospitals hit in #Aleppo this morning. Civilians and hospitals are #notatarget. Rival sides in Syrias five-year conflict have targeted hospitals and clinics in the past, mostly in the countrys north. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four clinics were now out of service in the city of Aleppo, as was the fifth in the town Atareb to the west. It said five people had been killed in Aleppo city. Iran Iran confirms it has detained American TEHRAN Irans judiciary has confirmed the detention of an Iranian-American who was visiting family in Iran, the countrys semi-official ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The report did not name the Iranian-American involved or say when he was arrested. It quoted the spokesman for the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, as saying that the man was arrested in the city of Gorgan on unknown charges and then referred to the Iranian capital for investigation. On Thursday the U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Iranian-American Robin Shahini has been detained in Iran. His girlfriend said she was worried Shahini was arrested over online comments criticizing Irans human rights record. She said he was arrested in Gorgan, where he was visiting his family. She said that Shahinis sister told her Iranian authorities took him into custody on July 11 and that he has not been heard from since. Mexico Mayor shot to death, second in two days MEXICO CITY The mayor of a town in one of Mexicos most violent drug corridors has been shot to death, the second mayor killed in Mexico in two days. Ambrosio Soto was mayor of a township that includes Ciudad Altamirano, a known haven for drug traffickers in southern Guerrero state. The municipal website said Soto died Saturday, while his party, the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, said he died in an ambush Sunday. The party said the mayor had taken special protection measures, after he dared to file complaints and complained that the security patrols had abandoned the area. Q: I recently took a seven-day Road Scholar trip to the national parks in the Florida Keys. Travel insurance was included in the price of the trip. Road Scholar contracted out the trip to a tour operator based in Orlando, which provided the vans and tour guides. On the last stop of our trip before heading to the Miami airport, at Biscayne National Park in Homestead, we were advised by our guides that it was OK to leave our carry-ons in the van. When we returned to our van, it had been broken into, and several of us lost our bags. I lost my iPhone, iPad and jacket. National Park police investigated and reported to us that there were no security cameras in the parking lot. When I returned to Boston, I was contacted by Road Scholar. A representative apologized for the incident and gave me a case number. She told me I would be sent forms by Aon Affinity, our travel insurance company, to fill out. She also suggested I contact my homeowners insurance company and the tour operator. I spent $880 to replace my iPhone and iPad. My homeowners policy has a deductible of $1,000. I sent an email to the tour operator asking about its insurance, and returned the filled-out forms to Aon. Aon denied my claim because the van had been left unattended. I am very unhappy with the way I have been treated. Is there anything else I can do, or can you be of help? Patricia Hawkins, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts A: Your tour operator should have found a safe place for your carry-on items. But if it assured you that your items were safe being left in the van, then it should have accepted the liability for those items. Then again, maybe not. A closer look at Road Scholars terms suggests that it isnt liable. According to its registration and program policies on its website, Road Scholar neither owns nor operates any of the suppliers it works with; they are independent contractors. In addition, Road Scholar is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property in other words, the fine print lets the organization off the hook. Meanwhile, Road Scholar sold you an insurance policy through Aon that, it promises, is an exceptional benefit and value. Turns out the policy didnt protect you as you believed it should have. Effectively, you were cornered between a restrictive travel insurance policy and a tour operator that only viewed itself as a middleman. Not an ideal place to be. You might have appealed this to an executive at Road Scholar. I list their names, numbers and emails on my consumer-advocacy site: elliott.org/company-contacts/road-scholar 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown returned to the airwaves last night with her first story following the debacle in Lebanon, at the same time as child recovery agent Adam Whittington finally left Beirut. Whittington flew to family in Sweden, following four months behind bars after the botched kidnapping attempt and ensuing legal case. He thanked his lawyer, supporters, Australian & British Embassies officials and the Australian media (beside the first two weeks of your reporting). Whittington is expected back in Australia next month and vowing to reveal more details. Finally, finally the the truth is coming out, very soon, dont worry about that, he told Fairfax. British accomplice Craig Michael and two Lebanese fixers, Mohamed Khaled Barbour and Mohammed Hamza, have also received bail but do not have the funds to pay the $US20,000 bail. Nine reporter Tara Brown, last night covering a story on a 2014 Rozelle fire, drew mixed comments on social media. Meanwhile producer Rebecca Le Tourneau recently pleaded guilty to a low-range drink driving offence in Glebe in early June. Source: The Australian Help India! Hyderabad : Telangana has urged the central government to increase the Haj quota for the state in view of the increased demand. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali has written a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, requesting her to allow more number of Haj pilgrims from the state to perform Haj this year. Support TwoCircles He drew her attention to reports that some states are not availing their entire Haj quota due to lack of demand. Ali said the quota which was not being utilized by such states may be allocated to Telangana as there is huge demand here. The deputy CM also referred to reports that in view of Iran not sending its pilgrims for Haj this year, India has been allotted an additional quota of 20,000. He said out of this a major share may be allocated to Telangana in view of the heavy demand. In April, Ali had called on then Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah to seek increased Haj quota for the state. The deputy CM said as many as 44 lakh Muslims were living in Telangana and out of the 17,291 applications received, only 2,532 could be selected as per the Haj quota for the state. Saudi Arabia had allotted India Haj quota of 94,000 last year. By Kamaluddin Khan, Public Interest Litigation: The words `Public Interest mean the common well being also public welfare (Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Edn. Vol.Xll) and the word Litigation means a legal action including all proceedings therein, initiated in a court of law with the purpose of enforcing a right or seeking a remedy. Thus, the expression `Public Interest Litigation means some litigations conducted for the benefit of public or for removal of some public grievance. In simple words, public interest litigation means. any public spirited citizen can move/approach the court for the public cause (or public interest or public welfare) by filing a petition in the Supreme Court under Art.32 of the Constitution or in the High Court under Art.226 of the Constitution or before the Court of Magistrate under Sec. 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Support TwoCircles The seeds of the concept of public interest litigation were initially sown in India by Krishna Iyer J., in 1976 in Mumbai Kamagar Sabha vs. Abdul Thai (AIR 1976 SC 1455; 1976 (3) SCC 832) and was initiated in Akhil I3/taratiya Sos/ail Karnuu:hari Sangh (Raihvaiy vs, Union of India, wherein an unregistered association of workers was permitted to institute a writ petition under Art.32 of the Constitution for the redrcssal of common grievances. Krishna lyer J., enunciated the reasons for liberalization of the rule of Locus Standi in Fertilizer Corporation Kamgar vs. Union of India (AIR 1981 SC 149; 1981 (2) SCR 52) and the ideal of Public Interest Litigation was blossomed in S.F. Gupta and others vs. Union of India, (AIR 1982 SC 149). Judicial Activism: The expression `Judicial Activism signifies the anxiety of courts to find out appropriate remedy to the aggrieved by formulating a new rule to settle the conflicting questions in the event of lawlessness or uncertain laws. The Judicial Activism in India can he witnessed with reference to the review power of the Supreme Court under Article 32 and I (belt Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution particularly in Public Interest Litigation. Earlier, in England there were two kinds of courts namely. Equity Courts (Court of Chancery) and Common Law Courts. Equity Courts used to decide cases applying the principles of equity i.e. Justice. equity and good conscience. Whereas the common law courts used to decide cases basing on common law i.e. the principles rules evolved by the Judge; during judicial pronouncements. Hence. the common law is also known as the Judge-made-law: The courts of Equity / Chancery played significant role in formulating the new piles of tart. The common law originated in England was spread in British Colonies including India. In India, almost all laws are originated ham the fairish Common law. I. the absence of ieilcf in certain cases due it, detective procedure, the court of equity or chancery toxin new rules. The new rules lunnulatcd to settle the conflicting is called Judicial Activism. The equity court- and common law courts were merged with the passing of the Judicature .Act, I875. Judicial Activism in India: The significant feature of Indian Constitution is partial separation of powers. -The doctrine of separation of powers was propounded by the French Jurist, contesqeu. It is partly adopted tit India since the executive powers are vested in the president, Legislative powers tit the Parliament and the judicial powers in the Supreme Court and subordinate courts. The role of separation of powers in India is simple. The three organs of the Government viz. the Executive. Legislature and the Judiciary are not independently independent but inter-dependently independent. (The executive encroaches upon judicial power, while appointing the judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. Similarly the Judiciary, by its review power examines the law passed by file legislature pat lament and the legislature also ,intervenes in respect of impeachment of the president). As stated earlier, the Judicial Activism tit India can he witnessed with reference to the review power of the Supreme Court under Art. 226 of the Constitution particularly in public interest litigation cases. The Supreme Court played crucial role in formulating several principles in public interest litigation cases. For instance, the principle of absolute liability was propounded in Oleum Gas Leak case. Public Trust Doctrine in Kamalnath Case (1998 I SCC .388) etc. Further, the Supreme Court, gave variety of guidelines in various cases of public interest litigation. Eg.: Ratlam Municipality Case, Oleum Gas Leak Case, Ganga Pollution Case etc. Public Interest Litigation and Judicial Activism: Public interest litigation or social interest litigation today has great significance and drew the attention of all concerned. The traditional rule of Locos Standi that a person, whose right is infringed alone can file a petition, has been considerably relaxed by the Supreme Court in its recent decisions. Now, the court permits public interest litigation at the instance of public spirited citizens for the enforcement of constitutional o- legal rights. Now, any public spirited citizen can move/approach the court for the public cause (in the interests of the public or public welfare) by filing a petition: 1. in Supreme Court under Art32 of the Constitution; 2. in High Court under Art.226 of the Constitution; and 3. in the Court of Magistrate under Sec 133 Cr. P.C. Justice Krishna layer fertilizer Corporation Kamgar Union vs. Union of India, (1981) enumerated the following reasons for liberalization of the rule of Locus Standi. 1. Exercise o: Stale power to eradicate corruption may result in unrelated interference with individuals rights. 2. Social justice wan ants liberal judicial review administrative action. 3. Restrictive rules of standing are antithesis to a healthy system of administrative action. 4. Activism is essential for participative public justice. Therefore. public minded citizen must be given an opportunity to move the court in the interests of the public. Further, the Supreme Court in S.P. Gupta vs. Union of India. (AIR 19S2 SC 149), popularly known as Judges Transfer Case, Bhagwati J . firmly established the validity of the public interest litigation. Since then, a good number of public interest litigation petitions were filed. Sonic of the Landmark decisions of the Supreme Court against the petitions of public interest litigation are stated below: 1. S.P. Gupta vs. Union of India. AIR 1982 SC 149. 2. Mrs. Veena Sethi vs. State of Bihar. AIR 1983 SC 339: 1982 (2) SCC 583. 3. Peoples Union for Democratic Riglits vs. Union of India, AIR 1982 SC 1473. 4. Dr. Upendra Bavi (1) vs. State of U.P., 1983 (2) SCC 308. 5. Bandlur Mukti Moreha vs. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 802; 1984 (2) SCR 67. 6. Olga Tellis vc Bombay Municipal Corporation. AIR 1986 SC 180; 1985 (3) SCC 545; 1955 Supp. (2) SCR 51. 7. Dr. [).C Wadhwa and others vs. State of Bihar and others. AIR 1987 SC 579. 8. M. C. Mehta and another vs. Shri Ram Foods and Fertilizer industries and others. AIR 1987 SC 965. 9. Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record .Association vs. Union of India, (1993) 4 SCC 441: AIR 1994 SC 268. 10. Municipal Council, Ratlam vs. Vardhichand, AIR 1980 SC 1622 (EL p.36). 11. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs. Union of India and others, AIR 1996 SC 2115. 12. Kamalnath vs. Union of India, (1997) I SCC 388. 13. M. C. Mehta vs. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1115 (Ganga River Pollution Case): and 14. Mohanlal Sharma vs. State of UP., (1989) 2 SCC 609. 1. S.P. Gupta vs. Union of India, AIR 1982 SC 149 (Popularly known as Judges Transfer Case): In this case, Bhagwati J., firmly established the validity of the public interest litigation. Since then, a good number of public interest litigation petitions were filed. 2. Mrs. Veena Sethi vs. State of Bihar, AIR 1983 SC 339: 1982 (2) SC( 5N,): The Supreme Court treated a letter addressed to a Judge of the Supreme Court by the Free Legal Aid Committee at Hazaribagh, Bihar as a writ petition. 3. Peoples Union for Democratic Rights vs. Union of India, AIR 1982 SC: 1473 (Popularly known as Asiad Case): The Govt. of India, in connection with the Asiad Games 1982 employed some contractors for construction of buildings and projects. The labourers/workmen engaged in the construction work were paid very meagre wages. The Supreme Court treated the letter by the Peoples Union for Democratic Rights as a writ petition and directed the authorities concerned to pay the wages according to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. 4. Dr. Upendra Baxi (1) vs. State of UP., 1983 (2) SCC 308: [he Supreme Court entertained a letter sent by two professors of Delhi University seeking enforcement of the Constitutional right of the inmates of a Protective Home at Agra who were living in inhuman and degrading conditions in utter violation of Article 21 of the Constitution. And the Supreme Court issued proper and effective directions to the State of U.P. and the authorities concerned in the matter, assuming that letter to be a public interest litigation. 5. Bandhu Mukti Morcha Union of India. AIR 1984 SC 802: 1984 (2) SCR 67: In this case. the Supreme Court treated a letter as PIL petition and directed the Central Government and the State of Haryana for the release of the bonded labourers and also ordered to pay the appropriate wages and provide proper working conditions. 6. Olga Tellis vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation: AIR 1986 SC 180; 1985 (3) 5CC 545; 1985 Supp. (2) SCR 51: The petitioners this case were pavement dwellers. They challenged the validity of Sections 313, 313-A, 314 and 497 of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1988, which empowered the Municipal authorities to remove their huts from pavements and public places on the ground that it deprives of their right to Svelihood as included in Art.2l of the Constitution. The Court directed the authorities of the Bombay Municipal Corporation to frame a Scheme for Hawking and Non-hawking Zones and issue licences to sell their goods in Hawking Zones. 7. Dr. D.C. fradinva anti others v/s. State of Bihar and others, 1987 SC 579: The petitioner in the instant case, a professor of Political Science, filed a writ petition against the State of Bihar alleging the misuse of ordinance power, and challenged the Constitutional validity of three ordinances issued by the Governor of Bihar. The Supreme Court admitted the petition treating it as PIL and struck down the ordinance (The Bihar Intermediate Education Council Ordinance, 1985). The Court also appreciated the petitioner and directed the State Government to pay Rs.10,000/- to the petitioner as costs of the suit. 8. M.C. Mehta and Another vs. Shri Ram Foods and Fertilizer Industries and others, AIR 1987 SC 965: Shri Ram Foods and Fertilizer Industries is a subsidiary of Delhi Cloth Mills Ltd., located in a thickly populated area of Delhi. On 4.12.1985, there was a leakage of oleum gas resulting in the death of an Advocate in the Tees Hazari Court and injuries to several others. The petitioner, M.C. Mehta, an Advocate of Supreme Court tiled public interest litigation petition in the Supreme Court under Art. 2 of the Constitution. The petitioner, in his petition requested the court to direct the Government to lake necessary steps to avoid such leakages from the industries engaged in dangerous and hazardous manufacturing processes. He also prayed the Govt. to direct the Management of the Company to shift the plant to a place far away from the city. The Supreme Court admitted the petition and evolved the principle of Absolute Liability and laid dins a the appropriate the petitioner and also appreciated the petitioner and ordered the Shri Ram Foods and Fertilizer Industries to pay him Rs.10.000 toward, costs. 9. Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association vs. Union of India. (1993) 4 SCC 441; AIR 1994 SC 268 (Popularly known as rhh,btrnerrt/7ransfcr of Judges Case): Mr. Subhash Sharnta, an Advocate of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association filed public interest litigation petitions under Art.32 of the Constitution in the Supreme Court. praying the court to fill up the vacancies of Judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts and the appointment of Chief Justice of India shall be made on the basis of seniority. A Nine-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court by a 7:2 majority over uled its earlier decision in S.P- Gupta vs. Union of India. (AIR 1982 SC 149) and laid down the detailed guidelines governing the appointment and transfer of Judges. 10. Municipal Council, Ratlam vs. Vardhichand, AIR 1980 SC 1622: In this case. the petitioner. Vardhichand and residents of Ward No.12, Ratlam Municipality in Madhya Pradesh filed a complaint (public interest litigation petition) before the Sub divisional Magistrate of Ratlam under See.133 Cr. P.C, to direct the municipality to take steps for removal of the public nuisance. This matter remained pending for 8 years as it went upto the Supreme Court (The Court of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, The Supreme Court). The Supreme court through Krishna lyer J., directed the Municipal Council, Ratlam to provide for drainage system within one year and approved a scheme of Rs.6 Lakhs for construction of drainage. 11. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs. Union of India and others, AIR 1996 SC 2115: The petitioner in this case. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum filed a public interest litigation petition under Art 32 of scale pollution caused to the river Polar due to the discharge of untreated effluents by the tanneries and other industries in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Court appointed a committee to report on the matter. The Supreme Court after examining the report- submitted by the Committee, delivered its judgement making all efforts to maintain a balance/harmony between economic development of the people on one hand and welfare of the people on the other. The Court held that sustainable development is a balancing concept between ecology and development. 12. Kamalnath vs. Union of India, (1997) 1 SCC 388: This case is of great importance. In this case, the Supreme Court condemned the misuse of political power by the then Union Minister for Environment and Forests for encroaching the Government/Forest land in 1990 for construction of a span club in Kullu Manali Valley: and evolved the principle of Public Trust Doctrine. 13. M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1115 (Ganga River Pollution Case): The river Ganga is very famous for its historical significance and religious importance. It got polluted due to discharge of industrial wastes, effluents, human excreta into the river. Further, a number of dead bodies are being thrown into the river at Kasi, with a belief that the dead persons would too to heaven directly since they consider Kasi as holy place and the river as sacred. The petitioner. M.C. Mehta, Advocate. Supreme Court filed a PIL petition in the Supreme Court under Art.32 of the Constitution against the Union of India, Kanpur Municipal Corporation and others for removal of public nuisance caused by the polluted Ganga water, The Supreme Court allowed the petition and directed the authorities concerned to take up necessary steps for removal of the public nuisance and also appreciated the petitioner for taking imitative in this regard. 14. Mohanlal Sharma vs. State of U.P. (1989) 2 SCC 609: In this cast, a telegram was sent to the Court from the petitioner alleging that his son was murdered by the police in the police lock-up. The telegram was treated as writ-petition by the Court and the case was directed to be referred to C.B.I. for a thorough and detailed investigation. In addition to the above, following are the sonic more cases on public interest litigation: Janatha Dal vs. H.S. Chowdary and other others, AIR 1993 SC 892. Ravi Kumar Misra vs. State of Bihar, AIR 1989 SC 348. Sunil Batra vs. Delhi Administration. AIR 1980 SC 1579. Sheela Barse vs. The Secretary, Children Aid Society and ot hers, 198 (4) SCC 3736. Ambica quarries Ltd. as State of Gujrat, AIR 1987 SC 1073. Peoples Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 568. Sarla Mudgal vs. Union of India, 1995 (3) SCC 635. Kuljeet Singg vs. Ltd. Governor of Delhi. AIR 1982 SC 744. D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bngal, 1997 (I) SCC 416. Ramesh vs. Union of India (1988) I SCC 668: and Sachidanand Pandey vs. State of West Bengal, (198) 2 SCC 295 etc. Kamaluddin Khan Leccturer, Patna Law College, Patna University Patna My father was caught on the wrong side of the tech boom of the 1990s and he lost everything. He was a graphic designer who had been successful for three decades, first as an employee of a design firm and then as a self-employed entrepreneur. He lived the American Dream but when he failed to adapt and use computers in his work, he lost his business, his house and his way of life. For four years he did his best to survive at different jobs throughout this great country. He made a soft landing by 2001 when he turned 65, began receiving Social Security and Medicare and was able to get into subsidized senior housing. He had worked hard to earn his retirement from the federal government and he has been able to do what he loves most in his latter years: paint. In today's Associated Press article (7/18/16), "To some, Trump campaign a survival bid; downtrodden citizens desperate for hope," it describes a similar downward spiral from the strip mining coal industry across Appalachia. Having visited a few of these areas such as Harlan, Kentucky and Man, West Virginia, I do appreciate the despair. European Immigrants moved there in the early part of the 20th Century to work in an industry that ultimately has caused a significant harm to our environment. People have benefited from the jobs but now that they have been eliminated, the citizens of places like Logan, West Virginia, have become poorer. However, the cause is not the policies of this present administration. The cause is the inability of local leadership and the present Congress to adapt, stimulate the growth of alternative energy and recruit new businesses to the region. As in the case of my father, the son of an immigrant from Ecuador, when the world changes around you, one needs to adapt or the outcome will be brutal. Trump's ideas, as stated in the article, are "...to build the wall...blame immigrants and China and Muslims for America's woes." His rhetoric alone will not bring jobs to the impoverished areas of this country. Despite what we have heard from some, American job growth is steady and unemployment is way down. The economy is much better off now than eight years ago. America has gone back to work. Investment in infrastructure, continuing the development of alternative energy, preventing wage theft from corporations, raising the minimum wage and protecting workers rights are ways to increase wages and bring jobs to poor areas in this country, including Appalachia, rural America and Native American nations. I have seen in my father the anxiety and the fear that people feel when they lose their job. However, the answer is not to elect Trump as president. The answers lie in thoughtful and concrete ideas that will raise income levels and employ the forgotten parts of the citizenry of the United States of America. Unfortunately , they have collectively been left behind for an entire century, not just the last eight years. Fedor Holz Among Confirmed for Upcoming Celebrity Cash Kings July 24 2016 Mo Nuwwarah Fedor Holz may be looking to step away from the poker tables in the near future, but he will be a confirmed participant in at least one more event: the latest edition of Celebrity Cash Kings at King's Casino. Celebrity Cash Kings is a high stakes cash game festival that will take place from Monday, Aug. 15 to Wednesday, Aug. 17 in Europe's largest poker room, located in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. The event will feature a number of cash game tables running, including one that will be streamed online. The streamed table will initially be no-limit hold'em with 50/100 blinds, but event organizers have left the possibility open to change to pot-limit Omaha or increase the blinds if all of the players agree. Confirmed participants at this time include Holz, Dan Cates, Roberto Romanello, Tobias Reinkemeier, Jesper Hougaard, Sam Trickett, Rob Yong, and Jan Peter Jachtmann. Holz, of course, has been the talk of the poker world after an incredible start to 2016 that has seen him bank an astounding $14 million, culminating with his first bracelet in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the 2016 World Series of Poker. This years line-up has a great feel with so many people returning plus others coming to Rozvadov for the very first time," said Leon Tsoukernik of King's Casino. "The famous King hospitality is ready. We welcome all the players but it is particularly nice to see Fedor come back to his roots and a place where it all started for him we are all very proud how he has risen so fast. At the conclusion of the event, all players who wish to head to Barcelona for the first European Poker Tour event of the next season will be provided with a lift via private jet. EPT Barcelona kicks off Aug. 16 with coverage provided right here on PokerNews. You too can get in to the action at King's Casino by qualifying for the PokerNews Cup here. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! Sharelines Fedor Holz is among confirmed participants for the next Celebrity Cash Kings, which kicks off Aug. 14. Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack, 80 dead Updated: 2016-07-24 06:44 (Agencies) KABUL - Twin explosions tore through a demonstration by members of Afghanistan's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority in Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding more than 230 in a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State. An Afghan woman weeps at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan July 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Graphic television footage from the site of the attack showed many dead bodies lying on the bloodied road, close to where thousands of Hazara had been demonstrating against the route of a planned multi-million-dollar power line. "Two fighters from Islamic State detonated explosive belts at a gathering of Shi'ites in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan," said a brief statement on the group's Amaq news agency. If confirmed as the work of Islamic State, the attack, among the most deadly since the U.S.-led campaign to oust the Taliban in 2001, would represent a major escalation for a group hitherto largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The explicit reference to the Hazara's Shi'ite religious affiliation also marked a menacing departure for Afghanistan, where the bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims typical of Iraq has been relatively rare, despite decades of war. Islamic State is an ultra hardline Sunni group. Officials in Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), said the attack was planned by an individual named Abu Ali, an Islamic State militant they said was based in Achin district in Nangarhar. They said three bombers were involved in the attack. The Persian-speaking Hazara, estimated to make up about 9 percent of the population, are Afghanistan's third-largest minority but they have long suffered discrimination, and thousands were killed during the period of Taliban rule. "We were holding a peaceful demonstration when I heard a bang and then everyone was escaping and yelling," said Sabira Jan, a protester who witnessed the attack and saw bloodied bodies strewn across the ground. "There was no one to help." The Taliban, a fierce, albeit Sunni enemy of Islamic State, denied any involvement and said in a statement posted on its website that the attack was "a plot to ignite civil war". The attack succeeded despite tight security which saw much of Kabul city centre sealed off before the demonstration, with stacks of shipping containers and other obstacles and helicopters patrolling overhead. An Interior Ministry statement said 80 people had been killed and 231 wounded, with local hospitals straining to cope with those being brought in. The worst previous attack against the Hazara was in December 2011, when more than 55 people were killed in Kabul during the Shi'ite festival of Ashura. That attack was claimed by a Pakistani Sunni militant group called Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. OUTRAGE President Ashraf Ghani declared a national day of mourning and vowed revenge, while the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, condemned the attack as a war crime. The United States and Russia condemned the attack and renewed pledges of security assistance to Kabul. "We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability, and prosperity," the White House said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his "readiness to continue the most active cooperation with ... Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism", Russian news agencies quoted a Kremlin statement as saying. Saturday's demonstrators had been demanding that a 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Kabul be re-routed through two provinces with large Hazara populations, saying they feared being shut out of the project. The government said the project guaranteed ample power to the provinces, Bamyan and Wardak, which lie west of Kabul, and that altering the planned route would delay it by years and cost millions of dollars. But the resentment felt by many Hazaras runs deeper than simple questions of energy supply. In November, thousands of Hazara marched through Kabul to protest at government inaction after seven members of their community were beheaded by Islamist militants, and several protesters tried to force their way into the presidential palace. The protests by a group whose leaders include members of the national unity government have put pressure on Ghani, who has faced growing opposition from both inside and outside the government. They also risk exacerbating ethnic tensions with other groups and provinces the government says would have to wait up to three years for power if the route were changed. The transmission line, intended to provide secure electricity to 10 provinces, is part of the so-called TUTAP project backed by the Asia Development Bank, linking energy-rich states of Central Asia with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Laotian PM urges stability and prosperity for the region Updated: 2016-07-24 13:31 By ZHANG YUNBI in Vientiane, Laos(chinadaily.com.cn) Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said on Sunday that the ASEAN member states' foreign ministers and delegates of external partners are expected to be "contributing to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world". He made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Vientiane, capital of Laos. "Many regions of the world are facing various traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as territorial disputes, extremism and terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, irregular migration, refugee issues, human trafficking and others," he said. The 49th AMM and related meetings are taking place "at a crucial juncture", when ASEAN focuses its efforts on implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and enhancing cooperation with external partners with ASEAN playing a central role, he said. With the inception of ASEAN in 1967, the AMM constitutes an important mechanism to deliberate and follow up to the implementation of the agreements and decisions by ASEAN leaders on cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and external parties, he said. ASEAN has become a single market and production base with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.6 trillion, ranking as the 7th largest economy in the world. ASEAN's GDP per capita had increased by 76 percent from $2,341 in 2007 to $4,135 in 2014, the prime minister noted. "Southeast Asia is a diverse region. However, this diversity has not been an obstacle for countries in the region to come together as a regional grouping of ASEAN," he said. Explosion at US embassy in Myanmar's Yangon explained as safety drill Updated: 2016-07-25 01:50 (Xinhua) YANGON -- The US embassy in Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, conducted a safety drill on Sunday night, during which a fire alarm has been triggered, according to local sources. The embassy used a tear gas grenade during the drill, which triggered the embassy's fire alarm system and alarm systems in the surrounding area, at over 8 pm local time (1330 GMT). It has been earlier believed that an explosion has taken place, the sources said. The embassy apologized for not informing the police in advance. A press conference will be held on Monday morning. Police say no evidence shows machete killing in Germany is 'terrorist attack': media Updated: 2016-07-25 01:52 (Xinhua) FRANKFURT -- No evidence shows the Sunday's machete killing in southwestern Germany is a "terrorist attack", media quoted the police as saying. The man wielded a machete and randomly attacked passers-by in the southwestern German town of Reutlingen, killing one woman and wounded two others, according to the German media Focus online. Police have arrested the attacker. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. NINH THUAN A floating restaurant in southern Ninh Thuan Provinces Vinh Hy Bay suddenly sank yesterday morning, knocking hundreds of tourists into the sea, of which two were killed and four others injured. The restaurant of Vinh Tien Tourism Company at Vinh Hy Bay in Vinh Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District was serving some 300 diners when its pier collapsed. It quickly capsized, tipping people, including many children, into the sea. The location of the restaurant was reportedly 50 metres from the shore and the water was 2.5 metres deep. Two people, identified as Nguyen Thi Lieu Chi, 23, and inh Cong Duan, 29, died in the accident. Four injured people have been hospitalised for treatment. On Saturday afternoon, the provincial Peoples Committee promptly held an urgent meeting. Vice chairman of the committee, Tran Quoc Nam, said the incident happened when another tourist boat of Vinh Tien Tourism Company hit the floating restaurant with a strong wave, causing tourists to panic. They rushed into a corner of the restaurant, making it tilt and sink on one side. Nam stressed that the committee has asked the authorised agencies to investigate the incident as soon as possible. The committee also suspended the operation of floating restaurants and tourist boats in the bay until the investigation of the case was completed. Initial investigation showed that the floating restaurant of Vinh Tien Tourism Company owned a business operation certificate, but failed to show the domestic wharf business registration certificate. The floating restaurant was built on a 200-square-meter wooden raft on top of plastic containers. Vinh Hy Bay has been known as a tourist attraction site in the southeastern province of Ninh Thuan. -- VNS On the bank of the Red River, there is situated a seven-century old pottery village. Bat Trang, the most famous and long-standing pottery village in Viet Nam is an interesting attraction in the capital that tourists should not miss a chance to visit. By Minh Thu Le Huong I wish I could marry you/ I will buy Bat Trang bricks to build our house/ Building vertically then horizontally/ Building a semicircle pond where you can wash your feet. The humourous and beautiful folk verses honour the quality of Bat Trang pottery. On the bank of the Red River, there is situated a seven-century old pottery village. Bat Trang, the most famous and long-standing pottery village in Viet Nam is a landmark in the capital that tourists should not miss a chance to visit. Ornate: Vuong Manh Tuan presents the jar made from tu sa pottery. Hes one of the veteran artisans in Bat Trang Village. VNS Photo oan Tung The fact is that Bat Trang bricks are the pride of people in the north of Viet Nam. They are firm, durable, not wet on humid days and not easily stuck to by moss. Not only Bat Trangs bricks, but also their celadon (greenware), crackle-glazed vases, dinnerware, decorative objects and traditional designs are popular around the world. Many generations of Bat Trang potters have worked hard to preserve the art of making ceramics by hand. They make sophisticated artworks, meanwhile they have also developed the trade of making pottery in modern ways. Here in Bat Trang, tradition and modernity are mixed. Red clay pottery master Artisan Vuong Manh Tuan in Bat Trang was born in 1964, and has spent nearly 50 years working in the ceramic industry. Tuan is a descendant of the Vuong family, one of five clans that established the trade village in the 14th century. He started following his dad and uncles to their work grilling clay and making ceramics when he was very young. Hes famous for red clay pottery, and is the only one in Bat Trang who successfully mastered the way to make red clay teapots. These teapots originated from Jiangsu, China, where a special red clay for the teapots exists. Tea drinking has existed for a very long time in Viet Nam. Over the years, Vietnamese people have preserved the art and turned it into a common cultural feature in their daily lives. When Chinese merchants brought red teapots to Viet Nam, they became the favourite choice of Vietnamese tea enthusiasts due to the teapots artistic and cultural value. Drinking tea is a elegant hobby. Drinkers are not only attracted by the scent, the taste of the tea, but also impressed by tea service articles, Tuan said. A red teapot shines sand light from the bottom and tinkles like a bell or the sound of metal when knocked on, said Tuan. The longer a teapot is used, the harder and more shiny it becomes. The clay teapot turns as brown as copper. Moreover, the minerals in the clay to make the teapot harmonises with the tea leaves to make a wonderful taste and scent. The fragrance of the tea and the hot temperature of the water can last for a long time. Novel teapots: To serve tu sa pottery collectors, Tuan created sophisticated tea sets in different sizes and forms, for example, pumpkin-shaped and lotus-shaped teapots, as well as bronze and silver-rimmed teapots. VNS Photo oan Tung Thats why red clay teapots became precious and treasured by tea connoisseurs, he said. In 1988, Tuan opened a pottery oven at home. Tuan said the key to making pottery is to have creativity, passion and an understanding of the materials. Being different from other artisans, he often looked for new materials. He travelled to many places that are well-known for ceramics, like Phu Lang (Bac Ninh Province), Que Quyen (Ha Nam), Chu au (Hai Duong) and China. He always brought samples of local clay with him to study and research. Gradually, he found the method of mixing different kinds of clay to make red clay pottery. To make a red teapot, it requires several processing stages, each showing the meticulous care of the craftsman. The materials, kiln temperature and the gloss of red teapots are different from other tea service articles, which creates unusual features and have great artistic value. The red-clay pottery is made with my own formula of blending the materials. The temperature in the kiln must reach 1,200 degrees Celsius, he revealed. Tuan is so proud that the clay in his homeland is excellent and can be used to make wonderful objects. In the past, to have a red-clay tea set, you had to order from China, and in many cases, you might get a counterfeit. Now you dont need to go to Jiangsu, in Bat Trang we also have red teapots. Were proud that Viet Nam has its own pottery of high quality and that it has its own characteristics." From teasets, Tuan developed a red clay pottery genre by making dinnerware including bowls, ash-trays and toothpick containers. To serve red clay pottery collectors, he created sophisticated tea sets in different sizes and forms, for example, pumpkin-shaped and lotus-shaped teapots, as well as bronze and silver-rimmed teapots. Each object is made by his hands with meticulous care. He also mass-produces red-clay tea sets in a simple style to meet the demand of a large number of customers. He still works every day on searching for new materials, create new designs and products to satisfy his passion for the craft and make Bat Trang pottery live long. One more thing that makes Bat Trang pottery distinguished is the glaze, which is of high quality and a variety of colours, such as blue, brown, white, moss green, in both breaking and melting glazes. To Thanh Son is one of the veteran artisans in the village who holds the secrets of the glazes. He spent 15 years researching to revive the cracked enamel originating from the Ly Dynasty (tenth century) and he was successful. Son doesnt just revive the fine enamel of Bat Trang but also other traditions as well. It took three years for him to collect 3,000 old Bat Trang bricks to build Thuan An uong, an ancient house that brings a feeling of pleasure to anyone who visits. The house bears traditional architecture with furniture, worshipping objects, calligraphic works and of course, pottery artworks made by Son. The jars, vases and incense burners are all sophisticated with dragon and phoenix patterns. They are covered by ancient enamel which was preserved by the artisan. To celebrate Thang LongHa Nois 1,000th anniversary, Son made a 1.65m high jar that received much applause from cultural researchers and the public. The jar is decorated with historical events from the inh (10th century) to Ly dynasties that leads to King Ly Thai Tos decision to move the capital to Thang Long (nowadays Ha Noi). The jar is covered with tea-coloured enamel that was polished then burned at 1,270 degrees Celsius. Its a pinnacle of Bat Trang pottery, a perfect pottery artwork, said Le Xuan Pho, chairman of the Bat Trang Ceramics Association. The relievo are very sophisticated. The ancient enamel attracts peoples eyes at first sight. Son also made a breakthrough in producing pottery objects a large scale. Keeping hands on job All artisans in Bat Trang Village have admired Pham Anh ao for his strong will to stick to traditional ceramic skills. They have considered him as an active descendant of the handicraft villages ancestors. He works to revive the traditional skills to create unique products while many households have applied industrial assembly lines for mass production. aos workshop is located in the middle of the old village. Visiting him, one may find him losing himself in his work. Born as a 1.5kg baby together with a twin brother, he was fairly weak and had to take lot of antibiotics, which resulted in an ear-impairment. He could not speak until he was seven and found it hard to study at school. At 17, he worked as a worker at Bat Trang Ceramic Factory, where he learned a lot of techniques. Within a year, he could do difficult tasks that had often been done by well-experienced workers. He then decided to open his own workshop to create in his own way. While neighbours applied mass assembly lines to turn out thousands of products everyday, he made only few hundred items every month. Yet his products were unique, none was similar to another. He could sit for hours shaping clay, and making glazes in his own way. Many Japanese architects, who worked nearby at the Thanh Tri Bridge construction site, often visited the village and were interested in his hand-made products Domestic orders also started flowing to his workshop, and pieces were sold all over the country. I was extremely worried when we first opened our workshop in the 1980s, recalled Nguyen My Trinh, aos wife, who is also his speaker, marketing, sales assistant and everything. At that time, all ceramic producers in the village shifted to mass production, and hand-made products were not appreciated by customers as before. Domestic products were also attacked by cheap Chinese ceramics. The couple hardly made ends meet with their small-scale production. I know while heating the ovens, he thought very deeply of ways to rescue our family from poverty while sticking to the traditional making process, Trinh said. "More than once, I told him to change his mind and set up industrial assembly lines but he refused, saying: I will not change to other ways, only the traditional one." Seeing his strong will, Trinh supported him at work. They had no money to hire workers, so she did all the subordinate work while ao fulfilled the tasks of shaping, drawing and glazing. ao has tried to make the brown flowery glaze of 11-14th century, the blue and white glaze of 15th century as well as crackleware of 17th century. Trinh said sometimes he got up at midnight and worked on a design that he suddenly had in his mind for fear that he would forget it the next morning. In 2010 his workshop fulfilled a task that many generations of artisans in the village would dream to achieve: the making of a pair of giant jars by hand. Each measures nearly 2m in height; 1.2m in width, and 500kg in weight. The jars were covered with ancient crackle glaze. They were exhibited in downtown Ha Noi during the 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi City in 2010, and were just auctioned in May this year at VN6 billion (US$267,000). ao is a rare artisan in our village, who works with his great passion, said Le Huy Thanh, vice chairman of the Ha Noi Ceramics Association. In the past few years, more and more well-to-do people prefer hand made ceramic products rather than industrial products as in previous decades. The couples patience resulted in delicate products with the trademark ao Trinh Ceramics being more and more appreciated. They have sold more products and could afford to build a better house and workshop. Hand-made products requires more labour and we charge at a higher price, Trinh said. Every year, we sign contracts worth nearly VN1 billion to domestic and overseas customers. Trinh said she exchanged with customers mainly through email. Customers just figure out their ideas for the products. We design models, and send back to them. When they agree with the models, we start producing, she said. Yet ao prefers creativity, she said. He sometimes changes his mind about the designs and doesnt follow the order, which has brought us no end of troubles with hard customers. Nowadays, there are more and more hand-made ceramic workshops in the village inspired by aos family. "ao has been the first artisan to revive the traditional way of making ceramic wares after decades of neglect," admitted ao Xuan Hung, chairman of the Bat Trang Commune Peoples Committee. Everyday, artisans in Bat Trang can be found busy working. They join hands together to uphold the traditions and develop the local trade. The products are well-known in foreign markets proving the Vietnamese craftsmens skill and creativity. VNS By Khieu Thanh Ha Duck? I love duck. It seems to be the only thing that can pull me out of the office for lunch in the ugly heat of summer. When I was a little girl, my father, who is not a chef but a good diner, gave me many tips on cooking and told me that duck and basil were such good friends as to be inseparable. Duck can be cooked in different styles, but it must always be accompanied by fresh basil, which perfectly complements the ducks aroma and taste, he told me. More than two decades later, I discovered a place, nearly 2,000km from Ha Noi, where people enjoyed eating duck with a simple salad and no basil at all. It was my third visit to HCM City, and as usual, I agreed immediately when invited to a duck lunch. Yummy: People can book a table or order for delivery at Thanh a Duck Porridge. VNS Photo Khieu Thanh Ha. We went to Thanh a Duck Restaurant, one of the most well-known eateries for duck dishes in the city. At the table, we were served a family-sized feast of congee in a single large bowl, a platter of sliced braised duck, some luoi vit pha lau (spicy stewed duck tongue) and a plate of sweet and sour herbs and salad. The waiter told me there was no menu, noting they served only a limited selection of dishes and that our current order included some of their most popular ones. We declined the side dish of duck organs, all the same. The waiter said he could serve us some fresh rice vermicelli with bamboo shoots and deboned duck if we were still hungry, adding that if we were lucky, there may be duck curry available as well. While my friends chattered to each other, I waited impatiently for the basket of aromatic herbs with basil that I had been offered with duck dishes for decades. But it never arrived. Looking around, I noticed that no basil had been served at any table. How strange! I was sure there was something wrong with this picture and wondered what the duck would be like. My friends then confirmed that the local residents ate duck with salad, as part of their tradition. They encouraged me to try their southern-style duck as a reference point for my gastronomic experience. When it arrived, the duck looked bigger and the meat thicker than that served in my home city. It even tasted a little different. People in Ha Noi use ginger to remove the foul odour of the duck fat. Here, I found the flavours of star anise and perhaps some cinnamon. A handful of fried crispy shallots had been used as a garnish - something Id never seen in Ha Noi or any other city before, but I liked it very much. Shallots are also a speciality of the restaurant; they sell it separately for VN280,000 per kilogram, but it must be ordered in advance. Filling: A portion of Thanh a Duck Porridge includes a bowl of congee, a platter of duck meat and a small dish of sweet and sour salad. VNS Photo Khieu Thanh Ha The duck meat was lean and flavoursome, though I would have preferred to have had a little fat under the skin. The master chef here must be highly skilled to be able to cook duck that is lean but still succulent. It was served with a sweet fish sauce mixed with sliced hot chilli and minced ginger. In Ha Noi, the sweet fish sauce contains less sugar and comes with a lot of chilli and chopped garlic. In enjoying the moist, delicious duck, I totally forgot about the basil. I was really excited about the colourful salad, which was similar to the side of vegetables you get in the south with all noodle dishes. It included a thinly shaved banana flower, Vietnamese coriander, carrots and red onions and was garnished with crushed peanuts. The salad also had a very light dressing that was slightly sweet and sour, and top-ups were free of charge. Another highlight for me was the duck tongue. I have wanted to taste this for years since I first saw it in a Hong Kong movie. I dont know how it tastes in Hong Kong, but I loved the version we were served. It tastes unique and has a flavour that lingers in the mouth. I dont have the right words for it, except to say that it was a little sweet, yet spicy and very fresh for something that was probably cooked for a long time. The congee was very good as well. It had a thinner texture than what Im used to. It was soupy, with a wonderful subtle meaty flavour, and was garnished with a handful of green onions and black pepper. Its not hard to see why the restaurant, which is located some distance outside the city, is always full of customers. The waiter said the restaurant had been extended to twice its original size in the 1980s. It was easy to find a table at lunchtime, but at dinnertime, especially on weekends, its difficult to get a seat, and late birds will never get a seat at all. If you go to Chao Vit Thanh a, there are two similar restaurants located right next to each other, both serving the same dishes. The one on the left is the original restaurant, created by the matriarch of the family, and the other belongs to her daughter. I have not tried the daughters restaurant, but people have said the mothers restaurant is slightly better. The 20-minute taxi ride from the city centre to get there was well worth the time for the quality of food you are served, especially if you love to eat. By the way, duck without basil is still good in its own way and still extremely yummy! Address: 118 Binh Quoi, Binh Thanh Dist, HCM City Open hours: 8am 11pm daily Price: From VN30,000 Tel: (08) 35566640 Comment: incredibly delicious food, affordable price, have to pay for valet parking. Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals is planning to raise funds via a share sale to fund the acquisition of Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals European assets, if its bid is accepted by this month. After college students from Ukraine, New Zealand, Malaysia and Washington, now four students from Amrita School of Engineering in Bengaluru have come up with a smart glove that can recognise commonly used gestures in India and translate these into voice. Id like to be included: Frustrated flood victim left out of $800 million scheme Flood victim Andrew Barker said his home is now unliveable and he is tasked with the massive job of repairing it after the property was inundated for the second time in recent months. Humiliated Coalition MP reveals details of call with PM over bully claims Michelle Landry has opened up about the phone call she had with Anthony Albanese who she accused of "humiliating her" during Question Time on Thursday, with the Coalition MP insisting Parliament has to change to be "kinder and family friendly". Dutton demands PM stand up today and explain repatriation of IS brides Peter Dutton has sent his well wishes to the families of former IS fighters who are currently being repatriated to Australia but has demanded the Prime Minister stand up today and explain the decision. Top winemaker releases Mumm Tasmania in partnership with luxury champagne house The running of the Melbourne Cup signals the start of the champagne and sparkling wine season. WATERLOO John Eveland has been at his profession a half century, but hes still a relative pup in terms of the life of his store. Hes operated National Cigar Store for 50 years. But the store is actually 105 years old. It opened in 1911. National Cigar Store is the oldest cigar store in the state of Iowa, Eveland said. My dad bought the store in 1948. In those days, the only place you could buy tobacco products was at a cigar store. There was 11 of them, all over town. They were served by Martin Bros., a Waterloo-based tobacco distributor operated by Waterloo entrepreneur Hope Martin, not to be confused with Martin Bros. Distributing, the Cedar Falls food distributor. Of the 11 smoke shops, My dad was the only one who stuck it out, Eveland said, as tobacco products proliferated at other retail locations. His father was John Raymond Eveland. Hes John David Eveland. The store started in the Marsh-Place building, 629 Sycamore St., at East Fifth and Sycamore, then moved to another location in the block before settling in its present location between the two previous storefronts in 1963. The cigar storefront, 617 Sycamore St. previously housed a storefront shoe store; the adjacent liquor store Eveland operates, Sycamore Convenience at 619 Sycamore St., housed Fishers Grill. Eveland bought his father out in 1966. I was left with the store open from 7 in the morning until 11 at night. I had two part-time employees going to UNI. So for the first six months I hated it. I got up at 6 in the morning and closed at 11 at night. I was 26 years old and single and I didnt want to do this the rest of my life. But business improved and he hired more help. The younger Eveland did not want to buy the business at first. I graduated from Upper Iowa College, now Upper Iowa University, in 1963. My dad was married to the store. He and my mom ran it 7 to 11 with no breaks. I decided I didnt want to do this so I went to college, earning money during school as a switchman and a fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad in town. As business improved, I ended up liking it, he said. Probably 65 I decided maybe I wanted to buy it. My dad talked about it; he wanted to go to Florida and retire. The younger Evelands prospects for success were not high in the eyes of some. My dad had some friends who would come in at lunchtime, about five or six of them, theyd come in and shoot the bull with my dad. They didnt have a lot of confidence in me. One of them was Dr. Harold Sommers, who told him years later the klatch had predicted hed be bankrupt in six months or his father would have to come back and take over the store. Neither happened. Dr. Sommers said I was the only one of the five who said, Hell do OK. Hell make his dad proud, Eveland related. Waterloo attorney W. Louis Beecher put together a deal for Eveland to buy the building he was in. He was a good customer, Eveland said, well known for his love of a good cigar. Such a common man. Eveland started the adjoining convenience store in 1981. Prior to that he operated Johns Game Room, featuring pinball machines, and Johns Comics and Novelties. In 1982 he bought Hill Street News & Tobacco on College Hill in Cedar Falls from Ellis George. In 1987 he added liquor to the convenience store and College Hill stores following a state law change when Iowa got out of the state-run liquor store sales. He also maintained an extensive newsstand at both sites with a variety of newspapers and magazines, though that business has waned with the rise of the Internet. Much of his more profitable enterprises are not readily visible to the general public. In 87 I was one of the first licensees for liquor products, both stores. With both stores we probably sell to 120 different licensees, restaurants and bars, with each store ranked among the highest in the state for wholesale sales. Hes also heavy into online sales, through websites such as rollyourown.com, nationalcigar.com and 2000cigar.com, acquired in the early 1990s. On such sites, people can buy and roll their own tobacco, which have fewer additives. Additive-free tobaccos are very popular, he said. He operates his online sales out of a two storefronts on East Fifth Street. He probably has more sales out of rollyourown.com than his cigar business, which is still popular but really caught on in the mid-1990s when cigars popularity rose due to cigar aficionados like radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Cigars are still popular. Theyre better for you than cigarettes; you need not inhale a cigar, he said. For my 50th anniversary any cigar smoker that comes in, Im going to give them a free Padron cigar, a popular brand made in Nicaragua by a Cuban expatriate. If and when the Cuban trade embargo lifts and Cuban cigars are available, itll be a big deal, he said, but Central American cigars from Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, are of the same quality. He still goes to those tobacco conventions for new ideas and innovations. He used to be the new kid on the block. At age 76, hes now as well cured as some of his tobacco products. I want to thank the thousands and thousands of customers who have patronized my stores, and Id be remiss if I didnt thank and really appreciate my employees, about 20 at both stores. Without them, my business wouldnt be nearly as successful. WAVERLY Iowa Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington, said he was disappointed by the sudden closure of the Terex Cranes plant in Waverly and the loss of 175 jobs in the community. This plant has provided jobs in Waverly for 75 years, and this abandonment will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the city and surrounding areas, Schoenjahn said in a statement. The company announced the closure of the plant Tuesday. Schoenjahn represents Iowas 32nd Senate district that includes all of Bremer County, as well as parts of Black Hawk, Buchanan and Fayette counties. The company will consolidate operations at its Oklahoma plant. My heart is with all those who lost their livelihood in Waverly this week. Our community stands with them, and we will do everything we can to help them get back on their feet, Schoenjahn said. Officials with Cedar Valley IowaWorks have said information meetings for displaced workers are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday at the Waverly Civic Center. KAITLYN BEHNKEN has joined Amperage Marketing & Fundraisings client service team as an account coordinator. She recently graduated from Wartburg College with a degree in public relations and a minor in business. She previously was service trip coordinator for Wartburg and the public relations director for Wartburgs student senate. NATE AIGNER, O.D. has joined The EyeCare Associates P.C. of Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Dr. Aigner graduated from the University of Northern Iowa summa cum laude in 2010. He earned his doctor of optometry degree in 2015 at the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. JAMIE SHOWALTER has joined Trent Law Firm PLLC, Cedar Falls, as a legal assistant. She previously was a trust administrative assistant at a bank in Waterloo, and prior to that, worked as a legal assistant for a Grundy Center law firm. Showalter, of Grundy Center, has an associates in applied science degree in office management from Ellsworth Community College. Four new associates have joined VGM Group Inc. RYAN SHEPHERD joins VGMs Fulfillment division. He comes to VGM from Pacsun and Northland Oil Co. and is currently a student at the University of Northern Iowa. MICKIE EVANS, a UNI graduate, has joined VGM Club. She previously was employed with Martin Inc. Realtors. KATIE HANSEN is an online marketing specialist with VGM Forbin, previously being employed with American Marketing & Publishing. She is an Iowa State University graduate. STEPHANIE HOOKHAM joins VGM Infusion as an account manager. She is an UNI graduate and comes to VGM from Fresenius Kabi. Six new physicians have joined the Northeast Iowa Family Practice Center in Waterloo. They include DR. MICHELLE DiCOSTANZO, DR. PIERRE GINGERICH- BOBERG, DR. DANNY LEWIS JR., DR. KURTIS LUCAS, DR. VIOLET MWANJE AND DR. KELLY TSE. They are starting in the three-year, Family Medicine Residency Program. RACHEL EYESTONE and KATY SPROULE have been promoted at North Star Community Services in Waterloo. Eyestone has been promoted day habilitation program manager, Advantage Program. She has been with North Star since June 2009 and previously was day habilitation program coordinator. Sproule has been promoted to day habilitation program coordinator, Advantage Program. She has been with North Star since June 2010 and previously was a day habilitation specialist. TARA UHLENHOPP has joined North Star as registered nurse for the organization. MICHAEL SCHMADEKE has joined First National Bank as a mortgage banker in the Cedar Falls office. Schmadeke, originally from Waterloo, has a business administration degree from University of Northern Iowa. KATIE WASON has joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa as the match support specialist for the Waterloo School District. This staff position is co-supported by the Waterloo School District and her office will be located in Orange Elementary School during the school year. Wason, of Cedar Falls, graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in May 2015. MALLORY PAEPER has been promoted at Veridian to branch manager for the credit unions Edgewood Hy-Vee branch in Cedar Rapids. Paeper, a resident of Waterloo, has been employed at Veridian for six years, most recently as a loan officer. Shes a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelors degree in exercise science. Some days, I wonder if there are just two mindsets: One that acknowledges privilege and one that doesnt. Do you believe privilege exists? Do you dismiss it as an excuse? The difference lies in a willingness to try and understand another persons experiences and perspectives listening, asking questions and acknowledging things arent the same for everyone. There is white privilege. Black writer James Baldwin may have explained it best: Being white means never having to think about being white. Tim Wise, a white activist and author, goes into detail: White privilege refers to any advantage, opportunity, benefit, head start or general protection from negative societal mistreatment, which persons deemed white will typically enjoy, but when others will generally not enjoy. White educator Peggy McIntosh pioneered the white privilege concept in her 1988 piece, Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack (available free when you Google it). Today, McIntosh cautions against getting trapped in definitions of privilege and power (because) they lack nuances and flexibility. Acknowledging white privilege isnt about guilt or us vs. them. Instead, it allows us to move past what McIntosh calls individual acts of meanness and understand we all exist in invisible systems conferring dominance to a specific group. Doing so means we must stop holding onto harmless biases and truly seek to understand individuals, not groups. When we dont, personal biases morph into subsets of privilege. Perhaps we think less even about these, because they seem more common things like being native U.S. citizens or male. Gender and sexual orientation, too. We may even view such privileges as behaviors or choices rather than simply the chance of birth. When we remain oblivious to these privileges, its as if were saying equality is finite; for me to prosper, others must not. For example, this is a popular Internet meme, You know a country dont care about you when gay rights are more important than human rights. The words were in all-capital letters, superimposed over a still image from the film 12 Years a Slave. The gist is attention to gay rights pulls focus from black rights. This posturing creates a mess of conflicting agendas and strange bedfellows. Rights should just be rights for everyone. As commentator Bill OReilly recently noted on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the late Martin Luther King Jr. campaigned for universal rights, not just his own. Thats what Black Lives Matter could be, if we let it. It is the most recent in a long history of public outcry against the disproportionate number of police shootings of unarmed black people, especially black teens and men. This has led individual protesters to attack and kill police officers. White police officers in Arkansas, Illinois, Boston and Houston have been caught lying about getting shot and implicating Black Lives Matter protesters. Many, especially whites, decry the Black Lives Matter campaign; dont all lives matter? No, thats not a given, says Cink Uygur. On his program, The Young Turks, the host outlined historical transgressions against blacks and explained how Black Lives Matter responds to current violence. It appears to the African-American community, and they are backed up with tremendous evidence, that their lives dont matter, Uygur says. When people say Black Lives Matter, they are trying to get you to recognize that if I wouldnt pull up in the suburbs and immediately shoot a 12-year-old white boy, maybe I should be a little bit reluctant to shoot a black boy or black adult who is unarmed. WATERLOO There are nearly 5,000 objects in the permanent collection at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, including the largest public collection of Haitian art in the United States. A fraction of the collection 200 pieces, to be precise are being featured in the 50 Years of Collecting exhibition now on display at the centers Law-Reddington Galleries. The exhibit, now through Sept. 30, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the WCA, which opened its doors in 1966 at 225 Commercial St. Actually, we spent a lot of time going through the whole collection to choose the pieces we wanted to display. We looked for artwork that had stories to tell about the history of the center and the expansion of our collection. At the same time, we looked at it from the communitys perspective and pulled out what we think are some hidden gems, said Curator Chawne Paige. He describes the exhibition as an overview of the collection, in particular artwork that has not been displayed in recent years. Were limited by the size of the galleries, and it doesnt preclude all of the other artwork we have on display. We have treasures from all our collections. One of the centers most prized pieces, Marvin Cones I Have Loved the Unloved, is featured in the exhibition. Cone, a Cedar Rapids native and Midwestern regionalist painter, co-founded the Stone City Art Colony with Grant Wood. The painting was a gift in 1961 from the Junior League of Waterloo/Cedar Fall. It was given with the altruistic goal of strengthening culture and arts in the Cedar Valley. That was the start of what now has become a prestigious collection of art, Paige explained. The permanent collection also includes Midwest Regionalists such as Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton, Mexican folk art, international folk art, American decorative arts, the Haitian collection and public art. Over the years, the collection has been built by purchasing artwork from artists featured in gallery shows, the annual Holiday Arts Festival or hiring commissions for the center, purchases on trips to various locales including Haiti and Mexico, and gifts from patrons and supporters of the arts. Dr. and Mrs. F. Harold Reuling began the Haitian collection with their gift in 1977. Over the years, Ute Stebich, author of Haitian Art has helped interpret the artwork and assisted in building the collection, as well as the Mexican folk art collection. Paige points out the 50th anniversary celebrates the original building as much as the permanent collection. Arts programming began in 1922 as part of the Waterloo Recreation Commission, but it had no permanent home until 1966 when the Waterloo Municipal Galleries was built and opened. Later it became the Waterloo Museum of Art, incorporating arts programs under the Recreation and Arts Commission. In 1998, the building was rededicated as the Waterloo Center for the Arts. The center also is home to the Waterloo Community Playhouse, Black Hawk Childrens Theatre and Hope Martin Theatre, Metropolitan Chorale, Waterloo Municipal Band, the ArtHouse Cafe and a gift store. More than 50 other community and cultural groups use the facilities for meetings and performances. A 39,000-square-foot addition opened in 2007 and houses the Phelps Youth Pavilion. In conjunction with the exhibit, the art center also is featuring Grant Wood Lithographs and The History of Penmanship, a full set of 19 lithographs, in the Forsberg Riverside Galleries through September. Several lithographs are newly acquired and are being displayed for the first time. We have world-class artists represented in our collection. Viewing the exhibit will show the public how our collection has evolved and changed to adapt to needs and interests in the community, Paige said. People will have a very rich and colorful experience. We could be going out and collecting Rembrandts and Picassos, but thats just not the story of our community. WATERLOO The children go to Kittrell Elementary four mornings per week to work on literacy skills, but theyre not calling it summer school. Instead, Waterloo Community Schools has re-branded the five-week program as summer reading camp. Just to give it a different feel, said Jana Qualls, the districts summer school coordinator. We want students to feel they have a summer experience based on learning. Targeting select students from across the district who finished third grade this spring, the state-sponsored Intensive Summer Literacy Program started July 11 at Kittrell, Fred Becker Elementary School and Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence. The 14 Waterloo classrooms are among 120 in 44 school districts piloting the program, which includes 75 hours of reading instruction. District third-graders were given reading assessments toward the end of the school year to determine if they qualified for the program. Students that werent proficient were invited, said Qualls, noting not everyone signed up for the voluntary program. Our enrollment right now is 146 students. When implemented statewide next summer, attendance will be necessary for identified students to move on to fourth grade. The idea is participants will be able to reach the literacy benchmarks theyve missed to stay on track with their peers. In order to test that, students were randomly assigned to classrooms using one of three teaching models. Each classroom has an average of 10 students. This is actually an Iowa research project, said Qualls. The purpose is to find out what instruction is working for students. They include: Reading mastery, a phonics curriculum where teacher instruction closely follows a script; computer-based, using the program Lexia along with direct instruction, reading and independent writing; and business as usual, integrating the districts typical reading and writing instruction with science content. Qualls noted teachers are encouraged to do things like take their students outside at times for reading or hand out flashlights to read by as part of Waterloos summer camp theme. Teacher Chastity Thomas said her students arent required to walk in lines as they usually are in school. They can pick their own seat in the classroom and, when theyre not reading, are allowed to chew gum. After more than a month out of school, Orange Elementary School student Brailyn Kirk was glad to be back in class. However, the 9-year-old would opt for something later than an 8 a.m. start time, when hed be just still sleeping if at home. We write, we read books, he said after the first days of class. Students have reading workshops, pair up to read with a partner and do writing assignments about themselves. Kirk said teachers check on their progress through computerized assessments. My favorite thing so far is playing on computers, he added. That includes the Raz-Kids website, where students can read books organized by difficulty level. Jackson Nicolas, an 8-year-old Kittrell student, was also excited to be back in the classroom. I think its amazing, he said, when asked about classes. We get to play on the computers, and I like to read. He read a book about Christmas and was working on another from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Nicolas has also learned how to spell some new words, including caterpillar and because. Thomas was Nicolas teacher during the school year, but he isnt in her class for the summer session. She sees the excitement he exhibits in other students, though. The enthusiasm, the motivation is different, she said. Everyone is working on focusing, comprehension. They feel more comfortable working with kids who are working on the same things as them. CEDAR RAPIDS Tammy Wawro is going to the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia to see history and make history. The Cedar Rapids fifth-grade teacher is part of the 60-member Iowa Democratic Party delegation that will join more than 4,500 other delegates Monday through Thursday to make Hillary Clinton the first female nominee of a major American political party. It seems appropriate it should happen in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our democracy, said Andy McGuire Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman. As someone who has fought my entire life against the discrimination against women and the glass ceilings and barriers Ive hit, that will be a historic moment, she said. The fact that weve come this far, finally, will be very historic. For Iowa delegates, Clintons nomination will be the culmination of a long journey. Even before she formally entered the race in June 2015, Clinton went on a listening tour of Iowa that included a stop in Dean Genths Mason City living room. During the convention, Genth will build on that early meeting with Clinton to put forth a message of unity and organized effort to win races from our house to the White House. Unity is the overarching theme in delegates expectations. On Caucus Night back on Feb. 1, Iowa Democrats were extremely split 49.9 percent for Clinton and 49.6 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Some people who are still having trouble, McGuire said, but I think the differences between what we stand for as Democrats whether we were for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sander and what the Republicans say they stand for are so different that I think we will have unity. Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, a first-time delegate, who was neutral in the Clinton-Sanders race, hopes to see the Vermont independents supporters, like Sen. Sanders himself has done, rallying around Hillary Clinton. The hard-fought campaign may lead to some roll call drama when state delegations cast their ballots, Hogg said. Thats the way the process works. Not all of the excitement will be in the convention hall. I know my daughter was very excited when I told her Lady Gaga was going to be performing at a concert, said Hogg, who will take his two college-age children with him. In addition to the official business of the convention, delegates will engage in a variety of issue-related meetings and activities. For example, Wawro, president of the Iowa State Education Association, will be meeting with other educators to develop an education agenda. Having a quality educator and a great school for every kid is our bottom line. Genth, who along with his husband, Gary Swenson, were among the first legally married same-sex couples in Iowa, hopes to serve as a voice for, and an example of a gay same-sex married male who owes my current freedom and rights to the values and successes of fair-minded Democratic candidates. Wahls, 25, the author of My Two Moms, plans to attend LGBT caucus meetings and participate in service projects. It will be his first DNC as a delegate. He spoke at 2012 DNC. Wahls also will be promoting The Woman Cards, a 54-card deck of playing card featuring hand-drawn portraits of American women who changed the world even though the deck was stacked against them. He and his sister, Zebby, developed the cards. Sales of the 12,500 decks theyve had printed will help cover his convention costs. Delegate Christina Blackcloud of Tama is looking forward to networking with other Native American delegates. The director of senior services for the Meskwaki Nation plans to attend Native American caucus meetings on seniors and womens issues. I want to learn more about what other people are doing in the different areas that Im passionate about, she said. I want to push all the different agendas that I would like to see happen and broaden my horizons. Blackcloud expects to educate delegates with questions about tribal history, law and policy as well as upholding the governments trust obligations to Native Americans. One thing McGuire doesnt anticipate being up for discussion is Iowas first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses. I havent heard of any attempt to change it, she said. The party understands how seriously Iowa Democrats take their lead-off status and in this Citizens United era they know the importance of looking the candidates in the eye. WATERLOO A proposal to transfer jurisdiction of University Avenue in Waterloo from the state to the city is on Monday nights City Council agenda. Under the agreement the city would take the road from the Cedar Falls city limits at Midway Drive to U.S. Highway 63 downtown from the state along with $28 million for renovations. No designs have been set, City Engineer Eric Thorson said. Well have public meetings, Thorson said. Well be narrowing it to four lanes from the present six lanes. A decision on roundabouts hasnt been made. Waterloo has not selected a design consultant. Any agreement also must be approved by the Iowa Department of Transportations Mason City district office and the Iowa Transportation Commission, Thorson said. That may happen in late summer or early fall. With the transfer, the city would take responsibility for maintenance, snow removal and bridge inspections. Reconstruction of University in Cedar Falls is underway. The citys plan to replace six of eight signalized intersections with roundabouts spurred controversy. Also on Mondays agenda, Hawkeye Community Colleges proposed downtown campus is up for zoning approval. The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on rezoning roughly two acres of land near the Cedar Valley SportsPlex for HCCs two-story, 40,000-square-foot building. The former Waterloo Bowl-In site, bounded by bounded by Jefferson and First streets, Mullan Avenue and U.S. Highway 218, is zoned M1 light industrial, which allows the educational building. But a change to C3 central business district would allow the project to be constructed without building setbacks, increasing the land available for the building at 106-stall parking lot. Members of the citys Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission voted unanimously July 5 to endorse the zoning change. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Many people in Waterloo may have experienced deja vu when Terex Cranes announced Tuesday it will close its Waverly plant, displacing some 175 workers. The development bears parallels to the closing of Waterloo Industries manufacturing operation in Waterloo two decades ago. Both started out as family-run companies created through the ingenuity of local entrepreneurs. Waterloo Industries, the worlds largest manufacturer of tool storage products, began in the early 1920s as the Waterloo Valve Spring Compressor Co. when company founder Nicholas Sulentic invented a compressor to allow automotive valve springs to be reground. Nicholas son, Raymond, invented a box to store the tool. Eventually tool boxes became the companys main product, and the firm changed its name to Waterloo Industries in 1967. Nicholas Sulentic, who died in 1950, and his six sons operated the company through 1993, four years before the plant closing. According to the company website, the Terex Waverly operation traces its origins to 1941 and brothers Vern and Wilbur Schield. They named their new products after the Bantam rooster, and the Schield Bantam product line was born. In 1963 Koehring products filled in the larger end of the crane and excavator lines. In 1987 the company became part of the Terex Corp. Each firm employed several hundred workers with union shops the International Association of Machinists at WI; United Auto Workers Local 411 at Terex. Each plant had an up-and-down history of labor-management relations punctuated by strikes, but the parties always managed to come to terms. Each operation came to an end as a result of decisions by out-of-state corporate management to move production elsewhere to Oklahoma in both cases. WIs work went to Muskogee, with manufacturing eventually consolidated at Sedalia. Mo.; Terex is shifting operations to Oklahoma City. Both firms left office operations here. WI mantains a presence in The Courier building and an adjacent model shop a block away; Terex will keep its global accounting operation in Waverly, employing about 100 people. There is a big difference, however, in the speed with which the end came at each operation. The WI plant closing occurred over two years, from 1995-97. Terex workers were sent home the day the closing was announced, with little advance notice other than some earlier layoffs and residual speculation. Waterloo Industries and its corporate owner, Fortune Brands, approved a final contract with the Machinists designed to cushion the blow for displaced workers, and the company hired an outplacement firm. We hope similar equitable treatment is possible for the 100 hard-working members of UAW Local 411 at the Waverly plant as well as 75 nonunion workers. The UAW has promised to make sure those workers receive all that is due them. Local economic development officials have pledged to bring all resources to bear to help displaced workers. Some hope is on the horizon. Christi Mason, workforce development director for Cedar Valley IowaWorks in Waterloo, said informational meetings on services and assistance available to the displaced workers will be conducted at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday at the Waverly Civic Center. She said her office already has received inquiries from prospective employers about hiring displaced Terex workers. Their skills are very much in demand, Mason said. It is our sincere hope the company, the community and the entire Cedar Valley rally behind Terex employees and other displaced workers including more than 600 UAW-affiliated John Deere Waterloo workers still on layoff. These workers are the drivetrain of our combined communities and local economy and our most valuable resource. They also are our friends, neighbors and relatives, and what happens to them affects us all. They deserve our respect and support. A handshake and a pat on the back wouldnt hurt either. Q: There was an article again in the paper again about the Vietnam exhibit being expanded. I have nothing against those who served in Vietnam, but my husband and three brothers served in Korea. Why is there nothing ever mentioned or played up about Korea? A: Its not accurate there is nothing ever mentioned about Korea; but Vietnam has gotten a lot of attention lately and it may have to do with how observances of the anniversaries of the two conflicts fall. Numerous events honoring Korean War veterans were held locally and statewide from 2010-13 on the 60th anniversary of the war, with a lot of coverage locally and statewide. Those events included the distribution of peace medals from the South Korean government to several hundred Korean War veterans in October 2012. Since 2014, more events have been held marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, including a year-long exhibit at the Grout Museum District. The Grouts Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum has exhibits for the Korean and Vietnam wars side by side and many videotaped oral histories of both conflicts. There also is perhaps no greater proponent of Korean War veterans in the state than former Cedar Falls City Council member Sid Morris, who has headed the Tallcorn Chapter of Korean War veterans. Also, the local Honor Flight organization began accepting applications from Korean War veterans for Washington, D.C., trips in 2012 but only recently started taking Vietnam veterans as well. Q: Are there any local veteran organizations that help older veterans find jobs? A: Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission Executive Director Kevin Dill responds: The Black Hawk County Veterans Affairs Office helps veterans of all ages find employment. All the service organizations are a good resource to network with other older veterans on available employment in the Cedar Valley. There is also a veterans representative at the Iowa Workforce Development center that assist veterans of all ages to find suitable employment. The first step is to contact our office at 291-2512. Q: Is there any spray I can use to kill wild parsnip that wont harm the ecosystem? A: Wild parsnip is well-established in Iowa and a dangerous weed to human health. When wild parsnip sap contacts skin exposed to sunlight a rash leading to blisters will develop. The clinical name is called phytophotodermatitis. Lingering effects may include scars and discoloration of the skin that lasts up to two years. Some sources also list temporary or permanent blindness as a possibility. According to a 2012 Courier article, control is relatively easy. Jabbing a shovel through the root just below ground level will kill the plant. Herbicides are also effective. By the time plants are bolting or flowering, mowing is the best alternative. NEW YORK, NY, July 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- We Care for Humanity proudly announce the participation of Honorable Senator David Carlucci to the 4th Global Officials of Dignity Awards. Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) currently represents 38th District in the New York State Senate. This encompasses the Towns of Ramapo, Clarkstown and Orangetown in Rockland County along with the Town of Ossining in Westchester County. "This is truly a very exciting moment for the 4th G.O.D. Awards, with the participation of New York dignitaries makes the G.O.D. Awards goals more attainable. Senator Carlucci is one of the influential legislators of New York and he is known for getting results and delivering with flying colors. We are very honored to have him as one of the Awards Presenters and Keynote Speakers for the event", said Princess Maria Amor, founder and president of We Care for Humanity and creator of the G.O.D. Awards. Senator Carlucci will present awards at the 4th Global Officials of Dignity Awards(G.O.D. Awards) and scheduled to speak at the 3rd WCH Humanitarian Summit on August 17-19, 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Both flagship events are organized by We Care for Humanity and its philanthropic partners: SREI Foundation, J & B Medical Company, HWPL and China-US Business Association. More About Senator David Carlucci: Since coming to Albany in 2010, Senator Carlucci has brought a new approach to governing in the 21st century. He has worked with the Governor to promote fiscal discipline by passing three consecutive on-time budgets without raising taxes, passing the largest middle class tax cut in nearly 60 years, implementing a property tax cap, and fighting to eliminate the job-killing MTA payroll tax. He has also pushed legislation to create jobs and grow our economy. This includes Jobs for Heroes, providing tax credits to businesses that hire returning veterans serving overseas, including his work to reduce burdensome regulations and promote entrepreneurism. The Senator also has played an instrumental role in standing up for progressive issues. This includes being an outspoken voice against hydrofracking in New York, fighting to protect a woman's right to choose, and being a key supporter of passing marriage equality in New York. As Chairman of the Senate Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Committee, he also fought this past legislative session in restoring critical funding to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWD) and the nonprofit service providers that assist our most vulnerable residents. Senator Carlucci is married to Lauren Grossberg Carlucci, where they reside in the Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County. He and Lauren had their first child late last year and are excited to be new parents. WCH is an internationally recognized organization dealing mainly with current global issues and concerns such as Human Rights, World Peace, Education, Health and Wellness, Eradication of Poverty, Green Environment and Empowerment. # # # Jul 24, 2016 | By Alec Over the past few months, Disney has been working very hard to make 3D printing suitable for the production of toys and merchandise with the help of breakthroughs in high-res 3D printing processes and in the replicating of reflective properties onto 3D printed surfaces, among others. But they havent forgotten about their core product either: animation. And thanks to a new parametric model by Disney Research, they can now easily and accurately design realistic 3D eyes using nothing more than a single photograph. This is a very significant breakthrough, which could provide a huge boost to 3D scanning everywhere. As you might know, facial scanning has become an industry standard in recent years, and is especially used for the development of models for video games, visual effects in films, medical applications and a whole lot more. Just over the last decade or so, the quality of facial scanning technology has improved so much that it is becoming difficult to distinguish between digital and real faces. But one hurdle continues to frustrate animators, and that is the human eye. The eyes are arguably the most important part of the face, said Markus Gross, vice president at Disney Research. That's where we focus first when we look at someone and it's the eyes that convey emotions and foretell actions that are critical to storytelling. Of course, eyes can already be accurately captured by scanning, but its a cumbersome, time-consuming and error-prone process that few actors enjoy. As senior research scientist at Disney Research Thabo Beeler explained, it requires actors to lie horizontally, heads immobilized by neck braces, while they manually hold their eyes open for dozens of photos over a 20-minute period. The physical burden of that approach is quite far from the single-shot face scanners that exist today, which are as easy as taking a single photo, he said. Thats why Beeler, along with fellow scientists Pascal Berard, Derek Bradley and Markus Gross from Disney Research Zurich developed a new parametric model that requires far less cumbersome input. In fact, their new model can build a stunningly realistic 3D animation by relying on a database of pre-captured eyes, and only need a single facial scan or even a photo to recreate an actors unique eyes. Their new method will be presented at the ACM International Conference on Computer Graphics & Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH) in Anaheim, California on July 24, but they have also already described it in their paper Lightweight Eye Capture Using a Parametric Model. In a nutshell, they have built a new parametric model for eyes that relies on a novel image-based model fitting algorithm. This should enable them to generate automatic reconstructions of real eyes, as well as provide them with full artistic control over the parameters that are used to generate specific eyes for animation purposes. This new method of eye capture enables us to create highly realistic animations for films, games and medical applications and to do so with as little fuss as possible, Gross said. Whats more, this new method is much quicker than the existing eye capturing techniques. By employing a parametric model of the eye, the researchers explain in their paper, they can easily reproduce the variations in the size and shape of the eyeball, as well as all the other factors that make it so human from the spots, craters and banding of the colored iris and even the red veins on your white sclera. This also means that it can easily manipulate an actors eyes to suit a scene-specific look, such as tired or blood-shot eyes. The pupils can even be adjusted to match lighting conditions. This parametric model would not be possible without the database of 30 eyes, which were previously captured in high resolution using the exhaustive existing processes. This provided them with all the necessary data on all aspects of the human eye, which was used to set up a separate model to represent variations in size, shape and all the other characteristics. Interestingly enough, the model only builds left eyes -and mirrors them for the right ones. While that sounds simple enough, the model actually consists of three separate components, to exhaustively cover all the different regions and scales of the eye. A single all-encompassing parametric model is not practical. For this reason we compose a model built from three separate components, namely an eyeball model that represents the low-frequency variability of the entire eyeball shape, an iris model that represents the high-resolution shape, color and pupillary deformation of the iris, and a sclera vein model, the researchers explain. That is a lot of data that needs to be mined for each and every eye, but the researchers argue that this is simply unavoidable especially when it comes to the iris. Much of the individuality of an eye can be found in the iris. A large variety of irises exist in the human population, and the dominant hues are brown, green and blue. In addition to the hue, irises also vary greatly in the number and distribution of smaller features like spots, craters, banding, and other fibrous structures, they say. But despite that incredible amount of data, a single facial scan is enough to capture all the details of an actors eye, with the algorithm taking care of the rest and transferring all the details to the 3D animation. According to Beeler and his team, this approach is very flexible giving animators a lot of creative freedom. The results are very plausible eye reconstructions with realistic details, said Pascal Berard. Disneys (animated) films are thus about to become a whole lot more realistic. While this new model probably arrived too late to be used for the upcoming Star Wars movie, we cant wait to see the results. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Freddy Gray in The Spectator: Whatever complicates the world more I do, Donald Trump once said. If you cant decipher what that means, dont worry, thats the point. Its always good to do things nice and complicated, he added, by way of explanation, so that nobody can figure it out. That was 1996 and Trump was talking about business. But 20 years later, his approach to politics seems informed by the same perplexing mentality. Trump is the confusion candidate for President of the United States, and his platform is chaos. He promises to Make America Great Again. In reality, hes Making America Madder Than Ever. Look at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week, where Trump was finally confirmed as the partys official nominee. It ought to have been the triumphant moment when The Donald was anointed as the Chosen One, ready to lead the conservative charge to the White House. Instead it felt like madness democracy as a cosmic joke. Lots of Americans fear that civilised society is breaking down, and its easy to see why. Fifteen police officers have been killed in the line of duty this month, including three in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, just before the convention started. Around 5,000 officers were drafted into Cleveland from across the country, and were left to roam the streets with little to do. This overbearing security operation might have made delegates feel safer. But it also added to the atmosphere of dysfunction and instability which helps Donald Trump put himself across as the saviour for troubled times. Trumps campaign manager Paul Manafort said this week that he based his acceptance speech on Richard Nixons 1968 effort, in which Tricky Dicky reassured Americans that he could bring stability to the country after the assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jnr and months of civil unrest. More here. Daniel Gross in Nautilus: In 2011, the Finnish Tourist Board released a series of photographs of lone figures in the wilderness, with the caption Silence, Please. An international country branding consultant, Simon Anholt, proposed the playful tagline No talking, but action. And a Finnish watch company, Ronkko, launched its own new slogan: Handmade in Finnish silence. We decided, instead of saying that its really empty and really quiet and nobody is talking about anything here, lets embrace it and make it a good thing, explains Eva Kiviranta, who manages social media for VisitFinland.com. Silence is a peculiar starting point for a marketing campaign. After all, you cant weigh, record, or export it. You cant eat it, collect it, or give it away. The Finland campaign raises the question of just what the tangible effects of silence really are. Science has begun to pipe up on the subject. In recent years researchers have highlighted the peculiar power of silence to calm our bodies, turn up the volume on our inner thoughts, and attune our connection to the world. Their findings begin where we might expect: with noise. The word noise comes from a Latin root meaning either queasiness or pain. According to the historian Hillel Schwartz, theres even a Mesopotamian legend in which the gods grow so angry at the clamor of earthly humans that they go on a killing spree. (City-dwellers with loud neighbors may empathize, though hopefully not too closely.) Dislike of noise has produced some of historys most eager advocates of silence, as Schwartz explains in his book Making Noise: From Babel to the Big Bang and Beyond. In 1859, the British nurse and social reformer Florence Nightingale wrote, Unnecessary noise is the most cruel absence of care that can be inflicted on sick or well. Every careless clatter or banal bit of banter, Nightingale argued, can be a source of alarm, distress, and loss of sleep for recovering patients. She even quoted a lecture that identified sudden noises as a cause of death among sick children. More here. South Dakota high school football quarterfinal schedule and scores The road to the DakotaDome continues tonight with 28 quarterfinal games in seven classes across South Dakota. AZTEC A 65-year-old man was accused last week of using a knife to threaten a man at a bar in Navajo Dam. Ray Luther was charged No. 20 in Aztec Magistrate Court with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and negligent use of a deadly weapon while intoxicated. Luther was being held at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center on a $75,000 bond, according to court records. His attorney, Scott Johnson, did not respond to a request for comment. A deputy from the San Juan County Sheriffs Office was dispatched at 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 to the Sportsmans Inn, 1810 N.M. Highway 173 in Navajo Dam, after receiving reports an intoxicated customer stabbed another man with a knife, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Adam Ledford told the deputy at the scene Luther came into the bar drunk, and armed with both a knife and a revolver. Ledford said he told Luther to leave and took away the gun, the affidavit states. He said he escorted Luther outside, and Luther pulled out the 8-inch hunting knife. The two men fought over the knife, and Ledford received a 1-inch cut on his finger, according to the affidavit. Ledford told the deputy he eventually wrestled the knife away from Luther, and Luther was driven home by a woman at the bar. The deputy seized the revolver and the hunting knife, the affidavit states. Luther was found by the deputy passed out on the front porch of his home at No. 3 County Road 4267, according to the affidavit. He did not provide a statement, the affidavit states. Luther was convicted of his fifth drunken driving offense, a felony, in 2011, according to court records. 2015 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Deputies say an Albuquerque man posted several photos of minors engaging in sex acts on social media website Twitter and labeled them with the hashtag #jailbait. That label was prophetic. Now, hes in the county jail. Jon Sena, 45, was arrested Thursday and charged with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, along with solicitation by an electronic device. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Sena, using the Twitter username Luv2Share15, asked a teenage girl to send him provocative pictures of herself. He also shared other photos depicting children, some as young as 8, engaged in sex acts, with the 1,400 users who were following his account. He started the account on Feb. 13 and posted about 35 publicly viewable images soon after, according to the complaint. At least one of those photos was reported to Twitter, which alerted authorities in New Mexico, said Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Detective Kyle Hartsock. Hartsock got involved in early March after receiving a report from the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office. He said that, after Twitter shut down Senas account, he created another on which he continued to share child pornography. Twitter provided Senas email address and phone number, and Hartsock tracked him to his Northeast Heights home based on an Internet Protocol or IP address. Sena admitted sharing child pornography labeled with the hashtags #jailbait and #teen, Hartsock said. Hashtags, which are used in many social media services, include a # symbol and allow users to search for and browse related content. On Twitter, users can retweet or share a post with their network, or show their approval by liking it. Hartsock said Sena said he tagged his posts with these hashtags in an attempt to get more Twitter users to follow him. He told me using certain hashtags was a way to get the most followers, Hartsock said. He would post adult porn as well, but when he posted a child under 18 using certain hashtags, they would get more retweets and more likes. Sena said he had been using multiple Twitter accounts to post pornography for three years before someone reported him, according to the complaint. He also told deputies he asked a 15-year-old girl in another state to send him a photo of herself in her underwear. Hartsock said Twitter is a popular place for people to share adult porn, as well as child porn. Twitter doesnt have a safety filter for pornography, he said. You get hyper-sexualized content and then you can get older men preying on kids pretty easily. Hartsock said its difficult to track down who is responsible for these types of posts on Twitter until someone makes a report to the social media service. If Twitter believes a crime has been committed, the company provides information to local law enforcement. Once they sent us his username, it didnt take much time to zero in, he said. With usernames people feel very anonymous, but no one is truly anonymous online. AT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER: Sandra Cisneros will read from and sign The House on Mango Street at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Bank of America Theatre. The NHCC is at 1701 Fourth SW. Call 246-2261. AT BOOKWORKS: Thomas Clagett will sign The Pursuit of Marietta at 3 today. John Dear will sign The Beatitudes of Peace at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 28. Mystery author Joe Badal will read from The Motive at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 30. Bookworks is at 4022 Rio Grande NE. Call 344-8139. AT COLLECTED WORKS: Richard A. Light will sign Jewish Rites of Death: Stories of Beauty and Transformation at 3 today. This book is an introduction to an inter-world space, the boundary where death and life meet, the space between worlds that we encounter when we deal with the dead. Joseph Badal will sign The Motive (Cycle of Violence #1) at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 27. Confronted with suspicious information relating to his sister Susans supposed suicide in Honolulu, Albuquerque surgeon Matt Curtis questions whether his sister really killed herself. The NAACP Presents: Sybil Hardel Morial will sign Witness to Change: From Jim Crow to Political Empowerment at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 30. Collected Works is at 202 Galisteo St. in Santa Fe. Call 505-988-4226. AT PAGE ONE: Charles M. will sign The Jungle Within at 3 p.m. today. When Evan and Katie said I do, they expected to navigate life together side-by-side. But a car accident and a tawdry affair disrupt life as they know it. Michelle Adam will discuss Child of Duende at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28. When 28-year-old German journalist Ingrid returns to her childhood home of Malaga, Spain, its to cover a remarkable story: On Senor Ramos vineyard, the vines are growing out of control. Page One is at 5850 Eubank NE, Suite B-41, in the Mountain Run Center. Call 294-2026. AT MONROE GALLERY: Photographer Neil Leifer will sign Relentless at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29. Monroe Gallery is at 112 Don Gaspar in Santa Fe. Call 505-992-0800. ALBURQUERQUE, SPAIN I recently discovered that New Mexico artist Frederico Vigil is a local hero in this small town for creating a fresco in the Town Hall as part of the Sister Cities relationship with our Albuquerque. It will be dedicated Aug. 11 before the towns 23rd Medieval Festival (Aug. 12-14), which includes live music, dancing and artisans and is centered on the towns famous Luna Castle, and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and his wife, Maria, will attend. They are paying their own airfare, Berry spokeswoman Rhiannon Samuel said by email. Albuquerque business leaders and University of New Mexico officials are also expected to attend, along with Vigil. The artist suggested the fresco about 18 months ago to the Hispano Chamber of Commerce International Trade Committee, said then-committee chairman and current co-chairman of Albuquerque/Alburquerque Sister Cities Committee, Fred Mondragon. Mayor Berry was thrilled with the idea, Vigil said. The fresco idea supports the Sister Cities mission to promote friendship and cultural exchanges between the two cities, Mondragon said. Because of the population difference (about 5,800 versus 550,000) the cities did not qualify for the sister cities designation until Sister Cities International authorized it in 1993, in an effort spearheaded by Mondragon. About two years ago, Vigil, 70, took part in the annual Catholic pilgrimage in Santiago de Compostela. It was one of the best things I have done in my life, he said. Work on the fresco began in July 2015 and was finished in December, funded by $25,000 from the city of Albuquerque $6,000 from Berrys office and $35,000 from the private sector according to Mondragon. In Spain, Vigil was provided with an assistant, raw materials and housing. Vigil, who studied in California under assistants who worked with Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo, said his work depicts an intermingling of what the people from Extremadura, (a region of Spain that includes Alburquerque), brought over (to New Mexico) and what they brought back. The conquistadors brought fruit trees, adobe construction and animals and took back corn, squash, chiles and beans. The fresco also shows Albuquerques International Balloon Fiesta, Native American kivas, petroglyphs and the Camino Real. The fresco has added to the bond between the two places, Mondragon said. Frederico is like a God there; hes like a hero for delivering this wonderful cultural message, Mondragon said. Marks from swords scar the entrance of the Luna Castle. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) Frederico Vigil works on a fresco hes completing in Alburquerque, Spain. His work depicts an intermingling of what the people from Extremadura (a region of Spain that includes Alburquerque) brought over (to New Mexico) and what they brought back. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) Frederico Vigil works on a fresco hes completing in Alburquerque, Spain. His work depicts an intermingling of what the people from Extremadura (a region of Spain that includes Alburquerque) brought over (to New Mexico) and what they brought back. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) Alburquerque Mayor Angel Vadillo Espino. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) The Luna Castle in Alburquerque, Spain. The castle was built by the Moors during the 13th century. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) A view of Alburquerque, Spain, from the Luna Castle. (Andy Stiny/For The Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 7 Next ALBURQUERQUE, SPAIN Some residents here may not know much about their sister city in New Mexico, but thanks to worldwide media they know of it, as I found out during a visit to this small town in the region of Extremadura. Town tourism specialist Monica Carceles Montalban gave me a city tour when I showed up in May without any appointment and was warmly welcomed by city officials. What does she know of our Albuquerque? Im sorry, but I am a fan of Breaking Bad, she said with a laugh. So I know different views (scenes) of Albuquerque and I know that you speak in English, she said, stifling more laughter. She is also familiar with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It was the end of a three-month journey, crisscrossing thousands of miles of Europe by plane, train and boat with the final month in Spain and Portugal, and I thought it would be good to seek out our namesake in far western Spain about 15 miles from the Portuguese border. A five-hour train ride from Madrid takes you to Merida in this rugged, semiarid region famous as the birthplace of many of the conquistadors who took the areas place names to the New World, including New Mexico. This rural, autonomous region is about the size of Switzerland. Arriving in Merida, population 68,000, you immediately see the Roman ruins of the Aqueduct of Los Milagros, a visible testament that here are some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Europe. A very helpful Maria at the tourist office gave me maps, recommendations for visiting colorful towns like Medellin and Guadalupe and said a trip to Alburquerque would require two buses traveling through the larger city of Badajoz, about 45 minutes away. The next morning, after about an hour traveling through forested hills of cork and olive trees and pastures of grazing sheep, the second bus rounded the final curves and the citys name with an extra r was spelled out in large white letters on a hillside. You immediately see the towns famous Luna Castle, which dominates your approach and is one of the best-preserved castles in this country famous for castles. The town center is Plaza Espana, with the tourist office in one corner and Town Hall across the street. At Town Hall, I introduced myself to the ladies behind the counter. They knew we were sister cities but confessed to little knowledge of our city. Town official Celia Garcia was summoned from upstairs and surprised me when she showed me the buildings recently completed fresco by New Mexico artist Frederico Vigil, which is to be dedicated at the towns annual Medieval Festival in August (see accompanying story). Vigils recently completed work is the talk of the town, Montalban said. All the people wanted to see the fresco. Garcia arranged a private tour of the castle with Montalban and a meeting with the towns mayor, Angel Vadillo Espino. Montalban and I walked through the towns Medieval Quarter and uphill toward the castle as she provided commentary and shielded my camera with her pink umbrella. She called herself my ayudante (helper) and pointed out cutting marks in a stone wall, left from sword sharpening from prior centuries. The castle was built by the Moors during the 13th century and later rebuilt to add outer defense walls, presenting a challenge for the warring factions who fought over these lands for centuries. The area is also known for religious tourism, natural beauty, bird-watching, fishing, prehistoric cave paintings and the Medieval Festival with live music in the castle and artisans. International tourism to Extremadura is growing, Montalban said. Mayor Vadillo Espino proudly showed me the sister cities banners on the wall of his comfortable office. Abel Moreno, who reports for the towns website (baylio.com), sat in as the mayor discussed the importance of the sister city bond with Albuquerque. It was an honor to have the sister city cultural relationship with his citys larger counterpart, the mayor said. We asked why many of the worlds famous explorers hailed from Extremadura. They had an appetite for adventure, were looking for a different way of life and accepted the New World dangers to escape poverty, Vadillo Espino said. But how did our Albuquerque lose an r somewhere in the 5,000 miles between Spain and New Mexico? Old documents spelled the New Mexico settlement with the added letter, he said, but believes with the advent of railroads in New Mexico someone misspelled it. An amusing quirk of history and then, the mayor said, it was always incorrect. Bela Bartoks music is known for its Hungarian and Romanian folk elements. Violinist Jennifer Koh finds more than folk rhythms. An example is Bartoks Contrasts. He also engages so directly with Western classical tradition thats quite fascinating, Koh said in a phone interview. You have different composers from middle Europe that engage more with the Slavic tradition. Bartok is engaged directly with Western and Germanic traditions, like Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. And, she added, Bartoks music is hardly atonal. In Contrasts, Koh will be joined by clarinetist Romie de Guise and pianist Juho Pohjonen. Everyone has a strong role in the piece. I think its just a great piece of music. The trio will perform Contrasts on Thursday, July 28, in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival concert at Simms Auditorium in Albuquerque. They will also play Contrasts in a festival concert the previous evening at St. Francis Auditorium in Santa Fe. Also on the paired concerts program are Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor and W.A. Mozarts Duo in B-flat major for Violin and Viola. Koh thinks that music in general has a compelling ability to connect human beings and human experiences. Its about shortening distances between cultures and between people whether a great distance or sitting next to each other in a concert hall. Music in fact, the arts in general can transcend human boundaries and goes to the core of who we are as emotional human beings. In Kohs Shared Madness project, more than 32 composers wrote solo violin pieces for her to premiere. Among the composers are Philip Glass, Vijay Iyer and festival artistic director Marc Neikrug. The commissions were in exchange for Kohs repayment of a loan on her violin. Koh was named Musical Americas 2016 Instrumentalist of the Year. Prairie Dog Pals board member Ed Urbanski releases a prairie dog at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Although prairie dogs are usually healthy, they are observed at a staging area before being released into the wild. Like other wild animals, they can bite if they are afraid. (Courtesy of Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge/Kathy Granillo) These prairie dog pups were with a group recently relocated to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro. (Courtesy of Prairie Dog Pals/Sharyn Davidson) Gunnison prairie dogs can weigh 2 pounds and grow to be 12 to 14 inches tall. They live in social societies where each individual has a role, like guarding the burrow, hunting and gathering or babysitting pups. (Courtesy of Prairie Dog Pals/Sharyn Davidson) Prairie dogs are avid communicators with barks and yips for about 200 words. A group was recently relocated to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. (Courtesy of Prairie Dog Pals/Sharyn Davidson) Prev 1 of 4 Next A prairie dog sentry alerts its family and its burrow mates of danger. A communicator with a varied vocabulary, the sentry can let its mates know whether they have faced the danger before, whether its a bird, a coyote, human or something else and whether its time to run for cover or just be careful, according to experts. Chances are if youve driven or walked in the Albuquerque Foothills, you may have seen these socially evolved rodents, in their prairie dog towns and villages. To some ranchers, farmers and homeowners, prairie dogs are pests, but to other biologists, rangers and advocates, prairie dogs are ecological engineers, a keystone species that keeps the mesas from turning into deserts and provide food, home or shelter to about 200 other species. For some animals like the burrowing owl, the endangered black-footed ferret, ferruginous hawk and golden eagle, prairie dogs are food that sustains them. There are a fewer prairie dogs this week around Chelwood Elementary School, where they had moved into a playing field, but were relocated to Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, near Socorro. Refuge manager Kathy Granillo says volunteers are eagerly watching the new families to see if they can re-establish themselves in the short grass prairies there. This provides a win-win resolution to the problem of prairie dogs on school grounds. The school children at Chelwood now have a safer play area and the refuge moves a few steps forward toward restoring the grassland ecosystem, Granillo says. Of the 300 released, about 75 were from Chelwood Elementary. Were trying to see if more of them can survive. Little civil engineers Prairie Dog Pals, a nonprofit organization in Albuquerque that supports, rescues and relocates prairie dogs, helped with the roundup. Were so grateful we have a place to take them, says Yvonne Boudreaux, president of the organization. Sevilleta is so large there is no conflict with neighbors. Boudreaux says dedicated volunteers trap the prairie dogs intact with their families, because they dont survive well, if at all, without their social network. They have each others backs. They care and are concerned about each other. She explains that prairie dogs have an interdependent system, with most members assigned a role than can change. Some are watchdogs or sentries, while others mind the nurseries or hunt and gather food. Their burrows have hardened walls like stucco, from their constant vigilance. Their living quarters contain chambers for sleeping, eating, storage, a nursery for babies and waste disposal. Biologists tell us that the orientation of the burrow keeps the chambers at a constant 55 degrees, Boudreaux says. They are our favorite little civil engineers. They are constantly amending and shoring up their living quarters. Adult Gunnison prairie dogs, the species most common in New Mexico, are about a foot high and weigh about two pounds, she says. Male dogs are generally larger than females. They are related to ground squirrels. The volunteers at Prairie Dog Pals check to make sure the dogs are healthy, microchip them and observe them in a staging area before they relocate them, Boudreaux says. She says the group will come and get prairie dogs when anyone calls them if theyve turned up in their field or backyard. Declining populations Each year since 2010, the refuge has been a new home to 600 Gunnison prairie dogs, Granillo says. But its hard for prairie dogs to move. She says about 27 percent of those relocated will be alive the next year. It takes a while for those sentry dogs to figure out whos a friend and whos a foe: They are naive about the area. The refuge has dedicated about 80 acres for prairie dogs, an area historically home to them. Granillo says college interns are watching the prairie dogs, their fur dyed with henna numbers for easy identification, in several treated areas to see which suits them best. As the grasslands became ranches and farms, prairie dogs were exterminated, Granillo says. She says prairie dog populations across North America have declined by more than 90 percent as a result of habitat loss, extermination and disease. Through a federal hearing process, prairie dogs were proposed to be an endangered species, but the determination was that while the data show they may be endangered, the federal government didnt have enough resources to manage them as an endangered species, Granillo explains. Prairie dogs interconnecting system of burrows aerate the soil and help it hold water. This and other prairie dog activity help re-establish native grasses and flowers, she says. Granillo acknowledges that not everyone agrees on the prairie dogs place in the ecosystem. However, continuing research in the Janos Biosphere Reserve in northern Chihuahua, Mexico, show that prairie dogs serve to keep the semi-arid grasslands intact, she says, benefitting livestock. Boudreaux says Navajos and other Native Americans have been warning ranchers and farmers to pay attention to prairie dogs as if they were sentries for the entire region. Environmentalist Bill Mollison writes that in Arizona in the 1950s, Navajos warned of danger, when agricultural scientists recommended eradication of burrowing animals to protect the sparse desert grasses. The elders said, if you kill the prairie dogs who will cry for rain? Mollison says the area has become a virtual wasteland with eroding runoff and soil compaction, killing the grasses. Its all about balance, Boudreaux says. Our efforts to help prairie dogs on the ground are all about regaining balance. But people are creating imbalance faster than we can restore it. Their disconnect from nature is profoundly disturbing. What will the hawks, eagles, foxes, badgers and coyotes eat without prairie dogs? Until June 30, New Mexicos farms and ranches were exempted from providing workers compensation insurance for their laborers. The exemption ended when the state Supreme Court ruled that it is discriminatory to exclude those laborers from protections provided to other agricultural workers. There is a lot of confusion about how the Supreme Courts ruling will affect small farms. What does this change mean for New Mexicos farms and ranches? Most of our farms and ranches will be unaffected by the ruling of the court. Under the ruling, the state Workers Compensation Act now requires any agricultural business that employs three or more paid workers to provide employees with workers compensation insurance. Businesses that have less than three paid workers, including owners, are exempt and do not have to provide coverage for their workers. Additionally, New Mexicos farms and ranches wont have to obtain workers compensation coverage when family members do chores or friends and neighbors volunteer to work without pay. Thus, the culture of neighboring is supported in the Supreme Courts ruling recognizing the importance of this rural cultural tradition neighbors helping one another with work as at harvest time or during the calving season. Workers compensation premiums are payroll-based. The New Mexico Supreme Court also recognized that small farms are protected on page 41 of its opinion: According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture created by the United States Department of Agriculture, 1,864 of the 24,721 farms in New Mexico employ three or more workers, which means that only the largest 7.5% of farms benefit from the exclusion. Therefore, the exclusion does not even apply to approximately 92.5% of the farms in the state because they have fewer than three employees. Which businesses will be affected financially? Under the courts ruling, roughly 1,800 agricultural businesses will now be required to provide workers compensation coverage for laborers, as all other businesses in New Mexico. Many of these businesses are large corporations, some among the largest dairies in the country. These large corporate farms, ranches and dairies employ approximately 90 percent of the agricultural laborers in our state. I dont employ workers on my farm and will not have to pay for workers compensation insurance coverage. I know that some small agricultural businesses, with just three or four employees, will have a tougher time with the additional cost of providing workers compensation insurance. There are many varying estimates as to the actual cost. At this time it is difficult to know. Nonetheless, we should all recognize that this change in law is a step toward fairness and will likely have a significant impact on the working poor, who labor in our fields and on our ranches. Agricultural workers are like you and me they want to live a decent life and to provide for their children and families. They work long, hard hours, many under dangerous working conditions. As some of the poorest workers in our state, being injured on the job and possibly incurring medical costs or missing even a few days of work can be devastating to the laborer and their family. If they must turn to the public safety net for help, the cost of this assistance (that under equal treatment, would be covered by workers compensation insurance) is borne by taxpayers. As an owner of a small farm in Bernalillo County, I understand the importance of keeping costs down. But we cant allow the mistreatment of any workers in our state. All workers across the state of New Mexico must be treated fairly and equitably, with equal protection under the law at every level of employment. There has been a vigorous debate about Medicaid in the pages of the Journal. But something crucial is missing from the discussion: Medicaid is a vital program that benefits health care providers that serve all of us. That means the current cuts will negatively impact the quality of care for all New Mexicans. In 2015, the Center for Disease Control found that over 93 percent of office-based physicians in New Mexico accept new Medicaid patients. In addition, Medicaid provides hospitals and clinics with critical funds that allow them to better staff their facilities. So when cuts are made to the program, even if you have private insurance, many health care providers will be less likely to see you and your family in a timely manner because they are stretched so thin. Wait times will skyrocket for everyone. The ripple effects will be felt across the system. Consider the thousands of health care providers who could soon be out of a job because they cannot find enough patients to make ends meet. Many well-trained, highly skilled workers will be faced with the prospect of enrolling in Medicaid themselves or simply leaving the state, exacerbating the dire workforce issues that New Mexico already faces. And, of course, benefits cuts are essentially provider cuts because many doctors will still provide those services but without getting paid for them. The alternative is worse patient outcomes, cutting against the very purpose of our investment in the program. For every dollar the state cuts from Medicaid, four dollars in federal funding leave the state. That means nearly $300 million will be drained from our states already fragile economy, making life more difficult for those already struggling, including our neighbors, families and small businesses. While we may disagree about our approach to this issue, we must recognize that Medicaid is an integral part of our economy and health care system and the decision to slash its funding will be a burden to us all. So we cannot simply call on the Human Services Department to make the cuts evenhandedly or reduce patient benefits in an effort to make coverage for the poorest among us less effective. It is up to lawmakers to consider new options to ensure that our health care system works for us as New Mexicans. This is not about politics, its about people. Health Action NM is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that works to ensure that all New Mexico communities have access to quality, affordable medical and dental care. CLEVELAND In normal times, the report last week that Donald Trump wanted John Kasich to be the real president would have made more of a splash. According to Kasich aides, the Trump campaign desperately wanted the Ohio governor to be his running mate. Kasich, out of concern for his eternal soul or his political future, resisted the idea. But the Trump campaign pressed harder. At one point Donald Trump Jr. reached out with an amazing offer, according to the New York Times: How would Kasich like to be the most powerful vice president in American history? If elected, Trump would put Kasich in charge of two broad areas of policy making. Now, if a normal person were asked to guess which two, he or she might venture, Counterterrorism and health care, or, Defense and taxes. But thats thinking small. And Donald Trump doesnt think small. Donald Trump Jr. offered Kasich both foreign policy and domestic policy. What the hell would Trump do? the aide reportedly asked Trump the younger. He would make America great again, Trump Jr. casually replied, according to a story in the Columbus Dispatch. When I first read that, I couldnt help but think of that scene in The Blues Brothers where Dan Aykroyd asks the manager of a honky-tonk what kind of music is played there. The manager replies, Oh, we got both kinds. We got country and western. Theres no love lost between the Kasich and Trump camps, so its fair to be skeptical of the story. The only thing is, there are lots of rumors among Republican politicians and staffers that back it up. Trumps not interested in policy. Hes fine with outsourcing it to congressional Republicans and to his Cabinet secretaries. Trump wants to do the fun stuff. He wants to give cool speeches and fly around in a better plane. He wants the respect that comes with being president. He doesnt want to do the hard stuff. For those willing to see, theres been a lot of evidence of that all along. Hes said he wont even start learning about policy until hes elected. That Trump doesnt know or care much about public policy is obvious to literally every human being who knows anything about public policy. One could fill books with examples of his talking about articles of the Constitution that dont exist, events that never took place and proposals that make no sense. According to a deeply reported account in GQ, Trumps daily briefing packet amounts to a printout of a Google News search of articles mentioning Donald J. Trump. This is also how he runs his business. Hes a marketer and branding maven. Other businessmen and subcontractors do the heavy lifting. Woodrow Wilson was the first to see the president as a kind of monarchical cheerleader. He was the first commander in chief to insist that a president must impose a vision on the country; Wilson saw the job as that of a propagandist in chief. Richard Neustadt, the titan of presidential studies, echoed this in his landmark book, Presidential Power. Because modern presidents are expected to do so much more than what their constitutional powers can achieve, they must mold public opinion. Presidential power, Neustadt famously wrote, is the power to persuade. Its unlikely that Trump knows any of that, but that doesnt mean hes not onto something about the presidency. Barack Obama, after all, has spent much of his presidency trying to build a grass-roots movement to force change on Washington that he couldnt achieve from the White House. Many Republicans Ive talked to find Trumps willingness to outsource actual policymaking to Mike Pence or Paul Ryan reassuring. And in a sense, it is. But it overlooks a problem. Because there is so much power in a presidents words, a presidents words matter. Just this week, the GOP nominee suggested that he would not honor our commitments to NATO if Russia attacked our allies in the Baltics. Those words are dangerous from a nominee. They would be catastrophic from a president. A president with a verbal hair trigger one who doesnt know enough to know what not to say could ignite a financial crisis or a war. If Trump could be trusted to simply play a ceremonial role, serving as a kind of corporate motivational speaker for the country, I might board the Trump train. But can anyone say with confidence that Trump has the discipline to do anything of the sort? Copyright, Tribune Media Services Inc.; e-mail to JonahsColumn@aol.com. It is baffling that Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto is calling for a moratorium on new charter schools. After all, he is the legal counsel for one of the top-ranked schools in the state and knows charter innovation can deliver great results to students and taxpayers alike. While Ivey-Soto says he is just trying to slow charter foes attempts to de-fund the small public schools in a worsening budget year, it would make real short- and long-term financial sense to demand accountability from all schools. But then, the Albuquerque Democrat is also legal counsel for a few of the worst-performing charters and has received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from folks happy with the states abysmal educational status quo. One of his clients, the Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science at UNM, exemplifies the innovation and achievement all schools traditional and charter alike should aspire to. AIMS has a climbing overall A grade from the state three years running, with As for academic growth of its highest- and lowest-performing students, a 94.8 percent four-year graduation rate, and a No. 1 compared to its peers in educating English-language learners, students with disabilities, ethnicities, as well as economically disadvantaged and mobile students. The U.S. Department of Education has designated it a Blue Ribbon School. So why would Ivey-Soto call for a moratorium on that kind of academic attainment in the name of saving a few new-school-startup bucks, when he could save taxpayers a heck of a lot more by demanding results for the hundreds of millions of K-12 tax dollars spent annually on all public schools? Perhaps because two of his other clients the ACE Leadership and Health Leadership charters got F grades from the state, a third, Tech Leadership, had a 63 percent daily absentee rate, and accountability can be a dirtier word than taxes in the New Mexico Senate. Ivey-Soto says hes tried to push school accountability but always gets shut down by colleagues, so he says that to protect an important segment of charter funding he switched gears and called for the moratorium during a Legislative Education Study Committee meeting this month. He was preaching to the choir. The LESC has long waged war on charters based on the smalls-schools funding formula adjustment they receive rather than demanding quality performance from all of the states public schools. The LESC report says charters collect an average of $8,728 per-student statewide versus $7,639 per-student at traditional school districts. (It skips the part about traditional school districts getting hundreds of millions in tax dollars for capital expenditures.) Ivey-Sotos recent campaign disclosures show he has received plenty of money from those who support the states shameful educational status quo, including $3,500 from Sen. Mimi Stewarts PAC, $2,500 from the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, $1,250 from Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchezs PAC and $1,000 from the The National Education Association-New Mexico PAC. All have opposed promising education reforms such as retention of third-graders who cant read at grade level after multiyear interventions. In New Mexico just seven of every 10 students graduate high school on time, and half of those who do need remedial courses to get into college. The numbers are worse at APS. Quality charter schools raise the bar and require traditional schools to up their games as parents vote with their feet. Yet Ivey-Soto claims school choice is a luxury. Whats a real luxury especially in what is shaping up to be a budget crisis is tolerating sub-par performance on the publics dime. Ivey-Soto is in the important position of seeing the best and the worst when it comes to charter school performance. He should be pushing the Legislature to require evaluations and closures of schools that fail to serve students. That, rather than shutting down innovation, would provide real budgetary savings. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Energized white supremacists cheer Trump convention message CLEVELAND (AP) They don't like to be called white supremacists. The well-dressed men who gathered in Cleveland's Ritz-Carlton bar after Donald Trump's speech accepting the Republican nomination for president prefer the term "Europeanists," ''alt-right," or even "white nationalists." They are also die-hard Trump supporters. And far from hiding in chat rooms or under white sheets, they cheered the GOP presidential nominee from inside the Republican National Convention over the last week. While not official delegates, they nevertheless obtained credentials to attend the party's highest-profile quadrennial gathering. Seizing on that energy, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke on Friday announced a bid for the Senate. The Louisiana Republican likened his policies on trade and immigration to Trump's in an announcement video. "I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I've championed for years," Duke said. "My slogan remains 'America First.'" "America First" was first used in 1940 by the America First Committee, a short-lived isolationist faction that formed to pressure the U.S. government not to join the Allies' war against Germany. Trump referred to "America First" repeatedly in his convention speech Thursday night, highlighting people murdered by immigrants in the country illegally and warning of rising inner-city crime. Earlier in the week, a convention screen displayed a tweet with the hashtag "#TrumpIsWithYou" from a self-described member of the alt-right, one of the thousands of tweets promoted over the course of the week. "Nearly 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records, ordered deported from our country, are tonight roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens," Trump charged in his speech. Robert Dulaney Barrett has always put his faith in prayer and God. But he has never been one to sit passively by, waiting for those prayers to be answered. Hes a man of action. That hasnt changed, even as he enters his ninth decade of life. Less than a month ago, doctors diagnosed Barrett, 81, with the early stages of Alzheimers disease. He said his wife noticed that he was starting to forget little things and became concerned. The retired minister said his initial reaction was sadness, fear and an urge to run away. That didnt last very long. Ive never been one to roll over and play dead, he said. But Im a practical preacher, and I wanted to get to work. He said he and his wife got to thinking about what they could do and decided to throw a party that would also serve as a reunion, allowing Barrett to see his family and friends before he deteriorated. I want to see them before its too late, before I forget, he said. I also wanted to heighten awareness of (Alzheimers) and call attention to the need to find a cure. We need to kick its butt. Barrett got on the phone and started calling his family and friends around the country to give them the not-so-happy news and invite them to his last sermon. Barrett became a Methodist minister in 1954 and retired in 2000 but said it was time to briefly come out of retirement. The couple then went to the bank and borrowed money to feed everyone. More than 100 people were expected to attend the party that took place Saturday at the Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque. Barrett said Thursday that he was asking his friends and family to give money that will be donated to Alzheimers research. One of the attendees is Clyde Chesnutt, who lives in Prescott, Ariz. Chesnutt said the two met in Southwest Texas where they were both pastors about 30 or 40 years ago. When he got the call, he said there was never a question of not attending. He called Barrett a good friend. The two get together a few times a year when Chesnutt travels to Albuquerque to visit his two children. He said he was not surprised that Barrett was throwing himself a party and trying to beat the disease. He has strong opinions and is willing to voice his opinion about theology, politics and really anything, he said. Hes a very good preacher and will be a strong advocate for this issue. Barrett served as a pastor for the United Methodist Church in New Mexico. He said he served on its board and during his tenure raised funds to add an Alzheimers wing at the denominations retirement home in Carlsbad. Barrett said he saw many of his own family members suffer from the disease. Some of the money raised will be diverted to help complete another Alzheimers wing at a retirement center in Carlsbad, he said. This disease is a thief and murderer of memories, he said. I want to fight it. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal MAGDALENA MOUNTAINS Up here on South Baldy peak, 30 driving miles west and south of Socorro and 10,600 feet above sea level, you feel as if you could see North Carolina if you just looked east and squinted. The truth is that from here, you can see into the dark corners of space, because this is the home of New Mexico Techs Magdalena Ridge Observatory. The observatorys 2.4-meter (8-foot-diameter) telescope once tracked a tool belt dropped by an astronaut during a space walk. It makes little things bigger and dim things brighter, said Eileen Ryan, director of the 2.4-meter telescope. And it moves (rotates) 10 times faster than most telescopes because we are tracking things more like rockets than things like stars and planets. Through a grant with NASA, the telescope keeps track of potentially perilous Near-Earth Objects, large asteroids that might be on a collision course with Earth. We also work with the Air Force to provide national security, Ryan said. We track objects that have been launched from the Earth. What country does that belong to? Is it behaving itself? Unfortunately, not all countries today are friendly and not all objects behave themselves. MRO, located on 1,000 acres here in the Magdalena Mountains, is built and operated by New Mexico Tech, the university in Socorro. It consists of two facilities, the 2.4-meter telescope and the MRO Interferometer, which is under construction and will eventually employ 10 1.4-meter (4.5 foot-diameter) telescopes. The 2.4 meter telescope, however, made its debut in 2006 and started routine operations in the summer of 2008. Hanging on the kitchen wall of the 2.4-meter telescope complex is a poster for Armageddon, the 1998 film starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler about an asteroid hurtling toward a catastrophic crash with Earth. When I was a kid, I was influenced by science fiction movies, Ryan said. I wanted to be an astronaut, and I wanted to save the world from extraterrestrial threats. She and her husband, William Ryan, research scientist for the 2.4-meter telescope, have garnered tracking and characterization data on thousands of Near-Earth Objects, including a few that have come closer to Earth than the moon. They determine the physical properties of asteroids that could one day in a worst-case scenario be selected for manned or unmanned spacecraft targets to keep them from slamming into Earth. Just like in Armageddon. Among the more intriguing projects the 2.4-meter staff worked on was the observation of Apophis, a 300-meter asteroid, that will come within 20,000 miles of the Earth in 2029 and 2036. Information collected by the Magdalena Ridge telescope helped NASA scientists determine that Apophis will not smash into the Earth. Bruce Willis can relax. In 2015, New Mexico Tech was awarded a $25 million contract to help the Air Force keep tabs on man-made satellites that could intentionally or unintentionally jeopardize satellites launched by the United States. The MRO telescope, one of three originally intended for the Hubble Space Telescope, is capable of collecting the kind of detail that can identify the origins of satellites. I had no idea that white paint from Canada is different than white paint from France, Eileen Ryan said. The location on South Baldy is about as ideal as it gets for looking into space, because of the altitude, the low humidity and the sparse population which translates into next-to-no light pollution. Still, there are challenges. We cant work in winds of more than 50 mph, and we cant operate if it is raining or snowing, Eileen Ryan said. And then theres technical difficulties and smoke, which can damage the telescopes electronics. Operations were shut down for a month by the North Fire, which lightning ignited on May 21 southwest of Magdalena. But there is an average of 200 clear nights a year here, and the Ryans are at the observatory most of those nights. To save the world, you always have to be on the alert, she said. MRO outreach Online To find out about Magdalena Ridge Observatory star parties and school presentations, go to www.mro.nmt.edu/education-outreach. Governors of the state of New Mexico can be fools, and they can be brilliant. Some want to help the state thrive, and some mostly want to advance their own careers. Some are charming and some are prima donnas. In every case, when they walk into a room, for a press conference or a speech or just to press the flesh, you stand. In our system, the governor of the state of New Mexico is more than a man or a woman. The governor is more than a political figure. In a sense, the governor is the state of New Mexico, and you treat the state of New Mexico with respect. It doesnt matter who the governor is or what you think of him or her. The military gets this. You salute the officer not because you know, like or respect the officer. You salute the uniform, not the person. You respect the uniform and what it stands for. This is why Joe Wilsons outburst during President Barack Obamas speech to Congress in 2009 was so unsettling. Wilson, a Republican representative from South Carolina, shouted, You lie! when the president said his proposed health care law, now usually called Obamacare, would not cover undocumented immigrants. (It happens the law does not cover undocumented immigrants.) This kind of insult is common in the British House of Commons, where the prime minister is the head of her party and the government. The president of the United States is the head of his party and government, too. Like the queen or king of England, he is also the head of state. Like him or not, whether you voted for him or his opponent, in his role as head of state the president is the United States. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg violated long-standing norms of political behavior by publicly fretting about the potential election of Donald Trump. It is a long-standing norm of behavior that judges, as members of the judicial branch of our three-branch government, refrain from commenting on the other two branches of government unless a court case compels their comment. Maintaining that norm helps to maintain the legitimacy of the courts. After Sen. John McCain lost the 2008 presidential election, his running mate, Sarah Palin, insisted upon giving a speech of her own praising McCain before the senator gave his own speech conceding the election. McCains aides, according to the book Game Change, had to explain to Palin that it was essential that the losing presidential candidate and only the presidential candidate give a gracious speech acknowledging that the other candidate had won and pledging to help the next president in any way possible. This norm of civic behavior, McCains aides told Palin, signaled that the will of the voters would be respected, no matter how bitter an election might have been. The gesture says that the American people, who are the sovereign rulers of our nation, are in charge. Palin did not give her speech. The Republican Party has given its nomination to a man whose success is based in part on flouting these sorts of norms. On the basis of zero evidence, Donald Trump suggested that Sen. Ted Cruzs father might have had something to do with John Kennedys assassination. He has implied that the president of the United States secretly supports terrorist attacks on our country. Trump called his primary election opponents losers, weak, total disasters, total embarrassments, pathetic, choke artists and corrupt. He utters not a word of protest when his advisers encourage violent attacks on Hillary Clinton. Trump has spent his time telling the supporters of his opponents that they have been supporting liars, fools and criminals. He has told them that the process of primary elections is rigged as did Bernie Sanders and that his opponents successes are achieved dishonestly. Should the time come for him to govern, Trump will have to work with people and institutions that he has told his supporters lack all legitimacy. Should he lose, the president will be someone Trump says is a criminal who has avoided indictment only because of the corruption of our system. Our national challenge has always been getting millions of people of countless ethnicities, political views, cultures and religious backgrounds to accept the legitimacy of our government even if they despise the person running it. After any presidential election, millions of people are going to be, at a minimum, disappointed. The winner of that election must be able to count on at least their acceptance of the majoritys will because they respect the process and acknowledge its legitimacy. Our political norms of behavior are designed to help maintain legitimacy for the institutions that hold our nation together and respect for the people who want to serve their fellow citizens. Absent legitimacy and respect, nations become ungovernable. What Trump doesnt seem to grasp is that the norms he disdains are part of the glue that holds a very large, very diverse, very difficult country together. Ignoring them is not just bad manners; it is dangerous. UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Winthrop Quigley at 823-3896 or wquigley@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal WASHINGTON New Mexicos delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week hope to help draw a stark contrast between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, who accepted his partys nomination Thursday night in Cleveland. Most of New Mexicos delegates arrive in Philadelphia today excited about Clintons campaign. But roughly half of them supported Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in New Mexicos hard-fought Democratic primary election and theyre relieved that the platform addresses some of Sanders key issues. Debra Haaland, chairwoman of the New Mexico Democratic Party, said shes not worried that Democrats will be divided in Philadelphia. She said the whole point of the convention is unification and motivation to help elect Democrats to the presidency and other offices around the country. The general purpose is to inspire people, and get them to go out and work for Democratic candidates and make sure theyll win in November, Haaland said. If everyone does their jobs right, well leave ready to get to work in our respective states. Im not worried at all that were not going to come together. Democrats convene in Philadelphia starting Monday, just a few days after Republicans finished their four-day convention in Cleveland. The Cleveland event was widely considered a logistical success as police and organizers managed to keep the peace, despite some street protests of Trumps candidacy. Trump delegates with the help of unanimous support of those from New Mexico staved off an effort within the party to dump Trump in Cleveland, and the New York real estate tycoon enjoyed sustained applause during his acceptance speech Thursday. A kinder, gentler convention As the Democratic convention begins, national polls show the Clinton-Trump matchup tightening across the nation. A Los Angeles Times/University of Southern California poll published Saturday had the race dead even. Clinton announced Friday that Sen. Tim Kaine, a moderate Democrat from Virginia, as her running mate. At least two New Mexico Democrats Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Lujan will have speaking roles at the convention in Philadelphia. Lujan Grisham told the Journal on Friday that her speech will focus on Clintons agenda for women. If elected, Clinton would be the first female president in American history. Lujan Grisham said Clintons broad political experience as a first lady, U.S. senator from New York and secretary of state under President Barack Obama makes her vastly more qualified for the presidency than Trump. Shes been on Capitol Hill, shes got relationships with governors and legislative bodies and experts in a variety of fields, and shes got relationships with elected and appointed leaders abroad, Lujan Grisham said. And then youve got Trump, whos saying we should be isolated. Former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a delegate for Hillary Clinton, said she believes the tone for the convention will be set on the opening night, when Sanders delivers a prime-time speech. I expect it to be a kinder, gentler, more substantive convention, Denish said, comparing it with the just-completed Republican event in Cleveland. Denish said Sanders recent endorsement of Clinton should help sway many of his backers to Clintons camp. In New Mexicos Democratic primary election in June, Clinton narrowly defeated Sanders, with 51.5 percent of the ballots cast. Clinton arrives in Philadelphia suffering from a deficit of trust among many Americans, including some Democrats, because of her admittedly reckless handling of state information transmitted over private email servers and accounts. Clintons response to a crisis in Benghazi, Libya, in which four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed at the hands of Islamic radicals in 2012 when she was secretary of state, has raised questions about her judgment on national security matters. Former New Mexico House Speaker Raymond Sanchez, a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia, said he has known Clinton since before her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was first elected to the White House in 1992. Sanchez said he has no doubts about Clintons integrity or judgment and he said he hopes Clinton will address such matters head-on. I think you overcome that by being frank with the American public, and I think she has started to clear the air, Sanchez said, adding that he thinks controversies about her use of private email accounts and her role in the Benghazi massacre have been blown out of proportion by Republicans for political gain. A lot of this stuff is so far out there and so disputed it shouldnt even be an issue, he said. Democracy at work Some of New Mexicos Sanders delegates said they will arrive in Philadelphia looking to ensure the platform addresses Sanders issues, such a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage and college tuition assistance. Eleanor Chavez, a Sanders delegate from Albuquerque, said Clinton has embraced some of Sanders positions, but only under pressure. I dont know that she met him; I think she was pushed, Chavez said. Without Bernie, she would not have even thought about some things that are in that platform. I dont think she would have come as far if Bernie hadnt been there. But Chavez doesnt anticipate a divisive atmosphere among New Mexicos Democratic delegates in Philadelphia. I dont see it as division, Chavez said. I dont think weve ever going to agree on everything. I see it as democracy at work. Dylan Stafford, an 18-year-old Albuquerque resident who is one of the youngest delegates in the nation, is a Hillary Clinton supporter. Seeing her give the speech accepting the Democratic nomination is going to be a phenomenal, historic experience, he said. Although Stafford said some Bernie Sanders backers may try to stir things up at the convention, hes optimistic most Democrats will come together to support their partys nominee. The threat of Donald Trump will really help bring people together, he predicted. Debbie Maestas, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said the Republican convention in Cleveland worked to unite Republicans around Trump. But she predicted Democrats will have a harder time coalescing around their candidate. I think the Democrats in Philadelphia are divided. They have a lot of issues, Maestas said. They arent that excited about their candidate, because she has a lot of baggage. Truly, to have Hillary Clinton as president of the country does not look good. Its not a bright future. Its pretty grim. Journal staff writer Dan Boyd contributed to this story. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal A federal judge this week rejected a request by longtime meth user and two-time killer Christopher Blattner, who said he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea to federal narcotics and gun charges because he was high on LSD when he entered the plea last October. Blattner, who at the time of the plea hearing was imprisoned as a federal detainee at the Santa Fe County Detention Center for manufacturing methamphetamine in 2012 and carrying a Glock semi-automatic while doing so, claimed he didnt know he had a court date the next day and had taken LSD. When he tried to withdraw later, he said he didnt comprehend what was going on during the earlier hearing even though he told the chief magistrate judge 30 or 40 times that he did. In asking to withdraw his plea, Blattner said he had eaten an inch-square paper with LSD provided by an inmate friend between 9 and 10:45 the night before the October hearing and was still tripping. In testimony before U.S. District Judge James Browning in November, Blattner said that, during the plea hearing, the carpet looked wavy, as if it were liquid, people looked fake and scary, and the judge kept smiling. And then there was the federal prosecutor. You looked like one of those dwarves from freaking Lord of the Rings just, wow, man. It was a scary situation, visual hallucination, Blattner said to Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano Torrez about that day. He rebuffed Torrezs suggestion that he could have told the judge he did not understand what was happening if he were so impaired. Then things would have gotten much worse, Blattner said. I probably would have ended up naked in some freaking psych cell. Im scared (expletive) anyway. Long rap sheet In addition to the federal narcotics and gun charges, Blattner has pleaded no contest in state court to voluntary manslaughter in the August 2012 abduction and murder of former teacher Katherine Kathy Paquin, 62. Her body is believed to have been dismembered and has never been located. And he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement in the death of George Orozco in 2007 and to aggravated assault on a peace officer in 2007. He also admits having four prior felony convictions for trafficking or possessing methamphetamine and heroin. Acting as his own lawyer, Blattner is also trying to set aside the convictions in the Paquin and Orozco cases. The federal plea he asked Browning to set aside in November commits Blattner to 30 years in prison. Although his state court plea to two slayings and corresponding sentence to 28 years orders that his state and federal prison time run simultaneously, issues of jurisdiction mean that will not happen, according to court documents. Torrez suggested that was the true motive for the LSD claim, but Blattner denied it. In the November hearing, Blattner lectured Torrez when the prosecutor asked about his previous convictions, saying they were irrelevant. And he refused to name his LSD supplier, insisting that he wasnt a snitch and didnt want to get anyone else in trouble. Blattners refusal to name the inmate who allegedly supplied the LSD was significant in the courts rejection this week. Browning said it meant there was no way to verify the claim. And other witnesses during three days of testimony last fall had testified that LSD was virtually unheard of in prison, though a cornucopia of other drugs was available, as indicated by what was confiscated. Blattner himself testified that he had used heroin, suboxone and meth while in prison. He agreed that LSD was unusual, but said that he had used enough in his life to know it was the real thing. That plea agreement was a big surprise for me. I walked into this courtroom, high on acid, and you guys slapped 30 years in front of my face right there. Thats what happened, he said during the November hearing. In his state legal documents, Blattner claims his lawyers sold their plea deal to him as a package and says his attorneys in both state or federal proceedings were deficient. The no contest plea (to the murders) was taken from the basement of the federal court via speakerphone. My state attorney failed to inform me fully on what I was agreeing to and even went as far as to verbally abuse me in a meeting one week prior as I voiced having doubts, he says in the petition. The state sentencing agreement called for prosecutors to drop charges against Blattners ex-wife, Brittany, and called for Blattner to work with Albuquerque police detectives investigating Paquins death, including providing information on the circumstances of death and the location of her remains. But he has not divulged Paquins whereabouts. The civil lawsuit A civil lawsuit filed on behalf of Paquins daughter Cheri Rodriguez, meanwhile, argues that Blattner should never have been free in the first place either when he killed Orozco in 2007 or five years later when he killed Paquin and dismembered her corpse. It contends that the New Mexico Corrections Department and Guadalupe County Detention Center contractor GEO Group made egregious mistakes and that no one checked Blattners prison file before releasing him on parole on his earlier felony convictions. Corrections officials have publicly acknowledged mistakes in handling Blattner, but the lawsuit says no one has owned up to the full extent of the mistakes and, in fact, have offered misleading or incomplete statements. When Blattner was sentenced in 2007 for crimes two years earlier, he had 30 days to turn himself in. He didnt. And the Corrections Department failed to notice, the civil lawsuit says. He was arrested a year and a half later only after a concerned citizen called law enforcement saying Blattner was still loose. It was during this period that Orozco, 36, was murdered and his body dumped by the Route 66 Casino. Mistaken release Blattner was paroled from the GEO-run prison in Santa Rosa in February 2012, when he should have been incarcerated another three years. Within months of his release, Blattner was seen at Paquins home, and U.S. Secret Service officials learned of fraudulent withdrawals from Paquins bank account. On Aug. 14, 2012, he was tracked to a Northeast Heights home where he engaged in a nine-hour standoff with police. Brittany Blattner, who had been with him, exited the house, but Blattner stayed put. The gun used by Blattner, who as a convicted felon could not legally buy one, had been purchased for him by a straw buyer, a woman who was married to a police officer and was the daughter of another officer. Matt Garcia, the attorney representing Paquins daughter, says in the court pleadings that Blattners prison file was fat with court records, transport orders and other documents reflecting that he had pending charges while he was still in prison, and later that he had entered a plea and been sentenced. Neither GEO nor (Corrections) staff ever looked at these materials, even though they were required to do so, the lawsuit says. GEO disputes that the mistaken early release led to Paquins death. It says the murder was unforeseeable, Blattner initially complied with his strict parole conditions, and it was the Corrections and Parole Board who released Blattner. GEO has no control whatsoever over Blattner after his release, a company filing says. Save LAS CRUCES Expect the scent of flame-roasted green chile to begin filling the air in coming weeks. Local chile farmers reported the 2016 harvest has begun. Preston Mitchell, owner of The Hatch Chile Store, said Friday the first chile peppers a hot variety began being harvested about two weeks ago. They were from transplanted chile plants, which have a head start over plants grown from seeds planted directly in the field. Its early this year, he said. The crop is looking great. Despite a cool spring that some growers said slowed growth of plants early on, the crop wasnt harmed overall, farmers said. The green chile harvest will continue through October for some growers. Peppers still on the plant will morph into red chile. Hatch-area farmer Scott Adams said his workers began picking green chile, also from transplanted plants, on Wednesday morning. Thats three days earlier than last years start, he said. At this time, it looks overall healthier than last year, as a whole, he said. I think there was a little more curly top last year, but right now, by Gods grace, it looks pretty healthy. Curly top is a chile-stunting plant disease. Several farmers said the lack of rainfall so far this summer has helped to limit chile-harming diseases. A pattern of 100-degree days, however, has taken some toll. A federal agency that tracks crop progress in the state doesnt yet have figures for the green chile harvest. Mitchell said the growing season in Hatch has been positive for farmers. Its been a really nice year the same thing for onions, he said. A few people got a little bit of hail. Some Las Cruces growers were hit by a hail storm in late May. Jay Hill, who farms south of Las Cruces, said his crop wasnt struck by hail, but the summers extreme heat has slowed us down a little bit. Hes irrigating some chile plots with drip irrigation and others with flood irrigation, and the flood-irrigated crop seems to be tolerating the heat better. Even so, the crop looks great, he said. Its just were a little behind in general. Hill said his farms faced a bout of insects that harm chile earlier in the year, but weve recovered pretty well. He said hes growing several varieties: Sandia Select, Heritage 64, New Mexico 64, Joe Parker and Big Jim. He expects to start harvesting in about a week. Some of the chile will be sent to a processing plant, and some will be sold at a roadside stand on Avenida de Mesilla. In 2015, the New Mexico chile crop was valued at $41.1 million, up slightly from the $38.7 million of 2014, according to the the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service. Early August has been the more-typical start date for the green chile harvest in past years, though growers have begun pushing up the start date in recent years. The peak of the harvest usually happens around the end of August and the beginning of September. Mitchell said hes fielded eager inquiries from customers wanting to know when the harvest will start. His company ships out boxes of fresh green chile to people across the country. The first shipment went out last week. Its really important to a lot of people, he said. Hill, too, said hes fielding lots of requests for chile. Theyre foaming at the mouth for it, he said. Growers and experts said a number of challenges facing the New Mexico chile industry continue to exist, such as competition from other countries and an uncertain labor pool. In 2015, some 8,300 acres of chile were planted in New Mexico, including some 2,100 acres planted in Dona Ana County, according to the federal numbers. However, of the overall state total, only 7,700 acres were harvested the same amount as in 2014. While conditions look good now, farmers said anything can happen between now and the end of the growing season. Ideally, conditions would stay mostly dry, with a light shower once in a while to help set the blooms on the chile, Adams said. Also, a slight breeze each day helps, along with temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees, he said. We just thank the Lord for what we have now; we dont know what tomorrow brings, he said. Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter. 2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ Mosquitoes with the ability to pass the Zika virus have been found in the Portales area. But its not a reason to be fearful, according to state health and local agricultural officials. Patrick Kircher, the Roosevelt County agriculture agent, compares the news announced last week to West Nile concerns that go back more than a decade. It was going to happen; it is just a function of life, he said. It is just a matter of being responsible, watching what you are doing and avoiding contact with mosquitoes. Paul Ettestad, the state public health veterinarian, said these mosquitoes have already been found in Chaves, Eddy, Dona Ana and Bernalillo counties through a study shared by the New Mexico Department of Health and New Mexico State University. He said they have been placing traps, widely spread, across the counties and reporting whether they find either Aedes albopictus, the species found in Roosevelt County, or Aedes aegypti both breeds that can carry the virus also known as mild, nuisance disease. I dont think people should be afraid; I just think they need to be responsible, said Ettestad, adding that the mosquitoes could only become a serious threat if a person becomes ill with the virus overseas and travels back to Roosevelt County. You could potentially get sick if a returned traveler got sick with Zika in the Caribbean or South America; they return, then get bitten by this mosquito, said Ettestad, adding that the chances of contracting the virus from a mosquito in Roosevelt County today is almost zero. There have been no reports of the Zika virus in Roosevelt County and only four confirmed reports of the virus in New Mexico. Still, Ettestad said there remains a possibility the Zika virus could spread throughout many counties in New Mexico, with dangerous consequences, especially for pregnant women. The Zika virus causes extreme birth defects. He said the mosquito was only found in one of several traps in Roosevelt County but that does not mean it is confined to that one area of the county. Ettestad said the mosquitoes have been found in Curry County in past years through reports from mosquito control, and he believes they were not previously found in Roosevelt County because no one was looking. His advice to avoid any problems is to rid the community and homes of standing water bird baths, flower pots and toys or tires left out when it rains. Make sure you empty them out and scrub them, once a week, to avoid mosquitoes laying eggs, he said. 2016 The Portales News-Tribune (Clovis, N.M.) Visit The Portales News-Tribune (Clovis, N.M.) at www.pntonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ New Mexico State Police are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting in Gallup that happened Sunday morning, according to NMSP Sgt. Chad Pierce. Gallup police were dispatched to a home on Arnold Street at around 12:55 a.m. Sunday after callers reported that a man armed with a knife was threatening people. Officers found the man in an alley nearby holding two knives. They fired shots, striking the man, Pierce said. He was transported to the Gallup Indian Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Pierce said the events leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. The name of the officers involved will be released after interviews have been conducted, Pierce said. The man who was killed will be identified after his family is notified. The case will be forwarded to the District Attorneys office for review. A roundup of some our favorite recent cases of tax fraud. Birmingham, Ala.: A federal court has permanently barred preparer Jessica Leverett, a.k.a. Jessica Harris, from preparing returns for others after a U.S. complaint alleged that she repeatedly prepared federal income tax returns that understated clients liabilities or overstated their refunds. Leverett owns and operates a number of different prep businesses, including Tax Money Now, Dynamic Tax Services, Dynamic Tax Solutions and Express Money Tax, according to the complaint. Her businesses prepared returns that fabricate Schedule C losses to offset taxable income or to increase the EITC, according to the complaint. The complaint also alleged that her businesses prepare returns that claim undeserved education credits and that misreport self-employment income as household employee wages to avoid self-employment tax. The IRS examined 264 returns prepared by Leveretts businesses and found that 206 understated tax due, the complaint alleges. Altogether, Leveretts activities may have cost the U.S. more than $2.5 million in understated taxes or fraudulent refunds, according to the complaint. Leverett, who did not file a response challenging the allegations, was also ordered to give the federal government a list of her clients since 2014. Roswell, N.M.: Preparer Sylvia Franco, 46, received a suspended 18-year prison sentence with the stipulation that she pay $38,513.40 restitution to her victims after fraudulently preparing returns for 28 individuals from 2011 to 2014. She will serve 18 months in prison and must also serve five years of supervised probation; she was also ordered to no longer prepare income tax returns. Franco owned and operated Sylvia Tax Service, where she prepared returns with fraudulent, inflated deductions and cheated the State of New Mexico out of $120,493 in taxes owed. Jamaica, N.Y.: Nafeesah Hines, 46, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in connection with a scheme to submit false federal returns seeking fraudulent refunds. According to the indictment, Hines, who worked at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, conspired with Rodney Chestnut, a retired New York City Department of Corrections officer, and Clive Henry, a former IRS employee in the business of preparing returns, to recruit clients for using fraudulent 1099-OIDs to falsely claim refunds of taxes that were never paid. The indictment alleged that Hines, Chestnut, and Henry collected fees from clients based on a percentage of the refunds received, and supplied the clients with correspondence containing false and frivolous claims to send to the IRS in response to warning letters regarding the returns. In 2013, a federal court permanently enjoined Hines from promoting a tax fraud scheme involving fraudulent Forms 1099-OID and from preparing returns for anyone other than herself. Sentencing is October 11, when she faces a maximum of five years in prison, a term of supervised release and fines. Chestnut and Henry previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S.; their sentencing hearings are pending. By Claire Bernish Reactionary politics and legislation put us on hamster wheels guaranteeing a number of issues will never change, and militarized, brutal policing marks a prime example of this problem particularly now, following a smattering of attacks on officers in Dallas and elsewhere. In a reactionary response to several shootings of officers, Pres. Obama now plans to review and potentially repeal the May 2015 ban on police obtaining military surplus equipment like riot gear, explosives, armored vehicles, grenade launchers, bayonets, and more. In an exclusive interview, Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, told Reuters changes to the ban on the transference of military equipment to law enforcement agencies nationwide will be reviewed by Obama in the wake of those attacks. While violence from either side of the Thin Blue Line should be neither tolerated nor condoned, the militarization of police forces in both equipment and training has inarguably fueled the epidemic of police brutality that spawned these retaliatory attacks. A repeal of even part of this ban, particularly as now-nervous officers increasingly view the public with suspicions any encounter could escalate without warning, will inevitably fan the flames on this nations powderkeg. According to an unnamed White House official cited by Reuters, the administration regularly reviews rules concerning military surplus wares to ensure police receive the tools they need to protect themselves and their communities while at the same time providing the level of accountability that should go along with the provision of federal equipment. Accountability, however in contrast to the weapons and gear of war on American streets is in extremely short supply. Countless questionable uses of excessive force by officers against civilians, including riot-clad, MRAP-backed harassment and menacing of otherwise peaceful protesters, have gone unanswered by disciplinary or punitive action. Images from Ferguson, Missouri, during protests after Officer Darren Wilson fatally shot unarmed Michael Brown of armored vehicles rolling down the street, riot gear-clad and heavily armed police launching the same tear gas banned internationally in war at protesters and journalists, alike, and cordoned-off free speech zones catapulted the issue of militarization into the glare of the national and world spotlights. Obama eventually succumbed to enormous pressure from human rights advocates, activists, and swaths of the public by implementing the ban not long afterward, citing a substantial risk of police overusing or misusing military gear as clearly evidenced in Ferguson and elsewhere against, ever-so ironically, anti-police brutality demonstrations. But the retaliatory attacks on officers in several cities has twitchy cops begging for the return of the program of federal grants to obtain further equipment though, notably, the ban did not affect departments obtainment of these goods from private defense companies. By Matt Agorist Three years ago, when Edward Snowden fled from the US and met with reporters in Hong Kong to reveal his reasons for leaving he asked them to put their phones in the hotel room refrigerator. He asked them to do so in order to block the signals sent to and from the phones. Now, three years later, Snowden and Andrew Bunnie Huang have used that same principle to design a phone case that warns users when their data is being monitored. Say hello to the Snowden phone case. Snowden and Huang revealed their plans for the case via video link to an event at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The duo showed how the device connects to the phones radio transmitters and alerts the owner when a cellular, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection is being used to share or receive data. According to Snowden and Huangs research, the idea to make such a case was inspired by protecting journalists. Front-line journalists risk their lives to report from conflict regions. Casting a spotlight on atrocities, their updates can alter the tides of war and outcomes of elections. As a result, front-line journalists are high-value targets, and their enemies will spare no expense to silence them. In the past decade, hundreds of journalists have been captured, tortured and killed. These journalists have been reporting in conflict zones, such as Iraq and Syria, or in regions of political instability, such as the Philippines, Mexico, and Somalia. If you have a phone in your pocket thats turned on, a long-lived record of your movements has been created, Snowden said. As a result of the way the cell network functions your device is constantly shouting into the air by means of radio signals a unique identity that validates you to the phone company. And this unique identity is not only saved by that phone company, but it can also be observed as it travels over the air by independent, even more dangerous third parties. This device will act as a kill switch that would pull the phones power supply when it detected radio transmitting after the owner has attempted to turn it off. As Snowden points out, Airplane mode is often ineffective at preventing such communications interception. Turning off radios by entering airplane mode is no defense; for example, on iPhones since iOS 8.2, GPS is active in airplane mode. Furthermore, airplane mode is a soft switchthe graphics on the screen have no essential correlation with the hardware state. Malware packages, peddled by hackers at a price accessible by private individuals, can activate radios without any indication from the user interface; trusting a phone that has been hacked to go into airplane mode is like trusting a drunk person to judge if they are sober enough to drive. While the device is still far from ready for commercial distribution, Snowden and Huang note that they hope this case study will influence how individuals perceive their personal tracking devices they carry around in their pockets also known as cell phones. Over the coming year, we hope to prototype and verify the introspection engines abilities, they write. As the project is run largely through volunteer efforts on a shoestring budget, it will proceed at a pace reflecting the practical limitations of donated time. Judging by how well the news of this device is being received, Snowden and Huang should start a crowdfunding effort. Also, judging by the ever-increasing size and scope of the police and surveillance state this thing needs to be built yesterday. Matt Agorist is the co-founder of TheFreeThoughtProject.com, where this article first appeared. He is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Follow @MattAgorist. Two labourers were killed and eight others injured as an under-construction building collapsed in upscale Jubliee Hills in Hyderabad on Sunday, police said. The two killed labourers included a woman from West Bengal. Today at around 11 AM, when work was on to lay slab, it suddenly broke down and fell on the workers. At least 12 labourers were working when the slab collapsed and two of them were buried alive, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Venkateswara Rao said. Some labourers are feared trapped under the debris, which the authorities were removing and trying to rescue those buried alive, officials said. The accident occurred in Film Nagar, where the three-storey building was being built as part of the expansion of Film Nagar Cultural Centre and cement-concrete slabs for two floors were laid. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested a 24-year-old youth from Parbhani district in Marathwada region for suspected ISIS links. Khan was arrested early on Sunday morning and around one kg of explosives and other instruments have been recovered from him, a senior ATS official said. Prima facie, the explosives are low-grade explosives, the official said. Khan was also found to have used a car remote key for operating an IED, he said. ATS is also probing his suspected connections with global terror outfit Islamic State. Recently, 31-year-old Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus was arrested from Parbhani. Chaus was planning to join the Islamic State and was in constant touch with their members through social media. On Friday, a 43-year-old manRizwan Khanallegedly involved in recruiting youths for ISIS was arrested from Thane district in a joint operation by Kerala Police and the Maharashtra ATS as part of the probe in the southern state where several youths are suspected to have joined the terror group and headed to destinations abroad after being radicalised. Khan was picked up from his residence at Kalyan in Thane, within days of arrest of a man associated with Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of controversial preacher Zakir Naik, based on a complaint in Kerala. On July 21, Kerala Police, assisted by Maharashtra ATS, arrested Arshi Qureshi, associated with IRF, from Navi Mumbai for allegedly radicalising youths. The Kerala police traced Qureshi to Mumbai following a complaint lodged in Kochi by the brother of a young woman, suspected to have joined ISIS along with her husband and left the state. Rizwan Khan and Arshid Qureshi, both Naik aides, had facilitated the conversion of around 800 people across the country, ATS officials said. Both are connected to controversial televangelist Zakir Naiks Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an official source revealed to one of the daily newspapers. Officials said documents and marriage certificates seized from Khan indicate that the duo had converted over 800 Christians and Hindus to Islam. Rizwan however denied his involvement in any forced conversion. Citing ATS officials, the report said that the arrested accused, along with two other organizations apart from the IRF, were working to carry out conversions on a very large scale. And IRF is an umbrella organization. Its a very critical issue and needs to be addressed on a priority basis, the report said citing an officer monitoring the situation. The officials also reportedly stated that the organizations involved in conversion mainly target college students and jail inmates after providing them legal and financial help. There has been a mass exodus of people from Uttar Pradesh to other states metropolitan cities as they are fed up with the communal tension pertaining in the state before the Assembly Election due next year. They are believing on the proverbs like Jaan hai toh jahan hai and worried about their security. Law and order situation had deteriorated in the state, which are making them to leave the places. Political parties are making every effort to create communal disharmony in the largest populated state to gain political mileage. Therefore, people are relocating to metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata. However, irrespective of religion, people are running from their home state for some peace of mind. Many of them are staying with their relatives and friends in these cities. Some of them have migrated to cities like Vapi and Valsad in Gujarat. They are searching for jobs like electricians, plumbers and watchmen, in which they are skilled, whereas, some are working as carpenters, rickshaw and taxi drivers. Some others have set up paan stalls and vada pav outlets while some migrants are working in the construction sector. Right now, we are worried about the deteriorating law and order situation in UP hence we are migrating to other states. Often politicians try to divide people on the basis of caste and religion which have an adverse impact on our lives, said Ravi Dubey, an Aligarh resident. Since, we are feeling insecure in our native place we are relocating to metropolitan cities. There is no other option for us as we have to earn our livelihood. Plenty of job opportunities are available for people in the unorganised sector in cities like Mumbai and Pune, said Manish Mishra, a construction worker. Since the assembly election will be held in UP next year, there is a possibility of rise in communal riots in the state. We are worried about our familys security and have to support them. If there is a change of government after the election then we may return to our native place. We have applied for jobs in malls, retail outlets which employs large number of workforce, Rakesh Pandey. I am worried about the security of my daughter who is being troubled by unemployed youth in our areas. The government only indulges in communal politics and is not bothered about improving governance, said Saeed Siddique, a businessman. Mumbai is known as dream city, and here everybody get jobs. We left our business and come to Mumbai in search of job. Roz roz ke tension se tang aa gaye hai hum log, said Suresh Pasi, who worked as a carpenter. Southeast Asian nations were deadlocked on Sunday over how to confront sabre-rattling in the South China Sea as pressure from Beijing again drove a wedge between countries on the regions most contentious security issue. The gathering in Vientiane is the first time regional players including China and the United States have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal delivered a hammer blow to Beijings claim to vast swathes of the strategic sea. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) boasts four countries who have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the strategic sea and is fiercely divided on the issue. Rival claimants have accused China of deftly forging alliances with smaller countries like Laos, this years host, and Cambodia through aid and loans to divide the the once consensus-driven bloc. Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of ASEAN discord when countries swiftly disowned a joint statement released by Malaysia after an ASEAN-China meeting. That statement had expressed alarm over Beijings activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block the joint statement. Those divisions were on stark display once more in the Laos capital with insiders accusing Cambodia of scuppering moves to include a response to the tribunal ruling in a joint communique, expected at the end of Sundays meeting. We need to put our house in order, one diplomat involved in discussions told on Sunday. But we still have not agreed on anything. Another ASEAN diplomat added: We remain deadlocked. Were back to the negotiating table. A communal clash between two communities over an incident of eve teasing has prompted ten Hindu families in Aligarh district to seek permission for selling their properties. This comes close on the heels of reports of migration by Hindu families in Kairana in Shamli district last month. Hindu families, those who have packed their bags, have been asked by Aligarh Police to reconsider their decision. Aligarh Mayor Shakuntala Bharti is following the footsteps of his colleague Hukum Singh, who reported migration by Hindu families in Kairana in Shamli last month, which was proven wrong by the local administration and people itself there. Ms Bharti forced people to submit their affidavits urging the administration to buy their houses and shops, stating that they are fearful. When she became Mayor of Muslim dominated Aligarh in 2012, she said that, she is here to protect Cow and Woman (from Love jihad), which actually surprised many. Since then, what she has done for the girls of that area? Nothing. BJP is in power at the centre since 2014 and Modi is an elected representative of that state, then why these types of issues were not reported to him earlier? Suddenly ahead of UP elections, people are keen to leave UP and want to migrate elsewhere, why? There were reports of brutal gangrape during Jat agitation in Haryana, a minor Dalit girl brutally raped and murdered in Maharashtra, but no one said they want to leave the state. Mumbai is hub of extortion but never did people say they want to migrate from this city. Have you ever thought, why people of Kairana and Aligarh grab headlines and that also with BJP leaders declaring their migration? Is it true or just cooked stories? Politics has gone low and human lives and values lower than that. The entire issue ignited when some scoundrels pulled sari of a 19-year-old Hindu woman, the molestation instance led to stone pelting between the two groups. Actually, in old cities of Uttar Pradesh, the roads are narrow and very congested gallis, boys from a different community sit on both sides of the path and that becomes difficult for females to pass from that area. These days looking at the upcoming UP assembly elections, which is due next year in April-May, some elements are twisting and fueling riots like situation for political advantages. In Babri area the area which is in question very few Hindus are staying, and because of this, Hindu-Muslim minor clash is a daily event. Ms Bharti, earlier also accused Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) of selling beef in a canteen attached to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. Despite AMUs clarification that it was a buffalo meat, Bharti pointed at a purported photo of the canteen menu on her phone that showed beef biryani as one of the items. The canteen has since been closed. Its contract expired on February 23. However, Ms. Bharti propagated that the canteen shut down is a proof that there was something wrong. Actually, the beef controversy was an attempt to frame the university and tarnish its image. This is just one in the chain of events hitting universities in the country. Those days, this mayor added that her work had two main focus areas. One was to protect cows from being slaughtered and the other was to protect Hindu girls from love jihad. If almost every other day, women belonging to Hindu families are being subjected to harassment and eve-teasing then why the reports are not registered in police station? Why Bharti was silent till date? If police refuses to act on the complaints and the accused persons, why she did not approach BJP supremo, media or social media? The saffron party is very active on social media. Bharti is the Mayor of Aligarh from last four years. BJPs UP unit never came out of their comfort zone to help people, but as state elections are approaching, they are communalizing every issue. In the name of protecting cow, they are brutally killing and beating beef traders and affecting their businesses. Even, they propagated and created communal tensions in the name of Love Jihad, which miserably failed. Now, they come up once again with migration issue. The woman and her husband were on their way home when the youth snatched her Phone and bag. When the woman shouted for help, people of both communities gathered outside, leading to a clash. Some unidentified miscreants fired in the air while a few allegedly tried to attack the womans husband with a knife. The police intervened, and the situation was brought under control. An FIR was filed against four youths Nadeem, Suheil, Ismail and Danish on charges of outraging modesty, while the rest are absconding. There is growing Social Unrest in Uttar Pradesh. There is indeed a breakdown of law and order, at all levels including the law enforcing agencies. The victims husband knows the accused personally, as he was born and raised in Babri Mandi. Nadeem (the main accused arrested in the case) and his aides are unemployed youth. They are goons who are threatening the people and loot them for survival. This was an attempt to grab their belongings. Members of Hindu and Muslim communities stand divided on the existing scenario. Otherwise, locality is calm and people are fine. Local people blamed BJP and RSS for tension and said, they are showing their true colours again. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) By Louis Conte and Wayne Rohde National Law Review published an article on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) on 10/13/14. The author, Jenna Greene, did a thorough job of interviewing people who have worked in the program and reported on concerns that many people concerned about vaccine injury have been pointing out for years. We recommend that people read the full article here: The article noted how contentious the program has become. Many of the comments in the article are remarkable. Here is a sampling: "I'm so disappointed in it," said Michael Hugo, senior litigation counsel to Khorrami Boucher's Boston officeit makes me sick to try to do these cases because I've seen how bad it has become." It wasn't supposed to be difficult. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was originally created as a bail-out for pharmaceutical companies, which during the 1980s were being hammered in court by juries sympathetic to brain-damaged children, even if the vaccine makers had properly produced the product. By the end of 1984, only one company was still making the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine and shortages loomed. "It was supposed to be a friendly, fast alternative program that didn't require the protections plaintiffs would have in civil litigation," such as discovery or trial by jury, Gentry said. "It's the complete opposite." Once again, HRSAs David Bowman comments about autism cases: The fight these days isn't about autism, at least not much. In 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld two decisions by special masters rejecting a causal connection between vaccines and autism. Since then, 4,926 of 5,637 autism cases have been dismissed by the vaccine court, according David Bowman, a spokesman for the Health Resources and Services Administration. The court "has not compensated any cases based upon autism alone in the absence of sudden serious brain illness after vaccination," he wrote in an email. N.C. one of 31 states giving terminally ill patients access to unconventional treatments RALEIGH The platform adopted at this week's Republican National Convention includes a provision urging Congress to enact " Right to Try " legislation, which allows terminally ill patients the opportunity to use drugs or devices that have yet to gain Federal Drug Administration approval.The RNC platform, adopted in Cleveland, commends the 31 states, including North Carolina, that already have adopted "Right to Try" legislation. The N.C. General Assembly passed the legislation and Gov. Pat McCrory signed it into law in 2015.said Starlee Coleman, a spokeswoman for the Phoenix, Ariz.-based Goldwater Institute, which has pushed for the legislation at both the state and national levels.Coleman continued.Coleman said the Democratic National Convention won't consider a "Right to Try" provision next week when it meets in Philadelphia. That's because the platform already has been negotiated between surrogates for the two top contenders, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, she said.However, Coleman said, "Right to Try" is not a partisan issue. In North Carolina, the law passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House.Coleman said.Under North Carolina's law, drug or device manufactures are allowed - but not required - to give patients access to products that have completed their initial phase of trials. Any company making good-faith efforts to comply with the "Right to Try" law is shielded from liability claims.The law requires that a terminally ill patient seeking treatments that have not completed the FDA approval process must have tried or considered all other options already approved by the FDA. The patient's doctor also must recommend the drug and attest that the patient meets all applicable criteria.It also requires a patient to give "informed consent" before accepting an unapproved drug or device, acknowledging that it is unlikely any currently approved treatment would prolong the patient's life while acknowledging the risks involved. Seemingly, nothing now stands between Hillary Clinton and the Democratic nomination, so it's worth looking anew at her proposals regarding higher education.Back in May, Professor Gary Wolfram critiqued the ideas Clinton had been pushing, but recently she advanced some new proposals that go beyond her earlier ones.During her primary fight with Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton argued that his "free college" promise went too far. She merely advocated that students should be able to graduate "free of debt."Now, however, Clinton has come out with a plan to make public colleges and universities free for families with earnings less than $125,000 annually by 2021.Looking into the details, however, we find that "free" college won't come about by presidential decree (the states are not vassals of the president) but would depend on state governments going along with her scheme whereby the federal government would pay them if they cooperate by charging no tuition to students from qualifying "poor" families.It's impossible to say if all or even some states would go along. President Obama assumed that most if not all states would establish their own health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, but most did not. This could prove to be similar. Clinton's plan to get the states to make their colleges and universities "free" might sweep across the nation-but it might also be confined to only a few "blue" states.Suppose a state decides to adopt Clinton's free college plan. What would the consequences be?First, some students who previously concluded that the cost of college (even at the already highly subsidized public institutions) was greater than the expected benefits would now decide differently and choose to enroll. Even though most students and their families don't try to do a precise cost/benefit analysis on going to college, if tuition were suddenly reduced to zero, that would certainly induce some to say, "Now it's worth a try."That would mean at least a modest increase in enrollment, but it would come mainly from the most academically marginal students. The colleges and universities that gained in those enrollments would also find they need to increase remedial programs. Even so, drawing in more academically weak students will mean an increasing dropout rate, a metric that schools fear because it hurts their rankings.In other words, drawing in more students is a mixed blessing.Another adverse result from making college tuition free would be that many students would devote less effort to their courses. Humans have a tendency to put more of themselves-to feel more "invested"-when they have to pay for education (or any other good or service) than when they don't.Federal Reserve Bank of New York economist Aysegul Sahin found evidence for that common sense belief when she studied the effort college students put into their work in a 2004 paperShe concluded,Therefore, while the Clinton plan might "produce" more college graduates, it would probably reduce the overall level of learning. This is another of those cases where government action leads to visible benefits but at the expense of greater but hidden costs.One more effect of the plan would probably be increased federal control over state university systems. With a greatly increased inflow of federal dollars into those systems, U.S. Department of Education officials and Congress itself (particularly if the Democrats have control) would have more leverage than ever to dictate policy and perhaps curriculum. The prospect of further loss of control over "their" university systems could be enough to cause some governors to say "no thanks" to the Clinton proposal.Finally, how would this plan affect private colleges and universities? Many small schools already find it hard to stay afloat and if any appreciable number of students who might have enrolled in them instead decide that attending a state university free of tuition is a better deal, they'll be in much greater peril. We would probably then get still another federal program to help save the endangered private schools.Clinton also advanced new ideas about the financing of college. Students who already have taken out federal loans would be given a three-month moratorium on their payments. During that time, they could refinance to lower their monthly payments. Clinton declared that she wantsThat's rhetoric many will find appealing, but the fact is that many who have college loans can't afford to pay them at all. Refinancing is of little or no help to them.Moreover, there is an obvious fairness problem with the moratorium proposal. As Andrew Kelly observes in this article,Why indeed? Perhaps the motive behind this proposed moratorium is to garner as many grateful votes as possible.Lastly, Mrs. Clinton has released a new loan forgiveness idea. As part of her Initiative on Technology and Innovation, she wants to allow budding entrepreneurs to defer payments on their student loans for up to three years, along withThis idea is obviously crafted to appeal to tech-savvy young people, but it's another instance of misusing educational policy to advance an economic objective.Some young people certainly have tried founding businesses shortly after graduating from college and a few have been notably successful. But this plan won't inspire more entrepreneurship. All it would do is to give a small subsidy at taxpayer expense to those who give entrepreneurship a shot.Manhattan Institute analyst Preston Cooper points out the glaring problem with this proposal.Entrepreneurship is far more vital than Clinton realizes; if she really wanted to promote it, the way to go about that would be to remove federal regulatory burdens that impede people from beginning new businesses. (To my knowledge, widespread deregulation will not be part of the Democratic platform.) Gifting back to entrepreneurs (at taxpayer expense) a small percentage of the cost of having gone to college will not jump-start business startups in our increasingly business-unfriendly economy.And why should individuals who happen to land jobs in startup firms get breaks on their student loans while others with loan debts don't? That makes sense only as a political ploy.Topping this proposal off, Clinton would forgive (again, at taxpayer expense) student loans up to $17,500 if the entrepreneur starts a business that operates in a "distressed community" or qualifies as a "social enterprise" with "measurable social impact and benefit."That would result in a back-door federal subsidy for a few favored college grads pursuing "enterprises" that progressive politicians and bureaucrats like. And just imagine the reams of paper that would go into the new regulations federal bureaucrats would have to write to cover these new policies.There's never been any doubt that a Clinton administration would mean more federal intervention in higher education. These new campaign proposals show how much further the Democratic nominee will go to keep the higher education bubble inflated. July 24, 2016 Egypts National Council for Women launched last month a media campaign under the slogan The Taa' Marbouta is your strength. In Arabic, a language where words have grammatical gender, the taa marbouta is a letter coming at the end of a word to denote femininity. The campaign features a series of short videos shown on various TV channels, including one showing a young woman who breaks the walls of a prison she is trapped in and manages to get out. The campaign aims to encourage women to break all barriers standing in their way and not to accept societys narrow perceptions, and was launched in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, the United Nations Development Program and the Swedish Embassy. Rania Yahya, a member of the National Council for Women, spoke to Al-Monitor about the idea behind the campaign. It aims to deliver the voice of the Egyptian woman to various audiences, to encourage young women and to develop their spirit of determination and empower them." She said, The letter taa marbouta [i.e., femininity] is the secret of womens strength and not their vulnerability. Yahya explained why the month of Ramadan was chosen for the launch of the campaign. There is a bigger audience during Ramadan; people watch more [television] since working hours are limited and Egyptians mostly head back home to wait for iftar. She added, TV drama has forced the majority of Egyptians to watch television and keep up with media campaigns. Yahya said the campaign isnt limited to the month of Ramadan. She said that in addition to using the TV clips, the National Council for Women will continue to convey the voice of Egyptian women through radio broadcasts, educational articles in different publications, and seminars and workshops held at the councils various branches. Yahya said cultural issues are an important factor to consider when speaking of womens empowerment. Society in rural areas and less developed provinces is rather patriarchal, she said. She stressed the importance of educating men on the important role of women, and how they represent half of the society, noting that she had recently visited some villages and emphasized to the men that the nations revival will come through the hands of women. In general, society is aware of the importance of women because of the major role they have played in politics since the January 25 Revolution in 2011 to this day, and those who do not admit this fact are discrediting the role of women [in Egypt], Yahya added. She said the target audience includes men and women alike. The [campaign] targets women so they would not feel weak, since the girl in the ad breaks free and proves she is able to confront difficulties. We also want to show men who live within a patriarchal culture that women are powerful, she said. She also noted that such ads have a major impact on children in terms of instilling values about how powerful women can be and their ability to work and raise children. At the end of May, a report issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics in cooperation with the National Council for Women and the UNFPA showed the economic cost of violence against women amounts to 1.49 billion Egyptian pounds (around $168 million) annually. Amal Fahmy, the director of the Tadwein Gender Research Center, told Al-Monitor, While this campaign is important, there are a number of questions that have yet to be answered, such as the cost for such campaigns and the extent of its success in changing how society looks at women. In addition, [it is necessary] to evaluate this campaign and have follow-up campaigns. These campaigns must be accompanied by a comprehensive program or an amendment to laws on the status of women, she added, noting that in her view only the educated understand such campaigns; not all social classes are able to. Fahmy said, The enormous amounts pumped into the ads ought to be spent on projects that benefit women. It should be noted that the National Council for Women launched a five-year national strategy to combat violence against women on April 27, 2015, to reduce the rates of domestic and societal violence against women. Rida al-Denbouki, a human rights activist and the executive director of the Center for Women's Legal Aid and Counseling, told Al-Monitor that the ads impact on the public cannot be evaluated at this stage because more time is needed. But he said ads alone are not enough. Ads will not have an effect at a time when women are still being harassed in public means of transportation and some continue to call for gender-separated classrooms in schools, he said. Denbouki said he is shocked by the proliferation of TV advertisements that degrade women. Although such ads have [at times] been stopped from being aired, some have returned [to TV broadcasts]. He added, In light of the large number of such ads, one cannot imagine that the ads that support women could achieve a fundamental change. The state has two faces; one that advocates women's rights and another that abuses and persecutes them. The state talks about women's empowerment, but we have yet to see women in high-ranking positions such as governor or minister of justice or education. Denbouki demanded radical changes such as liberal sermons in mosques and churches, advocating the importance of women as well as the appointment of female clerics, which would change society's perception of women. July 24, 2016 Turkish coup attempt had "nationwide tentacles" On July 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closed thousands of charities and private schools as he expanded his crackdown in the aftermath of the failed July 15 coup. A restructuring of the military is also in the cards. Kadri Gursel reports that 35% (124 of 358) of the generals and admirals in Turkeys armed forces (TSK) have been arrested, and that the coup was widespread with nationwide tentacles. He writes that, except for the Turkish navy, it would not be an exaggeration to estimate that between one-third and one-half of forces on the ground had joined the uprising at various levels. Erdogan has signaled that the coup aftermath will likely be a final reckoning for cleric Fetullah Gulen and his followers. The Gulen movement and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) had at one time been allies in advancing the AKPs Islamist agenda, including purges of alleged Kemalist elements in the TSK. During these years, Gulen followers expanded their influence among the judiciary, police and armed forces. This was fine with AKP rulers until 2013, when Gulen fell out with Erdogan, then prime minister, who subsequently began a widely publicized purge of Gulen loyalists in the judiciary and military. Gursel writes, Of the 124 generals and admirals detained, 83 are brigadier generals and rear admirals. As far as can be determined, about half of them were promoted to the rank of brigadier and rear admiral in 2013 and later. This indicates that most of the generals who today are accused of coup plotting were promoted to fill the ranks vacated by their colleagues who were purged in the Sledgehammer and Ergenekon cases. It can't be a coincidence that they constitute the majority of the plotters of this failed coup. In addition to the Gulenists, those in the armed forces involved in the coup included pragmatists who joined the plotters for career advancement and personal interests; soldiers who had to join under pressure or blackmail; and lower-ranking soldiers who couldnt defy orders because of the TSK's absolute-obedience culture, as Metin Gurcan reports. Gurcan adds that the timing of the coup may have been related to a Supreme Military Council meeting scheduled for the first week in August to decide on senior military promotions and appointments. Gurcan wrote in August 2015 that then-newly appointed Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar had been tasked to weed out Gulenists in the TSK as part of a broader purge authorized by the AKP. An Al-Monitor correspondent who was an eyewitness to the failed coup and its aftermath writes, The coup attempt was not the work of a small group of renegades, and the plan was not amateurish. The coup plotters had support from all segments of the armed forces and managed to seal all Turkey's borders. The coup was stillborn due to the efforts of the MIT [Turkish Intelligence Service], rather than simply failing on its own after being launched. One unanswered question is why, despite knowledge of an imminent coup attempt, it was the police and members of the public rather than the rest of the armed forces who were on the streets trying to stop the F-16s and tanks. The coup was not an Erdogan plot, but if he succeeds in fully suppressing the takeover attempt, his hold over power will deepen. Mainstream media in Turkey have been instrumental in rallying support for Erdogan. Their unconditional support has prevented anyone from questioning the governments calls for the public to attend rallies for democracy. Gursel concludes that the outcome is devastating for Turkeys institutions and regional standing: This TSK, infested with Gulenists, was not the national army of Turkey. The [Gulenist] Congregation had become an army within an army. In addition, the TSK is a NATO army. Any crisis, any weakness in its command and performance would also be a NATO crisis. The TSK is in a historic crisis and decline. Iran benefits from clear stance on coup Erdogan is also keeping score with regard to the international response to the attempted coup and its aftermath. One possible outcome is an improvement in relations with Russia and Iran, as the Turkish government and media have been less than satisfied with the responses of the United States, the European Union and certain Arab countries, as Fehim Tastekin reports. Turkish officials and pro-government media have even alleged a possible US role in the coup, and Erdogan will be sensitive to Western criticism of his crackdown. On July 22, US President Barack Obama condemned the coup attempt and rejected allegations that the United States had any advance knowledge of it. The US-Turkish relationship may be put to the test if Turkey formally requests Gulens extradition. Iran seems to have benefited from its clear stance on the failed coup. Ali Hashem explains why Iranian leaders quickly and unequivocally opposed the coup and backed Erdogan as head of Turkeys democratically elected government. Irans support came with a reminder, however, that Tehran hopes for a turnaround of Turkeys Syria policy. Hashem reports that Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a former foreign minister, said while condemning the coup that he hopes the Turkish government will respect the views and votes of the Syrian people and allow them to decide their own government. Hashem adds, It was a clear message from Iran to Turkey regarding Syria and the future of the struggle in the region. For five years now, Iranian officials have on repeated occasions stated that they have been trying to engage the Turks on a path to address the situation in Syria, and while unsuccessful, have never given up on this approach. Turkish reports document Islamic State operations Mahmut Bozarslan reports on Turkish state documents that reveal previously unknown details of Islamic State operations in Turkey. For example, The IS emir in Turkey is Halis Bayancuk, also known as Abu Khazanla; at one point he was detained, but then released. His father, Haci Bayancuk, was a high-level official of Hezbollah in Turkey. Halis Bayancuk is the senior official of radical structures in Diyarbakir, which operate primarily in four locations: Madrasa/Masjid, Takwa Education and Reading Hall, Tavhid Bookstore and Dar-ul Erkam Reading Room. These locations focus on converting youths who are not deeply religious and then join the organization. Bozarslan describes the operations of the IS transportation network: Those who want to come to IS territory have to acquire a reference, known as tazkiye, from an emir of the organization. That emir then sends the names of the people who will come to IS customs units to arrange the border crossing. The IS sponsor emir instructs potential recruits to go to Gaziantep by plane or by bus. The customs units convey the names of those coming to border emir Ilhami Bali. This is when the transport network Bali has set up on the Gaziantep-Kilis-Raqqa axis gets into action. Jihadis contact Bali after reaching Gaziantep. They are told to take a taxi and go to a meeting point determined by the organization. At that point, the newcomers meet a liaison agent and are taken to IS guesthouses in Gaziantep and Kilis. Any personal belongings that may hinder their border crossing are taken from them and kept for safekeeping at a warehouse whose location hasnt been found yet. Then Bali sends one of nine taxi drivers working for him to bring jihadis and their families to the second meeting point at the town of Elbeyli. Taxis are paid 40 Turkish liras per jihadi. These people are taken across the border by a smuggler named Huseyn Hano. Police determined that women among the newcomers are taken to a womens guesthouse under the control of Deniz Buyukcelebi, alias Abu Enes, while the men are taken to a camp at Tel Ahmar. Newcomers are allowed to bring a maximum of two suitcases per person. Belongings initially stored in Turkey are later sent to Tel Ahmar. Ersen Celik, alias Abu Mousa, the IS official responsible for technological affairs, provided information previously unheard of after he was apprehended in Gaziantep. Celik said IS is trying to build a hydrogen bomb and is planning to launch attacks using remote-controlled model planes in Turkey. Celik first came to Turkey in 2014 to buy model planes and left. He was arrested after his return to Turkey. July 21, 2016 Alarm bells went off at European Union headquarters after the Knesset approved July 11 the transparency bill, which mandated that Israeli nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive more than half of their income from foreign funds must disclose this in any report or contacts with government officials. The fact that left-wing, pro-peace and human rights organizations are targeted by the Israeli government is seen in Brussels as an affront to Israels already flawed democracy. There are those at EU headquarters who are beginning to question the preferential treatment of Israel. They note that countries have to adhere to democratic standards in order to enjoy their preferential agreements with the EU (such as in the area of scientific research). A senior official close to Federica Mogherini, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the EU leadership in Brussels and in its main capitals is extremely concerned with this Knesset legislation and with other signs that Israel's democracy is deteriorating. The official named several other examples, starting with revelations of past racist expressions by the new IDF Chief Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim about the right of Israeli soldiers to rape non-Jews during wars statements described by the EU official as an Islamic State-like worldview. The decision to go ahead with the nomination of the rabbi is severely criticized in Brussels. The official also referred to racist legislation efforts by the government, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Nationality Law (emphasizing Israel's Jewish character) or the disbarment bill designed to oust Arab Knesset members. He noted that such laws should be taboo in any democracy. The EU, said the official, is concerned with the curtailing of freedom of the press and of speech by the monopolization of media outlets orchestrated by the prime minister. This, he argued, touches at the very heart of democracy. The official criticized racist rhetoric by several Israeli ministers, such as Avigdor Liberman, Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked and Yariv Levin rhetoric considered disturbing from a European-democracy-defending point of view. The official added to this list the impact of the occupation on Israels internal democracy. The curtailing of basic human rights by the army is, in his view, imported into Israel by a government that believes in the power of using force and ignoring the value of equality. The EU official said that Europe today is equally worried by the flaws in Israels democracy as it is by the stalemate in the peace process. In his view, this could have negative repercussions for longer term EU-Israel relations. Against the backdrop of these concerns, EU officials are now in the process of preparing a list of demands in relation to Israels democracy to be presented to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the foreseeable future. These demands, spelled out in diplomatic language, will include abolishing the transparency bill, guaranteeing full equal rights for the Arab minority (the EU is ready to assist in social and educational projects in the Israeli Arab sector), halting the approval process of the nationality bill (placing Israels Jewish identity above its democracy), refraining in general from any racist legislation and entering a two-state solution process based on the 2016 French initiative and the 2002 Arab initiative. According to the senior EU official, these positions will be presented to Israel orally in Brussels and Jerusalem: Brussels does not want to interfere in domestic Israeli issues. Israeli democracy is up to Israel. The EU wants to ensure that Israel remains committed to its democratic values in order to justify to all its members the preferential agreements that Israel enjoys with the EU. The two-state solution is a strategic interest of all European countries. On these issues, according to the official, there is European consensus. Apparently German chancellor Angela Merkel is concerned and enraged by these latest developments, especially the transparency bill, which affects many major German foundations (supporting Israeli NGOs). It appears that in the coming weeks, the EU office for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will do its utmost to impress upon Israel the seriousness of a possible deterioration in EU-Israel relations and to quell the voices in the EU, mainly by socialist parliamentarians who are demanding that the EUs future agreements with Israel be linked to the level of Israels democracy. In Washington, similar criticism was expressed on the transparency bill. State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing July 12 that the administration is deeply concerned of the chilling effect that this new law could have on NGO activities. As the president has made clear, a free and functional civil society is essential. Jerusalem is aware of these European sentiments and criticism. A senior Foreign Ministry official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu is not taking the European warning seriously. In Netanyahu's view, so he explained, the EU is hypocritical it does not criticize other countries in the region, such as Egypt and Jordan, for serious human rights abuses and totalitarian regimes. The official added, There is a serious European double standard led by the more leftist and pro-Palestinian parties as part of an effort to delegitimize Israel. The government has no intention of changing any of its legislation because of EU criticism. The EU would do better to deal with the terror attacks happening on its ground. But Israel would do very well to listen to the EU concerns. They do not emanate from enemies, but from genuine friends of Israel, such as Merkel and French President Francoise Hollande. In the end, this is not about Europe, but about Israels very identity as a Jewish democracy. Its in Israeli strategic interest to adhere to its own values of the 1948 Declaration of Independence and to maintain a Jewish majority based on a two-state solution. July 20, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Tall al-Ajjul, south of Gaza City, is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip. The site is a mound on the north bank of Wadi Gaza, where the old town of Beth-Eglaim was located during the days of the Mamluks and Ayyubis. In 2200 B.C., this town represented ancient Gaza, which was located during the Canaanite era in 3000 B.C. in the middle of what is now Gaza City. Its important geographic location between Asia and Africa made it a battlefield for most empires of the ancient and new worlds, such as the Assyrians, pharaohs, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Crusaders. Tall al-Ajjul was an extension of a large commercial port during the early Iron Age (1200 B.C.) and maintained broad trade relations with Egypt, Syria and the Mediterranean islands. In 1933, British archaeologist William Matthew Flinders Petrie discovered gold jewelry, ornamental objects, palaces and horse stables there. Fadel al-Otol, a Palestinian antiquities restoration expert and member of the French Institute for Archaeology, which is part of the French Consulate in Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor, Tall es-Sakan is the oldest archaeological site in Gaza and it was established 1,000 years before Tall al-Ajjul, in the Middle Bronze Age. Tall al-Ajjul acquired its name from a Golden Calf [al-Ajal" referring to a calf in English]. The ground [in this region] was filled with pharaonic scarabs made of ivory, copper and bones. Water channels feeding Ancient Gaza stemmed from Tall al-Ajjul. Otol added, Tall al-Ajjul was razed since it was considered a land owned by Palestinian families living in the region, rather than an important archaeological area. Ismail Abushmees, a researcher who gave a lecture in May titled Gazas Alternative History, told Al-Monitor, The oldest two historical sites in Gaza are Tall al-Ajjul and Tall es-Sakan. They are the site of the original Ancient Gaza and the southern border gate to Ghaza al-Talliya. He added, If excavation works are carried out at a depth of 3 meters [9.8 feet] or less, we will find numerous archaeological and pottery pieces. Abushmees explained that in addition to a large golden calf found underground, archaeologists discovered several small golden calves and ancient pharaonic scarabs made of gemstones such emeralds and copper and ivory. A manuscript dating back to April 1, 1932, reads, Flinders Petrie, a British archaeologist, found on this day, during excavation works at Tall al-Ajjul, a 6-meter-long and 3-meter-high Golden Calf with small diamond horns. The eyes are two black diamonds. It has four wings of a 4-meter length each. The calf weighs 5 kantars, 10 pounds 7 dirhams. On the importance of Tall al-Ajjul, Rashad al-Madani, a history professor at Al-Quds Open University, told Al-Monitor, Tall al-Ajjul is Gazas ancient city in the Canaanite era. It was invaded by the Hyksos who fought a great battle against the pharaohs led by Ahmose I. It fell under the Muslim Conquest led by Amr ibn al-Aas in 635 during the Battle of Ajnadayn against the Christian-Byzantine Empire and was liberated from Christian crusaders by Saladin al-Ayyubi during the Battle of Hattin in 1187. Tall al-Ajjul hosts the first defensive tunnel in history, which is full of archaeological pieces from different eras. Madani called on the Palestinian government in Gaza and the West Bank to invest in the archaeological sites in Gaza to put an end to theft and looting, ensure follow-up by officials and rehabilitate the sites to turn them into important tourist attraction areas that lift the economy. Hiyam Bitar, a research and studies official at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, talked to Al-Monitor about the razing of Tall al-Ajjul by the families residing in the area and how the site was turned into a residential area. She said, Swedish archaeologist Peter Fischer came to the site in 1999, he probed the area in search for the lost city of ancient Gaza underground but had to halt his excavation works and leave Gaza in the wake of the Al-Aqsa intifada in late September 2000. He returned in 2010 and I accompanied him. He was surprised to see that the landmarks of Tall al-Ajjul had been drastically changed. He found out that the site he was working on is now owned by a family from Gaza. He asked the family to allow him to excavate the site for five weeks, but when he returned after two months he found out that the family had constructed a three-story building on the site. Bitar explained that in light of the security chaos in 2006 and 2007, citizens violated archaeological sites and the area witnessed an urban sprawl not subject to any government oversight. She said, The Ministry of Tourism is unable to control archaeological sites and guard them around the clock given that it has no guards or protection workers assigned for this purpose. There is clear neglect by the government in following up on and securing archaeological sites. Mohammed Khela, the undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, told Al-Monitor, We cannot find a solution to this chaos and the looting of archaeological sites. There is no national plan to manage these archaeological sites, not to mention the lack of government budget or coordination with international cultural institutions. The lands of Tall al-Ajjul have become registered in the names of [Palestinian] families, and the government has been unable to halt construction works or take back these lands in return for due compensation to their owners. He explained that all archaeological exploration and excavation works are now suspended in Gaza in light of the political situation, calling on the international institutions to excavate the numerous archaeological sites that are still intact. He added, Two residential towers were built in the vicinity of Tall es-Sakan under the reign of the previous government in 2000. We also stopped the construction of two other towers at the bases stage. We are ready to help any international excavation mission. Major archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip have been subject to looting and lack of maintenance and excavation works, not to mention razing and demolition. Many sites have been turned into military sites or headquarters and government and private institutions. Tall al-Ajjul has been completely razed. Residential areas have been built over antiquities buried underground. The nearby Tall es-Sakan has been turned into a military site for the Palestinian military faction Humat al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Protectors). It should be noted that the government has yet to implement any deterrent measures or show any interest. July 24, 2016 BAGHDAD Alaa Abboud, the spokesman for the Peace Brigades, the armed faction of the Sadrist movement, said in a TV interview with a local Iraqi channel July 20, We will target the US forces anywhere they are in Iraq. We are not only keen on targeting them, but thirsty for their blood. This followed threats by the head of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, July 17 to target US military troops that are allegedly to be sent to Iraq soon to take part in the battle to liberate Mosul. Sadr, who fought a fierce battle against US forces in 2003 in the city of Najaf in southern Iraq, continues to believe that US military personnel should be targeted by his armed groups. The Shiite cleric's threats came following the visit of US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to Iraq on July 11. Carter said, We are pleased to tell you today that [the Pentagon] has agreed to send 560 more troops to Iraq to provide critical support to Iraqi forces, in terms of infrastructure and logistic capabilities in the Qayyarah military airport. Before Carters announcement on sending more US troops to Iraq, Sadr had hinted in a TV interview July 6 about his intention to target the US Embassy in Iraq by saying, The [US] embassy has harassed us before and now it is our time to harass it. Today, Sadr has a force within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) known by the name of the Peace Brigades, which he said were ready to target US forces anywhere in the country. This places the Iraqi government in an awkward position with its US ally, which has been supporting the war against terrorism and signed the Strategic Framework Agreement with Iraq. What is strange is that Sadr has a political bloc in the Iraqi government and parliament. Iraq has positive bilateral relations with the United States and is working under the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between the two countries in 2011 and voted on by the Iraqi parliament. As per the agreement, the United States is committed to provide support and assistance to Iraq on all levels. Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, told Al-Monitor, The position of the Iraqi government and its prime minister, Abadi, is very clear, which is to cooperate with the United States and accept the provided support in their fight against terrorism. Those who make other statements speak for themselves only. American advisers have been in Iraq since August 2014 and they are helping Iraq in its war against terrorism. They have not been targeted by any party. The presence of these advisers or any US military personnel comes as part of the Strategic Framework Agreement, he said. In fact, a number of US advisers have been stationed in Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar province and have not been attacked. It appears that Sadrs statements are part of the attempts to pressure the Iraqi government and embarrass it in front of the United States, especially since the dispute between Sadr and Abadi is growing increasingly. It is not likely that Sadr would order his forces to target US soldiers participating in the battle against the Islamic State, given the military hardships on the ground and especially since Sadrs followers are likely following orders by the Iraqi official troops. In the most recent protest July 15 in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, Sadr and his followers shouted, America leave, calling for the closure of the US Embassy in Baghdad and the expulsion of all those who work under the US government umbrella. In a statement July 13, Sadr went as far as to accuse Iraqis who worked with US institutions and applied for asylum or immigration in the United States of having no honor. Sadrs threats against the US Embassy in Baghdad are nothing new. He said March 8, All embassies in the Green Zone [the heavily fortified area that includes Iraqi government buildings and diplomatic missions] in Baghdad will be safe from any attack, should Iraqi [protesters] wish to enter it, except for the US and British embassies. Sadr, however, is not the only one to threaten the US forces in Iraq. The PMU, which is closely linked to Iran, considers the US troops to be an occupying force and has threatened to target them. Threats and statements have yet to be translated into actual acts on the ground, despite the US advisers presence in western Iraq for two years now. Thus, any party seeking to target US military forces could find itself at loggerheads with the Iraqi government, which does not view the US troops as an occupying force in Iraq but as a force working with the Iraqi forces, which gives them legitimacy to be present on Iraqi territory. Decatur police arrested a man on Friday accused of selling drugs out of a room at the Motel 6. The Decatur Police Department opened an investigation into possible drug activity in room 114 of the motel after receiving numerous complaints from citizens. Brett Marvel was identified as the suspect selling the drugs, according to Decatur police. Officers with the Decatur Police Department's Organized Crime Unit, Anti-Crime Unit and SWAT team executed a search warrant on the room on Friday. Inside they found a quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and large amount of crash. A surveillance camera system was also found in the room. Marvel was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana second degree, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. Marvel was booked into the Decatur City Jail and will later be transferred to the Morgan County Jail on $11,500 bond. Gabriel Pass and Robin Pass.jpg Gabriel Pass, 4, with his mother, Robin Pass of Prattville. Gabriel is having fewer than two seizures a day, on average, since he began receiving CBD oil, after a new law took effect June 1. . (Brooke Glassford at Colorbox Photography) Four-year-old Gabriel Pass surprises his mother every day now that he's gotten relief from frequent seizures. Ethan Goodridge, 17, is having fewer seizures and is laughing and talking more, his mother says. Gabriel and Ethan, so far at least, are two of the success stories resulting from a new Alabama law that allows the use of cannabidiol, or CBD oil, to treat debilitating medical conditions. CBD oil is derived from the marijuana plant. Leni's Law took effect June 1. It's named for Leni Young, 4. The Young family moved from Alabama to Oregon last year so that Leni could use CBD oil to treat her seizure disorder. Leni's mother, Amy Young, said Leni has gone from having hundreds of seizures a day to a total of six since September. Leni began taking CBD oil in August, Young said. "Leni is great," Young said. "She is spectacular. She is using her body more and more and doing new things every day." Leni's Law was an expansion of Carly's Law, which passed in 2014 and authorized a study at the University of Alabama in Birmingham on the use of CBD oil to treat seizure disorders. Carly's Law was named after Carly Chandler, whose parents joined other families in a persistent lobbying effort at the Alabama State House, an effort that was repeated with Leni's Law. Early results from the Carly's Law study, released by UAB in March, show promise. Fifty percent of the 51 subjects saw sustained improvement in seizure control, with declines in seizures ranging from 32 percent to 45 percent. Bob Shepard, a spokesman for UAB, said the study now has 95 participants. He said UAB has submitted abstracts to the American Epilepsy Society, and information about those that are accepted will be released later. Amy Young has already seen the evidence she needs. Leni Young and her father, Wayne Young. Leni's seizure disorder has improved dramatically since the family moved from Alabama to Oregon last year and she began receiving CBD oil. "Leni is proof enough for me," Young said. "I understand that other people need to have a lot more documentation." With Leni's Law on the books, Young is hearing from families in Alabama who can try CBD oil without moving. Robin Pass and her husband Frank adopted Gabriel in 2013, a year after taking him in as foster parents. They live in Prattville. Gabriel has schizencephaly, a condition marked by clefts in his brain. He's blind and uses a wheelchair. Despite his condition, Gabriel showed progress as an infant, rolling over, babbling, eating from a spoon. Robin Pass said they knew to expect development delays. They also knew seizures were likely. The seizures started when Gabriel was 11 months old and came relentlessly, 10 to 20 a day, Pass said. Pass said the seizures, called tonic seizures, stiffen Gabriel's muscles. When they subside after 30 to 45 seconds, Gabriel usually vomits. "It wipes him out," she said. "It totally disrupts everything that his brain was doing." "You can see how you would not be able to learn anything at all. You're constantly being interrupted by that electrical mishap in your brain." Pass said the seizures took away Gabriel's smile, babble and laughter. He regressed to using a bottle and mostly just slept. Pass, an interpreter for the deaf, and her husband Frank, a missionary, were not about to give up. One possible source of help for Gabriel was CBD oil. Pass said what she learned from research and networking with other parents had her well prepared when Leni's Law passed. "As a parent you do what you have to do and you figure out how to do it," Pass said. "You become a cannabis expert, for goodness sake." Robin Pass with her son, Gabriel. Pass tracks the frequency of Gabriel's seizures with a rolling, seven-day average. The most recent average is 1.7 seizures a day, a drastic drop from 10 to 20. Gabriel has been able to stop taking two anti-seizure medications, drugs which made him sleep excessively, Pass said. She hopes he can eventually stop taking two others he still receives. In the meantime, Gabriel is moving, using his voice, eating from a spoon again and trying to take steps when he's held upright. Twitching that affected Gabriel between seizures, which Pass said are called myoclonic jerks, have stopped, she said. She said Gabriel is more interested in doing things with his three older sisters. "My daughters are reading him books again because he actually cares," Pass said. "I feel like I have my son back. I also feel like there's hope that it's going to get better." Pass said Gabriel's neurologist knows about Gabriel's CBD oil therapy and is supportive. Gabriel's most recent electroencephalogram showed significantly calmer brain activity, she said, an indication that Gabriel can better organize his thoughts and learn. Doctors can't prescribe CBD oil. Marijuana is still a Schedule I drug under federal law, the same classification as heroin and LSD. The Medical Association of the State of Alabama opposed Leni's Law. The association issued a statement in March that noted the importance of strict controls in the UAB study and contrasted that with Leni's Law. It read, in part: "The practice of medicine is evidence-based whereby the treatments and procedures we use are extensively researched and tested to make certain they are as safe as possible for the patients under our care." "Given these bedrocks of the medical profession, the Medical Association cannot support the expansion or legalization, whether by legislation or ballot initiative, of marijuana or marijuana products in any form that have not received the same FDA approval as other medicinal compounds." The legislator who sponsored Leni's Law, state Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, is a former state trooper and former agent for the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. Ball said he's hearing from many people with positive results since the law took effect, and he trusts what they're telling him. "These are honorable, credible witnesses," Ball said. "They are not people that want to abuse drugs and get high. These are people that are desperate for help." Leni's Law provides "an affirmative and complete defense" from prosecution for marijuana possession for the use of CBD oil for a "debilitating medical condition." Leni's Law allows CBD oil with THC levels of up to 3 percent. THC is a psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces the high sought by pot smokers. Ball said it would be impractical for anyone to use CBD oil to get high because of the amount they would have to consume and the cost. Lori Quiller, communications director for the Medical Association, said its position has not changed. "We don't back anything that's not FDA approved," Quiller said. "We are happy that you found some folks that the treatment is working for." "It boils down to evidence-based findings, and it's just not there yet." Robin Pass said it's important to understand that using CBD oil requires a methodical, careful approach. That includes sharing information with other families about what they're doing and their results. "It's trial and error and talking to people that you trust," Robin said. Ethan Goodridge with his mother, Brandi Goodridge of Henagar. Ethan is happier, talking more and having fewer seizures since he began receiving CBD oil, according to his mother. Brandi Goodridge of Henagar said her son, Ethan, is autistic and has an extra Y chromosome. Ethan can go for about two months without a seizure, Goodridge said. When he becomes quiet and moody, she said she knows the seizures are coming. When they do, they strike for a week or more, every day or every other day, as many as about 20 to 70 during those periods, she said. Ethan was in a seizure-free period when he started receiving the CBD oil a month and a half ago, Goodridge said, but she was seeing the signs that seizures were coming. Two weeks after beginning the CBD oil, Ethan had four seizures. That was on a Saturday. He didn't have another until the next Saturday, when he had three, Goodridge said. Ethan is happier, talking more and doing more with his family, his mother said. He's a good big brother to his little brother and sister. Ethan's vocabulary is limited but he is saying new words, Goodridge said. For example, one of his favorite rituals is a trip to McDonald's for a chicken taco, which he called a "tar tar." Now he's saying "taco," his mother said. Goodridge, one of the parents who lobbied at the State House, said she put in four years of research on CBD oil. "By the time it became legal, I knew what I needed to know," she said. She plans to adjust Ethan's dosage until she finds "the sweet spot." One of her long-term goals is to allow Ethan to stop taking anti-seizure medications, which she said are hard on his body. For now, she takes delight in his improvement. Ethan is not much for hugs, she said, but wrapped his arms around her and gave her one recently. "I'm counting everything we get a miracle," she said. "And that hug I got was a miracle." Amy Young hears the good news from Goodridge and other families in Alabama. She wants to see more changes in laws and more opportunities for research. "It is ridiculous that access to medication is determined by people's zip codes," Young said. Leni's seizures started when she was eight months old, Young said. They were caused by brain damage from a stroke Leni suffered before birth. Doctors showed little hope after the seizures started, suggesting at one point it was time to call hospice, Young said. Drugs would slow the seizures down enough for Leni to survive but left her still and silent, Young said. The family decided to move to Oregon after Leni was excluded from participation in the Carly's Law study, Young said. Leni's CBD oil comes from a personal grower and is tailored for her needs, a process called individual cannabinoid therapy. There was some trial and error, Young said, but the results have been dramatic. With the seizures mostly stopped, Leni is starting to talk, using her arms and hands more and has a sharper eye gaze. She uses a special computer that tracks eye movement and helps her communicate. She is off one of three anti-seizure medicines and is receiving lower doses of the other two. Her improvement is changing how the family spends its time, Young said. For example, they recently took Leni on a hiking trip to Mount Hood. "We never used to leave the house," Young said. Leni enjoyed visiting the orchards and fruit stands on the trip, her mother said. "We had no idea that we would finally get to meet the sassy little girl that she is," Young said. "Every day there is something new." A suicide attack in Baghdad Sunday killed 21 and injured more than 35 more, CNN reported. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on its social media accounts. The bomber was on foot, and detonated his bomb at an entrance of the Kadhimiyah neighborhood. Four police officers were among the dead. A statement by ISIS said that the group targeted the neighborhood due to a large presence of police and militia members. The area fits the type of places often attacked by ISIS, because the militia there controls northern and western Iraq, which ISIS wants to take over. The terrorist group has lost key areas of land this year, most recently in Fallujah. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 of 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." Has the Asian gambling enclave become a semi-lawless zone where gambling, prostitution, and illicit trades flourish? Ton Pheung, Laos From the Thai side of the Mekong River, the Kings Romans Casino shimmers like a scene from a fairy-tale, its domes and turrets rising up against a backdrop of foliage-covered mountains. Up close, Greek columns and classical statues flank a grand entrance where SUVs unload groups of visitors in the tropical heat. Inside, sitting around tables, gamblers bet wads of Chinese and Thai currency in air -conditioned silence. Kings Romans is the glitzy centrepiece of the 10,000-hectare Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, a joint venture between the Laotian government and the Hong Kong-registered Kings Romans Group. Since signing a 99-year lease in 2007, Kings Romans says it has spent hundreds of millions of dollars transforming this remote corner of northern Laos into an oasis of hotels, shops, massage parlours and banquet halls, all dominated by the casinos colossal golden crown. According to local press reports, Kings Romans plans to add shopping malls, industrial zones, and an international airport, all in the hope of boosting economic growth in this impoverished nation of seven million. But critics say the enclave three times the size of Macau has instead become a semi-lawless zone where gambling (the legal status of which is ambiguous as there is a ban on forbidden gambling), prostitution, and other illicit trades flourish. While the area remains under the nominal control of the Laotian government, which reportedly holds a 20 percent stake, its exact status is difficult to pin down. Its not transparent at all, said Stuart Ling, an agricultural consultant who has lived and worked in the area for 17 years and has witnessed the project develop since 2007. Nobody collects statistics on it. It exists as a special zone, a special entity. A little China Sitting at the heart of the Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge, the Kings Romans Casino attracts hundreds of visitors each week from mainland China, where gambling is banned outside Macau. Most come by road from the Chinese province of Yunnan, or fly to northern Thailand and cross the Mekong on speedboats operated by Kings Romans. Despite sitting in Laos, the zone has the feel of a Chinese enclave transplanted into the tropical hills. Gamblers count the hours in Beijing time, one hour ahead of Laos. Mandarin is the lingua franca, and few shops accept the Laotian kip. WATCH: Macaus Future Gamble Many people come to the casino theres very good money here now, said Macky Sutthivong, 30, a Lao souvenir seller who works in the Special Economic Zone. While visitors come from Laos, Russia, Thailand, and Myanmar, he said, the number one is China. Both the economic zone and Kings Romans Group are headed by the entrepreneur Zhao Wei, who hails from Heilongjiang province in Chinas icy northeast. After years in the timber business, Zhou went on to operate casinos in Macau, where he holds permanent residency, and in Mong La , a notorious gambling enclave run by a rebel armed group on the Myanmar side of the Golden Triangle. A lawless playground Zhao has high-ranking friends in the Laotian government. Senior officials have paid visits to the Special Economic Zone, including former President Choummaly Sayasone, who is pictured with Zhao in a Kings Romans promotional magazine available in the casino lobby. Several ex-government officials also sit on its management committee. Representatives from Kings Romans declined a request for an interview and did not respond to repeatedly emailed questions. But in a wide-ranging 2011 interview with Chinese state media, Zhao said he was inspired to invest in Laos by the flame-flowered kapok trees which grow in the area (in Mandarin, the companys name is Jin Mumian, or golden kapok). He said his aim was to make this piece of wild, barren land full of a new vitality of life. Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said that in exchange for much-needed Chinese capital, the government in Vientiane, the Laos capital, appeared happy to cede a measure of sovereignty over the area. Theyre hoping that the Chinese will bring some development to this faraway tract of territory in Laos, he said. De jure, its Laotian territory, but de facto, its Chinese. In reality, the Special Economic Zones semi-autonomous status has allowed a certain type of tourism to flourish. In an elaborately decorated Chinatown district behind the casino, Chinese sex workers ply their trade in nightclubs and massage parlours, a practice that is illegal in both Laos and China; cards advertising their services can be found scattered around town. Environmentalists allege that the area is also home to a flourishing market in endangered animal products. In a 2015 report, the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) described the zone as a lawless playground and a free-for-all illegal wildlife supermarket. The report described wildlife boutiques stocking items such as ivory and tiger skins, and a restaurant that sold tiger meat and Hu Gu Jiu tiger-bone wine from a liquor-filled tank holding a complete tiger skeleton. Debbie Banks, a senior campaigner at EIA, said that many of the animal products, banned under international wildlife agreements such as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, were imported by Chinese traders from Mong La, a long-standing centre of the regional wildlife trade. She said both zones were an example of the worrying trend of wildlife-trade tourism, in which Chinese tourists travel to neighbouring countries to buy rare animal products which are illegal or hard to get at home. Laos has such weak enforcement and capacity and political leadership on this that it has become a safe-haven for wildlife criminals, Banks says. One-party Laos remains one of the most secretive countries in Southeast Asia, and recently came under fire for further tightening its restrictions on foreign journalists. This journalist was refused official press access, and was unable to put these allegations to Laotian government officials. But in March 2015, shortly after the release of EIAs report, Laotian authorities conducted televised raids on four businesses selling illegal wildlife products in the Special Economic Zone, burning more than $12,000 worth of ivory and tiger skin. Shi Feng, the Chinese restaurant owner, admitted that his God of Fortune Restaurant once sold wild and exotic animals, but said the practice had now been curbed. Before they didnt have laws. Everyone bought them, even the Lao people ate them, he said in an interview at one of his restaurants in Vientiane. Now, he said, we must follow the Lao law. According to EIA investigators, Shis establishment specialised in exotic animal dishes including bear paw, monitor lizard, pangolin, and Tokay gecko, as well as tiger-bone wine. At the time, Chanthachone Wangfaseng, vice-chairman of the zone and a former provincial official, told Laotian TV that the owners of the businesses might not be familiar with wildlife regulations, which would henceforth be enforced rigorously. The goal of our development is to build tourism and protect the environment, he said. One manager at the Kings Romans Casino, who requested anonymity because he wasnt authorised to speak to the press, confirmed that the authorities had shut all of that down. Under the counter Many of the wildlife boutiques and restaurants indeed seem to have closed but not all. At the side of the Xinxing Nenyuzhuang restaurant on Laos-China Friendship Street were cages filled with monkeys, geckos, an owl, and an endangered Asiatic golden cat, all of which a restaurant worker confirmed could be cooked to order. Not far away a shabby zoo contained around 30 tigers in small enclosures, near a banner that read, in Chinese, Lao and English: Safeguard Ecological Security. The casino manager claimed that the animals were simply kept as zoo attractions, but EIA alleges that tigers held in the zone are destined to be harvested for their skins and meat, as well as for tiger-bone wine, which is still advertised in the Kings Romans promotional magazine. As far as were aware, trade has not stopped. It continues, but it may be more under the counter, Banks says. READ MORE: Myanmars wildlife trafficking hotspot Jeremy Douglas, the Bangkok-based regional head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime who visited the zone on an official tour in February, said that Laotian police appear to be present in the area, in addition to security personnel employed by Kings Romans, but that it is unclear to us the extent that the police are active. Douglas said that semi-autonomous enclaves like the Special Economic Zone and Mong La in Myanmar remained grey areas for law enforcement. Theyre so close to here, but so far away, so off the grid, he said. Macky Sutthivong, the souvenir seller, said that despite many locals benefiting from the influx of tourist dollars, he is worried that his governments support is creating a little China on the Mekong. They want to get more people from China, he said. They want this area to be a Chinatown permanently. A new online sales website opens new markets and brings recognition to artisans working in Mumbais Dharavi slum. Mumbai, India It is almost 10:30pm and Mohammad Rafiq Shaikh is trying to stitch up the last of the sling bags for an order that needs to be dispatched the next day. He usually leaves his workshop by 10pm, but today there is extra work. Shaikh is an expert at making items out of leather and faux leather. He learned his skill as a child from craftsmen in Delhi, where he lived and worked for 20 years before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. He lives and works in Dharavi, Mumbais labyrinthine slum that was once Asias largest and still remains Indias most famous, owing its popularity in part to the 2008 film, Slumdog Millionaire. Located in the heart of the city in about 200-hectares of space, it is home to almost a million people, and is dotted with thousands of small-scale and cottage industries including pottery, leatherwork and zari embroidery crafts that have been alive in some families for generations. Contrary to popular belief that only dirt and squalor can be found in a slum, Dharavi has enterprises that are said to generate revenue of over $650m a year. Yet, a large number of the residents of Mumbais most productive informal settlement belong to low or middle-income groups and have to work around the clock to feed their families. Many, like Shaikh, have left their families back in their native villages because they cannot afford to provide for them in a city as expensive as Mumbai. All his life, Shaikh worked hard to earn enough to give his family settled in a village in Bihar a respectable lifestyle. I used to cut down on my trips back home to save money to fulfil their aspirations, says the 41-year-old. However, things started changing for the better for Shaikh and many other Dharavi artisans two years ago when Dharavis first online marketplace, Dharavimarket.com, was launched. Internet sales Dharavimarket.com is the first website created exclusively to sell products made by artisans from the slum. Launched in August 2014 by social entrepreneur Megha Gupta, it is also the first platform of its kind for an Indian urban slum. The website, which ships worldwide, showcases more than 1,000 items such as bags, jackets, apparel, pottery and miscellaneous corporate gifts crafted by almost 300 artisans from Dharavi. Gupta, 30, noticed the talent of the craftsmen while working on a freelance urban planning project in Dharavi in 2012. The sheer volume of activity in the slum and the effort the residents put into their work surprised her. The craftsmen worked from morning to night to create world-class products which definitely deserved being sold internationally, Gupta says. She also found them under-selling their products. The artisans were able to make a sale in the local markets, but their craft rarely got them the profits they deserved, she recalls. Some of them were also forfeiting their profits to middlemen. They obviously had no choice but to work long hours to eke out a living. Dharavimarket.com was born to give the artisans a chance to open their sales internationally by going online. To involve the craftsmen in the process, Gupta cashed in on the high levels of smartphone penetration within the lower income groups in India. With 220 million subscribers, according to market research company Counterpoint Research, India is the second largest smartphone market in the world after China. READ MORE: Delivery services strike gold in India The website is connected to a smartphone application which allows registered users to upload images of their products and fix their own rates. Once a buyer places an order, they receive a notification. I had seen how proficient they were at using WhatsApp, she says, adding that the craftsmen found it easy to take photos of their products and showcase their work to their potential clients and existing customers through it. As a large number of the artisans owned a smartphone, using the app was a breeze for them. Dharavimarket.com has had buyers from places as far afield as Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. They love getting high-quality, custom-made goods at reasonable rates from us, Gupta says. A win-win situation An association with Dharavimarket has been a win-win situation for the craftsmen. They enjoy the regularity of work and the profits they earn. Mohammad Mujahid Husain, a 23-year-old craftsman who specialises in making leather jackets, easily sells 15 to 20 of them each day through Dharavimarket. With each piece, I earn a profit of 300 to 400 rupees ($5-$7) as opposed to what I get selling my products to shop owners in Mumbai, he reveals. When the consumers like the quality of work, they come back with repeat orders, Husain adds. Besides making them comfortable financially, getting work through Dharavimarket has also reduced the time the artisans spend in marketing their work. Earlier I had to spend my weekends visiting shop owners to showcase my work, Husain says. Now I can use those two days to do something I enjoy, he adds. Shaikh feels a respect for his art. Even though there may be several leatherwork experts listed with Dharavimarket, he is the go-to artisan for Gupta. Whenever a customer asks for a new product, she comes to me, knowing that Rafiq bhai will be able to handle it, he says. Gupta regularly gets top design school interns to introduce them to international styles. They are already familiar with the colour and style trends of 2017, she says. A large chunk of their work now comes through corporate clients who are looking for large quantities. Abbas Zakharia Galwani, 36, a potter from Dharavis Kumbharwada colony, recently created 15,000 incense stands and 3,000 pots for storing organic spices for a German company. Our customers find us through the website and contact me directly to place bulk orders for customised items, Gupta says. She takes these orders on behalf of the craftsmen and passes on the clients requirements. Some of the products are sold through online marketplaces like Snapdeal and Flipkart. Last year, Gupta introduced social capital credits, wherein artisans can earn rewards for being socially responsible. They have benefited by managing waste in and around their neighbourhood and by keeping their surroundings clean. We want to improve their lives holistically, Gupta says. The credits earned can later be exchanged for skill-enhancement courses, a packet of grains or improvement of their workspace. Gupta hopes to take this programme full throttle in August after a round of funding she is expecting for Dharavimarket next month. Gupta is happy to have given the craftsmen the opening she believes they deserved. The artisans have developed a sense of pride for their work with the recognition they have received, she says. Shaikh earns at least 15,000 to 25,000 rupees (about $225-$370) a month through the work he does for Gupta. It has made his trips home more frequent and convenient. Now Im not worried that my children will make a demand I cannot fulfil. An erupting volcano has not prevented Tenggerese people from performing their annual ceremony, which involves climbing to the rim of Mount Bromos crater and delivering offerings such as goats, chickens and vegetables to the Hindu Gods. The ceremony dates back to the 15th century when a childless couple ancestors of the Tenggerese prayed to God to be given children. God gave them 25 children, and in return, they sacrificed the youngest. Since then, once a year during a full moon, the Tenggerese hold what is called the Kasada Ceremony to honour the sacrifice of the youngest son of their ancestors. This year, however, Mount Bromo is erupting and the government has warned religious Hindus to stay at least 1km from the crater. Only 20 priests are allowed to go up to the crater to throw offerings. The warning has been completely ignored. The Tenggerese people believe the mountain will not harm them. But if they do not perform the ceremony, they fear bad things will fall upon them, such as a failed harvest, a pandemic, or even worse. So, starting in the dark, they walked up the steep slope of the erupting volcano, to stand on the rim of the crater and give their offerings. ISIL and all its state nemesis come together to form the amorphous shape of a total state. Hamid Dabashi is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Yemen, Kazakhstan, Orlando, Istanbul, Bangladesh, Baghdad, Medina, Nice and Kabul Try to draw even the most recent map of the vicious, premeditated crimes perpetrated or claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), all targeting innocent, defenceless civilians and generating fear and loathing by choosing public spaces and symbolic dates: an airport in Istanbul, a busy market in Baghdad, a crowded promenade in Nice, Eid al-Fitr in Muslim countries, Bastille Day in France. The map is spreading but the doctrine is constant: shock and awe. This is not blind hatred. This is calculated criminality seeking to destabilise the ruling states ISIL targets: to show them to be inept at protecting civilians. Whether they actually perpetrate the crime Istanbul and Baghdad or claim they did when the crimes are performed by deranged individuals Orlando and Nice they tally such barbarities towards a very specific purpose. The origin of this malignant disease called ISIL was and remains in powerful states targeting weak states with massive civilian casualties hundreds of thousands in Afghanistan and Iraq. The result of it is a phantom, abstracted, delusional and fake state waging an asymmetric war against powerful states by deliberately targeting innocent civilians as the primary victims. Common and constant to both its point of origin and its consequences, ISIL is symptom of a disease that keeps exacerbating the state monopoly of violence by targeting innocent and vulnerable civilians at moments and in places where their respective states are unable to protect them. Citizens become naked lives ISIL and all its state nemesis in and out of the Muslim world today come together to form the amorphous shape of a total state sustained via pure violence perpetrated upon innocent civilians: whether by the United States and NATO forces in Iraq or Libya, or by ISIL in Istanbul, Baghdad, Medina, Nice, or San Bernardino. ISIL is the return of the barely repressed origin of all states, for which all innocent civilians have become what the eminent Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben has aptly called homo sacer (the accursed person, the bare life). Unable to protect their citizens as ISIL intends to show all states to be all states it targets effectively lose their basis of legitimacy and become, like ISIL, a state without a nation supporting it. With each cycle of violence, powerful states that are posing to fight ISIL, in fact, become more like ISIL and repressive of civil liberties, more intolerant of democratic criticism, more prone to securitisation and surveillance technologies. by ISIL is targeting the hyphen holding the very idea of a nation-state together. Both the vicious ISIL and all its powerful nemesis fight their battles on the increasingly weakened, vulnerable, frightened, naked, exposed, dispensable, digitised, atomised, subject to systemic surveillance, bodies of innocent civilians. ISIL is the very definition of state on steroid! With every ISIL or any other Islamist gang attack against the defenceless citizens of a sovereign state, that state becomes increasingly more like ISIL: absolutist, militaristic, opting for undemocratic measures to curtail civil liberties. The attempted military coup and countercoup in Turkey are the most potent example of relentless ISIL attacks pushing the state towards militaristic measures. So is the rise of the proto-fascist Donald Trump and pro-mass surveillance Hillary Clinton in the US, or the rising popularity of xenophobic and Islamophobic political parties in Europe. The most symbolic version of it is the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom. OPINION: ISIL may be in crisis, but so is the coalition ISIL is the basest denominator of all state violence, and innocent civilians are the sacrificial sites of exposing that violence. In the aftermath of the Paris attack the French government banned all public demonstrations and increased its systematic surveillance of its citizens, as did the UK after the July 7, 2005 bombing, or Spain after the March 11, 2004 Madrid railway attack. And so have Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or any other Arab country from Morocco to Jordan. The ruling Syrian state apparatus is today almost identical to ISIL in its brutish disregard for civilian lives and liberties. ISIL is a malignant cell that exposes the naked violence of all other states it touches. ISIL as a contagious virus The consistent codification of ISIL as an Islamic phenomenon by both the criminal thugs themselves and by the Islamophobia industry conceals and distorts a far simpler and far more urgent explanation. ISIL is the combined consequence of two deadly compositions: US-EU imperial militarism and Arab-Muslim nativist tyranny. Any assessment that disregards any one of these two complimentary components will misread ISIL. ISIL is the aggressive transmutation of 20th-century state violence catapulted on to the digital revolution 21st-century spectacle violence. OPINION: The blurred battle lines between Baghdad and Brussels There is, therefore, a direct structural link among the narco-state, the deep state, the security state, the garrison state, and now in the case of ISIL, the total state predicated on the pure spectacle of violence. After each and every ISIL or ISIL-inspired or ISIL-claimed atrocity anywhere in the world, innocent civilian targets are the immediate casualties of their savagery. After each such attack, they will not weaken but in fact strengthen the resolve of their state nemesis to chase after their shadow. With each cycle of violence, powerful states that are posing to fight ISIL, in fact, become more like ISIL and repressive of civil liberties, more intolerant of democratic criticism, more prone to securitisation and surveillance technologies. Democracies can easily collapse into tyrannies. In Turkey now, even criticising the state policies might be considered an act of terrorism. Opposing this systematic securitisation of state, of the expansive surveillance state that Clinton promises or xenophobic fascism that a Trump presidency will unleash, citizens of a free and democratic nation have no choice but organise to protect their civil liberties. Acts of mourning from Nice and Orlando to Baghdad and Istanbul and beyond must also be acts of civic solidarity, of feeling the palpitations of a collective social consciousness, not just in defiance of those savages who have sought to puncture it, but also against any and all state moves to deny it. If law enforcement agencies do their work well, they will keep us safe, and if we ordinary citizens do our civic duties equally well, we will keep ourselves free. Between the two of us we will ensure we are both safe and free. For if freedom without safety is chaos, safety without freedom is tyranny. Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies. How can a state that is so opposed to all legally binding resolutions of the UNSC engage on questions of the law? Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher at the University of Exeter's Strategy and Security Institute. Perhaps, in yet another demonstration of the increasing impotence of the United Nations, Israel recently took over the chairmanship of the General Assemblys Sixth Committee. According to the UN, the Sixth Committee is the primary forum for the consideration of legal questions in the General Assembly, which means that Israel is now chairing a committee dedicated to issues and questions of international law. Israels chairmanship of the Sixth Committee should arouse consternation from those who value international legal norms. This is because Israel has achieved a degree of infamy for its regular and decades-long flouting of international laws, and so the irony is not lost on people who are fully aware of Israels repeated violations. Long-standing impunity Israel has long denied millions of Palestinians their rights enshrined within international law under such agreements as the Fourth Geneva Convention. Although voices of condemnation are increasing these days, since the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the Nakba, Israel has been violating the rights of Palestinians with impunity. After the Arab armies were decisively trounced by the Israelis in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel immediately occupied Palestinian territories and began constructing the first of many illegal settlements in order demographically to alter the Palestinian homeland. These settlements have increased to the point where more than half a million Israeli-Jews now illegally occupy lands meant for a future Palestinian state. Quite apart from Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which specifically prohibits an occupying force from transferring its own civilian population on to territory it occupies, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 446 in 1979 declaring that all Israeli settlements have no legal validity, though failed to enforce it. Before Israel can chair the Sixth Committee without making the entire affair seem like a farce, it should first adhere to all UNSC resolutions regarding human rights in occupied Palestine and other issues such as illegal settlements. by The damage settlements cause is further compounded by the fact that the Nakba created 750,000 Palestinian refugees who were deported from their land. These Palestinians and their descendants now number millions, yet they are either refugees in their own country or dispersed throughout the world. This is a grave breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits forcible transfers and deportations of populations by an occupying power regardless of their motive. Although Palestinians have rights under international law allowing them to return to their homes, Israel continues to refuse them this right, citing security concerns. OPINION: Israel and Palestine A way to end the occupation The reality is that Israel perceives them to be a demographic threat as millions of Palestinians returning home would mean that Arabs living in Israel, numbering about 1.5 million of a total population of eight million, would form a majority. That would place Israel in an awkward position as it would have to live up to its claim of being the only democracy in the Middle East. Use of disproportionate force In a further contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel has also adopted a policy of collective punishment. It has become infamous for disproportionate and indiscriminate force being used against the Palestinians collectively, whether or not they are involved with Hamas. Indeed, during the Operation Cast Lead that ended in 2009, Israel killed almost 1,400 people, mostly civilians. A few years later, in 2014, Israel again targeted civilians during Operation Protective Edge, indiscriminately killing 2,100 Palestinians. OPINION: Israeli rejectionism as policy These are all war crimes, as Article 33 states that, No persons may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. While Israels violations of international law are bad enough, the ludicrousness posed by Israels chairmanship of this important committee is increased by the Israeli personality assigned to it, namely Danny Danon. This is a person who is against the UN-sponsored two-state solution, is keen on making the land of Israel whole by annexing the West Bank, and a man who was feared by former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren as serving no other purpose than to make Israel look more extreme. The fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks it is appropriate to appoint such a personality to head this highly critical committee perhaps shows Israels disdain for the UN and international law in general. After all, how can a man who is so virulently opposed to all legally binding resolutions of the UNSC effectively engage on questions of the law? Danon is not the only problem here as he is perhaps a product of Israels long-standing violations of international law since its foundation. Before Israel can chair the Sixth Committee without making the entire affair seem like a farce, it should first adhere to all UNSC resolutions regarding human rights in occupied Palestine and other issues such as illegal settlements. However, and judging by Israels recent announcement that it will construct 800 more homes in illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem, it will be business as usual at the UN with zero accountability for Israel along the way. Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher at the University of Exeters Strategy and Security Institute and winner of the 2015 Al Jazeera Young Researcher Award. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policies. Sulu, Philippines The young man, with a defiant expression, looks unflinchingly at the camera. Aquino, watch this. This is what happens when you dont do what we told you to do [pay ransom]. And if I catch you, I will cut your head off too, he said, brandishing a sharp hunting knife. He was addressing former Philippine president Benigno Aquino. The man then slowly decapitates his hostage, methodically hacking away with the blade. It takes only seconds for his victim to die. All of this was uploaded to YouTube in an excruciating 92-second video a few months ago. The executioner did not even hide his face. Tourists abducted in southern Philippines For decades, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has been considered the most notorious bandit organisation in Southeast Asia. It carried out the biggest act of terrorism in the country when it bombed a ferry in 2004, killing more than 100 people. But the recent video clearly shows a whole new level of brutality not seen in the Philippines in recent years. Beheading is one of the most obscenely brutal ways of executing someone even more so when it is not done in one fell swoop of a sword, but with slashes and hacks from a hunting knife. This atrocity happened recently in Sulu, a southern backwater island province in the Philippines. It has gained notoriety in Southeast Asias kidnapping capital, a jungle terrain where the Abu Sayyaf is known to operate. For such a scenic place, its reputation is one of the darkest in the world. About 70 percent of the population in Sulu is poor, according to the latest government census. Many children are out of school, roads and bridges remain unfinished, and medical facilities and clean water are virtually non-existent. Jobs are hard to come by. Most of the food available in Sulu is shipped in from its more affluent neighbour Zamboanga City, or from Sabah in eastern Malaysia. Developing Sulus agriculture industry is difficult, despite its fertile soil. People are unable to till their land out of fear. Others say their farmland and homesteads have been taken forcibly from them and occupied by armed groups such as Abu Sayyaf. It is the perfect petri dish in which to grow a secession, a place long held back by four decades of armed conflict and government neglect, yet one with a population that continues to grow and need. To the rest of the country and the world Sulu is like a black hole. For most Filipinos, the word Sulu is synonymous with terrorism. The place only makes global headlines when hostage-beheading videos go viral. This is how discontent is fomented, fermented and kept alive. Abu Sayyaf frees ex-Italian priest in the Philippines Abu Sayyaf was born more than a decade and a half ago in Basilan, one of the most impoverished provinces in the southern Philippines. Its name literally means bearer of the sword. Its founder, Abubakar Abdurajak Janjalani at first sought to create a separate Islamic state for the Muslim minority. He was killed in a military operation. Its co-founder Radulan Sahiron is still one of the most-wanted men in the country. He was once a member of the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front, which has since brokered peace with the government. Abu Sayyaf started ideologically but shifted to criminal activities a few years after to sustain itself. The group has engaged in countless kidnappings for ransom, attacks, and even drugs and weapons smuggling. The Philippine military puts the number of Abu Sayyaf fighters at about 400, but they triple in numbers when hostages are taken. Jihad Abu Sayyaf is a loose organisation. There is no single, unifying force of leadership. There are several Abu Sayyaf factions spread across different territories in the Sulu archipelago. Yet, it is quite disciplined financially and militarily. Most of its money goes to weapons purchases. It doesnt buy gold or build expensive homes within the provinces, according to Philippine military intelligence sources. Atrocities committed are part of their jihad, leaders say, but the apparent motivation is about money through terror activities. Abu Sayyafs main motivation is to create a state of terror in the areas it controls.The rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East has helped fuel Abu Sayyaf violence. The beheading broadcast over YouTube has helped spread propaganda through easily available handheld phones. According to military sources, some members of Abu Sayyaf are as young as 15. These teenagers are born impoverished mostly orphaned by rebels and have never had the chance to go to school. In Sulu, these boys are called Anak Itu or orphans of war. Philippines army steps up offensive against rebels For many of those recruited, it is all about identity and a sense of belonging. They have lived all their lives under siege. In Sulu, long forgotten by the national government, so many young people say they feel left out. They say they are judged for being Moro, judged for being poor. Then comes a group that gives them weapons and a sense of community. Its a warped version of reality. However perverted it may seem, it is the only irresistible draw in an otherwise bleak existence. It is the only life they know. Blood, money, and narcotics How does Abu Sayyaf maintain its influence? Ties of blood and money with a dash of political convenience to keep operations running smoothly. The group buys a lot of weapons millions of dollars worth. Military reports show multimillion-dollar procurements shortly after every ransom pay-out. A classified document seen by Al Jazeera also reveals Abu Sayyaf members went on a shopping spree for weapons shortly after their release of 14 Indonesian hostages a few weeks ago. Ransom is paid, which means more money to expand operations. Military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to go on record, say Abu Sayyaf buys weapons and ammunition from local government officials, smuggled mostly from nearby countries. On lean days, when they have no hostages and ransom to collect, military intelligence officers say Abu Sayyafs members work closely with local politicians and police who are blood relatives. Abu Sayyaf has also been buying tracts of land to expand its territory. 18 soldiers killed by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines An impoverished farmer, marginalised and intimidated by armed groups, is an easy target. Often poor families are forced to sell their land to the group. Bud Pula, or Red Mountain, in Patikul has some of the most rugged terrain in the Sulu archipelago. This is where most hostages are hidden, according to army sources. Another approach the group uses to gain influence is through clan ties. Military officials say that intermarriage is a strategy. Abu Sayyaf factions are composed mostly of their own family members. They intermarry to solidify their connections. It is not unusual for a widow of an Abu Sayyaf member to be pressured by relatives to marry another fighter to keep their affinities strong. It is also easier to recruit new members through clan ties. By paying dowries, they are able to buy loyalty from the families into which they marry and expand their influence. Looking at the Abu Sayyafs connections in Sulu is like looking at several intertwined family trees. The families that compose the group are in connivance and, in that sense, they are stronger. This is how they have survived. This has made it difficult for the intelligence community to penetrate the group. It is almost impossible for any outsider to be part of the inner circle of the Abu Sayyaf. The policy of leader Radullan Sahiron is to never allow outsiders into his immediate circle. This is how he has remained in hiding for more than 15 years. He, too, is protected by his family members. There are practically zero outsiders. Once a member leaves camp, the rule is simple he cannot come back. Urban allies But leaving the hinterlands does not mean a member is no longer useful to the group. The member can still maintain alliances as part of Abu Sayyafs urban force.These are members who live and work in nearby towns with their families. They serve as sparrows, or urban spies, mostly monitoring the militarys movements. They help procure and deliver ammunition and even spot potential kidnap-for-ransom victims as far as Sabah in eastern Malaysia and in the Celebes Sea, close to the border of Indonesia. The urban membership has expanded, which is why Abu Sayyaf has also lately been able to conduct more abductions by broadening their operations as far as Palawan on the western front, the Davao Gulf, and as far as Malaysias Sabah. The proliferation of narcotics is a daunting problem, too. According to the Philippine military, the much younger members of the group are usually supplied with methampethamine hydrochloride commonly called shabu or crystal meth. They are given the drugs days before they are sent to the frontlines to fight the Philippine military. In an interview with Al Jazeera last year, the late Colonel Paolo Perez of the Philippine Army, who commanded a battalion in Basilan, said: The youngest ASG [Abu Sayyaf] member we captured while fighting in the frontlines was only 14. He was like a bull when he was fighting but when he was wounded, he started crying. The next day, he couldnt remember what he did. He admitted he was given drugs before fighting he was just a boy really. Philippines: Abu Sayyaf group beheads Canadian hostage How is the Abu Sayyaf able to do all this? Not without support of local government officials, military officials say. Cocoy Tulawie, a politician and member of an influential family in Sulu, said this has long been the norm and local government officials have been in connivance with Abu Sayyaf for decades. He said younger members are ignorant of Islam, yet they are extremely fanatical about representing it. Their version of Islam is flawed simply because the dawas or Islamic schools are usually in the main towns and they do not get the chance to study the Quran properly. That ignorance, he said, is what makes them dangerous. Tulawie also criticised religious leaders in Sulu for not speaking out against Abu Sayyafs actions, noting that no one has condemned the violence as anti-Islam. Philippine rebels free German hostages Local politicians lack the political will, Tulawie said. The priority is money and to maintain power. It is not their priority to run after the ASG, because they do not want to be seen as the enemy of the ASG. And because local politicians, just like Abu Sayyaf, share the same interests. They are also involved arms dealing and weapons smuggling of drugs and food from Sabah, Malaysia and other neighbouring countries. Newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte must realise that if he wants to fix the problems of Sulu, he has to isolate the local politicians. He needs to see that those government officials must be put under investigation, Tulawie said. The president will have to work directly with military and police forces based outside Sulu, because police officers there have been corrupted. Duterte cannot allow himself to be befriended by Sulus local politicians, because those same politicians are part of the problem. They must be investigated for their involvement in drug smugglings and corruption. He alleged some local officials have taken shares of ransom money from hostage-taking for decades. It is a multimillion-dollar industry, he added, that has been profiting from the chaos and violence in Sulu. Newly appointed Armed Forces Chief Ricardo Visaya also said he believes local government officials in Sulu have been involved in kidnap-for-ransom operations. Governors, vice-governors, down to village chiefs, he said in a recent interview with a local journalist. A report by Rand Corporation, a US-based think-tank that has studied military operations in Sulu, reinforces this. The ARMM [military] headquarters, located in central Mindanao, did not prioritise the Sulu archipelago, and money intended for development rarely reached this island, the report said. To get aid and money, local politicians there allowed the ASG to engage in infractions with the expectation that they would receive resources that they could exploit for political reasons. Military successes and failures Philippine special forces are seen to be the most proficient of all Southeast Asian commandos, especially when it comes to counter-insurgency operations. The Philippine military has been fighting various rebel groups in Sulu for decades. The Sulu problem is complex and one that requires political will and a long-term strategy. President Duterte has said he is contemplating putting the entire Sulu archipelago under martial law an approach supported by a majority of those in the militarys top brass. But not everyone agrees. Retired Brigadier-General Juancho Sabban, who spent five years in Jolo trying to contain the threat, said bombing communities is not the solution. Right now the communities are no longer cooperative. In any insurgency the centre of gravity is the people. When you get the people on your side, you win the war. But over the last few years, the leadership of the military thinks that only military operation is the right solution, Sabban told Al Jazeera. One way to get people onside is to address their needs and grievances, he added. Doing that will help deny the enemy the logistics and support it needs. We had only about 20 percent military operation, and those were intelligence-driven combat operations which is the key to a successful operational intelligence. If you keep doing combat operations with flawed intelligence, you are not only able to achieve your target, you are also endangering the lives of your men, because you are exposed and they dont know who the enemy is, Sabban said. If you look at the casualty rate now compared to the period of 2006-2010, there were a lot of encounters that were initiated by government forces. While recently, it is now the Abu Sayyaf leading the offensive against us. We had a policy then find them, fix them, finish them. Philippine troops kill 40 Abu Sayyaf fighters Philippine military spokesman General Restituto Padilla said there has been no degradation when it comes to providing social services from the military. Kidnap-for-ransom earnings that pour into communities are so much bigger lately that people tend to gravitate towards the ASG. Thats a hard reality on the ground. Eliminating the Abu Sayyaf within a year is doable for us. But the military will need the support from local and government officials. What is needed here is political will. An entire generation has already been born into armed conflict since the Philippine government started its offensive against the Abu Sayyaf decades ago. Residents of Sulu say they cannot remember a single day without fighting erupting in their communities. Sulu has seen some of the most horrific atrocities committed against civilians that go back as far as the 1970s, when martial law was implemented during the time of then president Ferdinand Marcos. There has been no let-up in violence since. People are war-weary. The land of Sulu is soaked in the blood of both the oppressor and the oppressed. Kirchner says she does not fear going to jail if it is the political price she must pay for her progressive policies. Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said she doesnt fear the prospect of going to jail, describing her growing legal troubles as part of a persecution of progressive Latin American leaders that has boosted the right in the region. Speaking to foreign media on Saturday, Kirchner compared her situation to that of Brazils suspended centre-left President Dilma Rousseff, now subjected to an impeachment trial in the Senate. In the case of Brazil, the intervention of a partisan judiciary is very clear, and youre seeing it here as well, Kirchner said, describing parallel efforts by media to smear progressive leaders. Its obvious its a judicial persecution. Kirchner is facing four investigations, three of them on corruption and money laundering, said Al Jazeeras Teresa Bo, reporting from El Calafate. While the corruption cases seem to be getting closer to Kirchner, until now she hasnt been formally charged. READ MORE: Ex-Argentine leader Kirchners properties raided Kirchner, 63, said allegations of graft and money laundering during her administration were trumped up by unnamed powerful interests who want to punish her for putting Argentines before foreign investors as she managed Latin Americas third biggest economy between 2007 and 2015. Investigations targeting the former president have moved rapidly since her centre-right nemesis, Mauricio Macri, replaced her as president in December. In May, Kirchner was indicted on charges related to the central banks sale of dollars in the futures market. Soon after, anti-corruption police searched her properties and she was embarrassed anew when her former public works secretary was caught stashing bags of cash in a convent in a Buenos Aires suburb last month. I dont want to minimise anything, but I think those are episodes that can take place for any government, Kirchner said. She called for an audit of public works in her government that she said would clear her of any involvement in wrongdoing. Kirchner said she does not fear going to jail if it is the political price she must pay for her policies, including generous welfare spending and the nationalisation of energy company YPF and the airline Aerolineas Argentinas. When you make decisions like these, its clear that you risk going to jail and being politically persecuted, she told reporters. READ MORE: Cristina Kirchner defiant over cover-up accusations The former leader lamented the recent victories of Macri and other conservatives in the region that she says threaten the progress made by the once-powerful alliance of leftist leaders led by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Theres been a regression of what were once national and popular governments in the region, said Kirchner, who succeeded her husband, the late Nestor Kirchner, as president. Macris decision to slash subsidies for utilities has hurt the middle class, Kirchner added, and the deal he brokered with hedge funds that had sued Argentina over its unpaid debt had yet to revive an economy mired in recession. They thought it would rain dollars after that agreement, she said. Macri has denied having any involvement in the judicial branch. Prosecutors investigating Fernandez could not be reached for comment outside of regular working hours. Thousands march in funeral of slain activist, whose fatal midday shooting raised suspicion of political conspiracy. Tens of thousands of Cambodians poured on to the streets of Phnom Penh for the funeral procession of a prominent political analyst murdered in a brazen daylight shooting that shocked the Southeast Asian nation. Kem Ley, a popular pro-democracy voice and grassroots rights activist, was shot dead earlier this month while drinking coffee outside a petrol station in the capital, raising suspicion of a political conspiracy. On Sunday, a massive crowd of mourners trailed for kilometres behind Buddhist monks and a motorcade carrying the 46-year-olds body in a transparent casket for a journey to his hometown in Takeo province. Thousands of others lined the streets to watch the procession, which marked the end of a two-week mourning period that saw scores of people from across the country flock to the Phnom Penh temple where his body had lain. He was a mirror of society, a hero. His murder is a huge loss to democracy, 39-year-old Hul Chan told AFP. Many of them wore white shirts printed with Leys face and the words: Wipe your tears, continue your journey. READ MORE: New report exposes Cambodian PMs vast family wealth A former soldier charged with the murder claimed he shot Ley over an outstanding debt. But suspicions of an assassination continue to mount as critics have come under increasing pressure from the government of Hun Sen as he seeks to extend his 31-year grip on power. [Ley] was a mirror of society, a hero. His murder is a huge loss to democracy, Chan told AFP while he was walking alongside other mourners. Ley, a popular radio commentator, was a regular critic of Hun Sen as well as the political opposition. He called for a new era of clean politics in Cambodia one of the most corrupt countries in the world. He was also a major advocate for land and labour rights, travelling across the impoverished country to speak directly with villagers. Am Sam Ath, from the Cambodian rights group Licadho, said Sundays outpouring of grief reflected the peoples growing disillusionment with a government accused of rampant corruption and rights abuses. Kem Ley was a straight-talking person who strongly criticised social injustices, he told AFP. The people are standing up against injustice. READ MORE: Challenging Cambodias strongman Hun Sen Anti-riot police were on guard outside government buildings along the route. Hun Sen has promised a thorough investigation into the killing but has urged people not to turn the case into a political act. Shortly before Leys death, the activist gave a lengthy radio interview welcoming a report which detailed the riches amassed by Hun Sen and his family during his three decades in power. He was critical of both the government and opposition parties, advocating for a new era of clean politics in Cambodia, which is expected to hold a general election in 2018. Scores of government critics and rights workers in Cambodia have been arrested or silenced in recent months, while others have been tied up in ongoing legal cases. At least 14 people killed after bomber blows himself up at police checkpoint in the mainly Shia district of Kadhimiya. A suicide bomber has detonated an explosive vest near a security checkpoint in northwest Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. A police officer told the Associated Press news agency that an attacker on foot blew himself up on Sunday morning at one of the entrances to the Shia district of Kadhimiyah, killing at least 10 civilians and four policemen. Another 31 other people were wounded. Sources at the Kadhimiya hospital, where victims of the blast were taken, said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in a critical condition. Three more civilians were killed and 11 wounded in a bomb explosion in an outdoor market in Baghdads western suburb of Abu Ghraib, another police officer said. Two medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information. READ MORE: Baghdad attack devastating scenes of carnage in Karada No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks Baghdad is on high alert for attacks after a blast in the central Karada district on July 3, claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), killed more than 300 people. It was one of the deadliest bombings since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Earlier this month, visiting US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Washington will send 560 more troops to Iraq to help in the fight against ISIL, also known as ISIS. The United Nations says more than 3,000 civilians have been killed in violence across the country this year. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania On the eve of the Democratic National Convention, party members grappled to contain a crisis brought about by a trove of leaked emails that confirmed suspicions the party was biased against former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. As the fallout continued, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on Sunday that she would step down after the convention, which begins Monday. Her tentative resignation came after emails, leaked by Wikileaks, seemed to confirm allegations by Sanders campaign that the party was secretly supporting presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton. The incident will most likely widen the chasm between supporters of the two camps, as Clinton vies for their support the week she is to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. READ MORE: Leaked emails appear to show DNC hostility to Sanders Earlier on Sunday, Schultz was taken off the speakers list for the convention a clear snub and a rarity for any party chair. Pressure on Schultz increased further after Sanders called for her resignation. Later on Sunday, Sanders issued a statement saying that by resigning, Schultz made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race. Pro-Sanders rallies Meanwhile, thousands of Sanders supporters assembled in Philadelphia on Sunday to march from city hall to a nearby park, voicing their anger over they said was a clear attempt at sabotaging the Sanders campaign. The short-term fallout is [that] Wasserman Schultz is marginalised at the convention and is out of office very soon, said David Meyer, professor of political science at UC Irvine. She will probably continue to hold her seat in the House of Representatives though. But nobody is surprised that the party favoured Clinton. Democrats are also scrambling to unite their front: Clinton and Sanders supporters agreed to form a unity commission to limit the role of superdelegates those who are not bound to vote as per primary results in the next election cycle. This was a point of contention in the lead up to the DNC: Sanders won a high number of primaries and caucuses, but superdelegates party members free to back the candidate of their choice still voted for Clinton. RELATED: US: What did Muslims at the RNC think of Donald Trump? Clinton needs to make sure she has the Bernie backers on her side, said Patrick Meirick, director of the Political Communication Centre, a research institution and archive of political advertisements at the University of Oklahoma. I expect to see some conciliatory noises toward the concerns of Sanders supporters. We already saw her make some changes on the platform. Clinton has hurdles to overcome this week, one of which is consolidating the base on the one hand and reaching out to the general electorate on the other hand, Meirick told Al Jazeera. I think that Clinton up to this point has embraced the Obama legacy and has not really addressed political shakeups of the system per se. Philadelphia is meanwhile bracing for a round of protests throughout the four-day Democratic National Convention, where delegates are converging to formally nominate Clinton as their presidential candidate. More than 50,000 people are expected to arrive in the city, including various disparate groups that will demonstrate for different causes, among them legalising marijuana, poverty and homelessness, policing and environmental issues. At least one group will attempt to hold the worlds largest fart-in by having a large bean meal shortly prior, in protest against the rhetorical flatulence of Hillary Clinton, according to local activist Cheri Honkala of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign. The idea behind this is that this whole process stinks, and that we cant have a revolution under any corporate control of either political party, Honkala told Al Jazeera. INTERACTIVE: Campaign money spent during the US elections I know that the Democratic Party doesnt give a damn about people in this country, and no way would they have given an independent socialist [Senator Bernie Sanders] control over it. Philadelphia City officials are preparing for potentially rowdy demonstrations, as more than 20 protest permits have been issued. The police force has 5,200 members, but the mayors office would not disclose to Al Jazeera how many of those would be dispatched to ensure law and order. The last time Philadelphia hosted a national convention in 2000, nearly 400 people were arrested, some pre-emptively, when police raided a warehouse where protesters had gathered to prepare for demonstrations. Last year, the city hosted Pope Francis, drawing more than a million visitors, without any major security incidents. Barricades are already up outside the Wells Fargo Centre, where the convention is being held, and high-calibre guests will be speaking, including US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and former president Bill Clinton. For security reasons, all we can say is that we also have specialised units involved, and a security parameter will be put in place around the main event centre, said Lauren Hitt, communications director for Philadelphias mayor. We want to make sure that people are able to exercise their expression of the First Amendment safely. One killed, two others wounded by machete-wielding man in southern city of Reutlingen, as motive remains unclear. A Syrian refugee has killed a woman and injured at least two others while attacking them with a machete in the southern German city of Reutlingen, German police say. The 21-year-old suspect, who was arrested on Sunday, was known to police for previous allegations of violence and was believed to have been acting alone. Suspect arrested in Reutlingen. Picture of machete he used to kill a woman, injure 2 others. https://t.co/LOca2IuSSd pic.twitter.com/VHgnEa64iE Bjorn Stritzel (@bjoernstritzel) July 24, 2016 The assailants motives were unknown. There is no danger to anyone else at this time, a police official told Reuters news agency, adding that there was no indication the attack was politically motivated. READ MORE: How did the media cover the Munich attack? The attack came days after a gunman killed at least nine people in the southern city of Munich in a shooting authorities say was inspired by Anders Breivik, the Norweigan far-right attacker who killed 77 people in 2011. On July 17, a 17-year-old Afghan refugee was shot dead by police after injuring several train passengers in an attack with an axe and a knife near the southern city of Wuerzburg. A Brody student treats a patient at the Tarboro Stroke Clinic in 2013. (Photos by Cliff Hollis) Brody student Jasmine Bryant assists Dr. Robert Shaw at a volunteer clinic in December 2015. The way East Carolina University's medical students serve the communities of North Carolina is earning international recognition for the Brody School of Medicine.Brody is one of seven schools globally to receive a 2016 Aspire to Excellence Award, which recognizes excellence in education at medical, dental and veterinary schools. The award is distributed under the Association for Medical Education in Europe, and will be presented at the organization's conference in Spain in August.The award is given in four categories, and Brody was honored in the social accountability category for emphasizing training in primary care settings in local practices throughout its students' four years.The Brody School of Medicine is nationally recognized for preparing primary care physicians who practice in medically underserved communities. All those admitted are North Carolina residents and the majority of its graduates practice primary care in North Carolina.said Dr. Robert Carroll, associate dean for medical student education, who prepared and submitted the application with the help of his colleagues.Carroll continued,said Dr. Elizabeth Baxley, a family physician and senior associate dean for academic affairs. "Social accountability and service learning are increasingly important values in medicine. They've always been part of the core values of Brody."Other metrics don't always capture the strength of this school. This award is a great way to show the value we bring to the state and region."The Aspire award program began in 2012 as a way to recognize excellence in teaching in addition to research in the field of medicine.Carroll said.This is a competitive award, according to Carroll. If no school meets the requirements for a category, then an award is not given. Last year there were no recipients in the social accountability category - something that caught Carroll's attention.he said before beginning the application process.This was Brody's first time applying for this award.Baxley said. Of the four schools honored in this category, only two were from the U.S. The other two were in the United Kingdom and Australia/New Zealand.In addition to recognizing current efforts, this award will help strengthen service learning efforts at the school, according to Carroll.he said. Refugees and migrants mass on the Serbia-Hungary border due to tight border controls introduced in early July. Hundreds of refugees and migrants have set off marching from the Serbian capital to the Hungarian border in protest against closed borders and European Union restrictions on entry. A group of several dozen refugees and migrants first arrived on Sunday in northern Serbias Subotica, a town situated around 10km from the Hungarian border, after taking a train part of the way from Belgrade. More than 300 people started the march on Friday with the hopes of making the 200km trek to the border. Hungary introduced harsh border control measures on July 5, leaving hundreds of refugees and migrants stranded on the Serbian border. Under those measures, Hungarian forces can expel to Serbian territory any refugee or migrant caught within 8km on the Hungarian side of the border without any deportation process. Back in September 2015, Hungary built a razor-wire fence along the 175km border with Serbia and criminalised breaching or damaging the fence to enter the country. With more people arriving in the refugee camps on the Serbian side of the border, Hungarian journalist Balint Bardi said the situation is getting worse and growing. READ MORE: Hungarys border war on refugees Hungarian authorities allow 15 people a day 14 from families and one single male to enter a pair of transit zones between the two countries and apply for asylum. They will have to wait for several months. Its impossible. All the refugees feel desperate, especially single males, Bardi, who has reported from both sides of the Hungarian-Serbian border, told Al Jazeera by telephone. On the Serbian side of the border, Bardi estimates that up to 1,000 people are waiting in two impromptu camps and one official camp. Theres not enough drinking water, no electricity to charge their phones, he said. Afyer the introduction of the new border restrictions, Gyorgy Bakondi, chief adviser on homeland security to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said they were introduced to prevent illegal immigrants from being in Hungary, but [also] to allow those who wish to submit requests for asylum. Breaking all the rules Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch released a report criticising Hungarys treatment of refugees and migrants detained after entering or while attempting to enter its territory. The report was dismissed by the Hungarian government. Based on interviews with 41 refugees and several institutions, the report claims that a group of 30 to 40 refugees and migrants among them women and children were beaten by soldiers for two hours after being held in Hungary. The report quoted an unidentified man as saying: I havent even seen such beating in the movies. Five or six soldiers took us one by one to beat us. They tied our hands with plastic handcuffs on our backs. They beat us with everything, with fists, kicks and batons. They deliberately gave us bad injuries. READ MORE: Hungary sentences refugees for breaching border fence Others interviewed by the rights group said they were beaten by police and then forced back into Serbia through small openings in the razor-wire fence. Lydia Gall, HRWs regional researcher, said that the abuse of asylum seekers and migrants runs counter to Hungarys obligations under European Union law, refugee law and human rights law. The European Commission should use its enforcement powers to press Budapest to comply with its obligation under EU law, to provide meaningful access to asylum and fair procedures for those at its borders and on its territory. Hungary is breaking all the rules for asylum-seekers, Gall said. Critics fear the new legislation is designed to empty the Knesset of its Palestinian parties. Nazareth Israels parliament, the Knesset, awarded itself a draconian new power last week: A three-quarters majority of its members can now expel an elected politician if they do not like his or her views. According to Adalah, a law centre representing the fifth of Israels population who are Palestinian citizens, the so-called expulsion law has no parallel in any democratic state in the world. The group noted that it was the latest in a series of laws designed to strictly circumscribe the rights of Israels Palestinian minority and curb dissent. Others fear that the measure is designed to empty the Knesset of its Palestinian parties. This law violates all rules of democracy and the principle that minorities should be represented, Mohammed Zeidan, director of the Human Rights Association in Nazareth, told Al Jazeera. It sends a message to the public that it is possible, even desirable, to have a Jewish-only Knesset. READ MORE: Haneen Zoabi Israel aims for political assassination The four Palestinian parties in the parliament, in a coalition called the Joint List, issued an open letter on Friday warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government want a Knesset without Arabs. Zeidan noted how quickly that could happen: It would only require one Palestinian legislator to be expelled and there would be enormous pressure on the others to resign their seats in protest. Yousef Jabareen, a Palestinian Knesset member (MK) for the Joint List, said the law created MKs on probation, intimidating them into silence or good behaviour. Its effect, he added, would be to strip tens of thousands of voters of the right to representation. Those advancing the law, including Netanyahu, have done little to conceal their intention to use the measure against only Palestinian MKs. The Joint List has 13 seats and is currently the third-largest faction in the 120-seat Knesset. The legislations immediate target is Haneen Zoabi, a politician with the Balad party who is reviled by most Jewish MKs. The measure was originally termed the Zoabi Law. Late last month, in a dramatic prelude to the laws passing, more than a dozen Jewish MKs stormed across the chamber towards Zoabi as she made a speech concerning the Israeli governments reconciliation pact with Turkey. She had to be protected by Knesset guards. She had outraged the MKs by referring to the murder of 10 humanitarian activists by Israeli commandos in 2010. The Israeli navy attacked an aid flotilla, in which Zoabi participated, as it sailed in international waters from Turkey to Gaza. The incident led to the split with Ankara. Rather than criticise the Jewish MKs, Netanyahu said Zoabi had crossed every line with her comments against the commandos and there was no room for her in the Knesset. Similarly, opposition leader Isaac Herzog called for all of Zoabis speeches to be censored from the Knesset TV channel. Celebrating the laws passage, Netanyahu posted on social media: Those who support terrorism against Israel and its citizens will not serve in the Israeli Knesset. Zeidan said the new law was a dangerous escalation in a wider trend of suppressing dissent and inciting hatred. We are entering a new era. Before, there were racist laws and policies, but now we are heading rapidly towards outright fascism. The constant incitement against the Palestinian minority from the prime minister down moves this on to the street, where there will be more violence and more attacks from the Jewish public on Palestinian citizens. READ MORE: Why Israel is blocking access to its archives Zoabi was reported to have refused a Knesset bodyguard this month, even though the level of threats against her required it, according to Israeli police. Proceedings against a politician can be initiated with the backing of 70 MKs. An expulsion will be carried out if 90 MKs find that the politician either incited racism or supported armed struggle against Israel. There is no definition in the legislation of what constitutes support. The Knesset will be able to take into account the legislators statements and the majoritys interpretation of them and not just actions or stated aims, noted Adalah. If we see these attacks on Arab representation in the Knesset continue, then voters may conclude that enough is enough and that it is time to withdraw from the political game. by Asad Ghanem, politics professor at Haifa University Until now, a politician could be removed from the Knesset only if convicted of a serious crime. Netanyahu spearheaded the legislation in February after Zoabi and her two Balad colleagues in the Knesset, Jamal Zahalka and Basel Ghattas, met a dozen Palestinian families from occupied East Jerusalem whose sons had been killed either during lone-wolf attacks or in clashes with security services. The three MKs promised to help put pressure on the government to return the bodies for burial. Israeli officials claimed the visit was tantamount to support for terror. The three were suspended from the Knesset for several months. Under the new law, they could be permanently expelled. Zahalka, leader of the Balad party, said Palestinian MKs would face a kangaroo court, where hostile MKs serve as judge and jury. He said the Joint List faction was preparing to send a letter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an organisation representing 170 parliaments worldwide, urging it to oust the Knesset from membership. Given the large majority needed for an MKs expulsion to take place, some have claimed the new law will be nearly impossible to implement. Zahalka disagreed. He told Al Jazeera: If you see a gun in the first act, you know it will be used in the last act. And so with this law. When we have the next emergency or the next war, Jewish MKs even those who now criticise the law will rally to expel those who are outside the consensus. Zoabi has found herself repeatedly rounded on by almost all the Jewish parties in the Knesset. In the summer of 2014, during a major Israeli attack on Gaza, the Knessets ethics committee suspended her for a record six months the longest period then allowed. During an Israeli radio interview, she had criticised Palestinians behind the abduction of three Israeli youths in the occupied West Bank, but refused to call them terrorists. The Israelis were later found dead. Zahalka said Palestinian MKs now faced an extraordinary situation. In every country, parliamentary immunity confers on legislators greater rights than ordinary citizens to help them carry out their parliamentary duties, he said. Only in Israel will elected representatives have more restricted freedom of speech and action than ordinary citizens. The expulsion law follows the outlawing last year of the northern Islamic Movement, the largest extra-parliamentary movement among the Palestinian minority in Israel. Its head, Sheikh Raed Salah, is considered a spiritual leader to a large section of the community. At the time, Netanyahu hinted that the Islamic Movement was linked to terror activity. Leaks from government ministers to the Haaretz newspaper, however, revealed that the Israeli security services had found no such ties. Zeidan observed that the Israeli right had been waging a battle to rid the Knesset of Palestinian parties for some time. READ MORE: Israels anti-terror law dangerous and anti-Arab Over the past 15 years, the Central Elections Committee, which is dominated by Jewish parties, has repeatedly tried to ban Palestinian MKs from standing for election. However, the Israeli Supreme Court overturned the decisions on appeal. In 2014, the government tried a different route. It passed a Threshold Law, raising the proportion of votes needed to win a place in the Knesset. The threshold was set too high for the four small Palestinian parties to clear it. The move, however, backfired. The parties responded by forming the Joint List and became one of the largest blocs in the Knesset after last years general election. It was in this context, noted Zeidan, that on the eve of the election, Netanyahu made his much-criticised comment warning that Arabs are coming out in droves to the polls. Asad Ghanem, a politics professor at Haifa University, told Al Jazeera that the expulsion law might realise for Netanyahu his stated goal of discouraging participation by the Palestinian electorate. Turnout had fallen to barely more than half of the minoritys voters before the Joint Lists creation in time for the 2015 election. If we see these attacks on Arab representation in the Knesset continue, Ghanem said, then voters may conclude that enough is enough and that it is time to withdraw from the political game. Oli swept into power in 2015 but has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests in the impoverished nation. Nepals Prime Minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, has resigned from his post just minutes before facing a no confidence vote he was expected to lose. Oli, 64, was forced to quit on Sunday after allies of his multi-party coalition deserted the government, accusing him of not honouring power sharing deals that helped install him as prime minister nine months ago. I have already submitted my resignation to the President when I met her before coming to the house, the Reuters quoted Oli as saying in a speech before parliament. Born in eastern Nepal on February 22, 1952, Oli became a member of the Nepal Communist Party in 1970 after being influenced by local communist leaders as a teenager. He spent 14 years in jail during the royal regimes crackdown on communists, but his politics had veered to the right in the last two decades. Oli swept to power in October 2015, but has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests in the impoverished quake-hit nation. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters in December, who rallied against a constitution they said left them politically marginalised. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepals transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability, but ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. RELATED: Making sense of Nepal\s protests A change in government is nothing new in Nepal, with Oli the eighth prime minister in the past 10 years. Rajendra Daahl, a former adviser to former President Ram Baran Yadav, said Olis decision was expected. In the last 25 years this was Nepals 22nd government, and we are still expecting two more governments in the period of this parliament within the next one and a half years, so this is very typical of coalition politics. It will take some more weeks, maybe even months to form a new government, Daahl told Al Jazeera. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is expected to make the next move, which means she might ask Olis government to become a caretaker until a new government is in place, or she will call on all parties to form a government by consensus. Four hospitals and a local blood bank in the battered city have been hit by air strikes in the past 24 hours. Syrian government air strikes have put four makeshift hospitals and a local blood bank in Aleppo out of action in the past 24 hours, according to local rescue workers and a monitor. Five medical facilities were hit [overnight] and are out of service right now, Ammar Salmo, spokesman for a volunteer rescue group known as the White Helmets told Al Jazeera. The bombardment killed a two-day-old baby in a childrens hospital in a besieged eastern neighbourhood of Aleppo, said the Independent Doctors Association, a group of Syrian doctors that supports clinics in the city. Al Jazeeras Bernard Smith, reporting from Gazientep along the Turkey-Syria border, said that several of the hospitals hit are still able to function. READ MORE: Artist Khaled Akil imagines Pokemon Go in ravaged Syria Only one of the hospitals has suffered a direct hit. People there say it has stopped operations for the moment, but we are told it will be back up in a couple of days, Smith said. The other hospitals and the blood bank were in an area where there were air strikes rather than them been apparently directly targeted. No buildings have been destroyed but operations have been affected in this places. There is supposed to be a ceasefire which began in February that clearly is all but in name, he added. Pro-government forces have surrounded the rebel-held eastern half of the city for more than 15 days, in an attempt to take full control of the strongest rebel bastion in the countrys north. Salmo of the White Helmets told Al Jazeera there were now only two functioning bakeries in a city of 300,000 people. Assad ready for further peace talks The air strikes took place just hours before embattled President Bashar al-Assads government announced on Sunday that it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. Syria is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations, state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. The UN hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August. Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated. Amnesty: Syrian armed groups committing war crimes Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated, particularly around Aleppo, where government forces recently cut off the only road into rebel-held areas of the divided northern city. The United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the conflict, are meanwhile to discuss an American proposal for closer military cooperation and intelligence-sharing on Syria to combat extremist groups. Secretary of State John Kerry said this month that Washington and Damascus ally Moscow had reached a common understanding on the steps needed to get Syrias peace process back on track. Justice minister says most social media users who claimed coup attempt was theatre are losers. Turkish prosecutors are investigating people who have alleged on social media that a July 15 coup attempt was a hoax carried out by the government, the countrys justice minister said. Bekir Bozdags comments on Sunday reflected what some critics say are increasing restrictions on expression in the wake of the failed rebellion by some military forces. Meanwhile, Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said Turkey also plans to hire more than 20,000 teachers to replace those who have been fired in a purge of suspected coup plotters in schools and other institutions. The new teachers will replace state educators who have been dismissed as well as teachers in private schools with alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based businessman and cleric who has denied accusations that he directed the coup attempt that killed more than 250 people. In other crackdown measures, Turkey has disbanded the presidential guard after already detaining nearly 300 unit members suspected of plotting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and authorities detained Muhammet Sait Gulen, a nephew of the cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. READ MORE: Turkey detains top Gulen aide after coup attempt Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said in an interview with Turkeys Kanal 7 television station on Sunday that anyone who suggests the coup attempt was staged most likely had a role in the insurrection, which was defeated by loyalist forces and pro-government protesters. Most are losers There has been some internet speculation that Erdogan engineered the unrest in order to rally support and thereby increase his power, a conspiracy theory rejected by the government and most commentators on Turkeys recent turbulence. Just look at the people who are saying on social media that this was theatre. Public prosecutors are already investigating them. Most of them are losers who think it is an honour to die for Fethullah Gulens command, Bozdag said. Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency to restore security following the coup attempt, granting Erdogan the power to impose decrees without parliamentary approval. More than 13,000 people, including nearly 9,000 soldiers, 2,100 judges and prosecutors and 1,485 police, have been detained, according to the president. READ MORE: Fear grows as Turkey introduces state of emergency In addition, Erdogan said, the government has closed and seized the assets of 15 universities, 934 other schools, 109 student dormitories, 19 unions and 35 medical institutions as well as numerous other associations and foundations suspected of links to Gulens movement. Turkey wants the United States to extradite Gulen. US President Barack Obama has said there is a legal process for extradition and has encouraged Turkey to present evidence. Neha Tara Mehta Neha Tara Mehta is a producer with Al Jazeera English based in Doha. Previously, she worked for the networks New Delhi and New York bureaus. She is a... more Fulbright-Nehru scholar and studied Journalism and International Affairs at Columbia University. She has covered conflict, racial and economic inequality, environmental injustice, sexual violence, religious extremism and has reported and produced stories from India, United States, Australia, Italy, Pakistan and Bhutan. Her most recent film is Delhis Deadly Air. 2005 .. Headquartered in Germany, leading pump manufacturer Wilo has announced an investment to build a local facility in JAFZA, Dubai. The investment plan consists of constructing offices, a training center, warehouses and local assembly plant over an 8,000 square meter plot of land, to be used by Wilo Middle East FZE, the ME regional subsidiary of the Wilo Group. The new facility will be located in JAFZA South. Wilo Middle East FZE originally opened in Jebel Ali Free Zone in 2008 and subsequently moved to another facility in 2011 to accommodate its regional business expansion and meet growing market demands by incorporating a showroom, sales office and state-of-the-art warehouse in the new premises. Significantly, the new facility will include the Wilo Academy,' the training center where distributors, engineers, installers and end users will receive training on its various water technology solutions. The firm believes that this will greatly assist its development in three defined market segments: Building Services, Water Management and Industry. ... Source : http://me-newswire.net//news/18382/en... AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies: WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008 AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008 CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE] In the 1960s, as a law student, I became, successively, a writer for, and then the editor of my law schools newspaper. In that capacity I began criticizing segregation. One could not write about segregation without saying that it was wrong and unjustifiable. As one of my professors put it, you could not acknowledge that blacks have a soul and justify segregation. I soon went beyond writing about it. I was drawn into participating in the Civil Rights Movement. A friend of mine since high school, who was also a law school classmate, became active in the Movement and went frequently in that capacity into the heart of the Mississippi Delta, real Faulkner country. He was beaten up by the Klan. He was in the thick of the struggle. He persuaded a number of us fellow students to go down and assist in the Movement. At one point, the authorities in Mississippi, under pressure from the federal courts, had to integrate the schools, but were still operating segregated school buses. My friend was following one of the buses to document this illegal segregation and the authorities arrested him. He was charged first with reckless driving and then that was altered (with a ball point pen as the trial began) into violation of a state statute making it a crime to follow a motor vehicle too closely. This was in Issaquena County, by the Yazoo River, in its county seat, Meyersville. A number of us went down to continue our work in the Movement and also to support him in fighting the trumped-up charge. It should be mentioned that the blacks there in Issaquena County were led by a remarkable woman, Mrs. Unita Blackwell, one of the many remarkable people who courageously led the Movement in the deep South. As the trial of my friend began, many of the indigenous black leaders of the Movement were in the audience, along with a number of us from our law school. It was a historic trial because, after a monumental struggle, the Movement had been able to force the authorities to include black Mississippians in the venire, the jury pool, for the first time since Reconstruction had ended. As a result, the jury selected was racially mixed. The trial began. The prosecutor was an older gentleman with a kind of turkey wattle on his neck a la Senator McConnell. His tactics were to castigate my friend and indeed all of us as outsiders, foreigners, with unpronounceable names, even though most of them were clearly derived from Scotch and Irish antecedents, like the names of many southerners, including prominent Confederates. The school bus driver was a woman and the old prosecutor attempted to cast her as being personally attacked by my friends following of her bus. He would say things such as: When you attack our womanhood, sir, I must arise to defend them. My friend was represented by a very capable civil rights lawyer from the Washington, D.C. area. He became quite prominent in civil rights law. The jury hung along racial lines and my friend was not convicted. While we were all still sitting there in the courtroom another trial came on swiftly. It was a trial of two young black men. They had been caught red-handed poaching on a state game preserve and were charged with violating the state law against such poaching. Their trial proceeded so quickly that we were all still sitting there when it ended. The jury hung along racial lines although they were clearly guilty. My friends lawyer was still standing at the side of the courtroom when this next trial ended. After the verdict of a hung jury was read he leaned toward our group and said quietly: Hopefully the third stage will be trial on the basis of the evidence. As I read about the Black Lives Matter movement and its encouragement by the man occupying the Oval Office and his partymate aspirant to that office, along with the visits of so-called civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton to the Oval Office, my mind goes back to that day in Mississippi. In a postgraduate paper in a small fellowship after law school I studied and analyzed the relationship between law and communications. Law, I concluded, grows out of fields of communications among the people, unless the peoples ability to intercommunicate is overwhelmed by intercommunication amongst an elite that supersedes the intercommunication amongst the people. The latter is what happened from those days in the 1960s until the e-revolution. When in the court of public opinion, untruths have great prominence because of a powerful elite interested in promulgating untruth, then the danger to the rule of law is great. This has been happening now for over 40 years. The unwillingness to consider actual evidence in the court of public opinion can influence what happens in courtrooms. It is the use of actual evidence to arrive at verdicts in either arena which the Rule of Law depends upon. My mind keeps going back to that day in Mississippi as the events have unfolded of George Zimmerman, of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, of Freddie Grey, and now of the supposed abundant executions of innocent blacks by what are assumed, without any actual evidence to be racist police officers. We will never reach the stage of trial on the basis of the evidence as long as there is a powerful elite dominating influential channels of communication such as a so-called mainstream media which is affiliated with a single political party devoted to a fundamental change in America which has an interest in seeing that actual evidence is not presented. Polls in recent years have shown that the bulk of the population has less and less confidence in the ability of the mainstream media to convey the truth. But that still leaves a lot of people willing to believe that which is not true. Powerful forces in academia assist in maintaining the influence of the mainstream media despite the growing awareness in the broader public of the lack of reliability of the supposed evidence being adduced. When persons at the highest levels encourage the spreading of untruths and are echoed in the so-called mainstream media the danger that courts will not adhere to the truth as necessary to the Rule of Law persists. So far petit and grand juries and judges have resisted this call. But the third stage of trial on the basis of the evidence in the court of public opinion has not been reached. The greater purpose of the Movement is not yet secure. When, at the Framing, we were assured the guarantee of a jury of our peers, all then involved assumed that our peers would be as interested in the truth as they, the Framers, were. Evidence is the path to truth in the court of public opinion as in every court. It is time for all leaders and all media to acknowledge this and speak and act accordingly, truthfully, putting forth actual evidence. At present, the lies continue -- against the evidence. I went to a wedding reception a few weeks ago and was sat next to a leftist with whom I went to high school. As one does on a dear friends special day (and every minute of every other day, lately), this guest and I began discussing Black Lives Matter. During our exchange, he helpfully stopped the discourse to correct me on the correct way to refer to People Of Color this month, correctly. Dont say blacks. Its Problematic? Yeah. I was tickled that I was able to finish his sentence in the same way it makes the new learner of a language pleased the first time he asks for a menu in a foreign country and the waiter understands. To be able to wield the idiosyncratic buzzwords of the left is one of lifes everyday pleasures in 2016, the way drive-in theaters were in the 50s. The encounter did remind me that correcting the language other adults use is one of the favorite pastimes of the left, the way volunteering or making a living is to those on the right. But maybe you object to my generalization, saying: Yeah Adam, Black Lives Matter want All Lives Matter to use their vernacular and vice versa; this isnt about the left only. Yet when I Google Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter (without the quotes), I get 8 results on the first page which arent in the news section at the top. Of the eight, guess how many want you to say Black Lives Matter. Eight. Because of the unusual left-wing fixation on making your tongue compliant, there is much hoopla in the opinion pages demanding you to refrain from the harmful, racist, and perilous phrase All Lives Matter. The left is apoplectic if you say it, even if youre a Person of Color. In an inexplicable attempt at comprehensiveness, Vox.com has come up with a startling 9 super-helpful ways for leftists to correct non-leftists who are bigotedly using the obviously bigoted phrase. That is, in the unlikely event that their leftist readers havent destroyed all contact with anyone who isnt a true believer in all three legs of the Socialist-NonCisHeteroWhiteMaleist-Environmentalist triumvirate of Goodness. One of the holier-than-thou Vox nonet explains why people who say Black Lives Matter are better than people who say All Lives Matter this way: There are some implicit words that precede Black Lives Matter, and they go something like this: Because of the brutalizing and killing of black people at the hands of the police and the indifference of society in general and the criminal justice system in particular, it is important that we say that. This is, of course, too long to fit on a shirt. Black Lives Matter is about focus, not exclusion. (Italics mine) It should now be clear how annoyingly capricious the correctional crotchets of the left can be. In case it isnt, Id like to offer my own holier-than-thou amendments following the logic laid forth by my leftist moral superiors (I do apologize for being redundant in that last phrase). The Washington Post kept tabs on fatal police shootings in 2015 and parsed the demographics. Out of just under 1000 total fatal shootings, they found 948 of the victims were male. In a world where disparate outcomes are always the result of external bigotries, thats a downright astonishingly infuriating proportion. So clearly Black Lives Matter is overly broad for the same reason All Lives Matter is: The lives of women are not at any particular risk from police shootings. Think about it: Can you name a woman killed by police? Me neither. Therefore, the group name should be Male Black Lives Matter. But do bear in mind its about focus, not exclusion, and somehow its probably sexist to disagree with me. But the new name isnt quite right either because your risk of being shot by police depends heavily on your age also. For example, people in the under 18 group or in the over 29 group are less at risk than the average American. We dont need the focus on safe people because its like the fire department dousing an unlit house. Hence, The Washington Post statistics show the group should be renamed Male Black Lives, Not Older Than 29 Nor Younger Than 18, Matter. After all, its not 9-year-olds getting shot by police, although sometimes they are murdered. But its not by police, so whats the big whoop? The irreproachable BlackLivesMatter.com tells me that continued focus on the 9-year-olds who are murdered is diversionary. Thats so progressive it sounds nearly ruthless! And of course, my new name for the group formerly known as BLM is about focus, not exclusion, and somehow its probably ageist to disagree with me. The Washington Post also found that people are at greater risk of being shot by the police if they had a weapon in hand (e.g. Mario Woods). Or were suicidal (e.g. LaVante Biggs). Or were mentally ill (e.g. Ralph Grenon). Or ran from police (e.g. Walter Scott). Well have to mix these in so our focus can become truly laser-like. The Washington Post data stops there, but Im keen to go on because the more we really home in on the problem, the quicker we can put the fire out or get the waiter to bring your dinner or whichever of the Vox metaphors make you feel most smug at family get-togethers. Fivethirtyeight.com found that in one dataset, over 40% of those killed by police were in the poorest 20% of areas -- Philando Castiles car wasnt a Lexus after all. The Guardian, not to be outdone by The Washington Post, has also been keeping tabs on police shootings and has found that disproportionately, those whove committed crime are shot by police for example, in the case of BLM poster-gentle giant Michael Brown, his criminal past was videotaped as recently as ten minutes before he attacked Darren Wilson and was shot. And lastly, holding a toy gun is a risk factor, as in the shooting of John Crawford III. So now we have a name. The group whos most at risk from police, aside from those actually attacking police, shall be represented by the name Armed Black Males Lives, Not Older Than 29 Nor Younger Than 18, Who Are Poor Criminals, Suicidal or Crazy, and Who May Be Evading Arrest, Matter. ABMLNOT2NYT1WAPCSCWMBEAM. Its about focus, not exclusion, and if you disagree with the name I made up youre a harmful, racist bigot putting ABMLNOT2NYT1WAPCSCWMBEA in peril. Ive gotta say in the lefts defense, the unearned feeling of moral superiority though linguistic correction is great. And its way easier than fixing anything. You can listen to Adams weekly podcast here. Most pundits consider Tim Kaine a safe, if boring, vice presidential running mate for Hillary Clinton. For those who truly understand the frontrunner, Kaine is an apt pick. Like Mike Pence, he is not exceptionally attention-grabbing. Neither of them has to be. The two top dogs in the race already have all the deep-throated growl they need. Kaine has been operating in the political arena for over 22 years. He has an all too familiar "insider" resume that tracks his career moves through various levels of state, party, and federal government. He is being touted by Democrats as someone who at times disagreed but respectfully! with President Obama, the objective being to paint him as his "own man" with potential appeal for independents. But those in the know recognize that Hillary, as president, would never brook disagreement from anyone. At a time when our citizens' level of distrust for government is at an all-time high, those seeking office are wisely reformatting their resumes. The predictable trajectory of public servants must now avoid the scornful appearance of their being political insiders. Hence the attempt to paint Kaine as a conciliator, who as governor of Virginia in 2007 used the Virginia Tech massacre to spearhead mental health reforms. They picture him as a compassionate law student who learned to speak Spanish while working for a year with Jesuits in Honduras. Hillary cited his long-ago pro bono efforts on behalf of minorities. On the other hand, his acceptance of gifts from favor-seeking constituents has understandably been omitted from the Kaine rollout. While some Hispanics resent the implication that Kaine's fluency in Spanish guarantees their vote, the fact is that Latinos will play a huge role in this year's election. It was no coincidence that Hillary chose to announce her pick before a packed auditorium of mostly Hispanic students at a college in Florida, a state Team Clinton needs to win. Nothing Clinton does is coincidental. I wrote months ago that she would never share the ticket with Elizabeth Warren. The feisty senator from Massachusetts is a formidable competitor, not a suitable running mate. The last thing Hillary has in mind is another female fighter for America decked out in cerulean blue. One wonders, then, why her choice did not cater more obviously to the aspirations of the Bernie Sanders millennials. The reality is that Hillary feels comfortable with a non-threatening old shoe like Tim Kaine. Most importantly, he'll have the good sense not to upstage her. And before the directors of the Philadelphia convention can shout, "It's a wrap!," Hillary will have the spotlight hauled back in place and trained unwaveringly upon herself. Kaine is a guy with a rumpled presence and a crinkly grin. He mugs and waves easily to the crowd. His rhetoric is about as inspiring as his haberdashery. He perceives his adversaries as evil and his running mate as good. He's less buttoned down and spruced up than his Republican counterpart, a sartorial shortfall that might sew up the votes of Americans who think too much tidiness is "not who we are." The proper grooming of the Republican ticket not to mention of the entire impeccable Trump entourage makes some voters very nervous, indeed. In spite of Tim Kaine's long involvement in politics, it's a safe bet that most Americans have never even heard of him. He's presently the junior senator from Virginia, but he's not, after all, the one who was briefly married to Elizabeth Taylor. That's John Warner, not be confused with Mark Warner unrelated, even politically another Old Dominion politician and the current senior senator from Virginia. Ironically, were it not for the fickle fortunes of politics, it might be Mark Warner standing on the stage in Philly this week either as the vice presidential or the presidential pick. Ruggedly handsome like the Kennedy clan, Mark cut such a promising political figure as then governor of Virginia that he was expected to enter the 2008 Democratic presidential race. He declined, but he delivered the keynote address . Mark was a "comer" in the mold of, say, Marco Rubio: young and attractive, his boundless ambition gathering momentum. But having been handily elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, Warner fumbled badly in his 2014 incumbent race, eking out a mere 17,000-vote win over his opponent, RNC chairman Ed Gillespie. Even in a year of voter disaffection, pollsters were shocked. Republicans had spent comparatively little on Gillespie's campaign, considering it a long shot at best. After that, there was no more talk in Democratic circles about Mark Warner being the darling of the party. And now it is Tim Kaine the other, older Virginia senator, with an almost mirror-image resume, who will make the political journey with Hillary. He should be accustomed to campaigning by now. Even his wife's family were prominent Virginia politicians, though Republicans. With the years, the D.C. Beltway and the Honduran countryside have become ever more mundos aparte. It's not hard to imagine the Clinton campaign strategy. She will keep it simple, because that's how she views the electorate. She will speak in outrageously incendiary terms against Donald Trump, as though she never even went to his wedding to Melania! She will continue to rely shrilly on the cliches carried forward from the long months of her sanctimonious claptrap. Platitudes will rain from the rafters like wet confetti, starting with the one about building bridges instead of walls. Hill's familiar gestures will accompany her wearisome words. She will point, grin, and wave to those she doesn't recognize in the audience. She will pat her heart and then mouth "thank you" to her supporters. She will cackle raucously at jokes about Trump. And in her resentment at his having taken aim at her failed public record, she will retaliate with ludicrous falsehoods about his conduct in unelected office, like the charge that he denied housing to blacks. If his introductory performance is any measure, Tim Kaine doesn't meet the snarl test for a designated attack dog. Hillary, on the other hand, personifies the words of Shakespeare's Hamlet " that one may smile and smile and be a villain." She talks often about "working together," but she has managed to pull our world apart and pull the wool over the eyes of naive Americans. Between now and election day, the Democratic standard-bearer will seek to achieve her ultimate ambition of leading unsuspecting lambs to slaughter. As for Tim Kaine, he's just along for the ride. Im one of those rare few who dont believe in paying for television or radio, so most of my updates on the RNC convention came via network news, public television, public radio and a smattering of Liberal-leaning websites. Since its unlikely that most here frequent these news sources, I thought that I would share my takeaway from the Lefts point of view this week: Monday Apparently nobody gave speeches on Monday if you get your news from the Left. Coverage revolved around all the people carrying guns and all the police in and around the convention center. Since the two never clashed, the Leftist media were totally disappointed. They turned to their new darling, one of my favorites Jonah Goldberg from NRO. Theyre only interested in Jonah because he hates Trump with a passion. Actually Trump mentions Goldberg as one of the people who motivated him to jump into the race just to prove him wrong. NPR seems to think that Jonah gives them credibility and balance but in this one circumstance he confirms them instead. If they have Jonah on air to discuss his opinions of Hillary during the DNC convention, then Ill believe that their intentions are balanced reporting. Of course, Jonah is there on this day not to comment on the speakers but to draw a connection between Trump and the only other story of the day/night convention-goers suffering from a norovirus. So Day One Wrap Up Lots of crazies with guns. Lots of police with guns and body armor. Nobody was shot. Lots of people got sick. Nobody important enough to care about hit the stage. Tuesday Day two consisted of only one speaker worth merit and apparently she gave the first two sentence speech in the history of political conventions. And those two sentences were taken verbatim from Michelle Obama. A Benghazi mom blamed Hillary for lying to her about her sons death, which enflamed the Lefties online to no end one at GQ asking for her to be literally killed for dissing their girl. The pesky Turks stole the headlines leading up to the convention except for Trumps tweet saying his prayers and concerns go out to his many friends in Turkey. Apparently they wanted him to say something about blowing the sh*t out of somebody and this tweet was a sign of his weakness on foreign affairs. Only the Leftist media could spin genuine thoughtful concern as a bad thing when done by a Republican. Wednesday Gingrich gave a great speech that nobody heard, apparently. Pence accepted the nomination without any speech worth talking about. Still nobody killed. Melanias two sentence speech is still dominating the analysts conversations. Cruz gave a fantastic speech, which is only memorable for what he did not say. Im reminded of Bernies speech a couple weeks back where he said he would support Hillary but he never really endorsed her if you listen to it closely. They speculate endlessly that Cruz is setting up for 2020 never considering the fact that the Republican establishment hates him more than Trump. NPR interviews people in a small west Pennsylvania steel town that are supporting Trump in force despite being lifelong union loving Democrats who have never voted for any Republican ever. The mayor pointed to all the Trump signs and said that in the past a house with a Republican sign in the yard would be covered with eggs. I heard the same message a couple weeks ago in a small Ohio town. They all gave reasons why they were voting for Trump but what was left out conveniently was why they werent voting for Hillary. Im sure those comments are sitting on the cutting room floor. Hats off to NPR though, that they aired anything at all. Thursday The Left was disappointed yet again. Im not sure, but its possible that only one person actually did talk. If anybody else did, you would never know it. Trump reportedly talked for longer than anybody else ever which I dont believe, having lived through endless drivel from Obama. They had nothing to say about what he said, only commenting that it was dark, negative and he never seemed to go off script. Which means no Trump-isms to report on endlessly. Their disappointment continued since nobody was killed, the protesters never really showed up in force like they hoped and there was no fireworks on the floor between the never-Trumpers and his supporters. Huh? Maybe that Great Divide in the Republican Party they keep reporting about doesnt exist. Theyll never admit it. Even Jonah Goldberg went silent. So in the end it was a terrible convention for the Leftist media because all the things they had cameras and microphones ready to record never happened. The speeches werent worth reporting on, which means they were all very good if youre a Republican, a concerned and informed independent or a new Trump Democrat from Ohio or Pennsylvania. They were offended that the Republicans and Trump were so negative about Hillary but they seem to forget how the DNC spewed endless vitriol at Bush in 2004. If I remember correctly, they were calling for GW to go to jail too. Melanias plagiarism is less of a topic of conversation after the flood of Obama and Biden plagiarism videos started trending on YouTube. Were left with claims that Trump is a KKK Grand Poo Ba, a Nazi or Hitler, which I consider a political jump the shark moment. If you cant find any logical criticism of a political candidate, you pull the Hitler card and they did. With nothing else to report the conversation has already changed to the DNC convention. Maybe itll be more memorable and worthy of meaningful coverage. NPR yesterday morning did bring up the first controversy in the making. Hillary is having three to five mothers of black children killed by police give speeches (I read five but they said three). I cant even imagine how these moms represent the face of the Dem Party and what they would say on the big stage but Im sure it will be covered ad nauseum. There are no mothers of police killed by children of black mothers invited to talk, though. There is no good explanation for this decision, so the Leftist media cannot ignore it. Especially, since Obama hasnt really come out and supported the police. He found time to go to funerals of black criminals killed but not police funerals. Obama refused to put blue lights on our White House in honor of the fallen men in blue too. Clearly the Dems are the anti-police platform. Hillary announced Tim Kaine as her running mate on Friday. Since Julio Castro from San Antonio cant speak Spanish and Kaine is fluent, it makes him a better choice to appeal to Latinos (?). Pence may be relatively unknown but hell be Trumps Biden. Say what you want about Biden, but when Obama came into office he had no experience dealing with anybody in Washington (he still doesnt) and Bidens experience filled the gap at least on paper. Pence has that as well as experience running a large government bureaucracy. Kaine on the other hand wont show up Clinton in any way at all. As a candidate for governor of Virginia he showed that, like Hillary, hell say anything to get elected. When he sat in the big chair in Richmond he managed to renege on everything he said he believed in on the campaign trail. A perfect fit! Hillary Clinton has picked Virginia senator Tim Kaine as her V.P. Much is being made of the fact that he speaks Spanish and is Catholic and used his Spanish while a Catholic missionary. Kaine has said he is "personally opposed to abortion" but respects a woman's right to end the pregnancy. Kaine is the latest Catholic politician to follow the tortured logic of Mario Cuomo to justify abortion when you know it is wrong, according both to your faith and to logic. Cuomo's "logic" has been followed by Pelosi, Kennedy, Biden, Ferraro, and others. The only exception was Governor Bob Casey, of Pennsylvania, who was barred by the Clintons from speaking at the 1992 convention because of his opposition to abortion. In fact, the current Supreme Court law on abortion is Planned Parenthood v. Casey, where the Court, with Justice O'Connor, upheld the "right" to abortion. I am Catholic and not picking on Catholics. I expected more intellectual honesty from Cuomo and now Kaine, who sell their religious and intellectual beliefs to get ahead as Democrat politicians. You do not have to be Catholic, Jewish, or any Christian denomination to know that abortion is the killing of an unborn child, although the religions do make it clear that the unborn child must be protected. There is no question that the unborn child is a person. If allowed to grow, he does not change into some other species. He is a person, plain and simple, and there are only so many ways to say this. Most states prohibit the killing of an unborn child by their homicide statutes, with the exception of abortion. Thus, it is crime to intentionally, recklessly, or negligently kill a child. If you kill a pregnant woman, and the unborn child also dies, then you will be charged with two homicides. Pennsylvania law defines an unborn child for purposes of the homicide statutes as follows: "Unborn child" and "fetus." Each term shall mean an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth. In plain language, the abortionist and mother and father may kill the unborn, but if anyone else does, then it is criminal homicide. Now, Kaine is a smart guy, and he knows that it is wrong to kill the unborn child. But like the rest of the politicians he says the mother has the right to kill the child, and he respects her right. How do you reconcile knowing that it is wrong to kill an unborn child, who is totally helpless and dependent on the mother, and then saying you respect the "right" of the mother to kill the unborn, helpless child, who is totally dependent on the mother making the choice to kill? Note the emphasis on mental illness and the omission of any reference to Islam. The Left is hard at work in the media. It is little wonder that the followers of Islam and the admirers of Muhammad develop mental health problems given that the Koran and the Hadith were written by a man subject to fits. Reuters: Recent attacks on civilians in the US and Europe have exposed a gap in the intelligence community's efforts to track suspected extremists and prevent mass killings, a half dozen American, British and French counterterrorism officials told Reuters. The attacks have a common theme of being carried out by actors with an apparent history of mental illness - but few if any direct links to extremist groups, the officials told Reuters. From both a legal and a strategic perspective, counterterrorism investigators globally are focused on plots by established violent groups with known ideologies, such as Islamic State. In the US, laws designed to protect citizens from intrusive government spying can limit investigations of individuals unless they have provable ties to foreign terror groups. Counterterrorism officials told Reuters that the assailants in a recent spate of mass killings all had histories of apparent mental illness . They included the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida; the murder of a British parliamentarian in Northern England; the killings of US police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Dallas, Texas; the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice, France; and Friday's mass shooting at a German shopping mall. The counterterrorism officials spoke on condition they and their organisations remained anonymous. On Saturday, Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said the Munich gunman, identified in news reports as Ali David Sonboly, had undergone psychiatric treatment before the attack and was obsessed with mass killings. He had no criminal record, and had no known connections to extremist groups. The German- Iranian 18-year-old, a local resident, shot and killed nine people after opening fire near Olympia shopping mall. The tactics in such attacks contrast sharply with the attacks in Paris last November and Brussels in March, which were carried out by groups of militants with direct links to Islamic State. Existing systems for collecting intelligence on extremists are not set up to identify individuals with a history of mental illness who come into contact with people or propaganda that could incite them to engage in violence, the intelligence officials told Reuters. In the attack in Orlando, the perpetrator had viewed online jihadist propaganda, the investigators said. But subsequent probes turned up no evidence the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, had any significant connections with Islamic State or any other militant organisations. Since the publication of my book, TWA 800: The Crash, The Cover-Up, The Conspiracy, three weeks ago I have been receiving insights from people with new information on a daily basis. Those who wish to contact me can do though my website cashill.com. What follows, however, is a review from Amazon. It explains why TWA 800 displaced other planes in line, including an El Al flight, and why, fatally, it was flying so low. Cashill has done an excellent job making an overwhelming circumstantial case that TWA 800 was brought down by missile. I know quite a bit about this topic as I was personally about as close as you can get to this tragic event. On 07/17/96, exactly 20 years ago today I was working as First Officer on TWA 900 which was operating JFK to Lisbon. We left the gate on time and got into a 15 or so plane takeoff line for runway 22R. As we got to the number 2 position for takeoff we were told to hold and allow TWA 800 to take our place in the takeoff line. 800 was operating as a "Lifeguard" flight that night meaning they were carrying time critical medical material. (Organs for transplant, etc) This "Lifeguard" status gave a flight priority handling by ATC. (It was common to place that cargo, usually a small cooler, in the cockpit for expeditious handling at destination. I later learned that 800 was carrying corneas for transplant but do not know how they were handled) TWA 800 took off and 2 minutes later we followed them southwest then east towards Nantucket. We were able to get clearance to 19000' while 800 was stuck at 13000' due to other aircraft traffic. They finally got clearance to climb and shortly after that other aircraft began to report an explosion in the air, falling debris and fire on the water, etc. I immediately thought of 800 (bomb in a cooler!?) and look to find them but did not see anything. I later saw the radar plot and I looked in the right relative location but had already passed over the scene. I mention all of this because I am familiar with or knew the TWA pilots mentioned in the book. They are all of superb character and were dedicated aviation professionals and as far from reactionary in temperament as you can get.One of them I talked extensively with one of these gentlemen about all of what had taken place on the hangar floor at Calverton as TWA 800's shattered pieces were bought in. Cashill's narrative is exactly how it was told to me ca. 1999 or so. While I disagree with the conclusion Cashill draws that the US Navy was the culprit I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the vast degree to which this investigation was manipulated from the earliest stages - but not immediately. When we arrived in Lisbon the morning of the 18th the Captain I was flying with got a call in his hotel room as soon as we arrived (9am local) from the FBI station chief in Madrid. He asked "What did you guys see?" They already knew what to look for. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is continuing his assault on Turkey's institutions, as he has ordered the closure of 2250 schools and charities connected to the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan has already fired 20,000 teachers and school administrators, as well as thousands of lawyers and other educated people from government. The schools, hospitals, and social service organizations targeted by Erdogan are private institutions. Associated Press: In a new tactic against suspected coup plotters, Turkey on Saturday announced it had seized more than 2,250 social, educational or health care institutions and facilities that it claims pose a threat to national security. The health ministry said patients at hospitals that are being seized will be transferred to state hospitals, highlighting the sweeping impact of the government's crackdown after a failed July 15 coup attempt. A top Turkish official also accused some European countries of downplaying the grave danger posed by the failed insurrection, an apparent response to Western concerns about possible human rights violations in the government's crackdown. "Some European colleagues think this is a Pokemon game, this coup attempt," said Omer Celik Turkey's minister for EU affairs. "Come here and see how serious this is. This is not something we play in a virtual game. This is happening in real time in Turkey." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sharply criticized concerns that the large-scale purges, which have left at least 10,000 people in jail and about 50,000 fired or suspended, could jeopardize basic freedoms. Erdogan told France 24 on Saturday that Turkey has no choice but to impose stringent security measures, after the attempted coup that killed about 290 people and was put down by loyalist forces and protesters. "We are duty-bound to take these measures. Our Western friends fail to see it that way. I cannot understand why," Erdogan said. "I'm under the impression that they will only see that once all the political leaders of Turkey are killed, and then they'll start to dance for joy." Turkey has imposed a three-month state of emergency and detained or dismissed tens of thousands of people in the military, the judiciary, the education system and other institutions. Turkish leaders allege that supporters of a U.S.-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, infiltrated state agencies and groomed loyalists in a vast network of private schools as part of an elaborate, long-term plan to take over the country. Erdogan is living out a paranoid fantasy. Or, he has coldly calculated what he has to do to aggrandize power unto himself. Is he seriously suggesting that 50,000 people were plotting against him? If that were true, Turkey would possess the absolute worst internal security apparatus in the world. Instead of looking at ties to Gulen, perhaps we should start examining the political leanings of those in jail. I have a feeling we'd find a lot more political opponents of Erdogan than supporters of an exiled cleric. California Dems are at risk of a Hispanic-Black schism over the Senate nomination fight between members of two prized victim-interest-groups. Christopher Catelago of the Sacramento Bee reports: Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, in an interview with Univision 19 that aired this weekend, suggested that President Barack Obamas endorsement of U.S. Senate rival Kamala Harris was in part based on race. Sanchez was asked why the president had endorsed Harris in the unusual race between two Democrats this year. Speaking in Spanish, she noted that Obama and Harris are longtime friends, then added: She is African American. He is, too. Democratic victory at the polls depends on Hispanics and blacks pretending they are not rivals for the same welfare state and affirmative action spoils. It depends on pretending the influx of unskilled labor from the south hasnt depressed wages for blacks (and everyone else), with the gratest effect on the lower end of the wage scale. It depends on Hispanics not realizing that despite their greater numbers, they are junior members of the Alliance of the Aggrieved in the Democrats Grand Coalition. There are many more Hispanics than Blacks in California. Sanchez may be onto something. Of course, she is denying everything: Sanchez, in a statement after the interview aired, said she in no way implied or intended to imply Obama endorsed Harris for racial reasons. I was stating the fact that the endorsement was based on their long-term political relationship, she said. Hat tip: iOTWReport Not one to let an order from the states supreme court hinder his effort to deliver Virginias electoral votes to Hillary Clinton, Governor Terry McAuliffe will individually sign executive orders granting felons the vote that they lost by bveing convicted of grave crimes. Alice Ollstein of Think Progress exults: Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is taking action to restore the voting rights of thousands of ex-offenders in the state after a court decision Friday put them in jeopardy. Hes getting around the Virginia Supreme Courts ruling against him by signing 200,000 individual clemency grants to the states ex-offenders to ensure their right to vote in November. Excuse me: Ex-offenders? How can one be an ex-offender? Did the crime disappear from history? Were the people harmed restored to pre-crime states of health, wealth, and mental equanimity? I am sorry, the offenders are still offenders people who put their own desires and impulses above societys laws. So, McAuliffe will evade the courts orders, and not rely on categorical grants but will individually sign them. This is analogous to drug dealers breaking up their cash bank deposits into sums below $10,000 so that banks dont have to report them to the feds. That is itself a crime, called structuring. Ask Denny Hastert. Let's call this "structured voting." McAuliffe will have a might sore wrist if he tries to sign 200,000 documents. The temptation of the auto-pen will be mighty The Democrats and the media allies understand politics as stagecraft, and do not hesitate to manufacture and market as genuine astroturf events when they think it is in their interest. They work together as allies. Alex Pfeiffer of The Daily Caller: The release of Democratic National Committee emails by WikiLeaks Friday reveals that DNC officials planned anti-Donald Trump protests. In multiple emails DNC officials sign off and acknowledge the existence of two anti-Donald Trump protests in South Bend, IN. and Billings, MT. There are only hints of the magnitude of the conspiracy involved: Intern involvement with protests is mentioned twice in the leaked emails. DNC communications director Luis Miranda bemoaned photos of an empty anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C. in one email chain. Miranda said: Going forward, when our allies screw up and dont deliver bodies in time, we either send all our interns out there or we stay away from it.. we dont want to own a bad picture. So, who are these allies? If you really want to make a difference and prevent the government from infringing on our Second Amendment, you have to actively support Nullification as a remedy and propose nullification measures to use the power of the States and the People to protect THEIR protections expressly stated in the US Constitution - the Bill of Rights. I'm not saying you have to necessarily come out and use that word, but you absolutely need to support the concept.Remember what the preamble to the Bill of Rights emphasizes: "The Conventions of a number of States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution." In other words, amendments One through Nine are "further restrictions on the federal government" while the Tenth is a further declaration of the intent of the Constitution (as a compact) - that the States have only delegated a select few of their sovereign powers to a common government for common purposes - for a "common defense" and some regulation of commerce between the States where it was necessary to ensure free trade - and they retain and reserve the remainder of them.You MUST start talking about the Constitution in terms of Compact Theory and reject any characterization of the country as a Union of people rather than States (Lincoln's rhetoric). Only when the Constitution is once again referred to and characterized as it was intended - a compact (history is complete with its references and justifications, including from all our Founding Fathers, the Constitutional Convention of 1787, from the writings of our two greatest founders Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the State Ratifying Conventions, and even Article VII of the US Constitution itself), can we stand on the firm ground necessary to reassert our position - that the government has no authority to burden the rights recognized and protected in the Bill of Rights and indeed which formed the very basis for our independence from Great Britain. Compacts have implicit rights and remedies reserved to its signing parties, very similar to contract law and even agency law.You MUST start talking about State Sovereignty Bills that will protect the citizens in every state from any gun control measure that burdens our Second Amendment guarantee. And I mean, REAL sovereignty bills that include interposition provisions and intent to enforce them. Montana introduced such a bill (or resolution) several years ago which reasserted its sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment and characterizing her position vis-a-vis the other States and the federal government in terms of a social compact where each State, as a party to that compact, has the implicit right (just as a party to a contract) to reassert the original terms of the agreement, to ensure that they are faithfully followed, and to assert her right to sever its bond and withdraw from the Union when that compact has been violated and frustrated. The Montana bill includes a provision that puts the federal government on notice that if it attempts to do any of a list of things (I believe the bill lists 5 specific things, including GUN CONTROL, limiting the Second Amendment), then it would consider it "a fatal breach of the compact that holds us together in the Union."This is the only way you fight back against the designs of our present bloated, self-serving government. These bold assertions and the strong political posturing of States will put the government on notice and equally will put the US Supreme Court on notice as well. They move forward with gun control measures, they do so at the peril of the stability of the United States.Petitions don't amount to a hill of beans. Over 60% of the American people showed their opposition to government-mandated healthcare but the government went ahead with it anyway.In a politically-incorrect and realistic world, laws are supposed to protect the good people and encourage constrained behavior for the benefit of an ordered and healthy/happy society. A person should always be free to exercise his or her God-given rights and freedoms UNTIL it burdens another's free exercise thereof. Laws are also supposed to punish the bad people and DISCOURAGE bad behavior. Our government is talking about Gun Control from an incorrect point of view with respect to the purpose of laws. It seeks to punish good people because of the actions of bad people. In doing so, it will punish good people from doing what God inherently intended people to do - protect themselves, their families, and their property, using whatever means necessary to stop the evil. The very definition of a criminal or the criminally-inclined is a person who doesn't obey laws. As with Prohibition, a prohibition on guns, a registry of guns, a long waiting period on gun ownership, a limitation on gun ownership and ammunition, etc etc will only create a thriving and creative black market which will only make sure that most criminals and super bad guys (and syndicates, such as terrorist organizations) will get lots of them while honest, law-abiding, vulnerable people which characterizes the overwhelming majority of Americans who now take huge risks now every time they venture out of their homes and go into public places, will have none.I offer these comments as someone who is equally passionate in preventing the federal government from taking our rights away or even burdening them in any way. It's always a slippery slope to even give in just a little.Remember, the Second Amendment is Freedom's Strongest Guarantee !! remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. At the controls of Si2, the revolutionary airplane that flies with no fuel propelled only by the energy of the sun, Bertrand Piccard took off from Cairo International Airport, at 1:28 am local time (UTC+2) for the final stretch of the first ever Round-The-World Solar Flight, and is expected to land at the Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi on 26 July. For this last leg, Bertrand will be welcomed by Andre Borschberg who flew Si2 for the departure from Abu Dhabi in March 2015. Close to crossing the finish line and achieving the incredible goal of circumnavigating the globe with zero-emissions, Solar Impulse is now more than ever writing the future of energy efficiency. But the suspense remains for the last leg of this pioneering journey which promises to be as challenging as the previous 16, in particular due to current heat in the Middle East, especially at this time of year. The hot temperature is at the limit of the design requirements of Si2. In addition it causes, even at high altitudes, thermals and turbulences forcing the pilot to stay longer periods of time with the oxygen mask for many days in a row. Its very emotional to take off from Egypt with Si2, given that I landed here in 1999 after accomplishing the first non-stop round the world balloon flight. Its precisely here that started my dream of making another circumnavigation, but this time without fuel, only on solar power. Im excited to come so close to the goal, but unfortunately there are still so many people we have to motivate before having a world running on the same clean technologies, said Piccard. Andre Borschberg, CEO, and co founder and pilot said: I am very moved to see Bertrand take off for the last leg of this incredible dream. It reminds me of the first time we met to discuss this seemingly impossible mission and the excitement it created in my mind. Today, we are living the final moments of a once in a lifetime adventure contributing to setting a new milestone in aviation one centered not on speed or height, but instead on exploring new clean and efficient technologies that can almost make it possible for the plane to fly with unlimited endurance, a week, a month; something that was never done. To make his dream a reality, Bertrand Piccard, a medical doctor and explorer at heart, teamed up with Andre Borschberg, an engineer and savvy entrepreneur. Both men have been taking turns piloting Si2 around the world, but have different respective roles within the project while Piccard outlined the projects vision and political reach and brought together the partners who provided funds and technology for this adventure, Borschberg pulled together the team that designed and constructed Si2 and drives the airplanes technological innovations into new engineering solutions. Thanks to the immense support of the Swiss Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation, in particular the Civil Aviation Authority, the Cairo Airport Company and the National Air Navigation Service Company, as well as the help of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and the Egypt Tourism Authority, Solar Impulse was able to run efficient and smooth operations in Cairo and successfully prepare for the final leg of the journey. After landing in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where the adventure started in March 2015, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, together with their team and partners, will continue Solar Impulses mission of advocating that concrete energy efficient solutions can solve many of the challenges facing global society today. Solar Impulse pictured leaving Cairo this morning Credit: Solar Impulse | Revillard A quick call to 911 from a passerby might have prevented a structure fire on Saturday at a Sherwin-Williams Paint Store on Grand Avenue from being even worse. Someone driving by on Grand reported the fire at 2019 Grand Ave. at about 7:20 p.m. after seeing a thick, dark plume of smoke coming from the building, according to Billings Fire Department Battalion Chief Dave Gilbert. Linseed oil, paint thinners and other flammable chemicals stored inside could have ignited and also created toxic fumes had the fire not been reported sooner, Gilbert said. If it was later at night and no one saw it, she coulda been ripping really good, he said. No one was injured, and the structure was unoccupied when the fire began, Gilbert said. The store had closed for the day about an hour before the fire was reported. The Billings Police Department was on scene to help redirect westbound traffic while Grand Avenue was blocked off by firefighting equipment from 20th Street West to 21st Street West A string of seven arson fires were reported in late June but the Sherwin-Williams fire was not the result of arson and was accidental. According to a press from Assistant Fire Marshall Bill Tatum, "A battery charger located in the rear storage area used to charge a forklift malfunctioned, causing the fire." Broken glass in front of the structure was the result of the fire forcefully blowing out the store's front windows, Tatum wrote. Damage for the insured property and its contents is estimated at $250,000, according to Tatum's release. Smoke ceased at about 8 p.m., and two ladder trucks were among the resources dispatched to the scene. Gilbert said almost 20 firefighters, including some who had been at the 1,395 acre Fritz Fire southwest of Billings near Fritz Road and Duck Creek Road, were dispatched to the fire. Friday afternoon, crews also spent hours battling a structure fire on at 4028 Central Ave. at the former location of Cetrone Studio photography, which continued to smolder overnight, according to Battalion Chief Ed Regele. While he couldnt say whether it was the busiest weekend of the summer, Gilbert acknowledged the spate of area fires over the past two days is out of the ordinary for his department's typical workload. To have this kind of situation two days in a row, where crews are tied up, Gilbert said. Its unusual. Within the community, each person will be allotted just 200 square feet of living space, but apartments will be soundproofed, with Roomba-sized robots that rearrange furniture for different needs and times of day. Furnishings and possessions not being used will be stored inside 4-by-4-foot boxes that are integrated into the apartment floors and electronically move up and down as needed. Earlier this year, I received a letter from Siena Heights University. When I opened it up you could have pushed me over with a feather. I had been nominated to receive a Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa. In one of the ensuing emails I was told that, due to an unusually high number of graduates, I needed to accept the award in a speech lasting two minutes. It never occurred to me to publish those words here, but recent events have changed my mind. Our public discourse is on a dangerous track. Rather than seeing our common humanity, we emphasize our cultural differences. Fear replaces curiosity, and there is a danger that we have begun to descend toward a darkness from which it may be impossible to return. It is said that history doesnt repeat itself, but it rhymes. We mustnt rhyme at this moment. We must be courageous enough to find a different way forward, and it involves reminding ourselves of the very meaning of community. So, recently the thoughts of my speech returned to me, and I have decided to post them here. This is what I said: To everyone here, I want to join in offering my congratulations. You did it. It is finished. For the students, today ends the most recent part of your life-story with the word graduation. We do so at a ceremony called commencement. The two words imply that you are moving on to another level, and that your real life-story is yet untold. My parents told me that I sang songs long before I learned to speak. If that is true, then Ive been making music for almost six decades. During more than half of that time, Ive been an orchestra conductor. But what brought me to the field is not what has kept me in it. The first decisions of my career were all about me. And those first questions should have been about me, since we express our lives individually. So, my first big issue was: What do I want to do with my life? But that question, it turned out, was only half of the story. Time would teach me a different question. The first illusion is that we are self-contained. We have skin around us, and have our own thoughts and feelings. So, we must be separate. Then one day the illusion falls away, and we see everyone as belonging to everyone else. We see humanity as being one thing; the world as a single unit. And at that moment, we wake up from our dream about ourselves, and we see the lie for what it is: We no longer hold to the view that we are alone and that our individual interests are paramount. And, as our perspectives change, we commence a new work, even if it is in the same old job. We become part of the whole. Our work, the expression of our lives, reflects that understanding. So, in my case, I experience music personally, but I make music for others. If I could wish for you students just one thing today, it would be for a sense of transcendence. It would be that you would, over time, become aware of, and try to serve, something larger than yourselves. My wish would not be that you starve or that you suffer in seeing to the needs of others. Instead, it would be that you prosper, and experience joy. And the way to joy is to live beyond the confines of your own skin. By looking outward, you look within. By serving others, you end up serving yourself. That is the great truth. A life well-lived is one in which we give ourselves away. Rather than protecting ourselves, we embrace the world around us. All beginnings start with an ending, and your work here has ended. It is finished. And now, at commencement, you can, at last, begin. Congratulations! And to the University, thank you for this honor. ~ The two minutes had passed, a hood had been placed around my neck, a degree had been given, and I had re-examined the precepts of my own life. We live in community and we live for it as well. Its crowded today in the wonderland of steaming geysers where buffalo roam, deer and antelope play. On an average day last month nearly 28,000 visitors streamed into Yellowstone Park in buses, RVs, pickups, campers, motorcycles and bikes, according to National Park Service data. ^pIn 2015, Yellowstone visitors spent $493.6 million, creating 7,735 jobs and $225 million in income, according to Headwaters Economics. Yellowstone is the centerpiece of the regional tourism industry that contributes mightily to the economies of our states. For many Montanans and Wyomingites, Yellowstone is the perfect getaway. Its a beautiful destination practically in our back yard. In previous Gazette opinions, weve cheered strong visitor numbers recorded last year and the trend toward more visitation this year. But with the park now at peak season, its neighbors also must face the fact that Yellowstone isnt keeping up with the demand.^p ^pFamilies who were fortunate enough to observe a Yellowstone grizzly from the safety of their car, will also take home memories of waiting up to two hours in line at the entrance gate. Visitors will remember hurrying toward the nearest vault toilet only to find a busload of people already in line.^p ^pLets face it, more visitors mean more trash, more restroom use, more traffic, more questions for park rangers. Park staffing hasnt kept up. Yellowstone needs more help. So far this year, visitation is running 10 percent ahead of 2015, which was a record year. If the trend continues, Yellowstone will have 4.5 million visits this year 500,000 more than last year. In the year 2000, Yellowstone logged 3 million visits. Despite record visitation numbers, Yellowstone hasnt had an increase in staff, said Bart Melton, Northern Rockies regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association. Budgets have been relatively flat, he said. Melton said the park must plan carefully to meet immediate and projected future needs. Theres much anecdotal evidence of unmet needs, but he said Yellowstone and other national parks need accurate data to plan well. We need to get professional opinions on where visitation will be in 10 years, Melton said. We know very little about how 1.5 million more visitors are impacting the park resources. Melton isnt calling for restrictions on visitation. The NPCA is pushing for passage of the National Parks Centennial Act along with increased funding for national parks operations, maintenance and transportation. We commend Reps. Ryan Zinke of Montana and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming for supporting passage of the National Parks Centennial Act in committee. Writing in the latest edition of the Yellowstone Associations quarterly publication, Jenny Golding quoted Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk summing up the parks popularity challenge: The public desire to experience the incredible geology, thermal features, wildlife and scenic vistas the very reason the park was established 144 years ago is outpacing our ability to accommodate them and provide the quality experience visitors expect in our national parks, Wenk said. The decisions we make over the next 3-5 years are critical to the future of Yellowstone. We cant shy away from this responsibility. Congress ought to pass the National Parks Centennial Act this year. It wont add to the deficit, it wont increase taxes. But that bill alone wont be nearly enough to care for the national treasures in Americas parks. Yellowstone Park is immensely profitable for Montana and Wyoming because it is spectacularly beautiful. For business to grow in the long run, the parks land, water, wildlife and thermal features must be protected. Yellowstone needs champions in Congress. The delegations of Montana and Wyoming are well aware of the parks value; they must educate their colleagues. Lummis, Zinke and Sens. Jon Tester, John Barrasso, Steve Daines and Mike Enzi must work together to help get Yellowstone ready for visitors next year and in the next decade.^p While traveling recently in Norway, I came across Camouflage, a group exhibition by military veterans of wars and other armed conflicts that doubled as a form of therapy. It was presented in Bergen, Norways second largest city, and was curated by Per Ruttledal with the assistance of Suellen Meidell and Robert Rodrigues. Meidell told me she had served with the Norwegian military in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2007, as part of a NATO force-protection unit. Because I could not record the sound track on her video, which could only be heard on headphones, she gave me permission to substitute anything I wanted. Hope she approves. The show closes today. Click for more information. At the Angelus, Pope Francis makes the pilgrims pray for the victims of terrorist attacks in Germany and Afghanistan, against the "dark security and peace prospects." "The word 'Father' is the 'secret' of the prayer of Jesus, is the key that He gives to us so we too can enter into that confidential relationship of dialogue with the Father who accompanied and supported all his life. The Popes upcoming trip for World Youth Day in Krakow, from 27 July. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - An appeal to hope and against terrorism, along with prayer for the dead in Monaco of Bavaria and in Kabul was launched by Pope Francis at the end of today's Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square. "At this time our soul is once again moved by sad news related to deplorable acts of terrorism and of violence, which have caused sorrow and death, the Pope said. I think of the dramatic events in Munich in Germany, and in Kabul in Afghanistan, where many innocent people lost their lives. I am close to the families of the victims and the wounded. I invite you to join in my prayers that the Lord will inspire that the Lord might inspire in everyone intentions of goodness and fraternity. The more difficulties might seem insurmountable, and prospects of security and peace seem obscure, he said, the more insistent must our prayer be. At the conclusion of the appeal, after a moment of silence, the pope prayed the Hail Mary together with the pilgrims. Francis had previously explained the value of Jesus' prayer, the Lord's Prayer, referring to the Sunday Gospel (XVII per year, C, Luke 11: 1-13). "The Gospel of this Sunday - said the pontiff - opens with the scene of Jesus praying, alone, aloof; when it ends, the disciples asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray" (v. 1); and He says, "When you pray, say: 'Father ...'" (v. 2). This word is the 'secret' of the prayer of Jesus, is the key that He gives to us because we can get ourselves into that confidential dialogue relationship with the Father that accompanied and supported him all his life. With the title 'Father' Jesus combines two requests: "Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come" (v. 2). The prayer of Jesus, and therefore the Christian prayer, is first and foremost making space for God, leaving him to show his holiness in us and advancing his reign, starting with the possibility of exercising his loving lordship in our lives . Three other requests complete the 'Our Father' in the version of Luke. There are three requests that express our basic need: bread, forgiveness and help in temptation (cf. vv. 3-4). We can not live without bread, without forgiveness, or without the help in temptations. Jesus makes us ask for the bread we need, not superfluous; it is the bread of pilgrims, a bread that does not accumulate and is not wasted, that does not weigh down our journey. Forgiveness is, first of all, what we ourselves receive from God: only the awareness of being sinners pardoned by the infinite mercy of God can enable us to make concrete gestures of fraternal reconciliation. If we do not feel ourselves to be sinners, we will never be capable of a gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation. A heart that feels forgiven ... everything starts from here, from the heart. The last request, "not into temptation," expresses the awareness of our condition, always exposed to the snares of evil and corruption. Jesus' teaching on prayer continues with two parables which he modeled on the attitude of a friend against another friend, and that of a father against his son (cf. vv. 5-12). Both want to teach us to have full confidence in God, who is Father. He knows us better than we know ourselves, he knows our needs, but wants to present them to him boldly and insistently, that this is the way we participate in His work of salvation. Prayer is our primary and principal 'working tool'! Listen carefully to this ... Insisting with God does not mean convincing him, but strengthening our faith and our patience, which is our ability to fight together with God for the things that really matter and are necessary. When we pray we are in two: God and I, to fight together for the important things. Among these, there is one that is more important than all others, Jesus says in the Gospel, but which we hardly ever we ask for, and it is the Holy Spirit. Jesus says: "If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (V. 13). But what good is the Holy Spirit? We need the Spirit to live well, to live with wisdom and love, doing the will of God. What a beautiful prayer would be that each of us this week ask the Holy Spirit: Father, give me the Holy Spirit. Our Lady shows this with her life, entirely animated by the Spirit of God. May she help us to pray to the Father united to Jesus, to live not in a mundane way, but according to the Gospel, guided by the Holy Spirit ". After the Angelus and after the appeal against terrorism, the pontiff recalled the important event of the World Youth Day in Krakow. "In these days - said Francis - many young people from all over the world are moving towards Krakow, where the Thirty-first World Youth Day will take place. I leave next Wednesday, to meet these young boys and girls, and to celebrate with them and for them the Jubilee of Mercy, with the intercession of St. John Paul II. I ask you to accompany us with prayer. As of now I greet and thank those who are working to welcome the young pilgrims, with many bishops, priests, religious men and women. A special greeting to the many peers who, unable to be present in person, will follow the event through the media. We will all be united in prayer. " No one who has listened or watched our national media is unaware of how powerful fear is as a factor in American politics. Donald Trump appeals to our fear of Muslims and immigrants. Hillary Clinton assures us that her experience will keep us safe. Great Britain, France, and South and North Korea all remind us that the other is out to get us. The so-called Islamic State continues to terrorize the world claiming credit for attacks in Paris, Nice and Brussels. The failed coup in Turkey reminds us that we are dependent on that county for permission to fly bombing missions in the Middle East. Even public radio and television are contributing to the panic. Constant reminders of how dangerous the world is have become routine and are no longer useful except to gnaw at peoples insecurity. We have not yet heard the words spoken by Franklin Roosevelt in 1941: We have nothing to fear except fear itself. Climate change in Montana and the world is far more dangerous than Muslims, whether here or abroad. Cities and towns on eastern and western shores of our country are literally drowning in waters from our decaying oceans. Small countries like the Maldives in the Indian Ocean have only a few years left. When will we learn that it is more dangerous not to act than to try and do something about our fears. Politics is not the place to try for it is there that we only feed the media monsters who frighten us. Dave Grimland Columbus SDCC Wonder Woman Trailer Trending News: Watch Gal Gadot Kick Some Serious Ass In The New 'Wonder Woman' Trailer Why Is This Important? Because you seriously do not want to mess with this badass chick. Long Story Short Warner Bros. gave fans at San Diego Comic-Con a double whammy with two huge DC Universe trailers one after the other. In the Wonder Woman trailer, star Gal Gadot fights off the German military in World War I. Long Story Seventy-five years since being first written about, Wonder Woman is finally getting her own movie in the middle (peak?) of the world's big superhero moment. And there are big hopes for it. Besides being one of the first mainstream superhero movies to feature a female lead, the Patty Jenkins (Monster) directed blockbuster has close ties with the evolving DC Universe, including the new Justice League movie (see that trailer here). In the Wonder Woman trailer, released Saturday at Comic-Con, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman discovers pilot Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine, washed up on shore. She then finds herself joining in on the trench warfare of World War I, kicking German butt, and using her whip, sword and shield to do it. It's certainly action-heavy, and a lot of fun. The highlight of the trailer has to be when WW puts Trevor in his place. I cant let you do this, says Trevor. With WW replying: "What I do is not up to you." Owned. Watch the action-packed trailer now: Wonder Woman lassos herself into theaters on June 2, 2017. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Does the first trailer live up to all the hype? Disrupt Your Feed Do I sense some little plot similarities with Captain America? Drop This Fact This is the first big-time superhero movie with a female lead since Catwoman and Elektra in 2004 and 2005 (two critical flops). Hi everyone, Is there anyone with a PhD who got his skills assessment by vetassess? I was paid during my PhD and can claim it as work experience. However I wonder if I should also enter it in the education section. When I called vetassess, they could not answer my question, therefore they told me to submit my PhD in the education and employment section. I am just asking because my previous experience in the VISA process made me paranoid. Thanks, NHTSA The fatal Tesla Model S accident that occurred last May is one of the most pressing subjects when autonomous car technology is concerned, as various industry leaders and safety regulators have decided to focus intensively on how these systems operate and the level of certainty they provide.While self-driving cars are already possible with the technology at hand, lawmakers are still concerned about the liability issues involved with these vehicles.As the fatal accident in Florida has shown, humans are prone to be distracted while driving a vehicle with autonomous functions. Truth be told, drivers become distracted in regular cars as well, so any lack of attention while driving should not entirely be blamed on a vehicle's ability to drive itself.Mark Rosekind, the head of the National Traffic Safety Administration, has held a speech in Detroit in front of an audience. As Ars Technica reports, administrator of the NHTSA stated that automakers cannot wait for autonomous car technology to become perfect when it comes to market.Mr. Rosekind is a supporter of self-driving car tech , and he expressed hope that automated cars will save lives once they come to market. The same objective is shared by automotive industry leaders when referring to self-driving technology.Without mentioning the fatal accident involving a Tesla that was driving on Autopilot, Rosekind noted that it is the's goal to reduce road fatalities. Self-driving vehicles have the ability to remove human error out of the equation of driving, so introducing driverless tech in cars has the potential of reducing fatal accidents, as well as car crashes in general.However, other safety regulators, like the Secretary of Department of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, have underlined the fact that autonomous does not mean perfect, so Rosekind's statement does get a different context once this is mentioned.Our view of the two observations referred above reveals the need for lawmakers and automakers to agree on safety guidelines for driverless vehicles, so that the technology would not allow distraction and prevent accidents at the same time. All in all, this technology must be taken seriously by all involved. 24 July 2016 11:16 (UTC+04:00) Turkeys Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman on Saturday urged promotion of Tehran-Ankara relations, IRNA reported. He stressed development and continuation of friendly relations and cooperation between Iran and Turkey. In a congratulation message to Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on his re-appointment, Kahraman also emphasized the importance of promoting parliamentarian ties between Iran and Turkey. He invited Larijani to pay a visit to Ankara. Iran and Turkey enjoy high level of parliamentarian relations. Larijani, soon after the failed coup in Turkey, send a message to the countrys parliament offering many congratulations to his counterpart, members of the parliament, government and people in Turkey on the victory of the nations will, national sovereignty and democracy over a desperate and doomed measure against the countrys democratically-elected bodies. --- Within the past few weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought funding to build an additional 150 housing units for Israeli citizens on the West Bank of the Occupied Territories. All of these housing units will be for Israelis only. Within hours, many countries, including the United States, condemned the plan. Basically, our politicians waved their finger at Israel and said, naughty, naughty. This is history imitating itself. In 1938 through 1939, the Nazi government annexed the Sudetenland. In 1940, they annexed the eastern French regions of Alsace and Lorraine. Finally, in June 1941, Hitlers forces invaded the Soviet Union. The reason for these moves came from the German word: Lebensraum, translated as to provide living space for its growing (German) population. Israel is now imitating Hitlers Nazi government. Netanyahu is taking property that the United Nations has repeatedly stated does not belong to Israel. It is occupied territory belonging to other countries. Israeli is practicing the Nazis Lebensraum. Since Israel and every U.S. administration since Harry Truman, considers Israel to be a semi-official 51st State, the country will do whatever it wants. It is untouchable because no politician has the courage to enforce the directives from the United Nations. The next time we hear of another terrorist attack, bombing, or other heinous act, remember that Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israelis Lebensraum is mostly to blame. The evil swastika has been replaced by the Star of David. John Howard Huntley A group of developers has plans to make ethanol from the stalks and leaves of North Dakota corn plants and wheat straw. New Energy Investors is looking to develop a 13-million gallon, cellulosic ethanol plant at the Spiritwood Industrial Park near Jamestown. What attracts us here is we believe North Dakota has good policy to support us. The investment community here seems focused on agricultural products and generating new revenues back to the farm, said New Energy co-founder and partner Thomas Corle. Corle said they have had good support from the city of Jamestown as well. We certainly want North Dakota to partner in this project with us, he said. New Energy plans to get its feedstock from a 50-mile radius, stretching west to Tappen, south to Edgeley, north to Carrington and east to Buffalo. Corle and his partners started developing the concept for the plant six years ago and formed as a company a year and a half ago. The company is in the pre-development stage. It has already developed the technology; now its optimizing the plants design for the Jamestown location. New Energy is seeking $125,000 from the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission for a three-month feasibility study. Corle said he and his partners have seen the Jamestown site and believe it has what the plant needs to be successful. The study is to reassure potential investors. We dont foresee any roadblock, he said. So far, New Energy has had a lot of investor interest, but no committed investments, according to Corle, who said the company hopes to close on those investments as it moves through the three-month study. After the study comes permitting and engineering, which is expected to take 12 months to complete. Corle said a lot of the necessary infrastructure is already in place at the industrial park. New Energy would be built next to Dakota Spirit AgEnergys ethanol plant. There are a lot of synergies between us, he said, such as load out capabilities to rail cars. New Energy also plans to purchase high- and low-pressure steam from nearby Spiritwood Station, a new coal-fired power plant built by Great River Energy. To make ethanol, New Energy will take about 30 percent of farmers' crop waste off their fields, leaving the rest for nutrients. Corle said some farmers may want to leave everything in the field after combining for New Energy to pick up. Others may choose to bale it and leave it roadside. They also have the option to make more money by delivering their crop waste directly to the plant. The company also would pay farmers to rent satellite storage areas to keep feedstock for the plant year round. Payment for the waste will be on a contract basis with each grower, but, because it is a waste product and not a crop, its not contingent on corn prices like typical sales to ethanol plants. Corle said New Energy is having conversations with area farmers to determine what a fair price may be and what would be profitable for both parties. The plant is expected to generate $15 million in new revenue back to farmers. We want to keep the growers happy, he said. The plant would employ 40 people on site and contract about 100 more for trucking and services. Corle said New Energy hopes its project will showcase how to produce low carbon fuel. The company also plans to test new technologies for making biodegradable plastics using chemical products. About 25 tons of crop waste will go into the facility per hour to make 13 million gallons of ethanol annually. New Energy will also collect lignin, a byproduct, from the walls of the plant, separate it from the sugars extracted from the crop waste and turn it into a biofuel pellet that can be used by coal plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Corle said. Corle said by creating a 30 percent mix of lignin in with coal at power stations, power companies can reduce carbon emissions 30 percent, extend the life of power station and increase the number of British thermal units generated. Corle said Jamestowns access to East and West Coast markets is another plus as the company plans to target states such as California, Washington and Oregon, as well as Canadian provinces, for sale of its ethanol. After breaking ground, Corle said the plant would take 24 months to build, with commissioning planned for 2019. Officials representing charities say granting North Dakotas five American Indian tribes exclusive rights to host online gambling could effectively end charitable gambling in the state. The tribes want Gov. Doug Burgum to approve the idea under tribal-state agreements known as compacts. The current compacts expire at the end of this year and only Burgum can approve them. The tribes argue that their casinos have been hurt by the explosion of the charities Las Vegas-style pull tab machines. Burgum heard arguments from the charities and tribes on Friday. He says the terms of the compacts are still being negotiated and should be completed next month. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Taft's Sand Castle Contest Livens up Central Oregon Coast in August Published 07/23/2016 at 6:31 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) Just before August 13, you'll want to head to the central Oregon coast with shovel and bucket in hand, as the 13th is the day that boasts the Taft Beach Sandcastle Contest along the sandy shores of Lincoln City. This fun and fanciful amateur competition runs from 11 am to 5 pm and it is open to participants of all ages and skill levels. A variety of categories are a part of the competition, including groups, families, pairs, individuals (over 12 years old) and kids (12 years old and younger). Where each participant will get to build their castle on the beach will be determined by those categories. Specialized categories such as Best Dog, Best Cat, Best Sandcastle, Best Mo's Chowder Hat and others will also be available. The ultimate prizes are cash awards for each category, while the kids' category will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, each taking home a "Beach Bucket Surprise." Judging will take place at 3:30 pm, with winners announced shortly thereafter. Build a sand-made masterpiece, or watch the amateur teams compete while listening to live music from local talent. 11 a.m. marks the start of registration on the dock just outside of Mo's Restaurant in the Historic Taft District with competition beginning shortly thereafter. All participants must register at the sign up table on the day of the event before beginning. There is a fee of one can or more of food per entrant, which will be donated to the Lincoln City Food Pantry. Entries must be built using only sand, water, shells and other natural beach material found that day. Hand tools and forms may be used in the construction process but may not support the structure. Power tools are not allowed. This is an amateur competition; professional "sand artists" are disqualified from winning prizes. The event is co-sponsored by the Bay Area Merchants Association (BAMA) and Mo's Restaurant in Lincoln City. For further information, visit www.oregoncoast.org/sandcastle-contest. More Lincoln City / Central Oregon Coast August Highlights: Every Saturday and Sunday you can take a Walking Tour of Historic Taft District of Lincoln City. These free tours run from 1 2:30 p.m are conducted and narrated by John Blaine, and presented by the North Lincoln County Historical Museum. Come in to the museum and sign up for a tour, or call 541-996-6614 to reserve a special day and time. Lincoln City, Oregon. Every Thursday, just south of town, there's the Gleneden Harvest Market at Gleneden Beach. These happen from 1 6 p.m. at the Side Door Cafe, 6675 Gleneden Beach Loop Road. Every Sunday you'll find the Lincoln City Farmers & Crafters Market, where all items are hand-made or home grown by the seller. This outdoor market runs from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy 101. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-921-0062. On August 9, dig into the Clamming Clinic. This starts at 10:45 a.m. with a lecture at the Driftwood Public Library, followed by a trip to Siletz Bay to dig clams. This is free. 801 SW Hwy 101. Lincoln City, Oregon. www.oregoncoast.org or call 800-452-2151. On August 13, the Culinary Center holds the cooking class Hands-on BBQ and Sides. Going from 11 am to 2 pm, cost is $75 per person includes meal and beverages. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-557-1125. Also on August 13, there's the Photography Hiking Clinic at Spring Lake Trail. Enhance your photography skills and explore the wild side of Lincoln City. $20 per person. 9 11 a.m. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-994-3405. Lincoln City Hotels/Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour More on Lincoln City below, and at the Lincon City Virtual Tour, Map. More About Lincoln City Lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The Coast Guard on Saturday was searching for two people whose boat may have sunk 125 miles southeast of Galveston Saturday morning. The missing men were identified as Karl Shram and Chris Bergeron of Lake Charles. If a liberal Democrat had called Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, "the most self-centered, narcissistic, pathological liar I've ever seen," you wouldn't be surprised. You'd chalk it up to the current bitterness that has virtually destroyed any sense of respect between Democrats and Republicans. But those words didn't come from some far-left backer of socialist Bernie Sanders. They came from conservative Republican Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana. It's another example of something you thought you'd never see in American politics, but after last week's GOP convention, maybe the unexpected should be expected. The reason for Coats' condemnation was, of course, Cruz's refusal to kiss the ring of nominee Donald Trump at the convention. It's like going to a wedding reception without a gift but eating your fill. These things are just not done. Well, they used to not be done - in the Republican Party, at least. Ronald Reagan once famously said the party's 11th Commandment was "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican." Cruz is not the only modern Republican leader to trash that concept - while still pretending to revere Reagan. Trump also grew more popular during the primaries every time he branded another nickname on one of his opponents, from "Little Marco" to "Lyin' Ted." Cruz didn't forget the insult, but like many other top Republicans from John Kasich to the Bush clan, he didn't boycott the convention to show his disgust. He agreed to speak, and that more-or-less implies saying something nice about the nominee - and actually endorsing him. House Speaker Paul Ryan managed to do this even though he almost choked on his words. But Cruz is different - and not in a good way. He was happy to roll a grenade into the hall and smirk while promoting himself as the party's leader if (or in his view, when) Trump loses. It was sneaky and ambitious. But that's been Cruz's shtick ever since he beat former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for the GOP Senate nomination in 2012. Cruz believes virtually every other Republican is a weak sellout who must yield to his ideological purity. He knows that Trump's embrace of conservatism is flexible, so he had no qualms about raining on his parade. Hey, at least Cruz was consistent. Another prominent Texas Republican, former Gov. Rick Perry, said of Trump last July, "He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as Trumpism: a toxic mix of demagoguery, mean-spiritedness and nonsense that will lead the Republican Party to perdition if pursued." That's brutal - and correct. Yet Perry swallowed his pride and spoke at the convention anyway, now saying of Trump, "He is not a perfect man. But what I do believe is that he loves this country and he will surround himself with capable, experienced people and he will listen to them." Cruz didn't flip-flop, but he also removed any doubt that he will run for president in four years - again, because every other elected official in his party is weak and hopeless. As crazy as that formula is, it got him a second-place finish this time. That says a lot about him - and voters in the party he belongs to. --------------------------- Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom The first footage of superhero movie Justice League has been released as a host of Hollywood stars unveiled previews to upcoming blockbusters at Comic-Con International. Ben Affleck, Will Smith, Tom Hiddleston and Eddie Redmayne were among the celebrities at the event in San Diego, where Warners Bros showcased some of the biggest films it will release in the coming months. Batman actor Affleck, who will direct and star in a standalone movie about the Caped Crusader, was joined on stage by his Justice League co-stars including Henry Cavill, who plays Superman, and Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot to present the film's new trailer. The clip shows Bruce Wayne trying to recruit a number of superheroes including Aquaman and The Flash to form an "alliance" after warning that "an enemy is coming". The DC Comics film, which is due for release in November 2017, is set to rival Marvel's Avengers movies, which also feature an ensemble cast of superhero characters. Oscar-winner Redmayne presented the latest trailer for the Harry Potter spin-off movie Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which is due out in November. The cast of Suicide Squad including Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto revealed more footage from the film ahead of its release in August. British actor Tom Hiddleston and Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson were among the cast of Kong: Skull Island to attend the event as they unveiled the first trailer for the film. There were also previews of Wonder Woman, The Lego Batman Movie and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword from director Guy Ritchie. Tens of thousands of people have descended on San Diego for Comic-Con, the annual gathering of movie, television and comic book super fans. The four-day event will finish on Sunday. Marvel unveiled new footage from a number of new superhero movies including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 and Dr Strange starring Benedict Cumberbatch. The Sherlock star presented a new trailer for the film, which is an adaptation of the comic by Steve Ditko. Cumberbatch was joined on stage by his co-stars, fellow Britons Tilda Swinton and Chiwetel Ejiofor and Canadian actress Rachel McAdams. Mads Mikkelesen plays villain Kaecilius in the movie which is set for release in the UK on October 28. Comic-Con was treated to a first look at Spider-Man: Homecoming despite the film being just 10 days into its shoot. British actor Tom Holland stars as Peter Parker in the latest big screen reboot of the web-slinger, which director Jon Watts described as a "high school movie". The film is due for release next summer. Oscar-winner Larson is to star in Captain Marvel as air force pilot Carol Danvers, who gets special powers after an alien encounter. The film - which is not due for release until March 2019 - will be the first in the Marvel cinematic universe to centre on a female character. Larson, 26, won the Best Actress Academy Award this year for her performance in hostage drama Room. Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana presented footage from their new film Guardian Of The Galaxy 2, which also stars Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. The movie is due for release in May next year. It was announced that a new attraction based on Guardians Of The Galaxy will open at Disneyland in California in the summer of 2017. The ride will replace the Twilight zone Tower of Terror, which is due to close early next year. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o and Creed actor Michael B Jordan were among the cast of Black Panther to attend Comic-Con. Nyong'o - who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for 12 Years A Slave - is set to play Nakia, one of the bodyguards and potential wives of T'Challa (Black Panther). Chadwick Boseman will play the title role in the film, while Jordan will portray Black Panther's nemesis Erik Killmonger. Crucial political decisions often concern which bridges to cross and which to burn. Donald Trump's dilemma is that he burns some bridges by the way he crosses others. His campaign depends on a low-probability event, and on his ability to cause this event without provoking a more-than-equal and opposite reaction. Extrapolating from recent elections, the turnout of non-college educated whites this November would be expected to be 3 percent smaller as a portion of the total turnout than in 2012, and college educated whites a 1 percent larger portion. The core of Trump's support consists of non-college educated whites, a cohort whose 2012 turnout was 60.4 percent. There is a low probability that Trump can motivate recent non-voters in this cohort to increase the turnout to 67 percent. There is, however, a high probability that the way he stimulates such people still more insult oratory and fact-free "policy" expostulations will cause other groups to recoil. For the first time since at least 1952 the first election for which ample data is available Democrats probably will win a majority of voters with college degrees a large and growing group (In 1952, 6.4 percent of Americans had completed college; today, about 33 percent have.) Consider, particularly, women with post-bachelor degrees. This fast-growing group the percentages of women in law, medical and business schools' enrollments are 48.7, 46.9 and 36.2, respectively is already approximately 65 percent Democratic. Can Trump ignite a spike in the non-college white vote without causing a more-than-commensurate increase in the Democratic propensity of the college-educated? Speaking of low-probability events, Trump's literary interests were hidden until his vice presidential search took him to Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," where he found Mike Pence, whose sometimes unctuous affect resembles Uriah Heep's: So very 'umble. The adjective "oleaginous" might have been invented to describe Pence's performance with Trump on "60 Minutes": Being chosen by Trump is "very, very humbling." Trump is "one of the best negotiators in the world" and will provide "broad-shouldered American strength." Trump "this good man" (what would a bad man look like to Pence?) "is awed with the American people." Pence, a broad-spectrum social conservative saddened by our fallen world, can minister to the boastful adulterer and aspiring torturer who Pence thinks belongs in the bully pulpit. Actually, the sole benefit of Trump's election would be in making the presidency's sacerdotal role the nation's moral tutor terminally ludicrous. In May, Pence endorsed Ted Cruz but larded his endorsement with lavish praise of Trump, who excuses Pence for buckling "under tremendous pressure from establishment people." In a year of novelties, now this one: A presidential candidate calls his running mate weak. It will be interesting to see if Pence will defend his defensible opposition, as a congressman, to Medicare Part D, the prescription drug entitlement. When George W. Bush proposed this bit of "compassionate conservatism," House Democrats voted 195-9 against it, deeming it insufficiently compassionate to seniors and excessively compassionate to pharmaceutical companies. Nineteen House Republicans, including Pence, voted against it, largely because this was the first major entitlement enacted without provision for funding. To give the Bush administration time to twist arms and dangle enticements, Republicans held open the floor vote for 2 hours and 51 minutes, twice as long as the previous longest House vote. It passed 216-215. If pharmacology had been as potent in 1965 as it has become, prescription drugs might then have been included in Medicare. Today, will a pliable Pence amend his convictions and repent his resistance to this now immensely popular entitlement? Trump, Pence's new lodestar, sees nothing amiss with the existing entitlement system and disparages those (remember the man who used to be Chris Christie?) who think trillions of dollars of unfunded liabilities are problematic. Pence also has strongly favored free trade, including the North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump calls "the worst economic deal in the history of our country." Never mind. In 1980, George H.W. Bush denounced Ronald Reagan's "voodoo economics" until Reagan selected Bush as his running mate, whereupon Bush decided that it was very good voodoo economics. The malleable shall inherit the earth. As Trump's campaign manager, Paul Manafort, says, Trump "has changed the face of the Republican Party" just as Ronald Reagan did. Indeed. A snarl has replaced the sunny Southern California smile. Trump, himself a brand, has completed the rebranding of the Republican Party. Belfast businesswoman and celebrity hairdresser Brenda Shankey (45) today will say a final goodbye to her beautiful younger sister Erin Wilkinson, who died last week at the age of just 32 after a long battle with alcohol and drugs. Here, Brenda tells Karen Ireland how her sister's perfect life was destroyed by addiction - and how she knew since January that she had only mere months to live. In the past few days, Brenda Shankey has been doing what she has done all her life - looking after her baby sister Erin. As she and her family chose the songs and prayers for the beautiful 32-year-old's funeral, which is taking place today, she kept Erin's wishes close to her heart. "Erin was always so proud of me and of all that I have achieved, and I just want to continue to make her proud," an emotional Brenda reveals. She is chatting at her sister Shauna's home in Londonderry, Erin's final resting place before the funeral today in Steelstown Chapel in the city. Amid the turmoil of the funeral arrangements, Brenda has taken great comfort from the many messages of love and support that have been flooding in. "I have had so many messages on Facebook, and I have had over 500 private messages," she says. "Many of these have been from people I don't know, but who wanted to thank me for sharing Erin's story in the Belfast Telegraph earlier this week and helping to lift the lid on the addiction problems in Northern Ireland. "All of them identified with what I had to say as they are going through it too with a loved one." What makes Erin's story especially shocking - and heartbreaking - is that there was nothing in her family background to ever suggest her life would go so drastically awry. A much-loved little girl, she enjoyed a happy childhood. With a broken voice, hoarse from crying and talking at the same time, Brenda recalls what Erin was like when she was growing up. "She was the youngest of five girls, and even as a child she was beautiful and bubbly and outgoing," she says. "She wanted to follow my footsteps, so she studied hair and beauty at college in the north-west. Then she fell pregnant at just 18 with her daughter, Eve, and she became a single parent. "She lived with mum and dad, and they supported her as much as they could. Then, when she had saved up enough money, she moved to Belfast and started working for us at the Jason Shankey salon on the Lisburn Road as a beauty therapist." Brenda says Erin was a credit to the industry and a dream employee. Life was good - she was settled in her own home with Eve, was earning a good salary and had her own car. It was also a period when Brenda and Erin grew even closer as they worked together, socialised together and brought up their children together - Brenda's son, Will, is 13, the same age as Eve, and her daughter, Lauren (15), is just two years older than her cousin. "Erin never dated during this time - she was just focused on her career and her daughter," says Brenda. But she reveals how everything changed five years ago at Brenda's 40th birthday party when Erin met a guy. "We later discovered he was a known drug dealer, and he soon had a real hold over Erin," she explains. "Six months later, Erin had started partying hard and her friends had changed. She had never taken drugs in her life, but it was obvious he was giving them to her. "This went on for another year, and eventually Erin lost the job she was so proud of as she was constantly letting us down and not coming in. We had made it clear to her that she couldn't party all night and then work the next day. We had to let her go. "Of course, by this stage I was desperately worried about Eve, so I had brought her to live with me and my family. She was no longer in the same social circles, but she had no job and her life was in chaos. Her daughter was living with her dad, and all that Erin did was drink." Trying everything she could think of to help the sister she adored, Brenda took Erin to AA, to addiction services and to counsellors, but nothing seemed to work. She even had a spell in rehab in Newry, but signed herself out after two weeks and immediately began to drink again. "That was when I decided it was too much for me and I couldn't cope any more as I was getting ill with the stress of it all, so I asked my daddy for help and he moved Erin home to Derry," Brenda says. "Daddy had no idea how difficult it was going to be, though. "Erin would disappear for days and then come back home when she needed some rest and to dry out. Everyone was getting frustrated with Erin as no matter what was happening she was able to get a drink from somewhere." Brenda then decided to try again. She brought her sister back to her house in Belfast and attempted to rehabilitate her herself. "I tried to get her to go cold turkey, but she ended up on life support in the Ulster hospital as her liver was so badly damaged," she says. "This was a scary time as they told her she was killing herself and destroying all her organs, but when they discharged her a month later, she got on a bus to Derry and fell in with all her old drinking pals. "She was clever, as alcoholics tend to be, and she surrounded herself with people who let her carry on drinking, even though we begged them not to. "At the time, she screamed and cried out to me that she was ashamed of what she had become and that she wanted to stop, but her brain wouldn't let her. She was completely addicted." Recalling the horror of the recent past, Brenda reveals that Erin was admitted to hospital 25 times in the last 12 months. "She would be admitted and they would dry her out and give her medicine to cope with the DTs, but then she would be discharged," she adds. "No one ever dealt with the mental problems she was facing, and there was always a loop that she fell through where none of us could catch her. "She would joke that she wouldn't go to AA as the only people who went there were all old and she was too young. She didn't see the irony in that she was the sick one while they had all got better and healthy." Six months ago, Erin was admitted to hospital and the family were told that her liver had stopped functioning and all her other organs would slowly follow. She was told one more drink would kill her. The doctors said she would die peacefully at home very soon. A clearly heartbroken Brenda struggles to carry on with the story, pausing and weeping before resuming: "That's the thing - for the last six months Erin didn't take a drink. We were all so proud of her as a family, and we thought her body would heal itself now that she had stopped drinking. "Unfortunately, the damage was done and she was in agony. I went to see her a couple of months ago. Her eyes lit up when I entered her room, and she said, 'My beautiful Brenda, I love you and I am so sorry for all I have put you through. I am sorry I can't get better.'" In the end, Brenda says, the pain became too much for Erin to bear, so she took one drink and her daddy found her collapsed in the bathroom. She went back into hospital again, but this time there was no getting better or second chances. She had fluid on her lungs, she had brain damage and all her organs were shutting down. She was on life support for several days until the family knew it was time to say goodbye. "She only turned 32 last week and she always told me she would be like Amy Winehouse - that she would live hard and die young," Brenda says. "And she did. She kept a diary all through her journey, and on May 22 she wrote: 'This will be my last summer. I cannot wait to be at peace.' Finally, there are no more demons for her to fight - she is at rest now." Brenda hopes that by sharing this poignant and personal story she can help others in their battles with addiction. "Addicts are usually caring, sensitive souls, like Erin," she says. "She couldn't handle the bad things in this world, so she self-medicated. She was too sensitive for this world. "I have promised her that she will not have died in vain, and I will do all I can to help raise the profile and awareness of addiction. There is nothing like the feeling of hopelessness, of not being able to help someone you love. "And, yes, there is a stigma attached. If someone is dying of cancer or some other illness, people rally round. When it is addiction, they don't want to know. "But the support I have had in the last few days has told me that people do want to know and they do want to help. "I have started a JustGiving page on my Facebook page and people can make donations towards addiction services. "Erin needs to be a light now, shining down and helping others. She's like that as she was so loving and caring all her short life." Former justice minister David Ford is among a cross-community group of politicians and human-rights activists set to launch a legal challenge against Brexit A legal challenge to Brexit is set to be launched in Northern Ireland. Former justice minister David Ford is among a cross-community group of politicians and human-rights activists whose lawyers have written to Prime Minister Theresa May urging her to consider the country's peace process and other unique requirements before triggering the mechanism to leave the European Union (EU). A majority in Northern Ireland backed Remain in the June referendum. Solicitors have threatened to take a judicial review before the High Court in Belfast - and ultimately to Europe's highest court - unless Mrs May addresses legal obligations they say she must meet, including gaining the consent of the Stormont Assembly. They said: "These obligations include safeguarding the unique requirements of Northern Ireland constitutional law and statute, in particular the statutory recognition of the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement and satisfying the requirements of EU law incorporated into the law of Northern Ireland." The Prime Minister and Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire have been requested to respond within two weeks. Others supporting the warning letter include: Green Party leader Steven Agnew; Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood; senior Sinn Fein Stormont Assembly member John O'Dowd; former head of the Progressive Unionist Party Dawn Purvis; ex-Equality Commission member and disability rights activist Monica Wilson OBE and the the Committee on the Administration of Justice human-rights group. They want to ensure the Brexit process complies with the rule of law, takes account of parliamentary sovereignty, protects progress made towards a more peaceful society and accords adequate weight to the democratic will of those in Northern Ireland who voted in the European referendum and in the 1998 poll on the Good Friday Agreement. The lawyers said parliamentary legislation should authorise the triggering of the Article 50 leave clause and that law should require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly. They warned if the UK Government failed to adopt a comprehensive process complying with constitutional requirements they would seek a judicial review and referral of questions surrounding EU law to the Court of Justice of the EU. Police are investigating an arson attack on a Presbyterian church and neighbouring hall in south Belfast, It happened on the Saintfield Road at around 1am on Sunday, police said. The church and hall sustained considerable damage. PSNI inspector Jonathan Francey appealed for anyone who may have noticed any suspicious activity around the church or anyone who has information about this incident to contact police. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said: "I am shocked and saddened to hear of the disgraceful attack on Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church and hall. "My thoughts are with its parishioners who will be devastated by this news." It was the second arson attack on the church in recent days. Church elder Alistair McCracken said the congregation did not know why their church was being targeted. "We are really very sad," he added. Sinn Fein MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir said: "As with the previous attack, the people behind this attack are targeting a hub of community endeavour and a place of worship and peace building." A wreath in memory of the victims of Bloody Friday laid at the memorial plaque at Belfast City Hall Wreath laid by unionist councillors at Belfast City Hall in memory of those killed in Bloody Friday Councillors Graham Craig (UUP), Aileen Graham (DUP), Brian Kingston (DUP), Jeff Dudgeon (UUP) and Lee Reynolds (DUP). elfast City Councillors preparing to lay a floral wreath this afternoon beside the memorial plaque in City Hall in remembrance of the victims of the IRA bombing atrocity in Belfast on Bloody Friday. DUP and UUP councillors have taken part in an act of Remembrance for those killed or injured during the events of Bloody Friday in Belfast city centre. Nine people were killed and more than 100 injured on July 21, 1972 when the IRA exploded at least 22 bombs across Belfast city centre in 80 minutes. The most devastating of the bombs exploded at the then Oxford Street bus station killing six people and injuring 40. Three more people were killed in a car bomb which was detonated beside a row of shops on the Cavehill Road. In 2002 the IRA issued an apology over the attack. A plaque in memory of the victims in Belfast City Hall is the focal point of an act of remembrance carried out by unionist councillors on the Sunday closest to the date of the atrocity every year. On Sunday, Lord Mayor Brian Kingston, DUP councillors Lee Reynolds, Aileen Graham, and Ulster Unionist councillors Jeff Dudgeon and Graham Craig laid a wreath at the plaque. Mr Kingston said the the IRA's aim in Bloody Friday was to destroy Belfast city centre, but today it is thriving. "This act of remembrance is something we do every year to remember the nine people who were killed on that terrible day in 1972," he said. "This plaque is one of the few memorials to the innocent victims of terrorism. "We feel it is important that the victims are remembered. "Some nine people were killed and 130 people injured on that day when 22 bombs were exploded in 80 minutes, we have all seen the footage, people didn't know where to run. "It is essential that this terrible suffering wrecked upon Belfast is not forgotten. "The IRA wanted to destroy Belfast city centre, but today it is thriving." One person has died after a massive wildfire destroyed at least 18 homes and threatened 1,500 more in Southern California. Planes and helicopters dropped water on the blaze which has blackened more than 34 square miles of brush near the city of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest, north of Los Angeles. About 300 miles up the coast, crews are battling another blaze spanning 16 square miles north of the Big Sur region. Crews faced another day of hot weather, low humidity and high winds which could once again fan the fires' explosive growth. Shifting winds sent smoke away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents were warned about poor air quality. Eighteen homes were gutted and one was damaged on Saturday in the Santa Clarita area, where evacuations were ordered as flames raged through brush withered by days of 100-degree temperatures in a Southern California heat wave. The body of a man was found in a burned car outside a home in the city. Police are investigating, but say there is no indication a crime was committed. Fire officials say more than 1,600 firefighters are battling the flames threatening about 1,500 homes and 100 commercial buildings. Despite firefighters' efforts, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which features Old West-style buildings often used for movie locations. "It was a horrific firestorm," owner Derek Hunt told KABC-TV. "At some point, you know you're defeated and you have to step back and save what you can. We fought as best as we could." The flames also forced a non-profit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures to evacuate 340 of its more than 400 animals, including Bengal tigers and a mountain lion. Volunteers showed up with trucks and trailers and evacuated animals from early Friday through to late Saturday, when fire officials felt the blaze was no longer a threat to the Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar. The evacuated animals were housed in three or four locations, and the sanctuary will wait at least 24 hours before bringing them back. North on the Central Coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a blaze in rugged mountains north of Big Sur. The fire five miles south of Garrapata State Park posed a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado has been ordered to evacuate. AP Theresa Villiers will be no loss - all British Secretary of States should stay over there - that was a tweet last week from Martina Anderson, one-time convict and now an MEP, thus once again showing herself to be a member of the ungracious Adams wing of Sinn Fein. Say what you like about Martin McGuinness, and I've said plenty, he makes a point of trying to be courteous with political opponents. Adams and his ilk prefer insults. Unionists, as might be expected, said some nice things about Ms Villiers and wished her well: I welcome the fact that many fewer of them these days confuse rudeness with principle. Charlie Flanagan, the Irish Foreign Minister, thanked Ms Villiers for her "effort and commitment" and "positive contribution". SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was gracious, too, recognising her as "a hard working Secretary of State, albeit one with whom I've had my fair share of disagreements" and sending her good wishes. Ms Villiers is often denounced for blocking access to Downing Street, but she was conscientiously carrying out Government policy. From the beginning of his Prime Ministership David Cameron treated Northern Irish politicians as he treated those of Scotland and Wales. It was made clear that whinging about threats to the peace process would no longer win them special access to Downing Street. Their job was to get on with making devolution work. Sinn Fein has been furious about this. It's now in a lather of indignation about Brexit and is claiming Northern Ireland has a democratic right to stay in the EU. That the vote in Northern Ireland was 56% against means, according to another of Ms Anderson's pronouncements, that by being in favour of Brexit Ms Villiers "was totally at odds with the people of the North". I find this hilarious from a party that was consistently anti-EU until its complete U-turn over this referendum. Only last year Ms Anderson was complaining about "anti-democratic actions of the ECB, IMF, and the European Commission". It is exactly because we consider the EU undemocratic, Ms Anderson, that so many of us voted to leave and believe that in consequence the United Kingdom will ultimately be a better, happier place. There's even a good chance that Brexit will force EU reforms which are in the interests of all its members. Adams' deluded response to not getting his own way has been to demand in a New York Times article that there be a referendum on a united Ireland and that America's leaders act to "safeguard the political progress" in Northern Ireland. We are where we are and political progress will be fine if those concerned with Ireland work together with goodwill to make the best deal possible. Frances Fitzgerald, the Irish Minister for Justice, who has worked closely with Theresa May, sent out a very positive signal when she spoke of her "as a person of great integrity and ability". Mrs May is a woman who says what she means. She has said that she believes "with all my heart in the United Kingdom: the precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland". Further, she believes "in a union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens". In appointing James Brokenshire, who has worked for her for years, she has chosen someone for whom she has the highest regard. Having been in charge of national security, he knows what he's talking about when he says uncompromisingly that he wants a soft border and thinks it attainable. David Davis, who is in charge of achieving Brexit, has assured the three devolved administrations of the UK that there will be full consultation before the British Government opens formal negotiations with the EU. The same, Boris Johnson has promised, will apply to Gibraltar. The governments of both the UK and the Republic want to keep as much as possible of the special relationship between the two countries and there's much that Dublin and Belfast can do informally to work out joint solutions. If Adams really cares about Ireland, it would help if he would urge followers like Anderson to behave like a grown-up and approach Brexit constructively. A same-sex couple from Northern Ireland have become doting mums. Sarah Murphy and Jenny Doherty have welcomed their perfect wee girl Callie Jennifer into the world. The Greysteel couple, who have been together for four years, tried to get treatment from the NHS, but were told they were ineligible so paid for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment at Belfasts Origin Fertility. Were completely over the moon, Sarah, who carried baby Callie for nine months, told Sunday Life. We keep staring at her and wondering if shes actually ours. Shes so gorgeous, shes the perfect wee girl. I cant believe she was inside me. Born on June 30, at seven pounds and three ounces, Sarah says that the couple have never been happier since Callies arrival. Lovely She said: Before we started going to Origin, it felt like it was never going to happen, that wed never be mums. But the second we walked through the door at Origin there was an atmosphere that I cant even really explain. It was just lovely. It was even better because doing it that way meant that we are both on the birth certificate which was important. We did a natural IUI cycle but then we found out that I had polycystic ovary syndrome so it wasnt going to work, so we went for a medicated cycle and that failed. The second time it worked thankfully and I couldnt stop crying, it was amazing. To see our little girl and hear her heartbeat for the first time was so emotional. We were just so happy. Well never be able to thank Origin enough for what theyve done for us. Theyve given us the best present ever. IUI involves the introduction of sperm from a donor high in the uterus of the woman and is becoming an increasingly popular fertility method for infertile heterosexual couples as well as single-sex couples and single women. We couldnt have done it unless both of us were 100 per cent behind the idea but we both wanted this more than anything, said the 25-year-old nursery assistant. Its a really stressful thing to go through and it does test your relationship but were through the other side and are a million times stronger than we were before. The Co. Londonderry couple were so delighted with their fertility experience that they named their daughter Callie Jennifer after her other mummy and Jennifer McLaughlin, operations manager at Origin. We bonded so well with Jennifer, who did our IUI procedure. Shes one in a million shes been our angel, she really has, said Sarah. I dont think it matters whether or not youre in a same-sex relationship, trying to have a baby is really stressful and Origin made it as relaxed as it could be. Draining Ive always wanted kids but in previous relationships it was never going to happen but Jenny and I both wanted it, we just never thought it would happen. After the first time that it didnt work we thought about not trying again because it was so emotionally draining and financially its difficult too. To be honest, we didnt think it would happen for us and wed kind of accepted that but we decided to give it one more try and thank God we did. It would have destroyed me if it hadnt worked again, but Callie was definitely worth the wait. Callies arrival into the world proved to be a little too much for 31-year-old Jenny though. I had a water birth but I had a third degree tear so I was being checked over and Jenny, who had just cut the umbilical cord, was holding the baby, said Sarah. Next thing I hear Jenny shouting for someone to take the baby so the midwife grabbed Callie and Jenny fainted. We can laugh about it now but it was terrifying at the time! Sarah and Jenny documented their pregnancy on their Facebook page Flump Has Two Mummies, which now has almost 2,000 followers. When we were going through it all, we were going into it completely blind so thats why we started writing about it, said proud mum Sarah. If there was even one couple that we could have related to then I think it would have made things easier for us. If you Google anything about same-sex fertility in Northern Ireland there is very little about it but we wont be the last couple to try so hopefully people can see that weve been a success story and they can be too. There might be another couple in Northern Ireland (who have blogged about their experiences) but we havent heard or read anything. Its kind of cool to think that we could be the first here though. Origin Fertilitys Jennifer McLaughlin guided the couple throughout their treatment. Jennifer said: It was my first IUI experience so I think we made a good team. Link We get a lot of single girls who come in with their mums who maybe havent found Mr Right, but we get a lot of couples too. A lot of our patients get pregnant on their first cycle and they cant believe it, its great. Weve loads of new technologies too, such as time lapse technology, which will hopefully improve our success rate. We do lots of different types of fertility treatments for a range of people and weve had loads of success stories which is fantastic. We get to know our patients and its hard because its such an emotional time so its nice when the babies actually come in to see you for a cuddle once their born. It makes it all worthwhile. Does anybody else have the sense that Donald Trump is slipping off the rails? His speeches have always had a rambling, free association quality, but a couple of the recent ones have, as the Republican political consultant Mike Murphy put it, passed from the category of rant to the category of full on drunk wedding toast. Trumps verbal style has always been distinct. He doesnt really speak in sentences or paragraphs. His speeches are punctuated by five- or six-word jabs that are sort of strung together by connections that can only be understood through chaos theory: They want the wall I dominated with the evangelicals I won in a landslide We cant be the stupid people anymore. Occasionally Trump will attempt a sentence longer than eight words, but no matter what subject he starts the sentence with, by the end he has been pulled over to the subject of himself. Heres an example from the Mike Pence announcement speech: So one of the primary reasons I chose Mike was I looked at Indiana, and I won Indiana big. Theres sort of a gravitational narcissistic pull that takes command whenever he attempts to utter a compound thought. Trump has also always been a little engine fueled by wounded pride. For example, writing in BuzzFeed, McKay Coppins recalls the fusillade of abuse he received from Trump after writing an unflattering profile (he called Mar-a-Lago a nice, if slightly dated, hotel). Trump was so inflamed he tweeted retaliation at Coppins several times a day and at odd hours, calling him a dishonest slob and true garbage with no credibility. The attacks went on impressively for over two years, which must rank Coppins in the top 100,000 on the list of people Donald Trump resents. Over the past few weeks these longstanding Trump patterns have gone into hyperdrive. This is a unique moment in American political history in which the mental stability of one of the major party nominees is the dominating subject of conversation. Everybody is telling Trump to ratchet it down and be more sober, but at a rally near Cincinnati this month and in his Pence announcement speech on Saturday, Trump launched his verbal rocket ship straight through the stratosphere, and it landed somewhere on the dark side of Planet Debbie. The Pence announcement was truly the strangest vice-presidential unveiling in recent political history. Ricocheting around the verbal wilds for more than twice as long as the man he was introducing, Trump even refused to remain onstage and gaze on admiringly as Pence flattered him. It was like watching a guy lose interest in a wedding when the bride appears. The structure of his mental perambulations also seems to have changed. Formerly, as I said, his speeches had a random, free-form quality. But on Saturday his remarks had a distinct through line, anchored by the talking points his campaign had written down on pieces of paper. But Trump could not keep his attention focused on this through line since the subject was someone else so every 30 seconds or so he would shoot off on a resentment-filled bragging loop. If you had to do a rough diagram of the Trump remarks it would be something like this: Pence I was right about Iraq Pence Hillary Clinton is a crooked liar I was right about Brexit Pence Hillary Clintons ads are filled with lies Were going to bring back the coal industry Christians love me Pence I talk to statisticians Pence is good looking My hotel in Washington is really coming along fantastically Pence. Donald Trump is in his moment of greatest triumph, but he seems more resentful and embattled than ever. Most political conventions are happy coronations, but this one may come to feel like the Alamo of aggrieved counterattacks. Its hard to know exactly what is going on in that brain, but science lends a clue. Psychologists wonder if narcissists are defined by extremely high self-esteem or by extremely low self-esteem that they are trying to mask. The current consensus seems to be that they are marked by unstable self-esteem. Their self-confidence can be both high and fragile, so they perceive ego threat all around. Maybe as Trump has gotten more successful his estimation of what sort of adoration he deserves has increased while the outside criticism has gotten more pronounced. This combination is bound to leave his ego threat sensors permanently inflamed. So even if Candidate Trump is told to make a normal political point, Inner Boy Trump will hijack the microphone for another bout of resentful boasting. Suddenly the global climate favors a Trump candidacy. Some forms of disorder like a financial crisis send voters for the calm supple thinker. But other forms of disorder blood in the streets send them scurrying for the brutal strongman. If the string of horrific events continues, Trump could win the presidency. And he could win it even though he has less and less control over himself. Two legislators plan to introduce bills during the special session that begins Aug. 2 to delay construction of a new governors residence. Both believe the project doesnt make sense when the states struggling with a revenue shortfall. While a good argument can be made for delaying the project, costs are likely to increase during any break in the construction plans. The Tribune Editorial Board thinks legislators should delay the project but revisit it when they reconvene in January. If the revenue situation improves by that time the project should be a go. During the In 2015 session, lawmakers approved $4 million from the state's Capitol Building Fund and $1 million from private donations to construct the new residence during the 2015-2017 biennium. The present 10,000-square-foot residence was completed in 1960. It has problems ranging from security concerns to a lack of handicap accessibility, and its estimated that it would cost up to $3 million to repair and upgrade. The ranch-style home also doesnt accommodate large groups. The new home is estimated to cost from $3.8 million to $4 million with the remaining dollars to go for architect costs, fees, the demolition of the old residence and furnishings. The Capitol Grounds Planning Commission has approved a layout that puts the new home just north of the existing residence, with a public entrance on the east side facing the Capitol and the private entrance on the west side. The commission also agreed on a one-story home. Rep. Jerry Kelsh, D-Fullerton, wants to shift general fund dollars appropriated for Capitol grounds projects in the facility management budget back to the general fund. He wants that money replaced with trust fund money that was appropriated for the new residence. John Boyle, director of North Dakota Facility Management, said general fund dollars totaled $1.28 million for 2015-17, and about $550,000 has been spent and $300,000 is under contract. Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, wants to use money from the Capitol Building Trust Fund to replace general fund dollars earmarked for Capitol projects, freeing up those funds to help cover the shortfall. Kelsh and Kasper need to show theres an offset, that the money diverted from the residence will help avoid another cut. Before either bill can be considered they must be approved by the delayed bills committee. House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, has some questions about Kelshs bill, at the same time he said hes not opposed to delaying the project. "The timing just isn't right for today, so let's put it on hold for a little bit," he said. A delay, done smartly, probably wont hurt the project much. It would give the fundraising group task force time to reach or exceed its $1 million goal. During the revenue shortfall period it would send a message that lawmakers are being prudent with funds. Legislators only need to look back at the controversy over the new home for the president of North Dakota State University. While a different scenario than the governors residence, the residence has the potential of creating the same reaction. Its not unusual for people to delay major purchases when faced with a tight budget. The state shouldnt be any different. However, it must be remembered that this is a delay, not the first step in killing the project. The Legislature decided a new residence is needed and that hasnt changed. What changed was the revenue flow. Once thats resolved, a new residence should go up. Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia North Dakota Democrats attending the partys national convention in Philadelphia this week are hoping for some excitement to counter the momentum Donald Trump enjoyed from a wild Republican National Convention last week. But the 22 delegates may not be much help to presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton in her historic quest to become the first woman to win a major partys nomination for president. Thirteen of the states 18 pledged delegates are backing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has endorsed Clinton since the Democratic-NPL Party held its delegate selection meeting June 18 in Bismarck. The other five delegates are pledged to Clinton. One of the states five unbound superdelegates wont attend the four-day convention. National committeewoman Renee Pfenning of Bismarck said Friday she has a personal conflict. Of the four remaining superdelegates, U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is committed to former secretary of state Clinton and national committeeman Chad Nodland is committed to Sanders. Dem-NPL chairwoman Kylie Oversen, a state representative from Grand Forks, said Friday shes definitely leaning Clinton, while vice-chairman Warren Larson of Bismarck said he hasnt decided. Sanders could release his delegates to Clinton, just as she released hers to Barack Obama in 2008. But even if he does, Oversen said there will probably be a number of Sanders delegates who wont switch their votes. Sanders plans to meet with his roughly 1,900 delegates just before the convention begins Monday to provide direction, the Associated Press reported. According to the APs count last week, Clinton had 2,807 delegates in her corner and Sanders had 1,894, including superdelegates. A candidate needs 2,383 delegates to clinch the nomination. Nodland said Friday he still intends to vote for Sanders, saying its not over til its over. It wont surprise me if (Clinton) is the nominee, but I think everybodys got to vote, he said. The Bismarck attorney compared the infighting and controversy at the GOP convention to WWE wrestling and said hes worried his partys convention will be more like C-SPAN. What the Democratic Party needs to figure out is essentially a way to compete with that, he said. I think you have to do it with something thats interesting and exciting, which is one of the reasons Im voting for Bernie. Hes not an establishment Democrat, and even if he doesnt get the endorsement, he brings some things to the Democratic Party that have been missing for a while. Nodland said he thinks he can support Clinton as the nominee, but added it will take some time for Sanders supporters to get past the negative comments made about them by Clinton supporters on social media and elsewhere. Oversen said the reality of a very scary candidate in Trump as the GOP nominee should help galvanize support for Clinton. A Pew Research Center survey released earlier this month found that of Democrats and Democratic-leaners who backed Sanders in the primary contests, 85 percent said they plan to vote for Clinton in November, compared with 9 percent for Trump and 6 percent who said they will vote for another candidate or didnt know. We saw at the RNC so much negativity and fear and a negative tone overall, and I am confident there will be a much more positive and excited and optimistic tone coming out of our convention, Oversen said. Larson also predicted a more harmonious convention. I dont anticipate any animosity no matter what happens. Theyre all great people and we believe in the same progressive movements and I think that were going to come together, he said. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. EMO, Ont. Just 40 miles northwest of International Falls, Minn., amid hayfields and swampland and forest that look much like northern Minnesota, New Gold Inc. is digging an all-new gold mine. Drill rigs are boring deep into rock. Giant shovels have already dug a hole nearly mile long and quarter-mile wide. Beefy 240-ton haul trucks are carrying thick clay and overburden away to expose veins of gold-bearing rock. A massive crushing and processing plant is under construction nearby. The open pit operation, which will later include underground mining as well, is expected to start producing, by mid-2017, an estimated 325,000 ounces of gold and 480,000 ounces of silver each year. For those keeping score at home, the so-called Rainy River mine would gross more than $430 million each year at current gold and silver prices. The mine is expected to produce for 15 years or more. But Toronto-based New Gold isnt the only one that has found gold in the region, and geologists note that the same Superior Province rock formation that supports successful gold mines across Quebec and Ontario runs right across the Minnesota border and into the northern counties of the state. Two-billion-year-old rock doesn't care about 200-year-old political boundaries. Its the same formation here, said Don Elsenheimer, geologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Combine an historically solid price, with gold now above $1,300 per ounce, add some pent-up demand after several years of little or no prospecting when gold prices were down, then throw in increased evidence that more gold lies below Minnesota fields and forests and the region is suddenly a hotbed of gold interest. Gold prices launched from $400 per ounce in 2004 to $1,900 in 2011 before settling in the $1,300 range recently. New Gold says it can make money at the new Rainy River mine at less than half the current price. With prices where they are, there are good margins for gold right now for most companies. Couple that with some pretty substantial findings and that's why you are seeing gold interest in northern Minnesota and thats why they are building a mine just across the border, said Rick Sandri, president of Minneapolis-based Vermillion Gold. As long as gold remains above $1,200 per ounce, Sandri said, Minnesota will continue to draw interest and exploration. In addition to New Golds Rainy River project: Two other Canadian companies are looking for gold in projects just outside Quetico Provincial Park the Hammond Reef and Moss Lake projects where old gold mines operated decades ago, not far from Atikokan, Ont. On Minnesotas Iron Range, just outside Virginia, Vermillion Gold is prospecting in a promising area of called the Virginia Horn. Weve intercepted gold in multiple locations in the Horn, Sandri said. The company also is looking hard in northwestern St. Louis County, north of Cook, Minn., with the Department of Natural Resources announcing earlier this month that Vermillion Gold will drill 10 new drill holes using sonic drills that essentially capture soil samples. AngloGold Ashanti is exploring in southeastern Koochiching County, not far from New Golds focus. AngloGold is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has a North American office in Centennial, Colo. It is the third-largest gold mining company in the world with 17 operating mines in nine countries. The company also has several exploration programs in both established and new gold-producing areas. Both PolyMet and Twin Metals have identified large amounts of gold mixed in with the copper and nickel they plan to mine so much so that they are counting on gold (along with major deposits of silver, palladium and platinum) in their business plans. Over the past two years the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lands and Minerals Division has released reports of major discoveries of gold grains on the forest floor, including a hotspot near Tower, Minn. Its the same type of prospecting used to encourage more exploration where the New Gold mine is going in now. This new data set strongly points towards the presence of gold within the focus area's underlying bedrock, the DNR said in a January report on the Tower-area finding. Big investment That theres gold under the Northlands forests and swamps isnt geologically questioned. The questions until now have always been how much, and is it worth it to start digging? The answer to the first question is, apparently, lots. New Gold is quickly answering the second with their $900 million project employing nearly 400 workers when open pit operations start next year and as many as 600 when underground operations begin a few years from now. Exploration at the site started as early as 1967. And even though there is no gold-bearing rock formation sticking out of the ground in this area, Canadian government geologists in the 1990s found gold grains in the soil in the area with strong indication they were from nearby. Rough gold grains indicate they came from nearby underground deposits. Smooth grains indicate they were scraped by glaciers and could be from gold deposits that are hundreds of miles away. The word we like to use is gnarly, Sandri said. And weve been finding those gnarly grains. Its not a guarantee. But its becoming more accepted as a very good indicator that mineable gold lies below. It wasnt until June 2005, when Rainy River Resources acquired rights to the area, that exploration honed in on the current mine site. New Gold acquired the Rainy River project in the fall of 2013. According to company reports, some 1,435 holes totaling more than 2 million feet of rock sample have been punched into the property since prospecting started in the 60s. The Rainy River project received its environmental approval in early 2015 from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Construction started in earnest last year. A mid-sized player in the global gold market, New Gold currently has four operating mines the New Afton copper-gold mine in British Columbia, the Mesquite gold mine in California, the Peak gold-copper mine in Australia and the Cerro San Pedro gold-silver mine in Mexico. At Rainy River, the main pit will be about a mile long and about that wide and will step down over 25 benches to more than 650 feet deep. The company will use 22 big haul trucks to move the ore out of the mine to the new processing plant a quarter-mile away. The operations, now being scraped and dug and formed out of what had been undeveloped land, look like a smaller version of a Minnesota taconite iron ore operation. Drill rigs and explosives will rip the ore off the mine wall. Giant shovels will fill haul trucks which will take the raw product a to a primary crusher. A series of crushers will pulverize the ore. From then on the process is different, with a chemical process using hydrogen cyanide used to pull the valuable gold and silver away from the waste rock. Theres no heating or pelletizing of the finished product. The gold will leave the processing plant in bars, in armored cars, likely headed for a Canadian mint to be further refined for purity. Waste rock will go to stockpiles or slurried to a huge tailings basin impoundment, much the way Iron Range operations work. New jobs, new life The Rainy River site was touted, much like northern Minnesota is marketed, as an easy-access, mining-friendly location free from political tumult and social unrest. The site also has easy access to electricity, highways and to nearby Fort Frances, Ont., a city of 10,000 people that has an available workforce that was hard hit by the downsizing of the region's forest products industry. The New Gold mine is offering jobs for many of the former paper mill workers, truckers and loggers who have lost their jobs over the past decade, local business owners said. Emo, a half-hour west of Fort Frances, is the closest developed area to the mine, with 1,300 residents, grocery and hardware stores, gas stations, schools and homes for sale and rent. There were 1,000 people in the (Fort Frances) paper mill when I was in high school. They had 250 people in there when it closed in 2012, said David Goodman, owner of Emo Motors, an ATV and snowmobile shop. A lot of those people had to go up to Alberta (oil fields) or Red Lake (Ontario gold mines) to get jobs. Now they have a chance to come and work at home again and still have a good job. There have been promises of a gold mine opening here for nearly 20 years, Goodman noted. More than 15 years ago developers built a new subdivision in Emo. Now, it's starting to fill up. Another subdivision opened recently. Local construction companies are expanding, hired by New Gold to build roads and water diversions at the mine site. Stores are busy again with New Gold and its employees buying supplies. The city more than doubled the size of its sewage treatment plant to be ready for growth. Housing is so tight that Goodman purchased a home in Emo so a new mechanic technician had a place to live. I wouldn't say its a boom town. Theres isnt a lot of new businesses going up. But you can tell theres more business. Theres more optimism. People are expanding. People are buying, Goodman said. I think the fact weve seen this out there for 15, 20 years, has helped give people time. But Goodman also has a warning for any entrepreneurs anywhere a new mine is first proposed. Dont go build a brand-new motel when they first start talking about it because you'll be redecorating the rooms before the mine actually opens, he said. Indeed, it took more than 10 years for the Rainy River project to get through the planning and environmental review stages much like the PolyMet copper mine proposed for northern Minnesota. That's just they way it goes with mining projects in this day and age. Its a very complicated process. We underwent the most stringent environmental review of any mine in Canadian history, said Grant Goddard, general manager in charge of opening the New Gold mine. Goddard said the project has gone well, with the focus now on expanding from the current 200 employees to more than 400 by years end. The company is holding job fairs across the Rainy River region this summer. So far, more than 75 percent of employees are local, and more than 35 percent of the new workforce are from local Ojibwe bands. New Gold officials say they dont necessarily need workers with mining experience. Instead, they are looking for people with shared values that the company espouses. We can teach people to operate machinery, if they have the right values, said Goddard, who has 37 years in the mining industry in several countries. Thats why I came on with New Gold. They do things differently. They take the long approach. Little opposition, smaller footprint The New Gold mine is close to the Pinewood River, which drains into the Rainy River that runs along the Minnesota-Ontario border before running into Lake of the Woods, with the water continuing north to Hudson Bay. The New Gold project saw little formal opposition, unlike proposed Minnesota copper mines. While some Ojibwe elders expressed concerns over mine runoff and potential water pollution, theres been little public criticism. Far from any major Canadian population base, New Gold found open arms near Emo. Nobody around here would say no to these jobs, Goodman said. They (New Gold) have been a very good company to work with. Theyve become part of the community. New Gold is using electric-powered haul trucks to reduce noise. They are working to keep lighting minimized and pointed down to avoid illuminating the rural night sky. And they are holding regular meetings with neighbors to get input on issues such as construction trucks on local roads. The project underwent years of environmental review by both Canadian and Ontario agencies, with permitting issues similar to Minnesota mines. Like Minnesota, much of the focus has been on water quality. New Gold has spent millions of dollars to dam water that previously flowed through the site and move it around the mine site so it doesnt mingle with water used in the mining process. Moreover, most of the gold is not locked inside high-sulfur rock, Goddard and geologists note, so theres less concern about sulfide-tained runoff. If we run into acid-generating rock we set that aside, on a lined disposal area. But for the most part, thats not an issue here, Goddard said. We have great neutralizing capacity in the rock in the area of the mine that mitigates any acidity. The DNRs Elsenheimer agreed that extracting gold, in general, has less potential to spur water problems. Gold is a different animal, he said. Its not that there aren't concerns with gold mining. ... But gold is a native element mineral. When you find a gold deposit its going to be in a rock that has far less sulfur content than a deposit of copper and nickel. Copper and nickel are bound in sulfide minerals. Vermillion Golds Sandri said gold mines are generally smaller than iron ore or copper mines, handling less rock and producing less waste material. Gold mines have a much smaller footprint. You're are going after a much smaller pocket of valuable material, Sandri said. In gold, we talk in terms of grams and ounces, not tons. At an iron ore mine, shovels have to dig up about 300 tons of rock to get 100 tons of good taconite. In a gold mining operation, you need to dig about a ton of rock just to find one gram of gold, Sandri said. There are 31 grams in each ounce. But you have to realize that, while we are talking very small volumes, its very valuable, Sandri said. One gram of gold right now is worth about the same as one ton of finished taconite, so it doesn't take a lot to make it pay. That, he added, is why were looking for it so hard right now. Golden fact The American Museum of Natural History reports that gold is so rare, even though its been mined by people for 6,000 years, that all of the gold ever produced by humans, 152,000 tons, would fit in a cube measuring just 66 by 66 feet. In comparison, each year 907 million metric tons of iron are produced worldwide, or 6,000 times the total gold produced throughout history. A leading economist says Irish companies exporting goods into the UK should may face extra costs when Britain leaves the EU. Most manufacturers pay 0% VAT on exports to the UK as it's EU member state. Five families who are facing eviction are appealing for a Dublin hotel to be converted into emergency accommodation. Lynam's Hotel on O'Connell Street, is expected to close at the end of the month under the terms of receivership. Fire crews are desperately trying to tackle a blaze at the historic Vernon Mount, writes Stephen Rogers. The house, which was built in around 1790 and has panoramic views over the lower Lee Valley and estuary has been engulfed with flames which have spread through the property. Emergency services got the call to the blaze in what is now a derelict building shortly before 10pm. When the initial crews arrived on scene it quickly became obvious that a number of units would be needed. According to Cork Past and Present, an online service of Cork City Libraries, since the mid-20th century, the condition of the house has deteriorated, mainly due to wood rot, roof damage, rain ingress, and vandalism. Occasional efforts have been undertaken by Cork County Council to arrest the decline. The unique curvilinear facade of Vernon Mount marks this house out among other great houses, it says. The interior included another unusual feature on the first floor: an oval atrium with eight Corinthian columns, leading to doors painted with trompe-loeil imagery. The interiors were also very distinctive and included ceilings decorated with paintings on canvas by Nathaniel Grogan, the Cork landscape painter. A piece by the Grange Frankfield Partnership on vernonmountpark.ie referring the condition of the house in 2014, said that "until very recently the house was in a perilous state with slates missing from the roof and evidence of other incipient deterioration". "Through the intervention of Cork County Council, assisted by the States Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, a major renewal of the roofing was undertaken by the public bodies in November 2012. " However, it expressed concern about the condition of the interior which, it said, had not been seen since 2008. Three units of Wicklow Fire Brigade are at the scene of a gorse fire at Bray Head today. It is expected that the blaze will take a number of hours to bring under control. It has been claimed vulture funds that have spent millions purchasing Irish loans are using tax loopholes to cut down on the amount they pay here. The Sunday Business Post reports that several funds have paid just 250 each to the Revenue Commissioners. A team of volunteers in England were so moved by the plight of people stranded in lengthy queues heading to Dover that they loaded up two vehicles with water to hand out to frustrated travellers. Ravi Singh and two others brought cereal bars and thousands of bottles of water in a van and pick-up truck from Slough. The team, volunteering as part of Khalsa Aid, contacted local police and authorities at the port, offering to help provide much-needed supplies. A police helicopter helped distribute water to motorists on Saturday but Mr Singh said local officials had been only too happy to take up his offer of additional aid. "They said 'Okay, we'll take your offer up, when can you deliver?' So we went to the local cash and carry with a pick-up truck and a vanload, and drove with our vehicles full of water," he said. The team ended up getting stuck in traffic themselves for hours but were finally able to deliver aid late on Saturday night. Pic: Khalsa Aid/PA Mr Singh, 46, said: "We met a lot of young families with children, mostly people going on holidays, some heading back home to France. "There was just total frustration. People didn't know what was going on. They could see the queues in front. I asked people what time their ferry was and they said they had already missed it. "People were very, very frustrated and pulling their hair out." As the day wore on Mr Singh said they came across people whose cars had overheated or broken down. He said: "One or two guys had serious breakdowns, we tried to help but we couldn't do much, not having parts etc. "It was a very miserable day for many people." The charity said it is ready to provide more help on Sunday if needed. Police have warned the disruption is likely to continue into Monday. Khalsa Aid normally helps refugees and has also provided aid during disasters in the UK including floods. Mr Singh said the situation at Dover came as a surprise to the team. He said: "It was very strange to see people keen for water in a country so developed. It wasn't something that we were expecting to be honest." Mr Singh praised local authorities on the ground who he said had been doing their best to help, but said the British government should have stepped in sooner. "Local people and local staff at Dover are doing a fantastic job but the government at central level should have really done something a bit more to reassure the people during the day. "On a day like yesterday, a scorcher, there should have been a little more action from the Government." Two people have been arrested after a five-year-old boy died following an incident at a water park in the UK. Leicestershire Police were called to Bosworth Water Park at around 3.50pm on Saturday after a young boy was taken to University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire - where he later died. A man and woman were detained and are currently being questioned by police about the incident. "We would ask that people do not speculate about the incident and the circumstances surrounding the death and leave the authorities to carry out their investigations," a force spokesman said. Officers have asked that anyone who witnessed the incident or those who have footage at the park around the blue lagoon beach to call 101, quoting incident 440 of July 23. A statement issued on the Facebook page of Bosworth Water Park, reads: "From all of the staff at Bosworth Water Park, we would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this tragic loss of life." Commenting on the company's Facebook post, Raegan Birley said: "We were quite near and were totally shaken seeing this happen. "To everyone that helped, you worked so so hard, it must be devastating to see this news. "To this little boy's family I am so so sorry. Things can change in seconds and this must be horrific for any family to go through." Penny Broughton added: "I was helping today with the CPR and it truly was (the) most heartbreaking thing I've done." Sharon Robinson commented on a post by the water park on the social networking site: "Would like to thank everyone involving in trying to help the emergency services and a big thank you to Walgrave Hospital for the help and support. "I am a family member it was my grandson please do not speculate as no one really knows what happened, but it is a very sad time for us all and a very sad loss of such a young life." Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has warned countries like France that he says are compromised by terrorism may be subjected to the "extreme vetting" he proposes to deter attacks in the US. When asked if his proposal might lead to a point when few people from overseas are allowed into the US, Mr Trump said: "Maybe we get to that point". He added, in the interview to air on Sunday on NBC's Meet The Press: "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong." For months Mr Trump has called for a temporary ban on foreign Muslims seeking to enter the United States and criticised the Obama administration for continuing to admit refugees from Syria. He returned to the idea in his speech on Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr Trump said the US "must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place" - notably leaving out any reference to Muslims or to Syria, Iraq and other Middle East nations. In the NBC interview, Mr Trump noted "specific problems" in Germany and France - both countries have been rocked by fatal attacks in public places in recent weeks. Meet The Press host Chuck Todd asked if his proposal would limit immigration from France, adding: "They've been compromised by terrorism." Mr Trump replied: "They have totally been. And you know why? It's their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory." He then called for "extreme vetting" and said: "We have to have tough, we're going to have tough standards. If a person can't prove what they have to be able to prove, they're not coming into this country." During his interview, Mr Trump also took issue with descriptions of his convention speech as "dark". He said: ''It was an optimistic speech." Referring to his mentions of crime as well as shootings and terrorist attacks both here and overseas, he said, "Sure, I talk about the problems, but we're going to solve the problems." The White House candidate also defended Roger Ailes, the founder of US TV network Fox News, who has resigned amid accusations of sexual harassment by numerous women. Mr Trump described Mr Ailes as a long-time friend and said "some of the women" complaining about him had been helped by him in the past and earlier had said good things about him. "It's very sad," Mr Trump said. "Because he's a very good person. I've always found him to be just a very, very good person." France's interior minister is protesting accusations the government tried to cover up security failings the night of the Bastille Day attack in Nice that killed 84 people. Sandra Bertin, the woman in charge of video surveillance in Nice on July 14, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that government officials told her what to write in her report and that she should mention the presence of police she had not seen. Candlelit vigils were held in Munich as the identities of those cut down by a teenage gunman began to emerge. Earlier a father visited the scene at the Olympia shopping centre to mourn his son's death, while others paid tribute to friends and loved ones lost in the massacre that left nine people dead, most of them teenagers. A further 27 people were injured in Friday's attack - 10 of whom are in a critical condition, including a 13-year-old boy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the tragedy had plunged Germany into "deep and profound mourning" that left a "night of horror" lying behind the people of Munich. The lone killer, an 18-year-old German-Iranian named in reports as Ali Sonboly, is thought to have attempted to lure victims to a McDonald's opposite the mall with a fake Facebook profile promising free food. It is unclear if those who died or were injured when he opened fire with a pistol had been enticed by message that is being probed by police. Among the dead were two 14-year-old Kosovan girls, Armela Segashi and Sabina Sulaj, and their Turkish friends Can Leyla, 14 and Selcuk Kilic, 15, according to reports. A 17-year-old named in reports as Hussein Daitzik, of Greek origin, is said to have been shot dead as he heroically shielded his sister. Another youngster, named locally as Guilliano Kollman, 18, reportedly died after being shot outside the McDonald's where Sonboly began his murderous rampage. On Saturday afternoon Naim Zabergja, a policeman of Kosovan heritage, visited the scene to lay flowers where his son, Dijamant, 21, was killed. According to reports the oldest victim of the killer was Sevda Dag, a 45-year-old Turkish woman. At a press conference Mrs Merkel said the events are "difficult to bear for everyone" and pledged to "find out the background" of what happened. She added: "What lies behind the people of Munich is a night of horror - we are still shocked by the pictures and reports of the witnesses. "Nine people who were going shopping on the Friday evening, or wanted to eat something, they are now dead - it seems according to the investigations, hit and killed by the bullets of one single perpetrator." The Chancellor said the operation between the agencies and security forces on Friday night was "seamless" and thanked them for their "phenomenal" effort. She said: "We are in deep and profound mourning for those who will never return to their families. The families, siblings, friends to whom everything will be void and empty today. "I would like to tell them, in the name of many, many people in Germany, we share in your grief, we think of you and we are suffering with you. "Our thoughts also go out to the numerous injured people - may they recover quickly and completely - they will receive all the support they need. "Such an evening and such a night are difficult to bear for every one of us. They are even more difficult to bear because we have had so many different and difficult reports of horrors in the past few days." Officials said the killer used a 9mm pistol and had 300 rounds of ammunition in his rucksack when he went on what they called a "classic shooting rampage". Police said the weapon was a Glock 17 handgun which had had its serial number illegally filed off, and there were indications the gunman had been in psychiatric care and treated for depression. They confirmed his room in the flat he was living in had been searched, and that documents of "frenzied attacks" had been discovered, but no evidence he had links to Islamic State. According to reports the killer had an "obvious" link to Norwegian mass-murderer Anders Behring Breivik - who, five years to the day of the Munich attack, slaughtered 77 people. Police investigator Robert Heimberger said that it appeared the gunman had hacked a Facebook account and lured people to the shopping centre with an offer of free food. The posting, sent from a young woman's account, urged people to go to the centre at 4pm, saying: "I'll give you something if you want, but not too expensive." Mr Heimberger said they are investigating as "it appears it was prepared by the suspect and then sent out". Officials said the attacker was not known to them and had no criminal record. He had been in psychiatric care and was treated for depression. He later killed himself. Three of the victims are believed to be from Kosovo, three from Turkey and one from Greece - seven of the dead are understood to be teenagers. A multiple sclerosis sufferer in England travelling to Germany for potentially life-changing treatment saw her dash to Dover turn into a 20-hour ordeal. Tanya Cudworth, 50, was travelling to a Frankfurt clinic to undergo stem cell treatment for her condition after raising 5,000 (5,900) for the trip. Along with her partner, Steve Deene, 53, she set off from Tunbridge Wells at 8.30am on Saturday after waking to news of increasing delays at Dover. The couple, from Derby, did not make it onto a ferry until 4.20am on Sunday. Speaking to the Press Association, Ms Cudworth described the experience as "absolutely horrendous". She said: "I'm taking the trip to get this treatment that I hope will keep me from having to go in a wheelchair. It's not available on the NHS and we've done some fundraising. It's a good job I didn't have to be at the hospital sooner - 19 hours in the car has obviously aggravated my symptoms." Because of her condition Ms Cudworth, who works for Marston's brewery, had to travel by road. She hoped to nip to Dover, take a short sail across the Channel and complete the final six-hour drive to Frankfurt on Saturday ahead of her Monday appointment. However chances of them making the 10.30am ferry soon vanished as they found themselves stranded in a virtual carpark on the A20. She said: "During the day it was so hot and there was nowhere near enough water and at night it was pitch black so you didn't know what was going on around you. You couldn't sleep because you had to keep moving forward. "We didn't get any water until 3am and I saw women with babies, young families and people with pets with no water. It's shocking that more wasn't done to get it to people, the authorities weren't anywhere to be seen. "My partner has been a lorry driver since he got his licence and he has never seen anything like it here or abroad." As the situation became desperate the couple decided to turn off the A20 and head for a hotel, but found everywhere was fully booked. In the end they decided to grit their teeth and carry on crawling towards the port. The British Government said the "extraordinary" delays were down to a combination of high volumes of holiday traffic and extra security checks by French officials. However Ms Cudworth suspected the official line may be hiding a different reason for the travel chaos. "I don't know whether the French are just annoyed with us because of Brexit or we are blaming the French for the delays. "There's a chance I will have to come back to Frankfurt for the treatment. If I do I will just have to fly." A Syrian asylum seeker has killed a woman with a machete and wounded two others outside a bus station in the south-western German city of Reutlingen before being arrested. Witnesses said the 21-year-old man, who was known to police, was having an argument with the woman before attacking her. scapegoat (the Jews): or you, immigrants. YOu want the wall; it'll bite you; the wall will wall you out - is that what you want? Ha? The foundation of "Wall" is to find a scapegoat - how many times do you want to see "immigrants" as scapegoat? R or D? It's not what you think "so simple" - it's mentality ! Good, Bad, or Mad : Your choice! you can't change back from error done: The Republican nominees plans to disengage from the world, tear up trade deals and use bullying tactics would be irrational and dangerous - you, scagegoat potential as American dollars lose its steam when pullying such trigger of reducing global influence - only way to enhance money position. "Hitler's rise to power didn't start with oppression it started with a charismatic PR/branding fear campaign followed by the creation of a scapegoat (the Jews) that angry German's could blame for their lot in life. Sound familiar?" Americanism over globalism is a dog whistle for an insular Americathe America of the Cold War, with closed borders as well as closed minds. We live in a global society now, with intertwining economies. We witnessed this just recently with the Brexit, which sent the NYSE reeling for days. America closing its borders both literally and figuratively doesn't mean a better America, it means an isolated one that burns trade relations and sends our economy into the gutter. In his RNC acceptance speech, he said, "The most important difference between our plan and that of our opponents, is that our plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo." Donald Trump has officially assumed the mantel of the Republican Party. His rise to power, which seemed unfathomable just a few short months ago, is now incredibly real. Many who shrugged him off as a joke have replaced that laughter with shrieks of horror. As Donald Trump asserted Thursday night, "we cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore." He's right. The time for fluff pieces that paint Donald Trump and his campaign as just another political spectacle, adept at utilizing the media and creating a buzz is over. It's time to shake away the orange tan and squirrel hair and take a closer look at who Trump's predecessor was as way to prepare America for what's in store. real. Many who shrugged him off as a joke have replaced that laughter with shrieks of horror. As Donald Trump asserted Thursday night, "we cannot afford to be so politically correct anymore." He's right. The time for fluff pieces that paint Donald Trump and his campaign as just another political spectacle, adept at utilizing the media and creating a buzz is over. It's time to shake away the orange tan and squirrel hair and take a closer look at who Trump's predecessor was as way to prepare America for what's in store. SO, WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU MIX A DASH OF NATIVISM, WITH A SPLASH OF XENOPHOBIA, A DOLLOP OF HOMOPHOBIA, A TWIST OF DOG WHISTLE POLITICS, TOPPED WITH MISOGYNY? So, what do you get when you mix a dash of nativism, with a splash of xenophobia, a dollop of homophobia, a twist of dog whistle politics, topped with misogyny? The Neo-Republican platform for starters, but this recipe is just a play on a classicone perfected by another charismatic leader. In her 2015 book entitled Hitler at Home, author Despina Stratigakos wrote this: The 1930s marked the rise of celebrity culture, in the era of talking movies, radio and new lifestyle magazines. People developed a strong desire to know what the private person was like behind the public facade. Hitler's propagandists took advantage of the new celebrity culture and even helped to shape it. For more than a decade we have observed how Reality TV has become America's popular culture. We've watched the rise of ordinary people and families turn into modern day monarchs because of the attention bestowed upon them by the millions of eyeballs tuning into to watch their shows, just to get a glimpse into how the rich and privileged live. TV networks slowly moved away from paying the multi-million dollar salaries of Hollywood's elite and instead opted to turn cameras on "real people" to find out what happens when "people stop being polite and start getting real." What we know to be true is that there is nothing more alluring to regular Americans than the fascination with fame and riches both of which Trump has in spades. The rise of Reality TV and obsession with celebrity has helped to create the perfect tempest for Trump's own propagandists that have worked tirelessly to present Trump as a no-nonsense businessman that has little time for civility because he's too busy getting rich and making deals. In the article entitled, "How media 'fluff' helped Hitler rise to power", author Charlotte Hsu wrote this: In the years preceding World War II, news outlets from home magazines to the New York Times ran profiles of the Nazi leader that portrayed him as a country gentleman a man who ate vegetarian, played catch with his dogs and took post-meal strolls outside his mountain estate. These articles were often admiring even after the horrors of the Nazi regime had begun to reveal themselves. Over the past several months American journalists have been so entranced by Trump and his made-for-cameras persona that they have done very little to dig into the depths of his proclamations and just how dangerous they are not only to us here at home, but also abroad. RELATED: DNC Calls Congressman Steve King's Remarks Racist, Demands Apology In his RNC acceptance speech, he said, "The most important difference between our plan and that of our opponents, is that our plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo." At first glance this statement doesn't seem too terrible, right? Except, it is. Americanism over globalism is a dog whistle for an insular Americathe America of the Cold War, with closed borders as well as closed minds. We live in a global society now, with intertwining economies. We witnessed this just recently with the Brexit, which sent the NYSE reeling for days. America closing its borders both literally and figuratively doesn't mean a better America, it means an isolated one that burns trade relations and sends our economy into the gutter. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed Chuck Todd: Donald Trump's dark vision of America has risks 3:01 The Daily Beast, in an article entitled: "The American Papers that Praised Hitler"wrote this: "The train arrived punctually," a Christian Science Monitor report from Germany informed its readers, not long after Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1933. "Traffic was well regulated" in the new Germany, and policemen in "smart blue uniforms" kept order, the correspondent noted. "I have so far found quietness, order, and civility"; there was "not the slightest sign of anything unusual afoot." Something unusual and downright terrifying is afoot and our media has helped to put him and his rhetoric on every screen without a thought to the implications of such careless reporting for ratings. When lamenting about how Hitler could rise to power without opposition the Daily Beast wrote this: Perhaps it is not surprising that the sudden, unexpected rise of an extremist from beer halls to the halls of power would catch the Fifth Estate off-guard. What is troubling, however, is the extent to which some mainstream American newspaper editors and reporters deviated from accepted journalistic standards and allowed their better judgment to be clouded by wishful thinking, admiration for punctual trains, susceptibility to celebrity, or deference to the president. One wonders how their successors would respond if a comparable situation were to arise in our own time. Hitler's rise to power didn't start with oppression it started with a charismatic PR/branding fear campaign followed by the creation of a scapegoat (the Jews) that angry German's could blame for their lot in life. Sound familiar? A comparable time has arisen and so far the successors to the journalists, editors and radio personalities (now TV and online) of the 1930s aren't doing much better the second time around. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/analysis-trump-will-america-recognize-danger-second-time-around-n614881 Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram WASHINGTON: The US economy rebounded in the third quarter, expanding for the first time this year in welcome news... LONDON: Rishi Sunak looked set to become Britains next prime minister after his rival Boris Johnson quit the ... It's a real bummer when you're watching what appears to be a pitch-perfect thriller and you're getting into it, you're along for the ride only for the flick to completely run out of steam. In those moments you can almost feel the filmmakers and talented people involved just run out of ideas and the film then just plods along towards an unsatisfactory conclusion. That is sadly the case with Writer and Director Jamie M Dagg's 2015 film 'River' starring a very impressive Rossif Sutherland. John Lake (Rossif Sutherland) is a man who doesn't know how to give up. As a member of a Doctors Without Boarders team helping rural people in southern Laos receive proper medical care, he takes his job seriously. When a patient is near death or has flatlined, he refuses to give up on them even when there is no hope. After losing a patient, he's ordered to take some time off to destress and focus himself. Traveling to the north on a holiday, he finds a nice out of the way bar where he can drink, eat, and get his head straight. When he spots two Australian tourists giving too many drinks to a couple of young local girls, he speaks up. Later when he comes across one of the men after sexually assaulting one of the girls, he gets involved - and things go too far. After John beats the man to death, the girl wakes up and believes John was the one who attacked her. Now with the police after him for murder and rape, John is forced to go on the run. His only hope is to get to Thailand, but he has hundreds of miles and a river to cross before he can catch a flight out of Bangkok. 'River' had me hooked. The film starts out strong, we learn about our main character, his obsessive tendencies and his need to help people quick and dirty. We see him taking care of sick patients, struggling to make his interpreter understand the importance of his patient completing their treatment. Then we see him helping people wounded in a bus accident. When one of them flatlines, he refuses to stop resuscitation efforts even when he's been ordered to the next patient. After those very quick moments, we know who John Lake is and we understand why he acts the way he does later in the film when events go bad. He's a man of action who doesn't give up. It's because his character is so compelling that when the film peters out midway through the second act, it's hard to accept that the film essentially stops with about thirty minutes left to go. The shame of how 'River' comes to a screeching halt and then lumbers to an ending is that Rossif Sutherland is so damn good in this film. He's easily relatable, he has an impressive emotional range, and you're right there with him. When he goes to his boss at the clinic played by Sara Botsford or turns himself in at the American Embassy - you know it's because he's caught in an impossible situation and must think on his feet. All he wants is for someone to hear his side of things and believe him. But when people are powerless to help or outright believe he's guilty, you're completely on board with his need to keep running. When John stops running, and the film enters a strange and out of place area of international politics and extradition processes, it feels like you accidentally flipped channels to a different movie. One minute you're watching a solid updated version of 'The Fugitive' and the next you're looking at a toned down 'Midnight Express.' One moment you're sitting on the edge of your seat wondering "Will he make it? Is he going to survive" and the next second you're asking "Where's his lawyer? Shouldn't he have a lawyer? When does the prolonged trial scene start?" It's a dynamic shift that never really comes together in a fitting way. It's like watching two really good halves of two different movies spliced together. In their own respects, they work but they don't work well together. I was loving the first half of this film, I truly thought I was going to see a great underground thriller with an amazing conclusion. Sadly that conclusion doesn't really come. Ultimately, 'River' is worth watching, but tempered expectations may be required. Also, Rossif Sutherland is great in it, and I do hope he emerges out of the family shadow and gets to take on some bigger roles in the future. The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats 'River' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA. Pressed onto a Region A BD25 disc, the disc opens with previews for other Well Go USA titles before arriving at an animated main menu with traditional navigation options. The disc is housed in a standard Blu-ray case. Apartment dwellers are calling on political parties to commit to new noise limits ahead of the October ACT election as the city's growing number of high and medium mixed-use developments along transport corridors changes the character of Canberra. Owners Corporation Network president Gary Petherbridge says from a city of homes behind hedges and heritage-listings, Canberra is transforming into large areas of noisy apartment towers rising above two levels of hotels, restaurants and hairdressers. Owners Corporation Network president Gary Petherbridge says Canberra is at "the crossroads". Credit:Jeffrey Chan As the ACT government announces new projects along major transport corridors like Northbourne Avenue, the OCN is lining up political parties before the territory's election, to explain how new laws will deal with a rapid increase in strata developments along the light rail route and other transport corridors. Mr Petherbridge said people buying into Kingston Foreshore expected noise. "It is well and truly protected as a mixed-use precinct, people who turn around and buy there, you would hardly expect them to blame people running restaurants [for noise]," he said. Former owner of iconic Gus' Cafe in Civic, Janice Glenn, says the heritage listing her family secured in 2011 may not prevent another business opening on the Bunda Street site under a different name. Ms Glenn is worried the owner of the building, a property specialist with large-scale commercial, industrial and retail leasing expertise, does not want to keep the name Gus'. The plaque outside Gus' Cafe. Credit:Graham Tidy Known as Gus' since the 1960s, and where owner Gus Petersilka introduced outdoor dining in the 1970s, the Garema Place landmark opposite the Canberra Centre, closed about a month ago. The building's owner, Certrane Pty Ltd, did not renew Ms Glenn's lease. Ms Glenn says she has never met her landlord, had only dealt with property managers and lawyers, but now was exchanging emails with Certrane's principal John Grimble. Police believe a fire that caused extensive damage at an apartment complex in Red Hill on Saturday was deliberately lit. Firefighters said they were called to the complex on Discovery Street about 9.20am, and sent four fire trucks to the scene. The fire caused extensive damage at an apartment complex on Discovery Street on Saturday morning. "Quick work by fire crews prevented the blaze from spreading to adjoining units," the agency said in a statement. "The unit complex was evacuated as a precaution." The receivers and managers to food and beverage group Keystone Group have kicked off the long-awaited sale of 17 well-known venues, including the Cargo Bar and the national Jamie's Italian chain, as they try to recoup more than $80 million to repay debt. The agents at CBRE Hotels Daniel Dragicevich, Sam Handy, Tim Grossmann and Leif Olson, are steering the campaign for the leaseholds of a variety of pubs and food and beverage outlets across the country. Keystone went under last month when it failed to renegotiate an $80 million loan with financiers, the private equity group KKR and Olympus Capital. The assets include Bungalow 8, Cargo Bar, Chophouse Perth, Chophouse Sydney, Gazebo, Kingsleys Brisbane, Kingsleys Woolloomooloo, Manly Wine, the Sugarmill Hotel, The Rook, the Winery and the national Jamie's Italian franchise. Morgan Kelly, from the receivers Ferrier Hodgson, said the sales process would be conducted as either a recapitalisation of the group, or a sale of one or more portfolios of assets. Let me be clear: like John Howard, I "tremble" at the thought of Donald Trump becoming president of the United States. His divisive rhetoric, erratic behaviour and lack of any core governing philosophy mean he would probably be the most unpredictable and dangerous president in American history. But there's something else that needs to be said with equal clarity: Donald Trump is raising several issues that go to the very heart of American politics in 2016. It would be a big mistake to say his growing appeal is simply due to racism and xenophobia. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis The first issue that Trump taps into is a widespread sense of economic anxiety across the US. The real story of this election, says Francis Fukuyama in the current Foreign Affairs, is that American democracy is finally responding to rising income inequality and wage stagnation, which sharpen the divisions between the economic elites and ordinary Americans. Nor is Fukuyama alone in detecting these trends. Leading intellectuals on both the right and left, such as Charles Murray and Robert Putnam, lay out the new socio-economic reality in disturbing detail. When done right, alternate history stories can be a lot of fun, placing interesting twists on the past and present in order to develop creative worlds all their own. Fueled by potent imagination and a whole lot of burning coal, 'April and the Extraordinary World' does just that, thrusting audiences into a uchronian animated adventure full of colorful characters and retro-futuristic designs. Though some of the film's storytelling can be a tad clunky, the ideas present are always bursting with creativity and steam. Inspired by the works of French comic artist Jacques Tardi, the animated tale takes place in an alternate history 1941 where electricity was never invented. Instead, steam and coal power have dominated the world. After her scientist parents are mysteriously abducted, April is propelled into a dangerous conspiracy tied to a potential "Ultimate Formula" that could unlock the secret to immortality. With the help of her trusty talking cat, Darwin, April attempts to track down her parents and keep the formula from entering the wrong hands. Tasked with setting up its rather complicated history, the film opens with a few prologue scenes that, while ultimately necessary, feel quite rushed and overstuffed. This makes the script come across as a bit convoluted during the first act, packing the narrative with preliminary plot elements, clunky expository dialogue, underdeveloped satire, and skimmed over alternate history bullet points before finally settling in with the main storyline. To this end, I was simultaneously overwhelmed by this hurried pace and underwhelmed by the resulting setup. Thankfully, once all this preamble is out of the way, the movie does find an engaging groove in its second half, investing us in April's journey to find her parents. With that said, April's character isn't always particularly memorable or distinct, making her come across as a pretty generic protagonist. Likewise, the same can be said about her standard friendly thief love interest, Julius. On the other hand, April's grandfather, Pops, and her talking cat, Darwin, inject the runtime with some much needed fun, and the story's ultimate villains actually prove to be the film's most interesting and entertaining elements. With that in mind, their appearance in the third act ushers in an exciting finale with a few solid twists and turns, using the movie's coal powered alternate history to offer a light environmentalist message. This industry versus nature theme is enhanced by the film's unique steampunk aesthetic, filling the frame with inventive retro-futuristic vehicles and architecture all cast under an oppressive cloud of pollution -- with nary a tree in sight. Based on the distinct art style of Jacques Tardi, the animation is a mixture of relatively simple yet still expressive character designs and more complex background details rooted in real-world locations. Using potent flourishes of color, the filmmakers punch up the narrative's otherwise drab settings, creating a genuine sense of burgeoning vitality beneath the smog. Sure, some movements can come across as a little stiff here and there, but the hand-drawn computer animation is quite lovely overall. Capped off by a surprisingly affecting coda tinged with bittersweet sentimentality, 'April and the Extraordinary World' overcomes some early stumbles to evolve into a rather inventive and entertaining steampunk adventure. Though the movie might not ever fully earn the "extraordinary" in its title, April's animated world is still well worth the trip. The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats Universal presents 'April and the Extraordinary World' on a BD-50 Blu-ray disc housed in a keepcase with a cardboard slipcover. A DVD and instructions for an iTunes/UltraViolet Digital Copy are included as well. After some skippable trailers, the disc transitions to a standard menu. This timing will affect the referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians. This was to be held no later than May 27, 2017, which is the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that deleted discriminatory references to Aboriginal people from the constitution. Pushing the same-sex marriage plebiscite into next year will surely extinguish any chance of the referendum being held at that time. The plebiscite may cruel any prospect of the referendum being held at all next year. The build-up to a referendum takes many months, and so even a late 2017 vote would require the government to move quickly after the plebiscite. It is hard to see Malcolm Turnbull wanting to do this. Each national vote will consume enormous energy and attention, making it more difficult for the government to sell its other policies. There may also be little popular enthusiasm for a third national vote in the space of 18 months. The government's determination to proceed with the plebiscite, despite these complications, is based upon public support for the idea. Such support though is soft. Australians like the idea of taking the issue into their own hands. However, less than half of the community support the idea when they learn that the plebiscite is nothing more than a non-binding opinion poll, and that politicians will retain the final say. This comes as no surprise, as it reflects the pattern of many referendums. Politicians proceed with votes of this kind backed by initial community enthusiasm. However, when the people learn more, their support often evaporates. This explains why so many referendums have been put with such hope, only to fail time after time. Since 1901, 44 national referendums have been held but only eight have passed (the last being in 1977). The lesson is that first reactions to the idea of a plebiscite, or indeed to same-sex marriage, may not bear up in the heat of a campaign. By nature, referendums and plebiscites are difficult to control and predict. One only has to look at the experience of the Brexit referendum to realise how easily things can go wrong. Michael Hinchey New Lambton What's more scary than "Trump's terrifying vision of the world" is that massive numbers of his fellow Republicans actually believe that Trump's enunciated quick-fix-approach to complex world problems will work. Bob Barnes Wedderburn I'm not looking forward to another three months of the American election in our news. It is sickening for Donald Trump to blame the Democrats for all the Middle East problems but not to mention his own Republican George Bush who, with his two amigos Tony Blair and John Howard, started the rot by invading Iraq. Trump also seems to have have encouraged a new slogan, namely "Pillory Hillary". Clinton should reply in kind with "Dump Trump". Jim Banks Pottsville Beach The likes of George Christensen and Donald Trump carry on as if the growing threat of extremism is a direct result of leftist policies pandering to political correctness. Christensen asks "why do we get the same platitudes from the left?" as if those voicing alternative solutions are somehow responsible for the problem ("George Christensen walks back claim 'radical Islam' to blame for Merrylands attack", smh.com.au, July 22). But the truth is that this growing threat has emerged for the most part under the policies of the right. We've done what they have demanded of Western civilisation: we've invaded countries; we've sent the troops in; we've supported the militias; we've overthrown governments; we've eroded civil liberties; we've detained without charge; we've accepted mass surveillance; we allow search without warrant; we've interned the refugees; and we've accepted summary execution in other countries. Look what they make us give. The policies of the right have failed to stem the rising tide of terror, and now they cry for more. Greg Wilkins Manly The late Robin Williams once remarked that president Ronald Reagan held the future of the world in the hollow of his head. I wonder why Saturday's front-page photograph of Donald Trump brought this observation to mind? Cliff Jahnsen Bowral Pavilion upgrade won't spoil Bondi beach The bad news for Garry Linnell is that Waverley Council's unwanted $38 million upgrade of Bondi Pavilion will leave it looking much the same, from the outside at least ("Overrated and rundown: Welcome to Sydney's worst", July 23-24). The National Trust would disagree with Linnell's portrayal of the pavilion as the "cowshed on the foreshore", having recently described it as "of social and aesthetic significance as a landmark, recognised internationally as a symbol of Australia's popular beach culture" and stressing that "long-standing community access to the Bondi Surf Pavilion must be maintained". "Bondi shines like a pearl from its sometimes seedy shell", said writer Meg Stewart it's just that some of us can't see the pearl. Andrew Worssam Bondi Talented men of the future should not be shortchanged Bill Shorten's decision to take the easy way out and add numbers to his shadow ministry rather than recognise true talent, is a poor end to his otherwise outstanding performance during the last election campaign ("Plibersek steps into education super-portfolio as Shorten shuffles Labor deck", July 23-24). Shorten's decision to protect Kim Carr's paid position on the front bench is not a good look for a leader who claims to have his eye on the future. There is no doubt that Carr has been a long and faithful servant of the party; however, it is people like Andrew Leigh and Sam Dastyari who are its future, and Shorten has failed his first tough test as leader in this term by his personal decision to shortchange two of the talents he needs to help him get the keys to the Lodge. His decision to reward personal loyalty over talent, when Carr's own faction dumped him, does not bode well for the future electoral success of the Labor Party federally. No doubt being loyal to their leader, both Leigh and Dastyari will say 'it's only money"; however, it's a matter of principle, and I am greatly disappointed that Shorten has failed to put the party's future ahead of his own. Ian De Landelles Murrays Beach Media is doing the terrorists' work A week ago there was an attack on the Merrylands Police station. The media presented it as an act of terrorism, initially. And, this was quickly followed by a Coalition MP condemning Islam and our response to terrorism. I would like to add my voice to that condemnation, if only for an entirely different reason. A terrorist attack in France, a coup in Turkey, or a shooting rampage in Munich is now presented to the public instantaneously ("Munich shooting: Suspect obsessed with mass shootings, had no Islamic ties", smh.com.au, July 24). The sheer volume of information is overwhelming, and along with media's addiction to the catastrophic we have a worldwide news feed satisfying the craving. And the combination is scaring the hell out of the general public. Our world is safer now than at almost any point in its history. But how many people would believe that? Unless we want more fear-driven responses, the media must show more restraint in its presentation of "danger" topics. In its current form it is fulfilling a terrorist's dream. Ted Keating Tallai While there is cause for much concern about Muslim extremism, the shooting in Munich suggests there might also be other factors at play. Quite simply, that young men are increasingly considering this sort of extreme violence as a way to resolve their problems. For that we may need to look at ourselves, too, for our involvement in dubiously motivated wars, but also for the proliferation of violence on our screens; in movies and games that devalue and dehumanise. Even animated kids shows on ABC 3 TV amazingly seem to go under the radar when it comes to ratings, as Power Rangers and other supercharged creatures wreak havoc and destruction at seven in the morning, while parents sleep in, make the breakfast, or get ready for work. Time for another look as to what we might deem acceptable viewing and gaming for the young and easily influenced. James Manche Dulwich Hill Behind Hanson's victory When Fiona Scott felt comfortable enough to offer her ill-thought-out view that congestion on the M4 and delays in hospital treatment could be linked to asylum seekers, and was elected, many of us could see Pauline Hanson's views creeping up on us again ("How Hanson won (more of) the west", July 23-24). Populist fear mongering among the under-educated has led to the Trump phenomenon. Louise Whelan Chatswood Food for thought Oh that all humanity would embrace the philosophy of George Calombaris ("My religion is food", July 23-24). Imagine. Global conflict resolved by cream pie fights, or international bake-offs on Geneva Convection stoves. Bombe Alaska rather than bomb Iraq. Scrumpy and scampi, not scripture. Nations governed by Master Chefs where good is rewarded with chocolate and evil punished with stewed offal. Where the only Bible is a book of Tetsuya's recipes. And where the UN General Assembly is one big, happy fondue with only one commandment: "Thou shall not spill." George Manojlovic Mangerton Lost for words I don't know what your teaching experience was in the 1970s, Ron Sinclair (Letters, 23-24 July), but I was teaching in a state primary school, with a member of the NSW Education Department English Syllabus Committee on the executive staff. Grammar was excluded from the curriculum and any teacher using "wicked" words like "verb" and "noun" was considered old-fashioned and likely to harm the creative efforts of the children. I received a sound knowledge and grasp of grammar in my primary and secondary school days which gave me life-long confidence in writing, reading and comprehending our language. How could I have studied and understood Latin at high school and university without a sound background in grammar? Michael Egan Killarney Heights When the HSC students have learned English grammar, will they still address me as "youse guys"? Anne Powter Dapto Wasted education funds Your story was shocking in detailing the waste of funds for vocational education ("Student loan rorts fuel $3b cost . . . and growing", July 23-24). Those funds are desperately needed elsewhere in the education sector in a place that would make a much bigger difference to Australia's position in international education league tables and to our children's future investing in public high schools. Carrie Bengston Clovelly Creative accounting Those benefactors frustrated with Sydney Modern will get plenty of bang for their buck in Newcastle ("Waiting game and whispers at gallery", July 23-24). A fraction of the money required for the AGNSW would rebuild Newcastle Art Gallery and have spare to give to the Newcastle Art School. Matthew Tome Mayfield West Answer is prayer For once, just for once, I read an article that made me joyous ("Brothers in arms know how to keep the faith and stay strong", July 23-24). Each and every day negative articles about religion flood your pages. Then I read about this team which prays before a game a Christian and Islamic prayer to unite them as brothers. If only the world could understand that regardless of our faith, we are all "brothers". Lesley Petri Drummoyne Take a punt on new ferry names Great ferry names Peter Skrzynecki (Letters, July 23-24) but in the interests of cross-party inclusiveness perhaps we could replace Speed Cameras Windfall with "The Edward Obeid"? This ferry would have added features - ease of slipping, automatic navigation to shelter in taxing weather and a comforting familiarity with the Circular Quay route. Vivien Clark-Ferraino Duckmaloi After fleeing the rubble-strewn streets of Baghdad, Nader Sameer is literally building the foundations of a new life, learning how to mix mortar, lay bricks and find a meaningful path in Australia. Mr Sameer is one of a growing number of refugees being aided by the Australian private sector, as governments across the world say they cannot solve the global migrant crisis alone. "I will start working with someone and, when I get my licence, I will have my own business": Nader Sameer. Credit:Anna Kucera Just six weeks after arriving in Australia with his wife and two young children, Mr Sameer has received bricklaying training at Granville TAFE. In coming weeks he and other students will begin paid jobs with private construction companies. Speaking to Fairfax Media through an interpreter, the 38-year-old, who lives in Fairfield, said his family's safety was threatened in Iraq, where he worked as an electrician and builder. From a life spent dodging bullets in his war-torn village in Burma, refugee Htun Htun has found himself in a more welcoming place. At central Melbourne's Swanston Hotel, where he has worked as a cleaner for more than two years, the 35-year-old is known for his beaming smile and says he is "friends with the whole hotel". Happy to be here: Htun Htun is 'friends with the whole hotel. Credit:Simon Schluter Mr Htun is one of a growing number of refugees being aided by the Australian private sector, as governments the world over say they alone cannot solve the global migrant crisis. "I [clean] the public area and I also deal with guest requests, like shower gel, pen or paper or whatever. I have to send for them," the married father-of-two from Werribee said. A man is in a serious condition in hospital after swerving to avoid a horse near Chillagoe, 200 kilometres west of Cairns, on Saturday afternoon. Police said about 3.30pm a vehicle travelling along Burke Development Road, 15 kilometres south of Chillagoe, swerved to avoid a horse before rolling. A 77-year-old man is in a serious condition after swerving to avoid a horse near Chillagoe. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 77-year-old man, was airlifted to Cairns Base Hospital and is in a serious condition. The Forensic Crash Unit are investigating. About 120 police and State Emergency Service personnel are scouring an area west of the M1 at Nerang searching for a 5-year-old girl who went missing Sunday afternoon. Police said this was the primary search area but residents in surrounding areas were urged to check the yards of their homes and be vigilant for any sign of the girl. She went missing at 4.30pm when she ran away from family members near the Nielsen Road overpass. The search includes members of the Gold Coast Rapid Action Patrol, plain clothes officers and the Pol-Air helicopter. A man wielding a machete has been charged with attempted murder after attacking four strangers in Burpengary on Sunday morning. Police said about 12.50am, four men walking along Findlay Street were approached by a 37-year-old man not known to them, who attacked a 24-year-old male member of the group. Police have charged a 37-year-old man with attempted murder following a machete attack in the early hours of Sunday morning. The attacker then returned to his nearby home and armed himself with a machete before returning and chasing the group. A battle ensued, during which the 24-year-old sustained injuries to his face, arm and leg while another 22-year-old was also wounded. Queensland's RSPCA today launches Pokemon Go tours at its Brisbane animal care campus in a bid to lure potential pet owners. The RSPCA will hold its first Pokemon Go tour at its animal care campus at Wacol, in Brisbane's west, this afternoon and says there will be a Pokemon Go "gym" on site. Pokemon Go took the world by storm when it launched in July. Credit:Getty Images The organisation hopes the tours will allow greater exposure for the pets available for adoption and hopefully link them to new homes. The RSPCA are not the only ones looking to benefit from the Pokemon Go craze. Thousands of Pokemon Go players invaded the CBD on Saturday for a scheduled Brisbane City Adventure organised by Pizza Capers. The company handed out 300 pizzas in the City Botanic Gardens which "disappeared in 15-20 minutes" according to a spokesperson. Parking signs can be confusing at the best of times, but imagine leaving your car safely in a permit zone only to return to find it is under a no-stopping sign with a ticket on the windscreen. This is what North Melbourne resident Mark Anderson says happened to him when Melbourne City Council switched parking signs without warning. North Melbourne resident Mark Anderson. Credit:JasonSouth And, he says, he has the GPS data to prove it. Mr Anderson says he parked his Volkswagen Polo on Leveson Street about 3.30pm on Sunday, June 5. Police will resume their search for a missing Queensland teen in bushland in eastern Victoria on Monday morning. Matthew Doolan, 17, is believed to have driven to Cobbannah, 270km east of Melbourne, in a blue Kia Rio with Queensland plates. He has been missing since Sunday morning. Police are searching bushland at Cobbannah for missing Queensland teen Matthew Doolan. Victoria Police spokesman Paul Turner said police and SES were searching the Mitchell River National Park and surrounding areas. "Matthew's car was located on Billy Goat Bend Road about 10.55am this morning," Leading Senior Constable Turner said. Im not so sure about the title Puerto Ricans in Paris, perhaps it's setting things up for a string of franchise films with similar names for his comedic duo, but Ian Edelmans first directorial effort is a funny buddy cop film that leaves the big action beats on the back-burner and instead relies on the comedic genius and calm demeanor of its stars. Edelman created the HBO show How to Make it in America and brings along two of its stars in Luis Guzman and Edgar Garcia, who play Eddie and Luis respectively, two New York police undercover police officers who take down people and businesses making counterfeit handbags, clothing, and sunglasses. You know, most of you have been to New York and have paid less than $100 for a seemingly REAL Louis Vuitton handbag. Eddie and Luis are the guys that stop these people from making the counterfeits and passing them off as real. This duos funny but unusual style has brought in a french businessman and his famous designer Colette (Alice Taglioni) to ask Eddie and Luis to travel to Paris and go undercover to catch the thieves that stole her upcoming new handbag for next season. The thieves sent a ransom note that if they dont get paid by a certain time, they will make thousands of fake handbags, thus destroying the new line of upcoming high end purses. Eddie leaves his four kids and wife (Rosie Perez) at home after a failed anniversary attempt at romance, while Luis cant seem to commit to his beautiful girlfriend (Rosario Dawson). Once in Paris, let the good times role, as Luis tries to score with French women and try to catch the thieves. Again, this isnt an action movie. There are no real car chases, gun shots, or explosions here. Rather than that usual trope, Edelman relies on Guzman to improv a ton of funny lines and dialogue, which we can see in the outtakes during the end credits. Edgar and Luis seem to have a fun time on screen, but Edgar seems a little too soft for the real dramatic moments, and the duo seems a little unbalanced at times. Still, his charming quiet ways are still endearing, while Luiss comedy and brashness garner big laughs in every scene. Taglioni turns in a good performance as well here, crossing between comedy and some more dramatic moments. Its a shame that Dawson and Perez dont have much screen time here, because their characters and scenes were some of the best in the film. I just hope that if a sequel to arise, those two actresses would come along for the journey. Edelmans eye for Paris was beautiful and quaint, giving us the opposite of a tourist view, which was nice to see. Puerto Ricans in Paris is a light-hearted buddy cop comedy with solid performances and enough laughs to warrant a viewing. The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats 'Puerto Ricans in Paris' comes with a 50GB Blu-ray Disc that is Region A Locked from Universal. There is an insert for a digital download code for the movie. The disc is housed in a hard, blue plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. There was nothing untoward and at some point, Sonboly dressed in black and carrying a bright red backpack with a Japanese Pokemon character emblazoned on it wandered in. Ali David Sonboly, who has been identified as the gunman who killed nine people in Munich. Nobody seems to have noticed him and it is unclear if anybody fell for his Facebook trap. It is possible Sonboly would spend the next 90 minutes or so brooding inside the restaurant wondering if anybody would show up. At about 5.45pm, Sonboly went to the toilet and, according to the eyewitness account of an eight-year-old boy, loaded a 9mm Glock pistol. He had at least 300 rounds of ammunition in his backpack. Armed police guard the downtown pedestrian zone in Munich following a rampage shooting in the city. Credit:Getty Images A woman, who gave her name as Loretta, said her son watched Sonboly calmly load the weapon. "I come out of the toilet too and I hear like an alarm - boom, boom, boom. He's killing the children. The children were sitting to eat. They can't run," she said. Loretta also claimed that as he carried out the attack Sonboly shouted: "Allahu Akbar", a cry heard when Islamic State-style terrorist attacks are under way. Nobody else seems to back up the claim and she have misheard it in the confusion. People mourn near the crime scene at OEZ shopping centre the day after a shooting spree left nine victims dead in Munich, Germany. Credit:Getty Images At 5.50pm, police received the first reports of multiple gunmen on the rampage, carrying "long rifles". The reality was a single killer with a handgun. Teens specifically targeted by ethnicity Sonboly would kill nine people, seven of them teenagers, and injure 27. Of the nine dead, three were originally from Kosovo and three from Turkey, reflecting the multi-ethnic area he chose for his shooting spree. Four teenage friends, aged 14 and 15, thought to be on a shopping trip, were among those he executed, possibly inside the McDonald's. A fifth friend is thought to have been seriously wounded. Arbnor Segashi with his sister Armela Segashi, who was shot dead in the Munich attack. Credit:Facebook/Arbnor Segashi Sonboly appears to have targeted victims according to their ethnicity. He had complained he had been bullied at school by gangs of "Turks and Arabs", according to former classmates. From the restaurant, Sonboly burst through its front doors and into Hanauer Street, a busy four-lane highway that separates McDonald's from the Olympia shopping centre. Extraordinary video footage, taken by a passerby, shows the gunman taking aim on the street. Sonboly lifts his handgun, firing in excess of 20 shots at a group of five people. The shots can be heard ringing out in rapid succession. His oldest victim, a mother of two, is thought to have perished there. The video footage, posted on Facebook by Felix Urbauer, is shaky and the camera phone's holder runs for his life. From the restaurant, Sonboly crossed the road and walked through the northern entrance of the shopping centre, according to police. Shoppers and workers dived for cover. A shopworker, hiding in a store cupboard, told a news agency by phone during the attack: "All the people from outside came streaming into the store and I only saw one person on the ground who was so severely injured that he definitely didn't survive." Another shopworker, Lynn Stein, said: "People started running. I went outside. I think I heard more shots. Then it sounded like he went to the car park next to the mall - several shots there. I saw somebody lying on the floor, presumably dead." Police flooded the area close to the Olympic village where in 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists. Convinced they were dealing with an Islamic State-style attack with multiple terrorists, authorities effectively shut down the city. The underground and bus routes were stopped and mainline stations evacuated. Taxi drivers were told by text messages not to pick up passengers. Even passengers at Munich airport were held in limbo. Bullying motive for attack suggested Through it all Sonboly kept going. He walked through the shopping centre, built in 1972, firing all the time before ending up on the centre's rooftop car park at Ries Street. He got into a bizarre shouting match with at least one onlooker in a tower block above him. Video footage captures an exchange between the killer and the onlooker. The dialogue is filled with expletives. It gives an astonishing insight into Sonboly's motives. In the exchange, Sonboly claims he was bullied at school, suggesting his motive for the assault. Heavy equipment operator Thomas Salbey, 57, was the man on his balcony overlooking the car park. "I was drinking a beer after work when I heard the shots, first at McDonald's. Bam bam bam - that's how it sounded," he told Bild newspaper. "At first I thought it was a Kalashnikov he was firing. Then I looked down and saw him running along the glass tunnel "As he reloaded his gun I got my beer bottle and threw it at him. It broke on the glass, but I don't think he heard it." Mr Salbey is first heard screaming at Sonboly: "You f---ing a-----e you..." The gunman responds: "Because of you I was bullied for seven years..." Mr Salbey hurls more verbal abuse and Sonboly screams back: "... and now I have to buy a gun to shoot you." Mr Salbey is appalled. "Your head should be cut off you a--e," he shouts. Another voice accuses Sonboly of being Turkish before the man on the balcony shouts: "F-----g foreigner." The neighbour filming the scene then realises Sonboly has a pistol. "He's got a gun! He has loaded his gun. Get the cops here. He's walking around here." Sonboly seems appalled to be accused of being a foreigner. "I am German," he protests, adding: "I was born here." He then says he was born in a poor area of Germany and tells the onlooker: "Please shut your mouth." By now, hundreds of police were all over the area, many in combat gear. Makeshift emergency clinics were set up at the scene. Survivors were led from the shopping centre, their hands up to show they had no weapons. Police were still convinced there were several terrorists active on the ground. Sonboly walked to a street a little over half a mile away where his body was found some three hours after the initial shootings. It is thought he killed himself. Police reportedly used a robot to check his body for explosives before his identity could be ascertained. The victims His victims were mainly youngsters. Three were aged just 14 and two were only 15 years old. Can Leyla, 14, and his friend Selcuk Kilic, 15, both of Turkish origin - both killed - were enjoying a typical Friday evening out as teenagers do. Postings on Facebook show the close bond between the two boys. He is a "top brother", Can wrote of Selcuk in March. Two other members of their group were also murdered - Sabina Sulaj, 14, and her best friend Armela Segashi, also 14. Both were of Kosovan origin. A fifth member of the group is thought to have been seriously injured. Armela's elder brother, Arbnor Segashi, had asked Facebook friends at midnight on Friday to help him locate his sister, saying she had been at the shopping centre and the family had not heard from her since news of the shooting broke. But at 8am, Arbnor wrote on Facebook in both German and Albanian: "Armela - our beloved daughter, sister, friend and first of all beloved human being - today lost her life in the shooting in Munich. We love you, angel." One friend of Sabina and Can wrote on Facebook in a series of public posts: "Sabi, you were an angel, always you came to me when I felt bad, took me into your arms and made me laugh. I love you, rest in peace my darling???" "Rest in peace, Sabina and Armela," another friend wrote. "You'll always be in our hearts." In a heartbreaking post on Facebook, an eyewitness to their deaths, Dilan Demir, wrote: "I was close to the scene and was hiding with a friend. When it was very quiet we got up and saw five people. They looked dead, one of them was him [Selcuk]. He lay with his head on the table. His two other friends, and two girls, lay on the floor. I later learnt from a friend who was there that one of his friends will survive 90 per cent. I am so sorry this happened and [I'm writing this in case] the police needs a witness statement." Another victim of Albanian descent, Dijamant Zabergja, 21, was the first to be identified yesterday. His father Naim arrived at the scene of the shootings, clutching his son's photograph and was allowed past the police cordon to say his goodbyes close to the spot where Dijamant was mown down. Naim wrote on Facebook: "With deep sadness I must tell relatives, acquaintances and friends that my son Dijamant Zabergja was killed aged 21 at the hands of terrorists in Munich." He told German press agency DPA that Dijamant - which means diamond - met a friend for a drink at the shopping centre. "His friend ran away, but [the shooter] killed my son," said Mr Zabergja. Ridvan Tahiri, the dead man's uncle posted: "Today I learned the painful news for you my nephew, Dijamant Zabergja... Those who spilled your blood will pay dearly, I swear." A seventh victim was named yesterday as Gulliano Kollman, an 18-year-old German. A floral tribute was set up opposite the centre, the word "memories" written at the centre of it. Yesterday afternoon, family and friends of the oldest victim to die - Sevda Dag - lit a candle in her memory. Filmmaker Noor Huda Ismail (left) and student Teuku Akbar Maulana take a selfie using a smartphone in Jakarta. Credit:Rodrigo Ordonez He told Huda a friend was picking him up and they were going to Syria. "He showed me all the Facebook chat," Huda says. The terrorism scholar was stunned. Jihad Selfie tells the story of how a friend of Maulana's tried to lure him to travel to Syria and join Islamic State. Credit:Rodrigo Ordonez "I was like, 'Oh my People keep talking about the possibility of online radicalisation but this is for real. [Akbar] didn't know me, that I have been working on this issue for years. I gave him my cell phone and said you can contact me any time you want, but I was so worried, oh my God, what could I say?" Indonesia has largely managed to keep terrorism in check since the 2002 Bali bombings carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Teuku Akbar Maulana, an Indonesian student in Turkey, is the subject of Jihad Selfie. Credit:Rodrigo Ordonez An effective counter-terrorism unit, established in the wake of the bombings, severely weakened the jihadist movement. However, the conflict in Syria has captured the imagination of a new generation of extremists. "It is difficult to fight the flow of extremist propaganda that can be accessed on the internet," research analyst Jarryd de Haan writes in Future Directions. "IS has effectively used social media in the past to post execution videos, speeches and propaganda lectures, while also directly contacting individuals who have reached out through messaging platforms." Currently about 500 Indonesians have joined IS. Huda never expected to hear from Akbar again. But he called. The friend with whom Akbar was supposed to be going to Syria never showed up. Huda and Akbar met again. "I was confused as a teenager, I thought there was more [to life] than problems with love," Akbar tells Fairfax Media. "I was seeking something bigger than vanity. The IS slogan was live nobly or die a martyr." Akbar told Huda of his desire to be cool. "He said: 'If I carry an AK-47, maybe people will look at me as a brave young man trying to do something'. He was in a position of searching for identity, a very critical moment." Huda understood the seductive pull of terrorist organisations. "When I met [Akbar], oh my God, it was like [seeing] myself," Huda says. "I was small, I was nothing, I wanted to be part of big things." In 1985, Huda's father sent him to an Islamic boarding school in Ngruki near Solo founded by Abu Bakar Bashir, the firebrand Islamic preacher often described as the ideological godfather of Jemaah Islamiyah. At the time Huda was disaffected by life in Indonesia, which he saw as becoming increasingly secular. His mother, who had started to dress more conservatively, was sacked from her job for wearing a jilbab, an Indonesian garment that covers the head and body. In 1984 troops opened fire on a protest in Tanjung Priok, a poor district of North Jakarta, where Muslim clerics had denounced plans to replace Islam with Pancasila, the state ideology. More than 20 people were killed. "I started to have the idea [that] the Indonesian government was doing terrible things to Islamic activists," Huda says. So when Huda was invited by his school to join Darul Islam, a radical group that aimed to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia and only recognised law derived from sharia, he said yes straight away. Huda's roommate, Hasan, also recruited to Darul Islam, won a scholarship to Pakistan. Huda missed out because he was caught dating girls. He later became disillusioned with Darul Islam when it splintered and various offshoots began calling each other apostates. The next time Huda saw Hasan was 15 years later, when he was a correspondent for The Washington Post covering the Bali bombings. Hasan was one of the bombers. "I thought oh my God, oh freak man, I was working for the American, the infidel and then my friend was there [behind bars]. The Bali bombing was the turning point in my life." Since 2002, Huda has devoted his life to trying to unravel why normal people like Hasan, Akbar and himself can become radicalised. It is this theme he attempts to tease out in Jihad Selfie, a documentary starring, among others, Akbar, his family, a former terrorist now working in a cafe, a meatball seller who was lured to join IS in Syria and the family of a boy killed fighting overseas. "Basically what I want to show is that no one is born a terrorist. It is an acquired process. I want to show how normal they are." In one scene that sheds light on the pivotal role of social media, Huda visits Fauzan Anshori, the founder of an Islamic boarding school in Ciamis, West Java, who is a strong supporter of an IS wilayat (or province) in Indonesia. "Social media has been really helpful because we knew about the fall of Mosul [when IS defeated the Iraqi army in June 2014] before mainstream media," Fauzan says. "I don't see a problem with Jews creating Facebook and WhatsApp. Thank God the infidels have created these tools for us to use!" The hardest and most frustrating part of making the documentary was obtaining permission to use the footage Huda had shot. "I want to use the voice of women. This is something we have been ignoring for years, the role of families, the role of women," he says. Huda interviewed the wife of Ahmad Junaedi, a fresh-faced meatball seller from Malang, who was jailed for three years in February for his involvement with IS. "She said living as a single woman was very hard with children running around. I cried myself when I visited his house. It was very powerful." But consent was crucial. "In this patriarchal society even if you get the interview you have to get the permission from the husband." Huda was forced to throw away hours of footage after he was angrily accused of trying to humiliate the women he had interviewed. "I could not use it. Oh my God," he lamented. So much precious material had to be excised. So Huda's heart was in his mouth when Akbar's father asked to see him after he had watched Jihad Selfie. Akbar was the central protagonist his role in the narrative was crucial. "Akbar's father said: 'Mas, can you edit the film so you can't see my son's pimples?' I had to force myself not to laugh." At the risk of spoiling the plot, Akbar returns from Turkey and is reunited with his family in Aceh. The decision not to go to Syria is not an easy one and Jihad Selfie does not shy away from the anguish Akbar goes through. "He could not bear it. He wanted to move to [the] Arab [world]," Akbar's mother Rina says. But his reason for not joining IS is unexpectedly touching. "Because of my parents," Akbar tells Fairfax Media. "The pain of giving birth. Because of the closeness between us. We can still study, there is more beneficial things we can do with our life, instead of dying like a fool." The friends who tried to recruit Akbar via Facebook died fighting in Syria. "They were very bright and smart people. I knew them. They could have changed the world," Akbar says. Huda does not want to be reductive. Radicalism is an extremely complex issue. But if the documentary taught him anything, it is the importance of family. Noor says the boys who died did not have the same close relationship with their parents as did Akbar. "One of the simplest things we can do, especially as parents, is to build healthy and warm relationships with our children." Jihad Selfie will be screened in prisons and universities around Indonesia. Akbar hopes it conveys a message to parents and friends to pay more attention to teenagers who are struggling. Perhaps the outcome of his own life will also send a message. Akbar recently won silver in a badminton competition between Indonesian students in Paris. He has co-written a novel, Boys Beyond the Light, which is loosely based on his experiences. A Nigerian man facing imminent execution in Indonesia tearfully told a court that police electrocuted his genitals to force him to confess to possessing heroin. Michael Titus Igweh is among several prisoners on death row whom lawyers and human rights groups are frantically lobbying to save from the firing squad amid claims they were tortured and their legal cases riddled with corruption, errors and miscarriages of justice. Michael Titus Igweh, who is facing execution in Indonesia within days, tells a court that police electrocuted his genitals to extract a confession. Credit:Andri Donnal Putera "I was constantly beaten, and my genitals electrocuted until I was helpless," the clothes importer, who was sentenced to death in 2003 for possessing 5.8 kilograms of heroin, told the Tangerang District Court in May. "In fact, I was threatened to be shot." Sources have told Fairfax Media the third wave of executions in Indonesia could be held within days. It is understood the Nigerian and Pakistani embassies have now been notified that their nationals are among those to be killed. Budapest: A Donald Trump presidency in the US may be the best outcome for Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban suggested, going further than any leader in the European Union to back the Republican nominee. Orban, a maverick leader who has built a barrier on Hungary's borders to keep migrants out, hailed Trump's ideas to fight terrorism. Europe was "living in fear" after attacks in Nice, France, and in Munich, and had lost its way trying to cope with its biggest migrant wave since World War II, Orban told an ethnic Hungarian audience in Baile Tusnad, Romania on Saturday. "I'm not a member of Donald Trump's campaign," said Orban, who has clashed with Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, over the state of democracy in the eastern European nation. "I'd never have thought that it would occur to me the idea that he would be the best choice for Europe and for Hungary." Orban spoke after Trump roiled Europeans this week by saying that he may not defend from Russian military aggression those NATO members that don't spend the required 2 per cent of gross domestic product on defence. One of the countries not making the required spending is Hungary, an EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization member that was a satellite of the Soviet Union for more than four decades until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Orban didn't address the issue on Saturday. Was there a murder 100 years ago at Yardley's Continental Tavern? Frank Lyons began excavating the basement of the Continental Tavern in Yardley. He found a gun, bloody corset and part of a woman's purse. In the year since Berke Breathed came out of retirement to cover the 2016 election cycles with Opus, Bill, Milo and the gang, he's amassed enough material to fill a new 144-page collection: Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope, which comes out in September. Breathed frequently lampooned Trump in the 1980s, seeing him as a symbol of an America in decline, the "reverse canary in America's gilded gold mine" (this analysis accords with Piketty's view that the era represents the moment at which capital accumulation by the super-rich reached its tipping point who were able to assert themselves politically to refashion the world as a place where the rich would get much, much richer, at everyone else's expense). In an address at San Diego Comic-Con, Breathed explained how the publication of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman reminded him of the way that the small town in Mockingbird had inspired Bloom County, and of the plaintive note that Lee had sent him when he announced his retirement: "This is a plea from a dotty old lady, and from others not dotty at all. Please don't shut down Opus. Can't you at least give him a reprieve?" If you can't wait until September to get the new collection as a $12 paperback you can pre-order the limited, signed hardcover that will ship a few weeks before in August. Breathed said he was further spurred on to return to Bloom County by the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, a frequent target of the strip in the late '80sthough Breathed noted that he'd been inspired less by Trump himself, and more by the changes in America's political and cultural climates he feels Trump represents. "He is the reverse canary in America's gilded gold mine: When Donald Trump gets up from the dead and starts singing, you know you've reached toxic air," Breathed told the crowd. "He signifies something that I didn't want to be left out of we are on the cusp of a sea change, and we're all gonna synthesizing and filtering and making it somehow make sense to us." (Still, don't look for too many more Trump jokes in the weeks and months to follow: "I think he'll be gone fairly soon. He'll be gone within a week or two of getting into the White House, because he has no interest in working that hard.") Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope [Paperpack/Preorder] Bloom County Episode XI: A New Hope [Hardcover/Preorder] How Harper Lee (and Donald Trump) Brought Back Bloom County [Brian Raferty/Wired] What you need to know to sign up for NJ Obamacare this year Bengaluru-based education technology (edutech) firm Byjus says it is in advanced stages of talks to raise $50 million (about Rs 336 crore) in funding, which will help it expand into the US, the UK and other countries over the next few months. The June quarter numbers of consumer goods majors (HUL) and ITC presented an interesting picture. While ITC showed some signs of recovery in its core cigarettes and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business, HUL grappled with a slowdown across most categories, barring home care. The June quarter numbers of consumer goods majors Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and ITC presented an interesting picture. While ITC showed some signs of recovery in its core cigarettes and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business, grappled with a slowdown across most categories, barring home care. India has seen about 35 new smartphone factories in the past two years, with a production capacity of about 18 million devices a month, since the central government had announced a tax rationalisation for electronics products to boost local electronics manufacturing. At least a fourth of the Rs 4,700-crore net debt of Tata-owned Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is expected to be wiped out, following consecutive asset sales by the company. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) might loan $1 billion to the 793-km Mumbai-Nagpur communication super expressway project, which entails a total investment of Rs 31,500 crore. A high-level ADB team visiting Mumbai from Monday will hold talks with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nodal agency for the proposed project. The expressway is expected to reduce the travelling time between the two cities to eight hours from 16 hours at present. It has been over 57 hours, still the fate of onboard 29 passengers, including six crew members of the Indian Air Force (IAF's) Aircraft AN-32, is not known. The aircraft is missing since Friday morning. Massive search operations continued over Bay of Bengal and the Defence Minister personally saw the operations from Chennai after taking an aerial review. A total of 18 ships and 16 aircraft from Indian Coast guard, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force have been on the search operations and additional assets have been mobilised to bolster the search efforts, said an update from Maritime Search and Rescue Secretariat. A thorough search operation has been mounted by ships from the mainland, while the aircraft are undertaking search covering a much larger area in the surroundings. In addition, ships and aircrafts from Andaman & Nicobar region are carrying out search in areas along the flight track from Chennai to Port Blair. News / Local by Ndou Paul The state media on Sunday accused #ThisFlag movement by the citizens of Zimbabwe of plotting to instigate civil disturbances in rural areas.This comes as state media continues its smear campaign against Pastor Evan Mawarire and its insinuations that the west is involved in plotting President Robert Mugabe's downfall.According to Sunday Mail, which still claims #ThisFlag is being sponsored by the west, the campaign is now "targeting rural folk who largely support Zanu-PF."Despite it being common knowledge that #ThisFlag campaign was started by Mawarire, state media claims that "United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Harry Thomas and his outgoing French sidekick, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, have since been identified as the engineers of the violence targeted at destabilising the country and effecting regime change but dressed up as 'pro-democracy' activism."The state controlled publication also claims that the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, is also involved and allegedly held "night meetings" with "civil society representatives in Kariba last week."It also reports that "group was mobilising funds to provide 3G network coverage to rural communities and then purchase and distribute hi-tech cellphones to transmit anti-Government messages in those areas."The government appears to be very worried about the potential for rural folk accessing that same kind of information currently being enjoyed by those in the urban areasZanu-PF is used to being the dominant source of information in the rural areas. The government has decided to set up a special court to hear all cases related to the National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) on a priority basis. It has also asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to expedite action to recover Rs 3,721 crore from defaulters, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to complete the probe on brokers at the earliest. The Indian Navy, which has pressed a flotilla of vessels, including a submarine, to locate a missing an transport aircraft, on Sunday, said it has sought the satellite imagery of the area from ISRO. Until Sunday, there was no trace of any debris or signal from the AN-32 transporter which went off the radar on Friday morning over the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast, barely half an hour after take-off with 29 people on board. A large number of ships, helicopters and aircraft are all contributing to the search efforts and the efforts are increasing," Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral HCS Bisht said on Sunday. We are also seeking ISRO's help to get satellite imagery of that area so that we have at least some information... but parallelly we are also reaching out to families," Bisht said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, after reviewing the search and rescue operations on Saturday, had asked the commanding officers to keep in touch with families of those on board the missing aircraft. Bisht said the search has been made difficult by the monsoon weather conditions over the sea. "The only challenge we are facing is of monsoon condition, rough seas; another challenge is depth which is around 3,500 meters and at some points even more than that," he said. The cloud base is low and it is raining continuously in the area, he said. The search continues despite odds and 12 ships are deployed at the time, Bisht said. "We are continuously searching the area. As of now we have 12 ships, and we will be increasing the assets. We are also doing regular aerial surveillance. The aim is to harness as many resources as possible," he said. A submarine is also deployed in the area. It will dive on getting some lead, said Bisht. The aircraft, an upgraded AN-32 belonging to 33 Squadron, took off from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai at 8.30 a.m., and was expected to land at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.30 a.m., officials said, describing it as a "routine sortie". The recorded transcript of Chennai air traffic radar showed last pickup of the aircraft was 151 nautical miles east of Chennai, when the aircraft was observed to have carried out a left turn with rapid loss of height from 23,000 feet. The AN-32 is a twin engine turboprop, medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin. It can carry a maximum load of around 6.7 tonnes or 39 paratroopers. Its maximum cruise speed is 530 kmph. With a constable and a civilian succumbing to injuries on Sunday, deaths in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir climbed to 47. Curfew remained in force in five districts of the Valley and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure. An uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day on Sunday even as security agencies braced for a march called by separatists on Monday. "Curfew is in force in five South Kashmir districts Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at Pakistan for instigating youths in Kashmir to take up arms, saying it has to change its policy, and asked the Centre to revoke the AFSPA on trial basis from selected areas, as a beginning towards "winning the hearts" of people. "Today when a Kashmiri child takes up gun, they (Pakistan) call him leader and say he is doing good, but when their own children, some from madrassas etc take up gun, they attack them with drones and hang them in military courts. While curfew has already been lifted from four districts - Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal, restrictions continue in these areas on the assembly of four or more persons, he said, adding the situation across the Valley is peaceful so far. Constable Mudasir Ahmad and a civilian, Sameer Ahmad Wani, who were injured in clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, succumbed today. Mudasir is the second policeman to die in the violent clashes. On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six personnel including Mudasir. Sameer Ahmad Wani, a resident of Khonmoh area of Pampore in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, was injured during the violent clashes on July 10. He died during treatment at SKIMS Soura, a police official said. Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Separatists have been spearheading the agitation and called for a march to Anantnag town tomorrow. The security grid has geared itself to ensure that the march does not take place, the police official said. He said police and CRPF personnel, who have already been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots across the Valley, have been directed to strictly implement the curfew and restriction. Over 5,000 civilians and security personnel have been injured in the violent clashes between protesters and security forces following Wani's killing. Developments both inside and outside Parliament have again cast a shadow on the prospects of the goods and services tax (GST) constitutional amendment Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh concluded his 2 day visit to Srinagar today and during the visit about 30 delegates including 8 from different political parties met the Home Minister. . . Shri Rajnath Singh also discussed the situation with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri N N Vohra and the States Council of Ministers during the visit. He also met senior government officials and security agencies. . . Shri Rajnath Singh also visited Anantnag today and met civil society delegations. This wide ranging consultations has given the Union Home Minister an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and the views of a cross section of society. . . KSD/YSK/JS The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has condemned the terror attack in Kabul. In a message, he said that there can be no justification for such barbaric and reprehensible act and the perpetrators need to be brought to justice by concerted international action. . . Following is the text of Vice Presidents message: . . I am shocked by the terrorist attack against defenceless and innocent civilians in Kabul, Afghanistan. . . There can be no justification for such barbaric and reprehensible act. The perpetrators need to be brought to justice by concerted international action. . . We stand with the people and Government of Afghanistan in their moment of grief and pray for the bereaved families and early recovery of the injured." . . Project Foghorn is one of those straight-from-science-fiction concepts we've come to expect from Alphabet, the sprawling conglomerate formerly known as Google. The idea, hatched by the company's X research lab, was to use seawater and chemistry to create fuel that could be refined into gasoline. This gas would be just like the gas we fill our cars with today - except that unlike today's gas, it would not add to global warming because it would recycle carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. The in Manhattan is known for its grand public spaces, such as its two-tiered ballroom and vast lobby. But upstairs, in a windowless corner of the hotel's administrative offices, Deidre Dinnigan toils in a cramped room not much larger than a closet. Ms. Dinnigan, the hotel's archivist, is responsible for cataloging and researching more than 4,000 objects, from filigreed brass room numbers to yellowing advertisements from the 1950s. Government-owned companies have their issues but stocks of public sector undertakings (PSUs) are likely to be the next hunting ground for bulls and bargain hunters on Dalal Street. News / Local by Brian Chitemba MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe's tenure in the post could end soon amid indications party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is side lining her because she organised demonstrations and meetings without his blessings.Khupe's #beatthepot demonstration a fortnight ago in Bulawayo, and another meeting in Mutare, were organised without Tsvangirai's consent as the opposition leader underwent cancer treatment in South Africa.Believing his deputy was staking a claim to the MDC-T presidency, Tsvangirai unilaterally appointed Messrs Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as party VPs.A party insider told The Sunday Mail, "Khupe has seriously fallen out of favour with Tsvangirai and her future in the party is bleak. The problem is she has been doing her own things as if she is the leader of the party. For now, she is surviving on the basis that the party wants to protect its Matabeleland vote."An MDC-T official said Khupe's rise to party VP had been hotly contested as the grassroots preferred Gertrude Mthombeni, who is now late, to her.MDC-T insiders also suspect that a lawsuit against Tsvangirai over his appointment of Messrs Chamisa and Mudzuri could have been sponsored by the Khupe faction.The opposition is sharply divided as one faction is rallying behind Khupe along side the likes of Douglas Mwonzora (secretary-general), Obert Gutu (spokesperson) and Abedinico Bhebhe (organising secretary).Chamisa is said to be backed by party deputy secretary-general Dr Tapiwa Mashakada, deputy chair Morgan Komichi, Bulawayo East MP Thabitha Khumalo, deputy treasurer Charlton Hwende and deputy organising secretary Amos Chibaya.MDC-T spokesman Gutu said; "The MDC-T is a united party. We have absolutely no factions in our party In the MDC-T, we are one very big, happy and united family under the able and charismatic leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai."However, a source said: "Khupe and her followers are just a disgruntled lot who feel Chamisa was not supposed to have been elevated. There is fear that Chamisa is likely to take over from Tsvangirai who is facing ill-health. Khupe is not popular and hence she doesn't stand a chance to succeed Tsvangirai."Indications are that the two new MDC-T deputy leaders have already drawn battle lines as they race to succeed Tsvangirai, who returned to South Africa for treatment soon after announcing their appointments."Chamisa commands more support than Mudzuri in terms of grassroots . . . Mudzuri has more maturity and experience though. They are not in good books because they have competing interests," said an official. A Pakistani man shot dead his niece along with her alleged lover in the name of honour, in Kandhkot town of Sindh. The police officials said, a suspect named Hakim Ali killed his niece Rasheeda Chachar, 22, and her alleged lover Hafiz Ismail near the village mosque and fled, taking the girl's body with him, reports the Dawn. The girl's body was later found from nearby Babu Chachar village but the suspect is still on the run. The officials said that an inquiry has been ordered in the case, however, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. The killing comes a week after popular social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was killed by his brother, in Multan for 'honour', prompting widespread criticism of so-called honour killings. Women rights activist and politicians called for renewed efforts to curb this menace. Two days ago, a committee comprising lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses of the parliament unanimously approved two bills aimed at tackling honour killings and boosting rape convictions. Under the new law, the family of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer of capital punishment, but they would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years. Asserting that they took action against Dayashankar Singh for using foul language against Mayawati, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday questioned the BSP supremo as to why had she not done the same against her party members, who were using equally objectionable language towards the expelled party leader's wife and daughter. Speaking to ANI here, BJP leader Nalin Kohli stated that when Dayashankar used inappropriate language for Mayawati, their senior most leaders, including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, immediately expressed regret. "Immediately action was taken and he was expelled from the party. But what action has Mayawati taken against her senior leaders. Those who have used inappropriate language against Mr. Dayashankar's wife, his children including in terms of veiled threats. Shouldn't action be taken? That is the real issue. The rest of it is only political positioning," Kohli added. Meanwhile, Dayashankar Singh remains missing as the police search across Uttar Pradesh for the 44-year-old politician continues. Dayashankar's wife Swati Singh filed a police complaint against Mayawati, alleging that she and her 12-year-old daughter are being abused and threatened by the BSP. "They (BSP) have lodged an FIR against my husband for what he has said. But now they have gone beyond every limit and openly demanding that my daughter and myself should be produced before them", said Swati. The Uttar Pradesh Police earlier on Thursday conducted raids at many places to trace Dayashankar, who is absconding since the BSP workers lodged an FIR against him. "I have lodged an FIR, but there has been no probe on this matter. I want the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act to be imposed against Mayawati ji and Naseemuddin Siddiqui. A law was formed in the Parliament that if anyone stares at a girl even for ten seconds, then that will be categorized as rape. Doesn't this come under the category of rape as my minor daughter has been unnecessarily dragged into the matter?" Swati told ANI. Commenting on the charges that the BSP leaders raised slogans asking the expelled BJP leader to "present his daughter and sister", Siddiqui said that his party workers "only wanted to "ask them if they agreed with the derogatory remarks made by him against Mayawati. The Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India announced approval of the revised and final terms for the merger. "The Boards of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India have approved revised and final terms for the Transaction, taking into account prevailing market conditions and having regard to underlying commercial factors," a company release stated. Pursuant to the revised and final terms, each Cairn India minority shareholder will receive for each equity share held, one equity share in Vedanta and four redeemable preference shares with a face value of Rs. 10 in Vedanta. This translates to implied premium of 20 percent to one month volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of Cairn India share price. The merger plans were stalled after the income-tax department froze Cairn Energy's 9.5 percent stake in Cairn India. In 2011, Cairn Energy sold 58.5 percent of Cairn India to Vedanta, for USD 8.67 billion. However, Vedanta holds 59.88 percent in Cairn India and LIC owns 9.06 percent in Cairn India with 3.9 percent stake in Vedanta. The Congress on Sunday welcomed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's criticism of Pakistan for interfering with India's internal matters and trying to 'destabilise the situation in the Kashmir Valley and expressed confidence that New Delhi would very soon take back the part of Kashmir illegally occupied by Islamabad. Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said that no power in the world can siphon Kashmir from India as it is an integral part of the country. "We welcome this statement of Sushma ji because Jammu and Kashmir is and will be a part of India. Nobody can siphon Kashmir from us and the illegally occupied parts of Kashmir by Pakistan will not be under Pakistan's control I am very confident of that. And Pakistan should be constantly made aware of this," said Dikshit. Dikshit further said that India must at this point of time also talk with China with regard to Aksai Chin. "There is a significant part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir known as Aksai Chin that has been given over to China and why has the Prime Minister forgotten to name that part I really wonder. We must also tell china that illegally occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir, which is in their hand, is also an integral part of India and we shall always endeavour to take it back and one day we shall," said Dikshit. Hitting back at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Swaraj yesterday said the entire Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. "You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists," she said, while lambasting the Pakistani leaders for giving very irresponsible statements about Jammu and Kashmir. "Sadly, it's not Pakistan's good wishes or moral or diplomatic support, but its weapons and terrorism that it has exported to Jammu and Kashmir," she added. The Pakistan Prime Minister had earlier called Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a martyr and accused India of human rights violations in the valley. After alleging Gujarat government's collusion in the Dalit thrashing incident, Delhi Chief Minister on Sunday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's prolonged silence on the matter proved the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) active support. "PM Modi's continued silence on dalit attacks proves that these attacks are taking place with active support from top BJP leadership," Kejriwal tweeted. Earlier, Kejriwal had targeted the BJP after meeting the victims in Rajkot civil hospital and visiting Mota Samadhiyala village in Una to meet their family members who were beaten up brutally for skinning a dead cow, which had triggered a national uproar. "Those culprits must be punished in such a manner that it should shake their hearts. An example must be set here. They were thrashed in full public. If such incident is happening in the presence of administration then it means that those culprits were backed from higher powers. It hints that the government was involved," Kejriwal said. Prior to his visit, Kejriwal said an atmosphere of "oppression" prevailed across the state and that people of all communities were threatened. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had informed Lok Sabha that nine people accused in the case had been detained. The authorities have charged two eight-year-old girls in Thailand for tearing down voter lists for the upcoming referendum in the country, where ruling junta is trying its best to hold onto power. The eight-year-olds confessed of tearing down voter lists outside a school in northern Thailand because they liked the paper's pink colour. The police commander of northern Kamphaeng Phet province, Damrong Phetpong, said they have been charged with "obstructing the referendum process, destroying official documents and destroying common public property," reports the Guardian. He added they will not face jail time as the Thai law exempts anyone under the age of 10 from criminal punishment, adding that police were still duty-bound to file the charges. The ruling military junta is determined to see its draft Constitution passed in the referendum on August 7 and has outlawed critical discussion of the document with a 10-year prison sentence. Any kind of campaigning is also banned and the authorities have warned scores of people for handing out critical leaflets or wearing Vote No t-shirts. The junta, which took power from an elected government in May 2014, says its draft constitution will ensure stability in the country rocked by political turmoil. However, critics say that the charter would give power to the military over elected governments. A Dhaka court on Sunday asked Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on August 10 in connection with the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case. Judge Hosne Ara Begum of the Special Judge's Court-2 passed the order after former prime minister Zia's lawyer Taherul Islam Towhid submitted a petition seeking an adjournment of the case hearing, reports the Daily Star. In the petition, Towhid said that Zia, who was asked to appear before the court today could not come due to security grounds. Five other accused, including BNP leaders Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and AKM Mosharraf Hossain, were present in the court during the hearing. The court had earlier on June 12 asked Zia and ten other accused to appear before it today. The High Court had on May 25 directed the trial court to proceed with the corruption case and vacated its 2008 stay order on the case proceedings. On September 17 last year, the High Court rejected a writ petition filed by the Zia in 2008 challenging the legality of trial proceedings in the case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) earlier that year. The Anti Corruption Commission accuses Zia and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crores to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company between June 2003 and June 2005. In 2008, the ACC pressed charges against Zia and 14 others in the case. Afghanistan is observing a day of national mourning following the suicide bombing of a protest march in the capital, Kabul, that killed 80 people and wounded more than 200 people. Officials said, two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts at a large gathering of demonstrators of the local Shia Hazara Minority in Deh Mazang square on Saturday. According to CNN, the demonstrators were marching to demand changes to the route of a planned power line. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a televised address, President Ashraf Ghani vowed to take revenge against those responsible. The UN mission in Afghanistan has described the attack as a war crime. Tadamichi Yamamoto, head of the UN assistance mission, said the attackers had specifically targeted a large number of civilians. On Saturday, Afghan President had said he was deeply saddened over the incident. He said, peaceful protest is the right of every citizen, but opportunist terrorists infiltrated the crowds and carried out the attack, killing and injuring a number of citizens including some security forces. (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.) The Indian Army today paid tributes to Naik Anup Kumar Thapa, who was killed while foiling an infiltration bid by terrorists in the Keran Sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district yesterday. In a ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, Lieutenant General Satish Dua, the Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks of Chinar Corps paid homage to the patriot. Thapa was part of his unit's Specialist Operational Team that intercepted a group of terrorists which was attempting to infiltrate the line of control. "In the ensuing exchange of fire, Nk Anup sustained a gunshot wound but unmindful of his injuries, he continued to engage the terrorists till they fled back," the statement by the Army said. "He was given first aid at the encounter site itself and thereafter evacuated but unfortunately, the braveheart succumbed to his injuries," the statement added. The 41-year-old soldier had joined the Army at the age of 19 years and had a lot of experience in counter terrorist operations. He is survived by his wife Nutan Thapa and two children, aged 10 and three years. His mortal remains would be taken to his native village Dattakali Mandir in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Legendary painter and Padma Vibhushan recipient Syed Haider Raza alias S.H Raza passed away in New Delhi on Saturday after prolonged illness. He was 94. SH Raza popularised globally the Indian concepts and iconography and built a towering legacy of modern art. The acclaimed painter depicted concepts like 'bindu', 'purush-prakriti' and 'nari' in his instantly recognisable abstract works. His mortal remains will be flown from New Delhi to Mandala in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, where his last rites will be conducted according to his wishes. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013. He was conferred in 2015 the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur, the highest French honour for his artistic contributions. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the passing away of veteran artist. In a tweet, President Mukherjee said India has lost a highly creative and acclaimed artist. Prime Minister Modi condoled the demise of legendary painter S H Raza, saying his contribution to art will always be remembered. He said he is saddened by the demise of Raza whose contribution to art will always be remembered. News / National by Stephen Jakes A political analyst Vince Musewe has predicted that citizens will see a new Zimbabwe very soon considering the unfolding political dynamics in the ruling Zanu PF and the impatience displayed by the citizens who are now confronting the system now and then.Musewe said there is no doubt in my mind we shall see a new Zimbabwe sooner than we think."The system created by Zanu PF has atrophied and in its place must be a new beginning a new paradigm underpinned by our dignity as citizens and our right to pursue our ambition in a land free from tyranny," he said."If anything, its now time to pull together. Its enough with (President Robert) Mugabe. Tajamuka." The New Zealand Police who are sweeping through the Queenstown Airport in New Zealand have said they have found no sign of any explosives so far, after a note mentioning a bomb was found on board. The airport was evacuated on Sunday morning after a cleaner found the message on the Qantas flight just before 3pm. No passengers were on board at the time, reports the nzherald.co.nz Teams are, however, continuing the search operation. A passenger said, "(They) have been slowly moving us back, my guess is because of protocol but there are fire trucks on the Tarmac pointed at the plane. The mood is muted. A person was killed and four others injured after a car overturned on Mumbai's Eastern Express Highway in the wee hours of Sunday. The accident took place around 2:00 a.m. when a speeding Mahindra XUV car, carrying five people including three girls and two boys, overturned near Priyadarshani bus stop. As per reports, the driver of the car died on the spot while others sustained minor injuries. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. A key suspect in the murder of famous Pakistan qawwali maestro Amjad Sabri, who was shot-dead last month, has been arrested. However, the police officials have refused to confirm any arrest, reports the Dawn. Reportedly, Imran Siddiqui, a worker of a political party and an employee of District Municipal Corporation, was arrested during a raid in Surjani Town. Siddiqui confessed to the killing and revealed the names of his companions. According to reports, he received orders to kill Sabri, via phone. Sabri was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne gunmen, a kilometre away from his home in the Liaquatabad neighbourhood of Karachi. District Central SSP Arib Maher and Counter Terrorism Department SSP Naveed Khawaja who are investigating the high-profile murder did not confirm the arrest and said that there is no major development as of now. Parminder Singh Brar has been appointed the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Currently, he is holding the position of President, IT Wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) besides being secretary general and office in-charge of Youth Akali Dal (YAD). He is also member of YAD core committee. Parminder proved to be an asset to SAD for his services towards the welfare of party. "Shiromani Akali Dal bestows confidence that additional charge would help him further enhance his capability in supporting the party," the party said in a statement. The Youth Akali Dal is the youth wing of Shiromani Akali Dal and it believes in a "secular and democratic outlook and continuously working towards the upliftment of weaker sections of society." SAD chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had formed a Youth Akali Dal core committee after consultation with coordinator and Cabinet Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. In a stern note to militant groups responsible for suicide bombings across the country and Saturday's twin suicide bombings at a protest march in Kabul, that killed 80 people and wounded over 200, President Ashraf Ghani said that he will avenge on those responsible for killing its citizens. As Afghanistan observes a day of national mourning following the suicide bombing attack at Dehmazang Circle in Kabul city, Ghani yesterday addressed the nation condemning the attack that also claimed the life of at least one journalist. "I will get revenge on those who shed the blood of our citizens ..Our enemies, by attacking civil liberties, think that they can divide us. But they will fail," Tolo News quoted him as saying Ghani said that directed a special commission and the attorney general to investigate the incident and find those responsible. The Ministry of Interior last night confirmed the death toll had risen to 80 and that over 230 people were wounded. United Nations Assisted Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also spoke out against the attack saying, the act "targeted a peaceful demonstration, causing horrendous levels of civilian harm." The United States Embassy in Kabul also condemned the attack. The commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan joined hands echoing similar sentiments. While the Taliban group spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the group has no link with the explosions in Kabul city, the Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack later. The incident took place yesterday afternoon as thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Dehmazang Circle in the capital to protest against government's planned routing of the 500kV power line project. Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, who is gearing up for release of his upcoming suspense thriller 'Fever', has opened up about the intimate scenes in the movie. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Khandelwal, 40, said "Yes, the film definitely has intimate moments but this is the part of our life. We have sexuality in our life and the film director has been very very honest in terms of story- telling. He had a particular style, the film is flamboyant and the film is pretty original to our real life. The treatment is very true." "We are not trying to sell the film on the intimate scenes. There are intimate moments in the film's trailer because that is part of the film. This is how the story is being told. The movie is very thrill and exciting with lot of x factors in it, he added. When asked about USP of the film, the 'Aamir' actor threw light on the movie's suspense and the fact that people would not be able to guess the end. Directed by Rajeev Jhaveri, 'Fever' would narrate the story of a contract killer, played by Rajeev, who loses his memory in an accident and his struggle to regain his identity. The film, which also stars model Gauhar Khan, American actress Gemma Atkinson and 'Casino Royale' actress Caterina Murino in pivotal roles, is slated to hit theatres on August 5. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reviewed the ongoing search operations to locate the missing Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32 as search operations so far have remianed unfruitful. He visited INS Rajali, the Naval Air Station at Arakkonam on Saturday and was briefed on the search operations undertaken. The Minister directed that if need arises more resources will be diverted for the search and rescue operations. He was apprised of the difficult condition under which the operations are being undertaken due to thick monsoon clouds in the area making the search effort quite challenging. Parrikar has directed that the operations be continued till further orders and called on all commanders to be in touch with the families of the missing service personnel. Indian Navy PRO D K Sharma told ANI that so far, 13 types of ships have been deployed, including six coast guard's warships, five UH 3H helicopters and two Coast Guard Donniers in between Chennai's Tambram Port to Port Blair. "Nothing is being discounted; we have started a multi-pronged kind of a search. We are covering every bit, we are going to start a systematic and scientific search, we will also place our ships to different areas sooner," he said. IAF PRO Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee ruled out possibility of the aircraft developing a technical snag. "Every plane is bound to have any technical problems. We have a book called Form 700, it is a technical document, whereby we record each and every technical snag we encounter in the plane. We have a technical staff who asses the complainants written in the form and redress the problems accordingly, when they are fully satisfied that a particular aircraft is air worthy then only it is airborne," he said. He added that it would be premature to reach any conclusion. AN-32 military aircraft went missing on Friday while flying from Chennai to Port Blair with 29 people on board. Meanwhile, the Defence authorities have already informed of the incident to the families of the 6 crew members and the 23 other personnel. A submarine was also rushed to the probable area. The signals of the locator beacon of the aircraft hold the key to the search operation. Solar-powered airplane, Solar Impulse 2, took off from Cairo early Sunday for its final leg of global tour. It is for the first time in history that an aircraft of its kind has achieved a round-the- flight using no fuel. The plane is en-route to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where its epic journey originated over a year ago, reports the CNN. It's piloted by Bertrand Piccard, one of two pilots who have alternated on the journey's 17 legs around the globe. By the time he touches down in the Emirates, he and pilot Andre Borschberg will have traveled a total of 35,000 km (21,748 miles). The lightweight aircraft, which only weighs as much as an SUV but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747, runs on solar energy. The plane had earlier secured a place in the record books by being the first plane to cross the Atlantic from New York's JFK airport to Seville in Spain. It also set the record for the longest solo flight, five days and five nights, without fuel from Nagoya in Japan to Hawaii. The Solar Impulse 2 project is the brainchild of Piccard and Borschberg, a Swiss engineer and businessman. The aircraft is a single-seater and so the two men have shared the flying by taking different legs of the journey. With a motive to curb the spread of HIV and put a ban on LGBT sex, the Tanzanian government has banned the import and sale of sexual lubricants According to a report in The Independent, Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister was spotted saying, "It is true that the government has banned the importation and use of the jelly to curb the spread of HIV." He said that the availability of lubricants in the market is supposedly increasing homosexuality, which is a punishable offence in the east African country, if one is found indulging in it he will be sentenced to life imprisonment. Although the law isn't enforced as strictly as in some other parts of east Africa, activists fear the situation is getting worse. The crackdown on gayism in the port city of Dar es Salaam caught speed after the appointment of new regional commissioner Paul Makonda. He not only announced immediate action but also arrested several gay men from club. Some LGBT people who had been open about their sexuality on the internet stopped posting after Makonda threatened that police would arrest those who follow them on social media. The Minister also cited that 23% men who have sex with men in Tanzania have HIV and it is a major reason which led to ban on lubricant. Three key commanders of the Taliban group have been arrested during a joint clearance operation in Afghanistan's northern Samangan province. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) in a statement yesterday, said the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and National Directorate of Security (NDS) launched a joint operation to clear armed Talibans from Dara-e-Sof district. "As a result of this joint operation, three armed Taliban key commanders were arrested named Khairullah, Abdul Haq and Bakhtiyar," Khaama Press quoted the statement as saying. The statement added that the commanders were involved in many terrorist activities in the district and other areas of Samangan province. Following the arrest, the Ministry of Interior said this move will have a positive impact over the security situation in Dara-e-Sof district. So far, the anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report. News / National by Debra Matabvu Government is drawing up a modern urban mass transport system worth millions of dollars with expertise and funding from the World Bank.The coming dispensation eliminates commuter omnibuses, replacing them with high-volume vehicles and new road and, possibly, rail infrastructure.The system will likely take after Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa where the World Bank has helped de-congest urban roads.Government officials will visit Tanzania and Ethiopia soon to assess their models. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's capital, has thirty-nine 150-seater buses and 101 others with 80-passenger capacities courtesy of World Bank support worth US$180 million. The city serves 300 000 commuters daily.Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Engineer George Mlilo, told The Sunday Mail that high-volume buses would link central business districts to intra-city locations, while kombis would be restricted to inter-suburb routes until their decommissioning."A delegation leaves for Tanzania and Ethiopia (in early August 2016) to assess mass transport systems set up by the World Bank there. We will identify a suitable model and then engage the financier."Government is committed to resuscitating the reliable and affordable public transport system of the 1990s, and is, therefore, working to actualise this project. There are challenges with commuter omnibus crews that hike fares and switch routes willy nilly," he said.The ministry's director of physical planning, Mrs Ethel Mlalazi, added: "Government has already engaged different players such as local authorities over the matter, and we have, through Zim-Asset, identified the system as a long-term initiative."The coming on board of institutions such as the World Bank will help accelerate the process as it has been on the cards for quite some time now." University of Zimbabwe urban planning lecturer Mr Smart Dumba said it was important to get the system right as doing things wrong could literally be fatal."We are talking of moving large numbers of people at the same time. As such, technical feasibility studies provided by the World Bank will help determine feasibility before funds are poured into the project. Proper planning is required before investment in the project can be made. This will ensure the initiative does not fall into the same trap as Zupco."Traffic congestion in Zimbabwe's major cities, especially Harare, has caused headaches to residents and authorities. The problem has been directly linked to expanding vehicle numbers, including commuter omnibuses that became the main mode of mass transport after the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company failed to cope with volumes in the 1990s.Over 4 500 individuals are registered as kombi owners, according to the City of Harare Department of Urban Planning. However, it is understood that another 6 000 kombis operate illegally in Harare. It is estimated that over one million people use urban public transport across Zimbabwe daily. Asserting that the Centre needs to re-establish faith and trust with the people of the Kashmir Valley, the Congress Party today set three issues before the government that needs to be fixed with utmost priority to find a solution to the tense situation in the state. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said it is the Centre's direct responsibility to fix the situation as they are also part of the state government in Jammu and Kashmir. "We have raised three issues. First is the usage of pellet guns on civilians. Those weapons are not used in any civilised society across the globe. So many people have been injured in the Valley and even more have lost their eyesight. We have demanded a complete ban on them," Azad told ANI. "The second issue is compensation for the kin of the dead and also for the injured people. Confidence building is important right now as the faith of the people in the government has been shattered," he added. Talking about the third point of concern, the Congress leader stated the Centre needs to tackle the problem of unemployment, which at time is the root of many problems in the valley. When asked about the Congress' move to boycott the all-party meet convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in wake of the unrest in the Kashmir Valley, Azad said, "Six out of 10 districts are still under curfew. In such a situation, the Prime Minister or the Home Minister should have convened a meeting in Delhi where a proper discussion would have been held with the all leaders." Asserting that Kashmir is in agony and mourning with around 50 people dead and over 3,000 others injured, the Congress leader said this is the first time since independence that a state has faced curfew for this long span of time. Meanwhile, Rajnath, who is on a two-day visit in the Valley, met top PDP, Conference and BJP leaders. He also interacted with the civil society members in an effort to find a way to the latest round of violence in Kashmir. Rajnath landed in Srinagar at around noon on Saturday, accompanied by a team of senior Home Ministry officials and the DGs of central paramilitary forces. He met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti late on Saturday. Life continued to move at a sluggish pace as curfew and restrictions remained in force across several parts of Kashmir for the 16th consecutive day in view of continuous shutdown call by the separatists and prevailing law and order situation. Besides curfew in other districts in valley, the restrictions under Section 144 have been lifted in four districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, Budgam and Ganderbal. Chinese mobile phone maker Zopo announced its plans to set up manufacturing plant in India by the end of this year with an initial investment of about Rs. 100 crore as it is aiming to produce two lakh handsets per month. Advantage Computers (ADCOM), which manages Zopo's India business said, "Zopo has identified place in Noida for setting up its manufacturing unit with production capacity of 2 lakh units per month. The company has plans to invest Rs. 100 crore to start this plant by end of this year." "In India Zopo is looking to sell 1 lakh units per month. The plant will cater demand for Zopo phones in South Asian market which include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan (via Dubai), Nepal etc," said Managing Director Sanjeev Bhatia. Earlier this week, Zopo launched a smartphone Speed 8, which features 10 core processor chipset, the highest number of cores in any smartphone launched in India till date, for Rs. 29,999 a unit. The chipset can deliver computing speed of up to 2.5 Ghz. Xopo Speed 8 has 5.5 inch screen size, 4GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage, 3600 mAh battery, 21 megapixel primary camera and 8 megapixel front camera. "We have been selling phones in affordable range as well starting Rs 6,000 a unit. The deca-core smartphone is for Xopo customers looking for higher phone speed. We expect 15 per cent of our target sales to come from Xopo's premium segment starting over price range of Rs 15,000 a piece," added Bhatia. "We will invest about Rs. 50 crore per annum for branding," added Bhatia. Xopo expects 60 percent of its total sales to come from smartphones priced in the range of Rs. 7,000-Rs 10,000 a unit and 25 percent from handsets priced in the range of Rs. 10,000-15,000 a unit. The government on Sunday assured the families of service personnel who were aboard the missing AN-32 aircraft that it stands by them in this difficult hour. The assurance came as the search for the plane, that went missing on Friday morning en route to Port Blair from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai, was intensified over an extended area on Sunday. "The family members of all personnel on board were approached by their respective services and assured that at this hour of uncertainty they are not alone and the government has mobilised all possible assets in one of the largest operations of its kind," a Defence Ministry statement said here. It said a marginal weather improvement on Sunday allowed for the deployment of additional assets and intensification of the search in a larger area. The Indian ocean, however, continued to be rough, thus making the conditions challenging, it said. "A total of 12 Indian Navy ships and four Indian Coast Guard ships along with 17 aircraft from the Indian Air Force, the Navy and Indian Coast Guard have been mobilised for this operation," the statement said. The missing AN-32 aircraft belonging to 33 Squadron took off from in Chennai at 8.30 a.m. on Friday and was expected to land at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.30 a.m. The recorded transcript of the Chennai air traffic radar showed the last pick-up of the aircraft was 151 nautical miles east of Chennai when it was observed to have taken a left turn with rapid loss of height from 23,000 feet. --IANS mak/tsb/dg The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) promised to continue efforts to advance peace, stability and development in the region as their foreign ministers gathered in Laos for regional meetings on Sunday. Foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc for the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) were welcomed by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who called for "frank and constructive discussions" between member states and partners, "contributing to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world", Xinhua news agency reported. Thongloun identified a range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including extremism and terrorism, natural disasters and climate change, refugee issues and human trafficking as well as economic developments, including Britain's exit from the European Union. Chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, the AMM comes following talks between the region's senior officials and diplomats in Vientiane since Thursday as representatives seek progress on regional and international issues of common concern and interest. The 10 foreign ministers of Asean are to be joined by those from dialogue partners, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, US Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Japan's Fumio Kishida and South Korea's Yun Byung-se for associated talks that include the Asean Regional Forum and East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting. Foreign Ministers and representatives from dialogue partners, including India, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU, are also set to join forums to push forward respective relations with the 10-member Asean. Associated meetings to be hosted in Vientiane include the 17th Asean plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting (APT), the 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and 23rd Asean Regional Forum (ARF) as well as the meeting of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty Commission. The AMM is one of the multi-sectoral meetings being hosted by Laos as per its 2016 Asean chairmanship, culminating in the heads of government East Asia Summit set for September 6-8 in Vientiane. --IANS ksk/vt Separatist leaders in Kashmir have called for a protest march on Monday to Anantnag in the worst hit south Kashmir region in the recent unrest, throwing a security challenge to the authorities in the state. Police sources told IANS that the government won't allow the march and strict curfew would continue in major towns and cities of the Kashmir Valley. Normal traffic won't be allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway that passes through south Kashmir, which has seen most of the over 45 deaths in clashes between security forces and protesters in the deadliest unrest the valley has witnessed in years. The violence broke out after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Authorities imposed strict curfew across the valley a day after the killing of Wani who was popular among Kashmir's new generation. The restrictions were partially lifted in four districts on Sunday. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik on Sunday reiterated their call for the Monday march to Anantnag and extended their shutdown call till Friday. "As per the programme, glowing tributes will be paid to the recent martyrs and all the martyrs of Kashmir's resistance movement at the historic Lal Chowk in Islamabad (Anantnag) district on Monday," they said in a statement. They asked people to observe a shutdown up to 2 p.m. on Tuesday when it will be relaxed till evening. They also called for a "complete shutdown" and a protest march to south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Wednesday. On Thursday, they asked people to continue with the shutdown and assemble in their areas and stage peaceful protests. On Friday, they asked people to march to Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid and participate in a public rally. --IANS sar/mr Even as sources in China's state news agency Xinhua confirmed that three of its journalists have been told to leave India by the end of this month, it is reliably learnt that replacements can be sent for the three. Wu Qiang and Lu Tang, who head Xinhua's bureaus in New Delhi and Mumbai respectively, and She Yonggang, a reporter based in Mumbai, have been asked to leave India by July 31. "They have been asked to leave because of adverse intelligence reports against them," a source in New Delhi confirmed, while adding that their visas "had expired by January-February this year". "The reports said that they have been doing work incompatible to their profession." But the source said that this should not be seen as an expulsion. "This cannot be called an expulsion as Xinhua can send replacements for the three who have been asked to leave," the source said. "It is true. I don't know why have they (India) done that," a senior journalist in Xinhua, who was formerly based in India, told IANS in China. "I would not like to say more as I don't have more details," the scribe added. IANS tried to reach Xinhua over phone in New Delhi but there was no response. (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.) Over 59,000 police have joined the rescue work in China after heavy rain and floods in China's Hebei Province killed 130 people, a media report said on Sunday. At least 16 Chinese Armed Police Force corps, seven divisions and other troops joined the work, using 590 inflatable motor launches to relocate more than 88,000 people across the country, Xinhua news agency reported. The armed police have worked on over 375 km of dikes, repaired almost 1,000 km of roads and dredged over 80 km of river courses. At least 110 are still missing. Heavy rainfall lashed Hebei from July 18 to 20, causing flash floods in mountains and serious waterlogging in some cities. China on Sunday told Japan not to intervene in the issue as it was not directly involved in the dispute. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he would talk about the issue if he has a chance to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the series of Foreign Ministers' meetings involving Asean and other Asian countries, Xinhua news agency reported. Stressing that the arbitration was illegal and invalid from the very beginning to end, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Beijing's rejection of the award is indeed in accordance with law and the United Nation's Convention on the Law of the Sea. "Japan is not a party to the issue, and considering its shameful history, it has no rights whatsoever to accuse China on the matter," he said. The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely the Nation of Brunei, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Non-claimants want the South China Sea to remain as waters, with the United States conducting freedom of navigation operations. The Congress party on Sunday attacked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the "killing of innocent tribal people in the name of Maoists" in the state. "Five tribals and Dalits were killed by security personnel in Kandhamal district. But, there was no word from Naveen Patnaik over the issue. This is for the fourth time in last 12 months that innocent tribals got killed," said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh was the part of a five-member central team of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), which visited Gumudumaha village in Kandhamal on Saturday. "It seems the Chief Minister wants a tribal-free Odisha," he said. "The Kandhamal encounter was not a cross firing between security personnel and Maoists. This was one-way firing. We would raise the issue in the Parliament. The government must act against the persons involved in the killing," said Ramesh. Another Congress leader V. Kishore Chandra Deo demanded that the chief minister should own moral responsibility for the Kandhamal incident and ensure that such incident would not occur in future. "Has the state government raised the police force to maintain law and order in the state or to kill innocent people? Why have they been trained," asked Deo. He said there was no proper transport and communication in the district even though the then UPA government had sanctioned adequate funds. With ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) planning to stage demonstrations across 15 districts protesting against Chhattisgarh's proposed barrage on the upstream of the Mahanadi River from July 25 till August 11, Ramesh said it is meant to divert the attention of people from the issue. "If the barrage construction by Chhattisgarh government on Mahanadi river affects Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should take an all-party delegation to Delhi and apprise the Prime Minister that construction work must start after discussion with Odisha," said Ramesh. He said the party would send a delegation to Chhattisgarh to take stock of the situation in next seven days and prepare a report. --IANS cd/kb/dg News / National by Staff Reporter Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko allegedly removed his shirt and thoroughly beat up a police officer at the police station.Mphoko caused a stir recently when he personally released arrested Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) executives facing charges of prejudicing the parastatal of $1,3 million.During a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mabvuku Tafara MP James Maridadi (MDC-T) asked Minister of State in Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's office Clifford Sibanda to explain circumstance leading to Juma and Norupiri's release from custody."Is it government's policy that a vice-president who will be acting president would go to a police station and emotionally cause the release of an accused person because he works for him, and then his body guards severely assault the police officers?" Maridadi queried."He had his shirt removed and exposed an open fly. This happened in the open and it is an open secret nationwide that this is what happened."The VP removed his shirt and assaulted people. Is that government policy, and is it the position that an acting president removes his shirt and assaults police officers at a police station?"Deputy speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona, who said he should put it in writing as Sibanda was not assigned to Mphoko's office. Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said India's bid to blame Pakistan for the "current revolt" in the Kashmir Valley warranted no response. Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, told IANS here that the two-day visit by the Home Minister that ended on Sunday and "his comments are insignificant". The Mirwaiz said New Delhi's "propaganda" on the Kashmir issue that the "current revolt" was sponsored by Pakistan "is so worn out and half-witted that it does not even warrant a response". He said the separatist leadership - including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik - believed that the "Kashmiri struggle for freedom like all freedom struggles in the world is both indigenous and sacred". His remarks came after Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan not to encourage people in Jammu and Kashmir to become militants, saying India would never tolerate terrorism. The minister's trip came amid the deadliest Kashmir unrest in years that has left 45 people dead in violent stone-throwing protests following the July 8 killing of pro-Pakistan rebel commander Burhan Wani. The Mirwaiz said the separatist leadership "condemns the killing spree" by security forces, injuring thousands and blinding more than 150. He said it was a blot on the face of humanity that a country "which executes such barbarism prides itself as the world's largest democracy". --IANS sar/mr With the long-pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill scheduled to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha during the week beginning Monday, the government exuded confidence that Parliament will witness "equally fruitful business" during the second week of the Monsoon session. The government's optimism stems from a smooth first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, when significant legislative business was carried out by both the houses. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also likely to meet the empowered committee of state finance ministers on Tuesday with regard to the GST Bill. "We had purposeful working sessions between Monday and Thursday, with a number of bills passed by both houses. We will have a smooth sail and equally fruitful business this week as well and are confident that there will be further forward movement on the GST Bill," a key BJP leader told IANS. The Monsoon Session commenced on July 18. Parliamentary proceedings were disrupted only on last Friday after an uproar over Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann's live streaming of video on social media regarding his travel to Parliament House. The GST Bill, "as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha", has been listed at number 3 for the coming week. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtaq Abbas Naqvi on Friday said the Upper House will take up for "further consideration and passing of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014, as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha". This constitutional amendment is linked to the introducing of GST as a uniform tax bill across the country. Echoing the sentiment of his party colleagues, Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar said in a statement on Saturday: "There is a widespread demand for early introduction of the GST from almost all the political parties, state governments, trade and industrial bodies and even the general public." The Rajya Sabha will also take up, among others, The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016, as passed by the Lok Sabha, The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016. The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 were passed by Lok Sabha on July 19. Ananth Kumar has appealed to all parties to "sense the mood of the nation" and "cooperate" in passing the GST Bill. Keen on the passage of the GST Bill, the government has been holding a series of meetings with opposition leaders, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley chiefly meeting leaders from all parties, including the Congress. The much-awaited bill envisions a pan-India Goods and Services tax or uniform tax to thoroughly overhaul India's indirect tax regime. It was first mooted by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in 2009 and has been already passed by the Lok Sabha, but is pending in the Rajya Sabha where the Narendra Modi government lacks a majority. The Congress party reportedly is still insisting on a few changes in the much-talked about draft legislation. For the next week, the Lok Sabha has listed various bills, including The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015; and The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. On Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the amended Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015, that was approved by the Union Cabinet last week, "is one step forward in eradicating black money" in the country. "It will tighten the noose around wrongdoers and give more powers to the revenue officers to identify and take action against those who have banami properties. This bill again shows the right earnest of the Modi government in fighting the black money issue," Kumar said. --IANS nd/tsb/dg Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will on Tuesday meet his counterparts in states to discuss proposed amendments to the GST Bill that has been passed by the Lok Sabha but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha, an official source here said. Jaitley met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the weekend, and has been earlier meeting Congress party leaders to garner support for the proposed pan-India Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GST Bill is likely to be listed for discussion in the Rajya Sabha following Jaitley's consultations with the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers. Listing the government business for the week beginning July 25, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the GST Bill will come up for discussion next week. "(This is for) further consideration and passing of the Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill 2014, as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha," he said. About the agenda for the second week of the ongoing monsoon session beginning on Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said in a statement: "The Business Advisory Committee has already allocated five hours for discussing this Bill in the Rajya Sabha which is an important development." GST was first mooted by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. It has been already passed by the Lok Sabha but is pending in the Rajya Sabha where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government lacks a majority. The Congress has been demanding that the overall GST rate be capped at 18 per cent, as well as scrapping of an additional one per cent tax to compensate manufacturing states. Following a meeting of state finance ministers in Kolkata last month, Jaitley announced that every state had either supported or accepted the proposed GST, except Tamil Nadu which expressed its reservations and offered suggestions. The model GST law approved at the state finance ministers' meeting has, thereafter, been published, inviting comments from stakeholders. --IANS bc/kb/dg A man involved in the kidnapping of a police officer has been arrested after a brief gun fight, Haryana Police said on Sunday. Identified as Khalid, the man received a bullet in his leg during the exchange of fire with the police and was arrested, but his accomplice managed to escape, said the police. The police recovered a bike and a pistol from Khalid. Police Inspector Surender Phogat, chief of the Gurgaon Sector 29 police station, was abducted here on June 30 by four men who subsequently dumped him in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh after taking his cash, mobile phone, and car. Police said Khalid was one of the four abductors. The kidnapped police officer was on Friday brought back here by Haryana Police. Khalid has been admitted in hospital and doctors said he was out of danger. --IANS pradeep/kb/dg A four-day long Inspector General level meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) began here on Sunday to discuss and resolve border issues between the two neighbouring countries. A 21-member delegation of BGB led by its Chittagong sector Regional Director Brigadier General Mohammad Habibul Karim arrived here for the meeting with BSF led by Tripura frontier Inspector General J.B. Sangwan. "Currently relation between the two border guards is excellent. We are cooperating with each other to deal with any border related issues. Except some minor issues, no major problems exists along the India-Bangladesh borders now," Karim told the media at the Akhaura checkpost. "Border crimes, smuggling, erection of fencing at zero point in certain places along the border, cross-border movement of inimical elements would be discussed in the meeting," a BSF official said. "Such meetings to resolve pending border issues happen routinely both in India and Bangladesh after a regular interval," the official added. Four northeastern states of India -- Tripura (856 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) -- share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. Of the 856 km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura, a little over 85 per cent is fenced so far. --IANS sc/ss/ksk/vt Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to scuttle development work in Delhi because he had not digested the 2015 electoral rout here. "Modi is not letting any stone unturned to ensure that development is stalled in Delhi," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said in a brief speech after inaugurating a flyover in west Delhi. "He could not digest the defeat in Delhi. So he has unleashed the entire state machinery against us," Kejriwal said. The 3.40-km flyover, which connects Vikaspuri and Meera Bagh, was set to originally cost Rs 560 crore but it finally cost Rs 450 crore, a saving of Rs 110 crore, the Chief Minister said. The bridge, officials said, will reduce travel time from the present over 30 minutes to 12 minutes. It is also one of the few flyovers with the facility to harvest rainwater. Challenging Modi to "stop me if you can", Kejriwal said the Prime Minister had assigned his Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra to monitor all the files of Delhi government to find flaws but could not find any which could be translated into a corruption charge. "They tried to delay developmental works like flyover and Mohalla Clinics. If this continues, the AAP will soon be there in Punjab and Gujarat," he said, referring to the states where assembly elections are due next year. Calling the ongoing tussle with the Centre a "Dharm Yudh" (War of righteousness), Kejriwal said while the Modi regime had police, CBI, IB, RAW and Income Tax wing with it, the Delhi government's only weapon was truth. The Kejriwal and Modi governments have been locked in a bitter battle over issues of governance and jurisdiction. The AAP accuses Modi of using Delhi Police to harass and arrest its legislators and activists. --IANS am-kd/mr When eight months pregnant Sukmi's water broke she was in Ongnarpal, a village deep in the jungle of Chhattisgarh where four wheelers cannot reach and the hospital was miles away. However, help arrived in the form of a motorcycle ambulance and Sukmi made it to the hospital "just in time" and delivered a beautiful baby girl. The motorcycle-ambulance is a new concept in India that is saving lives in remote regions where people had been dying because they could not make it to the hospital on time. Sukmi and her baby would not have survived had it not been for the motorcycle -ambulance that was able to ferry her from her remote village and take her to the civil hospital in Narayanpur district. Her case is not exceptional. The motorcycle-ambulance has saved the lives of over 200 pregnant women and helped see a drop in maternal and infant mortality rate in the Maoist-hit Narayanpur district of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh. The ambulance, which had seen success in African countries, is a modified four-stoke motorcycle fitted with a side-carriage customised for the comfort of the patient. Given the maze-type forest terrain, which can perplex any outsider, these two wheelers are driven by local riders only, who are trained to provide basic necessary first aid. Health specialist at UNICEF, Ajay Trakroo says the motorcycle-ambulance project was initiated last year and supported by the UNICEF in collaboration with an NGO, Saathi Samaj Sevi Sanstha, and the Health Department of the state government. "Pregnant women are our main focus in the area as mortality rate is high in this conflict bound region of Chhattisgarh. With this experiment we are trying to provide necessary health care to the pregnant women of this Maoist-affected tribal and hard-to- reach forest area," Trakroo told IANS. He said the motorcycle ambulance's USP is that it can be operated in hard to reach areas. It is a referral ambulance, that means it only ferries the patient to the hospital. As of now there is only one motorcycle-ambulance in the entire state which serves the pregnant women and other serious patients in whole of Bastar division. On expansion of the project, Trakroo said that ten more motorcycle ambulances will be deployed soon. "Though 108 ambulance services operate in Narayanpur, these cannot reach deep into the forest or hilly terrain where many villages are situated. This is where the motorcycle ambulance plays a vital role. We will bring 10 more motorcycle ambulances in a few months," Trakroo said. The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur is working to improve the design of the motorcycle ambulance to enhance efficiency. "We are focusing on increasing the power of the motorcycle and the stability of the ambulance with help of NIT," Trakroo added. The ambulance costs Rs 1.7 lakh and Rs 15,000 per month is investment to keep it running. Founding member of Saathi NGO, Bhupesh Tiwari says that before the motorcycle ambulance was introduced cases of unorganised delivery were high and mothers used to die often due to lack of proper treatment. He said that the motorcycle-ambulance has successfully ferried over 300 patients to the hospitals from "adverse areas", of whom 80 per cent are pregnant women. "After the inception of this project the number of organised deliveries has increased in this conflict bound region. It will certainly improve the infant as well as maternal mortality rate in the region," Tiwari told IANS. (Ashish Mishra can be contacted at ashish.m@ians.in ) --IANS am/rn/tb The German-Iranian teenager who shot dead nine people in Munich on Friday started planning the attack one year ago, a German official said on Sunday. David Ali Sonboly, 18, began the planning after visiting the scene of a 2009 school shooting in the German town of Winnenden, a Bavarian official said, Xinhua news agency reported. According to German authorities, the teenager did extensive research on mass shootings before carrying out the attack. He stored a copy of the manifesto of Norway attacker Anders Behring Breivik in his computer, according to Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. Breivik killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, many of them attendees at a youth camp. The shooter regularly played a video game "Ego-Shooter", which features mass killings, according to a police statement. German prosecutors said the shooter acquired the semi-automatic pistol he used in the killings on the dark web, which can only be accessed via special software. Police and prosecutors confirmed that the shooter, who received medical treatment for a long time, stayed in a closed psychiatric ward from July to September 2015, while the last treatment with a doctor could be traced to June 2016. According to police, 58 bullet casings were found at the shooting scene and 57 of them were from the gunman's weapon, while one was from a police weapon. Based on the findings, the police and prosecutors announced there was no second suspect. Among the nine victims, five were men and four women. Another 35 people were injured, 10 of whom seriously. David Ali Sonboly killed himself after the attack. --IANS pgh/dg Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Sunday resigned in the wake of a no-trust motion against him in Parliament plunging the Himalayan nation in a fresh bout of political uncertainty. He submitted his resignation to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari at the President's Office, said officials. Oil was expected to announce his resignation shortly in the Nepal Parliament, where he was to reply to the motion of no-confidence against his government. Nepal's Parliament on Friday began discussing the no-trust motion after three bills related to the annual budget were rejected by a majority vote. The rejection of the budget-related bills came as a major blow to the Oli government, which was reduced to a minority after key alliance partner, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) withdrew support earlier this month. One person was killed and 10 others were injured when a roof collapsed in a government hospital in Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh. According to hospital officials, 11 people were asleep on Saturday night in a verandah outside the maternity ward when the roof caved in. The rescue work continued until Sunday morning. The part of the building where the accident took place had been in a dilapidated condition, made worse by the heavy Monsoon rains this season. Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Rustam Singh said in Bhopal that the family of the person who died will get Rs 4 lakh as compensation. --IANS sp/kb/mr Opinion / Columnist The statement by rogue war veterans, madzakutsaku aMugabe (for those not familiar with the name dzakutsaku, this is derogative name given to Smith rogue black soldiers who would not fight the freedom fighters but terrorized unarmed civilians instead, sadly history is repeating itself with these soiling the good name of real committed liberation war freedom fighters), calling on President Mugabe to resign raises an very important political point - Who in Zimbabwe today can vote President Mugabe out office? These war veterans, dzakutsaku or not, clearly thought that had the power and authority to do so given their elevated position in the nation and so they did.When President Mugabe realized that his popularity with the electorate was sinking fast in the late 1990s he instituted his noregimechange mantra whose sole purpose was to deny the masses their freedoms and basic human rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections. He corrupted the war veterans in the security sector and those who had been disbanded to abandon their liberation war commitment to freedom, liberty and human rights to become the principal enforcers of his tyrannical mantra. He turned respected liberation war heroes and heroines into the despised dzakutsaku.President Mugabe knew the people would resist his authoritarian rule and so he granted carte blanche powers to the rogue war veterans to harass, beat, rape and even kill opposition politicians, their supporters and innocent Zimbabweans alike; beating the nation into submission. After decades of exercising this carte blanche power and successfully keeping President Mugabe and his cronies in power by denying the masses a meaningful vote the rogue war veterans claimed credit for themselves since those in power were not doing it.The rogue war veterans made it clear early this year that they "were the stockholders of Zanu PF and Zimbabwe" and everyone else including the President himself was a "stakeholder who can come and go"."The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did," wrote Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart.Our dzakutsaku lizards have effectively denied the masses the vote and felt it was now them who had the veto on who ruled the nation; when they reminded all that they were the stockholder of the party and the country, this was just the lizard praising himself! When they released the statement last week demanding that President Mugabe must resign, it was them exercising their veto!If we put to one side for one moment the inherent injustice in President Mugabe's noregimechange mantra and the foolishness of madzakutsaku aMugabe one is left with the intriguing question; If the ordinary Zimbabweans have no vote and the rogue war veterans' veto can itself be vetoed then who is(are) the individual(s) with the superveto?Everyone knows that President Mugabe has ruled the party and country with an iron fist, his word is law. His follow leaders in the party and in government have been reduced to cowing subservient minions, "vakadzi vaMugabe" as Margaret Dongo so aptly put it. So the one person wielding this super veto, the mother of all vetoes is President Mugabe."I watched ZBCtv (on Friday and learnt) that they made a statement, but I haven't read it. If they said the President must resign, then that is nonsensical. If they are true war veterans, the President is their CommanderinChief and they must be loyal and committed," commented VP Mnangagwa."I don't think those who say such things are loyal or genuine war veterans. They must be loyal."Is this VP Mnangagwa being his usual self of deliberately coy and obtuse? This is a very serious matter and demands to be treated as such. If President Mugabe is not accountable to the ordinary people, to his subservient harem and now we learn that he is also not accountable to the rogue war veterans too. He is accountable to absolutely no one but himself this is clearly a very dangerous scenario no nation in its right mind can tolerate especially when we have henpecked president whose wife's insatiable greed for power and wealth knows no limit.The prospect of President Mugabe appointing his wife to succeed him is real and I shudder to think what new depths of despair and depravity she will take us!If VP Mnangagwa had any sense at all then he must surely see dangerous situation the country is in right now because President Mugabe has enjoyed absolute power all these donkey years. The situation is now so dangerous that there is no excuse whatsoever for allowing this situation to continue even for one more day; be it out of ignorance, selfish greed, political expedience, subservient nature gone nuts somukadzi mukuru waMugabe (as the most senior member in the Mugabe harem).All those who thought that removing Mugabe now and replacing him with Mnangagwa was a strategic move must now review their position. If today Mnangagwa is asking loyalty to tramp over the urgent need to end this destructive culture of absolutism out of feigned loyalty to President Mugabe will he not do so again with ruthless resolve tomorrow to consolidate his own hold on power!We must soldier on and demand the full implementation of the democratic reforms designed to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. The rogue war veterans' demand for President Mugabe to resign so they can appoint another tyrant is just a clever way of preserving the dictatorship by giving the illusion of change. It is not a halfway pitstop some people think; neither Mnangagwa nor his rogue war veterans backers will ever concede to give up their veto if they ever got into power. The Pakistan Censor Board is reportedly set to ban a song featuring former adult film star-turned-actress Sunny Leone from the Hindi movie "Raees" set for release in January 2017. But the Daily Times reported on Sunday that there was no confirmation of this report. "Raees" also stars superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Pakistani VJ-turned-actress Mahira Khan and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and centres around a bootlegger who is pursued by a police officer. --IANS ksk/mr The Bangladesh Police on Sunday said it had identified instigators of the Spanish cafe attack in Dhaka that killed 22 people. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told journalists that the instigators have been identified and their arrest was now a matter of time. He did not elaborate for the "sake of investigation". The July 1 terror attack at the Spanish restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave left 22 people, including 18 foreigners, dead. Six of the gunmen were killed while one was captured alive. But he later died in a hospital. --IANS mr/ CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka 'Prachanda' was on Sunday all set to make a comeback as Prime Minister of Nepal, a week after the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties pledged to throw their weight behind him. The resignation of KP Sharma Oli earlier in the day paved the way for Prachanda to become the 39th Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation. He got the coveted post in 2008 for the first time when the Maoists became the largest party in the Constituent Assembly but the stint did not last beyond one-and-half years. Though the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) had moved a no-confidence vote against Oli, which was due for continued discussion followed by a vote thereon in Parliament on Sunday, Oli announced his resignation minutes before the discussion begun on Friday recommenced. According to the constitutional provisions, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will call on Parliament to install a consensus-based government within seven days, which seems a difficult proposition as the second largest party the Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) is all set to stay in the opposition. The single largest party, the Nepali Congress, has already extended its support for Prachanda and signed an agreement that the former Maoist leader will lead the government for the first nine months. Thereafter, Prachanda will hand over the leadership to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. According to the agreement, Prachanda will hold local elections that have not been held for the last 20 years, while Deuba will hold elections to the provincial assemblies and Parliament during the remaining nine months. Prachanda has secured the support of the NC and other small parties so that it is easy for him to ensure a majority votes to install the new government. "We will try our best to install the government based on consensus but it seems difficult. So after the expiry of the seven-day deadline, we will stake claim to form the party on the basis of a majority," said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak. Out of 298 seats required to form the government, the emerging alliance can garner the support of 331 lawmakers if Madhes-based parties under the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha vote in favour of Prachanda. The NC and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have 207 and 82 seats, respectively, while the Morcha with seven Madhes-based parties has 39 seats. The CPN (Samyukta) has three seats. A day after pulling out of the government, the NC last Wednesday officially endorsed the seven-point deal reached between Dahal and NC President Deuba on government formation. The Madhes-based political parties though decided on toppling the Oli-led government have not yet made up their mind to join the new government under Prachanda. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav confirmed that the Morcha had agreed to vote against Oli. "The Morcha will take appropriate decision depending on how things unfold," said Yadav. Some Madhesi leaders had hinted that they will, in principle, extend "support to topple the Oli government". The Maoist leaders said the SLMM has so far agreed to oust Oli and participate in the new government's formation if the NC and the CPN (Maoist Centre) "agree to address the Madhesi parties' demands on restructuring of the provinces". The CPN (Maoist Centre) bid to form a new political alignment received a major boost after the Madhes-based parties agreed to oust Oli. A 24-year-old pregnant woman committed suicide by hanging herself after a tiff with her fiance, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred in Katwaria Sarai area of south Delhi, police said. The deceased has been identified as Ruchi, who was staying here at a rented flat with her fiance Sharad, 24, police said. Both are residents of Madhya Pradesh. "The woman and the man were engaged a few months back ... they had a fight last night after which Ruchi committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, Nupur Prasad told IANS. Ruchi was also evidently pregnant, she added. Police said they have also recovered a suicide note from the flat. "In her suicide note, she has mentioned that no one should be held responsible for her act," Prasad added. The officer further said that a case has been registered and the body sent for the autopsy. "We are awaiting the autopsy report to ascertain the exact cause of her death," the ADCP said. However, after the incident came to light, Sharad is on the run. Ruchi's family has also been informed, police said. --IANS aks/vd/dg Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed for peace in Jammu and Kashmir and also asked Pakistan not to interfere in Kashmir's affairs. "I appeal to people to restore peace and normalcy" in the Kashmir Valley, the minister told the media at the end of a two-day visit to the troubled valley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very concerned over the situation in the valley, where over 45 people have been killed in street protests since the July 8 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, he said. Saying the Indian government would never tolerate terrorism, the minister said while Pakistan carried out operations against militants in Lal Masjid in Islamabad, they encouraged youths to take up arms in Kashmir. "This should stop.... Pakistani's role is not right. They must change their attitude and mindset vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir." Rajnath Singh also expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the days of unrest. He urged security forces to avoid using pellet guns that have blinded several protesters. He said a dialogue can take place to resolve whatever differences people may have in Jammu and Kashmir. --IANS mr/vd Three stations on a new express bus corridor connecting Rio de Janeiro's international airport to the Olympic Park were closed after a shootout between police and drug gangs. Authorities said the Madureira, Mercadao and Otaviano stations were shut on Saturday after traffickers opened fire on a police car, Xinhua news agency reported. The stations are part of the newly opened Transcarioca bus line, built for the upcoming Olympic Games slated to begin from August 5. No injuries were reported from the exchange of fire and there were no arrests. Authorities in Rio are battling to contain a rise in violent crime as the city prepares for the Olympic Games. In the first five months of 2016, the number of murders in Rio rose by 18 per cent to 1,870 compared to the same period in 2012 when killings reached their lowest rates of the past decade. Brazil will deploy 88,000 soldiers and police during the August 5-21 Games, more than double the number used at the London 2012 Olympics. --IANS ksk An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft which disappeared on Friday with 29 people on board remained missing on Sunday despite an intensive search and rescue operation, codenamed 'Operation Talash", even as the navy said it has sought satellite imagery of the area. The navy has pressed a flotilla of vessels including a submarine to locate the missing AN-32 which went off the radar two days ago over the Bay of Bengal just half hour after taking off from Chennai on its journey to Port Blairr. There has been no trace of the plane or debris. There are also no signals from the transporter, officials said. According to Indian Coast Guard, an international safety network was activated as part of the search and rescue procedures for alerting the merchant ships passing through the region. The Coast Guard said ships like MV Harsh Vardhana enroute from Port Blair to Chennai, MV Sebat and MV Delice were directed to keep a sharp look out for survivors or debris. An experienced pilot of the Indian defence forces told IANS: "Normally it would take a week for the debris to float in such cases. But search and rescue operations have to be carried out." According to him, if the plane broke into several parts, then there may be a possibility of some debris floating. But if it falls into the sea without breaking, then it may take nearly a week for some items to come to the surface from the sea depth. "As per our calculations the sea depth in the area of search is around 3,500 metres," T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, Head, Information Services Group, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), told IANS over phone from Hyderabad. He said the organisation was running models estimating the distance to where the plane debris would have been carried by the sea current. "In the Bay of Bengal there are several whirlpools that may have dragged down the debris," he added. Eastern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral H.C.S. Bisht said that a large number of ships, helicopters and aircraft are contributing to the search. "We are also seeking ISRO's help to get satellite imagery of that area so that we have at least some information... Parallelly we are also reaching out to families," he said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, after reviewing the search and rescue operations on Saturday, had asked the commanding officers to keep in touch with families of those on board the missing aircraft. Bisht said the search has been made difficult by the monsoon weather conditions over the sea. "The only challenge we are facing is of monsoon condition, rough seas; another challenge is the depth which is around 3,500 meters and at some points even more than that," he said. The cloud base is low and it is raining continuously in the area, he said. "We are continuously searching the area. As of now we have 12 ships. We will be increasing the assets. We are also doing regular aerial surveillance. The aim is to harness as many resources as possible." The missing aircraft, an upgraded AN-32 belonging to 33 Squadron, took off from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai at 8.30 a.m. and was expected to land at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.30 a.m. The recorded transcript of Chennai air traffic radar showed the last pickup of the aircraft was 151 nautical miles east of Chennai when it was observed to have carried out a left turn with rapid loss of height from 23,000 feet. The AN-32 is a twin engine turboprop, medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin. It can carry a maximum load of around 6.7 tonnes or 39 paratroopers. Its maximum cruise speed is 530 kmph. --IANS vj-ao/vd The Syrian government is ready to continue peace talks without pre-conditions in a bid to achieve a political solution to the country's ongoing crisis, the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. In a statement, the ministry said it renews its keenness to achieve a political solution that meets the aspiration of the Syrian people and enjoys the support of the UN and the international community, Xinhua news agency reported. It added that the Syrian government was ready to continue peace talks on the crisis created by the protracted civil war without preconditions, in the hope of achieving an "inclusive solution drawn by the Syrians themselves without foreign interference". Several rounds of previous Syrian talks in Geneva had ended with little, but no tangible results. The Syrian civil war is one of the deadliest conflicts the 21st century has witnessed thus far. Five years since the conflict began, more than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, and almost 11 million Syrians -- half the country's pre-war population -- have been displaced from their homes. The government of President Bashar al-Assad currently controls the capital, Damascus, parts of southern Syria, portions of Aleppo and Deir Az Zor, much of the area near the Syrian-Lebanese border, and the northwestern coastal region. Rebel groups, the Islamic State militant group, and Kurdish forces control the rest of the country. --IANS ksk/dg Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali Jatra, popularly known as Lashkar Bonalu, was being celebrated with much pomp and enthusiasm here on Sunday. Thousands of people, including the Chief Minister of Telangana, state ministers and central ministers from the state, thronged Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad. The devout were waiting in long queues at the temple since the early hours of Sunday for the idols's 'darshan'. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, along with his family members, performed puja. He offered 'pattu vastralu' (silk clothes) to the goddess. The priests blessed the chief minister. Police made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful and hassle-free conduct of the festival. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy said 3,000 police personnel were deployed. Police also installed more than 125 surveillance cameras to keep a vigil during the celebrations. Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya visited the temple with his family members, and performed puja. Several state ministers, members of parliament, state legislators, leaders of various political parties and top officials also made offerings at the temple to mark the occasion. The stream of VIPs caused much inconvenience to commoners. Thousands of devotees were standing in three to four-km long queues. Though a separate queue was arranged for women, they were still waiting for four hours for their turn to offer 'bonalu' to the goddess. The festival will conclude on Monday with 'rangam' (forecasting the future for next one year) followed by a colourful procession of the goddess on an elephant. The organisers expect that over 15 lakh people will participate in the festival this year. Bonalu, dedicated to the goddess of power, Mahankali or Kali, is celebrated in parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad during Ashada masam (July-August). Also known as Ashada Jatra Utsavalu, it is celebrated on three different Sundays at different places in the twin cities. The Golconda Mahankali festival was celebrated in the historic Golconda Fort on the last Sunday. The most popular celebrations will be held next Sunday (July 31) at Akanna Madanna temple at Lal Darwza in the old city of Hyderabad followed by a huge procession the following day. This is the third Bonalu after the formation of Telangana state. The festival is being officially celebrated as the Telangana government has declared it as the state festival. The folk festival is celebrated to ward off evil and usher in peace. It is believed that the festival was first celebrated over 150 years ago following a major cholera outbreak. People believed that the epidemic was due to the wrath of Goddess Mahankali and began offering 'bonalu' to appease her. The women offer 'bonalu' consisting of cooked rice, jaggery, curd, turmeric water which are brought in steel and clay pots to the temples. People believe that Ujjaini Mahakali temple was constructed in 1813 by Suriti Appaiah, who was a bearer in the Indian military. He was on a mission to Ujjain town where thousands had died in the outbreak of cholera. He is said to have visited Mahakali temple in Ujjain and took a vow that if his entire platoon is saved, they will install an idol of the goddess in Secunderabad. --IANS ms/pgh/vt At least 114 people are dead and 111 others missing in north China's Hebei Province due to heavy rain and floods, authorities said on Saturday. Citing provincial civil affairs bureau, Xinhua news agency reported that local authorities have evacuated nearly 310,000 people. Flooding and rain-triggered landslides have caused the collapse of 52,900 houses and damage to 155,000. Over 700,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over $2.4 billion. The worst-hit Daxian Village of Xingtai City was almost empty after a flash flood swamped it early Wednesday morning. At least eight villagers were killed and one missing. Only a dozen villagers stayed to watch over the village, while the rest residents had left to take shelter with their relatives elsewhere. There have been power outages, disruptions to communication and other infrastructure, and road closures across Jingxing. Nearly 30 speedboats and 300 soldiers were dispatched to repair breached levee and transfer trapped residents, and another 1,200 people joined the rescue operation. The local government has also sent 15 working teams into 12 flooded villages to investigate the situation, comfort villagers and carry out epidemic prevention. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang presided over a national meeting on flood control and disaster relief in Beijing on Saturday, urging governments at all levels to put safety of the people first and strengthen flood control measures. The provincial government allocated $15.7 million of emergency funds for the worst-hit places to help with relief work. --IANS sku/ Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the presidential guard regiment would be abolished after some of its members were involved in the coup attempt, local media reported on Saturday. "There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, no need," Xinhua quoted the prime minister as saying citing A-Haber TV. At least 283 of the presidential guard regiment members have been detained in the wake of the failed coup. Turkey on Friday issued arrest warrants for another 300 members of the presidential guards, CNNTurk reported. The military bases across Turkey will be moved out of city centres, the prime minister said, adding that Turkish gendarmerie will be connected to the interior ministry. A total of detainees rises to 13,002, including 1,329 policemen, 8,831 military officials, 2,100 judges and prosecutors, according to the prime minister. --IANS sku/ On August 3, 2010, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a bland press release with a title "RBI revises Portfolio Allocation of Deputy Governors" (DG). The revised portfolio allocated 10 areas to Shyamala Gopinath, nine to Usha Thorat, seven to Subir Gokarn and just four to K C Chakrabarty, which included the "Rajbhasha Department." Banking circles were aghast. The RBI had just handed down a nasty public humiliation to Mr Chakrabarty, the deputy governor, known for his blunt talk. He would now oversee Customer Services, Information Technology and Inspection. He was kicked out of all core areas like monetary policy, foreign exchange and banking. Who was behind this crushing relegation of Mr Chakrabarty? And what for? It was an extraordinarily vindictive hit job by a supposedly benign, erudite and even fun-loving RBI governor, Duvvuri Subbarao (who could break into a lungi dance, to the delight of his audience). Mr Subbarao, who has recounted his RBI years in a book titled Who Moved My Interest Rate? decided to banish Mr Chakrabarty to the wilderness because of comments the latter had supposedly made in an off-the-record view on where interest rates should go. Mr Subbarao, who portrays himself in the book as an independent thinker doing the right thing while New Delhi was undermining him, of course, does not refer to this astonishing episode of pettiness. What really happened? A story was attributed to an "RBI official" just after the RBI's monetary policy announcement on July 28 was reported by the media. The official, supposedly Mr Chakrabarty, is reported to have made two points: interest rates should have been higher by now, and that the RBI is not the real monetary policymaker, hinting that the finance ministry dictated the interest rates. While most new reports were staid and factual, one particular report, by Newswire18, was specifically slanted, to foment trouble. The report described Mr Chakrabarty's views as "vitriol", "untamed hawkishness", "no holds barred attack", "loose-cannon" and "shock, anger & awe". The report even quoted an unnamed bond dealer asking if "there is a mutiny or what". An apparently livid Mr Subbarao decided that Mr Chakrabarty needed to be banished to the boondocks. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi has accused the Grand Alliance government in Bihar of being selfish for sidelining Prashant Kishor after its Assembly election victory last year. Kishor, who was appointed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's political strategist and advisor, played a key role in helping the Grand Alliance come to power. He is now crafting the Congress' strategy for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls next year. But not everyone in the agrees with Modi's criticism. "He shouldn't criticise PK's absence," a party leader said. "The longer he is away, the better it is for us." PK, as Kishor is popularly known, had also helped the craft its strategy in the 2014 general elections but was then enlisted by Kumar before the Bihar Assembly elections. and Tim Kaine are now America's defending duo of globalisation and free trade. The Democratic presidential candidate selected the Virginia senator as her running mate on Friday. The former governor is a moderate who has backed trade deals. One of their first tasks is to win over liberals and Rust Belt voters who supported Bernie Sanders, and are being vigorously courted by Donald Trump. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. A letter written to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel by 22-year-old Patidar (Patel) community leader Hardik Patel, two days before his release from jail after nine months in detention, indictes trouble might be far from over for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). India reported 278 communal clashes in the first five months of 2016, according to data released by the home ministry in Parliament this week. In a double whammy for AAP, two MLAs of Delhi's ruling party were today arrested-- one for allegedly trying to mow a woman down and another in a sacrilege incident in Punjab--taking to 11 the number of its legislators held by police in different cases. The Arvind Kejriwal-headed Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) has 67 legislators in the 70-member Delhi Assembly after it swept to power in February 2015. Amanatullah Khan was arrested by Delhi police after a woman alleged he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts while a Punjab Police team tonight arrested Naresh Yadav, who has been booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24. Both the arrests were made in Delhi. Khan, also the chairman of the Delhi Waqf board, was first detained for questioning and then arrested, a day after he alleged at a press conference the woman was "pressurised" by police into giving a false statement against him. "On July 22, the woman had recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. She had alleged while she was returning from the legislator's residence, a vehicle tried mowing her down and Amanatullah was sitting in it," said Joint Commissioner of Police, Southeast Range, R P Upadhyay. Prior to that, she had on July 19 filed a complaint with police alleging that at the AAP MLA's residence in Jamia Nagar, a youth had on July 10 abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered in this regard. After her statement to the magistrate, Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) was added to the FIR, the officer said. "It is a non-bailable charge and we have arrested Khan," Upadhyay said. Reacting to Khan's arrest, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA." Further, he tweeted in Hindi, "Anandiben in Gujarat sends Dalits and Patidars to jails in false cases, Modiji sends Delhiites to jails in false cases. Delhi and Gujarat will now fight together". Punjab Police IG (Patiala Zone) Paramraj Singh Umra Nangal said in Chandigarh, "We have arrested AAP MLA Naresh Yadav from his house in Delhi. He will be produced in the Malerkotla court tomorrow." Earlier. He said that a team of Punjab police was despatched to Delhi to arrest Yadav. Umra Nangal said an arrest warrant was procured from a local court to arrest Yadav. Yadav was booked after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA. He has been charged under IPC sections 109 (punishment for abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 (injury or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion of any class). The Mehrauli MLA and his party have denied the charges and alleged it was a "political conspiracy" to malign the party's image ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab. Seven persons, including two Bajrang Dal activists, have been booked on charge of attacking a Dalit family in their house in Chikmagaluru,Karnataka, recently for alleged cow slaughter, police said on Sunday. The alleged attack has come to light amid furore over the assault on Dalits in Gujarat's Una for allegedly skinning a cow. Police registered the case against seven locals on a counter-complaint by three Dalits, who were on July 10 booked for allegedly slaughtering the cow in their house under Jayapura police station limits. The alleged attack on Dalits came to light on Saturday after 'Komu Souharda Vedike', a forum for communal harmony, raised the issue. "Based on a complaint, we have booked seven persons, including two Bajrang Dal activists, for attacking three Dalits in their house," Jayapura Sub-Inspector of Police Chandrashekhar told PTI. Acting on a complaint, police had initially filed a case against the Dalit family members. "The accused had gone to the house of the Dalits on July 10 to find out whether they had slaughtered the cow, without seeking permission," the SI said. On being informed, a police team visited the house of the Dalits, found them 'cutting' the meat, and booked them. The three Dalits were taken to police station but later let off, he said. The next day, a member of the Dalit family filed a counter-complaint alleging that the accused had attacked them after barging into their house. Subsequently, a case of rioting and atrocity against the Dalits had been registered against seven persons, who have already obtained anticipatory bail, Chandrashekhar said, adding investigation into both the complaints is on. As many as 225 people have been killed or missing in heavy torrential rains and floods that have wreaked havoc in China with about 250,000 people still trapped in the central Hubei Province. More than 680,000 people were affected and 10 townships swamped following continuous heavy rainfall from July 18 to 20, Tianmen city government in the Hubei Province said. Over 500 soldiers, 1,000 people and 62 speedboats have been sent for rescue work while more than 10,000 people have been sent to ensure the safety of river banks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. At least 114 people have been killed and 111 missing in Hubei province. Local authorities have evacuated nearly 3.10 lakh people. Flooding and rain-triggered landslides have caused the collapse of 52,900 houses and damage to 155,000. Over 700,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over 16 billion yuan (USD 2.4 billion). The worst-hit Daxian Village of Xingtai City was almost empty after a flash flood swamped it early Wednesday. At least 8 villagers were killed and one missing. "I heard people yelling 'flood' at about 2:30 AM. I woke up my wife and children and rushed out of door immediately. In no time the water level was above my waist,"said Zhang Erqiang, a local villager. "My wife and I panicked and we climbed to a tree, and stayed there for several hours until rescuers arrived in the morning," Zhang said. "But our daughter and son were washed away and their bodies were just found," he said. Only a dozen villagers stayed to watch over the village, while the rest of the residents had left to take shelter with their relatives elsewhere. The news of heavy casualties in Xingtai, just 400km south of Beijing, only began emerging over the past 24 hours when thousands of local residents took to the street to protest against the alleged belated disaster warning and ineffective rescue efforts, the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. Flood waters burst river banks and submerged at least 12 villages. Daxian village is one of the worst-hit, where at least nine people, including five school kids, are dead or missing, media reports said. Jingxing County, located in the west of the province, saw an average precipitation of 545.4 mm in the 19 hours between 1 PM Tuesday and 8 AM on Wednesday, surpassing the amount received by the county in the whole of 2015. There have been power outages, disruptions to communication and other infrastructure and road closures across Jingxing. In the village of Renma, villager Ren Jingmin was clearing his home as his sofa, bed and other furniture were soaked and cracks had appeared in the walls. "Power went out before the village's loudspeaker finished broadcasting. And soon floods submerged my bed," another villager Zhang Yechao said. Qiu Wenshuang, deputy mayor of Xingtai, said yesterday that at least 25 people were killed and another 13 missing in the city. He said rescue operations and disaster relief have been initiated immediately after the flood. Nearly 30 speedboats and 300 soldiers were dispatched to repair breached levee and transfer trapped residents, while another 1,200 people joined the rescue operation later, according to Qiu. The local government has also sent 15 working teams into 12 flooded villages to investigate the situation, comfort villagers and carry out epidemic prevention. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang presided over a national meeting on flood control and disaster relief in Beijing yesterday, urging governments at all levels to put safety of the people first and strengthen flood control measures. The provincial government allocated 105 million yuan ($15.7 million) of emergency funds for the worst-hit places to help with relief work. Bangladesh police today arrested four suspected women operatives of homegrown militant group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) blamed for the country's worst terror attack on a cafe here in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. "We arrested the four women workers of JMB raiding a den of the outfit," a police officer told PTI. The four were arrested in northwestern Sirajganj district. Police also seized grenade manufacturing materials, six homemade bombs and several jihadi books from the hideout during the raid. Their arrest came days after police arrested a woman in connection the July 1 terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery here. Mass circulation Protom Alo newspaper quoting unidentified "sources" familiar with the investigation that she was previously known to at least one of the attackers. The woman was arrested after elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) released a video footage of four suspected terrorists, including a woman, believed to be directly linked to the July 1 Islamist attack. The attack left 22 people, including 17 foreigners, dead. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but the government denied their presence in Bangladesh, saying homegrown JMB militants were responsible for the assault. In the CCTV footage of the attack, four persons including a woman were seen strolling around the western-style Spanish restaurant ahead of the attack. The woman was seen carrying something heavy in a vanity bag. Bangladesh launched a massive security clampdown following the July 1 attack and the July 6 assault on a Eid congregation. Fifty Dalit families here in Madhya Pradesh have sought Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's permission for euthanasia, alleging the land granted to them 15 years ago by government is occupied by musclemen which has left them with no means to sustain livelihood. The families belong to Nasrullahganj area in Budhni, the assembly constituency of Chouhan and had two days ago sent a memorandum to the chief minister's office in Bhopal in this regard. However, district authorities denied receiving any such complaint and said a case in this regard was being being heard in court. "These families of Borkhedi, Vasudev, Sohankhedi and Jogala villages under Nasrullaganj police station area of Budhni in Sehore, the home district of Chouhan, have signed a memorandum that they have not yet got the tracts of government land given to them as help 15 years ago as it was in possession of influential persons," Rashtriya Dalit Chetna Manch state secretary Jaswant Singh said today. "We have not yet got the land in possession of musclemen, who are threatening to eliminate us," said the memorandum signed by the Dalits families. The local administration is helpless and the Dalits were not getting justice even after staging protests and agitation, Singh claimed. "These oppressed people are living in abject poverty as they do not have any source of income. Therefore, they have sought to end their lives (mercy killing)," he added. Sources said the agricultural tracts were allotted to these families by the then Digivijaya Singh government in the state. "No complaint of such a nature has come to me. If it comes to me, certainly action will be taken into it immediately," Sehore District Collector Sudam Khade told PTI over phone. The Collector said he along with the Chief Minister had spent around 10 hours amid people hearing their grievances in Nasrullaganj two days ago but during their presence no such complaint came from the Dalits. Those who have signed the memorandum include Ram Prasad, Sukhia Bai, Arjun Singh, Shoba Bai, Alam Singh, Kamla Bai, Rughunath, Jayanti Bai, Kamla Bai, Anokhi Bai, Phool Bai, Rameshwar, Lalita Bai, Vasu Bai and Ramesh. "This issue pertains to the Revenue department and it is being heard by honourable court after an FIR was registered," Nasrullaganj police station Inspector Niranjan Sharma said. When contacted, the Chief Minsiter's media team told PTI that Chouhan was not available immediately for comments as he was out of state. A furious AAP today lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of party MLA Amanatullah Khan saying he was scared of its "rising graph" while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused him of sending "Delhiities" to jail "under false cases". AAP leader Ashutosh claimed Khan was not even allowed to wear slippers by the police which came to arrest him and they turned all the CCTVs towards the ceiling. He said the BJP was scared because of the rising popularity of AAP. "Amanatullah was not even allowed to wear slippers/while arresting all the CCTV cameras were turned towards ceiling by police. "This is Modi's law. He gives a dam to law and evidences. People are watching. AAP's rising graph has scared Modi," (sic) Ashutosh tweeted. Khan was arrested today after a woman alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts, making him the tenth AAP legislator to be arrested. In a conference yesterday, Khan had claimed that the SHO of the Jamia Nagar Police station had tutored the woman to name Khan in the case and released a video to buttress his claim. He also alleged that the woman was in touch with the BJP leaders. Comparing the arrest of Patidars in Gujarat to ones in Delhi, Kejriwal tweeted, "In Gujarat, Anandiben Patel sends dalits and Patidars to jails under false cases. In Delhi, Modi ji sends Delhiities sends to jail under false cases. Now Delhi and Gujarat will fight (against this) together." "10th AAP MLA arrested. The same Delhi Police also beat the hell out of vol.S (volunteers) trying to file an FIR against a rapist," (sic) Kejriwal said retweeting a tweet of composer Vishal Dadlani, an ardent party supporter. Party leader Ashish Khetan termed the arrest as the "darkest time" after Emergency. "Another AAP MLA arrested on spurious charges. History will record the Modi rule as the darkest time for democracy post Emergency," Khetan said. AAP MLA from Okhla Amantullah Khan was today arrested after a woman accused him of trying to mow her down with his car and repeatedly threatening her following which he was sent to one day's police custody by a city court. Khan was arrested after a woman alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts. He is the eleventh AAP legislator to be arrested. A Punjab Police team tonight arrested AAP MLA Naresh Yadav, who has been booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24. Both the arrests were made in Delhi. Khan, also the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, was first detained for questioning and then arrested, a day after he alleged in a press conference that the woman was "pressurised" by police into giving a false statement against him. An FIR was initially registered in this regard under section 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC. "On July 22, the woman had recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. She had alleged while she was returning from the legislator's residence, a vehicle tried to mow her down and Khan was sitting in it," said Joint Commissioner of Police, Southeast Range, R P Upadhyay. The complainant alleged that Khan and few others in the car tried to run her over near Ashoka Park, New Friends Colony. She also stated that a bike tried to hit her on July 22 when she was on her way to the court to get her statement recorded. Based on her statement, Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC was added, said DCP (South East) Mandeep Singh Randhawa. "She repeatedly approached the police saying she is feeling unsafe. She was aggrieved that action is not being taken on her complaint and stated the incident of trying to run her over with the car and threats extended to her by Khan," Randhawa said in a statement. She gave a complaint at Sarita Vihar police station in which she claimed that she was being threatened and pressured ever since she has registered the case against Khan. She alleged she lives alone with her children and is feeling very unsafe and that a 'sting' video is being circulated by the accused to defame her. She even threatened to commit suicide, said the officer. Prior to that, she had on July 19 filed a complaint with police alleging that at the AAP MLA's residence in Jamia Nagar, a youth had on July 10 abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. The FIR was subsequently registered in this regard. Khan was briefly interrogated and arrested and produced before the magistrate's court in Saket who remanded him in one day's police custody. Further investigation is being carried out on the basis of the FIR and alleged threats received by the complainant, added DCP(south east). Reacting to Khan's arrest, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA." He tweeted in Hindi, "Anandiben in Gujarat sends Dalits and Patidars to jails in false cases, Modiji sends Delhiites to jail in false cases. Delhi and Gujarat will now fight together". (Reopens DEL65) The woman had yesterday filed three police complaints alleging she was receiving threats from unidentified persons, following which she was provided security. In her complaint last week, the woman, a resident of Jasola, had said she had telephoned Khan on July 10 and later went to his Batla House residence to raise the issue of power cuts with him. She claimed the MLA did not meet her and while she was returning, a youth came out of the house and allegedly abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. Khan had, however, said he did not even know if the woman come to his residence. AAP had yesterday rubbished the allegation levelled against the MLA, claiming Delhi Police had "pressurised" the woman into giving a false statement against Khan. At a press conference, the party played a video, in which the woman is purportedly seen telling someone "that the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station asked her to add rape and murder charges in the FIR". "The woman is in touch with several BJP leaders and she was also taken to the magistrate by a lawyer affiliated to the party. The video also states that police asked her to file the complaint," Khan had said. He had further said he has written a complaint to DCP (South East) to file an FIR against the SHO and the woman for "framing" him. Fearing that dams on river Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh would have adverse impact on Odisha, Congress today asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take an all-party team to Delhi to raise the matter with the Prime Minister. Congress will send a delegation to Chhattisgarh in a week to study the sites where dam and barrages are proposed to be constructed, senior party leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters. "Congress demands that Naveen Patnaik should take an all-party delegation to Delhi. Along with leaders of all political parties, the chief minister should meet the Prime Minister and apprise him about the matter," Ramesh said. It is the responsibility of the chief minister to safeguard the interest of Odisha and its people, he said. They should tell the Prime Minister that any construction on Mahanadi should take place after speaking to Odisha and obtaining its approval, he said. "No barrage or dam should be constructed over the river upstream at any location in Chhattisgarh without full knowledge and approval of Odisha," Ramesh said. Making noise here and staging protests in Odisha was meaningless, the Congress leader said accusing the ruling BJD of trying to divert attention of the people from issues like Kandhamal killings. The CM must act in a responsible manner instead of adopting attention diversion programmes, he said while responding to a query about BJD's plan to stage protests in 15 districts of the state from Monday till August 11. Congress feels that proposed constructions on Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh would have adverse impact on Odisha, Ramesh said, adding the party delegation would visit the sites in Chhattisgarh and study possible impact these could have on Odisha. Congress leader Amarinder Singh today questioned the "mysterious silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over issues of alleged atrocities against Dalits and said a divide among its people does not auger well for an emerging world power. Condemning the "series of excesses and atrocities" against the members of Dalit community, the Congress' Punjab unit chief said such incidents of class divide can have severe consequences. "We already have many external enemies ready to destabilise and weaken our country and let us not facilitate them and make their job easy by dividing our own people," he said while addressing a demonstration at Kartarpur near here to protest against the Dalit atrocities. "I was shocked and shaken after watching the video of three Dalit boys being beaten up after being tied up with a car," he said, adding, "this is the worst crime and the criminals must be dealt with severe punishment." "It was all the more shameful, since it happened in Modi's home state (Gujarat)," he said. The PPCC president said "when the country should be concerned about its enemies along the borders like Pakistan and China, there are sections inside, who are trying to divide people." "Imagine what will happen if we place one community against the other in the name of caste and religion?" he said, adding, India is considered as an emerging power in the world and incidents like these should make everyone feel concerned. The former Punjab Chief Minister said there appeared to be a pattern in the violence against Dalits. "Gujarat's was not an isolated incident. It was one in the series," he said, adding, "This is happening in UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and everywhere and the government is watching as a mute spectator. After 48 hours of frantic search involving assets drawn from Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard, airforce authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft. "We have received a complaint that Air Force's AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing," a senior police official said today. "The complaint was lodged last night with Selaiyur police," he said. "The complaint says that 29 personnel on board AN-32 and the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu," the official told PTI. Such a complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar plaint was filed when Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the search operations for the AN-32 aircraft involving multiple agencies continued for the third consecutive day. AN-32, IAF's Port Blair bound transport plane went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base here by 8.30 AM on July 22. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. Senior IPS officer Joydeep Nayak, arrested from Ghaziabad by Odisha vigilance sleuths in a corruption case, was today remanded in judicial custody and sent to Choudwar jail after being produced at the residence of a vigilance court special judge here. The Tripura-Manipur cadre Odia officer is facing corruption charges here for his alleged key role in cheating the Odisha government of Rs 88 lakh. The IG-rank officer allegedly embezzled the money while working in Odisha on deputation. Nayak, a 1991 batch IPS officer, was allegedly involved in misappropriation of Rs 88 lakh meant for computer education of SC/ST students and self-help groups (SHGs) in Odisha. The scam took place when Nayak was on deputation in the Human Rights Portection Cell (HRPC) of Odisha Police. Nayak had come to Odisha on deputation in 2011 and served in several positions. The alleged corruption took place when Nayak was in charge of SC/ST Protection Cell of HRPC from August 24, 2012 to December 31, 2015. He went back to Tripura in January 2016 to join as Director Fire Services. After bringing nayak in transit remand from Uttar Pradesh, the vigilance sleuths prayed in the court of judge R K Hota here to take the IPS officer on police remand for four days for custodial interrogation. Limping with support of crutches after an apparent ligament surgery, Nayak has also applied for bail. Since the court was closed on the day, the vigilance judge posted the remand petition of the police and the bail petition of the accused to be taken up jointly tomorrow for hearing and remanded the suspended IPS officer to Choudwar circle jail in judicial custody. Jail sources said the senior IPS officer would be lodged separately in a solitary room of jail hospital as he is sick and under medication recuperating from a surgery. The AAP government has told the Delhi High Court it was not against changing its policy on advertisements on autos but a final decision will take some time as the earlier Transport Minister had resigned and a new one was at the helm. The submission was made before a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru which was hearing two PILs filed on behalf of some auto unions challenging the government's policy on display of advertisements on public service vehicles (PSVs), particularly the bar on political ads. The court, which has already reserved its verdict in the two matters, had taken them up again as it wanted to know whether the government on its own would address the issues raised by the petitioners. Delhi government counsel Satyakam told the bench they were not objecting to the issues raised by the petitioners but were waiting for a formal decision to come from new Transport Minister Satyendar Jain, who took over following Gopal Rai's resignation. The lawyer sought two more weeks time to place the government's decision before the court. In view of the submissions made by the lawyer, the court listed the matter for hearing on August 26. The court had on an earlier date said the government appeared to be "more interested" in advertisements on buses as these would bring more revenue rather than focusing on a policy for ads on autos where the money would go to owner of the vehicles. The observation came after the Delhi government told the court that it was reconsidering the entire policy of outdoor advertisements and handed over minutes of a meeting held regarding ads on buses. The court had also directed the government to "focus" on the three questions raised by the bench in its order of September 2014 and had given them time till July 22 to file an affidavit indicating their "clear stand" with regard to policy for advertisements on autorickshaws. In its order of September 19, 2014, the court had focused on three issues - whether political advertisement should be allowed on public service vehicles, their pre-censorship, and whether advertisements ought to be allowed only for vehicles having GPS and GPRS systems. The earlier Congress government had refused to remove the word "political" from the guidelines. In June 2013, the then Delhi government had banned advertisements on public service vehicles after autorickshaws started sporting AAP posters in the run-up to Delhi assembly elections. Thereafter, the high court had stayed the ban. In May 2014, the city government had informed the court that it was in the process of finalising the general guidelines for allowing advertisements on public service vehicles and was awaiting approval of the Lt Governor. On August 1, 2014, the government had placed before the court its latest guidelines for display of advertisements on public service vehicles, as per which ads containing political, ethnic, religious or sectarian text will not be permitted. The policy also stated that advertisements cannot be displayed without prior approval of municipal bodies and would be allowed only for vehicles which have installed GPS/GPRS systems. Bangladesh police today claimed it has identified the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack in the country at a cafe in Dhaka's high-security diplomatic zone that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners. "We have cracked the case of the Holey Artisan (Bakery) attack. Arrests will be made soon. The process is on," Dhaka metro police chief Asaduzzaman Mia said. He claimed that it is now clear who had orchestrated the attack and how, but did not provide the details. "We will be able to nab them soon. Police are working based on specific information," he was quoted as saying by bdnews24 online. On the night of July 1, gunmen barged into the cafe in the upscale area and took the guests hostages. The terrorists killed 22 people, among them 17 foreigners including an Indian, before army commandos stormed the cafe the next morning and rescued 13 hostages. Bangladesh launched a massive security clampdown following the attack. It stepped up the crackdown after another assault by Islamists on July 6 on an Eid congregation in northern Sholakia in which two policemen and a woman were killed. Officials said the terrorists had planned to attack the Muslims who had converged at the country's biggest Eid congregation. The Islamic State (IS) has claimed that it carried out the Dhaka cafe attack but Bangladesh government attributed both the assaults to homegrown militants. It, however, said the homegrown terrorists might have links with foreign outfits. The Bar Council of India today suspended 126 lawyers of Tamil Nadu and prohibited them from practising in any court or tribunal in the country pursuant to its warning that it will suspend those who indulge in boycott and other activities. The BCI's action comes in the wake of an annoucement by the Joint Action Committee of various bar associations to stage a sit-in at the Madras High Court here, High Court bench in Madurai and subordinate courts on July 25, protesting the recently amended rules to Advocates Act. The JAC had said they would not allow anyone, even judges, to enter the campus. Those suspended include P Thirumalairajan, chief coordinator of the JAC, and M Velmurugan, former member of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Madras High Court Advocates Association secretary Arivazhagan, Women Lawyers Association president Nalini and Egmore Bar Association president Chandan Bab, a release from BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said. "These persons shall not be allowed to practice in any court or other forum and they shall not be treated as an advocate for any purpose. The council further resolves to initiate disciplinary proceedings against these lawyers for the aforementioned misconduct and the proceedings will be held in different places," the release said. Mishra said the members of so called Joint Action Committee were "misleading" the entire legal fraternity in the mofussil area in Tamil Nadu and the advocates were not informed about the decisions taken by the Full Court of Madras High Court. The Madras High Court had said no action would be taken against the advocates under the amended rules till the deliberations of the newly constituted Judges Committee for receiving suggestions from various bar associations on the matter concluded. The release said even the Bar Council had certain views about the newly-notified disciplinary rules for lawyers, but it would like to hold discussions with the high court and its rules committee along with Bar leaders and Bar Council members. "Strikes and boycotts are not the way to deal with the issue," Mishra said in the release. Hitting back at BSP chief Mayawati, BJP today said her clarification on the abusive slogans raised by her party workers during a protest rally was "laughable" and demanded that she initiate action against her partymen. "Mayawati has given a half-baked and laughable clarification on the abusive slogans raised by her party workers during a protest rally. The entire country knows what they meant by those slogans. "Why is she not taking action against her party leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui in whose presence BSP workers raised abusive slogans?" BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. After Dayashankar Singh had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments questioning the character of the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratbal and raised slogans against the expelled BJP leader's family. Mayawati today alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against expelled BJP leader Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its "polluted" and "casteist" mentality. Pathak asked why Mayawati was silent on the allegations being levelled against women members of Singh's family. He said Singh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and even BJP expressed regret over Singh's remark against Mayawati. "But the manner in which comments were made against Singh's minor daughter, neither Siddiqui nor Mayawati apologised even once," he said. While raids are being conducted for Singh's arrest, others against whom FIR had been lodged were moving freely and addressing press conferences openly. An FIR was filed against Mayawati, Siddiqui and others, on Friday on a complaint of Dayashankar Singh's mother Tetra Devi. US aircraft maker Boeing will deliver two Dreamliners to this year and four more next year to complete the airline's order of 27 of these aircraft, even as the national carrier grapples with glitches in its fleet of 787-800 planes. Once described as a "game-changer," was one of the launch customers of the Boeing 787-800s and had started inducting them in its fleet about four years ago. Since then, the airline has been facing a series of technical glitches and other malfunction issues with regard to the Dreamliner fleet. Boeing's Senior Vice President Sales (Asia Pacific and India) Dinesh Keskar said two Dreamliners would be delivered this year. "The delivery of Dreamliners start in November this year ... It (delivery) is on schedule. First plane in November and the next in December. Four more in 2017," he told PTI in an interview. currently has 21 Boeing 787-800s in the fleet. It has not taken delivery of these planes since May 2015. In January 2006, it had placed orders for 68 Boeing aircraft, including 27 Dreamliners and 41 B-777s and B-737-800s. Occasional glitches have forced Air India to ground these planes multiple times, causing long flight delays and significant loss of revenue. Playing down instances of operational woes faced by some planes, Keskar asserted there was no delay in the delivery schedule for Air India. "You don't hear about it. So they have been taken care of. The aeroplane (Dreamliner) has stabilised. That is the thing now," Keskar said. On whether Boeing was in discussions with no-frills airline SpiceJet for plane orders, Keskar indicated they were in talks. "The answer is very simple. They have already ordered Boeing 737 MAX planes. They have been operating Boeing planes from day one. All they are looking at now is what kind of price Boeing will offer or what benefits Airbus will offer. When the time is right, they will make their decision," he said. B-737 MAX is a narrow-body, single-aisle jetliner series being developed by Boeing as a successor to the B-737 Next Generation series. It is scheduled for first delivery in 2017. Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet have Boeing planes in their fleet. Bullish on the Indian aviation market, the US aircraft maker has projected India to see a demand for 1,850 new aircraft worth $265 billion over the next 20 years. As per its annual Current Market Outlook for India, single-aisle airplanes like the next-generation 737 and 737 MAX would make up for the largest share of new deliveries, pegged at 1,560 planes. Keskar said that break-even fares were coming down due to fall in fuel prices. "It is good for the industry as long as you are profitable. Everything is good as long as you are profitable. The moment you go into losses, it is not good. "What is happening today is that the break-even fare is coming down because fuel prices are going down. Break-even fare has come down considerably by 39 per cent over the years" because of low costs due to cheaper oil, he said. Keskar said that benefits of lower fuel prices were being passed on to people and "as long as airlines do that and make money, it is a good thing for the industry." "More people will fly if the fare is low. That is why we are growing... It may not be a sustainable strategy but again if fares go up by 2 or 3% and fuel price goes up by 2 and 3 per cent, that can be sustainable," he noted. As per Boeing, fuel prices, the exchange rate, and load factor continue to drive airline operating costs and profitability. The Boeing Senior Vice President Sales said the new civil aviation policy had many growth-oriented aspects, including regional connectivity scheme and the decision to replace 5/20 overseas flying norm with 0/20 rule. Domestic carriers that have at least 20 planes can now fly abroad while earlier they were also required to have five years of operational experience to operate overseas flights. Britain's new foreign secretary Boris Johnson has told the Parliament that India is on a long list of foreign missions who owe the country millions of pounds in unpaid bills. According to 2016 figures released by Transport for London (TfL), Indian diplomats allegedly owe them over 4.4 million pounds in accumulated unpaid dues since 2003. The list is topped by the US Embassy in London, which owes over 10 million pounds, followed by Japan, Nigeria and Russia, adding up nearly 97 million pounds in what TfL believes are "unpaid fees" by a majority of diplomatic missions from around the world. Johnson released the details as part of a written reply in the House of Commons last week, which includes details of 11 serious offences committed by diplomats of nine missions who have avoided prosecution due to diplomatic immunity. His statement said money owed for cleaning and lighting bills had jumped 22 per cent in 2015, to 907,976 pounds. He said: "However, 40,838 pounds of this outstanding debt is owed by Syria - which is not currently represented in the UK and we have therefore been unable to pursue this debt. "A further 87,020 pounds is owed by Iran, the majority of which was accrued during its Embassy's closure between 2011 and 2015. The Iranian Embassy has now reopened and the FCO will be requesting payment of what is owed." The Indian High Commission in London has consistently maintained the stance that it does not owe any congestion charge for its vehicles using the zone in London. Thecharge, which applies to central London during peak times from Monday to Friday, was introduced in 2003 to alleviatecongestionin the heart of London, which currently stands at 11.50 pounds per day when a vehicle enters the designatedcongestionzone and failure to pay incurs a 130 pounds fine. "We believe that the congestion charge imposed by the UK authorities is not a service charge but a tax, which should be exempted under the Vienna Convention and therefore the Indian High Commission, like several diplomatic missions in London, do not pay the congestion charge,"its statement reads. Among the more serious offences the new foreign secretary flagged up includes a Mexican official accused of taking indecent photographs of a child and threatening the child. Another allegation relating to the same country includes claims an individual showed a 13 to 15-year-old pornography. The UK Foreign Office would not confirm whether both incidents relate to the same person. There was an allegation of human trafficking into the UK for domestic servitude, and a separate claim of human trafficking, slavery or forced labour, both relating to Saudi Arabian officials. Where diplomats are alleged to have committed serious crimes, the Foreign Office asks their government to waive diplomatic immunity, and where this is not granted they can ask the diplomat to leave the UK. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "The UK government expects all foreign diplomats to abide by UK laws at all times. Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson has confirmed that she will play first leading lady in the Marvel studio films, Captain Marvel. The 26-year-old "Room" star has officially shared the on Twitter along with a picture of herself with the Marvel Studio's cap. "Call me Captain Marvel," Larson wrote. The actress looked all excited for her brand new venture and tweeted, "Thanks for the love! I'm so excited to be part of the team." Larson will play Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot, in the movie which is slated to release in 2019. She will next be seen in an action/adventure story "Kong: Skull Island" alongside Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L Jackson. A three-day meeting between Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began here today to sort out problems in the border, BSF officials said here. A 21-member BGB delegation, led by Brig Gen Md Habibul Karim, has arrived here through Akhaura Check post. The delegation was received by DIG, BSF, A K Jadav at the check post. Karim said the 'Border Coordination meeting' was a routine affair to identify problems and sort them out. When asked about the relation between border guards of the two neighbours, Karim said, "We are at the height of our good relations. We want to further improve it." IG, BSF, Tripura Frontier, J B Sangwan is leading the 21-member delegation of the BSF in the meeting. Borderguarding forces ofIndia and Pakistanwill hold their bi-annual DG-level talks on issues related to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border (IB) this week in Lahore. Officials said the meeting will take place on July 27-28 and senior officials from here, led by BSF Director General K K Sharma, will leave for Pakistan tomorrow. The other members of the 22-member Indian delegation will cross over from the Attari-Wagah land border at Amritsar. The last such meeting between theBorder Security ForceandPakistan Rangerswas held here in September last year. Officials said the IB has been "relatively less volatile" in nearly nine months since the last meeting between the two forces compared to the frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2015. But infiltration and drugs smuggling continued to be a matter of concern. They said the bi-annual meeting between the two border guarding forces has been delayed due to a number of bilateral issues. The Indian side, during thier talks at the Rangers headquarters in Lahore, is also expected to raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the IB. Last time the two sides had met in Delhi and it was decided not to fire heavy artillery like mortar shells and ensure that civilians living along the IB were not harmed. The two forces had also decided that their officials, right up to the level of Directors General, will exchange mobile numbers, email ids and fax numbers for swift communication to resolve disputes on the IB running through Indian states of Jammu-Kashmit, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The DG-level talks between the two sides are a bi-annual affair but many a time these meetings have not taken place due to strain in relations. Education Technology firm Byju's Learning app today said it is poised to raise USD 50 million (around Rs 335 crore) close on the heels of raising USD 75 million in March from Sequoia Capital & Sofina. The raised funds will be deployed to fuel international expansion and inorganic growth through global acquisitions, the company said in a press release. The markets where the company has presence already are India and the Middle East, and will enter the US, the UK and other Commonwealth countries over the next few months. According to statement, Byju's Learning App is already profitable in India with MoM growth of 15 per cent. The revenue for June 2016 stood at Rs 30 crore. The increasingly popular mobile app, that has crossed five million downloads, is reinventing pedagogy in the age of mobile devices. It said that by providing high-quality original content that deploys movie-making tools and graphics, the app aims to make learning contextual and visual. The app enjoys unprecedented popularity among K12 students. Currently, there are over 200,000 paid subscribers, with 30,000 added just in the last one month, it added. However, what is more significant is a high user engagement, with an average time of 40 minutes spent by a student on the app every day. Byju's learning app is paving the way for new-age, geography-agnostic learning tools that sit at the cross section of mobile, interactive content and adaptive learning methodologies. Byju Raveendran, Founder and CEO, Byju's Learning App said, "We are seeing strong inbound interest from multiple investors over the last few months, thanks to our explosive growth. We are keen to bring in partners who will catalyse the next stage for us. On the other hand, we are humbled by the rising popularity and high engagement for our product with 90 per cent annual renewal rates from the students. We are constantly innovating the way in which we make learning accessible, effective, engaging and personalised." Byju's is India's largest Ed-tech company that sits at the intersection of content, media and technology to offer highly adaptive, engaging and effective programs for K-12 and competitive exams like CAT, IAS, GRE GMAT. The learning app was launched in 2015, enabling them to scale beyond the geographical barriers that classroom teaching presents and reinvent how students learn in India. A dreaded pro-Khalistan terrorist, who had hijacked Srinagar-New Delhi Indian Airlines flight in 1984 and taken it to Lahore, has now been charged by CBI with cheating and forgery in acquiring an Afghan passport under assumed identity to migrate to Canada. In a recent charge sheet filed here, the agency has accused Parminder Singh Saini alias Harfan Maula for allegedly acquiring fake Afghan passport in the name of Balbir Singh while in Pakistan in 1995, CBI sources said. The agency has said that Saini used this passport to migrate to Canada where he got himself issued driving and social security licenses on the basis of forged travel documents which he had acquired in Pakistan. The sources said although the agency had taken over case of hijacking, initially registered by Budgam police on July 5, 1984 but could not proceed with it because of conviction for the same crime in Pakistan which had given highest possible punishment to Saini. He was later released and migrated to Canada using fake identity of Balbir Singh, the sources said. In its charge sheet filed in Patiala House Court, CBI has cited Letters Rogatory received from Canada where Saini was apprehended in 1995 after his fraud came to light, they said. Saini was deported to India in 2010 after a long legal battle in Canada where he had sought permanent residency. The hijacking had taken place on July 6, 1984 when the Indian Airlines flight IC 405 from Srinagar to New Delhi carrying 255 passengers and a crew of nine on flight forced to land in Lahore, Pakistan. The terrorists had demanded release of Harmandar Singh Sandho, General Secretary of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, and others prominent members besides USD 25- million in money which should be paid to them in Pakistan among other demands. Saini, who was believed to be the mastermind of hijacking, surrendered along with seven others accomplices before Pakistani authorities after 17 hours, ending the ordeal for passengers on the A-300 airbus. The Pakistan authorities refused to return these eight Sikh terrorists to India and carried out trial in their own court which sentenced them to death for hijacking. Saini remained in Lahore Jail from 1984-95. In December 1989, his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the then Benazir Bhutto government under a general amnesty scheme, they said citing from the charge sheet. The Pakistan government released him in 1995 with instructions to leave the country to the country of his choice within one month, the sources said. Saini arranged a fake Afghan passport while in Pakistan with an assumed identity of Balbir Singh to migrate to Canada February 3, 1995. The sources claimed that it would not have been possible for a convicted terrorist to leave that country on the basis of fake passport unless some sort of support mechanism existed for him there. Saini managed to acquire driving license and social security documents while in Toronto before he was exposed by the local authorities in September, 1995. CBI sources said they carried out investigation in Canada through Letter Rogatory. The sources said they could not carry out investigation in Pakistan as it was not needed. They said agency has got enough evidence from Canada to prosecute him on these charges. Chapters on disability will soon be included in school curriculum to increase awareness and sensitise the youth about the issue, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said today. At a bikers' rally organised here to spread awareness about universal accessibility for the differently-abled, Javadekar said educational institutes would be made accessible to the disabled in a phased manner, according to an official statement. The 'Ride for Accessibility' was organised as part of a campaign run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to spread awareness about the issue. Flagged off from India Gate, it saw the participation of leading biker groups from the city. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) is running an Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) for creating universal accessibility in built environment, public transportation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) eco-system. The campaign was initially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 3 last year on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot highlighted the objectives of 'Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan' and urged citiznes to come forward to support the campaign. Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, ambassador of the Accessible India Campaign, praised the indomitable spirit of persons with disabilities. The ministry is making efforts to make the campaign a mass movement by involving citizens and sensitising the society towards disability and the need for accessibility. Four Chinese officials in north China's Hubei province were today suspended for alleged dereliction of duty as public pressure over "ineffective rescue efforts" mounted following the deadly floods that left more than 200 dead. They include two Communist Party of China (CPC) officials in Xingtai city, a chief engineer of Shijiazhuang municipal bureau of transport and a deputy head of Jingxing County, state-run Xinhua agency reported. The officials will be subjected to accountability investigations and could face further punishment, it said. The mayor of Xingtai has apologised last night for inadequate response to the storms that have caused 25 deaths and 13 missing in the city. Locals had accused officials of failing to provide early warning about flash floods and later of the impending deluge. People took to the streets after pictures of the corpses of drowned children being pulled from the muddy floodwaters were circulated online. They accused officials of "ineffective rescue efforts and trying to cover up the cause of the disaster." The residents also voiced suspicion that the sudden flood was the result of a release of water from a local reservoir, rather than the breaking of a levee in a nearby river as claimed by officials. At least 114 people were killed and 111 reported missing in Hubei yesterday after the floods by torrential rains that lashed the north China this week. Nearly 310,000 people have been evacuated while hundreds of thousands are still trapped as water levels have risen up. In central and southern China, several major cities have been submerged due to the heavy downpour, causing over 200 deaths, state media has reported. The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today accused the opposition Congress and National Conference (NC) of "colluding" with the Kashmiri separatists to exploit the ongoing unrest in the Valley for their political gains. "Despite the fact that the problem in Kashmir is a legacy of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Congress leaders continue to make irresponsible statements and add fuel to the fire," BJP state spokesman Anil Gupta said. He said the recent statements by prominent national leaders of Congress and the speeches made by them in the Parliament smack of collusion between the separatists, National Conference and other secessionist elements in the Valley. "They (Congress and National Conference) are determined to exploit the current turmoil for their narrow political ends sacrificing the national interest," Gupta said. Gupta said that BJP has already expressed its opposition to the restoration of "grand bargain" proposition of former Home Minister P Chidambaram virtually endorsing the 'greater autonomy' demand of National Conference by terming it as "dangerous, anti-Jammu, anti-Ladakh and anti-India." "While Chidambaram has failed to explain his failure to act when he held the all-important portfolio of Home Minister, his current utterances are not only factually incorrect, untimely, irresponsible but also opportunistic," Gupta said. The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav today said, in the wake of violence which claimed 46 lives in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "In 1994, a unanimous resolution was passed in Parliament that the only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan is with respect to PoK. We tell our BJP-PDP government in J&K that you don't have any 'locus standi' when it comes to India and Pakistan. It will be dealt with by the Government of India," Madhav said here. "But, we all have to understand our outstanding issue is not Kashmir. It is ours. When I say it is ours, I am not talking of geography alone but I am also talking about the demography. When I say Kashmir is ours, the people of Kashmir are also ours. This message has to be loud and clear," he said. "If today some of them are on a wrong path, we will set them on right path. Have faith. People in PoK are also our people. We have to get that. But our problem is that in media studios, Wani is our man, not the peace-loving people of the state...Some of them are violent, but many of them are peace loving," he said. "There were 14 criminal cases against him (Wani), including attacks on army, police and killing of constable. These are very serious cases. He is a terrorist on whose head there was Rs 10 lakh reward," he said. "One parliamentarian says you should have captured him and arrested him. During an encounter when bullets are flying do you check the bio-data while shooting?" he asked. "Our soldiers, policemen, para-military personnel who went to capture him only know how to act against a terrorist. The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists," he said. Madhav further said Home Minister Rajnath Singh is camping in J&K and holding discussions to bring peace in the state. Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Clashes between protesters and security forces have claimed 46 lives and left over 3,400 people injured in Kashmir Valley. A crocodile killed a man at Kothiya village in Karjan tehsil of the district today, police said. Sanjay Amrutbhai Patanwaria (40) and two others were fishing in Narmada river when a crocodile grabbed Patanwaria's leg and dragged him into the water. Villagers rushed to the spot and searched for him. His mangled body was found after nearly an hour. Expanding its probe, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has sought relevant information from the US authorities in connection with its investigation into alleged Rs 580-crore excise duty evasion by confectionery giant Mondelez, maker of chocolates. A request in this regard has been routed via Personnel Ministry, which acts as administrative authority for the CVC, to the US authorities as the firm is headquartered there. We have sought some information from the authorities in the US in connection with the case, Central Vigilance Commissioner K V Chowdary told PTI. Official sources said the request has been made under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty that generally allows for the exchange of evidence and information in criminal matters. They said the authorities here also planned to get some information regarding the company and its activities from the US markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The CVC is looking into the role of central and state government officials who might have facilitated the alleged evasion. It has also sought some documents from the company representatives here, the sources said. A Mondelez India spokesperson had earlier said they will cooperate with the authorities concerned and that its executives acted in good faith and within the law in the decision to claim excise benefit. The demand of about Rs 580 crore was raised last year against Mondelez India Foods Pvt Ltd, erstwhile India Ltd, for allegedly evading excise duty by fraudulently taking exemption for one of its ghost production units in Himachal Pradesh's Baddi area. The Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) here had in 2011 initiated a probe against the company for allegedly misusing "area-based exemption" for its new unit in Baddi, even before it came into existence. As per norms, the area-based exemption for new industrial units of firms in Himachal Pradesh entails full exemption from excise duty for production of specified goods for a period of 10 years. However, for availing such exemption the unit should have been established before March 2010. During investigation, the DGCEI officials allegedly found that Mondelez claimed excise duty exemption for its new unit in Sandoli village in Baddi relating to a period even before it came into existence, they said. The US-based multinational, in a filing to the SEC, had said it is contesting showcause notices issued by the excise department here which has demanded from it unpaid taxes and penalties. In the filing made in February this year, Mondelez International had disclosed that it was facing investigation under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of the US in connection with a facility in India which it had acquired as part of the takeover. After a long takeover battle, Cadbury was acquired in 2010 by the erstwhile Kraft Foods which later adopted a new name, Mondelez International. However, Cadbury brand has been retained for various products. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today hit out at Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar claiming that they should stop shedding "crocodile tears" on the issue of Dalit atrocities in Gujarat as the Dalit victims of massacres in Bihar did not get justice during their chief ministership. A total of 113 Dalits were killed in various massacres of Bathe, Miyanpur and Bathanitola during RJD chief Lalu Prasad's regime, the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said. All the accused, who were convicted in lower court, of these massacres were acquitted by the High Court under the tenure of JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar's government due to the failure of police to produce evidence, he claimed. "They (Kumar and Prasad) are trying to reap political dividends by shedding crocodile tears over Dalit atrocities in Gujarat. They should tell people why the state government failed to bring perpetrators of the several massacres of Dalits to justice," Paswan told reporters here. Stressing that both Nitish and Kumar were indulging in cheap politics, the minister said he would request Kumar to first improve the law and order of the state so that atrocities against Dalits are checked and justice done to them. On Lalu Prasad's suggestion to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask all his ministers to keep a cow in their bungalows in New Delhi, Paswan said Kumar should tell Lalu Prasad that keeping cows in bungalows meant for MPs is banned in Delhi. Lalu Prasad should tell his ministers in Bihar to do so, he said. Taking exception to the appointment of 90 law officers of Bihar government, the LJP chief said not a single Dalit was considered fit to find a place in the list. On the liquor ban in the state, Paswan claimed that JD(U) legislators and leaders drink alcohol secretly. A 14-year-old who was repeatedly sexually assaulted and was forced to drink a corrosive substance, died at a hospital on Monday, prompting an anguished DCW chief to lash out at the Centre and Delhi police on the issue of women's safety. "How many Nirbhayas does Delhi want? We all simply wait for next Nirbhaya to die," the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal said on Twitter, adding she "never felt so helpless." "The girl was fed a corrosive substance which completely destroyed her internal organs and she died a very painful death," she said, adding that it was only after the Commission issued notice to the DCP (North), the accused who was roaming free was arrested. She asked the Centre to set up a high-level ministerial committee on women safety under the leadership of Home Minister Rajnath Singh. "With parents of 14-year-old victim. V poor n inconsolable. How many Nirbhayas does Delhi want? We all simply wait for next Nirbhaya to die. "To add insult to injury, Home Ministry scrapped Women Safety Sp Task Force in Delhi set up wen Nirbhaya died stating it's mandate finished! "She is dead ! We the system is responsible. Never felt so helpless. Need to do something. Come on people ...(sic)," Maliwal said in a series of tweets. Maliwal was alluding to the Centre's recent decision to disband the Special Task Force on women's safety in Delhi. It was established in 2013 in the aftermath of the brutal Nirbhaya gangrape. On Friday, the DCW has issued a notice to DCP (North) questioning the handling of the case of the Dalit minor who was allegedly kidnapped by the accused just before a hearing in her rape case, subjected to sexual assault several times and forced to drink corrosive substance. In the notice, the Commission had directed DCP (North) to provide security to the girl and her family and asked why the police had not arrested the accused till date. The Commission had also sought the details of action taken on the complaint of the victim's parents regarding threat to their lives in an FIR filed on May 15 and asked the reasons for not registering offences under Section 3 of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Giving details of the case, the Commission in its notice had said, an FIR under sections 363, 376 IPC and 4/6 of POCSO Act was registered in Burari police station on December 2 last year against a main accused Shivshankar. According to the FIR in May, just before a hearing in the court, the girl was kidnapped from her house following which, on May 19, another FIR was registered. The DCW said the victim was recovered between May 26-27 and her parents were called to Burari police station to meet her where they found their daughter bleeding profusely from the head. The victim has alleged she was kidnapped by the maternal aunt of the main accused and during confinement she was raped several times a day by Shivshankar. Her hands and feet were tied and was refused any food during the period. The victim has alleged Shivshankar along with his maternal aunt and uncle had fed the girl a corrosive substance mixed in a soft drink... The same is mentioned in a complaint by the victim's father in Burari police station on July 15. "However, the girl has alleged the police forced her to change her statement, appearing before the Metropolitan Magistrate. Later, she was dropped in Nari Niketan. It has also been stated that there was a call to the parents from Nari Niketan wherein it was informed that the victim was in a very serious condition and needed care. "The parents then ensured that the girl gets admission in LNJP hospital wherein she was treated for some time. When the parents requested for an MLC, it is alleged by them that the investigating officer concerned refused the same," Maliwal had said in the notice. The Commission, which learnt about the case through a media report, got the victim shifted to Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh for better treatment under the EWS Scheme. A 31-year-old father of three obsessed with fitness and sex, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel led multiple lives. His darkest side appears to have been his best-kept secret: a calculated, committed jihadi ready to kill scores of people in a French Riviera rampage. Information emerging from authorities and people who knew him suggests Bouhlel concealed his different worlds from each other, and may have been following Islamic State guidance to blend in and hide his radicalism while he plotted violence. There was his family life, three children under 6, including an 18-month-old born just after his wife split with Bouhlel, accusing him of frequent abuse. Then there was his erratic social life: smoking pot with acquaintances in the Tunisian immigrant community; martial arts training and possible steroid use to bulk up muscle; salsa dancing to pick up women; and a reported male lover in his 70s. And now, it appears that Bouhlel had an extremist life, too, built up over months as he prepared for the Bastille Day attack. His parallel worlds are complicating investigators' efforts to figure out who he was, who might have helped with the attack, whether other violence was planned. They may never have a definitive answer: Bouhlel was killed by police after ramming his truck through a family-filled crowd enjoying fireworks. Authorities initially said Bouhlel had radicalized very quickly. Family and neighbors described him as indifferent to religion, volatile and prone to drinking sprees. But on Thursday, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said investigators found images in Bouhlel's phone suggesting he was premeditating an attack as far back as a year ago. Molins said Bouhlel studied Captagon, a drug used by some jihadis before attacks. He had a screenshot of a previous vehicle attack in a crowd. He obtained weapons through a string of acquaintances. Authorities say Bouhlel drew inspiration from IS propaganda, though there is no sign the attack was commandeered by the extremist group's bases in Syria or Iraq. Yet his turn to extremism went unnoticed by relatives, neighbors and acquaintances. And police and prosecutors investigating Bouhlel for a road rage incident in early 2016 saw no reason to flag him as a potential risk. A French security official said this may have been intentional, in response to IS suggestions to some followers in the West that they hide their radical faith to stay off police radar. Attackers who targeted Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016 are believed to have done the same. In a clear indication that Gujarat was on AAP's electoral radar, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the result of the Assembly polls in the western state next year could "surprise everyone" and that Delhi and Gujarat will now "fight together" against the BJP. Kejriwal, who visited Gujarat twice in the recent past, claimed the people in the state are extremely "angry" against the BJP government led by Anandiben Patel and accused it of levelling "false charges" against members of the Patidar and Dalit communities. "Gujarat is very very angry against Anandiben Patel n BJP. Next year, Guj election results cud surprise everyone. Anandiben is sending dalits and patidars to jail in false cases while Modiji is doing the same in Delhi. Delhi and Gujarat will now fight together (sic)," the AAP chief said in a series of tweets. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on the assault on Dalits "proves" that these incidents had the blessings of the top leadership of BJP. "PM Modi's continued silence on dalit attacks proves that these attacks are taking place with active support from top BJP leadership," he alleged in another tweet. At his maiden 'Talk to AK' session last week, Kejriwal had said that AAP will surely contest polls in Gujarat provided people want the party to do so. In Gujarat, Kejriwal dubbed the BJP "anti-Dalit" and accused the ruling BJP of "trampling" upon the depressed sections after meeting the Dalit victims who were thrashed by cow vigilantes for allegedly skinning a dead cow on July 11. China today asked Japan to restrain itself from interfering in the South China Sea dispute, saying Tokyo should instead consider its "shameful history" before accusing it of expansionist behaviour in the strategic region. China took exception to Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks that he would discuss the dispute over territorial claims with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Kishida had said he would talk about the maritime dispute if he gets a chance to meet Wang during the series of foreign ministers' meeting involving ASEAN and other Asian countries. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that the arbitration by a UN-backed international panel based in The Hague was "illegal and invalid" from beginning to the end. China has rejected the ruling by The Permanent Court of Arbitratioon on a case brought before it by The Philippines after years of negotiations between the two countries. It had also refused to participate in the arbitration process, claiming the tribunal lacks jurisdiction. The Chinese spokesperson said that China's rejection of the award was "indeed in accordance with the international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea." "Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue, and considering its shameful history, it has no rights whatsoever to accuse China on the matter," state-run Xinhua agency quoted him as saying. The court found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters of the South China - through which more than USD 5 trillion in trade passes annually - around the Philippines. It has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia. China and Japan have had a rather frosty relationship over a range of matters - including historical and economic issues. Bilateral ties also strained due to a territorial row over a group of islands, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. The issue ignites nationalist passions in both countries. Focusing on the true meaning of Yoga, a new documentary traces the genesis of the discipline, its utility in daily lives and popularity across the globe. The 32-minute-long high definition film 'Yoga: The Divinity of Grace' by eminent art historian Binoy K Bhel was screened today at the 5th Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival. Carrying interviews of eminent scholars and experts such as Padma Bhushan David Frawley, Swami Sitaramananda of Sivananda Yoga, Dr Nagendra, former NASA scientist and presently Chancellor SVYASA Yoga University, Dr Gangadhar of NIMHANS, etc., the film has been shot across India, USA and Vietnam. The filmmaker, also an authority on Asian culture, said during ancient times, spirituality and science went together but is now separated. "Further research needs to be done and Yoga needs to be introduced in all branches of education and medicine, and even in the work place," he said. The film is based on his primary research on the subject which began around 20 years ago. The shooting for it was done over the past two years, mostly on 4K video. Retirement fund body is likely to double the proportion of its investment in exchange traded funds (ETFs) for this fiscal to 10 per cent at its trustees meet on Tuesday in line with an expert panel's recommendations. EFPO, at present, is investing 5 per cent of investible deposits in ETFs despite opposition by labour unions. "The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is most likely to double the percentage of its investment in ETFs to 10 per cent as recommended by an expert panel in its trustees meeting on July 26," a source said. The panel constituted by EPFO's Finance Audit and Investment Committee (FAIC) has recommended the allocation to equity can be made 10 per cent this fiscal. It was of the view that current allocation of 5 per cent incremental flows to equity may not be sufficient for meaningful contrition to overall portfolio return of the . The panel pointed out that at present the EPFO's equity investment constitute less than 1 per cent of the total corpus compared with the global average of around 30 per cent. The experts also suggested that if the body will invest 5 per cent of its investible deposits in equity every year then it will take 15 years for these investments to become 5 per cent of the EPFO's total investment. They added if 10 per cent is invested into equities then it will take just five years for these investments to become 5 per cent of the total portfolio. The report of the group to examine alternate strategy for investments in ETFs will be placed before the trustees on Tuesday. Earlier, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya had indicated that the proportion of EPFO's equity investment will be increased. The ministry had also notified a pattern of investment on April 23, 2015, which allows investment in equity and related investments from 5 to 15 per cent. The EPFO is estimated to have Rs 1.35 lakh crore as investible deposits in the current fiscal. However, the EPFO's apex decision making body the Central Board of Trustees headed by the Labour Minister had decided to invest only 5 per cent in ETFs to start with last year. Total amount invested by EPFO in ETFs is Rs 7,468 crore as on as on June 30. The absolute return on the investment so far is 7.45 per cent. The member of the expert group were India Index Services & Products Ltd, SBI Mutual Funds Management Pvt Ltd, LIC, Asia Index Pvt Ltd and National Institute of Securities Markets. Indigenous foods and unique ingredients of Australia can now be explored in India, thanks to the efforts of master chef Ranveer Brar aided by rapid proliferation of social media. Brar has brought across to food aficionados the Australian farms, markets, vineyards and gastronomy stories through short videos on popular social networking site Twitter. These videos, called the 'Tweedeos', provide a glimpse into the delicious diversity of cuisine in the island-continent. "The fact that Australia has a culture and food ecosystem that has developed in isolation was one of the biggest reasons for me to visit (that country)," Brar said, explaining what prompted him to zero-in on the land of kangaroos for his innovative initiative. "Also, I think Australia has an evolved 'farm to table' philosophy. Something that I stand for, hence it was a first choice for my tweedeo series," Brar told PTI. Talking about the unique quality of food of the commonwealth land, he said the ingredients are truly the most remarkable part of the Australian cuisine. "On one side there are these new world fresh and zesty ingredients and on the other end there are the original native Australian ingredients that go back thousands of years and are unique to the Australian ecosystem," Brar said. "The old world ingredients are the native Australian ingredients, like there is a variety called the 'Morton Bay Fig', which is like a primitive fig, it's like a 1,500-year- old variety. Then there are these berries, the riberries, lilly berries... They call it lilly pilly berries. "These berries are also very native, very unadulterated, more than a 1,000-year-old non-genetically modified species," he said. "So, on one end in Australia there are these very original, very untouched ingredients and on the other end there's everything which is new like wines, olives, oranges, tomatoes, which is very new world, which came to this part of the southern hemisphere only after 1850-1860s. So that for me is a contrast, it's a really beautiful part of the experience," the master chef said. Traditionally, Australian food is very native in nature - foraging, picking up stuff, hunting and gathering, that's how Australian cuisine actually started-off, Brar said. "There was a movement called the Pacific Rim movement, the first so-called inspired food movement which started on this side of the world. That is where Australia inspired India. So most of the Asian inspired dishes that we see today actually started in Australia. "Like today lemon grass is used, coconut is used everywhere, Thai chilly we use everywhere... So that whole conversation started in Australia," Brar said. Brar, in association with Twitter India and Tourism Australia, launched the video series titled #Ranveerontheroad on July 21. The tweedeos' sojourn will span 40 short, real videos in which the chef will reveal 'his' take on the graphically vast continent-country and uncover its history. On similarities and differences between Australian and Indian cuisines, he said, "The similarity that truly stands out is the diversity in cuisine and culture for both India and Australia. The differences in eating habits stem out from the rich vegetarian culture in India, while Australia has been more meat-eating until recently". On the aim behind starting the series, Brar said, "Tweedeos are small webisodes that carry a personal perspective from my travels. It's aspects of a destination and culture that either has not been looked at from a fresh perspective. All of us spend a lot of time on the cellphone and this creates an opportunity for content hosting and consumption on this medium". He said Indian cuisine is immensely popular in the bigger cities of Australia like Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. "I visited a few Indian restaurants to the happy sight of more Australians dining than Indians". Asked how tweedeos are a better medium to put across information to food enthusiasts, the chef said "the reason I chose Twitter was because I felt I could have very personal conversations with the viewer". Every tweedeo is hand-picked by the chef himself, curating the best of local flavours, culture, traditions and bonds unique to India and Australia, which is not just food, but all making memories about 'The Land Down Under', 140 characters at a time. The tweedeos will be launched every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Facebook and Instagram accounts of Qandeel Baloch, who shot to fame through her raunchy postings on social media, have been deleted following her murder by her brother for protecting the family's "honour". The suggestive videos and photos that Qandeel, a 26-year-old social media sensation, shared on Facebook and Instagram are no longer available. "Sorry, this content isn't available at the moment; sorry this page is not available," her Facebook and Instagram accounts show respectively when searching online. The accounts have been reportedly deleted by Facebook. As per the company policy, which owns both Facebook and Instagram, any personal account that belongs to a deceased individual is automatically made into a memorialised account where friends and family can share memories on the timeline. "Pages with a sole admin whose account was memorialised will be removed from Facebook if we receive a valid request," mentions Facebook in its help centre. The social media giant might have received a request from the Pakistani government, asking it to delete her accounts, Dawn reported. "The company has, on multiple occasions removed or blocked content on requests by the state," it said. Qandeel's videos on social media were considered quite controversial in Pakistan. She shot to fame in the country in 2014 after a video of her pouting for the camera. Her brother Muhammad Wasim has been arrested by police. He has confessed to strangulating his sister in the name of protecting the family's 'honour'. The twitter account of the social media celebrity is only thing available online. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister Ram Shinde today met family members of the gang-rape victim at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district. Fadnavis expressed his deepest condolences and assured strongest action against the culprit and strictest punishment through fast track court. A large number of people were present at this time in Kopardi, a CMO official said. The CM interacted with them and assured in his short speech that government will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice. The 15-year-old girl was brutally raped and killed by three men at Kopardi in Ahmednagar on July 13, when she was returning after meeting her grandfather. She was allegedly accosted by three men, who gangraped her before strangling her. The victim, a student of class IX, had reportedly been mutilated, and local accounts suggest she was found with her hair pulled out, and hands and teeth broken. She was found with both shoulders dislocated, police said. The crime sparked protests across the state, with people taking to the streets demanding action against the accused, while the Congress demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral grounds. Police said all three of the accused were arrested by the local crime branch after the incident. Fadnavis had informed the State Legislative Assembly last week that the accused have been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He had also said that noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the public prosecutor in the case and the government has given Rs five lakh solatium to the victim's family. Firearms used by security personnel during the alleged encounter with Maoists in Odisha's Kandhamal district, in which five villagers were killed, will be tested in the State Forensic Laboratory. Fifteen AK-47 rifles, several used bullets and clothes of those killed, which were seized by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the incident, were sent for forensic tests after being produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Baliguda, officials said today. The bullets removed from the bodies of the injured and the deceased were also sent for laboratory test, they said, adding a two-member team of ballistic experts had visited the firing site on the request of the SIT. Five persons, including two women and a child, were killed and three others injured during an alleged encounter with Maoists on July 8. While security forces claimed the villagers died when their vehicle was caught in the crossfire, many survivors alleged the bullets were raining from one side, probably from the jawans. Under attack over the incident, the state government on July 12 ordered a SIT to probe into the incident under the supervision of Inspector General of Police (Human Rights Protection Cell) Mahendra Pratap. Haryana government is set to formulate a scheme to permanently solve the shortage of drinking water and proper drainage in villages of the state, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today. "With implementation of the joint scheme of the Irrigation and Public Health Engineering Departments, there would be no shortage of basic amenities in any part of the state," Khattar said at a 'Jan Vikas' rally at Brig Hoshiar Singh stadium here. Hailing Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district as the land of heroes, the CM paid tributes to the martyrs, especially Brig Hoshiar Singh, who sacrificed their lives for the country. The chief minister dedicated Rs 93-crore development schemes for the people of Bahadurgarh. Khattar said sex ratio had improved in the state due to public awareness of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme'. He expressed his gratitude to Khap Panchayats or caste councils and social institutions for making the programme a success. With the use of Information Technology, many irregularities in online services have been removed, he said, adding that 6.04 lakh names of ineligible ration card holders had been deleted. Similarly, by linking the social security pension scheme with Aadhaar, names of 1.5 lakh ineligible beneficiaries have been removed, he said. Regarding recent recruitment in the Police Department, he said despite applications from 3.25 lakh candidates, no recommendation was received from any MLA that "underscores "transparent and clean governance." Speaking on the occasion, Haryana's Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said, "BJP governments at the Centre and in the state were dedicated to work for Cow, Gita and Gaytri". "Under the Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gau Samvardhan, the people of Haryana have started taking interest in rearing indigenous cows," he said. Notably, Haryana had passed a strict cow protection law last year. Four Chinese officials have been suspended following devastating floods that left more than 200 dead and missing and provoked widespread outrage over an alleged cover-up by the authorities, state media reported today. Torrential rains lashed the north this week, driving over 300,000 people from their homes and leaving hundreds of thousands more trapped as waters rose. But a flash flood near the town of Xingtai in Hebei province provoked particular outrage after locals accused officials of failing to warn them of the impending deluge -- and trying to cover up the cause of the disaster. The alleged mistake left at least 25 dead and 13 missing, and public anger over the situation mounted after pictures of the corpses of drowned children being pulled from the muddy floodwaters circulated online. In the aftermath, residents voiced suspicions that the sudden flood, which struck early Wednesday while villagers slept, was man-made -- the result of a release of water from a local reservoir, rather than the breaking of a levee in a nearby river, as officials claimed. Hebei's Communist Party committee has now announced it has suspended two Xingtai town officials, as well as a chief engineer from the provincial capital and a deputy county head, for "dereliction of duty" the official Xinhua agency reported. The four officials will be "subjected to accountability investigations and could face further punishment", it said. Xingtai's mayor also apologised for the town's response to the disaster. Earlier in the week, local deputy Communist Party secretary Wang Qingfei had drawn ire for suggesting there had been "no casualties" in the flood, the Beijing said yesterday. Public scepticism towards officials is common following disasters in China, as authorities seek to control information and their lack of openness can raise doubts about their trustworthiness. Flooding is not uncommon during the summer monsoon season in northern China, but rains have been unusually heavy across the country this summer. Beijing and surrounding areas were expected to receive more heavy rains today, Xinhua said. Heavy downpours have already wreaked havoc in central and southern China, flooding several major cities and causing over 200 deaths, state media has said. Britain's vote to leave the European Union heightens risks for the world economy, finance chiefs from the G20 group of leading countries said today. The outcome of last month's referendum "adds to the uncertainty in the global economy", they said in a communique after a meeting in China. But they insisted that EU member countries were "well positioned to proactively address the potential economic and financial consequences" of the vote, adding: "In the future, we hope to see the UK as a close partner of the EU." The G20 cited several other factors complicating the global economic environment, among them "geopolitical conflicts, terrorism, and refugee flows". But participants said Brexit was at the forefront of concerns at the meeting in Chengdu, the last before the grouping's annual summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September. Britain's finance minister Philip Hammond -- who was seated in the front row of a group photo today -- told reporters the subject had come up "a great deal". "The reality is there will be a measure of uncertainty continuing right up to the conclusion of our negotiations with the EU," he said. Before the meeting the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its forecasts for global growth this year and next by 0.1 percentage point, to 3.1 percent and 3.4 per cent respectively. "'Brexit' marks the materialisation of an important downside risk to global growth," IMF staff said in a report ahead of the meeting, adding that as it was "still very much unfolding, more negative outcomes are a distinct possibility". Officials in Chengdu said protracted or acrimonious talks between the EU and Britain over the departure could heighten the dangers. "It won't mean that they'll get there in a week or a month. It's a process that could take longer," a senior US Treasury official told journalists on Saturday. "The thing that would be very disruptive to confidence is if this becomes a highly confrontational process," he said. Other challenges threaten: a slowdown in the Chinese economy, as well as terrorist attacks and the failed coup in Turkey. Earlier this month, 84 people were killed in the French Riviera city of Nice when a Tunisian truck driver -- suspected to be inspired by the Islamic State jihadist group -- ploughed a 19-tonne vehicle through a holiday crowd. Last week a German-Iranian gunman -- believed not to be connected to the Islamic State group but "obsessed" with mass killers -- shot dead nine people in the German city of Munich before killing himself. "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the recent terrorist attacks," the communique said. "We reaffirm our solidarity and resolve in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and wherever it occurs." But the document did not mention the attempt to depose President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or the subsequent widespread crackdown on his opponents. District 22 State Rep. Dan Howell has notified Meigs County Mayor Bill James that the county has been awarded a $20,000 Tourism Enhancement Grant. The grant is part of $1 million appropriated by the Tennessee Legislature allowing the State Department of Tourism and Department of Economic and Community Development to work together to promote economic development and tourism in rural Tennessee. County Mayor James said, "The grant will be used to fund a Tourism Asset Action Plan for Meigs County." Howell said, "This $20,000 grant will be a tremendous help to Meigs County. This community has wonderful assets, such as, more than 40 miles of Tennessee River shoreline, the Hiwassee River and the Cherokee Removal Memorial. This money will help local leaders meet the challenge of creating a plan of action to let potential tourists know about what's available here." Rep.Howell said, "This $20,000 grant will be a tremendous help to Meigs County. This community has wonderful assets, such as, more than 40 miles of Tennessee River shoreline, the Hiwassee River and the Cherokee Removal Memorial. This money will help local leaders meet the challenge of creating a plan of action to let potential tourists know about what's available here." There were 29 communities selected from a pool of 61 applications in the first round of awards. The Grants Assist counties and cities in improving local assets to increase the economic impact of tourism. Genghis Khan, the legendary Mongolian ruler and horseman who invaded half the world in the 13th century, now keeps a watch over the land- locked and scenic country from the steppes. The huge Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, part of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex is a 40-metre tall shimmering statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, is currently the biggest equestrian statue in the world. The impressive theme park is situated on the bank of the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog some 54 km east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where according to legend, he found a golden whip. The 250-tonne gleaming stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan, who is revered by nomadic Mongolians as a brilliant military leader who unified warring tribes to found the world's largest empire, is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace. It is on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor centre, with 36 columns representing the 36 Khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. It was designed by sculptor D Erdenebileg and architect J Enkhjargal and erected in 2008. "We Mongolians are proud of this statue," a tour guide said. "We consider him as our hero, our father and our god," she said. Visitors can walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck, where they can have a panoramic view of the Mongolian steppes. According to plans, the main statue area will be surrounded by 200 ger or yurts (a portable, round tent) . The cost of the complex is said to be USD 4.1 million, spent by The Genco Tour Bureau, a Mongolian private company. The museum, which charges nearly USD 4 per person as entry fee, has exhibitions relating to the Bronze Age and Xiongnu archaeological cultures in Mongolia, which show everyday utensils, belt buckles, knives and sacred animals. A second exhibition at the museum is on the Great Khan period in the 13 and 14th centuries which has ancient tools, goldsmith subjects and some Nestorian crosses and rosaries. Inside the two-story base of the statue, visitors can see a replica of Genghis Khan's legendary golden whip, sample traditional cuisine of horse meat and potatoes. Visitors can ascend to the exhibition hall using a lift at the back of the horse and then walk to the horse's head passing through its chest and the back of its neck from where they can have a panoramic view. An Indian visitor to the complex, said, the huge statue was highly impressive and the scenic beauty of the Mongolian blue sky and the steppes was breathtaking. Genghis Khan, 65, had been revered for centuries by Mongols, largely because of his association with Mongol statehood, political and military organisation, and his victories in war. He is regarded as one of the prominent leaders in Mongolia's history and the symbol of Mongolian culture. Government should resist the urge to control everything in a liberalised economy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here today. Delivering Justice Konda Madhva Reddy Memorial lecture, Jaitley also said India did not have the "intellectual honesty" to admit that the previous economic model was at least "partly fraud". "If you compare the pre-1991 with the post-1991 situation...There is one lesson as far as the government is concerned. Inherently government has an urge to control. Government have an urge to regulate. Government have urge to become overbearing. All this is somewhat inconsistent with the post-1991 environment," he said. "Government then have to become facilitators. The government's urge to control has to be restrained," he said. "The reforms could have dated at least two decades back. But hopefully the jury on the subject will always be out and it will be matter of historians and analysts to write this," he said. When state-owned MTNL and BSNL had monopoly, the telephony reach was just 0.8 per cent and opening up of telecom sector took it to 80 per cent, he said. "The state monopoly was considered to be in the larger interest of the public. Telephony is one example where the state monopoly could provide telephony only to less than one per cent of the people where you have 50 years of state monopoly," Jaitley said. Further, he said expansion of judicial remit too was "inconsistent" with economic reforms. "Just as there is an urge to control by the government, there is a corresponding urge to expand as far as the judiciary is concerned. And that urge to expand, like the government's urge to control, is also inconsistent with the idea of more market-centric reforms," he said. The whole idea behind the arbitration laws was to allow parties to settle disputes amicably without the judiciary's intervention, Jaitley said. "The whole object of arbitration law was that parties choose their own forum and the courts don't interfere. And that is the practise world over...In liberalised economy the interference itself will be counter-productive to the whole objective of investment," he said. Government on Sunday decided to set up a special court to hear all Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) related cases on a priority basis and also asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to expedite action to recover Rs 3,721 crore from defaulters. Government asked the regulator Sebi to complete probe of brokers at the earliest. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has also been directed to pursue the court case expeditiously for effecting the merger of now-defunct NSEL with its parent Financial Technologies India Limited (FTIL) at the earliest. A decision in this regard was taken in a recent meeting under the chairmanship of the Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das that reviewed the action taken by multiple investigating agencies on NSEL payment scam of Rs 5,600 crore. According to the official statement, "The key decisions taken in the meeting are, a designated judge of the City Civil Court and Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay has been nominated to try various cases arising out of the NSEL payment crisis, in addition to the other assigned matters, by giving priority to NSEL related cases." "Meanwhile, efforts are being made to set-up an independent court to hear NSEL related cases on exclusive basis," it said. That apart, the government has asked the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police to expedite realisation of value of attached assets, according to the procedure, quickly. So far, the EOW has attached 831 properties worth Rs 7,063 crore under Maharashtra Protection Of Interest Of Depositors Act, of which, attachment of 711 properties worth Rs 6,115 crore have been notified in the Gazette of the Government of Maharashtra. "The Government of Maharashtra was requested to expedite these measures so that the defaulters could be brought to book quickly. Money could be realised from the sale of attached assets and consequently be returned to investors of NSEL, who have suffered losses in the payment crisis," it added. The nearly Rs 5,600-crore payment and settlement crisis at NSEL came to light late 2013 and since then the matter has come under the scanner of multiple agencies. ED has arrested FTIL promoter Jignesh Shah and has been remanded to judicial custody till August 1, 2016. On the NSEL-FTIL merger case, the government said, "In the review meeting, MCA was advised to pursue the case expeditiously for effecting the merger at the earliest." "Further, MCA was also advised to strongly defend the efforts of the government to introduce management and governance changes in FTIL, which are under legal challenge in Company Law Tribunal and Madras High Court." MCA had issued a draft order for the merger/amalgamation of NSEL with FTIL in public interest. Bombay High Court had granted extension of time up to February 15, 2016 to the MCA for taking final view on the draft order. MCA later issued the final Order on February 12, 2016 for the merger of NSEL with FTIL. Bombay High Court, however, has restrained the Government from notifying the final Order in the official gazette. Reviewing the actions taken by the Sebi in the NSEL matter, the government said it conducted detailed inspection of books of five brokers of the erstwhile Forward Markets Commission, whose names figure in the list of offenders received from EOW, Mumbai Police. "The audit has since been completed and Sebi is examining the report. Sebi was advised to complete the examination quickly and thereafter initiate necessary action against violation / offences, if any," it said. The Centre said the prosecution complaint filed by the ED, a specialized financial investigation agency under the Finance Ministry, against NSEL and 67 other accused persons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) details money trail amounting to Rs 3,721.22 crore. "It was advised that the ED would expedite action for completing all the procedural formalities necessary for recovery of the investment and conviction of the offenders concerned," it said. The ED had filed prosecution complaint before the City Civil Court and Additional Sessions Judge, Greater Bombay, against NSEL and 67 other accused persons under the PMLA, 2002. The government also said the Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU-IND) has also issued show-cause notices to Directors of NSEL for violation of the PMLA. FIU-IND had passed an order in 2015 and imposed a penalty of Rs 1.66 crore on NSEL for non-compliance of the PMLA provisions, which the spot exchange has challenged in the court. The Centre's green panel has recommended environment clearance to state-owned Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) to establish a 10 million tonnes per annum capacity coal washery in Talcher district in Odisha. Coal India arm MCL has proposed setting up of 'Jagannath Coal Washery' with 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity in an area of 30 hectare at Hensmul village in Talcher district. MCL's coal washery proposal was taken up for discussion in the recent meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) set up under the Union Environment Ministry. As per the rule, the ministry gives final green clearances to the projects based on the EAC recommendations. "After the detailed discussion, the EAC has recommended environment clearance to the proposed washery project subject to compliance of some conditions," a source said. Among conditions specified, MCL has been asked to set up the washery as per the project report submitted to the committee. It has been told to transport raw coal through pipe-belt conveyor, and clean coal and rejected ones by rail with wagon loading through silo, the source said. The panel has asked MCL to utilize rejected coal in power generation through joint venture companies which have been set up with NTPC. The technology chosen should conform to 'Zero Liquid Discharge'. The company has been asked to develop thick green belt of 30-45 metre width around the washery to mitigate the dust pollution. A three-tier avenue plantation should also be developed along vacant areas, storage yards, loading/transfer points, and also along internal main approach roads. Coal washeries are beneficiation plant that separate mined coal from impurities such as sand and stones and in the process minimizing ash content in it. MCL has plans to set up total five coal washeries in the state. It aims to contribute 250 million tonnes of coal to the one billion tonnes coal production target of Coal India by 2020. The Delhi High Court has upheld a sessions court's order discharging socialite Bina Ramani, owner of restro-bar Tamarind Court where model Jessica Lal was shot dead in 1999, in an alleged forgery case. Justice P S Teji said the sessions court decision to set aside the order passed by a magisterial court framing charge under section 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of IPC against Ramani has no "illegality or infirmity". The court further observed that the FIR was registered on August 4, 2006 and the charge sheet was filed in June 2013 about seven years after the registration of FIR, against her "which is clearly barred by the limitation as provided under Section 468 (bar to taking cognisance after lapse of the period of limitation) CrPC". The police had filed the charge sheet saying during the probe into Jessica murder case, it was found that Ramani was running a restro-bar 'Once Upon a Time' at Mehrauli Road in South Delhi without a valid licence for serving liquor by using forged documents. The magistrate had discharged Ramani and others for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and others. It had, however, framed charge only under section 471 of the IPC against Ramani. The police then filed a revision petition before the sessions court challenging the magistrate's order discharging Ramani for the alleged offences. The sessions judge had dismissed the plea of police observing that the charge sheet was filed in 2013 after seven years of the FIR being registered and thus, the order framing charge against Ramani was barred by limitation. Concurring with the findings of the sessions judge, the high court judge said, "This court finds no illegality or infirmity in the reasoning given by Additional Session Judge and this court finds no reason to take a different view from the said order". The high court also said that apart from the question of limitation, the other reason exists for the discharge of Ramani is that when apparently charge of cheating and forgery are not made out against her, then the document used by her could not be termed as using of the forged document as genuine. "In the present case, she has been discharged from the offence under Section 467/468 of IPC, i.E. Forging of the document, so the alleged use of document does not subsist. "In view of the aforesaid discussion and the facts and circumstances of the present case, the present petition filed on behalf of the petitioner - state is dismissed and the orders dated January 14, 2015 and September 7, 2015 passed by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) and the Additional Session Judge are upheld. Ramani had contested the revision petition filed by the police contending that she was owner of the property and there cannot be any dishonest intention to get the licence. India today said the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was very crucial to its Act East Policy and asked the member states to work on increasing maritime and air connectivity with the country and transform corridors of connectivity into corridors of trade. "MGC is the first and oldest among all Mekong initiatives. It is reflective of the civilisationalbondsthatconnectthe Mekong countries to India. The MGC holds averysignificant place in our Act East Policy, andtogether we allstand committed to energizing this initiative to our mutual benefit," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told the MGC Ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos today. He asked the member states to avail the USD 1 billion Line of Credit announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 for connectivity projects to digitally bond with India. Singh said Indiawouldtrain one representative each from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand in museology and conservation techniques, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. The minister stressed thatenhancingconnectivity between the Mekong region and India was a priority for India. "While India has made progress in implementing the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multimodal Project, we would seek your assistance in early finalisation of the Motor Vehicles Agreement to facilitate soft connectivity issues pertaining to the Trilateral Highway," the minister said in his address. This was also important if we seek to extend the Highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, he added. He also stressed on the need toincrease maritime and air connectivity between MGC countries as well as India and transforming the corridors of connectivity into corridors for economic cooperation. India provides over 900 scholarships to MGC countries annually under the bilateral and multilateral tracks. Singh announced 50 new scholarships for MGC countries, in areas such as culture, tourism, engineering, management teachers'training, film directing, sound, and lighting. He askedall MGC partner countries to optimally utilise these scholarships "which will not only serve as a stepping stone for capacity building but also enhance mutual understanding". The MGC is an initiative by six countries - India and five ASEAN countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications. It was launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Laos. Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilisational rivers, and the MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river basins. The MGC is also indicative of the cultural and commercial linkages among the member countries of the MGC down the centuries. WTO's appellate body is expected to give its ruling by mid-September in the dispute between India and the US. In April, India had appealed against WTO's panel ruling that the country's power purchase agreements with solar firms are inconsistent with international norms. "The appellate's order is expected on September 16 or 17," an official said. The appellate body is a standing body of seven persons. It listens to the appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes involving WTO members. The body can uphold, modify or reverse legal findings and conclusions of a panel and its reports, once adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body, must be accepted by the parties to the dispute. The official said that if the body would give ruling against India, the government would have to implement the order in the next 6-7 months. Ruling against India, WTO's dispute panel had said the government's power purchase agreements with solar firms were "inconsistent" with international norms -- a matter in which the US had filed a complaint before the global trade body alleging discrimination against American firms. The US had dragged India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on this issue in 2014, alleging that the clause relating to domestic content requirement in the country's solar power mission was discriminatory in nature and "nullified" benefits accruing to the American solar power developers. India is also working on about dozen cases against the US for giving protection to solar panel producers in violation of WTO norms. On the India-US poultry case, the official said, India is seeking a desktop video conferencing (DVC) with America. India had already lost the case in WTO against the US. The US has demanded $450 million in retaliation in this dispute. A 46-year-old Indian-American man in New Jersey has been arrested and charged with murder for stabbing his wife to death in their apartment while the couple's three children were asleep. Nitin Singh was charged with murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. Singh is accused of stabbing his wife Seema Singh, 42, multiple times last week and has been remanded to the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of bail of a million dollars cash, the Pennsville Police Department said. A report in NJ.Com said Singh was found covered with blood standing over his wife's body in their kitchen when emergency personnel arrived early Tuesday morning, according to Pennsville Chief of Police Allen Cummings. Cummings said Singh himself had called 911 seeking help for his wife. The couple's three children - two boys, aged 16 and 6 and a 5-year-old girl - were taken from the apartment through a side door so they did not see the crime scene in the kitchen, authorities said. The children were taken to the Pennsville police station and state protective services workers took custody of them, the report said. "This is a very horrific scene. It's a situation where there are children involved and they have lost their mother and their father is probably going to be incarcerated," Cummings said. Singh's wife was pronounced dead at the scene and had been stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen. While authorities are investigating the cause of the murder, police have indicated it could have been some sort of domestic dispute. Cummings said that Pennsville police had never been called to the Singhs' apartment for any type of domestic troubles in the past. The Singhs owned the building where the murder took place and had owned a convenience store in the locality. Neighbours expressed shock at the murder, saying it was hard to believe Singh could commit such a crime. "He's the nicest person I ever met. I never heard any type of fighting going on. They never raised their voice or anything," Singh's neighbour George Hemple said of him. An Indian-origin Labour MP has lodged a complaint with the UK House of Commons Speaker against her party leader Jeremy Corbyn's aide for "unauthorised entry" into her parliamentary office and "intimidating" her staff. Seema Malhotra, 43, who had resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury along with a number of her party colleagues last month, has called on Speaker Jon Bercow to launch an official investigation into the incident. The MP for Feltham and Heston has claimed people from the Opposition leader's office used digital keys to open her office door. "I have discovered that members of staff working for John McDonnell [shadow chancellor] and Corbyn have gained unauthorised entry into my office in Parliament. The implications of this are extremely serious. "This is a breach of parliamentary privilege and is a violation of the privacy, security and confidentiality of a member of parliament's office," she said in a statement to the 'Observer' today. "Furthermore, my staff, including an intern, who have always been courteous and open, have felt harassed, intimidated and insecure. "I have made a formal complaint to the Speaker of the Commons and to Corbyn, and requested an investigation into how this could have happened," the statement added. Since the police search of newly-appointed work and pensions minister Damian Green's office when he was an Opposition lawmaker back in 2008, it has been accepted that only a search warrant can justify an entry in a parliamentary office without the wishes of an MP. A spokesperson for Bercow said: "The Speaker will respond to Malhotra once he has had an opportunity to consider fully the contents of her letter." Aspokesperson for Corbyn said accusations that Karie Murphy - the Labour leader's office manager - had intimidated anyone were "untrue". He said Murphy had been checking to see if the office had been vacated by Malhotra following her resignation. He said: "She accessed the office in question to confirm when it would be vacated. It is a month since Malhotra resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and the office is intended for the person holding that position." The complaint is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the embattled Labour leader, whose leadership has been challenged by Owen Smith after a large section of party MPs expressed their lack of confidence in Corbyn. It comes after more than 40 female Labour MPs wrote to Corbyn earlier this week saying he had failed to do enough to prevent "disgusting" threats against members. The group of female MPs, including former shadow ministers Heidi Alexander, Paula Sherriff and Kerry McCarthy, say intimidation has been carried out in Corbyn's name. A "massive wave" of entrepreneurial energy is coursing through the nation's arteries and if we could connect this enthusiasm with excellence in our basic and applied research at higher educational institutions then new growth engines for our society is within reach, noted entrepreneur Vijay Chandru said here today. Addressing the graduating students at the Convocation 2016 of BITS-Pilani, the co-inventor of the 'Simputer'and currently chairman and managing director of Strand Life Sciences, urged them to dream and innovate more to "reap India's demographic dividend". "There is a massive wave of entrepreneurial energy coursing through the nation's arteries. "If we could connect this enthusiasm with the excellence in basic and applied research at our higher educational institutions, the possibility of a new growth engine that has more enduring value to society seems within reach," he said. A graduate of BITS-Pilani 1975 batch in Electrical Engineering, and a Distinguished Alumnus of the institution, Chandru authored the Atal Innovation Mission report in 2015 and continues to serve on the mission's high-level committee at NITI Aayog. Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chancellor of BITS-Pilani, who could not attend the function, sent a message, which was read out by its Vice-Chancellor Souvik Bhatttacharyya. "You are privileged because the education you have received is among the best the country offers... "This privilege places an obligation on you, to be aware of the responsibility on you to better the world around you, and reach out to those who are not as fortunate as you have been. "So think beyond yourself," Birla said. "Also, think big. Do not trap yourself into an insulated cocoon of timidity. Do not be slave to the small, the incremental, the usual, the routine, the accepted, or the safe. "In setting your targets turn your gaze to the heavens, the stars, the oceans, the vast forest and the mightiest peak. "Get your inspiration from your heroes, the titans of civilization, no matter who they are - Mahatma Gandhi, Thomas Edison. "Steve Jobs, the Dalai Lama, Don Bradman, whoever. "You pick the star you want to navigate by," he said in his message. The famed institution which owns its inception to a 'Pathshala' started in 1901 by the Birlas has now grown into a full-fledged institution since it came to being in 1964 with G D Birla as BITS-Pilani's Founder Chairman. Out of 1,147 students eligible to receive degrees, 822 were from undergraduate programmes, 268 higher degrees and 57 from PhD programmes, the institution said. Besides, its main campus in Pilani, the famed institution has centres in Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai. Birla in his message emphasised that the gap between the have and the have-nots, between the educated and the not-so-well educated is "widening" which could have repercussions on the social fabric. "The Leave EU vote in Britain has brought to the fore uncertainties ... In the US radical, divisive and ugly forces of society are rearing the head ... The conventional constructs of economics too are also proving inadequate in today's world," he said. "Close home, some of our universities are experiencing churn and unrest. Against this troubled backdrop, there is undoubtedly new hope rising in India... "So, there you have, the clouds swirling about us, as also a silver lining ... "As part of an elite, with an enviable education under your belt, what would be your response? I say make a mark," Birla said. Vice-Chancellor Bhattacharyyaa speaking of the entrepreneurial spirit of BITS-Pilani said, "The Technology Business Incubator at K K Birla Goa campus in 2015-16 had four start-ups incubating physically and two as virtual incubates. Project Mudra, a start-up associated with Braille-based education for visually-impaired people is one of six Indian companies to win GREAT Tech Rocketships award 2016." Besides, our Practice Schools and Work Integrated Learning Programme (WILP) are outstanding models of industry-academia cooperation. Delhi girl Meghana Bansal of Computer Science department, who received the college's Silver Medal, said, "My message to girls out there is that women bring a potent combination of creativity and analytical skills to this field. "I am proud of my accomplishment today which I owe to my parents and teachers. But, in this field one should not talk about gender, only what is inside you, matters." Chandru addressing the gathering of graduating youth, as a chief guest, said, "As I look at you, I am both awestruck and nervous. "I am awestruck because you represent such an awesome force of nature, a large auditorium full of exceedingly bright, well-educated and highly talented young scientists and engineers. "... I am nervous because you have such enormous responsibilities in the days ahead ... "India needs to generate 115 million non-farming jobs over the next decade, to gainfully employ its workforce and reap the demographic dividend," he said. "I exhort you to become someone whose actions inspire others to dream more, lean more, do more and become more," he said. Alok Chaudhary of Northwestern University in the US, G Ravindra Kumar of TIFR, HelpAge India President Mathew Cherian and technologist N S Parthasarthy have been awarded this year's Distinguished Alumnus Award by BITS-Pilani. Representatives from Chattanooga State and UTC met on Monday afternoon to sign an articulation agreement allowing Chattanooga States Global Scholars Program students to transfer seamlessly into UTCs Honors College in their Innovations in Honors program. "Dr. Flora Tydings, Chattanooga State president and Dr. Steve Angle, UTC chancellor, signed this important agreement that is uniquely designed to ensure that high-performing students can take advantage of Chattanooga States low tuition and generous grant and scholarship opportunities, including TN Promise, and continue their path to academic excellence upon transfer to UTC," officials said. Now students can begin their education at ChattState and obtain a bachelors degree with honors from UTC, said Amanda Bennett, Global Scholars director. Students graduating from Chattanooga State with the Global Scholars distinction will possess 15 hours of honors credits prior to transfer. Both programs offers distinctive benefits to students such as small class size, priority registration, undergraduate research, personalized advising, study abroad, scholarship opportunities and more. In addition, out-of-state students can receive in-state tuition making these prestigious educational opportunities affordable to students throughout the region and beyond, said Ms. Bennett. Dr. Linda Frost, dean of Honors College at UTC said, We already have a great partnership with Chattanooga States Global Scholars Program and we are thrilled to concretize this partnership with the signing of this agreement. GSP students are a very good fit for UTCs IIH Program. For more information about the Global Scholars Program, visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/global-scholars or call Amanda Bennett, Director, at 423-697-2577. The AAP government and the BJP-ruled Centre are locked in a "holy war", like the "Kauravas and Pandavas", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, while daring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stall the development of Delhi. On a day Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan became the 10th AAP legislator to be arrested by the Delhi Police, a furious Kejriwal lashed out at Modi for "unleashing" probe agencies like the CBI and ED after his party legislators. "He (Modi) could not digest his defeat. They have put all the agencies behind us but could not unearth a single act of corruption.It's a holy war akin to the war between Kauravas and Pandavas," Kejriwal said after inaugurating the 3.40 km elevated corridor between Vikaspuri and Meerabagh here. The AAP chief warned the Prime Minister that if he "does not stop putting spanners", then BJP will meet the same fate in Punjab, Goa and Gujarat "like it did in Delhi where its strength got restricted to three MLAs." "Nripendra Mishra monitors all the files but has failed to find corruption.In the BRT corridor case, BJP even alleged that I pocketed Rs 15 crore, but failed to prove anything in this regard. I challenged Modiji to stop the development of Delhi. I challenge Narendra Modi to stop our reforms being brought about by our education minister Manish Sisodia," he said. Kejriwal cited an anecdote he heard in Gujarat that while political rivals are jailed in the national capital, such persons are "encountered" in the BJP-governed western state. "We are on the path of truth and we will win." Later in a tweet, Kejriwal also claimed that his government saved around Rs 110 crore in constructing the flyover despite the Centre's "efforts to scuttle" the project. "Another flyover inaugurated 2day. Sanctioned cost- 560 cr. Actual- 450 cr. Savings-110 cr. This despite all efforts of Modi govt to scuttle," he tweeted. The corridor will make five intersections on the stretch signal-free benefitting those travelling through Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Tilak Nagar, Jawalaheri and Paschim Vihar. PWD Minister Satyendar Jain was also present at the event. In the construction of eight-lane Bhalswa Flyover, a section of Vikaspuri-Wazirabad road project, the PWD had saved Rs 20 crore while the agency had saved Rs 15 crore in the construction of Burari flyover. Jasbir Singh Rai has joined as the new SP of Phagwara in place of Ajinder Singh, who was transferred in the wake of Friday's clashes, officials said today. Manpreet Singh Dhillon, who was Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP), Cyber Crime, in Ludhiana, had joined as new DSP Phagwara. Dhillon replaces Kamalpreet Singh Chahal, who was placed under suspension by DGP Suresh Arora, for inept handling of clashes. Meanwhile, Jasbir Singh Rai, who was posted as Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Counter Intelligence, in Amritsar, had joined as new SP Phagwara in place of Ajinder Singh, who was transferred to police headquarters in Chandigarh, officials said. Meanwhile, Phagwara Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Iqbal Singh Sandhu, the magisterial enquiry officer, today said that he will start the probe into Friday clashes from tomorrow by hearing all the concerned parties and submit his report to Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh by July 28. The DC had ordered magisterial probe into Friday's clashes. Meanwhile, Heavy police force remained deployed here even as an uneasy calm prevailed in the town, officials said. Film Censorship Board of Malaysia today said the Rajinikanth starrer blockbuster movie "Kabali" will have a different ending in the country with a message of "crime does not pay" added at the climax. The decision has left local fans of the superstar fuming. LPF chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid saidthe board had requested the makers for the alterations in the movie, so that the the viewers continue respecting the law. "Normally under our guidelines, there must be some kind of element of retribution in the movie. Especially if the characters shown in the movies are involved in crime, then there must be some kind of comeuppance for that. "So, we asked the producer to put in a caption... This was to send a message that the law cannot be taken into your own hands," Abdul Halim toldMalay Mail Online. The film ran to full shows yesterday with fans queuing up hours before the show. Set in Malaysia, the movie features Rajinikanth as a gangster, who was framed for a crime decades ago. The original ending scene in the movie was intentionally left ambiguous, but the local version leaves nothing to the audience's imagination. Abdul Halim also admitted that the board had censored several scenes in the Kollywood film, but stressed that all the cuts were only five minutes in total and that the storyline of the movie was still intact. He explained the cuts were only several seconds long for each scenes, including one controversial scene that included the use of the word "keling" -a term derogatory to ethnic Indians in Malaysia. The word was muted in local screenings. "We have our own guidelines and anything that we feel could be sensitive, we censor. We took off the word and it's better that way because if we do not do that, then the people will allege that we practice selective censorship." The scene in the original unedited version has since been slammed in Malay paperMingguan Malaysiatoday. An article had accused the film of deliberately flaming racial tensions in the country by portraying the ethnic Indians as an oppressed minority. Another article also accused the film screenwriter of misunderstanding the lives of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia. Despite that, Abdul Halim said the main reason for the censorship was to make the movie a PG-13-rated film, so it could be seen by more Malaysians. Eight percent of multi ethnic Muslim majority of Malaysia's population is Indian, mostly Tamil. Kabul was plunged into mourning today after the deadliest attack in 15 years killed 80 people and left hundreds maimed, reigniting concern that the Islamic State group was seeking to expand its foothold in Afghanistan. Tempers were frayed a day after the twin bombings that tore through crowds of Shia Hazara protesters, as many anxiously searched hospitals and morgues, looking among the mutilated bodies for missing relatives. The attack in the majority Sunni country highlighted the risk of sectarian disharmony in a nation that has largely avoided the bloody strife between Sunnis and Shias across much of the Muslim world. "I promise you that I will avenge the blood of our loved ones on the perpetrators of this crime, wherever they are," President Ashraf Ghani said, declaring a national day of mourning. The bombings occurred as thousands of Hazara protesters had gathered to demand that a multi-million-dollar power line pass through their electricity-starved province of Bamiyan, one of the most deprived areas of Afghanistan. Ghani renamed the site of the attack as "Martyr's Square". It remained littered with scorched metal, charred flesh and forlorn personal items including shoes, ID cards and protest banners with messages such as "Don't eliminate us". Many protesters defiantly camped there overnight, holding candlelight vigils and reciting Koranic verses even though the government announced a 10-day ban on public gatherings on security grounds. The wounded overwhelmed city hospitals, with reports of blood shortages and urgent appeals for donors swirling on social media. IS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq agency, calling it an attack on a "gathering of Shiites". The devastating attack in the capital represents a major escalation for IS, which so far has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar where they are known for brutality including beheadings. The Afghan government is currently in the middle of an operation backed by NATO airstrikes against IS in Nangarhar, after Ghani earlier this year claimed that the group had been defeated. NATO this month claimed that the group's influence was waning as it steadily lost territory, with their fighters largely confined to two or three districts in the province from around nine in January. "There is no doubt that IS is under intense pressure in Nangarhar, and they are desperate to reassert themselves with attacks such as the one in Kabul," analyst Ahmad Saeedi told AFP. The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than IS, strongly denied any involvement in Saturday's attack. Making an impressive debut on the campaign trail, Democratic vice presidential candidate Senator Tim Kaine today accused Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump of wrecking lives "wherever he goes" and asked Americans not to let it happen with them. Kaine, the junior Senator from Virginia, on Friday was selected by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as her running mate. "From Atlantic City to his so-called university, he leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes. We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country," 58-year-old Kaine told a cheering crowd in Miami, Florida in his maiden speech as Clinton's running mate. The two would be formally accepting the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week. "We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country. And folks, we don't have to - because Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump," Kaine said with Clinton standing by his side. The two leaders made a joint first appearance in Miami after Friday's announcement. "Hillary Clinton, she doesn't insult people, she listens to them. What a novel concept, right? She doesn't trash our allies, she respects them. And she'll always have our backs - that is something I am rock-solid sure of," he said. "I know that because Hillary knows that we're stronger together; we're stronger when we work together, when we grow together, when we pull together, when we live in the same neighborhood and worship together and go to school together. When we're together, we're stronger," Kaine said making a strong pitch for Clinton. In her speech, Clinton said she and Kaine are in the race to send a positive message and not negative one as was done by Trump during Republican National Convention in Cleveland. "Donald Trump may think America's in decline, but he's wrong. America's best days are still ahead of us, my friends. And when he says, as he did say, 'I alone can fix it' - he's not only wrong, he's dangerously wrong," said Clinton as she introduced Kaine to the nation. "We Americans - we solve problems together. And if Donald doesn't understand that, he doesn't understand America. I know that no one does anything all alone, and part of our challenge is to make sure we do work together," she said. Clinton introduced Kaine as one of the most qualified vice presidential candidates in history. She applauded his lifelong commitment to public service: his work with missionaries in Honduras; as a civil rights lawyer and his leadership as city council member, mayor of Richmond, Governor of Virginia, and US Senator. "Throughout his career, he has brought people together to deliver for those he represents. And that's why I am so thrilled to announce that my running mate is a man who doesn't just share those values, he lives them," Clinton said. As the search for the missing IAF AN-32 aircraft entered the third day today, the residents of a village situated along the Indo-Pak International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir are glued to their television sets and praying for the safe return of local boy Airman Gurdayal Choudhary who was onboard the plane. The residents of Banyari village in the Hiranagar sector of the district have been thronging the house of Choudhary who is one of the crew member of the plane that went missing. The family members of Choudhary are hopeful that their son would return safe and sound. "We are hopeful that our son is safe and sound and he will be located soon and will return. "Not only his family members but the entire village is praying for his safe return", Churra Ram father of the Airman said as relatives and villagers throng his house to show their solidarity with the family. The villagers say that they have been glued to their television sets to get the about the missing plane. "The that the plane went missing was shocking and more shocking was the fact that Gurdayal was one of the crew members in the place. "Ever since the came, the entire village has been praying for his safe return and watching news to know about the missing plane," Rakesh Choudhary one of the cousins of the missing airman said. The missing airman, who was living in Chennai with his newlywed wife, was on official duty on the AN 32 that went missing during its flight from Chennai to Port Blair. The Choudhary family is hopeful that the Government of India will leave no stone unturned to locate the missing plane and its crew members. "His wife who stayed with him has been crying all the time, so I sent my younger son to take care of his sister-in law during these testing times," the father said. He said that soon after passing his secondary school examination, in 2007 his son was joined the IAF as an Airman. In view of widespread concernsover the return of diphtheria in some parts of the state, Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the state government to bring in a legislation to bookanti-vaccination campaigners under non-bailable charges. "A legislation with power to take criminal proceedings under non-bailable charges should be made against those who indulged in the propaganda against vaccination without the backing of any scientific proof," the child rights panel said in its direction to the state Health Secretary. The direction comes in the wake of recent deaths due to diphtheria and over 100 confirmed cases of the disease, believed to have been completely eradicated from the state through vaccination. Diphtheria cases were reported mainly in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts. KSCPCR also directed the state Health Secretary to compile a comprehensive database on the vaccination programme, being executed in the state. A full bench, comprising Commission chairperson Shoba Koshy and members K Nazir and Glory George, sought to take stock of the health situation across the state, especially in Malappuram and Kasaragod districts, where the immunisation percentage dipped drastically. There have been reports that the reluctance of a section of people to go for vaccination was one of the reasons for the sudden spurt of the disease in some pockets of the state. An action plan to prepare documentaries, short films and video clippings should be formulated to counter the anti-vaccination propaganda and create mass public awareness in this regard, the panel said. Enough stock of immunisation vaccines should be made available at all hospitals, and committees, headed by Chief Secretary/Health Secretary and District Collectors, should be formed at the state and district levels respectively to monitor the vaccination drives under the Universal Immunisation Programme, it said. The action taken should be informed within three months, the panel said. Earlier this month, state Health Minister K K Shylaja had told the Assembly that superstition and some unethical treatment methods, which have been under practice in the area, contributed to the spread of the disease. The government is mulling the option to make vaccination certificates for children mandatory before granting school admission, in view of the spurt of the disease. Rami Ranger, a leading London-based NRI entrepreneur, has been conferred with an honorary doctorate for his services to business, philanthropy and promotion of social cohesion inBritain. Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd and Sea, Air and Land Forwarding, Ranger received the Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon DLitt) from the University of West London at their annual graduation ceremony held at the Wembley stadium on Thursday. The doctorate was conferred upon him by the chancellor Laurence Geller CBE and Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter John. The citation was read by the Director of Development and Alumni relations, Ms Luna Sidhu and it read: "Mr Raminder Ranger CBE, known to all as Rami, is a man who has defied great odds to achieve outstanding success in business and beyond. Rami's life began in a refugee camp in newly partitioned India," the citation read. Born in July 1947 in Gujranwala, Pakistan, Rami came to the UK in search of a "better life".. He found work as a chef in KFC but soon his work ethic and commitment got noticed and he began to rise quickly through the ranks to become District Manager for the chain...His entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own freight forwarding business from a shed in Hayes with just 2 pounds of capital, it said. Expressing his gratitude to the university for recognising him and his efforts, Ranger said he succeeded in life primarily because of the role his mother played in his upbringing and the five principles around which all of his activities revolved: self-respect, good work ethics, commitment, vision and empathy for others. He urged his audience to implement these principles in their daily lives. Ranger, whose companies have revenues in excess of 200 million pounds, has been conferred with numerous awards such as the Institute of Export (IOE) Award 2013, Institute of Directors Award in 2014 and a Lifetime Achievement award by the Family Business Place among others. "Alongside building a very successful business, Rami has never shied from giving back to his community and his adopted country. Following the 7/7 bombings he set up an inter-faith forum to build bridges between the different communities," the citation said. Rami is active in the world of politics, encouraging major political parties to engage with the various ethnic communities that make-up modern day Britain in order to build a more cohesive society. He supports a number of charities from the Princes' Trust to Cancer Research UK and various educational institutions including the University of West London. State Bank of India-led lenders to the troubled textile manufacturer are considering restructuring of over Rs 18,000-crore debt under the S4A (scheme for sustainable structuring of stressed assets), sources said. This follows the lenders failed attempt to implement strategic debt restructuring (SDR) in company, bankers said. In the last meeting of joint lenders forum (JLF) which took place after the SDR failed, there was a discussion that S4A can be implemented at . A decision on this will be taken soon, said a banker, adding that since the city-based company has a good cash flow, S4A is possible. The Reserve Bank issued the S4A guidelines last month to help both banks as well as struggling to tackle debt. The most salient feature of S4A is that it enables debt-laden to get working capital from banks, unlike the SDR scheme where a company is not eligible for fresh funds from lenders. So far, only few like HCC could get the S4A option implemented. Bankers say a techno-economic viability study is in the process. The S4A scheme envisages determination of a sustainable debt level for stressed borrowers, and bifurcation of outstanding debt into sustainable debt and equity/quasi-equity instruments, which are expected to provide upside to lenders when the business turns around. The city-based owes over Rs 18,000 crore to a consortium of 32 lenders, led by the State Bank of India. In January, the company had informed the stock exchanges that the lenders had invoked SDR in the company, with the reference date being November 27, 2015. The JLF had said it would acquire up to 65 per cent stake in the company by converting debt into equity. But the SDR failed as banks were unable to convert the debt to equity within 210 days from November 27, 2015. The company, however, denied having any formal communication from its lenders about the failure of SDR. "While the lenders would be the right source to provide the clarification you seek, in light of having received no formal communication from them to the contrary, we presume that the SDR continues to be valid," a company spokesperson said in an emailed response when asked whether implementation of SDR scheme has failed. The Cyber Crime Branch of Maharashtra police today said the small and medium-level Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the state are facing 'Distributed Denial Of Service' (DDOS) attack by hackers on an unprecedented scale. The police have registered an FIR in this regard. Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime) Brijesh Singh said, "Some unknown people are involved in crashing the ports of Internet Service Providers by making lakhs of requests at a particular terminal at a particular time, which we call 'Distributed Denial Of Service'." Cyber Crime department was taking all possible measures to nab the perpetrators, he told PTI. "We have registered an FIR and started tracking down the operators who are trying to crash the servers or ports of ISPs," he said, adding that the attack has slowed down the internet services and affected subscribers of ISPs. Representatives of ISPs yesterday met Singh and apprised him of how the attackers were programming multiple Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to log on to their servers at the same time, causing the servers to crash. "Suppose a person runs an online reservation centre and particular server is equipped to handle 100 users at a time. DDOS perpetrators create 1,000 log-ins by pre-programming at one time and send lakhs of requests at the same time, which subsequently crashes the port or the servers. "Due to which person is compelled to move to another ISP to carry on business," said the senior IPS officer who is an IT specialist. One of the owners of ISP firms who met Singh yesterday said ISPs have been hit for the last one week in Mumbai, Thane and Pune, affecting their business severely. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for better supervision of reform efforts. Xi made the remarks at the 26th meeting of the Leading Group for Overall Reform, which he heads. The meeting was also attended by deputy heads of the group Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli. Other members of the group and officials from related central departments also attended the meeting. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the meeting. He said supervision is aimed at ensuring that reform will not deviate from the direction that the CPC Central Committee has decided on and reform efforts will not fail. Supervision should target major reform tasks, progress and effectiveness. It should also supervise the officials' awareness of reform, their division of duties and work styles, according to a statement released after the meeting, where a report on supervision of reform efforts in all departments was approved. Inspection and supervision should be carried out in order of priority, importance and difficulty of reform measures, the statement read. Efforts should be made to spot common problems in the implementation of reform measures while paying attention to problems of strong public concern, it said, urging supervisors to get to the root of problems and work out solutions. "Those who have achieved tangible and effective results in reform should be praised while those who have failed to perform their duty and implement reform measures well should be punished," it read. Attendees of the meeting also approved a plan for the pilot reform of poverty alleviation in less developed areas by exploring hydroelectric and mineral resources, a guideline for strengthening development of industry associations in cultural sectors, and a pilot reform plan for a system of leniency for suspects who plead guilty. According to the statement, developing hydroelectric and mineral resources is a major systemic innovation for poverty relief, and its goal is to increase incomes for the poor. The statement noted that the development of various associations in the cultural industry should focus on public interest and rely on both active guidance from Party committees, effective governmental supervision and strict management in accordance with the law. "Cultural associations should be guided to make full use of their functions to serve cultural groups and talent, boost the industry's development, enrich people's cultural life and stimulate cultural creativity," it said. It stressed that this development must stick to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The statement also noted that the leniency system for guilty pleas must be improved to clarify the legal basis for using the system during investigation, prosecution and judgement. It stressed that procedures prior to and during trials should be regulated and legal aid services should be improved. A guideline for creating a disciplinary system for judges and procurators was approved at the meeting, as was a pilot reform guideline for monitoring and law enforcement administrative systems for environmental protection at the sub-provincial level. A disciplinary system for judges and procurators is important in encouraging them to use power in accordance with the law and ensuring social fairness and justice, according to the statement. China will also pilot a vertical management system for environment monitoring agencies below the provincial level, under which local governments will have less interference in agencies to make them more independent and authoritative, according to the statement. Local authorities should shoulder more responsibility in environmental protection, it said. After showing signs of improvement during the past few days, the health of eminent litterateur Mahasweta Devi has once again deteriorated and doctors said she is in a very critical condition now. Doctors at the Belle Vue Clinic hospital said her health had improved during the last few days but now it has started deteriorating again. "She is on ventilator and in a very critical condition. Her health parameters are in a stable condition," the doctors said. The 90-year-old writer-activist, who is known for her dedicated service for the welfare of tribals in different parts of India, is suffering from kidney and lung ailments, besides blood and urinary tract infections. The Jnanpith, Padma Vibhushan and Magsaysay awardee has been suffering from age-related illness for a long time and had been admitted in the hospital for around two months. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has vowed to strengthen trade ties with India and pay "great attention" to helping the Indian diaspora in the multi-ethnic nation. "I believe in developing this country on an inclusive basis. I will pay great attention to helping the Indian community," Najib said at the launch of the 1st World Kongu Tamilar Conference here last evening. Ethnic Indians form eight per cent of Malaysia's 28 million people. He said the government's continuous efforts had helped preserve and safeguard the Tamil community's language and culture in Malaysia. Students in Malaysia have the opportunity to learn Tamil right from pre-school level to tertiary level. Najib said the government had approved the establishment of six new Tamil primary schools, in addition to the 524 such existing schools in the country. "Tamil language and Tamil literature are also taught at secondary schools. Our national Tamil radio, Minnal FM has 24-hour broadcast in Tamil and there are at least six Tamil dailies," he noted. The event was organised by the Malaysia Kongu Tamilar Association, which represents 80,000 of the 200,000 Kongu Tamilar in the country. Some 10,000 participants, as well as 2,000 delegates from 12 countries, attended the inauguration gathering. The Kongu Tamilar community originated from the Kongu Nadu region in India, comprising the western part of Tamil Nadu and included parts of Karnataka and Kerala. Addressing the foreign delegates, Najib reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening bilateral trade between Malaysia and India. "I believe there are many, many more opportunities for our two countries to work together, and I encourage all our visitors to think of Malaysia as a gateway to ASEAN," he said. Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, pointed out that India has been Malaysia's largest export destination in the South Asian region since 1998. From 2003 to 2015, trade increased by more than four-fold. Last year, India was Malaysia s tenth largest trading partner. Najib said thousands of jobs were created in local manufacturing projects with Indian participation. Malaysia's direct investments in India were valued at USD 77 billion in 2014. "We signed the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2011, and declared an Enhanced Strategic Partnership last November, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit," Najib noted. (Reopens FGN 9) Najib said the two countries share close cultural affinity that has allowed trade, tourism and education to flourish in both nations. "Thousands of our children are studying in each others countries, and in 2014 and 2015, we welcomed three quarters of a million Indian tourists both years," he said. India's High Commissioner T S Tirumurti, Kongu Nadu Malaysia Chapter president K Subramaniam and former MIC president G Palanivel were also present at the function. Stepping up attack on BJP, Mayawati today alleged that it had "pressurised" the SP government in UP into lodging an FIR against her and was preventing arrest of Dayashankar Singh, who made derogatory remarks against her. The BSP supremo claimed that the controversy was raked up by BJP ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls to distract people's attention from the issues of atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat raised by her inside and outside Parliament. She alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against expelled BJP leader Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its "polluted" and "casteist" mentality. Mayawati also vowed to take stringent action in the whole episode once BSP comes to power in UP, if Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who calls her "'Bua' does not ensure the arrest and take stern action against Singh". "Slogans demanding Singh to present his mother, wife and daughter were raised. They (BJP) are viewing it with polluted mentality and publicising in media," Mayawati said amid a row over use of derogatory language by protesting BSP leaders against women members of Singh's family. Referring to BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui's remarks, she said, "Whether the mother, wife and daughter of Singh's family agreed with the language used by the expelled BJP leader against me. They were asked to clarify their stand. Siddiqui has said that no objectionable words were used against them." On the complaint by Singh's mother against her, the BSP supremo said, "It would have been better if she had also demanded stern legal action against Singh for using derogatory language against a Dalit's daughter." "She did not say a single word, which indicates their dual mentality towards mothers and daughters in general. Whatever is being done is being done to save Singh at the behest of BJP," she added. She alleged that at the behest of BJP, statements were being issued to distract attention from the "heinous crime" of Singh. She also termed the FIR against her in Singh's issue as "contempt of Parliament" and said that ruling SP has acted under pressure from the BJP. Mayawati said that "frustrated" with the manner in which she raised the issue of harassment of Dalits in Gujarat in and outside Parliament, BJP as a part of conspiracy used Singh to distract the attention of Dalits. "To distract attention of the people ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls from BSP, the issue was raked as a conspiracy," she said. The BSP supremo also announced that 'sarvjan hitay, sarvjan sukhaye' mega rallies will be held from next month to "expose" the "tacit understanding" between BJP and ruling SP to not arrest Singh. "These rallies will start from August 21 from Agra and I will address them," she said. Lashing out at UP government over lodging of FIR aganst her, she said, "I have been accused of presenting wrong things in Parliament. I have to say that every police officer should know that under Article 105 of the Constitution, every member has right to say his or her stand in Parliament. "It has been clarified that no action in any court could be taken on things said in Parliament, but despite this a case had been registered against me, which is contempt of Parliament." Questining the SP government over not arresting Singh, she said, "If under pressure of BJP, specially Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who call me as his 'Bua' (aunt), does not arrest Singh and ensure stern action against him, then a time-bound fair inquiry will be conducted when BSP comes to power and stern legal action will be taken." "Not only this, stern action will also be taken in cases of harassment of Dalits," she said. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday on a complaint of Singh's mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used "abusive language" against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised "derogatory" slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday during which Singh's 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. The former chief minister also questioned the timing of lauching projects for revival of fertiliser factory and setting up of AIIMS at Gorakhpur by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The NDA government has completed two years in the office. If BJP was so concerned it should have done it within two months," she said. A mayor and two local officials were among five people shot dead during a protest in a southern Mexico town with a history of religious and political conflict. People from several surrounding communities were protesting in the central square of San Juan Chamula when "individuals opened fire," said Juan Carlos Gomez Aranda, secretary general of the Chiapas state government. The victims included the mayor, Domingo Lopez Gonzalez, town administrator Narciso Lunes Hernandez and councilman Miguel Lopez Gomez. The two others were a municipal government driver and a town resident. Twelve other people were hurt and taken to hospitals. The protesters demanded the construction of public works projects and that the town pay an arts program in cash, Gomez Aranda said. Police restored order in the two and prosecutors are investigating the deaths. The government urged the population to "maintain calm and trust that justice will be served." The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), a rebel movement that led a brief uprising in Chiapas in 1994, had warned this week that "discontent and division" in San Juan Chamula could trigger "an internal conflict." Two weeks ago, residents protested in Chiapas' capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and blocked a road. Police broke up that protest with tear gas. San Juan Chamula is a majority indigenous and Catholic town of 87,000 people that has been hit in the past by conflicts with Protestants. Developments both inside and outside Parliament have again cast a shadow on the prospects of the goods and services tax (GST) constitutional amendment Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha. Its fate has suddenly become linked to that of the one relating to compensatory afforestation, to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. A meeting on Tuesday of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with the empowered committee on GST of state finance ministers (ECSFM) could also indicate the way ahead. After the government outreach of the first few days ensured passage of six Bills in the two Houses and discussion on current issues, government-Congress relations have become strained. On Friday, the principal opposition party in the Rajya Sabha accused the treasury benches of using the Parliament security breach controversy to scuttle a private members Bill on granting Andhra Pradesh special status. If GST is to be taken up during the ongoing session, much hinges on whether the government on Monday accommodates Congress concerns on the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority Bill. Or isolates the latter and pushes it through with the support of regional parties. This Bill envisages the release of about Rs 40,000 crore to states for afforestation. Discussion at the ECSFM will also throw light on the government strategy for GST, and whether it is in a mood to push this through without Congress concerns on board. The Congress is also upset that the Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe against one of its seniors, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and some others. It relates to alleged re-allotment of a plot of land to Associated Journals Ltd, owning the National Herald media group, in Panchkula in 2005. Last week, a Rajya Sabha committee had allocated five hours for discussion on GST. On Friday, the minister of state for parliamentary affairs said the Bill could come up in the week starting Monday. However, the list of legislative business the government circulated on Sunday did not mention the GST Bill being taken up this week. The session started on July 23. It ends on August 12 and 15 sittings are left. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said on Sunday: There is a widespread demand for early introduction of GST from almost all political parties, state governments, trade and industrial bodies and even the general public. I appeal to all parties to sense the mood of the nation and cooperate in this regard. For the coming week, the government has proposed to introduce the benami transactions, whistleblower protection and Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bills (see chart). And, a resolution to approve a recommendation for revising the rate of dividend payable by the Railways. HOUSE BUSINESS BILLS SLATED TO BE TAKEN UP In Lok Sabha Benami Transactions (Prevention) Amendment Bill Citizenship (Amendment) Bill Institution of Technology (Amendment) Bill High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill (passed by Rajya Sabha last week) In Rajya Sabha: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill (passed by LS last week) Indian Medical Council Bill (passed by LS last week) Dentists (Amendment) Bill (passed by LS last week) National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Bill (passed by LS last week) First week performance Discussions in two houses on atrocities on Dalits, Kashmir situation, foreign policy LOK SABHA PASSED FOUR BILLS Rajya SABHA PASSED TWO BILLS Indian Medical Council Bill; Dentists (Amendment) Bill; National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Bill (Amendment) Bill; amendment to the Indian Trustees (Amendment) BillThe Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill (earlier passed by the Lok Sabha) and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Bill Two men, arrested from Mumbai for allegedly recruiting youth to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), were brought to Kochi on Sunday as part of Kerala Police's probe into a complaint that the duo radicalised youths from the state and forced them to join the terror outfit abroad. Arshi Qureshi and Rizwan Khan, arrested by the Kerala Police in assistance with the Maharashtra Police in two separate operations last week, were brought by air and later taken to a destination under tight security for questioning, police said. While Qureshi, allegedly associated with controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation, was arrested on July 21, Khan was picked up from his residence at Kalyan in Thane district on Friday night. Both were produced in a local court, which sent them to transit remand till July 25. Kerala Police had traced Qureshi to Mumbai following a complaint lodged in Kochi by the brother of a young woman, who is suspected to have joined along with her husband. Ebin Jacob (25), brother of Merin alias Mariam who is missing along with her husband Bestin Vincent alias Yahia from Kerala, had told Palarivattom police in Kochi that there was an attempt to forcibly convert him to Islam and make him join ISIS, and that Bestin and Qureshi were behind it. Based on this, Kerala Police slapped charges under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the duo and booked them under sections of the Indian Penal Code. At least 21 youth from Kerala were reported missing and suspected to have joined . Noting that under the NDA government the country has moved towards a "pragmatic" foreign policy from earlier "romanticism", BJP general secretary Ram Madhav today said the Centre would talk to Pakistan, but on "our terms". "Today we are very pragmatic in our foreign policy... We know how to deal with our neighbours. America advises us that dialogue is the only option. We will hold dialogue when required... Our Prime Minister is not a 'mauni swami'. But we will talk on our terms," Madhav said, delivering a talk on 'Look East, Act East, What Next?', organised by NGO Awareness in Action here. "We converted the 1971 war victory into a diplomatic defeat through the 1973 Shimla agreement. This was a classic case of romanticism taking over pragmatism. Over 90,000 Pakistani PoWs (Prisoners of war)... You had a wonderful opportunity to free PoK from Pakistan. But we agreed to release all of them without getting anything in return. We are paying the price for it even 40 years after that in J&K. "Today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan says he is dreaming for the day when Kashmir in India is united with Kashmir in Pakistan... Our Foreign Minister will answer him and that's all. This is called pragmatism," he said. "We have to talk with Pakistan... We will talk. I am not saying we should not talk. We will talk on our terms," he said. Countries need a strategic culture, he said. "Unfortunately in our country strategic culture was not developed. On strategic issues...Whether it is our relationship with Pakistan or with China or with another country, our whole thinking is more romantic or idealistic. "After the independence we believed in certain romantic ideas -- Panchasheel, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai'. These slogans were very attractive for us and we believed that should be our policy. Nothing wrong about it (these slogans)," Madhav said. "Problem with us is that these slogans are a policy, not just a strategy. In international relations, you cannot be romantic and you cannot be merely idealistic. You have to be pragmatic. You have to be cold-blooded pragmatic," he said. The Chinese describe their system as "Communism with Chinese characteristics", but it is actually nationalism in the garb of Communism, he said, noting that Mao Tse Tung had a running feud with the Communist Soviet Russia and befriended the USA in his country's interests in 1971. This kind of pragmatism was needed in India, he said. "We believed that we did not belong to that bloc or this bloc (during the cold war) and we should have our own bloc -- NAM. But our romanticism continues even to this day. We have to change it. It has to be a very pragmatic foreign policy. (Former Prime Minister) Narasimha Rao attempted it in his tenure," Madhav said. "After our (BJP-led) government came to power, we realised that time has come for us to transform this foreign policy into a pragmatic... We have started greater, extended engagement in the world today than what it used to be before. Today every Indian everywhere in the world is standing with his head held high," he said. The 18-year-old gunman who killed nine people in a shooting spree in Munich had been planning his crime for a year but chose his victims at random, officials said today. "He had been preparing (the shooting) for a year," Bavarian police chief Robert Heimberger told a conference. Chief prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch added that he did not specifically choose his victims. "It is not the case that he deliberately selected" the people who he shot, he said. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week, after David Ali Sonboly went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre on Friday before turning the gun on himself. Officials said yesterday that Sonboly, a German-Iranian student, had a history of mental illness. Investigators said they saw an "obvious link" between the killings and white supremacist Anders Breivik's massacre of 77 people in Norway exactly five years earlier. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Munich had suffered a "night of horror". As many as 196 countries, including India, that are parties to the Montreal Protocol today wound up their negotiations with progress reported on an amendment to phase down super potent climate pollutants to reduce global warming. The countries came together on a compact table that captured the range of dates under consideration for the first key steps - freezing Hydrofluorocarbons' growth in developing countries and beginning reductions in developed countries. Critically, nearly 100 developing and developed countries - the African Group, Pacific Island countries, leading Latin American and Caribbean countries, US, European Union, Japan, and other OECD countries - joined in calling for an ambitious early freeze on HFC growth in developing countries in 2021. India, however, took a different line and proposed that the developed countries go earlier and developed countries join them when the former have reduced HFCs by 70 per cent. The proposal met with mixed responses at the convention with China and Kuwait voicing support for the same. While the vast majority of countries - from China (the largest HFC producer) to the smallest island nations - showed flexibility and willingness to advance the pace of action, India stuck to its original proposal, which would allow developing countries' HFC production and use to grow sharply for 15 years until a freeze kicks in 2031. The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. HFCs are used as coolants in air-conditioners and refrigerators. While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, most of them are potent greenhouse gases. The UN officials are expecting more negotiations ahead to clarify baselines, resolve these differences in the timing of the freeze, work out the phase-down steps to follow and agree on financial support for developing country transition costs, provided through the Multilateral Fund (MLF). The final agreement is scheduled to be signed off in Kigali, Rwanda in October this year. Besides, proposing a different line than other countries about the reduction schedule, India also cited lack of verifiable data on HFCs and pitched for improving the transparency in formulation of new guidelines and flexibility of the Multilateral Fund. Main opposition National Conference today asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. The party also said it would be a travesty to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a mere law and order problem. This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here since yesterday to review the situation, by a delegation of National Conference (NC), led by former Chief Minister and its working President Omar Abdullah. In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centre's failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir "as a political problem which requires political engagement - both internally and externally." While it was "palpable and shocking" to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, "it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue," the party said. It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir "operatively and militarily", rather than "thinking out of the box", has further exasperated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism - especially among the youth - that could have adverse long-term implications. The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley. "A continued failure to address growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India," they said. Registering its anguish, grief and sorrow over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the PDP-BJP's state Government's "evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation. The mayor of Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province apologized Saturday night for inadequate responses to the storms that have caused 25 deaths and 13 missing in the city. Dong Xiaoyu said the government had underestimated the intensity of the rainfall, been insufficient in emergency ability, and late and inaccurate when it came to disaster assessment. "I am deeply sorry for failing to protect people's lives and properties, no matter how serious the natural disaster is," Dong said. "On behalf of the city Party committee and government, I pay deepest condolences to the victims and their relatives, and apologize to the public." Dong said the city has initiated an accountability investigation and will punish those responsible for the tragedy. Torrential rain and floods have left 114 people dead and 111 others missing in Hebei as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to the provincial civil affairs bureau. Days after an Aam Aadmi Party volunteer committed suicide when her alleged molester got bail, National Commission for Women has now asked Delhi Police to provide protection to another woman worker who has made similar allegations against some of her partymen. The Commission has asked Delhi Police to post a constable at the woman's residence and also requested for a female constable to accompany her everywhere. "The Commission shall also arrange for counselling of the victim as she is feeling unsafe," a statement issued by the commission said. The woman has alleged that she was manhandled and verbally abused by AAP workers at a local event. Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli's 9-month-old government, reduced to a minority, is set to fall after two key ruling alliance partners decided to support the no-confidence motion against him, media reports said today. Nineteen parties in the Parliament have already confirmed to the Nepal Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) that they will be voting in favour of the no-confidence motion. Meanwile, the meeting of Cabinet also decided to recommend President Bidya Devi Bhandari to use the power to remove difficulties as per the Article 305 of Constitution of Nepal in order to pave the way for the formation of new government after Oli resigns, the reports said. The recommendation has paved the way to form a new government. The directive should be endorsed by the Parliament. Nepali Congress (NC) and the Maoists tabled the no-trust motion against Oli, accusing him of not honouring his past commitments. They have been demanding that Oli should resign to clear the way for formation of a new government. Oli, who became prime minister last October heading Nepal's eighth government in the past 10 years, has been facing a no-trust motion after the Maoists withdrew support from the coalition government last week. The no-trust motion in the 598-member Constituent Assembly was backed by 183 NC parliamentarians, 70 from CPN-MC and three from CPN-United. The three parties have a combined strength of 292 in Parliament. Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) currently has 175 elected seats in parliament, far fewer than the 299 needed to win a vote of confidence. The six Madhesi parties, whose combined strength is 50, have also announced to support the no-trust motion. Two key ruling alliance partners, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party also decided to vote in support of the no-confidence vote. Southeast Asia's main grouping apparently failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea, intensifying a diplomatic stalemate that officials said they hope to resolve after closed-door parleys on Sunday. The foreign ministers of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations deliberated for several hours, continuing the unfruitful discussions their senior officials had yesterday, but with no result. A bland press statement issued at the end of the talks said only that the ministers had a "candid and constructive exchange of views on regional and issues as well as developments in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula and the ." But Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said they haven't completed their discussion yet. "They are now having a working luncheon followed by an ASEAN retreat, so the issue will be discussed during the retreat," he said. Like all other ASEAN meetings, the foreign ministers' conclave also traditionally ends with a joint communique. But the sticking point is whether to include a reference to the . ASEAN's cardinal principle is decisions by consensus, which means any country can veto a proposal. This time, it is Cambodia, China's close ally. In 2012, Cambodia also blocked a reference to the dispute, which ended with the ministers failing to issue a statement for the first time in the bloc's history. Sek said the "joint communique is still being drafted." Today's talks are expected to deal with terrorism, the economy, climate change, security, the impact of Brexit and other issues. But all this has been overshadowed by the July 12 decision by a Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and the ruling should have emboldened ASEAN to challenge Beijing more forcibly. That's being prevented by Cambodia, said diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. They said the draft statement to be issued by the ministers on Tuesday left blank spaces under the heading "South China Sea" until a consensus can be reached. Laos, which also is a China ally, has trod carefully and not taken sides because of its position as the host. A diplomat who attended closed door meetings told The Associated Press: "Cambodia is the villain deja vu 2012. It's really a loyalist of the big country C," the diplomat said, referring to China. Another diplomat said that the United States also did not push China during yesterday's discussions, leaving ASEAN countries with little firepower. The US was more keen on getting the region's support on chastising North Korea, and ignored the during the discussions, said the diplomat. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese government think tank, described the arbitration tribunal's ruling as very important because, theoretically at least, it should help resolve disputes, uphold the law and clarify the stance of the parties. "But at this point, it is not a magic stick. It's not a solution to everything, but rather it needs to be combined with other measures," he said. As the arduous operation to trace the IAF's missing AN32 aircraft with 29 people on board stretched into the third day today, the search and rescue team is now seeking satellite imagery to find any clue of the plane that lost contact over the Bay of Bengal. "There is no sign of the plane as yet," a senior defence official said. At least 18 navy and coast guard ships including a submarine, and eight aircraft like P 81, C 130 and Dorniers are involved in the round the clock operation to search for the Port Blair-bound transport plane which went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base near Chennai at 8.30 AM on July 22. Inclement weather was posing a major challenge in the operation. The authorities are now seeking satellite imagery of the area. "The search operation is continuing on a 24-hour basis and all resources at disposal are being used. "We have also sought satellite information," Eastern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral HCS Bisht said in Vishakhapatnam. "The depth of water there is about 3,500 metres and in some place it is even more. As the depth increases, challenges also increase," he said, adding that the weather was rough and it was raining. He said the family members are being updated on a regular basis. Meanwhile, airforce authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft. "We have received a complaint that Air Force's AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing," a senior police official said today. "The complaint was lodged last night with Selaiyur police," he said. "The complaint says that 29 personnel on board AN-32 and the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu," the official told PTI. The complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar complaint was filed when Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The Russian-made workhorse made the last radio contact at 0846 hours, 16 minutes after take off, on Friday. Worries mounted for the authorities as time was running out and no positive signals emerged from the operations Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. Rebel BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya today said that there was no place for foul language and violence in politics. "Irrespective of the fact that which person is using derogatory language against whom, it mentally hurt the person to, Maurya told reporters here. He said, "The manner in which words used by expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh are condemnable and undemocratic, the same applies to utterances of BSP workers against women members of his family." Maurya said that all political parties should abstain from the culture of abusive language and violence. He said that it was more surprising that the parties, which had never in the past launched agitation over public issues were today taking to the streets on the issue of abuse against abuse, which was laughable. The rebel leader said that Mayawati was praising herself by calling herself deity of Dalits, but never spoke about atrocities against Dalits in more than four years. "Similar is the condition of BJP," he said. Legendary painter and son of the soil, S H Raza was today laid to rest at Binjhiya village here amid the guard of honour by Madhya Pradesh Police. The acclaimed painter, who depicted concepts like 'bindu', 'purush-prakriti' and 'nari' in his instantly recognisable geometric abstract works, passed away in New Delhi yesterday after a prolonged illness. Earlier, his body was brought here from Delhi and taken to Shia Masjid before it was taken to Shahre Khamoshan graveyard in a procession. Enroute, people paid their last respect to Raza who had wished to be buried in this tribal-dominated district where he once lived. Born in 1922 in Babaria in Mandla district to a forest ranger father, Raza took to drawing at the age of 12. After high school, he enrolled at the Nagpur School of Art (1939-43), followed by the J J School of Art in Mumbai (1943-47), before moving to Paris to study (1950-1953). He was awarded the Padma Shri and Fellowship of Lalit Kala Akademi in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013. Raza, credited for popularising Indian concepts and iconography, had built a towering legacy of modern art. Raza, who lived most of his life in France, was conferred in 2015 the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur, the highest French honour for his artistic contribution. He was a co-founder of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group together with greats like F N Souza, K H Ara, M F Husain, H A Gade, S K Bakre and others. His demise was mourned by a string of artists and connoisseurs of art. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday expressed grief over Raza's death. In her message, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had described the artist's death as a huge loss for the world of art and the country. Claiming complete absence of any feeling of growing alienation among Muslim masses in India, former Union Minister Arif Mohammed Khan has asserted that the alienation, if any, exists only among elite of the country's largest minority community. During the launch of a book written by veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi here recently, Khan sought to discount the Muslims' alleged perception of their growing alienation and seclusion in India, saying they are themselves to be blamed for it, if any, as they sought to maintain a distinct identity. Khan, who had quit the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986 in protest against the piloting of a bill to undo the Supreme Court ruling in the Shahbano case which had sought to provide alimony to the divorced Muslim women, sought to counter the perception voiced by veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi during the launch of his book "Being the Other: The Muslim in India." Naqvi had voiced his perception and concern saying that an "othering" phenomena, entailing a growing chasm of Muslims from Hindus and their growing alienation in India, has set in since long. While seeking to negate Naqvi's perception, Khan sought to squarely blame the community elites for the alleged onset of the "othering" phenomena, saying it's natural when the Muslims resorted to sloganeering like "ham apna milli tassakush barkarar rakhna chate hain (I want to maintain my separate identity)." Khan said the Muslims had resorted this sloganeering in the wake of the apex court verdict that stipulated alimony for the divorced Muslim women, but the Muslim clerics, banking upon the Sharait laws sought to discount the apex court verdict saying it was against their religious edicts. "What does it (this slogan) mean? It means I'm saying I am the other. The other person is not saying I am the other but I am telling them I am the other," he said. "It means I'm telling everybody that I don't want to integrate with you. I'm telling everybody I don't want to identify with you as I'm the other," said Khan, explaining the meaning of 'milli tassakut...Slogan", which sought to assert the Islam's aversion to the modern laws and stick to its archaic distinctiveness. Khan asserted this problem of alienation of Muslims is only e perception among "ashrafia" (the elite among the Muslims) and not those of the Muslim masses, including the "Ajlafs (the lower community)." "The Muslim masses have no problem in integration with the Indian communities and they have always been the part of this country's civilisation, which is more than 6000 years old," pointed out Khan. The former minister pointed out India has got its independence very recently - only in 1947, said Khan asserting that it's not a very long period and some such sporadic incidents of communal violence and aberrations cannot change its nature as India is essentially a pluralistic society. Khan's assertion attracted vociferous cheers from the audience, which included among others, BJP stalwart and former Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, senior Congress leaders Mani hanker Iyer and Salman Khursheed, veteran columnist Prem Shankar Jha, renowned photographer Raghhu Rai, besides several other intellectuals. Naqvi's book launch was compeered by veteran British journalist and former BBC's New Delhi bureau chief Mark Tully and former diplomat-cum-noted author Pavan K Varma, who too discounted Naqvi's fears and perception. As per a statement by Naqvi's publisher Aleph Book Company, the veteran journalist's book is "a remarkable one, which is partly his memoir and partly an exploration of the various deliberate and inadvertent acts that has led to the 'othering' of the 100 million Muslims in India." Naqvi looks at "how the division between Muslims and Hindus began in the modern era. The British were the first to exploit this division between the two communities in the in nineteenth and twentieth centuries." "In the run up to the independence and its immediate aftermath, some of India's greatest leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and others only served to drive the communities further apart," it said. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted in Kashmir Valley today amidst restrictions and strike as over 1600 candidates appeared in the examination to seek admission in graduate medical courses across the country. The examination was held at three centres in the twin districts of Srinagar and Budgam, officials said. They said while there were two examination centres in Srinagar, there was only one in Budgam district. As many as 1621 candidates appeared in the entrance test at the three centres, out of the scheduled 1740, the officials said. At the two centres in Srinagar, out of the 600 candidates each, 555 appeared in one centre at S P College, while 571 appeared in the other at Amar Singh College, they said. They said at the examination centre in Budgam, out of 540 candidates, 495 wrote their papers. The authorities had to shift the examination centre in Srinagar owing to the current unrest in Kashmir that has left 46 people dead and over 3400 others injured. They had also made elaborate arrangements, including that of transport at every district headquarter, to facilitate the candidates to reach the examination centres. The Valley is reeling under continuous restrictions and strike, which have entered the 16th day today, after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8. More than 90 per cent of the over 4.75 lakh candidates who had registered for the NEET II exam for admission to medical and dental colleges took the test today in 56 cities, including violence-hit Srinagar. The combined result of NEET-I and NEET-II will be declared by August 17. In a statement, CBSE, which conducted the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), said the test was conducted at 739 centres in 56 cities. Strict vigil was maintained at all centres and no untoward incident was reported, it added. "Total candidates registered for the examination were 4,75,785. As per preliminary reports received from across the country, more than 90 per cent candidates were present in the examination," the statement said. The NEET examination was also held peacefully in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and 93 per cent of registered candidates took the exam there, it added. To ensure smooth and fair conduct of examination, CBSE had made elaborate arrangements and besides CBSE officials, more than 2,000 observers were deputed. All state governments supported CBSE by deputing security forces at the centres, the statement said. A special team was sent to Srinagar in advance to ensure complete preparation for the conduct of NEET-II. The state government has given extraordinary support to CBSE and its team, the statement said. State Government provided two examination centres, deputed invigilators at short notice, made security arrangement for candidates across Srinagar division, CBSE said. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar expressed happiness over successful completion of the test, it said. The CBSE Chairman visited a few examination centres in Noida and Ghaziabad to oversee the conduct of examination, the statement said. Leaders cutting across party lines, medical practitioners and students today took out a march demanding establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hundreds marched from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) gate to the parliamentary office of Modi in Ravindrapuri. The padayatra was led by Om Shankar, a cardiologist at BHU. SP leader Satish Fauzi, Shailendra Singh of Congress, Sanjeev Singh of AAP and leaders from BSP and BJP also joined the march. "We held a padayatra to press our long-standing demand for an AIIMS here. Leaders from various political parties as well as medical practitioners and students joined the march," said Shankar, Assistant Professor of Cardiology at the Institute of Medical Science (IMS), BHU. He said, "Setting up of AIIMS in Gorakhpur is a wrong decision taken by the Union government and it should reconsider our demand for establishing an AIIMS in Varanasi." The Prime Minister had on Friday laid the foundation of AIIMS in Gorakhpur. Shankar had sat on a hunger strike in 2014, demanding upgradation of IMS to AIIMS. He had called off his fast after the university authorities assured him of taking up the issue with the Union government. You are here: Home China's health authority has confirmed an imported case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), the first of this kind, on a middle-aged man coming back from Angola. The 45-year-old man surnamed Tang from Henan Province got fever and headache and suffered pains of his joints and muscles on July 14 in Angola, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) said Sunday. On July 21, he returned Beijing by plane and was admitted to a local hospital for quarantine and treatment. On Saturday evening, he was tested positive for RVF. The patient is currently in critical condition and is receiving treatment, NHFPC said. State-run chopper operator Pawan Hans is set to expand its board with the induction of two new directors, amid its listing plans. Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited (PHHL), in which government holds 51 per cent stake and remaining are with the ONGC, currently has six members on its board, including the public sector oil major's CMD B P Sharma. DGCA chief M Sathiyavathy, Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Civil Aviation Ministry Gargi Kaul, Joint Secretary Usha Padhee, ONGC Director for offshore T K Sengupta and Air Vice Marshal A S Butola are the other members on the PHHL Board. The two new directors -- one for finance, personnel and administration and the other for operations, are soon going to be inducted, sources said. Government's head hunter Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) is already in the process of selecting suitable candidates for the two new board positions, they said. The government-owned chopper operator currently has 43 helicopters in its fleet. Soon after coming to power in 2014, the NDA Government had announced its plans to get both Airports Authority of India and Pawan Hans listed on the bourses. In an interview to PTI about three months ago, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said "Pawan Hans is in the process of listing. For Pawan Hans, we have initiated the process. We are preparing the ground to do so. Internal process is going on." On the AAI, Raju had however said his ministry would take some time to get the public airport firm listed on the bourses, while ruling out an IPO at least in this fiscal. A team of Punjab Police was dispatched to Delhi today to arrest AAP MLA Naresh Yadav who has been booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24. "A team of police has been sent to Delhi to arrest the AAP MLA," Punjab Police, IG (Patiala Zone), Paramraj Singh Umra Nangal said. Yadav was booked under relevant sections of the IPC after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA. The Punjab police has already questioned the AAP MLA twice in connection with the incident. The MLA was booked under various sections of IPC including 109 (punishment for abatement if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 injury or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion of any class). Police had claimed Vijay had even met the MLA before the incident and calls were also exchanged between them. The Mehrauli MLA and his party have denied the charges and alleged it was a "political conspiracy" to malign the party's image ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab. (Reopens NRG 26) Meanwhile, in-charge of Aam Aadmi Party Punjab and the party's national spokesman Sanjay Singh said that the business community is the back-bone of the state's economy and if voted to power AAP would provide business-friendly atmosphere in the state. "Without the participation of business community, Punjab cannot progress as they contribute a lot for the overall development of the state through paying taxes to run welfare schemes for poor. Previous governments of Congress and SAD-BJP always ignored the interests of business community and rather looted them to make it difficult to run their businesses," he alleged. Once AAP is voted to power, social security of the business community would be ensured and to give prompt clearance to new businesses, a single-window system would be launch to cut red-tape and 'Inspector Raj', he said. Singh said in Delhi, the Kejriwal government has reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 12.5 to 5 per cent on several items. "In spite of the steep reduction of VAT, revenue collection of the state was not adversely affected as people happily paid their due cases," he said adding that on the same pattern, VAT in Punjab would also be reduced. "Efforts would be made to revive the sick industry and bring back the industrial units, which were shifted from Punjab by extending them the deserving support," he said. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik turn "mouni babas" (silent monks) on issues of attacks on Dalits and tribals. "Both Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik are like mouni babas. When there is attack on dalits, the Prime Minister maintains silence," Ramesh told reporters here. Similarly, the Odisha Chief Minister was maintaining silence despite the killing of five civilians, including three tribals and two dalits, during a so-called encounter between the police and Maoists in Kandhamal district on July 8, the former Union Minister claimed. His remark came amid attack on Modi from different quarters for his silence over the issue of public thrashing of dalits in a Gujarat village recently. Coming down heavily on Patnaik over the Kandhamal tragedy, Ramesh said though tribals have fallen victim in four such incidents during last one year, the Chief Minister has not uttered a word. "This shows how insensitive and unconcerned the Chief Minister is towards the tribal people," he said, adding the response clearly demonstrates the "anti-tribal" approach of Patnaik and his government. The Police today destroyed 104 illegal stone crushers during an operation against illegal crushing in Gopi Bigaha, Jamuhar and Mahadeva villages within the limits of Dehri-On-Sone police station of Bihar's Rohtas district. Superintendent of Police M S Dhillon said six JCB machines were used to destroy 104 illegal stone crushers operating in three villages of the district. Many persons involved in the illegal stone crushing business fled from the scene during the operation, which lasted for six hours, he said. Three Assistant Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Deputy SP (Headquarters), Sub-Divisional Officer, District Mining Officer, Forest Department officials and a dozen SHOs of various police stations were part of the team headed by SP, which carried out raid. The administration is committed to stop illegal mining, SP said adding FIRs would be lodged against all the owners of illegal crushers and land. A policeman, who was abducted by Maoists on July 4 in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, was released today, police said. "On what basis the kidnapped assistant constable Ganga Madkam has been released is not clear so far, but the important thing is that he is safe," Sukma Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI. Madkam wasabductedwhile he was on the way to Dornapal from Polampalli on his motorcycle under restive Polampalli police station area on July 4. The policeman, recruited by the state police as auxiliary personnel, was posted with Polampalli police station. Soon after the incident, police teams were sent into jungle for rescuing the jawan and also for negotiating with ultras through various channels for securing his release, he added. Today he was freed by rebels in the forests near Polampalli police station where he reached safely by foot, the SP said. A policeman, injured in the attack on a police station in Kulgam district on July 15, today succumbed at a hospital here, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 46. Constable Mudasir Ahmad became the second policeman to die in the violent clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six cops including Ahmad. A senior policewoman claimed today that France's interior minister pressured her to alter a report into security at the Nice fireworks display where 84 were killed when a man rammed a lorry into the crowd. But the minister, Bernard Cazeneuve -- whose account of police deployments on the night of July 14 has already faced questions -- hit back at the "grave accusations" and said he would sue for defamation. Sandra Bertin, who is in charge of Nice's system of security cameras, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper she had been "harassed for an hour" by Cazeneuve on the phone after he sent a commissioner to see her. She said she had been told to detail the presence of the local police at the Bastille Day fireworks event and also to report "that the national police had also been deployed at two points". "The national police were perhaps there, but I couldn't see them on the video," Bertin told the newspaper. "He ordered me to put in (the report) the specific positions of the national police which I had not seen on the screen," she was quoted as saying. On Thursday, the left-leaning Liberation daily reported that only one local police car was barring the entry to the seafront pedestrian zone when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel forced his lorry onto the Promenade des Anglais, mowing down families. Since the carnage 10 days ago -- the third major attack in France in 18 months -- Cazeneuve has also been locked in an escalating row with the right-wing leaders of the Riviera city over claims of slack security. President Francois Hollande was forced on Friday to say that he still had "full confidence" in his key minister, promising "truth and transparency" on the security measures that were in place. The city police today conducted a post-mortem of the teenager killed yesterday after being allegedly hit by liquor bottle shards during an altercation at writer Amit Chaudhuri's residence under the supervision of a magistrate. The entire process of the post-mortem done on the slain teenager Abesh Dasgupta was videographed as per the wish of his mother who had written to the Ballygunge Police Station officer-in-charge in this regard, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said. Seventeen-year-old Abesh Dasgupta, a class XI student, was killed when another youth hit him with glass shards during a quarrel at the car parking lot of the writer's apartment at upscale Ballygunge after returning from a birthday party at a club. Most of the youth's friends attending the birthday party, who could be potential witnesses to the whole incident, were absconding, the officer said. A youth detained and grilled by the police today claimed that it was "an accident" and nobody was responsible for it. The police has lodged a murder case against "unknown person" on the basis of the statement of the mother of the slain youth recorded at a hospital where she was admitted in an unconscious state after getting the death of her son. The post-mortem report would play a crucial role in solving the case, an officer of the Kolkata Police Homicide department said, adding that they were also trying to get the footage of the CCTV cameras at the complex. Sleuths were conducting a second round survey of the complex today, the officer said adding, "our officers are collecting circumstantial evidence to get an idea of the missing links in the case". Sleuths were also not ruling out a love triangle in the killing and an officer said prima facie it appeared that the teenager came into the girl's life after her break-up with another youth, known to both, and there was a probability of the estranged youth involved in yesterday's attack. The deceased, whose father had died earlier this year, was a resident of Southern Avenue in south Kolkata. Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady confessed to trying to smuggle 800 kilograms (1,763 pounds) of cocaine into the US, according to prosecutors in the politically-charged case. The court filings Friday by prosecutors shed new light on the case that has sounded alarm bells about high-level corruption and drug trafficking by Venezuela's political elite at a time of increasing economic and political turmoil in the South American nation. Efrain Campo and Francisco Flores were arrested last November in Haiti in a sting operation coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They were then flown to New York, where they are in jail awaiting trial for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the US Both have pleaded not guilty. The documents filed Friday seek to refute a motion by the defendants' attorneys to suppress their post-arrest statements to DEA agents on their way to New York because they allegedly hadn't been informed of their rights and were coerced after being taken into custody by armed men in ski masks in what they at first thought was a kidnapping. Prosecutors allege Campo and Flores hatched the drug deal in about two months. They said it was first brought to the attention of the DEA by a wheelchair-bound cooperating witness nicknamed "El Sentado," who met Campo and Flores in Honduras and ended up killed three weeks after their arrest. As part of the DEA investigation, confidential sources were sent to Caracas to meet with the two young men. The court documents include photographs allegedly taken from a secret video of those meetings that prosecutors say show Campo examining a brick of cocaine with plastic gloves as Flores looks on. Campo allegedly said the narcotics came from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. During the meetings, Campo allegedly brags about owning several Ferraris and being at "war" with the US and Venezuela's opposition. He also describes high-level connections with the government that will make it easy to move drugs through Caracas' international airport and prevent any cocaine-laden plane from being follow by law enforcement because, he said, "it departs as if .... Someone from our family was on the plane," according to a statement by US attorneys for the southern district of New York. In the court filings, Campo first suggested to agents that the cocaine deal was to fund Cilia Flores' congressional campaign. "I know I said that but in reality it was for me," a court document quotes Campo as telling a DEA agent. In reality, Campo said he was struggling financially, earning just USD 800 a week from a fleet of taxis he owned in Panama, according to the documents. Giving back to the world and treasuring every path (or experience) that leads one to success, those were the ideas that most impressed Carol Li when she was a student at Yale University (from 1996 to 2000). Now managing director of Yale Center Beijing, she hopes to share the spirit and precious experiences she gained, when she lived abroad, with people who have an interest in Yale University. In particular, she hopes to share those ideals with professional women who want to broaden their horizons and knowledge, and who want to become global citizens. Carol Li, managing director of Yale Center Beijing [Women of China English Monthly] Like virtually everyone, Carol Li has a family. Unlike most families, though, several members of Li's family work in the fields of banking, finance and/or law. Her grandfather, Ronald Li, is founder of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Her uncles, David Li and Arthur Li, are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Bank of East Asia. Another uncle, Andrew Li, in 1997 became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Influenced by her family, it is no wonder Carol developed an interest in both economics and the law at a young age. In 1992, then 12-year-old Carol left Hong Kong, and she spent the following 16 years studying and working in the United States. In 1996, she enrolled at Yale University, where she completed her undergraduate studies. She received bachelor's degrees, in economics and international studies, in 2000. She was impressed by Yale's motto, Lux et Veritas (the Latin words for "light and truth"). "The school not only trains talented young people, to (help) them pursue their personal success, but also encourages the students to become 'lights' of the world," Carol says. While a student at Yale, Carol was taught to make a positive impact on society. She participated in a volunteer program, through which she helped poor and underprivileged students prepare applications for universities. She also learned "there are many paths (that lead one) to success," and that "everything is possible as long as one leans in." Says Carol: "To me, leaning in means having the courage to do something that one believes, and forging one's own path rather than go down a well-trodden and conventional path." After she graduated from Yale, Carol earned a JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree at the Law School of Stanford University. She then worked for an investment bank, on Wall Street, and then with a law firm before she returned to China in 2008. Prior to assuming her post, in 2014, as managing director of Yale Center Beijing, Carol was senior vice-president at China Investment Corporation. Carol, who grew up in a privileged environment, realized at a young age that she should give back to her home country. "A mission I want to fulfill throughout my life is to improve (people's) access to the world's best education, and to increase opportunities for people to achieve their own definitions of success," she says. "The advantage of having traveled, worked and lived in other parts of the world is that I have had opportunities to learn, and grow in, different environments. We are all global citizens. I consider my experiences overseas valuable, because I have gained opportunities to learn how the world sees China, and how China sees the world. I want to act as a bridge, to help build up connections between the US, Chinese mainland and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)." With such ideals, Carol accepted the position at Yale Center Beijing. She witnessed the center's opening on October 27, 2014. At that time, she was 38 weeks pregnant with her second child. Watching the center develop was like watching her baby grow. "Our mission is to build a forum for thoughtful leaders, from around the world, to discuss the most important issues facing humanity, such as globalization, technology and international relations." During its first year, the center hosted more than 100 events and programs. Also, nearly 10,000 people subscribed to the center's WeChat account. The center invited numerous people, including its founding donors, Shen Nanpeng (cofounder of Ctrip.com) and Xu Xiaoping (founder of XDF.cn), and graduates from Yale University, including Barbara Woodward, British Ambassador to China, Alibaba's Vice-Chairman Joe Tsai, renowned architect Ma Yansong, environmentalist Ma Jun, and economists Chen Zhiwu and Wu Jinglian, to give speeches. Carol was particularly impressed with the center's first anniversary conference (held in October 2015), during which there was a panel discussion on "One Belt One Road." Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister, Max Baucus, American Ambassador to China, Sun Zhenyu, former Chinese Ambassador to the WTO (World Trade Organization), and a number of presidents of China's State-owned enterprises were invited to speak about technology and innovation. In addition to fulfilling her tasks at Yale Center Beijing, Carol has made efforts, with several of her friends, to help professional women cope with challenges they face in their everyday lives. In 2013, Carol and five of her female friends were inspired after they read the book, Lean In, written by Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook. They decided to establish an organization to encourage women to "lean in" by taking on leadership roles. Carol and her friends spent three weeks completing a survey with the theme "What Women Want." By obtaining information about the roles women play at home and at work, they identified the resources women would need to both overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. "We collected responses from almost 600 recipients in three weeks, and we found that young women (mostly born in the 1980s or the 1990s) were very eager to become part of such a platform, where they could get advice on how to advance in their lives and careers," Carol says. Since 2013, when the Lean In Beijing organization was established, Carol and her friends have organized events once every two or three months, during which they have invited professionals (mostly women) to discuss the difficulties they have to cope with in career and/or family life. "We've taken the key concept of the book, Lean In, by creating what is called a 'lean-in circle,' and we have enabled women to share the challenges they are facing," Carol explains. "During an offline mentorship event that draws around 80 people, we usually group 6 to 12 participants into a 'circle' and we assign a professional mentor (a person at senior-level management in his/her company) to listen to other participants (mostly university students and/or entry-level employees) talk about difficulties they have a hard time sharing with their family members and close friends." Q: What is the center's development plan for this year? A: Before we speak about the future, I'd like to first talk a bit about Yale's history in China. Rong Hong, who went to Yale University in 1850, was China's first student to study abroad. In 1906, Yale's alumni opened Xiang Ya Medical School and Yali Middle School in Changsha (in Central China's Hunan Province). Today, Yale University has more than 100 collaborative projects in China. For example, Yale has a joint program with Tsinghua University on environmental sciences. The Yale-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Center for Genomics has almost 100 researchers. We would like to continue showcasing Yale University's work with its Chinese partners, and to host important dialogues with thoughtful leaders, who will discuss how we can improve education, economic growth, sustainable development, technology and the development of fine arts in China and around the world. We hope to invite prominent female speakers, such as Yale's alumnae Hillary Clinton, the US presidential candidate, and Janet Yellen, Chairperson of the Federal Reserve. Q: Has your husband supported your efforts to achieve a work-life balance? A: My husband (Colm Rafferty, Vice-Chairperson of AmCham China) and I are both graduates of Yale University. What we share in common is the urge to give back, and to make a positive impact on society. When I was pregnant with our second child, I was hesitating about whether I should become the inaugural head of Yale Center Beijing. My husband told me not to be afraid, and he encouraged me to take on a leadership role, which would enable me to make a positive impact on academic exchange and higher education. Without my husband's encouragement and support, I would not have assumed this post. We always make sure that if one of us has to take a business trip and leave home, the other will stay to take care of our children and family. I am not sure if a professional woman can really balance her work and life well. I totally agree with one thing that is written in the book, Lean In: One of the most important decisions that a woman makes is choosing her life partner. I think it will make a huge difference if a woman chooses someone who not only supports her because of her role in marriage, but also supports her because who she is as a person. Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today said Congress MLAs in Punjab will resign en mass in case the Supreme Court verdict in the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case goes against the state. "While we respect the Supreme Court, we are also duty bound towards Punjab, hence we will find legislative and constitutional ways to safeguard our water which includes mass resignation by our MLAs", Singh told a press conference here. The PCC president said, after submitting their resignation along with his from the parliament, Congress party will go to people seeking their vote and support. In case the verdict goes against Punjab and it orders construction of the SYL, Punjab will be left with no option. Not only will over ten lakh acres of Malwa region go dry, people wouldn't even have water to drink, he said. Amarinder said this will only be because of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's failure to act on time. "Either his (Badal's) intentions were not honest or they were not clear, which made him vacillate and waste crucial time in getting the Governor's assent to the unanimous resolution of the Vidhan Sabha on SYL, thus providing enough time to Haryana to move the SC," he observed. There are always constitutional and legal means which must be exercised which Badal unfortunately squandered, he added. Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh said he will also resign with Amarinder and the party legislators. The PCC president warned Badal against any "mischief" that could imperil peace the state. Singh said, it was the Congress government in 2004 which enacted the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act that saved its waters. "It is by virtue of the act that Punjab has managed to save its waters for last 12 years and now when the responsibility was with Badal, he failed to rise to the occasion," he said. The PCC president alleged that Badal's stand on SYL had always been equivocal. The former Punjab Chief Minister also accused Arvind Kejriwal of playing the "most dubious role" as he changed his stand and statement on the SYL issue within a span of 24 hours. He said while in Punjab, the Delhi Chief Minister said the state had no spare water and SYL should not be constructed. He changed his stand the moment he landed in Delhi and said the canal should be constructed, Singh said. Besides, his (Kejriwal) legal counsel also supported Haryana's case in the Supreme Court and everything is on record, he added. Singh reiterated his appeal to the SC judges that before pronouncing the final judgment, they must assess the availability of water afresh and not base it on the assessment that was made decades ago. The Eradi panel had wrongly assessed the availability of water at 18 MAF (million acre feet), since that much water never flowed in Punjab, he said. He contended that when the measurements were taken, there were floods in Punjab which wrongly reflected the water level. The actual availability of water currently is 13 MAF only. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will launch a nationwide campaign next month to highlight the significance of proper implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) to empower the tribals besides checking Maoist activities, party leader Jairam Ramesh said today. Rahul would launch the campaign in Vizag area of Andhra Pradesh on August 6, while the second programme would be organised in Odisha likely in September, where effective implementation of FRA is essential, he said at a press meet here. The awareness campaign would also be undertaken in a number of states including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat, Ramesh said. "Effective implementation of FRA would go a long way in empowering the tribals and the forest dwellers and elevating their socio-economic status," the Congress leader said, adding it would also play a significant role in reducing Maoist activities. Therefore, FRA needs to be properly implemented in a state like Odisha which has a sizeable tribal population and its 18 districts face Maoist menace, Ramesh said. "However, BJD, which is in power in Odisha, appears to be in a mood to support Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Bill. If the Bill in its present form is passed in Parliament, Maoist activities will increase," he claimed. Ramesh said Congress has moved several amendments on CAMPA as the bill in its present form is opposed to the FRA, and does not address the legal rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (OTFDs). The present bill also has no provision for consent of the Gram Sabhas for implementation of compensatory afforestation on their customary lands, he said. Coming down heavily on the BJD government for "poor implementation" of FRA, Ramesh said only around 3.7 lakh land pattas have been distributed under the Act in Odisha since it came into force in 2006 as against over six lakh applications submitted for the purpose. Similarly, only around 6,000 community rights pattas were given out of over 13,000 applications, he alleged. Asserting that in about 30,000 out of the around 57,000 villages in Odisha, community forest rights can be conferred under FRA, Ramesh claimed only around 5,000 villages have so far been provided with this rights. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West has revealed that her and Kanye West's son has started to say "Dada". Saint West was born in December and Kim, 35, says she is disappointed that he didn't say "Momma" first, reported People magazine. "He said 'Dada' today, three times and I was like 'what?' Kanye was so excited. He was like 'I told him to say that.' I was like, 'I just really wanted him to say 'Momma first'," Kim said. The Supreme Court collegium is learnt to have recommended transfer of two judges from Rajasthan back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Centre said it is not advisable to have several judges from the same high court in another high court. Justices Jaishree Thakur and Anupinder Singh Grewal were transferred to Rajasthan from the Punjab and Haryana High Court soon after they were elevated as judges from the bar. After their transfers, the number of judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court posted at the Rajasthan High Court had risen to five. The other judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court posted at the Rajasthan High Court are Justices Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, Sabina and Nirmaljit Singh Kaur. Sources in the government said a few months back the Centre had told the SC collegium that it is not advisable to have so many judges from one court posted at another high court. When the collegium recommended elevating Justice Thakur and Justice Grewal from acting judge to permanent judge, it had informed the government that steps will be taken once the two are elevated. Now, it has recommended the transfer of the two judges back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the sources said. While the Punjab and Haryana High Court has an approved strength of 85 judges, it is functioning with 46 -- a shortage of 39 judges. The Rajasthan High Court, on the other hand, has sanctioned strength of 50 judges but is functioning with 31 and faces a shortfall of 19 judges. Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold crunch talks in communist Laos today at a summit already overshadowed by infighting over Beijing's sabre rattling in the South China Sea. The gathering in Vientiane is the first major regional talks since the UN-backed tribunal ruled earlier this month that China did not have historic rights to vast swathes of the strategic sea. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrives in Laos tomorrow, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are among the delegates attending meetings on the sidelines of the summit. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes four members who have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the strategic sea, has long presented itself as the best place for China to negotiate with neighbours over disputes. Beijing has resisted that approach, insisting that territorial disputes must be settled bilaterally. In recent years ASEAN has struggled to present a united front against China with allegations that the regional superpower has forged alliances with smaller countries like Laos and Cambodia through aid and loans. The UN tribunal ruling was a victory for the Philippines, which brought the case, and fellow ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia who also claim parts of the South China Sea. But it infuriated Beijing which rejected the verdict and has ramped up both its rhetoric and military manoeuvres in the disputed waters in the last two weeks. ASEAN diplomats have been working on a joint communique to be issued at the end of the five-day meeting but disagreements have festered on how to approach the tribunal ruling. Those involved in talks told AFP that Cambodia, a staunch Beijing ally, has so far opposed any mention of it. A working draft of the communique obtained by AFP yesterday showed the section titled "South China Sea" as blank. "Our house is in a mess right now," one diplomat involved in the talks told reporters late yesterday as the day's attempts to reach a consensus came to a close. Washington has backed the Philippines and other South China Sea claimants against Beijing, arguing for free passage through what it considers international waters. A State Department official said the US would push for ASEAN to ease tensions over the South China Sea and find common ground. But the official added: "I'd put a little more value on the conversation that happens among the ministers themselves than I do in the often lengthy and torturous prose that is pulled together by the staff afterwards." It is not clear whether Kerry intends to meet his counterpart Wang for talks during their visit. Describing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's rhetoric about accession of Kashmir to Pakistan as "wishful thinking", a leading Pakistani daily today said statements like these will invite "more trouble" for the country as well as for the Kashmiri people. "It has become a norm for politicians to make unrealistic claims and repeat popular phrases for getting votes... Talking about Kashmir's accession with Pakistan is easy but nobody knows how it will happen," the Daily Times said in an editorial referring to Sharif's recent statement that Pakistan is waiting for the day when Kashmir becomes its part. Slamming the prime minister's statement as mere "rhetoric", it said that politicians utter these statements to win the masses' support and the people continue to suffer due to this mentality. "Pakistan's official stance on Kashmir is that it extends all-out moral support to Kashmiris' struggle for freedom, and will continue to raise its voice for their right to self- determination at every platform. This stance is commendable but making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate," it said. By uttering these words, in fact, the prime minister is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also, it said. The conflict over Kashmir, the editorial said, can be solved either through talks or war. "There is no other solution to this seven decades long conflict," it said. The daily goes on to question what "Pakistan can offer to Kashmiris when it is still coping with numerous challenges that are posing a threat to its own stability?" Instead of talking about capturing more land, government needs to make Kashmir under its control a model state where all Kashmiris happily aspire to live. For the last 67 years, Pakistan has failed to ensure good governance in its Kashmir. Not only that, many areas of the country are still facing neglect where people have no access to basic needs of life, it said. Calling for a 'political solution', it asked the governments of Pakistan and India to resolve the bilateral issues amicably, saying, "they must compromise in the larger national, regional and global interest," it added. A sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft on a record-breaking flight around the world to promote renewable energy was due to depart from Cairo early today on the last leg of its journey. "It's a project for energy, for a better world," Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard told journalists standing in front of the plane which weighs no more than a large car but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747. The plane was scheduled to depart at 1 am Cairo time for Abu Dhabi. It had been due to leave Cairo last week but was grounded because of strong winds and Piccard falling ill. The plane has been flown on its 35,000-kilometer trip by two pilots taking turns, Piccard and Swiss entrepreneur Andre Borschberg. The pair have alternated legs of the journey, with Borschberg piloting the flight's Pacific stage, a 6,437-kilometer flight between Nagoya, Japan and Hawaii. The 118-hour leg smashed the previous record for the longest uninterrupted journey in aviation history. The plane set out on March 9, 2015 from Abu Dhabi, and has been across Asia and the Pacific to the United States and on to Spain and Egypt with the sun as its only source of power. 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." The single-seat aircraft is clad in 17,000 solar cells. During night-time flights it runs on battery-stored power. It typically travels at a mere 48 kilometers per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight. The plane arrived in Cairo after a two-day flight from Spain, finishing the 3,745 kilometer journey with an average speed of 76.7 kilometers an hour. It had earlier landed in Seville after completing the first solo transatlantic flight powered only by sunlight. Piccard said the last leg of the tour would be difficult. "It's a very very hot region... Its going to be an exhausting flight," he said. Piccard and Borschberg, however, are no strangers to a challenge. Piccard, a psychiatrist, made the first non-stop balloon flight around the world in 1999. Borschberg, meanwhile, only narrowly escaped an avalanche 15 years ago and in 2013 survived a helicopter crash with minor injuries. A 48-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticides here, appraently upset over some derogatory remarks by his woman land lord over rent, police said today. Loganathan was staying in the rented house owned by the woman in R S Puram here. He could pay only Rs 3,000 instead of the actual rent of Rs 5,000 this month, following which Padmavathy reportedly abused him, police said. Besides, she also allegedly disconnected the power and water connection to the house, they said. Upset over it, Loganathan had consumed pesticide on July 20 and was undergoing treatment in Government Hospital. However he died late last night, they said. His wife and two daughters, along with a few relatives staged a protest in the Government hospital and refused to accept the body and insisted to for the arrest of Padmavathi, police said. Commuters in Mumbai might face trouble in the coming days, as taxi drivers have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday to protest against cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber. The Swabhiman Taxi and Rickshaw Union has claimed operations by cab aggregators like Uber and Ola are unauthorised. "Our demand from the government is that the cab aggregators should be brought under the law ... they are operating without mandatory permission from the RTO," Tiwari told PTI over phone. "We also want that government should begin proceedings against those who have not followed the law ... We will be on strike till government meets our demand ... Because of cab aggregators our drivers are having loss in income," he added. The unions and taxi drivers are also demanding implementation of the proposed city taxi scheme which would regulate the cab aggregators under the Motor Vehicles Act. There is an urgent need for reforms at the UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, former Under-Secretary-General of the global body has said here. "The UN is indispensable and has no alternative. Absence of reforms could discredit it and there is an urgent need for reforms," he said at a programme here yesterday. Tharoor, a Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram who quit the UN in 2007 after losing the race for the post of Secretary General to Ban Ki-moon, said already there was a danger that countries in groups were attaching importance to other fora like the G-20. He quoted former US president Harry Truman who said "If we fail to do that (maintain UN), we will betray those who have died (read in the Holocaust, Hiroshima bombings and the two World Wars)". There is now a need for even a stronger UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, he said. Regarding India's permanent membership to the UN Security Council, he said "that issue has been flogged to death". "That issue is reflecting the geo-political situation of 1945 and not of today," Tharoor said. The UN, which completed 70 years of its existence two years ago, had been criticised for failing to meet the objectives of its charter but it has done many things which have prevented more damage to humanity, Tharoor said. "What UN achieved is that it prevented the Cold War (between the US and USSR) from turning hot, vetoing the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, mounting peace settlements and ended numerous regional conflicts," he said at a session on UN at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). It has also ended many civil wars through mediation and facilitated more than 500 treaties though at times UN itself had been at the receiving end by all sides, said Tharoor, who spent 29 years of service at the UN. Stating that UN was an attempt to convert the wartime alliances into peacetime organisation with an aim to guide international behaviour to cooperate for common good, Tharoor said although there were voices from some quarters to dismiss it, it needs to be seen how the next US president and the one who succeeds Secretary General Ban navigates the world body to become more responsive to the voices of less powerful member countries and usher in a new order. You are here: Home Flash Pro Erdogan supporters wave a Turkish national flag during a rally at Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on July 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] A decree law released increases the legal duration of detention up to 30 days from the current two after the Turkish failed coup, Hurriyet Daily News reported Saturday. Under the new decree, the police are authorized to keep suspects up to one month before taking them to court. The decree, as part of the state of emergency declared on July 20, also authorizes the defense ministry to sack any military personnel. It ordered the closure of 35 hospitals, 1,043 private schools and dormitories, 15 private universities, 1,229 associations and foundations and 19 trade unions for links to Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Turkey of plotting the coup attempt on July 15. More than 5,600 suspects allegedly linked to the failed coup have remanded in custody so far, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday. According to the latest judicial figures, 5,613 suspects out of 12,652 detainees have been charged with links to the coup. About 300 police officers, 3,649 soldiers, 1,559 judicial members, 20 administrative chiefs and 93 other people were referred to court after police questioning. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists and said having state-to-state ties with the neighbouring country a "bigger challenge" for his government than combating terror groups such as al-Qaeda and Taliban. The Afghan President also said that Kabul was proud of its friendship with India as New Delhi shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. In contrast, Ghani said that Pakistan provides sanctuaries to terrorists and trains them, making relations with Pakistan, the bigger challenge for his country. "We cannot understand when Pakistan says it will not allow a group of terrorists to amend its constitution, army act and prepares a National Action Plan against them. "Simultaneously, Pakistan tolerates another group which attempts to undermine the government and bring horror, death and destruction to Afghanistan," Ghani told Geo . The 64-year-old Afghan president said he can provide addresses of Taliban leaders in the Pakistani city of Quetta, Dawn quoted the Afghan president as saying Saturday, a day Kabul witnessed the deadliest terror attack in 15 years which killed 80 people and left hundreds injured. Ghani claimed that Afghan forces have bombed the chief of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mullah Fazlullah, 11 times along with attacks on his close aides. "Can you show me a single operation against the Haqqani network, against Mullah Omar, against Mullah Mansoor, Mansoor traveled on a Pakistani passport out of Karachi, does Fazlullah travel on an Afghan passport out of Kabul," asked Ghani. The Afghan President also alleged terrorists wounded in Afghanistan are openly treated in Pakistani hospitals. "Afghan designated terrorists also hold open meetings in Islamabad," he said. Ghani rejected allegations that Afghan government had leaked the of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar's death, which resulted in suspension of Pakistan-facilitated dialogue between the Taliban and government in the Pakistani resort city of Murree. "The of Mullah Omar's death came from the Taliban. We did not leak it, we just gave an official statement. After the news was leaked, we confirmed it from 19 sources, all within Taliban network," said the Afghan president. Responding to a question, Ghani said Afghanistan was proud of its friendship with India, as India shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. "India is a historical friend of Afghanistan, India is building dams in Afghanistan, it is a democratic country and shares our democratic aspirations," said Ghani, adding that his country's foreign policy is no other country's business. Ghani presented a three point agenda in order to build trust measure with Pakistan. He asked Pakistan to go after declared terrorist groups, saying "if you don't take action against them, we won't trust you." Ghani said all countries should act on the quadrilateral process, regarding reconcilable and irreconcilable (groups). Thirdly, he said those who reject peace talks should be evacuated from Pakistan. A Trinamool Congress worker was today shot dead by unidentified assailants at Majjampur village under Beldanga police station in Murshidabad district, police said. The incident occurred this morning when Achhor Ali (35) was going from his home to a tea stall and was shot dead by assailants who also hurled several bombs to scare the local people. Enraged over the incident, the locals later gheraoed Beldanga police station and National Highway 34 for several hours to protest against the murder, police said. Beldanga Block president Gholam Kibriya alleged that the miscreants were from Congress party. Congress MLA of Beldanga Safiujjaman, however, said it is not a political incident. "It is a result of turfwar among miscreants," he said. Two persons were detained in connection with the killing, police said. Kibriya claimed that two elderly persons, Akhtar Ali (70) and Nouza Bibi (65) died of shock on hearing the bomb blasts near their homes in the village. However, there is no official confirmation on this. The mother of US Ambassador to Libya J Christopher Stevens, who was killed during a terror attack in Benghazi in 2012, has asked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the party to immediately stop their "opportunistic and cynical" use of her son's death. "I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection," Mary Commanday wrote in a short letter to the editor of The New York Times, which was published yesterday. "I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign," she said. Stevens, 52, is the first US Ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979. The Benghazi attack took place on September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound, killing Ambassador Stevens and US Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. The Benghazi attacks were frequently mentioned in speeches at last week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where speakers used it as a reason presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is unfit for the presidency, CNN reported. Clinton was secretary of state at the time of the attacks. Some conservatives blame Clinton and the Obama administration for security failures in Benghazi that they blame for the deaths of Stevens and three other Americans. At one point during the convention, another victim's mother, Pat Smith, spoke before the audience and blamed Clinton for the death of her son, IT expert Sean Smith. Turkish prosecutors are investigating people who have alleged on social media that a July 15 coup attempt was a hoax carried out by the government, the country's justice minister said today, reflecting what some critics say are increasing restrictions on expression in the wake of the failed rebellion by some military forces. Turkey also said it plans to hire more than 20,000 teachers to replace those who have been fired in a purge of suspected coup plotters in schools and other institutions. Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said the new teachers will replace state educators who have been dismissed as well as teachers in private schools with alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric who has denied Turkish accusations that he directed the coup attempt that killed about 290 people. In other crackdown measures, Turkey has disbanded the presidential guard after already detaining nearly 300 unit members suspected of plotting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and authorities detained Muhammet Sait Gulen, a nephew of the cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said in an interview with Turkey's Kanal 7 television station today that anyone who suggests the coup attempt was staged likely had a role in the insurrection, which was defeated by loyalist forces and pro-government protesters. There has been some internet speculation that Erdogan engineered the unrest in order to rally support and thereby increase his power, a conspiracy theory rejected by the government and most commentators on Turkey's recent turbulence. "Just look at the people who are saying on social media that this was theater, public prosecutors are already investigating them. Most of them are losers who think it is an honor to die for Fethullah Gulen's command," Bozdag said. Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency to restore security following the coup attempt, granting Erdogan the power to impose decrees without parliamentary approval. More than 13,000 people, including nearly 9,000 soldiers, 2,100 judges and prosecutors and 1,485 police, have been detained, according to the president. In addition, Erdogan said, the government has closed and seized the assets of 15 universities, 934 other schools, 109 student dormitories, 19 unions, 35 medical institutions as well as numerous other associations and foundations suspected of links to Gulen's movement. Turkey wants the United States to extradite Gulen. US President Barack Obama has said there is a legal process for extradition and has encouraged Turkey to present evidence. The Turkish authorities will disband the elite presidential guard after detaining almost 300 of its members in the wake of the failed coup, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said. "There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, there is no need," Yildirim said, speaking to A Haber channel. The presidential guard is a regiment numbering up to 2,500 people but at least 283 of its members had been detained after the coup. Turkey also detained a senior aide to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen whom it blames for the coup attempt aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an official said yesterday. Security forces detained Hails Hanci in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, the official said, describing Hanci as a "right-hand man" of Gulen and responsible for transferring funds to him. Gulen denies being behind the failed coup. The official said Hanci "apparently" entered the country two days before the attempted putsch that erupted late on July 15. Many thousands of flag-waving Turks massed today for the first cross-party rally to condemn the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid an ongoing purge of suspected state enemies. Istanbul's Taksim square was transformed into a sea of red national flags in what was dubbed a "democracy festival". But in stark contrast to the celebratory and patriotic mood in Istanbul, human rights group Amnesty International in London claimed it had "credible evidence" of the beating and torture of detainees. The official number of those in custody since the July 15 putsch has surged above 13,000 soldiers, police, justice officials and civilians in a wave of arrests that has alarmed NATO allies and European leaders. Despite the high tensions since the coup attempt, the mood in Istanbul was celebratory and strongly patriotic, with security tight following a series of recent attacks by Islamic State jihadists and Kurdish militants. "We defend the republic and democracy" read one sign in the vast and jubilant crowd, while others declared "Sovereignty belongs to the people alone" and "No to the coup, yes to democracy!" The mass event was called by the biggest opposition group, the secular and centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP), many of whose members carried pictures of modern Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. To signal patriotic unity and make the rally a cross-party event, it was joined by Erdogan's Islamic-conservative AKP, whose followers have rallied in support of the president every night since the failed putsch. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in a speech to the rally said that amid the turmoil, "the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, MPs stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!" Prime Minister Binali Yildirim tweeted that "this country's Turks, Kurds, Alevis" and supporters of the major opposition parties "united together and gave the lesson needed to the putschists". In London, Amnesty made serious claims about methods the government has allegedly used to rid the state of suspected conspirators. Alok Sharma, the newly-appointed minister in-charge of Asia in the UK Foreign Office who chose India for his first official visit, today said the trip was to ensure "strongest possible" bilateral ties in the post-Brexit world. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State was appointed as minister for Asia and the Pacific in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by Prime Minister Theresa May in a Cabinet reshuffle following last month's referendum in favour of the UK leaving the 28-member European Union (EU). "I am delighted that India will be my first official visit since taking up my appointment as a Foreign Office Minister," Sharma said before leaving the UK for a three-day visit to India, which will also cover Mumbai. "The UK and India have a broad and exciting partnership that includes trade and investment, climate and energy, education, health and culture, reinforced by the large, vibrant Indian diaspora in Britain," he said. "Britain is open for business and thriving on the world stage. We want the strongest possible relationship with India and I want to continue our vital strategic partnership on this visit and in my new role," he added. The Conservative party MP for Reading West will hold talks with Indian government ministers, senior officials and business leaders to make clear that "India and the UK share a dynamic future on the world stage." "As modern and diverse democracies, our two countries have a natural affinity and enjoy a genuinely strategic partnership that we want to take to the next level. Our existing bonds in security and defence, business, innovation, education and culture are stronger than ever," the Foreign Office said in a statement. Sharma will also meet business and finance leaders to discuss UK's strengths, including in financial services, 'Smart Cities' and sustainable energy. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, NATO and the G7, the UK is truly a global player. As a long- standing friend of India, we are a great fit with India's reform programme and, as partners in the G20 and Commonwealth, our growing collaboration will see both our nations prosper in the world," the statement added. During the visit, Sharma, 48, is expected to hold talks with "the next generation's opinion formers" on foreign policy at an 'Emerging Voices' event. In an bizarre incident, a group of teenage boys in the UK went to school wearing skirts to protest a uniform policy after they were reprimanded for donning shorts on a sweltering hot day. Four boys at the Longhill High School, in Brighton, East Sussex, wore skirts to school in protest after they were pulled up for wearing shorts. The 14-year-old pupils were punished for wearing shorts in a bid to keep cool on the hottest day of the year. In protest, the students decided to borrow from the girls' official uniform, The Mirror reported. Michael Parker, Kodi Ayling, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer were allowed to wear the pleated skirts as they are within the school's rules. They donned the skirts in protest of the school's decision to punish boys who wore school-issued shorts rather than trousers last Tuesday. On Tuesday -- the hottest day of the year -- around 20 boys wore Longhill-branded gym shorts. They were all punished by the secondary school as they were not wearing "regulation uniform". Some of the students were sent home and others were kept in isolation and excluded the following day. "It's not fair for boys to be roasting in black trousers on the hottest day of the year while the girls can wear skirts," Parker was quoted as saying. His mother Angela, said, "We're fully in support of the boys. I think what the headmistress is doing is discrimination and I'm extremely proud of Michael and his fellow protesters." Wesley Allen, Kodi's dad, said the school's decision to punish the boys for wearing shorts was "madness". "The shorts he had on have the school logo on them and I think should be allowed to wear them on hot days," he said. "I think it's madness. The boys have done this to prove a point and I think it's brilliant. I don't think Kodi will wear the skirt all summer but I do think he likes the attention," Allen said. Head teacher Kate Williams said, "I have high standards regarding uniform and in the warm weather, these high standards have been challenged by approximately two per cent of parents/students." "Four male students at Longhill High School chose to wear a skirt to school. Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform," she said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the world body's strong condemnation of the terror attack on a peaceful demonstration in Afghanistan, describing it as a "despicable crime" while calling for bringing to justice the perpetrators of the assault. At least 80 people were killed and 231 wounded in twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, an attack claimed by the Islamic State terror group. According to a statement issued by his office, Ban called for those responsible for the attack to be brought to justice. "The Secretary-General condemns...Terrorist attack in Kabul. This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights," the statement said. The powerful UN Security Council also issued a statement, condemning "in the strongest terms" the "heinous and cowardly" terror attack yesterday. Two explosions occurred at Dehmazang square targeting a peaceful demonstration. "The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant(ISIL), illegal and armed groups to the local population, National Defence and Security Forces and international presence in Afghanistan," the statement said. The 15-nation Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these "reprehensible" acts of terrorism to justice and urged all UN member nations to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard. "The members of the Security Council stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations and individual terrorists," in accordance with UN resolutions. Asserting that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal, the Council said terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. The Council reiterated that "no violent or terrorist acts" can reverse the Afghan-led process along the path towards peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Afghan government and by the international community. Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto called the attack "an outrage that cannot be justified and stressed that the perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable." "An attack deliberately targeting a large, concentrated group of civilians amounts to a war crime," he said in the statement, which was issued by UNAMA. "This attack is particularly heinous because it targeted civilians as they exercised their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression," Yamamoto said. UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft expressed his deepest sorrow and anger over the terrible terror attacks and "mass murders" taking place around the world. Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh have alleged that the BJP, BSP and SP have divided the people of the state on caste and community lines. Addressing a gathering after the party's three-day bus yatra - "27 saal, UP behaal" reached here last night, a delegation of leaders comprising Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Raj Babbar, PramodTiwari and Mohd Afzal, also urged people to vote in favour of the party in the upcoming mayoral elections and Assembly polls. "The state was socially disorganised and has been divided among castes and communities during the successive governments of BJP, BSP and Samajwadi Party for the last 27 years," they alleged. Party's state campaigncommittee chief Sanjay Singh said the yatra will be followed by a meeting of the state unit chaired by party vice president Rahul Gandhiin Lucknow. "The yatra will speak about the failure and misgovernance of successive governments in the last 27 years," Singh said. It has departedto Rampur and Bareillythis morning. The yatra, covering around 600 km, was flagged off by party chief Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi yesterday from the party headquarters at Akbar Road and its top leaders will address it en route. You are here: Home Flash Turkey has arrested a key aide to the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was accused by Ankara of plotting the failed coup attempt, local media reported on Saturday. Halis Hanci, designated as Gulen's henchman, came to Turkey two days before the coup attempt, the report said. He has distributed money to Gulen, who has been living in the U.S. since 1999. Turkish authorities earlier on Saturday detained Mohammet Sait Gulen, one of Gulen's nephews, NTV reported. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly demanded the extradition of the cleric, and the government has filed an official request with the U.S. for it. The failed coup attempt, which began on July 15, was crushed the next day; at least 290 people, including more than 100 "coup plotters," were killed, authorities said. UP Governor Ram Naik today sought footage of the BSP protest here against Dayashankar Singh's remarks questioning the character of Mayawati, a day after a BJP delegation met him and demanded arrest of a top BSP leader for using "abusive" language at the demonstration. The governor also took into cognisance media reports on the alleged use of abuse language by BSP leaders including Naseemuddin Siddiqui at Thursday's protest near Hazratbal here. "I have asked the administration and police to provide audio and video footage, besides other documents of the protest to get further information. I have even asked the BJP delegation which met me yesterday to provide any information available with them," Naik told PTI. He said that no time has been fixed for providing the information. "It is just to get detailed information about the incident. Generally, we seek information in such incidents," he said. Police had already said that it has got the entire protest videographed and would take action after examining the footage. "We have got the entire incident videographed and will take further action after examining the footage," a senior officer had said. After Singh had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments questioning the character of the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratbal and raised slogans against the expelled leader's family. The BJP also held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh on Friday demanding arrest of Siddiqui, who led the protest. "A delegation of BJP office-bearers, led by state president, yesterday met the Governor and demanded immediate arrest of BSP general secretary and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Naseemuddin Siddiqui," BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak had said. BJP stated in the memorandum that derogatory language was allegedly used against women members of Singh's family, especially against his daughter, during protest by BSP workers on Thursday. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday on a complaint of Dayashankar Singh's mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used "abusive language" against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised "derogatory" slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday during which Singh's 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. BJP state chief KP Maurya said women wing of the party would stage a big demonstration in Lucknow on July 28 on the issue. Dayashankar's wife Swati, who has been provided security after the BSP protest, is likely to meet the Governor this afternoon. An Indian-origin woman's 2015 foeticide conviction has been overturned by a US court in connection with her botched, self-induced abortion, with legal experts suggesting the landmark verdict couldplay a crucial role in future cases of abortions and foeticide. The Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday overturned the 20-year prison sentence of Purvi Patel, the Northern Indiana woman. Ina3-0 ruling, the judges saidthatthe state foeticide statute was not intended to apply to abortions, a report in Indianapolis Star said. It cited legal experts as saying that-barring a successfulappeal- the decision should give Indiana prosecutors pause before bringing similar chargesagainst pregnant womenin the future. The report said in its decision, the court relied heavily on how prosecutors have applied the foeticide law in the past, noting that this case was an "abrupt departure" from itstypical cases in which a pregnant woman and her unborn childare the victims of violence. "The state's about-face in this proceeding is unsettling, as well as untenable" under prior court precedent, Judge TerryCrone said in the ruling. The ruling however did not clear Patelof any criminalresponsibility and upheld a lower-levelfelony neglect conviction against Patel for failing to provide medical care to the baby, who medical experts testified was alive and breathing after birth. Patel was arrested when she sought treatment at a local hospital for profuse bleeding after delivering a boy in a bathroom and putting his body in a dumpster behind her family's restaurant. Court records show she bought abortion-inducing drugs from an online pharmacy. Patel, who was 32 at the time, used the drugs because she feared her family would discover she had been impregnated by a married man, according to court documents cited in the report. Patel had initially faced 20 years in jail and legal experts had said at the time that the sentence for foeticide and neglect of a dependent added up to one of the most severe penalties an American woman has faced for aborting her own pregnancy. The report cited experts as saying that the decision containsthe strongest language yet drawing a legal distinction between illegally performed abortions and feticide. "If it's not appealed to the SupremeCourt, I think it should give Indiana prosecutors pause before bringing any feticide charges against pregnant women," said Kate Jack, an Indiana-based attorney whoprovides local counsel for the National Advocates for Pregnant Women. "I'm not willing to say the issue is 100 per centclosed, but I do think it will really give pause." Abortion rights advocates also cheered the feticide rulingbut said that upholding the felony convictionsenta "mixed message" for womenand threatened to createa "dangerous divide" between doctors and patients. "The research is clear. If pregnant people fear criminal consequences, they don't go to the doctor," said Shelly Dodson, director of All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center in the report. "... The state of Indiana is sending a clear messageto anyone who is or might be pregnant that'you don't deserve help, you don't deserve support-you deserve jail.'" Barring an appeal, the case now returns to a lower court for sentencing on the simple felony neglect charge, which carries a maximum sentence of three years, the report said. Amid a war of words, Pakistan today said any verdict on the future of Kashmir can only be given by the Kashmiri people, a day after New Delhi made it clear that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and will never become part of Pakistan. In response to the statement by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, that "the whole of Jammu & Kashmir belongs to India and Kashmir will never become part of Pakistan," Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz said, "Such a verdict on the future of Kashmir can only be given by the people of Kashmir and not by the External Affairs Minister of India". "This right has been promised to the people of Kashmir by the UN Security Council. It is high time that India allowed the people of Jammu & Kashmir to exercise this right through a free and fair UN supervised plebiscite. Once the majority of the people of Kashmir have voted for joining either Pakistan or India the whole world will accept this verdict of the Kashmiri people," Aziz said upping the ante on the issue. Swaraj had also objected to the statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in which he had called Burhan Wani a "martyr" saying "For India he was a wanted terrorist". Aziz commented, "Here again, India cannot ignore the fact that over 200,000 Kashmiris participated in the funeral prayers of Burhan Muzaffar Wani in 50 different locations throughout Indian Occupied Kashmir despite strict curfew clamped in the Valley, which still continues 15 days after Wani's extrajudicial murder on July 8, 2016". "Let us not forget, as one Indian writer has reminded us, that not long ago the British labelled Indian freedom fighters as traitors and terrorists because at that time India was considered an integral part of the British Empire. "Government and the people of Pakistan remain firmly committed in their moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiris' indigenous movement for self-determination and resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Kashmir. "Pakistan urges the UN, international community and the human rights organisations to play their role in stopping the Indian atrocities in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir against innocent and defenceless Kashmiris. Even in India, conscientious voices have raised concern over the brutalities and reign of terror unleashed by the Indian forces in Indian-Occupied Kashmir," he said. Packaged tea firm Wagh Bakri is targeting 15 per cent growth in revenue at Rs 1,150 crore this fiscal, a top company official said. "Our turnover is Rs 1,000 crore and we are looking at at least 15 per cent growth this year," Wagh Bakri Tea Group Executive Director Parag Desai told PTI here. With a better monsoon forecast for this year, the company aims to have a good fiscal after a lean period of 2-3 years. "Due to the downturn in economy and lack of rainfall, last 2-3 years have been worrisome because our expenses have gone up and the growth roll out has not happened," he said. Present in nine states, the privately held company sells 40 million kgs of tea annually, with tier II and III cities accounting for almost 90 per cent of sales. It plans to introduce 10 new flavours in the next two years. The company also plans to set up a new manufacturing unit and expand its tea lounges but Desai said the investments are subject to the GST being rolled out. "We have a big plan lined up, provided the next three-four years the monsoon is good, and more importantly the GST bill is passed in Parliament. "All our investments will be based on these two things. If GST happens, we can pick and choose based on the logistics and the best possible place (to set up the new facility). "Right now, all our manufacturing happens in Gujarat. We may have to move out of Gujarat and we are looking forward to it, provided GST rolls out," he said. It has four manufacturing units in Gujarat with a capacity of 40 million kgs of tea per annum. The new facility will entail an investment around Rs 75 crore -- capital cost of Rs 50 crore to set up the unit and an additional Rs 20-25 crore for plant and machinery. Per capita consumption of tea in India is estimated to be around 800 gms per year. The company's online business has been doubling each year and Desai believes it could contribute to 5-7 per cent of revenues in the next five years. The company offers brands like Wagh Bakri Tea, Good Morning, Mili and Navchetan which are also sold in US, Canada, Middle East, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, among others. Exports contribute 3-5 per cent of sales for the company. Reaching out to the people in Kashmir, the Centre today said it wanted to have "emotional" ties with them and not a need-based relationship and expressed the willingness to talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the Valley. Winding up his two-day visit to Kashmir in the backdrop of widespread disturbances that has claimed 46 lives so far, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said security forces have been directed to refrain from using pellet guns against crowds as much as possible even as he awaits a report of a committee set up by him to look into the use of non-lethal weapons. During his stay in the Valley, Rajnath met 30 delegations including a government team led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and an opposition National Conference(NC) team headed by Omar Abdullah. The Congress stayed away from deliberations with the Home Minister. In a memorandum submitted to the Home Minister, the NC asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. Sending a strong message to Pakistan at a press conference at the end of his visit to Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath warned the neighbouring country not to interfere in India's internal affairs and that it should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir. "There is no need of any third force to improve situation in Kashmir. Pakistan's role is not "paak" (pure) towards Kashmir." "As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. Rajnath said the Centre will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. To a question on whether there will be any talks with separatists, Singh said, "Let normalcy and peace be restored first. We will talk to the chief minister here and we will work only after taking her into confidence." "Let us first ensure that normalcy returns. Then, we will talk to whoever we want." He said the government would review the use of pellet guns and a committe has already been set up by him to look into the use of non-lethal weapons which will give its report in two months. Actress Winona Ryder was the "perfect" choice for the role of Joyce Byers in the Netflix series "Stranger Things" because of her ability to access dark emotions, says director Shawn Levy. Levy said the casting for the series was a long process but when the 44-year-old actress was put forward for the role he decided that she was the person best suited the character of Joyce Byers, reported Contactmusic. "Many of these roles we looked for months and months - the Brothers were insanely stubborn in their search for the right kids. From the day casting director Carmen Cuba suggested Winona, the Duffers and I were like, "Oh yeah, that's got to be it", said the 47-year-old director. "Not only is there the legacy of work that feels appropriate given the period setting, but even if she had never done a movie she would be the most perfect actress to play Joyce because not many actresses are willing and able to access such harrowing places," he added. Levy also said that Winona is getting deserved attention and praise for her performance. It has been three days since the Indian Air Force's AN-32 aircraft disappeared over the Bay of Bengal and as the massive search operation continues, family of a Flight Lieutenant, who was on-board, has turned to the last resort - miracle. "She had left for Port Blair after spending a brief period of her annual leave with us," says an inconsolable Prem Lata, mother of Flight Lieutenant Deepika Sheoran. Sheoran is onboard the IAF's AN-32 place which left for Port Blair from Chennai on Friday with 29 people and went off radar minutes later. At least 18 navy and coast guard ships including a submarine, and eight aircraft like P 81, C 130 and Dorniers involved in the round the clock operation to search for the aircraft have been able to find no clue. "I wish for some miracle to save her and 28 other missing people," Prem Lata says. She says she last spoke to her on Thursday. Armed with a degree in computer engineering, Deepika Sheoran preferred to don uniform as a flight lieutenant and joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2013. She got Port Blair posting last month. Hanging on to every scrap of information about the missing aircraft, her family says Deepika was very excited to get the posting. Sheoran had married Kuldeep Dalal on November 22 last and her husband is posted in Port Blair as assistant commandant with the Coast Guard. This was the couple's first joint posting. The officer's father Dalip Singh Sheoran, an executive engineer with Haryana public health department, said after completing her B Tech in computer engineering from Faridabad, she got a placement in MNC at Noida. She was also selected for the army as a lieutenant and had completed all formalities. "But she had something else in mind - joining the air force," he says. "She also qualified for the technical branch of the IAF and was commissioned in January 2013 as flying officer." "Since her childhood she was crazy about aeroplanes. Though she could not become a pilot, she was happy to join the air force to satisfy her thrill for aircraft. She has disappeared in the same sky where she always wished to fly," Singh added. Deepika was the eldest among three siblings. Her younger brother Anubhav has completed an engineering degree and youngest sister has completed her class XII. Anubhav said her sister was the "life of their house" and used to guide him and his sister about their careers. The world's most sensitive dark matter detector has failed to yield any trace of the elusive substance thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass of the universe, even after 20 months of operation. The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment, which operates beneath a mile of rock at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills of South Dakota, has completed its silent search for the missing matter of the universe. LUX's sensitivity far exceeded the goals for the project, scientists said, but yielded no trace of a dark matter particle. Its extreme sensitivity makes the team confident that if dark matter particles had interacted with the LUX's xenon target, the detector would almost certainly have seen it. That enables scientists to confidently eliminate many potential models for dark matter particles, offering critical guidance for the next generation of dark matter experiments. "LUX has delivered the world's best search sensitivity since its first run in 2013," said Rick Gaitskell, professor at Brown University in the US. "With this final result from the 2014 to 2016 search, the scientists of the LUX Collaboration have pushed the sensitivity of the instrument to a final performance level that is four times better than the original project goals," Gaitskell said. "It would have been marvellous if the improved sensitivity had also delivered a clear dark matter signal," he said. Dark matter is thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass in the universe. Scientists are confident of its existence because the effects of its gravity can be seen in the rotation of galaxies and in the way light bends as it travels through the universe, but experiments have yet to make direct contact with a dark matter particle. The LUX experiment was designed to look for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), the leading theoretical candidate for a dark matter particle. If the WIMP idea is correct, billions of these particles pass through your hand every second, and also through the Earth and everything on it. However, because WIMPs interact so weakly with ordinary matter, this ghostly traverse goes entirely unnoticed. The LUX detector consists of a third-of-a-tonne of cooled liquid xenon surrounded by powerful sensors designed to detect the tiny flash of light and electrical charge emitted if a WIMP collides with a xenon atom within the tank. The detector's location at Sanford Lab beneath a mile of rock, and inside a 72,000-gallon, high-purity water tank, helps shield it from cosmic rays and other radiation that would interfere with a dark matter signal. The 20-month run of LUX represents one of the largest exposures ever collected by a dark matter experiment, the researchers said. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) today arrested a 24-year-old youth from Parbhani district in Marathwada region for suspected ISIS links. "Khan was arrested early today and around one kg of explosives and other instruments have been recovered from him," a senior ATS official told PTI. Prima facie, the explosives are low grade explosives, the official said. Khan was also found to have used a car remote key for operating an IED, he said. ATS is also probing his suspected connections with global terror outfit Islamic State. Recently, 31-year-old Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus was arrested from Parbhani. Chaus was planning to join the Islamic State and was in constant touch with their members through social media. On Friday, a 43-year-old man--Rizwan Khan--allegedly involved in recruiting youths for ISIS was arrested from Thane district in a joint operation by Kerala Police and the Maharashtra ATS as part of the probe in the southern state where several youths are suspected to have joined the terror group and headed to destinations abroad after being radicalised. Khan was picked up from his residence at Kalyan in Thane, within days of arrest of a man associated with Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of controversial preacher Zakir Naik, based on a complaint in Kerala. On July 21, Kerala Police, assisted by Maharashtra ATS, arrested Arshi Qureshi, associated with IRF, from Navi Mumbai for allegedly radicalising youths. The Kerala police traced Qureshi to Mumbai following a complaint lodged in Kochi by the brother of a young woman, suspected to have joined ISIS along with her husband and left the state. Ebin Jacob (25), brother of Merin alias Mariam who is missing along with her husband Bestin Vincent alias Yahia from Kerala, had told Palarivattom police in Kochi that there was an attempt to forcibly convert him to Islam and make him join ISIS, and that Bestin and Qureshi were behind it. Based on this, the Kerala police slapped charges under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on the duo and booked them under sections of the IPC. At least 21 youths from Kerala were reported missing and suspected to have joined ISIS. Government will identify 10 incubators out of existing 200 such centres and invest Rs 200 crore on scaling up their capacity, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Saturday. "There are 200 existing incubation centres. We will scale up 10 best incubation by 10x. We have received 120 applications for the same. We will select 10 and to each incubator we will produce Rs 20 crore," Kant said at Startup India state's conference. He said the government will invest Rs 20 lakh to support existing tinkering labs. "We are going to set up 100 new incubation centres this year. We have received 3,000 applications for it," Kant said. He said the government is soon going to start a contest to find out solution for problems in India. "Can we do a flyover, which takes 4-5 years, in 30 days and to my mind it is possible," Kant said. He said that challenge will include developing solution for farming to help farmer decide which seed should be sown in a particular season depending on soil and weather condition to get maximum output. The government will look at finding solution for sewage problem and solving water crisis as part of the contest, he said. "Grand challenge will be launched shortly. There is huge opportunity," Kant said. Flash At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded in a twin blast targeting a mass protest in the Afghan capital on Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua] At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded in a twin blast targeting a mass protest in the Afghan capital on Saturday, the deadliest attack Kabul has ever seen since 2001. The attack prompted growing fear about security in the country since it also marked the first time the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has staged such carnage in Kabul. According to an IS statement, two of its suicide bombers detonated their explosives among the demonstrators. Reports said there was a third suicide bomber, but police officers shot him before he could cause any harm. The Taliban denied any involvement in the attack. The demonstrators, mainly from the Hazara ethnic minority, were protesting the route of a planned power line, which they say should not bypass the Hazara heartland of Bamiyan province. The twin blast inflicted the highest toll compared with similar attacks Kabul has witnessed in the past 15 years, and TV footage showed a hellish scene of bodies strewing the street and blood-soaked survivors calling for help. Rescue efforts were hampered by roadblocks that had been set up by the police for the purpose of crowd management. Outside hospitals, there were long lines of local residents who offered to donate blood for the victims. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said he was deeply grieved by the tragedy, noting that the government "puts all efforts to provide security for the protestors, but terrorists entered the protests, and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens including members of security and defense forces." He declared a day of national mourning and ordered the authorities to use all available resources to help the victims. While the Afghan leader promised to uphold citizens' right to protest, the government decided to ban all forms of public gathering for the next 10 days. Many countries, including neighboring India, Pakistan, as well as leading NATO members, have sent condolences to Afghanistan over the incident. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the terrorist attack. "This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson. On June 30, Armenias Parliament ratified the Russia-Armenia United Regional System of Air Defense in the Caucasian Region , thereby moving it to the operational stage. The agreement was preliminarily signed in in Moscow by Armenias and Russias defense ministers in December 2015, on the basis of analogous accords with Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2009 and 2013 respectively. While the approval was accompanied with speculations on how Armenia could benefit from the accord, Moscows potential to exploit the agreement in its anti-Western posture has received less attention. In particular, the joint air-defense system presumably constitutes a reinforcing element of Moscows anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the eastern flank of the Black Sea region. BACKGROUND: The annexation of Crimea has had a profound impact on the Black Sea strategic environment, giving rise to a new geopolitical paradigm. It dramatically altered the entire naval status quo of the region, portending the proliferation of A2/AD capabilities Russias newly adopted strategy and a critical instrument in its confrontation with the West. This approach enables Moscow to keep NATO forces far away from the coastline, substantially hindering their operational movement. The boost of Russian A2/AD capabilities also complicates NATOs efforts to create sustainable infrastructure for collective defense and deterrence, with consequences for the security of NATOs partners in the region. The Russian A2/AD portfolio features high-precision coastal missile defense, short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile systems, high altitude surface-to-air missiles underpinned by combat aircraft capacities, cruise missiles and submarines. Countering A2/AD is fraught with a high risk of escalation combined with significant loss of time and capacities. Senior NATO officials including former Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Philip Breedlove, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Peter Pavel, and Commander Allied Air Command General Frank Gorenc, raised concerns about Russias A2/AD strategy in a European context during 2015. Despite financial and technological difficulties that appear to limit Russias options for an effective response to the implementation of NATOs defense and deterrence strategy, Moscow also faces objective political obstacles. A case in point is Georgias aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration, which is a geographic limitation to Russias bid for Black Sea regional domination. To this end, Moscow seemingly seeks to drag Armenia, its regional client state, into Russias concerted military activities. Armenia is a member of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), challenged by a political conflict with NATO member Turkey and a military conflict with Azerbaijan. Its security ties with Russia are underpinned by the bilateral agreements reached in 1995, postulating the continual deployment of a major Russian military contingent, including the 102nd military base in Gyumri and the 3624th airbase near Yerevan. These units constitute an integral part of Russias Southern Military District along with forces in the North Caucasus Military District, the Black Sea Fleet and air defense units in Crimea, as well as bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The united air defense initiative with Armenia will consolidate the operational abilities of the Southern Military District thereby reinforcing the A2/AD strategy in the region. Against the backdrop of consistent militarization of Crimea, the united air defense system in the Caucasus will plausibly assume functions similar to the joint air defense bubble forged by Minsk and Moscow for the Baltics. At least four divisions of S-300PS (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) surface-to-air missile systems were in 2014 dispatched to Belarus as reinforcement to the same systems operating in Kaliningrad, Russias enclave in the Baltics. This covenant with Belarus plays an important role in covering the 65-kilometer land corridor between Kaliningrad and Belarus, which also constitutes the only land access between Poland and the allies most vulnerable to Russias assertive posture Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Moscow has seemingly managed to design a similar power projection in the South Caucasus by drawing Armenia into its strategic operational air space. Via the united air defense accord with Yerevan, Moscow is enhancing its air denial and controlling capabilities to the detriment of NATO and its regional partners. IMPLICATIONS: The emergence of a united air defense system with Armenia should be examined in the context of Russias measures aimed at targeting NATOs interests in the wider region. The document envisions the subordination of Armenias air defense assets under the operational strategic command of Russias Southern Military District. This prospect implies a coordinated operability of all military assets ranging from Crimea to Armenia. The united air defense system presents a constitutive mechanism of collective defense based on hierarchic principles. As such, according to Article 6, the strategic command of the joint collective air defense system in the Caucasus will henceforth be a duty of the Russian Aerospace Forces supreme commander in case potential threats emerge. In Moscows perspective, the spectrum of potential threats in the Black Sea-Caucasian region is clear. Referring to the military doctrine, recently adapted and imposed by Vladimir Putin, any NATO activity in Eastern Europe and especially the partnership programs with post-Soviet states, is perceived as potential threat to Russias interests. Against this backdrop, it could be assumed that Georgia, being sandwiched between Russia and Armenia, represents a strategic gap in Moscows regional A2/AD buildup. In other words, by contributing to NATOs regional agenda, Georgia thereby constitutes a potential threat that would need to be neutralized. At the tactical level, Russia acquires access to air defense assets stationed in Armenia. Armenia possesses surface-to-air missile systems, including a few battalions of relatively advanced S-300PS that are also in operation on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In addition, in 201415 Russia deployed a battalion of S-300B in its 102nd military base. These missiles also increased the risks for Armenia and Georgia, entangling these countries in Russias regional competition for power. With regard to Georgia, Moscows initiative to absorb the Armenian air defense system, accompanied with Russias military buildup in Georgias breakaway regions, will likely give rise to additional concerns in Tbilisi. The integrated air defense system was given a separate region status to codify Armenian air space. In compliance with the accord, the parties will allocate the assets of the air defense system for carrying out collective security control of the region, which implies that Russia managed to institute a system of control upon the South Caucasus airspace. At the very least, this will complicate the defense environment for Georgia. The initiative will also likely increase military tension in the Black Sea security environment. The way Russia treats such agreements with its CSTO allies is reminiscent of the principles of the Warsaw Pact, according to which the strategic command of all ally armies belonged to Moscow. The Kremlins policy-makers are seemingly endeavoring to map out a similar hierarchic structure in relation to Armenias, Kazakhstans and Belarus armies. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to note that Moscow views all military-political initiatives in the Black Sea-Caucasus region primarily through the prism of competition with the West. At this particular juncture, increased practical security cooperation drawing Georgia and Armenia under the auspices of NATO could potentially derail Russias intentions to consolidate its influence over Armenias military. Meanwhile, the U.S. and NATOs new programs for boosting regional stability could pose as an alternative to Russia and increase Armenias maneuverability in terms of defense policy-making. In other words, a proactive U.S./NATO engagement in Black Sea security affairs would likely provide a substantial opportunity for Armenia to counterbalance Russias influence. Given Moscows previous ambivalence in honoring its commitments to its CSTO ally Armenia, the expanded defense ties with Russia has triggered a strong disaffection within Armenian military circles, whereas the Armenian government appeared reluctant to enter the agreement. However, as some Armenian parliamentarians have suggested, a delay in ratifying the agreement could have induced Moscow to put pressure on Yerevan by cancelling the delivery of military equipment in response. Finally, a bilateral agreement between Tbilisi and Yerevan is of paramount importance to address the potential threat to Georgia emanating from a joint Russian/Armenian air defense engagement. Such an agreement should have reassuring elements committing both states to refrain from activities that could potentially affect each others security and defense. AUTHORS BIO: Eduard Abrahamyan, PhD, is a defense and regional security analyst and scientific researcher at the University of Leicester, UK. His expertise is on NATOs strategy evolution and adaptation in the Eastern Europe and Black Sea regions. Image Attribution: www.eurasianet.org, accessed on July 21, 2016 SHARE Advisory firm expands to Corpus Christi Top 25 CPA and advisory firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC expanded again in Texas by merging the firm of Ransleben, Senterfitt, Sedwick & Co, officials said. The Corpus Christi office and personnel now operate under the CRI name and became the sixth Texas location for the firm. Ransleben, Senterfitt, Sedwick & Co. was founded in 1959 to offer clients a comprehensive suite of financial services, including tax planning, litigation support, business valuations, and organizational consulting. Neessen acquires other dealership in Kingsville Phil Neessen with Neessen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram acquired Blake Fulenwider Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Kingsville from Blake Fulenwider, officials said. The name was changed to Neessen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Phil Neessen also owns Neessen Chevrolet Buick GMC in Kingsville. After his start in Corpus Christi in 1980, he purchased the Chevrolet store in Kingsville in 1989 and acquired the GMC and Buick franchises in 1992. Also in 1992, he bought the Chrysler Dodge Plymouth franchises in 1992 and then sold those two franchises in 1994, officials said. HALO-Flight signs customer plan Bell Helicopter announced HALO-Flight, a helicopter emergency medical service in Texas, has signed their Bell 429 for the Customer Advantage Plan the second U.S. based EMS customer to sign for the new service solution, officials said. Bell Helicopter's Customer Advantage Plans provide customers with comprehensive coverage solutions for their daily operations. The plans offer a fixed cost per flight hour service option that protects customers' budgets and their aircraft and increases aircraft availability at rates competitive to published direct maintenance costs, officials said. HALO -Flight signed for the premier plan, one of the two plans offering increased value through predictable operational budgeting, flexibility to changing mission demands and enhanced financial benefits. Southern Careers Institute opens The Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting Wednesday for the Southern Careers Institute located at 2422 Airline Road. Compiled by Natalia Contreras SHARE Okoye Chriss Okoye to participate in scholars program Mekam Okoye, a third-year resident at Driscoll Children's Hospital, will be participating in the Yale/Stanford Johnson & Johnson Global Health Scholars Program later this year, officials said. Okoye's rotation will be in South Africa from Sept. 26 to Nov. 6. Other established program rotation sites are in Uganda, Indonesia, Rwanda and Colombia. Chriss to receive professionalism award The Texas Center for Legal Ethics announced attorney William J. Chriss of Corpus Christi will receive the 2016 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award, officials said. Each year, TCLE presents the Pope Award to a judge or attorney who personifies the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the field of law. The Pope Award is named for former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope, one of TCLE's founders and the first recipient of the Award in 2009. Chriss practices in the Corpus Christi office of San Antonio-based Gravely & Pearson, L.L.P., and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, officials said. He is the author of "The Noble Lawyer," which examines the history and current state of the legal profession. The Pope Award will be presented by Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht at the Annual Texas Supreme Court Historical Society Dinner on September 9 in Austin. Compiled by Natalia Contreras SHARE TUESDAY Basics on business event set for Alice The Basics of Starting Your Business and SBA Loans will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Alice Chamber of Commerce, 612 E. Main, Alice. Seating is limited and seminar is subject to change. Information/registration: Elizabeth Soliz, economic development specialist at 361-879-0017, ext. 301 or email elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov. Hispanic chamber presents SBA event SBA's Business Smart Toolkit How to Start Your Own Business will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Freer Public Library, 608 Carolyn, Freer. The seminar is open to small businesses and community. Information/registration: B.J. Alaniz, director of Duval County Public Libraries, 361-279-8201 or email bjalaniz@yahoo.com. WEDNESDAY Orientation for small businesses A small business orientation is from 4-6 p.m. at the Economic Development Center, 3209 S. Staples St., CED 146. The seminar will provide new business owners information to start a business. Topics include: small business loans and financing requirements, business plan, licensing, contracting and permit information and resources. Free. Information: www.seminarscc.com. Learn about SAM profiles for business Entities doing business with the Federal Government are required to maintain an active System for Award Management profile and the Small Business Development Center will host a seminar about the process on how to register. The seminar will be from 2-4 p.m. at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development, 3209 S. Staples St., Room 141. Free. Registration and information: www.seminarscc.com. Seminar focuses on financing options SBA Financing Options for Small Business seminar will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 1823 N. Chaparral St. Free. To register call Elizabeth Soliz, Economic Development Specialist at 361-879-0017, ext. 301 or email elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov. Thursday Kingsville chamber hosts SBA seminar SBA Loans to Start, Grow or Expand your Business seminar will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, 635 E. King, Kingsville. Free. Information/registration: Elizabeth Soliz, Economic Development Specialist at 361-879-0017, Ext. 301 or email elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov. Benavides library hosts SBA event SBA's Business Smart Toolkit How to Start Your Own Business will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Benavides Public Library, 131 Mesquite St., Benavides. Free. Information/RSVP: B.J. Alaniz, director of Duval County Public Libraries, 361-279-8201 or email bjalaniz@yahoo.com. Friday SBA hosts seminar for contractors Opening Doors to Federal Government Contracting seminar will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at SBA Corpus Christi Branch Office, 2820 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 108. Free. Information/registration: Elizabeth Soliz, Economic Development Specialist at 361-879-0017, Ext. 301 or email elizabeth.soliz@sba.gov. LATER Registration for 'BIG' event opens The Governor's Small Business Forum: The BIG Event will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, 402 Harbor Drive. Cost is $35 for preregistration or $45 at the door the day of the event. Registration includes lunch, access to sessions and an exhibit pass. Information/registration: www.thebigeventcc.com. Small business conference offered in Kingsville The College of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Kingsville will host a Small Business Conference from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15, at the Business Administration Building, 1115 N. University Boulevard, Kingsville. To register: http://www.tamuk.edu/cba/News/SmallBusinessConference.html. Information: 361-593-3301 or selina.kieschnick@tamuk.edu. NAWIC meeting focus on new bridge The National Association of Women in Construction will conduct its monthly business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at The Bar BQ Man Restaurant, 4139 S. Interstate Highway 37. Program: Francisco Arias, PE with PSI speaking about the new Harbor Bridge and what's been done so far on the Geotechnical side. Cost $20. Information: Vickie Thompson at Dixie Pipe, 361-438-0593 or texwicvic@juno.com. Compiled by Natalia Contreras By In 2011 The Republican-Run Texas Legislature, Insisting That Fraud Was Rife In Election Day Voting, Passed A Highly Restrictive Voter Id Law. From the beginning, opponents said the law amounted to disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of Texans, mostly poor and minority who could not meet the narrowly prescribed list of documents needed for voting. Last week the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said, yes, the state's voter ID law discriminates against the poor and minorities. It only took five years and three statewide elections to arrive at that conclusion. We may never be able to determine how many voters never went to the polls in those three elections because they didn't have one of the required ID documents, even though they were registered voters. Or voters who may have had the documents, but were so intimidated that they were ultimately discouraged from ever showing up. Nothing in the record, as the appellate court noted, documents that the Texas Legislature ever launched a "voter suppression" effort. But that was the effect. Now five years after the fact, the appellate court finds that the law is discriminatory. What took so long? The ruling by the New Orleans court does not throw out the law. The majority opinion returns the case to the court of Federal Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos in Corpus Christi. The court is under instruction to devise a way to offer relief to voters who cannot produce the ID documents required by the Texas law. That relief must be in place by the November election. But, in a sense, the damage by the 2011 law has already been done. It has done that by merely raising questions about what it takes to cast a ballot. Before the voter ID law, a registered voter had merely to present a voter registration card obtained from the county registration office. Without the card, a voter could present other forms of identification, including utility bills, to obtain a ballot. Republicans had tried before to pass a voter ID bill, but finally succeeded in 2011 after dismantling the procedural rules that gave Democrats, the minority, a chance to derail the move. Gov. Rick Perry made the measure an emergency item, giving it a high priority. Voters now have to provide one of several forms of government-issued photo identification card, including either a Texas driver's license or DPS-issued personal identification card; a military identification card; a U.S.-citizenship certificate; a U.S. passport; a concealed handgun license or an Election Identification Certificate, a new type of documentation that debuted with the law. All these forms of identification are a burden on the poor and poor elderly. Minorities of low-income are also less likely to either have the documents or the underlying documents. Testimony in the trial before Judge Ramos showed that poor people in Texas are more likely to depend on public transportation and thus have less need for driver's licenses. They are also less likely to seek loans or credit or other forms of financial activity that would require government-issued IDs. Republicans in the Legislature could have softened the impact of the voter ID law or made it less restrictive. They could have allowed the acceptance of college photo ID cards. They could have allowed the acceptance of public assistance documents. They could have written in a long ramp-up period, time for voters without the required documents to obtain them. They did none of those things. They said fraud by voters appearance, despite the lack of any prosecutions in years, had to be stopped. Voting by mail, where fraud has been frequent, was never brought into the argument by Republicans. Experts at the district court trial in Corpus Christi said that more than 600,000 Texas voters did not have the required documents. Republicans, led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott who as attorney general defended the law, weighed the harm of disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters against the invisible fraud risk and concluded the fraud risk was higher. Now Judge Ramos will try to make a law that was written to shrink the voting franchise into what is not naturally an expansion of the electorate. The ruling is a triumph for Texas voters. But the voter ID law has already heavily damaged the spirit of voter participation. Nick Jimenez has worked as a reporter, city editor and editorial page editor for more than 40 years in Corpus Christi. He currently is the editorial page editor emeritus for the Caller-Times. His commentary column appears Wednesdays and Sundays. Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times Nueces County Democratic Party chairwoman Jennifer Ellis (standing) addresses the Coastal Bend Young Democrats on Tuesday at the Nueces County Democratic Party headquarters in Bonilla Plaza. Ellis has described Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, as "a lifelong fighter for access, opportunity and justice, and an amazing candidate." SHARE Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times Coastal Bend Young Democrats attend a meeting at the Nueces County Democratic Party headquarters in Bonilla Plaza. The Democratic National Convention gets underway Monday. Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times The Coastal Bend Young Democrats attend a meeting at the Nueces County Democratic Party headquarters in Bonilla Plaza. The county's Democratic Party is endorsing Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee. Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times President of the Coastal Bend Young Democrats Nick Gilby, right, talks during a meeting of the group at the Nueces County Democratic Party headquarters in Bonilla Plaza. Gilby has emphasized that November doesn't represent "a single election." Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times Coastal Bend Young Democrats attend a meeting at the Nueces County Democratic Party headquarters in Bonilla Plaza. The county's Democratic Party is endorsing Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times Nearly 100 years after women first fought and won the right to vote in America, a woman is expected to be on the ballot for president. Hillary Clinton's status as the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party includes other "firsts." She has previously broken ground as the first woman serving as First Lady to be elected to the Senate. She is the third to serve as Secretary of State. Jennifer Ellis, Nueces County Democratic Party chair, described Clinton as "a lifelong fighter for access, opportunity and justice, and an amazing candidate." Ellis said while it's a bonus that Clinton's candidacy represents a historical moment, "that's not all that she offers." "If you look at her resume she is the model candidate for president," Ellis said. "She's done all the things that one might do for that level of office." President Barack Obama also has endorsed Clinton, saying earlier this month that "there has never been any man or woman more qualified for this office than Hillary, ever, and that's the truth." Clinton has seen her share of controversy in her career. Critics of the candidate have generally described her as untrustworthy, and there have been high-profile disputes between opponents and supporters over her accounts of events in Benghazi, Libya, and handling of classified emails sent on a private server. The Democratic National Convention will get underway Monday in Philadelphia, where it is anticipated that Clinton will clinch the nomination to become the party's presidential candidate. Three delegates going to the convention are from Nueces County, Ellis said. As the presumptive nominee, Clinton would run against Donald Trump, who was named as the Republican Party's presidential candidate. Some of the issues the next president will take on include the economy and how to respond to the terrorist organization, Islamic State group, local Democratic Party representatives said. The next president also will likely be charged with nominating as many as four justices to the nine-member Supreme Court, the body that rules on Constitutional cases. A recent ruling that had a direct effect on Texas recently was the striking down of laws that placed additional restrictions on abortion. VOTERS The party conventions have served as a bookmark between monthslong contention leading up to party nominations, and expected tumult in the months ahead. The general political environment has seen divisiveness, Ellis said but it has been most dramatic in the national arena. "It's not just about our roads and our schools anymore," she said. "It's become questions about intimate details of your life and who you are as a person. I don't agree that that's the place of politics, however that's where it's gone. I think it's time to bring the conversation away from that." The "never" mentality in both Democratic and Republic camps "never Trump" and "never Hillary" has driven some of the discussion. Younger voters, meanwhile, came out for Bernie Sanders. Obama mobilized the youth vote in 2008, and Sanders did this year, said Nick Gilby, president of the Coastal Bend Young Democrats. It's important for voters to understand that "this isn't a single election," he added. Sanders may no longer be a factor in respect to presidency, but that's not to say he isn't still a factor in policy positions and platform, Gilby said. Some from the "Bernie or Bust" camp are "coming to the realization that 'bust' means giving a better chance to Trump," he added. "A lot of the young people who supported Bernie are now looking at Hillary's positions, they're thinking about it and coming to the conclusion that they can support Hillary and a lot of them are saying 'I'm going to stay involved now and work toward what I believe to be a better America.' " On Friday evening, Clinton announced in a text message to her supporters that she had chosen Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate. The 58-year-old first-term senator built a reputation for working across the aisle during his tenure as Virginia's governor and Richmond's mayor, according to Associated Press reports. A MILESTONE MOMENT Clinton has a history in the Coastal Bend. She stumped in Robstown during her 2008 campaign, speaking at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in a "Solutions for America" rally. More than 6,000 attended, with Nueces County ultimately showing greater support for Clinton than Obama. The outcome of the 2008 election was historic. Obama's successful run saw the first black person elected to the nation's top office. Clinton later served in Obama's Cabinet as the U.S. Secretary of State. Clinton as the presumptive nominee is also slated to make history. A woman making it on the presidential ticket is on par with the women's suffrage movement, said Mary Helen Berlanga, who served about 30 years on the State Board of Education. The suffrage movement won women the right to vote through the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Now, not only do women have the right to vote but also the choice to elect a woman president, Berlanga said. Several representatives with the Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women said Clinton's appeal goes beyond her gender, each naming their individual reasons for preferring Clinton as president, saying she is qualified, has lifelong experience, the right background, and knows the issues and world leaders. There is significance to a woman running for president, some have said. "I am really excited. I am just thrilled at the idea that we might have a woman president," said Jana Miller Longlois, vice president of the Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women. "I have two daughters, and I have raised them since infancy to believe they could be anything they wanted to be. And to me to have a woman president I'm just over the moon. I think it's just wonderful, and I can't get enough of it, and to me, it's a slap in my face to say that people aren't excited about this prospect. I am thrilled and I know so many other women who are, too." Regardless of the political party, it's a milestone moment, Mayor Nelda Martinez said. "It sends out a big message to our young girls that their gender does not limit them in how they want to contribute to our country," she said. Twitter: @CallerCrow By now there was a contradictory mix of theorising: the mandatory TV specialists discerning either the work of Islamic radicalism or the counter-reactive far-right. From the roof of the shopping mall the video footage beamed around the world a Bavarian had screamed expletives at the killer about being a foreigner, as if foreignness might be reason for heinous crime. The French president issued a communique decrying a terrorist act in the first line of the text. [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Last time weve seen this color combo on an AC Schnitzer product it had a modified version of the M3 and M4s S55 421PS (425hp) 3.0L turbo six producing 570PS (562hp) dumped under its bonnet. The German tuners brand new offering for the Mini isnt so radical, but the variant for the JCW does pack a punch with its 34 PS (33hp) power gain from 231 PS (223hp) to 265 PS (261hp). The top-of-the line sporty John Cooper Works doesnt get all the attention, as AC Schnitzers engineers boosted the regular Coopers power from 136 PS (134hp) to 170 PS (168hp) and the S from 192 PS (189hp) to 235 PS (232hp). A new suspension makes sure the car can hold its own through the corners and comes with a set of AC1 BiColor or Anthracite 19-inch alloys, fitted with 215/35 or 225/35 tires. The modifications are available for the Hatch, Clubman and Cabriolet. The uprated MINIs come with a new exhaust system, available with a Track Mode valve control with remote control for sound optimization to really let the engine rip. Like all exhaust systems for the MINI, the origins of the striking sound are revealed with the AC Schnitzer Sport or Sport Black tailpipe designs. The Minis exterior styling wasnt left to chance either, with the Aachen-based company providing a more individual look. According to AC Schnitzer, the aerodynamically efficient front splitter doesnt even need painting and is easy to install thanks to its surface structure which precisely matches the standard wing recesses. The styling package is completed by the decor set, rear Technology & Design sticker, rear skirt film, and of course the red and green color scheme. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer Eager children learned the basics of paddle boarding at a water safety event held at Penticton's Sudbury Beach on Saturday. The important training was part of a day of information provided by AdventureSmart, a national program. "Our key message with AdventureSmart is we are doing search and rescue prevention awareness, where we focus on the three Ts, our trip plan, taking essentials and training," said Melissa Goertzen, an educator with AdventureSmart. Goertzen said one of the reasons they decided to do the paddle smart event at the beach on Skaha Lake is because of the recent incident where a man drowned. The man, a visitor from Romania, was paddleboarding on the lake in early July and fell in after being hit by a gust of wind. "Because of what happened we were able to partner up with organizations in Penticton," said Goertzen. The event was also tied to National Drowning Prevention Week,. The busy afternoon on the sun-baked beach included talking to people, a mini safety and paddle lesson for children and games. A table piled high with information for people to browse through was also available at the scene. Darcey Godfrey, the owner/operator of Glow SUP Adventures, who partnered with AdventureSmart, Hoodoo Adventures and Penticton and District Search and Rescue, for the event , said she was contacted by them right after the incident and was immediately receptive. "I was here when the man drowned," she said. "And I can't tell you how may times I strike up a conversation with people going out on their own boards and ask them if they would like to borrow a leash and they are not interested. So I am just hoping that people will stop for a moment and just consider the safety part like watching the weather, saying when they will be back and having that life jacket, so we can all keep enjoying this wonderful sport for a long time." One of the children participating, Tea Thomas from Alberta, said it was good lesson. "It's in case you get caught in an emergency you know what to do so you will be OK," she said. Visitor John Anderson said he grew up around water safety and considered what the folks were doing Saturday at the beach to be wonderful. "This is totally awesome," he said. AdventureSmart also does trail and snow safety events and much more. They will be holding a trail sense day promoting search and rescue prevention, starting at 10 a.m., Sunday at the Poplar Grove Road parking lot in Penticton. Photo: Google Maps Three gunshots were heard in Coldstream early Saturday morning, according to a local source. The Castanet reader said there were initially problems at about 11 p.m. when up to 100 people attended a noisy house party on Palfrey Drive West. The party was noticeable in what is typically a quiet neighbourhood. After receiving calls, the police attended at about 11:30 p.m. and various vehicles were towed away. It quieted down after that until the gunshots were heard between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. The source said one bullet made a point of entry at the side window of the entry door. "Considering that apparently there were other gunshots this morning across from Polson Park in Vernon, it makes me really concerned in a small community like this that things are ramping up," he said. The man also gave full kudos to the RCMP, saying their response to this incident was very quick. The RCMP could not be immediately reached for comment. A colourful splash mob of 150 or so watercraft invaded Kalamalka Lake, off Kal beach in Coldstream, on Sunday hoping to raise public awareness of the threat of quagga and zebra mussels. People on wake boards, in canoes, on floaties and in a handful of power boats joined in a circle off the pier. If they were to arrive in our region, in British Columbia, they would have a devastating impact to our environment, to our economy. The Okanagan would change forever, said Lisa Scott of the Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society. Both Scott and splash mob organizer Brynne Morrice agreed that the federal and provincial governments had stepped up efforts to fight a possible mussel invasion from eastern Canada and the U.S., but said there were gaps that needed to be filled to stop the arrival of the tiny destructive mollusks. Out on the lake, the mob shouted Keep Kal Lake blue as a drone equipped with a camera flew overhead. Morrice, a filmmaker, said the footage would be shared to send out the message of the dangers of the mussels that have taken over some eastern Canadian lakes, all the way to Manitoba. We are very worried that this lake and all other lakes in B.C. and rivers could become infested with zebra mussels and quagga mussels, Morrice said, adding that the mussels multiply by the trillions and basically fills a lake like a biblical plague. While only eight to ten motor boat operators took part, Morrice denied he was disappointed by that number, conceding however that the power boats and boat trailers were the biggest reason the mussels had made it into so many lakes in other parts of the country. Photo: Darren Handschuh RCMP are investigating after a suspicious fire damaged a piece of playground equipment. Vernon Fire Rescue Cpt. Brent Bond said crews were called to the playground behind Fulton Secondary School just before midnight Saturday. A plastic tunnel that joined two other pieces of the playground equipment was on fire when crews arrived. The flames were quickly extinguished and damage was limited to the one tube. The fire is suspicious, said Bond. Searching teen chat sites online comes up with thousands of options. Within seconds of entering them, Lieutenant Brian Micolichek said kids are asked for pictures by predators. Online predators can be anywhere, and Micolichek said Chippewa Falls is no exclusion. Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry shows 74 people living within the city on the registry. Last year six arrests were made regarding predators but Micolichek said theres always more. Its not a problem just here in Chippewa Falls, he said. If every department had one officer online, every one of them would find somebody, thats just the way it is. Theres no pocket of evil out there. When officers work to find predators, Micolichek said its an intensive operation that involves working for long periods of time with the person to get them to believe they are talking to a 12-year-old girl. If the Chippewa Falls Police had more people and more time to work in this area, he said they would probably catch 30-40 people in a year. The last sting operation done was in conjunction with Eau Claire and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations. In the multi-day operation, 13 arrests were made. However, when investigations of this scale take place, its not always targeting people just from the Chippewa Valley. Its not like when you do it in Chippewa Falls youre targeting Chippewa Falls people, Micolichek said. Youre getting people from Ladysmith, Wausau, Menomonie (and) Missouri. One Chippewa Falls officer was recently working with authorities in Missouri regarding a predator. After chatting with them on a social media site, the man said he wanted to come up from Missouri. Micolichek said they got Missouri police involved and ended up making an arrest. (Its happening) now more than ever, Micolichek said. I think child predators dont have borders because they can talk to people anywhere. For Micolichek, its a matter of being aware of it and for parents to talk to their kids. Helping them understand that once its put on the internet, he said, control is lost and its out there forever. One sign to look for is a change in behavior. Signs of reservation, sitting behind closed doors all the time or getting angry upon simple questions could mean something is going on. I know as a parent myself, I dont take the precautions I should probably be taking, Micolichek said. But you should still trust and have confidence in your children that theyll do the right thing. It all depends on who the kid is. BLACK RIVER FALLS A second batch of elk added to the Jackson County herd has wildlife officials pleased that the herd is more than five dozen strong. Fifty animals were release recently from their holding pen east of Black River Falls, capping a two-year project to re-establish a herd in the area. We feel great about it, said Kevin Wallenfang, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources big game ecologist. Were very happy, and weve wrapped up now in Jackson County, and were moving on to the northern forest. Officials brought back 39 elk that were trapped in Kentucky to Jackson County earlier this year the second round of trapping and transportation for the project. Eleven more calves were born in the pen and help bring the overall total on the landscape to 64 animals. Fifty is more than we thought wed be letting go, said Scott Roepke, a DNR wildlife biologist, who works out of Black River Falls. We were certainly pleased and happy to see all the elk made it through in really good shape. Were very excited to have 50 elk, and theyll certainly be a great boost and a great founding herd for Jackson County here. The elk from Kentucky underwent additional monitoring and testing before being released last week from the acclimation pen, and officials quietly opened the fences to make a calm transition to the landscape. Officials from both states trapped 28 elk in Kentucky last year and brought 26 to Jackson County where some died and others were born to bring the current total of the first batch to 14. Wallenfang said its a reality of working with wildlife. Those things are going to happen, he said. If you dont think theyre going to, youre fooling yourself. The three-year agreement with Kentucky now turns to help bolster the existing herd near Clam Lake, which had animals reintroduced to the area more than 20 years ago. Before that reintroduction project, elk had last been seen in Wisconsin in the mid-20th century. That population has continued to grow over time, Wallenfang said. Were just trying to give that Clam Lake herd another boost. Project partners thanked the public for their support, and area residents and drivers are asked to continue to avoid the general vicinity of their release and remain observant while driving in the area. Its been a great effort getting them here, and now we want to do everything in our power to ensure the herds success, Kurt Flack, regional director of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said in a statement. We ask for these first several weeks that folks give them their space until they settle in. The work in Jackson County isnt all complete, despite the release. Most of the elk are equipped with tracking technology, which allows staff like Roepke to keep track of their location, movements and other data. Staff also does regular checking on the animals in the early weeks after release. Were certainly excited to see this new batch of elk out there. Its a great boost, Roepke said. Well stay busy keeping track of them, monitoring survival and habitats and movements and interactions with humans and everything else. At this point, were just gathering as much information as possible and learning as we go. Since he was a child, Jim Bischel worked in his grandfathers company. Northern Crossarm, a manufacturer and distributor of pressure treated wood, is located on County X just west of Chippewa Falls. But hes always had a love of country music, so when his friends started Country Jam nearly 30 years ago, he knew he wanted to have a part in it. Bischels been in the ownership group of Country Jam for all but one of its 27 years, but he is in his third year as the festivals president a full-time job thats much more time consuming, and rewarding, than he anticipated. Theres a lot of planning going on now and will start again basically the week after this years Jam is over, Bischel said. We are booking already for 2017. But being a part of the Chippewa Valleys growing community is what he enjoys most. I know were located in Eau Claire, but we definitely impact a lot of other businesses, hotels and parks in the Valley, he said. Leinenkugels, Olsons Dairy, they all get traffic during festival week. We play a large role in what is making the Valley stand out from a lot of communities across the country. The music festival draws crowds from all over the country, and Bischel said it didnt take long for it to get this big. In 1990, the first year of Jam, country music was definitely in a major uptick, he said. It wasnt but three, four or five years that we had grown to a size of where we are today for this festival. Bischel noted that everything gets bigger, and Country Jam is the same. Hes seen bigger production, bigger shows and higher prices for acts in his time with the festival, but certain things havent changed. We do this and weve been around for a long time. Festivals come and go, and a lot of them dont make it past the first few years, and I think weve been successful. ... Honesty pays Wisconsin state Rep. Kathy Bernier learned this month first-hand the importance of carrying proof of vehicle insurance. She was issued a warning for reportedly going 10 over the 25 mph speed limit in Black River Falls, on a day she was speaking at a Jackson County Republican Party event. But she was cited when she was unable to provide valid proof of insurance on her vehicle. The fine for that is $10. The 68th Assembly District representative told Matthew Perenchio of the Jackson County Chronicle that she had just switched to a new vehicle insurance carrier, and admitted to the officer the insurance card she had with her was not the most current. The card I had was old insurance information, so when the officer asked if it was the most current, being the honest person I am I said no, it wasnt really the most current information, she said. So the fact that I was honest probably cost me the 10 bucks there. Bernier (R-Lake Hallie) said it was her first traffic citation and even shared the incident on her personal Facebook page. She wont contest the ticket and said its important to keep proof of insurance in the vehicle. Its about trying to stay organized and trying to keep and make sure the most current information is in the vehicle or glove compartment, she said. You have to have the most current information. I didnt have it, so Im not going to grovel or complain. ... Cooler heads prevail Apparently its hard to keep your cool in Chippewa and Eau Claire counties. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services published a list of public places where people could go to get out of this weeks dangerous heat wave, when the heat index in Chippewa County hovered around 100 degrees. Some counties listed by the state had plenty of places to go to cool off yourself. Clark County, for instance, listed seven libraries. But Chippewa County only listed its courthouse as a refuge, while Dunn and Eau Claire counties failed to list any site. So if another heat wave rolls in, folks without air conditioning at home should consider going to a mall, senior citizen center or staying with friends or relatives who have air conditioning Fair receives grant This years edition of the Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls is done, but the fair continues to make news. The fair recently received a $3,000 grant from the AgStar Fund for Rural America to buy 30 surplus animal pens from Triton Barn System. The fund gives out grants to enhance agriculture and rural America. Wisconsins Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel has established a new office dedicated to defending the states most controversial laws from court challenges and fighting President Barack Obama on climate change, water pollution and bathroom access. With the creation a year ago of the Office of Solicitor General, Wisconsin has joined roughly 40 other states with specialized appeals court lawyers who have a higher probability of winning appellate cases. But critics view the five-lawyer office as money wasted on far-right legal battles most voters dont support. Its a mini right-wing law firm in the attorney generals office, said state Rep. Chris Taylor, a Madison Democrat and member of the Legislatures finance committee who opposed adding the offices five attorneys to Schimels Department of Justice budget. The office is also handling several appeals of criminal convictions. Most of its caseload, however, is made up of Schimels challenges to federal policy in such areas as immigration, health care, transgender access to bathrooms, and pollution controls. Schimel declined interview requests, but spokesman Johnny Koremenos responded to criticism by saying there was nothing partisan about an attorney generals duty to defend state laws when interest groups try to overturn them. And when the solicitor generals office joined lawsuits in Texas, Ohio and Washington, D.C., courts, the aim was to protect Wisconsin residents from overreach by the Obama administration, Koremenos said. Attorney General Schimels interest in joining multistate lawsuits that protect the powers constitutionally delegated to the states is also the peoples interest, Koremenos said. Theres nothing frivolous about protecting and preserving the rule of law. Wisconsin is lead counsel in most of the federal cases, while in others it filed supporting briefs. In still others including three filed in Texas opposing transgender access to bathrooms, an Affordable Care Act fee and immigration policy Wisconsin supplied affidavits and other information, Koremenos said. Multistate legal actions arent new. Since the 1970s, states have joined forces to win settlements against targets including the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries. With increasing frequency, states have also fought federal mandates. Increasing use of solicitors general Beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, more state attorneys general of both parties began hiring lawyers to be solicitors general, said Jim Tierney, a former Maine attorney general and lecturer at Harvard and Columbia law schools who has helped several states set up solicitor offices. Each office operates differently, but in general they all benefit from experience working in appeals courts, which differ from lower courts, Tierney said. Appellate law may require deeper research on legal precedent and theory. In lower courts, there may be more emphasis on facts and plain statutory language. A solicitor general can also help weed out appeals that dont have much chance of success, and can ensure that arguments it makes in one appeal dont contradict those in another. In 2014, UW-Madison political science professor Ryan Owens analyzed decades of U.S. Supreme Court cases involving state governments and found that having a solicitor general was one of the strongest predictors of success. States with solicitors prevailed in about 60 percent of cases compared to 40 percent for others. But Madison attorney Carl Sinderbrand said his concern was with how Schimel was using the office. Sinderbrand, who was a state assistant attorney general from 1979 to 1990, recalled when one of his assignments was to keep an eye on federal officials who were looking for sites to store nuclear waste. Sinderbrand said Schimels use of the solicitor generals office was misguided because it went beyond the usual level of partisanship he has seen in other attorneys general of both parties. This is hyper partisanship, said Sinderbrand, who has since represented state agencies, fought against them in court, and been hired as an arbitrator for department lawsuits. And thats damaging, because the attorney general should be out there as the peoples lawyer, not his partys lawyer. Taylor, the Democratic state legislator, pointed to materials distributed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, calling on states to file lawsuits to block the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan. The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the air pollution rule while court challenges from 26 states are being heard. Reconsidering courts The state lawsuits come as conservatives rethink their commitment to lawmaking by legislators instead of the courts. For many years they stood on the sidelines as non-governmental groups went to court to force stricter enforcement of laws, such as those protecting air and water quality, Owens said. They didnt get involved in the courts and they got their butts kicked, Owens said. Over time, court rulings contributed to growth in the power of federal agencies, said Rick Esenberg, president and CEO of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, or WILL. This month, WILL announced the formation of a group, the Center for Competitive Federalism, to file lawsuits and issue policy statements nationally against federal regulation. For his solicitor generals office, Schimel recruited highly touted lawyers with conservative bona fides. In December, he appointed Misha Tseytlin to lead the office. Tseytlin had been general counsel for West Virginia as it fought federal limits on burning coal. Tseytlin is a member of the conservative Federalist Society who served as law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. In April, Ryan Walsh was hired as chief deputy solicitor general. Walsh clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the courts most conservative justices before he died in February. Walsh worked for a time at the Jones Day law firm in Washington, D.C., which has a reputation for hiring former Supreme Court clerks. The National Law Journal reported in 2015 the firm was paying them $300,000 bonuses on top of six-figure salaries. Attorney General Schimel was able to recruit legal talent unrivaled by most states, including two former U.S. Supreme Court clerks and two former U.S. Court of Appeals clerks, to serve in this newly established unit at DOJ, Koremenos said. Very few other states, if any, have more than one former U.S. Supreme clerk in their solicitor generals office. Tseytlins Wisconsin salary was about $135,000, while Walsh made $125,528. The state of Wisconsin is getting an outstanding deal for the attorneys in the solicitor generals office, Koremenos said. The state is paying these specialized attorneys a fraction of what they would be paid in a private law firm. Two other attorneys with federal appellate experience Daniel Lennington and Luke Berg also work in the unit. Recent law school graduate Amy Miller filled the fifth position. Peg Lautenschlager, a Democratic attorney general from 2003 to 2006, has criticized the solicitor generals office for the way it defended the state abortion law, but she said having an appeals court specialist makes sense. During her term, she reassigned an experienced staff lawyer as solicitor general to oversee appeals. Republicans grumbled, and in 2006, GOP attorney general candidate J.B. Van Hollen promised to eliminate the position, and he did so after winning the election, Lautenschlager said. Van Hollen didnt respond to phone and email messages. Schimel: Staff lawyers spread thin During his 2014 campaign for his first term as attorney general, Schimel called for creation of the office. Last year, he told state lawmakers that his staff lawyers were spread too thin on appeals cases and that millions of dollars were being spent on outside lawyers. Justice department spending on outside attorneys rose four-fold to an average of $1.3 million annually after 2011, when Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP lawmakers took over and enacted measures like a rollback of union rights that drew many court challenges. In 2015, Walker and the Legislature added the solicitor generals office to the budget, funding it for two years with about $1 million from settlements the department collects in investigations and prosecutions of Medicaid fraud, environmental violations and other wrongdoing. Since the office was formed, the department has spent nothing on outside attorneys, Koremenos said. State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, was pleased, a spokewoman said. The Office of Solicitor General has been effective in countering the multiple overreaches by the federal government, said spokeswoman Kit Beyer. We are fortunate to have such a high level of expertise in the office, which eliminates the need for outside counsel and is a cost savings. {Editors note: The story has been updated to reflect a correction. The Supreme Court has stayed the air pollution rule while court challenges proceed, not upheld it.} home World UNICEF: 134 malnourished children die every day in humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria The United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) urged to scale up humanitarian support as 134 Nigerian children can die daily from acute malnutrition after Boko Haram unleashed its violence. The humanitarian organization revealed the devastating picture after visiting the Borno state in northeast Nigeria where about one out of five or 49,000 children of the 244,000 severely malnourished can die if left untreated. "Some 134 children on average will die every day from causes linked to acute malnutrition if the response is not scaled up quickly," said UNICEF Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, Manuel Fontaine. MAdecins Sans FrontiAres (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organization that provides free health care and shelter for the internally displaced in Nigeria, also reported a bleak picture last month after visiting on foot the refugee camp in Bama. MSF said they found 1,233 graves of those who died of starvation, including children. It also described a health crisis where 19 percent of more than 800 children examined showed signs of severe acute malnutrition. Fontaine warned that the real state of devastation may yet to be reported as there are still affected areas that remain unreached by humanitarian groups. "There are 2 million people we are still not able to reach in Borno state, which means that the true scope of this crisis has yet to be revealed to the world," So far, the agency only accumulated 41 percent or $23 million out of the $55.5 million needed for humanitarian aid in the region. Fontaine appealed to partners and donors for more help to save the children from dying. "We need all partners and donors to step forward to prevent any more children from dying," he said. "No one can take on a crisis of this scale alone." "We must all scale up," added Fontaine. Boko Haram militant group reportedly killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.7 million since its insurgency in 2009. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Friday met with leaders of six major international economic and financial institutions in a "1+6" roundtable meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and leaders from world financial institutions pose for group photos in a "1+6" roundtable meeting in Beijing July 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] The six leaders are World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria and FSB Chairman Mark Carney. They talked in great depth on the "global economic situation and challenges" and "new driving forces in China's economic transition," and also answered questions from the media in a joint press conference. Premier Li said that despite the growing factors of instability and uncertainty in the global economy, the international market has the potential to grow and humanity has the wisdom to overcome difficulties. All parties must strengthen confidence, give priority to growing the economy and improving people's lives, and work toward the goal of strong, sustainable and balanced growth. The stable recovery of the world economy requires a holistic approach to address both symptoms and root causes and to balance short-term and medium-to-long-term problems. We need to expand aggregate demand as appropriate and advance structural reform in the direction of easing regulation, supporting innovation, improving employment and promoting inclusive growth. We need to maintain flexibility of the fiscal policy and leverage the supporting role of monetary policy in growing the real economy. Premier Li pointed out that to ensure the stable recovery of the world economy is the responsibility of all parties. We must doubly cherish and endeavor to uphold a peaceful and stable international environment. We must firmly support the globalization process and the dominant role of the multilateral trading system, oppose protectionism of all manifestations and exercise caution with the use of restrictive trade measures. Major economies need to enhance macroeconomic policy coordination, increase policy transparency and predictability and take into full account the spillover effect of their policies. The international organizations need to play a greater steering and coordinating role in this regard. China is ready to work with all parties to ensure the success of the G20 Hangzhou Summit in order to promote strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy. Premier Li stressed that despite some ups and downs, the performance of the Chinese economy remains stable and continues to move in a positive direction. China is expanding aggregate demand as appropriate and focusing on supply-side structural reform to generate new drivers of growth, transform traditional drivers and shift the economic structure. That said, we are also aware of the grim and complex economic situation in the world as well as considerable downward pressure and multiple challenges facing the Chinese economy. We will continue to overcome difficulties, deepen reform in all respects, and further streamline administrative procedures to unleash public creativity and market vitality. We will reinforce new growth drivers and transform and upgrade traditional drivers through the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy and the initiative to encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation, all for the purpose of ensuring steady economic performance and improving economic structure. The Chinese economy is a "stability anchor" for the world economy. Running our own affairs well is in itself a contribution to world development. The leaders of the international economic and financial institutions said that the meeting was held in a most opportune time. It allowed participants to engage in extensive and in-depth communication on how to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery, and produced a lot of consensus. It also demonstrated China's positive attitude toward enhanced communication with the international community and its commitment to international cooperation. China is an important partner in the world trade system, a champion of globalization and multilateralism. China has played an important leadership role as the G20 President this year. The IMF, while lowering its global growth forecast, has revised up its forecast for China. This is a show of confidence in the Chinese government's commitment to reform and opening up, as well as recognition of the sustainable growth policies introduced by China and the positive effects of their implementation. The participants expressed their readiness to work with China to boost global trade, advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and foster open and resilient international financial and trade systems, with a view to better delivering the benefits of development to all mankind. A joint press release was issued after the roundtable meeting. The G20 should lead a drive to improve international tax governance, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in southwest China's Chengdu City on Saturday. "The G20 should... support the development of a new international tax system which is fair, equal, inclusive and organized," Lou said. Because of imperfect global tax governance, around 4 to 10 percent of global corporate income tax, equivalent to 100 billion to 240 billion U.S. dollars, is evaded through cross-border business activities each year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Economies under pressure to expand fiscal income have begun to strengthen overseas taxation, which requires a new tax system that is well coordinated globally. "The G20 countries may explore a more equal and rational international tax regime, which will promote international coordination and cooperation in taxation, and make greater contribution to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced global economic growth," Lou said. Ninety-six countries and regions have promised to launch automatic exchange of taxation information by the end of 2017 or 2018, and an international protocol on multilateral taxation cooperation has been endorsed by more areas. There is still much room for expanding cooperation among G20 countries, Lou said. Lou said that tax policy should assume a more important role in coordinating global economic rules when "the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies is diminishing." As the pace of economic recovery is uneven from country to country, promoting growth remains the core agenda of the G20, Lou added. Jerry Sanders, chairman and CEO of skyTran Inc, based in Mountain View, California, was in Beijing recently looking for potential partners to bring the company's magnetic levitation track system for personal transportation to China. Jerry Sanders, chairman and CEO of skyTran Inc.(Photo provided to China Daily) The company is headquartered at the NASA Ames Research Center and is a NASA Space Act company, meaning that it has a cooperative technology development agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency. On its website, skyTran describes its product as a "patented, high-speed, low-cost, elevated personal rapid transportation system". The company said China will be a primary market for its skyTran magnetic levitation technology system, which uses relatively inexpensive track elevated above the traffic and a network of "small computer-controlled, two-person 'jet-like' vehicles to move passengers in a fast, safe, green and economical manner". Sanders said that the sky-Tran idea was first developed by a colleague who worked on the NASA Apollo program to take a man to the moon. "He realized that for transportation to be effective, it has to go above traffic. It's no longer sustainable to add cars to the road." He said the company has built a successfully working demonstration system in Israel and is likely to be able to commercialize it in about two years. "We've completed what we call our demonstration system, so we have a full scale system that shows all components working together very well, that leads us to the phase 2 where we run it all the time and collect data while we're planning our commercial system for Abu Dhabi," he said. He said they are also planning a system in Europe and will be able to start construction there by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Torrential rain and floods have left 114 people dead and 111 others missing in north China's Hebei Province as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to the provincial civil affairs bureau. A local residents clears derbies of her home after davastated flood caused by rainstorms in Shijiazhuang of Hebei province July 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Local authorities have evacuated nearly 310,000 people. Flooding and rain-triggered landslides have caused the collapse of52,900 houses and damage to 155,000. Over 700,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over 16 billion yuan (2.4 billion U.S. dollars). The worst-hit Daxian Village of Xingtai City was almost empty after a flash flood swamped it early Wednesday morning. At least 8 villagers were killed and one missing. "I heard people yelling 'flood' at about 2:30 am. I woke up my wife and children and rushed out of door immediately. In no time the water level was above my waist," said Zhang Erqiang, a local villager. "My wife and I panicked and we climbed to a tree, and stayed there for several hours until rescuers arrived in the morning," Zhang said. "But our daughter and son were washed away and their bodies were just found," he burst into tears. Only a dozen villagers stayed to watch over the village, while the rest residents had left to take shelter with their relatives elsewhere. Jingxing County, located in the west of the province, saw an average precipitation of 545.4 mm in the 19 hours between 1 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. on Wednesday, surpassing the amount received by the county in the whole of 2015. There have been power outages, disruptions to communication and other infrastructure, and road closures across Jingxing. In the village of Renma, villager Ren Jingmin was clearing his home. Ren's sofa, bed and other furniture were soaked. Cracks appeared on the wall. "Power went out before the village's loudspeaker finished broadcasting. And soon floods submerged my bed," another villager Zhang Yechao said. Qiu Wenshuang, deputy mayor of Xingtai, said on Saturday that at least 25 people were killed and another 13 missing in the city, adding rescue operations and disaster relief have been initiated immediately after the flood. Nearly 30 speedboats and 300 soldiers were dispatched to repair breached levee and transfer trapped residents, and another 1,200 people joined the rescue operation, according to Qiu. The local government has also sent 15 working teams into 12 flooded villages to investigate the situation, comfort villagers and carry out epidemic prevention. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang presided over a national meeting on flood control and disaster relief in Beijing on Saturday, urging governments at all levels to put safety of the people first and strengthen flood control measures. The provincial government allocated 105 million yuan (15.7 million U.S. dollars) of emergency funds for the worst-hit places to help with relief work. Xiao Jia finally left my parents after my father decided to move into a rehabilitation center. Li Feng/China Daily We called her Xiao Jia (Little Jia) instead of using her full name. The woman in her late 40s from Gansu province, followed a string of 20 other ayi, or housemaids, I had hired for my parents after my father fell and damaged cervical vertebrae, making it difficult for him to move around unaided for the past four years. When Xiao Jia left she had worked for us for little more than a month. "She was slow, a bit dumb and lazy, with a step-mother's face," my father said after she left. My mother complained: "She never followed my instructions in doing the chores," adding that she was hard to communicate with and her cooking was dreadful. "We tried to put up with her because we knew it's hard for you to find another one," my parents, both 84, said. They were right, and it was also one of the main reasons my father decided to go to the rehabilitation center. Anyone setting out to look for an ayi for their parents is embarking on a mission that can be highly stressful. I had a contract with a housemaid agency to which I paid an annual service fee of 600 yuan ($90). Whenever I was looking for someone new the agent would refer potential candidates to me. Over the four years wages for the ayi rose from 2,500 yuan a month to 4,000 yuan a month, on top of free accommodation and food. In that time I interviewed more than 30 rural women. Most of the 20 lasted less than four or five days and two stayed for a year, but in those two cases I had to find a replacement during the Spring Festival holiday period. During the absence of the housemaid on most public holidays and at weekends I took care of my parents. Professional training I did not mind paying high amounts of money as long as those I was paying were conscientious in their work. However, I feel none of them was satisfied with what they got and gave little thought to what they needed to do to merit it. Few of the women had had any professional training in caring for elderly people either. Once when I asked one of the ayi whether she had any such experience she replied: "It's an easy job; I just do exactly what I do at home." Many of them promised to treat my parents as though they were their own, but of course I knew that was not only an exaggeration, but almost an impossibility. In fact I generally gave short shrift to such talk and said that all they needed to do was follow instructions and work to the best of their ability. The skills needed to be an ayi should not be underestimated. They include knowing how to behave appropriately, how to cook and how to communicate with elderly people, many of whom can be very set in their ways. To do these things you need training, and for things to work properly I think there needs to be a certain distance between employer and employee, notwithstanding the mutual respect required. Some of my friends say that after four years of choosing and observing ayi I must have developed an ability to quickly spot the best and the worst. There is some truth to that, and I essentially developed some rules of thumb for reaching such conclusions. Honesty was the most important thing I looked for, and I reckon I can discern that from the eyes. For me the ideal age range was 40 to 55. Early on I reckoned that women of that age are generally more stable, but it eventually became clear that this is not always so. Next came physical condition, including the candidate's weight and face, and her family circumstances. The look was also highly important to me, someone who was neither pretty nor ugly. The candidate needed to be neither too skinny nor too fat, and at least strong enough to help my father practice walking. I felt that in the interests of finding a stable candidate it was best to avoid single women. After eventually plumping for someone, all I could do was pray that I had made the right choice. There is a Chinese saying that wherever there are people there is trouble, which means that the more people there are under one roof the more conflicts there will be. My role was akin to that of a United Nations peacekeeper. I would have to monitor the relationship between my father and the ayi and between my mother and the ayi, and keep an eye out for any hostilities between my father and mother engendered by the ayi's presence. On top of that I needed to field any queries from the ayi and go into crisis management mode when she suddenly announced she was quitting. Complaints My parents, like most people their age, like to compare today's ayi with the fiercely devoted maids who were around them in their childhood. Almost always when I was at my parents' place they would have a lot to say about ayi, some of it good, but most of it bad. In turn the ayi would complain that my father had a bad temper. Eventually, I was so worried about conflict that I felt I could not leave Beijing longer than seven days. According to a report from the Ministry of Civil Affairs there were 222 million people aged 60 or above in the country by the end of last year, 16.1 percent of the total population. The report says that the country has about 116,000 nursing homes with a total of about 6.7 million beds. That means there are little more than 30 beds for every 1,000 senior people. It is obvious that in addition to the healthcare programs for the ageing population there is huge demand for nurses and home-stay ayi . I am unsure how long my father will stay in the rehabilitation center, but whenever he returns home there will be more ayi hunting to do. A pretty robot called Jiajia was on display in Tianjin recently, and I am beginning to think "she" may be a candidate as housemaid No 22. I once joked that when I retire I will set up a firm to train ayi. The beauty of such an idea is that if I ever need care myself I will have plenty of talent on tap, knowing that if I have been responsible for their training, if they have to look after me I will be in very good hands. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which is independently developed and operated by China, is well positioned to provide services worldwide. It will service countries along the Belt and Road Initiative by 2018 and expand its reach globally by 2020. China launches the 23rd BeiDou Navigation Satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 12, 2016. [Photo: weibo.com] Zhang Chunling, Chief Engineer of China's Satellite Navigation System management office, made the remarks on Saturday while attending a technical seminar in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. Zhang said that the BDS has provided regional services for three years, with stronger performances in Beijing and Nanjing as well as low latitudes areas. The BeiDou project was formally launched in 1994. On June 12 this year, China successfully launched the 23rd BeiDou navigation satellite that was said to be well prepared for extensive civil use and providing global services. According to Zhang, the new homegrown BeiDou chip modules and some other core infrastructure products have been gradually made available to meet the demand of smart phones, tablet computers, wearable devices and so on. The technology has lifted China's dependency on imported high-accuracy satellite navigation products, said Zhang. The Chinese government released a white paper in June this year, elaborating on the development of the BDS. According to the document, China has formulated a three-step strategy for developing the BDS and aims to complete the development of the 35 satellite constellation around 2020 to provide all-time, all-weather and high-accuracy positioning, navigation and timing services to users globally. The services cover the area between 55 degrees north latitude and 55 degrees south latitude and between 55 and 180 degrees east longitude, with a positioning accuracy of less than 10 meters, a velocity measurement accuracy of less than 0.2 meters per second and a timing accuracy of less than 50 nanoseconds. Flash U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her running mate US Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, arrive for a campaign rally at Florida International University in Miami on July 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine spoke for the first time as running mates at a rally in Miami, Florida on Saturday, two days before the party's convention kicks off in Philadelphia. Kaine is "everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," said Clinton, formally introducing her low-key Spanish-fluent ally to the crowd at Florida International University, where the student body is more than half Hispanic. "He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one, and he is a progressive who likes to get things down," said the former Secretary of State, with a grinning Kaine at her side. At ease in the national limelight, Kaine showcased his fluency in Spanish, introduced himself and praising Clinton while attacking the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. "Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump," he said, claiming he and Clinton are "soulmates in this great fight" for progressive agenda. "From Atlantic City to his so-called university, he leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes," Kaine said. "We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country," Kaine said of the New York billionaire, adding that Trump's foreign policy positions are even considered dangerous among Republicans. "Clinton's smiling attack dog was unleashed," a report from the Politico journal commented. Since Clinton announced her vice president pick via Tweet and text message to supporters Friday, Trump has been ripping Kaine in a series of tweets, claiming the selection will unnerve supporters of Clinton's formal rival Bernie Sanders and therefore cause a floor fight at the upcoming Democratic convention. "The Bernie Sanders supporters are furious with the choice of Tim Kaine, who represents the opposite of what Bernie stands for, Philly fight? " Trump tweeted early Saturday morning. "If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite," Trump campaign senior communications adviser Jason Miller said late Friday night. As a governor-turned-senator from the pivotal battleground state of Virginia, Kaine is expected to offer a political boost for Clinton among the state's independent voters and moderate Republicans displeased with Trump. Meanwhile, his fluent Spanish skill is also regarded a big help for Clinton to woo some 55 million Hispanics, a body making up approximately 17 percent of the U.S. population. Kaine, 58, is a welder's son and grew up in Kansan City where his father owned a small metalworking shop. He mastered Spanish when he took a year off from Harvard Law school to work as a Catholic missionary in Honduras. He is an early supporter of Clinton's campaign and now sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Flash A man places flowers near the attack scene to show condolence in Munich, Germany, on July 23, 2016. An 18-year-old German-Iranian gunman opened fire in a crowded shopping mall in Munich on Friday evening, killing 10 people and injuring 27. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan) "With heavy heart, we all mourn with the families," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday in her first statement after the shootout in Munich killed 10 and injured 27 people on Friday night. "We share their pain, we suffer with them. Such a evening, such a night are hard to bear," said the Chancellor after a meeting of the security cabinet in Berlin. She thanked the people of Munich, who have made their homes available on the evening of the murder, and promised that everything will be done to find out how the ax-wielding man in Wuerzburg radicalized and how the shootout happened in Munich. Following Merkel, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said that society must stand together in these times. He can understand when people get upset because of the short time between the acts in Nice, Wuerzburg and Munich. Earlier this day, Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer announced a memorial ceremony in parliament on Sunday in a week. The 18-year-old German-Iranian, a Munich-born and raised student, shot nine people dead early Friday evening and then killed himself. The perpetrator has no relation to the Islamic State (IS), said Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae on Saturday in a press conference, adding that the search of the room of the 18-year-old revealed that he had dealt intensively with killing spree. Five days ago, an axe wielding man wounded five passengers in a late Monday night attack on a regional train near Wuerzburg in the southern German state of Bavaria. According to German police, the attack was probably politically motivated. Meanwhile, German investigators have found "documents about amok-runs" during a search of the residence of the shooter, who killed 10 and injured 27 people in the shooting attack in Munich on Friday evening, Andrae told the press conference. Andrae added that the search of the room of the 18-year-old revealed that he had dealt intensively with killing spree. The investigators assumed a connection with the attack of the Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik. "This connection is obvious," said Andrae. On Friday, Norway marks the fifth anniversary of Breivik's rampage in 2011 that killed 77 people. In the Munich shooting attack, most victims are adolescents or young adults. The people were killed in or in front of a fast food restaurant and in the Olympia shopping center. According to the police, the perpetrator shot with a 9-millimeter calibre pistol that he had probably obtained illegally, while 300 cartridges were found in his backpack. However, it is still unknown where he got the gun and the money for it. The perpetrator was not in the police register. However, he was allegedly depressed and was under psychiatric treatment, which fits with the other findings of the crime, according to the investigators. Flash Vietnamese police have returned three Chinese economic fugitives arrested in Vietnam to a Chinese police working team in capital Hanoi and southern Ho Chi Minh city respectively on Saturday and Sunday. According to Zhao Wanpeng, police counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Vietnam, upon receiving request for help to arrest the suspects from China, the Vietnamese police paid great attention and launched an operation soon. After consistent efforts, the Vietnamese police located the suspects and arrested them in a short period of time, said Zhao. This is the first time that Vietnam has transferred as many as three suspects at a time to China. Police of the two countries started joint efforts to catch escaped suspects in 2014 and so far they have assisted each other in arresting and transferring over 60 suspects. Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today at the conclusion of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Chengdu, China: "We met at a time of political uncertainty from the Brexit vote, and continued financial market volatility.Lackluster growth of the post-crisis era continues, with weak demand in advanced economies and difficult transitions to a self-sustained growth model in many emerging markets. As a result, global growth has been revised downward slightly for both 2016 and 2017." "Our discussions were taking place in a spirit of cooperation and willingness to tackle difficult issues. There was a consensus around the table that more needs to be done to share the benefits of growth and economic openness broadly within and among countries." "In this context, I noted that the G20 members are taking actions to foster confidence and support growth. I welcome their determination to use all policy tools monetary, fiscal and structural individually and collectively to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. Structural reforms are particularly critical, as recent IMF work shows that well-designed structural reforms can lift both short- and long-term growth and make it more inclusive. Further trade liberalization is also crucial to bolster productivity and global growth, while taking steps to ensure the gains from trade are shared widely." "The G20 members also emphasized the importance of further strengthening the International Financial Architecture and, in that context, a resilient Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) with a strong and adequately resourced IMF at its center." "During my visit to China, I also took part in the 1+6 roundtable hosted by the Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing where we met and discussed global developments and Chinas historical transition that is currently underway. I would like to commend the authorities for the ambitious reform agenda and the significant progress they have made." "I would like to thank Finance Minister Lou Ji-Wei and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, the Chinese authorities, and the people in Chengdu for their generous hospitality and superb organization. I look forward to the Hangzhou G20 Summit in September." Lou Jiwei, China's Minister of Finance speaks at the High-level Tax Symposium held in Chengdu in Southwestern China's Sichuan province, July 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Faced with lingering uncertainties globally and mounting debt at home, China has decided to apply greater fiscal prudence in its reform process, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said on Sunday. Speaking at the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Lou said China will be cautious in using public funds to intervene in the market unless there is a "systemic crisis". Intervention is "not an issue to be taken lightly", he said. However, prudence does not mean doing nothing when businesses are faced with increasing difficulties. "The government will do more to improve the regulatory regime," he added. Lou expressed his concern about the increasing risk from too-big-to-fail financial corporations. The government needs to act early, by using regulations, to prevent crisis from happening, he said, which is why China will continue to come up with new policies to facilitate reform on both the demand and supply sides. Wang Yiming, an official with the State Council Development Research Center, a high-level think tank, briefed on the Chinese debt situation at a forum on the sidelines of the finance meetings. He said it is a great challenge but had not reached the level of a systemic breakdown. There are major economies plagued by even worse debt problems, he said, adding that reform is the only answer to China's problem. Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, stressed the role that structural reform can play amid rising political uncertainty from the Brexit vote and continued financial market volatility. "Well-designed structural reforms can lift both short- and long-term growth and make it more inclusive," she said, referring to economic development that creates opportunity for all segments of a society and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity. Ensuring a sustainable level of debt has been listed a key target for G20 economies, according to a statement on Sunday. Contact the writers at lixiang@chinadaily.com.cn Volunteers help to clean houses on Saturday after days of torrential rain in Xingtai, Hebei province. The rain caused flooding that killed 114 people as well as left 111 others missing in the province as of Saturday. PAN ZHIWANG / FOR CHINA DAILY Four government officials in Hebei were suspended on Sunday for failing to respond quickly enough to the floods that have wreaked havoc in the province. Two Party officials in Xingtai, the chief engineer with Shijiazhuang's transportation office and the deputy head of Jingxing county have been accused of dereliction of duty, the provincial government said. Xingtai was one of the cities worst-hit by the flooding last week, with 25 people killed and 13 still missing as of 9 am on Saturday. Most of the causalities were reported in the Xingtai Economic Development Zone. The local government has been accused of failing to provide timely information about floodwater discharges from a reservoir upstream of Qilihe River, which flows into the zone. In a statement, Qiu Wenshuang, vice-mayor and deputy commander of the city's flood control and drought relief headquarters, denied the accusation, saying that the reservoir does not have a water gate. "It's a natural disaster," he said. However, on Sunday, an investigation team sent by the provincial government concluded that flooding caused by Tuesday's torrential rain destroyed a dike on the river. The team is still looking into whether warning messages were sent in time and how villagers were evacuated, China Central TV reported. The precipitation in some upstream areas reached 360 millimeters, 60 percent of the annual average. Qilihe River narrows suddenly near Daxian village, which is in the development zone and is where eight people died after downpours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shao Yanju, who works in Liushigang township, close to Daxian, said her team had been on flood-prevention duties since Tuesday and that all officials were told to get involved on Wednesday due to the heavy rain. However, Dong Xiaoyu, the mayor of Xingtai, conceded that it was far from enough. On Saturday night, he held a news conference and apologized for the huge losses and causalities caused by the flooding. "We underestimated the sudden downpour, and cadres at different levels lacked the capability to cope with the disaster properly, as there have been no big flood disasters in recent years," he said. "We feel guilty ... because we failed to protect the safety of people's lives and properties. We will accept social supervision heartily and cooperate with any investigation. Those who are responsible will be punished, no matter who they are." Officials who poorly implemented flood-prevention measures will be suspended from their duties and investigated, he added. Torrential rain and floods in Hebei last week left 114 people dead, with another 111 missing as of 6 pm on Saturday. About 310,000 people have been evacuated. State Councilor Wang Yong arrived in the province on Sunday to oversee the disaster relief and relocation efforts. Yoga lovers perform yoga under the guidance of a teacher. [Photo/IC] Its 40 Celsius degree outside, but that did not stop yoga lovers in Shanghai On Saturday, yoga lovers attended the fourth Lotus Exhibition, where performing yoga was part of the activity. Over a hundred people participated in the event, and performed group yoga at the exhibition. People visit the church in the shape of a high-heeled glass shoe in Chiayi, western Taiwan, July 23, 2016. [Photo/IC] The church, costing $7.6 million, was made with 320 pieces of blue glass on a steel frame. It is 17 meters tall, 11 meters wide, 25 meters long, and is certified by Guinness World Records as 'the largest building shaped like a shoe'. The Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration built it as one of four church-themed landmarks to commemorate girls who had their feet amputated during the 1950s due to blackfoot disease and later, could not walk down the red carpet in high heels at their weddings. VIENTIANE - Foreign ministers from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their dialogue partners including China will gather here on Sunday for an ASEAN ministerial meeting as well as a series of related regional talks. Chinese leaders have vowed to build a community of common destiny with ASEAN as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship. Bilateral trade reached 472 billion US dollars last year, up from 7.96 billion US dollars in 1991, with an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent. China is now ASEAN's biggest trading partner while ASEAN is China's third biggest. By the end of May, their two-way investment exceeded 160 billion US dollars. The two sides, which signed an agreement to upgrade their free trade area (FTA) late last year, are targeting bilateral trade at 1 trillion US dollars by 2020. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said China sees ASEAN as a preferred partner in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, also known as the Belt and Road, as well as FTA, and regional and maritime cooperation. "Over the past 25 years, China-ASEAN partnership has become the most broad, fruitful and closest ties among ASEAN's dialogue partners," he said. In an article published in the Khmer Times, Chheang Vvannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, believed the introduction of new initiatives, such as the Belt and Road and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has further boosted China-ASEAN economic integration through intra-regional infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, tourism promotion and educational and cultural exchanges. "Both China and ASEAN stand to benefit from deepening regional economic integration and connectivity," he wrote. The Belt and Road initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is aimed at reviving the ancient trade routes which span Asia, Africa and Europe. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee said at a forum earlier this month that China is the first country to establish an FTA with ASEAN, and there is a huge potential for ASEAN-China cooperation in production capacity. He suggested the two sides continue to push forward their cooperation through enhanced collaboration in infrastructure, trade in services and improved quality of labor. Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu is also optimistic about the prospect of future China-ASEAN economic cooperation. "The next five years are a rare development opportunity for both China and ASEAN, and the two sides should strengthen coordination of development strategies, which are highly complementary to each other, as a boost to overall cooperation," Xu said before the China-ASEAN forum on production capacity in Jakarta. The ambassador noted that cooperation at sub-regional level, like the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Framework, should play a larger role in the future, as they could effectively support the overall cooperation between China and ASEAN. During the three-day meeting set to open on Sunday, the ASEAN foreign ministers and their counterparts from dialogue partner countries will discuss how to strengthen the ASEAN Community, including implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, and exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern and interest. WASHINGTON - Presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine spoke for the first time as running mates at a rally in Miami, Florida on Saturday, two days before the party's convention kicks off in Philadelphia. US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts as Democratic vice presidential candidate Senator Tim Kaine speaks at a campaign rally in Miami, Florida, US July 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Kaine is "everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," said Clinton, formally introducing her low-key Spanish-fluent ally to the crowd at Florida International University, where the student body is more than half Hispanic."He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one, and he is a progressive who likes to get things down," said the former Secretary of State, with a grinning Kaine at her side.At ease in the national limelight, Kaine showcased his fluency in Spanish, introduced himself and praising Clinton while attacking the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump."Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump," he said, claiming he and Clinton are "soulmates in this great fight" for progressive agenda."From Atlantic City to his so-called university, he leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes," Kaine said. "We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country," Kaine said of the New York billionaire, adding that Trump's foreign policy positions are even considered dangerous among Republicans."Clinton's smiling attack dog was unleashed," a report from the Politico journal commented.Since Clinton announced her vice president pick via Tweet and text message to supporters Friday, Trump has been ripping Kaine in a series of tweets, claiming the selection will unnerve supporters of Clinton's formal rival Bernie Sanders and therefore cause a floor fight at the upcoming Democratic convention."The Bernie Sanders supporters are furious with the choice of Tim Kaine, who represents the opposite of what Bernie stands for, Philly fight? " Trump tweeted early Saturday morning."If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite," Trump campaign senior communications adviser Jason Miller said late Friday night.As a governor-turned-senator from the pivotal battleground state of Virginia, Kaine is expected to offer a political boost for Clinton among the state's independent voters and moderate Republicans displeased with Trump.Meanwhile, his fluent Spanish skill is also regarded a big help for Clinton to woo some 55 million Hispanics, a body making up approximately 17 percent of the US population.Kaine, 58, is a welder's son and grew up in Kansan City where his father owned a small metalworking shop. He mastered Spanish when he took a year off from Harvard Law school to work as a Catholic missionary in Honduras. He is an early supporter of Clinton's campaign and now sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said on Sunday that the ASEAN member states' foreign ministers and delegates of external partners are expected to be "contributing to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world". He made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Vientiane, capital of Laos. "Many regions of the world are facing various traditional and non-traditional security challenges, such as territorial disputes, extremism and terrorism, natural disasters, climate change, irregular migration, refugee issues, human trafficking and others," he said. The 49th AMM and related meetings are taking place "at a crucial juncture", when ASEAN focuses its efforts on implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and enhancing cooperation with external partners with ASEAN playing a central role, he said. With the inception of ASEAN in 1967, the AMM constitutes an important mechanism to deliberate and follow up to the implementation of the agreements and decisions by ASEAN leaders on cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and external parties, he said. ASEAN has become a single market and production base with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.6 trillion, ranking as the 7th largest economy in the world. ASEAN's GDP per capita had increased by 76 percent from $2,341 in 2007 to $4,135 in 2014, the prime minister noted. "Southeast Asia is a diverse region. However, this diversity has not been an obstacle for countries in the region to come together as a regional grouping of ASEAN," he said. Putting aside the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea should be a premise for possible talks between China and the Philippines, experts said after a former Philippine president was appointed as an envoy to China. Fidel Ramos, 88, told reporters on Saturday that he accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's offer to act as special envoy. Beijing has insisted on direct negotiations over the South China Sea disputes and has refused to accept the recent ruling of an arbitration case unilaterally launched in 2013 by the Philippines. Ramos is believed to be well-experienced in dealing with China-related issues, and during his time as president, from 1992 to 1998, the two countries eased tensions caused by confrontations over Meiji Reef. Fidel Ramos, the Philippine president from 1992 to 1998 who steered the country through an economic crisis According to a report by ABS-CBN, Duterte said he would pursue a "settlement" with China, even if this would mean setting aside the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as suggested by Ramos. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Ramos's remarks on Sunday. During a news conference on July 15, ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China welcomes Duterte sending an envoy to Beijing for talks on the South China Sea issue. Li Guoqiang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, said China is glad to see the Philippine new government has sent a positive signal of resolving disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means. However, the Philippines should not use the arbitral ruling as a bargain chip during the negotiation because China will never accept it, he said. Bilateral talks have been proved to be the most fair and reasonable means to resolve territorial issues, even though it may take a long time, Li added. Wang Yuzhu, a senior researcher of Southeast Asia studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said only if the Philippines put aside the arbitral ruling will the two countries hold effective talks. He said the Belt and Road Initiative, which China has proposed to revive the ancient Silk Road trading route, has benefited some Southeast Asian countries in improving infrastructure, and it's an opportunity for the Philippines to enhance cooperation with China in such areas. A non-jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 17 before a Cumberland County court judge in the lawsuit the Meeting House Springs cemetery association filed last September against the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Working on behalf of the association, Carlisle attorney Marcus McKnight III filed the equity action and injunction against both the commission and an adjoining property owner, Waggoners Gap Road LLC of Leola, Lancaster County. The equity action will ask Judge Thomas Placey to require the commission to either reopen Meeting House Road or to provide and fund an adequate public access road off Route 74 to what is perhaps the oldest cemetery in Cumberland County. The association had to submit in early July an expert report from an engineer on different options for paved road access, McKnight said. He added the Turnpike Commission has until Aug. 5 to submit its expert report. Attorneys representing the parties are scheduled to meet on Aug. 10 with Judge Placey in a pre-trial conference to discuss the particulars of the case, McKnight said. Open to the public, the non-jury trial is scheduled to begin a week later on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. and may last one to two days. There will be testimony by cemetery association members and the George family, which, according to McKnight, is also being affected by the lack of adequate road access. The cemetery was accessible by way of the Meeting House Road underpass tunnel in Carlisle Borough. But that direct access was cut off around Aug. 15, 2015 when the commission eliminated the overpass crossing Meeting House Road as part of its plan to widen and extend the turnpike in Cumberland County. The commission, without the knowledge or the consent of the association, filed paperwork to install a right-of-way gravel driveway off Route 74, McKnight said last September. That action by the commission fell short of meeting an old requirement to provide proper access to the cemetery. The gravel driveway does not provide adequate public access because it is only wide enough for one vehicle and is not designed to handle heavy equipment. There is no way to maintain the current road that they installed in 2015, McKnight said last week. It has no legal dimensions. It is gravel and deteriorating. Prior to the closure of the underpass tunnel, the Meeting House Springs cemetery was an active burial ground that hosted special services on select holidays. Since the closure, the First Presbyterian Church has barred the association from hosting events where there could be a large draw of people because of the inadequate access provided by the gravel driveway, McKnight said. He noted individual mourners can still visit gravesites in the cemetery. Until this legal matter is cleared up, people are reluctant to invest money in burial plots, McKnight said. This has resulted in a loss of potential revenue for the association. We will be seeking some kind of compensation because of the issues that have arisen. The association will also seek the reimbursement of legal fees it paid to bring the lawsuit to court. Meanwhile, the association is monitoring the progress of a proposed 150-lot subdivision plan for land adjoining the cemetery. Waggoners Gap Road LLC has submitted a plan to develop single-family detached homes on 97 acres between the cemetery and Route 74, McKnight said. He added the plan in its current form does not have an access road for either the cemetery or the George family property. The plan could come up for review at the next North Middleton Township planning commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 2. Association members want to have input to ensure that any plan approval by township officials includes an adequate access road, McKnight said. Turnpike Commission officials were unavailable for comment. (Photo : Getty Images) India's main opposition party has taken a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on China's remark about the dispute in Kashmir. Advertisement India's main opposition party Indian National Congress (INC) on Friday questioned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China's comment over the latest unrest in the disputed Kashmir region, Indian newspaper Indian Express reported. The opposition party added that "immaturity" in Modi's foreign policy led to China's direct interference in India's internal affair. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "For the first time in India's post-independence history, China has commented on the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. This is a direct interference in the domestic affairs of India and what is surprising is that Government of India has taken no note of it. This is very serious and this is the result of a lack of maturity in our foreign policy," INC spokesperson Kapil Sibal told reporters. Sibal added that neither Modi nor India's foreign ministry has felt the need to respond to China's remark on Kashmir. The Indian government should have told China "they should not fish in troubled waters and that they have no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India," he said. Sibal said that Modi had shown a complete lack of maturity in handling the situation, adding that his party will raise the issue in the upper house on Monday. Earlier this week, China uncharacteristically raised concern over the latest violence in Indian occupied Kashmir. In the past, Beijing had shied away from commenting on the disputed Himalayan region, despite its proximity with Pakistan. "We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday. China's comment on Kashmir coincided with reports in Chinese media that the Chinese and Pakistani army had conducted joint patrols at the China-Pakistan border, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has also been pursuing aggressive military action, with reports emerging earlier this week that India has deployed 100 tanks to the Ladhak region, which is connected to the India-China border. Tension in Indian Occupied Kashmir Continues to Simmer The tension in Indian-administered Kashmir refuses to subside, with reports suggesting that the death toll has reached 45. The latest violence in the disputed Himalayan region started after popular pro-freedom fighter Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by Indian armed forces. The Indian army alleges that 21-year-old Burhan Wani was a commander of the terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen, which is allegedly funded and supported by Pakistan. Advertisement TagsIndia, china, kashmir, India and China, India and Pakistan The Shippensburg Community Fair has changed in many ways since its start in the Burd Street parking lot 59 years ago, but its focus has always remained on agriculture. The successful event, today considered one of the top county fairs in the state, showcases the areas rich agricultural heritage, brings rising entertainers to south central Pennsylvania, and offers a variety of games, food and family fun. Were one of the bigger fairs in Cumberland County, and in Franklin County, said Jamie Rhine, assistant fair secretary/treasurer. Its unique that the fairgrounds sits on the county line. Rhine said the fair has grown in both size and attendance over the years. While the fair originally featured mostly livestock shows and home product exhibits, it now includes crafts, rides, games, tractor pulls, a horse show and so much more. Rhine said the added events keep the focus on agriculture by providing an educational element. It brings town and country together, he said. People who arent in agriculture can learn more about agriculture and where their foods come from. Rhine said the schedule has been tweaked, especially in the last few years, and while organizers always try to add something new, many of the events are popular ones that people have come to expect. We try to provide enough variety to keep people interested, but there are some things that really seem to draw a crowd, Rhine said. There are some things that you just cant change. People have been coming for decades for things like the food. The Shippensburg Community Fair started in 1958 as a three-day event held in the Burd Street parking lot. It moved to its current location along Possum Hollow Road in 1959 following the purchase of 19 acres of land by the fair board, and since that time has been held the last full week in July. Under the leadership of volunteers like Frank Lerew, who served as president for 50 years, the fair experienced significant growth and change. The look of the fairgrounds changed from one of tents to permanent buildings, and the property has expanded from 19 to 165 acres. But the focus has always been on agriculture. The fairgrounds now includes a stage, commercial exhibits building, livestock barn and show arena, dairy judging ring, horse show ring, tractor pull pad, restrooms, first-aid center, food pavilion, two home products buildings and three dairy barns. Utilities include water, sewer and electricity. The fair operates on about 55 of its 165 acres; the remaining land is rented by a local farmer. Land has been purchased three or four times over the years to make sure we can grow and also to keep it as agriculture, Rhine said. The fairs all about agriculture. He said renting some of the land to a local farmer is beneficial for everyone because the board can make a little money off the land we dont actively use to help with operating expenses, while keeping its use in agriculture. Popular events like the fair queen contest, horse show, Kiddies Days, Craft Day and baked goods auction have become fair traditions. Rhine said other popular events, although no longer held today, returned for the fairs 50th anniversary celebration. For the 50th anniversary, we looked at the things we used to do and brought some of them back that year, Rhine said. One thing was a parade. The official kickoff of the fair used to be a parade. He said the board is now preparing for an expansion of the fair office, which will be completed for the 60th anniversary in 2017. (Photo : Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) Passengers line up to board a train at the Dalian Railway Station in Dalian of Liaoning Province, China. Advertisement The Shenzhen Metro Station recently launched a newly operational Line 11 (also called the Airport Express) with business class cabins available daily for commuters. Some carriages in the train are said to have been transformed into high-end cabins. These fancy subway abodes cost three times more than the ordinary carriages, which, according to Shanghaiist, turns a lot of Chinese travelers off. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement A majority of the travelers who utilize the subway daily in China have said that it is absurd to pay thrice the normal price for a ride to Shenzhen. This results in more jam-packed economy cabins, giving passengers a harder time getting to their desired destination. A few passengers, who can afford it, opt to enjoy the comfort of the business class area with all its spacious and roomy cabins. The leather and velvet sheets-covered seats in the business class seem like an airplane, allowing passengers to sit and move around comfortably. The executive carriages also contain multiple televisions and even boasts of wall-to-wall carpeting. The striking difference between the cabins, however, has incited public complaints. Many Chinese travelers have protested against the division as it seems to discriminate them based on their social status of citizens. Apart from this, critics have also noted that it is such a huge inconvenience for commuters to stay in a congested economy cabin when the business cabins are mostly empty during the weekdays. In response to the growing complaints from the public, Shenzhen Metro authorities have announced via Weibo that they would soon increase the travel frequency of Line 11 so it can accommodate more commuters. Advertisement Tagsshenzhen subway, China Subway, shenzhen china subway, shenzhen metro business class, shenzhen metro (Photo : Facebook) A parody Taiwanese ad is celebrating the declining number of Chinese tourists. Advertisement Some Taiwanese locals have launched a parody advertisement campaign to celebrate the absence of Chinese tourists on the island. According to Shanghaiist, Taiwan was taken out of China's most favorite travel destinations recently, and some Taiwanese people seem to be alright with the idea. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The ads feature local scenery, but instead of the usual tourism photographs that boast of Taiwan's wonderful destinations with slogans that say "All these await you!," the words read "Welcome to Taiwan, without Chinese!" Not surprising to many Taiwanese, the ads have incited the anger of many Chinese citizens. Even the local tourism division did not seem too happy with the parody ads. A statement released by Taiwan's Tourism Bureau said that "People who discriminate against mainland Chinese tourists lack tolerance for diversity." The bureau stated that the ads should not stop Chinese people from visiting the island. The General Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan has admitted that true to the news circulating online, the rate of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan has fallen by 20 percent since June 2015. Chinese tourists contributed $7.1 billion USD to Taiwan's economy last year. Advertisement Tagstaiwanese parody ad, parody ad taiwan china, parody china taiwan, taiwan parody ad china, china taiwan parody ad, parody ad china v taiwan, china v taiwan ad (Photo : Getty Images) Some Chinese citizens are calling for a boycott of Apple's products in China. Advertisement American electronic giant Apple Inc. found itself in a sticky situation in China this week after some of its unofficial stores were targeted by small group protesters calling for a complete boycott of the company's products, Reuters reported. The protest was in response to the U.S. backed international arbitration court's verdict earlier this month that invalidated China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. China has categorically stated that it would not accept the judgment, regardless of growing pressure. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Over 100 protesters demonstrated in front of four unofficial Apple stores in Suining in the eastern province of Jiangsu for nearly three hours, calling customers not to purchase Apple products. "They chanted, 'boycott American products and kick iPhones out of China,'" store owner Zhu Yawei told Reuters. "But nothing really happened: no fights, no smashing." A video of the protest has gone viral on Weibo, with scores of micro-bloggers posting anti-Apple comments along with images of smashed IPhones on the social media platform. However, amid the anti-Apple protest, a sizeable group has shown support for Apple. Some people among this group has slammed the protest as "cheap nationalism." Others claim that the images of smashed iPhones are fake. Experts say Protests Won't Affect Apple Experts say that the protest against Apple products was too small to have any impact on the company's fortunes in the Chinese market. However, things could change if the protest picks up. China is a very critical market for Apple. It is world's largest smartphone market and also Apple's largest overseas market. However, Apple keeps running into problems in the country. Advertisement TagsApple Stores In China, china, Apple China, Anti-US Demonstratorion in China (Photo : VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Former President of the Philippines Fidel Valdez Ramos attends the BFA Golf Invitation 2011 as part of the Boao Forum For Asia at golf field of The International Conference Center of the Boao on April 14, 2011 in Boao, Hainan Province of China. Advertisement Following the international tribunal ruling on the disputed South China Sea, the Philippines has finally named its special envoy to China, a Philippine news report revealed. Speaking with local reporters in Davao City on Saturday, former President Fidel V. Ramos announced that he already accepted the offer of present Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte to become the country's special envoy to China. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "I have been cleared by my doctors at the Makati Medical Center," said Ramos, who led the country from 1992 until 1998, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It can be recalled that Ramos previously admitted already to have been hospitalized for three reasons, including the one that affected the flow of blood to his brain. Amid the tension involving claims on South China Sea, the latest news update shared that it would be among the roles that Ramos will take on as the special envoy to China. He, however, pointed out that his responsibility will not end there. On Monday, the new Philippine envoy to China will meet with the senior officials of the Duterte administration to further lay down his responsibilities. The meeting with the National Security Council will be made after Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA). It can be noted that the ties between the Philippines and China got tainted because of territorial disputes over South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea). With Ramos finally accepting the post, it is expected that bilateral talks will finally start between the two countries. Keep posted for more South China Sea related news and updates. Advertisement Tagschina, south china sea news, west philippine sea (Photo : Getty Images) The Indian government has expelled three Chinese journalists working for state agency, Xinhua, for indulging in suspicious activities. Advertisement The Indian government has expelled three Chinese journalists working for state agency, Xinhua, ordering them to go back to their home country by July 31, Indian newspaper The Hindu reported. The three journalists are Wu Qiang, Lu Tang, and She Yonggang. Wu Qiang and Lu Tang are the heads of Xinhua's bureaus in Delhi and Mumbai respectively. She Yonggang is a reporter with Xinhua's Mumbai bureau. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Indian government has not released any official statement explaining its reason for sacking the three journalists. However, top sources in the Indian government claimed that three of them had come under the "adverse attention of security agencies," Hindustan Times Reported. According to The Hindu, the three journalists recently traveled to the Indian city of Bengaluru to meet Tibetan activists, which did not go down well with India's Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources in the Indian government have clarified that expelling the three journalists does not imply that Xinhua reporters are not welcomed in India, adding that news agency can replace them with other journalists. The decision comes at a time when the relationship between India and China is going through a critical phase, following Beijing's snub over India's Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) membership last month. Pressure has been building ever since on the Indian government to go tough on China. The two Asian countries have a history of delaying visas to journalists, but this is probably the first time that extension or renewal of visas has been denied. Indian analysts say that a tit-for-tat response from China is likely. Reports in Indian media claim that currently, five Indian journalists are in China's capital city Beijing, while scores Indian reporters work for China's English state media agencies like China Central Television, China Daily, and China Radio International. Advertisement TagsIndia and China, Chinese journalists, Xinhua News Agency, china (Photo : Getty Images) China is set to have the world's first trillion dollar aviation industry by 2035. Advertisement The world's largest amphibious aircraft was launched in China' Zhuhai city on Saturday. State-owned Aviation Corporation of China (AVIC) said that the amphibious aircraft - AG600 - has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes, a maximum flight range of 4,500 km, and it can collect 12 tones of water in 20 seconds, according to Xinhua news agency. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The aircraft, which is equivalent to the Boeing 737 in size, will be used to contain forest fires and conduct major marine rescue operations. "When people fall into water, the prime time for rescuing them should be within two to seven hours," Aviation Corporation of China engineer Huang Lingcai said. "After receiving the call, we can quickly take off, land on the water surface directly, and help the victims on to the plane even under inclement weather conditions such as encountering two-meter high waves." The seaplane, which can rescue up to 50 people in a single trip, has the capacity to store 12 tons of water. It will also be used for exploiting marine resources and transportation. The seaplane will further boost China's military presence in the disputed South China Sea. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12 ruled that Beijing's claims to historical rights of ownership over the disputed waters have no legal basis. China has strongly opposed the verdict while maintaining that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested waters. Advertisement Tagschina, China Amphibious Aircraft, China Seaplane, World' Largest (Photo : Getty Images) China continues to maintain that it has historical rights of ownership over disputed territories in the South China Sea. Advertisement Satellite imagery has revealed that the Chinese military removed its new generation surface to air missile from an Island in disputed South China Sea Island prior to the verdict from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). An international defense magazine reported that satellite images captured on July 10 revealed the withdrawal of China's advanced surface to air missile from Woody Island in contested South China Sea. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement IHS Janes Defense magazine, in its latest edition, revealed that a battery of HQ-9 missiles had been taken off from its deployment position two days prior to the international tribunal's ruling over South China Sea territorial dispute. The missile had been deployed to the Island since February 2016. "Imagery captured on July 9 shows HQ-9 battery components uncovered and garrisoned together near the radar position. On 10 July, subsequent imagery showed a column of vehicles, including probably HQ-9 TELs, parked on a road adjacent to the island's southern harbor," IHS Janes reported. Chinese media reports said the missile withdrawal was a response to the U.S. decision to remove a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from the South China Sea on July 5. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12 ruled that Beijing's claims to historical rights of ownership the disputed waters have no legal basis. China has strongly opposed the verdict while maintaining that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested waters. U.S. President Barack Obama's top security aide Susan Rice is currently visiting China in a bid to persuade Beijing to de-escalate tension over South China Sea dispute. Advertisement Tagschina, china missile, South China Sea, Woody island, US carrier home World Church leaders argue over whether Iraq Christians should flee or stay amid ISIS genocide Church leaders argue whether the surviving Chaldean Christians should remain or abandon their ancestral grounds in the face of serious extinction by the Islamic State terrorist group. According to Fox News, the faction of Bishop Sarhad Jammo advocates for the resettlement of the Chaldean Christian communities in Iraq and Syria while the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad, Patriarch Louis Sako, insists that exodus should not be an option. "We wanted to ensure that people who wanted to leave had the means to do so, but we also supported those who wished to stay," Mark Arabo, the American-Chaldean community's national spokesperson and founder of the Minority Humanitarian Foundation in California, told the media outlet. Arabo disagreed with the Patriarch's contention that Christians should "live and die in the place where God calls us." He also defended the Iraqi priests who have since fled to the U.S. for safety and demanded by the Baghdad Patriarch to return or be excommunicated. "You cannot preserve a culture when the people are being systematically exterminated," said Arabo. "During genocide, politics must be an afterthought to the lives of Christian families." On the other hand, Patriarch Sako said that leaving is a personal choice but the religious leaders should not initiate it. "A Christian community that was born in these lands cannot organize exodus trips that will mark its distinction," he told the Vatican Insider, as reported by Fox News. The Maronite Catholic Bishops echoed Patriarch Sako's stance as they urged the Christians in Middle East to co-exist with Muslims "in a climate of freedom, democracy and respect of diversity." Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregory III also lamented the Christians' exodus in Syria and likened it to a "tsunami." Iraqi Christians face serious threats of extinction as the population dropped drastically to under 250,000 today from 1.4 million in 2003 before the U.S. invaded the country to topple former strongman Saddam Hussein. The situation exacerbated two years ago when the Islamic State terrorist group seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria. It established its Caliphate in the areas and committed atrocious crimes against the religious minorities. home US Church turns abandoned homes into refuge for homeless families in Kansas Homeless families have found a transitional home, thanks to the Kansas City ministry that has dedicated itself to helping poor people with no house to stay in. The ministry began with a vision of turning the vacant 150,000-foot square Park Lane Medical Center into a housing facility where poor working families can stay while they prepare for their own house. John Wiley, a pastor of River Church Family, shared his vision with CBN News in 2009. Seven years later, the River of Refuge transitional housing facility was opened. In May, the facility, with 11 apartment units completed, opened its doors to its first residents, most of whom had been staying in motels with weekly rates. "We made it ready for homeless families who have children who are sleeping on a floor in motels, knowing that they could move in here, live and eat for free. It's an amazing feeling," Wiley told KMBC. River of Refuge program director Stephanie Keck said within 24 hours of opening, about 30 people had called, asking for help. Every week, they receive an average of 20 inquiries from people who want to be a part of the program. Wiley said the whole thing was "surreal." "It feels surreal, you know seven years of believing it was possible," he told CBN News. He recounted how they encountered problems along the way and how God removed one problem after another as they built River of Refuge. At first, those who started living in the transitional housing facility wondered if there was any catch. Mario Glynn, a father of seven, had a hard time believing if the facility was real. "When I got in here I was sitting here waiting on like, 'What's the catch? Are we gonna have to stand on the corner and sell candy or something to stay?'" he told CBN News. Later on, he found out that they could truly stay at the facility free of charge. They were not required to pay rent or even utilities. This allows them to save money for their next house. And with the facility's financial counselors helping them, they are able to save money properly. Wiley said the project was made possible for the most part through donations and volunteers. Sometimes they post requests for donations through the facility's Facebook page. He reminded other pastors that it is possible to show love to the community they are serving. "What you have is the most incredible gift a love attracts a crowd," he said. home US Donald Trump vows to back both Evangelicals and LGBT community if he becomes president Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump vowed to support both the evangelical and LGBTQ communities as he formally accepted his party's presidential nomination during Thursday's National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The 70-year-old business mogul, former host of "The Apprentice" and now a formally proclaimed GOP presidential contender delivered his nomination acceptance speech for an hour and 16 minutes, which C-Span touted as the longest in 40 years. The widely televised convention saw Trump speaking out for particular sectors. "At this moment, I would like to thank the evangelical and religious community and I'm not sure I totally deserve it," said Trump. "They have so much to contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds from your own pulpits." Trump lifted back to the forefront former President Lyndon Johnson's amendment that disallowed religious groups and charitable organizations from making political endorsements at the risk of losing their tax-exempt status. As America's president, Trump promised to repeal the law and protect free speech for all Americans. Back in June, Trump met with more than 900 Christian conservative leaders in a closed-door meeting in New York City on the latter's desire to further get to know the Republican candidate and his policies. Trump also made a promise to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, which has been the target of the country's worst mass shooting tragedy that happened just last month in Orlando. "As your President, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology," he said then added, "Believe me." Running under the campaign banner "Make America Great Again!" Trump described himself as a leader that stands for the rule of law. He also criticized the ruling elite in media and politics whom he dubbed as "censors, critics, and cynics" for undermining the American people who are "believers, dreamers, and strivers." He picked on his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for espousing a three-word loyalty pledge that goes, "I'm With Her." In response, he said his pledge says, "'I'm with you, the American people." Eighty children from the Shippensburg area learned about fire safety Friday by participating in a variety of fun drills at the Shippensburg Fire Departments annual summer camp program. We want kids to know the right thing to do in the event of a fire in their home, and to encourage them to (either) become firefighters or volunteer in some way in their community, Borough Fire Chief Randy ODonnell said. Held for the second year at West End Fire and Rescue Company, the event was a field trip for children attending summer camps sponsored by the Shippensburg Community Parks and Recreation Authority and Southampton Township, Cumberland County. It is sponsored by the local fire department, which includes WEFR, Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley fire companies, and Shippensburg Area Emergency Medical Services. We used to go to the (Memorial) park and the township and do programs at each camp, but it was just easier to bring everyone together at one location, ODonnell said. ODonnell said 25 firefighters and EMS personnel volunteered their time to run with the program. During the event, children rotated through six stations and completed activities like crawling through the Smokehouse and completing a hose maze. When children enter the Smokehose, the building is filled with a mist that simulates smoke. They must then crawl through the building and escape through a window. ODonnell said the purpose of the Smokehouse is to teach children the importance of having smoke detectors, to find two ways out of a burning building, to have a pre-arranged meeting place, and to have the homes address clearly marked so it can be found easily by emergency personnel. At the hose maze, children were able to wear a special mask that was painted black, which simulated the smoke a firefighter sees in a burning building. Children were also able to complete an obstacle course, tour an ambulance and fire apparatus, connect a fire hose and aim a stream of water at a traffic cone, and learn first aid and CPR. Olivia Eberly, 8, was impressed with the Smokehouse. You have to get down and crawl because all the smoke goes up, she said. If youre ever in trouble at your house, climb out a window and call 911, and go to your safe place. Braydon Pennington, 8, said the obstacle course was fun because we got to spray the pretend fire with a hose. Morgan Miller, 11, said she learned the importance of the tiny blocks they use under cars to rescue people who are trapped inside. Firefighter Benjamin Hutchison said the blocks, officially called wheel cribbing, are used to stabilize vehicles during a rescue. The day also included lunch, and each camper received a backpack featuring the Shippensburg Fire Department logo. Its just a day for the kids to have fun and learn some things, and encourage them to maybe become a firefighter or EMT down the road, ODonnell said. Most of the expenses associated with the program were paid for through a $500 donation from The Drew Michael Taylor Foundation. home Faith German church warns against indicting refugees after train axe attack A German church in WArzburg, where an Afghan refugee attacked train passengers with axe before being shot dead by the police, warned against indicting refugees for the crime. Markus Hauck, spokesman for the WArzburg diocese, said the horrific incident must not be used "as a general indictment against refugees." "It would be much more dangerous to suggest they all pose some kind of danger," Hauck told Catholic News Service on Wednesday. Riaz Khan Ahmadzai, a 17-year-old Afghan Muslim who reached Germany as an unaccompanied minor last year, unleashed terror when he wielded axe and knife on a passenger train that stopped at a WArzburg station. Ahmadzai injured five before police shot him down. "Catholics are shocked; people assume acts of terrorism only happen in large cities, not in a small town like ours," said Hauck. "For many, left speechless by this event, prayer has seemed the best answer." The WArzburg diocese reportedly does more than just praying. Hauck said that some local clergy happened to be on the evening train and assisted unharmed fellow passengers. In addition, the diocese itself shelters Asian and Middle Eastern refugees with at least 60 social workers helping them. "Plenty of Church-run institutions here are involved in training and helping young refugees, and WArzburg hasn't been an area of tension," he said. "We should remember that, far from posing any threat, most have come here to escape threats in their home countries." Although investigations revealed no links between Ahmadzai and the Islamic State terrorist group, many perceive the train attack as one carried out by a "lone wolf," a term closely associated with a terrorist attack carried out by an Islamic State sympathizer. The incident in Germany happened just a few days after another Islamic State sympathizer slammed a 19-ton delivery truck through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France on July 14. At least 84 people died in the attack. Germany's most recent act of violence happened just this Friday, July 22 when an 18-year-old German-Iranian gunman attacked a shopping mall in Munich and killed nine and injured 16 before killing himself. home World Muslims continue attacks on Christian farmers in Nigeria; death toll rises Muslim Fulani herdsmen continue to attack Christian farmers in Benue state, Central Nigeria. Herdsmen resort to violence due to land disputes. Reports, however, say that the killings are beyond economics; apparently, it's ethnic cleansing. World Watch Monitor reports that since June, recent death toll of Christian farmers has risen to at least 133. According to Reuters, the violence is due to land disputes. The dry spell, overgrazing and worsening desertification have reportedly pushed many Muslim Fulani cattle herders to seize fertile lands owned by Christians in the southern part of Nigeria. However, for Reverend Augustine Akpen Leva, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Benue State, the violence is beyond economics. These herdsmen have killed people and overtaken a number of properties, including 76 churches where they have set camp. He tells World Watch Monitor, "This is another jihad like the one waged by Boko Haram in the north-east of the country. The attackers carry sophisticated weapons, sometimes they even used chemical weapons on our communities. They just come, often overnight when people are sleeping. They attack defenseless people and go away. They clearly have an agenda: to wipe out Christian presence and take over the land." Boko Haram is an Islamist terror group based in Nigeria that massacred an estimated 2,000 people in a town in Baga. According to Open Doors charity, the main reason for these deaths is "religious cleansing to eradicate Christianity." This week, Sir Lazarus Agai, a Christian district head of Ron/Kuleri tribe was killed by Fulani herders for his refusal to issue them cards that state that they are indigenous to the land. Last month, herdsmen armed with weapons attacked a Ninte village in the north-central state of Kaduna, killing three locals, and driving away hundreds of people from their land. Morning Star News reported that they also burned the house of Evangelical Church Winning All pastor, Reverend Saleh Yamusa. Nigeria has one of the largest Christian population in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country was once predominantly Muslim in religion, but since 1963, the Muslim population has declined, and Christians have increased in number, reportedly now comprising more than half of the country's population. 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson calls on Ted Cruz to forgive Donald Trump and support him "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson, who used to back former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz for the White House, made an appeal to his former candidate by asking him to forgive his opponent Donald Trump and endorse his presidency. During Cruz's speech in Cleveland on Thursday, he said he would not support the business magnate because he's not "in the habit" of backing politicians who make personal attacks on his family. "This isn't a social clubit's not simply. [President] Reagan gave a powerful speech 40 years ago where he said the Republican Party is not a fraternal order. It's not just my club; we either stand for shared principles or we are not worth anything," Cruz said, drawing boos from the audience. Even though Robertson understands Cruz's concerns, the reality star tells Stuart Varney of FOX Business Network that Cruz made a mistake and he believes the politician should reconsider. "Trump beat him fair and square and all the rest of them too," he says. "All the rest of the candidates that Trump beat including Ted what they need to do is, they need to forgive Mr. Trump" for any unkind words he might have said during the start of the campaign period. "I know the heat of the campaign and politics; we all need to understand something. We look at our culture. For us to remain civil, we must all stop sinning and begin to forgive and learn how to love each other. That's my message, that's my story and I'm sticking to it," he says. Personally, Robertson says he is now fully supporting Trump because "that's the hand that's been dealt by the Republican electorate." Erdogan shuts schools and charities as he tightens grip on Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup. Turkish authorities also detained a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, the Anadolu state news agency reported. A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days. The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed. His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the northeastern city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported. Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a terrorist organisation, the agency said. It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the failed coup. Turkey has also captured a key aide to Gulen, a presidency official said. Halis Hanci, described as the cleric's right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters. Hasan Karakus, the pilot who bombed the special forces command in Ankara and killed 42 police officers, was also caught in Turkey, said the official. Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticised a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party. Banners were hung on road bridges, subways and advertising boards around Istanbul with the words "Hakimiyet Milletindir" (The People Rule). Public buses and some private cars were adorned with red Turkish flags. Public transport in Istanbul has been free since Erdogan called people to the streets and will continue to be so until Sunday, when the main opposition CHP is staging a "democracy rally" in Istanbul's central Taksim square, to which it has also invited supporters of the ruling AK Party, to condemn the coup attempt. Turkey does not plan to extend emergency rule beyond a period of three months following the failed coup, but will do so if necessary, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "Our goal is that it shouldn't be extended, but if the need arises it may of course be extended," he said in an interview with the ATV television station. Yildirim said only a few people who took part in the coup attempt remain at large -- a group of around 15 who attacked a hotel Erdogan was staying at in the resort of Marmaris and some who went to Greece. Turkey plans to dismantle the special presidential guard, he added. In his decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan also extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this would facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt. Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood". Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government's control. Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting - which usually takes place every August - will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff. Erdogan, a popular but polarising figure who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday, saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. The emergency allows Erdogan and the AK Party government, who are mildly Islamist, to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations. The first decree signed by Erdogan authorises the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said. Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simply majority, which the government has. In an address to parliament late on Friday, Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist "terrorist" movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters. More rallies were planned over the weekend in many towns and cities. In Istanbul, Turkey's commercial capital, authorities have allowed people to travel for free on the metro system so they can more easily attend the rallies. Video screens on trains show pictures of citizens, or "martyrs", killed in the violence. Cars and mini-buses honking their horns drive around the streets until late in the night carrying flag-waving supporters of Erdogan shouting patriotic or religious slogans. On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV that Turkey expected to complete within 10 days a dossier requesting Gulen's extradition from the United States. Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the failed coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure his extradition. The United States has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen's involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say that process could take many years. After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week. In Ankara, the minister for European Union affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turks since the coup attempt. "We are very surprised that our allies have not come to Turkey to visit even after one week has passed," Omer Celik told reporters. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey explain why they chose 'Ceasefire' from For King & Country as 'Ben-Hur' soundtrack "Ben-Hur" producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have a very special reason why they chose the song "Ceasefire" from For King & Country as the soundtrack of the big-budget movie adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ." "'Ben-Hur' is a big-action adventure movie and it is a thrilling ride, but it holds deep within it a powerful message about forgiveness and reconciliation," Downey tells News OK. "In the last few weeks with all the violence and fear, tension and tears in our nation, these themes feel more important than ever." Burnett and Downey already know they want a song from For King & Country, but they did not know which one it would be. When they asked the band what songs they have that would be a good fit for "Ben-Hur," they fell in love with the track "Ceasefire" because of its lyrics. "The lyrics in 'Ceasefire' say, 'Teach us how to live humbly, love unconditionally, transform our hurt into hope, and grant us your peace,'" Downey explains. "That is our prayer." "Ben-Hur" is a fictional tale of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jew who was betrayed by his childhood friend Messala, a Roman soldier. Because of this betrayal, Ben-Hur's mother was imprisoned while he endured a hard life as a galley slave. But even during the bleakest moments in Ben Hur's life, his brightness refused to die down. He won the admiration of Roman Consul Quintus Arrius, who adopted him and raised him as his own son. With wealth and position in tow, Ben-Hur set out to rescue his mother and sister and exact revenge on Messala. But God has greater things in store for him, and his mission for revenge turned into one of compassion and purpose. "Ben-Hur," which is directed by Timur Bekmambetov, will be released on Aug. 19. It stars Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zurer, and Sofia Black D'Elia. Mary Magdalene has 'power greater than the Gospels tell, greater than the Church,' says author of new book She's been called many names: apostle to the apostles, a sinner turned saint, feminist icon, Jesus' disciple and Jesus' wife. She is Mary Magdalene, a biblical figure that has been "interpreted and misinterpreted, just as Jesus has been interpreted and misinterpreted," according to Michael Haag, historian and author of "The Quest for Mary Magdalene," published in May. Speaking to Religion News Service, Haag says what surprised him the most during his research on Mary Magdalene was "how important the story has been in the course of 2,000 years, its inventions and reinventions, and how much it still matters to us today." He says to him this suggests that "Mary Magdalene has a significance, a power, greater than the Gospels tell, greater than the Church." Explaining what his book is all about, Haag says, "It does not pretend to offer certain answers; instead, it asks questions about everything we are told about MM. How much is true? What are the motives for inventing things? Why turn MM into a whore when the gospels very clearly say nothing of that at all? How do these pieces fit together? What stories do they tell us? What new questions do they raise?" Pope Francis recently elevated the observance of Mary Magdalene's memorial into a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church, which was celebrated for the first time on Friday, July 22. Commenting on this, Haag says this is another indication that the Roman Catholic Church is reverting to how things had originally been. In 1969, the Vatican also decided to change the reading for the memorial of Mary Magdalene, which used to be about a "sinner" anointing Jesus' feet. In truth, "the Orthodox Church never said Mary Magdalene was a prostitute or a sinner. That was an invention of the Church in the West," Haag says. On the claim that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife, Haag says "the very fact that MM was an independent woman and worked closely with Jesus raises questions about their relationship." "It would have been extremely difficult for an unattached Jewish woman of first-century Palestine to have traveled with Jesus and to have had the wherewithal to support him financially. And it would be scandalous for a woman who was not closely related to Jesus, or not his wife, to have gone to his tomb to clean and anoint his naked body. In other words, there are grounds for this theory and people have been proposing something like it since the earliest centuries," he says. Munich shooter had no Islamist ties, say police A German-Iranian teenager who shot dead nine people in Munich was a deranged lone gunman obsessed with mass killings who drew no inspiration from Islamist militancy, police said on Saturday. The 18-year-old, born and raised locally, opened fire near a busy shopping mall on Friday evening, triggering a lockdown in the Bavarian state capital. Seven of his victims were themselves teenagers, who police said he may have lured to their deaths via a hacked Facebook account on what was the fifth anniversary of twin attacks by Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik that killed 77 people. The Munich shooting, in which a further 27 people were wounded, some seriously, was the third act of violence against civilians in Western Europe - and the second in southern Germany - in eight days. Bavarian state crime office president Robert Heimberger said the gunman, who German media named as Ali David Sonboly, was carrying more than 300 bullets in his backpack and pistol when he shot himself. Munich police witnessed the suicide at 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT), the police force said on Saturday. Following a police search of the attacker's room, where a book on teenage shooting sprees was discovered, Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae all but ruled out an Islamist militant link to the attack. "Based on the searches, there are no indications whatsoever that there is a connection to Islamic State" or to the issue of refugees, he told a news conference. "Documents on shooting sprees were found, so the perpetrator obviously researched this subject intensively." The gunman was born and brought up in the Munich area and had spent time in psychiatric care, and there was no evidence to suggest he had an accomplice, Andrae said. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said it was also too early to associate the Munich shootings with Breivik, who in 2011 shot dead 69 attendees at a youth summer camp hours after murdering eight others by detonating a van bomb in Oslo. But he told German public television the government would look carefully at its security measures once the investigation was completed to see if any changes were needed. De Maiziere said a unit of federal police had been readied on Friday given initial indications of a possible large militant attack, but in the end it was not used. Robert Heimberger, president of the Bavarian state criminal agency, told the news conference police were investigating findings suggesting the Munich gunman invited people to a fast food restaurant at the mall via the Facebook account. "(He) said he would treat them to what they wanted as long as it wasn't too expensive - that was the invitation," Heimberger said. He added that this still needed to be verified, but there were many clues suggesting the attacker had set up the invitation and sent it or posted it online. Turkey's foreign minister said three Turkish citizens were among nine people killed in the Munich attack while Greece's foreign ministry said one Greek was among the dead. According to foreign media reports, there were also three Kosovo Albanian victims. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "mourning with a heavy heart" for those killed, and that the security services would do everything to ensure the public was safe. Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer said the killings - together with an axe attack by a 17-year-old asylum-seeker that injured five people in Wuerzburg, also in Bavaria, on Monday - should not be allowed to undermine democratic freedoms. "For the second time in a few days we've been shaken by an incomprehensible bloodbath ... Uncertainty and fear must not be allowed to gain the upper hand," a visibly distressed Seehofer told reporters. Both the Wuerzburg attack, and the Bastille Day rampage by a truck driver in Nice, France that killed 84 people on July 14, were claimed by Islamic State militants. The Munich gunman, whose father a neighbour said had worked as a taxi driver, had no criminal record but had been a victim of theft in 2010 and assault in 2012, police said. De Maiziere said there were indications the killer had been bullied "by others his age". He also cited concerns about the role violent video games may have played in the crime. Police commandos, with night vision equipment and dogs, raided an apartment in the Munich neighbourhood of Maxvorstadt early on Saturday, where a neighbour told Reuters the gunman had lived with his parents for about four years. In the killer's room, police found a German translation of a book entitled "Why Kids Kill - Inside the Minds of School Shooters". Asked if the gunman had deliberately targeted young people, Munich police chief Andrae said that theory could be neither confirmed or ruled out. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said there were several signs he had been suffering from "not insignificant psychological troubles." Three of his victims were 14 years old, two were 15, one was 17 and one 19. The others were 20 and 45, the police chief said. Police will also have to find out how the 18-year-old obtained the firearm in a country whose gun control system is described by the U.S. Library of Congress as being "among the most stringent in Europe". "The investigation is still trying to determine where it came from," Heimberger said, adding that the assailant was not the registered owner of the gun. "I am shocked. What happened to the boy? Only God knows what happened," Telfije Dalipi, a 40-year-old Macedonian neighbour, told Reuters. "... I have no idea if he did anything bad elsewhere." Philippine Catholic Church now a 'church in the wilderness': It's mocked, derided and ignored, says archbishop The Roman Catholic Churchthe world's largest Christian church with over 1.27 billion membersis now the "church in the wilderness" in the Philippines, the third biggest Catholic nation on earth with some 84 million Catholics, next only to Brazil (125 million) and Mexico (98.8 million). Philippine Archbishop Socrates Villegas described this "church in the wilderness" when he addressed the first assembly of his nation's bishops since the proclamation of anti-Catholic populist Rodrigo Duterte as president of the Philippines last June 30. Villegas pointed out that the Catholic Churchwhich used to wield a powerful political influence in the Philippinesis now more like a despised prophet who is mocked, derided and ignored in his own land, LifeSiteNews reports. Villegas, who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the bishops have become "pastors of the Church in the wilderness." Without mentioning Duterte by name, Villegas called on the bishop to muster the courage to "defend and vindicate the rights of the poor and the oppressed, even when doing so will mean alienation or persecution from the rich and powerful." Duterte had accused the Catholic Church of corruption, called its leaders, including Pope Francis, "sons of whores," and said one of its priests sexually molested him in high school. Villegas acknowledged that the Church had lost its appeal to the Filipino people. It began in 2012 when the Church's opposition to the Reproductive Health Law was shunned by many and ignored by the government. In the June's presidential election, the bishops' opposition to Duterte was widely ignored by voters. The prelate lamented that the Church leadership appeared to have become irrelevant to the people. "When we appealed for morality, our people laughed at vulgarity. When we challenged indecency, we were despised and ridiculed as archaic. "When we preached about marriage and family life, we were dismissed as uninformed bachelors. We are called shameless hypocrite children of whores. It felt like the Church was like Ismael, son of Abraham, sent to the desert to die," he said. But Villegas could still see something good coming out of this. "The wilderness is also for purification and prayer. It is also for returning to the basics without the trappings and icings. The wilderness beckons us to stay with the Lord and return to the essentials. The wilderness tests our readiness for martyrdom," he said. Despite the Church's apparent loss of power and prestige, Villegas urged its leaders to continue standing up for the powerless. "We will stand up for the moral right. We will resist the moral wrong. We will stand and defend every person's life and dignity. We will shield the weak from harm. We will protect the confused from error," he vowed. The Pennsylvania Game Commission, never at a loss in creating new opportunities for hunters wildlife conservation aside last week told the states municipal governments that hunting should always take priority when it comes to controlling the states deer population. The panels president commissioner, Brian Hoover, said that keeping the Pennsylvania hunter as part of the process always is No. 1 in our minds, when it comes to properties where high deer populations have created problems. But wait, Mr. Hoover. There is an alternative, such as giving natural predation a chance over regulated slaughter. A wildlife study published recently in the journal Conservation Letters offers a more common-sense, environment-friendly approach: Bring back the cougar. The study, by University of Washington wildlife scientist Laura Prugh and University of Idaho ecologist Sophie Gilbert, along with several colleagues, says the introduction of cougars to the mix could reduce deer densities and deer-vehicle collisions by 22 percent in the eastern United States, preventing 21,400 human injuries, 155 fatalities, and $2.13 billion in avoided costs within 30 years of establishment. Recently established cougars in South Dakota prevent $1.1 million in collision costs annually, the report said. Thats not chicken feed, or other forms of deer bait. Large carnivores such as cougars called panthers in the south, mountain lions in the west bring tangible benefits to the environment, Prugh said. Carnivores are so controversial and theres a lot of fear, anxiety and resistance when they are reintroduced or recolonize an area. We are hoping that showing people how their lives could really benefit in a tangible way from having large carnivores around could help people become more accepting of living with them. Prugh told the University of Washingtons UW Today, that cougar populations are recolonizing eastward, as far as Connecticut and Tennessee. International wildlife agencies are reporting the spreading of breeding populations in the eastern provinces of Canada. There is of course, the possible threat to livestock, pets and the occasional jogger. But the likelihood and results of such encounters pale in comparison with the number of human lives saved through a natural carnivore control of the deer population. I think everyone on the East Coast has either hit a deer or knows somebody whos hit a deer, so its a very real problem for people, Prugh said. An overabundance of ungulates might be a hunters paradise, but it comes with problems as well. The study estimates a single cougar would kill 259 deer over its average six-year lifespan, preventing eight collisions and saving nearly $40,000 in associated costs. Thats more than an acceptable return on the recolonization. Pennsylvania is where a full 10 percent of the nations deer crashes occur, according to State Farm Insurance data. The state has the appropriate habitat and an obvious need for deer-population control a cougars paradise of sorts. Then again, theres the Pennsylvania Game Commissions notorious penchant to create a hunting season for any number of wild things if given half a chance. Consider their recent reclassification of the porcupine as a furbearer subject to hunting and trapping. Possible roadway safety benefits aside, the chances of successful cougar recolonization in this state would be more than iffy from the start. The wild, after all, is a dangerous place and the last thing Pennsylvania hunters want is competition. Ganesh Singh appointed Chariman of JPC for Land Acquisition Bill Published: July 23, 2016 BJP Lok Sabha member Ganesh Singh was appointed as Chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP) to examine provisions of the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, 2015. With this, Ganesh Singh replaces S S Ahluwalia who was appointed Minister of the State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs in the council of ministers reshuffle in July 2016. It should be noted that Minister cannot be appointed as member of any Parliamentary Committee. Ganesh Singh is a member of the 16th Lok Sabha. He represents the Satna constituency of Madhya Pradesh. He was also member of 13th and 14th Lok Sabha. This is seventh extension of the term of the JCP on the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, 2015 which must be approved by resolution in Parliament. The joint committee will comprise of 30-members- 20 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It will examine provisions of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015. Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 The Bill creates five special categories of land use. They are (i) defence (ii) affordable housing (iii) rural infrastructure (iv) industrial corridors and (v) infrastructure including PPPs where government owns the land. Allows government to exempt five categories of projects from the requirements of (i) restrictions on acquisition of multi-cropped land, (ii) social impact assessment and (iii) consent for private projects and public private partnerships (PPPs) projects. It removes clause of that makes head of a government department guilty for an offence by the department. It adds provision of prior sanction to prosecute a government employee. Month: Current Affairs - July, 2016 Topics: Bills and Acts Committees Ganesh Singh Parliament Persons in News Latest E-Books Kerala Tourism wins two Gold Gongs at PATA Awards Published: July 23, 2016 The Kerala Tourism has won two Gold Gongs at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards in recognition of its trend setting marketing initiatives. Kerala Tourism won the awards in the Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media and E-Newsletter categories respectively. These two Gold Gongs will be presented at the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon and Presentation scheduled to be held on 9 September 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media category, Visit Kerala television commercial campaign was chosen for the award. While in E-Newsletter category, Kerala Tourism E-Newsletter was chosen. Earlier in 2015, Kerala Tourism had won PATA Gold in the Heritage and Culture category for its Muziris Heritage Project. About Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) awards These awards are given by Pacific Asia Travel Association and are sponsored by Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO). These awards are presented every year in recognition of the achievements of 25 separate organisations and individuals. PATA is a membership association working to promote the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region. Month: Current Affairs - July, 2016 Topics: Awards States Tourism Latest E-Books CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio - Theft, North Main Street: Police are investigating a car theft. The victim's car was recovered in Mentor by police there and a suspect was arrested July 18. No further details were available at press time. Assault, West Carriage Drive: On July 18, officers were investigating an incident from the previous weekend. A woman reported that her cell phone was stolen during it. No further details were available at press time. Lost Property, North Main Street: A man lost his Rolex watch while visiting the downtown area July 18. He had owned the watch for 30 years and had paid $10,000 for it. General Complaint, Division Street: A resident was flying a drone back and forth over another person's property July 16 and 17, drawing complaints. When police arrived, the drone was not flying. Harassing Communications, West Street: After receiving several phone calls from a man accusing her of damaging his car in a parking lot July 14, a woman suspected a scam and called police. The man claimed the woman left a note stating she will pay for damages. However, the woman had just been released from the hospital and had not driven to the shopping area claimed by the man. An officer called the man's number, but was unable to reach anyone. Juvenile Complaint, North Main Street: A patron at Jekyll's Kitchen observed four to five youths jumping off of the falls 6:05 p.m. July 20. The caller saw one nearly hit his head on the rocks. An officer arrived and found one person there. He was sent on his way. Noise, Bell Street: A resident complained of a very loud party with music and swearing after midnight July 16. Officers arrived, but were unable to locate the problem. Responding to a second complaint about 20 minutes later, the party was found across from a self-storage facility. The resident was told to quiet it down. EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police closed part of Lee Boulevard south of Terrace Road during an investigation Sunday morning. East Cleveland police sent out a community alert to avoid the area around 10 a.m. A police spokesman confirmed there was an investigation, but he would not give any details. Newsnet 5 reported there was a double-shooting in the area. Police would not say whether there was a shooting. A cleveland.com reporter is en route to the scene. EAST CLEVELAND -- Police are investigating a double shooting at the Prive Lounge early Sunday. One of the gunmen crashed his black Jeep SUV near Lee Boulevard and Terrace Road, next to Heritage Middle School, East Cleveland Det. Scott Gardner said. Sunday's shooting happened around 5:10 a.m. at the lounge and restaurant in the 15000 block of Euclid Avenue. Gunmen fired several shots. At least one bullet hit a security guard working at Prive, Gardner said. It's unclear how many gunmen were involved. A bullet also hit one of the gunmen, Gardner said. It's unclear if the gunman was shot at the club. The wounded gunman fled in the Jeep on Euclid Avenue and turned onto Lee, where he crashed. Police and members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations were still picking up bullet casings in front of the club at 12:30 p.m. Police still had Lee Boulevard, south of Terrace, closed with the wrecked SUV in the road at noon. Semiautomatic rifles were lying on the sidewalk next to the vehicle. Gardner would not comment about the weapons. The gunman crashed the SUV next to the same middle school where a November 2012 Cleveland police chase ended with officers firing 137 shots. Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams died in the school lot. Officer Michael Brelo was acquitted of all charges in the case, and the city of Cleveland agreed to a $3 million settlement that was split between the two families. If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Like Chanda Neely on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter: Hard Rock Cafe guitar gets maintenance Electricians Scott Thompson, lower, and Kyle Moore from Yesco in Willoughby replace worn neon tubing in the Hard Rock Cafe's iconic spinning guitar on Huron Ave. overlooking the Flats in Cleveland on Saturday, January 9, 2016. (Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After nearly 20 years serving burgers and selling T-shirts, the Hard Rock Cafe at Tower City will close its doors for good at the end of the day on Sunday. The company announced back in April the restaurant would be closing after the Republican National Convention. A spokesperson for Hard Rock International confirmed that Sunday would be the Tower City location's last day in business. Hard Rock said it was closing the restaurant so that it could focus marketing efforts on the Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park in Northfield. The company said employees will be given priority consideration for open positions at the Rocksino. No word yet on what will happen to the huge 65-foot-high guitar sign hanging outside the restaurant on Huron Road. The restaurant's collection of music memorabilia will be moved to corporate headquarters in Orlando. When the restaurant opened in July 1998 at the height of the chain's popularity, it was the first Hard Rock Cafe in Ohio. "We are absolutely tickled to death to be [in Cleveland]," the company's then-CEO Pete Beaudrault told The Plain Dealer at the time. "The marriage between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [and Museum] and the Hard Rock Cafe will be the most unique of all cities in the world." The opening was celebrated with a free concert in the parking lot featuring the Raspberries and Michael Stanley. Crowds waited in lines to dine on Hard Rock's signature burgers, view the impressive collection of rock and roll artifacts and, of course, buy one of their ubiquitous t-shirts. cleveland police car.jpg A 27-year-old man died after he was shot multiple times early Sunday and a 15-year-old boy was shot in the back Saturday on Cleveland's East Side, police said. They were among five people shot in five separate incidents Saturday and overnight into Sunday in the city. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 27-year-old man died after he was shot multiple times early Sunday and a 15-year-old boy was shot in the back Saturday on the city's East Side, police said. They were among five people shot in five separate incidents Saturday and overnight into Sunday, according to a Cleveland police news release. Five others were wounded in four shootings earlier Saturday, bringing this weekend's totals to nine shootings, nine injured and one dead. The deceased man had not been identified Sunday morning. The man was shot just after 2 a.m. Sunday in the 6800 block of Bushnell Court in Cleveland's Central neighborhood, police said. The man was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. No further information was provided. The 15-year-old boy was shot in the back at 4:21 p.m. Saturday near East 117th Street and Union Avenue. Here is a time lime of the latest shootings with all the information released by Cleveland police so far: 11:14 a.m. Saturday A 34-year-old man was shot in the 2500 block of Aetna Road in Cleveland's Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood. Cleveland EMS transported him to MetroHealth. Details about his injuries were not provided. 4:21 p.m. Saturday A 15-year-old boy was shot in the back near East 117th Street and Union Avenue. He was transported to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. 5:11 p.m. Saturday A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg near East 63rd Street and Woodland Avenue. He was taken to University Hospitals. 2:06 a.m. Sunday A 27-year-old man was shot multiple times in the 6800 block of Bushnell Court. He was taken to MetroHealth, where he was pronounced dead. The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is investigating. 4:52 a.m. A woman (no age given) was shot in the 17000 block of Euclid Avenue. Someone dropped her off at the East Cleveland Police Department before she was taken to University Hospitals. Details about her injuries were not provided. No further information was provided. Seven shootings were reported in the city last Friday night and early Saturday morning. Among last week's victims were a 2-year-old girl who was shot in the head and five people who were wounded outside the Agora Theatre and Ballroom. If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Like Chanda Neely on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter: california delegation Marion Ashley and his son Mickey Ashley of California tour the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton during the Republican National Convention. The pair said they were not concerned about norovirus. (Patrick Cooley, cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A California delegate who attended the Republican National Convention was diagnosed with the norovirus Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported. The delegate was inside Quicken Loans arena Thursday when Donald Trump accepted the Republican Party's nomination, the newspaper reported Sunday. The delegate and 15 staffers who stayed at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky were infected with the highly contagious stomach bug, according to the LA Times. Representatives from the Erie County Health Department and Kalari Resorts could not be reached Sunday. Most of the 550-member delegation headed back to California on Friday, but the delegate who was diagnosed with the virus Saturday had to remain at Kalahari, the LA Times reported. It's unclear if the others infected with the virus are still in Northeast Ohio. The Erie County Health Department issued a statement last week saying it was working closely with officials to keep the virus from spreading while awaiting further direction from the Ohio Department of Public Health. It's still unclear how those infected caught the virus. The virus may be resistant to hand sanitizer. Delegates were encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water during the convention. Like Chanda Neely on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter: Hillary Clinton,Tim Kaine Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine at a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Clinton and Kaine, her newly minted vice presidential running mate, will campaign in Ohio after this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (Mary Altaffer, The Associated Press) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, her vice-presidential running mate will launch a bus tour of two critical battlegrounds -- Pennsylvania and Ohio -- following this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The newly minted Democratic ticket will begin the trip with a joint rally at Philadelphia's Independence Mall and then head west for stops planned Friday and Saturday in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, according to a Clinton aide. The tour will continue Saturday evening and Sunday in Ohio. Clinton and Kaine are expected to campaign together in Youngstown and Columbus, the aide said. The schedule will include a combination of large rallies and small events, with retail politicking mixed in at times. No additional details were available. The bus trip likely will conjure memories of the barnstorming tour Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, embarked on after the 1992 Democratic convention with running mate Al Gore. Such tours keep the candidates in the headlines and help build off any post-convention bounce the ticket might receive. This year's Democratic convention opens Monday, with Hillary Clinton set to become the first woman to claim a major party's nomination for president. She announced Kaine, a Virginia senator, as her running mate Friday. They campaigned together for the first time as running mates Saturday in Florida. Ohio and Pennsylvania stand as two huge targets in the November election. Polls in both states show a close race between Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, who last week at the GOP convention in Cleveland. ohio-gerrymandering.png Catherine Turcer, policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio, writes that Ohio should end gerrymandering. The table above, produced in 2015 by cleveland.com, shows that after split control during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the Republicans have controlled all three branches of Ohio government charged with redrawing congressional district lines the last two times for races from 2002-10 and 2012-20. Since then, the Republicans have won more congressional seats. The vote totals shown are the combined statewide votes for all congressional races, eliminating votes for third-party and independent candidates. (Rich Exner, Northeast Ohio Media Group) Catherine Turcer is the policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio The last year has been a pretty good one for Alexander Hamilton. The ten-dollar bill founding father without a father, secretary of the treasury, and Revolutionary War hero is the subject of a smash-hit musical that has reinvigorated interest in his life and done wonders for his historical legacy. A different hero of the founding generation, Elbridge Gerry, who was born 272 years ago this month, has not been so lucky. Gerry signed the Declaration of Independence and was a key supporter of the Bill of Rights, vice president and governor of Massachusetts. However, each of these accomplishments has been eclipsed by one decision he made while governor. In 1812, Gerry approved Massachusetts state senate districts that sliced and diced the state in a devious way to thwart his political rivals. The Boston Gazette printed a cartoon showing that one of the districts resembled a salamander and called the new creature a gerrymander. Since then, gerrymandering has become the preferred term to describe the drawing of legislative districts for political advantage. In the last two centuries, many aspects of our lives have unquestionably improved. Americans enjoy longer and healthier lives while participating in a democracy that has slowly expanded to empower more Americans. But computers have allowed gerrymandering to become even more precise and detrimental to competitive elections. Congressional District 9, often called "the Snake on the Lake," is just a narrow strip that stretches from Toledo to Cleveland, skirting Lake Erie. After the 2010 census, political consultants holed up behind closed doors in a hotel room they nicknamed "the bunker" and drew some of the most partisan maps in the country. In response, Ohioans demanded change. The state legislature responded by putting Issue 1 on the ballot. Last year, this long-overdue reform won 71 percent of the vote and carried all 88 counties. With the passage of Issue 1, Ohio voters made great strides in curbing gerrymandering for state legislative districts, but these reforms did not apply to congressional districts. It makes no sense to develop strong rules that prevent one party from steamrolling the other in state legislative mapmaking while giving General Assembly members free reign to do whatever they want with our congressional map. In January, five months before his death, former Ohio Gov. and U.S. Sen. George Voinovich released a statement stating, "I sincerely believe that one of the major problems confronting Congress is the fact that most districts are not balanced because of gerrymandering and therefore make it difficult for the member to compromise." In the State of the State, Gov. John Kasich called for putting gerrymandering in the "dustbin of history." The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission has a panel that has been reviewing redistricting reform for three years, but has yet to make a recommendation. A year ago, Ohio Sens. Frank LaRose, Republican of Hudson, and Tom Sawyer, Democrat of Akron, introduced legislation reforming congressional mapmaking. But there have been no hearings. So why is congressional redistricting reform stalled at the Statehouse? Ending gerrymandering means the end of a political tool in the party-in-power's arsenal. Ohio is a swing state with a congressional delegation of 12 Republicans and four Democrats largely as the result of gerrymandering. And job security. Being a member of Congress is a prestigious job with a minimum salary of $174,000 and great perks. And once a person is elected to Congress, it's pretty hard to beat him or her. "Safe" seats in which members predictably win election after election are hard to give up, for members of both political parties. Elbridge Gerry's legacy has had a rough couple of centuries. A life dedicated to service has been boiled down to one word - gerrymandering - that should have been relegated to the same dusty history books in which powdered wigs find themselves. It is unlikely that Gerry the Musical is going to find its way to Broadway any time soon, but the best gift we can give to Gerry's legacy and our democracy is to end gerrymandering for good. We deserve more competitive congressional districts and more accountable representation in Congress. Ohioans have been waiting way too long for the legislature to do the right thing. When the legislators get back to the Statehouse, they need to focus on ending gerrymandering and putting congressional redistricting reform before the voters. Catherine Turcer is the policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio, a nonpartisan grass-roots group focused on fair elections and accountable government. : ; - CM ?; - Jo Ann Davidson In this 2008 file photo, Jo Ann Davidson, then co-chairman of the Republican National Committee, thanks Minnesota for their hospitality at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Thomas Suddes writes that Ohio delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland were shocked last week at the RNC's slight to Davidson, who was close to both the late Gov. George Voinovich and the late GOP state party chair, Bob Bennett, when she was passed over to introduce an RNC video tribute to both men. (Ron Edmonds, Associated Press, File, 2008) One segment of last week's Republican National Convention slighted Republican National Committee member Jo Ann Davidson, a member of Gov. John Kasich's inner circle and the first woman to be elected speaker of Ohio's House. At issue: a video tribute to George V. Voinovich, Cleveland's mayor, Ohio's governor and U.S. senator, who died June 12, and Robert T. Bennett, Ohio's longest-serving GOP state chair, who died in 2014. To the surprise of Ohio delegates, the person on the convention's rostrum introducing the tribute was former House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican who wasn't a delegate. Householder was Davidson's successor as speaker, although the successor she wanted was then-Rep. Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican. Davidson, a suburban Columbus Republican, has been a Republican sparkplug since as far back as Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. She was House speaker throughout Voinovich's second term (1995-98) and for two years of Bob Taft's administration. Householder was elected to the House in 1996, the middle of Voinovich's second term. Householder was speaker from 2001 through 2004, during Taft's governorship. Householder's enemies claimed he wielded the House's gavel like a sledgehammer. Householder was term-limited out of the House in 2004. He's seeking a comeback this fall as GOP candidate in the 72nd House District (Perry and Coshocton counties, and parts of Licking). The Democratic candidate is Etna Township Trustee John Carlisle. State Auditor Dave Yost, a convention delegate, wrote in an op-ed for cleveland.com that he "was floored by the choice" of Householder to introduce the video. Davidson, Yost wrote, by engineering "the GOP takeover of the House ... gave Voinovich the legislative allies he needed to succeed. The honor of introducing the video was a no-brainer." (Householder declined to respond.) Given that Davidson and Ohio's other delegates backed Kasich, not Donald Trump, for president, it wasn't a surprise the delegation didn't land front-and-center convention seats but was shunted to one side of the rostrum. Even so, it's remotely possible - as in, "very, very remotely" - that having Householder introduce the video was a staff mistake, not a calculated snub. (A convention spokeswoman didn't answer queries.) In fairness to Householder, Bob Bennett had family ties to Perry County. And in Ohio's presidential primary, Trump carried almost all Ohio's Appalachian counties, including Perry. Finally, Householder has links to the coal crowd, which likes Trump. In June, Robert E. Murray, head of Murray Energy Corp., "the largest underground coal mining company in America," held a Wheeling fundraiser for Trump. Trump "supports the coal industry and the coal miners," Murray told Steubenville's WTOV-TV. "And that's why I am supporting him." A Trump rally followed in Belmont County's seat, St. Clairsville. Belmont was Ohio's No. 1 county in coal production last year. And in Trump's Thursday acceptance speech, he vowed to get miners (and steelworkers) back to work. However unlikely that is (it would, for example, require coal to be as cheap and clean as natural gas), that pledge had to be music to many ears in the hurting crescent of Ohio towns from Youngstown-Warren to East Liverpool and Steubenville, and on to Ironton and Portsmouth. Those are parts of the state where Trump has to win big to have any chance of besting Hillary Clinton in Ohio. (And Trump has to win Ohio to become president.) So, arguably, giving an Appalachian Republican a convention cameo could make sense - assuming good will, and shrewd planning, by the convention staff, and Trump's. On both counts, that's likely a reach. Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, (216) 999-4689 jewelrybox.jpg Burglars stole my Oma's charm bracelet, and I'll never get it back. (k4dordy, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It wasn't valuable to anyone else. A sterling silver filigree bracelet that my mom and her siblings gave their mother decades ago and added charms to over the years: circles that said "I love you" and "Mom," a one shaped like a Dutch wooden shoe. When my Oma moved into the nursing home, my mom passed the bracelet to me, the oldest daughter of my Oma's oldest daughter. I treasured that piece of my heritage, especially after I became a mother. Especially after Oma died. Now it's gone. Stolen by a bunch of teenagers who broke into my home a few weeks after Christmas. They dumped my jewelry box and took everything, including the diamond bracelet I wore on my wedding day and the crystal art deco necklace my great-grandmother once wore. They took the silver-backed mirror and brush that I had dusted that morning, the one my grandma and I picked out at a Florida flea market years ago. They broke the glass in our back door, upended our mattress and ripped off our duvet, threw all the towels out the closet. They took a backpack with my son's ski pass, a laptop with all our tax information, a nine-year-old iPod, good DSLR camera I used for photos of our newborn daughter and every big occasion ever since. I know it's just stuff. What matters is that my husband - who came home from work to find a window smashed in - and my kids are safe. So is our dog, a 100-pound lab mix who probably was thrilled to have visitors in the middle of the day. But I am outraged that anyone had the audacity to ransack our house, tearing out drawers and spilling linens and upsetting our bed. I'm angry that thieves annihilated the sanctuary of our home. And while I don't care that my iPod (which we used only for living room dance parties) is gone, I am livid that anyone could nonchalantly take things so valuable to me, for a few bucks. I don't have emeralds or rubies. I have bracelets bought on vacations with my best friends, the watch my husband bought me for Christmas during our first year of marriage. At least I had. These items are not replaceable with our home insurance. The police, who were nice and helpful, came to dust our house for fingerprints and take photos of our trashed closet, as I shook with anger and fear and stress. They had me fill out a police report, even though I couldn't list everything I had lost. I yelled at my parents, who drove up from Akron when I called them bawling. "Why is Mom crying?" my daughter wanted to know. My son was more elated that there were real police officers in his home. Police said they had arrested teenagers, one as young at 15. So I was hopeful they'd find our stuff stashed in our backpack in someone's backyard. Unfortunately, the next day, the detective said they had likely sold it to some guy in the McDonald's parking lot. Driving home from the police station, I sobbed. Since then, the kids have been working their way through the juvenile justice system. My family has moved. We bought a new computer and a new camera, and I've bought new bracelet -- stackable bangles and fun jangly ones with plenty of charms. I'll pass them down to my daughter one day. But they're not the same. Want more mom news? Follow me on Twitter @lauraejjohnston or on Facebook. watch now PHILADELPHIA It may be Hillary Clinton's Democratic convention, but on a blistering day supporters of Bernie Sanders hit the streets with hot anger. Mad at the Democratic establishment and an electoral process many protesters called "rigged," thousands of demonstrators took to the streets Sunday in support of fighting climate change, free trade and the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee. "I am angry, I'm angry at the Democratic establishment," said Corey Collier, an organizer for activist umbrella organization Philly.FYI. The motivation for the march, he said, was "watching democracy be blatantly undermined in our faces." The demonstration was part of a full slate of events that kicked off in Philadelphia on Sunday, shadowing the official Democratic Convention a day ahead of its formal start. Billy Taylor, executive director of Philly.FYI, said he organized the day's events to return power to the people. "The DNC is dead to me, to be honest," Taylor said. "This isn't about unity. It's about giving the power back to the people." Other protesters were more defiant about Clinton. "This movement that will not fall in line with Hillary Clinton is real," Bruce Carter, founder of Black Men for Bernie, told the crowd to cheers. Indeed, anti-establishment sentiment ran deep at the rally. When Philly.FYI organizer Justis Vining was informed by CNBC that Debbie Wasserman Schultz had stepped down as chair of the Democratic National Committee in the middle of the march, he said he felt "pure joy." When the news was relayed to protest leaders atop a rolling van, and then to the crowd, it was met with yells and cheers. The ire of supporters for the Democratic socialist senator from Vermont was not only reserved for Schultz and Clinton. At a news conference earlier in the day hosted by the Bernie Delegates Network, Norman Solomon, a Sanders delegate from California and the network's national coordinator, called Clinton's selection of centrist Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate an "assault on the progressive base." Among the Sanders delegates, Solomon said "there's talk about walking out of the vice presidential and presidential acceptance speech, there's talk about total silence, remaining seated, turning backs." The issues that demonstrators were most passionate about included protesting the Trans-Pacific Trade agreement, fracking, advocating a less militant foreign policy and the fairness of the Democratic primary process. In recent days, a trove of emails exchanged among top officials at the Democratic National Committee revealed apparent attempts to undermine Sanders. The revelation galvanized the anti-Clinton crowd in Philadelphia. "I will never give money the DNC money again," said Rebecca Waring, visiting from Baltimore. "This is a breach of the public trust." Along with the hardcore Sanders supporters who marched down Broad Street to FDR Park, hundreds of demonstrators separately marched down Market Street to Independence Mall as part of the March for a Clean Revolution. But while the issues may have been climate change and fracking, Sanders shirts still reigned supreme. Pro-Bernie Sanders protesters in Philadelphia were furious at Hillary Clinton, as well as the Democratic establishment. Ivan Levingston | CNBC However, with their nominee all but formally out of the running, many demonstrators said they were planning to vote for the Green Party's presidential candidate, Jill Stein. Cheers for Stein even erupted at a Sanders rally, and her name was readily visible on signs at demonstrations. Darcy Samek, visiting from Minnesota, said she took issue with Clinton's hawkish foreign policy and was leaning toward Stein. "[Stein] more represents me than Hillary," Samek said. "Hillary or Trump, they're both terrible." Protesters demonstrate at the 'March For Bernie' ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, U.S., on Sunday, July 24, 2016. Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images watch now watch now Top finance officials in Italy have moved to play down the issues the country's banking industry is facing, just days ahead of crucial stress tests by the European Central Bank (ECB). Speaking on the outskirts of a Group of 20 (G20) finance leaders meeting in Chengdu, China, Italy's Finance Minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, told CNBC that the Italian banks "do not need [a] rescue." "There is no banking problem in Italy, it's one particular case which is being dealt with ... I'm confident this will be successful," he said Sunday, highlighting issues at Monte dei Paschi (BMPS ). That institution is thought to be the weakest link among lenders in the euro zone's third-largest economy. 'Effective restructuring plan' Italian policymakers and EU officials have been trying to deal with its fragile banking system, bogged down by non-performing loans (NPLs) estimated to total 360 billion euros ($400.7 billion). Reports had suggested that Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, is hoping to bailout the banking sector, which would contravene EU rules. Such a solution would stand in contrast to a bondholder "bail-in," as Italian households are heavily exposure to the asset class. These reports have since been denied. These problems in Italy have roiled stock markets in the past few weeks, alongside the uncertainty following the British vote to leave the European Union. Shares of BMPS have been particularly volatile. However, Padoan told CNBC that this particular bank had put in place a "very effective restructuring plan" and said there had been a widespread misunderstanding of the whole industry. "(Italian banks are) not more vulnerable than they used to be. They have been strengthening over time due to reforms that have been introduced by the government," he added. Ignazio Visco, governor of the Bank of Italy and member of the ECB, told CNBC Sunday that it was "totally wrong" to fear that the whole banking system in Italy had problems. Speaking at the same event, he added that a large portion of the NPLs would be resolved in an orderly fashion, and that some had already been written off on the balance sheets of some banks. Stress tests due The European Banking Authority and the European Central Bank will release the results of new stress tests on Friday. The tests differ this time round as they are looking at general health issues of euro zone lenders. Some are anticipating capital shortfalls for Italian banks. Pierre Moscovici, European commissioner for economic affairs, told CNBC in Chengdu that the sector was much better protected "collectively" now and said he was sure the stress tests would show that. He added that he hoped there would be a "positive outcome" for the Italian banks with regards to a rescue plan. "I'm sure that we will find solutions in our common interest and in full respect of our (EU) current rules," he told CNBC. Alessia Pierdomenico | Bloomberg | Getty Images Meanwhile, both Padoan and Visco were optimistic over the upcoming stress test results. Padoan said there was no systemic issue with Italian banks and was expecting the results to reveal that Italian lenders will "fare on average or even better than other European banks." Visco didn't expect the tests to show any systemic problems, but said that it may find some problems for some banks. "There will be solutions needed and I'm sure that with the difficulties coming out, solutions will also be found," Visco said. "At the same time, we have to understand that these stress tests are a peculiar kind of test ... they don't allow for reactions on the part of banks once the problem has come out," he said. IMF warning on growth Chet Krause is shown with a World War II vehicle during a visit to Wolfeboro, N.H., on June 27, 2000. Also shown is the cover of the late publisher's autobiography. The Joys of Collecting column from the Aug. 08, 2016, Weekly issue of Coin World: Chet Krause, notable people person. The feeling spread all over numismatics as tributes were given in print, in person in conversations at conventions and elsewhere, and on the Internet. Chet was a people person par excellence, modest, and always willing to share his intelligence, wisdom and knowledge. He started Numismatic News as a monthly newspaper in 1952, in 1963 Clifford Mishler joined the company and with Chet was instrumental in building the Krause Publications empire. Connect with Coin World: Chet never married. He set up an Employee Stock Option Plan under which most of his company went to those who helped build it. Quite against his wishes, the employees sold the company to a Cincinnati firm. It had been his wish that ownership would remain in his home town of Iola, Wis. Chet was super-generous in many other ways, including memorable cash contributions to the American Numismatic Association Headquarters, to setting up the Numismatic Ambassador program to honor people all across America who helped promote the hobby. He sponsored research, he testified in coinage legislation in Washington, and did so many other good things that it would take a long list to mention them all. I dont recall when I first met Chet, but it was sometime in the 1950s. On several occasions he came to Wolfeboro, N.H., to visit me and the coin company staff. One of his many hobby interests was World War II vehicles. Here in Wolfeboro the Wright Museum of World War II is a national attraction, and Chet visited it a couple of times while here. Chet collected many other things as well. I recall in the 1950s when he said he bought a 1915-S Panama-Pacific commemorative set in a copper frame. Of deeper interest was paper money of Wisconsin, especially obsolete notes of the early 19th century; for many of them the history was unknown until he wrote the standard reference book. If anyone ever creates the Pantheon of Great American Numismatists to honor those who have made selfless contributions, Chet would be the most recent entry. When I say my life is much richer for his having passed my way, I know that many others could say the same thing. Missouri's Abrams-Draine draws NFL Draft hype at cornerback Missouri's Kris Abrams-Draine is only in his second season as a full-time defensive back, but the junior is drawing NFL Draft hype. Best of Business 2022: Learn Who Won Our 15th Annual Reader Poll Local professionals chose their favorite business and professional services, products, healthcare, dining and more. Find out who their top picks are. July 19, 2016 - United States Army combat veteran Sean Clark sits on the edge of his bed in a room he shares with four other veterans at the Alpha Omega Veterans Services in Midtown. Clark, who was homeless before becoming a client of the program, supported by United Way, that helps veterans find their footing. He is about to transition out of the facility and into his own permanent housing. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson said his role as president and CEO of United Way will include "articulating and inspiring the community to understand the unique value of United Way." By Kevin McKenzie of The Commercial Appeal Challenged by a 25 percent decline in contributions in recent years, the United Way of the Mid-South is sharpening its focus on fighting poverty and helping families become self-sufficient. Now the United Way is beginning to leverage the millions of dollars it distributes to nearly 80 high-performing nonprofit agencies, guiding them to focus on the same goals and to work together to form a social services system of care. "United Way is doing something which in the for-profit business is not unusual, but it has been fairly unusual for United Way," said Dr. Kenneth Robinson, chief executive officer of the Memphis-based organization since February 2015. "We have a mission and we are simply aligning our work and our grants more deliberately and intentionally toward our mission, and particularly to drive a level of assumed community impact," said Robinson, a former state health commissioner and a retired pastor. For the first time, organizations receiving a total of $13.7 million in the new fiscal year for United Way funding are finding somewhat more, or fewer dollars based on the poverty-fighting mission. A total of $634,000 is shifting to organizations that are early adopters of United Way's new "Driving the Dream" initiative. Agencies, in addition to their own services, are expected to provide referrals, share data and collaborate and partner in a variety of ways to drive "client-centered" routes out of poverty. Trends for several years have been pushing for more collaboration and measurable results in the nonprofit world. The United Way's realignment, which Robinson said has been known for a year to organizations receiving funding, is bringing the message home. Alpha Omega Veterans Services, for example, received a 20 percent boost, to $222,000, from United Way for the 2016-17 budget year that began July 1. Robinson said the additional funds are to help Alpha Omega expand its services, but with more referrals, linking with other agencies and "more intentionally." Cordell Walker, executive director of the 30-year-old agency that operates six facilities and provides services for homeless and disabled veterans, said United Way funding increases are rare and every penny helps in Alpha's budget of about $2.1 million. Walker said potential uses for more funds include expanding services for female veterans or for preventing suicides among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. He said United Way's new initiative is too new to assess. "I will say that United Way has always been on the cutting edge of community service and make sure that individuals network so that there are no gaps between services," Walker said. The Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America is an example of an agency that received decreased United Way funding. Richard Fisher, the Chickasaw Council's top executive, declined to say how much of a decrease because his board hadn't been informed. United Way also declined to provide figures. United Way's financial statements for 2014-15 show an allocation of more than $247,000 for the Boy Scouts, not including more than $84,000 earmarked by donors. Fisher said an anti-poverty focus is not new for the Boy Scouts, although safety-net programs may fit the model more easily than the leadership development and self-reliance mission of the scouts. Helping make youths job-ready; a scouting program linked to science, technology, engineering and math, and teaching Cub Scouts about financial sustainability to avoid cycles of poverty are examples of the Chickasaw Council's initiatives, he said. The council's total revenue in 2014 was more than $4 million, an IRS filing shows. "We will have to make up the difference in what we lost in other ways so we can continue expanding quality programs," Fisher said. For Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Mid-South, United Way funding remained "flat" with the new focus, said Rychetta Watkins, executive director of the mentoring nonprofit organization for about a month. "We anticipate that going forward we will be able to build a stronger relationship with United Way, especially as we retool ourselves," Watkins said. "We're going to be much more forthright about reporting on our own impact, the outcomes of the youth that we serve." Robinson said a good example of the United Way's new focus on poverty a daily reality for 47 percent of Memphis children is a partnership with the Memphis Public Library for the LINC/211 community information resource center. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is considered the nation's largest anti-poverty program, and by providing pretax appointments through 211, the United Way increase by 1,000 the number of people seen, he said. United Way itself is "driving the dream" with a broader collaboration with the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman's Circle, the city's Workforce Investment Network and the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce, among others, Robinson said. The reinvention of United Way comes at a time that the organization has stopped a trend of year-over-year losses, he said. While figures comparable to the $13.7 million allocation were not immediately available from the agency for previous years, tax filings shows public support dropped 25 percent, from about $26.5 million in 2010 to $19.8 million in 2014 and the organization reported shortfalls of more than $2 million in 2014-15 and $1.5 million the previous year, IRS filings show. The 2014-15 fiscal year also marked the departures of a former United Way president, two senior vice presidents and a vice president. Their annual compensation ranged up to about $375,000 and totaled more than $970,000 for the four executives, IRS forms show. The United Way, whose board members include George Cogswell, president and publisher of the The Commercial Appeal, also moved its headquarters from the Lenox Center outside the Interstate 240 loop to an office building in the Binghamton area, on Tillman near Jackson, donated by GP Cellulose. Robinson said that 96 percent of United Way contributions are made through workplace campaigns, where payroll deductions and in some cases, company matches are available. Downsizing among companies during the Great Recession, coupled with a rising preference by firms and the millennial generation for direct giving and engagement with charities, have been cited as factors. An Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence report on the Memphis metro nonprofit sector said that experts warned that state and federal budgets, foundation endowments and the withering middle class could delay a return to pre-recession funding for a decade or more. It's a trend experienced by nonprofits throughout the nation. Robinson, said that while the classic United Way workplace contribution model is on the decline, it lacked engagement, transparency and mission. "What I am finding in my brief tenure to date is that it is very compelling to our executives and to down-line employees that when there is a purpose, a unifying purpose, guess what?" he said. "It galvanizes interest again, it is intuitively logical to those donors, so there's nothing wrong with the mechanism of workplace campaigns. "What has been missing is the messaging and a structure to really move the needle on the things that have been impacting our communities, and that's what we're providing and that's what we're intentionally shifting to." July 13, 2016 Kaniyah Crawford-Williams, 10, daughter of the late Zeneatrice "Neicey" Crawford, holds a sign she made in memory of her mother before a vigil in her honor in North Memphis. Crawford, 40, was found deceased at an abandoned home on Whitney Ave. on June 4. The Memphis Police Department is searching for Crawford's boyfriend, Raymond L. Clark, 40, who allegedly stabbed her more than 50 times. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal Earlier this month, friends and family of Zeneatrice Crawford gathered for a vigil to remember the woman described as a loving mother and kind soul. Her 10-year-old twins made signs to remember their mother as the group walked through a North Memphis neighborhood recently. Crawford, 40, died June 4 after being stabbed more than 50 times by her boyfriend, authorities said. Raymond Clark, 40, is wanted on charges of first-degree murder in Crawford's death. He fled in her car after the slaying. Her 2013 Buick Verano was found in Atlanta, but Clark remains on the run. Crawford's family members, working daily through their grief, want Clark arrested. "We just want justice and to know why," said Crawford's niece De'ja Moore. "Like, what made him do something like that? To stab a person 57 times, that's a hate crime." Crawford's father, David Kent, said his daughter, who everyone called "Neicey," was a joyful, fun-loving person, who loved her twins. "Sometimes I pick up the phone and call her and then I say, 'oh,'" Kent said. "I hope he realizes what he has done, because it was a senseless, brutal killing. We hurt what we love everyday. We need to start loving one another as we love ourselves." Moore said their family knew Clark from their North Memphis neighborhood. He was the quiet guy that Crawford started dating in May. The next month, he is accused of brutally attacking and killing Crawford in front of her daughter. Her son was also at home at the time of the stabbing, but it's unclear whether he witnessed the attack. He then abducted the girl, putting her in the trunk of her mother's car. The girl's friend, who had spent the night with the family on June 3, was also found in the car. Moore recalls seeing Clark the day her aunt was killed. "He came to my grandma's house that Saturday morning because we were supposed to go grocery shopping with my auntie," she said. "My grandma has a ramp on the house and when she got to the end of the ramp, he met her at the end, and said that my auntie had gotten in a real bad fight. My grandma said, 'well, where is my daughter?' She tried to go to the car and he jumped in the car and pulled out of the driveway." Moore said she was in her grandmother's house on the couch, but when her grandmother came back inside she sensed something was wrong. "I went outside and by that time Raymond had called me from my auntie's phone," Moore said. "He was like, 'something happened. Something is going on with your auntie. She was in a bad fight and they beat her real bad, and she does not want your grandma to see her like that.'" Moore said he told her he was going to bring her aunt back to her grandmother's house. "So when he came back, this time he didn't pull up in the driveway," Moore recalled. "He pulled up at the end of the sidewalk. When I was walking to the car, he had already opened the front door, and that's when I saw all the blood." She said by that time, her grandmother had made it to the ramp and they heard her cousin screaming from the trunk. "She was saying, 'help me,'" Moore said. "The other little girl was in the back seat. He had blood all over him and my grandma asked him, 'what have you done to my child?'" She said her grandmother tried to grab the car keys, but Clark pulled off with the kids in the car. The children were later released unharmed. Crawford's body was found by police behind an abandoned home in the 700 block of Whitney in Frayser. The U.S. Marshals are searching for Clark in connection with Crawford's death. In addition to the murder charge, he is also charged with especially aggravated kidnapping as well as a federal warrant for fleeing to avoid charges. Crawford is one of 18 women killed in Memphis this year. Statewide, about 60 women are murdered by men annually. Tennessee ranked sixth in the nation in the Violence Policy Center's 2015 "When Men Murder Women" study, which tracks the number of women who die nationwide at the hands of men each year. Moore said it is strange not seeing her aunt, who was like a mother to her, every day. "Our wounds will never heal," Moore said. Officials ask anyone with information about Clark to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH or the U.S. Marshals at 901-573-8177. July 10, 2016 - Frank Gottie, 33, raises his arms as he stands in front of members of the Memphis Police Department during a demonstration on the I-40 bridge. Gottie, a member of the Eight-Tray Criminal Hoover part of the Crips, is not part of the Black Lives Matter group. He has his own organization called "Put Dem Guns Down and Fight Like a Man" where he speaks out about gun violence in Memphis. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Yolanda Jones and Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal As Frank Gottie stood on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge two weeks ago during a protest, he saw something unfamiliar. "I ain't never seen heaven before, but it was like Memphis heaven because everybody was on one accord," said Gottie. "We had gang members, black people, white people, and the police. Nobody was in pain. Nobody was arguing. Nobody was suffering. Everybody was together. It was like Memphis heaven for me." Gottie, 33, who said he has been in a gang since he was 16, is one of a number of gang members who took part in the protest that shut down the bridge for several hours on July 10. There has not been much mention about the gangs being part of the collective effort to protest against police violence in the black community. But Gottie's role helps explain how the bridge shutdown occurred, and the role the gang members played in it. "They thought we were going to tear up the city, but we didn't," Gottie said. "They wanted to tear up the city, but like I told them, 'Why we gonna tear up our city and we already ain't got nothing? We were on that bridge because we want something for our kids. We want to stop the killing. We want everybody to get together, so everybody can squash the beefs. "That's what it was all about. It wasn't about all the politics stuff. It was about the police killings. Some may have had different motives, but most people just felt like it was their time to speak." Quintin Patrick, 31, was one of the people who marched. Patrick, known as Scooby Cutz, said he's not part of any group he's a barber with a big fan base. He went live on Facebook and heard from more people that they were on their way to the protest. His videos from the protest have been viewed more than 80,000 times. "All the gangs were out there," Patrick confirmed. "Everyone was on one accord, tying their flags together, hugging. It was evidence everyone can be as one." Patrick said standing on the bridge brought a feeling he had never felt. He wept. "It was history," he said. Members of the Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, Bloods, Crips, Four Corner Hustlers, Young Mob, Fast Cash and the Cartel were present among the crowd, according to interviews with protesters. "Everyone was up there, peaceful," said 30-year-old Keedran "TNT" Franklin. Franklin shared a woman's photo on Twitter of four men on the bridge with bandannas of different colors tied together. "All these men from different gangs just hugged and said 'I love you brother,'" the tweet states. The photo has been shared more than one thousand times. Gottie said he and other gang members never intended to take the protest to the bridge. He said they planned to go to the Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar where police headquarters and the jail are located. "But how the police was blocking us off they were directing us right to the bridge," Gottie said. "So, everybody was like let's go on the bridge because they kept blocking us off. We didn't have no other choice, because that's the only thing for us to do to make our mark, so people could listen to us. Well, we thought they were gonna listen but they still ain't listening." Gottie, a member of the Eight-Tray Criminal Hoover, a part of the Crips, is not part of the Black Lives Matter group. He says he stays in the gang because he wants to help the younger guys, but they won't respect someone who no longer is a member. He has his own anti-violence organization "Put Dem Guns Down and Fight Like a Man" where he speaks out about gun violence in Memphis. He said they went to support the BLM protest at the National Civil Rights Museum that Sunday. Since the protest, Gottie said he has been harassed by law enforcement with an officer coming to his house last week and leaving a possible court document in his door. Gottie, who has served time on drug charges, was charged earlier this year with two counts of aggravated assault domestic violence, but denies the claim. In affidavits, Gottie, whose legal name is Frank Gibson, is accused of choking one woman and punching and choking a second woman. The charges say there are photos of injuries of the two women. Warrants were issued for his arrest in April and June. "I plan to go to court to fight these charges that are not true," he said. "They can't stop me working out here in these streets to try to stop the killing. I am angry that after the protest the people that are supposed to protect and serve me are harassing me." He said he was downtown last week to file complaints against police for harassment. "I'm getting harassed, my family's getting harassed just because we want to stop the killing," Gottie said. "I'm angry cause whoever would expect all of this to come after you're trying to do something that's right. That's what hurt me." Joe "Uncle Joe" Hunter, whose GANG Inc. youth enrichment ministry in Frayser works with gang members, said the bridge was the first time he has seen the gangs involved in a protest. "They also see others rising up, so whether this is a Black Lives Matter fight, it is time to rise up for your concerns," Hunter said. "And part of their concerns is the lack of things in their community. The lack of education and assistance that kicked them to the curb when they could have helped them. And once they get in the street and join a gang now they're criminals." He added, "This is the same boy that you expelled for 180 days and gave him nothing to do. So these young men have now grown up and they are pissed off. They are trying to come together and do this thing in a safe, nonviolent way. I know because I am with them. They could have easily just started fires and did everything, but they didn't." Hunter said he and the gangs are planning to hold a gang summit soon because they are not satisfied after the bridge protest. "This will be a private meeting, and then we will announce it to the public," Hunter said. "The reason we are meeting is not because we need a truce in the city with the gangs. We need some help doggone it to be able to help this community." SHARE In this Sept. 10, 2014 photo, Dallas Deputy Chief Malik Aziz, the chairman of the National Black Police Association, stands for a photo at his office in Dallas. Aziz. "When I got into the police department, I went to neighborhoods I had grown up in," said Aziz, "When people saw me, even people in my own family had very negative views of the police. I had to change this attitude." (AP Photo/LM Otero) Related Coverage Resumes of finalists for MPD director released By Maria Ines Zamudio of The Commercial Appeal Dallas Deputy Chief Malik Aziz likes to describe himself as a community guy who fights crime and he says having that emphasis on the community has made him a better law enforcement officer. "I'm a public servant and I'm obligated to make sure people are safe. I'm also obligated to hear people who have concerns. I've never gone to a place wearing my rank. I'm a community guy," Aziz said. "When you grow up in (those) communities, you have a better understanding of how to deal with issues that have been plaguing those communities for decades." Aziz, 47, is one of six finalists for the Memphis police director job. He's a strong proponent of opening a dialogue between advocacy groups and protesters to find answers. Following the killing of five police officers in Dallas earlier this month, Aziz appeared in national media with a message of unity. "There can be no progress unless we actually work together. The police and the community must work together. There is no us versus them. It's only us working together," Aziz said on PBS following the shooting. Aziz has a national profile perhaps more than any other candidate. He's appeared on CNN, PBS and National Public Radio talking about community policing, race relations, the deadly shooting in Dallas and being a black police officer. Aziz started working for the Dallas Police Department in 1992 as a patrol officer. From there, Aziz rose through the ranks and since 2008 he has served as deputy chief working on a range of issues, most recently in the special projects division. In May, Aziz said he was picked by the Dallas police chief to reform the department's intervention program to help officers receiving frequent complaints. The 24-year law enforcement veteran holds a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and an MBA from the University of Dallas. In 2015, Aziz was a finalist for chief of police in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas and Tucson, Arizona, according to media reports. Aziz has also been a finalist in other cities including Miami, Seattle, Raleigh and Fayetteville North Carolina, according to his resume. His resume is long and filled with recognitions. But over a decade ago, Aziz sued the department. In 2003, Aziz and about 19 other police officers filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city of Dallas and the police department. In the lawsuit, the officers claimed that Aziz and other sergeants on the promotional list for lieutenants were "skipped over for promotion based on race," according to the lawsuit. The judge ruled in favor of the city. Aziz said he supported his fellow police officers in the lawsuit because he was the president of the police union at the time. But he wasn't personally impacted. He said the lawsuit "proved to be unnecessary." Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality in Dallas, said that while she doesn't know Aziz personally, he reached out to her and they will meet next month. "He said he wants to bridge the gap and move forward to repair the issues we have regarding police brutality," said Mokuria, whose father was killed by police in 1992. Aaron Michaels founded the New Black Panther Party in Dallas in the 90s and is critical of the Dallas Police Department, but says Aziz is one of the best deputy chiefs he's ever worked with. "We couldn't have done some of the things we needed (inside the police department) without him," said Michaels of Aziz. Michaels says he's known Aziz for about 30 years and that Memphis would be lucky to have him leading the police department. "He had a hard life coming up and he turned many of the negatives around," he said. "He brings that perspective to the table." Michaels said Aziz is also not afraid to point out bad officers. "He's able to spot problem officers." Name: Malik Aziz Age: 47 Why do you want this job? Memphis is one of the top cities and it has done great things in the past and it also has some challenges that law enforcement faces. I think being at the top position I am more able to help with those issues. July 22, 2016 - Officers with the Memphis Police Department P. Bracey (left) and J. Byers wave to passersby while holding long-barrell weapons as they stand near the rear entrance of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal) By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal The Memphis Police Department's decision to heighten security measures in the wake of officer killings in Texas and Louisiana is drawing criticism from some who believe it is an unnecessary show of force. Rev. Earle Fisher said Saturday the move "doesn't add up." "We in the city of Memphis were lauded as the model for peaceful demonstration, so the response to that is heightened security measures?" said Fisher, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church. "That's a formula that doesn't add up. And it definitely doesn't continue to build on the efforts to try to mend the relationship between civilians and law enforcement." Fisher was on the Hernando DeSoto bridge July 10 when Black Lives Matter protesters shut it down for four hours. The evening ended with MPD Interim Director Michael Rallings linking arms with protesters and walking off the bridge. But last Sunday, Rallings announced the department was operating at a Level Three alert status. Level Three is the next to highest of the department's four levels, with four being the highest state of alert. Under the Level Three alert, police vacation and days off are canceled, officers are doubling up in patrol cars and security has been increased at precincts. Officers with AR-15 rifles stood guard outside the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Avenue Friday morning. MPD spokesman Louis Brownlee said the heightened security is not a response to any local threat, but what has happened nationwide. "Although Memphis has not received a direct threat, we will not sit idle and allow fear to hinder the lives of our citizens or law enforcement officers," MPD Lt. Karen Rudolph said in an email Saturday. "The overwhelming support from the citizens of Memphis has not been unnoticed and will not be forgotten. We are evaluating our response level daily and will make adjustments as deemed necessary." Fisher said he sent Rallings a text message Sunday and told him the move would increase tension between police and civilians. "He asked me if I could guarantee the safety of his officers when eight Southern officers were killed," Fisher said he was told by Rallings. Fisher said he responded by telling Rallings there are no guarantees, but there were no concerted efforts to harm law enforcement in Memphis in any way. Rallings echoed his sentiment, stating police had no concerted effort to harm civilians, Fisher said. Anti-gun violence activist Frank Gottie was also on the bridge, and said he couldn't understand why the police would respond with heightened security after such a large demonstration took place without incident. "I understand they have to go by their protocols, but when we had our march we had a peaceful march," Gottie said. "The police were even safe." SHARE Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal files July 25, 1953 Mayor Frank Tobey presented trophies to Miss and Master Memphis, Jennie Barnette, 11, and Calvin Holt Jr., 9, who won their titles from 280 other children in the 18th city-wide beauty revue on July 25, 1953, at Overton Park. July 24 25 years ago: 1991 The Internal Revenue Service will build a new Memphis service center on the southwest corner of Getwell and Holmes, provided major road improvements are made. IRS officials revealed their decision at an afternoon meeting of the Airport Authority's seven-member Board of Commissioners. Board members immediately and unanimously ratified the choice. The property, submitted and owned by Interstate Realty Corp. and Belz Enterprises, was chosen over four other finalists. The facility will cost about $80 million to build and will provide more than 150 construction jobs. The center will employ 4,600 workers when it opens. 50 years ago: 1966 Liverpool, England Prime Minister Harold Wilson Saturday invaded Beatle territory. He called on the nation's youth to start swinging in their jobs in an effort to lift Britain's sagging economy to the level of its pop culture. The Beatles got to the top by working hard, the Prime Minister said. And the nation's youth should follow the example of their long-haired idols. "Don't be afraid to assert yourselves. We only got to the top league with our pop culture because our pop groups asserted themselves," he urged. 75 years ago: 1941 John R. Walker Jr., Memphis attorney, yesterday accepted the duties of temporary chairman in the organization of a local chapter of the Fight for Freedom, Inc., an interventionist group advocating America's immediate action in the international situation. 100 years ago: 1916 Undaunted by street car strikes and other obstacles, Division One of the Memphis Associated Amateurs reeled off two rattling good contests yesterday at Edgewood Park, in which the Walkovers tied the Laundries, 2-2, and then beat the Winfreys 8 to 7. 125 years ago: 1891 Nashville Tennessee cattle dealers and growers are very much incensed and excited over the recent order of Secretary Rusk of the United States Department of Agriculture declaring to the world that a contagious and infectious disease exists in this and other states, and the cattle must be quarantined. July 13, 2015 - Rosalyn Baker (bottom center) with the Shelby County Schools helps Leticia Alvarez (third from right) get her five kids registered for school using the district's online registration process during a kickoff event at the Board of Education. Kids were treated to games, music and prizes while their parents struggled with the paperwork. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Caroline Bauman, Chalkbeat Tennessee With less than three weeks until the new school year begins at Shelby County Schools, more than half of the district's expected students are still not registered. As of Wednesday, 41,000 students were signed up, an increase of 7,000 from late June, according to a district spokeswoman. The Memphis district has a projected enrollment of about 104,000 students for the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 8. The lag comes despite the district's efforts to make the registration process easier and more accessible to parents. Last year, the district moved to all-online registration, including numerous registration events to provide low-income parents with access to computers and Internet service. This year, administrators opened up the process earlier to widen the window for registration. On-time registration is a chronic challenge for Memphis schools, where high rates of mobility and poverty are among the barriers. Despite the disappointing numbers so far, district leaders are planning for a big push as they sprint toward the first day of classes. The district will host "Gear Up 4 School Day" Aug. 2, and parents can visit schools to register their children, meet their principals and receive school supply lists. Having accurate and timely registration numbers are important for planning and instruction purposes. In 2014, for example, missed enrollment projections led to teacher layoffs. Parents can get assistance and receive English language support at the district's new parent welcome center at 2687 Avery Ave., its northeast offices at 920 N. Highland Street and its Arlington offices at 2800 Grays Creek Drive. Starting Monday, parents also can register their children at individual schools. July 24, 2016 - Brown Missionary Baptist Church's new Discipleship Pastor Wade Steelman (right) joins fellow pastors Marquis Gooden, and Bartholomew Orr (second from left) in prayer during Sunday service at the church's Swinnea Rd. campus. Steelman is the first white member of the pastoral staff at Brown. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE July 24, 2016 - Brown Missionary Baptist Church's new Discipleship Pastor Wade Steelman (center) prays with members of the congragation during Sunday service at the church's Swinnea Rd. campus. Steelman is the first white member of the pastoral staff at Brown. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) July 24, 2016 - Brown Missionary Baptist Church's new Discipleship Pastor Wade Steelman (second from left) prays with members of the congregation during Sunday service at the church's Swinnea Rd. campus. Steelman is the first white member of the pastoral staff at Brown. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal Sometime around 2000, Bartholomew Orr and Wade Steelman shared a class at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova. "He was like every other guy in the room except that he and I shared an interpretation of Scripture that maybe was a little different from everybody else who didn't see it quite as literal," Steelman said. "So we developed a friendship over that. I didn't really see him as a black guy but as someone who shared the same faith story as me." That shared vision of something higher allowed their bond to endure over the years as they collaborated on work to varying levels until finally, the beginning of July, it came full circle. "Bart called and said, 'Wade, I think it's time we put you on staff full-time,'" recalls Steelman, who as a church consultant had been on retainer doing work for Orr's Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven. That, in a nutshell, is the story of how Steelman, a white former regional leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, became discipleship pastor at Brown, a historically black megachurch with few white members. It's by no means unheard of, Orr and Steelman both point out. Many other Protestant churches are making strides in racially blending their pastoral staffs. Still, they hope Steelman's historic addition to the Brown staff he's the first non-African American pastoral staff member in the church's history is just one more step toward fully integrating what Orr notes, like many before him, is one the most segregated places remaining in America: the church. Or as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously put it 11 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America. "I think churches are slowly becoming more diverse," Orr says hopefully. "I think it (integration) is harder in the established churches that have a tradition." Statistics show that in the historically white Southern Baptist Convention, while about 20 percent of congregations are nonwhite, only about 1 percent are multi-ethnic. Most Southern Baptists, in other words, attend a church where virtually everyone is of their own race whether in the majority of virtually all-white congregations or the 20 percent of congregations made up of other ethnic groups. Most other Christian denominations follow the same pattern. And at Brown, established in 1882, there are, as Steelman puts it, only "a handful of Caucasians" among the roughly 10,000 members. Many church leaders, cognizant of the lingering segregation in houses of worship, are speaking out. Virzola Jo-Nan Law took over last October as the first African-American and first female pastor of historically white Lindenwood Christian Church in Midtown Memphis. "It gives us an opportunity to counteract an original sin," Law said of integrating not just congregations, but pastoral staffs of churches. "We have to be honest about our participation in the most segregated hour." She said Lindenwood, a member of the Disciples of Christ denomination, has made great strides in diversity. The church, with about 750 permanent members, has a mix of white, black, Hispanic and Asian. "We are called to be a witness," Law said. "To transcend our human boxes." Rev. Russell Moore, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, hopes to see more multi-ethnic congregations in the future as well. "In the church," Moore wrote, "a black Christian and a white Christian are brothers and sisters. We care what happens to the other, because when one part of the Body hurts, the whole Body hurts. ... When we know one another as brothers and sisters, we will start to stand up and speak up for one another." Moore's writings echo the feelings of Steelman. "In the Body of Christ, there is no color," Steelman says. "We're to see one another as brothers and sisters. The lines are not blurred they're gone." It's a message of hope that resonates with many in a time of turmoil in the world, both domestically and internationally, and Orr hopes it sends the message that the church will be a leader "I hired Pastor Steelman because he is a knowledgeable, experienced and humble spiritual leader, but I also pray that this is the beginning of more diversity in churches like ours," Orr said in his statement announcing Steelman's hiring. Steelman said despite there only being a handful with his skin color when he steps through the doors at one of Brown's two campuses the church has its original State Line Road campus and a south campus on Swinnea north of Goodman Road in the former home of a white Baptist church he doesn't think about race once he's in the church. "Once I'm in the door, race never crosses my mind," he said. "It (Brown) has more joy than any church I've ever been a part of." And Steelman has been a part of many churches. He served as a regional denominational leader for the Southern Baptist Convention in its Xtended Missions Network in Northwest Mississippi. He's worked in missions in various countries abroad, including Bangladesh and Poland, and he was serving in a church in Maryland before returning home to DeSoto County when he received Orr's call. "When my house (in Olive Branch) wouldn't sell, I think that was a sign from God that there was work for me here," said Steelman, who still owned his Olive Branch home while working in Maryland. "So I resigned up North, leaving behind some people who I think were disappointed to see me go, and came back." Together, he and Orr hope they can now continue blazing a trail that will lead to ever-increasing diversity in area churches and Steelman thinks music, of all things, may be one of the last barriers. "When music styles start looking more familiar, you'll see a huge integration," Steelman said. "The choice of music is the only barrier." "When anyone ... paints all police as biased or bigoted, we undermine those officers we depend on for our safety," President Barack Obama said after the Dallas shootings. Jacquelyn Martin Associated Press SHARE By Max Ehrenfreund, Washington Post Not long after three police officers were shot dead last Sunday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, President Barack Obama condemned the attack. "For the second time in two weeks, police officers who put their lives on the line for ours every day were doing their job when they were killed in a cowardly and reprehensible assault," he said. "These are attacks on public servants, on the rule of law, and on civilized society, and they have to stop." But his support for the police has not always been taken at face value. Recently, he faced more skeptical questions about his support at a town hall in Washington. Officers "know you support law enforcement, of course," Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, told Obama at the event. "But do they really in their heart feel like you're doing everything you can to protect their lives? Words matter. Your words matter much more than mine. Everything you say matters." Patrick was only the most recent conservative politician to argue that Obama hasn't supported police the way he should. "The last couple of years, Barack Obama has done nothing but hate on cops, accusing cops of being bad and racist," former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., said on CNN. Obama has raised deep questions about police shootings of unarmed black men and made a few criticisms of law enforcement. He has pointed, for instance, to evidence that police are more likely to pull over black drivers in the absence of a clear violation of traffic laws, among other broad disparities in the criminal justice system. In acknowledging these shortcomings, though, Obama has always spoken highly of America's police. In doing so, he has also offered several detailed arguments for the importance of law enforcement during his presidency. For example, Obama rebuked advocates for police reform in his speech at a memorial for the five officers killed in Dallas this month. Sometimes, he said, these activists wrongly blame entire police forces for the bad actions of a few. "The overwhelming majority of police officers do an incredibly hard and dangerous job fairly and professionally," he said. "When anyone, no matter how good their intentions may be, paints all police as biased or bigoted, we undermine those officers we depend on for our safety." Studies of complaints about officers' behavior filed by citizens support Obama's argument. In 1991, an outside commission established to study the Los Angeles Police Department after the beating of Rodney King found that just 183 of LAPD's 8,500 officers were the subject of at least four allegations of excessive force or improper tactics. The commission faulted superior officers for failing to discipline this group. Last month, two criminologists published a study of complaints filed by citizens in eight cities: Albuquerque; Charlotte; Colorado Springs; Columbus; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Knoxville; Portland, Oregon; and St. Petersburg, Florida. The study also found that a small group of officers accounted for a disproportionate number of complaints 79 percent of officers were the subject of one complaint at most. Officers who generated more complaints tended to be younger and less experienced. Overall, the research does suggest there might be a systemic failure in some departments to address civilian concerns and punish those officers who use excessive force. At the same time, the data also support Obama's argument about how most individual officers act day to day. From the president's point of view, police provide an important public service, one that, like many other public services, was long denied in black neighborhoods. "Historically, in fact, the African-American community oftentimes was underpoliced rather than overpoliced," Obama told the NAACP National Convention last year. "Folks were very interested in containing the African-American community so it couldn't leave segregated areas, but within those areas there wasn't enough police presence." He might have been referring to the work of 20th-century anthropologists such as Hortense Powdermaker. While the authorities routinely ignored lynchings and other violence perpetrated by white Southerners against blacks, Powdermaker also found Southern law enforcement did not investigate violent crimes among African-Americans. In other words, the police made less of an effort to seek justice for black victims of crime, regardless of the race of the perpetrator. "Our entire way of life in America depends on the rule of law," Obama said in Dallas. "The maintenance of that law is a hard and daily labor." In May, Obama's economic advisers issued a report that discussed the value of police work, offering evidence that the U.S. needs more officers. The report argued that by preventing crime, police bring a range of benefits to the places where they work, benefits that exceed the costs of hiring and equipping the officers. The report's authors cited research on legislation President Bill Clinton signed in 1994 that dedicated federal resources to employing tens of thousands of police officers in local agencies. The research suggests those new officers significantly reduced the number of major crimes in the places where they were hired. The White House report estimates that spending $10 billion to pay and equip more officers would cut the number of crimes nationwide yearly by as much as 1.5 million. The economic benefits of those avoided crimes would total about $38 billion, the report says. Obama and his aides have been careful to acknowledge widespread concerns about whether police adequately respect civilians' civil rights. Obama also has noted there is still evidence of racial biases in criminal justice, even if those biases are not always the fault of individual officers. All the same, his rhetoric has been frustrating for critics of U.S. law enforcement. Joe Ahlquist/The Argus Leader via AP A few steps at a basic level of police-public interaction could make big strides in reducing the dismaying problem of police killings of black people, quiet much of the unrest that has exploded in the last few years, and maybe even help police feel safer doing a difficult and dangerous job. SHARE Better and more uniform data on racial bias in the use of lethal force by police, collected at the federal level, would allow economist Ronald Fryer's analysis of Houston, Texas, police to be replicated elsewhere. Curtis Compton Atlanta-Journal Constitution via associated Press By Noah Smith, Bloomberg View There has been a media uproar over a new paper by Harvard economist Roland Fryer. In the study, Fryer looked at a number of data sets to assess racial bias in police use of violence. It is a natural topic to study, given the continuing trickle of videos of black people killed by police, and the backlash it seems to have produced, based on the lethal attacks on police in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The total number of Americans killed by police isn't in any official database, but the organization Mapping Police Violence has come up with some startlingly high numbers. In general, Fryer found that police around the country are more likely to use many forms of nonlethal violence against blacks, even after controlling for all available factors, such as the behavior of the suspect. But one of the Harvard professor's results didn't seem to fit this overall picture, and garnered an instant flood of attention. Fryer found that in Houston, black people involved in high-risk interactions with police essentially, fights and chases were no more likely to be killed than white people who were involved in similar situations. This doesn't mean, of course, that Houston cops are less likely to shoot blacks than whites. Since whites are far less likely to be involved in these sorts of situations involving cops, their overall risk of death in confrontations with cops is much lower. What it means is that if you are black, and you get in a fight or chase with officers from the Houston Police Department, your risk of being shot is about the same as if you are white. Does this mean that Houston police have no racial bias in their use of lethal force? Maybe. As Barnard economist Rajiv Sethi and MTV writer Ezekiel Kweku point out, if cops have racial bias, they might initiate more tense situations with black suspects who don't deserve it. Equal odds of being shot in an altercation might sound fair at first glance, but if black suspects who present no real threat to cops have the same chance of being shot as white suspects who are really threatening the police, that's not fair at all. Sethi and Kweku are raising the possibility that Fryer's result suffers from selection bias. Fryer, being a top economist, is used to grappling with this sort of issue. He's well aware of the possibility of selection bias, and attempted to address it in his paper. He tried looking only at situations in which a robbery or violent crime was in progress, and found the same result race didn't affect the odds of being shot by Houston cops once an altercation started. Of course, that leaves the possibility that the result isn't relevant to things like routine traffic stops or street searches the kind of encounters responsible for the killings seen in recent videos. So what lesson should we take away from the Fryer study? We shouldn't be too quick to extrapolate the Houston result to the whole nation. There's probably a huge amount of variation in how biased different police departments are. But we should also avoid the temptation to dismiss the result out of hand, as some writers have done. If Fryer's Houston finding which he calls the most surprising of his career tells us anything, it says that to reduce police killings of black people, reform should focus not on violent standoffs, chases and fights, but on routine interactions involving traffic stops and street encounters. This is the low-hanging fruit of police reform. There are at least three obvious things that can be done. First, racial profiling in traffic stops needs to be reduced. Studies in Vermont, California, Illinois and other places around the country have documented racial bias in traffic stops and in stop-and-frisk encounters. Training police to recognize their implicit tendency to be more suspicious of black motorists and pedestrians would cut down on the number of opportunities for violence against black people. The second is to reduce police use of lethal force in general. Although crime has fallen a lot in the U.S. since the early 1990s, most measures of police shootings have stayed roughly constant. There should be a comprehensive nationwide effort to discourage police from shooting people, and to aggressively prosecute officers who shoot unthreatening and unarmed suspects. Finally, a national review should be done to identify which police departments suffer from racial bias in their use of lethal force. Better and more uniform data, collected by the federal government, would allow Fryer's Houston analysis to be replicated elsewhere, and extended to situations like traffic stops. Fryer's national-level data show racial bias is common nationwide, but finding where it is concentrated would allow quicker and more effective action to correct it. If the U.S. takes these steps, it would go a long way toward reducing the dismaying problem of police killing of black people, and quiet much of the unrest that has exploded in the last few years. If that happened, it might even help police feel safer doing a difficult and dangerous job. Noah Smith is an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University and a columnist for Bloomberg View. SHARE By Joe Weinberg, Special to Viewpoint Your infant is gasping for air. Your child is hit by a car. Where should the ambulance go? Tough decision, especially in a pressure-filled moment! Tennessee's Department of Health realized that families needed guidance since the capability to treat seriously ill or injured children varied widely among health care institutions. They formed a statewide coalition that drafted regulations defining these capabilities to guide providers and families. Hospitals self-designate the level of care they provide or, if they meet the standards, can apply to be a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center (CRPC), the resource hospital for pediatric care for a region. These regulations have worked well for the last 20 years. I was the organizing physician for that launching effort. I was surprised when dueling columns erupted across the editorial pages of The Commercial Appeal in May and June with physicians from Le Bonheur Children's Hospital expressing concern about the safety of patients in Baptist's new pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Baptist physicians responded defensively. A normal response why was I surprised? Everyone forgot the cornerstone concept of the state system regionalization. Fortunately, children don't get super sick very often. They are extremely resilient. Only a limited number will need a PICU. Yet we know from American studies that health care workers need a certain volume of patients to maintain their skills. Pediatric subspecialist availability is limited. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), regionalization seeks "to improve patient outcomes by directing patients to facilities with the optimal capabilities and best outcomes for any given type of illness or injury." Regionalization as the key concept for organizing pediatric critical care has been endorsed by professional groups including two IOM committees and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. The idea is that everyone who cares for children must know how to assess a child, providing comprehensive treatment if possible. If they can't, they should stabilize the child and arrange transport to the appropriate facility. Ambulances may bypass a facility to go to a higher level center. Simple concept: Get the child where they need to be as fast as possible. Our CRPCs have a complete roster of pediatric specialists and subspecialists with all the requisite support personnel attuned to the needs of infants and children. The next level is the general pediatric emergency facility. These hospitals have designated pediatric units with pediatricians on staff and a defined department of pediatrics. Baptist has designated itself as a general pediatric facility. Le Bonheur is designated a CRPC by the Health Department and a Level I Trauma Center by the College of Surgeons. Tennessee's regulations expect only CRPCs will have PICUs. When Baptist physicians admit PICU patients to their general facility, they will have the moral burden of convincing themselves that the patient would not be better off at the region's CRPC, Le Bonheur. Baptist's PICU will run into that problem of small numbers of children needing this level of care. The nurses, the respiratory and other therapists will rarely care for children requiring complex interventions. Before coming to Le Bonheur, I had practiced critical care in rural hospitals and smaller children's hospitals. It is a constant battle to maintain everyone's skills. The PICU at Le Bonheur has a constant stream of neurological and cardio-thoracic surgery patients requiring advanced care skills and monitoring. Its staff is always ready. The most likely outcome for Baptist's unit, in my experience, is to become a fancy observation unit, transferring their critical patients, especially with Le Bonheur's resources so close. Unfortunately, that will delay definitive care and subject those patients to a risky transfer. The Greek philosopher Aristotle taught "The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." Baptist has violated Aristotelian logic and possibly Department of Health regulations. You simply cannot promote a general facility as equivalent to the CRPC. Doing so confuses families and is not in their best interest. Dr. Joe Weinberg is the former director of Emergency Services at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. He is the founding chairman of the Tennessee Department of Health's Subcommittee on Pediatric Emergency Care. Todays Sunday Telegraph reports that more than 100 Conservative MPs are expected to support a lifting of the ban on new grammar schools that this Government inherited from New Labour. Apparently Conservative Voice, a campaigning vehicle set up by David Davis and Liam Fox in 2012, plans to restart its campaign on the issue next week. That both are now senior ministers wont hurt. But with a majority of just 12 there will need to be broad consensus for any change. This means that it is essential that grammar school campaigners make it clear that they are not simply calling for a revival of the old system. Its not that the old grammar schools were bad, quite the opposite, but that the previous order paid scant attention to the children who didnt get into them. The so-called Tripartite system was supposed to sort pupils into academic, technical, and general streams but precious few technical schools ever opened, and it ended up too often being a best and the rest system instead. In some respects it was another failure of the sort of central planning that was so in vogue at the time. It was entirely impractical for Whitehall to design schools to fit the full range of pupil needs, so instead it tried to sort children into a manageable three (in reality two). Contrast this with the education reforms of recent decades. The academies revolution that Michael Gove inherited and accelerated, and the free schools movement he set up, is the very opposite of post-War centralisation. Instead of trying to design in Whitehall a national system of schools, the Government is encouraging a system where teachers, parents, and other interested parties can build their schools to their own design. Rather than three types of school or one, as per the lamentable comprehensive model there can now be dozens, scores, or hundreds of different models. Academic selection can fit much more equitably into this spectrum of specialisation than it ever did under the old model. Not because the grammars themselves have greatly improved although the fact that you can now sit the entrance exam at 11, 12, and 13 certainly makes them more accomodating but because the rest of the school system is no longer an awkward afterthought. Grammar schools will sit alongside alternatives for those who excel at music, languages, sports, or technical subjects. The Government should redouble its commitment to a world-class vocational curriculum, so that University Technical Colleges accrue the same prestige as a good grammar does. This broad-spectrum approach will likely be essential to winning support for grammars, especially in light of the Prime Ministers determination to build a Conservatism that works for the many and finally shake off the nasty party tag for good. Because the strongest source of resistance to new schools aside the pro-comprehensive ideologues in the Blob will be parents who fear the return of that make-or-break moment that could condemn their children to a second-rate education and all that follows it. Grammar school was the making of me, and I am in no doubt as to the power of specialised schools to foster social mobility and help people fulfil their potential. But those who want them back must make certain that they care and are seen to care as much about the alternatives. If the new grammar school campaign looks fixated on the past then it will lose, and will probably deserve to. Gujarat CM talking to an Una Dalit victim on July 20 Dalits across Gujarat, especially in Saurashtra, may have agitated against the July 11 incident, when four youths belonging to the Rohit (chamar) sub-caste were violently beaten up with iron rods after being tied with SUV, first in village Mota Samadhiyala and then in Una town of south Saurashtra. But the BJP leadership in Gujarat appears to think that the incident is not much of political consequence, and people would forget about it very soon.Senior BJP leaders this correspondent talked with said, there would be no impact on the overall political scenario, as the 2017 assembly elections are far away. The all-Gujarat bandh, called by various Dalit organizations last Wednesday, is being brushed aside as symbolic and confined to isolated localities, and largely a non-political affair.BJP state president Vijay Rupani, a longtime confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, told this correspondent, A largely law and order problem, the BJP government has taken all necessary steps to address the Una victims. Compensation has been paid, and we are sure genuine problems of the Dalits will be addressed.He added, Things turned bad because of the attention it received in media. We feel, efforts are now being made by some national leaders like Mayawati and Arvind Kejriwal to take advantage of all that has happened in Gujarat with an eye on Dalit votes in the wake of forthcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.Yet, the partys Dalit leaders are feeling the pinch of the community ire. Some of them even faced gherao by Dalit community mobs. BJPs Dalit MLA from Asarwa, Ahmedabad, RM Patel, an ex-IAS official, who resigned to join the party in 2012, told this correspondent, The issue of Dalit oppression must be addressed, otherwise we may have pay the priceDalit BJP MP in Rajya Sabha, Shambhunath Tundiya, was the first distance himself from the ruling BJP, calling the Una incident as the last straw. He warned, if the government fails to address the issue of Dalit oppression in Gujarat, no one can stop them from agitating.Tundiya belongs to the Dalits Garoda community loosely called Dalit brahmins. A dharmaguru for Dalits, he has a religious seat in Zanzarka in Saurashtra. A video went viral on social media where Tundiya was heard saying, The rulers must understand: The Dalits are forced to eat beef of a dead cow because they are forced by circumstances.Meanwhile, keen political observers, suggesting BJP indifference, point out that Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel gave her first statement condemning incident only on July 18, a week after the incident. Finding the agitation spreading to different towns of Saurashtra, she towards the state governments resolve to act quickly by filing charge sheet would be filed within 60 days.Announcing a CID probe, she visited Una on July 20 when, say BJP sources, she was asked to go there by Delhi because the matter was acquiring national dimensions.There is reason for the BJP leadership to feel "relaxed" despite restiveness among its Dalit leaders. Forming less than seven per cent of the population of Gujarat, Dalits, say observers, do not count much in state politics, unlike Uttar Pradesh and Punjab where they are 21 and 26 per cent respectively.Vijay Parmar, a Dalit rights activist who heads Janvikas, an NGO in Ahmedabad, says, Their votes do not matter, whether it is BJP or Congress. Both bank heavily on non-Dalit votes in scheduled caste reserved constituencies. During elections, they do not even open offices in Dalit areas.As for the Congress, it reacted to the Una incident only on July 19, a day after the chief minister made her first announcement. Opposition leader in the Gujarat state assembly Shankarsinh Vaghela and state BJP president Bharatsinh Solanki issued a statement condemning the incident and seeking a date to meet the governor in order to represent against the BJP governments indifference!However, Congress leaders appear upbeat following Dalit agitations. Senior BJP leader Arjun Modhwadia told this correspondent, The unrest has spread beyond Dalits. A rally of about 10,000 people took place in Porbandar on January 20, which was organized by Dalits, and joined by others.Another Congress leader, refusing to be named, said, following the latest incident, the Hindutva inroads among the Dalits has been reversed. He said, Dalits were used against Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and had moved away from the Congress. This would halt. SHARE Charles and Louise Acree 60th anniversary Charles and Louise Acree of Mount Carmel, Illinois, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a trip to St. Thomas. Acree and the former Louise Rutter were married July 15, 1956, at Free Methodist Church in Mount Carmel. They are the parents of David Acree, Brenda Phegley and John Acree, all of Mount Carmel. They have seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Charles Acree retired as a supervisor at Snap-on Tools after 38 years and then taught at Wabash Valley College for eight years. Louise Acree has been with Wabash Valley College 55 years and retired as director of Public Information & Marketing in 2006 and continues to work part-time as director of Public Information and secretary of the Wabash Valley College Foundation. SHARE By Chelsea Schneider/ USA Today Netowrk/ The Indianapolis Star Indiana delegates to the Democratic National Convention say not to expect the same kind of drama Republicans saw at their convention, but tensions could flare up between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders at this weeks gathering. Symbolic of that tension is Dean Boerstes inbox. As a superdelegate supporting Clinton, Boerste is continuing to receive emails from Sanders supporters trying to get him to change his mind even after Sanders' endorsement of Clinton. One woman told him she would vote for Republican Donald Trump if he didnt support Sanders. She caught me off guard, said Boerste, of Evansville. He wrote her back: you do what you have to do. Ahead of the convention that kicks off Monday in Philadelphia, hes remaining optimistic that the Democrat convention will go smoothly. This past week in Cleveland, the Republican convention was first overshadowed by accusations of plagiarism against Melania Trump's speechwriter, and then by the booing of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for refusing to endorse Trump during his prime-time speech. Now, the political worlds attention turns to the Democrats, who will try at their convention to show that the party is unified or at least more unified than the GOP. Helping that narrative is Sanders' endorsement of Clinton and the Vermont senator scoring some victories in the partys revised platform. Despite those gains, Sanders supporters still are anticipated to flock to Philadelphia to protest, contributing to the 35,000 to 50,000 demonstrators expected each day. And Republicans see that as being just as dramatic. "The Democrats have a tremendous amount of turmoil," said Kyle Babcock, who served as an Indiana delegate to the Republican National Convention. He said it would be "very hard" to get Sanders supporters on board with Clinton. But one Sanders supporter has already made the shift. Krishna Pathak, a delegate from Indianapolis, said he is a Sanders supporter but will vote in November for Clinton, the partys presumptive nominee. Originally he was a part of the Bernie or Bust movement think of it as the Democrats version of Never Trump only in favor of a candidate. But he now thinks its destructive to the party and serves to help Trump who is trying to appeal to disaffected blue-collar workers in the same way as Sanders did. If the November election is a choice between the lesser of the two evils, then Clinton wins out for him, Pathak said. It is way better than Trump, right? he said. Democrats are coming together, said Annette Gross, a delegate from Carmel who supports Clinton. One good thing Bernie has done is kind of push Hillary a little more to the left, Gross said, and it seems like shes picking up on some of his ideas. Sanders has described the platform that details the partys core beliefs and goals as a significant coming together. Through negotiations, it now reflects support for a $15-an-hour minimum wage and free college for working-class families, among other Sanders' priorities. The platform will go to delegates for a vote at the convention. Still, a lot of people remain unhappy, said Elizabeth Hyde, a delegate from Indianapolis who campaigned for Sanders. Im really hoping that everyone will be civil, and everyone will get to have their voices heard, Hyde said. In the fall, Hyde said she remains up-in-the air on how shell handle her ballot. If the race in Indiana is close, she plans to vote for Clinton to help her win the state. But if its not, she might leave her ballot blank. If she doesnt need my vote for Indiana, Im not sure that I would necessarily feel comfortable voting for her, Hyde said. Sanders is expected to address the convention on Monday, with Clinton rounding out the event with a Thursday speech. Also speaking are former President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders won the popular vote in Indianas primary, but Clinton also walked away with support because delegates are awarded proportionally based on election results. According to the state party, Sanders earned 44 pledged delegates to Clintons 39, but Clinton has support from a bulk of the states nine superdelegates who arent bound to any candidate. At the state party convention in June, delegates debated over whether to read in full resolutions that had been rejected by the partys resolutions committee earlier in the day. Some Sanders supporters wanted those resolutions to be read, but ultimately delegates voted only to read the titles. One involved superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention. Sanders has criticized the role of superdelegates in the partys presidential nominating process as being unfair. As for Boerste, who is a longtime convention attendee, he wants Sanders supporters to argue their points. He said thats part of the Democratic process. When its all said and done, he said. It will be unified. IndyStar reporter Tony Cook and USA TODAY contributed to this story. SHARE David Guetling By Victoria Fater, tori.fater@courierpress.com A Vanderburgh County corrections officer who helped uncover gang literature and recruitment efforts in the county was recognized by the Indiana Sheriff's Association recently for outstanding work at the Vanderburgh County Jail. Sgt. David Guetling was named Correctional Officer of the Year on July 16. "Sergeant Guetling is absolutely indispensable to the jail command staff and me," Major Chad Ferguson, Vanderburgh County Jail Commander, wrote in a letter to the award committee. As the officer who oversees the entire inmate population, Guetling's duties include weekly cell inspections, contraband control and training other officers, Sheriff Dave Wedding said. Guetling was promoted to sergeant in 2014 after two years as a field training officer. During cell searches, he's uncovered information about gang recruiters, seized weapons meant to hurt other inmates or officers and confiscated synthetic drugs and meth from inmates, other officers said. "He's instrumental in keeping our jail safe," Wedding said. The annual award is given to an officer who performs "a heroic, meritorious or outstanding service" while fulfilling their duties, according to the Sheriff's Association. Guetling is the second Vanderburgh County officer in the last 10 years named Correctional Officer of the Year, Wedding said. Sgt. Jeff Titus was recognized several years ago and was one of the officers to write a recommendation letter for Guetling. "Sgt. David Guetling's efforts to seek new ways to work with inmates and staff have been key to his success," Titus and Lt. James Martin wrote in a joint letter. "He takes the safety and security of our staff and inmate population personally. His efforts are paying off." Guetling, who Ferguson said is known for mentoring newer officers at the jail, thanked Ferguson, Wedding and others in the office for mentoring him as well. "This job can be very stressful and unpredictable," he said. "It's nice to be noticed on a statewide level." SHARE By Shannon Hall of the Courier and Press A new Indiana law will make it a little more difficult to vote straight-party ticket for some races during general elections. Under the new law, when a voter casts a straight-party ticket, the voter is picking all candidates in that party, except for offices where there is more than one seat available. So voters will have to individually cast votes for any at-large positions for township advisory board, county council or city council. Indiana is one of nine states that has straight-ticket voting. States are slowly moving away from straight-ticket voting, with West Virginia the latest to abolish it last year. Bill co-author Randy Head said in the past, sometimes people cast straight-ticket votes for another party with at-large races, especially on paper ballots. "So those ballots have to be thrown out because we can't tell the intent of the voter is," Head said. On voting machines, the machines would catch the voter changing parties and would make them change from straight ticket. The change will affect all counties, whether they have voting machines or use paper ballots. "Most people if they vote straight ticket, they're done. They're not going to take the time to vote for those (at-large) individuals," said Posey County Clerk Betty Postletheweight. "It makes it more difficult (to process)," said Vanderburgh County Clerk Debbie Stucki, who said she hopes to post signs near every voting machine to make the public aware of the change. "We're going to have to educate the voters," Stucki said. "It's going to be tough." Fifty-two percent of Vanderburgh County voters cast a straight-party ticket in the 2012 presidential election, an increase of about 15 percent since the 2008 presidential election. This year there are six candidates on the ballot for three county council at-large seats in Vanderburgh County Republicans Joe Kiefer, Angela Koehler Lindsey and Nicholas Wildeman; Democrats Ed Bassemier and Mike Gobel; and Libertarian Austin Knapp. So with the new law, if you vote straight-ticket Republican, you will have to individually pick the three Republicans candidates for county council. "I think they must have been blind, deaf and dumb when they did this," said Susie Kirk, former Vanderburgh County clerk. "I'm amazed they did that." The only other race that's not included on straight-party tickets in Vanderburgh is for school board candidates, which are nonpartisan, and would have to be voted on individually anyway. But races such as county council at large and city council at large are partisan. In Warrick County, straight-ticket voting increased 3 percent from 2008 to 2012's presidential election. Warrick County Deputy Clerk Cathy Oser said she doesn't know how or if the county council at-large race will be affected in Warrick County. Right now, three Republicans Charlie Christmas, Ted Metzger and Brad Overton are fighting to keep the three of them on the seven-member council. Democrat Brian Lucas is trying to snag one of the spots. "I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal," she said. "I guess that's what we'll find out." Oser said with presidential elections, a lot of people tend to vote for state races and ignore the county races anyway. "We want everyone's vote to be counted," Head said. 6 games to watch in the IHSAA football sectional semifinals If you thought last week was fun, just wait until you see whats on deck for this Friday's IHSAA sectional semifinals. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Years in the planning, with an aim at remaking one of the busiest areas in town, Stratfords downtown makeover still has plenty of skeptics. The plan for transit-oriented development focuses on the mixed-use potential of the Stratford Center area near the train station, and would include the addition of parking to help local businesses along Main Street, plus new apartments and storefronts. And while some people in town have argued about specific aspects, town officials say the overall vision is clear. Weve been hearing from the residents for over 10 years, said Karen Kaiser, director of economic development. This is what theyre looking for. Theyre looking for a revitalized downtown, theyre looking for more parking and theyre looking for more retail. Kaiser said the town set on its current path following surveys, studies and interviews with residents and business owners. Alongside those plans, what is known as a complete streets project would create a balance of transportation for an area of the town that is known for constantly experiencing issues with traffic congestion, caused by proximity to Interstate 95, Route 1, Metro-Norths New Haven line and regional bus routes. Tom Dillon, chairman of the chamber of commerce, said that there is no town in Connecticut more well-suited for this millennial lifestyle than Stratford. According to Dillon and Mary Dean, the chambers executive director, the plans would make the town more attractive to young adults and professionals. Under the complete streets plans, Stratford Center would focus on reducing the dependency on cars, which would relieve downtown traffic issues. The plan would also focus on creating a more healthy foundation for biking, walking and the use of public transportation within a proposed half-mile radius of the train station. But a sticking point has developed at Center School on Sutton Street, located behind the Board of Education building. The school opened in 1970, but was decommissioned in 2005 and has since been turned over to the town from the Board of Education. Under the development plans, Center School would be demolished to make way for the downtown projects. But Beth Daponte, Town Council chairwoman and a First District representative, is among a contingent of residents who say the town has not exhausted every opportunity for the school. I dont think it has been thoroughly vetted, said Daponte, a former mayoral candidate. We havent done our due diligence. It would be safe to say that the Center School demolition plan has kicked over a hornets nest of opposition, with the Town Council nearly passing a resolution prohibiting the schools demolition last week. On Monday at 5 p.m., theres a street rally planned by those who say Center School should be reopened as a school. It will take place at the flagpole at the intersection of Main Street and East Broadway. The protesters also say that a 600-car parking garage will dump too many cars onto Main Street. If the mayor thinks he can slide this one past us, hes got another thing coming, said Ed Goodrich, organizer of the rally. Daponte, along with others against the plans, favors reopening Center School, reasoning that the district currently lacks an elementary school. Mayor John Harkins, however, said he believes that would be a waste for the town and a step in the wrong direction. We dont live in the past, Harkins said. We live in the present and look towards the future. Were seeing what other communities do and are successful in ... making areas more desirable to live, and were trying to do that in Stratford. Several other municipalities across Fairfield County including Norwalk and Stamford have recently carried out successful development through similar plans, officials said. Kaiser said that the Town Council has approved environmental testing on the Center School to determine how much remediation is needed, which will take six to eight weeks. Stratford has been awarded $1.2 million from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development toward the plans, with Kaiser saying the agency is in full support of the steps being taken by the town. In the midst of the controversy, completion of the plans would have an immediate impact on downtown businesses. Nick Jhilal, owner of Maxwells American Grille Restaurant at 2415 Main St, said that the biggest issue now is a lack of parking, which he said has stifled the potential for growth in what is arguably the busiest section of town. According to Jhilal, a number of businesses with parking issues on Main Street have a positive outlook on the proposed plans and for what the ideas of the future could look like for the town. I think everyone is excited on that street, Jhilal said. The mayor is working hard to change the pattern of parking. You have to go for whats good for the town. Its not what the mayor wants, or what the people want. Its whats good for the town. AJohnson@hearstmediact.com; With the mercury still mercilessly high, the state Department of Public Health is urging state residents to stay cool over the coming days particularly once the work week starts. Though not as hot as Saturday, temperatures will still be sizzling today, with the National Weather Service predicting that temps in Bridgeport at 91 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon, while Danbury will be only slightly cooler at 90 degrees. Conditions will become dangerously hot and humid on Monday, according to the weather services and excessive heat watches and heat advisories are now in effect for the Tri-State area. HARTFORD Gov. Dannel P. Malloys plan to raise Metro-North fares by 5 percent to cover cuts in the state transportation budget is already running into a freight train of opposition. The hits just keep on coming for beleaguered Connecticut commuters, said state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, and ranking member on the General Assemblys Transportation Committee. Over the weekend, the state Department of Transportation quietly announced plans to raise fares for Metro-Norths New Haven Line, as well as its Danbury, Waterbury and New Canaan branches and Shore Line East. It would also raise bus fees, close highway rest stops and limit ticket windows at some train stations. The proposed increase will be the subject of public hearings in September, and comes as train fares were already set to rise by one percent in December. If the hike is approved, commuters would effectively be handed a 6 percent hike this fiscal year. These increased fees are tax hikes, plain and simple, said Boucher, who vowed to fight the proposal. Compensating for cuts The announcement came after Malloy sent a letter Friday to the General Assemblys leadership advising them that $37 million cut from DOTs budget during a compromise earlier this year to plug a growing state deficit had to be restored if the state is to operate an effective transportation system. The budget compromise reduced state spending by nearly $1 billion and laid off thousands of state workers. More Information Hikes instead of cuts? Here's the state Department of Transportation's plan to offset $37 million in budget cuts: Raise fares for all Connecticut Metro-North lines by 5 percent in December Increase bus fares 25 cents. Close rest areas at night to passenger traffic Reduce staff at highway welcome centers Close Westbrook welcome center Delay hiring personnel Find fuel savings Reduce salt purchases due to mild winters The public hearing on the proposed changes will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the University of Connecticut Stamford Campus Auditorium, One University Place. See More Collapse These are not decisions anyone takes lightly, but are nevertheless necessary to avoid significant reductions in service, Malloy said, referring to fare increases. I believe we should let this be a reminder as to what happens when transportation funding is cut, our economy suffers, and because our systems deteriorate, consumers face higher costs and lose more time in traffic. James Cameron, founder of the Commuter Action Group, said hes urging commuters to come out in large numbers to oppose the fare increase. Its not by chance that they chose a summertime Friday to slip this bad news over the transom, hoping nobody would notice, Cameron said. Commuters on Metro-North are a captive audience and we really have no alternative to taking the train and Hartford knows that. The governor and DOT need to explain why this fare hike is needed. Responsible plan Along with the proposed Metro-North increase, DOT also wants to raise bus fares by 25 cents, from $1.50 to $1.75, along with a similar increase in express and prepaid bus fares. The plan would close under-utilized ticket windows at the Greenwich, South Norwalk and Bridgeport train stations. Two ticket windows at the New Haven station would be open on weekday mornings instead of three. Other cost cutting moves include reducing staff hours at the states seven highway rest areas and closing the Westbrook welcome center completely. The rest areas would be closed overnight, but truck parking would be allowed. DOT commissioner James Redeker said the plan generates enough revenue to cover $19 million in road and bridge program reductions and $18 million in cuts to public transportation programs. Redeker labeled the proposal a responsible plan that ensures a balanced budget in this fiscal year and positions DOT for the new economic realities that will be faced in the upcoming biennial budget. Malloy warned that highway work could stop if the fare hikes and other adjustments are not made. We are all watching transportation work come to a halt in New Jersey, where hundreds of projects have stopped and where more than $3 billion in transportation upgrades have been suspended, Malloy said. If we want to improve our economic outlook and grow jobs, letting our infrastructure languish and deteriorate is simply not an option. Held hostage by hikes Lawmakers and commuter advocates wasted no time objecting to Malloys plan, and social media sites quickly lit up with with complaints. Not a fair solution to a problem created by incompetence in Hartford, Lance Gill of Norwalk wrote on a Facebook page. State Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton and a transportation committee member, said commuters have no choice but to swallow fare increases and vowed to fight the plan. The total 6 percent increase is substantial and will hit Metro-North rail commuters particularly hard, Lavielle said, noting commuters already absorbed 5 percent fare increases in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and a 1 percent increase in 2015. Theres a new spot in the state Capitol where black lives matter. Its a glassed-in corner where two 160-year-old Civil War battle flags are displayed. The banners, for the 29th and 30th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, were once held proudly by African-American men who, a white general once wrote, were winning glory for Connecticut during the final year of the war, which ended in April 1865. About 2,000 men served in the regiments and 15 percent died. Where were your forbearers 150 years ago? The historic artifacts are now there to see for the thousands who walk by each week in the underground passage connecting the Capitol to the Legislative Office Building. The flags were once nearly shredded, but thanks to an on-again, off-again state flag-conservation program, these and dozens of others have been stabilized. Theres a nice bronze plaque in the cabinet, too, cast by the Descendants of the Connecticut 29th C.V. Regiment. The African American soldiers of the Connecticut 29th and 30th Regiments carried these flags with great dignity and determination for a soon to be recognized freedom, the plaque says. I guess theres freedom and then theres freedom. In the 19th century there was freedom from racist servitude and a chance to determine your own destiny with a single-shot rifle in the high-stakes game of war. In the 21st, theres the freedom, for too many, to be under-employed inner-city residents, with all the manifest dangers, from the school-to-prison complex, to a tattered social fabric that makes the blown-away remains of the 29ths flag look immortal. Until recently, the glorious blue banner of the 29th was featured in a large case of its own in the Capitol basement. But the spot was out of the way, in a narrow corridor and not included on the informative daily tours led by the League of Women Voters. Over the years I have probably dragged 100 random tourists, mostly African-Americans, down there because it is my absolute favorite thing in the entire 1878 building, which itself is a homage to the Civil War. Recently the State Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission currently an all-white group of a dozen appointed lawmakers, former lawmakers and politically connected history and architecture buffs approved the new, higher-profile glass cabinet. Those in the Civil War communities are particularly pleased that the commission has placed the 29th and 30th flags there, said Matthew Warshauer, a history professor at Central Connecticut State University who advises the commission. The history of African Americans fighting on behalf of the union has been a long-neglected subject, said Warshauer author of the important Connecticut in the American Civil War (Wesleyan University Press, 2011). Connecticuts own history with regards to slavery and race is something that speaks to the importance of displaying these flags. Made and embroidered in New York City by the Ball Black and Company jewelers, the blue flag with its beautiful eagle, was presented to the 29th Regiment by African-American women of New Haven at the old Fair Haven parade ground in the spring of 1864. The men, commanded by Col. William Burr Wooster of Derby, were on their way to major battles, including the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, and the fall of Richmond. The 30th attended Gen. Robert E. Lees surrender at Appomattox. Connecticuts various versions of Black Lives Matter can be traced back 200 years or more, around the time when the states last few slaves were aging out. When a state law was finally passed ending the practice in 1848, there were fewer than 20 slaves left, while more than two dozen abolitionist groups were active, including the Underground Railroad that brought escaped blacks from the South up toward Canada. Still, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in early 1863, it took months for Connecticuts General Assembly, amid some of the vilest racist blather you can imagine, to allow for black troops to muster. At the start of the war, Connecticut had the reputation as the Georgia of the North, although in general elections, they voted for Republicans including Lincoln and Gov. William A. Birmingham. The state was primarily agrarian then, with a population of 460,000, about 451,000 of whom were white, 8,600 black, with fewer than 20 Native Americans. About 55,000 residents had been born in Ireland. During the four years of war, Connecticut lost about 2,000 in battle and 3,000 from disease. Warshauer wrote that historic facts challenge the notion that Connecticut was a leader in the movement for black freedom. In 2009, the General Assembly became the seventh state, the first in New England, to pass a resolution memorializing its profound regret in its role inflicting slavery, exploitation and bigotry. Connecticuts history isnt even the past. Ken Dixons Capitol View appears Sundays in the Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. You may reach him in the Capitol at 860-549-4670 or at kdixon@ctpost.com. Find him at twitter.com/KenDixonCT. His Facebook address is kendixonct.hearst. Dixons Connecticut Blog-o-rama can be seen at blog.ctnews.com/dixon/ Windber-Portage renew rivalry in Week 10 Heritage-WestPAC crossover Check out what to watch on Friday night in Somerset County as the high school football regular season comes to a close in Week 10. Faculty Senate approves no-confidence vote on Sasse as UF president The UF Faculty Senate held an emergency meeting about the choice of Senator Ben Sasse from Nebraska as the sole finalist for university president. 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. As if shootings in Munich, riots in Hyde Park, a failed coup in Turkey, Russian Olympic doping and the sweltering July sky werent enough to be going on with we now have the outrage of the righteous over a photo of a three-year-old moppet holding out a half-eaten Magnum for his own dog to lick on a hot summers day. Its a miracle that Lupo a handsome black spaniel, sitting in the sphinx position like the good boy he clearly is didnt take Prince Georges arm off. But what is the appreciative reaction on social media and beyond to this charming tableau, taken to mark the third birthday of the peoples chubster? George is a monarchist monster for giving the dog chocolate, he should even go to prison for animal cruelty, and the ever-sensible RSPCA has issued a po-faced statement. Its a miracle that Lupo a handsome black spaniel, sitting in the sphinx position like the good boy he clearly is didnt take Prince Georges arm off We would advise people to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant for human consumption, as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest, a spokesman said. Instead of ice cream we would suggest making an ice lolly from pet-friendly ingredients. Making these can be really fun for children and the end product is both safe and enjoyable for dogs. Pet-friendly ingredients? Doggy ice-lollies? Canine digestive issues? Youve got to wonder: has anyone in the RSPCA ever, actually, had a dog? I know that you shouldnt give them chocolate or raisins although I only found out about raisins when I made the mistake of writing here that I picked them out of my muesli and fed them to my dog Coco. I had to print a warning the following week about dogs, raisins, and fatal kidney failure. I will be terribly in the doghouse if I say this, but anyone who has had a dog and my neighbour Becky says her Border puppy Matilda eats anything, including other dogs poo knows that they gobble everything, from shoes to chicken bones on the street. They rarely suffer any ill effects. And yet we still treat our pets with all the expensive preciousness that the most pampered yummy mummies lavish on themselves and their own entitled children. Within a mile radius of my house theres a pet deli and spa, a pet boutique, and bar with separate human and canine menus and a fashion range, and many pet shops that sell fresh and frozen raw and organic meals for dogs. No yellow tins of cornershop Pedigree Chum or boxes of Bakers Meaty Meals here. All offer a wide and pricey range of services from grooming to pet portraits to acupuncture. Nationwide, there are dog hotels (30 a day, activities include Jacuzzi, treadmill and swimming), as well as a wide network of dog therapists, dog whisperers and dog trainers. Yes, we now accord our pets a level of care and comfort that the elderly in our care homes can only envy, and as a nation we should use Lollygate to recognise that its probably time to get a grip. Of course Prince George should have let Lupo have a little lick of his Magnum. After all, in the Famous Five books, Timmy was always given his own dish of ice cream along with Julian, Dick, Anne and George. And above all, Lupo is a DOG. Anyone who disagrees with me is barking. Suddenly Mrs T looks like a winner Melania Trump, an immigrant who was born in communist Slovenia, addressed an enormous crowd in Ohio where you can openly carry guns in a white Roksanda Ilincic gown with sleeves like celestial doughnuts. Bold. And a strong look. I know there was a stink over the fact that she read out bits of a speech once made by Michelle Obama. Melania Trump, an immigrant who was born in communist Slovenia, addressed an enormous crowd in Ohio where you can openly carry guns in a white Roksanda Ilincic gown with sleeves like celestial doughnuts Obviously I dont approve of plagiarism its a pathetic form of theft but I watched delegates faces during the interminable oration (17 minutes) and I can promise you this: nobody there cared a hoot that Melania didnt write her own speech, that she spoke her second language in an accent even heavier than Arnies, and stole the words of the inspiring, accomplished woman she wants to replace. Nobody. All that mattered was she looked like a wicked stepmother in a Disney cartoon (ie fabulous), and the Republicans could imagine Mrs Donald J. Trump as First Lady. Relax? My hols are a time of pure fear My FOGOH its like Fear Of Missing Out, but stands for only Fear Of Going On Holiday is spiking. EasyJet has emailed me to say my flight to Heraklion has already been delayed, plus I cant park at Luton. Worse, Lowcostholidays went belly-up, blaming Brexit, stranding my son in Marrakech during a five-day mini-break hed paid for by working in a bar and on a building site. Though his flights were safe, he had to pay for his accommodation all over again. Along with an estimated 140,000 customers of the firm, he has been left badly out of pocket, even though he had travel insurance and paid by credit card. The sum total of his refund is shaping up to be seven quid. So yes, I have heortophobia an irrational fear of holidays. But in my experience of last week alone, there is nothing more rational than FOGOH. Never leave home without it! Quotes of the week A mind-blowing level of corruption. US expert Travis Tygart, after a report uncovered evidence of state-sponsored doping of Russian athletes. Idris Elba has stoked rumours hes due to take over as James Bond I suspect there are many on the Opposition benches who might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss one who exploits the rules to further his own career. Remind him of anybody? New PM Theresa May opens fire at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during her first Prime Ministers Questions. You dont need to fill the whole tub with champagne I only use about 40 bottles. Kamaliya Zahoor, the wife of a billionaire tycoon, is such a fan of the fizzy stuff that she bathes in it as a beauty treatment. As long as Ive got my hands up, theyre not going to shoot me thats what I was thinking. Wow, was I wrong. Carer Charles Kinsey, who was shot by police in Miami while trying to calm his autistic patient. They said, She wont get the part but she will learn about rejection. Well, that backfired. BFG star Ruby Barnhill says her parents only allowed her to audition for the role of Sophie to put her off acting. Donald Trumps rhetoric makes even me wince a little bit. Nigel Farage admits he has been taken aback by the Republican hopefuls campaign speeches. This morphines not bad, you know. Doris Richards last words to her son, Rolling Stone wild man Keith. She was 93. Running around in cars, ladies, Martinis... it sounds terrible. Idris Elba stokes rumours hes due to take over as James Bond. There's an etiquette to achieving the perfect threesomes, experts say A sexual threesome may not be to everyone's taste, but if it is something you want to try like most things in life there are rules and etiquette to follow. Expert Madison Missina says the basics are quite simple - keep it safe, make sure everyone feels comfortable with the situation and have fun. Missina, a sex worker writing for the Mamamia network's Prude and the Pornstar, offers these do's and don'ts for threesomes. There are unwritten rules for every threesome which will help make it fun for everyone - according to two sex workers speaking on the issue LOOK FOR THE THIRD IN THE RIGHT PLACES The first step into a threesome is, of course, to find the three people who are going to be involved. 'You can ask a friend, if they are willing - or you can go into a bar and pick up someone,' Madison said. 'Or openly advertise for a third on a dating applications.' She said hiring a professional is always possible. Another sex worker, Jolene Dubois,has also given advice on rules of threesomes and is firm on making sure every person involved is 100 per cent willing. 'If your unwillingness to try a threesome is a deal-breaker, they don't deserve you and should be kicked to the curb anyway for disrespecting your boundaries,' she wrote. BASE THE PACE ON THE LEAST CONFIDENT PARTNER This means making sure the pace of the activity is set on the slowest or least confident partner so no-one is left behind. Madison says this is the 'golden rule' of threesomes. 'In a couple there will be one partner that wants it more than the other partner,' Madison said. If one person wants to 'go a bit slow' their boundary needs to 'be respected' so it is best to set the pace of the threesome on them. It is likely the person who wants to take things slow is the 'least comfortable' with the idea of being a part of a threesome. Boundaries - comfort - and picking the right people to be involved are all important things to discuss MAKE THE BOUNDARIES CLEAR According to Jolene this will make the whole situation clearer for all parties. Boundaries - in a couple plus one situation - can include if the man whether or not the male is allowed to penetrate the other woman. Other boundaries can include how far each partner can go with the others and what 'toys' will be used. CHANGE CONDOMS BETWEEN PARTNERS Keeping it safe is one of the most important rules according to both of the women. Madison says the man involved must change his condom every time he goes from one woman to the other and wipe down any fluid which could infect the other woman before penetrating her. She says it 'can be tricky' but in 'normal threesomes' which consist of one man and two women the time between condom changes can be used for 'oral'. She suggests not switching between partners quickly to limit these awkward change-overs. 'If you're going to have sex with that one girl, do a couple of positions, whilst the other girl is doing something else, and then swap, don't do such quick swaps between partners.' Jolene says if you are going to go condom-free then a general rule is for all parties to have testing done to make sure they are clean before having group sex. Avoiding STDs is important with the use of condoms - which need to be swapped before penetrating a different partner - or by being tested before having sex IF YOU ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP, RECONNECT AFTERWARDS If two of the people involved in the threesome are in a relationship it is important for them to 'reconnect' after the deed. 'It could be anything from having a bubble bath together, to sitting down and having a drink and talking about what they liked and didn't like about it,' Madison said. 'Anything that just basically reaffirms the couple, and the love, and makes sure that both partners feel safe and secure.' But Jolene said the 'after care' rule can also relate to the third person. 'Don't do the fake "let's do this again!" bad first date cop-out. Try and end on a high note, but also be fair and realistic to each another in a way that all parties feel respected.' Other rules to consider include considering if your partner may be bi or gay and how you will feel if they come out following the experimental sexual encounter. Further rules include being careful not to become addicted, make sure if you are in a couple to pay extra attention to your partner during the sex, consider sexual preferences and be prepared for any physical or emotional ramifications. The doctor's office isn't the happiest place for most people, but it's even worse for kids terrified of shots. For one little girl from Colonial Heights, Virginia, the experience was in fact a nightmare turned reality, and she was determined to never let it happen. In a video recorded by her amused family, the blonde tot can be seen tearfully trying to reason with the doctor over why she shouldn't have to get the shots. Stressed: A little girl has a meltdown in a doctor's office at the idea of getting her shots in a hilarious video Apparently, the girl had known for months that she would be getting the shots, but was dreading it and hoping she could talk her way out of it. 'I'd rather take a pill!' she declares, and upon being informed that their is no pill replacement, she insists: 'I don't care! They should make them then!' As the doctor prepares the shots, the little girl, wearing a denim vest, begins shooting anxious questions at her, including: 'Where do I get them?' 'Are they all at once?' When she finds out she is having all three shots back to back, she screeches 'What!?' before threatening to lock herself inside one of the rooms. Making a deal: The 11-year-old tries to convince the nurse that she doesn't need to have them, asking if she can take a pill instead Backing away: As the nurse approaches her, the crying girl throws herself up against a wall and screams 'Don't touch me!' Making a break: She attempts to flee down the hallway (left) but is caught by the nurse and carried screaming into the exam room (right) As she becomes more and more distressed, everyone around her is erupting into fits of laughter. 'Can one of them get a shot with me?' she asks, pointing at her relatives, but is told that it doesn't matter, she still needs to have her shots. A nurse approaches her. She backs away with a quick inhale and yells: 'Don't touch me!' and throws her back up against a wall, sobbing and yelling 'No!' 'Is there a way you could put me under so I won't feel a thing?' she yells. The doctor responds: 'Well you would need a shot for that!' The poor little girl appears at her wits end as she holds her arms outstretched against the wall and screams 'Why me?! Why is it me that has to do them?!' Still trying: Even once in the room, the girl flinches away from the nurse and continues debating her on why she should have to have the shots Going in: The nurse grabs her arms and injects the shots, three in a row, within seconds, as the girl screams All done: 'That didn't hurt so bad!' the girl said, immediately calm after finally having the shots 'Because you turned 11!' replies the girl's relative from behind the camera. She asks if maybe they could just say that she had the shots but not actually give them to her, put some bandages on her and make some 'fake records' about it. 'Easy as pie!' she shouts tearfully. The nurse tries to approach her and she lets out a scream before backing down the hallway and making a run for it around the corner. But her plan is foiled as the nurse chases her down and scoops her up, carrying her to the exam room while she screeches. Finally sitting in the room, she continues to debate with the nurse, saying her friend is already 12 and hasn't had them. Maybe they could reschedule? Finally she runs out of excuses and the nurse grabs her arm to put in the needle. Leo 24 JULY-23 AUG It is important that you keep all your options open this week. It is even more important that you dont make decisions on a purely emotional basis. You have a great deal going for you at the moment, but with a challenging aspect forming between rational Mercury and reckless Mars, you are bound to be a little more sensitive than usual. Be extra careful. CALL 0904 470 1165 (65p per minute)* Virgo 24 AUG-23 SEPT Think about doing something completely different this week. Fantasise about where youd like to be and what youd like to do. But dont actually do it at least, not yet. This is a week for dreaming rather than doing. If your dreams are realistic, they will come true soon enough. CALL 0904 470 1166 (65p per minute)* Libra 24 SEPT-23 OCT Avoid drastic solutions this week, especially if dealing with money or business issues. There is no such thing as an instant answer youll just have to work it out as you go along. This may run counter to your instincts, but deep down you know you must take it step by step. CALL 0904 470 1167 (65p per minute)* Scorpio 24 OCT-22 NOV What may seem to be a disaster is not. What you think is going wrong in your life is actually going right. Why does everything seem upside down at the moment? Your joint ruler Mars in your sign has something to do with it. Keep your head and everything will work itself out. CALL 0904 470 1168 (65p per minute)* Sagittarius 23 NOV-21 DEC You have an irrational feeling that someone is hiding something from you, something you ought to know. Its irrational because theres simply no reason for it its more of a fear than a reality. Dont say or do anything drastic this week or youll regret it in the future. CALL 0904 470 1169 (65p per minute)* Capricorn 22 DEC-20 JAN When is a coincidence not a coincidence? In fact, is there such a thing as a true coincidence? Youll be asking yourself these kind of questions this week. Why? Because one occurrence in particular just doesnt ring true. Theres something going on and you know it. CALL 0904 470 1170 (65p per minute)* Aquarius 21 JAN-19 FEB With your rebellious ruler Uranus and aggressive Mars energised by talkative Mercury this week, you cannot afford to upset those whose support you may need in the future. This may be tough, but you must watch what you say and think carefully before you speak. CALL 0904 470 1171 (65p per minute)* Pisces 20 FEB-20 MARCH You may be adept at hedging your bets, but your solar chart suggests youll express them forcefully and fearlessly this week. This is fine, but dont expect everyone to agree with you. Make allowances for others beliefs or you could end up in an alarming confrontation. CALL 0904 470 1172 (65p per minute)* Aries 21 MARCH-20 APRIL Compromise is not an option this week as an aspect forming between articulate Mercury and your assertive ruler Mars will cause you to take everything a little too personally. Fortunately, once Mercury changes signs on Saturday, you will start thinking rationally again. CALL 0904 470 1161 (65p per minute)* Taurus 21 APRIL-21 MAY All relationships suffer stormy phases. No two people are so perfectly attuned they never fall out. Remember this if your most important relationship gives you cause for concern this week. Current aspects intensify even minor disagreements. Theres little if anything to worry about. CALL 0904 470 1162 (65p per minute)* Gemini 22 MAY-21 JUNE With your vociferous ruler Mercury energising disruptive Mars and insubordinate Uranus, you must be careful to listen to your head rather than your heart this week. If you say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time, your reputation will suffer. CALL 0904 470 1163 (65p per minute)* Cancer 22 JUNE-23 JULY It doesnt matter how much cold water others pour on your ideas, you believe in them and thats what counts. You should feel remarkably positive this week, convinced you can achieve things they say cannot be done. Make use of this feeling its time to prove the doubters wrong. CALL 0904 470 1164 (65p per minute)* *For a fuller forecast, call the number next to your star sign above. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone companys network access charge and will last no longer than 6 minutes. SP: DMG Mobile & TV. HELPLINE: 0808 272 0808 Illustration: Bee Murphy On Sunday, I got up at seven to get the horses in as the field was being used as a car park for a concert in the church. David came along later to help me poo-pick it for four hours. We finally got home, shattered, and as it was now Davids Birthday Eve, I asked what he would like to do the next day. We decided I would cook dinner. So, on Monday, we drove to Leyburn and I bought ingredients for my Signature Pasta Sauce. I bought David lunch at the Saddle Room, then we headed home. I made dinner, then turned off the sauce, as David wasnt hungry. All he would have to do later would be to warm it up and put on the pasta; he was worried Id overcook it. Later, I found him in the kitchen grating parmesan. Ive already done the parmesan. I looked at my lovingly prepared sauce: it was on high, bubbling away to nothing, completely burnt. Why did you burn my sauce? I dont know. I got distracted. Its ruined! We sat down to eat. I have done nothing wrong all week, he said. And I do this and you bang on and on about it. Im only human, David. I have a right to be upset. Youre supposed to be the brilliant chef, always making fun of my cooking, and you burn my sauce! And then, last night, we had the worst argument we have ever had. It started sedately enough. I had endured an evening of Top Gear and the Grand Prix. Id asked him questions about the race, about the cars, the drivers. He didnt laugh when I said of the Formula 1 drivers, who seemed to be in a great hurry, Why dont they just get up earlier? Anyway, then I asked him why he had said barely a word after he had read my screenplay, other than, I found it funny. Im sure its as good as Bridget Jones, except I havent seen that. I said I was disappointed that he hadnt had more to say. He stammered. He never looks me in the eye when he talks to me; he stares into the distance. Well, Im not a critic. I dont watch films. Im not your target audience. But it took me a year. I dont like food, but I still asked you about your bakery, I still bought a flan dish and flour and a cake tin. Ive just sat through Top Gear. Being in a relationship is about more than saying, Do you want a cup of tea? Its about learning stuff from each other, trying to understand the other persons passions. I felt when you said you were amazed I hadnt seen Ex Machina or even heard of it that you were belittling me. I dont really have any passions. But I have done things in my life YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! That was rude. I thought you liked art. I do like art but I dont want to talk about it. I was really angry now. I dont think we have anything in common. I think you have an inferiority complex. Perhaps thats because I am inferior. I went to bed. He didnt follow me. Eventually, I went downstairs. He was just sitting on the sofa, staring into space. David, I said. You are not 16. This is what you always do, run away, dismiss me, sulk. How will we ever resolve anything if you just switch off. I cut down your trees, I mowed the lawn. I know you did. And I thanked you a million times. But I need someone to talk to, to bounce things off. And you never show any interest in the horses. You dont even know how many there are! Im not an expert on horses. Im not a child expert but I learned the names of your children. I went to your sons graduation. I have to prise things out of you, its really hard work. You didnt even tell me you plan to go back to London on Tuesday. Thats rude. When I asked you the other day about Brexit, you said, and I quote, I dont read newspapers. Youre going out with a journalist whos been in the business for more than 30 years. Maybe you should start. Youre hard work. Im placid, laid-back. Youre so driven and hyper. Youre right. I think we are too different. 'Be yourself and dont worry about what others think' Guilty pleasure? I cant resist a pepperoni pizza. Where is home? A house in Camden, London. Im originally from Australia, but Ive spent most of my life in the UK and now consider it home. Career plan B? I worked as a hairdresser to pay the rent while training to be a dancer, so I guess that would have been my alternative. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Johnny Depp would be perfect. Biggest bugbear? Hair in plugholes. As a child you wanted to be A chef I won a junior chef of the year competition in Australia when I was 15. Earliest memory? My first day at school in Fareham, Hampshire, when I was four. My dad, who was in the Royal Australian Navy, had been posted to Portsmouth for two years for officer training. Secret to a happy relationship? If I knew that, Id be in one! Your best quality? Im generous. And your worst? Snoring. Most romantic thing youve ever done? Sending 200 long-stemmed red roses and two lovebirds to a boyfriend in Australia when I was 21. Last meal on earth? Sausage and mash. Dream dinner party guests? Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Sir Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry and Marlon Brando. Advice to teenage self? Be yourself and dont worry about what others think. Cat or dog? I would love to have a dog, but its impossible at the moment because I travel so much. Big break? Strictly Come Dancing, which has given me a platform to campaign for the charities I support, such as Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the National Osteoporosis Society and Help for Heroes. Secret skill? I can play the trumpet. What do you see when you look in the mirror? A hot young guy! On a day off wed find you Going for lunch with friends in a country pub. Starstruck moment? Beyonce knowing who I was when she sang on Strictly I couldnt believe it. Career highlight? Directing and choreographing a production of Andrew Lloyd Webbers Sunset Boulevard, which transferred to the West End in 2008. Favourite tipple? Laurent-Perrier rose champagne. Hangover cure? Sleep. What did you have for breakfast today? Toast and Vegemite. Top of your bucket list? Id love to fly in a fighter jet. Biggest inspiration? John Travolta, who made it cool for boys to dance. Favourite dancer? Darcey Bussell. One thing that would make your life better? A bigger kitchen. Philosophy? Its not about how you survive the storm its about how you dance in the rain. Last film that made you cry? The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Where would you time travel to? Ancient Egypt, to see how they built the pyramids. First record you bought? Monster Mash by Bobby Boris Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers. Most extravagant purchase? A white 1972 Triumph Stag car with a red leather interior. Biggest fear? Heights. Celebrity crush? Gethin Jones, who took part in 2007s Strictly. Happiness is What you make it. Having overwhelmingly voted to stay in the EU, many under-30s report feeling betrayed by an older generation that wont bear the brunt of the pro-Brexit referendum outcome. Stevie Martin speaks to young remainers and leavers (as well as those who didnt or couldnt vote) about the result they will have to live with for the rest of their lives I didnt want Scottish independence, but now I do Charlotte Hope, 17, student, Peebles, Scotland Voted I am too young to vote, but support remain. Why? I believe the economy is more stable within the EU; we get billions of pounds worth of investment every year from EU countries. What do you think of the result? Both the leave and remain campaigns were a shambles there were so many lies and misleading figures put to the public. The leave campaigns main point was that 350 million is sent to the EU per week, but the money we might now have to pay for single-market access could be close to that figure. And now we have voted to leave, Brussels may be harsher during negotiations as a deterrent to other countries. As a no supporter in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Im now open-minded to leaving Britain and staying in the EU as an independent Scotland. I wouldnt have got a job without Erasmus funding Jacob Kamara, 27, content design manager, London Voted Remain. Why? I benefited from a year abroad in my third year of university. I moved to Paris and worked for a design firm, and the extra experience led to me being employed by the time I graduated. Had it not been for the [EU funded] Erasmus exchange programme, which provided funds to support my placement, this never would have happened. If Id had to acquire a working visa, I dont think it would have been as easy to find placements and competition would have been much higher. What do you think of the result? It deeply upsets me that people such as Nigel Farage and Britain First have been given a voice. I still cant understand why the referendum was held in the first place. The whole thing has left a really bad taste in my mouth. My hope is that future generations will be able to repair the mess that the baby boomers have caused. Perhaps it was the wrong choice, but we wont know for a long time Elgan Alderman, 22, freelance writer, Wales Voted Leave. Why? I dont agree with the EUs lack of accountability and think it inhibits us on the global stage. I also didnt like the idea of where the UK would be headed in 15 years as the Union grows ever closer. This was our only chance to register the out view, given that reform is seemingly impossible What do you think of the result? I wouldnt say I felt happy the day after the result because theres no way of knowing whether it was the right decision. We will only be able to say if it has been a success ten or so years down the line. I was in a state of shock because I presumed remain would win, but I voted leave with good intentions. There would be uncertainty in remaining, too. Perhaps I made the wrong choice, perhaps the right one. Ill get back to you when Im 37. 'I dont think there should be a second referendum Sarah Higgins, 21, student, the Wirral Voted Remain. Why? I grew up in Merseyside and many of my favourite areas were derelict before EU funding came in. Its support has been vital in helping local businesses get back on their feet. Also, Im a film and television graduate and Ive found that collaboration between countries can be brilliant when it comes to creative projects. I had one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life working on a feature film in Germany with a British and German crew. What do you think of the result? Im disheartened more instability is the last thing we need at the moment! However, I disagree very strongly with the prospect of a second referendum. Id prefer to think about how to move onwards and upwards rather than throwing my toys out of the pram and demanding a second chance as many people are doing. I found it all inaccessible it wouldnt have been fair for me to vote Ashleigh Dougherty, 23, blogger, London Voted I didnt. Why? Partly because I was on holiday and partly because I hadnt educated myself enough. If Im honest, I found all the contradictions inaccessible and a bit dull, so it would have been unfair for me to vote. What do you think of the result? I was shocked to hear the news. There are so many advantages and disadvantages to being out, but I think the way everyone is reacting would be exactly the same if we had voted to stay in. Ive seen a lot of people falling out with friends and family because of how they voted and thats something Id rather not get involved with. But I dont think that the country will go to pot. Im scared of what is going to happen' Charlotte Nott-Macaire, 21, photographers assistant, Buckinghamshire Voted Remain. Why? I felt that our country was stronger being part of the EU. After watching many debates and reading up on the options, I didnt hear one point that made me think that leaving was a good idea. Yes, the EU needs to change, but you have to be part of it to help drive reforms. The voting rules, in my opinion, were unfair, because people in the Scottish referendum in 2014 could vote from the age of 16, but in the European referendum they had to be 18. What do you think of the result? I am disappointed and shocked. We are stuck in an unknown limbo and Im scared of what is going to happen. No one seems to know what the outcome will be for the UK and nothing that I have read indicates that Brexit will be a good thing. I only hope that I am wrong and I will end up glad that I was outvoted by the people who wanted to leave. Voters enter a polling station in Manchester in June Im not averse to diversity and immigration Natasha Williams, 25, vet, London Voted Leave. Why? Mostly because I disagree with UK laws being overruled by an EU parliament. Its a concept that makes no sense to me as it can leave our own laws redundant. I did not vote out because I am averse to diversity and immigration my vocation relies on collaboration with both EU and non-EU colleagues, and I am proud to work with such pioneering individuals on a daily basis. What do you think of the result? My initial reaction was shock and fear the enormity of the decision and the horror on social media really impacted on me. Its not wrong to be wary of change, but now the dust has settled I feel excited about the possibilities open to us. Our future success relies on us coming together to be a strong, self-sufficient community. Im applying for an Irish passport it will be money well spent Megan Conneely, 27, digital marketer, London Voted Remain. Why? Because I feel that being part of the EU opens our eyes to the world beyond the UK. I lived in Madrid for a summer, learning Spanish and nannying, and didnt want experiences like that to be limited by visas or time restrictions for future generations. What do you think of the result? Im definitely getting an Irish passport, thanks to my glorious (and sadly deceased) Irish grandparents. Im dealing with the prospect of paying 80 for the privilege, particularly now that the value of the pound is so rubbish, but I think that it will be worth every penny. People who voted leave either regret it or are OK with racism Fox Rawding, 17, student, Isle of Wight Voted I am too young to vote, but support remain. Why? The EU is a partnership of countries that protects the interests of citizens from their governments. Leaving will be an enormous step backwards in the way our society functions. What do you think of the result? Those that voted to remain feel betrayed, and those that voted to leave are either regretting it or feel fine about the now validated acts of racism occurring around the country. Also, leaving the EU has fractured the UK; Scotland wants another independence referendum, and it's justified. We shouldnt blame older generations, because so many young people didnt vote James Cockayne, 18, student, Hampshire Voted Remain. Why? I felt that leaving the EU would have grave implications for our ability to trade within Europe, and the strength of our currency. And I was worried it would alienate many of our European neighbours. What do you think of the result? Im scared for the future, but also disheartened by the political apathy some of my generation displayed by our frankly appalling turnout to vote. Ive been guilty of lambasting the older generation, but those who could have voted and didnt are the ones who are culpable. Most of all, I am furious that this referendum even happened. I didnt feel equipped to make a decision on such a complex set of issues, with both sides providing biased information. Im reconsidering my return to the UK Alicia de Haldevang, 29, marketing and communications manager, Dubai Voted Remain. Why? Because of the security of a single market, the opportunity to work, live and travel easily to 27 other fantastic countries, and the legislation and human rights upheld by the EU that have made the workplace better for women. I have always been so proud of the UKs multicultural society. Weve thrived through the economics, cuisines, languages, beliefs, religions and philosophies of others. What do you think of the result? I am reconsidering my move back to the UK Ive been researching whether I can apply for a German passport through my German grandparents, who still hold their nationality. Its time for a new plan whatever that may be. The cost of being in the EU made me uncomfortable Sarah Broadhead, 27, manufacturing shift manager, Cheshire Voted Leave. Why? I believed that it would be better to take control of our trade deals that we would have more opportunities to develop lucrative agreements with China or Brazil, for example out of the EU. The cost of being within the EU made me uncomfortable; I would rather see us in control of our own budget. What do you think of the result? I wasnt prepared for all the horror stories about the potential impact to us as a country. And there are now conflicting reports about where the UKs own money will go, in any case. But I do think I voted correctly. We need to take the risk to become stronger as an independent nation. BREXIT BY NUMBERS The leave campaign won the referendum with 51.9 per cent of the vote (a total of 17.4 million people) against the 48.1 per cent (16.1 million) who voted remain. Brilliant family recipes My book Made in Spain is about my personal journey through food: how cooking has kept me anchored to my Spanish roots and to my family and friends; how it helped me to go through the intense political years of the coalition government without losing my mind; and, ultimately, how food is a strong link between my children and myself, as well as between them and my home country and family. When we began writing the Mumandsons blog (mumandsons.com) in January 2012, my objective was to get my children (three boys) to learn about food and cooking. We now have around 300 recipes most of them Spanish, or at least Spanish-inspired on the blog, a fair number of hits per week, an award, and one of my sons is becoming a real food connoisseur. While I hope the blog has helped all my sons to share my love of Spanish food and to feel more connected to Spain, the recipes both online and in the book reflect my particular life journey, and therefore include a few British and international dishes I have come to love on the way. By publishing the book, I also hope to raise funds to help me lead Inspiring Girls, an international campaign that I am launching to get female role models talking to girls all over the world, building partly on the success of the Inspiring Women campaign in the UK, but using technology so that we can connect inspirational women from all walks of life with girls, no matter where they come from or where they are. Chickpea salad I may or may not manage to teach my children to cook with the blog and the book. But I certainly want my sons to learn to be able to distinguish good food from bad food, to know which flavours work well together and which do not, and I especially want them to gain a respect for good ingredients. In a nutshell, I want my children to have the chance to truly enjoy food, from Spain and elsewhere, as much as I do. Because enjoying food is enjoying life. Round table discussions In Spanish families, when you have eaten a really good homemade meal, people stay at the table after it has ended, chatting and putting the world to rights. It is called the sobremesa, which literally means over the table. Pretty much all the memories of my childhood that I treasure are linked to sobremesas. It was during sobremesas that my grandfather told us the stories of my family; that he drummed it into me and my sister that economic independence is the key to happiness; that we shared the family achievements and also our preoccupations; that my mother told us about foreign countries and we planned trips with her; that politics got into my blood as my father shared with us the events of the Spanish transition to democracy. In true Spanish fashion, sobremesas are emotionally charged occasions. We never go light on emotion! During the sobremesas we tighten family bonds and forge wonderful friendships, but we also have monumentally loud arguments. We do not even have to care too much about any subject, the key is just to disagree: from heated discussions about politics to the pros and cons of bullfighting; from the role of religion in the country to arguments about who cooks best (just in case you are wondering, the answer to this must always be my mum). Many of the dishes in the book make you want to linger at the table. They are recipes that have been cooked by my mother and, before her, my grandmother, and are now eaten by me and my four men, Nick and my sons. They are recipes that, over the years, have provided us with endless occasions for good sobremesas, whether on our own or with friends. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do and that you, too, will argue, make up and form happy memories over the table. Salmorejo; Chocolate olive oil mousse Buy Miriams book at a special price Todays recipes are from Made in Spain: Recipes and Stories from my Country and Beyond by Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, which will be published by Hodder & Stoughton on Thursday, price 25. As well as Miriams personal introduction and family memoir, recipe chapters include Soups, Tapas, Eggs, Salads and Vegetables, Fish, Meat, Comfort Food and One-pot Meals, A Bit of Fun, Snacks, Fruit, and Desserts and Baking. New York power couple HARRY and LAURA SLATKIN have given their autistic son David the best support money can buy. But, they tell Jane Mulkerrins, its doing their best for others affected by the disorder that has helped their own family, including daughter Ali Laura and Harry with their 16-year-old twins David and Ali On paper (including the glossy pages of magazines such as Elle Decoration which has featured their luxurious holiday home in Palm Beach, Florida), the Slatkins would appear to be a family that wants for nothing. Harry, 54, and Laura, 55, are the epitome of a power couple, both well-connected former Wall Street bankers, who each now run their own multimillion-dollar businesses. Their bright, ambitious 16-year-old daughter Ali interned last summer for Anna Wintour, the editor of US Vogue, and is currently contemplating what shed like to study at university. However, the Slatkins apparently enviable existence is tempered by something that even wealth and hard work cannot fix: Alis twin brother David has severe autism. Since the age of nine, David has attended a highly specialised residential school outside Boston, with the hefty fees to match. There is such enormous parental guilt about sending your child away, even when he is going to get the best care possible, says Laura. Emotional costs aside, the Slatkins are fortunate to be able to afford it financially, but, for them, doing the best for their own son is still not enough. Since David was diagnosed with autism aged just 15 months they have dedicated themselves to ensuring that less well-off families can access the same resources they have, as well as pushing forward research into the developmental disorder. The Slatkins might be firmly part of the financial elite but, in the great American tradition of philanthropy, they are using their privilege to enormously positive effect. At the Slatkin family home in New York, a grand, five-storey townhouse a stones throw from Central Park, I am met at the door by a housekeeper (this is the sort of house that demands staff) before Laura descends the elegant staircase to greet me. Impeccably groomed and glamorous, with a touch of Jackie Kennedy Onassis about her, she is sporting a square-cut blue diamond, the size of which Ive never seen, even here on Manhattans Upper East Side. David with his parents and sister Ali during one of his home visits In the enormous upstairs lounge, which could easily pass for an antiques showroom, Laura settles beside me on the sofa and starts to tell me about David and Alis early years. David was so beautiful as a baby I mean Ralph Lauren-level beautiful, she says [the designer favours extremely pretty children in his campaign adverts]. But because they were twins, you could compare all of their behaviours. When they were both learning to walk, Ali moved gracefully and her gait narrowed, while David would run down the hall, back and forth, with a very wide gait, giggling to himself all the time. It was odd, and we thought there might be something wrong. David was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified). Only when Harry searched for more information on the internet did he discover that the jargon was a widely used synonym for autism. This was 2001 no one was talking about autism the same way everyone is now, says Laura. I only knew one other person with a child who had autism, so I went straight out and bought a huge pile of books on the subject. We were accused of being rich people trying to open up a school for our own child The literature made terrifying reading as it described the aggressive behaviours children with autism can display such as kicking, biting and banging their heads repeatedly against walls as well as the developmental disruptions, such as being almost entirely nonverbal. I never cry, I just dont, says Laura, who is so eminently poised and controlled I believe her. That night, however, I tried to go to sleep but instead I just sobbed all night. In the morning, her husband treated her to some firm talking. He said: Crying is not going to do David any good, Ali any good, or our marriage any good, she recalls. So roll up your sleeves and do something about it. The Slatkins are indisputably people who get things done. Harry, who grew up in New Jersey, skipped college to join the investment bank Bear Stearns (which collapsed in the 2008 financial crisis). After nine years, and having met Laura, he left to set up Slatkin & Co, a home fragrance business that he grew into an $800 million brand, making scented candles for retailers including Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic, and counting celebrities such as Martha Stewart and Elton John among its fans. The famously profligate musician spent $38,000 on scented candles on his first visit to the Slatkins Manhattan shop (where Mrs Onassis, as Harry deferentially calls her, was also a regular), and befriended the couple, introducing them to his friend Princess Diana. We used to sneak candles American candles into Kensington Palace for her, says Harry. The company was later commissioned to make a memorial candle after Dianas death. Harry with US Vogue's Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles In 2011, Harry joined forces with his close friend, the designer Tommy Hilfiger, to relaunch the clothing brand Belstaff. Harry remains active in the home fragrance business and is planning his next launch, which he hopes to announce this autumn. Laura is no less of a business-minded go-getter. Raised between Long Island, New York and Florida, like Harry she began her career on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers, which also collapsed during the financial crisis. She left finance to work alongside Harry in their scented candle company, which they sold, for an undisclosed sum, in 2005. Laura now runs Nest Fragrances, which makes home fragrances and scented candles for sale in high-end department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman. Harrys words that night shaped me for the next ten years, says Laura. Rolling up my sleeves was the answer. The couple recruited other friends and supporters, some with autistic children of their own such as the Hilfigers, who have two autistic children, aged 20 and 21 and formed New York Collaborates for Autism (NYCA), a nonprofit organisation designed to help improve the lives of people living with the developmental disability and their families. The Slatkins first initiative came after they tried to find a suitable school for their son in New York. There really werent any, says Laura, shaking her carefully coiffured head. There were no state-of-the-art schools that could provide what we needed in this, the most dynamic and exciting city in the world. So they partnered with the New York Board of Education to create the Autism Charter School, the citys first entirely free specialised school for children with autism, which opened in 2005. Housed within a mainstream school in Harlem, it can take 40 children at a time, aged between five and 20, all of whom receive applied behaviour analysis (ABA) an effective but controversial therapy. (David does not attend this school, although the Slatkins would have liked him to; admission is by lottery and due to the overwhelming number of applications they received, he stood a very low chance of being selected.) A second school is soon to open in the Bronx. To its critics, ABA is harsh, overly strict and has been likened to sophisticated dog training. However, according to Laura, and countless other parents whose children have been through it, there is no other system that has proven as effective in reducing the antisocial behaviours associated with autism and helping children develop language, cognitive and behavioural skills. A strict set of highly repetitive drills, which reward correct behaviour while redirecting negative, antisocial patterns, ABA is used for up to 40 hours a week, seeking to teach autistic children the responses that other children pick up naturally through interaction and imitation. The system was first widely used by a Norwegian psychologist, Ivar Lovaas, in the 1960s. In Norway, it is now the standard treatment for children with autism and studies have found that almost half of all children given the intensive therapy early enough achieve normal educational functioning by school age. In many US states, health insurance companies are now mandated to cover ABA (though the poorest families are those likely not to have insurance). In the UK, however where there are a handful of schools teaching ABA, costing around 45,000 a year the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has yet to provide the therapy as an option for the treatment of autism. From left: Harry with Slatkin & Co fan Sir Elton John; the Slatkins with Ali in 2014 at an awards do in New York As soon as David was diagnosed his parents hired a full-time ABA therapist for him. But, unfortunately, they found that for David, ABA could only do so much. In spite of intensive therapy, for 40 hours a week from the age of 15 months until today, the symptoms of his autism are still extremely severe. He doesnt understand language, so cant follow instructions if you were to ask him to clap his hands, he cant process that and he doesnt speak, says Laura. He behaves aggressively to himself and others. But worst of all is his hyperactivity. He will not sit down, he has to be moving constantly. Laura relates all of this very matter-of-factly, with no trace of self-pity or complaint. However, it is abundantly clear that autism as severe as their sons requires very special measures. Even when he comes home from school, every third weekend, he is accompanied by two full-time carers, who are with him 24/7. Harry arrives in the lounge to join us, a dapper, upbeat, energetic presence, and admits, with impressive candour, the ongoing challenges of managing Davids behaviour. The previous weekend, he tells me, David was home and they were walking to Central Park. When, suddenly, he wasnt happy and he began yowling and grabbing at my neck, which made everyone start to look at us. I am being honest, I find that very hard I hate the attention that it brings, Harry says. And I feel tremendously guilty for feeling that way. I should be able to walk through New York with David without being self-conscious, whether he is yowling or not, but I cant. David's aggressive behaviour made us concerned for Ali's safety He is also honest about the surprising reactions to their projects from some quarters. When we opened the charter school, we came up against accusations that we were just a bunch of rich people trying to open up a school for our own child, he says. But none of our endeavours have been for David they have all been therapeutic for us. Raising two children moreover, twins with such different needs is a fearsome task for any parent. When they were very young, Ali would often try to engage David and he would push her away, Laura recalls. It was confusing for Ali, yet she kept at it. She wanted so very much to have a normal and close relationship with David, but because of the severity of his autism, she was often rejected. This was not just a case of emotional bruising, though. As Davids aggressive behaviour became more severe, Harry and I were always concerned for Alis safety. It was important that Ali not get too close to David for fear that he might pull her hair or scratch her. Because they were always physically kept apart, it was challenging for them to form a strong emotional bond, says Laura. Nevertheless, Ali has a deep sense of love in her heart for her brother, as we all do. In fact, at her Bat Mitzvah, at the delicate age of 13 during the peak of her public embarrassment about her brothers erratic behaviour Ali made David the subject of her speech. She invited 135 friends and, at that point, I would say that about 110 of them didnt even know she had a brother with autism, recalls Harry. And she spoke not just about David and his autism, but how its taught her to be understanding and open to everybody with special issues. She told the assembled audience, it is whats inside you that matters, and brought down a very tearful house. People still stop me and tell me they remember that speech, admits Ali herself, a little shyly. The unstoppable Slatkins next endeavour is a neurological symposium Laura is organising for next spring, inviting experts and researchers from many different foundations to gather and collaborate. She points to the databases being constructed to sequence genomes, in a bid to better understand autism, while other organisations are putting together thousands of brain-imaging sequences. So much exciting research has been conducted over the past ten years, and the idea is to bring it all together at the symposium, she says. While the charter school could cater to a small number of very needy students, there are rapidly growing numbers of children with autism scattered throughout the mainstream school system, too. We wanted to make an impact, really make a difference, enthuses Laura. Through NYCA, they set up a course at Hunter College, part of the City University of New York, to train teachers for a certificate in ABA. More than 400 teachers have now graduated, fully qualified to take the practice with them into the classroom. A masters degree programme in the techniques is now being developed at the college, too. Laura and Harry, through their own experiences, also knew that the city lacked a specialised centre that parents could take their children to for assessment and evaluation. With the help of Cornell and Columbia, two universities renowned in medicine and neuroscience, they founded the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain in Westchester, just north of the city. The one thing that we specified is that this be open to everyone, whatever their financial resources, says Laura. As David nears adulthood, the questions for the Slatkins, as for any other family with an autistic child, is: what next? A study by the UKs National Autistic Society found that only 15 per cent of adults with autism are in full-time, paid employment, and only 31 per cent live independently. Ali will always take responsibility for David; she will care for him for the rest of her life when we are not around, says Harry. But we want her to have a healthy and normal life. We dont want this to be a burden. And, Laura believes, lifetime residential institutions are not the answer; more should be done to help adults with autism live as independently as possible. If one out of 68 individuals are affected by autism [in the US], we should be seeing one out of 68 people in the workplace with autism, in the park, in the supermarket, in the movie theatre, she says. After much research, NYCA has developed with the help of Google and a million-dollar grant from the US government a model for smart homes, wired with cutting-edge technology, including motion detectors and central monitoring stations, which will sit alongside teams of doctors and trained community mentors to empower autistic adults to live as independently as possible within a supportive community. As parents, that is something for which Harry and Laura could have barely dared to hope for their son. This is the one programme that he will benefit from, smiles Laura. This ones for David. Laura Slatkin is the founder and CEO of Nest Fragrances, nestfragrances.com. Harry and Laura Slatkin are founding board members of Autism Speaks, autismspeaks.org, and established the foundation New York Collaborates for Autism, nyc4a.org Autism: A twin sisters perspective By Ali Slatkin When I tell people my brother is autistic their initial response is usually along the lines of: Im so sorry, which is, of course, the polite response. And while I sometimes wish David could have a conversation with me [Davids autism means he is nonverbal], I accept him for exactly who he is, because if he wasnt him, I wouldnt be me. When we were very young, Davids behaviour was normal to me, so I didnt understand the concept of autism being a negative. But as we grew up, and I began to understand what autism meant and that his behaviour was abnormal, I wasnt as accepting of it or him. As a young teenager, I would be embarrassed when he made noises in public or would arbitrarily grab someones hand on the street in New York. I would be up at night because David would wake up, make loud noises and cry. He would be aggressive at times and pinch or even bite me. I was told he didnt know any better, it wasnt his fault, but I didnt want to listen to it. When people use autism as a joke in conversation, I correct them. Autism isn't a punch line I would dread anyone asking if I had a sibling, and would try to change the subject; I didnt know how to explain what autism was and how our relationship worked if he couldnt talk. When my friends came over for a playdate, I would have to explain why David didnt respond when I introduced them to him. But as twins, we definitely have a special bond. If I ask him to give me a kiss or a hug, he will. There are lots of little ways in which the two of us communicate nonverbally. To this day, autism remains a sensitive subject for me to discuss. A couple of years ago, I heard a girl my age describing a boy by saying, He was weird and so annoying. Its like he had autism or something, he wouldnt stop talking. I was completely taken aback and I fell silent (which is rare for me). I let the moment slip away, but I later regretted not defending my brother, and the rest of the autism community. Ever since then, when I have heard autism used as a joke or in the wrong way in conversation, I have corrected people. Autism is not a punch line, let alone an insult. At my Bat Mitzvah, when I was 13, I gave a speech about David, talking about embracing peoples differences and how we shouldnt judge a book by its cover. I had such incredible feedback, with people saying how moving they found it. I realised then that being a sister to David has changed me and made me who I am. When a lawyer of Indian descent offered a Sikh invocation at the Republican National Convention in the United States, the prayer resonated in India, the cradle of the Sikh faith. As is the custom, Harmeet Dhillon covered her head with a silk navy-and-gold scarf when she sang Tu Thakar Tum Peh Ardaas, Jio Pind Sabh Teri Raas. Its a hymn written by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, which is said as a prelude to daily Sikh prayers called Ardaas. The verse is compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib, the primary Sikh scripture, and denotes total surrender and humility. Above all, it delineates the world as 'one family', with no distinctions whatsoever. Scroll down for video... When Harmeet Dhillon (pictured), a lawyer of Indian descent, sang the Sikh invocation at the Republican Convention, many hoped that the prayer's message would somehow be heard by Donald Trump Tum Maat Pita, Hum Barik Tere, writes Guru Arjan in this invocation to God, which when translated means we are all your children. Sikh Gurus opposed discrimination in any shape or form, be it on the basis of Hindu castes, religions, race or gender. My Sikh friends flooded Facebook and Twitter news-feeds instantly in euphoria, posting online videos and news reports about Dhillons Ardaas at the Convention, where Donald Trump was named as the Republican candidate for the US presidency. Republican candidate Donald Trump would do well to listen to the words of Sikh prayer. (Pictured: The Sikh sanctuary Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple in the Amrit Sagar) Theres absolutely no harm in singing Sikh prayers anywhere with traditional respect, which was very much evident from the footage. Anyone, irrespective of his or her birth, background or orientation, is welcome to gurdwaras, the Sikh houses of worship and learning. Essentially, that is the principle of equality, which the faith espouses. The first word in the Guru Granth Sahib is a numeral - and that is 1 written in Gurmukhi. This number is followed by Onkar - a term that dates back to Vedic ages. But when Guru Nanak placed one before it, he demolished all inequities in what became the fundamental creed of the Sikh faith. Sikh prayer denotes total surrender and humility. It delineates the world as a one family, with no social distinctions whatsoever. It was not the kind of statement that ancient and contemporary monotheists, and present-day political groups spreading their bets on diverse vote-blocs, usually pronounce. Rather, this construction sought to break the walls even among monotheists - the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims - the rich and the poor, upper and lower Hindu castes, men and women, let alone polytheists. The Washington Post described Trump as 'a unique threat to American democracy' The entire thrust lay on building networks and not creating pyramids where one set of people are perched on the top, another in the middle, and yet another at the bottom. Beyond theology, it was also a political philosophy for governance that must ensure no human values and rights are violated. Sikh history illustrates the need to preserve human rights, through intellectual awakening, talks, or, if all other means fail - by militarily intervention. The Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib in the city of Amritsar in the Punjab region of northwest India Its unclear to me what broader message Dhillon wanted to send when she picked a verse from a philosophy thats uncompromisingly equality-oriented for a man the Washington Post described as a unique threat to American democracy, never mind the rest of the world. Donald J Trump, until now a Republican problem, this week became a challenge the nation must confront and overcome, the Post said in an editorial. He is mounting a campaign of snarl and sneer, not substance. To the extent he has views, they are wrong in their diagnosis of Americas problems and dangerous in their proposed solutions. "Mr Trumps politics of denigration and division could strain the bonds that have held a diverse nation together. "His contempt for constitutional norms might reveal the nations two-century-old experiment in checks and balances to be more fragile than we knew, it continued. In January, a turban-wearing Sikh protester was ejected from a Trump rally because he carried a banner reading 'Stop Hate' (file pic) In November last year, he made an outrageous claim that thousands of New Jersey Muslims had celebrated the 9/11 attacks. Later, he called for a total and complete shutdown of Americas borders to Muslims in comments that prompted Democratic presidential candidate Martin OMalley to tweet @realdonaldtrump removes all doubt: he is running for President as a fascist demagogue. Trump then came out with an immigration plan to deport 11 million undocumented Hispanics from America. Worse, he vowed to build a wall along the Mexican borders if elected president of the worlds most powerful nation. In January, a turban-wearing Sikh protester was ejected from a Trump rally because he carried a banner reading Stop Hate. While Arish Singh was thrown out of the public meeting in Iowa, Trump was reported to have said: "He wasnt wearing one of those hats was he? And he never will, and thats okay - because we got to do something folks, because its not working. There is a question about just how receptive Trump is to the notion of equality. From what he has said so far, its clear hes averse to it. He believes in building walls and nourishing strong biases. Thus, I wonder whether the Sikh prayer Dhillon said at his nomination will change the perception that he has built among a cross-section of Americans and non-Americans. Or, will Trump himself take this unifying and spiritual command - high on symbolism - seriously enough and work to transform that perception? I dont think he will, but he should. In yet another blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Delhi Police have arrested Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan. The move comes after a woman alleged that he threatened her with rape and murder when she visited his residence complaining about power cuts. Khan is the tenth party legislator to be arrested since the AAP came to power in 2015. Khan was first detained for questioning, then arrested a day after he accused police of pressurising the woman into giving a false statement against him. The Delhi Police have arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, after a woman alleged that he threatened her with rape and murder when she visited his residence The AAP cried foul and lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest, saying that he was scared of its rising graph. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the head of the party, accused Modi of sending Delhiites to jail in false cases. Meanwhile, another AAP MLA - Naresh Yadav - was arrested in Delhi by Punjab Police in the Malerkotla Quran sacrilege case of June 24. Amanatullah was not even allowed to wear slippers and all the CCTV cameras were turned towards the ceiling by the police, claimed AAP leader Ashutosh. Police claim that Khan was arrested after a woman recorded her statement before a magistrate on July 22. The complainant had alleged that while returning from the legislators residence, a vehicle tried to mow her down and Amanatullah was sitting in it, said Joint Commission of Police, Southeast Range, R P Upadhyay. Prior to that, she had filed a complaint with the police on July 19 alleging that a youth had threatened her at the AAP MLAs Jamia Nagar residence - and claiming that the MLA was behind it. An FIR was subsequently registered in this regard. After her statement to the magistrate, Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) was added to the FIR. It is a non-bailable charge and we have arrested Khan, Upadhyay said. The woman, a resident of Jasola, had said she telephoned Khan on July 10 and later went to his Batla House residence to raise the issue of power cuts with him. She claimed the MLA did not meet her, and while she was leaving a youth came out of the house, abused her, and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. Later, the FIR was registered against an unidentified youth under sections 506 and 509 of IPC at Jamia Nagar police station. Seven Bajrang Dal activists have been accused of assaulting Dalits in the BJP stronghold of Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka, after claims they stole and slaughtered a cow. Two of the Dalit victims suffered fractures in the attack that took place on July 10 in Shantipura village in the Western Ghats. The victims have been identified as Muthappa, 26, Dhanush, 24, Balraj, 56, Ramesh, 35 and Sandeep, 20. Seven Bajrang Dal activists have been accused of assaulting Dalits in the BJP stronghold of Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka over the slaughtering of a cow (file pic) The group were allegedly attacked by a gang of over 25 activists, who arrived while dinner was being served at the home of one of the Dalits in Jayapura, Chikkamagaluru district. Though the police arrived later, it is alleged that they chose to believe the activists version of events and arrested three Dalits - all of whom are now out on bail. Members of the NGO Komu Souharda Vedike, which brought the incident to the notice of the local media, alleged that the five Dalits were facing tremendous pressure from the local Bajrang Dal leaders against pursuing the case. The police have not arrested any of the seven men named by a victim in his complaint. The issue is likely to snowball into a major controversy, as the local Congress leaders are rallying behind the Dalits. Balraj, whose left hand was fractured in the attack, contended that it was pre-planned: They alleged that we stole the cow and slaughtered it. That is not true as it was given to us by Mayappa Gowda from our village, he told the local media in Chikkamagaluru. In a separate incident of violence against Dalits, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is served tea as he meets a man assaulted by cow protectors in Gujarat It is a common practice for farmers to hand over cattle to Dalits within hours of their death in rural Karnataka. Beef consumption is not banned in Karnataka, unlike other BJP-ruled states. The victims alleged that the assailants were not willing to listen to them. Though the police arrived on the spot after a few minutes, it is claimed that they did not stop the Bajrang Dal activists from beating up the Dalits. However, Jayapura police station Sub Inspector C N Chandrashekar told the media that the attack did not take place in their presence. When we reached the spot, the cow had already been slaughtered. We booked a case against them under the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter & Cattle Preservation Act. We arrested three of them, he added. Should a private citizen be given a hand-out from the exchequer to buy a car for himself? The National Green Tribunal (NGT)s recent request that the government designs a scrappage policy for old vehicles, with incentives for each owner, has triggered this debate. The court's order to seize all diesel vehicles over a decade old in Delhi and the NCR is expected to sweep away approximately 1.61 lakh cars, jeeps, and from the roads. Experts believe that this is a step in the wrong direction, and authorities must not proceed this way. The NGT wants cash sops for the owners of old commercial and private vehicles who give them up willingly On Wednesday the green court, which has spearheaded the fight against air pollution in Delhi, asked the government if it has decided on an end-of-life policy for vehicles. It specifically asked the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MoHI) to publicise its incentives for citizens willingly giving up ones old car. Except for a few cities which have Bharat Stage IV fuel available and go by BS IV norms, the rest of India uses old BS I-III fuel and compliant engines. They produce high levels of Sulphur Oxides (SoX) and Nitrogen Oxides (Nox), which are highly polluting and can cause breathing problems. The Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is already working on a Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Management Programme (VVMP). Under this, certain fiscal benefits will be given to owners of old commercial and private vehicles who give them up willingly. These are: an excise duty rebate on their next purchase, cash-back offers, and/or discount coupons by certain manufacturers. So, for example, if you are giving up your 11-year-old Maruti, the same company will give you a discount voucher for a new Maruti purchase. But Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, at the Centre for Science and Environment, asks: Do we ask the government for money when buying a fridge or AC for ourselves? Then why the car? Such a scrappage policy with incentives will not help the environment but only the automobile industry. The Minister for Road and Transport, Nitin Gadkari, has himself said that VVMP will boost the automobile industrys turnover over four-times to reach Rs 20 lakh crore in the next five years. This means that there will further addition of cars to the road. Is that what we want? she asks. We are completely against the usage of any public money for private cars, she adds. Particularly diesel cars which are already enjoying lower taxes on fuel. She says this was a concern with the odd-even scheme too. It was feared that due to number plate restrictions, people will buy new cars. In Mexico, we saw wrong pollution control policies lead to a boom in the automobile sector in the 1990s and it did not help the environment at all. It must not be replicated in India, she warned. Another concern is the rollout of BS IV quality fuel, which is due not before 2017. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Centre wants to have relations with Jammu and Kashmir based on sentiments and emotions. We dont want relations based on needs with Jammu and Kashmir, but we want relations based on emotions and sentiments, Rajnath Singh said after meeting mainstream political parties in Srinagar. The minister was winding up his two-day visit to the restive region, which has been under curfew since July 8 after massive protests erupted over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffer Wani. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives at a press conference in Srinagar Around 47 civilians including three women were killed in clashes between the police and paramilitary forces, and civilian protesters. I am concerned about the situation in Kashmir. The prime minister too has expressed concern. We express regret over the lives lost. I offer condolences and sympathy to those affected, Singh said. He said he has met more than 30 delegations since his visit to Srinagar. I talked to them about the ongoing situation. I appealed people to help restore peace and normalcy, he said. I appeal Kashmiris to help restore peace and normalcy, they should give constructive suggestions. Well welcome these suggestions. Differences can be resolved through talks. I spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her entire cabinet. There is no need for a third party intervention on Kashmir, Singh said, while rejecting any dialogue on Kashmir with Pakistan. Referring to Pakistan, he said the country itself is hit by terrorism - and now it is asking Kashmiris to resort to terror. This should stop. Kashmiriyat has a place in Jhoomoriyat and Insaniyat, he added. Speaking about the pellet guns used by the security forces against civilian protesters over the past 15 days, which have left over a hundred youths blind, he said: The delegation that I met talked to me about the pellet-injured. I express sympathy for those injured. As I said in Parliament, an expert committee would be set up within two months and explore options of non-lethal measures. We have told security forces to adopt maximum restraint, he said. Nearly 4,000 people including 2,259 civilians and 2,228 policemen have been wounded over the past 15 days, he added. I appeal the youth to not pelt stones and security forces to not use pellet guns, he said. I told the chief minister to send all the wounded to Delhi, and if need be they will be treated at AIIMS, he said. We can take all of them to Delhi in a special plane and treat them, he added. Swati Singh, the wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, has lodged a complaint over foul language directed at her family. Dayashankar Singh sparked protests after questioning Mayawati's character, and his wife claims that BSP workers used foul language against the women in her family during their demonstrations. She met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and lodged a complaint over the alleged insults. Swati said that she had lodged an FIR against the misdeeds of BSP workers led by Naseemuddin Siddqui at the behest of Mayawati. Swati Singh, the wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, says BSP workers targeted the female members of her family with upsetting abuse She submitted a CD containing video of the protest by BSP workers on Thursday and the Governor has assured that necessary action will be taken after examining it, Swati said. Swati alleged that during the protest, BSP workers raised objectionable slogans against her mother-in-law, daughter and herself. If Mayawati was hurt by Singhs remark against her, then slogans raised by BSP workers were equally disturbing for Dayashankars family, she said. She added that the BSP chiefs allegation that she is working on the orders of the BJP is completely baseless. After Dayashankar sparked outrage with his derogatory comments against the BSP supremo, the party held a huge protest in Hazratbal on Thursday and raised slogans against the expelled BJPs leaders family. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday, on a complaint by Dayashankar Singhs mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used abusive language against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised derogatory slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday, during which Singhs 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. A delegation of BJP office-bearers, led by its state president, met the Governor on Saturday and demanded the immediate arrest of Naseemuddin Siddiqui. They also submitted a memorandum stating that derogatory language was used against women members of Singhs family during protest by BSP workers. After the ruling Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal legislators, it's the turn of the Bharatiya Janata Party to face charges of sexual harassment in Bihar. Tunaji Pandey, a BJP MLC, was arrested on Sunday on the charge of molesting a 12-year-old girl on a train. He was subsequently sent on a 14-day judicial remand. Even though Pandey denied the charges, the BJP promptly suspended him from the party. Suspended: A complaint was lodged by the 12-year-old girl's father against BJP MLC Tunaji Pandey. He denies the claims against him. According to a complaint lodged by the victims father with the government railway police (GRP), Pandey was travelling on the Howrah-Gorakhpur Poorvanchal Express when he allegedly molested the child, who was sleeping on the adjoining berth of an AC-2 tier bogie at around 3am on Sunday. The legislator is accused of kissing the girl and asking her to come to the toilet with him when the train was near Sarai railway station, seven kilometres from Hajipur station. When the panic-stricken girl raised an alarm, her parents - who were sleeping elsewhere in the same compartment - allegedly rushed to her rescue. The MLA was arrested by the escort party on the train, which handed him over to GRP at Hajipur station. The MLC, who has been booked under IPC 354 A (demand or request for sexual favours) and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was produced in court and remanded to 14 days judicial custody later in the day. Pandey, who was returning from Durgapur in West Bengal, refuted the charges saying the girl shouted when he switched on the light to remove his mobile phone charger from the socket. Claiming that he was not even aware who was sleeping on that berth, the BJP MLC said he was merely collecting his belongings ready to get out at Hajipur station. His explanation could not save him from being suspended by his party, though. Senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted that Pandey had been suspended. "The BJP took immediate action against its lawmaker whereas Nitish alliance, instead of expelling Shahabuddin, kept him in NEC (national executive committee)," he said. If you do not conduct the CT scan of my wife, I will kill you. These were the words of a 30-year-old man who forcibly entered the Radiology department of Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), and ordered doctors to see his wife first. The medics, who were already burdened with 40 patients, were helpless. Physical assault, abuse, and threats have become a routine sight at most of the government hospitals in Delhi. In the past year, senior doctors of the hospital have been assaulted by patients' attendants more than 70 times, and more than 18 times the doctors have gone on strike demanding better security and safety in the hospital premises. A resident doctor at the Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital was attacked after a patient suffered a heart attack and died. (Picture for representation only.) Lapse in security Doctors allege that every single day they are either abused or threatened by patients' attendants or their family members. More than 70 times the doctors have been assaulted. Be it a minor scuffle or a major fight. We have been demanding a security system in the hospital to avoid such incidents, said Dr Ravinder Chauhan, president of the Residents Doctors Association (RDA) at LHMC. On Saturday, a resident doctor at Deep Chand Bandhu hospital (DCBH) was attacked by an attendant of a patient who had suffered a heart attack and later died. The attendant even went a step ahead and snatched the doctors bike keys. The doctors then went on strike for two hours. The patient was properly attended by doctors and soon after his death, his family started misbehaving with the junior doctor. We have registered an FIR as they took his bike keys too. The hospital administration has promised us that soon more security guards will be deployed, said Dr Harshit, vice president, RDA, DCBH. This is not an isolated case. More than 1,200 resident doctors from Lady Hardinge Medical College and its two associated hospitals went on strike on Thursday after one of its doctors was bitten on his arm by a patients relative. Last month, relatives of an infant who died during treatment at Chacha Nehru Baal Chikitsalaya in east Delhi were seen on camera thrashing doctors. We cannot work in such an environment. The hospitals must provide us security, said a senior doctor. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has been repeatedly raising this issue of safety and security of doctors in the hospital. According to the association, from June 24 last year to July 24 this year, the doctors have gone on strike more than 18 times. Older travellers with serious health problems face being priced out of their adventure plans because of insurance charges that in extreme cases are up to 100 times the usual cost. There are 11.4 million people in the UK over the age of 65, compared to 9.4 million 15 years ago. This figure is expected to swell by 40 per cent over the next 17 years. Although travel is the most common retirement aspiration among the over-50s, the high price of insurance could stand in the way of them ticking off items on their bucket list a term made popular by the 2007 film of the same name. Dee Marquette-Slight was quoted a travel insurance premium of 1,500 50 times more expensive than that of a standard policy because she has a rare type of cancer It featured actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman whose characters escape a cancer ward to embark on an action-packed road trip. Tomorrows pensioners seeking similar high-thrill adventures might find they cannot afford travel cover that costs more than the holiday itself. A high price to pay Retired grandmother Dee Marquette-Slight, 63, says travel is in her blood. But she was quoted a travel insurance premium of 1,500 50 times more expensive than that of a standard policy because she has a rare type of cancer. She was looking to cover a ten-day cruise to Cork, Guernsey and Northern France. Dee has neuroendocrine tumours that started in her small intestine. They are abnormal growths found in nerves and glands. Although the tumours spread, her illness is under control. Known as NET, it also affected Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and the BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Nick Robinson. Some can be surgically removed, while others can only be alleviated through ongoing medical treatment. But to some travel insurers, they are an excuse to ramp up premiums. Thrill seeker: Jack Nicholson takes a skydive in the 2007 film The Bucket List Research by The Mail on Sunday uncovered travel insurance quotes covering Dees condition on comparison websites for more than 3,000. Dee, who is married to Graham, 65, was diagnosed in October 2014. When she was still undergoing investigation for the root cause of her declining health, the couple had to cancel eight planned holidays including trips to China, Italy, Iceland and the US. At the time insurance linked to Dees credit card covered the cost of the cancellations. But after her condition was revealed, treated aggressively and an ongoing plan recommended involving an injection every four weeks her travel insurer did not want to keep her custom. It was an exhausting journey to find one which would take her on, despite her cancer being stable. Dee says: I ended up speaking with insurance company advisers who didnt have a clue what I had. They always asked the horrible question: Is it terminal? It was so upsetting. Were all terminal in some way. Many older travellers are priced out of the market when it comes to travel insurance for adventure trips She adds: Doctors always say you need to take a holiday to relax and recuperate. But then youre stymied by insurance firms that say they cant help you. It felt like I was being penalised for having had an illness. Companies which did offer me cover were quoting silly sums one for 700, another for 1,500. Last year, a travel agent eventually recommended a specialist company that could help and the Slights ended up with a 327 policy with Free Spirit. This insurer has gained a reputation for addressing the travel insurance needs of the elderly. Last year, it stepped forward to insure veterans from the Second World War who wanted to return to the Netherlands for a commemoration ceremony marking the Liberation of Arnhem in 1945. The trip was part funded by a charity run by Londons cab drivers. Free Spirit abandoned the usual medical screening process to cover 306 veterans, carers, drivers, medical support team and other guests. All returned safely without needing to claim. Dee, who recommends those affected by the same condition as hers to seek help from the NET Patient Foundation, adds: Insurers need to stop looking at us as if were about to drop dead. How you are screened Decisions on cover by mainstream travel insurers and comparison websites are often based on the Healix system for medical screening. It is a database of disorders and asks a series of questions related to those conditions. Peter Hayman, of Free Spirit, says: In terms of cost, it makes a difference as to how you answer the questions and where you are travelling to. For example, medical costs are higher in countries such as Spain, the US, Japan and South Africa. He adds: If you have a serious condition, a comparison website is unlikely to be a suitable way to buy cover because the medical questionnaire is not intuitive. The higher your risk score, the fewer providers will appear, to the point where there are none at all. The scoring system is broad someone with cancer that has spread could end up with a risk score of anywhere between 30 and 300. Someone with diabetes and no further complications could score below three. Most insurers stop offering deals at a score of around six or seven. Hayman says: Its a blunt tool but we overlay it with common sense. People with serious conditions are not well served by the general travel insurance market. Respect: Insurer Free Spirit helped war veterans travel to the Netherlands How to find cover Those declined or priced out of cover will probably have approached a mainstream insurer which does not want to deal with customers suffering medical problems. Specialist insurers are a better route. They include Free Spirit, AllClear, Avanti, Able2Travel, InsureCancer and Goodtogoinsurance. Garry Nelson, head of marketing at specialist provider AllClear, says: There have been examples of major insurers refusing to renew premiums because a policyholders circumstances have changed and the insurer has decided the risk is now too great. Bundled insurance as part of a bank account or credit card is also unlikely to cover a medical condition unless you have specifically declared it. Nelson warns against travelling uninsured. He says: The cost, both financially and emotionally if something goes wrong, could be disastrous. Comparison websites can help find cover but for more complicated illnesses they are likely to throw up eye-watering prices. If you're priced out of the market, a specialist insurer may be your best bet when looking for cover Anyone with something unusual to declare will find it less time consuming and potentially less upsetting to use an insurance broker. They work on behalf of the customer, who only has to run through their medical history once. It then becomes the brokers responsibility to find the best-priced insurer willing to provide cover. For help contacting a professional, use the British Insurance Brokers Associations find a broker service by visiting website biba.org.uk or calling 0370 950 1790. Graeme Trudgill, executive director at the association, says: We have many members who are ready to help and specialise in different medical conditions, even the most advanced cancers. Many conditions such as asthma, gout, glaucoma, diabetes or high blood pressure are often accepted at normal terms if they are stable. The way you can view a property is changing due to technology that enables buyers to visit homes without even walking through the front door. Traditionally, you would need to find an estate agent and book a viewing that suited both you and the seller. Services such as Zoopla and Rightmove already help many buyers whittle down choice by allowing them to browse images online first. Now some estate agents are offering virtual reality home tours. Nice view: Marc Shoffman gets a virtual tour of the Fulham Reach development How the technology works Virtual reality takes a user into a 3D world. It is based on the same technology used for decades in flight simulators, where you can pretend to fly an aeroplane. Now, software companies and designers are taking photos or videos of homes on the market that are then turned into 3D immersive worlds. They can be entered via an app, a virtual reality headset or a website. You can then explore the property at 360-degree angles as if you were inside and view different areas by moving your head or clicking a button. There are several providers that specialise in turning photos and videos into virtual reality such as Vieweet and EyeSpy360. Headsets are made by companies such as Samsung and Google. Many property experts predict such technology could become popular for those buying property at auction or for parents wanting to check out where their kids will be living if renting at university. Viewing a property through virtual reality There are two ways to use virtual reality in property viewings either through an interactive photo or video that users can access on a website, or through a virtual reality headset. If you have your own virtual reality headset you may be able to access these property viewings yourself, otherwise you would need to visit an estate agent branch. Upmarket agent Foxtons is among the early adopters of this technology. It has partnered with technology company UI Centric to create virtual reality tours of Fulham Reach, a complex being built by developer St George in South-West London. Foxtons has taken wide lens pictures of the marketing suite at the complex based on where buyers typically stand and look inside a property. Window on the world: Fulham Reach, a complex being built by developer St George in South-West London This has then been made into a virtual reality tour by UI Centric using an app designed for Samsungs smartphones and headsets. Buyers can make a virtual reality visit at Foxtons Islington branch. They get a Samsung headset that is placed over the eyes and puts the viewer within the photos of the development. They can then stand still and use their head to look around the property and nod at different areas or click a button to move rooms. Dan Rafferty, chief information officer for Foxtons, says: While the need to visit a property will always remain strong, virtual reality can be the most convenient and cost-effective way to start or narrow down a property search. We are now looking to extend this service to all of our offices, featuring all of our properties. Customers will have the option to virtually view multiple properties over a coffee in one of our offices. Another London agent, Urban Spaces, is introducing virtual reality tours next month. Virtual viewing: Upmarket estate agent Foxtons is among the early adopters of the new technology Director Simon Charnock says: Virtual reality removes the barriers and complexity of viewing property by bringing the experience to our customers computers or devices. We believe virtual reality and 3D photography experiences will transform the way our industry interacts with customers. Rightmove is also experimenting with virtual reality videos and offers tours in-branch of properties marketed by estate agent Martyn Gerrard in Whetstone and Finchley, North London. Not just a London fad Nottingham-based agent Walton & Allen has launched virtual reality viewings using provider Newton Media. It is now rolling out the scheme to all properties marketed in its three branches. Phil Williams, head of residential sales, says: Virtual reality helps buyers compile a shortlist and it is good for sellers as they have people visit their property who are genuinely interested. People lead busy lives so with virtual reality they can visit a range of properties in one go and create a shortlist of viewings. Williams says it is also good for renters wanting to view a range of properties and overseas investors or parents buying or renting a flat for their children when they go to university. He adds: It wont replace viewings as houses are bought on emotion and you need to visit a property to get that, but it will help whittle down the choice for buyers. He says no one has yet to make an offer based purely on a virtual reality viewing, but many have used the service to create a shortlist of preferred properties. Andrew Nicholls, of EyeSpy360, says: Virtual reality wont replace people seeing a property. It is just an accessory and will be useful especially for international sales. Owners of restaurants and bars are overwhelmingly pessimistic following the European referendum result, according to research seen exclusively by The Mail on Sunday. The study revealed fears of a decline in consumer spending, as diners stay at home, leading to cuts in investment, compounded by staffing problems caused by Brexit. A survey of 800 leading business owners and directors in the sector by consultants CGA Peach revealed that just 15 per cent of operators were optimistic about the market for the next six months, much lower than the 75 per cent who were optimistic at the start of the year. Brexit downturn: Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed believed Brexit would have a negative effect on their business John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants, told The Mail on Sunday that he had a very demoralised team who think they are not welcome in Britain any more, adding: We have some remarkable young people who are feeling really down and unwanted right now. Vincent, who together with Leon co-founder Henry Dimbleby has advised the Government on its healthy eating initiatives, said business was already 3 per cent down on what it would have been had the referendum vote gone the other way, and said the chain had already been hit by the fall in exchange rates. Were going to look at more overseas investment, he said. Weve just opened in Schiphol, Amsterdams airport, and if its going to be more difficult here, then why not? Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed believed Brexit would have a negative effect on their business. Fighting: Richard Caring has reassured his foreign staff at restaurants including Londons Sexy Fish In the longer term the picture was a little brighter, but only just. Some 29 per cent of operators are optimistic about the market as a whole over the next two years. Tellingly, not a single operator raised their expectations, either in the short or long term, after the referendum. Confidence has plummeted since the beginning of this year, said Peter Martin, vice president of CGA Peach. Youve got the falling pound, falling customer confidence, potentially higher costs Italian restaurants who source food from Italy, for example and there will be much greater competitive pressure. There will certainly be casualties in the industry, maybe among companies who are over-leveraged or who cant crunch their costs. There could also be more consolidation. While there is expected to be less investment in the industry by operators, one silver lining could be that property rental prices, a major cost for restaurants and bars, could fall. However in the long term there is huge concern about overseas labour, said Martin. In the sector there are a lot of good people from the European Union who will be concerned about whats going to happen to them. And even if people are allowed to stay here, what about companies trying to recruit in the future? Last week it was reported that restaurant tycoon Richard Caring told foreign members of staff that he would fight tooth and nail to protect their rights following the absurd Brexit vote. Caring, who owns top London restaurants The Ivy, Sexy Fish and Le Caprice, reputedly told staff they should have no concerns about staying in the country after the UK voted to leave the European Union. John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants, told The Mail on Sunday he had a very demoralised team who think they are not welcome in Britain any more While the economic climate might be tough for businesses, diners may benefit as there will be increased competition in the sector, said Martin, adding: People will probably spend less and companies will have to be very entrepreneurial and innovative to attract customers. The winners from the Brexit vote are foreign visitors, who are finding their travel cash goes a lot further. While restaurateurs are pessimistic for the industry as a whole, those in tourist hotspots have seen customer numbers rise. James Breslaw, founder and owner of the Neds Noodle Bar chain, said: Business is already up 14 per cent at our London Eye restaurant. Its phenomenal. Tourists who wouldnt have ordered drinks or starters before are ordering the lot. Theyve got much more money. However, his food costs have already gone up, which he says goes straight off my gross profit. And staff at Neds, 95 per cent of whom are from overseas, are worried. He said: Nobody knows whats going to happen. As a business youve just got to get on with it. Profit warnings spiked in the three months to June at their highest total since the peak of the financial crisis in 2008. Such alerts occur when stock market-listed companies revise their expected profits downwards and can be an indicator of expectations of worsening times ahead. The figures from accountancy firm EY show that one in ten of the warnings related to the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote including fears over demand and a weaker pound. Trouble ahead: One in ten of the warnings related to the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote including fears over demand and a weaker pound Alan Hudson, EYs head of restructuring for UK & Ireland, said: Its been a dizzying, unpredictable time since the EU referendum. The initial impact of this uncertainty appears to have pushed profit warnings to their highest second quarter total since 2008. But ultimately its hard to separate the Brexit effect from the underlying issues that brought high levels of warnings in previous quarters. Many UK companies still face sluggish, disrupted and competitive markets with Brexit adding further layers of challenge but also opportunity. The 66 warnings issued by the 1,325 listed companies surveyed by EY was nine more than the number registered in the same quarter in 2015. One in 10 of the profit warnings related to the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote Meanwhile, figures due out on Wednesday from the Office for National Statistics are set to indicate that the UK economy was doing well before the referendum vote. The statistics are expected to show that UK output grew 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, a stronger rate of growth than the 0.4 per cent seen in the first quarter. Gross Domestic Product growth is expected to have improved to 0.5 per cent in the second quarter and could even have reached 0.6 per cent. While heightened uncertainty had been expected to take a toll on second-quarter growth, the bulk of the available evidence indicates that GDP growth was relatively resilient in April and May at least, said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Markit. A key survey on business expectations released by IHS Markit on Friday suggested that the economy had been hit hard by the Brexit vote, but there is little hard data as yet. Employers group the Confederation of British Industry will release figures on industrial trends and the retail sector for July this week. Archer said: We suspect that manufacturing activity suffered substantially in July from orders being cancelled or postponed due to heightened uncertainties or concerns over the economic outlook following the Brexit vote with larger orders and contracts particularly vulnerable. He added that he also expected the CBI to say retail sales are slowing. Nationwide is set to report this week that house prices are falling. The Government is being urged to rethink its decision not to cut the stake size on fixed-odds betting terminals, by the London council spearheading the fight against the controversial machines. Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales is calling for the maximum stake to be cut from 100 a spin to 2. In November 2014, he led a crossparty group of 93 local authorities calling for the Government to act. Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales is calling for the maximum stake to be cut from 100 a spin to 2 He said lax planning laws and lax licensing rules had led to clustering of betting shops on high streets. It was the largest ever proposal to be submitted under the Sustainable Communities Act, but it was rejected by the Government. On Wednesday, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Local Government Association and Newham Council are due to meet again. Sir Robin said: 'The Government has been dragging its heels, ignoring the demand of local authorities which represent almost half of the population that something must be done about these lucrative, electronic casinos to protect our high streets. 'I urge it to end this unnecessary and undemocratic delay this week.' Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, called the terminals 'a blight on society' in his election campaign, saying: 'It is abundantly clear that tougher regulation is needed to combat their corrosive influence.' The Newham Mayor is calling on the Government to slash the maximum stake allowed on fixed-odds terminals At the start of the year we reported that Ladbrokes alone makes more than 1,000 per week per machine, a rise of 9 per cent in a year, according to the Fairer Gambling campaign group. Profits rose for other firms too. Paddy Powers weekly profits went up 4 per cent from 1,319 in the first six months of 2014 to 1,373 in the first six months of 2015. At Coral, profits went from 957 to 986 between the first nine months of 2014 and 2015 up 3 per cent. Applications to work at the Dallas Police Department have skyrocketed since a sniper shot and killed five officers. The department received 467 applications in the 12 days after the July 7 attacks. A gunman disrupted what had been a peaceful protest against recent police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. Dallas police officers Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith and Patrick Zamarripa died in the shootings, as well as Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer Brent Thompson. The gunman wounded nine other officers and two civilians. The Dallas Police Department received 38.9 applications per day on average between July 8 and July 20, according to a statement released Friday. Scroll down for video Dallas Police Chief David Brown (pictured during a funeral service for fallen officer Patrick Zamarripa last week) has urged those who protested the police shootings to apply to work at the department This represents a 344 per cent increase over a comparable period in June. The department received 136 applications, or an average of 11.3 per day, between June 8 and June 20. From October 1 to June 30, the first nine months of the fiscal year, the department received 2,871 applications. The department had cancelled academy classes in May due to a lack of applicants. The situation was becoming 'critical', vice president of the Dallas Police Association Mike Mata told WFAA at the time. Dallas Police Chief David Brown has urged those who protested the police shootings to apply. 'Become a part of the solution. Serve your communities. Dont be a part of the problem,' he told CNN earlier this month. 'Were hiring. Get off that protest line and put an application in. Well put you in your neighborhood and we will help you resolve some of the problems youre protesting about.' Dallas police received a record number of applications following the July 7 fatal shooting of officers Patrick Zamarripa (center), Michael Krol (right) as well as DART Officer Brent Thompson (left) A two-month-old Sydney baby was the first of his weight and age to receive a rare liver transplant that has saved his life. Born with a rare auto-immune disease called neonatal haemochromatosis at just 32 weeks, Aidan Neale's liver was too badly damaged to recover on its own. The premature baby was ruled too small for a liver transplant, but after staff at Westmead Children's hospital tried everything else they could, they eventually put him on the list. Aidan Neale (pictured) was born at just 32 weeks with a disease that left his liver too damaged to function The baby was admitted for a liver transplant after doctors had exhausted all other options After a 'miracle surgery' Aidan is now the smallest and youngest Australian to have had a liver transplant Father Rob Neale was ready to give up his own organ to save his son, and went through an extensive testing process so he would be ready for surgery at a moments notice. Rob and his wife Naomi were hoping for a paediatric liver to become available, but Rob said only six or seven come through a year, so they were prepared for the worst. Just days after Rob's testing, they were informed that a donor liver was available. If it hadn't been for an emergency nappy change, the Belrose couple would have missed the call. 'We almost missed the phone call they called my wife Naomi first about 9pm, but she didn't hear her phone,' Rob told Daily Mail Australia. 'I walked into the room to change Aidan just after, and I heard my phone go off. It was just lucky he needed a nappy change. 'The last thing I wanted to do was have our kid go through a liver transplant, but it was a huge relief.' Because Aidan was still so small, they needed to cut down even the paediatric liver to about the size of a lemon, in a process called hypo-reduction. The operation was a success, but saw young Aidan in intensive care for weeks because he was 'so small and so swollen', and in hospital for a total of three or four months straight. Pictured with surgeon Albert Shun (left) and father Rob Neale (right) is Aidan well on the mend The young boy will soon be giving his older brother a run for his money with his go-getter attitude, says father Rob For Rob and Naomi, Aidan's birth to his release from hospital was a lesson in powerlessness. The couple had experienced the same condition with two other children - their first born, who died at 40 weeks, and their eldest son Angus, who recovered on his own after about two months in hospital. When Naomi found out she was pregnant with Aidan, she felt confident in knowing what the condition was, and began treatment that was almost guaranteed to prevent her youngest child from contracting the disease. 'It was one of the only cases where this treatment hadn't worked to this extent,' said Rob. 'For us as parents, it was purely traumatic. There was just a feeling of pure disbelief that it was happening again.' However, despite a rocky start, Aidan's progress has been remarkable. When the baby first came home from hospital, he was taking 24 separate medications per day. Today, he only takes two tablets - one in the morning and one at night to help boost his immune system. The Neale's are looking forward to enjoying their future as a family, knowing they have two healthy sons. Aidan's brother Angus (pictured left) also had the condition when he was born, but managed to recover on his own after just two months in hospital Parents Rob and Naomi are delighted with Aidan's progress and are excited to leave the 'traumatic' start to their son's life in the past 'We're going to go ahead and live our lives as normal. He's going to do almost everything other kids are going to do,' said Rob. 'Obviously if there's a huge risk, like if someone is sick, we'll keep him away from it, and we won't be holidaying anywhere isolated, but it's a small price to pay.' It's not just a win for Aidan. The 'miracle surgery' that saved their son, and the incredible support from Westmead hospital helped both mum and dad just as much, says Rob. 'It's been a rough three years, but we look at our two young boys, and they're smiling and happy and the trauma starts to fade a little bit. 'The whole process has been fairly testing. Having babies is supposed to be a happy time, but we look back on the birth of our kids as quite traumatic. 'But history is history, and we can enjoy the future now.' To show their appreciation, Rob and Naomi now dedicate a huge amount of their down time to helping raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and raising money for the liver unit at Westmead. 'The staff at Westmead - everyone from the surgeons to the gastroenterologists to the nurses has been so fantastic to us,' said Rob. 'They're so patient, not just with the young kids but with the highly emotional and stressed out parents.' On Saturday, Rob and Naomi will take their sons to Narrabeen to join with hundreds of other people to support the Westmead liver unit through a sponsored walk. Leaping Livers Lapping the Lagoon aims to raise funds for the unit, and awareness for the importance of and dire need for organ donors. In addition to the walk, a sausage sizzle will be available for the price of a small donation. The liver unit is aiming to beat last year's donation total of $42,000, which was used to help purchase a plasma surgical knife, which makes incisions more precise and surgery safer. People can register for the Leaping Livers Lapping the Lagoon walk, or make a donation online at leapinglivers2016.gofundraise.com.au. The remains of a college student whose disappearance several days ago prompted a search in Ohio are believed to be found, authorities said on Saturday. Investigators looking for 20-year-old Sierah Joughin found the remains on Friday evening in an area near a rural county road, not far from where her bike was discovered abandoned, Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller said. 'At this time, we strongly believe that this is Sierah,' Miller told reporters at a news conference on Saturday afternoon. Scroll down for video The remains of University of Toledo student Sierah Joughin, 20, (pictured left and right) whose disappearance several days ago prompted a search in Ohio are believed to be found, authorities said Law enforcement are shown above as they searched for Joughin on Friday at the property of James Worley, 57, of Delta, Ohio. Worley was arrested on Friday on an abduction charge related to Joughin's disappearance Miller did not release any details on how she might have died, and he did not take questions from reporters. An autopsy has yet to be completed, but authorities said they expect to make a positive identification on the remains through DNA or fingerprints in the next few days. Joughin, a 20-year-old University of Toledo student, was last seen riding her bike on Tuesday at around 6.45pm with her boyfriend in Metamora, about 20 miles west of Toledo. They then split directions to head home, but Joughin did not ever make it, according to NBC. Her bike was later found in a cornfield after her mother filed a missing person's report that evening. Early Friday, authorities arrested 57-year-old James Worley, of Delta, on an abduction charge related to her disappearance. James Worley, 57, of Delta, Ohio pictured above. At this time, police do not believe here was prior connection between Worley and Joughin Paul Bishop, the Joughin family representative, left, thanks members of the public for their concern and support after Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller, center, announced law enforcement have located the remains of Joughin on Saturday Law enforcement pictured as they searched for Joughin on Friday. Miller said investigators continue to search for evidence in Joughin's case, and he encouraged people with any information to call authorities At this time, police do not believe there was prior connection between Worley and Joughin. Worley has requested an attorney who has represented him previously, however that attorney has declined to comment. Miller said he anticipates additional charges will be filed against the suspect. 'This investigation is far from over,' he told reporters. Worley was convicted in a Lucas County court for the 1990 abduction of a 26-year-old woman, Robin Gardner, who had been biking along a country road, The Toledo Blade reported. As she rode past farm fields, Worley passed her once before striking her wit his truck from behind, causing her to tumble into a roadside ditch, court records indicate. He then stopped to ask if she was okay before coming up behind her and striking her on the head, according to the Toledo Blade. Worley then reportedly dragged her to the side of his truck, threatened to kill her and pulled out handcuffs from his glove box. Gardner, recalling the incident, told the Toledeo Blade that she was screaming in the cornfield at the top of her lungs. Joughin was last seen riding her bike on Tuesday at around 6.45pm with her boyfriend in Metamora, about 20 miles west of Toledo. They then split directions to head home, but Joughin did not ever make it 'A blood-curdling scream, a scream I didnt know I had in me,' Gardner, now 52, said. She managed to escape injured, but alive, after fleeing out the driver-side door and hopping onto the back of a motorcycle whose driver had pulled over down the road after seeing her flailing inside the truck, The Toledo Blade reported. Following that abduction, Worley was indicted for kidnapping and felonious assault but entered an Alford plea, not admitting guilt, to abduction, according to The Toledo Blade. He was found guilty and entered prison in November 1990, and was paroled in December 1993. Miller said investigators continue to search for evidence in Joughin's case, and he encouraged people with any information to call authorities. At Saturday's news conference, a family spokesman thanked law enforcement and others for their help in the search for Joughin. 'Sierah was a remarkable young lady with a contagious smile,' Paul Bishop told reporters. 'She was a loving person who has touched many people in her life.' The University of Toledo has said in a statement that Joughin was entering her junior year. She was studying human resource management and was a member of the school's professional business fraternity. Video courtesy of WTVG/ABC 13 Innocent: New evidence blows a major hole in the story of Richard III and the princes in the Tower It is one of the most dramatic and controversial tales in British history how two young princes were murdered by their dastardly uncle so he could claim the throne for himself. But now a leading historian has uncovered evidence which he claims blows a major hole in the story of the princes in the Tower that has done so much to darken Richard IIIs reputation for generations. Dr John Ashdown-Hill, who received an MBE for his work in helping to locate Richards body beneath a Leicester car park in 2012, claims tests done on remains believed to be the princes known as the bones in the urn show they are unlikely to have any genetic link to the Plantagenet king. In a new edition of his book, Eleanor, The Secret Queen: The Woman Who Put Richard III On The Throne, he says an existing dental study of the bones, discovered at the Tower of London in 1674, show evidence of hypodontia, or congenitally missing teeth. In contrast, an examination of Richards skull has revealed he does not share this genetic anomaly meaning they are unlikely to have been related. Dr Ashdown-Hill, honorary senior history lecturer at Essex University, said: Its my belief the bones exhumed from the Tower of London, long believed to be Richard IIIs nephews, Edward and Richard, are more likely to be Anglo Saxon remains. It strongly suggests the bones have no blood relationship to King Richard. And if that is the case, it would put paid to the centuries-old belief that Richard killed his nephews. It is exciting that finding Richard could be instrumental in helping solve another of the most intriguing historical mysteries. Evidence: Richard IIIs skull shows no sign of hypodontia, or congenitally missing teeth, and so may not have been related to the bones previously thought to have been of the two princes he is alleged to have killed Dr Ashdown-Hill is now calling for the bones to be disinterred from Westminster Abbey and undergo DNA tests to reveal definitively whether they are the remains of the young brothers. Richard, the last of the Plantagenet monarchs, died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in August 1485 after being defeated by Henry Tudor in the final War of the Roses. His naked body was paraded through the streets of Leicester before being buried in a crude grave at Greyfriars now the site of the council car park. Richard, though an important historical figure, is remembered chiefly for the accusations that he murdered Edward, 12, and Richard, nine. The boys were the sons of Edward IV, with the young Edward expected to become the next king. However, Richard then Duke of Gloucester had them ensconced in the Tower, claiming it was in preparation for the coronation. Instead, he claimed the throne for himself, and the boys were never seen again. Lost boys: How artists have imagined the 'murdered' princes Edward, 12, and Richard, nine Throughout the centuries, historians have believed he murdered them to secure his own tenuous grasp on the throne. The Church of England has repeatedly refused to allow forensic tests on the bones in the urn for fear that it might lead to multiple Royal disinterments. A Muslim mother has penned a heartfelt letter to Sonia Kruger imploring the 'fearful' TV host to educate herself about Islam. Kruger created a storm of controversy when she called for a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia as she hosted Today Extra on the Nine Network, saying she wanted to feel 'safe'. Melbourne teacher Inaz Janif penned an open letter published by Fairfax Media responding to the comments 'as a mother', and recalled how views like Kruger's had seen her four-year-old daughter bullied in the playground. Scroll down for video Sonia Kruger appeared on the Today show and said she thought Muslim migration to Australia should be banned Ms Janif asked Kruger to learn about Islam so her views on the religion were not based on fear and misconceptions. She said Islam had taught her to see past religion and love people for who they were and she wished Kruger could do the same. The most hurtful aspect of the views Kruger promoted were how they impacted her young daughter who could not understand why children did not want to play with her, Ms Janif said. Kruger appeared on Today after making the comments to explain herself. She said: 'I saw the image of a baby covered in a plastic sheet - I imagined what that must have been like for the people of Nice' 'From one mother to another. I understand your fears. I understand your concern for you and your child, ' she said. 'Sonia, views like yours have already infiltrated the fabric of our lives in a pervasive manner. 'As a result of these attitudes I have seen people abused physically and verbally from all corners of our Australian society. 'I have had to explain to my four-year-old daughter with tears down my face, to not approach the other children at the playground to play, because they don't want to play with her.' Channel Nine bosses have recently confirmed that Kruger will be welcomed back to the Today show Kruger caused controversy when she argued there was a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks on a panel discussion on the Channel Nine breakfast show on Monday. Kruger called for Australia to stop Muslim immigration because she wanted to 'feel safe'. 'Personally, I would like to see it stop now for Australia because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day,' she said. She said she had 'a lot of very good friends' who were Muslims and peace-loving, beautiful people, before adding 'there are fanatics'. Ms Kruger said 'it was vital to discuss these issues without automatically being labelled racist'. Jeremy Corbyn has made 'mistakes' and will resign if he loses the next general election, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell conceded today. Mr McDonnell said: 'That would be inevitable, wouldn't it? Every Labour leader who loses an election usually goes.' The exception to that maxim would be Neil Kinnock, who stayed on after the 1987 General Election and failed to lead Labour to victory again five years later. There has been speculation that if Corbyn is re-elected by Labour members in September the Prime Minister Theresa May could seize on the Opposition's disunity and call a snap election in an attempt to boost her small overall majority. Labour MP Michael Dugher, who was close to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, predicted that if May called an election with Corbyn as the Labour leader she would raise her majority from 12 to more than 100. Scroll down for video The two faces of Jeremy: Corbyn making a serious point at his leadership launch in Manchester yesterday (left) and late guffawing at a joke (right) Owen Smith, a Welshman like Kinnock, has challenged Corbyn for the leadership after a failed coup last month by the majority of the Shadow Cabinet. Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary, said the party was on 'its knees' and could split if Mr Corbyn remained at the helm. Smith told Sky News: 'My grave worry is that the party might split apart, that having been a great force for good in Britain for a hundred years and more we could cease to be that. 'We are not looking at the moment like a government-in-waiting. We don't look like a credible powerful opposition, one that people could imagine running the country. I think that's what we've got to be. 'It's time for Labour to really get up off its knees and start fighting back against the Tories. I know that's what Jeremy wants too but I'm not sure he can do that.' Shadow chancellor John McDonnell (left) has lashed out at opponents of Jeremy Corbyn, claiming they are out to 'destroy' the Labour Party. Owen Smith (right) says: 'It's time for Labour to really get up off its knees and start fighting back against the Tories' Mr McDonnell lashed out at opponents of Corbyn, accusing them of trying to 'destroy' the Labour Party in order to get rid of him, despite his popularity with ordinary party members. The MP for Hayes & Harlington said there was a 'small group' within the party responsible for the current turmoil which had seen it beset by allegations of bullying, intimidation and abuse. His comments came after former shadow minister Seema Malhotra disclosed she had lodged a formal complaint with the Speaker John Bercow after staff working for Corbyn and McDonnell entered her House of Commons office without permission. Speaking on the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, McDonnell challenged critics of the leadership to confront them directly and not to 'pick on' staff who were not in a position to defend themselves. He said: 'We have got to stop this now. There is a small group out there that are willing to destroy our party just to remove Jeremy Corbyn. We have got to stop them.' Staring directly into the camera, McDonnell said: 'If you want to come for me and Jeremy that's up to you, but don't pick on staff who can't defend themselves.' Ms Malhotra said the unauthorised entry by staff into her office constituted a serious breach of parliamentary privilege. She told The Observer: 'The implications of this are extremely serious. This is a breach of parliamentary privilege and is a violation of the privacy, security and confidentiality of a member of parliament's office. 'Furthermore, my staff, including an intern, who have always been courteous and open, have felt harassed, intimidated and insecure, and decided themselves it would be best to not leave anyone alone in the office.' Former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Seema Malhotra, pictured, has lodged a formal complaint with Commons Speaker John Bercow about unauthorised access to her office McDonnell said the office manager concerned had simply been checking whether Malhotra had moved out of the office after quitting the Shadow Cabinet last month in protest at Mr Corbyn's leadership. He said: 'I have now got a member of staff - she's a widow with daughters, this is her sole income - she's now worried she's going to lose her job and face prosecution because it's described as a break-in. That's just so distressing, it's unacceptable. This has obviously been an error.' But with the rift between the leadership and the party's MPs showing no signs of ending, McDonnell acknowledged there would have to be some form of mediation once the current leadership contest is over. For thousands of furious Southern rail passengers facing the misery of unending cancellations and strikes, it will no doubt be another source of anger and frustration. The Mail on Sunday has discovered that the beleaguered operator has at least managed to run one train like clockwork the only snag is that passengers cannot get on it. Every weekday, a gleaming train leaves Newhaven Marine station in East Sussex. An empty train at Newhaven Marine station which Southern rail says it must keep running Commuters on a crowded platform during Southern's current plight which has seen some travellers quit their jobs because they can't face the journey to and from work It makes the journey past passengers waiting for services at seven busy stations Newhaven Harbour, Newhaven Town, Southease, Lewes, Falmer, Moulsecoomb and London Road Brighton without picking up a single passenger. Some 45 minutes later it arrives at Brighton. Worse still, passengers on some rail forums have claimed that while fares for the 20-mile journey were advertised, they were not able to buy tickets. The train is known as a parliamentary train or ghost train, one of a handful across the country run by train operators to fulfil franchise obligations. Infuriatingly, Newhaven Marine station, which is overgrown with weeds and littered with discarded rubbish, is just a few hundred yards from the well-used Newhaven Harbour station. Newhaven Marine was closed to passengers in 2006 following safety concerns after a roof was damaged, but it remains part of the network and is sometimes used as a temporary sidings for empty trains. The ghost train allows Southern to fulfil an obligation to have a service running from the station. To close the station officially would require the company to enter into a long and expensive consultation. The driver of the passenger-less train which goes from East Sussex to Brighton Last night, politicians expressed outrage at the revelation on behalf of the 120,000 commuters who use Southern services during peak hours. Maria Caulfield, Tory MP for Lewes, said: Its outrageous that theyre running a daily service through the most beleaguered main line on the Southern network and no one can get on. Southern has been plagued with problems this year, with Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union conductors staging a series of strikes in recent months over concerns that driver-only operated trains will put jobs at risk and jeopardise public safety. Southern has blamed late trains on unexpectedly high levels of train crew sickness an assertion unions reject as lies. They say the fault lies with the firms failure to recruit enough workers to fill new rosters. Southern, which is consistently ranked by the National Passenger Railway Survey as one of the worst rail operators in the country, suspended the Newhaven Marine to Brighton service which runs at 8.15pm every weekday earlier this month as part of its emergency timetable, during which a total of 341 services were axed. But it will be reintroduced once the full timetable is resumed. Last night, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: Passengers will be outraged that they clearly have the resources to run ghost trains while the public are left stranded in appalling conditions. Drug lord Piet Ta (pictured) has gone on the run A Queensland drug lord has disappeared just days before he was expected to be sentenced to a lengthy jail term. Piet Ta, 31, was allegedly in charge of a drug network spanning three states. He is accused of providing narcotics in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the Courier Mail reported. He was arrested in early 2013 when police raided a shed in Durack, on the outskirts of Brisbane, and found more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of heroin. The police also found a handgun in the shed. Some of the meth was stored wrapped in a Louis Vuitton cloth bag. Police also found 344 grams of meth and almost 20 kilograms of cannabis stashed in makeshift compartments in one of Ta's cars. At the drug lord's unit in Southport on the Gold Coast, police recovered half a kilo of meth and $5,000 in cash. He pleaded guilty to various charges at Brisbane Magistrate's court in 2013 and was released on bail. In a string of police raids, officers uncovered kilograms of drugs as well as $5,000 in cash (Stock image) But Ta has disappeared before he was due to appear in court to be sentenced. A warrant has been issued for his arrest Prosecutors signaled they would seek a prison sentence of 12 to 14 years for Ta. Ta's lawyer, Adam Magill, said it was 'disappointing' that the sentencing could not occur, as it had been a lengthy negotiation process. 'I certainly understand why someone in his position didn't want to go to court,' he said. 'Obviously he's facing a lengthy period in jail.' The notorious Melbourne cult dubbed 'The Family' has been described as 'sinister and beautiful' and like a 'Grimm fairytale' as it is revealed practicing members still live in Victoria. A documentary into the LSD-using cult led by yoga teacher Anne Hamilton-Byrne will premiere at the upcoming Melbourne International Film Festival on Saturday with new information on the cult - which flew under the radar for 20 years. Rosie Jones, the director of the documentary, described the actions of the cult as series of 'dark' events that highlighted 'human frailty', The Age reported. Melbourne cult 'The Family' was started in the mid 1960s by yoga teacher Anne Hamilton-Byrne and is well-known for the haunting similarities forced on the children to make them look like siblings Anne Hamilton-Byrne told police that the children were all her natural offspring when they raided her property in 1987 'How do people get involved in a cult, what draws them in, how do they do things that they would normally find morally reprehensible,' she said. 'It opens up a lot of questions that are universal rather than relevant only to this particular group.' The cult, which was set up in Lake Eildon, was know for having the children dressed identically, their hair bleached blonde and shaped into the same bob. This was so the children from different parents who were cult members looked like siblings - and their new 'mother' Anne Hamilton-Byrne. Anne Hamilton-Byrne famously claimed she was the natural mother of each of the six children found by police during extensive raids of the cult-owned properties. These raids occurred in 1987 - after one of the cults 'daughters' - now revealed to be Hamilton-Byrne's favourite child Sarah - went to police with abuse allegations. Following the raid police found another 14 children had been brought up in the isolated home. She had a total of 14 children living with her at one stage - some of them have spoken out about the abuse they were subject to Anne Hamilton-Byrne pictured here with some of the children - holding hands with one of the bleach-blonde children How did the cult known as The Family treat members children? The children were forced to wear matching clothes and were given matching haircuts so they looked like siblings - and so they looked like their cult 'mother' They were forced to stay outside overnight as punishment. They were encouraged to assist in the punishment of their 'siblings'. They were starved and forced to take drugs. They were lied to about being the biological children of Anne Hamilton-Byrne. Some were sexually assaulted. They were forced to practice yoga by their 'mother' who was a yoga teacher. Advertisement Children who grew up in the strange cult were interviewed for the documentary and spoke of severe punishments for bad behaviour - like being starved or beaten. They open up about being forced to take drugs including LSD and also of the sexual assault of children. In 2009 Hamilton-Byrne spoke with the Herald Sun claiming she cared for the children as her own and said anyone who said otherwise were 'lying bastards'. She said the only regret she had was 'losing touch with daughter' (Sarah) and after an emotional reunion with the young woman who brought the cult down she said she was 'ready to die'. Sarah had been thrown out of The Family for disobedience two years before she dobbed her 'mother' in to police. The cult is well-know for its illicit drug use - predominately LSD (Anne Hamilton-Byrne pictured) Sarah - who was a doctor until she was found to be self-prescribing drugs in 2005 - said she can't help but see the elderly cult leader as her mum - even as she betrayed her in the media. 'But, despite perhaps appearances to the contrary, at that time I felt enormous loyalty to Anne. To my mind, I had put my life on the line to oppose her, as I believed at the time that to oppose her, to betray her, was to die.' She said her 'mother' has not 'owned up' for any of the abuse children suffered in the cult - blaming it instead on the 'aunties'. The film also explores how far the reach of The Family stretched - Raynor Johnson who was a key member helped Anne recruit doctors and lawyers to the cult. 'They only recruited really wealthy people, in fact, or people with status and skills they needed.' The medical staff and lawyers made it easy for the cult to take babies from single mothers who were pressured into signing their children over. Other babies were those of cult-followers who didn't want them. Anne Hamilton-Byrne is no longer the leader of the cult however it is believed to still be in operation Ben Shenton was given to the cult to be brought up by the charismatic 'mother'. In 2013 he described his childhood home as being similar to an institution - said the children were forced to do yoga and were fed very little food. He told the ABC when he wasn't being punished he was helping other children to be punished. 'Removal of food, beatings. Some of them were put outside at night and left outside at different times. Being part of that, helping that to happen because you had feuds with those kids... we grew up controlled and controlling one another.' Ben was one of the children removed by police in the 1987 raid. He went to see her in 2011 - and describes the moment as 'closure' on his horrific upbringing. 'It was seeing a final this is who you are ... she had lost her power of me when I was removed from the cult... but I guess it's like closing a door on an event.' While Anne is in her 80s now with dementia it has been suggested by Jones that between 20 and 30 members of the cult still live in Melbourne. Three unknown Australian soldiers whose remains lay where they fell for nearly a century have at last been given funerals in the French countryside. An Australian military contingent conducted the funeral service at the Pozieres British Cemetery on Saturday, the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of Pozieres. More than 6,700 Australian soldiers died in the two week World War I skirmish fought in 1916 during the second phase of the Battle of the Somme. Scroll down for video Three unknown Australian soldiers have been buried in a military cemetery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Pozieres Full military honours were given to the men, with their coffins being drummed into the cemetery, a three-shot salute given by a firing party and the Last Post played at the end of the ceremony. The men, identified as Australian by their insignia and bits of uniform, were found over the past five years, Two soldiers were found in a farm irrigation ditch near Mouquet Farm, where fierce fighting took place, and the other in a field near Pozieres village. Their remains were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission centre at Beaurains in northern France while investigations into their identity were carried out. DNA samples were taken but to date their identities remain unknown. Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell, told Saturday's service that the army was committed to one day identifying them, 'to give back their names and in doing so help give them back to their families'. 'Today, 100 years after they fell, we will lay them to rest among their mates,' he said. General Campbell said Australia's 1st Division successfully took Pozieres on the first day of the attack on July 23, 1916, but then endured constant German shelling and counter attacks, suffering 5,285 casualties before being relieved by the 2nd Division. That division held Pozieres but in the process suffered 6,858 casualties. 'The efforts of the 1st Anzac Corps at Pozieres were remarkable but the costs were incredibly high,' General Campbell said. The soldiers were found in a field where fierce fighting took place and lay where they fell until their discovery five years ago He quoted a letter from a lieutenant in the 2nd Division describing the battlefield where 'there remained nothing but a churned mass of debris with bricks, stones and girders and bodies pounded to nothing. 'In forests there are not even tree trunks, not a leaf or a twig, all is buried and churned up.' General Campbell said such conditions led to many of those who were killed going missing. Alan Cooper, an investigations manager with the Australian Army's Unrecovered War Casualties unit, told reporters before the service that there were thousands of soldiers still missing around the Pozieres area alone. The soldiers could only be identified through the Australian Military insignia on their uniforms DNA samples were taken from found remains and personal items examined but it was often difficult to find living relatives. 'It's very humbling to recover the remains of Australian soldiers from the battlefields of World War I and give them the funerals they deserve after they had lain for so long in the fields of northern France,' Mr Cooper said. 'This is their first funeral, it's not a reburial, these guys were found with their rifles and their pistols. 'Completely unacceptable': New Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was wrong for people to suffer abuse because of their ethnic background A crackdown on hate crime will be unveiled by the Government this week after a surge in reported incidents since the EU referendum. The 'anti-hate crime action plan' will include moves to give perpetrators tougher sentences, as well as provide 2.4 million for security measures at synagogues, mosques, churches and other places of worship. New Home Secretary Amber Rudd said last night it was 'completely unacceptable' for people to suffer abuse or attacks because of their nationality or ethnic background. She added: 'Hatred directed against any community, race or religion has no place whatsoever in our diverse society and it needs to be kicked to the kerb. 'We are Great Britain because we are united by values like democracy, free speech, mutual respect and opportunity for all. 'Where crimes are committed we must make sure victims have the confidence to report incidents and the law is rigorously enforced.' The plan will include measures to boost the reporting of offences and provide support to victims. Police were told to deliberately keep callers to the 101 non-emergency number waiting on the line so that some would get bored and hang up, according to a secret report uncovered by The Mail on Sunday. A Government-funded study by the so-called Nudge Unit set up under David Camerons policy guru, Steve Hilton also advised forces to increase the length of recorded messages as another way of discouraging callers. The cynical ploys were suggested to chiefs who are desperate to cut the volume of calls to 101. The service was set up to take the pressure off 999 operators by handling less serious crime reports and queries. Three police forces in Wales Gwent, Dyfed-Powys and South Wales used money from the Home Offices Police Innovation Fund to commission a report into how they could reduce demand on 101 Recent figures show some people were kept on hold for more than two hours by the overburdened 101 service, while 3.5 million calls went unanswered in the past four years. Last night, critics warned that police could be missing out on critical information and leaving crime victims at risk by not answering 101 calls more quickly. Criminal justice expert Harry Fletcher, who runs the campaign group Voice4Victims, said: The consequence of longer waiting times is that it becomes harder to report real crimes. Theres a danger that the caller will just give up and the matter will not be investigated. There is growing evidence of people with real concerns not getting through. The suggestion of lengthening call waiting times comes after years in which the public have found it ever harder to speak directly to police. Budget cuts have led to thousands of officers being axed and hundreds of police counters closed, putting more pressure on phone lines and leading chiefs to encourage the public to report crimes online. Three police forces in Wales Gwent, Dyfed-Powys and South Wales used money from the Home Offices Police Innovation Fund to commission a report into how they could reduce demand on 101. They called in researchers from the Behavioural Insights Team, the trendy unit set up in Downing Street to find ways of helping citizens make better decisions and so improve public services. The team found that many people call 101 because they immediately think of the police when facing a challenge rather than looking for another way to deal with the problem. Researchers claimed that if callers had to wait longer to speak to an operator, those with frivolous queries would give up and so allow a genuine crime to be reported. Analysis of the data suggests that individuals willingness to wait on the telephone for a non-emergency call is linked to the seriousness of their issue, said the report obtained by this newspaper. A small increase in 101 waiting times could reduce inappropriate demand. By placing a pre-recorded message about alternative ways to contact the police at the start of the call followed by an extended ringing period, the data suggested that inappropriate demand could be reduced. Many frequent callers to the Welsh forces were not members of the public, however, but councils, lawyers and hospitals who had welfare concerns for vulnerable people Many frequent callers to the Welsh forces were not members of the public, however, but councils, lawyers and hospitals who had welfare concerns for vulnerable people. The Nudge Unit also proposed issuing fines for callers who misused the system, or sending texts telling them who they could have phoned instead. Gwent Police said last night: We do not intend extending the waiting time for any call to deter unnecessary callers by adding messages. We have recorded messages currently so people realise they are still on hold and we will get to their call and are about to implement a new telephone system with interactive voice recognition. We are always actively seeking more innovative measures with partner agencies to reduce demand and provide a better quality service to the public. It can also be revealed that the Metropolitan Police this month began piloting a Digital 101 contact service, where people can use Twitter to tell them about crimes. A spokesman said: Londoners are increasingly contacting police through social media with enquiries that have traditionally been referred to the 101 telephone service. Chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners pose as big of a threat as ISIS, John Kerry said. The Secretary Of State traveled to Vienna, Austria on Friday to negotiate an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, created to protect the ozone layer. The amendment phases out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), compounds that are mostly used as refrigerants and act as potent greenhouses gases. Kerry went to Vienna with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Gina McCarthy and compared the fight against climate change to the fight against terrorism during talks with parties to the Montreal Protocol. John Kerry (pictured with European Union Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete on Friday) traveled to Vienna, Austria to negotiate an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, created to protect the ozone layer 'Yesterday, I met in Washington with 45 nations defense ministers and foreign ministers as we were working together on the challenge of [the Islamic State], and terrorism,' Kerry said according to the Washington Examiner. 'It's hard for some people to grasp it, but what we you are doing here right now is of equal importance because it has the ability to literally save life on the planet itself.' Amending the Montreal Protocol to phase out HFCs is one of the most cost-effective and consequential ways to combat climate change, the Department Of State said in a statement. WHAT ARE HFCs? Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen and fluorin. They are used primarily as refrigerants in appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. HFCs help protect the ozone layer and were used abundantly from the late 1980s as an alternative to ozone-depleting chemicals. However, HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases, more likely to warm the planet than carbon dioxide. Reducing the use of HFCs could be a way to avoid the most severe effects of climate change. Advertisement HFCs became widely used in the late 1980s, after a previous Montreal Protocol agreement led countries to stop using ozone-depleting chemicals in the air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. This helped protecting the ozone layer, but companies began using HFCs as an alternative to the banned chemicals. While HFCs do not harm the ozone layer, they have a strong potential to warm the planet - more so than carbon dioxide. Reducing the use of HFCs could help limit the global temperature rise and avoid the most severe consequences of climate change. HFCs can now be replaced with more climate-friendly materials. California announced earlier this week that it would give half a million dollars to a $6 million project to research alternatives to HFCs. 'We have the technologies and chemicals to get this done, and are confident we can produce an HFC amendment that works,' the EPA said on its blog. The EPA hopes to pass the amendment to the Montreal Protocol by the end of the year. Sexually explicit photographs, 'degrading' comments and vile stories posted on a misogynistic Facebook page has sparked outrage on social media. Domestic violence support service Red Heart Campaign has slammed the invites-only group 'Blokes Advice', run by a group of Brisbane men, as 'disgusting' and 'disturbing'. The controversial page, which was launched in May and has since attracted more than 200,000 followers, encourages young men to discuss about rape, revenge porn and violence against women. The domestic violence support group has uncovered a series of disturbing posts, urging followers to 'share and shame' the page, which has since been removed from Facebook. 'There's a secret page where Aussie men are encouraging each other to rape women, bombard them with explicit images and ... Well pretty much everything disgusting you can possibly think off,' Red Heart Campaign wrote. 'Be warned these images are disturbing.' Domestic violence support service Red Heart Campaign has slammed 'Blokes Advice' for its vile page The invites-only group has been notoriously known for its degrading comments and explicit photographs Men have shared photographs of other women, with members making vile comments on their appearance In one of the sickening posts, a man jokes about having sex with his girlfriend's cousin and two of her friends after she cheated on him. 'F***ed two of her close friends. And f***ed her cousin a couple of weeks ago. She cheated and used me for cash so she could buy meth. I won,' he claimed. Another man weighed in on the alarming discussion, claiming: 'Started hate f****n [sic] her at a party and let a couple of my brothers and mates gangbang her hahaa [sic] She cried. I won.' In another disturbing post, one man labelled women as 'emotional beings'. 'You can cry while watching a movie then say you enjoy it. A virgin can cry having sex for the first time. A woman may cry while having sex due to hormones alone,' he wrote. 'My comments are simply based on this post which does not mention rape. Only an angry woman that interprets a gang bang as gang rape. 'Gang rape. Your interpretation of a gangbang, which many women love and often arrange on their own accord, is disgusting. You're comparing apples to oranges love. 'Give yourself an uppercut you hatred inspiring vile piece of filth.' Some men would share photographs of other women on the page, where members would voice their opinion The page, which has over 200,000 followers, has been a platform for men to discuss their views on women The page encourages men to discuss about rape, revenge porn and violence against women (stock image) Some even went to extreme lengths to share explicit images of women, with one man posting a woman's mobile number as he urged other fellow 'lads' to send her something inappropriate. 'I need a hand putting this minga [slang word for an ugly person] her place. She loves a dirty snapchat or two... Now what I'm asking is to send her the most f***ed up s**t you can think of. 'Perhaps a c** shot or a nice firey shotgun s**t you're about to rip or ever just the simple veiny c**k. Do us a solid and put this g***a in her place. Who knows you might get a cheeky one back.' Another man claimed in an alarming post: 'If it weren't for their vaginas, a*******, mouths and cooking and cleaning skills that they are born with' then 'there would be no need to the woman kind. 'I personally feel dirty just being around those sausage wallets. They should be a rule they can't come with in a meter radius of they aren't performing sexual acts upon us.' Screen grabs of vile messages have emerged online after the domestic violence support service shared it Several men have taken to Facebook to defend the group, with some slamming the page as 'disgusting' The page encourages young men to discuss rape, revenge porn and violence against women (stock image) However, some of the page's members have taken to Facebook to defend the secretive and disturbing group The page has been slammed for its vile posts, with many describing the posts as 'disgusting', 'sick', 'extremely scary' and 'filthy'. However, some of the page's members have taken to social media to defend the group, with one man claiming 'us blokes are just here for a laugh' and 'we don't want to upset other people... hence why the groups secret and we've tried to make it blokes only'. Another man wrote: 'Blokes advice is literally a group exclusively for men to privately say the sort of inappropriate shit that we don't want to say in other parts of our life or to women. Thomas Sutherland, a teacher who was held captive in Lebanon for more than six years until he was freed in 1991, has died. Sutherland, whose health was in decline, died peacefully at home in Fort Collins on Friday at the age of 85, according to Colorado State University, where he became professor emeritus upon his release from captivity. Sutherland was one of a number of Americans in Lebanon including Associated Press bureau chief Terry Anderson who were kidnapped by terrorist groups in the 1980s. Scroll down for video Thomas Sutherland, a teacher who was held captive in Lebanon for more than six years until he was freed in 1991, has died. Pictured in 2014 Thomas Sutherland (left with daughter Kit, right) jumps and shouts after arriving at Fort Collins-Loveland Airport outside his hometown of Fort Collins, Colo. Sutherland spent six and one-half years as a hostage in Lebanon before being released Nov. 18. Sutherland (left with his wife Jean) was born in Scotland, and made his way to Colorado after marrying, where went on to teach animal science at the university for 26 years Sutherland was dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science at American University in Beirut when he was taken hostage by Islamic terrorists in 1985. He was 'physically abused by his captors, who on one occasion subjected him to a most severe beating with a rubber truncheon, first on the soles of his feet and thereafter over his entire body until he was black and blue everywhere,' according to a lawsuit he and other hostages filed against Iran for its role in supporting Hezbollah, the Islamic group that carried out the abductions, reported WFMZ. 'I spent six years out of the seven years I was in captivity with Tommy,' Anderson told The Associated Press on Saturday. 'We were kept in the same cells and sometimes on the same chain. Whenever they moved us, generally Tommy would show up with me. He was a kind and gentle man.' Thomas Sutherland was an awe-inspiring example of courage, strength and integrity, and he will be deeply missed... CSU executive VP, Rick Miranda Sutherland taught him French when they were hostages, Anderson said. 'He spoke beautiful French. We practiced irregular verbs,' he said. Anderson said Sutherland 'was a guy who remembered everyone he ever met. He never forgot anyone. I don't know how he did it. He was such a people person that he remembered everybody. 'When we were in prison, we would sit and talk about things we had done and places he had gone. 'He always talked about the people he met there, and he remembered them. He was a very, very good man.' When Sutherland was freed in 1991, he returned to CSU and served as professor emeritus. The Denver Post reported Sutherland took up acting in his early 70s and donated millions to area arts organizations Sutherland was dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science at American University in Beirut when he was taken hostage by Islamic terrorists in 1985. Pictured: Sutherland greats friends at the Left, Sutherland, his wife Jean plants a kiss on her husband's cheek as they appear on the balcnoy of Aiesbaden Air Force hospital after their reunion. Right: Sutherland is hugged by his granddaughter Simone aged 4, it is the first time he had seen her homas Sutherland who was held hostage in the Lebanon for six years, he gives a thumbs up before leaving the U.S military hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany and heading home to the US Sutherland, was born in Scotland, and made his way to Colorado after marrying, where went on to teach animal science at the university for 26 years. He then took a job as dean of agriculture at American University in Beirut, along with his wife Jean, who taught English at the same school. 'The entire Colorado State University community joins once again in honoring a true hero - who believed that an understanding of agricultural science could bring relief to people and communities in hunger and that education could be a force for good and light in our world that would transcend borders and differences among nations,' Colorado State University President Tony Frank said in a posting Saturday on CSU's website. Meanwhile, CSU provost and executive vice president Rick Miranda said in a statement to the Denver Post: 'Thomas Sutherland was an awe-inspiring example of courage, strength and integrity, and he will be deeply missed as a community beacon, a local celebrity, and a personal friend to many. Thomas Sutherland, center talks with Alexander Gorev, left and Lois Court before giving his keynote address during the Sister Cities International annual awards luncheon. In 2014 the Sutherlands received the annual Founders Day Medal in recognition of their service to the university, Fort Collins, and higher education worldwide 'We are greatly saddened by his passing, yet remain extraordinarily lucky to have shared in his incredible journey. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this sad time.' In 1996, Sutherland and his wife, Jean, came out with a book about the Middle East and their ordeal titled 'At Your Own Risk: An American Chronicle of Crisis and Captivity in the Middle East.' The Sutherlands were longtime community leaders and volunteers, CSU said. They formed the Sutherland Family Foundation, which has supported many Fort Collins nonprofits. In 2014 the Sutherlands received the annual Founders Day Medal in recognition of their service to the university, Fort Collins, and higher education worldwide. A teen set to start college at Stanford University had an unpleasant conversation with his dentist that left him feeling 'belittled,' after he was told 'luck and poverty' is why he was admitted. Guillermo Camarillo, who uses the pseudonym Pomarillo on Facebook penned a lengthy post about his experience at the dentist, where he fired back at him for his accusations. . The Chicago teen who graduated from high school with a 4.0 is heading off to California in a few weeks where he will major in biomedical engineering after receiving a full scholarship. The 18-year-old, who was an AP scholar with stellar scores and graduated with the highest GPA in his class, decided to have his teeth cleaned before his big move to the West Coast. Scroll down for video Proud: Guillermo Camarillo (right), 18, was accepted into Stanford University and received a full scholarship. He went to have his teeth cleaned at the dentist before leaving for California from Chicago While in a conversation about getting braces on his teeth, the future biomedical engineering major (above) explained that he couldn't afford them and was turned down for a government assistance program for them He also explained that he would be heading to Stanford for college to the dentist, who Camarillo (above) said was 'surprised' in his viral Facebook post Camarillo wrote in his post that's gone viral with over 22,000 shares, that he walked over a mile to get to the appointment after work, because both of his undocumented immigrant parents were unable to drive him due to them working. After getting his teeth cleaned by the dental hygienist, she asked him if he 'wanted or needed braces,' to which he replied that he couldn't afford them. He explained that he tried to a year ago to through a government program to assist in paying for them, but was denied. The woman asked if he wanted to apply again, and brought the dentist into the conversation, who asked Camarillo again about getting braces. 'I told you that it wouldn't be of any use cause I was going away for college and I will be far away,' he wrote in the post about what he said to the dentist. 'You looked at me perplexed. I nonchalantly said 'I'm going to Stanford'. Your initial reaction was surprised. 'But, were you surprised because you had a Stanford student on your chair or because you had a minority, low-income student, that needed government help to get braces, and would be attending Stanford on your chair? I believe it was the latter.' Camarillo, who grew up in a low-income Hispanic neighborhood known as Little Village on the West Side of Chicago, explained the dentist 'immediately' asked him what his ACT score. 'It was weird cause I have never had a professional ask me that,' he continued on in the post addressed to his dentist. Camarillo (above) explained the dentist 'immediately' asked him what his ACT score. 'It was weird cause I have never had a professional ask me that,' he wrote in the post addressed to his dentist In their conversation, Camarillo (above) said the dentist tried to compare his daughter's test scores and grades to his as she scored higher than him on the ACT test, but didn't get into Stanford 'I answered honestly. Your response after that clearly showed what you were thinking. You sarcastically said 'Wow you got (blank) on the ACT?! And you got into Stanford?' 'I was confused, I had always thought my ACT score wasn't too bad. I mean, I got admitted into many other schools other than Stanny. 'You then said, 'Well my daughter got a 35 and she didn't get into Stanford. She goes to Umich.' In my head I thought, 'Wow that's great, UMich is a good school.'' The teen added that the dentist didn't stop there in insulting him. 'You said, 'Well when you have kids from neighborhoods like THESE (sic), like you know, ENGLEWOOD (sic). It's easy for them to get into Harvard or Stanford with a (states my score).' In my mind, I was confused,' Camarillo wrote in the post addressed to the unidentified dentist. The dentist then told Camarillo (above) that it was easy for kids from impoverished neighborhoods to get into schools like Harvard and Stanford. The dentist also told him he was 'lucky' to get into Stanford 'Did he really just say that? But you didn't stop. You kept going. You said, 'You know, when kids go to schools around here. (AKA public schools in minority neighborhoods) It's easier for them to get into schools like Stanford. 'My daughter goes to a school where like 20 kids get perfect ACT scores.' I stayed quiet. 'He continued, 'you're very lucky. Consider yourself very lucky. Getting into Stanford is like competing on The Voice, you know, when you get the buzzer.' 'Wait what? So you're telling me that 18 years of rigorous hard work is like going on The Voice.' Camarillo added: 'To say that I was admitted into a school simply because of my background is ridiculous. 'My parents, two undocumented immigrants that only obtained a grammar school education, couldn't afford to send me to private schools. 'Yes, I may have grown up in a neighborhood that doesn't have many young kids going to schools like Stanford. 'But it doesn't mean that people where I come from don't have the potential to succeed at Stanford. We deserve to go to places like Stanford.' In addressing the dentist with how he felt, the teen said he felt 'belittled.' 'You labeled me. Yes, my name gave it off. But you were completely ignorant of my struggles,' Camarillo wrote. Camarillo wrote in the post that the dentist compared him getting into Stanford to like competing on The Voice singing contest show. Above is Camarillo's acceptance letter from Stanford that mentions he's awarded a full scholarship 'Little do you know that I grew up in a house where Spanish was only spoken. 'I had to learn English on my own. I grew up in a household where at times we couldn't afford to pay our rent or didn't have enough food for the whole week. 'I grew up in a household where my parents were clueless of the college application process, and it was up to me to make sure I submitted all my papers for college. 'I grew up in a household where college seemed like a distant dream.' Camarillo (above) said in the post he felt 'belittled' and 'labeled' by the dentist Camarillo, who is the first person in his family to attend college and leave home, said that he excelled, despite the many struggles he faced growing up. 'So If pure luck gets you into some of the best schools in the country, then there is something wrong with our admissions process,' he wrote in closing. 'Maybe just maybe, the admissions panel didn't see perseverance or strength in your daughter. 'After all, her father, a dentist, is able to help her achieve a score like that through financial help or even tutoring. 'Maybe just maybe, the admissions panel saw beyond a score when seeing my profile. It doesn't mean that I'm better than your daughter. It means that I have the strength, the determination, the perseverance to succeed in a place like Stanford. 'And maybe the admissions panel didn't see that in your daughter? Cause trust me, schools like Stanford look at everything, not only scores.' It's unclear if his dentist has read the note, but Camarillo has received an outpouring of support on Facebook. He has also received a few messages that were not so kind and has addressed their hostility and criticisms directly. Advertisement A raging wildfire which turned the Los Angeles sky into a sea of smoke has doubled in size in a day, destroying 22,000 acres of land. The latest figures released by the authorities say the blaze is at 20 percent containment and a total of 18 family homes have been gutted in the areas of Sand Canyon, Bear Divide and Little Tujunga. Planes and helicopters dropped water and retardant on the blaze that has blackened more than 34 square miles of brush on ridgelines near the city of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest. About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another blaze spanning 10,000 acres (16 square miles) north of the majestic Big Sur region. Scroll down for video Firefighters use foam to put out flare ups on a home at the end of Iron Canyon in Santa Clarita. Authorities say 18 homes have been destroyed The remains of a burned home smoulders in the Iron Canyon Road area near Santa Clarita on Sunday - 22,000 acres of land has been destroyed Despite firefighters' efforts, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. A gutted home is pictured above A firefighting helicopter drops water at the Sand Fire near Santa Clarita, California, on Saturday which has been fueled by temperatures reaching about 108 degrees fahrenheit Horses are led to safety as the Sand Fire continues to rage near Santa Clarita. Almost 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze Hundreds of people have been evacuated and 400 animals were also shifted out of a wildlife rescue in Sylmar. Pictured above plumes of smoke can be seen rising into the sky Authorities say almost 1,700 firefighters who are being hindered by scorching temperatures of up to 112 degrees are battling the blaze in the mountains north of Los Angeles known as the Sand Fire. On Sunday crews faced another day of hot weather, low humidity and high winds that could once again fan the fires' explosive growth. Shifting winds sent smoke away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents were warned about poor air quality. Late Saturday evening, a man's body was found outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Detectives are working to determine whether he was killed by the blaze or another cause, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Rob Hahnlein said. 'It started consuming houses that were non-defendable,' Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said, describing the flames as charging through terrain 'like a freight train'. Juliet Kinikin said Sunday that 'there was panic' as the sky became dark with smoke and flames moved closer to her home a day earlier in the Sand Canyon area of Los Angeles County. 'And then we just focused on what really mattered in the house,' she said. Kinikin grabbed important documents and fled with her husband, two children, two dogs and three birds. They were back at home Sunday, 'breathing a big sigh of relief,' she said. NBC News reported that the fire broke out on Friday at 2pm in Santa Clarita and grew to 11,000 acres by noon Saturday. By Sunday morning it had spread to 22,000 acres which amounts to nearly 35 square miles, fire officials said. A burned pirate sculpture stands at the end of Iron Canyon Road off of Sand Canyon in Santa Clarita on Sunday A plot of farm land burned by the Sand Fire wildfire is seen in Santa Clarita. The blaze has blackened more than 34 square miles of brush Clean-up begins: A car covered in aerially-applied fire retardant remains parked in Ruthspring Drive, in Santa Clarita Numerous ground crews, fixed wing and helicopter resources continue to battle the blaze. A vehicle is pictured above covered in aerially-applied fire retardant Numerous ground crews, fixed wing and helicopter resources continue to battle the blaze whichis now at 20 percent containment Flames blown by strong winds close in on homes at the Sand Fire near Santa Clarita which has doubled in size to 22,000 acres since Saturday 'It's not a one-direction type of fire,' said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the Angeles National Forest. 'It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. It's doing what it wants.' Despite firefighters' efforts, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. 'It was a horrific firestorm,' owner Derek Hunt told KABC-TV. 'At some point, you know you're defeated and you have to step back and save what you can. We fought as best as we could. One hundred commercial buildings are also under threat. Evacuations are in place for 1,500 homes but Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp warned: 'But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we're up to 45,000 homes... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley.' Neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles lie along the so-called urban-wildland interface at the northeast edge of the valley. Tripp said the Los Angeles fire chief was ready to join the incident command, and 15 strike teams were put on alert in case flames made a push in that direction. This map shows the location where the Sand Fire started in Santa Clarita in California. The red area shows the 22,000 acres the blaze has spread to A firefighter hoses down burning pipes near a water tank at the Sand Fire on Saturday near Santa Clarita, California The Sand Fire burns in the Angeles National ForestSand fire in Los Angeles. Firefighters battled low humidity, shifting wind, and high temperatures The Sand Fire burns in the Angeles National ForestSand fire in Los Angeles as authorities work to extinguish the blaze from the air Late Saturday evening, a man;s body was found at the scene of the fire outside a home on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Detectives are working to determine whether he was killed by the blaze or another cause Angeles National Forest tweeted out this image on Sunday morning to show exactly how much of the area has been affected Many people took to social media to share pictures of the weirdly colored sky, noting how the wildfires have affected the area as thousands of homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals are threatened by one blaze. The fire erupted in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita near State Route 14 as the region was gripped by high heat and very low humidity. Winds pushed it into the adjacent Angeles National Forest. Authorities advised residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as wildfires increase the particulate matter in the air. The increased concentration of those particles can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Many people took to social media on Saturday to share pictures of the weirdly colored sky, noting how the wildfires have affected the area as thousands of homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals are threatened by one blaze The Los Angeles basin is usually known as a sun-filled area in the summer, but due to the fires, smoke and ash is covering much of the populated city. Above the red, orange and gray colored sky is scene in Los Angeles, as the sun tries to peak through and shine The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that at times air would reach unhealthy levels. Above a cloud of smoke from the Sand Fire is scene above the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday Above smoke from the Sand Fire is seen from downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. The blaze had grown to 11,000 acres by noon Saturday and doubled to 22,000 acres by Sunday morning Suburban Pasadena and Glendale closed its municipal pools because of smoke and falling ash. Above the Sand Fire cloud is scene above Los Angeles on Saturday as the sun is red Residents also are being asked to keep their windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter Jo Kay Ghosh, SCAQMD's health effects officer, told the Los Angeles Times. People who suffer from asthma could also experience difficulty breathing and have an increased risk of attacks. In addition, lung functions could be affected by the poor air quality, as people's ability to take deep breaths could suffer. '(If the air quality is) making you uncomfortable, do whatever you can do to remove yourself,' Ghosh told the newspaper. 'At the end of the day, people need to use their judgment. For people who are sensitive, I certainly would encourage them to be more careful.' Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes. The fire was a threat to 1,500 homes by Saturday afternoon, and those communities were advised to pay attention to the news Tripp said. Above authorities coordinate in a parking lot as smoke is scene nearby The gray colored smoke could be scene visible all over several neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area (above) on Saturday Smoke from the Sand Fire began looming over Los Angeles on Friday. Here it is viewed from Monterey Park Residents were forced to flee their home (above) as flames from the Sand Fire close in on their neighborhood near Santa Clarita on Saturday The Sand Fire is only at 10 per cent containment, as windy conditions are not making it easy for firefighters to battle the blaze. Above flames are seen in the Sand Fire A man evacuates a pony as flames close in his home at the Sand Fire on Saturday near Santa Clarita, California Many residents were forced to flee as flames close in on their homes at the Sand Fire on Saturday afternoon. This blaze started on Friday and has scorched more than 20,000 acres of land The blaze in northern Los Angeles County grew to more than 35 square miles, spreading smoke across the city and suburbs, reducing the sun to an orange disk at times. Above flames lap a wall of a home Authorities advised residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as wildfires increase the particulate matter in the air. Above Sand Fire flames are reflected in a backyard swimming pool on Saturday Tripp said: 'But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we're up to 45,000 homes (threatened) ... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley.' Above residents flee their homes as flames close in on Saturday About 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away. 'We've got big cats, tigers, bears, we've got hyenas, we've got chimps,' executive director Susan Hartland told KABC-TV. Volunteers showed up with trucks and trailers and evacuated animals from early Friday to late Saturday, when fire officials felt the blaze was no longer a threat to the Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar, spokesman Jerry Brown said. 'The fire surprised everyone and seemingly came out of nowhere,' Brown said. 'But things are looking up, and officials say that although they have some hotspots near where we are, they don't see any active fire.' The evacuated animals were housed in three or four locations, and the sanctuary will wait at least 24 hours before bringing them back, Brown said. The fast burning wildfire is seen above burning next to the road near Bear Divide Rangers station and Camp 9 in the Angeles National Forest on Saturday A marker at the entrance of the Angeles National Forest burns on Saturday as the Sand Fire has destroyed more than 20,000 acres of land The wildfire is pictured above burning near this luxurious home near Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon in Santa Clarita on Saturday Residents also are being asked to keep their windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter Jo Kay Ghosh, SCAQMD's health effects officer said. Above the Sand Fire is seen in Santa Clarita on Saturday Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes. Above A.J. Moberg, 15, waters down the roof of his family's house as the Sand fire approaches on Saturday A helicopter drops water on flames from the Sand Fire in Santa Clarita on Friday in the 100-degree plus heat Inmate handcrew firefighters shield themselves from embers and heavy smoke as flames close in on houses at the Sand Fire on Saturday About 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away. Above volunteers with the group watch the Sand Fire burn nearby North on the Central Coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a blaze in rugged mountains north of Big Sur. The fire 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park posed a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated, Cal Fire said. Jerri Masten-Hansen said she and her husband watched the fire creep in toward them. 'We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go,' Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV. Her sister also left her home down the road. 'I grabbed all the pictures of the kids, and then I took the paintings of my parents that had been done by a local artist,' Ellen Masten said. North on the Central Coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a blaze in rugged mountains north of Big Sur The blaze 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park (above) posed a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated, Cal Fire said. A middle school in Carmel-by-the-Sea was readied as an evacuation center Highway 1 and businesses in the Big Sur area, a major summer tourist destination, remained open on Saturday, despite the wildfire in the mountains (above) A large plume of smoke from a wildfire rises near Highway 1, burning five miles south of Carmel, California on Friday Red flag warnings - which warn that conditions are ideal for 'fire combustion' and the 'rapid spread' of flames - stayed in place for most of the region, the LA Times reported. In addition to firefighters on the ground, the fire near Santa Clarita is being battled by four water-dropping helicopters and two fixed-wing firefighting aircraft. Police are searching for a 23-year-old Gold Coast man after another man was shot trying to deter a thief from stealing a car. Tait Streeter is wanted to help officers with their inquires into two car thefts involving a rifle on Saturday. Just before midnight, a 48-year-old man confronted a man attempting to break into his car, which was parked in his driveway in Gaven on the Gold Coast. Police are hunting 23-year-old Tait Streeter (pictured) in relation to a number of car thefts involving a rifle on Saturday night One man was shot in the abdomen after trying to confront a car thief who pulled out a rifle The thief pulled out a rifle and discharged a single shot, hitting the car-owner's stomach. He then abandoned his plan to steal the car and ran away on foot. The car-owner was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Despite an extensive search by police, they were unable to find the shooter. Earlier on Saturday, at about 7pm, a stolen car towing a trailer with another stolen car on it crashed on Serpentine Creek Road at Redland Bay. Strangers stopped to help the driver, however he jumped out of the car, holding a rifle and demanded keys to someone else's car. A member of the public complied with his demands and the thief managed to escape and drive down the road before ditching the car about 25 minutes south in a carpark at Ormeau. Police believe the incidents may be linked and urge anyone who may have seen Tait Streeter to not approach him but to contact Triple Zero (000) or Crime Stoppers immediately. U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens (above) was among four Americans killed in the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya The mother of the U.S. ambassador who was killed in the Benghazi attack is calling for Donald Trump's campaign and the Republican Party to end the 'opportunistic and cynical' use of her son's name and death. U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was among four Americans killed in the horrific September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The late ambassador's mother, Mary F. Commanday, wrote a letter published on Friday in the New York Times complaining about Trump and the Republican Party using her son's name and death in the fight for the White House against Hillary Clinton. 'As Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens's mother, I am writing to object to any mention of his name and death in Benghazi, Libya, by Donald Trump's campaign and the Republican Party,' Commanday wrote in the short letter. 'I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection. 'I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign.' Throughout his campaign, Trump has used the Benghazi attack to criticize Hillary Clinton, who was serving as secretary of state at the time. Her letter comes as several speakers at the Republican National Convention, including Trump, spoke about the nearly four-year-old attack on Americans in Benghazi. Scroll down for video Stevens' mother, Mary F. Commanday (pictured above), wrote in a letter on Friday complaining about Trump and the Republican Party using her son's name and death in the fight for the White House She wrote: 'As Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens's mother, I am writing to object to any mention of his name and death in Benghazi, Libya, by Donald Trump's (pictured above) campaign and the Republican Party' While accepting his party's nomination, Trump referenced the victims of the attack in his speech. He claimed that they were 'left helpless to die at the hands of savage killers' by Clinton. In addition, his son, Donald Trump Jr, also used the tragic incident to address Clinton during a speech he made at the convention on Tuesday night. 'Secretary Clinton's State Department ignored their request for help on the night in question and in the weeks and months leading up to the attack,' he said. 'It was a tragedy and one that would be repeated should she win the election. Who will take that call at 3 o'clock in the morning?' The Republican presidential candidate sent a tweet last month specifically about Stevens' death. Commandy (pictured above) wrote: 'I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection' The Republican presidential candidate sent a tweet (above) last month specifically about Stevens' death 'If you want to know about Hillary Clinton's honesty & judgment, ask the family of Ambassador Stevens.' he wrote on June 21 to Twitter. Last month, Steven's sister, Anne Stevens, said in an interview with The New Yorker that she doesn't hold the former first lady responsible for the attack. She said that the mission in Benghazi was understaffed, however, her brother knew that. Anne Stevens said that her brother felt it was worth it to be there to promote better relations with North Africa and the Middle East. '(To) use Chris's death as a political point, is not appropriate,' Anne Stevens said in the interview. She added that if Congress increased security resources for State Department facilities around the world it would be more useful. The other Americans killed in the attack were State Department communications specialist Sean Smith and CIA security contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. On Monday, Patricia Smith, the mother to Sean Smith, spoke before the crowd of delegates at the convention saying she blamed Clinton for her son's death. Airline passengers were forced to evacuate after a note containing a 'bomb threat' was found on board of a Qantas plane in New Zealand. A police bomb squad have searched the Qantas QF121 flight at Queenstown Airport in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon but found no evidence of an explosive on board. The note was discovered by a cleaner after the plane arrived from Sydney shortly after 3pm. There were no passengers on board when the note was found. Scroll down for video Passengers were forced to evacuate after a note containing a 'bomb threat' was found on a Qantas plane Aviation security and police have searched through baggage and the terminal building and authorities made inquiries with passengers. 'Nothing of interest has been found and the airport is now being reopened and will resume normal operations,' New Zealand Police has confirmed in a statement. 'Police ask people to be patient as there will be delays as people are moved back into the terminal. Passengers were forced to wait on the tarmac for about 20 minutes as police scoured the plane on Sunday The bomb scare comes after the airport terminal was evacuated following reports of a note suggesting an explosive found on board. 'The fire alarm went off in the airport while we were standing in the customs area,' Daily Mail Australia reporter Louise Cheer, who was one of the passengers, said. 'Then they evacuated us from the airport and we had to wait outside on the tarmac for about 20 minutes. Then they moved us on to our Air NZ flight.' Police are continuing to investigate this incident. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment. between two motorcycles and a car has been captured in a horrific set of photos Advertisement The aftermath of a fatal collision between a motorcycle and a car has been captured in a horrific set of photos that show a country road at night can be one of the most dangerous places in the world. A motorcycle rider was killed, and another injured when a bike collided with a car at Catherine Hill Bay on the Central Coast of NSW on Saturday. The grim images show a black motorcycle mangled beyond recognition, crumpled as if it was a piece of paper. Dirt has been scattered on the ground next to the bike to cover up a pool of blood. Scroll down for video The grim images show a black motorcycle mangled almost beyond recognition (pictured), crumpled as if it was a piece of paper Dirt has been scattered on the ground next to the bike (pictured) to cover up a pool of blood Pieces of clothing and shoes are strewn across the road after a motorcycle collided with a car at high speed in Catherine Hill Bay On the side of the road another motorcycle lay in a ditch next to a towel and a pair of workbooks (pictured) Next to the motorcycle a white Mitsubishi Lancer has come to a stop in the middle of the road. From the damage to the drivers side it is clear at least one of the bikes collided with the car at high speed. Pieces of clothing and shoes are strewn across the road. On the side of the road another motorcycle lay in a ditch next to a towel and a pair of workbooks. Emergency services were called to Flowers Drive at about 3.15pm on Saturday following reports of a crash. The rider, a 33-year-old man from Medowie, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The driver of the car, a Mitsubishi lancer, was a 19 year old man. He was not injured during the collision. A motorcycle rider was killed, and another injured when a bike collided with a car at Catherine Hill Bay on the Central Coast of NSW on Saturday A black motorcycle lay in a ditch on the side of the road following a fatal crash on Flowers Drive in Catherine Hill Bay on Saturday The aftermath of a fatal collision between a motorcycle and a car has been captured in a horrific set of photos that show a country road at night can be one of the most dangerous places in the world Dirt has been scattered on the ground next to the motorbike to cover a pool of blood following a deadly collision He was taken to Belmont Hospital to undergo mandatory blood and urine testing. A second motorcycle rider, a 47-year-old man from Singleton, was injured in the crash. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital with a suspected broken leg and ribs. Flowers Drive was closed for several hours while police examined the scene. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the crash to come forward. A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the death of the 33-year-old motorcyclist. The driver of the car, a Mitsubishi lancer (left), was a 19 year old man- He was not injured during the collision A work boot lay next to a motorcycle wheel on the side of the road following a fatal collision between a car and a motorcycle Shocking photos show the grim aftermath of a deadly collision between a motorcycle and a car (pictured) Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of the 33-year-old motorcyclist Emergency services were called to Flowers Drive at about 3.15pm on Saturday following reports of a crash Donald Trump has said people from France and Germany could face 'extreme vetting' before entering the United States because their countries have been 'compromised by terrorism'. In his nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, he said he wanted to crack down on immigration with countries where terror attacks were rife. He expanded on his aggressive policy on NBC's Meet The Press where he blamed France and Germany for letting terror flourish, saying: 'It's their own fault... They allowed people to come into their territory.' 'Here's my plan - here is what I want: Extreme vetting. Tough word. Extreme vetting,' he told Chuck Todd. Scroll down for video Donald Trump reasserted his controversial foreign policy plans in a new interview in which he said France and Germany were to blame for letting terrorism flourish in their countries When asked if the controversial policy may keep 'a lot of people' from being allowed into the country he said: 'Maybe we get to that point.' Not only did he blame Germany and France for allowing 'terrorists' to creep across their borders, he claimed Britain left the EU because of radicalization in mainland Europe. He said: 'There are specific problems in Germany and we have problems with France... They have totally been [compromised by terrorism]. 'And that's why Brexit happened, okay? Because the UK is saying, "We're tired of this stuff, what's going on, we're tired of". 'We're going to have tough standards. And if a person can't prove that they're from an area, and if a person can't prove what they have to be able to prove, they're not coming into this country.' He said his bitter presidential rival Hillary wanted to bring in 550 per cent more Syrians than her predecessor Barack Obama and he would stop migration from the region in 'two seconds'. 'I think she's crazy,' said the real estate mogul who also reasserted his vow to build a border along the US-Mexico border if he is elected the country's 45th president. 'It's their own fault... They allowed people to come into their territory,' said the Republican presidential nominee (center) A protester held up a sign saying 'build bridges not walls!' while trump spoke during the Republican National Convention Trump went on to say that - under him - America would build a 'safe haven' for Syrian in the Middle East and the wealthy Gulf States would pay for it. It mirrored his assertion that Mexico would pay for the wall separating it from America. He said: 'They're [Gulf States] not doing much. They have nothing but money. We will get them to pay for it.' A small-town shearer who spiralled into depression after splitting from his wife shot his sleeping friend in the head before killing himself in a grisly murder-suicide. In May last year William Markee, 58, crept through the back door of Ben Green's home and shot his friend in the head with a .22 calibre rifle as he slept. He then crept into the room next door where he tried to kill Mr Green's brother, Hubert, who managed to escape with a bullet wound to his arm. Markee was found later that morning dead in his car - with a shotgun between his legs. Ben Green (pictured) was killed by his close friend William Markee while he slept at his family home in Nimmitabel, NSW Green's family and friends said his untimely and 'cruel' death was a great tragedy. They described him as 'kind, gentle and loving' A coroner's report has detailed how William Markee went from a 'greatly respected and admired' local shearer to a 'paranoia-fuelled killer.' It unravels how the grisly events unfolded in the early hours of May 15 in a crime that rocked the small NSW town of Nimmitabel. Markee was an admired shearing tutor who was a great horseman and a good shot. 'A bit of a loner', he also carried deep scars from a 'traumatic' childhood and was prone to occasional bouts of depression. He met the Green family in 2005 through the region's shearing industry and struck up firm friendships with brothers Ben and Hubert. Markee later struck up a relationship with local woman Amanda Elliot in 2008 and became stepfather to her daughters when the pair married in 2009. He had previously told friends that Ms Elliot was 'the love of his life'. Markee and Ms Elliot split up some time before his rampage, an event which caused Markee to become increasingly isolated and withdrawn. A excerpt from the NSW Coroner's report described William Markee's state of mind before his descent into depression Ben Green (left) was 32 years old at the time of his death. He is pictured with his sister Kate and her husband Cody During this period Markee sold his 1700acre property to his 'close friends' the Greens, in what other friends though could have been a ploy to keep it out of the hands of his former partner in the event of a divorce settlement. Eventually his paranoia manifested in the delusion that the Green brothers were colluding with Ms Elliot to steal from him. Magistrate Harriet Grahame of the NSW Coroner's Court said: 'Without the benefit of expert medical opinion, it is impossible to say exactly what went wrong. 'But the evidence clearly suggests Bill suffered a long, slow decline in his mental wellbeing, becoming increasingly fixated and paranoid in the weeks before his death.' The grisly murder-suicide shocked the small town of Nimmitabel, about four hours south of Sydney Markee's paranoia soon became so acute he made preparations to pay back his perceived slights. Magistrate Grahame said: 'Early on the morning of 15 May 2015, this normally quiet town was the site of a terrible tragedy. 'Around 3am Bill Markee quietly entered an unlocked back door of the Green's home. 'Bill knew the house well, having been there many times. He went straight to Ben's bedroom. It appears fairly certain that Ben was sleeping when he was shot to the head with a .22 calibre rifle at close range. 'Bill then went directly to Hubert's room with the intention of shooting him too. However, it appears that in reloading the gun, Bill disturbed and woke Hubert. There was a struggle.' An excerpt from the coroner's report describes how the grisly murder-suicide unfolded on the night of 15 May Ms Grahame continued: 'Hubert ran to his [truck] which was parked at the rear of the househe saw Bill at the window, raising a rifle to his shoulder. 'Bill shot through the passenger window and the projectile split, one part grazing Hubert's left arm and one part lodging in the vehicle door.' Hubert fled and raised the alarm with police, later returning to the house to find his dead brother. Police found Markee dead in his car around 8am. 'When police found Bill alone in the vehicle the keys were still in the ignition,' Magistrate Grahame said. 'There was a shotgun lodged between his legs. 'He had a significant head injury and he was already dead.' Mr Green (centre) was a natural bushman who loved the outdoors and working with animals. He met Markee through the shearing community The family and friends of Mr Green described him as a 'kind, gentle and loving soul,' in the coroner's report into his death. They said he was a 'natural bushman' who loved to work with animals as well as a 'free spirit' who loved adventure. They said: 'It is a testament to his popularity in the community that his funeral was attended by a thousand people. People in Britain are working longer hours and feel more stressed, but are happier at work than ever, according to the results of a new survey Working nine to five may not be an option for many, but even with longer hours, increased stress and fears over job security, more people in Britain say they are happier at work than ever. The surprising findings have been unveiled in new research from the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA), published by NatCen Social Research. Since 1983, the BSA has asked around 3,000 people what it's like to live in Britain and has been tracking changes in people's social, political and moral attitudes. The survey reveals that many of us are happier with the type of job we do. According to the BSA findings, 71 per cent felt they had a 'good' job, with the latter described as interesting, helping others and offering chances of advancement, compared to 62 per cent in 2005 and 57 per cent in 1989. The survey also found that 62 per cent of people who took part in the survey say they would enjoy working, even if money was not a consideration, up from 49 per cent in 2005. But this answer also showed there was a divide in social class and education. Among professional and managerial occupations, 63 per cent disagreed a job is solely about money. This dropped to 34 per cent for people in routine or semi-routine occupations. Meanwhile, British workers' stress levels have increased since the 1980s. In 1989, 28 per cent of workers said they felt stressed 'always' or 'often'. Today, that figure has risen to 37 per cent. Professional and managerial workers and those aged 35 to 44 are more likely to feel stressed. The survey suggests the rising number of graduates in the workforce - 10 per cent in 1984 to 24 per cent now - has changed the nature of the labour market, as graduates tend to command higher wages and are more likely to work in a professional or managerial job. There are also more women in the workforce. In 1984, 74 per cent of men aged 18 to 59 had a job, compared to 60 per cent of women. Today, those figures stand at 77 per cent for men and 67 per cent for women. While there has been some improvement, the pay gap between men and women 'remains significant' - at 9.4 per cent in difference between earnings. There are also more people working for themselves today compared to 15 years ago, with 4.5 million workers listed as 'self-employed'. The survey says: 'Self-employment may be portrayed positively as a sign of flexibility and an entrepreneurial spirit. However, some people may feel compelled to enter self-employment if more standard employment is not available.' Overall, the survey authors say the findings show a 'fairly healthy picture in terms of public attitudes to work and experiences of work in Britain, with little sign of any lasting negative impact of the recession. 'Over the longer-term, we have found improvements (or stability) in many key measures relating to job satisfaction, non-financial motivations to work and perceived job quality. 'This isnt to say that everyone has the job attributes that they desire. For some, job security remains an elusive concept, yet it is that (along with an interesting job) that people most value.' Job satisfaction: Findings from a new survey suggest people are willing to prioritise their career, even at the expense of eating into family time, in pursuit of finding personal happiness The survey also suggests British workers are more willing to prioritise their career, even at the expense of eating into family time, and view professional success as leading to personal happiness. Dr Stephanie Morgan, an occupational psychologist at Kingston Business School in London, told The Sunday Telegraph: 'For all the talk of work-life balance, there isnt much indication that we are getting it. A teenager carrying a toy gun narrowly faced being shot with a real one after police cornered him when he was spotted with the 'weapon' in his trousers. A member of the public had spotted the suspicious item in the waistband of the 16-year-old's trousers while he was walking through Birmingham with a friend and called 999. CCTV footage from Erdington High Street shows two policeman suddenly accosting the pair forcing the teen to throw the toy gun to the ground - without thinking through the consequences of retrieving a weapon. A member of the public had spotted the suspicious item in the waistband of the youth's trousers while he was walking through Birmingham with a friend and called 999 CCTV footage from Erdington High Street shows two policeman suddenly accosting the pair forcing the teen to throw the toy gun to the ground - without thinking through the consequences of retrieving a weapon The officers immediately whip out their own guns, training them on the two boys who swiftly hold their hands up. Fortunately for everyone, the 'weapon' was simply a BB gun, but West Midlands Police have revealed that carrying any replica weapons can result in the risk of the bearer being shot - and this boy in question was dicing with death as the policeman facing him was primed to shoot. Constable Rob Pedley of West Midlands Police's firearms department said: 'A member of the public in a high street had seen two young men. One appeared to have a gun in his waistband. 'Armed officers were arriving at the scene within a matter of minutes. They identified themselves as armed officers and at this I think he panicked really but he produced from inside his coat what turned out to be a toy gun. 'The officers saw the gun come out and the officer describes how he withdrew his gun and began to squeeze the trigger, saw the hammer coming back and knew that if he squeezed just another 2-3mm he would be shooting this person in the chest. 'This person later turned out to be a 16-year-old lad with a toy gun.' The officers immediately whip out their own guns, training them on the two boys who swiftly hold their hands up Fortunately for everyone, the 'weapon' was simply a BB gun, but West Midlands Police have revealed that carrying any replica weapons can result in the risk of the bearer being shot In the wake of a series of terrorist attacks and the heightened atmosphere of alert in city centres, the shocking footage has been released by the police to highlight the increase in incidents of people carrying fake guns over the last three months. During this period officers have been faced with 80 incidences of people carrying replica, ball bearing (BB) or air guns in public. There is concern that this number could increase during the summer holidays. According to the Birmingham Mail, Inspector Richard Webb, from the firearms unit, blamed the increased availability of the weapons online and a 'gaming culture' for the spike in recent fake firearm incidents. A mass murderer who drove his truck through the wall of a bar, killing five people has been recommended for parole. In August 1983, Douglas Crabbe was kicked out of a bar in Uluru for intoxication so he rammed his truck through the wall, killing five people and injuring 16 others. The Western Australia parole board has recommended that the Northern Territory's 'worst mass murderer' be released from Acacia Prison. The decision is currently in the hands of WA Attorney General Michael Mischin, who previously refused to release the convicted killer from prison, NT News reports. Douglas Crabbe drove his truck through the wall of a bar in 1983, killing five people. The Western Australia parole board has recommended that he be released from prison Anthony Crabbe, the son of Douglas Crabbe, posted on social media that a survivor of his father's crime was a b**** after she said she didn't want his father released on parole Crabbe, 67, was initially sentenced to five consecutive life sentences, without the possibility of release but was later given a 30-year non-parole period by the NT Supreme Court. He has since been moved to Perth to be closer to family, who have been vocal about their desire to see him go free, in particular his son Anthony, 47. 'I hope he gets out. Everyone deserves a second chance. He's done his time and he will regret what he did for the rest of his life,' Anthony Crabbe told Perth Now. 'If he could turn back time, he would. I've seen him ball his eyes out about how much he regrets it. 'Now he just wants to be with family and with his mum who's almost 90. He's been a model prisoner and studied five different trades. He won't ever drive a truck again.' Anthony also apologised to survivor Lydia Hannah in the post, whom he had previously called a 'b****' and told her to 'get a life' Lydia lost four friends at the Inland Hotel in 1983 and said she had been notified by the WA Parole Board of their recommendation, which she is still coming to terms with. Its incredibly ridiculous. They just dont get it, she told NT News. If he walked into that bar and randomly shot 21 people, killing five and injuring 16 others people can relate to that and theres probably no way the parole board over there would have said he should be let out. A spokeswoman for Mr Mischin told Perth Now that he hasn't received the Prisoners Review Boards report but would review it before making a decision. Dashcam footage has captured the moment a man was knocked to the ground during a vicious brawl in Sydney's CBD overnight as ten people continue to fight around him. Four of the men - aged 18, 22 and 23 - involved in the fight on Lime Street in Darling Harbour on Saturday at 10.30pm, fled once police arrived, but were arrested nearby. Dashcam footage from a passing taxi shows a man lying motionless in the street as the group kick and punch each other. Scroll down for video A woman was knocked unconscious and four others injured after a massive brawl involving ten people in Sydney's CBD overnight A woman, 27, was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital after being knocked unconscious during the fight, Nine News reported. The four men who were arrested by police, were charged with affray and were granted conditional bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on August 17. One of the men suffered a broken nose and another was left with a dislocated knee. They were all treated on the scene by paramedics. Police are now reviewing CCTV footage from nearby stores. Four of the men - aged 18, 22 and 23 - involved in the fight on Lime Street in Darling Harbour on Saturday at 10.30pm, fled once police arrived, but were arrested nearby Advertisement Volunteers have carved a giant poppy into the Wiltshire hillside as a poignant tribute to First World War soldiers who created the first emblem at the site 100 years ago. The now completed 82ft memorial has been added to a group of eight chalk carvings of regimental crests, known as the Fovant Badges, near Salisbury. It is the first time an emblem has been added to the collection, which are recognised as war memorials and scheduled ancient monuments, since 1970. Memorial: Richard Bullard, of Fovant Badges Society, puts the finishing touches to a new 80ft poppy carved into the Wiltshire hillside A hundred years after soldiers first carved out their regimental emblems, volunteers have added a Flanders poppy to the Fovant Badges During the First World War, the site, which lies alongside the A30 between Salisbury and Shaftesbury, was used as a military camp for troops leaving for and returning from the battlefields in northern France. The camp included barracks, a hospital, parade areas, shooting practice ranges, a camp cinema, YMCA huts and a military railways running from London to the southwest. In remembrance of those who died, many of the regiments carved their badges into the hillside. Originally there were 20 of these, but today only eight have survived, including five from the First World War. Richard Bullard, of the Fovant Badges Society, told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I always see the badges as a message to the future from the past. 'When you look at them, you think of those young soldiers up on the hill who were thinking, 'I wonder if they will still remember us, I wonder if they will still be here? 'I think of ordinary people like me up on the hillside chatting, having a fag and thinking, We are going to France, we want to put a permanent mark here.' The latest addition to the hillside was carved by volunteers and archaeology students from Southampton University, who have been studying the site's historical significance. Historical: The first of the Fovant Badges was carved into the Wiltshire hillside by soldiers based at a large military camp at the site in 1916 Among the emblems that still remain, the oldest is of the London Rifle Brigade, which was carved in 1916. Others include badges for the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces, the Devonshire Regiment, the Wiltshire Regiment and the Royal Corps of Signals. Lawyers have allegedly received 2.5million of Jimmy Savile's estate, leaving just 1million for the paedophile DJ's victims Lawyers will allegedly receive 2.5million of Jimmy Savile's estate, leaving just 1million for the victims of the paedophile DJ. Law firm Osborne Clarke claimed costs of 1.8million for its work for NatWest bank and the running of the compensation scheme, while lawyers for the claimants will be paid 689,000, according to court papers. A payout of just over one million has been agreed for the 78 cases of abuse made solely against the estate, meaning each victim gets an average of 13,000. Child abuse survivors' representatives and a Labour MP criticised the legal fees, calling for judges to speak out against lawyer's charges. NatWest bank applied to be allowed to make the payments to the claimants and their lawyers under the compensation scheme at the High Court in London on Thursday. They then applied to be relieved of their role of executor. Mark Cunningham, QC, appearing for NatWest, told Mr Justice Warren that the estate was currently worth 2,042,000 - with 1,033,000 to be paid to claimants and 689,000 to their representatives. Due to other costs, the amount left would be around 141,000 - which will be divided among defendants such as the BBC, the NHS and Barnardo's, which had already paid out damages. It emerged after the Jimmy Savile's death that the paedophile broadcaster had assaulted hundreds of children. Savile had an estate reported to be worth around 4million when he died in 2001 aged 84 without ever facing prosecution. Savile sexually assaulted victims as young as five at NHS hospitals during decades of unrestricted access, reports say. Law firm Osborne Clarke claimed costs of 1.8million for its work for NatWest bank (pictured) and the running of the compensation scheme, while lawyers working for the claimants will be paid 689,000, according to court documents He abused 63 people, who were aged between eight to 40, connected to Stoke Mandeville Hospital from 1968 to 1992, according to the Stoke Mandeville report. Claimants and their solicitors can expect their payments next week after a written judgement, though Justice Warren has said he will grant the application. Peter Saunders, founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, told the Sunday Times: 'Arguably the only people who really win in these situations are the lawyers - they take the lion's share of the money in estates such as Savile's.' John Mann, the Labour MP who has campaigned against child sex abuse, called the sum an 'absurdly large amount'. Liz Dux, specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon who represented 168 of Savile's victims, said: 'What has been most important in all of this was that those Savile victims whose claims have been accepted, will receive their compensation in full. There will be no deductions. 'All parties including the Savile Estate wanted this matter concluded as quickly and cheaply as possible but the actions of the Savile Trust, who were the beneficiaries under his will, have been to constantly try to block the victims receiving a penny in compensation. 'Sadly, it has been the actions of the beneficiaries of the Estate which has led to the escalation of costs due their continued opposition of the settlement scheme. 'Fortunately, the Courts have defeated their efforts. Justice has prevailed and those who Savile abused can now hopefully achieve closure.' A payout of just over one million has been agreed for the 78 cases of abuse made solely against Saville's estate, meaning each victim gets an average of 13,000 A spokesman for the Trust said: 'It is simply not accurate to claim that the Trustees of the Jimmy Savile Trust have tried to block payments to victims of sexual abuse. 'Rather, we objected to a scheme which, when presented to both the High Court and Court of Appeal, required amendment. 'The Court of Appeal confirmed that it was necessary to hear from all parties, including the Trust. One of the reasons we took issue with the scheme was the size of the payments to the lawyers, which in our view were too high. 'We have felt all along that it cannot be right for the lawyers to get more than the claimants.' Osborne Clarke's costs for Thursday's two-hour High Court hearing were said to be 61,000, however a spokeswoman for the firm said the sum did no represent costs for the hearing. They claimed the firm's fees 'comprised less than half the figure' and were not just for the two-hour hearing, but for the necessary work taken to make the application. They added that under the scheme, 166 claimants will be receiving 2,306,636 - a figure covering claims against the estate, NHS, BBC, Barnardo's and mental health charity MIND - not those solely against the estate. The law firm said: 'The 1.8million figure is inaccurate as taken out of context, and does not represent only Osborne Clarke fees, which are only a proportion of the overall figure.' Her daughter Yvonne said: 'The care on that ward was appalling' A 92-year-old war hero died in hospital after she was told to wet the bed when she couldn't get to the toilet. Alice Morfett died at North Middlesex hospital where there have been 300 more deaths than expected in two years. The mother-of-six, who worked at a top secret RAF base in the Second World War, was admitted last year to recover after keyhole surgery for blocked arteries. Tragic: Alice Morfett died at North Middlesex hospital (pictured) where there have been 300 more deaths than expected in two years, according to one index Her heartbroken family say there was no buzzer to call staff when she needed the toilet and that after a week she was told to wet herself by an health care assistant. Ms Morfett, from Tottenham, suffered a nasty fall when she tried to go to the toilet after nurses allegedly left the guard rail down on her bed and a monitor apparently crashed down on her. Her daughter Yvonne said that the NHS had let her down badly. 'Her leg was covered in bandages and a nurse told me, "Your mum has had a little fall," she told the Mirror. 'I peeled back the bandages to see this very large wound on her lower leg. It was down to the bone. I asked if a doctor had been called and I was told no.' Yvonne added that the wound was so deep it needed surgery but staff just left it unattended. The mother-of-six, who worked at top secret RAF base in the Second world War, was admitted last year to recover after keyhole surgery for blocked arteries. Pictured: Ambulances at North Middlesex Hospital She said that after the incident her mother was 'never the same woman again'. She continued: 'The care on that ward was appalling. To tell an old person to wet the bed because you won't take her to the toilet is sickening.' Ms Morfett's son, Allen, said that he had to fetch water for elderly people on the ward who were desperate for a drink. Yvonne said her mother eventually lost the will to live: 'She refused to eat and in the end just wasted away. She said she wanted to join our dad, Alexander, who has been dead for more than 20 years.' Ms Morfett's family is not the only one to complain about the death of a loved one after attending North Middlesex hospital. Mum was never the same woman again. The care on that ward was appalling The parents of toddler Armagan Denli say their son died after doctors were slow to diagnose him with meningitis and sent him home with a temperature of 39C. The family of Murat Alabogaz, 30, say the chef died after staff failed to diagnose his pancreatitis and sent him home with painkillers. When he returned to A&E he was allegedly kept waiting on a bed in a corridor for hours. A report revealed that hospital staff failed to notice a patient had been dead four and a half hours and its urgent and emergency care services were rated as 'inadequate' following a surprise inspection in April. A tannoy announcement made in February telling patients to go home unless they were dying, prompted a visit from Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors. Staff at the hospital told inspectors they were worried about patient safety because of the competency of middle grade doctors. These doctors were often left in charge of the emergency department overnight - with no consultant presence in the department after 11pm, inspectors were told. In some cases, emergency patients were forced to wait until morning to find out whether they were to be admitted or sent home because doctors were 'unable or unwilling to take decisions', the report says. Figures released in March showed it had the worst A&E performance in London and saw only 66.4 per cent of patients within four hours. Ms Morfett's heartbroken family say there was no buzzer to call staff when she needed the toilet and that after a week she was told to wet herself by an health care assistant A spokesman for the hospital said: 'We express our deepest sympathy to Mrs Morfett's family for her death. 'Our records do not appear to indicate that anything fell on Mrs Morfett, rather that her injury was caused by her falling as she got out of bed. However in light of her family's continued concerns, we are carrying out a further review. 'We offer the family of Armagan Denil our deepest sympathy. The independent investigation into his death, which we have shared with them, found that our paediatric A&E team followed NICE guidelines correctly and were right to discharge him when they did. 'There were no clear symptoms of meningitis at this stage. Tragically the disease can advance very rapidly and his condition must have deteriorated. 'When he was readmitted eight hours later there were clear symptoms of the disease. 'Our team of doctors and nurses did their utmost for him but sadly they were unable to save his life. 'We have investigated Mr Alabogaz's death fully and accept that we made some mistakes in his care. We have learned from these and apologised to his family.' Advertisement A hidden waterfront suburb in Sydney, where the stars are lining up to buy, has just topped the average price of its more famous neighbour reaching a $3.49million median house value. Bronte has overtaken Bondi as Sydney's most prestigious and sought after neighbourhood according to the Domain Group House report for the month of June. Out of 10 suburbs that have a median price of $2.5million to $3million, four of them are in beachside locations including Clovelly, North Bondi, Coogee and Manly and of course Bronte. Scroll down for video Bronte, has become the most prestigious suburb in Sydney, even more than Bondi, with a median house price of $3.49million for its beachside lifestyle and drawcard for celebrities Clovelly saw a median house price of $2.97million, North Bondi $2.85million, Coogee $2.78million and Manly $2.76million. Domain Group chief economist Dr Andrew Wilson said that it was not surprising to see Bronte, with people equating the suburb with the home of movie stars. 'Among the suburb's newest residents is Mentalist star Simon Baker buying in Bronte last year for $6.5million.' A recent surge in prices solidified Bronte's position in Sydney's top ten suburbs after years of consideration. Coogee and Clovelly have also seen a major change in the past two years with buyer's being drawn by the beachside lifestyle. A recent surge in prices solidified Bronte's (pictured) position in Sydney's top ten suburbs after years of consideration McGrath agent, Bethwyn Richards, told Domain: 'People are making their decision based on the lifestyle they see is available here. 'They are young families who want to walk, run, surf and eat on the beach.' A shortage in stock has also contributed to price rises with houses being snapped up quickly when put out on the market. Meanwhile Sydney's median house price has fallen below $1million after recording a second consecutive quarterly drop for the first time in five years data showed in April. Out of 10 suburbs that have a median price of $2.5million to $3million, four of them are in beachside locations including Clovelly, North Bondi, Coogee and Manly and of course Bronte Australia's median house price has risen to almost $660,000 with Darwin having the biggest increase among the capital cities. Melbourne is the runner up with $519,500 which is closest to the average median price across Australia. And Brisbane and Perth have eased with a median price of $475,000 and $535,000 respectively. Hobart is at 277,500, Adelaide at $320,000 and Canberra at $407,000 this financial year. A World War II veteran has died after a fire engulfed his home in Melbourne's north west. Fred Smith, 98, raised the alarm when he activated his medical alert at his house on Vaynor Street in Niddrie about 5.30am on Sunday morning, reported the ABC. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade said the fire started after clothes on a heater were sitting too close to a couch. A World War II veteran has died after a fire engulfed his home (pictured) in north west Melbourne suburb of Niddrie on Sunday morning Victoria Police said crews from the MFB quickly brought the blaze under control and located the body of the home owner inside the property. Mr Smith was found on what is understood to be his favourite chair. The MFB said the fire is understood to have been burning since midnight and slowly burned until authorities arrived five hours later. The lack of oxygen meant the fire was contained to the lounge room. Mr Smith had a smoke alarm but the unit had not been connected correctly. Neighbours said Mr Smith moved into the house in the 1950s and he had once worked for Ansett. His wife had passed away and he was only six weeks away from celebrating his 99th birthday. Neighbour June Chambers told the ABC she had known Mr Smith for more than 50 years and it was 'an awful way to go'. She said he was very interesting to talk to and he liked to have a chat with the neighbours. Britain could be offered the option of imposing a seven-year emergency brake on immigration from the EU as part of a deal to keep it in the single market, under plans being considered by top officials. British and European officials believe the move would soften the economic shock of leaving the EU while also addressing people's concerns over immigration. It would also soften the political blow to the European project amid concerns that growing Eurosceptism throughout the continent could lead to other countries splitting from Brussels. Britain could be offered the option of imposing a seven-year emergency brake on immigration from the EU as part of a deal to keep it in the single market, under plans being considered by top officials Senior British ministers, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, is determined to keep Britain in the lucrative single market, which allows tariff-free trade between all 28 member states and a consumer market of around 500 million customers. But there is strong resistance in Europe led by French President Francois Hollande to offering Britain a special status in the single market that would allow it to opt-out of freedom of movement. It is one of the 'four freedoms' that the single market was based on along with freedom of goods, services and capital and there are fears that allowing Britain an exception would lead to others seeking a similar arrangement and undermining the decades-long project. But senior British officials told the Observer that giving Britain a seven-year break on freedom of movement from the EU was 'certainly one of the ideas now on the table'. Migrants march on the road near Belgrade to Hungarian border Belgrade, Serbia, on July 22 2016 The Italian government would back an emergency brake if it kept the UK in the single market, according to Nathalie Tocci, special adviser to the EU high representative for foreign affairs Federica Mogherini. Ms Tocci said an emergency brake would have to have a time limit to ensure it doesn't breach EU treaties. 'But I see no reason why it could not last, say, between seven and 10 years. This was how long temporary derogations lasted after the 2004 enlargement, which the UK chose not to benefit from,' she said. Holland could also support the emergency brake, a leading Dutch MEP said, but only if the British Government guaranteed that EU citizens living in the UK would be able to stay. Hans van Baalen told the Observer: 'If the rights of EU citizens now living the UK can be guaranteed permanently by the UK government, then I think we can look at some form of emergency brake on free movement of labour.' Mr Johnson is confident a deal could be struck with the EU that would see Britain remain in the single market but be able to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement. Britain could be offered the option of imposing a seven-year emergency brake on immigration from the EU as part of a deal to keep it in the single market Speaking on a visit to the United Nations in New York yesterday, Britain's new Foreign Secretary said: 'I've absolutely no doubt that that balance can be struck, and over the next few weeks we'll be discussing that in the government and with our European friends and partners,' Johnson said. 'Everybody wishes to make fast progress in the economic interests both of Britain and of the European Union. I think there is very much a deal there to be done, and the faster we can get it done the better.' However, after holding talks with Theresa May in Paris on Thursday, Mr Hollande warned that Britain will not remain in the Single Market unless it accepts freedom of movement. The French president said the thorny issue of EU migration will be the 'most crucial point' of the UK's negotiations to leave the bloc, but indicated he will not agree to major concessions. Boris Johnson (pictured speaking during a visit to the United Nations in New York yesterday) is confident a deal could be struck with the EU that would see Britain remain in the single market but be able to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement After talks at the Elysee Palace, the Prime Minister insisted the Government will deliver on voters' demands for 'some controls' on movement between countries. Asked about Britain's future in the Single Market, Mr Hollande said: 'It's the most crucial point. That's the point that will be the subject of the negotiation. 'The UK today has access to the Single Market because it respects the four freedoms. 'If it wishes to remain within the Single Market it's its decision to know how far and how it will have to abide by the four freedoms. 'None can be separated from the other. There cannot be freedom of movement of goods, free movement of capital, free movement of services if there isn't a free movement of people. 'With David Cameron prior to the referendum there had been a number of limited opt outs that in no way hindered freedom of movement of people. The mother of Chris Noble, who was killed in September 2014 when a fire was deliberately lit in a convenience store beneath his flat in Sydney, has spoken of her devastation at the last text message she ever received from him. Liz Noble and her husband Ross appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night to tell their story about how a fire, lit by convenience store owner Adeel Khan to claim insurance, ended their son's life. The couple, who live in Canowindra, in the central west of New South Wales, spoke of their loss of their beloved son, and how they first found out about the fire. Scroll down for video In June a Supreme Court jury found Mr Khan guilty of the murder of Chris Noble, and causing grievous bodily harm to Todd Fisher and wounding Corey Cameron, who were both injured in the fire (pictured) Liz Noble (left) and her husband Ross (right) appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night to tell their story about how a fire, lit by convenience store owner Adeel Khan to claim insurance, ended their son Chris Noble's life Ms Noble said she was in the kitchen when she read the last ever text message from her son, sent about 4am, which said 'I love you' Ms Noble said she was in the kitchen when she read her son's text message. 'I went across the kitchen to put the jug on and I had a message on my phone and it said 'I love you'' and my stomach just immediately lurched,' said Ms Noble. 'Then I thought no, no, no, you're being an over-anxious mother, don't be like that. So I sent a message back to him saying what are you doing awake at this time?' 'Then I didn't get a reply or anything from him. I turned the Today Show on and they had this fire in Darling Street and I thought gee, that looks close to where Chris is. Mr Khan deliberately set fire to his convenience store in Rozelle, Sydney (pictured) to claim an insurance payout 'So I sent him another message saying the fire looks really close to you, are you alright?' Mr Noble died after he was trapped in his room, with the door jammed shut by falling rubble and bars on his window, unable to get out. His housemates Todd Fisher and Corey Cameron tried to get him out but they couldn't open his bedroom door. They escaped just in time by smashing through a glass door and jumping out onto a neighbouring roof. When Tara Brown asked Ms Noble how much it haunts her that her son was very aware it was the end for him, Ms Noble cleared her throat and caught her breath. 'A lot. Because you wonder how long was he alive after he'd sent the message and you think why wasn't he getting out?' she said. 'And I felt that I wasn't good enough to get a message from someone like that at the last bit. As she described how well-loved Mr Noble was, she started to cry. Convenience store owner Adeel Khan (right) was found guilty of murdering Mr Noble (left) after Mr Khan deliberately lit a fire in the Rozelle convenience store below Mr Noble's flat to claim the insurance money 'And then you remember how much he just loved so many people, he was known for saying I love you to his mates, his friends, his brother, his sister,' she said. 'I can't believe that you can be that strong to actually do that when, you know, there's so much noise and disaster all around you.' In June a Supreme Court jury found Khan guilty of the murder of Chris Noble, and causing grievous bodily harm to Todd Fisher and wounding Corey Cameron, who were both injured in the fire. He was also found guilty of the manslaughter of 31-year-old Bianco O'Brien and her son Jude, who were in the flat next door. At his trial Khan was accused of placing petrol-filled containers around his shop and lighting the fire in order to secure an insurance payout and to avoid lease obligations. He denied this and testified that robbers had tied him up for hours, spilled fuel on the shop floor and left shortly before the blaze erupted. When Tara Brown (pictured) asked Ms Noble how much it haunted her knowing her son knew it was his last few moments, Ms Noble said: 'I can't believe that you can be that strong to actually do that (send a message) when there's so much noise and disaster all around you' Mr Khan was also found guilty of the manslaughter of 31-year-old Bianco O'Brien and her son Jude, who were trapped in the flat next door The Russians could invade Poland 'overnight' and the US needs to do more to beef up Nato defences in the area and send more missiles to the region to deter Moscow. A 25-page document by the US-based Atlantic Council think thank says Nato needs to do more to 'counter a resurgent Russia'. The report says: 'Even if Moscow currently has no immediate intent to challenge Nato directly, this may unexpectedly change overnight and can be implemented with great speed, following already prepared plans. The capability to do so is, to a large extent, in place.' It says the timing of a Russian invasion could not be predicted but it could come as a result of Nato being 'distracted by another crisis' or as a reaction to a 'misperception of Nato's activities'. A Russian military column drives through Alagir in South Ossetia in 2008. Russian troops took most of the capital of the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia after a three-day battle, ignoring US calls for them not to intervene in Georgia's internal affairs The report goes on to say: 'Russia rarely disguises its true intentions. On the contrary, it has proclaimed them very publicly on various occasions, but, in general, the West has chosen not to believe Russia's declarations and disregards its willingness to carry them out.' The Atlantic Council claims Nato would be slow to respond to an invasion and Russia would use its nuclear weapons as a deterrent to prevent it turning into a full-scale war. The report goes on to say Nato forces in Poland would be expected 'to delay and bog down an invading force and inflict unacceptable damage on it'. It says: 'The [Nato] force [in Poland] is not required to win the war, but it must be able to fight alongside the host-nation forces to buy Nato more time for reinforcement. Nato's presence in the region is currently not large enough to achieve this.' A quarter of a century after the end of the Cold War a new arms race is under way in eastern Europe with Poland and the Baltic states having switched sides Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 and its support for ethnic Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine has made Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia increasingly twitchy about their own security. When he was asked about the possibility of a Russian attack recently, Lithuania's Defence Minister Juozas Olekas said: 'We cannot exclude it...They might exercise on the borders and then switch to invasion in hours.' In order to invade Poland the Russians would have to go through Latvia and Lithuania, unless it was able to persuade Belarus - which is pro-Moscow - to give its troops free passage. Poland has traditionally been fearful of Russian invasion. After centuries of domination by the Russian Empire, the modern Polish state came into existence in 1918 but was divided and occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 after Stalin and Hitler's foreign ministers signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. After the war communist Poland came under Russian domination for decades, until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. German, American and Polish troops took part in unprecedented manouevres in Poland last month, the largest exercise in eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War Poland joined Nato in 1999, much to the chagrin of Russia, and has become increasingly keen to bolster its defences. Nato defence ministers recently agreed to a new multi-national force of 4,000 troops which would bolster the defence of Poland and the Baltic states. The United States, Canada, Germany and Britain will lead battalions of 1,000 troops each. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had urged Nato not to go ahead with the move and warned Moscow would respond by posting three new divisions of its own close to the frontier. The Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has voiced disquiet with the amount of money the US pays to defend countries in eastern Europe. The US accounts for more than 70 percent of all Nato spending and only four other members - Britain, Greece, Estonia and Poland - meet the minimum two percent of GDP spending on defence required by Nato. Trump said he would review the financial contributions made by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania before acting under the treatys mutual defence clause if any of those countries were attacked by Russia. The US Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment take part in military exercise near Kupiskis, 100 miles north of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius at the weekend Around 30,000 Nato troops took part in the recent Anakonda-16 exercise in Poland. Nineteen NATO members and five partner nations contributed troops to the exercise, which was designed to train and test their swift joint reaction to threats on land, sea and in the air. Russia meanwhile is building up a new base at Klintsy, 750 miles to the east. Russia insists it poses no threat to the former Soviet states. Around a million ethnic Russians live in the Baltic states, with more than half of them in Latvia. Lithuanian officials claim Russia has tried to corrupt Lithuanian soldiers and businessmen to become spies for the Kremlin. The gun used by the deranged Munich killer had been bought on the 'dark web' and was originally from Slovakia, according to investigators. The 9mm Glock handgun was smuggled into Germany and sold illegally to 18-year-old killer Ali Sonboly. The serial number on the weapon had been erased but police sources have revealed the firearm carried a certification mark from Slovakia. It is believed the weapon used to kill nine people on Friday was a replica that had been converted to fire live ammunition. The gun used by Ali Sonboly was a replica Glock, just like this one, which had been converted so it could fire live ammunition The Glock 17 pistol was sold illegally via the the 'dark web' - sites on the internet that can only be accessed with passwords and are often used to sell drugs, child porn and other items illegally. WHAT IS THE 'DARK WEB'? In the mid 1990s, US military researchers created a technology that allowed intelligence operatives to exchange information completely anonymously. They released it into the public domain and it became a 'dark web', a network of hidden websites, which allow untraceable online activity by paedophiles, terrorists and other criminals. In 2014 Britain's then Prime Minister David Cameron said GCHQ planned to attack the dark web and root out criminal activity. He said: 'The dark net is the next side of the problem, where paedophiles and perverts are sharing images, not using the normal parts of the internet that we all use.' But the 'dark web' is also used by people for 'legitimate' reasons - for example whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and activists during the Arab Spring, who can upload information anonymously without fear of censorship or retribution. Advertisement Sonboly spent hours locked in his bedroom playing violent computer games and using the internet. Police seized his computer from the home he shared with his parents and younger brother. By examining his hard disk they will be able to find out where the gun was purchased from and most likely who was involved in its handling on its route from Slovakia to Germany. Germany has strict gun laws and Sonboly would not have been granted a licence to own a weapon. He had been undergoing treatment for depression at the Klinikum Harlaching Hospital in Munich last year, according to the a report in the German media. He spent two months as an inpatient at the psychiatric unit and was also being treated for attention deficit disorder. According to a report in the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper police found the manifesto of mass killer Anders Brevik on his computer. Sonboly carried out his shooting rampage on the fifth anniversary of Brevik killing 77 people in Norway. Police are hunting a suspect after three people were gunned down near the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. Officers found two men and one woman wounded in the 1300 block of West Broad Street at about 2.45am on Sunday, WTVR-TV reports. Two victims were transported to VCU Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police have not yet identified the victims, but they do not believe they are VCU students, according to the local station. Scroll down for video Police are hunting a suspect after three people were gunned down in the 1300 block of West Broad Street (above, file photo) at around 2.45am on Sunday No motive has been established and police have not released a description of the suspect. However, in an alert to VCU students, the school said at an altercation had broken out at a party inside a private apartment. In the alert, the suspect was described as a black man with a thin build, who had close-cut hair and was last seen wearing a red polo shirt, blue jean shorts with holes in them, red and white Nike Air Jordan sneakers as well as a gold chain and a gold watch. It urged students to immediately report suspicious activity to police, be aware of their surroundings and avoid isolated areas and walking alone at night. An investigation is ongoing. Veteran naturists who have gathered on a section of Broome's Cable Beach known as 'north of the rocks' to sunbake, fish and swim nude fear their way of life has been threatened by tourism. What used to be hundreds of people getting naked during the 60s, has faded to only a handful of locals ever since the 'do-gooders came along' explained one Broome local named Bobbie. She told the ABC that the local tourism boom suddenly put a lot of the nudists in the region under close scrutiny with complaints about their distaste for the 'clothing optional' lifestyle. Naturists (pictured) who have gathered on a section of Broome's Cable Beach known as 'north of the rocks' to sunbake, fish and swim nude fear their way of life has been threatened by tourism 'Some of the tourists started saying things, saying they didn't like it and telling us to move along. 'Now there's only three or four of us that come down here regularly,' added Bobbie. Tanned skin and private parts lay out on display on the sandy shores of the popular tourist beach. Apart from the carloads of families and grey nomads that frequent the area, the beach's three camel tour companies operate there with hundreds of people copping an eyeful each day. Popularity of the nudist beach has decreased to a handful of people who still get naked (pictured) at Cable Beach with veteran nudists complaining that the tourism boom is to be blamed for the changing attitudes Camel company owner John Geappen has said that it led to some awkward moments which 'shock' their customers because of no signage indicating that it is a clothing optional beach. 'One of the common lines I say to the ladies on the tours is 'you'll notice that everything looks very small from up there girls', either that or I ask them to put their blinkers on and look straight ahead.' The number of locals has reduced to three or four but in its heyday saw a vast majority of people heading down to the beach to take their kit off with regulars who would travel to the region during the winter months. A couple who have been travelling to the region for every winter in the past 20 years still strip off for a morning fish when they're at the Western Australian beach. Camel company owner John Geappen has said that it led to some awkward moments which 'shock' their customers because of no signage indicating that it is a clothing optional beach Ross Holden said that she has seen a decline with the young people and said that it used to be 'very laid back' but it seems people have now become 'shy'. Free Beaches Australia said there are 45 nude beaches across the nation while only 23 are legally recognised as 'clothing optional.' Cable Beach is a 22 kilometre stretch of white sand beach on the eastern Indian Ocean and about six kilometres from Broome in Western Australia. The beach was named after the telegraph cable was laid between Broome and Javain in 1889 and is well known as a popular tourist destination for camel tours, four-wheel-drive expeditions and the clothing optional beach. Vermont senator was critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday Some suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season The controversy exploded over the weekend after 19,000 hacked emails were published by Wikileaks Party officials are discussing whether party chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign from her role Advertisement Democratic party officials are in crisis talks on the eve of the national convention over mounting calls for party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's resignation after she was exposed as biased in a humiliating Wikileaks email hack. The controversy exploded over the weekend, prompted in part by the publication of some 19,000 hacked emails last week, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season. The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday - a day before Democrats open their convention in Philadelphia to nominate Clinton as the party's presidential candidate. The Vermont senator was critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary season, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton. Now, officials are discussing whether Wasserman Schultz should be forced out of her role as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, according to a person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It came after Wasserman Schultz lost her speaking slot at the party's convention this week as the committee battled the allegations of bias. Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage as the party attempts to 'keep the peace,' CNN reported. Sources told the network Wasserman Schultz's role will be to 'gavel in and gavel out.' Scroll down for video Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (pictured) will not speak at the party's convention in Philadelphia this week, as the committee battles allegations of bias following an email leak Sen. Bernie Sanders made appearances on the Sunday shows this morning and called the revelations brought to light thanks to the email hack were 'outrageous' 'She's been quarantined,' a high-ranking Democrat reportedly said after a meeting on Saturday night. The DNC Rules Committee rescinded Wasserman Schultz's position of convention chairwoman, reallocating it to Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, CNN reported. It comes after a cache of leaked emails from Democratic party leaders' accounts include at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to hobble Bernie Sanders' campaign. Sanders did the rounds on the Sunday shows this morning, saying on CNN that the revelations were 'outrageous.' 'But it's not a great shock to me,' Sanders said. 'There's no question in my mind and I think there's no question in any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was in opposition to our campaign, so I'm not shocked by this and that is why many, many times I made clear Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign,' Sanders said on State of the Union. He renewed those calls today when talking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, adding 'nobody has apologized to me.' 'I think these emails reiterate the reason why she should not be chair,' Sanders said of Wasserman Schultz on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 'I think she should resign. Period,' Sanders added when pressed about what role she should play at this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. A Democratic National Committee spokesman has not responded to a request for comment. The release Friday of more than 19,000 emails sent and received by seven top Democratic National Committee officials by anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks comes at a time when the party is anxious to project an image of unity. In a May 5 exchange, DNC Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall asked if someone could ask a person he did not name, presumably Sanders, about his religious beliefs in the conservative states of Kentucky and West Virginia. A massive email leak has potentially undermined the recent truce made between Bernie Sanders (left) and Hillary Clinton (right) Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage at the convention as the party attempts to 'keep the peace', Democrat sources reportedly said 'Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,' the message said. 'I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.' Amy Dacey, the committee's CEO, responded in all caps: 'AMEN. 'I am not an atheist,' Sanders said today on CNN in response. 'But aside from all of that, I mean, it is an outrage and sad that you would have people in important positions in the DNC trying to undermine my campaign,' the senator added. The Intercept news website quoted Marshall as saying, 'I do not recall this. I can say it would not have been Sanders. It would probably be about a surrogate.' Later, however, Marshall apologized in a public post on his Facebook page, Politico reported. 'I deeply regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, and all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process,' Marshall wrote. 'The comments expressed do not reflect my beliefs nor do they reflect the beliefs of the DNC and its employees. I apologize to those I offended,' he added. A May 21 email chain discussed Sanders' assertion in an interview that he would oust the party chair once he's elected to the White House. Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gets a hug from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz during an event in September 2014 In leaked email exchanges, Wasserman Schultz said Sanders 'isn't going to be president', and called him campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS' and a 'damn liar' Writing from a Gmail account that media reports said belonged to Schultz, the chairwoman noted, 'This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president.' In another email exchange, Wasserman Schultz called Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS', after being told Weaver suggested the Sanders campaign continue all the way through to the convention. She also called Weaver a 'damn liar' and accused him of 'scummy behavior' in relation to comments he made in May about potential protests in Nevada. In an email conversation from April, Wasserman Schultz took aim at Republican nominee Donald Trump, calling him a 'sexist pig'. DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach emailed Wasserman Schultz about comments Trump made during an interview. 'I haven't quite recovered it's early in the morning from her shouting that message,' Trump said on MSNBC's Morning Joe when asked about Clinton bringing up his comments on the "\woman card,' Pasutenbach wrote, before continuing with Trump's transcript. 'And I know a lot of people would say you can't say that about a woman, because of course a woman doesn't shout. But the way she shouted that message was not that's the way she said it, and I guess I'll have to get used to a lot of that over the next four or five months,' Trump had said. Wasserman Schultz replied: 'Sexist pig.' In another email thread, dated May 24, the DNC chair desperately tried to score tickets for her and six friends to see Hamilton as part of a birthday celebration in New York. 'Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC,' she wrote to the DNC's fiance director Zach Allen. 'It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12. Wasserman Schultz desperately tried to score tickets for her and six friends to see Hamilton as part of a birthday celebration in New York DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ'S HAMILTON REQUEST Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC. It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12. Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much. DWS DNC finance director Zach Allen: Of course, happy to ask! They usually don't take requests until a month out, and I'd need the form attached filled out (dos require a CC - it's $167/seat). I've never seen an order of 7 fulfilled, I have seen as many as 4. Would you guys be willing to split up 4 and 3? I hate to even ask but just want to make this as realistic as possible, it's like the hunger games around this thing. Wasserman Schultz: 4 and 3 on different nights or just not all together? We would want to go on the same night but we don't have to sit all together. DWS Allen: Got it, happy to put that in and see what we can do. Feel free to shoot me a CC# and I'll fill the form out for you. Advertisement Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried to keep the Clinton campaign distanced from the growing scandal, suggesting it was a DNC problem that needed to be sorted out Talking to Jake Tapper (right) Sunday morning, Robby Mook pointed fingers at Russian hackers for infiltrating the DNC's email system and said Russians were trying to help Donald Trump win 'Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much.' Allen replied saying he would be 'happy to ask', and that he would need a credit card to cover the $167 per seat costs. The email chain did not saying whether the chair secured the seven seats. Another email chain suggests that the Democratic National Committee encouraged party activists and even interns to attend anti-Donald Trump protests. During one instance a top staffer huffs over a photograph that shows few people at an anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C. 'Going forward, when our allies screw up and dont deliver bodies in time, we either send all our interns out there or we stay away from it.. we dont want to own a bad picture,' DNC communications director Luis Miranda wrote. Miranda also persuaded reporters from hand-picked news organizations to write positive pieces about Clinton, while downplaying any grumbling made by Sanders toward the party. In one instance, Miranda leaks to Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Meckler a letter from the Sanders campaign in which the Vermont senator's campaign complains that his picks for the rules and platform committees were rejected. A week later, according to the New York Post, Miranda was dismissive of these qualms. 'The only reason the Sanders camp even sent that letter is that [Wasserman Schultz] was courteous enough to reach out to give both camps representation,' he wrote. 'But the appointments ... are at the chair's discretion.' Speaking to Jake Tapper this morning on State of the Union, Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried keeping his candidate an arm's length away from the growing scandal. 'Well, I think the DNC needs to look into this and take appropriate action and I'm sure that they will,' Mook said. He used a similar line during an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 'I think the DNC needs to get to the bottom of the facts,' Mook said. Mook also pointed fingers at Russia. 'What's disturbing to us is that experts are telling us is Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails and other experts are now saying that the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump,' he said on State of the Union. 'I don't think it's coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention here, and that's disturbing,' Mook continued. 'I think we need to be concerned about that. I think we also need to be concerned that we also saw last week at the Republican convention that Trump and his allies made changes to the platform to make it more pro-Russian,' Mook added. A hacker who goes by the name Guccifer 2.0 took credit for the 19,252 emails released Friday morning by Wikileaks. Investigators looking into the DNC hack have said that Guccifer 2.0 is an operative of the Russian government, which the hacker denies. Instead, he says he's a Romanian 'hacktivist' and a solo player who dubbed himself after the original hacker Guccifer, also Romanian, who notably hacked into the AOL account of Dorothy Bush Koch, sister to President George W. Bush, revealing his painted self-portrait to the world. Donald Trump's campaign chair Paul Manafort found Mook's defense laughable linking it back to Clinton's own email scandal. 'Dems attack Russia for hacking them but want us to believe that server in HC home was safe from hacking,' Manafort wrote this morning. 'HC put national security at risk!' he added. Sanders waged a feisty yearlong battle against Clinton in the Democratic primaries. She clinched enough delegates to secure the nomination in early June, but Sanders did not concede defeat and endorse her until July 12. Sanders remained faithful to Clinton, not holding her responsible for the content of the emails. 'No, no, no, we are going to do everything we can to protect working families in this country,' Sanders said when asked if the DNC shenanigans gave him any pause when it comes to supporting Clinton. Donald Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort chimed in this morning calling Democrats' charge that Russia hacked the DNC laugable in light of Hillary Clinton's own email scandal It has been reported Wasserman Schultz wrote in an email 'he isn't going to be president,' in reference to Bernie Sanders Telephones are setup for delegates ahead of the Democratic National Conventio at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Sanders's campaign manager Jeff Weaver, in an interview with ABC News, demanded answers on Saturday about the growing controversy. 'Someone does have to be held accountable,' said Weaver, who said the emails seemed to show misconduct at a very senior level of the DNC. 'We spent 48 hours of public attention worrying about who in the [Donald] Trump campaign was going to be held responsible for the fact that some lines of Mrs. Obama's speech were taken by Mrs. Trump. Someone in the DNC needs to be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign,' Weaver added. The Democratic Party, Weaver said, seemed to have 'its fingers on the scale' for Clinton, he added during the interview, which was posted on the television network's website. 'We have an electoral process. The DNC, by its charter, is required to be neutral among the candidates. Clearly it was not.' Trump pounced on the leaks as he tries to scoop up disaffected voters who feel Sanders was denied a fair shot at the nomination by the political establishment. A brave schoolgirl who has a one-in-a-million disease has decided to undergo kidney transplant surgery even though she was denied the drug which could keep her alive after the operation. Abi Longfellow, 13, was told by NHS funding bosses that the medicine she desperately needs, Eculizumab, was too expensive because it costs 137,000 a year. But the fearless teenager has decided to have the transplant operation despite there being no guarantee it will help her because the breakthrough drug will not be funded. Abi, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, made the decision as she could develop a fatal infection if she stays on dialysis - which she's already been on for three years. Abi Longfellow, pictured in hospital, is battling a rare kidney disease that requires 10 hours of dialysis a day Abi was told by NHS funding bosses that the medicine she desperately needs, Eculizumab, was too expensive because it costs 137,000 a year However, without the drug her rare disease - a kidney ailment called Dense Deposit Disease - could end up destroying her new kidney. She told the Sunday People: 'I'm fed-up and tired. Every night I'm hooked up to dialysis. 'I struggle to do the things most of my friends do. I can't even go to school. It's not a life. 'People say I'm brave but I don't have a choice. If the NHS won't help me I have to take my own chances. I'd rather have tried.' She added that doctors told her she could get an infection and die after two years being on the dialysis machine. Abi was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with the disease, which stops the organ filtering waste from the blood, and her parents Andy and Jo have been left feeling frustrated after the NHS won't prescribe her the drug. Astonishingly, Abi's illness is too rare to be covered by the NHS England funding policy, but not rare enough to be considered an exceptional case that would allow access to expensive drugs that could help save her life. The fearless teenager (left and right) has decided to have the transplant operation despite there being no guarantee it will help her because the breakthrough drug will not be funded Cruelly, some children are given access to the drugs meaning she is forced to go without alongside other children at her hospital who are given the medicine. Her illness was first discovered in March 2013, just as Abi, her mother and father were about to depart on a family trip to Florida and the then-10-year-old took a turn for the worse. A trip to A&E that evening was the beginning of every parent's worst nightmare - Abi's symptoms were linked to the latter stages of kidney failure, and she was transferred to a specialised renal ward. By December 2013, she was placed on dialysis. She now requires dialysis at home for 10 hours every day - treatment which has an average life expectancy of five to ten years. A spokesperson for NHS England North said last year: 'These are incredibly difficult situations, but in this case doctors and medical experts decided that it would not be right to fund a treatment that hasn't been proven to work for patients in these circumstances.' The family is now trying to raise funds for the Eculizumab and has set up a fundraising page. Click here to help raise money for Abi to receive the medicine. Her illness was first discovered in March 2013, just as Abi, her mother and father were about to depart on a family trip to Florida and the then-10-year-old took a turn for the worse A child has been rushed to hospital after falling out of a window at a building in Sydney's north. Emergency services were called to the Chatswood property just after 6pm on Sunday following reports of the fall. The child, believed to be 12 years old, has been taken to hospital, a police spokeswoman told AAP. Scroll down for video A child has been rushed to hospital after falling from the window of a three-storey apartment block (pictured) in Sydney's northern suburb Chatswood on Sunday night with reports that he is concious and still breathing The boy was said to have fallen up to three storey's from his home in Chatswood but is 'still breathing' according to reports from 9News. Paramedics were seen trying to land a helicopter at the scene to take the boy who is concious to hospital. Footage from the scene show paramedics and New South Wales police officers cordoning off the area and a person being consoled by emergency services. Footage from the scene show paramedics and New South Wales police officers cordoning off the area (pictured) A mother whose sons were abducted by their father nearly 30 years ago says she still hasn't given up hope. The last day Ruth Parker saw her two children was October 9, 1986, when their father Charlie Vosseler took them on a trip - never to return. Parker, who at the time worked as a librarian, found Vosseler through a listed ad in a Mother Earth News magazine. Scroll down for video A mother whose sons were abducted by their father nearly 30 years ago says she still hasn't given up hope. Charles Jason (left) and William (right) were taken when they were three and two years old, these photos show what they would look like now. The last day Ruth Parker saw her two children was October 9, 1986, when their father Charlie Vosseler took them on a trip never to return. The pair began writing letters, exchanging phone calls and taking trips to see each other, which eventually led to Parker moving to New Hampshire to marry Vosseler. Their marriage ultimately dissolved but before it did they had two baby boys, Charles Jason first, followed by William two years later. Parker told WKOW that her children were only three and two years when they were taken from her. Parental abduction wasn't taken as seriously in the 1980s as it is today, says Parker, and when she reported to Rochester Police that they had gone missing, the officer simply said: 'What's the big deal? They're with their dad.' On April 3, 1987, a federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for him, according to MissingChildren.com. It took seven months before the FBI became involved and they have been managing the case ever since. The bureau is still offering a $25,000 reward leading to Vosseler's capture. A private investigator who worked on the case determined that Vosseler had been planning the abduction for a long time. Video courtesy of WKOW-TV / Madison, WI Happier times: Parker, who at the time worked as a librarian, found Vosseler through a listed ad in a Mother Earth News magazine. Pictured left, the parents with their young son and right with grandparents and their sons A private investigator who worked on the case determined that Vosseler (left) had been planning the abduction of sons William (center) and Charles (right) for a long time He had even gone as far as to remove Parker's name from their joint checking accounts and halted the automatic payments to her car so that by the time of the abduction she was months behind her payments and was about to have her car repossessed. Vosseler had been married twice before and after divorcing his first wife he had told her that 'she was lucky they didn't have children because he would have taken them from her'. The investigator believes that he 'selected' Parker for her 'good background and high intelligence' but had always planned on keeping the sons for himself. In 30 years, authorities have only come close to capturing him once. In 1986, the year they went missing, an Oklahoma women had seen the two boys on a missing poster and told authorities that she was dating their father but that he had told her never to talk about the boys' mother because she had 'died in a terrible accident'. The woman described how Vosseler had been using fake names and IDs for himself and his sons. But when the FBI got to Stillwell, Oklahoma - 11 days after the tip off - the house Vosseler had been living in and the car parked out front had both been burnt to the ground. Parker says that the only way to deal with the loss is to 'bury the heartache': 'You can't stay in that worry place. It's crippling. 'In order to do this, to find your kids, you cannot be crippled. You need to work and fight and research and do what you need to do.' Parker has done an Ancestry.com DNA test hoping that her sons may be curious about the other half of their family and have done the same - but so far, no luck. The police have also done age renderings of what her boys - now men - would look like now. The teenager who killed nine people in Munich on Friday had been planning the attack for over a year, according to German police. Ali Sonboly, 18, also left behind a long written statement on his computer, which was tantamount to a 'manifesto'. He killed himself after shooting nine young people dead with a Glock handgun he had bought on the 'dark web'. Police and prosecutors told a press briefing today the seeds for the deadly shooting spree may have been sowed four years ago when Sonboly was beaten up at school. Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutor's office, said there was still no evidence of any political motivation for the crime. He did not disclose what was contained in Sonboly's manifesto but it is believed to be a document tainted by his mental illness. The Munich prosecutor's office said Sonboly (pictured) had been planning the attack for over a year Mr Steinkraus-Koch said the gunman received two months' inpatient psychiatric treatment last year. He said: 'The suspect had fears of contact with others' and also depression'. Robert Heimberger, head of Bavaria's criminal police, said: 'He had been preparing (the attack) for a year.' Sonboly had paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden - the scene of a school massacre in 2009 by teenager Tim Kretschmer - and taken photographs. 'He completely occupied himself with this act of rampage,' said Mr Heimberger. Mr Heimberger said: 'It is not the case that he deliberately selected' the victims of the attack', none of whom were his classmates. He said Sonboly spent a lot of time playing video games in which he was the shooter, including 'Counter-Strike: Source'. He said Sonboly's parents of the gunman were in shock and were not able to be interviewed. The Bavarian State Crime Office said he had bought the illegal pistol used in the attack on the internet. Police revealed four of those who died were gunned down in the McDonald's restaurant while the five others died in the Olympic shopping centre. People leaving flowers, candles and other tributes at the site of Friday's shooting outside a McDonald's in the Munich suburb of Moosach They found 300 rounds of ammunition on Sonboly's body but it is not clear why he chose to kill himself rather than continue the killing. A former classmate identified as Ismail B told Bild newspaper he answered the fake Facebook post posted by Sonboly and promising free food. He said he spotted Sonboly sitting in the McDonald's wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans and carrying a red rucksack. Ismail said he bumped his own chest in a greeting but Sonboly did not respond and instead got up from the table to go to the toilet. He said he could not see the girl whose Facebook was used to advertise the free meals so he walked across the street into the shopping centre, narrowly escaping death. Ismail said Sonboly had been bullied because he was seen as something of a 'nerd' who liked to study. He said three Albanian teens had bullied him the worst. Police have found the truck a missing teenager was last seen driving in the garage of a home in Middle Tennessee five years after the investigation into his disappearance went cold. Nieko Lisi, of New York, was 18 when he disappeared, and was last seen on Flintlock Drive in Franklin, Tennessee, on October 1, 2011. But following a lead earlier this week, detectives from Franklin police and New York State police found his grey 2004 GMC Canyon truck. The vehicle was found stripped down vehicle locked inside the garage on Thursday. Scroll down for video Police have found the truck missing Neiki Lisi (pictured) was last seen driving in the garage of a home in Middle Tennessee five years after the investigation into his disappearance went cold Police said the discovery only increases the concern of foul play in Lisis disappearance and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Investigators are hopeful that forensic processing of the truck, underway in Franklin, will help to provide answers in the case, Lt. Charles Warner, of Franklin police said in a statement on Friday. Investigators from New York State Polices Violent Crime Investigation team have been in Franklin since Monday following new leads in the case. Detectives from Franklin and New York are committed to finding out what happened to Neiko Lisi, and will continue with a very deliberate investigation, which now centers on Franklin, police said. At a press conference on Thursday, investigator Eric Hurd said police are in the process of interviewing persons of interest in the case, The Tennessean reports. He described Lisi as 5ft 10ins tall with brown hair and of a muscular build. Lisi's grey 2004 GMC Canyon truck (above) was found stripped down and locked inside a garage in a Middle Tennessee home on Thursday Lisi left Jasper, New York, on September 30, 2011, and dropped off a friend in Romulus, Michigan, before arriving on Flintlock Drive in Franklin on October 1, authorities said. His phone stopped communicating with a Franklin cell tower at 4.08pm that day, police said. He and the truck had not been seen since then. The license plate last on the truck was New York EGY 7316. The Lisi family is offering a $2,500 cash reward and police and Crime Stoppers are offering an addition reward of up to $1,000 for information in this case. Aid workers today warned of a pressure cooker about to blow as the French authorities began tearing down cafes and restaurants in the Calais Jungle. Charity groups fear that the entire refugee camp in the French port town is about to be destroyed, leaving thousands of UK-bound migrants with nowhere to stay while they wait to get across the Channel. A new initiative by the authorities has seen civil servants visiting the shanty town and closing down illegal businesses for the first time. Charity groups fear that the entire refugee camp in the French port town is about to be destroyed, leaving thousands of UK-bound migrants with nowhere to stay while they wait to get across the Channel Thirteen people - ten Afghans and three Pakistanis - were arrested last week for illegal sales, and their goods seized. Four of them will appear in court in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer in October, where they face a range of charges related to consumer legislation. Numerous aid groups offering help to more than 6000 men, women and children staying in the camp say the tactics are a recipe for disaster. A spokesman for L'Auberge des Migrants (Migrant Shelter): This is the first time that these little businesses have been targeted by the authorities. The refugee camp in Calais has seen a 15 per cent month-on-month rise of migrants arriving at its gates They have always provided a sense of community, and a feeling of purpose for the migrants running them. Getting them shut down suggests that the authorities are ready to tear down the entire camp. It is already a pressure cooker about to blow the situation is extremely tense. Rioting frequently breaks out in and around the camp as migrants fight over everything from food supplies to deals with people smugglers. Natacha Bouchart, the Mayor of Calais, has already warned that the Jungle will be torn down imminently. In March, demolition experts supported by CRS riot squads dismantled the southern half of the camp. Charities Help Refugees and LAuberge des Migrants say the population now totals 7,307 The operation involved tear gas and baton charges being used against mainly young men fleeing war and poverty from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria. Up to 6000 migrants still live in the remaining northern half of the camp, according to the regional prefecture and charity groups. Now Ms Bouchart says she has received assurances from officials close to Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve that the north side will soon go the same way as the south. Ms Bouchart Tweeted this month: We can't wait any longer, we need to know as fast as possible when and how the Jungle will be torn down. In another announcement, Ms Bouchart said Mr Cazenueve would give the green light for the dismantlement very soon. In an image taken inside the camp signs show where the refugees are from and where they hope to go Thousands of police and security officials remain deployed around the Jungle, as those living there make nightly attempts to reach Britain. Favoured illegal routes include stowing away on lorries, or boarding ferries or trains. Migrants also regularly risk their lives by trying to get across the Channel by inflatable boats, or by walking through the Channel Tunnel. British soldiers have been told to 'scrub' their social media accounts of uniform pictures and instructed to jog in pairs to avoid being targeted by jihadists. A troubling memo ordering staff to 'remain vigilant' was sent to soldiers at bases in Bulford, Tidworth and Larkhill, Wiltshire, where 14,000 people are garrisoned. It comes as two men, reportedly of a Middle-Eastern appearance, tried to abduct a serviceman in his late 20s near RAF Marham in Norfolk. British soldiers have been told to 'scrub' their social media accounts of uniform pictures and instructed to jog in pairs to avoid being targeted by jihadists. Pictured, police outside RAF Marham in Norfolk, after a serviceman was threatened with a knife near to the base A memo, seen by the Sun On Sunday, warned: 'All staff and their families should remain vigilant and report anything that is suspicious immediately. 'Personnel when running off camp should consider running in pairs. 'Personnel should consider scrubbing their social media pages to avoid drawing attention to themselves.' On Wednesday a married serviceman was out running on Wednesday when he was grabbed by a man, who tried to drag him towards a nearby car. Police appealed for pedestrians and motorists to help track down two 'Middle Eastern' men after the attempted knife-point abduction. The serviceman knocked the first attacker to the floor and an accomplice, carrying a knife, helped him up before both men fled. The serviceman was said to have been left 'very, very shaken by his ordeal'. It comes as two men, reportedly of a middle-Eastern appearance, tried to abduct a serviceman in his late 20s near RAF Marham in Norfolk (pictured, police at the scene) Detective Superintendent Paul Durham said: 'While the victim only witnessed two attackers, there may have been more than two people in the vehicle and given the nature of the attack, it is likely they were part of a larger team.' Police are urging anyone walking or driving along Squires Hill, near to Costcutters in Marham, around the time of the incident on Wednesday to come forward. A witness told ITV News Anglia he believes he saw a people carrier similar to the one being hunted by police several days speeding away from the base days before the attempted abduction. The man claimed men of a 'Middle Eastern' appearance and matching the police description were in the car, which almost crashed into him, three days before. Police refused to comment on reports that they have the DNA of one of the attackers, after the jogger allegedly got their blood on his knuckle while fighting them off. Ted Cashen was abandoned as a baby in front of a hospital in 1948 and The Toledo Blade covered the story A man who was abandoned at birth in the bushes in front of a hospital has found dozens of relatives thanks to DNA testing and Facebook. In 1948, Theodore 'Ted' Cashen of Cincinnati was left near the steps of Fremont Community Hospital in Fremont, Ohio, when he was about an hour old and not even cleaned from birth. Wrapped in only a thin blanket despite the freezing temperatures, a woman who had been visiting her daughter in the hospital found him after she heard what she thought was a kitten crying, reported USA Today. Sixty-eight years later, Cashen, who was adopted by a couple but grew up with no siblings, Cashen now has 104 close and distant relatives from all over the country. He discovered them through Internet groups and DNA testing. 'They opened the door that was always locked behind me,' Cashen said of the new tools at the disposal of those who grew up with no biological family. Cashen, whose Facebook page says he studied at Medical College of Ohio, Toledo Pediatrics and the University of Cincinnati, married a woman, Maureen, and they had one son. Wanting to be able to pass along health information to their son, who was then 12 years old, Cashen began his search for family in 1997. Ted Cashen, 68, above, has found over 100 relatives But it was really only last year that Cashen was able to make inroads into finding those who shared his genes. His wife saw an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer about a Facebook group called Search Squad, which helps people locate family. That group pointed him to a more targeted group, Foundling Finders, which helps orphans and their families. Foundling Finders has about 20,000 members. Amanda Reno, who heads up the group's parent group, DNA Detectives, began assisting Ted in his search for family. '[The group] is a place [members] can find others with similar stories and seek specialized help a place they get the chance to be open about their abandonment and ask questions without feeling different,' Reno told The News Messenger. Soon Ted learned that his likely biological mother and father separated shortly after World War II. Amanda Reno, above, runs DNA Detectives, a group that helps people locate their biological relatives He also learned that his likely father (Cashen's investigators are 99 percent certain of the man's identity) had four brothers and at least two sisters. It's unclear if Cashen has tried to contact his father, or if he was able to locate his mother. Cashen then uploaded his DNA to Family Tree DNA and Reno sent DNA kits to potential relatives who might be willing to take a test. Soon, the man who knew of no biological family had 104 likely relatives scattered throughout the country, including a woman in California who turned out to be a first cousin. Other relatives are closer, including a half brother and first cousin in Fremont, and Cashen has visited them. 'Everyone has been very great about it, very cordial about it,' he said of contacting strangers to find out if he is related to them. Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, who appeared to be a 31-year-old father-of-three, who was obsessed with keeping fit, martial arts and salsa dancing The Bastille Day killer led multiple lives in order to hide his radicalism while he plotted his killing spree on the Nice promenade. Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel appeared to be a 31-year-old father-of-three, who was obsessed with keeping fit, martial arts and salsa dancing. But underneath this persona, he had turned into a calculated jihadi following ISIS guidance to kill scores of people by driving a truck down a packed promenade in Nice as crowds watched Bastille Day fireworks. To some, Bouhlel was a father with three children under six, and an 18-month old born just after his wife left him, accusing him of frequent abuse. Then there was his erratic social life, smoking cannabis with acquaintances in the Tunisian immigrant community; martial arts training and possible steroid use to bulk up muscle; salsa dancing to pick up women; and a reported male lover in his 70s. And now, it appears that Bouhlel had an extremist life, too, built up over months as he prepared for the Bastille Day attack. His parallel worlds are complicating investigators' efforts to figure out who he was, who might have helped with the attack, whether other violence was planned. However, they may never get a definite answer as Bouhlel was killed by police after ramming his truck through a family-filled crowd enjoying fireworks. Authorities initially said Bouhlel had radicalised very quickly as family and neighbours described him as indifferent to religion, volatile and prone to drinking sprees. But on Thursday, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said investigators found images in Bouhlel's phone suggesting he was premeditating an attack as far back as a year ago. Molins said Bouhlel studied Captagon, a drug used by some jihadis before attacks. He had a screenshot of a previous vehicle attack in a crowd. He obtained weapons through a string of acquaintances. But Bouhlel, pictured right, had an extremist life, too, built up over months as he prepared for the Bastille Day attack Authorities say Bouhlel drew inspiration from ISIS propaganda, though there is no sign the attack was commandeered by the extremist group's bases in Syria or Iraq. Yet his turn to extremism went unnoticed by relatives, neighbours and acquaintances and police and prosecutors investigating Bouhlel for a road rage incident in early 2016 saw no reason to flag him as a potential risk. People who worked out with Bouhlel at the same gyms in Nice said he was a loner and they nicknamed him Arnold, as in Schwazenegger A French security official said this may have been intentional, in response to ISIS suggestions to some followers in the West that they hide their radical faith to stay off police radar. Attackers who targeted Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016 are believed to have done the same. A lawyer for one of five suspects given preliminary terrorism charges in the case says he believes Bouhlel radicalised alone. Lawyer Jean-Pascal Padovani said his client, Ramzi A.and Bouhlel were from the world of 'small-scale delinquence. ... They smoked pot together. It was that kind of relationship.' Ramzi was on Nice's seaside Promenade des Anglais the night that Bouhlel's truck careened down the cordoned-off street. But his lawyer insists he was there to have fun, and had no idea what Bouhlel planned to do. Vladis Selevanov, who works as a cook in Nice, said he had gone to different gyms with Bouhlel for about four years, yet didn't know he was married and a father. Selevanov and others who worked out with Bouhlel described him as a loner, he added: 'He was strange, but not at all aggressive.' Men at the gym nicknamed him 'Arnold,' as in Schwarzenegger, because he was so muscular, yet he had an incongruously high-pitched voice. He seemed obsessed with his appearance, always clean-shaven, hair gelled backward even during workouts - and was always wearing flip-flops, Selevanov said. Bouhlel used his two middle names when he signed a petition to get their gym to stay open until 11pm. Bouhlel, red belt, also trained in a smattering of martial arts, leaving the impression of a strong but somewhat undisciplined fighter His opponent in a 2010 karate tournament described him as a novice, making mistakes because he was stressed and not a seasoned fighter When he discovered it offered salsa lessons, he joined with gusto, Selevanov said, bragging about how it was a good way to meet women. 'He always hit on all girls, old, young,' he added. Bouhlel also performed at salsa nights at the Restaurant de la Victorine near the Nice airport, according to people who worked there, and trained in a smattering of martial arts, leaving the impression of a strong but somewhat undisciplined fighter. His opponent in a 2010 karate tournament described him as a novice, making mistakes because he was stressed and not a seasoned fighter. A video of the fight, obtained by The Associated Press, shows Bouhlel sparring powerfully, and occasionally going overboard - at one point head-butting and at another kneeing his opponent in the crotch. A man who trained Bouhlel in Satori martial art described Bouhlel as always polite and calm, yet he was fired from a delivery company for inappropriate behavior. The truck that Bouhlel used to kill 84 people gathered on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice while they watched fireworks on Bastille Day Floral tributes mount up at the scene where 84 people died in Nice after being killed by Bouhlel during his terror rampage French media reports say Bouhlel's cell phone indicated he had homosexual flings. Selevanov said Bouhlel was known to have had a long-term relationship with a male gym-goer in his 70s. The prosecutor said he had an 'unbridled sex life,' but security officials wouldn't comment on specific male relationships. Selevanov described working out on a treadmill with Bouhlel a few weeks ago in the Moving Express gym, in a neighborhood near Nice's renowned Marc Chagall Museum, when he found him unusually friendly. The heartwarming moment a driver whose son had been pulled over by police stopped to pray with the officer has been captured on camera. Heard County deputy sheriff Brandon Wiggins detailed the encounter that took place near Franklin, Georgia - about 50 miles south-west of Atlanta - on Friday night. Dashcam footage recorded from inside Wiggins' car starts by showing the officer parked behind a blue truck he had pulled over for running a stop sign. Scroll down for video A Georgia police officer who stopped to pull over a man for running through a stop sign was shocked when the man's father arrived and asked if they could pray together (pictured) Moments later, another car pulls up in front of the truck, and a man gets out and starts walking towards the police car. 'I immediately start running situations through my head, and praying for the best,' Wiggins wrote on Facebook. 'I'm nervous, and praying to God that nothing is going to happen, as I get back out of my car, I see a man and a woman exiting the vehicles, my hand close to my gun and my heart pounding, all while still watching the driver of the truck.' In the video, the man walking towards Wiggins says: 'Hey, how you doing? That's my boy, I just wanted to check to make sure everything's O.K.' Wiggins then tells the father he pulled his son over for not stopping at a stop sign, but says he will 'just give him a warning on it'. The father then reaches out his hand to Wiggins, before asking if they can pray together. Heard County deputy sheriff Brandon Wiggins detailed the incredible encounter that took place near Franklin, Georgia - about 50 miles south-west of Atlanta Dashcam footage recorded from inside Wiggins car starts by showing the officer parked behind a blue truck he had pulled over for running a stop sign, before the driver's father approached the cop to pray 'God bless you. I appreciate all that you do for us. You got just a second? Just to have a word of prayer,' he is heard saying. 'Father we thank you for this young man... he's doing a service for this community, for this country and this state... watch over him and protect him and keep him and his fellow officers safe as they're out here trying to keep us safe and protect us.' They then hugged before Wiggins walked back to his squad car. 'As he prayed for me and my brothers in blue my eyes filled with tears, I was at a loss for words, this man with all he had going on, stopped to pray for me,' Wiggins wrote, adding that the man told him he had just been visiting his father in the hospital. appearance since being released from jail in Lebanon 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown made her return to television on Sunday night, in a story on the families of the Rozelle fire victims, that Channel Nine billed as 'the story of the year'. However, there was no mention of the child kidnapping attempt that saw her, the 60 Minutes crew, Sally Faulkner and Adam Whittington jailed in Beirut - and her noticeable absence from the show, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Social media was divided on her return, with some people praising her on the way she handled an emotional story, and others questioning why she should be allowed back on television. Scroll down for video 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown made her return to television on Sunday night, in a story on the families of the Rozelle fire victims, that Channel Nine billed as 'the story of the year' One Twitter user wrote: 'An emotional, well presented story tonight from Tara Brown'. Another said: 'Great to see Tara Brown back on 60 Minutes, a wonderful reporter.' Others criticised her return. 'Tara Brown and co should have been sacked', one Twitter user said. Another commented: 'How is Tara Brown and crew allowed to work yet that woman faces jail for their stuff-up in custody battle? Their rep is diminished.' This Twitter user praised Tara Brown's return to television, in her first appearance since her involvement in the botched kidnapping attempt in Beirut Another Twitter user praised Tara Brown's return, saying it was an 'emotional and well presented story' This Twitter user however, clearly wasn't impressed with the way Channel Nine promoted Tara Brown's return Another person on Twitter said Tara Brown and the 60 Minutes crew should have been sacked for their involvement in the attempted kidnapping of two children This person also wasn't impressed with Tara Brown's return, saying the show's reputation had been affected, and questioned why Sally Faulkner faced jail when the 60 Minutes crew were back at work Brown's return to TV comes as child recovery agent Adam Whittington has been released from jail in Lebanon, nearly four months after his involvement in the attempted child abduction. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Whittington was meant to leave the country last week, but was delayed by a last-minute travel ban imposed by the children's father, Ali Elamine. However, Mr Whittington's lawyer condemned the injunction as 'illegal' because it was granted by a civil court and not the criminal court, where the matter is being heard. Mr Whittington said he would be telling his side of the story in full. 'Finally, finally the truth is coming out, very soon, don't worry about that,' he said. In Sunday night's 60 Minutes episode reporter Tara Brown (pictured) spoke with families of the three people that died in the Rozelle fire in September 2014 Tara Brown (right) is pictured with Bill Keremelevski (left) whose daughter Bianka O'Brien and grandson Jude were both killed in the fire Brown hosted a story on the Rozelle convenience store fire in 2012 that killed three people - Chris Noble, who lived above the store and Bianka O'Brien and her one-year-old son Jude, who lived next door. She spoke to Mr Noble's parents Liz and Ross Noble and Bianka O'Brien's father, Bill Keremelevski in emotional interviews. Ms Noble revealed the last text message she received from her son said: 'I love you', about 4.08am, when he was trapped in his bedroom, unable to escape his burning apartment. Adeel Khan, the store owner who set fire to the building to claim an insurance payout, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the fire. He claimed he was being robbed and managed to escape from the supposed assailants. He is awaiting sentencing for the three deaths. It was Tara Brown's first appearance back on television since she was arrested and jailed in Lebanon, along with a 60 Minutes crew, for her involvement in the botched attempted kidnapping of two children in Beirut. She is pictured being escorted from a Lebanese courthouse to Baabda Prison in April Friends and family have paid tribute to a British man who has died in Ibiza after falling from a fifth-floor apartment. Reports in Spanish media said Christopher Beattie, from Glasgow, was found dead after falling from a block of flats in the island's party hotspot San Antonio. The 33-year-old's body was found on Saturday morning. The Civil Guard in Ibiza is reported to be carrying out an investigation into the incident. Reports in Spanish media said Christopher Beattie (pictured), from Glasgow, was found dead after falling from a block of flats in the island's party hotspot San Antonio Family and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to him. His brother Paul Beattie wrote on Sunday that the family was 'totally heartbroken'. He wrote: 'Yesterday we got the devastating news that my brother Christopher Beattie passed away whilst on holiday. Christopher was definitely a one off and I can't believe I will never see him again! 'Rest in peace Chris, mum will look after you now. love you xxx' His girlfriend, Lesley-Ann Langan, posted: 'This morning I got the news that my boyfriend had died whilst on holiday in Ibiza. It doesn't feel real and even though I never knew him that long I feel like my heart has been ripped out and shredded. 'My thoughts are with his family and I just keep expecting him to call or text. It's devastating that someone can just just disappear from your life in the blink of an eye.' A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are providing assistance to the family of a British national who has died in Ibiza, Spain.' The apartment block where the incident happened, in the Ses Variades area of San Antonio near to Cafe del Mar renowned for its famous sunsets, is popular with tourists in summer. A worker at the apartment block where the dead man was staying, which has a 24-hour reception and is thought to be the same one he plunged from, said he was unable to comment and the manager would not be around till tomorrow afternoon/Monday afternoon. The unnamed Brit is the first this year to die in San Antonio in similar circumstances. The apartment block where the incident happened, in the Ses Variades area of San Antonio near to Cafe del Mar renowned for its famous sunsets, is popular with tourists in summer (file picture) The other three people hurt in falls from hotels or apartments blocks in the party resort, cheated death. Brit Tom Jarvis, 22, from Essex, drowned earlier this month after getting into difficulties when he jumped in the sea for a night-time swim with a friend off San Antonio. That tragedy happened less than a fortnight after police in the same resort launched an air and sea for a Brit youngster reported missing by his friends - only to discover the following morning he was sleeping in another hotel. The parents of a teenage boy have forgiven and wont be pressing charges against the girl who posted an embarrassing photo of their son online the night before he killed himself. Reid Adler was 15 when he took his own life in his bedroom in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 7. Six months later, his devastated parents Mark and Joni Adler are still trying to figure out if they could have more to save their sons life. But Reids father has said that they wont pursue legal action against the teenage girl who bullied their son, the Omaha World-Herald reports. Instead, they are using their faith to try to move forward and build something positive from their situation, Adler said. Scroll down for video Reid Adler (top right, with his family) killed himself after a girl posted an embarrassing photo he had sent her online - but his devastated parents said they have forgiven the girl Shes already carrying probably one of the worst sentences she could ever carry, he told the newspaper. She knows why my son took his life and she has to live with that. However, Adler said may one day look into whether Nebraska law provides sufficient consequences when an individuals irresponsible actions lead to someones death. He is the superintendent of Ralston Public Schools, but the girl is no longer in attending a school in the district. Reids mother said she exchanged messages on Instagram with the girl, the World-Herald reports. She wanted to find out more about her, she said, and in one message, told the teenager she was forgiven. Reid had been in middle school when he took a picture of his private area and sent it to the girl. She had reportedly been threatening to share it online if Reid didnt comply with her demands, his father said. Mark and Joni Adler (pictured with Reid) said they took their son to counseling after he expressed suicidal thoughts a month before his death, but regret not doing more Mark and Joni Adler (pictured with their children Reid, Jade and Kamille) only found out about the picture that led to Reid's death afterward he killed himself On the evening of January 6, when he was a freshman at Ralston High School, the girl posted the picture on a website called Omaha Purge a site dedicated to posting material that is embarrassing at around 8pm. The following morning, at around 7.20am, Joni Adler went to wake up her son and found him dead. The cause of death was suffocation. At the time, the couples older daughter Jade was already at school but their younger daughter Kamille was upstairs in her bedroom, getting ready for school. Adler was in his bedroom ironing his sons pants. Shortly after his death, his parents said their son had a 'vigor for life' and made friends everywhere he went, the Ralston Recorder reported. Adler said his son shouldnt have sent a picture of his private area to the girl in question - and he believes his son knew that. But Reid didnt deserve to pay for the mistake with his life, he said. He apparently didnt know how to handle it, so he took his own life, he said. His parents believe the picture had probably been haunting their son for almost a year but they dont believe he was depressed or had intended to kill himself. I dont think Reid was depressed and I dont think Reid planned on taking his life that night, because on our computer was his AP English homework that he had to turn in the next day, completely done, he said. But Adler did add that his son had expressed suicidal thoughts about a month before his death and so he and his wife attended therapy sessions with their son. However, the parents werent aware of the picture until after their son died. In December last year, Reid had sent a note to this mother saying he sometimes felt like he didnt want to live and had watched videos about suicide which urged viewers to talk to someone if they felt like harming themselves. Mark Adler (above, with Reid) hopes speaking up about how important it is for parents to communicate with their kids - especially when it comes to mental health and suicide - will help others The Adlers immediately took their son to counseling and Reid was willingly attended, although he was nervous during his first session. His mother went along to every session and Adler attended some, he said. The sessions went well, and the Adlers were happy they were able to talk to their son and express how much they loved him. But Adler said he still found it difficult to talk to his son about suicide. The morning after Reids note to his mother, Adler texted his son. I basically told him this is how special you are, the things I love about you. I said, Whatevers bothering you, we will help you. It doesnt matter what it is. Reid replied, telling his father that he trusted him and loved him and that he was sorry who told him not to be. Adler added: He writes back to me and, probably, this is one of my only regrets he said, Some of this stuff is embarrassing and so it would be hard to tell you, so I just keep it in. He replied, telling his son it didnt matter what it was. Buddy, we got this, he wrote. He felt like he had opened a door, but Reid never told him what was troubling him. He believes his son worried about how the pictures revelation would have affected his job as the superintendent. What I regret is I should have just went to him the very first time I could and said, What is it? Whats going on? Adler said. I didnt do that. And I dont know why I didnt. I just didnt. Looking back on it, I wish I had. Now, the Adlers want to spread awareness about suicide and mental health. They hope speaking about how important it is for parents to communicate with their kids will help prevent other parents from the tragedy they have endured. They set up the Reid Adler Memorial Kindness Scholarship, some of it funded by donations from well-wishers. It gives an award of $1,000 to at least one senior graduating from Ralston High each year. Recipients are also given $250 to pay forward or use to do something kind. The half-brothers were best men at each other's wedding but relations have been strained by Malik's embrace of militant Islam, including Hamas The 58-year-old was opposed to Clinton after her email security scandal and after he blamed her for the death of his friend Colonel Gaddafi He added he had been turned off the Democratic party by their support of same-sex marriage Malik explained he was voting for Trump as 'he speaks from the heart' His brother, President Barack Obama, has publicly backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the race Malik Obama has announced he is voting for Republican Donald Trump President Obama's half-brother Malik has announced that he is voting for Donald Trump in the next election. In an interview with the New York Post from his home in Kenya, Malik said he was voting for the Republican candidate because 'he speaks from the heart.' 'Make America Great Again is a great slogan,' he said. 'I would like to meet (Trump).' The former Democrat voter said he was voting for a Republican after feeling 'deep disappointment' at his half-brother's presidency. President Obama's (right) half-brother Malik Obama (left) has announced that he is voting for Donald Trump in the next election Malik's announcement could be seen as a dig at his famous relative Barack, who has publicly backed Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton to take over from him after the November election. But the 58-year-old, who lives in a rural Kenyan village but is still registered to vote in Maryland, has no plans to follow the president's footsteps and has criticized Clinton over her use of a private e-mail servers while secretary of state. He also blamed both Clinton and his half-brother for the 2011 death of Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi - who he had described as one of his closest friends. Malik even dedicated his 2012 biography to Gaddafi who he said had been 'making this world a better place.' He is also uncomfortable about the Democratic Party's support of same-sex marriage - made legal across every state under his own half-brother's presidency. 'I feel like a Republican now because they don't stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me,' he said. Since the announcement, Trump has weighed in on his latest supporter, tweeting: 'Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!' Malik said he was voting for the Republican candidate Donald Trump (pictured) because 'he speaks from the heart' Trump has weighed in on his latest supporter, tweeting: 'Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!' The Obama brothers have had a strained relationship over the years. They first met around 30 years ago and were best men at each others weddings. Malik claims that he's been invited to the White House on numerous occasions and that he stays in contact with the president. 'Of course were close!' he told GQ in 2013. 'I'm the one who brought him here to Kogelo in 1988! I thought it was important for him to come home and see from whence his family came you know, his roots.' Malik told MailOnline that year that his more famous half-brother is 'always at the end of a phone line if I want to talk.' But Malik's embrace of militant Islam, including Hamas a U.S.-designated terrorist organization has seen the White House seek to distance the president from his half brother. The president's half-brother has had at least 12 wives and was accused of beating two of them. Polygamy is legal in Kenya if it fits within a person's religious or cultural traditions. The Obama brothers have had a strained relationship over the years. They first met around 30 years ago and were best men at each others weddings (pictured is Malik holding up a photo of him and his half-brother) Malik's embrace of militant Islam, including Hamas a U.S.-designated terrorist organization has seen the White House seek to distance the president from his half brother (Malik, second from right, with a Hamas scarf) Meanwhile, Malik has previously chided Barack for not doing enough to help his Kenyan relatives. Im very proud of my brother, but I would like for him to do a little bit more for the family on this side. I would like to say he could send some money. I give money when asked. Thats what family is for. Were not well off, though people think we are. He also said that the president did little to help his own foray into politics when he unsuccessfully ran for governor of the southwestern Kenyan county of Siaya in 2013. 'I don't think politics is my thing,' he told The Post. 'Honestly, I'll be happy when my brother is out of office, and I will finally be out of the limelight and be able to live like a human being.' Perhaps the tensions between the pair may be the reason that Malik complained earlier this month that he hadn't heard from Barack about his visit to Kenya today. 'From what I hear, he is coming now as the president of the United States,' said 58-year-old Malik Abon'go Obama earlier this month during an interview at his home in Kogelo,Bloomberg reported. 'He should have at least informed us as his family.' Malik Obama is now planning to return to Maryland, where he lives and worked for years as an accountant, to cast his vote in the November elections. And he appears to be embracing his new politics proudly. He even has one of Trump's Make America Great Again hats. A teenager who was visiting Britain from Brazil to see family died after drowning at a popular holiday resort. Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, who was visiting his relatives in Croydon, South London, died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands in East Sussex yesterday. Two men, a father and son who were also visiting the beach, had rushed into the water to help Mr Silva Da Cruz, but were left fighting for their lives after suffering cardiac arrests in the rough sea. The two men, aged 35 and 17, did not know Mr Silva Da Cruz, and remain in hospital today in a critical condition. Sussex Police say the teenagers death is not being treated as suspicious. Scroll down for video Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, who was visiting his relatives in Croydon, South London, died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands in East Sussex yesterday The beach became the scene of a tragedy yesterday after the dangerous rip-tide caught stricken swimmers Pictures showed police recovering a body after hours of searching for a missing swimmer Early reports suggested the men found themselves in difficulty because of a swarm of jellyfish, however officials have since ruled this out. A spokesman from Sussex Police said a major incident had been declared after a call was received around 12.30pm to reports of a man who had disappeared while swimming. A police spokesman said: The man who got into difficulties at sea at Camber has sadly been found dead. 'The 19-year-old man, who had been visiting Camber, was found at 6.20pm but was declared dead at the scene. Two men are being treated in hospital after a group got into difficulty in the water off a popular beach resort Teams of medics, paramedics, police and the coastguard worked to help the swimmers caught in the dangerous tide Witnesses say emergency services recovered a body on the beach later on in the day He has been identified as Gustavo Silva Da Cruz from Brazil who was visiting family in Croydon. His death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed. The other two people, not connected to Gustavo, a 35-year-old man and his 17-year-old son visiting from London remain in a critical but stable. John Marlow, 47, of Chorley, Lancashire, said: 'My wife and two children were paddling. Two teenagers were swimming behind them and the tide came in fast. 'The lifeboat and helicopter arrived and the two lads waved them away indicating they were okay. Emergency services were battling to save the beach-goers' lives after the incident at Camber Sands (pictured), East Sussex, at around 12.40pm today 'Then the helicopter lowered a man and picked someone else out of the water, and landed on the beach. 'They were resuscitating him as the tide was still coming in, he was taken away by chopper. The lady in the shop by the beach said two had drowned and more were being treated. 'I can't confirm it though. Two people were on stretchers in two ambulances in the car park.' Mr Marlow who is on a family holiday, said there were 'no flags' indicating any dangers but a notice in the car park indicated high tide would be at 2.40pm. In a message posted online he said: 'two dead three critical condition and its still ongoing. Two air ambulances, one police chopper, seven ambulances, police cars and coastguard everywhere. 'We have come away now. It was awful. More helicopters arriving.' Police were seen with a body bag after swimmers got into trouble at Camber Sands One lifesaver was lowered from a helicopter by a winch over the sea in a bid to help the struggling people. His daughter, Tanya Jade Marlow, wrote on Twitter that it is believed there were fatalities after swimmers were caught in a rip tide. She tweeted: 'Thinking about the poor souls that have lost their lives today in a rip tide at Camber Sands.' Other shocked beachgoers also wrote messages on Twitter. Lisa Ratcliff wrote: 'What's happening in Camber?. So many police cars, ambulance and coast guards rushing there. Roads around are at a standstill. #CamberSands.' Adrianne Baumber said: 'Bad incident at camber sands, hope nothing to serious.' Advertisement A homemade 'shanty boat' is currently floating down the Tennessee River through Alabama to remind Americans of their 'forgotten history'. The boat, which is made entirely from cast-off materials found at the dump or reclaimed from other places, is being captained by Californian artist Wes Modes - who is travelling the river to hear and then share stories of people who live along the water's edge. The artist started his voyage aboard the 1940s-styled ship in Knoxville before crossing over into Alabama last week, according to Alabama.com. He said the goal of the project is to speak to people whose voices are often absent from the history books. 'I'm really interested to talk to people who don't represent the mainstream cultural story,' Modes told Alabama.com. 'Rivers are more gentrified than they have ever been. Rivers become white and increasingly monied, and that means the river communities that contained a more diverse population - poor people, people of color, native people - those stories are lost.' Modes' 2016 journey will come to an end when the boat and its crew reach Paducah, Kentucky - where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio River. The crew of people on-board with Modes for his 2016 expedition are: Jeremiah Daniels, Lauren Benz, Adrian Nankivell, Penske Pocketknife, and Hazel the dog. Modes took his boat on a similar trip last year, floating down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to St. Louis. Scroll down for video A homemade 'shanty boat' is currently floating down the Tennessee River through Alabama to remind Americans of their 'forgotten history' Californian artist Wes Modes is taking his boat from Knoxville, through Alabama, before arriving in Paducah, Kentucky, at the end of the trip The boat, pictured on the bank of the river, is made entirely from cast-off materials found at the dump or reclaimed from other places Wes Modes said the goal of his expedition down the Tennessee River is to hear and then share stories of people who live along the water's edge 'I'm really interested to talk to people who don't represent the mainstream cultural story,' Modes said when asked about the voyage A panoramic picture taken inside the boat shows the amenities on-board - including a small stove kitchen, a sink, a table, and an old leather couch 'Rivers are more gentrified than they have ever been,' Modes said. 'Rivers become white and increasingly monied, and that means the river communities that contained a more diverse population - poor people, people of color, native people - those stories are lost' The shanty boat has a small stove on-board that serves as the kitchen for the entire crew making the trip from Tennessee to Kentucky The crew of people on-board with Modes for his 2016 expedition are: Jeremiah Daniels, Lauren Benz, Adrian Nankivell, Penske Pocketknife, and Hazel the dog Wes Modes designed his shanty boat in the style of those that many people used to travel along the rivers in the 1940s Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders labeled former rival Hillary Clinton's new running mate Tim Kaine with the c-word conservative as he discussed the pick Sunday morning. Sanders told Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that Kaine was a 'very, very smart guy. He's a very nice guy,' the pivoted. 'His political views are not my political views, he is more conservative than I am,' Sanders said. 'Would I have preferred to see somebody like an Elizabeth Warren selected by Secretary Clinton? Yes I would have.' Scroll down for video Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday morning that he'd have preferred Hillary Clinton to pick Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as her running mate On CNN's State of the Union, Sanders also used the line 'he is more conservative than I am' but also contrasted Kaine's political views with those of Republican nominee Donald Trump. 'But compared to Donald Trump, a guy who rejects science, doesn't even believe that climate change is real, let alone that we have to take bold action to transform our energy system,' Sanders began. 'A Donald Trump who wants to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the top two-tenths of 1 percent, a Donald Trump who goes around the country insulting Mexicans and Latinos and Muslims and women, veterans and African-Americans,' he continued. 'Trust me, on on his worst, worst day, Tim Kaine is 100 times better than Donald Trump will ever be,' Sanders said. Kaine was widely viewed as a safe pick for Clinton and one who could help her boost her performance among white men, a demographic that's trending toward Trump. With Kaine Clinton is helped in the swing state of Virginia, where he has served as a city council member, the mayor of Richmond, the commonwealth's lieutenant governor and governor. He's now one of Virginia's U.S. senators. While experienced and generally viewed by his Senate colleagues as a nice guy, progressives weren't very wowed by the pick. They like Sanders preferred Warren instead. The pick of Kaine also means that only white people are topping the two national parties' tickets. Sen. Tim Kaine, just off his trip to Miami with running mate Hillary Clinton, returned to his hometown of Richmond on Sunday and went to church Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and his wife Anne Holton greet a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Catholic church in Richmond, Virginia where they were spotted attending services this morning Sen. Cory Booker, who is black, along with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who are Latino, may have done better to excite communities of color. Kaine, however, is an Irish Catholic, like the current vice president, Joe Biden, and could pull Catholic voters toward the polls. This morning, as Sanders seemed to voice ambivalence about the pick, Kaine and his wife Anne Holton were back in Richmond attending church. They were spotted entering St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, a predominantly black church in the city's Highland Park area, where they've attended services for two decades. Kaine a former choir member at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church sang a solo during Communion. His wife spoke briefly at the end of the service, telling parishioners how important they've been in their lives. She said 'you have helped shape us' and that she and her husband 'will really need your prayers.' Angela Merkel is to come under renewed criticism of her open-door immigration policy after another horrific attack on German soil. Last night a Syrian refugee wielding a machete killed a pregnant woman and injured two other people before being arrested by police. The attack happened in the south western city of Reutlingen near a doner kebab stand in a bus station at Listplatz Square. Angela Merkel is to come under renewed criticism of her open-door immigration policy after another horrific attack on German soil Police arrest a man who is believed to have gone on a machete rampage killing a woman in the German city of Reutlingen German media have been reporting that the motive for the attack in the city south of Stuttgart was unclear. The attack comes just days after a young Afghan swung an axe at passengers on a train in Bavaria. The 17-year-old, who a witness said shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Great) during the attack, severely wounded four Hong Kong residents on the train late on Monday, then injured a local woman after fleeing, before police shot him dead. He had entered Germany last summer with waves of migrants, raising more questions about Chancellor Merkel's open-door refugee policy. Around one million migrants came to the country in 2015, many fleeing war in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. Elsewhere a 27-year-old bomber, a Syrian man, blew himself up close to a German music festival in an 'Islamist suicide attack' - the third bloody attack on the country in the past week. Attack: A 27-year-old suicide bomber, a Syrian man who was denied asylum in the country, injured 12 people in a packed wine bar attack in Ansbach, near Nuremberg last night A special police officer examines a backpack at the entrance of a building in Ansbach, Germany, believed to have contained the deadly bomb An ambulance takes away one of the 12 injured in the Ansbach wine bar - three are in a serious condition in hospital The man killed by an explosion at a bar in the southern German city of Ansbach was the one who set off the blast, local police said Investigators this morning descended on a flat in the town where the 27-year-old attacker is understood to have lived The Syrian man who was denied asylum in the country, injured 12 people outside a packed wine bar in Ansbach, near Nuremberg at 10pm last night. The unnamed bomber was turned away from an open-air music festival filled with 2,500 people because he did not have a ticket. Instead he walked to a bar in the centre of Ansback and detonated a DIY bomb filled with metal shavings and screws. He died and 12 others were injured, three seriously. The attack came just days after a young Afghan swung an axe at passengers on a train in Bavaria. The viscous cases are likely to further deepen worries about so-called 'lone wolf' attacks in Europe and could put political pressure on Merkel. The Afghan attacker came to Germany as an unaccompanied minor and was registered as a refugee on June 30 last year in Passau. Frank Decker, political scientist at Bonn University, said: 'In the minds of many people, his arrival is directly linked to Merkel and her liberal refugee policies.' The attack took place days after a Tunisian delivery man ploughed a lorry into crowds of Bastille Day revelers in Nice, killing 84. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the mass murder. Emergency services at the scene of the machete attack in Reutlingen where a pregnant woman was killed The 17-year-old axe attacker who registered in Germany as Riaz Khan Ahmadzai (pictured) and may have lied about being an Afghan refugee in order to claim asylum in the country Public support for Merkel has risen since Britain voted on June 23 to leave the European Union, helping reverse a fall in her popularity caused by the refugee crisis. Mr Decker said a Nice-style attack here could quickly end those gains. 'It would boost those who have called Merkel's policies a mistake,' he said. 'Merkel would be blamed.' Unlike France and Belgium, Germany has not been the victim of a major attack by Islamic militants in recent years, although security officials say they have thwarted a large number of plots. A leader of the far-right, anti-immigrant, Alternative for Germany (AfD) said Merkel and her supporters were to blame for the dangerous security situation because their 'welcoming policies had brought too many young, uneducated and radical Muslim men to Germany'. Imam Arbab Ahmad, whose mosque in Wuerzburg lies about seven miles from the scene of the train attack, said he feared a backlash against Muslims. 'I am anxious,' he said. 'It was a totally inhumane attack on innocent people. Every human being should condemn it, not just Muslims.' Before tonight's attack senior German officials called for a review of gun laws and even stricter enforcement after Friday's shooting in Munich. German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said: 'Gun control is an important issue. We must continue to do all we can to limit and strictly control access to deadly weapons.' The German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere vowed to review German gun laws after studying an investigation into the attack, and to seek improvements where needed. Germany is on the verge of smashing one of the last post-Nazi taboos by deploying armed soldiers on the streets in peacetime to combat terrorism. The Munich massacre has triggered a new security debate which includes stiffer gun laws and the use of troops in force. A mentally-ill loner, 18, killed nine including teenagers outside a McDonald's in revenge for years of bullying. Germany is on the verge of smashing one of the last lingering taboos left over from WW2 by deploying armed soldiers on the streets in peacetime to combat terrorism Pictured: Munich shooter Ali Sonboly Keeping soldiers in their barracks has been a central tenet of postwar German domestic policy following the demise of Nazism. But after Friday's slaughter - and an earlier incident where a refugee attacked passengers on a commuter train with an axe and a knife - the Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann says soldiers must join in the anti-terror fight in the same way as they do in France. 'We are facing extreme situations,' said Herrmann. 'We do not live in the time of the Weimar Republic now,' he said referring to Germany's post-WW1 experiment with democracy which failed spectacularly and led directly to the rise of the Nazis. He said that historical reservations about armed soldiers on the streets were no longer applicable, adding: 'We are an absolutely stable democracy.' Keeping soldiers in their barracks has been a central tenet of postwar German domestic policy following the demise of Nazism. Pictured: Nazi troops march through occupied France But he said the decision when and where to deploy the Bundeswehr (army) must rest solely with the police. He went on: 'The Bundeswehr can be deployed under the leadership of the German states who are responsible for internal security to protect the citizens.' In tandem with this plan are new discussions in Berlin about tightening Germany's already strict gun laws. The news comes as investigators say the gun used by the deranged Munich killer had been bought on the 'dark web' and was originally from Slovakia. The gun used by Ali Sonboly was a replica Glock, just like this one, which had been converted so it could fire live ammunition The 9mm Glock handgun was smuggled into Germany and sold illegally to 18-year-old killer Ali Sonboly. The serial number on the weapon had been erased but police sources have revealed the firearm carried a certification mark from Slovakia. It is believed the weapon used to kill nine people on Friday was a replica that had been converted to fire live ammunition. Advertisement A Syrian refugee wielding a machete has killed a pregnant woman and injured a man and another woman in Germany before being arrested by police after he was run over by a man driving a BMW. The attack happened in the south western city of Reutlingen near a doner kebab stand in a bus station at Listplatz Square in what has been described as a 'crime of passion'. German media have been reporting that the motive for the attack in the city south of Stuttgart was unclear but the attacker and the 45-year-old Polish victim both worked at the same snack bar. Scroll down for video Police arrest a man who is believed to have gone on a machete rampage killing a woman in the German city of Reutlingen The man had his hands bound behind his back and was pinned down on the floor after being detained by officers following the attack Pictures from the scene appear to show the knifeman lying on the ground with blood on his face and his weapon lying on the ground The attack happened in the south western city of Reutlingen near a doner kebab stand in a bus station at Listplatz Square. German media have been reporting that the motive for the attack in the city south of Stuttgart was unclear Police mark out the area where the attacker dropped the machete which he used to murder a pregnant woman and injure two others Pictures from the scene appear to show the knifeman lying on the ground with blood on his face after being apprehended. Armed police officers can be seen pinning him down to the ground before binding his hands behind his back. Meanwhile, footage filmed by passers-by also showed the bearded attacker in the moments following the rampage running around in the street while people scream 'oh my god'. He also banged on the windows of a Citroen car in which a 51-year-old woman suffered cuts to her arms and a 41-year-old man went into shock. The attacker also injured a 23-year-old man by slashing his face. It is believed a man passing the incident in a BMW car ran over the man, knocking him to the ground, before he was detained by police. Emergency services raced to the scene following reports of the machete attack. The attacker has been named as a 21-year-old Syrian refugee Blood can be seen spattered across the ground outside the snack bar where a man killed a pregnant woman with a machete and injured two other victims Police were also seen searching a car, which is believed to have hit the attacker as he fled the scene of the killing in Reutlingen Forensic investigators were seen working outside the restaurant where the attack took place and scouring the area for evidence German media reported that the killing took place outside a restaurant where the woman worked as a cleaner. The driver, who was named as Alper K, 21, is thought to be the son of the restaurant owner. Paramedics attempted to save the womans life after she sustained head injuries but she died and her corpse was covered with a white sheet. One eyewitness told German newspaper Bild: 'The perpetrator was completely out of his mind. He ran with his machete even behind a patrol car.' Police spokesman Bjoern Reusch said in a statement that witnesses said the 21-year-old man, who was known to police, was having an argument with the woman, who is believed to have been working at the kebab stand, before attacking her about 4:30 pm. They also added that the incident 'did not bear the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.' 'According to the information available, the perpetrator acted alone, the people of Reutlingen and its surroundings are very probably not in danger,' the statement added. In the moments after the machete attack, the man could be seen running around close to the scene before he was knocked over by a car The attack happened in Reutlingen, south west Germany close to the major city of Stuttgart. The attack comes as Germany is on edge, following a rampage at a Munich mall on Friday night in which nine people were killed, and an axe attack on a train a week ago that left five wounded The asylum-seeking Syrian man had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people, police said. The spokesman had no immediate information on when the man arrived in Germany, or when the previous incidents took place. He was injured in the collision with the BMW and is currently in hospital, where he has not yet been questioned but is under guard by police. The attack comes as Germany is on edge, following a rampage at a Munich mall on Friday night in which nine people were killed, and an axe attack on a train a week ago that left five wounded. Donald Trump has described Roger Ailes' ousting from Fox News amid a sexual harassment scandal as 'so sad' because he is 'a very good person' - and slammed the accusers as ungrateful. The Republican nominee for president continued to defend his long-time friend, calling him 'such a great guy' in an interview airing on Showtime series The Circus on Sunday night. Ailes was forced out from his position as CEO of Fox News amid reports anchor Megyn Kelly has told investigators that the 76-year-old had made unwanted sexual advances toward her about 10 years ago when she was beginning at the network. It came weeks after former 'Fox & Friends' co-host Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes, claiming he fired her when she refused his advances. Scroll down for video Donald Trump (right) has described Roger Ailes' (left)ousting from Fox News amid a sexual harassment scandal as 'so sad' Since then, 25 others have come forward with claims against Ailes, according to the Washington Post. 'I think it's so sad,' Trump told Bloomberg Politics' Mark Halperin in the interview. 'Roger is - I mean, what he's done on television, is in the history of television, he's gotta be placed in the top three, four or five. And that includes the founding of the major networks. 'So, it's too bad. I'm sure it was friendly. I know Rupert [Murdoch]. He's a great guy.' In another interview, with NBC's Meet the Press, the billionaire businessman didn't deny rumors that Ailes was advising him for his election campaign. 'A lot of people think he's going to run my campaign,' Trump said. He didn't elaborate further, only saying: 'My campaign's doing pretty well.' But he defended Ailes, telling NBC: 'Some of the women that are complaining, I know how much he's helped them. And even recently. 'And when they write books that are fairly recently released, and they say wonderful things about him.' Trump added: 'Now, all of a sudden, they're saying these horrible things about him. It's very sad because he's a very good person.' Ailes was forced out from his position as CEO of Fox News amid reports anchor Megyn Kelly (above) has told investigators that the 76-year-old had made unwanted sexual advances toward her about 10 years ago Actually, Carlson was the only accuser who wrote a book recently, which did include positive comments about Ailes. At the time, she was still working for Fox and her representative said it was necessary to include the praise, according to CNN Money. Ailes resigned under pressure as chief executive while fighting the workplace misconduct suit on Thursday. His position for two decades is filled for now by Rupert Murdoch , 85, executive chairman of network parent 21st Century Fox. Earlier this month, Gretchen Carlson (above) sued Ailes, claiming he fired her when she refused his sexual advances Murdoch will also run Fox News and its sister Fox Business Network, which Ailes had also led, until a successor is found. CNN have reported that Ailes is planning to write a book following his ousting. Carlson's lawsuit alleges she was forced out by Ailes after she spurned his sexual advances. Ailes has denied the claims. 'We hope that all businesses now understand that women will no longer tolerate sexual harassment and reputable companies will no longer shield those who abuse women,' Carlson's lawyers Nancy Erika Smith and Martin Hyman said in a statement. Within two weeks of the court filing, Carlson's lawyers also said more than 20 women had contacted the firm with stories of alleged harassment by Ailes either against themselves or someone they knew. Murdoch and 21st Century Fox did not address the widening scandal in a statement announcing his department, but lauded Ailes for his contributions. Details were not given on the settlement agreement for a contract that was supposed to run through 2018, but Ailes is expected to get a payment of at least $40 million. Ailes will have no formal role in the company, but is expected to serve as an informal adviser to Murdoch, said a person familiar with the agreement who spoke on condition of anonymity because it is a personnel matter. The deal is also said to have a standard no-compete clause. Fox is heading into a general election campaign in its customary spot at the top of the ratings, but without the man who sets its editorial tone every day. The announcement came on the day Trump accepted the GOP nomination for president, a speech likely to have been watched by more people on Fox than any other network. Ailes' resignation came after reports Fox company heads Rupert Murdoch (center) and his sons, Lachlan (left) and James (right), had decided to remove him. Murdoch is now CEO until a successor is found A TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO ROGER AILES' RESIGNATION Here are the key events leading up to Roger Ailes' resignation from Fox News Channel, the cable-news juggernaut he built from scratch two decades ago: June 23: Fox News Channel anchor and former 'Fox & Friends' co-host Gretchen Carlson is quietly let go after 11 years with the network upon the expiration of her contract. July 6: Carlson sues network chief executive Roger Ailes, claiming she was cut loose after she refused his sexual advances and complained about harassment in the workplace. Though the complaint is filed against Ailes, she also cites her former 'Fox & Friends' colleague Steve Doocy for alleged sexual harassment. Ailes, in a statement, denies the allegations and accuses Carlson of filing the lawsuit in retaliation for her contract not being renewed. Doocy doesn't respond. Parent company 21st Century Fox, while stating that 'we have full confidence in Mr. Ailes and Mr. Doocy,' it is launching an internal review. July 9: New York magazine publishes allegations of sexual misconduct by Ailes from six other women, two of whom speak on the record. July 12: Veteran Fox News Channel host Neil Cavuto publishes a defense of Ailes in the Business Insider website, describing the accusations against him as 'sick.' Cavuto joins a number of female Fox News on-air personalities including Martha MacCallum, Sandra Smith, Greta Van Susteren and Maria Bartiromo who publicly push back against Carlson's allegations. July 15: Ailes' lawyers declare they are seeking to move Carlson's harassment case against him from a New Jersey court to a closed arbitration panel in New York. Ailes claims Carlson's contract compels her to submit to arbitration for employment disputes. Carlson argues that the arbitration clause doesn't apply because she's suing Ailes personally, not Fox News Channel or its parent. July 18: A New York magazine story, citing anonymous sources, reports that company heads Rupert Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James, have decided to remove Ailes. The company states there has been no resolution to its probe into Ailes' conduct. 'This matter is not yet resolved and the review is not concluded,' the company states. July 19: New York magazine reports that Megyn Kelly, who is arguably Fox News' biggest star, has told investigators that Ailes made unwanted sexual advances toward her about 10 years ago when she was beginning at the network. The report also says that, the day before, the company gave Ailes a deadline of August 1 to resign or be fired for cause. July 21: Roger Ailes resigns, effective immediately. Rupert Murdoch takes over as acting CEO. Advertisement Ailes' downfall began with the July 6 lawsuit filing by Carlson, who claimed he sabotaged her career because she refused his suggestions for sex and had complained about a pervasive atmosphere of sexual harassment at Fox. 21st Century Fox hired a law firm to investigate. Several Fox employees jumped to Ailes' defense, but notably Megyn Kelly, one of Fox's top personalities, did not. In rapid succession, it was reported that Kelly was among other women who had told investigators about harassment - again denied by Ailes - and that corporate heads Murdoch and his sons, James and Lachlan, determined that Ailes had to go. Host Bill O'Reilly has recently mused about retirement, and he and Sean Hannity reportedly have contract provisions that would allow them to leave if Ailes does. Kelly's contract ends later this year and it would be a huge blow to the network if she left. But she says, Ailes' lawyer called her to say that this violated her non- Rudi Bakhtiar says she had her contract terminated at Fox in 2007 after she complained about sexual harassment, A former Fox News correspondent who says she was fired for complaining about sexual harassment, claims the recently ousted Roger Ailes warned her not to speak out about the scandal. Rudi Bakhtiar, who says she had her contract terminated at Fox in 2007 after she complained about sexual harassment, says she received a call from Aile's attorney Thursday telling her that if she speaks out she will be violating her non-disparagement agreement. She told NY Magazine that she received the call after they had learned that she had an interview with Gabe Sherman, an American author who wrote a biography about Ailes in 2014. An hour prior to this, she had contacted Brian Wilson - the former Fox News Washington bureau chief who she says made unwanted sexual advances toward her - for a comment. Wilson, who denied harassing Bakhtiar, left Fox in 2010. Contacted on Friday, Mr. Wilson said of Ms. Bakhtiar's account to the New York Times: 'I take strong exception to the facts of the story as you have relayed it to me, period. Beyond that, I will have no further comment.' The incident in question took place towards the end of 2006 in Washington DC, at the George Hotel, near the Fox Bureau. Wilson asked to meet Bakhtiar 'off campus' to talk about his upcoming promotion to become bureau chief, reports the New York Times. They met in the lobby of the hotel and Wilson told her that he would like to make her Washington correspondent. Rudi Bakhtiar, who says she had her contract terminated at Fox in 2007 after she complained about sexual harassment, received a call from Roger Aile's (pcitured) attorney Thursday telling her that if she speaks out she will be violating her non-disparagement agreement She told NY Magazine that she received the call after they had learned that she had an interview with Gabe Sherman, an American author who wrote a biography about Ailes in 2014 Bakhtiar (right) who can speak fluent Farsi, is a relative of Iranian prime minister Shapour Bakhtier (left) who was assassinated in France in 1991 She was elated she said, but he quickly followed up his comments with a rather more sinister proposal. He asked her if he knew how she felt about him and eventually told her that he wanted to see the inside of her hotel room and that they should be 'friends with benefits'. Bakhtiar was firm with her rejection of his advances but was also aware of his powerful position within the company. She told him: 'I really want this job, but there's no way that I'm going to show you the inside of my hotel room.' Several months later, Wilson was officially promoted to bureau chief and around the same time Bakhtiar was told by Fox's head of news editorial, John Moody, that she was no longer assigned to the Washington Bureau, despite her having done the job for 'five months, seven days a week'. But it was not just just Wilson who she says harassed her, Ailes himself had made unwanted sexual comments during her first interview in 2005, telling her stand up so that he could see her legs, she claims. She decided to look past that after Ailes agreed to let her report from Iran. Bakhtiar, who can speak fluent Farsi, is a relative of Iranian prime minister Shapour Bakhtier who was assassinated in France in 1991. Upon her return from Tehran, she was placed on general assignment for Fox & Friends and says she began to get pressure from Fox's management to conform to their hypersexualized ideals. Bakhtiar, who always wore trousers to work, says she was given a selection of skirts to wear that were apparently sent to her by Ailes and was told: 'Roger really likes it. And you've got nice legs. Why aren't you wearing skirts? Brian Wilson (pictured right) asked to meet Bakhtiar (left) 'off campus' to talk about his upcoming promotion to become bureau chief, reports the New York Times and was told he would like to see the inside of her hotel room, she claims The incident in question took place in the festive period of 2006 in Washington DC, at the George Hotel (pictured) near the Fox Bureau She asked to be taken off Fox & Friends, and on the advice of Megyn Kelly, complained to her agent about the treatment she had received in DC and how she felt like she was now being sidelined. Her agent told head of programming Brian Wilson confidentially but he said that he had to investigate the allegations properly. In a later meeting with Fox HR she explained how she felt that she was being given ridiculous stories and felt that she was being sidelined. When she eventually met with Fox representatives she said they were mainly concerned about whether she was going to press charges. Shortly after her meeting, she was called in to see Ailes who told her that she was going to be let go because 'John Moody didn't think she was a good reporter'. She protested that she had been the only Fox reporter to get them access in Iran and that her dismissal was clearly to do with Wilson, which Ailes denied. Then, in 2007, Bakhtiar's lawyer wrote to Fox News saying she had been unlawfully treated and terminated, citing 'a hostile environment of sexual harassment; quid pro quo sexual harassment; and retaliation'. The case went into confidential mediation and Aile's lawyer Barry Asen attempted to refute Baktiar's three claims. Meanwhile, Shine attempted to illustrate that Bakhtiar was a below-par journalist, something which the mediator was not convinced of. On the advice of Megyn Kelly, complained to her agent about the treatment she had received in DC and how she felt like she was now being sidelined. Ailes recent departure from the network he founded has led to speculation that he was forced out of the position because of sexual harassment allegations. Pictured, Ruper Murdoch (center) will now take over as CEO Meanwhile Donald Trump has come to the former CEO's aid, calling him a 'really, really good guy' and has not denied suggestions that he may be in line to advise him on his campaign She said the tape Shine played 'showed how good she was' and the mediator told her just that. Though she was told by her lawyer to go public with the case and file a lawsuit in court she said she didn't have the strength to fight Fox and settled with an out of court agreement, whereby Fox was forced to pay the $670,000 remaining on the three-year contract, as well her 'enormous' legal fees. But the damage had been done and she was unable to find the equivalent work in television, now working as a producer for Thompson Reuters. Despite her message from Asen Thursday warning her not to go public, she says that it is important to change the culture for women in cable news. Ailes' recent departure from the network he founded has led to speculation that he was forced out of the position because of sexual harassment allegations. Rupert Murdoch is taking over as Chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel. Meanwhile Donald Trump has come to the former CEO's aid, calling him a 'really, really good guy' and has not denied suggestions that he may be in line to advise him on his campaign. Sarra Gilbert (pictured), 27, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of her mother 52-year-old Mari Gilbert The mother of a woman found murdered in 2011 was found dead in her upstate New York apartment and her youngest daughter has been arrested in connection with the crime. Mari Gilbert, 52, who led the charge to find the murderer of her sex worker daughter Shannan Gilbert, was found dead in Ellenville, New York, on Saturday. Her youngest daughter, 27-year-old Sarra Gilbert, is accused of killing her during the day on Saturday. Officers have not specified the means of death but charged Sarra Gilbert with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to a release from the Ellenville police department.. She is being held without bail. A relative said she did not know of any disputes between the mother and daughter. Her sister, Shannan Gilbert, 24, was a Craigslist escort from Jersey City, who was believed to be the final victim of a still unknown Long Island serial killer, who is also suspected of killing 11 other people. Scroll down for video Mari Gilbert (pictured) is also the mother of murdered sex worker Shannan Gilbert, who went missing in 2010 and was found dead in 2011 She went missing in May of 2010 after leaving the Long Island home of a client near Jones Beach, where the other bodies were later found in 2011. During a search at the end of 2010, Shannan's body was found along with other sex workers, a toddler and a man dressed in women's clothing. Mari Gilbert always insisted foul play was involved in the death and pushed for an investigation into the deaths, pleading that the FBI take on the case. 'I believe that Shannan was murdered and I believe she is part of the serial killer case. We are tired of theories, now we need the truth,' Mari Gilbert said in 2011, according to the New York Daily News. Earlier this year a Suffolk County medical examiner found that Shannan Gilbert's death was consistent with homicidal strangulation,' but could not determine a cause. Mari Gilbert's death is under investigation. Plotters involved in last week's coup in Turkey are being tortured, beaten, raped and denied food and water according to Amnesty International. The human rights group said today it had 'credible evidence' of the abuse and torture of people detained in sweeping arrests since the coup on July 15. The London-based group claimed some of those being held were being 'subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, in official and unofficial detention centres in the country'. Scroll down for video Plotters involved in last week's coup in Turkey are being tortured, beaten, raped and denied food and water according to Amnesty International, as thousands of pro-government supporters marched in Istanbul today Secular supporters of main opposition Republic Public Party shouted slogans and waved flags as they marched. More than 13,000 people have been detained since the coup It comes after tens of thousands of supporters of Turkey's main opposition group, joined by some ruling party members, rallied today in Istanbul to denounce the coup attempt, a rare show of unity that belies opposition unease over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown since the failed uprising. The flag-waving demonstrators in the city's Taksim square reflected widespread rejection of the coup attempt in a NATO country that has endured several coups in past decades. Even so, these are tense times in Turkey, which has declared a three-month state of emergency and detained more than 13,000 people in the military, judiciary and other institutions. Steel barriers were erected around the square to protect the marchers, who entered through security checkpoints. In addition to the violence during the insurrection, The flag-waving demonstrators in the city's Taksim square reflected widespread rejection of the coup attempt in a NATO country that has endured several coups in past decades In Turkey, a senior official denied Amnesty's claims and vowed that Turkey would uphold human rights. 'The idea that Turkey, a country seeking European Union membership, would not respect the law is absurd,' the official said. 'We categorically deny the allegations and encourage advocacy groups to provide an unbiased account of the legal steps that are being taken against people who murdered nearly 250 civilians in cold blood.' Since the failed coup, a total of 13,165 people have been detained, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Saturday. This included 8,838 soldiers, 2,101 judges and prosecutors, 1,485 police officers and 689 civilians. In Turkey, a senior official denied Amnesty's claims and vowed that Turkey would uphold human rights At least 123 generals and admirals have also been jailed, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. Amnesty said it had received reports that police in the capital Ankara and Istanbul were holding detainees in 'stress positions' for up to 48 hours. It claimed detainees were also being denied food, water and medical treatment while being verbally abused and threatened. Two lawyers in Ankara working on behalf of detainees had told Amnesty that detainees had told them they saw senior military officers being raped. Amnesty said it had received reports that police in the capital Ankara and Istanbul - where pro-government supporters marched today - were holding detainees in 'stress positions' for up to 48 hours Amnesty said that higher-ranking military officials were subject to worse treatment in comparison with other detainees. It said its report was based on interviews conducted with lawyers, doctors and one person on duty in a detention facility. The suggestion from one interviewee was that torture was used so that 'they (detainees) would talk'. A lawyer at Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse described how she saw one detainee try to throw himself out of a sixth storey window, Amnesty said. 'Turkey is understandably concerned with public security at the moment, but no circumstances can ever justify torture and other ill-treatment or arbitrary detention,' said Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen. A woman was reunited with her diamond engagement ring after a team of police divers scoured a harbour to find it. Nicola Hazell, 35, lost the ring when it fell into Bristol harbour during an early-morning rowing session two weeks ago. She gave it to a friend to keep safe in her bag and once back on dry land she asked for it back but it was nowhere to be found. The bride-to-be, Nicola Hazell, 35, is to marry Duncan Murdoch, 29, in two months' time Nicola lost the ring when it fell into Bristol harbour during an early-morning rowing session two weeks ago The ring had fallen into a section of water around 25m long and 5m at Bristol harbour Desperate to get it back, she contacted the Harbour Master who agreed to help and enlisted the support of the local police dive team. Officers from the Underwater Search Unit taking part in a training exercise in the harbour were set a challenge to find Nicola's treasured ring. And amazingly, one did. The bride-to-be is to marry Duncan Murdoch, 29, in two months' time. She said: 'Losing it felt horrendous. I was absolutely devastated. It is such a classic, beautiful ring. I just had no idea where it had gone. 'I thought, "How am I ever going to get that back?" We resigned ourselves to the fact that we weren't going to find it. 'It was a horrible feeling to lose something so important.' After losing the palladium diamond solitaire ring on July 9, Nicola and her friends spent hours trying to find it but to no avail. But her luck was in when the Harbour Master spied one of her desperate posts on social media and agreed to get the police dive team to help. Nicola met the divers at the harbour side on Friday and pointed to a section of water around 25m long and 5m across where she thought she had lost the ring. Nicola and Duncan, who is a project manager for the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, are getting married on September 23 after he proposed during a surprise trip to the Isles of Scilly Avon and Somerset Constabulary's PC Mike Loveless, who found the ring, said: 'I wasn't sure we would find it, but we did in the end' Nicola met the divers at the harbour side on Friday and pointed to a section of water around 25m long and 5m across where she thought she had lost the ring After telling her it was unlikely they would find something so small and light, the dive team got in their gear and started scouring the area. After just 45 minutes underwater, PC Mike Loveless surfaced with the ring - which has 'forever' inscribed on the inside - in his hand. Nicola, of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, said: 'When they called up and said they had found it I cried. I was completely gobsmacked. 'It was just incredible. He rang me and said, "You need to come and ID a ring." And I just started crying. 'When I got it back I was shaking and looking at it. I will never take it rowing ever ever again - it will be left in a very very safe place. 'Because I hated not having anything on my finger, Duncan bought me an 8.99 ring from Argos. 'That has been immediately taken off. 'I'm beyond grateful to the divers. I just can't believe that they did it. I will be forever indebted to them - it's amazing.' Nicola and Duncan, who is a project manager for the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, are getting married on September 23 after he proposed during a surprise trip to the Isles of Scilly. She said the divers will forever be her heroes. Avon and Somerset Constabulary's PC Mike Loveless, who found the ring, said: 'I wasn't sure we would find it, but we did in the end. 'There are a lot of crustaceans growing on the bottom of the docks and the ring had dropped down in between them. 'I had actually swum over it already and on the way back I started to reach in to flick through - and there it was, at the bottom. A Florida single mother-of-four was shocked to discover her landlord gave away all of her belongings by posting an ad on Craigslist saying all her stuff was for the taking. Faith Melley, 32, of St. Petersburg, has been in Pinnellas Country Jail since June 30 for a traffic violation. Her bail is set at $150, jail records show. She was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license and violating her probation, the Tampa Bay Times reports. For Melley, losing her belongings was just the latest in a long line of difficulties she had faced this year after losing her mother in January, followed by a series of arrests and then having her children taken away from her. Faith Melley (left, in her booking photo, and right) was shocked to discover her landlord gave away all of her belongings by posting an ad on Craigslist saying all her stuff was for the taking Melley's landlord evicted her on July 13 and posted an ad on Craigslist, telling people that everything was 'for the taking.' Above, piles of clothes are seen after strangers picked through the stuff I dont know how much more I can take, she told the Times. Seriously. She called what her landlord had done foul and says shell never be able to replace her family pictures. But Josh Yeager, the landlord who works for the land trust that owns the four-bedroom house Melley was renting, said: Its better than throwing it away. Id rather have people come get the stuff than throwing it out. Melley hadnt paid rent in two months, he said, and the eviction was sorted on July 13. Then Yeager posted the Craigslist ad, which said: Entire house. Tenant went to jail and left everything in 4 bedroom home. Stuff placed out at 10am for the taking. On Tuesday, dozens descended on the home, in the 1500 block of 56th Avenue N., and rummaged through Melleys belongings. Landlord Josh Yeagar, left, watches visitors remove part of a fence from his rental property at 56th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, Florida Maria Morales, 41, and Clinton Lee, 47, drove from Brandon to collect free items from the house this week Pictures showed piles of clothes strewn over the floor of the home, people loaded their vehicles with everything they could and two men walking out of there carrying part of a white picket fence. Strangers picked through everything baby clothes, pictures, furniture and kitchen supplies. They took what they wanted and left the rest. Maria Morales, 41, and Clinton Lee, 47, loaded their red pick-up truck with a bed frame, a computer, a printer and a childs high chair. They said they would keep some of their loot, but planned to sell the rest at a flea market. This is one way to clean a house, Ill tell you that. Ironically, Melley had been running her own cleaning service called Faiths Fantastic Clean - before her life went downhill. Dozens of people picked through Melley's belongings, taking what they wanted and leaving the rest Clinton Lee, 47, left, is seen carrying a computer monitor an a child's high chair to his pickup truck She had managed to get a domestic violence order to keep the father of three of her kids away from her family. But after her mothers death, she was unable to work as much because she had helped look after the kids while Melley worked. Melley began to feel depressed, she said. It was just a lot to handle by myself, she told the Times. Things got worse after some confrontations with neighbors and then, she was arrested three times in March. All of them were due to traffic violations and because she hadnt kept up with the payments on her rented furniture. In June, her she was burgled. Days later, she was arrested again and her kids were taken into state custody. A large graffiti mural saying 'Kill More Cops' has appeared near a major Los Angeles freeway. The incendiary blue and black spray painted words were snapped by a passing motorist on Interstate 5, which snakes along the San Fernando Valley north of Hollywood. The photographer then sent the photo into Breitbart News on Sunday. 'It is right at the Sheldon exit, northbound side of the 5 freeway near van nuys CA. I have seen it for the last three days but not sure when it was first up. It is on a fence next to another wall,' the reader emailed the outlet. The anti-police graffiti was spray painted along Interstate 5 in Los Angeles said a motorist The graffiti comes during increased tension and protests following the high profile shootings of unarmed black men Anton Sterling and Philando Castile by police and the seemingly retaliatory slayings of five police officers in Dallas and three in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The sentiment follows green stencil jobs that have been left in recent weeks around Santa Cruz, California, with the saying 'Kill Cops Not Trees.' About a dozen of the stencils were found around the city, according to NBC Bay Area. 'Kill More Cops Not Trees' was stenciled in at least a dozen places around the Bay Area in recent weeks 'A threat to our community's police officers or any city staff person is an attack on all the residents in our city,' Councilmember Richelle Noroyan said on Facebook. 'This will not be tolerated.' Last week, police were investigating the 'Kill All Cops' message spray painted on a utility pole near a busy mall in Lake Grove, New York, according to Patch.com. Police were also searching for a woman who spray painted 'Kill Cops' in large letters on the wall of the Baltimore Museum of Art, reports the Baltimore Sun. Five police officers were killed and nine injured by sniper Micah Xavier Johnson during a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas on July 7. A two-year-old boy has been found dead in his Iowa home, where his unconscious mother was also found by police. Mason Wyckoff was found when the Polk County Sheriff's Department was called to a property in Grimes, about 15 miles north-west of Des Moines, shortly after 10am on Friday. The two-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Scroll down for video Two-year-old Mason Wyckoff (pictured) has been found dead in his Iowa home, where his unconscious mother was also found by police Mason's mother, 33-year-old Stephenie Erickson, was taken to a local hospital where she remains in a 'very serious condition', the Des Moines Register reports. Dillon Wyckoff, Mason's father, said he and Erickson have been locked in a bitter custody battle since they separated, adding the tragic death of his son 'could have been prevented'. 'It's been a year-long battle with all this stuff, and it's been going downhill,' Wyckoff said, according to the Des Moines Register. '[Authorities] couldn't do anything till something happened. We prayed and prayed it wouldn't be this. Mason's mother, 33-year-old Stephenie Erickson (pictured), was taken to a local hospital where she remains in a 'very serious condition' Dillon Wyckoff (pictured), Mason's father, said he and Stephenie Erickson have been locked in a bitter custody battle since they separated, adding the tragic death of his son 'could have been prevented' 'He was everything to me. My whole world revolved around him. We were best friends.' Mr Wyckoff and Erickson were together for four years before splitting up about three months ago. Local detectives and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are working to figure out what happened inside Erickson's home. 'He was everything to me. My whole world revolved around him. We were best friends,' Dillon Wyckoff said about his son Mason Wyckoff was found when the Polk County Sheriff's Department was called to a property (pictured) in Grimes, about 15 miles north-west of Des Moines, shortly after 10am on Friday Neighbors told KCCI Erickson had only recently moved into the house with Mason and another child from a previous relationship. 'Damn shame; she should have been able to get help someplace,' one neighbor said. 'She'd sit outside and smoke and cry,' another added. This is the shocking moment a pensioner appears to put a young boy in an armlock after a disagreement on a train after the child refused to take his feet off the seats. British Transport Police confirmed they were investigating claims that the elderly man assaulted the young boy on a Northern Rail service from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria on Friday. Images which are widely being shared on social media, appear to show the child being forced over a seat, while the man holds the boy's arm behind his back. Images have been shared on social media appearing to show the pensioner putting the young boy in an arm lock on the train from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria The boy had been travelling with another two youngsters aged between eight and 11, with the group joining the service at Blackburn. It is understood that the children had been sitting with their feet on the seats, and were approached by the man who asked them to put them down. One student, who was sat behind the boys, said the man, who was believed to be in his 70s, told them to put their feet down and they refused. It is understood that the children had been sitting with their feet on the seats, and were approached by the man who asked them to put them down 'They were being quite cocky,' he said. The 17-year-old added: 'He threatened them with a clip around the ear and then went and sat back down. 'The children then put their feet back up and wouldn't take them down. 'The guy then went over again and tried to take their feet down.' It is at this point, when the train was near Bolton that the man is alleged to have put one of the boys into an arm lock . After the image of the armlock was shared on social media, one Twitter user @Szy-Sefton said they were in the same carriage. She told said: 'Kids were badly behaved and no parents but only about 8 to 10yrs - 3 boys. Man acted like US cop. Kid crying.' She added that a woman who had been sat near the boys on the train repeatedly told the man to stop. She added that the boys then stayed with the woman until they reached the gate and were met by Northern Rail staff. A spokesman for Northern Rail said: 'We are currently investigating this incident. 'Because of this, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment at this time.' British Transport Police also confirmed it is investigating the incident. With her downturned mouth and furrowed brow, this felines moody expression has earned her global fame - and now a place in Madame Tussauds. But despite internet stardom and now a place among Londons array of waxworks stars, Grumpy Cat still looked less than impressed with her animatronic counterpart during a flying visit to London. The pet, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, permanently looks stroppy because she has dwarfism and an under-bite. Spot the real cat: Grumpy Cat made a personal appearance at Madame Tussauds in London today to welcome her animatronic figure The Grumpy Cat figure will be taking up residence at the world famous attraction over the summer Owner Tabatha Bundesen who has made an astonishing 76million from various products and marketing In reality, the moggy is docile and friendly. She is happy to tour around the world with owner Tabatha Bundesen - who has made an astonishing 76million from various products and marketing. The cat has become so famous that Madame Tussauds San Francisco immortalised the feline celebrity in 2015. The model is now on loan to Madame Tussauds London and will be available to view throughout August. Tardar Sauce also made an appearance at HMV in London where over 500 fans were waiting to meet her in Grumpy Cat masks. The figure, which is just as sour faced as the real puss, is posed curled up on a red cushion and makes several movements and purrs Fans pose for selfies with the world-famous cat - which never looks particularly impressed despite her fame and riches The pet, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, permanently looks stroppy because she has dwarfism and an under-bite The cat has become so famous that Madame Tussauds San Francisco immortalised the feline celebrity in 2015 The model is now on loan to Madame Tussauds London and will be available to view throughout August And even BBC Breakfast weather girl Carol Kirkwood got a cuddle live on air on Friday, exclaiming: How could you call her grumpy? Shes just gorgeous. Until 2012 Tardar Sauce was an unknown family pet and her owner Tabatha Bundesen, 29, from Morristown, Arizona, worked as a waitress. But when Tabathas brother uploaded pictures of Tardar Sauce on Reddit she became an instant meme with recognition on sites like Buzzfeed and CNBC. The images also earned more than 1 million views on Imgur in just two days and YouTube video of her earned 15.7million views. Miss Bundesen told the Telegraph: I was able to quit my job as a waitress within days of her first appearance on social media and the phone hasnt stopped ringing since. Tardar Sauce also made an appearance at HMV in London where over 500 fans were waiting to meet her in Grumpy Cat masks Until 2012 Tardar Sauce was an unknown family pet and her owner Tabatha Bundesen, 29, from Morristown, Arizona, worked as a waitress Celebrity status: When Tabathas brother uploaded pictures of Tardar Sauce on Reddit she became an instant meme with recognition on sites like Buzzfeed and CNBC Scores of eager fans queued for hours to catch a glimpse of the cat - which can often be seen on memes across social media In 2012, images of the cat earned more than 1 million views on Imgur in just two days and YouTube video of her earned 15.7million views Two years ago Tardar Sauce starred in her own film, Grumpy Cats Worst Christmas Ever, and she has appeared on adverts, gift items and has a best-selling book in 15 different languages. She is also the face of an iced coffee drink called Grumppuccino. Grumpy Cat has earned more than Hollywood Stars Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Matt Damon and Matthew McConaughey. Miss Bundesen said: Shes unstoppable. What shes achieved in such a short time is unimaginable and absolutely mind-blowing. The animatronic Grumpy Cat was first unveiled in San Francisco in 2015; it will be on display at Madame Tussauds in London from August 1-31. Two years ago Tardar Sauce starred in her own film, Grumpy Cats Worst Christmas Ever, and she has appeared on adverts, gift items and has a best-selling book in 15 different languages Grumpy Cat is also the face of an iced coffee drink called Grumppuccino, and has earned more than Hollywood Stars Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Matt Damon and Matthew McConaughey Michael Bloomberg is set to endorse Hillary Clinton for president, an adviser to the former New York City mayor said. Bloomberg will cinch his endorsement during the Democratic Convention starting July 25, according to the New York Times. The former mayor, who was once endorsed by Rudy Giuliani, who has said he will vote for Donald Trump, declined to run for the highest office despite what he said was urging from 'many Americans.' He is a registered Independent who ran for mayor as a Republican. Bloomberg's endorsement may help swing moderate Republicans to Clinton. Scroll down for video Hillary Clinton is happy to have the endorsement of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a moderate who may help sway Republicans still wary of Trump her way (above with Bill Clinton) Polls show that many Republicans remain unconvinced of the billionaire's fitness for office. 'As the nations leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle,' senior adviser Howard Wolfson said to the Times. 'This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton.' Having Bloomberg in her corner may not help Clinton with Bernie Sanders loyalists, however, as the founder of Bloomberg News has always been a staunch ally of big business and Wall Street. But Bloomberg has made it clear that he is not a fan of Trump, one of his former constituents. Bloomberg (left) and Hillary, here with Chelsea Cliinton and United Nations Foundation President Kathy Calvin, make a somewhat unlikely pair, however, the billionaire businessman has been vocal in his distaste for Trump In March, he wrote an editorial for Bloomberg News that blasted the GOP candidate, saying: 'I have known Mr. Trump casually for many years, and we have always been on friendly terms. I even agreed to appear on The Apprentice - twice. But he has run the most divisive and demagogic presidential campaign I can remember, preying on peoples prejudices and fears. Abraham Lincoln, the father of the Republican Party, appealed to our 'better angels.' Trump appeals to our worst impulses.' 'We cannot make America great again by turning our backs on the values that made us the worlds greatest nation in the first place,' he said. He firmly criticized Trump's talk of banning Muslims from immigrating to the US (the GOP candidate has since watered this down to vetting them), deporting illegal Mexicans, and starting trade wars with China and Japan, saying it would only 'embolden our enemies.' In 2011, Bloomberg told Fox News that he thought Trump making an issue of Obama's place of birth was a mistake. 'The president was born here,' he said, according to the Wall Street Journal. 'I think the Republicans are making a terrible mistake in making this a big issue.' He added that if Republicans don't address other, more important, issues 'they will lose and they deserve to lose.' Despite the endorsement, Bloomberg doesn't seem to be a huge fan of Clinton either. In March, he warned that both parties were being led by 'demagogues' and said that the 'current presidential candidates' - without specifying a party - were 'doubling down on dysfunction.' In his statement, Sanders slammed the party for not being impartial throughout the primary process Clinton says Wasserman Schultz will serve as honorary chair of program to help elect Democrats across the country DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as Interim Chair through the election in November, a spokesman said Later on Sunday, party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she will step down at the end of the convention Some suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season The controversy exploded over the weekend after 19,000 hacked emails were published by Wikileaks on Friday Advertisement Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has stepped down following Bernie Sanders' call for her resignation in the wake of a humiliating Wikileaks email hack that exposed her bias and showed the party had conspired against the Vermont senator. Party officials took part in crisis talks on Sunday afternoon - the eve of the party's national convention in Philadelphia - leading to Wasserman Schultz's resignation at around 4pm. The controversy exploded over the weekend, prompted in part by the publication of some 19,000 hacked emails on Friday, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season. The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday - a day before Democrats open their convention to nominate Clinton as the party's presidential candidate. Later on Sunday, Wasserman Schultz was seen on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia making final adjustments ahead of the party's convention that starts on Monday. She will remain at the head of the party until Hillary Clinton formally accepts the Democratic nomination for president. Scroll down for video Something to laugh about? Biased Debbie Wasserman Schultz is on the stage in Philadelphia on Sunday and showing no signs of contrition Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (pictured) has stepped down in the wake of a humiliating Wikileaks email hack that exposed her bias Wasserman, who will resign after this week's party convention, was seen on her own in Philadelphia ahead of the event. She gave a thumbs up (left) as she directed staff Earlier in the day, she issued a statement announcing that she will be stepping down from her role as party chair at the end of the convention. DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as Interim Chair through the election in November, DNC communications director Luis Miranda said on Twitter. Wasserman Schultz said her first priority has been her role as a Florida congresswoman and that she looks forward to working on Clinton's campaign in the crucial battleground state. Clinton later announced that Wasserman Schultz will serve as honorary chair of her campaign's 50-state program to help elect Democrats around the country because 'there's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie.' 'I have been privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years helping to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden, strengthening our State Party Partnership in all 50 states, leading a vigorous primary election this past year while preparing for the general election and representing millions of Democrats across the country,' Wasserman Schultz said in a statement announcing her departure. 'As the mother of my three amazing children and the Representative of Florida's 23rd congressional district, I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for America's future. 'I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory.' She was surrounded by support just hours after she stepped down, prompting a crisis in the Republican party In her statement, Wasserman Schultz said: 'I couldn't be more excited that Democrats are nominating our first woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great President. 'We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats. I am proud of my role in leading these efforts.' But she added: 'Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. 'As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans. 'We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had.' Bernie Sanders slammed the party for not being impartial during the primary process. He said in a statement: 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president An email allegedly sent by Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz 'The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.' Shortly after her announcement, President Barack Obama said he called Wasserman Schultz to tell her he is grateful to her for having his back over the past eight years.' In a statement, Obama said: 'For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back. This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful. 'Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country.' He added that her critical role in supporting the country's economic recovery, fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans 'will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair.' 'Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz,' he said. 'Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend.' 'WE HAVE PLANNED A GREAT AND UNIFIED CONVENTION THIS WEEK': DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ' STATEMENT 'I have been privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years helping to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden, strengthening our State Party Partnership in all 50 states, leading a vigorous primary election this past year while preparing for the general election and representing millions of Democrats across the country. I couldn't be more excited that Democrats are nominating our first woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great President. 'We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats. I am proud of my role in leading these efforts. 'My first priority has always been serving the people of the 23rd district of Florida and I look forward to continuing to do that as their member of Congress for years to come. As the mother of my three amazing children and the Representative of Florida's 23rd congressional district, I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for America's future. I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory. 'Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans. We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had. 'I've been proud to serve as the first woman nominated by a sitting president as Chair of the Democratic National Committee and I am confident that the strong team in place will lead our party effectively through this election to elect Hillary Clinton as our 45th president.' Advertisement Wasserman Schultz will step down at the end of the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia after more than five years as chair The revelations in the WikiLeaks hack prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday Clinton also issued a statement, saying this week's convention will be a success thanks Wasserman Schultz's 'hard work and leadership' - and that there's 'no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans.' 'I want to thank my longtime friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the Democratic National Committee over the past five years,' Clinton said. 'I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership. 'There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie - which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states. 'I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid - because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people.' Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump quickly took to Twitter to gloat that Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus is the 'tough and smart' one. We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had Debbie Wasserman Schultz, outgoing Democratic Party chairwoman He said on Twitter: 'Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz (@DWSteeets.)' He later added: 'I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!' In another set of posts later on Sunday, he wrote: 'If the Republican Convention had blown up with e-mails, resignation of boss and the beat down of a big player. (Bernie), media would go wild. 'Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out. 'Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don't believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook! His campaign chair Paul Manafort also had harsh words for the official, and suggested that Hillary should also resign. 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned over her failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign,' he said in a statement. 'Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while travelling abroad. 'Wsserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk.' The chairwoman stepped down hours before the start of the Democratic convention, and after she had lost her speaking slot at the event due to the allegations of bias. On Sunday afternoon, officials discussed whether Wasserman Schultz should be forced out of her role as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, according to a person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage as the party attempts to 'keep the peace,' CNN reported. Sources told the network Wasserman Schultz's role will be to 'gavel in and gavel out.' 'She's been quarantined,' a high-ranking Democrat reportedly said after a meeting on Saturday night. The DNC Rules Committee rescinded Wasserman Schultz's position of convention chairwoman, reallocating it to Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, CNN reported. The decision followed the publication of came after leaked emails from Democratic party leaders' accounts include at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to hobble Sanders' campaign. The Vermont senator had been critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary season, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton. And following the leak, Sanders did the rounds on the Sunday morning shows. On CNN, he called the revelations 'outrageous' - but added: 'It's not a great shock to me.' 'There's no question in my mind and I think there's no question in any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was in opposition to our campaign, so I'm not shocked by this and that is why many, many times I made clear Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign,' Sanders said on State of the Union. He renewed those calls when talking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, adding 'nobody has apologized to me.' 'I think these emails reiterate the reason why she should not be chair,' Sanders told George Stephanopoulos on This Week. 'I think she should resign. Period,' Sanders added when pressed about what role she should play at this week's Democratic National Convention. On Friday, more than 19,000 emails sent and received by seven top Democratic National Committee officials by anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks derailed the party's desire to project an image of unity. In a May 5 exchange, DNC Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall asked if someone could ask a person he did not name, presumably Sanders, about his religious beliefs in the conservative states of Kentucky and West Virginia. A Bernie Sanders supporter holds up a sign reading 'Fire Debbie' as demonstrations heightened in Philadelphia Another demonstrator holds up a sign 'Never Hillary' in Philadelphia just hours before the start of the Democratic convention The massive email leak has potentially undermined the recent truce made between Bernie Sanders (left) and Hillary Clinton (right) Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage at the convention as the party attempts to 'keep the peace', Democrat sources said 'Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,' the message said. 'I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.' The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race Bernie Sanders Amy Dacey, the committee's CEO, responded in all caps: 'AMEN.' 'I am not an atheist,' Sanders said on CNN on Sunday in response. 'But aside from all of that, I mean, it is an outrage and sad that you would have people in important positions in the DNC trying to undermine my campaign,' the senator added. 'I do not recall this,' Marshall said, according to The Intercept. 'I can say it would not have been Sanders. It would probably be about a surrogate.' Later, however, Marshall apologized in a public post on his Facebook page, Politico reported. 'I deeply regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, and all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process,' Marshall wrote. 'The comments expressed do not reflect my beliefs nor do they reflect the beliefs of the DNC and its employees. I apologize to those I offended,' he added. A May 21 email chain discussed Sanders' assertion in an interview that he would oust the party chair once he's elected to the White House. THE FALLOUT: HILLARY AND OBAMA RALLY BEHIND WASSERMAN SCHULTZ - BUT TRUMP AND SANDERS SLAM THE OUTGOING DNC CHAIRWOMAN In leaked email exchanges, Wasserman Schultz said Sanders 'isn't going to be president', and called him campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS' and a 'damn liar' BERNIE SANDERS 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. 'The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.' Sanders also did the rounds on the Sunday morning shows. On CNN, he called the revelations 'outrageous' - but added: 'It's not a great shock to me.' 'There's no question in my mind and I think there's no question in any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was in opposition to our campaign, so I'm not shocked by this and that is why many, many times I made clear Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign,' Sanders said on State of the Union. He renewed those calls when talking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, adding 'nobody has apologized to me.' 'I think these emails reiterate the reason why she should not be chair,' Sanders told George Stephanopoulos on This Week. 'I think she should resign. Period,' Sanders added when pressed about what role she should play at this week's Democratic National Convention. PRESIDENT OBAMA 'For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back. This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful. 'Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country.' He added that her critical role in supporting the country's economic recovery, fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans 'will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair.' 'Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz,' he said. 'Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend.' HILLARY CLINTON She said this week's convention will be a success thanks Wasserman Schultz's 'hard work and leadership' - and that there's 'no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans.' 'I want to thank my longtime friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the Democratic National Committee over the past five years,' Clinton said. 'I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership. 'There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie - which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states. 'I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid - because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people.' DONALD TRUMP (on Twitter) 'Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz (@DWSteeets.)' He later added: 'I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!' In another set of posts later on Sunday, he wrote: 'If the Republican Convention had blown up with e-mails, resignation of boss and the beat down of a big player. (Bernie), media would go wild. 'Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out. 'Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don't believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!' PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN CHIEF 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned over her failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign,' he said in a statement. 'Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while travelling abroad. 'Wsserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk.' Advertisement Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gets a hug from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz during an event in September 2014 Writing from a Gmail account that media reports said belonged to Schultz, the chairwoman noted, 'This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president.' In another email exchange, Wasserman Schultz called Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS', after being told Weaver suggested the Sanders campaign continue all the way through to the convention. I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left! Donald Trump She also called Weaver a 'damn liar' and accused him of 'scummy behavior' in relation to comments he made in May about potential protests in Nevada. In an email conversation from April, Wasserman Schultz took aim at Republican nominee Donald Trump, calling him a 'sexist pig'. DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach emailed Wasserman Schultz about comments Trump made during an interview. 'I haven't quite recovered it's early in the morning from her shouting that message,' Trump said on MSNBC's Morning Joe when asked about Clinton bringing up his comments on the '\woman card,' Pasutenbach wrote, before continuing with Trump's transcript. 'And I know a lot of people would say you can't say that about a woman, because of course a woman doesn't shout. But the way she shouted that message was not that's the way she said it, and I guess I'll have to get used to a lot of that over the next four or five months,' Trump had said. Wasserman Schultz replied: 'Sexist pig.' In another email thread, dated May 24, the DNC chair desperately tried to score tickets for her and six friends to see Hamilton as part of a birthday celebration in New York. 'Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC,' she wrote to the DNC's fiance director Zach Allen. 'It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ'S HAMILTON REQUEST Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC. It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12. Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much. DWS DNC finance director Zach Allen: Of course, happy to ask! They usually don't take requests until a month out, and I'd need the form attached filled out (dos require a CC - it's $167/seat). I've never seen an order of 7 fulfilled, I have seen as many as 4. Would you guys be willing to split up 4 and 3? I hate to even ask but just want to make this as realistic as possible, it's like the hunger games around this thing. Wasserman Schultz: 4 and 3 on different nights or just not all together? We would want to go on the same night but we don't have to sit all together. DWS Allen: Got it, happy to put that in and see what we can do. Feel free to shoot me a CC# and I'll fill the form out for you. Advertisement Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried to keep the Clinton campaign distanced from the growing scandal, suggesting it was a DNC problem that needed to be sorted out Talking to Jake Tapper (right) Sunday morning, Robby Mook pointed fingers at Russian hackers for infiltrating the DNC's email system and said Russians were trying to help Donald Trump win 'Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much.' Allen replied saying he would be 'happy to ask', and that he would need a credit card to cover the $167 per seat costs. The email chain did not saying whether the chair secured the seven seats. Another email chain suggests that the Democratic National Committee encouraged party activists and even interns to attend anti-Donald Trump protests. During one instance a top staffer huffs over a photograph that shows few people at an anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C. 'Going forward, when our allies screw up and don't deliver bodies in time, we either send all our interns out there or we stay away from it.. we don't want to own a bad picture,' DNC communications director Luis Miranda wrote. Miranda also persuaded reporters from hand-picked news organizations to write positive pieces about Clinton, while downplaying any grumbling made by Sanders toward the party. In one instance, Miranda leaks to Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Meckler a letter from the Sanders campaign in which the Vermont senator's campaign complains that his picks for the rules and platform committees were rejected. A week later, according to the New York Post, Miranda was dismissive of these qualms. 'The only reason the Sanders camp even sent that letter is that [Wasserman Schultz] was courteous enough to reach out to give both camps representation,' he wrote. 'But the appointments ... are at the chair's discretion.' Speaking to Jake Tapper this morning on State of the Union, Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried keeping his candidate an arm's length away from the growing scandal. 'Well, I think the DNC needs to look into this and take appropriate action and I'm sure that they will,' Mook said. He used a similar line during an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. 'I think the DNC needs to get to the bottom of the facts,' Mook said. Mook also pointed fingers at Russia. 'What's disturbing to us is that experts are telling us is Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails and other experts are now saying that the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump,' he said on State of the Union. 'I don't think it's coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention here, and that's disturbing,' Mook continued. 'I think we need to be concerned about that. I think we also need to be concerned that we also saw last week at the Republican convention that Trump and his allies made changes to the platform to make it more pro-Russian,' Mook added. A hacker who goes by the name Guccifer 2.0 took credit for the 19,252 emails released Friday morning by Wikileaks. Investigators looking into the DNC hack have said that Guccifer 2.0 is an operative of the Russian government, which the hacker denies. Instead, he says he's a Romanian 'hacktivist' and a solo player who dubbed himself after the original hacker Guccifer, also Romanian, who notably hacked into the AOL account of Dorothy Bush Koch, sister to President George W. Bush, revealing his painted self-portrait to the world. Donald Trump's campaign chair Paul Manafort found Mook's defense laughable linking it back to Clinton's own email scandal. 'Dems attack Russia for hacking them but want us to believe that server in HC home was safe from hacking,' Manafort wrote this morning. 'HC put national security at risk!' he added. Sanders waged a feisty yearlong battle against Clinton in the Democratic primaries. She clinched enough delegates to secure the nomination in early June, but Sanders did not concede defeat and endorse her until July 12. Sanders remained faithful to Clinton, not holding her responsible for the content of the emails. 'No, no, no, we are going to do everything we can to protect working families in this country,' Sanders said when asked if the DNC shenanigans gave him any pause when it comes to supporting Clinton. Donald Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort chimed in this morning calling Democrats' charge that Russia hacked the DNC laugable in light of Hillary Clinton's own email scandal It has been reported Wasserman Schultz wrote in an email 'he isn't going to be president,' in reference to Bernie Sanders Telephones are setup for delegates ahead of the Democratic National Conventio at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia Sanders's campaign manager Jeff Weaver, in an interview with ABC News, demanded answers on Saturday about the growing controversy. 'Someone does have to be held accountable,' said Weaver, who said the emails seemed to show misconduct at a very senior level of the DNC. 'We spent 48 hours of public attention worrying about who in the [Donald] Trump campaign was going to be held responsible for the fact that some lines of Mrs. Obama's speech were taken by Mrs. Trump. Someone in the DNC needs to be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign,' Weaver added. The Democratic Party, Weaver said, seemed to have 'its fingers on the scale' for Clinton, he added during the interview, which was posted on the television network's website. 'We have an electoral process. The DNC, by its charter, is required to be neutral among the candidates. Clearly it was not.' Trump pounced on the leaks as he tries to scoop up disaffected voters who feel Sanders was denied a fair shot at the nomination by the political establishment. Democrats are scrambling to find a new head of the party just as they prepares to meet in Philadelphia to make Hillary Clinton the nominee. Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz announced Sunday she was quitting her post, stunning the delegates and party operatives who are gathering here for their party's convention which kicks off Monday following the leak of internal party emails that showed DNC meddling and favoritism toward Hillary Clinton. One prominent name is already being floated: Housing secretary Julian Castro, who was high on Clinton's list to serve as her vice presidential running mate, CNN reported. Castro is considered an articulate and telegenic spokesman, and has already appeared with Clinton on the stump on numerous occasions. Clinton ultimately opted not to choose him, going for the more seasoned Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and has amassed governing experience as governor of Virginia and past head of the DNC. PARTY MAN? Housing secretary Julian Castro is already being floated as a possible successor to Debbie Wasserman Schultz to run the DNC. He made it onto Hillary Clinton's short list for possible running mates Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation in a stunning announcement Sunday Illinois Senator Richard Durbin was floated for the post this month by Senate minority leader Harry Reid The party post might be a perfect chance for Castro to build up party experience and add some gravitas, after his relative youth hampered his chance of getting on the ticket. He is just 41 years old. It wasn't known at press time whether Sanders forces, who are still sore about their candidate's defeat, would be comfortable with a DNC head so close to Clinton. The party just changed its rules on Saturday to limit the role of super delegates in a move Sanders championed. 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party,' Sanders said in a statement released Sunday. 'While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people,' Sanders continued. 'The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.' The statement did not mention any potential candidates for the post by name. Donna Brazile already serves as vice chair of the DNC, and will take over on an interim basis. She already has a good gig as a CNN commentator and political analyst Bernie Sanders and his supporters fumed that Wasserman Schultz carried too much water for the ultimate victor, Hillary Clinton A protester held up a 'Fire Debbie' sign Sunday in Philadelphia before she announced she was quitting Another name that surfaced earlier this summer after Sanders delegates heckled Clinton supporters during a contentious Nevada state convention was Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois. He is the party's whip, and is close to President Obama. Senate minority leader Harry Reid floated his deputy's name when Wasserman Schultz was coming under fire. 'A lot of people put my name up but I didn't ask for any of this,' Durbin told CNN earlier this month. Describing his conversations with Reid, Durbin said: 'He told me that he had mentioned it. That was as far as it went. There wasn't any active discussion. Nothing came of it.' In the meantime, longtime party operative and party vice chair Donna Brazile will run the party on an interim basis. Although she is a Clinton loyalist, she is viewed as more of as an honest broker by both factions, including forces loyal to Sanders who have groused about a 'rigged' system that gave the nomination to HIllary. Talking to George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week, Brazile said this morning that she had already apologized yesterday to the Sanders camp. 'I think, the allegations, the emails, the insensitivity, the stupidity needs to be addressed and we are going the address it,' she said. As the torch passed over to Brazile, Wikileaks quickly tweeted conversations in which the interim chairwoman was 'implicated' in the brewing scandal. On such message has her passing along a request for comment from a Washington Post reporter saying that she wouldn't answer it because she would 'cuss out the Sanders' camp!' A Twitter user responding to that tweet also found an email from Brazile in which she called a statement from the Sanders campaign 'stupid.' Brazile is to serve through the November elections. He was drowned out by boos from the crowd Donald Trump has claimed he saved Ted Cruz from an angry mob of supporters at the Republican National Conference. Failed Republican presidential candidate Cruz sparked uproar at the conference on Wednesday when he refused to endorse Trump. His wife Heidi had to be quickly escorted from the floor as baying crowds closed in after the refusal, while her husband's speech was drowned out by boos from the audience. Scroll down for video Donald Trump (left) has claimed he saved Ted Cruz (right) from an angry mob of supporters at the Republican National Conference Cruz's speech came to an abrupt end after Trump made a surprise entrance at the end. In his first interview since the convention, Trump claims his entrance stopped Cruz from being ripped off the stage. 'You know what, he's lucky I did it,' he told Bloomberg Politics. 'I walked in and the arena went crazy. Because there's great unity in the Republican Party and people don't know it,' Trump said. 'Had I not walked in, I think that audience would have ripped him off the stage. I think I did him a big favor.' But Trump says he wishes he'd waited a little longer before entering. 'In retrospect, I wish I would have waited another minute. Because he was being booed right off the stage.' The Texas Senator had addressed the millions of Americans sitting at home and told them to 'speak and vote your conscience' prompting some pro-Trump delegates yelled out in disgust. People react to Ted Cruz as he delivers a calculated speech that divided the hall at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio Cruz's speech prompted furious reaction from delegates on the floor and sparked a chorus of boos Some on the floor and others seated in the stands began yelling 'Trump, Trump Trump' to shout down pro-Cruz forces Supporters on the floor in Cleveland, Ohio and others seated in the stands began yelling 'Trump, Trump Trump' to shout down pro-Cruz forces. Trump, who will represent the party in the November 8 election against presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, made his entrance to the convention hall near the end of Cruz's speech, applauding Cruz's remarks but distracting the crowd from his former rival. Video footage has emerged showing Cruz's wife being led out of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland when the crowd turned on him. Leading Cruz backer Ken Cuccinelli, a former state attorney general who is a delegate from Virginia, escorted Mrs Cruz off the Convention floor out of concern for her safety. He said: 'During the course of the speech more and more people were coming down closer and closer to Heidi and (Ted Cruz's father) Rafael... When the speech ended, there was an ugly crowd behind us... She was trying to leave.' Cuccinelli, who was sitting next to Mrs Cruz, said he did not think anyone anticipated a problem. 'People in my own delegation started physically approaching and yelling at her,' he told DailyMail.com. 'The one that stuck with me was somebody pointing at her and yelling something about Goldman Sachs.' Cruz left the podium after speaking during the Republican National Convention, Wednesday to boos Reaction: (Left to right) Vanessa Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump listen to Ted Cruz speak There were also reports of Republicans being restrained to prevent them attacking Cruz after his speech divided the Convention. After Cruz's speech, GOP nominee Trump tweeted: 'Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!' Retiring Indiana Senator Dan Coates fumed to Roll Call: 'Sen. Cruz tried to destroy the Republican party tonight just like he's tried to destroy the Republican caucus.' As Cruz spoke, members of the New York delegation seated right in front of Cruz yelled 'We want Trump.' 'I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation,' Cruz said after halting his remarks for several seconds during the loud cheering. People got on their feet and began yelling at each other when Cruz said: 'To those listening, please don't stay home in November. 'If you love our country and love your children as much as you do, stand and speak and vote your conscience vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom to be faithful to the Constitution.' The delegates responded with angry boos, and Cruz backer and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli escorted Heidi Cruz off the convention floor as she was heckled by Trump delegates. The crowd's boos quickly switched to cheers as Trump entered the arena at the moment Cruz finished. His daughter Ivanka and other members of the Trump party turned their backs on Cruz to stand and applaud Trump, who sat down in the front row of his VIP box to watch his son Eric deliver the next speech. Scandal also surrounded the speech made by Melania Trump which copied Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic convention address. Trump defended his daughter saying it was 'really nobody's fault. It was just something that could happen. 'And that's why I would not accept her resignation,' he said, referring to speechwriter Meredith McIver, who apologized. A 16-year-old Afghan boy had been in contact and met with deranged loner David Sonboly prior to his murderous rampage, police have revealed. The teenager is under investigation after making conflicting statements to police about the shooting spree carried out by his friend that killed nine people in Munich. Police today said he had been in contact with Sonly via WhatsApp and met him just before the attack. The pair had become friends in the summer of last year when undergoing psychiatric care. The teenager was held after making conflicting statements to police investigating the murderous rampage that left nine people dead (police at the scene on Friday night) Thousands of people came to mourn outside the Olympia shopping mall in Munich on Sunday Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, senior public prosecutor, said: 'This (WhatsApp) chat and questioning as a suspect has shown that the Afghan met the gunman directly before the gun attack at what was later the scene of the crime.' The WhatsApp chat also showed the Afghan - who is from the district of Laim in Munich - knew Sonly was in possession of a Glock 17 firearm, Mr Steinkraus-Koch said. Police added how he may also have played a role in a Facebook post which invited people to a meeting place in the city centre. Teenagers were thought to have been lured to the McDonald's restaurant on Facebook before they were shot Munich Police published this tweet yesterday evening which said they had arrested the 16-year-old boy The teenager is alleged to have been a friend of David Sonboly, 18, who killed nine people during his murderous rampage in the German city on Friday A video purporting to show the shooter, dressed in black, firing 20 shots has been posted on Twitter. The video shows him outside a McDonald's opposite the shopping centre The Afghan boy was held after police raided his parents' flat in Laim. He was being held on suspicion of failing to report a planned offence. Sonboly, who took his own life, had posted a fake Facebook page telling people to come to a McDonald's for a free meal. Sonboly was a 'loner, who had no qualifications and was 'obsessed' with violent first-person shooting computer games, using names like 'God like' and 'Psycho' on his online profiles Angela Merkel, German chancellor, pictured here arriving to make a statement about the mass shooting He is thought to have wanted to lure former classmates who had bullied him to kill them in an act of revenge. Prosecutors said the teen, who had been treated for depression, had been planning his killing spree for up to a year having bought a reactivated Glock pistol for 100 Euros from the 'dark web'. The gunman had been planning the attack since he paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden - the scene of a school shooting in 2009 - and took photographs. Sonboly was also said to be a keen player of 'first-person shooter' video games. Shocker: Miriam Clegg says SamCam gave her Hellmann's mayonnaise Miriam Clegg has revealed her shock at being fed Hellmann's mayonnaise at the Camerons' home in a new memoir in which she also admits refusing to cook for George Osborne. The wife of former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg jokes about the food habits of Britain's political elite in her autobiography, which is also part recipe book. In one anecdote, Samantha Cameron served the Hellmann's with roast chicken on a board and a box of Maldon salt during a 'getting-to-know-you' lunch. Mrs Clegg was taken aback by the offering a favourite among many English families but said she was grateful for the effort SamCam put into the meeting. She wrote: 'Now that I've spent years observing how grand people live, I've learned that the ultimate grand person's food, found on all the most upper-class tables, is not caviar, truffles, virgin olive oil or fancy cheese. No, it isHellmann's mayonnaise.' Her new book, which is crammed with stories from her life as wife of the former Lib Dem leader, offers an intimate insight into the everyday lives of the Coalition cabinet. In one incident, an unnamed minister of state who came for supper at the Cleggs' spilt gazpacho down his shirt front, but then pretended that nothing was wrong. And on another occasion, following the formation of the Coalition, Mrs Clegg refused to cook for George Osborne, or even be in the house with him, when he first visited her husband to talk about policy. Her husband was forced to order a Thai takeaway instead. She said of Mr Osborne: 'I disagree with him a lot, but I think he is hard-working and he is clever.' Mrs Clegg, 48, an international lawyer who uses her maiden name Gonzalez Durantez professionally, said she always refused to play the political game when her husband was in power. In an interview with You magazine, she admitted: 'I don't find the establishment impressive. 'I have a disregard for it; I always have. There are people in the establishment who I think are great, but it means nothing to me. 'So I must have been a disaster. They must have thought 'difficult woman'.' She served what! Samantha Cameron (left with husband David) served the Hellmann's with roast chicken on a board and a box of Maldon salt during a 'getting-to-know-you' lunch with Miriam (right with husband Nick) Miriam Gonzalez Durantez jokes about the food habits of Britain's political elite in her new autobiography In her book, Made in Spain: Recipes and Stories from my Country and Beyond, she writes: 'I have cooked and stirred thinking about what Nick being in politics would mean to our children' In her book, Made in Spain: Recipes and Stories from my Country and Beyond, she writes: 'I have cooked and stirred thinking about what Nick being in politics would mean to our children. 'I have chopped and bashed thinking what I would tell some politicians and journalists if I had the chance; I have kneaded and proved trying to find the patience required to keep my mouth shut.' The book grew out of a blog, mumandsons.com, that she has been writing for four years with her three sons, Antonio, 14, Alberto, 12, and Miguel, seven. They have accrued around 300 recipes and she outed herself on Mumsnet during last year's political campaign. She admitted that her husband went through a draft of the book with a red pen 'three times', crossing out controversial parts. However, she said that during the entire five-year coalition she refused to stay at Chequers with the Camerons and that there was no real 'friendship' between the two families. Miriam refused to stay at Chequers with the Camerons and there was no real 'friendship' between the families She wrote: 'It might perhaps-be-possibly-most-likely-in-some-probability my own fault that we did not meet more often, as I refused invitation after invitation to get the families together at Chequers (a place that, to this day, I have not visited), but work is workand friends are friends.' She added: 'The two parties had to work together, but that doesn't mean that we were all over each other or we were developing anything closer than a working relationship for the country. Spending every weekend together? Who does that? It is only in politics!' The Camerons and Cleggs only dined together on three occasions, twice at the Camerons' Downing Street flat and once at the Cleggs' house in Putney. On the night Miriam hosted, she cooked a sea bass but Prime Minister and his wife struggled to pick their way through the bones. is the must-have 'power cut' for females in charge With a penchant for leopard print heels, latex thigh-high boots and 1,000-plus designer dresses, Theresa May is no stranger to political power dressing. But the Prime Minister's hairstyle, it turns out, is also the must-have 'power cut' for females in charge. Known as the political bob or pob the feathery, usually blonde, swept back look is now the favoured style of powerful women across the globe. Scroll down for videos The power hair: British PM Theresa May, and the 'highlights' of American presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton White House hopeful Hilary Clinton has a perfectly coiffured, highlighted version of the pob, while SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon and German Chancellor Angela Merkel prefer a shorter cropped, schoolboy style. Hairdressers say the 'pob' is being used by female politicians to demonstrate they are in charge and mean business. Julia Carta (crt), international celebrity hair and make-up artist, said: 'People are judged by their looks and the first thing people notice is hair. 'Shorter, more precise styles give the impression that women can hack it in the man's world of politics. It gives the sign that they have a strong head on their shoulders, they are more intelligent, articulate and should be taken seriously. 'Longer, flouncy locks, by contrast, give the impression that women are perhaps fresh out of school, less intimidating and, in turn, less in control. They draw the eye down to a woman's bosoms, so a shorter bob above the collar bone keeps attentions at eye level, up towards the brain. 'These women are ruling the world, they don't want people to be distracted by their hair, so shorter, sharper power cuts all help them to be taken seriously. Poblem solved: Angela Merkel's schoolboy style and Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon's cropped barnet 'Previous high profile female politicians, such as Mo Mowlam and Glenda Jackson, also favoured the bob, and Margaret Thatcher also had similar length hair, even though hers was set in rollers. It has been proven time and again that a shorter look gives women much more gravitas than those who have longer hair.' Hair stylist Teddy Mitchell also claimed that the 'pob' was useful to female politicians because it could be swept off their face and 'allows the camera' to see them. 'A pob can also be tucked behind the ear, all the better to say: voters, I'm listening,' he added. The DMC opening Monday in Philadelphia is Clinton's chance to hit reset after a vigorous primary against Sanders The highs of 100 degrees didn't stop the throngs and the city provided misting tents' and free water Sanders supporters who held up signs calling for DNC chairwoman to be sacked got their wish Advertisement Thousands of demonstrators took to Philadelphia's sweltering streets Sunday, chanting and beating drums in the first major protests ahead of the Democratic National Convention, as the city wilts during a heat wave. Throngs of clean energy activists jammed a major thoroughfare in their mile-long march from Philadelphia's City Hall to Independence Mall, near the Liberty Bell. Bernie Sanders's supporters chanted 'Hell No, DNC, we won't vote for Hillary' and 'This is what democracy looks like,' the marchers headed from City Hall down Broad Street, the main north-south artery that leads from downtown to the convention site at the Wells Fargo Center about 4 miles away. And supporters of Sanders, who held up signs call calling for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to be fired, got their wish after she announced her resignation late Sunday. Scroll down for video Thousands of demonstrators took to Philadelphia's sweltering streets Sunday, chanting and beating drums in the first major protests ahead of the Democratic National Convention Bernie Sanders's supporters chanted 'Hell No, DNC, we won't vote for Hillary' and 'This is what democracy looks like,' the marchers headed from City Hall down Broad Street And supporters of Sanders, who held up signs call calling for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to be fired got their wish, after she stepped down late Sunday The heat wave that descended on the city was showing no mercy, with temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s and the city under an 'excessive heat' warning by the National Weather Service Others held anti-fracking and anti-pipeline signs, some with illustrations like a train surrounded by a fireball and the words 'No Exploding Trains.' Others held 'Bernie or Bust' signs. Sam Miller, 82, traveled from Erie, Pennsylvania, to join the march that stretched several blocks and across a wide street as temperatures in the city soared into the mid-90s. He said he was inspired because 'fracking is invading Mother Earth.' Like in Cleveland, police were using bicycles as barricades along the streets, and volunteers were handing out water to marchers. Shoppers came out of stores to watch the march like a parade. Chants of 'Bernie! Bernie!' were met by counter echoes of 'Hillary! Hillary!' Bernie Sanders supporters expect about 3,000 protesters will join them in a march from City Hall to a park near the convention site in the afternoon. Many carried Sanders signs, and a huge Bernie Sanders puppet was also a part of the march. Others held anti-fracking and anti-pipeline signs, some with illustrations like a train surrounded by a fireball and the words 'No Exploding Trains.' Enthusiastic demonstrators provide a soundtrack to the day with a full brass marching band Multiple banners were waved relating to the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). One read 'TPP kills democracy' while others commented on the impact it could have on the environment Clinton's running mate, Virginia Sen.Tim Kaine (left) recently made a U-Turn on his support for the trade deal in order to fall in line with the presidential candidate's stance The heat wave that descended on the city was showing no mercy, with temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s and the city under an 'excessive heat' warning by the National Weather Service. It's expected to peak Monday, the convention's first day, with temperatures possibly hitting 100 degrees. Crowds braving the weather could take advantage of 'misting tents' and free water, compliments of the city. Mayor Jim Kenney warned people to limit time outdoors and said demonstrations would be put on hold in the event of thunderstorms. The first march Sunday had the perennial problem in Philadelphia: parking. DC to DNC organizer Ed Higgins said finding parking spots and organizing the crowd delayed his group's march, which got going about an hour late. The group of about a dozen marchers walked on sidewalks from near the convention site up toward the Liberty Bell. One played 'This Land is Your Land' on bagpipes as the group weaved around people eating brunch at sidewalk cafes and others walking dogs. Multiple banners were waved relating to the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). One read 'TPP kills democracy' while others commented on the impact it could have on the environment. Clinton's running mate, Virginia Sen.Tim Kaine, recently made a U-Turn on his support for the trade deal in order to fall in line with the presidential candidate's stance. An Clinton aide told CBS News that Kaine had made private commitment to her that he would now oppose TPP. Philadelphia protests amidst the news that Debbie Wasserman Schultz (left) stepped down from her role as DNC chair, following the publication of some some 19,000 hacked emails last week, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season. Righ, Sanders had called for her to step down Many carried Sanders signs, and a huge Bernie Sanders puppet was also a part of the march Climate change activists were a common sight at the march (left) as well as musicians like this guitarist with a 'clean energy revolution sticker Protests and demonstrations are planned throughout the city during the convention, and some of the largest start about four miles north of the arena where the convention is being held. Philadelphia's police commissioner says he'll be at protests during the Democratic National Convention, helping keep the peace and showing support. Commissioner Richard Ross says 'you have to be out there' to show officers, protesters and the public you're with them. Cleveland's police chief took a similar stance during demonstrations at last week's Republican National Convention. Ross says his department has taken additional safety measures in light of violent events around the world, but overall plans haven't changed. He says there's been no credible threats and no arrests or citations have been issued to protesters. In Cleveland last week, most protests during the Republican National Convention were concentrated in a tight, 1.7-square mile zone downtown. A heavy police presence and fewer than expected protesters helped keep the calm. There were only about two dozen arrests and no significant injuries. Philadelphia protests amidst the news that Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepped down from her role as DNC chair, following the publication of some some 19,000 hacked emails last week, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season. Preparations continued for Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center on July 24 Comedian Stephen Colbert (right) talks with his production staff during a break in filming a segment for his show on the Democratic National Convention floor. Left: A worker sets up the state sign for the Iowa delegation ahead of the Democratic National Convention Colbert returned as the character Julius, who is a spin on Caesar Flickerman, the host of the Hunger Games in the titular books and films Colbert was back in his blue wig and with his pet weasel named Caligula as he filmed the segment It was the same costume that Colbert donned when he crashed the Republican National Convention last week Emails posted to the website Wikileaks show that at least some DNC officials were looking at ways to undercut Sanders' campaign, including questioning his religious beliefs. The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday - a day before Democrats open their convention in Philadelphia to nominate Clinton as the party's presidential candidate. In a statement to the press following her decision, Shultz said: 'As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans.' She did not address the allegations of bias in her statement but instead spoke about the privilege she felt in holding the position. More than 5,000 delegates are among the 50,000 people set to attend the gathering at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, which is expected to culminate with Clinton being named the party's official nominee for president. The Democratic National Convention opening Monday in Philadelphia is Clinton's chance to hit reset after a vigorous primary against Bernie Sanders and the unlikely movement that formed behind the Vermont senator. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has endorsed Clinton, but many of his supporters have not. Some of them were dismayed by her choice of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., as her running mate. Meanwhile, Clinton has stated that the chants of 'lock her up' at last week's Republican National Convention made her feel 'very sad.' The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee criticized the GOP convention during a Sunday appearance on 60 Minutes. Clinton said it seemed the only point of the RNC was to criticize her and said she seems to be 'the only unifying theme' the Republicans had, adding that they offered 'no positive agenda' and presented 'a very dark, divisive campaign.' She added that the GOP speakers painted a negative picture of the country that she did not recognize, and said it 'saddened' her. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and her two grandsons couldn't help but laugh and smile at Colbert's character The late-night television host had no problem getting physical as he filmed the segment Paul Simon was also spotted on the DNC stage on Sunday as he went through a sound check JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Donald Trump reacted swiftly to the news that Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has resigned by dashing off a flurry of tweets. The Republican nominee called the congresswoman 'overrated,' while commending his own party's leader, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus for being 'tough' and 'smart.' Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort also chimed in linking the Democrats' leaked emails to their nominee Hillary Clinton's own email scandal, suggesting that Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out. Scroll down for video Republican nominee Donald Trump (left) reacted gleefully to the news that Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schlutz (right) had stepped down Donald Trump dashed off two tweets to start as he reacted to the news that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was OUT at the DNC Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation Sunday afternoon on the eve of the start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The Democratic chairwoman heeded to the escalating calls for her departure after party emails leaked to Wikileaks and published online showed a bias toward Clinton, over her longtime rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. This morning Sanders repeatedly called for Wasserman Schultz to step down. ''I think she should resign. Period,' he told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. Soon other prominent Democratic voices, including longtime Obama adviser David Axelrod, were also suggesting the Florida congressman move aside. Trump jumped into the fray first tweeting that 'today proves what I have always known, that Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Schultz.' 'I always said Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated,' Trump continued. 'The Dems convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!' This morning Trump went on a tangent on Twitter about Sanders being exhausted. 'He is trying to dismiss the new e-mails and DNC disrespect. SAD!' Trump tweeted. In reality Sanders was calling for Wasserman Schultz's head, but at the same time staying firm in his support for Clinton, who he endorsed just 12 days ago. Shortly after his two initial tweets, Trump wrote that the 'media would go wild' had the Republican convention 'blown up with e-mails, resignation of boss and the beat down of a big player,' he said, writing Sanders' first name in parentheses. Trump also suggested that Clinton wasn't 'loyal' to Wasserman Schultz because the chairwoman resigned, hinting that the Clinton campaign forced her to do so. 'Too bad Bernie flamed out,' Trump said again. 'Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don't believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!' Trump tweeted. Donald Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort (pictured), in an official statement, linked Debbie Wasserman Schultz's current email leak problems to likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Switching directions back to his perceived media bias, Trump whacked political reporters yet again. 'The Democrats are in a total meltdown but the biased media will say how great they are doing! E-mails say the rigged system is alive & well!' he wrote Sunday night. He then moved back to the current scandal. 'The highly neurotic Debbie Wasserman Schultz is angry that, after stealing and cheating her way to a Crooked Hillary victory, she's out!' Trump said. In a more official capacity, Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort delivered a statement to reporters' inboxes Sunday night. Manafort said that Wasserman Schultz resigned over her 'failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign.' 'Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while abroad abroad,' Manafort continued. PAUL MANAFORT STATEMENT ON DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ'S RESIGNATION FROM THE DNC Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned over her failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign. Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while traveling abroad. Wasserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic Party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk. Advertisement 'Wasserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic Party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk,' Manafort concluded. The release Friday of 19,000 Democratic National Committee emails exposed conversations between high-level DNC staffers grumbling about Sanders and suggesting ways to derail his surprisingly successful campaign for the White House. One such exchange captured DNC Chief Financial Office Brad Marshall suggesting that someone should ask about a person's religion, hinting that voters in conservative states like Kentucky and West Virginia might be turned off. 'Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,' the message said. 'I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.' Amy Dacey, the committee's CEO, responded in all caps: 'AMEN. 'I am not an atheist,' Sanders said today on CNN in response. Marshall apologized today. Last week Debbie Wasserman Schultz trolled Reince Priebus when Republican delegates were getting out of hand on the convention floor at some tried to stop Donald Trump from nabbing the nomination A hacker by the name Guccifer 2.0 has taken responsibility for stealing the messages from the Democratic Party and passing them along to Wikileaks. Investigators looking into the DNC leak have pointed fingers at the Russians, though Guccifer 2.0 has said he's a solo actor and denies being Russian. Talking to reporters in Philadelphia on Sunday, Manafort brushed off charges of Russian influence. 'Obviously we dont know whos behind the leaks. I do know one thing. The leaks of this may have put the DNC at risk,' he said. 'But the potential leaks of hacking Clintons server sitting unprotected in her home certainly created greater risk than what the DNC leak did,' he added, repeating the sentiment he expressed in his official campaign statement. Priebus said Sunday evening the the Republican National Committee had 'taken precautions' to protect its emails server. 'What you saw today or yesterday in these email leaks just verified something that we all kind of already knew,' he said. 'We are not sitting here believing the DNC was impartial. They really weren't.' Last Monday, when members of the 'stop Trump' movement were making a last stand on the Republican National Convention floor in Cleveland, Wasserman Schultz trolled Priebus on Twitter. 'Hey Reince - I'm in Cleveland if you need another chair to help keep your convention in order,' she wrote. Priebus had no problem today jabbing her right back. 'I know firsthand how hard it is being chair of a national party but when you rig a system and you spread emails around with each other and senior staff in that manner I think this kind of inevitable,' he said Sunday. The RNC Chairman suggested that there wasn't a way out for Wasserman Schultz, who won't technically give up the position until the conclusion of the DNC. 'I don't think there is any other outcome that was forseeable,' Priebus said. 'Starting out the week by losing your party chairman over longstanding bitterness by factions is no way to keep something together,' he continued. 'Im not just talking about Debbie Wasserman Schultzs nomination. Im also talking about the Democratic delegates who are upset about the selection of Tim Kaine and will never support Hillary Clinton,' Priebus added. The DNC email leak was a gift to Republicans, who had already set up an elaborate communications center inside Phillys 2300 Arena. Its a hall housed inside a rough-around-the edges warehouse style building that has hosted boxing, wrestling, and mixed martial arts matches. Scenes from The Wrestler starring Mikey Rourke were filmed here. The RNC couldnt resist mocking Clinton with a series of props, including a circus-wheel where Clinton wins every time, and a game of corn hole plastered with Bernie stickers. A billboard lists Clinton scandals large and small, from troopergate to Whitewater and Bill Clintons impeachment. Living the high life: Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina Sir Philip Green is today branded the 'unacceptable face of capitalism' in a scathing report. It reveals how the tycoon 'systematically' plundered hundreds of millions from BHS before leading it to disaster. The billionaire enriched his family for more than a decade through a series of shady property deals, awarding himself fat dividend cheques and starving the retailer of investment, MPs conclude. He doomed the 88-year-old chain by selling to a 'manifestly unsuitable' bankrupt who stuck his 'hands in the till' then blamed everyone but himself for the collapse, the inquiry found. Last night, amid fresh calls for Sir Philip to lose his knighthood, MPs blasted his web of companies that was designed to help him and his wife Tina avoid tax. Sir Philip, whose Arcadia Group owns Topshop and Miss Selfridge, bought BHS in 2000 but sold it for 1 in 2015 to Dominic Chappell, a thrice-bankrupt former racing driver with no retail experience. It crashed into administration in April this year, costing 11,000 jobs and threatening the income of 20,000 pensioners. Frank Field, work and pensions committee chairman, said: 'While Sir Philip Green signposted blame to every known player, the buck stops with him. His reputation as the king of retail lies in the ruins of BHS. 'His family took out of BHS and Arcadia a fortune beyond the dreams of avarice, and he's still to make good his boast of 'fixing' the pension fund. What kind of man is it who can count his fortune in billions but does not know what decent behaviour is?' Mr Field said Sir Philip, dubbed Sir Shifty, 'has to decide how much his knighthood is worth'. 'I think the only slight possibility he has of keeping it is if he pays in full for the pension deficit,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'That's going to be an enormous sum.' An inquiry by two Commons committees, whose findings are published today, concludes: Sir Philip 'fantastically enriched himself and his family' to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds until BHS was 'on life support'; Lady Green continues reaping tens of millions of pounds from the ruins; Sir Philip refused to fix a pensions black hole to avoid revealing his mammoth personal earnings, and has a 'moral duty' to resolve the mess; Labour peer Lord (Anthony) Grabiner QC, who oversaw the disastrous sale of BHS as chairman of its parent firm, is branded 'complacent' and could lose his right to be a company director; Blue chip City companies including Goldman Sachs and Grant Thornton are criticised for 'providing an expensive badge of legitimacy'. The report, by MPs on the business and work and pensions committees, took evidence from key players in the deal earlier this year. It says everyone tried to blame each other, with Sir Philip taking a 'scattergun approach', firing blame everywhere but at himself. Sir Philip Green doomed the 88-year-old chain by selling to a 'manifestly unsuitable' bankrupt who stuck his 'hands in the till' then blamed everyone but himself for the collapse, the inquiry found The MPs say Mr Chappell was 'out of his depth' as a retailer yet funnelled 4.1million from BHS, adding: 'His description of 2.6million that he personally took, in addition to an outstanding 1.5million family loan, as 'a drip in the ocean' is an insult to the employees and pensioners of BHS.' They add that the firms run by Sir Philip whose wife lives in tax haven Monaco and ultimately owns the businesses were set up in a way 'designed to reduce tax bills', and also reduced 'levels of corporate transparency'. MPs say they 'found little evidence to support the reputation for retail business acumen for which he received his knighthood'. 'Sir Philip owes it to the BHS pensioners to find a resolution urgently,' the report adds. 'This will undoubtedly require him to make a large financial contribution. He has a moral duty to act.' BHS stores have been closing and the company's pension scheme black hole is now 571million. But the MPs say those who created the mess have grown wealthier. 'The truth is that a large proportion of those who have got rich, or richer, off the back of BHS are to blame,' the report says. 'Sir Philip Green, Dominic Chappell and their respective directors, advisers and hangers-on are all culpable. 'The tragedy is that those who have lost out are the ordinary employees and pensioners. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism.' It comes days after the Cabinet Office said it was reviewing whether Sir Philip, knighted by Tony Blair in 2006 for services to retail, had brought the honours system into disrepute. Earlier this month, the Greens took delivery of their third super-yacht, the 100million Lionheart. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, whose late mother worked for BHS, called on Sir Philip to 'do the right thing' for members of the pension fund or 'have his knighthood removed', adding that he should 'sell his extra yacht' if he cannot afford it. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron added: 'Knighthoods should be saved for the brave and the brilliant. Philip Green has proved he is neither of those. 'It cannot be acceptable for him to be sailing around in a 100million superyacht while the workers he failed are left at the door to the job centre. 'It's time HMRC stepped in to ensure he pays the financial contribution he owes to BHS pensioners.' Iain Wright, chairman of the business, innovation and skills committee, said: 'He got the honour for services to retail, and yet the evidence from BHS is that he is not very good at retail. The sale of BHS to a consortium led by a bankrupt chancer with no retail experience should never have gone ahead.' BHS will vanish from the high street with the loss of thousands of jobs next month. The administrator of the chain is expected to announce today that all 114 remaining branches will close on August 20. The department store group had 164 shops when it collapsed into administration in April and around 50 stores have already closed, with the loss of more than 1,300 jobs. The closure of all its branches is expected to lead to the loss of more than 5,000 jobs. In total, the group had 11,000 staff members. Of those, around 3,000 were employed by concession operators, including those run by Arcadia Group, which is expected to offer alternative positions to around 1,000 BHS employees. BHS TO SHUT REMAINING STORES NEXT MONTH BHS will disappear from the high street with the loss of thousands of jobs as early as next month. The administrator of the 88-year-old chain is expected to announce today that all 114 remaining branches will close on August 20. The department store group had 164 shops when it collapsed into administration in April and around 50 BHS stores have already closed, with the loss of more than 1,300 jobs. Duff & Phelps had been trying to find a buyer for the whole chain but when no deal emerged, it began to sell off stock, as well as the fixtures and fittings of each shop. The popularity of the sales, with large discounts on goods, has meant the group had one of its busiest ever periods. Restructuring firm Hilco has been working on the sell-off of the assets alongside Duff & Phelps. Once the stores are closed BHS will be wound down and all the proceeds from these sales will go to creditors. The closure of all its stores is expected to lead to the loss of more than 5,000 jobs. In total, the group employed 11,000 people. Of those, around 3,000 were employed by concession operators, including those run by former owner Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group. It is expected that around 1,000 people will be offered positions elsewhere within the Arcadia Group. Advertisement David Gill, of shop workers' union Usdaw, said many BHS staff 'have given their whole working lives to the company and they must be feeling devastated and totally let down'. Asked for his reaction to being called the unacceptable face of capitalism, Sir Philip told the Mail last night: 'Good, good, good. Look, so I don't have to be rude to you, just say goodbye.' As well as a possible HMRC probe, a preliminary Serious Fraud Office inquiry has been set up. A Government spokesman said: 'Today's report is very concerning, and the Insolvency Service is now carrying out an accelerated investigation But in the long run we need to do more to prevent this kind of irresponsible and reckless behaviour.' Lady Green's still cashing in on BHS Sir Philip Green 'fantastically enriched himself and his family' to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds at the expense of doomed BHS employees and pensioners, an MPs' report concludes today. Even as they enjoy the sunshine aboard their 100million superyacht, the disgraced tycoon and his wife Tina are still reaping bonanza payments from the remnants of their scuppered retail chain. The personal greed of the tax-avoiding couple starved the once-proud British store until it was 'on life support', say the MPs. The disgraced tycoon and his wife Tina are still reaping bonanza payments from the remnants of their scuppered retail chain In a damning indictment, they say Sir Philip 'systematically extracted hundreds of millions of pounds, paying very little tax and fantastically enriching himself and his family' while leaving the company and its pension fund 'weakened to the point of the inevitable collapse of both'. The report, following an inquiry by the Commons work and pensions committee and the business, innovation and skills committee, says the Greens perfected a 'tax-lite' mechanism for extracting cash through the sale of property. Incredibly, Lady Green, the ultimate beneficiary of their vast wealth, is still striking the jackpot, thanks to an elaborate arrangement involving the Greens loaning money between their companies. She is 'still being paid tens of millions of pounds of tax-free repayments on the loan that was engineered to sell BHS from one Green family business to another, and will be for some years to come', say the MPs. Sir Philip bought British Home Stores in 2000. By 2009 it was enmeshed in a complex web of his companies, many registered offshore, with Lady Green as the ultimate owner. In his early years of ownership, Sir Philip cut costs and sold assets, but did not grow the business. Instead he took out some 1.2billion overall, it is estimated. For example, in 2002-04, BHS made profits of 208million, but paid dividends of 423million. The MPs' report says: 'We were told that the Green family received 307million of this.' The personal greed of the tax-avoiding couple starved the once-proud British store until it was 'on life support', say the MPs They added that while Sir Philip, 64, funnelled 'substantial dividends offshore to the ultimate benefit of his wife', the 'so-called 'King of the High Street' failed to invest sufficiently in stores or reinvent the business to beat the prevailing high street competition'. Earlier this month, as the perma-tanned billionaire gave ill-tempered evidence to the inquiry, his wife was putting finishing touches to their latest superyacht, Lionheart, in Malta. As she boarded the 100million vessel their third yacht with a fluffy dog under her arm, an assistant applauded her. Lady Green, 67, spent four years designing the four-storey luxury ship which has three lifts, a plunge pool, a beauty salon, a helipad and a fleet of jet-skis. Sir Philip, worth 3.5billion, is understood to have recently taken delivery of a second private jet, a 46million Gulfstream. He also owns a helicopter. HOW MPS TORE GREEN'S REPUTATION TO SHREDS 'What kind of man is it who can count his fortune in billions but does not know what decent behaviour is'? 'The family has used private companies and offshore registrations. These arrangements were designed to reduce tax bills [and] had the effect of reducing levels of corporate transparency.' 'Sir Philip adopted a scattergun approach, liberally firing blame to all angles except his own.' 'Sir Philip chose to run these companies as his own personal empire. Weak governance arrangements allowed the overarching interests of the Green family to prevail ... facilitating the flow of money offshore to the ultimate beneficial owner of the parent company, Lady Green.' 'The tragedy is that those who have lost out are the ordinary employees and pensioners. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism.' 'We found little evidence to support the reputation for retail business acumen for which he received his knighthood.' 'Sir Philip acted to conceal the true state of the BHS pension problem [He] owes it to the BHS pensioners to find a resolution urgently. He has a moral duty to act.' Advertisement The retail magnate, who ran his firms 'as a personal fiefdom', was 'vague' when asked by MPs about his choice of low-tax Monaco as a place of residence. His wife told the committee by letter that offshore locations were preferred for 'their strong regulatory regimes'. Sir Philip insisted he had invested in BHS, putting in some 600million. But the report concludes: 'Sir Philip Green's family accrued incredible wealth during the early, profitable years of BHS ownership. Over the duration of their tenure, significantly more money left the company than was invested in it.' In 2005, the parent firm of Sir Philip's Arcadia group of companies, Taveta Investments Ltd, paid a record dividend of 1.3billion, described as 'the biggest pay cheque in British corporate history'. But by 2014, 'BHS was left on life support, having drawn on all its accumulated reserves and more as a result of large dividends and heavy losses'. MPs were scathing about the tactics used by the Greens to minimise their tax bills. For example, in 2001, BHS Group sold ten stores for 106million to Carmen Properties Ltd a Jersey-registered company ultimately owned by Lady Green. BHS Ltd then paid rent totalling some 153million to Carmen for the use of the stores and 70million when the shops were ultimately sold back to BHS as part of the controversial sale to Dominic Chappell's group. The MPs say: 'These arrangements were designed to reduce tax bills. They have also had the effect of reducing levels of corporate transparency.' A similar sale-and-leaseback deal was struck for a property in Leeds. This time it involved Mildenhall Holdings Ltd, another Jersey-registered company whose ultimate beneficiary was Lady Green. Between 2005 and 2012, BHS paid 2.7million in rent to Mildenhall. As with the Carmen Properties deal, the rent would have been counted as income by Mildenhall, in a tax haven, while allowing BHS to register it as a cost and adjust its UK tax liability accordingly. Life of luxury: The Greens 100million superyacht Lionheart, complete with its own helipad, off the coast of Malta last week 'BHS was involved in a number of transactions with a complex web of companies, many registered offshore. Whether BHS benefited financially from these transactions is far from clear. What is clear is that the Green family did,' the MPs say. In his evidence, Sir Philip demonstrated an 'unfeasible degree of unfamiliarity' with the financial affairs of his family companies, and the flow of money between them, say the MPs. When it became clear that BHS's losses were out of control, the 'over-arching interests of the Green family' took over, and he offloaded the retailer as quickly as possible, the report found. It says: 'He sought to sell a chain that had become a financial millstone and threatened his reputation. He knew that Dominic Chappell was a wholly unsuitable purchaser but overlooked or made good each of Chappell's shortcomings and proceeded with a rushed sale regardless.' The MPs conclude: 'We found little evidence to support the reputation for retail business acumen for which he received his knighthood. 'We still do not doubt that Sir Philip has heartfelt affection for BHS. To an extent it created him; it could also bring him down.' A convicted killer has been allowed to keep her toddler daughter despite the murder of her baby son by her boyfriend. The boy was killed by his father following a series of blunders by officials in Haringey, north London the same borough rocked by the Baby P scandal nine years ago. But a judge ruled that the woman should be allowed custody of her three-year-old daughter even though she is awaiting extradition to her native Poland. Scroll down for video Convict: The Polish mother, who cannot be identified, with Child R A scathing report into the baby's death has heavily criticised police and social workers over the chances that were missed to save him. The boy known only as Child R was shaken to death by his father at their cockroach-infested bedsit while his mother was out shopping. The serious case review revealed that despite being a convicted killer on the run from Poland, the woman was able to live in the UK undetected for almost 18 months. Social services were unaware of the family until she went into labour with Child R. Midwives who contacted police were told that details about the mother could not be passed on. The report said that had police and private security firm Serco passed on her record, the authorities could have carried out risk assessments for her children. Even when social workers did learn of her past, they had no concerns about letting her go home with her baby. The 32-year-old mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was pregnant with her daughter when she fled to Britain in 2012, breaching the terms of her parole in Poland. She had been released on licence after serving nine years of a 12-year sentence for knifing a man to death when she was 17 and high on amphetamines and alcohol. The boy was killed by his father following a series of blunders by officials in Haringey, north London. Pictured: general view of houses in the borough But British police did not receive a European Arrest Warrant for her detention until December 2013. A month later she was found living with her boyfriend, a habitual drug user and also Polish. Aged 27, he was a petty criminal known to police mostly for drugs offences. Following an extradition hearing at Westminster magistrates' court, no details of her conviction were passed to social services even though she was by then pregnant. When she went into labour at a London hospital, midwives were concerned to find her wearing an electronic tag, which she claimed was because she had unpaid debts. Hospital staff repeatedly tried to find out more but police told them the details could not be passed on under the Data Protection Act. Council missed opportunities A report by Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board found that assessments should have been carried out to determine whether to put the baby on the at-risk register. Even when police did alert the council, social workers had 'no concerns' about letting Child R live with his parents. In January last year, the six-month-old was taken to hospital with severe brain injuries. He died three days later. In December, the father was jailed for life for murder. Although the mother was arrested, the evidence against her was deemed insufficient for a prosecution. Haringey Council brought care proceedings to protect Baby R's three-year-old sister, but a judge ruled that 'there is no shred of evidence to support the notion that the mother was responsible for any of Child R's injuries'. The council was refused leave to appeal against the decision to return the girl to her mother's care under a supervision order. Haringey was heavily criticised over the death of Baby P 17-month-old Peter Connelly in August 2007. He suffered horrendous injuries at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend Steven Barker and Barker's brother Jason Owen. Haringey was heavily criticised over the death of Baby P 17-month-old Peter Connelly in August 2007 Liberal Democrat councillor Liz Morris said Child R's death again raised serious questions. 'Processes and procedures were not followed by the various agencies involved, which left a child vulnerable to violence,' she said. Haringey Council said it 'fully accepted' that failings had been made, adding: 'The council, along with other agencies... missed opportunities to assess the family and share information. The council has already implemented the report's findings.' Sir Paul Ennals, chairman of the Haringey Safeguarding Children Board, said Child R's death 'could not have been anticipated'. Employees at a Chick-fil-A restaurant helped save the day by turning a young boy's negative experience into a positive one when they played with him after a group of boys turned him down. Kari Wood Merriken and her son were at a Chick-fil-A in Columbus, Georgia on Friday for 'Galaxy Night' when she said her son, who is in a wheelchair, asked some boys in the play area if he could join them. She said the boys replied, 'No, we're good,' before her son then asked her to play with him, according to a post on her Facebook recalling the incident. Employees at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Georgia helped save the day by turning a young boy's negative experience into a positive one when they played with him after a group of boys turned him down (pictured) Kari Wood Merriken and her son were at a Chick-fil-A on Friday for 'Galaxy Night' when she said her son, who is in a wheelchair, asked some boys in the play area if he could join them, but they said no The mother said she then explained the situation to employees and asked to borrow a light saber so she could duel with her son, but employees had something better in mind. 'I went outside with him, and the next thing I know, the employees had found some worthy opponents who were much cooler (and more skilled with a light saber) than mom,' Merriken wrote. A sweet photo accompanying the post on Merriken's Facebook showed her son, light saber in tow, dueling with Chick-fil-A employees, one even dressed in a Darth Vader costume. 'Thank you Chick-fil-A and characters,' Merriken wrote. She also noted that every time she goes to that particular Chick-fil-A, located on Wynnton Road, she is always so 'impressed'. The mother said she then explained the situation to employees and asked to borrow a light saber so she could duel with her son (pictured), but employees had something better in mind - they played with him instead Merriken thanked the staff who wrote on Facebook that they were pleased they had a good time (shown above) 'The employees are always friendly and courteous,' she wrote. 'Galaxy Night was so much fun! On top of it, the employees turned a negative experience around for us.' Staff from the restaurant commented on her post, saying they were pleased they had fun. 'We are so glad you all had a fun time tonight! Glad our team and these "visitors" from another galaxy could make your son's night memorable,' staff wrote in the comment section of the post. During the event, attendees were given the opportunity to participate in several different crafts, including Jedi training, a Galaxy sword station and saber lessons, WTVM reported. According to the station, Chick-fil-A said it held the event to show love to all in light of the recent police shootings. Sir Philip Green fantastically enriched himself and his family to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds at the expense of doomed BHS employees and pensioners, an MPs report concludes today. Even as they enjoy the sunshine aboard their 100million superyacht, the disgraced tycoon and his wife Tina are still reaping bonanza payments from the remnants of their scuppered retail chain. The personal greed of the tax-avoiding couple starved the once-proud British store until it was on life support, say the MPs. Scroll down for video Vast wealth: Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina pictured aboard their new yacht, named Lionheart Life of luxury: The Greens' 100million superyacht Lionheart, complete with its own helipad, off the coast of Malta last week In a damning indictment, they say Sir Philip systematically extracted hundreds of millions of pounds, paying very little tax and fantastically enriching himself and his family while leaving the company and its pension fund weakened to the point of the inevitable collapse of both. The report, following an inquiry by the Commons work and pensions committee and the business, innovation and skills committee, says the Greens perfected a tax-lite mechanism for extracting cash through the sale of property. Incredibly, Lady Green, the ultimate beneficiary of their vast wealth, is still striking the jackpot, thanks to an elaborate arrangement involving the Greens loaning money between their companies. She is still being paid tens of millions of pounds of tax-free repayments on the loan that was engineered to sell BHS from one Green family business to another, and will be for some years to come, say the MPs. Sir Philip bought British Home Stores in 2000. By 2009 it was enmeshed in a complex web of his companies, many registered offshore, with Lady Green as the ultimate owner. In his early years of ownership, Sir Philip cut costs and sold assets, but did not grow the business. Instead he took out some 1.2billion overall, it is estimated. For example, in 2002-04, BHS made profits of 208million, but paid dividends of 423million. The MPs report says: We were told that the Green family received 307million of this. They added that while Sir Philip, 64, funnelled substantial dividends offshore to the ultimate benefit of his wife, the so-called King of the High Street failed to invest sufficiently in stores or reinvent the business to beat the prevailing high street competition. Earlier this month, as the perma-tanned billionaire gave ill-tempered evidence to the inquiry, his wife was putting finishing touches to their latest superyacht, Lionheart, in Malta. As she boarded the 100million vessel their third yacht with a fluffy dog under her arm, an assistant applauded her. Lady Green, 67, spent four years designing the four-storey luxury ship which has three lifts, a plunge pool, a beauty salon, a helipad and a fleet of jet-skis. Sir Philip, worth 3.5billion, is understood to have recently taken delivery of a second private jet, a 46million Gulfstream. He also owns a helicopter. The retail magnate, who ran his firms as a personal fiefdom, was vague when asked by MPs about his choice of low-tax Monaco as a place of residence. His wife told the committee by letter that offshore locations were preferred for their strong regulatory regimes. Sir Philip insisted he had invested in BHS, putting in some 600million. But the report concludes: Sir Philip Greens family accrued incredible wealth during the early, profitable years of BHS ownership. Over the duration of their tenure, significantly more money left the company than was invested in it. The MPs' report concludes: We found little evidence to support the reputation for retail business acumen for which he received his knighthood'. Pictured is Sir Philip and wife Tina In 2005, the parent firm of Sir Philips Arcadia group of companies, Taveta Investments Ltd, paid a record dividend of 1.3billion, described as the biggest pay cheque in British corporate history. But by 2014, BHS was left on life support, having drawn on all its accumulated reserves and more as a result of large dividends and heavy losses. MPs were scathing about the tactics used by the Greens to minimise their tax bills. For example, in 2001, BHS Group sold ten stores for 106million to Carmen Properties Ltd a Jersey-registered company ultimately owned by Lady Green. BHS Ltd then paid rent totalling some 153million to Carmen for the use of the stores and 70million when the shops were ultimately sold back to BHS as part of the controversial sale to Dominic Chappells group. The MPs say: These arrangements were designed to reduce tax bills. They have also had the effect of reducing levels of corporate transparency. A similar sale-and-leaseback deal was struck for a property in Leeds. This time it involved Mildenhall Holdings Ltd, another Jersey-registered company whose ultimate beneficiary was Lady Green. Between 2005 and 2012, BHS paid 2.7million in rent to Mildenhall. As with the Carmen Properties deal, the rent would have been counted as income by Mildenhall, in a tax haven, while allowing BHS to register it as a cost and adjust its UK tax liability accordingly. Sir Philip Green (pictured) is set to be accused of using his ownership of BHS to build 'incredible wealth' for his family but failed to protect the retailer's burgeoning pension black hole BHS was involved in a number of transactions with a complex web of companies, many registered offshore. Whether BHS benefited financially from these transactions is far from clear. What is clear is that the Green family did, the MPs say. In his evidence, Sir Philip demonstrated an unfeasible degree of unfamiliarity with the financial affairs of his family companies, and the flow of money between them, say the MPs. When it became clear that BHSs losses were out of control, the over-arching interests of the Green family took over, and he offloaded the retailer as quickly as possible, the report found. It says: He sought to sell a chain that had become a financial millstone and threatened his reputation. He knew that Dominic Chappell was a wholly unsuitable purchaser but overlooked or made good each of Chappells shortcomings and proceeded with a rushed sale regardless. The MPs conclude: We found little evidence to support the reputation for retail business acumen for which he received his knighthood. The QC failed to attend meeting in which sale to Mr Chappell was approved He did not know he had been bankrupt until he read it in newspapers Anthony Grabiner, QC, admitted that he had not heard of buyer Dominic Chappell A leading barrister who oversaw the BHS sale could be stripped of his right to be a company director after MPs condemned his deplorable performance as remarkably docile and complacent. Anthony Grabiner, QC, admitted that he had not heard of buyer Dominic Chappell and did not know he had been bankrupt until he read it in newspapers following the deal. Despite the fact he was chairing the company which ultimately owned BHS, he failed to attend and was not even aware of the meeting in which the sale to Mr Chappell was approved, MPs note. They say the Labour peer now has serious questions to answer about his deplorable performance which played a key role in the companys downfall. The 71-year-old lawyer, who earns 3million a year, could even be stripped of his right to be a company director as a result of his failings, they add. Lord Grabiner, who was reportedly paid 3,000 an hour to oversee News Corporations internal investigation into phone hacking, was chairman of Taveta Investments, which ultimately owned the BHS store chain. But in a demonstration of the lawyers remarkably relaxed attitude to decision making, he was not invited to, nor even aware of, the meeting to approve its sale. Had he attended, MPs say, he could have asked whether the buyer had a credible plan to turn around BHSs fortunes. Instead, he was paid 125,000-a-year to provide what MPs describe as a veneer of establishment credibility to a company that Sir Philip ran as his own personal empire. The MPs add that they found a paucity of challenge and oversight which allowed Sir Philip to run [the Taveta group] as a family empire. Taveta was described as the retail magnates personal fiefdom with a board which acted on a shared understanding of his wishes rather than in the interests of the companies it owned. Lord Grabiner demonstrated weak governance arrangements and there was meagre evidence that anyone ever challenged or overrode Sir Philips decisions, they said. This allowed the overarching interests of the Green family to prevail and facilitated the flow of money off shore to the ultimate beneficial owner of the parent company, Lady Green. The committee adds that the lawyer demonstrated a remarkably docile attitude for a Chairman of the board and that these weaknesses contributed substantially to the ultimate demise of BHS. The complacent performance of Lord Grabiner as the non-executive Chairman of the Taveta group boards represented the apogee of weak corporate governance, says the report. Retail tycoon Sir Philip Green (left) has come underfire for his role in the sale of troubled department store BHS to former racing driver Dominic Chappell (right) In that position it was his responsibility to provide independent challenge and oversight. Instead he was content to provide a veneer of establishment credibility to the group while happily disengaging from the key decisions he had a responsibility to scrutinise. For this deplorable performance he received a considerable salary. It is a remarkable fall from grace for a man who was once considered a possible contender for the next Lord Chancellor. Raised in Hackney, East London, Anthony Grabiner won a scholarship to grammar school before studying law at the London School of Economics. He was among the UKs highest-paid QCs. He was appointed non-executive chairman of Taveta Investments, which owns the Arcadia Group, which in turn owned BHS, in 2002. His first cousin Ian Grabiner, chief executive officer and chief operating officer of Arcardia Group, is also criticised in the report. Chancellor Philip Hammond said he had started discussions with China about an ambitious free trade deal, which could see Chinese firms having greater access to the UK economy Britain has begun trade negotiations with China, Philip Hammond announced last night. The Chancellor said he had started discussions with the powerhouse nation about an ambitious free trade deal, which could see Chinese firms having greater access to the UK economy. He added that, in the wake of the Brexit referendum vote, it was time to explore new opportunities across the world including with China, one of the UKs biggest inward investors. Mr Hammond said there were also exciting opportunities opening up with other major economic powers such as Australia and India. The Chancellors positive language about the possibility of trade deals across the world contrasts sharply with the Remain campaigns warnings before last months referendum on Britains EU membership. Leave campaigners will seize upon news of the discussions to argue that Britain faces a bright economic future outside the Brussels club. Chinese state media reported earlier this month that its ministry of commerce wants to do a free trade deal with Britain. It will be the first time the UK has embarked on such a major project with the second-largest economy in the world. Officials are believed to be looking at New Zealands bilateral trade deal with China which took more than three years to negotiate and came into force in 2008 as well as the possibility of Britain joining an existing agreement. However, any potential deal will raise concerns about cheap manufactured goods entering the UK more easily. The recent crisis in the British steel industry was largely blamed on cheap Chinese steel being dumped into the economy, lowering prices. In return for greater access to the UK for its products and investment, China could reduce barriers to Britains service industries such as banking and insurance, as well as cutting tariffs on UK goods. The country could become a lucrative source of export income for Britain after leaving the EU. Mr Hammond announced the trade talks from the Chinese city of Chengdu, where he met other G20 finance ministers. The mood music that I have heard here is very much that this will mean more opportunity for countries like China that are outside the European Union to do business with Britain, the Chancellor told the BBC. And as Britain leaves the European Union and is not bound by the rules of the European Union, perhaps it will be easier to do deals with Britain in the future. Mr Hammond added: We already have a strategic partnership with China. We have hugely increased our trade with China, investment both by British companies into China and by Chinese entities into the UK. Mr Hammond meets with Chinese Vice-Premier Ma Kai. The chancellor said that in the wake of the Brexit referendum vote, it was time to explore new opportunities across the world including with China, one of the UKs biggest inward investors Thats about as far as we can go while we are members of the European Union. But once we are out of the European Union then I have no doubt on both sides we will want to cement that relationship into a firmer structure in a bilateral way thats appropriate. Thats something we will have to explore in the future. Mr Hammond said it would be certainly appropriate to start discussing a new deal over the next couple of years. He added: Our options are very wide at the moment. We know we cant legally enter into new trade agreements until the point where we exit the EU, which could be two, two-and-a-half years down the line. We have time to look at the options, to negotiate agreements, to discuss the terms on which we could enter existing agreements. New tests have found there is no evidence of THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana, in a small Colorado town's community tap water after one of its wells were tampered with. Residents of Hugo, a town of 730 people, were warned earlier this week not to drink the water after a public works employee detected a chemical that officials believed was 'marijuana THC-related'. But the water advisory was immediately canceled on Saturday after multiple tests found no trace of the chemical. Authorities now believe the initial tests were false. Scroll down for video New tests have found there is no evidence of THC, the psychoactive agent in marijuana, in Hugo, Colorado's water supply. The results come days after a 'field testing kit' obtained a positive result from the tap water Authorities said there was evidence that one of Hugo's seven wells had been tampered with (pictured is the well being guarded on Thursday) prior to the test's positive result 'There never was THC in our water supply,' said Lincoln County Sheriff's Capt Michael Yowell. 'We did get multiple tests showing the possibility of THC, but independent tests taken by different people at different times and places showed no evidence of THC.' He said the manufacturer of the test kits has been contacted to find out why some tests came back positive. Yowell said there is evidence that a shed covering one of the town's five wells was tampered with and that the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation have joined the probe. The shed covering the well head was broken into, but there was no indication who was responsible or when it occurred. It had been protected only by a padlock, like many other wells on Colorado's eastern plains, but someone gained entry by breaking into a side of the shed. Yowell said many community wells are at risk of being contaminated. 'It's not tamper-resistant, someone with bad intentions could get into almost any well in America if they wanted to,' he said. A company that administers employee drug tests was the first to detect the alleged THC in Hugo's water. A tester sampled the tap water, assuming it would be negative, and obtained a positive result. The water advisory was immediately canceled on Saturday after multiple tests found no trace of the chemical Lincoln County Sheriff's Capt Michael Yowell (pictured) asked residents not to drink or cook with the town's water for at least 48 hours on Thursday An initial screening was then done with a 'field testing kit', which caused authorities to ask residents not to drink or cook with the town's water for at least 48 hours. 'The contaminated well has been identified and shut down and the lines are being flushed,' the alert said. 'Fresh water will be coming into town for the public as soon as possible.' Bottled water was distributed to residents of Hugo on Friday, and a tanker full of water was on the way as officials awaited the results of lab tests. There were no reports of anyone falling ill or being affected by the water, and some were skeptical of the reports. Commercial marijuana cultivation, product manufacturing, testing facilities and retail marijuana stores are banned in Hugo, although they are legal elsewhere in the state. Peter Perrone, a chemist and owner of the state-licensed cannabis testing facility Gobi Analytical in suburban Denver, said it was 'virtually impossible' to find THC in water in concentrated levels. This is because cannabinoids are not water soluble, Perrone explained. But Yowell decided it was better safe than sorry when he called for the alert. Kevin A. Smith, 29, is accused of pointing a gun at his 22-year-old girlfriend as she breastfed their newborn A Florida man allegedly pointed a gun at his 22-year-old girlfriend's head while she breastfed their newborn. Cops in St. Augustine say 29-year-old Kevin A. Smith was upset when he arrived at home and thought his 2-week-old was being fed milk from another woman. Smith tried to get the baby from his girlfriend, who tried to keep the infant from him, officials at the St. John County Sheriff's Office said. He held the woman down on the bed and pulled a black handgun gun on her, cops told the Palm Beach Post. Smith then pointed the gun at the woman's head and put it between her teeth, News 4 Jax reported. He also took her cell phone so she couldn't call the police. Deputies were told he threatened to kill the woman, according to News 4 Jax. Smith was on top of his girlfriend, trying to roll her over to get baby, when the victim's mother arrived. The woman heard screaming and went to check on what was happening. When Smith went outside to his truck, the victim' s mother quickly took her and the baby outside to her own truck and called cops. Smith is charged with battery, child neglect and obstructing justice. Donald Trump has said he would rather vote for a Democrat than back former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. The Republican nominee distanced himself from the white supremacist, who announced he would be running for the Senate in Louisiana last week. Duke, a former Grand Wizard, said Trump's presidential campaign inspired him to enter his own race. The billionaire businessman said he rebuked Duke's 'as quick as you can say it' during his appearance on NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday. Scroll down for video Donald Trump has said he would rather vote for a Democrat than back former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke 'Because last time with another person in this position, I did it (rebuked) very quickly. And they said, 'He didn't do it fast enough. Rebuked. Is that OK? Rebuked, done,' he said When host Chuck Todd asked him if we would vote for a Democrat if it stopped Duke from winning, he said: 'I guess, depending on who the Democrat (is) -- but the answer would be yes.' Later on Sunday Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, also denounced Duke, over Twitter. 'Well said @realDonaldTrump on #MTP. There will never be a place in our party for that man or his hateful rhetoric.' In February, Trump was slammed for not rebuking Duke quickly enough after the racist endorsed him. In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, he said: 'I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists,. 'So I don't know. I don't know -- did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists.' He then blamed his bad earpiece. Last week, Duke announced his run for the US Senate. Duke, a former Grand Wizard, said Trump's presidential campaign inspired him to enter his own race He said he decided to run for office again after receiving a 'great outpouring of overwhelming support'. 'I'm proud to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate,' Duke said in a video posted to his website on Friday. 'I believe in equal rights for all and respect for all Americans. However, what makes me different is I also demand respect for the rights and heritage of European Americans.' Duke also heaped praise on Donald Trump in the video, saying he is 'overjoyed' the Republican nominee has embraced issues he has fought for. Duke (pictured far left) is seen with other members of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in white Klan robe costumes prepare for cross burning in New Orleans 'I was the first major candidate in modern times to promote the term and policy of "America First",' he said in the video. 'I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I've championed for years. My slogan remains America first.' Duke tweeted further praise for Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday night, saying: 'Great Trump Speech, America First! Stop Wars! Defeat the Corrupt elites! Protect our Borders!, Fair Trade! Couldn't have said it better!' The 66-year-old went on in his announcement to call for change to political financing, before adding he will stand up for 'European Americans'. 'I passed the only bill in America forbidding affirmative action programs that racially discriminate against the best qualified,' Duke said. North Korea has moved the Rodong Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) launchers closer to the South in an attempt to circumvent the missile defense shield soon to be established by the U.S. THAAD missiles. North Korea maintains several ballistic missile bases throughout the country, strategically located to attack targets in the region. The Kusong site, located in North Pyongan province houses Rodong missiles. These missiles target U.S. forces in Japan. Hwasong-5/6 (SCUD-B) missiles are based at the Kalgol-dong site located in Chagang province in the Northern region, north of pyongyang. Okpyong-dong site is located in Kangwon province, Southeast of the capital, where both Hwasong and Rodong missiles. These missiles target South Korea. There are other numerous smaller sites, scattered around the country, serving for mobile launcher pads. The The recent Rodong missiles tested by the North on the high-trajectory were launched from the base in Hwangju Province, some 45 kilometers south of the capital Pyongyang. The missiles are reportedly positioned closer to the front demilitarization line, alongside the short-range Scud missiles. The missile is a copy of the Russian Scud C, locally produced in North Korea as Rodong and as the Shihab in Iran. With a diameter of 1.25 meters and length of 15.6 meters the missile can throw a payload weight of one ton at a range of 1,000-1,300 km. In March 2014 Pyongyang tested these weapons in high-short trajectory and flew them to a range of 650 km. Their range was shortened by firing at a higher launch angle (up to 160 km, compared to 40 km of the Scud-type missiles). The high trajectory increased the missiles speed of decent to 7 Mach terminal speed, thus avoiding interception by Patriot PAC-2/3 missiles. North Korea is believed to possess some 300 Rodong missiles and fewer than 50 mobile launchers. Analysts also warn that steep trajectory would also enable Pyongyang to deploy Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack that would cripple electrical grid and electronics over a large area, using a small nuclear detonation high in the atmosphere. When Sir Philip bought BHS in 2000, the company pension schemes had a healthy surplus of 43million but now have a deficit of 571million Theresa May faced growing pressure to demand Sir Philip Green lose his knighthood today after MPs slammed the billionaire as the 'unacceptable face of capitalism'. No 10 said the findings of a major Commons inquiry into the collapse of BHS were 'concerning' and proved the case for Mrs May's ambition to 'reform capitalism' and ensure the economy 'works for everyone'. The row came as BHS confirmed when stores would close and the 11,000 workers would lose their jobs over the next month. All stores will close by August 20. Sir Philip - branded Sir Shifty by critics - has so far remained silent on the damning report and has not been seen publicly since last week. His luxurious yacht Lionheart was today moored off the Greek island of Skopelos. He was last spotted aboard the ship with his wife Tina off the island of Malta last week. Frank Field, the co-chair of the Parliamentary inquiry, today demanded Mrs May seek 'retribution and justice' over the collapse of the high street chain. Labour MP John Mann said it was an 'outrage' Sir Philip had not already been stripped of his knighthood while Tory Richard Graham slammed the tycoon for running the firm as a 'mediaeval fiefdom'. Lord Bob Kerslake, who ran the committee ultimately responsible for stripping honours when it cancelled Fred Goodwin's knighthood over the RBS collapse, today said Sir Philip had a clear 'case to answer'. The removal of honours is overseen by the Forfeiture Committee and not the Prime Minister - but an intervention from Mrs May would place almost unstoppable political momentum behind the demand. Honours are removed where an individual has brought the system into disrepute and No 10 would today go further than to refer to the 'independent committee'. Mr Field today branded Sir Philip as 'much worse' than the infamous Robert Maxwell, the late MP turned media tycoon, who defrauded a newspaper pension scheme with a complex series of loans before his death. THE FINAL BHS STORE WILL CLOSE ON AUGUST 20, ADMINISTRATOR CONFIRMS All 11,000 BHS employees will be out of a job by August 20 when the final branch closes, it was confirmed today. There are still 114 BHS stores trading across the country as the process of closing down the business continues. Some 20 branches closed on Saturday as the shut down began and another 30 will close their doors for the final time this weekend. Administrator Duff and Phelps failed to find a buyer for the entire business and will now attempt to sell it off in pieces. Advertisement And he challenged Mrs May to act, telling the BBC: 'I cannot believe this plundering of BHS, the vulnerability of staff and pensioners is something she is going to accept. 'What are the powers we need both to safeguard pensions, past pension promises, but also when people have just raked off huge billions of pounds out of this country, not paid tax on it? 'What moves might we be able to make to redistribute some of those funds to people who by three-quarters of the way through August will actually not have jobs?' The Birkenhead MP today said Sir Philip 'needs to get his cheque book out' to fill the pension scheme black hole - which is estimated at being 571million. in a separate interview, he told the BBC: 'He has a huge responsibility here. 'These were a group of companies run by someone who behaves like Napoleon who has people around him who does what he does 'He keeps saying he wants to sort it out but he just needs to get his cheque book out. Im not saying it is easy. 'But there is one person here. 'Sir Philip Green has a huge amount of money, if he wishes to make good the pension deficit he could do it. 'He keeps talking about it but not actually doing it.' The location of Sir Philip, pictured aboard his new yacht Lionheart last week, was not clear today. The Lionheart is currently in Greece, moored off the island of Skopelos Life of luxury: The Greens' 100million superyacht Lionheart, complete with its own helipad, off the coast of Malta last week Mr Field's committee today harshly criticised Sir Philip for his actions after he sold the retailer to bankrupt Dominic Chappell shortly before it collapsed and left 11,000 people redundant. Sir Philip gave hours of often bizarre evidence to the joint pensions and business committee but his explanations were dismissed in today's extraordinary report. Mr Mann said: 'It remains an outrage that Philip Green has not been stripped of his knighthood and forced to pay back into the pension fund of BHS staff.' Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'If Philip Green wont do the right thing by the members of BHS pension fund then he should have knighthood removed.' Mr Graham said: 'After over 20 years in international business, I thought little would surprise me. But what emerged from the evidence of the long, and ultimately unhappy, saga of BHS under Sir Philip Greens stewardship was worse than I expected. 'We learnt, above all else, that BHS was run like a medieval fiefdom, with absolute control by the Boss, shaky governance, and only lip service responsibility to its defined benefit (DB) pension fund.' Labour MP John Mann said it was an 'outrage' that Sir Philip had not already been stripped of his knighthood over the BHS scandal Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay said the report made for 'devastating' reading after its long inquiry into the collapse of BHS, which cost 11,000 jobs Shadow chancellor John McDonnell joined calls for Sir Philip to lose his knighthood if he refuses to bailout the BHS pension fund At a Westminster briefing today, Mrs May's spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister has already set out we need to tackle corporate irresponsibility, reform capitalism so it works for everyone and not just the privileged few. 'That means in the long run doing more to prevent irresponsible and reckless behaviour. Of course it is right now we look carefully at the policies linked to that.' She added: 'The report is clearly concerning. I think action was already underway in response to the collapse of BHS.' The spokeswoman said: 'We need to take the time now to look at what the issues and drivers are, what the policy options are, and we will set out an approach in due course.' Mr Field said the black hole in the BHS pension fund was 'at least' 571million, the level at which it was valued last year but which does not account the growing scale of the problem. But the Labour MP for Birkenhead said Sir Philip had personal wealth far in excess of the figure and demanded he personally pay to ensure no former BHS employees were left out of pocket. He said: 'He is much worse than Robert Maxwell. This person has plundered BHS and Arcadia. Maxwell was just borrowing money 'I think that is worse because he has it in his power to do things, Maxwell does not.' Labour MP Frank Field today branded Sir Philip 'much worse' than Robert Maxwell and demanded Theresa May, right in Belfast today, seek 'retribution and justice' from the billionaire Mr Field warned other companies in Sir Philip's Arcadia Group such as Topshop were at risk of similar collapse because its pension scheme was in 'heavy deficit'. THE RISE AND FALL OF MAXWELL Robert Maxwell was born in Czechoslovakia and rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire. After spending six years as an MP during the 1960s, he bought Mirror Group Newspapers, among other publishing companies. He led an extremely flamboyant lifestyle and was also often embroiled in controversy. Maxwell was forced to sell some of his successful businesses in 1989 to cover his enormous debts. But it was only after his death two years later - after apparently falling overboard from his yacht - that the full picture of his financial mess was uncovered. With banks calling in huge loans, his publishing empire collapsed. But things became much worse when it emerged Maxwell had stolen hundreds of millions of pounds from his own companies' pension funds to save the firms from bankruptcy. Two of Maxwells sons most closely involved in the family firm, Kevin and Ian, stood trial accused of taking part in the fraud but were acquitted. Advertisement Mr Field said: 'The difference here is Sir Philip managed to borrow billions on this group of companies. A large part of that disappeared up the chain to his wife.' He added: 'He has the money. The Sunday Times Rich List shows how he has plundered these companies. He needs to make good at least the pension scheme. 'There is one person who brought this company down to the current state of ruin.' 'This person has wealth beyond the dreams of avarice and he should act.' The MPs' report found Sir Philip Green 'repeatedly' resisted requests from the trustees of the BHS pension scheme to pay more money into workers' pots to correct the 'massive deficit' and now has a 'moral duty' to so do. When Sir Philip bought BHS in 2000, the company pension schemes had a healthy surplus of 43million. Within six years the period when large dividends were paid to the Green family it had dipped into the red. By the time BHS was sold, in 2015, the shortfall was 350million. Now the black hole is 571million, meaning BHS's current and future pensioners 'face substantial cuts to their entitlements', said the report. 'Such contributions were not charitable donations,' said the MPs, saying it was the employer's legal obligation and he knew it. They added: 'We reject any assertion that Sir Philip was not aware of the growth of the deficit: he had a responsibility to be aware and he was aware. Sir Philip's failure until now to resolve the pension fund's problems contributed substantially to the demise of BHS, along with chronic under-investment and the systematic extraction of hundreds of millions of pounds from the increasingly ailing company.' MPs declared the billionaire had a 'moral duty' to help the 20,000 stricken members of the BHS company retirement schemes whose hard-earned pensions he put in jeopardy. Sir Philip Green 'repeatedly' resisted requests from the trustees of the BHS pension scheme to pay more money into workers' pots IS TOPSHOP NEXT? MP WARNING OVER SIR SHIFTY'S OTHER STORES Labour MP Frank Field today warned the pension deficit at Top Shop, still owned by Sir Philip Green, was rising fast. The Birkenhead MP, who co-chaired a damning inquiry into the BHS collapse, said an intervention should be made into the high street giant in light of the BHS disaster. He told the BBC: 'This person has plundered BHS and Arcadia. The Arcadia group of companies - their pension scheme is now also in deficit. 'Money beyond the dreams of avarice have gone up to the Green family and 11,000 workers are now going to hit the dole queues, 22,000 pensioners are actually suffering cuts.' Advertisement The Pensions Regulator did not escape criticism, either, as it was found to be too slow to respond to the looming crisis. For years, Sir Philip, 64, was funnelling money out of BHS for his own family, but refusing to properly fund the pension schemes for everyone else, says the damning report. It concluded: 'Sir Philip gave insufficient priority to the BHS pension scheme over an extended period. 'His failure to resolve its problems by now has contributed substantially to the demise of BHS. Sir Philip owes it to the BHS pensioners to find a resolution urgently. 'This will undoubtedly require him to make a large financial contribution. He has a moral duty to act, a duty which he acknowledges.' Work-based retirement schemes are overseen by a board of trustees, and chairman Dr Margaret Downes repeatedly expressed her concern to chief operating officer Paul Coackley. His response was that raising the firm's annual 6.5million contributions could not happen in a firm that was being 'stripped to the bone'. Company schemes are supposedly safeguarded by the Pensions Regulator but Sir Philip ran rings around the watchdog. When the tycoon put forward a 23-year plan to fix the deficit described as 'an extraordinary length of time' the cumbersome regulator took four months just to request more information. In November 2013, an alternative plan codenamed Project Thor was drawn up to restructure the pensions. Even though some of its proposals were dire, requiring the pensioners themselves to bear three-quarters of the cost of the restructure, Project Thor was a 'credible approach', the MPs' report said. But Sir Philip blocked it and the reason, the MPs concluded, was because he did not want the regulator to find out how much money he had funnelled from BHS to his family. The regulator had asked to see data on the dividends and payments between Sir Philip's companies going back to 2000. Sir Philip's failure to resolve the pension fund's problems contributed substantially to the demise of BHS, Sir Philip pictured with Chloe Green, Kate Moss and Nick Grimshaw The tycoon, concerned about the regulator's 'overly keen interest', ordered the project be 'paused'. Farcically, the excuses given were 'uncertainty over Scottish independence', 'global tensions, referencing Ukraine', and 'Christmas'. While Project Thor required the sign-off from the regulator, there was another option which did not flogging BHS to a buyer who would inherit the pension problem. In Dominic Chappell a twice-bankrupt chancer and his RAL group, Sir Philip found a buyer with a 'negligent and cavalier disregard for the risks and potential consequences' of taking on the pension deficit, the report said. Not that Sir Philip was taking any chances. According to the MPs: 'Sir Philip Green acted to conceal the true state of the BHS pension problem from RAL and its advisers.' Last night Lesley Titcomb, Pensions Regulator chief executive, promised to 'reflect on the findings of this report,' and said it was 'determined to achieve the best possible outcome for members of the BHS pension scheme'. A real back of an envelope deal! Serial bankrupt who bought BHS for 1 after scribbled calculations viewed the British store as a get-rich-quick deal and had his 'hand in the till' Dominic Chappell faces accusations of having his hands in the till during his tenure of BHS The serial bankrupt who took over BHS enriched himself to the tune of millions of pounds during his disastrous and short-lived stewardship, MPs conclude today. Dominic Chappell faces accusations of having his hands in the till during his tenure and that he, friends and directors at Retail Acquisitions Limited took money out of the firm for their personal gain as it crumbled around them. The scathing report, published today, says: RAL Board members exploited BHS for their personal gain and Dominic Chappell was the worst culprit. The suspicions of BHS managers that RAL were more intent on taking money from the business than investing in it were well founded. The report points to 11million charged to BHS in the form of salaries and fees. Mr Chappell, 49, controlled the doomed department store chain via his Retail Acquisitions company for just 14 months before it collapsed into administration in April. The select committee report describes him as a wholly unsuitable purchaser who personally enriched himself by taking out 4.1million. This included 2.6million in salary and fees as well as a 1.5million interest free loan, secured against his fathers house. None of these sums has been repaid. In a Newsnight interview earlier this month, Mr Chappell declared the 2.6million was a drip in the ocean but the report attacks his comment as an insult to the employees and pensioners of BHS that he let down. It lays bare the money that Mr Chappell and his associates took out of the high street chain including his attempt to buy flights for a family holiday in December last year on the company travel budget. He also asked for his salary to be paid early to pay for the trip. The payment was granted on the basis of hardship. The report goes on to say that Mr Chappell and his friends and business associates were enticed by the personal rewards on offer without having to take any personal risks. Even when arranging loans for their struggling company on extraordinary terms they could not resist taking substantial cuts for themselves. During the process of trying to secure funding to buy BHS last year, Mr Chappell attempted to undertake a series of property deals involving assets he expected to acquire from BHS and Sir Philip Greens family companies. MPs say this in no way demonstrated Dominic Chappells credibility as a purchaser of BHS. At best it demonstrated his capability as a would-be estate agent. Mr Chappell, who claims to be a former racing driver, also took a personal loan from BHS of 90,000 which was signed off by fellow director and finance boss Aidan Treacy in January just three months before the doomed chain was put into administration. Lady Green's STILL cashing in on BHS: Sir Philip 'fantastically enriched himself and his family' at the expense of employees and pensioners... and they are reaping rewards now Sir Philip Green fantastically enriched himself and his family to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds at the expense of doomed BHS employees and pensioners, an MPs report concludes today. Even as they enjoy the sunshine aboard their 100million superyacht, the disgraced tycoon and his wife Tina are still reaping bonanza payments from the remnants of their scuppered retail chain. The personal greed of the tax-avoiding couple starved the once-proud British store until it was on life support, say the MPs. Scroll down for video Vast wealth: Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina pictured aboard their new yacht, named Lionheart In a damning indictment, they say Sir Philip systematically extracted hundreds of millions of pounds, paying very little tax and fantastically enriching himself and his family while leaving the company and its pension fund weakened to the point of the inevitable collapse of both. The report, following an inquiry by the Commons work and pensions committee and the business, innovation and skills committee, says the Greens perfected a tax-lite mechanism for extracting cash through the sale of property. Incredibly, Lady Green, the ultimate beneficiary of their vast wealth, is still striking the jackpot, thanks to an elaborate arrangement involving the Greens loaning money between their companies. She is still being paid tens of millions of pounds of tax-free repayments on the loan that was engineered to sell BHS from one Green family business to another, and will be for some years to come, say the MPs. Sir Philip bought British Home Stores in 2000. By 2009 it was enmeshed in a complex web of his companies, many registered offshore, with Lady Green as the ultimate owner. The Japanese capital of Tokyo is among one of the most expensive cities in the world according to a recent study by TripAdvisor. In fact, only a trip to the notoriously expensive New York will cost more according to the travel reviews site. But now TripAdvisor has revealed the highly rated places where you can stay, eat and visit without blowing your budget, which means that the cost of a three-night trip for two could be less than 1,500, including flights. Flying there The Japanese city of Tokyo is among one of the most expensive cities in the world according to a recent study by TripAdvisor Several airlines fly to Tokyo and the routes with stopovers tend to be a lot cheaper than direct flights. For travel dates leaving London on September 9 and returning September 12, SriLankan Airlines offers flights for as little as 488 with a stopover in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Air India costs slightly more at 508 with a stopover in New Delhi, India. Direct flights are also available through the likes of British Airways, Japan Airlines and the country's flagship carrier ANA but costs could double or even treble. Where to stay Travellers recommended Hotel Niwa Tokyo (pictured), which costs an average of 109 per night, as it was extremely quiet - particularly on the higher floors Many of the previous guests at Richmond Hotel Asakusa (pictured) commented that the property has great views and it costs around 126 per night Guests at Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Oshiage (pictured), where rooms cost an average of 113 per night, recommended trying to get a room on a higher floor HIGHLY RATED HOTELS FOR LESS THAN 130 PER NIGHT Richmond Hotel Asakusa bookable for an average of 126 per night. A TripAdvisor reviewer said, 'This is unequivocally an excellent hotel, and real value for money. In a great location, it has reasonably spacious rooms, comfortable beds, excellent free breakfasts, genuinely helpful reception staff (on all occasions) - and thus overall a splendid experience.' Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Oshiage bookable for an average of 113 per night. A TripAdvisor reviewer said: 'Best service, awesome location (market downstairs, subway across the street, Skytree tower/mall across the street) and great price and spacious and comfortable rooms.' Hotel Niwa Tokyo bookable for an average of 109 per night. A TripAdvisor reviewer said, 'Hotel Niwa has turned into my favourite hotel in Tokyo and doesn't disappoint. Warm ambiance, modern amenities, great service and staff. Excellent value for the price and the hotel exceeds its star rating.' Ryokan Sawanoya - bookable for an average of 40 per night A TripAdvisor reviewer commented on Ryokan Sawanoya, 'This was our first experience with Japanese style rooms and it did not disappoint. A lovely authentic experience in a quiet but convenient location.' Advertisement According to TripAdvisor, the average nightly rate in Tokyo is 201, based on prices for 4 and 4.5 star properties from June 20 through September 30 this year. But there are numerous properties that offer comparable service at a snip of the cost. For example, many of the previous guests at Richmond Hotel Asakusa commented that the property has great views and it costs around 126 per night. Guests at Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Oshiage, where rooms cost an average of 113 per night, recommended trying to get a room on a higher floor. Travellers also recommended Hotel Niwa Tokyo, which costs an average of 109 per night, as it was extremely quiet - particularly on the higher floors. For a really authentic Japanese experience, TripAdvisor recommends staying in a ryokan - a Japanese-style inn. Ryokan Sawanoya, located near to Ueno Park, is a traditional family-run inn and was named among Japan's top 10 inns in the 2016 Travellers' Choice Awards. Where to eat TripAdvisor users loved Ichiran in the ward of Shibuya, praising it for its ramen (noodle) dishes. One of its dishes is pictured above Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro, a few minutes walk from Senso-ji temple in Taito, specialises in Japanese pancakes (pictured), which are cooked in front of you Another highly rated restaurant in Shibuya is Harajuku Gyozaro, which specialises in gyoza, or Japanese dumplings (pictured) HIGHLY RATED RESTAURANTS WHERE MEALS COST UNDER 8 Ichiran, Shibuya 4.5 out of 5 bubble rating on TripAdvisor A TripAdvisor traveller said, 'We heard a lot about Ichiran from our friends before coming to Tokyo and it didn't disappoint us! The ramen broth was delicious and had us slurping away. The ramen itself was chewy and the chashu tender. The price is also very affordable and is a great value for money. Definitely one of the best ramen I've ever had!' Harajuku Gyozaro 4.5 out of 5 bubble rating on TripAdvisor A TripAdvisor traveller said, 'The best gyoza in Tokyo!! Great value for money, very young, street corner atmosphere' Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro 4.5 out of 5 bubble rating on TripAdvisor A TripAdvisor traveller said, 'If you have yet to try Okonomiyaki, this is the place to go: honest prices, nice atmosphere, and I guarantee you'll be stuffed!' Advertisement Tokyo is noted for its culinary offering, especially with its reputation as the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants. But while there are plenty of high-end gourmet options to choose from, there are also many less expensive alternatives as well. TripAdvisor users loved Ichiran in the ward of Shibuya, praising it for its ramen (noodle) dishes. The quirky restaurant has a traffic light system that lets you know when a booth is free and the mini booths are only big enough for a maximum of two people. Another highly rated restaurant in Shibuya is Harajuku Gyozaro, which specialises in gyoza, or Japanese dumplings. Guests particularly enjoyed the casual atmosphere and the restaurant's 'goma' sauce. Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro, a few minutes walk from Senso-ji temple in Taito, is a holder of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. The restaurant specialises in Japanese pancakes, which are cooked in front of you. Where to visit In the Asakusa neighbourhood, you'll be able to visit the Senso-Ji Buddhist Temple (pictured) and explore the local shops and restaurants that the area offers One of the most famous attractions is perhaps Uneno Park (pictured in autumn) in Taito, where locals flock to during spring for its cherry blossoms If you want to learn more about Japan's ancient religion, Shintoism, head to Meiji Jingu. Pictured are the wishing cards left by visitors There are plenty of cultural experiences in Tokyo, which are completely free of charge. One of the most famous is perhaps Uneno Park in Taito, where locals flock to during spring for its cherry blossoms. The park is also home to a number of the city's main museums, including the Tokyo National Museum. In the Asakusa neighbourhood, you'll be able to visit the Senso-Ji Buddhist Temple and explore the local shops and restaurants that the area offers. If you want to learn more about Japan's ancient religion, Shintoism, head to Meiji Jingu. Advertisement Son Bunyola, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, has become the latest property to join Virgin Limited Edition - Sir Richard Branson's collection of luxury retreats. The estate, dating back to the 1800s, comprises of two newly opened villas - Sa Punta De SAguila and Sa Terra Rotja - set within 700 acres of grounds featuring grape vines and olive trees. Situated near the Tramuntana mountain range, on the north-west coast of the island, the properties offer stunning views of their rural surrounding as well as the ocean. Son Bunyola, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, has become the latest property to join Virgin Limited Edition - Sir Richard Branson's collection of luxury retreats. Pictured is villa Sa Punta de SAguila Each of the properties has its own private heated pool. Pictured is the one at Sa Punta de SAguila, offering views of the mountains Sa Punta De SAguila, meaning Eagles Point in Spanish, is built in the traditional Mallorcan-style. It has five en-suite bedrooms, kitchen, living and dining area (pictured) All of the rooms come with under-floor heating so you'll never be cold. Pictured is one of the five rooms at Sa Punta De SAguila Situated near the Tramuntana mountain range, on the north-west coast of the island, the properties offer stunning views of their rural surrounding as well as the ocean. Above, a hammock outside Sa Punta De SAguila Sa Punta De SAguila, meaning Eagles Point in Spanish, is built in the traditional Mallorcan-style. It's situated relatively high up so there's panoramic views of the sea and the mountain. There's five en-suite bedrooms, a heated swimming pool, kitchen, living and dining area. A seven night break at the property will set you back at least 21,825 (18,266) - more during high season. Sa Terra Rotja (pictured above), translated from the local Mallorqui language to mean red earth, has a starting rate of 17,460 (14,613) for seven nights The estate itself dates back to the 1800s and is set within 700 acres of grounds. Above, an outdoor living area at Sa Punta De SAguila Son Bunyola joins an exclusive collection of luxury retreats from Sir Richard Branson, which includes Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, and Ulusaba in South Africa. Above, another view from Sa Punta De SAguila Sa Terra Rotja, translated from the local Mallorqui language to mean red earth, has a starting rate of 17,460 (14,613) for seven nights. There's only four en-suite bedrooms but it has its own heated pool, and outdoor dining space as well. It's also just a short walk from a pebble beach. Rental for both properties includes all drinks, meals, concierge and housekeeping services and wifi. Gourmands will be happy to know that after a continental breakfast and a buffet lunch, the dinner is a three-course sit-down affair. All the menus can be tailored to your tastes or you can try the local Mallorcan or Mediterranean-style dishes. There's also the possibility of visiting some of the local restaurants and the in-house concierge can arrange just about everything you might need. Son Bunyola joins an exclusive collection of luxury retreats from Sir Richard Branson, which includes Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, and Ulusaba in South Africa. You might not want to leave but there's also the possibility of visiting some of the local restaurants. Above, Sa Punta De SAguila The in-house concierge can arrange just about everything you might need. Above, one of the five bedrooms at Sa Punta De SAguila Sa Terra Rotja only has four en-suite bedrooms (one is pictured above) but it has its own heated pool, and outdoor dining space as well Sa Terra Rotja is close to the edge of the estate and is within walking distance to the pebble beach. Pictured, one of the bedrooms with a view of the ocean Guests can relax and sunbathe in the generous terrace areas by the private heated pools of each property. Pictured is Sa Punta De SAguila She's known for her penchant of designer clothing, which she's been showing off since her time on My Kitchen Rules. And as Zana Pali stepped out on Saturday night, on the arm of her husband Gianni Romano, she put her best designer foot forward at the Results Based Training Ball in Melbourne. The 25-year-old former reality TV star flashed plenty of leg in a stunning emerald green gown by Australian designer Con Ilio, which featured a sultry thigh-high split to reveal her right leg. Scroll down for video Thigh's the limit! Zana Pali channeled Angelina Jolie as she flashed plenty of leg in a stunning emerald green gown as she attended the Results Based Training Ball in Melbourne on Saturday night The gown featured a heavily embroidered bodice with a floral design and fringing across the top of her shoulders. An elegant train swept around her ankles as she posed in a way that showed plenty of her right leg, as the racy split hit quite high on the thigh, reminiscent of Angelina Jolie's now infamous Oscars look in 2012. The beauty placed her hands on her hips to flash two stunning cocktail rings, one worn on each hand for some added sparkle to her look. Leggy lady: The 25-year-old former reality television star was joined by her on-screen partner and real life husband, Ginanni Romano at the charity event Loving: Meanwhile, the 27-year-old looked dapper in a crisp black suit finished with a simple bow tie and adoringly planted a kiss on his wife's cheek as they posed together Zana wore her brunette locks styled into a sophisticated up do and for make-up went with a simple glamorous look that showcased her naturally striking features. The beauty finished her look with a pair of patent nude-coloured Christian Louboutin platform pumps, paired with a matching patent Louis Vuitton clutch. Meanwhile, Gianni looked dapper in a crisp black suit finished with a simple bow tie and adoringly planted a kiss on his wife's cheek as they posed together. Luxurious touch: The beauty finished her look with a pair of nude-coloured patents Christian Louboutin platform pumps paired with a matching patent Louis Vuitton clutch Strike a pose: During the night the pair cosied up together and posed for selfies after polishing off their meals at the charity ball During the night the pair cosied up together and posed for selfies after polishing off their meals at the charity ball. Zana, who works as a lawyer appears to be pursuing a socialite lifestyle since finding fame on the reality TV series and is regularly seen out at events in Melbourne with her husband. The couple also launched their own lifestyle and food blog on Instagram called Snobs In The City after their time on My Kitchen Rules. The look of love: Zana and Gianni posed up a storm together as they arrived and put on an amorous display showing off their affections for each other Harry Potter fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of JK Rowling's spin-off Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them since it was announced the author would be making her screenwriting debut back in 2013. And the latest trailer unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday gives Rowling devotees their best sneak peek before the film is released in November later this year. The preview opens with the destruction wreaked on a New York street by devilish magical creatures, before sweeping to scenes depicting Eddie Redmayne arriving in the city on a steamer ship. Dramatic: The latest trailer unveiled at this year's San Diego Comic-Con gives Rowling devotees their best sneak peek before Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is released in November The 34-year-old Brit plays Newt Scamander - the future author of the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them used at Hogwarts and a Ministry of Magic employee. As the camera pans over the Hudson and inside mysterious buildings, a voice over is heard saying: 'There are strange things going on all over the city and the people behind this are not like you and me.' Viewers are treated to some impressive CGI as a few of the fantastic beasts are seen escaping from Scamander's vintage suitcase, before they cause havoc. The trailer reaches a climax as Eddie's character stands, wand in hand, with a row of armed police behind him, and says somewhat nervously: 'Don't panic there's absolutely nothing to worry about.' Impressive: The preview opens with the destruction wreaked on a New York street before sweeping to scenes depicting Eddie Redmayne arriving in the city on a steamer ship Unbelievable: Viewers are treated to some impressive CGI as some of the fantastic beasts are seen escaping from Scamander's vintage suitcase before they cause havoc between the wizarding and muggle worlds Tense: The trailer reaches a climax as Eddie's character stands, wand in hand, with a row of armed police behind him, and says somewhat nervously: 'Don't panic there's absolutely nothing to worry about.' At which point the street is ripped up before their very eyes as one of the magical creatures hurtles menacingly towards them. The accompanying film poster depicts Scamander entering the Magical Congress of the United States of America, also known as MACUSA. Using the same infamous typography in the Harry Potter films, the poster entices fans with the words: 'JK Rowling invites you to a new era of the wizarding world.' Nervous: The 34-year-old Brit plays Newt Scamander - the future author of the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them used at Hogwarts and a Ministry of Magic employee Destruction: Colin Farrell as Percival Graves also makes an appearance in the new trailer MACUSA, located magically hidden inside the Woolworth building, is the American equivalent of the Ministry of Magic. Eddie is carrying a glowing wand in one hand and his suitcase in the other - which exposes a pair of tiny creature claws trying to find its way out. The film focuses on Scamander's life in New York and is set in the 1920s, 70 years before the events that occur in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Promo time: The trailer was released to coincide with the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Presentation during Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday The gang's all here: An all-star lineup includes (L-R) Colin Farrell, Alison Sudol, Eddie , Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler Big test: The cast, which also included Ezra Miller (far right) and director David Yates (far left) faced questions from mega Potter fans The wizard is the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a textbook Harry has to read while attending Hogwarts. The book is required on the syllabus for students of Hogwarts and contains descriptions of 85 magical creatures. An all-star lineup is featured including Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). Inspektor patronus: The English actor also showed off his wand skills at the panel event Making magic: The auditorium of fans roared as the 34-year-old waved the wand around Feeling blue: The actor wore head-to-toe blue for his day of movie promotion The new image also includes two characters that fans knew would be in the film but hadn't seen an image of in past trailers - Mary Lou (Samantha Morton) and Credence (Ezra Miller). As the trailer was released the cast made an appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, on Saturday. The cast, which also included Ezra Miller and director David Yates faced questions from mega Potter fans. Say cheese! Eddie also showed off his mass selfie skills as he tried to snap a picture with all his fans Needed a hand: The actor had to recruit moderator and funnyman Conan O'Brien to help get the right photo Looks pretty good: The end result was both impressive and funny, with the actor pulling a odd face Eddie's ladies: The Englishmen was surrounded by beauty and talent posing up with Alison and Katherine Eddie also showed off his wand skills and mass selfie skills as he tried to snap a picture with all his fans. The actor had to recruit moderator and funnyman Conan O'Brien to help him get the right picture. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is scheduled to hit theatres on November 18. Double duty: Eddie also stopped by SiriusXM's Entertainment Weekly Radio Channel Broadcast Former Home And Away star Tessa James has opened up about her battle with cancer, saying she hit such a low point during her chemotherapy treatment that she wanted to die. The Australian actress, 25, spoke about how she suffered a panic attack as she struggled to come to terms with her Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis at the age of 23. Tessa, who is married to NRL player Nate Myles, said she found the inner-strength to fight the disease after realising she could not just sit around feeling sorry for herself. Scroll down for video Recovery: Former Home And Away star Tessa James has opened up about the low points during her battle with cancer 'I hit a point where I didn't know what I was doing, why I was here, what was happening, where my life was going,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I thought I knew. I was 23, and all this bad stuff was happening. I tried to spiritually find why. I got through it because I had to get through it. 'What was the other option? To sit and feel sorry for myself? I think I had to hit that low point, to be in so much pain and so upset and so traumatised, to then have that sense of empowerment again: I can get through this.' Battle: The Australian actress, 25, spoke about how she suffered a panic attack as she struggled to come to terms with her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis at the age of 23 Strength: Tessa, who is married to NRL player Nate Myles (pictured together), said she found the inner-strength to fight the disease after realising she could not just sit around feeling sorry for herself Her husband told the publication he found it 'frightening' watching Tessa go downhill during her chemotherapy treatment. Nate described feeling helpless when he saw that she could barely walk after her sessions. Tessa was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer that affects the blood - in September 2014 after discovering a lump above her collarbone. She underwent six months of chemotherapy, facing a similar challenge to that of her father who was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma two years previously. Brave: Tessa was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer that affects the blood - in September 2014 after discovering a lump above her collarbone Treatment: She underwent six months of chemotherapy and made a remarkable recovery The actress made a remarkable recovery and it has now been more than a year since her last treatment. Tessa said her brutal battle with disease has helped her appreciate the value of time. Determined to make it in Hollywood, James said she is focused on working hard because there are so many others factors she cannot control. Tessa - who left Channel 7's Home And Away in 2011 - will soon make her return to the small screen later this year on Spin Out - her first big role since recovering from cancer in 2015. Seeing the positive side: Tessa said her brutal battle with disease has helped her appreciate the value of time The Melbourne native currently splits her time between LA and Sydney, where her partner plays for the Manly Sea Eagles. In her interview with the publication, she also discussed her plans for the future. She said they would be leaving the possibility of extending their family down to fate, saying: 'Whatever in that space is meant to happen, will happen.' For the past five weeks, they have been constantly at each other's side. But on Saturday Tom Hiddleston showed up at Comic-Con in San Diego without girlfriend Taylor Swift from whom he's been inseparable since they went public with their romance five weeks ago. The British actor, 35, was at the fan event to promote his upcoming film Kong: Skull Island scheduled for release in March 2017, and posed up a storm with co-star Brie Larson. Scroll down for video Posing up a storm: On Saturday Tom Hiddleston showed up at Comic-Con in San Diego without girlfriend Taylor Swift and posed up a storm with co-star Brie Larson The acting duo posed up a storm on the red carpet, looking like they were having a whale of a time. Brie, 26, oozed effortless glamour in two outfit changes. Appearing on the presentation panel alongside Tom, the actress wore a stylish off-the-shoulder bardot top tucked into cropped wide-leg navy trousers and delicate black strappy sandals. Glam: Co-stars The British actor, 35, was at the fan event to promote his upcoming film Kong: Skull Island scheduled for release in March 2017 and posed alongside glam Brie, 26 Fun: The acting duo posed up a storm on the red carpet, looking like they were having a whale of a time Glam: Appearing on the presentation panel alongside Tom, Brie wore a stylish off-the-shoulder bardot top tucked into cropped wide-leg navy trousers and delicate black strappy sandals Wearing her brunette hair loose around her face, she beamed as she answered eager questions from the audience. Later she upped the glitz-factor in an emerald-green plunging chic jumpsuit which was cinched in at the waist, showing off a hint of cleavage. Pairing it with wedged black killer heels, she upgraded he natural make-up with a bold red lip. Changing it up: Later she upped the glitz-factor in an emerald-green plunging chic jumpsuit which was cinched in at the waist, showing off a hint of cleavage Excited: Pairing it with wedged black killer heels, she upgraded he natural make-up with a bold red lip Beaming, she posed alongside The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira and waved excitedly at crowds. Also delighting his fans with an array of waves and salutes was heartthrob Tom. The British star looked smart as he took to the stage in a stylish ensemble. Hot: Also delighting his fans with an array of waves and salutes was heartthrob Tom Busy: Hiddleston attended the mega fan event after flying back from Australia where he's filming Thor: Ragnarok Monster hunter: Tom put in an appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday where he promoted his movie Kong: Skull Island Hiddleston attended the mega fan event after flying back from Australia where he's filming Thor: Ragnarok. He arrived in LA with Taylor who had joined him on the Queensland set. But his hot new romance was clearly off limits to reporters during his Comic-Con appearance and the subject didn't come up either during the cast panel Saturday afternoon. Solo: The actor, 35, was in excellent spirits as he took the stage at the fan festival in one of his rare recent appearances without girlfriend Taylor Swift at his side No personal questions: The Night Manager star answered lots of questions about his film but his romantic life was clearly off limits Did have female company though: Hiddleston was joined at the event by co-star Brie Larson who joins him on the monster-hunting journey The Night Manager star looked refreshed and happy as he took to the stage in a light gray long-sleeve pocket shirt and dark blue jeans. His hair was gelled back from his forehead and he displayed just a touch of designer stubble. Hiddleston told Deadline.com Saturday that the fan festival represents some of his 'fondest memories in the last five years.' The British actor revealed he has fond memories of Comic-Con where he first made an appearance alongside his Thor director Kenneth Branagh in 2010 and where he delighted fans in 2013 by arriving in character as Loki 'It was really the first place I ever spoke about Loki. My first trip was back in 2010 with Kenneth Branaghs Thor when I was a whippersnapper,' he said. Three years later, at 2013 Comic-Con, the actor delighted fans by turning up as Loki. Describing it as 'an unprecedented moment for me,' Hiddleston recalled: 'It was more fun than should be allowed. Partly because its so rare that you get to play a character from film in a live context and theres this theatrical cosmic fascist standing onstage being cheered by seven thousand people and we all loved it.' She recently revealed she was battling cervical cancer at the young age of 28 and credits her estranged husband with saving her life - as he was the one who made her go to her GP. Following a lifesaving operation to remove her cervix, Jessica Knowles has been full of praise for her estranged husband Nick who she credits with helping her through the emotional time. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, she said of her husband of three years: 'Hes still there for me but its hard. Im really sad we split.' Scroll down for video On the mend: Jessica Knowles recently revealed she was battling cervical cancer at the young age of 28 The couple - who announced their separation in January - share a son, and insist their split was amicable. 'The BBC gave him time off. He comes over and cooks me food. He's even planted flowers in the garden as he wanted me to be surrounded by colour.' Whilst she confessed she struggled to come to terms with their split, the bubbly blonde graciously admitted that she just wanted him to be cheerful, as she explained: 'If Nick met someone and was happy, Id be happy. I have so much respect and time for him.' Split: Jessica was married to DIY SOS host Nick Knowles, and announced their separation earlier this year. Despite splitting, the pair have remained amicable, and attended a premiere together in April The fitness guru, who has a one-year-old son, revealed she had cancer earlier this month, and two weeks ago she had a radical trachelectomy keyhole surgery to remove the cervix. The star also had her diseased lymph nodes were cut out, and will be able to have more children after the operation. In her blog for Hello! magazine, entitled 'With sadness...', she announced her diagnosis, writing: 'After a brief period of being unwell I was unfortunately diagnosed, this week, with cervical cancer.' Healing: Jessica revealed she was struggling to come to terms with her break up but wished her estranged husband nothing but happiness in the future She continued: 'Following on from a difficult year it has forced me to put a lot of things into perspective and really brought to light what matters; my health and Eddie. 'I am going to use this time to focus solely on my health and use all spare energy to make sure Eddies home life remains as happy and normal as positive. 'I have been so overwhelmed with love from friends and family and am a huge believer in "things happening for a reason", and this will undoubtedly be a huge time of learning for me. 'Mostly Im grateful and feeling incredibly lucky that it has been caught early and we are hopeful I can be treated with surgery.' Coming to terms: In a poignant blog and social media post, Jessica said she received her cervical cancer diagnosis earlier this week but is hopeful she can be treated with surgery The pretty blonde also shared the news on her Instagram page accompanied by a sweet montage of snaps with her fans, and was inundated with messages of support and well wishes. As a result of her diagnosis, the star said she would be signing off from social media for the time being, writing: 'So, for a brief while, Im switching off - from blogging and social media to be present with friends and family and to get better - before finishing off what will undoubtedly be an amazing year (Im due a f***ing break :P ). 'Sending everyone a huge cyber hug and I hope that youll continue to join me on my blogging journeys when Im back. Jessica x.' Separated: Jessica and Nick wed in Rome in September 2012, and announced their separation in January, citing that their 'focus continues to be the happiness of our son Eddie' Amicable: Jessica has continued to share snaps of her estranged husband on social media with their son, suggesting their separation has been amicable whilst they put their son's needs first Jessica and Nick announced their separation earlier this year. Despite splitting, the pair have remained amicable, and attended the Golden Years premiere together in April. The pair wed in Rome in September 2012, and announced their separation in January, citing that their 'focus continues to be the happiness of our son Eddie.' The couple first met when Jessica's parents asked Nick - the host of DIY SOS and 5 Star Family Reunion - to help kick-start her career in 2009, and romance blossomed despite their 25 year age gap. Nick - who also has three grown-up children, Charles, TJ and Tuesday with his ex-wife - and Jessica had relocated to Spain in 2014 in an attempt to maintain a healthier lifestyle. She gave birth to her first baby four months ago. But Australian actress Emilie de Ravin looks as though she has already snapped back to shape as she showed off her incredible post pregnancy figure at Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday. The Once Upon A Time star flaunted her cleavage in a plunging navy top with delicate spaghetti straps when she hit the red carpet for the first time since welcoming her baby daughter Vera Audrey. Snapped back into shape: Emilie de Ravin showed off her incredible post pregnancy figure at Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday She paired the low-cut top with a striped, billowing knee-length skirt which flattered her figure. With her blonde cropped locks styled in loose waves to one side, Emilie added extra impact to her look with a feline slick of eyeliner as she attended the star-studded event in California, U.S. She added a hint of sparkle with diamond studded earrings and completed her look with grey suede platform stiletto heels. Busty: The Once Upon A Time star flaunted her cleavage in a plunging navy top with delicate spaghetti straps Flattering: She paired the low-cut top with a striped, billowing knee-length skirt which flattered her figure Emilie was joined on the Once Upon a Time panel by her co-stars Jennifer Morrison, Colin ODonoghue and Lana Parrilla The actress also flashed her beautiful diamond engagement ring - just two weeks after announcing her engagement to film director Eric Bilitch. Emilie was joined on the Once Upon a Time panel by her co-stars Jennifer Morrison, Colin ODonoghue, Josh Dallas and Lana Parrilla. The cast and creators revealed that Aladdin and Jafar will be coming to Storybrooke in season 6. Emilie was later seen posing for a selfie at the event with her former Lost co-stars Rebecca Mader and Ian Somerhalder. Blonde beauty: With her blonde cropped locks styled in loose waves to one side, Emilie added extra impact to her look with a feline slick of eyeliner as she attended the star-studded event in California, U.S Cute couple: The 34-year-old welcomed her first baby with Eric in March, pictured in November 2015 The 34-year-old welcomed her first baby with Eric in March. She shared the news on Twitter, saying: 'Welcome to the big wide world! Vera Audrey de Ravin-Bilitch born March 12th 2016. Couldn't be happier! So in love with our little girl!' Emilie also shared an adorable snap showing her tot's tiny toes peeking out from underneath a blanket. All smiles! Emilie (left) was joined by her Once Upon A Time co-stars Josh Dallas (centre) and Lana Parrilla (right) Listening intently: The cast revealed details of new characters Aladdin and Jafar joining the series in Season Six Tender moment: Jennifer and Colin shared a tender moment on-stage as she place a kiss on his head 'Hi, Vera,' the Once Upon A Time star wrote in the caption. The actress was pictured with her newborn daughter Vera in public for the first time while on a family holiday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last month. She was seen cuddling the baby girl who looked adorable in a pink romper and matching bow. She is no stranger to impressing at her endless fundraisers and benefits. And Princess Charlene of Monaco was clearly the star of the show once again at the 68th annual Red Cross Gala on Saturday. The 38-year-old Monegasque royal arrived at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on the arm of her husband Prince Albert II, who - as tradition dictates - opened the ball. Scroll down for video Stunning: Princess Charlene of Monaco was the star of the show at the 68th annual Red Cross Gala on Saturday Wearing a stunning floor-length purple evening gown, the Zimbabwean-born former Olympic swimmer looked every inch the perfect princess. She added serious sparkle to her ensemble with a pair of weighty drop diamond earrings and a matching bracelet. And she accessorised with a dazzling silver clutch to hold her essentials for the evening and held a posy of bright orange and yellow flowers. Framing her radiant complexion were her highlighted blonde tresses, which were worn pushed back in her trademark quiff. Elegant: The 38-year-old Monegasque royal arrived at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on the arm of her husband Prince Albert II, who - as tradition dictates - opened the annual ball Glamorous: Wearing a stunning floor-length purple evening gown, the Zimbabwean-born former Olympic swimmer looked every inch the perfect princess Refined: She added serious sparkle to her ensemble with a pair of weighty drop diamond earrings and a matching bracelet Waving to the crowd: The princess accessorised with a dazzling silver clutch to hold her essentials for the evening and held a posy of bright orange and yellow flowers Prince Albert was dapper in his favourite white dinner jacket worn with a smart black bow tie and a lapel ribbon. Hundreds of dignitaries and stars from the worlds of art, charity and politics sat down for a sumptuous dinner in aid of the charity. Princess Charlene appeared entirely at ease as she chatted happily to her neighbours during the meal. Pleased to meet you! The royals are introduced to a waiting dignitary at the prestigious annual event Looking good: Her highlighted blonde tresses were worn pushed back in her trademark quiff, framing her radiant complexion Taking a moment: The prince and princess smiled as they readied themselves for the evening ahead Dapper: Prince Albert wore his favourite white dinner jacket worn with a smart black bow tie and a lapel ribbon. First thrown in 1948 by the young Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the gala is now hosted every year by the Monegasque royals to raise money for the The Monaco Red Cross and humanitarian causes. Now in its 68th year, the Gala de la Croix-Rouge regularly draws Monaco's finest and wealthiest as its guests. The royal couple, who open the ball each year, have been married for four years and have 19-month-old twins Gabriella and Jacques. No surprises! The royal couple have been to numerous royal functions and galas as a married couple Enjoying herself: Hundreds of dignitaries and stars from the worlds of art, charity and politics sat down for a sumptuous dinner in aid of the charity Much to say: Princess Charlene appeared entirely at ease as she chatted happily to her neighbours during the meal Composed: The prince and princess appeared more than happy to pose for photographs by the world's media The births of the young prince and princess were greeted with cannon fire and an excited outpouring of joy from locals, as well as sighs of relief within the royal family. The arrival of Prince Jaques meant that a legitimate male heir to the throne had finally arrived, putting an end to one of Europe's longest-running dynastic sagas. Although Prince Albert has two other children Jazmin, 22, and Alexandre Coste, 11, neither are eligible to inherit the throne of Monaco because they were born out of wedlock. Beaming: Princess Charlene held her posy, which showed off her fabulous diamond engagement ring This way! First thrown in 1948 by the young Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the gala is now hosted every year by the Monegasque royals to raise money for the The Monaco Red Cross and humanitarian causes Shes been on more than 100 dates, broke off an engagement, and stripped almost nude for a gaggle of lads mags. But Bachelor hopeful Kirralee Kiki Morris insists she is a genuine, caring and kind person who is incapable of faking it, and her haters will soon be eating their words. They might see me as a bimbo because of my previous work in the media and I have worked as a model before, but there is so much more to me, she told the Daily Telegraph in an interview published on Sunday. Scroll down for video 'I'm not a bimbo!' Bachelor hopeful Kirralee Kiki Morris insists she is a genuine, caring and kind person who is incapable of faking it, and her haters will soon be eating their words when they see her on the show The busty blonde has previously won Miss Australia, Miss Yacht Model and RALPH Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year and graced the covers of lads mags Zoo, Romp and Playboy. But despite appearing in racy shoots in the weeks since filming for the reality dating show ended, the 28-year-old said another side of her would become apparent. This includes being an animal rights activist with multiple sponsor children because she likes to put aside my own material lifestyle and think about making the world better for others. There is no faking it with me. I could not be calculated or false if I tried, it just isnt in my character, she said. Glamour: The busty blonde has won Miss Australia, Miss Yacht Model and RALPH Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year and graced the covers of Zoo (pictured), Romp and Playboy Kiki has since become an executive assistant and claimed she turned down a dream job to try to find love on The Bachelor after years of heartbreak, and said all the contestants were there for the right reasons. The Sydneysider claimed all the girls on the show got along really well, despite competing for hunky rope technician Richie Strahan, and viewers shouldn't expect any catfights. This is despite Daily Mail Australia last year revealing producers typically masterminded conflict, to make for dramatic TV, through sleep and food deprivation. Racy: The former Telstra worker and waitress appeared in the now-defunct Zoo magazine completely nude, covering herself with a towel and strategic camera angles and arm placing In an accompanying video, Kirralee lays down on a bed as she pouts seductively at the camera in the clip titled: 'Kiki Morris: "I pretty much walk around the house NUDE."' 'They (producers) don't like the girls being friends and one day told them, "You're boring, you're not here to make friends, you're here to find love", an insider claimed. Kiki on Thursday revealed she has gone to great lengths to find love and had been engaged once before, though it was an ill-fated band-aid to save the relationship. 'I've probably been on 100 dates and have gone through bad relationships and bad break-ups,' she told OK! Magazine. Serious about love: Followoing her modelling days, Kiki has since become an executive assistant and claimed she turned down a dream job to try to find love on The Bachelor after years of heartbreak She now wants to settle down and have kids, even offering to move to Richies home town of Perth if it works out between them, saying it was a good place to raise a family. 'A lot of people have stopped putting their relationships ahead of their careers and I am probably one of those people,' she said for her Bachelor profile. 'Its about time I stopped compromising real life interaction for material things.' The former Telstra worker and waitress appeared in the now-defunct Zoo magazine completely nude, covering herself with a towel and strategic camera angles and arm placing. Unlucky: Kiki on Thursday revealed she has gone to great lengths to find love and had been engaged once before, though it was an ill-fated band-aid to save the relationship In an accompanying video, Kirralee lays down on a bed as she pouts seductively at the camera in the clip titled: 'Kiki Morris: "I pretty much walk around the house NUDE."' The busty babe as recently as May appeared on the cover of Romp, posing seductively in a white bralet which barely covered her ample assets. Viewers will be able to judge for themselves when The Bachelor finally kicks off at 7.30pm Wednesday on Channel 10. Australian actor Jai Courtney has recently talked about bulking up for the film Suicide Squad. And on Saturday, the 30-year-old actor showed off his buff build and muscular arms in a tight blue shirt at Comic-Con in Los Angeles. The Sydney-born star attended the event with Will Smith and was spotted making his way into The Conan Show during the event, before signing autographs for fans. Scroll down for video Looking fit! Australian actor Jai Courtney showed off his buff build and muscular arms in a tight blue shirt at Comic-Con in Los Angeles on Saturday Jai - who hails from Cherrybrook - looked sharp in a short sleeve blue collared shirt that showed off his arm tattoos and bulging biceps. He teamed the look with dark grey trousers and sported a five o'clock shadow. Will meanwhile wore an army-inspired khaki shirt with black stars and white flowers on it, paired with cream trousers. In good company: The Sydney-born star attended the event with Will Smith and was spotted making his way into The Conan Show during the event, before signing autographs for fans Hollywood hunk! Jai - who hails from Cherrybrook - looked sharp in a short sleeve blue collared shirt that showed off his arm tattoos and bulging biceps The duo appeared in high spirits, smiling and laughing on the day. In the flick, Jai plays the character of Captain Boomerang, while Will plays the character Floyd Lawton, or Deadshot. The flick centres on a bunch of supervillians working for the government in a bid for their freedom. Suicide Squad: In the flick, Jai plays the character of Captain Boomerang, (R, front row) while Will plays the character Floyd Lawton, or Deadshot (R, back row) Doing his thing: The star appeased fans when he signed autographs Jai recently told Haute Living San Francisco about bulking up for the role. He told the publication: 'I did a lot of Olympic lifting and heavy circuit work...a crazy nutritional regimen that included a lot of flesh, a lot of protein.' He added: 'It was one of those things that was exhausting at first, for example, getting up and eating oatmeal, chicken breasts, and six eggs the very first thing in the morning.' Putting on enough mass to bulk up to a total 230 pounds, or 104kgs, the star was happy with the success of the 'experiment'. Putting in the work: Jai recently told Haute Living San Francisco about bulking up for the role, saying he'd start his day with six eggs, chicken breasts and oatmeal She put her heart on the line during her time on the social experiment reality television series Married At First Sight. And while things didn't work out for Simone Lee Brennan and her partner Xavier Forzzy, the beauty celebrated her birthday with a mystery man on Saturday. The 30-year-old snapped a selfie with what is believed to be the new man in her life flashing bright smiles as they looked at the camera. Scroll down for video Happy Birthday! While things didn't work out for Simone Lee Brennan and her partner Xavier Forzzy on Married At First Sight the beauty celebrated her birthday with a mystery man on Saturday Simone shared the picture with her 22,3000 followers on Instagram writing: 'Thirty years in the making. Let the celebrations begin!' In the image the man who she refers to as 'J' stood behind her dressed in a chequered shirt layered under a denim jacket. The former reality television star flashed her decolletage wearing an off the shoulder top for her birthday celebrations and appeared very content in the snap. With the best: The 30-year-old took to social media to share another snap of herself surrounded by girlfriends with a black and white filter applied and captioned 'Some of my ladies' Looking smitten: Last month the makeup artist sparked speculation that she had found a new man after up for a cosy snap with a mystery male pal after a road trip to a winery in Sydney's South She took to social media to share another snap of herself surrounded by girlfriends with a black and white filter applied and captioned: 'Some of my ladies'. Last month the makeup artist sparked speculation that she had found a new man after up for a cosy snap with a mystery male pal after a road trip to a winery in Sydney's South. In another snap from the romantic weekend she and her beau wrapped their arms around each other giggling and she captioned it: 'J & S : always laughing' Moving forward: Simone was paired with 26-year-old gym buff Xavier on Married At First Sight, which aired earlier this year Simone was paired with 26-year-old gym buff Xavier on Married At First Sight, which aired earlier this year. However, the svelte star decided not to proceed with their relationship after the month-long experiment. Determined to settle with someone more affectionate, she shocked fans when she said she felt 'clear headed' about the decision. Former pageant queen Erin Holland is known for turning heads everywhere she goes. And on Sunday the blonde beauty once again cut a stylish figure in a Seafolly blue and white printed playsuit at Bindi Irwin's 18th birthday party. The 27-year-old showed off her trim pins in the outfit and had a rather interesting shoe choice for the day at Australia Zoo, wearing a pair of strappy nude heels. Scroll down for video If you've got it! Former pageant queen Erin Holland (R) cut a stylish figure in a Seafolly blue and white printed playsuit at Bindi Irwin's (L) 18th birthday party on Sunday wearing heels on the day Her playsuit, which features a plunging neckline, billowing sleeves and loose shorts, has previously been seen on fellow Seafolly ambassador Shanina Shaik. The former Miss World Australia wore her shoulder-length locks out in loose tousled curls and wore dewy foundation as the base of her make-up look with a nude lip and mascara. Her shoes featured a stiletto heel and a number of straps. Casual and stylish: Her playsuit featured a plunging neckline, billowing sleeves and loose shorts Looks familiar: Shanina Shaik has also worn the playsuit recently (Pictured last month at Seafolly launch, Sydney) Showing off a golden tan, Erin looked thrilled to be at the event and enjoyed walking down the pink carpet that was set up for guests. She enjoyed chatting to the star of the bash, Bindi Irwin, who was clad in grey jeans, a black T-shirt and her favourite Converse sneakers. Also at the event was Bindi's family, mother Terri and brother Robert and her American wakeboarder boyfriend Chandler Powell. Star-studded: Erin made her way into the event, also attended by Bindi's family members - mother Terri and brother Robert and her American wakeboarder boyfriend Chandler Powell Having fun: Showing off a golden tan, Erin looked thrilled to be at the event and enjoyed walking down the pink carpet that was set up for guests Ready to go: Bindi was clad in grey jeans, a black T-shirt and her favourite Converse sneakers Party time: The zoo is hosting a 'camping with the stars' themed party to mark Bindi's landmark birthday The zoo is hosting a 'camping with the stars' themed party to mark Bindi's landmark birthday. A spokesman for the zoo also told Daily Mail Australia that Bindi would also be cutting a large cake, which also matched the theme. Bindi recently told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson that she is not really interested in having a glass of champagne on her birthday night. 'Maybe one, we'll see, but probably not, I like being in control,' she said. 'I'm going to start with Coca Cola, maybe I'll have a glass of that,' she laughed. He's one of the major cast members on Channel Ten's Offspring, reaping the benefits of success and popularity from starring in the Logie-nominated drama. But Eddie Perfect says there's sacrifices he's had to make on the way while filming the show away from his family. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, the 38-year-old revealed he 'was basically living out the back of my car' at one stage, having to commute to Melbourne city for shooting from his rented house in the Yarra Valley. Opening up: Offspring star Eddie Perfect says there's sacrifices he's had to make on the way while filming the show away from his family Shedding some light on how he didn't get to see his young daughter, he said: 'I was basically living out the back of my car, and I'd be leaving in the morning when my daughter was asleep and getting back home late at night when she was asleep again'. Eddie and wife Lucy Cochran tied the knot back in 2009, and share daughters Kitty, seven, and Lottie, born in 2012. They eventually moved back to Melbourne city, making the commute much easier for the screen star. The Playschool presenter and former Australia's Got Talent judge said each of his daughters are fans of different projects throughout his career. Family: He revealed he 'was basically living out the back of my car' at one stage, having to commute to Melbourne city for shooting from his rented house in the Yarra Valley and not being able to see his daughters Couple: Eddie and wife Lucy Cochran tied the knot back in 2009, and share daughters Kitty, seven, and Lottie, born in 2012 'I'd go to Lottie's childcare and all the kids watch Play School, so they know me from that, but it wasn't until I did AGT that things really heated up because it was the first thing I've done that my daughter Kitty has been obsessed with,' he revealed. Last week's episode of Offspring saw the talented actor make his first appearance in the sixth season of the show. Last week, Eddie, who plays Mick Holland on Offspring, made his highly anticipated return to the series, much to the delight of fans. Viewers watched the estranged husband of Billie Proudman (Kat Stewart) return to the place that he likened to a 'parallel universe'. The pair reunited during a passionate embrace at her home, which saw them enjoy a steamy kiss although they were soon interrupted. Back in action! Mick Holland, played by actor Eddie, made his highly anticipated return to Offspring on Wednesday night, much to the delight of fans Video chat: The estranged couple were seen video chatting during the episode Twitter was abuzz with tweets about the Channel Ten show and Mick's hilarious return was a highlight. 'Love having Mick back!' one tweet read. 'YASSSSS Mick's back!' another wrote. 'Thank god Mick is back maybe some sense will come with him,' one fan anticipated. However, the celebratory tweets were short-lived after it was teased that Mick may be forced to leave again. Wow! Billie could not contain her shock during the video chat 'Wait, No! Mick just got back and now he's leaving again,' one fan moaned. 'It feels so good and right having Mic back. Does he really have to go again?' another tweet read. Season six premiered last month, more than one year after producers wrapped up season five. The show also stars the likes of Asher Keddie, Deborah Mailman and Dan Wyllie. She's typically quite demure when spotted out in public. But Lily Collins stepped into character while filming for her role as Red near Wall Street on the New York City set of Okja on Saturday. The 27-year-old beauty shouted from the top of her lungs and sprinted through the streets of the Big Apple while shooting for the sci-fi flick. Scroll down for video Holler: Lily Collins shouted from the top of her lungs while filming near Wall Street on the New York City set of Okja on Saturday The daughter of British musician Phil Collins was spotted amongst a crowd of what appeared to be parade attendees who held small American flags, indicating an Independence Day celebration. She stood atop a post to allow herself being spotted as she yelled to an unknown costar off-camera. Collins was dressed in burgundy corduroy bell bottoms and an army green military-style jacket with matching cap that covered her bright fuchsia locks. A step above: The 27-year-old actress stood atop a post to allow herself being spotted as she was surrounded amongst a crowd of what appeared to be parade attendees On the go! The daughter of British musician Phil Collins shot another scene where she sprinted through the streets of the Big Apple Vintage vibes: The red-headed beauty was dressed in burgundy corduroy bell bottoms and a multi-coloured striped sweater She showcased her svelte figure with a tight-fitting striped knit sweater that consisted of hues including charcoal grey, tangerine, turquoise and beige. Her vintage-inspired ensemble was rounded out with black Doc Martens boots, a silver chain and matching hoop nose ring. The award-winning starlet's hunky co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal, 35, was nearly unrecognisable in full costume. Red hot! Collins wore an army green military-style jacket with matching cap that covered her bright fuchsia locks Final touches: Her vintage-inspired ensemble was rounded out with black Doc Martens boots, a silver chain and matching hoop nose ring On the move: Lily sprinted around while filming in the Big Apple Famous family: The actress is the daughter of musician Phil Collins The Oscar-nominated actor sported a full moustache, small round shades and a wide-brimmed hat which disguised his typically handsome looks. While it is still unknown who Gyllenhaal plays in the film, his character is clearly quite eccentric as his ensemble consisted of a bright red buttoned-down shirt and striped suit jacket. His costume was finished with khaki shorts, olive green knee-high trouser socks and lace-up sandals. On the set: Tilda Swinton took a seat in between scenes Pretty in pink: The actress wore a long pink dress for her scene Bright smoke: A purple cigarette was lit for Tilda In character: Jake Gyllenhaal, 35, was nearly unrecognisable in full costume Kooky crooner: Gyllenhaal was seen wildly singing on a microphone and thrusting himself on stage at the concert while shooting scenes for the Joon-ho Bong directed movie He was seen wildly singing on a microphone and awkwardly dancing on stage at the parade or concert while shooting scenes for the Joon-ho Bong directed movie. Actor Paul Dano, 32, was also spotted on set in a fitted black suit alongside a group of masked men as it appeared he was to play a villain in the flick. The film, which also stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, is about a girl who tries to stop a company from kidnapping an animal named Okja, who happens to be her best friend. Costumed: The Oscar-nominated actor sported a full moustache, small round shades and a wide-brimmed hat which disguised his typically handsome looks Awkward ensemble: His costume was finished with khaki shorts, olive green knee-high trouser socks and lace-up sandals Oscar winner Brie Larson has a new title to add to her resume: Superhero. Disney and Marvel announced Saturday at Comic-Con that Larson will star in Captain Marvel as the butt-kicking air force pilot Carol Danvers who gets special powers after an alien encounter. 'Call me Captain Marvel,' the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram with a picture of herself wearing a Marvel Studios cap. Latest role: Brie Larson was announced on Sunday as the new Captain Marvel in a planned blockbuster Big news: Larson will star in Captain Marvel as the butt-kicking air force pilot Carol Danvers who gets special powers after an alien encounter She later added: 'Thanks for the love! I'm so excited to be part of the team.' Captain Marvel will be the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to center on a female character. The film is scheduled for release in March of 2019. Guardians of the Galaxy writer Nicole Perlman and Inside Out's Meg LeFauve are co-writing the screenplay. New role: Brie Larson walks on stage at the Kong: Skull Island panel on day 3 of Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 23, 2016, in San Diego No director has been announced. Larson won the Best Actress Academy Award this year for her performance in Room. She was on stage earlier in the day promoting the upcoming King Kong film Kong: Skull Island. Brie's casting announcement came after months of rumours, on a busy day for Marvel. Amid fog and lasers on Saturday, the studio gave frenzied fans their first look at a new Black Panther movie cast, the mysterious Doctor Strange, a Spider-Man teen movie and an Oscar-winning actress as the new Captain Marvel. The 6,500-plus audience, many of whom had queued overnight at San Diego's annual film and pop culture event, were introduced to the lead cast of the Black Panther movie, directed by Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler. What a Marvel! Brie - rocking a plunging green Gabriela Hearst jumpsuit - gestured as Chris Hardwick took a selfie with actors from Marvel Studios movies following the Marvel Studios panels Chadwick Boseman plays the titular hero while Michael B. Jordan is his arch nemesis, Erik Killmonger, and Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o plays the warrior Nakia. 'I'm looking forward to kicking some ass,' Nyong'o said. Walt Disney Co-owned Marvel showcased diverse casts for its upcoming films after facing criticism over recent years for a superhero franchise dominated by white male actors. Benedict Cumberbatch entered amid a cloud of fog to show a scene from Doctor Strange, out in November, in which neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, who lost the use of his hands in an accident, meets the Ancient One to harness the mysterious world of magic and alternate dimensions. Director Scott Derrickson said Doctor Strange comics brought a whole new voice to the Marvel universe. In demand: Earlier in the day Brie had sat with Tom Hiddleston to promote their movieKong: Skull Island 'It's very, very different and the scale is something else,' Cumberbatch said. The casting of Tilda Swinton as a Celtic Ancient One caused an uproar among some fans, as the character is of Asian origin in the comics. 'Any of us can be the Ancient One, that's what's amazing about what's in the comics, who knows who will be the Ancient One. It's a title, and all the things the Ancient One knows and passes on, anyone can do,' Swinton said. Spider-Man: Homecoming, starring Tom Holland, will be a teen comedy, following 15-year-old Peter Parker hiding his superhero alter-ego as he gets through the struggles of homework, girls and puberty. Proud of their work: Benedict Cumberbatch entered amid a cloud of fog to show a scene from Doctor Strange, out in November; he is seen with the film's director Scott Derrickson Making an entrance: Tilda Swinton and Rachel McAdams; The casting of Tilda Swinton as a Celtic Ancient One caused an uproar among some fans, as the character is of Asian origin in the comics Finally, the cast of 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 entered amid cheers, as new footage revealed Sylvester Stallone in the film, and Kurt Russell playing Star Lord's father Ego. Lead actor Chris Pratt said the film will pick up a couple of months after the events of the first film, as the rogue, cheeky heroes face a bigger enemy. Disney also announced a new Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout ride, opening at California Adventures in the summer of 2017. Lindsay Lohan has hinted she is having relationship trouble with a late night rant about her 'cheating' fiance. In a bizarre stream of messages Lohan attacked 23-year-old Russian millionaire Egor Tarabasov for being at a nightclub with another woman. Things got even more cryptic when the 30-year-old former child star then tweeted an image of herself wearing a fake baby bump, taken from her 2009 flop, Labor Pains. 'lindsay lohan labour pains trailer - I am pregnant!!' she wrote - leaving confused fans either questioning whether she was sober, or offering their congratulations. Mixed messages: After denying for months she is engaged to Russian millionaire Egor Tarabasov, Lindsay Lohan has finally made it official calling him her fiance early Sunday morning but only as she revealed he had not come home that night Baby news? While the posts targeting Egor were on Instagram, Lindsay then took to Twitter posting a bizarre Google image link to the poster of her 2009 flop, Labor Pains, in which she played a woman faking a pregnancy that finds love and gets pregnant for real Lohan had taken to Instagram to publicly slam Egor for 'lying' about his whereabouts - sharing images sent to her by a friend showing him in a club. The Mean Girls star posted a photograph and a video of Egor inside a club after revealing he had not come home that night. Proving she learnt a thing or two from her famous movie, Lindsay accused him of being out with another girl, Dasha Pashevkina, and went on the attack. Insider source: The star shared a picture of her fiance inside the club, which had clearly been snapped by someone with an allegiance to her rather than Egor and accused him of being out with another girl The Hollywood star did not hold back, branding the fashion designer a 'Russian hooker'. Initially, Lindsay posted a sepia toned image of her and her younger love, writing: 'I guess I was the same at 23... S****y time - it changes at 26/27. '@e2505t thanks for not coming home tonight. Fame changes people.' The star then shared a picture of her fiance inside the club, which had clearly been snapped by someone with an allegiance to her rather than Egor. It was on this picture that the famed redhead took aim at the female fashion designer she claimed was with him. Home? But she was not done there as her spy also sent her a video of the Russian businessman Still mad: In the video Egor appears to be just speaking to a male friend but that did not make the actress feel any better Nonsensical: Just after 5am London time, the actress posted another picture of her fiance but failed to make much sense 'Wow thanks #fiance with Russian hooker @dasha_pa5h.' Lindsay later posted the woman's home address and email with a bizarre rant that included Donald Trump and Putin hashtags, before deleting it. Despite her harsh words, it seems that Lindsay and Dash have been friends for some time with the actress popping up on the designer's social media and the star has also worn some of her designs. Blame game: Proving she learnt a thing or two from her famous movie, the Mean Girls star insulted, Dasha Pashevkina (pictured 2013), whom the actress believed was out with her fiance Bizarre attack: Lindsay later posted the woman's home address and email with a bizarre rant that included Donald Trump and Putin hashtags, before deleting it Were close: Despite her harsh words, it seems that Lindsay and Dash have been friends for some time with the actress popping up on the designer's social media (pictured this time last year) and the star has also worn some of her designs But she was not done there as her spy also sent her a video of the Russian businessman. In the video Egor appears to be just speaking to a male friend but that did not make the actress feel any better. Keeping things to the point, she said simple 'home?' Came to a head: It seems trouble may have been brewing all day, as the 30-year-old posted a black and white couple shot eight hours earlier and Egor's face was scribbled out However she was spotted in a long sleeve one piece while paddle boarding, hover, with her belly was a baby bump or a big lunch was not clear. It seems trouble between her and Egor may have been brewing all day, as Lohan earlier posted a black and white couple shot eight hours earlier and Egor's face was scribbled out. 'He wore black and I wore white. I guess #art is whatever you make of it,' Lindsay wrote. Seemed fine: Just a few days ago, the couple looked loved up as they holidayed in Greece Reports first surfaced in April that Lindsay and Egor were engaged but her rep furiously denied it. The couple had been dating just eight months when the young Russian millionaire asked for Lindsay's hand in marriage. The couple have been on a two month vacation and until now have seemed very much in love. DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Lindsay but has yet to receive comment. He flew all the way from California to be with his love as she celebrates her milestone birthday with family and fans. And Chandler Powell showed his love for girlfriend Bindi Irwin by helping her out of a jeep as she made a grand entrance to her 18th birthday party on Sunday. The teenage couple looked very much in love as they posed for cute photos together and joined in the celebrations for the conservationist's coming-of-age. Scroll down for video What a keeper! Chandler Powell showed his love for girlfriend Bindi Irwin by helping her out of a jeep as she made a grand entrance to her 18th birthday party on Sunday The 19-year-old pro wakeboarder also helped out Bindi's pet cause, Wildlife Warriors, by wearing a khaki T-shirt branded with the charity's name. Bindi similarly rocked a top from her new line of fundraising T-shirts, black with 'the Earth is art in motion' printed on the front with her brunette locks spilling over her shoulders. The daughter of late naturalist Steve Irwin could not contain her excitement as she stood up and waved from the front seat of the vintage jeep as it arrived at the party. Cute couple: The teenage couple looked very much in love as they posed for cute photos together and joined in the celebrations for the conversationist's coming-of-age Wildlife warrior: While Chandler sported a Wildlife Warrior T-Shirt, Bindi rocked a top from her new line of fundraising T-shirts, black with 'the Earth is art in motion' printed on the front Her doting beau got out first and held his love's hand as she stepped from the vehicle onto the road after it stopped near the clamouring fans at the zoo's entrance. Younger brother Robert, 12, was next out, holding the family's puppy Stella, who they got in March. He was followed by their mother Terri who made a spectacular leap from the jeep. The foursome beamed big smiles as they walked together towards the waiting crowd, before posing for a series of photos together including adorable couples snaps of Bindi and Chandler. Grand entrance: The daughter of late naturalist Steve Irwin could not contain her excitement as she stood up and waved from the front seat of the vintage jeep as it arrived at the party Good bloke: Her doting beau got out first and held his love's hand as she stepped from the vehicle onto the road after it stopped near the clamouring fans near the zoo entrance Ruff! Younger brother Robert, 12, was next out, holding the family's puppy Stella, who they got in March Mum has moves: He was followed by their mother Terri who made a spectacular leap from the jeep The wildlife warrior then walked a along the pink carpet, taking selfies with fans and receiving gifts. Bindi's birthday bash will continue back at Bindis family wildlife conservation property near St George with Chandler and close friends, after the public part of the day is over. 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. Sounds of cheers: The foursome beamed big smiles as they walked together towards the waiting crowd Her big day: Bindi looked very excited as she approached the zoo entrance Remembering the day: The family then posed for a series of photos together 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. Earlier in the day, Chandler shared a sweet message on social media to wish Bindi well as she turned 18. 'Happy birthday to the most amazing person I know,' the American began his caption, posted next to a throwback black and white filtered snap of the pair cuddling. Not short of compliments, he continued: 'I'm amazed by everything you have already achieved and I can't even begin to imagine everything you'll accomplish from this point on'. Cuddle up: They included cute couples snaps of Bindi and Chandler Getting the party started: Bindi walked the pink carpet towards her adoring fans 'I'm very blessed to have you as such a huge part of my life and I'm beyond thankful you've let me be a part of yours. I hope today is as amazing as you are.' The photo was a heavily filtered shot of a harbour in California, taken by Robert just before she returned to Australia after a three-week visit where they travelled the U.S west coast together. The cute couple have been dating for just over a year, and it seems their relationship is going from strength to strength. Sharing the love: A hero to many, Bindi took photos with fans who had waited to celebrate with her Say cheese! She even took selfies with many young fans However, Bindi opened up about some of the pressures in their romance in December, saying that long distance is tough but worth it. 'Long distance is challenging every now and then but it's wonderful to have someone so brilliant in your life,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Chandler's so supportive throughout it all.' At the time, there were also wedding rumours swirling around about the pair, but Bindi said she was enjoying just being boyfriend and girlfriend for the time being. 'It was so funny, I got back [to Australia] and I was doing something and someone said "Wow, you got married!" and I was like "Umm, sorry, what?",' she laughed. Birthday wishes: On Sunday morning Chandler shared a throwback photo as he wished Bindi a happy 18th birthday Gushing post: Along with the photo was a sweet message penned by the American wakeboarder especially for the Australian teen 'So it is really interesting - I think that's a long way off and I'm just really happy and just enjoying every day that I have with him and just enjoying being young, so it's great,' Bindi added. Wedding rumours surfaced again last month when Woman's Day claimed, citing an unnamed source, that Chandler was going to propose on her birthday. A spokesperson for Australia Zoo shot down the claims, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'This is a false and highly sensationalised claim that has no truth to it whatsoever.' It was the stuff Trekkies' dreams are made of. Multiple generations of Star Trek stars took to the Comic-Con stage in San Diego, California, on Saturday in celebration of 50 years of the much loved sci-fi show. Original crew member William Shatner was joined by stars from the franchise series Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Jeri Ryan and Scott Bakula for the highly anticipated panel discussion which also saw first look at the latest series. Scroll down for video Beam me up: Multiple generations of Star Trek stars took to the Comic-Con stage in San Diego, California, on Saturday in celebration of 50 years of the much loved sci-fi show (from L-R) Scott Bakula, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, William Shatner and Jeri Ryan Shatner, who of course played Captain Kirk, was a fan favourite with the 85-year-old receiving a standing ovation as he arrived on stage. Clearly the actor's time in space has meant he has skipped a few years of ageing as he certainly did not look his vintage. Fielding questions from ardent Trekkies and laughing away with his fellow panellists, the actor was in his element. There must be something in the water on the Enterprise and also the Voyager as Jeri looked just as she did when she portrayed Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager in the late Nineties. Round of applause: Shatner was a fan favourite with the 85-year-old receiving a standing ovation as he arrived on stage The original: Shatner played Captain Kirk in the original series which first aired in the late Sixties The other captain: Scott Bakula played Captain Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise from 2001- 2005 Rocking a skin tight white dress, the 48-year-old showed off her out of this world physique. Brent, who played the android Data in Star Trek: Next Generation, had the crowd enthralled but also spoke of the importance of the Star Trek message - especially in the world we are living today. The actor said, as reported by the LA Times: 'I think Star Trek in general has been about individual rights and about respecting everyone no matter who or what they are. Spot the difference: There must be something in the water on the Enterprise and also the Voyager as Jeri looked just as she did when she portrayed Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager in the late Nineties Toned and terrific: Rocking a skin tight white dress, the 48-year-old showed off her out of this world physique 'And we're living in a world right now where that sort of respect is being challenged, not just all over the world, but in our country too, and it's disturbing. And I think a lot of our politicians and a lot of our fellow citizens could take a page from Star Trek at this point and have a bit more respect.' The panel's moderator and executive producer of the yet-to-air Star Trek: Discovery, Bryan Fuller, echoed his sentiments. Fuller said the new show - which airs next year on CBS' new streaming service - will continue that legacy. More than a show: Brent, who played the android Data in Star Trek: Next Generation, had the crowd enthralled but also spoke of the importance of the Star Trek message of acceptance and the need for peace - especially in the world we are living today Pushing boundaries: The panel's moderator and executive producer of the yet-to-air Star Trek: Discovery, Bryan Fuller (pictured with producer Heather Kadin) echoed his sentiments The gang's all here: the cast members may not have been on the same shows or the same ships but their bond was evident 'I think what the new series has to do is remind the audience about the message of Star Trek,' he said, 'To continue to be progressive, push boundaries and continue telling stories in the legacy that Gene Roddenberry promised, which is giving us hope for a future.' Really pushing that point home, Fuller asked fans to hold hands and pledge to try to make a future filled with respect and acceptance like the one Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had envisaged. Fans also were asked to take a moment to silently pay their respects to those members of the Enterprise who are now in the 'great beyond' including Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin, who was crushed to death in a freak accident last month. LEBANON An unattended pan of oil left on a stove top resulted in a kitchen fire early Saturday morning at 540 Morton Street. Lebanon firefighters received the first-alarm call around 2:40 a.m. Nearby police officers also heard the call and were first to respond. Upon arriving, they found the house empty and entered with a fire extinguisher, which they used to knock down the fire. Two engines, a medic unit, and a battalion and division chief arrived shortly thereafter. Firefighters secured the house's power supply and used a thermal imaging camera to check for an extension of the fire into cabinet and wall spaces. According to the home's resident, he was heating oil for frying potatoes. He said he then left the kitchen and may have fallen asleep in another room. When he awoke, the oil had boiled over onto the stop top and was beginning to consume the vent hood and cabinets above the range. He then took the pan outside, but the range top continued to burn. When the fire began, the house was occupied by one adult male and one juvenile male. There were smoke detectors in the residence, but their batteries had been removed. Firefighters installed and tested new detectors before leaving. "The family is very fortunate that [the] situation didn't end with a death or serious injury," Division Chief Jason Bolen said in a news release. "It's crucial for people to test their smoke detector batteries and function at least every six months and replace the detector after its 10-year lifespan." He also stressed the importance of supervising stoves when in use. State of Oregon law requires landlords to provide working smoke detectors in their properties. For more information on smoke detectors or home fire safety, contact the Fire and Life Safety Division of the Lebanon Fire District at 541-451-1901. Most teenagers might be happy with sipping champagne and dancing the night away with friends for their 18th birthday. But Bindi Irwin took a more unconventional, if not entirely unexpected, approach by feeding hungry crocodiles in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 people at Australia Zoo on Sunday. The daughter of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin was seen dangling a piece of meat into the jaws of the 12ft-long reptile as part of her birthday celebrations. Scroll down for video Daredevil: Bindi Irwin was pictured feeding the crocodiles at Australia Zoo for her 18th birthday celebrations With her long brunette locks tied back in a bun, the young wildlife warrior looked calm and collected as Graham the crocodile leapt out of the water to grab the food. Her mother, Terri, stayed close to her daughter as she pulled off the daredevil stunt in front of the packed crowd at the Queensland zoo. This is not the first time Bindi has diced with death as she was also seen doing the crocodile feeding on her 17th birthday. Snappy birthday: The daughter of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin was seen dangling a piece of meat into a crocodile's jaws as part of her birthday celebrations Risky: With her long brunette locks tied back in a bun, the young wildlife warrior looked calm and collected as the huge reptile leapt out of the water to grab the food Bindi is currently enjoying a day-long birthday party at the world-famous zoo with her mother, brother Robert and boyfriend Chandler Powell. In honour of Bindi's love for the great outdoors and recent victory on the US series of Dancing With The Stars, the day has been dubbed 'Camping with the Stars'. She was presented with a campfire and teepee cake in keeping with the theme and blew out the candles to the delight of the crowd. Bindi opted for a laid-back look for the milestone birthday, donning one of the black wildlife conservation T-shirts she designed, grey jeans and converse trainers. Birthday treat: She was presented with a campfire and teepee cake and blew out the candles to the delight of the crowd Theme: In honour of Bindi's love for the great outdoors and recent victory on the US series of Dancing With The Stars, the day has been dubbed 'Camping with the Stars' Not impressed: Bindi was then seen jokingly feeding her brother cake, but he did not seem keen Earlier on Sunday she was seen strutting her stuff on the pink carpet as she arrived at the zoo. The teen made an entrance by standing and waving from the front seat of a jeep before happily posing for selfies with fans. Bindi was also pictured playing with her pug puppy, Stella, before giving a short speech to the waiting crowd at the zoo in the Sunshine Coast. She was seen chatting to former Miss World Australia Erin Holland who flew in especially for the occasion. Erin upped the glamour in a short blue and white tie-dye playsuit which she paired with beige stiletto heels. Like mother, like daughter: Terri was also seen getting involved with the crocodile feeing Playing with danger: Bindi's 12-year-old brother Robert was also seen throwing a piece of meat Fun day out: Bindi was seen laughing and joking with her mother and brother during the demonstration Packed event: More than 5,000 people attended the birthday party at the world-famous zoo Bindi went for a more casual look for the day at the zoo, but she still made a statement with the message behind her T-shirt. She created the top, emblazoned with the words 'The world is art in motion', with a company called Represent. The project seeks to help raise funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors, her familys conservation organisation. Bindi recently told radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson that she is not really interested in having a glass of champagne on her birthday night. 'I'm going to start with Coca Cola, maybe I'll have a glass of that,' she laughed. Birthday girl: Bindi Irwin was seen strutting her stuff on the pink carpet which was laid out for her 18th birthday party at Australia Zoo Centre of attention: The teenager, who is the daughter of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve, made an entrance by standing and waving from the front seat of a jeep before happily posing for selfies with fans Milestone: Bindi was seen beaming with delight as she celebrated her 18th birthday surrounded by her family, boyfriend (left) and hundreds of fans at Australia Zoo on Sunday 'Maybe one, we'll see, but probably not, I like being in control,' she said. Earlier on Sunday she penned a heartfelt tribute to her late father Steve to mark her 18th birthday. The teen wrote a lengthy post on Instagram thanking her family for their unbreakable support and love and describing her late father as 'a superhero for us all'. She shared an adorable family photograph of her as a newborn baby being cuddled by her father and mother, Terri. 'To be perfectly honest life has changed in a million ways since this photograph was taken,' Bindi wrote. Goofy: She was seen posing for selfies with hundreds of fans waiting outside the zoo Strutting her stuff: Bindi looked confident and relaxed as she posed up a storm on the pink carpet Natural beauty: With her brunette locks curled in loose waves, the teenager wore understated make-up Cute couple: Her boyfriend, Chandler Powell (pictured together), shared a sweet birthday message 'Along the way we gained another incredible part of our family, my brother Robert. Our Dad, Mum's soulmate and a superhero for us all, passed away. 'However, since this photo was taken, 18 years ago, one life ingredient has remained, unchanged, unbreakable. 'That is the unconditional love that is shared between my beautiful little family and the loyalty we have to each other and everyone else who has taken this journey with us. 'I know that I am endlessly grateful for the love and light I have been given since Day 1 of my life.' The 18-year-old said she was not able to predict what life had in store for her. Wildlife warrior: She donned one of the limited edition T-shirts she designed to support wildlife conservation Star-studded event: She also chatted to former Miss World Australia Erin Holland who flew in especially for the occasion Family portrait: Bindi Irwin shared a picture of herself as a baby being cuddled by her late father Steve and mother, Terri, to mark her 18th birthday She plays night nurse Christine Carter in the Marvel superhero flick, Doctor Strange. And Rachel McAdams surely wowed the crowd at Comic-Con on Friday, when she came to discuss the film with its fans. The 37-year-old actress showed off her impossibly toned legs in a long sleeve, netted dress that featured a ruffled bottom. Scroll down for video Centre of attention: Rachel McAdams, 37, surely wowed the crowd at Comic-Con in San Diego on Friday, when she came to discuss the film with its fans The black number was adorned with subtle blue, green, and orange detailing- giving it an unique edge. The star accessorized with a collection of silver rings, which brought attention to her dark manicure. Rachel was joined by the Dr. himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as the picture's other talent including Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Wong. Her look: Rachel wore a long sleeve, netted dress that featured a ruffled bottom Understated glamour: The black number was adorned with blue, green, and orange detailing and skimmed her figure to perfection Chic nails: The actress accessorized with a collection of rings, which brought attention to her dark manicure Easy locks: Rachel's shoulder-length, blonde lock were styled in waves and parted to the side Silver lining: Gripping on to the mic, she showed off her array of stunning silver jewellery Laid-back: Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Dr. Stephen Strange, was relaxed in a pair of grey slacks, a T-shirt and navy sneakers In the film, Benedict Cumberbatch plays lead character Dr. Stephen Strange, an arrogant surgeon who loses his life as he knows it, before he's trained by a sorcerer to fight against evil forces. Though the event could have certainly been about him, the 40-year-old star took a laid-back approach, at least with his wardrobe anyway. The handsome Brit was relaxed in a pair of grey slacks, a T-shirt and navy sneakers. Happy: The Mean Girls star sported a glossy pink pout which was even more prominent as she flashed a smile No sweat: The stunner oozed confidence as she showed off her toned legs while strutting forth All aboard! The film's panel wasn't complete with out its additional central character. From (L-R) Benedict, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen Signature elements: Tilda stayed true to her eclectic style, choosing to standout in a green, velvet pantsuit Dapper gentleman: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 39, was well-dressed in a denim blazer, a T-shirt and jeans Talking points: Tilda addressed the crowd at the panel Like pros: The dazzling star-cast beamed as they posed for pictures Standing out: Benedict looked casually cool alongside the glam leading ladies Learning from the best: Rachel headed off stage with Tilda who plays The Ancient One, a sorcerer who teaches Dr. Strange how to combat evil Adios: The stars headed off stage after the panel The film's panel wasn't complete with out its additional central characters. Tilda Swinton, 55, plays The Ancient One, a sorcerer who teaches Dr. Strange how to combat evil. The actress stayed true to her eclectic style, choosing to standout in a green, velvet pantsuit. Chiwetel Ejiofor, 39, was well-dressed in a denim blazer, a T-shirt and jeans. In the film, the 12 Years a Slave star plays supervillain Baron Mordo, a magician who deals with demons. Benedict Wong, 45, was also present. He plays Wong, the right hand man of Dr. Strange. Mads Mikkelsen, 50, portrays Kaecilius, another villain who was trained by Baron Mordo. Starring role: Benedict Cumberbatch plays lead character Dr. Stephen Strange, an arrogant surgeon who loses his life as he knows it when he is involved in a terrible automobile accident Doing good: Dr. Strange is then trained by a sorcerer to fight against evil forces Leading lady: Rachel plays night nurse Christine Carter in the Marvel superhero flick, Doctor Strange The boss: Tilda Swinton, 55, plays The Ancient One, a sorcerer who teaches Dr. Strange how to combat evil Evil villain: In the film, Chiwetel plays supervillain Baron Mordo, a magician who deals with demons Bella Hadid posted the September cover of Japanese Vogue one day before - the second time she has been featured on the front of the fashion bible's international editions. But the 19-year-old model had another surprise in store on Saturday as she shared a second photo of herself gracing the August issue of Vogue Me China. The brunette stunner still showed love for her native Los Angeles as she posted a seductive snap posing in front of a smoke-filled sky as wildfires currently burn out of control. 'Where the heart is': Bella Hadid shared a sultry Instagram snapshot on Saturday as she posed in front of a smoke-filled sky as Los Angeles wildfires currently burn out of control The younger sister of model Gigi Hadid showcased her impeccable figure in the sizzling image which features her remarkable silhouette. Her face is somewhat blacked out in the photo but her bare midriff in the tiny white cropped top is hard to miss. She posed provocatively with one hand resting on her head and her other arm leaning against a doorway which leads to a balcony overlooking her hometown. Third time's a charm! The 19-year-old model had another surprise in store when she posted a photo of herself gracing the August issue of Vogue Me China - her third time posing for the international versions 'Where the heart is,' the catwalk queen captioned the image to her 5.5million Instagram followers. There are two wildfires blazing uncontrollably in the LA area, as ash and smoke have filled the sky, leaving more than 20,000 acres of land destroyed. A few hours later, Bella revealed her latest international Vogue cover as she posed alongside rapper, G-Dragon, 27. 'Cover of Vogue China by the genius & legendary @mariotestino with my new friend @xxxibgdrgn! Such a pleasure working with you Mario-a dream of mine. Thank you @voguechina,' she wrote. Cover girl: Bella has scored the September cover of Japanese Vogue - the second time she has been featured on the front of the fashion bible's international editions Just back in May, the fast rising star was featured on the front of the Turkish magazine and China's cover makes three achievements of the coveted model milestone. As Bella posted the Japan cover of the magazine late Friday night, she thanked those involved. 'Vogue Japan Cover! Thank you to a beautiful person inside and out -- the genius @anna_dello_russo [editor-at-large of Vogue Japan] for this cover and having me come to your beautiful Puglia [Italy] to shoot! '& thank you to the great @giampaolosgura [photographer] for shooting this cover and such an amazing inside story. You both Thank You!' The shot - which is fittingly for the role models edition - is strikingly understated with Bella wearing very natural makeup with her hair brushed back wet. Twice as nice: Just back in May, the younger sister of Gigi Hadid was featured on the front of the Turkish magazine She is also posed unusually for the magazine, squatting down in a relaxed yet almost Japanese warrior stance. The model is also dress in black despite bright colours usually preferred to entice readers. However, Bella certainly looks amazing in the long Armani one shouldered dress which features plastic bows. The teen beauty is currently in Europe vacationing and no doubt celebrated her achievement in style. She still does have a few covers to go to catch up with older sister Gigi who has graced the covers of 12 editions of Vogue. Lupita Nyong'o was officially confirmed for the upcoming Black Panther movie at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday. The Oscar-winning actress joined director Ryan Coogler and leading man Chadwick Boseman at the fan convention where it was revealed she'll star as a character called Nakia in the Marvel movie. And in a surprise for fans, it was also announced that The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira is also coming on board. Eclectic style: Lupita Nyong'o wore a striking olive green frock with sheer overlay and a front zipper for her appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on saturday Nyong'o, 33, wore her hair braided into a top knot and an olive green dress with sheer overlay for her appearance at Comic-Con. And she couldn't contain her joy as she joined her co-stars on stage in front of thousands of people during the Marvel presentation in Hall H. The 12 Years A Slave star has become a regular part of the Disney family, that owns the rights to Marvel characters, having already landed a recurring role in the Star Wars franchise and providing a voice for Raksha in the studio's recently released retelling of the Jungle Book. Joyful: The pretty actress was radiant as she took to the stage in her one-of-a-kind frock and wearing stiletto heels with her hair braided into a bun on top of her head Excited: The 12 Years A Slave actress is set to star in the upcoming Marvel movie Black Panther that will be directed by Ryan Coogler, pictured left, with Chadwick Boseman, right, reprising the titular role Suited up: Boseman made his debut as the Marvel character in the recently released Captain America: Civil War and in the standalone film he must defend his kingdom from enemies domestic and foreign Friends and co-stars: Joining the cast is The Walking Dead's Danai Guriria, pictured with Nyong'o at Comic-Con. The two are close pals with the Oscar winner having starred on Broadway in Gurira's play Eclipsed Nyong'o also appeared delighted to have actress and playwright Gurira join the superhero film's cast. Gurira found fame as Michonne on AMC's hugely popular zombie apocalypse series and also wrote the play Eclipsed in which Nyong'o starred on Broadway this year. The 38-year-old Gurira wore a short-sleeved black and yellow patterned mini dress as it was revealed she will play Okoye, the leader of T'Challa's security force in the film slated for a 2017 release. Joining them at Comic-Con was Michael B. Jordan who is cast as the villain Erik Killmonger. Black Panther will mark the third time that Jordan, 29, works with Coogler, who directed him in Fruitvale Station and in Creed. Casting call: Michael B. Jordan is also part of the Black Panther cast which will be his third movie with director Coogler following Fruitvale Station and Creed Fan faves: Coogler, Nyong'o, Jordan, Gurira and Boseman delighted fans with their Comic-Con appearance as part of the Marvel presentation He's made a household name for himself in the States after landing a role in television series The Flash and becoming a part of film Divergent. And on Saturday, Keiynan Lonsdale flashed his signature style of statement rings and bandana as he promoted the popular television series at the Comic-Con convention in California. Cutting a relaxed figure, the 24-year-old Sydney-born star was seen taking part in a question and answer session alongside his co-stars. Scroll down for video Accessorised: Keiynan Lonsdale, 24, flashed his signature style of statement rings and bandana at the Comic-Con convention on Saturday in San Diego, California He sported a camouflage sweater and pair of light stonewashed jeans, which he teamed with a black and white bandana as well as a set of trendy dark sunglasses. While clutching a microphone, there was no mistaking the statement jewellery that adorned his hands and wrist - a collection of silver rings and beaded bracelets. The handsome hunk is one of Australia's biggest rising stars of the moment. After landing his big break in ABC's Dance Academy, he went on to play Uriah Pedrad in The Divergent Series: Insurgent and its sequel, Allegiant. At ease: The singer, actor and dancer, was clearly in his element as he happily chatted at the popular annual event Camera ready: On day three of the Comic-Con convention, the Nigerian-Australian posed for snaps with his cast mates of The Flash His career then surged to even greater heights with a role in The CW's hit superhero series, The Flash. But Keiynan's role in the drama hit an emotional note as it reminded him of his own troubled family background. The Nigerian-Australian's first scene in The Flash - based on the popular DC comic book - involved his character Wally West being introduced to his biological father as an adult. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph earlier this year, he revealed how he felt a 'freaky' sense of deja vu on-set while filming his debut episode in which his character meets his father for the first time. But in a strange case of art imitating life, Keiynan revealed that he didn't meet his own absent father for many years - and said that reliving those difficult feelings on camera was a 'surreal' experience. 'I hadnt met him until I was 10 and hed come back to Australia from Nigeria and my Mum found him and I got to meet him', said Keiynan. Cool and casual: Cutting a relaxed figure, Keiynan sported a camouflage sweater and pair of light stonewashed jeans, that he teamed with a black and white bandana and pair of trendy dark sunglasses Unique: While clutching a microphone, there was no mistaking the statement jewellery that adorned his hands and wrist - a collection of silver rings and beaded bracelets 'I was like "this is so surreal, this is so strange". Its been really interesting playing a character going through something I went through when I was younger (and) how differently he handles it'. But while the character of Wally eventually forges a relationship with his father, Keiynan does not appear to have a relationship with his dad. 'Yeah we dont Im really close to my mum', said the former Dance Academy star. The young actor has previously admitted to becoming obsessed with The Flash after winning the role - despite having no previous interest in comic books. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, he said: 'The Flash is super popular, so it's kind of crazy this has happened'. Corbin Bleu and Sasha Clements got engaged at Disney World nearly two years ago. The couple finally made it official and said 'I do' in a stunning ceremony in California's Santa Barbara on Saturday. Corbin who played the sporty Chad Danforth in the High School Musical film series, revealed he feels like the 'happiest man in the world' now that he's tied the knot,People reported. Scroll down for video Just married! Corbin Bleu and his fiancee of two years Sasha Clements were married in Santa Barbara, CA on Saturday 'Getting married to Sasha today was the best moment of my life,' Corbin confessed to the magazine. Corbin, 27, was instantly taken by the sight of Sasha, 26, strolling down the aisle to meet him at the altar in what appeared to be an outdoor setting. 'I have to say my favorite part was the feeling that started in my toes and went all the way to the top of my head when Sasha came through the gate to the entrance of our venue and walked down the aisle,' Corbin told People. Memories: The now 27-year-old actor played Chad Danforth on the High School Musical film series (pictured in 2006) Romantic appeal: Corbin (pictured with Sasha in 2013) proposed to his lady love at Disney World in October of 2014 'From the flowing veil in the wind as she walked, to the big smile on her face, it suddenly hit me that this stunning woman that was looking at me was going to marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.' The couple exchanged vows before 160 family and friends and Sasha was definitely moved by what the actor had to say at the altar as well. 'Corbin's vows were incredibly beautiful and it was truly the best day of our lives,' Sasha said. On the dance floor: Corbin's DWTS partner Karina Smirnoff (pictured with him in 2013) choreographed the couple's first dance - a salsa number The reception included Italian fare and a three-tier wedding cake and a few things to nibble on from In-N-Out. The couple danced a salsa number for their first dance - choreographed by Dancing With The Stars pro Karina Smirnoff, who partnered with Corbin on the talent competition series in 2013. Corbin proposed to Sasha at Disney World in October of 2014 during the theme parks fireworks show. The pair were apparently standing in front of Cinderellas Castle when he presented her with a glass slipper that contained a diamond ring. She is playing a powerful sorceress who wields an ancient evil force. And Suicide Squad star Cara Delevingne claimed this was a perfectly reasonable explanation for her decision to to strip off and frolic around naked in a forest as she prepared to play the Enchantress. during an appearance on Conan on Saturday. The English model described her process, saying the film's director David Ayer gave her some very specific advice to help her get into character as the spooky Enchantress.. 'So I got naked': Cara Delevingne nonchalantly explained on Conan on Saturday that she ran around nude in the woods to prepare for her role in the Suicide Squad She said: 'He said if you ever find yourself in a forest, hopefully it will be a full moon, so get naked and just be out there for as long as possible. 'Funnily enough I found myself in a forest and it was a full moon so I was like 'f*ck' what am I going to do? So I got naked!' However fans hoping to catch some documentary footage taken for posterity have been left disappointed. The clotheshorse said: ''Luckily there was no one there, so no one was there to see it.' Who needs Criss Angel? Cara is playing Enchantress, a powerful sorceress who wields an ancient evil force All the gang: Cara was surrounded by her castmates as she made her unusual admission The many faces of Cara Delevingne: She pulled a variety of expressions during her appearance on the show And it was not the only time Cara was obscene as she appeared on Conan's TBS show with her Suicide Squad co-stars, for she was the only actor to use foul language on the show. After a dance party style entrance Will Smith described the atmosphere on set: 'I celebrated 30 years in this business in June, I got to tell you there's something with Suicide Squad and this group of people, and there's something that this idea is doing to people, that is very different,' he said. 'Independence Day was really the only other movie of my career that had this kind of rock concert vibe to it,' added the 46-year-old, who tore his calf muscle trying to keep up with his younger co-stars. That's better: The model eventually settled on a self-satisfied smirk as she regaled the audience The whole squad: The excitement reached fever pitch when the cast of the film took to the stage Centre of attention: Cara was grinning like a Cheshire cat as she stood next to the film's star Will Smith Taking Conan's breath away: But she looked slightly disgruntled as the show's host gaped at Margot Robbie 'I turn 47 this year and the average age here is probably 12,' joked the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Margot Robbie, 26, sucked on a lollipop throughout the interview. The Australian actress discussed how Ayer, who used to be a barber in the navy, shaved away half her eyebrow on their first day of filming. 'I didn't feel too hard done by, because he cut off all of Karen's [Fukuhara's] hair,' she said. Getting too old for this: Will joked that while he is turning 47 this year, 'the average age here is probably 12' Fresh Prince of laughter: He was having a whale of a time as he cracked funnies with Conan Deadshot: Will is playing an expert marksman and assassin, who is also a concerned parent 'I had hair to here,' lamented Fukuhara, gesturing to her waist. 'He cut off half of my hair too,' piped up Jared Leto, 44, who admitted 'trying out a lot of laughs' for his role as The Joker. 'On the streets,' he said, manically demonstrating a few of his early efforts. Jay Hernandez also had to loose his eyebrows for his role as El Diablo. 'I looked like the missing linkeverybody on the street just had pity for me,' said the 38-year-old. She sucks: Margot Robbie subtly drew attention to herself by sucking on a lollipop That looks tasty: The blonde beauty certainly seemed to be enjoying her candy treat Versatile: The saucy Australian found she could even use the sweetie as an impromptu pointer Eye candy: She is playing The Joker's curvaceous sidekick Harley Quinn Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje outlines the tribulations of fighting the women in the action fantasy. 'Cara will Delevingne you man,' grinned the 48-year-old Englishman. Adding: 'All the ladies, they were so up for it, we all got in there, we all got our bruises and what you see on the movie, these ladies are doing it,' he assured. Jai Courtney, 30, plays Captain Boomerang in the flick. He described the character as 'a man that looks like an air stewardess'. 'We had to build from there,' he laughed. How fascinating: Conan looked beside himself with excitement as Jared Leto shared a story Funny anecdote: He admitted to 'trying out a lot of laughs' for his role as The Joker Holy special guest appearance: His nemesis The Batman makes an appearance in the forthcoming film Putting practice into action: All that laughing came in handy when he stepped into character Viola Davis said the director was 'right in her ear' to help her infuse her character [Amanda Waller] with terrifying authority. 'He'd say 'call them a b*tchnow call them p*****s',' said the 50-year-old Emmy winner. Adam Beach, who plays Slipknot, said he was surprised to see the illustration of his character had red hair. 'I was like 'oh my god I took Conan's part,' he quipped. Suicide Squad opens on August 5th 2016. Driving him batty: The Caped Crusader gets set to take down his old archenemy Not long now: Fans will be thrilled to learn Suicide Squad opens on August 5th Earlier in Conans show Bill Hader, Will Arnett, Jodie Foster, Melissa McCarthy, Adam Sandler, Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Middleditch, Jeff Goldblum and Curtis 50 Cent Jackson showed up for a skit about the audition process for the young Han Solo role. Is this a big spoiler? Han Solo, when he was young was he Pakistani? Asked Nanjian, who is of Pakistani descent. Adding: I will say, if you dont cast me in this youre racist. Thanks to every single funny person we know for helping us out with that, smiled OBrien after the star-laden skit. In the pending Star Wars film the coveted part of young Han Solo will actually be played by Alden Ehrenreich. Coming up a few dollars short: 50 Cent auditioned for the role of a young Han Solo in a hilarious skit And the Oscar goes to: Jodie Foster and Melissa McCarthy also competed for the iconic role She rocked Ramsay Street in May when she played the mysterious Mandy, trying to win over Andrew Morley's character on Neighbours. But Kristy Best has since swapped the soap set for the slime scene, as one of the newest television hosts for children's network Nickelodeon. The brunette beauty, who is hosting the SLIME CUP program, follows in the footsteps of Sunrise presenter James Tobin, and Peter Garrett's niece Maude Garrett, who made their solid starts in television on the same children's channel. Scroll down for video New host with the most: Australian actress Kristy Best is the new presenter for Nickelodeon's SLIME CUP program Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her involvement with the competitive reality show, Kristy said: 'From the start, it's been the most exhilarating and rewarding experience'. 'I couldn't have asked for a better crew and group of kids to work with. I'm very proud to be part of the show.' The SLIME CUP program follows a group of children, navigating their way through an obstacle-course style challenge, and like the title of the show suggests, plenty of slime is involved. Other famous faces who have worked with Nickelodeon in the past include James Tobin, James Kerley, Maude Garrett, Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd. Predecessors: Kristy follows in the footsteps of Peter Garrett's niece Maude Garrett (L) and Sunrise presenter James Tobin (R) who made their solid starts in television on the same children's channel Thrilled to be involved: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about her involvement with the competitive reality show, Kristy said: 'From the start, it's been the most exhilarating and rewarding experience' Tobin, who is currently a Weekend Sunrise weather reporter and presenter for Sunrise on Channel Seven, previously hosted SNTV (Saturday Nick Television), alongside Natalie Garonzi and Dave Lawson. Dave actually went on to host an afternoon program called Sarvo, with James Kerley, and also fronted Camp Orange, the program that aired prior to the new-format SLIME CUP series on Nickelodeon. Meanwhile Maude Garrett, the niece of politician and Midnight Oil musician Peter Garrett, began working at Nickelodeon in 2006, as a Camp Orange host, and eventually a Sarvo presenter. 'They're all so talented,' Kristy told Daily Mail Australia when asked about her Nickelodeon predecessors. Game on: The SLIME CUP program follows a group of children, navigating their way through an obstacle-course style challenge, and like the title of the show suggests, plenty of slime is involved 'I've met Luke and Wyatt in the past and James Tobin a very long time ago, but I'm yet to receive any advice. I'm sure they'd just tell me to be myself - which I'm doing.' Kristy's involvement with Nickelodeon comes after she graced screens earlier this year on Channel Eleven soap Neighbours. Opening up about the changed nature of this gig, she said: 'The great thing about hosting is more times than not, you get to be yourself and working with Nickelodeon allows me to be the quirky, funny person I am with my closest friends and family'. In action: Opening up about the changed nature of this gig, she said: 'The great thing about hosting is more times than not, you get to be yourself' Other familiar faces: James Kerley, Dave Lawson, Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd have also launched their showhbusiness careers on Nickelodeon She added: 'Acting is a completely different beast to hosting; you're creating a new character to walk in the shoes of and you're in equal parts collaborating with the actors around you to give a good performance.' In May she appeared on Australia's longest running soap, her character Mandy being caught in a love triangle between John, played by Andrew Morley, and Paige, portrayed by Olympia Valance. 'Shooting Neighbours was really great, especially because the crew and cast are so friendly,' she told Daily Mail Australia about her guest stint on the show. 'I enjoyed acting opposite Andrew Morley and being directed by the multi-talented Scott Major.' SLIME CUP airs on Nickelodeon at 5:30pm on Friday. Good times: Kristy recently filmed a segment for Nickelodeon's Slimefest with Cheerleader singer Omi It was the nightclub feud which made headlines right around the globe. Now, Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik has revealed she didn't know her fiance DJ Ruckus had brawled with ex Tyson Beckford for a 'few days'. It was reported at the time that the two males were fighting over the catwalk stunner following a night club appearance. Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik has revealed she didn't know her fiance DJ Ruckus had brawled with ex Tyson Beckford for a 'few days' Speaking to the New York Post, the 25-year-old explained her producer beau attempted to keep it a secret from her so she remained focused on the modelling set in London. 'I didn't know anything was going on. Then I got a call from my fiance,' she said adding, 'it happened a few days prior to him notifying me. 'He didn't want to get me off-track [from work]. Yeah, it was a very weird situation,' the Australian beauty continued. Head-to-head: It was reported at the time that the two males were fighting over the 25-year-old catwalk stunner following a night club appearance (Left, Ruckus, right, Tyson) Centre of attention: The 25-year-old said: 'I didn't know anything was going on. Then I got a call from my fiance...it happened a few days prior to him notifying me. He didn't want to get me off-track [from work]' Shanina's comments comes a month after she shrugged off their feud as 'funny' while speaking to Daily Mail Australia at an exclusive event in Sydney. 'It was funny at the time,' she said, adding: 'I wasn't even in town and I was working so I didn't know what was happening.' While trying to turn a blind eye to the internationally reported feud the Australian beauty insisted all is well between Tyson and Ruckus. 'Everything is really great now and I wish him [Tyson] well and the most happiness just like my fiance and I have,' Shanina grinned to Daily Mail Australia. Turning a blind eye: Shanina's comments comes a month after she shrugged off their feud as 'funny' while speaking to Daily Mail Australia at an exclusive event in Sydney Last month, Ruckus told Arzo Anwar's So Chic podcast he wanted a re-match against the muscular model, saying: 'If you want to fight, I'll fight'. Ruckus seemed to confirm that the rivalry over Victoria's Secret model Shanina still continues weeks after their infamous NYC brawl. 'I'd love (a re-match)' he revealed, before clarifying: 'In a somewhat controlled environment, away from police, cameras.' The day after the 'bloody' brawl last month, Shanina posted to Twitter, 'I only know of one man and he fights for me'. Well wishes: The Australian model added: 'Everything is really great now and I wish him [Tyson] well and the most happiness just like my fiance (pictured) and I have' Round two? Last month, Ruckus told Arzo Anwar's So Chic podcast he wanted a re-match against the muscular model, saying: 'If you want to fight, I'll fight' At the time it was reported that Tyson got into a late night fight with Ruckus over the Victoria's Secret model. The brawl between the former friends happened outside the Up & Down nightclub in Manhattan, New York, according to TMZ. Tyson, a former Ralph Lauren model, had dated the Australian beauty on and off since 2008. But the couple finally called time on their relationship last year. Message: The day after the 'bloody' brawl in June, Shanina posted to Twitter, 'I only know of one man and he fights for me' Everyone loves her! At the time it was reported that Tyson got into a late night fight with Ruckus over the Victoria's Secret model And it seems Tyson wasn't best pleased when Ruckus, who has a residency at Hakkasan Las Vegas, got with his ex just a couple of months later. Apparently bad feelings had been growing between the two, and it surfaced when they bumped into one another at the nightclub. A slanging match erupted, with the 32-year-old DJ flipping off the 45-year-old model turned actor, sources told TMZ, and they then took it out to the street. Former flame: Tyson, a former Ralph Lauren model, had dated the Australian beauty on and off since 2008. But the couple finally called time on their relationship last year The website reported that the fight was violent and bloody, with Tyson on top of Ruckus beating him up as one of the DJ's friends began punching Tyson in the head. A doorman called the cops, but by the time they got there the men were gone and no arrests were made. Shanina and Tyson met on the set of Australia's Make Me A Supermodel in which she was a contestant and he was the host as well as a judge and mentor. The brunette stunner and Ruckus, whose real name is Gregory Andrew, are now planning their wedding after getting engaged during a romantic holiday in the Maldives last December. She rose to international fame after debuting on the modelling catwalk for the New York autumn/winter season fashion show in 2009. Now, seven years on and Shanina Shaik is headed for the big screens alongside some of Hollywood's big names. In her latest interview with the New York Post, the 25-year-old model revealed she is set to star in The Mummy two with Tom Cruise after knocking back a role in Superman 2. Scroll down for video Making it: Shanina Shaik is heading for the big screens alongside some of Hollywood's big names While speaking to the publication, she explained she always thought she was 'too shy' to appear in movies and that she 'didn't think I had the confidence for acting'. 'Seeing other models try an acting role made me think, "Well maybe I could do it".' So far little is known about Shanina's role in The Mummy as well as the new plot for the reboot. Coming soon: In her latest interview with the New York Post , the 25-year-old model revealed she is set to star in The Mummy two with Tom Cruise which is set for cinemas next year Tight lipped: While keeping mum about her role in the movie, she revealed she had knocked back opportunities to star in Superman 2 and a flick alongside Bradley Cooper The new title will be set in the modern day - a stark contrast to the period setting of the last three titles under The Mummy umbrella, which starred Brendan Frasier. Star Trek and Transformers writer Alex Kurtzman has been brought on-board to helm the project, and will take up the reigns as director. The latest take on the classic monster flick is slated for a 2017 release at the moment, with the film due to hit screens in June. Matching: While on the topic of the Hollywood hunk, Bradley, she said people usually get confused between his girlfriend Irina Shayk (R) and herself (L) Shanina went on to explain to the US publication that she had turned down numerous auditions and offers in the past including 'Superman 2 and a movie starring Bradley Cooper'. While on the topic of the Hollywood hunk, Bradley, she said people usually get confused between his girlfriend Irina Shayk and herself. 'People always think we're sisters. We have a similar complexion and have so much in common it's weird,' she said, adding. 'I take it as a compliment.' Honoured: She said: 'People always think we're sisters. We have a similar complexion and have so much in common it's weird...I take it as a compliment' (Irina Shayk pictured) Being one of the busiest guys in television and a father of two small children, it's no doubt hard to find time for romance. But James Corden is making sure to keep the spark alive with wife Julia Carey, as they enjoyed a date night in Santa Monica, California on Saturday. Enjoying a relaxed evening out at the Shore Bar, the 37-year-old chat show host and his wife of four years looked content as they spent some one-on-one time together. Scroll down for video Look of love: James walked hand-in-hand with his love, who he married in 2012, in California after dining at the Shore bar in Santa Monica on Saturday night Date night! James and Julia still appear to be very much in the honeymoon phase Channelling casual cool, James worked a statement polo neck shirt in navy with a red collar buttoned to the top. Continuing his chilled out style, the League of Their Own presenter wore a pair of simple black chino, stylishly clashing with his navy polo neck. Finishing his ensemble, the funnyman flaunted a pair of black leather slip-on and silver watch. While James' wife Julia out her best fashion foot forward in a black and white print jumpsuit. Eye-catching: James stylish clashed his navy t-shirt with a pair of black chinos as he walked beside wife Julia in a fashionable black and white printed jumpsuit Looking chic walking hand-in-hand with her beau, Julia finished her looked with a simple pair of black strappy sandals and metallic clutch. Boasting a healthy glow, Julia kept her make-up to minimum as she let her bronze skin shine while she left her blonde tresses loose. Not alone on their dinner date, the pair were joined by friend and executive producer of The Late Late Show Ben Winston. Strutting: The 37-year-old presenter and actor strutted down Santa Monica with his pal Ben Winston Pier pals: James looked chilled as he walked along the sidewalk with in his black slip-ons with friend and The Late Late Show executive producer Ben Glowing: James boasted a healthy tan on his night out which he topped up earlier in the day at Soho Beach House Ben, who directed a number of One Direction's music videos, looked relaxed beside his pal in a simple navy t-shirt, jeans and NIke trainers. Meanwhile, it's has been a fun-filled day for the king of late night as he took a well-deserved beach beach with his family at Malibu favourite Soho Beach House in California earlier in the day. Enjoying a break away from the TV studio, The Late Late Show host looked thrilled to soak up the sun with his kids and wife, Julia Carey in tow. Doting on his children, Max and Carey, the British star looked at ease as wore his black polo t-shirt buttoned up in the burning hot sun. Family day out: James enjoyed a family day out with the family at Malibu favourite Soho Beach House in California earlier on in the day Perhaps getting carried away at in the surf, James light grey shorts were soaked as he carried his little girl away from the beachside venue, who looked sweet in a light blue summer dress and bright fuchsia pink sandals. Finishing off his laid-back look, James matched his relaxed ensemble with a pair of a simple all black trainers and uber cool sunglasses with soft brown lens. Looking pleased to have a spent a day of the beach, James wife Julia, looked chic as she flaunted her enviable toned pins in a pair of blue ripped denim short shorts. Walking with her son Max, four, the blonde beauty complimented her TV star husband in a sleeveless black collared shirt and leather backpack with gold zipper detailing. Adding to her look, Julia swept her golden tresses into a ponytail while she held a pair of gold aviator sunglasses. She revealed she has split from her boyfriend Olly Foster, but they remain friends. And Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson, 31, made sure to show the personal trainer what he's missing when she headed out on Saturday night. The former Hollyoaks star showed off her incredible gym-honed figure as she left Neighbourhood bar in Manchester with her girl pals, going braless in a very sexy mini dress. Scroll down for video Golden girl: Newly single Gemma Atkinson looked incredible when she left Neighbourhood bar in Manchester on Saturday night as she went braless in an extreme plunging mini dress Sad times: She revealed she has split from her boyfriend Olly Foster, but they remain friends The extreme plunging neckline showed off her ample assets and the short hem revealed her toned and tanned legs. Clutching a bag in her hand, she wore her blonde locks in two buns as she made the most of her fun night out. She later petted a man's dog in the street, making sure to hang onto her modesty as she leant over in her gold statement heels. Working her magic: The extreme plunging neckline showed off her ample assets and the short hem revealed her toned and tanned legs Gemma says she and Olly are still close and he continues to train her, despite them going their separate ways. She told the Sunday People: 'Sometimes there are people in your life and it's just not working out the way you thought. We'll always be in each other's life but just as friends. 'We went on a road trip the other week together. Now I can't get away with ditching sessions as he's quite strict with me. I'm happily single. 'I've got the dogs and lots going on professionally. It's nice to be on my own for a bit.I have not even thought about dating. I will give it a few months.' Cute: She later petted a man's dog in the street, making sure to hang onto her modesty as she leant over in her gold statement heels The split comes as a surprise as Gemma previously revealed plans to have children with Olly. She previously said: 'I always said I'd have a baby at 32 - my mum had me at 32 - so hopefully we'll do that in a few years if God allows it.' Meanwhile, along with playing Carly Hope on Emmerdale, Gemma is also keeping busy with her movie career and recently filmed a Bollywood movie. They announced they were expecting their second child in February. And with only weeks to go until the arrival of their little bundle, Kate Waterhouse and former NRL player husband Luke Ricketson have begun looking for a new place to call home. The couple placed their Randwick, Sydney investment property on the market on Friday for a whopping $1.5million, 13 years after purchasing the location for $940,000. Scroll down for video For sale: Kate Waterhouse and former NRL player husband Luke Ricketson have put their Randwick investment property on the market for a whopping $1.5million According to Domain, Kate and Luke have been searching for a new family home in Mosman as an upgrade from their current Balmoral Beach apartment. Their Randwick three-bedroom home, which is situated on a 257 square-metre block, have built-in wardrobes and a contemporary bathroom with a deep bath and a concealed laundry. The open-planned living area features a gas kitchen with polished white timber and a breakfast bar as well as high ornate ceilings and polished timber floorboards. On the market: The couple are selling their house after picking it up for $940,000 13 years ago, in a bid to find a new family home before the arrival of their second child in the coming weeks Open plan: The three-bedroom home has an open-planned living area and features a gas kitchen with a polish white timber finish It is also situated close to local village shops, public transport, cafes and minutes away from the beachside. The homely location is set to go to auction on August 13. The hopeful sale of the home comes six months after Kate, 32, announced she was pregnant with her second daughter. The finer details: It also has a breakfast bar as well as high ornate ceilings and polished timber floorboards Going, going, gone: The homely location is set to go to auction on August 13 At the time she took to Instagram to share the happy news, uploading a photo of her two-year-old daughter, Sophia, staring at what appears to be an ultrasound scan. Kate wrote in the caption: 'Telling Sophia she is going to have a baby sister! So excited.' She also made sure to tag her husband Luke, who shared a similar photo to his Instagram account. In the caption, he wrote: 'Yes Sophia - You are getting a sister! @katewaterhouse7 #houseofpink #prouddad' An a Hollywood icon, he's always on the go. And Brad Pitt ensures he always travels in style which was evident as he arrived in a chic all-white outfit at New York's JFK Airport on Sunday. The 52-year-old actor even embraced his softer side as he stopped to take pictures with an array of die-hard fans. Scroll down for video A-list: Brad Pitt, 52, ensures he always travels in style which was evident as he arrived in a chic all-white outfit at New York's JFK Airport on Sunday Keeping them happy: The light-weight attire also helped out as he was surrounded by his adoring fans who pleaded to capture the moment Wearing his much-loved fedora around Manhattan on Saturday, he kept his cool in a trusted stylish fedora hat. Strutting around Manhattan, the film star boasted a white see-through jumper rolled above the elbow, highlighting his muscular physique as he paired it with a form-fitting vest. Finishing his relaxed look, Brad paired his top with a pair of beige chino's, dark brown belt and camel coloured boots. The light-weight attire also helped out as he was surrounded by his adoring fans who pleaded to capture the moment White hot: The film star boasted a white see-through jumper rolled above the elbow, highlighting his muscular physique as he paired it with a form-fitting vest Effortless: Brad looked effortlessly cool as he rocked an all white outfit while out in Manhattan on Saturday A vision in beige: The actor perfectly coordinated his beige ensemble while out and about in NYC Cool: Brad rocked a pair of purple lens sunglasses as he walked through the Big Apple Adding some stylish touches to his ensemble, Brad rocked a pair of purple lens sunglasses, gold chain and a statement watch. Earlier this week, Brad left fans in a frenzy once again in New York when he was mobbed by dozens of devotees. Brad looked every bit the cool customer despite the chaotic scene as he made his way through the crowd. Touchdown: Brad was rocking the same look as he touched down in Los Angeles the following day Too much lifting? The star seems to have injured his left shoulder as it was heavily taped up Many lucky fans were even able to snap up a selfie with the handsome star before he hopped into a pick-up vehicle. The Inglorious Basterds star was as dressed as cool as his demeanor while he wore a relaxed. yet stylish ensemble. Brad sported a white long-sleeved button-down top over a grey shirt and indigo-wash jeans. Cool guy: Brad Pitt was spotted leaving his hotel in New York City on Thursday when he was mobbed by dozens of fans Chill: He accessorised with a tan fedora and aviator shades The husband of Angelina Jolie finished off the look with beige suede boots as he accessorised with a tan fedora and aviator shades. Brad and the 41-year-old actress-activist share six children: Maddox, 14, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10 and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. The family have been living in London as he films WWII spy drama Allied over the past few months. Just the two of us: One fan seemed lucky enough to get a selfie with Brad A day in the life: As Brad is one of the most famous actors in the world, no doubt he is used to this type of commotion Brad's trip to New York comes their Chateau Miraval estate in the South of France is under threat from fires in nearby town of Correns. The lavish estate, which has 35 bedrooms and a vineyard, also has a chapel, where the celebrity couple married in 2014. In addition to filming in London, Brad has also signed on to produce Ben Stiller's new comedy Brad's Status through his Plan B production company. The film, written by Enlightened creator Mike White, follows a man who must confront his failures after comparing himself to his more successful friends. Family: Brad and wife Angelina Jolie with their children (L-R) Pax, Zahara, Knox, Shiloh and Maddox at the the premiere of Disney's Maleficent in Hollywood in 2014 She has been working her beachwear hard over the past few days, while soaking up the balmy climes in Bali. And Lindy Klim spent another day by a luxurious swimming pool, showing off her fantastic figure in a nude two-piece before slipping into a sexy black bikini as she relaxed in the sun over the weekend. Taking to her social media sites to Sunday, the brunette beauty happily showcased her enviably trim curves and statuesque frame in various Instagram snaps. Scroll down for video This is the life! Lindy Klim spent another day by a luxurious swimming pool, showing off her fantastic figure in a nude two-piece as she relaxed in the sun over the weekend Cheers to a great weekend... #celebrating #love #friends, she captioned one picture. Lindy, who is the estranged wife of Australian Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, looked blissfully happy as she posed up a storm in front of a beautiful sea-front view. Her trip in her homeland comes after a short travelling stint to Los Angeles with her new boyfriend Adam Ellis. Wow thing! The mother-of-three then slipped into a sexy black bikini Cheers to a great weekend': Taking to her social media sites to Sunday, the brunette beauty happily showcased her enviably trim curves and statuesque frame in various Instagram snaps The mother-of-three separated from her Olympic star Michael - who is now dating fashion designer Desiree Deravi - in February after 10 years of marriage. Speaking with Daily Mail Australia, the pretty model confessed she didn't predict falling back in love so soon after her recent split. '[It's] completely not what I expected, to fall back into another relationship, but he's so lovely,' she said cheerfully. 'It's about time I got on with my life.' If you've got it: It comes after a short trip to Los Angeles with her new boyfriend Adam Ellis New flame: Lindy is seen here at a Sydney event in May with her new man Adam Ellis Michael and Lindy, who tied the knot in 2006, announced their separation in a joint statement after months of speculation in February. The pair's management told news.com.au: 'It is with much respect for each other that Michael and Lindy Klim have agreed to formally separate, believing that this decision is best for their family. 'Michael and Lindy's children will always remain their highest priority, and their happiness will be Michael and Lindy's primary focus. We ask that you respect their privacy at this time.' She announced her engagement to Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel earlier this week. And Miranda Kerr couldn't look happier as she flashed her beautiful diamond ring while heading out to dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday night. The 33-year-old supermodel flashed her outrageously lean tanned legs in a white lace playsuit, while making the most of her newly-accessorised fingers as she tamed the billowy cardigan. Scroll down for video Glowing: Newly engaged Miranda Kerr, 33, looked incredible in a lace playsuit as she headed out to dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday night Fancy: She showed off a giant diamond on her engagement finger following the proposal The white garment skimmed on to her figure, while the cream coloured cover-up added the perfect airy touch to the ensemble. And while she already stands at a towering 5 ft 9 in, the Australian stunner accentuated her frame in sky-high strappy ankles. And even though her cheeks were contoured to perfection, her natural red-lipped smile came in a close second to her manicured nails in terms of attention. Earlier this week Miranda accepted the proposal from 26-year-old tech superstar Evan, who she has been dating for one year. 'They are extremely happy,' a spokesperson for the Snapchat CEO told DailyMail.com exclusively. Miranda- who was previously married to Orlando Bloom- later shared an image of her stunning sparkler to Instagram confirming that Evan had indeed asked her to be his wife, with the beaming message: 'I said yes!!!' Forbes has valued Spiegel - who founded Snapchat while he was still at Stanford - at $2.1billion, making him one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world. Miranda and Evan stepped out in public together as a couple in June 2015 after first meeting at a Louis Vuitton dinner in New York City in 2014. Beauty: Her cheeks were contoured to perfection and her lips boasted a slick of glossy red Stunner: The supermodel flashed her outrageously lean tanned legs in a white lace playsuit Major reason to be happy: She couldn't wipe the smile from her face Hair-envy: Her chestnut brunette shoulder length locks tousled across her front Angelic: The white garment skimmed on to her figure, while the cream coloured cover-up added the perfect airy touch to the ensemble The star said that even though they hit it off together almost immediately, they began their relationship as friends. 'We were really good friends for a long time before we started dating,' said Miranda to a newspaper in Australia when she was asked how her and Evan came together. The model has also said in the past that she waited six months before she introduced Evan to her five-year-old son Flynn. Set to tie the knot: Earlier this week Miranda accepted the proposal from 26-year-old tech superstar Evan, who she has been dating for one year She said: '[My ex and I decided] that we had to know the person for six months and feel good about them [before introducing them to Flynn]. 'Evan met Flynn, so yeah, things are going well. Orlando thinks he's great. We're just a modern family now!' Kerr shot to fame as one of the faces of Victoria's Secret. The model stepped down as one of the brand's Angels in 2013, and since then has done campaigns for companies including H&M, Swarovski, Reebok and Wonderbra. Happy news: Miranda posted this image to Instagram which confirmed her engagement to Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel Advertisement She was once nominated for the Sexiest Female Award for her role of Maddie Morrison in Hollyoaks. And now Scarlett Bowman has proved that one man has well and truly stolen her heart as she tied the knot in Portofino, Italy on Saturday. The 30-year-old former soap star looked every inch the glowing bride in a sensational white gown as she was joined at the glittering event with her brother Joshua Bowman and his a-list actress girlfriend Emily VanCamp. Getting hitched: Scarlett Bowman, 30, has proved that one man has well and truly stolen her heart as she tied the knot in Portofino, Italy on Saturday Happy: The former soap star looked every inch the glowing bride in a sensational white gown as she wed her dapper other half Emily's white a-line dress featured cuffed shoulders as well as an intricate sheer lace neckline, before flaring out in to a glamorous skirt. The talented starlet added to the whimsical appeal with her centre-parted blonde locks which were styled in to a glamorous low bun and attached with a long beautiful veil. Clearly a natural stunner, Scarlett kept her make-up look natural with light pink lips and lashings of mascara. Her other half couldn't help but beam while looked incredibly dapper in a navy suit which boasted a slick black neckline. He teamed it with a crisp white shirt underneath and a bow-tie. Glamour: Scarlett's brother Joshua Bowman was joined by his stunning Canadian girlfriend Emily VanCamp Fashionista: She looked radiant in an emerald green structured number which hugged on to her curves before falling at a midi-length level Looker! Josh looked incredibly handsome in his navy suit as he propped one foot on the steps Suave: He added to the look with a slick bow-tie The couple looked very much in love as they said their vows and shared their first kiss as husband and wife. And upon exiting the venue, the lovebirds were welcomed with their family and friendly who couldn't help but take pictures to capture the special moment. In particular, Scarlett's brother Joshua was hard-pressed to hide his excitement as he was joined by his stunning Canadian girlfriend Emily. Congrats: The lovebirds couldn't contain their excitement A vision: Scarlett wore open-toe white heels for her big day The Captain America star met Josh when they co-starred together in the drama series Revenge which aired from 2011 to 2015. And she looked radiant in an emerald green structured number which hugged on to her curves before falling at a midi-length level. While she arrived in glamorous gold heels, the pain became too much to handle and she changed in to a pair of comp flip flops. Her big day! She beamed after the nuptials were complete Attendees: There was a glam turn-out Chilling: Joshua let loose after the ceremony Not over-doing it: Clearly the natural beauty, Scarlett kept her make-up look low-key Limelight: Scarlett shot to fame in 2011 with her role as school bully Maddie in Hollyoaks Emily looked incredibly glamorous, but she still couldn't manage to steal the attention away from Scarlett who looked breath-taking on her big day. The newlyweds beamed as they drove away to start their new life together in an awaiting yellow vehicle which was decked out in flowers. Others at the wedding included her fellow Hollyoaks co-star Lucy Jane Dixon and magician Drummond Money-Coutts. Adios! The newlyweds beamed as they drove away to start their new life together Details: The awaiting yellow vehicle which was decked out in flowers Advertisement She's in Italy where she received a prestigious honour at the Giffoni Film Festival in Giffoni Valle Piana. And on Friday Jennifer Aniston looked to be living la dolce vita as she enjoyed the Italian sunshine, sunbathing by the pool in a luxurious hillside accomodation in Ravello. Opting to spend a day topping up her tan, the 47-year-old Hollywood star showcase her toned figure in a bandeau multicoloured bikini top and black thong bottoms. Scroll down for video La Dolce Vita! On Friday Jennifer Aniston looked to be living la dolce vita as she enjoyed the Italian sunshine, sunbathing by the pool in a luxurious hillside accomodation in Ravello Tying her brunette hair off her face, the We're The Miller's star ensured her locks didn't fall across her pretty features, whilst she combated the glare foof the sun with a pair of dark shades and a sun hat as she lay back to enjoy a book. A resident of the balmy and sunny climes of California, Jennifer appeared to be a dab hand at tanning, and ensured the sun caught her from every angle as she moved around to her front to get the most of the sunshine. After a good sunbathing session she threw on a short black playsuit and went over to a group of her friends to enjoy a catch-up, laughing and joking as they all caught up. Soaking up the sun: Opting to spend a day topping up her tan, the 47-year-old Hollywood star showcase her toned figure in a bandeau multicoloured bikini top and black thong bottoms All the angles: A resident of the balmy and sunny climes of California, Jennifer appeared to be a dab hand at tanning, and ensured the sun caught her from every angle as she moved around to her front to get the most of the sunshine - before a brief catch-up with a pal The star also enjoyed a boat cruise with her posse of pals over the weekend, and setting sail with them as they boarded a luxury yacht on the Amalfi coast. And as befitting her status as a Hollywood A-Lister the actress got the VIP treatment, and was carefully ushered onto the vessel by some chivalrous male companions. And Jennifer made the most of the famous Adriatic coastline, as she took in all the sights and sounds of Italy's beautiful Eastern coastline. Feeling the heat? Tying her brunette hair off her face, the We're The Miller's star ensured her locks didn't fall across her pretty features, whilst she combated the glare foof the sun with a pair of dark shades and a sun hat as she lay back to enjoy a book Jennifer is due to be honoured at the 46th Annual Giffoni Film Festival earlier this week, where she will talk about the span of her career - which really took off in the '90s with Friends - with the festival's jurors. The actress, who played Rachel Green in the sitcom, looked in great spirits as she greeted the huge crowd of fans gathered at the event, stopping to sign autographs and snap pictures. 'Beloved by an entire generation who grew up watching her play the fan-favourite in the celebrated television series Friends (1994-2004), Aniston will discuss her inspirational career with the biggest and most diverse jury of youth in the world,' the festival said in a press release ahead of the event. Surroundings: The beautiful backdrop helped the actress relax from her busy schedule Toned and tanned: The brunette beauty showed off her lithe and gum-honed body as she made the most of the Mediterranean weather Jennifer famously won an Emmy Award (2002) and a Golden Globe (2003) during her time on Friends, which remains one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. The Hollywood icon has also enjoyed a prolific film career, with roles in the likes of Bruce Almighty (2003),2 The Break-Up (2006) and Marley & Me (2008). And the actress has been making the most of her trip to Italy, spending time soaking up the sights of the stunning Amalfi coast earlier in the week. The stunning star's spotting comes a week after her candid op-ed piece for The Huffington Post about the speculation over her family plans. Chic and sociable: After a good sunbathing session she threw on a short black playsuit and went over to her group of friends to enjoy a catch-up Preoccupied: Taking a break from her book she checked for updates on her cell phone, and looked to have no urgent business to attend to as she once-again discarded the tech 'We are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child,' she wrote. 'We dont need to be married or mothers to be complete.' Aniston began dating The Leftovers star, Justin Theroux, 44, in May 2011. The couple became engaged in 2012 and were married three years later in August 2015 at their Bel Air estate. 'We get to determine our own happily ever after for ourselves,' she continued. The Emmy winner added: 'Yes, I may become a mother some day, and since Im laying it all out there, if I ever do, I will be the first to let you know. But Im not in pursuit of motherhood because I feel incomplete in some way.' Keeping up with the goss: The Friends star chatted with a number of pals as she showed off her golden tan throughout her sunbathing session Australian DJ Flume - real name Harley Streten - has taken a swipe at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson during his closing set at Splendour In The Grass music festival in Byron Bay on Sunday. At the end of his 45 minutes set on the main stage, the 24-year-old said 'F**k Pauline Hanson' before closing off with a simple 'goodnight'. Following his comment, the popular musician sent social media into meltdown with many of his fans praising him for his statement. Australian DJ Flume - real name Harley Streten - has taken a swipe at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson during his closing set at Splendour In The Grass music festival in Byron Bay on Sunday (Pictured in New York) One Twitter user posted, 'omg bless you (sic),' along with the quote, while another published, 'Literally our nation's pride & joy.' Another social media user wrote: 'Artist led "F**k Pauline Hanson"'s I counted at #SITG2016: 3. I'm sure there were more.' 'And @Flumemusic ends his epic #SITG set with a terrific call,' a fan of the DJ published. Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for Flume for a comment. But while it is not known why the artist made the offensive comment towards the politician, over the last week Ms Hanson had made headlines across the nation for her party's policies. At the end of his 45 minutes set on the main stage, the 24-year-old said 'F**k Pauline Hanson' before closing off with a simple 'goodnight' (Pictured in Columbia in May 2016) But while it is not known why the artist made the offensive comment towards the politician, over the last week Ms Hanson had made headlines across the nation for her party's policies Ms Hanson's One Nation party has been criticised for its anti-Islam policies, including calls to ban halal certification and prohibiting Muslims from wearing the burqa in public. Last week, she was accused of plagiarising a number of her party's policies from other anti-Islamic and far right political websites. In the middle of the endless headlines created by the politician, a Sydney pub held a 'F*** Pauline Hanson' party. The Lord Gladstone Hotel in Chippendale, who planned the event for Sunday, invited 'anyone and everyone to come down to the pub and share some laughs in an all-inclusive, friendly environment', reported New Matilda. Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for the DJ for a comment (Pictured at Splendour In The Grass, 2016) Ms Hanson's One Nation party has been criticised for its anti-Islam policies, including calls to ban halal certification and prohibiting Muslims from wearing the burqa in public The event description states: 'Whether you wanna talk politics or just be in the presence of likeminded people who openly can't stand the ridiculousness that is Pauline Hanson and her agenda.' They also planned to serve their own version of the 'Halal Snack Pack', a Chippo Snack Pack (CSP), $10 Bloody Paulines and other themed drinks. Halal snack packs are a meat, chips and sauce dish which have become a symbol of anti-Islamophobic politics. Hours before Flume's controversial comment on stage, he took to Twitter to warn fans for a 'few surprises' which he had installed for his set. 'Splendour - tonight I have some surprises for you. Probably not what you're expecting but it's going to be special,' he posted. Last week, a Sydney pub held a 'F*** Pauline Hanson' party, which invited 'anyone and everyone to come down to the pub and share some laughs in an all-inclusive, friendly environment' The Real Housewives of Sydney doesn't hit screens until next year, but there's already a savage feud brewing between the Sydney cast and their Melbourne counterparts. In a sensational social media attack, RHOM's Gamble Breaux has lashed out at 'stupid old cow' Lisa Oldfield after the upcoming Real Housewives of Sydney star slammed both the Melbourne Housewives and their 'also-ran' city. Taking to the Facebook page of Pedestrian TV, who had shared a video of Lisa's slam on Melbourne, Gamble commented: 'Anne Winters wannabe can eat my p***y lips!' 'Good luck riding off our ratings you stupid old cow:' Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gamble Breaux slammed Sydney Housewife Lisa Oldfield in a shocking Facebook attack over the weekend The 44-year-old continued: 'Good luck riding off our ratings you stupid old cow. Blood sucking ticks like you wouldn't survive in Melbourne.' The fun-loving former art consultant finished: 'I have a better looking mop at home that I clean my floor with.' Gamble's fiery attack comes after Lisa said that 'the benchmark is too low' to compare herself to any of the Melbourne cast. 'Anne Winters wannabe can eat my p***y lips!' Gamble, who is an advocate for gynecological cancer research, brought her vagina into the beef as she attacked Lisa 'I have a better looking mop at home that I clean my floor with,' Gamble said of Lisa, who is married to One Nation party co-founder David Oldfield The outspoken wife of David Oldfield continued: 'They come from an also-ran city. The best thing about Melbourne is their upside down river, which is heavily polluted.' She finished by barbing: 'I mean, they look like a lot of fun, but they'd have to come up here because I certainly wouldn't go down there.' Meanwhile, another Sydney Housewife, artist Athena Levendi, has also taken a savage swipe at the Melbourne cast. 'They lack decorum:' Real Housewives of Sydney star Athena Levendi has also attacked her Melbourne rivals 'The Melbourne Housewives to me look like retired casino waitresses,' said the blonde artist Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, the statuesque blonde remarked: 'The Melbourne Housewives to me look like retired casino waitresses.' 'They lack decorum,' she concluded with a laugh. The Real Housewives of Sydney is set to premiere in 2017. She has always had an enviable figure. But Princess Charlene of Monaco looked thinner than ever when she stepped out at the 68th annual Red Cross Gala on Saturday. The 38-year-old Monegasque royal boasted a tiny waist as she arrived at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on the arm of her husband Prince Albert II. Scroll down for video Stunning: Princess Charlene of Monaco looked thinner than ever when she stepped out at the 68th annual Red Cross Gala on Saturday Wearing a stunning floor-length purple evening gown, the Zimbabwean-born former Olympic swimmer looked every inch the perfect princess. She added serious sparkle to her ensemble with a pair of weighty drop diamond earrings and a matching bracelet. And she accessorised with a dazzling silver clutch to hold her essentials for the evening and held a posy of bright orange and yellow flowers. Framing her radiant complexion were her highlighted blonde tresses, which were worn pushed back in her trademark quiff. Back in the day: Charlene Wittstock (L) and Prince Albert II of Monaco pictured at the F1 Grand Prix in 2007 Honoured: Princess Charlene Wittstock was the first swimmer to win gold at the All Africa Games in 1999 Then and now: Posing for South African Sports Illustrated in November 2001 (L) and as she is today (R) But, when compared to pictures of herself from previous years, the effortlessly galmorous star looked considerably thinner than ever before. In particular, her collar bones seemed to be more visible and her waistline more trim than usual. This change in appearance was further highlighted by her short hairstyle, which helped emphasise her thin style. Refined: She added serious sparkle to her ensemble with a pair of weighty drop diamond earrings and a matching bracelet Looking good: Her highlighted blonde tresses were worn pushed back in her trademark quiff, framing her radiant complexion Prince Albert was dapper in his favourite white dinner jacket worn with a smart black bow tie and a lapel ribbon. Hundreds of dignitaries and stars from the worlds of art, charity and politics sat down for a sumptuous dinner in aid of the charity. Princess Charlene appeared entirely at ease as she chatted happily to her neighbours during the meal. Elegant: The 38-year-old Monegasque royal arrived at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo on the arm of her husband Prince Albert II, who - as tradition dictates - opened the annual ball Glamorous: Wearing a stunning floor-length purple evening gown, the Zimbabwean-born former Olympic swimmer looked every inch the perfect princess Waving to the crowd: The princess accessorised with a dazzling silver clutch to hold her essentials for the evening and held a posy of bright orange and yellow flowers Pleased to meet you! The royals are introduced to a waiting dignitary at the prestigious annual event Taking a moment: The prince and princess smiled as they readied themselves for the evening ahead Dapper: Prince Albert wore his favourite white dinner jacket worn with a smart black bow tie and a lapel ribbon. First thrown in 1948 by the young Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the gala is now hosted every year by the Monegasque royals to raise money for the The Monaco Red Cross and humanitarian causes. Now in its 68th year, the Gala de la Croix-Rouge regularly draws Monaco's finest and wealthiest as its guests. The royal couple, who open the ball each year, have been married for four years and have 19-month-old twins Gabriella and Jacques. No surprises! The royal couple have been to numerous royal functions and galas as a married couple Enjoying herself: Hundreds of dignitaries and stars from the worlds of art, charity and politics sat down for a sumptuous dinner in aid of the charity Much to say: Princess Charlene appeared entirely at ease as she chatted happily to her neighbours during the meal Composed: The prince and princess appeared more than happy to pose for photographs by the world's media The births of the young prince and princess were greeted with cannon fire and an excited outpouring of joy from locals, as well as sighs of relief within the royal family. The arrival of Prince Jaques meant that a legitimate male heir to the throne had finally arrived, putting an end to one of Europe's longest-running dynastic sagas. Although Prince Albert has two other children Jazmin, 22, and Alexandre Coste, 11, neither are eligible to inherit the throne of Monaco because they were born out of wedlock. This way! First thrown in 1948 by the young Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the gala is now hosted every year by the Monegasque royals to raise money for the The Monaco Red Cross and humanitarian causes She burst onto the show last year in an explosive manner. But on Sunday afternoon Kate Wright was all smiles as she led the TOWIE style stakes at the Brickyard in Essex, where cast members assembled to shoot some sun-drenched scenes. Showing off her toned and trim midriff in a khaki crop top and trouser combo, the 24-year-old reality star oozed a restrained summer style - severely at contrasts with show newcomer Amber Dowding, Scroll down for video Steeling the show: On Sunday afternoon Kate Wright was all smiles as she led the TOWIE style stakes at the Brickyard in Essex, where cast members assembled to shoot some sun-drenched scenes The pretty blonde - who has endured a turbulent life on-screen thanks to her rocky romance with on/off boyfriend Dan Edgar - looked to be in high spirits as she arrived for filming,. Keeping things restrained yet slightly sassy, Kate chose to show some skin but kept her modesty firmly in-tact thanks to her slinky crop-top. And whilst many of her fellow ITVBe stars flashed their pins, the blonde beauty opted to keep her look low-key yet chic; donning a pair of fitted trousers, which subtly highlighted her gym-honed limbs. She rounded her look off with a flourish and wore a pair of strappy gold stilettos, which served to further define her slim curves - though it seems she's been in the wars, as Kate sported a bandaged toe on one foot. Contrasting loos: Showing off her toned and trim midriff in a khaki top and trousers combo, the reality star, 24, oozed a restrained summer style - severely at contrasts with show newcomer Amber Dowding (pictured) She stuck to her simple and uncomplicated look with her accessories, and only wore a smattering of jewellery. Wearing her long blonde mane in bouncing waves down past her shoulder, she allowed her pretty features to come to the fore with a subtle make-up palette. But clearly also very keen to make an impression in the style stakes was newcomer Amber went all out in a lacey skirt and crop combination. Flashing plenty of flesh, the 22-year-old hairdresser showcased her legs to the max thanks to her high-waisted mini skirt that featured a semi-sheer hemline, which she teamed with towering fringed heels. Matching mates? Meanwhile series 17 newcomers Chloe Meadows and Courtney Green arrived in similar ensembles, opting to embrace the heat whilst flashing their pins in shorts Adding a matching sternum-grazing crop top to complete her loo, the show's newcomer certainly wasn't afraid to make to up the ante in the wardrobe department. Meanwhile series 17 newcomers Chloe Meadows and Courtney Green arrived in similar ensembles, opting to embrace the heat whilst flashing their pins in shorts. But while Chloe, 23, opted for a more demure look in a turquoise top to match her bottoms, her BFF, Courtney, flashed a serious amount of flesh in a racy pink top. Though neither girl was afraid of showing off their toned and tanned figures earlier in the week when they met up with Megan McKenna to film more of the show on Wednesday. Fun in the sun: Though neither girl was afraid of showing off their toned and tanned figures earlier in the week when they met up with Megan McKenna to film more of the show on Wednesday Taking to her Instagram account, Megan, 23, shared a saucy video of the three girls jumping around in a hot tub in some flesh-flashing swimsuits. The trio, who have named their friendship group the 'girl band', can be seen showcasing their tanned and toned bikini bodies as they bask in the summer sun. Not a stranger to cavorting on camera in variety of swimwear, thanks to her time on MTV's tropical reality show, Megan manages to steal the limelight in a barely-there black swimsuit. Opting for a black one-piece, which featured a depply plunging neckline, the Essex girl - who is currently dating co-star Pete Wicks - certainly wasn't afraid to flash the flesh. The Girl Band is here: Taking to her Instagram account, 23-year-old Ex On The Beach star, Megan, shared a saucy video of the three girls jumping around in a hot tub in some flesh-flashing swimsuits With the neckline almost reaching her neckline, and the halterneck design barely containing her cleavage, Megan certainly managed to sizzle. The skin-tight, high-cut number also allowed the former Celebrity Big Brother star to show off her pert posterior and gym-honed legs as she grooved and shimmied around in the hot tub. Wearing her long dark hair tied back in a slick ponytail, the ITVBe newcomer allowed her striking faetures to come to the fore. Her two constant companions, Chloe and Courtney - who are rarely seen apart - opted for matching bikinis in two cotnrasting colours. Sizzling: The trio, who have named their friendship group the 'girl band', can be seen showcasing their tanned and toned bikini bodies as they bask in the summer sun. It's not all fun and games: But TOWIE's not been all smiles and good times for Megan, as she recently spoke candidly about her on-going feud with co-star Chloe Lewis Fresh from filming the opening of series 18 of the show in Mallorca, the duo showed off their golden tans in skimpy halter-neck bikinis. While blonde-haired Chloe went for a purple number, and flashed her flat stomach and ample assets, the raven-haired Courtney opted for a teal two-piece. Clinking glasses together with smiles on their faces, Megan summed up the mood by captioning the pic: 'Works not so bad [sic].' Bad blood: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline 23-year-old star discussed her bitter feud with the model, 25, which mild-mannered Pete, 28, has now been dragged into. Not happy: Megan said: 'There's always rumours in Essex and there's nothing I can really do about it. She can believe what she wants to believe but I've been getting on with my life and she needs to get on with hers' But TOWIE's not been all smiles and good times for Megan, as she recently spoke candidly about her on-going feud with co-star Chloe Lewis Speaking exclusively to MailOnline 23-year-old star discussed her bitter feud with the model, 25, which mild-mannered Pete, 28, has now been dragged into. At the end of season 17 earlier this year, Megan repeatedly refuted the allegations while Chloe determinedly told co-stars she had done the deed. She can't mess with them: She added: 'Me and Pete know what happened there's nothing more we can do about it. There will always be rumours but that's Essex for you' And as the cast descended on Majorca for the summer special, which kicked off on Sunday, the girls' argument raged on - leading to Chloe accusing Megan of 'grinding on' another man in a club', Away from the cast, defiant Megan stated: 'Me and Chloe still don't get on. We did have a run in and we'll never get on. 'There's always rumours in Essex and there's nothing I can really do about it. She can believe what she wants to believe but I've been getting on with my life and she needs to get on with hers. 'Me and Pete know what happened there's nothing more we can do about it. There will always be rumours but that's Essex for you.' Busty Bachelor hopeful Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris dated bikie associate Mark Judge who hit the headlines when he was embroiled in a bizarre drug scandal with Jodi Anasta, it has been revealed. The Playboy model, who is hoping to steal Richie Strahan's heart, has previously spoken about how she has gone through bad relationships and break-ups as well as one failed engagement. New Idea reported that Kirralee had a relationship with Kings Cross bad boy Judge - who survived after being stabbed nine times in a brutal attack in 2011. Colourful past: Glamour model and Bachelor hopeful Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris (pictured) previously dated badboy bikie associate Mark Judge, it has been revealed The party boy gained notoriety two years previously when he was found by police huddled in the bedroom of his Bellevue Hill home with Neighbours actress Jodi. Jodi, then Gordon, had made a triple-0 call under the delusion that armed intruders were threatening her life - sparking an emergency operation which embroiled her in scandal. Kirralee is understood to have a soft spot for bad boys, but her friends say she will make no apology for her raunchy history. High profile: Mark Judge (left) hit the headlines in 2009 when he was found hiding with Jodi Anasta in a drugs raid, pictured here with the late Charlotte Dawson (right) Scandal: Jodi had made a triple-0 call under the delusion that armed intruders were threatening her life - sparking anemergency operation which embroiled her in scandal 'She won't try to sugarcoat her past,' a source told New Idea 'She makes no apologies for her raunchy history and love of cosmetic enhancements, but is unsure Richie can handle that.' Despite that, her friends have said she is ready to settle down, get married and have children. The personal assistant has previously admitted to OK! magazine that she's been on more than 100 dates, and was once engaged. Glamour: The busty blonde has won Miss Australia, Miss Yacht Model and RALPH Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year and graced the covers of Zoo (pictured), Romp and Playboy Looking for Mr Right: The Playboy model, who is hoping to steal Richie Strahan's heart, has previously spoken about how she has gone through bad relationships and break-ups as well as one failed engagement 'I've probably been on 100 dates and have gone through bad relationships and bad break-ups,' she said. The glossy mag reports her previous engagement was a 'band-aid'. Her ex-boyfriend, Judge, started out as a doorman for a Rebels clubhouse, but never joined the club and instead chose to remain an associate. In 2005 he admitted to having a lengthy history of amphetamine and steroid use, but in 2011 his lawyer told a court he had been clean for several years. He was spared a full time jail sentence in 2005 after pleading guilty to bashing a furniture store owner and using a brick to crush the man's finger when he tried to reclaim $70,000. In 2014, he took some time away from Sydney and was seen jetting around Europe and Africa with his girlfriend Claire Thompson. Party boy: Judge, pictured here leaving court, was acquitted of assault charges relating to a bloody brawl involving four people near Kings Cross police station on July 21, 2013 Jet-set: Judge was seen jatting around Europe and Africa with his girlfriend Claire Thompson Bizarre: Jodi, then Gordon, had made a triple-0 call under the delusion that armed intruders were threatening her life - sparking an emergency operation which embroiled her in scandal Kirralee has said she is happy to relocate to Perth from Sydney for Richie - where he is based - because she thinks it's a good place to start a family. 'I moved to Perth to live with a partner before, and I plan to more there again - I think it's a great place to settle down and have children.' She has previously won Miss Australia, Miss Yacht Model and RALPH Australian Swimsuit Model of the Year and graced the covers of lads mags Zoo, Romp and Playboy. And the sun-kissed starlet revealed on her Bachelor profile why she's single, saying work is to blame. 'A lot of people have stopped putting their relationships ahead of their careers and I am probably one of those people,' she said. Racy: The former Telstra worker and waitress appeared in the now-defunct Zoo magazine completely nude, covering herself with a towel and strategic camera angles and arm placing Seductive: In an accompanying video, Kirralee lays down on a bed as she pouts seductively at the camera in the clip titled: 'Kiki Morris: 'I pretty much walk around the house NUDE' Prize: Kirralee is one of 22 women hoping to date Perth tradie Richie in the popular reality TV series 'It's about time I stopped compromising real life interaction for material things.' The personal assistant predicts that she could be seen as a bimbo on The Bachelor, but insists that there's much more to her than meets the eye. 'They might see me as a bimbo because of my previous work in the media and I have worked as a model before, but there is so much more to me,' the animal activist told the Daily Telegraph on Saturday. Kirralee is one of 22 women hoping to date Perth tradie Richie in the popular reality TV series. Season four of The Bachelor premieres on Channel Ten on Wednesday, July 27. Serious about love: Followoing her modelling days, Kiki has since become an executive assistant and claimed she turned down a 'dream job' to try to find love on The Bachelor after years of heartbreak Unlucky: Kiki on Thursday revealed she has gone to great lengths to find love and had been engaged once before, though it was an ill-fated 'band-aid' to save the relationship Family goals: She now wants to settle down and have kids, even offering to move to Richie's home town of Perth if it works out between them, saying it was a good place to raise a family Advertisement A solar powered aircraft has set off on the final leg of its record breaking attempt to fly around the world using only the energy from the sun. Solar Impulse 2 took off from Cairo on Sunday to begin its journey to Abu Dhabi, the final part of its historic journey. It had been scheduled to leave last week, but the flight was delayed because of winds and its pilot, Bertrand Piccard, fell ill. Scroll down for video The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Cairo International Airport in the Egyptian capital on July 24, 2016 as it heads to Abu Dhabi on the final leg of its world tour. The aircraft has flown 22,000 miles using only the power of the sun and when it arrives in Abu Dhabi will have completed its record attempt to fly around the world without using fuel Mr Piccard, however, was behind the controls of Solar Impulse 2, which can fly for days on only energy from the sun using an array of solar panels on its wings to charge on board batteries, when it took off on Sunday. 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 Before taking off, he said: 'It's a project for energy, for a better world.' The ground crew, who had dragged the plane out to the tarmac with ropes, cheered as it lifted off and disappeared into the night. Mr Piccard and Swiss entrepreneur and pilot, Andre Borschberg, have taken turns flying the plane on its 35,000 kilometre (22,000 mile) trip around the world. Mr Borschberg piloted the flight's 8,924 kilometre Pacific stage between Nagoya, in Japan, and Hawaii. Solar Impulse 2 arrived in Cairo after a two day flight from Spain, finishing the 3,745 kilometre journey with an average speed of 76.7 kilometres (47.6 miles) an hour. It had earlier landed in Seville after completing the first solo transatlantic flight powered only by the sun. The single-seat aircraft, no heavier than a car but with the wingspan of a Boeing 747, is fitted with 17,000 solar cells on its wings. During night-time flights it runs on battery-stored power. It typically travels at a mere 48 kilometres (30 miles) per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight. Mr Piccard, a psychiatrist who had made the first non-stop balloon flight around the world in 1999, said the last leg of the Solar Impulse 2 tour would be difficult. A map shows the route of Solar Impulse 2 around the globe as the plane left Cairo on Sunday to complete the last leg of its journey Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg soared above Egypt's iconic pyramids just as the sun climbed over the horizon during the penultimate leg of its journey 'It's a very, very hot region...it's going to be an exhausting flight,' he said. Mr Borschberg added that the heat would be a new challenge for the plane. 'Technically it's close to the limits that we have set in terms of temperature, so that's something which we did not experience before,' he said via Skype from mission control in Monaco. 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 Bertrand Piccard talks to the media before his take-off in the Solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft, from the Cairo International Airport as it heads to Abu Dhabi on the final leg of its world tour 'But with the temperature profile that we see over the coming days, we should be all fine.' The plane set out on March 9, 2015 from Abu Dhabi, crossing Asia and the Pacific to reach the United States and then flying on to Spain and Egypt with the sun as its only source of power. Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control centre in Monaco, telling Mr Piccard: 'You are released to proceed.' Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg (pictured before taking off in Seville) and fellow pilot Bertrand Piccard have been taking turns to fly the single-seater aircraft. They take brief 20 minute power naps while in the air Mr Borschberg and Mr Piccard have said they want to raise awareness of renewable energy sources and technologies with their project, although they do not expect solar-powered commercial planes any time soon. 'There will be passengers very soon in electric airplanes that we will charge on the ground,' Mr Piccard had said when the plane arrived in Cairo. 'On the ground you can charge batteries and you can have short haul flights, maybe 500 kilometres with 50 people flying in these planes in a decade', he predicted. Technicians prepare the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft at the Cairo International Airport on July 23 before it took off for its final flight in its round the world journey, an effort which has taken over a year to complete New 'Star Trek' series to be called 'Discovery' US television network CBS celebrated the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek" at San Diego Comic-Con, revealing that the keenly-awaited new series is to be called "Star Trek Discovery." The name was revealed on Saturday at the end of a 76-second teaser trailer shown at the sci-fi and fantasy festival which showed a starship pulling out of its mooring inside an asteroid. Bryan Fuller, a "Star Trek" veteran who started out in the 1990s writing for "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager," is to return as co-creator and executive producer of the new show. Writer/executive producer Bryan Fuller attends the 'Star Trek' panel during Comic-Con International 2016, at San Diego Convention Center in California, on July 23 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) "We're telling stories in a new way. We're not so much episodic. We're going to be telling stories like a novel," he told the Comic-Con audience. He didn't elaborate, but "non-episodic" series typically have story arcs which run across a whole season or even longer, unlike the previous five "Star Trek" shows, which were mainly made up of self-contained episodes. The new series, which begins filming in Toronto in September ahead of a premiere planned for January next year, will be the franchise's first new outing in more than a decade. The premiere will be broadcast on CBS's main channel, with the rest showing on subscription service CBS All Access in North America and Netflix -- with a delay of 24 hours -- in the rest of the world. The original "Star Trek" told the story of the flight crew aboard the USS Enterprise spaceship, which ventured around the galaxy exploring new worlds. It snowballed into a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s and 80s, making household names of the late Leonard Nimoy, who played the half-human, half-Vulcan "Mr Spock," and William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk. Shatner was joined onstage for the panel by other actors in the "Star Trek" canon, including Scott Bakula Michael Dorn and Jeri Ryan. Shatner described the "Star Trek" ethos as "the basis of law and order" and "the basis of civilization." "I think Star Trek in general has been about individual rights and about respecting everyone, no matter who or what the are," said Brett Spiner, who played the android Data in the "Star Trek: The next Generation" television and film series. "A lot of our politicians and our fellow citizens could take a page from 'Star Trek' and have a bit more respect for each other and for all of us," he added. 'Star Trek Discovery' begins filming in Toronto in September ahead of a premiere planned for January 2017 Jim Watson (AFP/File) SE Asia deadlocked as South China Sea split deepens Southeast Asian nations were deadlocked Sunday about how to confront China's territorial claims in the South China Sea as pressure from Beijing again drove a wedge between countries on the region's toughest security challenge. Their gathering in the Laos capital is the first time regional players -- including China and the United States -- have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal delivered a hammer blow to Beijing's claim to vast stretches of the sea. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) boasts four countries who have competing claims with Beijing to parts of the sea, and is fiercely divided on the issue. A policeman directs traffic in Vientiane on July 23, 2016, as Laos hosts the 49th South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP/File) Rival claimants have accused China of deftly forging alliances with smaller member countries like Laos, this year's host, and Cambodia through aid and loans to divide the once consensus-driven bloc. Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of ASEAN discord when countries swiftly disavowed a joint statement released by Malaysia after an ASEAN-China meeting. That statement had expressed alarm over Beijing's activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block it. Those divisions were on stark display once more in Vientiane on Sunday as regional foreign ministers met for talks. Insiders accused Cambodia of scuppering moves to include a response to the tribunal ruling in a joint ASEAN communique -- by the end of the first day of talks there was still no agreement. "We need to put our house in order," one diplomat involved in discussions told AFP Sunday. "But we still have not agreed on anything." Another ASEAN diplomat added: "We remain deadlocked. We're back to the negotiating table." The main sticking point was over whether to refer to the international tribunal ruling and if so how, a Southeast Asia diplomat told AFP. Some countries are pushing to include a reference that urges all countries to fully "respect diplomatic and legal process", he said -- in line with statements released by the European Union, the US and Japan following the UN-backed decision. Other countries are opposing any mention of the ruling. Another diplomat said ministers would continue talks on Monday but warned that if a statement was published in the coming days it would likely be "really watered down". - Competing influence - The impasse in Vientiane has led to fears of a repeat of a 2012 summit in Cambodia where the bloc failed to issue a joint statement for the first time in its history because of disagreements over the South China Sea. A failure by ASEAN to respond to the tribunal will not do much to counter criticism that the bloc risks fading into obscurity as a talking shop with little real diplomatic clout. The UN tribunal ruling earlier this month infuriated Beijing but was a victory for the Philippines, which brought the case, and for fellow ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia who also claim parts of the South China Sea. The bloc's paralysis on how to respond comes as China ratchets up its rhetoric and military manoeuvres in the sea whilst hitting out at the US. Washington says it takes no position on the territorial disputes but argues for free sea and air passage through what it considers international waters. US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Laos Monday morning. It is not yet clear whether he will meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who is also attending. A State Department official over the weekend said the US would push for participants to ease tensions over the South China Sea and find common ground. But Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin warned ASEAN against being influenced by outside powers, a clear rebuke to Washington. "They (ASEAN) should in particular guard against the intervention in regional cooperation by big powers outside the region," he said according to the Xinhua news agency. ASEAN boasts a diverse array of countries ranging from communist one-party states like Laos to the Islamic sultanate of Brunei, military junta-led Thailand and raucous democracies like Indonesia and the Philippines. Its ability to deal with Beijing is seen as a test of whether it can jointly confront other pressing regional challenges outside of trade. Graphic showing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea maritime zones - (AFP Graphic) Among those meeting at the ASEAN conference were Myanmar's Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi (L) and her counterparts from Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP) Snowden film 'almost killed' by self-censorship It was the largest data leak in United States history, fueling a firestorm over the issue of mass surveillance that resonated with Americans and ignited around the world. Oliver Stone's hotly-anticipated "Snowden" tells the story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in dramatic form for the first time -- but the movie almost never made it to theaters. "Frankly, it was turned down by every major studio. The script was good, the budget was good, the cast was good. It was definitely... self-censorship," Stone, 69, told San Diego fan convention Comic-Con International on Thursday. (L-R) Writer/director Oliver Stone, actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Zachary Quinto attend the "Snowden" panel during Comic-Con International 2016 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) "I don't believe there was an enemy such as the NSA lurking in the background. But definitely self-censorship is a huge issue in this industry, and it blocks so much of the truth from coming out. "Every studio, every corporate board that runs the studio, more than the studio people, said no." Snowden was charged by US authorities with espionage and theft of state secrets after releasing thousands of classified NSA documents to journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Ewen MacAskill in 2013. Considered a traitor by some and a hero by others, the 33-year-old fled to Hong Kong and was given political asylum in Russia after the US revoked his passport. He now leads a reclusive life there. The documents he leaked revealed the extent of surveillance programmes run by the NSA and started a debate about privacy and the role of state security agencies which still rages today. - 'Old-fashioned gentleman' - Stone was joined on stage at Comic-Con by cast members Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- who plays Snowden and accompanied the director to Moscow to meet the exiled security contractor. Gordon-Levitt describes Snowden as "very polite... almost an old-fashioned gentleman" who came across as warm and optimistic about how technology can strengthen democracy. "We sat and talked for hours. It was interesting because I think most people that sit down and talk with him are approaching him from the position of politics," the actor said. "I was trying to get to know him on a different level because I can read about his politics. I wanted to understand who he was. We got to sit down and have a meal. I think you can tell a lot about a person by how they are when you sit and eat with them." Stone, a trenchant critic of the American political establishment, bought the movie rights to "The Snowden Files," a chronicle of the affair by Luke Harding of Britain's Guardian newspaper. He also based his screenplay on political thriller "The Time of the Octopus" penned by Snowden's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena. The Moscow-based attorney told AFP in 2014 he had written the novel -- which Stone likens to George Orwell's 1984 -- because he could not remain indifferent to his client's ethical dilemma. - 'Rules broken in secret' - "I have become a witness to the moral paradox, so to speak. I have become imbued with his emotional state, he transported me into his world," said Kucherena. Gordon-Levitt believes comparisons of the NSA scandal with the totalitarianism Orwell wrote about might be missing a "more complicated and subtle" issue thrown up by the Snowden case. "To me, the question is not about whether you need privacy or whether you don't need privacy," the 35-year-old Californian told the Comic-Con panel. "The question is that we are promised privacy in the constitution and if the government is going to change those rules, then they have to be open about that. "That to me is actually even more important than the questions of privacy and mass surveillance in the Snowden story -- the question of government transparency." Gordon-Levitt says he would welcome an open, public debate about whether mass surveillance of the population is a good idea, or even an affective bulwark against security threats. "The problem was that decision wasn't made out in the open. The rules were broken in secret, and then lied about," he added. Independent production company Open Road, which picked up a best film Oscar for "Spotlight" in February, agreed to distribute the movie in the United States, with its release scheduled for September 16. Oliver Stone said his film "Snowden," about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, "was turned down by every major studio" Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) 'Aliens' marks 30th anniversary with marriage proposal Filmmaker James Cameron and Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver were surprised by a fan proposing to his girlfriend as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of sci-fi classic "Aliens." The pair were swapping nostalgia and behind-the-scenes anecdotes at San Diego Comic-Con when the man got down on one knee during the audience Q&A section and popped the question. The lucky lady said yes, prompting Cameron, 61, to remark: "May you be happy and have many spawn." (L-R) Director James Cameron, producer Gale Anne Hurd, actors Sigourney Weaver and Bill Paxton attend the "Aliens: 30th Anniversary" panel during Comic-Con International 2016 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) Cameron and Weaver, 66, were joined by other cast members including Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser and Bill Paxton as well as producer Gale Anne Hurd. The panel was asked for details of progress on an upcoming fifth "Alien" film to be made by "District 9" and "Elysium" director Neill Blomkamp. Although it has not been officially announced, Blomkamp himself has given interviews confirming that he plans at least one sequel with Weaver in the lead role. The filmmaker announced on Twitter last October that the project had been put on hold while "Alien" director Ridley Scott worked on "Alien: Paradise Lost," -- the sequel to his "Alien" prequel "Prometheus." Weaver told Comic-Con however that a script had been completed and that Blomkamp "has work to do and I have work to do, but I'm hoping when we finish those jobs we'll circle back and do it." The pair started developing ideas while Weaver was shooting Blomkamp's 2015 robot movie "Chappie," she said. "That whole first day we spent talking about it, and four months later, I got a script that was so amazing and gives the fans everything they are looking for, plus innovates in a lot of ways that immediately, to me, became a part of the world," Weaver added. Weaver made her name -- and received an Oscar nomination -- for playing Ellen Ripley, a tough-as-nails warrant officer and pop culture icon widely viewed as one of the most significant female protagonists in cinema history. But the actress admitted to the Hall H audience she can't bear to watch Hurd's hit horror series "The Walking Dead." Carrie Henn, who played young survivor Rebecca "Newt" Jorden in her only film role and is now a fourth grade teacher, said students' parents show up with DVDs for her to sign. Tunisia dissident opens new party congress Tunisian dissident Mohsen Marzouk opened a congress of his new party, rejecting religion in politics and vowing to be a force for change. Marzouk launched the Tounes Movement Project in March, basing his policies on those of independence leader Habib Bourguiba. More than 3,000 people attended Saturday's opening of the constitutional congress in Tunis, which will continue for the next two days in the northeastern town of Hammamet. Mohsen Marzouk launched the Tounes Movement Project in March, basing his policies on those of independence leader Habib Bourguiba Fethi Belaid (AFP) "We are in total disagreement with all those who mix politics and religion," Marzouk said, referring to the Islamist Ennahda party, which controls the most seats in parliament. "The time has come to reform the country. We are the party of reform and we have decided to be a force for constructive plans," party founding member Mondher Belhaj Ali told AFP. Marzouk stepped down down as secretary general of Nidaa Tounes after a split with the president's son, Hafedh Caid Essebsi, over who should take over as leader. Tensions came to a head in October after accusations that Essebsi supporters wielding sticks had blocked rival party members from a meeting of its executive committee. The crisis saw 22 lawmakers leave Nidaa Tounes in January to form their own Al-Horra (The Free) bloc, making Ennahda the largest group in parliament. Nidaa Tounes now has only 64 MPs as against 69 for Ennahda. Nidaa Tounes was created in 2012 and included political personalities from the left and centre right, as well as officials from the former regime of toppled ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Thousands in funeral march for slain Cambodia activist Tens of thousands of Cambodians on Sunday joined the funeral procession of a prominent government critic whose murder in broad daylight has raised suspicions of a hit job in country with a long history of political violence. Kem Ley, a popular pro-democracy voice and grassroots rights activist, was shot dead on July 10 while drinking coffee outside a petrol station in the capital. The brazen murder sent ripples of fear across a country already brimming with political tension between strongman Hun Sen and a resurgent opposition. Thousands of people take part in a funeral procession in Phnom Penh on July 24, 2016, for Kem Ley, a Cambodian political analyst and pro-democracy campaigner who was shot dead in broad daylight at a convenience store two weeks earlier Tang Chhin Sothy (AFP) A former soldier charged with the murder claimed he shot Kem Ley over an outstanding debt. But suspicions of a political assassination continue to run strong in a nation where the rule of law is threadbare and critics of the elite are routinely silenced. On Sunday a massive crowd of mourners, many carrying portraits of Kem Ley, trailed for kilometres behind Buddhist monks and a motorcade carrying the 46-year-old's body in a glass casket. Thousands of others lined the streets to watch the procession, which marked the end of a two-week mourning period that saw people from across the country flock to the Phnom Penh temple where his body had lain. "He was a mirror of society, a hero. His murder is a huge loss to democracy," 39-year-old Hul Chan told AFP while he was walking alongside other mourners. Many wore white shirts printed with Kem Ley's face and the words: "Wipe your tears, continue your journey." - 'Straight-talker' - Sunday's procession, one of the largest public gatherings in recent years, will see the activist's corpse returned to his home village about 70 kilometres (44 miles) south of the capital for burial. A regular critic of both Hun Sen and the political opposition, Kem Ley called for a new era of clean politics in graft-ridden Cambodia. The frequent radio commentator was also a major advocate for land and labour rights, travelling across the impoverished country to speak directly to villagers. He charmed Cambodians by speaking in a vernacular rich in metaphor and folk references, said Sebastian Strangio, the author of a recent book on the country's politics. "He had a very special gift for being able to explain complex issues to do with justice and accountability in a language that ordinary people could grasp," Strangio told AFP. But stirring up opposition in the country's rural heartlands -- for years considered Hun Sen's key support base -- has long proved a dangerous game in Cambodia, he added. Watchdog groups say more than a dozen environmental activists have been killed in the past decade, often during efforts to expose illegal logging. Am Sam Ath, from the Cambodian rights group Licadho, said Sunday's outpouring of grief reflected a growing disillusionment with a government blamed for rampant rights abuses and corruption. "Kem Ley was a straight-talking person who strongly criticised social injustices," he told AFP. "The people are standing up against injustice." Shortly before his death Kem Ley gave a lengthy radio interview welcoming a report that detailed the riches amassed by Hun Sen and his family during his three decades in power. United Nations rights experts expressed concern over the circumstances of his death "in view of his standing as a critic of the government". In a statement they said it "exemplifies an alarming negative trend in Cambodia whereby political activists and human rights defenders are facing increasing restrictions". Hun Sen has ordered a thorough investigation into the murder and urged people not to turn the case into a "political act". Pou Rachana (C), wife of Kem Ley, a political analyst and pro-democracy campaigner, carries a portrait of her husband as thousands of people take part in his funeral procession in Phnom Penh, on July 24, 2016 Tang Chhin Sothy (AFP) The investor has been blamed for dragging its feet on the project. Authorities in Binh Dinh Province have decided to shelve an ambitious plan to build a world-scale refinery proposed by Thailand's PTT and Saudi Aramco in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone. The decision was made after the investors failed to prove the feasibility of the project, Ho Quoc Dung, chairman of the provincial People's Committee, told a local legislature meeting on Friday. The provincial government has been waiting for the investors final decision for too long and has missed the opportunity to attract other potential investors to the economic zone, Vietnam+, the online news portal of the Vietnam News Agency, quoted Dung as saying. Dung added that Binh Dinh is looking for investors from Japan and Europe to invest in the province, but not necessarily in the oil sector. On July 1, Saudi Aramco also withdrew from the project it had planned to set up with PTT. The Thai state-controlled firm will transfer the project to its 38.5 percent-owned subsidiary IRPC in Thailand, a source from PTT told ICIS, which calls itself the world's largest petrochemical market information provider, on July 1. PTT and Saudi Aramco have been looking for a capable Vietnamese company to be a partner on the project but we have not been successful, the PTT source said. In the feasibility study submitted to the Vietnamese government in September 2014, the two energy giants proposed setting up a fully integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in the central province of Binh Dinh with a crude processing capacity of 400,000 barrels per day. Investment for the project had been tagged at a potential $30 billion after initial estimates of $20 billion. Related news: > Thailand's PTT delays $20 billion Vietnam refinery and petrochemical complex Warner, Marvel wow Comic-Con with blockbuster previews Two of Hollywood's biggest studios went head-to-head at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday in an epic battle to demonstrate which has the best upcoming superhero movies. Warner Brothers -- still smarting from the lukewarm reception for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" -- presented a star-studded lineup ahead of Marvel's showcase later in the day. Its first exclusive of the session was a sneak peek at "Wonder Woman," which saw Gal Gadot's Amazonian princess leaving her lush island to stop the First World War. (From L) Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, director James Gunn and actors attend a presentation during Comic-Con International 2016, at San Diego Convention Center in California, on July 23 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) Due to hit theaters on June 2, 2017, it focuses on the one character to escape criticism in "Batman v Superman," which chalked record drops in box office revenue after a strong opening week in March. "She has the heart of a human and the strength of a goddess," a visibly trembling Gadot told the Comic-Con devotees of her character. Margot Robbie's comic book baddie Harley Quinn is one of the most hotly anticipated characters among all the films due to emerge from Warner's "DC Extended Universe." Fans cheered as they were shown the final "Suicide Squad" trailer ahead of its August 5 release, which focused on the bubblegum-popping Quinn. "Everyone was doing all this action -- I was doing it wearing heels," Robbie said of the shoot, which took place last year in Toronto and Chicago. Zack Snyder took to the stage to treat fans to an unexpected first trailer for his latest movie "Justice League," which is due for release on November 17 next year. The movie reunites all three "meta-humans" in Snyder's "Batman v Superman": Wonder Woman, played again by Gadot; Batman, played by Ben Affleck for a second time; and Henry Cavill's Superman. The joke-laden trailer is a marked contrast from "Batman v Superman," which was heavily criticized for its dark tone and taking itself too seriously. - 'Cinematic Universe' - Marvel followed Warner in the late afternoon, giving fans a glimpse of its ever-expanding "Cinematic Universe" after sitting out last year's convention. Studio president and producer Kevin Feige played ringmaster, announcing: "We only want to come when we have a lot to show you. We actually have a lot today." And he didn't let down the fans, who were treated to new footage of Scott Derrickson's "Doctor Strange," opening on November 4 and starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Mist descended from the ceiling of Hall H and the lights lifted to reveal Cumberbatch, 40, on stage in a T-shirt and jeans. Derrickson, who joined the panel alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tilda Swinton, told Comic-Con the film was a "left turn in the Marvel universe," focusing on magic rather than technology. Kurt Russell drove the crowd wild when he showed up to confirm he will play Chris Pratt's father in James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2," which hits theaters on May 5 next year. Meanwhile a trailer revealed for the first time that Sylvester Stallone also has a role in the "Guardians" sequel. There was additionally a surprise glimpse of "Spider-Man: Homecoming," with very early footage from the film due for release on July 7 next year showing Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland. Feige brought onstage Ryan Coogler, who helmed Rocky spin-off "Creed" last year and has turned his attention to the fictional world of Wakanda for "Black Panther," due in 2018. "The coolest thing about the world of Wakanda is they have a king, and we have an incredible actor playing that part," Coogler said of Chadwick Boseman, who first took on the role in this year's "Captain America: Civil War." "I am literally vibrating inside," Boseman said as he took to the stage for his first Comic-Con. Hall H was then treated to a "mockumentary" by "Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi in the style of his vampire spoof, "What We Do in the Shadows." The crowd applauded as Chris Hemsworth was shown with a nerdy roommate who helps him send peacemaking emails to Captain America and Iron Man during their "Civil War" dispute. Oscar-winning Brie Larson meanwhile got a standing ovation as she was confirmed to play the title role in "Captain Marvel," slated to open in 2019. Actress Gal Gadot attends the Warner Brothers presentation during Comic-Con International 2016, at San Diego Convention Center in California, on July 23 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) Actor Benedict Cumberbatch (L) and director Scott Derrickson attend a presentation during Comic-Con International 2016, at San Diego Convention Center in California, on July 23 Kevin Winter (Getty/AFP) Iran condemns Kabul twin blasts, urges unity Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned twin bomb attacks by the Islamic State group that ripped through crowds of minority Shiite Hazaras in the Afghan capital, killing at least 80. "Afghanistan terror bombings another instance of depth of Daesh depravity: Shia and Sunni are both victims & must unite to defeat extremists," Zarif tweeted on Saturday, using another name for IS. Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi added that "eradicating this unfortunate phenomenon (IS) wouldn't be possible without a joint cooperation and understanding among all countries". Afghan volunteers move the bodies of victims at the scene of a suicide attack that targeted crowds of minority Shiite Hazaras during a demonstration in Kabul Wakil Kohsar (AFP) The "inhumane and un-Islamic" attacks were "unjustifiable anywhere," he added. IS claimed responsibility for the Saturday blasts, which hit during a huge protest in Kabul, and which were the deadliest attacks there since 2001. The first major IS assault on Kabul was apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country known for relative Shia-Sunni harmony. IS suicide bomber kills at least 15 in Baghdad A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 15 people in a Shiite area of northern Baghdad on Sunday, security and medical officials said. The bombing, which struck near a checkpoint in the Kadhimiyah area, home to a major Shiite shrine, also wounded at least 29 people, the officials said. IS issued a statement claiming the attack, saying it targeted soldiers and pro-government paramilitaries in the area. The Islamic State group carries out frequent suicide bombings targeting Iraqi security forces and members of the country's Shiite majority, including earlier this month in Baghdad's central Karrada district, pictured Sabah Arar (AFP/File) The jihadist group frequently carries out attacks on security forces, and also often targets members of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, whom it considers heretics. An IS suicide bomber struck shoppers in Baghdad's central Karrada district earlier this month, killing 292 people. The group also claimed an attack on a Shiite shrine in Balad, north of the capital, that left 40 dead a few days later. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. Nepal's Oli resigns as prime minister Nepal's K.P. Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister on Sunday, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament he was certain to lose, plunging the impoverished, quake-hit nation into fresh turmoil. Oli was forced to quit after former Maoist rebels deserted his fractious, ruling coalition, accusing him of reneging on past deals and following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. "I have decided to open the road to elect a new prime minister in this parliament and presented my resignation to the president," Oli, who has only been in power for nine months, told lawmakers ahead of the no-confidence vote. Just before a no-confidence motion in parliament, K. P. Sharma Oli resigned as Nepal's prime minister on July 24, 2016 Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) Nepal's president is now expected to ask political parties to try to form a new power-sharing government and nominate a consensus candidate for prime minister. Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal could become the new premier after the former rebels and main opposition Nepali Congress party said before the vote that they would try to form a new administration if Oli lost. A letter from the president's office read out in parliament said the current cabinet would continue until a new government was formed, a process expected to take at least a week. Dahal, the country's first prime minister after the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, pulled his party from Oli's coalition two weeks ago, leaving it without a majority. In his speech, the embattled premier accused the Maoists of undermining his government, which he said was working to rebuild the Himalayan country after a devastating earthquake last year. "I am concerned that the steps taken were driven by selfishness and revenge (and they) will cause a long-term negative impact and push the country to instability," he said of the motion, during the nearly two-hour speech. Oli's resignation is the latest crisis to hit Nepal which has suffered from years of political instability and struggled to get back on its feet since last April's quake that claimed almost 9,000 lives. - Coalition cracks - The Maoists joined Oli's government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted the new national constitution. Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the constitution, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. Cracks began to appear in Oli's coalition two months ago when the Maoists threatened to topple him, prompting the premier to draw up an 11th-hour deal with Dahal. But Dahal later withdrew from the coalition, citing the government's failure to implement that agreement to withdraw war cases from Nepal's courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist conflict. Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, painted Oli as an egocentric who refused to listen to the people and demanded that he resign. After debate on the no-confidence motion kicked off on Friday, two smaller parties also abandoned the coalition, leaving Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) floundering for support. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal's transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. K.P. Sharma Oli, (C) leaves the Parliament Building in Kathmandu, on July 21, 2016 Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) Four officials suspended over deadly China flooding Four Chinese officials have been suspended following devastating floods that left more than 200 dead and missing and provoked widespread outrage over an alleged cover-up by the authorities, state media reported Sunday. Torrential rains lashed the north this week, driving over 300,000 people from their homes and leaving hundreds of thousands more trapped as waters rose. But a flash flood near the town of Xingtai in Hebei province provoked particular outrage after locals accused officials of failing to warn them of the impending deluge -- and trying to cover up the cause of the disaster. Chinese residents look at a flooded area caused by heavy rain in Beijing on July 20, 2016 Str (AFP/File) The alleged mistake left at least 25 dead and 13 missing, and public anger over the situation mounted after pictures of the corpses of drowned children being pulled from the muddy floodwaters circulated online. In the aftermath, residents voiced suspicions that the sudden flood, which struck early Wednesday while villagers slept, was man-made -- the result of a release of water from a local reservoir, rather than the breaking of a levee in a nearby river, as officials claimed. Hebei's Communist Party committee has now announced it has suspended two Xingtai town officials, as well as a chief engineer from the provincial capital and a deputy county head, for "dereliction of duty" the official Xinhua news agency reported. The four officials will be "subjected to accountability investigations and could face further punishment", it said. Xingtai's mayor also apologised for the town's response to the disaster. Earlier in the week, local deputy Communist Party secretary Wang Qingfei had drawn ire for suggesting there had been "no casualties" in the flood, the Beijing News said Saturday. Public scepticism towards officials is common following disasters in China, as authorities seek to control information and their lack of openness can raise doubts about their trustworthiness. Flooding is not uncommon during the summer monsoon season in northern China, but rains have been unusually heavy across the country this summer. Beijing and surrounding areas were expected to receive more heavy rains Sunday night, Xinhua said. Heavy downpours have already wreaked havoc in central and southern China, flooding several major cities and causing over 200 deaths, state media has said. Former Mexican drug kingpin denies killing US agent One of Mexico's most notorious drug lords, wanted by the United States for the 1985 murder of an undercover agent, spoke out from hiding in an article Sunday to deny involvement in the killing. Rafael Caro Quintero, founder of the now defunct Guadalajara cartel, the country's most powerful drug trafficking network in the 1980s, denied murdering the Drug Enforcement Administration officer and apologized for involvement in trafficking during an interview with prominent news magazine Proceso. Caro Quintero, who served 28 years of a 40-year sentence in a Mexican prison for the murder, was freed over a legal technicality in 2013 and then vanished. Members of Mexico's Federal Preventive Police (PFP) guard drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero (C) after an operation in the Puente Grande in prison in Guadalajara on January 29, 2005 US authorities, who were outraged by the release, have sought to extradite the 63-year-old fugitive. "I've never talked about this case, it's the first time... I did not kidnap, did not torture and did not kill him," Caro Quintero said from hiding in northern Mexico. Caro Quintero was convicted in Mexico for the abduction, torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, whose Mexican pilot, Alfredo Zavala, was also killed. "Yes, I was there at the place (of the crime), that's my participation, nothing more," he said, adding that he now wants to live in peace and no longer traffics drugs. "I apologize to the society of Mexico for the mistakes I made, to the Camarena family, the DEA, the US government. I apologize." Saudis in rare Israel visit, meet senior official Gold The head of a rare Saudi delegation to Israel and the occupied West Bank met a senior Israeli government official during his trip, Israel's foreign ministry told AFP on Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the meeting between retired Saudi general Anwar Eshki and ministry Director General Dore Gold took place at the prestigious King David hotel in west Jerusalem but did not give further details. The Jerusalem Post newspaper said Eshki led a delegation of "businessmen and academics" on a mission to promote a stalled Saudi-led 2002 Arab peace initiative. Israeli Foreign Ministry director general Dore Gold delivers a speech in Jerusalem on June 1, 2015, during a conference about the 50-day war in Gaza in the summer of 2014 Thomas Coex (AFP/File) It said that he met Major General Yoav Mordechai, head of the military body that coordinates Israeli activities in the West Bank and Gaza, and talked Friday in the West Bank to a group of Israeli opposition MPs. Israel and Saudi Arabia have never had diplomatic relations but there have been media reports of intelligence-sharing in the face of shared concerns about Iran and the Islamic State group. Eshki and Gold shared a platform in June last year at the Washington headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations and "met to discuss opportunities and challenges in the Middle East," the council said on its website at the time. "Their speeches focused on the danger Iran posed to their countries, and they revealed that they had been in secret discussions for a year, and had now decided to go public about their talks," it added. Israeli army radio on Sunday aired an Arabic telephone interview with Eshki, chairman of the Jeddah-based Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies, in which he denied that his country had security links with the Jewish state. "To my knowledge there is no cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," he said. He said that Israel would only be able to make peace with the Arab world when it had resolved the conflict with the Palestinians, in accordance with the 2002 Arab proposal. It calls for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and resolve the issue of refugees with the Palestinians, leading to the creation of a Palestinian state, in exchange for normalised relations with Arab countries. "Peace will not come from Arab countries, but the Palestinians and the implementation of the Arab peace plan," Eshki said. The radio quoted him as saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is not the cause of terrorism, but it provides a breeding ground for conflict in the region." Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel. Libya loyalists take IS bomb factory in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's unity government said Sunday they had seized a building used by the Islamic State group to manufacture explosives in its coastal stronghold. The bomb factory is the largest to be captured by fighters allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) since they launched an operation to retake Sirte in May, the forces said on Facebook. They said the building was in the southeast of Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi which IS has controlled since June 2015. Libyan pro-government forces fire rockets targeting IS group positions in Sirte on July 18, 2016 Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File) The pro-GNA forces shared images of the building including several rooms containing explosive devices, cables and mobile phones. The fall of Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, would be a major blow to IS, which has faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. The two-month battle for Sirte has killed around 280 pro-government fighters and wounded more than 1,500, according to medical sources at the unity forces' command centre. The pro-GNA forces are mostly made up of militias from western Libya established during the 2011 revolt that overthrew Kadhafi. A militia set up to guard the country's main oil facilities has also been advancing on IS. The GNA was the result of a UN-brokered power-sharing agreement struck in December, but it has yet to be endorsed by Libya's elected parliament based in the country's far east. Scandal rocks Democratic Party truce on eve of confab US Democrats scrambled to contain damaging revelations of an insider effort to hobble Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign, with the party boss abruptly announcing her resignation on the eve of the convention to officially nominate Hillary Clinton. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she would step down at the end of the convention, a move that aimed to put an end to the scandal threatening an uneasy truce within the fractured party. Thousands of Democratic delegates were converging on Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love," to elevate Clinton as the party's nominee who will battle Republican Donald Trump in the November election. A supporter of Bernie Sanders joins thousands of Democratic delegates were converging on Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love" on July 24, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) After a hard-fought primary campaign, the party had been heading to the Democratic National Convention seeming far more unified than the Republicans, whose fissures were laid bare last week as they confirmed brash billionaire Trump as their flagbearer. Now the Democrats are struggling with the fallout from a scandal that threatened to mushroom into a major crisis just as the party was supposed to coalesce around its nominee. A cache of leaked emails from Democratic Party leaders' accounts includes at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to wound the upstart Sanders campaign that had competed with Clinton -- including by seeking to present him as an atheist in deeply religious states. Bowing to rapidly building pressure, Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee's embattled chair, announced Sunday she was stepping down at the end of the convention. In a statement, Wasserman Schultz described Clinton as "a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great president." Her announcement came after Sanders on Sunday repeated calls for her to go, with her leadership already under fire and impartiality called into question by the leaks. Shortly after she resigned, Sanders said in a statement that Wasserman Schultz "has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party." He called for new leadership that would "always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race." Wasserman Schultz said she would still open and close the convention. Despite the swirling political chaos, Sanders made clear he would not make an insurgent bid for the nomination. "We've got to elect secretary Clinton," he told NBC's "Meet the Press." More emails are expected to be released in coming days, and in an ominous sign for the party, DNC interim chair Donna Brazile indicated the drama was not yet over. "I don't know the substance but I do know there are lots of stuff that we might have to apologize for and that's why I say you got to own it, take full responsibility and work with the staff to create a different culture at the DNC," she told CNN. Brazile said there are likely "many thousands" of leaked emails still to come. - 'Outrageous' - Sanders and First Lady Michelle Obama headline day one of the Democratic convention which "gavels in" at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT) Monday. Former president Bill Clinton is the star on Tuesday, while President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden take the stage Wednesday. Although Sanders has publicly endorsed his former rival, many of his most fervent supporters are organizing protests in Philadelphia, with the largest expected on the convention's opening day. Several thousand protesters converged near Philadelphia's City Hall on Sunday, many of them Sanders backers and people supporting renewable energy and anti-fracking efforts. They vented frustration over a "rigged" party system that they said was aimed at ensuring Clinton would become the nominee. Many in the Sanders camp have also voiced disappointment with Clinton's choice of a center-left running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, and the email revelations only fueled the resentment. "The emails just proved what we believed to begin with," Dora Bouboulis of Vermont told AFP as she marched in a demonstration. Trump pounced on the leaks as he tries to scoop up disaffected voters who feel Sanders -- a self-described democratic socialist initially dismissed as a fringe candidate -- was denied a fair shot at the nomination. The provocative billionaire piled on after Sunday's announcement. "I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems convention is cracking up," he taunted on Twitter. - 'Corrupt system' - Clinton's campaign meanwhile was pushing the notion that Russia was behind the email leaks, in an effort to help Trump win. "Experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, took all these emails, and now are leaking them out through these websites," campaign manager Robby Mook told ABC. "It's troubling that some experts are now telling us that this was done by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump." There was a decidedly anti-Hillary sentiment among the activists flocking into Philadelphia, where police were intensifying security operations. "Hillary is more of a warmonger than Trump!" yelled one woman as she passed out flyers. Hundreds of the Sanders supporters gathered near City Hall chanted "Feel the Bern!" and "This is what democracy looks like!" But others echoed Clinton's message as she seeks to become the first female commander in chief, eight years after Obama made history as the nation's first black president. "We shouldn't be fearful, we're Americans," delegate Patti Norkiewicz of Florida told AFP, after Trump, accepting his party's nomination in Cleveland, offered a dark vision of a nation besieged by chaos and violence. "We should be proud, united and we're allowed to disagree," she said. Democratic National Convention Simon Malfatto, Iris Royer De Vericourt (AFP/File) Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders waves after speaking at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where she received Sanders' endorsement Justin Saglio (AFP/File) US Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and running mate US Senator Tim Kaine arrive for a campaign rally at Florida International University in Miami on July 23, 2016 Gaston De Cardenas (AFP/File) Supporters of former US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders march in support of clean energy and the environment in Philadelphia on July 24, 2016 Nicholas Kamm (AFP) After NATO, the WTO: Trump ready to rip up post-war order Toughening immigration checks for the French and Germans, questioning NATO obligations and hinting at an exit from the World Trade Organization: Donald Trump cast further doubt Sunday on US alliances and commitments around the world. In his first wide-ranging interview since he was crowned the Republican Party's White House nominee, the billionaire and political novice spelled out his stance on a slew of foreign policy, international trade and national security issues. If he wins in November, he told NBC's "Meet the Press," France and other nations hit by recent terror attacks would be subjected to "extreme" immigration checks as a deterrent to attacks on US soil. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pictured on day three of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 20, 2016 Jim Watson (AFP/File) Trump recently shifted from calling for a ban on Muslims entering the United States to advocating freezing flows from what he calls countries "compromised by terrorism." "We have problems in Germany and we have problems in France," he said, arguing that in his view the French "have totally been" compromised by deadly Islamist attacks in Nice and last year in Paris. "And you know why? It's their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory." Asked about the risk his proposal could drastically limit the number of people allowed into the US, Trump said: "Maybe we get to that point," adding: "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong." - 'WTO is a disaster' - Beyond questioning free travel from Europe to the United States, Trump put forward a vision of Europe as an economic competitor to be bested at all costs. Asked, in relation to the British vote to leave the European Union, whether a fractured Europe was good for America, Trump equivocated. "No, no -- but we're spending a lot of money in Europe," he said. "Don't forget, Europe got together, why primarily did they get together? To beat the United States when it comes to making money. In other words, on trade. "Look at Airbus," he said. "They got together, all of these countries got together so they could beat the United States. Okay?" Trump, who has already threatened to renegotiate or rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement, went on to suggest that the United States could pull out of the World Trade Organization under his presidency. In the interview, he put forward a plan for punitive import taxes of up to 30 percent on firms that move manufacturing activities abroad, citing NAFTA partner Mexico as an example. When show host Chuck Todd objected that such plans would be challenged at the WTO, he responded: "Doesn't matter. We'll renegotiate or pull out. These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster." Asked if he was concerned such actions could rattle the world economy -- much as the Brexit vote has done -- Trump was dismissive. "I'm the only one that said Brexit is going to happen," he said. "What did it do? The stock market is higher now than when it happened." - 'Taking advantage of us' - Trump doubled down on a recent warning that the US might not meet its mutual defense obligations in NATO under his presidency -- if he deemed that a member state was not pulling its weight financially. President Barack Obama weighed in, questioning Trump's readiness to be commander-in-chief in an interview on CBS. "Anybody who's been paying attention knows there is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenet of the most important alliance in the history of the world,'" Obama said. Pressed on the issue by Todd, Trump was unapologetic, repeating that he would make allies shoulder defense costs that the United States has borne for decades. "Now, a country gets invaded. They haven't paid. Everyone said 'Oh, but we have a treaty'." "We have countries within NATO taking advantage of us. With me, I believe they are going to pay," he said. "If they don't pay -- Chuck -- this isn't 40 years ago. This isn't 50 years ago. It's not 30 years ago. We're a different country today." Trump said his demands for a review of defense spending by US allies would go beyond NATO. "We take care of Japan. We take care of Germany and South Korea and Saudi Arabia and we lose on everything," he said. "We can no longer be the stupid country." Donald Trump put forward a plan for punitive import taxes of up to 30 percent on firms that move manufacturing activities abroad, citing NAFTA partner Mexico as an example Jim Watson (AFP/File) The little man is being locked out of the country's automobile market by industry big boys. In a move rarely seen in Vietnam, a group of local private car importers earlier this week put up banner in front of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi to call for an adjustment to a circular which they say is unfair to them. The ministry issued Circular 20 in 2011 to set rules for imports of new passenger automobiles with nine seats or less. Under the circular, importers must present local authorities with two different papers: an authorization certificate or authorized agent contract provided by a foreign car manufacturer, and an automobile warranty and maintenance certificate granted by Vietnams Ministry of Transport. Small firms said the requirements are too strict for them to implement and have demanded the ministry adjust the circular. A number of powerful local and foreign automobile makers/importers in Vietnam, who are believed to have benefited from the circular, are naturally in favor of keeping the current regulations. The circular expired on July 1, so the ministry has asked the central government to pass a new regulation to supersede it. On July 21 the ministry held a meeting to seek comments from relevant stakeholders on the new proposed policy. Many local automobile importers who were negatively affected by Circular 20 tried to attend the meeting, but the Ministry of Industry and Trade refused us entry," a company director said on condition of anonymity, adding that they would continue to lobby for policy change by any means necessary. "We have not had the chance to have our say, so we put up a banner in front of the ministry demanding the circular be scrapped. The banner in front of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Photo by VnExpress Representatives of the small importers have also sent a request to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asking the government to abolish the strict requirements imposed on small private firms. This policy lobby is an unbalanced game between big local and foreign manufacturers/importers who are professional and well organized and a group of small local importers who do not even have a representative association of their own, a source attending the July 21 meeting said. While the former had tens of representatives at the meeting, only three representatives from small importers were allowed to attend, according to the source. At the meeting, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) and the Vietnam Car Importers Association (VIVA), who benefit from current import rules, all agreed to keep the regulations outlined in Circular 20 in the new draft policy. They said the regulations would help the government fight tax evasion and monitor the quality of imported vehicles. VIVA said small importers often declare low prices for their imported vehicles to avoid tax. Moreover, the rules also benefit locals because they will receive formal warranties and maintenance services from manufacturers. But opponents of the current regulations say they are not buying into them. Dau Anh Tuan, director of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerces Legal Department, said at the meeting that since Circular 20 took effect in 2011, it has elbowed out hundreds of local small car importers, and those that have survived are finding life difficult. He said that the regulations set out by the ministry in Circular 20 are no longer legitimate. He pointed out that under two government directives on administrative procedures for imported goods, one issued in 2006 and the other in 2013, importers no longer have to present authorization certificates from manufacturers. Imports of new passenger automobiles with nine seats or less are also not regarded as a "conditional business" under the current Law on Investment. We can conclude that regulations under Circular 20 are no longer suitable or legitimate, Tuan said. According to Tuan, the tax evasion, if any, will be dealt with by law enforcement forces, and has nothing to do with a regulation issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. With regard to vehicle quality, Tuan said the customers will have the final say. The government, for example, cannot force people to buy goods at the supermarkets just because it believes the quality of goods there is higher than other private stores or shops near their homes. Circular 20 has had a great impact on the development of the local private business community. We should provide them opportunities rather than take them away, Tuan said. Vietnams automobile market is dominated by foreign companies with very few local manufacturers, he added. Key members of VAMA include global makers such as Toyota, Ford and Mercedes-Benz. Truong Hai (Thaco) is the leading local automobile manufacturer and importer in the association. Data released by VAMA on July 8 showed that Vietnams automobile sales in June jumped 31 percent on-year to 24,400 units. Thaco, which assembles trucks, buses and sedans, retained its leading position in the monthly sales tally with 9,246 units, surging 39 percent from June 2015, followed by Toyota, Ford, Honda, GM and Mercedes-Benz. 41 migrant bodies wash up on Libya beach Volunteers have recovered the bodies of 41 presumed migrants that washed up on a Libyan beach, an official from the coastal city of Sabratha said on Sunday. The bodies, found on Saturday on the city's beach west of the capital Tripoli, were taken to the morgue for DNA testing before being buried, the official said. "We think that these are people who drowned five or six days ago," added the official who did not wish to be identified. Illegal migrants sit in a port in Tagiura, east of the Libyan capital Tripoli, after 137 migrants of African origins were rescued by coast guard boats off the coast of Libya on July 21, 2016 STRINGER (AFP/File) He said that normally one or two bodies a day were found and that 41 in just one day is "an exceptionally high number". The group of volunteers who found the bodies was trained by Sabratha city council in mid-July to look for victims of people smugglers, the official said. Illegal migration from Libya booms in the summer months when the Mediterranean is generally calm and traffickers pack unsafe boats with migrants desperate to start a new life in Europe. People smugglers have taken advantage of the chaos gripping Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi to boost their lucrative business. They cram migrants into boats that are small and unsafe for the perilous journey to Italy just 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Libya's shores. Thousands of migrants try each year to make the sea crossing but many drown. Australia boycott Rio athletes village, 'not safe, not ready' The Australian Olympic team will not move into the athletes village in Rio after it was condemned as "not safe or ready" by the country's chef de mission on Sunday. Team chief Kitty Chiller said problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean. She claimed that water has come through the ceiling resulting in large puddles on the floor around cabling and wiring. View of the athletes Olympic Village during its inauguration for the Rio Olympic Games on June 15, 2016 Beth Santos (AFP/File) "Due to a variety of problems in the Village, including gas, electricity and plumbing I have decided that no Australian Team member will move into our allocated building," she said in a statement. "We were due to move into the Village on July 21 but we have been living in nearby hotels, because the Village is simply not safe or ready." The Australian officials said they have raised their concerns with local organisers. Chiller also claimed that the British and New Zealand delegations were experiencing similar problems in a major organisational headache with the Olympics due to get under way on August 5. Extra maintenance staff and over 1,000 cleaners have been attempting to fix the problems and clean the Village but the faults, particularly the plumbing issues have not been resolved, said Chiller. "Last night (Saturday), we decided to do a "stress test" where taps and toilets were simultaneously turned on in apartments on several floors to see if the system could cope once the athletes are in-house," she explained. "The system failed. Water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments and there was 'shorting' in the electrical wiring." Australian athletes arriving in the coming days will be housed in alternative accommodation. "We welcome a decision by the IOC to recommend to the Organising Committee that stress tests be carried out throughout the Olympic Village," said Chiller. "There is much work to be done at the Village and we appreciate the efforts of the IOC and the Rio Organising Committee to 'push things along' and solve the problems." Nigeria hails major step towards polio-free Africa Nigeria on Sunday celebrated two years without a new case of polio, in a major stride towards Africa being declared free of the devastating disease. If no new case is reported by July 2017, Nigeria will be certified free of the virus, which mainly affects children under five and can leave its victims crippled or dead. As recently as 2012, Nigeria seemed to be losing the battle against polio, recording more than half of all global cases. Health workers tries to board a vehicle taking them to designated centres to immunise children in Lagos on December 17, 2012 Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File) But these days the disease is only endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nigeria has not seen a case of "wild" polio -- contracted person-to-person or through contaminated water -- since July 24, 2014, when a child was left paralysed in the impoverished northern state of Kano. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday hailed the progress towards wiping out polio, but said more needed to be done keep up the momentum. "The next major milestone for us as a country is the certification of polio-free status in 2017 by the World Health Organization," he said in a statement. A sporadic case occurred in August 2014 in Somalia but Nigeria is the last African country where polio was endemic. "As long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting polio," the WHO says on its website. "Failure to eradicate polio from these last remaining strongholds could result in as many as 200 000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world." - Suspicion over vaccines - Nigeria had struggled to contain the virus after some northern states imposed a ban on vaccinations in 2003. Immunisation teams were attacked and even killed as rumours spread about vaccine safety -- a phenonemon also seen in Pakistan, where suspicions grew after the CIA ran a fake vaccine drive to help track down Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in 2011. In northern Nigeria, immunisation bans followed allegations by some state governors and religious leaders that vaccines were contaminated by Western powers to spread sterility and HIV among Muslims. Independent tests ordered by the government in 2004 declared that the vaccines were safe, but hostility to vaccination drives has remained in some areas. Boko Haram's bloody six-year Islamist insurgency has also created major security issues for efforts to vaccinate children in the north. Health Minister Isaac Adewole said the government would get "people out of their comfort zones to further enhance the quality of polio campaigns, reach children in difficult areas and continue to improve routine immunisation." Buhari meanwhile pledged to work with international partners "to ensure that this disease is wiped off the face of the earth for good". Nigeria has budgeted 12.6 billion naira ($42.5 million, 38.8 million euros) in 2016 for vaccinations and other programmes to combat childhood diseases such as polio, yellow fever and measles, he added. Modibo Kassogue, immunisation manager in Nigeria for UNICEF, told AFP that funding was crucial. "They must also improve monitoring, increase levels of routine immunisation and strengthen the overall health system to prevent the return of polio," he said. And he said plenty needed to be done in Nigeria to stop children dying of other diseases. Treatable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria every year, according to UNICEF. "In Nigeria, one child out of every 13 born dies before reaching age one, and one in every eight does not survive till their fifth birthday," Kassogue said. Venezuela first lady's nephews admitted drug smuggling: US Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady admitted being part of a cocaine smuggling scheme in a US sting operation before their arrest last year, according to recently filed court documents. Details of the alleged confessions by Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freita were recounted in documents US prosecutors filed Friday in the US federal court in Manhattan. The two -- sons of brothers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife Cilia Flores -- were arrested in Haiti in November 2015 and flown to New York by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents. US agents arrested two nephews of Venezuela's first lady,Cilia Flores, for allegedly conspiring to smuggle 800 kilos (1,800 pounds) of cocaine into America in 2015 Don Emmert (AFP/File) The pair are accused of plotting to smuggle at least five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine into the United States. They were also accused of taking part in meetings to plan a shipment of cocaine to the United States via Honduras. The newly released court documents show how Campo and Flores and others worked together to try to send hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to Honduras so that the drugs could be imported into the United States. The drugs were purportedly to be bought by Mexican drug traffickers, who were in fact sources acting under instruction from the DEA. During recorded meetings in Venezuela, Honduras, and Haiti, the defendants discussed transporting multiple loads of cocaine via private aircraft, the papers said. The defendants understood that the narcotics would end up in the US in transactions "that they hoped would generate millions of dollars in proceeds." US officials believe much of the cocaine produced in Colombia passes through Venezuela before being transported to the United States and Europe. During an October meeting with DEA sources, Campo described connections to the Venezuelan government and later stated, "we're at war with the United States... with Colombia... with the opposition," according to the documents. The defendants, rather than the DEA, initiated the drug trafficking activities at issue in the case, prosecutors said. The two men were arrested in Haiti at the request of the DEA, and taken into custody by the agency. During the November 10 flight to the US, Campo and Flores waived their rights to remain silent "and confessed to participating in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States," the papers said. The Spanish-speaking defendants have argued that their post-arrest statements were involuntary and the result of an impermissible interrogation because they did not fully understand their US rights. Obama decries Trump's 'lack of preparedness' President Barack Obama questioned Republican nominee Donald Trump's readiness to be commander-in-chief, in an interview broadcast Sunday. Weighing in on Trump's suggestions that the US might not meet its mutual defense obligations in NATO, Obama told CBS it highlighted a "lack of preparedness that he has been displaying when it comes to foreign policy." Obama has repeatedly called on European allies to boost defense spending, but has not questioned America's role in the alliance. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly indicated that the United States might not come to the defense of a NATO ally Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File) Trump has repeatedly indicated that the United States might not come to the defense of a NATO ally -- a treaty obligation -- if they were not pulling their weight. "Anybody who's been paying attention knows there is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenet of the most important alliance in the history of the world,'" Obama said. India urges 'maximum restraint' in restive Kashmir New Delhi's home minister called for "maximum restraint" in Indian Kashmir on Sunday after weeks of clashes between protesters and security forces that left scores dead. At least 49 people have been killed in clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir following the death of popular young rebel commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight with security forces on July 8. Speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the restive region, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was concerned about the violence and called on both sides to ease tensions. An Indian paramilitary trooper patrols during a curfew in downtown Srinagar on July 24, 2016 Tauseef Mustafa (AFP) "I am worried about the situation here, so is our prime minister," Singh told reporters after meeting with business, government and other groups during the visit. "I have asked the security forces to exercise maximum restraint." Singh also urged residents to refrain from violence in the disputed territory, which is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both. More than 5,500 people including 2,259 civilians, have been injured in the latest clashes, including scores who were shot in the eyes with pellets by troopers and may have been blinded. One more protester injured during earlier fighting died in a hospital on Sunday, taking the death toll to 49. Large parts of the region remained under a security lockdown for the 16th day as mobile phone and internet networks remained suspended. Singh accused Pakistan of inflaming violence in the Muslim-majority region after Islamabad announced a "black day" to show solidarity with Kashmir residents living under Indian rule. "Pakistan is itself a sufferer of terrorism and they should not instigate Kashmiri youth to pick up arms. This should stop," Singh said. The clashes are the deadliest in Indian Kashmir since 2010 when massive demonstrations were staged against Indian rule. Several rebel groups have been fighting for decades an estimated 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with rival Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting. Training exercise causes bomb scare at US embassy, Yangon The United States Embassy in Myanmar held a tear gas training exercise on Sunday night that sparked rumours of an explosion and brought emergency services to the scene, a police officer said. Speculation rippled across social media after fire trucks and ambulances were seen outside the embassy compound in Myanmar's largest city, but local officer Zaw Win told AFP "it was not a bomb explosion". "They were testing tear gas inside the practise grounds of their embassy. Gas came out onto the road in front of the embassy and some people smelled it and informed us," he said. Police officers stand guard in front of US embassy in Yangon on July 24, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP) No one was injured and the gas did not cause any damage to the embassy, he said. The embassy had apologised for not informing police of the test in advance, he added. While bombings were relatively common under the former junta that stepped down in 2011, such incidents have been rare in recent years. Rocket fire kills at least 8 in Syrian capital Rockets rained down on several Old Damascus neighbourhoods Sunday, including one known for its cafes and restaurants, killing at least eight people and wounding 20 others. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from rebel positions on the outskirts of the capital. "At least eight people were killed and more than 20 others were wounded when rockets hits several neighbourhoods in Old Damascus," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Smokes billows after a strike by pro-Syrian government forces in Shefounieh, near Douma, a rebel-held town east of the capital Damascus, on July 13, 2016 Abd Doumany (AFP/File) Syria's state news agency SANA, quoting a police source, denounced a "terrorist attack" that it said killed five people and wounded 16. SANA said the rockets hit the mostly Christian neighbourhood of Bab Tuma. The Observatory said rockets also struck Bab al-Salama and Qaymariyeh in Old Damascus. A restaurant in Qaymariyeh was hit, it said. An AFP correspondent who went to Bab Tuma said he saw bloodied people running in the streets, calling for help and waiting for ambulances. A civilian in a pick-up truck ferried several people to hospital, the correspondent said, explaining that ambulances could not enter Bab Tuma because of its narrow alleyways. A Facebook page dedicated to pinpointing rocket and mortar fire in Damascus posted pictures of destruction at a restaurant, showing overturned chairs and tables and blood on the floor. Layla al-Jawabrah, 23, said she had been heading towards Bab Tuma when she saw security forces shouting and telling people to run. "I hid in the entrance of a building... and saw people running. Some were wounded and their clothes were stained with blood," she said. The rocket attack was the first to target Damascus in months, since a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia in February. But the truce has been violated repeatedly, and Washington and Moscow have tried to reinforce it with temporary or local ceasefires to no avail. Damascus is mostly controlled by regime forces, but rebels hold districts on its outskirts and positions in the countryside. The capital has been largely spared the deadly violence that has spiralled and engulfed Syria since the conflict erupted in 2011 with peaceful anti-government protests. Solar plane leaves Cairo on last leg of globe-circling trip CAIRO (AP) An experimental solar-powered airplane took off from Cairo for Abu Dhabi early Sunday on the last leg of its globe-circling voyage, mission organizers said. The Mission Control Center tweeted that the Solar Impulse 2 is expected to land in Abu Dhabi after a 48-hour flight. Mission Control said it had identified a weather window that could allow the plane to overcome the challenging high temperatures across Saudi Arabia. "Just took off from Cairo to achieve the 1st round-the-world solar flight. A dream I have since 1999," pilot Bertrand Piccard tweeted after Solar Impulse 2 was airborne. The solar plane had arrived in Cairo on July 13 after a flight from Seville, Spain. The aircraft landed in Seville on June 23 after an unprecedented three-day flight across the Atlantic. The around-the-world voyage began in March 2015 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The wings of Solar Impulse 2, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. Ideal flight speed is about 45.06 kph (28 mph), although that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest. The solar project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 million, began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. ____ Online: The Latest: Texas shooting dead are 1 man, 2 women, 1 child BASTROP, Texas (AP) The Latest on the shooting in Bastrop, Texas: (all times local): 9 p.m. Police say the four dead from a shooting at an apartment complex include one man, two women and a child. Bastrop Police Det. Vicky Steffanic says that another child was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. She says the suspected shooter is among the dead and there is no further threat to the public. The identities of the dead are not being released pending notification of family. ___ 8:30 p.m. Residents near the scene of a fatal shooting in Bastrop, Texas say they are restricted from leaving or entering the apartment complex where the shooting happened. Kenyata Trigg told the Austin American-Statesman that her sister-in-law was in the apartment complex when she heard shots. Trigg said her sister-in-law saw the bodies of a man, a woman and two children, all of whom she knew as neighbors. Mai Mguyen, who's lived in the apartment complex for five years, said she was working at a shop nearby when she heard four gunshots. A sheriff's office spokeswoman earlier said that all four of the dead were adults. ___ 7:30 p.m. The suspect in the fatal shooting of four people in Bastrop, Texas is dead. Bastrop County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dawn Adams quotes officers at the scene as saying the apartment complex where the shooting took place is now secure. No details were immediately available about the motive for the shooting. Adams said officers received a call about the attack at 6:13 p.m. In addition to the four dead, a child was taken from the scene to the hospital with minor injuries. ___ 7:10 p.m. Four people have been found dead following a shooting at an apartment complex in Bastrop, Texas. Dawn Adams, spokeswoman for the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office says in addition to the fatalities, one child has been taken to a hospital with minor injuries. She said no details about the suspect or a motive for the shooting are available In two years, the three cops pocketed $160,000 in bribes. Further investigations are underway after three senior traffic police officers in the southern Can Tho City have been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes worth nearly $160,000 from local businesses to give overloaded trucks a free pass. Colonel Tran Ngoc Hanh, the director of the Can Tho police department confirmed that three police officers Ly Hoang Minh, Vo Hoang Anh and Doan Vu Duy have been arrested, together with a Nguyen Van Can, a local man who helped them collect the money. The cops confessed to the allegations, saying they collected the money every month from businesses transporting goods by trucks through middleman Can. Bribes collected since 2014 totalled nearly VND3.5 billion ($157,000). Minh and Anh pocketed over VND3.4 billion in total, 88 percent of which was sent by Can and the rest they had collected in person. The police are still working on estimating the sum Duy has pocketed and are urging bribery victims to provide information on the case. In 2014, Can set up three accounts at two banks in Can Tho City and Vinh Long under different names, investigators said. Businesses owning overloaded trucks that passed through Binh Thuy and Ninh Kieu districts were then requested to wire or pay the bribes in cash to middleman Can if they wanted the cops to let the trucks pass freely. "After establishing a connection with the traffic police, Can solicited a monthly fee to his accounts or in cash (VND1-3 million per truck) from trucking companies. The money would then be distributed to the cops. If a company refused to follow this scheme, they wouldn't be able to operate in peace," said Colonel Tran Thanh Chang, a senior police official. Some businesses said they did not bribe to overload their trucks, but they had to load more to compensate for the extra "monthly fee" in a bid preserve profits. Around 60 businesses in the area had to pay the "monthly fee". "Trucks just passing by Can Tho were forced to pay. And they couldnt run their business without overloading the trucks since the bribery alone would eat up all the profit," said Colonel Hanh. On Friday, the Department of Transport in Can Tho took responsibility for the truck bribery. Spokesperson of the Department of Transport Trinh Ngoc Vinh told VnExpress that he was very surprised that his subordinates pocketed nearly VND3.5 billion. We would like to take responsibility for the incident that has caused frustration to the public," Vinh said. Leaders of the Department of Transport of Can Tho said the three arrested police officers appeared to be people who are qualified for the job, which has allowed them to assume high positions in the inspection team. Related news: > Philippines firm under suspicion of bribery in Vietnam lead poisoning case > 10 officials disciplined over corruption in 10 years > TPP will help Vietnam combat corruption: Vietnamese official A shooting at a Texas apartment complex on Saturday evening left four people dead including the suspected shooter, police said. Bastrop Police Det. Vicky Steffanic said at a news briefing that the dead included one man, two women and a child following the shooting at the Arbors of Bastrop Apartments in Bastrop. Another child was taken to Dell Children's Medical Center with injuries that were not life threatening, she said. Scroll down for video A shooting at a Texas apartment complex on Saturday evening left four people dead including the suspected shooter, police said. Officers pictured at the scene Police said at a news briefing that the dead included one man, two women and a child following the shooting at the Arbors of Bastrop Apartments in Bastrop 'The shooter is among the dead and there is no further threat to the public,' Steffanic said. The shooter reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to KEYE-TV. The identities of the dead are not being released pending notification of family. Steffanic declined to comment on a motive for the shooting. At least one nearby resident told the Austin American-Statesman that those found dead were residents of the complex. The identities of the dead are not being released pending notification of family. Police declined to comment on a motive for the shooting Police initially said there could be as many as five dead, but that was later revised to four when it was determined that the suspected shooter was among the fatalities Kenyata Trigg told the Austin American-Statesman that her sister-in-law was in the apartment complex when she heard shots. Trigg said her sister-in-law saw the bodies of a man, a woman and two children, all of whom she knew as neighbors. Mai Mguyen, who has lived in the apartment complex for five years, said she was working at a shop nearby when she heard four gunshots. Police initially said there could be as many as five dead, but that was later revised to four when it was determined that the suspected shooter was among the fatalities. It was a mere eight months ago when Holly Holm was a headline name. She was the woman who took down the untouchable Ronda Rousey, and her win catapulted the boxer to fame. But on Saturday Holm was in the news for a completely different reason. She had suffered the first back-to-back defeats in her decade-long career. Holm, 34, was the favorite going into UFC Chicago, where she faced off against Valentina Shevchenko. Holly Holm, right, tries to avoid a punch from Valentina Shevchenko during UFC Chicago on Saturday. The former bantamweight champion suffered her second loss since being Ronda Rousey in November Holm, 34, was the favorite going into the match, which many slated was going to be her comeback after losing the UFC championship to Miesha Tate in March But there was no sign of that at the United Center, where all three judges unanimously picked Shevchenko as the clear winner. Holm had losing scores of 49-46 from all of the judges It was supposed to be Holm's comeback after losing the UFC championship to Miesha Tate in March. But there was no sign of that at the United Center, where all three judges unanimously picked Shevchenko as the clear winner. Holm had losing scores of 49-46 from all of the judges. It was, though, an incredible bounce back for Shevchenko - whose trainer was shot in the abdomen by armed robbers while they ate at a chicken restaurant in Lima, Peru two months ago. Pavel Fedotov had recovered and was in Shevchenko's corner on Saturday night, cheering her on just as he had from his hospital bed. 'It was a very different training camp than I had to endure in all my life,' Shevchenko, who is from Kyrgyzstan, said. 'After two days when Pavel was in the hospital he said, you should take this fight and prepare. It doesn't matter what happened.' Shevchenko, of Kyrgyzstan, smiles as she points after defeating Holm. It was an incredible bounce back for the boxer, who watched her trainer get shot in the stomach by armed robbers just two months ago Holm knocked Shevchenko to the mat with a quick hook early in the first round as Shevchenko quickly got back to her feet. Shevchenko had a takedown late in the round. In the third round Shevchenko got in a few jabs and then caught Holm's leg on a kick attempt and took her down. Shevchenko had another takedown and kept Holm on the mat for the rest of the round as she landed punches. 'I know I'm capable of more,' Holm said after the match. 'I think I just need to believe in myself a little more. Like I said, I know I can do more. I didn't perform well tonight. Valentina is really tough, we know that.' Holm made international headlines after her shocking defeat of the untouchable Rousey in November But she did not hold onto the UFC bantamweight championship belt for long, losing it to Miesha Tate 'It's not like I haven't been taught the right things, it all comes down to my performance, it wasn't great tonight.' While many were shocked by Saturday's upset, Holm said earlier this week that she was focused on 'facing one of the best girls out there'. As the media tried to find out how Holm felt about facing Rousey or Tate again, she refused to look to the future. 'My whole concern is just to get a win,' she told Fox Sports. 'I want to win this coming fight and that's it. Whatever comes after that has to be because I do well, and that's all I'm worried about.' 'I can't look past this weekend. I've got a lot of work ahead of me.' Shevchenko is now in the mix to contend for the women's bantamweight title at 135 pounds that is currently held by Amanda Nunes, who she lost to in March at UFC 196. She now may get another shot at Nunes, who dismantled Tate for the belt at UFC 200. Nunes in a tweet insinuated that Shevchenko is not ready for a rematch, but Shevchenko believes her rival is 'definitely scared'. 'I'm ready for five rounds with her,' she said. 'I will take whoever is next, but I think she is scared.' Trump: France, others hit by terror may face more screening WASHINGTON (AP) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is asserting that countries like France that he says are compromised by terrorism may be subjected to the "extreme vetting" he proposes as a deterrent to attacks in the U.S. When asked if his proposal might lead to a point when not a lot of people from overseas are allowed into the U.S., Trump said, "Maybe we get to that point" and added: "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong." In an interview to air Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump also defended Fox News founder Roger Ailes, who left the network amid accusations of sexual harassment; criticized rival Hillary Clinton's newly named running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, for accepting gifts while Virginia's governor; dismissed descriptions of his nomination acceptance speech as "dark," instead calling it "optimistic"; and expressed disapproval of David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader who is seeking a Senate seat from Louisiana. For months Trump has called for a temporary ban on foreign Muslims seeking to enter the United States and criticized the Obama administration for continuing to admit refugees from Syria. In his speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention, he said the U.S. "must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place" notably leaving out any reference to Muslims or to Syria, Iraq and other Mideast nations. In the NBC interview, Trump noted "specific problems" in Germany and France both countries have been rocked by fatal attacks in public places in recent weeks and "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd asked if his proposal would limit immigration from France. "They've been compromised by terrorism," Todd said. Trump replied: "They have totally been. And you know why? It's their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory." He then called for "extreme vetting" and said: "We have to have tough, we're going to have tough standards. ... If a person can't prove what they have to be able to prove, they're not coming into this country." During his interview, Trump also: Defended Ailes, who resigned from Fox amid sexual harassment allegations by numerous women. Trump described Ailes as a longtime friend and said "some of the women" complaining about Ailes have been helped by him in the past and earlier had said good things about him. "It's very sad," Trump said. "Because he's a very good person. I've always found him to be just a very, very good person." Criticized Kaine for accepting $160,000 worth of gifts, much of it for trips, while serving as governor. The gifts were legal under the state's permissive ethics rules, but Trump said: "To me, it's a big problem ... how do you take all these gifts?" Took issue with descriptions of his convention speech earlier in the week as "dark." ''It was an optimistic speech," Trump said. Referring to his mention of crime as well as shootings and terrorist attacks both here and overseas, he said, "Sure, I talk about the problems, but we're going to solve the problems." Tim Kaine gets warm welcome from neighbors RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Sen. Tim Kaine received a hero's welcome Saturday night outside his Richmond home, capping off his debut as Hillary Clinton's running mate. Hundreds of neighbors and other well-wishers greeted Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, on their return to their home in Richmond on a hot and sticky evening. The Kaines had spent the day campaigning with the Democratic presidential candidate, who chose Kaine for the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket just 24 hours earlier. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is joined by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., as she speaks at a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Clinton has chosen Kaine to be her running mate. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Cheers erupted when Kaine and Holton arrived at their home in the tree-lined Ginter Park neighborhood on Richmond's north side about 10:30 p.m. They had been in Miami at midday for his first appearance with Clinton since joining her campaign. Kaine spoke for about 10 minutes at his homecoming, noting that he had launched his political career three decades ago in the same neighborhood when he sought a seat on the Richmond City Council. He joked that far fewer people had showed up for that announcement. Carol A.O. Wolf, a longtime friend of the Kaines, said the close-knit neighborhood felt it important to turn out and show their support for their neighbor. "This is his 'hood, this is Kaine country," said Wolf. "He may be for her, but we're with him." During his remarks, Kaine told his neighbors how thankful he was for their support, as well as for their indulgence for allowing the Kaine's yard to sometimes look a little ragged. But he also gave a mini-stump speech, which included pointing out the importance of Virginia in presidential politics, from its history of nurturing early presidents to its current status as a battleground state. He urged his friends and supporters to help him win the state for Clinton, saying there was too much at stake to let Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win. Kaine took jabs at some of Trump's more controversial positions, including a proposed ban on the entry of Muslims from other countries. Kaine told the crowd that the American tradition is not to punish or prefer people based on religion and said, "If it's Muslims, it could be Mormons next week." His wife coaxed him to finish up and told the crowd, "I've got to get him to bed." The Kaines are set to attend St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, their longtime parish, on Sunday morning. One of the well-wishers outside the Kaine's house was Larry Williford, a member of the church who has known Kaine for decades. Williford said he knew long ago that Kaine was destined for great things, but never pictured that Kaine would be a vice presidential candidate. Williford joked that Kaine, who used to be a member of the church's choir, had earned a special reward at Sunday's church service. Afghanistan marks day of national mourning after huge attack KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan marked a national day of mourning on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 80 people who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Kabul. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. Authorities say another 231 people were wounded, some seriously, in the bombing Saturday afternoon on a march by members of the ethnic Hazara community, who are predominantly Shiite Muslim. Most Afghans are Sunni, and the IS group regards Shiites as apostates. The attack was the first by IS on Kabul and the capital's worst since a vicious Taliban insurgency began 15 years ago raising concerns about the group's reach and capability in Afghanistan. Afghans help a man who was injured in a deadly explosion that struck a protest march by ethnic Hazaras, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Afghan Health Ministry officials say tens of people have been killed and over 200 wounded in the bombing Saturday, that was claimed by the Islamic State group according to a statement posted on the IS-linked Aamaq online news agency. The protesters Saturday were demanding that a major regional electric power line be routed through their impoverished home province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Bereaved families collected their dead from hospitals and morgues across the capital, and began digging graves as the first funerals went ahead in the west of the capital. Many people chose to bury their dead together with others rather than in traditional family plots encouraged by organizers of the Saturday demonstration, who call themselves the Enlighten Movement. In a hilltop graveyard in the Surkh Abad suburb of south-western Kabul, hundreds of people, most of them men, braved high winds and swirling dust to conduct the Shiite funeral rites. Simple wooden coffins covered in the green Shiite flag were carried by men on their shoulders and lowered into graves that relatives had dug themselves with shovels. In the city's west, in Omaid-a-Sabz, the grieving chose to bury their dead side by side in long rows. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rasat said the Hazara people felt a deep sense of injustice and anger that the government had not kept its election promise to ensure that development was equal for all Afghan ethnic groups. "Our people only want justice and equal development for all," he said. Hazaras account for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's population, estimated at around 30 million, and say they face discrimination. During the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule, the Hazaras were often brutally treated. The Taliban were quick to deny culpability for the Saturday attack, however, issuing a statement before IS claimed responsibility. The Saturday attack has raised concerns about sectarianism, and the Interior Ministry announced a ban on public gatherings and demonstrations in an apparent bid to avoid any inter-communal strife. A presidential spokesman pointed out that the ban on public gatherings would not apply to the funerals for Saturday's victims. IS has had a presence in Afghanistan for the past year, mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar along the Pakistani border. The Afghan military, backed by U.S. troops, is planning an offensive against IS positions in Nangarhar in coming days. Prior to the Saturday attack, thousands of Hazaras had marched through Kabul to demand the rerouting of a power line through their impoverished province of Bamiyan, in the central highlands. It was their second demonstration; the first was in May with a much better turnout and attended by senior Hazara politicians, who were absent from Saturday's march. The office of President Ashraf Ghani said that march organizers had been warned to call off the demonstration after intelligence was received that an attack was likely. Daud Naji, an Enlighten Movement leader, said on Sunday that they had been told only that there was a "heightened risk" of attack and had subsequently cancelled nine of 10 planned routes. On Sunday, Ghani attended a memorial prayer service in a mosque on the grounds of the presidential palace, his spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said. The office of the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan issued a statement conveying its "deepest condolences and solidarity" and noting that people of all ethnicities across the country were still queueing at hospitals to donate blood for the wounded. Hazara demonstrators have continued to occupy Demazang Square, where the attack took place as the march was winding down and some prepared to set up a camp, Naji said. They would stay until three conditions were met, he said. The Enlighten Movement wished to have its own representatives, as well as others from international human rights organizations, involved in a commission Ghani has established to investigate the IS attack. The movement also wanted the power line rerouted through Bamiyan, as originally demanded. The multi-million-dollar regional project was routed away from Bamiyan by the previous Afghan government for financial considerations, according to people involved in the planning, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. Thirdly, Naji said, they wanted the name of Demazang Square changed to Shahada or Martyrs' Square, "to honor the memories of those who were killed, along with a picture of everyone who died there." Ghani's spokesman Chakhansuri confirmed that the president has issued a decree to change the name of the square as the Hazaras had asked. He also said that Enlighten Movement members would participate in the investigation commission. In response to the rerouting demand for the so-called TUTAP power project, Chakhansuri referred to a contract signed on June 21 for the transmission of a 300-megawatt power line from the north into Bamiyan. Like the TUTAP line, it is also funded by the Asian Development Bank. The death toll in Saturday's attack was not yet finalized Sunday, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said on Saturday that 80 people were killed; Naji said the Enlighten Movement puts the death toll so far at 84. ___ Associated Press writer Karim Sharifi in Kabul, Afghanistan contributed to this story. Afghans help a man who was injured in a deadly explosion that struck a protest march by ethnic Hazaras, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Afghan Health Ministry officials say tens of people have been killed and over 200 wounded in the bombing Saturday, that was claimed by the Islamic State group according to a statement posted on the IS-linked Aamaq online news agency. The protesters Saturday were demanding that a major regional electric power line be routed through their impoverished home province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) A truck, used by some leaders of a protest march, is damaged after a deadly explosion that struck a protest march by ethnic Hazaras, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Afghan Health Ministry officials say tens of people have been killed and over 200 wounded in the bombing Saturday, that was claimed by the Islamic State group according to a statement posted on the IS-linked Aamaq online news agency. The protesters Saturday were demanding that a major regional electric power line be routed through their impoverished home province. (AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini) An Afghan injured man is moved in an ambulance after a deadly explosion that struck a protest march by ethnic Hazaras, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Afghan Health Ministry officials say tens of people have been killed and over 200 wounded in the bombing Saturday, that was claimed by the Islamic State group according to a statement posted on the IS-linked Aamaq online news agency. The protesters Saturday were demanding that a major regional electric power line be routed through their impoverished home province. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Prosecutor: Venezuela first lady's nephews confess drug deal CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Two nephews of Venezuela's powerful first lady confessed to trying to smuggle 800 kilograms (1,763 pounds) of cocaine into the U.S., according to prosecutors in the politically-charged case. The court filings Friday by prosecutors shed new light on the case that has sounded alarm bells about high-level corruption and drug trafficking by Venezuela's political elite at a time of increasing economic and political turmoil in the South American nation. Efrain Campo and Francisco Flores were arrested last November in Haiti in a sting operation coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They were then flown to New York, where they are in jail awaiting trial for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Both have pleaded not guilty. The documents filed Friday seek to refute a motion by the defendants' attorneys to suppress their post-arrest statements to DEA agents on their way to New York because they allegedly hadn't been informed of their rights and were coerced after being taken into custody by armed men in ski masks in what they at first thought was a kidnapping. Prosecutors allege Campo and Flores hatched the drug deal in about two months. They said it was first brought to the attention of the DEA by a wheelchair-bound cooperating witness nicknamed "El Sentado," who met Campo and Flores in Honduras and who wound up being killed three weeks after their arrest. As part of the DEA investigation, confidential sources were sent to Caracas to meet with the two young men. The court documents include photographs allegedly taken from a secret video of those meetings that prosecutors say show Campo examining a brick of cocaine with plastic gloves as Flores looks on. Campo allegedly said the narcotics came from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. During the meetings, Campo allegedly brags about owning several Ferraris and being at "war" with the U.S. and Venezuela's opposition. He also describes high-level connections with the government that will make it easy to move drugs through Caracas' international airport and prevent any cocaine-laden plane from being follow by law enforcement because, he said, "it departs as if .... someone from our family was on the plane," according to a statement by U.S. attorneys for the southern district of New York. In the court filings, Campo first suggested to agents that the cocaine deal was to fund Cilia Flores' congressional campaign. "I know I said that but in reality it was for me," a court document quotes Campo as telling a DEA agent. "Campo stated that friends in the drug business had told him to be careful not to get robbed so he made the statement regarding his Mom's campaign for protection," the DEA agent wrote in his post-arrest report. In reality, Campo said he was struggling financially, earning just $800 a week from a fleet of taxis he owned in Panama, according to the documents. He also described being rebuffed by his cousin, Erick Malpica-Flores, then finance director of state-run oil giant PDVSA, in a plan to charge commissions to businesses trying to collect on debts owed them by the company. Campo, 29, said he and his wanted to make $20 million from multiple drug shipments, enough to go live in the U.S. with his wife and child. He said his family would "kill him" if they knew what he was up to, according to the documents. Campo's lawyer declined to comment. The U.S has been steadily stepping up pressure on high-ranking members of Venezuela's military, police and government officials for their role in making the country an important transit zone for narcotics. Several Venezuelan officials, including a former defense minister and head of military intelligence, have been indicted or sanctioned in the U.S., and many more are under investigation. Cilia Flores, who President Nicolas Maduro calls the "First Combatant," is one of the most influential members of Venezuela's socialist government and a constant presence alongside her husband. The single time she commented on her nephews' case in January she said they had been kidnapped by the DEA, which was kicked out of Venezuela a decade ago, in an attempt to destabilize her husband's rule. ___ Saudi official makes rare Jerusalem visit, meets Israelis JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's Foreign Ministry says a senior official has met with a visiting former military general from Saudi Arabia. The meeting marks a rare public engagement between countries that have no official relations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon says Sunday that Director General Dore Gold met with Anwar Eshki at a Jerusalem hotel. Eshki currently heads a Saudi think tank in Jeddah but is believed to have close ties with the kingdom's rulers. Official government permission was likely necessary for him to make such an overt visit. Baton Rouge to continue to mourn officers slain in ambush BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) The city of Baton Rouge will continue to memorialize officers slain in a shoot-out outside a convenience store just a week ago with funeral services planned Monday for police officer Montrell Jackson. Just days before he was shot and killed, Jackson posted an emotional Facebook message saying he was "physically and emotionally" tired and expressing how difficult it was to be both a police officer and a black man. All 1,500 seats were filled in Istrouma Baptist Church Saturday, where a public funeral was held for Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy Brad Garafola, 45. East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux, III kneels and places his hand on the casket of deputy Brad Garafola, after it was transferred from carriage to hearse, at the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police were killed, in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) On Friday, hundreds turned out for a funeral service for police officers Matthew Gerald, 41. A multi-agency memorial service for the three officers is planned for Thursday. Matthew Ward, an employee with the Baton Rouge Sheriff's office who knew slain deputy Brad Garafola, touches his photograph while visiting a makeshift memorial for the officers who were killed and wounded in Sunday's shooting, at the B-Quik gas station on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, in Baton Rouge, La. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Members of a police honor guard raise their hands in salute as the casket of Baton Rouge police officer Matthew Gerald exits the Healing Place Church after funeral services in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, July 22, 2016. Multiple police officers were killed and wounded Sunday morning in a shooting near a gas station in Baton Rouge, less than two weeks after a black man was shot and killed by police here, sparking nightly protests across the city. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A horse drawn carriage pulls the casket of slain East Baton Rouge Sheriff Deputy Brad Garafola Saturday, July 23, 2016. Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed outside a convenience store less than a mile from police headquarters. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP) A horse drawn carriage pulls the casket of slain East Baton Rouge Sheriff Deputy Brad Garafola Saturday, July 23, 2016. Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed outside a convenience store less than a mile from police headquarters. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP) Jim Karr, of Baton Rouge, places his hat on his heart as the funeral procession of East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola, passes the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police were killed in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Tonja Garafola, the widow of East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola mourns with her children during his funeral at the Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Multiple police officers were killed and wounded Sunday morning in a shooting near a gas station in Baton Rouge, less than two weeks after a black man was shot and killed by police here, sparking nightly protests across the city. (Hilary Scheinuk/Baton Rouge Advocate via AP, Pool) Emily Garafola, mother of slain East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola, waves to crowds of well-wishers from his funeral procession as it passes the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Tonja Garafola, the widow of East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola gets a kiss from her daughter during his funeral at the Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Multiple police officers were killed and wounded Sunday morning in a shooting near a gas station in Baton Rouge, less than two weeks after a black man was shot and killed by police here, sparking nightly protests across the city. (Hilary Scheinuk/Baton Rouge Advocate via AP, Pool) Emily Garafola, mother, and John Garafola, father, of slain East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola, wave to crowds of well-wishers from his funeral procession as it passes the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux is shown left and right, on screens surrounding a photo of fallen EBR Sheriff's Deputy Brad Garafola during his funeral service Saturday, July 22, 2016 at Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La. Garafola and two other police officers were slain July 17 in an ambush shooting in Baton Rouge. (Travis Spradling/Baton Rouge Advocate via AP, Pool) East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux, III places his hand on the casket of deputy Brad Garafola, after it was transferred from carriage to hearse, at the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police were killed, in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux, III kneels and places his hand on the casket of deputy Brad Garafola, after it was transferred from carriage to hearse, at the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police were killed, in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) The casket of East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola is transferred from a horse drawn carriage to a hearse, at the scene where two Baton Rouge police and Garafola were killed, in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) People wave and hold American flags as the funeral procession of East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputy Brad Garafola passes the scene where Garafola and two Baton Rouge police were killed in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, July 23, 2016. Several other officers and deputies were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ASEAN makes last-ditch attempt at consensus on S. China Sea VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) Southeast Asia's main grouping made a last-ditch attempt to reach a consensus on countering China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea, but their deadlock appeared far from being resolved as minutes ticked by before a critical meeting with the Chinese foreign minister Monday. The foreign ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held three rounds of talks on Sunday, and an emergency post-breakfast session on Monday ahead of a scheduled meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The deadlock is over whether ASEAN, in their traditional joint statement, should chastise China for claiming the entire South China Sea, which infringes on territorial claims of four member nations -- the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, arrives at Wattay Airport for the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Sunday, July 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Because ASEAN works by consensus, it cannot rebuke China unless all 10 members agree. In complete disagreement is Cambodia, a close China ally, and even Laos although its opposition is somewhat muted because of its role as the host of the series of regional meetings this week. Thailand also doesn't appear too keen to criticize China. At one point it appeared that the ASEAN ministers will simply have to abandon the idea of issuing a joint statement. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters after the emergency meeting that South China Sea was not discussed at all. He, however, said ASEAN will issue the joint statement after all, but refused to say if the communique will contain a reference to South China Sea and China. "You will read it," he said cryptically. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also said: "It's very positive ... We are very much on track" to release the communique. She also would not say if the communique would refer to the South China Sea, or the decision of an international tribunal, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, earlier this month that said China's expansive claims in the region are illegal. The stalemate puts pressure on ASEAN's cherished unity and also gives an upper hand to China, which has used every diplomatic means at its disposal to stave off wider international criticism over moves it's made in the South China Sea that have impacted the four Southeast Asian countries. "Certainly, Cambodia's paralysis of ASEAN ... hurts ASEAN's unity, cohesion, relevance and reputation," said Malcolm Cook, an analyst at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, a Singapore think-tank. "It makes ASEAN peripheral, not central, on this issue." "For Laos and Cambodia, they clearly see relations with China as more important than their membership in ASEAN and are willing to damage ASEAN to aid their relations with China," he said. The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didn't take a position on who owns the disputed territories. It did conclude that many of them are legally rocks, even if they've been built into islands, and therefore do not include the international rights to develop the surrounding waters. That and other findings invalidated much of what China has called its historic claims to the resource-rich sea. In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago. China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines. In recent days, its military has staged live-firing exercises in the area and said it would begin regular aerial patrols over the sea. It also has asserted that it will not be deterred from continuing construction of its man-made islands. On Sunday, Wang, the Chinese foreign minister, reiterated his government's position that it will only accept bilateral negotiations. "Every country has the same position as China, that is that we should fully and effectively implement the regional Code of Conduct, and in that COC it clearly states the dispute should be resolved by peaceful, sit-down talks between the parties directly concerned," he said. He is scheduled to give a news conference later Monday after his talks with ASEAN ministers. ___ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, arrives at Wattay Airport for the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Sunday, July 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) The drug seized from the Vietnamese-Australian woman at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Sunday. It would have fetched $750,000 in Australia. Photo courtesy of Tan Son Nhat Customs The drug would have fetched $750,000 Down Under. Police and customs officers at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Sunday arrested a Vietnamese-Australian woman for attempting to smuggle around five kilograms (11 pounds) of heroin to Australia. The 37-year-old woman, whose name was not revealed, carefully hid the drug in her personal luggage, the police said. They said further that during question, the woman admitted that an unidentified person had hired her to smuggle the drug to Australia for US$25,000. The contraband would have fetched $750,000 had it been snuck through to Australia, according to the police. Further investigations would be underway, they said. According to Tan Son Nhat customs officials, they have foiled many major drug-trafficking attempts since June, seizing around 15 kilograms of heroin, cocaine and meth. Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is punishable by death. Over the past months, Vietnam has thrown the book at Australian drug mules. In late June, a Ho Chi Minh City court sentenced 73-year-old Nguyen Thi Huong, also a Vietnamese-Australian woman, to death after finding her guilty of trafficking 3.5 pounds of heroin when checking in for an Australia-bound flight in December 2014. In late May, another court in Ho Chi Minh City handed down the life sentence to Nathan Andrew James, a 34-year-old Australian man, for attempting to smuggle around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of heroin hidden in his luggage to Australia in October 2013. Related News: > 73-year-old woman faces death penalty for drug smuggling After Obama's green light, Afghan forces on the offensive KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) After two years of heavy casualties, the Afghan military is trying to retake the initiative in the war against militants with a new offensive against Islamic State group loyalists, an assault that will see American troops back on the battlefield working more closely with Afghan soldiers. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani recently announced a major assault against fighters loyal to the Islamic State group, who over the past year captured positions along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, mainly in Nangarhar province. That goal to uproot IS from Afghanistan has taken on new urgency in the wake of a deadly suicide bombing of a protest march Saturday in Kabul that killed at least 80 people. The Islamic State group's Aamaq online news agency quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, the first IS attack in the Afghan capital and one of the deadliest ever to hit Kabul. Ghani, in a live televised address after the bombing, told the nation, "I promise you I will take revenge against the culprits." In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016 photo, an Afghan soldier guards a checkpoint on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. After two years of heavy casualties, the Afghan military is trying to retake the initiative in the war against militants with a new offensive next week, an assault that will see American troops back working more closely with Afghan soldiers. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) The inexperienced Afghan forces have largely stalled in the fight against Islamic militants ever since most international combat troops withdrew in 2014. American forces that remained shifted to a supporting role and U.S. airstrikes diminished, letting the Afghan military take the lead in carrying out the war. Taliban forces have dominated the battlefield and the Islamic State group has been building a foothold and that has meant mounting losses among Afghan troops. Casualty numbers are not officially released, but according to figures provided by military officials, at least 5,000 troops were killed in 2014, rising to more than 6,000 last year. So far in 2016, Afghan troop deaths are 20 percent higher than the same point last year. In an acknowledgment of the deteriorating security situation, President Barack Obama last month gave a green light to a more assertive role for U.S. troops, though still short of direct combat. With that boost, Afghans are shifting back on the offensive. The upcoming anti-IS operation announced by Ghani, dubbed Shafaq or "Dawn" in Pashto will see the head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, implementing an aggressive new strategy. U.S. airstrikes on Afghanistan are likely to become more frequent, as the strategy shifts from using airpower only to defend U.S. and NATO positions to striking in support of Afghan offensives. Nangarhar is one of Afghanistan's most economically important provinces, a major producer of agricultural goods and a thoroughfare for much of the country's exports to Pakistan and beyond. "It is like a second capital," Afghan Army Gen. Shir Mohammad Karimi, the former general staff chief of operations, said of the provincial capital Jalalabad, 125 kilometers (76 miles) east of Kabul. "It is a gateway to Kabul," he said. "If Nangarhar falls, Kabul will become a battleground every day." Ghani has said the operation, expected to start before the end of this month, aims to eliminate IS fighters in Nangarhar, where they have been active mainly in the Shinwar, Kot and Achin districts. The IS loyalists are believed to be mostly disaffected Taliban fighters, as well as members of Pakistani insurgent groups, likely funded by IS in Iraq and Syria, Karimi said. Obama's directives, issued in June, enable the U.S. military to work alongside Afghan forces in the field on offensive missions against insurgents, though still in a non-combat role. Since 2014, their role was confined to battles in which the Taliban directly threatened U.S. and NATO forces. They also allow U.S. involvement when Afghan forces face "strategic defeat," as they did in the northern provincial capital of Kunduz, which fell to the Taliban last September for several weeks and was threatened again in April. In a further acknowledgement of the deteriorating security situation, Obama this month pledged to keep 8,400 troops in the country through 2017, delaying plans to reduce troop numbers to 5,500 by the end of this year. There are currently some 9,800 U.S. troops in the country. Afghanistan's government and military also received a boost at NATO's summit in Warsaw this month, when the alliance agreed to fund Afghan forces through 2020. Over the last year, the Taliban have stepped up the fight, deploying more men and weapons than in previous years and expanding to new parts of the country, spreading Afghan forces thin. Their temporary seizure of Kunduz city and several districts unnerved the Afghan population. A Pentagon report to Congress in June said opinion surveys show that perceptions of security have hit "all-time lows" in Afghanistan. In March, 42 percent of those polled said they believe security is worse than during the time of the Taliban's brutal 1996-2001 rule. In the past 18 months, Afghan military morale has been hit by a burgeoning belief that the Taliban are stronger, with corruption and desertion rates among government forces rising, officials have said. Still, the militants have not had success in holding territory. And despite heavy fighting early in the year, levels of insurgent violence have been lower than many U.S. military officials had expected since the end of the fasting month of Ramadan in early July. Visiting Afghanistan earlier this month, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joe Dunford, credited the drop in violence to the improved capabilities and "offensive posture" of the Afghan forces. But he conceded the most intense period of the summer fighting season is only just beginning. Taliban attacks in northern Kunduz and neighboring Badakhshan provinces in the past week could mark the start of a new uptick. Afghan military affairs analyst Jawed Kohistani said the comparatively subdued levels of Taliban activity was due to internal leadership squabbles following the killing of leader Mullah Akhtar Masood in a U.S. drone strike in May. Mansoor's replacement, the conservative cleric Haibatullah Akhundzada, is seen as a weak leader with limited access to funding. The Taliban's strategy under Akhundzada has not yet become clear. One senior Western diplomat said the 2016 summer battle is not likely to be as ferocious as 2015, due to the boosted U.S. involvement. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. According to the Western diplomat, the aim of the Afghan forces' more aggressive stance is to convince the Taliban they cannot win but should instead join a reconciliation process, beginning with direct contact with the Afghan government, possibly as early as fall. ___ Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed to this report. In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016 photo, an Afghan soldier guards a checkpoint on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. After two years of heavy casualties, the Afghan military is trying to retake the initiative in the war against militants with a new offensive next week, an assault that will see American troops back working more closely with Afghan soldiers. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) China suspends 4 local officials after deadly floods BEIJING (AP) Provincial authorities in northern China said Sunday that they have suspended four local officials for inadequately responding to floods over the past week that killed 114 people and left 111 others missing. The Hebei provincial government said on its official microblog account that it was suspending the head of a development zone in the city of Xingtai, the chief engineer of a city transport bureau and two other bureaucrats. The move comes as China's government has been fighting massive flooding this summer that has also threatened embankments along rivers in central China, with authorities mobilizing troops and heavy equipment to fill the gaps. Already, 576 people have been recorded as dead or missing nationwide in the first half of the year. President Xi Jinping last week warned the country to be prepared for more hardship to come and said officials found negligent in their duties would be severely punished. In Hebei, the officials were being suspended "for being ineffective in flood prevention and rescue and relief work," the provincial government statement said. Xingtai was among the province's worst-hit areas, with floods there killing 25 people and leaving 13 others missing. Villagers complained that a Xingtai official tried to cover up the casualties in an interview last week by saying no one died or was hurt. Residents also complained that officials had failed to give them sufficient warning before the flood hit. "The village chief informed us about the flood situation around 2 a.m. that day, but the floodwaters had almost arrived by that time," said a villager who would only give his surname, Zhang, when reached by phone on Sunday. "We had no time to make preparations." "We want the government to tell us the truth, including the death toll in our village," Zhang said. Reports say eight people died in his village of Daxian. Saudi air defense forces shoot down missile fired from Yemen RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen says Saudi air defense forces have shot down a ballistic missile fired at the kingdom from Yemen. A statement carried on the official Saudi Press Agency says the missile targeting the southern city of Najran was intercepted at 9:30 a.m. local time Saturday. No damage or casualties were reported. China imposes anti-dumping duties on Japan, Korean, EU steel BEIJING (AP) China's Ministry of Commerce said Sunday that it has imposed anti-dumping duties on steel imports from Japan, South Korea and the European Union. Imports of grain-oriented electrical steel used in the manufacture of large generators and electricity transformers will be charged duties ranging from 37.3 percent to 46.3 percent, the ministry said on its website. China started levying the duties on Saturday and will continue to do so for five years, the statement said. An investigation found that underpriced steel was hurting Chinese industry, it added. Massive delays stall England-to-France vehicle traffic LONDON (AP) British border agents moved in Sunday to help French officials ease the gigantic backups for travelers trying to cross the English Channel into France. By Sunday afternoon, police said the backlog that saw some motorists waiting up to 10 hours or more had eased but that delays and disruptions can be expected on the route for the next few weeks. The delays in Channel crossings come at the start of the British holiday season, when tens of thousands of vacationers head to continental Europe. France is the traditional jumping-off point for car travel to Spain, Italy, Switzerland and other popular destinations. Vehicles queuing at the Port of Dover, southern England, as motorists face continued disruption traveling to France, Sunday July 24, 2016. Holiday makers and commercial traffic all face misery on the roads with some people forced to spend the night in their cars after getting stuck in jams leading to the port, as French border officials enforce security checks during the state of emergency following recent extremist attacks. (Yui Mok / PA via AP) French officials have expanded border checks during the state of emergency declared after repeated extremist attacks, and the increased security has led to the lines of stalled cars and trucks on the roads leading to the English port of Dover. Police said travelers should try to stay off the highways and use smaller roads to avoid the traffic jams. Travelers were advised to bring extra water and food on any journey involving a Channel crossing. The weather has been hot and humid, adding to the discomfort of stranded motorists. Volunteers were delivering granola bars and bottled water to motorists and police helicopters were dropping water bottles to help the stranded travelers. Volunteer Ravi Singh said motorists were "very, very frustrated and pulling their hair out" because of the delays and the lack of food, water or toilet facilities. "We met a lot of young families with children, mostly people going on holidays, some heading back home to France," he said. "There was just total frustration. People didn't know what was going on." He said many people had missed their ferry connections due to the travel chaos that began Friday night. Vehicles queue at the Port of Dover, southern England, as motorists face continued disruption traveling to France, Sunday July 24, 2016. Holiday makers and commercial traffic all face misery on the roads with some people forced to spend the night in their cars after getting stuck in jams leading to the port, as French border officials enforce security checks during the state of emergency following recent extremist attacks. (Yui Mok / PA via AP) People sit and wait with their cars, having reached near to the front of the queue at the Port of Dover, southern England, as motorists face continued disruption traveling to France, Sunday July 24, 2016. Holiday makers and commercial traffic all face misery on the roads with some people forced to spend the night in their cars after getting stuck in jams leading to the port, as French border officials enforce security checks during the state of emergency following recent extremist attacks. (Yui Mok / PA via AP) Francis and Poland differ on migrants ahead of pope's visit VATICAN CITY (AP) Support for migrants is so central to Pope Francis' vision for the church that he has made welcoming them a potential test for those seeking entry to Heaven on Judgment Day. The pontiff's advocacy for refugee rights faces a diplomatic test Wednesday when he begins a five-day visit to Poland, where a populist government has slammed the door on most asylum-seekers. Francis is scheduled to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda in Krakow's millennium-old castle atop Wawel Hill where, in the neighboring cathedral, Polish national heroes for centuries have been laid to rest. He then will hold a question-and-answer session with Poland's bishops behind closed doors. FILE- In this file photo dated Wednesday, June 22, 2016, Pope Francis walks with a group of refugees he invited to join him on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Pope Francis begins a five-day visit to Poland on upcoming Wednesday July 27, 2016, and hopes to inspire aid to homeless strangers and acts of mercy for refugees during his visit, although Poland has closed its borders to refugees. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci, FILE) Ahead of the pope's arrival, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Blaszczak defended the ruling Law and Justice party's opposition to immigration by citing the Bastille Day truck massacre of 84 people in Nice, France. Blaszczak argued that such violence was an inevitable consequence of multiculturalism. The pope suggests that reluctance or refusal to shelter newcomers in need conflicts with the parable of the Good Samaritan, who offered aid to a robbed, wounded stranger. Addressing the faithful earlier this month in St. Peter's Square, Francis said that ultimately "we will be judged on the basis of works of mercy." "The Lord will be able to say to us: 'Do you remember? That migrant, who so many wanted to kick out, was me.'" Seeking to inspire by example, Francis in April brought 12 Syrians back with him to Rome after visiting a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where tens of thousands were stranded after perilous crossings from nearby Turkey in often overcrowded boats. The Rev. David Hollenbach, a professor of ethics at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Affairs in Washington, said the pope's championing of migrants is "politically important and socially important, but also religiously important to the identity of Christianity." Hollenbach, who like Francis is a Jesuit, said in a telephone interview that the treatment of migrants and foreigners is "central in the Bible." It's also intrinsic to the pope's definition of a Christian. Returning in February from a pilgrimage to Mexico, Francis told reporters aboard his plane: "I think that a person who thinks of building walls and not bridges isn't Christian." The pope was responding to a question about Donald Trump, the Republican U.S. presidential candidate, who says he wants to build a border wall to bar Mexicans from the United States. A Polish commentator, Adam Szostkiewicz, said he expected the pope to raise Poland's opposition to aiding refugees during this week's visit because "this is the central theme of his pontificate in Europe. This is a European problem." Szostkiewicz said he expected the pope to argue against Poland's policy, which he compared to Pontius Pilate's attitude to the crucifixion of Jesus: "We wash our hands. This does not concern us." But he forecast that any papal appeal would spark only a momentary stir, not any shift in government policy. "It will be good if he says it, and it will be commented on, but it will soon be forgotten," he said. Catholic figures in Poland have been widely seen to reinforce the government's nationalist views. University of Maryland history professor Piotr Kosicki recalled how a Polish priest railed against Muslims, Jews and "leftists" during an address to an Independence Day rally in Warsaw in November. Kosicki, writing in the Catholic magazine Commonweal, concluded that the priest, Jacek Miedlar, represented "a nationalist revival for which being Catholic and Polish implies also being anti-European, anti-pluralist and anti-liberal." Some within the church have been struck by how Poland's anti-migrant stand is equated with protecting the country's Polish and Catholic identity. "Turning away the refugees would not have been so readily accepted by our society had it not been done in the name of the defense of Christianity and of being Polish," wrote the Rev. Leon Wisniewski, a Dominican friar, in the Catholic intellectual weekly Tygodnik Powszechny. At the Vatican, the visiting spokesman for Poland's bishops conference was asked by The Associated Press how Poland and the Polish church might react to Francis' insistence on welcoming migrants. "It's not a black and white question," said the Rev. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, who stressed that Poland has taken in refugees, most of them from countries with predominantly Christian backgrounds. He said Polish bishops had issued their own appeal for parishes to shelter refugees the day before Francis, in September 2015, similarly called on each parish to host a family of refugees. Most of Poland's refugees come from Russia, Ukraine and other neighbors in the former Soviet Union, not from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or Africa, major sources for people trying to gain European Union protection. The right-wing Polish government elected in October has refused to observe an EU-wide agreement on sharing the burden of accommodating tens of thousands of asylum seekers largely stuck in Italy and Greece. Analysts see a wide gulf in Polish attitudes to Francis and to the only Polish pope, John Paul II, whom Francis canonized in 2014. While John Paul was beloved by Poles for his staunch defense of the Solidarity labor movement that helped to topple Soviet rule in 1989, many Poles don't relate to Francis' world view. Kosicki told The AP in a telephone interview that "the substance of what he says doesn't compute for the vast majority of Poland." ___ Associated Press reporter Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this story. ___ Follow Frances D'Emilio at www.twitter.com/fdemilio . ___ This story has been corrected to say that comments to the faithful were made earlier this month, not last month. Pope condemns terrorism and violence in Munich and Kabul VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis has condemned "deplorable acts of terrorism and violence" in Munich and Kabul that have left dozens dead in recent days. Addressing a crowd in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Francis urged believers to join his prayers, saying that "as much as the difficulties seem insurmountable and dark the prospects of peace and security, our prayers must be that much more insistent." Ukraine reports 6 soldiers killed in rebel east MOSCOW (AP) A spokesman for Ukraine's military operation against separatist rebels in the country's east says six soldiers have been killed over the past day. The statement by Oleksander Motuzyanik on Sunday comes amid increasing concern about a recent escalation in fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels. On Tuesday, Ukraine reported seven of its soldiers had been killed. The Donetsk People's Republic, one of two self-proclaimed separatist republics in the east, claimed Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shelled positions there more than 600 times in the past day, the Russian news agency Tass reported. Hitler's birthplace loathes link to him but not the building BRAUNAU AM INN, Austria (AP) Adolf Hitler was born in the house behind her and the building is a natural draw for tourists. But when asked about her hometown's most important landmark, Ivonne Bekking gestured down the road toward a baroque church steeple. It's a well-taught defense mechanism in Braunau am Inn, where Klara Hitler gave birth to Adolf in 1889 and locals have spent decades debating the fate of Hitler's homestead. "I know that at school we were taught always to point in this direction, to the church tower," said Bekking as she stood in front of Hitler's birthplace, an apartment within an imposing three-story yellow building that dates to the 16th century. Hitler's family spent only his first three years of life in the town bordering Germany, yet Austria's government has felt compelled to rent the building for nearly 45 years to ensure that fascists could not transform it into a Nazi shrine. FILE - This Sept. 27, 2012 file photo shows an exterior view of Adolf Hitler's birth house in Braunau am Inn, Austria. The townsfolk of Braunau am Inn are tired of being defined as in some way linked to the Nazi dictator just because he was born here 127 years ago and spent the first three years of his life there. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson, File) Most residents say they would like nothing more than to erase any association between their community and Hitler. Yet many oppose a new proposal by Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka to demolish the property once the government seizes ownership as part of a bill unveiled this month and expected to pass parliament later this year. "Tearing it down is no solution," said Deputy Mayor Florian Zagler. "It's a birthplace, not a crime scene." Insiders know that the initials "MB" in the iron grillwork above the imposing wooden entrance stand for Martin Bormann, Hitler's private secretary, who bought the house shortly before World War II with thoughts of turning it into a shrine to the dictator. The property was handed back to its original owners after occupation by U.S. troops. No sign explicitly marks the spot as the Hitler homestead. Instead, in 1989, the town council placed a granite slab retrieved from the pits of the Mauthausen concentration camp on the sidewalk outside. "Never again fascism; millions of dead remind us," an inscription reads. The empty dwelling radiates interest from ordinary tourists and others on a darker journey. A Bulgarian man in his 50s who identified himself only as Boyko ran his fingers over the BM initials standing for Hitler's secretary. "I'm here on a pilgrimage," the man said. The government bill unveiled July 12 would empower the state to take ownership of the building from its reclusive owner, Gerlinde Pommer, who since 2011 has been in dispute with her government tenants over how to use the building, previously home to a workshop for the mentally ill. Sobotka says he thinks demolishing the property represents "the cleanest solution" to erase the town's links to the dictator. A government-supported anti-Nazi research center called DOW has suggested that a supermarket should be built on the spot. But not all of Sobotka's government colleagues agree, and zoning laws and aesthetic concerns also stand in the way. The property is already designated as a monument not because of Hitler, but for its historic and architectural value. Putting a wrecking ball to it would leave an ugly gap in the rows of flanking Renaissance-era buildings lining cobblestoned streets. Some historians argue that the building should be preserved specifically because it's one of few surviving structures linked to Hitler. A house in nearby Leonding, where Hitler lived as a teen, is now used to store coffins for the town cemetery. There, the tombstone marking the grave of Hitler's parents, a place of pilgrimage for neo-Nazis, was removed last year at the request of a descendant. A school that Hitler attended in Fischlham, also near Braunau, displays a plaque condemning his crimes against humanity. The underground bunker in Berlin where Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945, was demolished. The site was left vacant until the East German government built an apartment complex around it in the late 1980s. Occupants of the apartments overlook the German capital's monument to victims of the Holocaust. In Braunau, at an 800-year-old inn across the street from the Hitler homestead, guests proved reluctant to discuss with a visitor what should become of the building, preferring to focus instead on the hostelry's apricot dumplings. But the proprietor, Klaus Wolfgruber, was firm that the building should stay, perhaps to house a museum or other historical attraction. He said demolishing it would be "the worst-case scenario." The picture on Facebook that shows a civil servant from the central province of Ha Tinh kissing the breast of a mythological stone statue in Da Lat, causing an uproar among Vietnamese netizens. The man paid real lip service to the statue. A picture of a man kissing the breast of a mythological stone statue in Da Lat has gone viral and caused quite a stir throughout Vietnams virtual community. The man is said to be a civil servant from Vu Quang District in the central province of Ha Tinh who was vacating in the popular resort town in the Central Highlands. The online community in Confucianism-dominated Vietnam, which currently has around 35 million Facebook users, has expressed outrage at the act. I dont understand what he was thinking when he kissed the statue of Lang Biang," said a member of the ViTalk social network. "He is a trained and learned civil servant, how can he be that disrespectful? What an offensive act! Its unacceptable for a civil servant to be this decadent, said another Facebook user. The incident took place at Lang Biang Mount in Da Lat Town. The "harassed" statue was of Hbiang, a legendary female character from an ill-fated love story after whom the area is named. The civil servant in spotlight admitted that he had climbed onto the statue of Lang Biang girl and that his deed was an improper. "After socializing with friends, we drank overly, which is why we acted that way. I know that it was wrong to do it," said the man, whose name was withheld. The picture was uploaded by another civil servant from the province. He said he was using a new phone he was unfamiliar with, and accidentally uploaded the picture. Pham Quoc Thanh, vice mayor of Vu Quang District, where the man works, said district officials have been aware of the controversial picture. He said disciplinary measures would be taken against those held responsible. Related News: > Four things only Da Lat can offer > Seven killed in accident involving tourist bus near Da Lat > Da Lat's off-road milestone for coffee lovers > Da Lat: Five places under the falls and above the clouds Medicare safeguard overwhelmed by pricey drugs WASHINGTON (AP) A safeguard for Medicare beneficiaries has become a way for drugmakers to get paid billions of dollars for pricey medications at taxpayer expense, government numbers show. The cost of Medicare's "catastrophic" prescription coverage jumped by 85 percent in three years, from $27.7 billion in 2013 to $51.3 billion in 2015, according to the program's number-crunching Office of the Actuary. Out of some 2,750 drugs covered by Medicare's Part D benefit, two pills for hepatitis C infection Harvoni and Sovaldi accounted for nearly $7.5 billion in catastrophic drug costs in 2015. FILE - In this June 14, 2011 file photo, various prescription drugs on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions in Willingboro, N.J. A safeguard for Medicare beneficiaries has become a way for drugmakers to get paid billions of dollars for pricey medications at taxpayer expense, government numbers show. The cost of Medicares catastrophic prescription coverage jumped by 85 percent in three years, from $27.7 billion in 2013 to $51.3 billion in 2015, according to the programs number-crunching Office of the Actuary. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) The pharmaceutical industry questions the numbers, saying they overstate costs because they don't factor in manufacturer rebates. However, rebates are not publicly disclosed. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, is calling the rise in spending "alarming." Medicare's catastrophic coverage was originally designed to protect seniors with multiple chronic conditions from the cumulatively high costs of taking many different pills. Beneficiaries pay 5 percent after they have spent $4,850 of their own money. With some drugs now costing more than $1,000 per pill, that threshold can be crossed quickly. Lawmakers who created Part D in 2003 also hoped added protection would entice insurers to participate in the program. Medicare pays 80 percent of the cost of drugs above a catastrophic threshold that combines spending by the beneficiary and the insurer. That means taxpayers, not insurers, bear the exposure for the most expensive patients. The numbers provided to The Associated Press reflect the total paid by taxpayers, insurers and beneficiaries. They offer a glimpse into the volatile and often mysterious world of high-cost drugs: Catastrophic spending for Harvoni and Sovaldi two hepatitis C pills from Gilead Sciences more than doubled in two years, from about $3.5 billion in 2014 to nearly $7.5 billion in 2015. Harvoni topped the list of Medicare's high-cost drugs last year; Sovaldi was first in 2014. The FDA approved Sovaldi in Dec., 2013, and its $1,000-per-pill price quickly made headlines. A congressional investigation last year found that Gilead was focused on maximizing revenue, even as a company analysis showed that a lower price would allow more patients to be treated. Revlimid, a cancer drug derived from 1950s thalidomide, surpassed $1.7 billion in catastrophic costs in 2015, coming in second among high-cost drugs. Spending on the medication from biotech company Celgene increased by 50 percent in three years. Gleevec, a breakthrough drug introduced in 2001 to treat leukemia, was ensconced as 5th among the top ten pricey medications, with more than $1 billion spent in 2015. That was a 54-percent increase from 2013. Drugmaker Novartis has been criticized for repeatedly hiking the price of Gleevec. Catastrophic spending accounts for a fast-growing share of Medicare's drug costs, which totaled nearly $137 billion in 2015. The catastrophic share was 37 percent, yet only about 9 percent of beneficiaries reached the threshold for such costs. For those patients, average spending jumped by 46 percent, from $9,666 in 2013 to $14,100 in 2015. "If the numbers continue to increase like this each year, I worry about how much the taxpayers could afford," said Sen. Grassley, who plans to ask Medicare for explanations. "It may be that some drug companies are taking advantage of government programs to maximize their market share, and we need to know whether that's the case," he added. Catastrophic coverage will soon cost as much as the entire prescription program did when it launched, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. "Congress can't continue to stand idle." Experts say the rapid rise in spending for pricey drugs threatens to make the popular prescription benefit financially unsustainable. Nonpartisan congressional advisers at the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission have called for an overhaul. The presidential candidates, as well as the Obama administration, have proposed giving Medicare legal authority to negotiate prices. The drug industry says Medicare patients are getting valuable, innovative medicines. Lisa Joldersma, policy vice president for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, also questioned the cost numbers. "I would push back on the notion that taxpayers are bearing 80 percent of the risk here because the numbers do not reflect rebates," she said. Rebates for individual drugs are not disclosed. They averaged nearly 13 percent across the entire program in 2013, according to government figures, and were estimated at about 17 percent for 2015. Most beneficiaries haven't seen a drastic hit yet from rising drug costs, but that may be changing. This year, average premiums went up more than 15 percent in five of the top eight drug plans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Concerns about catastrophic costs undercut the image of Medicare's prescription program as a competitive marketplace in which private insurers bargain with drugmakers to drive down prices. "The incentive is to price it as high as they can," said Jim Yocum, senior vice president of Connecture, Inc., a company that tracks drug prices. Medicare is barred from negotiating prices, "so you max out your pricing and most of that risk is covered by the federal government." An architect of the program says no one anticipated $1,000 pills. Former Medicare administrator Tom Scully said catastrophic coverage was meant to protect patients taking many different medicines over months and years. "The pricing is pretty wild," he said. ___ 'Like a freight train': California wildfire guts 18 homes LOS ANGELES (AP) Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and forcing thousands to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. The fire that has destroyed at least 18 homes in northern Los Angeles County gained ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded for part of the afternoon. "For this time of year, it's the most extreme fire behavior I've seen in my 32-year career," County fire Chief Daryl Osby said. A wildfire in northern Los Angeles County gains ferocious new power two days after it broke out in Placenta Caynon Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and forcing thousands to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another fire spanning more than 17 square miles that destroyed six homes on Sunday and forced evacuations outside the scenic Big Sur region. The Southern California blaze has blackened at least 46 square miles of brush on ridgelines near the city of Santa Clarita. Osby said the size estimate could grow considerably once better assessment is done. Planes were unable to make drops over the fire for a long stretch of the afternoon before resuming for a few hours before dusk. Helicopters released retardant around the perimeter of the fire all day and would continue into the night. "The fire's just doing what it wants right now," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Nathan Judy said. "We have to stick back, let it do what it wants to and attack it where we can." Juliet Kinikin said Sunday there was panic as the sky became dark with smoke and flames moved closer to her home a day earlier in the Sand Canyon area of Los Angeles County. "And then we just focused on what really mattered in the house," she told The Associated Press. Kinikin grabbed important documents and fled with her husband, two children, two dogs and three birds. They were back at home Sunday, "breathing a big sigh of relief," she said. Residents of thousands of homes were evacuated as shifting winds were pushing flames northeast through Angeles National Forest, authorities said. Lois Wash, 87, said she and her daughter and her dog evacuated, but her husband refused. "My husband's stubborn as a mule, and he wouldn't leave," Wash told KABC-TV. "I don't know if he got out of there or not. There's no way of knowing. I think the last time I looked it was about 100 yards from us. I don't know if our house is still standing or not. All we can do is pray." The fire has ripped through brush withered by days of 100-degree temperatures and years of drought. "It started consuming houses that were non-defendable," Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said, describing the flames as charging through terrain "like a freight train." More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames that sent up a huge plume of smoke visible across the region. The body of a man was discovered Saturday in a burned sedan outside a home in the fire zone. Los Angeles County sheriff's officials are investigating the death. The fire destroyed film sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. It also forced a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures to evacuate 340 of its more than 400 animals, including Bengal tigers and a mountain lion. North on the Central Coast, a blaze consuming brush in rugged mountains near Big Sur was threatening about 1,650 homes. It burned in inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park and forced the communities of Palo Colorado and Carmel Highlands to evacuate, California's forestry department said. Brock Bradford lives in a historic house in Palo Colorado and could see the flames coming down the road as he evacuated. "I hope I don't have to rebuild my house," he told the Monterey Herald. "I'm 66." ___ Associated Press photographer Matt Hartman in Santa Clarita and writer Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Wildlife Waystation evacuated animals from early Friday to late Saturday, not over the course of Saturday. A Los Angeles County firefighter tries to fight the flames against erratic winds in Placenta Caynon Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) Los Angeles County firefighters watch brush fires on Placenta Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and forcing thousands to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) The remains of a burned home smolder in Iron Canyon Road area near Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) Firefighters use foam to put out flare ups on a home at the end of Iron Canyon in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Sunday, July 24, 2016. Authorities say 18 homes have been destroyed and an additional 1,500 are threatened as crews battle a massive wildfire in wooded canyons north of Los Angeles. The blaze has blackened more than 34 square miles of dry brush withered by days of triple-digit heat on the edge of the Angeles National Forest. It was just 10 percent contained Sunday. (Katharine Lotze/The Santa Clarita Valley Signal via AP) French government denies cover-up of Nice police deployment PARIS (AP) France's interior minister is protesting accusations the government tried to cover up security failings the night of the Bastille Day attack in Nice that killed 84. The woman in charge of video surveillance in Nice on July 14, Sandra Bertin, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that government officials told her what to write in her report and that she should mention the presence of police she hadn't seen. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement Sunday that he is suing for alleged defamation and said he is committed to uncovering the truth about what happened. Many French are angry that the government couldn't prevent the Nice attack despite a state of emergency in place. The Latest: Clinton saddened by GOP's 'lock her up' chants WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the 2016 presidential race (all times EDT): 7:00 p.m. Hillary Clinton says the chants of "lock her up" at last week's Republican National Convention made her feel "very sad." A member of the media shoots video during setup before the 2016 Democratic Convention, Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/John Locher) Clinton tells "60 Minutes" in an interview broadcast Sunday that she doesn't know what the GOP convention was about, "other than criticizing me." She says she seems to be "the only unifying theme that they had." The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee says Republicans offered "no positive agenda" and presented "a very dark, divisive campaign." Clinton also says GOP speakers painted a negative picture of the country "that I did not recognize. So I was saddened by it." ___ 6:40 p.m. Donald Trump's campaign chairman is calling on Hillary Clinton to follow Debbie Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out of the race over her use of a secret email server. Paul Manafort says in a statement that Wasserman Schultz's emails put the Democratic Party at risk, "but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk." Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she is stepping down as Democratic National Committee chairwoman following the publication of hacked party emails. Manafort also says Clinton's selection of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate only reinforces her status as the establishment candidate. ___ 6:25 p.m. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says his Democratic counterpart's forced resignation was "inevitable." Priebus says Debbie Wasserman Schultz's ouster underscores the "uphill climb" Democrats face in uniting their party during this week's convention. Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation Sunday following the publication of leaked emails suggesting the Democratic National Committee favored Hillary Clinton. The emails angered supporters of Bernie Sanders, who finished second to Clinton in the nominating contests. Priebus spoke to reporters in Philadelphia, where Democrats are holding their convention. ___ 6:00 p.m. Hillary Clinton says she has no nickname for Donald Trump, despite his repeated use of the derisive term "Crooked Hillary" to refer to her. Clinton tells "60 Minutes" in an interview to be broadcast Sunday that she won't "engage in that kind of insult-fest that he seems to thrive on." Clinton says she will focus on how the newly minted Republican nominee for president "has hurt people in business time after time after time." She says she also will call attention to the "total disregard that he has shown toward large groups of people in our country." Clinton running mate Tim Kaine says the repeated use of the term "Crooked Hillary" and chants of "lock her up" at last week's Republican convention was ridiculous. The Virginia senator says that "most of us stopped the name-calling thing about fifth grade." ___ 5:20 p.m. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says Debbie Wasserman Schultz made the right decision for the Democratic Party's future by resigning as party chair. Sanders says Democrats need new leadership "that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people." Wasserman Schultz announced abruptly Sunday afternoon that she would step down at week's end. Sanders had called earlier Sunday for her departure. Wasserman Schultz has been a target of criticism throughout the presidential campaign between Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Sanders and his supporters in the party's liberal wing have repeatedly accused the party of favoring Clinton despite officially being neutral. Sanders says party leaders must remain impartial in future presidential primaries, "something which did not occur in the 2016 race." ___ 4:30 p.m. Hillary Clinton is thanking her "longtime friend" Debbie Wasserman Schultz after the Florida congresswoman's decision to step down as chair of the Democratic National Committee. Clinton says that Wasserman Schultz will serve as honorary chair of her campaign's 50-state program to help elect Democrats around the country. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee says she looks forward to campaigning with Wasserman Schultz in Florida "and helping her re-election bid." Clinton responded after Wasserman Schultz agreed to step down as chair at the end of this week's Democratic National Convention. The move came after the publication last week of some 19,000 hacked emails, some of which suggested the DNC was favoring Clinton during the primary season. ___ 4:20 p.m. President Barack Obama says he is "grateful" for Debbie Wasserman Schultz's leadership at the Democratic National Committee. Obama says in a statement that the Florida congresswoman has "had my back," particularly during his 2012 re-election campaign. He says she played a critical role in supporting the nation's economic recovery and his effort to overhaul the nation's health care system. He adds that no one works harder for their constituents. Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday that she will resign as party chairwoman at the end of this week's Democratic convention. The four-day convention kicks off Monday in Philadelphia. ___ 3:55 p.m. Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she is stepping down as Democratic Party chairwoman at the end of this week's convention. The Florida congresswoman has been under fire following the publication of hacked emails suggesting the Democratic National Committee favored Hillary Clinton in the presidential primaries. That prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call Sunday for Wasserman Schultz's immediate resignation. In a statement, Wasserman Schultz says she still plans to fulfill her duties formally opening and closing the convention in Philadelphia. She also says she will speak at the four-day gathering. ___ 3:05 p.m. On the eve of the Democratic convention, party officials are holding discussions about whether Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. That's according to a person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Sunday afternoon discussions come one day before Democrats open their convention in Philadelphia to nominate Hillary Clinton as the party's presidential candidate. The discussions were prompted in part by the publication last week of some 19,000 hacked emails, some of which suggested the DNC was favoring Clinton during the primary season. The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation Sunday. Sanders was critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton. ___ 2:32 p.m. Barney Frank, co-chair of the rules committee at the Democratic National Convention, says it was never expected that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz would preside over convention proceedings this week. Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, is under fire after the leak of embarrassing emails that indicate some high-ranking party officials favored Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders to become the nominee. The DNC voted to select Rep. Marcia Fudge to oversee the convention proceedings instead. Frank says Fudge was on the list to be convention chair "long before" the emails were leaked. He notes that heads of the Democratic National Committee are never picked to oversee convention proceedings. ___ 2:00 p.m. Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio says she is "happy to serve" as chair of the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia. Fudge issued a statement Sunday thanking Hillary Clinton for recommending her to the position. Fudge said she is looking forward to a "great convention and our ongoing efforts as we work together for a strong party and a successful election." Still in question is what role Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will play during the convention. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says she should step down after some 19,000 DNC emails were leaked that suggested committee officials favored Hillary Clinton during the party's primary. ___ 1:25 p.m. Michael Bloomberg, who was elected mayor of New York City as a Republican, will speak at the Democratic National Convention to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. Spokesman Marc LaVorgna says Bloomberg will make the endorsement speech Wednesday night. The billionaire media mogul opted against running as a third-party candidate for fear it might siphon away votes from Clinton and help elect Republican Donald Trump. Bloomberg has been sharply critical of Trump, and in particular of his fellow New Yorker's inflammatory rhetoric on immigration. Bloomberg had previously been a Democrat before switching his party affiliation to Republican before his successful 2001 run for mayor. Bloomberg, who served three terms, later became an independent and a leading advocate for gun control. His endorsement was first reported Sunday by The New York Times. ___ 12:56 p.m. The Democratic National Committee's rules panel has decided that Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio will preside over convention sessions beginning Monday. A DNC rules committee member says she was voted as convention chairwoman as part of standard procedures. That makes clear that DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not act in that capacity; under party rules, the DNC head acts as temporary chair until a new one is voted in. Still in question is what role Wasserman Schultz might play during this week's Democratic convention. Many supporters of Bernie Sanders are angry after some 19,000 emails from the DNC were leaked that suggested committee officials favored Hillary Clinton during the party's primary. The DNC rules committee member spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of internal party affairs. ___ 12:55 p.m. Hillary Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine are planning a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio after the Democratic National Convention. Economic issues are the focus, with the Democratic ticket set to stop in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and Youngstown and Columbus in Ohio. They'll appear at public rallies and smaller events. ___ 12:10 p.m. Hillary Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine say they won't come up with an epithet for Donald Trump akin to his use of "Crooked Hillary." In a joint interview with Kaine, Clinton told "60 Minutes Sunday" that she won't engage in "that kind of insult-fest" and that she prefers to talk about Trump's record. Kaine, who was announced as Clinton's running mate this weekend ahead of the Democratic National Convention, said using terms like "Crooked Hillary" was beneath "the kind of dialogue we should have." He added: "Most of us stopped the name-calling thing about fifth grade." ___ 11:45 a.m. A California delegate says there are serious discussions underway to challenge Hillary Clinton's pick of Tim Kaine as her running mate. Norman Solomon, a delegate who supports Bernie Sanders, says there is talk among Sanders' delegates of walking out during Kaine's acceptance speech or turning their backs as a show of protest. Solomon said he believes a "vast majority" of Sanders delegates support these kinds of protests to express their dismay. Sanders' supporters say they are concerned that Kaine is not progressive enough. ___ 11:15 a.m. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, were back at their longtime church in Richmond, Virginia, on Sunday, a day after the Virginia senator made his campaign debut with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as her running mate. Kaine a former choir member at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church sang a solo during Communion. His wife spoke briefly at the end of the service, telling parishioners how important they've been in their lives. She said "you have helped shape us" and that she and her husband "will really need your prayers." Kaine told reporters outside the church: "We needed some prayers today and we got some prayers, and we got some support and it really feels good." St. Elizabeth's is a majority black church in Richmond's Highland Park area. ___ 10:15 a.m. Bernie Sanders says he wishes Hillary Clinton had picked someone like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for her running mate instead of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. Sanders tells NBC's "Meet the Press," that Kaine is a "very, very smart guy" and a "very nice guy" but wouldn't have been his vice presidential choice. Sanders who describes himself as a democratic socialist says Kaine is more conservative than he is. Warren is known for her fiery edges, particularly when going after Wall Street and big banks, and is a favorite of the party's liberal base. ___ 9:35 a.m. Bernie Sanders wants the head of the Democratic National Committee to step down after leaked emails suggested the party played favorites during the presidential primary. Here's what Sanders tells ABC's "This Week": "I'm not shocked, but I am disappointed." Emails posted to the website Wikileaks show that at least some DNC officials were looking at ways to undercut Sanders' campaign, including questioning his religious beliefs. Sanders says the party chairwoman, Rep., Debbie Wasserman Schultz, should resign immediately. The Vermont senator says a new leader is needed to focus the DNC on defeating Donald Trump, attracting young voters and improving the economy. ___ 9:30 a.m. Hillary Clinton's campaign manager accuses Russia of leaking emails on purpose from the Democratic National Committee to help Republican Donald Trump in the presidential election. Wikileaks has posted emails that including several denunciations of Clinton's primary rival, Bernie Sanders, and his supporters. Robby Mook says on CNN's 'State of the Union" that experts are telling the campaign "Russian state actors" broke into the DNC's emails, and that other experts say these Russians are now selectively releasing the emails. He says it's no coincidence the emails are coming out on the eve of the party's nominating convention in Philadelphia. ___ 9 a.m. President Barack Obama says Donald Trump's suggestion that the U.S. might not come to the defense of NATO allies is another sign of what he calls Trump's "lack of preparedness" on foreign policy. Obama tells CBS' "Face the Nation" that Trump's comments amount to an admission that the U.S. "might not abide" by NATO's "most central tenet." NATO members promise that an attack against any of them is considered an assault against all. ___ 8:50 a.m. It's become a bit easier for Hillary Clinton to formally claim the nomination at the upcoming Democratic National Convention. The Democratic National Committee has released a slightly trimmed list of superdelegates those are the party officials who can back any candidate. There are now 4,763 total delegates, and 712 of them are superdelegates. Two superdelegates left their positions in the last month, while Rep. Mark Takai of Hawaii died from cancer. It now takes 2,382 delegates to formally clinch the nomination. Heading into the convention, Clinton now has 2,814, when including superdelegates, according to an Associated Press count. Sanders has 1,893. More than 50 remain uncommitted. Jimmy Wright installs the New York delegation placard ahead of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Sunday, July 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Environmental protesters march in front of City Hall on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Democratic National Convention starts Monday in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Sen. Tim Kaine, center, and his wife, Anne Holton walk to church with fellow parishioner Berhane Desta, left, in Richmond, Va., Sunday, July 24, 2016, after Kaines' debut as Hillary Clinton's running mate. Kaine has attended St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church for over two decades. (P. Kevin Morley/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP) ADDS ID - Ethel Cooley, left, an administrative assistant and fellow parishoner, left, of St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Richmond, Va., greets Sen. Tim Kaine, center, and his wife, Anne Holton, as they arrive for Mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, their longtime parish, Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Richmond, Va. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has named Tim Kaine as her running mate. (P. Kevin Morley/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP) Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stands together with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., during a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Clinton has chosen Kaine to be her running mate. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) DNC chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks during a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at the Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall, Friday, July 22, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Work continues inside the convention hall before the Democratic National Convention, Saturday, July 23, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Protesters march during a demonstration in downtown on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Philadelphia. The Democratic National Convention starts Monday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) French ambassador to Libya summoned over military presence PARIS (AP) Libya's government has summoned the French ambassador amid concern over the French military presence in the country. Three French officers were killed last week in eastern Libya, and the French government acknowledged that special forces are operating there as part of Western efforts to support the unity government. Ambassador Antoine Sivan, who is based in neighboring Tunisia for security reasons, is expected to go to Libya in the coming days to answer the summons, according to a French diplomatic official. The official said Sunday France is focused on supporting the unity government, and encouraging Libyan forces to work together to fight extremists. The official was not authorized to be publicly named. President Barack Obama says that GOP nominee Donald Trump's recent suggestion that the U.S. might not come to the defense of NATO allies is another sign of Trump's 'lack of preparedness' on foreign policy. Obama said in an interview aired Sunday morning that Trump's recent comments to the New York Times - in which Trump suggested that allies that haven't paid their NATO dues wouldn't be guaranteed of getting help if Russia invaded - were an admission that the U.S. might not live by NATO's 'most central tenet'. Obama said Trump's comments on NATO last week were 'an indication of the lack of preparedness that he has been displaying when it comes to foreign policy'. Scroll down for video President Barack Obama is pictured speaking to law enforcement officers from around the country the White House on Friday. He said Sunday that Trump's comments on NATO last week were 'an indication of the lack of preparedness that he has been displaying when it comes to foreign policy' Trump told the Times that he wouldn't predict the U.S. response in the case of a Russian attack of smaller NATO allies like Estonia or Latvia. He is pictured Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio NATO members promise that an attack against any of them is considered an assault against all. Trump told the Times that he wouldn't predict the U.S. response in the case of a Russian attack of smaller NATO allies like Estonia or Latvia. 'If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is 'yes,'' Trump said. Obama responded: 'There is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenant of the most important alliance in the history of the world.'' In contrast, Obama said that presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who served as secretary of State in his first term, is supremely capable of taking over the reins of power in January. 'I genuinely believe that there has never been a candidate better prepared for the presidency than Hillary Clinton,' Obama said. Asked what it takes to be an effective president, Obama cited the ability to build a team of talented, hardworking people and 'make sure they are all moving in the same direction.' Another factor, he said, was 'personal discipline in terms of doing your homework, and knowing your subject matter, and being able to stay focused.' Obama said that Clinton, who served as secretary of State in his first term, is supremely capable of taking over the reins of power in January.She is pictured Saturday at a rally in Miami where she declared Tim Kaine as her vice presidential candidate And to make all this work 'you have to really care about the American people... not in the abstract,' Obama said, noting that is crucial because that will help ground the president in that difficult job and prevent them from being overly influenced by polls, pressure and difficult developments. If you don't have that sense of grounding, 'you will be buffeted and blown back and forth by polls and interest groups and voices whispering in your head,' he said. 'And you will lose your center of gravity. You will lose your moral compass.' The Latest: Albania detains 19 Afghans, 1 suspected smuggler BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) The Latest developments on Europe's migration situation (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Albanian police say they have detained 19 Afghans and arrested one suspected Albanian smuggler trying to illegally help them cross into neighboring Montenegro to reach Western European countries. Migrants march by the side of a road in the town of Indjija, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers set off on foot Friday toward Serbia's border with Hungary to protest its decision to keep its border closed for most people trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) The police statement on Sunday said another Albanian organizing the smuggling was still at large. The Afghans were found a day earlier hidden in a forest in northern Shkodra getting ready to cross the border into Montenegro on foot. Authorities have started repatriating them, said police, without identifying the country they came from Greece, Macedonia or Kosovo. The arrested Albanian could face up to ten years in jail term if found guilty. Albania hasn't been a major transit route for migrants through Europe so far. ___ 1:15 p.m. Migrants and asylum-seekers who set off two days ago on a protest march toward the border with Hungary have traveled part of the route by train before proceeding on foot to seek entry into the European Union, the Serbian authorities said Sunday. The several dozen people arrived on a morning train in the northern town of Subotica and resumed walking from there, said Ivan Miskovic from the Serbian government refugee agency. Subotica is 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border. Some 300 young men and boys started marching Friday from Belgrade toward the Hungarian border, 200 kilometers (120 miles) away, to protest Hungary's decision to keep its border closed for most asylum-seekers, which has left several thousand stranded in Serbia. Faced with scorching heat, many have given up along the way, while others kept towels or blankets on their heads to protect themselves from the sun. Hungary has recently strengthened anti-migrant controls on its southern border with Serbia. Hundreds of migrants have been staying in makeshift camps along the border with almost no facilities. Migrants rest their feet as they take a break from their protest march, by the side of a road in the town of Indjija, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 23, 2016 Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers set off on foot Friday toward Serbia's border with Hungary to protest its decision to keep its border closed for most people trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Migrants rest their feet as they take a break from their protest march, by the side of a road in the town of Indjija, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 23, 2016 Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers set off on foot Friday toward Serbia's border with Hungary to protest its decision to keep its border closed for most people trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Migrants and refugees march down a road in Indjija, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers set off on foot Friday toward Serbia's border with Hungary to protest its decision to keep its border closed for most people trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Migrants rest as they take a break from their protest march, by the side of a road in the town of Indjija, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers set off on foot Friday toward Serbia's border with Hungary to protest its decision to keep its border closed for most people trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) Nepal's prime minister resigns after losing majority support KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) Nepal's prime minister resigned on Sunday shortly before he was to face a confidence vote in parliament that he expected to lose, further aggravating political instability in the Himalayan country. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli's 9-month-old government had lost its majority support this month after the Maoist party pulled out of the coalition, accusing Oli of failing to honor power-sharing agreements. In a nationally televised speech in parliament, Oli said Sunday that the way he was forced to resign would have far-reaching implications for the country and lead to further political instability. Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli informs the Parliament about his resignation in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, July 24, 2016. Oil resigned on Sunday shortly before he was to face a confidence vote in parliament that he expected to lose, further aggravating political instability in the Himalayan country.(AP Photo/Bikram Rai) "The opposition parties hatched a conspiracy for narrow interests, and I am stunned by that," he said. "I have already submitted my resignation letter to the president and have informed the speaker about the resignation, paving the way for the election of a new prime minister," Oli said in the speech, which came an hour before the confidence vote was to be held. A change in government is nothing new in Nepal, with Oli the eighth prime minister in the past 10 years. Maoist party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is now expected to try to form a new coalition government with the help of the Nepali Congress and some other groups. The Maoists are former communist rebels who fought government troops for 10 years until they signed a peace agreement. The Maoist party's major complaint was that Oli's government failed to take proper legislative action in favor of the Maoist cadres facing trials for wartime crimes. The Maoists had launched a decade-long insurgency beginning in 1996 and joined the political mainstream after reaching a deal with the government in 2006. Alleged wartime crimes and human rights violations committed by the Maoists and the security forces have yet to be addressed. The insurgency claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people and injured or displaced tens of thousands of others. Obama: Trump's NATO comments show 'lack of preparedness' WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama says GOP nominee Donald Trump's recent suggestion that the U.S. might not come to the defense of NATO allies is another sign of Trump's "lack of preparedness" on foreign policy. Obama said in an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Trump's comments to the New York Times in which Trump suggested allies that haven't paid their NATO dues wouldn't be guaranteed of getting help if Russia invaded were an admission that the U.S. might not live by NATO's "most central tenet." Obama, speaking before the Democratic National Convention begins Monday, said Trump's comments on NATO last week were "an indication of the lack of preparedness that he has been displaying when it comes to foreign policy." President Barack Obama speaks to law enforcement officers from around the country at the Advancing 21st Century Policing Briefing in the South Court Auditorium of the White House complex in Washington, Friday, July 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) NATO members promise that an attack against any of them is considered an assault against all. Trump told the Times that he wouldn't predict the U.S. response in the case of a Russian attack of smaller NATO allies like Estonia or Latvia. "If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is 'yes,'" Trump said. Obama responded: "There is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenant of the most important alliance in the history of the world.'" In contrast, Obama said that presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who served as secretary of State in his first term, is supremely capable of taking over the reins of power in January. He said he believes there has never been candidate better prepared for the presidency. "She's not always flashy. And there are better speech makers. But she knows her stuff," Obama said. Obama address an array of issues during the interview, including: race relations. He said additional scrutiny or suspicion of African-American males is "just a common experience that many of us share. But I will tell you that it's a lot better now than it was. And that doesn't mean that we can be complacent about it." on why he used the term "radical Islam" as a candidate in 2008 but not as president. Obama said Muslim allies voiced concerns that the phrase could give the impression that "crazy groups" such as the Islamic State group or al-Qaida were carrying the mantle of Islam. He said defeating militants will require help from more than 1 billion Muslims in the word. whether most Americans feel safe. Obama said it's been "a really tough month," but that people in the U.S., he believes, "are significantly more safe now than they were before all the work that we've done since 9/11." Asked what it takes to be an effective president, Obama cited the ability to build a team of talented, hardworking people and "make sure they are all moving in the same direction." Another factor, he said, was "personal discipline in terms of doing your homework, and knowing your subject matter, and being able to stay focused." And to make all this work "you have to really care about the American people... not in the abstract," Obama said, noting that is crucial because that will help ground the president in that difficult job and prevent them from being overly influenced by polls, pressure and difficult developments. If you don't have that sense of grounding, "you will be buffeted and blown back and forth by polls and interest groups and voices whispering in your head," he said. "And you will lose your center of gravity. You will lose your moral compass." The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has reported that Giti Pourfazel, a human rights lawyer who defended political prisoners and their families in Iran for a decade, has submitted her resignation to Irans Bar Association and given up her law practice. Ms. Pourfazel told the Campaign she did so because of the constant harassment she received from Iranian authorities. Among Ms. Pourfazels clients were imprisoned Shiite cleric Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi, an advocate for the separation of religion from politics; the family of blogger Sattar Beheshti, who was beaten to death in police custody; and Kurdish-Iranian human rights defender Mohammad Sediq Kaboudvand. Referring to the persistent threats and pressure she received from Irans Intelligence Ministry, Ms. Pourfazel said, In this society, lawyers who bear witness to injustice and speak the truth get punished. The State Departments most recent report on human rights in Iran adds credence to her statement. The report notes, for example, the periodic jailing of political activist and lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh; the imprisonment of lawyers and others affiliated with the Defenders of Human Rights Center advocacy group, such as Abdolfattah Soltani, who is serving a 13-year sentence for the alleged crime of colluding and conspiring against national security; and the nine-year prison term being served by Center founder and human rights attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, purportedly for plotting a soft revolution, and propaganda against the system. Those who defend the legal rights of others help safeguard the rule of law and make up a critical component of a nations civil society. And, as President Barack Obama has emphasized, a healthy civil society is essential to a nations success: Civil society is the conscience of our countries. Its the catalyst of change. Its why strong nations dont fear active citizens. The United States urges Iran as it does all countries -- to stop the harassment of lawyers and human rights defenders, release those who are currently in detention for their work, and recognize their crucial role in a healthy and just society. In Dallas, burgeoning movement overshadowed by shooting DALLAS (AP) The leadership of the Next Generation Action Network drove all night from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, arriving in Dallas early on July 7, just hours before the start of their hastily arranged march that ended in the worst attack on law enforcement since 9/11. Dominique Alexander, a 27-year-old Baptist preacher and the civil rights group's founder, said that after the shooting deaths by police of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, hundreds of messages poured into the group's shared email and social media accounts, asking whether Dallas would hold a protest like those in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis. Black Lives Matter, which organized the other marches, doesn't have a Dallas chapter. "We should do this. We've got 24 hours. Let's go," Alexander recalled telling his companions on the trip, Next Generation's attorney and its chief of staff. In this Saturday, July 16, 2016 photo, brothers Montrell White, 22, left, and Edwin White, 18, visit their childhood neighborhood for a potluck organized by young civil rights activists in the Estell Village subsidized apartment complex in the Highland Hills area of Dallas. The Whites say the neighborhood has been overrun with drugs and guns since they were kids. A rag tag group of young activists in this city have tried to raise awareness about the geographical segregation and unequal access to opportunities that continue to dog this city of 1.3 million people. (AP Photo/ Emily Schmall) So as they made their way to Baton Rouge to meet Sterling's aunt, Alexander advertised on social media a rally the following day in downtown Dallas. Within hours, he said, more than 800 people had indicated they were coming, with another 800 marking themselves as "interested" on the march's Facebook event page. "You rally off that hype. If it's just the right timing, you get a burst. You can get a stampede," said Alexander, among the young activists who are leading a new civil rights movement in Dallas. The Next Generation Action Network has held more than 50 protests against police brutality since the group was founded in August 2014 after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Most of the protests have drawn small crowds. So it surprised Alexander and the march's co-organizer, fellow Baptist minister Jeff Hood, to see downtown Dallas flooded with people. They celebrated the proof of their movement's vitality until they heard shots fired. At the end of the march, Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old Army veteran, trained his assault weapon on Dallas police, killing five officers and wounding nine others and two civilians. In an hours-long standoff with police that ended with his death, Johnson said that he wanted to kill officers, specifically white officers. The shooting exposed a rift many people in Dallas thought had been healed decades ago. Dallas, like many cities in America, remains divided along racial lines. Predominantly poor black and Hispanic neighborhoods are cut off from the rest of the city by three intersecting highways. A quarter of the city's 1.3 million population lives in poverty, mostly on the city's South Side, census data show. South Dallas is home to some of the largest megachurches in the U.S., but large tracts remain empty and run-down, in stark contrast with the gleaming skyscrapers and expensive hotels north of Interstate 30. Otherwise disparate groups of young local activists many of whom grew up on the South Side and have lost family or friends in police-involved shootings have coalesced around the issue of police brutality, reviving a civil rights movement in a city whose leaders often tout its progress with diversity. Yafeuh Balogun, 32-year-old co-founder of the group Guerrilla Mainframe, a community group that hosts cookouts and political discussions in Dallas' poorest neighborhoods, started out with a mobile vegetarian lunch counter that he would park in the middle of low-income apartment complexes. After activist Stephen Benavides, 35, produced a report in 2014 based on 10 years of public data that showed a disproportionate number of Dallas police shootings involved black and Hispanic male suspects, Balogun said he "began to take more of a militant position." Balogun and the People's New Black Panther Party co-founded the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, a coalition focused on self-defense and named after a co-founder of the Black Panther Party. The club provides armed patrols and training exercises and takes people from poor, minority communities to local gun ranges. These younger activists see themselves filling a void, as they say influential black church leaders in the area have not done enough to galvanize people. Although their tactics are different, Alexander and Balogun are united in pressing for policy changes at the Dallas Police Department and placing greater emphasis on security at their events in the wake of Johnson's attack. Meanwhile, Benavides' group, Dallas Communities Organizing for Change, is awaiting a response from the U.S. Department of Justice to a complaint it filed in late 2014 alleging that Dallas police have engaged in a pattern of excessive use of force against black and Hispanic suspects. On Aug. 10, Alexander will lead a march to Dallas City Hall to demand the revocation of a policy that gives officers involved in shootings 72 hours before they have to give a statement and to urge subpoena power for the citizen police review board. "Whether the organization gets seven or 1,000 people to come out, all we do is say, 'Hey, we're going to be in the forefront,'" Alexander said. ___ India: Pakistan should 'change stance' over Kashmir dispute SRINAGAR, India (AP) The Indian government said Sunday that Pakistan should stop provoking unrest in the Indian-controlled portion of the disputed Kashmir region, appealing for calm and restraint by people and government forces after two weeks of bloody protests that have left dozens of civilians dead. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kashmir over the weekend, following street battles between government forces and protesters in the Muslim-majority region. India is particularly upset with Pakistan calling for a "black day" last week to protest India's handling of the demonstrations. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, addresses a press conference in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, July. 24, 2016.Singh visited Kashmir over the weekend, following street battles between government forces and protesters in the region. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) At the end of his visit, Singh told a news conference Sunday that "Pakistan should change its stance on Kashmir." India is "worried about the situation in Kashmir," he told reporters. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan who have fought two wars over its control since 1947 when British rule of the subcontinent ended. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels who have been fighting for independence or merger with Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge, saying it provides political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. "There is no need for any third force to help improve the situation in Kashmir... We don't just want need-based ties. We want to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said. The largest anti-India street protests in recent years in Kashmir erupted after Indian troops killed a popular, young rebel leader in a gunbattle on July 8. Since then, most parts of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir have been under security lockdown. But protests against Indian rule have persisted. Meanwhile, a young man wounded by gunfire from Indian troops two weeks ago died on Sunday in a hospital in Srinagar, the region's main city, police said. At least 49 civilians, mostly teens and young men, have been killed as government forces fired live ammunition and pellets at protesters. A policeman was killed after protesters pushed his vehicle into a river. About 2,000 civilians and 1,500 police and soldiers have been injured in the clashes. A large number of people in the Indian-held part of Kashmir resent the presence of hundreds of thousands of Indian troops and support the rebel cause. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the armed uprising against Indian rule and the subsequent Indian military crackdown. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, center, arrives for a press conference in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, July. 24, 2016. Singh visited Kashmir over the weekend, following street battles between government forces and protesters in the region.(AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) The Latest: Central Coast wildfire destroys 6 homes LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on California wildfires (all times local): 8:20 p.m. A forest fire burning near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast has destroyed six homes. Los Angeles County firefighters pause to fight the flames due to erratic winds in Placenta Caynon Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) State fire officials said the half-dozen homes that burned Sunday were the first since the blaze broke out on Friday. Two other structures also burned as the fire grew to over 17 square miles. It is 5 percent contained. Some 1,650 other homes remain under threat. No injuries have been reported. The blaze erupted Friday in almost inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park. ___ 5:20 p.m. A wildfire in northern Los Angeles County is gaining ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded. County fire chief Daryl Osby says Sunday afternoon it's the most extreme fire behavior he's seen so early in the fire season in his three-decade career. The blaze has forced the closure of a 40-mile stretch of State Route 14, known as the Antelope Valley Freeway. Planes have been unable to make drops over the fire, but helicopters are releasing retardant around the perimeter of the blaze. The fire has destroyed 18 homes and burned 34 square miles, but Osby says the size might have doubled in the past few hours. It is 10 percent contained, and thousands of homes are under threat. ___ 2:30 p.m. Los Angeles County authorities have ordered new evacuations as unpredictable winds push a destructive wildfire out of forest land toward homes near the Antelope Valley. Residents of some areas of Acton south of State Route 14 were told to leave Sunday as the massive blaze moves to the northeast after destroying 18 homes near Santa Clarita. Officials didn't say how many people would be affected. Officials warn winds could strengthen as the day goes on, creating more challenges for crews working in steep, inaccessible terrain at the edge of Angeles National Forest. At least 1,500 homes remain evacuated in the Santa Clarita area, where 18 houses were gutted by fast-moving flames Saturday. Smoke from the 34-square-mile fire is visible across the region. It's just 10 percent contained. ___ 1:40 p.m. Authorities say all evacuation orders will remain in place as winds fan a massive wildfire that has destroyed 18 homes north of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County fire officials said earlier that residents of some areas of Sand Canyon near Santa Clarita would be allowed to return Sunday afternoon. But unpredictable winds led officials to rescind that decision. The blaze sparked Friday has charred more than 34 square miles of dry brush and is just partially contained. Officials say it is moving northeast through the Angeles National Forest toward the city of Acton, where residents are warned to get ready to leave at a moment's notice. Sheriff's officials are investigating the death of a man found Saturday in a burned car outside a home in the fire zone. ___ 12 p.m. A forest fire burning near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast has destroyed a small structure and charred 16 square miles. California's forestry department says the blaze is threatening 1,650 homes and other buildings and that the community of Palo Colorado is still under an evacuation order Sunday. One outbuilding has burned. Officials say the fire could spread north and have warned the community of Carmel Highlands to be prepared to leave. The blaze erupted Friday in almost inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park. ___ 11:55 a.m. Authorities are preparing to lift some evacuation orders after a massive wildfire north of Los Angeles destroyed 18 homes but are warning residents of other communities to get ready to leave. Officials said Sunday that shifting winds are pushing the flames to the northeast through Angeles National Forest and toward the city of Acton. They say some residents who fled canyons near Santa Clarita where the homes burned will be allowed to return Sunday afternoon. The blaze sparked Friday has charred more than 34 square miles of dry brush and is just partially contained. Its cause is under investigation. Los Angeles County sheriff's officials are investigating the death of a man found Saturday in a burned car outside a home in the fire zone. ___ 10:45 a.m. Authorities say 18 homes have been destroyed and an additional 1,500 are threatened as crews battle a massive wildfire in wooded canyons north of Los Angeles. The blaze has blackened more than 34 square miles of dry brush withered by days of triple-digit heat on the edge of the Angeles National Forest. It was just 10 percent contained Sunday. Fire spokeswoman Lisa Lugo says 18 homes were gutted and one was damaged Saturday after evacuations were ordered. Authorities say the body of a man was discovered in a burned car outside a home in Santa Clarita. The death is under investigation, but sheriff's officials say there's no evidence it was a crime. Shifting winds are sending smoke from the fire away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents are being warned about poor air quality. ___ 10:15 a.m. Authorities say 18 structures have burned in a massive wildfire that is threatening more than 1,500 homes in canyons north of Los Angeles. Water-dropping aircraft resumed runs Sunday over the blaze that has blackened more than 34 square miles of dry brush on the edge of the Angeles National Forest. It's just 10 percent contained. The Los Angeles County Fire Department didn't say whether the buildings that burned were homes. Authorities said Saturday that the body of a man was discovered in a burned car outside a home in Santa Clarita. The death is under investigation, but sheriff's officials say there's no evidence it was a crime. Shifting winds are sending smoke from the fire away from greater Los Angeles and into desert communities, where residents are being warned about poor air quality. An Erickson Air-Crane takes off in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) A Los Angeles County firefighter tries to fight the flames against erratic winds in Placenta Caynon Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Gary Harris, right, discusses structure protection assignments with Santa Clarita firefighters at Acton Park in Santa Clarita, Calif., on Sunday, July 24, 2016. Flames raced down a steep hillside "like a freight train," leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. (Dan Watson/The Santa Clarita Valley Signal via AP) Vehicles destroyed due to a wildfire are seen in Santa Clarita, Calif., Sunday, July 24, 2016. The body of a man was discovered Saturday in one of the vehicles outside a home in the fire zone. Los Angeles County sheriff's officials are investigating the death but said there was no evidence it was a crime. Which vehicle the body was found was not unclear at the time the photo was taken. (Katharine Lotze/The Santa Clarita Valley Signal via AP) Coast Guard seeks hoax caller whose 'maydays' cost $500,000 BALTIMORE (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard says it's looking for a man who has cost the service about $500,000 after responding to nearly 30 of his fake distress calls. In a press release published Friday, the Coast Guard says the 28 calls have originated from around the area of Annapolis, Maryland. Each call involved the same male voice and used an emergency radio channel. He's been making the calls since July 2014. The two most recent calls were made on the night of July 21 and the early morning of July 22. Mexican drug lord denies he's back in business MEXICO CITY (AP) Fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero denied in an interview published Sunday that he is getting back into the drug trade or trying to muscle in on the Sinaloa cartel's operations. Caro Quintero is a fugitive with a $5 million reward on his head after being erroneously released from prison in 2013, where he had served 28 years of a 40-year sentence in the 1985 kidnapping, torture and murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. He has since been ordered recaptured, but was interviewed while on the run by the news magazine Proceso. FILE - This undated file photo provided by Mexico's government shows drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero in an unknown location. The fugitive drug said in an interview published Sunday, July 24, 2016, that he isnt getting back into the drug trade or trying to muscle in on the Sinaloa cartel's operations. Caro Quintero is a fugitive with a $5 million reward on his head after being erroneously released from prison in 2013. (Mexico's government via AP/File) Caro Quintero said was "very worried" about reports he was in a dispute with the Sinaloa cartel. "I don't have problems with any cartel," said the drug lord, who appeared simply dressed and was interviewed in a humble shack. Jorge Gonzalez, the attorney general of the northern state of Chihuahua, said earlier this month there was evidence that Caro Quintero may be trying to muscle in on the Sinaloa cartel's operations. The area on the border between Sinaloa and Chihuahua states has seen an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. Believed to be around 63, Caro Quintero said "I was a drug trafficker 31 years ago," but said that stopped in 1984 with a raid on a massive marijuana ranch he ran. "I have stopped being a drug trafficker and I repeat, please, leave me in peace. " That kind of disavowal may not convince many people. "Caro Quintero will deny anything and everything," said Mike Vigil, a former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said "But Caro Quintero knows that for him to survive being on the run, now that they're looking for him again, he needs money ... he's got to get involved in the drug trade." "What he's doing is denying that he's trying to carve out a piece of territory where he can traffic ... but right now he is going to deny because he is not anywhere near powerful enough to take on in a frontal assault the Sinaloa cartel." Caro Quintero said that after he was released he had a friendly meeting with now-imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. "He came to greet me," Caro Quintero said. The two men ate breakfast together and Caro Quintero said "I told him I didn't want to have anything to do with illegal activities." He said he had a similar meeting with Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another top Sinaloa cartel leader. Caro Quintero walked free in 2013 after a three-judge appeals court in the western state of Jalisco ordered him released on procedural grounds after 28 years behind bars, saying he should have originally been prosecuted in a state court instead of federal court. Mexico's Supreme Court later annulled the order, saying Camarena was a registered U.S. government agent and therefore his killing was a federal crime. An arrest warrant was issued for Caro Quintero, but he had gone underground after his release. Caro Quintero was a founding member of one of Mexico's earliest and biggest drug gangs, the Guadalajara cartel. He helped establish a powerful cartel based in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa that later split into some of Mexico's largest drug organizations, including the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels. In the interview, he denied involvement in the Camarena killing; the DEA has issued a $5 million reward for his re-arrest. "I didn't organize or kidnap or kill Mr. Camarena," he said "I was in the wrong place." Still, he asked forgiveness from Camarena's family, saying "I am very repentant, if I made some mistake I ask forgiveness." Vigil said "we have a lot of witnesses who say that Caro Quintero was high on coke, he went in there and struck Kiki Camarena on the head with a blunt instrument" as the agent was dying. A Mexican official said Saturday that the government is studying a request to place another drug lord convicted in Camarena's death under house arrest because of his age and illnesses. Imprisoned 86-year-old drug lord Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo also was serving a 40-year sentence. Mexican courts have said Fonseca Carrillo is eligible for the program, as are other aged or ill inmates. Iran confirms Iranian-American has been detained TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's judiciary has confirmed the detention of an Iranian-American who was visiting family in Iran, the country's semi-official ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The report did not name the Iranian-American involved or say when he was arrested. It quoted the spokesman for the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, as saying that the man was arrested in the city of Gorgan on unknown charges and then referred to the Iranian capital for investigation. On Thursday the U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Iranian-American Robin Shahini has been detained in Iran. His girlfriend said she was worried Shahini was arrested over online comments criticizing Iran's human rights record. She said he was arrested in Gorgan, where he was visiting his family. She said that Shahini's sister told her Iranian authorities took him into custody on July 11 and that he has not been heard from since. Shahini, 46, left Iran in 1998 and lived in San Diego. He graduated in May from San Diego State University. Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, which means he cannot receive consular assistance. There are three dual nationals and a Lebanese man who have been detained in Iran in recent months. The four, who have ties to Britain, Canada and the United States, all are believed to have been detained by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line force charged with ensuring the country's Islamic government remains in power. The charges they face remain unclear. In previous cases involving dual nationals, like the detention of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, officials initially announced indictments had been handed down without providing specifics. Later, Iranian news organizations with close ties to security services offered details of the charges. Lawmakers to unveil bill after immigrant's murder conviction HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Joe Courtney are proposing a law that would crack down on countries that refuse or delay U.S. officials' attempts to deport dangerous criminals. The Connecticut Democrats will unveil "Casey's Law" on Monday in Hartford. It's named after Casey Chadwick, a 25-year-old Norwich woman who was fatally stabbed last year by Haitian national Jean Jacques. Jacques is now serving a 60-year prison sentence. Federal authorities had tried repeatedly to deport Jacques. But Haiti officials wouldn't take him back after he served 17 years behind bars for a 1997 attempted murder conviction. Chadwick was killed six months after Jacques was released from prison. A federal report released last month said immigration officials could have done more to deport Jacques. Richmond Police: 1 dead, 2 hurt in shooting at party RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Richmond police say they are continuing to investigate a shooting near Virginia Commonwealth University that has left one man dead and two people injured. A police press release says the early Sunday morning shooting possibly stemmed from an argument between two groups of people. Police say the victims are not VCU students and that the incident is unconnected to the university. Responding to a report of people being shot, officers found two men and one woman wounded inside the common area of an apartment building at 2:45 a.m. The university says on its website that the shooting occurred after a fight at a party. Police identified the man who died at a hospital as Erik R. McCorkle, 24, of Highland Springs, Virginia. A female victim who wasn't named is in serious condition. Another unidentified man is recovering from non-life threatening wounds. 16-year-old girl is 1 of 3 charged in Florida man's death FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) A 16-year-old Southwest Florida girl is back in the state after being charged in the death of a former neighbor. The Lee County Sheriff's office says the Fort Myers girl was originally named as an accessory in the July 15 murder of Ted Lee of Buckingham but now faces second degree murder charges. Two men 18-year-old Jonathan Ruffini and 23-year-old Tyson Hunter also face murder charges. Authorities apprehended the three suspects near Topeka, Kansas, on July 18. The girl was booked in Florida on Saturday before being released. Ruffini and Hunter are awaiting extradition. All three also face charges of grand theft of an automobile and fraudulent use of a credit card. The sheriff's office says the girl lived in the same neighborhood as Lee for years. ___ Greek village mourns 17-year-old Munich shooting victim ARATOS, Greece (AP) The residents of Aratos, a village of 700 near the northeastern Greek city of Komotini, expected 17-year-old Hussein Daitzik and his family, migrants living in Germany, to visit next week as part of their annual vacation in their ancestral home. Instead, they will attend Hussein's funeral next week. Daitzik was one of nine people killed by an Iranian-German gunman who went on a rampage Friday in Munich before killing himself. Daitzik died trying to take his sister Gulfer they and a brother, Sunai, were triplets out of the line of fire, says village mayor Amet Amet. She was not wounded. Mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) The family belongs to Greece's Muslim minority. Amet tells The Associated Press on Sunday that Daizik "had many friends here in the village. He was a very good boy, quiet." ___ Kosovo held a day or mourning Sunday for three young ethnic Albanians two women and one man who were among the nine people killed in the shooting in Munich. Flags were at half-staff at all public institutions. Two other Albanians of Kosovo origin wounded in Friday's shooting. Residents in the capital, Pristina, said they were horrified by the shooting. "This is really a big tragedy. People are speechless the way the life of those kids was cut short, without any guilt," said Bujar Vokshi speaking to The Associated Press in a Pristina street. "There is nothing worse, not only for Albanians but for the whole of civilization," added Luljeta Dragaj, another resident. A man lights a candle beside the Olympia shopping center where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago in Munich, Germany, Sunday, July 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) Relatives holding the picture of Diamond Zabergja, 21, gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) Two girls light candles in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) A girl lights candles as mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) Mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) A picture of Diamond Zabergja, 21, is placed on the ground as mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) Two girls light candles as mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) A picture of Diamond Zabergja, 21, is placed on the ground as mourners gather in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Sunday, July 24, 2016, in vigil for the victims of the Olympia shopping centre in Munich, where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead two days ago. Three ethnic Albanians, two women and a man, were among the nine people killed by a gunman in Munich. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) Ainslie leads British crew to America's Cup World Series win PORTSMOUTH, England (AP) British sailing star Sir Ben Ainslie clinched his second straight hometown America's Cup World Series victory with a win and two second-place finishes in Sunday's three races. Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team finished with 82 points, one ahead of his former employer, two-time defending America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge presented the trophy to Ainslie, who was knighted following the London Olympics, when he won his fourth straight gold medal and fifth games medal overall. Sir Ben Ainslie sprays Champagne over the crew of his Land Rover BAR yacht, as they win the America's Cup World Series event in Portsmouth, England, Sunday July 24, 2016. (Christopher Ison / PA via AP) "I think it's been a brilliant weekend," Ainslie said. "For us to race in Portsmouth, in front of our home crowd with the weather playing its part and two cracking days of racing, as a home team to win in front of our home crowd is the best thing we could do." Oracle had a strong day, with two wins and a second. After Oracle struggled early in the 2013 America's Cup, Ainslie was promoted from the backup crew to the race crew. Oracle staged one of the biggest comebacks in sports to retain the Auld Mug. Ainslie then launched his British syndicate in an effort to win back the trophy his country lost to the schooner America in 1851. Ainslie's team also won the 2015 America's Cup World Series stop in its home waters, not far from where the original America's Cup was contested 165 years ago. Land Rover BAR took over the ACWS lead from the Kiwis, followed by Oracle, Team New Zealand, SoftBank Team Japan, Sweden's Artemis Racing and Groupama Team France. The ACWS is a series of warmup regattas for the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda. Fight between driver, passenger results in crash in Phoenix PHOENIX (AP) Police say a car crash that critically injured a driver and shut down part of a Phoenix freeway was started by a fight between the man and a passenger. Authorities say the southbound lanes on a section of State Route 51 near the Northern exit were closed for several hours Sunday. They say 23-year-old Luis William Winiker got into an argument with the driver. That's when Winiker allegedly deliberately crashed the car into a center barrier. Police say the fight escalated with Winiker beating the driver. The driver was transported to a hospital with extremely critical injuries. Winiker has been booked on three counts of aggravated assault. Police haven't said what the relationship between the two men is. Police: Bavarian official says attacker was denied asylum ANSBACH, Germany (AP) A man who blew himself up and injured 12 people after being turned away from an open-air music festival was a 27-year-old Syrian who had been denied asylum, Bavaria's top security official said early Monday. "We don't know if this man planned on suicide or if he had the intention of killing others," Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said. He added that the man's request for asylum was rejected a year ago, but he was allowed to remain in Germany because of the strife in Syria. GERMANY OUT - In this image taken from video fire trucks and ambulances stand in the city center of Ansbach near Nuremberg, southern Germany, Monday morning, July 25, 2016, after a man was killed when an explosive device he was believed to be carrying went off near an open-air music festival, injuring 10 others. (News5 via AP) Three of the 12 victims suffered serious injuries, Herrmann said. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Ansbach said the attacker's motive wasn't clear. "If there is an Islamist link or not is purely speculation at this point," said the spokesman, Michael Schrotberger. The explosion came as Germany, and the southern state of Bavaria in particular, have been on edge. Just two days earlier, a man went on a deadly rampage at a Munich mall, killing nine people and leaving dozens wounded. And an ax attack on a train near Wuerzburg last Monday wounded five. A 17-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker was shot and killed by police as he fled the scene. On Sunday, authorities said they were alerted to an explosion in Ansbach's city's center shortly after 10 p.m. The three-day open-air concert was underway, with about 2,500 in attendance, when it was shut down as a precaution after the explosion. Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson was the scheduled performer. Bavarian public broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk reported that 200 police officers and 350 rescue personnel were brought in following the explosion in Ansbach. The recent attacks in Bavaria, a picturesque, mountainous haven for travelers, came shortly after a Tunisian man driving a truck killed 84 people when he plowed through a festive crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, along the famed French Riviera. In Munich on Sunday evening, 1,500 people gathered at the scene of the shooting there, lighting candles and placing flowers in tribute to the victims of an 18-year-old German-Iranian. Police said that he had planned the attack for a year. After the Munich attack, Herrmann urged the German government to allow the country's military to be deployed to support police during attacks. Germany's post-war constitution, because of the excesses of the Nazi era, only allows the military to be deployed domestically in cases of national emergency. Herrmann has called those regulations obsolete and said that Germans have a "right to safety." Back in January, Bavaria's justice minister launched a state program in Ansbach meant to teach refugees the basics of law in their new host country, amid growing tensions and concerns in Germany about how it would integrate the estimated 1 million-plus migrants it registered crossing into the country last year. Classes include lessons about freedom of opinion, the separation of religion and state and the equality of men and women. "Germany is an attractive country because it respects the dignity of every human being," an educational film shown to newcomers said, "and it is supposed to stay that way." ___ Rising reported from Berlin. Police officers secure the area after a bomb attack in Ansbach, Germany, Monday, July 25, 2016. Bavaria's top security official says a man who blew himself up after being turned away from an open-air music festival in the southern German city was a 27-year-old Syrian who had been denied asylum. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, center, briefs the media in Ansbach, Germany, Monday, July 25, 2016. Bavaria's top security official says a man who blew himself up after being turned away from an open-air music festival in the southern German city was a 27-year-old Syrian who had been denied asylum. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) PARIS (AP) A 31-year-old father of three obsessed with fitness and sex, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel led multiple lives. His darkest side appears to have been his best-kept secret: a calculated, committed jihadi ready to kill scores of people in a French Riviera rampage. Information emerging from authorities and people who knew the Nice Bastille Day attacker suggests Bouhlel concealed his different worlds from each other, and may have been following Islamic State guidance to blend in and hide his radicalism while he plotted violence. There was his family life - three children under 6, including an 18-month-old born just after his wife split with Bouhlel, accusing him of frequent abuse. FILE - This file photo photo made available on July 17, 2016 by Kapitalis shows Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. A 31-year-old father of three obsessed with fitness and sex, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel led multiple lives. His darkest side appears to have been his best-kept secret: a calculated, committed jihadi ready to kill scores of people in a French Riviera rampage. (Kapitalis via AP, FIle) Then there was his erratic social life: smoking pot with acquaintances in the Tunisian immigrant community; martial arts training and possible steroid use to bulk up muscle; salsa dancing to pick up women; and a reported male lover in his 70s. And now, it appears that Bouhlel had an extremist life, too, built up over months as he prepared for the Bastille Day attack. His parallel worlds are complicating investigators' efforts to figure out who he was, who might have helped with the attack, whether other violence was planned. They may never have a definitive answer: Bouhlel was killed by police after ramming his truck through a family-filled crowd enjoying fireworks. Authorities initially said Bouhlel had radicalized very quickly. Family and neighbors described him as indifferent to religion, volatile and prone to drinking sprees. But on Thursday, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said investigators found images in Bouhlel's phone suggesting he was premeditating an attack as far back as a year ago. Molins said Bouhlel studied Captagon, a drug used by some jihadis before attacks. He had a screenshot of a previous vehicle attack in a crowd. He obtained weapons through a string of acquaintances. He expressed support for the Islamic State group's territorial claims. And an uncle in his Tunisian hometown said Bouhlel had been radicalized by a Nice-based Algerian preacher. Authorities say Bouhlel drew inspiration from IS propaganda, though there is no sign the attack was commandeered by the extremist group's bases in Syria or Iraq. Yet his turn to extremism went unnoticed by relatives, neighbors and acquaintances. And police and prosecutors investigating Bouhlel for a road rage incident in early 2016 found no reason to flag him as a potential risk. A French security official said this may have been intentional, in response to IS suggestions to some followers in the West that they hide their radical faith to stay off police radar. Attackers who targeted Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016 are believed to have done the same. A lawyer for one of five suspects given preliminary terrorism charges in the Nice investigation says he believes Bouhlel radicalized alone, and may have been attracted to IS ideas as an outlet for his violent tendencies. Lawyer Jean-Pascal Padovani said his client, Ramzi A., and Bouhlel were from the world of "small-scale delinquence. ... They smoked pot together. It was that kind of relationship." Ramzi was on Nice's seaside Promenade des Anglais the night that Bouhlel's truck careened down the cordoned-off boulevard. But his lawyer insists he was there to have fun, and had no idea what Bouhlel planned to do. Vladis Selevanov, who works as a cook in Nice, said he had gone to different gyms with Bouhlel for the past four years, yet didn't know he was married and a father. Selevanov and others who worked out with Bouhlel described him as a loner "He was strange, but not at all aggressive." Guys at the gym nicknamed him "Arnold," as in Schwarzenegger, because he was so muscular, yet he had an incongruously high-pitched voice. He seemed obsessed with his appearance, always clean-shaven, hair gelled backward even during workouts - and was always wearing flip-flops, Selevanov said. Bouhlel used his two middle names Salmane Lahouaiej when he signed a petition to get their gym to stay open until 11pm. When he discovered it offered salsa lessons, he joined with gusto, Selevanov said, bragging about how it was a good way to meet women. "He always hit on all girls, old, young," Selevanov said. Bouhlel also performed at salsa nights at the Restaurant de la Victorine near the Nice airport, according to people who worked there, and trained in a smattering of martial arts, leaving the impression of a strong but somewhat undisciplined fighter. His opponent in a 2010 karate tournament described him as a novice, making mistakes because he was stressed and not a seasoned fighter. A video of the fight, obtained by The Associated Press, shows Bouhlel sparring powerfully, and occasionally going overboard - at one point head-butting and at another kneeing his opponent in the crotch. Between each round, Bouhlel respectfully bowed. Bouhlel's trainer in Satori martial art described him as always polite and calm. Yet around the same time, Bouhlel was fired from a delivery company for inappropriate behavior. The opponent and the trainer spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for their families' security. French media reports say Bouhlel's cell phone indicated he had homosexual flings. Selevanov said Bouhlel was known to have had a long-term relationship with a male gym-goer in his 70s. The prosecutor said he had an "unbridled sex life," but security officials wouldn't comment on specific male relationships. Selevanov described working out on a treadmill with Bouhlel a few weeks ago in the Moving Express gym, in a neighborhood near Nice's renowned Marc Chagall Museum. Selevanov found Bouhlel unusually friendly. "He came up to say 'hi, how's it going?'" Selevanov said. "I couldn't believe it when I heard (what happened July 14). We are shocked. Completely shocked." ___ Maria Sanminiatelli in Paris; Helena Alves, Maeva Bambuck and David Keyton in Nice, France, and Bouazza ben Bouazza in Tunis, Tunisia contributed. Police identify Phoenix boy, 12, who died after hike in heat PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix police have released the name of the 12-year-old boy who died after hiking in triple-digit temperatures. Authorities said Sunday that Cody Flom was hiking with an adult male Friday afternoon in the Sonoran Desert Preserve when he became ill. The man tried to carry him off the trail and then tried dialing 911, but his phone didn't work. Police say he left the boy to get help. Flom was airlifted to a hospital but later died. Investigators say the pair had 2 liters of water with them. It was unclear how long the two had been hiking. According to the National Weather Service, Phoenix reached 100 degrees by 10 a.m. Friday and hit a high of 112 just after 5:30 p.m. Kezia Dugdale will urge US heeding of Brexit lessons to prevent Trump presidency Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will warn US Democrats that "the nightmare scenario of a Donald Trump presidency could become a reality" if they don't heed the lessons of the UK Brexit vote. Ms Dugdale will meet political and trade union leaders from across the US at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week. She said Mr Trump is using the same "reckless populism" of the Brexit campaign by rallying those who "feel they have no hope and nothing to lose" with fears about immigration. Kezia Dugdale said Donald Trump is rallying those who 'feel they have no hope and nothing to lose'. Ms Dugdale said: "Seventeen million people across the UK, including more than one million in Scotland, rejected the views of the political establishment and backed Brexit. "That must act as a warning to leaders all across the world, including Hillary Clinton. "The UK's vote to leave the European Union shows the nightmare scenario of a Donald Trump presidency could become a reality. "Too many people, in the UK, the United States and right across the world, feel they have no hope and nothing to lose. "For those with no job or in low-paid, insecure work, the status quo is just as risky as taking a leap into the unknown. "In situations like that reckless populists such as Donald Trump thrive. "Those of us who rejected the division created by Brexit leaders and who are appalled by the racist campaigning of Donald Trump must never dismiss the views of people who vote for them. "We need to address their concerns and invest in their future, not write them all off. "Only by addressing deep rooted poverty and inequality, giving people hope of a better future, investing in their skills and giving them more power over their own lives will we be able to win people back from supporting dangerous populists around the world. "This week Hillary Clinton can show that there is a better way, by setting out a vision for investing in the skills and potential of people across the United States." Ms Dugdale is in the US as part of a cross-party delegation to discuss education, immigration, Brexit, the environment and trade. Germany mourns the victims of Munich massacre Candlelit vigils were held in Munich as the identities of those cut down by a teenage gunman began to emerge. Earlier a father visited the scene at the Olympia shopping centre to mourn his son's death, while others paid tribute to friends and loved ones lost in the massacre that left nine people dead, most of them teenagers. A further 27 people were injured in Friday's attack - 10 of whom are in a critical condition, including a 13-year-old boy. Flowers and candles left at the Olympia shopping centre in tribute to the nine people shot dead by a teenage gunman German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the tragedy had plunged Germany into "deep and profound mourning" that left a "night of horror" lying behind the people of Munich. The lone killer, an 18-year-old German-Iranian named in reports as Ali Sonboly, is thought to have attempted to lure victims to a McDonald's opposite the mall with a fake Facebook profile promising free food. It is unclear if those who died or were injured when he opened fire with a pistol had been enticed by message that is being probed by police. Among the dead were two 14-year-old Kosovan girls, Armela Segashi and Sabina Sulaj, and their Turkish friends Can Leyla, 14 and Selcuk Kilic, 15, according to reports. A 17-year-old named in reports as Hussein Daitzik, of Greek origin, is said to have been shot dead as he heroically shielded his sister. Another youngster, named locally as Guilliano Kollman, 18, reportedly died after being shot outside the McDonald's where Sonboly began his murderous rampage. On Saturday afternoon Naim Zabergja, a policeman of Kosovan heritage, visited the scene to lay flowers where his son, Dijamant, 21, was killed. According to reports the oldest victim of the killer was Sevda Dag, a 45-year-old Turkish woman. At a press conference Mrs Merkel said the events are "difficult to bear for everyone" and pledged to "find out the background" of what happened. She added: "What lies behind the people of Munich is a night of horror - we are still shocked by the pictures and reports of the witnesses. "Nine people who were going shopping on the Friday evening, or wanted to eat something, they are now dead - it seems according to the investigations, hit and killed by the bullets of one single perpetrator." The Chancellor said the operation between the agencies and security forces on Friday night was "seamless" and thanked them for their "phenomenal" effort. She said: "We are in deep and profound mourning for those who will never return to their families. The families, siblings, friends to whom everything will be void and empty today. "I would like to tell them, in the name of many, many people in Germany, we share in your grief, we think of you and we are suffering with you. "Our thoughts also go out to the numerous injured people - may they recover quickly and completely - they will receive all the support they need. "Such an evening and such a night are difficult to bear for every one of us. They are even more difficult to bear because we have had so many different and difficult reports of horrors in the past few days." Officials said the killer used a 9mm pistol and had 300 rounds of ammunition in his rucksack when he went on what they called a "classic shooting rampage". Police said the weapon was a Glock 17 handgun which had had its serial number illegally filed off, and there were indications the gunman had been in psychiatric care and treated for depression. They confirmed his room in the flat he was living in had been searched, and that documents of "frenzied attacks" had been discovered, but no evidence he had links to Islamic State. According to reports the killer had an "obvious" link to Norwegian mass-murderer Anders Behring Breivik - who, five years to the day of the Munich attack, slaughtered 77 people. Police investigator Robert Heimberger said that it appeared the gunman had hacked a Facebook account and lured people to the shopping centre with an offer of free food. The posting, sent from a young woman's account, urged people to go to the centre at 4pm, saying: "I'll give you something if you want, but not too expensive." Mr Heimberger said they are investigating as "it appears it was prepared by the suspect and then sent out". Officials said the attacker was not known to them and had no criminal record. He had been in psychiatric care and was treated for depression. He later killed himself. Three of the victims are believed to be from Kosovo, three from Turkey and one from Greece - seven of the dead are understood to be teenagers. Man held over teenage girl's death A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year-old girl, police said. The teenager was rushed to hospital after officers were called to an address in Pierson Street in Newark, Notts, just after midnight on Sunday. Nottinghamshire Police said she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre. A girl died shortly after arriving at Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham A force spokesman said: "The 23-year old man remains in police custody pending further inquiries. Chloe Hosking claims La Course title in Paris Chloe Hosking comfortably won La Course by Le Tour in a sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Australian Hosking of Wiggle-High5 burst clear at the line to win by several bike lengths from Finland's Lotta Lepisto of Cervelo Bigla a fter two big crashes in the final moments of the 89-kilometre circuit race thinned the field. They hauled in a late attempt from Boels-Dolman's Ellen van Dijk to break clear before a select sprint. Wiggle High5's Chloe Hosking crosses the finish line to win La Course by Le Tour in Paris "My team were incredible," Hosking said. "I'm so lucky. Amy Roberts never gave up, and Audrey Cordon kept me safe in the final laps. "I saw Van Dijk pull away, went past her, and was waiting for everyone else to catch me." Australian Olympic Committee says athletes' village in Rio 'not safe or ready' Australia's team bosses have refused to move staff or athletes into the Olympic Village in Rio after claiming the buildings are dangerous and uninhabitable. The opening ceremony in Rio is just 12 days away and Australia's team staff were scheduled to have moved into their Olympic base last Thursday to prepare for next week's arrival of the athletes. But those currently in Brazil have been forced to stay in nearby hotels and the Australian Olympic Committee have arranged for their athletes to stay in alternative accommodation after complaining the Olympic Village is "simply not safe or ready". Australia claims their accommodation at the Olympic Village in Rio is uninhabitable Australia's chef de mission Kitty Chiller said in a statement they were working with the International Olympic Committee to resolve matters and that Team GB and New Zealand were among other nations experiencing similar problems. Chiller said: " Due to a variety of problems in the village, including gas, electricity and plumbing I have decided that no Australian Team member will move into our allocated building (B23). " For over a week now Australia Olympic Committee staff have been working long hours to get our section of the village ready for our athletes. "Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed and dirty floors in need of a massive clean. "In operations areas water has come through the ceiling resulting in large puddles on the floor around cabling and wiring. "We have raised our concerns on a daily basis with the organising committee and the IOC, especially at the daily chef's meeting. "We are not alone, our friends from Team GB, New Zealand and others are experiencing the same problems in their accommodation. "We have been pushing hard for a solution." Chiller said e xtra maintenance staff and over 1,000 cleaners had been moved in to fix the faults and clean the village but the plumbing issues had not been resolved. "(On Saturday) we decided to do a "stress test" where taps and toilets were simultaneously turned on in apartments on several floors to see if the system could cope once the athletes are in-house," Chiller said. "The system failed. Water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments and there was "shorting" in the electrical wiring. "We were due to move into the village on July 21 but we have been living in nearby hotels, because the village is simply not safe or ready. "Our staff are continuing to set up as best they can for the arrival of the athletes. For those athletes arriving in the next three days we have made alternative accommodation arrangements. "We welcome a decision by the IOC to recommend to the Organising Committee that stress tests be carried out throughout the Olympic Village. "The IOC has recommended 1. A plumbing stress test and 2. A fire safety test. "Those tests will include all floors, all rooms, all fixtures, sinks, showers and toilets. As well as fire alarms, lighting in stairwells and exits. "Representatives from National Olympic Committees have been invited to observe the test." Tributes to 33-year-old holidaymaker found dead in Ibiza Friends and family have paid tribute to a man who has died in Ibiza. Reports in Spanish media said Christopher Beattie, from Glasgow, was found dead after falling from a block of flats in the island's party hotspot San Antonio. The 33-year-old's body was found on Saturday morning. The Glasgow man died while on holiday in Ibiza The Civil Guard in Ibiza is reported to be carrying out an investigation into the incident. Family and friends have taken to social media to pay tribute to him. His brother Paul Beattie wrote on Sunday that the family was "totally heartbroken". He wrote: " Yesterday we got the devastating news that my brother Christopher Beattie passed away whilst on holiday. Christopher was definitely a one off and I can't believe I will never see him again! " Rest in peace Chris, mum will look after you now. love you xxx" His girlfriend, Lesley-Ann Langan, posted: "This morning I got the news that my boyfriend had died whilst on holiday in Ibiza. It doesn't feel real and even though I never knew him that long I feel like my heart has been ripped out and shredded. "My thoughts are with his family and I just keep expecting him to call or text. It's devastating that someone can just just disappear from your life in the blink of an eye." Chris Froome joins elite with third Tour de France win Chris Froome crossed the line arm-in-arm with his Team Sky team-mates as he joined the elite club of three-time Tour de France winners on Sunday. Froome, already Britain's only multiple-Tour winner, is now one of just eight men - not counting the disgraced Lance Armstrong - to have won three or more Tours, and will have his sights set on record five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx. Froome had been able to enjoy a glass of champagne and a sip of beer on the 113km stage from Chantilly, won on the Champs-Elysees by Andre Greipel, before he met his wife Michelle and baby boy Kellan just after the finish line and the celebrations began in earnest. Chris Froome claimed his third Tour de France title, becoming the first British rider to do so In his podium speech, Froome thanked his team and family before paying tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Nice on Bastille Day, midway through the Tour. "This tour has obviously taken place against the backdrop of terrible events in Nice and we pay our respects, once again, to those who lost their lives in this terrible event," he said. "Of course these kind of events put sport into perspective but they also show why the values of sport are so important to free society. "We all love the Tour de France because it is unpredictable but we love the Tour more for what stays the same - the passion of the fans from every nation along the roadside, the beauty of the French countryside and the bonds of friendship created through sport. "These things will never change. Vive (long live) le Tour et vive la France." The 31-year-old had effectively sealed victory by staying upright on Saturday's stage 20 to Morzine ahead of Sunday's largely processional stage. Froome finished the race with a margin of victory of four minutes and five seconds ahead of AG2R La Mondiale's Romain Bardet, only the third Frenchman in 20 years to finish second as the race awaits its first home winner since Hinault in 1985. "It's a big moment," Bardet said. "My joy is enormous, for me and for the team, but I'm yet to realise what happened." German Greipel, also the winner in Paris 12 months ago, pipped the late-charging world champion Peter Sagan to the line in the traditional sprint on the Champs-Elysees after racing clear of Norway's Alexander Kristoff on the run-in. French hope Bryan Coquard was denied the chance to go for victory as he was held up by a late puncture, while Marcel Kittel also suffered a mechanical in the closing stages and was unable to contest the sprint. Kristoff attacked first but Greipel, with his Lotto-Soudal lead-out train doing its job on the final approach, burst clear to make sure he did not leave this Tour empty-handed. "I can't describe it," said Greipel. "I'm just super proud of what we've achieved today. I've raced for three weeks for that. The team kept believing in me. "We've tried many times and we walk away from the Tour with two stage wins, with Thomas De Gendt and myself. This morning, we had a good plan. There was a head wind at the end. I just tried to stay calm. "Once we hit the finale, we were one guy too short so I chose to follow Alexander Kristoff who was the strongest. But this is another stage win at the Tour de France. It's wonderful." While Froome was confirmed as the overall winner, Tinkoff's Sagan wrapped up his fifth straight victory in the points classification. The 23-year-old Briton Adam Yates of Orica-BikeExchange took the white jersey as the best young rider in the race - the first Briton to win the category - while Sagan's team-mate Rafal Majka was confirmed in the king of the mountains' polka-dot jersey. Nairo Quintana was third overall, four minutes and 21 seconds behind Froome, while Yates was fourth, a further 21 seconds back. German time trial specialist Tony Martin withdrew midway through the stage with a knee problem which will be a concern ahead of the Olympics. His withdrawal left the race with 174 finishers out of the 198 starters - a record, beating the previous mark of 170 set in 2010. May pledges 'practical solution' over Ireland border after Brexit vote Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to work for a "practical solution" to the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic following Britain's exit from the European Union. Mrs May was speaking after talks with First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on her first visit to Northern Ireland as PM. She said she would seek to reach a Brexit deal with Brussels which was "in the best interests of the whole of the United Kingdom". Prime Minister Theresa May is greeted by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness upon arrival at Stormont Castle in Belfast "If you look ahead, what is going to happen when the UK leaves the European Union is that of course Northern Ireland will have a border with the Republic of Ireland, which will remain a member of the European Union," said Mrs May. " But we've had a common travel area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland many years before either country was a member of the European Union. "Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past. What we do want to do is to find a way through this that is going to work and deliver a practical solution for everybody - as part of the work that we are doing to ensure that we make a success of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union - and that we come out of this with a deal which is in the best interests of the whole of the United Kingdom." Mrs May said her talks at Stormont Castle with Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness had concentrated on the impact of the Brexit vote, and characterised the discussions as "very constructive ... positive". She repeated her vow, made on the steps of Downing Street moments after becoming PM on July 13, that she would govern "for the whole of the United Kingdom - of which Northern Ireland is a valued part". She added: "I'm very clear that the Government will deliver on the Stormont House Agreement and the Fresh Start Agreement." Mrs May said: "Brexit means Brexit, but we will be making a success of it and I am clear that the Northern Ireland Executive and the other devolved governments will be involved in our discussions as we set forward the UK position. "I recognise there's a particular circumstance in Northern Ireland because, of course, it has a land border with a country, the Republic of Ireland, that will be remaining in the EU. "We've had constructive talks about the will that we all have to find a way through this which is in the best interests of Northern Ireland and the best interest of the United Kingdom as a whole." In Northern Ireland 56% voted to Remain and the UK-wide vote to Leave has triggered intense political wrangling in the region. The result has sparked a renewed debate on a potential referendum on Irish reunification with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. The Stormont Executive is divided on the EU issue, with Mrs Foster's Democratic Unionists backing Brexit and Mr McGuinness's Sinn Fein advocating Remain. Ahead of her visit, Mrs May insisted the UK's departure from the European Union must work for Northern Ireland and said she would work with all the province's political parties as she prepares for withdrawal negotiations. People and goods going between Northern Ireland and the Republic are currently able to move freely due to the common travel area (CTA), which was established in the 1920s. However, questions and concerns have been raised about what this means for the CTA and for both economies in the wake of the Leave vote. French President Francois Hollande has said the Irish border will be a special case in the Brexit negotiations. Mrs May added: "I am delighted to be visiting Northern Ireland. I made clear when I became Prime Minister that I place particular value on the precious bonds between the nations of the United Kingdom. Nicola Sturgeon raises fears of consequences of 'hard Brexit' The UK could be heading for a "hard rather than a soft Brexit", with Nicola Sturgeon raising fears this could leave the county with "limited access" to the single market and "significant restrictions" on free movement of people. The Scottish First Minister also warned that efforts to keep the UK economy competitive outside of the European Union (EU) could spark a "race to the bottom" which would have "devastating" consequences for workers' rights. She said a drive towards deregulation in the wake of June's Brexit vote could "open up rather than close down opportunities for tax avoidance and tax evasion". Nicola Sturgeon warned efforts to keep the UK economy competitive outside of the EU could spark a 'race to the bottom' Ms Sturgeon voiced her concerns as she addressed business leaders, charities and public-sector organisations at an event in Edinburgh hosted by the IPPR Scotland think-tank. Although the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU last month, almost two-thirds (62%) of Scottish voters backed remain - a result which immediately prompted Ms Sturgeon to say a second Scottish independence referendum is now "highly likely". While the Scottish Government has been exploring options to retain the country's links with Europe, Ms Sturgeon conceded there are "substantial" barriers towards achieving this as part of the UK's Brexit deal. "I don't underestimate the challenge of finding such a solution," the SNP leader said. "Even if we can agree a position at UK level, we would face the task of persuading the EU to agree it. The barriers are substantial." She added that with the UK facing "uncertainty, upheaval and unpredictability", for Scotland it "may well be that the option that offers us the greatest certainty, stability and the maximum control over our own destiny is that of independence". While the Leave vote has heralded the arrival of new Prime Minister Theresa May, Ms Sturgeon claimed the Tory's statement that "Brexit means Brexit" was "just a soundbite that masks a lack of any clear sense of direction". The UK does not yet have "any clear explanation of what a Leave vote means in practice" Ms Sturgeon insisted. "If we can read anything from the early signs, whether from government appointments or initial pronouncements, it is, though I hope I am wrong about this, that the UK is heading towards a hard rather than a soft Brexit." Ms Sturgeon said that meant a "future outside the single market, with only limited access and significant restrictions on free movement". Ms Sturgeon said she bore a "share of the responsibility" for the failure of the Remain campaign to convince a majority of UK voters. She added: "Much of the blame for what happened on June 23 lies with the UK Government's ideological obsession with austerity, with its decision to make ordinary people pay the price of a financial crash they didn't cause and with its cynical collusion in the myth that cuts and public service pressures are the fault of migrants, rather than a direct result of deliberate economic policy." She also condemned the "lack of leadership" from the UK Government and senior Brexit campaigners in the immediate aftermath of the vote In the wake of the referendum, she said it was "the job of politicians not to pretend somehow that we instantly had all the answers but to give a sense of direction, to try to create some order out of the chaos". Ms Sturgeon added: "That's what I was determined to do for Scotland and I assumed that UK politicians would do likewise. It turned out I was wrong about that." She continued: " In fact, the absence of any leadership and the lack of any advance planning both from the politicians who proposed the referendum and from those who campaigned a leave vote surely must count as one of the most shameful abdications of responsibility in modern political history." In her speech, Ms Sturgeon set out the five key interests she will try to protect during negotiations with the UK Government prior to the triggering of Article 50 - the formal mechanism to leave the EU. These are "the need to make sure Scotland's voice is heard and our wishes respected", free movement of labour and access to the single market, protection of workers' and wider human rights, the ability to work with other nations to tackle issues such as terrorism and climate change, and having a say in the rules of the single market. She challenged the UK Government to "find ways to demonstrate that Scotland's voice can be heard, our wishes accommodated and out interests protected within the UK". But, with the UK having voted to leave the EU, the First Minister said: "I genuinely fear that a UK Government outside of the single market will seek economic competitiveness through deregulation and a race to the bottom. "That would be devastating for the workers' rights and protections that we have all come to take for granted." She added: " In terms of prospects for working around tax avoidance and transparency, I don't think the Brexit vote helps that in any way. "What we want to see is countries working together to take away as far as possible the loopholes that often open up in different tax arrangements between different countries.. "One of the things that does really worry me is a UK outside of the single market, with all of the competitive disadvantages that is going to deliver to UK business, will seek to compensate for that with deregulation and a race to the bottom agenda. "That equally would open up rather than close down opportunities for tax avoidance and tax evasion." Scottish Labour Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: " People in Scotland voted to remain in both the UK and the EU, and everything should be done to deliver on that mandate. Labour is the only party that supports delivering what the people of Scotland voted for. "We have given the First Minister our backing to find a deal that meets the needs of the people of Scotland and we welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to find common agreement amongst the four nations of the UK. "It is essential that the leaders of all the devolved administrations and the UK Government work together in advance of any negotiations with the EU. "All sides must put posturing to one side for the sake of the country and act in good faith. "Any of our leaders deliberately placing obstacles in the way of an agreement that maintains our vital relationships with the rest of Britain and the rest of Europe would run counter to the express wishes of the people of Scotland. "We want to strengthen workers' rights and human rights, and to support trade and jobs, both across the UK and Europe." After Ms Sturgeon set out five key interests that must be safeguarded, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: "She is setting these up to fail to provide another flimsy excuse for a referendum re-run." He added: " Nicola Sturgeon talks about five tests - but the truth is there's only ever one test for the SNP, and that's separation. " Scotland does not want to go through the division and upheaval of another independence vote. "Instead, the Scottish Government should be working hard to make the best of this, not shoehorning its narrow agenda into almost anything it can. "It's pretty clear the SNP is going to amble through this process and reach the conclusion it always wanted." Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles said: "S etting up straw men to pave the way for a possible second independence referendum will not help deliver the sort of deal that Scotland and the UK needs. "The fact that talks with the UK Government and our EU partners are ongoing is welcome. But the First Minister needs to ensure that these are not set up to fail. " I do not expect the First Minister to stop supporting independence. But I do expect her to honour her commitment to work with others in good faith. Philippines reversal on Paris climate deal a risk, experts say By Imelda V. Abano MANILA, July 21 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As the United Nations announced plans to fast-track ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, elected in June, is now backtracking on support for the deal, saying that he "will not honor" the proposed restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. Duterte said this week he will not recognise the country's commitment to the Paris pact supported by his predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, as it would limit the country's industrial growth. The reversal drew concerns from climate experts and activists in a country that has seen worsening hurricanes and other extreme weather, and is considered one of the world's most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate scientist Rosa Perez appealed to the President to reconsider his position, and discuss the pact and negotiation process with Philippine government officials and climate experts. "His statement was an indication that he is not well-informed of the importance of the climate change negotiations and the country's position in the whole process. I hope everything will turn out well for the country's good," said Perez, who is a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a independent body of climate scientists. U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, agreed with Perez, saying that the Paris Agreement could be used to protect not only the communities in the disaster-prone Philippines but also the rights of indigenous peoples. "It is unfortunate that President Duterte rejected the Paris Agreement," she said. The agreement has its weaknesses, she said, including less-than-ambitious emissions reductions promises from some rich countries, but the agreement's commitment to respect human rights, including indigenous rights, is important, she said. Last December nearly 200 nations, including the Philippines, adopted the new climate agreement which aims to transform the world's fossil-fuel-driven economy within decades and slow the pace of temperature rise to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius. The new deal was originally slated to take effect in 2020, but Christiana Figueres, who stepped down this month as the U.N.'s lead climate official, has said she thinks the deal could come into effect early, by 2018. As of June, 175 countries had formally signed the agreement; 19 countries have so far have ratified it. It will come into force once 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of the world's total emissions have ratified the deal. Lucille Sering, the former vice chair of the Philippines Climate Change Commission, said the country's agreed contribution to the global climate deal is a 70 percent cut in emissions by 2030 - but conditional on sufficient international resources, technology and training being made available to make that happen. TO PUSH AHEAD - OR NOT? Naderev Sano, Greenpeace's executive director for Southeast Asia, said it is too simplistic to view the Paris deal as something that should be honoured or not. The deal "does not really mean much if rich countries evade real ambitious action. Overall the Paris Agreement fails the climate justice test," he said. But an industrialising Philippines does not need to be dependent on fossil fuels, and can develop with renewable energy and sustainable forms of development, he said. "Solving climate change does not have to be incompatible with social and economic development. Climate solutions will not constrain our development," he said. The Philippines' aim in going ahead with the climate deal is not necessarily emissions reductions or pleasing diplomatic partners but ensuring its own development is sustainable, he said. Francis Dela Cruz, an energy policy specialist at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, said it was crucial for the Philippines to engage in the climate deal to ensure that the agreement will "benefit vulnerable countries most". The Philippines is the current leader of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of 50 countries that suffer most from the impacts of climate change and that advocated for the needs of vulnerable communities to be met in the Paris climate agreement. Canada seeks 'strong trade agreement' with UK - finance minister TORONTO, July 23 (Reuters) - Canada seeks a "strong trade agreement" with a Britain that has voted to leave the European Union, the country's Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on Saturday on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Chengdu, China. Tesla, SolarCity close to merger agreement-sources By Liana B. Baker July 23 (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc and SolarCity Corp have made progress in putting together a deal that will merge the electric car maker and the solar panel installer, people familiar with the matter said. The two companies, which count billionaire Elon Musk as a major shareholder, are in the final stages of carrying out due diligence on each other, and could agree on the terms of a deal in the coming days, though it is still possible that their negotiations end unsuccessfully, the people said on Saturday. It could not be learned whether SolarCity would be successful in including a go-shop provision in a merger agreement with Tesla that would allow it to continue to solicit bids from other potential buyers for a short period of time. The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. Representatives for SolarCity and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Tesla announced last month that it had made an all-stock offer for SolarCity worth $2.8 billion. It argued that by acquiring SolarCity, the two companies would form a one-stop clean energy shop, offering consumers solar panels, home battery storage and electric cars under a single trusted brand. SolarCity has not publicly revealed its views on Tesla's offer since it announced on June 27 that it had formed a special committee consisting of two board members to evaluate the offer. The committee said it had retained legal and financial advisers and would review the proposal against SolarCity's standalone prospects and a broad range of strategic alternatives. As chief executive of Tesla, chairman of SolarCity and the biggest shareholder in both companies, Musk has recused himself from voting on the deal at both companies. Several Tesla and SolarCity executives, including Musk's cousins SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive and SolarCity board member Peter Rive, have also recused themselves from voting. Elon Musk said on July 20 when he revealed his master plan "part deux" for Tesla that he is looking to create a "smoothly integrated and beautiful solar-roof-with-battery product." G20 will use "all policy tools" to protect growth as Brexit looms CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - Leaders from the world's biggest economies are poised on Sunday to renew their commitments to support global growth and better coordinate actions in the face of uncertainty over Britain's decision to leave the European Union and growing protectionism. The meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major economies in China's southwestern city of Chengdu is the first of its kind since last month's Brexit vote and a debut for Britain's new finance minister. Philip Hammond faced questions about how quickly the UK planned to move ahead with formal negotiations to leave the EU. "We are taking actions to foster confidence and support growth," a draft statement by the policymakers seen by Reuters said. "In light of recent developments, we reiterate our determination to use all policy tools - monetary, fiscal and structural - individually and collectively to achieve our goal of strong, sustainable and balanced growth," it said. The International Monetary Fund this week cut its global growth forecasts because of the Brexit vote. Data on Friday seemed to bear out fears, with a British business activity index posting its biggest drop in its 20-year history. The draft communique, expected to be issued at the end of the meeting on Sunday afternoon, said Brexit added to uncertainty in the global economy but G20 members were "well positioned to proactively address the potential economic and financial consequences". U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Saturday it was important for G20 countries to boost shared growth using all policy tools, including monetary and fiscal policies as well as structural reforms, to boost efficiency. "This is a time when it is important for all of us to redouble our efforts to use all of the policy tools that we have to boost shared growth," Lew told reporters. The spectre of protectionism, highlighted not only by Brexit but also by U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's "America First" rhetoric and talk of pulling out of trade agreements, also hangs over the two-day meeting. "Not only Brexit but various risks of low growth remain, and there was a lot of debate on the need of monitoring developments including terrorism, geopolitical risks and refugees," said a Japanese finance ministry official. "A lot of concerns were voiced over spreading measures for protectionism." Tanzania hands out cash to help its very poorest kickstart businesses By Kizito Makoye KIKWEMBE, Tanzania, July 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - - T atu Mtulya looks older than her age. Her sun-parched skin and the repairs to her well-worn dress say it all. She is poor. The 49-year-old single mother lives in a grass-thatched house with her four children in a village next to a highway in Tanzania's northern Muheza district. She is among thousands of women from families deemed extremely poor who have been singled out to receive cash handouts as part of the government's efforts to lift its citizens out of poverty. Mtulya spent her grant of 355,000 Tanzanian shillings ($160) to set up a small cafeteria selling homemade dishes of rice, meat, chicken and the local staple ugali so that she could earn a regular income. "Through my business I get a good income to help me pay for what my children need," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "On a good day I could get up to 30,000 Tanzanian shillings ($140 in profit a day." While she has now has a modicum of financial security, Mtulya, whose husband left her years ago, is still in her two-roomed shack that's prone to flooding. Her two daughters, aged 19 and 15, share a narrow bed in one of the rooms. Mtulya sleeps in the other room with her two sons aged 11 and 8. A dusty old mattress lies on the floor. Chicken droppings litter the floor and a hungry cat meows from afar. More than 6,000 families in Muheza - at the foot of northern Tanzania's Usambara Mountains - have received financial support to improve their livelihoods under the conditional cash transfer initiative run by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF). In the same village, six and eight-year-old girls Sakina and Zulfa were born out of wedlock and live with their grandmother, Tatu Mfanga, who could barely afford food and clothes for them, let alone send them to school. The frail-looking 63-year-old also qualified for a cash grant which helped her join a women's enterprise processing and packaging cassava. She can now cover her grandchildren's basic needs. "I'm glad my grandchildren are now going to school," she said. "Cassava flour is very marketable especially in Dar es Salaam, we package and sell many kilos every week." Family breakdown is a huge problem in Kikwembe village. Fathers often walk out on their partners and children to avoid the financial responsibilities, say village officials. CASH TRANSFERS Through TASAF, more than 6.6 million Tanzanians deemed to be extremely poor are likely to benefit from a cash transfer with $200 million in new World Bank funding, according to a statement from the bank issued in June. A 2013 World Bank report suggested that Tanzania cash transfer programme had proved to be a successful method for reducing income poverty, and women beneficiaries are more likely to prioritise the welfare of children. "As household incomes and livelihoods improve, they have been able to increase their consumption of education and health services which are crucial for their self-sustenance," Manuel Salazar, World Bank Lead Social Protection Specialist, said in a statement in June. In order to receive payments, targeted families have to abide by the conditions set by a locally-elected village committee, which monitors how the cash is spent. For those who fail to comply, the committee will decide on punishments - such as ordering the offender to fetch water for the village clinic for several days or undertake some construction work. An average of $200 per household is then given to families to enable them invest in small-scale income generating activities such as poultry businesses or vegetable farming. "Poor people often fail to meet their needs because they don't have cash, but once they get it they usually spend it wisely," Anne Masha, a senior economist in the Tanzanian ministry of finance told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She said cash grants could often be more effective than other traditional forms of aid such as food handouts because the process of transferring it to the recipient is faster and cheaper. BELOW THE POVERTY LINE Shadrack Mziray, TASAF's auditing manager in the Tanga region, said about 6,422 poor households in Muheza had benefited from the programme. "Our focus is to reach people who are extremely poor so that we can help them to gain skills on how to invest their money in income generating activities," he said. The programme targets people living below the poverty line of one dollar a day, which, according to Tanzania Bureau of Statistics data, includes 13.5 million people across the country. For those who benefit, the small grants can be life-changing. "I have set a target to save money and build a new house," said Mtulya. "With a roof made from iron sheets." Thousands join funeral procession for Cambodian government critic By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Reuters) - Thousands of people attended a funeral procession in Cambodia's capital on Sunday for a prominent government critic, Kem Ley, whose killing has raised fears about political violence in the run-up to elections. Kem Ley was shot dead in a shop in Phnom Penh on July 10. Police have arrested a suspect and say they believe the motive for the murder was a debt. Government critics in a country with a long record of violent politics believe Kem Ley was killed because of his work as an activist and his political analysis though they say there is no evidence for that. "I am here to accompany him for the last time," said Chhouk Da, 28, a volunteer helping to direct traffic as the procession made its way with Kem Lay's body in a refrigerated glass casket on a truck, flanked by Buddhist monks. "He was just helping the nation," said Chhouk Da who was wearing a T-shirt with the words "Wipe your tears, continue your journey". The killing comes at a time of rising political tension between Prime Minister Hun Sen and an opposition hoping to challenge his 30-year grip on power in local elections in 2017 and a general election in 2018. Members of the opposition and activists have been jailed on charges they say were trumped up by the government as part of a crackdown to mute critics. Mourners wearing white shirts held small flags, lotus flowers and pictures of Kem Ley, 46, as the procession including motorbikes and cars moved out of the capital to Kem Ley's home province of Takeo, about 70 km (40 miles) to the south. Anti-riot police were on guard outside government buildings along the route. Human rights group Licadho said the procession was at least 8 km (5 miles) long with thousands of people also lining the route. A police video posted online showed the arrested suspect, Chuop Somlap, 38, whose name means "meet to kill", saying he killed the political commentator over a $3,000 debt. The United States has called for a credible investigation. The European Union and United Nations have expressed concern about political tension. Human Rights workers say the killing is bound to have a chilling effect on political activism. One of armed group members explains how Colonel Artur Vanoyan died (video) Arayik Khandoyan, one of the opposition gunmen occupying a police station in Yerevan since July 17, speaks about the circumstances of the death of Colonel Artur Vanoyan during the seizure of the police compound in Yerevans Erebuni district. We do not know the circumstances of the death. I can only say that he shot until he had no bullets left. We were all shouting, Do not shoot at us, brothers, we are not shooting. We do not know exactly, their friends may have shot at each in panic, we did not shot at anyone. Now they blame it [the death] on our wounded friend but it was not him, Khandoyan, also known as Lone Wolf, said. On July 17, the police headquarters was attacked and seized by an armed group calling itself Sasna Dzrer (Daredevils of Sasun) which is affiliated with the Founding Parliament, a radical opposition group seeking to oust Armenias government. Artur Vanoyan and his friends were on duty inside the Erebuni base when it was stormed by the gunmen. Vanoyan was shot dead and several other police seriously wounded in the attack. The attackers took several police officers hostage, including deputy chiefs of the national police and Yerevans police department. The last four hostages were set free on Saturday, July 23, after negotiations held with the Armenian government through Vitaly Balasanyan, a participant of the Artsakh war. Melker Schorling, Sweden's quiet tycoon with the Midas touch By Mia Shanley and Niklas Pollard STOCKHOLM, July 24 (Reuters) - Business tycoon Melker Schorling, one of Sweden's most prominent investors, says he is well-positioned to expand his 60 billion crown ($7 billion) investment empire even as he prepares to hand over affairs to his daughters. MSAB, the holding company he set up in 1999 which spans a diverse set of companies from measurement technology to locks and guards, has consistently outperformed larger rivals. Investors attribute Schorling's success to a knack for picking small specialists which go on to become global market leaders. In a decade, MSAB has had returns of over 500 percent, outperforming rivals such as Wallenberg-backed Investor AB and Industrivarden and leading Swedish media to dub Schorling "King Midas" of the Stockholm bourse. MSAB investors include H&M chairman Stefan Persson and BP & AB Volvo Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg. But while Schorling's path to success has had few bumps, some analysts are beginning to question the future of the group which has not made a single new investment in a decade. Schorling turns 70 next year and although his daughters have become more involved they have not yet stepped into high-profile executive roles, and he recently lost one of his closest team members, MSAB CEO Ulrik Svensson, who leaves at year-end to join Lufthansa as CFO. Svensson's departure raises some questions about the group's direction and stability, analysts say. Schorling, who shies away from media appearances, is not planning major changes. "We are very long-term oriented and it is highly likely that our holdings will be the same for many years to come," he told Reuters in an email. But opportunity may be on the horizon for MSAB which has six listed companies like Assa Abloy, the world's biggest maker of locks, Securitas, the world's second-biggest provider of guards, and Hexagon, market leader in precision measurement technology. "For the time being we have actually divested a bit from our holdings to make sure that we have enough dry powder for future investments," he said. "Valuation multiples are high at the moment and we believe there could be interesting investment opportunities in the future." While Brexit worries have hit shares - the STOXX Europe Industrial Goods & Services Index is down 8.5 percent on the year - the S&P 500 remains at record highs. Nordea analyst Elias Porse reckons Svensson's departure could trigger a "generational renewal" of MSAB, with one of the daughters stepping in as CEO, though a CFO from a portfolio company could be appointed instead. Both Sofia and Marta are board members for MSAB and its investment companies. "Ultimately they will take over but we do not have a specific timing for that," Schorling said. Schorling and his CEO proteges are bellwethers for investors who will be watching any investment moves closely. Last year, when Schorling and Hexagon CEO Ola Rollen bought into fingerprint sensor maker Next Biometrics through their high-tech focused Greenbridge Partners, shares nearly doubled on the day. Shares in mining gear maker Sandvik jumped when Assa Abloy's CEO was named chair. Those near Schorling say he has an eye for talent. He insists his leaders take large stakes, so they reap the benefits or bleed together. Rollen's own wealth has multiplied since taking the job in 2000, when he took an unsecured loan equal to two years' salary to buy options - a large bet by Swedish standards. "Had I been older, wiser and been able to do the math better at the time, I would probably never have done it," he said with a laugh, reflecting on his financial gamble. Just his Hexagon B shares are now worth almost $50 million. Schorling believes he may have "a good gut feeling for people". He looks for entrepreneurship, long-term thinking and a "very healthy lack of bureaucracy" in all his CEOs. Unlike the current generation of Wallenbergs who inherited vast investment empires, farmer's son Schorling built his fortune on a first bet on Securitas for which he took a massive bank loan for. Last year, he was the sixth wealthiest Swede, according to magazine Veckans Affarer. His group's net asset value falls just short of Industrivarden's. It and Investor are the traditional investment behemoths of Swedish business. Still, MSAB struggled through the 2008 crisis when debts at Hexagon, its crown jewel at over half its portfolio, sent shares in both tumbling. Hexagon's net debt-to-equity ratio has since more than halved. Instead of transforming cash handling business Loomis early on as countries like Sweden moved towards being cashless, MSAB whittled down its holding in March this year. Another misstep came when Securitas spun off its hi-tech Niscayah unit in 2006 and wound up getting outbid by Stanley Black & Decker when it tried to buy it back five years later. MSAB is closely tied to the highs and lows of the industrial cycle. Asked about this, Schorling said there were no plans to change the asset mix to even things out. "We do not think in diversification terms," he said. "Some of the companies are affected by the industrial cycle but they have been well tested in the financial crisis." MSAB will likely keep growing through M&A by its holdings. "They do have the benefit of synergies which means it is much easier for them to make a good return on an acquisition," Schorling said. A senior banker who has worked with some of Schorling's companies described his style as highly effective. "It would have to be a really big investment or M&A deal for it to be raised up centrally to top management," he said. Schorling may be in the driver's seat for some time to come. Carl Bek-Nielsen, an MSAB board member and chair of United International Enterprises - its third biggest shareholder - said Schorling was not stepping down anytime soon. "I bet you if he were a car and you opened up his bonnet, there would be a fantastic V8 engine well lubricated and ready to go another 400,000 kilometers," he told Reuters. ($1 = 8.1262 Swedish crowns) UK seeks to assuage global worries over path to Brexit By William Schomberg CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's new finance minister Philip Hammond, under pressure from his peers from around the world, said on Sunday there could be more clarity later this year on how the country will exit the European Union. Several nations called on Britain during weekend talks on the world economy to explain how the politically fraught Brexit process will unfold in order to avoid adding a new drag on the long and slow recovery from the financial crisis. "It's right at the top of the agenda here at the G20," Hammond said at the end of the two-day meeting of the Group of 20 leading economies in the Chinese city of Chengdu. "It's a new factor affecting the global economic outlook and it has increased the uncertainty which the world economy faces." Britain was plunged into its biggest political crisis in decades by the June 23 Brexit vote and so far it has resisted calls from some other EU countries to trigger quickly the two-year process for negotiating its exit from the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May, who has been in her job for less than two weeks, traveled to Germany and France last week to explain why she needed time to come up with an exit strategy. The EU's top economic official, Pierre Moscovici, said the bloc understood that Britain should not be rushed but "at the same time...let's not waste time, let's not have too much uncertainty, let's act and choose as swiftly as possible." Hammond told reporters on Sunday the two-year negotiating period, once launched, represented "quite a tight timescale" and Britain needed to go into it with clear objectives. "We have to do that before the start of the process because when we serve that notice, we need to hit the ground running," he said. But Hammond also showed he was aware of the need for some clarity on Brexit: "What will start to reduce uncertainty is when we are able to set out more clearly the kind of arrangement we envisage going forward with the European Union." "If our European Union partners respond to such a vision positively - obviously it will be subject to negotiation - so that there is a sense perhaps later this year that we are all on the same page in terms of where we expect to be going, I think that will send a reassuring signal to the business community and to markets," Hammond said. May has said she does not plan to launch the formal negotiation period this year. It remains to be seen if other EU countries would enter informal talks with Britain before the formal negotiations, something they have previously ruled out. GOVT, BANK OF ENGLAND HAVE TO BE READY Financial markets have stabilised after the initial shock of the referendum result which saw the value of the pound plunge by more than 10 percent and trillions of dollars wiped off stock markets worldwide. But economists are expecting Britain to fall into a recession, according to a Reuters poll. Hammond said he did not think that a survey of British businesses published on Friday, which showed the sharpest fall on record in a purchasing managers index, was a sign that the economy was in already in a recession. "What it does is underscore the hit to confidence," he said. Hammond warned that Brexit-related volatility in markets would be a risk throughout the two-year negotiation period. "We have to be ready as government, the Bank of England has to be ready as monetary authority, throughout that period to respond to any instability created by that uncertainty and to ensure that the economy continues to operate smoothly," he said. The BoE is expected to cut interest rates and possibly announce more stimulus measures on Aug. 4. Hammond has said he could ease fiscal policy in the autumn if more help is needed. Asked about a comment he made on Friday, that he might "reset" fiscal policy to cope with the Brexit fallout, Hammond said Britain's still high levels of debt meant it needed a new framework on its public finances to give clarity to markets. "What that framework will look like will depend on the decisions we make about whether or not any fiscal stimulus is required on the basis of the data we will by then have available," he said. Anger, mourning in Afghanistan after Kabul suicide attack By Mirwais Harooni KABUL, July 24 (Reuters) - Relatives of some of those killed in a big suicide attack in Kabul searched through a bloodied assortment of belongings left after the twin blasts as they prepared for funerals on Sunday in a mood of growing anger with political leaders. "Those are my cousin's sandals," said Sayed Mohammad as he stood in a crowd of people looking for anything familiar among the remnants spread out by authorities on an Afghan flag in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul where the funerals will take place. Sayed's cousin was one of four relatives he lost on Saturday when suicide bombers set off twin blasts at a demonstration by members of the mainly Shi'ite Hazara community who were protesting against the planned route of a power line. "His dead body is in a hospital. He was the only bread winner of his family. I'm looking here if I can find anything more from other relatives." President Ashraf Ghani announced a national day of mourning after the attack, claimed by Islamic State. At least 80 people were killed and more than 230 wounded in one of the worst bombings since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. The attack, described by the top U.N. official in Afghanistan as a "war crime", drew a shocked reaction from across the world, with condemnation and offers of support from countries including Russia and the United States. But for some, there was a sense of fury at both the government and Hazara political leaders who they said have exploited the grievances of their community at longstanding discrimination to shore up their own power bases. "They sold us and we will never forget this," said Ghulam Abbas, a Hazara mourner. "They've built skyscrapers for themselves and their families from our blood." The Hazara, a Persian-speaking minority who make up about 9 percent of the population, have by and large supported Ghani's government, which includes some of their senior leaders, but many complain bitterly that their support has not been returned. Saturday's protest over the route of a multimillion dollar power line, which demonstrators wanted to re-route through two provinces with large Hazara populations, had become a touchstone for a wider sense of injustice. The demonstration took place under tight security, with much of Kabul blocked off. But there was disagreement in the Hazara community as well as in the government about whether it should have gone ahead given the obvious risk of an attack. For many, such as 42 year-old Dost Mohammad, who was nearby when the two explosions went off, there was a sense of abandonment by the authorities. Structural reform key to bolstering growth and sharing benefits-Lagarde CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - Structural reforms are important to bolster economic growth and share the benefits broadly, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Sunday after a meeting of G20 ministers. "Structural reforms are particularly critical, as recent IMF work shows that well-designed structural reforms can lift both short- and long-term growth and make it more inclusive," she said in a written statement. Syrian government says ready for further peace talks - state media BEIRUT, July 24 (Reuters) - Syria's government said on Sunday it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations," state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. Philippine president gives order to free up information MANILA, July 24 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all agencies directly under his watch to open their records to the public as part of his promise to crack down on corruption and promote transparency in government. Legislation is still needed, however, to ensure other branches of government will do the same. The last Congress adjourned without passing a new law, the Freedom of Information (FOI) act, even though Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino had backed the idea. Duterte signed an executive order on Saturday to allow public access to official documents and records, two days before he delivers a much-anticipated state of the nation address. He is expected to reiterate a pledge to weed out corrupt officials and tackle crime. Success in tackling corruption and criminality, he has said, should bring benefits on many fronts, including lowering poverty, improving government finances and making the country more attractive for investment. Martin Andanar, the president's communication chief, said Duterte's order would be welcomed by "every Filipino soul who has fought tooth and nail" for the right to information. Syrian government says ready for further peace talks - state media BEIRUT, July 24 (Reuters) - Syria's government said on Sunday it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations," state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. The U.N. hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August, its Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said this week. Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated, particularly around Aleppo, where government forces recently cut off the only road into rebel-held areas of the divided northern city. The United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the conflict, are meanwhile to discuss an American proposal for closer military cooperation and intelligence sharing on Syria to combat extremist groups. Libya oil exports threatened as NOC warns against port deal By Ahmad Ghaddar, Libby George and Aidan Lewis LONDON/TUNIS, July 24 (Reuters) - Libya's hopes to boost crude exports have been dealt a blow after the head of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) objected to a deal between the government and local guards to reopen key ports. In a letter seen by Reuters to U.N. Libya envoy Martin Kobler and a number of oil and diplomatic officials, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said it was a mistake to reward Ibrahim Jathran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), for a blockade of the oil ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider and Zueitina. The PFG confirmed on Friday that it would implement an agreement with Libya's U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to reopen the ports within days, following a visit by Kobler to meet Jathran in Ras Lanuf. The terms for ending the blockade have not been made public, but an initial payment for salaries for Jathran's men has been agreed, sources familiar with the matter say. In the letter, Sanalla said the deal included payments that would encourage other groups to disrupt oil operations in the hopes of a similar payout. "It sets a terrible precedent and will encourage anybody who can muster a militia to shut down a pipeline, an oilfield, or a port, to see what they can extort," the letter said. Sanalla said the NOC would not lift force majeure at export terminals if a payout went through due to the risk that the corporation would face liabilities. Should any court cases arise internationally for losses stemming from the blockade, "we, as NOC, are determined not to be attached to these lawsuits", the letter said. The NOC also threatened to withdraw its recognition of the GNA's leadership, or Presidential Council. Ali al-Hassi, a PFG spokesman, would not confirm whether any money had been received, but said the guards' salaries should be paid now that the force was fulfilling its promise to open the ports. OPEC member Libya has been in turmoil for years, with rival governments and complex alliances of armed groups vying for power and a share of the country's significant oil wealth. Armed factions, labour disputes and security threats have helped slash oil output to less than a quarter of the 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) seen before the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. Sanalla's letter said that due to attacks from Islamic State militants and other damage, exports from the ports would struggle to surpass 100,000 bpd in the near term, a fraction of their designed capacity. He added that NOC's largest subsidiary, Agoco, would be able to increase production by that amount if it received its operational budget from the government. "To pay Jathran instead of Agoco makes no sense, politically, economically or legally," Sanalla said. Asked about the terms of any deal with the PFG, Ahmed Maiteeg, a member of the GNA's Presidential Council, said only that he hoped the ports would open soon so Libya could earn badly needed foreign currency. The country faces a financial crunch because of the collapse in its oil revenues. "We heard many times from the PFG that they will open the oil ports," he told reporters in Tripoli. "Hopefully this time it will happen." Jathran, who led blockades of the ports starting in 2013 saying he was trying to prevent corruption in oil sales, announced his support for the GNA after it arrived in Tripoli at the end of March. The PFG has since helped push Islamic State fighters back along the coast to Sirte, where they are surrounded by GNA-aligned forces. Syrian government air strikes put 4 hospitals out of action - monitor BEIRUT, July 24 (Reuters) - Syrian government air strikes overnight put four hospitals in Aleppo province out of action, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday. They included three hospitals in Aleppo city, which is divided between government and rebel control, and one in Aleppo's western countryside, the Observatory said. It did not immediately report casualties. The strikes hit near the hospitals, it said. Kerry's Syria plan with Russia faces deep skepticism in U.S., abroad By Yara Bayoumy, Jonathan Landay and John Walcott WASHINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) - Skeptics in the U.S. government, European allies in the anti-Islamic State coalition and the main Syrian opposition, distrustful of Russia's intentions, are questioning Secretary of State John Kerry's latest proposal for closer U.S.-Russian cooperation against extremist groups in Syria. Several U.S. military and intelligence officials called the plan naive, and said Kerry risks falling into a trap that Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid to discredit the United States with moderate rebel groups and drive some of their fighters into the arms of Islamic State and other extremist groups. Some European members of the coalition against Islamic State forces have expressed concern about sharing intelligence with Russia, which they say has been an untrustworthy partner in Syria. The current proposal, which Kerry hopes to conclude within weeks, envisions ways in which Washington and Moscow would share intelligence to coordinate air strikes against the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and prohibit the Syrian air force from attacking moderate rebel groups. Kerry's State Department and White House allies say the plan is the best chance to limit the fighting that is driving thousands of Syrians, mixed with some trained Islamic State fighters, into exile in Europe and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching tens of thousands more, as well as preserving a political track. In the end, according to two officials who support Kerry's efforts, there is no alternative to working with the Russians. "There are reasons to be skeptical, as with any approach in Syria, but those who criticize this plan as unlikely to work or flawed on other grounds, like working with Russia, have the responsibility of presenting something better or more effective," said former White House Middle East advisor Philip Gordon, now with the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. Kerry's critics say the plan is flawed, in part because as it now stands it would leave the Russians and Syrians free to use ground troops and artillery against moderate groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. 'TWO BASIC PROBLEMS' They also say targeting the Nusra Front is difficult because in some areas its fighters are comingled with more moderate rebels. "That underscores two basic problems that Kerry seems to be ignoring," said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "One: The Russians' aim in Syria is still either keeping Assad in power or finding some successor who is acceptable to them. ... And two: Putin has proved over and over again, and not just in Syria, that he cannot be trusted to honor any agreement he makes if he decides it's no longer in Russia's interest." Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, will have an opportunity to meet this week at the ASEAN summit in Laos. But even if it is adopted, the plan is unlikely to provide quick relief for civilians trapped in a five-year-old civil war that the United Nations estimates has killed 400,000 people. Kerry told reporters on Friday that Obama had "authorized and ordered this track" and that the plan would be based on specific steps, not trust. But even Kerry has refrained from voicing optimism, instead saying the effort was showing "a modicum of promise." A European diplomat said Kerry and Lavrov have agreed to draft a map showing where the Nusra Front operates. "The two sides would then, through joint analysis, decide who to target ... by getting the U.S. in the same tactical room; Moscow would then have to guarantee that Assad's planes stopped bombing," the diplomat told Reuters. "He is, in his Kerry way, optimistic. But the devil is in the details, and we're not convinced that Moscow is serious." British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the United States and Russia have an understanding to minimize the danger of aircraft interfering or colliding with each other, and that the British were covered by that understanding. "But it certainly does not extend to any cooperation over targeting, and we would not welcome that," Fallon said at an event in Washington. Many U.S. officials are concerned that sharing intelligence with Russia could risk revealing U.S. intelligence sources, methods and capabilities. 'EXPECT TRICKS' Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia's upper house of parliament, said that even if the plan is agreed upon, it would be for only a short time, until the next U.S. administration takes office. Obama's presidency ends in January. "I'm afraid Assad will expect tricks from the Americans," Klimov told Reuters. "They have been saying constantly he's an outcast ... and now they're about to tell Assad, 'You know, please give us a day's advance notice before you want to trash someone with your forces.'" "Every time while talking to Assad we have to convince him, give arguments, additional guarantees. ... We can't give him orders, he's on his own soil." Following a meeting with Putin last week, Kerry expressed concern about indiscriminate bombings by Syrian forces, but did not mention Russian violations of a cessation of hostilities agreement, although the CIA publicly has pointed to them. "What's striking is not what Kerry has said, but what he's failed to say," said another U.S. official, adding that Kerry had left out the "inconvenient facts" about Russian violations. Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria and now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, told Reuters that whether it was Moscow's bad intent or lack of leverage, "it's not clear to me that the Russians can deliver on their side of the deal." The Syrian opposition said it was concerned whether Russia could succeed in getting the Assad's government to ground its air force. "The (Obama) administration has put its bet on the good faith cooperation of the Russians, with so far very disappointing results," Basma Kodmani, a member of the main Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee, told Reuters in Washington last week. If they kill one of us, Serzh Sargsyan will never be able to answer for it - Varuzhan Avetisyan (video) There is no system, there is no National Security Service. The proof is the broken gate of the police patrol building and its seizure by a group of people, says Varuzhan Avetisyan, one of the members of the Sasna Dzrer (Daredevils of Sasun) group occupying a police patrol building in Yerevans Erebuni district since July 17. If they kill one of us, Serzh Sargsyan will never be able to answer for it, he will die like Gaddafi, Avetisyan added. On July 17, the police patrol building in Yerevans Erebuni district was attacked and seized by an armed group calling itself Sasna Dzrer (Daredevils of Sasun) which is affiliated with the Founding Parliament, a radical opposition group seeking to oust Armenias government. Colonel Artur Vanoyan and his friends were on duty inside the Erebuni base when it was stormed by the gunmen. Vanoyan was shot dead and several other police seriously wounded in the attack. The attackers took several police officers hostage, including deputy chiefs of the national police and Yerevans police department. The last four hostages were set free on Saturday, July 23, after negotiations held with the Armenian government through Vitaly Balasanyan, a participant of the Artsakh war. ASEAN deadlocked on South China Sea after Cambodia blocks statement By Manuel Mogato, Simon Webb and Ben Blanchard VIENTIANE, July 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations failed to find common ground on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on Sunday after Cambodia stuck to its demand the group make no reference to an international court ruling against Beijing in a statement, diplomats said. Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for the first time since the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the maritime dispute earlier this month. The ruling denied China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce. The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, ASEAN diplomats said on Sunday. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling in the closed-door meeting with ASEAN counterparts in Laos on Sunday, sources said. But in the run up to the meeting, China's closest ASEAN ally Cambodia has put up opposition to mentioning the ruling, throwing the group into disarray. Cambodia supports China's opposition to an ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, and Beijing's preference for dealing with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis. FIRST DEADLOCK SINCE 2012 Cambodia's foreign minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country's position on Sunday. Despite a late night meeting of foreign ministers called to thrash out the issue late on Saturday, the region's top diplomats were unable to find a compromise. ASEAN is now facing the prospect of being unable to issue a statement after a meeting for only the second time in its 49-year history. The first time, in 2012, was also due to Cambodia's resistance to language around the South China Sea. "We have been here before and I hope they can solve it," said one official from the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. "It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012." The group has given itself until Tuesday to come to an agreement and issue a statement, said one ASEAN diplomat. Over the next two days, ASEAN members will meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Wang, who started bilateral meetings with ASEAN members on Sunday, declined to talk to reporters on arrival in Vientiane. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting. It is unclear if he will meet Wang, but China reacted angrily to Kishida saying he would discuss the sea if they do meet. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, in a statement posted on the ministry's website, said the sea is not Japan's concern. "We urge Japan not to hype up and meddle in the South China Sea issue," he said. "Japan is not a concerned party in the South China Sea, and because of its disgraceful history is in no place to make irresponsible comments about China." The United States, allied to the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court's ruling. It has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights. But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior U.S. official said ahead of his trip. Chinese state media called for "damage control" at the meetings. A commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday said the court ruling was a "blow to peace and stability in the region.... and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence." Bulgaria calls rise in airspace violations by Russian aircraft a "provocation" SOFIA, July 24 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's defence minister said on Sunday there had been a rise in violations of its airspace by Russian military and commercial aircraft in the past month, calling the alleged breaches a "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". Nikolay Nenchev told Bulgarian television channel Nova TV that Russian military aircraft had entered what he termed "Bulgaria's area of responsibility" in NATO airspace four times in the past month. He said the planes had turned off their transponders - communications devices that, alongside normal radars, make it easier for an airplane to be located, especially in congested air space. "It is very worrying, so we take preventive measures," Nenchev said. Any unauthorised entry of an aircraft required the scrambling of Bulgarian fighter jets, he added. Russian passenger planes breached the airspace six times in the past month, he said. Bulgaria had demanded an explanation from Moscow over the violations, Nenchev said, describing the incidents as "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". The Russian Defence Ministry was not immediately able to comment when contacted by Reuters. In January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to "take all necessary measures" to ensure NATO airspace was not violated. His comments came after Turkey shot down in November a Russian warplane flying a sortie over Syria that it said had violated its airspace, triggering a diplomatic rupture in which Russia imposed economic sanctions. Last September, Bulgaria denied Russian aid flights bound for Syria entry to its airspace, citing it had serious doubts about the cargo onboard. Randgold lowers Ivory Coast output forecast on power cuts By Loucoumane Coulibaly ABIDJAN, July 24 (Reuters) - Randgold Resources' Tongon mine in Ivory Coast will have a slightly lower gold output this year than previously expected mainly owing to an erratic power supply, Chief Executive Mark Bristow told reporters late on Saturday. The mine, one of five operated by the London-listed company in three African countries, is on track to produce 260,000 ounces of gold this year, up from 242,948 ounces in 2015, Bristow said. Power cuts have hurt output and equipment at the Tongon mine, but while production will fall short of a previous estimate of 290,000 ounces, Bristow said an upgrade to its generator would ramp it up to 300,000 ounces in 2017. French-speaking West Africa's largest economy, normally one of the region's best lit, is struggling to meet a surge in demand for electricity to power its expanding postwar economy. "We had disturbances in the power supply from the national grid," Bristow said. "We are in discussions with the government to stabilise the supply." Randgold's share price has more than doubled this year, as a recovery in the gold price driven by concerns over geopolitical risk and, more recently, uncertainty surrounding Britain's vote to leave the European Union has lifted stocks of gold miners. Gold is seen by many as a safe-haven asset in difficult times. Shares traded 1.3 percent higher on Friday at 88.5 pounds ($116.02). Bristow said Tongon would this month pay $22 million in dividends to shareholders, its first payout. The company, which has mines in Congo, Mali and Ivory Coast, owns 89 percent of Tongon while the Ivorian government has a 10 percent stake and a local company has 1 percent. According to Randgold's website, total production for the group is expected to be around 1.3 million ounces this year. Iran says detains Iranian-American dual national DUBAI, July 24 (Reuters) - Iran confirmed on Sunday the detention of an Iranian-American visiting the country, the latest in a string of arrests of dual nationals in the past year. Asked about reports of the arrest of a dual citizen on national security charges, Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told a weekly news conference: "The report on the arrest of an Iranian-American dual national is correct," the semi-official Fars news agency said. "But I don't know what the charges are. The person was arrested in Gorgan ... but the trial may be held in Tehran," Mohseni Ejei added. It was not immediately clear if he was referring to the case of San Diego, California-based Robin Reza Shahini who was detained while visiting his mother in the northeastern city of Gorgan earlier in July, according to the Los Angeles Times and other Western media. In the past nine months, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested at least six dual-national Iranians, their friends and family members say, the highest number of Iranians with dual-nationality detained at one time in recent years to have been acknowledged. The government has confirmed most of the detentions, without giving details of any charges. The Iranian government does not recognize dual nationality, which prevents relevant Western embassies from seeing individuals who have been detained. In March, the U.S. State Department issued a warning noting that Iranian-Americans are particularly at risk of being detained or imprisoned if they travel to Iran. According to former prisoners, families of current ones and diplomats, in some cases the detainees are kept to be used for a prisoner exchange with Western countries. In January, the United States and Iran reached a historic prisoner swap deal that saw Iranians held or charged in the United States, mostly for sanctions violations, released in return for Americans imprisoned in Iran. Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France are being kept behind bars on various charges, including espionage or collaborating with a hostile government. Anger, mourning in Afghanistan after Kabul suicide attack By Mirwais Harooni KABUL, July 24 (Reuters) - Members of Afghanistan's Hazara minority began the task of burying more than 80 people killed in Saturday's suicide attack in Kabul with many blaming political leaders for security failures that led to the massacre. Officials said 84 graves were dug into a hillside in the west of Kabul and bodies were brought up throughout the afternoon but, with large public assemblies banned for security reasons, there was no mass funeral. The attack on Saturday, against a demonstration by the mainly Shi'ite Hazara, was among the worst in Afghanistan since the fall of the former Taliban regime in 2001. It was claimed by Islamic State, which had never carried out any operation on a comparable scale in Afghanistan, raising fears of a new escalation and the kind of sectarian violence which has so far been relatively uncommon. Earlier, relatives of some of those killed had searched through a bloodied assortment of belongings left after the twin blasts tore into a demonstration where thousands were protesting over the route of a planned power transmission line. "Those are my cousin's sandals," said Sayed Mohammad as he stood in a crowd of people looking for anything familiar among the remnants spread out by authorities on an Afghan flag in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul. "He was the only breadwinner of his family. I'm looking here if I can find anything more from other relatives." President Ashraf Ghani announced a day of mourning and ordered Dehmazang Square, the site of the blasts, to be renamed Martyrs Square. As well as the more than 80 dead, some 230 people were injured. The attack, described by the top U.N. official in Afghanistan as a "war crime", drew condemnation and offers of support from countries including Russia and the United States. But for some, there was fury at both the government and Hazara political leaders. The Hazara, a Persian-speaking minority who make up about 9 percent of the population, have long suffered discrimination and violence. They have by and large supported Ghani's government, which includes some of their senior leaders, but many complain their support has not been returned. "They sold us and we will never forget this," said Ghulam Abbas, a Hazara mourner. "They've built skyscrapers for themselves and their families from our blood." Reflecting the often unfocused anger that erupted after the attack, witnesses saw some demonstrators turning on police who arrived in the aftermath of the explosion and some even blamed the government for the attacks. "If the Taliban and Daesh do not have helpers in the presidential palace, how can they carry out such attacks?" asked Taher Ahmadi from Waras district in Bamyan province, using the term generally used in Afghanistan for Islamic State. He said 15 people from his village were killed in the attack. Saturday's protest over a multimillion dollar power line, which demonstrators wanted to re-route through two provinces with large Hazara populations, had become a touchstone for a wider sense of injustice. The demonstration took place under tight security, with much of Kabul blocked off. But there was disagreement in the Hazara community as well as in the government about whether it should have gone ahead given the obvious risk of an attack. For many, such as 42 year-old Dost Mohammad, who was nearby when the two explosions went off, there was a sense of abandonment by the authorities. Libya oil exports threatened as NOC warns against port deal By Ahmad Ghaddar, Libby George and Aidan Lewis LONDON/TUNIS, July 24 (Reuters) - Libya's hopes to boost crude exports have been dealt a blow after the head of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) objected to a deal between the government and local guards to reopen key ports. In a letter seen by Reuters to U.N. Libya envoy Martin Kobler and a number of oil and diplomatic officials, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said it was a mistake to reward Ibrahim Jathran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), for a blockade of the oil ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider and Zueitina. The PFG confirmed on Friday that it would implement an agreement with Libya's U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to reopen the ports within days, following a visit by Kobler to meet Jathran in Ras Lanuf. The terms for ending the blockade have not been made public, but an initial payment for salaries for Jathran's men has been agreed, sources familiar with the matter say. In the letter, Sanalla said the deal included payments that would encourage other groups to disrupt oil operations in the hopes of a similar payout. "It sets a terrible precedent and will encourage anybody who can muster a militia to shut down a pipeline, an oilfield, or a port, to see what they can extort," the letter said. Sanalla said the NOC would not lift force majeure at export terminals if a payout went through due to the risk that the corporation would face liabilities. Should any court cases arise internationally for losses stemming from the blockade, "we, as NOC, are determined not to be attached to these lawsuits", the letter said. The NOC also threatened to withdraw its recognition of the GNA's leadership, or Presidential Council. Ali al-Hassi, a PFG spokesman, would not confirm whether any money had been received, but said the guards' salaries should be paid now that the force was fulfilling its promise to open the ports. OPEC member Libya has been in turmoil for years, with rival governments and complex alliances of armed groups vying for power and a share of the country's significant oil wealth. Armed factions, labour disputes and security threats have helped slash oil output to less than a quarter of the 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) seen before the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. The blockade by Jathran alone has cost Libya some $100 billion in lost export revenue, according to the letter. Sanalla's letter said that due to attacks from Islamic State militants and other damage, exports from the ports would struggle to surpass 100,000 bpd in the near term, a fraction of their designed capacity. He added that NOC's largest subsidiary, Agoco, would be able to increase production by that amount if it received its operational budget from the government. "To pay Jathran instead of Agoco makes no sense, politically, economically or legally," Sanalla said. Asked about the terms of any deal with the PFG, Ahmed Maiteeg, a member of the GNA's Presidential Council, said only that he hoped the ports would open soon so Libya could earn badly needed foreign currency. The country faces a financial crunch because of the collapse in its oil revenues. "We heard many times from the PFG that they will open the oil ports," he told reporters in Tripoli. "Hopefully this time it will happen." Jathran led blockades of the ports starting in 2013 saying he was trying to prevent corruption in oil sales, though others have disputed his motives. The PFG has since helped push Islamic State fighters back along the coast to Sirte, where they are surrounded by GNA-aligned forces. Deal on cutting greenhouse gases in sight for this year - Vienna delegates By Shadia Nasralla VIENNA, July 24 (Reuters) - A global agreement on cutting the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - potent greenhouse gases used in aerosols, refrigerants and air conditioning - seems within grasp, delegates said on Sunday after ten days of talks on climate change in Vienna. A final deal is expected to be reached at a meeting in October in Kigali, Rwanda. If successful, it would be the biggest single measure to limit global warming since governments adopted the Paris Agreement last December, seeking to limit heat waves, floods, droughts and rising seas. At the Vienna talks, the last before the Kigali meeting, almost 200 countries convened to lay the groundwork for such a deal, hammering out details and timetables for almost eliminating the use of HFCs. "At the (conference) in Vienna the basis was reached today, in the early hours of Sunday, for a political agreement on the sustainable reduction of climate-damaging gases," Austria's Environment Minister Andrae Rupprechter said in a statement. "The text that has been worked out ... should be conclusively decided on ... in October in Kigali. This decision is a milestone for the reduction of climate-damaging gases," he added, echoing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was among those who took part in high-level talks on Friday. Under the current draft of the agreement, rich nations would get a target of almost eliminating HFCs by the 2030s, while poorer nations - which may struggle with the high costs of shifting to new technologies - would get a decade or so longer. "The odds are very high for a deal in Kigali," David Doniger of the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council told Reuters. Developing nations would also get financial support from nations led by the United States and the European Union. India was the least ambitious among major nations, favouring a freeze on growth in HFCs only in 2031. "This single step could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit) of warming by 2100," the EPA said of cutting the use of HFCs. Clare Perry of the Environmental Investigation Agency, a U.S.-based non-governmental organisation, said countries are moving in the right direction but there is a huge amount of work to be done before October. "Discussions on the HFC schedule for developed countries lacked the ambition we expect," she said. Paris set a goal of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2100, mainly by shifting away from fossil fuels, and a target of limiting a rise in average global surface temperatures to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial times. Temperatures this year are on track to be the warmest on record, eclipsing 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Temperatures are already about 1C above pre-industrial times. The HFC talks are part of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which succeeded in slashing the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to help protect the ozone layer, which shields the planet from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer. But the HFCs that have often replaced them, while better for the ozone layer, are greenhouse gases thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. ASEAN deadlocked on South China Sea, Cambodia blocks statement By Manuel Mogato, Michael Martina and Ben Blanchard VIENTIANE, July 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations failed to agree on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on Sunday after Cambodia blocked any mention to an international court ruling against Beijing in their statement, diplomats said. Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for the first time since the Permanent Court of Arbitration handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the dispute this month. The ruling by the court in The Hague denied China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce. The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers after their meeting to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, ASEAN diplomats said. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling with ASEAN counterparts in the Laotian capital. But before the meeting, China's closest ASEAN ally Cambodia opposed the proposed wording, throwing the group into disarray. Phnom Penh supports Beijing's opposition to any ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, and its preference for dealing with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis. FIRST DEADLOCK SINCE 2012 "We are still working on it," Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told Reuters after the meeting on Sunday, adding that she hoped the ASEAN members would reach an agreement. Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country's position on Sunday. Even after a late-night meeting of foreign ministers called to thrash out the issue late on Saturday, the region's top diplomats were unable to find a compromise. The group has given itself until Tuesday to come to issue a statement, said one ASEAN diplomat. ASEAN is facing the prospect of being unable to issue a statement after a meeting for only the second time in its 49-year history. The first time, in 2012, was also due to Cambodia's resistance to language about the South China Sea. "We have been here before and I hope they can solve it," said one official from the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. "It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012." Over the next two days, Southeast Asian nations will meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry and Wang are also expected to meet and discuss the maritime issues. Wang, who started bilateral meetings with ASEAN members on Sunday, said he thought the media focus on the South China Sea issue was "very strange". It was "not a China-ASEAN issue," he said, adding that disputes should be resolved among the parties involved. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting. It is unclear if he will meet Wang, but China reacted angrily to Kishida saying he would discuss the sea issue if they do meet. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, in a statement posted on the ministry's website, said the sea is not Japan's concern. "We urge Japan not to hype up and meddle in the South China Sea issue," he said. "Japan is not a concerned party in the South China Sea, and because of its disgraceful history is in no place to make irresponsible comments about China." U.S. ROLE The United States, allied with the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court's ruling. It has criticised China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights. But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior U.S. official said ahead of his trip. Chinese state media called for "damage control" at the meetings. A commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday said the court ruling was a "blow to peace and stability in the region ... and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence." Barack Obama is set in September to become the first U.S. president to visit Laos, attending an annual summit hosted by the country that holds the ASEAN chairmanship. MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf retreats as oil's fall outweighs Q2 earnings By Celine Aswad DUBAI, July 24 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets declined on Sunday as sharp falls in oil prices late last week outweighed a few positive corporate earnings in Saudi Arabia. In Egypt, investors bought shares that could benefit from any currency devaluation. Riyadh's stock index fell 1.2 percent as losses accelerated in the final hour of trade, with four-fifths of traded stocks declining. Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co declined 2.5 percent after it reported a 79.6 percent slide in net profit to 103.2 million riyals ($27.5 million), blaming lower prices and tighter refinery margins. Saudi Arabian Fertilizers Co (SAFCO) dropped 0.4 percent after it said quarterly profit halved to 299 million riyals, broadly in line with an average forecast by analysts for 290.5 million riyals. But Saudi Kayan Petrochemical climbed 1.4 percent after it swung to a net profit in the second quarter of 91.02 million riyals, ending a run of five straight quarterly losses and beating analysts' forecast for another loss. NCB Capital said in a note that it was the highest net profit since Kayan began commercial production in 2011 and estimated the company achieved a record gross margin of 18.5 percent, beating NCB's forecast of 4.6 percent. "The better-than-expected results can be attributed to higher sales volumes, improved operating rates, higher spreads, and a reduction in other production expenses" the note said. Packaged food producer Halwani Brothers Co slumped 4.7 percent. The company reported a 35.5 percent increase in second-quarter net profit, partly because of non-recurring gains, but operating profit fell. Company for Cooperative Insurance jumped 4.4 percent after it reported an 11.0 percent rise in second-quarter profit before tax. Elsewhere in the Gulf, trading activity was subdued in a broad sell-off. Dubai's index fell 0.8 percent as heavyweight Emaar Properties fell 2.1 percent to 6.85 dirhams ($1.87), retreating from major technical resistance on its October peak of 7.01 dirhams. Hopes that the resistance would break caused the stock to outperform last week. In Abu Dhabi, the index dropped 0.5 percent, weighed down by losses in mid- and large-cap shares, with Dana Gas declining 1.7 percent. Qatar's index slid 0.5 percent with losers outnumbering gainers 13 to five. Masraf Al Rayan, which gained 1.6 percent last week, fell back 0.7 percent. In Egypt, the main index rose 0.4 percent as local investors accumulated shares, mainly in export-oriented and real estate development stocks. These sectors might benefit from another currency devaluation, which many economists believe is inevitable given sliding black market currency rates, although the timing is unclear. Sixth of October Development and Investment climbed 1.1 percent and textiles exporter Arabia Cotton Ginning rose 2.9 percent. SUNDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS SAUDI ARABIA * The index fell 1.2 percent to 6,524 points. DUBAI * The index dropped 0.8 percent to 3,517 points. ABU DHABI * The index declined 0.5 percent to 4,568 points. QATAR * The index fell 0.5 percent to 10,486 points. EGYPT * The index rose 0.4 percent to 7,464 points. KUWAIT * The index edged up 0.1 percent to 5,395 points. BAHRAIN * The index edged up 0.04 percent to 1,161 points. Libyan health crisis sharpens as resources dwindle By By Ahmed Elumami TRIPOLI, July 24 (Reuters) - Unable to get specialist care for his six-year-old daughter in Libya or a visa for treatment abroad, Abdulhakim Shaybi bought a motor boat and set off with her last month across the Mediterranean. Two-and-a-half hours into their journey from Sabratha in western Libya, they reached a European ship deployed to rescue migrants. "I raised a white flag to the ship in a sign of peace," Shaybi told Reuters by phone this week from the Italian city of Genoa, where his daughter Sajida, who has the rare blood cell disease aplastic anemia, is now undergoing tests. "My friend told them that we have a sick little girl." The story was quickly picked up on social media as an illustration of the tragic consequences of Libya's health system collapsing amid poor security, a funding crisis, and chronic shortages of staff and medicine. Problems only seem to have become more acute since a U.N.-backed government arrived in Tripoli in March aiming to end the armed conflict and political turmoil that has plagued Libya for years. It is gradually trying to assert its authority, but remains opposed by some factions on the ground. Shaybi said he decided on the boat trip after visiting Tripoli Central Hospital earlier this year and finding it "in a disastrous condition, one hundred times worse than before. There was no nursing staff at night, no medicine, and no health care at all." The hospital is now in a sorry state, afflicted by power and water cuts and starved of resources. Three months ago the emergency room was shut after one male nurse was shot and another was beaten. The morgue has run out of space because staff are waiting for authorisation to bury unclaimed bodies. Of 250 foreign nurses, just 40 are left, and female Libyan nurses are afraid to work because of security threats. "We are only conducting emergency operations now," General Manager Mukhtar al-Habbas told Reuters. "We have no anaesthetic, sterilising materials, or medical gauze, so how we can work?" It is a similar tale across Libya. About half of the country's 159 hospitals are either closed or barely delivering services, said Haroon Rashid, a World Health Organization official. Before the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya had some of the best health indicators in the region, he said, though it was also unusually dependent on foreign doctors and nurses, using its oil income to employ them on generous terms. But some 80 percent of those workers have left, depriving medical facilities of specialist care needed in neonatal units or to treat high rates of casualties from traffic accidents. The WHO says indigenous malaria cases have recently resurfaced in the south, and it fears a re-emergence of polio as well as increasing resistance to HIV drugs due to users switching between different brands because of lack of supply. In a country where substance abuse is widespread, there are no detoxification centres. Political turmoil, corruption, and financial pressure caused by a steep fall in oil earnings have cut off funding to health facilities, yet Libya's underlying wealth means foreign donors are reluctant to give. "Everyone is saying that Libya is a rich country, and they may have frozen assets but they have nothing in hand," said Rashid. At the Tripoli Medical Centre, the largest state hospital in the capital, metal donation boxes have been placed at the entrance and the walls of the pharmacy are bare. Some equipment has been switched off by contractors who haven't been paid, said General Manager Mohammed Ehnaish, and the remaining nursing staff are threatening to leave over lack of salaries. Night shift established on Khorenatsi Street (video) The situation was calm on Yerevans Khorenatsi Street in the morning where a group of citizens spent the night. Addressing the citizens grouped in the street on Saturday evening, Armen Martirosyan, a senior member of the Heritage Party, said they would establish a night shift on the street and he would be on duty that night. Albert Baghdasaryan, a former MP of the Supreme Council of Armenia, said decisive days have begun since the members of the Sasna Dzrer group have proved that they are the bearers of the most important human virtues. Our compatriots inside the police Headquarters will not shed a single drop of blood. You represent the true opposition in Armenia and the power must belong to you. You have the constitutional right to form a government in Armenia and the government, which is unable to perform its obligations, must resign, Mr. Baghdasaryan said adding that Serzh Sargsyan must leave Baghramyan 26. We have no right to retreat, we should appreciate this unique opportunity that is given to us. Let us decide our future steps together, no one has an advantage here, let us establish shifts and exclude disorder, he said. On July 23, the Sasna Dzrer group released four hostages they were keeping inside the seized police compound in Erebuni district. Valeri Osipyan, Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police, and Vardan Yeghiazaryan, Deputy Chief of Armenian Police, were among those released on Saturday. The last four hostages were set free as a result of negotiations held with the Armenian government through Vitaly Balasanyan, a participant of the Artsakh war. Iran says detains Iranian-American dual national By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati DUBAI/WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - Iran confirmed on Sunday the detention of an Iranian-American visiting the country, the latest in a string of arrests of dual nationals in the past year. Asked about reports of the arrest on national security charges, Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told a weekly news conference: "The report on the arrest of an Iranian-American dual national is correct," the semi-official Fars news agency said. Mohseni Ejei declined to name the individual and said he did not know what specific charges would be lodged. He added that the individual was arrested in the northeastern city of Gorgan, but the trial "may be held" in Tehran. An Iranian-American man, California-based Robin Reza Shahini was detained while visiting his mother in Gorgan earlier in July, according to Shahini's friends. Asked about Shahini's case during a news conference last week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he could not say anything about it "at this point in time." A State Department official said last week that the United States had seen the reports of a possible detention of a U.S. citizen, and were looking into it. In the past nine months, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested at least six dual-national Iranians, their friends and family members say, the highest number of Iranians with dual-nationality detained at one time in recent years to have been acknowledged. The government has confirmed most of the detentions, without giving details of any charges. The Iranian government does not recognize dual nationality, which prevents relevant Western embassies from seeing individuals who have been detained. In March, the U.S. State Department issued a warning noting that Iranian-Americans are particularly at risk of being detained or imprisoned if they travel to Iran. Several Iranian dual nationals from the United States, Britain, Canada and France are being kept behind bars on various charges, including espionage or collaborating with a hostile government. Some are kept to be used for a prisoner exchange with Western countries, according to prisoners, their families and diplomats. Shahini, in his mid-40s, graduated this spring from San Diego State University, where he studied international security and conflict resolution, said his friend and former classmate, Jasmine Ljungberg. He is set to start a master's program in homeland security at the university in the fall, she said. Ljungberg was last in touch with Shahini via the Whatsapp messaging app on July 9, when Shahini messaged her to share some pictures of a visit to Iran's mountainous countryside with his family. Ljungberg said she has been in touch with Shahini's girlfriend and briefly with his sister since he was detained. "Being a student, it was his dream," Ljungberg said. "He has this passion and this drive to change things." Shahini comes from a poor background, Ljungberg said, and worked a number of jobs after he moved to the United States around 2000 or 2001, including owning a pizza shop and managing a car dealership, before becoming a full-time student. Syrian refugee arrested after killing woman with machete in Germany -police BERLIN, July 24 (Reuters) - A 21-year-old Syrian refugee was arrested after killing a woman with a machete and injuring two other people in the southern German city of Reutlingen on Sunday, but the attack had no apparent connection to terrorism, police said. The asylum-seeking Syrian man had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people, and was apparently acting alone, a police spokesman said. The spokesman had no immediate information on when the man arrived in Germany, or when the previous incidents took place. "There is no danger to anyone else at this time," he said. "Given the current evidence, there is no indication that this was a terrorist attack," police said in a statement. It was the fourth act of violence against civilians in western Europe - and the third in southern Germany - in 10 days. Two of the attacks were claimed by Islamic State militants. In Sunday's incident, the Syrian man attacked two women and a man at around 4:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) near the central bus station in Reutlingen, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Stuttgart, according to a police statement. One of the women later died of her wounds, it said. The mass-circulation newspaper Bild said the woman was pregnant. "The attacker was completely out of his mind. He even ran after a police car with his machete," Bild quoted a witness as saying. The witness told Bild a private motorist knocked down the attacker soon afterward and he was then taken into custody by police. On Friday, a deranged 18-year-old Iranian-German who was obsessed with mass killings shot dead nine people in Munich before turning his gun on himself as police approached. On July 18, a 17-year-old youth who had sought asylum in Germany was shot dead by police after wounding four people from Hong Kong, some of them severely, with an axe on a train and injuring a local resident near the city of Wuerzburg. Four days before, a Tunisian delivery man drove a large truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing 84 people. Mortar attack kills several people in old quarter of Damascus -monitor AMMAN, July 24 (Reuters) - Several people were killed when a mortar bomb hit a restaurant in the government-controlled ancient quarter of the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday, a monitor and a witness said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens were also wounded in the attack. A witness told Reuters there were at least six dead in the restaurant in the Bab Touma district of Damascus. G20 pledges inclusiveness, but payoff will take time By David Lawder CHENGDU, China July 24 (Reuters) - Global finance officials, jolted by growing anti-trade and economic nationalism movements behind Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's U.S. presidential campaign, are intensifying pledges for more "inclusive" growth. But some Group of 20 officials and analysts say this will be a long-term project. Certainly, the benefits of these efforts are unlikely to be seen quickly enough to influence U.S. voters in the November presidential election, where both Republican Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton have declared their opposition to the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal. After a two-day meeting in Chengdu, China, G20 finance ministers and central bank governors prominently pledged to pursue policies that promote economic "inclusiveness" and preserve an open trading system, significantly strengthening previous statements on the subject. "The benefits of growth need to be shared more broadly within and among countries to promote inclusiveness," the G20 officials said in a communique issued on Sunday. "We underscore the role of open trade policies and a strong and secure global trading system in promoting inclusive global economic growth, and we will make further efforts to revitalize global trade and lift investment," the G20 said. That is in stark contrast to Trump's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last week, where he promised to be a voice for Americans who have been "ignored, neglected and abandoned." "The TPP will not only destroy our manufacturing, but it will make America subject to the rulings of foreign governments," Trump said. "I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and independence. Instead, I will make individual deals with individual countries." Trump also has threatened punitive tariffs on imports from China and Mexico and says he will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement despite 22 years of company supply-chain integration between the United States, Canada and Mexico. And Clinton's running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, on Saturday declared his opposition to the TPP deal in its current form, just a week after making some positive comments about the deal's "high standards". This puts him in line with Clinton, who says she wants to renegotiate TPP, and eliminates another potential "yes" vote should Congress attempt to ratify the deal later this year. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told a news conference on Sunday that the UK Brexit vote pushed a lingering problem to the top of the G20 agenda. "In the wake of Brexit, there was a need to focus on inclusive growth. It's important that that was a subject of discussion here." CAN'T BE DONE QUICKLY The shift by the G20 is an acknowledgement by global economic stewards that there is a strong and fast-growing movement towards economic nationalism globally that threatens protectionism, said Paul Sracic, political science professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio's Rust Belt. "It's a first step but it's too little, too late," Sracic said of the G20 statement in a phone interview. "The next U.S. administration, no matter which party, is not going to be as friendly to global economic relationships as the Obama administration has been. The politicians are going to follow the voters." David Lipton, the International Monetary Fund's first deputy managing director, said while it would take time to turn around a "rising tide of populism", G20 countries needed to act to ensure globalisation remained an engine of future growth. "Can it be done quickly? Probably not, but on the other hand, if we get a good start, I think it will be more credible in showing that the system is worth maintaining and pursuing," Lipton said. He added there were many policies that could promote greater inclusion in G20 economies, such as better retraining programs for workers displaced by trade, progressive income taxes on the wealthy and tax credits for the working poor, along with infrastructure spending on public transportation, which, among other benefits, allows people to affordably travel to jobs. Lipton also said other countries may not be able to follow China in improving living standards and developing into major growth engines if global interconnectedness were to suffer. But Chad Bown, former World Bank economist and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute economics think-tank, said policies needed to spread the benefits of growth more equitably will vary widely between countries, making it very difficult to achieve. Sailing-Britain's BAR win regatta to boost America's Cup hopes By Tessa Walsh PORTSMOUTH, England, July 24 (Reuters) - Skipper Ben Ainslie and Britain's team Land Rover BAR repeated their 2015 home victory in the America's Cup World Series sailing regatta after finishing second in the final race on Sunday. The win moved the team into the lead in the overall standings, securing points that bring Britain closer to challenging to compete in the America's Cup in Bermuda in 2017. BAR clinched the regatta win on England's south coast in a nail-biting finish in the final leg of the last race on Super Sunday as the world's top sailors competed for double points in sailing's Formula One equivalent on high-tech state of the art catamarans. Ainslie showed the aggressive tactics that helped him to win his fourth Olympic sailing gold medal in 2012, securing the second place he needed in the third and final race to win the regatta. The British team's finish also point put team Land Rover BAR at the top of the standings in the overall series, ahead of defending America's Cup champion Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA with Emirates Team New Zealand in third place. "The last two races were very tactical. We had a big fight between Oracle and ourselves, it was very tight racing," Ainslie said. Breezy conditions tested the elite crews racing the 45-foot twin-hulled catamarans, which were moving at speeds of over 30 knots (55.56 km per hour) on hydrofoil wings for more than half the course, providing a thrilling spectacle for the crowd as the boats raced to the finish along the shoreline. "Coming down the last downwind leg and the reach to the finish we were aware that we had to be conservative, not take too much risk and deliver the boat to the finish line," Ainslie said. "Winning felt incredible, we're a new team and to perform well at the top of the fleet in front of a home crowd was amazing. The final two races of the America's Cup World Series will take place in Toulon, France in September and Fukuoka, Japan in November. The winners of the World Series will take on Oracle Team USA in next year's America's Cup in Bermuda. Sao Tome election goes to second round after court ruling SAO TOME, July 24 (Reuters) - A Sao Tome and Principe court ruled on Sunday that the island nation's presidential election will go to a second round between incumbent Manuel Pinto da Costa and ex-speaker of parliament Evaristo Carvalho. In provisional results from elections held last Sunday, Carvalho looked to have won with 50.1 percent of votes, with De Costa coming second with 24.8 percent. But the supreme court overturned them, saying the electoral commission should have waited for results from a town, Maria Louise, that voted on Wednesday, and for results from the diaspora. When factored in, they left Carvalho just shy of the 50 percent needed for an outright win, it said. The run-off will take place on August 7. The small island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea is a former colony of Portugal and has a semi-presidential system. The prime minister heads the government but the president is more than a figure head, wielding considerable executive power over matters such as security. Ruthless England turn the screw on Pakistan July 24 (Reuters) - England moved relentlessly towards a series-levelling victory over Pakistan on a rain-disrupted third day of the second test in Manchester on Sunday. The hosts bowled out the Pakistanis for 198 before declining to enforce the follow-on, ending the day on 98 for one to lead by a commanding 489 runs with two days remaining at Old Trafford. The touring side, replying to England's 589 for eight declared, resumed on 57 for four and James Anderson soon had Shan Masood caught at second slip by Joe Root for 39. Rain forced the players off the field for about an hour and when they returned Asad Shafiq, on four, drove loosely at a wide ball from Stuart Broad and Alex Hales took a simple catch at point. Sarfraz Ahmed showed some attacking intent and hit five boundaries in his 26 before nicking Ben Stokes to Root at an overcast Old Trafford. Root, who scored a test-best 254 on Saturday, pouched his fourth slip catch just before the interval, Yasir Shah, on one, becoming Chris Woakes's fourth victim of the innings. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz defiantly added 60 for the ninth wicket before Misbah was caught by Alastair Cook at short fine leg off Moeen Ali for 52 and Riaz was last man out for 39. England led by 391 runs but Cook surprisingly decided not to make Pakistan bat again, preferring to give his bowlers a rest. Cook and Hales added 11 runs before rain halted play again and when the players returned Hales was caught by wicketkeeper Ahmed off Mohammad Amir for 24, another failure for the under-pressure opening batsman. But Root returned to the middle to join his captain and the pair took England through to the close without further loss, Cook finishing on 49 not out with Root on 23. French minister rejects charges of changing report on Nice attack PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) - France's interior minister rejected on Sunday an assertion by a senior Nice security official that his staff tried to change a report into policing on the night of the Bastille Day attack that claimed 84 lives. France's Socialist government has come under fire for not doing enough to prevent a delivery man from ploughing a refrigerator truck into a crowd of revellers leaving a July 14 fireworks display on the Riviera city's beachfront promenade. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he would file a defamation lawsuit after the head of Nice's extensive video surveillance network said in a newspaper interview that someone from his staff had sought changes to her report. Led by regional government president Christian Estrosi, conservative politicians from Nice have aggressively questioned whether officers from the national police were present in sufficient numbers on the night of the attack. The government has repeatedly rejected this accusation. "For 10 days now, we have nearly every day faced attacks, insinuations and lies from some of those bearing political responsibility in Nice," the normally unflappable Cazeneuve said with visible agitation on France 2 television. Nice, a city of nearly 350,000 people, is France's most heavily policed city with nearly 600 officers municipal police officers and other security agents - more than much larger cities - and an extensive network of surveillance cameras. Sandra Bertin, head of Nice's video surveillance network, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that someone from Cazeneuve's staff had ordered her the day after the attack to say that officers from national police force were present at certain places where the attack had occurred. "I dealt with someone who wanted a report indicating where there were municipal police, road barriers and also clearly stating that national police could be seen at two points," she said. Jyotiraditya Scindia might have backtracked on his remarks about a plebiscite in Kashmir, but it is an issue that will not go away. We have all heard about the promise of a referendum in Kashmir. The text of the UN Resolution calling for a plebiscite is easily found. India has argued that since the Pakistani troops never pulled out of the areas occupied by them in the 1947-48 war, the plebiscite could not be carried out, and anyway, as the people of J&K have voted multiples times in elections, they have agreed to the accession to India. This elides the central point that a plebiscite was never held. The idea that Pakistan did not fulfil its obligations, does not mean that India can so easily shrug off its obligations to Kashmiris. We can see the result in the protests that erupt again and again in Kashmir, where the vast majority of the population does not believe that they have had a chance to express their choice through democratic means The vast majority of the Kashmiris do not believe that they have had a chance to express their choice through democratic means. And, frankly, since anybody who stands for elections in J&K has to swear by the Indian Constitution, elections in the state are no substitute for a plebiscite they are only a contest of people who have already agreed to being part of India, not those that have doubts. This means that, for a large number of people in the Kashmir Valley, the democratic process has no validity. The elected politicians are not seen as authoritative. We see this clearly whenever riots break out in the Valley. The MLAs and MPs are nowhere in sight. They just do not have the legitimacy to confront the anti-India slogans, because they have already been forced to one side. They are not seen as representative of the people, but representative of a distant regime in Delhi that has denied the Kashmiris the promise of a choice freely taken. The paradox of Kashmiri leadership is that the only way that elected leadership will be given that legitimacy will be if the Kashmiri people are given the choice to choose whether to be with India or not. Without that legitimacy the politicians of J&K will always lack legitimacy, and thus the deepening of the democratic process will be retarded. Walk out on to the streets of Hyderpora, Sopore, Anantnag, Srinagar or anywhere else in the Valley, or even in Jammu, Gurez, or Leh, and everybody will tell you that the chief minister of J&K is chosen in Delhi, not in J&K. The rule that matters is Central rule, not state rule. We have a corollary in the anti-colonial movements against the British Empire. Most of the ones that succeeded, whether it was India or Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka or the United States of America, were the ones where resident populations did not believe their legislators represented their interest. Whether it was the rebels involved in the Boston Tea Party, or the Indian Congress Party, they all believed that the Empire ruled against their interests. But there were people that did not throw off the yoke of British Rule. Even today the monarch of Canada and Australia is the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. These colonies were able to negotiate the devolution of power in such a way that formal independence was not an issue. At one time, this was an offer that India too was thinking of, but British rule in India was abusive, and imperial. It used force, rather than the persuasion of representative authority, to impose those rules, and Indians (rightly) rejected it. We have the option to continue using force, and a political leadership that is fatally undermined by a lack of legitimacy, to enforce our rules. Over the decades it should have become clear that this has only led to less and less legitimacy of Indian claims on Kashmir rather than more. Frankly the only way that legitimacy will be gained will be if we allow the population to freely vote to be with us. For some reason the people arguing against a plebiscite call themselves nationalists. But if you are truly nationalist, how is it that you believe that the people we govern hate us? That would mean we are a bad nation and surely our TV nationalists do not believe we govern our people badly, do they? The only reason that some Indians fear a plebiscite in J&K is because they have no faith in India. They have no faith that India genuinely offers a better option to Kashmiris within its framework than out of it. Because they have no faith in India, they have no faith that Kashmiris that will choose us. A genuine nationalist would have no such doubts. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression P Chidambaram, Indias former finance and home minister, during the UPA-2 rule in New Delhi once said that Kashmir is a unique problem which needs a unique solution. Today, as a senior Congress leader in Opposition Chidambaram is talking about a grand bargain while advocating a greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. He is a veteran Congress leader and a loyal and patriotic Indian, not a terrorist sympathiser or Pakistan-sponsored public representative. Another Congress leader Digvijaya Singh argues that the Hindu nationalist BJP wants Kashmir without Kashmiris. ...the difference between the stand of the BJP and Congress is that while Congress wants Kashmir along with the Kashmiri people, the BJP wants Kashmir without Kashmiri people. How can you have Kashmir without Kashmiri people? Singh said at a press conference at the Congress state headquarters in Panaji. Late PV Narasimha Rao, Indias former prime minister and a Congress neta, once famously said in relation to Kashmir that sky is the limit. Unrest in Kashmir. Before that, Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised a plebiscite to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and made that commitment to the international community as well. We have two options available to us. One, we believe that all these Congress leaders have played politics over Kashmir. Two, they may have spoken the truth but couldnt deliver on their promises and pledges for political reasons. We are free to choose. For arguments sake, lets assume they only played politics over Kashmir. Now lets try and understand what many well-respected independent thinkers, authors, academicians, anchors, activists, journalists, and defenders of human rights in India have to say about Kashmir. In her latest opinion piece on Kashmir, Indias celebrated novelist and public intellectual Arundhati Roy argued, The people of Kashmir have made it clear once again, as they have done year upon year, decade upon decade, grave upon grave, that what they want is azadi. She added, "Kashmiris are not fighting for the establishment of the rule of law or an end to human rights violations. They are fighting for azadi. For this, they are prepared to face down bullets with stones. For this, they are prepared to die in numbers. Well-known television presenter Karan Thapar likened the Kashmir issue to the Northern Ireland crisis. In his recent piece published in the Hindustan Times, Thapar briefly explained how lessons can be drawn from the Northern Ireland example. My image of Indian democracy is contradicted by whats happening in Kashmir. For all its imperfections and there are many I view India as a free and democratic association of people who want to be Indian even if, at the same time, they are Rajasthani, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, Tamil, Malayalee, Manipuri, Naga or Himachali. What I see on TV and read in the papers once again rams home the fact this is not true of the people of the Kashmir Valley, he wrote. Similarly, noted author Shobhaa De batted for a referendum in Kashmir in her latest blog published in the Times of India. Because we have shut our eyes and minds. We dont want to hear or see the naked reality of a tortured land that is suffering because of political decisions taken decades ago. Nobody is willing to ask Kashmiris the question: What do YOU want?, De argued. Lets see if the present government has the guts to go ahead with a referendum to resolve the Kashmir crisis once and for all. Lets end the lingering pain in the region and allow Kashmiris to live in peace, with the dignity and harmony they are entitled to, she concluded. Aditya Sinha, journalist and author, in his well-argued piece, wrote that when so-called normalcy returns to Kashmir, Delhi will find the anti-India sentiment has deepened in Kashmir. The other delusion is that there exists a pro-India constituency in Kashmir. Jammu is undoubtedly pro-India but it is not Kashmir, though many link the two for rhetorical purposes, Sinha wrote. He added, Despite 69 years of opportunity, India has not earned Kashmiri trust. This is not surprising, seeing the reactions in Delhi by journalists, some of whom have forgotten non-partisanship that Burhan Wani was a terrorist who deserved death; or that some international jihadi syndicate used his funeral to expand the war against India. All those mourners on Saturday did not think he was a terrorist. Only a colonial oppressor, like imperial Britain, would perceive an entire population as terrorist or terrorist-supporting. Even veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, part of a three-member team of interlocutors on Kashmir in 2010, is now saying it openly that Kashmir needs a political solution. Again, we have two options. Either we ignore all these gentlemen as Pakistan-sponsored separatists and Kashmiri sympathisers or New Delhi, for a change, tries to listen and understand what Kashmiris want. It could be an excellent opportunity for all sane Indians to come out of their denialism on Kashmir. It could also pave way for true democratisation and freedom of Indias electronic media which usually acts as a government's stenographer and thinks of itself as defender of India's national security by cashing in on falsehoods and propaganda. Apart from what the honest Indian politicians and independent thinkers say on Kashmir, one must also not lose sight of another emerging reality in India. Many people in the Indian states of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have held solidarity rallies for Kashmir and called for an end to civilian killings and for the urgent need for a just solution. This growing trend of Indian citizens coming out in open in support of Kashmir is very encouraging indeed. The Kashmiris also must realise that there is a difference between the Indian State and Indian people. Everyone is not deaf. Everyone is not in denial. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Kashmiri leadership to build on this momentum by enhancing civil society support in favour of Kashmir. Lastly, it is easy for the ruling BJP to dismiss the views expressed by the Congress politicians as political opportunism or disregard other views as liberal facade, but the BJP can take lessons from one of its own towering leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who once famously noted Insaaniyat ke dayre main baat hogi (Talks on Kashmir will be held under the ambit of humanism). Years ago, Karl Marx in one of the moments of brilliant insight proclaimed rhetorically that "history repeats itself twice, first time as a tragedy, second time as a farce". History since Marx's departure has become even more ironic and far more farcical. The use of media has allowed history to be even more dubious and ironic. I was reminded of this on July 10 when newspapers blandly inserted a front page picture of PM Narendra Modi enacting one of the great moments of history, the alchemical moment in 1892 when Gandhi, the young lawyer, was ejected out of the train for travelling in first class. I looked closely at the picture. Modi sits wooden as if he is posing for a Tussauds wax portrait. No newspaper had any reaction. PM Narendra Modi with Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter, Ela Gandhi. (PTI) I guess most people saw it as normal, a PM playing tourist with history. I was appalled and agitated when I saw Ela Gandhi welcome him to Phoenix Farm. I was reminded of a comment by a historian who said today every party rewrites history. The Stalinist left foes itself declaring opponents as non-people, the liberals do it by commoditising history and the Right by sanitising history. The Modi photograph was something Swachh Bharat would have been proud of. Irony Of late, the Left and the Right have been trying to reclaim the national movement. The Communists played second fiddle to the British and even happily acted as informants. The Right, especially the RSS, was opposed to Gandhi and had little to do with the national movement. Yet, no two groups have been more hyperactive trying to reclaim their role in nationalist history. There was an even greater irony in Modi's trip as the RSS, of which he was a pracharak, was opposed to Gandhi. Ashis Nandy points out that even today people send money orders to support of Nathuram Godse's family. I do not know what Modi thought while he sat in the wood planked train. But I was wondering whether at that moment the RSS and its ilk thought of apologising to Gandhi and the nation for the assassination. I was for one moment even expecting an apology for the 2002 riots. An apology would have made history doubly alchemic if he had used his sense of the truth commission to offer a new sense of reconciliation in Gujarat. It would have made the train ride another turning point in history. Yet, Modi is not moved enough. He is not yet of the stature of Willy Brandt ready to kneel and apologise for Germany's role in World War II. Modi will remain an aspiring leader content with the second hand, a tourist/pilgrim at a historical site when he could have made history. As he and Jacob Zuma step out one becomes worried for two legacies - the legacy of Mandela now cannibalised by Zuma and the ANC and the lessons of Gandhi which a majoritarian BJP/RSS regime has quickly sidestepped. I confess I am crotchety old-fashioned, and often feel irrelevant today. Yet, I am afraid of the new sense of normalcy I see around me. It is as if a whitewashing of history has taken place and the RSS has appropriated two strands of the nationalist movement while it emasculates the third. It has already begun playing second fiddle to Sardar Patel and it is trying to appropriate the Gandhian legacy. To do this it has begun sanitising its role in history, while isolating the Congress from its great genealogies. Beyond the political economy of such acts, there is a wiser question of memory itself. Nuggets Memory today seems bits and nuggets of data without context. It seems to lack the density of the value frames of the earlier era. I remember my old friend and teacher, Ramachandra Gandhi. During Emergency, Indira Gandhi had gone to Rajghat to pay respects to the Mahatma. Ramu met her and quietly with folded hands asked her not to insult the memory of his grandfather. Ramu believed that for Mrs Gandhi to declare Emergency and seek solace in Gandhi's was obscene. It was not a question only of insulting history but showing disrespect to the value frame, the everyday ethics of the Gandhi era. Watching him, no one in the crowd felt Ramu had done anything wrong. There was despite initial consternation an acceptance. Each accepted the call of their respective roles. But one senses a different travesty of history today. Policy The media is focused on the changes in Cabinet, praising Modi for removing Smriti Irani, punishing her for being loud or abrasive. Everyone claims that the entry of the more indecisive Prakash Javadekar suits the temper of a department of education more. Yet, the very superficiality of policy and debate diverts attention from real happenings on the ground. While Modi is being praised for his statesmanship on education, few forget to mention or connect what the RSS is doing at the ground level. Its targeting of schools is more lethal than any act of groundwater pollution. The toxicity of the RSS large-scale effects on education will have to be reassessed across generations. Newspaper reports claim that teachers from RSS who run shishumandirs could soon get sanction to teach in government schools in Madhya Pradesh where the BJP is in power. The VHP and the Swaminarayan are planning programmes in 10,000 schools in Gujarat. It is the double strategy that worries an observer. At one level a sanitisation over the history of the RSS and at another a deep attempt to inculcate biased history into children. The BJP, in an odd way, seems to make history only by tampering with it. It is time democracy and civil society keeps a "history watch" on the RSS. It was September 1990 and holidays were suddenly declared in schools in Lucknow like in many other parts of the country. Still in junior school with no worries about missed classes and with some of my cousins being packed off to our house in a safe government locality, I had nothing much to complain about. We occasionally heard our parents talk about the tension in the city, demonstrations by youngsters, attempts at self immolation by students and words like "Mandal report" and "quota", but like most children of my age, I was far removed from the political changes that the times were forcing in Uttar Pradesh. Two years later, schools were again shut down, this time during the winters. Still more cousins were sent to our place as words like Babri Masjid and Ayodhya resonated. In our sheltered government colony existence the only way we sensed tension building up in the city was when we stepped out to play with friends in the evening with the same set of instructions from our parents - do not step out of the colony premises at any cost and stick to your friends. A churning in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh was taking place, much to our ignorance. Sheila Dikshit - Congress' CM candidate for the UP polls. After the exit of VP Singh from the Congress in 1987 and the formation of the Janta Dal the ground literally shifted from under the feet of the Congress. Combined with the Mandal-Kamandal phase, it affected a seismic change in Uttar Pradesh. For a state that was once its pocket borough, the Congress was reduced to a peripheral role. Ever since, the Congress has been reduced to an also ran in Uttar Pradesh. Three decades down the line, as I set off to cover the Congress yatra ahead of the Assembly elections, it is striking how the nature of politics during the Mandal-Kamandal phase that almost wiped out this national party from Uttar Pradesh is giving it hope for a resurgence of sorts this time around. The Congress believes the jolts of the early 1990s in Uttar Pradesh has taught it some vital lessons and it is ready to rectify them. Caste politics It was in the early 1990s that the Congress lost its traditional vote base in Uttar Pradesh - the Brahmins. The issues of reservation and Ram mandir pushed the Brahmins towards the BJP initially and then briefly to the BSP when Mayawati experimented with social engineering in 2007. Losing the 11 per cent Brahmin votes proved costly for the Congress that has been unable to make its presence felt in the state for 30 years barring the lone success in the 2009 general elections. So this time the party is making a fresh, and some believe a desperate, attempt at getting the Brahmins back into its fold. Political strategist Prashant Kishor's push for having a Brahmin chief ministerial face finally met with success. In a clear departure from norm, the party actually announced Uma Shankar Dikshit's daughter-in-law Sheila Dikshit as its chief ministerial candidate. So pressing was the need for a Brahmin CM candidate that the 78-year-old Sheila was roped in despite her reported "apprehensions" on it being too late and her age. On the first day of the three-day "27 saal, UP behaal" yatra, I caught up with her in Hapur in western UP. The 60km stretch was covered by the party in over five hours. She looked a little pulled down already and was unusually irritable. Though running fever, she agreed to take some questions before heading off to Gajraula. I asked her whether her nomination was based on competence or caste. Pat came a reply, "That question should be addressed to the party, not me." When I probed further, she told me she had been assigned a job and was will do it, adding "one can't start with apprehensions". She may have seemed like a reluctant soldier but her last few words caught my fancy. One can't start with apprehensions and that is perhaps why the Congress is busy convincing itself that its strategy will work. Communal re-balancing The demolition of the Babri Masjid saw the Muslims moving away from the Congress too and they found an alternative in Mulayam Singh Yadav's political outfit Samajwadi Party formed the same year as the demolition - 1992. Many blamed the Congress government of PV Narasimha Rao at the Centre for turning a blind eye to the brewing unrest in the state in the run up to the Babri Masjid demolition. Others blamed Rajiv Gandhi for the "shilanyas" that lay the foundation for the ugly tussle. As a result, the Congress suffered with an 18 per cent Muslim population drifting away from it. So when Ghulam Nabi Azad, the new party in-charge for Uttar Pradesh tells me that "you will find all kinds of people in the bus... all religions... all castes", the message is not lost on anyone. A Brahmin CM face combined with a credible Muslim leader could help the Congress kill the ghosts of the past. Azad looked upbeat as he spoke to us; he exuded confidence. The stress of the figuratively bumpy bus ride in western Uttar Pradesh on a hot and humid day did not show on his face. He cheerfully greeted us even as hordes of people continued to mill around him and a bunch of flies tailed us everywhere. He admitted, "There are challenges. Who is denying that? That is why we have set out on this yatra, to garner as much support as we can." Tapping the youth It may not be as sharply playing out on the streets as it did in the 1990s but from Hyderabad University to JNU to FTII, the anger of the students has been tapped by the Congress over the past few months. Vice president Rahul Gandhi has been seen siding with the students against the government. In fact, just ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections, the issue of AMU's minority status is gaining traction. Despite it being a tricky political issue in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has not shied away when confronted with questions but the matter is being handled delicately. So as not to upset the electoral social equations it is building up ahead of elections, the Congress through its individual leaders will be seen taking up the matter while itself not dirtying its hands. For example, Salman Khurshid has indicated that the order of the Allahabad High Court could be challenged, to which Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala replied, "An individual in this country whether he or she belongs to a political party, anybody interested in the welfare of Aligarh Muslim University, including its faculty and teachers, have full right to avail of the constitutional remedies available to them and I don't think either the Congress or BJP will stand or can stand as an obstacle thereto." The winning formula With a focus on consolidating the upper caste vote and hoping to pull in Muslims, the Congress' strategy is now being played out in the open. Many believe a big bang campaign started about eight months ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections is just in time. Sources say it takes about six-months to hit the peak and then it either begins to plateau or drop. Not wanting to risk the waning off of new-found support a glimpse of which was seen the day newly appointed UPCC chief Raj Babbar and Sheila Dikshit led a rally from the Lucknow airport to the Congress office in Mall Avenue, the Congress wants to gain momentum, not lose steam. Javakhk Diaspora of Russia urges both sides to start negotiations The Javakhk Diaspora of Russia NGO has issued a statement in connection with the situation in Armenia created in the aftermath of an attack on a police patrol building by an armed group calling itself Sasna Dzrer (Daredevils of Sasun). For a week now, the attention of the entire nation has been fixed on the events taking place in Armenia. We call on the authorities in Armenia as well as Sasna Dzrer to start negotiations as soon as possible to avoid new tensions and bloodshed. We respect and bow our heads before Pavlik [Manukyan] and his friends as they once fought for us. Today, the country is divided into two parts. Our greatest achievement is that we have patriotic, strong, proud and intelligent generation in Armenia, who defended the border of Artsakh during the four-day war in April. As Monte said in his time, Generations should be brought up by ideas, rather than violence. We can overcome the present situation suing our intellect, justice and vigilance. Prudence must win today. The situation should be resolved exclusively by peaceful means. We do not have enemies standing against each other; we are all Armenians. Theerfore, we demand, urge and request the authorities to find a solution [to the crisis] without violence and loss of life, with concessions that will not harm our statehood, the NGO said in the statement. Vitaly Balasanyan urges gunmen to lay down arms, says Sargsyan will meet Sefilyan after it Members of the Sasna Dzrer group should immediately lay down their arms after which President Sargsyan will invite Jirayr Sefilyan to a meeting, Vitaly Balasanyan, who acted as a mediator between the government and the armed group occupying a police station in Yerevan since July 17, said on July 24. Balasanyan, a lawmaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and a participant of the Artsakh war, has revealed some details of the negotiations with the anti-government gunmen who stormed a police patrol building in Yerevans Erebuni district last Sunday. Armenpress news agency presented his statement in full. On the night of July 23, Head of the National Security Service, Geogy Kutoyan, visited the members of the armed group to discuss the release of hostages and other issues. Mr. Kutoyan also suggested that one of the boys, who had been wounded during the attack on July 17, be transferred to hospital where he would be rendered specialized medical care, saying the doctors at the scene might be unable to save his life. Unfortunately, the gunmen refused the offer. Anyway, we sent a surgeon to the police HQ the next morning who was not allowed to provide the necessary assistance. With regard to the release of hostages, I must say that I am satisfied with that part of the negotiations. According to a preliminary agreement, the members of the armed group were provided an opportunity to talk to media representatives as part of a deal struck with the authorities. Unfortunately, the armed men did not respect the main requirement - to talk to journalists without arms. Rather, they organized a show of arms and ammunition and even began to firing guns into the air during a live broadcast. However, following the Presidents calls, the government agencies I am negotiating with are ready to exhaust all peaceful means they are using to facilitate the peaceful surrender of the armed group. I call on the group to sober up and comply with the requirements of the countrys Constitution and laws before it is too late to do anything. The countrys state agencies are ready to organize another meeting with media, if needed, in order to explain things to everyone. But this time they are ready to do it entirely without weapons and in an open and safe space for journalists. Immediately after the meeting, the group should immediately put down their weapons. I also call on Sasna Dzrer members to hand over the wounded guy, who, according to reports, killed the police officers. He needs urgent treatment and no one needs another victim. I think they should seize this last opportunity, Vitaly Balasanyan said in the statement. Reaction to Hillary Clintons choice of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate was swift and somewhat predictable with Democrats heaping praise on the 58-year-old former governor and Republicans denouncing him as Corrupt Kaine. Without reservation, I can say there is no one of higher integrity and trustworthiness, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a statement. Kaine served as lieutenant governor under Warner and then became governor himself. Both now serve as the states two U.S. senators Warner since 2008, and Kaine since 2010 and often work on legislation and other initiatives together. Tim has always shown a commitment to serving others, Warner said. He always finds reasons for hope and optimism in every situation, and he is centered by his faith and his family. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D-Va., said Kaines experience in government, first as mayor of Richmond, then as lieutenant governor, governor and senator, will serve him and Clinton well on the campaign trail. His experience, intellect and dedication to making life better for people from all walks of life will make him an enormous asset to Secretary Clinton, McAuliffe said. This is a proud day for every Virginian. Not so fast, say state Republicans, many of whom have a different take on Clintons selection. Virginians know the real Tim Kaine, said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck. The governor who breaks his promises not to raise taxes [and] who shifts to the left when he thinks he has a chance at higher office. Whitebeck and others point to Kaines defense of a womans right to an abortion, even though Kaine, a Roman Catholic, personally opposes the practice. In recent weeks, Kaine has demonstrated his willingness to defend the indefensible, simply to avoid the heartbreak of being left at the altar a second time, Whitbeck said, referring to Kaine almost being picked by then Sen. Barack Obama as his running mate in 2008. Echoing Whitbecks criticism of Kaine on taxes, Del. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, pointed to the fact that Kaines term as governor coincided with revenue shortfalls and the national economic crisis of 2008. He proposed not to raise taxes when he was running and he proposed a number of taxes when he [served as governor],'' Landes said. And, Landes said, its not clear what Kaine has done to help Virginia in the U.S. Senate. "I'm of the belief that U.S. senators are put in office for the state's best interests and I don't think either one can say 'this is what I have done,''' Landes said of both Kaine and Warner. And while Clinton chose Kaine in large part because of his expertise in foreign affairs and military issues, Landes said the junior senator from Virginia has done very little to support the armed forces, a key demographic and economic driver in the eastern part of the state. "I don't know of anything he has done to strengthen our military,'' Landes said. Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, took office as Kaine was leaving the statehouse. He recalls that Kaine closed a number of Virginia Interstate rest stops, including several along Interstate 81, and proposed closing the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton. Kaines successor, Republican Bob McDonnell, opened the rest areas soon after taking office and the CCCA never did shut down. Not every Republican was critical of Kaine, though. State Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, said Clinton made a smart choice in picking Kaine as her running mate. He called Kaine a friend and said, I worked well with him, when Kaine was governor. Though he disagrees with Kaine on a wide array of issues, and said certain decisions, such as the closing of rest areas, were not in the states best interests, Hanger said the state will benefit from Kaines vice presidential candidacy. "Politics aside, it is a great honor for Virginia to have one of our former governors to be selected and have that kind of national profile,'' Hanger said. James Madison University political scientist Bob Roberts said Kaines experience in foreign policy and his fluency in Spanish a skill that will be key in campaigning with the growing number of Hispanic voters are both assets to the Clinton campaign, as is his relatively squeaky-clean image. He could also help in the demographic of white men, an area where Clinton is lagging Trump by a significant margin. But his biggest boost to Clinton has little to do with Kaine himself, Roberts said, and everything to do with where hes from. Virginia has become a key battleground state in presidential elections, and its expected to be just as competitive as it was in 2008 and 2012. Obama won the state both times, but not by a lot. And before 2008, Republicans had won Virginia in each presidential election going back to 1968. He's won a number of elections in the state, Roberts said of Kaine. And he's going to be able to put together that Democratic coalition that Obama did. Roberts compares Kaine to the late Minnesota senator and vice president Hubert Humphrey. "[Kaine] has tremendous likability, just like Humphrey,'' Roberts said. Even Landes and Bell both say they like Kaine personally, and believe that, as Landes put it, hes an honest person. Indeed, months of vetting by Clintons camp apparently found little in the way of hidden scandal or ethical hiccups that could trip up the campaign. Republicans, however, say plenty of pitfalls already exist in Kaines known record to tar him as ethically shaky. They point to his acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars in lavish gifts from friends and associates as governor. The campaign of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump wasted no time Friday night in labeling Clintons new running mate as Corrupt Kaine, saying hes an apt choice given the former secretary of states own image as a less-than-honest public official. Its only fitting that Hillary Clinton would select an ethically challenged insider like Tim Kaine whos personally benefited from the rigged system, Jason Miller, a spokesman for Trump, said in a statement. The statement also expanded on the alliterative Corrupt Kaine quip that the Trump campaign hopes will stick in voters minds as the campaign heats up. If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite, Miller continued. They do well by the current system, while the rest of America gets left behind. Still, some Republicans arent so sure that Kaine will be that easy to pin as corrupt. Its hard to find any flies on Tim Kaine, former U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, a Virginia Republican, told the Washington Post. Hes a thoroughly honest and decent man. Rob Longley is managing editor of the News Virginian. He can be reached at (540) 932-3556 or rlongley@newsvirginian.com. Bob Stuart covers local and state politics for the News Virginian. He can be reached at (540) 932-3562 or bstuart@newsvirginian.com. One year ago this month, President Obama inked an historic nuclear deal with Iran. It hardly seems like a year has passed since the Iran Nuclear Agreement came into being over the opposition of me and many others. However, perhaps that is because very little has changed when it comes to Irans bad behavior. Over the last year, it has remained unmistakable that Iran does not want to play nice. The Iranian regime has conducted three ballistic missile tests in defiance of international law, detained 10 American sailors, and continued to fuel aggression and hostility towards its neighbors in the Middle East and the United States. A report released by the State Department last month also listed Iran as the top state sponsor of terrorism. One of the many benefits Iran received from the deal was more than $100 billion dollars in sanctions relief. This has pumped money into Irans economy that likely will be used to fund these terrorist activities. Additionally, the United States recently purchased $8.6 million dollars worth of a nuclear chemical called heavy water from Iran, further benefitting the Iranians. In fact, the only one benefiting from this deal, as anyone could have predicted, is the Iranian regime. It is critical that Congress respond to Irans aggression, and the House of Representatives passed three bills earlier this month to do just that. The No Heavy Water from Iran Act prevents the United States from essentially subsidizing Irans nuclear program by purchasing heavy water, which is a key component in nuclear reactors. Additionally, the U.S. Financial System Protection Act reiterates existing prohibitions on allowing the U.S. dollar to be used in trade transactions with Iran. The Iran Accountability Act urges accountability by imposing necessary, new sanctions on Iran for its unlawful ballistic missile program, links to terrorism, and disturbing human rights violations. Now, even though a year has passed, more information continues to surface regarding the intricacies of the side deals negotiated by the White House. Documents obtained by the Associated Press just days ago revealed that restrictions on Irans uranium enrichment program will be relaxed after 10 years even though the nuclear agreement spans 15 years. With that, Iran could start upping nuclear enrichment capacity, potentially shortening the time it would take to build a nuclear weapon. The White House should look back at this past year as proof of a blundered deal and change course to hold Iran accountable. I also urge the Senate to pass these important bills. In the simplest of terms, we cannot allow Iran to acquire the technology and materials needed to make a nuclear weapon. It is a security risk the United States, the Middle East, and the rest of the world cannot afford to take. One year later, President Obamas Iran Deal is historic for all of the wrong reasons. Bob Goodlatte represents the 6th Congressional District in the state of Virginia, and serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Yes, Michael Gove, the man with the Brexit plan was ousted from government, he was thrown into the political wilderness, otherwise known as the backbenches but where are you now Gove, where are those Brexit dreams seemingly watered down with so much empty rhetoric from the Theresa May coalition of Remainers and Brexiteers? Come forth O backstabbing brainbox Gove with thou unequivocal computer mind, index the data and tell us what the next fucking step is in the proceedings. No one else seems to know anything of substance in the current government, it seems as if the dream of Brexit that became a reality for a fleeting moment has once again taken flight as the incessantly moaning Remainers take over the media and eviscerate the dream, waiting for public mood to change. Gove, your real parents somewhere in the ether, and your adopted parents, all from Scotland, they see you, but dont really see you. This Sturgeon, a hater of the English of which you have adopted, wants to spite Britain, she wants to ruin not only Scotland but to Bannockburn the English once and for all. Rise up from the ashes O mighty erudite Gove, put back on your big round head those glasses and compute the data for us. Bring us out of this malaise so that we can trigger Article 50 and do what is necessary to halt unfettered EU migration yet still keep us in trade. The traitorous vipers, and greed fuelled lawyers are already out to contest the will of the majority of Britain with legal spanners in the works. The tawdry Remainers within the government still want to slow things down further, to put obstacles subtly in the way of any negotiation. Do something for fucks sake or Britain will never get out of the horrible nightmare of the EU. Police vehicle set on fire as a sign of protest (video) 21.42 Alek Yenigomshyan, a member of the Founding Parliament, has announced in Khorenatsi Street that a police vehicle had been set on fire as a sign of protest. Mr. Yenigomshyan informed those gathered in Khorenatsi Street that the wounded gunman inside the seized police building is denied medical aid. Besides, electricity supply to the building is cut off, and the gunmen have had nothing to eat for 22 days. The gathering ended with his speech. The next meeting will be held at 8 p.m., on Monday. 21.39 A couple of minutes ago, it was announced that a protest is being held in Sari Tagh Street leading to Erebuni district in support of the Sasna Dzrer group. A group of young people informed A1+ that their friend, Tigran Avagyan, had been taken to a police station from Sari Tagh. They consider it to be abduction and say several individuals in civil clothing had been following them since morning until they forced their friend into a car and drove him away.A couple of minutes ago, it was announced that a rally is being held in Sari Tagh Street leading to Erebuni district in support of the Sasna Dzrer group. 21.20 Tamara Hovhannisyan, the widow of the famous Armenian actor Mher Mkrtchyan, addressed police officers led by the crazy chief of police. She said the police should not be next to Serzh Sargsyan, but they should be with people. I want to address our army and commanders. You should not support Serzh Sargsyan, you should stand next to our country and its people. that is your mission, she saSpeeches have started in Khorenatsi Street which is full of people. Addressing the people gathered in the street, one of the speakers urged raising fists instead of open hands.Heritage party member and civil activist Davit Sanasaryan felt pain to hear the statement of Artsakh war participant Vitaly Balasanyan who said that there are no political prisoners in Armenia. Likewise, he was surprised to hear Balasanyan saying that the jailed opposition leaderJirayr Sefilyan no longer supports the gunmens key demand resignation of Serzh Sargsyan, which later turned out to have nothing to do with reality. Sanasaryan says a mediator is obliged to repeat the words of negotiating parties, nothing more. In general, the Heritage party member thinks that the political process is under way and as long as Sasna Dzrer is on the other side of the red line he is obliged to respect their decision on various issues.Police officers in Khorenatsi Street wearing protective equipment batons and shields are now moving towards the dividing line on the street. New Delhi: Wondering whether the ban on over 10-year-old diesel vehicles will improve air quality in the national capital, Maruti Suzukis chairman R. C. Bhargava has said the industry would certainly be hit hard by it. He also questioned whether it is fair to around 2 lakh car owners, affected by the ban, to be told without hearing them that their asset has just become scrap. Mr Bhargava asserted that cars contributed only 2.2 per cent of the overall air pollution in Delhi as per the scientifically collected data analysed by IIT Kanpur. This ban on diesel cars, at least I cant see how it will make any measurable difference in air quality in Delhi but it will certainly hurt industry more than that, Mr Bhargava said. He said that around 2 lakh car owners had done nothing wrong and complied with the law while buying these vehicles. Suddenly they find without being heard that there asset has just become scrap. I dont know how far that is fair, how far that is justified as far as those people are concerned. It is (vehicles) their means of livelihood, it is their means of going to their business, Mr Bhargava said. Suddenly without any opportunity being given to them they have been told you cant use these (vehicles). So I feel very strongly that this is not fair to them, he added. Earlier this month, in a jolt to diesel car owners in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the Delhi government to cancel the registration of all diesel-powered vehicles which are more than 10 years old from plying in the city. When asked if the order would impact the companys business, Bhargava said: I am not worried about selling cars, we have been selling cars and we will continue to sell cars thats not the issue. I am not looking at this as a Maruti chairman or somebody making cars. People who wont buy a diesel car will buy a petrol car, it doesnt affect the companys business, he added. I am not concerned about the business part of it. I am concerned about the way we are going, the way we are trying to clean our air quality by attacking areas which to my mind are in terms of scientifically collected data not going to have an impact and in that process hurting a lot of people who are innocent people, he said. Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (C) walks to a meeting during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors conference held in Chengdu in South western China's Sichuan province, July 23, 2016. Britain faced calls on Saturday from some European and Asian countries to move more quickly towards leaving the European Union, but the United States said the process was too sensitive to be rushed. At the first meeting of leading economies since British voters shocked global markets in June by deciding to quit the EU, finance ministers and central bankers said Brexit had the potential to weigh on the world's already slow economic growth. In a draft statement, the Group of 20 nations said the referendum result added to uncertainty in the world economy and they hoped to see the UK as a close partner of the EU. British Prime Minister Theresa May, who has been in the job less than two weeks, has left many countries guessing what her negotiating position will be after she said she would not trigger the formal start of EU exit talks during 2016. Ministers from France and Italy said they wanted more clarity now on how quickly Britain would start the process of ending its 43-year membership of the bloc. We have to have certainty now around the timetable," French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said. "We say that not to put undue pressure on the British authorities but because I believe that is what everyone - all observers and the markets - need. I hope that there is going to be clarification about the timing and process of the divorce," Italy's Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said. "The sooner the better so this generates a new equilibrium. Britain's new finance minister Philip Hammond was attending the G20 meeting in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu but did not comment to media. The International Monetary Fund said last week that it had been planning to raise its forecasts for global growth until Brexit threw a spanner in the works, prompting it to trim its forecasts instead. It said the outlook could prove to be a lot worse if Britain failed to strike a friendly deal with the EU. Britain itself may be facing a recession. A business survey published on Friday suggested its economy was shrinking as a result of the referendum. An official from an Asian G20 country said foreign investors in Britain needed to get a sense of how much access the country might lose to the EU's single market if it drops the bloc's core principle of open borders for EU workers. If it doesn't act quickly, negative effects on corporate investment would be prolonged, the Asian official said. We want UK-EU negotiations to settle quickly in a way that won't affect business strategies in our country. But the United States called for patience, saying it was more important to get the tone of the Brexit talks right than to have a timetable. My own view is that there is undue weight being given to a calendar which is going to take a while to resolve, regardless of when you actually begin the Article 50, a senior U.S. Treasury official said, referring to part of the bloc's treaty on the two-year process for a country to end its membership. 'The thing that would be very disruptive is a highly confrontational process.' The Finance Ministry has directed all profit making PSUs to use their surplus cash to buy back shares and pay handsome dividend. (Representational image) New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has directed all profit making PSUs to use their surplus cash to buy back shares and pay handsome dividend, besides considering issuing bonus shares or going for stock split. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in a recent letter to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) has asked them to pay dividend at the rate of 30 per cent of net profit or 5 per cent of the networth, whichever is higher. "CPSEs with surplus cash have been asked to buyback shares or issue bonus shares to increase the value of government holding," said a senior official. They have also been asked to consider share split if the book value of their shares exceeds 50 times their face value. The idea behind stock split is to encourage participation of small investors in capital markets. High price of shares sometimes act as a deterrent for investors to invest in the company and CPSEs needs to decide, from time to time, the option of splitting shares. State-owned companies have cash and free reserves estimated at Rs 2.6 lakh crore and the newly created DIPAM has been entrusted with the task of ensuring its optimal utilisation. "We have been asked to shell out higher of 30 per cent of net profit or 5 per cent of net worth as dividend," he said. An official in the finance ministry said that the idea behind the exercise is to ensure that cash does not remain idle and is utilised optimally by the PSUs who have high networth and negligible or zero leverage ratio, and whose expansion of business does not justify holding so much cash. To assess the cash utilisation of PSUs, the government has started looking at ratios like -- return on networth, dividend to networth, profit after tax to networth. In order to evaluate the performance of PSUs, the government has evolved 10 parameters which include capacity utilisation, leveraging networth, return on investment, technology upgradation and marketing efficiency. While renaming the Department of Disinvestment as DIPAM in the Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the department "will adopt a comprehensive approach for efficient management of the government investment in CPSEs by addressing issued such as capital restructuring, dividend, bonus shares." Post this, DIPAM has helped exchequer garner Rs 4,500 crore through buy back of shares by cash rich Hindustan Aeronautics and Bharat Dynamincs in March. Cash-rich mineral explorer NMDC Ltd, MOIL Ltd and aluminium major NALCO has also announced buy back of shares. This could together fetch about Rs 10,000 crore to the exchequer. WTO's appellate body is expected to give its ruling by mid-September in the solar mission dispute between India and the US. (Representational image) New Delhi: WTO's appellate body is expected to give its ruling by mid-September in the solar mission dispute between India and the US. In April, India had appealed against WTO's panel ruling that the country's power purchase agreements with solar firms are inconsistent with international norms. "The appellate's order is expected on September 16 or 17," an official said. The appellate body is a standing body of seven persons. It listens to the appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes involving WTO members. The body can uphold, modify or reverse legal findings and conclusions of a panel and its reports, once adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body, must be accepted by the parties to the dispute. The official said that if the body would give ruling against India, the government would have to implement the order in the next 6-7 months. Ruling against India, WTO's dispute panel had said the government's power purchase agreements with solar firms were "inconsistent" with international norms - a matter in which the US had filed a complaint before the global trade body alleging discrimination against American firms. The US had dragged India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on this issue in 2014, alleging that the clause relating to domestic content requirement in the country's solar power mission was discriminatory in nature and "nullified" benefits accruing to the American solar power developers. India is also working on about dozen cases against the US for giving protection to solar panel producers in violation of WTO norms. On the India-US poultry case, the official said, India is seeking a desktop video conferencing (DVC) with America. India had already lost the case in WTO against the US. The US has demanded USD 450 million in retaliation in this dispute. Finance minister Arun Jaitley (centre) felicitates Telangana IT and industries minister K.T. Rama Rao (right) in a traditional Pune style during the inauguration of Symbiosis International Universitys Hyderabad campus on Sunday as Symbiosis founder S.B. Mujumdar (left) claps. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: Calling on the youth to strive for excellence to survive in this highly competitive world. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday that the age of grey eminence is over as people are reaching peak in the career at their 30s or 40s. When we were the students, we could survive even with the level of mediocrity. Today is far more cruel world; it is a tougher world. In Delhi, anyone who gets 90 per cent grade comes to me and tells me that I cant into a good college. Therefore, mediocrity can actually lead you to nowhere. You have to strike for excellence. And in terms of your career, once you strive for the excellence, the initial years of your career will give an opportunity to move on to the fast-track. And once you are able to move on to the fast-track, your peak success will in the age of 30s. The days of grey eminence are over. You dont reach the best of your life when you are 60 this used to happen 50 years ago, Mr Jaitley said after inaugurating the Hyderabad campus of Symbiosis International University here on Sunday. Mr Jaitley stressed the need to have more institutes of higher education to skill Indians as it is the only way for India to increase the share of manufacturing in the economy to 25 per cent. Responding to a request from the Symbiosis management to allocate more land for campus, Telangana IT and industries minister K.T. Rama Rao promised to give more land if the university sets up all 45 disciplines that it offers in its Pune campus. Stating that today is the age of triple I innovate, incubate and incorporate, Mr Rama Rao said the state government will soon launch its new initiative RICH (Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad) to help entrepreneurs. He also invited the students of Symbiosis to make use of facilities in Telangana, if they plan to become entrepreneurs. The link-up rumours started during the shoot of their film 'Bang Bang 2' in Miami. Mumbai: Refuting rumours of dating her 'Brothers' co-actor Sidharth Malhotra, Jacqueline Fernandez has branded herself as an easy target for gossip mongers. "Obviously, people want to believe what they want to and will write what they want. I'm an easy target because I'm single. There is no point in clarifying anything," Jacqueline was quoted in Mumbai Mirror. The link-up rumours started during the shoot of their film 'Bang Bang 2' in Miami. On a related note, the 'Kick' actress would be seen in 'Dishoom' and in superhero film A 'Flying Jatt' opposite Tiger Shroff . While Sidharth will be seen next in 'Baar Baar Dekho' opposite Katrina Kalf. Censorship Board of Malaysia today said the Rajinikanth starrer blockbuster movie Kabali will have a different ending in the country with a message of crime does not pay added at the climax. The decision has left local fans of the superstar fuming. LPF chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said the board had requested the makers for the alterations in the movie, so that the viewers continue respecting the law. Normally under our guidelines, there must be some kind of element of retribution in the movie. Especially if the characters shown in the movies are involved in crime, then there must be some kind of comeuppance for that. So, we asked the producer to put in a caption. This was to send a message that the law cannot be taken into your own hands, Abdul Halim said. The film ran to full shows yesterday with fans queuing up hours before the show. Set in Malaysia, the movie features Rajinikanth as a gangster, who was framed for a crime decades ago. The original ending scene in the movie was intentionally left ambiguous, but the local version leaves nothing to the audience's imagination. Abdul Halim also admitted that the board had censored several scenes in the Kollywood film, but stressed that all the cuts were only five minutes in total and that the storyline of the movie was still intact. He explained the cuts were only several seconds long for each scenes, including one controversial scene that included the use of the word keeling, a term derogatory to ethnic Indians in Malaysia. The word was muted in local screenings. "We have our own guidelines and anything that we feel could be sensitive, we censor. We took off the word and it's better that way because if we do not do that, then the people will allege that we practice selective censorship." The scene in the original unedited version has since been slammed in Malay paper Mingguan Malaysia today. An article had accused the film of deliberately flaming racial tensions in the country by portraying the ethnic Indians as an oppressed minority. Another article also accused the film screenwriter of misunderstanding the lives of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia. Despite that, Abdul Halim said the main reason for the censorship was to make the movie a PG-13-rated film, so it could be seen by more Malaysians. Eight percent of multi ethnic Muslim majority of Malaysia's population is Indian, mostly Tamil. However, he said that each person is a leader in self. Mumbai: Irrfan Khan, who recently met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna, has said he has no interest in politics and he meets all the politicians only for his film Madaari. In a conversation with ETV News Head Jagdeesh Chandra, Irrfan Khan said, Politics is not part of my job. I dont have any interest in politics. I meet politicians for films. However, he said that each person is a leader in self. The 49-year-old Bollywood actor also insisted that his work is to make the role in the film real, not to be included in the Rs. 100 crore club of the industry. My intention is to entertain the audience through a film. I never think about 100 crores, 200 crore clubs, he said. The actor also added that he wants people to remember him for his work and not for his collection of movies. Replying to a poser about the online leak of movies, Irrfan Khan said that piracy is a big threat to Bollywood. The industry should create pressure on the government to stop it, he said. New Delhi: Yami Gautam, who has been dragged into her 'Sanam Re' co-star Pulkit Samrat and estranged wife Shweta Rohiras ugly public split, says she would not comment on anything that she finds disgusting. Shweta, rakhi sister of superstar Salman Khan, in a recent media interview, had accused Yami, 27, of being the reason behind the break-down of her year-old marriage to Pulkit. I will just generalise it that anything that I find too disgusting is not worth an answer, Yami told PTI. Shweta and Pulkit separated in 2015 after a year of marriage. Since then, the 32-year-old actor has been rumoured to be dating Yami. There have been rumours of a romance between the two actors since they starred in 'Sanam Re'. They went on to do another romantic drama 'Junooniyat', which released last month. The actress has so far declined to get drawn into the matter and says she wants to keep it that way. A few days ago, Pulkit had said that he and Yami are way beyond the stories written about their apparent off-screen romance. Its been nice that people have been loving the pairing. I havent seen such a response to any pairing for a long time. It feels very nice. It is a huge compliment for the hard work that we have put in. We really appreciate that. I am very happy, Pulkit said in an interview. Gossip or rumour about personal life does not bother me. If people are saying whatever they are saying, I take it as a compliment for the on-screen chemistry that we share. That means people like our work. Had people not liked our chemistry, they wouldnt have said anything about us. I dont care about the rumours. We are way beyond that. Passion is an overused word that actors use to express their love for cinema. But how many of these actors have sacrificed a career that earned them international name, fame and money and quit at the peak of their careers to follow their dream? Well, Tony Luke just did! The well known model who has blazed a trail on international ramps modeling for well known international brands quit his modeling career two years back, gave up his ultra glamorous lifestyle and moved to Kerala to pursue a career in films. The wait of three and a half years has borne fruit and how! Tony is a part of the Jeethu Joseph directed film Oozham that has Prithviraj in the lead. The model who is making his debut through this film is over the moon. I had wanted to be a part of Jeethus film from the time I heard about the project. I would even venture to say that I campaigned towards my goal. I totally gave up my modelling career for starters, learnt theatre and then sent Jeethu my photos and videos of my theatre work and TV commercials. I also kept in touch with him. Tonys happiness knew no bounds when he was called to assist in Jeethus film Life of Josutty. He continues, I watched and learnt from Life of Josutty and only after that became a part of Oozham. I did everything in a phased manner, step by step starting from being an active observer to at last facing the camera. Even a modicum of regret has never crept into Tonys mind as far as quitting modelling is concerned. Tony asserts, I was doing very well and was at the peak of my modelling career when I quit! But I realised that I could not model as well as be an actor; so I decided to bid goodbye to my modelling days. I moved to Kerala and have been here for the past two years but no one knew about that. I did theatre to hone my acting skills. Yes, I made a huge sacrifice but it was worth it when I landed this project! So did his debut film experience live up to his expectations? He replies, I cannot divulge anything about my role and though I do not share screen space with Prithviraj, I got to work with other talented actors like Pasupathy, JP and Anson Paul. Jeethu was a pleasure to work with; he has such a calm temperament and is very cool. Though it is my debut, I learnt a lot of aspects about filmmaking. Jeethu played the role of a teacher as well as director to me! Tony has another film directed by Sidhartha Siva which has Nivin Pauly in the lead. So alls well that begins well. The research was published in the journal Addiction. Melbourne: Alcohol consumption may cause seven types of cancer, including that of oesophagus, liver, colon and breasts, even in moderate drinkers, new research has warned. A review of epidemiological evidence found that alcohol caused about half a million deaths from cancer in 2012, 5.8 per cent of cancer deaths worldwide, researchers said. The highest risks are associated with the heaviest drinking, but a considerable burden is experienced by drinkers with low to moderate consumption. The researchers from University of Otago in New Zealand also found the current evidence that moderate drinking provides protection against cardiovascular disease is not strong. The review showed that alcohol consumption directly causes cancer at seven sites in the body: oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breasts. The causal link was supported by evidence for a dose-response relationship, at least partial reversal of risk when alcohol consumption is reduced, statistical adjustment for other factors that might explain the association and specificity of the association with some cancers and not others. The epidemiological evidence for these conclusions comes from comprehensive reviews undertaken in the last 10 years by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Global Burden of Disease Alcohol Group, and the most recent comprehensive meta-analysis undertaken by researchers at University of Otago, building on meta-analyses of the effect of alcohol on single cancers. The research was published in the journal Addiction. Merchants plying the ancient Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean moved more than gold, fabrics, spices and tea - they also exported gut parasites, researchers said. It has long been theorised that the Silk Road helped spread bubonic plague, leprosy, anthrax and other infectious diseases between East Asia, the Middle East and Europe - though concrete archaeological evidence has been scant. But now analysis of the contents of an ancient latrine along the route has revealed evidence that, traders, 2,000 years ago did indeed spread disease. The team from Britain and China examined faeces preserved on wood and bamboo sticks wrapped in cloth - the toilet paper of their day - that were excavated in 1992 at the Xuanquanzhi pit stop in north-west China. Unearthed from a latrine, dating back to 111 BC, during China's Han Dynasty, and which was still in use in 109 AD, seven samples yielded eggs from four types of parasite: roundworm, whipworm, tapeworm and Chinese liver fluke, the researchers wrote in the Journal of Archaeological Science, reports said. The fluke, a parasite that causes pain, diarrhoea, jaundice and liver cancer needs wet, marshy areas to complete a life cycle, whereas, Dunhuang is in an arid area on the edge of the desert. "The liver fluke could not have been endemic in this dry region," said a statement from Cambridge University, whose researchers took part in the study. "In fact, based on the current prevalence of the Chinese liver fluke, it's closest endemic area to the latrine's location in Dunhuang (in north-west China), is around 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) away, and the species is most common in Guandong Province- some 2,000 km from Dunhuang," the study said. Xuanquanzhi in Dunhuang was a popular stopping place for merchants, explorers, soldiers and government officials. "Finding evidence for this species (liver fluke) in the latrine indicates that a traveller had come here from a region of China with plenty of water, where the parasite was endemic," said study co-author, Piers Mitchell. "This proves for the first time that, travellers along the Silk Road really were responsible for the spread of infectious disease along this route in the past," he added. The Silk Road is so called for perhaps the most famous commodity that crossed its inter-connected network of trade routes criss-crossing Eurasia. A tiny repository of DNA inherited only from one's mother may be the key for healthy ageing, according to researchers, who swapped out mouse genes to prove the point. For a study published, the team created two sets of lab mice identical but for their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) - and found that one group was much healthier and sprightlier in old age. "The way we age might be determined long before the ageing process starts and the first signs appear," said a statement from the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Madrid, whose scientists took part in the study. Previous research had suggested that mtDNA variants could yield different health impacts, "but the issue remained very controversial due to contradictory observations," study leader, Jose Antonio Enriquez said. The new findings, however, "definitively demonstrate" that this is true, he said. Every cell in the human body holds about 20,000-25,000 genes, almost all of them in the nucleus- so-called nuclear DNA. But 37 others reside in tiny structures called mitochondria, which turn sugar and oxygen into energy and power our cells. While nuclear DNA is transferred to offspring by both parents, mtDNA is inherited from the mother alone. Sometimes, genetic mutations can cause mitochondria to malfunction, resulting in organ failure and even death. Both strains of mtDNA used in the study were healthy, with only a 0.5-percent difference in genetic coding. All the rodents were bred to have the same nuclear DNA. 'Mind-Boggling' Mice in one group "were ageing healthier, and had a median life span longer than" the other, Enriquez explained by email. Lab mice have a life expectancy of just over two years. Comparing a specimen from each test group at the age of two, the researchers remarked that one showed "evident signs of superior health". It has "more abundant and more lustrous fur," they noted, "is more robust, has more muscular mass, and is more active." Liver function was also better. "Regarding the central fact that different mtDNA variants may contribute to the natural differences between individuals, we don't see any reason why this would be different in humans," said Enriquez. Experts not involved in the study called the results surprising. Few would have expected that mixing and matching mtDNA would have such an obvious effect. And while the implications for human health remain unclear, commentators said the results may be important for the field of "pronuclear transfer" - a technique for producing embryos free of mitochondrial diseases carried by their mothers. The work "is an important contribution to the necessary and continuing debate concerning mtDNA replacement," said Robert Lightowlers, director of the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences at Newcastle University. Stem cell researcher Dusko Ilic of King's College, London described the results as "fascinating and mind-boggling," though further study must determine whether they could be replicated in humans. London: For those who thought their childbearing years were over, there's good news. A team of researchers has found a way to keep you going even after menopause. The team claimed that the technique, wherein periods are restarted by rejuvenating ovaries to release fertile eggs, even worked on a woman who had not menstruated in five years, The Mirror reported. Scientists were successful in fertilising her two eggs using her husband's sperm. Now, the embryos are on ice before they are implanted in her uterus. Another 30 women who want children have had the treatment, which is said to have worked in two-thirds of cases. Gynaecologist, Konstantinos Sfakianoudis from the Greek fertility clinic, Genesis, Athens said, "It offers a window of hope that menopausal women will be able to get pregnant using their own genetic material." The team found that ovaries can be restarted with a blood treatment, used to help wounds heal faster called Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which helps trigger growth of tissue and blood vessels. When injected into older ovaries, it was found to restart menstrual cycle, allowing the team to collect and fertilise eggs released, according to the New Scientist. Roger Sturmey at Hull York Medical School in the UK said, "It is potentially quite exciting. But it also opens up ethical questions over what the upper age limit of mothers should be. A hot-air balloon named "Morton", flown by Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov, about to take to the skies for a round-the-world trip from Northam in Western Australia. (Photo: AFP) Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov on Saturday broke the record for the fastest round-the-world flight in a hot air balloon, his crew said. Flight coordinator John Wallington said Konyukhov, who took off from Western Australia on July 12, had successfully flown the route by Saturday afternoon but had yet to land. His journey, taking just over 11 days, is faster than the record set by the late American adventurer Steve Fossett who in 2002 became the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon in a feat which took 13 days. The record is broken no question, Wallington said, adding that Konyukhov had flown his balloon almost exactly over his starting point. He flew over the same field which he took off from. The flight route has taken Konyukhov, who is in his 60s, from Australia to above New Zealand, across the Pacific Ocean, South America, the Cape of Good Hope and the Southern Ocean. During the journey of some 34,823 kilometres, he has been confined to the lightweight gondola which is hung with more than than 30 steel cylinders of propane gas. Wallington said the last 24 hours of the trip had been uneventful for the experienced Russian explorer but joked that the previous 10 days have been awful. On Konyukhovs website, which has tracked his progress, he has spoken of the strong polar jet stream which pushed him towards Antarctica as he approached Australia, saying it was scary to be so down south and away from civilisation. Fedor Konyukhov from Russia. (Photo: AFP) This place feels very lonely and remote. No land, no planes, no ships, he said at the time. Although equipped with sophisticated instruments, conditions inside the carbon fibre gondola were tough, with Konyukhov using an oxygen mask at higher altitudes. He was also dealing with extremely cold temperatures which at times reached minus 35 degrees Celsius and saw a layer of ice several centimetres thick form on the gondola. Conditions could also be dangerous, with the balloonist flying blind as he approached the coast of South America as night fell. He encountered snow and ice crystals as he flew through clouds and severe and turbulence caused his propane cylinders to smash into each other. A nice thing to do Konyukhovs son Oscar, among those cheering his fathers achievement, said the chances of completing a round-the-world solo flight on the first attempt were one chance of a billion. But... we still have to land him safely, so we need to be careful, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The crew hope to get Konyukhov on solid ground before nightfall, but have raised the prospect of keeping the adventurer in the air if no safe place is found to bring him down. Oscar Konyukhov admitted that landing was a very dangerous operation. We have some wind now so well wait until the very late afternoon for the wind to drop and then we will guide him to a big field to slow down and descend, he said. Konyukhov, who has previously conquered both the north and south poles solo, and sailed a 27-metre-long (89-feet) boat round the world alone was not motivated by breaking the record, Wallington said. He just thought it would be a really nice thing to do, he said of the round-the-world journey. Breaking a record is a nice bonus, but the objective was just to fly around the world. After watching the movie Kabali, Vasanth Paul was returning back home when he took an alternative route that turned out to be the best decision of his life. It is often very easy to ignore some mishap when your life is at risk. But this Chennai-based model and photographer is being appreciated and praised all over social media for his selflessness. After watching the movie Kabali, Vasanth Paul was returning back home when he took an alternative route that turned out to be the best decision of his life. Paul who was passing back an empty land heard some cries and when he halted, it turned out that it was a girl who was screaming for help from a gang of three who were trying to rape her. Paul in his Facebook post claimed that soon he was fighting the three guys who even tried to strangle him with a rope. The girl was saved and soon also an auto driver came to help Paul. He posted about the incident on Facebook and the post since then has gone viral. He also writes a moral inspired from this situation, Dont be afraid to face a situation, just cos youre alone... if the cause is right, the world would join you right away!!!!! Heres what his original post read: The deceased, Shruthi, was a resident of Anandpura in T.C. Palya. Shruthi was earlier living with transgenders Ashwini, Myna, Sonu and Sheethal in Amruthahalli. (Representational Image) Bengaluru: A 25-year-old transgender was beaten to death by four other transgenders near Raghavendra Circle in T.C. Palya in Ramamurthynagar police limits on Saturday night. The deceased, Shruthi, was a resident of Anandpura in T.C. Palya. Shruthi was earlier living with transgenders Ashwini, Myna, Sonu and Sheethal in Amruthahalli. As Shruthi had some financial dispute with the four, she moved out and started living with Vani in a rented house in Anandpura. But the four transgenders were reportedly forcing her to live with them, but Shruthi had refused. The four were nursing a grudge against her over the issue. Around 11 pm on Saturday, Shruthi and Vani were going in an autorickshaw to Amruthahalli. The four accused chased the two in another rickshaw. They waylaid the auto and picked up a fight with Shruthi. Following a heated argument, the four allegedly assaulted both Shruthi and Vani. They pushed Shruthi to the ground and she sustained head injuries. The four also allegedly kicked and stamped on Shruthis chest and abdomen. Meanwhile, a few local residents intervened and pacified them, the police said. Shruthi was rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to injuries around 5 am on Sunday. After the incident, the accused have vacated their house and special teams have been formed to trace them, the police said. A murder case is registered in Ramamurthynagar police station. Labourer murdered by friend Samesh Burman, 30, was bludgeoned to death by his friend Vinod in A. Narayanapura in Mahadevapura police limits. Burman, who hailed from West Bengal, was living with his wife and children in a temporary shed for the last one-and-a-half years. The accused, Vinod, who hailed from Bihar, came to Bengaluru recently and was living in a shed to next to Burmans. As both worked at the same site, they had become friends and Vinod used to visit Burmans shed every day. Burman had noticed Vinod eyeing his wife and had told Vinod not to come to his shed. On Saturday night, they had an argument and an enraged Vinod picked a wooden log and hit Burman on the head, killing him on the spot. He threw the body about 100 metres away from the shed and escaped. On Sunday morning, passersby noticed the body and alerted the police. Efforts are on to nab the accused, the police said. Hyderabad: Two construction workers died and 10 others were injured when an under-construction building of Film Nagar Cultural Centre collapsed at Film Nagar on Sunday morning. The labourers were working on a new extension to the main building of FNCC. The victims were identified as Mansoor Sheik, 35, from Murshidabad, West Bengal and H. Mahantesh, 38, from Raichur, Karnataka. Both were trapped under the concrete and iron bars in the collapse. The injured were pulled out of the debris by the rescue team and sent to Apollo Hospital. NDRF personnel also joined the rescue. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao offered condolences to the family members of the deceased and directed the authorities to provide better treatment to the injured. Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav visited the spot and promised action against those responsible. Senior police officials said cases were also booked against FNCC president K.S. Rama Rao, secretary Raja Shekar Reddy, engineer Sudhakar Rao, and contractor Kondal Rao. In the preliminary probe, it was found that the pillars were hollow. The probe team found the pillars broke without proper concreting. Workers had no break for a full day Workers said that they had been working at the FNCC site for more than 24 hours without sleep as the contractor had promised to pay them extra to finish the work before Sunday afternoon. The victims had been working since Saturday morning. When they were about to stop work at night, the contractor asked them to continue and finish it before Sunday afternoon, said a victims relative. Workers said they were paid between Rs 300 and Rs 350; the contractor had promised to pay up to Rs 750. Fire brigade, cops took an hour to start After the FNCC building collapsed on Sunday, police and fire personnel took more than an hour to start rescue operations. Though the emergency services were alerted by locals, they reached the spot much later. Locals and workers started rescue operations by themselves. At least five people were rescued by locals before help arrived. The NDRF team reached the spot after most of the survivors were pulled out, said witnesses.In the initial hours, police could not control onlookers, who hampered the work. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in Kashmir on a two-day visit to review the law and order situation. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI) Srinagar: Congress on Saturday decided not to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here on a two-day visit to review the law and order situation, on Sunday, saying the PDP-BJP coalition government seems to be "interested in meetings only" and not in any people-friendly steps. "We had a long meeting on July 21 with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti where even BJP ministers and leaders were present. Its been two days since then and we are yet to see even a single people-friendly step being taken," Pradesh Congress President G A Mir said here. He said it seems that the state and Central government is "only interested in meetings and not to translate the decisions taken into action. "Ironically, neither the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) nor the home minister himself has condemned the brutal use of force on civilians. They have only held meetings," he said. The Congress leader said whatever his party had to say has been conveyed to the state chief Minister on July 21 during the All Party Meeting. "It's upto her what she wants to convey to the visiting Home Minister," he said. In the meantime, main opposition National Conference will be leading a six-member strong delegation headed by its working President Omar Abdullah to meet Singh on Sunday. The delegation will be submitting a memorandum highlighting continued failure of the state government besides projecting the problems faced by the people of the state for last fortnight. The court had on November 20 last year allowed the plea of a complainant seeking a direction to the officials of EC and Delhi University to bring records of Irani's qualifications. Union Minister Smriti Irani (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Delhi State Election Commission on Saturday told a Delhi court that the original affidavits and some other documents, filed by candidates who had contested 2004 Lok Sabha poll from Chandni Chowk, including Union Minister Smriti Irani and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, were "not traceable". The poll panel, however, said that this information was available on its website. The submission was made by the official in pursuance to court's order which had sought records regarding educational qualifications of Irani, against whom a complaint was filed for allegedly giving false information in affidavits to the poll panel. "The original election forms and affidavits of all candidates who contested Lok Sabha election from Chandni Chowk in 2004 are not traceable despite best efforts. However, their photocopies are available on the commission's website," the poll panel official told Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh. An affidavit was also filed by the official regarding the information furnished by Irani while contesting 2004 election. Meanwhile, the court completed recording of statement of complainant Ahmer Khan, a freelance writer, and posted the matter for further hearing on August 27. The court had on November 20 last year allowed the plea of a complainant seeking a direction to the officials of EC and Delhi University to bring records of Irani's qualifications after he said he was unable to place them before the court. The complainant had claimed that Irani had deliberately given discrepant information about her educational qualification in affidavits filed before the poll panel in 2004, 2011 and 2014 and not given any clarification despite concerns being raised on the issue. New Delhi: Following the arrest of yet another Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA on charges of allegedly threatening a woman, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched a fresh wave of attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being behind the arrest. The Delhi Police Commissioner (South East) confirmed the news to ANI about the arrest of the AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan. "Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA," tweeted Kejriwal. Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 The alleged incident took place on July 10, when a 35-year-old woman went to the residence of Amanatullah in South Delhi 's Batla House locality after a telephonic conversation with him to complain about poor electricity supply in the area. The complainant has alleged that a supporter of Khan was abusing her on the orders of the AAP MLA. Amanatullah is likely to be produced at 12:30 p.m. at Saket Court on Sunday. However, the AAP yesterday rubbished the charges that its Okhla MLA misbehaved with a woman and instead claimed that the Delhi Police 'pressurised' the woman to give a false statement against its legislator. Party MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was earlier in June booked in a sexual harassment case. Another party MLA Prakash Jarwal was also booked for sexual harassment and molestation. Guntur: Minister for civil supplies P. Sunitha has appealed to organisations and associations to serve the devotees during Krishna Pushkaralu in all possible manner. Addressing a press meet at Guntur on Saturday, Ms Sunitha said that GDRMA came forward to provide food to the devotees during 12 days of Krishna Pushkaralu which would start on August 12. The minister said that the civil supplies department was concentrating to provide all basic amenities, including food with the help of philanthropists and informed that 1.36 lakh volunteers came forward to serve the devotees during Pushkaralu. She said that the government will provide facilities to supply food packets to the devotees and mentioned that food would be distributed from 10 am to 4 pm during the 12 days of Pushkaralu. Ms Sunitha said that there are complaints about ration cardholders collecting mo-ney without taking subsidy rice, which is against the norms. She asked the white ration cardholders to return those cards if they do not need rice and warned of ca-ncellation of white ration cards and action against ration shop dealers if they try to purchase subsidy rice. The minister said that the issue of increasing commission to dealers is under consideration of CM N. Chandrababu Naidu and soon he will take a decision. GDRMA president Bhaskar Rao said that their association has decided to provide food to 12,000 devotees per day the Pushkaralu. New Delhi: Border guarding forces of India and Pakistan will hold their bi-annual DG-level talks on issues related to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border (IB) this week in Lahore. Officials said the meeting will take place on July 27-28 and senior officials from here, led by BSF Director General K K Sharma, will leave for Pakistan on Monday. The other members of the 22-member Indian delegation will cross over from the Attari-Wagah land border at Amritsar. The last such meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers was held here in September last year. Officials said the IB has been "relatively less volatile" in nearly nine months since the last meeting between the two forces compared to the frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2015. But infiltration and drugs smuggling continued to be a matter of concern. They said the bi-annual meeting between the two border guarding forces has been delayed due to a number of bilateral issues. The Indian side, during thier talks at the Rangers headquarters in Lahore, is also expected to raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the IB. Last time the two sides had met in Delhi and it was decided not to fire heavy artillery like mortar shells and ensure that civilians living along the IB were not harmed. The two forces had also decided that their officials, right up to the level of Directors General, will exchange mobile numbers, email ids and fax numbers for swift communication to resolve disputes on the IB running through Indian states of Jammu-Kashmit, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The DG-level talks between the two sides are a bi-annual affair but many a time these meetings have not taken place due to strain in relations. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi as Sheila Dikshit and Ghulam Nabi Azad begin a three-day bus yatra 27 saal, UP behaal from the party headquarters, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Congress kicked off its campaign for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, with the partys top leaders on Saturday embarking on a three-day bus yatra under the banner of 27 Saal UP Behaal. Party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi flagged off the yatra. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit, PCC chief Raj Babbar, campaign committee chief Sanjay Sinh, MP Pramod Tiwari, CLP leader Pradeep Mathur, MP P.L. Punia and others have joined the yatra, which will cover 568 km in the three districts of Moradabad, Shahjahanpur and Kanpur. The party will target the BJP, SP and the BSP. At least 27 leaders will be part of the yatra, including five senior vice-presidents, five campaign committee members and 10 coordination committee members. The party is yet to reveal the number of seats it will contest on its own and its pre-poll alliances. The yatra is aimed at reaching out to the public and highlighting the failure of successive governments in Uttar Pradesh in the past 27 years, ever since the Congress was voted out of power in the state. Castes and communal polarisation continues to play a decisive role in the elections in Uttar Pradesh, which has given at least nine Prime Ministers to the country since Independence, including incumbent Narendra Modi, who represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha. The last 27 years have seen the rule of the BJP, BSP and the Samajwadi Party but this has not changed the profile of the most populous state, which remains in the grip of caste and muscle power. The Congress, which got only two Lok Sabha seats from the state, is hoping that anti-incumbency against the state government and the Centre will make it relevant again. It has hired poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who had worked for Mr Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, to revive the party in UP. The yatra will cover Ghaziabad, Hapur, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Kannauj and Kanpur and the leaders will address three to four public meetings in the three days. It will halt at Moradabad on the first day (July 23), covering important places in western Uttar Pradesh, and proceed to Shahjahanpur, covering Rampur and Bareilly, and on the third day it will cover Hardoi, Kannauj and then end in Kanpur. Mr Azad, the AICC general secretary in charge of UP, said the party will aim to form a government in UP. The party does not believe in dividing people on religious and caste lines and seeks to unite them instead, he said. Swati said that she had lodged an FIR against the "misdeeds" of BSP workers led by Naseemuddin Siddqui "at the behest of Mayawati". (Photo: ANI/ Twitter) Lucknow: Swati Singh, wife of expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh, who had questioned Mayawati's character, today met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and lodged a complaint over foul language allegedly used by BSP workers against women of her family during their protests. Swati said that she had lodged an FIR against the "misdeeds" of BSP workers led by Naseemuddin Siddqui "at the behest of Mayawati". She submitted a CD containing video of the protest by BSP workers on Thursday and the Governor has assured that necessary action would be taken after examining it, Swati said. Read: BJP demands sacking of BSP leader over 'abusive' slogan She alleged that during the protest, BSP workers raised objectionable slogans against her mother-in-law, daughter and herself. If Mayawati was "hurt" by Singh's remark against her, then slogans raised by BSP workers were "equally disturbing" for Dayashankar's family, she said, adding the BSP chief's allegation that she is working on the directives of BJP is "completely baseless". After Dayashankar had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments against the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratbal and raised slogans against the BJP's now expelled leader's family. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday on a complaint of Dayashankar Singh's mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used "abusive language" against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised "derogatory" slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday during which Singh's 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. A delegation of BJP office-bearers, led by its state president, yesterday met the Governor and demanded immediate arrest of Naseemuddin Siddiqui. They also submitted a memorandum stating that derogatory language was used against women members of Singh's family during protest by BSP workers. New Delhi: Observing that over-centralisation of decisions at the organisational level was giving rise to a series of fault lines, the RSS has asked the BJP high command to initiate a dialogue with senior party leaders and involve them. Sources disclosed that in the recent meeting of the RSS at Kanpur, it was observed that senior party leaders, including top ministers, were being kept out of the loop regarding some crucial organisational decisions. A list of top leaders who need to be consulted has been drawn up. It was learnt that during the meeting, the BJP high command, particularly party president Amit Shah, was informed that a section of senior party leaders, including ministers, had observed that they were not being consulted in key policy decisions of the party. Some BJP leaders felt that some decisions were being taken unilaterally. The RSS top brass asked the BJP high command to take this into consideration and meet the senior leaders and seek their opinion on organisational issues. Mr Shah and RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal have so far met home minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, L.K. Advani and I&B minister M. Venkaiah Naidu. The leaders were also consulted about the reshuffle in the organisation. The RSS felt that Mr Advani should also be taken into confidence. There is apprehension that if Mr Advani was ignored, he could embarrass the party leadership in the run-up to the UP polls. Sources disclosed that Mr Rajnath Singh, who is also called the son of the soil, felt that the party and the government should highlight issues of farmers and also focus on the rural votebank. Speculation is rife that Mr Shah could announce his new team next week. An FIR was registered against four persons but no action was taken. (Photo: PTI) (Representational Image) Lucknow: A communal clash between two communities over an incident of eve teasing this week, has prompted ten Hindu families in Aligarh district to seek permission for selling their properties. This comes close on the heels of reports of migration by Hindu families in Kairana in Shamli district last month. The families in Aligarh, on Friday, submitted applications to the office of the district magistrate, seeking permission for the sale of properties. Aligarh mayor Shakuntala Bharti, who accompanied the families to the district magistrates office, said that people belonging to one community were making it difficult for these families to continue living in their houses in Babri Mandi area. Almost every other day, women belonging to Hindu families are being subjected to harassment and eve-teasing. The police refuse to act on the complaints and the accused persons are getting emboldened, the Mayor said. The most recent incident took place on Wednesday when some miscreants accosted a newly married couple and tried to molest the woman. The victim screamed for help and when her family members came out, the other group started pelting stones which led to a major clash in the area. An FIR was registered against four persons but no action was taken. She said that the minority appeasement policy being pursued by the state government was playing havoc with members of the majority community living in these areas. Those who want to sell their properties in the area include Kapil Gupta, Ankur Varshaney, Muk-esh Agarwal, Yogesh Varshaney, Girish Chandra, Amit Varshaney, Annu Agarwal, Rakesh and Mahesh Chandra and Mukesh Singh. Meanwhile, the officiating district magistrate Avadesh Tiwari said that the district administration would take necessary action to assure the families so that they do not migrate. He said that action would soon be taken in Wednesdays clashes and the family would be provided adequate security.k The decision comes in the middle of a blow-up between the two nations over Beijing's role in blocking Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). (Photo: AP/ Representational Image) New Delhi: India has decided to expel three senior Chinese journalists employed with China's official news agency Xinhua following "concerns" flagged by the intelligence agencies. According to reports, Wu Qiang, Xinhua bureau chief in Delhi, along with two of his Mumbai-based colleagues Lu Tang and She Yonggang, were asked to leave the country by July 31. This is probably the first time that India has asked Chinese journalists to leave the country in this manner. This was done because of adverse reports from intelligence agencies about the three journalists. They were suspected of impersonating other people and visiting restricted facilities under assumed names. The reports led the authorities to cancel the visas of the three Xinhua employees. Wu had been staying in India on an extended visa for 6 years. His two colleagues had also been given visa extensions. Xinhua is the most influential news agency in China, being the mouthpiece of the government in a country where the media is tightly controlled. Its president is said to be a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. While Xinhua was confirmed the development in Beijing, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) chose not to officially comment on the issue. The decision to not renew the visas of Chinese journalists comes in the middle of a blow-up between the two nations over Beijing's role in blocking Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). India, a non-NPT signatory, has singled out China for creating "procedural hurdles" to block its membership. Beijing has stood its ground saying that NPT, which India refuses to sign, remained the cornerstone for international non-proliferation regime. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar being briefed on search ops of missing IAF AN-32 at Naval Air station INS Rajali. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Chennai: After 48 hours of frantic search involving assets drawn from Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard, airforce authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft. "We have received a complaint that Air Force's AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing," a senior police official said on Sunday. "The complaint was lodged last night with Selaiyur police," he said. "The complaint says that 29 personnel on board AN-32 and the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu," the official said. Such a complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar plaint was filed when Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the search operations for the AN-32 aircraft involving multiple agencies continued for the third consecutive day. AN-32, IAF's Port Blair bound transport plane went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base here by 8.30 AM on July 22. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. Four members of the family were allegedly attacked for storing beef in their house. (Representational Image: PTI) Bengaluru: A Dalit family was allegedly attacked by members of the Bajrang Dal for storing beef in their house in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. According to a Hindustan Times report, Dalit rights group have claimed that 30-40 members of the right-wing organisation attacked 53-year-old Balrajs family for having meat in their house last Sunday. The general secretary of the Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum claimed that Bajrang Dal men mercilessly thrashed four members of the family with sticks. While Balraj suffered a fracture in his hand, the others escaped with minor internal injuries. All of them were treated at a local hospital and have been discharged. Dalit rights groups took the matter to the police and a case has been registered against at least 40 people for the attack under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act of 2015. Right groups are planning to hold a protest march Chalo Jaipura on Monday to agitate against the alleged attack. The incident bears striking resemblance to the Dadri lynching in Uttar Pradesh, where a raging mob murdered Mohammad Akhlaq over rumours that he had slaughtered a cow. SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday visited frontier Kupwara where she met the families of slain youth. Hitting out at elements who were glorifying the killings in Kashmir and playing politics over graves, Ms Mufti said they never bother to look back at the victims families and sought public cooperation to end violence which has only brought destruction to the state. Visiting the affected families in Kupwara and offering them all possible help, she said, I am pained to see that all these victim families belong to the poorest of poor sections of the society. Violence has only brought destruction to our state and left behind a trail of tragedies in the shape of hundreds of orphans, destitutes and widows who are living a miserable life because of lack of any institutionalised support, she said. She said those who were glorifying these killings and playing politics over the graves of the poor youth, never bother to look back at the plight of the victims' families once the things settle down. Whenever economic activities start picking up in Kashmir with an increase in tourist arrivals as had happened this year, several quarters with vested interests gang up to orchestrate another spate of deadly violence and push the people towards further economic deprivation, she said. The Chief Minister stressed that violence hits every aspect of the local economy with tourism and education being main targets, an official spokesman said.She alleged that there were reports of educational migration with many affluent families preferring the educational institutions outside the state for their children. People have to ponder over what is going on and who is getting hurt the most because of such situations. If there is peace, there will be development, tourism, employment and people will lead a happy and prosperous life, she said. The Chief Minister hailed people from various sections of the society for reaching out to the needy during the violence. She commended the dedication of doctors, paramedical staff, nurses, ambulance drivers, community relief organisations and individuals who put in their best efforts to help the affected people. Meanwhile, at the instance of the Chief Minister, Ms. Mufti, the government on Saturday made special arrangements to send five patients to AIIMS New Delhi for further specialized treatment. Out of them, four patients have already been shifted to AIIMS SRINAGAR: Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, on Saturday held a series of closed-door meetings with local players here in an endeavour to end two-week long unrest in the Valley which has claimed the lives of about 50 protesters, mainly in security forces firings. In the evening, the Home Minister held extensive discussion on the prevailing situation with Governor, N.N. Vohra, at Raj Bhavan here. About half an hour later, they were joined by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. The discussions would continue over the dinner, an official said. Ms Mufti, whose repeated appeals for ending protests and maintaining peace have failed to impress people, may also have a separate one-on-one meeting with Mr. Singh. New Delhi: Hitting out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his comments hoping Kashmir would soon be part of Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that dream will never come true. Pakistan has a dangerous dream that one day Kashmir will become a part of it. It will never come to reality. It is fuelling violence in Kashmir and has given them the pain of terrorism. Their designs will never succeed, Swaraj said, addressing a press conference. Pakistan PM called Burhan Wani a 'martyr'. Doesn't he know that Burhan Wani was a Hizbul Mujahideen Commander? Does he not know Wani carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head? That Wani was responsible for the murder of so many security and armed forces personnel? she asked, adding that Pakistan was perpetrating terror activities in India through Hafiz Saeed and other terrorists in an area which is integral part of India. Speaking regarding Sharif's comments on the security forces, Swaraj added, "A country which has used weapons against its own citizens has no right to speak about our police and military. Even in the most arduous conditions, our security agencies have shown respect for their countrymen. Over 1,700 personnel were wounded in the Kashmir unrest." Nawaz Sharif on Friday had said that said Kashmir would eventually be part of Pakistan one day. Backing the Kashmiris struggle in Kashmir, he said the 'independence movement' cannot be suppressed by using brute force. A day will come when Kashmir will accede to Pakistan. Pakistan will not abandon Kashmiris struggle to right to self-determination, he said while addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad. Pakistans civil and military leadership on also decided to approach the Human Rights Council of the United Nations to send a fact finding mission to Kashmir after the recent violence. The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by Sharif. The meeting demanded ban on the use of pellet guns in the Valley for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. It unanimously called upon the international community to condemn the blatant human rights violations and play their role in ensuring the realisation of human rights of the Kashmiri people through fulfilling its commitments towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the UNSC resolutions. Abhay Pachouri fell into the bore well and got stuck at 25 ft depth (Representational Image)(Photo courtesy: NDRF) Bhopal: A 22-hour-long rescue operation involving BSF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel could not save a three-year-old boy who fell into a 150-ft deep bore well in an agriculture field in a Madhya Pradesh village on Friday evening. Abhay Pachouri, resident of Sultanpur Kheria village under Dabra tehsil in Gwalior district was found dead after he was brought out of the long narrow pit on Saturday afternoon. He fell into the bore well and got stuck at 25 ft depth while returning home along with his grandmother and elder sister on Friday evening, officials said. The toddler was retrieved from the bore well after an uninterrupted rescue operation that ended at around 6 in the evening on Saturday and immediately rushed to the nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, Gwalior district collector Sanjay Goel said. Preliminary examinations suggest that the boy died of asphyxiation, he added. He, however, ruled out the possibility of snake bite being cause of death of the kid. However, exact cause of the death could be ascertained only by post-mortem tests, he added. There were apprehensions that poisonous snakes inhibiting the bore well might have stung the boy killing him before he was rescued. Accusing the SP and BJP of joining hands against her, Mayawati said the saffron party had pressured Samajwadi Party (SP) not to arrest expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh. (Photo: ANI Twitter) Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday launched a two-pronged attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh. Accusing the SP and BJP of joining hands against her, Mayawati said the saffron party had pressured Samajwadi Party (SP) not to arrest expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh. The Dalit leader also told reporters on Sunday: "If the SP, under pressure from the BJP, does not arrest Dayashankar Singh for disrespecting the chief minister's aunt and start legal proceedings against him, then the BSP, when it comes to power, will order an unbiased probe into the matter." Read: BSP-BJP in competition on using foul language: Akhilesh Yadav Speaking about BSP activists threatening and traumatizing Dayashankar Singhs daughter, Mayawati said, "The BJP would have been better off, if it had protested for the honour of a Dalit daughter along with Dayashankar Singh's daughter. "The BJP made Dayashankar Singh use foul language against me, and thought suspending him would win the hearts of Dalits, but this did not happen," Mayawati said. She said the BJP, by not holding protests against Singh's remarks on her, had shown its "anti-Dalit" mentality. Mayawati accused the Modi-led BJP was suppressing the voice of Dalits. BJPs Uttar Pradesh vice-president Dayashankar Singh was sacked from all posts and then expelled from the party last week for calling Mayawati worse than a prostitute. Singh had claimed that Mayawati sold poll tickets to the highest bidder, and was thus worse than a prostitute. The Uttar Pradesh elections are due for next year and BJP, BSP, SP and Congress have all begun preparations for it. Mangaluru: The family of Subedar K Ekanath Shetty, 51, in Guruvayankere, Belthangady Taluk, was taken by surprise on hearing that he was on the Indian Air Force plane that went missing. The Subedar had informed his wife Thursday night that he would fly to Port Blair after a leg surgery in Chennai only on July 30, said his shocked nephew Shashiraj Shetty. The family was therefore shocked on being told by officials that he too was among the 29 on board the IAF aircraft, which went off the radar 16 minutes after taking off from the Tambaram air base at 8.30 am . It was scheduled to land at Port Blair at around 11.30 am. "As uncle had himself informed us that he was going to Port Blair much later, we were confused by the news, but had no choice but to believe it," Mr Shashiraj told the Deccan Chronicle. Villagers, relatives, officials and politicians like MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA, Vasanth Bangera visited the subedar's house to offer their moral support to his distressed family. Mr Shetty's wife, Jayanthi, who went into shock after receiving the call informing her about his presence on the missing plane from senior military officials, had to be hospitalised, but has now been discharged. From Guruvayankere , about 50 kms from Mangaluru, the subedar was in his village for 10 days till July 9 to attend a family function. Having served in various places like Srinagar and Siachen,he was part of the Indian Peace-keeping Force in Sri Lanka. On retiring from the Army , he joined the Defense Service Corps. He has two children, Ashitha, doing her BCom and son Akshay, an SSLC student. Hyderabad: Stressing on the importance of believing that the nation is bigger than an individual, S.M. Khan, Director General, Registrar of Newspapers for India, on Saturday said that he learnt about this principle from former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It was during my many interactions with him during my tenure as Press Secretary of the former President and even after that that I learnt how important this philosophy was to ensure national integrity, peace and harmony in the country, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan also spoke about how Kalam had always stressed on deleting the I and me from human ego and about the importance the late President gave to maintaining strong inter-faith relations like he himself did. Kalam's love for Hyderabad was evident by his 22 visits to the city during his tenure as the President and the many years spent working on missile programmes at the DRDL, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan, who interacted closely with the former President for many years until his death last year on July 27, has almost completing writing his book The People's President APJ Abdul Kalam. The book is set to be released next month. The Foreword will be by Kalam's elder brother, A.P.J. Maraikyar whom the late President used to consider as a father figure, said Mr Khan. He was in the city to take part at an event organised by Media Council for Peace and Solidarity of India in the city. S. Ismail and Prashant Bandari of the Media Council for Peace and Solidarity of India also spoke at the event. Rajnath Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible. (Photo: DC/H U Naqash) Srinagar: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday warned Pakistan not to interfere in India's internal affairs and appealed to the people of Kashmir to help restore normalcy in the state. Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting, Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives. Singh said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state of J&K and not just need-based and asked Pakistan to stop meddling in the matter. Read: Dont do unto us what you don't want others to do unto you: Mufti tells Pak "As far as Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with Governor of J&K N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. (Photo: PTI) Addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to the state after holding talks with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and several delegations both in Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath said the Centre will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, "its role has not been 'paak' (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir." Read: Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh meets local leaders, trade unions boycott meet Asking people to give their "suggestions" to bring peace in the state, he said, "There is no need of any third force to improve the situation in Kashmir." Singh hit out at Pakistan, which he said is itself affected by terrorism and to end it on one hand it is killing terrorists after entering the Lal Masjid, while on the other it is asking our youth in Kashmir to take to arms. "This must stop," he said. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 resulting in 45 deaths. Private engineering colleges feel most students might actually not join even though they get seats in various colleges. (Representational image) Hyderabad: With nearly nine thousand engineering seats vacant and a similar number of candidates not getting any seat in the first phase, chances are most of the seats will be filled in the next round of counseling. But private engineering colleges feel most students might actually not join even though they get seats in various colleges. Ninety five percent of CSE (Computer Science Engineering), 88 percent of ECE (Electronics and Communication), 94 percent of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering and 100 percent of IT seats in convenor quota have been filled in the first phase. These were the most sought after courses by engineering aspirants. Of the balance, over nine thousand vacant seats, mechanical (2213) and civil (1067) account for more than thirty percent. The web options window for the second and final phase of counselling will be thrown open on July 24 and 25. All 9,000 candidates and even those who got a seat in first phase but desire to join a better college, can exercise options in the second phase. The seat allotment would be done on July 27. Hyderabad: Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and officials are racing against time to meet the target of planting 43 crore saplings set by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as part of ongoing Haritha Haram programme. The programme was launched on July 8 and was originally scheduled to be held for two weeks. It was supposed to end on July 22 but the CM extended the scheme by two more weeks to meet the target. The government could plant about 15 crore of the target of 43 crore saplings in the last two weeks. Going by the pace of plantation, the extension would not be enough to meet the target. The programme is likely to be stretched till the end of August. This would mean that the entire state administration would be engaged in planting saplings for the next one month. Mr Rao on Friday issued specific instructions to all ministers, MLAs, MLCs and officials to confine themselves to their home districts and constituencies and engage in Haritha Haram activities till the target is met. With this, the leaders who had returned to Hyderabad during the last two days, rushed to their home districts again to take part in Haritha Haram. Errabelli, Kadiam make peace Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari and MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao, who were earlier in the news for frequently indulging in war of words, came together for the first time as the representatives of the ruling party, taking part in the Haritha Haram. Mr Rao, recently joined the TRS, invited Mr Srihari to take part in the programme to plant one lakh saplings in his constituency on Saturday. Together, they planted saplings at Rayaparthy, Perkavedu, Kondapuram, and Somaram villages. After the TD lost the 2004 elections, this was the first time Mr Rao and Mr Srihari were seen on the same platform. Union minister for finance Arun Jaitley and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao greet each other at the Chief Ministers Camp Office in the city on Sunday. Hyderabad: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said courts should have the urge to expand to achieve faster development in the country. Mr Jaitley said that the mindset of the governments was totally different prior to 1991. But, he noted, all this changed after China, a big country that had similar populations and standards of living like India, made rapid strides in development in the 1980s. This changed the mindset of the Indian governments, which came forward to adopt economic reforms after 1991. While the reforms between 1991 and 1995 can be classified as one category, those from 1996 can be classified as other category. After Vajpayee came to power, the government opened up the telecom sector. The telecom sector is a living example how reforms can bring faster development. When BSNL and MTNL maintained monopoly for over 50 years in telecom sector, less than 10 per cent of Indias population had telephones. After the sector was thrown open to the private sector, we have more telephone connections than the population, he noted. Mr Jaitley said similar reforms in aviation, banking sector had contributed to growth. He said governments should be like facilitators and not try to regulate everything. One good thing was that the government reduced its role as controller. A regulator has been set up for each sector such as insurance, power etc., which takes independent decisions without the involvement of the government, he said. People gather at the site of the collapsed building being constructed by the Film Nagar Cultural Club at Filmnagar, Hyderabad, on Saturday. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: GHMC zonal commissioner Gaurav Uppal issued seizure orders for the Film Nagar Cultural Club on Sunday evening. GHMC commissioner Dr B. Janardan Reddy has ordered a probe into the matter as the under-construction building did not have prior approvals. Officials lodged complaints with the Banjara Hills police against the club officials and the contractor. Mayor B. Rammohan, who oversaw rescue operations, said action would be taken. Indirectly blaming the GHMC, home minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy said, Although there was a court order, the club took up the construction. Based on the complaints lodged by GHMC and the victims of the incident, Banjara Hills police registered cases against film cultural club authorities, the contractor and the engineer of the construction. We have launched a search operation to nab the contractor identifed as Kondal Rao and the engineer as one Sudhakar. It was found that the strength of the pillars was very poor and PVC pipes were found in the pillars. The plan given by the engineer had defects. We are concentrating on the Town Planning officials for their negligence, a police official said. Founder member Khaja Suryanarayana said the club had lodged a complaint with the police against the contractor and the engineer. He said it was not a new building, and the club was extending its portico. We have decided to provide compensation to the victims families along with jobs to one from each of the deceaseds family, he said. Bhopal: In a bizarre but shocking incident, a boy, born out of gang rape of a woman in a Madhya Pradesh village, has been denied admission in a school on the ground that there was no clarity on his father in his birth certificate. The unwed mother and his son have been knocking the doors of local administration in east Madhya Pradesh district of Dindori for the past two years seeking justice to them, official reports reaching here on Sunday said. The incident has been reported in a fringe village of district headquarters town of Dindori. Three local youths- Malle Singh, Om Prakash and Basant Das accused of raping the woman in 2003, walked free after spending three years in jail after being acquitted of the charges due to lack of witnesses. The woman gave birth to her son on March 15, 2004. According to the official reports, local panchayat secretary P.H. Paraste had mentioned names of three rape accused in the column left for providing fathers name, in the boys birth certificate, causing problems for him. BENGALURU: Lakhs of commuters will have a hard day on Monday, as members of the KSRTC Staff and Worker's Federation started their indefinite strike from Sunday evening, demanding at least 30 per cent hike in their salaries and other perks. The state government made alternative arrangements for the people and also empowered Deputy Commissioners to declare two-day holiday for schools and colleges in their respective districts. In Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru and most other districts, the schools and colleges will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Some schools in Bengaluru announced holiday on Monday and said they would take a decision later on closing the institutions on Tuesday. Some private schools in the city had not sent out information to the parents about the closure, leaving the parents angry and confused. However, schools and colleges will remain open in Dakshina Kannada district. In Bengaluru Urban, holidays are only for classes below second PUC. Ahead of the protest, members of the federation had taken KSRTC and BMTC buses off the road on Sunday evening, as talks between the Federation and the government failed. Around 150 buses stayed off the road as second shift employees of Rajarajeshwarinagar depot in the city stayed away from the work. Similar situation was reported in other depots of the city. To control the crisis, the government has allowed private buses to ply within city limits. Maxi-cabs and mini-buses too have been allowed to run their vehicles during the course of the strike. Frequency of Metro Train services will also be increased, with a train scheduled every five to six minutes during the duration of the protest. Based on demand, timing of the last train is also expected to be extended till 11 pm. Dont inconvenience people: CM to staff Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested KSRTC and BMTC staff to call off their indefinite stir plan in view of inconvenience to general public. In a press release here, he said KSRTC has won several laurels as the best state transport corporation in the entire country, thanks to its staff and employees. The decision to hike 10 per cent salary was taken after taking into account the financial condition of all four corporations and BMTC. The government would consider their demands in the coming days. Going on an indefinite strike would cause hardship to poor and needy people and especially poor patients. The government is ready for talks if the employees drop their strike plan, he said. Traffic police chief warns autos, cabs Keeping a close watch on errant autorickshaw drivers, taxis and private bus operators, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Hithendra said that suitable action will be initiated against those who try to take advantage of two-day bus strike and fleece the passengers. KOCHI: The family has not been able to fill the vacuum yet but the members heave a deep sigh knowing that the loss is not just that of the family but of the entire nation. A year after his death, former President and visionary A.P.J. Abdul Kalam haunts the young and old alike with vivid memories and inspiring words. And his grand nephew A.P.J.M.J. Sheikh Saleem says no one can replace Kalam, which is what the entire nation feels. Mr Saleem was in Kochi to attend the Kalam memorial meeting titled Kalam Smrtihi convened by the Vikram Sarabhai Science Initiative on Saturday, when a dance drama by 100 students of MET School, Perumbavoor, based on Wings of Fire was staged. I am overwhelmed. Tears fill my eyes when I understand that Kalam still fills the minds of children, Mr Saleem said after the staging of the dance drama. The first death anniversary of Kalam on July 27 will be commemorated on a grand scale at Rameswaram, his birth place, he said. A six-feet statue of Kalam will be unveiled near his burial place. The foundation stone for a memorial house for Kalam will be laid by Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar which will be attended by another Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu. The work on a knowledge centre also will be launched on the occasion, he said. In the evening, 10,000 youngsters will take out a knowledge rally from Pamban Bridge to Kalam memorial under the APJ International Foundation while one lakh saplings will be planted across Tamil Nadu to carry forward the memory of the humanist-scientist. Over 2,000 people visit Kalam memorial every day, which is situated on the national highway. The ground floor of his ancestral home is used by relatives while the first floor has been turned into a gallery with photos and other depictions on the life of Kalam and his presidency, said Mr Saleem. Chennai: The death of three employees of an eatery by asphyxiation after reportedly inhaling obnoxious gases while cleaning the restaurants underground sump on Perambur High Road sparked tension as scores of metro water workers, clad in blue shirts, gathered at the scene thinking that it was their colleagues that died in the accident, on Saturday afternoon. Tension prevailed as cops and the hotel management refused to let the metro water workers, and the cops brokered peace with them. The deceased were identified as Ramakrishnan, (20), Chappa Vinay, (22), and Satish, (21), employees of Sangeetha Veg Restaurant, and hailing from Lakshmipuram in Vijayanagaram, Andhra Pradesh. According to eyewitnesses, Ramakrishnan was tasked to open the sump to check for water supply from the terminal, after the metro water that dug up in front of the hotel confirmed supply to the hotel terminal, at around 1.30 pm. Soon after he raised the lid and peeked inside, he swooned into the sump. Panicking, Satish and Chappa Vinay lowered themselves into the sump. Since the trio did not come out, Kanagaraj, another employee, who rushed to rescue them, dropped his bid when he felt dizzy. The hotel management alerted the cops at around 2 pm, and Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Personnel (TNFRS) were roped in to bring the trio out of the sump. The trio was subsequently fished out and the paramedics from an ambulance service declared all three dead. The hotel staff then alerted customers having food to wind up early to help deal with the situation, while the employees themselves requested the management to grant them leave so as to mourn the death of their colleagues. The bodies of the trio were moved to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) for post mortem. A staff, requesting anonymity, said the hotel was not getting the water supply for the past 45 days. Since the water supply was reinstated only on Saturday, the hotel management asked our colleagues to clean the sump, which was not cleaned for the past four years, one of the staff members said. The staff also demanded that the kin of the deceased should be adequately compensated. This claim was confirmed by one of the police officers from the spot, who also re-affirmed that it was only the metro water sump the employees were asked to clean, and not any septic tank. Lack of awareness behind tragedy A team of engineers from both Chennai metropolitan water supply and sewerage board and Chennai corporation who visited the ill-fated Sangeetha Hotel on Saturday to ensure that their departments were not dragged into the accident discussed three possibilities for the death of hotel workers. Water contamination, excess chlorination or formation of carbon monoxide due to vaccum were discussed by the engineers, an informed metro water engineer said. In 90 per cent cases, sumps are relatively safe, when compared to septic tanks, but if there is a sewer leak near the water sump or kept unused for a long time, poisonous gas is always there to strike, he warned. Our zonal officer and local engineer arrived to check what exactly caused the death of the workers. Initially, they said it was a storm water drain, so we rushed to the spot, an informed corporation source said adding that the death was completely due to lack of awareness by the hotel supervisors When police traced him and asked him to show the spot where the incident occurred, he took them round the place for about three hours, but could not identify the location. Chennai: A tipsy youth's Face Book post claiming to have foiled a gang rape bid on Friday night, sent police on a wild goose chase on Saturday. The youth had four bottles of beer and watched Rajnikanth's action-packed Kabali before indulging in the chivalrous act. When police traced him and asked him to show the spot where the incident occurred, he took them round the place for about three hours, but could not identify the location. However, there is a wound around his neck and the police do not have a clue on what caused it. The youth Vasanth Paul of Chromepet, said to be a fashion model, had posted a comment saying he saw a gang rape attempt last night at Alandur and was engaged in a fist fight with one of the guys. According to his account, he was strangled by another guy with a thick jute rope. He said he was able to create enough time and space for the girl to get out by drawing the attention of an auto-driver, who came to their rescue. The auto driver beat the guys who ran away. The girl had gone with the auto driver, he had said. The FB post went viral with 1,800 persons commenting on it and 13,000 sharing the post. Following the post, police traced the youth and asked him about the incident. Paul said he watched Rajni starrer Kabali on Friday morning and had four bottles of beer with friends at T Nagar at night. When he was returning home in a two-wheeler, he turned towards Alandur after descending the Kathipara flyover to avoid police action for drunken driving. According to him, he saw the gang rape attempt at Alandur, but when police took him around to show the place, he was not able to spot the place after moving around the area for about three hours. The police are clueless since they neither know the spot nor the victim. The cause of the youth's wound is also not known. KOCHI: Former excise minister K. Babu has denied the allegations of corruption and misuse of official position during his tenure as minister in the UDF cabinet as mentioned in the Quick Verification Report (QVR) submitted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with the bar bribery case. He told reporters here on Saturday that the QVR was a pre-determined script. Denying the charges, Mr. Babu said he had not taken any decision personally during his tenure as the minister. All decisions were taken after discussions in the cabinet, he said. He had only implemented the abkari policy of the UDF government. There was no deviation from the UDF policy, he added. He also refuted the VACB charges that he had usurped the powers of the excise commissioner. The QVR submitted by the VACB in Muvattupuzha Vigilance court the other day has raised a series of charges against the minister involving corruption to the tune of Rs 100 crore. The VACB report stated the minister adopted different yardsticks for allocation of bar, beer and wine parlour licences with the intention of indulging in corruption. He also tampered with the list prepared by the excise commissioner in this regard, it said. Another major charge against the minister is that he deviated from the abkari policy of the government by issuing two different orders in a short span of three months. Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa lauded the efforts of Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu for obtaining the Centres sanction for the Washermenpet-Tiruvottiyur-Wimco Nagar metro rail project. Venkaiahs role was important and I was firm that he should participate in the inauguration of the works. As the Parliament is in session, I instructed the officials to schedule the function on Saturday to enable him to attend the function. I am really glad that he took part in the function, she said. The Chief Minister recalled that she flagged off the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch of the metro rail works on 29 June last year and she had invited Venkaiah for it. But, the Union Minister was unable to attend that function as he had gone abroad on official reasons. Venkaiah is a good friend of Tamil Nadu. He is the first in protecting Tamil Nadus welfare and obtaining centres approval for the states schemes, she said. When Venkaiah met her on 5 September 2014, she had discussed the demands of Tamil with him. She had also requested the central minister to get approval for Washermenpet-Tiruvottiyur-Wimco Nagar metro rail scheme. The Central and state government officials discussed the project following his advice and based on the discussion, the Urban Development ministry recommended the project and got Venkaiahs approval. When Venkaiah met the CM on 13 December 2015 to discuss flood relief, he informed her that his ministry had approved the metro rail project and had forwarded it to the Union finance ministry for approval. He also assured to take action for speedy approval of the project by the finance ministry, Jayalalithaa said. KOZHIKODE: The amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, making it mandatory for city buses also to have doors, is yet to take effect, as the High Court is yet to consider the petition filed by the bus operators to extend the date of implementation. The ultimatum to fix the door ended on July 5, and according to the petition, the court was set to consider the case on July 22. However, the case could not be considered due to the strike by lawyers. Kozhikode Bus Operators Association joint secretary Mohammed MKP said that nearly 20 per cent of the bus owners had fixed the doors and the rest sought extension. We took up the matter with Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran and he promised that the government would consider fixing central, automatic doors for city buses, so that an extra employee need not be hired, to man the doors, he said. Kerala State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) had taken up the matter after schoolchildren repeatedly fell from city buses which had no door when the drivers suddenly braked on roads full of potholes. Commission member Nazeer Chaliyam said that there was even a provision to suspend the registration of the bus. KeSCPCR had directed the Transport Commissioner and Transport secretary to amend the rule that permits city service buses to ply without doors. However, Kozhikode RTO C.K. Paulson said that the department would not take action against violators, until the High Court gives its final say on the date of implementation. However, he was not aware, whether any of the owners had fixed doors recently. Chennai: The Tamil Nadu BJP appears to toe a different line from that of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, that too despite Union power minister Piyush Goyal post-Assembly election finding Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa accessible. Though Mr Goyal who raised Jayalalithaa inaccessible issue during the May elections, finally realised that she was indeed accessible when he flew down to Chennai and called on her mid-July, it seems BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan is unlikely to change her stand in opposing the state government. Tamilisais latest gibe is not using Prime Minister Narendra Modis photos in the advertisements released by the state government for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I extension project (from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar) on Saturday. But at the function, Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naid showeredpraises on the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and said Narendra Modi is impressed with the work done by. Jayalalthaa and her council of Ministers. Despite economic slowdown, India remains a bright spot. And Tamil Nadu is a bright spot in the country, he said, while extending the Centres full support to the state. Venkaiah slams Congress: Meanwhile, Venkaiah slammed the Congress party for attempting to politicise the attack on dalits in Gujarat. The Congress is trying to project the BJP as anti-dalit. Political parties should act with responsibility, he said while speaking to reporters at the airport here on Saturday. This is cheap politics, he said on former Union minister P. Chidambarams remarks on the unrest in Kashmir following the killing of Commander of Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Kochi: Arshi Qureshi and his aide Rizwan Khan who were arrested by a joint team of Kerala police and the Maharashtras Anti Terror Squad from Mumbai recently, were brought to Kochi on Sunday in order to collect evidence in the case of forceful religious conversion. The duo who are suspected to have IS links, were flown in to the Nedumbassery airport in a special chartered aircraft under tight security by 12.30 noon and taken to the Kalamassery AR camp. Though they were expected to be taken to an Islamic study centre in Vytilla, the cops questioned them at the camp, sources said. The probe revealed that Qureshi had converted many people. Some of the people missing from Kerala attended a religious class taken by Qureshi in Mumbai, they said. However, during interrogation, his aide Rizwan Khan denied the charges and said he was running a marriage bureau. While Arshid was arrested earlier this week from Navi Mumbai, Rizwan Khan was held from Kalyan on Saturday. He will be taken to the study centre in Vytilla on Monday and thereafter be produced before the Ernakulam District Sessions court as his transit warrant period ends tomorrow, they said. The Kochi city police had registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Qureshi along with Palakkad-native Yahiya alias Bestin Vincent. This was after Ebin Jacob, 25, brother of Merin who went missing along with her husband Yahia, gave a statement before the police that the duo forced him to get converted to Islam and join the terrorist organisation. The police also raided an Islamic study centre based in Vytilla and found Qureshi had sent e-mails from the computers there. KOZHIKODE: While the state police and national intelligence agencies are trying hard to trace 21 missing persons from Kerala, believed to have reached an Islamic State (IS) camp somewhere in Afghanistan or Iraq, one of them has reached out to his sister. Ashfaq Majeed, a native of Padanna in Kasaragod, contacted his sister on the secure online communication platform Telegram and invited his mother, father and relatives to join him in the sacred land of the IS. Cyber experts reportedly tracked the messages to Tora Bora mountain ranges of Eastern Afghanistan. His relatives said he began by asking if everybody was doing fine, and when his sister said he had made their life miserable, he got angry and started explaining about the virtues of the IS. The conversation ended abruptly. Her mobile phone is now in the custody of the police. The account he used for the communication was the same he had been using earlier, police said. Earlier, another youth Mohammed Marwan, 23, also had sent a message to his family saying he had joined the IS and now he is a terrorist, sources said. In a message sent in the last week of June to his family, Mr Marwan said, People may call me a terrorist. If fighting in the path of Allah is terrorism, yes, I am a terrorist. Claimed to be in West Asia, he also promised to come back once he accomplished his mission. Meanwhile, the NIA team probing the IS module in Hyderabad started checking whether they received any help from the state. However, the national intelligence agencies are yet to make a breakthrough and identify the exact spot where they are holed up. Details of the missing including nine men, four of their wives, a child and an infant have already been passed on to the Iranian intelligence agencies, it is learnt. Three of the women are pregnant, and all are in their twenties. The couples include Dr Ijaz Rahman and wife Resiala, his brother Shiaz Rahman and wife Ajmala and cousin Ashfaq Majeed and his wife. It was through Mr Rahman, a doctor by profession, that they befriended Abdullah Rasheed who was working as a purchase manager at Peace Educational Foundation. KOZHIKODE: The decision of various mahallu committees (panels attached to mosques) to issue excommunication notices and boycott calls on the families of youth with links to organisations such as Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Popular Front and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Kuttiyadi area in Kozhikode district has kicked up a row. Leader of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the pro-IUML scholars body Samastha Kerala Jamiyyatul Ulama of the EK Sunni section launched a campaign against the infiltration of organisations with questionable credentials into the believers community following the murder of IUML worker K.P. Nazirudheen at Velam near Vadakara in Kozhikode district on July 15. The campaign has now spilled over to social networking sites like Facebook and WhatsApp, too. Valakettu Mahal near Kuttiadi on July 22 issued a notice saying it has decided to remove all members of extremist outfits such as SDPI, Popular Front and SDPI from the primary membership of the Mahallu. The mahallu committee will have no relationship with such organisations, the notice said. An SDPI sympathiser told this newspaper that hundreds of families are excommunicated for the links of youngsters with such organisations. Call to boycott functions related to marriages, deaths and other religious rites and also the business firms and institutions is on through social networking sites, he added. The affected persons have started protesting the move. Legal expert advocate M. Muhammed Shuhaib said that a mahallu committee has no legal or religious right to remove a person from its primary membership and deny him the basic religious rights during marriage or death. Such incidents are increasing recently which also end up in legal wrangles and social tension, as the families of the youngsters are the real victims, he pointed out Samastha leader Kottumala Bappu Musaliyar told Deccan Chronicle that the organisation was running an intense campaign against infiltration of such elements into religious bodies but the denial of religious rights was not at all advised. We can only keep them off the official committees, he said, adding that the other moves have no legal sanction. KANNUR: Embarrassing the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, the CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, courted controversy over the murder of party leader Dhanaraj who was allegedly killed by BJP workers on July 11. Addressing a protest meet at Payyannur Gandhi Park on Sunday evening, Mr Balakrishnan accused the police of teaming up with the BJP by protecting the murderers of the CPM leader. There were attempts on his life before he was murdered, he alleged. The CPM state secretary Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, asked the police higher-ups to investigate the conspiracy behind the murder. After the LDF government came to power, five CPM workers were killed out of which three sponsored by the RSS, he added. Mr Kodiyeri said that top brass of RSS and BJP are involved in the attack. He said that the CPM workers should retaliate against RSS-BJP attack on the spot. He added that the RSS and BJP should realise that the CPM is capable of giving an apt reply to any attack on party members and advised party cadres to undergo physical training to face any such attacks. The CPM always stands for peace. However, the RSS-BJP leadership are taking refuge in violence in CPM belts and resorting to attacks by not letting the party members to live peacefully. In order to face the RSS threat, party workers should train themselves with physical exercises along with political education. However, dont attack any houses, shops or other establishments, he said. Violence spread in areas around on Payyannur during July second week after CPM leader C.V. Dhanaraj and BMS leader C.K. Ramachandran were killed allegedly due to political rivalry. Lucknow: Hitting back at BSP chief Mayawati, BJP said she has "insulted" the entire woman community by giving "clean chit" to Naseemuddin Siddiqui over raising abusive slogans and that the party would continue its protest till the leader was sacked. "We condemn Mayawati for giving clean hit to her party leader Naseemuddin. This is an insult to the entire woman community," BJP state President Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters. He said BJP would continue its protest till action was not taken by BSP against Naseemuddin, the leader of opposition in Legislative Council and BSP National General Secretary. "BJP Mahila Morcha will stage a protest in this matter on July 28," Maurya said while reminding Mayawati of the incident at the State Guest House in 1995 when she was attacked by SP workers and the then BJP leader Brahmdutt Dwivedi saved her. After Dayashankar Singh had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments questioning the character of the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratganj and raised slogans against the expelled BJP leader's family. Mayawati on Sunday alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its "polluted" and "casteist" mentality. BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak said Mayawati's clarification on the abusive slogans raised by her party workers during the rally was "laughable". "Mayawati has given a half-baked and laughable clarification on the abusive slogans raised by her party workers during a protest rally. The entire country knows what they meant by those slogans", Pathak said. Bengaluru: Janata Dal (S) MLA B B Ningaiah moved Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, K B Koliwad, for disqualification of eight party legislators who cross voted during the recent elections to Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council. Mr Ningaiah, along with an advocate, submitted to the Speaker that eight of his party MLAs were suspended, and sought their disqualification under Schedule 10 of the Constitution. Citing a ruling in Ravi Nayak and the Goa Government case, he contended that those legislators should be disqualified as they had defied the party direction and voted for the Congress candidates. They were elected to the Assembly under JD (S) symbol and had indulged in anti-party activities. Mr Ningaiah argued that eight MLAs held a meeting with Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, and gave a statement that they would vote for Congress candidates. Their statements had appeared in both print and electronic media. This documentary evidence was sufficient to disqualify them. Even Mr Singh should be made a party in this case, he added. Mr Koliwad, after hearing the submission, adjourned the hearing to August 23. Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Mr Ningaiah said he had demanded the disqualification of eight JD(S) legislators including Zameer Ahmed Khan, N Cheluvarayaswamy and B Gopalaiah. He had requested the Speaker to issue the show-cause notice on them after hearing further submission by the complainant. "No one should support this kind of politics. Since Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was too in close contact with those eight legislators, a complaint will be lodged against him, if necessary", he added. Chennai: Contending that dismissing a PIL of a petitioner for arguing the case in Tamil, as done by the Madras HC bench on Friday, amounted to denying justice, PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in ensuring the declaration of Tamil as official language of the high court. Citing the case of Jayaprakash, a petitioner, who presented his arguments in Tamil and sought the courts direction to the state election commission to rectify the Pudukkottai electoral roll, Dr Ramadoss said the Bench comprising Justices Ramamohana Rao and S.S. Sundar, dismissed his PIL as Jayaprakash argued in Tamil. The Bench had stated that the case could not be argued in Tamil, as the procedure is to argue in English at the court. Or he should engage an advocate to argue his case, Dr Ramadoss claimed. Hyderabad: Being coldblooded, pragmatic and using culture strategically are important characteristics of a strong and sound foreign policy, said V. Ram Madhav, national general secretary of the BJP, who on Sunday slammed the previous Congress governments for having a romantic approach towards international relations. Giving the example of the Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai phrase made popular by the Congress government and the Panchsheel Treaty between India and China, he expressed that such romantic approaches did not work as they could not stop the two countries from going to war in 1962. Mr Madhav was participating in a talk in Hyderabad organised by Awareness in Action on Look East, Act East and What Next? The importance of connecting with Asian neighbours based on Hindu culture also formed the crux of his talk as he stressed on Sunskriti, one of the five pillars of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government's Panchamrit approach towards foreign policy. This was also stressed upon by EFLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sunaina Singh, who also spoke at the event. Mr Madhav said that the present government planned to strengthen relationships with Southeast Asian countries by developing road connectivity between North Eastern states of India and SE Asian nations, till Indonesia, and said that the BJP forming a government in Assam was the first step towards it. He added that the north-eastern states of India would act as a pivot in the Act East policy of the country. Mr Madhav also questioned continuation of India in the Commonwealth, a group of nations which were formerly under the British Empire. Speaking on the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, he blamed it on the Congress government which was in power when the Simla Agreement and Delhi Agreement were signed following the 1971 India-Pakistan war. He said that the then Congress government could have taken back Pakistan occupied Kashmir from Pakistan's stranglehold if release of PoK by Pakistan would have been made one of the conditions in the agreements. He also said that the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir had no locus standi in India-Pakistan relationships and only the Central government could have a stand in it. Mr Ram Madhav also denounced the support being shown towards slain militant Burhan Wani by some sections of society and media saying that Wani had 14 criminal cases against him including eight of attacks on security forces along with a Rs 10 lakh reward. At the meeting Mr Madhav also said that the present government had plans of having a good presence in the Indian Ocean region which was home to nearly half of trading and military ships traffic in the world and that Asia-Pacific region needed to be renamed as Indo-Pacific, which the present government was working on. For India, there was a coincidence of conflicting emotions regarding events in Afghanistan on Saturday. Indian aid worker Judith DSouza, who had been abducted a month and a half ago from near her office in Kabul, returned to her country safely on Saturday (though BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi has hinted that the kidnap victim was tortured by her captors). If this marked a moment of relief, and gratitude to the Afghan authorities for patiently working for Ms DSouzas release from the hands of gangsters, India cannot remain untouched by the fact that Afghanistan experienced one of its worst ever terrorist attacks on the same day. Suicide bombers hit a peaceful demonstration of the Hazara community, who are Shia, in Kabul and upward of 80 deaths were reported, with scores sustaining serious injuries. The Shia are a small minority in a predominantly Sunni Muslim society. ISIS or Daesh has claimed responsibility while the Taliban have denied they had anything to do with the outrage. The Hazaras have traditionally suffered discrimination but have prospered under the present Afghan Constitution that stipulates equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion, sect, ethnicity or gender differences. Until all the facts are known, it will be premature to determine who the perpetrators were. But it is clear that through acts such as the Saturday violence which is different from the attacks on security personnel or random attacks on civilians Afghanistans enemies are seeking to hurt its sense of national unity. This is at a time when Afghanistan is experiencing political vulnerabilities. We know this in India. Terrorists frequently seek to create a cleavage between communities. As for Daesh, its activities have so far remained confined to the Nangrahar area in eastern Afghanistan, not far from the boundary with Pakistan. Afghan security officials believe that apart from disgruntled Taliban factions, many in the Daesh in Afghanistan are Pakistanis out to create disturbances. On Sunday, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their horror at the Kabul attack and offered this countrys unstinted support in fighting terrorism. This suggests that our leaders are aware that Afghanistan and India face a security threat from the same quarters. The two countries should coordinate more. And further, they should not be reactive but take the initiative in eliminating the problem, not just in security terms but also politically. India has an important presence in Afghanistan. This is because the Afghan government and people rush to our protection and defence as Ms DSouzas case shows and help us maintain our profile of cooperation and friendship in the face of heavy odds, with Pakistan working overtime to subject Indians to terrorist assaults in Afghanistan. Failure normally is a fog through which one can glimpse triumph. Unfortunately, the civil-military administration in Kashmir has been unable to get a handle on how to tackle the Palestinian-type intifada that has again gripped the state, despite the fact that it first emerged in 2008. Intifada is an Arabic word meaning shaking off, and can be loosely translated in English as uprising. First devised by Syed Ali Shah Geelani after the Amarnath Yatra protests and taken to the next level by his ideological heir Masrat Alam in 2010, its construct seems disturbing. The rapid spread of puranitical Wahhabi and political Islam through the Internet acted as a catalyst for the Kashmir Valleys dissatisfied youth. The symbolism seen through images of protesting stone-pelters changed the dynamics in Kashmir, as a violent new way of civil disobedience emerged. Lucre is always the lubricant: it was used liberally by Geelani in 2008 and then Alam in 2010. Just as the intifada was a total intelligence surprise for Israel, so it was for India. In the West Bank and Gaza it set off an uprising that the Israeli Defence Forces havent been able to contain. But unlike the spontaneity of the original intifada in the West Bank and Gaza in the late 1980s, the entire stone-pelting crucible in Kashmir has been orchestrated. Unlike the Palestinian intifada which targets Israel over the dispossession of territory, it must be appreciated that India has legal, moral and constitutional tenability in Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947 while the peoples representative, Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, dodged the Jinnah bullet till the end, opting for secular India over theocratic Pakistan. Needless to say, the Public Safety Act 1978 has justified the detention of many individuals acting against the state, while the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act gives Indian security forces complete power and broad immunity. One must understand home ministry mandarins along with the Intelligence Bureau have run Kashmir operations for many years, but unfortunately this has led to a client-master relationship between the Centre and J&K, in which the state is subservient. There was hope that with the BJP and PDP joining forces there would be a partnership of two equals, though fraught with risk. But what has happened is that a Hindu right-wing BJP controls Jammu and the extreme-right Valley outfit PDP dominates the Kashmir division. This is a throwback to the dark days immediately after accession when Sheikh Abdullah tried his best to bring Jammu on board but failed, as an active Hari Singh fuelled protests using Hindu right-wing elements under the aegis of the Praja Parishad. BJP icon Syama Prasad Mookerjee had blessed the agitation of the Praja Parishad, the Jammu unit of the Jan Sangh, for ek pradhan, ek vidhan and ek nishan, and led a nationwide campaign against Article 370, which accords a special status to the state in the Constitution. Now, years later, as the same political polar opposites have united to share power, there is bound to be friction. The combine ran into headwinds in its early days as ultra-separatist Masrat Alam was released by the new government in April 2015. The plug was pulled after the BJP put intense pressure, and he was locked up again under the Public Safety Act. The intifadas origin should be examined for the Kashmir version is a copycat. The first intifada erupted in late 1987, after an Israeli truck rammed into a line of Palestinian workers waiting to return to Gaza, killing four, and prompting spontaneous demonstrations. The second intifada, that began September 2000, was triggered by a visit to Al Aqsa Mosque compound by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and around 1,000 Israeli police. To the outside world, the throwing of stones was a powerful visual image of the first intifada, but it was the use of leaflets that effectively mobilised Palestinians against the occupation. This exact stratagem was cloned by Masrat Alam in 2010 while he was mobile, escaping the security forces dragnet by riding pillion on a motorcycle. He used cyclostyled leaflets and messaging on smartphones to keep the intifada going. This has gradually been reset to grabbing weapons from securitymen, using women and children as human shields, use of Molotov cocktails and even stabbings. It is often said the Palestinian liberation struggle was a rock that was thrown into still water. The question is: whether the copycat version has the strength to become a similar stratagem to blindside Indian forces. In the intifadas first year, Israeli forces killed 311 Palestinians, of which 53 were under 17. The second intifada took place from September 2000 to 2005, leading to Israels withdrawal from Gaza and the rise of Hamas. During the second intifada it became almost the norm for Israelis to avoid restaurants or travelling in buses, both of which were seen as easy targets for suicide bombers. Stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians against Israelis became commonplace. Since mid-September 2015, the Jerusalem Post reported that 34 Israelis were killed in attacks by Palestinians. In this period, there were 211 stabbings, 83 shootings and 42 car attacks, according to the foreign ministry website. The second intifada (Palestinian uprising) from 2000 to 2005 was responsible for the deaths of about 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis. Suicide bombings were frequent at that time. Opinion differs on whether the recent rise in attacks in Israel and the Palestinian territories amounts to a full intifada or not. It mostly appears to be directionless and rudderless, and an intifada of attrition without a central command architecture. It is ironic that on the eve of Id, in an amnesty, as many as 634 stone-pelters were released. The J&K administration has to be prepared for all eventualities and the escalation of intifada-type attacks, which though symbolic have enormous shock and awe value. New malleable and ductile tactics on the part of the fatigued security grid, a reinvention, is crucial. Lets be clear that Israel, despite having handled this phenomenon for close to 30 years, still doesnt have the silver bullet for it. Like in the past, the tenacity shown by the security forces will ensure that this too will pass. The cost, as always, will be huge. Kashmir represents the idea, ideal and idiom of India, and there can be no compromise on this aspect. Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul/And sings the tune without the words/and never stops at all Emily Dickenson. As I first listened to Al Gore presenting the science and reality of climate change, I felt myself drowning in a sense of doom. In despair I asked, how do we reach out to humanity as a whole and make them aware of the damage that we have all collectively done? How do we get them to now change to reverse the damage? Is this Herculean task possible? Since then, I have been looking for rays of hope, hints and signs that say it is possible that we can heal the planet. On June 30, the world got some good news. The journal Science reported that the ozone layer has healedand I had just sighted the ray of hope! 1985 was the year when the ozone hole was seen as a symbol of the harm that we human beings can cause to the environment. So the news of its healing comes as a big relief. Its a big surprise, says Susan Solomon, an atmospheric chemist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. I didnt think it would be this early. Using a combination of measurements from satellites, ground-based instruments, and weather balloons, Susan and her team found that, since 2000, the hole has shrunk by four million square kilometersan area thrice the size of India. The ozone layer surrounds the entire Earth. UV-B radiation from the sun is partially absorbed in this layer. As a result, the amount of UV-B reaching the earths surface is greatly reduced. Human exposure to UV-B increases the risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and a suppressed immune system, and can also damage terrestrial plant life, single cell organisms, and aquatic ecosystems. What is the ozone hole? Each spring, in the stratosphere over Antarctica, atmospheric ozone is rapidly destroyed by chemical processes. As winter arrives, a vortex of winds develops around the pole and isolates the polar stratosphere. When temperatures drop below -78C, thin clouds form of ice, nitric acid, and sulphuric acid mixtures. Chemical reactions on the surfaces of ice crystals in the clouds release active forms of chloroflourocarbons (CFCs). Ozone depletion begins, and the ozone hole appears. Man-made chlorines, primarily CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer. Two years after the ozone hole was discovered, the Montreal Protocol was signed in September 1987, where 196 states came together and agreed to phase out the industrial production of CFCs. Like the super-efficient ants in an ant colony, for the first time, we human beings were displaying eusociality, and achieved what most said was impossible, and it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-operation, with former UN chief Kofi Annan quoted as saying that "perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol". Now, we have a new threat the threat of climate change, a threat much larger than anything we have faced until now. While the phasing out of CFCs that healed the ozone layer was, in retrospect, relatively easy, as we had to just focus on one aspect, the problems of climate change require multiple interventions by all nations, and some of the changes cost a lot of money. Will we rise up to the challenge, initiate actions that nurse the planet back to health from the ills of climate change? The news of the ozone layer, sends a message that nature can heal with help from us. Arent we amazing humans, that we did something that created a situation that we decided collectively, as a world, Lets get rid of these molecules? We got rid of them, and now were seeing the planet respond, says Susan Solomon. Listening to her makes me confident that we can again come together to heal our planet. As a climate leader, my preservative cognition, my fear of gloom and lingering worry that humanity may not act is slowly melting away. As Desmond Tutu said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment operates at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills of South Dakota The world's most sensitive darkmatter detector has failed to yield any trace of the elusive substance thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass of the universe, even after 20 months of operation. The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment, which operates beneath a mile of rock at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills of South Dakota, has completed its silent search for the missing matter of the universe. LUX's sensitivity far exceeded the goals for the project, scientists said, but yielded no trace of a dark matter particle. Its extreme sensitivity makes the team confident that if dark matter particles had interacted with the LUX's xenon target, the detector would almost certainly have seen it. That enables scientists to confidently eliminate many potential models for dark matter particles, offering critical guidance for the next generation of dark matter experiments. LUX has delivered the world's best search sensitivity since its first run in 2013," said Rick Gaitskell, professor at Brown University in the US. With this final result from the 2014 to 2016 search, the scientists of the LUX Collaboration have pushed the sensitivity of the instrument to a final performance level that is four times better than the original project goals, Gaitskell said. It would have been marvellous if the improved sensitivity had also delivered a clear dark matter signal, he said. Dark matter is thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass in the universe. Scientists are confident of its existence because the effects of its gravity can be seen in the rotation of galaxies and in the way light bends as it travels through the universe, but experiments have yet to make direct contact with a dark matter particle. The LUX experiment was designed to look for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), the leading theoretical candidate for a dark matter particle. If the WIMP idea is correct, billions of these particles pass through your hand every second, and also through the Earth and everything on it. However, because WIMPs interact so weakly with ordinary matter, this ghostly traverse goes entirely unnoticed. The LUX detector consists of a third-of-a-tonne of cooled liquid xenon surrounded by powerful sensors designed to detect the tiny flash of light and electrical charge emitted if a WIMP collides with a xenon atom within the tank. The detector's location at Sanford Lab beneath a mile of rock, and inside a 72,000-gallon, high-purity water tank, helps shield it from cosmic rays and other radiation that would interfere with a dark matter signal. The 20-month run of LUX represents one of the largest exposures ever collected by a dark matter experiment, the researchers said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Blackberry has been rumoured to launch a number of new Android-driven handsets. (Representational image) Mumbai: Blackberry has been rumoured to launch a number of new Android-driven handsets and one of the handsets codenamed Rome has already appeared on popular benchmarking site Geekbench. According to media reports, the company plans to release another high-end smartphone, dubbed Hamburg. Though the Rome will be an inferior model, the specifications seem to pack a punch. The listing pointed out that Blackberry Rome will sport a physical keyboard, as observed in past models. It will be powered by a hexa-core 1.44 GHz processor along with 3GB RAM. Though nothing has been mentioned about the OS, word from the rumour mills suggested that the device feature Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. While Rome is the only device that has been spotted on the benchmarking site, other rumours have also disclosed pointers about Blackberry Neon, another smartphone that the company might release soon. The Neon is speculated to feature a Snapdragon octa-core 600 series with ARM Cortex-A53 cores. While there are no other details about the handsets currently, these devices will be really important in deciding the future of the companys smartphone business. Earlier, Blackberry had released the Privthe first Android-based Blackberry device. Though the device received flak from a large section of tech buffs and users for its sky-high price, the device did bring in enhanced security features along with a balanced unit. Unfortunately, Priv failed to provide the support that the company oh-so-dearly required to rise up the ladders. In such a scenario, these upcoming smartphones will be crucial for the company. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Google Play recently rolled out the new delta algorithm. Noting that Android users installed over 64 billion apps in the past year from the Google Play Store; Googles new algorithm now aims at reducing the size of app updates. This is being done to bring about improvements to applications. A delta update only updates certain files in the APK, without having the need to update the whole APK. Google stated that 98% of app updates are delta updates to the APK, which also helped users save data. More about the new algorithm It is named bsdiff and it was created to make updates and app downloads smaller. This way, they wouldnt take that much out of data plans. The new delta update can reduce the size of patches by 50% or more. Moreover, information about data used and download size is displayed in a clearer way. Theres more! APK Expansion Files allows developers to include additional large files up to 2GB in size, like high resolution graphics or media files. Download size of initial installs can be reduced by 12%, while update by 65% in average. Users can view the actual download size, not just the APK size. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Nasa announced that it would build a high-speed research aircraft that would use electric motors to drive 14 propellers. The end of the jet age could be in sight. Innovative new electric aircrafts are starting to find their way off the drawing board and onto runways, funded by start-ups, government agencies and the worlds biggest jet makers. They promise flights that are cleaner, quieter and safer than todays jets, and with a fraction of their carbon footprint. Earlier this month, Nasa announced that it would be building a high-speed research aircraft called Maxwell that would use electric motors to drive 14 propellers. The four-seater aircraft should be able to fly at speeds of up to 280 kmph (about as fast as many small aircrafts), using a fifth of the energy of a normal private plane. Eventually, Nasa would love to replace airplanes like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 that represent a large fraction of civil aviation, says Jack Langelaan, a professor of aerospace engineering at Penn State University. A huge proportion of todays emissions and fuel burn comes from these kind of planes. Commercial aviation already accounts for 2 per cent of all man-made CO2 emissions, a figure that could rise to 22 per cent by 2050. Electric aircrafts could slow this trend, or even roll it back. For a start, electric motors are about twice as efficient as internal combustion or jet engines. All youre doing is running wires to motors, says Carl Schaefer of Aurora Flight Sciences, an aerospace company developing an electric drone called Lightning Strike for the US military. So instead of one large propeller, you have the freedom to place small motors anywhere on the aircraft. Maxwell will have 12 propellers on the wing, and two more mounted on its wingtips each with its own motor. This configuration enables it to boost fuel efficiency even further and adds safety. Having one engine fail during takeoff when youre using 14 is much less severe than having one fail when you only have three, says Sean Clarke, one of Maxwells designers. Aviation start-ups have also been quick to realise that electric motors can enable new vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircrafts to replace cars rather than planes. Vertical takeoff is popular because if were going to use these vehicles for commuting, no one wants to land at an airport five miles away from work, says Langelaan. German start-up Liliums two-seater needs a landing zone no larger than 15 square metres, while Jobys S2, under development in California, tilts 12 rotors to take off vertically, then converts into a conventional plane. Joby claims the 321 kmph plane will use five times less energy, door to door, than a petrol-driven car. The Volocopter, another German prototype, has 18 helicopter-style rotors, while Chinese firm EHangs 184 aircraft resembles an oversized single-person drone. The ultimate aim of such aircrafts is on-demand aviation, an Uber for aircraft that provides automated pilot-less aerial transport around, and between, congested cites. EHang has already got permission to start testing its autonomous 184 aircraft in Nevada, although not with passengers on board. There are a lot of things we need to get sorted out to make this work, says Langelaan. Collision avoidance and traffic management are important. Its a big sky but once a lot of these little airplanes start flying around, the sky will start looking an awful lot smaller. Source: www.guardian.com Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Gary argued that he had not violated any law and that he had filmed the woman in a public place. (Representational Image) Georgia: In a bizarre and shocking move, a US court has ruled that it is legal to secretly film up a woman's skirt without her consent. According to a report in the Independent, the court blamed it on the loopholes in the system stating that there is a 'gap' in the law surrounding invasion of privacy. The ruling comes as a relief for a convict, Brandon Lee Gary, who was prosecuted in 2013 on a single count after he tried to take video of a woman customer from beneath her skirt while she was shopping at a supermarket where he worked. Gary pleaded guilty to the crime at Houston County and was convicted for the same. On July 15, the invasion of privacy charge against Gary was reversed by the Georgia's Court of Appeal after he pleaded that he did not violate any law. It is regrettable that no law currently exists which criminalizes Garys reprehensible conduct, the Judge was quoted as saying. Gary argued that he had not violated any law and that he had filmed the woman in a public place. "Unfortunately, there is a gap in Georgias criminal statutory scheme, in that our law does not reach all of the disturbing conduct that has been made possible by ever-advancing technology," the Judge further stated. Baloch shot to fame with her racy social media posts, which enraged many in deeply conservative Pakistan. Karachi: Social media star Qandeel Baloch who was murdered by her brother has been wiped off networking sites. Her official Facebook page that hosted her photos and videos is no longer available, and her account on Instagram, also owned by Facebook, has been deleted, the Dawn reported. As per Facebook policy, an account which belongs to a deceased individual is automatically made into a memorialised account where friends and family can share memories. However, according to Facebooks help centre, Pages with a sole admin whose account was memorialised will be removed from Facebook if we receive a valid request. Baloch shot to fame with her racy social media posts, which enraged many in deeply conservative Pakistan. Baloch, real name Fauzia Azeem, was killed on July 15 in her family home in Multan in Punjab province. Her brother confessed to strangling her for dishonouring the family and bringing them to disrepute. Her website Qandeelbaloch.com has been suspended but her Twitter handle is alive. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) acknowledge the crowd during a campaign event at Ernst Community Cultural Center at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Virginia. (Photo: AFP) Washington: Democrat Tim Kaine made his first appearance on the campaign trail as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate on Saturday, touting an optimistic view of America and leaping to attack Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's record. Joining Clinton at a rally in the battleground state of Florida, the bilingual Kaine peppered Spanish-language phrases into a speech focused on introducing himself to voters unfamiliar with the low-key US senator from Virginia. Kaine criticised Trump's recent suggestion he might not honour US security commitments to NATO in Europe, and the real estate mogul's history of casino bankruptcies and founding the failed Trump University."When Donald Trump says he has your back, you better watch out," Kaine said, with Clinton sitting at his side nodding. "He leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes. We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country." In contrast, he said, Clinton "doesn't insult people, she listens to them. What a novel concept." He said they shared a common creed: "Do all the good you can." Lets go make history and elect Hillary Clinton the 45th president of the United States. @TimKaine pic.twitter.com/RrEPx0FdXE Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2016 Clinton unveiled her choice of Kaine late on Friday, grabbing the political spotlight from Trump, who accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday night after a chaotic four-day convention. The former secretary of state will formally be nominated as her party's presidential candidate in the November 8 election at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, which opens on Monday. In choosing the soft-spoken Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor with a long establishment resume, Clinton opted for a steady and experienced hand who she hopes will offer a clear alternative to Trump's volatile campaign and his Republican vice presidential choice Mike Pence. "Senator Tim Kaine is everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not. He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one," Clinton told the Miami crowd. Trump was unimpressed, saying on Twitter he had watched the joint appearance and "ISIS and our other enemies are drooling. Just saw Crooked Hillary and Tim Kaine together. ISIS and our other enemies are drooling. They don't look presidential to me! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016 In his speech, Kaine said he was an optimist and described his childhood in Kansas City helping his father in his metal-working shop and his Catholic mission to Honduras, where he helped teenagers with carpentry and welding and they taught him Spanish. Faith, Family and Work He said in Honduras he learned the values "Fe, familia, y trabajo" -- faith, family, and work. Kaine became emotional when he recalled the 2007 shooting deaths of 32 people at Virginia Tech University during his stint as governor, calling it the worst day of his life. He promised to take on the National Rifle Association and fight for "common sense" gun control. Judith Sweeney, 58, from West Park, Florida, said she knew little about Kaine before attending the speech but was impressed by his resume and liked his civil rights work and school reform efforts. "Wonderful, very experienced, an innovator," she said. Peter Daou, a former adviser to Clinton who now owns a media company, said Kaine's speech would turn around some of the doubters about the choice. "The combination of his tone, his demeanor, his life story -it just said a lot about her capacity to choose the right person and not listen to pressure from the outside," he said. Clinton is hoping Kaine will help her appeal to independents and moderates, but some supporters of Clinton's Democratic primary rival, US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, were dismayed by the choice because of Kaine's past advocacy for an Asian free-trade pact. But in a nod to party liberals, the Clinton campaign said Kaine will not support the final version of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, which is pending in the Senate. A spokeswoman for Kaine confirmed his opposition to the pact. The decision drew cheers from liberal groups and labour leaders. "We're glad to see the Clinton-Kaine ticket taking steps to campaign on big, bold, populist ideas that voters want to hear from Democrats," said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progessive Change Campaign Committee. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, said Kaine's decision to join Clinton in opposing the trade pact "sets an irretrievable, progressive path forward for America." In picking Kaine, Clinton passed over liberal candidates who would have generated more grassroots enthusiasm like U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Hispanic Cabinet members Julian Castro and Thomas Perez. Clinton tried to reassure party liberals, offering an extended list of Kaine's efforts on behalf of low-income workers, education and civil rights, and for expanded gun control laws and immigration reform. "He fights for the people he represents, and he delivers real results," Clinton said, applying one of her favourite self-descriptions to him. "When I say he's a progressive who likes to get things done, I mean it." Sanders supporters lost their bid to eliminate or reduce the influence of superdelegates, party leaders who are not bound to any candidate, during a meeting of the convention rules committee in Philadelphia. Sanders had complained about the superdelegates, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton. But enough committee members backed the effort to let them take the fight to the convention floor during next week's convention, participants said. Washington: Republican White House nominee Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that the United States could pull out of the World Trade Organisation if he is elected president. The New York billionaire made the comments during a wide-ranging interview with NBC television's Meet the Press, his first since being crowned as his partys presidential nominee. Trump, who has already threatened to renegotiate or rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement, also doubled down in the interview on recent comments questioning the US commitment to its Nato allies. He said he would slap punitive import taxes of up to 30 per cent on firms that moved manufacturing activities abroad, citing NAFTA partner Mexico as an example. When show host Chuck Todd objected that such plans would be challenged at the WTO, he responded: Doesn't matter. Well renegotiate or pull out. These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster. Asked if he was concerned such actions could rattle the world economy much as the British decision to exit the European Union has done Trump was dismissive. Im the only one that said Brexit is going to happen, said the billionaire. What did it do? The stock market is higher now than when it happened. Pressed again on whether a fractured Europe was good for America, Trump equivocated, putting forward a vision of Europe as an economic competitor to be bested. No, no but were spending a lot of money in Europe, he said. Dont forget, Europe got together, why primarily did they get together? To beat the United States when it comes to making money. In other words, on trade. The reason that it got together was like a consortium so it could compete with the United States. Look at Airbus, he said. They got together, all of these countries got together so they could beat the United States. Okay? So you know, were in competition in one way and helping them in one way. Its so messed up. In the same interview, Trump said French and German citizens could face extreme vetting at US borders in light of recent terror attacks. Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager 'not to bother applying' because of her headscarf. (Photo: AFP) Melbourne: A 25-year-old Muslim girl in New Zealand was left embarrassed after she applied for a job at a jewellery shop and was told it was a "waste of time" unless she removed her hijab. Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager 'not to bother applying' because of her headscarf. "I felt embarrassed as it took a lot of courage to walk into the shop and speak to the manager regarding a job, especially since I was afraid of the rejection," Alfadli said. Alfadli, who lives in Avondale, has been looking for a job after completing her diploma in applied computer system engineering. She said her aspirations for her life in New Zealand was to find a "safe" home for herself and her family, who settled in the country as refugees from Kuwait in 2008. "I can do any job, I don't mind, but I will keep my hijab, I will keep my identity, and respect my culture and my religion," Alfadli was quoted as saying The New Zealand Herald. She said she was told it was a "waste of time" if she would not remove her hijab. It was second incident at the jewellery store where in October former Kelston Girls College deputy head Fatima Mohammadi was turned away from an interview at the jewellery chain's Henderson branch because of her hijab. Stewart Dawsons group chief financial officer Kevin Turner said he was "devastated" to learn of the latest incident. "The manager in question is new to the company, so she hadn't been with us for very long. Having said that she should have known better, she was not following company policy. We are taking this absolutely seriously, it's not okay and we will be following it up in the appropriate manner," Turner said, adding that the company would apologise to Alfadli. In 2015, Muslim-American woman Samantha Elauf successfully sued Abercrombie & Fitch when they refused to hire her because her headscarf apparently violated the company's 'look policy'. The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, where justices ruled eight to one in Elauf's favour. London: An Indian-origin Labour MP has lodged a complaint with the UK House of Commons Speaker against her party leader Jeremy Corbyn's aide for "unauthorised entry" into her parliamentary office and "intimidating" her staff. Seema Malhotra, 43, who had resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury along with a number of her party colleagues last month, has called on Speaker Jon Bercow to launch an official investigation into the incident. The MP for Feltham and Heston has claimed people from the Opposition leader's office used digital keys to open her office door. "I have discovered that members of staff working for John McDonnell [shadow chancellor] and Corbyn have gained unauthorised entry into my office in Parliament. The implications of this are extremely serious. "This is a breach of parliamentary privilege and is a violation of the privacy, security and confidentiality of a member of parliament's office," she said in a statement to the 'Observer' today. "Furthermore, my staff, including an intern, who have always been courteous and open, have felt harassed, intimidated and insecure. "I have made a formal complaint to the Speaker of the Commons and to Corbyn, and requested an investigation into how this could have happened," the statement added. Since the police search of newly-appointed work and pensions minister Damian Green's office when he was an Opposition lawmaker back in 2008, it has been accepted that only a search warrant can justify an entry in a parliamentary office without the wishes of an MP. A spokesperson for Bercow said: "The Speaker will respond to Malhotra once he has had an opportunity to consider fully the contents of her letter." A spokesperson for Corbyn said accusations that Karie Murphy - the Labour leader's office manager - had intimidated anyone were "untrue". He said Murphy had been checking to see if the office had been vacated by Malhotra following her resignation. He said: "She accessed the office in question to confirm when it would be vacated. It is a month since Malhotra resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and the office is intended for the person holding that position." The complaint is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the embattled Labour leader, whose leadership has been challenged by Owen Smith after a large section of party MPs expressed their lack of confidence in Corbyn. It comes after more than 40 female Labour MPs wrote to Corbyn earlier this week saying he had failed to do enough to prevent "disgusting" threats against members. The group of female MPs, including former shadow ministers Heidi Alexander, Paula Sherriff and Kerry McCarthy, say intimidation has been carried out in Corbyn's name. In other crackdown measures, Turkey has disbanded the presidential guard after already detaining nearly 300 unit members suspected of plotting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Photo: AP) Istanbul: Turkish prosecutors are investigating people who have alleged on social media that a July 15 coup attempt was a hoax carried out by the government, the country's justice minister said Sunday, reflecting what some critics say are increasing restrictions on expression in the wake of the failed rebellion by some military forces. Turkey also said it plans to hire more than 20,000 teachers to replace those who have been fired in a purge of suspected coup plotters in schools and other institutions. Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz said the new teachers will replace state educators who have been dismissed as well as teachers in private schools with alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric who has denied Turkish accusations that he directed the coup attempt that killed about 290 people. In other crackdown measures, Turkey has disbanded the presidential guard after already detaining nearly 300 unit members suspected of plotting against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and authorities detained Muhammet Sait Gulen, a nephew of the cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said in an interview with Turkey's Kanal 7 television station Sunday that anyone who suggests the coup attempt was staged likely had a role in the insurrection, which was defeated by loyalist forces and pro-government protesters. There has been some internet speculation that Erdogan engineered the unrest in order to rally support and thereby increase his power, a conspiracy theory rejected by the government and most commentators on Turkey's recent turbulence. "Just look at the people who are saying on social media that this was theater, public prosecutors are already investigating them. Most of them are losers who think it is an honor to die for Fethullah Gulen's command," Bozdag said. Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency to restore security following the coup attempt, granting Erdogan the power to impose decrees without parliamentary approval. More than 13,000 people, including nearly 9,000 soldiers, 2,100 judges and prosecutors and 1,485 police, have been detained, according to the president. In addition, Erdogan said, the government has closed and seized the assets of 15 universities, 934 other schools, 109 student dormitories, 19 unions, 35 medical institutions as well as numerous other associations and foundations suspected of links to Gulen's movement. Turkey wants the United States to extradite Gulen. US President Barack Obama has said there is a legal process for extradition and has encouraged Turkey to present evidence. Four boys at the Longhill High School, in Brighton, East Sussex, wore skirts to school in protest after they were pulled up for wearing shorts. (Photo: YouTube) London: In a bizarre incident, a group of teenage boys in the UK went to school wearing skirts to protest a uniform policy after they were reprimanded for donning shorts on a sweltering hot day. Four boys at the Longhill High School, in Brighton, East Sussex, wore skirts to school in protest after they were pulled up for wearing shorts. The 14-year-old pupils were punished for wearing shorts in a bid to keep cool on the hottest day of the year. In protest, the students decided to borrow from the girls' official uniform, The Mirror reported. Michael Parker, Kodi Ayling, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer were allowed to wear the pleated skirts as they are within the school's rules. They donned the skirts in protest of the school's decision to punish boys who wore school-issued shorts rather than trousers last Tuesday. On Tuesday -- the hottest day of the year -- around 20 boys wore Longhill-branded gym shorts. They were all punished by the secondary school as they were not wearing "regulation uniform". Some of the students were sent home and others were kept in isolation and excluded the following day. "It's not fair for boys to be roasting in black trousers on the hottest day of the year while the girls can wear skirts," Parker was quoted as saying. His mother Angela, said, "We're fully in support of the boys. I think what the headmistress is doing is discrimination and I'm extremely proud of Michael and his fellow protesters." Wesley Allen, Kodi's dad, said the school's decision to punish the boys for wearing shorts was "madness". "The shorts he had on have the school logo on them and I think should be allowed to wear them on hot days," he said. "I think it's madness. The boys have done this to prove a point and I think it's brilliant. I don't think Kodi will wear the skirt all summer but I do think he likes the attention," Allen said. Head teacher Kate Williams said, "I have high standards regarding uniform and in the warm weather, these high standards have been challenged by approximately two per cent of parents/students." "Four male students at Longhill High School chose to wear a skirt to school. Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform," she said. In this grab taken from video, police officers arrest a man close to a machete, front right, after an attack in Reutilingen, Germany, Sunday, July 24, 2016. A Syrian man killed a woman with a machete and wounded two others Sunday outside a bus station in the southwestern German city of Reutlingen before being arrested. Police said there were no indications pointing to terrorism. (Photo: AP) Berlin: A woman was killed and two people injured by a Syrian asylum-seeker armed with a machete on Sunday in the southwest German city of Reutlingen, the local police said. The man, who has been detained, had a dispute with the woman and killed her with a machete before injuring a second woman and a man, according to a police statement that offered no explanation on the cause of the attack. The attacker struck outside a kebab shop at around 4:30 pm local time, causing several witnesses to flee in panic, German newspaper Bild reported. The attacker was completely out of his mind. He ran with the machete behind a police patrol car, an eye-witness told the tabloid. Police said in a statement the attacker was known to them but they suspect he was a lone operator, according to the Independent. Police do not think people in and around the city are at risk. They confirmed the attacker was a 21-year-old Syrian refugee but have not released his name. The motive for the attack is unclear. Sundays attack comes as Germany is on edge following two attacks in the past week. On Friday David Ali Sonboly (18), a German-Iranian, went on a rampage in a Munich mall killing nine. Earlier, an Afghan teenager had attacked train passengers with an axe in Bavaria, wounding five. An Iraqi woman grieves at the scene of a deadly suicide a car bomb at a commercial area in Karada neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. (Photo: AP) Baghdad: A suicide bomber struck near a checkpoint in a Shiite area of northern Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 15 people, Iraqi security and medical officials said. The blast also wounded at least 22 people, the officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State jihadist group carries out frequent suicide bombings targeting both Iraqi security forces and members of the country's Shiite majority, whom it considers heretics. A suicide bomber targeted shoppers in Baghdad's central Karrada district earlier this month, killing 292 people, while an attack on a Shiite shrine in Balad, north of the capital, left 40 dead a few days later. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. But the jihadists have responded to the battlefield setbacks by hitting back against civilians, and experts have warned there may be more bombings as the jihadists continue to lose ground. Karachi: A Pakistani man shot dead his niece along with her alleged lover in the name of honour, in Kandhkot town of Sindh. The police officials said, a suspect named Hakim Ali killed his niece Rasheeda Chachar, 22, and her alleged lover Hafiz Ismail near the village mosque and fled, taking the girl's body with him, reports the Dawn. The girl's body was later found from nearby Babu Chachar village but the suspect is still on the run. The officials said that an inquiry has been ordered in the case, however, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. The killing comes a week after popular social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was killed by his brother, in Multan for 'honour', prompting widespread criticism of so-called honour killings. Women rights activist and politicians called for renewed efforts to curb this menace. Two days ago, a committee comprising lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses of the parliament unanimously approved two bills aimed at tackling honour killings and boosting rape convictions. Under the new law, the family of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer of capital punishment, but they would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years. Nepal has been plagued by turmoil for years and the latest uncertainty over Oli's fate risks the further sapping of business confidence. (Photo: AFP) Kathmandu: Two political parties left Nepal's ruling coalition on Sunday, deserting the fractious alliance ahead of a vote of no-confidence that Prime Minister KP Oli looks likely to lose. The no-confidence motion, lodged by former Maoist rebels who installed Oli in October but fell out with him after accusing him of failing to honour a power-sharing deal, is due to be put to a vote in the 595 member parliament later on Sunday. Nepal has been plagued by turmoil for years and the latest uncertainty over Oli's fate risks the further sapping of business confidence. "We were left with no alternative because of the arrogance of the prime minister and his party," Kiran Giri, a senior official of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) told Reuters, referring to party's decision to abandon Oli's coalition. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal (Democratic) is the other party that said it was leaving the alliance. Both parties said they would join the opposition in Sunday's vote aimed at toppling the Himalayan country's 23rd government since multi-party democracy was introduced in 1990 after bloody protests. Oli was not available for comment but aides said he would respond to opposition accusations in parliament. Nepal's neighbours, China and India, jostle for influence over the volatile young republic and are concerned that prolonged political paralysis could turn one of the world's poorest countries into a haven forcriminal gangs and militants. Nepal has been flirting with crisis since September when it adopted its first republican constitution. The ethnic Madhesi minority in the south of the country rejected the constitution, saying new federal states marginalized them by splitting their homeland. The Maoists called off a bid to oust Oli two months ago after he said he would address the Madhesi concerns and rebuild homes destroyed in earthquakes last year. But Oli's critics said he did not do as he promised. "The prime minister became ego-centric and self-centred, refusing to listen," Maoist chief Prachanda, said in parliament on Friday. "This made us unable to continue to work with him." Prachanda, who goes by his war nom-de-guerre meaning "Fierce", is the favourite to replace the 64-year-old Oli. Minority Madhesis blocked border trade points with India for four months to demand the redrawing of provincial borders and a fair say in government. They ended the blockade in February after more than 50 people were killed in clashes with police and widespread criticism of the protest that choked off supplies of vital imports from India, including fuel. Islamabad/Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists and said having state-to-state ties with the neighbouring country is a "bigger challenge" for his government than combating terror groups such as al-Qaeda and Taliban. The Afghan President also said that Kabul was proud of its friendship with India as New Delhi shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. In contrast, Ghani said that Pakistan provides sanctuaries to terrorists and trains them, making relations with Pakistan, the bigger challenge for his country. "We cannot understand when Pakistan says it will not allow a group of terrorists to amend its constitution, army act and prepares a National Action Plan against them. "Simultaneously, Pakistan tolerates another group which attempts to undermine the government and bring horror, death and destruction to Afghanistan," Ghani told Geo News. The 64-year-old Afghan president said he can provide addresses of Taliban leaders in the Pakistani city of Quetta, Dawn quoted the Afghan president as saying on Saturday, a day Kabul witnessed the deadliest terror attack in 15 years which killed 80 people and left hundreds injured. Ghani claimed that Afghan forces have bombed the chief of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mullah Fazlullah, 11 times along with attacks on his close aides. "Can you show me a single operation against the Haqqani network, against Mullah Omar, against Mullah Mansoor, Mansoor traveled on a Pakistani passport out of Karachi, does Fazlullah travel on an Afghan passport out of Kabul," asked Ghani. The Afghan President also alleged terrorists wounded in Afghanistan are openly treated in Pakistani hospitals. "Afghan designated terrorists also hold open meetings in Islamabad," he said. Ghani rejected allegations that Afghan government had leaked the news of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar's death, which resulted in suspension of Pakistan-facilitated dialogue between the Taliban and government in the Pakistani resort city of Murree. "The news of Mullah Omar's death came from the Taliban. We did not leak it, we just gave an official statement. After the news was leaked, we confirmed it from 19 sources, all within Taliban network," said the Afghan president. Responding to a question, Ghani said Afghanistan was proud of its friendship with India, as India shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. "India is a historical friend of Afghanistan, India is building dams in Afghanistan, it is a democratic country and shares our democratic aspirations," said Ghani, adding that his country's foreign policy is no other country's business. A 21-year-old youth is battling for his life after he was shot at by another youth of his village in Outer Delhis Bawana area on Saturday morning. The injured was rushed to a government hospital from where he was referred to a private hospital in Rohini. His condition is still serious, and doctors are monitoring him constantly, police said. Police suspect the shooting is a result of personal enmity between the victim and the accused. The incident happened around 9.30 am in Dariyapur village in Bawana when Deepak was returning from a gym in Pooth Khurd village. He had been going to a gym situated several kilometres away from his village for workout as a part of his routine to get selected in Haryana Police, sources said. Few days back he had given the physical endurance test of Haryana Police as part of the selection process, sources added. He was returning from the gym and was walking after deboarding from a bus when the alleged shooter shot him from close range. According to police, Deepak was shot at in his abdomen after which the shooter walked away from the spot. Deepaks family members claim that the shooter has been identified and he belongs to the same village. Police, however, have refused to confirm the identity of the shooter saying that the investigation is at a crucial stage and revealing his identity would hamper the probe. Due to lack of CCTV footage of the incident, police are relying on eyewitnesses and are waiting for Deepak to recover from his injuries so that he can give a statement. The alleged shooter is in his early twenties and had a personal enmity with Deepak, the police said. A case has been registered at Bawana police station. Former Congress MP Mahabal Mishra and his supporters today forcefully opened an elevated corridor between Vikaspuri and Meera Bagh, a day before Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was scheduled to formally inaugurate it, prompting PWD to file a police complaint. In a statement, the former West Delhi MP claimed he along with hundreds of party workers inaugurated the 3.4-km long flyover from Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh as the Congress party has allotted funds for its construction. Meanwhile, a senior official said that Public Works Department (PWD) has filed a written police complaint for forcefully inaugurating the elevated corridor. PWD has filed (a) police complaint against miscreants who illegally tried to intrude Vikaspuri Elevated Road to be inaugurated by the Delhi Chief Minister on Sunday, the official said. The corridor will make five intersections on the stretch signal-free -- Anand Kunj Junction, Manohar Nagar Crossing, Keshopur Crossing, Sabji Mandi Junction and Meera Bagh Junction. Residents of Jankapuri, Vikaspuri, Tilak Nagar, Jawalaheri, Pachim Vihar will be benefited the most. A section of the elevated corridor between Vikaspuri and Wazirabad, commuters are expected to save 12 minutes of traffic time while approaching Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Tilak Nagar, Jwalaheri, Pashcim Vihar and Bhera Enclave. The flyover has provision for rainwater harvesting. According to government, smooth and uninterrupted traffic on the stretch is also expected to save emission of atleast 38 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per day. The 22 km signal free Vikaspuri-Wazirabad corridor was divided into four parts -- Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh, Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk, Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk, and a stretch from Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad. Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad is still under construction. The state government is also planning a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in the nearby areas of the corridor. A 14-year-old Dalit girl, a rape victim, is battling for life on ventilator for the past two months. She was kidnapped days before a court hearing in May, repeatedly raped again and fed corrosive agents. In the past two months, the girl has undergone treatment at Lok Nayak Hospital. Currently, she is admitted to Max Hospital at Shalimar Bagh under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota. The girls family lives in a rented house at north Delhis Burari. On the basis of her complaint in December 2015, a rape case under Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) was filed against a man named Shivshankar. On May 15, just before a court hearing, the girl was kidnapped from her house following which another FIR was filed with Burari police station on May 19. Police managed to rescue her in the last week of May and called her parents to the police station. Her parents claim that she was bleeding profusely from her head. In her statement, the girl told police that she was kidnapped by Shivshankars maternal aunt Dolly. It is alleged that while she was kept in confinement, she was again repeatedly raped by Shivshankar. Her hands and feet were tied and she was refused food during this period. Towards the end of the ordeal, Shivshankar and Dolly allegedly fed her a corrosive substance mixed in soft drink. After her rescue, she was admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital and was recently shifted to Max Hospital. On Saturday, Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal met the girl and her family members at the hospital. The doctors have informed me that her chances of survival are extremely bleak, Maliwal said. The girls family has alleged that she previously changed her statements due to pressure from Shivshankar and that he is now trying to kidnap her brother. The girls family claims that police also forced her to change her statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before appearing before the Metropolitan Magistrate. It is also alleged that the girl was sent to a Nari Niketan after her statement was recorded. The DCW has now recommended police protection for the girl and her family on a priority basis. A notice has also been issued to Delhi Police seeking a reply in 72 hours. No case under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been filed so far. The much-awaited rains in the capital have brought in an unwelcome surge in monsoon diseases in the last three weeks. With the onset of monsoon, waterlogged streets, puddles near households, stagnant water on office premises are common. Doctors have sounded an alert that people should take early precautions to eliminate any breeding source of mosquitoes. Public health experts say the civic bodies need to launch intensive drives to eliminate mosquito breeding spots from an early stage. The public should also be sensitised on the ill effects of water stagnation. Hospitals have reported a sharp spike in monsoon-related ailments in the last three-four weeks. The pattern is typical to monsoon season. The number of patients coming to OPDs with viral infections has increased over the last three weeks, says Dr N K Vikram, medicine department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. A significant number of patients are coming with high fever. The symptoms are ranging from upper respiratory infections like cold and cough, headache, body ache, rashes and a short history of fever. Though several patients are showing symptoms typical of dengue, the major chunk of them have tested negative for dengue, he says. Most patients are being treated in OPDs and do not need admission, he adds. The symptoms are similar for both children and adults. At Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, the number of viral infection cases has gone up by 100 per cent, says a senior doctor at the hospitals paediatrics department. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has seen over 20 per cent rise in diarrhoea and food poisoning cases with infection from water contamination being commonly reported. Viral infections last for at least four to five days and leave patients with severe weakness. Patients should be alert to symptoms like bleeding and severe vomiting so that there is medical intervention at the right time. In the initial stage, fever can be handled with paracetamol. Patients should be careful of signs like bleeding, nausea. They should also seek medical help if the fever continues beyond four to five days, says Dr Vikram. Due to seasons change, the hospital has seen a rise in viral infection cases. Most of these cases are being treated at the OPDs, said Dr Anoop Mohta, director at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya. Doctors say the hospitals have not seen the peak of monsoon-related infections yet and that these are likely to rise over the next few weeks. Till now, alarming symptoms have not been seen and most of the patients suffering from fevers have not needed admission, say doctors. The other infections on the rise during this season are ear fungal infections which have increased by at least 30 per cent and also cases of pharyngitis, says Dr Ravinder Chauhan, ENT department, Lady Hardinge Medical College. Patients are also suffering from diseases like Hepatitis A and typhoid. The humidity and rain make it easier for the virus to thrive. Therefore, a rise in viral infections is observed, says Dr Anil Bansal, a physician. Those who have lower immunity levels are more susceptible to viral infections. Fungal infections on folds of skin and conjunctivitis are the other two commonly reported monsoon diseases. Dengue, malaria The capital has seen over 50 dengue cases and five malaria cases so far this season, according to data released by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). However, figures from individual hospitals point towards higher numbers. Last year, the capital saw the worst dengue outbreak since 1996. Experts point out that there needs to be a thorough coordination between the governments health department and the civic bodies so that mosquitogenic conditions can be eliminated. There is also a need for the government to be well prepared with adequate number of beds and clinics so that patients can be accommodated if the number of dengue cases goes up, says an administrative official at a Delhi government hospital. The Delhi government has announced 300 fever clinics by the beginning of September. Last year, several patients were refused beds with hospitals stretched beyond their capacities. Government hospitals accommodated three to four patients on each bed with the rush of dengue patients. Precautions People should be cautious in not letting water stagnate near their households, change water in their air coolers regularly and overhead water tankers. Food sold from stalls in the open should also be avoided during this season. Parents should encourage children to wash hands frequently to avoid contamination, say doctors. People suffering from fever should take plenty of fluids to keep themselves well hydrated. In case of dengue, the platelet count of patients should be closely monitored to avoid any fatality. Patients should take oral fluids and immediately seek medical help in case of bleeding, vomiting tendencies and severe body ache, say doctors. A 46-year-old Indian-American man in New Jersey has been arrested and charged with murder for stabbing his wife to death in their apartment while the couple's three children were asleep. Nitin Singh was charged with murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. Singh is accused of stabbing his wife Seema Singh, 42, multiple times last week and has been remanded to the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of bail of a million dollars cash, the Pennsville Police Department said. A report in NJ.com said Singh was found covered with blood standing over his wife's body in their kitchen when emergency personnel arrived early Tuesday morning, according to Pennsville Chief of Police Allen Cummings. Cummings said Singh himself had called 911 seeking help for his wife. The couple's three children two boys, aged 16 and 6 and a 5-year-old girl were taken from the apartment through a side door so they did not see the crime scene in the kitchen, authorities said. The children were taken to the Pennsville police station and state protective services workers took custody of them, the report said. "This is a very horrific scene. It's a situation where there are children involved and they have lost their mother and their father is probably going to be incarcerated," Cummings said. Singh's wife was pronounced dead at the scene and had been stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen. While authorities are investigating the cause of the murder, police have indicated it could have been some sort of domestic dispute. Cummings said that Pennsville police had never been called to the Singhs' apartment for any type of domestic troubles in the past. The Singhs owned the building where the murder took place and had owned a convenience store in the locality. Neighbours expressed shock at the murder, saying it was hard to believe Singh could commit such a crime. "He's the nicest person I ever met. I never heard any type of fighting going on. They never raised their voice or anything," Singh's neighbour George Hemple said of him. Main opposition National Conference today asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. The party also said it would be a travesty to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a mere law and order problem. This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here since yesterday to review the situation, by a delegation of National Conference (NC), led by former Chief Minister and its working President Omar Abdullah. In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centre's failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir "as a political problem which requires political engagement both internally and externally." While it was "palpable and shocking" to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, "it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue," the party said. It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir "operatively and militarily", rather than "thinking out of the box", has further exasperated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism especially among the youth that could have adverse long-term implications. The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley. "A continued failure to address growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India," they said. Registering its anguish, grief and sorrow over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the PDP-BJP's state Government's "evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation." "Also, to blame external forces and vested interests alone would be a dangerous diversion that takes us away from the basis, for not only such unrests and agitations in Kashmir but also a prolonged political turmoil that has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives," the NC memorandum said. The delegation, which also comprised Ali Mohammed Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather and Nasir Wani, demanded a judicial probe into the "mishandling of the situation in the aftermath of Burhan Wani's killing, including the veracity of claims made by (PDP) senior leaders including its Member of Parliament for North Kashmir and the State's Finance Minister". Highlighting the handling of situation in the aftermath of killing of Wani, the National Conference leaders said when there was a need for dealing the situation in a political and humane manner, the situation was further compounded by contradictory statements by Ministers and elected representatives belonging to the ruling dispensation. "While senior PDP Leader and Member of Parliament Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig has blamed 'internal rivalry' within certain sections of the state Police for Wani's killing, another PDP Leader and State Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu has termed Burhan Wani's killing a case of custodial execution by the State Police while speaking in a Cabinet Meeting," the opposition delegation alleged. It said the judicial probe should also ascertain "if excessive force was used against protestors in the Valley with an aim to initiate legal proceedings in cases where excessive use of force is proven. Timely and visible action should be taken in such instances." It also sought immediate restoration of mobile communications in the Valley and mobile internet services, saying "any prolonged clampdown on the telecom sector in the present day and age is an archaic, unimaginative and draconian approach to deal with public dissent and anger." The memorandum said by blocking telecommunication with the "purpose of cracking down on criticism of the Government and growing dissent against the administration has resulted in untold miseries and suffering in the Valley". "The clampdown on mobile telecommunications in the Valley continues without any indication of restoration of services by the Government. This too has fuelled the sentiment of alienation and isolation in Kashmir," it said. The NC demanded the judicial probe to fix responsibility for the crackdown on newspaper offices and printing presses, claiming that now the Chief Minister has denied her Government's involvement in this repressive exercise. "Legal action should be initiated in this matter and the state Government should extend an unconditional, unequivocal apology to the local media for this unwarranted repression," the memorandum said. The NC also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister for promptly responding to Omar's appeal to send eye-specialists to the Valley to treat hundreds of cases of young men and women, who sustained "potentially handicapping, lethal injuries due to the unrestricted and wanton use of pellet guns on protestors." It sought all possible medical and financial assistance in the treatment of civilians who sustained grievous injuries, including specialised treatment outside the state.They also demanded a complete ban on 'non lethal' weapons that caused grievous, life-threatening and fatal injuries. While expressing strong condemnation of a "clear pattern" of excessive use of force on protestors across the Valley, the delegation informed the Home Minister that NC wasted no time in rising over partisan politics by reaching out to the state government "to lend our support to help and minimise the loss of young lives" despite having serious reservations about the state government's "inhumane, insensitive and chaotic response" to the situation in the Valley. The delegation informed the Home Minister that the party's working President Omar Abdullah had made a timely and prompt public appeal to the Chief Minister to lead a political effort to normalise the situation in the Valley. "It is tragic and condemnable that the Chief Minister and the State Government did not respond to this appeal and expression of support when a collective, bi-partisan effort could have helped in the non-negotiable goal of preventing the loss of lives," they said. Justifying its stand to boycott the All-Party Meeting, the delegation said the party did not want to be part of an elaborate "theatrical charade by the Chief Minister to compensate for her shocking lack of a sense of responsibility to deal with the situation in the State. "We remain committed to helping the aggrieved and affected people and also playing an active role in any over- arching effort to normalize the situation in the Valley." Maintaining that the PDP-BJP government had adopted a 'good cop-bad cop policy', the NC said on one hand state government spokesperson and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar went on record to re-affirm and justify the Government's media gag, on the other the Chief Minister, through her Advisor Amitabh Mattoo, sought to "deny the existence of the media gag while publicly and ironically promising action against those responsible for 'miscommunication' and 'misrepresentation'". "If this means possible action against the State Government's Spokesperson and Education Minister, or if this is just another elaborate enacting of the 'Good CopBad Cop' trick to isolate the Chief Minister from the ramifications of assaulting the media and curbing the fourth estate is a question that remains unanswered," it said. The 18-year-old German-Iranian gunman who killed nine people in Munich on Friday began planning the attack one year ago after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in southwest Germany that killed 15 people, a Bavarian state official said on Sunday. Robert Heimberger, president of the Bavarian state crime office, said material founded at his home showed the gunman was an avid player of violent video crimes who purchased his weapon -- a reactivated Glock 17 pistol -- on the so-called dark net, an area of the Internet accessible only via special software. Heimberger said the parents of the gunman remained in shock and were not able to be interviewed. An official of the state prosecutor's office said the shooting victims did not include any classmates of the gunman. The ongoing fight between the BJP and the BSP over use of derogatory words against each others leaders may turn into a caste conflict. Members of the influential and powerful Kshatriya (Thakur) community have taken to the social networking sites to rally support for Swati Singh, the wife of the expelled BJP leader Daya Shankar Singh, who had triggered a massive controversy by his derogatory remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. Many of the Thakur community members have used derogatory words against Mayawati in their posts on the social networking sites and have even reminded her of Phoolan Devi, the Bandit Queen, who hailed from Mallah (boatmen) community. Phoolan Devi, who had reportedly been humiliated by the thakurs, had later taken up arms and massacred several members of the community to take revenge. Swati a lioness The members heaped praise on Swati and termed her as a lioness and asli kshatrani (real Thakur woman) and exhorted the other members to support her in her fight against Mayawati. All India Kshatriya Mahasabha, a national body of the community, has also declared its support to Swati. The Mahasabha activists staged demonstrations in several districts in the eastern region of the state and burnt effigy of Mayawati to register their protest. We will not tolerate foul language against Swati and her daughter.... we will continue our protest until the guilty BSP leaders are punished, said Mahasabha office bearer Umesh Singh. On the other hand Dalit outfits have lend their support to Mayawati. The Ambedkarvadi Students Morcha held a demonstration at Gorakhpur on Saturday demanding action against Singh. They also tore up the posters and banners of the BJP. President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday gave a call to the people to dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation through constructive contribution. The presidents message was conveyed to the citizens by his press secretary Venu Rajamony during a live question and answer session held on Mukherjees official Facebook page on the eve of his completing fourth year in office as the Head of the State. The president believes the central government programmes like Digital India, Swachh Bharat and Skill India are transformative in nature and their successful implementation will alter the landscape of the country. Citizens of India should dedicate themselves to the cause of the nation and society through constructive contribution to these programmes in every possible manner, Rajamony stated while replying to one of the questions of the citizens on the social networking site. While the Presidents office is set to hold several events on the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan to mark Mukherjees fourth year in office on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a state-of-the-art three-floor museum, which the official describe as first of its kind in India as two of its floors are underground. On the occasion, the president will flag off a hop-on, hop-off bus for tourists visiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The museum, built in over one lakh square feet area at the initiative of Mukherjee, will showcase history of the 88-year-old Rashtrapati Bhavan and lives of Presidents of India. Open from Oct 2 The construction, which will be open for public from October 2, has cost Rs 80 crore, secretary to the president Omita Paul told reporters addressing a press conference. Tomorrow (Monday) we will be having a soft launch. We will give the tour operators a signal to start booking for it. For normal public, the museum will open from October 2. It will be open six days a week. We have put the initial ticket price to be Rs 50 and gate number 30 will be designated for the entry, she added. Six months after a JD (U) MLA was suspended from the party for trying to outrage the modesty of a woman passenger on Rajdhani Express, a BJP legislator in Bihar met the same fate on similar charges here on Sunday. BJP MLC Tunnaji Pandey was suspended after the railway police arrested him at Hajipur on Sunday for his bid to outrage the modesty of a minor girl on the Howrah-Gorakhpur Poorvanchal Express. Pandey was issued a show-cause notice and asked to explain his conduct. But immediately thereafter, Bihar BJP vice president Sanjay Mayukh told that the legislator had been suspended from the party with immediate effect because the BJP believes that standards and purity must be maintained in politics. Earlier, the JD(U) had suspended MLA Sarfaraz Alam after he was arrested on the charge of sexual harassment. India may soon sign the Social Security Agreements (SSA) with the other BRICS countries. The nations that constitute BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The issue will be finalised this week at the meeting of the BRICS Second Employment Working Group at Hyderabad. An SSA generally provides an exemption of International Workers from paying taxes in the host country. It calculates the social security contribution made by a worker in the foreign country and qualifies them for retirement benefits in that country. It further allows one to avail benefits in either of the two countries. Trade relations between BRICS nations have been increasing over the years, and major industries and enterprises from these nations are making investments in other nations. The companies often make dual contributions in the absence of detachments provisions that affect the competitiveness said a senior official of Employment Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The Government of India till date has signed SSA with 19 countries. With 15 countries the SSAs have been in operation, the EPFO added. The comprehensive SSA between India and Japan will be operational from October 1, 2016. The passenger service fee collected in airports is increasing by the year, with fliers coughing up Rs 1,460.7 crore in the last fiscal. This is an increase of 22.03% from the previous fee. Delhi tops the list with Rs 308.83 crore, which is more than half of the fee collected by other government-run airports. The passenger service fee is primarily used for meeting the cost of deployment of the security personnel. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the increase in the amount is not due to the rise in the fee. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju recently told the Lok Sabha that there was no proposal under consideration to increase the rate of passenger service fee. While Rs 1,087 crore was collected in 2013-14, it was Rs 1,196.95 crore the next fiscal. It again rose to Rs 1,460.7 crore in 2015-16. Of this, the government-run airports collected Rs 610.07 crore in the last three fiscals, while the Mumbai airport got Rs 238.13 crore, Hyderabad Rs 102.79 crore, Benagluru Rs 123.78 crore, Nagpur Rs 10.45 crore and Kochi Rs 66.85 crore. For Delhi, the collection rose by Rs 76.57 crore to touch Rs 308.63 crore last fiscal, which was a 32.99% hike from 2014-15. The highest percentage in the rise was reported from the Hyderabad airport where there was a 47.85% hike. The Bengaluru airport also had an increase of Rs 24.24 crore in the collection of passenger fee between 2014-15. Warning Pakistan not to interfere in Indias internal affairs, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said New Delhi wants to have an emotional relationship with Jammu and Kashmir and not need-based. Government of India doesnt just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir, he said while addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to violence hit Valley. Training guns at neighbouring Pakistan, Rajnath said there is no need of third power to restore the peace and calm in Kashmir. On one hand, Pakistan launches operation inside Lal Masjid against terrorists and on the other, it provokes Kashmiri youth to take up arms. Pakistan's role isn't paak (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour, Rajnath said. While reaching out to the people of Kashmir, he made a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about Kashmir situation. I appeal to people to restore peace and normalcy, he said. On the use of pellet guns, which have maimed more than a hundred youth, Rajnath said: We will constitute an expert committee to find out ways to use non-lethal weapons. The committee will submit report in two months. While extending his sympathies with the families of civilians killed in the unrest, the home minister, at the same time, said the Government of India will not tolerate terrorism. He said that security forces have been asked to exercise maximum restraint. Rajnath said that he has told Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to shift all injured to Delhi if they are not being treated well in Kashmir. He said the decision with regard to talks would be taken only after the situation improves. Let peace and normalcy restore. We will see with whom we will talk. I will then talk to the chief minister, he said. However, he maintained there was no way forward other than talks. The home ministers visit came amid street protests triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani which has left 51 people dead and thousands injured. Earlier, Rajnath visited the worst affected south Kashmirs Anantnag district, where he met handful of activists affiliated with ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) at Dakbanglow. Sources said the PDP and BJP activists were being ferried by political leaders in private vehicles from various areas while many police men in civvies were also part of the meeting. However, no local MLA from any of the political parties was present during the meeting. The meeting was closed door and no media was allowed inside. Yoga Advaith Veturi sang in the Arohana series of the Ananya on the basis of the waves he has made in Chennai and Bengaluru as a worthy student of Neyveli Santanagopalan, a senior musician. He has already won prizes from the prestigious sabhas like Music Academy and Bangalore Gayana Samaja. A resident of Malaysia Yoga Advaith vindicated this reputation through his choice and presentation of ragas and compositions.Opening with a familiar varna Intachala, he jumped into Pancha Matanga and Telisi Rama in slightly Drutha kaala. After a brief alapana of Pantuvarali he selected Sundaratara Deham a beautiful keertana. He sang the composition neatly with nerval (Ragadi Samharam Raghavamudram) and Swaraprasthara. He appeared to find his moorings, particularly in the elaboration of Karthikeya Gangeya with nerval and swara. His voice and pronunciations are good and will be able to invest his music with the required weight and authority with some more higher training and stage experience. The concluding devotionals Kamala Nayana Vasudeva and Chandrachuda Shiva Sankara were also pleasing. Two seasoned instrumentalists Dr Vittalarangan and B S Prashanth suited their play suitably to make it a successful concert. Melodious movements Priya Raman, gave a Bharathanatya recital last week, under the banner of Ananya and Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academi. She is a disciple of Shubha Dhananjaya of Natyantharanga and holds a Masters degree from the University of Hyderabad and is going to join University of Texas shortly for her PhD. It was not just another Bharathanatya, but an exclusive dance recital of a great Kannada poet. Dr P T Narasimhachar, Pu Thi Na as he is well known, is a stalwart known for his lyrics and operas. In fact, he himself has tuned some of his lyrics and his lyrics are very much musical. Also, Dr V Doreswamy Iyengar has composed music for many of them. Priya had chosen only five lyrics of Pu Thin Nas and it was a brief recital. Far away from the mythological themes and stories and away from the routine compositions, it was fresh air and an earthy smell taking over. After the invocatory piece (Ganesha Pancharatna in Ragamalike, - Ek Thala and Tisra Gati) she chose Echrecharu Maara (raga Bhouli) in which fully blossomed flowers, rangoli, birds and animals filling human life are narrated and the poets elaboration comes out moving and meandering. The next item Aashishangala Taleve was from Sri Rama Pattabhisheka, in which Rama addresses the citizens after the coronation. The Nritta portions depicted some sequences of the Ramayana. In the Kolalanudu Govinda (from the Gokula Nirgamana) conversation between Kubje and Krishna is quiet interesting. In the concluding Toogiri Raghuramana (Raga Kaapi) poet compares Sita and Rama to Lakshmi Narayana. Priyas effort is commendable and has mastered a diction, which is at once subtle and evocative, and a good stage presence and melodious movements gave a good account of her grounding and talent. Shatha Prasads vocal and Renuka Prasads Natuvanga (recorded) were complimentary to the dance. The defence ministry on Sunday sought the Isros help to scour the Bay of Bengal to trace the IAF aircraft that has been missing since Friday. As inclement weather restricted the movement of surveillance flights, defence officials opted for satellite imagery of the area. We are asking the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to help with the satellite imagery of the area so that we get more information, said Vice Admiral H C S Bisht, Chief of Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam. A source in the ministry said that an Isro satellite gave pointers to an area, which was extensively searched by rescue ships and aircraft. But it yielded no results. Another satellite will be used for surveillance on Monday. A senior officer at the Tambaram air base in Chennai, from where the AN-32 took off for Port Blair on July 22 with 29 people on board, said the services of the National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, Isro's Mission Control Centre, Bengaluru, and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services at Hyderabad were sought for augmenting the rescue operations. We have stepped up the search in the coastal areas of Cuddalore, Mamallapuram and Karaikal, the official said. As many as 19 coast guard and navy ships, including India's second largest warship INS Jalashwa, and 17 aircraft from the IAF, navy and coast guard are involved in the search operation. A Russian-origin Kilo class submarine has also joined the rescue fleet. The depth of the ocean is also posing a problem for the search team. The depth (of the ocean) is 3,500 metres. As the depth increases, challenges become more severe. This is something we are grappling with. We are augmenting the search efforts by increasing the number of ships, aircraft, helicopters and coast guard ships, said Bisht, who accompanied Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Saturday when they undertook an aerial survey of the search area. Several aircraft undertook sorties, but the rescue mission was hindered due to adverse weather conditions. A Dornier aircraft was also forced to return to the base. The weather department's Sunday bulletin said the sea would be rough as strong off-shore winds from the south westerly direction, reaching 45-55 kmph, is likely off the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This is likely to impact the search operations adversely. Families updated The government is yet to release the names of the passengers even though service officials are in touch with the family members. I have met the families of the passengers. We are updating them regularly about the situation, said Bisht. Meanwhile, Wing Commander T J Singh from the Tambaram air base filed a complaint at the Selaiyur police station in Tamil Nadu into the missing AN-32 aircraft and 29 passengers. The Bengaluru City police have heightened security in the city in view of the strike. As many as 36 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 30 platoons of City Armed Reserve, 1,000 home guards, 106 inspectors, 174 sub-inspectors, 368 ASIs, 965 head constables, 1950 police constables, 140 women police personnel will be deployed at various places in the City. Four additional commissioners of polices, seven DCPs and 21 ACPs will monitor the situation, said a senior police officer. Security in and around bus stands, railway stations, Metro stations and other public places has been beefed up. The police have requested the KSRTC and BMTC staff to hold peaceful protests and not indulge in any act affecting safety of public as well as properties. It was victory at last for collective citizens activism. A massive campaign against a waste segregation plant proposed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the Vibuthipura lake bund near HAL had its desired effect. On Sunday, the local KR Puram MLA, B A Basavaraja assured that the lake will not be touched. Over 800 residents from all localities surrounding the lake had converged for a massive sapling-planting exercise. But even as they planted 1,200 saplings complete with tree guards, they pondered over the threat of the segregation unit. They were not sure even as 50 resident welfare association representatives submitted memorandums to the MLA, urging that the plan be shelved. The legislators assurance pacified them, but doubts lingered. For, tractors had dumped many loads of construction debris on the bund to level the plot, just a week ago. Spearheaded by Team VIKAS, the campaign to rejuvenate and maintain the lake wanted more from the government, the MLA, Bangalore Development Authority and BBMP. Articulating their collective desire to de-weed, completely fence and secure the 22-acre lake, the team members sought an end to the incessant inflow of untreated sewage. They also wanted security for women and senior citizens from hordes of anti-social elements frequenting the place after dark. Volunteers had chased away trucks that had clandestinely dumped debris. But on Sunday, they wanted a clear direction from the BBMP against the practice. They had a sound reason: for years, hundreds of residents had strived hard to get encroachments cleared from the lake, its boundary partially fenced and a makeshift walking track created. Lack of toilets had forced several slum-dwellers in the lakes vicinity to openly defecate on the lake bund. Residents wanted the government to build a few public toilets. Sundays event also had MLC Narayana Swamy, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) Muniveerappa, corporators S G Nagaraj and Manjunath. Seven persons were killed and 18 injured in a collision between container vehicle and a private bus on Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, near Anekal in Bengaluru Urban district on Sunday afternoon. The accident took place National Highway-7 at Sundagiri village in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu around 1.30 pm when the bus was heading to Hosur from Krishnagiri. The driver of the speeding container vehicle lost balance and hit the bus, said the police. The police and the fire force personnel had tough time in clearing the vehicles involved in the accident. Vehicular movement was affected for three hours. The dead were identified as Ramaiah Naidu, 65, a resident of Uddanapalli, Govindan, 45, Usha Nandini, 35 Maila, 34, from Krishnagiri and Karthik, 30, of Nettore, said the police. The injured are being treated at a hospital in Krishnagiri. Miscreants stoned two KSRTC buses at Marasur gate near Chandapura on the outskirts of the city on Sunday night, ahead of the strike by the staff of transport utilities. The incident occurred when the buses were heading to Anekal from Kempegowda bus station. Front glasses of the buses were damaged. Alternative arrangements were made for the passengers of these buses to reach their destinations, the police said. In another incident, four men stopped a KSRTC bus near Richmond Circle and threatened the driver on Sunday morning. Mudalaiah, the driver of the Chikkamagaluru-bound bus has lodged a complaint with Sampangiram Nagar police. He said the incident occurred around 6 am when he was on his way to the Kempegowda bus station from depot number three in Shanthinagar. They told him to get down from the vehicle and abused him for taking out the bus even when the Unions had called for a strike. They also threatened some passengers who rushed to his support, the complaint said. The police are yet to register a case. At a time when anyone else in his position would be left anxious, Reijul Sachdev believed that there lives a superman in every freak. This helped the 22-year-old schizophrenic pen down his thoughts into verses that could be read over and again. Sachdevs anthology of poems, Emerald Blades was read out at the British Library in the city on Sunday, amid cheers and appreciation from his former classmates and teachers. The poets former classmates and teachers read out the poems. He passed out of class 12 from NPS, Koramangala in 2012. It was in the fourth year of his studies at Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Bengaluru that Sachdev was diagnosed to have schizophrenia. He wrote most of the poems after he dropped out of the college, Sachdev told Deccan Herald. I started writing it two years ago. I have written on a range of topics from politics to rationality and liberty, he added. Even as doctors initially told Sachdev that it was only borderline schizophrenia, eventually, his condition worsened, he explained. Recently, I was diagnosed to have paranoid schizophrenia. I tend to see a lot of things which are not really there. Most of my poems stem from my experience as a schizophrenic. Some poems might be a little dark but they all have a silver lining. There is always a glimmer of hope at the end, he added. While he pens down some poems just as thoughts occur, some times he takes time to streamline the thoughts before putting them into words. Wilder things, for example, were written immediately. However, with issues like suicide, I think about them for several days and then write them, said Sachdev. Emerald Blades is a collection of 47 poems and is available online. Sachdev said the book would be officially launched soon. The Yelahanka police and the Hoysala team conducted a joint operation and arrested two persons who were escaping after robbing a private company employee during the wee hours of Sunday. The suspects are Mahesh and Kumar. The police recovered Rs 1,300 in cash and a car. According to the police, Uday Reddy, a resident of Bagalur, was waiting for a vehicle near Yelahanka to return home. Mahesh and Kumar, who were moving around in the area, spotted Reddy, stopped their car and offered him a drop. Minutes later, they threatened Reddy inside the car, robbed Rs 1,300 in cash, pushed him out and escaped. Reddy called up the police control room and informed about the robbery. The control room staff shared the information with the command centre and alerted the Yelahanka police. Cops in Hoysala and the Yelahanka night patrolling police began their operation. They spotted the car near Kogilu Circle and detained the duo for interrogation. The duo confessed to the crime. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the US Agency for International Developments project on enhancing legal building capacity in Vietnam. Vice Chairman of the Government Office Le Manh Ha said the Government has exerted efforts to improve the business environment in recent years, such as by building the Law on Investment and Law on Enterprises in 2014, and promulgating Resolution No.19 on bettering the business climate and enhancing the national competitive edge, along with Resolution No.35 on supporting businesses. According to the VCCI, 37 laws on business and investment need to be revised and adjusted to avoid contradictions and overlaps, including the Commercial Law, the Law on Investment, the Law on Enterprises, the Law on Land, the Law on Construction, the Law on Environmental Protection, and the Law on Science and Technology. The Law on Corporate Income Tax, the Law on Value Added Tax, the Law on Special Consumption Tax, the Law on Tax Management, the Law on Management and Use of State Capital Invested in Production and Business and Enterprises, the Law on Advertising, and the Law on Housing should be overhauled, too. Head of VCCIs Legal Department Dau Anh Tuan said the examination of business and investment laws aims to remove barriers and overlaps among legal documents, through which push forward the reform of administrative procedures and create equal opportunities for business players. Such legal documents as the Law on Accounting, the Law on Cinema, the Law on Telecommunications, and the Law on Prices also needs revision, he said, pointing to some shortcomings in the fields./. How Ohio anti-abortion activists shaped post-Roe America Ohio led a slow, determined push to steadily weaken and then nearly eliminate abortion rights. It's indicative of what has happened around the U.S. The BOIs new branch, located at No 37 Ton Duc Thang street in District 1, is expected to provide services for Vietnamese and Indian importers and exporters, thus fostering bilateral trade. BOI Managing Director Melwyn Rego said the bank, established in 1906, is one of the biggest banks in India with a global investment of USD133 billion. It has 5,016 branches across India and 58 in over 20 other countries and world financial hubs such as Tokyo, Singapore, London, Paris and New York. The same day, Japans Bank of Fukuoka, Ltd unveiled its representative office at No 29 Le Duan street in HCM citys District 1. The office will conduct market surveys and investment promotion. It is also tasked with supervising the implementation of agreements between the bank and Vietnams credit institutions and businesses, along with projects funded by the Bank of Fukuoka, Ltd in Vietnam. Vice Chairman of the HCM city Peoples Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen said the municipal administration pledges favourable conditions for foreign enterprises operations. The growing presence of foreign financial institutions and banks will open up more opportunities for domestic and foreign firms partnership, which will help fuel local sustainable socio-economic growth./. Scene following the attack (Source: VNA) He also asked representative agencies to offer all possible support to Vietnamese nationals who meet with any difficulty. According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, there has been no information about injured Vietnamese in the attack so far. The embassy has kept contact with German authorities to update the latest information about the situation of Vietnamese citizens and provide timely support./. After the move by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to penalise telecom operators for every call dropped was set aside by the Supreme Court (See: Call drops: SC tells Trai to study technical papers), a consultation paper may be in works to tighten call drop norms, says a CNBC-TV18 report. Sources say Trai is evaluating options to make the call drop benchmark rate more stringent. In the consultation paper, the regulator may propose stricter call drop benchmark of less than the current rate of 2 per cent. Trai is likely to seek comments from stakeholders by way of a consultation paper to explore setting the benchmark range from as low as 0.5 to 1.5 per cent. More importantly, it is thinking of having the call drop rate measured per Base Transceiver Station (BTS), instead of licensed service area. The idea is to measure the call drop average in smaller units rather than larger service areas in order to get a more accurate figure to gauge call drops. The consultation paper is likely to be issued very soon. If implemented, this move will further bring telcos under the regulatory glare and will force operators to tackle network quality issues more seriously. On the ground, telcos are not meeting the under 2 per cent call drop benchmark in most cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. Trai's test drive test results in Mumbai suggests most operators are not meeting the call drop rate benchmark except Airtel 2G and 3G and Vodafone 2G. Idea Cellular's call drop rate in January was as high as 7 per cent, which has come down to 5 per cent in May. The call drop rate for Vodafone 3G improved to 2.29 per cent in May against over 5 per cent in January, still higher than the benchmark 2 per cent. If these call drop figures are to go by, the regulator's proposed move to reduce the benchmark to sub-2 per cent, will be far from achievable for telcos. Parts of Donegal could be mistaken for the Wild West over the last week, what with some blistering sunshine and the sight of a group of people exploring the county on horseback. The team of six Germans, led by Florian Wagner, a 49-year-old adventure photographer from Bavaria, are spending the summer trekking areas along the Wild Atlantic Way from Mizen to Malin. They arrived in Donegal last Monday and spent four nights based at Derrylahan Hostel in Kilcar before heading off for Dunfanaghy on Thursday. There have been so many highlights - riding up at Slieve League at sunset, passing John The Miner's in Carrick and being invited in for a few pints, then meeting all the locals, Florian told the DD/DPP. We had such a wonderful time, with children petting the horses and everyone taking pictures and chatting with us. Another highlight is that Shaun McCloskey, who owns the hostel, is the most helpful person we have met, and that's saying a lot, given how friendly and helpful everyone is in Ireland. He arranged for so many people to meet us, it's been exceptional. The journey is not just a holiday - Florian and his colleagues have been commissioned to produce a high quality, coffee table book and a documentary aimed at enticing German tourists to visit Ireland, whether for an equestrian holiday or simply to enjoy our stunning scenery. Florian and his team have vast experience. A photographer with 25 years experience, he's worked with the likes of National Geographic, Stern, and Suddeutsche Zeitung. Coverage of his trek across Germany on horseback in 2013 reached tens of millions Now, hope are high, especially with so much interest in the Wild Atlantic Way, that this trip will pay a similar dividend for tourism here. Pictured: LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A NEW MINSTREL IN TOWN....Ivan Tucker, a native of Limerick (hence the Munster jersey!) married to local woman Rachel Ward serenades Carrick from the saddle as horse treking guide Jurgen Schaffer looks on. Photo: Regina Singelnstein. The Ballaghderg special needs pre-school in Letterkenny has received donations of $10,000 and 5,000 that will go toward the cost of a multi-sensory room at the school, a project a school parent said will be a massive benefit for pupils. Ray Flynn, former mayor of the US city of Boston, and former US ambassador to the Holy See; and Billy Higgins of Southill Childrens Fund in Boston made a donation of $10,000 to the school recently. This was matched by a 5,000 donation from Fianna Fail Cllr. Ciaran Brogan from his council members development fund. The Health Service Executive pre-school at Ballaghderg provides services for pre-school aged children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and complex care needs. Each child learns to develop and grow through play with programmes tailored to their level of ability. Ashling Nibbs, parents representative, welcomed the group from Boston to the school. In her remarks, she pointed out that Ballaghderg was the last special needs pre-school in the county, following the closure of the two other special needs pre-schools in recent years. Mrs. Nibbs said it was important for the visitors, and for council and the HSE, to see the valuable work at Ballaghderg, and what a vital support it is. You can be told what this school does, but until you come up here and see what the school does and speak to parents you cant see that on paper, she said. Mrs. Nibbs praised the staff at the pre-school, saying Its far more than a job to them they just love the kids so much. The donations will go towards the cost of a multi-sensory room at Ballaghderg, tailored to suit childrens needs. Mrs. Nibbs said the benefits of multi-sensory rooms for children who have intellectual disabilities or complex medical needs has been well-documented. It has a very calming effect on them, she said. Currently, Ballaghderg transports pupils to Derry to allow them to experience the benefits of a multi-sensory room. Having the facility at Ballaghderg will be massive, Mrs. Nibbs said. This would have been on their wish list for years, she said. Eugene McElroy, HSE business manager for Donegal intellectual disability services, thanked Mr. Higgins, Mr. Flynn and Cllr. Brogan on behalf of the HSE, and the staff and parents of the pre-school. He said the multi-sensory room will enhance the lives of the children who use it. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Source: VNA) He is also due to attend the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC)+1 sessions with dialogue partners, the 17th ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting with Northeastern Asian countries, the sixth East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting (EAS FMM-6) and the 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), together with his counterparts from 10 ASEAN countries and 17 partners outside the region. The Vietnamese delegation attends the above meetings in an active and responsible manner and stick to the principle of flexibly and deftly settling complicated issues on the basis of ensuring regional solidarity and consensus and suiting Vietnams interests. Vietnams aim is to continue contributing to enhancing ASEANs cooperation, unity and central role, particularly strengthening practical ties between ASEAN and partners, and improving the efficiency of regional forums in which the group plays a crucial role as well as intensifying ties between Vietnam and countries. The ASEAN meetings with 10 major partners, including China, the US, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and Canada, as well as the ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum and EAS founded by ASEAN are the most important meetings of the bloc this year, covering political-security, economic and socio-cultural aspects. The AMM-49 will focus its discussions on internal collaboration, Community building as well as ASEANs external relations, including accelerating the implementation of the Master Plan on the Vision 2025 of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, increasing ASEANs central role and improving its apparatus, and examining the ASEAN Charter. The meeting will also consider proposals of Timor Leste to join the bloc and other countries which want to join the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation or become ASEANs official partners. The ASEAN Ministerial Meetings with partners are scheduled to review ties between ASEAN and countries over the past time and orientations in the future, including preparations for the ASEAN+1 Summit slated for September in Laos. Laos will issue the Chairmans Statements on ASEAN relations with partners. ASEAN and Chinese foreign ministers are likely to deliver a joint statement on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). The ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea is to review the implementation of the 2013-2017 Working Plan and preparations for a new working plan for the next period, the ASEAN+3 Summit slated for September during which the Declaration on sustainable development proposed by Laos will be adopted. The EAS FMM, meanwhile, is to debate the evolving regional architecture and the EASs role, the implementation of the Declaration commemorating the 10th anniversary of the EAS, preparations for EAS meeting this September during which the EAS Declaration on denuclearisation, the Vientiane Statement on promoting infrastructure proposed by Laos, the EASs Declaration on preventing the popularisation of nuclear weapons and the EASs Statement on immigrants and human trafficking will be passed. The ARF will review measures to build trust and preventive diplomacy, adopt the list of activities for 2016-2017 and future orientations. Other regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue, the Korean peninsula, terrorism and extreme violence, human trafficking, and abnormal immigration, will also be put on the table./. The Garda Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) has said in its annual report that it hopes it can build on any learning from the inquiry into the death of Sgt Michael Galvin. Sgt Galvin (pictured) took his own life in Ballyshannon garda Station in May last year after he learnt he was being criminally investigated by Gsoc. Gsoc had cleared him of wrongdoing just hours earlier, but he had not been informed, a judicial inquiry under Mr Justice Frank Clarke found. The inquiry report was published last month and the Gsoc report was submitted to the Minister for Justice in March and published just this week. Sgt. Galvin and two colleagues were investigated after the death of Sheena Stewart in the early hours of January 1st in Ballyshannon. The three gardai interacted with the 33-year-old on the towns main street, while on duty, shortly before she was struck by a vehicle and killed. In the annual report Gsoc said: It recognises the deep loss arising from these two tragic deaths, for both the Stewart and Galvin families, their friends and colleagues. It is clear that the outcome of the inquiry will be significant for Gsoc, as well as the families involved. It is hoped that Gsoc can build on any learning which may arise from the inquiry report in 2016. 176 complaints The report also revealed Gsoc received 176 complaints about gardai in the Donegal Garda Division last year. Figures released in Gsocs annual report for 2015 show that outside of the five Dublin Garda divisions, only Galway with 184, and Limerick with 175, had more complaints than Donegal. Gsoc says all allegations of criminal offences by gardai are investigated by its own investigators. There were 386 criminal investigations opened in 2015. Gsoc received four referrals from the Garda for independent investigations last year. Only Dublin Metropolitan region (DMR) North Central division had more at five, while Cork County, Tipperary and DMR South also had four referrals. The majority of the complaints were about abuse of authority, neglect of duty, criminal offences and discourtesy. Gsoc said 2015 was a busy year with significant operational achievements made by the organisation and that there were continued improvements in efficiency and in dialogue and cooperation with the Garda Siochana. There is a wide disparity in priests earnings across Irelands 26 dioceses, The Irish Catholic has revealed. In what they describe as an exclusive, the newspaper carried out a survey - the first ever - that reveals how priests earn considerably less than average wages across the economy. In a piece written by Cathal Barry, Greg Daly and Paul Keenan the paper says there is a huge variation in remuneration with priests of the Clogher diocese, which covers parts of south Donegal and into Fermanagh, Tyrone and Monaghan, receiving up to 33,960 per year while priests in the neighbouring Derry diocese can receive as little as 11,664 just over one third of the Clogher figures. The survey reveals that in the Raphoe diocese (which takes in most of Donegal) a Parish Priest is paid 18,700 per annum, a curate gets 17,800 and there is a Christmas offering from the faithful which varies from parish to parish. Both health and car insurance are covered for priests of the diocese. However, the paper cautions that raw figures around monthly remuneration dont tell the full story since many dioceses that may have lower basic earnings have other benefits such as a share in certain parish collections. The figures show that priests are generally paid below the average wage of 35,600 in the Republic and 26,018 (21,836) in the North. One major advantage priests have is that they are generally provided with parochial property in which to reside while they remain working in a particular parish. Two dioceses Cashel & Emly and Meath refused to reveal details of the remuneration received by priests for their ministry. As many area communities will be observing Trick-or-Treating this weekend and Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections advises you and your family to keep your children safer this Halloween by discussing ahead of time what to do if you are ever separated. A list of safety tips from state agencies is below to help ensure a safer Halloween weekend for everyone. You can also find the hours for trick-or-treating in Door and Kewaunee counties by clicking here. -A parent or trusted adult should always accompany children -Stay on well-lit streets and stick to neighborhoods you know -Only stop at homes where the porch light is on -Never enter a home or car for a treat -Trick-or-treaters should carry a cell phone to allow for quick communication -If the child carries a cell phone, activate location services prior to trick-or-treating -Call 911 if you see any suspicious or illegal activity Children should yell No! and run from any stranger who tries to take them somewhere -Have a responsible adult check treats at the end of the night Similarly, the Wisconsin Department of Health also suggests some tips for families with trick-or-treaters and families who are giving out candy. Costume Tips -Choose costumes that are light-colored and more visible to motorists. -Use reflective tape to decorate costumes and candy bags to increase the visibility of children to drivers. Reflective tape may be purchased at hardware, bicycle, or sporting goods stores. -Use make-up rather than a mask; if your childs costume does include a mask, make sure it fits snugly and that the eyeholes are large enough to allow full vision. -Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. -Costumes should be short enough that a child will not trip and fall. -Choose costume accessories such as swords or knives that are made of soft and flexible material. -Do not use novelty contacts such as cat eyes or snake eyes. Pedestrian Safety -Engage in Halloween activities during the daylight hours, if possible. -Do not enter homes or apartments without adult supervision. -Remind children to walk, not run, and to only cross streets at crosswalks. -Be sure your children are accompanied by a responsible adult who has a flashlight. ----- -Flashlights or chemical light sticks should be used so that children can see and be seen by motorists. Halloween Home Safety -Remove obstacles from your lawn, porch, or steps if you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Make sure your front porch is well-lit. -Avoid using candle-lit jack-o-lanterns if possible. If you do use candles, dont place them near curtains, furnishings, or decorations. Move them off porches where childrens costumes may ignite. -Keep your pets in another room when you are expecting trick-or-treaters. -Small children should not carve pumpkins; instead, allow them to draw the designs on the pumpkin and adults may carve. -Turn on an outside light if welcoming trick-or-treaters. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Speaking at the ceremony, JVFA President Ohta Hiroshi and Secretary General Sakai Hironori said the association will work as a bridge to increase mutual understanding and contribute to further boosting friendship between Hyogo prefectures localities with Vietnam in the fields of economy, politics, education-culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. Hironori said JFVAs executive board and members, mostly business executives in Nishinomiya, will work closely with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka to introduce Vietnams business potential and opportunities to Japanese firms, as well as increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges with Vietnamese partners. He revealed that the JVFA is working with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka to conduct a tour of Ho Chi Minh City from September 15th-17th, with 40-100 businesspeople taking part. Vietnamese Consul General Tran Duc Binh, in his speech, expressed his belief that the association will contribute to increasing understanding, friendship and economic exchanges between Hyogo prefecture and Vietnamese localities. Lying between Kobe and Osaka cities, Nishinomiya has a population of nearly 500,000. The citys enterprises are strong in industrial machinery manufacturing, energy-saving industry, which are actively strengthening ties with Vietnam across the fields of economy, trade, investment, education-training, labour and tourism./. 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Chinas claimsare based on sufficient historic and legal bases and are under the protection of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international laws. However, the legitimacy of these rights was denied in the final award given by the arbitral tribunal. The tribunal concluded that to the extent China had historic rights to resources in the waters of the South China Sea, such rights were extinguished to the extent they were incompatible with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) provided for in the Convention. There wasno legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.' Chinas historic rights had come into existence long before the conclusion of the Convention. Words like history, historic, and historical repeatedly appear throughout the Convention. When defining a countrys lawful sea rights, international law dictates that historic rightsshould be given prior consideration. Because of the complexity of states historic rights, the authors didnt develop a universal definition of these rights in the Convention and didnt intend to replace them with the rules of the Convention either. On the contrary, the Convention gave full respect to the historic rights and decided that they should be regulated by general international law. For example, Article 298 says that a state may declare in writing that it does not accept any compulsory arbitration procedures with respect to disputes concerning sea boundary delimitations or those involving historic bays or titles. The tribunals application of articles concerning historic rights clearly exceeded the limits of power permitted by the Convention, which has been criticized by law experts in and outside China. Hu Dekun, dean of Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, said that Chinas sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea formed and evolved over a long course of history. Prior to the signing of the Convention, in 1948 the Chinese government officially published a dashed-line map to clarify its claims to the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights of the Nansha Islands and the surrounding waters. Is there anything at all in the Convention saying that a right should be extinguished simply because of its incompatibility with the Convention? Is there any precedent set by the International Court of Justices rulings? The tribunals decision is clearly a misinterpretation of the Convention and the arbitrators showed their poor knowledge of the history of the South China Sea. said Jia Yu, deputy director of Institute for Ocean Development Strategy Studies at Chinas State Oceanic Administration. Jia added that the Convention is a piece of the international law and on its own cannot contain all rules concerning maritime rights. The Convention made clear that whatit failed to cover should be regulated by general international law, which is the source of the historic rights. Lei Xiaolu, fellow at Chinas Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights, said that the tribunal made many egregious technical mistakes concerning Chinas historic rights in the South China Sea. First of all, the tribunal overstepped its own jurisdiction to decide on the dashed line matter. The arbitration was initiated by the Philippines to settle the dispute with China in the South China Sea, and should have strictly considered issues related to the dispute. The area falling within the nine-dash line goes beyond the scope of the disputed area; nevertheless, the tribunal accepted Manilas position and issued a decision on this pointclearly a violation of general principles and practice of international arbitration. Secondly, the tribunals perception of Chinas historic rights in the dashed-line area is biased. In a diplomatic note delivered to the Foreign Ministry of the Philippines in 2011, the Chinese embassy in Manila protested the countrys bid for exploring oil and gas deposits in areas of the South China Sea where China enjoys historic rights. To serve its pre-determined conclusions, the tribunal dismissed Chinas position and ruled that the term historic rights used in that note was a translation error. The bias here is evident. A ruling made out of mistakes lacks of justice. Third, the tribunals decision over historic rights ignored the general rules of international law based on its misinterpretation of the Convention. One crucialquestion facing the tribunal is whether the Convention allows the preservation of rights to resources which are at variance with the Convention and established anterior to its entry into force. To answer this, it is necessary to examine the relationship between the Convention and other possible sources of rights under international law. The tribunal claimed that it has done just this, according to Article 311. The problem is what Article 311 sets out is the Conventions relationship with other international agreements, rather than with general international law. The tribunal expanded Article 311s scope of applicability. The Convention affirms in the preamble that matters not regulated by the Convention continue to be governed by the rules and principles of general international law. The tribunals decision is a slap to the Conventions respect for general international law. Many foreign experts also recognize Chinas historic rights in the South China Sea. Surachai Sirikrai, professor of political science at Thammasat University in Bangkok, said that Chinese people had more than 2,000 years of history in the South China Sea. China was the first to discover, name, develop, conduct economic activities on and exercise jurisdiction over the Nansha Islands. Chinas historic rights deserve the recognition of international law. Ken Meyercord, an American TV producer and writer, told Peoples Daily that Chinese fishermen have developed a set of rules to name land features in Nansha Islands. Activities like this can be found in many written records. The Chinese government issued a statement reasserting Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea shortly after the awards release. Big as China is, we cannot afford to give away a single inch of territory that our ancestors have left to us, said State Councilor Yang Jiechi. The decision cannot change the facts, and thus will not affect China's claims and resolution to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. By Kieran Cooke A building boom is underway offshore in Europe. Up to 400 giant wind turbines are due to be built off the northeast coast of the UK in what will be the worlds largest offshore wind development. Output from the Dogger Bank project will be 1.2 Gigawattsenough to power more than 1 million homes. The sun rises behind an offshore wind farm. Aaron / Flickr Next year, a 150-turbine wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands is due to start operating and other schemes along the Dutch coast are in the works. Denmark, Sweden and Portugal are major investors in offshore wind and China has ambitious plans for the sector. Wind farmsboth onshore and offshoreare seen as a key ingredient in renewable energy policy and an important element in the battle against climate change. Fossil Fuel Prices WindEurope, an offshore wind industry group, says that at the present rate of installations its likely Europe will be producing about 7 percent of its electricity from offshore wind by 2030. By some calculations, all this building work would seem to make little economic sense. Fossil fuel prices are low on the world market and constructing offshore wind farms several kilometers out at sea, in often treacherous conditions, has traditionally been an expensive business. Despite this, the offshore wind industry insists it has a bright future: costs are coming down and supporters say the sector is becoming ever more competitive. Ironically, the slump in the price of oil has been one factor driving down the price of offshore power. Inactivity in the oil industry and the closure of many drilling projects in the North Sea and elsewhere has led to a big surplus of offshore installation vessels. As a result, costs for transporting turbines out to sea and other support work have dropped substantially. Costs have also dropped due to lower prices on the world market for steel, a major building component in offshore installations. Building and technical techniques have been refined and standardized over the years. Maintenance expenditurewhich can account for up to 40 percent of the running cost of an offshore installationhas been reduced. The industry now uses larger 6MW turbines, which it says need less servicing and in future its likely a move will be made to 8MW models. New methods have been adopted for laying foundations for pylons at sea. The industry says that as projects have grown in size, economies of scale have been achieved. The cost of cables connecting the wind pylons to power networks onshore has also been reduced. Initially, cables were produced to operate at full capacity at all times, but new cables that are less bulky and less expensive are able to cope with the intermittent power produced. Earlier this month, DONG Energy of Denmark, the worlds largest offshore wind company, won a bid to build two wind farms 22 kilometers off the Dutch coast. The company says power will be produced for less than any other offshore scheme to date. It is estimated that when the scheme is fully operational, electricity will cost 72.70 per megawatt hour (MWh) and 87 MWh when transmission costs are included. At present, the cheapest offshore power is 103 MWh, generated by a wind farm off the coast of Denmark. Costs Falling Rapidly It has been clear for some time that the costs of offshore wind are falling rapidly, said Giles Dickson, head of WindEurope. This tender goes beyond even the most optimistic expectations in the market. The 87/MWh is significantly lower than anything weve previously seen. It now puts offshore wind in the same cost range as conventional power generation, added Dickson. The offshore industry does face problems. The majority of big projects in Europethe main area of offshore wind activityare backed by considerable government support. Not only do governments put considerable funds into offshore schemes, they also offer developers prices for power that are often well above wholesale market rates. Political change might result in reductions in state support levels. For example, the UKs vote to leave the European Union has led to considerable uncertainty about government policy on wind and other renewable energy schemes. Offshore wind faces competition not just from fossil fuel power production but also from other renewables particularly solar power, which has seen dramatic cost reductions in recent years. Although there is also competition from onshore power generation, which is considerably cheaper than offshore wind, many countries favor the offshore option because of its lower visual impact. This article was reposted with permission from our media associate Climate News Network. NITI Aayog and Intel India have joined hands to set up 10 laboratories under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) aimed at fostering curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; teaching skills such as computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing; and developing a design mindset among students . Amitabh Kant, CEO , NITI Aayog said, The Atal Tinkering Laboratories will provide school students the opportunity to work with tools and equipment, fostering inventiveness. Students will also be able to exchange knowledge and learn from one another through regional and national level competitions, exhibitions, workshops on problem-solving, designing and fabrication of products. While, Rosalind L Hudnell, president, Intel Foundation and vice president, Intel Corporation, added, The association with the Atal Innovation Mission to launch tinkering labs throughout India will help children across the country develop the skills they need to be competitive as tomorrows workforce. The key objective is to build the relevant skill-set among youngsters and provide access to technology to help create solutions for social impact. The 10 ATLs will act as examples for the remaining 490. During this time, these laboratories intend to impact 2,50,000 youth with innovation skills across 500 communities and schools. Intel will support Niti Aayog in building capacities of mentors and developing linkages with the ecosystem to improve quality, facilitate ideas, organise workshops with industry experts and co-lead an innovation festival reaching out to five lakh young innovators. Hydrological engineering What it entails: Hydrology engineering focuses on the study of the occurrence, movement, quality and properties of water that is collected from the earth. Typically, the job of a hydrologist is to apply scientific theories to resolve water-related issues in the country. They are responsible for calculating and auditing water resource systems and analysing the quality of water and where it can be used best. Skills needed: Students who wish to make a career in hydrology must have a keen interest in science, must be willing to work for long hours and should have completed a course in engineering. Since this job role is multidisciplinary and technical, professionals must be patient and must have observation skills. A hydrologist must have scientific knowledge along with good problem-solving skills. Judgement and decision-making skills come handy while analysing and testing water bodies. Work opportunities: Students who complete a course in hydrology can work with the Central Water Commission, the National Institute of Hydrology, municipal water divisions, state water resources and irrigation departments and other private hydropower companies, shares DS Arya, head, department of hydrology, IIT, Roorkee. Remuneration: Rs 25,000-50,000 per month for freshers Civil engineering What it entails: The quality of life of a civilisation is based on the foundation of its infrastructure. The job of a civil engineer is to build a sustainable civil system, high speed safe transport and automated infrastructure using quality material. Civil engineers are not only required to build sustainable infrastructure, but also maintain, check, demolish and rebuild it. Skills needed: Civil engineers require a broad skill-set. Ajit Sabnis, president, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers, India says, Professionals in this field must have keen observation skills and an interest in science and geometry. They must be innovative and hard working. A diploma or a degree in civil engineering is a must for those who wish to make a career in the field. Apart from this, one must also have management and communication skills, critical thinking skills and a creative bent of mind to execute the projects designated to them. Work opportunities: Freshers can work with private and public construction firms. Typically, they will either be required to work on site or in the pre-construction phase. They can also work with government agencies to help maintain and check the quality of the infrastructure built. Alternately, professionals in the field can also pursue forensic civil engineering, a profile that studies the civil accidents and building quality. Remuneration: Rs Rs 20,000 per month for freshers Petroleum Engineering What it entails: Petroleum engineering focuses on the detection, production and maintenance of crude oil and natural gas. They work on designing and using equipment to extract oil from reservoirs and wells. Skills needed: Since the petroleum engineering industry is erratic, professionals in the field must be patient, competitive, and must have a background in science. The job may require professionals to work offshore as well as on shore, they must be willing to work for long hours, away from home. Basic communication skills increase the job prospects of a petroleum engineer. They are also encouraged to keep themselves abreast about new technologies since recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale, tar sands, and offshore oil and gas fields require advanced technological assistance. Work opportunities: Petroleum engineers can work with reservoirs and stimulator firms, oil and gas companies, government agencies, etc. With experience, they can also set up their private consultation firms. Remuneration: Rs 60,000-1,00,000 per month for freshers Other specialisations Aerospace engineering Agriculture and food engineering Automobile engineering Computer engineering Electrical and electronics engineering Environmental engineering Industrial engineering Mechanical engineering Metallurgical engineering Naval architecture and ocean engineering Textile engineering Piya Sorcar , a lecturer at Stanfords Graduate School of Education (GSE) and an adjunct affiliate at its School of Medicine, has been named the youngest winner of the universitys 2016 Alumni Excellence in Education Award. The Stanford Graduate School of Education Alumni Excellence in Education Award was established in 2014 to annually honour three GSE alumni transforming the field of education and elevating the promise of education for children, families and nations. Sorcar, who is also the founder-CEO of TeachAIDS, has been recognised this year for turning her work as a graduate student into a global platform that uses educational technology to improve learning about public health. Spun out of Stanford University in 2009, and recognised as an innovation that would change the world by MIT Technology Review, TeachAIDS is a social venture that creates software to solve persistent problems in HIV prevention around the world. Based on more than five years of research, we developed a process to teach about HIV prevention which is simple and yet accurate. The research and testing has revealed ways in which we could simplify biology-based concepts and use culturally appropriate graphics to communicate complex ideas around HIV transmission, says Sorcar. The animated prevention material is available as interactive software as well as in video format. Interactive software versions allow users to take part in a back-and-forth interaction with the computer programme so their questions are answered directly. The interactive animated software is used to teach students in high schools and colleges by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and NGOs throughout the country. More than 100,000 CDs were distributed in India over the last few months. Besides, the animations are used by Indian corporations to educate their staff and community members. Twenty-two Indian celebrities have donated their voices and likenesses in the animation to engage children. TeachAIDS has produced 14 animations in seven languages. For each language, there is male and female animated software. Born in Colorado, Sorcar has roots in West Bengal and has been living in California for the last 13 years. She completed three undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado at Boulder --- a BS in information technology, a BS in journalism & mass communication, and a BA in economics, summa cum laude. She received an MA in education and a PhD in learning sciences and technology design from Stanford. In 2011, MIT Technology Review named her in its TR35 list of the top 35 innovators in the world under 35. On how she became interested in this field, Sorcar shares, My parents immersed my younger sister and me in creative and artistic pursuits since we were children. My father, Manick Sorcar, put us in his animated movies and stage productions around the world. This helped educate me about the design considerations in such media. I studied technology-related subjects in my undergraduate years, and combined it with design and education in my graduate work at Stanford. She adds, Growing up, my parents emphasised the importance of education and using it as a tool to improve social welfare. As a research scientist at Stanford, I became passionate about establishing India as a model for educational innovation. Through conversations with government officials, NGOs, and celebrities throughout India, I realised that we had the opportunity to build a broad-based coalition of support to educate the country about HIV in a way that could serve as a model for the rest of the world. Today, I am glad that we were able to do that on a massive scale, with hundreds of people throughout India and worldwide offering their assistance to help make TeachAIDS successful. More than 70 candidates across a wide range of education sectors (districts, non-profits, tech, academia or research) have been nominated for the award which recognises alumni who have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas: Advancement of knowledge through research, teaching, publications or technology as it relates to the interdisciplinary field of education Commitment to dynamic, high-quality educational practice at the classroom, school site, or district level as a teacher, principal or district leader Dedication to under-served and low-resourced student populations Innovation in addressing a timely issue or challenge in education Leadership in educational policy at the local, state, federal or international level Each nomination is evaluated by a committee of seven GSE faculty, nine alumni and dean of the GSE. The awards will be presented on October 20, 2016, at the university in US. ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Emotions ran high following Ted Cruzs speech at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night. The Texas senator defiantly refused to endorse Donald Trump for president, drawing jeers and shouts from the audience, especially the New York delegation. But Cruz faced perhaps even harsher criticism from his own delegation the morning after his speech Wednesday. On this weeks episode of Powerhouse Politics podcast, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl was there for all the action at the Texas delegations breakfast event Thursday. Cruz was heckled by delegates from his home state, some of whom disagreed with his decision to reject the Republican presidential nominee. He will never be president. All hes doing is helping Hillary Clinton, said one member. Another shouted, Hes a liar!, evoking Trumps popular campaign epithet, Lyin Ted. Meanwhile, one woman at the Texas delegation breakfast spoke on behalf of Cruz. He was asked to come. He admitted it was personal. It was personal to me because of what Donald Trump did to Teds family and Teds father, she said. During the primary, Trump tweeted an unflattering photograph of Cruz's wife, Heidi and also suggested a link between Cruz's father and Lee Harvey Oswald. People talked about my family and I didnt cry about it. I grew up, another member shot back. He can forgive, but he does not have to endorse, the woman replied. He did the right thing. He congratulated the nominee. He told the people to vote their conscience. I am a Christian first before I am a Republican, she added. Another man said that he thinks that what Cruz did "is wrong." "I think hes making a political mistake, another man chimed in. Right now, there is a binary choice between two parties. One that supports life and one that doesnt. Yet, as Karl noted, that binary choice doesnt exactly seem like a rallying cry needed to unite the party. But exchanges like these illustrate the entirely real, raw emotion at the convention this year. Conservatism has been replaced by Trumpism. You cant look for ideology in this, its personality, ABC News Political Director Rick Klein added. John Santucci, an ABC News reporter who has been following the Trump campaign for more than a year, also weighed in on the Powerhouse Politics podcast with Karl and Klein. Its never boring, he laughed. Thats the whole thing covering the Trump campaign. There is not one dull moment. Santucci spoke about the electric energy of Trumps rallies on the campaign trail, where supporters were decked out head-to-toe in Trump attire. Yet, the energy at the GOP convention here [in Cleveland] is so much more subdued, Santucci noted, with the exception of Cruz being booed by the New York delegation Wednesday night. That was when Santucci said he finally saw fire in the crowd. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began arriving in the Lao capital on Saturday ahead of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMC) set to open on Sunday. Foreign ministers including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Japan's Fumio Kishida and South Korea's Yun Byung-se will be joined by fellow foreign ministers representing ASEAN dialogue partners in attendance for associated talks, including the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting and bilateral meetings. Foreign ministers from dialogue partners including India, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union are also set to join discussions to forward respective relations with the 10-member ASEAN as well as via associated fora. Senior officials and diplomats from the countries have been engaged in talks in Vientiane since Thursday as representatives seek progress on regional and international issues of common concern and interest. Associated meetings to be hosted in Vientiane include the 17th ASEAN plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting (APT), the 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as well as the meeting of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty Commission. The AMM is one of the multi-sectoral meetings being hosted by Laos as per its 2016 chairmanship of the ASEAN grouping, culminating in the heads-of-government East Asia Summit set for Sept. 6 to Sept. 8 in Vientiane. Maritime law is a specialised area of law which deals with the commercial, regulatory, insurance and environmental aspects of international trade. The University of Southamptons LLM in Maritime Law is a one-year programme which develops the skill set required to advise and litigate based on the rules of admiralty, international trade, marine insurance, carriage of goods by sea and air, ship sale, purchase and finance, marine environmental law, dispute resolution and the public international law of the sea. Students can select four maritime or commercial modules, thus tailoring the content to reflect their strengths, interests and ambitions. LLM an intensive programme which teaches a number of aspects of maritime law in a specialised way. Students not only learn considerable information about English maritime law, they also meet colleagues from many different countries in the world as the LLM provides networking opportunities, said Ozlem Gurses, director of postgraduate taught programmes in law, Southampton Law School. The key course modules include a compulsory dissertation and a range of options like admiralty law, carriage of goods by sea, commercial conflict of laws and international litigation, international commercial arbitration, international law of the sea, insurance law, international trade law, carriage by air, law of the marine environment, intellectual property law and theory, marine insurance, principles of secured transactions, which is in the first semester including corporate governance regulating boards of directors and fundamentals of public international law; whereas advanced secured transactions is in the second semester, including dispute settlement in international law and corporate governance shareholders rights and responsibilities. Gurses added, This year, the LLM students were invited to London to visit the London insurance market where they had a chance to have an insight into the market and meet insurance practitioners who may be their prospective employers. Graduates are usually recruited by law firms, commodity houses, insurance companies and protection and indemnity (P&I) Insurance Clubs, claims management firms, businesses such as shipping companies, banks, UN agencies and shipbrokers, to mention a few. At a Glance >> Eligibility criteria: An upper second class Bachelors degree in law or a degree with a substantial legal component is required. However, applications with practical work experience within the relevant field of study will also be taken into account. English language requirements include an overall 7 IELTS score with six in each component -- listening, reading, writing and speaking Website: www.southampton.ac.uk Fee: 15,920 (A scholarship of 3,000 is offered to international students enrolled under the LLM programmes. The scholarship will be in the form of a tuition fee reduction) Punta del Este, Uruguay, Jul 24 (EFE).- The Platino Prizes show that it is "possible to create an Ibero-American film brand, betting on crossing continents and countries," Audiovisual Producers' Rights Management Association, or EGEDA, president Enrique Cerezo said. "The Platino Prizes are a gathering with talent and creativity, a gathering with the more than 600 million people who speak and understand the same language, as well as Portuguese," Cerezo said. The prizes, organized by the Spain-based EGEDA in collaboration with FIPCA, the Ibero-American Federation of Audiovisual Producers, will be handed out on Sunday. "This is an encounter with our roots," the EGEDA president said. More than 300 members of the press have been accredited to cover the awards ceremony at the Punta del Este Convention Center, which is being inaugurated with the event. Cerezo thanked Maldonado province, where Punta del Este is located, the resort city's government and the national government for their support, noting that Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez's administration "declared these prizes to be of cultural and tourism interest." "The governments of Uruguay, Maldonado and Punta del Este have cooperated in a very active way," Cerezo said. About 500 actors, directors, producers, screen writers and journalists who cover the film industry from across Ibero-America will attend the ceremony. "El abrazo de la serpiente" (Embrace of the Serpent), directed by Ciro Guerra; and Bustamante's "Ixcanul" lead the way with eight nominations each, while Pablo Larrain's "El club" (The Club) and Pablo Trapero's "El clan" (The Clan) are in the running in six categories. Cesc Gay's "Truman" is next with five nominations. The awards gala will be co-hosted by Spanish director, producer and actor Santiago Segura, Uruguayan actress Natalia Oreiro and Mexican comedian Adal Ramones, and will be broadcast to more than 50 countries by TNT America Latina. Punta del Este, Uruguay, Jul 24 (EFE).- Mexican comedian Adal Ramones, one of the hosts of the 3rd Platino Prizes for Ibero-American Cinema ceremony, said in an interview with EFE that Ibero-American films "should be seen all over the world" due to their quality. "We have stories, people to tell them, performers, and what we have now developed at all levels of the art is fabulous, it's impressive. And the world has to learn about that, it can't stay in these countries, this is such a well done art that it should be seen all over the world," Ramones told EFE. The actor, comedian and producer said that events like the Platino Prizes went "beyond" promoting the host country, helping to "tear down borders" in film so works can be seen "in other latitudes." The Mexican television personality said that the work being done in editing, art directing and other areas "reflects the training of a whole bunch of kids," who "are taking over" the cameras and sound design, demonstrating the "very high level" achieved by Ibero-American movies. Filmmakers must work to develop comedies and stories that "touch the feelings" of audiences, Ramones said, adding that progress also needed to be made in the distribution and screening of films. "Our films will never be, and I hope this, about a giant creature that destroys Buenos Aires, I hope that's not our film industry. Our films have more value and authenticity because we talk about ourselves, our way of life and reality," Ramones said. The Mexican entertainer said continuing to produce quality movies that tell stories across Ibero-America was extremely important because "the film industry represents and shows a country's culture." About 500 actors, directors, producers, screen writers and journalists who cover the film industry from across Ibero-America will attend the ceremony. "El abrazo de la serpiente" (Embrace of the Serpent), directed by Ciro Guerra; and Bustamante's "Ixcanul" lead the way with eight nominations each, while Pablo Larrain's "El club" (The Club) and Pablo Trapero's "El clan" (The Clan) are in the running in six categories. Cesc Gay's "Truman" is next with five nominations. Sunday's awards gala will be co-hosted by Spanish director, producer and actor Santiago Segura, Uruguayan actress Natalia Oreiro and Ramones, and will be broadcast to more than 50 countries by TNT America Latina. Brasilia, Jul 23 (EFE).- Spanish journalist Yana Marull got tired one day of chasing after the news and switched to writing books for children, using her backlog of experience to teach environmental awareness to Brazilian children. Marull, a native of Girona, Catalonia, presented this week at the Brasilia Book Fair her third children's book, "Una Aventura in el Pantanal" (Adventure in the Marsh), published by Franco Editora and set in the vast wetlands shared by Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. She debuted in this art two years ago, when she published "Rios que Vuelan" (Rivers that Fly), a game-playing, educational journey through the Amazon region, which teaches the importance of the water cycle and warns about the impact of climate change. Between those two books she published "El Fuego y el Cerrado" (Fire and the Savannah), which she herself illustrated as she did the others, and which underscored the dangers of climate change for the environment, in this case, because of the wildfires it sparks in Brazil's central plains. "They're not just stories. They're basically works of journalism and research supervised by environmental specialists and are the result of more than 20 years of writing about these subjects and touring the Amazon region," she told EFE. Marull's journalistic adventure took her first from Spain to Ecuador in 1995 where she first came in contact with the Amazon. After covering the tempestuous times of then-President Abdala Bucaram, she left for Caracas, where she lived for four years amid the upheavals that brought the late Hugo Chavez to power and where her interest in the Amazon grew. Journalism led her in the year 2000 to Brazil, where her passion for the Amazon region became a specialty that, little by little, began to compete with the frenetic news scene of a country that was taking off into the realms of big business and global politics. Nonetheless, her leap from journalism to children's literature was really sparked by one of her kids, who invited mom to his school to speak to the students about "those things in the Amazon" which she was always writing about. "I discovered that here was a long-felt want among teachers and professors who didn't have the tools to instruct their students about the importance of the environment, the care and respect it deserves, and that it is the basis of life itself," Marull said. Interview: China is world's "wonderful example" of protecting, preserving heritage, top UN official says A top UN official congratulated China on the inclusion of its Hubei Shennongjia, a national geographical park, in the prestigious World Heritage List, saying that "China is a wonderful example for other countries" in protecting and preserving its cultural and natural heritage sites. Irina Bokova, the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said "I think I can congratulate, of course, China for inscribing another site on the World Heritage List." "I think China has topped (the world list) both in terms of cultural sites and natural sites," she said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Last Sunday, the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in the Turkish city of Istanbul, decided to put China's Hubei Shennongjia on the World Heritage List as a natural site, bringing to 50 the number of listed Chinese properties. Hubei Shennongjia, located in central China, is hailed as a treasure of wildlife renowned for high plant diversity. On July 15, the Istanbul conference decided to add China's Zuojiang Huashan rock-art cultural landscape to the World Heritage List. "I would say that China has given a very good example of protection of heritage and preservation of heritage," Bokova said. "This is where China can share experience with other countries." Bokova, one of the 12 announced candidates for the next UN secretary-general, was at UN Headquarters in New York for the selection process, including a televised debate at the UN General Assembly and the first round of a secret straw poll by the UN Security Council. According to diplomatic sources here, the UNESCO chief, the former Bulgarian foreign minister, got nine "encourage" votes and ranked the top third of the first round straw poll by the 15-nation council, but she won the highest number of "encourage" votes among the six woman candidates. Bokova assumed office in November 2009, becoming the first woman to head the UN culture and education agency. Bokova spoke highly of China's support to the UN cultural agency, and she also lauded the "strong cooperation" between the UNESCO and China, saying that "this matters for the world." "China has a very deep sense of heritage, a very deep sense of culture and history," she said. "China understands why culture and heritage matters not only for the national pride, but also for the mobilization around certain development goals." "China strongly supports our quest in the UNESCO during the preparation for the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030," approved by the world leaders in September last year to serve as the blueprint for global development efforts for the next 15 years, she said. UNESCO and China jointly organized major conferences in such Chinese cities as Beijing, the Chinese capital, and Hangzhou in east China, she said, adding that she and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong jointly opened the 2nd UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit on June 6. "China is strongly supporting creative cultural industries and supporting crafts and tradition," she said. "I think this is a wonderful example for other countries." As for the destruction of world's famous heritage sites by terrorists and extremists in Afghanistan and Syria, Bokova said, "I think one of the dramatic consequences of conflict, very much linked to the humanitarian disaster and the prosecution of people, is the deliberate destruction of the heritage." "That is why I spoke and mobilized the international community to once again confirm our value of our common history of heritage," she said, "because extremists destroy (the heritage), they want to destroy our understanding that we are a common community of humanity." "They want to destroy the ocean of diversity, and they want to erase our history memories," she said. "I think this is very dangerous now in the world." In the wake of the widely condemned heritage destruction, UNESCO created a large platform for governments, political leaders to contribute to the adoption of a very important resolution of the UN Security Council in order to stop the illegitimate traffic of antiquities, by which they finance the extremist activities, she said. "We have a new sense of belonging of uniting ourselves, all of us, around this important matter. I think probably coming out of this debate is a new understanding about history and heritage, a new political commitment to protect and preserve it," she said. "And we so much need nowadays common understanding, ... because they belong to all of us," Bokova said. Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos told reporters on Saturday that he had accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to be special envoy to China, media reports said. "I have been cleared by my doctors at the Makati Medical Center," the Inquirer website quoted Ramos as saying in Davao City after a two-hour meeting with Duterte at the Marco Polo Hotel in southern Philippines. Ramos, who has been the president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, said he met Duterte to clarify what his specific role would be, the Inquirer report said. Ramos has earlier admitted that he wears a pacemaker but insisted that he is up and about and ready to perform the job. The ABS-CBN reported that Ramos will attend the National Security Council meeting on Monday after Duterte's State of the Nation address at the House of Representatives. The Malacanang presidential palace has yet to officially announce details of the Ramos-Duterte meeting. On July 14, Duterte bared his plan to send Ramos to Beijing to help kickstart bilateral talks over strained relations between the two countries. Tensions between China and the Philippines heightened in recent years over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In 2013, the Philippine government under former President Benigno Aquino unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China over the dispute to a court of arbitration in The Hague. The court issued its ruling on the dispute on July 12, which China has rejected as illegal. "Documents about amok-runs" found in Munich shooter's residence, no relation to IS: German police German investigators have found "documents about amok-runs" during a search of the residence of the shooter, who killed 10 and injured 27 people in a shooting attack in southern German city of Munich on Friday evening. The perpetrator of the Munich shootout has no relation to the Islamic State (IS), Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae told a press conference on Saturday, adding that the search of the room of the 18-year-old revealed that he had dealt intensively with killing spree. The investigators assumed a connection with the attack of Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik. "This connection is obvious," said Andrae. On Friday, Norway marks the fifth anniversary of Breivik's rampage in 2011 that killed 77 people. According to the findings of police, the 18-year-old German-Iranian, a Munich-born and raised student, shot nine people dead early Friday evening and then killed himself. Most victims are adolescents or young adults. The people were killed in or in front of a fast food restaurant and in the Olympia shopping center. According to the police, the perpetrator shot with a 9-millimeter calibre pistol that he had probably obtained illegally, while 300 cartridges were found in his backpack. However, it is still unknown where he got the gun and the money for it. The perpetrator was not in the police register. However, he was allegedly depressed and was under psychiatric treatment, which fits with the other findings of the crime, according to the investigators. Sunday, July 24, 2016 Process for getting a legal opinion on the interpretation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law from the State Liquor Authority Counsels Office To request a counsel opinion letter concerning the interpretation of Alcoholic Beverage Control Law or policy of the State Liquor Authority, Zone 3 (Buffalo), Counsel, for the states that a letter should be sent to the Authoritys Counsels Office that includes: legal research & case law relating to the issue, specific information regarding exact method of operation in which the licensee wishes to engage, an application of the law to the facts setting forth the requestors findings and conclusions, and a clear and concise inquiry as to whether or not the Authority agrees with the application of the law to the facts as set forth by the requestor. The good news is that an applicant or licensee can get an opinion as to whether what it plans to do is legally compliant in the eyes of the Authority. The bad news is that asking such a question will require substantial legal work by its attorney, costing several thousand dollars in most cases for the required legal research and memorandum of law detailing the legal research, facts and application of the law to the facts. While I do understand the Authoritys position and must comply with its rules and procedures, I fear that this will be a financial disincentive to licensees attempts to understand and efforts to comply with the alcoholic beverage laws and regulations. It also does not address the reality that licensees are regularly given incorrect information by investigators, the Authoritys Call Center or SLA staff members. Many of the procedures and policies of the Authority are not easily accessible so the public cannot research and answer questions easily for him or herself. Most licensees are small businesses without big budgets or in-house attorneys. It is no secret that New York laws are complex and there are many agencies to deal with to launch and operate a business. To avoid spending several thousand dollars in legal fees, many well intended and honest licensees may feel forced to take the risk because it is too difficult to get answers to understand what is required of them. Sometimes I agree with businesses who complain that New York is not friendly to small business. The good news is that the new Craft Beverage email for inquiries concerning craft beverage licensees has been very responsive and clear on the Authoritys interpretation and position on issues/inquiries. About Tracy Jong Tracy Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years, representing restaurants, bars, and craft beverage manufacturers in a wide array of legal matters. She is also a licensed intellectual property and patent attorney. Her book Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining and Maintaining a New York Retail Liquor License: The Definitive Guide to Navigating the State Liquor Authority will be available next month on Amazon.com as a softcover and Kindle e-book. Her legal column is available in The Equipped Brewer, a monthly publication giving business advice, trends, and vendor reviews to help craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries build brands and succeed financially. She also maintains a website and blog with practical information on legal and business issues affecting the industry. Follow her, sign up for her free firm app or monthly newsletter. Facebook: Tracy Jong Law Firm Twitter: @TJLawFirm LinkedIn: Tracy Jong This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On a warm afternoon on June 27 last year, San Antonio police got a shooting in progress call to 1016 Piedmont, a crime-plagued block of aging frame houses that East Side beat cops dont need a computer to find. When officers rolled up they found a young man dead on the front lawn, his shrieking mother beside him, witnesses comparing stories and a sober and cooperative shooter waiting to be arrested. I shot him, said a frail and nearly-blind Nathaniel Word, then 72, as the police approached his burglar-barred house where he was born and raised. And thus began Words year of harassment by neighbors, the burglarizing of his house during his three months in jail awaiting trial and the continued health and financial problems that eventually pushed him to board a bus this monthfor a 26-hour trip to Los Angeles. Word said he had no choice but to leave his hometown even after a jury acquitted him of murder. He says he killed an admitted gang member, Anthony Ricardo Tony Coronado, 22, because they had argued and Word feared for his life. So, Im just supposed to let people take over my property, intimidate me? Word told officers at the scene. Put yourself in my position. Police wasnt gonna be with me 24-7.He just run over me, man. Im 72 years old. I have no defense against him, hand to hand. Word, who walks haltingly due to a previous stroke and a brain tumor, told police where to find the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver he used, as well as two old family six-shooters he kept in a bedroom closet. He had shot Coronado three times, including to the back of the head. The case seemed open-and-shut. A San Antonio Police detective was recorded on a dashboard video, jokingly telling a patrolman, Dude, this is a gimme. Not even you can (expletive) this one up. But in June, after deadlocking and being sequestered for a night, a jury in state District Judge Lorina Rummels court reached a unanimous verdict: not guilty. Prosecutor Josh Somers, following District Attorney Nico LaHoods policy, would not comment. None of the jurors contacted by the Express-News returned phone messages. LaHood released a brief statement saying his office did not believe the evidence supported a claim of self-defense. The defendant had refused to take responsibility for his actions and enter into a plea agreement, so the only appropriate option left to achieve justice was to proceed with trial, the statement said. LaHood is a former criminal defense attorney and hell want to know what went wrong and why, said St. Marys University law professor Geary Reamey but sometimes, Reamey added, a not guilty verdict is healthy and sends a message that juries have a spine. Words acquittal follows others in recent years involving self-defense claims by Texas homeowners. But his inability to stay in his own home afterward makes his story different. Changed neighborhood Nathaniel Wesley Word III says his right eye is closed due to a golf ball-size pituitary tumor diagnosed in 1996. He had a stroke in 1998. He has glaucoma in the left eye and diabetes, he said. Words mind works just fine. He passed a court-ordered mental competency exam. But now he uses a walker. After he got out of jail, a fall sent him to a nursing home but his $762 monthly Social Security was not enough to stay there, his attorneys say. Word lived in a Motel 6 during his trial. He has stayed with friends. His car wont run. He could not go back to his house. Police recorded one burglary there in the past year when someone noticed a door open, but filed no report on it. Word says looters hit the house repeatedly, taking his stove, refrigerator, TV and clothes. I can deal with all those physical things, Word said. But after my wife died in 2003 Ive lost everything that was emotional to me. The couple met at Phillis Wheatley High School, now a middle school, and had four children. They lost their oldest daughter to AIDS in 1987 She had a transfusion during a miscarriage, Word said. He said he wasnt always poor he worked for Western Electric in Houston and was a merchant seaman in the 1960s. He got into real estate and flipped houses before returning to San Antonio from California in 1988. When Word was a kid, he played touch football in the middle of Piedmont Street. But everythings changed now, he said wearily, slumped in a sofa in his lawyers office days after beating his murder rap. They selling coke, speed, weed In the past two years, police have received 77 calls to a 10-block stretch of Piedmont that includes his house assaults or burglaries in progress, narcotics sales, thefts, robberies, fights, repeated loud music complaints, loose dogs, family violence. If I had to do it all over again, Word said, describing what happened last year, I would have called the cops before I shot somebody. My dad told me to never do anything in anger. I wanted some respect The man he killed, Coronado, was part of a loose group of neighborhood men. Word let them sit and drink beer in weathered plastic chairs on his front sidewalk. On that Saturday, according to police witness statements, they included Coronado, Words next-door neighbor Ernesto Neto Varela Sr., Julian Garza, Freddie Lee Robinson IV (a distant cousin of Words), and a fifth man who left before police arrived. Sometimes Word, who admits to using marijuana occasionally, would join them, but lately things had become testy, he said. I told them to never sell dope out there, he said though he suspected Varela was. And to quit urinating beside my house. They just didnt respect me or my property. When he demanded the men get off his grass and get back on the sidewalk, they ignored him or laughed, he said. Word argued with Varela and approached to within a few feet of them. Tony (Coronado) got between us and said, You got to go through me, Word recalled. I turned around to go in my house. Tony said, Were not going anywhere. Thats when I got my gun, inside the house. I wanted some respect. Neto (Varela) said, If you call the cops, weve got something for you. Varela, 59, has been arrested for theft, domestic violence and possession or distribution of marijuana and cocaine, resulting in both state and federal prison terms. In the two years ending July 1, police received 20 calls to Varelas address on Piedmont for complaints ranging from alleged robbery, shooting in progress, animal violations and 13 disturbances, often loud music, SAPD records show. When he returned with his .38, Word said, Coronado had taken off his shirt. At 22, he already was an ex-con. He had told Texas prison officials he had been in the Tango Orejon gang but was trying to quit. After the shooting, police would find a pair of gram baggies of cocaine in his car. I knew I couldnt let Tony get near me, Word said. So when he come at me I fired one shot. I didnt think it hit him. Then he turned as fast as he could run to his car trunk (parked at the curb), which I knew was full of guns cause he showed me once, and thats when I fired the second shot. He went down, then I got closer and fired again. The last shot was to the head, witnesses testified. Medical examiners said it was fatal but that none of the shots were at close range. Word said he felt horrible for the longest time. I would not have lost any sleep if I had shot Neto, he added. Instead I had to shoot a 22-year-old kid who still had a long life to live. After the acquittal, Words court-appointed defense team, Jeff and Kristen Mulliner, accompanied him on a visit back to his broken, boarded-up house. Word looked inside and shook his head in disgust. Varela came out of his house to have a short angry exchange, then went back inside. By phone, Varela later said he generally got along with Word since they met in 2009, but hes acting all goody-two-shoes, like hes a victim. I dont know how the jury could have accepted his story. They were a joke, Varela said. Everyone in the neighborhood is still shocked because he got away with murder. But Varela agreed that Words life would be in danger if he returned home. He said men he believed were associated with the Tango Orejon gang had driven by on occasion and asked if he knew where to find Word. I could find him if I had to, Varela said. But I wont. I will leave that to God. Kristen Mulliner said the jurors obviously believed it was self-defense. By phone from Los Angeles, Word said he is living with his son, with no intent to return. bselcraig@express-news.net Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said on Saturday that China supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in playing a central role in regional cooperation and opposes intervention in regional affairs from outsider countries, especially big powers. The ASEAN Plus One (with dialogue partners), ASEAN Plus Three (China, South Korea and Japan), East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum are cooperation mechanisms centered on ASEAN, Liu told Xinhua on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials' Meeting. "Cooperation in East Asia has greatly improved social and economic development in the region over the past 25 years," he said ahead of an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting set to open on Sunday. But maintaining peace, stability and economic growth in the region is facing challenges against the backdrop of globalization. With an anemic global economy, Asian countries, which have to do business with countries outside the region, will inevitably be affected, Liu said. Asian nations must be mindful that regional cooperation should not be obstructed by differences between countries in the region. "They should in particular guard against the intervention in regional cooperation by big powers outside the region," he stressed, warning that it will harm regional solidarity and integration. The ill-founded award issued by an ad hoc tribunal on July 12 did not give a practical solution to the South China Sea issue, said the senior Chinese diplomat, adding that both the Philippines and China still need negotiations and communications to resolve their maritime disputes. China has dismissed the biased ruling as "null and void with no binding force." Liu hoped that ASEAN nations and China could jointly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea adopted in 2002, and not let the South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines impact their ties. He also urged the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting to focus on regional cooperation instead of instigating differences between countries. "It is normal that differences exist between countries. China has been seeking to solve differences and disputes with other countries through negotiations over the past six decades," he said. Shropshire A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b... A schoolgirl who petitioned Tesco to stop the sale of caged hen eggs, with success, has turned her attention to Asda and Morrison's. The new petition has gained the attention of 170,000 signatories in the space of a week. She is now telling the public to write a post on Asda and Morrisons' Facebook pages to explain why they should stop selling caged eggs. The petition says: "By leaving a comment on both Facebook pages, you will be adding to the impact we hope to create with the supermarket giants. "This is our chance to tell them what we want, on a scale they cannot possible ignore." The 14 year old schoolgirl, Lucy Gavaghan from Sheffield, created her first petition earlier this year asking Tesco to stop selling eggs from caged hens. She gained 280,000 signatories, and had the chance to meet face to face with Tesco's Head of Agriculture. Working with supplier partners, Tesco will transition to 100% cage-free eggs, moving to alternative sourcing methods, such as barns, free range and organic. For the new petition, an email is sent from every signatory to the chief executives of Asda and Morrisons, Sean Clarke and David Potts. The Ulster Farmers Union has warned of the impact on poultry producers 'We can get all UK supermarkets to stop selling caged eggs' Ms Gavaghan's petition reads: "Now with this victory secured, I believe we can get all UK supermarkets to stop selling eggs from caged hens. "Morrisons and Asda, still intend to sell caged eggs without any obvious intent to change. "So I have started a new petition calling for Asda and Morrisons to stop selling eggs from caged hens. "Caged eggs come from hens that spend 72 weeks cramped in restrictive cages, unable to spread their wings or experience the outside world. "After this time, many of the hens are barely feathered and close to death. No animal deserves to live like this. "The fact that Tesco, the biggest supermarket in Britain, has decided to stop selling caged hens eggs proves that no matter how big the company, the prospect of a free-range future is not impossible. "The power to make this change is in our hands, now it is clear that supermarkets really do listen to public pressure I know we can make this change happen again." 'Impact on poultry farmers' Tescos decision to stop sourcing eggs from caged hens by 2025 will come as a 'major blow' to egg producers, a farming union has warned. The Ulster Farmers Union says it understands that the decision reflects changes in customer demand, but warns of the impact on poultry farmers who have recently invested in enriched colonies for laying hens. "Producers have invested to ensure eggs produced in Northern Ireland are fully compliant with EU regulations. "These brought better welfare standards for hens and we comply with and exceed some of the highest welfare standards in the world," said UFU poultry chairman, Tom Forgrave. "We need to ensure this does not have a negative impact. As Tesco begins its transition to cage free eggs it is essential it communicates effectively with suppliers through what are going to be big changes for the industry," he said. The UFU understand that Tesco will move to alternative sourcing methods, such as barn production, free range and organic. "If it is barn production we need an assurance that we will not see an exit from that system a few years down the line, again after significant investment by producers. "We are determined that recent investment and farmers' dedication to animal welfare are not overlooked," said Tom Forgrave. Dia de los Muertos: What to know about the celebration of life The total assets of the top sovereign wealth fund in China have quadrupled in eight years since its founding, according to the 2015 annual report released by the China Investment Corporation. The CIC's total assets had grown to over 810 billion US dollars during the 8-year period, from 200 billion US dollars of registered capital in 2007. The company's spokewoman Liu Fangyu says they have ramped up investment in assets that generate stable returns, and will further expand investment in this sector in this year. "In 2016, we will better manage open markets of stocks and bonds as well as absolute returns strategies. We will also expand direct investment in long-term and stable assets such as real estate and infrastructure." Headquartered in Beijing, the CIC was established to diversify China's foreign exchange holdings and seek maximum returns for its shareholders within acceptable risk tolerance. People attend the funeral of slain Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 24, 2016. Tens of thousands of mourners on Sunday attended the funeral procession of slain Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley, who was shot dead two weeks ago. (Xinhua/Sovannara) Conrad Murray wants his medical licence back. Conrad Murray The disgraced physician - who was jailed for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson after administering a fatal dose of Propofol in 2009 - wants to return to work. He told Mirror.co.uk: "I am an innocent man. "I was unjustly punished for a crime that never happened. I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to work in the US. I surrendered my licence voluntarily and am confident it will be re-instated." Dr Murray, who has just written a book about Michael called 'This Is It', claims he needs to return to work as he is forced to survive on the charity of friends but he has been helping patients on a voluntary basis. The 63-year-old medic - who was jailed for four years, in 2011 - said: "Since being freed, I have continued to help my patients and many new patients who have come to me because of my reputation. "They come from across the world; from Spain, Israel, America and the South Pacific. Do I charge them? No. I do not charge for my services. I volunteer to help them and see them through their problems. "Most are major heart surgery patients. I help them and I help give them peace of mind. How do I benefit? The one thing that has always driven me is the fulfillment of making a difference. "I am highly skilled and have an unblemished medical record. My career has been impeccable." Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya's tied a knot on 8th July, in Bhopal. They had also organised for a grand reception party in Mumbai for their industry friends. Remember, the couple had been talking about their wedding track! Yes, the first teaser of the wedding track is out. The wedding trailer has Divyanka and Vivek revealing how they met in a party. In the video, Divyanka also reveals that Vivek approached her for a dance and she was too shy! Recently, Divyanka Tripathi had posted a picture on Instagram and wrote, "#FirstTeaser #WeddingTrailerFilm #DivekWeddingDiaries,#RangDey #FirstTeaser of our #WeddingTrailerFilm releasing in 12 hours." while Vivek wrote, "Get set for a dash of colour - just saw the #FirstTeaser of our #WeddingTrailer, releasing in 12 hrs.. Feat. #Divek #RangDey #TheWeddingStoryIndia." Now, Divyanka has shared the video clip, "#FirstTeaser #WeddingTrailerFilm #DivekWeddingDiaries." #FirstTeaser #WeddingTrailerFilm #DivekWeddingDiaries. @officialvivekdahiya @theweddingstoryindia (#WeddingTrailer - A gift for fans and friends) A video posted by Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya (@divyankatripathidahiya) on Jul 23, 2016 at 3:27am PDT Divyanka and Vivek's engagement was a hush-hush affair. The actress shocked her fans by getting engaged to Vivek on Jan. The event was only attended by close family members. When asked, if it was a love marriage, both actors denied and said it was an arranged marriage. Since then, Divyanka's fans must be wondering, how the actors met and how their chemistry got clicked! In the wedding track that will be released on 29th July, the actors will reveal how they met and fell in love with each other. Well, we are eagerly waiting for the wedding track. Watch the video and hit the comment box to share your views. HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Nick Waters Tel: +852 2584 4517 Email: nick.waters@hktdc.org HONG KONG, July 23, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - With a full house in attendance, entrepreneur Sir David Tang led an entertaining and informative Open Public Forum on Friday (22 July) with historical fiction writer Wilbur Smith, author and journalist Simon Winchester, and writer and filmmaker the Honourable Hannah Rothschild.Watch forum video here: https://youtu.be/zzrZLg5Vhy4The forum posed the question "How and What and Why do Writers Write?" It was part of the 27th HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair (20-26 July), held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).Inspiration personifiedOpening the forum, Sir David Tang engaged the trio of authors to explore their diverse backgrounds and journeys that led them to writing. Each author detailed key influences from mentors, such as hero and now friend Jan Morris for Mr Winchester, to family for Ms Rothschild who wrote her first book as a biography of her unconventional aunt Nica Rothschild. Influenced and inspired by his upbringing in southern Africa, Mr Smith summarised the panel's sentiments by saying "my characters are a composite of four to five people I know."Inspiring perseverance in young writersEager members of the audience were excited to engage the authors about their writing processes and how to persevere in the competitive world of writing and publishing. Following his sensational career as a journalist covering several world events, Mr Winchester explained his inspiration for writing as "you dream up an idea, and you just get a passionate eagerness to write it." Mr Smith adamantly advised young writers "to have total self confidence in yourself." Pursuing her own path for a life of philanthropy instead of the family business, Ms Rothschild summed up her thoughts to writers of all ages by saying "don't give up, just keep going."Writing in the digital ageAs well, the authors shared their opinions on how technology and the millennial generation have impacted the literary world. Ms Rothschild said, "I think people still have an incredible desire to read a book." Mr Winchester agreed with her sentiment and stated that "the book as a physical object is roaring into popularity again" as literary technologies such as tablets plateau in popular interest.The 27th Hong Kong Book Fair, which continues through 26 July, features a record 640 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions and offers more than 360 on-site cultural activities to promote the joy of reading and deepen visitors' appreciation of different cultures.Fair videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBrAaPzPW6Up_Nt0TsnoToP-iI1Daev7OFair Website: http://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/Photo Download: http://bit.ly/29RztmoTo view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcAbout HKTDCThe HKTDC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdcTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdcLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Paris, France-based private equity firm Ardian recently closed its fourth fund at 1 billion. Investors in Expansion Fund IV include pension funds, insurance companies and high net worth individuals. The fund, which will identify opportunities in France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Spain, will focus on making growth capital and buyout transactions through minority and majority investments in companies valued up to 225m. It has an initial investment capacity of 100m. Founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, Ardian is an independent private investment company with assets of US$55bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The firm maintains a global network, with more than 430 employees working through twelve offices in Paris, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, New York, San Francisco, Beijing, Singapore, Jersey and Luxembourg. FinSMEs 24/07/2016 Baku, Azerbaijan, July 24 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: A joint working group in Baku on July 26 will study obstacles to cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan on the financial issues of a project for the construction of Rasht-Astara railway. Irans Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen has said that Iranian Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh-Kashan and Azerbaijans Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev will chair the delegations of their respective countries in the meeting. According to Mohsen Pak Ayeen, Baku will invest $500 million in the construction of Rasht-Astara railway. The railway after inauguration will be capable of carrying 10 million tons of goods and three million passengers per year, he added. Expressing hope that the railways of Iran and Azerbaijan will be linked by the end of the current year, the envoy said that connecting the railways of the two neighboring countries will have a key role in developing North-South Transport Corridor. Pak Ayeen further said that Azerbaijani officials have also decided to revoke tolls for those Iranian trucks that will unload their shipment in the first railway station on their way in Azerbaijan. The ambassador noted that the decision will decrease transit expenses. Editor's Note: The extraordinary commercial success that Rajinikanths Kabali has achieved in the first two days of its release offers evidence that the glory of a monarch is the sum total of his subjects. The might of the fan, numerical as well as devotional, especially one who inhabits theatres screening Tamil movies, is legion. Anand Pandian of Johns Hopkins University has examined this quality (and several other aspects of cinema) with great rigour. In this chapter from his book The Reel World: On Location in Kollywood, Pandian investigates how fans imagine stars, how an action hero gets into his role and trains himself to do impossible things, and how all of this blurs the line between fantasy and reality. This segment is based on Pandians anthropological work with another major star of Tamil cinema, Karthi Sivakumar, on a film shoot for Siruthai that came out a couple of years ago. An excerpt from Reel World: On Location in Kollywood (Penguin, 2016) Swetha first sees "Rocket" Raja when he bursts into a shopping mall crowd. Theres a man passed out on the floor among them. Rocket landing! Raja exclaims, and does something deftly with his fists to revive the man. They meet next at a lavish wedding at her uncles house, where he leaps to nab a running thief. Shes entranced. That day in the mall when you saved him, she says, I saw Mother Teresa in your good deed. Today, when you caught this thief, I saw Netaji in your speed. He beams proudly, speaks magnanimously. And then, as she looks admiringly at the hero, you can see for a few seconds how she imagines him: a towering figure with clasped arms and a modest smile, rising alone into the distant heights of a deep blue sky, his body bathed in a halo of green and white light. The vision leaves a glint in her eye, and she remains distracted by it. She comes back suddenly with a start, realizing that hes been trying to get her attention. This is the least of what she misses in the film Siruthai (Leopard). Hes already declared in song that he is really, really not a good boy. He will steal her heart, among many other things. Imagination is an alarmingly creative faculty. Imagination makes things appearshadows of what was once before, impressions of things impossible or yet to be. These powers give reason to both veneration and suspicion. Are these images no more than illusory appearances, distractions from the reality of what is happening? The question poses itself especially forcefully when it comes to experiences like cinema, so clearly a departure from the space of the here and now. And the stakes grow even higher when we linger on industries like Tamil cinema, deeply invested in larger-than-life heroes whose outsized exploits fall utterly beyond the means of their adoring fans. Take what happened when this Tamil film, Siruthai, was released in January 2011. Rocket Raja was one of two roles played in the film by Karthi Sivakumar, son of a venerable Tamil film actor and younger brother to one of the most popular stars in the industry. Though Siruthai was Karthis only fourth release, he already had a huge base of avid fans. In Chennai alone on its opening weekend, the film screened 339 times. Housefull boards were lit up almost everywhere. Loud drums, strings of firecrackers, and dancers in polyester tiger costumes greeted Karthi at some of these opening shows, his white Honda City with darkened windows slowly making its way through boisterous crowds of ebullient young men. He posed for a few photographs at each of the cinema halls, smiling graciously. It was the weekend of the Pongal festival, an avidly sought window for Tamil film releases. The annual festival celebrates fields and lives flowing over with health and vitalitypongal is literally that which overflows, as with the rice and cane sugar that bubble over the lips of cooking pots throughout the region. Around the theaters, other liquids were overflowing, as young men in red T-shirtsmembers of Karthis fan clubsclimbed the scaffolding behind lofty vinyl posters of the actor, spraying them with plastic packets of milk and fizzing bottles of beer. The ritual was borrowed, bent, from the world of the Hindu temple, an abhisheka or bathing of the cinematic deity in consecrating fluids. As M K B Santhosh, the young leader of a fan association later described to me, Fifty or a hundred packets of milk, fifty beers . . . That whole road will run with milk and beer. Santhosh took his initials from his father, a Chennai politician who vanished mysteriously a decade ago. His father helped pioneer the use of massive wooden cut-outs to venerate Tamil political leaders, and there was an unmistakable kinship between that public practice and the vinyl posters that his son now produced, some of which depicted Karthi in the manner of an erstwhile royal lord: bejeweled crown, proud sword, lavish garlands. Santhosh wasnt entirely sure why these images looked as they did. We feel like doing it, we do it, he said. But the flow of his devotion spilled even further. Do you know what else I want to do? When his next film comes, I want to make sir come on a horse-drawn carriage and make a round of the theaters. I have that desire. Imagination is a movement of overflow, a crossing of boundaries, a spilling beyond oneself. To say that imagination works in this manner is to acknowledge its peculiar reality, its intangible depth beyond the sheen of appearances, its shadowy existence between presence and absence, there and here, oneself and another. What does it mean to dwell in this in-betweenness of imagination? What happens when a writer pens someone else into being? Or when an actor brings a character to life? Of all the roles to fill out a book on Tamil cinema, this onethe being of an actorwas the most difficult to cast. Agents were difficult to reach. Directors quailed at the idea of introducing actors theyd worked with closely. Producers laughed knowingly, yet uselessly, about these troubles. Access was a practical problem and a terrifying prospect. How do you approach someone so readily imagined as god and king? I made countless and regrettable attempts. Over time, in this cascade of failures, the idea of working with Karthi Sivakumar grew more alluring. The ruffians he played in Paruthi Veeran and Ayirathil Oruvan were charming. I could see how thousands of bodies erupted in enthusiasm at his appearance on a stage or screen. People in the industry praised his acting skills and easy demeanor. And he was a trained engineer, with a degree from upstate New York, not far from a college where I once taught. I imagined telling him all this. I imagined him listening appreciatively. I finally had a chance to meet Karthis father, Sivakumar. Clad in a crisp white pantsuit, the elder man was unexpectedly warm. He presented me with a few of his own books and DVDs, signing fond words into a copy of his autobiography. In the face of such sincerity, I was embarrassed to ask for a chance to meet his son. Still, of course, I did. Karthi was shooting daily for Siruthai, the senior actor told me, but he promised to try to arrange a meeting when they took a break. Sivakumar himself had acted in nearly two hundred Tamil films over the span of forty years, stories, he said, that pursued him still. Literally, I stopped acting six years back. But every night, in my sleep, the shoots go on. The moment finally approached, two weeks later. I was loitering in a deserted bookstore near Gemini Flyover in Chennai, checking to see whether they had sold any copies of my last book. In the lobby, I managed to catch Sivakumar on the phone. Im waiting for his call, he said. "As soon as it comes, I will call you." I wandered around by taxi, waiting anxiously. Karthi would leave Chennai soon for Badami, to shoot the climactic action sequence for the filmover that bridge that you already know, the one that the art director Rajeevan was building. By that late summer of 2010, my own fieldwork for this book was nearing completion. To spend a few days with the actor in Karnatakacould that be enough for this most desperately incomplete chapter? I thought of trying to pass the time at a nearby cafe. Then, idly fishing the phone out of my pocket once again, I saw the sms: 7 oclock is ok for u? I rushed the driver along a narrow road, stopping only to buy some breath freshener for my parched mouth. I suddenly noticed the wrinkles on my shirt. Karthi was more than I could have imagined: affable, sensible, talkative. I always wanted to know what anthropologists do, he said with a friendly laugh. I could hardly believe it. We talked about New York. Hed written a masters thesis in industrial engineering: Scheduling of Electronic Assemblies in a High-Mix Low-Volume Environment. Thinking back on that thesis, he said, had helped with the caprice of his work as an actor, the utterly unpredictable fit between oneself and a role to play. There wont be a breakthrough for six months, Karthi recalled. The breakthrough will come in one day, and you wouldve finished the project in one week. It happened to me. Although I didnt say it at the time, I knew exactly what he meant. One cloudy morning ten days later, Im on a plateau of crumbling sandstone in northern Karnataka, surrounded by undulating ridges of thorny bush, low grass, and outcrops of jagged rock. Among these clumps of grass and rock, men are shuffling cables, boxes, poles, and other gear, preparing for the shoot that will begin later today. I suddenly notice Karthi sitting on a wide slab of red stone, clad in dark blue jeans and a simple gray jacket. I sit down beside him on the slab of rock, jutting from a steep face of the high plateau. Lovely place, he says. Are you ready? I ask. Its coming slowly, he says. You cant become Jackie Chan in a day. He warns me that these scenes will lack emotional drama. As an actor your contribution is small for the stunt sequences, he explains. Still, theres something essential he must give, something he will think and talk about every day of the shoot: You give intensity. In Indian literary tradition, the faculty of imagination, bhavana, is a generative and productive force, a means of bringing things more fully into being by intensifying their reality. Such was the case with the fifteenth-century Telugu devotional poems of Annamayya, in which the god he praised comes into completeness through the imaginative activity of the devotees mind. It is not the original image that the imagination finds, David Shulman writes, but, through the finding, something much fuller, something the imagination itself has driven to the surface and then shaped and deepened by seeing or reimagining it. That is why one needs the whole panoply of mirrors, memories, paintings, poems. Consider, for example, that implausible but ubiquitous form of mirroring found in Indian cinema, the double role. Every successful actor here, it seems, seizes the chance to intensify the heroism of his persona by playing two (sometimes even more) roles at once. In the world of Siruthai, Karthi Sivakumar plays both cop and thief. Rathnavel Pandian is a righteous police officer dispatched to tackle a gang of mountain bandits. He pursues this campaign with a fearsome snarl, hence the Siruthai, or leopard, of the films title. Rocket Raja is an irreverent pickpocket, absorbed in various exploits until one day the bandits mistake himand why wouldnt they?for the cop. The plot reveals Rathnavels death and Rajas quest to avenge his doppelganger. The climax happens at the lair of the villains, where their leader, Bhadra, has kidnapped Rajas girlfriend and Rathnavels orphaned daughter. Siruthai is a faithful remake of a Telugu hit, produced by Karthis cousins and chosen deliberately for its mass appeal. This kind of mass commercial film, Karthi says, when an actor can pull it off, it gives you another jump in the market. Karthi has a vivid image of what his audience wants: a hero in the film, not an actor. Many had been disappointed with the ending of Ayirathil Oruvan earlier that year, his character looking blankly as his world erupted in an orgy of indeterminate violence. Why wasnt I doing anything about it? Why was I witnessing everything happening around me? This film will end very differently, the actor tells me. Its very Hollywood. Hero comes in and saves the day. Rocket Raja begins the film as a selfish and comical character, but by the end, he will avenge the fallen cop with newfound valor. I follow Karthi down a narrow rock path as he talks of these things. When the camera rolls, Raja struggles with mock emphasis to hold back the unseemly axe of the brutish villain. This is just like the Jetix channel, he jokes to the frightened little girl that Bhadra holds tightly. See this dirty uncle? This is the villain. Im the hero. What will the hero do to the villain? Hell hit him! she exclaims. And when he does, cheers erupt from a crowd of local men, women, and children watching the shoot from a nearby ridge. Its as though the world has already become that universe of masculine heroism. Im struck by the friendly conversation Karthi shares with Supreet Reddy, the actor playing Bhadra. Supreet presents a curious and mysterious figure. Clad in a brown jute vest and dirty black cloak, with a necklace of curved animal teeth draped around his neck, he retreats to a lone chair and umbrella on the edge of the shoot whenever he can, knotted strings of hair falling over his face as he taps the keys of a small mobile phone. He speaks with a gruff voice that somehow feels soft at the same time. While hes played villains in over fifty south Indian films already, his brother works as an engineer in Seattle. I like doing negative characters, Supreet says with a sardonic laugh. The more cruel, the better for me. His wooden axe looks frighteningly big beside the small girl playing Rathnavels daughter. Curious, but no doubt with a trace of censure in my voice as well, I ask how he manages to threaten this child with death. If you got the chance, he asks, would you want to do a positive or a negative role? A positive role, I tell him. Its difficult to imagine myself otherwise. He watches me closely, then asks when Ill return to India. You can do a sadistic role, he advises. Half the acting is in the eyes. Looking at you, I can see you doing a sadistic character. Im shaken by what he sees. My eyes keep drifting to the patches of plastic scar tissue peeling from his cheek. Then I recover some ethnographic composure. What about Karthi? I ask, lamely, already knowing where this will lead. He can only play a hero, Supreet declares. Soft, no, his eyes? On a flat expanse of bare brown ground, Rocket Raja and Bhadra finally confront each other directly. They grapple with axe, stone, bare hands, and booted feet. This is the solo fight to which the film builds, and for close to a minute, theres hardly anyone else to see. You cant always tell who or what is acting now in the film. Perspective on the scene jumps, darts, shakes, and spins wildly, cutting too quickly to distinguish blow from blow. The sounds of swift limbs and clanking metal lead or lag behind their visible movement. Spurting dirt, tattered clothing, and whipping hair express the violence. The scene is composed in bits and pieces over several days. Early each morning, thirty fighters gather to face the sun and silently pray. Three men make up the first row of this motley group: Karthi, Supreet, and Ganesh Kumar, the films stunt master. Someone slices open a lime and squeezes its juice on the ground, and each approaches Ganesh to touch his suede boots or the earth before his feet. Karthi is the first to make this gesture of humility and respect. Everyone addresses Ganesh only as Master. The stunt master is a third-generation fighter in south Indian cinema, and he has fought in over two hundred films. Theres so much history, he tells me just after dawn one morning. Hes not talking about the archaeological site where theyve been shooting this weekwhat he means instead is the history of blows recorded on his body: the knee crushed by an accident eight years back; his back trouble between discs l3 and l4; the sternum hes broken twice. Youll have certificates in your room to show what youve studied, he tells me. "We have x-rays and medical certificates. Like a dance choreographer, Ganesh is constantly improvising moves. With a sporty bandanna around his neck, he works out darting blows suitable for a thief. Its like a monkeys work, he says, describing the style hes developing for this accidental hero. Ganesh also has to keep in mind the physical condition of Karthis body, the back problems, for example, that keep troubling the shoot. Well have to make it seem as though hes got it, he vows. The plateau is strewn with equipment that will help with this semblance: thick mats of padding, rocks and branches built of foam, blood-red paint and pliable shoes, and the metal hooks and lines of black cable leading up to a forty-foot crane, towering over the horizon. On breaks between shots, stories are shared about such things from other shoots: moments of accident when they assumed a dangerous life of their own, snapping, swinging, falling, breaking away unexpectedly. Attention will be focused here, however, on the action of the hero alone. Are you doing spycam? a voice calls out with friendly concern as I record some rehearsals on my iPhone. Its the director, Shiva, worried that my video might leak onto YouTube. Theres just one thing he forbids me to record on video: this crane, as it lifts the hero for high leaps and kicks. Let them believe that Spiderman can fly, he says. There are many extraordinary things Rocket Raja does in his battle with Bhadra. He aims a kick at the villains chest, but Bhadra catches hold of his left knee. Raja leaps off the ground with his other foot, pivots upside-down high in the air, pins Bhadras head between his own knees, turns down to grab Bhadras legs with his arms, rolls the villain onto his back, comes up to grab one of his legs, and snaps it sideways with a painful jerk, all in a single movement. Physical laws of gravity, mass, and momentum are defied by the heros body. On one break, Karthi tells Ganesh how Akira Kurosawa gave fight scenes a new intensity by intercutting wide shots of such action with close-ups of the face. A palpable rage twitches on his own face as many of the shots here are composed and taken. Where does this intensity come from? I just got hit in the face, Karthi says. Yesterday, the last shot. He speaks causally, as though this is quite straightforward, but I am puzzled. In what sense did he just get hit in the face? Just now, the makeup man had applied blood to his brow. When I ask about this, Karthi only smiles. Its all make-believe, right? Thats my job. I have to deliver. Youre writing a book. You have to go page by page. If this is indeed a matter of belief, where and how is this feeling conjured? Imagination is taken too easily as a matter of inward vision. Like cinema itself, imaginations images are composed through myriad techniques and technologies, active and dynamic relationships that minds and bodies assume with a wider environment for life. On the set for Siruthai, for example, everything depends on the relationship between the hero and the world of activity around him. Take the high crane, for example, dangling the ropes and hooks with which Raja will execute his leaping overhead turn. There is talk of The Karate Kid as Karthi practices these moves on a thick foam mat covered by canvas and dirt. As if youre doing it yourself, the stunt master advises. Karthi, learning how to lift one leg as if pushing off solely with the other, understands. It should be done as if Im doing it myself, without support. All of these artifacts matter: the black vest around his chest, the steel rope clipped to it, the team of stuntmen pulling the rope back, and the crane through which it is laced. Still, the imaginative reach of this moment also depends on the building of a more private alliance with oneself: Basically, you have to do exactly what youre going to do in every second of the entire action, Karthi says. You have to do it yourself. The rope is there for help. You have to do it the way you will do it, thinking that you can jump, and you can. . . . At every point you should be conscious about yourself. . . . Your body, your hands, your legs, where exactly, what it is doing. I marvel at this idea, that the hero must somehow focus his attention, second by second, entirely upon his own body. Its not so great, anybody can do it, Karthi replies, quietly and with modesty, suggesting that it takes practice more than anything else. But then he adds, Its a lot easier compared to Jackie Chan, who does it himself. Even he, it seems, has his heroes. Does he believe that Jackie Chan can fly? Must he? A chapter in Constantin Stanislavskis Building a Character describes exercises in moving with a fictive drop of mercury. We all did the same, a student actor reports, letting the imaginary mercury roll up and down our limbs, shoulders, chins, noses, then let it run out again. At one point, the student wonders, Did we really feel its passage through our muscular system, or did we imagine that we felt the imaginary mercury coursing through us! But theres little time here for such reflections; they must work ceaselessly on the movements, again and again. Im reading Stanislavskis book now, Karthi says one morning, naming this one, Building a Character. Is it useful? I ask. Yeah, he says. Every single thing in your body can help you to look like a different person. You should know how to use it. Karthi echoes the Russian dramatist on the importance of habit, practice, and discipline. Theres also the relationship between inward fiction and outward expression that Stanislavski nurtured as a matter of technique. Imagination, he wrote, while devoid of flesh and blood, has the ability to summon genuine actions from flesh and bloodfrom our bodies. For Karthi too, such experience is essential: How deep you believe whats happening. There is something very peculiar in this, he admits, as the events are themselves unreal. Your body is not paining. You did not [feel] a blow. But you stand there. You feel it. Theres also the scrambled time in which these happenings are staged, for when the take begins, youre in the middle of the action. How to react compellingly now to a punch landed two days ago? Playing a part means becoming a true character, not pretending to be someone else, Kirsten Hastrup observes in a study of Shakespearean actors. Karthi speaks of imagining the life of the person he is playing and seeking a way of dwelling in that life. Creating the situation again and again, in my mindthat is what it is, he tells me. He closes his eyes to practice this, seeing myself from my point of view as he thinks of Rocket Rajas routines: coffee in the morning without brushing his teeth, wandering the slum with his friends, sitting beside the sea and feeling the heat of the sun. It is his nature which creates through him, Stanislavski wrote about the actors creation of a character: he is only the instrument. Karthi too talks about the organic expression of an actors selfhood, a personal nature gaining depth and diversityboth inside and outthrough such practices of imagination. You get more and more intricate towards it, he reflects. I think you grow in layers. I find what he says fascinating. All of this feels intensely familiar from my own experience as an ethnographer, yet remains so inscrutable. Closing on Bhadra beside a deep ravine and a narrow old bridgethe one that Rajeevan and his crew put upRaja lands a few swift kicks and punches. His arm is bleeding, but his curled tongue juts out visibly from an open mouth, casting a look of mischievous disdain. The gesture is a familiar Tamil expression of heedless aggression, often identified with lower-class men. As you go into that mood and do it, Karthi explains, it will come naturally. Working actively now with a gesture that expresses itself, the actor modulates its force and meaning. Was that funny? he asks after one take, ensuring that the gesture matches the narrative progression of the sequence. Hes confident now, isnt he? Karthi asks Ganesh. Hes not yet afraid? He hasnt yet seen, that is, the little girl dangling over the edge of the precipice? Gathering around the video monitor to review each take, actor, director, cameraman, and stunt master refine such expressions of feeling with a language of mechanical adjustment: higher or lower, lesser or greater, faster or slower, lighter or heavier. The more you believe in the situation that is actually happening, [the more] your meter keeps increasing, Karthi says. Its like the fan regulator, you know. But although such talk suggests that imagination may be harnessed and channeled, its workings also constantly surpass these moments of control. Whatever happens in the film doesnt begin when the director calls Action, nor does it stop immediately after the director calls Cut. Instead, for Karthi, these situations keep trespassing the boundary between film and life. Shot after shot, his face holds strangely in a frown or grimace lingering oddly out of place, as others bustle all around him with mirrors, notepads, lenses, and cables. The film slackens its hold on his imagination with visible and peculiar delay. Because you are always straining your mind, Karthi admits, it does some things which you dont even ask it to do. Everything that happens here depends upon this play of imagination, in which I am also caught as an observer. Karthi smiles at me one morning in the midst of a rehearsal. I smile back reflexively, beaming inwardly at this shared moment of mutual recognitionafter all, Im a stranger and hes the hero. But then I feel a slight blush of shame, as he turns away with the look still playing on his face. Did you have a very active imagination as a child? I later ask. He laughs in acknowledgment. Overimagination. I used to tell stories to everybody. My own stories. Very James Bondinspired. A few minutes later, he lies down in the dirt beside a clear Plexiglas panel, grasping a painted rock made of foam, preparing to gaze fiercely at the reflective glass bulb of a camera lens swaddled in thick black cloth. I dont know him very well. But from what I can see, he seems to live in the midst of a ceaseless stream of stories. Hes voluble and funny on breaks. He sings to himself. We take a run together along the main road one evening, and tales pass between us continuously. The impression he conveys is one of overflow. Prabhu, his cousin, and one of the films producers, agrees. If you get him started, hell talk to you for hours. Karthis father, Sivakumar, is also like this. Conversations with him are long and drifting. Once I pressed the father for some insight into the imagination of the child. His children didnt see very much of him at home, Sivakumar admitted: he left each morning at six, and returned at ten-thirty each night. But in those same twenty years, he added, Karthi watched almost a hundred films and characters that his father played. All of this would be passing continuously into the subconscious mind. He told the story of one film released when Karthi was two or three years old. Sivakumar played a Catholic priest. Someone came to confess a murder. To protect this secret, the priest declared himself responsible for the death. The entire village rushed to attack and lock him up. Only then did the murderer admit to the crime. Imagine seeing this film close up, Sivakumar said. The boy is sitting before this screen. On the screen, they are beating the father with their slippers. There is a close-up of him bleeding. The way he cried and shouted then, sullying that theater! Theyre beating my appa, theyre beating my appa! Hurrying out of the theater in the midst of his own films climax, the actor carried his son down the road to the beach and bought him some ice cream to try to calm him down. But the child continued to cry out. Appa, appa, theyre beating my appa! He tried to bring him backHey, its your appa here thats feeding you this!but the boy was inconsolable. No, they beat my appa, they beat my appa! When they magnify that and show it, Sivakumar said, the father being beaten, the slippers coming down on him, when all that happens . . . The ice cream is sweet and good, but in his mind, the father is being beaten. All of that will reach within those children, no? To live a hundred years in the hearts of a people, a tearful constable tells Rocket Raja at the midpoint of Siruthai, its enough to live for a single day. He speaks of Rathnavel Pandian, lying gravely wounded in a hospital ward. As the constable recounts the fallen cops heroism, we catch glimpses of how Rathnavel has lived such a life, vanquishing the depraved authority of these demonic bandits. With rain, wind, time, and other cosmic forces on his side, and a spinning metallic disc in hand, the policeman slaughters countless foes and restores order under his rule. It is difficult not to imagine him as Vishnu, the avenging deity of Brahmanical Hinduism. In peninsular India, righteous gods and kings share a kinship dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era. In this age of cinema, many of the temples and monuments of that time have been revived as centers of veneration. Others survive as decaying objects of appeal, such as the local sites of touristic attraction marked so hopefully on the paper placemats laid out each morning at the Badami Court Hotel, where all of us are staying. It is on a sandstone rise overlooking the archaeological ruins of Badami, erstwhile capital of the Chalukya Empire between the sixth and eighth centuries, that the tense finale of Siruthai is shot over several days. The museum commemorating this history is scarcely mentioned by the filmmakers, although everyone and everything must pass daily through its gates to reach the stone stairs leading up to the height of the plateau. Then there are the plentiful gangs of pigs, dripping black sewage onto the narrow, muddy lanes of what is Badami today, an acrid reminder of the impermanence of human exertion. Karthi too is prone to such reflections. As appa says, he muses one morning, dont assume that things will remain as they are. I remember an image like this in his fathers autobiography. Fame that cinema gives is like the transient clouds of Kodaikanal, Sivakumar writes. It arrives unannounced and vanishes quite as suddenly. Across the lime-green waters of the Badami lake are the remnants of Chalukya-era cave temples: Vaishnava, Saiva, and Jain. One afternoon, the pull of these distant black spheres strung along the cliffs proves irresistible, and I cross over for a look. On one side of the lake, artisans are preparing the serrated discus that Rocket Raja will hurl to annihilate Bhadra. On the other side, in one of the caves, a stone Vishnu quells the lofty ambitions of the demon Bali with three steps through the immensity of the cosmos, a lesson in humility imparted through a cunning shift of perspective. In one of his many arms, he bears his own steadfast discus. The space has an air of epic grandeur and desolation. The vastness between the cliffs is like a resonance chamber, amplifying the sounds that carry across the water. Wet clothes slap sharply against the sandstone steps below. Then theres the fluctuating thrum of diesel generators and the words Ready . . . take . . . action! resounding even at this distance. The silhouette of a protective umbrellaan abiding visual sign of Indian kingshipbobs along the edge of the shoot, suggesting the presence of someone important. From the wide-angle perspective of this viewpoint, though, everything about the film seems small, except for its sound. Although the stunt masters commands boom across the water, there are few signs of any of the activity they intend to provoke. People appear to be milling about slowly, the forty-foot crane among them dwarfed by the ruins of the Shivalaya temple on the northern edge of the rise. The word action does nothing to change the pace, direction, or momentum of what seems to be happening from here. Meanwhile, a gang of Kannada boys has occupied a terrace below the caves, interrupting this reverie. They pose for their own cameras against the lake with jaunty hips and artful smiles, all of them heroes too. This is relevant, but also irritating. Theres nothing for me to do but wait and hope for one more glimpse of life in the vista beyond them. In this reverie, and from this distance, the entire span of it looks uncannily like a screen. The author is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Johns Hopkins University. New Delhi: Attacking AAP after its MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested, BJP today demanded that the Delhi legislator be booked for allegedly spreading communal disharmony with his "hate speech". Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay said one more face has been added "to the notorious team of Arvind Kejriwal's women bashers". "His (Amanatullah ) arrest has happened too late. Infact Delhi Police should arrest him for spreading communal disharmony and for his hate speech during a Urdu Academy function earlier this year," he said. Upadhyay alleged that Kejriwal's MLAs were "intoxicated with power and going berserk". "Delhi Police should act tough and arrest him for repeatedly trying to spread communal disharmony in Okhla area. "Similarly a suo motu case should be registered by Delhi Police in the matter of hate speech delivered by Amanatullah Khan at a Urdu Academy function earlier this year and he should be arrested," he said. Khan was today taken into custody after a woman alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts, the tenth party legislator to be arrested. Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Minister Ram Shinde on Sunday met family members of the gang-rape victim at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district. Fadnavis expressed his deepest condolences and assured strong action against the culprit and strictest punishment through fast track court. A large number of people were present at this time in Kopardi, a CMO official said. The CM interacted with them and assured in his short speech that government will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice. The 15-year-old girl was brutally raped and killed by three men at Kopardi in Ahmednagar on 13 July, when she was returning after meeting her grandfather. She was allegedly accosted by three men, who gangraped her before strangling her. The victim, a student of Class IX, had reportedly been mutilated, and local accounts suggest she was found with her hair pulled out, and hands and teeth broken. She was found with both shoulders dislocated, police said. The crime sparked protests across the state, with people taking to the streets demanding action against the accused, while the Congress demanded the resignation of the chief minister on moral grounds. Police said all three of the accused were arrested by the local crime branch after the incident. Fadnavis had informed the State Legislative Assembly last week that the accused have been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He had also said that noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as the public prosecutor in the case and the government has given Rs 5 lakh solatium to the victim's family. Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said India's bid to blame Pakistan for the "current revolt" in the Kashmir Valley warranted no response. Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, told IANS that the two-day visit by the Home Minister that ended on Sunday and "his comments are insignificant". The Mirwaiz said New Delhi's "propaganda" on the Kashmir issue that the "current revolt" was sponsored by Pakistan "is so worn out and half-witted that it does not even warrant a response". He said the separatist leadership - including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik - believed that the "Kashmiri struggle for freedom like all freedom struggles in the world is both indigenous and sacred". His remarks came after Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan not to encourage people in Jammu and Kashmir to become militants, saying India would never tolerate terrorism. The minister's trip came amid the deadliest Kashmir unrest in years that has left 45 people dead in violent stone-throwing protests following the July 8killing of pro-Pakistan rebel commander Burhan Wani. The Mirwaiz said the separatist leadership "condemns the killing spree" by security forces, injuring thousands and blinding more than 150. He said it was a blot on the face of humanity that a country "which executes such barbarism prides itself as the world's largest democracy". Jalandhar: Congress leader Amarinder Singh questioned the "mysterious silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged atrocities against Dalits and said a divide among its people does not augur well for an emerging world power. Condemning the "series of excesses and atrocities" against Dalits, the Congress' Punjab unit chief said such incidents of class divide can have severe consequences. "We already have many external enemies ready to destabilise and weaken our country and let us not facilitate them and make their job easy by dividing our own people," he said, while addressing a demonstration at Kartarpur to protest against the Dalit atrocities. "I was shocked and shaken after watching the video of three Dalit boys being beaten up after being tied up with a car. This is the worst crime and the criminals must be dealt with severe punishment. It was all the more shameful, since it happened in Modi's home state (Gujarat)," he said. The PPCC president said that when the country should be concerned about its enemies along the borders, there are sections inside, who are trying to divide people. "Imagine what will happen if we place one community against the other in the name of caste and religion," he said. "India is considered an emerging power in the world and incidents like these should make everyone feel concerned. The former Punjab chief minister said there appeared to be a pattern in the violence against Dalits. "Gujarat was not an isolated incident. It was one in the series," he said, adding, "This is happening in UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and everywhere and the government is watching as a mute spectator." Amarinder also condemned Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for his "silence" over what happened in Phagwara, where members of two two communities, armed with swords and other sharp weapons, clashed on Friday and hurled stones at each other. He asked Badal to take strong action against trouble mongers. New Delhi: A 14-year-old Dalit rape victim who was repeatedly sexually assaulted and was forced to drink a corrosive substance, died at a hospital in New Delhi on Sunday, prompting an anguished DCW chief to lash out at the Centre and Delhi police on the issue of women's safety. "How many Nirbhayas does Delhi want? We all simply wait for next Nirbhaya to die," the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal said on Twitter, adding she "never felt so helpless." "The girl was fed a corrosive substance which completely destroyed her internal organs and she died a very painful death," she said, adding that it was only after the Commission issued notice to the DCP (North), the accused who was roaming free was arrested. She asked the Centre to set up a high-level ministerial committee on women safety under the leadership of Home Minister Rajnath Singh. "With parents of 14-year-old victim. V poor n inconsolable. How many Nirbhayas does Delhi want? We all simply wait for next Nirbhaya to die. "To add insult to injury, Home Ministry scrapped Women Safety Sp Task Force in Delhi set up wen Nirbhaya died stating it's mandate finished! "She is dead ! We the system is responsible. Never felt so helpless. Need to do something. Come on people ...(sic)," Maliwal said in a series of tweets. She died just now. Delhi again failed her Nirbhaya. She suffered so much pain. N her perpetrators were roaming free! https://t.co/wImFxjcPyz Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 24, 2016 Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 24, 2016 With parents of 14 year old victim. V poor n inconsolable. How many Nirbhayas does Delhi want? We all simply wait for next Nirbhaya to die. Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 24, 2016 To add insult to injury, Home Ministry scrapped Women Safety Sp. Task Force in Delhi set up wen Nirbhaya died stating it's mandate finished! Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 24, 2016 ? Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 24, 2016 Maliwal was alluding to the Centre's recent decision to disband the Special Task Force on women's safety in Delhi. It was established in 2013 in the aftermath of the brutal 2012 Delhi gangrape. On Friday, the DCW has issued a notice to DCP (North) questioning the handling of the case of the Dalit minor who was allegedly kidnapped by the accused just before a hearing in her rape case, subjected to sexual assault several times and forced to drink corrosive substance. In the notice, the Commission had directed DCP (North) to provide security to the girl and her family and asked why the police had not arrested the accused till date. The Commission had also sought the details of action taken on the complaint of the victim's parents regarding threat to their lives in an FIR filed on 15 May and asked the reasons for not registering offences under Section 3 of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Giving details of the case, the Commission in its notice had said, an FIR under sections 363, 376 IPC and 4/6 of POCSO Act was registered in Burari police station on 2 December last year against a main accused Shivshankar. According to the FIR in May, just before a hearing in the court, the girl was kidnapped from her house following which, on 19 May, another FIR was registered. The DCW said the victim was recovered between 26-27 May and her parents were called to Burari police station to meet her where they found their daughter bleeding profusely from the head. The victim has alleged she was kidnapped by the maternal aunt of the main accused and during confinement she was raped several times a day by Shivshankar. Her hands and feet were tied and was refused any food during the period. The victim has alleged Shivshankar along with his maternal aunt and uncle had fed the girl a corrosive substance mixed in a soft drink... The same is mentioned in a complaint by the victim's father in Burari police station on 15 July. "However, the girl has alleged the police forced her to change her statement, appearing before the Metropolitan Magistrate. Later, she was dropped in Nari Niketan. It has also been stated that there was a call to the parents from Nari Niketan wherein it was informed that the victim was in a very serious condition and needed care. "The parents then ensured that the girl gets admission in LNJP hospital wherein she was treated for some time. When the parents requested for an MLC, it is alleged by them that the investigating officer concerned refused the same," Maliwal had said in the notice. The Commission, which learnt about the case through a media report, got the victim shifted to Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh for better treatment under the EWS Scheme. A BJP MLC in Bihar has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl on Purvanchal Express in state's Vaishali district on Sunday, police said. According to ANI, Tunna Pandey has been suspended by the party. The Government Railway Police arrested Pandey at Hajipur railway station after the victim filed a complaint against him. An FIR has also been registered, a police official said. However, Pandey has denied the allegations and was quoted as saying by ANI that he was looking for his phone charger and didn't know whether it was a girl or a boy. KC Tyagi, JD(U) MP from Bihar, condemned Pandey's action saying, "It's shameful, we have zero tolerance policy towards this." Hajipur (Bihar): Government Railway Police (GRP) arrest Siwan BJP MLC Tunna Pandey for allegedly molesting a woman. pic.twitter.com/UdJlAjcn7J ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 The girl was sleeping in a train berth, Tunna tried and molested her. He also tried to take her to the bathroom: Sanjay Singh, GRP, Hajipur ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 FIR has also been registered in the matter:Sanjay Singh(GRP)on arresting of BJP MLC Tunna Pandey for molesting woman pic.twitter.com/Clv2Y4CB2X ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 I was just taking out my phone charger,didn't even know whether it was a girl who was sleeping or a boy:Tunna Pandey pic.twitter.com/Sxcj9Qj89F ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 FLASH: BJP suspends MLC Tunna Pandey, who was arrested for allegedly molesting a girl onboard a train. ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 "As per complaint of the victim, Pandey tried to molest her and also misbehaved with her early on Sunday and also tried to take her to the bathroom," police said. Pandey, a criminal-turned-politician, is also known as the liquor mafia in Siwan-Gopalganj districts in Bihar. With inputs from IANS The alleged molestation of a 19-year-old newly married Hindu woman by Muslim youths has led to communal tension in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. As a result of the incident, which happened last week, Hindu families are now thinking of leaving Aligarh, say reports. A report in The Indian Express said that the woman was molested when she was out with her husband on a bike in Babri Mandi in Aligarh. "I thought I wont be able to return home alive. They tried to get hold of my pallu while I was on the bike (which her husband was riding). They held my neck and dragged me by hair towards a secluded lane. I shouted but no one came to help. When my husband intervened, he was attacked with a knife," the report quoted the woman as saying. The incident led stone-pelting between the two groups which eventually grew so intense that a contingent of police had to be called in to control the violence, a report in The Times of India said. The report quoted a local resident who said that ten families were ready to sell their properties and every family in Babri Mandi eventually wanted to leave. The report also said that notices for selling the property were also put up outside the homes of Muslim families in the area. The Muslim families said that a prominent local leader was fanning communal tensions. Mayor of Aligarh Shakuntala Bharti, according to Deccan Chronicle, said people of one community were "making it difficult" for these families to continue living in their houses in Babri Mandi area. "Almost every other day, women belonging to Hindu families are being subjected to harassment and eve-teasing. The police refuse to act on the complaints and the accused persons are getting emboldened," the report quoted the Mayor as saying. This comes close on the heels of reports of migration by Hindu families in Kairana in Shamli district last month. In June, BJP MP Hukum Singh had claimed that Hindu families in Kairana, again in Uttar Pradesh, were leaving the area due to threats and extortion by Muslim criminals. Singh had even released a list of 346 families who had allegedly been forced to flee the town, which has 85 percent Muslim population. However, a probe conducted by the Shamli district administration into the alleged migration from Kairana had found that in the list of 346 families, who had apparently left the region, 188 had left over five years ago. It was also found that 60 families were living elsewhere for reasons relating to education, employment, health, or others. In fact,a DNA report had said that another list, compiled by locals, had been handed over to the district magistrate and contained names of 45 Muslim residents who had also left Kairana. The report had further said that the compilers of the list had also claimed that another 145 Muslims had left Kairana in the last few years. "Our aim is not to tell the administration that Muslim families have been forced to leave but to simply let the world know that migration of both communities has been taking place in Kairana for the last 10-15 years. There are number of reasons behind migration and crime is not the only one," the report had quoted one of the compilers of the list as saying. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also said that the Kairana incidents should not be given a communal colour. "Communal colour should not be given to the Kairana incidents. But at the same time there should not be a situation when people have to leave their native place," he had said. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: APJ Abdul Kalam took quite some time to make up his mind on whether to contest the presidential elections in 2012 despite the numbers stacked oddly against him as he greatly wished to fight corruption at the grass roots and had drafted two contrasting speeches to justify his decision, says his aide. One of the two letters addressed to the nation was for the occasion if Kalam chose to contest and the other if he decided against him. The letter, which was drafted in the eventuality of Kalam agreeing to contest, was a long one. "So my dear Indians, I have decided to contest this election with ALL OF YOU. I enter the fray knowing well that the numbers are against me. I will contest knowing well that I lack the majority. I will run the race knowing well that I will lose. But I have already won in the hearts of the people and I am now duty-bound to contest this election for them," the draft address said. "I don't belong to any political party. I neither endorse nor oppose any political ideology. I am just a scientist and I always wish to be remembered as a teacher. Now that I have decided to face the elections, I have become a candidate. A candidate has to campaign in an election by meeting party leaders and seeking their support. I don't have a party or cadre-strength to campaign or lobby for votes. I appeal to you, my dear Indians, to campaign for me," it said. Kalam went on to write: "I have realised that my decision to contest this election is our collective decision. I am the people's candidate now. I hope you will continue to shower the same love on me whether I win or lose. Maybe I am bound to lose - I don't know. But I am certainly bound to be true, loyal and affectionate to you. This is not a political statement or campaign mantra. But a few words that come straight from my heart." He concluded with a verse from the Bhagavad Gita. The other letter which was drafted it he was not contesting was a mere 100-odd worded one. "You are aware of the developments in the run-up to the presidential elections. Though I have never aspired to serve another term or showed interest in contesting the elections, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and other political parties wanted me to be their candidate. Many, many citizens have also expressed the same wish. It only reflects their love and affection for me and the aspiration of the people. "I'm really overwhelmed by this support. This being their wish, I respect it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me. I have considered the totality of the matter. Considering the present political situation, I have decided not to contest the presidential elections. May God bless you all," it said. These two letters as well as the whole episode of how events unfolded in Kalam finally deciding not to contest are mentioned in a new book What Can I Give? Life Lessons from My Teacher A P J Abdul Kalam by the former president's aide Srijan Pal Singh. The book, published by Penguin Random House, releases on 27 July, Kalam's first death anniversary, and the author royalties from it will go into a charitable foundation: Kalam Library, which provides education for underprivileged kids. With the then Congress-led UPA government deciding on Pranab Mukherjee's name to succeed Pratibha Patil as the 12th President of India and the move almost gaining consensus, Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh set the race on fire by declaring their support for Kalam. This decision soon gave the BJP its choice of candidate, whom they could pitch against any UPA candidate. Soon the BJP led by its president, LK Advani, extended its support to Kalam, so did the RSS. Advani even offered to go on a national campaign to garner support for Kalam, if the latter agreed to contest. "But everybody, including those openly supporting Kalam, knew that the numbers were stacked oddly against him," writes Singh. "Media polls were also in agreement with this assessment. With the Congress party against him, and the UPA having a clear majority in both houses and in most of the state assemblies, the highest percentage of votes that Dr Kalam could get was just 42 percent. "The media opined that Dr Kalam could win only if he promoted crossvoting within all the parties. Many media experts believed that with Dr Kalam's popularity, it was likely for the MPs and MLAs to cross-vote. But we, his close associates, knew that he would never encourage the petty politics of crossvoting," he writes. According to Singh, Kalam seemed to be visibly moved following Banerjee's emotional appeals and so hesitated in taking an instant decision. "But the primary reason behind Dr Kalam's hesitation in pulling out of this sure loss was something else. It was because the People's President so greatly wished to fight corruption at the grass roots of the nation. Our discussion had taken a new angle - even if Dr Kalam fought a losing election, could he help awaken the nation against corruption and win the battle against this cancer? "It was only then I realised how deeply disturbed he was by the rampant corruption cases - tumbling one after another and tirelessly gnawing away at Dr Kalam's dream of India 2020. I saw his hidden anger, and not just his disappointment, at the cancer of corruption," Singh writes. Chennai: After 48 hours of frantic search involving assets drawn from Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard, airforce authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft. "We have received a complaint that Air Force's AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing," a senior police official said on Sunday. "The complaint was lodged last night with Selaiyur police," he said. "The complaint says that 29 personnel on board AN-32 and the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu," the official told PTI. Such a complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar plaint was filed when Coast Guard's Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the search operations for the AN-32 aircraft involving multiple agencies continued for the third consecutive day. AN-32, IAF's Port Blair bound transport plane went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base here by 8.30 am on 22 July. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. Baku, Azerbaijan, July 24 Trend: The OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairs expect the sides of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to strictly adhere to the ceasefire, the OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chair James Warlick said, RIA Novosti reported. We expect from the sides strict adhering to the ceasefire, which has largely been provided after the meeting in Vienna. Any resume of the use of force will be strongly condemned by the mediators and co-chair countries," Warlick said. He stressed that the mediators called the sides for implementation of the agreements made in Vienna and St. Petersburg, which include the expansion of the OSCE monitoring group, the coordination of proposals on creation of investigation mechanisms of frontline incidents, the continuation of negotiations, which could lead to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. It was encouraging for us to see the resumption of substantive negotiations between the sides in Saint Petersburg. The expansion of the monitoring mission is the next step. Along with these efforts, the co-chairs have not stopped working with the sides on the investigation mechanisms proposal," Warlick said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. New Delhi: Border guarding forces of India and Pakistan will hold their bi-annual DG-level talks on issues related to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border (IB) this week in Lahore. Officials said the meeting will take place on 27-28 July and senior officials from here, led by BSF Director General KK Sharma, will leave for Pakistan on Monday. The other members of the 22-member Indian delegation will cross over from the Attari-Wagah land border at Amritsar. The last such meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers was held in September last year. Officials said the IB has been "relatively less volatile" in nearly nine months since the last meeting between the two forces compared to the frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2015. But infiltration and drugs smuggling continued to be a matter of concern. They said the bi-annual meeting between the two border guarding forces has been delayed due to a number of bilateral issues. The Indian side, during thier talks at the Rangers headquarters in Lahore, is also expected to raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the IB. Last time the two sides had met in Delhi and it was decided not to fire heavy artillery like mortar shells and ensure that civilians living along the IB were not harmed. The two forces had also decided that their officials, right up to the level of Directors General, will exchange mobile numbers, email ids and fax numbers for swift communication to resolve disputes on the IB running through Indian states of Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The DG-level talks between the two sides are a bi-annual affair but many a time these meetings have not taken place due to strain in relations. Srinagar: A constable and a civilian succumbed to injuries on Sunday, increasing the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 47, while curfew remained in force in five districts of the Valley and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure. An uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day, even as security agencies braced for a march called by separatists on Monday. "Curfew is in force in five South Kashmir districts Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. While curfew has already been lifted from four districts Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal restrictions continue in these areas on the assembly of four or more persons, he said, adding that the situation across the Valley is peaceful so far. Constable Mudasir Ahmad and a civilian, Sameer Ahmad Wani, who were injured in clashes that erupted in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on 8 July, succumbed to their wounds. Mudasir is the second policeman to die in the violent clashes. On 15 July, a mob had pelted stones at the Yaripora police station in Kulgam. During the pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six personnel including Mudasir. Sameer Ahmad Wani, a resident of Khonmoh area of Pampore in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, was injured during clashes on 10 July. He died while undergoing treatment at SKIMS Soura, a police official said. Meanwhile, the security forces have geared themselves to ensure Monday's march doesn't take place, the police official said. He said police and CRPF personnel, who have already been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots across the Valley, have been directed to strictly implement the curfew and restriction. Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Sunday accused the opposition Congress and National Conference (NC) of "colluding" with the Kashmiri separatists to exploit the ongoing unrest in the Valley for their political gains. "Despite the fact that the problem in Kashmir is a legacy of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Congress leaders continue to make irresponsible statements and add fuel to the fire," BJP state spokesman Anil Gupta said. He said the recent statements by prominent national leaders of Congress and the speeches made by them in the Parliament smack of collusion between the separatists, National Conference and other secessionist elements in the Valley. "They (Congress and National Conference) are determined to exploit the current turmoil for their narrow political ends sacrificing the national interest," Gupta said. Gupta said that BJP has already expressed its opposition to the restoration of "grand bargain" proposition of former Home Minister P Chidambaram virtually endorsing the 'greater autonomy' demand of National Conference by terming it a "dangerous, anti-Jammu, anti-Ladakh and anti-India." "While Chidambaram has failed to explain his failure to act when he held the all-important portfolio of Home Minister, his current utterances are not only factually incorrect, untimely, irresponsible but also opportunistic," Gupta said. Srinagar: Main opposition National Conference on Sunday asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. The party also said it would be a travesty to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a mere law and order problem. This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Srinagar since Saturday to review the situation, by a delegation of National Conference (NC), led by former Chief Minister and its working President Omar Abdullah. In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centre's failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir "as a political problem which requires political engagement both internally and externally." While it was "palpable and shocking" to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, "it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue," the party said. It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir "operatively and militarily", rather than "thinking out of the box", has further exasperated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism especially among the youth that could have adverse long-term implications. The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley. "A continued failure to address growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India," they said. Registering its anguish, grief and sorrow over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the PDP-BJP's state Government's "evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation." "Also, to blame external forces and vested interests alone would be a dangerous diversion that takes us away from the basis, for not only such unrests and agitations in Kashmir but also a prolonged political turmoil that has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives," the NC memorandum said. The delegation, which also comprised Ali Mohammed Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather and Nasir Wani, demanded a judicial probe into the "mishandling of the situation in the aftermath of Burhan Wani's killing, including the veracity of claims made by (PDP) senior leaders including its Member of Parliament for North Kashmir and the State's Finance Minister". Highlighting the handling of situation in the aftermath of killing of Wani, the National Conference leaders said when there was a need for dealing the situation in a political and humane manner, the situation was further compounded by contradictory statements by Ministers and elected representatives belonging to the ruling dispensation. "While senior PDP Leader and Member of Parliament Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig has blamed 'internal rivalry' within certain sections of the state Police for Wani's killing, another PDP Leader and State Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu has termed Burhan Wani's killing a case of custodial execution by the State Police while speaking in a Cabinet Meeting," the opposition delegation alleged. It said the judicial probe should also ascertain "if excessive force was used against protestors in the Valley with an aim to initiate legal proceedings in cases where excessive use of force is proven. Timely and visible action should be taken in such instances." It also sought immediate restoration of mobile communications in the Valley and mobile internet services, saying "any prolonged clampdown on the telecom sector in the present day and age is an archaic, unimaginative and draconian approach to deal with public dissent and anger." The memorandum said by blocking telecommunication with the "purpose of cracking down on criticism of the Government and growing dissent against the administration has resulted in untold miseries and suffering in the Valley". "The clampdown on mobile telecommunications in the Valley continues without any indication of restoration of services by the Government. This too has fuelled the sentiment of alienation and isolation in Kashmir," it said. The NC demanded the judicial probe to fix responsibility for the crackdown on newspaper offices and printing presses, claiming that now the Chief Minister has denied her Government's involvement in this repressive exercise. "Legal action should be initiated in this matter and the state Government should extend an unconditional, unequivocal apology to the local media for this unwarranted repression," the memorandum said. The NC also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister for promptly responding to Omar's appeal to send eye-specialists to the Valley to treat hundreds of cases of young men and women, who sustained "potentially handicapping, lethal injuries due to the unrestricted and wanton use of pellet guns on protestors." It sought all possible medical and financial assistance in the treatment of civilians who sustained grievous injuries, including specialised treatment outside the state. They also demanded a complete ban on 'non lethal' weapons that caused grievous, life-threatening and fatal injuries. While expressing strong condemnation of a "clear pattern" of excessive use of force on protestors across the Valley, the delegation informed the Home Minister that NC wasted no time in rising over partisan politics by reaching out to the state government "to lend our support to help and minimise the loss of young lives" despite having serious reservations about the state government's "inhumane, insensitive and chaotic response" to the situation in the Valley. The delegation informed the Home Minister that the party's working President Omar Abdullah had made a timely and prompt public appeal to the Chief Minister to lead a political effort to normalise the situation in the Valley. "It is tragic and condemnable that the Chief Minister and the State Government did not respond to this appeal and expression of support when a collective, bi-partisan effort could have helped in the non-negotiable goal of preventing the loss of lives," they said. Justifying its stand to boycott the All-Party Meeting, the delegation said the party did not want to be part of an elaborate "theatrical charade by the Chief Minister to compensate for her shocking lack of a sense of responsibility to deal with the situation in the State. "We remain committed to helping the aggrieved and affected people and also playing an active role in any over-arching effort to normalize the situation in the Valley." Maintaining that the PDP-BJP government had adopted a 'good cop-bad cop policy', the NC said on one hand state government spokesperson and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar went on record to re-affirm and justify the Government's media gag, on the other the Chief Minister, through her Advisor Amitabh Mattoo, sought to "deny the existence of the media gag while publicly and ironically promising action against those responsible for 'miscommunication' and 'misrepresentation'". "If this means possible action against the State Government's Spokesperson and Education Minister, or if this is just another elaborate enacting of the 'Good CopBad Cop' trick to isolate the Chief Minister from the ramifications of assaulting the media and curbing the fourth estate is a question that remains unanswered," it said. On the second day of his Kashmir visit on Sunday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met political leaders even as curfew continued in some areas of the state. He met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the council of ministers on Sunday. He also held a meeting with the CPI(M) delegation. Srinagar(J&K): Home Minister Rajnath Singh meets CM Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed & Council of Ministers pic.twitter.com/9xopCVx2VL ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Curfew remained imposed in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital. "Curfew is in force in four South Kashmir districts - Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. However, on Saturday, curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city on Saturday soon after Singh reached Kashmir. A delegation of the main opposition party, National Conference, met Singh on Sunday to convey their stand of initiating a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as the separatist groups of the state. In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centre's failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir "as a political problem which requires political engagement both internally and externally." We gave suggestions to control the situation in Kashmir: Omar Abdullah after meeting with HM Rajnath SIngh pic.twitter.com/gh7aBufX87 ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the Home Minister and apprised him of their problems. However, two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) decided not to meet Singh. According to them, such exercises in the past have proved to be futile. The KEA, in an open letter to the Home Minister, said while they could understand the urgency for his visit to Kashmir for assessing the situation, "we also can easily determine the futility of this exercise." KEA also accused union ministers of showing arrogance and hostility towards the people of the valley. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said it too has decided not to meet Singh during his visit as "no purpose will be served in attending any meeting when the killing of innocent people is unabated and scores of people continue to be injured in the pellet/bullet gun fire." The MHA release said that on the first day of his visit to Srinagar, Singh met about 15 delegations including those of Sikh community, Kashmiri Pandits, youths, Tourism and Hospitality industry and entrepreneurs, besides several individuals. The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress also decided not to meet Singh, saying the PDP-BJP coalition government seems to be "interested in meetings only" and not in any people-friendly steps. Singh, according to official sources, however, met some delegations including civil society members and leaders of some mainstream political parties. He also met top civil and security officials. He also met the civil society delegation at Baramullah border area to review the law and order situation in Kashmir. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Aza, who initiated the debate in the Parliament over the Kashmir issue said on Sunday, "We only demand for all party meeting in Delhi. Curfew in Kashmir hasn't ended even after 16 days." We only demand for all party meeting in Delhi, even after 16 days curfew in Kashmir hasn't ended: GNAzad, Cong pic.twitter.com/YK2of2580w ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 After the furore over the violence in Kashmir on the first day of the monsoon session of the Parliament, Singh had said that he would visit the state and stay in a guest house to talk to people from all walks of life. This move by the Central government soon after the Parliament session began can be seen as much needed but calculated. Singhs visit might quell the protests in both houses of the Parliament so that important bills can be discussed and passed. In an attempt to avoid Singhs visit seem like a political step, Singh ought to emphasise that the Centre backs Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, as David Devadas points out in this Firstpost piece. His conern must be the welfare, security, grief, medicial needs and provisions of Kashmiri people. He must also be watchful that he does not come across as overbearing. With inputs from agencies. Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested a 24-year-old youth from Parbhani district in Marathwada region for suspected Islamic State links. "Khan was arrested early today and around one kg of explosives and other instruments have been recovered from him," a senior ATS official told PTI. Prima facie, the explosives are low-grade explosives, the official said. Khan was also found to have used a car remote key for operating an IED, he said. ATS is also probing his suspected connections with global terror outfit Islamic State. Recently, 31-year-old Nasir Bin Yafi Chaus was arrested from Parbhani. Chaus was planning to join the Islamic State and was in constant touch with their members through social media. On Friday, 43-year-old Rizwan Khan, allegedly involved in recruiting youths for Islamic State, was arrested from Thane district in a joint operation by Kerala Police and the Maharashtra ATS as part of the probe in the southern state where several youths are suspected to have joined the terror group and headed to destinations abroad after being radicalised. Khan was picked up from his residence at Kalyan in Thane, within days of arrest of a man associated with Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of controversial preacher Zakir Naik, based on a complaint in Kerala. On 21 July, Kerala Police, assisted by Maharashtra ATS, arrested Arshi Qureshi, associated with IRF, from Navi Mumbai for allegedly radicalising youths. The Kerala police traced Qureshi to Mumbai following a complaint lodged in Kochi by the brother of a young woman, suspected to have joined the Islamic State along with her husband and left the state. Ebin Jacob (25), brother of Merin alias Mariam who is missing along with her husband Bestin Vincent alias Yahia from Kerala, had told Palarivattom police in Kochi that there was an attempt to forcibly convert him to Islam and make him join Islamic State, and that Bestin and Qureshi were behind it. Based on this, the Kerala police slapped charges under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on the duo and booked them under sections of the IPC. At least 21 youths from Kerala were reported missing and suspected to have joined Islamic State. Apprehensions grew over the fate of the missing Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft AN-32, which went missing on Friday with 29 people onboard, as search teams were yet to find any trace of the plane. Even as efforts intensified on Saturday over the Bay of Bengal, the odds of finding the missing aircraft or its debris is about 50 per cent, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (Incois) that is providing coordinates for the search and rescue operation told The Times of India. The Russian-made workhorse of the IAF went missing soon after taking off from Tambaram air base for Port Blair, a distance of 1,400 km. It last made radio contact at 8:46 am, 16 minutes after take-off. According to the report, the Incois group provided two triangles about 5,000 sq km and about 9,000 sq km over which the search could be done. The areas start 217 km from the Chennai coast and extend till 373 km away at the closest search point. There is a 50 per cent probability of finding the aircraft. The combing operations would be intensified in the area before moving on to the 9,000 sq km area. Furthermore, they estimated clues that could be found within 25 km from its last known position and time. It was, however, uncertain if the aircraft flew further or fell into the sea from that position. They have also considered factors like the speed of the plane, direction and height at which it was flying on the location. Another report by India Today said that the pilot had requested for a deviation from the designated route to avoid unpleasant weather and turbulence. A demonstration of search and rescue ops launched by Indian Navy and Coast Guard for missing IAF AN-32 plane pic.twitter.com/uZHNBNhYaU ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Citing an ATC source, the report said that the pilot had requested a right turn, but radar reports show that after the turn, the aircraft moved left again and started losing altitude rapidly. The ATC didn't receive any 'Mayday' call thereafter. However, weather department officials on Saturday said that there was no chance of the AN-32 plane getting lost in a cyclone over the Bay of Bengal. "The weather was as usual. There was no low pressure or cyclone over the Bay of Bengal. It is the south-west monsoon season," weather department officials said. 48 hours on, search operations underway Personally monitoring the operation, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reviewed the utilisation of assets and resources to find the plane even as he instructed that more resources could be diverted for the purpose if necessary, defence sources said. The Defence Ministry in a statement said Parrikar was briefed about the challenges of undertaking SAR under monsoon conditions with heavy rain, cloud cover, rough sea condition and most importantly depths of over 3,500 metres in the area. He was also briefed about future plans involving additional ships and a submarine that were heading for the area to join in the operation. The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre at Chennai has been coordinating round the clock surveillance towards search effort along with Southern Air Command of IAF, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The search team is now seeking satellite imagery to find any clue of the plane that lost contact over the Bay of Bengal. According to officials, there were no sightings of any plane debris floating in the sea. "Planes are designed to fly even during an emergency. There will be reaction time to the pilots facing an emergency to send out messages for help or turn towards safety," an Indian defence forces pilot said. According to the pilot, an AN-32 aircraft will not drop down like a stone or vanish into thin air in the case of normal emergency, as there will be reaction time. "But in the case of a catastrophic threat, the pilots will not have the necessary reaction time," he said. An aircraft will not always be on the radar, he noted. On the probable cause of the aircraft vanishing suddenly, he said: "The possibilities of different catastrophic events happening in the sky cannot be ruled out. For example, if an aircraft is caught in a strong thunderstorm, then a plane is as good as a paper caught in the storm. The storm will throw the plane like a stone," he said. The other catastrophic events that can happen to a plane were sudden failure of all the engines, a devastating fire, fuel leakage, jamming of flight controls, loss of flight controls due to fire, power and electrical failure among others. He said in the best case scenario if the AN-32 had come down gradually then it would have been picked up by some radar or the pilots would have the time to react. Normally a plane is fuelled taking into account the emergency deviations that may arise: The need to return to the airport from where it took off or to some other nearby airport in case of an emergency, he added. There were 11 personnel from the IAF including a lady officer, two from the Army, one from the Coast Guard and nine from the navy which included some from its armament depot. The incident comes a year after a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft with three crew members on board for a routine surveillance flight went missing. The search team found its black box nearly a month later. The skeletal remains and personal belongings of the crew members were recovered from the seabed off the Tamil Nadu coast. With inputs from agencies The search for the missing Antonov AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) continued on Saturday with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar flying down to Tamil Nadu to personally monitor the operations but no trace of it was found till late evening. The search continued with more assets being pulled in, even as the rough seas posed a challenge. The AN-32 transport aircraft with 29 people on board went missing on Friday over the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast. Visited Arakkonam today to monitor search ops for IAF AN 32. Max resources in use by IAF, Navy, Coast Guard in difficult weather conditions. Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) July 23, 2016 Indian Air Force (IAF) spokesman Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said that no signs of the missing aircraft were found so far. "The search operations are continuing but we have not found any signs of the missing aircraft yet," he said. Meanwhile, the Indian space agency said it will be using its Radar Imaging Satellite that can see through the clouds to locate the missing plane. "We will be using Radar Imaging Satellite to locate the missing aircraft. The satellite can take pictures both during the day and night. It can see through the clouds," Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman A S Kiran Kumar said in Chennai. Defence Minister Parrikar flew down to Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, and flew on a P8I maritime surveillance aircraft, accompanied by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Eastern Naval Command chief, Vice Admiral H C S Bisht to review the search operation. Chennai: Aircrafts launched for SAR ops for missing IAF AN-32 return to Tambaram air base due to low visibility pic.twitter.com/UKyYIwFqXR ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 Arakkonam has Indian Navy's base INS Rajali, around 70 km from the IAF base in Tambaram from where the AN-32 has taken off. "Defence Minister reviewed the situation and utilisation of assets and resources and has directed that if necessary more resources be diverted to the effort," said a defence ministry officials. "The Minister was appraised of the difficult conditions under which the operations are being carried out during the last 24 hours. The sea is very choppy and there is thick cloud cover in the area," the official said. Parrikar has directed all top officials to be in touch with the families of those who were on board and provide them information that may be required. SAR underway. Big challenge is weather &low visibility-Wing Commander ABanerjee, IAF PRO on missing IAF AN -32 plane pic.twitter.com/SEqHo9x63i ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 A statement from Indian Navy said the minister was briefed about the challenges of undertaking SAR under monsoon conditions with heavy rain, cloud cover, rough sea condition and most importantly, depths of over 3,500 metres in the area. He was also briefed about future plans involving additional ships and submarine that were heading for the area to join in the search operations. The IAF has deployed two C-130 aircraft equipped with electro-optical and infra-red sensors. Indian Navy P8I aircraft equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar along with Dorniers are also taking part in this operation. Indian Navy has deployed 13 ships in the search area and is being assisted by six ships of Indian Coast Guard and merchant vessels in the area. A demonstration of Search & Rescue ops launched by Indian Navy for IAF AN-32 plane which went missing, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/4RAMVbPcSA ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 A submarine was also deployed for the task. "The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre at Chennai has been coordinating round the clock surveillance towards search effort along with Southern Air Command of IAF, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard," an official statement said. Navy Spokesperson D K Sharma said the operations will continue throughout the day. Another challenge remains the fact that the last position of the aircraft is not known. The aircraft, an upgraded AN-32 belonging to 33 Squadron, took off from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai at 8.30 am, and was expected to land at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.30 am, officials said, describing it as a "routine sortie". Those on board included six crew members, 15 personnel from the IAF, army, navy and Coast Guard, and eight civilians who were family members of the personnel. IAF AN-32 aircraft missing: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar being briefed onboard the P8I aircraft pic.twitter.com/AiNecq4m9D ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 Eight of the passengers were employees of Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Visakkhapatnam. Their families are worried over the fate of their loved ones and are anxiously waiting for some information from the ongoing search operations. The recorded transcript of Chennai air traffic radar showed last pickup of the aircraft was 151 nautical miles east of Chennai, when the aircraft was observed to have carried out a left turn with rapid loss of height from 23,000 feet. The search and rescue operation by Indian Navy and Coast Guard, which went on through the night, continued on Saturday and more assets were deployed. The AN-32 is a twin engine turboprop, medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin. It can carry a maximum load of around 6.7 tonne or 39 paratroopers. Its maximum cruise speed is 530 km per hour. An Indian defence forces pilot, who did not want to be identified, said that planes are designed to fly even during an emergency and "an AN-32 aircraft will not drop down like a stone or vanish into thin air in the case of normal emergency, as there will be reaction time but in the case of a catastrophic threat, the pilots will not have the necessary reaction time". Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar being briefed on search ops of missing IAF AN-32 at Naval Air station INS Rajali pic.twitter.com/wcZWULvN9i ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 This incident comes a year after a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft with three crew members on board for a routine surveillance flight went missing. The search team found its black box nearly a month later. The skeletal remains and personal belongings of the crew members were recovered from the sea bed off the Tamil Nadu coast. India bought 125 AN-32 aircraft in 1984. The IAF at present has a fleet of over 100 AN-32s. The Russian-origin aircraft is known for its excellent take-off characteristics in hot and high conditions, and is suitable for use as a medium tactical military transport. The twin-engine aircraft is primarily used for transporting cargo and passengers, including skydivers and paratroopers. After India decided in 2009 to get the aircraft upgraded, 40 were upgraded in Ukraine and the rest in the country. The final batch of upgraded AN-32RE aircraft was delivered last year, and the modifications have increased the life of these aircraft by 15 years to serve till 2035, according to experts. However, the modernisation programme in India was hit by the situation in Ukraine and shortage of spare parts. With inputs from agencies New York An Indian-origin woman's 2015 foeticide conviction has been overturned by a US court in connection with her botched, self-induced abortion, with legal experts suggesting the landmark verdict could play a crucial role in future cases of abortions and foeticide. The Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday overturned the 20-year prison sentence of Purvi Patel, the Northern Indiana woman. In a 3-0 ruling, the judges said that the state foeticide statute was not intended to apply to abortions, a report in Indianapolis Star said. It cited legal experts as saying that barring a successful appeal the decision should give Indiana prosecutors pause before bringing similar charges against pregnant women in the future. The report said in its decision, the court relied heavily on how prosecutors have applied the foeticide law in the past, noting that this case was an "abrupt departure" from its typical cases in which a pregnant woman and her unborn child are the victims of violence. "The state's about-face in this proceeding is unsettling, as well as untenable" under prior court precedent, Judge Terry Crone said in the ruling. The ruling however did not clear Patel of any criminal responsibility and upheld a lower-level felony neglect conviction against Patel for failing to provide medical care to the baby, who medical experts testified was alive and breathing after birth. Patel was arrested when she sought treatment at a local hospital for profuse bleeding after delivering a boy in a bathroom and putting his body in a dumpster behind her family's restaurant. Court records show she bought abortion-inducing drugs from an online pharmacy. Patel, who was 32 at the time, used the drugs because she feared her family would discover she had been impregnated by a married man, according to court documents cited in the report. Patel had initially faced 20 years in jail and legal experts had said at the time that the sentence for foeticide and neglect of a dependent added up to one of the most severe penalties an American woman has faced for aborting her own pregnancy. The report cited experts as saying that the decision contains the strongest language yet drawing a legal distinction between illegally performed abortions and feticide. "If it's not appealed to the Supreme Court, I think it should give Indiana prosecutors pause before bringing any feticide charges against pregnant women," said Kate Jack, an Indiana-based attorney who provides local counsel for the National Advocates for Pregnant Women. "Im not willing to say the issue is 100 percent closed, but I do think it will really give pause." Abortion rights advocates also cheered the feticide ruling but said that upholding the felony conviction sent a "mixed message" for women and threatened to create a "dangerous divide" between doctors and patients. "The research is clear. If pregnant people fear criminal consequences, they don't go to the doctor," said Shelly Dodson, director of All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center in the report. "... The state of Indiana is sending a clear message to anyone who is or might be pregnant that 'you don't deserve help, you don't deserve support you deserve jail.'" Barring an appeal, the case now returns to a lower court for sentencing on the simple felony neglect charge, which carries a maximum sentence of three years, the report said. On 26 October, 1947, VP Menon was joined at his Delhi residence by the then British deputy High Commissioner for a drink. Menon, who had just returned from Srinagar, poured out a stiff drink, smiled and exulted: "We have Kashmir. The bas...d signed the Act of Accession. And now that we have got it, we will never let it go." This incident, narrated by authors Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre in Freedom at Night should be enough to remind Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the futility of his dream of seeing Kashmir become part of Pakistan some day. "Waiting for the day Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan," Sharif said while celebrating his party's victory in elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Menon, the brilliant ICS officer who helped Sardar Patel put hundreds of princely states in India's basket, had prophesied on that fateful October day that India will never let Kashmir go. Six decades of futile Pakistani efforts, including three wars, suggest Sharif's dream is inspired by a famous Indian TV serial starring Raguvir Yadav. Sharif has a long list of people to blame for his unrequited love for the Vale. He can, for instance, blame Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who, in a fit of madness, decided to send tribals from the frontiers to invade Kashmir after the Maharaja denied his request for a vacation in the Valley. He can blame the atavistic Pathans, who, in spite of having the option of invading Srinagar without firing a shot, decided to loot Muzzafarabad and rape the nuns of Baramulla, giving Indian Army precious time to secure the airport at Srinagar. Sharif can blame Cyril Radcliffe too, who, decided to award Gurdaspur, a Muslim majority town to India, and thus the only road link to Kashmir. Or, Sharif can curse the turn of events that allowed Menon to return to Delhi on 26 October with the Instrument of Accession in his pocket. But, Kashmir, Sharif should be convinced by now, would remain where Menon promised while pouring out a celebratory drink on the night Pakistan lost it forever. Till Jinnah ordered the tribal invasion of Kashmir, misled perhaps by events that led to Junagadh's integration with India, there was a theoretical possibility of the Valley going to Pakistan. This was evident from the stance Patel had reportedly taken on the disputes that rose from the decision of Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad to not accede to either of the two countries even after 15 August. Several scholars have suggested that Patel was willing to consider Pakistan's claim if it gave up Junagarh and Hyderabad. In his book, Patel, A Life, scholar Rajmohan Gandhi reports Patel's speech at the Bahauddin College in Junagadh, where the home minister said: "If Hyderabad does not see the writing on the wall, it goes the way Junagadh has gone. Pakistan attempted to set off Kashmir against Junagadh. When we raised the question of settlement in a democratic way, they (Pakistan) at once told us that they would consider it if we applied that policy to Kashmir. Our reply was that we would agree to Kashmir if they agreed to Hyderabad." But, the moment Jinnah decided to send tribals under the leadership of Major Khurshid Anwar to invade Kashmir, and then dispatched his soldiers guised as Pathans to fight the Indian army, Pakistan lost the argument and the Valley. As Patel used to say, possession is 90 per cent of the law. Pakistan failed to get anything out of the 1965 war it fought with India. In 1972, it signed the Simla accord and agreed to a status-quo and bilateral resolution of the dispute. Since then, nothing has changed that entitles Sharif to a walk through Srinagar's Nishat Bagh or drink from the founts of Chashm-e-Shahi. Pakistan doesn't have the military might to split India. Its proxy war, as history proves, lacks the firepower to melt India's resolve. And there is no way India will surrender its rights over Kashmir, especially in a global scenario dominated by huge security concerns, Islamic terror and China's rising ambitions of China in the region. Allowing a Muslim-majority territory on the northern border to become a hotbed of Chinese, Pakistani, Afghan and Islamic State interference would be a political disaster. The fate of Bangladesh and Pakistan, both home to terror, has forever ruled out the possibility of another Islamic country in the region. Though pro-Pakistan sloganeering and flag-waving is common in Kashmir, it is doubtful if Kashmiris actually want to become part of Pakistan, especially in its current avatar. In 2014, while on his first visit to the Valley, BBC's Owen Bennett Jones wrote: "If a foreign journalist asks you how many people in the Kashmir Valley support union with Pakistan, off the record you say 25% but on the record you adjust the number down to 10%." It is true Kashmiris dream of azaadi, a future that was promised to them by Dogra ruler Hari Singh before Jinnah forced his hand. But their loyalty towards Pakistan is grossly exaggerated, more propaganda than reality. For all practical purposes, a workable solution to the Kashmir problem will have to be worked out between the people of Kashmir and the Indian government. Pakistan would, of course, never agree to anything that shatters its dream of possessing Kashmir, and that would ensure longevity of the dispute. Pakistan's unrealistic dream that is destined to remain unfulfilled, and thus remain a source of trouble, makes it imperative for India to win over Kashmiris through dialogue and peace initiatives. Though armchair hardliners in India argue that Kashmiris will never accept India's presence in the Valley, deride them as jihadis, they forget that for several years after Independence, Kashmir remained calm and quiet', even if the desire for azaadi simmered below the surface. Even the first decade of this millennium was comparatively quiet and calm, suggesting a return to normalcy. In 1947, when Jinnah dispatched his tribals to Srinagar, he assumed their presence would trigger a revolt within Kashmir. Muslims of the Valley, he erroneously believed, would support the Pakistani invasion and drive out the Indian army. India's challenge now is to ensure that its own follies in Kashmir do not alienate Kashmiris enough to inspire someone in Pakistan to embark on another misadventure. Only rank stupidity, rigidity, continued oppression, suppression of rights and over-reliance on guns by the Indian state has the potential to fulfil Sharif's dream. And negate Menon's prophesy. Baku, Azerbaijan, July 24 Trend: Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani over the terror attack in Kabul. "We were deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and injuries as a result of a horrible terror attack committed in the capital of your country. We are outraged by this horrifying terror attack and consider it necessary and important to carry out a joint and resolute fight against terrorism,"- President Aliyev said in a letter of condolences. "On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed and the whole people of Afghanistan, and wish those injured the soonest recovery. May Allah rest the souls of those who died in peace!"- said President Aliyev. First there was a sound of a thud, like something dropping on the floor. Those present in the home even heard someone lunging at the latch of the bathroom. But no one got worried, everyone ignored the rustling sound coming from the bathroom. Indian door latches often turn rusty and refuse to work in a single turn. But when Gaurav Tiwari did not emerge from the bathroom for almost an hour and there was no sound of the flowing tap, nor ruffling sounds of pushing water from body, his wife knocked the door. She knocked one, twice, thrice. And then, she, Arya Kashyap, peeped through the window glass of the bathroom and screamed. A neighbour heaved at the door, almost fell inside by the impact. Pandemonium prevailed in the house. Indias most well known ghost buster was on the floor, sweating profusely, eyes protruding, gasping for breath. The family members did not notice a deep black mark on his neck, they had to rush him to the hospital. An hour-and-a-half later, Tiwari breathed his last, even before the doctors could put him on the ventilator. It was on the morning of 7 July 2016. A fortnight later, cops are now suspecting a case of homicide, pooh-poohing the original theory floated by members of Tiwaris Paranormal Society of India that the death was the handiwork of some evil forces. But still, the cops and the doctors have not been able to offer an concrete answer about the black mark on Tiwaris neck. Such marks, Tiwari often narrated during dinner table conversations, are signs of revenge of spirits in distress. His family believed him at times, mostly ignored him. Arya did not even liked the ghost busting profession, she wanted her husband to wear a tie and suit and carry a leather case to a corporate office. But Tiwari would ignore everything and routinely leave home in the night. The Paranormal Society of India received over 250 mails regarding alleged existence of spirits at various homes across India, handled over 500 calls a day at their office in Dwarka on the western fringes of Delhi. Tiwari often cited the example of the American-British 1976 supernatural horror film, The Omen, to narrate such black line theories. The film also had examples of a photographer finding black lines appearing from nowhere in his photographs of a priest probing mysterious and ominous deaths. But the cops at the Dwarka Police Station are not buying such theories, a deputy commissioner has been pushed into the investigating team that has even started looking into the case of a possible murder. The cops have found enough information from friends of the family that Arya suspected her husband of infidelity. The two argued for almost two hours the day before Tiwaris death, said Ashok Singh, a sub inspector who looked into the case and did the first round of questioning. He further said Tiwari's father and wife were questioned for more than eight hours, both unable to offer answers narrating the sequence of event leading to Tiwaris death. Singh said the final word is still not out in the case that has forced Tiwaris outfit, the Paranormal Society of India to shut shop, reject mails and phone calls for over two weeks. His ghostbuster partners say they are saddened by the turn of events. The group has been in existence for over a decade and helped many resolve their problems which are, largely almost 98 percent psychological. The rest need cleansing, popularly known in the West as exorcism. Using electronic voice and image recorders and magnetic plates, Tiwari and his men would help purging of souls from homes plagued by mysterious events. They would visit unoccupied houses, graveyards, morgues, even vacant churches to see if ghosts exist. Very recently, they busted the myth of spirits in Bangarh, an abandoned fort in Rajasthan. Bulk of it is sheer hallucination, says Amit Singh, one of the active members of the group. Singh says methods adopted by Tiwari were extremely scientific. A recent case of the group cleansing a house of the spirit of a baby drew a huge response on YouTube. It was in South Delhi where a couple saw images of a baby girl fleetingly moving in and out of their living room and bedroom. The couple was scared, called Tiwari and after an arduous eight hour operation, the spirit was cleansed out of the home. We were investigating a suspected haunted house in West Delhis Janakpuri neighbourhood and Gaurav returned home around 0200 hours, says Singh. And then he was found dead the next day. Singh said Tiwaris first encounter with the paranormal was in his hotel room in Texas where he saw an apparition of a young girl. Tiwari was then training to be a commercial pilot in Texas in 2003. He eventually completed a Certified Paranormal Investigator course and traveled across the US to witness 80 spooky investigations. Tiwari, who set up the Indian Paranormal Society in 2009, visited over 6,000 ghoulish abodes across the world and shaped his research on the paranormal with a deep sense of empathy. Do not disrespect the dead, he would often tell us, said Singh. So who killed Tiwari? Ghosts, or someone who had sneaked into the bathroom and was waiting for him? The cops have no answer; Singh says he would not hazard a guess. Top Australian ghostbuster Allen Tiller, who worked with Tiwari for a television series Haunting: Australia took to Facebook to claim Tiwari had a heart attack. In a statement to the cops, Tiwaris father said his son told him I am feeling extremely uncomfortable for quite some time, I am being followed, I am being watched by someone who refuses to leave me." The cops ignored it. They say there is a tendency to become very preoccupied with putative demonic explanations and to see the devil everywhere. Sometimes, spirits leave negative impact in your home if they are disturbed, says Sashi Dubey, a practitioner of the occult in Delhi. Speaking from the US, Dubey said too much of interaction with spirits can always have its side effects. In the US, nearly one third of Americans claim to have experienced an encounter with the undead. Unlike in the US where 35 percent of respondents claim they have lived or are living in a place that is haunted, Indians have different theories about haunted homes. Some travel groups have even put together some creepy criteria to determine some of Indias most haunted homes in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and routinely take people for visits, some houses are even available to stay in overnight. Some houses have also been rebuilt to resemble the original, like DSouza chawl in Mumbai which was known to be a haunted place after a woman drowned in a well. Soumee Mitra, a celebrated fitness trainer in Kolkata who has studied about life after death says most stories about spirits in homes often turn out to be fake, but some are genuine. She personally experienced spirits at her ancestral home that was built on a graveyard. There would be someone heavily breathing close to you, someone would bang on your door, I would hear sounds of someone climbing up the stairs. But all of these were very, very momentary, happening mostly in the night. Entities that continuously wander in a place of their preference normally do not harm anyone, though I have heard cases where people were forced to commit suicide because of spirits, says Mitra, who has helped clergy from multiple denominations and faiths to filter episodes of mental illness representing the overwhelming majority of cases from, literally, the devils work. Sunlight, prayers have helped me ease them out, it's been tough, says Mitra. In Tiwaris case, only the father persists with the theory of numerous spirit sightings at home, all having occurred within five feet of his son. He spotted them, others didnt. No one is buying his theory, and the fact which Tiwari, if alive, would have propagated: That spirits he chased eventually got after him. At the Dwarka police station, there is no panic about Satanism, the cops seem convinced it is a case of suicide, unless proved otherwise. Mandla (MP): Legendary painter SH Raza was laid to rest at Madhya Pradesh's Binjhiya village on Sunday and was given a guard of honour by the Madhya Pradesh police. The acclaimed painter, who depicted concepts like "bindu", "purush-prakriti" and "nari" in his instantly recognisable geometric abstract works, passed away in New Delhi on Saturday after a prolonged illness. His body was brought to his hometown from the capital earlier on Sunday and was taken to the Shia Masjid and then to the Shahre Khamoshan graveyard in a procession. Enroute, people paid their last respect to Raza, who had wished to be buried in this tribal-dominated district where he once lived. Born in 1922 in Babaria in Mandla to a forest ranger father, Raza took to drawing at the age of 12. After high school, he enrolled at the Nagpur School of Art (193943), followed by the JJ School of Art in Mumbai (194347), before moving to Paris to study (1950-1953). He was awarded the Padma Shri and Fellowship of Lalit Kala Akademi in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013. Raza, credited for popularising Indian concepts and iconography, had built a towering legacy of modern art. He lived most of his life in France, and was conferred the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur, the highest French honour for his artistic contribution, in 2015. He was a co-founder of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group together with greats like FN Souza, KH Ara, MF Husain, HA Gade, SK Bakre and others. His demise was mourned by a string of artists and connoisseurs of art. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had both expressed grief over his death. In her message, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had described the artist's death as a huge loss for the world of art and the country. It is difficult to believe that so much wisdom can be packed in such a small book containing three essays written by Romila Thapar, AG Noorani and Sadanand Menon. This book is a timely and much needed intervention in the on-going debate on the concept and nature of Indian nationalism. As an aggressively competing version of Hindutva-based nationalism is being assiduously promoted by the ruling dispensation at the Centre and in many a state, it becomes absolutely necessary to reflect on the kind of nationalism India needs and Indians want. These essays fulfill this need, as they offer historical, legal and cultural perspectives. The blurb of the book lists questions that have been agitating our minds ever since the Hindutva forces began to gather strength in the mid-1980s and have acquired greater urgency during the past two years. What is nationalism and pseudo-nationalism? Who is an anti-national? What is patriotism? Is the shouting of nationalist slogans important to prove ones patriotism? Why is Bharat Mata ki Jai so important to the right wing? Why is cultural freedom important to a nation? What sort of India do we want? These questions have acquired a much sharper focus and a much greater urgency in the past two years as the RSS-BJP combine and its government at the Centre have started forcing their version of nationalism down the throat of the people of this country while placing a special emphasis on young students. This version, as Davidar notes, is exclusionary and militates against the idea of India. Over the past decades, Romila Thapar, the pre-eminent historian of early India, has emerged as an influential public intellectual. Her essay 'Reflections on Nationalism and History' is a tour de force. Tracing the roots of Indian nationalism that was essentially anti-colonial and secular, she points out that religious nationalism, both Muslim and Hindu, has played a marginal role in the anti-colonial movement that resulted in India gaining independence. Both of them were busy attacking each other so as to establish an Islamic and a Hindu state. She also analyses and explains the changes that took place in the writing of Indian history and how the anti-colonial, secular nationalism influenced it. On the other hand, Hindu nationalism (or communalism) viewed Indian past through the lenses of colonial historians. Both the two-nation theory and the theory of Aryan origins are rooted in the nineteenth-century colonial interpretation of Indian history, she says. Underlining the contrast between religion-based nationalism and African nationalism, she shows how the latter, on account of being inclusive, was a positive movement that crafted a black identity and united black peoples of various countries. However, in contemporary India, the meaning of nationalism can be very different for upper castes and Dalits and Adivasis. Thapar points out the irony when caste Hindus today speak of their supposed victimisation by Muslims for a thousand years, do they pause and think of the tyranny to which they subjected Dalits and Adivasis for over two millennia? We are faced with a choice today: Should we shout trite slogans prescribed by political leaders to prove our nationalist credentials or should we strive to make a society which stands for secular democratic values and cares for every citizen? In his essay titled 'Nationalism and Its Contemporary Discontents in India', distinguished lawyer and prolific writer AG Noorani looks at the law dealing with sedition and the origins of the slogan of "Bharat Mata ki Jai". He goes into the details of how this law was made and used by British colonial rulers against the Indian people, how it was first deleted and later incorporated into the Indian Constitution and how it was misused in independent India. The latest was the case of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Noorani offers a detailed case study of this law of sedition and comes to the conclusion that no minister or executive officer has any right to pronounce on the guilt of a citizen, as Home Minister Rajnath Singh did on the occasion of the student protests in Jawaharlal Nehru University in February 2016.That right belongs to the courts. He calls for launching of an organised campaign against the law of sedition (which is sought to be saved by reforming it) and BJP style McCarthyism (anti-national), and for the autonomy of universities. Basing his analysis on Chetan Bhatts Hindu Nationalism: Origins, Ideologies and Modern Myths and BR Purohits Hindu Revivalism and Indian Nationalism, Noorani explains how the Hindutva nationalists Bharat Mata is a devotional rendering of the Mother Goddess as equivalent to the geographical territory of Akhand Bharat (Undivided India). It is the same deity that has been depicted in Bankims Vande Mataram. One could mention here that there have been studies that have shown how the image of Bharat Mata has evolved pictorially and in most of the Hindutva literature, it is difficult to distinguish it from that of Durga. Bharat Mata is not merely the motherland. It is a divine entity. Noorani too comes to the conclusion that the only nationalism we should espouse is the Indian nationalism so that liberal, democratic traditions of this country could flourish. Well known cultural commentator Sadanand Menon opens his essay 'From National Culture to Cultural Nationalism' reminding us of Rabindranath Tagores novel Gora which contains long debates over the concept of nationalism. Tagore had described nation as the greatest evil because its teaching was that a country is greater than the ideals of humanity. He also quotes the great Kannada writer UR Ananthamurthy to make a point about multiple identities that an Indian carries and can arouse anyone of them on a particular occasion effortlessly. While culture and nationalism have always been allies, cultural nationalism is a different kettle of fish as it strives to define the political nation in narrow, restrictive and culturally monolithic and exclusionary terms. This Majoritarian nationalism is in reality a rogue nationalism which has brought India to a state of implosion. Menon offers rare insights into the way dance forms like Bharatanatyam that had their origins in subaltern classes or non-dominant communities were fumigated, deodorised, gentrified and de-eroticised. His analysis reminds one of a similar phenomenon that transformed the nature and practice of Hindustani art music in the 20th century and two Brahmins Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and Vishnu Digambar Paluskar played a key role in this. As information and broadcasting minister in Jawaharlal Nehrus cabinet, another Brahmin BV Keskar tried to finish the task by taking this puritanical movement forward. This was when overnight all the Bais were forced to become Devis and Begums. Menon discusses the recent trend of growing intolerance in all spheres of cultural life and the resistance offered to it by students, writers and artistic community. These three essays form an essential reading for anybody who cares to understand Indias past as well as present. On Nationalism is a must-read book. On Nationalism Romila Thapar, AG Noorani, Sadanand Menon Published in 2016 by Aleph Book Company, pages 162, price Rs 399 Reviewing a book within a week of its authors vindication in matters of freedom of expression by a court of the state, can be taxing. One of the main reasons is the undercurrent of privilege that comes to grip you as you take to a book, with connotations now extending beyond the literary. There is a politics to go with Perumal Murugans books now. And if it werent so, perhaps this star of Tamil literature, who has earned himself a national reputation as well, would have gone unnoticed. Pyre, translated from the Tamil original Pookkuzzhi by Murugans dedicated translator Aniruddhan Vasudevan has got more to do with a rural setting and the tenuous yet tempting pull of its politics, than it has to do with the art of storytelling. Pyre is the story of Kumaresan and Saroja, who in thrall of their mutual love give into the ghost of inter-caste marriage and are braced to reap the nightmare that is to follow in terms of social acceptance. Kumaresans mother, Marayi, is bitter, temperamental and in her relentlessness to find the higher of two grounds with the couple, supremely regimental. Murugan is more of a simplifier than he is a writer who attempts to cajole the reader by scoring mystique or reclusiveness on part of his characters. His people often speak plainly, in a tone almost always detached from vitality of reason. When the couple arrives in Kumaresans home village, there is no shortage of stigma-inspired vitriol to throw around and Saroja, in the dank setting of a destitute village, finds herself and her faith in humanity shaken. Murugan, in his enviable ability to liven the village scene, brings out his usual toolbox. Scenes shift between fields and rocks to yet more hardship and acreage belted at midday by the sun and the many misgivings of a people strained by unreason. The hardships of village life, the oddball tastes, and eccentricities, and the very matter-of-act way of speaking is the entitled, rather than intended spine of the novel. That said there is very little in terms of character to study into. Kumaresan is flat and almost annoyingly optimistic. He rarely reacts or utters a word that is not hamstrung with cause or caution. Marayi is painfully one-dimensional and at times bafflingly filled with ubiquitous hate. Given that these are characters born out of illiteracy and a stifling rural decadence, there is still a point where self-evaluated remorse comes in. Add to that the paucity of emotion for these characters to show other than the one they seem to have been appointed to: hate for Marayi, fear for Saroja and magnanimousness for Kumaresan. Kumaresan, in his romantic witlessness goes from person to person, and village to village, with the undying streak of hope burning inside him, the smoke from which nauseates his wife Saroja, constantly petrified and unsure of her immediate decisions and choices. The two are castigated, not just by Kumaresans mother, but also by his uncles and by the village. Murugan tries to mix the narrative, at times travelling in time to when the two met, to tell us how their love flowered etc, which reads as a soapy, yet tender attempt to infuse some kind of terminable affection for the story, which is otherwise an exercise in contempt in most parts. Even if rural areas have come to be the setting for such brawn identities, there is no reason why a pothole of surfeit wit or the irregularities of disaffection cannot surface for the reader to tie the strings of this narrative with care. For the urban reader persuaded by the egregious directness of village life as compared to the duplicity of urban dwelling mostly because they havent experienced it themselves Murugan is well placed to harness the vacuum and paint an image, both alien and exotic at the same time, and also seem convincing in doing so. But for someone who has made his way across that bridge, the image is rife with irregularities, and at times smudged by obsequious devotion to the art of saying rather than listening and more importantly feeling. Then there is the issue of translation, and an endless debate whether what gets said, is eventually said as had been intended to. For there are eyebrow-raising lines like: The braided bucket that was sunk low into the well would swell up with water like a pregnant woman and come back up. Considering that misogyny is a condiment that makes the selectively permissive Indian village tick, in a landscape far removed from educated reform, one still has to pause and wonder if this is the unintended consequence of supplying an idea with the uni-flow of contemptuous glee. Would Salman Khan get away with saying something like this, whatever the context? Murugan is defiant in his inclination to anchor his books around the atrocity that is caste and class segregation in rural India. And to be fair to him, there is enough to suggest that he doesnt shy away. But while he has the right ideas, and the suspect depths of forbidden love to draw from, he does so painstakingly, at times reducing people to pragmatic opponents at the table of a debate that deserves its own ponderous silences, but isnt given any. New Delhi: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of having "anti-women character" after its Okhla legislator Amanatullah Khan was arrested for threatening a woman. "This party (AAP) has anti-women character and is filled with criminal minded people who don't respect women," said BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay. "And when police arrested their party legislators and carried on its work, then (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal tweets saying that Modiji's police is arresting its MLA," Upadhyay said. "Should police leave its role of maintaining law and order in Delhi? Should police allow lawlessness in the capital and allow jungle raj?" Upadhyay added. The BJP leader attacked the AAP after its legislator from south Delhi's Okhla constituency Amanatullah Khan was arrested on charges of threatening a woman of dire consequences. A case was registered at the Jamia Nagar police station against the AAP legislator on 20 July under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. Hitting out at the AAP, Upadhyay said, "The complainant is a member of AAP and in her complaint she has said she was threatened with dire consequences. This kind of people come out of Amanatullah Khan's residence who threaten and socially abuse the woman, who had gone to his residence to lodge her complain." "Today the women of Delhi are not safe on streets. Even the wives of their MLAs do not feel safe at their home, whether it is the case of Manoj Kumar or Somnath Bharti. And the example of AAP supporter Soni committing suicide is in front of all," Upadhyay added. On Sunday, Delhi police arrested Aamanatullah Khan, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Okhla, after a woman alleged she was harassed by a youth at the legislator's residence in southeast Delhi's Jamia Nagar area, police said. However according to a report by The Indian Express, the party claimed that the complainant was pressurised to record a false statement. We have arrested the legislator today (Sunday) morning as the complainant again informed the police that he was threatening her and also trying to manipulate the evidences, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Rajeev Ranjan. We will produce him in court today, the officer added. The 35-year-old woman, a resident of Jasola, filed a case against Khan on 20 July for allegedly threatening her with dire consequences. The police said that the complainant had also accused the AAP leader of attempting to run her over with his car. A case was registered against the legislator under Sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi, the officer said. The alleged incident took place on 10 July, when the complainant went to the residence of the AAP MLA in South Delhi's Batla House locality after a telephonic conversation with him to complain about poor electricity supply in the area. The complainant claimed the minister did not meet her and while she was returning, the youth came out of the house, abused her and threatened her that she would die if she did not stop politicising the matter. The complainant alleged that she was abused on "Khan's orders." However Aamanatullah said he did not even know if the woman came to his residence. He also said that the day the complainant alleged Khan threatened her, he was away in Meerut. After the arrest Khan's supporters gathered outside the Jamia Nagar police station to protest his arrest. Due to a few discrepancies in the statements given by the complainant, party workers are alleging that the accusations are false. AAP also released a video footage and transcript of a conversation where the complainant is heard saying that 'the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station asked her to add allegations of threats on raping and killing her in the FIR. Watch how SHO forced complainant to put rape allegations against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan.https://t.co/s8OKp1UdJv AAP Delhi Official (@aapdelhincr) July 23, 2016 The video also shows the involvement of the BJP workers in the complaint filed by the woman. Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the AAP, reacted to the incident on Twitter, alleging that the Modi government is setting up the AAP workers. Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 In a statement, the AAP Delhi unit convener alleged, Instead of worrying about the security of the common man, police are busy framing AAP MLAs in false cases. Instructions are being given directly by the Union Home Ministry and the Prime Ministers Office to police to target AAP leaders. One after the other, MLAs are being targeted to avenge the BJPs defeat in the assembly elections." The BJP also attacked the AAP, accusing it of having "anti-women character" after Khan was arrested for threatening the woman. "This party (AAP) has anti-women character and is filled with criminal minded people who don't respect women," said BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay. Earlier in the month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Delhi governments principal secretary to the chief minister, Rajendra Kumar, along with four other persons for misuse of power and position in granting favours to a private company. Rajendra Kumar was appointed the principal secretary (PS) to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in February 2015. With inputs from agencies Two Aam Aadmi Party legislators have been arrested in the last 12 hours in the national capital, resulting in fresh confrontations between the Delhi government and the Centre. In all, 11 AAP MLAs have been arrested in Delhi on various charges. On Sunday, the Punjab police arrested Naresh Yadav and charged him with desecrating the holy Quran in Punjab's Muslim-dominated town of Malerekotla last month. Police sources said that Yadav was arrested from Delhi and was being brought to Punjab where he will be produced in a court on Monday. "We arrested AAP MLA Naresh Yadav from his house in Delhi. He will be produced in a Malerkotla court on Monday," Punjab Police, IG (Patiala Zone), Paramraj Singh Umra Nangal, said. Yadav was arrested after Vijay Kumar, one of the original arrested accused in the desecration case, claimed that he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA. Yadav has been charged with sections 109 (punishment for abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295 (injury or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion of any class) of the Indian Penal Code. Before his arrest, Yadav had described the police action against him as a conspiracy. "When I had told the police that I was available for questioning any time, then why I am being arrested," he asked adding that the police procured the arrest warrant on the accusations of an "RSS man". The arrests have prompted the Aam Aadmi Party leadership to call it political vendetta, as it came just hours after the Delhi police arrested Aamanatullah Khan, another AAP legislator from Okhla. A woman had alleged that she was being harassed by a youth at the legislator's residence in southeast Delhi's Jamia Nagar area. A court remanded him to a one-day police custody. "We have arrested the legislator on Sunday morning as the complainant again informed the police that he was threatening her and also trying to manipulate the evidence," additional deputy commissioner of police (South East) Rajeev Ranjan told IANS. A 35-year-old woman had filed the complaint against Khan on 20 July for allegedly threatening her with dire consequences. A case was registered against the legislator under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi, Ranjan said. The alleged incident took place on 10 July, when the complainant went to the residence of the AAP MLA in South Delhi's Batla House locality after a telephonic conversation with him to complain about poor electricity supply in the area. The complainant claimed the minister did not meet her and while she was returning, the youth came out of the house, abused her and threatened her that she would die if she did not stop politicising the matter. The complainant alleged that she was abused on "Khan's orders." Refuting the charges, Khan on Saturday filed a counter-case and claimed that he was not even in Delhi when he is supposed to have threatened the woman. The AAP also released a secretly shot video of the woman on Saturday where she is heard saying she was told by the SHO to throw the rape charge at the legislator and said the complainant was acting under police pressure. Watch how SHO forced complainant to put rape allegations against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan.https://t.co/s8OKp1UdJv AAP Delhi Official (@aapdelhincr) July 23, 2016 According to a report by The Indian Express, the party claimed that the complainant was pressurised to record a false statement. With Inputs from Agencies Reacting to the arrest of its MLA Naresh Yadav on Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said AAP-ruled Delhi was locked in a "holy war" with the central government, like the "Kauravas and Pandavas", and dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stall the state's development. "He (Modi) could not digest his defeat. They have put all their agencies behind us but could not unearth a single act of corruption. It's a holy war akin to the war between Kauravas and Pandavas," Kejriwal said. The AAP chief warned the Prime Minister that if he "does not stop putting spanners", then BJP will meet the same fate in Punjab, Goa and Gujarat "like it did in Delhi" where its strength was restricted to just three MLAs. "Nripendra Mishra monitors all the files but has failed to find corruption. In the BRT corridor case, BJP even alleged that I pocketed Rs 15 crore, but failed to prove anything in this regard. I challenge Modiji to stop the development of Delhi. I challenge Narendra Modi to stop reforms being brought about by our education minister Manish Sisodia," he said. Yadav's was the second arrest to rock the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday, coming just hours after its MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested after a woman accused him of trying to run her down. Kejriwal had taken to social media to blast the Centre in this regard. Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 Why is Modi ji's police not arresting perpetrators or crime against women? https://t.co/QtnDPLpIQT Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 In a statement, the AAP Delhi unit convener alleged, "Instead of worrying about the security of the common man, police are busy framing AAP MLAs in false cases. Instructions are being given directly by the Union Home Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office to police to target AAP leaders. One after the other, MLAs are being targeted to avenge the BJP's defeat in the Assembly elections." Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP unit chief accused AAP of having "anti-women character". "This party has (an) anti-women character and is filled with criminal minded people who don't respect women," BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay told PTI. The BJP also demanded that Khan be booked for allegedly spreading communal disharmony with his "hate speech". "His (Khan's) arrest has happened too late. In fact the Delhi police should arrest him for spreading communal disharmony and for his hate speech during a Urdu Academy function earlier this year," PTI quoted Upadhyay as saying. Earlier in the month, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Delhi government's principal secretary to the chief minister, Rajendra Kumar, along with four other persons for misuse of power and position in granting favours to a private company. Southeast Asian nations were deadlocked Sunday about how to confront China's territorial claims in the South China Sea as pressure from Beijing again drove a wedge between countries on the region's toughest security challenge. Their gathering in the Laos capital is the first time regional players including China and the United States have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal delivered a hammer blow to Beijing's claim to vast stretches of the sea. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Asean boasts four countries who have competing claims with Beijing to parts of the sea, and is fiercely divided on the issue. Rival claimants have accused China of deftly forging alliances with smaller member countries like Laos, this year's host, and Cambodia through aid and loans to divide the once consensus-driven bloc. Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of Asean discord when countries swiftly disavowed a joint statement released by Malaysia after an Asean-China meeting. That statement had expressed alarm over Beijing's activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block it. Those divisions were on stark display once more in Vientiane on Sunday as regional foreign ministers met for talks. Insiders accused Cambodia of scuppering moves to include a response to the tribunal ruling in a joint Asean communique, which is usually issued at the end of the foreign ministers' meeting. "We need to put our house in order," one diplomat involved in discussions told AFP Sunday. "But we still have not agreed on anything." Another Asean diplomat added: "We remain deadlocked. We're back to the negotiating table." Laos described the initial meeting of foreign ministers as "candid and constructive" but by mid-afternoon there was little sign of a breakthrough. The main sticking point was over whether to refer to the international tribunal ruling and if so how, a Southeast Asia diplomat told AFP. Some countries are pushing to include a reference that urges all countries to fully "respect diplomatic and legal process", he said in line with statements released by the European Union, the US and Japan following the UN-backed decision. Other countries are opposing any mention of the ruling. Another diplomat said it was unlikely a statement would be issued on Sunday and if one was published in the coming days it would likely be "really watered down". Competing influence The impasse in Vientiane has led to fears of a repeat of a 2012 summit in Cambodia where the bloc failed to issue a joint statement for the first time in its history because of disagreements over the South China Sea. A failure by Asean to respond to the tribunal will do little to counter criticism that the bloc risks fading into obscurity as a talking shop with little real diplomatic clout. The UN tribunal ruling earlier this month infuriated Beijing but was a victory for the Philippines, which brought the case, and for fellow Asean members Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia who also claim parts of the South China Sea. The bloc's paralysis on how to respond comes as China ratchets up its rhetoric and military manoeuvres in the sea whilst hitting out at the US. Washington says it takes no position on the territorial disputes but argues for free sea and air passage through what it considers international waters. US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Laos on Monday morning. It is not yet clear whether he will meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who is also attending. A State Department official over the weekend said the US would push for participants to ease tensions over the South China Sea and find common ground. But Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin warned Asean against being influenced by outside powers, a clear rebuke to Washington. "They (Asean) should in particular guard against the intervention in regional cooperation by big powers outside the region," he said according to the Xinhua news agency. Asean boasts a diverse array of countries ranging from communist one-party states like Laos to the Islamic sultanate of Brunei, military junta-led Thailand and raucous democracies like Indonesia and the Philippines. Its ability to deal with Beijing is seen as a test of whether it can jointly confront other pressing regional challenges outside of trade. Stressing on the urgency of economic reforms vital for speeding India's growth and eradicating poverty former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the NDA government's 'mindset' is to be blamed for the lack of consensus on the reforms. "In its two years so far, the BJP-led government could have been steadfast in pushing the reforms process." Be it the GST (Goods and Services Tax) or Land Acquisition Bill, the differences among political parties have prolonged the passing of the legislations, Singh said in an interview to the Hindustan Times. Singh further said that if the ruling party's mission is to destroy the Congress, they cannot expect Congress to cooperate with them when they need the party. Thats a process which simply requires a different mindset from a mindset that says the governments mindset is to build a Congress-mukt India, he said. Twenty-five years ago, Singh, who was the then Finance Minister in Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's government, had presented a budget that changed the dynamics of the Indian economy from socialist to a market-driven. The GST Bill, which intends to convert 29 states into a single market through a new indirect tax regime, was earlier planned to be introduced from 1 April this year, but the deadline was missed as the legislation to roll it out remains in limbo due to the lack of consensus in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha. The government should put in efforts to deal with the social content of economic reforms. There is a need for social peace and commercial harmony, Singh said. Baku, Azerbaijan, July 25 Trend: 03:07 (GMT+4) Armed group seized the police building in Yerevan set fire to a police car and destroyed a drone July 25, Armenian media reported. 00:53 (GMT+4) The armed group seized the police building in Yerevan refused to lay down its arms and surrender July 25, TASS reported. Previously, members of the armed group set fire to a police minibus. The armed group seized the headquarters of the police and interior troops in Erebuni, Yerevan, July 17, demanding the release of the coordinator of the oppositional Armenian civil initiative Founding Parliament Zhirayr Sefilyan. New Delhi: The government is likely to list the much-delayed GST Bill for discussion in the Rajya Sabha this week after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley meets state finance ministers on Tuesday. Jaitley, who has been engaged in back-channel negotiations with Congress leaders to get the main opposition party on board, will discuss proposed amendments to the GST legislation passed by the Lok Sabha at the meeting of the empowered committee of state finance ministers. The meeting may take up changes as demanded by the Congress in the constitutional amendment Bill, including one for the scrapping of one percent additional tax in hands of the states, official sources said. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill will be listed for discussion in the Rajya Sabha after taking on board views of the states. On Friday, while listing out government business for the week beginning July 25, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha that the GST Bill will come up for discussion next week. "(This is for) further consideration and passing of the Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill, 2014, as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha," he said in the Upper House. The Congress, which originally mooted GST in 2009 to replace all indirect taxes, has been demanding that the overall rate be capped at 18 percent and scrapping of an additional 1 percent tax designed to compensate manufacturing states that fear losing out on revenue. It also wants an independent mechanism to resolve disputes between states over revenue sharing. While Jaitley has indicated his openness in scrapping the 1 percent additional tax after a panel headed by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian favoured it, the issue needs to be discussed with the manufacturing states. In order to mobilise support from regional parties for the long-pending indirect tax reform, Jaitley met Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and courted senior leadership of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the weekend. The government is counting on regional parties to push through the legislation in the Rajya Sabha. After meeting Jaitley last week, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar is backing the government's move of not putting the tax cap in the Constitution amendment Bill. The TMC and the BJD have already extended their support. Jaitley is also trying to get SP on board in this regard. The 1 percent additional tax on inter-state sales was proposed as manufacturing states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were of the view that after having spent money on putting up infrastructure, they would lose out on revenue as GST is more of a destination tax. GST would subsume all indirect taxes like excise, sales and service levies. In the new regime, there will be one Central GST or C-GST and State GST or S-GST. States levy sales tax or VAT on goods sold within their jurisdiction and get a Central Sales Tax (CST) on sales made outside their territories. This CST will no longer be available in the new regime and a 1 percent additional tax was proposed to make up for that. The GST Bill, which intends to convert 29 states into a single market through a new indirect tax regime, was earlier planned to be introduced from April 1 this year, but the deadline was missed as the legislation to roll it out remains in limbo in the Opposition-dominated Rajya Sabha. The government, which has agreed to a five-hour debate on the GST bill in the Rajya Sabha, is keen to get the law passed during the current Monsoon Session of Parliament that ends on August 12. In the 247-member Rajya Sabha, the Congress with 60 members is the single-largest party in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has 53 members. Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati appears as the least seriously taken politician in the country. The former vice-president of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Dayashankar Singh branded her a "prostitute" a few days ago. Once can also recall the case of BJP spokesperson Shaina NC, remarking in 2014 that she was confused if Mayawati was a he or she saying something only a sexist man would say but making it a hundred times more pathetic by being a woman. Setting aside the sexism and aesthetic requirements of no one less than Madhubala or Rakhi Sawant deserving to be the Prime Minister, Mayawati is perhaps the most hated politician in the eyes of the mainstream media and political class. The aforementioned comments were only a drop in the ocean of insults hurled at the BSP leader throughout her career. Certain female politicians, such as Sonia Gandhi and Shiela Dikshit of the Congress, Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) and Sushma Swaraj of the BJP, are treated as states(wo)manly enough to be regarded as major politicians in their own right having the agency to form their own views (nevermind that Sushma Swaraj threatened to shave her head if Sonia Gandhi became Prime Minister). Mayawati is not the typical elite English speaking politician. Other major female politicians, such as Jayalalithaa, Mayawati and Mamta Bannerjee are treated as loud troublemakers, branded Amma, Behenji and Didi respectively their agency reduced to all whim and no intellect, despite them being the autocratic heads of their respective parties. The overwhelming remainder of female politicians is, it is futile to disclose, treated as cattle that provide voice votes or press the roll call when required. I am sorry to say, the BJP has historically abetted that very culture of sexism that former HRD Minister Smriti Irani still complains about. The more assertive women have always been slandered, including Indira Gandhi. Strangely, the BJP forgets its sexism and its distaste for female agency when it comes to the borderline-illegal actions of Sadhvi Prachi, Sadhvi Pragya, Maya Kodnani and Vasundhara Raje. Mayawati, however, has been the subject of an altogether lower discourse at the hands of the political establishment and corporate media, as compared to any other female political leader. She has been the most powerful female leader of a non-Congress Party, and was the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh to complete a full five-year term. Unlike Jayalalithaa and Mamata Bannerjee, Mayawati is not a Brahmin, and only she has truly crusaded against Brahmanical male dominance the CPI(M) is also a Brahmin party in Bengal, and in Tamil Nadu the opposing DMK is the non-Brahmin party. One need only recall the Guest House incident in which Mayawati was attacked and threatened with rape and murder by Samajwadi Party activists that her defiance was seen as an altogether new level of blasphemous. By virtue of social origin, the political elite will always see Mayawati as an upstart. However, Mayawatis career, ideals and style of politics betray a completely different narrative to the one constructed by her powerful detractors. Unlike Ambedkar who spoke for all Dalits but was popular mostly among Mahars Kanshi Ram and Mayawati were able to garner the support of backward groups and scheduled communities beyond their own caste. They realised that scheduled seats in a general electorate did not empower Dalits as much in reality as on paper. In a reserved constituency, where candidates from each party are from the scheduled category, the upper caste vote decides the winner, which is in any case a party and not a candidate or community in that constituency. Being one of the harbringers of the coalition era, the BSP has an altogether different notion of political power as well as nation. They seek to win enough seats within a state to form a coalition or play kingmaker punching above their weight to have a seat at the table. They realised they did not need a brute majority to safeguard Dalit interests. In the 1930s, Ambedkar noted that Dailts, unlike Muslims in pre-Partition India, were scattered geographically all over India, with no meaningful demographic concentration to translate into electoral clout which led him to push for separate electorates. He also saw that increased federalism would not be of any benefit to the backward groups, and advocated for a strongly centralized state. In addition to breaking the caste bloc limitations that Ambedkar had as a mass leader, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati truly form the logical evolution of what Ambedkar started. At the national level, they seek a coalition, or support governments from outside in exchange for pro-Dalit policy. Unlike other regional parties such as the DMK which has no ambitions other than regional and ministerial, the BSP enters into national alliances to make a national policy difference. Kanshi Ram and Mayawati consistently challenged major establishment Dalit leaders electorally, accusing them of being mere puppets and chamchas of the Brahmanical parties. They fought several high profile Lok Sabha elections in the 1980s, against VP Singh, Rajiv Gandhi, Meira Kumar, and Ramvilas Paswan. In each case they came second, and Ramvilas Paswan (who fought in each election) third, with a margin that exposed Paswan as the political spoiler who denied a BSP victory rather than the other way around. The result: Mr. Paswan never fought an election from UP again. Mayawati herself spent over a decade crisscrossing the country multiple times on a bicycle (and several more times throughout UP) engaging in political mobilization and pan-Dalit cultural solidarity. Like Ambedkar, she saw it as her duty to represent and politicize every section of Dalits all over the country. In this, compared to Ambedkar, and more than any other major female politician, Mayawati has truly been a grassroots activist. While VP Singh has been given credit for implementing the Mandal Commission recommendations, and while his henchmen Mulayam Singh, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav became the main political beneficiaries of the increasingly assertive OBC politics - one should never forget that it was Kanshi Ram and Mayawati who were constantly agitating for the implementation from 1980 itself all the way till VP Singh put his stamp on it unlike the others. Allying with Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati had prevented the rise of a BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh in the first election after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Further, she did not hesitate to withdraw support that Mulayam government, and from the two subsequent coalitions she had with the BJP, with the main concern being violence against Dalits and the main perpetrators being the OBC community giving up political power while taking the reins of the movement for social justice. The BSP under Mayawati has been the only party to ever enter into an alliance with the BJP and walk out the main beneficiary. The alliance with Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) party in Bihar gave the BJP a footing in the state that it never had before enabling it in 2014 to win 22 out of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar to JD(U)s 2 seats. The NDA alliance as a whole won 31 seats. Electoral alliances in Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Punjab yielded similar benefits to the BJP. Despite the RSS having been founded and having its headquarters in Nagpur, the BJP was never the major political force. The long-term alliance with the Shiv Sena allowed the BJP to build up over the years, overrun the state of Maharashtra and by 2014 install its first chief minister in the state - Devendra Fadnavis. The Shiv Sena, however, is currently sulking in seclusion as the junior-most partner, while its influence remains limited to a zone as small as the RSS once had. In fact, the BJP emerged far worse off in UP from its alliance days with Mayawati. If Mayawati is to be demonized for simply allying with the BJP at all well, the CPI(M) too supported the VP Singh government in 1989 along with the BJP, and had a much smaller role other than printing anti-communalism literature (and allying with the Congress) in combating the BJP where the BJP was dominant, statistically speaking. Under the Mayawati government (2007-12), despite the disdain for her among the upper caste bureaucratic class, and an outwardly dull rule, there were some startling measures in Uttar Pradesh, some of which were never well reported on. The police examination answer scripts were uploaded online for transparency for the first time. Public doctors who skipped compulsory duty in rural areas were dismissed. Maintenance of law and order under the Mayawati government was exceptional; caste atrocities and communal violence were at a record low. Part of this has to do with the fact that like Ambedkar, Mayawati views the Dalits as a national minority and not as the lower caste segment of a majority always a section to protect. From the perspective of the minorities in that sense, Mayawatis rule had been on the better side. In comparison to the Samajwadi Party that took the Muslim vote for granted and went on to abet the riots in Muzaffarnagar, the BSPs record on communalism and violence against minorities has been one of integrity and consistency despite having allied with the BJP. As a national leader with regional clout, Mayawati regularly intervenes on Dalit issues across the country as she had in the Rohith Vemula case, and on the ill treatment of Dalits in Gujarat. A major limitation of the BSP is that it is a one-issue party that governs rather starved of ideology in other spheres. This also gives it attributes other parties do not share. Unlike the BJP and the Congress, the BSP would not pay heed to pleasing American interests (or in the case of the Communist party in the 1950s, the erstwhile USSR). Under a party like BSP, India may just witness an independent foreign policy for the first time since Nehru. While local BSP leaders are ingratiated to local economic elites, the BSP does not base its decisions on the interests of big business, unlike the Congress and BJP and dozens of regional parties. It can be reliably expected to play a more evenhanded role when it comes to secularism, as compared to the opportunistic secularism and soft Brahmanical communalistic trend that the Congress has historically shown. The BSP has no vested interest in promoting neoliberalism. By virtue of the backwardness of its political constituency, it is obligated to expand education as the only way to expand total number of reserved seats. It is the only party that seriously pursues filling vacancies in reserved category seats in education and public sector jobs at the lower level. Out of all the parties, only the BSP has a serious stake in promoting Dalit entrepreneurships, whether for small business and economic self sufficiency or for organized sector employment of Dalits and filling the Party coffers. In many ways, simply by not having a status quo to uphold, the BSP still offers a challenge to national establishment politics. Regarding the trope of Mayawati being the most corrupt politician there is, (along with Lalu Prasad Yadav) it would be pertinent to note whether Lalus fodder scam or Mayawatis Taj Corridor scam really match up to the reputations created by the mainstream media. One would just need to ask whether either of these two scams is larger than: The 2G scam The ISRO scam The Vyapam scam Coal scam Commonwealth games scam The charges for which BS Yeddirappa had to resign as chief minister of Karnataka The DDCA scam Sadly, it nigh impossible to find a scam in which either of the two national parties (the BJP and the Congress) is implicated in the past few decades and the value of the quid pro quo subject ends up lower than any of the scams Mayawati is accused of. Attacking the smaller regional outfits becomes a way to cover up for the close links between the corporate media and the two major national parties, both of which are socially conservative and neoliberal in economic outlook. For example, during the 2G scam controversy, The Indian Express consistently defended Ratan Tata and went as far as to publish an op-ed by him on its front page, ostensibly in the name of an exclusive. The Gujarat BJP government and Bihar NDA governments development stories were unquestioningly endorsed and propagated by the media, never mind that Gujarats case was woefully exaggerated and Bihars case dependent on increased central funding, public construction expenditure and mushrooming liquor license sales in that period. The media cannot be an effective watchdog when it belongs to the same special interests involved in corporate fraud and public corruption. To deal with the issue of party funds and the lavish display of those by Mayawati having to do with corruption, one must keep in mind that India does not have campaign finance disclosure laws worth their salt, and every major party is privy to political contributions from billionaires and corporations. The BSP, however, is less so, in addition to historically being more transparent regarding the source of its income. Many people are not aware that in the 1980s itself, Kanshi Ram under the banner of DS4 and BAMCEF formed a consistent fundraising machinery among backward caste government employees. If every backward caste employee donated a certain percentage of his/her income every year to the BAMCEF and subsequently to BSP - the numbers do really add up, and most of the BSP income comes from this source. Consider if every RSS member donated an even smaller percent of their income to the organization the total would make the RSS the richest organization in India by far. Other major parties (including even the Aam Admi Party) have to rely on corporate donations and money bundled from NRI groups. If a politician is in the pocket of ones donors, the Mayawati is in the pocket of exactly the people she claims to represent and protect, unlike every other major party. The expenditure on land acquisition for parks and statues she has been accused of wasting marks yet another difference at least most of the land in question that was acquired remained as public property in the form of parks or highways, rather than private property in the form of malls, private hospitals, and SEZs. One need only think of the throwaways given to DLF in areas like Gurgaon, Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal, land grants and mining licenses in the tribal belts (party lines blur when it comes to local oligarchies), and the massive acquisition of land during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi to compare. One need not mention the large swathes of coastline handed over to the Adani group when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Lastly, when it comes to concrete policy and special interests, the GST Bill and the nuclear deal and the FDI that the BJP was dead against while it was in the Opposition - it now supports. In the midst of all the shameful talk of prostitution, who has truly sold out? Not Mayawati. And the slander shows that she is the most seriously taken politician of all, especially with the election in Uttar Pradesh approaching. The facts that the mainstream media doesnt offer show us that despite not being the ideal politician by far, Mayawati has more integrity than most politicians by all standards other than those set by the oligarchy to cloak themselves. Mumbai: Firing a fresh salvo at the Narendra Modi government, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday questioned the Centre's handling of the Kashmir situation and accused BJP of "failing" Hindus, while noting that a "hazy situation" was prevalent in the country. "Who is accountable for this (Kashmir situation)? Amaranth Yatra has been suspended, Hindus are being beaten, jawans attacked. Everyone had hoped that after a change in government, the scenario would change," Thackeray said in an interview to party mouthpiece Saamana, ahead of his birthday on 26 July. "'Now onwards, Hindus will not be targeted', this is what BJP, which is in power at the Centre as well as in the state (Kashmir), had asserted. But, Hindus are in trouble in the Valley," claimed Uddhav. Shiv Sena, the oldest political ally of the BJP, shares power with it at the Centre as well as in Maharashtra. Drawing parallels with the tagline of a popular TV advertisement of a deodorant, he said, Kya Chal Raha Hai? Fog Chal Raha hai as he hit out at the central government. He added that a "hazy situation" is prevalent in the country. "No one can understand what is happening and who is doing what. The dispensation has changed, but has the life of commoner got changed?" he asked. Thackeray also said his party upheld the cause of Hindutva the best but its benefits were reaped by others also. "We took the brickbats and faced all the troubles (for Hindus)... but now others are enjoying (the benefits). For how long will this continue?" he asked. Replying to a question, if he was hinting at Modi, the 56-year-old leader said, "I am talking about the political leadership of the country in toto. Our Prime Minister visits all the states of the country, including Kashmir. But why he doesn't stand behind the Kashmiri Hindus at this time (of crisis)." Responding to a query on reports of growing IS threat in the country, he said it was high time that India was declared a Hindu nation to curb such elements. "We have no other alternative but to declare India a Hindu Rashtra. Indians have been beating the drum of secularism loudly for long and Hindus have suffered enough in the (secularism) fold," he said. Bangkok: Foreign ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were to meet Sunday in Vientiane, with the South China Sea dispute expected to dominate. A 12 July ruling by an arbitration panel at The Hague invalidated China's claims to most of the South China Sea. China has dismissed the ruling as null and void. The 10 ASEAN members have failed to reach a unified response to the ruling, with key Chinese allies within the bloc preventing a consensus. At the opening ceremony on Sunday, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith called for unity and continuation of the "ASEAN way." "I would like to reiterate that ASEAN should continue to maintain and enhance ASEANat a pace comfortable to all," he said. But diplomats have questioned whether the bloc was unified enough to pass any meaningful statements over the July 12 ruling. China is ASEAN's largest trading partner. The ministers are to meet behind closed doors on Sunday. The meeting expands on Tuesday for the East Asia Summit when regional partners including China, Japan and the United States will join. Lucknow: UP Governor Ram Naik on Sunday sought footage of the BSP protest against Dayashankar Singh's remarks questioning the character of Mayawati, a day after a BJP delegation met him and demanded arrest of a top BSP leader for using "abusive" language at the demonstration. The governor also took into cognisance media reports on the alleged use of abuse language by BSP leaders including Naseemuddin Siddiqui at Thursday's protest near Hazratbal here. "I have asked the administration and police to provide audio and video footage, besides other documents of the protest to get further information. I have even asked the BJP delegation which met me yesterday to provide any information available with them," Naik told PTI. He said that no time has been fixed for providing the information. "It is just to get detailed information about the incident. Generally, we seek information in such incidents," he said. Police had already said that it has got the entire protest videographed and would take action after examining the footage. "We have got the entire incident videographed and will take further action after examining the footage," a senior officer had said. After Singh had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments questioning the character of the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratbal and raised slogans against the expelled leader's family. The BJP also held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh on Friday demanding arrest of Siddiqui, who led the protest. "A delegation of BJP office-bearers, led by state president, yesterday met the Governor and demanded immediate arrest of BSP general secretary and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Naseemuddin Siddiqui," BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak had said. BJP stated in the memorandum that derogatory language was allegedly used against women members of Singh's family, especially against his daughter, during protest by BSP workers on Thursday. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday on a complaint of Dayashankar Singh's mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used "abusive language" against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised "derogatory" slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday during which Singh's 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. BJP state chief KP Maurya said women wing of the party would stage a big demonstration in Lucknow on 28 July on the issue. Dayashankar's wife Swati, who has been provided security after the BSP protest, is likely to meet the Governor this afternoon. New Delhi: Asserting that "marriage of convenience" between the ruling PDP and BJP was not working in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the Modi government should try to win the hearts of Kashmiris which cannot be won through financial packages. "Jammu and Kashmir cannot be won over by economic packages. Their hearts need to be won over," he said. Many parts of the Valley, particularly South Kashmir, are witnessing violent clashes for a fortnight now after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces on 8 July. As many as 45 persons have been killed and over 3,400 injured in clashes between protesters and security forces since 9 July. "This whole marriage of convenience between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not working there. The Centre is also not doing enough for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Scindia told PTI. He said there is a lack of economic development and employment opportunity for youths of the region. "The Centre needs to do much more. There has to be dialogue with the people of Kashmir," the Congress party's chief whip said, adding that there is a need to create an environment of peace and tranquillity, growth and development in the state. "We are willing to work together with the government in the interest of Kashmir," Scindia said. He said an all-party delegation needed to visit the state to assess the situation and talk to people. India has reportedly decided to expel three Chinese journalists working with Xinhua news agency following "concerns" flagged by intelligence agencies. India has refused to renew their visas, a move which can further worsen the relations between the two countries, Hindustan Times reported. They have been ordered to leave India by 31 July. The three journalists also include the heads of Xinhuas bureau in New Delhi and Mumbai. Wu Qiang heads the Delhi bureau, Lu Tang manages the Mumbai headquarters and the third journalist She Yonggang is a reporter based in Mumbai. The Wire reported that the decision of the Indian authorities was based on adverse attention from security agencies. The Hindu quoted Indian government sources as saying, The three journalists had overstayed their visa and subsequently they had received several visa extensions. So we asked them to go back as it is no longer possible to give them visa extensions. India now hopes that Xinhua will soon send their replacement. Wu told The Hindu that No explanation has been given for the denial of visa renewal. The three expelled journalists are experts on Indian affairs and Lu Tang was working with researchers on India-China relations. The Wire spoke to a source who said, "We were giving them these short extensions as they wanted to stay on till their successor was there. But, since their successor were not here even after months, we gave them a cut-off date." The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, said that the journalists had recently met Tibetan activisits, which raised a concern for the Indian authorities. The move might be reciprocated by China. Five Indian journalists work out of Beijing and a number of Indians work for Chinas English state media, reported Hindustan Times. The three journalists travelled to Bengaluru recently and met exiled Tibetan activists, which became an issue with the Narendra Modi government. Though the Tibetan government in exile is headquartered in the northern town of Dharmsala, thousands of Tibetans live in Karnataka. No official reason was given for the Indian governments decision, but sources said the three had come under the adverse attention of security agencies for allegedly indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief, reported The Hindustan Times. The expulsion of journalist are not expected to help the already tensed relations between New Delhi and Beijing. The move also comes at a time when the two countries' ties have been under strain following China's refusal to support India's application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at a meeting in Seoul last month. Chinese journalists' expulsion looks like a calculated move by the Indian government to attack China for creating hurdles on Indias path towards its NSG membership. Earlier, Beijing had also blocked India's bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the United Nations. India took aim squarely against the use of secret vetoes to protect terrorists and their backers from UN sanctions, an action that China has repeatedly taken to provide cover for Pakistan-based terrorists and Islamabad. That secrecy results in a lack of accountability and engenders impunity, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin had said. "The general membership of the UN is never ever formally informed of how and why requests for listing terrorists are not acceded to," he said. "Counter terror mechanisms such as the Sanctions Committees that act on behalf of the international community need to build trust not engender impunity by the use of this form of a 'hidden' veto." Akbaruddin had not named China or Pakistan in his speech. China, however, had urged India and Pakistan to resolve the issue through direct and serious consultations. Beijing was constantly in touch with Islamabad over the Azhar matter, as some Chinese officials said. Following this, India in April this year, upped the ante with China by issuing visas to World Uyghur Congress leader Dolkun Isa and three others, and by allowing them to visit India for a conference in Dharmsala. This was India's way of paying China back. Smarting under Beijing's refusal to sanction Azhar as a terrorist, who New Delhi blames for the Pathankot terror strike, India hit back. These growing ties between the two nations have become an issue of worry for India. As David Devadas points out in this Firstpost article, China has adopted Pakistan as a key economic, political, and military ally. Indeed, Pakistan is now arguably Chinas most trusted strategic ally. It is also slated to be Chinas most important neo-silk route. Considering that the relations between India and China have soured over the years, the expulsion of the journalists can be seen as a hint of further deterioration of ties. Islamic State jihadists claimed responsibility for twin explosions Saturday that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 80 people and wounding 231 others in the deadliest attack in the Afghan capital since 2001. The bombings during a huge protest over a power line mark the first major Islamic State assault on Kabul, apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country well known for Shia-Sunni harmony. Charred bodies and dismembered limbs littered the scene of the attack, with ambulances struggling to reach the site as authorities had overnight blocked key intersections with stacked shipping containers to control movement of the protesters. "As a result of the attack 80 people were martyred and 231 others were wounded," the interior ministry said. "The attack was carried out by three suicide bombers... The third attacker was gunned down by security forces." The wounded overwhelmed city hospitals, officials said, with reports emerging of blood shortages and urgent appeals for donors circulating on social media. The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than Islamic State, strongly denied any involvement in the attack. The Islamic State group claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq news agency, calling it an attack on Shiites. "Two fighters of the Islamic State detonated their explosive belts in a gathering of Shiites in... Kabul," Amaq said. The attack represents a major escalation for Islamic State, which so far has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, said the attack was masterminded by Abu Ali, an Islamic State commander in Nangarhar's volatile Achin district. "It's long been a fear about Afghanistan that Islamic State-aligned forces will try to inject a sectarian dimension into a largely non-sectarian conflict," Michael Kugelman, an analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, told AFP. 'War crime' The bombings, which the UN denounced as a "war crime", mark the deadliest single attack in Kabul since the Taliban were toppled from power in a 2001 US-led invasion, the interior ministry said. President Ashraf Ghani vowed "revenge" against the perpetrators of the attack and announced Sunday as a national day of mourning. The assault came as thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand that a multi-million-dollar power line pass through their electricity-starved province of Bamiyan, one of the most deprived areas of Afghanistan with a large Hazara population. "This heinous attack was made all the more despicable by the fact that it targeted a peaceful demonstration," the White House said in a statement. Amnesty International said: "The horrific attack on a group of peaceful protestors in Kabul demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life. "Such attacks are a reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is not winding down, as some believe, but escalating, with consequences for the human rights situation in the country that should alarm us all." The government has announced a ban on public protests for at least 10 days after Saturday's demonstration, which was largely peaceful before the explosions tore through the crowds. The 500-kilovolt TUTAP power line, which would connect the Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with electricity-hungry Afghanistan and Pakistan, was originally set to pass through the central province. But the government re-routed it through the mountainous Salang pass north of Kabul, saying the shorter route would speed up the project and save millions of dollars. Hazara leaders in the ethnically divided nation lashed out at the Pashtun president, calling the decision prejudiced against their community, which has suffered a long history of oppression. The three million-strong Hazara community has been persecuted for decades, with thousands killed in the late 1990s by Al-Qaeda and the mainly Pashtun Sunni Taliban. Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists and said having state-to-state ties with the neighbouring country a "bigger challenge" for his government than combating terror groups such as al-Qaeda and Taliban. The Afghan President also said that Kabul was proud of its friendship with India as New Delhi shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. In contrast, Ghani said that Pakistan provides sanctuaries to terrorists and trains them, making relations with Pakistan, the bigger challenge for his country. "We cannot understand when Pakistan says it will not allow a group of terrorists to amend its constitution, army act and prepares a National Action Plan against them. "Simultaneously, Pakistan tolerates another group which attempts to undermine the government and bring horror, death and destruction to Afghanistan," Ghani told Geo News. The 64-year-old Afghan president said he can provide addresses of Taliban leaders in the Pakistani city of Quetta, Dawn quoted the Afghan president as saying Saturday, a day Kabul witnessed the deadliest terror attack in 15 years which killed 80 people and left hundreds injured. Ghani claimed that Afghan forces have bombed the chief of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mullah Fazlullah, 11 times along with attacks on his close aides. "Can you show me a single operation against the Haqqani network, against Mullah Omar, against Mullah Mansoor, Mansoor traveled on a Pakistani passport out of Karachi, does Fazlullah travel on an Afghan passport out of Kabul," asked Ghani. The Afghan President also alleged terrorists wounded in Afghanistan are openly treated in Pakistani hospitals. "Afghan designated terrorists also hold open meetings in Islamabad," he said. Ghani rejected allegations that Afghan government had leaked the news of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar's death, which resulted in suspension of Pakistan-facilitated dialogue between the Taliban and government in the Pakistani resort city of Murree. "The news of Mullah Omar's death came from the Taliban. We did not leak it, we just gave an official statement. After the news was leaked, we confirmed it from 19 sources, all within Taliban network," said the Afghan president. Responding to a question, Ghani said Afghanistan was proud of its friendship with India, as India shares Afghanistan's democratic aspirations. "India is a historical friend of Afghanistan, India is building dams in Afghanistan, it is a democratic country and shares our democratic aspirations," said Ghani, adding that his country's foreign policy is no other country's business. Ghani presented a three point agenda in order to build trust measure with Pakistan. He asked Pakistan to go after declared terrorist groups, saying "if you don't take action against them, we won't trust you." Ghani said all countries should act on the quadrilateral process, regarding reconcilable and irreconcilable (groups). Thirdly, he said those who reject peace talks should be evacuated from Pakistan. London: In an bizarre incident, a group of teenage boys in Britain went to school wearing skirts to protest a uniform policy after they were reprimanded for donning shorts on a sweltering hot day. Four boys at the Longhill High School, in Brighton, East Sussex, wore skirts to school in protest after they were pulled up for wearing shorts. The 14-year-old pupils were punished for wearing shorts in a bid to keep cool on the hottest day of the year. In protest, the students decided to borrow from the girls' official uniform, The Mirror reported. Michael Parker, Kodi Ayling, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer were allowed to wear the pleated skirts as they are within the school's rules. They donned the skirts in protest of the school's decision to punish boys who wore school-issued shorts rather than trousers on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the hottest day of the year, around 20 boys wore Longhill-branded gym shorts. They were all punished by the secondary school as they were not wearing "regulation uniform". Some of the students were sent home and others were kept in isolation and excluded the following day. "It's not fair for boys to be roasting in black trousers on the hottest day of the year while the girls can wear skirts," Parker was quoted as saying. His mother Angela, said, "We're fully in support of the boys. I think what the headmistress is doing is discrimination and I'm extremely proud of Michael and his fellow protesters." Wesley Allen, Kodi's dad, said the school's decision to punish the boys for wearing shorts was "madness". "The shorts he had on have the school logo on them and I think should be allowed to wear them on hot days," he said. "I think it's madness. The boys have done this to prove a point and I think it's brilliant. I don't think Kodi will wear the skirt all summer but I do think he likes the attention." Head teacher Kate Williams said, "I have high standards regarding uniform and in the warm weather, these high standards have been challenged by approximately two per cent of parents/students." "Four male students at Longhill High School chose to wear a skirt to school. Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform," she said. A woman has been killed and two others have been injured in a machete attack near Stuttgart in Germany, Independent reported. Police have arrested a man in connection with the attack in the small city of Reutlingen in the south-west of the country. German newspaper Bild reported the man struck outside a kebab shop at around 4:30pm local time, causing several witnesses to flee in panic. An eyewitness told the tabloid: "The attacker was completely out of his mind. He ran with the machete behind a police patrol car." He said a passing BMW managed to run him over and afterwards he "lay prostrate on the ground and didn't move". The police has confirmed the attacker was a 21-year-old Syrian refugee but have not released his name. The motive for the attack is unclear. In a statement,they said the man was known to police but they suspect he is a "lone operator" and did not think people in and around the city are at risk. Police spokesman Bjoern Reusch said later that the man had been arguing with the woman before he killed her. It comes as Germany is on edge following two attacks in the past week. A teenager went on a rampage in a Munich mall on Friday evening, killing nine, and an Afghan teenager attacked train passengers with an axe in Bavaria, wounding five, before being shot dead by police last week. Beijing: China has unveiled the world's largest amphibious aircraft to fight forest fires and perform marine missions, the latest breakthrough in the communist giant's aviation industry seeking to reduce dependence on foreign firms like Airbus and Boeing. The AG600 rolled off a production line in the southern city of Zhuhai, in what aviation observers see as a milestone for China, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes, a maximum flight range of 4,500 km, and it can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds, according to state aircraft maker the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The AG600 is by far the world's largest amphibian aircraft, about the size of a Boeing 737, AVIC deputy general manager Geng Ruguang said. An amphibious aircraft can take off and land on both land and water. The aircraft can help China, which is locked in disputes with several of its neighbours, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores, to extend its ability to conduct a variety of operations in the area. The unveiling of the AG600 came shortly after Chinese heavy transport aircraft the Y-20 officially entered military service on July 7 and China's first large passenger aircraft, the C919, rolled off the final assembly line in November, 2015. Geng described the AG600 as "the latest breakthrough in China's aviation industry". It is the result of nearly seven years of work by a group of 70 aircraft component manufacturers and research teams with over 150 institutes from 20 provinces and municipalities in China. The development and production of the plane received government approval in 2009. China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on foreign firms like as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the US. Michael Moore, the Oscar-winning American film-maker who is renowned for controversial works like Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko and Where to Invade Next, had announced on his blog that Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States of America. In a blog post '5 reasons why Trump will win', the film-maker gave us five solid reasons why the Republican nominee Donald Trump will soon occupy the Oval Office. The number of outrageous things Trump has said in the past makes one wonder whether any Republican candidate has been as ridiculous as him. He has offended innumerable voters with his sexist, racist and communal stances. And yet, Moore predicted that Trump would be the President-elect simply because he has the most amount of crazy fans, who are willing to stand in lines to vote for his presidency. "Whos the candidate with the most rabid supporters? Whose crazed fans are going to be up at 5 am on Election Day, kicking ass all day long, all the way until the last polling place has closed, making sure every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Bob and Joe and Billy Bob and Billy Joe and Billy Bob Joe) has cast his ballot? Thats right. Thats the high level of danger were in. And dont fool yourself no amount of compelling Hillary TV ads, or outfacting him in the debates or Libertarians siphoning votes away from Trump is going to stop his mojo," he wrote. A lot of American voters do not agree with Hillary Clinton, said Moore. People have taken a hard stand against her 'hawkish pro-military stance', and Moore had argued that Hillary's unpopularity could be a big reason for Trump's win. "Our biggest problem here isnt Trump its Hillary. She is hugely unpopular nearly 70 percent of all voters think she is untrustworthy and dishonest. She represents the old way of politics, not really believing in anything other than what can get you elected," he wrote. There is a huge voter base who is uncomfortable with the prospect of a woman in the Oval office. This is what Moore calls the 'The Last Stand of the Angry White Man'. A small peak into the mind of the endangered white male can reveal that they are not happy with the feminist movement empowering women to play sports, or vote, or present the opening dance at the Super Bowl (read Beyonce), let alone elevating them to the Presidential position. As Trump eloquently insinuates, this creature that bleeds through her eyes or wherever she bleeds, has conquered us. Moore also brought to light the 'The Jesse Ventura Effect'. Simply put, there is a huge American voter base which just wants to stir up some trouble. They do not care that Trump is dumb, and Hillary is smart. They will simply vote for Trump, because they can do it. They have the power to change the course of the nation and they are tired of the old ways. "Remember back in the 90s when the people of Minnesota elected a professional wrestler as their governor? They didnt do this because theyre stupid or thought that Jesse Ventura was some sort of statesman or political intellectual. They did so just because they could," he writes. "The anger that so many have toward a broken political system, millions are going to vote for Trump not because they agree with him, not because they like his bigotry or ego, but just because they can. Just because it will upset the apple cart and make mommy and daddy mad," he said. To read Michael Moore's full post, click here. Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said India's bid to blame Pakistan for the "current revolt" in the Kashmir Valley warranted no response. Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, told IANS in Srinagar that the two-day visit by the Home Minister that ended on Sunday and "his comments are insignificant". The Mirwaiz said New Delhi's "propaganda" on the Kashmir issue that the "current revolt" was sponsored by Pakistan "is so worn out and half-witted that it does not even warrant a response". He said the separatist leadership - including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik - believed that the "Kashmiri struggle for freedom like all freedom struggles in the world is both indigenous and sacred". His remarks came after Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan not to encourage people in Jammu and Kashmir to become militants, saying India would never tolerate terrorism. The minister's trip came amid the deadliest Kashmir unrest in years that has left 45 people dead in violent stone-throwing protests following the 8 July killing of pro-Pakistan rebel commander Burhan Wani. The Mirwaiz said the separatist leadership "condemns the killing spree" by security forces, injuring thousands and blinding more than 150. He said it was a blot on the face of humanity that a country "which executes such barbarism prides itself as the world's largest democracy". Kabul: A national day of mourning was declared in Afghanistan for Sunday, a day after 80 people were killed and an estimated 231 others were wounded by a bomb attack in Kabul. Two attackers detonated their suicide vests among a crowd of protesters, while another was killed by security forces. Islamic State claimed responsibility via its mouthpiece Aamaq News Agency. President Ashraf Ghani vowed to "avenge the blood of our loved ones," and ordered the flag to fly at half-mast at all government buildings in Afghanistan and abroad. At least 10,000 people were taking part in Saturday's protest, according to event organizer Mohammad Arif Rahmani. They were demanding that a new power cable being laid from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Kabul be rerouted through the province of Bamyan, currently not connected the electricity grid. The government has rejected the demands, citing further delays and added costs. The Interior Ministry announced a nationwide 10-day ban on protests due to security reasons after the attack. United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the world body's strong condemnation of the terror attack on a peaceful demonstration in Afghanistan, describing it as a "despicable crime" while calling for bringing to justice the perpetrators of the assault. At least 80 people were killed and 231 wounded in twin explosions that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, an attack claimed by the Islamic State terror group. According to a statement issued by his office, Ban called for those responsible for the attack to be brought to justice. "The Secretary-General condemns...terrorist attack in Kabul. This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights," the statement said. The powerful UN Security Council also issued a statement, condemning "in the strongest terms" the "heinous and cowardly" terror attack yesterday. Two explosions occurred at Dehmazang square targeting a peaceful demonstration. "The members of the Security Council reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), illegal and armed groups to the local population, National Defence and Security Forces and international presence in Afghanistan," the statement said. The 15-nation Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these "reprehensible" acts of terrorism to justice and urged all UN member nations to cooperate actively with the Afghan authorities in this regard. "The members of the Security Council stressed the need to take measures to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, terrorist organisations and individual terrorists," in accordance with UN resolutions. Asserting that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is criminal, the Council said terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. The Council reiterated that "no violent or terrorist acts" can reverse the Afghan-led process along the path towards peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Afghan government and by the international community. Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto called the attack "an outrage that cannot be justified and stressed that the perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable." "An attack deliberately targeting a large, concentrated group of civilians amounts to a war crime," he said in the statement, which was issued by UNAMA. "This attack is particularly heinous because it targeted civilians as they exercised their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression," Yamamoto said. UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft expressed his deepest sorrow and anger over the terrible terror attacks and "mass murders" taking place around the world. After meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar, during his two-day visit, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti came down heavily on Pakistan for its stance on the ongoing tense situation in the Valley. "Unfortunate. The country (Pakistan) that claims they are victims of terrorism themselves, encourages Kashmiri youths to take up guns. Pakistan needs to change this policy of theirs. It's important to start dialogue and we need a confident building measures between the two nations," Mufti was quoted as saying by ANI. Criticised for her delayed response on the unrest which has plagued Kashmir for over 10 days now, Mufti further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by visiting Lahore but "unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot attack." We understand tht Pak herself is a victim of terrorism & that is why they had to launch Lal Masjid op-Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/FPbqehMmc8 ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 As a goodwill gesture, PM Modi met Pakistan PM by visiting Lahore but unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot: J&K CM ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Unfortunate.The country (Pak) that claims they're a victim of terrorism themselves,encourages Kashmiri youth to take up guns: Mehbooba Mufti ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Pak needs to change this policy of theirs.Imp to start dialogue,confident building measures b/w the 2 nations-J&K CM pic.twitter.com/9UOW92dend ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Hypocrisy. Country (Pak) that punishes children who take up gun in their country but glorifies youth taking up gun in Kashmir: J&K CM ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Thankful to the doctors and others who are trying round-the-clock to bring back normalcy in the state: J&K CM pic.twitter.com/b1Z5ouhFqp ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 The ongoing war of words between Pakistan and India escalated recently after Pakistan PM Sharif addressed a gathering on the occasion of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's victory in the "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" assembly election last Thursday, said: "We are waiting for the day (when) Kashmir becomes (a part of) Pakistan." Mufti also discussed Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir and said, "We are not saying that AFSPA must be revoked immediately and in entirety, but the process can be started on experimental basis." We are not saying that AFSPA must be revoked immediately and in entirety, but the process can be started on experimental basis: J&K CM ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 After revoking AFSPA in few areas, we can assess situation there. If successful we can revoke it in entirety: J&K CM pic.twitter.com/H68e165hfS ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 No more than five human rights complaints four in Jammu and Kashmir, one in Tripura under AFSPA, a controversial law that provides immunity to armed forces from prosecution, were judged in 2015-16, a 93 percent fall over the average of three preceding years, government data submitted in Parliament on 21 July, 2016, showed. As tensions grew in Kashmir following Hizbul commander Burhan Wani's killing, Mufti's PDP-BJP government came under heavy criticism as it almost became paralysed, its leaders became invisible and the CM herself became a subject of anger, ridicule and public backlash. Like Sandipan Sharma writes in this Firstpost article: "The moral legitimacy and political authority of leaders is revealed in their ability to restore calm and peace in a situation of madness, anger and violence, to lead from the front and change the course of events through the force of their personality." The unrest in Kashmir rattled the Monsoon Session of Parliament where the majority of senior leaders (never mind which party) showed solidarity and blamed Pakistan for the violence ensuing in the Valley. Congress and main Opposition leaders also criticised the BJP government over use of excessive force against civilians. Curfew remained imposed in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital. "Curfew is in force in four South Kashmir districts - Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. However, on Saturday, curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city on Saturday soon after Singh reached Kashmir. A delegation of the main opposition party, National Conference, met Singh on Sunday to convey their stand of initiating a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as the separatist groups of the state. On the second day of his Kashmir visit on Sunday, Rajnath Singh met political leaders and also met CM Mufti and her council of ministers. He also held a meeting with the CPI(M) delegation. A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the Home Minister and apprised him of their problems. However, two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) decided not to meet Singh. According to them, such exercises in the past have proved to be futile. The KEA, in an open letter to the Home Minister, said while they could understand the urgency for his visit to Kashmir for assessing the situation, "we also can easily determine the futility of this exercise." KEA also accused union ministers of showing arrogance and hostility towards the people of the valley. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said it too has decided not to meet Singh during his visit as "no purpose will be served in attending any meeting when the killing of innocent people is unabated and scores of people continue to be injured in the pellet/bullet gun fire." The MHA release said that on the first day of his visit to Srinagar, Singh met about 15 delegations, including those of Sikh community, Kashmiri Pandits, Tourism and Hospitality industry and entrepreneurs, besides several individuals. Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit the crisis-hit Anantnag district where he will take stock of the ground situation and interact with administrative officials. The Congress unit of Jammu and Kashmir also decided not to meet Singh, saying the PDP-BJP coalition government seems to be "interested in meetings only" and not in any people-friendly steps. Singh, according to official sources, however, met some delegations including civil society members and leaders of some mainstream political parties. He also met top civil and security officials. He also met the civil society delegation at Baramullah border area to review the law and order situation in Kashmir. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Aza, who initiated the debate in the parliament over the Kashmir issue said on Sunday, "We only demand for all party meeting in Delhi. Curfew in Kashmir hasn't ended even after 16 days." (With inputs from agencies) Munich: The teenager who shot dead nine people in a gun rampage in Munich was "obsessed" with mass killers like Norwegian right-wing fanatic Anders Behring Breivik and had no links to the Islamic State group, police said on Saturday. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week, after 18-year-old David Ali Sonboly went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre on Friday in what appears to have been a premeditated attack, before turning the gun on himself. Officials said Sonboly, a German-Iranian student, had a history of mental illness. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the teenager had likely hacked a girl's Facebook account and used it to lure victims to the McDonald's outlet where he began his rampage. "There is absolutely no link to the Islamic State," Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said, with prosecutors describing the assault as a "classic act by a deranged person". Investigators see an "obvious link" between Friday's killings and Breivik's massacre of 77 people in Norway exactly five years earlier, Andrae added. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Munich had suffered a "night of horror". Most of the victims in Friday's attack were young people, with three aged just 14, police said. Munich prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said Sonboly had suffered depression, but voiced caution over reports he may have undergone psychiatric treatment. The teenager had 300 rounds of ammunition in a rucksack when he targeted the busy Olympia shopping mall, just minutes away from the flat he shared with his family, according to authorities. Police are investigating how he managed to obtain his weapon, a 9mm Glock pistol with a defaced serial number. Germany's bestselling Bild newspaper pointed out that a Glock pistol was also among the firearms used by Breivik. The grieving city of Munich asks 'Why?' In the grieving city of Munich, residents laid roses and lit candles in memory of the victims, with one placard bearing the simple plea: "Why?" Sixteen people were wounded in the attack, three of them critically. Survivors described terrifying scenes Friday as shoppers rushed from the area, some carrying children in their arms. A video posted on social media appeared to show a man in black walking away from the McDonald's restaurant while firing a handgun as people fled screaming. Other footage also emerged, apparently showing the gunman on a car park roof in a heated exchange with a man on a nearby balcony. "I'm German, I was born here," the assailant replied after the man fired off a volley of swear words. A police patrol shot and wounded Sonboly but he escaped before police found his body, after an operation to track down what had initially been thought to be up to three attackers. 18-year-old David Ali Sonboly, a quiet loner Neighbours said Sonboly was born to Iranian parents, a taxi driver father and a mother who worked at a department store. They arrived in Germany as asylum seekers in the late 1990s. Of Shiite Muslim origin, Sonboly appears to have converted to Christianity, hence his first name David. The family lived in the well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood in a tidy social housing block popular with immigrant families. Neighbour Delfye Dalbi, 40, described Sonboly as a helpful young man who was "never bitter or angry", though others remembered a quiet loner. A former classmate told Britain's ITV News that she had run into Sonboly just hours before the attack. "He seemed like he was worried. He was weird. He didn't look at me. He usually looks at me and says hello," she said. A police source cited by DPA news agency said he loved playing violent video games and was an admirer of the 17-year-old German who shot dead 15 people at his school near Stuttgart in 2009. Andrae of the Munich police said the teenager had been obsessed with books and articles about mass killings "linked to maniacs". De Maiziere told reporters that Sonboly had likely used a hacked Facebook account to lure people to the McDonald's branch, "offering them special reductions". The casualties were mostly young, with three aged just 14 and two aged 15. Most of the victims in Friday's attack were foreigners, including three Turkish nationals, three people from Kosovo and a Greek. Eiffel Tower lit up in tribute to Munich victims US President Barack Obama voiced staunch support for Washington's close ally Germany, while EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said: "Europe stands united." Europe has been on high alert for terrorism after a string of attacks in neighbouring France and Belgium claimed by IS. The attack came just four days after a 17-year-old asylum seeker went on a rampage with an axe and a knife on a train in Bavaria, injuring five people. It also came just over a week after a Tunisian used a truck to mow down 84 people after a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice, the third major attack on French soil in the past 18 months. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in the colours of the German flag late Saturday in tribute to the Munich victims. Munich: The 18 year-old gunman who killed nine people in a shooting spree in Munich had been planning his crime for a year but chose his victims at random, officials said on Sunday. "He had been preparing (the shooting) for a year," Bavarian police chief Robert Heimberger told a news conference. Chief prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch added that he did not specifically choose his victims. "It is not the case that he deliberately selected" the people who he shot, he said. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week, after David Ali Sonboly went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre on Friday before turning the gun on himself. Officials said yesterday that Sonboly, a German-Iranian student, had a history of mental illness. Investigators said they saw an "obvious link" between the killings and white supremacist Anders Breivik's massacre of 77 people in Norway exactly five years earlier. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Munich had suffered a "night of horror" BEIRUT Syrian government air strikes overnight put four hospitals in Aleppo province out of action, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday. They included three hospitals in Aleppo city, which is divided between government and rebel control, and one in Aleppo's western countryside, the Observatory said. It did not immediately report casualties. The strikes hit near the hospitals, it said. Many hospitals have been hit or damaged during the five-year conflict. In April, an air strike on a hospital in rebel-held Aleppo killed dozens of people. Rebel rockets hit a hospital on the government side of the city a few days later. (Reporting by John Davison, editing by Louise Heavens) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday took a dig at Pakistan and said that after talking to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, they had decided that they did not need interference from a third party to restore peace in the Valley. Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, "its role has not been 'paak' (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir." "We do not need any third party to improve ties with Kashmir," said Rajnath Singh at a press conference in Srinagar. "We want to tell our neighbouring country that even they are suffering from terrorism. On the other hand, the neighbouring country tells the youth of Kashmir to pick up arms," he further said. The Home Minister also said that the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were very concerned about the situation in Kashmir. "We want to make it clear that the government does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir but an emotional bond," Singh said. "I have appealed to the people (of Kashmir) to restore peace and harmony," he said, adding that he condemned the killing of innocent people during the protests in Kashmir. The Home Minister also said that he had met more than 30 delegations in Kashmir over the last two days. "I returned from Anantnag after speaking to the people there... We will welcome any constructive suggestions to bring about peace in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "2,228 police personnel, 1,100 CRPF and 2,259 civilians have been injured in Kashmir," Singh said. "I have told the Kashmir CM that she can send the injured to Delhi if required. We will treat them in Aiims and will take the injured on a special flight if required," he said, adding that six people were already admitted in Aiims. Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting, Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives. He added that the government will form a panel to study non-lethal weapons to control mobs. Singh also said that he had told the health minister to send a nodal officer of the ministry to Jammu and Kashmir for the injured. He also asked the media to help in restoring peace in the Valley. "I ask the press to cooperate with us in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "I want to reiterate: if anyone has any grievances, they can only be addressed through dialogue." Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti along with several ministers of her government on Sunday met Rajnath Singh who is on a two-day visit to the Valley to take stock of the situation in the wake of deadly clashes that have left 46 people dead and 3,400 others injured. Mehbooba led the government delegation which called on Singh after the home minister had met representatives from ruling PDP, BJP and opposition National Conference separately. Curfew remained in force in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure as an uneasy calm prevailed in the Valley where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day on Sunday. The situation across the Valley is peaceful so far, an official had said. Clashes had broken out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. (With inputs from PTI) Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the presidential guard regiment will be disbanded, Anadolu reported. "There will not be any presidential guard as we do not need it any more," the agency said citing the prime minister as saying. At least 246 people, excluding members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred and more than 2,100 others were wounded as they protested the coup attempt. Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming the so-called parallel state. 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Boston Beer (SAM -4.34%) released second-quarter 2016 results Thursday after the bell, revealing its flagship Samuel Adams brand lost market share for the third quarter in a row. But with shares up around 3% in after-hours trading as of this writing, it's obvious the craft brewer did something right over the past three months. Quarterly revenue fell 2.9% year over year, to $244.8 million, while net income dropped 11.1%, to $26.6 million. Thanks to share repurchases over the past year -- including 743,000 shares bought back so far this year for $127.7 million -- earnings per diluted share declined a more modest 5.5%, to $2.06. Note Boston Beer doesn't usually offer specific quarterly financial guidance. For perspective, and with the caveat that we don't pay close attention to Wall Street's near-term demands, analysts' consensus estimates called for lower earnings of $1.94 per share on revenue of just $238.9 million. We've tasted this brew before But the story of its last few quarters remains largely the same. Boston Beer CEO Martin Roper admitted depletions volume -- a key measure for how quickly their products travel from warehouses to consumer outlets -- remained "significantly" below expectations in both the second quarter and first of half of the year. This time, Roper explained, depletions weakness persisted as decreases in Boston Beer's Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, and Traveler brands were only partially offset by growth from Twisted Tea, Coney Island, and the more recently introduced Truly Spiked & Sparkling varieties. Boston Beer founder and chairman Jim Koch added depletions declined in Q2 at a rate roughly consistent with last quarter's trends, driven by increased competition despite the fact growth in the "better beer" and craft categories remains healthy. Koch also elaborated they've enjoyed continued success following last quarter's launch of new beers, including the Samuel Adams Nitro series and Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA. But those successes couldn't make up for the continued declines of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Samuel Adams seasonal offerings. On a sweeter note, Angry Orchard has maintained its high share despite what the company views as temporary declines for the broader cider category, which only arrived after several years of high growth. "We are encouraged by recent improvements..." Roper did, however, offer a potential light at the end of the tunnel, stating, "We are encouraged by recent improvements in depletion trends that we have seen since the middle of June, but it's too early to determine if these improvements are sustainable." In addition, following a comprehensive review of its brand messaging and packaging last quarter -- which was previously expected to conclude some time in the second half -- Boston Beer now anticipates introducing new packing and advertising in the second half of this year to support planned upticks in promotional activity. That includes the now-in-progress national rollout of the Truly Spiked & Sparkling brand, which Boston Beer says has seen solid support from distributors, retailers, and drinkers alike. And if Truly Spiked & Sparkling receives a similar positive response on a national level, Boston Beer is prepared to increase investment in the brand above its current plan. Finally, Boston Beer reduced its full-year earnings guidance, and now expects earnings per diluted share between $6.40 and $7.00 (compared to between $6.50 and $7.30 previously). The new range assumes a change in depletions and shipments of minus 4% to flat from last year (compared to minus 4% to growth of 2% previously), price increases between 1% and 2% (consistent with last quarter), and gross margin between 50% and 52% (compared to between 51% and 53% previously). Meanwhile, Boston beer anticipates a change in investment in ad, promo, and selling expenses between a decrease of $5 million and an increase of $5 million from last year, marking a reduction from previous guidance calling for these expenses to be flat to up $10 million over 2015. But after three straight quarters of losing market share and watching Boston Beer stock decline more than 18% year to date, it's unsurprising to see the market willing to give it a pass for that selective guidance reduction in light of the recent improvements in depletions trends. If Boston Beer is able to execute its national rollout of a promising new brand while at the same time bucking the competitive headwinds that have held it back of late, I think patient, long-term investors will be more than happy they held on. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has described the July 15 coup plotters as sick terrorists during a Saturday appearance on Turkish television, Andolu reported. Speaking on A Haber and NTV, Turkeys private TV channels, Yildirim said the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) did not hesitate to use Islam to justify the bloody coup attempt. These people are terrorists but also they are sick terrorists because they abuse Islam, he said. The premier said that the coup was well-planned and if the attempt had succeeded, FETO members would have been appointed to key roles in Turkey. Their cadres lists for Turkeys high-ranking positions were already written, Yildirim said. Yildirim repeated a revelation by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that one of the coup soldiers who held Turkeys chief-of-staff hostage on July 15 told Gen. Hulusi Akar to call Fetullah Gulen. Turkish PM however, added that Akar had refused to speak with Gulen while being detained. Intelligence warnings Yildirim said Turkeys National Intelligence Service (MIT) had warned the country's military hours before Friday's coup attempt. The MIT had supplied intelligence to the Turkish Armed Forces but the measures had not been taken, Yildirim said. Even our commander of the Turkish Armed Forces was taken hostage, and that part is very worrying. The coup attempt was not reported to Yildirim and the prime minister said he is still wondering why nobody informed him of the deadly attack. I'm still looking for the answer to this question, he said. During his interview, he said he and the government had been trying since 2013 to tell the military how dangerous FETO is: We were trying to explain to them -- the Turkish army -- how serious they are. But they did not heed our advice. While on air, Yildirim revealed the latest detention figures. With the count complete, the figures are as follows: 13,000 suspects have been taken into custody, including 1,329 police officers, more than 8,831 soldiers, 2,100 judicial members, 52 district governors and 689 civilians, he said. He added that 5,837 suspects out of 13,001 detainees have been charged with having links to the coup attempt. Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot on July 15, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of US-based preacher Fetullah Gulen. Gulen is also accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state. Brexit could weigh on the banking industry's profits for years to come. Among the most affected could be Banco Santander ( SAN -2.97%), a company with banking units all around the world, from the United Kingdom to Latin America. Join The Motley Fool's Gaby Lapera and contributor Jordan Wathen to learn why Brexit could negatively affect Santander's earnings. A transcript follows the video. This podcast was recorded on July 18, 2016. Jordan Wathen: One of the big problems, we'll just get this out of the way, because this is a problem that's really unfortunate in the timing, just the way it works. The bank reports its earnings in euros, the euro is much stronger against the Mexican peso, against the pound, for example, than it was six or 12 months ago. When it translates those earnings back into its home currency so to speak, whatever it earns overseas is automatically lower. Gaby Lapera: Yeah, so it looks like they earned less. It basically is that they earned less than you would have had if those loans had been made in euros. One of the things that's really been affecting this actually is Brexit. I don't know if you've caught onto this with what Jordan was talking about, but Santander has a really big presence in Latin America, South America, especially in Brazil, Argentina, Chile. There's a lot of volatility in South America, I don't know if people know that. I don't know if they think about South America as a place to invest in very frequently, but South America is a very interesting place, full of a lot of opportunities, but very risky opportunities. I think Santander is feeling that right now in particular. Wathen: Right. It's hard to imagine how Brexit and then Latin America could be related, but really when you think about Santander, if you look at its 2015 profits, about 23% of it came from the U.K., give or take. That's expected to be its core earning space, where you expect some stability. Of course, Brexit throws that out the window. It's very hard to make money in the U.K. right now as a lender. Recently, in 2015, Santander earned about 1.8% net interest margin on its loans. The difference between its deposit or funding costs, and what it was earning on its loans that it was making, which is very thin margin. Lapera: That's so low. Wathen: Most people expect that to come down even further, because yields are down considerably in the U.K.. The 10-year yield in the U.K. was 1.6% in January and now it's down to 0.8%, so you have a 50% reduction right there. Lapera: Right. The U.K. was being used to smooth out the volatility that you're seeing in Latin America. One of its most important markets, like I said, was Brazil, or is Brazil, in Latin America. Brazil's in the middle of the worst recession that they've ever experienced right now. Wathen: Brazil's having a bit of trouble. The IMF expects now that Brazil's economy will shrink by about 3.8%. Argentina's also expected to shrink by about 1%, and then even among growing countries in Latin America, like Chile is expected to grow 1.5%, Mexico to grow 2.4%. Santander operates in all these countries. As Latin America as a whole is expected to shrink by 0.5% this year, in 2016, which would be the second negative growth year in a row, or the second year of contraction in a row. On July 18, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released a report that shows a great trend: U.S. oil companies have begun steadily narrowing the gap between capital investments and operating cash flows. What exactly does this mean? In short, that America's onshore oil producers, which have been bleeding cash for years, are starting to move closer to actually living within their cash flows. And that could be music to many oil investors' ears. Covering the financing gap Since the start of the shale boom, the U.S. onshore oil industry has spent billions more on capital investment than it has actually generated in operating cash flows: As you can see, the gap between cash from operations and capital spending has been enormous, and accelerated as producers raced to bring more oil to market. How did they pay for all that capital spending? By tapping investors: Debt, secondary stock offerings, and asset sales have been the biggest sources of this extra capital. From the news brief, principally authored by EIA analyst Jeff Barron: Over the past five years, companies substantially increased investment spending to raise production. In 2012 and early 2013, operating cash flow was about half of capital expenditure, making external finance necessary to pay for investment in production growth. And while the oil industry has often counted on outside capital from investors to pay for growth, it's been a bloodbath for investors since oil prices started falling in 2014. Here's how three big players in U.S. onshore oil and gas production, Apache Corporation (APA -0.76%), ConocoPhillips (COP 0.06%), and Continental Resources, Inc. (CLR 0.01%) have performed over the past two years: Here's how their capital spending and operating cash flows have looked since 2012: That's a lot of cash going out, as compared to cash coming in from operations, and in recent quarters, the industry, including ConocoPhillips, Apache, and Continental, have largely narrowed the gap by cutting capital spending: And while cash from operations has also fallen, driven down by lower oil prices, capex has fallen by more across the industry. Furthermore, some capital spending is necessary simply to maintain current levels of oil production. According to oilfield services company Core Laboratories N.V. (CLB -6.49%), projects that U.S. onshore oil production will fall 1.1 million barrels per day this year at current oilfield activity levels. And while a decline in domestic oil production should help restore global supply and demand balance and push prices higher, it's a reminder that there's only so much oil companies can cut from capital spending before it hurts cash from operations even more. Key questions still hard to answer U.S. oil producers have a long way to go, though progress has been made over the past year. The big questions are as follows: What does sustainable capital spending look like? How much (and how quickly) will oil prices recover? The answer to the first really depends on each company: How much it costs to drill in the assets it owns, what its return on capital is, and how much it can realize per-barrel for those assets. The second is even harder to answer, and frankly it really affects the first question, since it all comes down to oil prices. One big thing that's helping Continental and Apache is significantly cheaper drilling and operating costs. According to Continental's most recent investor presentation in June, its production expense and cash general & administrative costs were $4.87 per barrel of oil produced last quarter. That's down from $7.87 per barrel in 2012, one of the lowest levels in the industry. Apache has seen its costs fall as well. Through the first quarter, the company's cumulative well costs have declined 45% since the start of 2015, while its overhead cash costs were down 19% over the same period. Investor takeaway As Core Laboratories points out, global oil production from currently producing assets will decline 3%, even with nominal capital investments. In other words, more capital spending is a necessity simply to maintain current output -- much less meet growth in demand. But at the same time, it's going to take a combination of higher oil prices and lower production costs for oil companies to be able to balance capital spending for growth with cash from operations. For now, though, it's a good sign that capital spending continues to fall across the industry. After all, the current environment was a product of too much aggressive investment too quickly, which resulted in more oil than the world had use for and oil prices still down more than half 2014 levels. Are these oil producers worthy investments today? As things stand they're all still spending more than they're making, but like the industry trends suggest, the gap is narrowing. The rebound in oil prices during the second quarter is likely to have narrowed the gap even further. As Mr. Barron put it to me in an email, "Crude price stability and continued access to capital will ultimately be a major factor in investment decisions. Major (oil price) moves are very disruptive. As things stand now though, the industry could be looking to move on from the price crash." That's likely to be the case for these three companies as well. The marijuana industry has been on an incredible ride over the past 20 years, and it appears as if that ride could pick up steam once again come November. As it stands now, half of all U.S. states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, which both recently legalized medicinal marijuana entirely through the legislative process (i.e., without putting the issue on a ballot for citizens to vote on). An additional four states -- Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska -- have legalized the sale of marijuana for recreational purposes to adults ages 21 and up. The result, according to cannabis research firm ArcView Market Research, was an estimated $5.4 billion in legal marijuana sales in the U.S. in 2015. Between now and 2020, ArcView believes the legal-marijuana market can grow by an average of 30% per year. This is why November is such an important time for the cannabis industry. Residents in at least eight states are set to vote on a marijuana initiative or amendment that could legalize medical or recreational marijuana. Approval is, of course, no guarantee, with Florida's attempt to pass a medical-marijuana amendment narrowly failing in 2014, and Oregon's first attempt to pass a recreational-marijuana law falling short in 2012. However, with Gallup suggesting in its October 2015 poll that 58% of respondents now favor the full legalization of cannabis, a rapid expansion of the industry seems quite possible. Marijuana's expansion definitely has investors seeing its potential -- but that's not the only group of individuals whose attention has been caught. The Internal Revenue Service and its highly trained team of auditors is seeing green as well. Marijuana has the IRS seeing green For those of you who may need the reminder, cannabis-based businesses face two inherent disadvantages as long as the federal government keeps marijuana as a schedule 1 (and therefore illicit) drug. First, businesses that sell substances which are defined as illicit by the federal government are disallowed from taking normal businesses deductions when they prepare their taxes. This U.S. tax code, 280E, means that marijuana companies can't deduct even simple things, like rent, when filing their annual income taxes. It also means they're likely paying a much higher tax rate than normal businesses with similar revenue and income. Secondly, since marijuana is still considered illegal at the federal level, banks generally want nothing to do with the industry. Of the roughly 6,700 banks around the country, just 3% have been willing to work with cannabis-based businesses, the reason being that banks fear the potential for prosecution down the road for circumventing a federal law. This has left cannabis-based business to mostly deal in cash, which is both a security risk, and a logistical nightmare come tax time. According to Marijuana Business Daily, the IRS has set its keen eyes on Colorado's marijuana businesses and is specifically focusing on Form 8300, which is a form that needs to be filed by businesses with the IRS in any instance where $10,000 or more in cash was received as payment. With the industry so reliant on cash, there's the notion that it could be easier for payments to fly under the radar of the IRS, or for money laundering to occur. MBD notes, via Colorado attorney Jim Thornburn, that at least 30 of the more than 500 marijuana dispensaries in Colorado have been hit with a Form 8300 tax audit within the past couple of weeks. It's worth noting that all businesses are required to file Form 8300 when receiving $10,000 or more in cash, not just the marijuana industry. But given that so few banks have been willing to offer basic financial services, such as a checking account, to cannabis-based businesses, the IRS could be taking an especially careful look to ensure it gets its fair share of taxes from the industry. Chalk up yet another reason to not invest in marijuana (for now) Although there are clear avenues for the marijuana industry to rapidly grow, there are an increasing number of obstacles standing in the way of John and Jane Q. Investor who'd like to profit from marijuana's expansion. We've discussed two of the biggest disadvantages: taxes and a lack of access to basic financial services. But we can also see there are more issues to contend with. If the IRS is going to pay extra close attention to cash transactions in the cannabis industry, legal expenses for these businesses could be a lot higher than investors had factored in. Again, I want to reiterate that IRS audits of Form 8300 are normal across all businesses, but the cash-specific nature of the marijuana industry makes it a prime target for the IRS. Additionally, most marijuana-based businesses that you can buy as an investor are trading on over-the-counter exchanges and/or are losing money. In theory, there's nothing wrong with buying a stock on the OTC exchanges. However, listing requirements can be more lax on OTC boards, which can make it tougher for you, the investor, to get any sort of up-to-date information on a company's balance sheet, or in some cases business model. What you'll find as you peruse through the minefield of marijuana stocks is that they're nearly all penny stocks with a mountain of losses. As I've said previously, the marijuana industry isn't worth your hard-earned investment dollars unless we see genuine change from Capitol Hill. When the industry becomes more business-friendly is when investors can consider entering this space. But until that time comes, green means "stop" when we're talking about investing in marijuana. When President Obama leaves office in roughly six months' time, he'll most likely be remembered for his hallmark legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which is more commonly referred to as "Obamacare." Since Obamacare became the health law of the land on Jan. 1, 2014, the rate of uninsured in the U.S. has been steadily falling. According to Gallup, the uninsurance rate has dropped more than six percentage points to 11% as of the first quarter of 2016, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pegs the uninsured rate at just 9.1% as of the end of 2015. This is down from 16% prior to Obamacare's implementation. Obama stands by the ACA through its ups and downs There have been a lot of positives to come from Obamacare. Low-income persons and families earning more than 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) but less than 138% of the FPL have found coverage through the expansion of Medicaid programs in 31 states. Additionally, people who wanted insurance but were previously shut out of purchasing it because of a pre-existing health condition now have the guaranteed acceptance of the ACA in their corner. But Obamacare has also undergone numerous struggles. Technical glitches with the backbone of the federal government's marketplace exchange, HealthCare.gov, hampered enrollment during the first year. Also, the ineffectiveness of the risk corridor discouraged new insurers from entering the marketplace. Yet the biggest concern for Obamacare has been affordability. A recent analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation of the cheapest silver plans in 14 major cities estimated an average premium price increase of 11% in 2017. Despite these challenges, President Obama, as expected, has stood by his hallmark legislation. President Obama continues to call on the remaining 19 states, such as Texas and Florida, to accept federal aid and expand their Medicaid programs so millions of additional low-income individuals and families can be covered. Obama has also urged Congress to help make prescription drugs more affordable by requiring drugmakers to disclose their production and development costs. Additionally, he's advocated allowing the federal government to use its might to better help negotiate prices for programs like Medicare. But one of the president's most recent suggestions is a bit of a headscratcher, to say the least. Did Obama just suggest changing Obamacare? In an article published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the president urged Congress to revisit the public option for health insurance in areas where insurance coverage is sparse. This so-called "public option" would be government-run healthcare that patients could choose instead of privately-run healthcare. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 664 counties around the country may only have a single insurer to choose from in 2017 -- and as we well know, having a single choice reduces any chance of cost-competitiveness. Comparatively, in 2016 there are only 225 counties with one insurer to choose from. According to President Obama, one in eight enrollees currently lives in an area where health insurance options are limited to just one or two insurers. We certainly don't need to look very far to see how painful a lack of coverage options can be. Wyoming is the only state in the U.S. to have just a single health insurance provider to choose plans from; not surprisingly, the average pre-subsidy premium in 2016 is a horrifying $571 a month. By comparison, the average premium across the 38 states on HealthCare.gov is $396 a month. Insurance options in Alaska are also sparse. In 2016, the two insurers within the state -- Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield and Moda Health -- received the OK for average rate increases of nearly 40%, and their average monthly premium now stands at $737 a month. Colorado and Bernie Sanders have beaten Obama's call for change Of course, Obama's call for single-payer healthcare (at least in rural communities) isn't the only call for change. The state of Colorado actually has an initiative up for a vote, known as Amendment 69, in the November election that will rebuff Obamacare and institute a single-payer healthcare system within the state. Proponents of Amendment 69 suggest that there are two key advantages to single payer. First, and perhaps most importantly, it disassociates health insurance from the workplace. Some people are forced to stick with unrewarding jobs because of their health insurance benefits. With single-payer, you'd have the freedom to change jobs knowing that you'll be covered at all times. Secondly, single-payer could actually save money. Insurance companies are known to give premium discounts to large companies that bring them thousands, or tens of thousands, of employees to insure. Imagine what would happen if an entire state full of 5.5 million people suddenly needed health insurance. There would be a bidding war that would (presumably) greatly favor the consumer. Before Colorado was putting single-payer on the table, now-former Democratic Party presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders was trumpeting his Medicare-for-All single-payer care. Funded through a series of tax increases to businesses (a 6.2% income-based healthcare premium) and consumers (a 2.2% premium tax), as well as progressive income taxes and cost-savings from the repeal of Obamacare, Sanders' plan was aimed at making healthcare a right for all citizens. These reforms could be a bumpier ride than Obamacare Despite Obama's call to change Obamacare in counties where consumers have few, if any, choices, a single-payer healthcare system (or a public option) is itself not a perfect solution, either. One of the biggest challenges could be the initial costs. On one hand, there would be savings associated with the absence of Obamacare costs. On the other hand, the costs to maintain universal healthcare, even with the potential cost-savings described above, could be enormous. In Colorado, for example, Amendment 69 would tack on a 10% tax -- 6.67% paid by employers and 3.33% by workers, regardless of whether they're full-time, part-time, or seasonal. The state's income tax would also jump 3.33% to nearly 8%. Residents and businesses in these smaller counties could struggle under the weight of these higher costs. There are also concerns that the existing healthcare network could be completely overwhelmed by single-payer healthcare. If health insurance were suddenly universal, we could see a flood of patients enter the healthcare system in areas where there is presumably sparse physician and hospital coverage. This could lead to exceptionally long waits to see a doctor or specialist. Not to mention, physicians could be required to enter into contracts with single-payer counties, and they may have little visibility on what they'd be reimbursed. It really is anyone's guess where we go from here in terms of healthcare. While Obamacare has demonstrated success in specific areas, it's also had its drawbacks, and it appears that even President Obama is willing to admit some of those drawbacks in his call for a public option. As both consumers and investors, I'd suggest keeping a close eye on this evolving discussion as it could have a very direct impact on your wallet (and health). It can be justly said that, without Social Security, a lot of today's retirees would be in big trouble. Although the program is designed to provide coverage to the disabled and survivors of deceased workers, the primary purpose of Social Security is to supply income to retired workers to assist them in meeting their month-to-month expenses. According to Gallup, nearly six in 10 retirees count on Social Security income to be a "major" source of income in retirement; thus, without this source of income, America's retirees would likely be in bad shape financially. Yet, the biggest way seniors can influence what they're paid by Social Security, other than working for at least 35 years and earning as much as possible, is by choosing the age at which they'll claim benefits. Seniors can begin claiming benefits as soon as age 62. When you file can greatly influence your payout The formula that determines what you'll be paid in benefits is based on your full retirement age, or FRA, which is a dynamic number that entitles you to 100% of your benefits and changes, based on your birth year. For future retirees, your FRA is going to be between 66 years and 67 years. If you retire at any point before you reach your FRA, your monthly benefit will be lower than the full benefit you'd have received if you'd waited until your FRA to sign up. Conversely, waiting to file for benefits until after your FRA can boost your benefit above and beyond 100%. For each year you hold off on signing up, your benefit increases by about 8%. This means claiming benefits at age 62 with an FRA of 66 years could result in a 25% haircut from your full benefit. Comparatively, waiting until age 70, the last year where waiting increases your payout, could boost your payout to 132% of your FRA benefit. What do most Americans do? Based on SSA data from 2013 that was analyzed by the Centers for Retirement Research at Boston College, about 45% of seniors claim benefits at age 62. Overall, three in five people choose to claim benefits early, before hitting full retirement age. Nearly a third of seniors wait until their FRA to claim benefits. Finally, approximately 10% of retirees claim Social Security after their FRA when their payout has grown to more than 100% of their FRA benefits. Nearly a quarter of seniors regret doing this However, according to a recently released annual survey from Nationwide Retirement Institute (NRI), nearly a quarter (23%) of surveyed people aged 50 and up regret the age at which they filed for Social Security benefits. Another 24% of seniors told NRI that their retirement benefits were lower than expected. Admittedly, this means three-quarters of those surveyed wouldn't change when they filed for benefits, but 39% of seniors also noted that a life event forced them to begin taking Social Security benefits. In other words, quite a few seniors are either unhappy with their decision to claim benefits early, or were forced into claiming benefits when their intention would have been to wait. It's important to know that there is a "do-over" clause built into Social Security -- if you realize, relatively quickly, that you're not happy with your decision to sign up for benefits. You can fill out a form, known as Form SSA-521, to request a withdrawal of application. Regardless of when you first filed for benefits, as long as you file Form SSA-521 with the SSA within the first 12 months of claiming benefits, and you repay every cent of benefits received up to those first 12 months -- which could include benefits paid to your spouse or children -- it'll be as if your original claim never occurred, and your benefits will be able to grow once more at 8% per year. This do-over clause can come in especially handy for those seniors who've filed for benefits early, only to take up a full-time, or well-paying part-time, job within the first year of receiving Social Security benefits. Seniors with wage income may not need the boost in income provided by Social Security, and could be better served by waiting to file. Additionally, seniors really need to take the time to understand their claiming options, and have a plan in place before hitting retirement. Whether this means sitting down with a financial advisor and discussing your options, or reviewing your options with your significant other and immediate family, it should be done well before hitting your golden years. Lastly, when a lot of seniors admit that a life event forced them to claim benefits, it suggests that they may not have properly budgeted for emergencies or unplanned expenses. A simple solution (for workers and retirees) is to stick to a budget, which should help apportion more money for emergency funds and retirement accounts. Budgeting tools online can make setting up a plan a breeze, with the biggest challenge nowadays being that you have to formulate measurable goals that hold you accountable for your saving/spending habits. Getting your family involved, and setting aside money for an emergency fund or investment account on a monthly basis, can help improve your chances of being accountable and staying on track. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to endorse Hillary Clinton in a prime time address at the Democratic convention, the New York Times reported on Sunday. Citing Bloomberg's adviser Howard Wolfson, the newspaper said that he plans to make the case for Clinton from the "perspective of a business leader and an independent." Bloomberg, who was previously elected as a Republican and later became an independent, has been sharply critical of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. More than 1,000 people converged on a Wisconsin town Friday to honor a 14-year-old girl with a fatal illness who has chosen end-of-life hospice care over surgery. Jerika Bolen has who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, a disease which is often fatal for adolescents. She has to use a power wheelchair, a ventilator to help her breathe for 12 hours each day, and has had more than 30 surgeries since being diagnosed at just eight months old, with her muscles further deteriorating after each procedure. At the end of August, rather than undergo another surgery, Bolen has instructed her mother to pull the plug on her ventilator and leave her to die. "There were a lot of tears, but then I realized Im going to be in a better place, and Im not going to be in this terrible pain," Bolen told the Appleton Post-Crescent last week. "Ive been working on it and thinking about it for way longer than anyone else has." Bolen's mother, Jen, has vowed to spend the summer fulfilling her daughter's final wishes, which include trips to the movies, fireworks with her grandparents, sleepovers with friends. And the prom. Clad in a blue-green gown, Jerika arrived at the venue after receiving an escort from 17 Appleton police squad cars and a fire truck. The Post-Crescent reported that she received bouquets of flowers from as far afield as Kuwait. Well-wishers came from far afield, too. John Current drove his family to Appleton from California, bringing a stuffed animal as a gift. "Its inspiring, its sad and emotional," Current said. "Its the whole thing. She just captivated me ... out there on the dance floor [she looks] like shes living life." The first dance honors went to Jerika's mother, Jen. The song? Martina McBride's "In My Daughter's Eyes". Click for more from the Appleton Post-Crescent. The Democratic National Convention's rules committee Saturday defeated an attempt by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders to abolish superdelegates in future presidential campaigns, but later approved a plan that could see their influence significantly reduced. The Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns worked out an agreement to create a so-called "unity commission" to revise the nominating process, including changing superdelegate rules. The plan won near-unanimous support from the committee. The 21-member commission will study a number of issues, including how to improve access to caucuses and how to broaden the party's appeal. For superdelegates, the commission's recommendation is that Congress members, governors and other elected officials should remain as unpledged delegates, but that other delegates would be bound proportionally to the primary results of their state. Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver endorsed the plan, saying it would "result in the reduction of superdelegates as we know them by two-thirds." The Clinton campaign also expressed support for the commission. Any changes to superdelegate rules would still be subject to DNC approval. A report by the commission is due by Jan. 1, 2018. The compromise was reached after a lengthy meeting in which Sanders supporters grew increasingly frustrated as their efforts on superdelegates were voted down. Discussing his proposal to eliminate superdelegates, Aaron Regunberg, a Sanders delegate and a Rhode Island lawmaker, argued that the current system does not reflect the "core values" of the Democratic party. Supporters of the effort said earlier Saturday that they had enough support to potentially bring the issue to a vote on the convention floor in Philadelphia next week. But it was not immediately clear whether that would still happen after the passage of the compromise plan. As the various amendments were voted down, Sanders supporters in the back of the hall expressed their frustration, shouting: "Shame ... shame ... shame!" "Young people in the Democratic Party are very, very angry," Indiana delegate Jonathan Little said during debate on one of the amendments. "The party is very close to splitting." Sanders has been critical of superdelegates during his contentious primary fight with Clinton for the nomination. His supporters argue Clinton's substantial superdelegate lead may have influenced the outcome of the race, although Clinton also led Sanders with pledged delegates. Late in the race, Sanders sought to flip superdelegates with little success. There are 713 superdelegates, mainly members of Congress and members of the Democratic National Committee. Clinton leads Sanders with superdelegates 602 to 48. Combining pledged delegates and superdelegates, Clinton leads 2,807 to 1,894. With the convention just days away, the hearing was one of the last opportunities for Sanders' supporters to push their agenda. The party platform debate concluded recently with a draft document that included many of Sanders' priorities, including proposals for a $15 federal minimum wage, abolition of the death penalty and steps to break up large Wall Street banks. Fox News' James Rosen, Jason Donner and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton will have a former New York City mayor on her convention stage, too. Ex-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is set to give a prime-time speech and endorse the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee at this weeks Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia just a week after former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani addressed the Republican convention in a fiery speech to lend his support to GOP nominee Donald Trump. The news was first reported by The New York Times and subsequently confirmed by Bloomberg, who retweeted the Times story with the title highlighted: Dismayed by Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg will Endorse Hillary Clinton. "Dismayed by Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg Will Endorse @HillaryClinton" https://t.co/M9VQ45ozbB Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) July 24, 2016 Bloomberg was said to be weighing his own possible independent run for the presidency earlier this year, but in March he made the decision not to toss his hat in the ring. Bloomberg served three terms as New York City mayor, running twice as a Republican and once as an independent. He had been a registered Democrat before seeking the post. The theme of Bloomberg's Wednesday night speech was disclosed by a senior adviser. As the nations leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle, Howard Wolfson told The Times. This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg has been highly critical of Trump, criticizing his fellow billionaire businessmans plans to ban Muslim immigrants and deport illegal immigrants -- among other areas of disagreement. These moves would divide us at home and compromise our moral leadership around the world, Bloomberg wrote in a March column in which he discussed his decision not to run for president. The end result would be to embolden our enemies, threaten the security of our allies, and put our own men and women in uniform at greater risk. Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was sidelined from her party convention just hours before the Monday start of the Philadelphia gathering, after leaked emails indicating an anti-Bernie Sanders bias in her operation inflamed the left flank of the party. The controversial party boss will no longer preside over the convention, and reportedly does not have a speaking role. The fallout was swift, as even more emails surfaced Sunday showing Schultz personally blasting the Vermont independent senators insurgent primary presidential bid against Hillary Clinton. In one, she practically laughed off Sanders after he vowed to replace her as DNC chairwoman if elected. This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president, she wrote in the May 21 email. Following the release of this and numerous other emails in a WikiLeaks document dump, Fox News confirmed Sunday that Wasserman Schultz will not preside over the Democratic convention. The decision was reached amid pressure from the White House and Hillary Clinton campaign. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will instead preside over the Democratic proceedings as convention chairwoman. The rapid-fire set of developments ahead of the Philadelphia convention kick-off indicate a party in crisis management mode as officials try to prevent anger over the email leak controversy and other issues from disrupting proceedings. The emails only bolstered claims from Sanders and Republican nominee Donald Trump that the system was rigged against the Vermont senator. Sanders himself blasted the DNC and Wasserman Schultz in interviews Sunday, demanding her resignation as party chairwoman to boot. I think [Wasserman Schultz] should resign. Period. And I think we need a new chair who is going the lead us in a very different direction, Sanders told ABCs This Week on Sunday. Sanders said these emails reiterate that reason why she should not be chair. Sanders is himself set to speak on the opening night of the Democratic convention, securing an A-list position after a hard-fought, ideological primary battle with Clinton. But he hasnt forgiven Wasserman Schultz for an alleged pro-Clinton stance during the campaign. He repeated those claims in the wake of WikiLeaks release of roughly 20,000 Democratic National Committee emails. The leaks, which include emails from January 2015 to May 2016, purportedly came from the accounts of seven DNC officials. In a May 5 email, a DNC employee asked a colleague to collect information on his religious beliefs claiming it might sway voters in West Virginia and Kentucky. In that particular email, Sanders' name was not mentioned, but he was the only other candidate in the race at that time against Clinton. DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall wrote, This would make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. Others from Wasserman Schultz herself contained very strong language, raising questions about her status as an ostensibly neutral party official. Responding to Sanders complaints the party hasnt been fair to him, she wrote to a staffer in an April email: Spoken like someone who has never been a member of the Democratic Party and has no understanding of what we do. Responding to the same staffer a month later regarding Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver blaming the Nevada state party for a raucous convention, she wrote, Damn liar. Particularly scummy that he barely acknowledges the violent and threatening behavior that occurred. Sanders will be joined Monday night on stage at the Wells Fargo Center by first lady Michelle Obama and several other speakers, according to the Democratic National Committee. CNN reported that Wasserman Schultz, however, would not have a speaking role in Philadelphia. Wasserman Schultz is not on the list of speakers released by the DNC. A Democratic source told the network that she had been "quarantined." By contrast, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus delivered an address on the closing night of the GOP convention in Cleveland. The Democratic National Committee and Wasserman Schultz already were facing internal unrest over party rules, but the email leak aggravated pro-Sanders Democrats even more. Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, had argued all along that Washington Democrats favored Clinton. Among other decisions, he pointed to Wasserman Schultzs decision to limit the number of primary debates, which he argued was meant to protect Clinton. Sanders -- who railed against what he called a rigged system throughout his campaign -- has since endorsed Wasserman Schultzs primary rival in her re-election bid, in another sign of the acrimony between them. Clinton chief strategist Joel Benenson, on "Fox News Sunday," defended the fairness of the primary elections and said the DNC would conduct a full review of the emails. He said people should not jump to conclusions. "The DNCs impact in these things is minimal compared to the results. What candidates and campaigns spend and do on the ground, talking to voters day in and day out, thats what determines who wins, he said. That Sanders gets a prime-time speaking spot is also significant, considering the rival campaigns for weeks negotiated his primary exit strategy, with Sanders insisting that at least some of his progressive agenda -- including free college education, better international trade deals and more social and economic equality -- be included in the party platform. He ultimately endorsed Clinton a few weeks ago. Fox News' Chad Pergram, Garrett Tenney and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. Donald Trumps campaign wasted no time Sunday stoking tensions inside the Democratic ranks over Hillary Clintons choice of running mate and the leak of party files suggesting some officials worked against Bernie Sanders with Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort saying, the fix was in from the beginning. With the Democratic National Convention set to kick off Monday in Philadelphia, Manafort denied that the Trump campaign was actively prodding Sanders supporters to disrupt the convention. We dont have to egg them, they have a lot to be complaining about, he told Fox News Sunday. However, he went on to blast the Democratic National Committee over the leaked emails suggesting a pro-Clinton bias, something Sanders backers have charged from the outset. Their emails have proven the system was rigged against them from the start, Manafort said. The only reason theyre not the nominee is because the superdelegates, who are the elected officials in the Democratic Party. The fix was in from the beginning. Clinton chief strategist Joel Benenson, on the same program, defended the fairness of the primary elections and said the DNC would conduct a full review of the emails. He said people should wait for the review to be completed and not jump to conclusions. The issue is these primaries are largely fought out on the ground with voters. The DNCs impact in these things is minimal compared to the results. What candidates and campaigns spend and do on the ground, talking to voters day in and day out, thats what determines who wins, he said. The leaks, which include emails from January 2015 to May 2016, purportedly came from the accounts of seven DNC officials. In one email, DNC staffers were looking for ways to blunt Sanders popularity with Democrats. In a May 5 email, a DNC employee asked a colleague to collect information on his religious beliefs claiming it might sway voters in West Virginia and Kentucky. In that particular email, Sanders name was not mentioned, but he was the only other candidate in the race at that time against Clinton. DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall wrote, This would make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. The emails fueled tensions in Saturdays session of the partys so-called Rules Committee, where the role of superdelegates was a major sticking point. There, the Sanders and Clinton campaigns worked out an agreement to form a unity commission to revisit the role of superdelegates -- party insiders and officials free to support whichever candidate they want, and who largely went for Clinton in the 2016 primary. The same committee, though, angered Sanders supporters by defeating a push to abolish superdelegates entirely. Meanwhile, liberal groups and pro-Sanders delegates and activists are unhappy over Clintons selection of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as running mate, a choice blasted on the left as too moderate. Sanders himself also told NBCs Meet the Press that he would have preferred to see Clinton pick Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren over Kaine. Trump ribbed Clinton over the pick on Twitter, writing: The Bernie Sanders supporters are furious with the choice of Tim Kaine, who represents the opposite of what Bernie stands for. Philly fight? Manafort said the Democratic ticket represents the establishment and the status quo. Hes been mayor, governor, senator, he has no idea how to create jobs, nor does Hillary Clinton, he said. Benenson defended the Kaine choice, and also said that Kaine, who once supported the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, is now in line with Clinton in wanting to seek changes. [Trade deals] have to protect American workers, protect jobs, make sure that they dont reduce wages, they raise wages in America, and protect our national security. She is confident that Tim Kaine is in line with her in making sure that any trade deal that this administration engages in will meet those criteria, he said. President Obamas Kenyan half-brother wants to make America great again so hes voting for Donald Trump. I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart, Malik Obama told The Post from his home in the rural village of Kogelo. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. Obama, 58, a longtime Democrat, said his deep disappointment in his brother Baracks administration has led him to recently switch allegiance to the party of Lincoln. The last straw, he said, came earlier this month when FBI Director James Comey recommended not prosecuting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her use of a private e-mail servers while secretary of state. She should have known better as the custodian of classified information, said Obama. Hes also annoyed that Clinton and President Obama killed Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy, whom he called one of his best friends. Malik Obama dedicated his 2012 biography of his late father to Khadafy and others who were making this world a better place. Click for the full story from the New York Post. The Democrats begin Day One of their convention Monday still facing the potential for rowdy protests from Bernie Sanders delegates and supporters, despite the ouster of Democratic National Committee leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz serving as a peace offering to liberal factions of the party that have accused her of tipping the scales for Hillary Clinton. Sanders supporters were angry over leaked emails that show the Florida congresswoman and her team blasting Sanders and discussing ways to undermine him. While her resignation could calm that storm, the liberal wing still appears intent on protesting over other grievances including Clinton, the partys presumptive presidential nominee, picking Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate. Norman Solomon, a Sanders delegate from California, said Sunday that Clinton picking a centrist like Kaine is an assault on the progressive agenda. He said the roughly 1,250 Sanders delegates connected to his Bernie Delegates Network are considering walking out during the Virginia senators expected acceptance speech at the Wells Fargo Center, and they are even looking into contesting his nomination. He said their response reflects anger and disappointment over Clinton and like-minded Washington Democrats control over the party. We dont know exactly what to expect on the convention floor, Solomon also said. The uncertainty and rancor on several fronts puts the Democrats in a similar position as the Republicans when they entered their convention a week ago looking to soothe tensions between their presidential nominee and those who backed his primary rivals. Only the clashes on the Democratic side have already outmatched last weeks fireworks in Cleveland, with Wasserman Schultz resignation standing as a stunning development on convention eve. The political spectacle already has distracted from the historic convention where Clinton is set to become the first female presidential nominee of a major party. While Wasserman Schultz has been largely sidelined from the convention -- though she will open and close it -- Sanders is set to speak Monday. In a written statement, he praised the DNC chairwoman for stepping down. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race, he said. The resignation comes after WikiLeaks on Thursday released roughly 20,000 DNC emails, with more revelations emerging Sunday about Wasserman Schultz criticizing the Vermont senator to staffers. He isn't going to be president, she wrote in one May 21 email, also saying that Sanders vowing at the time to replace her as chairwoman was a silly story. Clinton chief strategist Joel Benenson, on "Fox News Sunday," defended the fairness of the primary elections and said the DNC would conduct a full review of the emails. He said people should not jump to conclusions. "The DNCs impact in these things is minimal compared to the results. What candidates and campaigns spend and do on the ground, talking to voters day in and day out, thats what determines who wins, he said. Solomon suggested Sunday that the Sanders delegates frustration goes beyond the Kaine pick to include convention rules, climate change and the party platform, which they think fails to include enough of Sanders hard-fought progressive agenda. On Sunday in Philadelphia, several large protests took place near City Hall, in nearly 100-degree temperatures and under the watchful eye of city police officers. A lot of Democratic supporters labeled Bernie Sanders supporters conspiracy theorists. The WikiLeaks confirms what we thought all along, said Perry Mitchell, a 32-year-old Maryland who came to Philadelphia to participate in protests. Most of the protests focus on concerns about clean energy. You see both parties are controlled by the oil and gas industry; those are the big donors, said Wendy Brawer a protester from New York City. But in a movement, you still have to do something to create change. Changing your lifestyle means youre part of the solution. People have to use less. Bernie Sanders may have already endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but the Vermont senator is more reluctant to give her running mate the stamp of approval -- and said Sunday he would have preferred seeing Elizabeth Warren on the ticket. While Sanders served with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine in the Senate, he said Sunday he would have preferred to see his Senate colleague from Massachusetts up there with Clinton. Tim is a very, very smart guy. Hes a very nice guy, Sanders said on NBC's "Meet The Press." His political views are not my political views. He is more conservative than I am. He said: Would I have preferred to see somebody like an Elizabeth Warren selected by Secretary Clinton? Yes, I would have. Warren, a Massachusetts senator, and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown were among the more progressive leaders in the Democratic Party who were being considered for the job that ultimately went to Kaine. A leftwing firebrand particularly popular with Sanders supporters, Warren has taken on the role of attack dog against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. That job, however, has often made her the target of Trumps tweets, including one sent out Saturday morning suggesting that Warren badly wanted the VP spot. Warren responded later in the day. Im right where I want to be, @realDonaldTrump: Calling you out & holding you responsible for your reckless vision for America, she tweeted. Turkey has formed a state of emergency coordination committee chaired by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, according to the Official Gazette. The Prime Ministrys circular about the committee was published in the gazette late Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported. The committee will have representatives from Turkish ministries of interior, justice, labor and social security, foreign affairs, finance, defense and national education. The Prime Ministrys undersecretary will also participate in the body. The decisions taken by the committee will be carried out immediately by all relevant ministries and public institutions. The coordination of the state of emergency will be implemented by the governors in the provinces in the future. Turkey's parliament ratified a motion for a three-month state of emergency by a vote of 346 for, 115 against July 21 following a failed coup attempt orchestrated by U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who leads the Fetullah Terrorist Organization. The deadly coup attempt began late July 15 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically-elected government, killing at least 246 people and injuring more than 2,100 others. Gulen is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming a so called parallel state. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she will soon step down as Democratic National Committee chairwoman, amid the fallout over leaked emails indicating an anti-Bernie Sanders bias in her operation -- a stunning development just hours before the start of her party's convention. In a written statement, the controversial party leader said she was "privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years." She said her first priority is serving the people of her Florida congressional district while stressing the importance of helping elect Hillary Clinton, adding: "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention." She said she would still "open and close the convention," which begins Monday in Philadelphia, and address delegates "about the stakes involved in this election," in her role as party chair. She apparently will step down at the end of the convention. Vice Chairwoman Donna Brazile is slated to take over as interim chair during the rest of the general election campaign. The announcement came just hours after reports first surfaced that Wasserman Schultz may be denied a speaking role at the convention, and that she would not be presiding -- a decision apparently made under pressure from the Clinton campaign and the White House. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, will instead preside over the Democratic proceedings as convention chairwoman. On the sidelines, party officials were already discussing Wasserman Schultz' role as DNC chairwoman. One Democratic source told Fox News, Debbie is being forced out sooner than later. The rapid-fire set of developments ahead of the convention kick-off raise immediate questions about whether the party can unite its battling factions in Philadelphia this week. Officials were clearly trying to prevent anger over the email leak controversy and other issues from disrupting proceedings. The emails only bolstered claims from Sanders and Republican nominee Donald Trump that the system was rigged against the Vermont senator. Trump tweeted after the DNC news broke: Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz (@DWStweets.) Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 Sanders himself blasted the DNC and Wasserman Schultz in interviews earlier Sunday, demanding her resignation as party chairwoman. I think [Wasserman Schultz] should resign. Period. And I think we need a new chair who is going the lead us in a very different direction, Sanders told ABCs This Week on Sunday, hours before the resignation was announced. He later issued a statement thanking her for her service, and saying she made "the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party." President Obama and Clinton both issued statements thanking Wasserman Schultz for her service. "I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership," Clinton said, adding that she will serve as "honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country" and act as a surrogate. The WikiLeaks document dump, which included emails from January 2015 to May 2016, purportedly came from the accounts of seven DNC officials. In a May 5 email, a DNC employee asked a colleague to collect information on his religious beliefs claiming it might sway voters in West Virginia and Kentucky. In that particular email, Sanders' name was not mentioned, but he was the only other candidate in the race at that time against Clinton. DNC chief financial officer Brad Marshall wrote, This would make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. Others from Wasserman Schultz herself contained very strong language, raising questions about her status as an ostensibly neutral party official. Responding to Sanders complaints the party hasnt been fair to him, she wrote to a staffer in an April email: Spoken like someone who has never been a member of the Democratic Party and has no understanding of what we do. Responding to the same staffer a month later regarding Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver blaming the Nevada state party for a raucous convention, she wrote, Damn liar. Particularly scummy that he barely acknowledges the violent and threatening behavior that occurred. About 148 million years have passed since dozens of corpses of meat-eating dinosaurs were deposited here, just north of the San Rafael Swell and about 30 miles southeast of Price. It's been nearly a century since the bones first were chipped out of the limestone and shipped to museums around the world, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. But it's not too late to secure the crime scene -- or at least that's what out-of-state researchers and college students who paid the site an annual visit in June hope. What facetiously has been referred to as a "murder mystery" at Cleveland-Lloyd began with excavations in the late 1920s and remains unsolved, even after the uncovering and analysis of more than 12,000 bones. Paleontologists know water likely pooled in this onetime depression. But why so many bodies? And why so many carnivore bodies -- outnumbering herbivores 3 to 1? "An early researcher out here once stated that there are almost as many hypotheses for this site as there are annual visitors," said University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh assistant professor Joseph Peterson. The quarry has proved a reliable source for the Allosaurus, which could grow 30 feet long and had knifelike teeth, razor-sharp claws and the general profile necessary to grab the attention of young museumgoers. Cleveland-Lloyd even has its own visitors center -- complete with an assembled Allosaurus skeleton, which is Utah's state fossil -- and would become Jurassic National Monument in the Public Lands Initiative proposed by Utah Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz. Local paleontologists, however, have been less interested in hauling out a 50th Allosaurus than finding new dinosaurs at other sites. Peterson and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) assistant professor Jonathan Warnock were surprised to learn about five years ago that the historic quarry had no active digs, and they applied to the Bureau of Land Management for a permit to conduct a more technologically informed study of the fossil record. The long-prevailing theory held that near the end of the Jurassic era, the quarry was a muddy pit. After one unfortunate soul became mired, others arrived to feed on it and met the same end, then lured more hopeful diners who didn't have the benefit, in those days, of Yelp. That scenario neatly explained the prevalence of carnivores at Cleveland-Lloyd. The only problem: Almost no other evidence supports it. This became clearer from 2001 to 2004, when a more sophisticated study from then-University of Utah master's student Terry "Bucky" Gates found that the quarry had little in common with other well-known predator traps, like the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Few bones had bite marks. There was not the number of shed teeth that would indicate a dinosaur feeding frenzy, nor the broken bones you'd expect from dinosaurs desperately writhing to free themselves. For that matter, the lower-leg bones discovered were flat, not vertical, as they would be if they'd been staked into mud. Gates, who lectures at North Carolina State, thought they might have met their end at a watering hole during a drought, with the predominance of Allosaurus explained by the sickliness of plant-reliant herbivores, who dared not risk a showdown. An egg found at the site had an extra shell layer, Gates wrote, a telltale sign of stress in modern animals. His theory was a better fit for the evidence, but it wasn't bulletproof. Paleontologist Mark Loewen, who looked in vain for more bones from a Ceratosaurus skeleton at the site in 2007, observed that while some bones showed signs of having been trampled, there likely would have been more if skeletons had lain exposed at a watering hole frequented by 2-ton reptiles. Loewen grew up in southern Missouri, and for him, the evidence recalled a Mississippi River floodplain, where he once saw a dozen cows floating in an eddy in the middle of a cornfield. The dinosaurs died elsewhere, Loewen thought, then inflated with gas and floated to Cleveland-Lloyd. The scattering of their bones -- which Gates had attributed in part to scavengers' messy eating habits -- might more simply be the result of decomposition in water. Early returns from Peterson and Warnock's study support Loewen's hunch, though the so-called "float and bloat" effect might have worked in tandem with other causes of death. For instance: A large number of decomposing corpses would create a poisonous environment that might be responsible for the almost total absence of smaller vertebrates at the quarry. Peterson and Warnock hope a chemical analysis of the bones and sediment will reveal a fuller picture of what might have been a Jurassic cesspool. Fossil preparator Steve Clawson, meanwhile, is overseeing an effort to map the site with three-dimensional photography as students remove sediment in 5-centimeter layers, providing a visual context that previously was muddled by the inconsistent record-keeping of excavators throughout the 20th century. Mapping in the north building has shown at least three distinct orientations of the bones that may indicate three floods. Two-dimensional mapping had shown randomness. Said Gates, who shared his data with Peterson and Warnock: "What (the) work is showing is that there's a lot more work to do." It can be grueling work. Last year, students hauled out 9 tons of limestone as they exposed more of the bone layer in the quarry's south building -- essentially, a giant shed that is closed when they aren't present. This year, they were greeted by temperatures of 100 degrees and more, and those students who weren't out prospecting in the hot sun spent their day hunched in the awkward poses known only to paleontologists and yoga enthusiasts. At night, they retired to a cluster of tents. IUP student Justin Petricko was at a loss to describe the pleasure of having recently settled into a backed chair. "You have no idea," he laughed. Still, Petricko volunteered on the spot when he heard Warnock say that he'd bring another group next year. Later, he could be heard excitedly sharing that he was "locked in" for a return visit. "We always have to turn people away," Warnock said. Students "always go home excited, and they learn a whole lot. It's just a great place to work." UW-Oshkosh student Bailey Anderson found a large Allosaurus tooth on her first day. This day, she uncovered a Camarasaurus tooth. "Both times when I pulled them out, I was like, `Man, looks like a tooth, feels like a tooth -- oh my God, it's actually a tooth,'?" said Anderson, a geology buff who gives out rocks as Christmas presents. "You don't always know what you're getting when you're pulling stuff out, but it's really exciting when you have someone like Dr. Peterson come over and be like, `Yep, that's what it is.'?" Said Peterson, who is credited with finding the site's first Apatosaurus: "Finding things at Cleveland-Lloyd isn't a problem." A couple of students joined him in chorus: "The problem is we KEEP finding things at Cleveland-Lloyd." Future evidence very well may complicate the case. And if the team proves that Loewen's hunch was right -- that the bones came from elsewhere -- they still have to answer for the carnivore glut. Were the Allosauruses uniquely built to drift to this location and weather the ensuing eras? Many are adolescent -- were they teaming up to hunt large prey, contradictory to what's known about their social tendencies? Or were there simply a heck of a lot of Allosauruses? Clawson tells quarry visitors they may never know but that more questions lead to more fun. "We weren't there in the Jurassic, when all these animals were dying. But we can use statistics, mathematics and the principles of geology and biology to make a reasonable conclusion." Solar Impulse 2 began the final leg of its incredible fuel-free round-the-world journey when it took off from Egypt Saturday. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard, the solar-powered plane left Cairo International Airport at 7:28 p.m. EDT and is expected to arrive at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi Monday after a flight of about 48 hours. Trying to rest in #Si2 after taking off from Cairo. Excited to attempt the final leg of the round-the-world flight, Piccard tweeted late Saturday. The final leg, however, poses major challenges as Solar Impulse 2 flies through the heat of the Middle East. The regions current high temperatures will test the planes technology to the limits and can cause thermals and turbulence, even at high altitudes, according to the Solar Impulse team. 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 wings that supply the plane with renewable energy, via four motors. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries, which provide power for night flying. Solar Impulse Chairman Bertrand Piccard has taken turns with his fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg to fly the single-seater plane around the world. Piccard was at the controls when Solar Impulse 2 became the first solar-powered plane to cross the Atlantic last month after a flight of 71 hours and 8 minutes. The flight from Cairo to Abu Dhabi is the 17th leg of the global journey, which began when the plane flew from Abu Dhabi to Oman in March 2015. 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. However, the following leg from Hawaii to California, was delayed for nine months while the Solar Impulse team repaired damage to the planes batteries sustained on the journey from Japan. The plane has traveled more than 25,700 miles since setting off on the first leg of the trip and has racked up over 509 hours of flight time. The solar planes adventure proves the vast potential of renewable energy, according to Piccard. Clean technology is a huge opportunity that will create jobs, make profits and protect the environment, he told FoxNews.com during an in-flight interview earlier this year. Prior to its flight from Cairo to Abu Dhabi, Solar Impulse 2 made stops in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, Hawaii, California, Phoenix, Tulsa, Dayton, Lehigh Valley, New York and Seville. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers The Associated Press contributed to this report. Chicago police say an Uber driver they pulled over is a convicted felon and had an illegal gun and marijuana while driving a passenger. The department said officers arrested 41-year-old Chad Pilcher Friday. He's charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and cannabis possession. Police say he had weapons-related convictions in 2003 and 1995. Police say officers stopped the car for a seatbelt violation and found the gun. Pilcher has not entered a plea and it is not clear if he has an attorney. He did not return a call to a phone listed in his name. Uber spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said Pilcher will no longer drive for Uber. Chicago's City Council last month approved ride-sharing regulations but stopped short of requiring fingerprint background checks for drivers. Four people were killed Saturday in a shooting at an apartment complex approximately 30 miles southeast of the Texas state capitol. Police in Bastrop said that a man, two women and a child were shot to death. Spokeswoman Vicky Steffanic told reporters the shooter is dead and there is no threat to the public. Another child was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Steffanic declined to say how the shooter had died and said the victims' identities would not be released until next of kin were notified. There was no immediate word on the shooter's identity or motive. The shooting took place at around 6 p.m. local time at the Arbors of Bastrop Apartments. "I heard the shots. I heard three shots go through my apartment. One has broken my window and the other one has broken the wall and the door," resident Marta Hernandez told Fox7 Austin. Hernandez added that she and her daughter hid in their bathroom and called 911. When Hernandez looked out her window, she saw her neighbors lying in the grass. She also said that she caught a glimpse of the shooter, but did not recognize him. Residents said they were not being allowed to enter or leave the complex during the investigation. The Baton Rouge sheriff's deputy killed last Sunday ran to help another officer when he could have stayed safe in the convenience store where he was working off-duty, a minister said at his funeral Saturday. "It's a remarkable story, the story of Brad Garafola," said the Rev. Jeff Ginn, lead pastor at Istrouma Baptist Church. "He had a place of security ... a place where he could hide. He left that place of safety." Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed outside the B-Quik convenience store by 29-year-old gunman Gavin Long, who was killed by police. Three other officers were wounded. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux told mourners Saturday that one remains in critical condition and another faces a third operation on his shattered arm. All 1,500 seats were filled in Istrouma Baptist Church, where a public funeral was held for Garafola. The walls were lined with additional mourners, many of them police who had come from across the country. A funeral Mass was celebrated earlier at a Catholic church for Garafola's family and friends, according to the family's obituary. Gov. John Bel Edwards said strength and courage seem to have defined Garafola's life and death. Gautreaux said he was "courageous, compassionate, fearless, fair, brave and benevolent." His brother-in-law, Jaye Cooper, said people called Garafola "the neighborhood husband" because he cut grass, caught snakes and did other chores for people around the community. "He never asked anything for what he did," Cooper said. He said Garafola died "doing what Brad had always done -- trying to help someone else." During two hours of visitation before the funeral, a line of mourners snaked through church hallways, out the back door and into the parking lot. It included scores of officers from around Louisiana and from coast to coast. Two police officers and two sheriff's deputies came from the Seattle area. Bellevue police Officer Paul Dill said their chief feels it's important to honor brother and sister officers. He said the department sends an honor guard contingent to every out-of-state death in the line of duty. Early arrivals for Garafola's service included a deputy who worked with him in the department's foreclosure division. He was dressed in Scottish regalia for a pipe band which played "Amazing Grace" outside the church after four helicopters flew over in salute. Work in that division requires someone who can defuse the fraught business of eviction and repossession, and Garafola was good at keeping things calm, said Deputy Greg McLean. He described Garafola as a generous family man. When another deputy in the department was losing hair to chemotherapy, McLean said, "Brad said, `OK, we're going to shave our heads together.' And he did." On Friday, hundreds turned out for a funeral service for Baton Rouge police Officer Matthew Gerald, 41. Funeral services for the third officer slain, 32-year-old Montrell Jackson, are scheduled Monday, with a multi-agency memorial service for the officers Thursday. The shootings came at a time of racial tension in the city and country after a black man was shot and killed during a confrontation with two white police officers outside a convenience store. The next day a black man in Minnesota was shot and killed by police, and his girlfriend livestreamed the aftermath on Facebook. The day after that, a black gunman in Dallas opened fire during a protest against the Minnesota and Baton Rouge shootings, and killed five police officers. Gautreaux told reporters earlier that surveillance video showed Garafola firing at the gunman as bullets hit the concrete around him. "My deputy went down fighting. He returned fire to the very end," the sheriff said. Garafola leaves behind a wife and four children: sons ages 21 and 12, and daughters ages 15 and 7. Twenty-eight calls for help in the past two years have sent the Coast Guard scrambling off the Maryland coast -- but in each case the call turned out to be a hoax that originated from the same person. The Coast Guard said in a press release Friday that it has spent $500,000 responding to the fake distress calls. It could cause the potential loss of life for someone else who really is in harms way, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Sara Wallace told WJZ-TV. Each call involved the same male voice and used an emergency radio channel. The hoaxer has been making the calls since July 2014. The two most recent calls were made on the night of July 21 and the early morning of July 22. Im sinking, Im sinking, I repeat, Im sinking Im sinking, the prankster said in one of the calls, WJZ reported. Mayday. Mayday. Mayday, he said in another. The hoax calls have been radioed to the Coast Guard from Annapolis, Maryland. Making false distress calls is a felony, punishable by a maximum of six years in prison, a $10,000 civil fine, $250,000 criminal fine, NBC4 Washington reported. The Coast Guard could also seek restitution of the money it spent responding to the calls. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Dangerous heat will extend beyond the weekend, gripping large portions of the United States as a heat dome brings sweltering summer temperatures. The dome, which is a high-pressure ridge that traps hot air for an extended period of time, affected more than 110 million Americans over the weekend, when hot and very humid conditions pushed the heat index to well above 100 degrees across a large portion of the central and eastern U.S., according to the National Weather Service. Still, record hot temperatures are not expected, according to the National Weather Service. "With no strong pushes of cool air from Canada on the horizon, people from the mid-Atlantic to the Deep South can expect virtually no relief from the high heat and humidity," AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said. The hot temps reportedly have many bracing for the storms that could follow. At a news conference Sunday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention will be on hold during any thunderstorms for the safety of protesters. The four-day convention for Democrats to nominate Hillary Clinton for president begins Monday. Two medic tents, two misting tents and water will be available 24 hours a day to protesters in FDR Park, near the convention site. He strongly discourages people from camping in parks, which is against a city edict. Several marches and rallies were hitting the streets Sunday, including a march for clean energy and one supporting Bernie Sanders. Thousands are expected at each. An excessive-heat warning was issued over the weekend for much of the U.S., from North Dakota to the mid-Atlantic states and into the South. The high temps also will surge for the northwestern states, AccuWeather.com reports. This weekend, Washington was the only state that did not reach at least 90 degrees, NBC News reported. The nation is expected to experience warmer-than-normal temperatures for the rest of the summer, Voice of America reported, citing weather experts. The weather was expected to become even more oppressive during the week, with high humidity caused by the Gulf of Mexicos very warm water. The highest temperature in the United States on Saturday was 121 degrees in Death Valley, Calif.; by contrast, West Yellowstone, Mont., had the lowest temperature recorded for Sunday, at 32 degrees, the National Weather Service reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has invited leaders of some of Turkey's political parties to the presidential palace in Ankara to thank them for their stance against the coup attempt on July 15, Anadolu reported. The Turkish leader is also to receive their suggestions, a presidential source said on Sunday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Turkish president sent a letter to the head of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Binali Yildirim, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahceli. "The armed coup attempt by the FETO terrorist group aiming to demolish the democratic state ruled by a constitution, fundamental rights and liberties and the Republic of Turkey was prevented by the brave resistance of our people who strongly adhered to its democracy," read the letter. Underlining that the same decisive stance was expected from all political parties in Turkey, the letter added: "The Turkish people encumbered important responsibilities on all of our institutions by their decisive stance against the coup attempt and now expect our political parties to carry out the same responsibilities in this extremely critical period when we need to be in solidarity." The letter said the meeting will be held on July 25, at 2.00 p.m. local time (1100GMT). The mother of Shannan Gilbert, the escort whose body was found in 2011 near a mass grave of prostitutes at New Yorks Gilgo Beach, was killed on Saturday and police have charged the womans other daughter with her murder. According to Newsday, Ellenville Police released no other details about the early-morning death of Mari Gilbert, the 52-year-old mom of Shannan Gilbert. Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, disappeared in May 2010, and the discovery of her body nine months later at a remote stretch of a Long Island beach ultimately led investigators to unearth 10 other bodies. Its been speculated the deaths were connected and possibly the work of a serial killer; however, investigators have said Gilberts death was not connected to the other 10 women. Sarra Elizabeth Gilbert, 27, was charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said in a statement. She was remanded without bail and is set for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. Authorities said they would discuss the circumstances surrounding the homicide at a Monday afternoon news conference. Mari Gilbert said last year that she was not satisfied with the investigation into her daughters death. I was very angry, as any parent should be, Gilbert told Newsday at the time. But as time went by, I kind of realized that maybe that was her destiny, to help other families. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Southeast Asia's main grouping apparently failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea, intensifying a diplomatic stalemate that officials said they hope to resolve after closed-door parleys on Sunday. The foreign ministers of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations deliberated for several hours, continuing the unfruitful discussions their senior officials had on Saturday, but with no result. A bland press statement issued at the end of the talks said only that the ministers had a "candid and constructive exchange of views on regional and international issues ... as well as developments in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea." But Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said they haven't completed their discussion yet. "They are now having a working luncheon followed by an ASEAN retreat, so the issue will be discussed during the retreat," he said. Like all other ASEAN meetings, the foreign ministers' conclave also traditionally ends with a joint communique. But the sticking point is whether to include a reference to the South China Sea. ASEAN's cardinal principle is decisions by consensus, which means any country can veto a proposal. This time, it is Cambodia, China's close ally. In 2012, Cambodia also blocked a reference to the dispute, which ended with the ministers failing to issue a statement for the first time in the bloc's history. Sek said the "joint communique is still being drafted." Sunday's talks are expected to deal with terrorism, the economy, climate change, security, the impact of Brexit and other issues. But all this has been overshadowed by the July 12 decision by a Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and the ruling should have emboldened ASEAN to challenge Beijing more forcibly. That's being prevented by Cambodia, said diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. They said the draft statement to be issued by the ministers on Tuesday left blank spaces under the heading "South China Sea" until a consensus can be reached. Laos, which also is a China ally, has trod carefully and not taken sides because of its position as the host. A diplomat who attended closed door meetings told The Associated Press: "Cambodia is the villain deja vu 2012. It's really a loyalist of the big country C," the diplomat said, referring to China. Another diplomat said that the United States also did not push China during Saturday's discussions, leavingASEAN countries with little firepower. The U.S. was more keen on getting the region's support on chastising North Korea, and ignored the South China Sea during the discussions, said the diplomat. U.S. and Chinese officials were meeting ASEAN ministers as part of broader talks. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese government think tank, described the arbitration tribunal's ruling as very important because, theoretically at least, it should help resolve disputes, uphold the law and clarify the stance of the parties. "But at this point, it is not a magic stick ... it's not a solution to everything, but rather it needs to be combined with other measures," he said. The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didn't take a position on who owns the disputed territories. It did conclude that many of them are legally rocks, even if they've been built into islands, and therefore do not include the international rights to develop the surrounding waters. That and other findings invalidated much of what China's called its historic claims to the resource-rich sea. In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago. China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines. In recent days, its military has staged live-firing exercises in the area and said it would begin regular aerial patrols over the sea. It also has asserted that it will not be deterred from continuing construction of its man-made islands. In a commentary Sunday, China's official Xinhua News Agency urged East Asian nations to be vigilant against U.S. "interference" in the region and to foster closer ties with China, "a market no country can afford to lose." The Philippines also remains in a tight spot despite the legal and moral victory it gained through the tribunal's decision. It simply cannot afford to antagonize China, especially since its new president, Rodrigo Duterte, has made friendly overtures to Beijing to repair relations that were strained under his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. The anti-terrorism proposals of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump make him the better option for Europe and Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Saturday. Orban, who has built razor-wire border fences to stop refugees, said in Romania that Trump's ideas about the need for the best intelligence services and his opposition to "democracy export" were also applicable in Europe. "I am not Donald Trump's campaigner," the Hungarian leader said at a cultural event in Baile Tusnad, Romania, an area with a large Hungarian population. "I never thought that the idea would ever occur to me that he is the better of the open options for Europe and Hungary. "I listened to (Trump) and I have to tell you that he made three proposals to stop terrorism. And as a European, I myself could not have drawn up better what Europe needs." Orban, who returned to power in 2010, has often been criticized by the European Union, the United States and others for his policies to centralize power, control civic groups and increase government influence over media. Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton visited Hungary in 2011 as secretary of state, and expressed U.S. concerns over the independence of its courts and the press and government corruption. Orban, whose speech was broadcast live on Hungarian state media, blamed the West for intervening unsuccessfully in countries like Egypt and Libya. While Hungary was not "indifferent" to the state of political and human rights in Turkey, he said its stability was most important. "If I'm asked what is Hungary's strongest expectation regarding Turkey today, we will put stability first," Orban said. "If Turkey becomes unstable, many tens of millions of people from that region will hurtle toward Europe without any sort of filtering, screening or control." Orban was again very critical of the EU leadership in Brussels. "Europe's current political leadership has failed," Orban said, adding that the EU was "fooling itself" if it still viewed itself as a "global actor," saying that era had ended with the vote by Britain to leave the 28-nation bloc. Orban again said individual countries in Europe should have more authority to make their own decisions on specific issue like migration. "Our problem is not in Mecca but in Brussels," Orban said. "The bureaucrats in Brussels are an obstacle for us, not Islam." Answering questions after his speech, Orban said Europe needed to set up its own army. "A European army must protect the continent from two sides, from the east and from the south, in terms of protecting against terrorism and migration," Orban said, according to his office. Orban did not directly address comments by Trump that called into question U.S. commitments to NATO's mutual defense clause, but said he had changed his mind about NATO being enough in its current form to ensure the peace in Europe. Hungary shut its borders with Serbia and Croatia last year, greatly stemming the flow of migrants coming from Turkey through Greece and further north into the EU. An Afghan teenager was arrested on Sunday in Germany on suspicion that he was connected to Fridays mass attack in Munich, police said. The 16-year-old male may have known about the plans of the gunman, who killed nine people, but the teen did not tell authorities, officials said. The teen is also suspected of having played a role in a Facebook post that invited the public to a location near where the deadly shooting later took place, Reuters reported. There is a suspicion that the 16-year-old is a possible tacit accomplice to [Fridays] attack, a police statement said. Further details were not immediately available, but Germany's dpa news agency reported the 16-year-old teen had gone to police himself after the act. The gunman in the Munich assault was identified as an 18-year-old Iranian-German. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Olympic leaders stopped short Sunday of imposing a complete ban on Russia from the Rio de Janeiro Games, assigning individual global sports federations the responsibility to decide which athletes should be cleared to compete. The decision, announced after a three-hour meeting via teleconference of the International Olympic Committee's executive board, came just 12 days before the Aug. 5 opening of the games. "We had to balance the collective responsibility and the individual justice to which every human being and athlete is entitled to," IOC President Thomas Bach said. The IOC rejected calls from the World Anti-Doping Agency and dozens of other anti-doping bodies to exclude the entire Russian Olympic team following allegations of state-sponsored cheating. Russia's track and field athletes have already been banned by the IAAF, the sport's governing body, a decision that was upheld Thursday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and was accepted by the IOC again on Sunday. Calls for a complete ban on Russia intensified after Richard McLaren, a Canadian lawyer commissioned by WADA, issued a report Monday accusing Russia's sports ministry of overseeing a vast doping program of its Olympic athletes. McLaren's investigation, based heavily on evidence from former Moscow doping lab director Grigory Rodchenkov, affirmed allegations of brazen manipulation of Russian urine samples at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, but also found that state-backed doping had involved 28 summer and winter sports from 2011 to 2015. But the IOC board decided against the ultimate sanction, in line with Bach's recent statements stressing the need to take individual justice into account. The IOC said the McLaren report had made no direct accusations against the Russian Olympic Committee "as an institution." "An athlete should not suffer and should not be sanctioned for a system in which he was not implicated," Bach told reporters on a conference call after Sunday's meeting. The IOC also said Russia is barred from entering for the Rio Games any athlete who has ever been sanctioned for doping. In a statement, the IOC said it would accept the entry of only those Russian athletes who meet certain conditions set out for the 28 international federations to apply. It also rejected the application by Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, the 800-meter runner and former doper who helped expose the doping scandal in her homeland, to compete under a neutral flag at the games. However, the IOC added that it would invite her and her husband, Vitaly Stepanov, to attend the games. Libya's government has summoned the French ambassador amid concern over the French military presence in the country. Three French officers were killed last week in eastern Libya, and the French government acknowledged that special forces are operating there as part of Western efforts to support the unity government. Ambassador Antoine Sivan, who is based in neighboring Tunisia for security reasons, is expected to go to Libya in the coming days to answer the summons, according to a French diplomatic official. The official said Sunday France is focused on supporting the unity government, and encouraging Libyan forces to work together to fight extremists. The official was not authorized to be publicly named. Libya fell into chaos after Western airstrikes including by France drove out dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The Iraqi military will use a medieval tactic to keep control of Fallujah after recapturing it from the Islamic State group last month: It is digging a trench around the city. The trench will have a single opening for residents to move in and out of the city, which is virtually empty since the offensive that defeated the IS militants, said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, deputy commander of the counterterrorism forces that led the successful campaign. It will be about 7 miles (11 kilometers) long and "will protect the city's residents, who have lived through many tragedies, as well as security forces deployed there," al-Saadi said in an interview with The Associated Press at his Baghdad headquarters. Cutting off all roads but one will allow authorities to monitor the movements of residents more closely.Fallujah has been a source of car bombs used against Baghdad, which is 40 miles (65 kilometers) to the east. Restricting traffic will be one way to try to stop any explosives-laden vehicles from leaving the city. Besides the trench, more modern security measures also will be used. Personal details of the estimated 85,000 residents who fled during the May-June battle to liberate the city will be stored electronically, and forgery-proof ID cards will be issued, according to Mayor Issa al-Issawi. Cars owned by residents also will be issued display badges containing electronic chips. The trenches will be about 40 feet (12.5 meters) wide and 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep. Work has begun on the first leg, running about 4 miles (6 kilometers) on the north and northwest side of the city, al-Issawi told the AP. Digging the second leg, which runs 3 miles (5 kilometers) along the south and southeast, will begin soon, he said. The western edge of Fallujah abuts the Euphrates River, providing a natural barrier. On the east side is the heavily patrolled main highway to Baghdad, which will be the sole entrance to Fallujah. The two trenches run through open desert areas used in the past by militants, said Maj. Gen. Saad Harbiyah, in charge of military operations in western Baghdad. Iraqis have used various earthworks, walls and fortifications ever since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. During the war, Saddam had trenches dug around Baghdad, filled them with oil and set them ablaze, using thick, black smoke to obscure the view for U.S. warplanes. Since the war, Baghdad has become a city of concrete blast walls, erected to protect buildings but also to control the movement of people. During the 2006-07 sectarian violence between Shiites and Sunnis, entire neighborhoods were sealed off by blast walls to restrict and monitor access. In January 2014, Fallujah became the first major Iraqi city to be captured by the Islamic State group. The extremists later swept through much of Anbar province, taking its capital, Ramadi, and much of the north, including Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul. A U.S.-led coalition and Iranian-backed Shiite militia forces have helped the Iraqi army recapture territory from the Islamic State. Security problems have plagued Iraq, especially in Fallujah. The city has been a center of Sunni opposition to Shiite-led governments in Baghdad, with Sunnis complaining of discrimination at the hands of the country's majority Shiites. Fallujah residents have suffered under more than two years of rule by Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group. That suffering could be exacerbated if the security measures are seen by residents as too heavy-handed. Security measures like the trench may make little difference in the long run if there is no reconciliation between Sunnis and a government many of them see as oppressive, illegitimate and a tool in the hands of Iraq's giant Shiite neighbor, Iran. Shiite hard-liners, in turn, see Sunnis as sympathetic to militants, many of whom view Shiites as infidels. The Iraqi government also plans to dig a trench along the border between Anbar province, whereFallujah is located, and neighboring Karbala, home to one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines. Work also has begun on walls and trenches around vulnerable parts of Baghdad's outer areas to guard against car bombs. In both cases, however, work has been slowed by lack of funds and corruption. Fallujah faces its own internal differences as well. Some factions of its main tribal clans declared allegiance to IS, while others did not, prompting the extremists to kill prominent tribal members and blow up the homes of those who fled. Iraqi authorities arrested about 21,000 Fallujah residents from among those who fled the city on suspicion of IS membership, according to al-Saadi. Following questioning, all were released except for about 2,000 who face further interrogation and possible prosecution, he added. Tens of thousands of displaced residents will be allowed to return to Fallujah later this year, al-Saadi said. "We must turn a new page with Fallujah. There is no other way for reconciliation," said al-Saadi, a veteran of the government's fight against militants in Anbar. "We must punish those with blood on their hands, but not those who merely joined Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. "Revenge and mass trials will only breed more hatred and resentment." Government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi echoed al-Saadi's view. "We cannot judge people by their intentions. Only those who committed crimes will face justice," al-Hadithi told AP. The government intends to rely on the local police force and Sunni tribesmen to maintain security in Fallujah, he said. But the chairman of Anbar's provincial council, Sabah al-Karhout, complained that "reconciliation efforts" were below what was needed and that much rides on how secure Fallujah residents feel when they return home. "Marginalization must end so that calls for a federal system to disappear," he said, alluding to a growing sentiment among Iraq's Sunni Arabs for autonomy in their regions. MiG-35 in flight (Photo : MiG) The Egyptian Air Force will be the world's first and largest operator of the new Mikoyan MiG -35 multirole and air superiority jet fighter and will receive its first two fighters at the end of this year. This generation 4.5 (or generation 4++) fighter made by Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG is in the same league as the Sukhoi Su-35S, the first of which will be delivered to China later this year. Advertisement Egypt signed a contract in April 2015 for 50 MiG -35s worth over $2 billion, and has made a down payment on this order. Egypt's MiG-35s will be equipped with high precision targeting pods. In contrast, the Russian Air Force has ordered only 37 MiG -35s worth $1.1 billion but has delayed acquiring the jet because of funding shortfalls due to government spending cuts. Development of Russia's MiG-35 should be completed in 2017 while entry into service with the Russian Air Force is scheduled for 2018. The main customer for the MiG -35, however, was supposed to be the Indian Air Force and the jet was first unveiled at the Aero India 2007 air show in Bangalore. The MiG -35 was one of six contenders for India's multi-role combat aircraft competition that would see 126 jets on order. France's Dassault Rafale eventually won this competition and the loss was a huge blow to cash-strapped Russia. Test flights of Russia's MiG-35 fighter aircraft (NATO designation: Fulcrum-F) will begin later this summer and last into 2017. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) General Director Sergey Korotkov said deliveries of the fighter might be contracted after the tests. "The aircraft is completing the general assembly stage, and should move to flight tests in accordance with the schedule. We will begin state tests as part of the Ministry of Defense program at the end of summer. The tests will be carried out until next year," said Korotkov. The MiG-35 is an improvement on the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2 fighters and features improved combat effectiveness, versatility and performance. The single seat version is designated MiG-35 and the two-seat version, MiG-35D. The single seat version has a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h) and a combat radius of 1,000 kilometers. Its weapons include 1 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon and air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles or smart bombs on nine hardpoints with a capacity of 7,000 kg. Tinnitus or that Maddening Ringing in the Ears is more Common than Previously Thought Causes of tinnitus There probably will never be a comprehensive cure for tinnitus, that maddening high-pitched tone or ringing in a person's ears, but doctors are counseling its victims to try steps to alleviate the mental panic this affliction causes. Tinnitus is also more prevalent among Americans than previous studies have suggested. Advertisement A new study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery found that about one in 10 American adults commonly experienced tinnitus in the past year. Researchers analyzed data from some 75,000 participants (ages 18 and older) from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey who were asked if they experienced their ears ringing, and if so, how severe it was and how often it occurred. The researchers found that 36 percent of study participants reported having tinnitus constantly. Fifty-six percent of adults reported suffering from tinnitus for more than five years, while 27 percent reported it for over 15 years. Interestingly enough, almost 40 percent of participants that reported having tinnitus noticed the ringing sensations close to bedtime. This could be because the quiet allows people to hear the high-pitched whine more easily. The study also found that people exposed to loud noises often are more likely to suffer from tinnitus. That includes those who often go to concerts or who work at factories or use loud tools, and those who were in the armed forces or exposed to noise trauma. The study revealed that 42 percent of participants considered ringing in their ears a small problem, with less than half talking about their symptoms with their doctor. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation established a set of treatment guidelines for doctors suggesting ways to ease the annoyance of tinnitus. These treatments include using a hearing aid often because tinnitus is most commonly linked to hearing loss. Hearing aids will reduce or even mask the sound. Lead author of the study Dr. Harrison Lin, an ear specialist at the University of California, Irvine also recommended therapy as an effective form of treatment. Lin said cognitive behavioral therapy has helped improve tolerance and reduce the negative health impact tinnitus has on patients. He pointed out that tinnitus is closely tied to hearing loss. People should visit a doctor when they commonly experience tinnitus or when ringing of the ears affects their quality of life. Stuart Lee Yates, always known as Lee, passed away Monday, July 18, 2016, after a brief battle with acute pancreatitis. Lee was born March 28, 1962, in Alexandria. He spent most of his youth in Stafford County, where he graduated from Stafford high school. He then received a business degree from Shepherd University. After working for some time as a certified public accountant, he realized he wanted more. It was then that Lee put together his business education and true love of carpentry and other trades to establish his own company, Man Friday, and became a contractor and home improvement specialist. Anyone who had the good fortune to meet or do business with Lee became aware of his generous nature, honesty and gentle character. Public or private, Lee was a man without pretense. He leaves his wife of 28 years, Liz; their children, Duncan and Sarah; his beloved grandson, Little Charlie; sister Debbie Paxton; brother and sister-in-law Nader and Mellie Yousefian; his parents, Charlie and Jacque Yates; and countless cousins and friends. Lee was preceded in death by a brother, Jeff. Lees life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, at Wilderness Community Church, 10501 Plank Road, Spotsylvania. The family will receive guests one hour prior to the service. Private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wilderness Community Church for its outreach missions. Lee was a very informal person. Casual dress is welcome and encouraged. Condolences may be sent to mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com. Gourmet Living Celebrates Launch of New Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuscany Gourmet Living is celebrating the launch of its new extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany. Further information can be found at http://gourmetliving.org/ and http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-Italy/dp/B0176MOT74. Product for sale on Amazon. -- Online retailer specializing in gourmet food products, Gourmet Living, will be celebrating the launch of its new extra virgin olive oil blend from Italy by discounting the price of its product to broaden public exposure. Special promotional prices will apply until September 4. Give the fraud and mislabeling that characterizes well over 60% of the market for olive oil, Gourmet Living has opted to to provide genuine and certified Tuscan extra virgin olive oil blend at an affordable price. This "traditional" Tuscan blend is derived from the region's 3 main varieties of olives: Frantoio (50%), Moraiolo (30%) and Leccino (approximately 20%). Sheila May, Owner at Gourmet Living, says: "We wanted to promote the launch of our extra virgin olive oil blend from Italy to provide savvy consumers with an opportunity to taste an exceptional olive oil at a dramatically reduced price. The taste reminds me of Italy and I use it often in my Mediterranean cooking." Hopefully, this new product product promotion will allow Gourmet Living to achieve wider public exposure for its fine food products. This promotion should be great unless everyone is on vacation and doesn't take advantage of the summer promotion! Gourmet Living has always thrived on the idea of standing out and providing the consumer with a superior and authentic food product. This promotion should demonstrate the difference in taste of a quality extra virgin olive oil compared to most commercial brands. This launch celebration is designed to celebrate the farmer and growers who continue to care about the integrity of their product. When asked about the company's extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany, Sheila May stated that "We think it's going to be a real hit because "foodies" are clamoring for natural food products that have not been falsely represented. Consumers deserve honesty." This special extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany promotion will end on September 4. The product is sold on Amazon in Frustration Free Packaging. Amazon Prime members receive free shipping. To find out more, it's possible to visit http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-Italy/dp/B0176MOT74 For further information about Gourmet Living, please visit http://gourmetliving.org/ For more information, please visit http://gourmetliving.org/ Contact Info: Name: Sheila May Email: spmay@gourmetliving.org Organization: Gourmet Living Address: 20 Church Street, B-61, Greenwich, CT 06830 Phone: +1 (866) 554-5277 Release ID: 124822 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Debris from EgyptAir flight 804, which crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in May, washed up on Israels coast for the second time in less than a month, Israeli media reported. The debris, including apparently part of the plane's tail, appeared on the shore of the coastal town of Haifa, local Channel 2 television news said. Police officers in Haifa contacted the foreign ministry, which will hand over the fragments of the plane to Egypt. Egyptian investigators have yet to determine the cause of the incident on 19 May, when the Airbus A320 crashed into the Mediterranean while en route from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people on board. Investigators have said the plane's wreckage, identified in the central Mediterranean, showed signs of fire, while a data recorder has suggested that smoke had been detected on board. Three weeks ago, aircraft parts believed to belong to the lost plane were found in Netanya, a Mediterranean resort town north of Tel Aviv, and were delivered to Egypt shortly after. A New York Times report on Saturday quoted anonymous Egyptian officials as saying that the flight likely broke up in midair after a fire erupted in or near the cockpit. They said it remains unclear whether the blaze was triggered by mechanical malfunction or a criminal act. There was no official confirmation of the latest conclusion. Search Keywords: Short link: The final leg to Abu Dhabi ends the year and a half long venture to travel the world powered only by solar energy Solar Impulse 2 flew from Cairo Sunday morning to the UAEs Abu Dhabi, a two-day trip that will conclude its around the world mission. In its unprecedented one year and a half global trip, the solar powered plane landed in 15 cities without using a single drop of fuel. The plane arrived in Cairo last Wednesday at 7:10am (CET) following a 48 hour and 50 minute voyage from Seville. The Cairo-Seville leg was the 16th of the tour, which started in March 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of departing, pilot Betrand Piccard said that he considered Egypt one of the closest countries to his heart, adding that he is delivering a message to the world that the future is renewable energy. The crew of the plane and their accompanying team extended their gratitude to the Egyptian government and Egypts Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy for the support and warm reception they received during their visit to Egypt, read a civil aviation ministry statement. Fathy ordered that all necessary facilities for the crew and plane be provided, the ministry statement adding that Egypt is keen on supporting projects that aim to spread awareness of the use of modern technology. The Swiss pilot shared a photo on Facebook of his plane flying over Egypts Giza pyramids en route to Abu Dhabi Sunday, reading: To fly over the country of the great Pyramids reminds me that there was a time when the sun was worshiped as God. Today, it should be considered as the most powerful source of energy for our world. Piccard also commented on his final destination, which he said is one of the most difficult of his trip due to high temperatures in the Gulf that makes the plane susceptible to turbulence while restricted to flying at a certain altitude to maintain oxygen levels inside the plane. According to the Piccard, the success of the whole journey depend on the final Abu Dhabi leg. Solar Impulse 2 crossed the Pacific Ocean in five days and nights from Japan to Hawaii, the first oceanic crossing of a solar plane. Its cruising speed varies between 45 km/h and 90 km/h. Search Keywords: Short link: The pressure on property fund investors has mounted after a number of managers took drastic action shortly after the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU). Asset managers Aberdeen, Aviva, Canada Life, Columbia Threadneedle, Henderson, M&G and Standard Life Investments all suspended trading on their UK property funds after investors rushed towards the exit door. SLI was the first to act on 4 July by suspending trading on its UK Real Estate fund after witnessing substantial post-referendum outflows. Aviva Investors followed a day later, citing extraordinary market circumstances. Richard Edwards, managing director at real estate investment company Aevitas, said these changes could cause an administrational problem when rebalancing model portfolios and may change how property is allocated in the future. This is the second time such actions have been introduced over the past 10 years, therefore we are looking at using real estate investment trusts (Reits) in future or property share-based funds to gain exposure to bricks and mortar. Mr Edwards added that so long as advisers understand their customers and the suspensions are only for a short period, it is unlikely to cause a major problem. Concerns about the future of UK property funds increased before the referendum, as a number of asset managers switched from offer to bid-pricing fearing investor sales. In February, the Investment Association (IA) Property sector witnessed its highest outflows since the financial crisis in 2008 and this continued with 500m withdrawn during April and May. The UKs decision to exit the EU appears to have extenuated this with both residential and commercial property expected to be hit over the short term. Less than a week after the initial suspension, Aberdeen reversed the decision on its UK Commercial Property fund, but applied a dilution levy at 17 per cent, designed to penalise investors who wish to vacate the fund. Russell Chaplin, chief investment officer of property at Aberdeen, said this was designed to protect all types of investors. We have to draw a balance between the properties that we sell, the properties that we retain, and the price at which those who wish to sell units in the fund can exit. Mr Chaplin explained that Aberdeen needed to convert property into cash quickly to maintain liquidity, but timescales made it difficult to achieve the highest possible price. He added that no further changes to its property funds are anticipated, but the situation will be monitored. Dennis Hall, chartered financial planner at London-based Yellowtail, feels that such drastic changes were necessary and that this could represent a good time to enter invest in property funds. It does not alter my long-term perception of the sector, and for new investors it presents a potential buying opportunity to benefit from discounts. 'Game of Thrones' Season 7 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: All The Awesome SPOILERS Revealed At SDCC 2016 [VIDEO] The "Game of Thrones" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 has confirmed several rumors and speculations! Will Bran Stark reveal the truth about Jon Snow's parentage? Is Sansa Stark plotting to take Winterfell from Jon? And when is the "Game of Thrones" air date? Read on to find out! Bran Stark The Tattletale: Who Will He Tell About Jon Snow's True Parents In "Game Of Thrones" Season 7? Isaac Hempstead-Wright confirmed at SDCC 2016 that Bran Stark will DEFINITELY not keep Jon Snow's secret to himself. The young actor stated that the new Three-Eyed Raven will "spread the word" about Jon's heritage in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Who will he tell? For starters, there's Meera Reed and Uncle Benjen Stark, who probably already knows the truth. Nevertheless, it looks like Westeros will learn there is another living Targaryen in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Also, he isn't the only one who has plans for Jon Snow. Sansa Stark The Traitor: Will She Betray Her Brother (Cousin) In "Game Of Thrones" Season 7? According to Hollywood Life, Sophie Turner revealed that Sansa Stark doesn't think Jon Snow is "capable of running Winterfell and the North." But does this mean she will try to take Winterfell from her brother (cousin) in "Game of Thrones" Season 7? It is highly unlikely this will happen, since Sansa Stark seems to be ready to counsel Jon Snow throughout "Game of Thrones" Season 7. So, er, when exactly can fans expect to watch the new season? "Game Of Thrones" Season 7 Air Date Moved To Summer 2017 At this point, everybody knows that "Game of Thrones" Season 7 will be delayed until Winter actually comes. It was confirmed that shooting starts later this year and will hopefully be completed by February. There are speculations that "Game of Thrones" Season 7 will premiere on HBO by June or July 2017. CSULB alum wins gold at the 38th Long Beach Marathon which was his first Jurors heard opening statements and witness testimony Friday in the trial for a former Oregon State University student accused of raping a woman at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity in July 2015. Tyler Lazell Warren, who was enrolled at OSU from fall 2013 through spring 2015, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree rape, second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary. On Friday, Amie Matusko, assistant Benton County district attorney, and defense attorney Robert Corl, presented opening statements to the jury. Both noted that the main issue of the case is consent. Warren is accused of raping a 21-year-old female student following her birthday party in the early morning hours of July 12, 2015 at the fraternity. According to information agreed to by both the defense and the prosecution, Warren and the alleged victim, a female sorority member who was renting a room at the fraternity over the summer, both attended a party and were drinking at the fraternity a few hours before incident occurred. Both parties also agreed that there was sexual intercourse between Warren and the alleged victim and that both had been drinking. According to the prosecution, the alleged victim was too intoxicated to give consent and that Warren came into her room uninvited and began groping her. While most people remember their 21st birthdays, she wont forget because the defendant raped her, Matusko told the jury during her opening statement. Matusko said that the alleged victim had so much to drink that she had trouble walking and could not speak or move during the incident. She has no control, Matusko said. She cant say or do anything. According to the defense, the sex was consensual. Corl said during his opening statement that there was no question that Warren was at the fraternity, that he was at the party, and that the two had sex. But Corl said Warren did not go into the alleged victims room unsolicited and that he was heading downstairs to get a drink of water when he saw her in the hallway. He saw a person laying on her stomach, recognized her and put her into bed, Corl said during his opening statement. She began groping him like she wanted to have sex. Corl added that the alleged victim never offered any indication that the sex was not consensual. The alleged victim later told the jury during her testimony that the sex was not consensual and that she was so intoxicated it was like being completely paralyzed. She added that she made several efforts to move and say something but couldnt. It took me a long time to say the word rape. Its not an easy word to say, particularly when it comes to yourself, she told the jury. This is something that was done to me, not with me. It was done without me. Warren has been in the Benton County Jail since July 15, 2015, after the woman reported the incident to Corvallis police. The prosecution expects to continue calling witnesses when the five-day trial picks up again on Monday. The trial is expected to run through Wednesday. The Beni Suef violence is the latest in a series of sectarian based incidents in Egypt's south Egyptian prosecutors ordered the detention of 18 people in connection with sectarian violence that took place Friday in a village in Beni Suef, the latest in a series of such attacks in recent weeks. The incident was sparked by a group of Muslim youngsters who hurled stones at a Christian-owned building in Al-Kharsa village after reports its owner would turn it into a church without a license. Security forces intervened to ease the situation and security cordons were put up around houses in the village. Prosecutors Sunday ordered 18 people detained for four days over the violence, a judicial source said. They face charges of "disrupting public peace and assaulting personal freedoms" and "damaging the house and a car of a Coptic villager." A local housing committee ordered a halt to development work of the house of local Nnadi Yacoub, saying he violated the issued license. Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million, have long complained of discrimination and sectarian attacks in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. The incident in Beni Suef is the latest in a wave of sectarian incidents in the country's south. Last week, a Muslim mob stabbed a Coptic Christian to death during a street argument in the southern governorate of Minya. The attack prompted President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to warn against attempts to "drive a wedge" between Egyptians and vowed to hold violations to account. Days earlier, a group of Muslims attacked and torched houses of Christians in the village of Abu-Yacoub, also in Minya. The Family House, a group of Muslim and Christian leaders that promotes peaceful coexistence, said Saturday reconcilation was successfuly reached between warring families in that village, while settlement efforts continue elsewhere. In May, Muslim villagers torched seven homes of Christians and assaulted a Christian man's elderly mother, parading her naked in public. The assault in Minya's El-Karm village was sparked by rumours that the man was having an illicit relationship with a Muslim woman. That attack sparked public outcry and prompted El-Sisi to pledge action on sectarian incidents. Search Keywords: Short link: Moments after the REACH helicopter landed on the front lawn of the Benton County Museum in Philomath, 6-year-old Yo Mi Huang threw her arms out and did a twirl, mimicking the helicopters blades as they slowed to a stop. The noise was so loud and I really loved seeing it, Yo Mi said through her mother, Zoe Huang, who helped translate. She has never seen a helicopter before and they are her favorite, Zoe Huang said after catching up to Yo Mi. Huang added that the two had just recently moved to Philomath from China. We have books with helicopters in them but she wanted to see one. We love this. More than 1,000 people packed the Up, Up and Away Family Day a record for any event held by the museum. It featured dozens of attractions, including the arrival of the REACH helicopter, a hot-air balloon, model airplanes and drone flights, all honoring the museums year-long Up, Up and Away exhibit about the history of flight. Whats so exciting is to see how much everybody is engaged, said organizer Terri Thomas. People tend to think that museums are static and not terribly interactive. But the kids are interested and interacting with all of our attractions, the adults are enjoying our exhibits and everyone seems to be having fun and learning. Corvallis Darlene Seltzer, who brought her 7-year-old son Avery and 5-year-old daughter Cassidy, said her children become bored quickly at most event, but hours after arriving, Cassidy and Avery were still excitedly leading her on a scavenging hunt through the museum. I didnt think they would have enough of an attention span for everything, but this has been great, Seltzer said. Especially the scavenger hunt, because it forces the kids to look at each exhibit in detail while theyre searching, because otherwise Im not sure they would stay super-interested for a long time. Theyve been reading about airplanes and pilots and so theyre getting really excited to see these things up close. Seltzer said shed be very likely to bring her children back to the museum again. I knew that the museum was here but for whatever reason we never thought to come and visit, she said. Im glad they had such a great event to draw us here because the kids love it and well definitely want to come back and look around some more. When asked about his favorite part, Avery ran to a model airplane and pointed at it. I really like riding in airplanes, Avery said. Weve been in a passenger airplane. But not that one. Saturdays Family Day also included displays on other forms of travel, including an exhibit on model trains hosted by the Oregon Electric O-Gaugers. John Dunn, president of the club, said the group has hosted dozens of displays since its founding but had never seen as great of a turnout as Saturdays event. We had an event where we saw about 400 kids in one day but we passed that before noon. Theres so many you cant keep track, Dunn said, before laughing and smiling at seeing children jumping up and down while watching the trains move around the tracks. This is why we do it. I love seeing the expressions on their faces and seeing them get so excited they can hardly stand it. The Benton County Historical Society cares for more than 120,000 objects with many on display in the Philomath Cottage Building, the site of Saturdays event. The Up, Up and Away exhibit is expected to run through Nov. 5. Organizers are anticipating that they will have a similar Family Day for next years Around the World in 80 Countries exhibit. Gaststatte im Siebengebirge : Das haben die neuen Eigentumer mit dem Margarethenkreuz vor Campaign in solidarity with activists arrested in protests against the 8 April Red Sea islands deal starts with an event held by The Egyptian Social Democratic Party in solidarity with rights lawyer Malek Adly A campaign in solidarity with activists arrested for links to April demonstrations protesting a government deal to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia was launched Sunday. The week is set to start with an event held by The Egyptian Social Democratic Party in solidarity with detained rights lawyer and party member Malek Adly, arrested for statements he made against the government's decision. Adly is one of the lawyers who co-filed the lawsuit against the deal. He has been accused of spreading false news and harming national unity and societal peace. Similarly, journalists Amr Badr and Mahmoud El-Sakka were arrested from the journlaist syndicate while staging a sit-in after an arrest warrant was issued against them on charges of "spreading rumors about the disputed Red Sea islands Tiran and Sanafir." Hundreds more were arrested during street protests against the decision, but most were acquitted or released on bail pending trial. While bringing attention to the "Land Detainees" -- a term used by campaigners to defend those arrested during demonstrations against the islands deal -- the Sunday event also plans to highlight the issue of solitary confinement. Adly has been kept in solitary confinement since his arrest in May. The lawyer's wife, Asmaa Ali, released several statements saying that her husband has not been allowed to leave his unlit, unventilated prison cell since his arrest. His health is deteriorating because his family has not been allowed to provide him with a bed or a mattress, and, according to her statements, he has to sleep on the ground. A campaign, named "No to Solitary Confinement", has taken social media over the past month to bring attention to tens of other detainees facing the same prison status as Adly. The week of solidarity will be hosted by several opposition parties and movements including the Nasserist Karama Party and the liberal Constitution Party. Hossam Moenes of the Popular Current movement says the campaign has been planned by the Front in Defence of Freedoms, founded last February by a collection of opposition parties and groups. "Each party or group will host one day of the week. Focus will be given to the solitary confinement of detainees and testimonies of families whose members have been arrested or are facing charges linked to the island deal protests," Moenes told Ahram Online. Adly's solidarity campaign has over the past months also been supported by several media and political figures that have slammed his detention and criticized the government's decision to hold him. Last April, the government announced a decision to acknowledge Saudi Arabian sovereignty over the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir. In June, a court ruled that the 8 April border re-demarcation agreement that placed the two Egyptian Red Sea islands in Saudi waters is void, adding that they should remain under Egyptian sovereignty. The government has however insisted on its stand regarding the islands, arguing they belong to Saudi Arabia. Egypt's State Lawsuits Authority the body representing the government in legal cases has appealed the ruling that voided the government decision to place the two Red Sea islands under Saudi Arabia's sovereignty. Search Keywords: Short link: Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 23, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 13 strikes in Syria: -- Near Ar Raqqah, two strikes destroyed three ISIL command and control nodes. -- Near Ayn Isa, a struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL checkpoint. -- Near Manbij, nine strikes struck nine separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed 12 ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIL oil well head and an ISIL drilling rig. Strikes in Iraq Rocket artillery, attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 10 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: -- Near Albu Hayat, a strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system. -- Near Habbaniyah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Mosul, three strikes struck three ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL unmanned aerial vehicle, an ISIL mortar system, ISIL-used engineering equipment, an ISIL tunnel system, and two ISIL assembly areas and suppressed and ISIL rocket position. -- Near Ramadi, a strike destroyed an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Tuz, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Ar Rutbah, a strike struck an ISIL vehicle-borne bomb storage facility. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike destroyed an ISIL weapons storage facility. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan's Machar being replaced, aide says Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 5:9PM South Sudan's opposition has declared that its leader Riek Machar, who also serves as the war-torn country's vice president, is being replaced by one of his opponents. Nyarji Roman, a Machar spokesman, said Saturday that Machar was being replaced as President Salva Kiir's deputy with Taban Deng, a former ally now turned into a foe. Roman, who is in hiding along with Machar since the government's bombing of the rebel leader's house in the capital Juba earlier this month, said the replacement of Machar is a "conspiracy" to overthrow him. He said Machar had fired Deng on Friday for holding unilateral negotiations with Kiir. Deng had acted as the rebels' chief negotiator during the peace talks that led to a major accord between Machar and Kiir last year. The number-two in the ranks of the armed opposition was at odds with Machar over the deployment of African Union forces to Juba, which Machar had hoped could facilitate his return to the capital. Government spokesman Michael Makuei said there would be no problem for the replacement of Machar if the opposition decided to do so. Machar's chief of staff, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, said, however, that Deng will serve until Machar returns to the capital. The growing divisions among the ranks of the opposition in South Sudan come as the country has entered a new phase of deadly violence. Hundreds were killed in a matter of days earlier this month as governments in Africa and in the West expressed concerns that the world's youngest nation could again slide into instability. Deng, who is like Machar from Unity state, faces strong opposition among powerful militia groups who fought on Kiir's side during the civil war in the north. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenia gunmen release all remaining hostages Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:36PM Armenian officials say a standoff between security forces and armed men in a police headquarters in the capital Yerevan is over as gunmen agree to release all the remaining hostages. Vitaly Balasanian, a member of parliament who has been a mediator between authorities and the gunmen, said Saturday that the armed men released two last hostages, namely Yerevan's deputy police chief Valery Osipyan and national deputy police chief Vardan Yeghiazaryan, around noon local time. Officials in the Armenian police also confirmed the end of the standoff in the police headquarters in Erebuni district, saying that came after an agreement was reached to establish a media center near the site to give the armed men an opportunity to speak to the media about their demands. Gunmen stormed the facility on July 17 and killed a police officer and injured two others. The attack was meant to demand the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, an opposition leader accused by the government of plotting civil unrest. Sefilyan was jailed in June over allegations of illegal weapons possession. Of the total nine people taken hostage, the gunmen released two in the beginning of the attack and three more on Monday. Two police officers were also released earlier on Saturday after negotiations with the hostage-takers, police said. Officials would not elaborate on the exact number of armed men remaining in the Erebuni police station, neither was it clear if they would eventually be arrested. Sefilyan, an ethnic-Armenian who was born in Lebanon and fought during the Arab country's civil war of the 1980s, has served jail terms since 2006 on charges of attempting to overthrow the government. He is against President Serzh Sargsyan, who has been ruling the country of 2.9 million people since he won the disputed elections in 2008. Sefilyan has accused Sargsyan of misusing the case of separatism in the Armenia-backed Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh to his political benefits. The area saw a flare-up of violence in April with dozens killed from Azerbaijan and Armenia before a Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force to end the conflict. Sporadic clashes have continued though with both sides accusing each other of ignoring the truce agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemenis launch retaliatory missile attack on Saudi base Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:54PM The Yemeni army, backed by popular committees loyal to the Ansarullah movement, has fired a ballistic missile at a Saudi military base in retaliation for Riyadh's relentless attacks on the impoverished Arab nation. The missile hit the Saudi airbase in the kingdom's southern city of Najran on Saturday. There were no immediate reports about casualties and the extent of the damage. This is the third Yemeni missile attack on Saudi Arabia over the past days. At least three Saudi troopers were killed on Tuesday in a retaliatory rocket attack launched by Yemeni forces on a military base in the kingdom's southern province of Jizan. On July 20, Ansarullah forces also fired a ballistic missile at an army base held by troops loyal to the resigned Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. According to reports, around 180 troops, including foreign mercenaries, were killed in the attack in the Bab el-Mandeb region in the country's southwestern province of Ta'izz. Saudi Arabia's military campaign against Yemen was launched on March 26, 2015 in a bid to reinstate Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh, and defeat the Houthi Ansarullah movement. Meanwhile, Saudi warplanes on Saturday carried out fresh airstrikes in areas in Yemen's Hajjah and Ta'izz provinces with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. More than 9,400 people have been killed and at least 16,000 others sustained injuries since the onset of the Saudi aggression against its southern neighbor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 80 killed, 231 injured in Kabul bomb blasts Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:19AM Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says at least 80 people were killed and 231 others wounded in two bomb blasts in the capital Kabul. The blasts were carried out at the Deh Mazang Square, where thousands of Shia Hazara demonstrators had gathered from early morning in protest against a controversial power line project. The Daesh Takfiri terrorists claimed responsibility for the bombing. According to police, one of the attackers successfully detonated his explosive, while the second one only managed to defectively explode himself. A third assailant was shot dead by security forces before he could detonate his vest. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the bombings and said he was "deeply saddened" by the terrorist attack. "Opportunist terrorists went among the protesters and set off explosions that killed and wounded a number of our countrymen including security and defense personnel." "Peaceful protest is the right of every citizen," the Afghan president added. The demonstrators were chanting "Justice" and "Death to discrimination" during the protest. The power line project, which is scheduled to be implemented by 2018, would see the establishment of a 500-kilovolt transmission line from Turkmenistan to Kabul. Originally, the line was to pass through the impoverished provinces of Bamyan and Wardak, which host large Hazara populations. However, it was later rerouted, with the government alleging that the redesigned course cut costs. The Hazara say they want the line to pass through Bamyan and Wardak, west of Kabul, where many of them live, to ensure their power supply. The Hazara community, the poorest of Afghanistan's ethnic groups, accounts for about nine percent of Afghanistan's population and is the country's third-largest minority. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan forces launch anti-Daesh operation in Nangarhar Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 10:14AM Afghan army forces have launched a major military operation against Daesh-linked Takfiri militants, who have been expanding their presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Security officials said Saturday that Special Forces with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) carried out initial raids against the terrorists in the Kot district of Nangarhar early Friday, local news outlets reported. Afghan authorities further said the army and US forces are providing air support for the ground operation. The development comes following a visit to Nangarhar by Defense Minister General Abdullah Habibi earlier in the week, where he met with local authorities to discuss the military offensive against Daesh. The operations take place days after President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani ordered an offensive meant to completely root out the Takfiri terrorists from Nangarhar. The difficult days of Afghanistan have passed, said Ghani, cautioning, however, that enemies are still plotting against the nation. The Afghan president also met with residents of Kot district and hailed their resistance against the Daesh-affiliated terror elements. Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, has been the main area where Daesh has managed to carry out high-profile attacks. Daesh has reportedly managed to establish connections with the Taliban's splinter groups, especially those believed to be discontent with changes in the militant group's leadership. The Takfiri group has also enjoyed defections from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Afghanistan remains gripped by insecurity 15 years after a massive US-led military invasion of the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The war removed the Taliban from power, but terror and instability is still rampant in the Asian nation despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 19 Nigerian troops missing; feared abducted by Boko Haram Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:38AM The Nigerian military says 19 soldiers have gone missing after the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group ambushed military forces in the embattled northeastern province of Borno. On Thursday, "when our troops were returning to their defensive location, they ran into an ambush by the terrorists who came to reinforce their fleeing comrades. The troops fought back... killing many of them," said Major-General Lucky Irabor, the military chief of staff, on Friday. He went on to say that three officers and 16 soldiers were still missing, adding that another 16 soldiers and three pro-government civilian vigilantes sustained injuries in the incident. The development came three days after the army conducted a full-scale operation in the restive province, killing at least 42 terrorists and rescuing 42 children and 38 women kidnapped by Boko Haram in Gangere village. This also comes as military has reportedly rescued as many as 10,000 people from Boko Haram captivity this year. On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 276 girls from their secondary school in the northeastern town of Chibok in Borno. About 60 of the girls managed to escape afterwards, but the fate of the remaining others is still largely unknown. That mass abduction of female students by the terrorist group has shocked people around the world and brought global attention to Boko Haram's militancy. Boko Haram started its campaign of militancy in 2009 with the aim of toppling the central government in Nigeria. It has so far taken the lives of at least 20,000 people and forced over 2.5 million others from their homes. The group has pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists operating mainly in Syria and Iraq. Boko Haram has spread its attacks from northeastern Nigeria into neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan President Vows 'Revenge' After Kabul Attack July 23, 2016 by RFE/RL Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has vowed to take "revenge" against those responsible for a suicide attack in Kabul that has killed at least 80 people, the deadliest attack to hit the Afghan capital since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombings, which the Interior Ministry said killed at least 80 people and wounded 231, many of them in serious condition. The suicide attack at Kabul's Dehmazang Square targeted mostly members of the Hazara minority, thousands of whom had gathered to protest a power line. If IS's claims prove to be true, the bombings would mark the first time the militants have launched an attack in Kabul. IS fighters have seized pockets of territory along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, mostly in Nangarhar Province, in the past year. In a live television address on July 23, Ghani said "I promise you I will take revenge against the culprits." "I have ordered the attorney-general to set up a commission to investigate this incident," he said, adding that July 24 would be a national day of mourning. Ghani's spokesman said the government had received information that an attack on the demonstration could take place and had warned the organizers. "We had intelligence over recent days and it was shared with the demonstration organisers. We shared our concerns because we knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to our community," presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told the AP. The Islamic State group's Amaq news agency reported that two IS fighters detonated explosive belts at the peaceful march, which was attended by an estimated 10,000 people. Kabul hospitals were overwhelmed, with reports emerging of blood shortages and urgent appeals for blood donors circulating on social media. "We were holding a peaceful demonstration when I heard a bang and then everyone was escaping and yelling," said Sabira Jan, a protester who witnessed the attack. "I saw many people were killed and most of them were covered with blood. There was nobody to help the victims. Policemen were looking at us and after that I heard gunshots. Then I don't know what happened." The United States and Russia condemned the attack and renewed pledges of security assistance to Kabul. "We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability, and prosperity," the White House said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his "readiness to continue the most active cooperation with...Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism," Russian news agencies quoted a Kremlin statement as saying. "The horrific attack on a group of peaceful protestors in Kabul demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life," Amnesty International said in a statement. "Such attacks are a reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is not winding down, as some believe, but escalating, with consequences for the human rights situation in the country that should alarm us all." 'Deeply Saddened' Earlier, Ghani said in a statement that he was "deeply saddened" by the attack, adding that the casualties included security forces. "Holding protests is the right of every citizen of Afghanistan and the government puts all efforts to provide security for the protesters, but terrorists entered the protests, and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens including members of security forces," the statement said. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the "terrorist attack." Gruesome photos circulating on social media showed horrific scenes with scores of people wounded in the square where the protesters had gathered. Taliban militants denied involvement in the attack. "We want to make it clear," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an e-mail to media outlets. "Our mujahedin had no hand in the attack." The local IS affiliate in Afghanistan is mainly made up of former Taliban fighters disillusioned by the group's failure to overthrow the government despite a 15-year insurgency. The Hazara protesters were demanding that the 500-kilovolt transmission line from Turkmenistan to Kabul be rerouted through the central province of Bamiyan, which has a large Hazara population. The government says this plan would cost millions and delay the project by years. Demonstrators gathered near Kabul University, several kilometers from the main government area, waving Afghan flags and chanting slogans like "Justice! Justice!" and "Death to discrimination!" The original plan was for the power line to run through the Bamiyan Province, where most of the country's Hazara live. The government says the new route, through the Salang Pass north of Kabul, would save millions of dollars in costs and expedite the project. The Hazara are a Dari-speaking, Shi'ite community that has long been persecuted in Afghanistan. They are considered the poorest of the ethnic groups and often complain of discrimination. Only between 30 and 40 percent of Afghans are connected to the electric grid. Based on reporting by Reuters and AP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/suicide-bomber- targets-afghan-protest/27876299.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IS Bombers Kill 80 During Protest in Kabul by Ayaz Gul July 23, 2016 The Islamic State terror group claimed credit for a bomb attack in Kabul on Saturday that killed at least 80 people and wounded 231 others during a protest rally. An Afghan Interior Ministry statement said three suicide bombers attacked the peaceful demonstration. It said one of them detonated his device among the protesters, one mistakenly killed only himself, and a third was shot dead by security forces guarding the rally. A website linked to IS claimed responsibility for the violence. A statement said the attack was meant to warn Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras, who are mostly Shi'ite Muslims, to stop joining the Syrian government in its fight against the terror group. Covert training? Rights groups and analysts have accused Iran of covertly recruiting and training men from the estimated 3 million Afghan refugees it hosts and sending them to Syria to fight alongside government forces. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the violence as the work of "terrorists and opportunists," saying the government put in place measures to provide security for the protesters. "But terrorists entered the protests and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens, including members of security and defense forces," he said. Later in the evening, addressing a gathering in the palace of mainly Hazara leaders, Ghani ordered an investigation into the attack and declared Sunday as a national mourning day to offer special prayers for the victims in the mosques. The United States also strongly condemns what it calls a "heinous" attack. A White House statement says what makes it even more despicable is that it targeted a peaceful protest. The attack targeted a rally of thousands of ethnic Hazaras who were demanding that the government reroute a planned power line through their poverty-stricken central province of Bamiyan. Ahead of Saturday's rally, authorities had blocked major roads in the capital to prevent protesters from reaching the city's center or the presidential palace. The measures severely restricted movement, forcing shops and businesses to close. It also hampered the ability of rescue workers to reach victims of the attack. That led some rally participants to accuse the government of either playing a role in the attack or allowing it to take place through negligence. 'Government is responsible' Atiq Jafari, a member of the Enlightenment Movement, which has demanded the government reroute the planned power line, said Afghan forces failed to protect the protesters and some ran away soon after the blast occurred. "The government is responsible for the provision of security for its citizens and it has failed to do so," Jafari said. A spokesman for Ghani told VOA that the attack was an example of how militant groups are picking soft targets to discredit the government. "We had concerns about the attacks and shared our concerns with the protesters," said Dawa Khan Menapal. "We had taken every possible security measure, but the attackers had burkas on, which made it difficult for the security forces to prevent." The United Nations, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul each released statements condemning the attack. "This attack is particularly heinous because it targeted civilians as they exercised their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. He reiterated that an attack deliberately targeting a large, concentrated group of civilians amounted to a war crime. Amnesty International said the bombing of a peaceful protest demonstrated "the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life." In May, the Hazara community organized a similar mass demonstration against the current route of the multimillion-dollar TUTAP regional electricity line involving Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan was to route the so-called TUTAP line through Bamiyan, a mostly Hazara region, but then the path was changed so that it would go through the Salang Pass, the route connecting northern and southern Afghanistan, before reaching Kabul. Hasib Danish Alikozai contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines President 'Not Afraid of Human Rights Concerns' by Steve Miller July 23, 2016 Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is one who has never shied away from controversy - not during the election process and not since taking office on June 30. Last week, the Philippine President said he wishes to retire with the reputation of Idi Amin, the African ruler whose notorious regime was characterized by human rights abuses that killed at least tens of thousands of Ugandans. Duterte also said that he's not afraid of human rights concerns... that he will not allow his country to go to the dogs, and that he'll pardon all abuses committed by security forces. He even went as far as to say he wouldn't extend due process to those caught up in his anti-crime efforts. "The human rights situation in the Philippines right now is dominated by [a] very alarming surge in police killings of suspected drug dealers and users," says Phelim Kine, Deputy Director of the Asia Division at Human Rights Watch. Kine adds, "and with that, a surge in apparent extrajudicial killings by unidentified perpetrators of other people implicated in criminal activity in the Philippines." Kine says that this is occurring in the context of the recent inauguration of Duterte, who was elected on a platform that supported a vicious attack on criminal elements, promising "near biblical bloodletting of thousands of alleged criminals whose bodies he would dump into the Manila Bay." Philip Orchard, an East Asia Analyst with the Texas-based think tank Stratfor says that is Duterte's preferred way of doing things. When it comes to the law, Duterte will "do anything that needs to be done, maintain enough plausible deniability about any direct linkages, and then try to justify things after the fact and rely on political support to sort of carry him through and prevent any sort of backlash." It's one thing to do that as mayor of Davao, Orchard says, but a little harder to do so when you're the president and making these statements in front of reporters, but that Duterte "will joke about something that will make sense in one dialect, but not in another, so [this] allows there to be enough confusion, but people sort of give him the benefit of the doubt, take things with a grain of salt and don't hold him too closely to his statements." "Both Human Rights Watch and domestic human rights groups were really hopeful that [the] threatening and very lurid bluster, in which he was threatening mass bloodletting once he became president would end once [he] became president," says Phelim Kine, "but it's continuing and... he is still talking about disregarding basic human rights and freedoms and protections of suspects built into the Philippine constitution." If what Duterte is saying is true, and that those actions will sidestep provisions in the Philippine Constitution, then one could argue those measures also would sidestep the rule of law, which is something Duterte is asking Beijing adhere to with respect to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Could that pose a problem for the Philippines? Orchard doesn't believe it will "because international law is only as powerful and valid as the degree to which people agree to it." Meaning that since China, at least right now isn't abiding by the decision, anything Duterte or the Philippine does, isn't going to affect the situation. Orchard also notes that if things in the Philippines spiral out of control, that may earn Manila a rebuke from the regional group, though in general, he doesn't think "the international community will come down too hard [on the Philippines], especially since the Philippines is such a strategic ally in the bigger issue on most country's minds, which is the South China Sea." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A suicide bomber struck near a checkpoint in a Shi area of northern Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 12 people, Iraqi security and medical officials said. The blast also wounded at least 22 people, the officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State militants group carries out frequent suicide bombings targeting both Iraqi security forces and members of the country's Shiite majority, whom it considers heretics. A suicide bomber targeted shoppers in Baghdad's central Karrada district earlier this month, killing 292 people, while an attack on a Shia shrine in Balad, north of the capital, left 40 dead a few days later. IS group overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS group-held city in the country. But the militants have responded to the battlefield setbacks by hitting back against civilians, and experts have warned there may be more bombings as the militants continue to lose ground. Search Keywords: Short link: IS Propaganda Video Threatens Azerbaijani Officials, Muslim Clerics by Fatima Tlisova July 23, 2016 He calls himself Abdulla the Caucasian. With fair skin, red hair, a long beard and gold-toothed smile, wearing military-style attire and hugging his assault rifle, Abdulla speaks Azerbaijani during the half-hour long Islamic State propaganda video. His monologue has been translated into Russian, with Cyrillic subtitles running across the screen. He promises hell on Earth to Azerbaijan's government and its Muslim leaders who oppose IS. The video is different from the jihadist videos usually produced by the IS Russian-language propaganda team. Instead of being a long address by a well-known figure, or presentations by a group of jihadist notables, this one tells a story - an individual narrative with an accompanying visual presentation. IS recruitment As in dozens of other jihadist propaganda videos, Abdulla the Caucasian speaks to his kin young Muslims in the Caucasus; however, his speech is more a story than a direct call to action, providing young, easily radicalized minds with everything they would want in their dream of becoming warriors for jihad. In scene after scene, the camera follows him as he fires toward enemy positions using various automatic weapons; he rides a motorcycle through the battle-ravaged neighborhoods, passing the unburied bodies of IS victims; he checks the ID's of the freshly-killed "infidels" brought to him by his subordinates; he pays a courtesy visit to an elderly local woman; he steps on the petrified skull of a defeated enemy, while promising a place in paradise to those who join IS. The carefully selected footage and words aim to deliver a simple message: Back home I was a nobody; here I am a warlord. Despite repeated efforts to delete it from public platforms, the video keeps reappearing in jihadist forums and social media groups. It has become one of the most popular propaganda videos ever produced by IS' Russian-language team. Measuring the impact of such propaganda statistically is impossible; however, it is worth noting that Vadim Osmanov, one of the bombers who carried out the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on June 28, was a Lezgin the same Sunni Muslim ethnic group to which Abdulla the Caucasian belongs. In the IS video in which he appears, Abdulla, besides speaking in Azerbaijani, speaks briefly in his native Lezgin language, calling on his ethnic brethren to carry out attacks wherever they are, if they are unable to travel to Iraq or Syria and join IS. While there is no proof Osmanov was responding to Abdulla's call, previous charismatic figures from certain ethnic groups have boosted recruitment among their ethnic kin, who then form sub-groups inside jihadist networks. Abdulla the Caucasian's video has even reached his home village in Azerbaijan. "Everybody in Urva knows about that video," said Sevleddin Eskindarov, head of administration of the northern Azerbaijani village of Urva, in a telephone interview with VOA from his office. Soldier turned warlord With about 3,000 residents, Urva is considered a "big" village in the northern Azerbaijani district of Qusar, near the border with Russia's republic of Dagestan. Urva's relationship with Dagestan is not simply a matter of geography: its residents are Lezgins, who are native to southeast Dagestan. Lezgins on both sides of the Dagestani-Azerbaijani border consider each other kin, maintaining close ties through marriages and clan-family relations. Eskindarov identified Abdulla the Caucasian as an Urva native. "Yes, I know the man," he said. "His name is Yurik Khasiev, Gulmirzaoglu [son of Gulmirza]" Khasiev, he said, was born and raised in Urva, and before moving to Syria, left the village only once to serve in the Azerbaijani army. "He was trouble even before he left for Syria always wearing his red beard and not going to the mosque," Eskindarov said. "A Wahhabist." Officials in Russia and other former Soviet states often use the term "Wahhabists," which refers to adherents of the ultraconservative brand of Islam that governs Saudi Arabia, as a blanket term for any Islamic fundamentalists. Eskindarov quickly added that there were only four "Wahhabists" in his village and all of them left to fight for IS a few years ago. Now, Urva has "no such problem as extremism or radical Islam," he said Eskindarov said Khasiev's parents and siblings still live in Urva, and are aware of his whereabouts. "He did not cut his family off, they are talking over the Internet all the time," he said, adding,"Everybody in Urva knows about him, and nobody likes what he has become, including his family." The Azerbaijani government responded to Khasiev's threat on the IS video with an official statement saying that state security did not regard such threats as "serious." Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations issued a statement promising that Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims organization who was personally threatened in the IS video, would be safe and protected. Azerbaijani authorities did not respond to a VOA request for comment. The Soufan Group, a New York-based security consulting firm, estimates that as of 2014, 216 Azerbaijanis were fighting with IS in Syria and Iraq. In a report issued earlier this year, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation put the number of Azerbaijani fighters in IS at about 300, noting that an Azerbaijani wrestling champion was killed fighting for the group in 2014. In a 2014 video, the then-leader of the Islamic State's Azerbaijani fighters claimed they were based in Raqqa, the de facto IS capital in Syria. He said they lived in a community under sharia law and had established madrassas Islamic schools for their children. Since Turkey started taking stricter measures to control its border with Syria, the outflow of jihadists from Azerbaijan has been reduced significantly, Martin Reardon, a Soufan Group senior vice president, told VOA in a phone interview from Doha. He added, however, that with IS losing ground in Iraq and Syria, "there are reports of Azeri fighters going home and they are going to be a serious security threat there, because they have been hardened on the battlefield and by IS ideology, and they are returning to continue fighting at home." Reardon said the IS goal in Azerbaijan, as in many other regions, is to spread its influence by establishing a local network. "But, as a brand, IS will not survive much longer; once the people see the caliphate is a proto-state they will defect," he said. "The ideology, however, will remain a long-term security threat." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Xi calls for better supervision of reform efforts People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:15, July 23, 2016 BEIJING, July 22 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for better supervision of reform efforts. Xi made the remarks at the 26th meeting of the Leading Group for Overall Reform, which he heads. The meeting was also attended by deputy heads of the group Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli. Other members of the group and officials from related central departments also attended the meeting. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the meeting. He said supervision is aimed at ensuring that reform will not deviate from the direction that the CPC Central Committee has decided on and reform efforts will not fail. Supervision should target major reform tasks, progress and effectiveness. It should also supervise the officials' awareness of reform, their division of duties and work styles, according to a statement released after the meeting, where a report on supervision of reform efforts in all departments was approved. Inspection and supervision should be carried out in order of priority, importance and difficulty of reform measures, the statement read. Efforts should be made to spot common problems in the implementation of reform measures while paying attention to problems of strong public concern, it said, urging supervisors to get to the root of problems and work out solutions. "Those who have achieved tangible and effective results in reform should be praised while those who have failed to perform their duty and implement reform measures well should be punished," it read. Attendees of the meeting also approved a plan for the pilot reform of poverty alleviation in less developed areas by exploring hydroelectric and mineral resources, a guideline for strengthening development of industry associations in cultural sectors, and a pilot reform plan for a system of leniency for suspects who plead guilty. According to the statement, developing hydroelectric and mineral resources is a major systemic innovation for poverty relief, and its goal is to increase incomes for the poor. The statement noted that the development of various associations in the cultural industry should focus on public interest and rely on both active guidance from Party committees, effective governmental supervision and strict management in accordance with the law. "Cultural associations should be guided to make full use of their functions to serve cultural groups and talent, boost the industry's development, enrich people's cultural life and stimulate cultural creativity," it said. It stressed that this development must stick to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The statement also noted that the leniency system for guilty pleas must be improved to clarify the legal basis for using the system during investigation, prosecution and judgement. It stressed that procedures prior to and during trials should be regulated and legal aid services should be improved. A guideline for creating a disciplinary system for judges and procurators was approved at the meeting, as was a pilot reform guideline for monitoring and law enforcement administrative systems for environmental protection at the sub-provincial level. A disciplinary system for judges and procurators is important in encouraging them to use power in accordance with the law and ensuring social fairness and justice, according to the statement. China will also pilot a vertical management system for environment monitoring agencies below the provincial level, under which local governments will have less interference in agencies to make them more independent and authoritative, according to the statement. Local authorities should shoulder more responsibility in environmental protection, it said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address How Beijing's Charm Offensive Allows China to Solve S China Sea Dispute Sputnik News 19:21 23.07.2016(updated 19:22 23.07.2016) Following The Hague ruling on the South China Sea, Beijing has launched a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at solving the dispute through dialogue and consultation with parties directly concerned, and contrary to negative forecasts, China's realpolitik has borne fruit. A major geopolitical game between China and the United States is going on in the South China Sea. Regardless of some dire forecasts that the award issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague on the South China Sea would prompt China's overreacting, Beijing has not fallen into the trap. Quite the contrary, China has signaled that it will address the South China Sea issue through diplomatic means. "Under no circumstance will the arbitration award exert any impact on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed last Saturday at the 11th Asian-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, as quoted by Xinhua. Li underscored that Beijing remains committed to settling the South China Sea disputes through "dialogue and consultation with countries directly involved" and in accordance with international law. In response to the ruling Beijing has launched a diplomatic charm offensive. "Only a volatile South China Sea would threaten regional peace and stability. Our 'friends circle' on the South China Sea issue seems to be getting bigger and bigger," an unnamed Chinese diplomat told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Commenting on the issue, Xuan Loc Doan, a research fellow at the Global Policy Institute of London Metropolitan University, calls attention to the fact that the 11th ASEM "did not directly mention the South China Sea dispute in its closing statement." He also notes that the European Union (EU) released its statement on the South China Sea ruling almost three days after the PCA issued its award. "Moreover, this declaration made by Federica Mogherini, the EU's High Representative, on behalf of the 28-member bloc, did not directly name China," he points out in his article for Asia Times, adding that Brussels failed to issue an "immediate" and "more strongly-worded" statement because it was reportedly blocked by Croatia, Hungary and Greece. These European countries are facing economic difficulties and seeking closer ties with Beijing, the scholar suggested. But that is half the story. Following The Hague ruling the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) completely failed to issue any statement on the PCA award, Xuan stressed, citing a lack of consensus among the bloc's members. It is especially interesting in the context of Washington's repeated attempts to use ASEAN as a bulwark against China in the Asia-Pacific region. As US geopolitical analyst Eric Draitser noted in his February interview with Sputnik, ASEAN appears to be a "tool" that the US uses to project its economic and military power in the region. Thus, unsurprisingly, Scott Harold, associate director for the US influential RAND Corp. has recently expressed his concerns regarding China's increasing influence within ASEAN in his interview with Voice of America. However, the situation is not as easy as it seems. Narushige Michishita, Assistant Professor of the Security and International Studies Program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, notes that The Hague ruling is a double-edged sword for China's neighbors. "The ruling has yielded some rather unexpected effects that go well beyond China's own territorial claims," the Japanese academic stresses in his article for The Straits Times. The crux of the matter is that The Hague not only rejected China's "historic rights" in the South China Sea, but also ruled that the disputed Spratly Islands are technically "rocks" and could not be entitled to 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZs). "According to the arbitral tribunal, Taiwan's Taiping Island is technically a "rock", meaning that it cannot generate an EEZ. Indeed, many countries in the region may now find themselves in an uncomfortable position, including Japan, with regard to its Okinotorishima and Takeshima islands. If taken to court, these "islands" might be demoted to "rocks" without EEZs," the professor explained. So far, countries of the region may decide to remain mute on disputed islands instead of seeking arbitration and demanding to enact The Hague ruling, "out of fear that the court might redefine their islands as rocks," Michishita underscored. Meanwhile, Xinhua reported Saturday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte "has expressed belief that the Philippines could get more benefits from China if the two countries could reach a settlement despite the recent ruling of the arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea issue." "On the (South) China Sea, if we can just have a settlement with them despite the arbitral judgment, I think we will get more benefits," Duterte said as quoted by the media outlet. As of yet it seems that Beijing's realpolitik has prevailed in the US-China geopolitical game over the South China Sea. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPRK FM leaves for ASEAN Regional Forum People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:35, July 23, 2016 PYONGYANG, July 23 -- The Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Yong Ho departed Pyongyang on Saturday for the ASEANRegional Forum slated for July 26 in Laos. Ri was seen off at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport by the Lao Ambassador to the DPRK, Phonekham Inthaboualy, and Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun. This is Ri's debut show on the international stage after he was appointed foreign minister in May to replace his predecessor Ri Su Yong, who is now holding the post of the vice chairman of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Ri, a career diplomat, was the representative for the DPRK in the long-stalled six-party talks aimed for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Senior officials from 27 countries will take part in the regional forum this year including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and diplomats from the ten ASEAN member countries. The ASEAN Regional Forum, established in 1993, is a platform for regional security cooperation and dialogue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea Begins Building Advanced Nuclear Armed Ballistic Submarine Sputnik News 23:23 23.07.2016(updated 02:07 24.07.2016) Pyongyang moves closer to constructing a ballistic missile submarine capable of launching a nuclear payload towards the United States as the most militaristic country rattles its saber once more. North Korea plans to upgrade its ballistic missile capability, as recent photos reveal progress on its dockyards, which will enable Pyongyang to assemble and house larger advanced submarines. The developments come after the country conducted an underwater missile launch earlier this month. A program at the US-Korea Institute at SAIS, 38 North, determined from commercial satellite imagery from the last week that new construction has occurred at the Sinpo South Shipyard on the country's eastern coast. "The status of work inside the hall remains unclear, but when it is finished North Korea will be able to build and launch new submarines much larger than the existing Gorae-class, including a new class of ballistic missile submarines. Moored alongside the launching way are three small vessels and a barge working to clear underwater obstacles," the group said in a report. The development is troubling as the Hermit Kingdom, as North Korea is sometimes called, appears to be on the march towards acquiring submarine launched nuclear ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US mainland. North Korean officials have already confirmed that they have mastered the technique of warhead miniaturization making the nuclear payload small enough to be carried by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The resurgence of North Korea's saber rattling come at a time when its economy is in ruins facing its worst economic depression in age as the international community, led by the United States, has turned the screws on the country's leader Kim Jong-Un sensing his regime's growing vulnerability to domestic opposition. Along with South Korea and Japan, the United States has also shown a more hostile temperament towards North Korea provoking the country by flying nuclear equipped B-2 and B-52 bombers over the country and staging a series of aggressive war games that Pyongyang calls a "dress rehearsal" for a full scale invasion. In response, North Korea has continued to violate international agreements on the testing of ballistic missile and nuclear technology with reckless abandon in what security analysts fear may be one last hurrah for the failing regime of Kim Jong-Un. On July 9, Pyongyang violated a UN resolution by conducting a ballistic missile launch from a smaller, less advanced Gorae-class submarine. It was the country's third such test since December, and while the test failed, the launch proceeded to a further stage than the previous two suggesting that North Korea's missile capabilities are quickly becoming more sophisticated. While North Korea is also conducting regular testing from land-based sites, "the massive investment North Korea is making into building the new submarine bunker at Sinpo suggests it will be used to protect its most prized naval asset the ballistic missile submarine capability it is currently creating." The US and South Korea have responded to an increasingly frenetic Pyongyang by finalizing an agreement to extend the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system to the Korean peninsula. THAAD, which has already been deployed in Guam and Hawaii, would in theory shoot down a ballistic missile as it descends down towards its target. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Search underway for missing Indian air force plane Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 8:29AM India is still searching for an air force transport aircraft that disappeared over the Bay of Bengal with 29 people on board, with no indication of what happened to the ill-fated plane or sign of wreckage. On Saturday, the Indian Defense Ministry said a large search and rescue operation has been launched by the air force, the navy and the coast guard in the "probable crash zone" in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The Russian-made Antonov-32 was en route from the southern city of Chennai to the coastal city of Port Blair on Friday when it disappeared from radar around 15 minutes after take-off at 8:30 a.m. local time (0300 GMT). Indian media say four officers, 17 military personnel and eight civilians were aboard the doomed aircraft, which was on a routine re-supply flight to remote islands in the Bay of Bengal. "There was no emergency communication message received from the plane. There is nothing to suggest what exactly happened," said air force spokesman Anupam Banerjee. Sixteen ships, a submarine and six planes, including two high-tech naval surveillance aircraft, are involved in the search operation, which is overseen by Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar. This is while military officials said the weather had been rough in the Bay of Bengal over the past few days due to the monsoon season. According to a report by Times of India, the missing AN-32 had suffered three technical snags earlier this month, but officials say the snags were "minor in nature." The Indian air force uses AN-32s to ferry troops and cargo. The planes have a relatively good flight safety record, but they are old despite their ongoing life-extension and upgrade refits. The South Asian nation has been trying to develop own warplanes, but delays and technical shortcomings have marred progress. In 2013, all 20 people on board a military helicopter were killed when it crashed in northern India. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia to ink heavy water deal 'soon' Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 10:42AM Iran and Russia will sign a deal soon for the sale of 40 tonnes of heavy water, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says. "Final steps have been taken towards the sale of 40 tonnes of heavy water produced by our country to Russia and the relevant agreement will be signed soon," Salehi said on Saturday. Major European companies, which he didn't specify, have also proposed to buy heavy water from Iran, he added. "So far, we have negotiated to sell a consignment of 10-15 tonnes to one country and another to some other country in the European Union, the names of which we do not divulge for the time being," Salehi said. He also said Iran has so far transferred 32 tonnes of heavy water to the US and been paid for its value. Salehi further touched on various usages of the commodity in pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well as its application in nuclear fusion for generating electricity. Earlier this month, Salehi and Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari visited the Cadarache research center for nuclear power in France to discuss Iran's participation in an international project to generate power from nuclear fusion. Salehi said on Saturday Iran produces 20 tonnes of heavy water per year, adding the volume can be increased but the country is currently focused on improving the purity of the produce. The official said the heavy water produced by Iran enjoys 99.95-percent purity. "The commodity's quality has been verified in the best US laboratories. Given that only a small number of countries produce heavy water, we are among the most exceptional ones in this regard." In April, the US government completed a $8.6-million deal to buy 32 tons of heavy water from Iran. A month later, US lawmakers voted for a bill that would prohibit such purchases. The measure is yet to be approved by the US Senate. "Even if they do not buy from us, we would keep it in storage asthe commodity is not perishable," the AEOI chief asserted. Iran's sale of heavy water is carried out under a nuclear accord reached with the P5+1 group of countries - the US, Britain, Russia, France, China, and Germany - on July 14, 2015. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the removal of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Salehi said some countermeasures have been taken in order to reverse restrictions placed on the country's nuclear activities should the other side violate the deal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow, Tehran Close to Signing Deal on Purchase of Heavy Water Sputnik News 19:14 23.07.2016(updated 19:15 23.07.2016) Moscow and Tehran are close to signing a deal on the sale of 40 tons of Iranian heavy water to Russia, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said Saturday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) In late May, Russian Envoy to International Organizations Vladimir Voronkov said that Russian nuclear agency Rosatom was considering the possibility of buying Iranian heavy water. "Steps are to be finalized for sale of 40 tons of heavy-water reactor to Russia and the deal will be signed in the very near future," Salehi said, as quoted by the IRNA news agency. According to Salehi, deputy head of the organization Behrouz Kamalvandi may in the near future visit Moscow to discuss concluding the issue with the Russian side. There is also an option that a Russian delegation will arrive in Iran, he said. According to the nuclear deal agreed last year, Iran must store no more than 130 tons of heavy water during the first year after signing the agreement. AEOI announced on June 1 plans to sell 92 metric tons of Iranian heavy water to the United States, Russia and several European countries. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sadr's supporters take to streets again for protest Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 9:23AM Supporters of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have taken to the streets in Baghdad and Basra to call for economic and political reforms and end to corruption. Hundreds of people converged on Tahrir Square in central Baghdad on Friday, demanding the formation of a technocrat government, the Arabic-language al-Sumaria television reported. Participants in the demonstrations also called upon the government to prosecute corrupt officials and bring them to justice. In Basra, some 550 km (340 miles) to the south, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Provincial Council building, demanding abolition of the sectarian quota system and fight against corruption. They also demanded that seven ministers who resigned recently under pressure are held accountable for the decisions they made during their terms in office. Civil rights activist Nael al-Zamil said the protesters called for the appointment of professional and efficient ministers, and vowed to continue street protests every Friday until their demands were met. On Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi accepted the resignation of Minister of Higher Education Hussein al-Shahristani, only a day after he agreed to the resignations of six other ministers. The prime minister has called on political groups to focus on the campaign against Daesh extremists instead of holding protests which are undermining efforts to maintain security. Iraqi officials are worried that the new protests might lead to chaos similar to the mayhem in April when some unruly protesters broke into the restricted Green Zone in the capital and scaled security walls to storm parliament. On Friday, Sadr's supporters defied a government ban, taking to the streets of Baghdad in thousands to stage a protest rally. The chaos on Iraq's political scene comes at a critical time when army forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units, are engaged in fierce clashes with Daesh terrorists on several fronts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN approves resolution to rid Libya of chemical arms Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 8:25AM The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed a resolution calling on the international community to assist the destruction of chemical arms in Libya, where the Daesh terror group has gained a foothold over the past months. On Friday, the 15-member council authorized UN "member states to acquire, control, transport, transfer and destroy chemical weapons ... to ensure the elimination of Libya's chemical weapons stockpile in the soonest and safest manner." The operation of disposing chemicals should be carried out with "appropriate consultations" with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), according to the British-drafted motion. Earlier this week, Libyan authorities asked the global chemical weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to draw up a plan for the destruction of Libya's precursor chemicals that are estimated to be roughly 700 tonnes. The toxic agents were stored at the Ruwagha depot in southeastern Libya, but they were recently transferred to a temporary storage site in the north of the African country. Elsewhere, Friday's resolution warned that that the potential acquisition of chemical weapons by extremist groups operating in Libya "represents a threat to international peace and security." Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the adoption of the motion was relevant as "there's been a springing up of terrorist groups in Libya." "There was an imminent threat of danger that these things would fall into terrorist hands. The examples of Syria and Iraq have demonstrated the topical nature of the problem of chemical terrorism for the region," he said. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also noted that by passing the measure, council members have "reduced the risk of these weapons falling into the hands of terrorists and fanatics." Libya, which joined the UN convention on eliminating chemical weapons back in 2004, has been dominated by violence since a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The oil-rich African state has had two rival administrations since mid-2014, when militants overran the capital and forced the parliament to flee to the country's remote east. The two governments achieved a consensus on forming a unity government, the GNA, last December after months of UN-brokered talks in Tunisia and Morocco to restore order to the country. Daesh has taken advantage of the political chaos in Libya to increase its presence there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria's government said on Sunday it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations," state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. The U.N. hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August. Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated. Search Keywords: Short link: Kashmir will soon be part of Pakistan: PM ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 23 July 2016 / 13:29 TEHRAN (ISNA)- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the day is not far when struggle by Kashmiri people will meet success and Kashmir will be part of Pakistan. "The day is not far when the whole Kashmir will become Pakistan. No one can stop freedom movement in Indian Kashmir," the prime minister said while addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad capital of Pakistani Kashmir. He said, 'People of Pakistan stand firm with their brethren of Indian Kashmir and will never give up their support to Kashmiris. Earlier Pakistan has categorically rejected New Delhi's claim that Indian Kashmir is its integral part. In a statement, Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed State as per UN Security Council resolutions. On July 20 'Black Day' was observed in Pakistan and mass rallies across the country were held to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people. In the wake of clashes between protesters and security forces in Indian Kashmir during the past 14 days, 46 people have been killed and scores of other wounded. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Creating Cutting-Edge Universal Nuclear Battleship Sputnik News 21:32 23.07.2016(updated 23:47 23.07.2016) Russia's Severnoye Design Bureau has started working on the Project 23560 Leader-class destroyer that will combine the features of a destroyer, large antisubmarine warship and guided missile cruiser. The ship will most likely be nuclear powered. It will be capable of spending up to 90 days offshore without additional refueling or support. "The Leader will be a universal ship, triple-hatted as a destroyer, large ASW ship and guided missile cruiser while being smaller than Project 1144 ships and carrying far more weaponry," news publication The Defence Talk reported Valeriy Polovinki, advisor to the director general of the Krylov State Research Center that worked out the destroyer's preliminary design military, as saying. He further said that the self-contained operation of such ships is usually based on their stock of provisions and their nuclear propulsion plants can go on without refueling for years. The Leader-class destroyers are expected to be equipped with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles and S-500 air defense systems. As exhibited by its mockup, the destroyer will be 200 meters long and 20 meters wide. It will be able to travel at a maximum speed of 32 knots. The multipurpose warship will have anti-aircraft, anti-ballistic missile, anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities. It is meant to replace the Sovremennyy-class destroyers, the main anti-surface warships of the Russian Navy, as well as the Slava-class cruisers and the Udaloy I class anti-submarine destroyers. It will further be equipped with P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers. The Zircon hypersonic missiles could also be added to the arsenal. The next-generation warship will also have a landing pad for two Kamov Ka-27 or Kamov Ka-32 helicopters. The vertical launch systems (VLS) of the Poliment-Redut system will handle short-range aerial threats. The VLS will be controlled by the Poliment active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system. The Leader may carry two modules of the navalized version of the Pantsir-M SAM/gun system. "Finally the Leader will also get a 130-mm A-192 versatile gun. Overall, the destroyer's weapons arsenal will include a total of 200 missiles," Izvestia reported. "Nuclear-powered cruisers that have the self-sustained operating capability and formidable weaponry can operate anywhere in the world. The Russian Navy has not ordered ships like that since 1989, which means that the country has regained geopolitical interests in remote corners of the world," Russian news publication Izvestia reported former Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Igor Kasatonov as saying. Valery Polovinkin, advisor to the director general of the Krylov State Research Center which worked out the destroyer's preliminary design, says the sophisticated ship will combine the best of several types of surface combatants at once. Its antimissile and space defense capabilities will serve as a "kind of strong point in the ocean." Naval arms expert Alexander Mozgovoi told the publication that the final design of the Leader and its weapons arsenal may evolve considerably as the engineering design is being worked out. Metal for the new warship is set to be cut in the beginning of 2018, according to the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC). A series of eight destroyers is planned to be build. According to the expert, such a large-scale program was chosen due to the exclusive problem with the Russian Navy's import substitution, the lack of a domestic manufacturer of gas-turbine propulsion plants. "On the other hand, nuclear ones are in production in this country, the success of the nuclear-powered icebreaker construction program being a good case in point. The Kalibr-armed Project 21631 ships, which received raving reports during the Syrian campaign, have short legs, with their endurance being within 30 days approximately as long as it takes them to cruise from Murmansk to Gibraltar. Nuclear-powered destroyers have a virtually unlimited range," The Defence Talk reported Mozgovoi as saying. The ship will displace about 17,500 tons, which will make it close enough to Project 1144 Orlan-class heavy missile cruisers in terms of dimensions. According to Igor Kasatonov, the development of such a destroyer ship implies certain geopolitical interests of Russia's leadership, Izvestia reported. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 100 Russian Northern Fleet Ships, Subs Take Part in Barents Sea Drills Sputnik News 10:09 23.07.2016(updated 14:02 23.07.2016) Over 100 military ships, nuclear and diesel submarines, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Russian Northern Fleet took part in large-scale exercises in the Barents Sea and its southern inlet, the White Sea, the fleet's press service said Saturday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Northern Fleet deployment training was taking place during the day, by the evening most of the ships, submarines, and auxiliary vessels, as well as units of the land and coastal forces, air defense divisions returned to places of permanent deployment, according to Capt. 2nd Class Andrei Luzik, the acting head of the Northern Fleet's press service. Commander of the fleet, Vice-Admiral Nikolai Evmenov personally observed the sea deployment exercises. "Land and coastal troops were raised on alarm. The personnel of the marine brigade and the separate motorized rifle brigade carried out a march to the areas of concentration of military equipment. The training involved more than 1,000 units of military vehicles," Luzik explained. Servicemen of the 45th Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Northern Fleet also took part in the drills with more than 30 aircraft involved, the press service acting head noted. Anti-aircraft missile regiment of Kola Peninsula has been deployed in the designated area to defend the fleet from the aerial attack of the hypothetical aggressor, Luzik added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US airstrikes leave over a dozen civilian casualties in Syria Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 10:15AM More than a dozen civilians are dead or injured after US warplanes launch fresh airstrikes in Syria's northern province of Aleppo. Local sources said warplanes hit targets in al-Nawajah village east of of Manbij on Saturday, leaving at least 15 people dead or injured. Some of the wounded victims are said to be in a critical condition, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement from London. The fresh attack comes shortly after at least 140 civilians were killed in French and US airstrikes in Manbij on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, French warplanes struck the village of Tukhan al-Kubra north of Manbij, killing 120 civilians. The fatalities came a day after a US airstrike killed 20 civilians in Manbij. Last month, at least 45 civilians were killed in two separate US-led airstrikes in the Syrian city, which is mostly populated by the Kurdish community. On Thursday, opposition groups in Syria called on the US and allies to suspend airstrikes following the deaths of some 140 civilians in Aleppo until an investigation is completed into the deaths. The Syrian government has written to the United Nations, asking the world body to condemn the airstrikes which are carried out without authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. The US-led coalition has been backing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces, to capture Manbij since last May. The coalition has also been conducting airstrikes against purported Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014. The Syrian government has criticized the unauthorized aerial campaign, saying it has damaged the country's infrastructure instead of making a dent in the Takfiri group's capabilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. postpones delivery of assault amphibious vehicles to Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 2016/07/23 18:27:21 Taipei, July 23 (CNA) A U.S. decision to postpone delivery of AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles ordered by Taiwan is the result of discussion between Taipei and Washington, the Navy said Saturday. It dismissed as untrue a media report that describes the postponement as indicating a change in relations between Taiwan and the United Sates. According to the Liberty Times newspaper, Taiwan has placed an order for 36 AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles with the United Sates, with the first batch originally scheduled to be delivered in the second half of this year. Washington, however, informed Taipei recently that the delivery date will be postponed for three-and-a-half years until 2020, the paper said, citing an unnamed "authoritative source." Although the U.S. side told Taiwan that the postponement is being made due to "technical issues," the military suspects there are political factors behind the decision, the source said. In response to the report, however, the Navy explained that the decision to change the schedule was made based on the need to accommodate the sales of other weapons systems. It noted that the United States has continued to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, which demonstrates that Taiwan-U.S. relations remain stable. It said that assisting Taiwan to develop and maintain a strong self-defense capability is in the mutual interests of Taipei and Washington and that the two sides will continue to consolidate their security partnership to contribute to regional peace and stability. (By Claudia Liu and Y.F. Low) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey arrests nephew of US-based cleric Gulen after coup attempt Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 6:8PM Turkish security forces have arrested a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who is blamed for masterminding last weekend's failed military coup. Muhammad Saitd Gulen was arrested in the northeastern city of Erzurum on Saturday and will be sent to the capital, Ankara, for questioning, local media reported. It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the Friday coup attempt. Also on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement. Erdogan has accused Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey and abroad, of masterminding last Friday's failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,100 others sustained injuries. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. Tens of thousands of soldiers, security officers, judges, prosecutors, civil servants and academics suspected of ties to the Gulen movement have been detained or suspended from their jobs following the failed coup. Erdogan has pledged to "cleanse" the country's institutions of the "virus" of Gulen supporters, drawing concerns from Turkey's Western allies over his increasingly authoritarian stance. Meanwhile, Ankara has escalated pressure on Washington to extradite Gulen, sending several "dossiers" that it says are packed with evidence about his alleged role in the failed coup. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Ankara expects to complete within a week to 10 days the dossier requesting the extradition of Gulen. Cavusoglu further said the link between soldiers involved in the July 15 abortive coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear," adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure his extradition. The US had earlier said it would extradite Gulen if Turkey provided evidence, not allegations, that he was behind the coup attempt. Lawyers say that the process could take many years. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan orders closure of thousands of Gulen-linked private schools, unions Iran Press TV Sat Jul 23, 2016 3:25PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions over suspected links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for the last week failed coup attempt. In his first decree since imposing a three-month state of emergency after the coup attempt, Erdogan on Saturday authorized the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions for their suspected link to the Gulen movement. Parliament must still approve the decree but it requires only a simple majority. The ruling AK Party, founded by Erdogan and in power since 2002, commands the majority of seats in parliament. Erdogan has accused Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey and abroad, of masterminding last Friday's failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,100 others sustained injuries. Gulen denies the charge and has condemned the coup. The decree comes three days after a state of emergency was declared in Turkey, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. Tens of thousands of soldiers, security officers, judges, prosecutors, civil servants and academics suspected of ties to the Gulen movement have been detained or suspended from their jobs. Erdogan has pledged to "cleanse" the country's institutions of the "virus" of Gulen supporters, drawing concerns from Turkey's Western allies over his increasingly authoritarian stance. Meanwhile, Ankara has escalated pressure on Washington to extradite Gulen, sending several "dossiers" that it says are packed with evidence about his alleged role in the failed coup. The US had earlier said it would extradite Gulen if Turkey provided evidence, not allegations, that he was behind the coup attempt. Concerns have been on the rise about the crackdown that the Turkish government has begun following the failure of the coup. The EU is particularly concerned as Ankara seeks accession to the bloc. One special area of concern is Ankara's attempts to reintroduce the death penalty to allow the execution of those believed to have been involved in the coup bid. Erdogan has lashed out at the critics of the sweeping purge in the country, stressing that Turkey will never make compromises on democracy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Issues List of Measures Taken Under Declared State of Emergency Sputnik News 12:29 23.07.2016(updated 12:31 23.07.2016) The decree of the Turkish government titled "On the measures taken under the state of emergency" was published in the official Resmi Gazete newspaper, on Saturday. ANKARA (Sputnik) According to the decree, the duration of police detention cannot exceed 30 days from the moment of detention, excluding the time spent to transfer the detainee to the nearest court. The operation of 35 units in the health sector, 1,043 private educational institutions, private dormitories and guest houses, 1,229 associations and foundations, 19 labor unions, federations and confederations, 15 universities started by public funds, has been suspended. Civil servants, in relation to which the link to or membership in terrorist organizations or groups will be proved, are to be fired and never taken to the civil service again. On Thursday, the Turkish parliament approved a governmental decree on introduction of state of emergency for three months giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the ability to enact new laws by decree, bypassing the nation's legislature, and restrict public gatherings. The coup attempt took place in Turkey on July 15 and was suppressed by the following day. Some 246 people resisting the attempted coup were killed and around 2,000 were injured, according to the country's authorities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Wants Pakistan to Close Down institutions, Businesses Linked to Gulen by Ayaz Gul July 23, 2016 Pakistan is under renewed pressure from Turkish authorities to shut down educational institutions in the country and other business concerns run by Fethullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind of last week's failed coup plot in Turkey. Officials in Islamabad revealed Saturday they have been "for sometime examining options" for administrative actions against the Gulen-linked educational group. But Ankara has apparently stepped up the pressure since the abortive coup. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed followers of the U.S.-based cleric for the rebellion and has demanded for his extradition, though Gulen has denied his involvement and Washington has asked for evidence. "Turkey is a friendly country and we should accommodate their concerns within the ambit of law and propriety," a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official told VOA on condition of anonymity when asked whether Islamabad is considering Turkish demands. Thousands of Pakistani students are enrolled in Gulen's commercial network of around two dozen institutions operating in Pakistan for over two decades. The network is called PAKTURK International Schools and Colleges. In addition to separate business entities, Gulen also has established a branch of his so-called Rumi Forum in the country. It is a think tank platform for promoting intercultural and intellectual dialogue by inviting Turkish scholars to deliver lectures in Pakistani universities and arranging such activities in Turkey for Pakistani counterparts. The Pakistani official admitted there could be challenges stemming from a complete closure of Gulen's education-related institutions in the country but he expressed hope "an appropriate solution" will be found. "What we need is for the Turks to identify a company which will take over these schools. Closure of schools can harm the studies of students. So a change of management is a better option," noted the Pakistani official noted. His remarks came a day after Turkish Ambassador Sadik Babur said that Gulen's group has a "big presence in Pakistan" and Ankara has called on "all friendly countries to prevent its activities." He told a group of reporters in Islamabad Turkey was in close contact with Pakistani officials and "we have had good cooperation in every field." Under President Erdogan, Turkey's traditionally friendly relations with Pakistan have deepened and expanded. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif swiftly condemned the botched coup in what he referred to as the brotherly country of Turkey, expressing expressed Pakistan's "complete support and solidarity" with Erdogan. In a bid to distance it self from the Turkish coup attempt, the Gulen-linked educational network, denied "any affiliation or connection with any political individual or any movement" in Turkey. A message published on the group's website says it is a "philanthropic and non-political endeavor" organized and established for human development in the field of education in Pakistan. Critics have also noted that the Rumi Forum this week removed Gulen's name from the page where it has published the chairman's message, suggesting rising local pressure against the group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forces loyal to Libya's unity government said Sunday they had seized a building used by the Islamic State group to manufacture explosives in its coastal stronghold. The bomb factory is the largest to be captured by fighters allied with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) since they launched an operation to retake Sirte in May, the forces said on Facebook. They said the building was in the southeast of Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi which IS group has controlled since June 2015. The pro-GNA forces shared images of the building including several rooms containing explosive devices, cables and mobile phones. The fall of Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, would be a major blow to IS group, which has faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq. The two-month battle for Sirte has killed around 280 pro-government fighters and wounded more than 1,500, according to medical sources at the unity forces' command centre. The pro-GNA forces are mostly made up of militias from western Libya established during the 2011 revolt that overthrew Ghaddafi. A militia set up to guard the country's main oil facilities has also been advancing on IS. The GNA was the result of a UN-brokered power-sharing agreement struck in December, but it has yet to be endorsed by Libya's elected parliament based in the country's far east. Search Keywords: Short link: Even though forecasts called for temperatures in the upper 90s, it was only a blistering 93 degrees when hundreds of re-enactors, bikers, veterans and Confederate supporters gathered along the U.S. 29 bypass Saturday afternoon to raise one of the largest Confederate flags in the nation. I want to thank the Danville City Council for taking down a tiny 3 by 5 flag, said Virginia Flaggers head Susan Hathaway, after a bagpiper led a procession of re-enactors bearing the colors of the Confederacy. The flag raising is the latest response to a decision to remove the flag from the grounds of the Sutherlin Mansion. In August 2015, the Danville City Council voted to only allow the U.S., Virginia, Danville and POW/MIA flags on city property, effectively banning the Confederate flag from the mansion area. During the following several months in addition to an ongoing lawsuit from the Heritage Preservation Association the Flaggers have raised 14 roadside flags around the city. Hathaway said the flag was the work of numerous organizations working together, like the Flaggers, the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and others. We agree on one thing, and we get together and we make it happen, and thats what its all about, Hathaway said. Dozens of Confederate flags, tents and even barbecue and ice cream food trucks lined the dirt road up the ceremony around the flagpole. After reciting the Virginia and Confederate salutes and the Virginia state song, Hathaway introduced several speakers to comment on the event. Kevin Stone, with the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, said he was tired of passively watching flags, monuments and other memorials removed by towns and state governments. Im tired of defending, Stone said. Im ready to charge. Heritage Preservation Association President Wayne Byrd said for decades the Danville City Council had allowed the flag at the mansion for decades. For 20 years its been fine, Byrd said. After the speeches, the 30-by-50 foot flag was raised by a hydraulic crane, as both rifles and cannons fired off a salute. The Heritage Preservation Association filed a petition for a rehearing in the flag lawsuit in June, after the Virginia Supreme Court declined to hear the case. If the petition fails, it is likely the end of the case. Its been eight years since the 5th District was competitive on Election Day. But this year, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named the race between Democrat Jane Dittmar and Republican Tom Garrett as one of the partys Emerging Races. Garrett is a conservative state senator from Buckingham County running in what has been a district safely held by Robert Hurt, of Chatham. But Hurt is retiring at the end of his current term, and Garrett had to fight for the Republican nomination. That has given Dittmar time to build up her campaign. Eight years ago, of course, no one thought Congressman Virgil Goode could be defeated, in part because the 5th was drawn then as now by the General Assembly to elect a Republican to Congress. Running against a hard-working Tom Perriello, Goode made several mistakes in the 2008 campaign. With Democrats in control of the House of Representatives, he said not much could be done to counter then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Just before the election, questions were raised about the use of the fax machine in Goodes Danville office. This year there is no incumbent on the ballot, but because of the crowded Republican field, Dittmar has had more time to campaign in the district than Garrett. For Dittmar, the significance of running in what is now called one of the Emerging Races is the kind of publicity that can help her raise money. It sort of puts Dittmar on the radar as a candidate the party may be willing to spend money on, Geoffrey Skelley, of the University of the Virginia Center for Politics, told The (Lynchburg) News & Advance. Its a good sign for Dittmar that she has reached this point. Good, but Dittmar still is running in a conservative Republican district and theres no reason why Garrett cant close the gap both in organization and fundraising before Election Day. For now, though, Dittmar is the congressional candidate who has more campaign signs up in the Dan River Region. On Thursday, Hillary for Virginia opened a campaign office at 441 Piney Forest Road another attempt to get as many Democratic voters to the polls in November as possible. As Garrett and Dittmar push their campaigns to Election Day, they both have the same problem Americans dislike the major parties presidential candidates. If Donald Trump runs a strong and popular campaign during the next three months, Garrett should be all right. If Hillary Clinton does the same thing, then Dittmar has a real chance this year. A presidential election always brings out the most voters and we can expect the same thing this year. But until we know more about how the presidential race is going to go, its hard to predict what will happen in the 5th District. To the editor: Elected officials take a lot of heat from their constituents, but sometimes we should stop and think about the many actions they take behind the scenes on behalf of all of us. While we might cynically think all politicians are driven by ulterior motives, sometimes the truth is simpler: they step in to assist citizens just because it is the right thing to do. Recently, Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, made the simplest request on behalf of a group of Virginia citizens that made a real difference. On July 14, the Virginia Housing Commission work group on short-term rentals held a public meeting in Richmond. A number of Virginia residents traveled many hours to Richmond to present their views on how they lacked a voice on the work group and to express their opinion on a matter of considerable importance to neighborhoods across the state. Less than 24 hours before the meeting, the work group chairman eliminated the period for public comment. Many who had planned to attend were so discouraged when they learned they would not be permitted to speak decided they could not afford to take time off from work just to be present. However, a number of residents did appear so they could be counted. Most drove from across the state and sat through many hours of presentations in the slight hope they might still be given just three minutes to express their views. Finally, after hours of uncertainty, we were surprised and pleased when we were given the opportunity to speak. That brings me back to Delegate Marshall. When he learned concerned citizens were going to be prevented from providing public comment, he made the simplest of suggestions to the work group chairman let them be heard. Delegate Marshall took this step on behalf of citizens he did not know and who were not his constituents, but his action made a difference and we were permitted to express our views. The simple right of freedom to be heard should not be taken for granted or overlooked. Thank you, Delegate Marshall, for helping to make a difference to a group of citizens you will never meet but whom you served nonetheless. JOSIE BALLATO Fairfax County With voluntary administration spreading through hospitality faster than the duck confit craze of 2002, exactly who is looking to pick up the assets of a casualty list that includes the giant Keystone Group, Eagle Boys and Jones the Grocer? The ultra expansive Urban Purveyor Group is no doubt casting an eye, and Merivale's Justin Hemmes tells Good Food he's still open to pulling out the chequebook if something catches his eye. "But we're pretty busy right now. We're opening [a restaurant and bar] on Oxford Street the first week of September, and the chicken shop in November. Enmore [The Queen Vic] will be mid to late September," he says. Rumours Hemmes had cooled on Coogee Pavilion's more upmarket second floor restaurant are off the money. "We'll start designing soon. It'll open late next year." In the Age of Instagram, the phrase 'eating with your eyes' has never been more relevant. A restaurant that creates a viral sensation or is first to bring one to Australia is rewarded with bums on seats and rave reviews from bloggers. Some cafes even create menus with 'instagramability' in mind. Forget freakshakes and acai bowls; these are the top 23 most instagrammable foods of 2016 in Australia. 1. THAT CAKE Rumours are flying around the Internet that Black Star Pastry's layered strawberry and watermelon cake isn't just the most instagrammed cake in Australia, but in the entire world. A photo posted by Pretty Flower Wall (@prettyflowerwall) on Jul 17, 2016 at 6:08pm PDT 2. FRIED CHICKEN Ain't no thing like a chicken wing: fried chicken has commandeered feeds nation-wide, with Belle's Hot Chicken a favourite in both Melbourne and Sydney. A photo posted by The Streets of Barangaroo (@thestreetsofbarangaroo) on May 8, 2016 at 8:50pm PDT 3. COLOURFUL COFFEE Lattes are available in just about every shade of pink, blue, yellow and even rainbow. But let's remember where it all started not so long ago: the green matcha latte. This one from Eden's Backyard in Carlton, Melbourne, comes with bonus cat art. A photo posted by L I Y E N (@theoverindulged) on Jun 27, 2016 at 9:09pm PDT 4. ARTISTIC CROISSANTS Agathe Patisserie at the South Melbourne Market swirls them with raspberry and adorns them with gold; Lune's have been dubbed the best in the world and Sydney's Textbook Boulangerie Patisserie even had a foie gras mousse and black cherry gel special. Advertisement A photo posted by joyce w (@ms_jwong) on Jun 13, 2016 at 9:35pm PDT 5. STUFFED CROISSANTS Croissants are the perfect vessel for fusion dishes: in Sydney, there's the Bacon Mac Daddy at Cuckoo Callay for hangover brunches, while Melbourne's White Mojo shoves soft shell crab, pickles, chipotle mayo and a fried egg in their croissants and calls it a Croissant Burger. A photo posted by Issac Martin (@issac_eatsalot) on Jul 19, 2016 at 1:45pm PDT 6. OTT HOT CHOCOLATES Melbourne has one up on Sydney here, probably due to the weather. Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters are behind the fairy floss hot chocolate, while customers at Mork Chocolate Brew House can't drink a Campfire Hot Chocolate without photographing it first. A photo posted by Yinsuan Tan (@yinsuan) on Jul 7, 2016 at 10:24pm PDT 7. SUPER SOFT SERVES Weather aside; the crazier your soft serve, the more likely it is to become an Internet sensation. Devon on Danks is making ice cream seasonal in the middle of winter by adding fries and black truffle, while Aqua S surrounds theirs in a cloud of fairy floss. A photo posted by Dana (@thishungrybunny) on Jul 17, 2016 at 8:03pm PDT 8. FLOWER GELATO Sydney CBD newcomer i-Creamy has taken the online world by storm with its gelato flowers, already popular in New York and London. A photo posted by Jo (@myinsatiableappetite) on Jul 15, 2016 at 8:42pm PDT 9. BAE GOALS Bagels have been big this year. Their aesthetically-pleasing shape, as well as the fact that they're often served on branded boards atop marble tables, makes them extremely Insta-friendly. Try Sydney newcomer, Smoking Gun Bagels. A photo posted by Will, the 1 & only (@willxia1) on Jul 12, 2016 at 7:51pm PDT 10. EGG WAFFLES Haven Specialty Coffee in Surry Hills has nailed it with the presentation of their egg waffles, which might come with an upside-down ice cream cone or Japanese teapot of matcha sauce. A photo posted by Tammie Kwong (@viptammie_kwong) on Jul 16, 2016 at 7:00pm PDT 11. GELATO SLIDERS Sticking to Sydney, C9 Chocolate & Gelato's "gelato sliders" which look suspiciously like ice cream sandwiches come with your choice of gelato filling; cookies, brownie or banana bread exterior; drizzle of chocolate or Nutella and Instagram filter. A photo posted by WE HUNGRY (@wehungryyy) on Jun 14, 2016 at 2:42am PDT 12. CRAZY CONES Head to Zero Degrees in Sydney CBD for taiyaki, Japanese soft serve in a fish-shaped cone, or to South Yarra in Melbourne, where Adriano Zumbo's Little Frankie's has customers bending over backwards to capture the gelato-filled doughnut cone in the foreground and the neon sign in the background. A photo posted by Philip Lee (@philsosophyy) on Jul 18, 2016 at 1:12am PDT 13. SIGN SPOTTING Special mention to those Melburnians who get as much joy from Instagramming signs at cafes and restaurants as they do the food itself. These words of wisdom from Gontran Cherrier Boulangerie have been especially popular as of late. A photo posted by Vu Hoang (@vu_hoang) on Jul 17, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT 14. BEAUT BURGERS Nothing racks up likes quite like a snap of a juicy burger that's barely able to contain its insides. The strong branding at 8bit makes them an especially good #burgerporn contender. A photo posted by Aria thefoodsociety (@thefoodsociety) on Feb 15, 2016 at 11:02pm PST 15. #CHEESEPORN It's all about the ooze, you see something that Maker and Monger at Prahran Market has capitalised on with its grilled cheese sandwiches, blow-torched reubens and indulgent raclette. A photo posted by Maker & Monger (@makerandmonger) on Jun 15, 2016 at 7:00pm PDT 16. HESTON'S MEAT FRUIT This one needs no introduction. At Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Melbourne's Crown complex, photographing the famous meat fruit is practically compulsory. A photo posted by D a v i d T e o (@david__teo) on Jul 13, 2016 at 2:27am PDT 17. DOUGHNUTS There's no shortage of doughnut-filled posts, but those from Doughnut Time are especially popular. A photo posted by dishin_itout (@dishin_itout) on Apr 14, 2016 at 3:06am PDT 18. PORK STAR When Tim Ho Wan the Michelin-starred dim sim chain from Hong Kong landed in Melbourne at the start of the year, it brought with it the restaurant's signature baked barbecue pork buns. Also available in Sydney, they taste better than they look. A photo posted by Bikin Laper Aja! (@bikinlaperaja) on Jul 3, 2016 at 5:00am PDT 19. DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST Want customers to Instagram your food? Artfully arrange persian fairy floss over the top. It worked for this not-so-french french toast from The Picnic Burwood. A photo posted by krystal the hungry ningja (@ningjaeats) on Jul 10, 2016 at 2:33am PDT 20. RAINDROP CAKES It arrived in Australia from Japan, via New York, already a viral sensation. Now the raindrop cake which resembles either a droplet of water or a breast insert depending on how you look at it is available at Cafe Lafayette in Port Melbourne and at Harajuku Gyoza in Sydney and Queensland. A photo posted by Kimmy Uyen (@mskimmii) on May 14, 2016 at 3:59am PDT 21. RAMEN It may not be new, fusion or topped with doughnuts, but people still want you to know when they're eating ramen. In Melbourne, try Shop Ramen, Fukuryu Ramen and Mugen Ramen. In Sydney, Chaco Bar, Yasaka Ramen and Ippudo. A photo posted by (@kusumasi) on Jul 17, 2016 at 4:49am PDT 22. FLOWERS & FLATLAYS AT THE GROUNDS Venues don't get much more impressive than Sydney's The Grounds of Alexandria, which explains why it's one of the most Instagrammed places in the country. Stylists and horticulturists have made it extra Insta-friendly; come for the flora, stay for the 'freak sodas' and irresistible flat lay opportunities. A photo posted by (@ccccccccxz) on Jul 17, 2016 at 1:33am PDT 23. ALL THE THINGS AT MATCHA MYLKBAR From their blue algae lattes and hot pink skull smoothies to their vibrant green burgers, hotcakes and everything in between. photos by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS Bee expert Jerry Hayes of Monsanto looks for the queen as he checks the health of the colony at the company's research center in Chesterfield, Mo. SHARE "In all my years in the industry, I've never heard of this big of a trial in beekeeping," said Jerry Hayes, who heads Monsanto's bee health operations. Scientists use language of DNA on bees By Jacob Barker, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (TNS) ST. LOUIS If not treated, the invasive varroa mite will almost certainly show up in a honeybee hive, latching on to the pollinators, feeding off their internal fluids and threatening to weaken the colony to the point of collapse. Western bees never evolved defenses to the Asian parasite, brought to North America about 30 years ago. Many of the existing treatments are mite-targeting pesticides that can damage the bees or their honey. Its a problem Monsanto scientists think they can help solve by tailoring a treatment with far more specificity than synthetic chemicals, one that uses the language of DNA to target genes unique to only the varroa mite. And the agriculture giant thinks it can do it by simply feeding the bees a sugar solution full of RNA, the molecule that transcribes DNAs instructions. Monsanto has already signed up 2,500 colonies around the country for trials of its bee health product, which started this year. In all my years in the industry, Ive never heard of this big of a trial in beekeeping, said Jerry Hayes, who heads Monsantos bee health operations. The tests could prove significant, not only for honeybees crucial for pollinating the food supply, but for a technology platform that has potential applications far beyond beekeeping. Monsanto believes it will be the first of its products to market that utilize the new genetic technology, probably around 2020. It isnt alone. Startups with operations in the St. Louis region are looking at their own products using the technology, and other large agribusiness companies are racing to commercialize it. The mechanism, known as RNA interference or RNAi, has stoked excitement among researchers and industry since its discovery won two scientists a 2006 Nobel Prize. This is a learning platform for RNA interference, Hayes said. So we can figure out how to use it on other bad bugs. RNA is the messenger molecule that copies instructions from genes within a cells DNA to protein-making mechanisms in cells. Scientists discovered that if they introduced RNA into the cell that matched existing RNA messages but was made to look like some viruses, the cells defenses would fight it off like a virus. In the process, the cell would destroy the RNA messages it was making naturally that matched the virus-mimicking RNA, essentially silencing a particular genetic trait. RNA messages can carry the instructions for virtually every function of life, including making the proteins that some insects and mites need to live. If the cells stop making them, those pests die. Monsanto, headquartered in suburban St. Louis, and other big seed and chemical companies have been criticized for their use of pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, which many studies link to bee health problems and impacts to other beneficial insects. But the new approach, Monsanto says, would be valuable because it avoids any nontarget effects by acting only on genes unique to the pest, weed, virus or bacteria it wants to kill. And, the company and scientists say, RNA molecules biodegrade in the environment, unlike some synthetic chemicals. Beyond eliminating harmful organisms, theres the prospect of adjusting genes to make food taste better or require less water. The overall potential of the platform is enormous, said John McLean, a Monsanto scientist in charge of the BioDirect division, which is working to develop the bee product and several others using RNA interference. Its big enough that several startups in the area are also aggressively pursuing commercialization of the technology. One of them, Apse Inc., is working on methods to manufacture RNA molecules more cheaply for use in agriculture. Its CEO is a former Monsanto scientist, and Apses website tells investors that a potential exit could be acquisition by a major agriculture company. Forrest Innovations, an Israeli company that established its U.S. headquarters across from Monsanto last year, is on the forefront of using RNA interference in agriculture and pest control. The companys founder, Nitzan Paldi, was also the co-founder of Beeologics, which Monsanto acquired in 2011 to help move its RNAi efforts forward. Now, Forrest is working on using RNAi to breed sterile male mosquitos to compete with healthy ones and reduce the populations of the disease-carrying pests in countries like Brazil where concerns about Zika virus are mounting. Traditional sterilization techniques using radiation or chemicals are less effective or weaken the mosquitos, making them less able to compete with fertile males, said Roy Borochov, who heads Forrests U.S. lab. Forrest Innovations is also working to develop an RNA treatment that protects fruit growers from a bacterial infection known as citrus greening. The molecule silences a reaction the fruit has to the bacteria while leaving its defense mechanisms in place, Borochov said. The citrus treatment is only a year or two away from regulatory approval, Borochov said. The mosquito treatment could be on the market even sooner. I believe we will be one of the first, if not the first, companies out in the market with RNAi, he said. Finding the correct RNA molecule to trigger the desired effect isnt the main stumbling block, Monsantos McLean said. Its delivering it. Its not always easy to get the key to the right cell, or to the right part of the plant or the right part of the insect, he said. The delivery challenges are really the biggest challenges for this technology. Monsanto is looking at applications that incorporate a gene that makes the RNA molecules within a plant essentially genetically modified corn plants that emit RNA lethal to rootworms. But the company is also pursuing an application route that could bypass much of the concern with genetically modified plants. Its found that spraying plants with RNA molecules can in some instances deliver the molecules to the right spot to target weeds, or to get it ingested by bad insects. Forrest Innovations, too, is looking at using a spray to target citrus bacteria. Often the application processes are the most important intellectual property, Borochov said. The delivery process is not an easy one, he said. Taking an external molecule and putting it inside the plant is not easy. An RNA spray is under development at Monsanto to target Colorado potato beetles. Another would target the genes in weeds that have developed resistance to glyphosate, allowing the key ingredient in its widely used Roundup herbicide to again break through the weeds resistance. Viral control sprays are another new possibility. That provides the prospect of having an effect without having to use a (GMO), said James Carrington, president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. It would be much faster to develop those types of products than it would be to develop GMO-type plants. And theres the prospect that there would be greater acceptance at the consumer level as well. Jeffrey Scott, an entomology professor at Cornell University, has studied the use of spray-on RNA interference in controlling the Colorado potato beetle. One of the main stumbling blocks thought to stand in the way of an RNAi spray is that RNA molecules break down quickly in the environment. But Scotts research found that it can last up to four weeks on leaves. Outside of a greenhouse, conditions may be more challenging. And the cost of manufacturing enough RNA to hit a price point farmers are willing to spring at is another question. Its effective, Scott said. Its just a question of the economics of what you can apply to get the control. Monsantos McLean sounded an optimistic tone on the economics. Only a few years ago, many in the industry saw RNA manufacturing as a cost-prohibitive process more suited for the laboratory than large-scale application. Were already producing now for our field trials at cost and volumes that werent even heard of a decade or five years ago, he said. The economics of RNA manufacturing is one of the reasons Monsanto finds itself closer to commercializing its bee product than RNAi that targets glyphosate resistance or the potato beetle. One of the reasons it bought Beeologics in 2011 was because the startup had also come up with a cheaper way to make RNA. Hayes, Monsantos bee health expert, worked with Beeologics early on, before Monsanto scooped up its RNA interference know-how. A couple years later, he joined Monsanto from Floridas agriculture department after being convinced the company would bring its resources to bear on helping to find at least part of the answer to improving bee health. Hayes said the RNA interference technology isnt working as well as he initially thought. But hes hopeful it will be perfected. If it works half as well and you can eliminate one of those chemical treatments, youre still ahead, he said. Neal Bergman, who owns Delta Bee Co., a large commercial beekeeping operation in Kennett, said concerns about Monsantos use of neonicotinoids wouldnt dissuade him from using a new product for varroa. If they come up with a good treatment for mites, I have no problem with that, Bergman said. Hes always looking for a new treatment to control the ubiquitous pests in his hives. I think its right up there at the top, he said of varroas negative impact on bees. Its one, two or three. Its right at the top of important issues. But other groups are less certain of RNA interferences safety. In 2013, the National Honey Bee Advisory Board sent comments to an Environmental Protection Agency panel looking into the safety of RNAi technology that asked the agency to hold off on registering such pesticides until theyre better understood. Since the whole genome sequences of most plants, animals and viruses are currently unknown, how can (RNA) sequences be designed to have minimal off-target impacts? the group asked in one of a series of questions about the technologys risks. Doug Gurian-Sherman, a former EPA regulator and now the director of sustainable agriculture at the Center for Food Safety, said companies will have to be careful to make the RNA specific enough that it doesnt interact with other organisms. Theres a lot of unknowns and the regulatory agencies have not caught up, he said. Ten years from now we may have data that shows us these things are everything we thought they would be in terms of efficacy and specificity, but we really are not at that stage. But Scott, the Cornell professor, argued the environmental benefits of more specific pesticides would outweigh the risks, and existing genetic knowledge can help scientists design RNA molecules that dont act on beneficial insects. He doesnt see any logical connection to human health risks. Youll never have all the genomes of all the insects and be able to design something that specific, Scott said. But its pretty close. Rational choices can dictate compounds that are at least orders of magnitude more specific than conventional pesticides. The EPA panel, for its part, agreed that there was little risk to humans or mammals. But it did say that more data was needed on how long RNA remained in the environment before degrading and potential ecological impacts. And like conventional pesticides, targeted insects and weeds could well develop resistance to the RNA molecules. A new treatment could target a new gene, but Scott said theres the possibility defense mechanisms could evolve blocking the uptake of any outside RNA molecules. It depends a little bit on what evolution deals out as a mechanism for resistance, he said. Gurian-Sherman at the Center for Food Safety warned that such products would put producers on another treadmill that forces them to continue buying new treatments as resistance develops. And if Monsantos treatment for Roundup resistance in weeds succeeds, thats just a recipe for more herbicide use. The problem is this kind of piecemeal approach and the companies attacking problems where they can sell products, he said. It remains to be seen how big a technology RNAi becomes for agriculture, Monsantos McLean said. But the company has invested millions in the platform, listing it alongside planting and weather services utilizing big data as one of its primary research focuses. Few within the company, McLean said, realized how big genetically modified crops would become when the first Roundup resistant plants were being developed in the 1990s. I think were in the same place today, 20 years later, with another big technology platform, he said. SHARE By Glenn Dromgoole Shortly before noon on Monday, Aug. 1, 1966, 25-year-old Charles Whitman carried a footlocker full of weapons and ammunition to the top of the 30-story Tower at the University of Texas and opened fire on the unsuspecting pedestrians below. The slaughter 14 dead, 32 injured continued for nearly an hour and a half until Whitman was himself killed by Austin police. Whitman's death toll reached 17, including his wife and mother whom he murdered before taking over the tower's observation deck. One of the 32 injured would die years later, ruled a homicide dating back to the wound Whitman inflicted. A comprehensive new book by an Austin father and son team, Monte Akers and Nathan Akers, retraces the full story leading up to the mass murders and the resulting aftermath. "Tower Sniper: The Terror of America's First Active Shooter on Campus" (John Hardy Publishing, $24.95 hardcover) comes out this week in conjunction with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the sniper attack. A trade paperback edition ($14.95) will be available in a few weeks, the publisher said. Dr. Roger Friedman, a clinical psychologist, wrote the foreword and a chapter reflecting on the traumatic legacy of the Whitman massacre. One of Friedman's closest childhood friends was killed that day. Despite the tragic loss of life, the authors write, the Tower story also brought out the best in people who reacted courageously and unselfishly. "It is the story of people who did not look or walk away when they saw strangers in need," they conclude. "It is a story of humans at their finest." Upbeat Stories: My brother Charlie Dromgoole, who lives in College Station, has penned a collection of stories laughing about and reflecting on his 42-year career as a chamber of commerce executive. "Chamber Stories That I Can Tell (and some that I probably shouldn't!)" is not a how-to book about chamber management, but rather a personal, often humorous, look at situations and personalities he encountered along the way. The 45 pieces deal with his experiences in nine communities, including Abilene, where he was the chamber executive from 1988 to 2002. Some of the Abilene stories concern "The World's Largest Barbecue," Abilene being named an All-America City, and a time when he went all out to win a look-alike contest and suffered for it. Charlie will sign copies of his book ($11.95 paperback) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday (July 28) at Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St. downtown, directly below the Abilene Chamber of Commerce offices. Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net. The White House on Saturday condemned an attack at a demonstration in Kabul that left more than 80 people dead and hundreds wounded. "This heinous attack was made all the more despicable by the fact that it targeted a peaceful demonstration," the White House said in a statement. "We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability, and prosperity," the White House said. Search Keywords: Short link: SHARE Karl Urban at the Star Trek Beyond' film premiere after party on July 18, 2016 in New York, New York. (Variety/Rex Shutterstock/Zuma Press/TNS) By Rick Bentley The Fresno Bee (TNS) LOS ANGELES Karl Urban had no real interest in returning to the role of Leonard Bones McCoy after making Star Trek Into Darkness. I had huge reservations about coming back to make another Star Trek movie, Urban says as he reclines on the couch in a room at the Four Seasons Hotel. Hes still suffering the affects of being in England a day earlier for the European opening of Star Trek: Beyond. I wasnt particularly happy with what the fans and media picked up on, which was the marginalization of the character in Into Darkness. Urban, who had received so much praise for capturing the essence of the character of McCoy when the Star Trek series rebooted in 2009, was not under contract to do a third film in the franchise. Plus, when it came time to sign on to the the Enterprise crew again, he was in negotiations for another movie. He was on the fence until he talked to Justin Lin, the Fast & Furious director who helmed Star Trek: Beyond. Lin laid out his vision of the movie and what he wanted to do with McCoy. That piqued my interest and I decided to come back. Im glad I did because what we have is the most well-rounded, most well-defined picture of Bones in the three films I have had the pleasure to portray him, Urban says. Between Lins vision and the script by Star Trek fans Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, McCoy moves into a major player in Star Trek: Beyond. The banter between Bones and Spock (Zachary Quinto), which has been such a key through the original series and early movies, is brought to the forefront. The quips and cuts the characters take at each other create the comedic relief in the film. What I relished most, and what I think audiences are going to enjoy most, is taking these characters into new territories, Urban says. There are some very honest and unguarded exchanges between Bones and Spock and that was very rewarding to play. Along with those emotional elements, McCoy is put in the middle of most of the action, something that has rarely happened in the past. Theres good reason Urban would be antsy when given a role with little to do. The New Zealand actor has been busy. His long list of credits include, from his early days in the Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, the second and third installments of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the short-lived FOX series Almost Human and starring in the feature film Dredd. He is in the upcoming Disney film Petes Dragon and will be in Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok. Fans deeply embraced his work in Dredd. There has been so much positive reaction, there has been rumors his Dredd character could become a series for one of the streaming sites. Urban liked the role so much, he would be glad to return to the role should that happen. A lot of roles Urban plays are based in science fiction, a genre hes always liked. The thing that made Star Trek stand out to him were all of the characters. He saw it in the way Gene Roddenberry created the show and continued through directors J.J. Abrams and Lin in the latest movies. Urbans certain the characters are a primary reason why the Star Trek franchise is still going after 50 years. You enjoy spending time with these characters, you like these characters because they care about each other. The central theme of this movie is that we can accomplish more together than we can alone, Urban says. Star Trek is like a lighthouse for us. For now, hes back playing McCoy as friend, doctor, philosopher, hero and counselor. His counseling skills become huge in Star Trek Beyond as both Kirk and Spock talk to him about major life decisions. You wouldnt have seen him as a counselor in the last two films, but if you go back to Star Trek: The Motion Picture or The Wrath of Khan, he definitely adopts that role, Urban says. As the ships surgeon, hes not just responsible for the physical well being of the crew but also their mental well being. Its lovely to see it represented so beautifully in this film. SHARE By American Chemistry Society Getting clean water to communities in parched areas of the planet remains an ongoing challenge. Recent developments that harvest water from air have been proposed as a solution. However, the technology to do so consumes a lot of energy. But based on new modeling results, scientists now report in American Chemistry Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology that a new system design would require less energy and produce high-quality water. The atmosphere around us contains water vapor in amounts comparable to all the surface and underground liquid freshwater on the planet, according to an International Organization for Dew Utilization study published in 2000. One method to collect water from air uses electrical refrigeration to cool the air and condense the vapor, but that consumes 40 to 90 percent of the total system's energy requirements. Scientists from the Technion (Israel) compared this strategy to their new design that uses a liquid desiccant to first separate the vapor from air and then cool only the vapor. Their calculations show that this approach would result in 20 to 65 percent energy savings over the standard system, depending on where the technology is applied and the sites' climate conditions. The authors acknowledge funding from Maccabi Carasso Ltd. Compound may be key to anti-aging Humans have long been searching for the fountain of youth, but scientists may have already found it or at least something close to it. Rapamycin, a compound with medicinal properties, has found new life as a possible anti-aging drug. The cover story in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, takes a closer look at the compound to see if researchers have really found the secret to staying young. Bethany Halford, a senior editor at Chemical & Engineering News, explained how rapamycin was isolated from bacteria discovered more than 50 years ago on Easter Island. A few years after finding rapamycin, the laboratory where it was being studied shut down. Luckily, Suren Sehgal, a microbiologist studying the compound at the time, saved some of the bacteria in his freezer and found a new home for his research a few years later. Originally studied for its immunosuppressant and anti-cancer properties, scientists recently discovered that rapamycin might also be able to extend life span. In 2009, studies reported that mice fed rapamycin lived about 9 percent longer than mice that did not receive the drug. Now, scientists are starting to test this on larger mammals. Scientists don't recommend rushing out for a rapamycin prescription just yet. Studies have not yet determined if the drug is safe for long-term use. Over a sustained period, it could suppress the immune system, which could lead to infection. Still, scientists are working to tweak the drug and are optimistic about its future. Discoveries is produced by the American Chemistry Society. Its website is acs.org. The only solar-powered water pump in Onaville was installed in 2013 by Ezra Vision Ministries. Group takes long-term approach to aid By Federico Martinez, Federico.Martinez@gosanangelo.com / @Federico_SAST Even by Glen Polite's own account, he was never a model student in his weekly Bible studies class. Polite, who was a young teenager, often appeared bored and restless in the class, taught by San Angelo Pastor Ronnie Hawkins, who was living in Fairfax, Virginia, at the time. Polite was noticed more for his constant fidgeting than participation, Hawkins recalled. "One day Glen called my home late at night; he was very excited," Hawkins said. "He told me that we needed to go to Haiti and help the people there. He insisted that we had to go 'now.'" Polite told Hawkins that Haiti was home to some of the poorest people in the world, and conditions there had become even worse after the country was struck by a devastating earthquake in 2010. Polite pointed out that there had been an initial outpouring of aid from throughout the world, but corrupt government officials kept much of that aid from reaching the people in need. In the years since the earthquakes, the world had moved on, forgetting the Haitians who were left to build and live in mud huts on the side of mountains with no schools or jobs. Polite's persuasive plea convinced Hawkins to pull together a four-person team, including Polite, and within months they were on their way to scout out Chambrun and Onaville, neighboring rural communities that are among the poorest in Haiti. "There's no electricity, no water or sewer system," Hawkins said. "One of the first things I noticed was the strong smell of kerosene and charcoal and burning wood." The scouting team also noticed extreme malnutrition and other health problems, especially among the children. After the group returned Hawkins and his wife, Maria, began putting together Ezra Vision Ministries, a nonprofit missionary organization whose first project was to help the people of Haiti. The Hawkinses relocated to San Angelo a year ago, and Polite is no longer involved in the Haitian efforts, Maria Hawkins said. Despite his absence, Polite's initial efforts are greatly appreciated. "It goes to show you that God can use anyone to help change the world," Maria said. "If it hadn't been for Glen, we may never have launched the mission in Haiti." In two weeks the Hawkinses and a delegation of about 17 volunteers will travel to Haiti to continue construction of community restrooms with indoor plumbing, continue plans to build a school and work with Haitian educators to finalize student curriculum for the upcoming school year. The Ezra entourage also will spend their eight-day trip evaluating ongoing efforts to improve health and sanitary conditions and continue training residents to become self-sufficient. "Currently school is held under large tents," Hawkins said. "We want to have a school building constructed by September." About 285 students are enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade, and 12 teachers are on staff. The plan is to add a new grade each year, with the first graduating high school class expected in 2021. Despite the difficult conditions, the children of Haiti are hungry to learn, Hawkins said. A generator powers the only streetlight in Chambrun and at night hundreds of children gather around it to read their textbooks and do their homework. "It's really something to see," Hawkins said. Ezra officials are still trying to raise funds to pay for construction of the school building. The group is taking a long-term approach to helping the approximately 200,000 residents of Chambrun and Onaville, Ronnie and Maria Hawkins said. Instead of just dumping money, food, clothing and other materials into the community, the group is helping to build the infrastructure needed for long-term success and prosperity. In May, another group of volunteers began building a five-stall community bathroom that operates by septic tank. The facility was expected to be completed by August, but constant rain slowed progress. The plan is to continue building community bathrooms throughout Chambrun and Onaville, a strategy that is, for now, more plausible than trying to install indoor plumbing in residents' ramshackle homes. Ezra officials are careful to help, but not impose European traditions and customs on the Haitians. For example, teachers use Haitian textbooks to teach students. Students are being taught English as a second language. "We're trying to help them help themselves," Ronnie Hawkins said. "Our goal is to lay down the foundation for their future." Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Client Rosemary Garza, gets a little help coloring a butterfly from Nikki Ross, a DayHab supervisor at MHMR Services of the Concho Valley, Tuesday, July 12, 2016. SHARE Greg Rowe, CEO of MHMR Services of the Concho Valley By Michelle Gaitan of the San Angelo Standard-Times Mental health is one of the most challenging issues facing communities, often surrounded by stigmas and unanswered questions about where to turn. Marking 50 years as a haven for people with mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities and a refuge for those who know someone struggling with issues, MHMR Services of the Concho Valley has built a reputation in West Texas as place for help. "We're contracted with the state health services to serve the big three mental illnesses major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia but there are many other mental health diagnoses out there, and so we've been able to expand through other funding sources ... to be able to serve more diagnoses and more people," said Gregory Rowe, MHMR's executive director. The center was established in 1966 and is the mental health and intellectual and developmental disability authority for Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Reagan, Tom Green and Sterling counties. Each month MHMR in some form or fashion serves about 500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and about 480 adults and 322 children with mental health issues but that does not include all the crisis calls staff responds to, Rowe said. Over the past several years MHMR has amped up its efforts with community outreach and building relationships with other organizations, including school districts and law enforcement. "We are a community center," said Catherine Hood, director of intellectual and developmental disabilities provider services. "We are providing services out in the community more so than what we used to do. We are now providing services out in people's homes, in their schools, if they need job, employment support." MHMR's Mobile Crisis Outreach Team goes into the community to address any type of calls for people who might be in a crisis such as a suicidal state, and it works in conjunction with the center's 24-hour crisis hotline and law enforcement. "In 2002, (MHMR) brought in the mental health deputy program working with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Department," Rowe said. "They actually provide the service outside of MHMR, but we work as a partner with Tom Green County. We help with some of the funding and work with the mental health deputy to go out and screen an individual to determine ... the level of care they need whether its hospitalization or the right support in the community." The center employs 208 full- and part-time staff members who help meet the needs of people with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities and, more recently, autism. In 2014 the center brought in autism treatment services with its Autism Behavioral Communication Center for Children, which is a contracted provider for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services' Focused ABA Treatment. Children ages 3 to 15 are eligible for autism services. A new program to the MHMR is its Youth Empowerment Services, or YES. The Medicaid home and community-based services waiver program helps children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances to live in the community with their families. The program is expanding this summer to include children in foster care and provide individually tailored services, Rowe said. MHMR also is working to increase its respite services for individuals who may need a break from their environment. Respite provides clients a temporary and short-term basis stay for up to 10 days. "The center has come a long way since 1966," said Anita Hernandez, chief administrative officer. "We can do telemed now ... and we're evolving to where we can become more competitive with other behavioral health facilities in our community," she said. "And we're able to provide more services than just psychiatric services." For more information about services provided by MHMR, call 325-658-7750 or visit mhmrcv.org. U.S. President Barack Obama vetoed on Friday a measure to cap former presidents' allowances at $200,000 per year, citing the unintended consequences of a major cut. SHARE $200K cap could have led to staff layoffs By Gregory Korte, USA TODAY NETWORK WASHINGTON President Barack Obama took steps to preserve the office allowances given to former presidents Friday, by vetoing a measure that would have capped those expenses at $200,000 a year. At issue: the expense allowances that former presidents get to travel and maintain an office. Obama said that by capping those allowances at $200,000, some current former presidents would have to lay off staff, cancel leases or even return office furniture. Under current law, the General Services Administration must provide "suitable office space, appropriately furnished and equipped." The total cost of maintaining and staffing those offices currently ranges from $430,000 for former President Jimmy Carter to $1.1 million for former President George W. Bush, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. The Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016 would have removed the GSA's role in providing office space, instead giving a flat $200,000 allowance. Earnest said Obama agrees on the need to reform presidential pensions and would sign a bill if Congress makes "technical fixes to resolve these issues." The White House said it consulted with every living former president about the bill before Obama vetoed it. SHARE Mike Pence, Donald Trump's choice for vice president, did exactly what a running mate is supposed to do Wednesday: He delivered the most coherent pitch anyone has given for the Republican ticket all year. Pence was chosen precisely because he's a calm, conventional, almost colorless conservative but all those mild attributes turned out to be assets at a convention that's been dominated by hyperbole and discord. Pence served up plenty of attack lines against Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, but he leavened them with a dose of Midwestern folksiness that was reminiscent yes, I'm going to say it of Ronald Reagan. "They tell us this economy is the best that we can do," Pence said. "It's nowhere near the best that we can do; it's just the best that they can do." (Reagan, vintage 1980.) That's no accident; Pence got into politics in the 1980s as a follower of Reagan. In recent days, he's even professed that Trump "reminds (him) of Reagan," an optimistic comparison that should probably be chalked up to the flush of enthusiasm of being picked for a big job. In short, Pence exceeded the low expectations that his mild demeanor engendered. Unfortunately for him, his star turn came amid the rolling chaos of the Trump campaign. Television coverage of the convention was dominated Wednesday by Trump delegates' furious booing of Ted Cruz, who gave a speech that pointedly did not endorse the GOP presidential candidate. And Trump himself stepped on Pence's show by giving an interview to The New York Times saying he might not defend the Baltic States if Russia invaded, even though the United States has promised to defend them as members of NATO. So not a perfect night for Mike Pence, but still a good one. If the ticket he's on doesn't win this year, he secured his place on the early list of GOP prospects for 2020. Doyle McManus is a columnist for The Los Angeles Times. Contact him at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com SHARE WASHINGTON On a national convention stage that includes the kettledrum personalities of Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is more in the snare or bongo category. His speech to the convention on Wednesday night took a quieter, more sophisticated approach to the campaign (at least when compared with the convention's signature refrain of "Lock Her Up!"). Pence positioned himself as a man of faith, shaped by small-town Hoosier values, doing outreach to blue-collar Democrats whom the Democratic Party has forgotten. That strikes me as a smart maneuver the expression of some guiding political intelligence that the Trump campaign has generally lacked. Pence is respected by Indiana politicians whom I respect. And the choice of a generic conservative has been reassuring to other generic conservatives in the party who hope to surround their ideologically unpredictable candidate with good influences. Pence did his part at the convention. He displayed considerable political and rhetorical skill. And he brought great shame on himself and the Republican Party in the process. There is a Trump effect or syndrome that forces his surrogates to live in a fantasy world. To avoid inner ideological and moral conflict, they must project an image of the nominee as they would wish him to be. And then they must learn to maintain that image by defending the indefensible. Their loyalty requires them to disfigure reality. So, in Pence's account, Trump has a "colorful style" which includes mocking the disabled and decades of casual misogyny. He "can be a little rough with politicians on stage" which includes accusing his Democratic opponent of complicity in murder. The Trump syndrome was on full display in Pence's convention speech. The vice presidential nominee praised Trump as the natural heir of Ronald Reagan, which, no doubt, Pence wishes Trump to be. Pence said that Trump would stop "apologizing" to American enemies. He would "stand with our allies." He would "lead from strength." But the same day as Pence's speech, Trump gave a revealing interview to The New York Times. The candidate who would stop apologizing said: "I don't know that we have a right to lecture. ... How are we going to lecture when people are shooting our policemen in cold blood?" The candidate who would stand with our allies raised a cloud of questions about the United States' commitment to NATO allies near Russia's borders. We might come to their aid, said Trump, if they "fulfill their obligations to us." The candidate who would lead from strength proposed a retreat from bases around the world. "When the world looks at how bad the United States is, and then we go and talk about civil liberties, I don't think we're a very good messenger," Trump said. There is a type of isolationism in which the United States is corrupted by engagement in the world, its ideals sullied by the lure of empire. And then there is Trump's type of isolationism, in which the United States is too corrupt to engage in the world. In the mouth of any Democrat, Republicans would describe these words as anti-American. I cannot imagine such thoughts even crossing Reagan's mind, much less leaving his lips. I think it is fair to say that if Reagan were alive today, Trump's foreign policy rhetoric would make him puke. This is not "America First." It is "Blame America First." And to this unfortunate tendency, Trump adds a consistent, un-Reagan-like defense of despots. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan should be given "great credit ... for being able to turn (the attempted coup) around." In the past, Trump has argued that the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, did not have a "firm enough hand." His assessment of Russian President Vladimir Putin? "At least he's a leader." By repressing the Tiananmen Square uprising, Chinese leaders demonstrated "the power of strength." Saddam Hussein was "good at killing terrorists" even though he "throws a little gas." There is no denying that Trump has a soft spot for authoritarians. Whether he has a soft spot for authoritarianism, too, is a matter of serious debate. There are many radiating effects of having a Republican nominee who is entirely ignorant about U.S. foreign policy but who wants to fundamentally redefine it. One of those effects is to make Pence look like a fool. His description of Trump had no connection to reality, which was demonstrated on the same day. Remember that soon after House Speaker Paul Ryan's reluctant endorsement, Trump attacked a Hispanic judge in a manner that Ryan called "the textbook definition of a racist comment." Every serious Republican who crosses the event horizon of endorsing Trump is sucked into a black hole of compromise and self-deception. And many of us still loyal to a humane conservatism will never be able to think about such leaders in the same way again. The culminating moment of comedy and tragedy in Pence's speech was his mention of "the party of Lincoln." How dare he. On the first day of Trump's campaign, he asserted that Mexican migrants are coming to rape American women. His proposal to round up and deport 11 million people still lies on the table. His breakthrough moment during the primaries was his embrace of a ban on Muslims entering the country. Trump has returned nativism to the center of American politics. And when any politician calls Trump the heir to Lincoln, it is not just self-deception; it is deception. The reputation of any politician close to Trump will eventually be ruined. But it is particularly sad when good and decent people vouch for Trump's character, knowing almost nothing about him. They surely believe that they can guide and shape a political novice in helpful and positive ways. There is no evidence of this no proof that Trump is willing to internalize good advice. In fact, the best of the Republican Party is being exploited. And such politicians are viewed as weak (see Trump's announcement of Pence) by a candidate with contempt for weakness. The only politician who will be proud of what he did on Wednesday evening is Ted Cruz, who refused to endorse. He may have been booed on the floor, but I imagine he slept well. And he won't be ashamed to recount that night to his children and grandchildren. In his essay "Politics and the English Language," George Orwell said: "If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought." The construction of an imaginary narrative of virtue and insight around Donald Trump is a form of political corruption, no matter how skilled or well-intentioned the effort. "In our time," said Orwell, "political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible." A fitting epitaph for the 2016 Republican convention. Michael Gerson is a Washington Post columnist. Contact him at michaelgerson@washpost.com. SHARE The following editorial appeared in USA TODAY: Perhaps nowhere has the Republican Party's accommodation of Donald Trump been more awkward and more shameless than on the issue of trade. And nowhere has the GOP's retreat on a core principle that free and competitive commerce across national borders is a fundamental element of capitalism been more complete and humiliating. Last weekend, Trump again denounced the North American Free Trade Agreement as "the worst economic deal in the history of our country" and "a horror show" all while introducing his NAFTA-backing running mate, Mike Pence. And on Monday, the GOP convention in Cleveland approved a platform that reads like a criminal indictment of China's economic practices and is considerably more hostile to trade than the one adopted four years ago. Republican leaders in Congress have already given up on scheduling a vote this year on the 12-nation trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which excludes China and would help American movie makers, software designers, drug companies and other industries that benefit from international commerce. The party platform says TPP approval shouldn't be rushed or undertaken in a lame duck Congress. Such a message no doubt goes down well in hard-hit Rust Belt communities where the presidential election will be contested. In recent decades, certain manufacturing industries, such as textiles, have contracted severely, and most government programs to retrain displaced workers have been a shambles. Even so, a message that focuses only on the casualties of trade is misleading and manipulative. It is a bad idea for a party that has long branded itself as the party of free enterprise. It is even worse news for the nation as a whole. Trade is a major force behind innovation and improvements in quality that help keep the American economy on its toes. Without competition from Japan, Detroit would probably still be making the shoddy cars that were its hallmark in the 1970s. And without the ability to sell globally, companies such as Apple, Facebook and Google would probably not be the iconic brands they are today. Trade gets a bad rap from progressive Democrats as well Trump backers because its benefits are taken for granted, its beneficiaries are hard to identify and organize, and its victims are readily recognizable when a plant closes. But it does have clear upsides that include lower costs and more choices for consumers, and thriving exports in agriculture, technology, health care, financial services and even many areas of manufacturing. A strong case can be made that technology, and not trade, is the major disruptive force (for good and bad) in employment. This can be seen in the fact that manufacturing output has continued to grow even as 5 million manufacturing jobs have been eliminated since 2000. It can also be seen in the declines in employment in retail, travel, media and other industries not impacted by trade. Yet, to hear Trump talk, one would think that China, Mexico and a few other countries are responsible for all disruptions in the workforce, and that Americans get nothing out of trade. If the GOP seeks a vibrant future for itself and for the U.S. economy it will turn away from Trump's defeatist trade policies. Al-Ezz Ibn Abdel-Salam will always be remembered as the man who differentiated between religion and the state, an act that we are still debating centuries later. Al-Ezz Ibn Abdel-Salam will always be remembered as the man who differentiated between religion and the state, an act that we are still debating centuries later. His full name is Mohamed Ezz Al-Din Abdel Aziz Ibn Abdel-Salam Ibn Abi Qassem Ben Al-Hassan Bin Mohamed Bin Mohazab Al-Salmi, of Moroccan origin but born in Syria in AH 577 (1182 AD) and died in Cairo AH 660 (1262 AD). His father was an underprivileged man who would roam the streets looking for work, and took his son with him to work constructing roads and carrying luggage. After his father passed away, he helped to clean the Umayyad mosque. One day he sneaked into the one of the study circles and was scolded by one of the sheikhs who saw him sitting among the students wearing rags, which broke the boy's heart. He left in tears, but Sheikh Fakhr ben Askar, who lead the Levantine fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) study circle saw him crying and decided to take him under his wing. Thanks to the sheikh Abdel-Salam learnt how to read and write and became Sheikh Askar's most faithful student. He also was very charitable with the poor, to the extent that when Sultan Ashraf of Damascus offered to pitch in the money Abdel-Salam gave out as charity, he declined, explaining that it was much better if each person paid their own charity money separately. In AH 639 (1242 AD) Abdel-Salam came to Egypt and was assigned by King Al-Saleh Negm El-Din Ayyoub to be in charge of sermons and the judiciary. But it was not easy, and Abdel Salam had a famous encounter with the Mamluks, the slaves bought and trained to fight and protect the Islamic caliphate. In Al-Sheikh Al-Swiouts book Hossen Al-Mohadra (Great Lecture) he explained that: Mamluks were granted high posts in governments because of their crucial role in security, and aimed during Abdel-Salams time to buy properties and increase their influence. Abdel-Salam believed that technically this was impossible because they were slaves and hence they were themselves property of the government, so how can property own property? The Mamluks, who were offered the title amir (prince) were offended by his fatwa against them having the right to own property and asked the king to intervene. Abdel-Salam was about to leave the country in reaction to the attempt of King Saleh to intervene in his fatwa, along with his supporters and fellow learned men. However, Abdel-Salam stayed after King Saleh promised that neither he nor Saladin the sultan would ever attempt to intervene in his fatwas ever again. Abdel-Salam focused on the origins of fiqh in his book Qawaad Ahkam fi Saleh Al-Anam (Rules of Regulations in Public Affairs) in which he stated that Sharia is basically either prevention of corruption or attracting the good. He wrote some 40 books on fiqh and was very popular among the masses because of his fairness. During his lifetime, he witnessed the death of King Saleh in Mansoura and the murder of his son Toranshah at the hands of the Mamluks of King Saleh, then the brief reign of Shagar El-Dor until Qotoz became the wali of Egypt and they were facing the horror of the Mongol invasions. Qotoz asked the people to contribute their money and valuables in order to be able to buy enough arms to fight the Mongols, but Abdel-Salam objected to such a call and asked him in his famous quote to ask the rich soldiers to give up their valuables as well. He said: If the enemy is at the gate, it is time to fight him, to give up your valuables like golden saddles and silver machinery, so that each soldier has his weapon and his shoes, like the civilians have. You cannot take the money from the public and leave lavish equipment in the hands of the soldiers. And the sultan was convinced and followed the fatwa, and it was implemented. Sheikh Abdel-Salam died a few years later at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of logical and just fiqh. Al-Ezz Ibn Abdel-Salam will always be remembered as the man who differentiated between religion and the state, an act that we are still debating centuries later. Search Keywords: Short link: Toto Wolff has played down the uncertainty surrounding Valtteri Bottas' future on the F1 grid. According to rumours, Williams is considering a full shake-up of its current driver lineup for 2017, with development driver Lance Stroll's billionaire father said to have put together $35 million in backing. And Jenson Button is currently the other favourite. "I hope that he's in formula one next year," technical director Pat Symonds said in Hungary, "whether it be with Williams or elsewhere." Finn Bottas also admitted the uncertainty in Hungary, saying that his outlook for 2017 "is still open at this point". The 26-year-old's career is co-managed by Didier Coton, Mika Hakkinen as well as Toto Wolff, who is also Mercedes' team boss. Wolff told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat in Hungary: "Valtteri is an integral part of the Williams team at this time. "It is about team stability there, as it is with us (Mercedes). No Finns have to be concerned about Valtteri's future," Wolff insisted. (GMM) Nasser Abdel-Moneim talks to Ahram Online about this year's edition and the state of Egyptian theatre and the cultural scene The 9th National Theatre Festival, which features dozens of plays staged on 14 Cairo stages, opened on 19 July and will run until 8 August. This year nine new governorates participate in the festival, a fact which becomes an opportunity to look at the wider context of Egyptian theatre. Ahram Online met with festival president Nasser Abdel-Moneim to discuss this years event, its developments, the challenges he faces, and the position of Egyptian theatre today. A theatre director himself, as well as the head of the Cultural Production Department at the Ministry of Culture, this is the third consecutive year that Abdel-Moneim has run the festival. Ahram Online (AO): This year's National Theatre Festival is named after Nour El-Sherif, the late star known to wide audiences mainly for his cinema and television series appearances. Why this choice? Nasser Abdel-Moneim (NA): Nour El-Sherif was among the top graduates of his class at the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, and later on he lectured at the same institution. A prominent theatre actor and director, he was always linked to theatre even if the viewers know him mainly from cinema. He always hoped to focus on theatre more. He passed away shortly prior to last year festival and we promised the audience we would name this one after him. AO: This years honourees list consists of prominent theatre practitioners like Abdelrahman Abo Zahra, Abdelrahman El-Shafei, Farida El-Nakkash, Fawzia Mahran, Mohamed Enany, Nagy Shaker, Nabil Moneib, and Nour El-Sherim. But there are also many independent theatre players whose names are still missing. Why is that? NA: I do not see this distinction. Theatre practitioners are theatre practitioners, and they contribute to the field and its different forms whether as actors, writers, directors, and so on. The last edition of the festival was named after Khaled Saleh who was one of the independent theatre pioneers during the 90s, and a leading figure in university theatre. Most of the stars have the same background. AO: At the opening ceremony you descried this year's festival as the most geographically diverse edition yet. What is the significance of this diversity? NA: The participating plays were chosen through the competitions led by several cultural bodies in Marsa Matrouh, Shalatin, Qena, Sohag, Assiut, etc. The idea that several plays from the governorates made it to the festival this year testifies to the positive cultural mobility which comes despite the fact that there is no cultural justice in terms of facilities, activities and funding offered to those locations. And yet, they manage to produce theatre and we need to recognise those efforts. AO: What are the main challenges that the troupes outside the capital face? NA: For starters, the budget constraints are enormous. For example theatrical troupes under the state theatre departments receive an amount which is as small as EGP 1,500 LE (approx. $170) to produce a play. Many of them produce theatre only for competition reasons. In all those challenges, how can theatre improve? On the other hand, many spaces are closed. Eighty percent of stages all over Egypt have been closed since 2005 and the fire that claimed many lives in Beni Suef Theatre. They are closed by the civil protection department that operates under the Ministry of Interior and left like this. AO: Is there a chance that the festival will expand towards the governorates and brings plays to the audiences there? Wouldnt it help boosting the cultural commotion? NA: It would, definitely, but again, it needs a budget. Expenses incurred by travel and performing outside Cairo are really big. Such an initiative requires cooperation with the Ministry of Local Development and the governors. We have been discussing this since the last edition, and the only thing we hope to be able to implement is to organise tours for the prizewinners. We are working on this option together with the Cultural Development Fund. AO: Some critics suggest that the National Festival of Theatre should set its own selection committee to watch all the plays submitted to the festival, instead of accepting the prize-winning plays from the several competitions led by other committees. What do you think? NA: The play is not a movie, and it is very difficult to watch it on a CD or a DVD, you need to watch a play on stage. On the other hand, it is not practical to have one selection committee watch all the plays all over Egypt during the year. The committee members usually include academics who have work to do during the year. Finally, financially speaking it is also very challenging. Maybe smaller committees selecting the best plays for the festival is not an ideal mechanism of choice, but it is the best one we have right now. AO: And why do you say it is not ideal? NA: There are several independent and amateur troupes who submit their plays on CDs and DVDs to the festival administration. Sometimes the bad shooting and sound spoils a good play and the professional shooting and sound makes a modest play looks better. Hence the judgment is not always 100 percent fair. Again, this is all linked to the resources and capacities we have at hand. Maybe in the future we will be able to put in place a more appropriate mechanisms, who knows. Yet, despite those disadvantages, I can assure you that the participating plays of this year are really unique, especially those produced by the university and the province troupes. AO: The festival's opening ceremony revived the same polemic that resurfaces each year. Several theatre practitioners, particularly independent players, and cultural figures, expressed disappointment at not being invited to the event. The answer always points to the lists of invitees are not updated. Is there a way to address this situation? NA: This is normal since the festival administration has nothing to do with the list of invitees. We work with the bodies operating under the Ministry of Culture entities and the lists are prepared by the Cultural Development Fund. Many invitations are distributed to the different cultural entities and stages and they are responsible for the distribution. It only needs more collaboration from all bodies involved. AO: During the festival, the theatres are crowded; there is major interest. Yet, the situation is completely different during the rest of the year. Why all those empty chairs in Egyptian theatres at other times of year? NA: I am not in a position to answer this question, but it needs to be studied. I think our theatre is going through a crisis and it is trying to recover. After 25 January 2011, the main stages in the heart of the city were closed and the festival was suspended for two years. Only starting from 2014 have we had a relative stability and it will take time to recover. Theatre-going needs to be a wider spread habit. It is great that we have audience during the festival yet we also need interest during the year. The whole theatrical culture needs a change. AO: What about the role of school and university theatres? And since you are one of the pioneers of street theatre, dont you think that this practice and move to governorates can help creating change? NA: It is very hard to boost creativity without freedom. For instance, after the 25 January Revolution we expected that there would be more acceptance of street theatre. Yet instead, we face many obstacles now. When we were students we would move from one province to another with our street troupes. Now, the security measures are very tough for street art, making it almost impossible to implement larger scale projects. Regarding school theatres, I believe that we have a huge problem in the entire education system. How can we talk about school theatre and encouraging students to practice art when the school stages are being used for all other purposes, including space for private lessons. The challenges faced by university theatres are not any smaller. The question we should ask is what the Egyptian state expects from theatre and does is care about theatre at all? I believe that culture is not among the priorities of the state, and this is reflected in everything, including education, arts, and culture. During the 1960s, culture was a national project. The state would send artists abroad to learn and to gain experience to transfer it back to their country. Now this is not the case. There needs to be a cultural strategy. AO: One of the challenges that theatre's creative people face is an inability to have their own texts performed on the stage. There are a few writing competitions, however, during which talents surface, yet still most of the theatre-makers choose foreign texts to work with. What are your thoughts and can this situation be changed? NA: We need a stronger relationship between the competition results and the production. There should be protocols between the state theatres and the competition administrations so the prize-winning plays see the light. On the other hand however, writers should be encouraged more. Usually the playwrights receives a very low fee (approximately EGP 5,000 or $560) when their plays are staged, while the contracts bind them to a specific cultural body for 5 or even 10 years, during which his play cannot be performed anywhere else. This situation is a creativity killer and it makes writers feel insecure. It makes sense that many talents choose to write for instance for television series, where they earn multiples of what they get for a play. AO: Do you think there is a chance for the Egypt theatres situation to improve? NA: This will not happen unless our cultural entities have their own vision and projects for development and improvement. We rely on individual initiatives, many of which succeed. However, there is no cultural long-term, no comprehensive strategy from the state. I believe this is how everything goes in Egypt. However, I have to say that young people are still on the frontline and they are trying to tackle all those obstacles. This is the bright side of it all because young people are the future. The National Festival of Theatre is there to reflect the efforts of those young people. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Govt Promises Startups a Free Run New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assured the startup community that the government is only going to act as a facilitator and will not come in the way of doing things. "Many questions are being raised about the PM's slogan of minimum government and maximum governance with respect to startups," the minister said at the Start-up India States' Conference. "The government moves in a certain direction and this debate has to be in the spirit that there has to an accountable system in place," she added. She said that if tax breaks have to be given to startups, the government has to identify the deserving ones. As of now the tax benefits are available only to firms incorporated after April 2016. She said "no rule is cast in stone" and startups are free to raise any issue with the industry department. Are you using your inhaler properly? your future device will help you decide Makers of inhalers to treat asthma and chronic lung disease are racing to develop a new generation of smart devices with sensors to monitor if patients are using their puffers properly. Linked wirelessly to the cloud, the gadgets are part of a medical "Internet of Things" that promises improved adherence, or correct use of the medication, and better health outcomes. They may also hold the key to company profits in an era of increasingly tough competition. Drugmakers believe giving patients and doctors the ability to check inhaler use in this way could be a big help in proving the value of their medicines to governments and insurers, though they need to tread carefully on data privacy. GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Novartis are all chasing the opportunity via deals with device firms including U.S.-based Propeller Health and Australian-listed Adherium, as well as technology players like Qualcomm. Over the past half century, inhalers have revolutionized care by delivering medicines direct into the lungs and avoiding the serious side effects seen with older oral drugs. But getting patients to take their medication correctly remains a challenge. "Technique is critical. You might have the world's best blockbuster drug in an inhaler, but if patients don't use it properly they won't get the benefits," said Omar Usmani, a consultant physician at Imperial College London. With asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affecting about 500 million people worldwide, the opportunity is large, and reducing serious attacks by improving adherence could save $19 billion a year in U.S. healthcare costs alone, Goldman Sachs analysts estimated in a report last year. Usmani envisages a future of high-tech inhalers that not only record doses but also use gyroscopic and acoustic sensors to check medicine flow, while monitoring the environment for allergens such as pollen. All that data can be fed to remote computer servers known as the cloud. It is an idea big drug companies have embraced enthusiastically, in the knowledge that they need to find new ways to sell their products as cheap generics undercut long-established brands. The first generic copies of GSK's Advair, the world's biggest inhaler with worldwide sales of nearly $6 billion in 2015, are expected to reach the U.S. market next year. "It's a race to the starting line," Propeller CEO David Van Sickle told Reuters, describing the current jockeying among leading pharmaceutical firms. "Today, there is really no major respiratory pharma company that doesn't have a program to add connectivity to their inhaled medicines." NEXT LEVEL The field is now at an inflection point. Some inhalers with clip-on sensors are already being supplied to patients, but the drug industry is about to take things to the next level. Next month, AstraZeneca will start a year-long U.S. clinical trial designed to improve adherence to long-term therapy in nearly 400 patients with COPD using Adherium's smart inhaler. If it works as hoped, it could have the same impact on improving clinical outcomes as a completely new medicine, according to Martin Olovsson, AstraZeneca's head of respiratory inhalation. "Many asthma and COPD patients are misusing their medicines, for various reasons - they forget to take them or they don't understand how to take them properly - and the result of that is less than optimal outcomes," he said. "This offers a chance to change that dramatically." Last year, a smaller study reported in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine already showed Adherium's device increased adherence to preventative medication to 84 percent from 30 percent in New Zealand children with asthma. Now, with bigger studies, drug companies plan to dig deeper. "There is still quite a lot of work to be done to understand which type of patients will benefit most," said Raj Sharma, director of respiratory science and delivery systems at GSK, which is also planning clinical trials. GSK, the respiratory market world leader since launching the Ventolin inhaler in 1969, signed a deal last December for Propeller to develop a customized sensor for its next-generation Ellipta inhaler. While current smart inhalers use a clip-on device to send data, Novartis, working with Qualcomm, aims to go a step further by developing the first inhaler with an integrated sensor, which it aims to launch in 2019. Generic drugmakers are also moving into the space, with Britain's Vectura, one of the companies behind generic Advair, signing a deal with Propeller in May and Teva acquiring smart inhaler firm Gecko Health last year. Current add-on sensors cost between $10 and $30 to produce and last up to two years, according to Propeller's Van Sickle, but the pharmaceutical industry plans to include them in deals struck with healthcare providers by promising overall savings due to fewer hospitalizations. Usmani, the Imperial College consultant, believes proving the cost-effectiveness of a connected device is the key challenge for smart inhalers, along with reassuring patients that their medical records are secure. Research by Usmani and colleagues suggests younger patients, familiar with online banking and digital apps, are broadly happy to engage but older patients are more cautious. Search Keywords: Short link: Our national parks tell many interesting stories. Years ago, many college students flocked to Yellowstone National Park and other parks for shockingly modest-paying summer jobs and six-day work weeks ... and the opportunity to bask in the beauty of nature. Caroline journeyed solo from the Midwest while Jon traveled by stationwagon with friends from the South. Gardiner, Mont., was the hub where employees were processed and driven by bus into the park. At the dormitory, Jon asked Caroline on her 19th birthday if she wanted a piece of gu-um; she replied, Wow, what an accent! A fun and interesting summer, with dances, hitchhiking trips, powwows by the fire, trips to Jackson Hole and Beartooth Pass, and fishing for cutthroat trout in the Yellowstone River followed. The rest, as they say, is history. Forty-eight years later to the day, in the spring of the 100th anniversary of our national parks, we returned to Yellowstone just as the season was opening to tourists. Crowds were few and the atmosphere was peaceful. In Gardiner, we watched new employees loading the bus with their gear to be dropped off at their assigned park locations such as Lake or Old Faithful. Canyon Village, our park location, was not yet open to visitors for dining or overnight stays. That didnt stop us from having a photo taken on the back stairs of our old dorm. There was little evidence of the remnants of snow that greeted us so many years ago, but it was obvious that young people continue to come from all over for the chance to work in the park. This time, we could afford to stay at the Old Faithful Inn, only to be awakened in the middle of the night by a fire alarm. We spent an hour outside in the dark with fellow guests. Old Faithful continues to erupt faithfully! We joined fellow tourists in mini-road blocks created by sightings of bison, bear, deer and elk. In spite of past fires, there were still breathtaking views in the park and restorative memories to take home, as we did so many decades ago. Florida health officials last week began investigating whether the Zika virus was transmitted locally by mosquito. The same day, speaking at the Republican National Convention, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Democrats for blocking a bill to provide $1.1 billion to combat Zika. Democrats did block it by opposing a motion to cut off debate, which required 60 votes. They did that, they said, because the bill routed funding away from Planned Parenthood and contained unrelated directives ranging from the Confederate flag to the Guantanamo Bay prison. So Democrats refused to yield minor symbolic victories to Republicans for the sake of responding to a potential public health crisis. And Republicans didnt want to offer a clean bill dealing only with Zika. Nor did McConnell keep the Senate in session until it acted. Senators left July 14 for a seven-week summer vacation. Meanwhile, mosquitoes in Florida will bite Republicans, Democrats, independents and even a few Libertarians, possibly transmitting the Zika virus from one to another in a nonpartisan feeding frenzy. Before the summer is over before Congress returns to work North Carolina mosquitoes may join in the assault. Do the American people really care which party is to blame when Congress takes a long break without getting vital work done? Probably not. While Congress does nothing, the government must act with the resources at hand. The Centers for Disease Control is leading the federal response to Zika in partnership with state health departments including North Carolinas, which is taking the threat very seriously. The CDC has had to shift funds from other important areas to deal with Zika. President Barack Obama asked Congress for more money for public health efforts, for mosquito eradication and for research with the goal of developing a vaccine against the virus. Congress dithered and played political games, leading to the casting of blame for the ultimate but not unexpected failure. This failure to act could be costly. The first Zika cases in the United States were carried in by travelers returning from South America and the Caribbean, where the virus is widespread. As of last week, 21 such cases were recorded in North Carolina. Then transmission by sexual contact was confirmed in the U.S. Although the virus itself usually presents minor symptoms in infected adults, it poses a serious threat to unborn children. Thats why direct funding to an effective provider of contraceptive services, such as Planned Parenthood, in affected areas would be so important. Although the risk is low, women who live in Southern states might feel better delaying pregnancy until months when mosquito activity declines or until a Zika vaccine is developed. Here, everyone should try to reduce potential exposure to mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing when possible, eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can deposit eggs and blocking access points to their homes. People who notice possible Zika symptoms fever, rash, joint pains should seek medical attention immediately. Unfortunately, urgency does not matter to Congress. GREENWICH Greenwich Democrats have vowed to take the fight against the expansion of the school board to the Representative Town Meeting. Democrats in town have been outspoken in their opposition to a proposal to change the town charter to increase the Board of Education from eight to 10 members. Supporters of the change, mostly Republicans, claim it would allow for greater voter choice and competitiveness. Critics, mostly Democrats, have insisted it would unbalance and politicize a board that is currently split four to four evenly between the two major parties. I truly believe this initiative is not going to go forward until the proponents are honest with the town of Greenwich, DTC member Glen Caner, a member of the RTMs Legislative and Rules Committee, said. They keep trying to get things in the back door, to try to pull a fast one and think no one is watching. A charter change committee was formed last week by the Board of Selectmen over the objection of Democratic Selectman Drew Marzullo. Marzullo and First Selectman Peter Tesei also clashed over the makeup of the five-person committee since it includes RTM member Barry Rickert, former Board of Education member Peter von Braun and former Board of Education candidate Brian Peldunas. Rickert is one of the chief proponents of the board expansion and both von Braun and Peldunas are Republican candidates who were not elected to the board despite receiving more votes than Democrats due to the current system where two Democrats and two Republicans are elected every two years. Republicans have a decided advantage in town elections since they make up a majority of registered voters. Marzullo said that by putting those three members on the committee it a much as guaranteed a recommendation for expanding the board. People are coming onto this committee with a clear agenda and that agenda is to unbalance this board, Marzullo said. There is no question about that based on the people put on itThis was a missed opportunity. For his part, Rickert, who is politically unaffiliated, said he is not paying attention to the politics and is going in with an open mind about whether charter change will go forward. I dont care about whats going on with the Democrats or the Republicans in town, Rickert said. I care about the students and the parents. Tesei denied the membership of the charter change committee or looking at charter change at all was political. Thankfully we live in a democracy in the United States and it provides citizens the right to petition their elected representatives to undertake initiatives, Tesei said. I embrace this principle of our democracy and look forward to an open and vigorous discussion on the merits of the topic of how our Board of Education is elected and constituted. If the committee does recommend charter change, the proposal would go to the Board of Selectmen. If approved by the selectmen, the proposal goes to the Representative Town Meeting, where DTC members said they would fight it. This is a very important issue and I think we collectively, as a DTC, should take a stand and do something and speak out against it, DTC and former Board of Education member Nancy Kail said. We need to launch a campaign. DTC Chairman Jeff Ramer said he doubted the proposed change would make the board more effective. It is not a perfect arrangement but the arrangement being proposed is in no way better than the existing arrangement, Ramer said. It is purely a repetition of the existing arrangement. Ramer also noted the strong likelihood of Republicans being elected to the two new seats, breaking the tradition of the evenly split board. This is not honoring the time-honored way this town does business, Ramer said. That is to have a school board apolitical. Lets not politicize education. And now instead were going to have party control from a party that frankly tends to worship the mill rate. Board of Education Chairman Laura Erickson, a Democrat, has been plain about her opposition to expanding the board. We think its a bad idea, Erickson said, speaking on behalf of all four Democrats on the board. The way the board works now functions well. Its hard work and challenging but it forces you to talk to the people on your board to reach consensus. In our view it results in better educational decisions when you take the politics out of it. kborsuk@scni.com These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Week 29 in review: Brand new Xperia F8331, and a deluge of Note7 leaks We certainly have no reason to complain about lack of stories this week. Undoubtedly it was the Samsung Galaxy Note7 that got the most exposure, with daily leaks detailing this or that about Samsung's upcoming phablet. Curved version, flat version, final units caught live, development units shot in shady circumstances, casemakers late to the party - you name it, it all happened over the past few days. Oh, and the iris scanner was shown in action too, plus proof came in on the Type-C port. For all the Note7 coverage, it was another story that got tons more hits than every single Samsung-related article this week. An unexpected Sony Xperia showed up in live photos sent to us by an anonymous tipster. The phone is a marked departure from present Sony designs, so make sure you check it out now if you missed it. The iPhone 7 unsurprisingly featured in a number of leaks this week as well. There's still no consensus on the number of models that are to be expected, and although mockups of three devices are often pictured, @evleaks insists just two versions are coming. Now, who do we believe? A few other notable stories this week include the official launch of the Meizu MX6, price cuts for the Xiaomi Mi4 and Mi5, a teaser for the Oppo F1s, and the announcement of Gorilla Glass 5 (timing suggests a Note7 debut, maybe?). Oh, and Qualcomm may be fined some $880 million in Korea. Exclusive: Sony Xperia F8331 photographed, shows brand new design The Xperia X series so far was based on the Z series, but Sony's upcoming flagship will reboot the design. Latest iPhone 7 video shows the phone from all sides Additionally, a number of photos are also available to illustrate the differences a step further. Xiaomi Mi 4 and Mi 5 receive price cuts in India Xiaomi has slashed the prices of its Mi 4 and Mi 5 smartphones in India, with the former receiving a permanent price cut of INR 4,000 (around $60), while the latter getting a temporary INR 2,000 (arou... Prisma beta now available on Android Prisma, the latest fad in the app world, is now on Android after a brief period of exclusivity on iOS. US Army shockingly discovers that the Galaxy Note II is slower than an iPhone 6s The news that has blown up across the Internet today has to do with the US Army, its Special Operations Command, and a switch from Android to iOS. Because of that last bit, obviously this has been pic... Android 7.0 Nougat final preview marks side-loaded apps Android 7 Developer Preview 5 just hit the interweb and one new addition is application source indicator. Samsung Galaxy Note7 64GB shows up in store inventory Will Samsung move to 64GB as base? 32GB became standard with the S6 in 2015. Redmi Pro will be unveiled on July 27, Xiaomi confirms The phone will be accompanied by a "mysterious small partner," although nothing else about it was revealed. Samsung Galaxy Note7 iris scanner feature demoed on video The iris scanner feature works best at a distance of between 25-35cm. South Korea may fine Qualcomm up to $880 million Yes, we used the won number amount for the dramatic ringing, but $879 million is still a lot. Oppo teases F1s, a successor to the popular F1 The company says the device is one of its "core products for the second half of 2016." Report says Xiaomi expects Mi Notebook's shipments to cross 1 million There have already been reports that Xiaomi will unveil a laptop - dubbed Mi Notebook - alongside the Redmi Pro smartphone on July 27. Now, a new report out of China is suggesting that the company is ... Pokemon Go might be coming to Windows phone Mobile-gaming sensation Pokemon Go, which is currently only available for Android and iOS, could be making its way to the Windows Phone platform. This was revealed by Microsoft Portugal on their Face... More Galaxy Note7 shots surface USB Type-C port and colors confirmed The leaks offer a clear view of what is allegedly the bundled Note7 charging kit, as well as a glimpse at a total of three front panel color options. Published on 2016/07/24 | Source Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are taking different approaches to deal with changes in industry conditions due to the growth of low-cost carriers. Advertisement Asiana has decided to divide up flight routes with its budget daughters Air Seoul and Air Busan, while Korean Air is sharing routes with its cheaper affiliate Jin Air. Air Seoul said Friday it will take on two of Asiana's 20 routes to Japan and begin flights on Oct. 7. They are Incheon to Shizuoka and Takamatsu. It will also launch new flights to Nagasaki and Ube, while taking over from Asiana some Southeast Asian flights. An Air Seoul staffer said, "Air Busan will focus on domestic flights, while Air Seoul will concentrate on short-range international flights, leaving Asiana to handle mid- to long-distance international flights and minimizing overlapping routes and unnecessary costs". Published on 2016/07/23 Bumpy Rollercoaster Coming off of the popularity of the original "Mrs. Cop", "Mrs. Cop 2" quickly brings back the thrilling story of yet another ahjumma cop, this time, one with FBI training. Our heroine Go Yoon-jeong (Kim Sung-ryung) returns to South Korea from the U.S. and is asked to fill in the spot left behind by our original squad chief Choi Yeong-jin (Kim Hee-ae), who is taking a break from police work. Above everything, the acting was superb. Advertisement In a nut shell, "Mrs. Cop 2" starts off very strong, then fizzles out in the middle, and unfortunately chooses to end in the stereotypical cliche way. Though above everything, the acting was superb. I loved the lead's accurate portrayal of the protagonist. While the antagonist came alive as someone who is pure evil with a thirst for "fun". All other characters are composed of the good things and have a high sense of justice. The drama gave the right amount of attention to each of its characters and the issues around them, though a few of them seemed to be unnecessary, with nothing to do with the plot whatsoever. From a plot perspective, the drama had a number of twists that were off the record and I sat through them completely awestruck. However, there were a lot of draggy scenes and sequences which could've been avoided as well. Also, for a crime/cop drama, "Mrs. Cop 2" had surprisingly little action, which contributed to the dullness during certain parts of the drama. Overall, it was an enjoyable drama, but I think not everyone would sit through this somewhat uneven ride. Episodes 1-4 Review These four episodes saw a mighty transition from being mediocre to spine-chilling in one episode. "Mrs. Cop 2" balanced between intense white-knuckle scenes and highly comedic scenes while defining the main characters of the story well. It balanced intense white-knuckle scenes with highly comedic ones. Our heroine, Yoon-jeong, is a shrewd and funny fashion guru in her forties who rejoins the police force in Korea after training at the FBI. We quickly discover that she's a divorcee who wants to right a wrong from six years ago. To me, the protagonist seemed to be quite realistic and tangible. The way she uses face reading techniques to select her team members, and the way she uses different shoes stored at the office for different purposes show us that she's a superstitious yet systematic person. Park Jong-ho (Kim Min-jong) from the original series returns, but this time, he opposes our protagonist and keeps giving her obstacles to make her quit. His quest ultimately leads Yoon-jeong to be assigned an unsolved cold case that turned into a serial murder case. The potential antagonist candidate is Lee Ro-joon (Kim Beom), a rich and handsome young man in his twenties, where his father's death left him as CEO of a loan company. Ro-joon has a nasty temper that kills (literally) those who don't obey him and those that bad mouth him. He comes across as a highly intelligent and cunning individual. As Yoon-jeong interacts with him, we can also see that he's cruel but patient - a monster with self-control. He plays a pivotal role in solving the serial murder case proving his gray matter, yet again. Yoon-jeong's team members consist of Sin Yeo-ok (Son Dam-bi) - a female deductive who is tough, smart, and kind. Oh Seung-il (Lim Seulong) is an honest and righteous police officer who is law abiding by his bones and believes that no crime should go unpunished. The most senior member of the team is Bae Dae-hoon, a lazy, dirty, and pre-judgemental detective who follows Yoon-jeong earnestly and takes her word as law. Last but not least is the hardworking rookie, Kang Sang-cheol, who puts his job before everything. His boyish appearance mask his violence and is all in all the funniest one of the team. What I liked about these episodes was that the team is formed quickly and no time is wasted on team "bonding" and such. The drama cuts to the chase and things move quickly with no illogical sequences or dry spots. The bit of romance between Seung-il and Yeo-ok also paints a lighter hue to the drama here. The opening episodes of "Mrs. Cop 2" certainly caught my attention as I loved the way it progressed - with cliffhangers that were worthwhile and comedy that was situational and genuine. Continue reading on Funcurve.com Funcurve is a new kind of reviews site. Their reviews help readers visualize the ups and downs of a drama from start to finish with an impression graph. Read more Korean drama reviews at funcurve.com. By Panos Kotzathanasis | Published on 2016/07/23 If you are a fan of zombie films (I am btw), you are constantly in search for something in the category that has never been done before. Well, a S. Korean animation with zombies has never been shot before, so here we are. Advertisement The story revolves around a zombie break-out that starts among the homeless living in Seoul station. The outbreak soon engulfs the whole city and the government declares a lockout of the whole area. In this chaos, Hae-sun, an ex-prostitute who has just broken up with her boyfriend named Ki-woong, tries to save herself with the help from some homeless, while her boyfriend is searching for her along with her father, Suk-gyu. Yeong Sang-ho directs a film where the key word (apart from zombies that is) is cruelty, as is the main sentiment that permeates the animation. The treatment of the homeless man in the hospital and by the station attendants, Ki-woong's behaviour towards Hae-sun, the government's treatment towards the citizens, particularly as exemplified in the shooting scene near the end, and the fact the virus initially manifests among the lowest caste of society, the homeless are all distinct examples of this sentiment. The second sentiment that permeates the film is agony, since the scenes where the protagonists' lives are hanging by a thread are many and quite impressive, particularly the one in the police station and the various hunts inside the train station. Sang-ho, however, managed to include a hilarious scene among all that chaos. Lastly, what ultimately steals the show is the utterly unexpected finale, where a clear comment regarding human nature is presented. Technically, the characters' lines may be a little "thicker" than the ones in Japanese anime films, the rest, however, compensate fully, as the attention to detail is great, as exemplified by the clothes and the general appearance of every character. The background is also quite intricate and the technique used, where it stays still while the characters move in the foreground, has great results, as it emphasizes the astonishing animation. In that aspect, the characters' movement is very realistic, a fact exemplified by the frantic pace of the movie, and the same applies to their facial expressions. The zombies also look great, both in their grotesque appearance, with the blood spattered all over them, and in their movement, which, in this case, is quite rapid. "Seoul Station" is a unique entry in a preterit genre, and a truly great film. The film is part of the excellent Asian selection of Fantasia International Film Festival that will be on in Montreal until August 3. Review by Panos Kotzathanasis Facebook "Seoul Station" is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and voiced by Ryu Seung-ryong, Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Joon By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/07/23 Taking the bus north from Wonju it's only a short distance to Chuncheon, a city which holds the distinction of being the most northeastern limit of the Seoul Subway System. This is no mean feat, because Chuncheon is located in Gangwon- the province which borders the East Sea. The relative ease of coming to Chuncheon is such that its reputation as a tourist location has also increased significantly. Above you can see the newly christened Chuncheon Skywalk ( ), which would more accurately be called a lakewalk. It lets you get a good look at the Northern Han River, which in Chuncheon at least, is pretty huge. ...Incidentally, in these early days at least the overcast weather was fairly brutal. This is the as-yet unopened Skywalk in the aftermath of a huge storm. And here's what it was like trying to grab a bus the previous day. When it rains in Chuncheon, the bus stop can't save you. Umbrellas can't save you. It's a nightmare. Which naturally is why I thought it was a peachy keen idea to go looking for a guest house in the middle of nowhere. I took this picture later on in the visit, by the way, when the weather had cleared up some. In the northwest rural corner of Chuncheon, north of the Animation Museum there's not just one, but three guest houses. It's even listed on the Chuncheon tourist map as the "Guest House Village". Why? Well, as far as I can tell, because there's nothing else in the area and they wanted a gimmick. I went to the Nabiya Guest House ( ). Because all the sensible people just cancelled their reservations and I hadn't even bothered to make one, I ended up showing up shortly before a party the owner's friends showed up for a party. It was not much different than other parties. There was pizza, beer, tteok, and boiled silkworm pupa (). It tastes better than it sounds. Ah yes, I suppose I should discuss the Animation Museum ( ). It's a physical representation of Chuncheon's most famous export- cartoons. These jazzy cats are characters in the cut-out animation cartoon Cloud Bread. The premise is pretty simple. There's a cat family, the brother and sister of which do normal everyday things. But their mom makes them this magic food called Cloud Bread that lets them fly, when flying becomes necessary. Given how they're made out of paper, the plausibility of this is reasonable. Several Cloud Bread cartoons are on loop in one of the Animation Museum's many rooms. They're pretty cute. Although the Animation Museum definitely has more interesting displays than just kid's cartoons you can find online. The first part of the Animation Museum deals with ancient animation history- in this case, cave paintings from the Goguryeo period (before the Three Kingdoms even) that possess the illusion of being moving images thanks to flickering light. Of course, these kinds of images have been around since prehistoric times. It's just seeing them in such an obvious Korean style that's surprising. ...Naturally, since these paintings were intended to be seen inside a dark cave, there's not much I can do with them in a still photographic context. These are reproductions by the way. I'm not sure where the originals are or even if they're available for public viewing. After that, though, the Animation Museum is mainly just reproductions of how animation used to look. There are histories of modern twentieth century animation (not invented by Koreans, obviously), and fixtures designed to imitate old shops, which would use old cartoons as advertisement. like this version of Hong Gil-dong. Be warned that the Animation Museum lacks much in the way of English explanation- if you come, you're coming mainly for the sights. Article by William Schwartz Advertisement Published on 2016/07/24 | Source Making phone calls to strangers to wake them up in the morning is fast becoming a popular part-time job among young people in a dismal labor market. Advertisement The wake-up call service costs W30,000-50,000 a month (US$1=W1,140). Customers post wanted ads seeking wake-up calls online and choose service providers on a trial basis for a day before they commit themselves. One 22-year-old university student in Daejeon has given up all her other part-time jobs since she started making wake-up calls. "All I need to do is wake up early, and I can make W400,000 to W500,000 a month if I secure 10 customers, which is better than other part-time jobs", she said. Most customers live alone and do not have family members to wake them up in the morning. They are usually office workers in their 20s and 30s but also include fathers who sent their children to school overseas with their mother. Others opt to be woken up in the morning by others simply because they feel lonely. The number of one-person households rose from just 2.26 million in 2000 to around 5 million last year. Part of the wake-up call service includes asking clients math questions or reading sections of newspapers to them to make sure they are really up. Other gimmicks include celebrity voice impressions or singing songs. Some women want to be woken up by an assertive male voice, while others prefer more dulcet tones. But since payments are invoiced at the end of the month, some clients simply break contact without paying. There are also instances of sexual harassment of female callers. "I was surprised when a male client sent me a photo of him in his underwear after I gave him a wake-up call", a student recalls. Websites where wake-up call requests are made often include blacklists of rude customers. Prof. Lee Yoon-ho at Dongguk University said, "People can be vulnerable to sexual harassment so measures should be taken to prevent teens from getting into wake-up call services". Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 13:18, 27 OCT 2022 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine campaigned together for the first time Saturday, sounding an optimistic message of hope in the future, in contrast to the past week's Republican Party convention, where many speakers warned the United States is in decline. Clinton introduced Kaine to a crowd of cheering supporters in the state of Florida, saying she and her choice for vice president will "offer a very different vision" for America, one that calls for "building bridges, not walls" -- a jab at Republican Donald Trump's call for building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. "Senator Tim Kaine is everything that Donald Trump and Mike Pence [the Republican running mate] are not," Clinton declared. "He is ready to step into this job and lead on day one. And he is a progressive who likes to get things done." Trump had no campaign appearances Saturday but spoke out in a series of tweets that appeared to be aimed at dividing Democratic voters, especially over economic issues. The Republican candidate labeled Kaine a "job killer" for his support of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal. The TPP was strongly opposed by Clinton's opponent during party primary elections and caucuses, Senator Bernie Sanders. "Bernie supporters are outraged," Trump claimed. President Barack Obama warmly welcomed Kaine to the Democratic ticket for November's general election. The senator from Virginia is "a true progressive" who "will make a great vice president," Obama said in a fund-raising appeal sent out early Saturday. "You just can't find anyone with a bad thing to say about him." Clinton said the Democratic Party convention beginning Monday in Philadelphia will emphasize that "embracing diversity" makes America great, and she portrayed Kaine as a fighter for minorities and the impoverished. She and Kaine spoke to a huge crowd in Miami, at Florida International University. Many of those present were Hispanic, and Kaine displayed his fluent Spanish, acquired when he worked in Honduras during a break from law school. Standing beside Clinton, Kaine told the crowd, "We're going to be 'companeros de alma' in this great 'lucha' ahead" -- "soul mates in this great fight ahead." Kaine introduced himself to the Florida voters, speaking about his family, his values growing up and his career as a mayor, governor and U.S. senator. Known as a staunch Roman Catholic, he said his family embraces "faith, family and work" as its main values. Your father taught you how to take a decent picture. He taught you how to tie a tie, too. Because of him, you know how to create a good meal out of almost nothing, how to keep a car running, and how to avoid being a jerk. You know a lot of things, thanks to the old man but in the new book In the Darkroom by Susan Faludi, Dad doesnt show you everything. On and off through most of her forty-some years, Susan Faludi had been estranged from her father. Even when he was in the picture, she was wary of him, a household despot, with a hair-trigger temper and a penchant for violence. She knew him, but she really barely knew him so, when she heard from her father for the first time in years, it was a surprise. So was the message: her father had become a woman. He was born in Hungary in 1927, a pampered son of well-to-do Jews who sent him away as a child for reasons Faludi could only surmise. Hed come of age during the Nazi occupation and, according to stories, had survived through wits and bravery and had saved several lives. Because of her fathers reticence and tendency to embellish, though, Faludi never knew if those stories told were true. In September, 2004, she boarded a plane to Hungary to meet her father, to learn who she really was, and to fill in the blanks about her. It was a prickly endeavor: never one to be forthcoming about her history, Faludis father dismissed most questions, refusing to discuss them, and she was reluctant to show Faludi any Budapest locales with familial significance. Father and daughter argued, Faludi gently prodded, her father pushed back, and she eventually gave Faludi names and places, important (sometimes falsified) documents, but scant insight. For many reasons, Faludi learned, her father was a damaged soul. Shed been abandoned, misunderstood, terrorized or had she been? Was Faludis father a victim of all shed endured or was she an extremely effective liar? On the surface, In the Darkroom is a bit of a struggle to read. Its quite wordy, first of all, and filled with place names that may not mean much to readers whove never been to Hungary . I gave up trying to make sense of locales, but theres no ignoring author Susan Faludis recreation of her fathers Hungarian accent. Its everywhere in the text here, and not-so-charming after a few dozen pages. And yet, what Faludi finds, what her father admits, feels like a noir whodunit with a different kind of victim. Theres intrigue here, derring-do, a deep mystery that still seems unsolved, and a protagonist whos ultimately worthy of surprising sympathy. That - the psychological heart of this book - arrives like a strobe in a photography studio, flash-flash-flash with the overall picture remaining tantalizingly fuzzy. In the end, I found that irresistible tease was worth overlooking the irritations, so go ahead. Start In the Darkroom, try this story. See what develops. County cross country: Hubs sweep titles, boys score a perfect 15 North Hagerstown claimed both team championships and had both individual champions, with the boys achieving the first perfect score in meet history. If proof was needed of the Islamic States growing presence in Afghanistan, it came with Saturdays gruesome suicide attack on Shia Hazaras in Kabul that claimed 80 lives. The attack, which the IS claimed through its Amaq news agency, introduced a dangerous sectarian element to the war-torn country. Despite decades of conflict in Afghanistan, divisions between the majority Sunnis and minority Shias were rarely heard of in recent years. The IS was very specific about the targeting of the minority its claim of responsibility on Saturday clearly stated two fighters had detonated their explosive belts amid a Shiite gathering. So much so that even the Afghan Taliban, locked in a bitter turf war with IS, condemned the attack as a plot to ignite civil war and an act to divide the nation into ethnic groups and sides and then push them into war. Read | 80 killed in twin explosions during Kabul protest, IS claims responsibility This was the first major attack claimed by the IS since it announced the formation of its Wilayah Khorasan the branch covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of India in January 2015. But the IS has targeted Shia Hazaras several times in the past. In November last year, thousands of Hazaras demonstrated in Kabul with the coffins of seven members four men, two women and a child of the ethnic minority who were kidnapped by the IS in Ghazni and later beheaded. The Hazaras who make up an estimated 9% of Afghanistans population are one of the most persecuted Shia groups. Hundreds of them have died in suicide attacks and bombings in Pakistans restive Balochistan province. Even before the IS announced its chapter for Khorasan last year, it had been working to woo militant commanders in Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are also reports that Abdul Rauf Khadem, a former Taliban adviser to Mullah Omar, visited Iraq in October 2014 for meetings with IS leaders. Read | Most Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan are from Pakistan: Official A report by the United Nationss al Qaeda monitoring team in September last year said the IS had been making inroads in Afghanistan by winning over sympathisers and gaining new recruits. The report also said some 70 IS fighters had moved from Iraq and Syria to Afghanistan to form the core of the Wilayah Khorasan. The fighting between the IS and the Afghan Taliban, especially in Nangarhar province. Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar, is one of the handful of cities in Afghanistan where India has a consulate and a suicide attack on a bank in Jalalabad in April last year that killed 30 people was claimed by the IS. Nangarhar also borders Pakistans volatile tribal areas, which, experts say, would allow the IS to easily cross the porous border and also allow the group to have access to a large number of battle-hardened fighters inside Pakistan. Following Saturdays attack and the Talibans condemnation of the IS, the fighting between the two groups could intensify and further complicate the fragile security situation in Afghanistan. For India, a country that has invested so much in rebuilding Afghanistans infrastructure and boosting the nascent democratic set-up, this could only mean more problems. The views expressed by the writer are personal. He tweets as @rezhasan SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Victor Hugo once remarked: We see the past in a telescope and the present in a microscope. Hence, the apparent enormities of the present. This can be an overarching assessment of 25 years of Indias reform. The enormity of the change is telescoped while the complexities of the present loom large. Two episodes bring out the striking contrast. Given Parliamentary preoccupations, Arun Jaitley could not participate in the recent G-20 Finance Ministers meeting in China. However, 25 years ago this would be unthinkable. On April 11, 1991 the then finance minister, Yashwant Sinha, had at best a curt (almost impolite) meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Ryutaro Hashimoto and was advised instead to meet his senior official, the vice minister. The then vice-minister Makato Utsumi, who I recently hosted in Delhi, recalled those troubled times. He explained that notwithstanding the perceived discourtesy, the Japanese had in fact assured the IMF that they would act as the informal guarantor to emergency loans from the Fund to stave-off a looming debt default. What a transit in time and events. From being a basket case of irrelevance, we occupy a vantage position in global decision making. The other anecdote is about deepening consumer choice. After attending the annual meeting of the Fund Bank in Bangkok (15-17 October 1991), the then finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh addressed an investors conference in Singapore along with the then commerce minister, P Chidambaram. During the conference, the then governor of the Reserve Bank S Venkitaramanan invited some of us to accompany him to a shop in Singapore called Mustafa and Shamshuddin. This was a well-known address to Indians seeking household products which were not available in India, given impossible tariff and non-tariff barriers. Upon entering the shop, the governor proudly drew our attention to a notice stating that Indian currency was acceptable for payments. The significant Indian diaspora had made the Indian rupee convertible. More importantly, we were shown two floors in the store with pre-packed products, specially selected for Indian visitors, couriers, and operators. Each packet comprised of selected products such as cosmetic brands like Revlon lipstick, Lacoste T-shirts, jeans and household items not available to an average Indian. In sharp contrast today, Indian malls, even in sub-metro cities, routinely market high-end fashion brands. The opening up of the Indian economy and a rising prosperity curve has enhanced the bouquet of consumer choice. Read | He did all the heavy lifting The broadened consumer choice extends to automobiles, financial services, household products and cosmetics represent a transition unimaginable 25 years ago. It would however be naive to believe that we have overcome the past fully and met the crucial challenges to inclusive development. We act in fits and starts, driven many a time by compulsions, as much as convictions of likely gain. Read | Gentle reformer: Behind Indias economic revolution, theres Manmohan Singh The Narshimha Rao-Manmohan period concentrated on macroeconomic stability. It accepted conditionalities from multilateral agencies often by stealth, but many a time with halting political support. For instance, the commitments contained in the quarterly performance criteria given to the IMF while negotiating the structural adjustment loan with the World Bank for the upper credit tranche contained far-reaching changes in our banking and regulatory system, taxation policies including VAT and some ingredients of the GST, progressive opening up of infrastructure, dismantling of senseless trade barriers and broadening the scope for competition. From our point of view these were far reaching changes, the multilateral agencies many a time considered them to be grossly inadequate. We explained to them that in India, reforms by shock are hardly acceptable, except in deep crisis. The 1991 was one such deep crisis and the jury is out on whether we fully capitalised on this opportunity to make even deeper changes enveloping factors of production, which till today continue to elude consensus. Read | Acid test for political risk management Read | Minimum government, maximum governance: A manifesto for a limited state Nonetheless, we did manage to carry conviction that in India once you slightly open the door, the breeze flings it wider open. How else could one explain that the word privatisation was an anathema; we began by calling it a bundling of shares in the Budget of 1991. Even today, public-private partnership and strategic alliances remain the preferred route. In the Deve Gowda-IK Gujral period, the emphasis shifted from tax policy reforms and commitments on further tariff and trade policy regime occupied priority. It was during the Vajpayee era that the telecom and infrastructure sectors were opened up and whose multiplier effects have resulted in sustained high rates of growth over a much longer period. This has also enabled a more abiding strengthening of macro fundamentals in multiple ways. It is difficult to address the question of whether we have fully grasped the multiple opportunities which have come our way. Has our approach been tentative, stymied by domestic compulsions of one kind or the other? This was once explained to me by Manmohan Singh in a classic remark when I was pushing for a faster pace of disinvestment in the petroleum and oil sector. He told me, please understand, governments must first survive before they can reform. We have once again begun to turn the spotlight on the missing ingredients to sustain not only high rates of growth but gainful job creation to make growth meaningful. We are racing against time, considering that productivity and technology are increasingly labour-displacing. The job creation compulsions and the need to address both the stock and the flow of joblessness pose multiple challenges. Improving quality of education, deepening the benefits on health outcomes by increasing use of technology, securing orderly urbanisation are areas which represent the priorities of the Modi government. Read | This needs more labour It has been left to Modi to both telescope and microscope in his unique style of management and implementation. Modi fully understands that we cannot afford to run faster and faster to remain in the same place. We need a new orbit based on new compulsions and our comparative advantages. Read | Skill India: Well begun, but challenges ahead The popular American online series, Daredevil, traces the life of a blind lawyer-turned-superhero, Matthew Murdock, who relies heavily on his heightened senses. City-based stand-up comedian Utsav Chakraborty identifies with how Murdock gauges his surroundings. This year, Chakraborty hosted and participated in two comedy shows called Pitch Black at The Hive, Khar (W). These events took place in complete darkness. Even though he didnt have to fight off any bad guys, it was still a challenge. In my head, the show is like the stand-up equivalent of Daredevil. Youre blind, but all your other senses are heightened, he says. This year, stand-up comedian Utsav Chakraborty hosted and participated in two comedy shows called Pitch Black at The Hive, Khar (W). These events took place in complete darkness. It is exactly this exalted sense of awareness that theatre director Tushar Dalvi wanted to achieve with his play, The Darkroom Project. The plays title, as it suggests, refers directly to a darkroom, where photographs are developed. The drama takes place in partial darkness; only a red light illuminates the stage. Viewers are blindfolded before they enter the venue, and their blindfolds are removed only when the show starts. We have tried to explore as many different facets of darkness as possible. Blindfolding the audience heightens their other senses. It helps us get their undivided attention. It has great recall value too. The stories get embedded deep within the audiences psyche, says Dalvi, who runs Rangaai Theatre Company. The Darkroom Project refers directly to a darkroom, where photographs are developed. The drama takes place in partial darkness; only a red light illuminates the stage. How it began The idea of performing in the dark first garnered attention at the Leicester Comedy Festival, UK, in 2009, as an energy conservation effort. Londons Soho Theatre has been hosting such shows for a while now. In Mumbai, however, the concept is only just catching on. Besides a few comedians and Rangaai, spoken word poets have also been exploring this particular performance style in the past year. Ramya Pandyan, a Mumbai resident who has been attending open mics since 2009, says she started participating in blind poetry shows because they offered her anonymity. They also made her more aware of her craft. The biggest distinction between the performing arts and other art forms is that there is no barrier between the artiste and the audience. With writing, you feel a certain safety behind the computer screen or notebook. But when youre on stage, you are naked and vulnerable in front of the audience and their judgement. But a dark room levels this playing field, she says, telling us that shes even recited her poem, Lullaby, to live music in the dark. Once you get used to the darkness, you feel a certain warmth and closeness with the people who are in that room with you. You can hear people breathing, shifting and fidgeting. We tend to listen to each other better both the audience and the performers, adds Pandyan. Read: Attend a stand-up comedy gig in Mumbai on sex and disability Mumbai resident Ramya Pandyan has recited her poem, Lullaby, to live music in the dark. During her regular shows, where the lights were switched on, Pandyan had become used to finding encouragement from some friendly faces in the crowd. But trying her hand at open mics in the dark has brought her out of that comfort zone. Removing the visual aspect of a performance poses a huge challenge, which can only be good. Also, stage fright deters a lot of good writers. Reading in the darkness, without the weight of the audiences eyes on them, might encourage many more people to approach the stage, she says. Improvisational approach As the shows host, Chakraborty took advantage of the dark. It is one of those events, where you can get away with anything, he says, adding that he often imitated the other comics right after their performances. I acted like they had never actually left the stage, he says. His listeners, the comedian says, loved the format. But the dark is not always comforting. Comedian Adhiraj Singh, for example, has dealt with hecklers at such shows. The experience is difficult. The audience starts heckling if you slip up. Being in the dark, the hecklers know they cant be singled out, and can get away with a lot. Its a lot like the anonymity the Internet gives you. Its almost like listening to the radio or speaking on the phone. Having said that, the distance created by listening to only a disembodied voice puts a lot of weight on a performer to make his or her material shine, says Singh. Stand-up comedian Adhiraj Singh has dealt with several hecklers during performances in the dark. What is even more trying is when artistes want to collaborate on a performance in the dark. Pandyan worked with guitarist Karthik Rao on a blind poetry show, and it was tricky to carry through. Any spoken word performance is a spontaneous art form. This means your words, speed, tone and the order can change with every rendition. In collaborations, you have to communicate with each other during the performance without letting the audience know. Thankfully, Karthik and I managed to read each others sounds during the performance and didnt miss any beats, she says. Bad experiences or good, this is an activity these performers are willing to experiment with. We grew as artistes because of it, says Pandyan. WATCH: August 3 -- Pitch Black: Comedy In The Dark, at The Hive, Khar (W), at 8.30pm. August 7 -- The Darkroom Project, at CLAP, Malad (W), at 7pm. Apart from releasing a book about his son Ayaans battle with cancer, Emraan Hashmi has often helped those suffering from the ailment. It was reported that the actor has also donated a sum of money to an NGO that helps cancer patients. Recently, Emraan visited a suburban cancer hospital to meet one of his fans, who is being treated there. Read: What did we do wrong? Emraan Hashmi felt guilty for his sons cancer A source close to the actor says, The teenager is a cancer patient, and a fan of Emraans work. He wanted to meet him, so the hospital staff got in touch with Emraans team to facilitate the meeting. Read: My son Ayaan has given birth to a new me, says Emraan Hashmi Apparently, the Bollywood actor visited the hospital last week, and spent half an hour with the young boy. Emraan also gave him a box of chocolates and some other gifts. The actor also interacted with his friends and family members, and promised to take them for the premiere of his next film. Early this year, Emraan Hashmi released a book that details the struggles his son, Ayaan, faced while getting his cancer treatment. We tried contacting Emraan, but he remained unavailable for a comment. Irrfan Khan is someone who never minces his words. The 49-year-old actors views on the Islamic tradition of qurbani (slaughtering of animals) and fasting during Ramzan recently became a hot topic for discussion across social media platforms. His statements resulted in a strong backlash against him, but Irrfan says theres nothing that can stop him from speaking his mind. I am not scared of anybody, he said when asked if hell watch his words henceforth to avoid getting embroiled in controversies. Read: Irrfan Khan does not have any interest in politics Recently, he had also bantered: Kya Salman ka rape hua? (Was Salman raped?), stirring a fresh controversy, when an interviewer asked him for his take on actor Salman Khans raped woman remark. But public opinion on his statements doesnt bother Irrfan. If he is scared of anything, its getting misinterpreted. Not everything I say gets picked up. People are always very selective about what they want to hear. Public opinions can be used to create powerful thoughts, but when people start misinterpreting words, things gets analysed for all the wrong reasons. I get very sad and skeptical about such things, he says. Read: One man cannot bring the change, governments need our help, says Irrfan Khan The actor, whose film Madaari released recently, says that although he cant stop himself from sharing his thoughts publicly, its a wise idea to be cautious when one is on a public platform. Anyone has the freedom to interpret whatever you say, and in whatever manner. You cannot blame people for thinking that way. So, one has to be careful and think about the context before talking. Thats only how one should speak. Thats how I work, he says. Follow @htshowbiz for more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Whoever thought books can go out of fashion because of some electronic reading devices obviously didnt have the powerful imagination of the publishing houses. From collaborating with coffee shops to delivering stories to your smartphones, they are coming up with innovative ways to keep books relevant. Read: Padma Lakshmi on affairs, struggles and Salman Rushdie For instance, one of the initiatives of Harper Collins India is their collaboration with a coffee chain, where they give a book for free when you order a coffee. Since books and coffee are best buddies, we have collaborated with a coffee chain. We are running the Grab a copy, post a selfie with #harperbookgiveaway to promote reading. We also organise book readings and interactions with writers there. We are also collaborating with TrulyMadly (dating app) to promote our romance genre. We also collaborated with a fashion e-commerce website to promote books, says Amrita Talwar, senior manager, publicity, Harper Collins India. To promote the Girl in the Spiders Web, Hachette India put up a sticker of a giant spiderweb at select bookstores. Among many things, Hachette India executes especially designed campaigns for certain books. For The Girl in the Spiders Web, they stuck a giant sticker of a spider web on the door of a book shop. For the walk-ins it was like walking into a spiderweb. While readers get attracted to the books, the bookshops are also most likely to keep the books on display for longer, explains Avanija Sundarmuti, head of marketing and consumer insight, Hachette India. Penguin Indias initiative, Penguin on Wheels, is a truck-bookshop that sells books of the publishing house. And for those who cant go to a bookshop, Penguin India is getting the bookshop to you, through Penguin on Wheels. Our vision has been to get our stories and books available to everyone, everywhere, and share the joy of reading. So our book truck goes to places where people might not find a book shop handy. And to catch readers young, we organise reading sessions , says Hemali Sodhi, senior vice president, Penguin India. Puffin Books organises Puffin in Parks, an open air library for children, to catch them young. Puffin Books have come up with Puffin in Parks, an open air library for children. The publishers are also harnessing the power of social media and smartphones. Juggernaut Books offers books for free for a certain period for time on their app, and offer a reading experience tailor-made for the phone, according to Chiki Sarkar, founder of Juggernaut. Bloomsbury India indulges readers with giveaways on Instagram, and engages with bloggers. Read: Difficult to translate abuses, says writer Bhaskar Chattopadhyay The rise of social media has contributed to direct engagement with buyers and understanding of market needs and gaps. The most powerful use lies in its ability to spread word-of-mouth and get people excited without the need for spending big bucks on every title, says Yogesh Sharma, VP, Sales and Marketing, Bloomsbury India. Bloomsbury India, like other publishing houses, is exploring the social media space. They regularly offer giveaways and collaborate with bloggers. Avanija explains that there is need to reinvent. Publishers have to compete with CandyCrush and get people to read when they are most likely playing Pokemon Go. So, its every publishers duty to try new activities to reach out to readers , she says. Read: Jihadi Jane is a terrifying account of two friends who decide to join ISIS Amrita adds, Compared to movies, publishing houses have very limited budgets, so we come up with ways to connect with the readers and explore every platform possible to appeal to the dynamic market. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A junior Haryana Police official was taken into custody on Saturday night after he allegedly tried to molest a six-year-old girl on board a bus. The police official, identified as sub-inspector Ram Pal, was taken in custody in Jind after passengers on the bus caught and beat him up. The passengers forced the driver to take the bus to the police station where Ram Pal was handed over to the authorities. The police official will be presented before a local court in Jind on Sunday. The victim had boarded the bus at Jind going to Karnal on Saturday evening with her mother and another younger sibling. I was holding the younger child and the man in police uniform offered to take my daughter in his lap. A couple sitting close to them later saw that he was trying to do wrong things with my daughter. My daughter was also crying and wanted to come to me. The man confronted the police official and other passengers joined in. The police official was taken to the police station, the victims mother said. NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on Saturday alleged that BJP and Delhi Police were conspiring against its MLAs and rejected the charges levelled against its Okhla MLA Amanantullah Khan of misbehaving with a woman. The AAP leaders alleged Delhi Police had pressurised the woman to file a false statement against its legislator. On July 19, an FIR was registered against a man under sections 506 and 509 of IPC at Jamia Nagar police station based on a complaint filed by the woman, a resident of Jasola. The FIR states that on July 9, while she had gone to Khans house to complain about power cuts in the area, she was threatened with rape and murder by a 22-year-old youth. The woman had made a written complaint to the Delhi Police commissioner on July 10. In a press conference on Saturday, the party played a video in which the woman is purportedly seen and heard telling an unidentified man that an SHO asked her to add allegations of rape and murder threats in the complaint and approach the commissioner. Police said they were verifying the allegations and will speak to the complainant. Khan said the woman is being supported by BJP leaders including leader of opposition Vijender Gupta. Several BJP leaders are in touch with the woman and they have also provided lawyers to her, said Khan. Countering the charge, Gupta said: I am about to expose corruption in waqf board so in frustration, AAP is trying to defend their MLAs and bringing irrelevant topics. She had first given a complaint to the Delhi Police commissioner on July 11 saying she had called me (Khan) and I threatened her. Although as per the FIR, filed on July 19, she had come to my residence where she was threatened by a youth, said Khan. I have written a complaint to DCP (South-east) to file an FIR against the SHO and the woman for framing me, Khan said. NEW DELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh has blamed the NDA governments mindset for the lack of consensus on economic reforms that are crucial to Indias ambitions to grow fast and pull millions of its people out of poverty. Twenty five years to the day when Singh, as finance minister then, unveiled a historic budget that transformed India from a socialist-style to a market-driven economy, a renewed momentum to address the unfinished agenda of the reforms programme has eluded Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. The two years that this government has had, they could have been used much purposefully to push the reforms process further, Singh told HT in an exclusive interview. For various reasons this has not happened. Whether it is the GST (goods and services tax), whether it is the land acquisition bill, whatever the differences among political parties. Singh, who was the prime minister from 2004 to 2014, said it was the responsibility of the government of the day to find ways and means to bring about a broad-based consensus. Thats a process which simply requires a different mindset from a mindset that says the governments mindset is to build a Congress-mukt India, he said. If your mission is to destroy the Congress party, you cant expect the Congress party, howsoever well-intentioned you are, to cooperate in that process. Key policy moves, including the GST that aims to create a unified national market by replacing string of local levies into a single tax, has remained stuck in Parliament because the Congress and the BJP-led NDA havent been able to agree on some contentious points. Apart from economic policy measures in the traditional sense of the term, there should be every effort to deal with the social content of economic reforms. Social peace and commercial harmony are essential for any credible reform programme, Singh said. NEW DELHI: A day before the Vikas Puri-Meera Bagh flyover was to be inaugurated by chief minister Arvind Kejriw al, former West Delhi MP, Mahabal Mishra, with some Congress workers inaugurated the stretch that is part of the outer ring road signal-free corridor. Partys Delhi president Ajay Maken said the money sanctioned to construct the flyover was Rs 407 crore but the AAP government spent Rs 450 crore on it. AAP government has made a loss of Rs 43 crore. But Arvind Kejriwal blatantly lies that he has saved crores in the construction of this flyover, said Mishra, former MP of west Delhi. Public Works Department constructed the 3.4-km elevated road. Officials said the department filed a case against miscreants who illegally tried to intrude the Vikaspuri corridor. PWD claim that commuters will save 12 minutes of traffic time by using the flyover. The stretch is part of the six-lane elevated road from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad. The 22-km signal-free road project was divided into four parts Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk, Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk, which has already been opened while the third section from Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh is set to open this Sunday. A section from Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad is still under construction and government is planning to open it by the end of this year. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has written to the government for digitisation of all registered properties in the capital to check rising cases of fraud. According to Delhi police statistics, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is probing around 19 cases of multiple mortgage of property and 30 cases of fake sale deeds. The police are trying to push for a software to enable the owner to automatically receive an email or SMS alert whenever any transaction or deal is attempted on his property, knowingly or without his knowledge. In an advisory to the principal secretary (home) of the Delhi government, additional CP (EOW), Arun Kampani suggested maintaining a database of properties whereby all transactions are registered with the sub-registrars. The date should be available on the web site of the sub-registrar concerned with read-only access to the public, the letter said. Police have written to the RBI to ask banks to provide web access to the central registry database (which keeps the record of mortgaged properties) to the sub-registrars office. The mortgaged properties database can be integrated with the sub-registrar offices so that the public can be cautioned at the time of the registration of sanctioned documents of a mortgaged property, said an EOW officer. We have requested the home department to consider sending One Time Password (OTP) facility to potential buyers during his/her attempt to verify the ownership of the property, said a senior officer in EOW. At present, no mechanism is in place to verify mortgaged property or documents. Hundreds of cases involving sale of one property to more than one person are pending investigation. There are cases of mortgaged properties being sold by owners, said the officer. Conmen are able to sell mortgage properties because the details are available only with the banks and not with the sub-registrars office. Jagmohan Singh Rawat, now a retired BSF inspector, used his life savings to buy a semi-constructed property in Dwarka Mor in 2007. Later, another man claimed the property and slapped a case which is in court to date. Taj Hassan, special commissioner of police (crime), said the suggestions can curb the rising number of property frauds in Delhi. Evolving a system to have an online registry of properties in Delhi will certainly help the public from becoming victims of real estate conmen, said Hassan. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women on Saturday issued a notice to the police for allegedly not taking action in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old Dalit girl. DCW chair person Swati Maliwal quoted the victims parents as saying the girl was sexually assaulted several times by her neighbour and forced to drink a corrosive substance, which severely damaged her internal organs. The police claimed they arrested the accused thrice but the girl turned hostile twice. The panel sought details about the police action on the girls parents allegations on May 15 that their lives were under threat. The girls uncle alleged that accused, Shiv Shankar, threatened them. Both the parents work and are out for the entire day. After being abducted on May 15, our child was tortured and made to drink acid. Later, they (Shankars family) threatened her to change her statement, he alleged. She was kept hostage by them for around 10-12 days after which she was brought to the police station where her condition was bad. Shiv Shankars family threatened to kill her brother too, he said. He said the girls family traced her and took her to LNJP Hospital. The DCW has sought police protection for the family. This is a serious case... The girl has changed her statements previously due to pressure from the accused.., Maliwal said. A police officer said the girl first went missing on December 21, 2015. They rescued her from Shankar on December 24. He was arrested and her statement was recorded before a magistrate on January 5. But the girl turned hostile and Shankar was granted bail. On May 15, the girls parents approached the police with a missing complaint. Deputy commissioner of police (north) Madhur Verma said they registered a kidnapping case again. We rescued her on May 26 again from Shankar. She is a minor, so he was arrested. On May 27, we took her to a magistrate. She again told the magistrate that Shankar had not taken her and requested for the case to be closed. He was acquitted, said Verma. Police said the girl was produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which sent her to a shelter home because her family refused to take her back. In June first week, her parents approached the CWC. On June 3, the girl was handed back to her parents, police said. We came to know on June 30 that she was admitted to the LNJP Hospital. Our inspector went to take her statement. She did not say anything. On July 8, she gave a written complaint that Shankar had raped her a month ago. Now, we have arrested Shankar, said DCP Verma. Verma said when the police learnt about the girl, they visited the hospital with a magistrate. But doctors said she was not in a condition to give a statement. Once she is fit for statement we will probe other allegations of torture too, said Verma NEW DELHI: Taking a leaf out of the Aam Aadmi Partys book, leaders of the BJP-ruled municipal corporations have decided to hold janta darbars to connect with the people before next years civic polls. South Delhi mayor Shyam Sharma will be the first to hold a darbar on July 30, with leaders from the north and east civic bodies likely to follow suit soon after. The darbar will be an open grievance addressal session where any citizen staying in areas under the south civic bodys jurisdiction can come and complain, said Sharma. He said officials present at the darbar will make a note and work towards immediate redressal of the grievances. Municipal officials said that the event will be held at a community centre in west Delhi, where 4,000 people are expected to attend. Sources said leaders of other corporations will follow suit and hold meetings next month. We expect people to come up to us with problems related to property tax, illegal constructions, the lack of development and other such issues, said a municipal leader. Sources said the event is part of the public interaction drive initiated by BJP leaders ahead of the municipal elections slated for early next year. There are three municipal corporations in Delhi, all of which are controlled by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). Public interaction has always been a priority for our leaders and our party, said a leader. Hindustan Times had earlier reported how unable to initiate any development work due to a financial crunch, the cash-strapped municipal corporations reached out to people by inaugurating and renaming old projects. Public interaction has always been a priority for our leaders and our party, said a party leader. Until last year, the municipal corporations had cleared nearly 70-odd projects. But in the past five months, more than 400 projects for naming and remaining had been okayed. GURGAON: A school in Haryana has been fined Rs 5.5 lakh by a panchayat for organising a special assembly marking Eid, which led to protests and threats. The panchayat also ordered Green Dales Public School to get rid of Muslim staff and students, make its girl students switch to salwar kameez, and banned it from hiking fees for two years. Residents of Hindu-majority Tauru town in Mewat district, 39km from Gurgaon, accused the school management of propagating Islam and forcing its students, mostly Hindus, to follow Islamic rituals during the event on July 6. A mob armed with sticks and bricks was at the schools gates the day after the assembly. The panchayat order has forced the lone Muslim teacher to quit her job and move to Delhi, said school manager Hema Sharma. The police and the local MLA, however, said the panchayats diktat held no meaning as Tauru is governed by a municipal committee. No panchayat is recognised by the government. The local body does not support any activity by the group, said tehsildar Poonam Babbar. The police said the area was peaceful. The school is trying to convert our children They were made to offer namaz and recite verses from the Quran. How else can you explain their intention? said Tek Chand Saini, a member of the panchayat. The parents came to us and we, the elders, confronted the school authorities. A parent who didnt want to be named said, My son studies there. My husband and his friends rushed to the school. We come from a small town and religion is an important aspect of our lives. The school denied the allegations. The children sang, performed plays and prayed. We just wanted them to know and respect each others religions. It is absurd to give the issue a communal colour, said Sharma. A student of Class 4 said, we sang a famous song from a Bollywood movie and the prayer was in Hindi, while a Class 8 student said the protesters were about to attack the school but were stopped by some parents. Chaudhary Zakir Hussain, the Indian National Lok Dal MLA from Nuh, said no namaz was offered and it was just a celebration to mark the day. He rejected the panchayats demands, saying Tauru was under the municipal body. An issue over offering namaz did arise but it was sorted out. The tehsildar conducted a meeting between the two parties. We have not received any formal complaint after that, said deputy commissioner Mani Ram Sharma. There is no communal tension in the area, said station house officer Jay Prakash Yadav. Several parents and members of right-wing groups who are backing the school said a rumour was blown out of proportion. My children studied there and now my grandchild too. We have never faced any such issue. The incident is untrue, said Pawan Bhardwaj of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The school accused an electrician of spreading lies. He had come to fix some wiring. The guards did not allow him inside as the assembly was on. While leaving, he was heard saying, namaz padha rahe he (they are teaching them to offer namaz), said Sharma. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The rise in Delhis traffic congestion seems to have made its roads safer. A total of 543 people died in road accidents across the city until July 20 this year, as opposed to 824 fatalities during the same period in 2015. This figure happens to be the lowest in 26 years. Studies conducted by the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute found that the average peak traffic speed has come down from 30 km/hr to 15 km/hr the speed of a bicycle in the last five years. One of the reasons for the slump in road fatalities is the decreased average speed of vehicles due to traffic jams. When a vehicle has a lower possibility of speeding, the chances of meeting with an accident also comes down, said Dr S Velmurugan, senior principal scientist at the institute. As many as 1,670 accident deaths were recorded in 1990, as opposed to 1,622 last year (a significant drop, going by the vehicle-to-accident ratio). The number of vehicles in the city currently stands at 8.9 million, over five times the 1.7 million registered back then. Speeding is a major reason for road accidents, and slowing of the traffic speed has helped bring down fatalities. Better enforcement of traffic rules and increased awareness among drivers have also played a major role in ensuring this downward trend, said special commissioner of police (traffic) Sandeep Goel. The traffic police helpline recorded over 5.4 lakh complaints of traffic jams from places across the city last year, about 20,200 more than 2014. Experts say that with around 1,500 new vehicles descending on the city roads every day, the average speed of the city traffic is expected to come down to 5 km/hr by 2020. Thats the pace at which a man or woman walks. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment, said the 48-km six-lane Ring Road was originally designed to bear around 75,000 vehicles a day. However, it now carries over 4 lakh vehicles on a daily basis. While we can rejoice about the number of road casualties coming down, we are ignoring the seriousness of the reason behind it. If we actually look into the trend, accidents are still high at night when the traffic is thin. So, we may actually be doing something wrong here, not right, she said. According to traffic data, 60% of all fatal accidents occur between 2 am and 6 am every day. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After murdering her alleged exploiter, retired health ministry official Vijay Kumar (64), the 25-year-old woman returned home and wrote a confession in Hindi in her diary, maine usko maar diya shayad ab praja khush hogi ya nahi pata nahi (I killed him, dont know if people will be happy or not). Police said the woman confessed to having written these lines, apparently with a shaky hand, after killing Kumar. She said usko (him) referred to Kumar. Read: Delhi: 25-year-old woman allegedly killed retired official to end exploitation Though the sentences are incoherent, they will be used as evidence against the woman, cops said. The note will be sent to a forensic lab to match her handwriting. The woman, a civil services aspirant, was identified using footage from the CCTV camera installed at the gates of Samachar Apartments. The video showed her leaving the building with an LED TV. She was arrested on Friday night A police officer privy to the investigation told HT that the womans husband, a government employee, was present when she was arrested. The police zeroed in on the suspect using Kumars call records. We examined numbers.., saved with names or left unnamed. All such (suspicious) numbers were called and one of them was found switched off. We took details of the phone number from its service provider and found that it was registered in a womans name and was de-activated in April 2016, the officer said. One of the numbers in his contact list was saved in the name of the womans husband. Kumars call records confirmed calls to and from that number before his murder, police said. On questioning, the woman said she had called Kumar twice from the number a few days ago to request him to return the video clips he had allegedly used to blackmail and exploit her. A day before the crime, Kumar called her and asked her to visit his flat and collect the videos. On reaching the flat, the woman became angry when she found out Kumar had called her to harass her again. She picked up a knife from his kitchen, stabbed him many times and left with the TV, said the officer. The police are trying to identify two retired colleagues of Kumars who allegedly also exploited her. The Gujarat chief secretary has come to the somewhat belated conclusion that there is hooliganism going on in the name of self-proclaimed gau raksha samitis. But he is spot on when he says that we must be vigilant. The brazen manner in which these so-called cow protection groups have been behaving, harassing and inflicting violence on people whom they suspect of killing cows or eating beef, suggests that they are a law unto themselves. In fact, the movement against cow slaughter gathered momentum after the BJP government took over at the Centre. Numerous cow protection outfits have sprung up ever since, each vying with the other in their zeal to carry out their agenda. Read | A dangerous demand The Bharatiya Gau Raksha Dal, which claims to be the foremost among these groups, has this to say among other things on its website: Cow is the source of progress and prosperity. In many ways, it is superior to ones mother. The pressure of Muslims for cow slaughter is the limit of foolishness. Apart from the bad English, references to Muslims and their role in cow slaughter are taken as licence by followers to mete out their brand of justice, which invariably involves violence, even murder as we saw in Dadri and other places. In Dadri, there are six cow protection units, one of which was founded by the MP Yogi Adityanath, well known for his incendiary anti-minority comments. These outfits comprise young men who are well-versed in using WhatsApp and smartphones. This enables them to spread information, most often mischievous and misleading, on perceived anti-cow offences. Read | Dear cow, I love you but youre not my mother Given the growing incidents of attacks on people in the name of cow protection, these organisations must be dealt with no sooner do they take shape. Whatever protection the cow requires is ensured by the law, vigilante groups have no place in this. In the most part, these protectors are hooligans and, as it turns out in some cases, land-grabbers. They act with impunity in the belief that since their work has religious sanction, they are above the law. Their transgressions must not be tolerated and the ruling party should crack down on its own members who are involved in these groups. Thousands of people work in tanneries and they cannot be deprived of their livelihood because it offends the sentiments of these groups. For a start, the government should investigate these groups who comprise them, where they get their funds from and what they do. This would act as a brake on elements who, under guise of cow protection, feel they can commit crimes and get away with this. The IIT-Indore management on Saturday put on hold the recent fee hike it had imposed and asked students, who have been protesting the raise, to continue paying the old amount. We are considerate towards students, and looking at the widespread dissent over the fee hike, have decided to put the revision on hold. We have asked the students to pay the old fees, deputy registrar (finance and accounts) Pradeep Agrawal told HT in Simrol on Saturday. The management had hiked the fees to Rs 19,900 for PhD students from the earlier Rs 8,350 per semester, triggering online protests, some of which were directed to the HRD ministry, prompting authorities to block social media access on the campus. Students had complained about the poor condition of under-construction buildings, where they were taking their classes, and the non-availability of equipment for research and practice, which HT had reported. When asked, Agrawal said the fee hike was justified as it was done for the first time since the institute was established in 2009, and it was not likely to be raised for at least five years. We are revising the fee structure for the first time in a long time. Also, a lot of elements in the revised fee structure like the admission fees and caution money will not be paid by the existing students. So they misunderstood the hike, he said. However, students said even without those parts, the hike was more than 100%. They are also apprehensive of whether the hold was permanent or temporary. IIT-Indore director, Pradeep Mathur is reportedly planning to have a word with the students when he returns from a trip abroad, in a bid to persuade them to accept the revised fee structure. We are adamant on pursuing this matter till it gets permanently resolved, said a student on condition of anonymity, ruing about mental harassment and inconvenience they have had to face in the institute. Five people were arrested by Ramnagar and Haldwani police on Sunday for leaking the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Phase 2 paper. The question paper was changed last minute by the management after being informed of the leak by Nainital police on Saturday night, senior superintendent of police, Nainital, Sweety Aggarwal said. The NEET Phase 2 was conducted amid tight security at examination centres across the country on Sunday morning. About 4,500 people gave the exam at seven centres in Haldwani. Those arrested were identified by police as Sanjay Kumar Prabhat of Sheikhpura and Ajay Sinha of Rohtas (both in Bihar), and Nishat Ahmed of Delhi. On questioning, the trio revealed the names of Dinesh Prasad of Patna and Vikas Kumar of Chhapra (also in Bihar), who were arrested from Sindhi Chauraha in Haldwani. Around 40 students have reportedly confessed to paying between Rs 10 to 40 lakh for the leaked question paper. Read more | Mixed bag: A subject-wise analysis of the NEET Phase 2 paper Circle officer, Ramnagar, Swatantra Kumar said they were intimated of the leak by informers, who claimed that an interstate gang was operating in the region, offering candidates the NEET-2 question paper. The gang members had allegedly received the money in advance. Police tracked down a group of candidates from Bihar staying at a resort in Ramnagar with their parents. The leaked paper was to be given to them on Saturday night, before they were driven to Haldwani, where their examination centres were located. Read more: Mixed reaction from students as 49K aspirants take NEET-2 in Rajasthan Undercover officers were able to infiltrate the resort, and the accused were caught red-handed while distributing the leaked paper. The students from Bihar said they chose Haldwani as the location of their examination centre because the region was suffering a natural calamity and they thought the authorities would have had their hands full, making it easy for them to get away with scam. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)accused the Centre of systematic persecution and vendetta after police arrested two of its legislators on Sunday, one charged with outraging the modesty of a woman and criminal intimidation, and the other with desecration of the Quran. The partys Okhla lawmaker, Amantullah Khan, was taken into custody on the basis of a womans complaint that she was abused and molested by a staff member at Khans home on July 18. The complainant, a social activist, said she went there to complain about frequent power cuts in her neighbourhood, Jasola in southern Delhi. She also accused the MLA of trying to run her over with a car after she visited his Batla House home in Jamia Nagar. Khan is the 12th AAP lawmaker to face an FIR, and the 11th to be arrested. The AAP legislator for Mehrauli, Naresh Yadav, was arrested for his suspected role in the alleged desecration of the Quran at Malerkotla in Punjabs Sangrur district on June 24. A Punjab Police team picked him up from his Delhi home. AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal led the partys volley of attack against the twin arrests. Just in -Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Anandiben sends Dalits and Patidars to jail in fake cases in Gujarat, Modi ji sends Delhiites to jail in fake cases. Delhi and Gujarat will fight together, he tweeted, holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the police action. Khan, who was sent to police remand for a day, has also been accused of intimidating the complaint to withdraw her case. The woman said she was getting threat calls and messages, and was being stalked by Khans men. She said Khan and his men tried to run her over near Ashoka Park, New Friends Colony, and a bike tried to hit her on July 22 when she was on her way to court to record her statement, deputy commissioner of police (southeast) MS Randhawa said. She felt unsafe and even threatened to commit suicide, the officer said. On Saturday, the AAP released a sting video, which shows the woman asking the SHO of Jamia Nagar police station to trump up the charges against Khan. Video released yesterday proved that complainant was taught by Delhi Police, conspiracy stands exposed. Thanks to Modi Ji, tweeted AAPs Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey. Read | Malerkotla Quran desecration: What happened and who is saying what The partys Mehrauli MLA, Yadav, has been accused of having a role in trying to foment communal tension during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan after miscreants threw torn pages from the Quran into a drain in Malerkotla. The main accused, Vijay Kumar of Jind in Haryana, claimed he did it at the behest of Yadav, who was his friend. For his part, Yadav alleged that the restless ruling alliance of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJPin Punjab had hatched a conspiracy against him. I have nothing to hide. I have been framed by Punjab Police at the behest of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal. I have full faith in the judiciary and will come clean, he said. He was arrested a day after a court in Malerkotla issued a warrant against him. As Yadav didnt cooperate with the investigating team twice, we produced evidence against him in court to ask for his interrogation in custody, Sangrur senior superintendent of police Prithpal Singh Thind said. Delhi chief minister Kejriwal alleged the Malerkotla controversy is clear proof that some forces were working to divide the country on communal lines ahead of next years state elections. AAP, which is being seen as a strong contender in the 2017 polls in Punjab, is hoping to expand its base beyond Delhi where it received a decisive mandate last year. The party has attracted bad publicity because of some of its members, though. Party spokesperson Ashish Khetan landed in trouble in Punjab recently when he compared the AAP manifesto to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism. Read | Malerkotla Quran sacrilege: AAP MLA Naresh Yadav grilled again for 9 hrs Timeline of Malerkotla sacrilege case June 24 Tension grips Malerkotla town in Punjab after incident of Quran sacrilege; mob tries to set ablaze residence of Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Farzana Nissara Khatoon June 28 Police arrest three people, including main accused Vijay Kumar of Delhi from Patiala. The accused confess to their role in crime July 2 Kumar says he tore pages of the Quran at the behest of Mehrauli AAP MLA Naresh Yadav. Yadav is summoned for questioning by police July 5 Yadav grilled by Punjab police July 9 Yadav accuses police of harassment; police claim accused is non-cooperative July 19 Kumar records his statement under Section 164 of the CrPC July 23 Police procure an arrest warrant and dispatch a team to nab Yadav July 24 Yadav is arrested by Punjab police Tribal journalist Somaru Nag looked frail as he came out after attending the congregational prayer at a church in strife-torn Bastar, south Chhattisgarh, on Sunday. Nag, 25, was arrested a year ago on charges of having links with Maoists. He walked free on Friday after all charges slapped by the police were quashed by the Jagdalpur district court. I am still perplexed as to why I was sent to jail. The court finally ensured justice for me and I offered my thanks to God. I feel relaxed back home with my family, he said. When asked about his future plans, he said he had no intention to quit journalism. My zeal to work as a journalist remains. Now, I will proactively raise the issues of tribals and the region. I will shift out of Bastar to work if I get an opportunity, Nag, who was a stringer in Darbha region of Bastar before his arrest, said. Talking about his time inside jail, the journalist said, I was treated like any other inmate. I dont know if the police set up any surveillance on me or my family while I was imprisoned. Since his release, Nag has kept a low profile. Ram Dhar, the churchs priest, said, After he was set free, he looked quite depressed and weak. We may take him to Jagdalpur city for counselling so that he can overcome the depression and shock he faced. Nags legal counsel Arvind Choudhary said, He didnt meet me after his release and left straight for his village. Flight lieutenant Deepika Sheoran (26) of Bhiwanis Loharu town was aboard the air force Antonov-32 jet that disappeared half-an-hour after leaving Chennai for Port Blair on Friday. Read more: Parrikar conducts aerial review of search operation for missing IAF plane Remaining close to the telephone, her parents in Haryana await update on their daughter. They say they are looking for the plane... but nothing has been found yet... kaafi delay ho gaya (it has been a long delay).... shes missing since 9.15am on Friday, said the officers father, Dalip Sheoran, an executive engineer in the Haryana public health and engineering department. Deepika, who received commission in 2013, married Coast Guard commander Kuldeep Singh last November. Since one lived in Mumbai and other in Nasik, they had sought transfer to Port Blair recently. She came home last week during her transfer period and left on July 16 to join at the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We went to the airport to see her off, her father said. Also read: IAF plane with 29 aboard disappears over Bay of Bengal, search ops on The Russian-made aircraft, which is believed to have disappeared over the Bay of Bengal, took off at 8.30am from Tambaram in Chennai. The last contact with it was at 9.16am, about 151 nautical miles east of Chennai. Her mother cant stop crying... but we are hopeful. People have been telling us it will be okay, said Dalip Sheoran. We have faith in God. A pro-Khalistan terrorist, who had hijacked Srinagar-New Delhi Indian Airlines flight in 1984 and taken it to Lahore, has now been charged by CBI with cheating and forgery in acquiring an Afghan passport under assumed identity to migrate to Canada. In a recent charge sheet filed here, the agency has accused Parminder Singh Saini alias Harfan Maula for allegedly acquiring fake Afghan passport in the name of Balbir Singh while in Pakistan in 1995, CBI sources said. The agency has said that Saini used this passport to migrate to Canada where he got himself issued driving and social security licences on the basis of forged travel documents which he had acquired in Pakistan. Sources said although the agency had taken over case of hijacking, initially registered by Budgam police on July 5, 1984, but could not proceed with it because of conviction for the same crime in Pakistan which had given highest possible punishment to Saini. He was later released and migrated to Canada using fake identity of Balbir Singh, sources said. In its charge sheet filed in Patiala House Court, the CBI has cited Letters Rogatory received from Canada where Saini was apprehended in 1995 after his fraud came to light, they said. Saini was deported to India in 2010 after a long legal battle in Canada where he had sought permanent residency. The hijacking had taken place on July 6, 1984 when the Indian Airlines flight IC 405 from Srinagar to New Delhi carrying 255 passengers and a crew of nine on flight forced to land in Lahore, Pakistan. The terrorists had sought release of Harmandar Singh Sandho, general secretary of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, and others prominent members besides $25-Million, which should be paid to them in Pakistan, among other demands. Saini, who was believed to be the mastermind of hijacking, surrendered along with seven accomplices before Pakistani authorities after 17 hours, ending the ordeal for passengers on the A-300 airbus. The Pakistan authorities refused to return these eight Sikhterrorists to India and carried out trial in their own court which sentenced them to death for hijacking. Saini remained in Lahore Jail from 1984-95. In December 1989, his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the then Benazir Bhutto government under a general amnesty scheme, they said citing from the charge sheet. The Pakistan government released him in 1995 with instructions to leave the country to the country of his choice within one month, the sources said. Saini arranged a fake Afghan passport under an assumed identity of Balbir Singh to migrate to Canada on February 3, 1995. The sources claimed that it would not have been possible for a convicted terrorist to leave that country on the basis of fake passport unless some sort of support mechanism existed for him there. Saini managed to acquire driving licence and social security documents while in Toronto before he was exposed by the local authorities in September, 1995. CBI sources said they carried out investigation in Canada through Letter Rogatory. The sources said they could not carry out investigation in Pakistan as it was not needed. They said agency has got enough evidence from Canada to prosecute him on these charges. Parminder Singh Saini: Crime and punishment Had hijacked a Srinagar-New Delhi flight carrying 255 passengers on July 6, 1984, and forced it to land in Lahore. Was convicted by a Pakistan court and given death sentence, which was later (1989) commuted to life term. Saini remained in Lahore Jail from 1984-95. The Pakistan government released him in 1995 with instructions to leave the country to the country of his choice within one month. Saini arranged a fake Afghan passport under an assumed identity of Balbir Singh to migrate to Canada on February 3, 1995. Saini managed to acquire driving licence and social security documents in Toronto before he was exposed by the local authorities in September 1995. Deported to India in 2010 after a long legal battle in Canada where he had sought permanent residency. A Chinese traveler gave anxious moments to the army and police in Garrison town of Samba on Jammu-Pathankot highway, on Sunday afternoon. Around 1 pm, a Chinese person was seen clicking photographs of the Samba town, which has a Samba Brigade and other army units. Troops took him into custody and some officers from the military intelligence grilled him before handing him to Samba police, said Army sources. The Chinese national has been identified as Liu Wenge, a resident of Jiangsu in China. Samba district SSP, Joginder Singh said, Nothing incriminating was found from him. The Chinese national had a genuine one-month travel visa to India. After verifying his credentials, he was released. Wenge had arrived in Kolkata on July 13. He was going to Leh on a hired motorbike. Congress UP chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit, part of the partys yatra from Delhi to Kanpur, will continue her journey on Sunday after taking a brief break owing to a throat-infection. Dikshit said this on Twitter which she joined on Saturday, the first day of the three-day yatra. Enthusiastic response to the #27SaalUPBehal Yatra. Owing to a throat infection, I have taken a break. Will resume tomorrow Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) July 23, 2016 Congress president Sonia Gandhi flagged off the UP election campaign with a 27 Saal UP Behal Yatra (27 years of derelict UP) from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. The former Delhi chief minister also sought peoples support and blessing for the Congress campaign in the poll-bound state. As we start our #27SaalUPBehal Yatra, I seek your support and blessings. Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) July 23, 2016 Dikshits micro-blogging account had garnered close to 1,900 followers till Sunday morning. The 27 Saal UP Behal Yatra started off from the party office in the Capital on Saturday morning, when the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the state incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad and the state party president Raj Babbar witnessed Sheila Dikshit embark upon a three-day bus tour of the poll-bound state along with many party workers. The Yatra passed through Ghaziabad, Hapur, Amroha and Pakwada before ending in Moradabad where Azad addressed a public gathering. The bus will travel to Shahjahanpur, Rampur and Bareilly on Sunday and then to Hardoi and Kannauj before culminating at Kanpur on the final day. Sources said Dikshit may address a public meeting or a road show in Shahjahanpur district on Sunday evening. Amid rising concern over judicial activism and overreach in India, the Supreme Court has said judiciary doesnt have a remedy for all ills confronting the country and policy matters are better left to the government. A bench of Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and j ustice DY Chandrachud -- which dismissed a petition seeking direction to government for moral education in schools said courts didnt have competence to deal with it. It is unrealistic for the court to assume that it can provide solutions to vexed issues which involve drawing balances between conflicting dimensions that travel beyond the legal plane. Courts are concerned with issues of constitutionality and legality, the bench said. The (writ) jurisdiction of this Court under Article 32 is not a panacea for all ills but a remedy for the violation of fundamental rights, it said, adding: Every good that is perceived to be in the interest of society cannot be mandated by the court. Nor is the judicial process an answer to every social ill which a public interest petitioner perceives. The verdict may be perceived as a step towards course correction as the higher judiciary, particularly the SC, has often been accused of encroaching upon the spheres reserved for the legislature and the executive. While there can be no dispute about the need of providing value-based education, what form this should take and the manner in which values should be inculcated ought not to be ordained by the court, the bench said. Noting that morality was just one element in the composition of values that a just society must pursue, the court said there was a need to promote acceptance of plurality and diversity of ideas, images and faiths which faced global threats. Members of the Muslim community, residing in and around the Babri Mandi area here, announced their intention to sell off their houses and shops after Hindus made the same declaration on Saturday. Muslims of Sarai Kale Khan displayed for sale boards outside their houses, claiming that they did not feel secure in the area. They alleged that the police harassed them, labelling them as rioters. Resident Wakil Khan said, The walls of our houses are so high that leave aside stone pelting, we cannot even see the marketplace from here. Yet, we have been made accused by the police. The real condition of the bajaria (market) is that our women and children are living under the shadow of fear. About 60 Hindu families of Babri Mandi had announced their intention of leaving the locality in view of rising incidents of eve-teasing and assault allegedly by members of the Muslim community. While the market has reopened, the situation in the mandi is still tense and police deployment has been increased. So far, cops have arrested Nadim, the prime accused of the eve-teasing incident that led to the communal flare-up, and another accused. Warrants have been issued against two others. On Friday, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam and other leaders of the BJP visited the locality to take stock of the situation. The same day, Aligarh MLA Zafar Alam held discussions with several Muslim families and women of the community gheraoed the Kotwali police station, alleging one-sided action by cops under pressure from BJP. Talking about the situation, Gautam said, I am the watchman of this city and I will not allow locals to desert their houses. The main issue of Babri Mandi Bajaria is (lack of) foolproof security. A positive decision in this regard will soon be taken in cooperation with the district and the police administration. Indian government will soon resume its efforts to bring back famed Kohinoor diamond from England, sources said. This issue was discussed on Friday in a high-level meeting attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma. The meeting lasted for an hour and issues relating to the 108-carat diamond, which is currently set in a crown on display in the Tower of London were discussed, sources said. The entire issue will be looked into from all aspects and efforts are being made to approach British government again, said a source. Sources further claimed that there could be a major breakthrough in bringing the Kohinoor back by August 15. In April, the government had made a submission in the Supreme Court that the diamond was neither forcibly taken nor stolen by the British, but given as a gift to the East India Company by the rulers of Punjab. Bringing back of the diamond faces legal and technical hurdles as it dates back to pre-Independence period and thus did not fall under the purview of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972. The solicitor general will also give a clear stand on the issue in the Supreme Court. However, after receiving flak for its stand, the government had said all efforts would be made to get back the diamond estimated to cost over USD 200 million. Kohinoor, meaning mountain of light, is a large, colourless diamond that was found in southern India in early 14th century. In May, Sharma had told Parliament that Ministry of External Affairs is exploring ways and means for obtaining a satisfactory resolution to this issue with the UK government. The gem is the subject of a historic ownership dispute and has been claimed by at least four countries, including India. In Uttar Pradesh, the political discourse isnt just about verbal brawls, but also about rivals announcing bounties on tongues and heads, rewards ranging between herds of cattle and multiple crores of rupee. It doesnt seem to matter that the practice is actually illegal, that bounty broadcasters could be arrested for criminal intimidation; they are often brushed aside as a political gimmick. Bounties are flying thick and fast as the administration lacks the will power to take action against those who wilfully announce them. It is not only an act of criminal intimidation but, in case of any consequential attack, the person can be booked for abetment to commitment of crime, said senior criminal lawyer IB Singh. Read: Ex-BJP leader Dayashankar still missing, wife gets police security Recently, the Delhi Police had arrested Purvanchal Sena president, Adarsh Sharma, for announcing a bounty of Rs 11 lakh on the head of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar. However, similar action is rare to almost unheard of Uttar Pradesh. More prevalent in the states western parts, it isnt just individuals that announce bounties. A village once offered 51 buffaloes for director Vinod Kapri, who poked fun at khap panchayats in his movie. In the recent Dayashankar controversy, in which the ex-BJP leader called Mayawati a prostitute, a Rs 5 lakh was announced for his tongue. For Nitin Gupta, who offered the reward, the logic of a bounty is simple. Dont we demand hanging of the rapist? I was hurt and I offered a bounty on his tongue and also lodged an FIR. Now, I am willing to face the consequences. Gupta leads Jai Bheem Jai Bharat in Meerut. Its a way to convey our anger and anguish, said Satya Prakash Tittal, who offered Rs 30,000 to anyone who painted Dayashankars face black. An acolyte of Mayawati, he defended himself saying, There are people who need money and I can pay them. After all, we cannot tolerate disrespect to our behenji Mayawati. However, Tittal has a moral code in the matter; he disapproves offering bounties on heads and tongues. Former director general of police, Sri Ram Arun, said the whole business has become a trend in recent times. The actual practice was followed by police, who would place bounties on criminals. Only bounty-hunters with a legal permit were allowed to pursue these. Saying police must crack down on this trend, Arun noted that people would stop resorting to it if tough action is initiated against perpetrators. The trend started about a decade ago, in 2006, when then Samajwadi Party minister Hazi Yaqoob announced a bounty of Rs 1 million on the head of a Danish cartoonist whose caricature of the prophet had triggered a nationwide uproar. Despite vociferous demands for action against Yaqoob, then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav simply ignored them. A lawyer later filed a case, but nothing has come of it so far. Recently, in Allahabad Rs 10 lakh was announced for Vijay Mallyas head by Congress workers. Though they even publicized the same across town, carrying posters portraying Mallya as a bandit and mentioning the cash reward, no action was initiated, either by the party or police. Sometime in 2014, the Bahujan Samaj Parivartan Manch had announced Rs1 crore bounty on the tongue of BJP Mahila Morcha president Madhu Mishra for her statement claiming that the one ruling the state used to once polish boots. She was expelled from the party, much like Dayashankar. However, such bounty announcements get further complicated when made against religious heads. A few years ago, the Shia community in Lucknow had announced a bounty of Rs 50 million on the head of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a Sunni and head of the militant Islamic State. The community even decided to collect donations for the same. This had added to the Shia-Sunni tensions in Lucknow. Political experts say these are frivolous gimmicks employed to make headlines. It is an opportunity for political parties to undermine rivals while also earn a certain amount of notoriety. After all, in a state hurtling towards its next change in government early next year, publicity is king. Senior IPS officer Joydeep Nayak, arrested from Ghaziabad by Odisha vigilance sleuths in a corruption case, was on Sunday remanded to judicial custody and sent to Choudwar jail. The Tripura-Manipur cadre Odia officer is facing corruption charges for his alleged role in cheating the Odisha government of Rs 88 lakh. The IG-rank officer allegedly embezzled the money while working in Odisha on deputation. Nayak, a 1991-batch IPS officer, was allegedly involved in misappropriation of Rs 88 lakh meant for computer education of SC/ST students and self-help groups in Odisha. The scam took place when Nayak was on deputation in the Human Rights Protection Cell of Odisha police. Nayak had come to Odisha on deputation in 2011 and served in several positions. The alleged corruption took place when Nayak was in charge of SC/ST Protection Cell of HRPC from August 24, 2012 to December 31, 2015. He went back to Tripura in January 2016 to join as director fire services. After bringing Nayak on transit remand from Uttar Pradesh, the vigilance sleuths asked the court of judge RK Hota to take the IPS officer on police remand for four days for custodial interrogation. Approaching the bench on crutches after an apparent ligament surgery, Nayak applied for bail. Since the court was closed on Sunday, the vigilance judge posted the remand petition of the police and the bail petition of the accused to be taken up jointly on Monday for hearing and remanded the suspended IPS officer to Choudwar circle jail on judicial custody. Jail sources said the senior IPS officer would be lodged separately in a solitary room of jail hospital as he is sick and under medication, recuperating from the surgery. The huge damages and widespread criticism of their role during the violent Jat quota stir notwithstanding, even after five months, the Haryana Police have not made sincere efforts to nab the accused. The reports submitted by local magistrates of at least eight districts before the Punjab and Haryana high court have found that in most first information reports (FIRs), including that of damage to the Rohtak house of finance minister Captain Abhimanyu, the probe has been improper and lacked sincere efforts. Read more | Jat stir violence: Clear stand on Prakash Singh panel, HC directs Haryana As many as 2,110 FIRs were registered by the state police for February protests, including 1,199 in the epicentre Rohtak alone. In most FIRs, the judicial officers are not happy with the probe. Investigation till today is not proper as police have not made sincere efforts to trace the unknown accused as mentioned in the FIR, says the report of Rohtak judicial magistrate Deepti in the FIR registered at the Urban Estate police station in Rohtak on arson at Abhimanyus residence. The 544-page report prepared by eight judicial officers on 1,199 FIRs of Rohtak reveals that only in 22 cases either the probe was satisfactory or challan had been presented. In other cases, investigation had not been proper and lacking sincere efforts. What would they (police) do in other cases, when they have failed in bringing those guilty to book who destroyed (their) own ministers house. Also since British days, whenever police stations and police posts were targeted, the states might have descended upon its perpetrators. Here they are even failing in indentifying them, senior advocate Anupam Gupta, who is assisting the high court in the matter, told the court. Over 10 days, violent protests were witnessed in at least eight districts, including Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jind, Sonepat, Jhajjar and Hisar, in which at least 30 people lost their lives. The high court had sought reports from area magistrates of these districts on June 1. Case diaries manipulated In Sonepats Gohana, where 106 FIRs were registered, the judicial magistrate found manipulations in dates recorded in zimnis (case diaries) to the extent that he recorded that there could be a deliberate attempt to derail the probe. There were cuttings in the dates of zimnis. These cuttings in dates are handwritten and these are not typographical errors. If these are cases of negligence, the fate of these can easily be deducted. It shows that either there is lack of seriousness and competence or there is a deliberate attempt to do something, which will ultimately lead to no conclusion, additional civil judge Manglesh Kumar Choubey says in his report. Cops delaying probe In view of the cowardice and intentional dereliction of duty by the police, right from the investigating officer (IO) to the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), it is no surprise that no person has been arrested in the case so far, records Bhiwani additional chief judicial magistrate Anmol Singh Nayal, adding that neither the SP nor director general of police (DGP) has cared to take stock of the investigation and effort appears to be of delay and destruction of case tactics. No action against Jat leaders The states complicity with Jat leaders was pointed out by Anupam Gupta in court and said a person who had been booked for sedition was holding parleys with the government and attending meetings. Similar instances have been referred to by Ganaur additional chief judicial magistrate Amit Sharma, who in the progress report of an FIR said: The accused are prominent leading members of the Jat agitation and they are still actively involved in the present agitation, but they still have not been arrested... (All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti president) Yashpal Malik is regularly appearing on TV channels. No effective steps were taken and no warrant of arrest or proclamation proceedings against him initiated. The report was about an FIR registered in Panipat on February 19, in which Malik is named as an accused. A judicial officer in Tosham, Bhiwani, has stated that officials probing the FIRs are working under some kind of external pressure because certain gross investigating lapses have come to light upon scrutiny of case diaries. The officer, Saurabh Gupta, added that in most FIRs of 10 total registered, the accused have not been arrested and neither they have been identified. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A three-storeyed building in the heart of Srinagars old city has for years hosted migrant labourers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the past few days, however, the 40-room inn has gone almost empty, as the labourers have moved out until the conditions improve. But it was not the curfew or the violence that drove them out, but the communication breakdown. Labourers say families watching cable TV back home are worried. Labourers have no work as the city is curfew bound, most people are leaving as they cannot even contact their families back home, Parvesh Kumar, a painter from Bihar, said. For days, our families had no idea where we are and how we are, it was only after the person in whose house we are working made a call from his BSNL phone did we speak to our families, Kumar added. Ahmad Alam, from Baroli Parkhand in Bihar, said his wife was trying to reach him as his two-year-old son was ill. She must have called 10 times but could not get through, he said. We had taken a contract nearby, so stayed back. Of the 400 residents of the building, only about 50 remain. The story is the same in another building, a few metres away. Getting ration is also difficult...we dont know how long the situation will take to improve. Everybody might leave if we are not able to contact families for long, said another labourer Ramesh Kumar. In the next five days, you will find all migrant labourers have left, he said. The landlord has waived off the rent, but phones are [a] problem. Locals have been forthcoming in helping these labourers contact their families back home, but the queues to get access to their phone are long. Mobile services from private companies have been suspended in Kashmir for the past 16 days. Kashmir has been on the boil since protests erupted a day after security forces shot dead the 22-year-old, social media-savvy militant of Hizbul Mujahideen. At least 47 people have died and thousands have been injured in the violent protests till now. Government officials say the banning of mobile and internet services is to prevent rumour mongering and controlling protests. Home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday assured the services will be back soon. Newspaper publication too was banned for a few days in the Valley. This disruption of services has also the security personnel. A Hindustan Times team was stopped by the CRPF on the streets to ask about the phone services ban. A jawan of the 28 BN posted at Nowhatta Chowk in the old city said he had not spoken to his family in 15 days. They must be wondering whether we are dead or alive he said. Our families have heard 2,000 CRPF men are injured. They must be wondering if the injured include us. I hope our families are able to get in touch with us, said another jawan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati alleged on Sunday that the BJP had pressurised the SP government in Uttar Pradesh into lodging an FIR against her and was preventing arrest of Dayashankar Singh, who made derogatory remarks against her. Mayawati claimed that the controversy was raked up by BJP ahead of 2017 UP assembly polls to distract peoples attention from the issues of atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat raised by her inside and outside Parliament. She alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against expelled BJP leader Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its polluted and casteist mentality. Mayawati also vowed to take stringent action in the whole episode once BSP comes to power in UP, if chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who calls her Bua does not ensure the arrest and take stern action against Singh. Slogans demanding Singh to present his mother, wife and daughter were raised. They (BJP) are viewing it with polluted mentality and publicising in media, Mayawati said amid a row over use of derogatory language by protesting BSP leaders against women members of Singhs family. Referring to BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiquis remarks, she said, Whether the mother, wife and daughter of Singhs family agreed with the language used by the expelled BJP leader against me. They were asked to clarify their stand. Siddiqui has said that no objectionable words were used against them. On the complaint by Singhs mother against her, the BSP supremo said, It would have been better if she had also demanded stern legal action against Singh for using derogatory language against a Dalits daughter. She did not say a single word, which indicates their dual mentality towards mothers and daughters in general. Whatever is being done is being done to save Singh at the behest of BJP, she added. She alleged that at the behest of BJP, statements were being issued to distract attention from the heinous crime of Singh. She also termed the FIR against her in Singhs issue as contempt of Parliament and said that ruling SP has acted under pressure from the BJP. Mayawati said that frustrated with the manner in which she raised the issue of harassment of Dalits in Gujarat in and outside Parliament, BJP as a part of conspiracy used Singh to distract the attention of Dalits. To distract attention of the people ahead of 2017 UP assembly polls from BSP, the issue was raked as a conspiracy, she said. The BSP supremo also announced that sarvjan hitay, sarvjan sukhaye mega rallies will be held from next month to expose the tacit understanding between BJP and ruling SP to not arrest Singh. These rallies will start from August 21 from Agra and I will address them, Mayawati said. Confirming their worst fears, intelligence agencies have traced the latest message of one of the missing Kerala youths to Afghanistan. Ashfaqe Mohamed (23), missing from Kasargode in north Kerala, on Saturday sent a message to his sister informing her about his well being and requesting his relatives to join him. However, he did not disclose his location. At least 21 persons, including six women and two children, had gone missing from the state last month sending shock waves across the country. The message originated from Afghanistan country code 93. We suspect some of the missing persons might have reached the Tora Bora region of eastern Afghanistan, said a senior intelligence official. Ashfaqe had left his home on May 28 informing is parents that he was going to Kozhikkode (north Kerala) for Quran classes. A week later, he told his parents he was leaving for Sri Lanka. The parents alerted the police when they received a message a month later, saying he had reached the final destination, abode of Allah. Riddled with many caves, Tora Bora is considered a stronghold of the Taliban. It was the favorite hideout of Taliban chief Osama bin Laden before he was shifted to garrison town of Abbotabad in Pakistan due to US drone attacks. Officials feel they might have crossed over from Iran. Earlier, the agencies had tracked their travel to Tehran, seemingly by road via Iranian town of Sarbaz. Though the MEA sought the help of the Iran government, it failed to locate them, said the official. Meanwhile, the Kerala police brought Arshid Qureshi and Rizvan Khan held in Mumbai in connection with the missing case to Kochi. Qureshi, an associate of controversial preacher Zakir Naik, was arrested in connection with the disappearance of Merin alias Mariyam, a Kochi resident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On the second day of his two-day visit to Srinagar, home minister Rajnath Singh met political leaders even as large parts of the Valley remained under curfew-like restrictions for the 16th consecutive day on Sunday. Sources said Singh met top PDP leaders in the morning. Later, he also met National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and BJP leaders. But the Congress chose not to meet Singh. The home minister also interacted with civil society members in an effort to find a way out of the latest round of violence to convulse Kashmir. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashmir needs a political solution and not economic packages. We have told home minister to open dialogue with all stake holders of the state and also said that there should be a stop to excessive use of force, relaxation in curfew and also mobile internet should be restored, said the former CM. He added that the response of Rajnath Singh was positive. Singh landed in Srinagar at around noon on Saturday, accompanied by a team of senior home ministry officials and directors-general (DGs) of central paramilitary forces. He met governor NN Vohra and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti late on Saturday. Government sources said that Singh met a few entrepreneurs, houseboats owners, clerics, Sikh, Pandit community members and common people on Saturday as he took stock of the situation in the Valley that has been rocked by unrest since the elimination of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani earlier this month. However, several trade bodies including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) snubbed the home minister and opted out of their meeting. Trade body officials told Hindustan Times that they decided to stay away because in the past a number of such meetings have yielded no results and killings of Kashmiris have continued. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, president of the KCCI, accused security forces of human rights violation. He said trade bodies have demanded that security officials should be made accountable for the killing of civilians and pellet guns be banned. Zero steps have been taken by the government in the past, especially in 2010 when more than 100 young people were killed. Even if we had met the home minister what could we have said apart from only one thing: please stop the killings, said Ashraf Mir, president of the Federation of Commerce and Industry in Kashmir. If it was possible to travel back in time, a train journey across any two points on the Indian mainland would result in a dramatic reversal of fortunes. The journey would lead to an uninspiring place. Run-down cities. Unlivable small towns. Unglamorous stores with very little to choose from. Dilapidated highways. Un-electrified India would be a ghostly world at night. Poverty in some regions was so bad that they could be sub-Saharan Africa. If the period immediately after Indias independence was one of near-stagnation, the 1960s and 1970s were decades of want. India was an economy of shortages, defined by a lack of choices, amid the so-called Hindu rate of growth of 3% or so. Even milk was a scarce commodity. Read: 25 years of the Open Era: Reviewing Indias post-liberalisation economy In 1980, an average South Korean earned six times more than an average Indian: $1,710 compared to $276 at current prices. The future looked gloomy. Nobody took India seriously, least of all Indians themselves. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus focus on import substitution industrialisation, or creation of industry to cut costly dependence on imports, and central planning were the hallmarks of policy-making. Yet, all India did was to create a becalmed public sector in the name of socialism. As economists Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze put it, Indias allegedly interventionist planning did little to make the country literate, provide healthcare or end social inequalities. Sometime in 1990s, Microsoft founder Bill Gates reportedly declared that south Indians were the smartest people after the Chinese. What changed? Read: Exclusive: BJPs anti-Congress mindset doesnt go with reforms, says Manmohan Analysts usually point to 24 July 1991, when the most far-reaching budget speech by then finance minister Manmohan Singh unleashed a wave of economic liberalisation. Economists like Deepak Nayyar -- who midwifed the reforms as chief economic adviser and finance secretary during 1989-1991 argue that the structural break actually happened in the 80s, when the first leap in growth rates were observed. His current successor, Arvind Subramanian, believes this was because the government was beginning to be more pro-business if not pro-competition. Whatever else, Indias economic liberalisation gave rise to an influential middle-class flush with disposable incomes. The reforms were no cakewalk. They were seen as anti-poor and, without a consensus around them, vulnerable to setback. In the offing in 1997, however, was another budget that would carry the reforms only further. P Chidambaram, as finance minister of the United Front Alliance government, a 13-party formation, presented what came to be known as a dream budget. Peak income-tax rate was cut to 30% from 40%, which still remains. Corporate tax was down. Import duties slashed. Along with an increase in the limit of foreign institutional investment and public-sector disinvestment, the first flush of capital flowed. Income-tax revenues surged from Rs 18,700 crore in 1997 to over Rs 2 lakh crore in 2013. An ambitious highways programme of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government (1999-2003) got Indians an idea what it meant to experience Europe-like infrastructure. Growth followed. Read: HMT, Gold Spot: Indias economic reforms wrote the epitaph for these 7 brands By mid-1995, the first mobile phone call in India had been made, by a Luddite West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu to telecom minister Sukh Ram. The entry of private sector banks enabled instant consumer loans, triggering a wave of pent-up consumption. Above all, liberalisation brought convenience to a common mans life, says Jyoti Sinha, a PhD scholar at Delhi University. If this is how lifestyles transformed, how did politics respond? Caste-based discrimination meant voters historically were concerned with their place in society, rather than in the economy. Prior to the 1990s, politics spoke a language of representation, empowerment and participation. Social justice was the byword. With economic opportunities, politics changed gear from social assertion to individual aspiration. The Vajpayee government decided to play up a swankier side with its India Shining campaign, ignoring significant poverty that still afflicted at least a third of Indians. Its defeat at the hands of the Congress showed development had yet to trickle down. Crony capitalism and scams represent an uglier side of the reforms, as governments chose arbitrariness over transparency to grant business favours. But there was no going back on social mobility as the preferred political targeting. Acche din (good times) of jobs and growth still won the day for Narendra Modi in 2014. Recent research has shown how Indias rise as an economic power has battled a tension between democracy and development. A landmark work, Democracy Against Development, looked at how lower-caste politics in Bihar increased democratic participation but radically threatened the patronage state by systematically weakening its institutions and disrupting its development projects. Its author Jeffrey Witsoe, a professor at Union College NY, shows democracy and development as they truly are in India -- in tension. While the reforms proved to be a leap of faith for the middle-class, significant sections continue to reject their markets-led model, notably poor tribals, forest-dwellers and even farmers. Indias democratic trajectory has tended to oscillate between demands for development by a strong, centralised leadership and collective mobilisations, Witsoe told HT. The return to power of Lalu Yadavs RJD in alliance with Nitish Kumars JD(U) in Bihar, the Jat protests in Haryana, Gujjar agitation in Rajasthan and Patidar agitation in Gujarat are, according to Witsoe, reminders of the continuing potency of popular demands centred on collective identities. With complex social relations, policy alone cant determine Indias future. Politics will play its native role. As World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu notes, But one must be aware that there are no panaceas in economic policy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday lashed out at Pakistan for instigating youths in Kashmir to take up arms, at the same time asking the Centre to revoke the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) on a trial basis to win the hearts of locals. Today when a Kashmiri child takes up gun, they (Pakistan) call him leader and say he is doing good, but when their own children, some from madrassas etc., take up gun, they attack them with drones and hang them in military courts, Mehbooba said as she called on Pakistan to change its policy. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was speaking on a day she met Union home minister Rajnath Singh who took stock of situation in the Valley where 48 people died and over 5,000 civilians and security personnel were injured in clashes following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Pakistan says that we are victims of terror, their 146 children died in school attack in single day and people fear to go inside their mosques, Mehbooba said, adding that there was a need to take bold measures to address the issue as the people of Jammu and Kashmir were our own. Part of that could be the revocation of Afspa in some areas, beginning with 25 to 50 police stations, as an experiment. As far as Afspa is concerned, we were not saying that it should be revoked in one go. But, as a test case, on experimental basis, if it is revoked slowly and it can be seen how the situation remained in such areas. If the situation remained well, then it should be revoked entirely or it can be reimplemented, she said, indicating there had to be a start somewhere. The controversial Armed Forces Special Forces Act gives immunity from prosecution and other legal proceedings to the armed forces and Peoples Democratic Party and opposition National Conference have been demanding its revocation. Read | Law that should go: Supreme Court challenges Afspas license to kill Mehbooba said her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took two month to forge an alliance with the BJP and made an agenda of alliance to show a way to take J-K out of the morass and that cannot be done only by money or packages. I hope the Home Minister, whose statement in the Parliament was very good, he tried to reach out to the people of J-K, that has not been missed here, she added. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar reviewed the ongoing search operations to locate the missing Indian Air Force aircraft AN-32 as search operations so far have remianed unfruitful. He visited INS Rajali, the Naval Air Station at Arakkonam on Saturday and was briefed on the search operations undertaken. The minister directed that if need arises more resources will be diverted for the search and rescue operations. He was apprised of the difficult condition under which the operations are being undertaken due to thick monsoon clouds in the area making the search effort quite challenging. Parrikar has directed that the operations be continued till further orders and called on all commanders to be in touch with the families of the missing service personnel. Indian Navy PRO D.K. Sharma told ANI that so far, 13 types of ships have been deployed, including six coast guards warships, five UH 3H helicopters and two Coast Guard Donniers in between Chennais Tambram Port to Port Blair. Read: Bhiwani flight lieutenant aboard missing IAF plane Nothing is being discounted; we have started a multi-pronged kind of a search. We are covering every bit, we are going to start a systematic and scientific search, we will also place our ships to different areas sooner, he said. IAF PRO Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee ruled out possibility of the aircraft developing a technical snag. Every plane is bound to have any technical problems. We have a book called Form 700, it is a technical document, whereby we record each and every technical snag we encounter in the plane. We have a technical staff who asses the complainants written in the form and redress the problems accordingly, when they are fully satisfied that a particular aircraft is air worthy then only it is airborne, he said. He added that it would be premature to reach any conclusion. AN-32 military aircraft went missing on Friday while flying from Chennai to Port Blair with 29 people on board. Meanwhile, the Defence authorities have already informed of the incident to the families of the 6 crew members and the 23 other personnel. A submarine was also rushed to the probable area. The signals of the locator beacon of the aircraft hold the key to the search operation. The government has decided to make a fresh pitch to get the Koh-i-noor, which in Persian means mountain of light, back from its present home Britain. This would be the latest among a series of efforts launched by governments in the past to get the precious stone head home. The first Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru made the first move with the British in 1956. The past fifteen years had many back and forth on the issue, which for many have different connotations and contexts: avenging the past, getting back dues from the colonial masters and getting most perhaps most historical of diamonds to where it belongs to: India. Many in India staunchly believe that the British tricked Sikh ruler Duleep Singh to part with the priceless stone. The Koh-i-noor, which became part of the crown jewel was handed to queen Victoria in July 1850. In the last decade and half, the issue came up in many forms in parliament. MPs wrote letters individually and collectively, and many put up questions to know what the government was doing to ensure that the diamond is headed home. The government response was tepid for long. Government is continuing to explore ways and means for obtaining a satisfactory resolution of the matter, was the standard answer. Read | The Kohinoor: Following the bloodiest diamond across history The Archaeological Survey of India later said it is not covered under the Unesco Convention 1972 dealing with the restitution of cultural property. But that didnt stop the diamond coming up in the bilateral meetings, and press conferences around them. In July 2010 the visiting UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that if you say yes to one you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty. I think I am afraid to say, to disappoint all your viewers, its going to have to stay put. That was as clear as it could get. Meanwhile, the notable Keith Vaz, the Indian-origin British Member of Parliament, said that the time had come to return the diamond to India as atonement for its colonial past. And the matter had reached Supreme Court in the form of a public interest litigation, urging for the return of stolen diamond. But the Centre told the court in April this year It changed hands several times till Shah Sooja of Afghanistan gave it to Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1813. After Ranjit Singhs death, his successor Duleep Singh gave the diamond to the British as compensation for the Anglo-Sikh war. The East India Company gifted it to Queen Victoria in 1849 and since then it has been in possession of the British royalty, submitted solicitor general Ranjit Kumar. But the SC didnt dismiss the petition and time was sought to furnish more details. Seeking return of such relics of the past, valuables would open a pandoras box, which could also empty out many prestigious museums in the world. Then, Koh-i-noor, is another story. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two of three Chinese journalists who have been denied visa extension by Indian authorities visited Tibetan settlements in Karnataka late last year but didnt reveal their identity, government sources said. All three journalists work for Xinhua, Chinas official news agency. While Wu Qiang and Lu Tang head Xinhuas bureaux in New Delhi and Mumbai, respectively, She Yonggang was a reporter based in Mumbai. A senior government official said Lu and She who came to India in January last year visited the Tibetan settlements. The Mumbai-based Chinese journalists visited Karnataka-based Tibetan camps late last year and didnt reveal their true identity. Thereafter, the government decided not to renew their visa, the official said on condition of anonymity. Established in the 1960s, five settlements house around 40,000 Tibetans in Karnataka. Two of these settlements, or camps, are in Bylakuppe and one each in Mundgod, Hunsur and Kollegal. No foreigner or foreign aid agency can visit these or any Tibetan settlement in India without a protected area permit (PAP), which is issued by the Union home ministry and can be applied online. The journalists had not taken the PAP for visiting the camps but their real identities were detected when they reached there, said the official. Read: Chinese journos denied visa extension were under adverse attention: Sources The official said the journalists had not been asked to leave India but their visa has not been extended. In the absence of an extension, the journalists have to leave India before their visa expires on July 31. Sources had on Saturday told HT that the journalists came under the adverse attention of security agencies for allegedly indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief. Non-renewal of visas is a common practice followed by governments to expel foreign journalists. Beijing itself has followed the process several times to expel those whose writing is seen as critical to official policy. News of their expulsion was met with shock in China where it was widely discussed on Sina Weibo, the countrys version of Twitter. Repeated requests for comment from the Chinese foreign ministry and Xinhua, which works directly under the jurisdiction of the Chinese cabinet, went unheeded on Sunday. (With inputs from Sutirtho Patranobis in Beijing) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress bus yatra to shore up support ahead of next years assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, rolled into its second day on Sunday covering Rampur and Bareily. The three-day yatra called 27 Saal, UP Behal Yatra was launched from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday and will end in Kanpur on Monday. Congress chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit returned to Delhi from Hapur on Saturday following a throat-infection The first night halt for the bus yatra on Saturday was at Moradabad where Congress leaders trained their fire on the BJP. People say Congress is losing connect with the public the bus rally is to change this line of thinking, said Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal. The three-day campaign called 27 Saal, UP Behal Yatra was launched from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday and will end in Kanpur on Monday. (HT Photo) Top Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the general secretary in-charge of party affairs in of UP, state unit chief Raj Babbar and Congress strategist Prashant Kishor are among those travelling in the bus. At the stopover in Moradabad, Raj Babbar took on the BJP saying, Sabka saath, sabka vikas is just a slogan for BJP. Congress is the only party which works on this idea. He also criticised the central government for its handling of the situation in Kashmir. The way government is handling the situation in Kashmir is very shameful, Babbar said. A local Congressman, Gulab Nabi said the members of the yatra symbolised the inclusive nature of the party. The bus has members from every caste and religion and represents the Congress ideology of keeping everyone together, Nabi said. Afzal said that after transforming Delhi, Dikshit would the same in UP now. The yatra, aimed at reaching out to the public and highlighting the alleged failure of successive governments in Uttar Pradesh in the past 27 years ever since the Congress is out of power there, will cover a total distance of 600km. The yatra will be followed by a meeting of UP Congress in Lucknow on July 29 that will be attended by Rahul Gandhi. A 26-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and tortured in Kushinagar, 50 km from Gorakhpur, for refusing to work as a dancer in troupe, police said on Saturday. The latest shocker from Uttar Pradesh came to light after the woman escaped from the clutches of her captors and took refuge at a friends house in Gorakhpur. The police have recorded the womans statement and sent her for a medical examination. An FIR has been registered against the suspects on the basis of the complaint filed by the womans mother. Police teams are on the lookout for the suspects, said Brijesh Kumar, station house officer of Gorakhpurs Cantonment police station. The victim, who works in Varanasi, had come to Gorakhpur to visit her mother last week. Here, her mothers friend, a woman, pressurised her to join her troupe as a dancer, police said citing the mothers complaint. When she refused, the woman took her to Kushinagar on the pretext that she needed her help for a wedding in her family. When she refused to dance there, she was allegedly gang-raped by five men on the instructions of her mothers friend besides being denied food. According to complaint lodged with the police, the alleged rapists also inflicted burn injuries on her private parts. On Friday morning, when her captors were sleeping, she jumped off the roof of the building and escaped, police said. They are supposed to prance in the rains; instead it is a dance of death this monsoon. Two interior pockets in Madhya Pradesh reported carcasses of 45 peacocks across their pastoral lands this week, adding fresh turn to a recurring cycle of tragedy to the national bird over the past decade. While 25 peacocks perished in Ashok Nagar district on Wednesday and Thursday, more than one-and-a-half dozen such birds were found dead in Jhabua district over the last three days. The twin tragedies in the tehsils of Shadora and Petlawad respectivelyhave yet again raised concerns about the plight of the bird that is protected under law. The Wildlife Protection Act Parliament enacted in 1972 safeguards the peacock, among other creatures, from hunting. The forest department suspects that food poisoning led to the deaths in Shadoras Rapri village. The peacocks perished after possibly consuming grains laced with toxins that poachers typically spread to kill deer, forest departments deputy ranger Mahesh Malhotra said. Their viscera samples have been sent to Gwalior and Jabalpur for forensic examination to ascertain the cause, he added. In Charankota village off Jhabuas Undwakal forest region, residents blame the latest deaths on some mysterious disease. The forest department is casual and callous in its reactionit may also mean more number of peacock deaths than estimated. The officials sometimes bury the peacocks in a hurry, leaving out some of the dead which we get to see, said a villager, not wishing to be named. They also claim having reported to authorities about excessive use of pesticides in farming, but say no official so far turned up. Mayur Manch, an association working for peacock conservation, said more than one-and-a-half dozen birds were found dead on the outskirts of the village near Mahi Dam. Official estimates put the peacock population in Petlawad and surrounding regions at 4,000. Farmers alerted the authorities, but no forest official has turned up Farmers of Charankota alerted the authorities, but no forest official has turned up to take stock of situation said Jinendra Karani, the organisations secretary. Karani said Jhabua was among the top central-Indian districts in peacock population three decades ago, but two-thirds of them have perished over time. In the 1980s, Jhabua had more than 35,000 peacocks. They were densely found in Petlawad, Thandla and Khawasa areas. Today the figure has slipped to less than 12,000, Karani pointed out, citing poor conservation. The Forest department dismissed the Manchs claim about the number of the latest deaths of peacock in Petlawad. Only six peacocks died in the last two days, said Divisional Forest Officer Rajesh Khare. The reason could be consumption of pesticides-contaminated water from agriculture fields. He rejected hunting in the area, saying villagers are aware about importance of the national bird. On relocation of injured birds, that affects their breeding, Khare said, We leave peacocks after treatment at the place where they were found. Familiar location helps them return fast. The official said the department was planning to develop 20 conserved clusters across Jhabua district to conserve peacocks. We have sent a proposal to the government, he informed. Once approved, we will start work. Madhya Pradesh, with the most number of peacocks in the country, has over 1,00,000 of the birds in its Chambal basin covering three districts upstate. Of them, Morena has villages where peacocks outnumber humans. With PTI inputs The family members of Aabesh Dasgupta a teenager who allegedly died during the birthday party of writer Amit Chaudhuris daughter demanded an on-camera post mortem, fearing the accused might influence investigation. Its a case of murder, Aabeshs mother, Rimjhim, said, without taking any names. We are apprehending that relatives of the accused might influence the case and we are demanding a transparent investigation. Hence we have sent a letter to the officer in charge of the Ballygaunge police station requesting him to record the post mortem process. Police have accepted their request and recorded the post mortem process at the Kolkata Medical College morgue. Aabeshs father, Swagato Dasgupta, worked as an assistant to film director Sandip Ray. He passed away in February. His mother, Rimjhim, is an interior designer. Around 6 pm on Saturday, Aabesh, a student of St Xaviers Collegiate School, was found lying in a pool of blood in the basement of the posh apartment block in Sunny Park. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Investigation revealed that the 17-year-old was part of a group that went to a club in South Kolkata to celebrate the birthday of their friend and Chaudhuris daughter, Aruna, before heading to the Sunny Park apartment. Amit Chaudhuri is an English author and academic, and a winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, the countrys highest literary honour. A group of 17 friends went to celebrate Arunas birthday party at a South Kolkata club. They apparently had liquor there and came back to this apartment. Around 6 pm the security guard heard a brawl from the basement and ... they found Aabesh lying there, joint commissioner of police (crime) Vishal Garg said. The security guard informed Amit Chowdhury, who rushed Aabesh to the hospital. Police said the deceased had a deep cut near his armpit and some small cut wounds on his left hand and bruised knees. Pieces of a liquor bottle were recovered from the basement, and are likely the murder weapon. On the complaint of the victims mother, a case under Section 302 (murder) has been filed. Upon questioning, one those present at the party said Aabesh was in normal condition at the time of the incident, and he lost his balance and fell down on the bottle and hurt himself. But there are a few discrepancies in his statement. We are keeping all the angles open. Unfortunately no CCTV footage of the basement, where the incident took place, is available, said an investigating officer. Aabesh relatives, however, claim they were the last ones to be informed on Saturday night, and there are several other factors that point to it being a case of murder. Police stated that Aabeshs friends are claiming it to be an accident. Then why did they flee the spot? the victims mother said. I received a call stating that my son met with an accident around 7:15 pm and I rushed to the hospital, where relatives of all other friends were present. I was the last one to be informed. Unanswered questions: What were the friends doing in the basement? Security guards informed police that they heard a brawl. Who was involved in the brawl and what led to it? Why did the security guards fail to intervene? Was Aabesh murdered or is it an accidental death (as claimed by a section of his friends)? If it is murder, what was the cause? Police said the victim had deep cuts near his armpit and hand. Is it possible to get such injuries by falling on a beer bottle? If it was an accident, why did the others at the party flee? BEIJING: India has expelled three journalists of the Chinese official news agency, Xinhua, by refusing to renew their visas to work in the country, a move that could worsen the already strained relations between the two countries. The three journalists have been ordered to leave India by July 31. Journalists Wu Qiang and Lu Tang head Xinhuas bureau in New Delhi and Mumbai respectively. The third, She Yonggang, is a reporter based in Mumbai. No official reason was given for the Indian governments decision, but sources said the three had come under the adverse attention of security agencies for allegedly indulging in activities beyond their journalistic brief. The sources, however, said the action did not imply that Xinhua journalists are not welcome in India. The agency can replace them with others. There is nothing here to construe that Xinhua has to wind up its news operations in India, a source said. The Hindustan Times reached out to Xinhua in Beijing but an official said nobody could be immediately contacted for a comment. The decision comes at a time when relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been under strain following Chinas refusal last month to back Indias bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Beijing has been wary of New Delhis growing bonhomie with Washington. Non-renewal of visas is a common practice followed by governments to expel foreign journalists whose writing is seen as critical of official policy. In December, China expelled a French journalist for writing a piece questioning the governments handling of the situation in the restive Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), describing the reporting as fabricated. The mode of expulsion was similar: The journalists visa wasnt renewed. Wu has been working in India for seven years while the other two were posted in Mumbai last year. Xinhua works directly under the jurisdiction of the State Council, or the Chinese Cabinet, headed by Premier Li Keqiang. The two countries have a history of delaying granting of journalist visas, but this is possibly the first time that an extension or renewal of visas has been denied. The journalists visas had expired earlier this year but they were asked to wait. However, their passports were returned to them without the visa, effectively ensuring that they could not move out of the cities of residence. On July 14, all three were informed that they had to leave India by July 31 as their visas will not be renewed. Analysts said the possibility of China carrying out tit-for-tat expulsions of Indian-journalists could not be ruled out. Five Indian journalists work out of Beijing at present. Additionally, a number of Indians work for Chinas English state media like China Central Television, China Daily and China Radio International. Two more New Delhi-based Indian journalists are currently on a fellowship to China at the invitation of the communist government. (With inputs from Jayanth Jacob in New Delhi) MUMBAI/AHMEDNAGAR: As the rape and murder of a minor girl in Maharashtras Ahmednagar district last week takes on a caste angle, the state government is on its toes trying to prevent clashes in the region, especially after the unrest in neighbouring Gujarat and anger among the Dalit community over the Ambedkar Bhavan demolition in the city. The three accused in the case are Dalits, while the minor belonged to the dominant Maratha community in her village Kopardi. Sources in the government said this has sharpened the caste divide in a district that has seen several incidents of caste violence in the past few years. Stopping political leaders from visiting the village is among the many steps the government has taken. Ramdas Athawale, the Union minister of state for social justice, cancelled his Saturday visit to Kopardi following a request from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Athawale said the victims parents too had declined to meet him. The parents sent me a message saying they do not wish to see me, and hence I cancelled my visit. Even the chief minister requested me not to visit the place owing to some tension, he said. Earlier this week, the police stopped Dalit leaders Prakash Ambedkar and Jogendra Kawade from going to the village. Ambedkar said the police stopped him saying the villagers had planned to throw tomatoes and onions at him. The incident has sparked protests by regional Maratha outfits, such as Chhawa and Shiv Prahar, while Dalit families in the village, who make up about one-fourths of the 3,000-strong population, have fled fearing a backlash. The police, too, are not taking any chances. They have deployed a huge force to tackle the situation and have placed round-the-clock security near the houses of the accused. The girl, a Class 8 student, was gang-raped, tortured and murdered by three Dalit labourers when she was on her way home from her grandfathers house. A few days after the incident, sources said there were protests in Kopardi, but the initial apathy from politicians resulted in it spreading to neighbouring villages, and later, to the adjoining Marathwada region, seen as a cauldron of caste politics in Maharashtra. The area is part of south Ahmednagar, which shares borders with Marathwada region. It has a sizeable Dalit population and a history of conflict between the socially-backward castes and the upper castes, especially the politically powerful Maratha community. The divide is so strong that Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader, lost the 2009 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket even though the area was known to be a Congress stronghold. Athawale was defeated by Bhausaheb Wakchaure, a novice in politics, contesting on Shiv Sena ticket. We are being extra cautious because the slightest provocation could snowball into a major reaction as the locally dominant community is angry over what has happened. We would prefer if politicians and community leaders avoid coming here and fuelling any sentiments, said a senior police officer who did not wish to be named. Political commentator Tushar Jagtap said it was unfortunate that the incident has acquired caste angle. The Marathas are angry over their losing clout and this incident of Dalits having committed the crime has ruffled them considerably, said Jagtap. The state government, already facing heat over the Ambedkar Bhavan demolition, does not want to embroil itself in another controversy and hence is doing everything to maintain law and order situation. MUMBAI: A day after the state government hinted at probing the role of Shiv Sena corporators in the multi-crore roads scam, party chief Uddhav Thackeray hit back, saying that his party was not afraid of probe. Thackeray dared the government to conduct an inquiry into all civic works, saying that he would provide a list of all such works, if the government wants. Thackeray on Saturday challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government to probe the role of Sena members in the roads scam as well as the scam surrounding the cleaning of the citys drains before the monsoon. Probe all you want, be it the nullah desilting or the roads scam. You will not find the involvement of a single Shiv Sena leader in any of these, he said. Speaking at an event held by the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, the umbrella body of all Ganpati mandals in the city, Thackeray dared the teams to investigate other civic projects carried out by the Sena-ruled civic body. If they want, Ill give them a list of all civic projects. Investigate all of them. In fact, you will find that the first letter to investigate the roads scam was written by the Mayor, Thackeray said. Speaking about the issue in the assembly on Friday, minister of state for urban development Ranjit Patil said that the government was mulling over a suggestion to impose the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on all those found involved in the allotment of road works contracts, including civic officials, contractors as well as politicians. MUMBAI: A pokewalk, which was to take place in south Mumbai on Saturday, was cancelled after police said no to the organisers demand for using Azad Maidan as the venue for players of popular mobile game Pokemon Go to assemble. This was not the first pokewalk in the city, which has seen three such events between July 9 and July 17. Interestingly, two pokewalk events took place at Churchgate, where permission for the July 23 event was earlier denied Police stated that Azad Maidan was reserved for rallies and protests and that games and allied activities could not be permitted there. The organisers had approached Azad Maidan police seeking permission after the Marine Drive police refused permission for the event to be held at Churchgate. We were told that permission couldnt be given as the assemblys monsoon session was underway. When I met the zonal deputy commissioner for obtaining permission to conduct the walk at Azad Maidan, he refused despite me asking permission to use the ground for only half an hour. I cancelled the event a couple of days ago, said Tanny Joseph, 23, who had announced the event. The stretch from Churchgate to Marine Drive had witnessed pokewalks twice on July 9 and July 17 which is contrary to the belief that police was not allowing the events owing to security reasons. The third pokewalk was conducted at Bandra on July 16. Manoj Sharma, deputy commissioner of police zone I said, I suggested them to hold the event in a private hall for that matter, however, they were hell-bent on using Azad Maidan, stating that the event was a zero-profit one. They did not come up with any alternate venues and Azad Maidan could not be given for this. The security aspect was not in the picture at all. Police officials said that if there were orders to not allow pokewalks in the city citing security or any other reasons, there would not have been these events. Joseph, however, said that despite cancelling the event, over 100 persons had still assembled on Marine Drive, which was the earlier venue for his event. NEW DELHI/ KOLKATA: An Indian aid worker abducted in Kabul was rescued and flown back to India on Saturday evening. Judith DSouza, 40, was held captive by local gangsters and not terrorists, which made efforts for her release an easier affair, a source said, but refused to divulge details. She was kidnapped because she is a foreigner. No ransom was paid, though there was a demand, sources said. An Afghan security official told AFP she was rescued in an operation in a district of Kabul on Friday. An adviser with the Ag ha Khan Foundation, D Souza was abducted along with her driver and security guard by gun men from outside her office in the Afghan capital on June 9. The men were later released. She arrived at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6pm, accompanied by Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, and later called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Welcome to India Judith, Modi tweeted after the meeting. I am happy to inform you Judith DSouza has been rescued. DSouza is with us, safe and in good spirits... I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening, Swaraj had announced on Twitter earlier in the day. We are happy our daughter is safe. We would like to thank the external affairs ministry and the government of India for their efforts to bring her back, said Denzil DSouza at the family home in Kolkata. We have no idea how she was rescued. In fact, we arent interested in knowing. We just want Judith back safe. The month before she was taken, the Indian embassy in Kabul had warned Indians in Afghanistan to avoid areas frequented by foreigners because of the possibility of terror attacks and hostage-taking. Aid workers in particular have been targeted in Afghanistan in recent years. A Catholic priest from India, Alexis Prem Kumar, was kidnapped by gunmen in Herat city in June 2014 and rescued in February the next year. Soon after DSouzas abduction 45 days ago, her family had written to PM Modi seeking his intervention, and the PM in turn had requested Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to expedite efforts to secure her release. DSouzas brother had met Swaraj in Delhi as late as Friday with another appeal for her safe return. Swaraj lauded the efforts of the Indian envoy in securing D Souza s release while also than king Afghan authorities. DSouza had been working in Afghanistan for 17 months, her second stint in the city, and was to return to Kolkata on June 15 for a holiday. CHANDIGARH: Gods will is supreme, they preach. But new-age babas (spiritual leaders) the self-appointed messengers of God dont take chances when it comes to their physical well-being, going by the security paraphernalia, including bullet-proof vehicles. A number of them already have such vehicles and many are getting their luxury cars customised to survive attacks from sophisticated weapons such as AK-47 rifles or even grenades. These spiritual leaders move in convoys that are no inferior to those of VIPs of the land. Head of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, for instance, has a convoy of swanky bullet-proof cars, including Lexus, Audi, and BMWs. When he is on the move, his convoy has three cars of the same colour, make and registration number, besides jammer vehicles, to not let anyone know which car he is in exactly. Head of Delhi- headquartered Nirankari sect Hardev Singh, who died in a car crash in Canada in May, also had a fleet of bullet-proof vehicles. A top Punjab police officer, who deals with the security of babas and dera heads, told HT that their security was very important for the police and state government because of large-scale following and chances of a law-and-order problem if something goes wrong. Especially when we are going through days of low-intensity terrorism, and Punjab being a border state, deras and their heads can be possible targets, says an officer of the rank of director general of police in Punjab. Budha Dal Nihang Samparday chief Balbir Singh is guarded by a team of handpicked, trained followers, along with Punjab Police personnel. He, too, moves in a convoy of bullet-proof Land Cruisers, having recently upgraded from Mahindra Scorpios. Dals army was established in the 18th century and, with such a glorious history, we need to protect our identity through elaborate security paraphernalia, says Balbir Singh. Many other sects are doing market research to get customised secure vehicles for their leaders. We are looking for bullet-proof Toyota Fortuners to protect our baba-ji, said a close aide of Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwala, who heads a dera on the outskirts of Patiala. The dera supporters have approached vendors in northern India for the bulletproofing of three vehicles. Dhadrianwala had escaped unhurt in an attack on his convoy in May, though a follower in the same SUV was shot dead. To minimise the threat when in public, Dhadrianwalas supporters are also contemplating to have a bullet-proof detachable glass enclosure that can be used to deliver sermons. Babaji doesnt like to be under any kind of security, but we cant take chances, especially after the attack, adds the follower. Namdhari sect head Udai Singh is also planning to buy a bullet-proof vehicle. The Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana)-based sect has a considerable following and its head already enjoys Z-plus security from the government. About three month ago, the sects matriarch Chand Kaur (Udai Singhs aunt) was murdered on the dera premises. We have received commandoes and jammer vehicles, and the government wants us to get customised bullet-proof vehicles of our choice, said Udais aide Lakhbir Singh. The sect is in the process of finalising the vehicles. Buying ready-made bullet-proof vehicles from abroad is also under consideration. BULLET-PROOFING COST A customised bullet-proof vehicle can cost between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore depending on the weapon one wants to protect the vehicle against. Preferred cars are Toyota Fortuner and Land Cruiser. Usually, spiritual heads go for level-3 bullet-proofing, which is resistant to grenades, and sophisticated SLRs (self-loading rifles) and AK-47. Customising vehicles involves fitting sheets of complex metallurgical alloy steel along the vehicles body, said Gurvendra Singh of Jeet and Jeet Glass, a firm based in Jaipur. UNDER POLICE COVER Inspector general (security) of Punjab Police Naresh Arora loses count of the dera heads and other babas who enjoy state protection. We give security to smaller deras and their heads as per need, but heads of the bigger deras are under constant security cover, Arora said, adding that some babas have Z-plus security cover. They dont have to pay for the police cover. Security of heads of Namdhari sect, Bhaini Sahib; Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Jalandhar; Dera Garanwala, Phillaur; Bhaniranwala dera near Rupnagar; Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Nurmahal; Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa; Nirankari Dera, Delhi, and Dhadrianwala in Patiala, are some on priority of the state police. Despite being prominent, Amritsar-based Damsdami Taksal head Harnam Singh Dhumma is not protected by the state police. The Taksal has its own men for that. WHATS TO FEAR? A number of dera heads have been attacked at some point of time, making the followers and the police concerned about their security. Dhadrianwala was attacked by Damdami Taksal supporters last month. Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh escaped unhurt in an attack by supporters of a Sikh radical group in 2008. Bhaniara dera head Piara Singh was attacked too. The second in hierarchy of Dera Ballan, Niranjan Das, was killed allegedly by Sikh radicals in Vienna, Austria, in 2009, leading to widespread protests in Punjab. There are also inter-dera rivalries due to various reasons. We cant take chances with their security as there is a serious law-and-order threat if something goes wrong, said a top police officer, requesting anonymity. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that he agreed with former Union home minister P Chidambarams views that the Centre had broken promises on issues that formed the states accession to India, saying it had been dishonest with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For want of better set of words, India has actually been dishonest with the people of J&K because you struck a deal. You struck a bargain, he said. J&K acceded to India on the basis of certain conditions which is that the Union of India will be responsible for currency, communication, defence and foreign affairs everything else will be the domain of the state. On the basis of those conditions J&K would remain a part of India. J&K to this date remains a part of India, how much of those conditions have you actually fulfilled. You have gradually whittled that away to the point that autonomy is a fig leaf to what it was in 1947. So he is not wrong, Omar told Karan Thapar on India Today TV However, he regretted that soon after Chidambarams remarks, the Congress issued a statement that it was the ex-ministers personal views. Here is a person who is talking out of box and is ready to take the first knock and we pull him down, he said. Replying to a question if an initiative by Narendra Modi could normalise situation in the Valley, Abdullah said any initiative by the PM to resolve the current crisis in the Valley could calm tempers. He added that if any initiative isnt followed up it becomes difficult to sort out. On the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA), the former CM said, I dont know how the Army has become a villain. Army has always maintained that they dont want to stay permanently and want to go back to barracks. But they oppose withdrawal of draconian law and also any reduction. So this is a contradictory stand. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The mother of a missing student from Kerala said on Saturday that police failed to act on clinching evidence against a Muslim man who allegedly radicalised her daughter before she is suspected to have joined a terror outfit in Syria or Iraq. The 24-year-old Hindu woman Nimisha who took the name Fathima after converting to Islam is among the 21 people from Kerala who have allegedly joined a terror outfit such as the Islamic State, according to police. Some of those missing have reportedly sent messages to their families saying they have reached their final destination. I have given enough evidences about one Sajjad Rehman who converted at least three girls and later radicalised them but police are yet to take action. A doctor by profession, he is roaming around freely and now preparing for civil services examination, said Bindu, the mother of the dental student. Some reports suggest they are in Iran and others say they are in Afghanistan. Each day is crucial for us, she said, adding her daughter is in an advanced stage of pregnancy. Bindu said she will try to meet foreign minister Sushma Swaraj to seek the central governments help in tracing her daughter. A senior Kerala police officer, however, denied any lapses in their probe. The SIT has apprehended two people from Mumbai, including an aide Zakir Naik, and more arrests are likely in the coming days, he said. On Saturday, the SIT arrested a Mumbai man who is suspected to be a recruiter for the IS. Two days ago, an associate of Naik was arrested, also from Mumbai. However, police are yet to make any arrests in Kerala, which has emerged as a major breeding ground of radical Islamic ideology with several top terrorist leaders emerging from the state over the years. Bindu said that an aide of Zakir Naik was arrested on a complaint filed by relatives of another missing person. But my complaint was overlooked by the state police. It seems they dread to deal with conversion issues. MAN WITH IS LINKS HELD A team of Kerala police and the Maharashtra ATS have arrested a man from Kalyan in Thane for being part of a group that allegedly radicalised and recruited youngsters to undertake terrorist activities, officials said on Saturday. Accused Rizwan Khan will be produced before a court in Thane and Kerala police will seek a transit remand on Saturday. This is the second arrest by Kerala police, who have been camping in Mumbai for a week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The alleged rape followed by murder of a 17-year-old Dalit girl triggered protests by her kin, who blocked the gates of colony where she was found dead and traffic at Bahrat Nagar Chowk demanding arrest of three more accused on Saturday. The protesters gathered at Housefed Colony in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar in the morning and blocked all four gates from 8am to 10am. They did not allow anyone residents, milkmen and maids to enter or exit the colony. After keeping people waiting for milk, bread and newspaper for two hours, the protesters marched towards Bharat Nagar Chowk and blocked the traffic for more than an hour. We were confined to our houses and the protesters were shouting abuse. Many of us got late to office, said a resident. Only four cops turned up at the spot. Later we spoke to senior police officials and the protest was lifted around 10.30am. Police divert traffic, pacify protesters Heavy police force was deployed at the spot to avoid any untoward situation. Utter chaos was witnessed when traffic flow was paralysed due to the blockade, but police managed to divert the traffic. Naming three more accused, protesters demanded FIR against them. Later they lifted the protest after police assured them of action. Brother of the deceased said they demanded capital punishment for all accused. He said they will not cremate the body till the accused are arrested. ADCP (City 3) Paramjit Singh Pannu said, The girls family has named three more suspects, including a woman. Police will investigate about their role in the killing. What happened A 17-year-old domestic help was found murdered near the house of an exporter at the ground floor of Housefed flats in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar on Pakhowal Road on Friday morning. The post-mortem report revealed that she was three months pregnant.Police have arrested the owner of the house Narinder Tangri and his son Sachin Tangri on charges of killing the girl. A New Deep Transport company bus owned by an Akali leader ran over a boys legs at Kotkapura on Saturday evening after knocking him off his scooter. The bus driver fled after the accident. The boy, Lovepreet (18), was moved to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College here, where doctors brought him out of danger but said they were worried about his legs. Protesters from Kotkapura blocked traffic on the Bathinda road after the incident and smashed two buses of the company owned by Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, Shiromani Akali Dals Gidderbaha constituency in-charge and District Planning Committee chairman. Politics took over thereafter, as the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress staged separate demonstrations. Police had to come over and pacify both. The agitators wanted a criminal case against transport Dhillon. We will register it after recording the victims statement, said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) SS Brar. The private buses of Akali leaders are virtual killers on the loose. Last December, New Deep buses killed a girl in Lambi and another in Ferozepur. In Moga last April, a girl (13) molested aboard a moving Orbit bus of the Badal family of Punjab died after being thrown out along with her mother. Police have arrested a German national and booked him for spying after he gained access to the Chandimandir military station in an unauthorised manner. The Western Command headquarters ringed with barbed wires is located at the military station and entry without permission is prohibited. Military personnel detained RJ Michael, 34, on Saturday morning. Michael claimed that he was in India on a tourist visa. After questioning him, the Western Command officers handed him over to the local police in the evening. We have received a complaint from a Dogra unit that the German national had entered the prohibited area, said inspector Harbhajan Singh, station house officer, Chandimandir. Sources said Michael had shown his visa papers to the police. The police added that he was being questioned on why he had entered the cantonment. The theory that he could be a spy is also being looked into, although, no camera or sketch was found on him. He has been booked under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act used for acting against foreign spies. The relevant law says that if any person, for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state approaches, inspects or passes over a military area, he or she shall be prosecuted. Nurses and paramedical staff of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital called off their strike on Saturday after meeting Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday. The non-contractual staff and paramedical staff were on strike since 53 days, demanding regularisation of their jobs. Read more | Regularisation of jobs: Hospital suffers as strike by nursing staff enters Day 22 Charanjit Kaur from Punjab Theka Adhar Nursing and Paramedical Employees Association said, We had a meeting with the chief minister who has assured that the notification of regularisation of staff would begin soon. We also had a talk with our medical superintendent Dr Ram Sarup and principal Government Medical College, Dr BS Bal. Confirming the same, director, research and medical education Dr Manjit Kaur Mohi said, Yes, the government is set to regularise the contractual staff. The proceedings of the same will begin soon. Dr Ram Sarup said, Total 272 contractual employees will be regularised. The strike has also been called off. And everyone has joined their duties. Notably, the Punjab Theka Adhar Nursing and Paramedical Employees Association had blocked the OPD and operation theatres while protesting against the government. Punjab Police arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav from his office in Delhi on Sunday in connection with the Quran desecration in Malerkotla. The police had raided his home during the day but he was not present at his home or at his office. The Malerkotla court had issued an arrest warrant on Saturday. What happened and who is saying what The prime accused in the desecration incident, which resulted in tension in Punjabs only Muslim majority town, had named the AAP MLA. Yadav was subsequently questioned by the police. A team of 12 Punjab police officials reached Delhi to arrest the MLA, superintendent of police Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said. Read more | Malerkotla Quran sacrilege: AAP MLA Naresh Yadav grilled again for 9 hrs Police raided his residence in the morning but the AAP MLA was not present at his home or at his office. Police is also taking help of the local administration to nab the accused . Reports suggest that Yadav is attending a personal event in Delhi. Some Youth Congress activists were rounded up by police and taken away as hundreds of party leaders marched towards the office of local bodies minister Anil Joshi to mark a protest and put a lock at the office premises for poor civic condition of the city. The agitators were stopped by police party led by assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (North) Bal Krishan Singla. The police erected barricades near the residence of the minister but the Congress workers led by the local Youth Congress chief Dilraj Sarkaria tried to forcibly remove the barricades and reach Joshis office. Following it, a scuffle broke out between the workers and the police. A Congress worker was rounded up by the police when he ran towards the office with a lock in his hand. Earlier, the Congress leaders while addressing the gathering criticised the poor civic conditions in the city. Sarkaria said, The tall claims of development made by the SAD-BJP regime stand exposed in Amritsar. The city which they had promised to bring to world class standards, today suffers from poor hygiene, waterlogging and potholes. Local bodies minister Joshi is responsible for this. Other Congress leaders also said that its time to lock the office of the minister as the city has seen hardly any development. They accused Joshi of concentrating on his own constituency and ignoring other parts of the city. Mass hysteria is par for the course ahead of the release of any Rajnikanth film. And it was no different with Kabali which hit the theatres last Friday. The buzz that accompanies the release of any film of the Tamil superstar, is something other actors can only dream of and envy. The media space that Kabali occupied in the run up to its release, has only underlined Rajnikanths cult status. In Tamil Nadu, a Rajinikanth films opening is an almost sacred affair, one that unites almost every strata of the state in their devotion to the 65-year-old actor. Read: Kabali review | Its a clash between signature styles of Rajinikanth, Ranjith But it is not in a swanky multiplex that you will get to experience that kind of devotion. That pleasure comes from the tharai-tickets (colloquially called floor-tickets in single-screen and double-screen theatres where fans often sit on floors), sitting among baying fans whose hoots and whistles reach fever pitch when those words come up on screen: Superstar Rajini. But this experience is almost wholly Tamil, one also specific to the local rowdy theatres of Chennai. So what accounts for the mans incredible presence across geographical boundaries? Read: Kabali has made over Rs 40 crore on Day 1, say trade pundits Arguably what defines a superstar as opposed to an actor is charisma: And there is no one more charismatic than Rajinikanth. That trademark walk. That flick of the hair. Those dialogues which have been reverentially copied by generations of fans. The tricks with the cigarettes and sunglasses. Many other actors, both in the North and the South, have tried to emulate him. All have failed. It is a charisma that has utterly charmed the South and inspired the rather puerile memes that most in the North seem to enjoy, but not truly understand. Watch: How fans ace (or fail to) some classic Rajini-isms It is a charisma that enticed Japanese fans to travel to Chennai to see the movie, and forced companies to declare a holiday on July 22 when Kabali was released. If the first days collections are a yardstick for superstardom, Rajini has beaten every other hero in the Indian film industry, including Bollywoods Khans. By some estimates, the film grossed Rs 250 crores in the first day alone. Read: Rajini leaves the Khans behind, Kabali is the biggest opener of all times Kabali was released in 8000-10,000 screens across the world. That scale is astonishing given that Indias soft power has largely been powered by the popularity of Hindi cinema and Bollywood. More astonishingly, the film performed so well without the actor attending lavish promotional events. Unlike Bollywood heroes, there were no press events, no attending comedy shows, and no brand deals; because brand Rajini is bigger than all of that. Watch: The different looks of Rajinikanth over the years It is a kind of celebrity that is almost unthinkable in this era, defined as it is by a cultural dependence on the next viral trend, the next hashtag, and the next controversy. It is a cult status, the likes of which have never been seen before, and arguably, unlikely to be seen again. And while Kabali doesnt quite have the same appeal as Padayappa, or Baasha, it is a return of form for Rajinikanth, whose last two films flopped. We may never know what it was that transformed the man once known as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad from his humble beginning as a bus conductor in Bangalore into the phenomenon that is Rajinikanth. But what a journey it has been to superstardom. The author tweets from @Theadityaiyer ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dinesh DSouza is back. This time with a film, which he calls a documentary, to take down Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. Predictably, Republicans are cheering loudly. Donald Trump strongly recommended the film in a tweet Saturday with a two-word pitch -- see it misspelling DSouza as DSousa, which, keeping in character, he hasnt bothered to correct. And Laura Ingraham, a firebrand conservative whose speech drew rapturous applause in Cleveland last week, retweeted Trump, saying everyone should see it before the elections. Hillarys America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party, which opened this week, seeks to unmask the nominee and her party with the express purpose of causing her defeat. DSouza, an Indian-American who says in the film he left India (decades ago) to escape the gangs running it, ends the movie exhorting Americans to come out and vote to defeat Clinton. As a convicted man, he adds, he cannot vote. DSouza starts the film with his guilty verdict for violating election campaign contribution laws, which, he says was the Obama administrations retribution for an earlier film. It was also a hit job, as the current one, called 2016: Obamas America, released a day before the Republican Party convention in 2012 that nominated Mitt Romney. In that film, he reminds viewers mostly old white men and women at a theatre in Democratic-leaning Maryland he had predicted Obamas real purpose was to enfeeble the US. And he has been proven right, he claims. In a staged courtroom scene, a menacing judge sends DSouza to jail, where he figures out, with the help of hardened conmen, the scam Democrats are pulling on the country. DSouza was born in Mumbai, came to the US as an exchange student, went to Dartmouth, an Ivy League school, and stayed on, says his website dineshdsouza.com. He worked as a policy analyst in President Ronald Reagans White House and ended up writing several books and making three films including his latest, Hillarys America. A request for comments about the circumstances in which he left India to escape gangs, as he says sent through an Email Dinesh button remained unanswered for several hours. An auto response said due to the high volume of emails DSouza was receiving, we are not able to respond to all inquires. However, we will do our best to respond as we are able. Hillarys America argues that contrary to its stated plank and common perception, its the Democrats who were responsible for most of institutionalised social injustices in the US history. It was a Democratic president, Andrew Jackson, who dispossessed American Indians of their land and livelihood and, as a large slave-owner, perpetuated slavery. DSouza goes on to call Clinton and her husband depraved criminals, and using a mix of facts and fiction, argues they are out to steal America, the country, from Americans, its people. Buffie Ingersoll, a Texas Republican, said she believe DSouza makes a compelling case in the film, which, she acknowledged will be watched only by the converted, the conservatives. . Relatives of some of those killed in a suicide attack in Kabul searched through a bloodied assortment of belongings left after the twin blasts as they prepared for funerals on Sunday in a mood of growing anger with political leaders. Those are my cousins sandals, said Sayed Mohammad as he stood in a crowd of people looking for anything familiar among the remnants spread out by authorities on an Afghan flag in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul where the funerals will take place. Sayeds cousin was one of four relatives he lost on Saturday when suicide bombers set off twin blasts at a demonstration by members of the mainly Shia Hazara community who were protesting against the planned route of a power line. His dead body is in a hospital. He was the only bread winner of his family. Im looking here if I can find anything more from other relatives. President Ashraf Ghani announced a national day of mourning after the attack, claimed by Islamic State (IS). At least 80 people were killed and more than 230 wounded in one of the worst bombings since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. Broken glass and debris are seen inside a resturant a day after the suicide attack in Kabul. (REUTERS) The attack, described by the top UN official in Afghanistan as a war crime, drew a shocked reaction from across the world, with condemnation and offers of support from countries including Russia and the United States. But for some, there was a sense of fury at both the government and Hazara political leaders who they said have exploited the grievances of their community at longstanding discrimination to shore up their own power bases. They sold us and we will never forget this, said Ghulam Abbas, a Hazara mourner. Theyve built skyscrapers for themselves and their families from our blood. The Hazara, a Persian-speaking minority who make up about 9% of the population, have by and large supported Ghanis government, which includes some of their senior leaders, but many complain bitterly that their support has not been returned. Saturdays protest over the route of a multimillion dollar power line, which demonstrators wanted to re-route through two provinces with large Hazara populations, had become a touchstone for a wider sense of injustice. The demonstration took place under tight security, with much of Kabul blocked off. But there was disagreement in the Hazara community as well as in the government about whether it should have gone ahead given the obvious risk of an attack. For many, such as 42 year-old Dost Mohammad, who was nearby when the two explosions went off, there was a sense of abandonment by the authorities. With all this misery, the government doesnt care about its own citizens. Police in Bangladesh arrested on Sunday four female members of a home-grown militant group blamed for a bloody attack on a cafe in which 22 people were killed, most of them foreigners, an officer said. Authorities have intensified a hunt for militants after five young men stormed the upmarket restaurant popular with foreigners on July 1. Among those killed were nine Italians, seven Japanese, an American and an Indian. The five militants were gunned down when security forces moved in. Police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, played a significant role in organising the group of privileged, educated young men who carried out the attack. The four women members of the group, aged 18 to 30, who were arrested in from the northwestern district of Sirajganj, were believed to have been plotting an attack, police said. Acting on a tip-off, our force raided a rented house where a large amount of grenade-making materials, crude bombs and jihadi books were also found, district police superintendent Siraj Uddin Ahmed told reporters. The women would be interrogated to determine if they had any link to the Dhaka cafe attack, he said. On Thursday, four other members of the banned group, including a regional head, were arrested. The cafe attack was one of the worst militant attacks ever in Bangladesh. Al Qaeda and Islamic State have made competing claims for a series of killings of liberals and members of religious minorities in the country over the past year. The government dismissed the claims and instead blamed domestic militant groups, but security experts say the scale and sophistication of the cafe assault suggested links to a trans-national network. Bangladesh police on Sunday claimed to have identified the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack in the country at a cafe in Dhakas high-security diplomatic zone that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners. We have cracked the case of the Holey Artisan (Bakery) attack. Arrests will be made soon. The process is on, Dhaka metro police chief Asaduzzaman Mia said. He claimed that it was now clear who had orchestrated the attack and how, but did not provide the details. We will be able to nab them soon. Police are working based on specific information, he was quoted as saying by bdnews24 online. On the night of July 1, gunmen barged into the cafe in the upscale area and took the guests hostages. The terrorists killed 22 people, among them 17 foreigners, including an Indian, before army commandos stormed the cafe the next morning and rescued 13 hostages. Bangladesh launched a massive security clampdown following the attack. It stepped up the crackdown after another assault by Islamists on July 6 on an Eid congregation in northern Sholakia in which two policemen and a woman were killed. Officials said the terrorists had planned to attack Muslims who had converged at the countrys biggest Eid congregation. The Islamic State (IS) has claimed that it carried out the Dhaka cafe attack but Bangladesh government attributed both the assaults to homegrown militants. It, however, said the terrorists might have links with foreign outfits. Four Chinese officials in north Chinas Hubei province were suspended on Sunday for alleged dereliction of duty as public pressure over ineffective rescue efforts mounted following the deadly floods that left more than 200 dead. They include two Communist Party of China (CPC) officials in Xingtai city, a chief engineer of Shijiazhuang municipal bureau of transport and a deputy head of Jingxing County, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The officials will be subjected to accountability investigations and could face further punishment, it said. The mayor of Xingtai apologised on Saturday night for inadequate response to the storms that have caused 25 deaths and left 13 missing in the city. Locals accused officials of failing to provide early warning about flash floods and later of the impending deluge. People took to the streets after pictures of the corpses of drowned children being pulled from the muddy floodwaters were circulated online. They accused officials of ineffective rescue efforts and trying to cover up the cause of the disaster. The residents also voiced suspicion that the sudden flood was the result of release of water from a local reservoir, rather than the breaking of a levee in a nearby river, as claimed by officials. At least 114 people were killed and 111 reported missing in Hubei on Saturday in floods as torrential rains lashed north China this week. Nearly 310,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of thousands are still trapped as water levels have risen up. In central and southern China, several major cities have been submerged due to the heavy downpour, causing over 200 deaths, state media reported. A 31-year-old father of three obsessed with fitness and sex, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel led multiple lives. His darkest side appears to have been his best-kept secret: A calculated, committed jihadi ready to kill scores of people in a French Riviera rampage. Information emerging from authorities and people who knew him suggests Bouhlel concealed his different worlds from each other, and may have been following Islamic State guidance to blend in and hide his radicalism while he plotted violence. There was his family life, three children under age six, including an 18-month-old born just after his wife split with Bouhlel, accusing him of frequent abuse. Then there was his erratic social life: Smoking pot with acquaintances in the Tunisian immigrant community; martial arts training and possible steroid use to bulk up muscle; salsa dancing to pick up women; and a reported male lover in his 70s. And now, it appears that Bouhlel had an extremist life, too, built up over months as he prepared for the Bastille Day attack. His parallel worlds are complicating investigators efforts to figure out who he was, who might have helped with the attack, whether other violence was planned. They may never have a definitive answer: Bouhlel was killed by police after ramming his truck through a family-filled crowd enjoying fireworks. Authorities initially said Bouhlel had radicalised very quickly. Family and neighbours described him as indifferent to religion, volatile and prone to drinking sprees. But on Thursday, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said investigators found images in Bouhlels phone suggesting he was premeditating an attack as far back as a year ago. Molins said Bouhlel studied Captagon, a drug used by some jihadis before attacks. He had a screenshot of a previous vehicle attack in a crowd. He obtained weapons through a string of acquaintances. Authorities say Bouhlel drew inspiration from IS propaganda, though there is no sign the attack was commandeered by the extremist groups bases in Syria or Iraq. Yet his turn to extremism went unnoticed by relatives, neighbours and acquaintances. And police and prosecutors investigating Bouhlel for a road rage incident in early 2016 saw no reason to flag him as a potential risk. A French security official said this may have been intentional, in response to IS suggestions to some followers in the West that they hide their radical faith to stay off police radar. Attackers who targeted Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016 are believed to have done the same. One of the prominent sights amid the sullen normalcy of the Promenade des Anglais soon after last weeks Bastille Day attack that killed 84 people was the large number of broadcast vans, TV crews and journalists, busy reporting the massacre to the world. As the name of the attacker was revealed Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel attention soon shifted to the neighbourhood of lAriane in northeast Nice, 10 km away from the sunny and sylvan tourist hotspot, where he lived. The media scrum, however, was not exactly welcome in the area. Some were targeted with eggs thrown from buildings, others found angry and sullen residents would not speak to them, or discussed the attack with much reluctance, but mostly without identifying themselves. The reason was soon clear. Suburbs such as lAriane or banlieues in French have acquired a stigma in public discourse and a sense of discrimination hangs heavy in the air. The media are seen as a key player in the relentless stereotyping that tarnishes the suburbs as the Other. Such suburbs across France also seen as ghettos are mostly inhabited by immigrants from former French colonies in North Africa and predominantly Muslim. The 2005 riots in Paris began from the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, and rolled on for weeks before cooling off. Clashes between riot police and French youths in the Paris suburb of Aulnay sur Bois in November 2005. (Reuters File) Like Bouhlel, those involved in the 2005 Paris riots or the November 2015 Paris attacks hailed from banlieues, which underwent major renovations since the riots, but what Prime Minister Manuel Valls calls social apartheid remains in place, physically and in public imagination. The cauldron of socio-economic deprivation, joblessness and lack of education fits the recent narrative of Islamic radicalisation that conflates with the official narrative of security, framing the suburbs as breeding grounds of terrorism. Over the years, the specific has been extrapolated to the general. Nihar Mehta, an Indian classical music performer in Nice, says: There is a serious problem of integration in certain communities. Not surprising that journalists are not welcome in the suburbs, because residents feel they paint the entire community as the villain. But the situation is quite complex. There have been reports of some Muslim youth in Nice and the region being attracted to the slick videos of the Islamic State, particularly in the town of Vallauris, west of Nice, since 2012, but they are seen as generalising the entire community in the Alpes-Maritimes area. Thousands gather on the Promenade des Anglais on the third day of national mourning to pay tribute to victims of the Nice attack. (REUTERS) The Nice massacre has reignited debate over the benefits and drawbacks of the French policy of assimilation towards minorities and immigrants, and Britains policy of multiculturalism both, however, have led to the same situation, where both countries face homegrown terrorism, revealing the limits of the one size fits all theory. Joseph Downing of the London School of Economics is no fan of the thesis of French suburbs as breeding grounds for terrorism, mainly because of its inability to explain why the vast majority, 99%, of those who experience similar marginalisation does not get involved with terrorism. Rather, the picture that emerges from all of the attackers is a complex picture of those with a significant criminal history and a history of emotional disturbance. However, again there are thousands of people of Muslim origin in France who have criminal records, and indeed who may have also experienced periods of poor mental health. Again, the vast majority do not turn to terrorism, he says. However, Downing adds this should not be taken as a dismissal of both social, in terms of discrimination, and economic, in terms of labour market, housing, and job prospects, issues that those of Muslim origin overwhelmingly face in France. Indeed, 30 years of near inaction by the French state have worked to entrench populations in extremely difficult living conditions where the promises of liberte, egalite, fraternite seem rather empty, he says. These communities desperately want to be part of mainstream French society, with the social, economic and cultural benefits that come with it, and it remains a challenge to not let recent events further marginalise these populations because of unsound explanations for terrorism. The last thing these communities need is further suspicion and discrimination. Concurs Birmingham City Universitys Imran Awan, who believes the Nice massacre shows this is a battle with extremists who are less inspired by religion and more by the socio-economic conditions they live in. Radicalisation is a complex phenomenon for which there is no single pathway. Many people are coming from different areas and backgrounds, and with different reasons for committing acts of terrorism and violence, he says. Europe needs to look for answers elsewhere and stop blaming the victims of persecution who are fleeing war zones. This moral panic plays into the hands of extremists like IS. A soldier secures the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, southern France, Monday, two days after the Bastille Day attack. (AP) The state of emergency declared after the November 2015 Paris attacks, and now continued for six more months after the Nice massacre is seen as further diminishing Frances liberties. More than 2,500 raids conducted since then have reportedly focussed mostly on Muslim homes, businesses and mosques. Immigrant communities also face ethnic profiling and police violence, prompting a new movement against it. On the policies of assimilation (French) and multiculturalism (British), noted writer Kenan Malik suggested after the November 2015 Paris attacks: An ideal policy would marry the beneficial aspects of the two approaches celebrating diversity while treating everyone as citizens, rather than as simply belonging to particular communities. In practice, though, Britain and France have both institutionalised the more damaging features Britain placing minorities into ethnic and cultural boxes, France attempting to create a common identity by treating those of North African origin as the Other. The consequence has been that in both Britain and France societies have become more fractured and tribal. And in both nations a space has been opened up for Islamism to grow, he wrote in The Guardian. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The German military is training more than 100 Syrian migrants for civilian roles suited to helping the eventual reconstruction of their country, defence minister Ursula von der Leyen said in remarks released ahead of publication on Sunday. Von der Leyen told the Frankfurter Allgemeine daily that the pilot programme was focused on training migrants in a variety of areas such as technology, medicine and logistics. It was not immediately clear if von der Leyen planned to expand the programme to include more of the one million migrants who arrived in Germany last year. The idea is that they will go back to Syria one day and help with the reconstruction of their war-shattered country, von der Leyen told the newspaper. Read: With refugees, German Muslim minority could be Europes largest She said Germany could also play a role in training Syrian security forces once it had a responsible government. Syrian refugees can carry out civilian tasks for the German military, but are not eligible to work as soldiers, she said. Von der Leyen sparked controversy within her own Christian Democratic party recently when she suggested that EU citizens could in certain cases take over armed roles in the German military. The defence minister also advocates greater diversity in the German military and moves to recruit more immigrants. Investigators were seeking clues on Sunday into the mind of gunman David Ali Sonboly, the teen behind one of Germanys bloodiest killing sprees. Sonbolys rampage at a Munich shopping mall on Friday sparked a terror alert, with fears that Germany had followed France and Belgium this year in becoming targets of the Islamic State (IS) group. But after a forensic sweep of Sonbolys home, investigators on Saturday ruled out any link with the jihadis. Read: In pics: Lone wolf gunman terrorises Munich Using a 9mm handgun, the 18-year-old German-Iranian shot dead nine people, most of them fellow teenagers, before killing himself with a shot to the head. Thirty-five others were injured, 11 of them seriously, according to a new toll released by Munich police Sunday. Those figures included people who hurt themselves while fleeing. Lured through Facebook? While investigators have ruled out a link to IS, their probe has turned up another dark scenario -- of a violence-fixated youth who tempted his young prey to their fate via the internet. Sonboly probably hacked a girls Facebook account and used it to lure victims to a McDonalds outlet where they expected to get vouchers for price reductions, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said, describing it as particularly underhand. But if a clearer picture is emerging of how Sonboly planned the killing, his motive remains unclear. Investigators describe Sonboly, who lived with his parents in social housing, as a depressive obsessed with shooting sprees and a devotee of violent video games. Read: Munich shooter not linked to IS, but was obsessed with mass murder: Cops They found documents about far-right fanatic Anders Behring Breivik who murdered 77 people in Norway in 2011 -- a massacre that occurred exactly five years to the day before the Munich shootings. But what drove him to commit a mass killing? Neighbours said Sonboly was born to Iranian parents, a taxi driver father and a mother who worked at a department store. They arrived in Germany as asylum seekers in the late 1990s. Of Shiite Muslim origin, Sonboly appears to have converted to Christianity, hence his first name David. The family lived in the well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood in a tidy social housing block that is mostly home to immigrant families. One idea put forward by the mass circulation newspaper Bild suggests Sonboly had been bullied by Turks at school, and wanted to take revenge against foreigners. The dead included three Turks, two of whom had dual German nationality, a Hungarian, a Kosovan, a Greek and an individual who was stateless, according to the latest figures. Video footage from Friday also apparently shows Sonboly on a car park roof in a heated exchange with a man on a nearby balcony. Read: I saw bodies, injured people: A night of terror in Munich Im German, I was born here, the assailant replies after the man swore at him, using curse words for foreigners. Gun laws Another question is how Sonboly acquired the Glock 17 handgun -- by coincidence or not, a type also used by Breivik -- whose serial number had been filed off. A debate is already underway as to whether Germanys gun laws, which are already strict, should be tightened further. Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, in an interview with the Funke press group, called for a maximum effort to restrict access to lethal weapons and monitor it closely. European leaders swiftly voiced solidarity with Germany as the terror alert was launched -- a sign of the jittery mood after a string of jihadist assaults. The attack came just four days after a 17-year-old asylum seeker went on a rampage with an axe and a knife on a train in Bavaria, injuring five people. He was believed to be a lone wolf Afghan or Pakistani inspired by IS. And in occurred just over a week after a Tunisian used a truck to mow down 84 people after a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice, the third major attack on French soil in the past 18 months. IS described Nice gunman Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel as one of its soldiers, though investigators have not found direct proof of his allegiance to the jihadists. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in the colours of the German flag late Saturday in tribute to the Munich victims. A Pakistani man shot dead his niece along with her alleged lover in the name of honour, in Kandhkot town of Sindh. The police officials said, a suspect named Hakim Ali killed his niece Rasheeda Chachar, 22, and her alleged lover Hafiz Ismail near the village mosque and fled, taking the girls body with him, reports the Dawn. The girls body was later found from nearby Babu Chachar village but the suspect is still on the run. The officials said that an inquiry has been ordered in the case, however, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. The killing comes a week after popular social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch was killed by his brother, in Multan for honour, prompting widespread criticism of so-called honour killings. Women rights activist and politicians called for renewed efforts to curb this menace. Two days ago, a committee comprising lawmakers from both the lower and upper houses of the parliament unanimously approved two bills aimed at tackling honour killings and boosting rape convictions. Under the new law, the family of the victim would only be able to pardon the killer of capital punishment, but they would still face a mandatory life sentence of twelve-and-a-half years. Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered aircraft took off from Egypt on Sunday on its last leg of the first ever conventional-fuel-free flight around the globe. The spindly single-seat plane, took off from Cairo in darkness en route to Abu Dhabi, its final destination, with a flight expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. The Solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft prepares to take off from the Cairo International Airport on Sunday. (AFP) The plane, which began its journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, has been piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies. Pilot Bertrand Piccard talks to media before taking off (AFP) The round the world flight ends in Abu Dhabi, but not the project, Piccard told Reuters a few days before takeoff. Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel, its four engines powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells in its wings. It relies on solar energy collected during the day and stored in batteries for electrical energy to fly at night. Technicians inspect the Solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft at the Cairo International Airport. (AFP) The carbon fibre plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car can climb to about 8,500 metres (28,000 feet) and cruise at 55-100 kph (34-62 mph). (AFP) The project is a big promotion of clean technologies around the world and the legacy of Solar Impulse is the created international community, Piccard said. The Solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft takes off from the Cairo International Airport in the Egyptian capital on Sunday, as it heads to Abu Dhabi on the final leg of its world tour. (AFP) Last week, the solar-powered aircraft landed in Egypt for on its penultimate stop. The flights takeoff from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates was delayed due to a heatwave in Saudi Arabia. I started to dream about this project 17 years ago in 1999 when I finished my hot-air balloon landing in Egypt, so 17 years later I take off where the balloon landed, Piccard said. Britains new foreign secretary Boris Johnson has informed the House of Commons that more than 95 million are owed by foreign missions, including nearly 4.5 million by the Indian high commission, who refuse to pay Londons congestion charge. Johnson released the list in a written reply last week that includes parking fines owed by foreign missions and details of 11 serious offences committed by diplomats of nine missions who have avoided prosecution due to diplomatic immunity. Every vehicle entering a zone in central London marked by the letter C needs to pay 11.50 per day from Monday to Friday between 7 am and 6 pm (some emergency vehicles are exempted) as congestion charge. Failure to pay invites a penalty of 130. The United States with 10.6 million tops the list of nearly 70 London-based missions who do not pay the charge, while India is fifth. The charge was introduced in 2003 to raise funds to improve Londons transport infrastructure. Described by Transport for London (TfL) officials as the stubborn minority, the missions refuse to pay the charge for their vehicles on the ground that it is a tax and as such they are exempted from paying it under the Vienna Convention. A spokesperson of the Indian high commission told Hindustan Times: We believe that the congestion charge imposed by the UK authorities was not a service charge but a tax, which should be exempted under the Vienna Convention and therefore the Indian high commission, like several diplomatic missions in London, do not pay the congestion charge. TfL has been seeking a solution to the impasse in the International Court of Justice for some years. We and the UK government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it, a spokesperson said. Around three quarters of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels. Johnson said the 11 serious offences, including six related to driving (under the influence of alcohol or driving without insurance), were committed by diplomats in 2015. Other offences included human trafficking and slavery. The diplomats who claimed diplomatic immunity were attached to the missions of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Nigeria, US, St Lucia, Kazakhstan, China and Gabon. Johnson said: Around 22,500 people are entitled to diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom and the majority of diplomats abide by UK law. The number of alleged serious crimes committed by members of the diplomatic community in the UK is proportionately low. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, those entitled to immunity are expected to obey the law. The FCO does not tolerate foreign diplomats breaking the law. We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A new row has erupted in Britains embattled Labour Party, with prominent Indian-origin MP Seema Malhotra accusing an aide of leader Jeremy Corbyn of entering her parliamentary office without permission and of intimidation after she resigned from Corbyns shadow cabinet. Malhotra, who is a second-term MP from the west London constituency of Feltham and Heston, was the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, before she resigned with others from his shadow cabinet after the June 23 Brexit vote. Seeking an investigation into the illegal entry, Malhotra said in a statement, I have discovered that members of staff working for John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn have gained unauthorised entry into my office in parliament. The implications of this are extremely serious. This is a breach of parliamentary privilege and is a violation of the privacy, security and confidentiality of a member of parliaments office. Furthermore, my staff, including an intern, who have always been courteous and open, have felt harassed, intimidated and insecure and decided themselves it would be best to not leave anyone alone in the office. John McDonnell is the British shadow chancellor. Over 40 women Labour MPs have protested against Corbyn alleging intimidation attempts and attacks on their constituency offices. Corbyn is currently facing a leadership election after his parliamentary party passed a no-confidence motion against him. A spokesman for Corbyn said Malhotras accusations were "untrue" and added that his office manager Karie Murphy had been checking to see if the office had been vacated by Malhotra following her resignation. He said: "As an office manager on the leader of the opposition's floor, Karie has a key to open all offices. She accessed the office in question to confirm when it would be vacated. It is a month since Seema Malhotra resigned as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, and the office is intended for the person holding that position." Malhotra has formally complained to House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, saying the "privacy, security and confidentiality" of her parliamentary office had been violated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nepals Prime Minister KP Oli resigned on Sunday, nine months after coming to power, minutes before parliament was to vote on a no confidence motion he was likely to lose. Oli, 64, was forced to quit after allies of his multi-party coalition deserted the government accusing him of not honouring power sharing deals that helped install him as prime minister in October. Before coming to parliament, I had met the president and submitted my resignation to her. After the budget-related bills got defeated, I realised that I had lost trust of majority of the members of this House, said Oli in a speech in parliament just ahead of the scheduled no-confidence vote. We brought the motion against the Prime Minister as he did nothing to fulfil agreements and work towards forging national unity and consensus, CPN-MC chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had said earlier. The Maoist leader accused Oli of being self-centred and egocentric and said a new government was needed to address demands of Madhesis and other minority groups and also to implement the constitution. Prachanda, who had become Prime Minister in 2008 after the end of the civil war, is expected to return to the same post after a gap of nine years. Oli (64), who accused India of imposing an unofficial blockade on Nepal before coming to power, is also seen as getting cosy with Beijing in an attempt to snub New Delhi. When I came to power, India-Nepal ties were at a historic low. I have been able to nearly end the bitterness in relations during my India visit and efforts at various levels, Oli said. He added that his government had inked trade and transit treaties with China in order to reduce sole dependence on India and also to speed up economic development. The relations between Nepal and China and Nepal and India have their own peculiarities and it is not proper to compare the two, Oli said. As per a deal between CPN-MC and NC, Prachanda will head the government for nine months and will be succeeded by NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba till the next general elections. Senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi said his party decided to remove the government as Oli wasnt serious about addressing the demands of Madhes-based parties. Parties from the Madhes region bordering India have been demanding changes including fresh demarcation of state boundaries in the new constitution. In recent months, other smaller groups have also joined hands. Subhash Chandra Nemwang, who belongs to Olis party Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, stressed that removal of the government at this juncture would affect national unity. With agency inputs SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 46-year-old Indian-American man in New Jersey has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife to death in their apartment while the couples three children were asleep. Nitin Singh was charged with murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. Singh is accused of stabbing his wife Seema Singh, 42, multiple times last week and has been remanded to the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of bail of a million dollars cash, the Pennsville Police Department said. A report in NJ.com said Singh was found covered with blood standing over his wifes body in their kitchen when emergency personnel arrived early Tuesday morning, according to Pennsville chief of police Allen Cummings. Cummings said Singh himself had called 911 seeking help for his wife. The couples three children, two boys, aged 16 and 6 and a 5-year-old girl, were taken from the apartment through a side door so they did not see the crime scene in the kitchen, authorities said. The children were taken to the Pennsville police station and state protective services workers took custody of them, the report said. This is a very horrific scene. Its a situation where there are children involved and they have lost their mother and their father is probably going to be incarcerated, Cummings said. Singhs wife was pronounced dead at the scene and had been stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen. While authorities are investigating the cause of the murder, police have indicated it could have been some sort of domestic dispute. Cummings said that Pennsville Police had never been called to the Singhs apartment for any type of domestic troubles in the past. The Singhs owned the building where the murder took place and had owned a convenience store in the locality. Neighbours expressed shock at the murder, saying it was hard to believe Singh could commit such a crime. Hes the nicest person I ever met. I never heard any type of fighting going on. They never raised their voice or anything, Singhs neighbour George Hemple said of him. Alok Sharma, Britains newly-appointed junior minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for Asia and the Pacific, left for New Delhi on Sunday for talks with Indian ministers and representatives of trade and industry. Sharma said before leaving: I am delighted that India will be my first official visit since taking up my appointment as a Foreign Office Minister. The UK and India have a broad and exciting partnership that includes trade and investment, climate and energy, education, health and culture, reinforced by the large, vibrant Indian diaspora in Britain. Britain is open for business and thriving on the world stage. We want the strongest possible relationship with India and I want to continue our vital strategic partnership on this visit and in my new role, he added. Official sources said the agenda for the visit includes discussions on smart cities and a meeting with the next generations opinion formers on foreign policy at an Emerging Voices event. Sharma, MP from Reading, will also visit Mumbai, the sources added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The New Zealand Police who are sweeping through the Queenstown Airport in New Zealand have said they have found no sign of any explosives so far, after a note mentioning a bomb was found on board. The airport was evacuated on Sunday morning after a cleaner found the message on the Qantas flight just before 3pm. No passengers were on board at the time, reports the nzherald.co.nz Teams are, however, continuing the search operation. A passenger said, (They) have been slowly moving us back, my guess is because of protocol but there are fire trucks on the Tarmac pointed at the plane. The mood is muted. Social media star Qandeel Baloch who was murdered by her brother has been wiped off networking sites. Her official Facebook page that hosted her photos and videos is no longer available, and her account on Instagram, also owned by Facebook, has been deleted, the Dawn reported. As per Facebook policy, an account which belongs to a deceased individual is automatically made into a memorialised account where friends and family can share memories. However, according to Facebooks help centre, Pages with a sole admin whose account was memorialised will be removed from Facebook if we receive a valid request. Read: Qandeel Balochs father wants murderer son to be shot on sight Baloch shot to fame with her racy social media posts, which enraged many in deeply conservative Pakistan. Baloch, real name Fauzia Azeem, was killed on July 15 in her family home in Multan in Punjab province. Her brother confessed to strangling her for dishonouring the family and bringing them to disrepute. Her website Qandeelbaloch.com has been suspended but her Twitter handle is alive. Serious consequences await India if it has expelled three Chinese journalists because Beijing did not support its bid for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Chinas state media said on Sunday. China, it said, should make it difficult for Indians to get visas, a move that could have a bearing on Indian journalists stationed in the country. If New Delhi is really taking revenge due to the NSG membership issue, there will be serious consequences. On the visa issue this time, we should take actions to display our reaction. We at least should make a few Indians feel Chinese visas are also not easy to get, nationalistic tabloid Global Times said. A China-led opposition recently stonewalled Indias entry into the NSG, an elite club of countries controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology, on the grounds that it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Read: Two expelled Xinhua journos hid identities to visit Tibetan camps Global Times, which is linked to the Communist Party of China mouthpiece Peoples Daily, was the first state media outlet to react to the report of the expulsion of the three Xinhua reporters --- Wu Qiang, Tang Lu and She Yonggang. Wu Qiang and Lu Tang head Xinhuas bureaux in New Delhi and Mumbai. She Yonggang was a reporter based in Mumbai. India refused to renew their visas to work in the country. The newspaper wrote: In any case, its not a good thing that India has turned down Chinese reporters applications for new visas. The act has sent negative messages and media communications between China and India will inevitably be negatively impacted. India has a suspicious mind. The Chinese government, however, has maintained silence, with the ministry of foreign affairs yet to comment on the rare expulsion. Top Chinese experts on Sino-India relations said the decision to send off the journalists without clear and substantiated reasons will impact bilateral ties. They sense a chill could spread over India and China ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit China in September for the G20 summit and President Xi Jinping is scheduled to be in Goa in October for the BRICS meeting. It was a very sad and very bad news, Hu Shisheng, South Asia expert at the government-affiliated China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said. I do not see any logic or reason behind it. Media persons bridge the gap between countries; they act as go-between different cultures, promote cultures. I could not figure out if it was trick or a trap by some particular (Indian) government department, Hu added. The state-run newspaper claimed that Chinese journalists have always faced trouble in India. Complaints about difficulties in acquiring an Indian visa have also been heard from other Chinese who deal with India. In contrast, its much easier for Indians to get a Chinese visa, it said. Tang Lu, one of the journalists being evicted, had to wait several months before she was issued a residence visa in India. At least two of the journalists have been accused of visiting a Tibetan settlement in Mumbai using false names basically accusing the journalists of impersonation. The Chinese journalists in Mumbai have maintained their innocence. Lu Pengfei, former India-based special correspondent with the Global Times, said there is absolutely no need for Chinese journalists in India to conduct interviews under fake names and it is completely normal for reporters to request interviews with the Dalai Lama group, the article quoted as an example to show how flimsy the grounds for eviction were. The tabloid blamed nationalism for the decision to expel the journalists, and also claimed the West was inciting India. Indian society in recent years has witnessed soaring nationalism. Crowned by Western public opinion as the worlds biggest democracy, the Indians have a strong sense of pride. China, the newspaper said, should stick to a friendly strategy toward India, as we believe bilateral friendship is in the interests of India as well. On the visa issue this time, we should take actions to display our reaction. A 21-year-old Syrian refugee was arrested after killing a woman with a machete and injuring two other people in the southern German city of Reutlingen on Sunday, but the attack had no apparent connection to terrorism, police said. The asylum-seeking Syrian man had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people, and was apparently acting alone, a police spokesperson said. The spokesman had no immediate information on when the man arrived in Germany, or when the previous incidents took place. There is no danger to anyone else at this time, he said. Given the current evidence, there is no indication that this was a terrorist attack, police said in a statement. It was the fourth act of violence against civilians in western Europe - and the third in southern Germany - in 10 days. Two of the attacks were claimed by Islamic State militants. Read: Germany grapples with enigma of Munich gunman In Sundays incident, the Syrian man attacked two women and a man at around 4.30pm (1430 GMT) near the central bus station in Reutlingen, about 40 km (25 miles) south of Stuttgart, according to a police statement. One of the women later died of her wounds, it said. The mass-circulation newspaper Bild said the woman was pregnant. The attacker was completely out of his mind. He even ran after a police car with his machete, Bild quoted a witness as saying. The witness told Bild a private motorist knocked down the attacker soon afterward and he was then taken into custody by police. On Friday, a deranged 18-year-old Iranian-German who was obsessed with mass killings shot dead nine people in Munich before turning his gun on himself as police approached. On July 18, a 17-year-old youth who had sought asylum in Germany was shot dead by police after wounding four people from Hong Kong, some of them severely, with an axe on a train and injuring a local resident near the city of Wuerzburg. Four days before, a Tunisian delivery man drove a large truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing 84 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Wuerzburg and Nice attacks. German police said the Munich gunman had no link with militant Islam or the issue of refugees in Germany. KABUL: Islamic State group militants claimed responsibility for twin explosions on Saturday that ripped through crowds of Shiite Hazaras in Kabul, killing at least 80 people and wounding 231 others in their first major attack in the Afghan capital. The bombings, apparently aimed at sowing sectarian discord in a country well known for Shia-Sunni harmony, came as thousands of Hazaras gathered to protest over a multi-million dollar power line. Charred bodies and dismembered limbs littered the scene of the attack, with ambulances struggling to reach the site as authorities had overnight blocked key intersections with stacked shipping containers to control movement of the protesters. As a result of the attack 80 people were martyred and 231 others were wounded, the interior ministry said in a statement. Based on initial information, the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers... The third attacker was gunned down by security forces. The wounded overwhelmed city hospitals, officials said, with reports emerging of blood shortages and urgent appeals for donors circulating on social media. The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than IS, strongly denied any involvement in the attack. IS claimed the bombings in a statement carried by its affiliated Amaq news agency, calling it an attack on Shiites. Two fighters of the Islamic State detonated their explosive belts in a gathering of Shiites in... Kabul, Amaq said. The attack represents a major escalation for the IS group, which so has largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The National Directorate of Security, Afghanistans main intelligence agency, said the attack was masterminded by Abu Ali, an IS commander in Nangarhars volatile Achin district. ISLAMABAD: The success of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs PML-N party in the recent elections to the legislative assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has given him a boost at a time when there are fears for the future of his government. Sharifs absence from Pakistan for medical treatment in the UK coincided with a furore over the Panama Papers leaks, in which his three children were named as owners of offshore assets. The opposition, spearheaded by Imran Khans Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf party, have been demanding an inquiry. Political observers say the military high command is now putting pressure on the Sharif government with the help of opposition parties. Already it has carried out a token side lining of generals accused of corruption. Now, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif wants the government to do the same. Khan has announced his party will organise a-sit-in-from-August outside the office soft he National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the anti-corruption watchdog. Waiting in the wings is Tahir-ul Qadri, the cleric whose supporters teamed up with Khan for the 2014 Islamabad dharna which nearly brought down the Sharif government. Qadri is back from Canada, where he is based, for another round of political confrontation. This time, however, it is not just Khans party and Qadris Pakistan Awami Tehreek that will be protesting. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari too has announced his Pakistan People s Party will protest against the government over what he calls rigging and strong arm tactics in the Po K elections. In 2014, the major parties stayed away from Khans dharna. The mood seems to have changed now. Some say Bilawal is in no mood to makeup with the Sharifs. Aside from political uncertainty, there is the growing confrontation between the army and the elected government over a number of issues, including corruption, foreign policy and terrorism at home. If these are not addressed, say some, the chances are the military will leverage opposition parties to oust Sharif in the months to come. SACRAMENTO: Leslie Van Houten, the youngest member of the Manson family to take part in a series of gruesome California murders in 1969, has been denied freedom again her past overshadowing her decades as a model prisoner. California Governor Jerry Brown on Friday overturned a parole board recommendation in April that found Van Houten, 66, was no longer the violent woman who helped slaughter a wealthy grocer and his wife. She remains an unacceptable risk to society if released, Brown wrote in a review that denied Van Houten parole for the 20th time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDON: Days before Britains EU referendum, former PM David Cameron made an appeal to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for limits on the free movement of people, the BBC reported on Saturday. As polls indicated immigration concerns were swaying the public towards supporting Brexit, the BBC said Cameron telephoned Merkel to ask if she was willing to issue a statement with other EU leaders agreeing to make concessions on free movement if UK voted to stay. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NICE: One of the prominent sights amid the sullen normalcy of the Promenade des Anglais soon after last weeks Bastille Day attack that killed 84 people was the large number of broadcast vans, TV crews and journalists, busy reporting the massacre to the world. As the name of the attacker was revealed Mohamed-Lahouaiej Bouhlel attention soon shifted to the neighbourhood of lAriane in northeast Nice ,10 km away from the sunny and sylvan tourist hotspot, where he lived. The media scrum, however, was not exactly welcome in the area. Suburbs such as lAriane or banlieues in French have acquired a stigma in public discourse and a sense of discrimination hangs heavy in the air. The media are seen as a key player in the relentless stereotyping that tarnishes the suburbs as the Other. Such suburbs across Francealso seen as ghetto sare mostly inhabited by immigrants from former French colonies in North Africa and predominantly Muslim. The 2005 riots in Paris began from the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, and rolled on for weeks before cooling off. Like Bouhlel, those involved in the 2005 Paris riot sort he November 2015 Paris attacks hailed from banlieues, which underwent major renovations since the rio ts, but what Prime Minister Manuel Valls calls social apartheid remains in place, physically and in public imagination. The cauldron of socio-economic deprivation, joblessness and lack of education fits the recent narrative ofIslamic radicalisation that conflates with the official narrative of security, framing the suburbs asbreeding grounds of terrorism. Over the years, the specific has been extrapolated to the general. Nihar Mehta, an Indian classical music performer in Nice, says: There is a serious problem of integration in certain communities. Not surprising that journalists are not welcome in the suburbs, because residents feel they paint the entire community as the villain. But the situation is quite complex. There have been reports of some Muslim youth in Nice and the region being attracted to the slick videos of the Islamic State, particularly in the town of Vallauris, west of Nice, since 2012, but they are seen as generalising the entire community in the Alpes-Maritimes area. The Nice massacre has reignited debate over the benefits and drawbacks of the French policy of assimilation towards minorities and immigrants, and Britains policy of multiculturalism both, however, have led to the same situation, where both countries face home-grown terrorism, revealing the limits of the one size fits all theory. Joseph Downing of the London School of Economics is no fan of the thesis of French suburbs as breeding grounds for terrorism , mainly because of its inability to explain why the vast majority ,99%, of those who experience similar marginal is at ion does not get involved with terrorism. Rather, the picture that emerges from all of the attackers is a complex picture of those with a significant criminal history and a history of emotional disturbance. However, again there are thousands of people of Muslim origin in France who have criminal records, and indeed who may have also experienced periods of poor mental health. Again, the vast majority do not turn to terrorism, he says. However, Downing adds this should not be taken as a dismissal of both social, in terms of discrimination, and economic, in terms of labour market, housing, and job prospects, issues that those of Muslim origin overwhelmingly face in France. Indeed, 30 years of near inaction by the French state have worked to entrench populations in extremely difficult living conditions where the promises of liberte, egalite,fraternite seem rather empty, he says. These communities desperately want to be part of mainstream French society, with the social, economic and cultural benefits that come with it, and it remains a challenge to not let recent events further marginalise these populations because of unsound explanations for terrorism. The last thing these communities need is further suspicion and discrimination. Concurs Birmingham City Universitys Imran Awan, who believes the Nice massacre shows this is a battle with extremists who are less inspired by religion and more by the socio-economic conditions they live in. Radicalisation is a complex phenomenon for which there is no single pathway. Many people are coming from different areas and backgrounds, and with different reasons for committing acts of terrorism and violence, he says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has picked Senator Tim Kaine, a strong supporter of India-US ties, as her running mate, her campaign announced on Friday. Kaine, 58, is a first-time senator from Virginia, a swing state that can potentially vote Democratic or Republican and will thus play a critical role in determining the outcome of the presidential election. The line-up for the 2016 presidential race is now complete Clinton and Kaine on the Democratic ticket facing Republican Donald Trump and his V-P pick Mike Pence. Clinton announced her pick in a tweet late on Friday evening: I m thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man whos devoted his life to fighting for others. -H Though called boring compared to some of the others on Clinton s shortlist, Kaine is a popular senator of a crucial state, and, as was pointed out by the nominee, he has never lost an election. He is a deeply religious Roman Catholic and is personally against abortion and capital punishment but did not allow that to influence his actions and decisions as an elected official. Kaine visited India in October 2014 Delhi and Mumbai as chairman of a senate foreign relations sub-committee. Just weeks before in June, Kaine joined three other senators to move are solution highlighting India-US ties. The resolution, which passed, also called for inviting newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just a few days in office then, to address the US Congress at the earliest. This resolution sends a strong signal about the importance of the US-India Strategic Partnership and the bipartisan support the relationship enjoys on Capitol Hill, Kaine said in a statement. Modi finally addressed the US Congress on his fourth visit here as prime minister in June 2016, but the 2014 call by the bi partisan group of senators was significant given the context. Mo di had been denied a visa to visit the US in 2005 as chief minister of Gujarat then under a law passed by the Congress sanctioning world leaders for alleged religious persecution. But Kaine has also been critical of India s handling of religious freedom, telling a state department official at a senate hearing it was really important one (as an issue) for us to stay up on. MUNICH: The teenager who shot dead nine people in a gun rampage in Munich was obsessed with mass killers like Norwegian rightwing fanatic Anders Behring Breivik and had no links to the Islamic State group, police said on Saturday. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week, after 18-year-old David Ali Sonboly went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre on Friday evening before turning the gun on himself. Officials said Sonboly, a German-Iranian student, had a history of mental illness. Interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the teenager had likely hacked a girls Facebook account and used it to lure victims to the McDonalds outlet where he began his rampage. I will give you whatever you want, for not a lot of money , the online invite read, according to German media reports. There is absolutely no link to the Islamic State, Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said, describing the assault as a classic act by a deranged person. Investigators see an obvious link between Fridays killings and Breiviks massacre of 77 people in Norway exactly five years earlier, Andrae added. Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her first reaction to the carnage, said Munich had suffered a night of horror. Most of the victims in Friday s attack were young people, with three aged just 14, police said. Prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said Sonboly had suffered depression, while media reports said he had undergone psychiatric treatment. The teenager had 300 rounds of ammunition in a rucksack when he targeted the busy Olympia shopping mall, just minutes away from the flat he shared with his family, according to authorities. Neighbours said Sonboly was born to Iranian parents, a taxi driver father and a mother who worked at a department store. They lived in the well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood in a tidy social housing block popular with immigrant families. Neighbour Delfye Dalbi, 40, described him as a helpful young man who was never bitter or angry, though others remembered a quiet loner. All his body language said I dont want to talk to you, said Stephan, a waiter at the cafe on the ground floor of the housing block. A police source cited by DPA news agency said Sonboly loved playing violent video games and was an admirer of the 17- year-old German who shot dead 15 people at his school near Stuttgart in 2009. LAHORE: The brother of slain Pakistani social-media sensation Qandeel Baloch told the police two other relatives helped him in the honour killing of his 26-year-old model-actress sister, officials said on Saturday. Muhammad Waseem, who allegedly drugged and then strangled his sister for the honour of the family, underwent a polygraph lie detector test here and told the police he made the plan to kill Qandeel with the assistance of a relative, Haq Nawaz, who was present when he strangled his sister while another relative Basit waited outside the house in a car, police said. Wasim said he and Haq Nawaz then fled in Basits car to Dera Ghazi Khan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GENEVA: Switzerland has seized a painting by Vincent Van Gogh and two others by Claude Monet as part of a global investigation into Malaysias scandal-tainted sovereign wealth fund, an official said on Friday. The works were seized following a request from the US, one of several countries probing alleged massive fraud at the Malaysian state fund 1MDB, said a Swiss justice ministry spokeswoman. Earlier this week, the US filed lawsuits seeking to reclaim more than $1bn in assets linked to stolen or laundered 1MDB funds. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: Top officials at the Democratic National Committee criticised and mocked Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont during the primary campaign, even though the organisation publicly insisted that it was neutral in the race, according to committee emails made public by Wikileaks on Friday. WikiLeaks posted almost 20,000 emails sent or received by a handful of top committee officials and provided an online tool to search through them. While Wikileaks did not reveal the source of the leak, the committee said last month that Russian hackers had penetrated its computer system. Among the emails released on Friday were several embarrassing messages that suggest the committees chairwoman, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, and other officials favoured Hillary Clinton over Sanders a claim the senator made repeatedly during the primary. The emails appear to bolster Sanders claims that the committee did not treat him fairly. His campaign accused the committee of scheduling debates on weekends so fewer people would see them. Historically, the Battle of Chickamauga is recorded as a two-day battle starting on September 19, 1863. For the men of Colonel John T. Wilders mounted infantry brigade, the fabled Lightning Brigade, the battle actually started a day earlier. And, as events would prove, the Lightning Brigade was not only one of the first units from the Army of the Cumberland to be engaged at Chickamauga, but also the last unit to leave the field. The men in the Lightning Brigade reflected the fighting spirit of their combative commander. John T. Wilder was an imaginative man who took great pride in his work and was determined to build one of the finest fighting units in the Union Army. Originally from New York, Wilder moved to Ohio when he was 19 and took a job as a draftsman and millwright in a mill in Columbus. Later, he moved to Greensburg, Ind., where he established his own foundry. He became an expert in hydraulic engineering, erecting numerous mills in the North and the upper South. When the Civil War started, Wilder was determined to form his own artillery battery, and he cast two cannons in his foundry. However, his application was turned downthe state of Indiana had already met its quota of artillery batteries. Undaunted, Wilder joined the 17th Indiana Infantry as a captain and was quickly appointed lieutenant colonel. As an infantry unit, the 17th Indiana constantly skirmished with Confederate cavalry. One day, frustrated because there was not enough Union cavalry to protect the infantry, Wilder ordered his men to mount mules used to pull the regiments supply wagons. The mules were not used to being ridden and did not take kindly to the foot soldiers attempts to ride them. As fast as the men mounted the mules, they were thrown off, much to the amusement of the men from other units who had gathered to watch. Wilder, however, was convinced that his men should be mounted, and he requested permission to do so. Three months later, on February 12, 1863, permission was granted. Wilders next goal was to provide his soldiers with the best weapons available, and he attended a demonstration of Christopher Spencers new repeating rifle. The Spencer had a tubular magazine that held seven rimfire cartridges and, it would soon prove to be one of the most deadly weapons in the Civil War. Wilder arranged for a bank loan back in Indiana to finance the purchase of the Spencers, while his men agreed to have money deducted from their pay to help reimburse their commander. In May 1863, Wilders men received their new rifles, becoming one of the first mounted infantry units in the Army of the Cumberland to be equipped with repeating rifles. Wilders brigade at the start of the Chickamauga campaign consisted of the 17th and 72nd Indiana and the 92nd, 98th and 123rd Illinois. The brigades artillery support was supplied by Captain Eli Lillys 18th Indiana Battery, which featured six 3-inch Rodman guns. The Lightning Brigade had been assigned to Maj. Gen. Joseph Reynolds division of Maj. Gen. George Thomas XIV Corps. However, the brigade had what amounted to an independent commission to support all three corps in Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans army during its advance through Middle Tennessee toward the strategic railroad town of Chattanooga, on the Georgia border. Confederate General Braxton Bragg planned to lure Rosecrans into a false sense of security, hoping to make him think that the Confederate army was demoralized and retreating toward Atlanta. To convince Rosecrans that his army was in bad shape, Bragg had some of his men pose as deserters and report that the Rebel army was demoralized and unable to offer any resistance to the swift Union advance. Braggs plan worked like a charm, and by early September Rosecrans army was spread out over a large area, with the three corps separated by 60 miles of mountainous, heavily wooded terrain. The rough terrain made it hard for the three corps to maintain contact. Each of the three corps commanders was operating in the dark, not knowing where the enemy army was located. In truth, Bragg had concentrated his army on the east side of Chickamauga Creek, hidden in the dense forest from the eyes of the Union army. While Federals laboriously inched southward, Braggs army was preparing for battle. Bragg had been heavily reinforced with two divisions from the Army of Mississippi and an entire corps from the Army of Northern Virginia. The original plan was to attack Thomas corps as it crossed Chickamauga Creek and began its climb up the Pigeon Mountain, and to crush the corps before help could arrive. Other segments of Braggs army would wait for Maj. Gen. Thomas Crittendens corps and then attack it. Finally, the full weight of the Confederate army would be brought down on Maj. Gen. Alexander McCooks corps, destroying the Army of the Cumberland corps by corps. By September 10, Rosecrans had begun to realize that Braggs army was not in retreat. Units from Thomas corps began to report the presence of large Rebel units. Major General James Negleys division encountered a strong Rebel force when it crossed the Chickamauga, and Negley was forced to retreat. Thomas reported back to Rosecrans that the enemy was no longer falling back in disarray, as they had been led to believe. Both Thomas and McCook were concerned about being spread so far apart. After consulting with Thomas, McCook started making plans to shift his corps northward and closer to Thomas corps. Wilders brigade was now attached to Crittendens corps and on September 11 had marched near Ringgold, Ga., where it had skirmished with Colonel J.S. Scotts brigade of Confederate cavalry, driving it toward Tunnel Hill, then skirmished for half an hour with a second Rebel force before driving the enemy back toward Buzzard Roost. The next day the brigade was ordered back to Ringgold. About four miles from its destination, the brigade encountered pickets from Brig. Gen. John Pegrams division of Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrests Confederate cavalry. The brigade attacked and drove Pegrams units down the road to LaFayette. Soon Wilder learned that Brig. Gen. Otto F. Strahls Confederate brigade was deployed across the road to Lee and Gordons Mill. Wilders brigade was cut off, virtually surrounded by enemy forces. Luckily for Wilder, the Confederates hesitated to attack his brigade, not knowing the composition of the Union force that had suddenly appeared in their midst. At dusk, Wilder ordered his men to build fires over a large area to make the enemy believe that a large force was camping for the night. While the 72nd Indiana and the 98th and 123rd Illinois formed a line of battle with Lillys battery, the 17th Indiana started searching for a way out. Scouts were sent out to round up some local inhabitants who were threatened with death if they failed to lead the Union forces out of the trap. By 8 p.m., the 17th Indiana had found a way out, and the brigade began to march north past the pickets of Strahls brigade. The brigade got out of the situation without losing a man. Wilders brigade reached Crittendens position about midnight, tired and exhausted from the long and arduous march, yet happy to have escaped certain capture. With more and more units reporting encounters with Rebel units, Rosecrans decided to unite his three corps, and messages were sent to Thomas and McCook to concentrate their forces on Crittendens corps. The Army of the Cumberland was still vulnerable to attackand now Bragg was ready to attack. On September 15, Bragg announced his final plans at a meeting of his senior officers. He intended to march northward and then west to interpose the army between Chattanooga and the Union forces. This would force Rosecrans to either fight or fall back across the Tennessee River to keep his supply line open. By September 17, the forces on both sides were moving northward, and it was only a matter of time before they would collide with each other. Rosecrans realized that the vital crossings over Chickamauga Creek needed to be defended, yet he was still not fully convinced that the Rebels had anything more than a few cavalry units in the area. To counter any threat by Confederate cavalry, he ordered Wilders brigade, along with Colonel Robert Mintys cavalry, to defend Reeds and Alexanders bridges. The two brigades were all that would stand in the way of Braggs effort to cut off the Union army from Chattanooga. To complicate matters, Wilders five regiments were now reduced to four. The 92nd Illinois had been sent to Missionary Ridge outside Chattanooga to guard the courier line for the army. Mintys brigade consisted of the 4th Michigan, 7th Pennsylvania and 4th U.S. Cavalry troops, along with a battalion of the 3rd Indiana. Supporting his brigade was a section from the famous Chicago Board of Trade Artillery Battery. Due to sickness and lack of fresh remounts, both the units were under strength. Mintys brigade numbered less than 1,100 men, while Wilders brigade numbered about 2,000. On the morning of September 17, Wilders brigade headed for Alexanders Bridge, three miles north of Lee and Gordons Mill, while Mintys brigade was sent to Reeds Bridge. Both commanders saw evidence of strong Confederate forces in the immediate area. Dust clouds could be seen rising from the east side of the creek. Minty reported his concerns to Crittenden, who discounted the reports, believing that it was only scattered Confederate cavalry. In spite of continued reports of increased Confederate activity in the area, the Union commanders failed to realize the importance of safeguarding the crossings over the Chickamauga, in effect leaving only two undersized brigades to defend the entire left flank of the army against 16,000 Confederates. During the night of September 17, Minty sent several worried dispatches to Crittenden, stating that he could hear train after train arriving at Ringgold and unloading Confederate infantry. Convinced that an attack was imminent, Minty had his men awakened before daylight. They fed their horses and ate their meal as the first rays of daylight came over the mountains. At daylight, the horses were saddled and the artillery harnessed. Camp was struck and the gear loaded and sent to the rear. At 5 a.m., Minty sent out two reconnaissance parties of 100 men each to try to locate the Rebels. Men of the 4th U.S. Regiment were sent toward Leets Tan Yard, and 100 men from the 4th Michigan and 7th Pennsylvania, under the command of Captain Hebert Thompson, were dispatched toward Ringgold. By 6 a.m., Thompson reported the enemy moving in force toward his position. Minty moved the 4th U.S., the 4th Michigan and a section of artillery east about a mile and a half to a ridge overlooking Pea Vine Valley. To buy more time, he reinforced his pickets and sent them halfway down the east slope of Pea Vine Ridge. Meanwhile, the Thompson scouting party fought a skirmish with units of Colonel John S. Fultons infantry brigade, supported by a battery of Georgia artillery. The intense musketfire, coupled with deadly artillery, forced Thompson and his men to fall back and take cover on Pea Vine Ridge. At 11 a.m., Minty sent the following message to Brig. Gen. Thomas Wood: Sir: The enemy has driven in my scouts from toward Ringgold and are following up apparently in force. Cavalry and infantry are reported. I am now skirmishing heavily. I have had one man killed and several wounded. Please report my signal to Generals Rosecrans and Crittenden. For the men of Wilders brigade, the morning of September 18 was clear and beautiful. The men had foraged for breakfast, and by midmorning the smell of eggs, bacon and chicken wafted over the area of Alexanders Bridge. Units of the 72nd Indiana and 123rd Illinois had been posted on the east side of the bridge to act as pickets. For time being all was quiet, until men of the 72nd Indiana who had been foraging on the east side of the creek returned suddenly, reporting Rebel infantry to the northeast. Boots and Saddles was blown by the buglers of each regiment, immediately followed by orders to fall in. The entire brigade took up positions in preparation for battle. From atop Pea Vine Ridge, Minty could see long lines of Confederate infantry marching toward Dyers Bridge and ford a mile to his north. Both crossings were unprotected. Minty sent a courier to Wilder asking him to send reinforcements to guard the crossing points. Shortly after 11 a.m., Wilder received Mintys request and promptly dispatched seven companies of the 72nd Indiana, along with the 123rd Illinois and a section of Lillys battery. After sending the units northward, Wilder deployed the 17th Indiana to the right of Alexanders Bridge, with the 98th Illinois on the left side. Dense woods in the immediate area around the bridge on the west side of the creek helped shield the two units. The creek at that point was narrow and deep with steep banks. The enemy had no choice but to try to take the bridge or find another place to ford the creek. Four hundred yards southwest of the bridge, the four remaining guns of Lillys battery were emplaced on a knoll. Wilder had fewer than 1,000 men to oppose 8,000 Confederate infantry, plus part of Forrests vaunted cavalry, all supported by artillery. At Reeds Bridge, the 123rd Illinois was deployed to occupy and hold Dyers Bridge, while the 72nd Indiana was sent to guard the ford farther downstream. As one company of the 72nd moved near the ford, it was ambushed by enemy troops who had already crossed the ford. A sharp skirmish ensued, driving the 72nd back toward Dyers Bridge. A few minutes later, the 72nd was ordered to withdraw and report back to Minty. Minty, in the meantime, had regrouped his command east of the bridge and ordered an advance against the lead elements of the enemy corps, driving them over the ridge and back into the Pea Vine Valley. The Confederates now established a crescent-shaped line that extended from the creek above Dyers Ford across the ridge into Pea Vine Valley. The men in gray numbered nearly 10,000, including 15 regimental stands of colors. Mintys men were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy and unable to hold on to the eastern side of the bridge. The best they could do would be to try to delay the Confederates as long as possible before withdrawing across the bridge. To that end, Minty formed a new line 500 yards east of the bridge with the 4th Michigan, two battalions of the 4th U.S. and the remaining companies of the 7th Pennsylvania. He ordered the artillery and one squadron of the 4th U.S. to set up an ambush near the bridge in a densely wooded patch. The rest of the 4th U.S. was ordered back across the bridge. There they formed on the high ground immediately west of the creek. As the Confederates swept by the Reed house on the battlefield, the ambush was sprung. The four guns of the Board of Trade Battery opened up on the surprised Rebels, raking them with double-shotted canister. When the Southerners stopped to redeploy, Minty sent the 4th Michigan across the bridge, followed closely by the 7th Pennsylvania. To cover the withdrawal, a squadron of the 4th U.S., led by the Lieutenant Wirt Davis, made a brave saber charge that gave the beleaguered cavalrymen time to get across the bridge. Crossing the bridge behind them, Davis and his men stopped under heavy fire and ripped up the flooring on the bridge, tossing the planks into the creek. Minty now formed a line on the high ground west of the bridge. For the next two hours his brigade held the entire Rebel force in check. But by 3 p.m. the Confederates had crossed the bridge, and other forces were finding shallow places to cross the creek as well. Seeing that he could no longer hold out against vastly superior numbers being brought to bear on his tired troopers, Minty sent word to the 123rd Indiana to withdraw, adding that he was unable to hold out much longer. Meanwhile, at Alexanders Bridge, Wilder and his two regiments were engaging another large Confederate force. At 10 a.m., a company of Southern infantry made the first attempt to cross the bridge, but was quickly driven back by the pickets of the 72nd Indiana. After the initial attack, members of the regiment ripped up the planking on the bridge and built a lunette fort on the west side of the bridge astride the road. Thirty-seven men from Company A then took up positions in the lunette, waiting for the next Confederate attack. Lillys battery of four rifled guns opened fire with long-range canister and percussion shells. Captain William Fowlers Alabama battery returned fire. One of the Rebel batterys first shells landed near Lillys No. 2 gun, ricocheting and hitting the corner of the Alexander house and bouncing back among members of the battery. Private Sidney Speed alertly ran over, picked up the live shell and hurled it over the log house, where it exploded harmlessly. For the next several hours, Wilders men traded fire with the 30th and 34th Mississippi, who had taken positions in a cornfield on the east side of the creek. The Confederates continued to charge the bridge, only to be driven back by Company A, reasonably secure in their lunette. For almost five hours, Wilders brigade held off the Rebel attack. But eventually Confederate units began to find places where they could cross without opposition. With Minty withdrawal from Reeds Bridge, the Southerners gained a secure foothold on the west side of the creek. At 4 p.m., Wilder reported the crossing of the enemy: The enemy are crossing [infantry and cavalry] Chickamauga Creek at Alexanders and Byrams Ford below. Colonel Minty has fallen back toward Roseville; has two of my regiments. Colonel Minty reports cannonading toward Cleveland last night. This forenoon a column of dust arose in Napier Gap; three hours in passing. A large camp fire is now seen at Napiers. The column that attacked me came through Napiers Gap; another column came from the direction of Peelers. Colonel Minty reports infantry flanking him on both flanks. Wilders men were being pressed from all sides. Time was rapidly approaching when they could no longer hold their position and would have to withdraw. Wilder had already received word from Minty that he was being forced to withdraw from Reeds Bridge. With Minty gone, the Confederates began streaming across Chickamauga Creek and heading south towards Alexanders Bridge and Wilders left flank. At 5 p.m., Lillys battery fired its last rounds, limbered up its guns and withdrew. The 17th Indiana covered their withdrawal, and the 98th Illinois slowly fell back, fighting as they withdrew. After these units started withdrawing, the men of Company A realized they would soon be surrounded and captured if they did not try to escape. The men knew that they could not all leave at once, so they decided to let two men at a time slip away. Sergeant Joseph A. Higinbotham, in running 30 yards, was shot five timesin the head, face, right arm, left side and right leg. Remarkably, he recovered from his wounds, but later died at Corinth, Miss, in January 1864. In all, the company lost two wounded, as well as 31 of their 37 horses killed. Wilders brigade fell back about three miles before stopping and setting up a new defensive line. There they threw up breastworks of fence rails, rocks and trees. The horses were sent to the rear, and the brigade prepared to meet another onslaught from the Confederate army. The 72nd Indiana and 123rd Illinois rejoined the brigade and were placed in line on the left. Mintys brigade took up positions to the right of Wilders brigade. Five Confederate brigades moved down the west bank toward Lee and Gordons Mill. Marching as fast as they could, they ran right into Wilders brigade. The Southern skirmish line was halted immediately by the deadly fire of the Lightning Brigades Spencer rifles. Captain Joseph Vale of Mintys command found General Crittenden, accompanied by General Wood and Wilder, at the Viniard house. He reported that Minty had been engaged since 7 a.m. Crittenden asked the captain: Who is it that is coming? What have you been fighting out there? Vale responded, Buckners corps, Hoods division of infantry and artillery, and some of Forrests cavalry. Crittenden refused to believe the report, saying, Wilder has come in with the same outlandish story; there is nothing in this country except Pegrams dismounted and Forrests mounted cavalry, with a few pieces of artillery. Minty himself rode up a few minutes later and reported to Crittenden that the Rebels were now on the west side of the creek and advancing toward his position. Crittenden, still believing that the enemy did not have such a force in front of them, ordered Wood to take a brigade of infantry and drive off the Rebel units. While Wood was organizing his brigade, Wilder and Minty rode back to their units. Wood moved his brigade up to Wilders position and, accompanied by Crittenden, rode up to Wilder and demanded to know where the enemy was. Wilder replied, Ride forward, General, ten paces, and you will see for yourself. Wood ordered his brigade to form a line of battle in front of Wilders men. Crittenden added a further dig at Wilder, smirking, Colonel, we expect to hear a good report for you. Woods infantry advanced into the woods and suddenly met a tremendous volume of musketry from both front and flank. The infantry broke and ran, bowling over Wilders and Mintys men in panic. Wilder turned to Minty and remarked loudly, Well, Colonel Minty, the general has got his report. Wilder and Minty then rushed forward to counter the enemy attack. Meanwhile, Wood galloped off toward Lee and Gordons Mill, but not before exclaiming, By Gad, they are here! The Confederates advanced toward the rail barricades behind which Wilders and Mintys men waited. When the Rebels got within 30 yards, Wilder ordered his men to open fire. Both brigades sent a hail of bullets from their Spencers into the enemy. The Confederates were cut down in droves. The graybacks wavered and fell back, leaving many casualties on the field. The survivors of the first attack re-formed in the tree line and emerged again with fresh units, advancing toward the men of the Lightning Brigade. As soon as they were close enough, the brigade again opened fire, supported by Lillys battery, and whole sections of the Confederate line ceased to exist. Again the Rebels were forced to withdraw to the safety of the woods. The Confederates gave up and broke off the attack around 10 p.m. For the men of Wilders and Mintys brigades, the fighting finally came to an end. The night of September 18 was cold and miserable, made even worse by the lack of blankets and food for the men because their horses had been moved to the rear, along with their bedrolls and equipment. No fires were allowed, so the exhausted men just lay down in their positions and went to sleep. All night long, as Wilders men tried to catch some sleep, the sounds of thousands of marching infantry and hundreds of caissons and wagons filled the night air. The entire Union army was on the march. Rosecrans had ordered a realignment of his three corps, and Thomas was ordered to march his XIV Corps north beyond Crittenden and extend the line northward in order to neutralize Braggs flanking maneuver. At 4 a.m., Wilder and Minty were relieved and moved their brigades to the west out of the Viniard house. For the first time in 24 hours the men and horses were fedsweet potatoes for the men and two ears of corn for each horse. Wilder and his officers met to discuss the actions of the previous day and to prepare plans for the upcoming battle. The day before they had been the left flank of the Union army. Now they found themselves protecting the right flank, as the Union forces had shifted position during the night. The bravery of the men of Wilders Lightning Brigade and Mintys cavalry had prevented total disaster from befalling the Army of the Cumberland. Without the valiant Union stand on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, the Confederate army would have swept down the Union flank, and the Battle of Chickamauga would have been lost on the very first day. Once again, the Spencer rifles had proved their worth. This article was written by Hubert Jordan and originally appeared in the July 1997 issue of Americas Civil War magazine. For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Americas Civil War magazine today! By John D. Pelzer For three long months, Major Robert Anderson and his besieged troops waited for reinforcements at Fort Sumter. Back in Washington, Union naval officer Gustavus Fox raced against time to organize just such a mission. The Union soldiers saw no one as they marched out of Fort Moultrie just after sunset on December 26, 1860, and made their way through the tiny town of Moultrieville, South Carolina, to the sea wall where their bobbing boats were moored. The election one month before of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln as president of the United States had caused a sense of crisis within the Federal garrison at Fort Moultrie. In the aftermath of the election, South Carolina had seceded from the Union, and the Northern soldiers knew it was only a matter of time before South Carolina asserted its claim to Fort Moultrie and the other forts guarding the approaches to Charleston Harbor. The decision to abandon Fort Moultrie and withdraw its garrison to the more defensible Fort Sumter had not been an easy one for the forts commander, Major Robert Anderson. The 56-year-old Kentuckian had taken command of Fort Moultrie only a month before. Officials in Washington reasoned that Anderson, a native Southerner, would do nothing to provoke war. Despite his Kentucky birth, Anderson was loyal to the Union and determined to do his duty. He became convinced that his command was vulnerable inside Fort Moultrie and that the best thing to do was to move the garrison to Fort Sumter, a large masonry fort on an artificial island overlooking the seaward approaches to Charleston. Anderson knew that if he were going to make the move he needed to do it soon. For two days, rumors had circulated that the rebellious South Carolinians had stationed a steamer in the waters off Charleston Harbor to prevent the Federal troops from escaping. Anderson desperately sought authorization from Washington to withdraw his command to Fort Sumter. I think I couldwere I to receive instructions so to do, throw my garrison into that work, Anderson wrote to Secretary of War Simon Cameron. Despite the urgency of his request, Anderson received no immediate response from Washington. Finally, on his own initiative and without orders, he withdrew his men to the island fortress on the day after Christmas 1860. It was my solemn duty to move my command from a fort which we could not have held longer than forty-eight or sixty hours, to this one, where my power of resistance is increased to a very great degree, he reported to Washington. The arrival of Anderson and his men certainly took the occupants of the fort by surprise. The civilian workmen at Fort Sumter were just settling down for the evening when a Union landing party appeared at their door. The Northern soldiers wasted no time securing their hold on the fort. There were doubts as to the true loyalty of many of Sumters civilian workers, and one of the first acts of Andersons men was to remove them from the fort. There was no parleying, no explaining; nothing but stern commands, silent astonishment, and prompt obedience, wrote Captain James Chester of the 3rd U.S. Artillery about the removal of the civilians. The workmen were on the wharf, outside the fort, before they were certain whether their captors were secessionists or Yankees. Andersons move to Fort Sumter had its drawbacks for the Union garrison. In the hasty evacuation of Fort Moultrie, most of Andersons supplies had to be left behind. The withdrawal forced Anderson, as he later wrote to Washington, to sacrifice the greater part of my stores as it is now too late to attempt their removal. The stage was set for a confrontation at Fort Sumter that no one wanted. The Union soldiers were well-protected in the fort, but they could only hold out as long as their supplies lasted. We have one [months] supply of hospital stores and about four months supply of provisions for my command, Anderson reported to Washington about the situation at Fort Sumter. If Anderson and his men were to hold the fort for long against the Southerners, they would soon have to receive supplies and reinforcements. Efforts to do so were both halfhearted and slow in coming. On the evening of Saturday, January 5, 1861, a force of 200 men, under the command of U.S. Army Lieutenant Charles R. Wood, boarded the steamer Star of the West at Governors Island in New York Harbor and immediately sailed for Charleston. Four days later, Star of the West approached within two miles of Fort Sumter before Southerners opened fire from a masked battery at the north end of Morris Island. A brisk fire was kept up on us by the battery as long as we remained within range, but, fortunately, without damage to us, Wood later said in his report about the unsuccessful effort to reach Fort Sumter. Union Captain Abner Doubleday watched the entire encounter through his spyglass from inside Fort Sumter. He first noticed Star of the West when she passed over the bar at the entrance to Charleston Harbor just after first daylight. Doubleday immediately notified Anderson, who ordered Fort Sumters barbette guns to be manned. By the time Doubledays men were in position, however, the Southern guns at Fort Moultrie had already opened fire on the approaching relief ship. Despite the drama taking place before his eyes, Doubleday could do little to aid the Northern steamer. Anderson had ordered the guns to be manned but had not authorized them to fire on Fort Moultrie. Without supporting fire from the fort, Wood reluctantly ordered Star of the West to withdraw. Finding it impossible to take my command to Fort Sumter, I was obliged most reluctantly to turn about and to try and make my way out of the harbor, Wood later reported. This, too, Doubleday witnessed through his spyglass, reporting that Star of the West turned about and steamed seaward. Following the failure of Star of the West to reach the fort, indecisive officials in Washington vacillated over what policy to pursue. Fearing further efforts would provoke intense Confederate retaliation, little was done to reinforce and resupply Andersons men. In February, U.S. Navy Captain James Ward proposed a plan for several light-draft steamers loaded with men and provisions to run past the Confederate guns and land at Fort Sumter. It was a daring plan that called for Ward and his men to abandon their steamers and join Andersons beleaguered garrison inside Fort Sumter. He proposed to employ four or more small steamers belonging to the U.S. Coastal Survey to make the landing. Many officials in Washington felt that Wards plan had every prospect of success. Nonetheless, outgoing President James Buchanan, fearing the operation might provoke a Confederate attack upon Fort Sumter, refused to authorize the plan. We have the opinion of General [Winfield] Scott that he has no doubt that Captain Ward at that time would have succeeded with his proposed expedition, Secretary of War Cameron reported to Lincoln, but was not allowed by the late President to attempt the execution of the plan. Not everyone accepted the governmental inaction. Among the supporters of firm action was a former U.S. naval officer named Gustavus V. Fox. Born in Massachusetts in 1821, Fox entered the Navy as a midshipman in 1838. His subsequent service, including duty on coastal survey ships and during the Mexican War, proved him to be an able officer. Nonetheless, Fox left the Navy in 1856 with the rank of lieutenant to enter the wool-manufacturing business. Despite his early departure from the Navy, Fox retained a good reputation among military authorities in Washington. General Scott, for one, described him as an ex-officer of the Navy, a gentleman of high standing, as well as possessed of extraordinary nautical ability. Foxs plan to relieve Fort Sumter was a straightforward one. He proposed to anchor three small warships off Charleston Harbor near the entrance to Swash Channel, about four miles from the beleaguered fort. To avoid the obstructions at the harbors entrance, soldiers and provisions would be transferred from a large, oceangoing steamer to small, armed launches that would be towed to Fort Sumter by three steam tugs that were to accompany the expedition from New York. Foxs plan was not without risk. To reach Fort Sumter, the launches and tugs had to pass within 1,300 yards of the Confederate batteries on nearby Morris and Sullivans islands. Moreover, Fox believed that the failure of Star of the Wests expedition made his own task even more difficult. The Southerners, he felt, would have surely taken precautions to prevent a similar attempt to relieve Fort Sumter. Since the repulse of the steamer Star of the West at Charleston it may be assumed that all channels over the bar are obstructed, Fox wrote. Nonetheless, he remained optimistic that the boats and light-draft tugs could avoid such obstacles. As the bar is more than four miles in length, said Fox, the spaces between these channels are too extensive to be closed. Foxs plan met with enthusiastic approval from his civilian friends. He first explained his plan to George W. Blunt of New York. Convinced of its prospects for success, Fox and Blunt then enlisted the aid of Charles H. Marshall, who agreed to furnish and provision the necessary vessels without arousing suspicion. The response of Federal authorities in Washington to Foxs plan was less enthusiastic. In February, Fox was called to Washington to explain the plan to Scott, who reported upon it favorably. In the end, however, the plan was rejected because Buchanans administration decided to take no action to relieve Fort Sumter. The plan was better received, however, by advisers of President Lincoln, who was inaugurated on March 4, although they, too, initially rejected it. Scott now worried that the increased number of Southern batteries erected at Charleston since February made the plan impractical. But the initiative and daring of Foxs scheme impressed the new president. On March 19, 1861, Fox was dispatched to Charleston to visit Fort Sumter. Our Uncle Abe Lincoln has taken a high esteem for me, Fox wrote to his wife, and wishes me to take dispatches to Major Anderson at Fort Sumter with regard to its final evacuation and to obtain a clear statement of his condition which his letters, probably guarded, do not fully exhibit. The trip gave Fox the opportunity to observe firsthand the situation at Fort Sumter. Upon his return to Washington, he finally won over those who were skeptical of his plan. With the help of Commodore Silas H. Stringham, the Navy Departments detailing officer, Fox finally convinced Lincoln of the rescue plans viability. On March 30, the president dispatched Fox to New York with instructions to prepare for the voyage to Charleston. During the preceding months, Fox had endured seemingly endless delays. Now, with the authorization in hand to proceed with the mission, he was forced to mount his relief expedition in great haste. In all, Fox had only nine days to assemble and prepare his force to sail. Some of the preparations were completed with relative ease. Fox immediately engaged the services of the large civilian steamer Baltic to carry the bulk of his expedition. Other elements of Foxs plan did not come together so easily, however. The Navy had placed all its commissioned ships in the Atlantic waters at Foxs disposal, ordering the naval warships Powhatan, Pocahontas and Pawnee and the revenue cutter Harriet Lane to be placed in readiness for sea service. Preparing the naval warships for the mission, however, proved no easy task. The 2,415-ton side-wheel steamer Powhatan, for instance, had already been decommissioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and her crew transferred to the receiving ship North Carolina by the time orders arrived for the vessel to join Foxs force. Crew members with less than a year remaining on their enlistments were expecting to be discharged, and many of the officers had already departed on leave. The demands of Foxs mission, however, meant that all leaves, transfers and discharges were canceled, and all crew members were ordered to return to the ship. Hiring the tugboats for the mission proved to be the most difficult task of all for Fox. Because obvious danger surrounded the endeavor, Northern shipowners were reluctant to lend their tugs to the cause. Only the payment of the most exorbitant rates, Fox complained, finally secured the services of three tugsYankee, Uncle Ben and Thomas Freeborn. Other problems also plagued Foxs preparations. The quality of the troops provided by the U.S. Army for the mission left something to be desired. Fox later complained that the soldiers were totally unfit to be thrown into a fort likely to be attacked by the rebels. Fortunately for Fox, obtaining supplies to provision Fort Sumter was a simpler task. He found a staunch supporter in Major Amos B. Eaton of the Commissary Department, who thanked God that an attempt was made to relieve Major Andersons command and immediately provisioned for all contingencies. Finally, when all preparations for Foxs mission were complete, the various vessels sailed for Charleston. Each made its way south separately. On April 6 the frigate Powhatan, under the command of Captain Samuel Mercer, prepared to sail from New York. Other vessels, including the revenue cutter Harriet Lane and tugs Uncle Ben and Yankee, soon made their way south. The sloop of war Pawnee, under the command of Commander Stephen C. Rowan, sailed from Norfolk, Va., on April 9. Baltic, with Fox on board, dropped down to Sandy Hook at the mouth of New York Harbor on the evening of April 8 and put out to sea the following morning. Almost from the beginning, the weather played havoc with the carefully laid plans. Soon after the steamer Baltic sailed, a heavy gale set in, badly scattering the expeditions vessels and delaying the arrival of Foxs force. When Baltic arrived at Charleston at 3 a.m. on April 12, only Harriet Lane had completed the voyage. By 6 a.m., Pawnee joined the force, but her orders limited her usefulness. Fox boarded the vessel to ask Commander Rowan to stand in toward shore, but the captain could not comply because his orders required him to remain 10 miles east of the lighthouse and await Powhatans arrival. Meanwhile, the Confederates had opened fire on Fort Sumter at 4:30 a.m. on April 12. Bad weather was not the only problem plaguing Foxs mission. Complications with her owners prevented the tug Thomas Freeborn from ever sailing from New York. Another tug, Uncle Ben, did sail from New York, only to be seized by the Confederates after the gale drove her to seek shelter at Wilmington, N.C. Of the tugs, only Yankee reached Charleston Harbor, and even her arrival was delayed by rough weather. Poor communications in Washington proved to be the biggest obstacle to Foxs plan. Fort Sumter was not the only Federal-held fort in Southern territory that was threatened by the Confederates. The strategically vital forts along Floridas Gulf CoastFort Taylor at Key West, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas and Fort Pickens at Pensacolaalso required Federal attention. To support those forts, a relief expedition similar to Foxs was being fitted out under the command of Navy Lieutenant David D. Porter. Secretary of State William H. Seward, without the knowledge of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, had obtained Lincolns authorization to divert Powhatan to the gulf expedition. Just as she was preparing to sail from New York on April 6, Powhatan was ordered to leave the Charleston expedition and was sent to sea as part of the expedition to the Gulf of Mexico. Powhatans transfer had a devastating impact on Foxs mission. The Northern warship carried the armed launches and crews necessary to land troops and supplies from Baltic. To make matters worse, Fox did not learn of Powhatans diversion until April 13, a week after it had taken place. Despite the absence of Powhatan and her boats, Fox was determined to salvage what he could of his operation. He still had one serviceable boat and crew, and despite the heavy seas and continuing gale, Fox was finally ready to attempt a landing at the beleaguered fort. Circumstances, however, eventually forced Fox to abandon even that faint hope. On the foggy morning of Saturday, April 13, Fox transferred to Pawnee and witnessed firsthand the scene at the embattled Fort Sumter. Union resistance inside the fort was clearly waning. Confederate fire had devastated the beleaguered fortress. As we drew near [Pawnee] I saw, with horror, black volumes of smoke issuing from Sumpter [sic], Fox later reported. The barbarians, to their everlasting disgrace be it said, redoubled their fire, and through the flames and smoke the noble band of true men continued their response. Pocahontas finally arrived off Charleston at 2 p.m. that afternoon, and with the arrival of the Northern warship, all was ready for Foxs plan to proceed. I had everything ready, Fox later reported, boats, muffled oars, small packages of provisions, in fact everything but the 300 sailors promised to me by the [department]. Pocahontas, however, had arrived too late. At the same time the warship was arriving, the defenders inside the fort decided that they could hold out no longer. The fort had withstood 34 hours of bombardment, and Major Anderson felt that it was in no condition to withstand any more. The quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat, he reported. When a Confederate cannonball shot away the Federal flag flying high above Fort Sumter, it was not replaced. The time had come for Anderson to surrender his command. Fox and his expedition had come very close to accomplishing their rescue mission. If the men and supplies aboard Baltic had been able to land, Anderson and his men might have held out much longer. Had the Powhatan arrived [on] the 12th, we should have had the men and provisions into Fort Sumpter [sic], Fox later lamented. In the end, however, it was not to be. With the surrender of Anderson and his men, there was nothing else for Fox and his men to do. He entered the harbor under a flag of truce and offered passage north for Anderson and his command when their Southern captors chose to release them. On Sunday, April 14, Anderson and his 60 men formally turned Fort Sumter over to the Confederates. During the surrender ceremonies, Anderson attempted to fire a 100-gun salute to the flag. A premature explosion of one of the cannons killed two of his men and wounded three others. Ironically, they were the only Northern casualties during the entire battle. The Southern victors did not hold Anderson and his men captive for long. At noon the following day, the Northern prisoners were transported out into Charleston Harbor aboard the Southern steamer Isabel. There, Anderson and his men were transferred to Baltic for the voyage north with Fox and his expedition. Foxs failure to rescue Fort Sumter was a bitter disappointment to the Northern officer. Watching the surrender of Fort Sumter from aboard Baltic, Fox found the scene galling. I had the mortification of witnessing the surrender of the Fort with no part of my proposed plan arrived, Fox laterreported. The failure made the Northern sailor resentful. As for our expedition, somebodys influence has made it ridiculous, he later wrote. Nonetheless, Foxs efforts in planning and commanding the expedition to relieve Fort Sumter won him the admiration of Lincoln and Secretary of the Navy Welles. I most cheerfully and truly declare that the failure of the undertaking has not lowered you a particle while the qualities you developed in the effort have greatly heightened you in my estimation, Lincoln wrote to Fox. For a daring and dangerous enterprise of a similar character you would to-day be the man, of all acquaintances, whom I would select. Despite such praise from high places, the secrecy surrounding the mission to relieve Fort Sumter kept Foxs part in the plan from becoming widely known. Under no circumstances is any mention of it whatever to get into the papers, Fox wrote to his wife. The whole affair is in able hands and in due time will appear. Lack of public recognition did not keep Fox from having a distinguished wartime career, however. On May 9, he was appointed chief clerk of the Navy, and on August 1, Lincoln appointed him assistant secretary of the Navy, a position he held for the remainder of the war. As assistant secretary, Fox proved to be a superb planner and administrator. Few Northerners would ever know of Foxs daringif unsuccessfulplan to reinforce and supply the Northern garrison at Fort Sumter. Like much of the action in the first chaotic days of the war, it would soon be overshadowed by the inexorable march of even more dramatic and bloody events. In some ways, Gustavus Fox was the hero that never was. * Delaware native John D. Pelzer writes frequently on the subject of naval warfare in the Civil War. For further reading, see: The Civil War at Sea, by Virgil Carrington Jones; or Sumter: The First Day of the Civil War, by Robert Hendrickson. [ Top | Cover Page ] After the war, Tex Beneke, under an agreement with the Miller estate, formed a new Glenn Miller Band that enjoyed considerable recording success. During the early 1950s Beneke gave his own name to the band. The success of the 1954 movie The Glenn Miller Story led to the formation of a new, authorized Glenn Miller Orchestra, which has been in continuous existence for nearly forty years and averages about three hundred engagements a year. Each year the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society hosts a music festival in Clarinda in honor of the towns famous son. The June 1994 event attracted Miller enthusiasts from thirty-seven states and more than ten countries. Musical aggregations from Japan and the Netherlands joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, and others paying tribute to the Miller sound. Plans are already underway for the 1995 festival to be held June 8-10. A foundation established by the bandleaders daughter also has purchased his Clarinda birthplace, restored it to its 1904 appearance, and opened it as a museum containing family memorabilia and mementos of the Big-Band era. For information on the home or festival contact the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, P.O. Box 61, Clarinda, Iowa 51632, 712-542-2461. Millers brief association with the University of Colorado is memorialized by the Glenn Miller Archive at that institution, which, as the authorized repository of Miller memorabilia, preserves and displays the major collection of his papers, records, and photographs, as well as two of his trombones. Miller had composed the score for Moonlight Serenade while attending an arranging class at New York University. The original manuscript bore the simple title Millers Tune. Glenn subsequently renamed his composition Now I Lay Me Down to Weep and wrote some lyrics which, as the title would indicate, were too sad to have been very popular. Finally introduced in 1938 under the name by which it is now remembered, Moonlight Serenade became the most memorable and recognizable of the Big-Band theme songs. Chattanooga Choo-Choo, introduced in Sun Valley Serenade, became the first gold record ever awarded when RCA presented a commemorative gold 78-r.p.m. copy to Miller on his Chesterfield Radio Show on February 10, 1942. Sales of the pressing had just gone over the 1,200,000 markthe highest total for a record since 1928. (Todays recordings qualify for the gold at 500,000 copies.) Millers original gold record is now one of the artifacts displayed in the Glenn Miller Archive at the University of Colorado. Under the leadership of Millers assistants, the band continued its operations in Europe. By the time it returned to the U.S. in June 1945, the band had made an estimated three hundred personal appearances on the Continent before more than 600,000 people. In a development that has caused, shock, awe and surprise in equal measure across the world, Barack Obama's half brother Malik Obama announced today that he would be voting for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential elections later on this year. For those wondering, whether this is an indictment on the Obama administration then they are not mistaken since Malik Obama stated that in spite of being a Democrat, he has been left disappointed with his brother's policies and hence he is backing Trump. Malik Obama stated, "I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him." He will travel to the United States in November from his village in Kenya in order to cast his vote. According to a report on FOX NEWS, "Obama, 58, a longtime Democrat, said his "deep disappointment" in his brother Barack's administration has led him to recently switch allegiance to "the party of Lincoln. The last straw, he said, came earlier this month when FBI Director James Comey recommended not prosecuting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her use of a private e-mail servers while secretary of state." On the matter of Mrs. Clinton's usage of private e-mail servers, he said, "She should have known better as the custodian of classified information," The New York Post reported that he was not impressed with his brother and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton's role in the killing of Libya's Moammar Khadafy. He was quoted as saying, "I still feel that getting rid of Khadafy didn't make things any better in Libya. My brother and the secretary of state disappointed me in that regard." He added that the legalisation of same sex marriage has also made his decision easier since he does not think same sex marriages should be legal. On that matter, he stated, "I feel like a Republican now because they don't stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me,". These are definitely testing times for the Democrats and a huge endorsement for Donald Trump. After learning about the endorsement, he tweeted, "Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!" @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Barely a day passes that the Repeal the 8th movement isnt in the headlines. This week, a mural on the wall of the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar, with the slogan 'Repeal the 8th' has attracted some controversy. The artwork, offending or otherwise, was commissioned by Hunreal Issues, a new website that aims to share womens issues with a wider audience and painted by renowned urban artist Maser. It is not the first mural to appear outside the Centre, but it is definitely the most controversial. Its predecessor was a big YES mural to honour the marriage referendum, which curiously didnt receive any complaints. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Brian Williams is an African-American trauma surgeon at Dallas' Parkland Hospital. He was in charge of Parkland's emergency room on July 7 when seven injured police officers, victims of a shooting spree in the city's downtown, arrived at the hospital. He choked back tears as he described how three officers died at the hospital: "I think about it every day, that I was unable to save those cops when they came here that night." But there's more to his story. Williams told the Associated Press that he has been stopped by police over the years and lives in fear that he could be killed. At a traffic stop, he ended up "spread eagle" on the hood of a cruiser. A few years ago, he was stopped by an officer and questioned as he stood outside his apartment complex waiting for a ride to the airport. After describing his grief over the officers who died, Williams said, "I want the Dallas Police Department to see I support you. I defend you. I will care for you. That does not mean I will not fear you." It doesn't have to be this way. In the aftermath of the events in Dallas, and other tragic police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, Christians can take steps to help our nation become the "United" States our founders envisioned. Step 1: Admit our problem Seventy percent of Americans say race relations are bad in our country. Six in 10 believe race relations are growing worse, up from 38 percent a year ago. Among the facts suggesting racism persists in America: A black man is three times more likely to be searched at a traffic stop and six times more likely to go to jail than a white man. Blacks serve up to 20 percent more time in prison than white people for the same crimes. Blacks are 38 percent more likely to be sentenced to death than white people for the same crimes. While these stats often are presented in the context of policing and justice, the racism debate extends into America's churches as well: Only 32 percent of white pastors strongly agree that "my church is involved with racial reconciliation at the local level." Fifty-three percent of African-American pastors strongly agree with this statement. Only 56 percent of evangelicals believe "people of color are often put at a social disadvantage because of their race." Eighty-four percent of blacks agree with this statement. A recent study showed that 86 percent of America's churches are composed of one predominant racial group. Martin Luther King Jr. was right, Sunday morning at 11 o'clock is still the most segregated hour in America. Step 2: Be the church When former President George W. Bush spoke at a memorial service in Dallas for our city's slain police officers he made this remarkable point: "Americans, I think, have a great advantage. To renew our unity, we only need to remember our values. We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit, by shared commitments to common ideals." Many nations find their unity in a monolithic racial heritage, culture or history. But America has never been about such uniformity. From the beginning, we were home to Protestants and Catholics and Jews, immigrants from across Europe and around the world. Bush went on, "At our best, we honor the image of God we see in one another. We recognize that we are brothers and sisters, sharing the same brief moment on Earth and owing each other the loyalty of our shared humanity." In other words, the closer we draw to our Father, the closer we draw to each other. That's why the gospel of God's reconciling love is the only transforming answer to the challenges we face. Legislation improved life for those who faced legalized discrimination. But laws cannot change people. Only the Spirit can do that. As a result, Christians are on the front lines of this spiritual battle for the soul and future of our nation. The time has come for the church to be the church. Step 3: Never give up Scripture is clear: God created man in his own image. Early Christians believed this transforming truth. In the second century, Justin Martyr said of his fellow Christians, "We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies." Clement of Alexandria described the true Christian this way, "He impoverishes himself out of love, so that he is certain he may never overlook a brother in need, especially if he knows he can bear poverty better than his brother." Tertullian, a second-century theologian, reported that Romans would exclaim, "See how they love one another!" Now it's our turn. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The men behind Frog Fitness know they have some convincing to do. The "Frog," a piece of mobile fitness equipment, is a peculiar-looking contraption. Users are down on all fours with their feet in stirrups and hands on a front bar. Wheels on each side propel the Frog forward, but engaging the core muscles creates the motion. Both feet and arms work together for a full body interval workout. Resistance bands, which can vary from 20 to 240 pounds, on both sides can increase or decrease the intensity. And you look like a frog doing it. Just 10 minutes, according to Frog Fitness president Clark Bartram, is all you need to get the heart rate up and the sweat flowing. "The Frog eliminates the time excuse most people have when it comes to working out," says Bartram, a former U.S. Marine, fitness model, actor and trainer. "I can workout completely head-to-toe in 10 minutes with this. Every muscle fires. This is a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout at its finest." Bartram lives in San Diego and travels monthly to the new Frog Fitness headquarters and gym in The Woodlands. The 12,000-square-foot facility, which opened in June, offers Frog Fitness training, as well as traditional gym equipment, boxing and martial arts. There's also a 4,000-square-foot turf field and stadium-style bleachers for up to 150 guests for Frog training, classes, seminars and races. More Information Frog Fitness Cost: $120 unlimited for use of the gym and Frog training Where: 2408 Timberloch Place, Suite C8 in The Woodlands Contact: 844-837-6443 or frogfitness.com Frog Fitness Cost: $120 unlimited for use of the gym and Frog training Where: 2408 Timberloch Place, The Woodlands Contact: 844-837-6443 or frogfitness.com See More Collapse Frog Fitness was created by The Woodlands resident Richard Pearce, a former software developer and body builder who happened to watch a friend who was a body building champion work out in the gym by doing leg presses on one machine, then abs on another. Pearce went home and began working on an idea to create a piece of mobile equipment that could duplicate many exercises in one movement. It has taken about five years and a significant investment in research and development for the Frog to become reality. At the facility, Bartram positions himself onto the machine to demonstrate four key exercises: core killers (similar to a pike), superman (shoulder press overhead), leapers (overhead squats) and mojos (a combo of the superman and leapers). Even though the gym is state-of-the-art, the air conditioning is often turned off to produce a more intense workout. "So many people are used to doing hourlong cardio sessions, and they have a hard time believing you can do a 10-minute workout out and be done." Because the Frog exercises are done horizontal, there's little pressure on the knees and hips, and it also works out the front and back of the body simultaneously. Bartram and Pearce have dubbed it "The next big thing in fitness." Bartram says the Pittsburgh Steelers are using a dozen Frogs to train its players. The Louisiana State University football team and several NBA players are using the equipment. Houston Texans' Jadeveon Clowney uses it, as well, Bartram says. The Frog sells for $1,495 and can fold into a car back seat. Woodlands resident Dana Clark read about the Frog in a neighborhood newspaper and wanted to try it. "I'm always changing my mode of exercise, and I've been working out all of my life and have never seen anything like this," said Clark, a former fitness trainer who worked with famed fitness trainer Tony Little and was featured in one of Little's videos for his "Gazelle" equipment. "I like that you can get a total body workout in a shorter amount of time. I think it's versatile for anyone," Clark said. Siblings Cathya and Daniel Rivera (he is training for the Junior Olympics in hurdling) tried the Frog for the first time. "I thought it looked strange and hard, but it's more fun and hard. I think it will help me with my goals," Cathya Rivera said. The Frog also can be adjusted to stand vertically so users can do standing bicep curls, upright rows, shoulder presses and dead lifts. But there are skeptics, said Bartram, referencing a recent Frog Fitness event in Las Vegas, in which fitness professionals were invited to try the device for free. "People were talking trash about the Frog," he said, "until they tried it." joy.sewing@chron.com twitter.com/joysewing This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Islamic State claimed a bombing that left at least 80 people dead Saturday at a peaceful demonstration in the Afghan capital of Kabul, raising fears that the group may be extending its reach beyond the country's eastern pockets, where it generally operates. The Afghan Interior Ministry, in a statement, said the attack on thousands of Hazaras, an ethnic minority group staging the protest, had been a suicide mission. "The attack was carried out by three suicide bombers: The first person carried out a blast, the second one failed at his detonation and the third terrorist was killed in shooting by the security forces," the ministry said. The second assailant was presumed to be at large, a security official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss intelligence matters. At least 231 people at the protest were wounded. The demonstrators had gathered in the west of Kabul to demand that a proposed electricity transmission line be routed through Bamian, a Hazara-dominated province in central Afghanistan. The Islamic State, in a statement on the group's Amaq News Agency, claimed the carnage as a "martyrdom attack on Shias." Officials saw the Islamic State's first assault on the Afghan capital as retaliation for operations by Afghan ground forces and U.S. airstrikes that have intensified in recent weeks, targeting the group's stronghold in eastern Nangarhar province. Terrorized for months Afghan security officials said that while Kabul remained under constant insurgent threat, they had no intelligence of a particular threat to the protest. After the attack, officials intercepted information from Islamic State commanders in the Achin district, the group's base in eastern Afghanistan where villagers have been terrorized for months, congratulating each other for the carnage, the security official said. President Ashraf Ghani, appearing on national television to announce a day of mourning, called the bombing a "cowardly attack on the freedoms of our citizens." In meetings with religious leaders and his security team, he said the attack had been the work of the Islamic State. Tadamichi Yamamoto, the U.N. envoy to Afghanistan, said the deliberate targeting of a large group of civilians amounted to a war crime. "This incident is an outrage that cannot be justified," Yamamoto said. "It is an attempt to spread terror amongst civilians and stifle the freedoms that Afghans have sacrificed so much to obtain." Much of the city had been under lockdown before the protesters came out early Saturday. Ghani's government had stacked shipping containers to block routes to the presidential palace in anticipation of the demonstration. The Hazaras have only in the past decade tried to shake off a long history of oppression. The protest leaders said the government remained rife with "systematic bias" against the Hazaras and had deprived the central Afghan region not only of electricity, but also of the roads and other infrastructure. The government has rejected the claims, saying the route of the transmission line was decided purely on technical grounds and that Bamian would still be provided with electricity. (Government officials, who said they had increased efforts to address the plight of central Afghanistan in the past two years, consider the protests manipulated by the political opposition.) A sign printed on a piece of paper and held by an older woman proved hauntingly ominous: "Do not eliminate us," it read. After the explosion, pictures circulated of the sign covered in spots of blood and lying by the side of the road, next to a small green umbrella and human flesh. The fate of the woman was unclear. Muhammad Ali, a protester whose clothes were covered in blood, said he had loaded dozens of dead bodies into trucks. "People were going toward a prayer break when two explosions happened - one near the truck where speeches were given," Ali said. Hundreds of protesters returned to the site after the attack, cordoning off the area with a large Afghan flag they had carried in their march, lowering the cordon only to allow ambulances to pass. When the armored vehicle of a government official approached, angry men chased it away. As tempers flared at the government, protesters also pushed away anti-riot police forces who had provided security earlier in the day. Later in the evening, protest leaders argued around a candlelight vigil over whether to bury the dead or display their coffins at a protest in the coming days. The large flag, laid on the ground by then, became a display surface for objects left behind: women's sneakers, notebooks, backpacks, articles of clothing. New brand of terror Saturday's attack was one of the deadliest in the past 15 years on the Hazaras, a largely Shiite group. In December 2011, a suicide bombing in a Shiite shrine in Kabul killed at least 63 people, mostly Hazaras. The emergence of ISIS affiliates in late 2014 and early 2015 in eastern and small areas of southern Afghanistan was seen as a splintering in the Taliban insurgency. Though the new groups engaged in the Islamic State's cruel style of violence, security officials said they saw little sign of communications with the terror network's headquarters in Iraq and Syria. Instead, the local groups were mostly former Pakistani and Afghan Taliban who had embraced the new brand of terror from a distance. Ghani had declared ISIS affiliates in Afghanistan defeated in March, but the group's re-emergence forced him to travel to Nangarhar province just last week and order his commanders to intensify their efforts. Salim Khan Kunduzi, the governor of Nangarhar, said operations against the group were being carried out across several districts. "We are fighting with our full force," Kunduzi said. "The Afghan army, the Afghan air forces and commandos are fighting against them." It's easy to understand why Gov. Greg Abbott would propose legislation making the targeted killing of a law-enforcement officer a hate crime in Texas. Almost anything to help prevent the horror of police officers being ambushed as they were in Dallas or Baton Rouge would seem to be appropriate. "At a time when law enforcement officers increasingly come under assault simply because of the job they hold, Texas must send a resolute message that the state will stand by the men and women who serve and protect our communities," the governor said in a statement last week. Under his proposed Police Protection Act, Abbott would extend to police officers the same strengthened penalties that the state's hate-crimes statute provides for crimes motivated by race, religion, sex, disability and sexual orientation. A hate crime is defined in part as a crime intended to harm not only a victim but also by extension an entire group of people. Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg offered the example recently of an interracial couple who finds a burning cross on their front lawn. The crime intimidates not just the intended victims but all interracial couples. Texans do, indeed, stand by their police officers, but a deeper examination of Abbott's proposal would suggest that codifying the murder of a police officer as a hate crime is unlikely to accomplish what he intends. The state's hate-crime law, enacted in response to the notorious dragging death of James Byrd, Jr., in 1998, has been used only a few times, in part because it's hard to prove hate. The hate-crime label also is unlikely to have a deterrent effect, since an individual crazed enough or desperate enough to kill a cop is not likely to be considering the consequences. Killing a police officer in Texas already is a capital offense, punishable by life in prison or execution. If the governor or state lawmakers want to provide additional protections for police officers, beyond the largely symbolic gesture of attaching the hate-crimes label, a more sensible alternative would be to roll back the state's open-carry provision. Police officers have made that very request, although they must realize, as do we, that the right to openly carry a weapon of death is a cause the gun lovers among us hold with near fanatical zeal. To Second Amendment absolutists it matters not a whit that open carry makes the work of law enforcement more difficult (and probably more dangerous). Louisiana earlier this year became the first state to add law enforcement officers to its hate-crimes list, even though the state already had a law that increases penalties for crimes committed against emergency responders. The hate-crimes statute provides that up to five more years can be added to the prison sentence of a person convicted of a felony if the court finds that the victim was chosen based on prejudice against certain groups. Abbott is probably looking for something similar for police officers when the Legislature returns to Austin in January. Given the times we live in and the opportunity for lawmakers to stand up for law and order, a bill is likely to pass. Given the horrors we've witnessed recently, it seems almost churlish to note that violence against police officers is near an all-time low. That's a fact, though, according to data compiled by the FBI and private groups. With that fact in mind, we would urge lawmakers to explore what cops really need as they carry out the duties of their inherently dangerous job. They shouldn't settle for the symbolic. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Staff Donald Trump accepts the Republican nomination after Ted Cruz united the GOP against himself amid high drama, and Tim Kaine becomes Hillary Clinton's running mate. Plus, a major ruling on Voter ID and new controversy over the disposal of fetal tissue head to the Legislature for answers. These and other highlights of the political week are explored in this week's Texas Take: The Podcast. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. True believers, meet your Captain Marvel. "Room" actress Brie Larson will be the first heroine to take up the Captain Marvel mantle. Call me Captain Marvel. pic.twitter.com/IgqRIb9ijM Brie Larson (@brielarson) July 24, 2016 An announcement at a San Diego Comic-Con panel finally confirmed months of rumours speculating Larson's role in what will be the first solo female superhero movie produced by Marvel Studios. Advertisement Major Carol Danvers, USAF AKA Captain Marvel "And I sort of accidentally blasted him in the crotch... Seven times" pic.twitter.com/kqcpfStT0M The ComicNoobs Show (@comicnoobsshow) July 22, 2016 Larson will be stepping into the spandex suit of Carol Danvers, a hotshot who can shoot energy and one of Marvel's most prolific female characters. kamala khan and carol danvers appreciation tweet pic.twitter.com/K0dH6BNuvH (@spiderwomvn) July 9, 2016 For decades, Danvers was known as Ms. Marvel. In the comic books, Danvers passes her Ms Marvel title down to Muslim teenager Kamala Khan. Danvers is an Air Force colonel, long-time Avenger, and ally to the Guardians of the Galaxy. She now commandeers a pivotal role in Marvel's Civil War II, one that has even Iron Man Tony Stark shaking in his metal boots. Advertisement The man who plays "Captain America," Chris Evans, gave Larson a winning endorsement for the role weeks before the official announcement. "I really hope that happens," Evans said of Larson taking on the role. "I love Brie Larson." His enthusiasm is shared by fans of Larson and Captain Marvel enthusiasts, both thrilled with the casting choice. THE BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED OSCAR AWARD WINNING ACTRESS BRIE LARSON WILL BE PLAYING THE AMAZING CAROL DANVERS pic.twitter.com/dKdfa6o3bT ryan (@whittingham96) July 24, 2016 Advertisement Larson wasted no time in joining the Marvel family, taking a group photo with fellow Marvel actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Tilda Swinton. Larson could be one of the first actresses leading a new era of female-led cape movies. "Captain Marvel" is set for a 2019 release, two years after DC's "Wonder Woman" will be on the big screen. Advertisement Former Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue DeConnick was caught unaware by the announcement, finding out from Twitter firsthand. Did not see that coming. Kelly Sue DeConnick (@kellysue) October 28, 2014 For DeConnick, it was a happy surprise. The writer later tweeted she was on-board with Larson as Carol Danvers. DeConnick was one of only three women who were Captain Marvel's writers. Her contributions to the Captain Marvel canon were highly lauded for emphasizing the importance of a feminist legacy. Advertisement CAROL DANVERS! "believe whatever you want, just make sure you hit the other guy before he hits you" pic.twitter.com/nHRmvKnIPe jade jonah jameson (@defendbarnes) July 14, 2016 Larson might be on the big screen before her "Captain Marvel" premiere. Her character is rumoured to have a cameo in the two-part "Avengers: Infinity War" in 2018. Also on HuffPost Image: Donald Trump. Stock Photo. Pixabay.com I am one of the many residents of the former Soviet Union who has become upset with Donald Trump's signals that he would let the Russians stomp on its neighbors if he were U.S. president. One of the most recent signs was Trump's pronouncement that the U.S. has its own human-rights problems, so it shouldn't presume to lecture other countries about theirs. He was speaking specifically about the murder of police in America. Advertisement A more alarming pronouncement was his statement that if Russia threatened to take over a NATO partner by force, he might let it happen if he were president. It would depend, he said, on whether the partner had met its NATO commitments -- presumably the commitment to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. At that same time that Trump is sounding like he's in Vladimir Putin's pocket, the state-controlled Russian media has been playing up Trump's pronouncements like they were the Ten Commandments that God had just given Moses. It was apparent to me that the Russian media was actively trying to get Trump elected. I cringed, convinced that not just Putin but also every other dictator in the former Soviet Union would love a Trump presidency. That way the United States would stop harping on their corruption, human rights abuses and other shortcomings -- and let them kill and imprison political opponents and subjugate neighbors with impunity. And then I got Tweets that confirmed my suspicion that the Kremlin is trying to get Trump elected. I did some tweeting last week about how Trump and his campaign sidekicks stand to gain financially from a Trump presidency. I'm convinced it could lead to them getting sweetheart deals from the Russians in exchange for allowing the Kremlin to get away with any aggression in the region -- and beyond -- that it wants. Advertisement Two tweeters that were obvious Russian trolls responded to my tweets not by addressing the issues I raised about Trump and his election campaign manager Paul Manafort but by attacking Hillary Clinton. Manafort has already shown he would have no problem feeding at the Kremlin trough. He made tons of money for 10 years from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a shameless kleptocrat whose image Manafort tried to burnish. One of the two Russian trolls, who had a Russian name but said she is a U.S. citizen, responded to my tweets with links to two news stories that undermined Clinton. One was a piece about Canadian big shots who, after selling the company Uranium One to the Russians, donated millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation. The implication was that Bill and Hillary Clinton would sell out the United States by accepting money from people who had delivered a strategic asset -- a company that makes nuclear material -- to the United States' arch-enemy, Russia. Advertisement The implication in the second story also was that Mrs. Clinton would allow the Russians to take other strategic American assets. It was a piece about the Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman's plans to invest in the American health-care system. The tweeter wanted to create the impression that President Barack Obama -- and Mrs. Clinton, if she succeeded him -- would sell out American's health-care future to the Russians, too. One of the Russian trolls had a Russian Twitter name but said she was an American citizen. The other also had a Russian name and claimed to be based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. I was skeptical of the Tbilisi claim. That's because most Georgians despise the Russians for trying to intimidate their country into not joining the European Union and NATO and for fighting a war with Georgia in 2008 that led to Georgian separatists taking sizable chunks of their country. Advertisement It was interesting that when the troll who is supposedly an American citizen tweeted, she copied the woman who is supposedly living in Georgia as if the Georgian were her troll handler. I decided to call a spade a spade. When I twice asked the supposedly American tweeter how much the Kremlin was paying her to troll, she stopped tweeting on grounds that I wanted just to besmirch and not engage in debate. I concluded that my accusation that she was a Russian troll made her so uncomfortable that she decided to scurry away like a rat to the sewer. I realized after this encounter that trolls have also become part of the Russian effort to get Trump elected. Putin has mobilized all his propaganda resources toward that goal, and thousands of trolls are part of the club. Given that the Kremlin's campaign on Trump's behalf is so obvious, I thought I'd ask its campaign organizers a question: Why hide it -- why not own it? Advertisement I even have a branding suggestion for you, rooted in the fact that most of the dictators in the former Soviet Union are ex-Communists -- everyone from Putin, who sent his troops into Georgia and Ukraine to keep them from aligning with the West; to Islam Karimov, the leader of Uzbekistan, which has one of the world's worst torture records; to Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia, who forced through a new constitution that allows him to serve for years beyond what the previous constitution had provided for. Given my assumption that once a Communist, always a Communist, I suggest that Putin form a Trump campaign group called Commies for Trump. In the spirit of egalitarianism, he wouldn't need to limit its membership to dictators from the former Soviet Union. There are plenty of nasty current and former Marxist dictators in South America, Africa and elsewhere. All could lend a hand to the Trump election campaign. If the Donald were to get elected, think of the deals he could get on oil, gas, minerals and other resources these dictators command. Advertisement The only downside would be that he would have to spend time updating his book "The Art of the Deal" to include a chapter on dealings stemming from political influence. But that would be a small price to pay, after all. By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - It seems that China is ready to launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier (CV), the Type 001A, by the end of the year. As a result, China, which operates a rehabilitated ex-Soviet aircraft carrier, is expected to become a full-fledged aircraft carrier operating country soon. Furthermore, it's certain that the country will continue to bring more domestic aircraft carriers into service to turn itself into an aircraft carrier superpower. [China's first domestic carrier 001A is at the last stage of construction. It might be deployed as early as the end of the year./ Source: search engine Baidu] Such observation is not an exaggeration considering the recent images and videos of the Type 001A, which shows that it is almost complete in outward appearance. In fact, some of the state-owned media outlets claimed Sunday that the 001A is at the final stage of construction, added that the era of domestic aircraft carrier is here. Advertisement The fact that China is constructing a domestic aircraft carrier is not a surprise. In a news conference at the end of last year, China's defense ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun announced that its navy is building China's second, but the first indigenously-built aircraft carrier in Dalian shipyard. Furthermore, it has been also revealed in mid-June that the installation of the ship's ski jump, one of the major parts, has begun. However, it's a quite different story, considering the fact that the Type 001A is China's first domestically built carrier. For instance, the United States, who once looked down on China's technology before, is now keeping an eye on the carrier's construction process. Moreover, China's second locally designed and built aircraft carrier is under construction in secret in a shipyard near Shanghai. The Chinese Navy's plan of deploying 6 aircraft carriers including 2 nuclear-powered ones by 2025 is not an empty boast. "What the US now needs is a learning Secretary who promotes challenging and joyful learning for all students, uplifting and impactful learning for education professionals, and relentless learning among state systems from one another and from other systems across the world to become more innovative and effective." -- Andy Hargreaves What will be the legacy of Race to the Top and Barack Obama's other education initiatives? Indeed, what's been accomplished in education reform around the country since 2012? Does our current traditional model of education meet the needs of most students? Is our curriculum preparing them for the jobs we need to fill in an age of globalization and artificial intelligence? What are the most critical needs for education leading up to 2030? Should tuition at public colleges and universities be free? As the United States prepares to elect a new President this November, putting every student on a path towards a successful future should be required discussion at every presidential debate. This summer in The Global Search for Education, we bring back our popular 2012 Education Debate series and put these questions and others to thought leaders at the forefront of educational change. We asked Andy Hargreaves, Diane Ravitch, Howard Gardner, Randi Weingarten, Julia Freeland Fisher, and Charles Fadel to imagine they were Secretary of Education for the new administration. What are their answers to some of the big picture questions facing education and education reform? Advertisement Today we welcome Andy Hargreaves. Hargreaves is the Thomas More Brennan Chair in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Andy serves as adviser in education to the Premier of Ontario, is founding editor of two scholarly journals, and is President Elect of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement. "Nations, like Scotland, Singapore and Canada, are pursuing broader, bolder goals in education like promoting wellbeing, developing creative and confident learners, and producing responsible and engaged citizens. America's educational strategy has been basic and bland, rather than broad and bold." -- Andy Hargreaves Andy, what will be the legacy of Race to the Top and Barack Obama's other education initiatives? The positive legacies of the Obama administration for education are indirect. The prevention of an economic collapse from becoming an irreversible catastrophe has insulated working Americans and their families from high unemployment and even greater hardship. Near-universal healthcare will make it possible for more children to be healthy and ready to learn when they come to school. But the administration's K-12 strategy has put the profit-driven interests of business capital before investment in the professional capital of a high quality, sustainable teaching force. It has boosted the numbers of charter schools without yielding overall improvements in student achievement. It has incentivized the hasty implementation of digital technologies at a rate that OECD data reveal undermines educational effectiveness. It has also imposed pervasive standardized testing on a scale that far exceeds higher performing nations, that is unsupported by research evidence, and that has prompted massive professional and public opposition. Advertisement At the last gasp, the Every Student Succeeds Act promises to undo much of this tarnished legacy. Its provisions are hopeful: more local responsibility, an end to punitive accountability, and a more uplifted teaching profession. But this administration is bequeathing legislation that will be left to others to implement. This is like clutching a tie from the jaws of defeat, without knowing who will be playing for you in overtime. If I were Secretary of Education, I would be the first for 15 years to adopt a strategy that is not driven by top-down reform and punitive accountability. Arne Duncan was the reform Secretary. What the US now needs is a learning Secretary who promotes challenging and joyful learning for all students, uplifting and impactful learning for education professionals, and relentless learning among state systems from one another and from other systems across the world to become more innovative and effective. "A commitment to teaching in hard to serve but well-led public schools should be rewarded with the forgiveness of all undergraduate debt in university education and associated university-based teacher training." -- Andy Hargreaves What has the US as a whole accomplished since 2012 in the field of education? Given the shift in focus in the global education reform debate from the 3 R's to the 4 C's, what are the critical steps we need to take to produce a new education framework for the US? There has been a change of tone, particularly towards supporting teachers and teacher leadership. But words now need to be supported by actions. There have been waivers from existing mandates. But there have also been so many waivers it has become like giving every high school student a hall pass. If every student gets a pass, or every state has a waiver, the rule is no longer relevant. On international assessments of achievement and wellbeing, the US is still not improving. Worse still, it is trying to improve the wrong things in the wrong way. As I am writing this, I am North of the border, in Ontario, Canada, on a ten-day visit to a seventh of the province's school districts. In Ontario, over 40% of students come from families born outside Canada, yet these students far outperform their counterparts in the US. As one of our US team members observed, when students in his former US turnaround district struggled in math, they were just drilled in more and more math until they couldn't bear math any longer. But in Canada, these struggling students also get support for their overall wellbeing so they are more ready and eager to learn math and everything else. Advertisement The US has been a slow learner from other systems. Many nations, like Scotland, Singapore and Canada, are pursuing broader, bolder goals in education like promoting wellbeing, developing creative and confident learners, and producing responsible and engaged citizens. America's educational strategy has been basic and bland, rather than broad and bold. Unless the Secretary of Education intervenes, the US's capacity to learn from other nations and their educational strategies may well deteriorate further. Responsibility may now be shifting to the level of the state and even the district. But few of these systems have much experience of learning from overseas, or even from other states. Travel is discouraged in case out-of-state visits or even conferences are perceived as misuses of tax dollars. Imagine if businesses adopted this insular approach in an age of global enterprise! Students should not be condemned to failure by their zip code. Neither should the state in which they happen to live increase or decrease their opportunities either. The Federal Government's continuing responsibility must be to find ways to reduce inequities between states in achievement and wellbeing - not only by financial compensation, but also by creating incentives and establishing a moral imperative for states to learn from and assist each other. "I would develop a national initiative to create and apply multiple indicators of educational success and development. These will concentrate on prudent samples rather than an expensive census of student performance. They will address many kinds of achievement in areas such as arts, social studies and outdoor education rather than just literacy and math and that also promote safe, healthy and zestful well-being for all our students." -- Andy Hargreaves Advertisement How can we make teaching a more prestigious career? How can we entice better quality talent away from more lucrative careers and into classrooms? How do we retain good teachers and make sure they are where they are needed most? Teaching will become more prestigious if it is publicly valued. It will attract more candidates if they can see this as a true profession where they will be supported to develop and grow over many years, rather than a version of the Peace Corps that puts them on the urban frontline to champion change all by themselves. In a turbulent economic world, where stability is becoming more attractive to new hires, more modest salaries compared to other professions can be offset by increased long-term support and stability. The image and experience of teaching will also improve when teachers are not subjected to endless individual evaluations to produce the data that can be used to justify their expulsion when they become too expensive or obstructive towards wrong-headed reforms. Instead, teachers will thrive when they are invited to innovate and expected as well as supported to work in strong professional communities of colleagues collaborating together on agendas they decide. Giving oneself to teaching in high needs schools for a minimum of 5 years should be seen as a way of protecting America and serving its future, just like serving in the military. A commitment to teaching in hard to serve but well-led public schools should be rewarded with the forgiveness of all undergraduate debt in university education and associated university-based teacher training. What will this look like in practice? I would work with university partners, the support of teacher unions and contributions from their members, and the investment of leading state governments to develop a national fund for debt-free teacher preparation to support sustainable staffing of hard-to-serve communities. I would develop a national initiative to create and apply multiple indicators of educational success and development. These will concentrate on prudent samples rather than an expensive census of student performance. They will address many kinds of achievement in areas such as arts, social studies and outdoor education rather than just literacy and math and that also promote safe, healthy and zestful wellbeing for all our students. They will keep a tag on the wellbeing and engagement of the adults in the system as well as the students, mindful of the fact that we uplift those we serve by uplifting those who serve them. And they will stimulate progress without imposing the specific numerical targets that lead systems to teach to the test. I would set up a national scholarship program for teachers, school leaders and state policy officials to dedicate some of their own vacation time at Federal expense to visit high performing systems outside and across the US and to report on what they have learned to their own legislatures. I would seek to reduce inequities between states and districts by inspiring system leaders to work more closely together, and by incentivizing collaborative projects such as the assessment initiatives in New England that benefit students and their teachers across state lines. Last, I would start with my own learning. In my first 100 days, I would visit 50 schools in 50 states, low key, unannounced, and at random, with the approval of state department officials and teacher unions - not to judge or to showcase anyone but to learn for myself, with humility, what the issues are on the ground for America's young people and their teachers, and to seek out ideas and strategies that can assist other schools elsewhere. Top Row: C. M. Rubin, Andy Hargreaves, Randi Weingarten Bottom Row: Charles Fadel, Diane Ravitch, Howard Gardner, Julia Freeland Fisher (Photos are courtesy of CMRubinWorld) Join me and globally renowned thought leaders including Sir Michael Barber (UK), Dr. Michael Block (U.S.), Dr. Leon Botstein (U.S.), Professor Clay Christensen (U.S.), Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (U.S.), Dr. MadhavChavan (India), Professor Michael Fullan (Canada), Professor Howard Gardner (U.S.), Professor Andy Hargreaves (U.S.), Professor Yvonne Hellman (The Netherlands), Professor Kristin Helstad (Norway), Jean Hendrickson (U.S.), Professor Rose Hipkins (New Zealand), Professor Cornelia Hoogland (Canada), Honourable Jeff Johnson (Canada), Mme. Chantal Kaufmann (Belgium), Dr. EijaKauppinen (Finland), State Secretary TapioKosunen (Finland), Professor Dominique Lafontaine (Belgium), Professor Hugh Lauder (UK), Lord Ken Macdonald (UK), Professor Geoff Masters (Australia), Professor Barry McGaw (Australia), Shiv Nadar (India), Professor R. Natarajan (India), Dr. Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Dr. Denise Pope (US), Sridhar Rajagopalan (India), Dr. Diane Ravitch (U.S.), Richard Wilson Riley (U.S.), Sir Ken Robinson (UK), Professor Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Professor Manabu Sato (Japan), Andreas Schleicher (PISA, OECD), Dr. Anthony Seldon (UK), Dr. David Shaffer (U.S.), Dr. Kirsten Sivesind (Norway), Chancellor Stephen Spahn (U.S.), Yves Theze (LyceeFrancais U.S.), Professor Charles Ungerleider (Canada), Professor Tony Wagner (U.S.), Sir David Watson (UK), Professor Dylan Wiliam (UK), Dr. Mark Wormald (UK), Professor Theo Wubbels (The Netherlands), Professor Michael Young (UK), and Professor Minxuan Zhang (China) as they explore the big picture education questions that all nations face today. The Global Search for Education Community Page Harrison, Goss and the Kit Kat Girls in Cabaret. Photos courtesy of Pantages Theatre By Karel Charles Karel Bouley I was uncomfortable leaving the Hollywood Pantages'production of Cabaret and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing. I've been to many a musical there, where by the end we are on our feet, dancing, singing, practically leaping out back to our cars and singing all the way home. This wasn't one of them. But how could this be? This was the film that came out when I was ten years old, in 1972, starring, or, should I say, making the star of a young Liza Minnelli. I was pre-gay then, but I knew, I simply knew the Bob Fosse choreography, the singing, the dancing, the brazenness would be iconic. I was right. I saw the movie again in my late teens and knew, oh, the lines! Green nail polish became "Divine Decadence" and I still gasp when Michael York yells "Screw the Baron," and Liza so casually replies "I have" only to have Michael York laughingly reply, "Well, so do I..." Oh the scandal! Advertisement Yes, there was the whole Hitler thing, but so many movies of the time used WWII as a backdrop since it hadn't even been over for three decades and it was the war of my parent's generation (Vietnam would become mine since I was born in 1962 and then Iraq). But none of it mattered inside the Kit Kat club where everything, including the org-a-stra, was beautiful. In there, life was a cabaret indeed, with German and Jew, soldier and non getting along just fine as Joel Gray, in another star-making role, became the narrator of the times inside and out. The love story between German and Jew and the fact the two became two separate things even though many were born in Germany and were as German as the next seemed secondary to me years ago. But Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 as I sat in incredible seats, Joey Fatone to my left, my good friend Daniel Charleston to my right, I knew the Republican National Convention was going on. As I heard "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" eerily played on stage, I pictured trump behind the screen, Queen's "We Are The Champions" playing and thinking, "I bet if someone had heard this song, they would have played it instead..." Advertisement In 1929 English novelist Christopher Isherwood left his upper middle class life and moved to Berlin, where he embraced his attraction to men full gusto. He worked as an English tutor and in 1931 met Jean Ross, who would become the fictional Sally Bowles. In 1935 he wrote a short novel "Goodbye to Berlin" and it, along with the 1935 "Mr. Norris Changes Trains" became "The Berlin Stories." Those stories serve as the source for the 1951 Play and 1955 Film "I Am Camera," both starring Julie Harris. In 1966 the stories became the Broadway hit "Cabaret" and in 1972 an Oscar-Winning film. Isherwood would end up in California, friends with Truman Capote and Aldous Huxley. He would start an affair with a man almost 30 years his junior, Don Bachardy, when he was 48. The affair would last until his death at 81 in Santa Monica. Many regard his greatest work to the "A Single Man" about a day in the life of a gay English Professor in California. It would also become a film starring Collin Firth. So Isherwood was an outcast, gay, and thus the Kit Kat Club and had a life of colorful friends, and thus, "Cabaret." But he also saw the ugly side, the dangerous side, and he saw first hand what happens when those inside the cabaret ignore what is truly going on outside. He saw first hand how true evil can and will take power if given a chance, and while many good people tried or try to stop it, sometimes, an angry population coupled with a slick nationalist populist can destroy great culture and great nations, and many lives along the way. The immortal music of John Kander and Fred Ebb is far from dated, and the book by Joe Masteroff is more relevant now than ever since the material's inception by Isherwood. Randy Harrison (gorgeous as an adult as he was a teen in "Queer As Folk") is the emcee, the devilish voice that entices you to play, to indulge, to enjoy, to ignore reality and make fun of the evil. When he sings "If You Could See Her Through My Eyes" to a dancing gorilla and finishes with "She wouldn't look Jewish at all..." Yes, there's a thunk in the theatre. And yes, so many of us thought you could replace the word Jewish with Muslim in today's world all too easily. And I couldn't help think of actress Leslie Jones from "Ghostbusters" who was sent a photo of a gorilla comparing it to her by some some self-loathing gay conservative just the day before. Harrison is sexy, commanding, and yes, eerie enough for the part and while who doesn't want to see Alan Cummings in the role, Harrison's incarnation is young and fresh, almost a millennial Emcee with a warning for an entirely new generation. Andrea Goss has the biggest shoes to fill and you can't, so don't go there; and that's the most brilliant decision of this production. Goss is not Minnelli at her prime, no one is. But neither was Sally Bowles. Goss is probably more close to the real Jean Ross than Minnelli. For instance, in the theme song, Goss' inflection of the simple world "corpse..." I've sung that song more times than Liza and I'll tell you, I never really got it. I never really understood that Bowles was looking at her friend's corpse, her dead body, laid out like so many other of her friends at the time. And that "Cabaret" wasn't a screw it all, grab a drink and let's party song at it's core, it was more of a defiant declaration that we don't have a choice in it, the powers that be, outside of the cabaret, are often greater than ourselves. Goss made me see Bowles' humanity more than Minnelli, as I may have been eclipsed by her star and less by the role. Advertisement Lee Aaron Rosen's Bradshaw is Isherwood, coming to terms with his love of men, of decadence, of freedom, right as his freedom and the freedom of so many was coming under attack, particularly gays, gypsies and Romas, they, we, were rounded up before the yellow stars, the pink triangles. Ned Noyes is Ernst Ludwig, a friend, until a swastika divides them. Shannon Cochran and Mark Nelson Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schulz two people who find love later in life only to have ideology come between them; and not even their own. Randy Harrison as the Emcee. Photo: Pantages Theatre People torn apart, a country divided by fear and hatred of those that are different; residents blaming immigrants, demagogues rising to power fueled by a media gone mad; gays, jews, blacks, muslims being injured or killed in the name of religion...if it sounds familiar it's because the themes of "Cabaret" are happening in the USA right this very moment. At the end of the play, when Harrison's emcee turns around and his outfit becomes that of a concentration camp with a pink triangle and a yellow Star of David, as the gunfire is heard and the blackout happens, in the darkness in my mind's eye I see the Donald Trump ad with Hillary's face and the Star of David being used and them pleading ignorance; you want the highest office in the land and your staff is so stupid....anyway. Thus, the feeling I referenced at the beginning. Are we sitting in the Cabaret, watching Rome burn? As Noam Chomsky says Donald Trump is a threat to our very existence, as organization and expert after expert warn of the dire consequences of his election and as hatred not only rises but now shows its face everywhere unashamed and often with deadly results, are we dancing along with the Kit Kat boys and girls while our country falls apart? The emcee being whatever talking head is on the 70" incarnation of the Kit Kat Club beamed right in to our own darkened living room or to our 7" computer screens daily? Advertisement When you go see "Cabaret," and you should, expect it to leave you bothered; expect it to hit a little too close to home; expect it to make you feel and think. And that's called great theatre, and somehow, characters born in 1931, themes played out almost 100 years ago, are made relevant and alive by a first rate cast and crew as the Kit Kat Club beckons patrons back one more time. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan leaves after a news conference following the National Security Council and cabinet meetings at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled Turkey for more than a decade. He should be enjoying his time of triumph. He towers above the political system, able to create and dismiss governments at will. The mayor turned prime minister turned president created a new, victorious Islamic movement. He eradicated the gaggle of old, squabbling secular parties. He promoted more business-friendly policies, generating prosperity for those previously left behind. And he won support from women, academics, and liberals as he defanged the military, which long was the ultimate arbiter of Turkish politics. Advertisement Yet his country almost crashed and burned a week ago. Elements of the army and air force attempted a coup d'etat. For a time state television was occupied. Planes bombed the parliament. Tanks blocked the bridge which crosses the Bosphorus, sundering the land link between Europe and Asia. Soldiers and police battled in the streets. Loyalists' planes attacked renegades' helicopters and tanks. Army forces besieged the intelligence agency's headquarters. Insurgents detained the army chief of staff and other top officers. Civilians confronted the coup's foot soldiers. Nearly 300 people were killed and almost 1,500 were injured. So far tens of thousands have been arrested or fired. Erdogan promised revenge against those involved, who will "pay a heavy price for their treason." No doubt they will, since the thin-skinned Erdogan long has been making even mild critics suffer for their alleged sins. To tame the military his government previously tried hundreds of military officers and others in mass trials involving improbably fantastic conspiracies, such as the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer cases. After the police and prosecutors had the temerity to investigate members of his government and family for corruption, he purged justice personnel. He now is targeting Kurdish parliamentarians for allegedly supporting "terrorism" by Kurdish separatists. Turkey is one of the least friendly nations for independent journalists. Many have been jailed and an estimated 900 have been forced from their jobs. The government simply seized television stations and newspapers from private owners. Around 2000 people, including students and even a beauty queen, have been prosecuted for criticizing Erdogan. His government periodically targets internet freedom, which provides one of the few remaining means to organize against his authoritarian rule. (And, ironically, which he used to call his supporters to the streets to defeat the coup.) Advertisement There were at least a few Turkish citizens as well as foreign observers who privately hoped the putsch would end a political experiment gone awry. The briefly constituted junta announced that it had seized power "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for last and order to be reinstated." Worthy objectives for an increasingly desperate Turkey today, and, in the view of some, if it took the military to remove an authoritarian Islamist from power, so be it. After all, that's what the Turkish armed forces did for years. Why not again? Unfortunately, irrespective of its claimed purpose, a coup may be the least likely vehicle for moving Turkey into a genuine liberal, democratic future. For instance, the coup that removed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi from power in 2013 has been celebrated by some for dismantling that nation's Muslim Brotherhood. However, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has turned into a modern pharaoh, unwilling to countenance the slightest opposition or criticism. People routinely disappear off the streets and the regime recently targeted human rights groups which monitor government practices. An activist who fought against torture for decades told me that the situation was much worse than under Sisi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. Equally appalling were the succession of Turkish hard and soft coups, the most recent in 1997, over the years. Those who look back nostalgically on earlier military seizures of power ignore the ugly reality. For instance, the 1960 coup led to the execution of the popularly elected prime minister and other officials and imprisonment of thousands. The military enforced secularism, forbidding even modest expressions of religious faith, and also suppressed basic human rights. One could lose one's job and face prison for simply criticizing the dominant authoritarian philosophy originally imposed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's founder. Ankara participated in NATO because it opposed the Soviet Union, not because it shared Western values. Even if the latest coup attempt was well-intentioned, it is hard to see how it could have accomplished its professed ends. Today the public is well-organized and committed to democracy. Having provided Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) with a half dozen election victories since 2002, the Turkish people were never likely to quietly accept his ouster and the imposition of a hostile military regime. Even the three major opposition parties rallied against the attempted takeover. Once the coup planners proved unable to arrest Erdogan and other government and party officials, shut down unauthorized communication, and block organized public protests, they lost any chance of prevailing. At most they could have triggered extended civil strife and perhaps civil war, as the armed forces confronted the vast majority of Turks. Even had his political opponents rallied to the junta, only use of great violence could have forced his strongholds across the Turkish heartland to submit. Advertisement Unfortunately, the botched coup is likely to accelerate the Erdogan government's race to the dictatorial bottom. There obviously are threats to be confronted, but he wanted far more power even before the attempted putsch. Erdogan now is likely to become more vindictive and paranoid. Never mind that he bears responsibility for the authoritarian policies and corrupt practices which have energized his most fervent opponents. Indeed, Erdogan's first inclination was to blame, without offering any evidence, the cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally who lives in self-imposed exile in the U.S. Whatever one thinks of the latter's philosophy, the 77-year-old is an unlikely mastermind of the military action. Politics almost certainly will grow more polarized. Anger against those who struck at his rule may increase Erdogan's determination to turn the public square into an echo chamber for his praise, and intensify his extra-legal campaigns against other political parties. The government immediately dismissed nearly 2800 judges--apparently previously targeted for not being in thrall of Erdogan-- in the coup's aftermath. Erdogan's supporters also could practice private revenge and vigilante justice against their opponents. In fact, Erdogan might reap political advantage from the coup. His reemergence in Istanbul surrounded by crowds brought to mind Boris Yeltsin in 1991 facing down tanks in the old Soviet Union. At that moment Erdogan seemed to speak for all of Turkey. Other parties might feel greater pressure to work with him to deliver the super-majority which he needs to change the Constitution to expand his presidential powers. He also could call a snap election in hopes of winning that majority on his own. Turkey's security is likely to suffer in the coup's aftermath. Erdogan's foreign policy of "zero problems" with Turkey's neighbors has almost completely backfired, yielding multiple crises. They may have been one factor in the military's strike on his government. As a result, he recently has begun retreating from confrontation. Ankara recently repaired relations with Israel and Russia and suggested the possibility of rapprochement with Syria. He especially needs to avoid problems with the military torn asunder. Internal security may be a bigger challenge. The Erdogan government originally played footsie with the Islamic State, but several terrorist attacks in Turkey forced a crackdown. Moreover, he reignited the long fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and targeted Syrian Kurds to enlist nationalism as his electoral ally. Now, however, the military is badly damaged and faces internal disarray for an extended period of time. Advertisement Ankara is a difficult ally for America, but the Obama administration took the right approach, immediately backing Turkey's elected government. Turkey, like Egypt three years ago, offered no good choices. Democracy is yielding ever more illiberal outcomes, with Erdogan seemingly determined to accrue Putinesque powers. Yet military rule could succeed only by killing and imprisoning on a large scale. And a successful junta was likely to produce a society with even less liberty and respect for human rights. Moreover, the hypocrisy would be particularly glaring if the U.S., a government formally committed to the expansion of democracy, advocated the ouster of a democratically elected government (rather as in Ukraine, though that was more by street revolution than coup). Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an increasingly undemocratic president elected democratically. He should be removed and his government should be ousted--but by Turkey's voters, not its military. He emerges from the latest crisis stronger. If his arrogance did not exceed his wisdom, he would use the failed coup as an opportunity to address the substantial portion of the population which has come to loath and even fear him. He should reclaim his lost mantle for liberal and democratic change. "Dedicated to a long lost friend." Over a long chatty lunch with a dear friend, the subject of what clothing means in our lives came up frequently. After spending my career around the clothing industry, I emphasized the importance of fashion to me. Even though later in my journey fashion and trends shifted into the psychology of what our closets mean on an everyday basis. I wanted to take clothing to a higher purpose than superficial seasonal picks and lead it into self-esteem and confidence. We both seemed to have a different take on why and how we valued shopping for a new look. I loved every minute because just being in a well appointed visual experience was a joy to me. On the other hand, she found it to be a more basic and thrifty experience. We bantered back and forth and then she asked if she could tell me a story. She shared that when she was a little girl she lived in a very poor neighborhood. Her mother was quite adept at tailoring and would take thrift shop items and smock them as well as adding buttons and bows that brought them into the realm of items purchased in a high-end children's store. When she showed up at school the teacher constantly complimented her and her peers taunted her as she stood out against the background of their plain attire. She spoke wistfully of how she wanted to hide and felt uncomfortable so clothing became a sense of low self-esteem in her young life. Today the thoughts still haunt her and so clothing psychologically means something different to her than it does to me. Advertisement It was time for me to share my life experience. We returned to Philadelphia after my Dad had lost his business in Miami. We lived with my grandmother in a very nice neighborhood and my new clothes came from a flea market booth. I attended an elementary school with children that could purchase their clothing at the very best stores. Every day I stood out and was bullied for my look that was not up to their standards. I dreamed that someday I would have beautiful clothing and belong and shine wherever I went in my life. We looked at each other and both shared the "AHA" moment. She felt that "fashion standing out" was a return to the embarrassment of her past. I felt that "fashion standing out" was a journey past the embarrassment of my past. We shared a hug and a glass of wine. After that day our mutual shopping excursions took on a different and wonderful meaning. What experiences in your past have colored the way you shop now? Tell me your story! Email me at jax6014@aol.com Advertisement Earlier on Huff/Post50: Former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite speaks to reporters at a news conference at Arizona State University's School of Journalism and Telecommunications in this file photograph taken in Febuary 1986. Cronkite, whose authoritative delivery of news events from the John F. Kennedy assassination to the Apollo moon landing and Vietnam War, made him "the most trusted man in America," died on July 17, 2009 at age 92. Cronkite died in New York after an illness, CBS said. His family issued a statement weeks ago that he had been suffering for some years with cerebrovascular disease and was not expected to recuperate. REUTERS/Arizona State University/Handout (UNITED STATES MEDIA OBITUARY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS In a time when the American news media focused on reporting facts, rather than entertaining the public, iconic broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite made a comment about American values and education that seems even more powerful today. Averred Cronkite, ""[w]hatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." Indeed, as "the most trusted man in America" well understood, nothing is more costly to a democratic society than ignorance. We are seeing this on a daily basis today in the U.S. Much of the violence Americans are seeing is a product of ignorance, as is much of the rhetoric accepted by supporters of the GOP. Advertisement Donald Trump's apparent ignorance about topics ranging from economics to international affairs has been well documented, but far more troubling is the ignorance of his followers, who do not appear to have the critical thinking skills or perhaps simply the reliable information necessary to see ignorance, lies, and twisted truths when they encounter them. The fear mongering that Trump has succeeded in using to gain supporters can be successful only in a society governed not by information and intelligence, but by fear and ignorance. Unfortunately, the GOP's leadership champions ignorance and distortion of fact. When candidates make ridiculous claims such as Ben Carson's publicly expressed view that the Pyramids of Giza were not tombs, but grain silos built by the Biblical son of Jacob to get ready for the famine in Genesis or when Donald Trump comments about Ted Cruz's father on the basis of a report from the National Enquirer, it's a symptom of deeper problems. Such comments would not be taken seriously by a public that was well informed and would be immediately refuted by party leadership, unless of course that leadership is itself stunningly ignorant or cynically willing to turn a deaf ear on the dangers of ignorance and lies in order to gain power. Nor would these types of comments gain any traction if the news media uniformly called them out on the grounds that they lack verity. As it stands, only parts of the news media see their job as upholding truth. Advertisement The Washington Post clearly is one media outlet that recognizes its responsibility in the American democratic system. It just published a full-page editorial on the dangers of a Trump presidency. The newspaper notes that Mr. Trump's ignorance, arrogance, and aggressiveness combined with his "politics of denigration and division" present a clear threat to the American democratic system. This is correct, but the threat is really much more pernicious. The true danger to American democracy lies in a significant portion of the voting public that lacks the ability or information necessary to recognize what a threat Mr. Trump actually represents. Rather than drawing support, his wanton disregard for facts and open ignorance of the Constitution as noted by the Post should send a shiver through anyone invested in democracy. Americans are faced with a very serious choice this November. In the past, whether Republican or Democrat, it has seemed clear that presidential candidates have shared a commitment to protecting the Constitution and democratic values, even if their specific ideas about how best to protect those things vary. It is not at all clear that Mr. Trump shares that commitment. It's a sad reality that the U.S. has arrived at this point, but we are here and it is time for those who support truth, facts, and intelligence -- whether they are conservatives or liberals -- to work hard to protect American democracy. The November election is nothing less than a vote on the future of that democratic system. If we fail, and elect Mr. Trump, we face a very real possibility of paying that hefty price Walter Cronkite warned us to avoid. Whether it is through libraries, schools, or the media, there is nothing more important than ensuring that our society is well informed and able to recognize genuine threats to democracy, particularly when they come in the guise of claims to make America great again. Advertisement Cadenhead's Whisky Shop in London For Scotch whisky aficionados, Cadenhead's Whisky Shops in London and Edinburgh has always been more than an iconic whisky shop or a famed specialist bottler of rare whiskies. The company boasts an impressive list of firsts that have been historic milestones in the evolution of the Scotch whisky industry. Indeed, it would be fair to say that Cadenhead's is as much a whisky shop and specialty bottler as it is a shrine to the history and evolution of Scotch whisky over the last two centuries. The original company was established by William Cadenhead in 1842. At the time, the Excise Tax of 1823, which had largely legalized the Scotch distilling industry, was less than 20 years old and the modern Scotch whisky industry was still in its infancy. The company was created by the amalgamation of two separate companies. It consisted of a rum merchant owned by Robert Cadenhead with offices in London and Liverpool and a spirit merchant specializing in whiskies based in Aberdeen owned by William Cadenhead. The exact relationship between William and Robert is unclear, although they appear to have been related in some way. The amalgamation of the two companies was prompted by Robert's death. At the time rum was a far more commercially viable product. The rum industry in Great Britain has been in existence for almost two centuries and was already well established. The daily rum allotment already had a long-standing tradition in the Royal Navy and was also widely followed in Britain's merchant fleet. Scotch whisky had been growing in popularity following the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822, and his enthusiastic endorsement for whisky from the region of Glenlivet in the Highlands. Advertisement William Cadenhead was an enthusiastic promoter of Scotch whisky and was the first to commercially bottle single malt whisky for sale to the public. At the time distillers did not bottle whisky or sell directly to consumers. Individuals could buy a barrel of whisky from a distillery for their own use and either consume it directly from the barrel or they could have it bottled by a bottling plant. Most whisky was sold by distillers to grocery shops where in turn it was usually blended or "vatted" with whisky from other distillers. At the time it was illegal to blend malt whisky with grain whisky. So the blends being offered by the grocers would have been a blend of various single malts from different distillers. The blending of grain whisky with single malts to create blended Scotch whisky did not occur until after the passage of Gladstone's Spirits Act in 1860. A Cadenenhead's vatted malt from the 1930's at the London store. Initially whisky would be sold directly from the cask and starting in the 1840s, it would also be bottled by the grocers for sale to their customers. Officially the first "branded," vatted malt whisky sold in a bottle was produced by Andrew Usher in 1853. Usher's Old Vatted Glenlivet was a blend of Speyside malts. It's likely, however, that grocers throughout Scotland were already selling their own unbranded, bottled, vatted whiskies. This is also how an obscure grocer in Kilmarnock named Johnnie Walker first got into the Scotch whisky business and went on to create an iconic brand that has become the world's best-selling blended Scotch whisky. William Cadenhead believed that Scotch whisky from a single distillery bottled directly from the cask was far better than a blend of single malts. Cadenhead was in fact bottling single malts more than a century before the practice caught on in the rest of the industry. He was also the first to offer single cask bottlings, and by extension single cask strength bottlings, making him the very first specialty Scotch whisky bottler. Advertisement At the time all whisky was bottled at cask strength. The practice of diluting Scotch whisky to a lower proof did not occur until 1915, in an effort to reduce drunkenness among industrial workers during World War I. Initially, the alcohol by volume (ABV) strength had been set at a maximum of 37% but it was later raised to 40% ABV in 1917, where it has remained to this day. In its early days, the bulk of the Scotch whisky sold by Cadenhead would have been single malts from single cask bottlings. The company, however, also produced and sold various vatted scotches that Cadenhead had blended. Despite the widespread incorporation of grain whisky into blends starting after 1860, Cadenhead's stayed true to its single and vatted malt roots for the first 50 odd years of its existence. It was only in the early 20th century that the company began to bottle its own proprietary blended whiskies from a combination of single malts and grain whisky. For the first three quarters of the 20th century, the company remained an independent specialty bottler of Scotch whisky. Its range of whiskies was sold by commercial whisky shops around the world, but the bulk of its sales came from the UK and a few key commonwealth markets. The first Cadenhead's Whisky store didn't open until 1971, In Edinburgh. The London store didn't open until 1995. At the time it opened in London, Cadenhead's was the city's first specialty whisky shop. It's hard to believe that the London store has only been in existence for just over 20 years, as it has rapidly become a global icon for the world's Scotch whisky enthusiasts. Labels from the thousands of Cadenhead bottlings About the time that Cadenhead's was expanding into retail stores, it accepted an offer to merge with independent Scotch whisky producer J & A Mitchell. Cadenhead had a long-standing relationship with the Mitchells, having bottled specialty offerings of their Springbank distillery for many years. The union of two historic independent Scotch whisky companies would usher in a period of rapid growth at Cadenhead that would further transform it into a Scotch whisky institution. Advertisement The company now has 8 retail locations across Europe - 3 in the UK (London, Edinburgh and Campbeltown), 2 in Germany (Berlin and Cologne), and one each in Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. The stores are locally owned in what Cadenhead's management describes as a sort of franchise arrangement, and carry a broad assortment of both Cadenhead's bottlings, as well as other spirits from around the world. Currently the company has no plans to open retail locations in North America, relying instead on its American and Canadian importers to distribute their small batch whisky line. Currently, Cadenhead bottles five distinct ranges of whisky. The Authentic Collection consists of single cask bottlings of particularly rare whiskies. Only a few hundred bottles are produced and these are only available at Cadenhead stores. The typical store only receives an allotment of six to 18 bottles, depending on their size. They typically sell out on release. Indeed, so strong is the current demand for specialty bottlings of rare and unique Scotch whiskies, that even the London store has virtually nothing available that is more than 18 months from their bottling date. Over 80 percent of the store's offerings were bottled in the last 12 months. The company's most popular Authentic Collection bottlings currently are Springbank (all ranges), Longrow and the now discontinued Hazelburn 12 YO sherry cask offering. Vintage Islays, when they can be found, typically sell out in "seconds." The 1842 Casks are quarter casks that are maintained in the three British stores. Bottles are filled on demand and dated to the exact day they were bottled. Quarter casks were the traditional way of storing Scotch whisky until the passage of the Distillers Act largely legalized the industry. Quarter casks could be handled by one or two men and were small enough to transport by pack animal over mountain trails, an important feature when trying to avoid the tax collector. It was only with the legalization of distillation that the industry adopted larger sized barrels. The 1842 Quarter Cask offerings in the London store. The in-store cask program, dubbed the 1842 casks to commemorate both the founding of the company and in reflection of how Scotch was sold in its early days, began with offerings from the Highlands and Islay in 1999. The first bottlings occurred with the new millennium. Originally the cask program was called the No. 3 Bond after the old bonded warehouse in Campbeltown. The program has since expanded to include an offering from the Lowlands and Campbeltown. There is also a cask offering of dark rum. Advertisement Each cask is a blend of single malts from the specified region. The highland cask is a mix of both Highland and Speyside malts since, technically, Speyside is part of the Highlands. The casks are refilled when they reach the halfway point, creating a quasi-Solera effect. The Islay, Campbeltown and rum casks are usually refilled every two weeks, while the other casks usually take four to six weeks to reach the half-way point. Each refill is based on a unique blend, based on the single malts currently available. The contents of each cask can vary quite dramatically from month-to-month. Given how quickly the cask's contents turnover, each bottling is in fact a unique expression of that particular region's whiskies. The London store's 1842 cask program is ending however. The Scotch Whisky Act (SWA) of 2009 forbade the maturation of single malts outside of Scotland. A whisky in contact with wood is technically still maturing and its presence outside of Scotland is a violation of SWA regulations. The two other stores in Edinburgh and Campbeltown don't have this issue, as they are both in Scotland. Going forward, the London store will offer the 1842 Cask program already botttled. If you want the genuine 1842 cask experience, however, you wiill have to travel to one of the two Scottish stores. The company also bottles two small batch lines of Scotch whiskies. The Small Batch Black Label typically involves one to three casks on average, while the Small Batch Gold Label are single cask bottlings. Both lines feature unique bottlings, although not as rare as the Authentic Collection, and both are in very high demand. Among the recent offerings were an Auchentoshan 1992, 23 YO, 46.6% ABV, 70 cl, a Benriach 1986, 29 YO, 50.1% ABV, 70 cl and Cameronbridge 1989, 26 YO, 56.6% ABV, 70 cl, single grain. Cadenhead's Small Batch Black Label range. Cadenhead has also announced a new line called the William Cadenhead Range. These bottlings do not indicate the distillery where the whisky was produced. Presently, the range includes a single cask Irish whiskey, a single cask Islay whisky and a Solera 12-year-old sherry cask blend. The latter is a unique offering. Cadenhead purchased several hundred casks of sherry wood matured single malts and grain whiskies and blended them together in a 12-year-old blend. Whisky is drawn from the casks for bottling and the casks are then topped up with new 12-year-old whisky. The result is that the youngest whisky is always at least 12 years old and the oldest whisky will continue to age in a unique Solera-like combination of different aged whiskies. The firm's most prestigious line is The Vault, a selection of ultra-rare whiskies that have been sourced from Cadenhead's and Springbank's own warehouses, as well as other whisky distilleries. The bottlings in The Vault range rarely make it to the store's shelves as they are typically sold out on release. Among the recent offerings in The Vault range have been a Glenfarclas, 1973 42 YO, 40.2% ABV, 70 cl and a MacPhail 50 YO, Rare Vintage, 40% ABV, 70 cl. Advertisement A chalk board with Cadenhead's current offerings. Many bottlings sell out on release. As Cadenhead closes in on the start of its third century it continues to be a trailblazer in the Scotch whisky industry; adding to its impressive lists of industry firsts. For the Scotch whisky enthusiast on a visit to London or Edinburgh, a visit to a Cadenhead store is not to be missed. Be forewarned, however, that you can spend hours discussing the finer points of a Scotch whisky with their knowledgeable and hospitable staff. Their weekly tastings, as well as their innovative food and whisky pairings, are legendary and are not to be missed. The tastings are in high demand, however, and a reservation well in advance of a visit is recommended. Islamic State controlled Omar oil field in Syria on fire following an attack by US Air Force planes Photograph courtesy Al-Alam The Islamic State (IS) has been described as being either one of the world's richest terrorist organization or as one of its poorest countries. In reality neither is quite true. Although it has many of the attributes of a sovereign nation state, including its own passports (which no other country recognizes) and currency, and controls a specific geographic area, albeit one with amorphous borders, it falls sort of being an independent nation state. Conversely, it is more than just a subversive or terrorist organization since it possesses capabilities and assets that go well beyond the typical terrorist group. Instead it is a sort of hybrid, half destitute quasi-nation state and half wealthy militant jihadist organization. What it does have, however, are considerable financial assets, a combination of war booty from its lightening conquests in eastern Syria and western Iraq, as well as its profits from a variety of legal and illegal "businesses" in which it is engaged. As enterprises go it is extremely well diversified, with multiple sources of revenue from a range of disparate activities. Moreover, it has been successful in organizing these activities so that they are not dependent on the international financial system, and are not affected by the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies. Advertisement At its low point from roughly 2007-2009, during the rise of the U.S. sponsored Awakening Councils, the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI), the predecessor "state" to the Islamic State, had revenues of approximately one million to two million dollars per month. The principal sources of funds were donations from wealthy supporters in the Gulf, as well as proceeds from kidnappings and extortion. At its peak in late 2014 and early 2015, the recently announced Islamic State had revenues estimated at around four million to five million dollars a day, roughly 1.5 billion per year. Some estimates were as high as two billion dollars. Since then it's estimated that its revenues have dropped by half. Taxation and extortion, it's hard to tell the difference between them in the Islamic State, are the organization's biggest sources of revenue. Technically, IS charges a tax of 10 percent on income although there are plenty of other taxes and fees. Services, for example, are subject to an additional 20 percent surcharge. Withdrawals from bank accounts are penalized by a 10 percent tax. Non-Muslims are subject to the jizya tax of 50 percent of earnings. Muslims that violate Sharia law are required to pay a "repentance tax" of approximately $2,500. In addition, IS sells permission to leave the Islamic State to those not considered essential, in return for a payment of around $2,000 and forfeiture of any assets left behind. Islamic State issued passports In total, at its peak IS earned between $300 million and $400 million yearly from such activities. Paradoxically, one of its most lucrative sources of revenue was the roughly $170 million a month that the Iraqi government payed to its government employees in areas controlled by the Islamic State. Many of those employees continued working at their jobs under IS supervision and their salaries were subject to additional taxation. The Iraqi government suspended these payments in September 2015. Combined with its loss of territory, IS's "tax revenues" are believed to have dropped by half. This is a hard number of calculate since the distinctions between taxation, extortion and outright expropriation in the Islamic State are not always clear cut. Oil had been Islamic State's most profitable activity. At its peak it controlled about 50,000 barrels of production a day (BOPD). In fact, it was al-Nusra Front's, a jihadist organization that IS had sponsored and funded, seizure of an oil field in central Syria that had prompted Abu Bakr al Baghdadi to announce the merger of al-Nusra and ISI to create the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Advertisement IS does not control any refineries. It briefly contested control of the Bajii refinery, Iraq's largest, during late 2014 and 2015, but was never able to achieve sufficient control to actually operate it. Instead it has relied on rudimentary mobile refineries that are capable of refining about 1,000 liters of oil a day. Both crude oil and refined products are smuggled to Turkey where they are resold on the black market. The oil smuggling network dates back to the days when the UN mandated sanctions against Saddam Hussein's oil exports. IS did not create the oil smuggling network, it simply took advantage of the one that already existed. In addition, there have been numerous reports that IS has frequently sold oil and natural gas to the Assad government or swapped it for electricity. The smugglers themselves are independent operators and are not part of IS. They typically purchase the oil from IS and resell it in Turkey. Initially, the U.S. and its allies targeted Islamic State's mobile refineries and its oil infrastructure, but ignored the smugglers. About six months ago, U.S. planes began dropping leaflets advising the smugglers that their tankers would be subject to attack if they persisted in smuggling petroleum. To date, hundreds of oil tanker trucks have been destroyed by coalition air strikes. Islamic State mobile/modular oil refinery destroyed by coalition air strikes Picture courtesy US Dept. of Defense. On average its believed that IS receives between 35 percent and 50 percent of the market price for its oil. At its peak, its oil smuggling was generating between $500 million and $750 million in revenues. Since then, declining production and the fall in oil prices has cut its revenue from oil to between $150 million and $200 million. Oil production is believed to have fallen to between 20,000 and 25,000 BOPD, as a result of the loss of some oil fields and a decline in production caused by a shortage of spare parts and qualified personnel to maintain oil field equipment. Advertisement The illegal sale of antiquities is estimated to generate around $50 to $100 million in revenues for Islamic State. There are approximately 4,500 identified archeological sites in IS controlled territory. The Islamic State awards sites to local villagers on condition it receives a portion of whatever antiquities are discovered. The smuggling of antiquities has existed in this region for generations. Once again, IS did not create the smuggling activity or the network, it simply expanded the supply and took advantage of the activity for its own ends. Most items are smuggled into Turkey, and to a lesser extent Lebanon, from where they are resold to dealers and collectors around the world. IS has also looted museums, the Mosul museum being the most notable, in cities it controls. Some of the publicized destruction of archeological sites, like Palmyra in Syria and Nineveh in Iraq, may have been staged to hide the looting of those sites. Kidnappings generate between $25 million and $50 million a year for the Islamic State. The United States, Great Britain and Japan have publically refused to ransom any of their nationals held by the Islamic State. Other countries, including notably France and Italy, however, have in the past payed such ransoms. IS has also generated revenues from holding hostage some of its own constituents, especially members of non-Muslim groups, like the Yazidi and the Assyrian Christians. Wealthy donors still figure prominently in the Islamic State's source of cash. In the early days of the organization, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would publish metrics demonstrating that al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), IS's predecessor, was responsible for a majority of the killings and bombings taking place in Iraq as a way of demonstrating the organization's effectiveness to donors. The practice of quantifying the scope of its activity and its "market share" of terrorist acts has continued under the Islamic State. The Temple of Bel in Palmyra before it was largely destroyed by Islamic State jihadists It is difficult to estimate the financial contribution of private donors to IS. Billions of dollars have flowed from the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf to fund various Sunni rebel groups in Syria. In addition, money often moves from charity to charity so that by the time it is given out its source is not readily apparent. The definition of "humanitarian aid" is pretty loose. Moreover, jihadists often move around between different organizations taking their supplies with them. It's believed that the Islamic State is still receiving between $20 million and $40 million in contributions from wealthy supporters, but it is possible that the number could be much larger. Advertisement Finally, "loot" is a significant source of funding for the Islamic State. War booty is not an ongoing business; not unless the Islamic State was relentlessly expanding. Nonetheless, the groups initial conquests proved to be particularly lucrative. It's believed that IS acquired between 500 million and 800 million in U.S. currency from various banks in its domain. The Mosul branch of the Iraqi Central Bank had cash reserves of around $400-500 million when it was seized by IS militants. In addition, the Islamic State has resold real estate, equipment and military hardware that it seized during its 2014 conquest. There have been reports, so far unconfirmed, that IS has resold arms to jihadist groups in the Caucasus. It's impossible to know what the total value of these assets are, which ones still exist, what has been destroyed and what proceeds were obtained from those that were sold. On January 11, 2016, for example, the U.S. bombed a depot where IS was storing some of its cash reserves. Subsequent reports from the Pentagon claimed that upwards of $600 million had been destroyed. It's difficult to verify such reports however. There have also been reports of other, grislier, sources of funding for Islamic State. On February 17, 2015, Iraq's ambassador to the UN, Mohammed al-Hakim, claimed that IS was harvesting organs from dead jihadist fighters and civilians. A similar charge was later made by Iranian news sources and publicized by Russian media. There is no proof of such activities, however, and it is unlikely that IS has the necessary medical infrastructure to "harvest" viable organs and transport them. As of June 2016, it is estimated that Islamic State is generating between $40 million to $80 million a month in revenues. Roughly half of that amount is coming from taxes and fees it levies on its constituents, as well as expropriations and the balance from a variety of illegal activities. Its military operations are believed to cost it somewhere between $20 million and $30 million a month, although the exact number is difficult to fix. Likewise, it is unclear what IS spends on administration and services. Islamic State Annual Report with an executive summary of its terrorist activities What is likely, however, is that Islamic State is not generating enough revenues to fund its operations. The salaries of its militants have been cut in half - from around $400 per month to about $200. Services have been cut back even further, prices on food and gasoline have been increased. There are consistent reports of shortages of medicines and other essential items, although it's not clear if those shortages are the result off insufficient cash or a Turkish crackdown on smuggling. There are also reports that Islamic State is becoming involved in other criminal activities, specifically the smuggling of marijuana from the Balkans into Western Europe. Advertisement The Islamic State has a lot of assets under its control. Its ability to liquefy them, however, is limited by what it can smuggle into Turkey and elsewhere. Many of its assets can only be sold to its increasingly impoverished citizens. Outside of cash, their multi-billion dollar value is largely theoretical. Moreover, lacking access to a port and landlocked by hostile neighbors, its ability to import critical items is constrained by what it can smuggle across its borders, regardless of whether it has the cash to pay for them. NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15: Members of the New York City Police Department stand guard in Times Square, July 15, 2016 in New York City. Following the terrorist attack in Nice, France, New York governor Andrew Cuomo has directed law enforcement to step up their security presence at high profiles locations around New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) As in many cities around the country, Black Lives Matter held a demonstration in Dallas to protest the police shootings of two more black men, Alton Sterling of Louisiana and Philando Castile of Minnesota. During the demonstration, Micah Xavier Johnson, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, mounted his own personal, deadly protest by shooting police officers guarding the nonviolent rally. Five officers were killed and seven wounded. After negotiating for some time with Johnson, who was holed up in a community college parking garage, police sent in a robot armed with explosives and killed him. Dallas police chief David Brown said, "We saw no other option but to use our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the subject was," adding, "Other options would have exposed our officers to grave danger." Advertisement The legal question is whether the officers reasonably believed Johnson posed an imminent threat of death or great bodily injury to them at the time they deployed the robot to kill him. Johnson was apparently isolated in the garage, posing no immediate threat. If the officers could attach explosives to the robot, they could have affixed a tear gas canister to the robot instead, to force Johnson out of the garage. Indeed, police in Albuquerque used a robot in 2014 to "deploy chemical munitions," which compelled the surrender of an armed suspect barricaded in a motel room. But the Dallas police chose to execute Johnson with their killer robot. This was an unlawful use of force and a violation of due process. The right to due process is a bedrock guarantee, not just in the U.S. Constitution, but also in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a treaty we have ratified, making it part of our domestic law. Due process means arrest and fair trial. It is what separates democracies from dictatorships, in which the executive acts as judge, jury and executioner. Advertisement During the standoff, Johnson reportedly told police there were "bombs all over" downtown Dallas. The police didn't know if that was true. In order to protect the public, they could have interrogated him about the location of the bombs after getting him out of the garage with tear gas. Apprehension and interrogation are recommended in a 2013 study conducted by the Pentagon's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Task Force. The study was cited in "The Drone Papers," leaked to The Intercept by an anonymous whistleblower who was a member of the intelligence community. It concluded, "kill operations significantly reduce the intelligence available from detainees and captured material" and recommended capture and interrogation rather than killing in aerial drone strikes. The Obama administration currently uses unmanned armed drones to kill people in seven countries, effectively denying them due process. There is a slippery slope from police use of armed robots to domestic use of armed drones. The Dallas police department's robot was apparently manufactured by Northrup Grumman, the same company that makes the Global Hawk drones, used for surveillance in Obama's drone program. More than half the U.S.-Mexico border is patrolled with surveillance drones. Customs and Border Protection is considering arming them with "non-lethal" weapons. That could include rubber bullets, which can put out an eye. Advertisement The killing of Johnson is evidently the first time domestic law enforcement has utilized an armed robot to kill a suspect. It will not be the last. Police departments are becoming increasingly militarized, using assault weapons, armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers, and ear-splitting sirens known as LRADs. Much of this equipment is purchased from the Pentagon at a significant discount. But the answer to our national epidemic of racist police killings is not to further militarize law enforcement. We must completely rethink and restructure policing. That means requiring advanced degrees for police officers, intensive screening for racism, and rigorous training in how to handle cross-racial situations. It means moving toward community-based policing and citizens police-review boards with independent authority. And it means coming to grips with the pernicious racism that permeates our society. -- Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, a former criminal defense attorney, and past president of the National Lawyers Guild. Her most recent book is Drones and Targeted Killing: Legal, Moral, and Geopolitical Issues. Follow her on Twitter. Writing is a lonely profession. Let no one tell you otherwise. This is what it comes down to: It's just you, your computer, and your stack of notebooks. Whether you're a journalist filing stories on tight deadlines, or a novelist, or someone who writes biographies - as I do - or assists a celebrity in composing his autobiography - as I also do sometimes - it ultimately comes down to just you and your ability to effectively wield words. Words are your weapons. These weapons are not easily wielded. This is especially so when you are writing about yourself. I am 68 years old, and have spent a very long time in newspaper and magazine journalism. I have interviewed potentates and peasants around the world, and I have met everyday people everywhere. I like to think that I'm a natural listener, and that I enjoy listening because everyone has a story to tell. I have listened to stories told by people in virtually every country there is. My job was to take their stories and mold them into journalism for the masses. But what about my own story? I was born and raised in Bombay (now called Mumbai); I studied in the United States, which is my adopted home; and for the last decade I've lived in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is a gem of a country at the eastern edge of the Arabian littoral, and its people are warm and welcoming. Advertisement For many years, I had thought of assembling an anthology of the fascinating people I'd met and the strange-sounding places I'd been to during my journalistic travels. But a wise and successful editor, whose opinion I value, suggested that instead of an anthology I should write my memoir. He said that I could weave in the stories of my encounters around the world. The book would have a narrator - me - and a narrative line - the story of my life. Why would anyone want to read my story? The editor had a quick answer to that one: "Because you've led an interesting and privileged life. Tell us how that came to be. Tell us how your journalism affected you. Tell us stories behind the stories that you covered. And tell us about the larger lessons you learned as you pursued stories. Such an approach would work very well." I was immediately intimidated by the idea that my autobiography would actually work as a piece of literature. The editor must have read my mind. He referred me to something written by Rebecca Swift, director of The Literary Consultancy, a London-based service that assesses manuscripts. "Everyone thinks they've led the most interesting life," Swift says. "If you're thinking about writing an autobiography you need to ask yourself: 'Why my life? What's so interesting about me?' Maybe your autobiography could contribute to the wider social history and fill in the gaps that others could not. As tempting as it may be to embellish a few particularly embarrassing moments in your life, you must remember to stick to the truth. Your autobiography or memoir is fact, not fiction after all. Though changing names or locations to help protect the privacy of the people you're writing about is acceptable, you shouldn't censor your own feelings or motivations regarding them. Be nice, but remember, while the people you write about might recognize themselves in the text, the majority of your readers will not. Don't compromise both the plot and your integrity in order to make the minority happy." Advertisement And so here I am, staying up most nights, digging deep into my memories of the five decades since I left India to go to the United States on a scholarship for a college degree in Boston and a stint at university in New York. This kind of digging doesn't necessarily turn up fully formed episodes; I find fragments of my experiences, both pleasant and not pleasant. I find myself missing friends who are dead; I find myself wishing that I'd stayed in closer contact with them. I come up with memories of how benevolent editors took me under their wings and taught me about journalism. Those editors were like surrogate parents for me, an only child who had no relatives in America. I think about what it was to fend for myself in an alien society that was hospitable but nevertheless difficult to understand. There are times when I wish that my parents were still alive so that they could fill in the gaps in my memories. But both of them died in 1985. And although I still retain vivid memories of my Mumbai so very long ago, I am sure that I could have learned so much more from them about our family history. My mother was an acclaimed writer in the local language of Marathi; she also taught Sanskrit at university level. My father, a lawyer and accountant by training, worked for a major bank. They would, of course, feature in my memoir. Advertisement There are moments when I break down. That happens when certain incidents and episodes appear. I rue my broken marriage, and I regret the estrangement with my son, also an only child. I'm learning that while you can recreate the past, you can never bring it back to life except in literature. Or can you? Maybe that's what a memoir should do. So here's my first line: "I was born on a stormy May afternoon in a city that was then known as Bombay..." And the next line: "And now here I am, 68 years later, writing about the life I've led..." And the line after that. And the one after that. Line after line about where those 68 years went, and whom I spent them with, and what I learned and what I wish I'd not learned. I hope this mattress composed of life-lines upon life-lines will add up to a memoir. It may not constitute a work of art. But it will hew to the truths as I experienced and understood them. Advertisement In whose interest is it for the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to launch a crackdown on judicial, educational, and military institutions, impose a state of emergency, and vow to execute those behind the coup against his Islamist government? In whose interest is it for Erdogan to establish for himself and his ruling party what can be termed a Sultan's Guard along the lines of the Republican Guard and the Revolutionary Guard in Saddam's Iraq and the Mullah regime in Iran respectively? Who wants to petrify Erdogan into purges and liquidations that bypass all transparency and democratic principles? Erdogan may appear victorious at home as he consolidates and expands his powers, but he is effectively under siege both from within and from without. Turkey is still being tested, and Erdogan is leading a deeply destabilized country. If anything, this is proof of the failure of his approach to governance, beginning with his systematic coup against secularism and Kemalism's separation of mosque and state. The humiliation of and the assault on the Turkish regular army's prestige is not to the credit of Erdogan as head of state, but quite the contrary. Even before the coup attempt, the president was deliberately sidelining the army, thus helped dismantle one of the most important institutions of the modern Turkish state and subjecting national security to severe risk just to protect his authoritarian administration even as this opened the door to Kurdish statehood. Erdogan's adventures abroad, for example in Egypt and Tunisia where he backed the Muslim Brotherhood coup against secular regimes, exposed his regional ambitions and made him a direct interferer in other countries' affairs. What he has done in Syria is also proof of not only a failed approach but also overconfidence. Indeed, Erdogan was the first to defend Bashar al-Assad from international accountability, when the Syrian dictator stood accused of assassinating Lebanese leaders, journalists, and intellectuals. Then he was the first to sell the illusion that the regime in Damascus could be easily toppled, with a sense of arrogance that has cost others too much. He is also accused of helping spawn extremist fundamentalist and terrorist groups in Syria. Today, after he chose confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Syria for a long period of time, before apologizing to him for downing a Russian jet in Syrian airspace, he is gearing up today to visit the Kremlin and meet with Putin in the first ten days of August - battered by the coup attempt and afraid of another, he is willing to make concessions in Syria albeit not in Turkey. The two men have a radical ideological dispute that a transient mandatory partnership will not fix: Putin considers the project of the rise of Islamists to power anathema while Erdogan is the godfather of the project and its expansion into Arab countries, and if he could, into the five Muslim republics surrounding Russia. The prospects for bargains and deals between the two men are open-ended, particularly since both leaders are suspicious of the United States regardless of who is in the White House, and both are more than keen to teach the Europeans a lesson or two. It is therefore important to have a clear picture of what happened in Turkey on the night of the failed coup. But more importantly, we must scope out the implications of the coup attempt, not just in Turkey but also in the country's immediate neighbors, the region and the world.Some spoke of an alleged US role in the coup. The inefficient and odd coup also sparked many speculations. Some even accused Erdogan himself of staging the coup to give himself cover to gather more extraordinary powers and eliminate his opponents. Some ask how he managed to survive without being detained or assassinated, whether in Marmaris where he was on holiday or in mid-air as he returned to Istanbul. Others cited Washington's delayed official reaction as evidence of US complicity whether in staging the coup or in thwarting the coup, both meaning to threaten Erdogan. Everything is possible in our age of contradictory alliances.In the beginning, US President Barack Obama was a big fan of the Turkish "moderate Islamist" model, to the point that he adopted it and sought to market it. He backed the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and lent his support to the Muslim Brotherhood administrations that took power in Egypt and Tunisia. Erdogan and Obama were effectively partners in that stage of the Arab Spring, which the Muslim Brotherhood hijacked for their own power-grabbing project from Egypt to Syria via Tunisia, Yemen, and Libya.Perhaps the crisis in Syria was the biggest milestone in US-Turkish relations having the biggest role in souring them because of the Kurdish element as well as the Islamic State group (ISIS) and Nusra Front, and Ankara's alleged ties to such groups. This is not to mention the issue of Syrian refugees, which has been used by Turkey to destabilize Europe.For one thing, the Kurds are a key element in US anti-IS efforts in Syria and Iraq. Washington is supplying Kurdish groups with military assistance and has not accepted Turkey's request to designate the Kurdistan Workers Party or the Kurdish Democratic Union Party as terror groups, angering Erdogan.For its part, Washington is angered by what it sees as direct Turkish support for terror groups in Syria, which Erdogan blundered into adopting and blundered into renouncing them too late. In addition, Western capitals accuse Erdogan of deliberately using the Syrian refugee crisis to destabilize Europe, and see him as a de facto partner of Putin in deliberately undermining the European Union.Another key issue has to do with the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania. Erdogan accuses Gulen of masterminding the coup, and has asked Washington to extradite him as a "sponsor of terrorism". It is not clear what kind of evidence Erdogan will provide in an official request to Washington, and what the US response will be, or how much this will impact US-Turkish relations further.Nevertheless, it is very unlikely for a direct confrontation to take place between the two NATO allies. Turkey's Incirlik airbase, used by the US to launch airstrikes against ISIS, will remain vital. That is unless Turkey's relationship with NATO radically changes, to the point of Turkish withdrawal, unlikely but not impossible especially if European pressures force Erdogan to choose between EU and NATO membership, and adopting further repressive measures to restore his power at home.Here, improving Turkish-Russian relations could be a gateway to a strategic partnership that could turn the two foes into two reluctant partners. Moscow might adjust to the religious rule in Turkey. Ultimately, Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are strategic allies.But Moscow would most probably not consent to any new attempt by Ankara to destabilize Egypt and re-float the Muslim Brotherhood there, although this could be used by Turkey to bargain. For Putin red lines include having a pledge and guarantees from Erdogan that the Muslim Brotherhood project to seize power will not be implemented in the Muslim republics neighboring Russia. They will also include a demand for active and serious Turkish participation in the fight on ISIS in Syria and the designation of the Nusra Front and similar groups as terrorists, as well as cutting off supplies to Syrian rebels that Moscow sees as its enemies in Syria. Turkish consent to Assad remaining in power, even if temporarily, is also part of Moscow's demands and Ankara seems willing to oblige, even if Damascus was caught celebrating the attempted coup.How many of Putin's demands Erdogan could meet depends on Western pressures and the internal Turkish equation. One of the most important issues that will affect Turkey's future in NATO has to do with the traditional military establishment that Erdogan has destroyed and replaced with Islamist generals.Some are asking whether this will create problems for NATO or whether the alliance is willing to coexist with the Islamization of the institutions of the Turkish state, and the implications for the security of NATO? To be sure, Erdogan has deliberately clipped the wings of the army to re-forge it into an entity loyal to him and his party. He has adopted a strategy of shoring up security and intelligence agencies loyal to him at the expense of the secularist army, rendering the latter an object of derision instead of a symbol of the state and the constitution. So the question is how this will affect Turkey's membership at NATO level.Putin may not welcome the Islamization of the Turkish army, but he will not resent much the impact this will have on Turkey's NATO membership and her growing isolation in Europe, as this would be in Russia's strategic interests. However, it is important not to underestimate the Russian hostility to the rise of Islamists to power - which will be in the heart of the future of Russian-Turkish relations. It is also important to note the mistrust between the two men.Each wants the other to have the weaker hand in negotiations. Today, it is Erdogan who has the weaker hand, and Putin will no doubt take advantage if not pleasure as receives his apologetic visit to Moscow, where Erdogan will be panicked about the prospect of another coup during his absence from Ankara and about stronger odds for the success of Kurdish separatism.Clearly, Erdogan the 'dictator' is fit for his Russian counterpart, not only because of the superficial resemblance, but also because of the hostility to the West. Erdogan's repression will bring him closer to Moscow and make him in a position where he needs more the occupant of the Kremlin. This is not to mention the billion-dollar joint projects that will be brought back into the pipeline after the Turkish apology and the coup attempt, and the coming Turkish-Russian understanding in Syria, in which Aleppo will be the first indicator.According to reports, Russian and Israeli intelligence tipped off Erdogan about unusual movements, rescuing him from detention or assassination. If these reports are true, this highlights a major shift in relations between Erdogan, and Russia and Israel, which resumed only two weeks ago and which will grow stronger now. The direct victim will be the Palestinian Authority. For one thing, Hamas will grow more self-confident following the failed coup against the Muslim Brotherhood. For another, Turkish-Israeli relations will improve if the Israelis indeed 'rescued' Erdogan.Egypt will also be impacted by Russian-Turkish rapprochement after the botched coup. Indeed, Egypt had wagered on a confrontation between Turkey, and the US and Europe, as something that would benefit Cairo, but is now concerned by the implications of Russian-Turkish accords.The reactions from most Gulf states and Iran to the coup attempt were similar, based on the need to respect elected governments and rejecting coups. It is not clear yet whether what happened was an Islamist coup against Islamists in government, bearing in mind that Erdogan and Gulen were once partners in steering Turkey away from secularism; or whether the coup was secular-motivated.Either way, the claim that the Turkish people took to the streets to support Erdogan and his authoritarianism is wrong. The Turkish people are divided. Some went to the squares in obedience of the orders to humiliate the regular army, many of whom were supporters of the ruling party. But others did so to protect the country from civil war, not to support turning democracy into a tool of tyranny and dictatorship.Democracy and secularism in Turkey have been toppled not through the failed coup attempt, but at the hands of the rulers who will remain in power on the ruins of civil institutions and the regular army equally. It is not clear yet if what happened coup attempt Muslim - Islamic note that Erdogan and Gulen were partners in turn Turkey away from secularism, or if the coup attempt on a secular Muslim. It is clear that those who say that the Turkish people descended arena in support of Erdogan and wielded power but it is wrong. It divided the Turkish people - part of it came down to the arena to meet orders to humiliate the regular army and this is a part of some of the party "Justice and Development grassroots." But there are halves of the Turkish people, who came down the field to protect the country from sliding into civil war, and no support for the use of the democratic tool of despotism and dictatorship tools. It has been the overthrow of democracy and secularism in Turkey, not through a coup attempt failed, but at the hands of the remaining government in power on the ruins of civil institutions and regular army alike. Translated by Karim Traboulsi http://www.alhayat.com/Opinion/Raghida-Dergham/16668008/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%88 You've undoubtedly heard a lot about the recent Republican National Convention in Cleveland. But there was another convention last week, and it couldn't have been more different. Thousands of delegates convened in Minneapolis for the American Federation of Teachers' biennial convention, where we commemorated the AFT's 100th anniversary and the union's history of fighting for our aspirations for our families and our communities -- for economic and educational opportunity, democracy and fairness, and civil and human rights. Political conventions provide an opportunity to draw distinctions, typically balancing passion with some decorum. But I doubt many people would use that word to describe the proceedings in Cleveland. It was a festival of hate, and it was chilling to hear speaker after speaker deliver angry rhetoric and venomous, threatening remarks intended to whip up a frenzy against Hillary Clinton. Advertisement People are angry. It's the fear of being left behind. It's the anxiety of wages that don't rise with expenses. It's the lingering unease, left over from the Great Recession, that in the blink of an eye you could lose your job, your home and your life savings. It's the feeling many millennials know -- that they've done everything right but are stuck with lots of debt and few job prospects. It's the feeling that the economy is rigged and our politics are broken. Some politicians stoke this anger. But aspirations for a better life are underlying the anger many feel. And those aspirations compel us to act. One way the AFT acts is by fighting for excellent public schools in every neighborhood in America. At our convention, the AFT adopted a policy to ensure that the new federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, is the reset intended, and that, rather than fixating on tests, it makes public schools places where parents want to send their kids, students are engaged and educators want to teach. We also passed policies that confront discrimination of all kinds -- to support the safety and educational opportunity of LGBTQ students, confront Islamophobia, address problems in our criminal justice system and promote racial equity. Many vestiges of racial discrimination remain in the United States and, in fact, it has gotten worse -- from the under-resourced and increasingly segregated schools attended by many children of color, to the 17 states that have restricted voting rights since President Obama's election. The United States has not come to grips with pervasive racism -- not even close. And that shows in the disproportionate use of deadly force against black people. Our justice system needs to be more just. But it takes more than a legal change or a change in policing -- our economy and our culture must change too. Advertisement Working to make the criminal justice system more just and supporting police are not mutually exclusive. Everyone deserves to feel safe -- those who swear an oath to protect us, and those they are sworn to protect. Montrell Jackson, a black man who was one of the Baton Rouge police officers murdered last week, posted these words on Facebook shortly before his death: "In uniform I get nasty hateful looks, and out of uniform some consider me a threat. ... These are trying times. Please don't let hate infect your heart." Tragically, the easy availability of guns in America enables haters to become murderers. The second amendment is the law of the land, but the National Rifle Association's interpretation of it is not. AFT delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse Hillary Clinton. Hillary understands the most urgent issues confronting our country. Her economic plan puts unions front and center, one of the ways she will level the playing field for the middle class. She is committed to creating debt-free college for students, extending access to high-quality healthcare for all, and lifting children out of poverty. She is ready to assume the solemn responsibility of keeping Americans safe from violence and terrorism. PORTSMOUTH, NH - Democratic Presumptive Nominee for President former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attends a rally with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Portsmouth High School Gymnasium in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Tuesday, July 12, 2016. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Two Democratic parties will meet in Philadelphia this week. It is crucially important that they unite to defeat Donald Trump -- and then work together to win progressive change for all Americans. A huge impediment to unity has been removed: Debbie Wasserman-Schultze announced on Sunday she is resigning as Chair of the Democratic National Committee. Bernie Sanders and supporters had long complained she undermined him in setting primary rules. And leaked DNC emails showed DNC staffers conspiring to sabotage his campaign. Only hours after Sanders renewed his call for her to resign, saying the emails confirmed their long-time complaints DNC bias, Wasserman-Schultze was gone -- and unlikely to even speak at the convention. Long-time Democratic leader, Donna Brazille, who stayed authentically neutral in the primaries, will lead the DNC through the general election. Advertisement The Sanders Democratic Party complained, and Hillary Clinton, the leader of the other Democratic Party responded -- because she wants the support of his new insurgent movement. And Bernie Sanders once again made it clear he wants his supporters to support Clinton -- to defeat Donald Trump and because he thinks his new progressive movement will continue to transform Democratic politics. And, now that this problem has been dealt with, he will make this case in his convention speech Monday night. But there are still two parties. The Democratic Party of Hillary Clinton and her just-announced Vice-Presidential candidate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, was led early in their careers by "New Democrats" who believed their party could be "progressive" only as long as they did not challenge the political power of corporate America. The Democratic Leadership Council, founded by Bill Clinton, argued that Democrats needed to finance their campaigns with money from at least a portion of the corporate elite and the richest one percent. But they also argued that Democrats had to be "pro-business" in order to win the support of middle-American voters. Early on, these "New Democrats" even argued that Democrats needed to keep civil rights advocates at arm's length in order to win elections. To his great credit, Kaine has demonstrated, as mayor of Richmond and as a state-wide candidate in Virginia, that inter-racial coalitions can win in the South by being strong on civil rights and sensible gun laws. Hillary, of course has evolved from her New Dem roots -- and she has always inspired considerable support from women, African-Americans, and Hispanics -- key parts of the "rising American electorate." But there is a new force in the Democratic Party, represented by the Bernie Sanders campaign, with a very different strategy for winning elections -- a strategy built on an economic agenda for the people, not the wealthy -- and a fundraising strategy which can give Democrats the freedom to attack the growing problems of inequality, declining wages and economic stagnation. The Bernie Sanders movement pushed and educated Hillary Clinton and many other Democrats during the presidential campaign. And the result was considerable unity around a Platform shaped by the Sanders movement for change. Tim Kaine, her choice for Vice President, is having to catch up quickly to make sure that the Clinton-Kaine campaign doesn't alienate Sanders voters Clinton is counting on to win. Advertisement Kaine's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal was immediately criticized by progressives and Sanders supporters. Hillary Clinton has felt the pressure of TPP critics on the campaign trail and declared her opposition months ago. On Friday, when Kaine's new role was announced, Clinton staffers immediately told MSNBC's Kristen Welker that Kaine would now oppose the TPP. On Saturday came the announcement from a Kaine spokesperson that "He agreed with [Clinton's] judgment that it fell short" when it came to protecting wages and national security. Now Clinton and Kaine need to take their opposition to TPP into the campaign, showing Sanders voters -- and voters in industrial states tempted to go for Trump -- that they really mean it when they say they will stop the TPP. Kaine's recent letters to Senate colleagues, lobbying to weaken public oversight of banks, could throw into question Hillary's public commitment to tough financial reform and oversight. The Clinton campaign needs to clarify where he stands -- perhaps at a Tim Kaine-Elizabeth Warren rally on the dangers of an unregulated banking system. The sooner the better. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine come from an older, more cautious wing of the Democratic party -- a wing that been slowly evolving since the days when Governor Tim Kaine also had the job of begging big-money donors to finance Democratic political campaigns. Today that old Democratic Party is quickly being transformed from the grassroots up -- and we will see that transformation in progress this week. At the Convention in Philadelphia close to half of the delegates -- almost 1,900 -- are pledged to vote for Senator Bernie Sanders. They are there as the result of an incredibly successful campaign that won in 22 states, 43 percent of the popular vote. And the "Sanders Party" came so close to winning the national election without taking a penny of support from corporate America, including the big banks. This new Sanders progressive party operating within the Democratic party raised over $230 million through average donations of $27 from millions of supporters to finance its amazing volunteer organizer network. Bernie Sanders generated incredible enthusiasm among voters not just because he refused to take big corporate money. Young voters, progressive voters, working people and independent voters rallied to Sanders precisely because he boldly declared that irresponsible corporate power and the influence of wealthy Americans was a big part of the cause of America's growing inequality, joblessness and a dysfunctional government unable to grapple with obvious problems like global warming and racial injustice. Advertisement In order to win the nomination, Hillary Clinton had to learn from Sanders. She quickly moved to oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline and the TPP. She quickly started talking about big public investments to create jobs and retool America's energy economy to dramatically reduce carbon pollution. And she tried to match Sanders with primary voters by declaring her opposition to the TPP and claimed she would strengthen and go beyond the Dodd-Frank bank reform law to regulate the banking system. Because Hillary needs to win the general election support of Sanders voters, the Clinton team allowed the Bernie supporters to write much of the Democratic Platform. The result was a progressive victory. Here's what Bernie had to say about the outcome in an email to supporters: You should know that in the weeks since the last primary, both campaigns have worked together in good faith to bridge some of the policy issues that divided us during the election. Did we come to agreement on everything? Of course not. But we made important steps forward. Hillary Clinton released a debt free college plan that we developed together which now includes free tuition at public colleges and universities for working families. This was a major part of our campaign's agenda and a proposal that, if enacted into law, would revolutionize higher education in this country. Secretary Clinton has also publicly committed to massive investments in health care for communities across this country that will increase primary care, including mental health care, dental care, and low-cost prescription drug access for an additional 25 million people. Importantly, she has also endorsed the enactment of a so-called public option to allow everyone in this country to participate in a public insurance program. This idea was killed by the insurance industry during consideration of President Obama's health care program. During the Democratic platform proceedings in St. Louis and Orlando, we were victorious in including amendments to make it a clear priority of the Democratic Party to fight for a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, expand Social Security, abolish the death penalty, put a price on carbon, establish a path toward the legalization of marijuana, enact major criminal justice reforms, pass comprehensive immigration reform, end for-profit prisons and detention facilities, break up too-big-to-fail banks and create a 21st century Glass-Steagall Act, close loopholes that allow big companies to avoid taxes by stashing their cash in offshore tax havens and use that revenue to rebuild America, approve the most expansive agenda ever for protecting Native American rights and so much more. All of these progressive policies were at the heart of our campaign. The truth is our movement is responsible for the most progressive Democratic platform in the history of our country. All of that is the direct result of the work that our members of the platform committee did in the meetings and that you have been doing over the last 15 months. As Sanders says, the new populists and the old Democrats did not agree on everything - and, assuming we help Hillary win, the battle over issues will continue, even on issues where the 2016 platform says the two Democratic Parties agree. Advertisement But all progressives must ask themselves: is there any way that this productive debate on issues will continue if we pretend the November election is not that important - and the crazy, intolerant, opportunistic and irresponsible Donald Trump is elected President of the United States. As the Democratic Convention opens on Monday, the issue fights and primary debates and Platform discussions have allowed us to air our differences, demand (and get) leadership changes. In the process we have discovered a lot of points of agreement and respect between the two Democratic Parties. Now is the time to work together to defeat Trump and win control of the White House, the US Senate - and even, if we reach out to our fellow Americans voters, to win back the House of Representatives. Hutchinson Zoo confirms avian flu in geese in its bird rehab center The virus was in geese being treated at the center. One animal was euthanized. The zoo's exhibit birds are being isolated indoors to protect them. Berkshire Reps Serve Important Roles at Democratic Convention PITTSFIELD, Mass. State Rep. Paul Mark remembers the first time he watched a Democratic National Convention in 1988. PITTSFIELD, Mass. State Rep. Paul Mark remembers the first time he watched a Democratic National Convention in 1988. He watched the speeches and the celebration of the party and was fascinated. He's watched every single one since and volunteered at the 2004 convention in Boston that nominated Secretary of State John Kerry, then the state's U.S. senator. Now he'll serve an important role this week in Philadelphia as a delegate. He's the only Berkshire County delegate from either party and either campaign. "I was the first elected official in Massachusetts to endorse Bernie Sanders and I am co-chair of the Massachusetts Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. My other co-chair is Mary Keefe out of Worcester and she was the second official to endorse Bernie. I'm the only delegate to the national convention from Berkshire County for either campaign and from any party," Mark said last week. "I was elected at large. It means first you represent the entire state and that you are elected at the Democratic State Committee meeting. I was the only person from Berkshire County elected." Mark now has the chance not only to cast a vote on the nominee though he's bound to Bernie Sanders should a roll call vote come up but also the platform and the vice president. "I'm pledged to vote for Bernie if there is a roll call on the first ballot. Bernie has endorsed Hillary Clinton at this point. He's going to speak on Monday night and he can release us all or pledge us all to Hillary Clinton or they can move to a voice vote by acclamation like they did in 2008," Mark said. "If there is a roll-call vote and I am not released, then I am pledged to vote for Bernie on the first ballot. We're not like superdelegates who can go wherever they want. We have to stick to the pledge." 'Will of the People' It's not likely that it will come to a roll call as Sanders has already endorsed Clinton. But, when it comes to rules and the platform, Mark will have a voice. One of the more contentious issues that may arise is the use of superdelegates. A number of ex-officio delegates such as U.S. Reps. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, are free to vote for whoever. That dynamic has played out heavily during the primary with Clinton significantly outnumbering Sanders in the number of superdelegates. "There is a movement trying to modify the rules relating to superdelegates. When you looked at elected pledged delegates that are determined by the primaries and caucuses in the states, the election was pretty close between Sanders and Clinton. When you threw in the superdelegates, it always looked like the nomination was out of reach for Bernie Sanders," Mark said. If that comes to a vote, Mark said "I'd like them to be more reflective of the population. I understand why Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern supported Hillary Clinton. They have had a longtime relationship with her, they served in Congress together, they had a great relationship with Bill Clinton and she was first lady. I understand that and I think there is value in that. But I also think there is a lot of value in following the will of the people you serve, the people you are elected by." Becoming a delegate from Berkshire County isn't an easy task. The delegates are derived from the congressional districts and none of the Berkshire nominees were voted in because the population sector is in the Springfield area. From there, only 20, 10 men and 10 women, are chosen on an at-large basis from the entire state again where Boston controls most of the population. Despite heading the campaign and speaking at a number of Sanders events, Mark wasn't even the top vote-getter to be a delegate. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, is going to the convention in a different role. She was chosen by the Clinton campaign to serve as the Massachusetts whip. She worked on Clinton's 2008 campaign as well as this election and the party was "looking for somebody with organization and communication skills. They wanted to be sure Berkshire County was represented at the convention and I've been a leader of the campaign here," Farley-Bouvier said. Building Communications "I am the primary conduit of information between the national campaign and the state Clinton delegation. I have five whips working with me and I am the whip captain. Each of the five whips have 10 to 12 delegates they are responsible for communicating to. A message comes down from the campaign, I get it to my whips, they get it to their delegates. The information comes back up the tree and back out," Farley-Bouvier said. "We've been working on building that communication tree over the last couple of weeks, testing it out. We're hoping to be ready to go for Monday morning." With hundreds of delegates across the country descending on Philadelphia this week for the convention, a lot of coordination is involved. Should a Massachusetts delegate be unable to make it, Farley-Bouvier has to find an alternative. She has to make sure all of the delegates know where to be and when. "Another part of the responsibilities is to do a good job communicating and reaching out to the Sanders delegates because we are stronger together. We want to make sure we have good communication between those two camps so we can come together as one and move on to November," Farley-Bouvier said. This will be Farley-Bouvier's first time at a national convention and she's focused on learning the ins and outs of the event's operations. "I'm really fascinated with operations of things so understand the operations behind the convention is interesting to me. It's another reason why this is a good role for me. When we see conventions you only see the prime time part of it. What's happening on the floor and during the day, beforehand, are really interesting to me," Farley-Bouvier said. But maybe more importantly for the Berkshires, Farley-Bouvier said the convention provides a lot of networking opportunities to have conversations with Democrats all over the country, where she hopes to take ideas and lessons back here. "There is going to be a lot of time on our hands. It's a lot of hurry up and wait kind of stuff. Sometimes that is the most valuable time with your colleagues, to be able to have important conversations," Farley-Bouvier said. The convention is the place for both primary camps to come together as Democrats. Both Farley-Bouvier and Mark believe while Bernie Sanders isn't going to get the nomination, the Vermont senator made a tremendous impact on the party's platform. "Just because you don't win a primary, doesn't invalidate all of the hard work you've accomplished. The message Bernie Sanders has put forward is about more than one candidate for one office. It is about getting people elected to Congress and the U.S. Senate, governorships, local races, all of that. We need to follow his lead and understand how important it is that Donald Trump does not become the next president," Mark said. Neal will also be at the convention as a superdelegate. Neal has been a longtime Clinton supporter despite his congressional district voting for Sanders but he, too, believes Sanders is making a large impact. "Bernie Sanders has had a major impact on the platform already ... He has a prime-time speaking engagement at the convention and he energized millions of people during the course of the primary season. His contribution to the convention will be positive," Neal said. Particularly, the Vermont senator's focus on income inequality and higher education have made influenced to the Democratic platform. "The Sanders campaign really should be claiming victory right now because Sen. Sanders and his supporters have done a remarkable job in putting forth their agenda and being able to shape the platform for the party. Not only for this year but I think it is something that will last a long time. I hope the campaign and Sanders supporters feel really good about that and then we can move forward together," Farley-Bouvier said. She added, "Both the Clinton delegates on the platform committee and the Sanders delegates have come together so they have a platform that both camps feel really good about. It is putting together a progressive Democratic platform. It is very inclusive of all people. It addresses issues of income inequality. It addresses issues of college affordability and how we can start talking a solid look at the college debt problem." Unifying the Party Now is the time for the party to unified with a common goal: defeating the Republican nominee Donald Trump. "When that convention wraps up Thursday night I am hoping most of us, if not all of us, are going to be unified and working together with the common goal of making sure Donald Trump is not our next president in November," Mark said. Neal said, "for the most part conventions are really settled affairs" in that the primaries have essentially determined the nominee and the platforms. There hasn't been a contentious convention since the 1980s. Clinton on Friday announced Timothy Kaine, U.S. senator for Virginia, as her vice presidential running mate. Meanwhile, the Republicans chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to run alongside Trump. Neal said, "for the most part conventions are really settled affairs" in that the primaries have essentially determined the nominee and the platforms. There hasn't been a contentious convention since the 1980s. Clinton on Friday announced Timothy Kaine, U.S. senator for Virginia, as her vice presidential running mate. Meanwhile, the Republicans chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to run alongside Trump. "I've know Mike Pence from his time in the House of Representatives. There is no question that he is a doctrinaire conservative. He holds views that are well to the right of mainstream America. And at the same time he is also very careful he's scripted. I think he probably plays well with the conservative right in American but how he plays with the independent voter in America come November, I think that's a different outcome," Neal said last week. For Mark, a Pence/Trump ticket is a scary thought. "Donald Trump can say anything because he has absolutely no experience in any form of government. Mike Pence has actually done some of these things. He's actually followed through on that message. To hear the way they were talking a convention is scripted, it is the best of the best of what a party has to offer and if that is what the best of the best of the Republican Party then I am very scared of having them in control over the presidency, the military which comes as commander and chief, or the United States Senate. We're talking about who is going to pick the next Supreme Court justice," Mark said. On a more personal level, both Mark and Farley-Bouvier are excited to have the opportunity to attend and hear from the slate of speakers including President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts' U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sanders, and former President Bill Clinton. "I'm actually really excited to hear Vice President Biden speak. He's been in government service for a very long time. He has a strong track record on labor and issues I care about. But he's also just a really interesting character. He is prone to talk off the cuff. So I'm really interested to see what he will be saying to rally people," Mark said. Imperial Valley News Center Three Individuals Charged in $1 Billion Medicare Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Washington, DC - The owner of more than 30 Miami-area skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, a hospital administrator and a physicians assistant were charged with conspiracy, obstruction, money laundering and health care fraud in connection with a $1 billion scheme involving numerous Miami-based health care providers. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBIs Miami Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement. This is the largest single criminal health care fraud case ever brought against individuals by the Department of Justice, and this is further evidence of how successful data-driven law enforcement has been as a tool in the ongoing fight against health care fraud, said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. Medicare fraud has infected every facet of our health care system, said U.S. Attorney Ferrer. As a result of our unrelenting efforts to combat these pernicious schemes, the Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners continue to identify and prosecute the criminals who, driven by greed, steal from a program meant for our aged and infirmed to increase their personal wealth. Esformes is alleged to have been at the top of a complex and profitable health care fraud scheme that resulted in staggering losses in excess of $1 billion, said Special Agent in Charge Piro. The investigators who unraveled this intricate scam are to be commended for their diligence and commitment to root out fraud within our health care system. Health care executives who exploit patients through medically unnecessary services and conspire to obstruct justice in order to boost their own profits as alleged in this case have no place in our health care system, said Special Agent in Charge Richmond. Such actions only strengthen our resolve to protect patients and the U.S. taxpayers. Philip Esformes, 47, Odette Barcha, 49, and Arnaldo Carmouze, 56, all of Miami-Dade County, Florida, were each charged in an indictment unsealed today. According to the indictment, Esformes operated a network of over 30 skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities (the Esformes Network), which gave him access to thousands of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Many of these beneficiaries did not qualify for skilled nursing home care or for placement in an assisted living facility; however, Esformes and his co-conspirators nevertheless admitted them to Esformes Network facilities where the beneficiaries received medically unnecessary services that were billed to Medicare and Medicaid. Esformes and his co-conspirators are also alleged to have further enriched themselves by receiving kickbacks in order to steer these beneficiaries to other health care providers including community mental health centers and home health care providers who also performed medically unnecessary treatments that were billed to Medicare and Medicaid. In order to hide the kickbacks from law enforcement, these kickbacks were often paid in cash, or were disguised as payments to charitable donations, payments for services and sham lease payments, court documents allege. Esformes and Barcha were also charged with obstructing justice. According to the indictment, following the 2014 arrest of co-conspirators Guillermo and Gabriel Delgado, Esformes attempted to fund Guillermo Delgados flight from the United States to avoid trial in Miami. The indictment further alleges that Barcha created sham medical director contracts following receipt of a grand jury subpoena in June 20, 2016, in order to conceal and disguise the payment of kickbacks she made in exchange for patient referrals for admission to Esformes Network facilities and another Miami-area hospital. According to court documents, in 2006, Esformes paid $15.4 million to resolve civil federal health care fraud claims for essentially identical conduct, namely unnecessarily admitting patients from his assisted living facilities into a Miami-area hospital. However, Esformes and his co-conspirators allegedly continued this criminal activity-adapting their scheme to prevent detection and continue their fraud after the civil settlement. The indictment alleges that the co-conspirators accomplished this by employing sophisticated money laundering techniques in order to hide the scheme and Esformes identify from investigators. The FBI and HHS-OIG ultimately employed advanced data analysis and forensic accounting techniques and were able to identify the full scope of the fraud scheme. The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. Deputy Chief Joseph Beemsterboer, Assistant Chief Allan J. Medina and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Young of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Lehr, Daren Grove and Susan Torres of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine locations across the country, has charged nearly 2,900 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $10 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. Imperial Valley News Center Pokemon GO Game Causes Illegal Border Crossing Sweetgrass, Montana - U.S. Border Patrol Agents apprehended two juveniles crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border illegally while playing the Pokemon GO game on July 21. Border Patrol Agents encountered two individuals walking southbound from Canada into the U.S. while playing the Pokemon GO game on their cellphones during the evening of July 21. Agents quickly determined in the field that the juveniles were unaware of their surroundings. The pair were later reunited with their mother at the nearby Border Patrol Station. Both juveniles were so captivated by their Pokemon GO games that they lost track of where they were. They crossed the international border inadvertently, but agents were able to reunite them with their mother. stated Public Affairs Officer Michael Rappold. Badwater Road Opens Death Valley, California - Badwater Road is now fully open, connecting Death Valley National Park to the gateway town of Shoshone, California. Work remains to be done in other areas of the park to repair road and infrastructure damage caused by flash floods last October. Several storms between October 4 and October 18, 2015 caused extreme flash flood damage. In one location, 2.7 inches of rain fell in just 5 hours, which exceeds Death Valley's average precipitation for a year. Badwater Road is the main paved road in the southern end of Death Valley National Park. National Park Service road crews cleared large amounts of dirt and rock to open the northern section of Badwater Road by early November, providing access to popular destinations such as Badwater Basin, the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The section of Badwater Road near Jubilee Pass was extensively damaged, with about a half mile of pavement and road base washed away in multiple sections of the road. Federal Highway Administration funded the repair work.William Kanayan Construction started repairs in May, under a contract with Federal Highway Administration. Much of the work was done at night so that temperatures would be cooler. Badwater Road connects to CA-178 and is the primary entrance into the southern section of Death Valley National Park. This ten-month closure affected hundreds of thousands of park visitors and the economy of Shoshone and Tecopa. Most other park roads are now open. However, the Grapevine Canyon section of Scotty's Castle Road was the most heavily damaged road and is still closed. Park spokesperson Abby Wines said, "The flood was about a quarter the size of the Colorado River. It was so huge that it changed the shape of the canyon floor. That means it wouldn't be smart to just replace the road like it was. Engineers are redesigning sections of the road." Design work and environmental compliance are likely to take some time, so construction probably won't start until 2017. Scotty's Castle and Grapevine Canyon are currently closed to all public entry. Park managers are targeting 2019 to have repairs done and reopen the historic district to visitors. About 120,000 visitors per year traveled through Grapevine Canyon and over 50,000 visitors per year took an hour-long ranger-guided living history tour of Scotty's Castle each year before the flood. "There was a flurry of work in the first months after the flood," Wines said. "We borrowed trail crews and fire crews from other parks and got the mud shoveled out of the historic buildings. That made the site look a lot better." However, most of the work is still to be done and needs to be carefully planned. Several historic buildings were damaged, including the Garage/Longshed, which houses the Scotty's Castle Visitor Center. "The damage to the Visitor Center is obvious," Wines said. "It looks like a monster punched the wall. We had to dig out 4 feet of mud and rocks." Other damage is less obvious but just as critical to repair before the site can be opened to the public. The flood destroyed the water system and washed away 4,000 feet of waterline that was buried in the wash. Repairs have started on the water system. Southern California Edison replaced over 20 power poles, but repairs to electrical wiring in the district will start in a couple weeks to restore power to the buildings. The sewer system was also partially washed away and needs to be replaced. The estimated cost of recovering from these floods, including road repairs, is $31 million. Major funding is coming from federal sources via the National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration. Death Valley Natural History Association, a non-profit park partner, is coordinating donations to assist with Scotty's Castle projects through their website, www.dvnha.org . More than 100 arrested in Los Angeles-area ICE operation targeting convicted criminal aliens Los Angeles, California - A Mexican national formerly convicted of attempted murder of a peace officer and a Salvadoran gang member with a lengthy rap sheet are among the 112 foreign nationals arrested in the greater Los Angeles area over the last four days during an operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting at-large criminal aliens. All of the 100 men and 12 women taken into custody by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers during this weeks operation, which concluded late Wednesday, had criminal histories. The majority (62) had prior felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as child sex crimes, weapons charges, and assault. The remaining arrestees had past convictions for significant or multiple misdemeanors. One of those taken into custody is a previously deported criminal alien who will now be presented for federal prosecution for re-entry after removal, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The remaining arrestees will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future. This operation exemplifies ICEs ongoing commitment to targeting convicted criminals and public safety threats for arrest and removal, said David Marin, deputy field office director for ERO Los Angeles. By taking these individuals off our streets and ultimately removing them from the country, were making our communities safer for everyone. Among those arrested during this weeks operation were: A 64-year-old Mexican male arrested in unincorporated Riverside County near Hemet July 17 who has a 1996 conviction for attempted murder of a peace officer; A 46-year-old male from Tonga arrested July 17 in Rancho Cucamonga who has prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon; A 37-year-old Salvadoran gang member arrested in Los Angeles July 18 who has a lengthy rap sheet, including previous convictions for burglary, attempted burglary, receiving stolen property and DUI; and a A 45-year-old Mexican male arrested July 19 in Los Angeles who was previously convicted of assault to commit rape and failure to register as a sex offender. While the largest number of those taken into custody during the enforcement action are originally from Mexico (89), a total of 11 countries are represented, including El Salvador (7); Guatemala (5); Belize (2); Honduras (2); Vietnam (2); Egypt (1); Philippines (1); Tonga (1); the United Kingdom (1); and Azerbaijan (1). Of the six Southland counties and more than 50 communities where arrests occurred, Los Angeles County accounted for the largest number of apprehensions (56), followed by San Bernardino County (16); Orange County (13); Riverside County (12); Ventura County (11); and Santa Barbara County (4). All of the targets in this operation met the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) two top immigration enforcement priorities as established in DHS Secretary Jeh Johnsons 2014 memorandum. Priority 1 targets include threats to national security, criminal street gang members, convicted felons, and aggravated felons. Priority 2 targets include convictions for three or more misdemeanors or convictions for significant misdemeanors, including DUIs. Secretary Johnson has directed ICE to prioritize the use of enforcement personnel, detention space, and removal assets to support the Departments civil immigration enforcement priorities. ICE continues to work with local law enforcement partners to uphold public safety, while taking dangerous criminals out of our communities. Agents Intercept Woman with Opium, Heroin, and Meth on I-8 Pine Valley, California - U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 8 checkpoint arrested a woman yesterday morning who had 20 bundles of drugs stashed behind the dashboard of her vehicle. At approximately 10 a.m., a 33-year-old female driver and her 11-year-old daughter approached the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8. As the 2007 Pontiac Torrent SUV entered the pre-primary area, a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to the vehicle. Agents subsequently referred the woman to secondary inspection for further investigation. In the secondary inspection area, agents questioned the female driver and noted that their K-9 once again alerted to her vehicle. They searched the SUV and found an after-market compartment behind the dashboard. Inside were five bundles of heroin (10.80 pounds), two bundles of Fentanyl (4.81), and 13 bundles of crystal methamphetamine (25.93 pounds). The narcotics have a total estimated street value of $483,720. David BeMiller, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Campo Station stated, The utilization of checkpoints throughout San Diego Sector further enhances our ability to target illicit activities, such as this, and keep our communities safer. The woman, a legal permanent resident originally from Mexico, and her daughter were taken into custody. The woman was turned over to a task force led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the child was turned over to Child Protective Services. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol. As of July 19, 2016, San Diego Sector has intercepted 1,934 pounds of methamphetamine and 3,144 pounds of heroin for fiscal year 2016. To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance in corridors of egress away from our Nations borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900. U.S. Department of Education Takes Actions to Address Religious Discrimination Washington, DC - As part of ongoing efforts to encourage respect for students of all faiths and beliefs, the U.S. Department of Education shared a series of actions that confront discrimination and promote inclusive school environments. The steps include a new website on religious discrimination, an updated civil rights complaint form, an expanded survey of America's public schools on religious-based bullying, technical assistance for schools, and recent outreach on confronting religious harassment in education. "Students of all religions should feel safe, welcome and valued in our nation's schools," said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. "We will continue to work with schools and communities to stop discrimination and harassment so that all students have an equal opportunity to participate in school no matter who they are, where they come from or which faith, if any, they subscribe to." "Today's announcement underscores that we are concerned about the well-being of ALL students. On the prevention side, President Obama's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, started in 2011, is another important resource," said the Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, director of the Department's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "Our agency has had the privilege of coordinating the Challenge which provides college students from many religious traditions as well as nonbelievers to work together to tackle community problems. This higher education civic engagement allows students from religiously diverse backgrounds to build bridges of understanding across cultural and religious lines and helps prevent intolerance." Among the highlights of today's actions: Religious Discrimination Website. The Department's Office for Civil Rights launched a new page on its website with information about federal laws that protect students from discrimination involving their religion. The page links to OCR policy guidance, notable case resolutions, and resources in multiple languages and from other federal agencies. Updated Online Complaint Form. OCR updated its online complaint form to clarify that the office can investigate complaints regarding racial, ethnic or national origin discrimination involving religion. It reaffirms that students, parents, and persons of all faiths can file such complaints with OCR even though the laws OCR enforces do not expressly address religious discrimination in education. OCR has used enforcement as a key tool to protect students of many religious backgrounds from unlawful discrimination, including Jewish students subjected to anti-Semitic epithets and Muslim students targeted for wearing a hijab and called terrorists. Where schools have records of failing to address hostile environments, OCR seeks and secures commitments from them to improve their harassment policies and procedures, train staff and students, and conduct school climate surveys. Other recent efforts undertaken by the Department to address discrimination involving religion include: New Data From U.S. Schools. Later this year, every public school across the country, for the first time, will report to OCR through the Civil Rights Data Collection on the number of incidents of religious-based bullying or harassment in their schools in the 2015-16 school year. This new collection will give stakeholders, policymakers, and educators critical data that will allow them to further understand the problem of religious discrimination and to measure progress going forward. Government Collaboration. Since March, OCR has participated in a series of roundtables with federal agencies through the Justice Department's Combating Religious Discrimination Today initiative, on issues of religious discrimination, including bullying of students from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. Outreach. In June, OCR issued a fact sheet about combating discrimination against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian students, and translated the fact sheet into 15 languages to ensure that limited English proficiency is not a barrier to understanding one's rights under federal civil rights laws. Lhamon recently blogged about her office's work to prevent discrimination involving religion at schools and universities. Technical Assistance. In response to "an increasing number of incidents of anti-Semitic bullying and harassment in public schools . . . [and] reports documenting that students who are or are perceived as Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Arab, Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Southeast Asian are frequent targets of bullying and harassment," the Department adopted new regulations for its Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) that will enable them, starting in October, to provide technical assistance, on request, to public school districts, students and parents, and community organizations about religious discrimination and harassment. OCR enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, including a person's actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity. That includes membership in a religion that may be perceived to exhibit ethnic characteristics, as often experienced by Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh students. Earlier this year, President Obama proclaimed Jan. 16 as "Religious Freedom Day, 2016" declaring that, "Since our country's founding, religious freedom has been heralded as one of our most cherished ideals." In addition to the actions listed above, the Administration is taking other steps to combat religious discrimination. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is launching a new webpage today to ensure communities know about its work to combat hate violence and enforce laws such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Civil Rights Division is also publishing an update on its enforcement of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it will implement changes to its collection of demographic data from individuals who file charges with the agency. These changes will allow EEOC to collect more precise data about the religion of the individual alleging discrimination. This will assist the agency, as well as the public, in recognizing and responding to trends in the data. And, to protect young workers, EEOC released a fact sheet, in English and in Spanish, about religious discrimination on their Youth@Work website which presents information for teens and other young workers about employment discrimination. Johnson & Johnson Subsidiary Acclarent Inc. Pays Government $18 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Washington, DC - California-based medical device manufacturer Acclarent Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has agreed to pay $18 million to resolve allegations that the company caused health care providers to submit false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programs by marketing and distributing its sinus spacer product for use as a drug delivery device without U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of that use, the Justice Department announced Friday. The FDA approval process serves an important role in ensuring that federal health care participants receive devices that are safe, effective and medically appropriate, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division. We will not permit companies to circumvent that process and put profits over patient safety. The FDA plays a fundamental role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical devices and drugs in this country, said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. Every time that patients receive a medical device or fill a prescription they should be able to take for granted that the FDAs requirements have been met. We will vigorously pursue those who ignore or seek to circumvent these important patient protections. It is imperative that medical device companies adhere to FDA approval requirements so that patients are not subject to questionable medical treatments at taxpayer expense, said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Our investigators, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue allegations of such misconduct to hold fraudsters accountable and deter those tempted to launch such illegal scams. Acclarent sold a variety of medical devices used in sinus surgeries, including a device known as the Relieva Stratus MicroFlow Spacer (Stratus). In 2006, Acclarent received FDA clearance to market the Stratus as a spacer to be used only with saline to maintain sinus openings following surgery. The government alleged that Acclarent intended for the Stratus to be used instead as a drug-delivery device for prescription corticosteroids, including Kenalog-40, and that the device was specifically designed and engineered for this use. The government further alleged that Acclarent marketed the Stratus as a drug delivery device even after the FDA rejected the companys 2007 request to expand the approved uses for the Stratus. For example, Acclarent employees trained physicians using a video that demonstrated the Stratus being used with prescription corticosteroid Kenalog-40 and also used a white, milky substance resembling Kenalog-40 when demonstrating the Stratus. In 2010, Acclarent added a warning to its label regarding use of active drug substances in the Stratus; however, the government alleged that Acclarent nonetheless continued to market the Stratus for drug delivery. By May 2013, Acclarent discontinued all sales of the Stratus and the company agreed to withdraw all FDA marketing clearances for the device, which is no longer commercially available in the United States. On Wednesday, July 20th, Acclarents former Chief Executive Officer, William Facteau, 47, of Atherton, California and former Vice President of Sales, Patrick Fabian, 49, of Lake Elmo, Minnesota were convicted following a six-week jury trial of 10 misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated and misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce. The civil settlement with Acclarent resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the governments recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the District of Massachusetts and is captioned United States ex rel. Melayna Lokosky v. Acclarent, Inc. As part of todays resolution, Lokosky will receive approximately $3.5 million from the settlement. This settlement illustrates the governments emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $30 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $18.3 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The settlement with Acclarent was the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, with assistance from the FDAs Office of Chief Counsel and HHS Office of Counsel to the Inspector General. The investigation was conducted by the FBIs Boston Field Office, HHS-OIG, the Defense Health Agency, FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Signing of the Global Food Security Act Washington, DC - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement on S.1252, the Global Food Security Act of 2016, signed by President Obama Wednesday: "Agriculture's vital role in our economic success and national security is a bond that we share with other nations all over the world. With agricultural development as a core component of his strategy, President Obama's Feed the Future initiative has achieved impressive results in combating poverty and hunger, reaching millions of small farmers with tools and technologies and delivering critical nutrition to millions of children. In effect, Feed the Future represents the best of our American values-compassion, innovation, collaboration, and progress toward a world free of hunger and inequality. As the world and our climate continue to change, we know that our work must continue. With the signing of the Global Food Security Act by the President today, we can be assured that this important work will carry on long past this Administration. USDA has been committed to ensuring that our contributions through research and innovation, capacity building, technical assistance to build agricultural productivity, and school feeding programs produced meaningful results. I am grateful that with the enactment of this legislation, the United States will continue to play a leading role in helping create a more food secure world and, therefore, a more secure United States of America." Pakistan Twitter Had an Epic Meltdown After Shock Defeat to Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Comic-Con's Hall H is a sacred place of surprises and revelations, with Marvel holding onto one of the best of the entire weekend. Gathering all the current casts of its upcoming movies for a family selfie, Kevin Feige teased the audience by stating that no family portrait would be complete without introducing the newest member to the Marvel gang; before bringing to stage one Brie Larson, now confirmed in the role of Captain Marvel. This year's Oscar-winner for Best Actress, Larson has been rumoured in the role for a while; but, like the recent confirmation of young Han Solo, it's still deeply comforting for fans to know they are definitely getting all their Disney dreams come true. Because, what a pick Larson is, having lit up screens with an absolutely magnetic, honest performance in last year's Room; and having already tackled the comic book genre in Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. There's no doubt she'll shine in the role of Carol Danvers, the talented test pilot who gains powers after becoming exposed to alien DNA. Those powers include super-strength, the ability to fly, and an energy pulse she can shoot from her hands. The actress also took to Twitter to confirm the news. The script is currently being written by Nicole Perlman and Inside/Out's Meg LeFauve; a director is yet to be attached, though Marvel is apparently keen for a female director, with The Babadook's Jennifer Kent and Whale Rider's Niki Caro already rumoured to be in the running. However, there's a strong chance Captain Marvel may first turn up in a previous Marvel outing; with the character likely to make her debut in the upcoming Avengers 3 before embarking on a solo adventure, much like the studio did with Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel Larson's secrecy around the role at least had a good cover for Comic-Con, with the actress already attending the event to promote Warner Bros.' own Kong; Skull Island, which saw a first trailer drop during its gargantuan panel. Captain Marvel is set for a 2019 release. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An experimental solar-powered plane has taken off from Cairo for Abu Dhabi on the last leg of its globe-circling voyage. The Mission Control Centre tweeted that the Solar Impulse 2 is expected to land in Abu Dhabi after a 48-hour flight. Mission Control said it had identified a weather window that could allow the plane to overcome the challenging high temperatures across Saudi Arabia. "Just took off from Cairo to achieve the 1st round-the-world solar flight. A dream I have since 1999," pilot Bertrand Piccard tweeted after Solar Impulse 2 was airborne. The solar plane had arrived in Cairo on July 13 after a flight from Seville, Spain. The aircraft landed in Seville on June 23 after an unprecedented three-day flight across the Atlantic. 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 The around-the-world voyage began in March 2015 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Recommended Read more Solar plane finishes transatlantic trip The wings of Solar Impulse 2, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. Ideal flight speed is about 28mph, although that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest. The solar project, which is estimated to cost more than 75 million, began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Students in the UK could be shut out of a European exchange programme that benefits 15,000 every year because the UK voted to leave the EU. The Erasmus programme allows students at British universities to study abroad in Europe for a year. The scheme also allows thousands of students from the continent to come to the UK meaning exclusion from the scheme could serve a severe blow to British universities. There are 27,401 students on the scheme at university in the UK at the moment, with their fees paid by the EU. Erasmus' UK director, Ruth Sinclair-Jones, said we face a sad moment of uncertainty, after 30 years of this enrichment of so many lives, The Observer reported. Erasmus have received floods of questions about the continuation of the programme following the UK's decision to leave the EU, according to a statement on their website, but as yet it could not give any answers about what the future holds. "We appreciate your concern for the programme but unfortunately you may have to be patient as definitive answers... may take time," it said. Mostafa Rajaai, International Officer for the National Union of Students, told The Independent: "Erasmus has been extremely successful in creating academic, scientific and cultural exchanges across Europe. "The many thousands who take part in the scheme every year are not the only ones benefiting from it. "The program enriches the experiences of all students who have a much more diverse learning environment as a result of Erasmus. "Maintaining Erasmus the way it currently functions with a possibility of growth for the program should be part of the Brexit negotiations to ensure such an important element of Higher Education in the UK is not erased altogether." Norway, which is not a member of the EU, participates in the scheme, yet it accepts the free movement of people. Given immigration was a key issue in the vote to leave the EU, it is uncertain whether the UK will choose to accept this condition. Since Switzerland voted to restrict free movement it has been refused entry to the Erasmus scheme. The country has initiated its own scheme, but it is very expensive. The Universtities UK group told the Observer this means only well-off students in Switzerland can go to Europe to study . "The great thing about Erasmus is that it made the experience and opportunity available to every student, whatever their family means, it said. Several UK universities have expressed anxiety about the consequences of the Brexit vote on the Erasmus scheme. Central St Martins (CSM) art school in London has said they are desperately concerned about the future of the programme. In a statement to CSM students shortly after the EU referedum vote, the head of the school, Jeremy Till said: I think it is very hard to argue against the cultural and educational benefits of exchange and collaboration within Europe and beyond. We will therefore be making the strong case for the continuation of Erasmus, for unfettered entrance for European students to the UK, and for the continued engagement of UK universities in European research and teaching networks. Universities in the UK are already facing difficulty because of a dearth of funding for science and research grants. The turnout of young people in the EU referendum was 64 per cent, a rate not seen for two decades. Those aged between 18 and 24 overwhelmingly voted to remain in the union. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has quickly seized on his most recent endorsement for president after it was revealed Barack Obamas half-brother intends to vote for him. Malik Obama, who has a had a falling out with his relative in the White House, told the New York Post that I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart ... Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. The paper said that Malik Obama spoken to his brother a year ago and was miffed that he did nothing to help his own foray into politics when he ran for governor of the southwestern Kenyan county of Siaya in 2013. Speaking from his home in the Kenyan village of Kogelo, Mr Obama, 58, a longtime Democrat, said that his deep disappointment in his brothers administration has led him to recently switch allegiance to the party of Lincoln. The last straw, he said, came earlier this month when FBI Director James Comey recommended not prosecuting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her use of a private e-mail servers while secretary of state. She should have known better as the custodian of classified information, said Mr Obama. Mr Trump was quick to point out the news on Twitter, said that Mr Obama was probably treated badly by the president - like everyone else. Malik Obama holds a photograph showing him and his brother (AP) Mr Obama was also reportedly annoyed about the role played by his brother and Ms Clinton in the demise of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Malik Obama dedicated his 2012 biography of his late father to Gaddafi and others who were making this world a better place. I still feel that getting rid of Gaddafi didnt make things any better in Libya, he said. My brother and the secretary of state disappointed me in that regard. The presidents and Maliks father, Barack Obama Sr., left Kenya in 1959 when Malik was a year old and his mother was pregnant with his sister Auma. Obama Sr. enrolled at the University of Hawaii, where he met and married the presidents mother, Stanley Ann Dunham. Malik Obama didnt meet his younger half-brother until 1985. President Obama, 54, has seven half-siblings from both sides of his family, the Post said. Mr Obama plans to return to the US to vote for Mr Trump in November. Mr Obama used to live in Maryland, where he worked for many years as an accountant and is registered to vote there. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Democratic party is engulfed in controversy on the eve of its convention after a furious Bernie Sanders demanded someone be held accountable for an apparent plot by officials to smear him and promote his rival, Hillary Clinton. On Friday, the release of more than 20,000 Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails by Wikileaks, revealed a plan by officials to try and smear Mr Sanders as an atheist. "Nobody has apologised. But this does not come as a surprise to me or my supporters. There is no doubt that the DNC was on Secretary Clinton's campaign from day one," Mr Sanders on Sunday told NBC. An email from May 2016 and sent from DNC cheif financial officer Brad Marshall, suggested that they should get someone to ask Mr Sanders his views on religion, It might make no difference, but for KY (Kentucky) and WVA (West Virginia) can we get someone to ask his belief. Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist, wrote Mr Marshall. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has reportedly infuriated Mr Sanders (AP) This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. The campaign of Mr Sanders, who earlier this month endorsed Ms Clinton, has for months leveled accusations of bias at the DNC and its chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. As a result of the controversy, Ms Wasserman Schultz will be prevented from delivering a major speech at the convention, which begins in Philadelphia on Monday, in order to keep the peace. Mr Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, said his team was disappointed by the content of the emails, which appeared to back their claim that staff at the DNC, which is supposed to remain neutral until a candidate is selected, were working to support Ms Clinton. US media has said that the hack of the DNC database was carried out by the Russian government. Someone does have to be held accountable, Mr Weaver told ABC News. We spent 48 hours of public attention worrying about who in the Trump campaign was going to be held responsible for the fact that some lines of Mrs Obama's speech were taken by Mrs Trump. Someone in the DNC needs to be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign. Mr Weaver said the emails showed misconduct at the highest level within the party and that he believed there would be more emails leaked, which would reinforce the view that the DNC had its fingers on the scale. Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with former Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (EPA) Everybody is disappointed that much of what we felt was happening at the DNC was in fact happening, that you had, in this case, a clear example of the DNC taking sides and looking to place negative information into the political process, he said. We have an electoral process. The DNC, by its charter, is required to be neutral among the candidates. Clearly it was not. Mr Sanders said despite the controversy, he remained committed to beating Donald Trump. "We have to elect Secretary Clinton, she is a far superior candidate on every issue," he added on Sunday. The email dump comes at a crucial time, just days before the partys national convention in Philadelphia, with thousands of delegates representing both campaigns gathering from across the country. Mr Weaver said he was worried the news could disrupt the goals of the convention. Bernie Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton While Ms Clinton is set to officially receive the partys nomination, there is concern among some members that she does not generate the excitement that Mr Sanders did during the campaign. Many observers believe it will be essential for him to campaign for her, if the students and young people who turned out in droves to see him are to be persuaded to vote for her. The Republican nominee, Donald Trump, said on Twitter: Leaked e-mails of DNC show plans to destroy Bernie Sanders. Mock his heritage and much more. On-line from Wikileaks, really vicious. RIGGED. Over the weekend, representatives for the campaigns of Ms Clinton and Mr Sanders met to discuss issues regarding the role in primary election process of superdelegates party officials who are not bound to back any particular candidate. Mr Sanders reportedly lost a string of efforts aimed at overhauling or eliminating the superdelegate system. Mr Sanders has said of his Jewish heritage: Im very proud of being Jewish. And thats an essential part of who I am as a human being. Yet in an interview with reporters earlier this year he downplayed what that Jewish heritage meant on the campaign trail and declined to say whether he believed in God. The DNC has not commented on the controversy. Yet, over ther weekend Mr Marshall apologised on Facebook, saying: "I deeply regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, and all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the people at the Republican National Convention who received praise from all corners was Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka. People liked her sharp comments, and admired her stylish line of clothes, which she highlighted during her performances. When she tweeted a link the morning after delivering a speech about how her father would fight for America, the $139 (106) pink dress she had worn sold out online. Yet many will be surprised to learn that the vast majority of Ms Trumps clothes are not manufactured in US, but in China and Vietnam, two countries under the spotlight for human rights abuses and poor labour conditions. Some of the items are labelled simply as imported. An inspection by The Independent of more than 25 different items of Ms Trumps range at the Macys flagship store in New York city, found not a single one was produced in the US. A sales assistant confirmed that no items in the collection were made at home. A number of commentators have favourably reflected on how Ms Trump used her moment in the spotlight last week in Cleveland to promote her own line of products, which includes clothing, accessories, shoes and fragrances. The day after the speech, she tweeted: Shop Ivankas look from her #RNC speech. The dress she wore when she introduced her father as he formally accepted the partys nomination, called the Ivanka Trump Sleeveless Studded Sheath Dress, sells for $138 (106) and is currently sold out on the site. The dress is also sold out at the department store Nordstrom. In her speech to introduce her father, Ms Trump said: To people all over America, I say, when you have my father in your corner, you will never again have to worry about being let down. He will fight for you all the time, all the way, every time." Ivanaka Trump's dresses Macy store She added: I have seen him fight for his family. I have seen him fight for his employees. I have seen him fight for his company. And now, I am seeing him fight for our country. Its been the story of his life and more recently the spirit of his campaign. During his campaign Mr Trump has spoken repeatedly about bad trade deals that have seen American jobs go to countries such as Mexico and China. When he was campaigning in Indiana he vowed to tax a producer of air conditioners, Carrier, which had announced it was moving 1,400 jobs from Indianapolis to Mexico. Likewise, when he learned that the food giant RJR Nabisco had also relocated a factory to Mexico, he said he would stop eating Oreos, despite his love of the chocolate biscuits. Later, speaking in the battleground state of Ohio in June, he declared: Were getting the hell beaten out of us. Were going to stop. Were going to bring jobs back to this country. Donald Trump on stage at the GOP convention in Cleveland, at the end of his speech accepting the party's presidential nomination (Reuters) Ms Trump, who has three children and who began developing her line of products in 2007, did not immediately respond to questions. Mr Trumps campaign also did not say whether he approved of his daughters decision to produce her clothes in China and Vietnam. While Mr Trumps official campaign merchandise is produced in the US, it was reported earlier this year that his own line of clothing, which includes suits and ties, are made in China and Bangladesh. Her decision to use the election campaign to promote her own products echoed an incident earlier this year when Mr Trump used a speech in March to mention other items manufactured using the Trump brand. He displayed a table of Trump Winery products, Trump-branded water, Trump magazines, and steaks that he suggested were from his Trump Steak brand even though that was discontinued several years ago. Harvard Trade and Investment Professor Robert Lawrence said earlier this year he had inspected a total of the 838 Ivanka Trump products that were advertised on the Trump.Com website. He said 628 were said to be imported and 354 were made specifically made in China. Her fathers products were also produced overseas. Trump castigates American companies like Apple, Ford, Carrier and Kraft that use their brands to sell goods in the US, but produce them in other countries, he wrote in a column for PBS. Yet despite these deep convictions, when it comes to his own businesses, Trump doesnt exactly walk the walk. New York magaxine said Ms Trump's clothing line was manufactured and distributed by G-iii, an apparel group that manages the Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and Jessica Simpson brands. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Richard Dreyfuss has condemned Donald Trump, calling him an intemperate, mean-spirited, lying bully. The 68-year-old actor, who is best known for his role in Jaws, argued that if someone would not grant the Republican presidential candidate permission to marry their daughter then they should not allow him to run the country. If a man like that asked you for permission to marry your daughter, what would your answer be? If its no, I think its obvious we shouldnt give him the most powerful office on the face of the earth, he told The Guardian. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY This is not the first time Dreyfuss has rebuked Mr Trump. In since deleted tweets written in May, he called the celebrities who have come out in support of Mr Trump w****s. The saddest people arent Donald Trumps supporters. Theyre really struggling. Its Donald Trumps celebrity supporters who are w****s, he wrote. I get the thing about off the cuff speaking. I get it! But when that speaking is dedicated to hurting Latino Americans, youre a racist. A representative for Mr Trump did not immediately respond to request for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Holidaymakers attempting to leave the UK from Dover are being delayed for up to 10 hours in long queues of traffic. Officials at the port claimed the delays had been caused by increased security at the French border, which they said had been "insufficiently" staffed. Traffic jams extended about 12 miles along the A20 and M20. France's security services have been on high alert because of multiple terrorist attacks, most recently in Nice, where more than 80 people attending Bastille day celebrations were killed. A spokesperson from the Port of Dover said in a statement: "Basically, ever since the Paris attacks, the French have been on heightened security its much more intensive." The statement said this was the "biggest weekend" for British tourists heading to the continent and claimed French officials were unprepared. "[There has been a backlog] the past couple of nights, especially because the French border was insufficiently staffed," it said. "They didn't have enough booths open. We raised concerns earlier in the week and have raised them again with the [UK] government. "The government has said they are planning to draft in more UK border force workers." 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 Details of how many and when have not yet emerged. One woman with multiple sclerosis was travelling to Germany for stem cell treatment when she was caught up in the chaos. Tanya Cudworth, 50, had raised 5,000 for the trip to a hospital in Frankfurt that she hopes could change her life. But because of the delays she missed the morning ferry and had to sleep in her vehicle overnight. Kent Police have asked motorists to stay in their cars and keep them well ventilated. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Belfast cat which went missing for 18 months has finally been reunited with his owner after being found in Liverpool. The four-year-old rescue animal, called Sapeurs Pompier, vanished from the home of his owner Julie Blair early last year and was thought to have died when he did not return. In mid-July, rescue volunteers from Garston Animal Rescue in Liverpool spotted the lost cat attempting to forage for scraps of food outside a takeaway on Speke Hall Road on the outskirts of the city. Locals confirmed the animal had been around the area for several weeks before it was found and identified via its microchip, according to Liverpool Echo. Ms Blair told reporters she had bottle-fed Sapeurs since he was a kitten and had taken him on as a pet after he was abandoned by his previous owner. Weve absolutely no idea how he got to Liverpool, she said. Ive had him since he was a kitten, but he disappeared about 18 months ago and I assumed the worst. Then a few days ago I got this lovely phone call out of the blue to say the cat had been found. I think they presumed I had moved to Liverpool. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA 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 Ms Blair said she regularly volunteers for an animal charity in Belfast and made the trip over to Liverpool to be reunited with her cat. Staff at Garston Animal Rescue said it was possible Sapeurs had climbed into a lorry bound for England. Ms Blair added: To get a call to say he had turned up in Liverpool was just brilliant.I wouldnt allow the charity to re-home him. I wanted him home, absolutely - whatever it costs. Im presuming that he went missing in Belfast and some nice family rescued him and didnt think to check his chip. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A multiple sclerosis sufferer travelling to Germany for potentially life-changing treatment saw her dash to Dover turn into a 20-hour ordeal. Tanya Cudworth, 50, was travelling to a Frankfurt clinic to undergo stem cell treatment for her condition after raising 5,000 for the trip. Along with her partner, Steve Deene, 53, she set off from Tunbridge Wells at 8.30am on Saturday after waking to news of increasing delays at Dover. Dover tailbacks The couple, from Derby, did not make it onto a ferry until 4.20am on Sunday. Speaking to the Press Association, Ms Cudworth described the experience as "absolutely horrendous". She said: "I'm taking the trip to get this treatment that I hope will keep me from having to go in a wheelchair. It's not available on the NHS and we've done some fundraising. It's a good job I didn't have to be at the hospital sooner - 19 hours in the car has obviously aggravated my symptoms." Because of her condition Ms Cudworth had to travel by road (PA) Because of her condition Ms Cudworth, who works for Marston's brewery, had to travel by road. She hoped to nip to Dover, take a short sail across the Channel and complete the final six-hour drive to Frankfurt on Saturday, ahead of her Monday appointment. However, chances of them making the 10.30am ferry soon vanished as they found themselves stranded in a virtual car park on the A20. Recommended Read more Breakthrough treatment found to reverse symptoms of multiple sclerosis She said: "During the day it was so hot and there was nowhere near enough water and at night it was pitch black so you didn't know what was going on around you. You couldn't sleep because you had to keep moving forward. "We didn't get any water until 3am and I saw women with babies, young families and people with pets with no water. It's shocking that more wasn't done to get it to people, the authorities weren't anywhere to be seen. "My partner has been a lorry driver since he got his licence and he has never seen anything like it here or abroad." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA 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 As the situation became desperate the couple decided to turn off the A20 and head for a hotel, but found everywhere was fully booked. In the end they decided to grit their teeth and carry on crawling towards the port. The Government said the "extraordinary" delays were down to a combination of high volumes of holiday traffic and extra security checks by French officials. However Ms Cudworth suspected the official line may be hiding a different reason for the travel chaos. "I don't know whether the French are just annoyed with us because of Brexit or we are blaming the French for the delays. "There's a chance I will have to come back to Frankfurt for the treatment. If I do, I will just have to fly." Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Philip Hammond has said Brexit will cast a shadow over the world economy for at least two years in an interview following the G20 summit in Beijing. The Chancellor said the turmoil in the markets and signs that the economy is struggling following the vote to leave the European Union in last months referendum were to be expected. In the interview with Sky News he said: It was a shock to the economic system, it was not something markets or businesses were expecting so obviously there was going to be a reaction or a response to that. And because there will now be a fairly lengthy negotiating period there is going to be uncertainty about the outcome hanging over the world economic outlook for the next few years. He said Brexit was one of many shadows hanging over the global economy which the worlds economic leaders needed to deal with. ( Ng Han Guan-Pool/Getty Images) (Ng Han Guan-Pool/Getty Images) Mr Hammond also refused to rule out the prospect of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) - which non-Pacific countries could theoretically join in some capacity subject to member countries approval - or a bilateral trade with the Chinese which is rumoured to have been discussed at the meeting. The TPP deal was signed in secret last year between 12 Pacific countries, including the US, with many fearing it could led to increased drug costs, decreased food safety and job losses as free trade means employers may be able to move production overseas. Brexit reactions in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit reactions in pictures Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign look at their phones after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall AP Brexit reactions in pictures Leave supporters cheer results at a Leave.eu party after polling stations closed in the Referendum on the European Union in London Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Mr Cameron announces his resignation to supporters Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Donald Tusk proposes that the 27 remaining EU member states start a wider reflection on the future of our union Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Ukip leader Nigel Farage greets his supporters on College Green in Westminster, after Britain voted to leave the European Union PA Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as referendum results are announced today Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Boris Johnson leaves his home today to discover a crowd of waiting journalists and police officers Getty Brexit reactions in pictures Leave EU supporters celebrate as they watch the British EU Referendum results being televised at Millbank Tower in London Rex Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react as results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall Reuters Brexit reactions in pictures Supporters of the Stronger In campaign react after hearing results in the EU referendum at London's Royal Festival Hall PA Mr Hammond said: Our options are very wide at the moment, we know that we cant legally enter into any new trade agreements until the point when he exit the European Union which could be two, two and a half years down the line. Weve got time to look at the options and to negotiate agreements. Whatever happens, we will need to engage with the rest of the world even more strongly, he said. The meeting of the worlds top 20 economies in China was dominated by talk about the fallout of Brexit which has caused chaos on the international markets. The 20 finance ministers, including Mr Hammond, pledged to try to boost economic growth and confront protectionism in the wake of the vote. In a joint communique sent by the financial leaders, they said: Members of the G20 are well positioned to proactively address the potential economic and financial consequences stemming from the UK referendum. In the future, we hope to see t Click here to download your free guide on Brexit ideas and action plans, from Independent Partner, Hargreaves Lansdown Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, will resign immediately if Labour loses the next general election, Mr McDonnell has announced. It has been standard practice at every general election for a quarter of a century for the leader of the losing party to stand down, but they never promise to do so ahead of the contest, because by convention they never openly admit they might lose. There is also no precedent that says the shadow chancellor has to fall on his sword in the event of defeat. Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Show all 12 1 /12 Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn's reshuffle Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn and the Syria bombing vote Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn asks questions from the public at PMQs, meanwhile backbenchers plot to oust him Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn is unavailable to attend the Privy Council Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Conference rejects Corbyns call to debate Trident Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn At Labour conference Corbyn and McDonnell press for a Robin Hood tax Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyns hopes for a new politics look optimistic in the face of a media barrage Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn enters Labour leadership race But when asked on BBC1s Andrew Marr programme if he and Mr Corbyn would both resign after a defeat, Mr McDonnell was unusually direct. That would be inevitable," he replied. Mr McDonnell also made an emotional appeal for an end to the infighting that is ripping Labour apart. Looking directly into the camera and pointing, he said: We have got to stop this now. There is a small group out there that are willing to destroy our party just to remove Jeremy Corbyn. We have got to stop them. We have got to unite. His performance on the Andrew Marr Show did not impress everyone. The Labour MP Graham Jones tweeted: John McDonnell, the Gerald Ratner of politics. Sells you things he doesn't believe himself. Train wreck of untruths on Marr. The last time the leader of either of the main parties lost a general election and stayed on was in 1987. When Neil Kinnock eventually resigned, after a second defeat in 1992, he was succeeded by his shadow chancellor, John Smith. Mr Corbyn is currently facing a leadership challenge from the former shadow work and pensions secretary, Owen Smith, which he is expected to win after more than 180,000 people paid 25 to register as Labour supporters, the majority of whom are assumed to have done so to cast their votes for Mr Corbyn. Mr Smith has written to Mr Corbyn asking for at least one hustings in every region of Britain in the hope of gaining ground. But reuniting the party after seeing off Mr Smith would be a challenge for the embattled leader, when more than three-quarters of Labour MPs have declared they have no confidence in him. There have also been widespread complaints about online abuse directed at Labour MPs, allegedly by Corbyn supporters. A letter has been sent to him from 45 female Labour MPs appealing to him to do more to end the disgusting abuse. Mr McDonnell admitted there would have to be mediated negotiations between Mr Corbyn and Labour MPs if he is re-elected, and tried to soothe their anger by saying that Labour MPs are good people (who) came into politics, like me, to change the world. He added that as democrats they would respect the outcome of a leadership contest. Recently, Mr McDonnell was filmed at a supporters rally describing unnamed former members of Labours shadow cabinet as f***ing useless. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Labour MP Seema Malhotra has claimed her staff were subjected to "aggressive and intimidating" behaviour when an aide to Jeremy Corbyn gained unauthorised entry to her office. In a letter to Commons Speaker John Bercow, Ms Malhotra, former shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, also claimed her privacy, security and confidentiality had been violated after a member of shadow chancellor John McDonnells team gained entry to her office. However, a Labour party source told Sky News: "Seema has two offices and is basically squatting in the office and refusing to move. It's malicious and so is her letter." The controversy comes amid a bitter civil war within the Labour party between supporters and opponents of Mr Corbyn, who is facing a leadership challenge from MP Owen Smith. The letter said the unnamed Corbyn aide accessed the room with a key card on 15 July, when Ms Malhotra was at a constituency meeting. The aide was said to have been surprised to find a member of Ms Malhotras staff on the premises and, when asked why she was there, said she was just being nosey. The letter said Ms Malhotra was unclear what the aide's "intentions were". "She kept referring to my staff as 'girls', which made them feel insulted and patronised, and said that 'she had people waiting to use the office'. "These incidents have frightened my staff, including a new intern, who have become concerned about their safety and as such took the decision that no member of staff is to be left alone in the office. "As this is a serious breach of Parliamentary privilege, I would be grateful if an urgent and thorough investigation is undertaken into the actions of these individuals and any other associated parties. "I understand that [the Corbyn aide] has been in my office at least twice in recent weeks, when I have not been there, and was aggressive and intimidating. She would interrogate my staff, asking them questions about who worked in my office, what their roles were, and why we couldn't move out." Only a police search warrant can justify entry to a Parliamentary office without the wishes of an MP, as agreed following the police search of MP Damian Greens offices in 2008. It is believed Ms Malhotra has also written to Labours general secretary, Iain McNicol, to demand an internal investigation into the matter. Mr McDonnell responded by saying there had been a misunderstanding and there were no nefarious reasons behind the aides entry into the office. John McDonnell pleas for Labour unity I find this really distressing. We thought she had moved out of her office; my office manager saw boxes outside her office and thought she had moved, he said, speaking on the Andrew Marr Show. I've got a member of staff ... she's now worried she's going to lose her job and face prosecution because it's been described as a break-in. That's just so distressing it's unacceptable. Seema didnt contact me before she wrote to the speaker; I got a copy of the email on Friday night. We thought she had moved out. I dont know whats going on. 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 Ms Malhotra resigned as shadow Treasury secretary on 26 June, saying she had become concerned by the growing divisions within the Labour party. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May will try to reassure Northern Ireland's political leaders today that they will be kept in the loop during the complex negotiations that lie ahead as the UK leaves the European Union. Northern Ireland was one of three regions, along with Scotland and London, to vote in favour of staying in the EU in the June referendum. They are now faced with the possibility of customs checks along their border with the Irish Republic once Brexit is completed. But Ms Mays meeting in Belfast with Arlene Foster, the Democratic Unionist who took over in January as Northern Irelands First Minister, may be easier than her earlier meeting with Scotlands leader, Nicola Sturgeon. As a former Brexit supporter, Ms Foster supports Mrs May's line that 'Brexit means Brexit' and that the UK must hold together. That view is not shared by the Deputy First Minister, Sinn Feins Martin McGuinness, who will also meet Ms May during her Belfast visit. He is a lifelong believer in a reunited Ireland. Ms May will try to convince them both that she will keep Northern Irelands concerns in mind during the Brexit negotiations. She will also promise to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, all local political parties and the Irish government on implementing past agreements on how to retain stability in Northern Ireland. Speaking ahead of her visit, Ms May said: I am delighted to be visiting Northern Ireland. I made clear when I became Prime Minister that I place particular value on the precious bonds between the nations of the United Kingdom. I want to assure the people of Northern Ireland that I will lead a Government which works for everyone, across all parts of the United Kingdom, and that Northern Ireland is a special and valued part of that union. I look forward to underlining the Governments commitment to the Belfast Agreement and its institutions, and to working with local parties and the Irish Government to fully implement the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements. Peace and stability in Northern Ireland will always be of the highest priority for my Government. I have been clear that we will make a success of the UKs departure from the European Union. That means it must work for Northern Ireland, too, including in relation to the border with the Republic. We will engage with all of Northern Irelands political parties as we prepare for that negotiation. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May is set to scrutinise the number of student visas being granted to UK university applicants in a fresh attempt to reduce immigration. The Prime Minister is reportedly preparing her new government to crack down on higher education institutions, claiming they have become an easy route into Britain for economic migrants. Government sources have said the Home Office and Department for Education will examine the student visa regime to see where criteria can be tightened, according to The Telegraph. As Home Secretary, Ms May attempted to limit the number of visas for students coming to study on further education courses. In a confidential letter to other ministers, she also argued universities should "develop sustainable funding models that are not so dependent on international students". But she could have wrongly deported up to 50,000 international students after an English test cheating scam at one school was used to incriminate all who had sat the test. The Upper Tribunal (Asylum and Immigration) ruled in March the then Home Secretarys evidence suffered from multiple frailties and shortcomings. Mostafa Rajaai, International Officer for the National Union of Students, told The Independent: "Thanks to Theresa May's approach to international students while she was in charge of the Home Office, we have witnessed, for the first time in 30 years, a drop in the number of international students coming to the UK. This is while the number of internationally mobile students has been rising year on year. "While the inquiry into May's actions in response to the 'ETS scandal' is ongoing, she is preparing to devastate more lives by raising feelings of suspicion and distrust. Theresa May's most controversial moments "As it stands, the British student visa regime is one of the toughest and least welcoming in the world. By tightening it further, the Higher Education sector will lose out on hundreds of thousands of international students choosing other countries over the UK." Among the actions being considered are preventing universities from marketing their courses as opportunities for students to work in Britain, tighter controls on so-called Mickey Mouse degrees at poor performing universities and further protocols to ensure foreign students return home after finishing their studies. Ms May last week reaffirmed her target of reducing net migration to below 100,000, a goal that David Cameron roundly failed to achieve. As Chancellor, George Osborne and officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills tried to resist her efforts because they viewed international students as beneficial to the economy and for universities, given their higher rate of tuition fees, calling for students to be removed from official immigration statistics. The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 10. Seoul The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 9. Berlin The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 8. Hong Kong The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 7. Montreal The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 6. Singapore The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 5. London The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 4. Sydney The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 3. Tokyo The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 2. Melbourne The 10 best cities to be a student in 2016 1. Paris When she became Prime Minister, Ms May sacked Mr Osborne and closed BIS, moving universities under the remit of a revamped Department for Education. The economy would gain 1 billion from the extra 55,000 foreign students would be coming to Britain every year, according a government report. The Home Office has estimated one in five foreign students overstays their visa. Number 10 told The Independent it had no comment at present. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An urgent decision on the expansion of either Heathrow or Gatwick airport must be made by the government, a group of cross-party MPs has warned Theresa May. Thirty-six Conservative MPs, along with five MPs from other parties, have said continued delay would damage the UK economy. The MPs, led by the former Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps, belong to the cross-party British Infrastructure Group (BIG). In a new report, they called for a decision to be made to show the new leaderships mettle. This report concludes that the government must select the new hub as a matter of extreme urgency," it said. The decision on EU membership has not altered this fundamental fact. We believe this choice should be one of the first across the new prime ministers desk." The report also warned that the problem of capacity at Heathrow was causing substantial damage to the industry as a whole. The proposed runway estimated to cost 18.6bn would provide an additional 250,000 flights a year and 120,000 new jobs, according to Heathrow. Both Heathrow and Gatwick airport have been vying for permission to build an extra runway serving London. The MPs added that either Heathrow or Gatwick must expand". "If Heathrow does so, it will have to fulfil various pledges towards regional aviation, including new domestic routes and a 10m route development fund. If Gatwick expands, it has similar promises to fulfil, though on a smaller scale," they said. In 2015 the Aiport Commison's report recommended building a third runway at Heathrow as long as there was a cap on noise, a ban on night flights and acceptable performance on air quality. Decisions to expand the airport have been delayed for years by ministers concerned about noise and air pollution. Protesters hold signs during a rally against a third runway at Heathrow last year (Getty) Last month, the then transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said a decision on expansion would not be reached until October, following Britains decision to leave the EU. Ms Mays government includes several MPs who are against the new runway being built at Heathrow. Opponents to expansion highlighted comments Ms May made in 2009, when she said: We need a better Heathrow, not a bigger Heathrow. My constituents [in Maidenhead] face the prospect of a reduction in their quality of life with more planes flying overhead, restriction in driving their cars locally and a far worse train service. But Heathrow's chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said Britain needed a positive post-Brexit plan. Only Heathrow expansion will help Britain to be one of the worlds leading trade nations connecting all of Britain to global growth, he said in a statement. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When everyone shouts 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Great) I know that a tank or a cannon will fire. So says Reuters photographer Goran Tomasevic, who has been travelling to Libya since the 2011 revolution, seeking to capture the pain and politics of a country at war with itself. His latest photographs, from the coastal city of Sirte, can be seen in this article. A fighter of Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government fires a weapon during a battle with Isis fighters in Sirte (Reuters) Since early May, Libyan fighters have been waging a stop-start battle to recapture Sirte from Isis. After advancing rapidly to the edge of the town, for the past few weeks they have been struggling to break down the resistance of militants encircled in the city centre. A Libyan fighter runs for cover during a battle with Isis fighters in Sirte (Reuters) The force is mainly composed of brigades from Misrata, a port city about 250km (155 miles) north west of Sirte. Misrata gained fighting experience and power from its prominent role in the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. I am constantly following the Libya story and I am in touch with few friends in Misrata since 2011 they keep me updated, Tomasevic says. My goal is to cover the final battle for Sirte. Fighters carry a tank shell during a battle with Isis in Sirte (Reuters) Isis took control of Sirte Gaddafi's hometown last year. The militant group turned the city into its North African stronghold, extending its control along Libya's coastline. Libyan officials say a few hundred militants are left in the city, including highly trained snipers who have inflicted heavy casualties on the Misrata-led forces, some of whom come to the front in flip-flops or jeans. Fighters take cover in a house during a battle with Isis fighters (Reuters) Tomasevic says capturing the battle requires more and less constant running and shooting pictures with small breaks between. If one group of fighters slows down I would go to check another group. It is very difficult for me to communicate with the fighters because I don't speak Arabic and most of them they don't speak English. Most of the communication is by gesturing or shouting when the accurate IS fighters start firing. Libyan forces fire at Isis fighters in Sirte (Reuters) The latest surge by the Misrata-led brigades, which are aligned with Libya's UN-backed government, came on Thursday. They said they took ground on several fronts, but at a cost of at least 25 dead and 200 wounded. After sending the pictures I went straight to bed. All day running in the sun made me sick, said Tomasevic. Some of the Libyan forces getting in a game of table football (Reuters) Like the fighters, he has to compete with temperatures well over 30C (86F), though food and water are delivered into the thick of the battle. It was challenging to shoot the pictures, I pushed very hard and I did not get what I really want, but I am still happy because I am covering such important story, he says. Reuters Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has said he would vote against former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke depending on who the Democrat standing against him was. Duke, who previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for Senate and governor of Louisiana, has announced that he is running to take the place of outgoing Republican senator David Vitter. In an interview with NBC News, Mr Trump was asked if he would support a Democrat over Mr Duke if it was necessary to defeat him, Mr Trump replied: I guess, depending on who the Democrat is, but the answer would be yes. David Duke said voting against Donald Trump would be akin to treason (AP) Mr Duke, who founded a chapter of the KKK in the 1970s and went on to become the organisation's 'Grand Wizard', has said he believes in equal rights for all Americans. However, what makes me different is I also demand respect for the rights and heritage of European Americans," he said. He has also said he is overjoyed to see Mr Trump embrace most of the issues I championed for years. Mr Trumps campaign has attracted support from white supremacist groups since he began campaigning against Mexican and Muslim immigration to the US. David Duke on one of his earlier unsuccessful campaigns (AP) The Republican nominee dismissed Mr Dukes congressional run and Mr Dukes endorsement of his candidacy, telling NBC News he had already rebuked" Mr Duke. Mr Trump also claimed the purpose of the European union was to beat the United States when it came to making money in the interview. The reason it got together was like a consortium so that it could compete with the United States," he said. Mr Trump has previously praised the Brexit vote as brave and brilliant, saying British voters took back control of their country by deciding to leave the European Union. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nigel Farage feels "very uncomfortable" about Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric, the former UKIP leader has said. And Republican supporters who have cheered a presidential candidate who wants to block Muslims from entering the United States and oppose any gun controls make Mr Farage feel "left wing" and confused. The MEP said he liked Mr Trump's "daring" anti-establishment message, but rapidly distanced himself from the Republican nominee's inflammatory comments about Muslims when challenged by a journalist. "I think that what [Mr Trump] said about Muslims, and we've got other politicians in Europe doing the same, if we're labelling a whole section of our community effectively bad, that is not the way forward," he told Sky News. French politician Marine Le Pen, head of Eurosceptic National Front party, has previously been cleared of inciting hatred towards Muslims after comparing Islamic prayers in the street to Nazi occupation. Mr Farage was recently been reported to the police for inciting racial hatred over UKIP's poster showing Middle Eastern refugees with the words "Breaking Point" written over them. More than 40,000 people signed the complaint against him. Meanwhile, reports of hate crime against Eastern European, black, minority ethnic and disabled UK citizens and workers have risen 42 per cent on last year since the Brexit campaign. When asked whether he felt "left-wing" in Cleveland, Mr Farage said "very much so". "We may speak the same language, but the cultural differences are really big," he said, citing Republican opposition to healthcare provision as an example. Mr Farage has himself advocated for an insurance or privately-run healthcare system in the past. He also said Chris Christie urging the crowd to chant "Lock her up, lock her up" in reference to Democrat nominee Hilary Clinton, and Mr Trump allegedly encouraging his supporters to beat up protesters at rallies made him think "is really happening?" Unequivocal support for the right to buy and carry guns was "crazy", he added. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY "I think it's absolutely mad that you can go to a supermarket and buy a rifle without basically proving who you are," he said. "I think some of that stuff [on gun law] is really strange." Last year, Mr Farage claimed that some Muslims wanted to form a "fifth column and kill us". And following the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, he said "there is a problem with some of the Muslim community in this country. There is a problem and we have to be honest about it." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The burned body of a man has been found in a car in the middle of a wildfire zone in California, police have said. The Los Angeles County sheriffs department said firefighters found the remains of a man inside a burnt sedan car parked in the driveway of a house in Santa Clarita on Saturday. The force said there was no evidence the death was crime-related. The house is in an evacuation zone ordered by authorities after a wildfire has blackened more than 31 squares miles of brush since Friday after it was withered by days of 100F (37.7C) heat. A second fire around 300 miles up the coast is blazing across an area around 10 square miles from Big Sur. Both evacuations have meant thousands fleeing from their homes. Strong winds have driven the flames further into residential areas with firefighters reporting that some buildings had been engulfed in fire - but it was not immediately clear whether they were homes or commercial buildings. The spokesman for the US fire service, Nathan Judy, said the area was still unsafe late on Saturday night. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty He said: Youve still got hotspots in that area, a lot of smoldering stuff. Its not a one-direction type of fire. Its going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. Its doing what it wants. More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the blaze, whose cause is under investigation, as huge plumes of smoke are visible across the area. Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp described the flames as charging through terrain "like a freight train." The remains of a home destroyed by fire in Santa Clarita. Over 1,000 homes are at risk (AP) The fire has also destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. It forced a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures to evacuate 340 of its more than 400 animals, including Bengal tigers and a mountain lion. Volunteers showed up with trucks and trailers and evacuated animals from early Friday to late Saturday, when fire officials felt the blaze was no longer a threat to Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar, spokesman Jerry Brown said. The evacuated animals were housed in three or four locations, and the sanctuary will wait at least 24 hours before bringing them back. Additional reporting by AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Embassy sirens were heard in Kabul as the city was hit by a presumed rocket attack. The mortar struck a kindergarten in the Macrorayan district, triggering alarms in nearby foreign embassies which were already on high alert following a suicide attack in the city the day before. The school was empty at the time of the attack and there were no casualties, an interior ministry official said. The attack came one day after at least 80 people were killed and 230 people were injured by a suicide bomber attack on a peaceful demonstration in the Afghan city. Isis has claimed responsibility for attack by a man who detonated his suicide vest in the crowd of mostly Shia Muslims on Saturday. The demonstration was for the ethnic Hazara people who were demaning a major regional electric power line be routed their impoverished home province. The attack was the deadliest assault on the city since the invastion 15 years ago. Footage on Afghan televisoon showed scenes of carnage with numerous bodies and body parts spread across the area. Witnesses said police fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd immediately following the blast as secondary attacks are known to target people who rush to help following the first explosion. Believing they were under attack from police, some demonstrators then sealed off the square preventing security personnel getting to the wounded. 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 Roadblocks set up to stop protesters getting to the presidential palace also made it difficult to take the injured to hospital. The terror group professes Sunni Islam and has previously targeted Shias in other countries - such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Families began to bury their dead on Sunday as members of the Hazara community over the border in Pakistan staged vigil for the dead in Quetta. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The owners of a tropical island resort have decided to raffle it off, after more than 53,000 tickets were bought by people all over the world. The winner of the Kosrae Nautilus Resort, including its restaurant, scuba-diving business and hotel rooms, will be announced on Tuesday. The island of Kosrae, about 3800km from Brisbane, is part of the Federated States of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean and home to about 6,500 people. Australian couple Doug and Sally Beitz, who moved to the Micronesian island of Kosrae in 1994 with their three young children, revealed the raffle would go ahead after they sold 3,000 tickets more than their 50,000 minimum. Tickets cost 38. One lucky winner will own the Kosrae Nautilus Resort, pictured. The resort has 16 hotel rooms, a 70-seat restaurant, two dive boats, eight rental cars and a four-bedroom house for the manager. It employs 16 full-time staff and is debt-free. It can be reached by flying directly from Guam and Hawaii. Mr Beitz told local news agencies that selling the island online was the only viable option as their nearest real estate agent is 1,000km away. He said previously that the family decided to raffle off the property so their home could go to ordinary people like them. "We look at ourselves as everyday people we weren't highly educated people when we came here, just average, basic people," he said. The couple were high-school drop outs who had no training in how to run a resort when they started. "We think, with the raffle, we can hopefully leave the island in the hands of someone who's not a millionaire, but in the hands of someone who's just like us." The couples 30-year-old son Adam thought up the unusual way of selling the family business. He told News.com.au previously that the family had been overwhelmed by the interest the raffle had generated. "We always knew this would do well, but we could have never predicted the hundreds of emails addressed to mum and dad from people all over the world telling them how much their story has inspired them and how wonderful the idea is, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman has been killed and two others have been injured after they were attacked by a Syrian refugee with a machete near Stuttgart in Germany. Police have arrested a man in connection with the attack in the small city of Reutlingen in the south-west of the country. The man attacked the woman in a fast food restaurant at around 4:30pm local time, causing several witnesses to flee in panic. The unnamed victim is believed to be a Polish woman who worked at the restaurant and may have been pregnant at the time of the attack, German tabloid Bild reports. Mohammad Alhelo told German newspaper, Stuttgarter-Zeitung, that the man had run into the restaurant swinging the machete around his head. He said: "He ran with the machete through the restaurant and swung it over their heads". The 20-year-old, who worked at the fast food restaurant with the attacker and his victim, said he refilling the drinks machine when the attack started and ran away in a panic. Mr Alhelo said the attacker was arguing with the woman before he killed her on the street - he said he had fallen in love with the woman when he started working there. Forensics at the scene following the attack outside the restaurant in Reutlingen (Reuters) He described the man as "a friendly guy" who had arrived alone in Germany from Syria around 18 months ago. After killing the woman in the restaurant the man injured two more people before being arrested. An eyewitness told Bild: "The attacker was completely out of his mind. He ran with the machete behind a police patrol car." He said a passing BMW managed to run him over and afterwards he "lay prostrate on the ground and didn't move". The police has confirmed the attacker was a 21-year-old Syrian refugee but have not released his name. The motive for the attack is unclear but police said there is no evidence it is terror related. 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 In a statement,they said the man was known to police but they suspected he was a "lone operator" and did not think people in and around the city are at risk. It comes as Germany is on edge following two attacks in the past week. A teenager went on a rampage in a Munich mall on Friday evening, killing nine, and an Afghan teenager attacked train passengers with an axe in Bavaria, wounding five, before being shot dead by police last week. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Classmates of the reclusive teenager who shot nine people dead in Munich have claimed he told them that one day he would "kill [them] all". Seven of Sonboly's victims, who were aged 13 to 45, were teenagers. Witnesses spoke of the gunman opening fire on children who had just sat down to eat in a branch of McDonald's. In a post on a chatroom website, which has since been taken down, a former classmate wrote of how schoolchildren would harass Sonboly, who killed himself after the shooting on Friday. Video shows the moment gunman opens fire in Munich I know this f****** guy, his name is Ali Sonboly," they wrote, "he was in my class back than (sic). We always mobbed him in school, and he always told us that he would kill us. The 18-year-old was obsessed with computer games including Call of Duty and used the monikers Psycho and God Like on his online profiles. A 14-year-old girl who lived in the same block of flats as Sonboly said the teenager "was not popular at school, he only had two or three friends that he would hang out with," the Daily Mail reported. Months before the shooting, Sonboly got into an argument and according to the girl: "He said he wanted to carry out a massacre. He said: 'I will kill you all.'" Prosecutors said the teenager was suffering from mental illness and had received psychiatric treatment in the months leading up to the killing spree. Another schoolmate said Sonboly was frequently "bullied by others" and was "really unpopular", The Guardian reported. He was a bit chubby, and he was either by himself or together with one or two people, but he seemed to have hardly any friends," they said. The details emerged after a video was posted online showing a man armed with a gun, believed to be Sonboly, arguing with another man standing on a balcony during the shootings on Friday. Munich gunman I am German At the time when the video was made, Sonboly is believed to have already carried out the majority of the killings. In the video, the gunman claimed he had been tormented for years prior to the attack. Because of you I was bullied for seven years ... and now I have to buy a gun to shoot you, he says. During the exchange the man on the balcony shouts f***ing foreigner at Sonboly, to which he replies I am German... yeah, I was born here." One 14-year-old who was friends with Sonboly's brother told MailOnline: "All he would do all day is play the shooting games. He was obsessed with them and wanted to be the best. He would go online for hours and play Call of Duty." 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 Munich police chief, Hurbertus Andrae, said Sonboly had a fascination with the neo-Nazi Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in a killing spree in Oslo. The Munich shootings occurred on the fifth anniversary of the Norway massacre. [He] was obsessed with shooting rampages, Mr Andrae said. A search of the gunmans parents' house found newspaper clippings relating to mass killings. One book, Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters was among them. According to German newspaper, Bild, Sonboly used a photograph of the Oslo killer's face as his Whatsapp profile picture. Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said the country mourned with a heavy heart. She added: "A night like this is difficult for us all to bear. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Germany has some of the worlds strictest gun laws, but that did not stop Fridays Munich attacker from carrying out his shooting spree. The assailant most likely obtained his pistol illegally and did not have a licence, German police officials said. That development could have worrisome implications for a country that has already exhausted most legal means to prevent such shooting sprees. Germany has a good system of legal gun ownership, but illegal firearms pose a big problem, said Nils Duquet, a weapons expert in Belgium who works for the Flemish Peace Institute. According to Mr Duquet, there are millions of illegal weapons in Europe, but he said it is impossible to know exactly how many. Following two horrifying school shootings in 2002 and 2009, German politicians passed stricter gun legislation that made it harder to legally obtain weapons. Buyers younger than 25 must now pass a psychological exam before being able to acquire firearms in Germany. Shooting incidents significantly dropped as a consequence. Theoretically, those measures might also have stopped the 18-year-old Munich attacker from being able to buy a gun legally. Officials believe the suspect could have been depressed, and a video which police have said appears authentic shows the attacker saying he had gone through inpatient treatment". Most mass shootings in Europe that are not associated with international terror groups have been carried out with legally obtained weapons. The fact that he used an illicit weapon does not imply that he did not also search for ways to obtain one legally, at first, Mr Duquet said. Mr Duquet also emphasised that the attacker's use of a pistol was significant. If you want to buy an illegal gun in Europe, what's important is having the right networks. For assault rifles, you need better criminal connections, said Mr Duquet. But there are many hot spots in Europe where you can try, and that is what's worrying. The possibility that the 18-year-old acquired his pistol illegally will raise new concerns over the illegal-weapons trade not only in Germany. Among several other factors, the borderless Schengen Area within the European Union and Europe's proximity to current or former war zones have facilitated illegal-weapons transports into the continent. Munich gunman I am German Traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area does not require showing documentation or passing through a border control. An increasing number of terrorist attacks over the past two years were carried out with illegal pistols and semi-automatic rifles from Eastern Europe. The Balkans pose a particular risk as a source of weapons, where millions of firearms that were used during the region's wars are still believed to be in circulation. Although those weapons are older, they are still being smuggled and later sold in Western Europe. At least some of the weapons used in the January 2015 shootings in Paris were reportedly purchased legally in Slovakia, according to the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal. Armed police conduct searches in central Munich last Friday night (Getty) Metal pins were placed in the barrel to render the guns useless, allowing for their sale. But the pins were hammered out illegally after the weapons' purchase. Reactivating a decommissioned weapon usually takes only hours, said Philip Boyce, a British firearms and forensics expert who often analyses such cases as an expert in court. In an interview earlier this year, Mr Boyce emphasised that continental Europe had long failed to pass stricter laws on the decommissioning of weapons, contrary to Britain. The British standards often make it virtually impossible to turn a decommissioned weapon back into an active one, Mr Boyce said. In Britain the shooting mechanism of guns is usually completely removed in the process. But gun collectors in continental Europe have pressured lawmakers and salesmen to preserve most of the original firearm by not removing the entire shooting mechanism. Mr Boyce and other experts say the lack of restrictions has mainly helped criminals. Several people have recently stood trial for reactivating such supposedly decommissioned weapons including in Germany. Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The teenage gunman who shot nine people dead in Munich had been planning his attack for a year, according to German authorities. A spokesman for the Bavaria state prosecutor's office also said the victims of the shooting were not classmates of 18-year-old student David Ali Sonboly. Sonboly, who bought a Glock pistol illegally along with more than 300 bullets, killed himself after the attack, which took place at a McDonald's restaurant in a shopping mall. Thirty-five people were also injured in the attack. People mourn near the crime scene at OEZ shopping center the day after a shooting spree left nine victims dead in Munich, Germany (Getty Images) The teenager is reported to have been obsessed with mass killings and it is believed he hacked a Facebook account in order to lure people to McDonald's with the promise of a free meal. Robert Heimberger, head of Bavaria's criminal police, said Sonboly had visited the town of Winnenden last year to take photographs of the scene of a previous school shooting in 2009. He added that it was likely the Glock pistol was bought on the "dark net" market. Mr Heimberger also said the parents of the dead, seven of whom were teenagers, were unable to be interviewed as they remained in shock. Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae ruled out an Islamist militant link to the attack. "Based on the searches, there are no indications whatsoever that there is a connection to Islamic State" or to the issue of refugees, he told a news conference. He said the gunman was brought up in Munich and had spent time in psychiatric care. A police search of the attacker's room recovered a book on teenage shooting sprees. "Documents on shooting sprees were found, so the perpetrator obviously researched this subject intensively, Mr Andrae said. In a post on a chatroom website, which has since been taken down, a former classmate wrote of how schoolchildren would harrass and bully Sonboly. Mr Andrae said Sonboly had a fascination with the neo-Nazi Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in a killing spree in Oslo. The Munich shootings occurred on the fifth anniversary of the Norway massacre. [He] was obsessed with shooting rampages, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At least 20 people, including four police officers, were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a busy security checkpoint in Iraqi capital Baghdad, medical officials have confirmed. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack in which the bomber walked up to a checkpoint at the entrance of the Kadhimiyah district and detonated his explosive belt. A further 35 people were injured during the explosion, with many in a critical condition in hospital with severe burns and wounds, medical staff told the Associated Press. Isis posted a series of statements online, saying the bomber had acted on its behalf. A security source told Iraqi News: A suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt detonated on the street leading from the Eden Square to Sanaa Square. In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke rises after airstrikes by US-led coalition planes as Iraqi security forces advance against Islamic State extremists in Fallujah, June 15, 2016 AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi security forces advance during heavy fighting against Isis militants in Fallujah, Iraq, on 14 June AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia militia say that moving resources from Fallujah towards the area near Mosul was a 'betrayal' of the battle for the city GETTY In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Hospital sources said 18 bodies were recovered from the river over the weekend AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Up to 60,000 civilians were feared trapped in Fallujah at the start of the Iraqi operation AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold an Isis flag in an operation east of Fallujah the terror group has lost ground in both Syria and Iraq AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold their weapons as they gather near Falluja, Iraq, June 4, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Pro-government forces bid to take back ground from Isis in Fallujah MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke billows on the horizon as Iraqi military forces prepare for an offensive to retake the city AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah A member of the Iraqi security forces fires artillery during clashes with Isis militants near Fallujah, Iraq, 29 May, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi government forces fire a rocket near al-Sejar village, north-east of Fallujah, on May 26, 2016, as they take part in a major assault to retake the city from the Islamic State group AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters and Iraqi security forces advance towards Fallujah Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters The [death and injury toll] is likely to increase. Security forces later cordoned off the area. Ambulances rushed to the area and moved the injured victims to a nearby hospital." Shia neighbourhoods like Kadhimiyah are frequent targets for Isis, which currently controls large areas in northern and western Iraq. On 7 July, nearly 300 people were killed during an Isis car bombing at a shopping centre in Baghdad, the worst terror attack to hit the capital since the Iraq war. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Air strikes by Syrian government forces have hit four makeshift hospitals and a blood bank in the city of Aleppo, killing a two-day-old baby. The strikes took place over the space of 24 hours as part of an overnight raid in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood on Sunday. The hospitals, which provide urgent medical care to more than 200,000 civilians, were out of action on Sunday. A newborn boy was killed when his oxygen supply was cut off after the raid in the early hours of the morning, AFP reported. Footage posted online by the Independent Doctors Association (IDA), a group that provides emergency medical care in the city, shows the aftermath of one of the attacks. In the film, a small baby is carried in a room filled with incubators. The camera shows that outside the children's hospital, the dust from the strike has not yet settled. The IDA say their childrens hospital, the only paediatric facility in the rebel-controlled area, had been hit twice by strikes over a period of 12 hours. Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Show all 13 1 /13 Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office The head nurse at the children's facility said: "The situation is so bad. The hospital is greatly damaged and this is not the first time." The IDA are saying the strikes that repeatedly plague the area are causing a "major humanitarian disaster". The group allege goverment forces targeted the medical centres on purpose. "The Syrian regime realises that killing a doctor means a huge defeat. It tries to eliminate and destroy medical services," Dr. Naser, a paediatrician with the group said in a statement. The strikes occurred hours before President Bashar al-Assads government announced it was intent on finding a political solution to the war in Syria and was prepared to engage in peace talks. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, according to state news agency SANA. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Q Im looking to visit family in Auckland over Easter 2017. It will be myself and eight-year-old son travelling from Heathrow. I would welcome your opinion on the best routes. I am considering Dubai and Hong Kong as stopovers but have no idea if these would be the most interesting for an eight-year old. I am flexible on dates and times. What is your advice? Jackie Priddy A On the very-long haul to New Zealand, a stopover is an excellent idea in both directions partly to break up the journey, but mostly because it delivers an extra destination at little extra cost. At Easter, Dubai would already be too hot for me (and for an eight-year-old). In contrast, Hong Kong would be fairly fresh and pleasant, though with some risk of storms and high humidity. For an eight-year-old, Hong Kong offers plenty of colour and excitement in a relatively safe environment. The Star Ferry across the harbour is the place to start, followed by a trip on the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak. The Science Museum has plenty of hands-on attractions, and to round off a stay you could treat him to Hong Kong Disneyland. Coming home, I recommend you turn it into a round-the-world trip. Not only is it an exciting concept in its own right a circumnavigation also gives the chance to see California on the way home. You could choose either San Francisco or Los Angeles, but I recommend LA full of excitement, from great beaches to Hollywood, and the formidably fun Universal Studios. Contact two or three specialist agents to get the best deal; they can also organise good-value hotels in the cities you choose. Fares to New Zealand at Easter are generally low, so your timing is excellent. Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a readers question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The misrepresentation of migration from Europe was a driving, corrosive force in the EU referendum. And now the referendum is over, free movement is the core issue in the debate over what happens next. David Davis, Secretary of State for Brexit, has made his distaste for free movement clear, suggesting that uncontrolled mass migration has been an unhealthy characteristic of our economic growth and suggesting that our ideal aim would a Swiss arrangement but without free movement of peoples. He claims his Prime Ministers priority is also border control even if it comes at a cost to the economy because that's what the British public wants, to take back control of the borders. But free movement within Europe is still on the table. Brexit may mean Brexit, but that Brexit still includes a full range of free movement possibilities. We might seek to remain in the European Economic Area (the so-called Norwegian option), and so be bound by the EU free movement rules. We may choose an adapted EEA agreement. We might seek Swiss-style bilateral agreements, and so be bound by most of the EUs free movement rules. Or we might have no free movement agreement at all. 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you Show all 6 1 /6 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you More expensive foreign holidays The first practical effect of a vote to Leave is that the pound will be worth less abroad, meaning foreign holidays will cost us more nito100 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you No immediate change in immigration status The Prime Minister will have to address other immediate concerns. He is likely to reassure nationals of other EU countries living in the UK that their status is unchanged. That is what the Leave campaign has said, so, even after the Brexit negotiations are complete, those who are already in the UK would be allowed to stay Getty 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you Higher inflation A lower pound means that imports would become more expensive. This is likely to mean the return of inflation a phenomenon with which many of us are unfamiliar because prices have been stable for so long, rising at no more than about 2 per cent a year. The effect may probably not be particularly noticeable in the first few months. At first price rises would be confined to imported goods food and clothes being the most obvious but inflation has a tendency to spread and to gain its own momentum AFP/Getty Images 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you Interest rates might rise The trouble with inflation is that the Bank of England has a legal obligation to keep it as close to 2 per cent a year as possible. If a fall in the pound threatens to push prices up faster than this, the Bank will raise interest rates. This acts against inflation in three ways. First, it makes the pound more attractive, because deposits in pounds will earn higher interest. Second, it reduces demand by putting up the cost of borrowing, and especially by taking larger mortgage payments out of the economy. Third, it makes it more expensive for businesses to borrow to expand output Getty 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you Did somebody say recession? Mr Carney, the Treasury and a range of international economists have warned about this. Many Leave voters appear not to have believed them, or to think that they are exaggerating small, long-term effects. But there is no doubt that the Leave vote is a negative shock to the economy. This is because it changes expectations about the economys future performance. Even though Britain is not actually be leaving the EU for at least two years, companies and investors will start to move money out of Britain, or to scale back plans for expansion, because they are less confident about what would happen after 2018 AFP/Getty Images 6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you And we wouldnt even get our money back All this will be happening while the Prime Minister, whoever he or she is, is negotiating the terms of our future access to the EU single market. In the meantime, our trade with the EU would be unaffected, except that companies elsewhere in the EU may be less interested in buying from us or selling to us, expecting tariff barriers to go up in two years time. Whoever the Chancellor is, he or she may feel the need to bring in a new Budget Getty Images Either way, Parliament will have to assent to the next treaty or set of treaties that will govern our relationship with the European Union post-Brexit. Since a clear majority of parliamentarians favoured remaining in the EU, it seems plausible that they may push for continued single market membership. And it is highly likely that if the UK wishes to remain part of the single market, free movement of people would be part of that deal. So we need an honest assessment of free movement, something notable by its absence from both referendum campaigns. The strong evidence indicating that EU residents in the UK have a positive economic effect has been disregarded for years. In 2013, the then prime minister David Cameron declared that free movement within Europe needs to be less free. In 2014, the government unveiled welfare reforms targeting EU migrants, announcing it was accelerating action to stop rogue EU welfare claims and that abuse and clear exploitation of the UKs welfare system will not be tolerated. Yet the Department for Work and Pensions had reported to the European Commission in 2013 that there was no evidence of benefit tourism. This departure from evidence has distorted the ensuing debate, and opened the gates for negative, discriminatory campaigning. But EU migrants could not be benefit tourists even if they wanted to which, the evidence suggests, they do not. In the run up to the 2015 general election, Labour and the Liberal Democrats also emphasised the need to address EU benefit tourism. Labours Rachel Reeves called for a two year benefit ban and decried the absurdity of exporting child benefit to other EU member states, while the then Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg put forward plans to curb benefits. The result of playing to the gallery is that we have populism-led, not evidence-based, law and policy. 5 of the worst things Nigel Farage has said about immigration But the available evidence suggests the overall impact of EU migration is beneficial to the UK. EU migrants are more likely to be in work than UK nationals. And, according to the UCL Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, EU migrants provide a net economic benefit of 22bn. As the LSE Centre for Economic Performance notes, this effects may seem small, [but] in the longer-run impact could be substantial. EU migrants are net contributors to public finances, and to a greater degree than UK nationals. They are not merely paying their way but they are paying some of our way too. Public services are potentially better funded per head than they would be if EU migrants were not here. If we scrapped free movement there might be fewer people in the UK, but they would be competing for comparatively fewer resources. Studies have found no systematic evidence to link immigration with pressure on schools or the NHS. In fact, the average use of health services is considerably lower for immigrants than UK born nationals, and EU migration does not lead to an increase in waiting times, either. Existing evidence is unclear as to whether there is a relationship between immigration and social cohesion problems. There are some indicators suggesting a reduction in shared social norms and civic participation as immigration increases, but these may be offset by the creation of more co-ethnic communities, which become cohesive. Other studies have argued that income inequality plays a larger role than immigration in social cohesion. Many worry that the presence of EU nationals makes it harder for UK nationals to find jobs. But the perception of the labour market as a zero sum game is what economists term the lump of labour fallacy or, as the poet Hollie McNish calls it, crappy mathematics. The Migration Advisory Committee conducted a study in 2012, looking for the relationship between migrant work and the employment of UK nationals. For every 100 EU migrants working the UK, they found there was no statistically significant associated reduction in UK employment. In other words, EU migrants are not making it harder for UK nationals to find jobs. Studies vary as to whether there is an overall increase or decrease in wages linked to EU migration, but in either case the overall effect is small (a 1 per cent increase in immigration can leading to 0.1-0.3 per cent difference). These differences are not felt evenly along the wage spectrum, however; the Bank of Englands research found that the biggest effect is in the semi-skilled and unskilled services sector, where a 10 percentage point rise in the proportion of immigrants is associated with a 2 per cent reduction in pay, which might provide an argument for stronger wage regulation. Overall these studies show that free movement is working. When politicians speak of a need to control EU immigration, we should be asking why. We are being urged to fix something that is not broken, and which appears to be working in our favour. Brexit need not mean abandoning a commitment to an inclusive, welcoming society; we need to preserve solidarity and unity as we navigate the unknown territory ahead. Charlotte O'Brien is a senior lecturer in law at the University of York Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has been undoubtedly successful in business. He has succeeded to excel in making profit in the real estate but he has lost the real legitimacy to lead a civilized and multicultural nation like the United States. He had forfeited his chances to acclaim the potential of leadership the moment he had started acting childishly, behaving irresponsibly and slandering entire communities. With such attributes you might suspect he would only be somewhat successful in developing countries or, God forbid, if the US was involved in civil war or racial segregation once again. A man filled with rage is needed in that kind of atmosphere of tension and division to incite hatred and reignite the fire of tribalism. But even in today's developing countries he would not have survived long; leaders there are becoming mature enough to be tolerant and inclusive, due to the rapid change of demographics that is taking place. Trump himself would not have tolerated such outlandish behaviour in the business world. He would have fired the belligerent candidate who looks down on others. It is mind boggling, then, to see him with the luggage he is carrying on his shoulders to expect to go far in his quest for leadership. Abubakar N. Kasim Toronto, Canada Your leader writer notes that during Donald Trump's speech at the Republican convention, hardly once did he smile. Having seen Trumps smile once or twice when he stood beside his running mate and pretended to kiss him, and when he stood beside his wife after her ill-fated speech I think the less we see of it the better. It is a most peculiar contortion of the features, lips shoved upwards and outwards, no teeth visible, eyebrows positioned in a faux self-deprecatory grimace, chin thrust forward. Whatever it is, it certainly isnt a proper smile. I dont like it. It makes my blood run cold. Any body language experts out there who can analyse it for us? Penny Little Great Haseley, Oxfordshire Like Donald Trump, I boast of my humility. Christopher Pearce London W5 How democracy works Its a shame that Jeremy Corbyn, in spite of his protestations to the contrary, should place himself in the same disconnected club as Cameron and New labour, unable to comprehend the significance of the vote to leave the European Union. Cameron warned of economic collapse and reduced income if we dare to vote to leave the EU. Gordon Brown on behalf of New Labour, coming late in the referendum campaign, said he understood peoples concerned about uncontrolled immigration from Europe and proposed extra fund to areas most affected. Corbyns answer is to enforce similarity of conditions across the EU to ensure no undercutting of wages and building more homes. That, he thought, was better than ending the free movement of labour. It may come as a surprise to the political elite, but ordinary working people aspire to more than just a job, a home, the NHS and social services. They can think beyond the day-to-day struggle to survive and aspire to have control over their lives, their future, and the future of their communities and the direction of their country. Cameron, Brown and now Corbyn treat workers not as active participants in their own destiny but as objects to have things done to them or done for them. All three view the world through the prism of global capital in which everything is a commodity with a price tag. As Oscar Wilde once observed, they know the price of everything and the value of nothing. What price sovereignty? Fawzi Ibrahim London NW2 In the name of restoring democracy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has detained several thousand detractors who were themselves keen to restore it from him. Jeremy Corbyn restored democracy to the Labour Party by insisting the hundreds of thousands of Labour members who voted for him constitute more democracy than the millions who voted for his MPs. The British people were so affronted by the supposed lack of democracy at the heart of Europe that effectively just 33 per cent of them, most of whom had never bothered to vote in a European election, restored democracy by voting the UK out of Europe altogether. Now Nicola Sturgeon is so anxious about the threat to democracy in Scotland that she is considering splitting Scotland away from the UK to restore it. Bucking the trend is our own Conservative government who appear to have abandoned democracy altogether. At the moment, Kim Jong-un carries more democratic mandate: at least the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea has elections albeit with only one name on the ballot. Presumably, after the referendum, Theresa May is nervous about letting the British people have a vote on anything. Or maybe she thinks the quest for democracy has caused enough trouble. Richard Walker Malvern The EU referendum was advisory and the people should be told Peter Tots letter shows a common and basic misunderstanding of our parliamentary democracy. Members of Parliament are our representatives, not our delegates. On any decision they have the moral and legal duty to make up their own mind about deciding what is best for their country, after taking into account their constituents views on the matter in question. This essential constitutional point was totally mishandled by a complacent David Cameron in respect of the EU referendum. It should have been obvious to him, and publicly stated, that the referendum was advisory only; that Parliament would make any consequential decision; and that a two-thirds majority in any referendum or plebiscite would be the norm for an important decision to be implemented or acted upon by Parliament. Having an unwritten constitution, this position should have been made crystal clear to the electorate. It is equally bewildering that our current Prime Minister, Theresa May, misunderstands the legal position when she says Brexit means Brexit. On the face of things it is preposterous that 51.8 per cent of the electorate can determine our constitutional status, involving the probable exit from the EU and the possible break-up of the UK with Scotland departing therefrom. Would May have adopted the same slogan if say 16 million had voted to Remain and 16 million plus one had voted to Leave? If not, why not? Finally, according to the BBC, 150 MPs supported Leave whilst 479 MPs campaigned to Remain. Presumably all of them did so for good reason. I think the time has now come for those 479 to explain their present stance as a result of the referendum. David Ashton Shipbourne, Kent What is the betting that we won't leave the EU? Linda Johnson Beverley, East Yorkshire Kent travellers trapped by Brexit fallout The queues in Kent: are there similar queues in Holland, Spain and Germany, of holiday makers attempting to enter France for their holidays? As I have seen or heard nothing of similar queues (I am willing to be proved wrong) in other countries, am I to conclude the French are being beastly to us once more especially in light of a certain referendum we held recently. Steven Shuter Birmingham Whatever the nature of the enhanced security measures in Dover that have caused hours of misery for thousands of travellers, I am not sure how they will prevent people murdering the innocent in Nice, Paris, Munich or anywhere else, if they are so minded. Dr Anthony Ingleton Sheffield Humble beginnings? I'm so bored of people droning on about their humble beginnings as if this adds credibility to their argument and gives them access the to the moral high ground, usually when the morality of the argument is questionable. On Saturday, Janet Street-Porter gives us her potted solid working class stock biography and then patronisingly dismisses idealism as a luxury of ill-informed youth, and promotes its replacement with real grown up (I only said it to get votes ) politics. Corbyn is derided for not being charismatic, not a real politician. Haven't we had enough of the likes of Believe me, I'm Blair, hug-a-hoodie Cameron, or buds in May? They promise the values of fairness and respect espoused by Corbyn, (including concern for political prisoners I would hope), but then they deliver another version of the same old real politics, which maintains establishment interests and their own. Most positive social progress follows idealistic vision, fought for against the establishment including feminism, JSP. Nic Haughton Address withheld When I was much younger I used to enjoy mickey taking at Janet Street-Porter's expense. Then, in later years, I began to appreciate her views. Now, reading her column in the Daily Edition, I find I usually agree with everything she says. Good heavens, have I matured? John Watson Bingham, Nottinghamshire Among the Project Tolka portfolio's most significant assets is the Burlington Plaza office complex on Dublin's Burlington Road The proposed disposal by Nama of Project Tolka, a loan portfolio with a par value of approximately 1.5bn, looks likely to be delayed beyond August 31, the date by which it had been expected to be brought to the market. The Sunday Independent understands that the finalisation of the agreement between Nama and the borrowers has been held back as efforts continue to perfect the title on a number of assets within the portfolio with a view to maximising its potential sale price. While the loans in Project Tolka are in the main accounted for by a partnership comprising property developers and investors Paddy Kelly, John Flynn and the Dublin-based McCormack family, who control the property investment vehicle Alanis, it is understood that there are numerous other parties to the loans, whose signatures Nama wants to have in place in order to assert title on certain assets within the portfolio. It remains unclear how many signatures are still being sought. A source familiar with the matter said Nama was hopeful of securing a price "approaching par" for Project Tolka and was pressing for as much as possible of the title documentation to be perfected in order to achieve that aim. Commenting on the challenge the agency and the borrowers were facing, the source said: "There are some individuals whose signatures it just won't be possible to obtain as they have died. In other cases, the person may have left the country and it has been proving difficult to make contact with them." The source added: "The complex nature of the loans has resulted in delay. In many cases, consortia were assembled for projects, meaning there were numerous borrowers. Nama wants to have the agreement of as many of these people as possible before proceeding with the sale." Among the Project Tolka portfolio's most significant assets is the Burlington Plaza office complex on Dublin's Burlington Road. With an estimated value of 250m, it is currently occupied by several high-profile tenants, including Sky Ireland, Amazon and Bank of Ireland. Other valuable assets within Project Tolka include the Clarion Hotel in Dublin's Liffey Valley, the Belfield headquarters of betting giants Paddy Power and the former Harcourt Street children's hospital, which is now occupied by leading Dublin law firm, BCM Hanby Wallace. It is understood that the four-star Carton House Hotel, developed by Paddy Kelly, is to be sold separately from the wider portfolio. The Sunday Independent has also learned that Nama's aim to deliver on its oft-stated target of building 20,000 new homes by 2020 has seen it strip out a number of major residential assets from Project Tolka. Included in these are a 68-acre site in Bray, Co Wicklow and lands at Carrickmines in south Dublin. It has also secured a 10-acre site in Bray for the development of two new schools. However, Nama's housebuilding plan could yet be frustrated, should the European Commission find in favour of a complaint submitted last December by property developers Michael O'Flynn, Paddy McKillen, David Daly, New Generation Homes CEO Patrick Crean and MKN Group director Brian McKeown. They have sought an investigation into Nama's provision of funding for property development, alleging that it may breach EU rules on State aid. The sale of Project Tolka had previously been postponed in the summer of 2015. Nama pulled the sale as Mr Flynn was in talks at the time to refinance his loans with the agency. Quite apart from its intention to bring Project Tolka to the market, Nama is also gearing up to dispose of Project Gem, a portfolio of loans with a face value of around 4bn, towards the end of this year. In contrast to the loans associated with Kelly, Flynn and the McCormack family, Project Gem is expected to sell at a substantial discount to its par value. Last month, Nama selected Oaktree Capital Group as the preferred bidder for Projects Ruby and Emerald, a package of loans with a face value of 4.7bn. The 2.5bn Project Emerald portfolio comprises loans to 16 borrowers secured against 236 properties, most of which are commercial, while the 2.2bn Project Ruby portfolio relates to 253 properties involving 15 borrowers. Oaktree is understood to be paying a combined 800m for the entire Emerald and Ruby loan books. According to its annual report, Nama held loans valued at 7.8bn at the end of 2015, down from 13.4bn at the end of 2014, The figures are based on the current, rather than nominal, value of the loans. The accountancy firm that conducted annual audits of disgraced charity Console prior to its closure says it is "fully engaged with ongoing inquiries and will continue to be fully engaged with those inquiries". Dublin-based accountants Bermingham & Company issued audit reports on Console that were filed with the Companies Registration Office in 2014 and 2015. When asked why audits of Console had not uncovered serious financial discrepancies or fraud, the firm's owner, Padraic Bermingham, said: "Given the nature of the allegations being made and the ongoing inquiries, it would be inappropriate for me to comment, save to confirm that we were completely unaware of any alleged impropriety at Console before the broadcast by RTE. "I am satisfied that we have fully complied with our responsibilities in connection with audit reports for 2013 and 2014." However, Bermingham & Co was never contacted by the HSE at any stage in relation to its investigation of Console, it is believed. The HSE was a major funder of Console. A provisional liquidator has been appointed to the charity, which is now being investigated by seven state agencies, including the Garda Fraud Bureau and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Despite Console's accounts showing a spend of 115,000 in 2013 and 2014 on 'governance costs', including accountancy and book-keeping costs of 45,000 in 2014 and 6,000 in annual audit fees, David Hall, the interim boss of the liquidated charity, said that it appeared to be "hopelessly insolvent". The Dail's Public Accounts Committee is investigating a number of failures in corporate governance, including how former chief executive Paul Kelly was able to supply multiple sets of different accounts to various state agencies. Also, Console had charity status, giving it tax-free status, so directors should not be paid. But Kelly and his wife received more than 200,000. The couple were seen last week visiting the offices of their solicitor - the first time they had been seen in public since the storm broke over Console. The High Court also heard claims last week of forgery involving company documents lodged with the Companies Registration Office. There is no suggestion of any involvement in or knowledge of any of these allegations by Bermingham and Co accountants. Ireland's governing body for accountants, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of which Bermingham & Co is a member, told the Sunday Independent: "We are aware that a number of agencies are examining the issues raised in Console, not least the Garda Siochana. "It is standard practice across all professional bodies for any garda investigation to take precedence. "We are closely monitoring the situation - and any findings from a garda investigation will subsequently be used to inform any investigation that is initiated by the Institute." High-profile hedge fund manager Crispin Odey is shorting Bank of Ireland on foot of the Brexit referendum. Odey's bet that the bank's share price will fall - disclosed on June 27 - is revealed in Bloomberg and Central Bank data. He's shorting almost 175 million shares - around 0.54pc of the bank. Bank of Ireland's shares plummeted after the Brexit vote. Having tipped 27c in Dublin on June 23 as Britons went to the polls, they were down at 17c by June 27, but had recovered to 20c as of Friday's close. Odey also shorted Bank of Ireland last summer amid turmoil over Greece's debts. A short position entails borrowing shares and selling them, with the hope that they can be bought back more cheaply at a later date and returned to the owner. While the potential return is determined by the amount of money recovered from the share sale, the potential loss is enormous if the shorted company's shares rise in value. Odey, one of the best-known hedge fund managers in the world, made a killing out of the 2008 financial crisis after shorting British banks. He supported the 'Leave' side in the Brexit referendum, but has had a difficult year in 2016, with his Odey European Fund losing 31pc to the middle of April. But Odey told Reuters after last month's referendum that he expected to make a gain of around 15pc because of the result, saying he was "feeling a lot happier". George Soros, nicknamed "The Man who Broke the Bank of England", was one of the original investors when Odey set up his company in the early 1990s. A spokesperson for Odey Asset Management did not respond to a request for comment. Bank of Ireland did not comment. The bank is to publish half-year results on July 29. Davy analyst Emer Lang said she expected a 36pc year-on-year decline in earnings in a note circulated earlier in the week, citing weaker sterling and a decline in bond gains as the main drivers. "Given the high degree of uncertainty post Brexit, outlook comments - particularly regarding management's ambition to re-instate dividends and its strategy for the UK business - will be closely scrutinised and will arguably be the key area of focus on July 29," Lang said. The Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness includes measures to help former prisoners and sex offenders get accommodation once they are released. Housing Minister Simon Coveney's plan to solve the housing crisis promises to implement better procedures to ensure such individuals don't end up homeless. However, the Justice Department couldn't say how many ex-prisoners or sex offenders fall into that category. The Irish Prison Service confirmed that 17,420 people were released from jail last year but it doesn't maintain statistics on how many ended up on the streets. The Probation Service is supervising 114 sex offenders but a Justice Department spokesman said that while the authorities are "aware of the circumstances" of all such individuals, it doesn't collate figures for how many are homeless. Mr Coveney's Rebuilding Ireland action plan promises that the Government will "enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health support for prisoners are in place prior to their release". It commits to a time-line of doing this by the end of September this year with the Prison and Probation Services, the Local Government Management Agency and the Housing Department among the agencies involved. Separately, the plan also commits to implement national procedures to enhance cooperation between agencies in the accommodation of sex offenders by the end of June 2017. The aim is to "reduce the occurrence of released offenders being accommodated in emergency arrangements". Homelessness charity, the Peter McVerry trust, has been critical of the lack of supports for ex-prisoners. Its National Director of Services, Brian Friel, told a Dail Committee in May: "Far too often, people are freed from prison to go directly into our homeless services." A spokesman for the charity told the Sunday Independent that it sought the inclusion of measures to help ex-prisoners in the action plan. He said such help reduces re-offending and "increases their likelihood of reintegrating into the community and a better outcome for everybody involved." He pointed to figures from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) that give an indication of many homeless people ended up in jail in the capital saying: "Those people are going to need accommodation when they come out the other side." The figures show 125 instances of people in emergency accommodation being imprisoned in the 15 months to the end of March. Mr Coveney's new plan contains more than 80 actions designed to tackle the housing crisis, including the provision of 47,000 social-housing units by 2021. A new property bubble caused by a lack of affordable homes and Central Bank lending rules is seeing the cost of houses rise in areas outside Dublins commuter belt. Stock photo: PA A new property bubble caused by a lack of affordable homes and Central Bank lending rules is seeing the cost of houses rise in areas outside Dublin's commuter belt. It is also leading to a new and "phenomenal" demand for rental accommodation that cannot be met in the counties around Dublin. The value of homes on the limits of Dublin's commuter belt is increasing at a higher rate than those closer to the city centre because of availability. People are also looking to keep the cost of their mortgages down by keeping the value of their properties within the 150,000-to-220,000 price range and meeting Central Bank loan-to-value rules. It has created an anomaly in counties around the capital. In Co Louth, Dundalk house prices rose by 11pc in the past three months, while homes in Drogheda only increased by 2.8pc, despite being 30km closer to Dublin. A house price survey by the Real Estate Alliance (REA) has found prices rose by 10.5pc in Blessington, Co Wicklow, because of a shortage of three-bedroom semis. Meanwhile, in Co Laois, house prices have risen by an average of 10,000 as demand increases for homes on the commuter belt's fringes. In the capital, house prices are also increasing with bidding wars between buyers inflating the value of properties in Rathmines and Kilmainham. However, it is surrounding counties that are seeing the largest percentage increases. Drogheda REA agent Gabriel O'Brien said the market outside Dublin cannot meet demand from buyers or renters. "What we have noticed in the past month or so is greater rental demand from Dublin and north Co Dublin coming up to us. "The renters are being pushed out as well as the buyers and we have never experienced that before. "It is cheaper here. A three-bed semi in Drogheda could be 1,250 to rent. A three-bed semi in north Co Dublin is in the 2,000 price range. "It (the demand) is phenomenal." With prices soaring in Drogheda in the past 12 months, house-hunters are looking at Dundalk for accommodation solutions. "We had the increase before Dundalk," said Mr O'Brien. "Unfortunately, it is down to the fact that people are being pushed further out so now they will have to commute longer distances to work. "A three-bed semi in north Co Dublin is 335,000 to 340,000, which is 100,000 more than in south Drogheda and east Meath for not much further up the motorway and you don't have to pay a toll, either." The role of the Financial Regulator is expected to fall centre stage at the sentence hearing tomorrow of three bankers convicted of conspiracy to defraud (Stock picture) The role of the Financial Regulator is expected to fall centre stage at the sentence hearing tomorrow of three bankers convicted of conspiracy to defraud. In an early-stage ruling at the trial of John Bowe, Willie McAteer and Denis Casey, Judge Martin Nolan said the actions of the regulator could not provide a defence. However the Circuit Criminal Court judge said the attitude of the authorities could provide mitigation at sentence. Bowe, the former head of capital markets at Anglo-Irish Bank, McAteer, Anglo's former finance director, and former Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) chief executive Casey were convicted after the longest criminal trial in the history of the State. Former ILP Peter Fitzpatrick was acquitted. The prosecution argued that the men were involved in setting up a scheme of circular transactions where Anglo lent money to ILP and ILP sent the money back, via their assurance firm Irish Life Assurance. Because the deposits came from the assurance company they were treated as customer deposits - considered a better measure of a bank's strength than inter-bank loans. A sum of 7.2bn was later accounted for as customer deposits in Anglo results in December 2008. Counsel for McAteer told the trial that the regulator had been made aware of the deal "in bare detail" in October 2008, weeks before the customer-deposits figure appeared in Anglo's results. He said the level of disclosure to the regulator was not consistent with dishonesty. The trial also heard that Casey had told gardai that he had authorised the placement of billions with Anglo because of his understanding of a request from the regulator for Irish banks to support each other. It's school reunion time for the Class of '95 and sisters Eleanor and Caroline receive their invitations in the post. It's quickly established that neither sister intends to go and this novel backfills on the reasons why. Eleanor's living in Galway and has become something of a recluse. Her teenage son has been troublesome in his new school, her husband's restaurant business is not going well although he's working tirelessly, running to stand still, and besides, she's doubled in size and is unwilling to let her old schoolmates see the extent to which she's "let herself go". Caroline, one year older, splits her time between a village near Oxford and one near Naples. She owns a successful clothes design label and - as her final school year is one of intensely painful memories - she wouldn't be caught dead at the reunion. Plus, the recent events in her own life have left her reeling. Although they left school in the same year, the sisters are not twins. Caroline was "missing" for a year and had to return to school to sit her Leaving Cert. She was missing because of aner "nervous breakdown" and spent a whole year recuperating in a clinic in Switzerland. No she didn't. But that's what her mother told the world when she packed Caroline off - pregnant after being raped - to a distant cousin in Oxford, with strict instructions from Mummy Dearest that Caroline have an abortion. But Caroline can't bring herself to go through with the abortion, carries on with the pregnancy, and has the baby adopted instead. You'd think that giving away such an amount of information would mean you've got the whole story, why buy the book? But that's only the opening of the novel. All of this is discovered very early on. Such is Roisin Meaney's way with plots. They are thick and dense, immensely credible, populated with colourful characters and she can weave a plot back and forth through time with considerable skill. Speaking of characters, the only character who I felt could have been more developed was the girls' mother. She did a terrible thing, she sent her daughter away at a time in her life when Caroline needed her most. She is a woman who is vain and vacuous but she's more than that, she's a monster. Monsters are made, not born, and I'd like to have discovered her reasons for not possessing a single shred of moral fibre. "The gossipy neighbours" just isn't a sufficient excuse, not in the 1990s. But maybe that's something for another book, a kind of prequel, perhaps? In contrast, the mother's cousin Florence in Oxford is frumpy and batty and faintly bohemian, abrupt and kind and fearless. She has been carefully drawn and will be remembered affectionately long after you've finished this novel. I liked The Reunion. It's a cracking yarn (and there's a terrible pun there, but you'll have to read the book to find it). Meaney can excavate the core of our human failings and present it to us, mirror-like, on the page, kindly showing us what we need to forgive, along with maybe some things that we shouldn't. But she doesn't seek to solve everyone's problems. Some people, in books and in life, are beyond redemption. The nicest thing about this skilfully constructed tale is the fact that not everything is tied up with a bow in the end. Too much of a grown-up for the happy-ever-after, Meaney gives us an ending that's hopeful, that's getting better, that's finding its own fragile solutions. Which makes her utterly credible, utterly authentic and utterly irresistible. Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso attending the European premiere of Jason Bourne held at Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square Matt Damon and Alicia Vikander attend the "Jason Bourne" European premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square on July 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Julia Stiles, Paul Greengrass, Matt Damon and Alicia Vikander attend the European premiere of Jason Bourne at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square, London Field of dreams: Amy De Bhrun will appear in the new Bourne film with Matt Damon. Photo: Tony Gavin Ten years after graduating from drama school, Dublin-born actress Amy De Bhrun is gearing up for the biggest night of her professional career. On Tuesday she'll grace the red carpet at the Irish premiere of her first big-budget Hollywood blockbuster. The 32-year-old actress has fast become a keen favourite with audiences worldwide, having written and performed six different one-woman shows in Dublin, London, Los Angeles and New York. But despite her wealth of experience, she freely admits struggling with some pre-performance nerves while filming the new, much-awaited action thriller Jason Bourne, the latest instalment in the spy franchise. Expand Close Matt Damon. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Matt Damon. Photo: Reuters She stars as a no-nonsense CIA agent operating in the shadowy world of international espionage, plying her trade alongside Matt Damon, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander and veteran Tommy Lee Jones. Originally from Rathfarnham in south Dublin, her career has been on the rise ever since moving to London at the tender age of 19, where she started to attend drama school. Her impressive resume includes starring with rapper and actor Andre 3000 in the Jimi Hendrix biopic, All Is By My Side. She also played the role of Ingregird in the History Channel's epic Vikings, Rachel in the Irish comedy feature film The Stag, and most recently appeared in the Showtime USA series Penny Dreadful. Amy has also turned her hand to starring in music videos, including Kodaline's All I Want and The Coronas' All The Others. But stepping into the world-famous Warner Brothers studio in London, where Harry Potter was filmed, to do her stuff alongside the world's biggest names in a multi-million blockbuster, was a daunting proposition. Expand Close Matt Damon and Alicia Vikander attend the "Jason Bourne" European premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square on July 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Matt Damon and Alicia Vikander attend the "Jason Bourne" European premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square on July 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Read More Recalling her first day on set, she says she was initially struck by the enormity of the production. "It was unbelievably exciting; the sets were absolutely incredible. Video of the Day "I have huge admiration for director Paul Greengrass, who I've watched from a distance for a long time. "I forced myself to be calm and collected. It was just before Alicia had been nominated for the Oscar, and it was just before a lot of the work that shot her to superstardom had come out. "It was hard to not let all that get in the way, but I suppose, as with anything, it's essentially a job. "I started with the attitude that I want to go and do the very best I can. That was the approach of everybody working on the film." She said it was important to remember all those involved in a production had the same objective - to make the best movie possible. "It felt the same as an independent film but just on a much larger scale. But it was such an amazing experience." She now intends to capitalise on the exposure of playing her part in such a high-profile movie - coupled with the fact her career has been propelled to new heights. Read More "My whole ethos is to follow the work wherever it happens to be. "I've a few projects that I'm auditioning for at the moment. I've also written a feature film and I've got a producer attached to it. "It's going to the Irish Film Board so hopefully we can get some funding." Speaking to the Sunday Independent about how she landed her role in what is the fifth film in the Bourne series, she says there were a few nerve-racking weeks of waiting for an all-important call, which would confirm the part was definitely hers. "It was a long process before I actually signed up for the movie, because they need to make sure that everything is in place, and everything fits together. "It was a very exciting - yet very frustrating - time. It coincided with 10 years after graduating from drama school. So it was a nice moment to be able to say - okay, this is working." (L-R) Singer Lionel Richie, daughter Nicole Richie and daughter Sophia Richie attend ASCAP's 25th Annual Pop Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on April 9, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) Musician Lionel Richie (L) and his daughter Nicole Richie perform onstage during Lionel Richie and Friends in Concert presented by ACM held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 2, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Soul and pop legend Lionel Richie was the king of Punchestown on Saturday taking fans on a trip down memory lane with an arsenal of hits. The American superstar might not have been Dancing on the Ceiling well it was an outdoor event at Punchestown Racecourse but at the age of 67 he continues to prove on his current All The Hits Tour that he has enough fuel in the tank to perform All Night Long. Although the attendance was smaller than predicted for the first pop and soul one-day music festival at the Co. Kildare venue, the crowd enjoyed top-notch performances from an eclectic mix of artists, ranging from golden oldies Steve Harley, Sister Sledge and Albert Hammond to Westlifes Shane Filan, James Morrison and mCorinne Bailey Rae. Before he arrived, Lionel told the Sunday World that he was planning to bring his family with him and would be doing some sight-seeing in Ireland while hes here. Expand Close (L-R) Singer Lionel Richie, daughter Nicole Richie and daughter Sophia Richie attend ASCAP's 25th Annual Pop Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on April 9, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (L-R) Singer Lionel Richie, daughter Nicole Richie and daughter Sophia Richie attend ASCAP's 25th Annual Pop Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on April 9, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) The last two trips have been amazing because I have some friends that live out in the countryside, he said. I had the chance to drive out to the country, so I got to appreciate the beauty of it. I normally fly in and fly out of Ireland, but Im going to take this trip as a family gathering and go check it out. Read More Kim Sledge of US super group Sister Sledge told Sunday World that the band has a long history with Ireland, going back to the 1980s. We love it here, Kim said. Were staying at the beautiful K Club but we hope to get to an Irish pub where there will be fiddles play- ing. Sister Sledge first exploded onto the scene in 1979 with We Are Family and have been touring the world ever since. We never tire of playing because we have the passion, Kimadded. Expand Close Lionel Richie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lionel Richie British songwriter Steve Harley told the audience that the last time he played Punchestown was at the Oxygen music festival. I think some of the people here are older than me, joked the 65-year-old granddad. Video of the Day Harley is a huge fan of horse racing and regularly visits the Curragh. My friends horse, Cockney Rebel, won a major race here, he added. Cavanman Martin Bolger has a collection of (at last count) more than 20,000 Dinky cars and is one of the subjects of a new RTE documentary Picture: Adrian Donohoe RTE is to air an in-house TV documentary made entirely on an iPhone as the state broadcaster ramps up investment into mobile technology. Its head of technology, Glen Mulcahy, said the broadcaster was also exploring the use of drones, 360-degree video and virtual reality for content production. The 57-minute documentary, The Collectors, was shot on an iPhone 6S Plus, a first for Europe. It is the brainchild of news co-ordinator Eleanor Mannion and focuses on six prolific Irish collectors of things from Barbies to Lego. "We have been making a concerted effort to use mobile technologies in news for at least five years, since the previous general election. But now we are reaching a tipping point where it is filtering down to other parts of the group" said Mulcahy. "The iPhone doc was actually shot in 4K, higher quality than what we normally broadcast. It won't work for everything - we're not going to cover matches with smartphones - but mobile technology is going to be increasingly the first choice for content producers. It is easy to use and allows the creator to get intimate and sincere responses as the equipment is less intimidating." Freedom: Anne Kelly, who was abused by Radio Dublins Eamon Cooke, says she is no longer afraid to speak out now that the DJ is dead. Since his death, new evidence linking him to the disappearance of schoolboy Philip Cairns has emerged. Photo: Tony Gavin Anne Kelly waited three weeks for Eamon Cooke to die. Ever since she got the phone call in May to say the convicted paedophile had checked out of prison and into a hospice, she couldn't quite believe that he was on the way out. She even rang the hospice to confirm it for herself. A kindly woman took her call. "I said, 'You don't need to know who I am, but can you tell me if Eamon Cooke is still alive?' She said yes. I said, 'Are you certain he is not going to walk out of that hospice?' Because you still have the underlying fear that he is pulling some game. She said, 'I'm certain'... So I just waited. I kept thinking, 'I can't believe he is going to actually be gone.'" Cooke died on June 4. Anne had planned to spend the day he died at home in Wicklow, relaxing, breathing, "feeling the freedom", as she put it. Instead she was told that same morning the disturbing news that gardai were investigating Cooke for the disappearance of missing schoolboy Philip Cairns, who vanished without trace on his way back to school in October 1986. She was shocked, but not surprised. Cooke, a television repair man turned pirate radio station operator, plucked children from his south Dublin neighbourhood of Inchicore and abused them. Anne was one of them. He destroyed her childhood but not her spirit. She reported him to the guards when she was 18, to no avail. She smashed up his car when she was 21. She has faced down Cooke four times in court. Expand Close Eamon Cooke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Eamon Cooke With Cooke's death, Anne has taken another brave step with the decision to waive her anonymity and speak publicly for the first time about how the paedophile was brought to book by the children whose lives he blighted. She has been encouraged by friends. "They feel that keeping my anonymity at this stage will be heavier for me somehow, will push me down if I don't break out now that he is dead. "So I can say, okay, I'm not afraid anymore. I don't have to be afraid. I don't have to be afraid of him attacking me through the law, or through whatever way. "I can speak. I don't have to be afraid for my daughters, because they are the fears you have," she says. Expand Close Philip Cairns / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Philip Cairns Read more: Paedophile priest had links to other infamous child abusers Read more: Nine things we learned from TV3 documentary: Philip Cairns Fresh Evidence So sitting in the gracious surroundings of a Wicklow hotel, this petite and elegant woman recounts the dark years of her childhood in chilling detail, but also how she has worked to overcome them. For all the uncertainty, despair and devastation that Cooke still causes, even in death, she says that people can at least take heart that he spent the last years of his life in jail. "Even if it transpires that Eamon Cooke was the killer of Philip Cairns, there has to be an opening for us all to take heart that it was because of the pure weight of personal convictions within everybody involved in that case - all of the victims, the gardai, the legal teams, the dozens of people on the juries - we can all take heart that for 13 years...this man was off our streets," she says. "Those 13 years saved hundreds of boys and girls having their whole futures distorted by him. He would not have stopped and he was getting more and more open - raping in McDonald's and raping in public loos. He could do it anywhere and he did." Anne's evidence was central. "When Cooke died, my mum told me she was proud of me, that she was proud of what I had done, and that she didn't think I knew that, and she would love for me to accept that it was okay, that I had done something good," she says. Anne was a dark-haired girl with ringlets, the youngest of four children living in a terraced house in Inchicore. One day when she was seven, she and her childhood friend noticed an enticing "child-sized" door swinging open in a neighbour's garage and unwittingly entered the repulsive world of Eamon Cooke. There they played with the old televisions and telephones strewn around inside and when Cooke discovered them, rather than the expected admonishment, he told them to come back whenever they wanted. In a memoir, which she has never published, she recalls how a cigarette hung permanently from the side of his mouth, his nicotine-stained fingers and nails "packed with dirt". His shirt, jumper and jacket were always filthy and stank of body odour. He played the long game. He lured children from the garage to his house with games and sweets. His wife - his second - never seemed to be around. The abuse began gradually but became severe over time; first touching Anne and her friend, then exposing himself, and then bringing them to his bedroom naked. One day, when she was 10, he called Anne to his house and gave her a banana. The next thing she remembered is leaving his house, feeling extremely sore, unwell and confused. Later, at home, she passed blood. He intimidated children into silence by continually threatening that they would be sent to a children's home if their parents found out. The abuse stopped when Anne was 10. But the damage was done. Her education suffered, she was angry, she self-harmed and she drank. All the while, Cooke remained a malevolent presence, driving around in his Radio Dublin Jag, very often with children in the passenger seat. Anne didn't tell her parents until she was 18, only then when the mother of another of Cooke's victims encouraged her. Her father immediately booked her into the Rape Crisis Centre. But it was the mid-1980s and there was no talk at that time of reporting him to gardai. Anne went to Kilmainham garda station off her own bat, with a friend. "I sat in a room, told them what Eamon Cooke was, told them he had abused me as a child." Weeks later, Cooke showed up at the little grocery shop where she worked. She reached for a knife and told him to get out. The next time he stopped his Jaguar outside the shop, a girl of six in the passenger seat whom he sent in for cigarettes. He grinned "sickeningly" at Anne. "For years that girl haunted me," she wrote in her memoir. Anne heard nothing more from gardai about her complaint. Three years later, she took matters into her own hands when she read a report that Radio Dublin was opening a "Child-Line". "I was disgusted," she says. That night, she "got sloshed". In the early hours of the morning, she went home, picked up some knives and went around to Radio Dublin studio. A boy aged seven or eight answered the door. When Cooke appeared, she lunged at him. He slammed the door, and hid behind it. She tried to kick it in and then smashed boulders on his Jag. Her mother, unknown to her, had followed her to Cooke's. Cooke punched her to the ground and ran inside, and called the guards. Anne and her mother were arrested that night, while Cooke hid in his radio studio. Cooke ensured that they were charged. Anne remembers the shame of standing in court alongside her mother, her father standing beside them. Days after that, she was packed off to London to stay with her older sister. As she puts it, she was "exiled". "Maybe it was for my own protection," she says now. "You don't take on a man like Cooke in that way." She returned home for the court case. Cooke didn't show up to any of the court proceedings. Perhaps he thought the better of a public face-off with the angry young woman enraged that he destroyed her childhood. The case against Anne and her mother was dismissed. Anne did not see Eamon Cooke again for more than 10 years. By then she had a job, she had her own home, was studying for a law degree, and had the first of her two daughters. In January of 2000, the past came flooding back when Gardai phoned to say they were investigating Eamon Cooke and asked her to make a statement. Anne rang her parents. "My dad said 'go for it, it's been a long time coming for that bastard'." Read more: Predator Eamon Cooke 'used popular DJs to lure victims to his studio' Read more: Cooke preyed on boys as well as girls Cooke was charged with abusing Anne, her childhood friend, and four other women. He mounted every legal block he could and by the time his case went for trial, only four of the six women were allowed to testify against him. He was convicted in 2002 but was released in 2006, after appealing successfully on a point of law. He was back in jail in 2007, following a retrial, having received a 10-year prison sentence. Throughout those years of legal battles, Anne was called on to give her evidence again, and again and again. Her evidence helped to put Cooke in jail, but she, along with the other brave women who stood up to Cooke, paid a heavy personal price. "For somebody in the box, a victim of sexual abuse, all you have on you are pairs of eyes. It is a really difficult thing to do. It's like your skin is flayed off you. That's how raw it is," she says. "You are literally skinned alive by a savage legal system." At the end of the long ordeal, the legal system turned, and not just victims but society got justice. For the many Cooke victims who did not come forward, those who with Cooke's death will not get "legal justice", Anne says: "There is justice available for them on a personal level. The justice for us is a return to our proper place of joy in the world, not what we had to endure with him." Anne was 18 when Philip Cairns disappeared in 1986. She can shed no light on reports that one of Cooke's victims claims the paedophile was responsible. "Knowing Cooke as we did, and knowing his nature, and knowing about his bunkers and his underground places, my imagination has always gone there. My imagination with Cooke has always gone as far as child murder... because that was his capability," she says. "We heard a lot of stuff even just as sitting ducks in that courtroom. The stuff about his bunker and his fireman's pole we had heard about previously, but the detail came out in court. "We knew that threats of death had been made around that bunker - 'if you tell, this is where I'll kill you, no one will know' - to other victims." Anne's thoughts are now with Philip's mother, Alice. "What I find distressing is that at the moment she has nothing to take heart in because there has been no resolution. Please God she can take heart that if it is him at least her son's killer was locked up for 13 years." A Console credit card held by its disgraced former boss, Paul Kelly, continued to be used for up to a week after the scandal of his lavish spending of the charity's cash for his personal use sparked public outrage and a raft of investigations. The credit card in Kelly's name was used to make cash withdrawals and to buy various household items from "multiple" shops, including in Kildare where he lives. The purchases were made after Paul Kelly had resigned as chief executive of the suicide bereavement charity, Console. Purchases continued to be made on the credit card over the following week until the High Court froze the charity's bank accounts. Kelly's use of the charity's credit cards was among the damning revelations in RTE's Prime Time, disclosing how he, his wife Patricia, and son Tim, both directors of the charity, racked up credit card bills of almost 500,000 over a three-year period. David Hall, who was appointed caretaker chief executive of Console after the RTE programme, confiscated Kelly's charity credit cards and their company cars, after securing a High Court injunction freezing the charities accounts. Mr Hall confirmed to the Sunday Independent this weekend that Kelly's credit card was still being used to buy general items. "Yes, his credit card continued to be used up until the High Court injunction," said Mr Hall. He said the card was used in multiple shops over that period and that "small amounts" of money were involved". Paul Kelly has emerged from the scandal as a Walter Mitty character with a history of deception who, at various times, has posed as a doctor in a Dublin hospital, a social worker in England and a priest. A liquidator was appointed to Console and its services moved to another organisation after David Hall found that the charity was in serious financial trouble with a string of debts, including to unpaid staff. Meanwhile, gardai are understood to be following a definite lead in the hunt for the missing 40,000 showjumping horse bought by the Kellys for their teenage daughter in 2014. Detectives have been analysing telephone records to trace the crucial phone call made by a bogus gardai to the owner of equestrian centre where the horse was being stabled. The horse was stolen from a stable in Longford a fortnight after the Console scandal broke. Two men, posing as gardai recovering Console's assets, called to the stables to remove the valuable horse, a horse box and a Fiat 500 car used by the Kelly's daughter. The owner of the stables, Gerry Flynn, was not there at the time, but was suspicious to learn that they had not presented ID and alerted gardai in Longford. In the same week, David Hall got a tip-off from a member of the public about the existence of the showjumping horse, Ecapitola. Hall was told that the horse was purchased for the Kelly's daughter, a keen horse rider, with a 37,500 bank draft and a pony that they traded in. The horse is believed to be worth more than 40,000. On the Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio yesterday, Mr Hall said he sent two of the Console staff to counselling because of the scandal. According to Mr Hall, staff first heard about the RTE Prime Time programme on the day it was to be broadcast, and they had to come to work the next day to try to keep the charity going. He said they were also among the biggest creditors of the charity. Gda Rogers was best man (centre behind bride) at Dermot Ryan and Sinead Leydons wedding AT most weddings, the role of best man entails little more than keeping the rings safe before delivering a well-received speech after the Baked Alaska. But Garda John Rogers learned that there is no such thing as being off duty as he celebrated his close friend tying the knot. The officer was enjoying a drink outside Kehoes pub in Dublin city centre on Friday afternoon following the wedding ceremony of Dermot Ryan and Sinead Leyden at the Cardinal Newman church on St Stephens Green. The bride and groom have deep political roots. Dermot is a member of Environment Commissioner Phil Hogans cabinet and previously advised Charlie McCreevy. Sinead, meanwhile, is the daughter of the long-serving and respected Fianna Fail senator Terry Leyden and his wife, Mary. Sinead is attached to Interpol in Brussels. But as he enjoyed a chat with other wedding guests, Garda Rogers heard the cries of an American tourist who had her bag snatched just a few yards away. He stole my bag, he stole my bag, witnesses said she screamed. Decked out in his best blue suit, the officer who is attached to the Garda Immigration Unit set off on foot after the culprit. Garda Rogers tackled the thief to the ground outside Cafe En Seine on nearby Dawson Street and kept him pinned down. A female garda arrived on the scene to assist her off-duty colleague, who told her: Its okay garda, Im an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana, but Im the best man at a wedding. The culprit was arrested and brought into custody. According to witnesses, Garda Rogers returned the bag intact to the American tourist, who said he painted an example of a wonderful police force. Inside at the nearby wedding reception, Garda Rogers who is from Tipperary but lives in Naas was praised for his heroic act. Senator Leyden told guests: He was like Ronnie Delany a bullet out of a gun. It was above and beyond the call of duty but a prime example of the dedication of An Garda Siochana. Im commending Garda Rogers for a bravery award. Senator Leyden told guests he intends to contact Commissioner Noirin OSullivan to inform her of the incident. Garda Rogers returned to his best man duties with aplomb and gave a cracker of a best man speech, one guest said. Police are investigating an arson attack on a Presbyterian church and neighbouring hall in south Belfast. Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church, at Myrtledene Road, in south Belfast was attacked overnight between Thursday and Friday, and again in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police appeal for information following arson attack on Presbyterian church on Saintfield Road, Belfast in the early hours of this morning. PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) July 24, 2016 The church said that during the first attack, its building was set alight, and a substantial fire broke out in the kitchen area. It also caused flooding in the halls. Church workers were on the scene on Friday and Saturday cleaning to ensure the building would be fit to host their two services on Sunday. However the second attack in the early hours of Sunday morning was so severe the church building is now out of bounds. A spokesman for the PSNI said they are investigating the incident at the church and neighbouring hall. "It is believed that this attack occurred sometime between 1.00am and 1.20am, today, Sunday, 24 July," he said. "The Church and the hall sustained considerable damage." The whale that washed up at St Johns Point The carcass of 26ft-long minke whale has washed ashore on rocks at St John's Point in County Down. The body of the huge creature, which is believed to have been dead for around a week, was discovered by a member of the public on the foreshore near Killough. A team from Newcastle Coastguard Station was sent to the scene to measure and photograph the body. Speaking last night, Ian Enlander, from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, said: "In the summer, minke whales move south from the west of Scotland into the Irish sea, where there is plenty of food for them. "They're often sighted off Islandmagee as they migrate toward the Isle of Man. "It appears that this young male minke died after its tail became entangled in some discarded fishing gear." "From the pictures, I would say that it has been dead for no more than a week. It just goes to show that the Irish sea is not a totally safe environment for them. "They can easily get entangled in fishing gear - and that means certain death." The expert said that the last large whale incident in Northern Ireland came last autumn, when a fin whale beached on the north coast. It is understood that a report on the latest incident has been forwarded to the Receiver of Wreck, who has responsibility for dealing with whales that wash up on the shores of the UK. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has also been informed of the appearance of the decomposing animal on the shore, as has Newry, Mourne and Down Council. Minke whales are often seen in the waters of the Irish Sea during the summer months. Whale-watching cruises also form a popular holiday activity off the coast of the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Minke whales are not considered to be an at-risk species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List has identified the common minke whale as being a species of least concern. It is likely that the body of the huge sea mammal will ultimately have to be cleared away from the shoreline by the local council, as the rotting carcass will become a public health hazard as it decomposes. The Marine and Coastguard Agency confirmed last night that the Receiver of Wreck had been informed and was working with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The agency advised members of the public to keep at a safe distance from the whale's body, for their own safety. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has said the failed coup in Turkey is being used by the government to "significantly weaken" the country's democratic institutions. Since last week's uprising, at least 60,000 state employees have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation, as part of a mass purge of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system. In his first decree since imposing a state of emergency, President Tayyip Erdogan further tightened his grip yesterday, by ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions. However, Mr Flanagan has now expressed deep concern over the "systematic removal" of public servants and "people of influence" from their jobs. "The withdrawal of civil rights is unacceptable. Turkey is one of the candidates likely to be considered in the context of EU enlargement over the next number of years. "So any withdrawal of human rights, and crackdown on civil liberties, will adversely affect their candidate status." Suggestions that the death penalty may be reintrod uced is contrary to the values of the EU and Ireland, he added. "Should this occur, it would prevent Turkey joining the European Union. "It seems to me that the failed coup is being used by the Turkish government to weaken significantly the democratic institutions in the country, and that's a worry." Speaking to the Sunday Independent, the Laois-Offaly TD pointed out that over 1,500 university deans have been instructed to resign immediately. A further 1,500 staff in the Ministry for Finance have been removed from their jobs. "There appears to be a systematic removal of people from their positions. "It's a response that appears to be hugely disproportionate to the activities of last weekend." A number of Western countries have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. President Erdogan declared the state of emergency last Wednesday. He said it would enable the authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. Summer slides: Carol St John on the 98FMs Big Slide on Winetavern Street next to Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Photo: Fergal Phillips It was the street where medieval Dubliners went for a dram and a fun night out 1,000 years ago. But yesterday Winetavern Street (the clue is in the name) was transformed into a theme park as one of the world's biggest water slides provided thrills and spills aplenty. Broadcaster 98FM's Big Slide Home, with HB Ice Cream and Dublin City Council, will also be in situ today, with the 260-foot slide stretching from the arch of Christ Church Cathedral down to the base of the Winetavern Street's hill. Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr said: "Dublin City Council is delighted to be supporting this free family friendly event. "It is the first time that this water slide attraction has come to the city, and I hope that Dubliners and visitors to the capital will really enjoy it." The Big Ride Home presenter Dara Quilty said: "I am so excited to be launching this event this summer. Dublin has been screaming out for this kind of attraction for years so I'm so glad 98FM are doing it." The radio station was inundated with calls, emails, texts, WhatApps and Snapchats requesting the wristbands which give automatic entry to the water slide. It's great to see innovative food producers being showcased as part of SuperValu's Food Academy programme. A joint initiative between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office Network, the national programme has been upping its ante this year, with sales for 2016 expected to double those of 2015. The programme test-runs new producers in their local stores before rolling them out nationally. Of the 53 small food producers recently introduced to Supervalu shelves in their locality, several are tapping into the under-utilised edible resources of our island's waters to offer a 'Taste of the Sea'. Donegal shoppers can stock up their store cupboards with jars of Shines' excellent Irish tuna preserved in oil or with tins of peppered smoked mackerel fillets from Irish Atlantic Canned Fish. Dubliners seeking a quick fish supper can choose between Simon's Smokies and Howth Cuisine's thai fish cakes, while down in Cork, the Union Hall brand produces a very decent smoked mackerel pate. But it's not just about the fish. Achill Island sea salt, available in 18 stores in Mayo, is a sea salt flaky enough to satisfy Maldon devotees. And several companies are exploring clever uses for Irish sea vegetables. Cork's The Laughing Oyster dried seaweed seasoning adds flavour to everything from soups and stews to scrambled eggs, while The West of Ireland Seaweed Kitchen in Galway has developed a low-salt, organic chocolate mousse mix that utilises Irish carrageen for texture. Also in Cork, Roaring Water Sea Vegetable has developed meat-free substitutes for chorizo sausage and black pudding that make great use of Irish wakame. It's also nice to see one of our seafood-focussed restaurants getting some international recognition. Howth is Dublin's most picturesque fishing village and Aqua Restaurant (above) boasts one of its most atmospheric locations, perched at the end of Howth's West Pier with views across to Ireland's Eye. The restaurant recently picked up the title of Best Luxury Seafood Restaurant at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards, which took place at the Grand Kronenhof Hotel, Pontresina, Switzerland. Another great champion of Irish fish, Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm, is gathering trout recipes from women in Ireland and Uganda from diverse backgrounds and professions into an upcoming cookbook. Fishwives will be launched at Savour Kilkenny on October 28, and all proceeds will go to Hospice Africa Uganda. For more details, see goatsbridgetrout.ie/fishwives-fish-recipe-book Bites... Gluten-free brew Expand Close Gluten Free Bru / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gluten Free Bru A clean-tasting brew that is free from gluten, fluoride, chemicals and preservatives, Bru Lager offers light and crisp drinking with subtle malt notes (think Rich Tea biscuits) and refreshing green hops that would pair well with fish and chips. 4.2pc ABV, 2.49 for 330ml. Seaside Eats & Beats Expand Close The Beatyard / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Beatyard The Beatyard Festival returns to Dun Laoghaire Marina (July 30 & July 31) with everything from disco legends to carnival games and Science Gallery installations. This year's new Eatyard zone features over 30 food and drink vendors, plus cookery and cocktail demos. the-beatyard.com Bacon gets a makeover Expand Close Bacon and cabbage / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bacon and cabbage Euro-Toques Ireland's 30-year anniversary celebrations conclude next Monday, July 25, with a five-course 'bacon and cabbage' themed dinner, cooked by five guest Euro-Toques chefs and served on The Woollen Mills' terrace overlooking Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge. For details, see facebook.com/eurotoquesireland Get in the mix with these creative cocktails from some of Ireland's best mixologists. The Europe's Manhattan From the cocktail makers at the Europe Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry, theeurope.com Ingredients 50ml rye whiskey 30ml sweet vermouth Dash of bitters A twist of orange and a cherry to garnish Method Shake or stir according to your preference. Pour over ice into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a twist of orange and a cherry. Sit back and enjoy. The real Italian From the mixology team at Farrier & Draper, Dublin, farrieranddraper.ie Ingredients 40ml Tanqueray Gin 50ml strawberry puree 20ml lime juice 10ml sugar syrup 5ml balsamic vinegar 10 pink peppercorns 8-10 basil leaves / 1 strawberry Method Pour all of the ingredients, except the peppercorns and basil leaves, into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a tall glass with fresh cubed ice. Top with a strawberry, some basil leaves and the peppercorns. Elderflower Tom Collins From the mixologists at Suesey Street bar and restaurant, Dublin, sueseystreet.ie Ingredients 60ml Tanqueray gin 15ml St Germain Elderflower Liqueur 1 tsp caster sugar (or 4ml sugar syrup) 30ml lemon juice Soda water to top up Method Put everything but the soda water into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tumbler. Top off with crushed ice, soda water and finish with a sprig of basil or a slice of lemon. Girl from Mars Expand Close Girl from Mars / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Girl from Mars From the cocktail makers at the Morrison Hotel, Dublin, morrisonhotel.ie Ingredients 40ml Stoli vodka 20ml Napoleon Mandarin Liquor 15ml jasmine syrup 5ml lime juice 5 fresh raspberries (muddled) Honey, to taste Method Mix all of the ingredients together and serve in a champagne coupe or cocktail glass to produce a short and elegant combination. Bananasauras Rex From the mixology team at The Exchequer Bar, Dublin, theexchequerdublin2.ie Serves 1, multiply ingredients by 10 to make punch. Ingredients 40ml Tullamore Dew pineapple-infused whiskey (or other Irish whiskey) 10ml pineapple juice 20ml vanilla liqueur 5ml Connemara peated Irish whiskey (or peated Scotch) 25ml lime juice 30ml banana puree 1 plastic dinosaur Method Shake all of the ingredients together. Pour over crushed ice into Slim Jim or highball glass. Garnish with a mint spring - and a fearsome dinosaur! Hit the net From Paul Malone, Bar Manager at the Five Star InterContinental in Dublin's Ballsbridge, intercontinental.com/dublin Ingredients 50ml Cork Dry Gin 10ml lemon juice 15ml peach liqueur 15ml Limoncello 35ml apple juice Top with ginger ale Method Shake all of the ingredients together - except the ginger ale - and pour into a tall noblesse glass with cubed ice. Fill to the top with ginger ale and decorate with an apple fan. Grapefruit Gimlet Expand Close Grapefruit Gimlet / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Grapefruit Gimlet From the cocktail team at The Bridge 1859 bar in Dublin, thebridge1859.ie Ingredients 70ml Beefeater 24 30ml lemon juice 15ml sugar cane syrup 2 dashes grapefruit bitters Grapefruit, to garnish Method This twist on a classic is made up in a shaker. The combination should be vigorously shaken with ice and double strained into a chilled tumbler with cubed ice. Garnish with fresh grapefruit. Berry Tastea iced tea Expand Close Berry Tastea / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Berry Tastea An alcohol-free concoction from the bar staff at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin, fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com Ingredients Muddled mixed berries (2 strawberries, 2 raspberries, 2 blackberries, 2 blueberries) 15ml fresh lemon juice 20ml sugar syrup Approx 150ml Irish tea Method For best results, the tea should be strongly brewed at least 1 hour before making the drinks. It means the tea is strong enough so that it won't lose too much flavour when shaken/stirred with ice, plus room temperature tea won't melt the ice as fast. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Serve over ice in a tankard. Garnish with mixed berries. Pom pom Expand Close Pom Pom / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pom Pom From mixologist David McDonnell of The Restaurant at Brown Thomas, Dublin, brownthomas.com Ingredients 50ml Dingle Gin 10ml fresh pomegranate juice 6-8 pomegranate seeds 3 fresh basil leaves Bottle Green Pomegranate and Elderflower tonic water Method Simply add all the ingredients to a balloon glass with ice, stir and enjoy. The Camden mile Expand Close The Camden Mile / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Camden Mile From the mixology team at Bow Lane cocktail bar, Dublin, bowlane.ie Ingredients 35.5ml Absolut Mango vodka 10ml calvados 10ml apricot brandy Fresh passion fruit (to taste) 10ml raspberry syrup 35ml fresh lime juice 50ml cranberry juice 10ml egg white Lemonade, to top up Method Shake all the ingredients together and serve over ice in a tall glass, charged with lemonade for a sweet summer drink. Castlemartyr's Gin Bliss From the bar team at Castlemartyr Resort in Cork, castlemartyrresort.ie Ingredients 30ml gin 30ml rosemary-infused sugar syrup 15ml lemon juice Soda water, to top Method Place all of the ingredients, except the soda water, into a shaker and add ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into old fashioned glass or tumbler. Top up with soda water. Garnish with lemon and a rosemary sprig. The Michael Collins From the cocktail makers at the Seventy Six on the Mall bar at the Imperial Hotel, Cork, flynnhotels.com Ingredients 45ml Cork Dry Gin 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup 60ml carbonated water Method Mix the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup in a tall glass, top up with soda water, garnish and serve. Signature Bloody Mary Expand Close Signature Bloody Mary from Adare Restaurant / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Signature Bloody Mary from Adare Restaurant From the bar staff at 1826 Adare restaurant, Co Limerick, 1826adare.ie Ingredients 240ml fresh tomato juice 60ml good quality vodka 60ml Worcestershire sauce 40g freshly grated horseradish 12 drops Tabasco sauce 4 good pinches celery salt Freshly ground black pepper 15ml freshly squeezed lime juice tsp curry powder Ice cubes 4 celery sticks 4 wedges lime Method We make our tomato juice from fresh tomatoes and leave the vine in it overnight which adds flavour. Finely grate the horseradish into a bowl and hit with 2 teaspoons of boiling water. Leave it to sit for 5 mins and then squeeze out the excess water. This will rehydrate the horseradish and take a lot of the raw flavour from it. In a jug, mix together the tomato juice, vodka, worcestershire, Tabasco, horseradish, celery salt, pepper, lime juice and curry powder. Mix well with a whisk or spoon. Fill 4 highball glasses with ice and pour over the mix. Garnish with a celery stick and lime wedge and serve. Sheen Margarita Expand Close Sheen Margherita / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sheen Margherita From Fabien Auzal, head barman at Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry, who created the drink in honour of the hotel's 25th anniversary this year, sheenfallslodge.ie Ingredients 35ml Patron Silver Tequila (Silver Tequila for 25 years!) 15ml Gabriel Boudier Pomegranate Liquor 10ml Finest Call Sweet & Sour Mix Juice of half a fresh passionfruit 10ml grapefruit juice Method Simply shake all the ingredients together, pour over ice in a tall glass and enjoy! Great island iced tea A Long Island iced tea Cork-style from the Montenotte Hotel Cork, themontenottehotel.com/Cork Ingredients 20ml vodka 20ml Cork Dry Gin 20ml white rum 20ml tequila 30ml Cointreau Fresh lemon & lime 100ml Coca Cola Method Shake all the ingredients and serve in a hurricane glass. Dress with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon. Serve, admire, sit back and enjoy! The race winner espresso martini Expand Close The race winner espresso martini from Mount Juliet / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The race winner espresso martini from Mount Juliet From the team at Mount Juliet, mountjuliet.ie Ingredients 1 shots of vodka A single shot of Kahlua Double shot of espresso Coffee powder (to garnish) Method This is shaken, filtered and poured into a martini glass, and then topped with coffee beans or garnished with coffee powder. Powerscourt's Coral Punch Expand Close Powerscourt's Coral Punch cocktail, available in McGills - 13 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Powerscourt's Coral Punch cocktail, available in McGills - 13 From the team at McGills pub in the Powerscourt Hotel, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow; powerscourthotel.com Ingredients 35.5ml Bacardi Gold 20ml Aperol 20ml lime juice 2 dashes plum bitters 2 blackberries, muddled 1 egg white 1 bar spoon sugar syrup Lime wheel, soaked in Absinthe Method Muddle together 2 blackberries with 1 lime chopped into 4 segments in the glass. Add 2 dashes of plum bitters and 1 bar spoon of sugar syrup and mix well. Pour in the Bacardi Gold and Aperol, then add the egg white before shaking well. Place a slice of lime on top of the drink and carefully pour a small dash of Absinthe onto it. For the Powerscourt finish, flame the Absinthe and enjoy the deep, fruity drink with a hint of liquorice. Top 5 cocktail making tips Tricks of the trade from David McDonnell of The Restaurant at Brown Thomas, Dublin 1 Choose quality ingredients If you want a great cocktail experience, you need great spirits. I would suggest starting off with two or three good quality liquors. Expand your repertoire as you get more confident. 2 Don't forget bitters! It always surprises me how adding a simple dash can change the whole complexity of the cocktail. 3 Invest in great glassware Presentation is everything! 4 Preparation (mise en place) is all important Ensure you have everything you'll need to make your cocktail from the outset. Prep it and stick to the recipe. Preparation will make the experience easier and more enjoyable and it also means you'll be enjoying your drink sooner. 5 Consider your garnish It shouldn't be an afterthought. Not only will it look great, it's the final piece that brings the whole drink together. Top 5 essential tools The best tools are the simple ones, according to the mixology team at The Exchequer. Most of these easy-to-use items can be picked up at reasonable prices on the high street. 1 Shaker/Tin Essential for shaking up cocktail mixes. 2 Long thin metal spoon To get to the bottom of the shaker to ensure all contents are thoroughly mixed. 3 Measure An alcohol measure which can measure both a single and double shot is so important for keeping ingredients accurate to get the best result when making homemade cocktails. 4 Hawthorne/rough strainer Used to remove ice from cocktail mixes to produce a smooth cocktail with a chill. 5 Fine strainer To achieve proper filtration and remove excess ice, fruit or other solids that could make their way past a larger strainer. Rebel: Fr Sean Fagan, seen here with Mary McAleese, was disciplined by the Vatican for views at odds with Church teaching. Photo: Peter Houlihan The story is told that Pope John XXIII - the man who called the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s in a bid to overhaul and modernise the Church - was once asked by a theologian-friend to recommend the friend's latest tome. The Pope responded with a wry smile, "I'll do better than that - I'll put it on the index" - a reference to the Vatican's list of banned books. The Pontiff evidently knew that making a book taboo would do more to boost sales than a papal endorsement. The tale came to mind this week at the funeral in Dublin of Fr Sean Fagan, when the preacher recalled how Fr Fagan had been delighted to find one of his banned books selling on the internet for hundreds of dollars. Fr Sean paid a high price for his beliefs, his friend and colleague Fr Declan Marmion told mourners at the funeral Mass. Fr Fagan was one of a number of priests disciplined by the Vatican in recent years when their theological views were found to be at odds with Church teaching. The case of Fr Fagan sheds light on the dilemma faced by theologians and Church leaders alike. On the one hand, a theologian's job is to push the envelope to help Catholics come to better understandings of the faith. At the same time, they have sworn oaths to uphold and defend traditional Catholic teaching. There's always been a tension between Church leaders and theologians, almost even a necessary tension. But, the question is always the same: how far is too far? In other words, how far can Catholic theologians - particularly priests - stray from official Church teaching without censure? Theologians often say their job is to preach truth to power. But, as Pontius Pilate once infamously asked, "what is truth?" The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) - headed by German theologian Cardinal Gerhard Muller - acts as a de facto Chief Whip within the Church. In Fr Fagan's case, amongst other things, he had written that Church teaching in a number of areas, such as artificial birth control, should change as reality changes. He argued passionately that morality must be based on reality. But as far as the Church is concerned, it is people who should change, not morality. The debate exposes a deeper fault-line within global Catholicism - one that Pope Francis is trying to navigate. Conservative Catholics tend to believe that Church teaching - particularly around sexuality - is poorly understood and poorly followed because it has never been properly explained to people. Liberal Catholics, on the other hand, argue that difficult Church teachings are unrealistic and overly-burdensome on people so should be relaxed. While Pope Francis has made it clear that there will be no change in core Church teachings, he is pushing for a shift in emphasis. Famously, when asked about homosexuality, he answered that if a gay person sincerely seeks God, "whom am I to judge?" But much to the chagrin of liberals, the Pope has not moved give theologians a licence to say what they please. He had a chance to replace Gerhard Muller - the doctrinal watchdog he inherited from Pope Benedict - and instead confirmed the cardinal in his position. Nor have theologians who have been disciplined by Rome - including Irish priests like Tony Flannery - been restored. And, while the mood music has certainly changed under Francis, there's no sense that he is reluctant to play the disciplinarian when he feels he has to. Just months after his election, the Pontiff dismissed US priest John Dear for what was described as being "obstinately disobedient" to the Church. What made the case more interesting for observers was the fact that Dear had been a member of the Jesuits, the order to which Pope Francis also belongs. At the same time, however, Francis moved to end a Vatican probe of US nuns who had been suspected of holding views at odds with the Church - something which gave many cause to believe that things are changing in Rome. But, one could be forgiven for thinking there are mixed messages. Francis recently used a Latin phrase when reminding professional theologians of their role when he told them their job was to 'sentire cum Ecclesia' - think with the mind of the Church. Ultimately, of course, priests and religious who are theologians are official representatives of the Church and make their living from the Church. And just as no corporation would tolerate an executive dissing company strategy in public, the Church is loath to support a culture where priests feel free to say whatever they like while retaining the safety net of the Church. Fr Fagan did indeed pay a high price for his beliefs - as rebels often do. But, despite our romantic penchant for rebels, they're not always right and the Church sees itself as being the sole arbitrator on what is and - crucially - what is not Catholic teaching. Michael Kelly is editor of The Irish Catholic The eats in East London are better than ever, says Aoife McElwain, who takes a foodie trip to The (Really) Big Smoke. "Are you going to Lyle's?" That's the question my food-loving friends asked before I set off for The (Really) Big Smoke. The aim was to eat my way around East London, home to some of the capital's coolest neighbourhoods and the focal point of Rosie Birkett and Helen Cathcart's new book: East London Food: The People, The Places, The Recipes. The book highlights the creative food community in places like Hackney, Shoreditch and the Old Spitalfields Market, featuring a mouthwatering collection of chefs, butchers, foragers, urban beekeepers and their produce. The white-tiled, on-trend Lyle's (lyleslondon.com) is one of its centrepieces. And yes, I was definitely going. With head chef and co-owner James Lowe at the helm, Lyle's does tasting plates for lunch and a tasting menu for dinner in The Tea Buildings, a corner warehouse in Shoreditch. Over lunch, the London sunlight streams through tall windows in an industrial space, creating spectacular shadows on a bowl of Jersey Royal new potatoes served with herring soft roes and sorrel (8.30/9.90). Expand Close Lyle's is well worth a visit / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lyle's is well worth a visit There's a plate of juicy snails with crispy-fried nettle, toasted barley and pheasant's egg (8.30/9.90) that sums up the elements of a summer stroll in the English countryside. Razor clams with fennel pollen (9.90/11.80), monkfish livers with blood oranges, and guinea fowl skewers with yoghurt and lemon thyme (both 6.90/8.20) are also devoured. Every dish shines a spotlight on the simplistic beauty of seasonal ingredients, and it all lives up to the hype. James Lowe ran the kitchen at St John Bread and Wine (stjohngroup.uk.com), just a seven-minute walk from Lyle's, before going out on his own. The influence and pared-back ethos of legendary chef, Fergus Henderson, shines through. How could it not? Henderson and his wife Margot opened St John's Restaurant in 1994, a driving force behind the Nose To Tail approach to cooking. St John Bread and Wine followed, as an even less formal platform for British cooking, on the edge of Old Spitalfields Market in 2003. It's unfussy and simple, and you can pop in to pick up one of their famous Eccles cakes, doughnuts or sourdough loaves from the take-away bakery. You can also wander through Old Spitalfields Market and down Artillery Lane to one of Yotam Ottolenghi's cafes (ottolenghi.co.uk). This Israeli chef and his Palestinian business partner Sami Tamimi have done for rose water and za'atar what Jamie Oliver did for extra virgin olive oil. There are salads and sweets to take away, or to sit in, but its decor is starting to feel a little dated. Honey & Co (honeyandco.co.uk) on nearby Warren Street, technically in the west of the city, is today's forerunner in adapting Middle Eastern flavours for the London palate. Back in the direction of Lyle's, Dishoom's (dishoom.com) coveted bacon naan roll (5.50/6.50) is served up daily from their Shoreditch location. It's one of four Dishooms in Central London celebrating the Irani cafes of Bombay. Expand Close Honey & Co., London. Source: honeyandco.co.uk / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Honey & Co., London. Source: honeyandco.co.uk Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk), near the Southbank of The Thames, is on the tourist trail but it's a quick and authentic taste of what's happening in The City. It can be intensely busy on weekends, but it's worth the squish to stuff your face with one of Bread Ahead's salted honeycomb donuts. I grab a bundle of British asparagus to cook in my Airbnb, and pick up tubs of beetroot powder and Aleppo chilli flakes from Spice Mountain to take home. Cheesemongers Neal's Yard have a branch in the market, too, piled high with British and international cheeses, including our own Coolea and Durrus. Also tucked away in Borough Market is Padella (padella.co). It proves to be pasta heaven, serving up freshly-made pasta in classic combos such as silky ricotta and broad beans, or spicy 'nduja with tomato sauce. It's simple, the stuff you dream of when thinking of holidays in Italy. Padella is owned by the trusted team behind Trullo (trullorestaurant.com) on St Paul's Road in Islington. Around the corner in this North East borough is Black Axe Mangal (blackaxemangal.com), a no-reservation spot serving up Turkish food with a side of heavy metal. It's packed when we walk past on the way to Hackney, for dinner in Pidgin (pidginlondon.com). A four-course set menu here (37/44) changes every week, without fail. Our highlights include the buttermilk birthday cake dessert, a vanilla sponge splashed dramatically with tangy fruit powders and milk ice-cream. What makes the UK capital so special is its breadth of choice. Even within East London, one weekend is not enough. The rippling consequences of June's Brexit vote could take years to settle, and who knows what the impact on tourism will be in the future, but for now a plummeting pound has made our eating adventures easier on the euro. It seems a little like economic schadenfreude to be too gleeful about that, however, especially as the overwhelming majority of London's 8.5 million inhabitants voted to stay in the EU. Then again, London has always marched to its own drum, and East London has a rhythm of its own. Lyle's is just the start of a brilliant foodie adventure. Expand Close Borough market in East London. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Borough market in East London. Getting there Heathrow is convenient for East London, thanks to its Tube connection, though Stansted is very handy too (take the overground train to Hackney Central). If you're not stuck for time, take the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead and the train to London from there. Head to visitlondon.com for more tips. Where to stay Live it up like a local with an Airbnb in East London. Look for pads in Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Hackney and Bethnal Green, checking that you're within walking distance of the Tube. Rooms start from around 40 per night on airbnb.ie as we publish. The Hoxton (thehoxton.com) is a funky hotel base in Shoreditch, too. Getting around The first thing you should do in London is get an Oyster Card (tfl.gov.uk). You can pick one up in any train or Tube station, and top-up easily as you go. The cards are valid on the Underground, buses and overground trains (handy for East London). Children under 11 go free with a fee-paying adult. 3 must-dos... On the Tourist Trail Expand Close St Paul's Cathedral / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp St Paul's Cathedral Several of London's heavy-hitters are on the East side, including St Paul's Cathedral (stpauls.co.uk), the future-retro beauty of The Barbican Centre (barbican.org.uk) and The Tower of London (hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london), not to mention Shakespeare's Globe (shakespearesglobe.com). Off the beaten track Expand Close The Geffrye Museum / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Geffrye Museum The Geffrye Museum (geffrye-museum.co.uk) is a wonderful little museum of interior design through the ages in Hackney. If St Paul's is too crowded, try the quiet solace of the Church of St Martin-within-Ludgate (stmartin-within-ludgate.org.uk), a small and modest church in the shadow of the Cathedral. For the kids Expand Close Hackney City Farm / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hackney City Farm If you've already seen The Tower of London (London Bridge is nearby too), take in a bit of inner-city greenery at Hackney Farm (hackneycityfarm.co.uk). This petting zoo is home to geese, ducks, donkeys, and ponies and their environmental education programme includes green skills training. Read more: Mayfair is London at its most luxurious. That's why a stay is so exciting, says Maggie Armstrong. Set the mood Mayfair is postcard London - wedding-cake houses on spotless boulevards, the city's oldest shops and newest rich. As Edna O'Brien wrote, "the name Mayfair still conjures up a region plush with promise and privilege". I was here for a show in the West End, and time was as tight as a packed underground. I wanted to eat like a queen and pretend I live here all the time. I got that (for 24 hours, at least) by checking into Flemings, a luxury boutique hotel trading since 1851, and, as of late, a 14m refurbishment to the good. In the bathrooms alone, I died and went to a heaven that was "scented Darjeeling". There were cat lights in the shower. Edna O'Brien, eat your heart out. Guilty pleasure Expand Close The Ritz / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Ritz I was staying a hair's breadth from Piccadilly Circus, where luxury bastions like the Ritz and Fortnum & Mason give way to the commercial carnival of Leicester Square. New Bond Street's fashion parade of Prada, Gucci and Burberry did nicely for window shopping. These mad-houses are like museums, their clothes like art pieces (discreet attendants know as well as you do that you're not going to buy that Alexander McQueen coat chained to the wall). Liberty (liberty.co.uk), where it's said Oscar Wilde bought his threads, is not to be missed. The department store must be the only place in London where attendants tell you when the item you want is going on sale. Cheap kicks Green Park is a rare wilderness in Central London. The tree-pillared space rollicks into The Mall, where you can have your yearning glance at Buckingham Palace and try to make the guards laugh. For supper, 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen (2850.co.uk) on Maddox Street afforded me splendid food at gastro-pub prices (the set menu offers three courses for 19.50/23.50). Think crab tortellini with miso broth, or tagliatelle with braised rabbit... and those crushed potatoes with creme fraiche are the devil. Hotel intel Expand Close Flemings Hotel, London / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flemings Hotel, London The feel at Flemings is decidedly plush and you may get a dose of imposter syndrome if you're not used to paying 450 for a Studio Suite with terrace. Think bespoke furniture, botanical bathroom products and British supermodels on the walls (I did like looking at Kate Moss and David Gandy). Two flat-screen TVs, just inches apart, bordered on the showy. However, my room's 'honesty' gin bar made up for any displeasure. Top tip If you like affordable theatre tickets, the Leicester Square ticket booth in the Clocktower Building is where you can find an reasonably priced ticket at the last minute. Visit tkts.co.uk/leicestersquare to see what's on sale. Glitches Inexcusably hostile service at local restaurant Kitty Fisher's (kittyfishers.com) - despite the delicious dishes from the wood grill. Sadly, mean service can feel like a theme throughout this hopelessly exclusive part of London. Get me there Expand Close Flemings Hotel, London / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flemings Hotel, London Simple. Fly to Heathrow (Aer Lingus flies from Dublin, Shannon and Cork) and whizz straight on to the Piccadilly Line. Dismount at Green Park, turn fourth right and you're in Half Moon Street's glorious abode. Deluxe doubles at Flemings (flemings.co.uk) start from 250/300. The boutique hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (0800 0482 314; slh.com/flemings). For more on London, see visitlondon.com. Premium Dan O'Brien Opinion While we catastrophise about Covid, we ignore risk of running out of cash We Irish view the world in an increasingly strange and unhealthy way. We catastrophise about Covid in a way other European countries do not. We focus on how bad the effects of the virus could get, on how many more restrictions might be imposed by Government and how helpless we are in the face of the virus. Premium New hospital for a tenner may come at too high a price The Taoiseach is under a lot of pressure the kind of pressure that leads to costly mistakes. It perhaps explains why he has been saying things that are not quite true. Micheal Martin is in a tight political corner. From all sides hes being told he has to get the contract signed for the new National Maternity Hospital. It's 150 days today since the country went to the polls and produced the most fragmented, divided Dail since the Civil War. It took 70 of those days to finally elect a Taoiseach. The following 80 days have been every bit as eventful - just ask Enda Kenny. TDs of all parties and none are grateful to limp off to recharge the batteries after a traumatic few months for virtually everyone. Nothing succeeds like recess, they like to say in Westminster, so what better time to pause and present our special political 'awards' for the first term of the 32nd Dail - there may not be too many more of them. Best politician: Micheal Martin. He might have been pipped in the General Election battle, but the opinion polls suggest he will ultimately win the war. He was the undoubted star of the election campaign, as other leaders - Kenny, Gerry Adams and Joan Burton - faltered badly. Martin then ignored the hysterical calls from commentators, who should have known better, demanding he must break his General Election promise and go into government with Fine Gael. He made history by facilitating Kenny's return as Taoiseach. And, with half of voters believing Fianna Fail is effectively calling the shots from the opposition benches; the party north of 30pc in the polls; and his own satisfaction ratings well above the other leaders, he is sitting pretty. A lot can, and will, happen between now and the general election, but Martin has the look of a man set to lead his party out of perdition and back into real power - the Taoiseach-in-waiting. Great survivor: Enda Kenny. The election was a personal disaster for him but he still made history by becoming the first FG Taoiseach to be returned to office. And, after a rocky few weeks when there seemed to be the beginnings of a move against him, Kenny made it to the summer still in situ. He has used up eight of his nine lives, though, and surely will be gone by the year's end. Then again, he has defied such predictions in the past. The most influential Minister: Michael Noonan. While others flapped hither and thither during the government formation talks, Noonan retained a Buddha-like calm - like the man who had seen it all before even if nobody actually had. It might be a shoot-out between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney to succeed Kenny, but Noonan is still the glue that holds the Government together. Best newcomer: John Lahart. Katherine Zappone, Lisa Chambers, Ann Rabbitte and Louise O'Reilly have all impressed but Lahart, who has given Fianna Fail a much-needed presence in the capital, stands out. Busiest newcomer: (aka, the 'don't let the grass grow under your feet' award): Jointly to Josepha Madigan and Kate O'Connell. Madigan has already brought forward a private member's bill to reduce the period of separation necessary to obtain a divorce - surely some kind of record for a new TD. O'Connell, meanwhile, has been full of public praise (kind of) for the Taoiseach for his shift on the Eighth Amendment and moves to establish a citizens' convention to deal with it: "I know it's not good enough [what] Enda Kenny said about this constitutional...whatever - but this is a major step for him," she told a National Women's Council of Ireland event. No doubt Enda was chuffed at this endorsement from one of his TDs, elected 12 days previously. Expand Close Helen McEntee. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Helen McEntee. Photo: Tom Burke Most deserving promotion: David Stanton. Hugely able, dedicated and decent, Stanton had done trojan work in committees over the years with little reward. He finally got a long-overdue promotion to junior minister at the Department of Justice. The 'ask a silly question, get a silly answer' award: Finian McGrath, who felt compelled to consult with the Attorney General on whether he needed to pay his water charges. McGrath, a class of a song and dance man, was looking for some form of bridge over the troubled issue of water. What did you think she'd say, minister? The 'now that's just plain silly' award: Mary Mitchell O'Connor for suggesting Enda Kenny's critics within Fine Gael are unpatriotic. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask instead what you can do for...Enda. The 'this could get awkward' award: Paschal Donohue. Paschal told Hot Press Boris Johnson was a charlatan for lacking the conviction to deal with the consequences of his choice to back Brexit. That's Boris, the eh...new Foreign Secretary of the UK, Paschal. Expand Close Josepha Madigan. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Josepha Madigan. Photo: Tom Burke Should be interesting when they inevitably meet up. Then again, maybe Boris will be relieved to encounter somebody who has insulted him, rather than the other way around. The 'this did get awkward' award: Barry Cowen. The Offaly man cut a sheepish figure when news of his crowd-pleasing jibes at FG leaked out from an FF parliamentary party meeting. Leo Varadkar and company preferred wine at the Marker Hotel; FF wanted pints with the people apparently. So that's what the Civil War was about. Best toilet humour: The aforementioned Varadkar for his exasperated line that he's waiting for the moment he's sitting on the toilet and some commentator links it to the FG leadership race. Number 1 or Number 2 Leo? In the leadership contest that is. Down with the kids: Richard Boyd Barrett for dabbing in the Dail. Did RBB actually Google the origins of dabbing before he did it? If not, he should have. What's next, Pokemon Go in the chamber? Expand Close Mary Mitchell OConnor. Photo: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Mitchell OConnor. Photo: Collins Twit on twitter: Gerry Adams for his use of the 'N' word in a tweet. What was he thinking? Unless, of course it was some black ops by the perennial bogeyman in the 'security services'. 'Sorry for your trouble' award: Those Healy-Raes and their special bereavement pack, which includes a poem, a Mass card and practical info on funeral grants, pensions and other social welfare benefits. What better way to pass from their world into the next? BEST DRESSED : Junior minister Helen McEntee is effortlessly stylish. And, of the male TDs, Tom Neville, with a penchant for natty three-piece suits that has drawn comparison with Conor McGregor. Thankfully, the comparison ends there. LUCKIEST POLITICIAN: James Reilly, who despite not being a TD, was reappointed as deputy leader. Just remind us, Taoiseach, is this Fine Gael or Renua? The 'Nigel Farage of Irish politics': Paul Murphy. He'll hate the comparison but, just as Farage and UKIP, with one seat in the Commons, have managed to dictate the course of British politics, Murphy's 2014 by-election victory continues to set the tone here. It resulted in Sinn Fein moving to the left; which in turn also brought Fianna Fail leftwards on issues like water charges, which as a result influenced FG in government. It's the butterfly theory applied to Irish politics. Murphy's every waking moment must be filled with dread that a permanent solution will be found to the water charges issue, the gift that keeps on giving. The 'you really shouldn't have actually answered that' award: Regina Doherty, for giving a straight answer to a straight question on LMFM about Enda and the leadership. Sometimes even straight talkers need to fudge, Regina - just ask Leo. Where are they now?: The Social Democrats. They coulda been a contender but they opted not to get into the ring. Expand Close Danny Healy-Rae / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Danny Healy-Rae Former future leader: Frances Fitzgerald. A year ago, the Tanaiste was Kenny's choice and the dark horse to succeed him. She hasn't done much wrong in the intervening period but now, for whatever reason, it's a two-horse race. That's just politics. You plonker: The unnamed Independent TD who asked, in the government formation talks, if ways of travelling to Dublin Airport from the West, without using the motorway, could be explored. Try hopping across the raised bogs, but be sure to mind your heads on the wind turbines. Flat earth society award: Danny Healy-Rae, who disagrees with all the talk about climate change because only God controls the weather. Yes, indeed, Danny, and thunder and lightning happens when Holy God gets angry. Or is it when he is bowling? Incredible sulk: Alan 'AK47' Kelly for his fit of pique in failing to show up at Brendan Howlin's coronation. If he's not careful, he'll be in danger of falling into the category of 'forgotten, but not gone'. Stop. Step back. Take a deep breath and think. You are still far more likely to be killed in a car accident than by a terrorist in Munich today as you were yesterday. The same goes for Paris, Brussels or any European city. President Francois Hollande's claim last week that "this is undoubtedly a terrorist attack; the whole of France is under the threat of an Islamic terror attack", was not just dangerous, it was downright wrong. So was John McCain's comment after the San Bernardino shooting, that "this is the war of our time". We are not at war. This is a series of terror attacks carried out by disturbed and dangerous people for a multiplicity of reasons. "Motive unknown", is the phrase that was repeated by Munich police in the aftermath of the killings last Friday evening. 'Warum?' - which translates as 'why?' - is written on a sign close to where Friday evening's atrocities took place. Why, indeed? Refugees have nothing to do with it, nor does Western foreign policy. Whether we allow US aircraft to continue to use Shannon Airport matters not one jot to people like the Nice or Munich killers. And yet from both Right and Left, we will hear dangerous, knee-jerk reactions to recent atrocities in Europe; that we must close our borders to refugees fleeing the horrors of civil war; we must silence critics of Islam; we must strengthen our actions in Syria and Iraq; we must immediately pull out of Syria and Iraq; we must ally ourselves with US foreign policy; we must move away from the US on foreign policy. Do we really believe that any of the above measures would have prevented 18-year-old Ali Sonboly [the Munich killer] from murdering innocents? In truth, we shouldn't, but we have a desperate need to rationalise such attacks, to be able to say, if we do A, B or C, these random killings will cease. We see people like Anders Breivik [the Norwegian killer] or Lahouaiej Bouhlel [the Nice killer] committing atrocities against innocent people and wonder what we have done to deserve this? And whereas they have little if nothing in common with each other, our reaction to their crimes is becoming all too similar. We panic. Despite the odds of any of us being caught up in a terrorist attack being extremely low, the rhetoric and response of authority - and consequently our own understanding of the threat to ourselves - makes it feel as if we are all in imminent danger from forces we cannot control. But this isn't true. In January, Professor Laurence M Krauss wrote an article in the New Yorker called 'Thinking rationally about terrorism'. In it, he calmly "runs the numbers" as he asks "how much more dangerous has terrorism made our lives?", and concludes that the chance of most of us falling prey to terrorism is "microscopically small". So why do many of us feel we are constantly under attack? I think author Kenan Malik has a point when he suggests: "Terrorists often claim a political motive for their acts. Commentators often try to rationalise such acts, suggesting that they are the inevitable result of a sense of injustice created by Western foreign policy or by anti-Muslim attitudes in the West. "Yet most attacks have not been on political targets, but on cafes or trains or mosques. Such attacks are not about making a political point or achieving a political goal - as were, for instance, IRA bombings in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s - but are expression of nihilistic savagery, the aim of which is solely to create fear." In effect, every madman or random killer out there can now jump on the "fashionable" bandwagon of identity grievances and insist that they are killing in the name of Islam or against it. And so, if a disaffected, angry or mentally disordered person wants to feel as if he has a cause, a motive for his murderous rage; being for or against radical Islam is the theme of this century. The Nice murderer chose Islamism, the Munich killer was influenced by Breivik whose slaughter of innocents was, according to himself, a "wake-up call" to the "war with Islam". Even deranged people, hell-bent on destruction, want to believe that they belong to a greater cause. But that doesn't mean that they are, or that we should let our fear of them rule how we live our lives. So let's step back. Stay calm. What we all need now is not panicked or rash statements about being at war or under attack, but some rational perspective on the facts. @carolmhunt New politics? If this is new politics then give me old politics any day. In fact just give me politics. To paraphrase Seamus Heaney, the overriding feeling in Leinster House these days is 'whatever you do, do nothing'. It is now five months since the General Election. TDs are elected to do a number of jobs as public representatives, but our main job is as legislators. We are elected to pass laws and ensure good governance of the country through those laws. Since February this has not been happening. Readers may be astonished to learn that this year only four pieces of legislation have been passed and signed into law by our President, and all four were enacted prior to the General Election. To put this in context, the number of Acts passed last year totalled 66. Yet despite this legislative inertia, the Government has decided to shut down the Dail until the end of September. No one - including me - has any problem with a summer holiday shutdown, yet surely this should have been curtailed this year given the long period during which the country was without a government. Consideration should be given to the Dail resuming earlier in September this year to resolve the legislative log jam, especially as the budgetary process will take up the majority of our time on our return. Government legislation is being allocated very little time in the Dail and Seanad. In fact the opposition is far more active in this regard. Incredibly, the Chief Whip recently could not even provide a quorum of members in the Dail. The Oireachtas committee system is not functioning properly - no Joint Oireachtas Committees has even started operation. Even the hugely important Public Accounts Committee (which is operating and of which I am the vice chair) is treading carefully given the ongoing analysis elsewhere of its predecessor. On top of the inertia in the Dail we have also seen the sudden disappearance of the supposed new politics within the Government. For the first time in the history of the State, collective Cabinet responsibility has disappeared thanks to Minister Shane Ross's humiliation of the Taoiseach on the recent Abortion Bill vote. This is the same Mr Ross who has made a career out of deriding crony political appointments, but was happy to sit back at Cabinet and allow the appointment of the Taoiseach's adviser, Andrew McDowell, to a 250,000-a-year job at the European Investment Bank. In my time as a legislator in the Dail, Seanad and European Parliament I have never encountered such lack of initiative and action in terms of law-making. It is for the Government to lead in ordering the business of the Dail, yet it seems incapable of bringing forward proposals or showing initiatives in a whole range of policy areas. Take for example the area of higher education. There are a number of key issues that need to be urgently addressed, such as the development of technological universities, the absence of affordable student accommodation, and the critical funding crisis that is affecting universities and colleges across the country. We know the importance of higher education in Ireland, and we know the central role that it plays in attracting high-skilled well-paid jobs. So what is the new Government doing? Absolutely nothing. Education is just one example. Across ministries and government departments there is very little action, either legislative or administrative. Recent answers to Dail questions show that there is a backlog of EU directives awaiting transposition and implementation - directives that in many cases will make life better for individuals and businesses in Ireland. From talking to senior civil servants in recent weeks it appears that paralysis has set in across the board and no new policy initiatives are being taken. Even the much vaunted housing policy unveiled by Minster Simon Coveney last week is nothing more than a reconfiguration and repackaging of the plans of the previous government. Old dressed-up as new, with a fancy video to kick off Mr Coveney's leadership challenge. Michael Noonan holds the keys to solving the housing issue far more than Simon Coveney. He has the levers to deal with construction costs, affordability measures and first-time buyers, but he won't come onto the pitch until it's with his ball and it's his time to play. Something I'm very familiar with. Why the inertia? Why the fear - bordering on terror - to legislate? Why does the Government appear to want to avoid any engagement with substantive decision-making? Why do they seem like slaves to the new political system? The answer is, of course, the Dail arithmetic. The answer is, of course, Fianna Fail. The Taoiseach and his ministers are now nothing more than puppets with the strings being pulled by Micheal Martin. Government ministers are now so afraid of doing anything that would offend Fianna Fail that they would rather do nothing. What we have now is a minority government propped up by disparate Independents with the stabilisers provided by Micheal Martin and Fianna Fail. It is paralysed by fear and uncertainty, and more recently by questions over the future of the Taoiseach. The people were promised new politics, but instead they have been given a government stuck in neutral and unable to move forward on any area. This Government is actually slave to the supposed new politics. It's not working. Politics is failing. The Irish people deserve better than this. Alan Kelly is a Labour TD representing Tipperary Afghans gather property left behind by victims of an explosion that struck a protest march Afghanistan has marked a national day of mourning after at least 80 people were killed by a suicide bomber attack on a peaceful demonstration. Funerals were due to begin in western Kabul as families collected their dead from hospitals and morgues across the capital, and graves were dug in preparation. Authorities said another 231 people were wounded, some seriously, in Saturday's attack on a march by members of the ethnic Hazara community, who are predominantly Shiite Muslim. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group. Prior to the attack, thousands of Hazaras had marched through Kabul to demand the re-routing of a power line through their impoverished province of Bamiyan, in the central highlands. The office of President Ashraf Ghani said that march organisers had been warned to call off the demonstration after intelligence was received that an attack was likely. But Daud Naji, a member of the Enlighten Movement which organised the marches, said on Sunday that they had been told only that there was a "heightened risk" of attack and had subsequently cancelled nine of 10 planned routes. Hazaras account for about 15% of Afghanistan's population, estimated at around 30 million, and often complain of discrimination. The attack has raised concerns about sectarianism, and the Interior Ministry announced a ban on public gatherings and demonstrations in a potential bid to avoid any inter-communal strife. However Hazara demonstrators have continued to occupy Demazang Square, where the attack took place as the march was winding down and some were preparing to set up a camp, Mr Naji said, until three conditions had been met. He said the Enlighten Movement wished to have its own representatives, as well as others from international human rights organisations, involved in a commission Mr Ghani has established to investigate the incident. The movement also wanted the pipeline re-routed through Bamiyan, as originally demanded. And they wanted the name of Demazang Square changed to Shahada or Martyrs' Square, "to honour the memories of those who were killed, along with a picture of everyone who died there". Mr Ghani has issued a decree to change the name of the square as the Hazaras have asked The death toll was still not yet finalised on Sunday, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said on Saturday that 80 people were killed; Mr Naji said the Enlighten Movement puts the toll so far at 84. Officials said there were two suicide bombers wearing explosive-packed clothing. One detonated himself, the other was shot by police before he was able to blow himself up, they said. AP Some see it as a sign that the proverbial glass ceiling hampering the progress of women to the top is being smashed to smithereens. Anyone who observes global politics cannot help noticing that, increasingly, it is women who are being put in charge. It may not have happened in Ireland, south of the border at least, but internationally it has become a phenomenon. Trump may have had the limelight this week with the razzmatazz of the Republican Convention, but Hillary Clinton remains the firm favourite to become President of the United States in November. Theresa May became the UK's second woman prime minister and as she tries to work out what to do about Brexit, she will be dealing with Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, and Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland. Presiding over the future direction of the European Union is the elder stateswoman of international power politics, Angela Merkel. And it is not just affluent Western nations that are appointing women as heads of state. Chile, Liberia, South Korea and Taiwan are among the growing number of countries that now have female presidents. So is this just coincidence, or has it happened by design? And why isn't Ireland becoming part of what has been described by a British tabloid as "the dawn of a female world order"? "There is some interesting research showing that when countries or political parties are in crisis, women tend to the come to the fore," says Dr Claire McGing, an authority on gender politics at Maynooth University. Having been stereotyped as flighty and over-emotional in the past, women are now being credited with having cool heads in a crisis. The London Independent columnist Janet Street-Porter summed up the feelings of many: "These are turbulent times. Who would you want to drive you through a blizzard - Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?" There is a strong gender narrative to the story of Britain in the Brexit era, and according to one popular view, we can blame the chaps for blundering their way into the crisis. According to Julia Baird in the New York Times, it was all down to the "boys' club" who led Britain so clumsily to the Brexit door. Britain's former business minister, Anna Soubry, also placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of men: "We've had enough of these boys messing about." There was a similar atmosphere in Iceland when the country suffered a financial crash and Johanna Sigurdardottir took over as the country's first female prime minister in 2009. After the recent Brexit vote, Sigurdardottir quoted a poem that perpetuated the idea of women coming in to clean up the mess: "A woman always arrives to clear the table sweep the floor and open the windows to let out the cigar smoke It never fails." So, women who achieve power are now portrayed as cleaners, where once they were Iron Ladies in the Thatcher mould. How feminist is that? There may have been a surge of women entering high office, but Claire McGing believes there is no room for complacency. "Men still have a dominant position in political parties in Britain. There is an element of chance to what has happened recently, rather that signs of real equality." Whatever about Western Europe and the United States, Ireland shows little sign of electing a woman to the most powerful position in the State. "The closest is probably Frances Fitzgerald, but she is probably third in line in the Fine Gael party," says Dr McGing. "We are still a long way from having a woman as leader of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael." Mammootty's Rorschach hits all the right notes, except in the end | Movie Review Hillary Clinton has now come to be seen as part of the establishment Hillary Clinton was supposed to be something more than the less-bad option. The person who is now on the cusp of becoming the first female American president has a long and a stellar CV, including stretches as a senator representing New York and as Secretary of State. For many Irish people, a vote for Clinton would seem like a no-brainer. The political centre of gravity in Ireland is much farther to the left than in the US. There is also some residual good feeling towards her family because of President Bill Clinton's role in the Northern Ireland peace process. And then there is the obvious fact that Donald Trump's candidacy is regarded in Ireland, as in much of the wider world, with a combination of bemusement and horror. In the US, however, it's a closer call. Clinton's lead in the polls over the New York billionaire is meaningful but not overwhelming. Real Clear Politics, a website considered authoritative on polling data, pegged Clinton's national lead at less than 3 percentage points in the middle of this week. The fact that Clinton has such a slim advantage over a candidate as unconventional as Trump is enough to have more moderate, anti-Trump Republicans figuratively slapping their foreheads. Expand Close Hillary Clinton has now come to be seen as part of the establishment / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hillary Clinton has now come to be seen as part of the establishment Clinton, they believe, is an uncommonly weak candidate who could be easily vanquished by a more orthodox opponent with broader appeal than this year's Republican nominee. That's not just propaganda. The facts are stark. Clinton is the least popular presidential nominee in modern times - with the sole exception of the man she is running against. An analysis published in May by FiveThirtyEight, a statistical analysis website, noted how strongly both candidates are disliked. When voters are asked whether they have a favourable or unfavourable impression of them, Clinton and Trump hit lows unequalled in at least the past 10 election cycles. Almost 40pc of voters expressed "strongly unfavourable" impressions of Clinton this spring. When President Obama first ran for the White House in 2008, his equivalent number was more than 10 points better. At the parallel point in the 2000 election, the number for Democrat Al Gore - who ultimately lost to George W Bush - was roughly 20 points better than Clinton's is now. The former Secretary of State's problems have deepened even in the two months since that analysis was undertaken. The Washington Post earlier this week noted that "it's hard to overstate just how bad Clinton's numbers are." Among registered voters in a Washington Post-ABC News poll, 57pc had an unfavourable view of her and 47pc a "strongly unfavourable view." That is "the kind of unchartered territory that should give the Clinton campaign heartburn", the Post story noted. Problems on such a scale rarely have one cause. Clinton's weaknesses are manifold, even if they are rarely acknowledged in the positive Irish media coverage she enjoys. One overarching issue is her sheer longevity on the political scene. The US public is dissatisfied with the nation's direction and hungry for change. A candidate like Clinton, who has been at the centre of the public stage for a quarter of a century, does not fit the bill very well. But that is not the beginning and end of the story about why so many Americans fail to warm to her. Some have deep-seated doubts about her honesty. Others see her as inauthentic. And Clinton still grapples with the basics of campaigning: her public speaking abilities, by the standards of presidential politics, are average at best. Clinton herself has gone halfway to acknowledging this. At a Democratic debate back in March, she told the audience: "I am not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed, like my husband or President Obama." But remarks like that underplay the depth of the electorate's negative feelings. One of the most persistent problems she has is also the starkest: The American public thinks - by an overwhelming margin - that she is a liar. A CBS News/New York Times poll a little more than a week ago asked voters whether they considered Clinton honest and trustworthy. Only 28pc answered in the affirmative and 67pc replied "No." It's possible to win an election when two-thirds of the electorate think you're dishonest. But it certainly makes it a tough drag. Clinton has sometimes ascribed low poll numbers to the attacks she has undergone from ideological opponents and hostile elements of the American media - the "vast right-wing conspiracy", as she termed it during her husband's presidency. There is both truth and self-delusion in that belief. It's certainly the case that Clinton has been subject to vituperation from conservatives throughout her time in public life. But the same is true of her husband and, more recently, President Obama - yet they continue to be seen in a more positive light by the general population. Clinton has had some head-scratching moments when it comes to her relationship with the truth. One of the most memorable came on St Patrick's Day, back during the 2008 primary campaign. Speaking at George Washington University, Clinton recalled a visit she and her daughter Chelsea had made to Bosnia in 1996. "I remember landing under sniper fire," Clinton said. "There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." This compelling tale of daring was complete fiction in all its important particulars. While the trip did take place, news footage shows Clinton walking calmly from her plane. A Washington Post fact-check noted that Clinton's account was "simply not credible" and described how "Clinton and her party were greeted on the tarmac by smiling US and Bosnian officials. An eight-year-old Muslim girl, Emina Bicakcic, read a poem in English. An Associated Press photograph of the greeting ceremony shows a smiling Clinton bending down to receive a kiss". Exactly what Clinton was thinking when she confected the story - and why she did not realise she would be caught out in the lie - perplexed even her own supporters. The same tendency asserted itself during the much more recent controversy over her use of a private email and server while Secretary of State. The backstory in this instance is complicated. At its core, the dispute was about whether Clinton set up the unusual arrangement for convenience, as she claims, or for purposes of concealment, as her critics allege. The row rumbled on for more than a year but Clinton leaned on a number of claims to push back on accusations that she had endangered national security. Prime among these was the assertion that she had never sent or received any emails containing information that was classified at the time. This was untrue, according to the FBI. The bureau's director, James Comey, announced earlier this month that his agents had found 110 such emails. Clinton said she had "provided all my work-related emails", as requested. Not so, said Comey, citing "several thousand" more emails. Clinton's polling numbers on honesty, so bad for so long, dipped once again after the FBI report. Clinton supporters emphasise that the FBI, though critical, shied away from pressing criminal charges against her. They also argue that condemnations of Clinton for everything from dishonesty to her purportedly harsh speaking style are most often made by people who are politically hostile, or sexist, or both. But others who are sceptical of her - many of them on the left - cite not just the occasional whopper that Clinton has been caught in, but a more general sense of slipperiness. They see her as someone who bends with the prevailing political winds and engages in legalistic evasions and sleight of hand. Those traits have shown up during both of her presidential runs. On occasions, exactly where Clinton stands can be almost impossible to discern. Sometimes, the issue is somewhat marginal - as happened during a 2007 debate when she gave an infamously jesuitical answer to the question of whether she thought illegal immigrants should be eligible for driving licences. This year, a similar moment occurred in a debate with her main rival, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. This time, the subject was whether to raise the national minimum wage to $15 per hour. "I have supported the Fight for $15," Clinton said. Sanders shot back: "I'm sure a lot of people are very surprised to learn that you supported raising the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour." He said she had supported only a $12 wage. To most people, this would seem a clear-cut question. Either you support a $15 national minimum wage or you don't - and Clinton had just said she did. Except she hadn't exactly said that, if you parsed her words forensically. Sanders was right: At the time, Clinton only supported a minimum wage of $12 per hour. But she had backed $15 in certain cities where the cost of living is higher. Those cities were also where a union-led "fight for $15" had been most fiercely pursued. Clinton could thus claim to support "the Fight for $15" in front of a Democratic debate audience while not actually committing herself to supporting a $15 national minimum wage. Witness enough such moments and it becomes a lot easier to see why even many American liberals distrust Clinton. The struggle with Sanders was telling in other ways, too. Most simply, the closeness of the result shone a light on Clinton's inherent weaknesses as a candidate. Sanders, a 74-year-old self-described democratic socialist who had spent his career as a fringe figure in US politics, was not that widely known outside his small home state. His candidacy was met with a roll of the eyes by the Washington cognoscenti when it was launched in the spring of last year. Yet from there, Sanders racked up more than 13 million votes, beat Clinton in 23 contests and elicited so many small-dollar donations that he all but wiped out Clinton's money advantage. If a couple of early contests had gone the other way - Sanders lost out in Iowa, the first state to vote, by less than half of one percent - there was a real possibility that Clinton could have lost a Democratic nomination fight for a second time. Sanders did not even have the strengths that Obama showed in 2008. Unlike Obama, Sanders is not especially charismatic, his oratory tends to hector rather than soar, and his election would have broken no historical barrier in the way Obama's did. But Clinton's Achilles' heel against Sanders could yet prove to be a weakness in the general election against Trump: Whatever reformist zeal she once had, she has come to be seen by many Americans as part of the political establishment. Read more: The giant sitting on Hillary's shoulder Her 2002 vote to allow President George W Bush to use force in Iraq dogged her with Democrats during the 2008 campaign. But that vote was consistent with other hawkish positions. Even in recent years, she has been a proponent of more vigorous action in Libya and Syria than was Obama. Her relations with Wall Street are sufficiently cosy for her to have been paid lavish sums for speeches to Goldman Sachs soon after she left the State Department. During a fierce battle in advance of the New York Democratic primary this spring, Sanders reminded his audiences that Clinton had received as much as $225,000 per speech, but would not release transcripts of her remarks. "Now, if you give a speech for $225,000, it must be a pretty damn good speech; must be a brilliant and insightful speech analysing all of the world's problems; must be a speech written in Shakespearean prose. And that is why I believe Secretary Clinton should share that speech with all of us," Sanders sarcastically told one Brooklyn rally. Clinton defenders talk of her toughness, her persistence and her experience. All those things are real attributes that she has in spades. And many people on the left of the American political spectrum will vote for her in November, even if their love for her is decidedly tepid. For them, the idea of a Trump presidency is unbearable. But Clinton may need to ignite broader enthusiasm for her candidacy. And that could be a problem. "It says a lot about our relationship with Hillary Clinton that she seems well on her way to becoming Madam President because she's not getting indicted," liberal New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote earlier this month in the wake of the FBI report. Yes, the likelihood of Clinton becoming the first female president is very strong. But someone minded to make a speculative bet might consider a flutter on her tenure being limited to one term. Most presidents enter office with a big store of public goodwill upon which they can draw in their early days. For Hillary Clinton, that reservoir ran dry long ago. Niall Stanage is Associate Editor of the Washington political newspaper The Hill Team effort: Bill's role is to bring some of the warmth and panache that Hillary lacks Bill Clinton will have to carve out a new role if he enters the White House as the spouse of President Hillary. Already, there has been speculation about what he will be called if she wins the election in November. The most likely official title is "First Gentleman", which is already used for State governors. But, somehow, that seems unlikely to stick to Bill. On the campaign trail, the Clintons have joked that the title could be "First Dude" or "First Mate". Since he left the White House, President Clinton has had his health problems. The man who used to devour burgers, fries and barbecued ribs has lost weight since he had quadruple-bypass surgery, and is now a vegan. The 69-year-old cuts a frailer figure with his thin frame and flossy white hair. An article in New York magazine estimated that he has earned a staggering $132m in speaking fees alone since he left the White House, and he remains a popular figure. On the campaign trail, Bill's role is to bring some of the warmth and panache that his wife sometimes lacks - without overshadowing her own performances. He gives few interviews, so as not to attract too much attention, and many of his appearances are at private fundraisers. In his speeches, Bill tries to win over the white working-class, who have been veering towards Donald Trump rather than Hillary. She tends to have greater support among black voters, Hispanics, women, and those from wealthy and well-educated backgrounds. Clinton is heavily involved behind the scenes in the campaign. Although they often campaign separately, the Clintons are in constant phone contact. He is said to keep a close eye on electoral strategy and polling data - regularly checking drafts of her speeches. Sometimes, he tries out particular lines and themes at his own events before they are incorporated into his wife's campaign. Close observers of the Clintons believe he will continue to be a significant political advisor if Hillary wins the presidency. But this role may not be a public one. Unlike previous First Spouses, Bill will certainly not be devoting time to picking out china, approving dinner menus and supervising floral arrangements. Like previous First Spouses, he may pick up on some big themes without getting publicly involved in day-to-day politics. Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Lyndon Johnson, championed environmental causes; Barbara Bush pushed literacy programmes; Hillary herself campaigned on healthcare; and Michelle Obama campaigns against childhood obesity. While Bill remains popular, Donald Trump still sees him as a weak spot in the Clinton campaign. The billionaire has already used Bill as a useful target to deflect any criticisms of his own treatment of women. "She's married to a man who was the worst abuser of women in the history of politics," Trump has said of his opponent. "Hillary was an enabler and she treated these women horribly. Just remember this. Some of these women were destroyed, not by him, but by the way that Hillary Clinton treated them after everything went down." When colourful First Lady Betty Ford entered the White House in 1974, she was told she was "constitutionally required to be perfect". Given his past record, that will hardly be expected of Bill. The public seems to have warmed to the idea of First Gentleman Bill, and "Bill Clinton for First Lady" badges and sweatshirts have appeared on sale. The media mogul Tina Brown has no doubt that Bill will be an asset. "No president has had a more charismatic spouse than Bill in their armoury of surrogates," Brown has said in an interview. "The Big Dog will be envoyed into trouble spots as her advance charm offensive." Malik Obama, the older half brother of US President Barack Obama, said he's voting for Donald Trump Barack Obamas half brother said hes voting for Donald Trump because he wants to "make America great again. I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart, Malik Obama told The New York Post from his home in the rural village of Kogelo in Kenya. Expand Close Donald Trump said France had been compromised by terrorism and may need to be subjected to extreme vetting (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump said France had been compromised by terrorism and may need to be subjected to extreme vetting (AP) Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. Malik Obama (58) is one of Barack Obamas seven half brothers and sisters. Malik is a long-time Democrat and said he has deep-disappointment in his brother Baracks administration and that turned him to support the party of Lincoln. He said he was annoyed that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was not prosecuted over her use of private e-mail servers while secretary of state. She should have known better as the custodian of classified information, he said. In his 2002 biography dedicated to his and Baracks father he said Khadafy made the world a better place and condemned his killing. I still feel that getting rid of Khadafy didnt make things any better in Libya. My brother and the secretary of state disappointed me in that regard, he said. Malik said his switch to the Republican side was prompted by the fact that they dont stand for same-sex marriage. I feel like a Republican now because they dont stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me, he said. Malik made headlines in 2011 when he married his third wife, who was still in her teens. Malik plans to trek back to the US to vote for Trump in November. He used to live in Maryland, where he worked for many years as an accountant and is registered to vote there, public records show. Mr. Trump is providing something new and something fresh, he said. Iraqi security forces and civilians gather at the scene of a bomb in Kadhimiyah district in Baghdad (AP) At least 14 people have died after a suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint in northern Baghdad on Sunday, Iraqi officials said. The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device at one of the busy entrances of the Shiite district of Kadhimiyah, killing at least 10 civilians and four policemen, a police officer said. At least 31 other people were wounded, he added. Three more civilians were killed and 11 wounded in a bomb explosion in an outdoor market in Baghdad's western suburb of Abu Ghraib, another police officer said. In an online statement, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Kadhimiyah attack, saying it targeted a gathering of security forces and Shiite militia members. Security forces and public areas, mainly in Shiite neighbourhoods, are one of the most frequent targets for the extremist group, which controls key areas in mainly northern and western Iraq. Since late last year, the group has suffered a string of territorial losses, most recently last month in Fallujah, where it was driven out by Iraqi forces after occupying the city for more than two years. The extremists have continued to carry out near-daily bombings in and around Baghdad as well as complex attacks in other countries. Finance officials of major economies have pledged to boost sluggish global growth and promised to defend against the shockwaves of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. In a joint statement after a two-day meeting, envoys of the Group of 20 also rejected trade protectionism, an issue that has risen in prominence as US Republication presidential candidate Donald Trump has talked about restricting access to American markets. The United States, China, Britain, Germany and other governments at the meeting in Chengdu in western China pledged to use spending, monetary policy and regulatory reforms to strengthen growth. They promised to strengthen communication and cooperation but announced no joint action, as some financial traders had hoped. "We are taking action to boost confidence and promote growth," said the statement. It promised to use "any and all policy instruments" to achieve "strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth objectives". US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said ahead of the meeting that it was not the right time for coordinated action similar to that in 2008-09 following the global crisis because economies face different conditions. The gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors took place against a backdrop of a weak global recovery, tension over Chinese exports of low-priced steel and Britain's EU vote, which jolted global markets. Sunday's statement called for a "close partnership" between Britain and its European neighbours in the event British leaders go through with plans to leave the trade bloc. On Friday, the director-general of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde called for quick action to end uncertainty about the British-EU split. She said that turmoil prompted the IMF to cut its forecast of this year's global growth by 0.1 percentage points. The referendum "increased global economic uncertainty," said Sunday's statement. "G20 members are ready to actively respond to the potential economic and financial impact brought by the British referendum," it said. "In the future, we hope to see Britain as a close partner of the EU". The envoys also pledged to avoid devaluing currencies to boost exports. "We will oppose all forms of protectionism," the statement said. Mr Trump, who was named the Republican Party's nominee for president on Friday, setting up a race with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, has stirred alarm about trade by calling for measures to protect American industry, though he has given no details. Sunday's G20 statement also cited the importance of reducing excess production capacity in steel and other industries that has led to a glut of supply and depressed prices. That is a source of tension between China and trading partners that accuse Beijing of exporting steel at improperly low prices, hurting competitors and threatening a loss of jobs. Beijing has announced plans to shrink its coal and steel industries, eliminating millions of jobs. The United States has imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel and European officials have launched trade probes. AP A Pirelli calendar girl who won 89 million from her former husband is likely to have the settlement delayed after he died. Model Christina Estrada (54) was awarded the huge sum earlier this month at the High Court after the case was brought forward due to the declining health of her ex-husband, Saudi businessman Sheikh Walid Juffali (61). Dr Juffali, who was suffering from terminal cancer, did not attend the hearing. He died in Zurich, where he was receiving treatment, on Wednesday. If Dr Juffali had died before proceedings had been concluded, Ms Estradas three-year battle to claim the cash would have failed. However, the settlement is now legally binding. High Court Family Division judge Mrs Justice Roberts had ordered the sum to be paid by 4pm on July 29 but this is likely be delayed while Dr Juffalis affairs are put in order. American-born Ms Estrada was said to be devastated at news of her former husbands death. She and Dr Juffali, who was chairman of Saudi Arabia's EA Juffali and Brothers, met in 2000 and married soon afterwards. Dr Juffali then decided to take another wife, a 25-year-old Lebanese model, and divorced Ms Estrada under Islamic law without her knowledge. Ms Estrada, who had a daughter with her former partner, had initially asked for 196 million. She claimed that her reasonable needs included a 65 million home in London and a 5.2 million country mansion in Henley, as well as more than 1.1 million a year for clothes and 418,000 a year for staff. She rejected an offer which would have given her 44 million, coupled with her own assets, and eventually received a 53 million cash settlement. Her lawyers said that when assets she had already been given were included, the payout amounted to 89 million, adding it was "by more than 59 million the largest needs award ever made by an English court". In court, Ms Estrada told Mrs Justice Roberts: I was a top international model. I have lived this life. This is what I am accustomed to. Armed policemen arrive at a shopping centre in which a shooting was reported in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016. Situation after a shooting in the Olympia shopping centre in Munich is unclear. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP) Police cars and fire trucks stand near a shopping centre in which a shooting was reported in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016. Situation after a shooting in the Olympia shopping centre in Munich is unclear. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP) A screen grab taken from video footage shows plain clothes police officers running towards car park of the Olympia shopping mall during shooting rampage in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. dedinac/Marc Mueller/ handout via REUTERS NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. A screen grab taken from video footage shows plain clothes police officers at the scene of a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. dedinac/Marc Mueller/ handout via REUTERS NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. A screen grab taken from video footage shows a woman leaving the Olympia shopping mall during a shooting rampage in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. dedinac/Marc Mueller/ handout via REUTERS NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. Police secure a street near to the scene of a shooting in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Dalder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY A screen grab taken from video footage shows plain clothes police officers attending the scene of a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. dedinac/Marc Mueller/ handout via REUTERS NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. Policemen arrive at a shopping centre in which a shooting was reported in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016. Situation after a shooting in the Olympia shopping centre in Munich is unclear. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP) Emergency services respond to a shooting at a shopping center in Munich, Germany, Friday July 22, 2016. Munich police confirm shots have been fired at Olympia Einkaufszentrum shopping center but say they don't have any details about casualties. Police are responding in large numbers. (Associated Press Television via AP) Heavily armed police forces walk through the underground station Karlsplatz (Stachus) after a shooting in the Olympia shopping centre was reported in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016. (Andreas Gebert/dpa via AP) Policemen arrive at a shopping centre in which a shooting was reported in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016. Situation after a shooting in the Olympia shopping centre in Munich is unclear. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP) People leave the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after several people have been killed in a shooting. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann) A police officer walks outside the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after shots were fired. Police said that at least six people have been killed. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann) Police escort people who leave the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after shots were fired. Police said that at least six people have been killed. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann) Police escort people who leave the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after shots were fired. Police said that at least six people have been killed. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann) A screen grab taken from video footage shows people being evacuated onto a bus following a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany July 22, 2016. REUTERS/Reuters TV Special police forces prepare to search a neighbouring shopping centre outside the Olympia mall in Munich, southern Germany, Friday, July 22, 2016 after several people have been killed in a shooting. (AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann) A special force police officer stand guard near the Olympia shopping mall, following a shooting rampage at the mall in Munich, Germany. Photo: Reuters A car with a broken window is being towed in front of the Olympia mall where a shooting took place in Munich, southern Germany. Photo: AP Masked police stand at a bus stop in front of the Olympia mall where a shooting took place in Munich, southern Germany. Photo: AP Masked police stand at a bus stop in front of the Olympia mall where a shooting took place in Munich. Photo: AP A screen grab taken from video footage shows police officers near the Olympia shopping mall following a shooting rampage in Munich. Photo: Reuters Special forces police officers stand guard at an entrance of the main train station, following a shooting rampage at the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany. Photo: Reuters A woman mourns in front of flowers near the Olympia shopping center where a shooting took place leaving nine people dead the day before in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) A teenager who killed nine people and left 27 others wounded in a shooting rampage in Munich was a withdrawn loner who had been planning the attack for up to a year, German authorities said. Officials said the 18-year-old German-Iranian, identified only as David S due to German privacy laws but named in some media reports as Ali Sonboly, had been a victim of bullying who suffered from panic attacks set off by contact with other people. Expand Close Ali David Sonboly, inset scenes from Friday evening / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ali David Sonboly, inset scenes from Friday evening The teenager had been seeing a doctor for treatment over a number of psychiatric problems which began in 2015 with inpatient hospital care, followed up with outpatient visits. Officers said medication for his problems had been found his room. Toxicological and autopsy results are still not available, so it is not yet clear whether he was taking the medicine when he embarked on his shooting spree on Friday. Investigators said the gunman had been bullied by schoolmates at least once four years ago, and had been fascinated by previous mass shootings. None of the bullies were among his victims, however, and none of those killed were known to him. The attack took place on the fifth anniversary of the killing of 77 people by Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, whose victims included dozens of young people. Read More Investigators said the Munich shooter had researched that slaughter online and had visited the site of a previous school shooting in the German town of Winnenden last year. Robert Heimberger, Bavaria's top official, said: "He had been planning this crime since last summer", citing a "manifesto" linked to the shooting found in the gunman's locked room in the apartment he shared with his parents and brother. Mr Heimberger said he could not reveal details of the document yet because there are "many more terabytes" of information to evaluate, but described the gunman as a "devoted player" of group internet "killer games", pitting virtual shooters against each other. Weapons are strictly controlled in Germany and police are still trying to determine exactly how the shooter obtained the Glock 17 used in the attack. Mr Heimberger said it is "very likely" the suspect purchased the weapon illegally online on the "darknet," a restricted access computer network often used by criminals. He said the weapon had been rendered unusable and sold as a prop before being restored to its original function. The gunman's father saw a video of the start of his son's rampage on social media and spoke to police as it was taking place, Mr Heimberger said, adding that the family was not yet emotionally up to questioning by police. Witnesses claimed the gunman shouted slurs against foreigners, even though he himself was the German-born son of Iranian asylum-seekers Mr Heimberger said the McDonald's restaurant where most of the victims died was a hangout for youths of immigrant backgrounds, and the dead included victims of Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, and Kosovo Albanian backgrounds, as well as a stateless person. The restaurant remained cordoned off on Sunday as nearby residents and relatives of the victims gathered for a second day to pay their respects. In the aftermath of the attack, Bavaria's top security official urged the government to allow the country's military to be deployed in support of police during attacks. Because of the Nazi era, Germany's post-war constitution only allows the military, known as the Bundeswehr, to be deployed domestically in cases of national emergency. However, state interior minister Joachim Herrmann told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the regulations are now obsolete, declaring that Germans have a "right to safety". "It would be completely incomprehensible ... if we had a terrorist situation like Brussels in Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich and we were not permitted to call in the well-trained forces of the Bundeswehr," he said. Federal interior minister Thomas de Maiziere backed the idea, saying it would make sense to call on the military in emergency situations. He suggested that this might be possible without constitutional changes, saying the nation's highest court has previously ruled "the Bundeswehr can support the police with its forces in particularly dangerous situations". Munich deployed 2,300 police officers to lock down the city on Friday night, calling in elite Swat teams from around the country and neighbouring Austria. It was the second attack targeting victims at random in less than a week in Bavaria. On Monday, a 17-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker wounded five people in an axe-and-knife rampage near Wuerzburg. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for that attack. In a new tactic against suspected coup plotters, Turkey announced yesterday that it had seized more than 2,250 social, educational or healthcare institutions and facilities that, it claims, pose a threat to national security. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticised Western countries that expressed concern about possible human rights violations in the sweeping purges the government has carried out after the July 15 failed military coup that left at least 10,000 people in jail and another 60,000 tossed out of their jobs. Erdogan said Turkey has no choice but to impose stringent security measures in the wake of the attempted coup that killed about 290 people and was put down by loyalist forces and protesters. "We are duty-bound to take these measures," Erdogan said. "I'm under the impression that they will only see that once all the political leaders of Turkey are killed, and then they'll start to dance for joy." Turkey has imposed a three-month state of emergency and detained or dismissed tens of thousands of people in the military, judiciary and education systems, and other institutions. Turkish leaders allege that supporters of a US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, infiltrated state agencies and groomed loyalists in a vast network of private schools as part of an elaborate, long-term plan to take over the country. Gulen, a critic and former ally of Erdogan, has denied any knowledge of the coup. EU governments expressed concern that Turkey's large-scale purges could jeopardise basic freedoms. Many wonder whether the purges are targeting opponents of Erdogan who had nothing to do with the coup, in order to strengthen his power. The Turkish treasury and a state agency that regulates foundations have taken over more than 1,200 foundations and associations, about 1,000 private educational institutions and student dormitories, 35 healthcare institutions, 19 labour groups and 15 universities. Those institutions "belong to, have ties with or are in communication with" the Gulen movement, according a decree published yesterday in Turkey's official gazette. People lay tributes near to the Olympia shopping centre where a shooting took place A teenage friend of the gunman who killed nine people in Munich has been arrested by German police. It has been reported that the 16-year-old might have known of the deadly plans by an 18-year-old German-Iranian, identified only as David S due to German privacy laws but named in some media reports as Ali Sonboly. The 16-year-old boy reportedly went to police himself after the deadly rampage. The teenage gunman who killed nine people and left 27 others was a withdrawn loner who had been planning the attack for up to a year, German authorities said. Officials said he had been a victim of bullying who suffered from panic attacks set off by contact with other people. The teenager had been seeing a doctor for treatment over a number of psychiatric problems which began in 2015 with inpatient hospital care, followed up with outpatient visits. Officers said medication for his problems had been found his room. Toxicological and autopsy results are still not available, so it is not yet clear whether he was taking the medicine when he embarked on his shooting spree on Friday. Investigators said the gunman had been bullied by schoolmates at least once four years ago, and had been fascinated by previous mass shootings. None of the bullies were among his victims, however, and none of those killed were known to him. The attack took place on the fifth anniversary of the killing of 77 people by Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, whose victims included dozens of young people. Investigators said the Munich gunman had researched that slaughter online and had visited the site of a previous school shooting in the German town of Winnenden last year. Robert Heimberger, Bavaria's top official, said: "He had been planning this crime since last summer", citing a "manifesto" linked to the shooting found in the gunman's locked room in the apartment he shared with his parents and brother. Mr Heimberger said he could not reveal details of the document yet because there are "many more terabytes" of information to evaluate, but described the gunman as a "devoted player" of group internet "killer games", pitting virtual shooters against each other. Weapons are strictly controlled in Germany and police are still trying to determine exactly how the teenager obtained the Glock 17 used in the attack. Mr Heimberger said it is "very likely" the suspect purchased the weapon illegally online on the "dark net," a restricted access computer network often used by criminals. He said the weapon had been rendered unusable and sold as a prop before being restored to its original function. The gunman's father saw a video of the start of his son's rampage on social media and spoke to police as it was taking place, Mr Heimberger said, adding that the family was not yet emotionally up to questioning by police. Witnesses claimed the gunman shouted slurs against foreigners, even though he himself was the German-born son of Iranian asylum-seekers Mr Heimberger said the McDonald's restaurant where most of the victims died was a hangout for youths of immigrant backgrounds, and the dead included victims of Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, and Kosovo Albanian backgrounds, as well as a stateless person. The restaurant remained cordoned off on Sunday as nearby residents and relatives of the victims gathered for a second day to pay their respects. In the aftermath of the attack, Bavaria's top security official urged the government to allow the country's military to be deployed in support of police during attacks. Because of the Nazi era, Germany's post-war constitution only allows the military, known as the Bundeswehr, to be deployed domestically in cases of national emergency. However, state interior minister Joachim Herrmann told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the regulations are now obsolete, declaring that Germans have a "right to safety". "It would be completely incomprehensible ... if we had a terrorist situation like Brussels in Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich and we were not permitted to call in the well-trained forces of the Bundeswehr," he said. Presumptive Democratic US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has picked an Irish-American senator as her running mate ahead of November's election. Senator Tim Kaine (58) is a former mayor and was once the governor of Virginia. He has Irish roots that have been traced back to Longford and Kilkenny more than 150 years ago. All of his grandparents were born to Irish immigrants in the US. Commentators consider Mr Kaine to be a safe pair of hands. The fact that he is fluent in Spanish is seen as a way Mrs Clinton can tap in to the Hispanic-American vote block. A strict Catholic upbringing means Mr Kaine opposes abortion, but he insists that he supports abortion rights. He is also a supporter of free trade agreements. This weekend, he spoke of his delight at being selected as a possible vice-president by Mrs Clinton. "Just got off the phone with Hillary. I'm honoured to be her running mate," he said yesterday. "Can't wait to hit the trail." Earlier this year, Mr Kaine was honoured with a leadership award by the American Irish Fund. He used it as an opportunity to speak about his heritage. "I am about as stone Irish as you can get for somebody whose family has been in the country for about 150 years. "All four of my grandparents were born to Irish immigrants, three to families where both the mom and dad were from Ireland and one where the mom was Irish and the dad was Scottish born but moved to Northern Ireland before emigrating to the US. "I am pure black-Irish. There is not a red-headed Norseman anywhere in our family but that makes this very special. "Until I was 48 years old, Ireland played a huge and important part in my life, sort of in the dreams of my life, but I had never been to Ireland. So it was photos, and it was genealogy, and it was family stories, and Roman Catholicism, music and St Patrick's Day - that is what being Irish meant to me, but I felt the deep connection to it." Mr Kaine became governor of Virginia in 2006 and later that year travelled to Ireland with his wife Anne, three children, Nat, Woody and Annella. After spending some time in Dublin, they travelled to Killashee, a blink-and-you'd-miss-it village 9km outside Longford town. "There's a bad bend there so you wouldn't blink going through it anyway," warned local Fianna Fail councillor Seamus Butler. "I can't see Trump winning, so Hillary will win by default, I think." After wandering through fields, the Kaines eventually found the remains of the home where PJ Farrell, Mr Kaine's great grandfather, was born. "We went to Dublin and my children were having a blast, they were all teenagers, and when I said we have to spend a day traipsing around in the countryside instead of hanging around in Temple Bar and Grafton Street, they were extremely disappointed in their father," said Mr Kaine. "As we drove to Longford, which is not exactly a tourist zone, they continued to complain - but when we landed in Longford town my 11-year-old daughter said to me: 'Dad, why does everyone look like us?' They started to get it. "We parked the vehicle and traipsed half a mile across fields and we found two still-standing walls of what had been a house with windows and doors and a tinned roof stacked with hay. "I told my children, 'This is where we come from.' "Even with unruly and obnoxious teenagers, it made a huge impact on them and since that time, we have been back very often." Now locals are hoping for an official visit in the not-too-distant future. "I like what he is about and any tenuous link to Longford would be welcome, but this link to the Farrell clan is a big one," said Longford councillor Mae Sexton. "I'm sure we'll do whatever we can to get an official visit organised now." Searches were being conducted in Longford last night to determine what Killashee locals were related to Mr Kaine, said farmer Mike McGann. "My brother Dan owns the bar here and he cannot remember him coming in, but I am sure all the links will start coming out of the woodwork eventually. "We might get a Kaine Plaza," he joked, referring to President Barack Obama's links to Moneygall, Co Offaly, where a petrol station is named in his honour. "The problem is Farrell or O'Farrell is really common here. It's the most popular name." In all memories there should be at least one golden summer. Forty years ago this July, I was enjoying the best summer of my life. Cork was a city of shimmering heat, of long hot days, and nights when the light never seemed to leave us. It is as clear as if it were yesterday, a short but magnificent season of gifts. The city seemed framed in endless twilight. The intimate geography of those days is embedded in my memory: the early hours stillness of Glasheen Road, Orchard Road, Wilton Fields; the sun glowing behind the golden domes of the Church of the Holy Spirit, a flash of the Byzantine on Europe's westernmost shores; late at night hearing the wildfowl on the Lough as I walked back to my grandmother's home in Turners Cross; listening to Neil Young's Harvest in Ger O'Leary's house on the Western Road while his family was on holidays in distant Fountainstown. We were still half children, feasting on the endless ice cream in his deep freeze in the last days before we discovered beer. Expand Close The car in which Christopher Ewart-Biggs and his secretary Judith Cook were murdered by the IRA. Photo: NPA/Independent collection / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The car in which Christopher Ewart-Biggs and his secretary Judith Cook were murdered by the IRA. Photo: NPA/Independent collection We were oblivious to anything but the possibilities of each day. It is tempting, when I see my own children struggle to make sense of the fear and anger enveloping the world now, to regard that summer as belonging to a more innocent age. But it would be wrong. We were cocooned in Cork in that summer of '76 but the world was still a troubling place. In Cambodia the Khmer Rouge were accelerating their genocide and the forced removal of the urban population into the countryside. Hundreds of thousands were being done to death. In Argentina a military coup would usher in the 'dirty war' in which as many as 30,000 people were murdered, most 'disappeared' by death squads. Across much of South and Central America, right-wing regimes, backed by the United States, were inflicting unspeakable horrors on their opponents and anybody deemed vaguely suspect. In Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union millions were locked in the claustrophobic repression of totalitarian rule. Lebanon was beset by a civil war of extraordinary savagery; terrorist groups were hijacking planes - it was the year of the Entebbe rescue - and assassinating 'class enemies'; in South Africa a student uprising in Soweto was crushed by the apartheid state leaving 600 dead and thousands jailed and exiled. In the rest of Africa coups and civil wars continued in, what was then, the normal fashion. A general gloom was descending on Britain and by the end of the year the Callaghan government was forced to beg the IMF for a bailout of nearly $4bn to avoid economic catastrophe. Expand Close Mao Zedong / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mao Zedong In the North, sectarian murder went on unabated. It was the year of the Kingsmill massacre when 10 Protestant factory workers were killed in retaliation for the deaths of members of two Catholic families at the hands of loyalists. The Shankill Butchers were abducting Catholics and torturing them to death. In the Republic the British Ambassador, Sir Christopher Ewart-Biggs, was killed by the IRA. There was much more to unsettle the global picture. America was foundering. In the previous two years Richard Nixon had resigned in the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam war was finally lost, the mightiest power on earth scrambling to escape Saigon as the North Vietnamese rolled into town. Gerald Ford was fighting for re-election as a decent but uninspiring leader. In China the 'Great Helmsman' Chairman Mao died after inflicting incalculable suffering on his people. In much of Asia autocracy and one party rule were the norm. I recall all of this simply for the sake of perspective. There were many reasons to be afraid then. A nuclear Armageddon was always a possibility in spite of growing detente. What is it that makes this period different? Social media is part of the story. I try to picture what life would have been like with endless tweets and rolling news channels bringing us updates from the killing fields, the Lebanon war, and so on. Twitter and Facebook are the apostles of the End of Days. Social media has brilliantly exploited our addictive need for stimulation, even if that stimulation is based on fear, the urge to click and be shocked. It has also given voice to a global army of bores, cranks and thugs whose influence on the temper of our times is insanely disproportionate. Expand Close An Isil unit in Syria. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An Isil unit in Syria. Photo: Reuters But it is precisely the temper of our times that worries me most. What makes this time different from the summer of 1976 is the retreat from rationality. We see it everywhere. The big lie is more powerful than at any time since the 1930s. This is only partly to do with the rhetorical skill of people like Trump in America or the powerful propaganda of Putin in Russia. Our real crisis is the willingness of so many to believe lies. When Primo Levi wrote of "monsters with beautiful words" beguiling people with messages of intolerance, he recognised that the real moral swamp was in the minds of the listeners. The combination of fear-based politics and absolute certainty in the validity of the solutions offered is the road to catastrophe. I have heard so often in recent months the mantra that "even if we have to go through some suffering it will be worth it in the end". But it always issues from the mouths of those who have never experienced war and the horrors that ride in its wake. If you ask where you fit into all of this, then I say what I say to my own friends and family and, most of all, to myself: engage anger with fact, reject the toxic promises of the extremes, hold and build the centre ground. Fergal Keane is a BBC Special Correspondent Expand Close A member of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A member of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Photo: AP SHARE By Charlie Bauder TOCCOA Caterpillar will close its Toccoa facility by the end of 2016. The company will close both its Toccoa foundry and its Franklin, North Carolina, facility and consolidate production to a facility in Mapleton, Illinois, within the next two years, according to a news release issued late Thursday afternoon. The Toccoa facility is in the Hayestone-Brady Business Park on Ga. 17 in Stephens County. Did not see this coming, said Tim Martin, Stephens County Development Authority executive director. It is just a sad day for the Caterpillar family, certainly those employees and their families, but the broader community as well. Caterpillar is one of our strongest companies and one of our companies that we are most proud of, and we are sad to see this news. Stephens County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dennis Bell said it was devastating to hear the news. I would ask that everybody pray for all the families and the people that are involved with this, Bell said. The Development Authoritys job is to spearhead efforts to attract and recruit jobs and investment to the county, Bell said. Martin said that work will continue in an effort to move the community forward. As a community, we have to stay positive, he said. It will be hard work, but life is hard work. We will just be committed and determined to make the best out of this. Both the Toccoa and North Carolina facilities produce seals used in Caterpillar machines around the world. Caterpillar officials said the company is working to improve efficiency and reduce shipping costs by locating its seal production facilities closer to its supply base and several large facilities that use these components. According to the company, the closings made public Thursday affect a total of 275 positions between both the Toccoa and North Carolina sites, and about 120 of those jobs are in Toccoa. The company said it will work with employees to determine interest in positions at other Caterpillar facilities where applicable. Displaced employees will receive severance packages and outplacement services. While the Indian Army fought the enemy to the last bullet in the Kargil War, it was the support from the air that really turned things in Indias favour. Operation Safed Sagar by the Indian Air Force was important in the context of Indian victory in what could otherwise have been a long drawn out war. The Indian Air Force began its operations with reconnaissance sorties to actually figure out how well entrenched the enemy really was. By May 25, the then Prime Minister asked the IAF to step in without delay, although the permission to cross the LoC wasnt given. BCCL A whole range of IAF planes were pressed into service including strike aircraft like the Mig-21, Mig-23 and the Mig-27 that started bombing the enemy positions on May 26. They targeted supply routes, material dumps and camps. The Canberras and Mig-21M variant were used to conduct damage assessment in near real-time. Unfortunately, two Mig-27s were lost in quick succession and another, a Mig-21 was lost because of a surface-to-air missile hit. On the third day, a Mi-17 helicopter was lost to a Stinger missile hit. All this was a result of lack of protective flare dispensers on the aircrafts. The IAF learnt the lesson and the planes were equipped with countermeasure suites. Twitter The IAF also had to think on its feet and develop tactics on the go. For example, Mirage-2000s were used to bomb enemy bunkers using the Paveway Laser Guided Bombs. This is probably the most high altitude use of such weapons anywhere in the world. Indian Air Force also kept the Pakistan Air Force at bay. While strike aircraft were out on bombing sorties, air superiority fighters, namely the Mig-29 were put on CAP (Combat Air Patrol) duties. Nicknamed the Fulcrum by NATO, the 29s with their BVR (Beyond Visual Range) R77 missiles spooked the F-16s. Its said that Indian Mig-29s locked on to the F-16s, dissuading them from engaging any IAF planes. Wikimedia Commons With the PAF nullified, the IAF attacked the enemy positions with impunity, giving India the upper hand and ultimately the victory. Celebrities entering movie screenings midway and surprising audience has become a trend it seems! Remember how Ranveer Singh broke into an impromptu dance gig at a theatre in Paris during the screening of Sultan? Rajinikanth is the latest celebrity who sneaked-in during a show of Kabali at Cinemark movie theatre in Fairfax, Virginia. Kabali, a film that is already on its record-breaking spree is winning it big at international box-offices too. Twitter Just before the movie was about to begin, a special screening of Kabali became a pleasant experience for the audience as superstar Rajinikanth dressed in a brown formal shirt casually walked into the theatre with his daughter Aishwaryaa R Dhanush. A report by Firstpost also revealed that later audience also saw Rajinikanth sharing a tub of popcorn with a little girl. Firstpost According to film distribution company, CineGalaxy Inc. the mastermind behind this impromptu walk-in was Rajinikanths daughter, who thought of this surprise. The audience was not just enthralled to see their favourite superstar but they stood up and gave a long standing ovation too! Delhi police on Sunday arrested Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan on charges of threatening a woman with rape and murder. Police said Khan is also accused of attempting to run over the woman with his car. ummid.com The woman alleged that Khan instructed a young man to threaten her with rape and murder for 'politicising" the issue of power cuts in the capital. Several AAP members, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, allege that the charges against Khan are trumped up, and that the BJP is behind the episode. Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 This is Modi's law. He gives a dam to law and evidences. People are watching. AAP's rising graph has scared Modi. https://t.co/IUqSapTMT4 ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) July 24, 2016 Another AAP MLA arrested on spurious charges. History wl record the Modi rule as the darkest time for democracy post Emergency #CowardModi Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) July 24, 2016 Regular arrests of AAP MLAs show how rattled CowardModi is, by the support AAP is receiving all across India. Fake cases won't stop us. Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 24, 2016 twitter.com Last week, a woman alleged that on July 9, when she went to Khan's residence to discuss power cuts, a young man made the threat after he was instructed to do so by Khan. She added that while the MLA didn't meet her. While she was leaving Khan's residence, the young man came out of the house and threatened that she would be killed if she didn't stop politicizing the issue of power cuts. The woman filed an FIR about the incident on July 9. Police officers said the woman had recorded her statement under section 164 of CrPC, after which the FIR was registered. She also gave the police commissioner a written complaint on July 10. Khan claimed that the woman had made a "false" statement before the magistrate that he had tried to crush her with his car. The MLA said he was out of Delhi and in Meerut on July 9 and 10. He alleged that the BJP had a role in the whole episode. AAP's Delhi unit secretary Saurabh Bharadwaj also claimed that this was yet another case of the Centre using the police against his party's MLAs. Youtube.com At a press conference on Saturday , AAP played a video in which the woman is purportedly involved in a conversation with a person during which she is heard saying that the SHO of the Jamia Nagar police station asked her to add allegations of the rape and murder threat to the FIR. A Muslim organisation, the Jamaathul Ulama Council in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram District has raised objection to the construction of a statue of former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam at his final resting place. PTI The council said that the statute was against Shariat and they oppose it as Islam was against idol worship. The best way of honouring Kalam would be to follow his ideals and realise his vision for a stronger and developed India, he said. Kalam wanted the youth to dream to achieve high. Fulfilling his wishes would be the best way of honouring him, A. Valiyulla Noori, president of the council told The Hindu. BCCL APJM Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of Kalam, said the council had informed the family their views, but said they could do nothing in the matter. The Council's objection comes just days ahead of the proposed unveiling of the statue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to unveil the statue of India's Missile Man on Wednesday. Works of the seven-foot-tall bronze statue is also nearly complete. This will be the second official statue of the 'People's President' after the one unveiled in DRDO Complex in Hyderabad where he worked as a scientist. After several mega-budget films became easy prey to piracy recently, it came as a wake-up call for the Indian film industry. Another movie that has become a vulnerable target to piracy is Dishoom. Starring Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and John Abraham, Dishoom is slated to release on July 29. Twitter According to producer Mukesh Bhatt, The Film & Television Producers Guild of India held an emergency meeting after they received several threats of their film Dishoom leaking online. In an interview to news agency, Bhatt said, "We have received a shocking news that a pirate site torrent is advertising that 'Dishoom' will soon be shown. If a pirate site advertises that there will be a leak, there could be nothing more frightening for a producer. So we held an emergency meeting since I am the president of the Film Producer's Guild, and we senior producers thought about what can be done about it." Bhatt told media how everyone who was involved with the production of the film had to rush to Bhatts office. Bhatt went on to praising the censor board. He said, Bollyspice "Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has helped us, first time in history, a film received a certificate without handing over a DVD. I want to applaud them for understanding our problem. They have proved it by saying, 'if you feel that it could leak from here, for your protection and psychological comfort, perhaps you can give the DVD after release'. Thanking Nihalani, Bhatt adeded, "I want to thank Pahlaj Nihalani sahab and the CBFC for understanding our pain." Bhatt revealed that now several discussions will take place and in case nothing happens, the filmmakers will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other agencies regarding the same. With the coalition air strikes and the ground offensive by the Syrian Army and other anti-ISIS groups gaining momentum the terror group is on the retreat. With them being granted just 48 hours to leave Manbij, fearing for their lives, lot of the ISIS fighters are also trying flee the conflict zone. According to anti-ISIS fighters many are even trying to flee disguised as women. SDF Syrina Democratic Force has released a video of three men caught trying to escape. It shows the men wearing burqa sitting in front of the opposition fighters, with their faces still covered. They are then shown walking with their face veils removed, and eventually stripping down to their underwear. The video is believed to be shot at least a couple of days ago. The attempted escape came after the Manbij Military Council (MMC) part of the SDF - gave IS fighters 48 hours to leave the strategic town with their individual weapons on Thursday, saying that was their last chance to leave alive. It's not the first time IS fighters were found attempting to escape an area dressed as women. In February, fighters fleeing Ramadi were captured despite wearing burqas and made-up faces. At least 250,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, according to UN figures. "Honestly, I can't believe all those things I lived during my three seasons with Steaua Bucuresti, it was really like a dream for me. The first six months were difficult, because many people were criticizing me and claiming that I was not ready for For the second time in less than two weeks, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend, spent his time in the historic town of Badagry brainstorming with cabinet members, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies and parastatals on charting a way forward for the State. The Governor, who arrived in Badagry on Thursday for the three-day retreat, stayed in the town until Sunday before departing to Alausa in Ikeja. Governor Ambode, had in previous week, stayed in Badagry for three days during which he presided over the quarterly Town Hall Meeting and the State Executive Council Meeting, as well as inspected some ongoing projects of the State Government, many of which are geared towards developing the tourism potentials of the town. The retreat tagged: Reflect, Reappraise, Restrategise: Raising The Bar Of Governance, is the second in the series, and was held at the VIP Chalets, Badagry. Speaking on the implication of the retreat for Badagry, the States Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade said aside the fact that the event was aimed at discussing ways to add value to Lagosians, the holding of the retreat in Badagry was an eloquent testimony of government of inclusion promised by Governor Ambode, in which no area of the State will be left behind. He said: Badagry continues to be the tourism capital of the State. It is the headquarter of one of the five divisions of the State and we believe as part of the government of inclusion that Governor Ambode is running, every part of the State should feel governance and coming to Badagry is to showcase the fact that we have peace in the State, the State is secured and governance can happen in every part of the State. That is just the message and it is more about inclusion. O n his part, the States Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the development was part of the grand plan of Governor Ambode to transform Badagry as the number one tourism destination not only in Nigeria but Africa. According to him: This is a demonstrable evidence of a thinking government. Last week, we were here for the Town Hall Meeting and then the first Exco meeting outside of Alausa held here in Badagry and of course the Governor with his team went round the city. Now, we are back here in Badagry because this is the home of tourism. The Governor has said that he wants to make Badagry the number one when it comes to tourism not only in Nigeria, but in Africa and this is coming barely a week to the grand launch of the One Lagos brand which will happen between the 27th and 29th of July. So, a lot is happening and it is good that this is also coming up at a time we are having a retreat here in Badagry. The retreat offers us the opportunity to reflect, reappraise and restrategise and of course tourism is a core component of the strategy that this administration wants to work on, Ayorinde said. Source:Vanguard The Anambra State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with two investment companies, Rockland Development Institute and Lake Petroleum Limited over the development of housing in the state. Governor Willie Obiano while signing the agreement at the state house, disclosed that the deal was to further ease the issue of housing and make it affordable to the people. He added that the numerous housing projects which his administration is undertaking was to reverse the uncomplimentary trend where Anambra citizens who work or do businesses in the state live in neighboring states due to lack of affordable accommodation. There are reports of shooting at a nightclub in Ohio, USA. At least 15 shots were reportedly fired during the incident, which occurred around 2am local time in a bar named Doubles in the town of Hamilton. One person is said to have been killed with fears the gunman may still be active. A witness revealed how drinkers were forced to play dead during the shooting, in which two people were injured. Police have not yet confirmed any details about the shooting. The bar was the site of a double shooting in August last year. More details to follow shortly. A cross-section of senior lawyers in the country have called for a thorough probe into the allegations of budget padding leveled against some principal officers of the House of Representatives. The member representing Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency in the House, Abdulmumin Jibrin, in an expose following his removal as Chairman, Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday, accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, of attempting to pad the controversial 2016 budget with N30 billion. He also called on the Speaker as well as his deputy, Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor, to resign. Mr. Jibrin, who ran into troubled waters after he was accused of single-handedly allocating N4.3 billion to Constituency in the budget, however, accused the principal officers of getting back at him for refusing to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40 billion out of the N100 billion allocated to the entire National Assembly. Reacting to the can of worms opened by the lawmaker, the lawyers called for a probe and prosecution of anyone found guilty, no matter their position. Leading the call was a rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, who said the allegations, if found to be true, violated the 1999 Constitution and the Public Procurement Act. Very clearly, these allegations must be investigated and the country must get to the root. Whoever is involved must be investigated and prosecuted. It is a very serious crime, Falana said. Adding his voice to the demands for sanction against the culprits, Abeny Mohammed, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), called for the punishment of all those involved in the scandal. My view is that not only the former chairman of the Committee on Appropriation but also all those involved should be exposed and punished. It is only in Nigeria that lawmakers appropriate money for themselves for the so-called constituency projects, which are never executed. It is a corrupt practice which must be condemned and stopped, he said. Another SAN, Yusuf Ali, said sufficient rules and guidelines should be introduced to regulate issues of misconduct among members of states and federal assemblies. Outside politics, I think rules should be put in place to determine what amounts to legislative misconduct, he said. The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one Jones Abari, aka Gen. Akotebe Darikoro, for the alleged mastermind of a botched plan to overthrow President Muhammad Buhari by the military, Vanguard reports. A statement issued by an official of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo in Abuja on Saturday said Abari was arrested in Yenagoa on July 21. Opuiyo described the suspect as the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF). He said that Abari had confessed to other criminal activities which included a threat to launch missile attacks on selected targets in Abuja and Aso Rock. Others include writing threat messages to the management of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) demanding for N500 million and N250 million respectively. He said that the suspect also masterminded the vandalism of NAOC trunk line in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw and bombing of SPDC oil pipeline. The service urged all citizens and residents to remain vigilant and report all suspicious persons, parcels or vehicles to the nearest security formation. Members of the public are further called upon to see our societal and individual safety as our collective responsibility, he said. He advised the public to support security and law enforcement agencies with critical information that would assist in providing a safe environment for all to carry out their legitimate businesses. Source: Vanguard Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday described threats by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu that he will probe his (Oshiomholes) administration as laughable. Ize-Iyamu, the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 10 governorship election of Edo State, had while speaking at the PDP campaign rally in Uromi, Esan North East local government, on Friday, said he would probe Oshiomhole immediately he is sworn-in as governor. The PDP candidate vowed that every kobo that accrued to the state between 2008 and 2016 while Oshiomhole was governor, must be accounted for. He further urged the governor to probe the eight years he (Ize-Iyamu) spent in office between 1999 and 2007 as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State government. I call on Adams Oshiomhole to probe my time in government and look at everything that I did. Let him do it because by the grace of God, when I am governor, I will probe him. I will probe him; every kobo that has come to Edo State, must be accounted for. That is his fear; that is why he can no longer sleep. Adams Oshiomhole believes that the more he attacks, the more he can hide the truth, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said. In his reaction, Gov. Oshiomhole said Pastor Ize-Iyamu will first of all vomit the N1.2billion arms deal money, which he allegedly collected from Fidelity Bank and shared with the state PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, after that he will go to jail before he can probe me. Speaking when the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki visited Fugar for a rally, the governor said: Ize-Iyamu, Orbih and their fathers have confessed that they collected N700miilion and N500million to share during the election. He continued: They go to Port Harcourt every day to visit EFCC. Dan Orbih was taken from Port Harcourt to Benin with a Black Maria where his house was searched. Today they are living in fear. But they must return the money. Look at the company between Ize-Iyamu and Orbih, now they are singing like witches in the night how they shared that money. But they must be prosecuted like Metuh and others because that was how they stole in Edo for ten years. Governor Oshiomhole pointed out that the money they (Ize-Iyamu and Orhih) allegedly shared was meant for Defence, for roads. For ten years they ruined the state but in seven and half years we have worked, he added. So I laugh when he says he will probe. How can he even come in when he cannot win his ward? Edo people cannot vote for thieves at all so I wonder how he is going to probe me and that is why I said it is funny. The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has warned Muslims in the country against taking laws into their hands. This is just as he disclosed that the only time Muslims should fight, is when their religious rights are being trampled upon. It would be recalled that some yet-to-be identified Muslim youths attacked St. Philips Catholic Parish, Baki Uki in Niger State penultimate Friday, for allegedly holding mass on their day of prayer (Jumaat), while a female trader Bridget Agbahime was killed over a month ago by Muslim fundamentalists for allegedly preventing a man from performing ablution in front of her shop at the Kofar Wambai market in Kano and just recently, a female preacher, Deaconess Eunice Olawale, was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja, while she was preaching on the street by yet-to-be identified persons. Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the opening of a National Conference of Islamic preachers under the umbrella of Dawah Co-ordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN) at the weekend, Sultan Abubakar also warned Muslim clerics against hate sermons and urged them to not force anybody to join Islam. He said, When somebody or a group or some other nations decide to stop us from performing our religious obligations. We must never take laws into our hands. We must not be law officers. We do not do that in Islam, he said. We do not force anybody to join Islam. There is no compulsion in Islam. Our good deeds, good actions and good interactions as Muslims will give that very bright light to everybody what Islam is and that is what brings people to join us. Those who do not want to come as Muslims are free to stay with us and continue working with us to make this country a much better place. Whoever wants to fight you, do not fight him; leave him alone. Be very patient. The only thing that will make me to act or ask you to act is only when somebody or a group or some other nations decide to stop us from performing our religious obligations. That is the only way we can fight somebody. But if I am allowed to pursue my religious obligations, say my prayers and pay my zakat and so many other things, I have no problem with anybody. To you, your religion and to me, my religion. According to reports, the 5 Star Music act is keeping a close eye on his health after he survived a scary motor accident along Onitsha expressway yesterday. The Gala ambassador and his crew were on their way to catch a flight to Lagos when the incident occured. Thank God no life was lost. Its also claimed that hes set his sights on returning to work as soon as possible as he prepares for his Peace Concert in Asaba. A source told our correspondent, He is keeping an eye on his body to make sure he is 100 per cent this week. A herbalist, Asimiyu Agboola, has confessed to the kidnap and killing of the Managing Director, MD, of Todays Prints, Olalekan Ogunranti. Agboola, who is currently cooling his heels in the custody of the Osun State Police command revealed why he ordered his subordinates to carry out the murder. Recall that the 45-year-old MD was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on May 16, in the state and his decomposing corpse was discovered by the police about 5 days after. The deceaseds family had alerted the police when they lost contact with him while he was travelling to Osogbo on a business trip. They said an unknown person picked his call and claimed to have picked the SIM card on the floor at Iragbiji. Thus, they informed the Osun State police command and the Lagos State Investigation Bureau. Following the discovery, the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris Monitoring Unit had arrested the murderers which included one Alhaji; Asimiyu Agboola; Adesina Meyidan; Ramoni Afolabi; Akeem Akorede and Coker Daniel. In his confession before newsmen, the herbalist said he used to be a famous herbal doctor, whom some people, both far and near, ran to for help at his shrine at No. 8, Oloti area in Iragbiji, Osun State, since he took over from his father in 2006. The herbalist said he had already initiated plans to eliminate the MD, as he had alerted and paid two cultists, Daniel and Biggie, to do the job, having helped them in the past. He said, I did some incantations for them to become powerful when they were in school. I contracted them to eliminate the man. They suggested that he should be lured to a remote place where they would ambush him and kill him. I gave them N120,000 to do the job. I knew the fastest way was to lure him to a river to bathe. So, we selected a river in Obokun in Osun State and I asked Olalekan (Ogunranti) to go the river and bathe as part of the final ritual. We assigned a motorcycle rider to take him to the location that we chose, while we were hiding in the bush at a distance. Im a legitimate herbal doctor, Agboola said, as he blamed the economic situation in the country for his action, saying his patronage had dropped because of the poor economy. He continued, Its just that the situation of the country is very bad. People do not have money to buy drugs again, that is why I decided to take advantage of the situation to make money. It was when he requested for money ritual that I knew that he would be an easy prey. Meanwhile, a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, on Saturday said the suspects were arrested in Lagos and Ondo States respectively. The statement added, All suspects confessed they kidnapped, killed and mutilated the body of the late Olalekan Ogunranti to stop him from disturbing them over the huge sums of money they duped the deceased. They led the police to a bush near a river where his headless body was found. It was also discovered that his manhood were cut off. Investigation is ongoing to fish out the remaining suspects who are still at large, the statement added. Source: Dailypost The Jigawa State government yesterday constituted a 19 member committee that will work out modalities to conduct mass weddings for widows and divorcees in the state. Inaugurating the committee in Dutse, the state capital, Secretary to the State Government, Adamu Abdulkadir Fanini, said the committee was saddled with the responsibility of identifying qualified widows and divorcees from across the 27 local government areas of the state. Although, the criteria for selecting those to be married off by the government has not yet been released, Fanini said they plan to marry off widows and divorcees to reduce social vices in the society. In his response, chairman of the committee and Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Mustapha Sale Kwalam, assured the government and people of the state that his committee would carry out the assignment diligently. In an effort to push women towards economic productivity and independence in Nigeria, the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari is seeking support for female entrepreneurs, saying they should have their place in nation development. Mrs Buhari at the Women in Export Forum and Exhibition, organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council in collaboration with the International Trade Centre, made this comment however, warning that they should at the same time be mindful of their homes. At the event, Nigeria was formally integrated into the International Trade Centre, a trade initiative, which aims to get one million women globally involved in international business by 2020. The initiative is geared towards tackling the challenges faced by women in export, including funding, capital and land acquisition, cultural beliefs, gender imbalance and lack of support from men. Nigeria is targeting the involvement of 100, 000 women in the initiative and most of the participants are hoping that the right support will come for the target to be attained. Punch The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the failure of the Nigeria Customs Service to connect to the National Single Window, a cross-government website for trade facilitation, is hindering the effective operation at the seaports. Vanguard Amid the uncertainty surrounding the talks between the Federal Government and militants to resolve issues that led to renewed bombing of oil facilities in the Niger-Delta, some militant groups in the region, yesterday, rejected what they called the grandstanding of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) as their chief negotiator, even as they dismissed MENDs selection of a group of persons, dubbed Aaron Team 2, to dialogue with government on militants behalf. Thisday Armed groups behind the onslaught on the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta suffered a major blow last week as the Department of State Services announced yesterday that it had arrested a key militant leader suspected to be the brains behind some recent devastating attacks. Jones Abiri aka General Akotebe Darikoro, the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, according to the DSS, was arrested on July 21 in Yenagoa. The Sun DEPUTY Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has disclosed that one of his regrets was that he did not leave the United States earlier to come and contribute to nation building. Reflecting on the lessons life has taught him at 52, he said there is a world of difference between personal and political friends Daily Times Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose on Friday said he would not stop being vocal in his criticism of the All Progressives Congress-led government despite attempts to keep him silent. Daily Trust The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has begun the $1.4 billion Technology City Project aimed at harnessing the tourism potential of the ancient city. Leadership The Cross River State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has urged Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba to help address the lingering infrastructural challenges in Cross Rivers State. The Nation It named the suspect behind the coup rumour and missile attack threat as Jones Abiri, aka General Akotebe Darikoro, leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF). Daily Independent Early signs that the two leading parties in Nigeria split the two states where re-run elections took place yesterday, just as final results were being expected. Reports have it that opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had it good in Kogi State while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retained its hold on Imo. Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday described a threat by governorship candidate of the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP) Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to will probe his administration as laughable. He even went as far as saying Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu might only be able to do that from jail. Here are the biggest takeaways from Oshiomoles speech Oshiomhole said: Ize-Iyamu will first of all vomit the N1.2billion he shared with Dan Orbih, which is money meant for Defence that he collected from Fidelity Bank. After that he will go to jail before he can probe me. Speaking when the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki visited Fugar for a rally, Oshiomhole said: Ize-Iyamu, Orbih and their fathers have confessed that they collected N700miilion and N500million to share during the election. They go to Port Harcourt every day to visit EFCC. Dan Orbih was taken from Port Harcourt to Benin with a Black Maria where his house was searched. Today they are living in fear. But they must return the money. Look at the company between Ize-Iyamu and Orbih, now they are singing like witches in the night how they shared that money. But they must be prosecuted like Metuh and others because that was how they stole in Edo for ten years. The governor added: That money they shared was meant for Defence, for roads. For ten years they ruined the state but in seven and half years we have worked. So I laugh when he says he will probe. How can he even come in when he cannot win his ward? Edo people cannot vote for thieves at all so I wonder how he is going to probe me and that is why I said it is funny. Speaking at the PDP campaign rally in Uromi, Esan North East local government, Ize-Iyamu had earlier said he would probe Oshiomhole immediately he is sworn-in as governor. Pastor Ize-Iyamu said every kobo accrued to the state between 2008 and 2016 must be accounted for. He urged APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, to start speaking for himself. Ize-Iyamu urged Oshiomhole to probe the eight years he spent in office between 1999 and 2007 as Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State government. His words: I call on Adams Oshiomhole to probe my time in government and look at everything that I did. Let him do it because by the grace of God, when I am governor, I will probe him. I will probe him; every kobo that has come to Edo State, must be accounted for. That is his fear; that is why he can no longer sleep. Adams Oshiomhole believes that the more he attacks, the more he can hide the truth. Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested two armed robbers in two separate incidents in Ikotun and Olodi Apapa areas of the state. This is just as it recovered a gun they had used for the operation as well as some jewellery, laptop and 18 mobile phones from the armed robbers. While 22-year-old Bashir Wasiu, an Oyo State indigene, was arrested at Olodi-Apapa, the other suspect, 23-year-old Tunde Adedeji from Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested at Ikotun. Bashir had, in company of his two other gang members, waylaid their victim, one Viho Segun, at his residence and made away with his documents, phones and N15,000 from him at gun-point before leading him to collect more valuables from his family. At Vihos flat, Bashir threatened to kill him in the presence of his children and wife if they failed to produce more valuables. When the wife refused to surrender what they wanted, Bashir smashed Vihos head with the gun butt and beat the wife to a pulp. According to the victim, When he started beating my wife, I summoned courage to engage him. As soon as we started fighting, his colleagues took to their heels. He too tried to run but I held him and I called out to neighbours, seized his gun and just at the nick of time, RRS officers on patrol arrived and they arrested him. In his confession, the suspect said, We have been monitoring Viho. We know he goes to work early in his car and we decided to ambush him. We were three; Michael and I followed him into his flat to collect more money while Joseph was monitoring the situation outside. The three of us met at a point near Boundary in Ajegunle. That is where we plan and set out for our operations. We operate early in the morning and late evening. Meanwhile, Adedeji, the suspect who was arrested at Ikotun confessed that his 10-man gang had invaded Muslim and Omotayo Streets, where they robbed all the occupants of the three buildings they targeted. Over 25 robbery victims residing in the three buildings narrated their ordeals in the hands of the 10man robbery gang when they besieged RRS headquarters in Alausa after reports filtered to them that the security officials had arrested one of the robbery suspects. Most of the robbery victims sustained several matchete cuts in the head and body. The robbery victims, who came to Alausa in three fully loaded commercial buses, were invited one after the other to identify the suspect and also identify their belongings from the 18 mobile phones, trinkets and assorted jewellery, recovered from the back-pack of the suspect. MORE DETAILS LATER Source: Thisday Ogun State police said they have begun a search for Francis Taiwo, a pastor of the Key of Joy Celestial Church, Ajibawo, Atan-Ota town of the state. Mr. Taiwo and other church members are accused of chaining his 9-year-old son for weeks. SEE: NSCDC Rescues 9-Year-Old Boy, Chained, Tortured By Church In Ogun The Ogun Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed on Sunday an improvement to the boys health. He said the boy will be handed over to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare during the week for further rehabilitation. He said, The father is on the run. No information about him yet but we have started intensive manhunt on him. He can only run for awhile and he cant hide. Adejobi said the boys stepmother, Kehinde Taiwo, is in police custody and that efforts are being made to contact the boys biological mother. Source: Premium Times SEE ALSO: Why Ogun Church Chained 9-Year-Old Boy For Weeks Police, NSCDC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that its National Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, had met secretly with All Progressives Congress (APC) officials. Wike had alleged that Yakubu met with APC Chairman in the state, Davies Ikanya and the partys candidate for the forthcoming rerun elections in Rivers South East senatorial district, Magnus Abe on Wednesday in Abuja. He had alleged that the action of the commission was inimical to credible legislative rerun elections scheduled for July 30 in the state. Reacting to the allegation, Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity in INEC, Mr Nick Dazang, admitted to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the meeting held but that it was a routine. He said that it was INECs policy to meet with leadership of political parties involved in elections. The INEC Chairman with three National Commissioners and two directors met with a delegation of the APC led by its Deputy National Chairman. The meeting was routine and was earlier requested by the leadership of that party. Similar routine meetings between INEC and other parties had taken place at the INEC Headquarters. It is INECs policy and this is being strictly adhered to under Prof. Yakubus watch to avoid any suspicion or allegation of bias. The chairman meets leaders of political parties in the presence of the national commissioners. It is therefore not true that the meeting was secret as alleged by Gov. Wike or intended to favour the APC, Dazang said. He, therefore, expressed the commissions commitment to credible elections. The commission is determined to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in Rivers by providing a level field and carrying all stakeholders along, he said. (NAN) On this day in 2008: In costain area of Apapa, a petrol tanker exploded into flames, killed twelve (12) people, and left several others with severe burns. Also on this day in 2007: President Umaru YarAdua ordered the release of funds belonging to Lagos State Government, seized in previous years by his predecessor. Equally on this day in 2015;Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South leader, Chief Edwin Clark raised alarm over the level of corruption in the country and the economic crunch which have all combined to stagnate the progress of Nigeria over the years. He warned that if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to deal severely with those who ruined Nigeria over the years, Nigeria as a country would sink. Last night, Toyin Aimakhu showed her ex what hes missing as she flashed her cleavage in a stunning dress she wore to a birthday dinner. Looking closely at the photo above, you will agree Toyin knows that looking amazing is the sweetest revenge post-break-up. Although, words on the streets hint that the star actress might just be getting back together with her estranged husband, Niyi Johnson, both parties have however remained silent on the matter. Before that happens, the beautiful actress has decided to channel her energy on her new project, Alakada series. Almost a year after the final guidelines were released, BEPS is changing the strategy of multinationals. Staff levels have increased and training has improved. It is becoming more common to find management, sales and marketing staff trained on tax and transfer pricing legislation so they can identify the potential risks businesses face. MNEs are reforming to be BEPS-compliant while minimising tax and transfer pricing risks worldwide. In-house counsel, private practice and advisers will have an opportunity to discuss the issues in New York on September 22 & 23. The 16th annual ITR Global Transfer Pricing Forum, held at the Ritz Carlton, will examine varying tax authority approaches; pitfalls for taxpayers; and OECD updates on further transfer pricing work. Discussions will revolve around BEPS documentation strategy and technology responses to BEPS; financial services; PE, supply chain and allocation of risk; an update on dispute resolution; and IP planning and profit split strategies. An overview of the conference and registration can be found here. Dozens of speakers will be featured, including Todd Wolosoff, Global Managing Partner - Transfer pricing, Deloitte; Bradley Shumaker , Tax Counsel, Transfer Pricing, Zimmer Biomet; Ognian Stoichkov, Director, Transfer Pricing, PepsiCo.; William Morris, Director - Global Tax Policy, GE; and Eduardo Goldszal , Finance Senior Director, NCR Corporation. Migliora il rapporto deficit-pil. Secondo lIstat nel 2016 e sceso al 2,4% in miglioramento di 0,3 punti rispetto al 2015. Lindebitamento netto delle amministrazioni pubbliche in rapporto al prodotto interno lordo nel quarto trimestre del 2016 e stato pari al 2,3%, stabile rispetto al corrispondente trimestre del 2015. Il saldo primario (indebitamento/accreditamento al netto degli interessi passivi), nello stesso periodo, e risultato positivo per 7.312 milioni di euro (7.315 milioni di euro nel corrispondente trimestre del 2015). La relativa incidenza sul pil e stata pari a 1,7%, invariata rispetto al quarto del 2015. Nel 2016, in termini di incidenza sul pil, il saldo primario e stato positivo e pari all1,5% del prodotto interno lordo, invariato rispetto al 2015. Il saldo corrente (risparmio) nel quarto trimestre del 2016 e risultato positivo per 3.915 milioni di euro (10.808 mln nel corrispondente trimestre dellanno precedente). Lincidenza sul pil e stata dello 0,9%, a fronte del 2,5% nel IV trimestre del 2015. Complessivamente, nel 2016 il saldo corrente in rapporto al Pil e stato positivo e pari allo 0,6% (1,1% nel 2015). Le uscite totali nel IV trimestre sono calate dello 0,9% rispetto al corrispondente trimestre del 2015. La loro incidenza sul Pil si e ridotta in termini tendenziali di 1,2 punti percentuali, scendendo al 56%. Nel 2016 lincidenza delle uscite totali sul Pil e stata pari al 49,6%, in riduzione di 0,9 punti percentuali rispetto al 2015. Le uscite correnti hanno registrato, nel IV trimestre, un aumento tendenziale dello 2,4% risultante da una crescita dei redditi da lavoro dipendente (+0,9%), dei consumi intermedi (+2,5%), delle prestazioni sociali in denaro (+0,6%) e delle altre uscite correnti (+11,8%). Nel trimestre gli interessi passivi sono risultati stabili. Le uscite in conto capitale sono diminuite in termini tendenziali del 30,7%; in particolare, gli investimenti fissi lordi sono scesi del 5,7% e le altre uscite in conto capitale del 50,4% Su questultima dinamica influisce, tra laltro, il venir meno degli interventi connessi alla risoluzione della crisi delle quattro banche registrati nel quarto trimestre del 2015. Le entrate totali nel IV trimestre sono diminuite in termini tendenziali dello 0,9% e la loro incidenza sul Pil e stata del 53,7%, in calo di 1,1 punti rispetto al corrispondente trimestre del 2015. Complessivamente nel 2016, lincidenza delle entrate totali sul Pil e stata del 47,1%, inferiore di 0,7 punti percentuali rispetto al 2015. Le entrate correnti nel IV trimestre sono calate in termini tendenziali dello 0,7%; in particolare, si sono registrati incrementi delle imposte dirette (+1,9%), dei contributi sociali (+0,4%) e delle altre entrate correnti (+0,6%) e una riduzione delle imposte indirette (-5,6%). Le entrate in conto capitale hanno segnato un calo del 16,7%. Il reddito disponibile delle famiglie consumatrici e diminuito nel quarto trimestre del 2016 dello 0,6% rispetto al trimestre precedente, mentre i consumi sono cresciuti dello 0,5%. Di conseguenza, la propensione al risparmio delle famiglie consumatrici e diminuita di 1 punto percentuali rispetto al trimestre precedente, scendendo all8%. A fronte di un aumento dello 0,2% del deflatore implicito dei consumi delle famiglie, il potere dacquisto delle famiglie consumatrici e diminuito dello 0,9% rispetto al trimestre precedente. Nel 2016 il reddito disponibile e aumentato dell1,6% e la spesa per consumi finali dell1,3%, dando luogo a un aumento della propensione al risparmio di 0,2 punti percentuali rispetto al 2015. Il potere dacquisto e aumentato dell1,6%. Nel quarto trimestre 2016, il tasso di investimento delle famiglie consumatrici (definito come rapporto tra investimenti fissi lordi delle famiglie consumatrici, che comprendono esclusivamente gli acquisti di abitazioni, e reddito disponibile lordo) e stato pari al 6,1%, invariato rispetto al trimestre precedente e in aumento di 0,1 punti percentuali rispetto al corrispondente trimestre del 2015. Tale dinamica congiunturale riflette un aumento degli investimenti fissi lordi dello 0,8% ed una flessione del reddito disponibile lordo (-0,6%). Nel 2016 il tasso di investimento delle famiglie consumatrici e stato pari al 6,1%, in aumento di 0,2 punti percentuali rispetto al 2015. Gli investimenti fissi lordi sono aumentati del 3,7%. A US economist named Paul Krugman made an awful mistake last week when he sneered at the latest Irish economic returns as being "leprechaun economics. At time of speaking Mr. Krugman from The New York Times betrayed the fact that he knows more about economics than about our clans and tribes of leprechauns. I bet he is suffering sorely since. I bet his personal pot of gold is shrinking by the hour and minute. I would not be in his shoes for all the tea in China. With all due modesty, I know more about leprechaunics than abut anybody else. I do not normally write anything about the noble species out of an amalgam of respect and fear. I venture into the territory now only because of Krugman's sneering ignorance. I am also delighted to add to the knowledge of leprechaunery for any of you that way inclined. Krugman is not the only one in the wider world who is ill-informed. Let us begin back in the era of the Famine and the coffin ships heading over to the New World with hope. It is well documented already that a considerable number of our banshees emigrated along with the families (usually O's and Mac's) that they traditionally warned about impending deaths. What has never been recorded, however, is the truth that hundreds of our leprechauns also emigrated on the coffin ships. The modern situation is that there are infinitely more working leprechauns in the United States today than here at home where they are now thin on the underground. An amazing source named McGovern that I interviewed 20 years ago in the bowels of the Marble Arch Cave on the border told me that there are no less than 37 working leprechauns in Boston, possibly around 26 in New York, 11 at least ( and one sleeper) in Chicago, seven in San Francisco and -- because they do not enjoy the blues --only two in New Orleans and, said McGovern, they are thinking of moving elsewhere any decade now. Let me now dispel another misconception regarding our leprechauns. It was our former overlords the English who, in as reductive a fashion as Krugman, created the image of the puckish bearded little man in green with his pot of gold. That is not true at all. Our leprechauns do not look like that. They are, in fact, invisible except when they chose to manifest themselves to humans (more on that later) and can then appear in any form they wish. McGovern told me that the only leprechaun he ever visibly encountered on his way home from Blacklion came in the shape of a roan mare who walked the road beside him for a mile to ensure he got home safe. I believe that totally. Most of the surviving corps of Irish leprechauns are now residing and working their arts in the provinces. They have abandoned Dublin entirely, but there are seven in Cork city and county, four in Kerry, two in Tipperary, the same number in Clare, five in Galway (which has just been chosen as the 2020 European City of Culture) and at least one in most of the other counties except Mayo and Cavan which they have abandoned too. If you are on an Irish vacation and in any county except these two and Dublin I have one suggestion to make to those of you who are good at heart and soul. There is no guarantee of success but it is worth a try maybe on a fine day. On your journeys through our striking scenery keep an eye out for the occasional lone large boulder of the type described as "erratics" by geologists. Typically these stand alone in green fields far from the nearest mountains. They are usually about 12 feet tall and covered with mosses and lichen. Make your way over to one of them if that is feasible, place your right hand firmly on the rock, close your eyes in brief meditation, and wish for something which has no connection with gold for somebody you know. Maybe better health for your mother or father, something unselfish like that. Keep your contact with the rock for about two minutes at least and then open your eyes and move away. If you keep your eyes open wide on your way back to the roadway you may see something that will stop you in your tracks. It will not be a puckish little man in green I assure ye. But it is likely to be the most cocky and cute of our native birds -- a robin redbreast. You may notice he will show no fear of you and will venture closer to you than any other wild bird, his little eyes bright, his head on one side. Beautiful and somehow spiritual too. If that happens to you, and I hope it does for some, then you can believe you have made a soulful connection worth a lot more in genuine value than Paul Krugman's rapidly diminishing pot of gold. Good luck! All my life, all my heroes have been revolutionaries, writers, and nuns. After watching the GOP convention last week, I have decided to change that order. What this country needs are fewer politiciansand more nuns! I am an immigrant to this countryyou know, the folks the Trumpster doesnt likeand I had a lot of trouble adopting when my family came to Greenwich Village in 1954. My first attempt at the first grade was a total disaster. I came out of the year without learning how to read and arithmetic was a total mystery to me. People started to presume I was an idiotsome still hold that opinion. My mother changed schools to St. Bernards on West 13th Street in the North Village. There was an ancient nun there, Sister Perpetua, who quizzed me. She asked me about my teethall rotten in the famous Irish tradition that Frank McCourt brilliantly portrayed in Angelas Ashesand I gave the right answerthe black buggers would eventually fall out. Sister Perpetua decided to take a chance on me. I ended up in the first grade for the second time with Sister Anthony. She told my mother that she was an artist by avocation. She was young, tough and caring. She paid special attention to me andfinallyDick and Jane and Spot began to make sense. There was a kid in this class. A tough little Irish Catholic shit called Bobby Gallagher. This was, after all, the far north Village when most of my classmates fathers were longshoremen (from the Irish, by the way, Loingseoir, which means someone works near the boats and the water). Little Bobby was blond and incorrigible. Sister Anthony, a cultured woman of great patience, couldnt take his impertinence anymore and finally let Bobby have itshe picked up a yard stick and hit the little bastard with it, breaking it on the little shits ass. No one in the class said it a wordbut everyone approved. Which brings me back to Donald J. Trump and his hate-filled convention that just went down. Never, in my years monitoring American politics, have I seen such an uneducated narcissist come out and flaunt his ignorance before the American public. This guy hates everyone. In my youth, under the protective guidance of the Catholic Churchin my case a wonderful institution totally concerned with my well-beinga vulgarian like Trump could never get away with absolute bigotry like that. In that era, there were three ethnic groups of Catholics at St. BernardsIrish, Italian and Hispanic (mostly Puerto Rican). Because of those Irish Catholic nuns of the Sisters of Charity there was ZERO ethnic hostility. Everyone was pals with everyone. Today, we look at a bum like Trump and he gets away with murder in the media. Why? Because hes good copy and the rating go up when hes on TV spewing his hate. Next week in Philadelphia the Democrats better get moving and start hitting this bully with everything they have. Hes just like Bobby Gallagher. What this country needs are more people like Sister Anthonyshe knew how to take care of the class bully. Unfortunately, the bully in this case, is the nominee of the GOP for the presidency of the United States. You know, Id like to see how big tough strutting Donald J. Trumphe, the lover of dictators like Putin and that North Korean guy with the bad haircutwould have handled Sister Anthony. Im betting on Sister Anthonyshe could spot a fraud and a bully without breaking a sweat. Bring on the yard stick. ****************** Dermot McEvoy is the author of the The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family, Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising and Irish Miscellany (Skyhorse Publishing). He may be reached at dermotmcevoy50@gmail.com. Follow him at www.dermotmcevoy.com. Follow The 13th Apostle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/13thApostleMcEvoy/ The Government will have an additional 1bn to spend on improving services or reducing taxes in the Budget, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said. However, the minister also said it will not be a give-away Budget, writes Daniel McConnell, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner. Speaking today, Mr Varadkar said ministers in the new Government must not use the coming months to engage in negotiating their budget demands over the airwaves, and called on his colleagues to desist from making such comments. One of the most important things, is that none of us falls into the trap of negotiating budgets over the airwaves. We have to guard against that, he said. A big part of the job for Government will be to contain expectations. It is not going to be a give-away budget, it will be a prudent budget. We must not engage in too much public posturing, he said. Mr Varadkar also said that the Government is "very concerned" at suggestions that vulture funds may be using tax avoidance methods in this country. He was speaking as it emerged that officials from the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners are investigating whether so-called vulture funds are using a clause in Irish law to pay small amounts of tax here. Speaking on RTE News, the Dublin-West TD said that Ireland needs to make sure that the country's tax base is not eroded and that no reputational damage is done to the country. He said once the investigation by the department and Revenue has concluded, the Government will see if any changes are required to legislation. The minister said he did not know how long the investigation would take. Responding to the stories, Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has described the allegations as "outrageous". It emerged that companies making tens of millions from property here are paying as little as 250 to Revenue Commissioners. Sunday, July 24th, 2016 (4:33 pm) - Score 1,965 The first businesses have connected to the newly re-branded Bristol Network (formerly B-Net) in Bristol City (South West England), which is a large fibre optic network that use to be owned by the local authority until two ISPs, Net Support UK and ITS Technology Group, began to commercialise it last year. A 20 year concession agreement was signed between the providers and the Bristol City Council last November (here), which allowed them to setup a network that can serve local businesses as well as public sector sites by using the councils existing cable ducts. Since then a number of wholesale partners have been integrated and customers are already getting connected. The original BNet platform has been around for 15 years (it was originally purchased from an old cable TV provider called Rediffusion) and supported all of the councils requirements, including telephony, data, traffic related communications and CCTV. However the commercialisation should, over the longer term, bring some much needed income back to the local authority and without them having to sacrifice their existing needs. Jonathan Griffin, Spectrum Internets Head of Sales, said: We have a number of business customers in Bristol with high bandwidth requirements due to the nature of their work. In the case of Yogscast, they also had tight timescales to meet which we could only achieve by using The Bristol Network. The pricing structure is straight forward and it is easy for us to upgrade any of our customers circuits up to 10Gbps capacity if needed. The Bristol Network has been designed specifically for this era of digital growth. The usable network was initially some 76km long and stretched its way across the city in a figure of eight, although a further 60km of unused duct also exists that the new project intends to re-activate and eventually even extend to more than 180km. Roy Shelton, CEO of ITS Tech, added: Since November 2015 BNet Ultra the joint venture between ITS Technology Group and Net Support UK, have been putting the foundations in place to support Bristols vision. We are thrilled with the demand and commitment that local business have shown and are delighted to already see tangible results. The network is quickly being utilised by the type of businesses and organisations that Bristol is so proud of. We have worked hard with our local partners to design and roll out the network to areas which continue to be underserved and starved of robust ultrafast broadband. Working in partnership with Bristol City Council and our partners the network will continue to evolve to be the largest and only council supported network in Bristol. The network will also form the basis for further digital inclusion and innovative solutions to be deployed via our wider global technology partners. Mind you the Bristol Network isnt the only game in town and Cityfibre has similarly moved to commercialise a separate 82km fibre optic network in the city, which they acquired as part of a 90m deal to buy KCOMs UK network assets (excluding Hull and East Yorkshire) at the end of 2015 (here). Under Cityfibres plan the Bristol: Gigabit City network is aiming, with the help of local ISP Triangle Networks, to connect a minimum of 100 new business customers to the network by the end of 2016. Not forgetting that the city is also well covered by BT and Virgin Medias admittedly slower hybrid-fibre broadband services. Title: Vodafail. Time With Provider: Package Name: I have been a loyal customer of Vodafone with Home phone and broadband. Sim only and mobile contract. I used to be an employee of Demon Internet. And for those of you who says since Vodafone took control of Demon the standards have dipped...I can vouch for that.Services: While I don't use their F-Secure free internet security for 6 months that's a nice thing. The router provided, well while the beamforming and othr feature sound cool, they worked initially and now my phone nor anyone else's can connect to the app. Probably hardware issue with router.Support: I used to work for them so I can personally vouch for their awfulness at customer services. Outside of any broadband issues i'm 6 calls back and forth in between TSC and CSC to get a billing issue fixed?!?!?!?!? The indian call centre staff are much more helpful than Glasgow or Newbury.Speed: I took out the 38M fibre. I consistently get 34M. Very impressed with this aspect of the service.Value: 7.50 a month plus line rental rising to 15. Smartwatch sales were down a whopping 32% year-over-year (YoY). That said, Apple was the only one of the top five vendors whose shipments declined. According to IDCs Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, Apples bullish outlook for its watch has not materialised. Smartwatch vendors shipped 3.5 million units in Q2, 2016, down from 5.1 million for the corresponding period a year ago. Apple is still the biggest maker, having sold 1.6 million watches in Q2, but it lost 55% YoY growth while Samsung gained 51% (.6m), Lenovo (Moto .3m) 75%, LG 26% (.3m), and Garmin 25% (.1m). Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers, said, "Consumers held off on smartwatch purchases in early 2016 in anticipation of a hardware refresh [on Apple], and improvements in its WatchOS [missed this quarter], effectively stalling existing Apple Watch sales. Apple still maintains a significant lead in the market and unfortunately a decline for Apple leads to a decline in the entire market. Every vendor faces similar challenges related to fashion and functionality, and though we expect improvements next year, growth in the remainder of 2016 will likely be muted." IDC reports show: Top Five Smartwatch Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, 2Q 2016 (Units in Millions) Vendor 2Q16 Unit Shipments 2Q16 Market Share 2Q15 Unit Shipments 2Q15 Market Share Year-Over- Year Growth 1. Apple 1.6 47% 3.6 72% -55% 2. Samsung 0.6 16% 0.4 7% 51% 3. Lenovo 0.3 9% 0.2 3% 75% 4. LG Electronics 0.3 8% 0.2 4% 26% 5. Garmin 0.1 4% 0.1 2% 25% Others 0.6 16% 0.6 11% -1% Total 3.5 100% 5.1 100% -32% Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, July 21, 2016 Apple: Apple remains the market leader in smartwatches. Apple faces the same challenges as other OEMs, but the pure exposure of the device and brand through tactical marketing gives it a leg up on the competition. Watch 2.0, along with updates to watchOS, could help drive a new wave of first-time buyers. Samsung: It has done well with distribution through American telcos. In particular, the Gear S2 is off to a great start as Samsung has successfully decoupled the smartwatch from the smartphone. The figures do not reflect the new Band 2 which will be a popular substitute for the Microsoft Band 2. Lenovo: The Motorola brand continues to be the smartwatch of choice for those interested in Android Wear-based circular displays. Moto's recent attempt to branch into the fitness market with the Moto 360 Sport have had mixed results as the device still lacks some of the benefits of fitness-first devices from the likes of Fitbit, Garmin, or others. LG Electronics: The Watch Urbane now supports LTE connectivity. Like Samsung, LG's growing presence in the US telco channel has proven beneficial as the operators seek new revenue streams. Though LG is first to offer an LTE-enabled Android Wear watch, the lack of complete support from Google Android Wear 2.0 is set to launch later this year with support for LTE stifles the device's aspirations. Garmin: Garmin has almost doubled its share since last year due to the introduction of new smartwatches like the Fenix 3. Though the number of apps and Connect IQ-enabled devices has grown over the past year, they remain relatively small and cater to a niche audience athletes. The IDC chart below is telling four of the top five vendors are growing at the expense of Apple, which popularised, not invented, the category. And wearables are not as popular as vendors expected. With the election over and the Turnbull government turning its attention to policy, Internet Australia has renewed its call for the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation to be expanded to include a right to Internet access via fast and affordable broadband and for government, not industry, to foot the bill to ensure Internet access is available to everyone. The body representing Internet users has told an inquiry into the USO being conducted by the Productivity Commission that while the USO was originally designed to ensure that everyone could have access to a traditional telephone service, these days for many people Internet access is as important as having a telephone, perhaps more important". Just last May, IA chief executive Laurie Patton called for a right to data access to be included in the USO following a decision by the UK government to introduce legislation designed to create the right for every household to access high speed broadband, which he said IA considered an essential service. In its submission to the Productivity Commission the IA says that the USO should be expanded to include a minimum level of broadband service, and that it should be funded entirely by government, not by a levy on industry with government support, as is currently the case. Patton says the submission to the commission recommending an expansion of the USO was based on the underlying principle of the global Internet Society, (of which IA is a chapter) that the Internet is for everyone. In its submission, IA puts forward four recommendations: The Universal Service Obligation be extended to include the provision of broadband services that deliver access to the Internet and are reasonably accessible to all Australians; That the Universal Service Obligation be expanded from a voice telephony service or its equivalent, to include a minimum level of broadband service, and that appropriate minimum performance standards and benchmarks for technology neutral broadband services be set; That the Universal Service Obligation include provisions that ensure access to the Internet via a suitable fast and reliable broadband connection is available at an affordable price determined in collaboration with appropriate government and non-government welfare agencies and consumer representatives; and That the delivery of Internet access via a suitable fast and reliable broadband connection be funded by government. IA notes in its submission a United Nations resolution in June this year (the national Year of Digital Inclusion) The promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet in which the UN calls for "national Internet-related public policies that have the objective of universal access and enjoyment of human rights at their core". The IA submission also says, In the 21st century access to the Internet is an essential service. Accordingly, we submit that the provisions of the Universal Service Obligation need to be expanded so as to ensure that in future access to the Internet via a suitable fast and reliable broadband connection is universally available, just as they now provide an entitlement to a telephone service." "The underlying rationale for governments to impose universal service obligations on private sector providers of essential services is to create a form of safety net for citizens who because of financial hardship, disability, or remoteness of location will not receive adequate minimum services through the actions of the market. According to IA, "traditional telephony technologies are increasingly redundant in the Australian marketplace, and it is clear that the existing universal service obligations are failing to deliver an adequate safety net for citizens in accessing modern communications technologies. It is for this reason that Internet Australia considers that governments should broaden the concept of universal service to encompass access to the Internet via a suitable fast and reliable broadband connection. Access to the Internet should include both appropriate upload and download speeds, be affordable, and, in particular, should be available to people in rural, regional and remote areas and to people with disabilities," the IA submission states. The submission also highlights the need for an effective mechanism to deliver an expanded USO, pointing to the fact that the National Broadband Network only provides a wholesale service and relies on third parties to sell to consumers. Patton says delivery of Internet access via broadband under an expanded USO would involve collaboration between NBN Co and the retail service providers that stand between the NBN and retail consumers, and that collaboration would include both logistical/technical considerations as well as pricing mechanisms. "Internet Australia is one of the appropriate bodies to help to advise the (Productivity) Commission on ways in which this collaboration should be structured, and we could do this in collaboration with those of our members who provide RSP services, as well as through further research into this matter. IA has already met the Productivity Commission and was afforded the opportunity to provide some initial input into the preparation of the issues paper. It has offered to provide additional technical assistance to the Commission as it finalises its recommendations. 'Keeping the USO appropriate in an increasingly Internet-dependent world should be a top priority for the Australian government. Failure to ensure universal access to the Internet will entrench a 'digital divide' and cause greater hardship for already disadvantaged groups and individuals," Patton concluded. PRIME Minister Tony Blair spoke of his joy at the forthcoming birth of his new child as he launched north London's latest radio station to hit the airwaves. As people from Ealing to Havering and from Harlow to the Thames tuned into their radios last Wednesday the dulcet tones of the premier (pictured with the station's head of news, Pam Joseph) could be heard on the new Choice 107.1FM. SHARE By , San Francisco Responding to sharp criticism of remarks on the diversity "pipeline," Facebook says it's working hard to attract and retain "all the currently skilled talent possible." "For Facebook, this is not about blame, excuses or the negation of the great talent that exists in the software engineering space," the company said in its first public statement on the controversy. "We want more women, people of color and others who bring diverse perspectives across all of our business both technical and non-technical." The statement, first obtained by the Chicago Tribune, comes after global diversity chief Maxine Williams appeared to at least partially blame the lack of available technical talent the pipeline for Facebook's anemic progress in increasing the ranks of African Americans, Hispanics and women. Hispanics represent 4% and African Americans 2% of Facebook's U.S. workers, percentages that have not budged since 2014 and that fall below other industries' averages. Facebook has made slightly more progress on gender diversity, yet nearly seven in 10 employees around the globe are men. In a blog post last week announcing the company's latest diversity results, Williams wrote: "It has become clear that at the most fundamental level, appropriate representation in technology or any other industry will depend upon more people having the opportunity to gain necessary skills through the public education system." Williams told USA TODAY it could take years, even decades, before any dramatic shift in demographics occurs. Citing a recent study from McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.org that found women are moving ahead so slowly that it will take more than a century for them to reach parity in top positions in corporate America, Williams said: "I hope that is not the case in the tech industry. I hope the entire country joins with us ... and we will be able to see more change sooner." The implication: The nation's education system and the recruitment pipeline had to be fixed before Facebook could recruit more diverse candidates. At the time Facebook declined to comment on criticism of the remarks. "I am kind of shocked that Facebook would continue to perpetuate a narrative that has been so thoroughly disproven by the data," said Joelle Emerson, founder and CEO of Paradigm, a strategy firm that consults with technology companies on diversity and inclusion. Black and Hispanic students are underrepresented in computer science and engineering programs relative to the population while Asian students are overrepresented. Yet data show many more black and Hispanic students major in computer science and engineering than work in jobs in the tech industry. Nine percent of graduates from top engineering programs are black and Hispanic, according to a recent report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Representation for blacks and Hispanics at major technology companies is about 5%. USA TODAY analysis of the employment records of Facebook, Google and Yahoo revealed that minorities are also sharply underrepresented in nontechnical jobs such as sales and administration, with African Americans faring noticeably worse than Hispanics. "While there is some truth to the 'pipeline' theory and anxiety over the ability of the U.S. educational system to provide a sufficiently large, well trained, and diverse labor pool, there are additional factors at play," the EEOC report stated. Observers say those factors are the recruiting methods and corporate cultures of tech companies, especially in Silicon Valley, which has historically been dominated by white and Asian men. People of color aren't landing these jobs, staying in these jobs or even applying in the first place, after hearing negative things about the culture of the companies and the experiences of the few blacks and Hispanics who work there. It's summer time to pack up the family and hit the open road. At least 69% of families will embark on vacation travel in a car this summer, according to the American Automobile Association. Whether it is a weekend trip to Door County or an epic cross-country trek to Yellowstone National Park, road trips are drenched in family nostalgia. Everyone has a story of torturing siblings in the back seat, Dad forgetting the suitcase with the swimsuits or breaking down in a small town whose mechanic is open only on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. However, the feel of a family car vacation has transformed thanks to personal tablets, mp3 players and DVD players built into the back of seats. Now someone can settle into their own space and retreat into their personal world of music, games and movies. This generation will have far fewer interesting vacation tales to tell, as the journey is half the fun. The gleeful penance of a whole family, shut up in a box, breathing the same air and listening to the same music is the price you should have to pay to get to Wally World. But if you are traveling by car the old-fashioned way, with nothing to entertain travelers but the scenery and each other, snacks are critical. In addition to the munchables in the recipes shared here, there are lots of simple foods that are perfect for driving. Think not-too-sticky, no chocolate or anything else that would seriously stain if sat upon for an hour. A small cooler is nice for drinks and a few things that benefit from refrigeration, like cheese. Your favorite oatmeal cookies Dried fruit Rice cracker snacks Fig bars Mini frittatas Power muffins (recipes packed with protein, fiber, fruits or veggies) No-bake energy bites Trail mix String cheese And don't forget a few accessories to keep eating in the car simple and tidy. Reusable snacking bowls, cups with lids, cloth napkins and/or wet wipes keep food contained and messy fingers clean. Bring a plastic grocery bag to capture garbage. Fit anything that needs cooling in a small soft-sided cooler with ice packs. Everything else can be tucked behind a seat or in a footwell in a sturdy bag. Putting a towel down across the back seat makes post-trip crumb clean up easier. And if no one is watching a movie, what are they to do? To suggest a trip with no screens can be daunting to parents and unthinkable to children. But truly, to be bored and watch the clouds change shape is a perfectly acceptable activity. And if you're craving more excitement, try some family car games. Spotting things out the window provides fodder for innumerable games, including the classic "I Spy," finding all 50 state license plates, and the alphabet game, where participants seek words on signs that start with each letter of the alphabet (this can be done as a team for families with younger children, or competitivelytwo back seat occupants can each take with each back seat resident taking a side of the road). If the scenery grows tedious, there are lots of games to occupy minds of all ages: Twenty questions works well with young and old, as does a scavenger hunt activity (first one to find a calf! How about a blue pickup truck?). Another fun word game is choosing a subject, like animals or cities, and whatever the first person names, the second has to come up with something that begins with the letter the previous one ended with (e.g. "Detroit" would lead to "Tallahassee" to "Eau Claire"). If you can't do an entire trip without screens, try and designate portions of the trip to be screen-free. Staring out the window at clouds and rolling green corn fields is a meditative exercise all children should experience. Just bring lots of snacks for munching at the same time. SHARE By GRAND CHUTE Two suspects were in custody, one of them shot by police, and a Grand Chute police officer was injured after a squad car was stolen Saturday night at Pawn America. A Grand Chute police officer arrived at the pawnshop, 500 N. Westhill Blvd., about 6:30 p.m. to check on two retail theft suspects, Appleton police Sgt. Dave Lund said. The officer was "not getting cooperation from the two individuals," Lund said. The officer then called for backup and for fingerprinting equipment to help investigate the situation. Once a supervisor arrived on scene, the interaction with the two men "started to go very bad," Lund said. One of the suspects, 36, fought with the officer and jumped into his car. The suspect then put the car in gear and either backed into or struck the supervisor's vehicle. The supervisor was injured in the collision, but Lund was unsure of the extent of the injuries. The suspect then drove away in the squad car as additional Grand Chute officers arrived. The officers believed a fellow officer was injured or that an officer was "down," or shot, and subsequently fired multiple shots at the squad car as it was fleeing the parking lot, Lund said. The 36-year-old was shot; Lund was unsure how many times he was struck or how severely he was injured. The wounded man then fled to the intersection of Fourth and Outagamie streets in Appleton, left the squad car and "hijacked" another vehicle from a woman, who remained at the corner. The man drove onto Interstate 41 and was later stopped by the Brown County Sheriff's Department. He was arrested and treated for his injuries, Lund said. The other suspect, a 25-year-old man, walked away from Pawn America at some point during the confrontation. He went to a nearby restaurant and called a cab, Lund said. The Calumet County Sheriff's Department later pulled over the cab and arrested him. SHARE Frank Greguska Sr. Family photo By of the Frank J. Greguska Sr., who with his wife, Irene, turned a mom-and-pop liquor store into the Milwaukee fixture Discount Liquor, died Wednesday from a heart condition. He was 80. A Milwaukee native, Greguska had been married a few years and managing a Clark Oil station when he and Irene bought a small liquor store in 1960 on Forest Home Blvd. "It was those Rat Pack days, so liquor was a good business that was exciting and ever-changing," said his daughter, Marie Greguska. Frank and Irene had to figure out the ropes by themselves, she said, after the former owner reneged on a promise to help the couple get the store up and running. Business boomed, and they expanded the original store a few times before opening a second location in Waukesha in 1978. They moved their Milwaukee store to 5031 W. Oklahoma Ave. about a decade later. Greguska was on a first-name basis with most of his customers, and handed out pretzels to kids who came to the store with their parents. One year, Greguska bought 500 cases of Fleischmann's gin the largest purchase of its kind in the state at the time and displayed them stacked one on top of the other in the store windows with a palm tree. Son Frank Jr. said it proved a huge success, and the store continues the tradition. Discount Liquor is a perennial favorite on national and local "best of" lists. And GQ magazine touted it in its 2004 list of 50 Best Wine Stores in America, saying "the unoriginal name belies an inspired selection." The son of Slovakian immigrants, Greguska was born in 1936 and grew up with strong ties to the local Slovakian community. As a boy, he and his mother traveled to her homeland on the oceanliner the RMS Queen Mary. Greguska and Irene married in 1957, and Frank Jr. was born a year later. The couple would have five children, who remember their father as a quiet man with a dry sense of humor. As his children grew up, Greguska involved them in the family business. Frank Jr., who began sorting bottles as a kid, now manages the business. All of Greguska's children, and even some of his grandchildren, work at Discount Liquor. "He was a very family-oriented, hardworking man," said Frank Jr. In his free time, Greguska enjoyed riding motorcycles, playing the accordion and taking his kids to see James Bond movies. He was active in the Slovak Catholic gymnastics society and served as an usher in the former St. Stephen Martyr Parish. As he got older, Greguska began having trouble with his heart, but still came into the office every day. "He still signed paychecks to the very end," said Frank Jr. Frank Greguska Sr. is survived by his children Frank Jr., Michael, Barbara Nash, Marie and Thomas, and his 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene. Frank J. Greguska Sr. There will be a visitation on Monday at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church from 3 to 7 p.m., and a committal prayer on Tuesday at Holy Cross Cemetery at 11 a.m. SHARE Nation needs Trump I watched the Republican convention in Cleveland and did enjoy the lineup of speakers and their message very much. My political views typically are not aligned entirely in one party or the other. However, I will be voting for Donald Trump in November, and firmly believe he is the leader and change agent our country needs now. Although, I had not heard Gov. Mike Pence previously, I am very impressed with him as a leader and his proven ability to govern and turn things around in Indiana. As a retired U.S. Marine and recently a retired civil servant (now moved back to Wisconsin where I grew up), I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating and disappointing it has been to work under the Obama administration and his appointees. Secretary Hillary Clinton's record is abysmal, and her decision to send classified emails using her personal server and account is quite illegal. If any one of us in our government job sent even one email with classified content on our personal email account, we would have had our security clearance suspended and been escorted from the building. This is a serious security matter and breach of policy, as those of us who have held a clearance fully understand. After listening to the Republican convention all week, I completely disagree with your editorial columnist Christian Schneider and others on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff regarding Trump. The Journal Sentinel's bias is clear, and the editorial staff's lack of balance in reporting the Republican message and events of the Republican convention is a disservice to your readership. I hope Ted Cruz, the narcissistic Texas senator, doesn't trip over his conservative principles on the way to the voting booth. It gives me comfort knowing my vote will cancel his out. My guess is he will write himself in on the ballot. What a joke! Semper Fidelis and God bless the USA, Judith Wade Watertown Trump's aristocratic barbarism Donald Trump's acceptance speech at the closing of the Republican National Convention reeks of aristocratic barbarism. His call for resurrection of the nation in the context of global isolation while pandering to public fears of rampant terrorism and unchecked illegal immigration has more in common with a dictatorship or oligarchy than a democracy. His bellowing on smashing an economic system that is rigged is the epitome of hypocrisy from a man who bragged about making millions from exploiting loopholes in the tax code as well as leveraging bankruptcy laws to acquire his wealth. His declaration that "nobody knows the system" better than him is one of few truths he has uttered during his tumultuous bid toward the Republican Party nomination, and should raise eyebrows. Equally insightful are his inferences to ditching NATO allies in Eastern Europe and rethinking U.S. human rights advocacy abroad. This may be the "art of the deal" in the corporate boardroom when discussing how to best market competitors but has no place in geopolitical negotiations with a military superpower such as Russia on the sidelines no less. It may be instructive to remember that Trump resides in the elite upper echelon of income earners in the United States. Like many in this stratosphere, his wealth was built on the backs of a diverse and dedicated working class. His commitment to the success of this country at the expense of self-serving isolationist economic and social policies he routinely belches flies clearly in the face of what originally made America great and what will make it great once again. Paul A. Biedrzycki Milwaukee Cruz's courage commendable I couldn't agree more with David Haynes' column on Ted Cruz ("Ted Cruz and an act of courage," July 21). While I am not a Cruz supporter, I commend his tenacity in telling it like it is. While Donald Trump claims to speak the minds of Americans, Cruz also spoke the minds of Americans who are reeling in the thought of electing a man who is bigoted, self-serving and falls far short of the real foundation of this country. That being tolerance and believing in equality and respect for all. Cruz took the hard road and rose to the occasion to tell it like it is instead of pretending to buy into a very flawed candidate as a lot of others have. Hurray for Cruz! Lynn Eurich Mequon A pro-brexit demonstrator chants during a protest outside Downing Street following the arrival of new Prime Minister Theresa May at Number 10 on July 13 in London. Demonstrators urged May to invoke Article 50 which would trigger the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. Credit: Getty Images SHARE By The famous British economist John Maynard Keynes is best known for his ideas regarding stimulus spending, yet his other ideas regarding the choices facing nations in the past also may be newly relevant regarding Brexit. Keynes is most commonly associated with the Depression-era economic theories he developed that advocated for government deficit spending during times of economic contraction. His work led to the New Deal policies followed by the Roosevelt administration that were intended to "jump start" the economy during the height of the Great Depression. However, another strand of Keynes' work is not well known. In 1919, he published a book titled "The Economic Consequences of the Peace." Having served as a British delegate to the Paris Peace Conference after World War I, Keynes was a strong advocate for a more generous peace offer to the Germans than ended up being imposed under the Treaty of Versailles. This book had widespread impact at the time and fueled the British policy of Nazi appeasement in the run up to World War II, as the British public felt the Germans had been treated unfairly at Versailles. Historians argue that the book was extremely prescient in its near forecast of a World War II-like event coming in the future, given the "Carthaginian Peace" imposed by the Allies on the Germans. Keynes had argued for a plan to rebuild Europe after World War I. His stated goal was to integrate a peaceful Germany into the world economy, rather than punish her with unpayable war reparations. Keynes, in fact, was a major player in the 1944 Bretton Woods negotiations and his ideas were highly influential in the eventual design of the successful Marshall Plan. Fast forward to today and the recent Brexit vote. While the players have reversed their roles at the bargaining table and the stakes are nothing like those following a world war, there are marked similarities. For example, in an effort to assure that other European countries do not flirt with a "leave" decision of their own, the remaining EU membership seems determined to punish the British for their people's decision. Denying the United Kingdom access to the EU's single market now seems likely unless Britain accepts terms of free movement and unchecked immigration that were the primary drivers of the leave campaign's success. This is clearly politically impossible for the Tory government already split on the Brexit decision themselves. In an effort to make an example of the British, let's hope the EU doesn't impose a sort of "Carthaginian Union" on the U.K. Europe is a more dynamic, prosperous and safe place with a strong U.K. rather than one diminished by punitive sanctions upon its economy. However, loss of access to its largest trading partners almost certainly would weaken Britain economically and militarily at a time Europe can afford neither result. Britain needs a relationship with the EU patterned more like the Marshall Plan than the Treaty of Versailles. Like Germany after World War I, Britain and its economy doesn't need further punishment but rather a way forward to forge the closest possible relationship with Europe. M. Scott Niederjohn is professor of economics at Lakeland University, where he is the director of the Center for Economic Education. Mark C. Schug is an emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images SHARE In 1916, Jeannette Rankin (R-Mont.) was the first woman elected to Congress. Montana women earned the right to vote in 1914. Associated Press Election 2016 Visit our election section for complete coverage of the 2016 spring and fall local, state and national elections. By of the Nineteen-year-old Demetria Harmon will cast her first presidential ballot in November. She doesn't know who she will vote for, but is certain of this: The success of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who this week will become the first woman to head a major party ticket shows that women can achieve the same goals as men. "Growing up, I always thought the president had to be a man, because it's always been a man," said Harmon, a Milwaukee resident who works as a clerk at a drugstore. Even though she grew up in an age when women run Fortune 500 companies, serve in the military and take leadership roles in the community, she didn't think she would see a woman president in her lifetime. "Girls growing up now," she said, "will know that you can be a woman and be president." While some women disagree with Clinton on policy matters, and many millennials backed rival Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, there is a broad sense of pride in seeing this milestone passed some 96 years after women were granted the right to vote. The Democratic National Convention starts Monday in Philadelphia. "It's a blessing to be alive and be experiencing it," said Shante Wellington, 27, of Milwaukee. "It will allow girls to realize you don't have to necessarily be a housewife or in a cooking setting or a stay-at-home mom or other places you automatically place women, like nursing. "There are other options, like being the leader of the country." Jean Sobon, 74, of Shorewood supported Sanders in the primary, but will cast her November vote for Clinton "definitely not because of her sex, but her ideas." "It shows a lessening of the prejudice against women," Sobon said of Clinton's nomination. Behind the numbers Since 1920, when women gained the right to vote in the United States, 37 females have served as governors in 27 states. Since the first woman was elected to Congress in 1916, Jeannette Rankin from Montana, 307 women have served. (Of the current 535 members, 104 are women 76 Democrats and 28 Republicans). In 2008, Clinton made her first presidential bid, but was defeated by Barack Obama, who broke the color barrier and later put Clinton in his cabinet. In her concession speech that year, Clinton declared: "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it." In the 50 years leading up to 2014, an analysis from the World Economic Forum found that 63 of 142 nations had at some point had a female head of government or state. "We think of countries like India and Pakistan as less developed than our own political scene, and not as conscious of political rights, and they've both had female leaders," said Jill Goldmann Weinshel, 51, of Mequon. "I find it fascinating that it's taken that long for a woman to achieve that in our political process." A long road The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 set the stage for women to get a seat at the political table. Both male and female delegates adopted the Declaration of Sentiments, a version of the Declaration of Independence that was rewritten to include references to women. For instance, it read, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal." After decades of fighting for suffrage, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1920. Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the amendment in 1919, narrowly beating out Illinois. Until then, women were seen as politically and economically dependent on their husband or father. "I'm not entirely sure we've gotten over that notion of women as dependents," said Kristen Foster, an associate professor of history at Marquette University. "That's why a candidacy like (Clinton's) is so important. She's not somebody's helper." Peggy Creer, 59, said she doesn't want to focus on gender, but hopes young women understand how hard women worked for equality. "My mother couldn't take out a credit card without my father's permission," said Creer, a Whitefish Bay resident. "I hope they realize life wasn't always like it is now." In the social and political upheaval of the 1960s and '70s, women demanded to be treated equal to men in business and home life. "The women's movement exploded that notion that women needed a male in their life to have a satisfactory, independent life," said Foster, the history professor. "This is one reason I think middle aged and older women are so invested in Hillary they have that collective memory of coming out of the women's movement in the 1970s." About 70% of the American electorate was born before 1970, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, said when she graduated from high school in 1970, no one would have thought about a woman as president. "This just wasn't on our radar as anything that could happen in the foreseeable future," she said. Kaminski recalled when Democratic nominee Walter Mondale named Geraldine Ferraro, then a congresswoman from New York, as his running mate in 1984 the first time a woman appeared at the top of the ticket of a major party. Her eldest daughter was just 3 years old. "I can remember her little voice saying, 'Mondale and Ferraro,'" Kaminski said. "She was excited that a woman was running." For U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, Ferraro's nomination held special significance. Baldwin was the first woman elected to Congress from Wisconsin in 1998, and in 2012 became the state's first female senator. "On the night Geraldine Ferraro accepted the nomination, I had no idea how much seeing her take the stage was going to mean to me," said Baldwin, who was 22 at the time. "I got really choked up and thought, 'I can aspire to anything. There are no limits anymore.'" Gender and voting patterns In the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, released earlier this month, 53% of women said they would vote for Clinton if the election were held today. Just 29% said they would vote for Republican Donald Trump. Among all registered voters, 43% supported Clinton and 37% backed Trump. The remainder 20% said they would vote for neither candidate or were undecided. Though, as research suggests, party affiliation drives voting patterns, not the gender of the candidate. "Gender makes less of a difference than anyone really thinks," said Janet Boles, a retired Marquette University political science professor who taught courses about women in politics. "It's party identification and incumbent status that matters." Laura Linn, 31, Brookfield, typically votes Republican and would rather see a conservative female leader. "I think if a woman were to run and get elected that I agreed with, that would be wonderful," Linn said. "I don't think it matters man or woman as long as they are doing what's best for the country and have views with all of humanity in mind." Representation in Wisconsin In recent years, the number of women in Wisconsin government has been nearly stagnant. The number of women holding state legislative seats went from 10 in 1975 to 25 in 1985. Today the figure is 34 out of 132, or 25% of seats. According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, that ranks Wisconsin No. 21 among the states. In the top state, Colorado, women make up 42% of the state legislature. When all elected officials in Wisconsin were considered including those at the local level 23% were women, according to a 2015 review by the Wisconsin Women's Council and Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls. It would need to more than double to match the male-female breakdown in the state. "Lack of representation is a perpetual cycle," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, who first ran for office at 22 years old. "Since there are few women, the lack of role models says this isn't for you." With the nomination and potential election of Clinton, research suggest there will be a "trickle down" effect and more women will run for office. Studies show women are less likely than men to decide to run on their own and often need encouragement. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch said she spoke with fellow Republican Margaret Farrow, the state's first female lieutenant governor, when debating about running for the job Farrow once held. "She was confident in me," Kleefisch said. "That type of reassurance from other women is important so more women choose to enter politics." Various programs encourage women to run for office. For Republicans, Right Women Right Now is aimed at cultivating female candidates. For Democrats, it is Emerge Wisconsin. Both are part of national efforts. "This problem of underrepresentation isn't just going to fix itself," said Erin Forrest, executive director of Emerge Wisconsin. Involvement in a similar program, VoteRunLead, helped JoCasta Zamarripa become the first Latina to be elected to the Wisconsin Legislature in 2011. "We have to make sure that we are stepping up and raising our hand," said Zamarripa, a Milwaukee Democrat. When she enters a classroom to talk to students, Zamarripa always asks, "Who will run for office one day?" Each time, she said, too few girls raise their hand. "I hope after Hillary wins, more little girls' hands will pop up," she said. "When little girls see us in these positions, it's much easier for them to see themselves in these positions." An entrance to the Waupun Correctional Institution in Waupun. The state paid $64.5 million in overtime in 2015 to corrections, health and other state workers. Credit: Mark Hoffman SHARE By of the Madison The overtime paid to state workers rose by 12% last year to a level not seen for at least a decade, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis has found. The sharp increase in overtime wages suggests that Gov. Scott Walker's Act 10 repeal of most collective bargaining is no longer holding down those costs the way it did several years ago. The state paid $64.5 million in overtime in 2015 to corrections, health and other state workers, up nearly one-third from a low of $49.4 million in 2012. Sean Daley, a longtime prison workers representative for Council 32 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, isn't surprised. He said many officers are now being required to work back-to-back shifts, or 16 hours in all, for two or more times in a week. "I've never seen it to this magnitude," Daley said of the overtime. The Walker administration said the savings from Act 10 and the governor's overall policies dwarf these overtime bills, having held down state and local government costs by billions of dollars overall since 2011. Overtime rose in 2015 from a range of factors, from turnover within the prison system and other agencies hitting its highest level in at least a decade to others outside of state control, such as forest fires and investigations of shootings by police. To recruit more prison workers, the Walker administration in February brought in a well-regarded agency veteran, Jon Litscher, as corrections secretary and in May rolled out a $10 million-a-year plan to raise wages by 80 cents an hour for thousands of corrections officers, with some of them temporarily receiving more than that. These latest overtime figures underline the urgency for the state to fill the hundreds of vacant prison positions. By analyzing state payroll data released through the open records law, the Journal Sentinel found: Without adjusting for the limited raises of state workers, overtime last year hit its highest level since at least 2006, when taxpayers paid $60.2 million to state workers who put in more than their 40 hours per week. The Department of Corrections accounted for the bulk of the increase in overtime across state government last year. Wisconsin's prison system paid out $39.9 million in overtime wages, up $4.7 million, or 13.4%, from the previous year. The overtime still amounts to just a fraction of the agency's more than $1 billion a year budget. The Department of Health Services, which runs its own secure psychiatric institutions, saw its overtime expenses rise by $589,000, or 6.3%, to $10 million. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which operates nursing homes for elderly veterans among its other programs, saw an even larger increase of $607,000, or 37%, to $2.3 million. Overtime can be one tool for state leaders to keep overall staffing levels low and avoid making taxpayers pay for health and pension benefits for new employees. But chronically understaffed institutions can lead to other costs for the state, such as having to pick up mileage and hotels for guards to travel from one prison to another to pick up empty shifts. Corrections spokesman Tristan Cook said about 60% of the overtime paid to front-line prison staff comes from covering for sick days and vacant jobs. When that happens, wardens don't have the option of leaving key prison shifts unfilled, Cook said. As the national economy improves, Wisconsin has found it harder to recruit and retain workers. Union leaders have argued that stagnant wages and changes to union rules have made state government a less attractive employer to its workforce. State officials say the problems here aren't unusual and that they're seeking more input from their workforce. "State departments of corrections across the country have experienced difficulty recruiting correctional officers," Cook said. "Secretary Litscher has visited a number of DOC correctional facilities, including every maximum-security and medium-security facility, to hear directly from front-line staff and institution managers as part of a departmentwide push to increase open lines of communication between staff and management." Cook said only a small portion of the overtime, no more than a few percentage points, was due to ongoing misconduct investigations of corrections officers. Between January 2014 and February 2016, the state put nearly 400 corrections officers and other staff on paid leave for an average of 54 days while agency officials investigated allegations against them. Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Allouez) said he's pleased that Litscher and the Walker administration are making efforts to hire more prison workers at facilities in his area such as Green Bay Correctional Institution. Overtime, he said, takes a toll on both taxpayers and prison employees. "This excessive overtime is undesirable, especially as it applies to corrections," Cowles said. State overtime jumped amid the labor protests and law enforcement demands of 2011 and then fell the next year as Act 10 took effect and ushered in new work rules. Before 2011, for instance, workers who called in sick for a shift and then worked the immediate next shift were paid one shift at their regular pay and the other at time and a half. In 2008, the Journal Sentinel published an investigation that showed some prison guards had boosted their income by working the system this way. For the past five years, both shifts are paid at straight time; workers don't get overtime unless they actually work extra hours. But overtime has risen since 2012 along with employee turnover. Other agencies that saw higher overtime in 2015 include the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Justice, with overtime at the latter increasing more than tenfold between 2006 and 2015, to $1.2 million. Walker administration spokesman Steven Michels and Justice spokesman Johnny Koremenos said those increases were due to several factors, including an increase in forest fires and the transfer of existing staff who work on criminal justice issues from the Department of Administration to the Department of Justice. Detectives in the Justice Department also have played a huge rule in reviewing shootings by police officers under a law signed by Walker in 2014 that requires an independent investigation in such cases. Michels said the administration is taking steps to manage overtime across state agencies, including legislation signed by Walker in February overhauling the process the state uses to fill civil service jobs. "The legislation will expedite the hiring process, reward outstanding performance and create consistent and clear rules to be followed across state government. New technology and recruiting strategies are being developed and we expect to launch a new hiring website and mobile interface in March 2017," Michels said. 'This is the right time to exhale': David Stearns ends seven-year run The 37-year-old cited a desire to spend more time with family in stepping back to an advisory role, but the New York Mets are sure to be interested. The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds are scheduled to perform next weekend at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Credit: Royal Canadian Air Force SHARE People examine a World War II ear P-51B, named the Berlin Express, during the 2015 EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The 2016 annual aviation gathering begins Monday. Mark Hoffman By of the It's been more than three decades since the Canadian Snowbirds aerial demonstration team swooped low in formation over crowds at EAA AirVenture. With long-running air shows in Milwaukee and Rockford, Ill., canceled this year because of scheduling conflicts with flight demonstration teams, EAA officials are encouraging aviation enthusiasts in the upper Midwest to travel to Oshkosh to see the Canadian version of America's Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. The weeklong aviation convention begins Monday at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The Snowbirds feature nine Royal Canadian Air Force pilots flying Canadair CT-114 Tutor jets in formation at speeds up to 465 mph and as close as 4 feet wingtip to wingtip. The Canadians were the first military flight demonstration team to perform at EAA's large fly-in back in the 1970s and last visited Oshkosh in 1983. "They have an obligation to serve air shows in Canada, which is their first priority because that's who they work for," said EAA Chairman Jack Pelton. "We've always competed for calendar time with them and it so happens to work out during AirVenture this year." The Snowbirds will perform next weekend with a full dress rehearsal at the end of the regular air show on Friday and performances at the end of the afternoon air shows on Saturday and Sunday, July 31. Just like when the Air Force Thunderbirds performed in 2014, the aerobatic box above Wittman Field will be larger than usual for AirVenture air shows, which means crowds will line up further back from the tarmac. Over the decades, EAA AirVenture which started as a small group of plane-building enthusiasts in EAA founder Paul Poberezny's Franklin basement has been the go-to place to unveil new technology, show off the latest in military and civilian aircraft and ogle antique and vintage planes ranging from century-old biplanes to rare World War II warbirds. Among the notable planes scheduled to appear are the largest flying water bomber, the gigantic Martin Mars amphibian plane used to fight forest fires for decades; the last known flying World War II A-20 Havoc twin-engine light bomber; a rare 1909 Curtiss Pusher biplane; and a restored Interstate Cadet aircraft believed to be in the air on a training flight in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In a nod to the skyrocketing popularity of drones, EAA officials expanded the area where drone manufacturers will demonstrate their wares. Exhibit space for drone-related businesses quickly sold out and EAA officials scheduled numerous forums on unmanned aircraft systems throughout the convention. The official responsible for the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to integrate drones into U.S. airspace, Earl Lawrence, will be in Oshkosh all week meeting with drone enthusiasts and speaking at forums. "We're at that crossover place where the FAA's defined current rules need to find a way for the general aviation and drone communities to coexist with each other," said Pelton. AirVenture officials were hoping Solar Impulse, the plane circumnavigating the globe solely powered by the sun, might stop in Oshkosh on its record-setting flight but delays in Asia meant the plane couldn't visit this year. "It didn't work out timing-wise, so they had to overfly us and go to New York. Even if they have to package it up and bring it to Oshkosh one of these years, we're hoping that will happen," Pelton said. AirVenture is observing several milestones this year, including: The 100th anniversary of Boeing Aircraft Co. and U.S. Coast Guard aviation. Coast Guard aircraft will be featured in Thursday's afternoon air show. The 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, featuring "Tora! Tora! Tora!" air show performances during the Wednesday night air show and the afternoon air show on Saturday, with an evening program featuring Pearl Harbor historians on Wednesday. The 25th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm aviation, featuring pilots and planes from that war including F-16, F-18, A-10 and KC-135 aerial refuelers. IF YOU GO What: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016. When: Monday through Sunday. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day. Exhibit buildings open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Airshows are held each afternoon. A night airshow is scheduled to start about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, followed by fireworks. How much: Daily rates for non-EAA members are $47 for adults; $26 for students 6-18; and free for children 5 and younger. Parking is $10. For more information: www.eaa.org/en/airventure SHARE By of the Racine Police and Fire Commissioner J. Mark Freeman resigned from his position after his social media posts sparked controversy, according to the Racine Journal Times. "After a thoughtful and far-reaching conversation with Mayor John Dickert, Bishop J. Mark Freeman has submitted a letter of resignation from the Police & Fire Commission.," a release from the mayor's office said. The mayor accepted the resignation and is quoted in the statement saying "My job is not to take sides in these kinds of situations. My job is to make sure everyone is protected." According to the Journal Times, in one post, a "police officer was depicted wearing a pointed white hood while aiming a gun at a black youth." The social media posts from Freeman that sparked the controversy have been deleted. Freeman told CBS 58 he made the posts to start a conversation and that "our nation is in peril." Before Freeman resigned, the Racine Police Association and the Staff Officer's Association had said the organizations were filing a complaint to remove the commissioner from his post. Freeman was appointed commissioner in April of this year. SHARE By of the Milwaukee recorded its second homicide on the city's northwest side in three days when a man was shot to death late Saturday. Milwaukee police responded to a shooting in the 3100 Block of North Sherman Blvd. around 11 p.m. A 21-year-old man was confronted by the suspect and at some point during the confrontation, the suspect shot the man and fled. The man was taken to a hospital and died from the gunshot wound, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. This is the second homicide on Milwaukee's northwest side within three days, after a man was shot to death on Thursday in the 4900 block of N. 84th St. A recently released city report showed homicides and nonfatal shootings declined in Milwaukee during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2015. Yet, the midyear totals remain higher than any other year in the past decade. Last year, Milwaukee had 145 homicide victims, the highest number since 1993, when 160 people were killed. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | The shooter at a Munich mall last week who killed 9 and left 27 wounded was an admirer of far right wing Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, and appears to have hated Muslims. Although David Sonboly was of Iranian heritage, he does not seem to have been a Muslim and appears to have felt no connection to that community. Iranians are mostly Shiite Muslims who are often victimized by ISIL, so it wasnt ever very likely that his rampage was inspired by that organization. The current insistence by politicians and journalists on treating anyone with a drop of Middle Eastern blood as a Muslim is frankly racist. After all, millions of people of Christian heritage would now insist that they are not Christians. Why cant people from Muslim families convert to other things, too? Sonboly appears to have considered himself a Christian or at least a Westerner. As with many mass killers, the 18-year-old likely had mental problems. But to the extent that he was driven by ideology, it was the that of the Islamophobia Network. Sonboly was part of a far-right anti-Muslim tendency that now haunts Europe . As many attacks in Europe are carried out by the white far right as by Muslims. The ambiguities of identity were on display in this case, since Sonboly shouted I am German! at the Turkish-Germans he targeted, whom he called Fucking Turks. He seems to have blamed practicing Muslims for creating the conditions of prejudice toward people who looked like him in Germany. But many Germans of Turkish heritage belong to the minority Alevi community and tend to be unreligious in Germany. One of his victims was Greek but had a Muslim name likely therefore to have been from Greeces Albanian minority. That young man threw himself in the line of fire to protect his sister. As it becomes clear that the Munich shooting was not ISIL but rather Western Far Right in inspiration, the case will likely quickly fade and no longer be mentioned on the floor of Congress or in the pages of our elite newspapers. They have another master narrative, and David is just too uncategorizable for it. Related video: Munich gunman obsessed with shootings BBC News Reddit Email 7 Shares By Russell Frank | (The Conversation) | Roger Ailes 20-year reign as the chairman of Fox News ended this week, the result of a sexual harassment scandal. He will be remembered by journalism ethicists as the poster boy for conflict of interest. But of Ailes many departures from journalistic norms of impartiality, the most egregious was his hiring of a cousin of presidential candidate George W. Bush during the 2000 election. Partisan journalism, redefined We talk a lot about conflict of interest in my journalism ethics class: why travel writers shouldnt accept free trips to Disney World. Why food critics shouldnt write about their sister-in-laws restaurant. Why no journalists should actively support or work against any causes or organizations that they may be called upon to write about. And, especially, why no news executives should assign stories that promote their allies or attack their enemies. The prohibitions are grounded in the belief in the importance of journalistic independence the belief that journalists first allegiance should be to the public they serve. It gets complicated, of course. If everyone who has an opinion about abortion rights is disqualified from covering a march for or against abortion rights, there would be no news of such protests. If, as is increasingly the case, the news organization is owned by a corporation that also owns a movie studio, how should the news organization handle a new release by the studio? Classic cases help us see how such conflicts play out in the real world: the political reporter who was having an affair with the mayor, the news anchor who spoke at a Democratic Party fundraiser and the business reporter whose coverage of a company he owned stock in caused that stock to rise. Then theres Fox News, which is in a whole different category. From one perspective, a conservative-leaning TV news source was needed as a counterweight to all the liberal-leaning sources. From another, the arrival of Fox was part of a two-pronged right-wing strategy: First, relentlessly discredit what were actually more or less impartial news sources as having a liberal bias. Then, offer your own news shows as the fair and balanced alternative. The giveaway was Rupert Murdochs 1996 appointment of Roger Ailes, a former adviser to the Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush campaigns, to build the operation. Where individual journalists or newsroom executives might have a conflict of interest covering particular stories or issues, Ailes brought a political agenda to an entire news organization. The master propagandist became a master news producer, enjoying 20 years of powerhouse ratings. Tilting the 2000 election? But Ailes signature moment was bringing John Ellis on board to analyze the data provided by the Voter News Service on Election Night 2000. To this day, some claim the networks suppressed Republican turnout by prematurely calling some states for Al Gore; others argue the networks, starting with Fox, influenced the outcome by prematurely calling the election for Bush. One thing is known: Ellis was on the phone with the Republican nominee and his brother Jeb throughout the evening, and it was Ellis declaration that his kinsman was the winner that influenced all the projections that followed. Before the gig at Fox, in a column he wrote for the Boston Globe, Ellis recused himself from coverage of the election, acknowledging that his first loyalty was to his cousin. Dwell on this for a moment, Tim Dickinson wrote in a 2011 Rolling Stone article. A news network controlled by a GOP operative who had spent decades shaping just such political narratives including those that helped elect the candidates father declared George W. Bush the victor based on the analysis of a man who had proclaimed himself loyal to Bush over the facts. Once Bush took office, Dickinson wrote, Ailes frequently served as an informal adviser to the president. And when Obama succeeded Bush, Fox News reverted to attack mode, raising doubts about his citizenship and his religious affiliation. With Ailes at the controls, Fox News has been fair and balanced only if you believe that all other news coverage is so biased that an entire network is needed to counteract it. In other words, in the face of the supposed liberal slant at the other networks, Fox needed to be unfair and unbalanced. Instead, Ailes has reigned in an era of unprecedented political partisanship. Other networks tried to mimic Fox News success; the result has been a proliferation of partisan outlets that have only further polarized viewers, while the publics trust in the media is at a historic low. Give Ailes credit. His experiment with overtly partisan news-like programming has been wildly successful for Foxs bottom line. But his tenure epitomized by his appointment of John Ellis has grievously harmed journalism. Russell Frank, Associate Professor of Communications, Pennsylvania State University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Reddit Email 0 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) Israeli settlers verbally attacked Palestinian residents of the town of al-Khader in the southern occupied West Bank on Saturday, threatening them with a gun as the Palestinians were working in their land, which is situated in the Bethlehem district between the illegal Israeli settlements of Neve Daniel and El-Azar. The owner of the private land, Samir Jabir, told Maan that he was surveying the land to begin re-cultivating it after it had been left dormant for some years. He said his family has ownership papers for the land that dated back to the Ottoman era. All of a sudden, he said, a group of Israeli settlers from an illegal outpost known as Fathers Road arrived and tried to intimidate Jabir in order to make him leave the land. They started to chase me, with one of them wielding a gun, said Jabir. Even after Jabir moved to another tract of land where his cousins were working, the settlers chased after him. According to Jabir and his cousins, the settler who was holding a gun continued to threaten the men, and shouted anti-Muslim slurs at them. When they refused the settlers demands to leave, one of the settlers pointed his pistol at Jabir and his two cousins, to which Jabirs cousin responded saying, you can shoot me but we will not move out. Footage recorded by Jabir that he later uploaded to YouTube then shows the settler shooting live bullets into the air above where Jabirs cousins were standing. According to Jabir, when he called the Israeli police to ask for assistance, the police officer initially responded by asking if there were any Jewish individuals among the group being attacked. After insisting that he still required assistance and protection, an Israeli army vehicle arrived within 15 minutes, and later an Israeli police vehicle arrived to the scene. Jabir informed the Israeli police about the incident, showed them the videos he captured on his phone, were escorted by the officers to an Israeli police station in Hebron, where they filed a formal complaint. He said police officers found bullet casings on the scene that backed his claims. An Israeli army spokesperson told Maan she was looking into reports of the incident. According to Jabir, Israeli police told him they would summon suspected settlers for questioning. Israeli settlers have carried out at least 60 attacks on Palestinians and their property in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank since the start of 2016, and a total of 221 in 2015, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. However, the perpetrators of violence against Palestinian civilians and their property are rarely punished, with Israeli police closing most investigations without an indictment. According to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, only 1.9 percent of complaints submitted by Palestinians against Israeli civilian attacks result in a conviction. The United Nations reported on Thursday that nine attacks by Israeli settlers resulting in Palestinian injuries or property damage/losses occurred between July 12 and 18, representing the highest number of settler related incident in a single week since the beginning of 2016. JURIST Guest Columnist Allen Hammond of the Santa Clara Law School discusses a recent net neutrality ruling and what it means for the future of the internet After three tries before the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has succeeded in applying net neutrality rules to Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In a 2 to 1 decision [PDF], the circuit court panel upheld the FCCs most recent decision to apply common carrier regulations to broadband internet access networks. On the two prior occasions, the FCC had been rebuffed by the court. In the first case, Comcast Corp. v FCC [PDF], the court held that the FCC had failed to cite any statutory authority that would justify its order requiring a broadband provider (Comcast) to comply with open internet practices. In the second case, Verizon v. FCC [PDF], the court held that the FCC could rely on section 706 of the Telecommunications Act for statutory authority to promulgate open internet rules. However, the FCC had earlier determined that broadband providers were information service providers and not predominantly telecommunications service providers. Consequently, the FCCs anti-blocking and anti-discrimination rules violated the Telecommunications Act, which prohibits the application of common carrier regulation to services other than telecommunications. In the third case, USTA v. FCC, the court concluded the FCC acted within the scope of its congressionally delegated statutory authority when it interpreted an ambiguity in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to allow reclassification. In addition, based on an extensive record, the FCCs decision to reclassify wireline and wireless broadband internet networks as common carriers was reasonable. As a consequence, the FCC is legally entitled to issue and enforce rules that prohibit ISPs from blocking, degrading or impairing user internet access to lawful sites, content, applications, services and non-harmful devices. After three tries, the FCC finally got it right. Deja Vu This is not the first time the country has had to address the economic power that accrues to network service providers whose facilities connect virtually all segments of the market and the democracy and face little or no competition. Nor is it likely to be the last. After all, weve done this three times before. Both Western Union (in the 1850s) and its technological offspring, the former American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) (in the 1930s), sought to monopolize telecommunications by refusing network interconnection to competitors and engaging in predatory pricing. Congress enacted the Communications Act of 1934 with its common carrier provisions in response. By 1976-1984, the former AT&T was leveraging its network position to unfairly disadvantage its network competitors and threatening to enter some of its customers markets. Major corporations including Boeing (airlines/aerospace); IBM and EDS (computers and data processing); MCI and Satellite Business Systems (telecommunications), ITT (equipment manufacturers), the Washington Post (electronic publishing), Data Communications (enhanced services) and Exxon (energy) faced the sobering prospect of competing against their network service provider, AT&T, then, the largest corporation in the world, and the one upon which they were totally dependent. Their political push back in congress along with a major political miscalculation by AT&T counterbalanced AT&Ts full court press to legislate its way out of the antitrust suit and common carrier status. This is the third time. Concerns expressed to the President and the FCC by Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies including Bank of America, Ford, UPS and Visa, as well as nearly 200 major tech companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon, and venture capitalists, are reminiscent of those expressed by earlier captains of industry to congress in 1981. They all lobbied for rules that would ensure an open network fairly accessible to all. Otherwise ISPs would have too much power over what content flows over the internet, which could be potentially damaging to all companies that engage in commerce in one form or another online. But, It Aint Over Till Its Over The judicial decision has been hailed as a triumph for the FCC, vindication for the public interest, a major win for Silicon Valley and a major loss for telephone and cable companies. However, it is important not to get caught up in the current storyline of the euphoric victory or the rancorous defeat. Neither narrative is accurate as nothing is settled. The circuit court opinion is likely to be appealed, a dysfunctional congress will be intensely lobbied to undo the FCC decision, and presidential, senate and congressional candidates will be asked to take positions even though they may be out of step with their constituencies. The Network is an Essential Facility Regardless of the Technological Form It Takes If the circuit courts decision stands, however, the court and the FCC will have upheld the return to a central tenet of our relentlessly technologically evolving society: the network is an essential facility regardless of the technological form it takes. It does not matter if the switching is electromechanical, digital or some future technology. It does not matter if the transport is coaxial, fiber optic or spectrum based. If it connects each to all and is essential to the economic, cultural and democratic life of the nation, it is a common carrier and must be treated as such. If we do not remember this truth, we will place the economy and the democracy in jeopardy again. How do we know? Well, because weve done it three times before. Professor Allen Hammond IV holds the Phil and Bobbie Sanfilippo Chair at Santa Clara University and is director of the BroadBand Institute of California. He is the author along with Professors Leonard Baynes and Catherine Sandoval of a forthcoming casebook (Aspen/Wolters-Kluwer, Pub.) on Regulation of Broadband Communications. He is the editor, with Barbara S. Cherry and Stephen S. Wildman, of Making Universal Service Policy: Enhancing the Process Through Multidisciplinary Evaluation (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1999). Suggested citation:Allen Hammond, The Third Times the Charm?, JURIST Forum, June 21, 2016, http://jurist.org/forum/2016/07/allen-hammond-third-times.php This article was prepared for publication by Dave Rodkey, an Assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary service. Please direct any questions or comments to him at commentary@jurist.org The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon [official website] released a statement [text] on Friday condemning the recent fighting in Kidal, Mali [UN News Centre report]. The fighting arose at the end of last week between the Platform Movement and the Coordination of movements of Azawad (CMA), two signatories to the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. The Secretary General, along with the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) [official website], are calling for restored peace [MINUSMA statement] after this first violation of the countrys ceasefire in September 2015. Mali has been facing a humanitarian crisis since 2012 that has raised grave international concerns. Most recently, in April 2015 Ban Ki-Moon expressed concern [JURIST report] over attacks in Mali in which members of MINUSMA were specifically targeted, resulting in numerous casualties. In May 2012 Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] released a report saying that Mali was facing its worst human rights crisis [JURIST report] since it gained independence in 1960. Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] released a similar report in April 2012 claiming that all sides to the conflict are committing war crimes [JURIST report]. Also in April 2012 the International Criminal Court (ICC) said they would monitor the situation [JURIST report] in Mali for potential crimes under the ICCs jurisdiction. The turmoil began when Taureg rebels attacked Malian soldiers [Al Jazeera report]. Many in the international community expressed concern [JURIST report] over the situation, including Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. All of this came after Malian soldiers took control of the government [JURIST report] and suspended the constitution in March 2012. In a 4-3 ruling on Friday, the Virginia Supreme Court [official website] held [opinion, PDF] that Governor Terry McAuliffes [official website] executive order [order, PDF] granting a blanket restoration of the states felon voting rights is unconstitutional. The voter-disqualification provision in Article II of Virginias Constitution [text] provides that [n]o person who has been convicted of a felony shall be qualified to vote unless his civil rights have been restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. Article II also enables the Governor to consider and act on any request from felons to have their voting rights restored. Noting that All prior Governors exercised their clemency powers including pardons, reprieves, commutations, and restorations on an individualized case-by-case basis taking into account the specific circumstances of each, the Court stated that we are aware of no point in the history of the Commonwealth that any Governor has even asserted the power to issue sua sponte clemency order of any kind, whether to restore civil rights or grant a pardon, to an entire class of unnamed felons without regard for the nature of the crimes or any other individual circumstances relevant to the request. The civil rights restored by Governor McAuliffes order included the rights to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, and to act as a notary public. The governor previously noted [NPR news report] the racial injustice that resulted from depriving felons of the right to vote, given the higher incarceration rates of African-American communities. He also stated in an interview to NPR [Interview transcripts, text], I mean, theyve served their time. Theyre done with the system . People make mistakes in life. You shouldnt have to live with that for the rest of your life. I believe in redemption. Voting rights have been the subject of numerous legal challenges across the US, particularly in a presidential election year. Last month a federal judge ruled that Ohios elimination of the states early in-person voting [JURIST report] was unconstitutional and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Earlier in May a federal judge ruled that Virginias voter identification law, which requires that voters have a valid form of ID either before voting or within three days after voting, is constitutional [JURIST report]. Also in May a federal judge ruled that Kansas cannot require voters to provide proof of citizenship [JURIST report] when registering to vote. In April a federal judge upheld [JURIST report] North Carolinas voter ID law. In February the Maryland Senate overrode a veto by Governor Larry Hogan to pass a bill that will allow felons to vote [JURIST report] before they complete parole or probation. 234 Shares Share Treating pain is a notoriously tricky business. But its even harder if the medications on which we rely are inappropriately marketed. Last month, a Los Angeles Times investigation of Purdue Pharma asserted that for years, the company falsely elevated the efficacy of its twice-daily OxyContin, a powerful opioid pain reliever. The Times review of evidence including three decades of court cases, investigations, patient and sales rep testimonies provides good data that the drugs effect may not, as claimed by Purdue, last for 12 hours across the board. In other words, OxyContin may not be the magical drug that provides longer-lasting pain relief than all other oral opioids. Purdue has argued that the Times claims are not valid, and it remains to be seen whether there will be federal investigations into this claim as recommended by Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey. In the meantime, as a doctor who bought the hype about OxyContins twice-daily efficacy for decades, Im frustrated. While my gut sense that someone was pulling the wool over my eyes was correct, I was casting blame in the wrong direction toward my patients. At first, OxyContin seemed like a wonder drug. The first glossy magazine ads started appearing in the mid or late 1990s, and one of my first patients who swore by it was a grandmother in Baltimore. She had really bad knees so bad, she told me, that they felt like a dog was gnawing on the bone. Surgery wasnt an option, and shed tried acetaminophen, ibuprofen, steroid injections, and even the short-acting version of the active ingredient in OxyContin, oxycodone, which helped a little but wore off after a few hours. And then came OxyContin, and it changed her life. She walked with a spring in her step, slept better, and had more energy for her housework, her church work, and her grandkids. During my residency, and in my early years as a primary care physician, it was widely believed that doctors had been woefully undertreating pain. It was high time to heal our long-suffering patients. Pain became the fifth vital sign something to be addressed at each office visit. If ibuprofen and Tylenol didnt cut it, we learned to have no qualms about prescribing strong opioids in generous quantities. And so I was happy to write a prescription for the grandmother every month. For her, it was a miracle drug. I moved to Connecticut in 1999 and started a new primary care job. Many of the patients with chronic pain I inherited were already on large quantities of oxycodone and other opioid medications. The goal in those years was to transition these patients to long-acting pain medications for a number of reasons: A smaller number of pills dispensed each month meant fewer pills that could be shared or sold; and the long-acting medication promised a steady level of pain relief rather than the ups and downs of taking the shorter-acting ones multiple times a day. But switching people whod been on oxycodone, which lasts four to six hours, to the long-acting versions was not easy. One man had been getting 224 tablets of oxycodone a month for chronic back pain from another doctor for years thats an average of eight tablets a day. Initially, I tried to switch him to OxyContin. While it provided some relief for a few hours, the pains and aches returned way before 12 hours had passed. Following the prescribing guidelines, I increased the milligrams of OxyContin per dose and kept the dosing at every 12 hours, but my patient told me that even that massive amount didnt last any longer. He still needed several oxycodone tablets in between, which increased his risk of addiction and overdose. Long after I agreed to switch him back to oxycodone, I wondered if hed even tried the OxyContin, or if hed simply humored me with the end goal of beefing up what I imagined was an opioid stockpile. I remained suspicious for the duration of the time I was his doctor. He told me he took five or six oxycodone tablets on most days, not eight, but when I suggested cutting the monthly amount down, he wasnt happy. He argued that he needed the extras from time to time, for bad pain days, and that he was terrified of running out. I couldnt help wonder if he was selling or sharing some of his hefty supply. But he passed the occasional urine drug tests. The Times investigation proposes that what I was misinterpreting with this patient and, I realize now, many others was this: In those large doses, OxyContin controlled pain well but not for the expected 12 hours. In between, there was pain and sometimes withdrawal symptoms. When patients told me it wasnt enough, my antennae would shoot up. I couldnt help but wonder if they wanted the larger quantities of shorter-acting pills for their street value. Maybe some did, but Im sure there were plenty who did not; all ended up on my mental list of patients not to be trusted. I knew implicitly that patients responded differently to pain medications for many reasons: diverse metabolism rates, expectation for degree of pain relief, baseline severity of pain, as well as experience with other medications. With other medications, I would titrate the dose or interval as needed. But with OxyContin, I dutifully followed the Food and Drug Administrations guidelines because the cost of prescribing too much seemed too high to me. It never even crossed my mind that the FDAs guidelines, and the product being provided, might be wrong. Recently, I spoke with a pain medicine specialist who told me hed always been taught that, contrary to FDA guidelines, he should prescribe OxyContin three times a day. He said his mentors in the field knew that twice daily simply wasnt enough for most patients. I wish Id known that a long time ago. Now, 10 or so years later, I cant help wonder if Purdue and their effective marketing insidiously and negatively tinged my relationships with many of my patients with chronic pain. We doctors are taught not to make assumptions about any patients motivation. Unfortunately, the opiate epidemic has hardwired us to be suspicious as soon as we hear the word pain. Thanks to the Times investigation, Im trying hard not to write off a patient as drug-seeking as soon as they report a pain medication doesnt work. In the case of OxyContin, Im ashamed of how much power the pharmaceutical company has had over doctors, but Im most ashamed that I assumed some of my patients werent telling the truth. Anna Reisman is an internal medicine physician and can be reached on Twitter@annareisman. This article originally appeared in Slate. Image credit: Shutterstock.com #drug crimes Coast Guard launches investigation team to fight maritime drug crimes The Coast Guard has launched an investigation team dedicated to fighting a sharp increase in maritime drug smuggling, drug use by maritime workers and other drug crimes on the sea,... #BTS BTS' Jin to make solo debut with 'The Astronaut' By Shim Sun-ah SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) --, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, will debut as a solo artist through a collaborative single with British rock band Coldplay on Frida... SHARE By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun PORT ORCHARD Before being sent to prison for shooting a man in the back during a melee at a New Years Eve party in Bremerton, a Port Orchard man told the judge his time in prison will not be wasted. Im trying to make a change, Jamar L. Irving, 32, told Superior Court Judge Anne Laurie on Thursday before he received a nearly eight-year sentence, or 94 months. He asked Laurie for assistance in finding help for anger management and substance abuse. Irving has a lengthy criminal history, including a conviction for first-degree robbery and an active arrest warrant from Pennsylvania for cocaine dealing. He goes by the nickname Killa, according to court documents. Irvings mother, Kimberly Irving, asked the judge to have mercy on her son. Jamars not a bad person, but he has been through a lot, she said. Irving pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a firearm, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine. Although Irvings sentence settles part of what happened at a New Years Eve bash gone wrong, a felony assault charge was filed against another attendee of the party last week. When police arrived at 1:38 a.m. Jan. 1 at the Baymont Inn and Suites on Kitsap Way, they found 60 to 80 people in the parking lot yelling and screaming. A 31-year-old man was on the ground with a bullet wound the bullet remains in his hip and witnesses said a white sedan had just fled on Kitsap Way. Irving had shot the man, court documents said, because he suspected the man of throwing a bottle that hit a woman with whom Irving is in a domestic relationship. A witness said he watched Irving follow the man who allegedly threw the bottle and, suddenly, Boom, the witness told police investigators. Thats when he shot him. Witnesses and security footage indicate Irving walked calmly away from the shooting scene, documents said, while people scrambled for cover. Irving was in the fleeing sedan and was later caught by a police tracking dog in Chico after he ditched the car and attempted to flee on foot. At first he gave investigators a different name. Also in the sedan detectives found nearly 10 grams of powder cocaine and about 3.5 grams of rock cocaine. They also found a .45-caliber handgun, which he did not know was there. The gun used in the hotel shooting was a .40 caliber. The issue of the guns was later clarified. Court documents from a separate case said that the woman hit in the face with the bottle was recorded in a Jan. 1 jailhouse phone conversation telling Irving he was being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. I dont know how they gonna do that, Irving said, according to the documents. The woman told Irving the gun in the car, the .45 caliber, belonged to Irvings cousin who had gone with them to the Baymont party, documents said. Court documents do not indicate what happened to the missing .40 caliber used in the shooting. The man who had been shot, Mark A. Taoa, 31, was taken to a Tacoma hospital for treatment. He was charged April 2 with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly throwing the bottle that hit the woman. An arrest warrant has been issued for Taoa. In court documents, Taoa allegedly threw the glass bottle at a man who ducked. The bottle sailed over his head and struck the woman in the face. The woman told investigators she sustained a broken cheekbone along with numerous lacerations, has needed numerous treatments and has had ongoing pain because of the injury. Biologist Jim Hayward shields himself with an umbrella while visiting a large gull nesting colony on Protection Island, a wildlife refuge in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Hayward's research has found that climate change is triggering cannibalism among nesting gulls. Tristan Baurick/Kitsap Sun SHARE Biologist Jim Hayward holds a gull chick from the large nesting colony on Protection Island. Tristan Baurick/Kitsap Sun Biologist Jim Hayward smiles at a gull in a large nesting colony in the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge near Port Townsend. Hayward assesses about 300 of the colony's nests each evening. Tristan Baurick/Kitsap Sun Gulls fight over a gull chick that had been plucked from its nest in the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers are finding that climate change is causing a rise in cannibalism among the island's nesting gulls. Tristan Baurick/Kitsap Sun A gull chick on Protection Island cries for help after an attack from a gull trying to eat it. A parent came to its defense but could not fend off the cannibal gull. Tristan Baurick/Kitsap Sun By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun PROTECTION ISLAND Jim Hayward slips on a hard hat and pops open an umbrella before stepping into a storm of angry gulls. Hayward, a seabird biologist based on Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is making his evening rounds through the largest gull nesting colony in the Puget Sound region. He's been monitoring this site since 1987, so he's used to the shrieking, the divebombing, the frequent splatterings of gull poop, and the pecking at his head, hands and feet. What he's not accustomed to is the cannibalism. It's hard to watch: a fluffy chick straying a few yards from its nest is suddenly snatched up by its neck. Another hungry gull swoops in and bites at the chick's leg. The mother intervenes but is outnumbered. Her baby disappears under a frenzy of flapping and pecking. Over the last decade, the gulls have shown a growing taste for their neighbors' eggs and chicks. The trend appears linked to climate change. "It doesn't seem like a lot, but a one-tenth of a degree change in seawater temperature correlates to a 10 percent increase in (the odds of) cannibalism," said Hayward, a professor at Andrews University in Michigan. Over the past 60 years, ocean temperatures have increased about 15 times faster than any other time over the past 10,000 years. As temperatures rise, plankton drops into deeper, colder water. Fish that feed on the plankton also drop lower. The surface-feeding gulls, which depend almost entirely on fish while nesting on Protection Island, can't find enough to eat. "So they resort to feeding on their neighbors," Hayward said. Bird paradise Protection Island is a high-cliffed and nearly treeless swath of land near the mouth of Discovery Bay about five miles west of Port Townsend. More than 70 percent of the region's seabirds nest on Protection a fact that led to its status as a national wildlife refuge in 1982. The 380-acre island is home to the third largest colont of rhinoceros auklet seabirds in North America and one of the last two breeding sites in the Salish Sea for tufted puffins, which nest in holes burrowed into sandy cliffs. The island's ecological value and the fragility of its habitat make it off-limits to the public. Protection's only full-time resident is a caretaker employed by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hayward and his wife, mathematician Shandelle Henson, also of Andrews University, spend two months each summer studying the vast glaucous-winged gull population. High temps, high cannibalism It was Henson who answered the cannibalism question. Taking decades of Hayward's data, she fed it into a computer model loaded with a range of climate and other environmental factors. "We found that, over the last eight years, there's a 100 percent correlation between hot years and high cannibalism," she said. She also found that gulls are beginning to synchronize egg-laying, possibly in response to cannibalism. "On one day, we'll see a ton of eggs. The next day hardly any," Hayward said. Henson's hypothesis: "If there's a lot of eggs available all at once, there's less chance your own eggs will be taken," she said. Gulls aren't picky eaters. They'll pluck a meal from a dumpster just as readily as a beach at low tide. But during nesting, their range is greatly reduced. They can't be gone for long from their nests and must rely on whatever the immediate area provides. Increasingly, the region's marine waters simply aren't providing. Forage fish such as herring and sand lance key food sources for salmon, birds and other marine animals are in decline. Fish accustomed to warmer water are moving in, but they pack less of a nutritional punch. "Essentially, they're getting junk food," said Scott Pearson, an avian ecologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The region's puffins haven't resorted to cannibalism but climate change appears to be making them less committed parents. During periods of high sea temperatures, Puffins tend to abandon their nests, fail to incubate their eggs or skip the nesting routine altogether. That's probably because they're so busy and exhausted from food hunting that they can't invest time or energy into raising the next generation, Pearson said. While puffin populations are struggling, a visit to any Puget Sound beach makes clear that gulls are anything but endangered, despite the rise in cannibalism. But what happens with gulls may be happening or may soon happen with other species that aren't as easy to study, Henson said. Gulls have long been a favorite species for scientists investigating how environmental changes affect animal behavior. "They're big, easy to see and easy to find," Hayward said. The fact that they nest on the ground in densely-packed colonies makes data collection fairly simple. Hayward strolls through each day, counting and measuring eggs and noting the occurrence of chicks or broken eggs in about 300 nests marked with numbered stakes. "They're a good indicator species, like canaries in the coal mine," he said. Meade Krosby, a research scientist with the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group, agrees. "There's no doubt climate change has already negatively impacted species around the world," she said. "We know the oceans are getting warmer, so we can expect more cannibalism." Scientists have recently documented climate-related upticks in cannibalism among other species. As ice recedes in the Arctic, polar bears are finding it harder to hunt seals and other marine mammals. In response, hungry males have been spotted hunting down smaller bears and cubs. In 2013, warming waters off the coast of Maine sparked a lobster population explosion. With lobsters suddenly the most plentiful food source around, the opportunistic eaters began dining on each other. "They kind of ate themselves out of business," Krosby said. Super cannibals Cannibalism has been noted in about 1,300 species, including humans. Usually, animals resort to cannibalism as a stopgap measure during periods of food scarcity. Once food is plentiful again, cannibalism ceases. But what if conditions don't improve, as appears to be the case with climate change? It could give rise to what Hayward calls "super cannibals." These are gulls that have largely given up on fish foraging and are instead specializing in hunting their own kind. "You call tell them because they have scads of egg shells around their territory," he said. "You see them slowly flap around the colony, and suddenly they drop when they see an unattended nest." They also take advantage of the panic caused when an eagle soars overhead. Most gulls begin flying frantic circles, but the super cannibals seize the opportunity, raiding eggs and plucking away chicks. Cannibal gulls often eat two or three eggs a day more than enough to meet their caloric needs. Hayward has recorded some of these gulls eating up to 80 eggs in a month. "For a species, cannibalism is not a good long-term strategy," Hayward said. "If there's no food, it can get you across a bad year..." "But every year," added Henson, "could be a bad year with climate change." Around 1959, Central Kitsap Campfire Girls display the beads they have been awarded for such things as Home, Health, Camp, Craft, Nature, Business Lore and Patriotism. In no particular order they are: Karen Sprawl, Joanne Rogers, Donna Moen, Turie Anderson, Alice Emel, Lalanie Grimes, Krista Hanson, Juanita Brown and Sandy. Camp Fire dates back to 1910 and was the first nonsectarian, multicultural organization for girls in America. To see more photos from the Kitsap History Museum archives, visit http://www.facebook.com/kitsaphistory"www.facebook.com/kitsaphistory, Twitter KitsapMuseum, or stop by the museum at 280 Fourth St. in Bremerton. Call 360-479-6226 for information. SHARE In 1941 (75 years ago) Validity of Bremerton's waterfront lease will be argued before the state Supreme Court, it became known today, as the Bremerton Terminal Co. and Sophia Bremer filed notice of appeal in Kitsap County Superior Court. Appeal is being taken to the judgment entered July 2 by Judge Roger Meakim, visiting jurist, which threw the status of the waterfront project into doubt. Judge Meakim's decision was given on the suit brought by the Bremerton Municipal League against Bremerton Terminal company, Miss Sophia Bremer, the city of Bremerton, the port commission of the Port of Bremerton and Jack Taylor, the state land commissioner. In 1966 (50 years ago) Help! The Bremerton Booster Float, which will appear in the Seafair parade in Seattle on Saturday morning, is nearing completion. But floats have to have flowers on them and that's where the boosters need help. On Thursday, Irving Allen at Forget-Me-Not Florists will begin to put the flower decorations together. But he needs assistance. "Send me girls, ladies, men, young boys, anyone," he pleads. He wants about 100 people to help out in four shifts. He asked for volunteers to call the chamber of commerce office as soon as possible to sign up for shifts. The work, says Allenn, requires no particular skill, just willing hands. In 1991 (25 years ago) Give Katrina Hodiak what is hers and give Howard Minor what is his $860 said a lawyer for Bekins Moving and Storage in Kitsap County Superior Court on Tuesday. Minor was a good-faith purchaser of the belongings of Hodiak's family, which Bekins sold by mistake and she should seek recompense from Bekins, said Minor's lawyer. "I'll let you know," Judge Grant Meiner told them. The judge heard the two sides of the argument over Minor's erroneously sold inheritance from her famous mother, actress Anne Baxter and her even more famous great-grandfather, Frank Lloyd Wright. Minor bought 23 sealed boxes of the belongings and an oak table at a Tacoma auction April. Bekins had mistakenly sent the possessions to auction even though Hodiak, a Gig Harbor resident, thought she had headed off their sale by paying her back storage charges. In 2006 (10 years ago) The proof of approaching roadwork is in a window sign advertising Alpaca fur slippers (regularly $35) for $15. Construction of a tunnel from the ferry terminal to Burwell Street means it's a closing sale for Willy Marquina's Los Andes and Peruvian tourism store at First Street and Pacific Avenue. Next door, Sandy Corbit is preparing to move her Flowers D'Amore store to Sixth Street and Naval Avenue. "I will have more visibility, but that doesn't mean I will have more customers," Corbit said of her new site. Compiled from Kitsap Sun archives by Ann Horn The recently released Social Security Trustees' Report detailed the continuing decline in the Social Security fund balance. The report predicts that the fund will be depleted in 2033 if the Congress and president do nothing. While doing nothing seems to be a popular option in Congress, the cold reality is that Social Security taxes will need to increase by more than 30 percent or benefits reduced by 23 percent to maintain fund solvency. While most political leaders would be sobered by the trustees' assessment, the likely Democratic nominee for president, Hillary Clinton, and President Barack Obama argue that what we need is an increase in Social Security benefits. And who will pay for the current and increased benefits? The President would start by "asking the wealthiest Americans to contribute a little bit more." Unfortunately, he did not explain what "wealthiest" and "a little bit more" mean. The Social Security program's mission is caught in a classic political tug-of-war. Conservatives favor the original goal of the Social Security Act of 1935 to provide older Americans an income supplement that will keep them from becoming destitute. The program was never intended as a sole source of retirement support, but as a complement to one's savings, pensions and retirement accounts. The president's remarks reflect the European model in which taxes and government benefits are high enough to provide the "dignified retirement that they've earned." In the president's world, individual responsibility for retirement savings would be assumed by the government and retirement saving would become optional. The retirement one has "earned" will not likely reflect one's work history but rather a wealth-transfer formula. While Social Security benefits have helped raise many elderly out of poverty, Social Security taxes are crushing lower- and middle-income households. Between old-age and Medicare taxes, a worker pays 7.65 percent of his or her earned income directly to Social Security. Another 7.65 percent tax is paid by the employer, but indirectly by the employee via lower wages. Among taxpayers making $40,000 or less, they will collectively pay no federal income tax, but will pay more than $120 billion in Social Security taxes. In fact, for about two-thirds of households, Social Security taxes are the largest tax paid. To pay for increased benefits, liberals call for increasing the maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax. The 15.3 percent tax paid by lower- and middle-income households would remain. A costlier, government-sponsored "dignified income" plan for retirees should not be balanced on the backs of lower- and middle-income Americans. After-tax income for the lowest 60 percent of taxpayers hasn't budged in decades. A revamped Social Security tax system that sets a much-lower rate for lower- and middle-income taxpayers with a higher rate for upper-income taxpayers could improve the overall economy and put the existing Social Security program on solid footing, and provide benefit to those taxpayers seeking a more dignified work life. SHARE Danl Hall John Kenny Liz Porter Chris Barksdale Danl Hall of Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers, Inc., and John Kenny of Facility Systems Consultants, LLC, will serve on the board of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee for 2016-17. Hall was named secretary of the organization and Kenny is past president. Additionally, Liz Porter of S&ME, Inc., will serve as East Tennessee Chapter president. The ACEC of Tennessee officers assumed their positions on July 1 and will be formally installed during the organization's annual meeting in Nashville on September 15-16. Baker Donelson was one of six law firms in Tennessee recognized as "highly recommended" in the 2016 edition of Managing Intellectual Property's IP Handbook, an annual publication, which recognizes leading law firms and lawyers in intellectual property. For the second consecutive year, Baker Donelson has been certified by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum as a Gold Standard Firm. Multichannel News, a publication covering the media business, has named Chris Barksdale, the human resources vice president for Scripps Networks Interactive, to its "40 Under 40" list of emerging industry leaders. Michael Brady, a materials scientist at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been elected fellow of ASM International. Brady was honored "for innovative development of novel alloy design principles for the control of surface chemistry in structural and functional materials with widespread scientific, engineering and societal impact." The board of the East Tennessee Meeting Professionals announced the appointment of LaDonna Loyd, director of sales at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Knoxville West, and Avi Elyse McCullah, sales manager at the Greystone Lodge on the River, as supplier directors. The executive committee of the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council has hired Julie E. Graham of Sharps Chapel as the new director of the 16 county regional tourism organization. Graham most recently was executive director of East Tennessee Quality Growth. Helen Ross McNabb Center welcomes the following new board members and newly elected board officers for 2016-17: Charles Finn, chair, Kramer Rayson, LLP; Debbie Jones, treasurer and chair elect, retired; Ford Little, secretary, Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC; Wade Davies, past chair, Ritchie, Dillard, Davies & Johnson, P.C.; Heidi Barcus, London Amburn; and Dale Keasling, Home Federal Bank. Knox Heritage, a nonprofit historic preservation organization, has appointed three new members to serve on the organization's board of directors. The new board members were installed as of June 22 and their terms last through December 31, 2018. The new board members are Marsha Grieve, director of the docent program at Knox Heritage; Gail Jarvis, independent law practice professional; and Mike Keller, CFO at Studio Four Design. Rachel Lokitz, ORAU associate general counsel, has been elected corporate secretary by the ORAU board of directors. Lokitz will perform these duties in a dual capacity while maintaining her position as associate general counsel. Summit Strategic Solutions has promoted Susan Loveday to vice president of talent strategies and relations. She previously served as director of talent support and organizational development. First Community Mortgage announced that Mark Newhouse has been hired as a loan originator at its Knoxville branch. Sevier County Bank named Jo Ann Schumann, a former bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, as vice president of audit and compliance. Heather Enright, a biologist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, uses a monitor and a microscope to look at a computer chip that replicates all human vital biological systems, part of the Human on a Chip research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, on July 8, 2016 in Livermore, Calif. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group/TNS) SHARE Elizabeth Wheeler, a chemical engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, holds two computer chips that can replicate all human vital biological systems, part of the "Human on a Chip" research, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on July 9, 2016 in Livermore, Calif. The chip on the left replicates the human peripheral nervous system and the other replicates the central nervous system. Human cells and tissues are placed inside and the gold arrays of electrodes below pick up signals or reactions. The chips could mean the end of animal testing for drugs and household products. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group/TNS) By Patricia Torres, The Mercury News (TNS) Hoping to make the lab rat a thing of the past, scientists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in the San Francisco Bay are testing technology that replicates vital human tissues on microchips. Animal rights advocates are encouraged that the technology may one day end experiments on mice, rats, snakes and other animals used to test products and develop drugs in laboratories around the world. The "Human on a Chip" program shifts the experiments from living animals to the lab by replicating cells of human organs and tissues, exposing them to chemicals and using electrical signals to measure the response. While labs and university researchers in other parts of the United States are using similar technology to test different organs of the body, scientists at Lawrence Livermore are focusing on four vital body functions: the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, blood-brain barrier and heart. The chips allow scientists, for example, to measure how certain body parts react to caffeine, heart medicine or other more dangerous toxins. In one early experiment, scientists applied capsaicin, the chemical that makes peppers hot, to cells of the peripheral nervous system and were able to measure a response. The cells can survive and function on chips for several weeks in some cases, so many different kinds of experiments can be done to measure how exposure to drugs or chemicals affects cells and to evaluate cell recovery, with no human or animal test subjects necessary. Lawrence Livermore gets its human tissues from AnaBios Corp., a San Diego company. The tissues are derived from organ donors, and unlike tissues grown from stem cells, these are mature and can provide a more reliable response to stimuli. Still under testing and far from being widely used, the process also has the ability to speed up development of medical countermeasures to toxins and provide more accurate data than animal testing does. "Animal testing can be more complicated and costly, whereas these chips can be much more reliable" said Kris Kulp, a lab scientist who is part of the project. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9 out of 10 drugs that pass animal tests fail in humans because they don't work or are dangerous. With this acknowledgment, various agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Health, have made efforts to reduce the use of animal testing. Last month, President Barack Obama signed an updated Toxic Substances Control Act, originally approved in 1976, that includes a provision calling for restrictions on animal testing. "We are familiar with this new direction that science is taking, and we're very excited about the possibility that it can replace animals in chemical testing, drug development and other areas," said Kathy Guillermo, vice president of laboratory investigations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Joyce Tischler, general counsel for Animal Legal Defense Fund, said her group is excited about alternatives to animal testing. "This also means that the science, environmental and animal welfare communities are all on the same page, which is to protect human life from chemicals and diseases," Tischler said. "We would just like to see it without the use of live animals." More than 100 million animals are killed in experiments each year in the United States, according to the Laboratory Animal Resource Center at the University of California at San Francisco. Lawrence Livermore Lab is spending nearly $2 million a year on the project, called iCHIP (in-vitro Chip-based Human Investigational Platform), which is now in its third year, said Elizabeth Wheeler, principal investigator. The bulk of the chemicals used at Lawrence Livermore come from the Forensics Science Center, one of two U.S. labs certified for identifying chemical warfare agents. The U.S. Army in 2013 used the "Human on a Chip" technology to test chemicals used in warfare. Wheeler said her group has no plans, nor is it legally allowed, to experiment with warfare agents. She said the long-term goal is to collaborate with other research centers studying the technology on other parts of the body. "We hope to integrate them all together and re-create the human body and the reactions it has to link multiple chips to capture interactions between different organs," Wheeler said. Councilman Daniel Brown, right, talks with residents Willie Slater, center, owner of the Burlington Fish Market, and Gerald Hodge in the historic Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville on July 13, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Charles Holland, left, and Sam Jones work on the building facade that is slated to become the location for Brown Bag Productions in the historic Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville on July 13, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Mike Tucker, left, sits with Henry Cardwell, center, and Deangelo Cardwell, right, for a meal at the Lunch House in the historic Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville on July 13, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Ernie Barnes, left, cuts the hair of J.C. Worley at Barnes Barber Shop in the historic Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville on July 13, 2016. Barnes has been in business in the neighborhood since 1951. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Abandoned commercial spaces in the historic Burlington neighborhood of East Knoxville on July 13, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Related Photos PHOTOS : Historic Burlington By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel The century-old former grocery store that Jervis Brown fell for had a roof on the verge of caving in and a front wall that needed to be entirely rebuilt. A major beam needed to be replaced, the facade restored and the interior gutted. The single-story building on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue is storied in character and smack in the middle of an East Knoxville commercial district well past its heyday. For Brown, it was perfect. "That area had the higher ceilings and a little more of a flair and a feeling that I like out there in the Burlington community," Brown said. So he snapped the property up for $17,000 and began repairs on the future storefront for his eight-year-old video production company, Brown Bag Productions. "I think the future is bright, but it's all about the people in the community and their vision as well," Brown said. He isn't the only one who sees potential in the tiny commercial stretch. Business owners, preservationists and city officials alike envision a rebirth for the district, which currently consists of roughly four blocks of mostly vacant single-story retail buildings that butt up to crumbling sidewalks. But the area, traditionally known as downtown Burlington, could be a thriving neighborhood with locally-owned shops, quaint restaurants and broad pedestrian paths offering safer lighting and attractive landscaping, said Dawn Michelle Foster, Knoxville's director of redevelopment. "We have so many well-defined historical structures and residents here that you want to respond to that feeling," Foster said. "But it also provides an opportunity for mixed-use (development)." Knoxville City Councilman and former mayor Daniel Brown, no relation to Jervis Brown, has lauded the area as an ideal place for development, in the same vein as other urban districts like Happy Holler and Emory Place closer to downtown. He's also pointed to Burlington as a prime candidate for the mixed-use zoning codes the Metropolitan Planning Commission is developing for Bearden on the west side of town. Private developers and city officials have started investing. Down the street from Jervis Brown's building, Terri Cade-Hill, an Atlanta-based insurance agent with East Knoxville roots, has purchased three vacant commercial buildings. She plans to install a restaurant and bakery in one of those properties before the end of the year. The city's community development office, meanwhile, has chipped in more than $200,000 for facade rehabilitation projects, including Brown's building and one of Cade-Hill's. Knox Heritage, with funding from the city, is putting together an application to add the Burlington district to the National Register of Historic Places, laying the groundwork for future development, said Kim Trent, executive director. The distinction will not add any restrictions to how developers and property owners renovate buildings, but will make available tax credits for rehab projects, Trent said. Burlington's roots as a retail center date back to the 1910s and 1920s, when the area was the end of the line for the city streetcar route, Trent said. When urban renewal took root in downtown Knoxville in the 1950s and '60s, entire black neighborhoods were bulldozed to make way for the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. Those displaced residents moved east along Magnolia Avenue and what's now Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, creating a wave of white flight as the established residents headed for suburbs to the east and west such as West Hills, Trent said. Brown, the councilman, said his was one of those families displaced by the urban renewal efforts. As a young man, his family moved to a home just a few streets over from the Burlington corridor. "You look at the history and you had stores, a department store. You had restaurants. Ruby's Cafe was a very popular diner," Brown said. "When you had the white flight, you didn't have the commercial tax base because people started moving away. The money left." Others, including the Metropolitan Planning Commission's Jeff Archer and Trent, cite the extension and buildup of Magnolia Avenue as a robust commercial thoroughfare with big-box stores, chain groceries and pharmacies as another potential cause of Burlington's decline. Some businesses continue to thrive. The district boasts a fish market, a bail bondsman and Barnes Barber Shop, which has been in business since 1951. The Lunch House, also an institution, serves home-style meat-and-three meals to packed midday crowds on nearby Holston Drive. Lema's World Famous Chitlins has also thrived. As urban areas outside the downtown core begin taking off Happy Holler, the Magnolia Avenue Warehouse District, the South Waterfront and Broadway the timing looks right for Burlington to also see a rejuvenation, Trent said. "It's about timing people are coming back to the city," Trent said. "They (market) dynamics are definitely changing." Down the street, Cade-Hill, the insurance agent, has owned a 5,000-square-foot storefront at 3930 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. for more than a decade. She, too, said the timing is finally right, in her personal life and in the neighborhood. She envisions her restaurant and bakery with pound cakes, cupcakes and gluten-free pastries. She hopes the business will be up and running by the end of the year. "It's just a quaint little area that's nestled between Holston and the downtown area," Cade-Hill said. "It's just the history of it being a self-sufficient town back in the 1900s. The people in the area are real charming; they've lived there forever. "It needs to be redeveloped, and it needs to be restored." The city financed a $56,000 refacing on the first building through a facade grant program in 2009. Cade-Hill owns two more buildings, at 3900 and 3906 Martin Luther King Ave., that she also hopes to revitalize. One is already slated to receive a facade grant, and the other likely will also, said Ken McMahon, with the city's Office of Community Development. Cade-Hill hopes to turn one of the buildings into a small-business incubator that could help foster new economic growth in the area. SHARE State Sen. Doug Overbey By Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News Sentinel NASHVILLE State Sen. Doug Overbey, who sponsored Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee proposal last year, is being attacked for doing so as he campaigns for re-election in Blount and Sevier counties by Americans for Prosperity. The Maryville Republican senator says the effort amounts to a special interest group spreading lies. Overbey stepped in as sponsor of the modified Medicaid expansion plan in 2015 after Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, who by tradition handles all bills pushed by the governor, declined. The bill failed, with Americans for Prosperity labeling the measure as "Obamacare" in active lobbying against it, though Haslam argued that it contained multiple new, Tennessee-specific features distinct from traditional expansion of health insurance coverage for low-income people at federal expense. In a news release, AFP said its "activists and volunteers" have already had direct voter contact by "knocking on 3,000 doors" in the 2nd Senate District and the total will reach 5,000 before the Aug. 4 Republican primary. The group is also sending out direct mail and "social media" attacks on Overbey, who is opposed in the primary by Scott Williams, an Army veteran and Maryville business consultant. The senator responded in automated calls to constituents, giving his home phone number and inviting a reply call. The AFP ads give his legislative office number and urge a call to the senator. A recording of the senator's robocall begins with Overbey introducing himself, then stating: "I'm sorry to bother you, but I feel it's important that I respond to a special interest group helping my opponent spread lies about my position. I want you to know that I do not, and have not, supported 'Obamacare.' " Andrew Ogles, state director of AFP in Tennessee, said the group is "calling on Sen. Overbey to drop the lies and repent from his Obamacare expansion support." "Holding elected officials accountable is what we do. Sen. Overbey can try to distance himself from Obamacare now, but we are here to remind his constituents what he's actually been doing and voting for in Nashville," Ogles said. AFP earlier gave Overbey an "F" on its rating of state legislators' performance this year, the lowest grade given to a Republican incumbent. In a telephone interview, Overbey said voters responding to the AFP critique at his home number have been uniformly positive in supporting him and most of those calling his legislative number have been positive after he talked with them. Overbey said Insure Tennessee was "completely different" from an Affordable Care Act expansion with "circuit breakers based on market principles" as "the governor laid out" in presenting the proposal. "The lies they are telling has our supporters fired up," Overbey said. AFP-Tennessee spokeswoman Tori Venable said in an email "all efforts are educational grass roots lobbying" meaning the cost of those efforts will not be disclosed under relevant laws as campaign spending. AFP, founded nationally with funding from the billionaire Koch brothers, is also set up under federal law to avoid disclosure of those who donate to the organization. Venable said AFP's spending will eventually be reported as a lobbying-related expenditure. Previously AFP has reported annual spending of as much as $1 million statewide in such "grass roots lobbying" to the Tennessee Ethics Commission. Those disclosures, however, do not provide a breakdown of how and where the money is spent only a lump sum statewide figure. In direct spending by the two campaigns, Overbey has about a $10 to $1 lead over Williams. SHARE Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville Bob Ramsey, state representative, 20th District. FRANKLIN, Tenn. The Tennessee Press Association has awarded three members of the state General Assembly its 2016 Open Government Award for their support of government transparency. The recipients include House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville; Rep. Bob Ramsey, who is in his fourth term representing Blount County's 20th District; and Rep. Bill Sanderson, who is in his third term representing the 77th District, covering Lake, Dyer and parts of Obion County in West Tennessee. The awards were presented by TPA President Jack McElroy at the organization's summer convention at the Franklin Cool Springs Marriott outside Nashville on Friday. McElroy is editor of the News Sentinel in Knoxville. "These three individuals through their leadership, service and courage have advocated for and defended the principles of open government," McElroy said. "Preserving transparency is an important part of the mission of TPA and its 122 member newspapers. We could not do this alone and must rely on the commitment of our public officials and civic leaders." TPA has previously made the award 14 times. McElroy lauded Ramsey and Sanderson for their courage and commitment as committee chairs to ensure bills affecting open government get a thorough review and aren't too broad. Ramsey chairs the House State Government Committee. Sanderson leads the State Government subcommittee. McElroy praised Harwell's "leadership by example" during her three terms as speaker. He noted she weighed in to stop crippling amendments to the state Sunshine Law and cited her unprecedented policy of requiring committee chairs to give notice of unscheduled meetings. She insisted the state attorney general's report on the sexual harassment investigation of Rep. Jeremy Durham be made public. Harwell incorporated more transparency in a new legislative workplace discrimination and anti-sexual harassment policy than was in the previous policy. SHARE By Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News Sentinel NASHVILLE Registry of Election Finance records show the three Republican Tennessee Supreme Court justices facing a retention election on Aug. 4 have all set up campaign accounts and raised modest amounts of money mostly from lawyers but spent almost nothing. That's a striking contrast with two years ago, when three incumbent justices appointed by Democratic governors were on the August ballot. They collectively raised and spent more than $1.1 million while being supported by a separate group that spent $345,000. The successful 2014 campaigns by Justices Cornelia Clark, Sharon Lee and Gary Wade came despite almost as much being spent on attacking them as liberals soft on crime and supportive of the federal Affordable Care Act through the attorney general they chose contentions they vigorously denied. Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey put $605,000 into the anti-incumbent effort through his political action committee and a national GOP group added about $200,000. The combined total of about $2.5 million made for the most expensive Supreme Court campaign in Tennessee history. This year, there has been no visible organized anti-incumbent campaign facing the three justices appointed by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam Jeffrey Bivins, Holly Kirby and Roger Page. Apparently concerned about the possibility, however, all three set up re-election campaign finance accounts and sought donations. Their reports, reflecting account status as of July 1, show: Bivins, who was appointed in April of 2014 to replace retiring Justice William Koch upon Koch's retirement in July of that year, reported raising $11,587. The former Court of Criminal Appeals judge who lives in Franklin, reported spending $68.44, leaving a cash-on hand balance of $11,518. He also reported $1,733 in "in-kind" donations from those providing food, beverages or free rental for fundraising events. Kirby, appointed in December of 2013 to replace Justice Janice Holder upon her retirement effective in September of 2014, reported raising $16,942, including a personal loan of $3,000 to the campaign. The former Court of Appeals judge from Memphis reported expenditures of $460.58 and a balance of $16,942. She also reported $1,250 in "in-kind" donations. Page, who was appointed earlier this year after Wade resigned from the court, reported $12,460 in contributions and $52.43 in expenditures. The former Court of Criminals Appeals judge is a Chester County native who lives in Jackson and is married to Carol McCoy, a Democrat who is retiring as a Nashville Chancery Court judge. He had another $2,005 of in-kind contributions. The biggest direct donation to the three judges listed on disclosures is $1,000 to each from the Nashville law firm of Adams and Reese, which also engages in legislative lobbying. Another Nashville law firm with a lobbying arm, Miller and Martin, reported $500 of in-kind donations to each of the three. With very few exceptions, contributions to the justices including the in-kind donations came from lawyers, law firms or fellow judges. State Rep. Mike Carter, R- Ooltewah, a lawyer and former judge, gave each of the justices $250. Other donations ranged from $25 to $500. A limited review of other campaign finance disclosures has turned up cases of the justices themselves making small political contributions to other Republican candidates this year. Kirby, for example, gave $100 each to state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and David Kustoff, a former U.S. attorney in West Tennessee, who are among 13 candidates for the Republican nomination in the 8th Congressional District. Bivins gave $100 to state Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin. Appellate courts Seven appeals court judges are also on the statewide ballot Aug. 4 for a yes-no vote on whether they should continue in office. A review of Registry records indicates all but one have filed the paperwork necessary to have a campaign finance account in place, but none has reported any fundraising or spending whatsoever. Three Court of Appeals judges are on the ballot. Kenny Armstrong of Memphis, Brandon Gibson of Jackson and Arnold Golden of Memphis. The other four are Court of Criminal Appeals Judges Robert Montgomery of Kingsport, Timothy Easter of Nashville, Robert Holloway of Columbia and Ross Dyer of Jackson. on the ballot The Supreme Court justices and appeals court judges are not listed by party affiliation on the ballot, though judges at the local trial court level are so labeled, if they wish to declare a party affiliation. On Aug. 4, voters in various localities around the state will be voting in elections to fill vacancies in six Circuit Court judicial positions, two Criminal Court positions and one Chancery Court position, according to the state Division of Elections. None of the candidates for those local judge seats has declared themselves to be a Democrat, according to the state Division of Elections website, though seven will be listed on the ballot as "Independent" including two seats in Democrat-friendly Shelby County, where two declared Independents are competing for one position and two in another. Three taking the Republican label are running unopposed, though there are two declared Republicans seeking the party nomination for a seat in the Morristown area. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally the University of Cincinnati Dieterle Vocal Arts Center in Cincinnati on July 18. SHARE Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he leaves the stage during the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday. By Michael Medved Many Americans feel desperately dissatisfied with their choices in the current presidential campaign, but they may take some comfort in the thought that serious health issues may yet sideline one, or both, of the major party contenders. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump has released comprehensive medical records to address serious concerns about the physical condition of these two aging baby boomers. If the 70-year-old Trump wins in November, he'll become the oldest individual ever to assume the nation's highest office. If Clinton prevails in November, she'll be 69 for her January inauguration the second oldest in history and just five months younger than Ronald Reagan. In contrast to other recent contenders who ran for office at an advanced age, the two candidates have treated their health histories with a conspicuous lack of transparency. When John McCain sought the presidency for the first time at age 64 in 2000, he proudly released 1,500 pages of detailed medical and psychiatric records. Clinton, by contrast, has provided only rudimentary information about the serious challenges she's experienced in the last decade. Shortly after becoming secretary of state in 2009, she fractured her right elbow when she fell on her way to her State Department car. She fell again in 2012, suffering a serious concussion after she fainted, and leading her doctors to discover a blood clot that incapacitated her for more than a month. Her husband later told ABC News that her injury "required six months of very serious work to get over" though no one knows precisely what that "very serious work" entailed. During the course of this campaign, she has also suffered through three painful, public coughing fits. Donald Trump has revealed even less about his health history and tried instead to reassure his supporters with a brief physician's statement that sounds suspiciously as if it had been dictated by Trump himself. That document announced that "laboratory test results were astonishingly excellent" while failing to disclose the specifics of those results. The doctor also said his patient's "physical strength and stamina are extraordinary" and concluded with the ringing proclamation: "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." The doctor clearly reached this scientific (and unequivocal) conclusion without benefit of examining any (let alone all) of Trump's presidential predecessors, while it's also unclear when he last evaluated the "extraordinary" physical strength of his own patient. Trump released the summary with an embarrassing flourish on Dec. 4 last year, declaring: "I am proud to share this health report, written by the highly respected Dr. Jacob Bornstein of Lenox Hill Hospital." He failed to note the inconvenient fact that the "highly respected" Dr. Bornstein he cited had died five years earlier at the age of 93; it was actually his son, Dr. Harold Bornstein, who signed the flattering, four-paragraph description of the candidate. With unanswered questions about both candidates' physical fitness to handle the nation's most demanding job, many skeptical observers might feel encouraged by the idea that neither one of them looks like a safe bet for a second term. The actuarial tables for prior presidents shows the average age of death for those who expired of natural causes stands at 73 years a milestone that either Trump or Clinton would reach before the end of a first term. In fact, both candidates might benefit if they limited their service to four years. Only six presidents in history have lived to celebrate their 90th birthdays: John Adams, Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Five of those six hardy nonagenarians all except Reagan served only a single term and then lost their bids for re-election. This strange pattern suggests the crushing nature of the job, which exacts such a punishing toll on those who toil in the Oval Office for more than four years seems to diminish chances for extended life. The prospect that the next chief executive might well turn out to be a one-term wonder should not only relieve voters who look on both this year's candidates with disdain, but might also encourage the contenders themselves about the odds of savoring a long life after the White House. Michael Medved hosts a nationally syndicated talk radio show and is a member of the USA TODAY Board of Contributors. He wrote this column for USA TODAY. In a late night text message to a woman lobbyist, as recorded in a recent state attorney general's investigative report, state Rep. Jeremy Durham wrote: "I'm bored as hell. Lobby me." Such a plea for lobbyist attention is surely not the most offensive of Durham doings recounted in the report on his interaction with 22 women lobbyists, legislative staffers and interns. But maybe it best reflects a subtext in the overall report that delves a bit into the culture of Tennessee's Legislatorland. Says the report at another point: "The investigation revealed that lobbyists, much like staff members and interns, depend on maintaining a good working relationship with legislators for their livelihood and future success. A lobbyist depends on favorable support from legislators to satisfy and build a client base, and many female lobbyists interviewed described the substantial financial and professional stake they have in avoiding anything that would jeopardize a good relationship with legislators. As Jane Doe #4 put it, lobbyists do not have clients without legislators." Many of the state's best lobbyists these days are women, a transformation from not so many years ago when the lobbying legion was almost exclusively male. These women by and large quite competent and knowledgeable have probably upgraded the quality of the lobbying corps generally over the years and downgraded the amount of sleaze involved. It's a sad and sordid thing that some have been subjected to sexual harassment by a legislator using his position of power to influence the success or failure of their professional endeavors. But that's hopefully and, as several Jane Does quoted in the report indicated something that doesn't happen as a matter of routine. Durham, one is reasonably led to understand, was an exceptional case of inappropriate legislator conduct. A corollary to the observation of Jane Doe #4 that lobbyists rely on legislators to get their clients is that legislators rely on lobbyists to get their information, which usually comes from those clients. Also, they have considerable control over where candidates get their campaign money through political action committees almost all PACs have lobbyists advising or controlling contributions. They also build up what another lobbyist described to the AG investigators as "social capital" by using their people skills at gatherings of legislators, often hosted by lobbyist clients. The report relates Durham's approaches to women at events ranging from Nashville watering holes to out-of-state American Legislative Exchange Council events to a Republican Caucus gathering in Gatlinburg. Those didn't get as much media notice as Durham seeking and getting, in the case of a 20-year-old student sexual attention by offering alcohol in his legislative office. Lobbying of the Legislature is a multi-million dollar business. The limited public disclosures of lobbyist compensation and lobbying expenses have been showing totals of up to around $70 million annually in the recent years when Durham was active, roughly half of the Legislature's taxpayer-funded budget. That's using the upper end of the "range" of money each lobbyist employer reports. But even that may be on the low side for various reasons. For one thing, some honest lobbyists acknowledge they don't count as reportable compensation or expenses any of their activities unless they are explicitly asking a legislator to vote one way on a pending bill. Thus, it doesn't count when one is building "social capital" at events or sitting in a committee meeting or chatting in the hallway about family, mutual friends or politics. A lobbyist may put in a 12-hour day, but consider only the 15 minutes of pleading with Rep. John or Jane Doe for a positive vote in committee as lobbying. Thus only 15 minutes' worth of pay and expenses for that day gets included in the public disclosure. The anonymous woman receiving Durham's late evening "lobby me" request wisely and understandably ignored it, according to the AG report. But even if she had not, that probably wouldn't have been a reportable expense. More from Tom Humphrey at "Humphrey on the Hill:" ASSOCIATED PRESS Delegates react to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as he addresses the audience during the third-day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday. SHARE The Republican National Convention hit Ohio last week, with Donald Trump officially taking his place as the party's nominee for president. One notable characteristic of the gathering: Anger. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie helped lead cheers of "Lock her up" in a speech describing the supposed crimes of Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee. And Tuesday night supposedly devoted to the economy was instead devoted to a line of speakers listing non-economic grievances against Clinton. Are Republicans particularly angry? Why? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, debate the issue. JOEL MATHIS You know who I miss? George W. Bush. Yeah, that's kind of crazy. Bush I've argued was probably the worst president in living memory. He started a disastrous, unnecessary war in Iraq. He authorized torture. He led the nation when the economy collapsed into the Great Recession. He ran a 2004 campaign based on denying gay Americans the right to marriage. And he probably could've been a bit more proactive in preventing the attacks of 9/11. Bush was just a disaster. But he's still preferable to what we saw on stage at the Republican National Convention last week. Bush, for all his many faults, seemed to possess a bit of human decency that's pretty much missing from the GOP's incarnation under Trump. Bush, after all, tried to figure out a way to resolve the immigration issue sensibly knowing that any realistic solution won't involve the deportation of millions of migrants living here already. Bush, after all, tried to expand the GOP appeal beyond its base of old white people, appealing to Hispanics and openly breaking with the racist "Southern strategy" used by earlier generations of Republican politicians. Bush, after all, was the force behind U.S. aid to Africa to help stem the tide of AIDS there. The GOP under Trump, though, doesn't much like immigrants. It has open antipathy toward the Black Lives Matter movement. And where the conventions under Bush seemed to be of the "happy warrior" stripe remember Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2004 appearance in New York? this convention has been sour and cranky. This is no surprise. Republican voters have been primed for decades by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and websites like Breitbart, all of which are mad as hell and not taking it anymore, good times or bad. Trump is the perfect candidate for such voters. Given his general ideological incoherence his position on key issues is often slippery at best it's natural to assume that anger is pretty much the main feature unifying what's left of the Republican Party these days. It's enough to make you miss Bush. BEN BOYCHUK If your political party just nominated Trump, wouldn't you be angry, too? Anger follows denial in the five stages of grief, after all. Too many Republicans simply refused to believe that Trump would be the party's standard-bearer. As recently as Monday, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, the man who had stepped up to lead the doomed Never Trump insurgency, was pleading on Twitter for somebody like failed 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to announce an 11th-hour bid in hopes of derailing the Trump train. It's sad to see wishful thinking replace prudence. Politics is supposed to be the art of the possible. For example, it's possible that the anger we heard from the dais at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland is serving a larger political purpose. What were Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani shouting about, anyway? Ron Fournier writing at The Atlantic on Wednesday argued that Republicans aren't using the convention to make the case for Trump so much as they're making the case against Clinton. Christie's "Lock her up" refrain wasn't intended to make listeners pause and reflect, any more than Giuliani's passionate defense of the police on Monday night was about anything Trump will do if he's elected. The point is to sow the seeds of doubt. Because, apart from being widely disliked and distrusted by many voters, Clinton almost certainly mishandled classified information in violation of federal law. She's utterly in thrall of the Black Lives Matter movement, which until about a week ago had no problem with its speakers advocating violence against police. And the FBI is still looking into the activities of her family's foundation, especially its foreign donors. Republicans might well be angry that they're facing an uphill fight against a crooked Democrat. Republicans' anger last week seemed to be about squandered opportunities. After eight years of inept administration, diplomatic embarrassment abroad and middling economic growth at home, the GOP should have been able to beat any candidate the Democrats put up. The fact that Trump was the best the Party of Lincoln could muster with this year is sad and infuriating. Ben Boychuk (bboychuk@city-journal.org) is associate editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. Joel Mathis (joelmmathis@gmail.com) is associate editor for Philadelphia Magazine. By Kim Tae-gyu Since the establishment of the government in South Korea in 1948, three years after independence from Japan, a total of 11 politicians have taken the country's most powerful job. All of the 11 have had children with the sole exception of incumbent President Park Geun-hye and have seen them get married. Some of their in-laws are ordinary Tom, Dick and Harrys but some are very extraordinary. Here are a few notable in-laws of the country's historic commanders-in-chief. Included in their jobs are businessman, lawmaker, lawyer and actress. Notable son-in-laws SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won was married to Roh So-young, daughter of ex-President Roh Tae-woo. Chey confessed last year that he hopes for a divorce. Hankook Tire CEO Cho Hyun-bum's father-in-law is former President Lee Myung-bak. During Lee's term, Hankook Tire did not take part in M&A deals to avoid suspicions of special treatment. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party, a four-term lawmaker, tied the knot with the daughter of then-President Chun Doo-hwan in 1985 but they separated in 2005. Former actress Park Sang-ah became the third wife of ex-President Chun Doo-hwan's second son. Her husband is now detained in jail in Seoul for failing to pay fines levied over tax evasion charges. Arguably, the most famous presidential son-in-law would be SK Group owner Chey Tae-won, who was married to Roh So-young, daughter of army general-turned-president Roh Tae-woo who headed the country from 1988 to 1993. The two met while studying in the United States and tied the knot in 1988. Some believe the high-profile union helped the country's third-largest conglomerate tap into the lucrative telecom market. SK entered the mobile telephony business in 1989 but it was 1994 when the group acquired Korea Mobile Telecom, now No. 1 wireless carrier SK Telecom, from the government, around 1 year after Roh's resignation. On top of the mobile operator, SK Group has under its wings the country's top refiner SK Innovation and the world's second-largest semiconductor maker SK hynix. Chairman Chey went through turbulent years as he has been jailed twice due to accounting fraud in 2003 and embezzlement in 2013. In both cases, Chey got presidential pardons. The Chey couple currently runs the risk of separation as the tycoon confessed late last year that he hopes for a divorce. Another renowned businessman on the list is Hankook Tire chief executive officer Cho Hyun-bum, whose father-in-law is ex-President Lee Myung-bak (2008~2013). In 2008, Cho's investments in three companies prompted prosecutors' investigations as their stock prices surged in line with the Lee administration's policy of snapping up foreign energy firms and mines. Back then, the prosecution eventually dismissed charges against Cho but of late opposition lawmakers have taken issue with the stock investments. Hankook Tire is the country's leading tire manufacturer. Launched in 1941, it is also the nation's first tire maker and became first exporter two decades later. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Saenuri Party married the daughter of then-President Chun Doo-hwan (1980~1988) in 1985 but they separated 20 years later. In 2010, Rep. Yoon married the daughter of Purmil -- formerly Lotte Milk -- Chairman Shin Jun-ho, younger brother of Lotte Group tycoon Shin Kyuk-ho. The 54-year-old, one of the richest lawmakers of the country and a very close aide of President Park, made headlines early this year when he was found to spit out very aggressive words including explicit language to attack then party leader Kim Moo-sung. After the scandal, the pro-Park loyalist had to leave the Saenuri Party but returned after winning in the general election this April as an independent candidate. Recently, the four-term lawmaker came under fire once again as another audio clip was disclosed where he urged a lawmaker candidate to change the constituency Rep. Suh Chung-won who leads the pro-Park faction was running in. Lawyer Kwak Sang-eon is the son-in-law of former President Roh Moo-hyun (2003~2008), who himself was an attorney. In 2009, Roh jumped to his death from a cliff behind his house amid an investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery. Kwak was also suspected of involvement. In 2014, Kwak gained attention as he represented the labor union of Citibank Korea, which cut some 650 from its payroll, against Kim & Chang, the nation's biggest law firm. His father-in-law was also a human rights lawyer. Notable daughter-in-laws Daughter-in-laws of ex-presidents are mostly ordinary people but those of Chun Doo-hwan were different. Chun's third son, Jae-man, married the eldest daughter of DongA One Group Chairman Lee Hi-sang. The group, which manufactures flour and animal feed, while importing wines and pork, was sold to Sajo Group, which focuses on deep sea fishing and processed seafood products, this year. Chun's second son, Jae-yong, married three times. His first wife was the fourth daughter of Park Tae-joon, the founding chairman of the country's foremost steelmaker POSCO. Jae-yong's third wife is former actress Park Sang-ah. The junior Chun, who is now behind bars, has had a hard-knock life and Park's life also has not been a picnic -- their assets were seized both in the United States and Korea and Chun was even convicted. Last year, the Supreme Court sentenced the junior Chun to three years in prison suspended for four years for cooperating with his uncle to dodge some 2.7 billion won of taxes in a property deal in 2006. The top court also ordered him to pay a 4 billion-won fine but he paid just 140 million won. As a result, the 51-year-old was imprisoned this month. Shown above is a model picture of SK E&C's Eurasia Tunnel, which connects Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus strait of Istanbul. / Courtesy of SK E&C By Jhoo Dong-chan A construction project for an undersea tunnel by SK Engineering & Construction (E&C) was recently named this year's Global Best Project (GBP) in the tunnel and bridge sector by the Engineering News Record, the world's leading construction journal. The Engineering News Record annually awards the best projects in 17 sectors in construction, including tunnels and bridges. SK E&C is the nation's first builder to win such a honor from the U.S.-based weekly journal. "Our tunnel project in Turkey has won a number of awards from the industry since completion," Seo Seok-jae, an SK E&C executive, said Sunday. "We are pleased to be recognized for our technologies that helped with the success of difficult underwater works." The Eurasia Tunnel is the world's first undersea double-deck expressway tunnel that crosses the Bosphorus strait of Istanbul to connect Asia and Europe. To complete a 3.34-kilometer section 110 meters below sea level, SK E&C deployed the world's largest tunnel boring machine, 13.7 meters in diameter, 120 meters in length and 3,300 tons in weight, to bear the water pressure equivalent to 11 atmospheres. Last August, SK E&C completed the 16-month project. SK E&C's undersea tunnel in Turkey also won the Major Project award given by the International Tunnel Association last December while receiving a similar honor from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in May 2015. The tunnel is expected to open next April, and SK E&C will carry out maintenance and operations until June 2041. Since its foundation in 1977, the construction subsidiary of Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group has grown steadily, gaining a solid global reputation in a host of sectors such as transportation, telecommunication infrastructure and building solutions. After SK Group's acquisition of a refinery and petrochemical complex in Ulsan in 1980, SK E&C also began to grow its capabilities to support rapid expansion of the Ulsan complex. Based on its experience in Korea, the constructor tapped into the international market in the 1990s, duplicating its local success in the global scene by chalking up exponential growth over the past decade. In particular, the company has delivered landmark projects, which earned it the trust of its major customers in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Included in its successful global works are multibillion-dollar projects for oil refining, gas processing and power plants. Park Moon-ho, a scientist at the state-run Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), delivers a lecture using complicated equations and mathematical matrix to ordinary citizens. / Courtesy of ETRI By Kim Tae-gyu A lecturer fills a whiteboard at a university in Seoul with many mind-blowing mathematical equations explaining the origins of the universe to scores of people for five or six hours with just a short break. Strangely, most of the audience is not postgraduate students of science but salaried workers, housewives and retirees in their 60s or 70s who have never studied cosmology or astrophysics. More strangely, they do not walk away or fall asleep. Instead, they try hard to remain focused throughout the long session and write down everything the lecturer says. "To know the history and operation of the universe, you need to memorize only 10 formulae. What a great surprise and pleasure?" said lecturer Park Moon-ho, a scientist at the state-run Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). "Of course, they are very tough for the layman to understand. Hence, I ask them to memorize the whole things. If they continue the works, they will surely know the profound meanings." The memorize-first-and-understand-later approach seems unorthodox the general belief has been that students have to build off very smaller things to learn high-level concepts. Most experts would say that it is a waste of time for ordinary citizens to open up a cosmology textbook or biology research paper since they would have no clue about what is going on. What Park is doing is to refute such experts and his way attracts citizens, who pack his Sunday classes Park delivers 10-plus-week lectures on the cosmos in spring and neuroscience in autumn. Park asks the audience to write down all the equations and diagrams so as to learn them by heart and they do so faithfully like cult members. The 56-year-old is also a famous blogger with a loyal following. They are recommended to give lectures themselves on such complicated issues as Albert' Einstein's theory of relativity or nuclear fusion in the Sun for 20 or 30 minutes. Park organizes an overseas trip twice a year to such places as deserts and desolate canyons so participants can feel both the greatness and emptiness of Mother Nature. They are not allowed to tour, shop or drink alcoholic beverages. While sleeping in tents and eating decent meals, they just study Albert Einstein who devised the Theory of Relativity and Bernhard Riemann, a German mathematician who inspired Einstein. Still, Park does not lack volunteers who are ready to spend substantial amounts of money for the unique overseas travel opportunity to study space and the world while looking at the night sky. In other words, Park nurtures amateur astrophysicists, who take advantage of matrices and covariant derivatives to calculate the age of the universe or the heat inside the Sun. Park, who got his Ph.D. in electronic engineering at Texas A&M University, said that he wishes for everyone on Earth to understand science. "Those who specialize in science can take enough time to first study basics to move on to more advanced areas. But ordinary people can't take the strategy, which takes so much time and energy," he said. "The only option for them is to memorize the whole formulae and repeat the process. Then, they will eventually understand them. Members of our group amply demonstrate that such tactics work." Asked why salaried men and housewives have to study the difficult areas, Park said that such efforts are their duties. "As living organisms, we should try to know the Earth and evolution. It is kind of a rent we should pay as tenants of this planet," said Park, whose Korean-language lectures are available through YouTube. "Along the same line, we have to study the astrophysics and other sciences. In a nutshell, we should know more about the nature. I strongly believe science is more significant than humanities." By Kim Tae-gyu Prof. Park Se-pill Jeju National University is planning to open a fertility center for both Koreans and Chinese visitors on the scenic island early next year. Prof. Park Se-pill of the university, who leads the project, said Sunday that Jeju is the perfect place for such a facility because foreigners can stay on the island for 30 days without visa. "Benefiting from Korea's advanced in-vitro fertilization (IVF) technology, we will be able to help Chinese visitors in need of medical services. From the perspective of incoming Chinese visitors, Jeju would be preferable to the peninsula because they don't have to go through the hassle of getting a visa," Park said. "In consideration of the fact that millions of Chinese enter Jeju every year, the global fertility center will also boost medical tourism in the country. Of course, Koreans or other foreigners can take advantage of the center as well." In particular, Park expects that more Chinese will make use of Korea's IVF technology as China has recently abolished its one-child policy. As far as fertility treatment and IVF are concerned, Korea boasts one of the best success rates in the world. Park is a renowned doctor in the field who previously headed treatments at the Seoul-based fertility hospital Maria Biotech. The 55-year-old doctor is also a well known embryologist. Last year, a total of 6.11 million Chinese visited Korea and of those 2.24 million went to Jeju. There are a few fertility clinics in Jeju, but they are small ones. "For the facility, we recruited respected experts including Prof. Chung Hyung-min of Konkuk University," said Park who joined the university in 2006. Prof. Chung is a biomedical scientist who has also gained global notoriety in the IVF field and stem cell research. He led a Konkuk University research group on new stem cell-based drug development which was selected as a government-backed project last year. "Recently, we explained the detailed plan to heads of public institutions here and we will soon have a session with investors. The fertility center is more about technology than money. In that sense, we have a head start since we have already set up a dream team," he said. "We plan to start the construction, which we predict will take less than 10 billion won ($8.8 million), in months to come and open early next year." Korea's finance minister on Sunday said the country's exports are anticipated to rebound in August, although uncertainties still remain after Britain's exit from the European Union. "(The recovery) may come in August," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a meeting with Korean reporters during his visit to China for the Group of 20 gathering of top finance officials. Korea's outbound shipment of goods continued to shrink from a year earlier in June, marking the 18th consecutive month that exports decreased. Yoo, however, said exports will still lose ground on-year in July as the country's shipbuilding sector performed well in the same month last year. Concerning the government's latest plan to carry out an 11 trillion-won ($9.66 billion) extra budget plan designed to prop up its economy, Yoo said the opposition parties should be consistent. "A month ago, opposition parties said there is no need for an extra budget. Now, they are saying the current amount is not enough," Yoo said, adding they are also expressing different voices over how to allocate the budget for social overhead capital projects. The finance minister also ruled out the possibility that the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country will have an adverse impact on Korea's relationship with China in terms of the economy. (Yonhap) Concept Korea SS 2016 NY / Courtesy of Ordinary People By Kim Jae-heun Fashion designer Jang Hyeong-cheol took a big risk launching his brand "Ordinary People" in 2011 with only 30 million won ($26,362). However, his clothes sold for 13 million won ($11,423) in the first month in only four stores and he became the first designer graduating from a two-year-college to join Seoul Fashion Week in 2013. The event is typically dominated by graduates from major local and foreign fashion schools. In 2015, Jang also became the youngest Korean designer to stage a runway show at the New York Fashion Week as part of the government's project "Concept Korea" that aims to foster global fashion designers. "Normally designers with ten years of experience join the project but when I applied, I was only a fourth-year designer," said Jang during the interview with The Korea Times at his showroom in Gangnam, southern Seoul, on July 13. "I was already behind in terms of my career, but the evaluation to pick the two participating designers in New York was split 50 to 50 with local and foreign experts. I did not receive good marks from the locals but I received good marks from foreign evaluators and was chosen for Concept Korea. 2016FW NY / Courtesy of Ordinary People "It was my goal to participate in New York Fashion Week in my tenth year but I tried it early anyways. I did not expect to win the project and when I made it, I only had a month to prepare. My brand received great responses there," said Jang. The Korean fashion designer revealed that he did not use any black on the New York runways, although the color is often used as a main theme. He wanted to break the stereotype. Despite many suggestions to use black in his collection for the U.S. show, he refused and it was seen as innovative. Jang did not stop participating in global runway shows and moved on to make sales in global menswear fashion fair "Pitti Uomo" in Florence, Italy, in January and June 2014 and in June this year. He had talked with buyers there for deals worth over 300,000 dollars, which are still in process. "I personally think it is a bigger achievement than participating in New York Fashion Week. I am not doing collections to sell clothes. If I entered New York to perform with a better collection, I am participating Pitti Uomo to obtain orders and differentiate which materials are used. It worked out and people liked it. It is my third time participating in Pitti Uomo and I staged two runway shows in New York so people recognized me better (this time)," said Jang. Now Jang has joined the ranks of successful fashion designers, but making clothes was not his main interest originally. He was majoring in hotel cooking before he decided to learn fashion while serving in the military. "The army is a place where you get to think a lot. I was thinking about my future after I was discharged and I realized I was reading a lot of fashion magazines to help pass the time. It was more that I wanted to learn about fashion than become a fashion designer right away," said Jang. After graduating from Seoul Fashion College, Jang joined fashion designer Ko Tae-yong's brand Beyond Closet as a starting member. He was 24 and Ko was 27 then, but Jang took care of all the factory production business. In 2008, when Jang was preparing for Beyond Closet's 2009 Spring/Summer collection, the theme found uniqueness in ordinary people and it touched his heart. The collection left him with such a good memory that when Jang decided to launch his own brand later, he adopted the theme as his brand's whole concept and even named it Ordinary People. "I pursue designs that ordinary people can wear in their daily lives, and not fancy clothes that only models or fashion people can wear. But I try to infuse my identity in it based on a "classic" look. "I care a lot about materials used for my clothes and their fit. It is my goal to make clothes that I want to wear. I like shirts and neat pants which are realistic fashion rather than an art piece. I pursue uniqueness in minimalism," said Jang. His last season collection was inspired by boutique hotels. The designer's clothes received inspiration from bellboys, wallpaper and carpets in hotels. "There is no answer in the fashion field but I personally think it is where you can freely play with your skills, not your educational background or connection. I have a positive view about this industry," Jang said. By Kim Rahn Prosecutors have indicted Ryu Sang-wook, director of Grand Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, southern Seoul, for allegedly having other surgeons stand in for him in the operating room without his patients' knowledge. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Monday that it had charged the 44-year-old with fraud. Between November 2012 and October 2013, he allegedly told 33 patients that he would perform the surgery but had other doctors do it instead while the patients were unconscious under anesthesia. The doctors who stood in for him included dentists and otolaryngologists, who are usually paid less than the surgeons specializing in plastic surgery. The "ghost surgery" allegedly saved Ryu 15.2 million won, according to the prosecution. He allegedly did not keep many patients' medical records during the period. By Lee Jin-a A court has backed a university's decision to suspend the professorship of a poet who texted sexually explicit poems to a female student and tried to collect the private photos of 10 other female students. The Seoul Administrative Court said Sunday it had found no legal fault with the disciplinary decision, denying the suspended professor's complaint. According to the court, the professor, surnamed Choi, sent about 550 text messages to a female student from April to June last year, including a poem comparing a flower with a woman's buttocks. In addition, the professor asked 10 other students to exchange private photos. The students filed a complaint with the school's administration and the school suspended the man's professorship for three months in February. The professor took the case to the court. "Choi first asked the student what kind of flower she liked and sent a poem comparing the flower with a woman's buttocks," said presiding Judge Kim Gook-hyun. "It's evident that the woman felt sexually humiliated. hoi also made inappropriate requests to students that were not related to his class." Gynecologist suspended after directing novice to do his work By Jung Min-ho A renowned Samsung Medical Center gynecologist has been suspended indefinitely for directing ghost surgeries on three occasions earlier this month. The gynecologist, surnamed Kim, went to Japan on July 8 for a medical conference starting that day, while a novice doctor conducted operations in his place, without the knowledge of the patients or their families. Fortunately, the substitute doctor completed the operations for uterine myoma and a total hysterectomy without problem. However, the doctor received help from another gynecologist for ovarian cancer surgery. On July 13, the center banned Kim from practicing medicine after concluding that Kim used his authority to direct the misconduct. The center's President Kwon O-jung and Kim apologized to the affected patients and their families. The patients also received refunds, including the extra charges they paid for receiving surgery from Kim. Woongjin Foundation Chairman Shin Hyon-ung, third from right, poses with Seoul National University (SNU) professors, scholarship students and their parents during the mentoring event at the foundation's office in central Seoul, Saturday. The professors include math professor Kim Myung-hwan, second from left, professor emeritus Kim Do-han, third from left, and former physics and astronomy professor Oh Se-jung, fourth from left. / Courtesy of Woongjin Foundation By Chung Hyun-chae The Woongjin Foundation held a mentoring program at its office in Seoul, Saturday, for 15 high school and college students gifted in math to help realize their dreams. "We organized the event to encourage students to set their own visions and goals while sharing experiences with professors and peer students," Woongjin Foundation Chairman Shin Hyon-ung said. During the event, the students attended special lectures given by professors of various fields. Kim Myung-hwan, a professor of mathematics at Seoul National University, gave a lecture on mathematics, while Oh Se-jung, a former professor of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the same university, gave a lecture under the theme of talented people in a knowledge-based society. The participants also shared their experiences in a discussion session at the event. Nine students were selected last February and the remaining six in 2013 by the foundation as the scholarship students. Each student received about 4 million won per year. Among them was Ju Jung-hun, a senior at Seoul Science High School who won the gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad held from July 5 to 12 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The foundation has run the mentoring program since 2009. By Chung Hyun-chae Korea's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has rejected the registration of a stem cell line, dubbed NT-1, created by former Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk, citing a lack of scientific evidence to prove that the line was created through somatic cloning. Hwang and his research team created NT-1 in 2003 and have claimed that it was the world's first stem cell batch extracted from cloned human embryos. As it requested Hwang to submit more evidence in June, the center plans to form a verification committee, consisting of related experts, to verify the authenticity of the NT-1 with the additional evidence. With some research showing that the NT-1 was developed by parthenogenesis, the "virgin birth," a process by which an egg develops on its own without fertilization, skeptical views on Hwang's claims is more dominant now. In 2006, Seoul National University's investigation committee announced that the NT-1 was highly likely to be produced by the virgin birth method, citing its genetic fingerprint that shows the stem cell was created through meiosis and genetic recombination. A research team at the Harvard Medical School supported such conclusion, saying that they found that a cell has specific marks if it was produced by parthenogenesis, and the NT-1 did so. They got the result from mouse test. Dogs cloned by Hwang Woo-suk get rescue role Stem cell research loses footing in Korea Korea approves CHA University's embryonic stem cell research Korea to drop ban on stem cell research This result was published on the Cell Stem Cell, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, in 2007. The center may approve the register of the NT-1 if Hwang's team acknowledged that the stem cell was created by parthenogenesis. Nonetheless, Hwang has allegedly stood firm in what he has claimed. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to reject Hwang's application to register the NT-1 for his unethical practice of buying human eggs. The court said the regulation that prohibits providing ova for financial compensation put into practice was after Hwang's research. Hwang suffered setbacks after being convicted of embezzlement and fabricating research data in 2005. Following Hwang's scandal, the government banned all research using human eggs in 2009. The stem cell research has recently been showing a sign of recovery since the Ministry of Health and Welfare approved CHA University to resume the embryonic stem cell project early this month. Stem cells have the potential to develop into any kind of tissue in the human body so that the related research can develop treatments for incurable diseases including optic nerve damage, strokes and articular cartilage defects. South Korea will hold bilateral talks with Japan and the United States on the sidelines of an annual ASEAN event to discuss North Korea's nuclear ambitions and other issues of mutual concern, informed sources said Sunday. Top diplomats from regional powers and Asia-Pacific countries kicked off their three-day gathering in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, where they will hold a series of meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se plans to meet with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Monday, followed by talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry later in the day, according to the sources. High on the agenda is their joint approach to handling North Korea's evolving nuclear program. Since 2006, the reclusive country has carried out four nuclear tests despite warnings by the international community. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following the North's fourth nuclear test and long-range missile launch earlier this year. Some are raising worries that Pyongyang might be preparing a fifth nuclear test. The talks with Seoul's allies will be held ahead of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the region's largest security meeting, which will be joined by all member countries of the six-party talks. The six-party talks set up to resolve the North's nuke issue were last held in late 2008. The participating countries are the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. Another major bilateral meeting that Yun is to hold is with his Myanmar counterpart and the pro-democratic icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, according to the sources. Whether to hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has not been determined. Both are still working on tuning their schedules for a meeting, the sources said. (Yonhap) Korea's foreign ministry on Sunday said it will send a delegation of ruling party lawmakers for Peru's presidential inauguration slated for later this month on behalf of President Park Geun-hye. Under the plan, Rep. Yoo Jae-jung of the ruling Saenuri Party, who heads the Security and Public Administration Committee of the parliament, will visit Peru, along with another Saenuri lawmaker, on Thursday to congratulate Pedro Kuczynski on his inauguration as the Latin American country's president. Yoo is also set to hold meetings with key officials from the new Peruvian administration and discuss ideas on expanding mutual ties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Peru has been making efforts to learn Korea's electronic government system, adding the delegation will focus on bolstering such a relationship. Peru stands as one of the key partners for Korea in Latin America, especially as the two countries clinched a free trade agreement in 2011, the ministry added. Park also visited the country in April 2015. (Yonhap) By Yi Whan-woo Concerns are growing here over a possible rift in South Korea's decades-long alliance with the United States after Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, ratcheted up rhetoric on defense-cost sharing and the bilateral free trade deal (KORUS FTA), Friday. Several analysts said Sunday that Seoul needs to ensure conservative Americans that it is not alone in benefiting from its security and economic relations with Washington. They warned that the candidate's idea of "America First" may linger on and continue to influence the white working class and others who oppose the Barack Obama administration even if Trump loses against Hillary Clinton in the November election. "Trump's speech should be seen as a warning about the security alliance between the two countries regardless of the U.S. presidential election result," said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum in Seoul. Shin In-kyun, the president of the Korea Defense Network, echoed Yang's view. "We should be prudent in our policy with the U.S. in the future, considering that the ideas of overhauling the defense-cost sharing pact and free-trade deal between Seoul and Washington are being talked about," he said. Citing that Trump told his supporters "I am your voice," an economist said, "The low-income families, especially those who are white, apparently seem to have negative perspectives on U.S. trade with South Korea." A Twitter user named Han Kyung-soo tweeted that "Trump will keep those who settled with an alliance with Washington as well as those who were against the U.S. on their toes." Speaking on condition of anonymity, a researcher at the LG Economic Research Institute suggested that South Korean manufacturers in the U.S. should "step up efforts to boost the regional economy" where they run their plants. Although Trump did not single out South Korea in his comments on defense during his Republican nomination speech in Cleveland, the billionaire tycoon said, "The countries that we are protecting at a massive cost to us will be asked to pay their fair share." He also called the KORUS FTA, "the job-killing trade deal with South Korea," while disparaging Clinton for supporting the bilateral deal. The FTA took effect in February 2012 under the Barack Obama administration. "I pledge to never sign any trade agreement that hurts our workers, or that diminishes our freedom and independence. We will never ever sign bad trade deals," Trump said. His rhetoric comes after he repeatedly accused South Korea of getting a "free ride" from the U.S to defend it from North Korea. He hinted at a withdrawal of U.S. forces unless Seoul increases defense payments "very substantially." Walid Phares, a top foreign policy adviser to Trump, said Trump wants to "go back to ground zero on the Korea-U.S. FTA." Leon Sigal, the director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council in New York, assessed that Trump's "America First" policy should be understood as non-interventionism, not isolationism. "Donald Trump understands something that Hillary Clinton, many Republicans and most of the American foreign policy establishment does not that a majority the American people are sick and tired of military interventionism and free trade deals that they blame for job losses," he said in an email. Pyongyang's top diplomat attends ASEAN forum By Rachel Lee Ri Yong-ho North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho is expected to call on the international community to accept his country as a nuclear state at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Laos, officials here said Sunday. Ri and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on the same flight Sunday afternoon. This is the first time for Ri to attend an international meeting since taking office in May. Ri, a career diplomat, was the North's top representative for the now-dormant six-party talks that involved the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. His trip to Laos came at a time when Pyongyang is seeking to strengthen its ties with its traditional allies to counterbalance Seoul's efforts to accelerate Pyongyang's international isolation. The North has stepped up its nuclear weapons program this year. It fired a Hwasong-10 intermediate range ballistic missile on June 22, after carrying out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 4 and a series of ballistic missile tests afterwards. This year's ARF, the region's largest security gathering, attracted diplomats from 27 countries, including all members of the six-party talks aimed at Pyongyang's denuclearization as well as the 10 ASEAN-member states. They will attend a welcoming dinner hosted by Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Monday. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will also attend the forum, where both Yun and Ri are expected to make the utmost effort to deliver their stance on Pyongyang's nuclear programs to gain support from the international community. The two ministers will not have a separate meeting, a government official said. However, there is speculation that Ri may hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. A source said the two ministers made a reservation at the same accommodation for this visit, raising a possibility that the two diplomats could hold unofficial talks. Upon Ri's departure to Laos Saturday, Chinese Ambassador to Pyongyang Li Jinjun was at the airport to see the North Korean minister off, according to foreign reports. Beijing is Pyongyang's key diplomatic partner and economic lifeline, but bilateral relations became chilly since the North's third nuclear test in 2013. The two held talks at the ARF in Myanmar in 2014, but the same did not happen at last year's forum in Malaysia. A North Korean delegation led by Ri Su-yong recently visited Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of the North's efforts to mend ties. The South Korean government said the focus of this year's ARF is to urge the international support to better implement the U.N. Security Council's latest sanctions on Pyongyang for its denuclearization. "The ARF will discuss some of the very complex issues surrounding terrorism, the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats after its fourth nuclear test early this year," Yun said, expressing his will to have the majority of participating countries strictly follow the U.N. Security Council's latest sanctions on Pyongyang. On the sidelines of the forum, Yun will hold talks with Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos _ all of which have been friendly with Pyongyang _ as part of his efforts to attract participation in sanctioning the North. High on the agenda will also be the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery on the Korean Peninsula. Yun plans to meet with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday. But because of the chair country's traditionally close ties with Pyongyang, Seoul is likely to face challenges in reflecting its stance on the North in a chairman's statement, the source said. Israeli Ambassador to Korea Uri Gutman, left, poses with Start Tel Aviv 2016's winner Dodotdo CEO Sim So-young, center, at the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation on July 5. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Israel By Rachel Lee Israel has chosen startup company Dodotdo as Korea's representative for Start Tel Aviv 2016, an annual global competition that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has run since 2011. The goal is to "help promising early stage startups to meet and establish relationships with potential customers, partners and high-profile industry leaders alike," according to the Israeli Embassy. Dodotdo, led by Sim So-young, has developed a hotel management system that uses devices such as smartphones and smart watches. The winner will take part in the five-day competition, experiencing Tel Aviv's unrivaled startup environment with winners from 22 countries, including Italy, England and Spain, from Sept. 25-29, the Israeli Embassy said. The company will also attend the Digital Life Design (DLD) innovation conference on Sept. 5, the embassy said. DLD is a global network on innovation, digitization, science and culture. Tel Aviv is known as Israel's business capital and a leading innovation hub filled with world-class technology talent. "Relations between Korea and Israel are growing closer thanks to an exchange of visits by high-ranking officials as well as free trade agreement negotiations that began recently," Israeli Ambassador to Korea Uri Gutman said. "I hope Dodotdo plays a role in building a bridge for exchanges of startup innovation between the countries." The embassy and Samsung Electronics co-hosted the Start Tel Aviv 2016 event at the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation from May 10 to July 5. Twenty-two startups participated. Israel, as a global hub for art, culture, science and technology, has attracted more than twice as much venture capital investment as the U.S., and 30 times more than the European Union, according to the Israeli government. Previous Korean winners of Start Tel Aviv are crowd-sourcing translation platform Flitto, established by Simon Lee (2013), and Ediket, a crowd-sourced proofreading platform set up by Kim Min-kyu (2014). Last year, Israel chose Diocian, a company that offers a music-networking service that enables musicians to produce, promote and distribute their work around the world. It gained an opportunity to attend the DLD Innovation Festival Week, a global gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs that focuses on different sides of digital, technological and urban innovation. Winning startups from other countries include: Splash Mobile (Spain), a mobile applications development platform for the disabled and elderly; Discue (Demark), an online platform for audiovisual live discussions, and Formisimo (England), an advanced analytics tool that tells how visitors are interacting with online platforms. Seoul and Jerusalem began official talks on the trade deal last month after seven years of delay since the talks began in 2009. Israel was Korea's 49th largest trading partner, with trade between them worth more than $2 billion last year, according to government data. By Rachel Lee Ecuador's Foreign Trade Minister Juan Carlos Cassinelli was in Seoul on July 20 seeking Korean investment. At the "Regional Investment Forum, Republic of Opportunities Ecuador," the minister spoke about his country's business environment as part of efforts to boost trade relations with Korea. The forum presented the Latin America country's key sectors that have acquired over $47 billion of investment including renewable energy, tourism and the agro-industry. The forum was a global project held in other Asian countries and the Middle East. Cassinelli's visit was designed to promote the "Investment Summit" in his country on Oct. 25-26. His tour included signing an agreement for future meetings with his Korean counterparts. He also met Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister, Joo Hyung-hwan, to discuss the Strategic Agreement on Economic Cooperation. "Since 2012, Ecuador's ministers have made a visit to Korea to encourage more investment and trade deals between the two countries, including Cassinelli's visit this time," Marcelo Pazos, commercial attache at the embassy, said. Colombian Ambassador to Korea Tito Saul Pinilla speaks at a reception to mark his country's 206th anniversary of independence at the Lotte Hotel Seoul on July 19. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Colombia By Rachel Lee Colombia, a Latin American country whose trade deal with Korea came into force on July 15, commemorated its 206th anniversary in Seoul four days later. Colombian Ambassador Tito Saul Pinilla said this year's celebration meant a lot to his country. "It will be the first of the last 50 years that celebrates this national holiday in a context of encouraging peace, thanks to the favorable outlook in the negotiation process with FARC at this moment," the ambassador said. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a guerrilla movement that has been involved in armed conflictin the country since 1964. "Undoubtedly, Colombia is facing a unique historical opportunity that would allow it to redirect its course and move towards the construction of a better future for the whole nation," Pinilla said. "And in this context, it is the urgent and invaluable contribution of brotherly countries which can help to encourage and promote optimal conditions for progress. Such is the case of Korea, in which there are high hopes." Colombia is the third Latin American country to sign an FTA with Korea, after Chile and Peru. Korea and Colombia officially signed the deal in February 2013. Korea's exports to Colombia totaled $1.1 billion last year, while imports marked $800 million. Pinilla said despite changes and difficulties in the economy, his country has managed "not only to maintain itself but also to grow favorably, and this makes it very attractive for a financial system and investment in expansion with Koreans." "The support of Korea is essential for us to promote the inclusion of Colombia on the international stage, particularly in the area of ??the Asia-Pacific, as well as the intention of standardizing successful Korean processes as the educational model," he said. "For all this, we have high hopes on a nation like Korea, because we consider it as an example to follow, and we value the implementation of projects and programs of mutual benefit in trade, investment, tourism and education through the FTA." Colombia is a rapidly growing market in Latin America. Its population of 47.6 million is the third largest in the region while its $377.9 billion gross domestic product is the fourth largest. The country had economic growth of 3.1 percent in 2015, following 4.9 percent in 2013 and 4.4 percent in 2014. The country also boasts abundant natural resources. It is the fourth-largest oil producer in Latin America, second largest in nickel and the sixth in natural gas. The embassy has also held a photograph exhibition "Colombian Caribbean by Leo Matiz and Colombia in the Korean War" to mark the country's 206th anniversary of independence at the Korea Foundation Gallerty in Seoul till Aug. 3. British Ambassador to Korea Charles Hay, center in the second row, with award winners for the 2016/17 Chevening Scholarship at the embassy in Seoul on July 21. Chevening Scholarships are a U.K. government global scholarship program offered to more than 160 countries. Established in 1983, the program supports study at U.K. universities mostly one-year masters' degrees in a wide range of fields including politics, business, the media, civil society and academia. More than 44,000 people, including 1,100 Koreans, have been chosen as Chevening scholars. Competition for the scholarships are strong. Applicants should have a minimum of two years of professional experience, according go the embassy. Sponsors for this year's competition included Diageo Korea, PCA Life, the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea and HSBC. / Courtesy of the British Embassy BRAZIL Beauty of Brazil on show The Brazilian Cultural Center will host a photography exhibition in Seoul amid growing attention from around the world before the Rio Olympics. The "Photography Exhibition The Beauty of Brazil" will feature photos taken by students from the Universidade de Taubate who captured scenes of the Latin American country they wanted to show the world. The exhibition will be at the Seoul Metro Museum inside Gyeongbokgung station from July 28 to 31. Admission is free. The organization said some of the photographers are expected to visit Korea during the exhibition to exprience the culture of the Asian country and record it for a display in Brazil. IRAQ By Carl Bildt STOCKHOLM The failed coup in Turkey has reminded us as though a reminder was needed of the once-inconceivable stability that the European Union has brought to Europe. But if the post-Brexit EU is to survive, it will need to change the way it thinks about itself. So far, sad to say, this isn't happening. Immediately after the Brexit vote, for example, the six founding countries of what used to be the European Economic Community (EEC) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands gathered to discuss what to do. To no one's surprise, the other 21 EU member states felt offended at being left out. This incident points to the larger challenge that the EU must overcome if it is to secure its post-Brexit future. Simply put, the idea of the Union must resonate with all Europeans, not just those who get invited to exclusive meetings. The EEC was established in 1957, and the official aspiration then, as it is now for the EU, was to recreate the Europe of Charlemagne that existed more than a thousand years ago. Since then, European leaders have gathered time and again by Charlemagne's ancient throne in Aachen, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, to deliver visionary speeches announcing that the time has finally come to build a truly integrated Europe. Aachen has turned into the Mecca for true believers in the EU's founding myth. While I agree that Charlemagne is an intriguing historical personality, I do not find him particularly inspiring. He was an impressive warrior, but probably an illiterate one, and the empire he created fell apart soon after his death. The rise of Europe and the West certainly did not start with Charlemagne. The Europe that inspires me is not the Europe of old warriors; it is the Europe of the thinkers and the traders. It is their contributions that, over the centuries, transformed Europe from the global backwater it had become after the fall of Rome into a hub of intellectual progress and innovation that created the West and changed the course of humanity. This is the Europe of Copernicus and Erasmus, Henry the Navigator and Isaac Newton, and all the other pioneers who unshackled the human mind from the superstition and prejudice of the immediate past. Their Europe was wide and borderless, far larger than the Europe of Charlemagne. Immanuel Kant's treatises on how republics could achieve "perpetual peace" were written in Konigsberg, in what today is a part of Russia. And the great trading cities of Gdansk, Seville, and Venice maintained links far beyond the borders of today's EU. The European project can be renewed only if those who support it move away from the limited Charlemagne-inspired vision, stop talking about "old" and "new" members, and demonstrate in words as well as deeds that they are open to ideas from every part of Europe. The EU will not work unless all member states are regarded as equals in determining a common future. In 2004, when the EU added ten new members (including eight ex-communist countries), I half-jokingly suggested that the Union move its headquarters from "old-EU" Brussels to a more geographically central, "new-EU" location, such as Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The idea behind this fanciful thought was to symbolize the abandonment of a conceptual model that I saw hindering a more open, diverse, and inclusive Union. The move from Brussels obviously did not happen, but neither did the mental transformation from that old Aachen paradigm. Unfortunately, there can be little doubt that the conclaves held by the Aachen brotherhood within the Brussels bubble provided much fodder for the ruthless, and ruthlessly dishonest, pro-Brexit campaigners. Unless it is overcome, the Aachen mindset will continue to serve a similar purpose for nationalist campaigners in other member states. It is, of course, a dangerous myth that Brussels has been grabbing power from EU member states. In reality, the gradual erosion of national powers in an increasingly interdependent world has made it necessary for member states to forge, by agreement, common solutions to common challenges. Common solutions require inclusion and a spirit of cooperation. When the leaders of all 27 remaining EU member states gather in Bratislava in September, they should begin to return Europe to its members and that means to all of them. The post-Brexit EU must be a Union that is much more closely linked to the political realities of its member states. Although a new building for such gatherings is rising in Brussels, perhaps we should go back to having at least some EU summits in different parts of Europe. The Bratislava summit could be the start of a new effort to connect the European endeavor with all of Europe. The era of Aachen is over; the age of Bratislava has arrived. We need more Europe and less Brussels. If we embrace this new model and stick to it the EU will not only survive; it will thrive. Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate. By Jun Ji-hye U.S. politicians are going all out to ensure that a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system scheduled to be deployed on Korean soil next year will pose no health risks or environmental problems. Their emphasis on the safety of the system comes as a part of efforts to dispel concerns widespread in South Korea in the wake of a joint decision by the two countries to place a THAAD battery in Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Provice. Local residents and their supporters are strongly protesting, claiming that the electromagnetic waves emitted from the AN/TPY-2 radar could be dangerous to humans and agricultural products. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) said Wednesday that he would like a THAAD missile defense battery "in his backyard" as the system provides excellent protection for his children from oncoming nuclear missiles while posing no danger to humans and the environment. He made the remark in a meeting with South Korean reporters in Cleveland. "I would want THAAD outside in our backyard if we could get the military to put one there, because I believe it will be a protection to my children and no danger to them. I guess that's the best way I can explain to you why I think it's a good thing," Franks said. "I literally would have great confidence that the system would not harm my children if it were in our backyard, yet I believe it would have great protection for them that we would be the last ones in the neighborhood to get hit with a nuclear warhead." The lawmaker also said that any claims THAAD is dangerous to humans are politically oriented. "The notion that the levels of radiation would be damaging to human life is preposterous. It's simply not true. It is a political claim more than it is a scientific claim," he said. "THAAD has been a thoroughly tested system and it has been extremely effective." He also stressed the THAAD's capability of shooting ballistic missiles down, saying that each THAAD system has a 99 percent chance of interception. "It is an extremely high chance of interception," he said. A day earlier, Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam) also said during a meeting with South Korean reporters in Guam that the system will pose no environmental problems whatsoever if it is set up away from heavily populated areas as in Guam. The meeting took place during a three-day tour by the South Korean journalists to the Andersen Air Force Base in the U.S. Pacific territory that has hosted a THAAD battery since 2013. The THAAD unit there, nicknamed "Musudan manglers," was set up in response to the growing threats from North Korea's Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles, with an estimated range of about 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers, which could theoretically fly as far as Guam. She said that there have never been any noise complaints from local residents about the advanced anti-missile defense system since its deployment. She also said the local residents welcomed the deployment of the battery as they were worried about constant threats from the North Korean missiles, noting that they believe that the THAAD protects them and their island. She added as long as the battery is placed in an isolated area and not in the middle of a town, there should be no problem. South Korean journalists toured the base to check electromagnetic waves with Korea's own devices as the radar in Guam is the same model as the one to be deployed in Seongju, located about 210 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The result showed that the average level was 0.0003 watts per square meter, which was much lower than the permissible level of electromagnetic waves on daily life set by the Korea Communications Commission, which is 10 watts per square meter. But the anger from the Seongju residents is showing no sign of subsiding so far. Around 2,000 residents gathered in Seoul, Thursday, and staged a massive rally against the planned deployment. On July 8, the two allies announced the decision to deploy the battery on Korean soil after months of deliberation, saying that it will greatly help the nation's capability of responding to the North's evolving nuclear and ballistic missile threats. Then on July 13, they announced Seongju as the location for the unit. By Yi Whan-woo North Korea still has a stable supply of oil from the outside world for military training despite U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, according to South Korean government sources, Sunday. The military state has increased its number of drills recently using jet fighters, submarines and air-cushioned landing crafts (LCACs). Dozens of LCACs have been mobilized from their base in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, to the waters off the port city of Nampo in South Pyongan Province for landing assault exercises. Several types of submarines, including a 1,800-ton Romeo-class, 325-ton shark-class and 130-ton Yono-class are also "operating actively" throughout North Korean waters after departing their base on the west coast, the sources said. "Our analysis show that the number of such drills rose between 1.5 times and double from a year ago when North Korea conducted fewer drills than usual," a source said. "Those military assets consume large amounts of oil, and it shows North Korea has a route to receive oil for its military regardless of UNSC sanctions." Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, agreed, citing loopholes in UNSC Resolution 2270 imposed in March. Although it bans transfer of aviation fuel, including rocket fuel to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and related military activities, the resolution still allows exceptions if trade is "determined to be exclusively for livelihood purposes." The clause was included largely in line with demands from China, and to a lesser extent, Russia. "There's no way to tell whether North Korea is using oil imported from China and Russia for military purposes after pretending it will be used to help its people," Yang said. He also turned down speculations that the internationally isolated Pyongyang is staging military exercises by drawing on its oil reserves instead of continuing to purchase foreign oil. "It may be possible, but at the same time, it shows North Korea is confident keeping its reserves filled up at any time through pipelines connected with China," he said. Meanwhile, a British magazine on military issues reported Friday that North Korea appears to be building docks to berth ballistic missile submarines. Citing satellite imagery, the website of IHS Jane's Defence Weekly said two covered docks that could shelter ballistic missile submarines have been under construction since between August 2009 and November 2012. It said the docks are located 2.25 km south of the Sinpo shipyard on North Korea's east coast. The site is where the secretive state test-launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile on July 9. The test-firing was seen as a provocation against a July 9 agreement between South Korea and the United States to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here to deter North Korea's evolving missile technology. People are lined up in front of the Shake Shack store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Saturday, a day after its opening. The store is Shake Shack's first location in Korea and second in Asia, following one in Japan. / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-young By Yun Suh-young The New York burger chain Shake Shack finally came to Korea last Friday. The opening of a Shake Shack store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, had been the talk of the town for months and social media was flooded with excited posts. When the store opened on July 22, the online fervor was proven real. Even before the opening of the store at 10 a.m., people were reported to have lined up hours in advance, some having been there all night, to be the first to try the burgers. Around 1,500 people were reported to have lined up for two to three hours on that day. Informed of the unusual, yet expected phenomenon, this reporter set out on a mission the next day to find out what the big deal was. Knowing that the lines would be less frantic between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the typical leisurely hours for restaurants this reporter arrived at 3:30 p.m. She was wrong. The line was nowhere near short, though a worker said that it was still the best time of day with the shortest waiting time. Apparently, people had been lining up since 7 a.m. that day. Staffers from SPC Group, a food company that acquired the right to operate Shake Shack here, were present to help organize the situation. When asked how long it would take to get in, as of 3:40 p.m., SPC staff said it would take two hours from the end of the line. Photos of a SmokeShack, left, and ShackBurger, the original / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-young For this reporter, the initial plan was to take pictures of the fascinating scene, ask a few questions of those lined up and leave the scene. But curiosity sprouted. 'What was all the fuss about?' Marveling at the scene and the tenacity and patience of the people in line, she decided to try being in their shoes, and see for herself if the burger was really worth the wait. So at 4 p.m., she courageously stepped into the very back of the line. /Courtesy of Hong So-hyun Choi at forefront of Korea's medical imaging development By Jung Min-ho, Kim Eil-chul Steven E. Seltzer, chairman of the radiology department at Harvard Medical School, sent an e-mail earlier this year to radiologist Choi Byung-ihn in Seoul. The purpose of his e-mail was to invite him to be the seventh annual honorary lecturer on "Global Issues in Radiology" at the school-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women's Hospital in September. "I sincerely hope that you can accept our invitation," Seltzer said in the e-mail. Seltzer's invitation is an indication of how far Korea has come in the field of medical imaging, the creation of visual representations of the body's internal parts for medical analysis and intervention. When Seoul National University Hospital adopted computed tomography (CT) 36 years ago, Choi, who was then a full-time instructor at the hospital, struggled significantly with the new machine and the new era. No one in the whole hospital could help him much. "For a long time, X-ray was pretty much the only thing used at the radiology department. But from the early 1980s, new technologies started to revolutionize the field," Choi, who now serves as a clinical chair professor at Chung-Ang University Hospital, said in an interview. "I had to learn from scratch, and as an instructor, I had to do so faster than my students." It was when radiology was evolving quickly with new technologies, which provided doctors less invasive and more effective ways to look into the body. In addition to CT, other technologies such as angiography opened windows to more internal organs; less invasive treatment methods such as biliary drainage using fluoroscopy were also adopted, requiring radiologists to catch up. "English textbooks were the only thing I could rely on," Choi said. "I read them and practiced a new procedure hundreds of times in my head before performing it on a patient." Applying theory to practice was certainly challenging. "The first one year in the hospital after finishing my military service was the toughest period of my career," he said. "I was always under great pressure." For the questions he could not answer himself, Choi sent letter via air mail to Joseph Ferrucci, a textbook author and a renowned radiologist at MGH at that time. "I was desperate. I think Ferrucci probably noticed that he was my only hope. He was very responsive, but it still took about four weeks to receive his reply," he said. "On the positive side, however, the whole situation made me sharp. I learned fast and did not forget what I learned from Ferrucci. His answers were imprinted in my brain." After finishing his doctorate in radiology, Choi moved to the University of California, San Francisco, in 1985, where he trained under Roy A. Filly. "He was just seven years older than me, but his knowledge and credentials were overwhelming, which motivated me a lot. He helped me grow not only as a radiologist but also as a medical researcher. He was my mentor," Choi said. He took his career one step further after receiving training from Yuji Itai, a former professor at the University of Tokyo. The renowned radiologist who called himself a cosmopolitan helped Choi broaden his perspective and build a network with world-class radiologists. With the help of the global network, Choi has committed himself to developing the field of medical imaging in Korea and beyond. His academic focus has been on the application of radiology for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. In his almost 40-year career, he has published more than 420 papers in international scientific journals and has delivered lectures at more than 370 hospitals and educational institutions abroad. Meanwhile, he served as head of many local and international organizations, including the Asian Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (2004-2007), Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (2005-2006), the Korean Society of Radiology (2005-2008), the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology (AOSR) (2010-2012) and the Asian Society of Abdominal Radiology (2011-2013). He is also an honorary member of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the European Congress of Radiology, the world's two largest organizations for the field. Choi Byung-ihn and other members of the Asia Oceania School of Radiology, which was established in 2012 to train young doctors in the region, smile during their education program last year for young doctors in Yilan, Taiwan. /Courtesy of Choi Byung-ihn Asia as one big medical team According to the RSNA, the largest international organization for radiologists with more than 54,000 members across the globe, Korea published more papers in its journal Radiology than any other country except for the United States from 2010 to 2014. With the U.S. (676) far ahead of the pack, Korea (177) ranked second, above Germany, Japan and France. Moreover, when it comes to the acceptance rate, Korea was only behind the U.S. "Over the past three decades, Korea has made tremendous progress in the field of medical imaging. Now the pressing question is, How do we improve from here?' I think the answer is more cooperation, especially with countries in Asia," Choi said. "Asia was long ignored in major international academic societies, in which regional support is critical. Nations from Europe and North America help other countries from the same region and together exert enormous influence on the global stage." Without such cooperation, he noted, it would be hard for any Asian country to grow into a leader in any global organization. This is the issue Japan has long dealt with, being the only big player from Asia. "But times are changing," he said. "I believe Korea has reached the point where it has to play a bigger role in helping other countries in the region, which is important not only for humanitarian reasons but for the further development of Korea and the whole of Asia." In 2010, Seoul became the location of the AOSR's executive office. This is the achievement Choi feels most proud of. "We can play a leading role in making the positive change," he said. In 2012, when he was still head of the AOSR, Choi created the Asia Oceania School of Radiology to train radiologists in Asian countries. Since 2014, he has directed education programs for them. He has also run ultrasound update training courses through the JW Lee Center for Global Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital, which was established in 2012 to help sick and underprivileged people in developing countries. "Education is the job Korea can do better than any other country in the world. Korea has coped with many kinds of issues as a developing country until only a few decades ago. They need our advice and we understand their situation well," Choi said. "Through different channels, I will continue to expand education programs for doctors in such countries." South Korea's government on Sunday said it will give additional resettlement aid to North Korean defectors to support their children who were born in a third country. The Ministry of Unification said it has made a pre-announcement about the revision to the Act on the Protection and Settlement Support of Residents Escaping from North Korea for those children who are often marginalized and don't receive support. The ministry and other government bodies, including the finance ministry, are discussing whether to give 4 million won ($3,500) to 5 million won per child in extra funds to the defectors. The unification ministry said it is also considering granting special admissions for college entrance to those children starting next year. "We have already finished discussing (related matters) with the education ministry," a unification ministry official said, asking not to be named. (Yonhap) The National Assembly's special committee on responding to the low birthrate and the aging society had its first meeting last week. It is high time that the 20th National Assembly has launched a special committee to discuss responses to some of the country's most serious problems. The committee is chaired by Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Saenuri Party. As a working mother, she will hopefully display effective leadership in making policy to create a society that respects working moms and takes better care of the elderly. During a committee meeting on July 21, ministers in the areas of health, family affairs and education were invited to a discussion on countering Korea's low birthrate, which stands at 1.21 per woman. The figure is already one of the lowest in the world and is expected to fall even further due to economic instability brought on by the unemployment crisis that discourages young people from getting married and raising a family. During the discussion, lawmakers of the committee and Health and Welfare Minister Chung Chin-youb agreed that it is necessary for Korea to establish an administrative control center for dealing with the low birthrate and the aging society. Minister Chung asked for the Assembly's support for a ministry concerning these issues that can consistently implement necessary policies beyond one administration. The need for such a ministry is particularly highlighted when considering the case of Japan, which has been able to turn around its falling birthrate and has even set a bold goal of increasing its birth rate to 1.8 per woman from the current 1.46, which is the highest for the country in 21 years. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has placed boosting the birthrate at the core of his agenda and created a new cabinet minister post for boosting the birthrate. For President Park Geun-hye, who is in the twilight of her career, it may be too late to consider a similar addition to her administration. But the Assembly can and must start serious discussions about the establishment of a new ministry in the future. As head of the special committee, Rep. Na should vigorously meet with ministers and relevant experts and lay the foundation for a ministry in charge of tackling low birthrate and population issues. By Lee Min-hyung Search engine giant Google is facing increasing scrutiny by Korean regulators over the latest series of heated controversies surrounding its alleged involvement in tax evasion and abuse of its market dominance. The controversies include allegations that the Android operating system creator has breached the nation's antitrust regulations by abusing its dominant position through pressing Android device manufacturers to install non-removable apps. Google is also clashing with Seoul over its requests to take the nation's map data overseas. But the government has yet to take any hard-line stances by imposing strict regulatory measures on the company, and so far remained "ambiguous" in its posture. In particular, the government only said it will continue to monitor Google's possible monopolistic schemes surrounding the pre-installed apps. This is in contrast to the European Commission's recent decisions over the similar issue. The EC claimed that Google imposed restrictions on some Android device manufacturers, which the regulator says is a clear breach of antitrust rules set by the EU. Google is facing a fine of some $3.4 billion from the EC. Even though the issue is sweeping the world, the Korean regulators including the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP), the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) are still keeping a low profile. In 2011, the FTC previously acquitted Google of similar charges filed by its Korean counterparts including Naver and Daum citing Google's weak market share in Korea. Amid the growing controversy, the FTC launched a probe into Google Korea last week. But it remains to be seen whether the regulator hands down tough sanctions on the company, given its previous posture. Google was also mired in a controversy last month when it officially requested the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) to approve its plan to host the nation's geographic data overseas. The plan, however, is met with fierce oppositions from relevant government bodies. In particular, the Ministry of National Defense called for other relevant government agencies to approve the Google request only when it blurs map data for some politically and militarily sensitive areas. Regarding the issue, Naver, the nation's top portal operator, called for the government to get tougher to deal with the issue. "We believe financially healthy companies, such as Google, can put an end to this kind of controversy under the local legal system," Lee Hae-jin, chairman of Naver, said in a recent press conference. He also expressed displeasure over Google's absence of data centers here. "No one knows how much money Google or Facebook makes in Korea, even though any companies here should unveil their sales figures and pay tax accordingly," he said. "If Naver had run business in the same way, the government and media would not have forgiven our acts. We don't understand why the government leaves the matter as it is." Despite the firm's tax-dodging allegations, the Korean government has yet to launch any in-depth probes into the local subsidiary of the U.S.-based search giant. This is a stark contrast to decisions by French authorities. French finance minister Michel Sapin previously said no tax deals with Google. In May, tax investigators there raided into Google's French headquarters to seek more than $1.12 billion over suspected tax evasion of the company. By Andrei Lankov Recent economic sanctions created serious problems with exports of minerals from North Korea. Technically UN member countries are banned from importing North Korea minerals even though in practice it remains to be seen to what extent this ban will be observed by China. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the share of minerals of North Korea exports currently close to 60% will drop soon. The North Korean foreign trade managers will have no choice but to look for different ways to earn foreign currency. Actually, the changes have already begun. And it seems that there are three fields where North Korean companies (often semi-private in nature) are likely to earn an extra buck. First, broadly speaking, fishing, and seafood production; second, the "sale" of North Korean workforces overseas; third, its developing light industry serving orders from China. Seafood has always been a major North Korea export. In the 1990s, before coal and iron ore took over around 2005, it was the largest export item. Most of the seafood was sold to China, whose huge population has a great appetite for the fruits of the sea. In some cases the North Korea seafood was relabeled by Chinese businessmen (for a hefty commission and with full knowledge of North Korea exporters) and then shipped to Japan and South Korea to be sold there as Chinese products. Now it seems that the trade in fish products will intensify. Unlike coal or other minerals, seafood exports are not subject to international sanctions. One might suspect that wealthy North Korea businesspersons, who until recently have made good money in coal mining, will switch to fishing. The second option is the sale of North Korea labor. Currently North Korea workers are employed in many countries of the globe, but most work in Russia, China, and the Middle East. The exact figures are unknown. We can be certain however that at least 100,000 North Korean workers are employed around the globe (actual figure may be higher). In the old days, the workers tended to be loggers, but now the majority are employed in construction, while some others work assembly lines in China. These workers are often presented as "modern-day slaves," but this is clearly a politically motivated mischaracterization: after all, most workers pay significant bribes to be selected for overseas work assignments. A typical worker makes a few thousand dollars over the course of the contract, which lasts two or three years, and also brings somewhat larger amount to state coffers through obligated deductions of his or her wages (normally 2/3rds are deducted) Thus, the North Korean workers probably bring a few hundred million dollars a year to the North Korean budget. This amount is not officially counted by official trade statistics, but it is seemingly one of the most profitable undertakings taken by the North Korea once again, untouched by UN sanctions. This is in spite of US secondary sanctions might target the individuals and corporations in these countries if they're somehow involved with important and use of North Korea workforce. The third alternative is development in the development of light industry, usually working on the Chinese border. It's a profitable undertaking because it does not require much start-up capital. North Koreas is also attractive because the cost of labor constitutes a significant part of light industry products. At present, young Chinese women in the border regions can expect at least $150 a month, while the North Korea women across the river could see $30-$40 a month as a significant income. There are various interactions between Chinese and North Koreans. In some cases, Chinese entrepreneurs place orders in North Korea factories located near the border (it has to be near the border, since otherwise logistics would be a nightmare). North Korea factories are given sample garments to emulate and their products are then shipped to third countries via China, where they are often labeled "Made in China" to avoid any political complications. In more extreme cases, Chinese entrepreneurs invest in North Korea creating factories more or less from scratch, or perhaps completely renovate an old North Korea enterprise. This is risky, given the well-known propensity of North Korea officials to confiscate property and resources of successful overseas investors, but with some luck and good connection, they can succeed. It remains to be seen whether seafood, overseas work, and garments will be enough to compensate for the loss of income from mineral exports. Nonetheless, the experience has taught us not to underestimate the staying power of the North Korea economy. Especially since the days when a significant part of the economy became de facto privatized. Andrei Lankov was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and teaches at Kookmin University in Seoul.Reach him at anlankov@yahoo.com. By Lee Min-hyung Korea's weak perception of intellectual property (IP) is holding back the creation of global mega-hit software, such as the augmented reality (AR) mobile game "Pokemon Go," industry insiders said Wednesday. With the AR game sweeping the world, calls are growing for the nation to forge its competitiveness in developing software with solid brands, as the super-famous Pokemon did with Japan. Market insiders here said shattering decades-long negative perceptions of the importance of content and IP will be the first steps to driving up the nation's relatively weak content competitiveness. "Pokemon's success came largely from its strong IP and branding power," a gaming industry official said. "Korean online and mobile gaming industry has also achieved great success in some Asian countries, but it will take decades for local companies to create so-called killer content comparable to Pokemon." The official said local gaming companies have already secured and tried to apply AR technology to some games in recent years. But the technological expertise is only supplementary to content with solid branding power, according to the source. "But we are still optimistic, as some of the nation's content including cartoon characters of mobile messenger app LINE have started to gain popularity in some Asian countries with its more than 200 million user base," said the source. Given that LINE was launched in 2011, this is an outstanding accomplishment, according to the official. Another source in the content industry said Korea needs more time on the issue, as the nation is undergoing a transition period to be more open to content and IP rights. "The general perception toward the content industry needs to be diversified here, as the government is still too conservative over revising regulations on content," said the official. On the software side, there is still much to be desired. A software company spokesman expressed pessimism over the possibility of "a Korean version of Pokemon Go." "Relevant government bodies including the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning are focusing too much on technological trends, allocating unplanned budgets to the trendier IT sectors," he said. "But the government should focus more on building the foundation and infrastructure to breed more software specialists." The official said the content and software industries are in the same boat, in terms of receiving little support from society and the government. "The government has been promoting its policies to vitalize software policies in recent years, but no specific outcome has come of it," he said. "More concrete and practical systems should be adopted for the nation's growth in the software and content sectors." /Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Jin-a The Korean government will lift its seven-year ban on human stem cell research. The National Bioethics Committee conditionally approved CHA Medical Group's research plan, allowing the company to use up to 600 human eggs by 2020. Under the approval, the company has to abide strictly by related laws and develop a research monitoring system. "The research team must abide by relevant laws when it collects human eggs and somatic cells," the committee said. "In addition, it needs to establish its own bioethics committee to monitor the firm's activities." The team is waiting for the final approval from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. By Park Si-soo At least 154 people were killed and 124 missing in torrential rains that have swept through China, officials said Saturday. Most of the casualties were reported from a northern province where villagers complained about lack of warning before a deadly flash flood. The rains, which began on Monday, have flooded streams, triggered landslides and destroyed homes across the country, according to news reports. Most of the fatalities were reported in the northern province of Hebei. More than 300,000 people were evacuated in Hebei, and the province made another round of appropriations of tents, blankets, rain boots and generators, the department said. In the Hebei city of Xingtai alone, 25 people were killed and another 13 were missing, according to the Associated Press. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more QUESTION: Everything at our homeowner association has become too complicated for me to deal with! I recently asked our HOA board for copies of board meeting minutes for the last 12 months. I asked in person and also made a request via email to the management company. In response, management sent me a Documents Request Form to complete. The form requires the date, address, unit number, name, name of LLC or trust and drivers license or California ID number of the requester, with copies attached. It also requires a description of the documents requested and a stated reason and purpose for requesting the documents. Finally, titleholders must sign a declaration that the documents received by the homeowner will not be copied or distributed for improper use, nor sold to third parties for personal benefit. None of our governing documents require that we provide a copy of our drivers license. In November 2015, the board wrote and adopted a new set of rules and regulations requiring the use of this form. Is this legal? Advertisement ANSWER: First, know that Civil Code section 5205 gives owners the right to inspect association records upon request. If an association does not have a business office within the development, the association can make the specified records available for inspection and copying at a place agreed to by the association member. As for getting copies of documents, titleholders must make a written request but there are only so many hoops that a board can require a homeowner to jump through for records. If the form was created by the management company without an accompanying board vote, then the form is itself not valid. Failure to use a management companys form cannot be a basis to deny a legal request from a homeowner for association records. Homeowners would only be required to use such a form if the board took a legal vote on the matter. That would require the board to give notice of a meeting, hold a vote and record the results and the new rule in the minutes. The board also needs to authorize a person to receive such documents on behalf of the association. That person should be named in the associations annual policy statement. If no person has been designated to receive documents, the document should be delivered to the president or secretary of the association. See the most-read stories in Business this hour >> Still, merely adopting a rule does not automatically validate the form itself. The form includes the troublesome phrase that it will not be copied or distributed for improper use, nor sold to third parties for personal benefit. It fails to define the terms improper use and third parties let alone provide a legal definition of personal benefit, thus making the declaration invalid. No law requires the owner to sign a declaration in order to view or obtain association documents. It also appears that much of the information requested on the form is superfluous to the owners request to obtain documents. Because any current titleholder has a right to inspect the associations records, the association need only confirm the identity of an owner making a request. Demanding more of a homeowner can be seen as an unreasonable barrier to exercising a fundamental right of association membership namely access to information regarding association governance. While certain documents may be withheld or redacted according to Civil Code section 5215, there is nothing in the law that requires the production of a copy of your drivers license or an attestation requiring a stated declaration for use of the documents. Providing superfluous information also creates a danger of identity theft. Once an owner volunteers personal information, it becomes the property of the homeowner association. Typically, that information is retained by boards and management companies with no assurances it wont be sold, shared or accessed by third parties. Thieves covet drivers license and bank account numbers. The risk of identity theft also creates a liability for the board, since associations are responsible for custody and control of all the data they collect. The board should seriously consider eliminating this form because of this potential risk. For further guidance to both boards and titleholders, Civil Code section 4035 spells out how certain specific requests must be made, including: >To change the owners information in the association membership list, opt out of the membership list or to cancel a prior request to opt out of the membership list. >To add or remove a second address for delivery of individual notices to the owner. >For individual delivery of general notices or to cancel a prior request for individual delivery of general notices. >To receive a full copy of an annual budget report or annual policy statement. >To receive all reports in full, or to cancel a prior request to receive all reports in full. As a general rule, all communications with the association should be in writing and sent using a recognized method of tracking with signature receipt. Using a tracking method requiring a signature receipt is also a good idea when sending association payments. Hang on to those tracking and signature receipts; you may need them later. Zachary Levine, a partner at Wolk & Levine, a business and intellectual property law firm, co-wrote this column. Vanitzian is an arbitrator and mediator. Send questions to Donie Vanitzian, JD, P.O. Box 10490, Marina del Rey, CA 90295 ornoexit@mindspring.com MORE FROM BUSINESS General Atomics $40-million gamble on small nukes Does Social Security pay survivor benefits in same-sex unions? No food or drinks on long-haul international flights? No problem Question: Our board is looking to expand our nonprofit organization, which is having a record revenue year. I am an executive and the second-highest-paid person in our office. I have been asked to take a pay cut, unrelated to my performance, which will make me the third- or fourth-highest-paid person. Everyone else is expected to receive merit-based raises or cost-of-living adjustments at the start of the next fiscal year. Is it legal to cut one employees salary and nobody elses when there is no business reason to do so? Does it matter that I am the only employee over 45 and a woman, while the executives who will outearn me after my pay cut are male? Answer: Your age and gender may not have been conscious factors in your pay cut. But in the eyes of employment law, they could indeed matter a lot. Advertisement Under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, its illegal for employers with 20 or more workers to discriminate against any worker 40 or older. But in practice, courts have found that its lawful for a company to lay off its highest earners, who often tend to be older workers, says employment attorney Tom Spiggle. That same business reason cutting costs from the top may be in play here, he says. Still, the fact that you, the oldest worker, are the only high earner being asked to make this contribution to the greater good ... well, that looks a bit dodgy through the ADEA lens. See the most-read stories in Business this hour >> Shifting perspective to your gender: Title VII broadly prohibits sex discrimination by employers with more than 15 employees. Finally, theres the Equal Pay Act, which states simply that men and women must be paid equally for performing substantially similar jobs. Unlike the ADEA and Title VII, the Equal Pay Act applies to employers of any size, and it allows workers to take their complaint straight to court, instead of filing first with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Most important, under the Equal Pay Act, the employee need not prove there is intentional discrimination going on, says Spiggle. She would just have to show the pay differential exists. Mind you, no ones advising you to go running to court just yet. Its time to ask the decision-makers why you are the only one taking a hit, and when or whether your original salary will be reinstated. If their explanation makes sense, you could ask for non-financial perks to offset the pay cut. If not, it might be worth an hour with a lawyer to discuss other options, says Spiggle. Even if federal laws dont apply to your case, your state may have laws that do. Discrimination isnt necessarily a mustache-twirling, hand-rubbing plot to target women, seniors or any other group. But just because your employer doesnt mean to discriminate doesnt mean its not doing something illegal. Karla L. Miller writes a column answering questions about work dramas and traumas for the Washington Post. MORE FROM BUSINESS General Atomics $40-million gamble on small nukes Does Social Security pay survivor benefits in same-sex unions? No food or drinks on long-haul international flights? No problem The gig: Film producer Suzanne Todd has received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and her movies have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide.Todd has produced films for almost every major studio, with credits including Alice in Wonderland, Memento and the Austin Powers trilogy. Early in her career, Todd was a production assistant for Joel Silver and a co-creator of the production company Moving Pictures, with Demi Moore. In 1997, she formed the production company Team Todd with her sister Jennifer. Now Todd returns to producing on her own, with the comedy Bad Moms hitting theaters Friday. Finding a path: Todd knew from a young age that she wanted to make movies. I was just overwhelmed by movies. There was just something magical about them to me, she said. Movies would make me laugh, make me cry, and they would teach me stuff about the world. Sometimes I felt I would learn things about myself, and it made me really want to understand how that visual storytelling worked. So, after that, it just became about finding a path to that. Persistence is key: Todd worked as a production assistant on movie sets during her senior year of high school and while attending USCs School of Cinematic Arts. I know it sounds kind of cliche to say that persistence is really important, but the interesting thing about that very first job for me at the production company is I really tried to do my best, she said. Years later, Todd received a call from a former colleague who had become production chief for New Line Cinema, asking her to help out on a film based on her past work effort. It had been 10 years in between a really long time, she said. So it ended up weirdly paying off for me all these years later. Then I went and made the first movie that I produced on my own, at New Line, for her as a direct result of that. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Business this hour >> Game playing: Todd spent nearly three years consulting on game development for Activision Blizzard Inc., starting in 2010. She helped incorporate Hollywood talent in the Call of Duty and Skylanders series by bringing in writers, composers and character designers. I loved it because Ive always been a gamer, said Todd, an avid poker player who has participated in the World Series of Poker. My gaming went through generations. First there were arcade games and then there was Nintendo 64, so I was super expert at Mario Kart. Now its console games. In the meantime, Ive had three children, so I came to it again, through them and through their eyes. Balancing act: I sometimes joke about my overuse of Google Calendar and that each of my children has their own color, she said. Sometimes, Todd has to travel for extended periods of time for filming. On Alice [in Wonderland], I had to be in London many times, but for one stretch, it was almost six months, she said. So, we all moved to London. Mom stories: Two writers and directors let Todd tell real-life stories that were used in the Bad Moms script. Obviously, Im a working mom and Ive always been, so I think that all moms are very hard on themselves, she said. In the movie, we get to take that on in a real way. I hope that people will go see this movie and come out of it and feel a little differently about themselves and the world or maybe they will feel like I am doing a good job. Milestones: Along with her sister, Todd produced two movies for HBO called If These Walls Could Talk that she was proud of but didnt think would get much attention. When the first movie aired in 1996, it was the highest rated in HBO history and garnered Todd an Emmy nomination. It really was a turning point for me in believing I could make something that was interesting to me and it would still be OK that I didnt somehow have to try and figure out what other people wanted, she said. I could just focus on what I thought was interesting and that would be enough. Follow your instincts: A lesson that Todd learned throughout her career is to follow her creative instincts. Before making the film Memento with her sister their first independent movie Todd read the script and loved it. I thought it was genius, but nobody wanted to make it, she said. The first Austin Powers movie initially was passed up by many studios before becoming a blockbuster hit. I knew it was the kind of movie that I would watch, laugh and enjoy, and I didnt want to be judged for it, she said. There were these moments in my career that I really had to stand up for what I believed in and not care what people think. MORE FROM BUSINESS General Atomics $40-million gamble on small nukes Does Social Security pay survivor benefits in same-sex unions? No food or drinks on long-haul international flights? No problem Faced with superbug outbreaks in three countries by early 2013, Japanese device giant Olympus Corp. told U.S. executives not to issue a broad warning to American hospitals about potentially deadly infections from tainted medical scopes, internal emails show. After two dozen infections were reported in French and Dutch hospitals, the company alerted European customers in January 2013 that a scope it manufactured could become contaminated. A top Olympus executive in the U.S. grew concerned because the company was investigating a similar outbreak at a Pittsburgh hospital. Advertisement Should [we] also be communicating to our users the information that [Olympus Europe] is communicating to their European users? Laura Storms, vice president of regulatory and clinical affairs in Center Valley, Pa., asked in an email to Tokyo headquarters on Jan. 31, 2013. No, thats not necessary, said Susumu Nishina, the companys chief manager for market quality administration in Tokyo in a Feb. 6, 2013, reply. It is not need[ed] to communicate to all the users actively, Nishina wrote, because a company assessment of the risk to patients found it to be acceptable. However, he added that Storms should respond to questions from a customer. Outbreaks of infection at hospitals in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Denver and other cities followed over the next three years. All told, at least 35 people at U.S. hospitals have died since 2013 three of them at UCLAs Ronald Reagan Medical Center after suffering infections from contaminated gastrointestinal scopes manufactured by Olympus, according to hospitals and public health officials. Olympus actions and inaction are being closely examined in lawsuits by American patients and their families who contend that the manufacturer was negligent and might have prevented the outbreaks and deaths had it been more forthcoming. In addition, federal prosecutors are investigating Olympus handling of the infections and the emails could become crucial evidence in any future case. The companys internal emails reveal conflicts inside Olympus over how to respond to a growing threat to patient safety, pitting U.S. executives against their superiors in Japan who had the final say. The emails were filed in a Pennsylvania court this month as part of a patient lawsuit and obtained by Kaiser Health News working in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times. Olympus, which controls 85% of the U.S. market for gastrointestinal scopes, declined to comment on the emails, citing the pending litigation. It also declined to discuss the ongoing investigation by the U.S. attorneys office in New Jersey. Storms, Nishina and other company officials named in the emails didnt respond to requests for comment. Read the Olympus internal emails In a statement, the company said patient safety is our top priority. The duodenoscope issue continues to receive the highest level of attention at Olympus, and we remain committed to working with the proper authorities and our stakeholders to understand and address the potential root causes. The company declined to address why it didnt feel it was necessary to inform U.S. hospitals when it was alerting those in Europe. At the time of the safety alert in Europe, Olympus was already aware that design flaws could make it difficult to clean its duodenoscope for the next patient. Used in about 700,000 procedures annually in the U.S., the snake-like device is put down a patients throat to diagnose and treat problems in the digestive tract such as cancers and blockages in the bile duct. As The Times reported in December, an investigator hired by Olympus and a Netherlands hospital concluded in a June 2012 report that the scopes design could allow blood and tissue to become trapped, spreading bacteria from one patient to another. The independent expert called on Olympus to conduct a worldwide investigation and recall all its scopes if similar problems turned up. A Senate report released this year said Olympus knew about at least three outbreaks at hospitals in the Netherlands, France and Pittsburgh affecting an estimated 46 patients when the European alert went out in early 2013. Inside Olympus, the debate about how to respond to the emerging outbreaks in the U.S. came to a head on Feb. 6, 2013, the emails show. Just a few hours after her exchange with the Tokyo official, Storms was confronted by her own U.S staff. Read Olympus legal response Donny Shapiro, a director of regulatory affairs for Olympus in San Jose, Calif., sent an email to Storms and seven other employees with Duodenoscope safety recall?? in the subject line. He cited the problems in Europe and results from the companys microbiology lab showing Olympus scopes had tested positive for bacteria at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Why was the alert only issued in Europe? Shapiro asked his colleagues. Six minutes later, Storms wrote back: Donny, [Olympus Japan] has determined that a global communication is not required. Animation breaking down the uses and problems associated with the Olympus duodenoscope. In these emails, Storms seemed to accept the decision by the corporate office. But in other messages to headquarters that same day, she challenged Japan executives handling of the investigation into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC, outbreak. The hospital initially linked one contaminated scope to 18 sickened patients but later downgraded that total to one case. In a follow-up email to Nishina, Storms questioned the companys determination that the hospital was at fault by failing to clean the scopes properly known as insufficient reprocessing. Can you please explain how OMSC [Olympus Japan] reached the conclusion that insufficient reprocessing was the cause for this MDR [medical device injury report]? Since OMSC was not on-site at UPMC and did not investigate this facility, how is OMSC reaching this conclusion? she asked. Specifically what evidence does OMSC have that supports inadequate reprocessing by UPMC? You do not cite any objective findings, testing, etc. for this endoscope model, Storms wrote. Nishina replied that the companys cleaning instructions work when followed and no major observations were noted during the inspection of the scope in question. In the emails, he discounted lab results showing bacterial growth on Olympus scopes, suggesting that contaminants could have been introduced during testing. This became the companys standard response in the U.S. after each outbreak over the next two years, according to federal injury reports, company documents and interviews with hospitals. Olympus contended that its scopes did not cause the infections and blamed the hospitals for not cleaning the reusable instruments properly. The company treated each case as an isolated incident, not telling hospitals about outbreaks elsewhere in the U.S. Pressure on the company increased in January 2014 when physicians representing the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy asked Olympus to fund testing at hospitals on the effectiveness of scope cleaning against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Though Olympus months later contributed to the research, the initial response was cautious. In Tokyo, Shigeki Okuno, who worked in regulatory affairs and quality assurance, expressed concern about getting a negative result because of improper testing procedures. Okuno suggested that the company have a hand in the testing by providing the data itself or working closely with the medical society. In March 2014, an infection-control expert at the University of North Carolina raised more red flags in an email to Olympus, according to the correspondence filed in court. William Rutala, a UNC professor of infectious diseases, notified the company that 40% of scopes tested at his academic medical center were contaminated, even after following the companys cleaning protocol. This is a critical issue for U.S. hospitals to resolve/understand to ensure patient safety and I need your input, Rutala wrote to Mary Ann Drosnock, head of infection control at Olympus in the U.S. at the time. Despite substantial time and effort we have been unable to discover the exact cause of these positive cultures and implement a strategy to prevent contamination. Drosnock shared the information with officials at Olympus under the subject line Urgent: Confidential. Rutala declined to comment for this story on the test results at North Carolina or the companys response. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration began looking into reports of scope-related infections in September 2013. By May 2014, the government investigation was intensifying and the agency requested information from Olympus on a potential safety concern involving infections, according to FDA records and the company emails. Storms forwarded the notice to the Tokyo headquarters and labeled it urgent. I am respectfully requesting that [Olympus Japan] assign their best English writers to work on this letter draft, she wrote in her email. Please give this FDA letter urgent priority. This letter is a clear indication of the FDAs concern. As Olympus carried out its decision not to warn American hospitals, the number of patient infections linked to dirty scopes continued to climb. Overall, as many as 350 patients at 41 medical facilities worldwide were infected or exposed to contaminated scopes made by Olympus or two other companies from January 2010 to October 2015, according to the FDA. Eventually, in February 2015 more than two years after Olympus first warned European hospitals the FDA issued a safety alert saying that patients had become infected even when the manufacturers cleaning instructions were followed correctly. At the same time, Olympus notified customers that it was aware of 95 infection complaints in the U.S. about its newest duodenoscope model, and the scope required careful attention to cleaning. The FDA alert came one day after an outbreak was reported at UCLAs Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Three patients died and five more were sickened after being treated with Olympus scopes there, according to UCLA. The university said one of the patients who died also had cancer. Olympus didnt announce a U.S. recall of its duodenoscopes until January 2016 two days after a congressional report criticized the company for failing to notify patients, doctors and hospitals sooner about a serious safety hazard. The Olympus devices remain on the market and in use while the company recalls them for repairs. The recall is expected to be completed nationwide next month. Some doctors and researchers say the problems will persist unless Olympus completely redesigns the duodenoscope to keep bacteria from becoming trapped in tiny crevices at the tip. In the meantime, U.S. hospitals are trying a variety of new cleaning and surveillance methods to prevent more infections. And patients are continuing to wage their legal fight against Olympus. The internal emails were filed in the pending Philadelphia County Court case of Daniel Nietzold, a patient in Gastonia, N.C. Nietzold, who sued Olympus in February for negligence, said he was exposed to a contaminated scope during multiple procedures at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte between January 2013 and July 2015. The hospital declined to comment. The company is fighting Nietzold in court, saying Nietzold had failed to allege particular facts. This month, the Philadelphia judge dismissed the Japanese headquarters as a defendant on jurisdictional grounds but allowed the case to proceed against the companys U.S. unit. Pete Kaufman, a Los Angeles attorney representing Nietzold and nearly 20 other patients in scope-related lawsuits around the country, said the internal documents show that Olympus knew patients were in jeopardy but chose not to act. Charles McIntyre of Waxhaw, N.C., another Kaufman client, said he suffered a superbug infection after being treated with an Olympus scope in February 2015 at the Charlotte hospital. The 61-year-old auto mechanic, who sued the device maker earlier this year in Philadelphia, said hes still struggling to regain his strength after spending much of last year in the hospital fighting the infection. Olympus had plenty of time to tell everybody in the U.S. that they had an issue with the scope, McIntyre said. I feel betrayed. Chad Terhune is a senior correspondent with California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation published by Kaiser Health News. cterhune@kff.org A key plank in Donald Trumps economic platform is to get tough on trade, especially with imported Chinese goods, which the Republican presidential nominee wants to slap with a 45% tariff. Economists of all stripes have denounced the proposal as tinder for a trade war that would be devastating for the U.S. and global economies. But there is another reason why such punitive measures are a bad idea: They just havent worked very well. Advertisement Over the past 35 years, the U.S. has imposed duties and import quotas on foreign-made electronics, socks, steel, cars and solar panels, among many other goods. Sometimes such tariffs have brought relief for a particular domestic industry, but more often, they have had little lasting effect in boosting production and employment at home because the duties came too late, were circumvented or were made largely irrelevant as imports shifted to other foreign countries. That hasnt stopped the U.S. from trying. The Obama administration has filed numerous unfair trade cases and won several tariff judgments against China in recent years. Analysts predict more enforcement activities down the pike, given the anti-trade rhetoric in the presidential campaigns and the publics increasing disenchantment with globalization. I do think were setting ourselves up for more tariffs and tougher action; its almost inevitable, said Derek Scissors, a China-U.S. economics analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. Trump has been unrelenting in bashing China for the loss of American economic strength and manufacturing jobs in particular. In 2015, China overtook Canada as the United States top trading partner, a year in which the American trade deficit in goods with China reached a record $366 billion. In his nomination acceptance speech Thursday, Trump called Chinas 2001 entrance into the World Trade Organization a colossal mistake for the U.S. because it enhanced the Asian giants trading capabilities. And he pledged to halt Chinas outrageous theft of intellectual property, along with their illegal product dumping, and their devastating currency manipulation. But it wont be as simple and straightforward as Trump suggests. The U.S. president cannot unilaterally levy a 45% tax on imported goods. Under existing U.S. law, he or she would be able to impose a tariff of up to 15% on products from another country for 150 days, said Douglas Irwin, a trade expert at Dartmouth College. Congress could take tougher action through legislation. And the third way that tariffs could be levied on specific items is after a labor union or industry files a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission of unfair pricing or government subsidies. The agency could recommend special safeguard duties to the president, who must sign off on these relief measures. One illustrative case is Chinese tires. In September 2009, Obama, in response to a union complaint, approved safeguard tariffs of 25% to 35% on imported Chinese car and light-truck tires for three years. It seemed to work at first blush. Total Chinese imports of new radial tires for cars dropped 28% in 2010 from the prior year, to $899 million. See the most-read stories in Business this hour >> But other trading partners rushed to fill the void. Shipments from South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia doubled in value, more than offsetting the decline in Chinese-made tires. U.S. production of tires increased after 2009, as was hoped. The number of car and light-truck tires made in the U.S. rose nearly 14% in 2010, reversing several years of decline, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Assn. But the count of imported tries increased even more, by about 18% from 2009 to 2010. Terry Stewart, an attorney for the United Steelworkers union, which initiated the case on Chinese tires, argued that the tariffs helped stabilize the domestic industry, with many union workers in the U.S. being recalled during 2009 and 2012. The Peterson Institute for International Economics reached very different conclusions: The think tank said the duties saved a maximum of 1,200 manufacturing jobs and when factoring in the higher American consumer cost for tires, resulted in the U.S. economy losing about 2,500 retail jobs. More than from tariffs, the domestic tire industry benefited from the U.S. economic recovery that began in mid-2009. With manufacturing leading the way, the growing economy lifted all boats in the auto and tire market, imports and exports. Rising tire prices, which helped U.S. manufacturers but hurt some tire dealers, also were bolstered by sharp increases in the price of oil, the main raw-material cost of tires. What is also clear is that the tariffs did not turn the tide in employment for the U.S. tire-making industry. Data from the Commerce Department show that domestic tire-manufacturing employment has continued a long and steady decline to 43,197 in 2012 from 49,715 in 2007 and 63,842 in 2002, reflecting in part productivity gains as well as declines in total output. The tariffs had a minimum impact on us, said Keith Price, a spokesman for Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., one of the top three tire sales leaders in the U.S., along with Bridgestone and Michelin. He said Goodyear produces higher-quality and higher-priced tires than those made by the Chinese, and hence doesnt compete directly against them. Goodyear currently operates six tire-manufacturing plants in the U.S., down from seven in 2012, and the company is in the process of building a new factory in Mexico. The safeguard tariffs expired in the second half of 2012, and since then, theres been a resurgence of Chinese tire imports, prompting a new round of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on made-in-China tires that took effect last summer. Through May of this year, U.S. production of tires was up 3% from a year ago, but total shipments from abroad were running a little higher. It is usually the case that by the time we impose the tariffs, the penetration of the imports into our market is so great that its too late to reverse what has become a fundamental shift in competitiveness, said Clyde Prestowitz, an Asia economy expert and former top trade negotiator in the Reagan administration. In addition, Prestowitz said that such duties can be rendered ineffective by a corresponding devaluation in the currency of the exporting country, something that frequently has been alleged by critics of Chinese trade practices. In trade annals, people have often held up the taxes on imported Japanese motorcycles in the early 1980s as a paragon of a successful tariff. Its been said that the initial 45% duties levied in 1983, and set to last five years, was so effective that it allowed Harley-Davidson to recover so fast that it did not even want the tariff in the fifth year. But Irwin, the Dartmouth economics professor, writes that the real story is different: import relief had nothing to do with Harley-Davidsons turnaround. Instead, Irwin says, the motorcycle company recovered thanks to a new management team as well as the rebounding economy. Harleys sales had suffered during the double-dip recessions of the early 1980s, which clobbered manufacturing and blue-collar workers, its core customers. As for the tariffs and related quotas, Irwin writes in his book, Free Trade Under Fire, they had relatively little effect on the company. The duties were on imports of motorcycles with 700 cc engines or larger, but Suzuki and Yamaha evaded the measures by producing a 699 cc version. Whats more, Honda and Kawasaki already were producing heavyweight motorcycles in the U.S. But even if protection contributes little to adjustment, he said, the escape clause [tariff] has been a political necessity and has helped maintain domestic support for the open world-trading system. Supporters of tariffs also point to benefits. Tariffs and quotas have encouraged foreign companies to put manufacturing facilities on American soil. They pushed, for example, Japanese carmakers to establish production operations in the U.S. starting in the 1980s. As Prestowitz observed, The import restraints didnt prevent Detroit from losing market share, but they did shift jobs and the value added [on goods] from Japan to America. The growing market share of imported tires and perhaps the threat of tariffs also are factors behind the recent rise of new tire factories in the U.S. In May, South Korean firm Kumho Tire officially opened a $450 million plant in Macon, Ga., creating about 400 jobs. Still, William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Stimson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, said that while tariffs have helped some companies, sadly, there arent a lot of examples of success. They are blunt instruments that can result in supply disruptions, higher prices and, at worst, retaliation by the country hit with the duties, he said. There is a search for new tools. don.lee@latimes.com Follow me at @dleelatimes MORE FROM BUSINESS General Atomics $40-million gamble on small nukes Does Social Security pay survivor benefits in same-sex unions? No food or drinks on long-haul international flights? No problem I really disagreed with it: What changed John Chos mind about playing Star Treks Sulu as gay For 50 years, Gene Roddenberrys Star Trek has taken to the cosmos to show how that future is possible only through diversity. As has been made clear over the course of six television series and 12 movies the 13th, Star Trek Beyond, hits theaters Thursday night Starfleet and its captains (most notably James T. Kirk) would be nowhere without women and people of color leading the way. Beyond advances that inclusion further with the revelation that helmsman Lt. Hikaru Sulu played by George Takei in the classic series and by John Cho in the new cycle of movies that began with J.J. Abrams 2009 film is gay. We sat down with Cho, Zoe Saldana (who plays Lt. Nyota Uhura) and director Justin Lin for a frank roundtable discussion about the legacy of Star Trek, representation and optimism. In this excerpt, Cho discusses how he overcame his initial reluctance about revealing Sulus sexual orientation and Lin talks about what happened when Takei first brought up the idea to Roddenberry years ago. When did the conversations about revealing Sulus sexual orientation begin? Lin: Simon [Pegg, actor and co-screenwriter, with Doug Jung] came up with the idea. Then we expanded it. We talked to John. John talked to George. I talked to George. It shouldnt be a big deal its not in this Star Trek world, and to me its not a big deal. It was something that I felt like, after talking and thinking about, was a no-brainer. Cho: I first heard about it from Justin. I had concerns. I was concerned that George not feel like we were negating his value as an actor. He was a gay actor who played a straight character; we werent lifting from him. I also had concerns about how Asians would view it. I really disagreed with it; I was afraid it would be seen as some kind of feminization of Asian men. Lastly, I didnt want it to seem like we were setting up sexual orientation as a choice because it was the same genetic Sulu in two different timelines. But I think all those were concerns about how it would be perceived, not about the thing itself. The thing itself I felt very confident about because it was true and honest, and it set up a great story. Now, because of the way it was handled, in this very nonchalant way, all my worries about the way it would be perceived have essentially been nullified. Roddenberry said, We just had an interracial kiss and got shut down in some stations in the South. Theres no way I can do that. Justin Lin on Gene Roddenberrys answer when George Takei asked to play Sulu as gay John Cho discusses Star Trek character Sulu and his sexuality in Star Trek Beyond. Lin: I had a lengthy conversation with George. A lot of it Ill keep between me and him. One thing that he did say was that he approached Roddenberry and said, Id like to be able to play Sulu gay. Roddenberry said, We just had an interracial kiss and got shut down in some stations in the South. Theres no way I can do that. The show will go down. I went back and watched all those episodes. It was interesting. For me, as a kid watching George Takei portray Sulu, he was a human being. Whenever he was onscreen, I was like, Oh, hes someone. Hes a human being on the Enterprise. Thats the best thing about the portrayal of Sulu. As an Asian American, especially, seeing him, that was a big moment in my life. At the end of the day, thats the whole point. Theres a bunch of human beings together on this journey. READ the full roundtable discussion>> Hello! Im Mark Olsen, and welcome to your weekly field guide to a world of Only Good Movies. In last weeks newsletter, we featured the new Woody Allen film, Cafe Society, a melancholy comedy set in Hollywood and New York in the 1930s. I subsequently published an essay wrestling with Allen in the past and present and all the conflicting, troubling feelings he and his work continue to generate. In sum, Woody Allen does not make it easy to be a fan of Woody Allen. Our screening Q&A this past week with James Schamus for his directorial debut, Indignation, was really special. Well have another event coming up in a few weeks with The Intervention. Check events.latimes.com for more info. Advertisement Nonstop movies. Movies nonstop. Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie If this has been a summer that has seen a number of long-in-the-works sequels come out, it is perhaps fitting that we should also get Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, a big-screen adaptation of the intermittently long-running British television comedy that had its real heyday in the 90s. Starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley Saunders also wrote the screenplay the movie finds them returning to their characters of Edina and Patsy, unexpected avatars of the self-centered bad behavior that has since become oddly commonplace. Which is to say the characters are a hoot to hang out with. In her review for The Times, Rebecca Keegan said, The real joy in Absolutely Fabulous, as ever, comes from the charisma between Saunders and Lumley. Long before Bridesmaids or Broad City, or the refreshing female friendships on display in recent movies like Ghostbusters and Love & Friendship, Edina and Patsy were the kind of naughty co-conspirators who managed to mock the absurd cultural expectations of women just as they scrambled to attain them. Manohla Dargis, in the New York Times, noted, Crucial to the movie and series both is that they lampoon Eddy and Patsy even as they go after the world that made them, which allows you to giggle at the characters and lets them, more or less, have the last Champagne-soaked laugh. Their laughter may be self-delusional, but their unbreakable bond means that at least theyre clueless together. Saunders and Lumley spoke to Interview magazine about the return of the characters of Edina and Patsy. Summertime French filmmaker Catherine Corsinis Summertime is a lesbian romance set amid the female liberation movement of the early 1970s, smartly combining the personal and political. As Kenneth Turan put it in his review for The Times, Artfully calculated and authentically felt, the unexpectedly effective Summertime combines the conventional structure of classic movie romance with a sensual same-sex frankness that couldnt be more up to date. He also singled out actresses Cecile de France and Izia Higelin, saying they play their parts like they were living them, and that counts for a lot. Writing for the A.V. Club, Mike DAngelo said that for a while, Summertime seems to be as much about the French second-wave feminist movement as it is about its central romance [and] captures the unruliness of the era while avoiding both melodrama and didacticism, the twin pitfalls that afflicted last years drab Suffragette. At the Village Voice, Melissa Anderson placed the film in distinction from Blue Is the Warmest Color by noting that it celebrates erotic abandon but never loses its mind lusty without being overwrought. Stephen Saito has a really informative interview with Corsini over at his site the Moveable Fest that delves deep into the films intersections with her own life. Guillermo Del Toro at LACMA The illustrious Los Angeles County Museum of Art is going to have a museum exhibition featuring artifacts drawn from filmmaker Guillermo del Toros extensive collection of items from his own work and movie history. There will be two film series to go along with it, one of del Toros own work and another of films that have influenced him. Director Guillermo del Toro (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) On July 29, the series of Del Toros own work kicks off with his 2001 film The Devils Backbone in 35 mm, no less which he has often declared one of his favorites of his own work. By turns spooky and charming, the films mixture of supernatural horror with the human terrors of war is distinctively chilling. Del Toro is scheduled to appear at the screening. The series goes on hiatus after the Devils Backbone screening, coming back in October. Dont be surprised if we talk more about Del Toro then. His more recent work, including the Hellboy films, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak, are fantastic examples of a filmmaker able to rend the machinery and technology of contemporary big-budget studio filmmaking to create idiosyncratic visions. Jacques Rivette and Andrzej Zuawski One might not necessarily link the films of Jacques Rivette and Andrzej Zuawski, but as fate would have it, there are two overlapping film series in Los Angeles that spotlight their work with a particular emphasis on their distinctive visions of magic and mysticism. Rivette died earlier this year at age 87, and a new series screening four films as his Dream Cycle is getting underway in Los Angeles, with some events at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Included in the series are Duelle and Noroit, both from 1976, Merry-Go-Round from 1981 and what may be his most emblematic work, 1974s Celine and Julie Go Boating. All four films explore his interest in breaking down narrative conventions to create something at once challenging and intuitive. Zuawski, Polish-born and who also died earlier this year at 75, has had his reputation moving closer and closer in from the cult fringes for some time now. A new tribute series spotlights that there is a power beyond logic to films such as his 1981 Possession, starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill, which is screening in a recent 35mm restoration. Also showing will be recent DCP restorations of 1971s The Third Part of the Night, 1972s The Devil, 1977s On the Silver Globe and his final film, 2015s Cosmos. Its exciting that a filmmaker like Zuawski can have his work be more widely seen and find a new acceptance without somehow becoming normalized. People like it exactly for just how out there it was and remains. Email me if you have questions, comments or suggestions, and follow me on Twitter @IndieFocus. If Warner Bros. came into this years Comic-Con with the goal of resetting (and lightening the mood of) its DC superhero slate after the disappointment of Batman v Superman, the Marvel Studios panel Saturday showed Marvel making its own kind of change-up. For the first time in years, this was a Marvel rollout with no Iron Man, no Captain America, no Black Widow and no Hulk. Instead, Marvel pushed further into its third phase of big-screen comic-book world-building. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, who took to the stage for many of the introductions, put the emphasis on stoking buzz for their next wave of heroes: Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel and the new Spider-Man. But can this new class of heroes outshine the already beloved Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans? Advertisement If the attendee reaction in Hall H was any indication, the core audience of this genre fan club is pretty excited about the growing diversity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kicking things off, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler took the stage, bringing out the films stars, Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Lupita Nyongo (Nakia) and Danai Gurira (Okoye). The film doesnt begin shooting until January, so there was no footage to show. But, having rocketed to prominence in a short period of time, the Creed director said it was emotional simply to be standing on the stage at the same convention he has attended as a fan. Its crazy to be looking at my people from this view, he said. Feige then turned to another film thats just getting underway, Thor: Ragnarok, introducing the film and the slyly comic vibe of its director, Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) by way of a mockumentary-style video showing what Thor was up to while the Avengers were slugging it out in Captain America: Civil War. Basically, he was being the roommate from hell to some poor, non-superhero shlub named Daryl. One particularly cheered moment showed Thor going to bed, then putting his iconic hammer, Mjolnir, into its own little bed as well. The new logo for Thor: Ragnarok looked like something from an 80s metal band. However, director Waititis superhero attempt wont be all laughs. Though the film just began shooting days ago, a sizzle reel of concept art and very early footage including a climactic shot of the Hulk taking on the giant demon Surtur made the crowd go wild. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> Then things got strange. After a dramatic buildup of flashing lights, mystical runes and fog straight out of a laser show, Benedict Cumberbatch emerged to showcase the upcoming Doctor Strange, receiving the kind of heros welcome youd expect from the Comic-Con crowd. Director Scott Derrickson who also brought out stars Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Benedict Wong ran a scene from the film in which Cumberbatchs rigorously scientific-minded Strange meets Swintons Ancient One and is first exposed to the mysteries of astral traveling. Whats in that tea? he asks her, stunned, after leaving his body for the first time. LSD? Indeed, between the clip and the newly released trailer which features mind-bending imagery reminiscent of films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Inception Doctor Strange clearly promises to be Marvels strangest movie. Coming into Comic-Con, fans Spidey senses had been tingling that the web-slinger might make an appearance at the Marvel panel and, sure enough, Feige brought out the new Spider-Man, Tom Holland, along with Jon Watts, director of Spider-Man: Homecoming, which is in production. Watts described the film as a straight-up high school movie, and to prove it, ran a clip of early footage heavy on Peter Parkers teenage travails and minor humiliations that played like a superhero version of Freaks and Geeks (a show that was specifically name-checked on stage) complete with Joan Jetts Bad Reputation and a fleeting glimpse of Martin Starr. We know what its like to be a playboy billionaire a Norse god, Watts said. Now well know what its like to have just gone through puberty. Watts then brought out a few of the actors playing Parkers classmates Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori and Zendaya a group that further illustrated Feiges contention that the Marvel universe embraces diversity. And the actors actually looked like high school students as opposed to 30-year-old Peter Parkers with backpacks. This is a young, fresh take on the web-slinger; fingers crossed it pans out. And if the new cast wasnt enough, at the end of the Spidey footage was a huge villain reveal, the classic Spider-Man villain the Vulture appeared to fight New Yorks new hero. Rounding out the panel, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 director James Gunn brought out most of the films cast some, like Michael Rooker (Yondu), in full makeup and costume and drove the crowd into rapturous applause by introducing a new cast member, fan favorite Kurt Russell. Gunn played an action-packed scene from the film that showed Baby Groot (cue the awws) helping to break Rocket and Yondu from an interstellar jail cell. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Though Russell initially played coy about who his character was, a new teaser trailer soon revealed him to be the father of Chris Pratts Star-Lord, fittingly named Ego, and also offered a fleeting glimpse of a fearsome-looking Sylvester Stallone. While the Internet tries to figure out who Stallone might be playing, dont forget: This isnt the first time Russell and Stallone have shared the screen. Thats right, Marvel is now making Tango & Cash reunions happen, in space. Avengers, who? To conclude the panel and cement the sense of change in the air in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Feige introduced (and thereby confirmed the casting of) its new Captain Marvel, Brie Larson. Larson smiled and waved to the audience without saying a word. But judging from the roar of the crowd, she didnt really have to. Larson will now star in the first female-led Marvel movie, but thats not scheduled to hit theaters until 2019, so Warner Bros. Wonder Woman will beat Marvel to the punch of premiering the first female titular superhero movie in years. But if the Hall H presentation showed anything, its that Marvel is readying a whole new class of fresh-faced heroes, and theyre young, diverse and feature a lot more women than before. MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Justice League, Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad: The Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment course correction Inside Comic-Con 2016: Fandemonium and costumes galore! Christina Grimmie died of gunshots to the head and chest, autopsy report says The Los Angeles area Emmy Awards honored local television news outlets Saturday night with nearly 50 awards for their coverage over the last year. During the event, which was held at the Television Academys new Saban Media Center, local icon and television host Stephanie Edwards was also honored with this years Los Angeles Area Governors Award. Edwards is best known for her decades-long co-hosting stint on KTLA-TVs broadcast of the Tournament of Roses Parade. The announcement of her recognition by the TV Academy was made last month as Edwards was appearing on a live broadcast of The KTLA Morning News. Stephanie is a gem, station President Don Corsini said during the segment. She is beloved for her sharp wit, charm and genuine professionalism. We believe she epitomizes the criteria for the Governors Award, not only for her prolific body of work but, as the academy rightly calls it -- her positive impact on Los Angeles. Advertisement See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Edwards was recognized for her outstanding achievement in television over a period of years that also included stints on AM Los Angeles and Everyday. She retired from television in January after hosting her final parade broadcast. The award was presented by KTLAs Sam Rubin. The other awards were presented by local area personalities, reporters and newscasters, as well as celebrities Niecy Nash, Jason George and Florence Henderson. NBC4 took home eight statues, including for its coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Watts riots and the San Bernardino shooting. Univisions KMEX, Telemundos KVEA and Time Warner Cables SportsNet L.A. each took home five statues. To see the full list of winners, visit Emmys.com. Get your life! Follow me on Twitter: @TrevellAnderson. MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Justice League, Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad: The Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment course correction Inside Comic-Con 2016: Fandemonium and costumes galore! Christina Grimmie died of gunshots to the head and chest, autopsy report says Alexandra Pelosis first documentary, Journeys With George, painted a humanizing portrait of then-Gov. George W. Bush not exactly what youd expect from the daughter of a powerful Democratic dynasty (her mother is Rep. Nancy Pelosi). In the years since, Alexandra Pelosi has attempted to understand the conservative point of view in such films as The Trials of Ted Haggard, about the disgraced evangelical pastor, and Right America: Feeling Wronged Some Voices From the Campaign Trail, about the tea party movement. With her latest documentary, Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?, premiering Aug. 1 on HBO, Pelosi explores the influence of super-wealthy donors in the wake of the Supreme Courts Citizens United ruling. In an interview at her HBO office, the filmmaker, a bundle of excited energy, discussed wading into the landmine of campaign finance. Advertisement These are the winners. So however the system is set up, its working for them. Alexandra Pelosi What brought you to this subject? My kids [ages 8 and 9] were die-hard Bernie [Sanders supporters], all the way. We went to Washington Square Park to see Bernie speak; it was like going to Woodstock for my kids. However, as much as I appreciate his message, he oversimplified money in politics a little bit. Its such a complicated issue, but what I have found is that people want you to be either [New Yorker staff writer] Jane Mayer and accuse the Koch brothers of destroying our democracy, or they want you to be the true defender of Citizens United. They want the film to be an investigative deep-dive into how democracy is funded. Thats not what this is. This is a light romp into the mega-donors who are funding our election. You grew up steeped in this world, but has your point of view changed at all in making this film? I dont have as much disdain for the mega-donors as the Bernie crowd does. I dont think its all as sinister as some people think. Do you feel like because of your last name that theres a knee-jerk reaction to you as a filmmaker? I made a lot of movies in real America between New York and California. My last name wasnt a door-opener. It was more a door-slam in your face. Now I can honestly say I couldnt have made this film without my mom sneaking me into parties. So if you know your last names going to be used against you, you might as well use it to your advantage. Almost to a person, the donors you interview say theyre writing checks for patriotic reasons, not out of self-interest. Do you believe them? I believe them. Do you think Im a sucker? Well, isnt patriotism just a euphemism? What they think is good for America also happens to be good for them? These are the winners. So however the system is set up, its working for them. They have so much money. It is so bad for your self-esteem to make a movie about billionaires. You go to their apartments on the Upper East Side and think, God, imagine if I had a whole penthouse just for my dog. Its still stunning to me that nice men can ruin the world. Alexandra Pelosi What do you make of Jeb Bush, who flamed out in the Republican primary despite being well-funded by GOP donors? Who beat him? A billionaire. Would Donald Trump, if he had no money, have beaten him? Theyre false equivalencies. Hes a billionaire who self-funded whos also a reality television star who got all that free media. Youve said that you grew close to George W. Bush while making Journeys With George. Was it hard at all for you to watch his presidency? I have a great personal relationship with George Bush. People cannot understand that. I come at politics from a personal perspective, not from an issues perspective. The Greenwich Village side of me cant believe that war they manufactured out of whole cloth. Its still stunning to me that nice men can ruin the world. I can say that in the same sentence when I say Im still friends with him. How boring would life be if we just sat at dinner parties with liberals talking about how the Koch brothers are destroying the world? To some on the right, your mother is the embodiment of liberal, coastal elite. Your film even features an attack ad about her. Do these portrayals ever bother you? I laugh about it. My mother has the thickest skin of any human you will ever meet. She does not listen to any of it. She doesnt care how many millions of dollars they spend to try and turn her last name into a curse word. Its nothing personal. Its about power. They dont know Nancy Pelosi. Shes a caricature to them. My favorite Nancy Pelosi story is when we were going to the opera and my mother was holding the door for someone and she was like Youre not as awful as I thought you were. That becomes the common refrain. Youve been making documentaries at HBO for 15 years. Has the landscape changed at all? My first documentary was a Rorschach test. What you thought of George Bush is what you saw. Now, 10 films later, people watch a documentary with their own agenda and theres very little chance that youre going to change their mind about anything. People want more opinion than they used to. You film with a handheld camera and dont really use a crew. Is there an advantage to this lean-and-mean style? I think probably most of the people that are appearing in this film dont even realize theyre going to be on TV. When people think of HBO, they think of lights, cameras, audio guy! A year later, they forget they even did it. Its like home movies. My advice to anyone is if you dont want to see yourself on television, dont invite Alexandra Pelosi over, because I will film it and put it on television somewhere in the world. The flip side of that is I get invited to more weddings than anyone you know. meredith.blake@latimes.com MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Weird Al Yankovic celebrates four decades of pop music parodies at the Hollywood Bowl New Fantastic Beasts trailer drops, and Muggles everywhere lose their minds First Wonder Woman trailer reveals Warner Bros. big plans for Diana Prince I am still a boy scientist in my heart, Francis Ford Coppola said to a group that had gathered at a UCLA theater to hear the legendary director talk about his latest project, an ambitious process he calls Live Cinema. On Saturday morning the five-time Academy Award winner sat on a raised platform surrounded by monitors and high-tech equipment. His mobile technical facility, a custom Airstream trailer known as the Silverfish, was parked nearby. Seated before him were a few dozen students who had been part of the team of more than 75 who worked for the past five weeks to realize his vision. The theater had the feel of a laboratory and that is likely just how Coppola intended it. On Friday night there had been a 25-minute broadcast from the theater to a small number of private screening rooms around the globe, demonstrating the Live Cinema concept. Advertisement Shot with some 40 cameras, the broadcast was intended to look like a movie but with elements of a live event. Actors would perform in one part of a stage as sets were reconfigured off-camera in another. Coppola held a similar workshop last year at a community college in Oklahoma. The source material for both workshops is a sprawling 500-page screenplay called Distant Vision about three generations in an Italian American family. Eventually Coppola would like to see Distant Vision shown as a cycle of Live Cinema events. Each section could be broadcast as a Live Cinema performance over a series of nights, with the best moments later edited together into a single film. For Coppola, 77, the Live Cinema idea combines the best of moviemaking, television and theater, conveyed with the in-the-moment immediacy of live performance. Coppola, who directed the best-picture-winning Godfather and Godfather 2, has been into experimenting with the form of cinema for many years, trying to bring a more immediate quality to the audience experience. I dont want to live in a canned world, he said Saturday. He added, I dont see this as the whole future of cinema. We could talk for hours about what that is, but its part of the future. Some big dramatic, beautiful, emotional experience will be performed live and shown in theaters, I believe. Coppola was introduced Saturday at the Freud Playhouse by Teri Schwartz, dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. She called Coppola, who received an MFA from the school in 1967, as our most distinguished alum and most treasured alum. At a time when live television has been making a comeback, with performances of musicals such as Grease or even late-night talk shows covering the political conventions, Coppola is quick to assert the differences in polish and visual complexity in his concept. Its a hard distinction to grasp, Coppola said in an interview with The Times. But just go look at any live television and you know in two seconds its live television. And then look at a movie; it looks like a movie. The difference is what I am trying to achieve. Whats different about it is in live television when they do a play or a musical, they do the play, he said. They are basically covering an event. Live cinema works totally differently. Live cinema is shot-based. You need to have great shots and they need to be lit the same way they would for a movie. It cant look like The Young and The Restless when youre looking at it; it has to behave as though its cinema. I dont see this as the whole future of cinema... but its part of the future. Francis Ford Coppola Having completed the workshop at UCLA, for now Coppola will think about what he has learned and make additions to the manual he is compiling while continuing to work on the Distant Vision screenplay.. I do believe that one day what Im learning in these workshops will be useful to someone else, he noted. He sees himself as being a year and a half to two years away from really presenting the project. Coppola seems unsure if he will make another conventional film. For now, he is intrigued by taking the Live Cinema concept as far as he can. I am a student. For me the greatest pleasure in life is learning, he said. And it doesnt have a kickback. If you eat too much you get fat, if you drink too much you get sick. Learning is just pleasure. You dont get in trouble for it and you dont get sick. Take a look at a behind-the-scenes video here. Mark.Olsen@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus The Hillary Clinton campaign, responding to leaked internal Democratic Party emails that threatened to revive tensions with Sen. Bernie Sanders followers, moved quickly to squelch the problem Sunday as the partys embattled chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, announced she would step down at the end of the convention week. Wasserman Schultz, who has long been under fire for the appearance of partiality toward Clinton in the Democratic presidential primaries, announced her resignation in a statement Sunday afternoon. The move culminated a series of steps by the Clinton campaign to sideline her first by appointing a new party executive last month to run the partys operations, then by taking away her speaking role at the convention and removing even the simple task of gaveling the convention in and out of session. Advertisement The announcement came after internal emails newly disclosed by the website WikiLeaks revived long-running suspicions on the part of Sanders supporters that the Florida congresswoman had tilted the scales in favor of Clinton. On Friday, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails from a 17-month span that appeared to have been obtained by someone who hacked into the accounts of seven top party officials. The site said it was the first part of a forthcoming Hillary Leaks series. One email, in particular, caught the attention of Sanders loyalists. In it, the partys chief financial officer an ally of Wasserman Schultz indicated interest in raising questions about whether Sanders lacked active involvement with his Jewish heritage. Clintons campaign said Sunday that the hack may have been the work of Russian operatives seeking to boost Republican nominee Donald Trumps campaign. The Democratic National Committee had reported last month that its computer system had been hacked and that the cyber-security firm hired to investigate the breach had traced it to two groups tied to Russian intelligence organizations. Much of the newly revealed correspondence was routine in nature, showing the typical internal machinations of a major political organization. The main exception was the email from Brad Marshall, the finance chief, which asserted that Sanders had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage and that he may actually be an atheist. If so, that revelation could cost Sanders support among Southern Baptists, the email said. Although theres no evidence that Wasserman Schultz or other party officials acted on Marshalls suggestion, the mere existence of the email was enough to threaten to reopen the rift with the Sanders campaign that Clinton and her allies had spent the last month mending. After a turbulent Republican convention that highlighted that partys internal rifts, Democrats are eager to showcase a more unified front and positive vision for the country. Wasserman Schultz, who has been denounced for months by Sanders and his supporters, had clearly become an impediment to that goal. The Vermont senator seemed to indicate that he would continue to assist in the unity effort. During an interview several hours before Wasserman Schultz announced her decision, Sanders renewed a long-standing call for her ouster, but then briskly sought to change the subject. There is no question but the DNC was on Secretary Clintons side from day one, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. Still, he said, the most important thing was for Democrats to unite and focus on defeating Trump, whom he called the worst Republican candidate that I have seen in my lifetime. Trumps campaign, meanwhile, sought to fan the flames by suggesting that it was now Clintons turn to step down, given her own email correspondence controversy. Sanders ire toward Wasserman Schultz has been building for months. During the primaries, he, as well as former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley the other Democratic candidate repeatedly criticized Wasserman Schultz, who had been a vocal supporter of Clinton during the 2008 presidential primary, for crafting a debate schedule that offered limited opportunities for lesser-known candidates to gain visibility. The Sanders campaign also protested her decision to temporarily limit their access to the partys digital infrastructure after staffers were discovered to have taken advantage of a brief data breach and gained access to other candidates voter profiling. In her statement, Wasserman Schultz did not mention the emails or any other points of tension, but said she was proud of her role in laying the groundwork for a united convention. We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats, the statement said. Noting her other roles as a mother and a member of Congress representing parts of south Florida she faces a primary challenge next month from a Sanders supporter Wasserman Schultz said the best way to help serve her constituents and ensure Clinton carries her home state, a key battleground, was to step down from her Democratic National Committee leadership role. Ive been proud to serve as the first woman nominated by a sitting president as chair of the Democratic National Committee and I am confident that the strong team in place will lead our party effectively through this election to elect Hillary Clinton as our 45th president, she said. Donna Brazile, the DNC vice chairwoman who was a campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000, will serve as interim chair through the election. She will be the first African American woman to head the party. Wasserman Schultzs resignation will end a more than five-year tenure during which the party retained the White House in 2012 but then lost control of the Senate and saw its ranks in the House and governorships further reduced. But it was her role overseeing the 2016 primary process that ultimately led to her undoing. In a statement, Clinton thanked Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the party and said she would transition to a role as honorary chair of a 50-state program to elect Democrats across the country while also serving as a surrogate in Florida. I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her reelection bid because as president, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people, Clinton said. Obama tapped Wasserman Schultz to lead the party in 2011 when Tim Kaine, now Clintons designated running mate, stepped down to launch a bid for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. Wasserman Schultz spoke Saturday at the rally in Miami at which Kaine was introduced. Wasserman Schultz, the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Florida, had been seen as a rising star in the party and a potential candidate for House leadership at the time. But in the last couple of years, she had reportedly fallen out of favor with some Obama loyalists who saw her interests in self-promotion conflicting with her party role. Obama praised Wasserman Schultz in a statement, saying that for eight years she has had his back. Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth, the statement said. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress. michael.memoli@latimes.com For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter. ALSO Limited success of Chinese tire tariffs shows why Donald Trumps trade prescription may not work Hillary Clinton has all kinds of policies thats the problem as she seeks a coherent message Libertarian Gary Johnson looks to boost credibility, with a little help from Drew Carey As battles over police reform in Chicago continue, the agency that investigates shootings by police is recommending that the Police Department tighten its rules on deadly force to further limit the circumstances in which officers can shoot. A quarterly report from the Independent Police Review Authority in part aims to prevent shootings that could be considered legally justifiable but also unnecessary. One recommendation calls for the department to revise its fleeing felon rule, which allows officers to shoot fleeing suspects who have committed violent crimes. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook The departments current policy mirrors the Illinois state statute on justifiable uses of deadly force by police, but the authority recommended that the policy be revised to be more restrictive, barring officers from shooting fleeing felons except when officers reasonably believe those people pose an immediate threat to police or others. The authority also called for policy revisions to mandate that officers give warnings before shooting when possible, and avoid drawing their weapons unless they are likely to have to shoot. Tightening the rules could give police disciplinary authorities greater leeway to suspend or fire officers after shootings, which the city has almost never done. Of more than 400 police shootings of people since 2007, only three have been ruled to violate the citys use-of-force policies, records show. The authoritys recommendations come amid a wave of changes to policing in Chicago triggered by protests that followed the release of a video last year that showed white police Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting black 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced plans to scrap and replace the authority which has been slow and prone to superficial investigations that rarely lead to discipline for police but the oversight agency has sought to reform itself even as it faces elimination. Changing policies related to force has the potential to spur political rancor; as Emanuel tries to cope with public anger over police abuse, hes also facing a surge in violent crime, believed by many to be a result of police avoiding confrontations with civilians that could land officers in trouble. The authority has commissioned an outside review of shooting cases, which is ongoing. The authoritys report notes McDonalds 2014 shooting death. Van Dyke is charged with murder, though the city has yet to rule on whether the officer or those whose reports were at odds with video of the shooting violated policy. Based on our review of officer-involved shooting investigations, we are greatly concerned about the number of instances in which the use of deadly force may have been justified, but the scope of the force appears excessive based on the totality of the circumstances, the report reads. In particular, there have been investigations where the evidence suggests that the officers have continued to fire their weapons without making any assessment of whether the additional shots fired were really necessary. As [an example], we point to the 16 shots fired at Laquan McDonald. On Thursday the authority ruled two shootings unjustified because police fired into vehicles though the officers were in no serious danger. With the decisions, the authority has ruled more shootings by officers unjustified over the last several weeks than it had in the previous nine years. In one case, a Chicago police officer shot Ryan Rogers to death in 2013 while the officer was on a special assignment investigating robberies of Radio Shack stores, records show. The officer told authority investigators that he fired four times because Rogers drove an SUV at him, but the agencys ruling said the evidence showed that at least one shot was fired after the officer was no longer in peril. In the other case, two officers shot and wounded a man who drove off in his SUV as the police tried to stop him after an alleged drug transaction in 2015. The agency ruled that both officers were out of the vehicles path when they fired. Hinkel writes for the Chicago Tribune. ALSO Florida police shoot caretaker who says he was trying to help autistic patient Timeline of police shootings in Baton Rouge, La. Shes the mom of four black men, a former L.A. cop and a major skeptic of justifiable police shootings The fast-moving brush fire tearing through the Santa Clarita Valley this weekend is part of a larger trend: Wildfire seasons in the western United States are lasting longer and burning more land, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Over 29,000 wildfires have scorched more than 2.6 million acres of land already this year, and the peak of the fire season hasnt hit yet, according to the report published last week. Last years fire season was the most severe on record, burning more than 10 million acres roughly twice the size of Massachusetts. Advertisement Rising global temperatures and unrelenting drought contribute to the longer fire seasons. Average annual temperatures rose by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit in the last decade, and snowpacks are now melting up to four weeks earlier in the year, leaving landscapes drier and causing fire seasons to start sooner. While Alaskas wildfire season usually begins in April or May, this year the state saw its first flames in late February, according to the report. Warmer conditions in the fall mean that the fires burn longer too. It used to be you could expect the fire season to begin in April and wrap up before Thanksgiving, said Mike Ferris, a public information officer who has worked with the U.S. Forest Service for 39 years. Now it seems like the fire season is year-round. If global temperatures continue to increase, the National Wildlife Federation predicts, the area of forests burned is projected to double in size by the end of the century. Lack of rainfall is another contributing factor. The last decades drought in the western U.S. has created the driest conditions in 800 years, according to the most recent National Climate Assessment study. The study also predicts that droughts in the Southwest as well as heat waves everywhere will continue to become more intense, leaving dead plants and dry debris prone to flames. Warmer weather conditions accelerate the growth of invasive weeds that act as fire fuel and lead to insect infestations that kill trees, adding to the stockpile of flammable material. Erratic weather patterns and more severe thunderstorms make lightning strikes a more frequent source of wildfire ignition. Dont get me wrong, fire is a natural and beneficial part of many forest ecosystems, said Amanda Staudt, director of the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, in a video for the National Wildlife Foundation. We need to allow some fires to burn and thus return our forests to more natural conditions with trees of different ages, lower fuel loads and more space between the trees. 1 / 76 Aurora Harris Heller, 62, left, comforts the owner of a home destroyed in the Sand fire in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 76 The charred remains of a statue stand on a drive on North Iron Canyon Road, where two homes were destroyed in the Sand fire in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 76 Firefighters battle a spot fire along Soledad Canyon Road near Agua Dulce on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 76 Firefighters are enveloped in thick smoke while working along Soledad Canyon Road near Agua Dulce on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 76 Two charred vehicles can be seen on Iron Canyon Road, near where a person died when the Sand fire swept through Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 76 One of two homes destroyed by the Sand fire is reduced to rubble and ash on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 76 Aurora Harris Heller is distraught over the death of her neighbor, who was killed when the Sand fire tore through Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 76 Riverside firefighter Mark Powell douses a smoldering structure on Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 76 Robert Heller walks back with his neighbors horses after evacuation orders were lifted for the residents of Iron Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 76 Heat from flames pushes firefighters back as they monitor a flare-up along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 76 A helicopter drops fire retardant on a ridge above Placerita Canyon Road in Santa Clarita as firefighters work to gain the upper hand on the Sand fire on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 76 Los Angeles County firefighters Kevin Bowers, left, and Pat Hanrahan are watchful as a plume of smoke builds in the mountains along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 76 A firefighting jumbo jet drops fire retardant on a ridgeline above Placerita Canyon Road in Santa Clarita on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 76 A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy checks identification of residents returning to their homes on Sand Canyon Road on Monday after evacuations were lifted. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 76 A burned-out machine shop destroyed in the Sand fire sits below a plume of smoke along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 76 Smoke blocks out the sun as flames consume dry brush near Soledad Canyon Road in the mountains near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 76 Burned-out vehicles are left behind on Oak Springs Canyon Road in Canyon Country. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 76 Los Angeles County firefighter Ralph Solis of Engine 127 sprays foam onto a tree still smoldering along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 76 Stephanie Spalter looks at the remnants of a machine shop that was destroyed in the Sand fire near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 76 Fire flares up in brush along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 76 Los Angeles County firefighter engineer Pat Hanrahan from Engine 208 works to put out a smoldering fire burning in equipment behind a home along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 76 Los Angeles County firefighter Roman Legaspi from Engine 208 works to douse hot spots behind buildings along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 76 The husks of mailboxes litter the charred ground on Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 76 U.S. Forest Service firefighters Edward Perez, left, Jovanny Cruz and Derek Meyers work to douse hot spots. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 76 Los Angeles County fire crews put out hot spots in a storage building that burned along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Monday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 76 An intense fire left behind burned remnants along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 76 Nearly 3,000 firefighters converge on Golden Valley High School, the Sand fire command center, for deployment orders in Santa Clarita on Monday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 76 Smoke from the Sand fire obscures the view in Santa Clarita on Monday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 76 A helicopter makes a water drop on the Sand fire along Placerita Canyon Road near Santa Clarita on Sunday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 76 Firefighters remove brush as they battle the Sand fire along Placerita Canyon Road near Santa Clarita on Sunday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 76 Firefighters battle the Sand fire along Placerita Canyon Road near Santa Clarita on Sunday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 76 Onlookers gather at a shopping mall along Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita to watch the Sand fire burn in the hills above the city on Sunday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 76 Evacuated residents watch as the Sand fire burns through the San Gabriel Mountains on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 76 A pall of smoke from the Sand fire hangs over the desert mountains as the sun sets near Acton. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 76 An L.A. County helicopter makes a water drop along Placerita Canyon Road as the Sand fire burns in the San Gabriel Mountains on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 76 Traffic from a shopping mall along Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita is diverted away from the flames of the Sand fire as it burns in the hills above the city Sunday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 76 A firefighter keeps watch on the path of the Sand fire as it burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 76 A firefighter sets a backfire as the Sand fire burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 76 The Sand fire burns along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton, threatening homes and other structures in its way. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 76 The Sand fire burns along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 76 The wildfire in the Santa Clarita Valley area has grown to more than 22,000 acres, prompting new evacuations. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 76 A firefighter keeps watch on the path of the Sand fire as it burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 76 The brush fire in the Santa Clarita Valley area has burned 18 homes. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 76 A firetruck is parked in front of a home in the Santa Clarita Valley. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 76 A firefighting helicopter drops water on the Sand fire as it burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 76 Firefighters battle the Sand fire along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 76 Ryan Alaniz, 6, waits for his parents to load the family car and evacuate the KOA Campground along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 76 A firefighter sets backfires along a ridge as the Sand fire burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 76 A firefighting helicopter hovers close to the flames from the Sand fire as it burns out of control along Soledad Canyon Road near Acton on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 76 The husk of a burned-out residence sits along Little Tujunga Canyon Road. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 76 Vehicles and other objects consumed by the Sand Fire litter Little Tujunga Canyon Road. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 76 Sand Canyon evacuees wait to be allowed back to their homes. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 76 Firefighters put out hot spots at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita after the Sand fire swept through the area on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 76 Firefighters chop down burned vegetation and put out hot spots at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 76 A charred tree stands over the ruins of a home along Little Tujunga Canyon Road near Santa Clarita. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 76 A burned-out shell is all that remains of a home along Little Tujunga Canyon Road near Santa Clarita after the Sand fire swept through the area on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 76 A smoldering home sits off the 26700 block of Iron Canyon Road on Sunday morning. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 76 Los Angeles County firefighter Anders Heinstedt mops up hot spots at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita on Sunday. The ranch is used for movie and TV production. Several of the sets, including one for Foxs Utopia, were destroyed by the Sand fire. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 76 Buildings and cars are drenched in Phos-Chek, a pink fire retardant, at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 76 Rob Chauvie says he was helping his sister evacuate during the Sand fire when he was doused with Phos-Chek, a fire-retardant, in Santa Clarita. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 76 Sand fire evacuees pass the time at Hart High School in Newhall on Sunday. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 76 A house burns along Little Tujunga Canyon Road as the Sand fire rages near Santa Clarita. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 76 AJ Moberg, 15, waters down the roof of his familys house Saturday as a plane dumping fire retardant flies overhead. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 76 A burned van and trailer sit along Little Tujunga Canyon Road. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 76 A truck and a house burn along Little Tujunga Canyon Road. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 76 Seth Moberg, 16, gathers belongings from his familys house on Sand Canyon Road as the Sand fire approaches in Santa Clarita. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 76 AJ Moberg, 15, waters down the roof of his familys house on Sanf Canyon Road as the Sand fire approaches in Santa Clarita on Saturday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 76 A view of the massive cloud from the Sand fire, as seen from Alameda and 6th streets in Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/ Los Angeles Times ) 69 / 76 Women evacuate horses along Sand Canyon Road as the Sand fire approaches in Santa Clarita. Hundreds of other animals also were evacuated. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 76 Flames from the Sand fire burn a hillside near Little Tujunga Canyon on Saturday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 76 AJ Moberg, 15, waters down the roof of his familys house on Sand Canyon Road. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 76 Charlie Erasmo takes pictures of water-dropping helicopters as they come in for water to battle the Sand fire in Santa Clarita on Saturday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 76 A water-dropping helicopter makes a run as the Sand fire burns in Santa Clarita on Saturday morning. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 76 L.A. County firefighter Joshua Miramontes with Engine 82 works the fast-growing brush fire east of Santa Clarita. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 76 A helicopter drops water on the fast-growing brush fire east of Santa Clarita. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 76 The Santa Clarita wildfire is visible from the Top of Topanga Overlook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Because people have tried for decades to suppress all wildfires, even harmless ones, Staudt said, unsafe levels of combustible materials have built up in forests. Drought and rising temperatures have increased the risk that this natural fuel will catch fire, creating blazes that are bigger and burn longer. There was an annual average of 140 large (more than 1,000 acres) wildfires in the 1980s, but that increased to 250 per year in the 2000s, according to a study published in Nature Communications last year. Others caution that we dont have enough data to know for sure whether these bigger fires are the result of man-made climate change. Natural long-term atmospheric changes also affect drought and fire size, said Eric Kasischke, a professor of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland. These atmospheric patterns occur at cycles of seven to 20 years. It takes a long time to figure out what is impacting these things, he said. But the high cost is certain. The U.S. Department of the Interior has exceeded its wildfire budget six times in 15 years, and last years fire season cost the country $2.1 billion. We urgently need to address the runaway growth of fire suppression costs, the Interior report said. ALSO Olympus told its U.S. executives no warning about tainted medical scopes was needed, despite superbug outbreaks The Olympics are coming, but Brazil, beset by troubles and gloom, yawns L.A. Affairs: My nightmare Tinder date with a lingerie model The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls their organization a hate group, and founders of the Black Panthers call them impostors. They call themselves a black nationalist organization, dedicated to the establishment of an independently governed black nation. The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense has been around since 1989 but recently caught the worlds attention when investigators discovered that Micah Johnson, who killed five police officers and wounded nine more in Dallas liked the party on Facebook and associated with a spinoff group called the New Black Panther Nation for roughly six months in Houston. The leader of the Houston group, Quanell X, said in an interview on KTRH radios The Matt Patrick Show that Johnson helped work security detail for several events nearly three years ago but was asked to excuse himself from the group after he started pushing leadership to acquire more arms and ammunition. Advertisement I honestly believed that the brother had post-traumatic stress disorder, Quanell X said. We knew the brother was a ticking time bomb. According to Quanell X, Johnson never talked about killing cops or said anything that would warrant reporting him to the police. He said he did encourage Johnson to see a therapist, however. Hashim Nzinga, the chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, which is headquartered in Atlanta and claims 38 chapters worldwide, also condemned the Dallas killings. But despite the partys efforts to distance themselves from Johnson, some individuals have said the movements ideology influenced the shooter. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a watchdog organization that monitors hate groups, has tracked the party since 2000 and says the New Black Panthers are a virulently racist and anti-Semitic organization whose leaders have encouraged violence against whites, Jews and law enforcement officers. If you are in a prominent position and pushing out propaganda, eventually that will translate to criminal hate violence, said Mark Potok, senior fellow at the center. The Dallas shooter is the best example. According to the center, the group has never been charged with killing or assaulting anyone, although it faced charges of voter intimidation in 2008 when Philadelphia chapter leader King Samir Shabazz, along with member Jerry Jackson, started making threatening remarks at a polling station. The Department of Justice later narrowed the charges to Shabazz and dismissed the charges against the New Black Panther Party. A court issued an injunction prohibiting Shabazz from bringing a weapon near an open polling place in a Philadelphia precinct through 2012. Marchers calling themselves a new generation of the Black Panther Party gather in Los Angeles on July 17 for a community summit titled Time to Unite: United Hoods + Gangs Nation. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press ) Although the group has not been found responsible for any violent attacks, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, past New Black Panther party leaders have advocated the killing of Jews and white people. You want freedom? You going to have to kill some crackers! You gonna have to kill some of their babies! Shabazz, was filmed shouting in front of a crowd in 2008. According to media accounts, at a 2002 protest in Washington, D.C., another leader, Malik Zulu Shabazz, yelled, Kill every ... Zionist in Israel! Asked about such comments, current party Chairman Nzinga told the Los Angeles Times, I still say that all the time now. Youve gotta kill them before they kill you. However, Nzinga, a father of six, emphasized that the group advocates killing only in self-defense. In America, youve got a constitutional right to protect your property, he said. If someone brings harm to us, were gonna kill them. The New Black Panthers patch that members wear reads, freedom or death, and its 10-point platform based on original Black Panther Party goals says that members will protect themselves from racist police and military by any means necessary. The document, posted on the partys website, also calls, among other things, for a new black nation, government reparations for slavery and the release of all black prisoners. In addition, Nzinga said in the interview that homosexuality is evil, that Jews control the media and are responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks and that blacks are Gods chosen people, Jesus himself being black. Members of the original Black Panther Party, a revolutionary civil rights group founded in California in 1966, firmly deny any connection to the newer organization. The Dr. Huey Newton Foundation, named for the Black Panthers founder, released a letter several years ago denouncing the groups exploitation of the partys name and history. There is no new Black Panther Party, the letter declares. The now-disbanded Black Panthers were known to advocate violence to get what they wanted and also were criticized by many for their aggressive language and public stance. In 1967, they stormed the California Capitol fully armed to protest a gun bill. Newton was convicted of stabbing a man with a steak knife in 1964 and fatally shooting a police officer in 1967, the latter conviction later being overturned. And in 1969, the head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, called them the greatest threat to the internal security of the country. But the Black Panthers also preached undying love for the people, started a free breakfast program for children and advocated on behalf of other minorities. We were never what you called xenophobic black nationalists. Bobby Seale, member of original Black Panther Party We were never what you called xenophobic black nationalists, another founding member, Bobby Seale, told CNN in a 2010 interview about the New Black Panthers. We crossed all racial lines and ethnic lines, and we said all power to all of the people. The Black Panther Party was dissolved in the early 1980s after in-fighting and FBI interference led to a decline in popular support. Elaine Brown, a former Black Panthers chairman, said she is not concerned about the new group tarnishing the reputation of the old. I dont think anyone will think this is our legacy, Brown said in an interview. There is no comparison besides that they took our name. But according to Nzinga, dozens of past Black Panthers do support the new movement and regularly attend and speak at rallies. Some of these old guys who dont support us, its because they are really elite now. They get big money to speak to white colleges, and they have left the revolution behind, Nzinga said. ALSO Black nationalist group Washitaw Nation distances itself from the Baton Rouge shooter, who pledged allegiance to it For a black Dallas police officer, a never-ending effort to build bridges What we know about the Dallas gunman: Army veteran reportedly said he wanted to kill white people The East Baton Rouge sheriffs deputy killed last Sunday ran to help another officer when he could have stayed safe in the convenience store where he was working off-duty, a minister said at his funeral Saturday. Its a remarkable story, the story of Brad Garafola, said the Rev. Jeff Ginn, lead pastor at Istrouma Baptist Church. He had a place of security, a place where he could hide. He left that place of safety. Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed outside the B-Quik convenience store by 29-year-old gunman Gavin Eugene Long, who was shot dead by police. Three other officers were wounded. Advertisement Hundreds of people line the streets of Baton Rouge to pay respects to slain Sheriffs Deputy Brad Garafola. (Gerald Herbert/Associated Press ) Sheriff Sid Gautreaux told mourners Saturday that one remains in critical condition and another faces a third operation on his shattered arm. The shootings came at a time of racial tension in the city and country after a black man was shot and killed July 5 during a confrontation with two white police officers outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge. The next day a black man in Minnesota was fatally shot by police, and his girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook. The day after that, a black gunman in Dallas opened fire during a protest against the Minnesota and Baton Rouge shootings, and killed five police officers. The services for Garafola were held the same day mourners gathered in Kansas City, Kan., for the funeral of Capt. Robert Dave Melton, who was gunned down Tuesday in his patrol car while searching for a shooting suspect. In Baton Rouge, all 1,500 seats were filled in Istrouma Baptist Church. The walls were lined with additional mourners, many of them police who had come from around Louisiana and from coast to coast. Gov. John Bel Edwards said strength and courage seem to have defined Garafolas life and death. Gautreaux said Garafola was courageous, compassionate, fearless, fair, brave and benevolent. His brother-in-law, Jaye Cooper, said people called Garafola the neighborhood husband because he cut grass, caught snakes and did other chores for people in the community. He never asked anything for what he did, Cooper said. He said Garafola died doing what Brad had always done trying to help someone else. During two hours of visitation before the funeral, a line of mourners snaked through church hallways, out the back door and into the parking lot. Two police officers and two sheriffs deputies came from the Seattle area. Bellevue Police Officer Paul Dill said their chief thinks its important to honor brother and sister officers. He said the department sends an honor guard contingent to commemorate every out-of-state death in the line of duty. Early arrivals for Garafolas service included a deputy who worked with him in the departments foreclosure division. He was dressed in Scottish regalia for a pipe band that played Amazing Grace outside the church after four helicopters flew over in salute. See more of our top stories on Facebook On Friday, hundreds turned out for a funeral service for Baton Rouge Police Officer Matthew Gerald, 41. Funeral services for the third officer slain, 32-year-old Montrell Jackson, are scheduled Monday, with a multi-agency memorial service for the officers Thursday. In Kansas City, officers from several nearby states were on hand to pay tribute to Melton, and military veterans holding American flags lined a street near the park to honor the 17-year veteran of the police force, who also served in the Army National Guard. You will see he was a true hero, said Kansas City Police Chief Terry Zeigler, who struggled through his emotions to make it through his tribute to Melton. Not only was he a hero in our community, but an American hero. He was on the front lines fighting terrorism to keep our nation safe. Authorities allege that a local man, 20-year-old Jamaal Lewis, shot and killed Melton while the officer was investigating a drive-by shooting. Melton was alone when he drove up to a person who matched a description of someone who may have been involved in the earlier attack, authorities said. Before he could get out of his unmarked cruiser, he was shot several times through his passenger-side window, and he died later at a hospital. Lewis has been charged with capital murder in Meltons death. Melton, whose girlfriend is pregnant, also left behind three children. ALSO A city in mourning: With many services, Dallas buries its dead Good morning, my love was the last text from her husband, a Baton Rouge police officer Obama mourns slain Dallas officers: They shared a commitment to something larger than themselves Ready for Day 4? Find our coverage here As Day 4 of the Republican National Convention begins, were posting news and analysis over here. Below youll find our news feed from the first three days of events in Cleveland. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mike Pence stuck to the script on an off-script night By Melanie Mason Indiana Gov. Mike Pence hit all the standard notes for a high-profile political address Wednesday night: introducing himself to unfamiliar voters, extolling his running mate and making an explicit appeal to independent and Democratic voters. That typical approach has been in short supply at the GOP nominating confab in Cleveland, with its outsized focus on base-pleasing issues like Benghazi and speakers whose anti-Hillary Clinton rhetoric is matched only by the audiences preferred chant of Lock her up! Adding to the unreality was Sen. Ted Cruzs non-endorsement of Donald Trump just an hour before Pence took the stage, prompting a chaotic backlash from attendees. But Pence appeared unfazed by the clamor, smoothly delivering a recitation of Trumps attributes and promising a capable team to win the White House in November. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California delegate mad at Ted Cruz By Michael Finnegan Donald Trump supporter Michael Der Manouel, a California delegate from Fresno, is not happy with Sen. Ted Cruz. Everybody believed he was building to a point in his speech where he would endorse Donald Trump, and he couldnt bring himself to do it, and the convention expressed its displeasure, Der Manouel told The Times. He couldnt bring himself to do what Reagan did in 76, and its very disappointing, he said. Were going to move forward without all of these guys who reneged on their endorsement pledge. Were going to move forward without them. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A dark star named Ted Cruz blots out the sun for Mike Pence By Robin Abcarian It wasnt supposed to be like this. The third night of the convention was supposed to belong to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trumps running mate. No one anticipated that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, giving a surprisingly restrained speech, would nevertheless fail to endorse Trump, infuriating convention delegates. To those listening, please, dont stay home in November, said Cruz, in his typically languid debaters cadence. If you love our country, and love your children as much as I know you do, stand, and speak, and vote your conscience; vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution. Thats when the booing began, the Twitter volume went to 11 and, it seemed, no one could speak of anything else. Lost in the noise: Pences perfectly serviceable speech. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence blows a kiss to his wife as he speaks during the third day of the Republican convention. (Mary Altaffer / Associated Press) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Retired astronaut Eileen Collins skips over line endorsing Trump in prime-time speech By Christine Mai-Duc In her Wednesday night convention speech, retired astronaut Eileen Collins lamented the fact that the last time the U.S. launched astronauts on American soil was more than five years ago, imploring leaders to do better than that. She called for leadership that will make Americas space program first again, but skipped a line in her prepared remarks that would have endorsed newly-minted Republican nominee Donald Trump. She said she wanted to keep not political. She also passed up an opportunity to slam Obama for space program cuts. It was weird. Laura Keeney (@LauraKeeney) July 21, 2016 Earlier this week, Collins told Mashable that her speech was not meant to be political. This is a chance I could not pass up: We can raise awareness of how the U.S. human space program has slowed over the years, Collins said in a statement to the website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print FBI may have resumed controversial checkups on Cleveland-area activists, legal group says By James Queally Federal Bureau of Investigation agents may have knocked on the doors of several Cleveland-area activists Wednesday morning, resuming a controversial checkup practice that put the local civil rights community on edge in the weeks leading up to the Republican National Convention, a legal advocacy group said. In a statement issued Wednesday night, the Ohio chapter of the National Lawyers Guild alleged the FBI conducted a series of raids and may have entered a home without a warrant, continuing a practice that disturbed local demonstrators earlier this summer. Its been a consistent theme throughout all of these visits that law enforcement are looking for links and relationships among activists or people known to be activists around the Cleveland area and around the state of Ohio and also in some other locations outside of the state, said Jacqueline Greene, co-coordinator of the guild. Ultimately theyre on an information-fishing expedition. The purpose of these visits is to intimidate and chill First Amendment expression. National activists with Black Lives Matter and Campaign Zero have also said they received unnerving visits from the FBI in the weeks leading up to the nominating conventions, according to the Washington Post. Greene said her office had also reviewed video that appeared to show FBI agents and officers entering a home without consent. Asked about the incident Wednesday night, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said he was not sure if his officers were involved in any door knocks, as some are on loan to the local FBI office. He said he generally supports the tactic. Were not accusing them of anything, Williams said. Were going around and talking to them. The FBI said earlier this year that the visits were simply about ensuring safety during the convention, but local organizers have criticized the tactic as intimidation. FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said the FBI and police officers from Elyria, a Cleveland suburb, conducted interviews this week in response to investigative leads. The occupants were interviewed outside the residence and no arrests were made, Anderson said in an e-mail to The Times. Law enforcement will continue to respond to investigative leads to ensure the security of the RNC. 9:10 p.m. Updated with a response from the FBI in Cleveland. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gingrich immediately tries to mend the Cruz rift at Republican convention By Seema Mehta Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sought Wednesday night to get the Republican National Convention back on track after disharmony erupted in full, prime-time view when delegates booed Sen. Ted Cruz for declining to endorse nominee Donald Trump. Veering from his prepared remarks, Gingrich told the thousands of delegates and guests that they had misunderstood Cruz when he urged Americans to vote your conscience. Gingrich said that Cruz had actually urged voters to abide by their conscience and vote any candidate who will uphold the Constitution. In the presidential contest, Trump is the only candidate who would do so, Gingrich said. So to paraphrase Ted Cruz, if you want to protect the Constitution of the United States the only possible candidate this fall is the Trump-Pence Republican ticket, he said. Gingrich, whom Trump passed over as his running mate, also hailed Trump for being generous in allowing his GOP primary rivals to speak without requiring an endorsement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch Marco Rubios message to Republican delegates Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) speaks in a video address played at the Republican National Convention. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ted Cruz to delegates: Vote your conscience By Seema Mehta Please, dont stay home in November, Ted Cruz said to convention-goers. If you love our country and if you love your children as much as I know you do, stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution. Delegates chanted at him to endorse Donald Trump, and the phrase vote your conscience appeared to infuriate the crowd. Anti-Trump forces had unsuccessfully sought to make rules changes that would have unbound delegates and allowed them to vote their conscience. The lack of endorsement by Cruz, who mentioned Trumps name only once, was not surprising. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Scott Walker -- a Trump critic, then backer, then skeptic -- got the party memo on GOP unity By Lisa Mascaro @ScottWalker hanging in the Digital Loft at the @GOPconvention. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/JUqjfqeTYO GOP Convention (@GOPconvention) July 21, 2016 When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker addressed the Republican convention Wednesday, it was as if a memo had gone out from party headquarters that the time had come to step up the effort to unify the party behind Donald Trump. The first two nights of the convention had resulted in start-and-stop progress. Lots of pro-Trump voices. Few new converts. Convention crowds that began to thin toward the end of the evening. Walker, in some ways, was a prime messenger, thanks to his own discomfort over Trump. If Walker -- a onetime Trump rival, who endorsed Trump only to walk it back later -- could vote for the ticket, so could so many other Republicans who preferred someone else. The former presidential hopeful argued his case the way so many Republicans are doing it not so much a vote for Trump as a vote for the alternative to Democrat Hillary Clinton. He made a point of not just naming Trump but also including the vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, who many believe will help persuade conservatives who are cool to Trump to fall in line with the GOP ticket. Hillary Clinton is the ultimate liberal Washington insider. If she were any more on the inside, shed be in prison, Walker said. America deserves better than Hillary Clinton, he said. That is why we need to support Donald Trump and Mike Pence to be the next president and vice president. Let me be clear: A vote for anyone other than Donald Trump in November is a vote for Hillary Clinton, he said. The speech was full of Walkers sensible Midwestern passion, and it roused the crowd. After House Speaker Paul D. Ryans address the night before, it was among the few speeches that gave prime time the feel of a traditional convention otherwise filled with B-list actors and Trumps business allies. Walker may have lost his chance to be the one onstage as the GOP nominee. But on Wednesday, he did his part to salvage the Republican Party in the age of Trump. Watch the full speech: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks at the Republican National Convention. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mike Pence can bring it in a speech when he needs to By Javier Panzar Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is giving the biggest speech of his life tonight. If you are looking for a preview of what the man can do to a crowd it helps to look at the speech he gave to the Family Research Council Values Voter Summit in September 2010. Pence, then a congressman, was so well received he won the straw poll there, beating out former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and eventual 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Speaking shortly before Republicans won back a majority in Congress, Pence jabbed at then-speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and promised the crowd not to compromise with Democrats. I am here to say House Republicans are back in the fight and they are back in the fight for conservative values on Capitol Hill, he told a rapturous crowd. The crowd ate up the Republican red meat Pence offered throughout about the nation being trapped in bondage to big government. But Pence also managed to maintained a light touch. He put the crowd in stitches, joking that while MSNBC said Republicans would win just a couple of seats in the House, Fox News said Republicans will win all 435 seats in the Congress. Pence used one of his common lines -- I am a conservative but I am not in a bad mood about it. -- that he has repeated on television since Trump selected him as his running mate. Pence also flashed his socially conservative bonafides that made him attractive to a Trump campaign looking to broaden its appeal to the right wing. Dont ask, dont tell must remain the policy of the United States Armed Forces, he said. Watch: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch: Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham tells those with bruised egos its time to support Trump It was a speech to fire people up, and included marching orders. We should all, even all you boys with wounded feelings and bruised egos, and we love you, we love you, but you must honor your pledge to support Donald Trump now, Laura Ingraham told delegates at the convention. Watch the full speech: Laura Ingraham, conservative commentator, speaks at the Republican National Convention. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The hot and cold relationship between Scott Walker and Donald Trump By Kurtis Lee His support of Donald Trump has fluctuated in recent months. Ahead of his states April primary, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who at the time was seen as the strongest candidate to derail Trumps quest to become the Republican nominee. Trumps response? He said that countries like Mexico and China had taken jobs away from Wisconsin and that immigrants in the country illegally were burdening the states taxpayers. Trump blamed it on a lack of leadership by Walker, whose own presidential bid last year faltered after only a few months. I wouldnt do this, except that he endorsed this guy Cruz, and Cruz would be a terrible president, Trump told Wisconsin Republicans at the time. But the effort to assail Walker, who is popular among Republicans in his state after staving off a 2012 recall spearheaded by Democrats, was not a formula for victory. Trump ended up losing to Cruz in the primary by 13 percentage points. As Trump has mended some relationships with establishment figures, the one with Walker remains complicated. Though the governor plans to make clear in his speech Wednesday night his support for Trump over Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, hes wavered in his applause of the billionaire businessman. During an interview with a local Wisconsin television station last month, Walker, who had initially said he would support the GOP nominee, backtracked. Alex and I with our great friend Mike Pence! #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/VS5r5rFuF1 Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) July 20, 2016 Its just sad in America that we have such poor choices right now, Walker said, a direct jab at Trump and Clinton. Walkers comments came on the heels of Trumps inflammatory statements about a Latino judge overseeing a fraud lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump University. Yet in recent weeks, Walker has not been as vocal in his criticisms of Trump. In fact, after Trump announced the selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence last week as his running mate, Walker offered plaudits. The Mike Pence decision this week to me is a sign that this is somebody who is actually thinking about how to govern, Walker said of Trump in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For Walker, who some political observers believe is eyeing another presidential run in 2020, it was a step toward unity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 17 arrested at flag-burning protest outside RNC; observers dispute police account By James Queally (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Cleveland police arrested 17 people on suspicion of assaulting officers and failure to disperse after a U.S. flag was set on fire outside the Republican National Convention on Wednesday afternoon, but legal observers are disputing the police narrative of the incident. Police Chief Calvin Williams said two people have been booked on charges of felony assault after they pushed and punched police who were trying to extinguish the fire outside the entrance to the Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday. Fifteen other protesters face various misdemeanor charges, including failure to disperse, he said. Police had no plans to stop Revolutionary Communist Party members from burning the flag, which is a legal but controversial form of protest, and Williams said officers only moved in because several protesters clothes caught on fire. But Jocelyn Rosnick, co-coordinator of the Ohio Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, said 10 legal observers on the scene did not see any of the protesters clothes aflame and contended that no dispersal order was given. She also noted that officers are required to give multiple dispersal orders before making arrests. Flag burning as a means of speech is protected. It has been argued in a number of court cases all the way up to the Supreme Court, Rosnick said. Officers moved in seconds after the flag caught fire. One could be heard yelling, Youre on fire, stupid at a protester as he sprayed a fire extinguisher. A Times reporter who was standing feet away from officers when the flag was set on fire did not hear a dispersal order, however. All 17 people arrested were adults involved in the protest. Williams said police were only at the scene to prevent clashes between members of the Revolutionary Communist Party, which organized the flag-burning protest, and counter groups who had come to stop them, including Bikers 4 Trump. There were people on the corner that were basically saying, Why are you guys doing this? and the whole area got kind of amped up, the chief said. A city police officer and an Ohio state trooper were treated for minor injuries at the scene. None of the protesters whose clothes police said caught fire required medical treatment for burns, Williams said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Potential Trump Cabinet pick Harold Hamm makes convention debut By Javier Panzar Harold Hamm of Continental Resources, says climate change is not a problem, its Islamic terrorism, in his speech to the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 20. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) On Wednesday Reuters reported that Donald Trump will consider Harold Hamm, chief executive officer of oil and gas giant Continental Resources, as Energy secretary should he become president. In 2012 Hamm chaired Republican nominee Mitt Romneys Energy Policy Advisory Group, attacked President Obamas policies on oil and gave almost $1 million to a super PAC supporting Romney, according to Politico. Hamm isnt new to politics. Reuters reported that in 2009 Hamm formed a lobbying group to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, fearing it would flood his companys territory with Canadian oil. But Hamm dropped his opposition after the pipelines operator agreed to add an extension that would pick up his companys oil and take it to refineries, according to the report. Hamm backed Trump in April. He is someone who is not beholden to special interests and has the fortitude to make tough decisions, he said at the time. With a slew of onerous regulations now threatening to cripple American business, the next president of the United States must have the courage, determination and intelligence to disrupt politics as usual. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Band at RNC goes patriotic, then plays antiwar song By Colleen Shalby Country singer Chris Janson joined G.E. Smiths house band on stage tonight at the Republican National Convention. Janson was in the middle of playing his band LoCashs song Love this Life when he stopped to address the delegates dancing on the floor. Let me hear you if youre proud to be from the U.S.A.! Then he broke from his band to play the chorus from Born in the U.S.A. Chants of U-S-A followed. Bruce Springsteens 1984 hit is often deemed a patriotic song, despite its antiwar origins. The song is a criticism of the Vietnam War and the U.S. government, and if you know it, youll recognize the lyrics that surround the catchy chorus: I had a brother at Khe Sahn Fighting off the Viet Cong Theyre still there, hes all gone Heres the playlist (so far) from the convention. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Eileen Collins, the first female U.S. space shuttle commander, urges investments in space exploration at RNC By Christine Mai-Duc In her speech Wednesday night at the GOP convention, astronaut Eileen Collins urged investments to make Americas space program first again. Collins herself has seen a few firsts in her career. She was the first female pilot of an American space shuttle, and in 1999 became the first woman commander of a U.S. shuttle mission. Before becoming an astronaut, Collins was a career military pilot and trained at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. She also worked as an instructor pilot at Travis Air Force Base in California from 1983 to 1985. She was picked for the astronaut program after attending pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base. Shes also terrified of roller coasters. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi was questioned over Trump donation By Javier Panzar Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, who will speak at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, has drawn scrutiny for soliciting a political campaign contribution from Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump when her office was considering joining an investigation into Trump University. The Associated Press reported last month that a Trump family foundation gave a $25,000 donation to a political group supporting Bondis reelection after she solicited the contribution. The donation alone appeared to be a violation of rules governing political activities by charities. The timing of the contribution also raised questions: The check arrived four days after Bondi said her office was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University. Her office declined to join the suit against Trump after the check came in, citing insufficient grounds to proceed. The news made waves because Trump has been open about what he expects when he makes political contributions. I give to everybody, he said in an debate last August. When they call, I give. And you know what? When I need something from them, two years later, three years later, I call them. They are there for me. And thats a broken system. Bondi was highlighted in a 2014 New York Times investigation that uncovered lobbyist spending on meals, trips and other contributions for several state attorneys general. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The architecture of the convention stage By Christopher Hawthorne In Cleveland, the stagecraft is sleek, anodyne and less traditional. There are no Obama-style Greek columns for Donald Trump. Nor has he revived the domestic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright the way Mitt Romney did during the 2012 GOP convention in Tampa, Fla. Instead the set is a shotgun marriage of Star Trek and Macbook modern, with perhaps a touch in the rounded stairs, lighted from below of Art Deco. A dark oval stage is flanked by a pair of canted silver walls, between which hang several giant video boards. The goal seems to be a series of smooth surfaces to which none of the more direct ad hominem verbal attacks or accusations of plagiarism might stick a slate that can be wiped clean whenever a change in tone or direction is wanted. Call it Teflon minimalism. For those of us watching on phones, tablets and television screens, this gap between the nostalgic and often aggressive rhetoric of the speeches and the sleek, vague futurism of the set design has been among the conventions most striking elements. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump business associate Phil Ruffin takes the stage next By Javier Panzar At the Republican National Convention, many of the speakers have something in common: They arent politicians. Instead, they are friends or business associates of nominee Donald Trump. Take Wednesday night speaker Phil Ruffin. The billionaire owns the Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and worked with Trump to develop the Trump International Hotel. Ruffin has developed properties across the U.S., including in California. He was on hand when Trump was campaigning in Las Vegas this February. Trump's Las Vegas supporters gathering for rally at the Treasure Island casino of Trump biz partner Phil Ruffin pic.twitter.com/Q5VWpxjbfW Michael Finnegan (@finneganLAT) June 18, 2016 He has also stumped for Trump in his native Kansas. Hes a brilliant businessman, one of the best Ive ever seen, Ruffin told members of the Wichita Pachyderm Club in downtown Wichita, according to the Wichita Eagle. If he ever offers you a partnership, take the deal. Right now hes offering a partnership for the country: Trump and the country. He would do a great job. Hed make a great president. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham chides John Kasich ahead of prime-time speaking slot By Christine Mai-Duc Conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham is expected to address the need to restore respect across all levels of society in a night themed Make America First Again. Ingraham, who said she would not choose between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump during the primaries, has taken to rallying conservatives behind Trump in recent days. On Twitter, shes criticized Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who dropped out of the race in May, for not attending the convention in his home state. How incredibly short-sighted & self-absorbed for John Kasich not to attend the RNC. What did he accomplish by skipping? Zippo. Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 19, 2016 Hey @JohnKasich, you can have my speaking slot tonight. Endorse Trump. Put America first. No one agrees on all issues. We need you. Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 20, 2016 It won't help Cruz or GOP if the story coming out after his speech tonight is that he didn't endorse Trump. He's smarter than that. Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 20, 2016 Ingraham told the New York Times in May that the anti-Trump effort within the Republican Party was a little juvenile. There are a lot of purists out there who, if they dont get everything checked off on their little bucket list, then they say take your pail and go home, she told the newspaper. Come to the real world. How original. I address this level of disrespect in my speech tonight. Tune in--8:10pET! https://t.co/dZgtmV5CsL Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) July 20, 2016 On Twitter, Ingraham cited a flag-burning protest and subsequent arrests outside the convention hall Wednesday, saying shed address this level of disrespect in her prime-time remarks. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Obama praises Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Tonight, Scott will bash him at the Republican convention. By Noah Bierman The White House released a long statement Wednesday afternoon praising Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, for responding to a suspected case of Zika. The statement recounted a phone call between the two men earlier in the day in which Obama touted an additional $5.6 million being sent to Florida from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The president recognized Floridas strong record of responding aggressively to local outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, and offered federal support and technical assistance. It was a nice bipartisan moment, expressing how state and federal officials can make government work across party lines. Right? Well, heres an excerpt of the speech Scott plans to deliver at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night. Today, America is in terrible, world-record-high debt. Our economy is not growing. Our jobs are going overseas. We have allowed our military to decay, and we project weakness on the international stage. Washington grows while the rest of America struggles. The Democrats have not led us to a crossroads; they have led us to a cliff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California delegation afflicted by norovirus: Heres what it does By Melissa Healy At least a dozen GOP staffers from Californias delegation to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland are experiencing vomiting, cramps and diarrhea, and the dreaded norovirus is being blamed for their gastrointestinal misery. Erie County Health Department officials have been called to the scene of the delegations quarters at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, about 60 miles from the convention site, and have collected fecal samples to confirm the diagnosis. Norovirus is the most common cause of diarrheal episodes globally and one of the leading causes of food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States. Treated with rest and fluids, its symptoms of severe gastroenteritis generally wane after two or three days. But it claims the lives of 212,000 annually worldwide, mostly children and the elderly living in low- and middle-income countries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Man who burned flag outside Republican convention has done it before, group claims By James Queally Police officers arrest protesters from the Revolutionary Communist Party as they try to burn a flag. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/GGimuzX6he Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) July 20, 2016 The man who set fire to an American flag outside the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, touching off a struggle between police and protesters, did the same thing outside the convention in 1984, according to a statement issued by the group that organized the protest. The Revolutionary Communist Party has claimed Gregory Lee Johnson was the man who lit the flag on fire about 4 p.m. outside Quicken Loans Arena. Johnson was the plaintiff in a 1989 Supreme Court case that invalidated restrictions that criminalized burning flags in the U.S., the group said. Johnson also burned a flag outside the GOP convention in Dallas in 1984, according to the statement. Several people were arrested as police used fire extinguishers and pepper spray to stop the protest just seconds after the flag was scorched. The Revolutionary Communist Party had announced the protest earlier in the week, drawing the attention of a number of groups attempting to stop them. A dozen protesters emerged from a tightly packed crowd near Quicken Loans Arena, donning black T-shirts bearing the groups name and chanting America Was Never Great before setting fire to the flag. At least six people were seen being led away by police in zip-tie handcuffs. In its statement, the Revolutionary Communist Party said 14 people were arrested. On Wednesday evening, the Cleveland Police Department said 17 arrests were made. Two officers sustained minor injuries, police said. 17 arrests total: Charges include Felonious Assault on Police Officer, failure to disperse and resisting arrest. Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) July 20, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The ghost of Richard Nixon is haunting the GOP convention By Mickey Edwards It has been a long time since Richard Milhous Nixon has found such love. Law and order, the mantra that elected Nixon president in 1968, has become a central focus of Donald Trumps convention. In the midst of Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter and All Lives Matter, dueling but not incompatible perspectives, varying in emphasis but capable of being reconciled, comes the ghost of Nixon, in the form of Trump, rallying what he hopes are majorities to shout down and shut up the voices of grievance. Like Nixon, Trump is a modern-day incarnation of poor besotted Thomas Hobbes, railing against a world he thought a bleak and forlorn home to a multitude whose lives were nasty, brutish and short. Donald Trump, bless his soul, is standing firm against the darkness. His anger makes Trump grate again. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With his double-aerial arrival, Donald Trump reminds the media whos in control By Melanie Mason (AFP/Getty Images) Donald Trump, newly minted as the Republican presidential nominee, was about to land on the shores of Lake Erie in a helicopter and nobody knew where to look. Journalists, penned in on a field near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, pointed their cameras in all directions, making sure they had every possible angle. Unlike the raucous rallies filled with fans that have propelled his candidacy, Trumps arrival in Cleveland, advertised as closed to the public, was all about his media horde a relationship that has been rancorous, but undeniably mutually beneficial. The elaborately staged proceedings left no question as to who was calling the shots. Every time a helicopter passed, heads snapped skyward. But fears that Trump would somehow sneak past were unfounded. As his private jet swooped past, the blaring soundtrack suddenly switched from the Rolling Stones to the operatic swells of Puccinis Nessun Dorma. But where to look next? From the south, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trumps running mate, strolled in, flanked by family. Overhead, from the east, a Trump-branded helicopter circled and then reversed course. With each new sight of an aircraft, a Trump family member, the man himself the media gaggle dutifully pivoted to capture it. They shot photos and videos. They tweeted and Periscoped. They looked up and down, turned left and right the collective herky-jerky dance of covering the quintessential cable news candidate. Finally, Trump emerged from the chopper, greeted Pence and strode to a grassy field, family in tow. He spoke uncharacteristically briefly. No questions, no news made. But no matter. The double-aerial landing got wall-to-wall coverage on television, Trump reinforced his reputation for showmanship, and the news media got another chance to practice the choreography of covering Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The Trump kids, making their national political debut, soften their fathers sharp edges By Robin Abcarian From left, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump on the convention floor (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) The four eldest children of Donald J. Trump have become the unlikely stars of the show in Cleveland. Its not even really what they have said or will say; its simply who they are. Their father can be uncouth; they are refined. He can be a bully; they are unfailingly polite. He often rambles and digresses; they stick to their scripts. In this, they are following the recent tradition of other candidates children, including Mitt Romneys five sons, and Chelsea Clinton. In two presidential campaigns, 2008 and 2012, the Romney brothers job was to humanize a father who struck some as robotic and rehearsed. In 2008, Clinton was selling her mother as more capable and experienced than her upstart opponent, Barack Obama. Like her mom, Chelsea was a bit rigid on the trail, but she was poised. When college students asked her about Monica Lewinsky, she replied, I do not think that is any of your business. (Contrast those political offspring to a star of the 2008 presidential campaign, Megan McCain, then a free-spirited 23-year-old who posted photos of herself jumping on hotel beds as she blogged about life on the trail, complete with music playlists.) In an impressive national debut Tuesday night, 22-year-old Tiffany Trump, Donald Trumps daughter with second wife Marla Maples, shared a couple of meager anecdotes about her father. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Multiple arrests apparently made after demonstrators burn flag outside GOP convention By James Queally Outside #RNCinCLe a group of protesters tried to burn two flags; riot police moved in to arrest at least 8 people. pic.twitter.com/WRPf7UdluF Carolyn Cole (@Carolyn_Cole) July 20, 2016 Warning: Graphic images and language. A dozen people changed into T-shirts bearing the Revolutionary Communist Party name shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The group set a flag on fire after chanting America Was Never Great, before Cleveland police officers moved in with a fire extinguisher. Youre on fire, stupid, one police officer yelled as he moved in on the group. To the east of the convention entrance, several protestors chanted, Whats the problem? The whole damn system. Several people were seen wrestling with police, and a few were led away in zip-tie handcuffs, with at least six moved to a police transport van. Jocelyn Rosnick, executive director of the Ohio chapter of the National Lawyers Guild told the Times up to 20 arrests may have been made, though the Cleveland Police Department has not confirmed the number. The protest was announced earlier in the week. Firefighters were on the scene and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams reported that the entrance to the Republican National Convention had been shut down by police before it was later reopened. The police department reported at least two officers were assaulted. Two officers assaulted. Minor injuries. Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) July 20, 2016 Things getting physical pic.twitter.com/tKz8HGuzIY James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) July 20, 2016 Flag was set on fire. Cops used pepper spray to break it up. Melee erupted #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/K6MGSjKI7L James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) July 20, 2016 Crowd members were split over the incident. Its freedom of speech. Its the purest form of free speech, said Martha Conrad, an attorney from Chicago who said she would offer to represent those arrested. Its disrespectful. People fought and died for that flag, countered Jeff Jagels, 15, of Dayton. The scene has been tense for at least an hour. Minutes before the protest, a religious group that had been spotted around Cleveland earlier in the week said it could burn a gay pride flag instead of the American flag. And a U.S. Marine carrying an American flag was swarmed by media and later escorted away by police after cameras circled him. Bikers 4 Trump got down here but after flag caught fire #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/vjZU9txqJD James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) July 20, 2016 Riot gear is out but things have calmed. Arrestees still chanting against police #RNC2016 pic.twitter.com/PSWSQvR9sP James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) July 20, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dog owners get the chance to express a political preference Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement There have been a grand total of three arrests at RNC protests so far By Matt Pearce A sign outside Cleveland Municipal Courtroom D says NO LO TERING. The I has fallen off, sadly. Is there anyone here scheduled for a protection order hearing? a court worker asked the young men and women waiting in the rather soviet hallway. Nope. This morning, a group of activists sat outside Courtroom D, not loitering, but awaiting judgment. Municipal court is maybe the closest thing protesters have to a stern church: hard benches, rules that cannot be broken and a rather stiff penalty for skipping attendance. Jails and municipal courts often form the crucial backstage to all the protests you see on Twitter and TV, the place where the system takes in arrested activists, parks them behind bars and then spits them out after a fine, or, more rarely, jail time. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Loyal supporters cheer Ted Cruz and boo as Donald Trumps plane flies overhead By Seema Mehta Now on the stage: Ted and Heidi Cruz. pic.twitter.com/HPx8NoBT8v Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) July 20, 2016 Hours before Ted Cruz was to address the Republican National Convention, the second-place finisher in the nomination contest gave no indication he would endorse GOP nominee Donald Trump. In an amazing campaign field of 17 talented, dynamic candidates, we beat 15 of those candidates. We just didnt beat 16, Cruz told hundreds of supporters gathered at a riverside restaurant on Wednesday. Just then, Trumps plane flew overhead as the nominee returned to Cleveland ahead of the conventions third night. The crowd booed and Cruz laughed. That was pretty well-orchestrated, he joked, before continuing. Let me say to the men and women here, I dont know what the future is going to hold. What I do know is everyone has an obligation to follow our consciences, to speak the truth, and the truth is unchanging, to defend liberty. Theres a lot of talk about unity, he said. The way to see unity is for us to unite behind shared principles. Cruz pointed to his campaigns accomplishments in the 2016 campaign: winning nearly 8 million votes, 12 states and nearly 600 delegates; raising 1.8 million donations; and amassing 326,000 volunteers. All of which could lay the groundwork for a future presidential campaign, which was clearly the hope of many of the supporters. As Cruz was talking, a man yelled, Gods not done with you yet! and the crowd chanted 2020! 2020! 2020! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump flies back into Cleveland for a campaign rally (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Donald Trump ultimately landed at his Cleveland rally on a similarly styled Trump helicopter. He was greeted by vice presidential pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Pences wife and his own adult children. Pence will speak at the convention tonight, and Trump is scheduled to join him on stage. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Paul Ryan manages to endorse Trump without praising him in the slightest By Barton Swaim Paul Ryans speech to the Republican National Convention was far and away the best thus far. That must be because Ryan had an actual purpose a purpose, I mean, other than to spout a few platitudes in the hope that no one would remember you had once praised Donald Trump on television. (That was manifestly the case with Sens. Tom Cotton and Roger Wicker, among others, on the conventions first night.) Ryans purpose was to recommend Trumps candidacy without in any way praising the candidate, or, in other words, to endorse Trump in the abstract without praising the man indeed, almost without mentioning him at all. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California GOP is optimistic norovirus outbreak among staff at convention is contained By Seema Mehta California GOP officials said Wednesday they were optimistic a highly contagious virus that led to the quarantine of at least a dozen staff members was contained. Weve had no new outbreaks for the last 24 hours, which makes me feel like all of our efforts to fight it have worked, executive director Cynthia Bryant told the delegation at its breakfast meeting. So knock on wood and say a prayer. The staff members had come down with what was confirmed to be norovirus, which causes stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea. They could not leave their hotel rooms until they had been symptom-free for 24 hours. The affliction is generally short-lived but can be dangerous and even fatal, especially for the elderly and the young. Erie County health officials have been involved in testing for and monitoring the outbreak. The 550-member delegation was warned of the outbreak by the state GOP early Tuesday and advised to avoid shaking hands with others, to wash hands frequently, to avoid sharing food and to not use the delegation buses if they had any symptoms. No delegates, alternates or guests had reported any signs of the virus, Bryant said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ann Coulter warns California Republicans the nation could turn into California By Seema Mehta Conservative author and TV personality Ann Coulter warned California Republicans on Wednesday that the nation could become like California if Donald Trump is not elected president in the fall. Trumps slogan is make America great again. Hillarys slogan is make America California without the nice beaches, without the good stuff, Ann Coulter told the states delegates at a breakfast meeting. Youre always ahead of the curve, Coulter said. You sent us two of our greatest presidents, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. And now a Republican cant get elected statewide in California. That is because of immigration. This is why Trumps campaign is absolutely crucial. Coulter, who was applauded by the Californians, contended the influx of immigrants over the past four decades had given Democrats an edge, and that the Republican establishment betrayed its base of supporters on immigration and trade issues. We all know there are certain flaws with our candidate, she said, laughing. Its not like we looked around the country and said, I know who we need to run. Lets get a reality TV star who has never held elected office. No. Hes the only one who will speak for Americans. . @AnnCoulter says she hasn't watched a minute of #RNCinCLE , is only here 'about town' pic.twitter.com/AwXUtEZ77p David Siders (@davidsiders) July 20, 2016 Earlier, Omarosa Manigault, Trumps newly named director of African American outreach, told the crowd that Trump had changed her life by casting her in the first season of The Apprentice. Donald Trump really in that first season taught America that we can work hard, that we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to, and most importantly, sometimes folks arent going to like you, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Speechwriter takes fall for Melania Trumps plagiarism, says her offer to quit was refused By Mark Z. Barabak Social media lit up Monday night as some on Twitter pointed out that Melania Trumps prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention sounded strikingly similar to Michelle Obamas 2008 convention speech. The in-house staff writer did it. After more than two days of evasion, denials and contradictory explanations, the Trump campaign released a statement Wednesday to whom it may concern ascribing the plagiarized passages in Melanie Trumps convention speech to a scribe working for his corporate operation. In working with Melania Trump on her recent first lady speech, we discussed many people who inspired her and messages she wanted to share with the American people, said Meredith McIver, who described herself as a longtime and admirer of the Trump family. A person she always liked is Michelle Obama. By McIvers account, Melania Trump read her some passages from Obamas speech at the 2008 Democratic convention and they inadvertently made their way into the final draft that she delivered Monday at the GOPs gathering in Cleveland. This was my mistake and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as Mrs. Obama, McIver said. No harm was meant. She said she offered her resignation to Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, as well as his family, but it was rejected. Mr. Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow these experiences. McIvers account was one of several explanations offered by the Trump campaign and its representatives, including denial that any plagiarism had taken place. Before the controversy erupted, Melania told NBC she had written virtually the entire speech by herself. Far from laying the matter to rest, the statement reignited the issue, which overshadowed the convention for a second straight day and sparked a new round of finger-pointing at Trumps barebones political operation and its repeated stumbles. NEW: Melania staffer falls on sword, says campaign rejected her resignation pic.twitter.com/6ZgfX2cEXQ Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) July 20, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Government should favor the hard-working middle, not protected minorities, Donald Trump Jr. says By David Lauter The government needs to do more for the hardworking men and women who built the great nation we live in, not members of minority groups who have status as a protected class, Donald Trump Jr. said Wednesday. The Republican presidential nominees eldest son, whose speech at the GOP convention Tuesday drew praise, also criticized his fathers detractors within the party. Some delegates who opposed Trump during Tuesdays roll call look like idiots, Trump Jr. said. I dont think anyone would ever accuse us of being appeasers of the opposition, Trump said of his family. Still, he agreed that his fathers decision to pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate was, to some extent, an effort to placate restive conservatives within the party. Describing a vice presidential selection process in which he and his siblings Eric and Ivanka served as chief advisors to his father, Trump said that they had chosen Pence over former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie mostly because it made sense to have someone to counterbalance my father. We dont need two Donald Trumps up there, he said, referring to the outsize personalities that his father, Gingrich and Christie share. Speaking to a large crowd at a breakfast sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, the younger Trump said he has thought about following his fathers path into politics, although not until his five children are older. Id love to be able to do it, he said. He described himself, jokingly, as a Fifth Avenue redneck, referring to his love of guns and the outdoors, and he made clear that he shares some of the views and blunt expressions that have distanced his father from minority voters. Responding to a question about the rise of identity politics on the political left, Trump said that the hardworking men and women who built the great nation we live in, theyre the only people who arent protected anymore; theyre the middle class. Currently, he said, the government benefits people who can show theyre one-sixty-fourth of some protected class. That has to stop, he said, adding that members of the middle class are the people we actually have to start catering to. Those are the people that are forgotten. We have to take care of the problems we have, but we also cant forget the people who built this nation. The hardworking middle, who pay taxes, the middle class. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump on Melania Trump plagiarism fuss: All press is good press Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres whats on tap for Day 3 of the Republican National Convention By Melanie Mason Were halfway through the four-day GOP convention in Cleveland and after last nights festivities, its official: Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president. Tonight, well hear from Trumps pick for his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Also slated to speak are several of Trumps primary foes, including at least one who still harbors future presidential ambitions. Here are the highlights of tonights schedule of speakers: Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of Trumps fiercest primary rivals Other 2016 runners-up: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (appearing via video) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Trumps son Eric Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who was a finalist for Trumps VP pick 8:51 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly listed Ivana Trump as a speaker. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Brexits Nigel Farage says some of Donald Trumps ideas are pretty out there By Lisa Mascaro Why is Nigel Farage at #RNCinCLE? He says GOP is asking: If #Brexit could reach "beer drinker" voters... how do we? pic.twitter.com/jVVerYlhB7 Lisa Mascaro (@LisaMascaro) July 20, 2016 Turns out that even the leader of Brexit finds Donald Trump a bit too much for British political sensibilities. Nigel Farage, the brash former leader of the United Kingdoms Independence Party, is visiting the GOP convention in Cleveland, and marveled Wednesday at the tone of the American political debate. Some of Donald Trumps comments are pretty out there, said Farage, the chief proponent of Britains divisive campaign to exit the European Union. To say that you would ban all Muslims coming into America ... I can see what hes trying to do; hes trying to reach voters who feel frustrated and, perhaps, a little bit scared, Farage said at a breakfast hosted by the McClatchy news organization in Cleveland. Occasionally, the style of it, it makes even me wince a little bit. The British politician, whose Brexit campaign is often compared to the outsider revolt underway in Republican politics this election year, said hes not about to tell Americans how to vote. Though its no surprise his politics align with Republicans, who invited him to Cleveland, Farage is no fan of President Obama. Its a big mistake for foreign politicians to tell people how to vote, he said, referring to Obama, weeks before the vote, laying out the consequences from the U.S. view if Britain voted to leave the EU. Obama came to the United Kingdom during the Brexit debate. He came to our county. He was rude to us; he told us what we should do, and he led to a big Brexit bounce. He added, Although I have to say, I wouldnt vote for Hillary if you paid me. There is that sense of entitlement, he said about Clinton. Farage is a bit of a political tourist making his way through the GOP convention and U.S. politics. And even the leader of the Brexit campaign that shocked the world had the capacity to be surprised by what he saw in Cleveland particularly the protests outside the hall. It was interesting seeing some of the language displayed on those protest cards in particular on subjects around gay marriage, etc. which in the United Kingdom would be hate crimes, he said. There were some big cultural differences. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump really, really wants to win California By Melanie Mason House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, asked on Wednesday what its like to meet with Donald Trump, described the GOP presidential nominee as inquisitive. And theres one question Trump asks again and again. Every time he meets with me, he asks me...'Can I win California? said McCarthy, a Republican from Bakersfield, at an event hosted by Politicos Playbook. McCarthy said he replies: Well, I dont think so. Its pretty difficult. Thats an understatement. California is one of the deepest blue states in the country. It hasnt backed a Republican for the White House since George H.W. Bush won in 1988. The Trump team insists theyll play well in Democratic-friendly terrain like Connecticut, Oregon and New Jersey, and that Trump will campaign in blue states. That has made veteran GOP strategists worry the Trump campaign will pull resources from pivotal swing states like Ohio, Florida and Colorado. But McCarthy put a positive spin on Trumps preoccupation with California, saying it illustrates the businessmans pluck. Hes probably the most confident person I ever met, McCarthy said. I like people who are willing to take a risk. McCarthy likened Trump to Californias own mold-breaking politician -- the Governator. During his gubernatorial run, Arnold Schwarzenegger had the biggest rallies youve ever seen, McCarthy said, noting both Trump and the former California governor would play the same song at their events: Twisted Sisters Were Not Gonna Take It. Both celebrities-turned-politicians were tapping into the frustration that nothing was happening for many Americans, McCarthy said. Fittingly, McCarthy noted, Schwarzenegger -- who endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich during the Republican primaries -- is taking over Trumps storied The Apprentice franchise on TV. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ben Carson explains how he draws a line from Hillary Clinton to, yes, Lucifer By megan.garvey@latimes.com Ben Carson explains linking Hillary Clinton to Lucifer in his #GOPConvention speech https://t.co/FdJfzaRI9I https://t.co/zwsTHyhMqz CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 20, 2016 Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson expounded Wednesday on a rather unusual claim he made during his GOP convention speech that Hillary Clinton has ties to Lucifer. Yes, the devil. Carson, himself a former candidate who now backs GOP nominee Donald Trump, laid out an elaborate thesis during his prime-time address Tuesday that began with Clintons study of Saul Alinsky, a community organizer who advocated disruptive tactics to bring about change. His methods were the subject of Clintons college thesis. We all have people who are our mentors; we all have people we admire, Carson said on CNNs New Day. As a college student at Wellesley, she was on a first-name basis with Saul Alinsky. In Alinskys book Rules for Radicals, he employs Lucifer as a rhetorical tool to make a provocative point. The first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom Lucifer, Alinsky wrote. The book was published in 1971, two years after Clinton wrote her thesis at Wellesley, Theres Only the Fight: An Analysis of the Alinsky Model. Carson suggested Alinskys ideas still shape Clintons thinking. Its very interesting how it uses controlled anarchy in order to change us from a democratic republic to a socialist society, Carson said of Alinskys book. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Analysis: Anger and optimism vie for dominance in the Republican Party By Cathleen Decker Donald Trump won the Republican presidential nomination by harnessing the dour mood of GOP voters put off by the nations political class. Now, as he turns to the general election, he faces the challenge of incorporating something he has mostly omitted to this point an overarching, positive vision for the nation. His best opportunity to date will come during his Thursday night convention address. Hillary Clinton will have the same opportunity and the same demand one week later. For Trump and his fellow Republicans, crafting an appealing argument requires a deft touch. They must persuade even parts of the country that have benefited under President Obama that what they say would be his third term under Clinton would be untenable. That requires a heavy dose of negativity. But history suggests that shifting gears toward an upbeat message is also a necessity. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Down-ballot Republicans whod like to network in Cleveland are instead navigating the Trump effect on the GOP By Lisa Mascaro Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)) Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio spent this week building houses with Habitat for Humanity, motivating young campaign volunteers and kayaking with wounded veterans on the Cuyahoga River. Sen. Marco Rubio was home in Florida, stumping for votes before investigating mold contamination in a federal courthouse in Pensacola. And Sen. Kelly Ayotte was busy in New Hampshire fighting the scourge of opiate addiction crushing the state. As the Republican Party gathers in Cleveland to nominate Donald Trump as their candidate for president, some key lawmakers are steering clear of the GOP convention. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Second night of RNC is suffused with anti-Clinton message By Mary McNamara On Tuesday, the theme of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland was Make America Work Again but the subtext was We Hate Hillary Clinton. Once again the festivities were fueled by the festering personal rage that unites so many disparate groups in reality television, and once again the evening sparkled with oratorical oddities. The president of Ultimate Fighting Championship spoke, as did a professional golfer and former Celebrity Apprentice contestant and yet another cast member of The Bold and Beautiful, as well as some of Trumps children. On Tuesday, however, the lineup also included several of the GOP luminaries who did not decide to skip the convention altogether. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Are you signed up for Essential Politics? By Christina Bellantoni We hope youre enjoying our convention liveblog this week. If youre coming to us for the first time or are a loyal reader, you may not know that we have a daily politics newsletter. The email blast is free and rounds up the important political stories of the day, both at the national level and here in California. And we try to have a little fun with it, too. Heres todays. You can sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox Monday through Friday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Day 2 of the convention in less than 3 minutes By Christina Bellantoni Relive the highlights of the second night of the Republican National Convention. Ray Whitehouse and Cleon Arrey present the evening in less than 3 minutes: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Chris Christies Hillary Clinton show at the RNC, the supercut By Jessica Roy New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spoke forcefully Tuesday night about Hillary Clintons record. Though the nights theme was Make America Work Again, Christie chose to focus on the presumptive Democratic nominee, putting her on trial for the audience. They responded favorably, chanting, Lock her up! Lock her up! Watch: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch: Ben Carson tries to link Hillary Clinton to Lucifer (Carolyn Cole/ Los Angeles Times ) Are we going to elect someone as president who has as their role model somebody who acknowledges Lucifer? Think about that. Dr. Ben Carson speaking at the Republican National Convention Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Vice President Biden was tweeting Republican National Convention videos. Heres why. By Colleen Shalby Anyone who follows the @VPLive account associated with Vice President Joe Bidens travels might have been surprised this evening when it started tweeting videos tagged with the Republican National Convention hashtag #RNCinCLE. Several went out. The tweets were quickly deleted, but the vice presidents account did not offer an explanation. A Twitter spokesperson told The Times that the tweets were accidentally sent by someone in Cleveland -- a mishap due to a technical error. Twitter had previously worked with the @VPBidenLive account during Bidens Cancer Moonshot Summit in June, using whats called Twitter mirrors. The devices are essentially iPads that allow people to take and send photos through Twitter using an official hashtag. Theyve been used during the Oscars, MLB All-Star game and political events. The Biden account was not properly logged out today, and thats how these @GOPConvention tweets ended up on the official vice presidential feed. Its not because Biden was hanging out with actor Tim Daly and Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who once shouted You lie! at President Obama. The Twitter spokesperson says the Biden team knows about the situation. Mike Memoli contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Social media explodes with more Trump plagiarism allegations By Javier Panzar Another day, another speech by a member of the Trump family and another round of plagiarism charges coursing through social media. The Daily Shows Twitter account seemed to pounce first when it pointed out lines from Donald Trump Jr.'s speech that seemed to be identical to words first used in a May article by F.H. Buckley in The American Conservative called Trump vs. the New Class. Within 45 minutes The Daily Shows tweet had been retweeted 9,900 times. pic.twitter.com/QEftnTTwy3 The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 20, 2016 In his speech, Donald Trumps son said: Our schools use to be an elevator to the middle class, now theyre stalled on the ground floor. Theyre like Soviet-era department stores that are run for the benefit of the clerks and not the customers, for the teachers and the administrators and not the students. From Buckleys article: What should be an elevator to the upper class is stalled on the ground floor. Part of the fault for this may be laid at the feet of the systems entrenched interests: the teachers unions and the higher-education professoriate. Our schools and universities are like the old Soviet department stores whose mission was to serve the interests of the sales clerks and not the customers. The relevant part of Trumps speech begins at the eight-minute mark here: In response, Buckley took to Twitter to defend the younger Donald Trump, saying the speech wasnt stealing. He later told Business Insider he was, in fact, a writer for the convention speech. Except it wasn't stealing... Frank Buckley (@fbuckley) July 20, 2016 View Twitter post James Fallows, former chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter, responded to the hubbub on Twitter and in a piece for The Atlantic: You dont recycle, without attribution, things youve written and let someone else present them as his or her own words, Fallows wrote. At least I havent done it myself or previously known of people doing this. On the recycling issue re DJT Jrs speech tonight, my initial take https://t.co/PWZdi4IvmP item by me James Fallows (@JamesFallows) July 20, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch: Donald Trump Jr. hails father as mentor and best friend (Robyn Beck/Associated Press ) Donald Jr. gave a stirring speech Tuesday night that sparked immediate speculation about his own political future. The younger Trumps address was far more detailed than the traditional policy speeches his father usually delivers. In addition, Trump Jr. spoke of my father, my mentor, my best friend, Donald Trump as a businessman who hung out with guys on the construction sites, pouring concrete and hanging Sheetrock. Watch: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print How has the labor force really been doing since the Great Recession? By Priya Krishnakumar The theme of the second night of the Republican National Convention is Make America Work Again. In June, the U.S. economy added 287,000 jobs, the highest increase in job growth in eight months. The unemployment rate has declined steadily since reaching a high of 10% in October 2009, becoming 4.9% in June. It increased slightly from a 4.7% unemployment rate in May. Participation in the labor force is down overall since 2008 but has remained between 62% and 63% since 2014. Still, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito used Tuesday night to go after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on the U.S. workforce. We know [Clinton] will double down on an economic agenda thats led to the lowest workforce participation in decades, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shelley Moore Capito goes after Hillary Clinton on coal (Steve Helber / Associated Press) Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Va.) assailed Hillary Clinton during her prime time speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, alluding to the former secretary of States comments earlier this year about putting coal miners out of work. Since 2001, use of coal has gradually declined, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Still, the issue of coal is important to many voters in the country. In May, The Times Michael Finnegan explored the clash between Donald Trump and Clinton over coal. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All about Kimberlin Brown, the soap star-turned-California avocado farmer who is closing Tuesdays GOP convention By Christine Mai-Duc (Earl Gibson III / WireImage) The Republican National Convention lineup has featured several television stars, and tonight soap opera actress Kimberlin Brown will close out the festivities on Day 2. Brown, 55, hop-scotched between roles on shows including General Hospital, Port Charles and One Life to Live. Best known for her role as daytime villain Sheila Carter on The Young and the Restless, Brown later joined The Bold and the Beautiful. View Instagram post More recently, Brown has hosted a Design Network show called Dramatic Designs in which she helps homeowners with interior design projects. The GOP convention website describes Brown as a small business owner, and she and her husband own an avocado farm in Southern California. It doesnt appear either of them have contributed to federal or state political campaigns in the past. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UFCs Dana White says Trump will fight for this country By Lance Pugmire UFC President Dana White spoke in support of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, telling the supportive crowd, Donald Trump is a fighter and I know he will fight for this country. White recounted how after his close friend and former UFC Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the company in 2001 for $2 million, Trump was supportive of staging UFC fights at his property in Atlantic City. Tuesday, the deep appreciation for that early support was noted in Whites speech, which began minutes after House Speaker Paul D. Ryan confirmed Trump as the Republican nominee. Im sure most of you are wondering, What are you doing here? White said. I am not a politician. I am a fight promoter. But I was blown away and honored to be invited here tonight and I wanted to show up and tell you about my friend, Donald Trump the Donald Trump that I know. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Unifying a party against Clinton, not for Trump By Doyle McManus The view from inside the hall: The first half of Tuesday evenings program has been, to borrow a Trumpism, strangely low-energy. House Speaker Paul Ryan formally declared Trump and Pence the nominees to brief cheers from a partly empty floor. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell got booed, twice. Even a brief video appearance by Trump himself drew only moderate enthusiasm. But, to be fair, this was always going to be the least exciting program for the mostly pro-Trump delegates: a parade of congressional leaders, most of whom endorsed Trump only reluctantly. The evenings theme was supposed to be GOP plans to create jobs -- Make America Work Again -- but most speakers barely touched on it. Instead, most of them, from McConnell to Ryan, focused on criticizing Hillary Clinton. The Clinton years are way over; 2016 is the year America moves on, Ryan said. McConnell drew a lusty cheer when he promised that the Senate will continue to block Obamas attempt to fill Scalias seat on the Supreme Court. That honor will go to President Donald Trump next year, he said. Ryan finally roused the pro-Trump crowd to its feet with as close to a full-throated endorsement of the nominee as hes given. Whaddya say we unify this party? he said. Lets win this thing. And Christie drew ecstatic cheers -- plus chants of Lock Her Up! and Guilty! -- when he presented what he said was the prosecutors case against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys priorities: Congress, then Trump By Lisa Mascaro @kevinomccarthy hanging in the Digital Loft at the @GOPconvention. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/mWkgOfM8yd GOP Convention (@GOPconvention) July 20, 2016 House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy backs Donald Trump, but he hasnt been anywhere near the forefront of the Trump movement. A speaking role at the Republican convention was not a role he was initially expecting to have. That might help explain why he barely mentioned Trump, now the GOP nominee, in his prime-time address. I have good news in just 112 days its over, said the Republican from Bakersfield. We have listened and you have told us enough. House Republicans have other issues on their minds, namely preserving their majority in Congress, particularly with an unpopular nominee at the top of the GOP ticket. McCarthy is a powerhouse fundraiser and political strategist working on that goal. Together, by electing a Republican Congress, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, we can build a better America. Congress. Trump. In that order. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Donald Trumps most ardent supporters his kids set to address convention By Kurtis Lee (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press) Among Donald Trumps most trusted advisers are his children. And on Tuesday night, Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump are taking the stage at the Republican National Convention to address the nation, offering insights into the man who just became the official nominee of the Republican Party. Ivanka and Eric Trump are also set to speak at the convention later in the week. The elder Trump frequently boasts about his children on the campaign trail appreciation they plan to reciprocate in their convention addresses. These wont be typical child-of-candidate speeches, Donald Trump Jr., 38, told the Wall Street Journal. We will talk about him as a father, but I dont foresee a lot of the joking and the fluff we have grown so accustomed to from prior conventions. View Instagram post While the Republican nominee criss-crosses the country speaking to supporters, Donald Trump Jr., Eric and Ivanka run his real estate company. Ivanka Trump, 34, who will speak at the convention on Thursday night, has, according to her father, overseen the conversion of the Old Post Office building in Washington, D.C., into a high-end hotel. Its scheduled for completion this fall. Tiffany Trump, 22, the Republican nominees youngest daughter, recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in sociology and urban studies. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Why is it so hard for the Trump campaign to admit that Melania cribbed Michelle Obamas words? By Robin Abcarian We hold this truth to be self-evident, that Melania Trump borrowed thoughts and words from Michelle Obamas 2008 convention speech Monday night. No, wait. It is a truth universally acknowledged that when Melania Trump uttered words that sounded exactly like Michelle Obamas words, she didnt do her husband any favors. Hey, did I just plagiarize the Declaration of Independence and the opening sentence of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice? Nope. Those words are so famous, so cliched even, that they dont need to be attributed because everyone knows who wrote them. But what about lifting less famous turns of phrase? What about what happened Monday night, after a guy named Jarrett Hill, who has a YouTube channel on home design, noticed that Melania Trumps convention speech sounded an awful lot like the one delivered by Michelle Obama in Denver in 2008? He noted that two passages in particular used parallel language to describe parallel thoughts. Did Melania Trump or her speechwriters do something wrong? Did borrowing Obamas words cross the line? Or was it all just an embarrassing coincidence? Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch: Top congressional leaders speaking at convention have one thing in mind: Keeping Congress in GOP control Three top congressional leaders addressed convention delegates Tuesday in prime time. They offered different messages, but all pushed a similar goal -- keeping Republicans in control of Congress. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy have less to worry about given large GOP majorities. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells party is in real jeopardy of losing the chamber this fall. Listen to how each man framed the contest as a need to shore up their ranks. And consider the message Sen. Roger Wicker, who leads the Republican Senate campaign arm, telegraphed yesterday at the convention: When Donald Trump is elected president he will determine the future of the Supreme Court and he will lead our troops as commander in chief.... He and Vice President Mike Pence will need a Republican Senate to get that job done. Sen. Roger Wicker, who leads the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, talks about how Donald Trump would work with Congress. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Its official: Trump will appear all four nights By Christina Bellantoni Donald Trump appeared briefly on screen to address convention delegates tonight, marking the second evening in a row hes been a presence at the party. He told the crowd hell join his vice presidential nominee Mike Pence Wednesday night, and of course hell formally give an acceptance speech Thursday night. That means convention-goers will get four nights of Trump in a row. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump sends message to GOP convention: We have to go all the way By Lisa Mascaro .@realDonaldTrump: "This is going to be a leadership... that puts the American people 1st." #RNCinCLE #gopconventionhttps://t.co/YSrHfP190b Fox News (@FoxNews) July 20, 2016 Donald Trump just cant stay away from his convention. From New York, he sent a video message Tuesday shortly after delegates delivered him the GOP nomination. Today has been a very, very special day, watching my children put me over the top, he said. Getting the partys nomination, Ill never forget it. Its something I will never, ever forget. But the convention in Cleveland is just the start, he said. This is a movement, but we have to go all the way. Most importantly were going to make America great again. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate GOP Leader McConnell warms to Trump, hits Hillary Clintons tortured relationship with the truth By Lisa Mascaro Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is known as a skilled tactician, if a cautious politician. But on Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican showed the punch he packs behind the Southern pleasantries and penchant for home-state bourbon. Ladies and gentlemen, Ive been around a while. And Ive been around the Clintons more than anybody should ever have to, McConnell opened. A couple years ago, Bill and Hillary camped out in my state telling anybody whod listen why they ought to vote against me, he said. Tonight Im here to return the favor. McConnell has long wanted the position he now holds as the Senate majority leader, and he once famously said his goal was to make President Obama a one-term president. Ive had my differences with Barack Obama, but l will give him this: At least he was upfront about his plans to move America to the left, he said. Not Hillary. Clinton, he said, has a tortured relationship with the truth. He said: I am here to tell you Hillary Clinton will say anything, do anything and be anything to get elected president. And we cannot allow it. McConnell was initially slow to warm to Donald Trump, but once it was clear Trump would become the nominee he cautiously embraced him. With Donald Trump in the White House, Senate Republicans will build on the work weve done, he said. Not McConnells first choice for the GOP nominee, but the one hes ready to negotiate with. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As NRAs Chris Cox speaks, some context for U.S. deaths by firearm assault By Kyle Kim Chris Cox of the NRA went after Hillary Clinton as someone who would not protect the 2nd Amendment if she is elected president. He kept his remarks brief, focusing more on the type of Supreme Court justice Clinton would appoint than specific claims about gun violence. Heres some context for the topic. Violent gun deaths in the United States have hovered between 10,000 to 13,000 over the last 15 years. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres the shortlist of 11 conservative judges Trump said he could nominate to the Supreme Court By Christine Mai-Duc (Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press) In his speech before the convention Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke of the importance of Republicans winning the White House in November, particularly as it relates to Supreme Court nominees. Let us put justices on the Supreme Court who cherish our Constitution, McConnell said. In May, Donald Trump released a list of 11 judges he might pick as Supreme Court nominees. They are: Steven Colloton: An Iowa judge appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003. He previously worked as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and was a clerk for former Chief Justice William Rehnquist. An Iowa judge appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003. He previously worked as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa and was a clerk for former Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Allison Eid: A Colorado Supreme Court justice since 2006 and former solicitor general for the state of Colorado who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas. A Colorado Supreme Court justice since 2006 and former solicitor general for the state of Colorado who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas. Raymond Gruender: Appointed in 2004 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in Missouri by President George W. Bush. A former federal prosecutor in Missouri. Appointed in 2004 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in Missouri by President George W. Bush. A former federal prosecutor in Missouri. Thomas Hardiman: A federal judge on the 3rd Circuit of Pennsylvania who was appointed by Bush in 2003. Hardiman, the first in his family to attend college, graduated from Notre Dame University. A federal judge on the 3rd Circuit of Pennsylvania who was appointed by Bush in 2003. Hardiman, the first in his family to attend college, graduated from Notre Dame University. Raymond Kethledge: A Michigan federal appellate judge for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by Bush before his departure from office in 2008. Kethledge was previously in private practice and worked as a corporate attorney. A Michigan federal appellate judge for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by Bush before his departure from office in 2008. Kethledge was previously in private practice and worked as a corporate attorney. Joan Larsen: Sits on the Michigan Supreme Court and was a professor at the University of Michigan School of Law. She clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, whose death has left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Sits on the Michigan Supreme Court and was a professor at the University of Michigan School of Law. She clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, whose death has left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Thomas Lee: A justice on the Utah Supreme Court since 2010 and a former faculty member at Brigham Young University Law School. Son of former Reagan-era Solicitor Gen. Rex Lee and brother of Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). A justice on the Utah Supreme Court since 2010 and a former faculty member at Brigham Young University Law School. Son of former Reagan-era Solicitor Gen. Rex Lee and brother of Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). William Pryor: A Bush appointee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Alabama. Took Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions place as state attorney general when he entered the Senate. A Bush appointee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Alabama. Took Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions place as state attorney general when he entered the Senate. David Stras: A justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court since 2010. Previously worked as a legal scholar at the University of Minnesota Law School and clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas. Diane Sykes : A federal appellate judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th District, appointed by George W. Bush in 2004. A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. Don Willett: A justice on the Texas Supreme Court since 2005 who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. Willett has publicly mocked Trump on Twitter in recent months. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Michael Mukasey has called for charges against Hillary Clinton By Javier Panzar U.S. Attorney General Mike Mukasey speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC on April 23, 2008. Mukasey spoke on on combating the growing threat of international organized crime. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images) Former U.S. attorney general and Republican National Convention speaker Michael Mukasey has not been shy about criticizing Hillary Clinton. Last year, George W. Bushs former top lawyer said that if Hillary Clinton was convicted of destroying government records by erasing emails from her private server, she couldnt legally run for president. He eventually walked those comments back. But this year he wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal saying criminal charges against her were justified. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print House Speaker Paul Ryan announces tally for Trump Paul Ryan announces Trump has been selected as the GOP nominee #GOPConvention #RNCinCLE https://t.co/KjpeNheq0X https://t.co/1lQZ9dTw0L CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 20, 2016 House Speaker Paul D. Ryan announces the tally: 1,725 Trump 475 Cruz 120 Kasich 114 Rubio 7 Carson 3 Bush 2 Paul The chair announces that Donald J. Trump, having received a majority of these votes entitled to be cast at the convention, has been selected as the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan as convention chair Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mood uneven in convention hall as the GOP nominates Trump By Seema Mehta (Win McNamee / Getty Images) The mood was celebratory, but also subdued and uneven, around the Republican National Convention as Donald Trump became the partys official nominee Tuesday evening, a reflection of how divisive this years primary contest became. Keiko Orall of Massachusetts, an incoming member of the Republican National Committee, described the feeling as hopeful. People are really excited to do something different, she said. Orall said full acceptance of Trump by the GOP establishment was going to take some time, but predicted the party would be united in November because of the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency. Theres a binary choice, she said. And theres a long game in the Supreme Court. New Yorkers were jubilant as their vote pushed their native son over the 1,237 delegates needed to claim the nomination. Congratulations, Dad we love you! Donald Trump Jr. shouted as the band began playing New York, New York. Among some delegations, the mood was sour. When Ohio cast its 66 votes for its governor, John Kasich, some near the delegation booed and flashed their thumbs down. Many of its delegates left once Trump was named the nominee. Utahs state rules dictate that it can only vote for a candidate who is put into contention, yet tried to cast its 40 votes for Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Delegates said they were informed only just before the vote that they could not cast their votes for Cruz, even though he won the states caucus decisively. Chris Herrod, a mortgage officer from Provo, said it felt like a ham-fisted push for party unity. Utahans have been slow to come around to Trump. Were trying to get behind Trump. We obviously dont want Hillary, Herrod said. But, he added: Its a lot harder when theres a spear at our back. He said several delegates had told him they wouldnt have spent the money to travel to the convention if they had known they would not be able to vote for Cruz. Im not a Never Trump person, he said. I just believe in the process. The Alaska delegation was displeased when party rules dictated that all their votes be given to Trump, and demanded a poll of its vote. Party leaders halted the dispute by saying Alaska was among the states that didnt allow votes to be cast for candidates who have dropped out of the race. Others appeared to have put their differences aside. As Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced his delegations votes, he called primary winner Cruz our dear friend and our favorite son as he announced he had won 104 votes, compared with 48 for Trump, whom Patrick described as our new friend and our latest adopted favorite son. The California delegation a 100% pro-Trump delegation since the state primary took place after the contest was decided was seated in the front row and among the most enthusiastic in the room. We are rock-solid for Trump, said Shirley Husar, a delegate from Pasadena who announced Californias vote. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dana White said he wasnt a political guy. Now he is speaking at the RNC By Javier Panzar UFC President Dana White may seem like an unconventional choice to speak at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland: Just last December he told Yahoo Sports, Im not a political guy, at all, not a little bit. So what is he doing here? He told TMZ this week the speech will be about my relationship with Trump and the Trump that I know. That makes sense given that the nights theme is about the economy and that White has spoken about Trumps early support of the ultimate fighting league in the past. Donald Trump was the first one to have us come out at the Trump Taj Mahal, he told TMZ. Not only did we host the events there, but he actually showed up and supported the events. Youll never hear me say a negative thing about Donald Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Get your groove on to the music of the Republican National Convention Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mike Pence nominated for GOP vice president Some know Mike Pence as congressman. Others know him as governor. But back home, most call him Mike. Indiana Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb on Gov. Mike Pence as vice presidential nominee Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets on becoming GOP presidential nominee Such a great honor to be the Republican Nominee for President of the United States. I will work hard and never let you down! AMERICA FIRST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Alaska contests the way its votes were counted at RNC and roll call vote pauses House band plays while RNC polls Alaska delegates after the state said their vote was improperly recorded. #RNCinCLE Seema (@LATSeema) July 20, 2016 After a brief dust-up over the roll call votes of Alaska, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus took the stage to explain the procedure. Initially, all of Alaskas delegates went to Donald Trump. However, Alaska state rules have a provision that notes that when a presidential candidate drops out, those delegates remain with that candidate. Alaskas vote would have been 12 Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, 11 Trump and five for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. The discrepancy was eventually alleviated with all delegates going to Trump. Chairman of Alaska's Rep party said he doesn't know why 28 delegates went @realDonaldTrump but "it's going to be corrected in record" @ktva Emily Carlson (@emilyreporting) July 19, 2016 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Donald Trump Jr. announced the votes to send his dad over the top By Lisa Mascaro Donald Trump Jr. announces New York's votes, putting his father over the top #GOPConvention https://t.co/4eFzMqhZI3 https://t.co/eVhTTogNvU CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 19, 2016 I have the incredible honor of not only being a part of the ride thats been this election process and to watch, as a small fly on the wall, what my father has done in creating this movement because its not a campaign anymore, its a movement -- speaking to real Americans, giving them a voice again. Its my honor to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegate count tonight.... Congratulations, Dad, we love you. Donald J. Trump Jr. at GOP convention Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Rowdy protest outside RNC ends peacefully after police threaten arrests By James Queally (Marcus Ya Tim Kaine addresses whether hed be the third wheel with both Clintons in the White House Sitting for their first interview together, Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine answered the awkward question of whether Kaine runs the risk of being a third wheel in a White House where the first gentleman is a former president. The question had lingered in the background as Clinton made her way through the vice presidential vetting process. Nobody expects Bill Clinton to fade into the background should his wife win. And when he was president, Hillary Clintons deep involvement in governing was known to cause tension with the office of Vice President Al Gore, who was competing for attention to his own agenda. Its an embarrassment of riches, Kaine said in the interview with CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday, putting the best possible spin on the situation. Then, Clinton jumped in, assuring that all will be harmonious and that Bill Clinton is nothing other than a huge asset. It does happen to be a historical fact that my husband served as president for eight years, she said. And theres a lot that happened which helped the American people during those eight years. The interview later gave Kaine an opportunity to expound on his own resume, and why he is as prepared to jump in and do the job of president should the need arise. As much as any human being would be ready, Id be ready, he said. You know what? You know, missionary, civil rights lawyer, local official, state official, federal official, like, Ive Ive climbed, and I havent missed a rung on the ladder. And if it were to come that way, I could do it. After a Republican convention in which delegates expressed their distaste for Clinton with angry chants of lock her up, both Clinton and Kaine said they will not be responding in kind this week in Philadelphia. I dont know what their convention was about, other than criticizing me, said Clinton adding that she didnt feel threatened but was saddened by the aggressive chanting. I seem to be the only unifying theme that they had. There was no positive agenda. It was a very dark, divisive campaign. And the people who were speaking were painting a picture of our country that I did not recognize. Kaine, embracing a running-mate role that traditionally involves more in attacking the opposition as the nominee tries to keep above the fray, offered a slightly different view. But for Kaine, who has never had much of a reputation as a street fighter, pulling the gloves off seems a bit of a struggle. Shes done a good job of letting the, you know, water go off her back on this, he said of Clinton. Thats not the way I feel. When I see this, you know, Crooked Hillary, or I see the lock her up, its just ridiculous. It is ridiculous. Delegates gathering in Philadelphia on Monday for the Democratic National Convention have a lot to be thankful for. President Obama has seen a rise in his job approval ratings. Thats good news for Hillary Clinton, who served as his secretary of State and is promising in her campaign that she will build on his accomplishments. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist from Vermont who ran a surprisingly strong campaign, has endorsed Clinton. Yes, some of his followers continue to grumble about a rigged nomination process, but the vast majority of them tell pollsters they will back Clinton in November. Advertisement A platform was drafted relatively amicably that incorporates themes dear to Sanders and his supporters particularly criticism of trade agreements that do not support good American jobs without straitjacketing Clinton. Finally, in Donald Trump the Republican Party has nominated a candidate with no experience in government, a volatile temperament and a habit of bashing immigrants and Muslims and belittling women. Trumps bluster and bigotry can only motivate minority and female voters to turn out for Clinton and her seasoned running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who was a civil-rights lawyer before becoming a politician. Yet despite these advantages, Democrats have good reason to be concerned about their prospects in the general election. The party needs to use this convention not only to emphasize the dangers of a Trump presidency for the entire nation, not just for women, minorities and the poor but also to address concerns about its own candidate. A CBS News/New York Times poll conducted this month found that 67% of respondents considered Clinton not honest or trustworthy. Hillary Clinton, who will be the first woman selected as the presidential nominee of a major political party, is one of the best-prepared and most knowledgeable candidates ever to seek the presidency. She would have been formidable competition for the Republican Party even if it had nominated a credible candidate; in a contest with Trump, the credentials gap is cavernous. Yet many voters have doubts about her doubts Trump already has begun to exploit. Polls suggest that large numbers of voters question Clintons integrity and honesty. A CBS News/New York Times poll conducted this month found that 67% of respondents considered her not honest or trustworthy. The poll was taken after FBI Director James B. Comey told the nation that Clinton and her aides had been extremely careless in transmitting classified information on a private email server. Of course, Comey also concluded and the Justice Department agreed that no reasonable prosecutor would bring criminal charges in the case. That didnt stop Trump from claiming falsely in his acceptance speech that Clinton was guilty of terrible crimes. Clinton, for her part, has said repeatedly that she made a mistake in setting up a private email system. But she has also rejected the FBIs finding that her behavior was extremely careless and has dismissed as speculation Comeys concern that hostile actors might have gained access to her email account. This comes across as quibbling and evasive. As for larger questions about her trustworthiness, she tends to shrug them off as politically motivated. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times editorial board, she said: When Im actually doing a job on behalf of people, people who elected me, as in the case of the voters of New York or in the country when I was secretary of State I actually have quite high approval ratings [and] when theres no political or partisan imperative to try to tear me down and attack me from all directions, people actually approve of what I stand for and what I do. That may be true, but before that hypothesis can be tested in the White House, Clinton must be elected. That is much more likely to happen if she can dispel voters concerns about her charitable foundation, about her Wall Street speaking fees, about her private email server. Clinton will, and should, use her acceptance speech to provide a vision of what she hopes to accomplish as president and to excoriate Trump for his extremism. But beginning this week and continuing throughout the campaign, she will have to work hard to make voters trust her. She is a steady and serious candidate with a commanding grasp of the issues. Going beyond her usual perfunctory defensive responses is an important step toward winning voters to her side. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Donald Trump made one part of Hillary Clintons job easier last week by making the braggadocious claim that he alone can cure the nations ills, a boast that sounded more like a promise of one-man rule. But Clinton faces three other big challenges at her convention in Philadelphia this week, and they wont be as easy as painting Trump as a dangerous blowhard. Her first challenge is an old one: Can she make herself seem likable enough for Americans to want her in their living rooms? People think of her as competent, Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart said recently, but they dont like her. To win the general election, he said, Clinton needs to show that shes actually easygoing and likable her friendships, her depth, all of those things. Advertisement Which may not be as hard as it sounds. Bill Clinton changed voters perceptions in 1992 with a video that cast him as the Man from Hope, a poor boy who made it to the top through grit. In his wifes case, a few warm anecdotes from friends and a few sweet videos of Grandma Hillary cradling a baby (the kind of videos that seem to be missing from the Trump collection) can go a long way. Her second challenge is both more political and more difficult: In a year when most voters are deeply dissatisfied with the direction the countrys going, Clinton needs to cast herself as an agent of change. The title she doesnt want is the one GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence tried to pin on her last week: secretary of the status quo. Theres no question that theres a penalty for trying for a third term, Democratic pollster Mark Mellman told me, referring to the eight years the White House has been in his partys hands. And its hard for her to run as the most qualified person ever, but as an outsider too. David Axelrod, Obamas chief strategist in 2008, said: I dont think she can plausibly campaign as the candidate of change because she has been a fixture in American politics for such a long time. Clintons answer has been to cast herself as an apostle of both continuity and change continuity for parts of the Obama legacy that are popular (economic recovery, some aspects of Obamacare) and tweaks for parts that havent worked as well (middle incomes, other aspects of Obamacare and gridlock in Congress). But even that may be tricky. Shes depending on millions of Obama voters to transfer their loyalties to her. She cant sound as if shes dismissing anything the president has done. Finally, Clinton faces a problem that some of her aides acknowledge may be insoluble between now and November: her trust deficit. Political opponents and conspiracy theorists have accused me of every crime in the book. None of its true. Never has been. Hillary Clinton A CBS News Poll last month found that most voters dont think Clinton is honest and trustworthy although about the same percentage dont think Trump is honest and trustworthy (62% for Clinton, 63% for Trump). But in a telling contrast, the same poll found that while most voters give Trump credit for saying what he believes, only 33% said Clinton was forthright. The Democratic nominees standoff with FBI Director James B. Comey he decided not to prosecute her over her emails but said she had made many false statements en route to her nonindictment reinforced her well-earned image as the Great Prevaricator. And she knows it. A lot of people tell pollsters they dont trust me. I dont like hearing that, and Ive thought a lot about whats behind it, she said in Chicago last month. Her answer? Political opponents and conspiracy theorists have accused me of every crime in the book, she said. None of its true. Never has been. That dismissive attitude isnt going to help. Those trust numbers are probably not going to get improved that much, said David Plouffe, Obamas campaign manager in 2008. Every candidate has strengths and weaknesses.... Youre not going to have positives on everything. Axelrod agreed, saying, I dont think you can have a strategy to prove to skeptics that youre trustworthy. To win, Clinton may have to ask voters to overlook her greatest flaw. And she may need to rely on people like Reed Benet, a Republican businessman from Michigan, who says hes not happy with Trump and might vote for the Democrat. Im coming to the conclusion that being a liar is not a disqualifying factor to be president of the United States, he said. And I feel terrible for saying that. doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @DoyleMcManus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook We civilized humans love to watch wild animals being wild. Its why we go on safari and to the aquarium and hope the lions are active at the zoo. One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is we can be city dwellers and at the same time be surrounded by abundant fauna. I can scroll through my Twitter feed next to hummingbirds. I can eat a tempeh kale taco at Echo Park Lake and watch the beautiful Canada geese and their adorable goslings waddle and swim. Or I can walk through Elysian Park and laugh at the gophers sticking their heads out first one hole then another like the whack-a-mole game at Chuck E. Cheese. Its nature. Its fun. Until those gophers attack your yard or raccoons nest in your crawl space or the geese use your grassy lawn as their personal bathroom. Then what do you do? Its like what my mother used to say about my father: I cant live with him and I cant kill him. Advertisement Except thats exactly what someone did in Silver Lake in June: shot and killed a coyote. The coyote apparently didnt have a cat or a Pekingese or a baby in its mouth. It wasnt rabid. It was just standing in the street and then it was dead. We want to live with wild fauna until we dont. In Silver Lake and neighboring Echo Park, where I live, development is rampant. Every vacant lot, no matter how steep and narrow, is for sale or already a construction site. When I moved into my house 20 years ago, down the street there was a wide-open hillside. Everyone knew it was home to a band of coyotes. At night they would yip and howl, and we were advised to keep our small dogs and cats inside and not leave out food or water or even an unprotected compost pile. The coyotes kept the fruit rat population at a minimum, and we had the pleasure because it was a pleasure of going out to get the paper in the early morning and seeing a coyote mother and pup trotting past. Now that empty space is gone and so is the band of coyotes, but to where? They skitter from one backyard to another, in and out of the park around Dodger Stadium, along the last few overgrown edges of the hills. They dont run away as fast when you yell at them or turn on the deck lights. Theyve learned to scavenge and live off human refuse and the neighborhood cats because, basically, their territory has been overtaken. If every empty lot is gone ... then is it any wonder those coyotes are killing our pets, settling in in our backyards and eating out of our garbage cans? The lot directly behind me which once hosted a coyote den now has three houses and open dirt where there used to be one house and a thicket of eucalyptus and loquat trees. I have always had dogs, large and small, and with some healthy respect for coyotes on my side, I never had a run-in with a coyote. Now I hear stories of them nabbing dogs right off the leash, turning over trash cans, stalking picnickers. I shake my head and think, they have to live somewhere and they have to eat. Im all for progress. I love having restaurants I can walk to and rising property values, and I know L.A. needs more housing, more density, even if its mostly aimed at wealthy hipsters in my neighborhood. But development and progress are not synonymous. Development just means more and more. Progress means moving forward in a better way, thinking through the situation and acting for the good of an entire community, including the four-legged and winged populations. If a builder puts 20 townhouses on a lot that once had a single home, he is required to provide parking for some number of cars as well. That builder, to truly help a neighborhood progress, should also be required to mitigate other effects of increased population on schools, grocery stores, public transportation. Theres been a lot of back and forth in the neighborhood about those things. But no one speaks for the coyotes. If every empty lot is gone and with it the living space for the coyotes, and their easy access to gophers, rats, mice and lizards then is it any wonder those coyotes are killing our pets, settling in in our backyards and eating out of our garbage cans? Griffith Park and Elysian Park can only absorb so many more coyotes. We can purposefully save some room for wildlife. Call it a park or some groovy hipster variation like wildspace, but build it into the rules that govern hillside development, so we can re-establish peace between humans and coyotes. The coyotes have figured out how to make the urban density work for them. If its not working for us, its our problem. Were supposed to be the smart ones. Diana Wagman is the author, most recently, of the novel Life #6. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION The Democratic convention is Hillary Clintons chance to get voters to trust her Coups have consequences including making more room for Islam GOPs new tactic: pitting the LGBT community against Muslims On two recent trips to Turkey to study constitutional reform, I asked everyone I interviewed politicians, scholars, activists if there was any risk of a coup in the country. They all said Impossible. Last Friday, as jets bombed the parliament in Ankara and tanks blocked the bridges of Istanbul, I realized I should have asked a few soldiers. For the fifth time in six decades, Turkish armed forces tried to overthrow the government, declaring, as they always have, that they were defending the secular constitutional order. This time, for the first time, they failed, thanks to a defiant president calling citizens into the street using his iPhone. The coup has been defeated; now the war begins. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is purging tens of thousands of soldiers, judges and bureaucrats, and has declared a state of emergency. Soon the fight will enter another phase: for a new constitution, something Erdogans Justice and Development Party, known as the AKP, has long desired. Constitutional reform should worry friends of Turkeys democracy; so should opposition to it. Advertisement The AKP has two main items on its reform agenda: a strong presidency to replace the parliamentary system, and more space for Islam in the secular state established by Kemal Ataturk. Both goals disturb liberals; they are afraid of Erdogan and of Islam. But though they are right to fear Erdogans anti-democratic impulses, they are wrong to see a threat to democracy in the AKPs Muslim orientation. For most Turks, public devotion and popular democracy are not in contradiction. The challenge of constitutional reform is not only to restrain autocracy, but to rid Turkey of the belief that its own people cannot be trusted. Much of the AKPs Islamic agenda is consistent with a humane society. Nothing in human rights law prevents a state from giving religion a role in the public sphere, teaching religion in schools and supporting the construction of houses of worship (as the AKP has done) or even establishing an official religion (which it hasnt). There are versions of Islam that violate fundamental human rights such as Islamic State in Syria but the AKP isnt proposing anything like that. The coup has been defeated; now the war begins. The truth is that the challenge to secularism is a consequence of democracy. The AKPs parliamentary fraction is just 13 votes short of what it needs to call a constitutional referendum; if Erdogan called snap elections, he might get a super-majority to amend the constitution directly. Should that happen, we could criticize the voters choice, but we would have to acknowledge its validity. In negotiating a new constitution, there is room for a bargain. Many devout Muslim AKP supporters are also uncomfortable with Erdohans authoritarianism. The opposition could find common cause with them, and put Erdogan to the test, by offering to make more space for religion in exchange for keeping parliamentary supremacy. But too many secular Turks and too many in the West dont accept the need to compromise. They cling to a secular constitutionalism so rigid that it denies their fellow citizens legitimate right to change the system, as if Turkeys secular principles exist somewhere outside of politics, independent of the Turkish peoples will. Although liberals worry about religion being forced on people, in Turkey the historic risk has been the opposite, with the state imposing secularism. It banned women from wearing headscarves in universities, for example, and when an AKP government nominated a pious Muslim as president in 2007, the army threatened to intervene. In Turkey, secularism has never been genuinely democratic; behind Turkish secularism is the logic of the coup. If we fear authoritarianism, it is not only Erdogan we have to worry about, but all those who disregard democratic process. The coup leaders claimed they were upholding democracy by trying to overthrow a popularly elected leader. The equivalent here in the United States would be if the losing side in the November elections were to roll tanks into the streets. No matter how bad you think Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton is, that would be worse. Whatever other values we have, we value democracy as a process. And we should value it in other countries too. The AKP was never the poster child of safely neutered Muslim democracy, and its not a Muslim Bund now. Its a complex, pious, populist movement; it wins elections because it appeals to millions of Turks whom the old system long disregarded, economically and spiritually. Erdogans authoritarianism is a real threat to the rule of law, but Turks desire to make a society that represents and includes them and their religion is not. Elections have consequences, and so do coups. Now that Turks are united in opposing military rule, those who value a secular society would do well to focus on one victory that has long eluded them at the polls. As long as they fail there, they wont, and shouldnt, get their way. Thats democracy, which is one of those universal values they and we so highly prize. Timothy Waters is professor of law and associate director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy at Indiana University, where he teaches Islamic law. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Another former Democrat. Philly is full of them Rebecca Waring of Baltimore said she was horrified by recently leaked Democratic National Committee emails. (Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times) (Test) DAY 2, 2:28 p.m.: Rebecca Waring's sign said "ANOTHER FORMER DEMOCRAT brought to you by DWS and the DNC." The DWS stood for U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida. The DNC stood for the Wasserman-Schultz-headed Democratic National Committee. The recent leak of internal Democratic committee emails apparently showing the supposedly neutral national committee's bias against Sanders has already whipped up resentment among the Sanders supporters who are gathered around Philadelphia City Hall. "I made this after I read the emails on WikiLeaks," Waring, 57, of Baltimore, told me. "I was just horrified. So unfair." I saw another woman with a sign taped on her back that simply bore the words "WIKILEAKS" and "DNC," with the "DNC" crossed out. Several of the Sanders supporters I spoke to already believed the primaries had been tilted against them that there had been some kind shenanigans or outright fraud that skewed the vote toward Hillary Clinton. The emails have now only hardened that view among some supporters who talked to me. Kristy Marshall, 57, holding a sign bearing "DNC: Destroying Nation's Confidence," said she'd already believed there's been "collusion between HRC [Hillary Rodham Clinton] and DNC." The emails posted on WikiLeaks, she said, were proof. "To have it in black and white is huh," Marshall said. Still feeling the Bern in Philadelphia, at 95 degrees Demonstrators take part in a clean-energy march in Philadelphia on Sunday. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) (Test) DAY 1, 12:55 p.m.: The drugstores in downtown Philly might want to stockpile more aspirin and deodorant. If I have any prediction for how the Democratic National Convention will go when it starts tomorrow, all I can tell you is that it's going to be in the upper 90s all week and the Berniecrats plan to be out in force on the streets of Philly, protesting the party and agitating for a miracle. It's 95 degrees right now, and I've already seen more protesters this morning in Philadelphia than I saw all last week in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention. In fact, I've been wandering through a crowd of at least several hundred demonstrators who gathered around Philadelphia's city hall for a climate activist rally, and I still have yet to see a single Hillary Clinton sign, button or t-shirt. What I've seen instead, aside from the anti-fracking and anti-climate-change signs: Sanders shirts. Sanders buttons. A few Green Party shirts. A guy dressed in a rat suit and a sign that says "DemocRATS give rats a bad name," holding a giant pencil with its own small sign that says, "Write in Bernie." And this was just the first of several rallies and marches planned. There's a "March For Bernie" planned near here in a couple hours. I moseyed over to a gentleman with a pro-Sanders sandwich-board setup and asked him what he thought about Hillary. "Who's Hillary?" responded Mark Kelderman, 60, of Brownsville, Wis., deadpan at first. The race for the Democratic nomination is over in all but name only. But like many Sanders supporters I talked to this morning, Kelderman wants the superdelegates to vote for Sanders even though Sanders has endorsed Clinton. "After I got done throwing up, I decided I would make my own vote of conscience come election time," he said. Not Clinton or Donald Trump. "At this point, maybe Jill Stein," the Green Party candidate. I asked him what it would take to make him vote for Clinton. "A brain injury," Kelderman said. "I don't see it happening." matt.pearce@latimes.com Follow @Mattdpearce on Twitter. The convention the Republicans just wrapped up in Cleveland, with its prime-time plagiarism, back-stabbing rivals and missing dignitaries, may not be a tough act to follow, but Democrats are nonetheless in a state of high anxiety as the spotlight shifts their way this week. The party will take the stage for its own presidential nominating convention in Philadelphia at a time Hillary Clinton would be breaking records for unlikability were she not outdone by Donald Trump. In addition to distrusting her, too many voters are not clear about what she stands for and question whether she can bring about the change they crave. The convention is a crucial opportunity for Clinton to shift the narrative and define herself as something beyond the anti-Trump. Advertisement But Clinton has strained for months to come up with an overarching message despite a website filled with policy plans and a think tank scholars grasp of most every imaginable issue. Voters are more likely to know about her email troubles and speeches to Goldman Sachs than her plans to boost the fortunes of the middle class. Its a reality Clintons team has been struggling with in every stage of planning for the event. So much of the campaign is based on defeating Donald Trump rather than talking about Clinton, said Democratic pollster Peter Hart. There does not appear to be any spear point in the Clinton agenda. It is everything yet nothing. Their challenge in Philadelphia is to really provide a sense of not everything she wants to do, but the most important things she wants to achieve. Hart is unimpressed with the Stronger together theme the campaign has settled on. Too vague, too uninspired, too reactive to Trumps I alone can fix it, he said. Clinton campaign officials say it will be a powerful program, showcasing the breadth and force of the coalition backing Clinton, which extends from the mothers of unarmed black men who died in police custody, to the children of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, to President Obama. We will offer a very different vision, Clinton promised during a rally in Florida on Friday. This is about building bridges, not walls. It is about the economy working for everyone, not just those at the top. It is about embracing the diversity that does make our country great. The struggle to come up with a defining message is familiar for candidates trying to win a third consecutive election for their party. After two terms, voters almost always are in the mood for change, and addressing that hunger while defending the status quo is a tough assignment. Some have succeeded: George H.W. Bush helped cement his eventual victory with a convention speech calling for a kinder, gentler nation. Al Gore had more trouble pulling it off. Just 39% of registered voters see Clinton as a candidate who can bring the country needed change, as opposed to 50% who saw that in Trump, a recent ABC News poll found. Clinton was seen as honest and trustworthy by just slightly more than a third of voters in the poll. Trump scored slightly higher. Such problems for Clinton could be compounded if restive Bernie Sander supporters protest loudly at the convention over Clintons pick of a moderate establishment-type as her running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. They are also angry about internal Democratic National Committee emails published Friday by WikiLeaks that bolster assertions the Sanders campaign made during the primary that the DNC was working to undermine it. But Democratic insiders say Clinton, despite her uneven performance on the campaign trail, is skilled at leveraging conventions. She is going into the event with the party mostly unified, with a full slate of beloved, charismatic leaders determined to rally the skeptical, and with perhaps more public service accomplishment than any nominee in history. It is a stark contrast to what the nation saw at the GOP convention in Cleveland. The Clinton campaign knows how to put together a strong convention, said Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, pointing Hillary Clintons role as a key player in both the convention that gave her husband a big bounce in 1992 and the one that put Obama on a path to victory in 2008. In both cases, Democrats crystallized an uplifting message. Bill Clinton focused on economic opportunity and fixing a broken healthcare system and Obama galvanized voters around his Hope and Change slogan. Hillary Clinton plans to offer a stark alternative to the fear and loathing and hostility projected in Cleveland, where the crowd chanted Lock her up and one Trump advisor called for her execution by firing squad. The message that will come out of this is one party is ready for prime time and the other is caught up in chaos, said Neera Tanden, who was Clintons policy advisor during her 2008 campaign. I dont think we will have delegates calling for Trumps murder, or chants of Lock him up. Despite Clinton being one of the best-known nominees in history, convention organizers say the average voter knows little about her upbringing, advocacy or public service accomplishments. They will, yet again, reintroduce Clinton to the world with a mix of expertly produced video, spirited addresses from high-powered surrogates and personal anecdotes delivered by Clinton and her family. When I first arrived in the Senate and people told me who to emulate, they told me to emulate Hillary Clinton to put your head down, work hard, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey told reporters in Cleveland last week, offering a preview of the kind of things that will be talked about at his own partys convention. But at a time the electorate is looking for change, Clintons biggest asset may still be her alliance with a president at the end of his second term. Obamas resurgent popularity and mastery of campaigning makes him a key player in the bid to boost Clintons stock with voters this week. White House officials have been heavily engaged in convention planning. The presidents surging approval ratings come as a large swath of the electorate alarmed by Trump finds renewed appreciation for Obama. In Philadelphia, Obama and other Democrats will define Clinton as a leader who is trustworthy, battle-tested and prepared to take over as commander in chief while stoking fears that Trump is erratic, divisive and self-absorbed. Obama road-tested his message recently in a campaign appearance with Clinton in Charlotte, N.C., where he highlighted the role Clinton played as an advisor in the White House Situation Room the night Osama bin Laden was killed. It is for that reason that some leading Democrats feel Trump did them a favor by putting so much emphasis on national security during the Republican convention. Clintons resume makes it easy for the campaign to draw a distinction from Trumps inexperience. But as Democrats prepare to gavel in, Clinton has yet to hit on a compelling, succinct message that resonates on the economy. Voters are tiring of hearing about the turnaround Democrats orchestrated after inheriting the Great Recession, particularly as middle-class incomes stagnate. And despite all her multi-point plans, Clinton has not been as skilled as her husband at generating enthusiasm for such wonkery. There is the danger that slogans about debt-free college, a $15 minimum wage and expanding Obamacare leave voters with a jumble rather than a unified economic theme. Party leaders, though, say they are less worried about reinventing Clinton than reintroducing her and leaving voters with a clear impression of what she is offering that Trump is not. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), who has been helping lead the Clinton campaigns outreach to Latinos, summed up the task before Democrats in Philadelphia by quoting one of Vice President Joe Bidens favorite lines: Dont compare me to the almighty; compare me to the alternative. Hillary Clinton will tell you she has made mistakes, Becerra said. She is not the almighty. But she is not the alternative. evan.halper@latimes.com Follow me: @evanhalper ALSO: Hillary Clinton picked Tim Kaine to emphasize her message that shes the responsible choice, not Trump Some liberal activists are angry that Hillary Clinton picked Tim Kaine VP pick Tim Kaine is a rarity: People in both parties say nice things about him They were dressed in black, standing in the shade down the street from the Republican National Convention, in front of vendors selling Donald Trump hats and banners. But they didnt come to the convention to support Trump. The goal instead is to subvert the GOP. Heres what I learned over lunch with three young members of the year-old Traditionalist Worker Party, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center has called virulently racist and anti-Semitic. Advertisement They dont actually support Donald Trump or the Republican Party. If you think about it, most Trump supporters are working-class white Americans. Those are our constituents, said Matthew Heimbach, the 25-year-old chairman and co-founder of the group. They might not be voting for us yet, but thats only because they dont know they have that option. Theres plenty Heimbach doesnt like about Trump: He wants to spend too much on the military. His stance on immigration doesnt go far enough. Hell probably be ineffective in office. And so on. At the end of the day, hes still part of the establishment. Hes still a capitalist. So theyre there to essentially convert GOP voters to their own party. Heimbach offered an analogy one might find on Amazon.com: If you like Donald Trump, you might also like the Traditionalist Worker Party. They want to redraw state boundaries into regions that have similar ethnicities, political views and values. Heimbach believes the country is so polarized that theres nothing that unites Americans other than using the same currency. We even speak different languages, he said. One example: Hed like one region, from Pennsylvania down to the upper part of the South, running through Appalachia. The group thinks social issues like gay marriage and abortion should be decided at regional levels like the one hes proposed. Lets stop fighting a culture war. Just declare both sides victors, and in your respective region, do what you think is best, he said. Theyre against forced multiculturalism, and they want a full stop on immigration into their region. This includes all immigration legal and illegal. Zero net migration, I think would be fair, Heimbach said. But they dont want to stop other regions of the country from welcoming diversity, if thats what they want. Then it got awkward. Im an Asian person from California, I told him. What if I wanted to move in? Would you be like, Eh, ideally youd stay over there? He nodded his head. In your own community. I laughed and he added, It doesnt mean we cant visit each other. I mean, visas are a thing, you know. They really, really dont want to call themselves extremists. Does he consider the group extremist? I think Im really boring. I repeated myself, asking if hed disagree with people calling them extremist. Cue the longest pause of our entire conversation. I mean, I would say. We are talking about values that are normal, natural and healthy, he finally offered, avoiding a yes or no answer. I think [extremism] is a title thrown around to demonize whites politically organizing themselves in a peaceful manner, Heimbach said. Heimbach described the political center as death. The groups members respected Bernie Sanders for pulling people to the left until he endorsed Hillary Clinton. I never attack the far left, he said. The center needs to burst before we can have political revolution. Isnt that a form of extremism, too? I asked. Well, its essentially happening, though, he said, avoiding a yes or no for the third time. As an example, he pointed to the various ethnic communities within Los Angeles, and white flight across the nation. White flight for decades has been white people opting out of multiculturalism, he said. Thats why the suburbs existed. They also dont like being called racists. We legitimately reject racial hatred and supremacism, he said. [Racism] is used in many cases just for a white person that advocates for their people and their community. They say theyre peaceful, law-abiding citizens. The TWP is probably most well-known in California for a bloody brawl at a neo-Nazi rally in Sacramento, where seven people were stabbed outside the Capitol. Heimbach claimed his members were attacked while holding a peaceful march in support of free speech. He said the group has a rule on violence: Dont break the law. Its in our party manual at least four times, he said. We are law-abiding citizens who want political revolution and change. Were going to go about it legally. The party tells its members to leave weapons at home. But it does provide them with shields. They support all nationalists, whether theyre white or not. Heimbach pointed to another group he says they support: the Nation of Islam, an African American religious movement that the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as an organized hate group with a theology of innate black superiority. Our policy is, if youre a group thats dedicated to a political revolution through peaceful, legal and honorable means, then youre someone we can work with, Heimbach said. They want independence for their communities; they want self-determination. [Thats something] all nationalists can stand by. annie.yu@latimes.com @anniezyu ALSO: 7 stabbed at neo-Nazi event outside Capitol in Sacramento Neo-Nazis didnt start the violence at state Capitol, police say These are some of the controversial extremists expected to be outside the GOP convention A white nationalist is among Donald Trumps pledged delegates in California A former John Burroughs High School employee was arrested Thursday after he allegedly had sexual relationships with two female students from 2011 to 2015, police said. Glendale resident Clarke Surrey, 23, was employed as the assistant technology director for the theater technology group at Burroughs when the relationships began, said Burbank Police Sgt. Adam Cornils. Surrey allegedly had ongoing, separate relationships with the students, who have since graduated. The students, whose identities were not released, were between the ages of 15 and 17 when the alleged offenses occurred, Cornils said. Authorities began the investigation in mid-May after receiving a tip. By that time, Surrey was no longer employed by the school, Cornils said. Surrey allegedly took photos and videos of the students, but theres no evidence that he distributed them, Cornils said. No other school district employees appear to have been involved in or had knowledge of the relationships. Surrey was arrested on suspicion of statutory rape, oral copulation with a minor and possession of child pornography. A Burbank Unified School District representative could not immediately be reached. Further details were not immediately available. -- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @atchek Sandra Bullock is a talented actress who has chosen some fine projects (Speed, Gravity) and at least as many awful ones (Hope Floats, Premonition, The Lake House). Our Brand is Crisis belongs in the first group. Peter Straughans screenplay is credited as suggested by Rachel Boyntons 2006 documentary of the same name which is fair enough. Boynton was a fly in the wall, as the political consulting firm GCS Stan Greenburg, James Carville, and Bob Shrum flew down to Bolivia to deploy American-style campaign tactics on behalf of unpopular presidential candidate Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada. They helped Sanchez de Lozada win with a tiny plurality. The new Our Brand is Crisis preserves parts of the real history, particularly the personality and background of the candidate, here renamed Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida). Castillo is arrogant and cold, almost the opposite of what is needed to win. Brilliant but unstable consultant Jane Bodine (Bullock) is lured out of retirement by former colleague Nell (Ann Dowd), partly by the challenge but primarily because her archrival Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton) is working for the currently first-place candidate Rivera (Louis Arcella). Pat has beaten Jane every time theyve been pitted against each other, and Jane cant resist one more opportunity to best him. There is also something personal between them: Pat keeps flirting with Jane to throw her off balance or to renew a possible former romantic or sexual relationship. Or (likeliest) both. Jane who is bipolar and has a history that includes electroconvulsive therapy arrives in Bolivia in a debilitating funk. Only when she realizes that Castillos incapable of faking the warmth that voters respond to in his opponent does she come alive. Theres no transition: she snaps into action directly from her near-catatonia. She instructs the candidate (and the rookies on her team) (and us) that the one thing that trumps warmth is fear. Castillo has to claim that he is the only one with the strength and experience he had served a term as president a decade earlier to combat Bolivias fatally threatening crisis. That there is no crisis so dire is no stumbling block; he just claims there is over and over in thundering tones. Its a blunter version of some of Donald Trumps current tactics. Despite the serious political and ethical issues that underlie the story, Our Brand is Crisis plays mostly as a comedy intermittently a very funny one, which may not be enough for some viewers. (One of the tricks Jane uses against Candy is hilariously brilliant.) The primary asset in the film is Bullocks performance. Her manic episodes are daunting and impressive; in her quieter moments, her ongoing life crisis plays out in her eyes. Thornton is good, but he has way less to do. His casting immediately suggests James Carville, though in the real world Carville was on the opposite side. Anthony Mackie as the most likeable character on Janes team fares at least as well. Without him, the tone might be much grimmer than it is. The film flies by, and the complex political machinations are presented clearly. Only the sorta kinda happy ending feels unlikely even the parts that are taken directly from the real history. -- ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on FilmWeek on KPCC-FM (89.3). Energy industry consultant and attorney Lorraine A. Paskett, a resident of La Canada Flintridge, has been seated as a member of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, it was announced this month. Paskett is the owner and chief executive officer of Cambridge LCF Group, a La Canada Flintridge-based energy consulting firm formed in 2012 that focuses on climate change policies, new energy technologies and emerging markets. She also owns and manages Lavette Properties and Paskett Winery. Paskett previously served as senior assistant general manager of sustainability programs and external affairs at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Paskett earned a law degree from the University of the Pacifics McGeorge School of Law and received a bachelors degree in government from CalState Sacramento. -- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com Twitter: @CarolCormaci All day Tuesday, Gao Longtaos phone kept buzzing with alerts from the local government: Heavy rains would be pelting his hometown, Xingtai, about 220 miles southwest of Beijing, the notices said. The rain came in sheets. But even when the electricity went out at about 10 p.m., no one in his village, Daxian, had any inkling of the inundation soon to come. Most people, he said, simply went to bed, apparently hoping the thunderclouds would soon pass. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, loudspeakers in the neighborhood suddenly blared with a warning: A flood from the nearby Qili River was imminent. But there was no time to act, Gao said. Within moments, a rush of water surged into his home. Advertisement The flood came in so fast, adults couldnt even protect themselves, let alone protect babies, said the college student, who was home on summer vacation. In the pitch black, Gao was swept into the surging waters. Somehow, he found a tree and clung to it for his life. I was extremely scared, but Im only 21. I have to survive, for my family, he said. At about 6 a.m., when the dark of night and waters began to recede, Gao was able to make his way to land and find his parents and 10-year-old brother, who had weathered the storm by clambering to the rooftop of their house. Though hes thankful they all survived, hes impatient for answers. As of midday Sunday, 34 of Gaos fellow Xingtai citizens had been confirmed dead, and another 13 are still missing, giving the city the ignominious distinction of being the locality to suffer the gravest human toll of last weeks intense storms. At least 200 people across China died in last weeks heavy rains, including at least 130 in Hebei province, where Xingtai is located. At a news conference on Saturday night, Xingtais mayor and other officials offered their remorse for not doing more to protect residents and bowed to citizens in apology. But Gao is not satisfied. Villagers and I think the apology from the mayor is only a political show to reduce his political mistakes; its useless, Gao said Sunday in a phone interview. He didnt do anything helpful to us. My house is destroyed, and some families even lost their sons and daughters. We need the government to help us and give us confidence to rebuild our home. On Sunday, four officials were suspended from their posts because of their inadequate performance during the floods. Among them was Duan Xiaoyong, a senior Communist Party official in charge of an economic development zone in Xingtai that includes Daxian. On Sunday, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang dispatched State Councilor Wang Yong to Hebei province to oversee the disaster relief efforts. At least 110 people remain missing in Hebei, and more than 300,000 people, including Gao have been evacuated. In Xingtai, more than 28,000 homes were destroyed, more than 8,000 seriously damaged and more than 16,000 moderately damaged, the official New China News Agency reported Sunday. Six reservoirs in Xingtai remained at critically high levels on Sunday, the agency added. More heavy rains are forecast for Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. Gao studies engineering at the Hebei University of Water Resources and Electric Engineering in Cangzhou. The warnings he received by phone, he said, were inadequate. The messages didnt mention the coming flood, he said. Gao and others say they werent given nearly enough time to evacuate, and after they were caught up in the surge, there was almost no one to help save them. I saw only a few soldiers there to help us, he said. The rescue effort [immediately after the flood] was very limited. Most of us rescued ourselves. Another villager, who would only identify herself by her surname, Yang, said in a phone interview Sunday that her 3-year-old niece was still missing. The toddler, named Zhang Ziyang, was swept out of her house with her parents about the same time as Gao. Since then, Yang and the girls parents have been searching for the little girl. We have no clue where she is, but well search for her in the cornfields, in the mud and in the water until we find her, she said. Many of the victims in Daxian were children under 10, or elderly residents. Most of the residents of Daxian, Gao said, work for small manufacturers and engage in farming, mainly growing corn and wheat. His family farms and processes wood for making beds. After the flood, his family took shelter in a public auditorium. Later, his family went to check on their home and belongings; Gao went to a hospital to be treated for bruises and injuries to his legs and was still there as of Sunday afternoon. What comes next is unclear. Our house was destroyed. Our stock of wood boards were destroyed too, he said. The car might be OK, but it too will need to be repaired. Yingzhi Yang and Nicole Liu in The Times Beijing Bureau contributed to this report. julie.makinen@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @JulieMakLAT. MORE WORLD NEWS How a stockpile of Americas nuclear weapons got tangled up in a Middle East crisis Gunman in Munich mall shooting identified as an 18-year-old German Iranian More than 170 dead in China flooding; many still missing What happened in the dead of night on a desolate road near a desert oasis in northwestern China is so shrouded in mystery that it would seem that nearly everybody who witnessed it took an oath of silence or is dead. But the most reliable accounts suggest that heavy-handed religious restrictions on the eve of one of Islams largest holidays provoked an uprising by Uighurs against police and civilians. According to official accounts, 96 people died in the July 28 clash in Shache, also known as Yarkand, making it the deadliest incident of ethnic violence in China in five years. Uighurs, members of a Turkic Muslim minority concentrated in the Xinjiang region, say the death toll was much greater. Some are describing it as a massacre. Advertisement Nury Turkel, a Washington-based attorney who is active with the World Uyghur Conference, said it appeared the government was trying to hide something. Something terrible has happened that they are trying to sweep under the rug, Turkel said. Like many such incidents, this one appears to have started small and spun out of control because of overreactions and miscalculations. A resident of the town said the trouble began July 27 when Muslims were preparing for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which ends the holy month of Ramadan. About 40 women were detained for wearing clothing deemed excessively Islamic, which is banned in Xinjiang. The womens husbands and sons went to talk to the relevant people, saying that the women had to go home to prepare for the holiday. They did not agree, said the resident, who, like other Uighurs in China, spoke on condition of anonymity. Ghayyar Kuerban, a Uighur from Shache who lives in Germany but is in touch with the towns residents, heard a similar story. There was a religious gathering, which the security thought was illegal. A large number of security forces came. There was a confrontation and things escalated, Kuerban said. He said he was told that 15 to 20 people were shot at the gathering and that riots spread afterward to nearby villages. It is still very ambiguous, Kuerban said. There has been absolutely no independent reporting on what happened. Authorities allege that there was an organized and premeditated attack in which assailants armed with knives and axes ambushed cars and trucks on Route 215, the main road south into the town. They identified the mastermind as Nuramat Sawut, a former imam who had links to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a separatist group operating across the border in Pakistan. The Xinjiang Daily, a state-run newspaper, reported Thursday that Sawut had been fired from his job as an imam in a village mosque because of his disrespect for the elderly and poor knowledge of Islam. He is the shame of our village, the newspaper quoted a cousin of Sawuts as saying. After the terrorist attack, everybody has drawn a clear line. We all support the Communist Party and the government in their efforts to strike a hard line against terrorism and return a peaceful life to us. A government-run website, Tianshan, ran a melodramatic feature about two Uighur motorists who were killed in the road ambush by mobsters waving big knives and axes whose eyes were red. You need to join our holy war. Otherwise we will kill you, a member of the mob told the motorists, according to the report. This is a crime. This is destroying the reputation of Islam. You are not real Muslims, one of the motorists responded shortly before he was killed. The story did not identify the source of the dialogue. According to officials, 37 civilians were killed in the incident and 59 assailants were shot dead by police. An additional 215 people were arrested. Overseas Uighurs discount the Chinese version of events. They say authorities locked down the town for days, blocking telephone calls and the Internet to prevent news from leaking out. The only reporting on what happened has come from the state news media. Rebiya Kadeer, head of the World Uyghur Conference, said in an interview with Radio Free Asia that her group had information that 2,000 to 3,000 people were killed. We have evidence in hand that at least 2,000 Uighurs in the neighborhood of Ailixihu township have been killed by Chinese security forces on the first day and they cleaned up the dead bodies on the second and third day during a curfew that was imposed, Kadeer told the news service. Other Uighur activists say that estimate is probably too high, but they believe far more people were killed than the 96 reported by the government. The Chinese government needs to allow independent reporting here if they want to be a respected member of the international community, Turkel said. barbara.demick@latimes.com The extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing Saturday at a protest by members of the countrys Hazara ethnic minority that killed at least 81 people, injured more than 230 others and turned a square in the Afghan capital into a tableau of carnage. If verified, the claim from the Islamic State-affiliated Amaq News Agency would represent an ominous widening of the groups reach, which up until now had been mainly confined to a province bordering Pakistan. The Taliban issued a statement saying it was not involved. The attack, among the most lethal since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, drew condemnation from the Obama administration, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan and the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in the country. Advertisement President Ashraf Ghani, in a televised address, declared a day of mourning on Sunday. He vowed to seek revenge on those responsible, saying in a statement that peaceful protest is the right of every citizen. The Hazara community is mainly made up of Shiite Muslims, considered apostates by the Sunni Muslim extremists of Islamic State. The demonstrators who gathered Saturday were renewing calls for a major electricity line to be routed through Bamiyan province, the Hazara heartland, in order to generate jobs and revenue. Thousands marched through the streets of Kabul, carrying banners decrying discrimination against Hazaras and waving Afghan flags. The protesters had just started setting up tents in Kabuls Deh Mazang Square when an explosion ripped through the crowd. According to an Interior Ministry statement cited by local news reports, three suicide bombers targeted the rally. One failed to successfully detonate his explosives, and another was shot dead by security forces before he could do so. Images circulating on social media showed dozens of bodies and debris strewn across the area and people running frantically to escape. The terror attacks you havent heard about Roadblocks set up to keep the protesters away from the presidential palace and other sensitive sites got in the way of ambulances that were attempting to reach the square, delaying the transfer of some of the injured to the hospital, witnesses said. Kabul residents turned to Facebook to organize blood drives, posting updates about which hospitals were in need of donations. Islamic State has been active in Afghanistan since 2014 and is estimated to have between 2,000 and 3,000 fighters there, many of them disaffected members of the Taliban and Pakistani insurgent groups. Although the group has claimed responsibility for horrific attacks before, many of them directed against rival Taliban forces, it has until now largely confined its operations to parts of Nangarhar province. This would mark the militants first attack in the Afghan capital. The fear is that it could further inflame sectarian divisions and fuel discontent with the countrys unity government. See the most-read stories in World News this hour This incident is an outrage that cannot be justified, United Nations envoy Tadamichi Yamamoto said, calling it a war crime. It is an attempt to spread terror amongst civilians and stifle the freedoms that Afghans have sacrificed so much to obtain. The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, also denounced the attack, saying international forces remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the national unity government. In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said, The killers responsible for this bloodshed do not represent the future for Afghanistan and will not prevail. He said the Obama administration had offered assistance to the Afghan government in its investigation of the attack and prosecution of the culprits. Cesaretti is a special correspondent. Times staff writers Laura King and Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report. ALSO More than 130 dead in China flooding, many still missing Gunman in Munich mall shooting identified as an 18-year-old German-Iranian How a stockpile of Americas nuclear weapons got tangled up in a Middle East crisis UPDATES: 7:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with Times reporting. 1:27 p.m.: This article has been updated with the fact that the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as additional background and a statement from the Taliban. 9:35 a.m.: This article has been updated with a death toll of 80 and additional details about the attack and its aftermath. 7:25 a.m.: This article has been updated with a death toll of 61 and with statements from a U.S. military commander and the U.S. embassy 5:25 a.m.: Updated with a death toll of 31 and Islamic State claiming responsibility. 4:45 a.m.: Updated with quotes. This article was first posted at 3:55 a.m. Armed forces disguised as rebels Wednesday rescued former Colombia presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. defense contractors and 11 other hostages held by leftist insurgents, in a daring operation that delivered the latest in a series of blows to the countrys largest anti-government force. The 46-year-old Betancourt, who was held for more than six years, called the rescue operation impeccable and told reporters that she planned to run for the presidency again. Colombian forces apparently infiltrated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and duped them into grouping Betancourt and the other hostages in a remote jungle location about 200 miles southeast of Bogota and putting them aboard a helicopter, supposedly for a meeting with new FARC commander Alfonso Cano. Advertisement But the trip was a carefully orchestrated ruse, and as the helicopter took off with the hostages and two FARC guards from a jungle clearing about 45 miles southeast of the town of San Jose del Guaviare, commandos subdued the rebels without firing a shot. The helicopter in fact belonged to the Colombian army, and the crew was a special services unit. We got on the helicopter and then suddenly something happened, Betancourt recounted at a news conference at a Bogota army base. And I saw this cruel [FARC] commander who had acted so terribly to me now was on the floor blindfolded. Then we heard a voice telling us, You have been liberated. The hostages were flown to Colombias largest air base, near Melgar, then on to Bogota, where they were met late Wednesday afternoon by their families and dignitaries. The three American hostages, Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes, did not appear in Bogota with the other 12 freed captives. Officials said the three had been flown to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where they arrived late Wednesday. Betancourt appeared to be in reasonably good health, as did the other hostages. The operation was impeccable. It was perfect, said Betancourt, who was kidnapped while campaigning for president in February 2002. At the Bogota air base, Betancourt was reunited with her husband, Juan Carlos Lecompte, and her mother, Yolanda Pulecio. Her two children, from her previous marriage, were in France and appeared at a midnight news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Its the moment we so hoped for, said her daughter, Melanie Delloye-Betancourt. We cant wait to hold her in our arms. I really want to thank the French president because ever since he got in charge, things became possible. The rescue ended an excruciating ordeal for the hostages, including the U.S. defense contractors, who worked for Northrop Grumman Corp. They were taken prisoner along with another colleague in February 2003 after their single-engine plane crash landed in Caqueta province while on drug surveillance. The FARC killed the fourth American, Thomas Janis, and a Colombian soldier shortly after the crash. The operation was the latest in a series of blows to the FARC that demonstrates what many analysts say is the groups weakened state. But the rebels are believed to still hold 700 hostages. Since his election in 2002, President Alvaro Uribe has kept the FARC on the defensive, regaining much of the territory the rebels once controlled. FARC ranks are believed to have shrunk from 20,000 a decade ago to as few as 8,000, partly because of incentives offered to get rebel fighters to desert. Over the last year, several leaders have been killed captured or have surrendered. Morale within the group suffered recently when FARC founder and leader Pedro Antonio Marin, also known as Manuel Marulanda, died March 26, apparently of natural causes, weeks after his second in command, Raul Reyes, was killed during a daring commando raid across the Ecuadorean border that prompted a regional crisis. A top level field commander, Nelly Avila Moreno, known by the alias Karina, who once controlled FARC drug trafficking in several central states, said after her surrender in May that the FARC was crumbling and that she had been out of touch with the command for two years. Colombian armed forces using U.S. intelligence technology are thought to have cracked the rebels communications system and tracked their movements by monitoring cellphone and satellite phone usage. Those compromised communications may have enabled the Colombian forces to spin the ruse that led to the rescue. Details were not disclosed Wednesday on how FARC commander Cesar was fooled into bringing together the 15 hostages from three locations. U.S. military spokespersons, wanting to emphasize the independence of the Colombian military in planning the operation, declined to comment on the rescue. One said U.S. involvement in the hostage rescue was limited to providing a medical team to care for the freed captives and a transport plane. This was a Colombian-planned and -executed operation, said the military official. It was based largely on intelligence they had developed. But another military official acknowledged that the United States had been told of the rescue plan in advance, which allowed U.S. officials to provide a transport plane and a team of medical personnel. They had given us enough heads-up so we could have the aircraft standing by in the event they went ahead with the mission and it was successful, said the officer. We were aware enough of the planning to be ready to respond with the aircraft and the medical team. At a news conference earlier Wednesday at which the rescue was announced, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said the FARC top command, the seven-member secretariat, had been penetrated. Colombian military operations in the area, which was near the scene of the FARCs release of six hostages early this year, also led to intelligence that helped in Wednesdays operation. The rescue brought expressions of joy from the hostages families and from Colombians on the street who have endured decades of bloody and seemingly endless civil war. The joy of the families is shared by the entire country and by the world that looks on in shock at this crime that continues to be committed in our country, said Olga Gomez, leader of Pais Libre, a group that represents the families of kidnapping victims Pope Benedict XVI was among the several world leaders, including Sarkozy and Bolivian President Evo Morales, who congratulated the families and the Colombian government for the rescue. Most called on the FARC to negotiate a peace accord. Uribe called President Bush to inform him of the rescue. We commend the government of Colombia for its sustained efforts to secure the safe return of all FARC hostages, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those still held by the FARC and their loved ones. The captivity of Betancourt, who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship, had become a cause celebre in France since the election of President Sarkozy last year, who made her release a priority. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez helped secure the release of six high-profile hostages in January and February, although his role as mediator ended in acrimony. Early last month, Chavez called on the FARC to release all hostages and negotiate for peace. chris.kraul@latimes.com Times staff writers Julian E. Barnes, Josh Meyer and Paul Richter in Washington, Geraldine Baum in Paris, and Andres DAllesandro of The Times Buenos Aires Bureau contributed to this report. An Israeli combat medic who faces manslaughter charges in the shooting death of a Palestinian assailant defended himself for the first time in public on Sunday, telling a military court that he made a split-second decision to save the lives of others at the scene. Israel Defense Forces Sgt. Elor Azaria, 20, is on trial for the March 24 killing of Abdel Fattah Sharif in the West Bank city of Hebron. Sharif had participated in a stabbing attack on soldiers and was lying on the ground after being shot. A second Palestinian knife assailant had already been killed. A video of the incident published by an Israeli human rights group shows Azaria cocking his gun, walking toward Sharif and shooting him in the head. Palestinian leaders have called for a United Nations inquiry into the killing, and U.N. special coordinator Nikolay Mladenov condemned it as a gruesome extrajudicial execution. Advertisement After months of silence, Azaria lashed out at his commanders and the military top brass, accusing them of making him a scapegoat. Giving his version of the incident for the first time, Azaria told a three-judge panel and a courtroom packed with reporters that he feared Sharif might detonate an explosive or grab a knife nearby to injure soldiers on the scene. He said he felt an immediate threat after the Palestinian assailant moved his head and arm. See the most-read stories in World News this hour I understood that I had no choice, he said, speaking in response to questions from his defense attorneys. In the field, its only a matter of a split second I acted according to the only alternative that I saw at the time. In my opinion, I saved lives. The politically charged trial has transfixed many Israelis amid a wider debate on how to handle a 10-month wave of stabbings, shootings and car rammings that have left dozens of Israelis dead, as well as hundreds of Palestinians, many of whom Israeli authorities accused of carrying out attacks. Much of the discussion has focused on whether the security forces open fire rules are too lenient. Government officials including Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan have advocated for assailants to be killed on the spot, rather than arrested, in order to deter new violence. No terrorist should get out of an attack alive, Lieberman wrote on Facebook in October 2015, when he was part of the parliamentary opposition. Oren Hazan, a member of parliament from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud Party, called the trial a farce and sat with Azarias relatives in court. Soldiers are dealing with complex daily realities, he said. You should eliminate terror, not caress it. At Sharifs funeral in May, his father, Yusri, said that he didnt believe the military court would do his son justice, and that the court-martial was meant to mollify international opinion. Azarias remarks follow weeks of testimony from commanding officers that there was no operational justification for the shooting. The prosecution is arguing that Azarias account of the events changed over the course of several interrogations once he knew he would be accused. His company commander told the court that Azaria said Sharif deserved to die shortly after the incident. Azaria denied he made such a remark and accused his commanders of lying about the incident. Azaria said soldiers in Hebron are on constant alert because of the threat of confrontations. At the time of the stabbing attack, he said soldiers had received intelligence that Hamas operatives would carry out a large-scale attack. He said Sharif aroused his suspicion because he was wearing a heavy black jacket on a warm day, and that someone yelled out that he was wearing an explosive. The medic criticized other soldiers at the scene, who were standing nearby but not paying attention to Sharif in the video, as complacent. He also accused Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot and then-Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon for rushing to find fault. I feel betrayed by my commanders, he said. They threw me to the dogs out of fear of the uproar created by a biased video, he continued. The Israeli army spokesmans department declined to comment on Azarias testimony. The testimony lasted approximately five hours before the defense said Azaria was exhausted and asked to adjourn until Monday, when the military prosecutor is scheduled to begin a cross-examination. Ilan Katz, Azarias chief defense attorney, said Azaria felt abandoned on the battlefield and faulted army top brass for not taking his account into consideration. They rushed to judge the soldier, he said. Mitnick is a special correspondent. MORE WORLD NEWS How a stockpile of Americas nuclear weapons got tangled up in a Middle East crisis Gunman in Munich mall shooting identified as an 18-year-old German Iranian More than 170 dead in China flooding; many still missing Jul 23, 2016, 5:39pm ET Honda and Softbank want to create "emotional" cars The collaboration will work on AI in cars that can read your mood. Japan's telecom giant, Softbank Corp., is teaming up with Honda to develop "emotional" artificial intelligence in cars. Softbank has been on a tear recently, having acquired ARM Holdings, a UK semiconductor and software company, in the aftermath of a Brexit-induced stock price plunge. Now Softbank founder and chairman Masayoshi Son, as reported by Fortune, has released a joint statement with Honda saying that the companies will work together to create AI that can interact with drivers. Son imagines a day when a car can read a driver's mood based on speech and "other data compiled by vehicle sensors and cameras." Based on that information, the AI would then be able to offer advice in difficult driving situations, or engagement during long road trips. While this may seem frivolous, both Softbank and Honda have already developed actual robots that can converse and react to human emotions. Softbank's has been building 1,000 Pepper robots a month since July 2015. Each batch has sold out in under a minute. Meanwhile, Honda's has been developing its own robot since the 1980s. The current iteration is called ASIMO and has been focused more on humanoid motion, though it also has facial expression recognition abilities. Logan Houptley struggles to pinpoint what drew him to the little girl in the wheelchair. Logan Houptley and Mikayla Resh first met as third-graders at Lower Nazareth Elementary School during the 2004-05 school year. (Courtesy photo) They were third-graders at Lower Nazareth Elementary School in 2004-05, and at first blush, had little in common. Mikayla Resh had profound disabilities, born with brain damage, cerebral palsy and unable to see or hear. In the intervening years, her inclusion in a regular classroom would produce heartwarming stories, a celebrated children's book and a nonprofit organization that advocates inclusion of disabled children and empowering able-bodied kids to spread the message. And now comes another development. The 20-year-old Houptley, a college student and volunteer with Mikayla's Voice since its inception, is one of four national finalists for a prestigious NASCAR Foundation award whose winner will receive $100,000 for their charity. The winner will be determined via online voting now through Sept. 26. Folks can vote up to once each day at nascar.com. Houptley, a 2014 graduate of Nazareth Area High School, said he was stunned and overwhelmed by the honor. Each finalist is assured $25,000 for their charity. "You don't think about yourself first," said Houptley, a junior at West Chester University. "You think about Mikayla's Voice and all of the possibilities for them and how something like this will affect the organization. "It's an awesome opportunity for them and for me and for our message." A special approach Thinking of others. It's been Houptley's hallmark his whole life, according to his family. "He's a very special boy and he always has been that way," said his mother Wendy Houptley, of Lower Nazareth. "He's kind, compassionate, caring. He always wants to help people and include people. He doesn't think he's special but we do. Talk to him and he'll tell you that Mikayla included him. That's what he thinks is special." Houptley, 20, is a big fan of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart and will be recognized during next weekend's Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (Courtesy photo) Houptley was part of the class that wrote and illustrated "Our Friend Mikayla," which celebrates the benefits of inclusion and is distributed to every elementary school in Pennsylvania. He has been part of the nonprofit Mikayla's Voice since its establishment in 2010 and now sits on the group's board. He volunteers his time to present at conferences, manage the agency's social media accounts, develop ideas, run programming and raise money, said Executive Director Kimberly Resh. When Mikayla was awarded a diploma at Nazareth's 2014 commencement ceremony, Logan pushed her wheelchair to accept it. Kimberly Resh nominated Houptley for the NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award the past two years. It recognizes volunteers who are also avid NASCAR fans. "He's spent better than half of his life advocating for children with disabilities and for inclusion," Resh said. "He exemplifies why we started the nonprofit. Our whole idea -- what makes us unique -- is we're not just aimed at inclusion. We're aimed at inspiring kids to make a difference. He's been involved in all of it from the very beginning." Family roots Racing is in Houptley's blood. His father, Bob Houptley, and grandfather, Lynn Houptley, are co-owners of Pat's Brake Service & Lynn's Garage in Easton. Bob raced go-karts and Lynn worked on cars for old Nazareth Speedway racers Rags Carter and Harold Cope. Logan's maternal grandfather, John Patterson, owned Lehigh Auto Radiator in Easton and worked with drivers such as Tom Hager and Carl "Fuzzy" Van Horn. Watching NASCAR races is a family affair that consumes most Sunday afternoons. Logan's favorite driver is Tony Stewart, and he has a goal of attending a race at every track on the NASCAR circuit. At West Chester, he's double-majoring in marketing and management and hopes to some day work on the business end for NASCAR or a racing team. For now, he's keeping his options open. "Life has a way of taking left and right turns, and all of a sudden you're in a totally different spot than where you expected," he said. He'll be honored next weekend during the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. He'll get to attend the driver's meting, ride in the pace car and be in Victory Lane. Logan Houptley works with Mikayla Resh on a painting project. 'The magic behind Mikayla is her willingness to connect with people. You each benefit and gain something,' Houptley says. That will be a kick for his family: parents Bob and Wendy; siblings Jeffrey Imboden, 28, and Alison Imboden, 25; paternal grandparents Lynn and Mary Ann, of Palmer Township; and maternal grandparents Gail Patterson, of Easton, and John and Debbie Patterson, of Forks Township. Not far from his thoughts -- as always -- will be his friend Mikayla, who he says has enriched him in ways he never imagined. "The magic behind Mikayla is her willingness to connect with people," he said. "You each benefit and gain something. From her I've gained so much knowledge about inclusion and so much awareness -- and I've gotten to know so many more people who are just as passionate about the message. "I've found this whole experience humbling because it's so much bigger than you. I am so honored to be part of an organization that I've been with since the very beginning. So now to have an opportunity to be with it on a national stage, it's something I'm very proud of." The winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award will be announced Sept. 27 during the NASCAR Foundation's honors gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook. A female driver involved in a two-vehicle wreck in Pen Argyl remained hospitalized Sunday, Slate Belt Regional police said. Joyce Chaya 68, was listed in critical, but stable condition at St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, said hospital spokeswoman Mariella Miller. Police said the crash occurred just after 7:30 a.m. Friday at Pennsylvania and North Robinson avenues. Chaya, driving a Chevy Cobalt, was headed south on North Robinson Avenue and collided with the dump truck, being driven by George Bachman, 50, of Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County. Bachman was heading west on Pennsylvania Avenue, according to police. Police continue to investigate which vehicle had the light. The skid marks left by the truck were 52 feet long. As of Sunday afternoon, there were no charges in the crash. Bachman was not injured. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Welcome to the Golden Dozen, and our 464th weekly round-up from the Lib Dem blogosphere Featuring the seven most popular stories beyond Lib Dem Voice according to click-throughs from the Aggregator (17 -,23 July 2016), together with a hand-picked quintet, you might otherwise have missed. Dont forget: you can sign up to receive the Golden Dozen direct to your email inbox just click here ensuring you never miss out on the best of Lib Dem blogging. As ever, lets start with the most popular post, and work our way down: 1. Who is standing in seats Liberal Democrats previously held? by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. All the selection news. 2. Devons only Green county councillor switches to the Lib Dems by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. Welcome, Cllr Vint. 3. A new centre left party should not be the focus of Liberal Democrat activity by Peter Black on Peter Black. We should not obsess over realjghnent with little regard for our liberal heritage, says Peter. 4. The truth about Brexit and the Swiss. We really screwed them over by Nick Tyrone on NickTyrone.com. The Swiss were about to get a deal on access to the single market limiting freedom of movement. Not any more, thanks to us. 5. Liberator on Liberal Democrat candidate selections by Jonathan Calder on Liberal England. Without a single word of criticism. They are entirely happy with whats been done. Only joking. 6. Has Theresa May realised that Brexit is practically undoable? by Nick Tyrone on NickTyrone.com. But what will that mean for her party and its Eurosceptics? 7. 15 Labour MPs defy whip to back proportional representation for the House of Commons by Mark Pack on Mark Pack. A long way to go, though. And now to the five blog-posts that come highly recommended, regardless of the number of Aggregator click-throughs they attracted. To nominate a Lib Dem blog article published in the past seven days your own, or someone elses, all you have to do is drop a line to [email protected] You can also contact us via Twitter, where were @libdemvoice 8. Local Conservatives grubby campaign of lies and smears by Jayne McCoy on Diary of a Sutton Councillor. They dont seem to be terribly partial to the brilliantly performing Lib Dem Council for some reason. 9. Three signs that we are in the economic end time by David Boyle on The Real Blog. Not quite as apocalyptic as it sounds. Not quite. 10. Post fact politics and the end of stability by Louise Ankers on From one of the jilted generation. Too many problems have gone unchallenged, says Louise. 11. The common ground: how a progressive alliance could transform our politics by Stephen Williams on Stephen Williams. Stephen argues for an electoral pact in each seat based on who is best placed to beat the Tories. 12. What chance a progressive alliance in Liverpool by Richard Kemp on But what does Richard Kemp think? An interesting perspective given that there is not a huge amount of love lost between Labour and the Lib Dems in the city And thats it for another week. Happy blogging n reading n nominating. Featured? Add this to your blog post! Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings PLANS are being drawn up to develop a new wing of the Foynes Flying Boat Museum dedicated to Maureen OHara after the family of the legendary actress - who died last year - donated her entire collection of memorabilia to the museum. A container load of items belonging to the star has already been brought back to Foynes, with more to come. According to Margaret OShaughnessy, director of the museum, it contains over 50 dresses, as well as all her awards and a plethora of other belongings. We have been blessed and delighted and thrilled that Maureen OHaras family have decided to give us all her old memorabilia, said Margaret, who was a close friend of the actress for over 30 years. It is a very exciting development for the museum, she added. The collection also includes a number of items belonging to and connected with Ms OHaras former husband, Captain Charles Blair, the aviation pioneer who made the first non-stop commercial flight from Europe to New York. In October 1945, he flew his airline AEAs last scheduled flying boat out of Foynes. Among the items donated to the museum is the Harmon International Trophy which was presented to Blair by President Harry Truman in 1951 in acknowledgement of his contribution to aviation. We will be developing a new wing in the museum to house all these items, Ms OShaughnessy said. Maureen OHara, who died on October 24 last, was a regular visitor to Foynes and had many friends in the area. In 1989, she officially opened the Flying Boat museum and remained a patron and loyal supporter for the rest of her life. Indeed, according to Ms OShaughnessy, it was Maureen who first encouraged her to pursue her dream of opening the museum in 1986. I rang her in her home in Glengariff and I told her what I was thinking and she said: Dont mind thinking about it. Do it. You must do it, Margaret recalled. Maureens visits to Limerick often coincided with her birthday, August 17 and her 80th birthday was celebrated in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in 2000. She also insisted that the premiere of Only the Lonely, the film for which she came out of retirement, would take place in Limerick, in the old Savoy Cinema. The Dublin-born actress starred in a slew of movies in the 1940s and 50s but was probably the best known in Ireland for her role as Mary Kate Danaher in the 1952 film The Quiet Man. Later, she would say of the role: I have often said that The Quiet Man is my personal favourite of all the pictures I have made. It is the one I am most proud of, and I tend to be very protective of it. I loved Mary Kate Danaher. I loved the hell and fire in her. Ms OShaughnessy said there are plans in the museum to host a special event to commemorate the first anniversary of her death this October: We will be celebrating her life in music, film and fashion. THIS is not about downgrading. This is about allocation of resources, chief executive Conn Murray told councillors this Monday at a full meeting of Limerick City and County Council. He was replying to a motion from Cllr John Sheahan calling for current levels of the fire-fighting service in rural and county areas to be protected. I am laying down a marker, Cllr Sheahan said. He would not support any plan that might lead to a downgrading or a perceived downgrading of the county service, he pointed out, whether that happened through categorisation or otherwise. The perception seems to be if we got a new appliance in the morning, it would have to go to the city because of the higher categorisation and some station in the county is going to end up with all the old ones, Cllr Sheahan said. At the heart of the debate was a draft Section 26 plan for the fire service which is currently being discussed at the various Municipal District meetings and which councillors have the power to acccept, reject or amend. The draft plan includes risk categorisations for the various fire-stations and this has given rise to concern among councillors. We have had lots of representations from our retained firefighters, Cllr Sheahan told Mr Murray. There has been no diminution of the service in any way, Mr Murray responded. In fact, he argued, the fire service was the only section in the entire council that had not seen any reduction in staffing or funding either in the city or county. This isnt about funding. This is about producing an appropriate professional service for the people of Limerick, Mr Murray said. I am not going to put any of our staff at risk, he continued, But you must put the resources where that risk is. All operational matters were agreed between unions and management at national level, he pointed out. But he told Cllr Liam Galvin: We will not be reducing numbers. The real concern, Cllr Seamus Browne said, was that categorisation would lead, at some future time, to reductions in staff numbers and in pumps. Cllr Richard ODonoghues concern was that fire services from outside the county would be used more under the plan. And this was echoed by Cllr Noel Gleeson who said that if call-outs at a particular station were down, it could be used to justify a reduction. Outside areas are critically important, Mr Murray said. It was about who was best placed to respoind and how quickly. In reply to Cllr Stephen Kearys concern that the service might be regionalised, Mr Murray pointed out the firefighters unions were in favour of one fire service. But he told Cllr Vivienne Crowley, who was concerned that retired firefighters would not be replaced: We are not in the business of natural wastage. AFTER just three months on the market, Limericks landmark Glin Castle is attracting plenty of interest from abroad, particularly from US buyers. Roseanne de Vere Hunt, director and head of country homes, farms and estates with Sherry Fitzgerald property agents, confirmed to the Limerick Leader that it will remain for sale for its 6.5m price-tag, with expressions of interest and viewings continuing. Another mega-mansion in Limerick, Ballyneale House in Ballingarry, has seen its price reduced by a further 500,000, now down to 2m in an attempt to lure a buyer. The Georgian mansion on 17 acres of land in Ballingarry returned to the market in 2013 for 3m - with 5m and 100 acres taken off the initial offer during the boom. Now priced at 2m, to include 17 acres, an additional 20 acres are also available at agricultural land prices. It is a fantastic property. If we were still at boom prices, if would be priced up to 60% higher, possibly in the region of 4m to 4.5m, so it represents exceptional value, Ms de Vere Hunt told this newspaper. The property was formerly the home of the late Lewis Glucksman, the American philanthropist and CEO of Lehman Brothers. Meanwhile, some 100 more modestly priced homes in Limerick have sold for a combined 15.5m sold last month, according to the latest listings with the Property Price Register. The database of all house sales nationwide since 2010 shows that among the cheapest to sell in Limerick last month were Cregan Avenue in Kileely for 7,000, and in Colbert Avenue in Abbeyfeale for 13,000. The most expensive to sell was Charis, Annagh, Lisnagry for 410,000. Sold on July 13 last, the property was described as a luxury four bedroomed detached property on 3,000 sq feet on a very private elevated site of 0.6 acre. To date, the listings show that 86 homes sold in Limerick in June, and a further 17 have been added for July. However, as the register is continually updated these figures are expected to rise further. To date this year there have been 738 houses sold in Limerick. By comparison, for the same period last year there were 1,072 house sales. Figures for Limerick to date this year remain higher than in Clare, where there have been 467 sales so far this year. In Tipperary there have been 559 residential transactions, and 596 house sales in Kerry. In Cork, there have been 2,300 house sales to date, and in Dublin over 6,500 houses have sold. Currently on Daft.ie there are nearly 1,700 houses in Limerick for sale, with over 1,000 priced under 200,000. Two hundred and fifty homes are priced between 200,000 and 300,000, a further 90 are priced between 300,000 and 400,000, and less than 30 are priced between 400,000 and 500,000. Just over 30 properties are priced at in excess of half a million euro, while just five are priced beyond 1m, including the two aforementioned properties. SEXUAL addiction is no longer the preserve of Hollywood celebrities as a Limerick-based counsellor says he has seen an increase in the numbers presenting for treatment. While Bruree House - the largest residential addiction treatment facility in Ireland - doesnt treat those with the fixation they are referring a growing number of people who have sought help. Mike Guerin, counsellor in Bruree, said the numbers are still small but we need to remember the numbers are coming from zero. In his nine years as a counsellor it is only three or four years ago that clients started enquiring about treatment for sexual addiction. There has been a steady lift in numbers. We dont offer counselling for it here in Bruree, the ones we have come across we have referred them onto various places in Dublin because it is a specialist area in terms of counselling, explained Mr Guerin. There are many consequences of sexual addiction, he said, and in particular how it affects loved ones. There is the possible break-up of relationships from affairs, there are financial consequences - people can waste money very foolishly and there can be loss of jobs from not turning up to work. Somebody could take off for the weekend and not come back on Monday morning. The big thing is family and relationships and this is where it is different from other addictions. Families can handle a person drinking too much, they can see a way to forgive them that but families cant handle infidelity and the sex addict getting into other relationships, said Mr Guerin. When Bruree House was founded 40 years ago it dealt almost exclusively with alcoholics. It then began to offer treatment to drug addicts and in more recent years has seen more and more presenting with issues surrounding gambling. And this is the future, according to Mr Guerin. It is going to be process addictions around technology this is an addiction where you dont take a substance - gambling, shopping, stealing, social media, pornography, gaming and sex. In other words theres nothing being taken. These addictions are going to be more prevalent. Addictions develop depending on societal influences, said Mr Guerin. These dependencies reflect the way the world is changing with technology playing an evermore important role in our lives, he said. Technology is so commonplace now that people who are potentially addictive will find their addictive pursuit through what is in front of them, said Mr Guerin. The issue of sexual addiction has been raised in recent weeks by Senator Frances Black. She says the stigma surrounding it is preventing people from admitting they have a problem. Senator Black says that sex addiction and online pornography is a very real issue impacting many families around the country and the devastation it causes to families is just as bad as that created by drugs, alcohol and gambling. Jul 24, 2016, 4 AM Seven authors joined together to create the reference work Eastern Independent Mail and Express Mail Companies 1840-1845. By Donna Houseman Who is permitted to carry mail in the United States? In his introduction to a new book on Eastern independent mail companies, Scott R. Trepel says that this question has been asked, answered and studied by countless individuals, from nineteenth century businessmen who hoped to profit from establishing private mail companies to todays living scholars who try to explain the principals and motiviations for and against the federal monopoly. The new book is titled Eastern Independent Mail and Express Mail Companies 1840-1845 and published by the Eastern Independent Mail Company Study Group. Michael S. Gutman served as the editor and one of seven authors of the book. The books objective is to provide the history of each of the Eastern independent mail and express mail companies and to document the stamps, letters and markings associated with these companies. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Each chapter is devoted to a single company. The companys stamps, handstamps, precancels and cancellations are described in detail and illustrated in color. Tables include dates for earliest known use and latest known use, and census data on the examples known to have survived. Authors of the chapters, in additon to Trepel and Gutman, include John D. Bowman, William W. Sammis, Richard C. Frajola, David W. Snow, and Gordon Stimmell. Sixteen chapters are devoted to the Eastern independent mail companies, and 25 chapters tell the stories of express mail companies. The authors provide a glimpse into the challenges the enterprises faced. The book is a treasure trove of information, and equally is an interesting read. Trepel presents a compelling introduction into the history of the Eastern independent mail companies. Restrictions on private conveyance of mail existed as far back as 1823 when Congress passed the first river and habor act making waterway improvements and designating navigable waters as post roads. The United States Post Office Department interpreted this act as a declaration of a monopoly that granted the federal government an exclusive right to convey mail and protected the Post Office against competition. By the 1840s, the Post Office found itself challenged on the East Coast by independent mail carriers who transported mail more cheaply than the Post Office. Trepel notes that the independent mail companies could carry mail for 5 or 6 compared with 18 charged by the Post Office for each sheet of paper in a letter. The first independent mail route opened in 1843, following on the heels of postal reform in Great Britain (1840) and the issuance of the first adhesive postage stamp. Eastern independent mail companies flourished from 1843 to 1845 but were met with numerous challenges, including threats from the Post Office. Postal reform resulted from the Postal Act of March 3, 1845, which reduced postal rates; limited the franking privilege; and, most important where independent mail companies were concerned, imposed heavy fines for the conveyance of letter mail by private companies. This act, which went into effect July 1, 1845, sounded the death knell for independent mail companies. Eastern Independent Mail and Express Mail Companies 1840-1845 is a worthy additon to the library of any collector of U.S. stamps. The 680-page reference work has a limited print run. Priced at $75 postpaid within the United States, it can be ordered from Michael Gutman, Box 1108, Mashpee, MA 02649. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde calls for broad-based policy effort to reinvigorate growth Updated: 2016-07-24 16:24 (chinadaily.com.cn) Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today at the conclusion of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Chengdu, China: "We met at a time of political uncertainty from the Brexit vote, and continued financial market volatility.Lackluster growth of the post-crisis era continues, with weak demand in advanced economies and difficult transitions to a self-sustained growth model in many emerging markets. As a result, global growth has been revised downward slightly for both 2016 and 2017." "Our discussions were taking place in a spirit of cooperation and willingness to tackle difficult issues. There was a consensus around the table that more needs to be done to share the benefits of growth and economic openness broadly within and among countries." "In this context, I noted that the G20 members are taking actions to foster confidence and support growth. I welcome their determination to use all policy tools monetary, fiscal and structural individually and collectively to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. Structural reforms are particularly critical, as recent IMF work shows that well-designed structural reforms can lift both short- and long-term growth and make it more inclusive. Further trade liberalization is also crucial to bolster productivity and global growth, while taking steps to ensure the gains from trade are shared widely." "The G20 members also emphasized the importance of further strengthening the International Financial Architecture and, in that context, a resilient Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) with a strong and adequately resourced IMF at its center." "During my visit to China, I also took part in the 1+6 roundtable hosted by the Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing where we met and discussed global developments and Chinas historical transition that is currently underway. I would like to commend the authorities for the ambitious reform agenda and the significant progress they have made." "I would like to thank Finance Minister Lou Ji-Wei and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, the Chinese authorities, and the people in Chengdu for their generous hospitality and superb organization. I look forward to the Hangzhou G20 Summit in September." Elephant Smart Business, an innovative small software company based on the Ballinalee road in Longford town, launched its new website recently. Led by CEO Linda O'Reilly, Elephant Smart Business, is focused on bringing the latest technology to the time and attendance market. The company provides employment to a team originating from Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford and Ms OReilly said, We are proud to be based in Longford and to provide the latest technology to our customers, whilst also giving great customer service. The product offered by Elephant Smart Business is a biometric smart staff management system designed to remove the administration burden for SMEs. The company launched their brand new website (www.elephantsmartbusiness.com) to help them deliver an even better experience to customers and potential customers. Ms O'Reilly was part of the Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-up (HSPU) group of 2015 and as part of this was invited to meet the new Minister for Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation, Mary Mitchell OConnor in May. Ms OReilly and Marketing Manager May Walsh have attended networking events in Athlone and Longford, and plan to fly the 'Midlands & West' flag further afield over the coming months. Ms Walsh explained, Many of our customers are local and we hope to run events designed to bring them together, to help them raise their profiles and encourage them to work together. From my experience there are many great businesses on our doorstep who I didn't know about until I met them at networking events. Nature & Weather, Local News, Health & Wellness, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: July 24 2016 NYSDOH is urging New Yorkers to take precautions against excessive heat and high temperatures this weekend by going to cooling centers around the state. Albany, NY - July 22, 2016 - The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is urging New Yorkers to take precautions against excessive heat and high temperatures this weekend by going to cooling centers around the state. NYSDOH has created an online list of cooling centers across the state, where people can cool down on days of extreme temperatures. The website provides addresses and phone numbers for cooling centers shared by local health departments and emergency management offices. For counties with no listings, NYSDOH recommends visiting local libraries, supermarkets, malls, spray parks and community swimming pools to stay cool. Visitors should call before going since some cooling centers may be closed at certain times or available only during extreme heat events. Knowing where to go to stay cool in extreme heat is especially important for older adults, children and those without access to air conditioning at home or at work. The combination of temperatures in the 90s and high humidity could result in dangerous health conditions across New York, especially for older individuals who have underlying health conditions, infants and young children, and people participating in outdoor activities," said Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, take appropriate precautions, and know what to do if you or someone you encounter is experiencing health issues due to extreme heat. To help New Yorkers stay safe during excessive heat, NYSDOH offers the following advice: Minimize, if possible, strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun's peak hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exercise during early morning hours or in the evening, when the temperatures tend to be lower. Drink at least 2-4 glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine. Stay out of the sun and seek air-conditioned settings. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine, or go to a building with air conditioning (such as libraries, malls, supermarkets, or friends homes). If you must go outdoors, wear sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 and a hat to protect your face and head. When outdoors, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body. Never leave children, pets or those who require special care in a parked car or other vehicles during periods of intense summer heat. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill within a matter of minutes. Make an effort to check on your family, friends and neighbors during a heat wave, especially the elderly, infants and young children, or others with special needs. Recognize the signs and symptoms of illness, and take steps to respond quickly. Make sure there is enough water and food for pets and limit their exercise during periods of extreme temperatures. For more information on the symptoms and treatment for heat-related illnesses, visit Keep Your Cool During Summer Heat. To see the Cooling Centers web page, visit here Background on Heat Health Hazards Heat-related illness occurs when the body cannot cool itself. The most common illnesses are heat stroke (sun stroke), heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that produces a range of symptoms including hot, dry skin; body temperatures of 105 degrees F or higher, rapid pulse and loss of consciousness. Heat exhaustion, which can lead to heat stroke, can cause heavy sweating, fainting, vomiting, and weakness. Heat Stroke: Also known as sunstroke, heat stroke can be life threatening. Body temperature can rise and cause brain damage; death may result if the individual is not cooled quickly. Signs include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse, and shallow breathing. A cold bath or sponge can provide relief and lower body temperature. Heat Exhaustion: While less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion poses health concerns and it most often occurs when people exercise too heavily or work in warm, humid places where body fluids are lost. Signs and symptoms l include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness and exhaustion. If these occur, move the victim out of sun, and apply cool, wet cloths. Heat Cramps: Muscular pains and spasms are often caused by heavy exertion. Loss of water and salt from sweating causes cramping. Symptoms are abdominal and leg muscle pain. Firm pressure or gentle massages applied to cramping can provide relief. Remember to hydrate often while exercising or working outdoors. Heat Rash: Skin irritation that looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters may be a heat rash. Try to move the person to a cool place, keep the affected area dry, and use talcum powder to decrease irritation. 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 Description As many of you know, Ridge residents Lindsey Brown and her daughters Jillian "JJ" (age 5) and Samantha "Sammy" (age 6) were in a serious motor vehicle accident. Sammy and Lindsey are home, in wheelchairs but have a long recovery ahead. JJ is still in critical care at Stony Brook University. Once again, we are asking the community to come together and help one of our own. We will be raising money by sponsoring a Spaghetti Dinner and Chinese Auction. When: Sunday, July 24th, starting at 4 pm (Chinese Auction at 7 pm) Where: Ridge Fire Department, 20 Frances Mooney Drive, Ridge, NY 11961 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Brown family to help offset the burden this has caused. Tickets can be purchased at: Thiruvananthapuram: The government on last day issued an order allowing the publishing of State Cabinet decisions on government website within 48 hours. Chief secretary M Vijayanadan had issued the order. Meanwhile, the government had not made it clear about the RTI plea seeking details of the decisions taken by the previous LDF government. The Pinarayi government had earlier adopted a stance opposing the information commission directive that cabinet decisions should come under RTI act. Later they changed the stance, after it kicked off a controversy. Thiruvananthapuram /Mumbai: The Special team investigating the mass disappearance of Keralite youths, who suspected to have joined the IS on last day arrested one more person from Mumbai in connection with the case. Riwan Khan was the second person who was detained from Mumbai. Last day, Arshid Qureshi who was associated with the Islamic Research Foundation of Zakir Naik was nabbed from Navi Mumbai. Bhopal: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on last day said that he and his family were included in the list of Below Poverty Line people by the Central and State governments. Before leaving for a congress coordination meeting in Goa, he tweeted that 'Government of Madhya Pradesh and India included my name, my brothers name, my son's name in BPL. But we all are income tax payees'. Pointing a conspiracy behind the action, he added that they have never applied or taken any benefit under BPL. He also demanded an apology from the concerned persons. Authorities are building a new containment boom to fight an oil spill in a major western Canadian river, officials said on Saturday, after the spill breached a previous barrier and threatened the drinking water of several communities along the coast. The city of North Battleford, which draws its drinking water in part from the North Saskatchewan River, shut its supply intake on Friday and switched to using ground water, provincial officials said in a telephone conference with reporters. Some 1,572 barrels of heavy oil and diluent leaked from Husky Energy Inc's Saskatchewan Gathering System pipeline on Thursday, flowing into the river. The Calgary-based company has shut the line, stopping the leak, and has been working to contain the spill. It has said it has alternatives ways to move oil and expects "minimal impact." Husky spokesman Mel Duvall said in a statement the cleanup at the source is "nearing completion." "A thorough investigation will take place in due course," he said. "There have been no reported impacts to wildlife or aquatic life." It is not immediately clear what caused the spill, which the province says first appeared some 600 meters (0.3 miles) from the river. Water levels rose on Friday, pushing debris into the booms upstream from North Battleford, a city of 14,000, and the oil continued to moved downward. The province of Saskatchewan has started building a new boom near the community of Maymont, about 50 km (31 miles) downstream from North Battleford, though it is not sure when the oil spill will reach it, Wes Kotyk, executive director of environment protection with the province of Saskatchewan, told reporters. He said the federal environment agency is working on a "trajectory model" to determine the exact size and rate of movement of the oil plume. Sam Ferris, a provincial water agency official, said authorities are working on plans to deal with water security for communities farther along the river, including Prince Albert, a city with 35,000 people. Bert West, an official in charge of petroleum and natural gas, said it is too early to talk about cleanup costs or how the incident could potentially affect the economy. "We haven't have a spill like this, so we're not sure," he said. "As far as costs go, we're not worried about that at this point." (Reporting by Ethan Lou in Toronto; editing by Diane Craft, Bernard Orr) China's biggest shipping and logistics company Cosco has pledged a total ban on transporting shark's fins, says SCMP. It called the move a "body blow" to the international shark's fin trade. In a letter addressed to the Hong Kong branch of the US-based wildlife conservation group WildAid obtained by the Sunday Morning Post, China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco Shipping) pledges to implement a no shark fin policy. Kang Bingjian, a company spokesman, confirmed the letter and the policy change, but could not give a time frame for the move. COSCO Shippings commitment follows concerns raised by WildAid and other wildlife conservation groups after Hong Kong Customs officials seized nearly 1 ton of fins from endangered hammerhead sharks, found inside a COSCO shipping container on board a COSCO vessel earlier this month. Cosco Shipping is the worlds fourth-largest container operator with 7.7 per cent of market share. Hong Kong accounts for 50 per cent of the global shark fin trade annually, according to WWF data. "By acting responsibly and with great stewardship of our oceans, COSCO Shipping has joined the ranks of all the other major global container shipping lines by banning shark fin from their vessels with immediate effect, said Alex Hofford, Wildlife Campaigner for WildAid Hong Kong. Southeast Asian nations were thrown into disarray after Cambodia on Saturday blocked them from issuing a statement referring to an international court ruling against China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, diplomats said. The U.N.-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the maritime dispute earlier this month, denying China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet for the first time since the ruling on Sunday, before hosting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi among others. The disputed sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year, is the most contentious issue for the 10 ASEAN members. China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Yi has described the Hague case as a farce, and Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea. China is adamantly opposed to an ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, preferring to deal with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis. CHINA'S ALLY Cambodia is China's closest ASEAN ally and is the only country opposing any reference to the ruling in a statement due to be issued after ASEAN foreign ministers meet on Sunday, an ASEAN diplomat told Reuters. Cambodia is also pushing to strike out any reference to the militarisation of the South China Sea, watering down the language in statements issued previously by ASEAN this year. Cambodia is heavily dependent on Chinese aid and investment. Last week, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen announced China would give his government around $600 million in soft loans. "Cambodia is unbelievable," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity. "It is blocking any phrase about the arbitration and about militarization." A committee has been working since July 20 trying to hammer out an ASEAN statement acceptable to all, said another diplomat, but Cambodia has thwarted their efforts. Indonesia has proposed that foreign ministers hold an informal meeting late on Saturday to thrash out an agreement. FEEBLE TALK SHOP Critics have long derided ASEAN as a feeble talk shop, whose overriding principle of making decisions by consensus keeps it from ever accomplishing anything of significance. Some members of the group have started to talk about a change in a clause in ASEAN's charter on the need for consensus, a former Vietnamese diplomat told Reuters. ASEAN is keen to avoid a repeat of a debacle in 2012, when for the only time in its 49-year history the group failed to issue a concluding joint statement for a regional foreign ministers meeting. The group may issue a separate statement that emphasises unity, said an Indonesian diplomat. "Our house is in a mess," he said. "We don't want ASEAN to be like Europe. We want to save ASEAN and be unified again." The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights. Washington has called on China to respect the court's ruling. Barack Obama is set to become the first U.S. president to visit Laos in September to attend an annual summit hosted by the ASEAN chairman. Laos, a one-party communist state with little experience hosting international gatherings and one of ASEAN's poorest members, is this year's chairman of the grouping. (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen in HANOI; Editing by Bill Tarrant) Ecuador has paid $112 million to energy company Chevron Corp over a four-decade-old contract dispute, even though it remains in disagreement, the head of the central bank has said. A Hague arbitration court awarded the U.S. company $96 million in 2011 in a dispute stemming from a 1973 deal that called for Texaco, later acquired by Chevron, to develop fields in exchange for selling oil to Ecuador at below-market rates. Various appeals by Ecuador against the ruling failed. "We have today paid around $112 million," the central bank head Diego Martinez told a local radio station late on Friday. That amount represented the award plus interest. "We don't agree with how these international mechanisms work ... however, we are respectful and we fulfill our international obligations," Martinez added. The payment comes as leftist President Rafael Correa's government faces a cash crunch due to tumbling crude revenues in the Andean oil producer that is OPEC's smallest member. Ecuador also had to pay Occidental Petroleum Corp roughly $980 million this year to compensate the company for seizing its oil field in 2006. The $112 million payment to Chevron is not part of a separate legal battle brought by a group of Ecuadorean villagers who claim Texaco caused billions of dollars in pollution damage when it began exploring oil deposits in the 1960s. Chevron continues to fight claims from the villagers, who have filed lawsuits in Canada, Brazil and Argentina seeking to enforce a $9 billion judgment rendered in Ecuador against Chevron. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Editing by Tom Heneghan) The Panama Canal has launched the Green Connection Award, a new initiative to recognize customers who demonstrate excellent environmental stewardship, and to encourage others to implement technologies and standards to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Panama Canal customers that meet and exceed environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and/or other globally recognized standards will be considered. The Panama Canal will evaluate eligible candidates based on specific environmental factors, such as the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), Environmental Ship Index (ESI), amount of nitrous oxides they emit due to engine performance, vessels powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions they reduce by using of the Panama Canal compared to alternate routes. The decision to establish the Green Connection Award is in line with the Canals ongoing commitment to sustainability. The Canal offers unmatched advantages to help the shipping industry mitigate the environmental impact of their operations. Over the last 101 years, the Canal has directly contributed to the reduction of 650 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. And thanks to the shorter traveling distance and larger cargo carrying capacity that the Expanded Canal offers its customers, it will reduce an estimated of 160 million tons of CO2 emissions in the next 10 years. In addition to reducing its carbon footprint, the Panama Canal Authority has been dedicated to the management and operations of the Canal, and preserving the natural resources of the Canal Watershed. The adoption of international standards and the incorporation of innovative environmental initiatives play a key role in the development and preservation of the Panama Canal Watershed, which is vital to the operation of the Panama Canal and the 1.9 million Panamanians who rely on it for drinking water. To further ensure the sustainability of the route, the Expanded Panama Canal features 18 innovative, state-of-the-art water-savings basins that recycle 60 percent of the water used per lockage, saving 7 percent more water than the original locksa significant savings considering the sheer size of the Expanded Canal locks in comparison to those of the original waterway. These sustainability initiatives reiterate the Canals commitment to being a global maritime industry leader, while actively sustaining the environment of Panama, said Carlos Vargas, Executive Vice President for Environment, Water and Energy. Carlos added: Through international compliance, water resource management, reforestation and other environmental strategies, we ensure the continued conservation of the Watershed, guaranteeing the viability of the waterway for centuries to come. The first Green Connection Award will be given to the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship to transit the expanded Canal early next week. Thyssenkrupp supplied 14 innovative elevators for expansion of the Panama Canal , seven for each new lock complex, one of which is on the Atlantic side and the other on the Pacific. Traffic through the locks will be monitored from two control towers that can be accessed via two elevators. The other elevators are installed at several points along the locks. The elevators descend to a depth of roughly 50 meters and are then connected by tunnels known as crossunders running beneath the lock chambers, which hold millions of liters of water, said Peter Bjorn, Vice President of New Installation & Modernizations with the Elevator Technology business division of thyssenkrupp for Latin America. Thyssenkrupp supports major infrastructure projects around the world with smart solutions that meet the requirements of urbanization. We want to jointly address the challenges of mobility in complex environments with our customers, says Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of thyssenkrupp Elevator. Andreas added: It is essential to find new solutions and create means for global transportation which save time and reduce the consumption of energy and environmental resources. The canals expansion plan comprised creating a new set of locks parallel to the existing ones, which could be operated at the same time. The construction of two new Atlantic and Pacific lock complexes, each approximately 1,200 meters long, was essential for the success of the project. The complexity of the project required the thyssenkrupp team to consider a high level of technical detail. For instance, all elevator components had to be explosion proof to guarantee maximum availability even under the harshest of climatic conditions. In Panama, the canal construction is the first to be fitted with this safety feature. Given the short five month installation timeframe and the projects challenges, thyssenkrupp deployed 24 people to install the elevators. The completion of this project makes us very proud and shows the high level of proficiency of thyssenkrupp teams working on milestone projects across the world, Peter Bjorn said. The Panama Canal Expansion required six years of research, including more than 100 economic viability studies, as well as details on market demand, environmental impact, and other technical engineering aspects. Construction began in 2007 and cost USD 5.4 billion (approximately BRL 18.2 billion). Doubling the capacity of the canal will have a significant impact on economies and international maritime trade. Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, has, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Lakler S.A., agreed to conclude a charter contract with Gas Sayago, for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) project in Montevideo, Uruguay. Gas Sayago is a joint venture (JV) owned by UTE the Uruguayan state power company and ANCAP the state oil company. The contract will take effect upon governmental approval which is expected to be granted by the end of 2016. The FSRU will be equipped with the largest LNG storage tank (263,000m3) of any FSRU in the world, and supply gas to Uruguay and its neighboring countries. It is currently under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. in South Korea. After completion, it will enter 20 years charter starting in the first half of 2018. The FSRU also has equipped the capability of re-loading LNG cargo to shuttle tankers as well as sending gas through pipelines. These specifications allow LNG re-export services and LNG bunkering services to the country and its neighboring regions. The MOL Group continues its efforts and focus in developing the LNG secondary transport and LNG fuel supply businesses in Central and South America region, where strong growth of LNG demand is expected. FSRUs receive liquefied natural gas from LNG carriers, regasify it, and transmit it under high pressure to pipelines on land. Since the first practical application of this process in 2005, FSRU projects have been introduced all over the world as an effective solution for developing LNG terminals in less time and at lower cost than conventional land-based terminals. The MOL Group anticipates continued growth in the FSRU field, and is aggressively seeking new opportunities, drawing upon more than 30 years of experience and a strong track record in LNG loading/discharging, vessel operation, and maintenance. SPX Stock Market Uptrend Continues The market started the week at SPX 2162. The market had a small bounce on Monday, then pulled back to SPX 2159 on Tuesday. Wednesday the market opened higher and rallied to SPX 2176, a new all time high. Thursday the market pulled back to SPX 2160, then rallied on Friday to end the week at 2175. For the week the SPX/DOW gained 0.45%, and the NDX/NAZ gained 1.55%. Economic reports for the week were positive. On the downtick: the NAHB and the Philly FED. On the uptick: building permits, housing starts, existing home sales, the FHFA, leading indicators and weekly jobless claims improved. Next weeks reports will be highlighted by the FOMC meeting and Q2 GDP. LONG TERM: uptrend Since we are dealing with possibilities/probabilities at this juncture in the equity market. We would like to add one more count, other than the Primary 5 and Major B counts already presented. This count suggests that Cycle wave [1] not only did not end at SPX 2135 in May 2015, but will not end for many more years to come. A little background. After the Grand Super cycle low in the year 1932, the market entered Super cycle 1 of a new GSC. SC 1 consisted of five Cycle waves (in years): 1937-1942-1973-1974-2007. Notice Cycle 1 was only 5 years, and Cycles 3 and 5 were over 30 years each. After the SC 2 low in March 2009 the market started Cycle wave 1 of SC 3. We naturally expected it to be short, in years, as noted in the last weekend update. After completing five waves up into 2015 the market entered a bear market. But the bear market only corrected 15%, and now the SPX is making new highs again. In the past 115 years this has only occurred four times. And each of these times the market was in an extended Cycle wave, not a short one. Which suggests this Cycle wave [1] is extending. We also noted last week, the recent 2015/2016 activity has not occurred since 1953. After the 1949-1953 bull market during Cycle 3, the bear market that followed was less damaging, in percentage terms, than a correction within that bull market. Historically this has only occurred that once. Then after the bear market was confirmed in 1953, the market turned on a dime and rallied to new highs within five months. The same exact thing just occurred in this market. This also suggests Cycle wave 1 is extending. As a result we have added a third count and placed in on the DOW charts. This count suggests only Primary I ended in 2015, Primary II just completed in 2016, and Primary III, (all part of Cycle wave 1) is currently underway. In order for this count to gain in probability the SPX must again exceed 2335, the 1.618 times relationship to Primary A (2135-1810). Overall whether one is counting this advance as an ongoing next leg up Primary 5 or a new bull market Primary 3, really does not matter at this point. Both counts suggest five large waves up before a significant top is formed in the years ahead. MEDIUM TERM: uptrend After the February low at SPX 1810 the market rallied in five waves to SPX 2111. Depending upon the long term count this could be labeled with an A or a 1. After that the market had a short downtrend to SPX 2026, a short uptrend to SPX 2121, then the Brexit downtrend to SPX 1992. Again depending upon the count this total action could be labeled either an irregular B or an irregular 2. For the past four weeks the market has been uptrending. The SPX/DOW have already made new all time highs, while the NDX/NAZ/NYSE have yet to do so. Both the NYSE Primary V count, and the SPX Primary B count, suggest the NYSE will have to make new highs as well. The NYSE currently needs to rally about 4% to accomplish that. A 4% rally in the SPX is about 2250+, where we have targeted this uptrend to end. Then it gets interesting. We will get into those details as it unfolds. Medium term support is at the 2131 and 2085 pivots, with resistance at the 2177 and 2212 pivots. SHORT TERM From the downtrend low at SPX 1992, about four weeks ago, the market has been advancing impulsively. The first several waves higher are quite clear. Intermediate waves i and ii at SPX 2109 and 2074 respectively, and small Minor waves 1 and 2 at SPX 2109 and 2089. Then it becomes a bit unclear in the SPX 2169-2177 area. The SPX suggests Minor waves 3, 4 and 5, ending Intermediate iii at 2176, with Int. iv underway. The DOW suggests only Minor 3 ended at 2176, with only Minor 4 underway. Since Minor 2 was a 20 point decline, and Int. ii a 35 point decline, the recent 16 point decline (2176-2160) currently suggests it is only Minor 4. Especially if the market makes new highs without dropping below SPX 2160. If it does drop lower, into the lower SPX 2150s, then the Int. wave iv count makes sense. Short term support is at the 2131 and 2085 pivots,, with resistance a the 2177 and 2212 pivots. Short term momentum rebounded from quite oversold on Thursday to end the week overbought. FOREIGN MARKETS Asian markets were mostly higher on the week for a net gain of 0.4%. European markets were all higher and gained 0.8%. The Commodity equity group were mixed but gained 0.4%. The DJ World index gained 0.4%. COMMODITIES Bonds appear to be downtrending and lost 0.1%. Crude is in a downtrend and lost 4.5%. Gold is still in an uptrend but lost 1.1%. The USD remains in an uptrend and gained 0.9%. NEXT WEEK Tuesday: consumer confidence, Case-Shiller, and new home sales. Wednesday: durable goods, pending home sales, and the FOMC meeting ends. Thursday: weekly jobless claims. Friday: Q2 GDP (est. +2.4%), Chicago PMI and consumer sentiment. Best to your weekend and week! CHARTS: http://stockcharts.com/public/1269446/tenpp https://caldaro.wordpress.com After about 40 years of investing in the markets one learns that the markets are constantly changing, not only in price, but in what drives the markets. In the 1960s, the Nifty Fifty were the leaders of the stock market. In the 1970s, stock selection using Technical Analysis was important, as the market stayed with a trading range for the entire decade. In the 1980s, the market finally broke out of it doldrums, as the DOW broke through 1100 in 1982, and launched the greatest bull market on record. Sharing is an important aspect of a life. Over 100 people have joined our group, from all walks of life, covering twenty three countries across the globe. It's been the most fun I have ever had in the market. Sharing uncommon knowledge, with investors. In hope of aiding them in finding their financial independence. Copyright 2016 Tony Caldaro - 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. Tony Caldaro Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Sernova, Diabetes and Haemophilia Paul Lacey was a researcher at Washington University when, in 1972, he cured some diabetic rats by transplanting the islet cells from healthy rats into diabetic ones. Over the next two decades researchers made many attempts to apply the procedure to humans. Unfortunately no one was successful. By the early 1990s most scientists had come to the conclusion that islet-cell transplantation was a lost cause. Drs. James Shapiro, Jonathan Lakey and colleagues from the University of Alberta in Edmonton were successful at improving the treatment of a select group with severe diabetes through development of the Edmonton protocol in the late 1990s. The Edmonton Protocol is a method of transplantation of pancreatic islets into the portal vein of the recipient's pancreas. These pancreatic islets are sourced/extracted from pancreases removed from recently deceased adults. Each recipient receives islets from one to three donors. The islets are infused into the patient's portal vein, and are then protected from the recipient's immune system through the use of two immunosuppressant drugs as well as an antibody drug specifically used in transplant patients. Since 2000 close to a thousand people have received islet transplants but by five years after the procedure, on average fewer than 10% of all patients are free of daily insulin supplementation. Thus, while islet cell transplantation has demonstrated exciting success and the potential for cell therapy as a treatment for diabetes has great promise, further technology developments are required. Exactly what is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition in which the sugar levels in the blood are too high on a constant basis. Without tight blood sugar control to normal levels, this can result in severe long term medical consequences. Much of the food one eats is broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. In response to a rise in glucose levels after a meal the islets beta-cells in the pancreas detect blood glucose levels and secrete insulin into the blood. Insulin acts to open the gates of cells allowing the glucose to move from the blood stream into the cells where it can be utilized for energy. A Type 1 diabetes diagnosis means the pancreatic beta cells that read glucose levels and secrete insulin have been damaged or destroyed. Thus, glucose cannot move from the bloodstream into the cells allowing blood sugars to rise. A Type 2 (insulin resistance) diabetes diagnosis is a far more common verdict for people than Type 1. Insulin resistance occurs as a result of chronically elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. These elevated levels of sugar and insulin have the effect of "numbing" the cellular processes which move the sugar from the blood stream to the cells - the body cannot respond to the insulin "requests" to move blood sugar into the cells. Approximately 27% of the people who start out as Type 2 diabetics, will, in the future require insulin injections similar to Type 1 diabetics. Diabetic complications, which occur even in individuals taking insulin injections, include irreversible damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, skin, feet and hearing. In individuals taking insulin injections to reduce blood sugar levels, severe hypoglycemia from a single injection of too much insulin, can cause organ failure, coma and death. Diabetes is not considered a high mortality condition, but it is a major risk factor for other causes of death and has an extremely high attributable burden of disability, for example; 2% of people with diabetes become blind, about 10% develop severe visual impairment, and 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease. Standard of Care The Standard of Care for patients with reduced or missing critical hormones or proteins, such as insulin, is often monitoring and injecting these proteins multiple times a day. A search has been on for an alternative site for islet transplantation as well as for an optimal medical device in which to implant the islets (therapeutic cells). Several subcutaneous devices have previously been developed for islet transplantation but from a preclinical and clinical perspective the results from these products have been generally disappointing. Current cell therapy is limited to poor cell survival, inappropriate delivery of hormones and a lack of available donors and cells. At this time there is no approved device to house and protect therapeutic cells in the body. Sernova Corp. (TSX-V: SVA) (OTCQB: SEOVF) (FSE: PSH) Sernova Corp is a Phase I/II clinical stage company developing medical technologies for the treatment of chronic debilitating metabolic diseases to replace proteins or hormones in short supply within the body. The first proprietary platform technology is the Cell Pouch System. Think of SVAs Cell Pouch System as a potential natural insulin producing pump with the added benefit of fine-tuned glucose control with no need to replenish the insulin. When placed under the skin and filled with islets it can develop pancreas-like characteristics taking over normal blood glucose control. The device uniquely forms highly vascularized tissue chambers for the placement, survival and function of therapeutic cells. Insulin producing islets transplanted in the device have been proven to become connected to microvessels and able to produce all of the regulatory hormones to control diabetes. Sernova is exploring the additional utility of the Cell Pouch System as an enabling platform for a range of therapeutic cell types and diseases. The technology could be used for a patients own cells (autograft), or a donors cells (allograft). The therapeutic cells placed into the device may also be cells that can be a source to treat millions of patients such as stem cell derived therapeutic cells (stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other cell/tissue types) or xenogeneic (derived or obtained from an organism of a different species) cells. Sernovas products are also designed to allow for multiple market expansion opportunities within each therapeutic area. For example, the technology would be beneficial if it provided a simple reduction in the number of daily therapeutic injections a patient must take; however, there is the possibility that it could even essentially cure the disease through natural release and regulation of the therapeutic proteins or hormones. Sernovas trials Sernovas products are uniquely focused on those diseases in which a protein, hormone or factor, missing or in short supply in the body, could be replaced by therapeutic cells which release those factors into the bloodstream. Diabetes and hemophilia are but two of the multibillion dollar market opportunities where such treatments could lead to: A significant improvement in the quality of patients lives Reducing health care costs Potentially reduce the devastating side effects of disease While other scientific laboratories around the world were advancing stem cell technologies which, if successful, would provide sources of therapeutic cells for various clinical applications, Sernova was in parallel working on their proprietary, scalable, implantable medical device (Cell Pouch System) that creates a natural environment for the survival and function of these therapeutic cells. Sernova is in the forefront of such technologies. Diabetes About 347 million people worldwide have diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030. July 12, 2016 Sernova Corp. a clinical stage company developing disruptive regenerative medicine technologies for the long-term treatment of chronic diseases including diabetes and hemophilia, is pleased to announce today it has entered into a research funding agreement with JDRF, the leading global organization funding and advocating for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The purpose of the funding is to advance human clinical trials of Sernovas Cell Pouch System(TM) (CPS)technologies for treatment of hypoglycemia unawareness patients with severe type 1 diabetes. T1D is a life-threatening disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and kills the pancreatic cells that produce insulina hormone that is essential for life because of its role to help the body use glucose. JDRF will provide Sernova up to US$2.45 million to support a clinical trial at a major transplantation center in the United States. The goal of the study is to provide patients with hypoglycemia unawareness a novel cell therapy treatment utilizing Sernovas proprietary, highly vascularized, cell macroencapsulated implantable and scalable device to reduce or eliminate the need for injections of exogenous insulin. Sernovas progression to human clinical trials is an incredible accomplishment in the global diabetes research agenda. I am particularly proud of this trial being a part of the JDRF portfolio because it supports advancements of the best and brightest research minds in Canada at Sernova. Also, this is a shining example of the international collaboration fostered by projects funded by JDRF. Working together with our global partners, we can accelerate this type of transformative research and ensure it becomes available for the T1D community. Dave Prowten, President and CEO of JDRF Canada. Haemophilia Patients with hemophilia A have a defective gene for factor VIII. Patients receive prophylaxis factor replacement therapy two to three times a week. Prophylactic therapy (prevention therapy) involves three infusions of Factor VIII each week at a hospital at a cost of about USD$200,000/yr. December 21, 2015 Sernova Corp. announced today that the European Commissions Horizon 2020 program has awarded a Euro 5.6M ($8.5M CAD) grant to a consortium consisting of Sernova Corp and five European academic and private partners to advance development of a GMP clinical grade Factor VIII releasing therapeutic cell product in combination with Sernovas Cell Pouch(TM) for the treatment of severe hemophilia A February 16, 2016 Sernova Corp. announced today it has received its initial 566,500 ($875,000 CDN) installment of non-dilutive funds from the HemAcure Grant funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Program. Sernova will use the payment to fund activities related to the development of a GMP clinical grade Factor VIII releasing therapeutic cell product combined with Sernovas Cell Pouch(TM) to treat severe hemophilia A, a serious genetic bleeding disorder caused by missing or defective factor VIII in the blood stream. We are excited that the HemAcure consortium partners, a group developing a therapeutic that is highly disruptive to the current standard of care treatments for hemophilia A, are already working diligently to advance the program. Together, we are working to address, with a sense of urgency, the critical challenges posed by severe hemophilia A. Dr. Philip Toleikis, Sernova President and CEO. Conclusion Since late December 2015, Sernova and its collaborative partners have announced funding of joint research hemophilia and diabetes collaborations totaling Cdn$11,780,000.00. Individually each of these collaborations is massive validation of Sernovas technology. Taken together they show a company on the cusp of being THE paradigm changer in science and they highlight Sernovas capability to profoundly disrupt current standard of care. For this reason Sernova Corp has to be on everyones radar screen. Is SVA on yours? Richard owns shares of Sernova Corp. (TSX-V: SVA) (OTCQB: SEOVF) (FSE: PSH) By Richard (Rick) Mills www.aheadoftheherd.com rick@aheadoftheherd.com If you're interested in learning more about the junior resource and bio-med sectors please come and visit us at www.aheadoftheherd.com Site membership is free. No credit card or personal information is asked for. Richard is host of Aheadoftheherd.com and invests in the junior resource sector. His articles have been published on over 400 websites, including: Wall Street Journal, Market Oracle, USAToday, National Post, Stockhouse, Lewrockwell, Pinnacledigest, Uranium Miner, Beforeitsnews, SeekingAlpha, MontrealGazette, Casey Research, 24hgold, Vancouver Sun, CBSnews, SilverBearCafe, Infomine, Huffington Post, Mineweb, 321Gold, Kitco, Gold-Eagle, The Gold/Energy Reports, Calgary Herald, Resource Investor, Mining.com, Forbes, FNArena, Uraniumseek, Financial Sense, Goldseek, Dallasnews, Vantagewire, Resourceclips and the Association of Mining Analysts. Copyright 2016 Richard (Rick) Mills - All Rights Reserved Legal Notice / Disclaimer: This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. Richard Mills has based this document on information obtained from sources he believes to be reliable but which has not been independently verified; Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of Richard Mills only and are subject to change without notice. Richard Mills assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission. Furthermore, I, Richard Mills, assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information provided within this Report. Richard (Rick) Mills Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. MARTINSVILLE The Color Purple is a rousing musical journey of self-discovery. Celie (Kimberly Hairston) is a Depression-era Cinderella whose drab life is turned around by two unorthodox fairy godmothers: the gritty and headstrong Sofia (Angela Fowler) and the vibrant and glamorous Shug Avery (Michelle Johnson-Epps). Her story unfolds on the Walker Fine Arts stage at Patrick Henry Community College starting Friday, when the Patriot Players The Color Purple opens. The Color Purple is based on a Pulizer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. The story focuses on the lives and challenges of black women in the South in the 1930s. The show opens with a teenaged Celie giving birth to her second baby by her stepfather (Brian Witcher). Soon after, she is married off to the menacing Mister (Willie Robinson), who would have preferred her prettier sister Nettie (Louandrea Young). Celie lives a life of drudgery while Nettie moves to Africa with a missionary family. Misters friendly son Harpo (Johnathan Penn) marries Sofia, a brash and strong woman who tells it like it is the first time Celie sees that a woman can stand up to a man. Shug marks the first time Celie sees her husband vulnerable to Shug and all her charms. However, instead of being rivals, the two women become intimate friends. The set is created of natural, dusty brown colors of pallets and attached props. The costumes are all in muted, dull colors until Shug arrives. After her first appearance in a sparkly sequined dress and red feather headpiece, little by little bright and vibrant color comes to the stage. Rich voices and lively music tell the story through song as well as acting. The Church Ladies (Valeria Edwards, Erica Becker, Lidia Hairston and Peggy Wilson) make frequent appearances between scenes to analyze and gossip about the characters and their behaviors. Outfitted in fine dresses, pristine gloves and fancy hats, they keep up a lively rhythm and sing over each other. Their songs roll around and all too quickly are over, until the next time. Fred Motley of Danville choreographed and created costumes for occasional scenes set in Africa. They range from peaceful, pleasant interactions of a friendly village to sorrow after destruction from invaders. Hairston, a hair stylist who never had acted before, described what it took to portray the lead character. I had to do some praying to help me find her, to be able to really relate to what she had been through a person who had been sexually molested by somebody she thought was her father, being stripped away from somebody (her sister) she thought was the only one that ever loved her, always being classified in these days they call it bullying being called ugly her entire life, so thats all she ever thought, this was the way it was supposed to be; you go from your so-called fathers house to a husbands house and hes treating you basically the same way if not worse. I had to do a lot of praying to show people the pain that she was going through. Hairston starts the show hunched over, unassuming, not making eye contact with others. She scrambles to do as told. As the show goes on, she straightens and begins taking direct looks at others. One of the moments of her awakening was a song by Sofia and other women telling her not to accept poor treatment but rather to proclaim, Hell no! Youre under your husbands foot. What he says goes. Why youre so scared Ill never know. But if I man raises his hand Hell No! Sofia sings. Church Lady portrayed by Becker joined by the ensemble carry the Hell No song with Sofia further in a rousing gospel-style Youre Too Good For That Man. Becker sings, Take my hand. Sister, youve got to go. Be no fool, dont waste your time. Beckers and Fowlers voices join powerfully, leading up to the final Hell no! As tough as Sofia is, as the show unfolds the loving relationship between her and Harpo counterbalance the other negative male-female relationships portrayed. While the show has its share of tragedy, there are plenty of light moments and some sizzle, too. Once such scene comes from Harpos Juke Joint, where the men are dancing jubilantly at the news that Shug Avery is back in town. One by one, a scolding woman comes to drag her dancing man out of the center of the floor. However, once Shug arrives in red sequins, men and women alike celebrate her. Even the Church Ladies sing her arrival song albeit with finger-pointing, head bobbing and frowns. Shug sings a range, running from the cabaret-style Baby, baby, what are you going to do? Push the button baby amid a chorus of adoring juke box joint fans, to the gentle and loving duet with Celie, What About Love. Being in the show has been an amazing experience for me, Hairston said. Devin (Pendleton) is an awesome director. He has a very good eye for where he wants to take it and what youre supposed to look like and what he wants the set to look like, what he wants us to show the audience. Ive seen some snippets of the Broadway production. The level that Devin directs, he has brought it to our little small town of Martinsville. The other staff are Austin Gilbert, stage manager; Becker and Tim Loman, music directors; Robbie Hendrix and Jessica Robinson, costumes; Tom Berry, sound; Luke Ziemba, lighting; Hendrix, Jane Leizer, Motley and Karen Williams, choreography; and Pam Wall, Roslyn Simmons, Elaine Carter, Tuesday Hairston, Ydell Lynch and Karrington Murphy, tech. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. July 29-30 and Aug. 4-6 and at 2 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 7 in the Walker Fine Arts Theatre at Patrick Henry Community College. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. They can be purchased online (www.phccpatriotplayers.com/tickets), in the PHCC Switchboard office located in West Hall, or in the MHC Visitors Center at 191 Fayette St., Martinsville. MARTINSVILLE - During this past school year, 2,186 students went to class in Martinsville schools. While that student body is diverse, with more than 50 percent reporting as African-American, Asian or American Indian, the same cant be said for the staff. More than 70 percent of the staff are white. As the superintendent and school board looks at ways to improve the districts performance, they believe a more diverse staff could help. Minority students do better and do well when they have people in authority who look like them, said new Martinsville superintendent Zeb Talley. They need to have a vision of where they can go and having a minority teacher assist that, they feel like they can relate. We have great teachers who can reach across any color barrier or disparancy in terms of economics, but its good to have a classroom and a school that represents the demographics of our [area]. During Tuesday nights school board work session, members talked with Talley about ways to improve that diversity. Its more than just a random idea. There are still 13 vacant teaching positions that need to be filled before students come back to class in a few weeks. One way the board wants to try, in order to recruit a diverse staff, is to use the local NAACP chapter. Officials from the local chapter would reach out to colleges and universities, to serve as somewhat of a recruiting agent,encouraging new teachers to consider Martinsville when applying for jobs. Theres nothing in local guidelines that prevents the district from moving forward on this. Charles Pyle, communications director for the Virginia Department of Education, also said that he was not aware of any state policy or rule that would prevent a school board from doing this kind of outreach. Before the idea can become official, however, it would have to be approved by a vote of the school board at one of their public meetings. In the meantime, local officials are collecting information, including local NAACP chapter president Naomi Hodge-Muse. I have already been in contact with several universities and colleges, Hodge-Muse said. Those schools include Virginia State University, Winston-Salem State University and Norfolk State University. School board member Victor Correa originally suggested the idea and is passionate about seeing it through. I think this community has a very large Africa American community, and there has been a large request from parents for more African American teachers. In order for the students to have a more comfortable learning environment, I think its important to the students to have a teacher that looks like them, Correa said. Its not just a Martinsville thing, its a nationwide issue. Specifically, Correa said hed like to see more black male teachers in the district, hoping they can serve as positive role models for the students in their classes. All total, there were 1,335 African-American students in Martinsville schools this past year. There were 194 Hispanic, 22 Asian students and 5 American Indian students, with 553 Caucasian students. Out of the 157 teachers in the district, 117 are Caucasian, with 92 female teachers and 27 male. Out of the remaining staff, there are 38 minority teachers, according to information provided by the district. Of those, 32 are female and 6 are male. Does more diversity in the teaching staff make a difference? Recent studies say yes, with the latest one coming this past January from Vanderbilt University. Out of four studies done over the last six years, each found that struggling minority students tend to react better to minority teachers. In their attempts to make sense of new learning input, students continuously strive to connect their prior knowledge and experiences, both individual and cultural, with the new ideas to which they are exposed, stated a 2010 report from Montclair State University. To be effective, teachers must therefore help students to build connections between what is already familiar to them, from their experiences inside and outside school. Some minority students feel that teachers who look similar can relate to those prior experiences, the report found, making them more willing to listen. The report also found that through their research, increasing the percentage of black teachers in a school produced score gains for black high school students. Thats part of the issue Martinsvilles school board hopes to address. In the 2014-15 school year, black students had some of the lowest test scores in the district. A total of 52 percent of black students in that school year passed the English Reading tests. By comparison, 83 percent of white students passed. In Math, 50 percent passed, compared to 76 percent of white students. While some students think the idea of adding more minority teachers is a good one, they also dont see how the current situation has impacted their education. I dont think this hinders students of color, said Mariah Holland. The rising senior at Martinsville High, who is African-American, said that not having a larger number of minority teachers didnt impact her studies. At the same time, she says increased diversity can only help students. Diversity offers new ways for faculty and students to relate, [to] make a more comfortable and beneficial learning environment,Holland said. WESTPORT A string of severe thunderstorms made its way across Massachusetts yesterday, and a lightning strike from one of those storms set a Westport house ablaze just after midnight Saturday. The Fall River Standard-Times said Westport firefighters found the attic area of the home heavily involved in flames upon arrival. Firefighters worked up to the third floor by way of a narrow staircase between the second and third floors but had to stop when the staircase itself started to burn. The fire was finally brought under control after about 45 munites. Damage to the house and its contents was estimated at about $200,000. Fire officials said the family in the home was able to escape unharmed and no firefighters were injured while battling the blaze. While Westport firefighters were battling the house fire, Fall River firefighters responded to two other calls in Westport under a mutual aid agreement. Paramedics and firefighters from Little Compton, Tiverton and Dartmouth responded to the house fire to assist Westport firefighters. BOSTON -- Another man recently placed on the Massachusetts State Police's most wanted sex offenders list was captured Sunday in Chelsea, according to the Massachusetts State Police. Scott Halle, a 45-year-old Level 3 sex offender, is the second man on the list to be captured since he was added to the "Most Wanted" list along with five other fugitives on Friday. The television station reports that Halle was is being held at a State Police barracks in Boston. Scott Halle Halle was convicted in Plymouth County in 2000 for incident assault and battery on a person 14 or older after a sexual assault in Marshfield. Authorities said Halle repeatedly refused to register as a sex offender since he was released from prison and has been convicted three times for failure to register. Authorities are still looking for four other fugitives. Reggie Ellenwood, a 58-year-old Level 3 sex offender was caught Friday at the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter in Boston. Airwing-Snake-Pond-watermark.jpg The brush fire at Joint Base on Cape Cod burned over 100 acres of land, according to The Boston Globe. Massachusetts State Police and the National Guard assisted with attempts to contain and control the fire. (Massachusetts State Police) CAPE COD A fire that State Police and National Guard forces battled at Joint Base on Cape Cod on Saturday burned over 100 acres of land, according to The Boston Globe. Dave Celino, the chief fire marshal for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, said he expected that the fire would "grow a little bit overnight and into the morning," according to the paper. The fire also apparently reached an area being used as storage space for old explosives, according to Celino. Massachusetts State Police and National Guard forces deployed helicopters to the scene of the blaze to assist with water drops throughout the day. At least twelve fire engines from a number of different towns in Barnstable and Plymouth counties reported the site to assist with firefighting. However, Celino that, as of 8 p.m, the fire was "zero percent contained." Firefighting and waterdrops will resume at 8 a.m. in the morning on Sunday. WILLINGTON, CT - Two Georgia men were arrested after police allegedly found an unlawful handgun, a counterfeit $100 bill and drugs in their car during a routine traffic stop. Connecticut State Police troopers pulled over a Nissan at about 4:30 p.m., Friday, after officers saw the driver operating erratically and observed the rear license plate was obscured, police officials said. "Through the course of the traffic stop troopers determined there possibly were narcotics located in the vehicle. The vehicle occupants allowed the troopers to search the vehicle," police said. During the search, officers allegedly observed a handgun in the door of the side pocket of the car. They also found the $100 fake bill, several prescription pills and a pipe believed to be used to smoke marijuana, police said. Officers determined the gun was owned by the passenger, Keyoki Banks, 24, who did not have a permit to carry the gun. The magazine in the handgun was also determined to allegedly be an illegal high capacity magazine, police said. Keyoki Banks, of Decatur, Georgia, was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and possession of a high capacity magazine, police said. The driver, Kamau Banks, 30, also of Decatur, Georgia, was charged with obscured plate violation, prescription medication not kept in proper container, possession of drug paraphernalia and forgery first degree. The two were taken transported to Troop C State Police Headquarters, in Tolland, where they were fingerprinted, photographed, and released on bond pending their court date, police said. LAWRENCE -- The family of an Andover man who has Down syndrome is hoping someone returns the 37-year-old's beloved adult tricycle after it was stolen in Lawrence Friday. The family of Jeffrey Croteau told Fox25 News that they are upset someone would steal the tricycle. They began posting information on Facebook and have received support from several people. Some have offered to buy Croteau a new tricycle or donate money. A family member posted on Facebook that Croteau's father was parked outside his welding shop where he works in Lawrence when the tricycle was stolen. A bicycle with two wheels was left in the truck. The family said Croteau uses the tricycle to exercise, but also as a way to spend time with his father. Lawrence Police have asked people with information to call police at (978) 794-5900 extension 500. state police brush.jpg State Police are being assisted by the National Guard in fighting a brush fire in Cape Cod. (Massachusetts State Police) CAPE COD The National Guard has deployed two Blackhawk helicopters to assist the Massachusetts State Police Airwing as they continue to assist local authorities with fighting a large brush fire on Cape Cod. The fire was earlier reported to be a 20-acre stretch of land in the area of Joint Base. The State Police Airwing helicopter continues to use its "Bambi Bucket" at the scene of the fire, assisting with water drops, according to police. "Bambi" continues to douse "hot spots" with 120 gallon doses of water. The National Guard's two Blackhawk helicopters are using 600 gallon buckets to conduct water drops on the fire, and are responsible for the bulk of the containment, according to police. Water drops will stop this evening and will resume on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and will continue until the fire has been extinguished. The fire has caused minimal traffic delays on Rt 6 in Sandwich. HADDAM , Conn. A 46-year-old East Rockaway pilot was critically injured Saturday afternoon when the small airplane he was flying crashed into a house in Haddam. According to the Hartford Courant, the Connecticut State Police said Benjamin Taylor was at the controls of the plane when it went into a spiralling descent and struck a house not far from the Connecticut River. The plane crashed at about 4 p.m. just across the river from the Goodspeed Airport. The plane came to rest nose-first on the roof of the house, witnesses said. People at the scene were able to get the pilot out of the wreckage and stabilize him. Witnesses said there was a great deal of fuel spilled on the house, and Eversource was contacted to shut off power to the home. Taylor was airlifted by LifeStar helicopter to Hartford Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. The State Police said Tayor was alone in the plane at the time of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted to start its investigation along with the Connecticut State Police, the state aviation inspector and the state department of Environmental Protection. A building inspector was called to inspect the structural integrity of the house. Sharks have returned to Cape Cod this summer and multiple great white sharks have been spotted in the waters over the past few weeks.. This week a group of fisherman found a much larger catch than expected, a great white shark off Nauset Beach. Days before that the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a Cape Cod-based group which educates the public about sharks, caught a great white shark eating a seal off the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham. Great white populations near Cape Cod have rebounded in recent years. In 2012, 34 white sharks were tagged off the Cape, according to the state's Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. In 2015, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy identified 120 individual white sharks in the same region, after cataloging 68 the year before. On July 19, two Massachusetts beaches were evacuated Saturday after a great white shark was spotted off the coast of Plymouth. A local lobsterman saw the shark about a half-mile off Manomet Point. The harbor master did not reopen beaches until it searched the water with boats. A week earlier a 6-year-old Texas boy who was fishing with his family caught a white shark. The family eventually cut the line to free the shark. Here are some of the things people have been Tweeting about sharks on Cape Cod. SPRINGFIELD Police are searching side streets off Boston Road this morning searching for an armed robber who held up the Tedeschi food store on Boston Road just after 6 a.m. Springfield Police Capt. Brian Keenan said the robber escaped the scene on a bicycle but was able to take only a small amount of money and some lottery tickets with him as he fled. Keenan said the suspect showed a handgun as he demanded cash from the clerk. Police are conducting an extensive K9 search of the neighborhoods around the store. The suspect apparently fled down Seymour Avenue, as police found a mask beside the roadway as the search took them in that direction. A little later, searchers found a ball cap similar to the one described by witnesses. Police are reportedly looking for a Hispanic male, perhaps in his 50s. He is missing teeth and wears a silver earring. Police said he was wearing a New York Yankees jersey and cap. With Republicans having officially nominated Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence to serve as the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates, it's now time for Democrats to do the same. Thousands of Democratic leaders and delegates will descend on Philadelphia this week for the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where they will officially select the party's presidential nominee and rally their base ahead of the November general election. The four-day event, hosted at the city's Wells Fargo Center, will feature a series of speakers that include high-profile politicians and activists. The convention is expected to culminate in the official crowning of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee and Tim Kaine as her vice presidential running mate, kicking off their general election bid against Trump. Here's what you need to know to follow along with the 2016 Democratic National Convention: WHEN DOES IT START? The 2016 convention will begin Monday afternoon and run through Thursday evening, according to DNC officials. Sessions for the event will start at: 3 p.m. EST on Monday, July 25 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 26 4:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, July 27 4:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, July 28 WHERE CAN I WATCH THE CONVENTION? Several news networks will carry round-the-clock 2016 DNC coverage, including CNN, Fox News, C-SPAN, MSNBC and others. CNN: The network will deliver 24-hour reporting live from Philadelphia via television, the CNN Politics mobile app, Snapchat, Facebook Live and other platforms. It will also provide a virtual reality experience that brings users onto the convention floor through CNNVR. FOX NEWS: In addition to special TV programming, Fox News will provide continuing live coverage of the convention from Monday to Thursday on FoxNews.com and on its mobile app. MSNBC: The television network will provide 20 hours of live reporting from Philadelphia each day, with NBCNews.com and all network social media platforms providing round-the-clock coverage. NBC, meanwhile, will provide prime time coverage from 10 to 11 p.m. EST all four nights of the convention. NBCNews.com will also live stream the network prime time specials each night. C-SPAN: The network will broadcast the convention live on television, C-SPAN.org and C-SPAN Radio. In addition to its live coverage, the network will air official events at the convention, offer a "delegates' eye view" of Philadelphia and broadcast other programming specials. C-SPAN will further offer shareable video clips on social media. WHO WILL SPEAK AT THE CONVENTION? Democratic Party leaders and activists will deliver keynotes speeches on each night of the convention, including: Monday: First Lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Dreamer activist Astrid Silva. Tuesday: Former President Bill Clinton and "Mothers of the Movement" activists. Wednesday: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Thursday: Chelsea Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Several members of Congress are also slated to address convention-goers, including: - Presumptive vice presidential nominee and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia - Boston Mayor Marty Walsh - U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts - U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey - U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio - U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo - Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio - Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords & Captain Mark Kelly - U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut - Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley - House Minority Leader Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire WHO'S GOING TO THE CONVENTION? Several Massachusetts Democratic leaders will be in Philadelphia for the party's 2016 convention. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Auditor Suzanne Bump, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, House Speaker Bob DeLeo and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will serve as Party Leader and Elected Official delegates for Clinton. State Sen. Dan Wolf, D-Harwich; State Rep. Chris Walsh, D-Framingham; State Committee member Mel Poindexter; State Rep. Mary Keefe, D-Worcester; Bernie 2016 Central Massachusetts field organizer Lisa Mosczynski and State Committee member Tina Poindexter will serve as PLEO delegates for Sanders. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Springfield School Committee Member Reverend Calvin McFadden and former Democratic State Committee Treasurer Nicole LaChappelle will represent the 1st Congressional district as delegates for Clinton at the national convention. Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin, Democratic State Committee member Karen Hansmann and Community Against Hate founder Maurice Taylor will represent the 1st Congressional district as delegates for Sanders. Dorothy Albrecht, of Holyoke, meanwhile, will serve as an alternate delegate for Sanders. A list of other delegates who will be at the Democratic National Convention can be found here. Follow along with The Republican and MassLive throughout the week for coverage and updates from the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Top finance officials in Italy have moved to play down the issues the country's banking industry is facing, just days ahead of crucial stress tests by the European Central Bank (ECB) . Speaking on the outskirts of a Group of 20 (G20) finance leaders meeting in Chengdu, China, Italy's Finance Minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, told CNBC that the Italian banks "do not need [a] rescue." "There is no banking problem in Italy, it's one particular case which is being dealt with ... I'm confident this will be successful," he said Sunday, highlighting issues at Monte dei Paschi (BMPS (Milan Stock Exchange: BMPS-IT)). That institution is thought to be the weakest link among lenders in the euro zone's third-largest economy. Italian policymakers and EU officials have been trying to deal with its fragile banking system, bogged down by non-performing loans (NPLs) estimated to total 360 billion euros ($400.7 billion). Reports had suggested that Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, is hoping to bailout the banking sector, which would contravene EU rules. Such a solution would stand in contrast to a bondholder "bail-in," as Italian households are heavily exposure to the asset class. These reports have since been denied. These problems in Italy have roiled stock markets in the past few weeks , alongside the uncertainty following the British vote to leave the European Union. Shares of BMPS have been particularly volatile. However, Padoan told CNBC that this particular bank had put in place a "very effective restructuring plan" and said there had been a widespread misunderstanding of the whole industry. "(Italian banks are) not more vulnerable than they used to be. They have been strengthening over time due to reforms that have been introduced by the government," he added. Ignazio Visco, governor of the Bank of Italy and member of the ECB, told CNBC Sunday that it was "totally wrong" to fear that the whole banking system in Italy had problems. Story continues Speaking at the same event, he added that a large portion of the NPLs would be resolved in an orderly fashion, and that some had already been written off on the balance sheets of some banks. The European Banking Authority and the European Central Bank will release the results of new stress tests on Friday. The tests differ this time round as they are looking at general health issues of euro zone lenders. Some are anticipating capital shortfalls for Italian banks. Pierre Moscovici, European commissioner for economic affairs, told CNBC in Chengdu that the sector was much better protected "collectively" now and said he was sure the stress tests would show that. He added that he hoped there would be a "positive outcome" for the Italian banks with regards to a rescue plan. "I'm sure that we will find solutions in our common interest and in full respect of our (EU) current rules," he told CNBC. Meanwhile, both Padoan and Visco were optimistic over the upcoming stress test results. Padoan said there was no systemic issue with Italian banks and was expecting the results to reveal that Italian lenders will "fare on average or even better than other European banks." Visco didn't expect the tests to show any systemic problems, but said that it may find some problems for some banks. "There will be solutions needed and I'm sure that with the difficulties coming out, solutions will also be found," Visco said. "At the same time, we have to understand that these stress tests are a peculiar kind of test ... they don't allow for reactions on the part of banks once the problem has come out," he said. Several analysts have given stern warnings over the Italian banking system in recent weeks. A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Italy is in for a slow economic recovery and might not reach pre-crisis growth levels until the mid-2020s. David Lipton, the first deputy managing director of the IMF, told CNBC Sunday that it was very hard to know exactly the state of Italian banks. He said that the Italian authorities and the European banking authorities were looking at the subject very carefully and we should know more in time. "I think the Italian authorities are trying very earnestly to deal with whatever problems that may come up," he told CNBC at the G20 event in China. Lipton is not worried that there's a looming banking crisis in Italy and said there are significant provisions against some of those non-performing loans in the sector. "I think that there are stresses and a couple of well known cases of banks that have some problems that have to be addressed," he later added. More From CNBC Grand moment pour la troisieme fois pour les cadres de lAssociation Mauricienne des Femmes Chefs dEntreprise avec louverture officiel de la Conference Femmes Chefs dEntreprises Mondiales au Sofitel Imperial pendant la matinee du 26 mai 2022 a Flic en Flac. En presence du chef du gouvernement, Rima Ramsaran, Presidente de lAMFCE, sest dit ravie que Maurice organise apres onze annees cette conference qui a une importance capitale pour le pays mais particulierement les femmes entrepreneurs avant daffirmer que le nombre dentreprise a augmente depuis le debut de la pandemie sanitaire de la Covid-19. Marie-Christine Oghly, Presidente de Femme chefs d entreprise Mondiales, FCEM, a parle ecologie et environnement avec les effets du changement climatique, du le risque que des plages dont celles de Maurice ne disparaissent sous les eaux de locean et de limportance de la pratique a forte proportion de leconomie circulaire car le modele lineaire est revolu. La CEO Comesa Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB), Ruth Negash, sest felicite de lorganisation de cette conference internationale a Maurice et que les femmes entrepreneurs de la COMESO vont beneficier des rencontres prevus a Flic en Flac et ailleurs avant de demander a Pravind Jugnauth afin que le COMFWB ait un espace a Maurice pour mieux intergrer les entrepreneures locaux et de la region. Le Premier ministre, Pravind Jugnauth, sest dit ravi que le concept Women at home datant de ses annees detudes, ne lest plus maintenant, que son gouvernement fait tous les efforts afin que legalite du genre dans tous les niveaux soit une realite et de mettre fin a la discrimination notamment dans le monde des affaires et daffirmer que les femmes entrepreneurs sont You are the world change. Un protocole daccord a ete paraphe par les presidentes de lAMFCE, FCEM et COMFWB pour une meilleure action dans le pays et au sein des trois organisations femininne. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires - By Jonathan Poland With roots dating back to 1783, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has become one of the world's largest commercial real estate companies. Headquartered in Chicago, the former London auctioneer's business now spans the world. Down 33% year to date, the stock presents a very interesting long-term buying opportunity in a really great business. First off, JLL's fee-based business is crushing it. Property Management and Project & Development revenue have been excellent, up 15% and 34% year over year as both units saw growth worldwide. Management estimates lower results from its transactional business, while leasing revenue will likely be up. Jones has been very active when it comes to acquisitions. In the first quarter it took over 11 new targets with a total value of $160 million, creating more fee-based revenue streams. One of the newest acquisitions is the workplace technology firm BRG, helping Jones incorporate consulting and integrated management systems into its offering mix. With Brexit materializing, the stock has hit a short-term floor and barring any significant broad market pullbacks, I look for it to rise from this price. JLL continues to widen the moat around its business through great brand recognition, broad capabilities and infrastructure that attracts both clients and talent. It also creates high switching costs subtly forcing clients to stay on board with a suite of JLL services. And, compared with its larger competitor, CBRE, Jones Lang LaSalle has done better financially and is a better value currently. JLL had a stellar decade of financial growth Revenue increased 196%, from $2 to $6 billion. Net profit rose 140%, from $176 to $422 million. Book value jumped 203%, from $18.33 to $60.65. The company has averaged 17% ROIC over the past decade, a period with both high and low points within the commercial real estate markets and yet the stock lagged the S&P 500. This could be a red flag, but you don't make money on what a company or stock DID in the past. Story continues Better times are coming for JLL investors Back in 2009, at the height of the real estate crisis, JLL traded down in the teens on roughly $2.5 billion in sales, but it survived and so did the brand. Today, the company generates over $420 million in net income on $6.1 billion in revenue and carries just $1.3 billion in total debt. The company is poised to generate over $10 a share this year, and that could rise to $20 a share in the next decade. I believe that, at some point, JLL will start giving shareholders more than 0.50% in dividend yield, and if the earnings rise at the same pace going forward it's only a matter of time before the stock is $200, $300, even $400 a share. That's worth taking the risk on at its current price, especially since the stock is down $70 from last August. Buying quality assets when they're on sale tends to make a good recipe for success in the stock market. JLL is definitely a quality business and many guru investors own the stock. In closing, it's a good practice that if you are following guru investors, to closely match their positions as well. Joel Greenblatt (Trades, Portfolio), Ken Heebner (Trades, Portfolio), Columbia Wagner, John Rogers (Trades, Portfolio), and Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) all own a piece of the company with weightings ranging from 0.04% to 2.22%. Start a free 7-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Ted Cruz CLEVELAND The jockeying for positioning in the next Republican presidential contest has already begun and at this week's convention, a couple of people were able to separate themselves from what is certain to be as large of a glut of contenders as there were in the 2016 cycle. Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Joni Ernst of Iowa, and Ted Cruz of Texas were all on hand. So too were Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Mike Pence of Indiana, Republican nominee Donald Trump's running mate. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida addressed the crowd via video. Each has a compelling case to run in 2020. But more so than the others, Cruz and Pence have created the most space for themselves from the crowd. And, if one speech from the convention is remembered, it will be Cruz's, which stirred up the biggest controversy of the week. It remains to be seen whether the Texas senator's speech will help boost him in the almost-certain event of his 2020 campaign, or drag him down, further hampering his efforts after coming in second this time around. Of course, the biggest question is whether Trump wins, which will almost certainly then push the next primary contest back to 2024 instead of 2020. Matt Mackowiak, founder of the Potomac Strategy Group, told Business Insider that it's "very unlikely" Trump would be successfully primaried if he wins. But if Trump loses, the margin by which he does is important. Ted Cruz "If he loses by one or two points, his supporters and maybe the party will come to blame Cruz for not endorsing and not getting some conservatives to come through," Mackowiak said. "But on the other hand, if Trump gets blown out, Cruz will be the one who's most pure." By not electing to endorse Trump, leading to the audience booing him off the stage and later to him answering a series of tough questions from the Texas delegation, Cruz is more free of Trump than the others, such as Walker, Ernst, and especially Pence, who tied themselves more closely to the Manhattan billionaire during the convention. Story continues "The advantage is for him that he differentiated himself from Trump," Mackowiak said, noting that, depending on how the election plays out, that could prove to be a disadvantage. "Cruz will likely have the largest war chest after raising $30 or $40 million for reelection and probably using a third of it," he said, adding that he will have huge lists, name recognition, and strength in early states like Iowa and South Carolina as major helping points. "There's a chance things go south for him in a way with how things play out in the Senate and if he gets blamed for Trump losing." "There's a line in the movie 'Enemy of the State' where Gene Hackman says to Will Smith, 'you're either incredibly smart or incredibly stupid,' and that line probably applies right now to Cruz." Should Trump lose in November, Mackowiak added that there's a "strong chance" Cruz begins the race as the frontrunner. Ned Ryun, a grassroots conservative activist and founder of American Majority, told Business Insider that the Texas Republican lost some respect from him after he failed to endorse Trump in his RNC speech. He thought that could cause major problems for him down the road, even adding that members of the Texas delegation warned him of a potential primary opponent in Cruz's 2018 reelection bid for the Senate. Cruz will also need more than his grassroots backing in 2016 if he wants to be successful in a future run, he said. "He has to build a coalition that is bigger," he said. "He has a ceiling. I mean, when Sheldon Adelson is refusing to meet with him after Wednesday and granted, I have my own problems with the establishment, but you have to reach out the olive branch with establishment people." "I see him as more of a Santorum figure," mentioning former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania's presidential bids in 2012 and 2016 with the former proving much more successful. IMG_7416.JPG Ryun is big on Pence's chances in the future, and said he "struck the right tone" with his Wednesday night address to the convention. Mackowiak as well thinks Pence will be one of the more interesting to follow, now that he's "two-thirds" through the important moments as a vice-presidential candidate: The announcement, his address at the convention, and the vice-presidential debate. "As long as he does the debate reasonably well and doesn't make any mistakes moving forward, I think he'll have a large national following while being able to appeal to the Trump support base while still being a Reagan conservative," he said. "He's in as strong a position as anyone else." And he'll be in the White House should Trump win. But, should Trump lose the election Pence is in a really precarious place. "He will be a former elected official. He'll have a much less realistic opportunity to raise money and get media," Mackowiak said. "So how does he stay relevant for those two years before the presidential cycle begins? Everybody has challenges." He added that Cruz and Pence "both have the most to gain depending on how things play out." "I think everyone else is kind of in that second category," he said, noting Cotton, Ernst, Rubio, and Govs. Nikki Haley of South Carolina and John Kasich of Ohio. For Ernst, the Iowa senator who is also a combat veteran, a mishap with convention scheduling one the day she spoke bumped her out of a primetime slot. Fellow Iowa politicians were "disappointed" with what transpired, as Ernst gave her much-hyped speech to a nearly empty hall. "I think you could make a case that Joni Ernst got very little buzz because the convention on the first night was so screwed up and she played to an empty hall," Mackowiak said. "And so it's hard to even remember one thing she said, whereas if she played to a full hall in primetime that really could've become a big moment." Rubio, who both men believe is looking to run in the next cycle, didn't inspire much enthusiasm with his scripted video. Mackowiak called it "half-assed." Arkansas Senate Candidate Tom Cotton Attends Election Night Party With Supporters Cotton, the youngest member of the Senate, is someone many believe has a presidential future. While admitting he's "bullish" on the senator, Mackowiak said he doesn't "know that he got much out of this convention." Asked about Cotton's presidential chances on Tuesday during a gaggle with reporters at a Cleveland restaurant, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa praised his grasp of national security. "If that's a major issue when he decides to run for office, he should run," he said. The Iowa Republican was asked about Ernst, Cruz, and the rest of the potential 2020 or 2024 field. He said he's not "seeing any more jockeying for 2020 than I saw for 2016 or 2012." Pressed again, Grassley, who has served in the Senate since 1981, made a frank point about future elections involving his Senate colleague's aspirations. "Ever since I've been in the United States Senate, aside from two who were foreign born, I don't think I met any [senators] who didn't think they could be president," he said. NOW WATCH: OBAMA: The fears expressed at the RNC 'don't jibe with the facts' More From Business Insider Latest Health News Updates Health News Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 Round the clock daily health news updates from leading and reliable sources along with RSS feeds. Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement The need to make such predictions is increasingly pressing. The paper reviews the research in the relatively new discipline of macroecology, covering important findings and advances in computational and statistical methods and explaining how macroecological approaches can inform human health and conservation initiatives.Macroecology uses advanced computational techniques to look for patterns in enormous data sets. When applied to disease ecology, this kind of analysis can help scientists understand relationships among parasites, hosts and their environments. One such project cited by Stephens combines a study of the factors that allow wild host species to share parasites with an analysis of primate diversity."One of the major findings is that species that are closely related tend to have a lot of diseases in common," Stephens said. "Combining primate diversity with information on which of those primates are more closely related to humans yields a map of areas where there might be a high risk of a new infectious disease jumping out of primates and moving into humans."That study and others point to another strength of the macroecological approach."To understand what's going on with diseases overall, you need to integrate understanding of human, animal and environmental health," Stephens said. "You can't look at diseases of humans in complete isolation of diseases of wildlife, and you can't look at diseases of wildlife in complete isolation of what''s going on with the environment, because a lot of times those diseases are related to environmental degradation."Macroecology has a lot of important insights for that, and for the conservation of threatened species."The paper is the product of a research coordination network supported by a jointly funded five-year grant from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Agriculture to the University of Georgia under grant number DEB 1316223. Led by Stephens, the network convenes working groups that meet periodically at UGA."What's important about the research coordination network is not just that we've got some of the most prominent macroecologists and disease ecologists in the world, it's that we're bringing together experts from many different disciplines, from statistical methods to phylogenetic comparative methods," Stephens said. "That's allowing us to take on projects that I don't think any of us would have been able to do on our own."Those projects include studies of patterns of disease overlap in wild ungulate species, how species' range shifts in response to climate change will affect parasite sharing, and analysis of biological traits of host species most central in host-parasite networks."For conservation, for human health and for agriculture, understanding how diseases move between species and where and when new diseases might emerge are all really important questions," Stephens said. "Macroecology can't tell us exactly what's going to happen, but it's really the best approach we have for figuring out what's more or less likely to happen with respect to disease emergence, disease globalization and population declines and species extinctions driven by disease."Study co-authors are Sonia Altizer, Sarah A. Budischak, James E. Byers, Tad A. Dallas, John M. Drake, Vanessa O. Ezenwa, John L. Gittleman, Andrew Park and J. P. Schmidt of the University of Georgia; Katherine F. Smith, Brown University; A. Alonso Aguirre, George Mason University; James H. Brown, University of New Mexico; T. Jonathan Davies and Maxwell J. Farrell, McGill University; Barbara A. Han, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Shan Huang, Senckenberg Gesellschaft fAr Naturforschung, Frankfurt, Germany; Rebecca A. Hutchinson, Oregon State University; Pieter Johnson, University of Colorado; Charles L. Nunn, Duke University; David Onstad, DuPont Agricultural Biotechnology; Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec, Emory University and Robert Poulin, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.Source: Newswise Advertisement "I think this work is going to provide a significant resource for future fungal research," said lead co-author Vincent Bruno, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, as well as a research scientist at the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS). "Now we can dig into the data to find new targets for treatment."The other lead author is Ashraf S. Ibrahim, PhD, a scientist at LA BioMed, a nonprofit independent biomedical research institute in Los Angeles. Marcus Chibucos, PhD, a research associate at the IGS, also contributed significantly to the study.There are between 50 and 100 species of the Mucorales fungus. Dr. Bruno and his colleagues compared the genes of 25 of these. The study identified several pathways that are required for mucormycosis to develop in a patient.Generally the fungus invades the cells of people with weakened immune systems and causes a sometimes-deadly infection known as mucormycosis. This infection can occurPatients whose immune systems are not working properly are especially at risk. This group includes patients with diabetes, people who have recently undergone transplants or who have suffered wounds. In addition to soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fungal infections also appeared in some patients hurt in the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia and the tornadoes that occurred in Joplin, Missouri, in 2011.These infections are considered to be rare, but Dr. Bruno notes that they are probably often overlooked and underreported, and so may be much more common than previously realized."There are no vaccines or effective therapies available today to halt the highly fatal mucormycosis infection," said Dr. Ibrahim. "There is an urgent need for additional research to develop strategies to protect patients with weakened immune systems."The researchers say they have identified a pathway that has the potential to be targeted to treat these infections. It appears that these fungi are less able to invade human cells after the inhibition of a protein called platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PGDFR), which plays a key role in cell growth. Dr. Bruno and Dr. Ibrahim are now beginning research to find out whether this protein can be targeted to treat these fungal infections. They suspect that there may be existing drugs, already approved by the FDA that can effectively inhibit PGDFR; this would make the path to finding treatment for these fungal infections much simpler."This work is both innovative and exciting," said UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. "It combines "big data" with basic science, and points the way toward what may be critically important clinical solutions."Source: Newswise Advertisement For the study, the Loring lab will investigate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are derived from adult subjects and can differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. In this case, iPSCs derived from cells donated by 10 Scripps Clinic Parkinson's patients were developed into dopamine-producing neurons-the same kind that die during Parkinson's. The new grant will allow the researchers to advance these cells through U.S. Food and Drug Administration preclinical testing requirements, with the hope of moving closer to clinical trials.Loring's work focuses in part on improving the quality and safety of stem cell therapies. She and her colleagues recently published the first comprehensive analysis of genomic sequence of iPSCs, and her lab's advances include the development of the PluriTest quality control assay for pluripotency (the ability of stem cells to differentiate), which was recently licensed to The Coriell Institute for Medical Research. The grant number is DISC2-09073.About The Scripps Research InstituteThe Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. TSRI is internationally recognized for its contributions to science and health, including its role in laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. An institution that evolved from the Scripps Metabolic Clinic founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, the institute now employs more than 2,500 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientists-including two Nobel laureates and 20 members of the National Academy of Science, Engineering or Medicine-work toward their next discoveries. The institute's graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation.About Scripps HealthFounded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps Health treats more than 600,000 patients annually through the dedication of 3,000 affiliated physicians and more than 15,000 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, hospice and home health care services, 28 outpatient centers and clinics, and hundreds of physician offices throughout the region.Recognized as a leader in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Scripps Health is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine and wireless health care. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps Health is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Scripps Health has been ranked four times as one of the nation's best health care systems by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's best and Scripps Health is regularly recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work.Source: Newswise Heres where it all began for Donald Trump. This modest house in the wealthy enclave of Jamaica Estates, Queens, was Trumps early childhood home. And its a far cry from his palatial triplex today at Trump Tower on Manhattans Fifth Avenue. Trumps father, Fred, built the 2,500-square-foot brick-and-stucco Tudor Revival in 1940. Now, its on the market for $1.65 million. Thats $700,000 more than what typical homes in the neighborhood are selling for. Is the homes real estate agent banking on a Trump premium? No, I think the house is very well priced, Howard Kaminowitz, with Laffey Fine Homes tells Yahoo Finance. Kaminowitz says he left a message with the Trump organization, letting them know the home is up for sale. As of this writing, hes yet to receive a response. Current owner and restaurateur, Isaac Kestenberg, bought the six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home in 2008 for $782,500. He believes the property has more value because Trump once lived there. Theres something in the walls, he says with a grin. Its a presidents house, maybe a presidents house. The home, at 85-15 Wareham Place, boasts a lot of original details, including a carved oak fireplace and staircase, plus a mahogany paneled library. Kestenberg, who plans to vote for Trump in November, imagines the homes smallest bedroom was most likely little Donalds room. Walking on the same wooden floors that Trumps toddler feet walked makes him feel elevated, he says. When Trump was a preschooler, his family upgraded and moved around the corner into a stately 4,182-square-foot brick Georgian Revival. Still, if Trump does become the 45th president of the United States, the little house at 85-15 Wareham Place will become rooted in American history. If not, at least the new owners will have a pretty cool story to tell. Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 21, 2016. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 21, 2016. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) Let me be clear: Donald Trump doesnt think much of Hillary Clintons IT strategy. The Republican presidential nominees dystopian speech at the GOP convention denounced Hillary Clintons use of a private e-mail system in her last job: a Secretary of State illegally stores her emails on a private server, deletes 33,000 of them so the authorities cant see her crime, puts our country at risk, lies about it in every different form. But otherwise, Trumps 77-minute speech barely mentioned technology that word itself appears nowhere in the text as transcribed by the Washington Post. The only other mention of tech policy came in a paragraph about China that noted its outrageous theft of intellectual property. So were left with the Republican Partys 2016 platform to figure out what the party Trump thinks about this somewhat important sector of the economy. That 66-page document has a great deal to say on the matter, and in a couple of cases its not far from the public stances of Clinton. Broadband access The GOP platform places a large bet on wireless broadband, pledging to facilitate access to spectrum by paving the way for high-speed, next-generation broadband deployment and competition on the internet and for internet services. The document also allows for government support for broadband expansion: We encourage public-private partnerships to provide predictable support for connecting rural areas. Clintons tech platform says about the same. That platform supports the evolution to 5G, small cell solutions, and other next-generation systems that can deliver faster wireless connections. Its also in favor of targeted public funding to favorably change the economics of private capital investment in existing or new broadband networks. Internet freedom Daylight re-emerges between the parties on the subject of net-neutrality regulations, which the GOP platform denounces as rules devised in the 1930s for the telephone monopoly. It also slams the Obama administrations move to hand off administrative oversight of the internets domain-name system to a US-based non-profit called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Story continues The GOP platform complains: He threw the internet to the wolves, and they Russia, China, Iran, and others are ready to devour it. That is a profoundly dubious argument, given this oversight is extremely limited anyway. Moreover, back in 2012, the Obama administration helped defeat an attempt to give this role to the U.N.s International Telecommunications Union amid fears that the change would lead to repressive governments having too much power over the internet. The Republican platform pledges support for an open and free internet based on principles of free expression and universal values here and abroad although pornography is apparently out, since the document calls it a public health crisis. The GOP platform also favors policies to empower citizens and US companies operating in authoritarian countries to circumvent internet firewalls and gain accurate news and information online. Another way to phrase that: We are also supporting the development of new tools that enable citizens to exercise their rights of free expression by circumventing politically motivated censorship, as then-Secretary of State Clinton said in a January 2010 speech on internet freedom. (My thanks to TechFreedoms Berin Szoka for pointing that out in his critique of the GOPs platform.) Encryption and privacy Republican presidential candidates were all over the map on whether strong encryption should be controlled, and the platform takes a yes-but stance. It calls crypto crucial to the digital economy, warns that criminals and terrorists seek to use encryption technology to harm us and declares that citizens must retain the right to communicate with one another free from unlawful government intrusion. It concludes that Congress has to settle this and, yes, a new law could mandate unlocking the strong encryption in an iPhone or Facebooks optional end-to-end encrypted messaging. Clinton backs a commission to study this, which is even vaguer. Cybersecurity The Republican platform backs not just stronger defenses against attacks on private and public networks so does Clinton but offense cybersecurity capabilities, as well. That would include, curtailing visas for guilty parties, freezing their assets and pursuing criminal actions against them, but also unspecified attacks, to avoid the cyber-equivalent of Pearl Harbor. I liked this line elsewhere in the platform about a type of information security critical to the continued functioning of democracy: We urge that electronic voting systems have a voter-verified paper audit trail. Intellectual property The platform says we need to protect intellectual property rights but offers little details beyond demanding strong action against those who infringe it, here or overseas. Theres no mention of patents at all, which is bizarre given that patent trolling lawsuits and threats of lawsuits vaguely alleging patent infringement sent by companies set up only to stage these shakedowns threaten large and small companies alike. Republicans in Congress have been among the leading advocates of reforms that would have the added benefit of inconveniencing the key Democratic constituency of trial lawyers. Will Trump will have something specific to say about this and other tech-policy debates beyond, perhaps, I alone will fix it? The past few months and his speech at the GOP convention have yet to provide much reason for optimism about that. Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas were convicted by a federal court in November 2016 of conspiring to smuggle cocaine to the United States, after being arrested in Haiti in 2015 and flown to the US (AFP Photo/DON EMMERT) (AFP/File) Washington (AFP) - Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady admitted being part of a cocaine smuggling scheme in a US sting operation before their arrest last year, according to recently filed court documents. Details of the alleged confessions by Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freita were recounted in documents US prosecutors filed Friday in the US federal court in Manhattan. The two -- sons of brothers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife Cilia Flores -- were arrested in Haiti in November 2015 and flown to New York by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents. The pair are accused of plotting to smuggle at least five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine into the United States. They were also accused of taking part in meetings to plan a shipment of cocaine to the United States via Honduras. The newly released court documents show how Campo and Flores and others worked together to try to send hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to Honduras so that the drugs could be imported into the United States. The drugs were purportedly to be bought by Mexican drug traffickers, who were in fact sources acting under instruction from the DEA. During recorded meetings in Venezuela, Honduras, and Haiti, the defendants discussed transporting multiple loads of cocaine via private aircraft, the papers said. The defendants understood that the narcotics would end up in the US in transactions "that they hoped would generate millions of dollars in proceeds." US officials believe much of the cocaine produced in Colombia passes through Venezuela before being transported to the United States and Europe. During an October meeting with DEA sources, Campo described connections to the Venezuelan government and later stated, "we're at war with the United States... with Colombia... with the opposition," according to the documents. The defendants, rather than the DEA, initiated the drug trafficking activities at issue in the case, prosecutors said. Story continues The two men were arrested in Haiti at the request of the DEA, and taken into custody by the agency. During the November 10 flight to the US, Campo and Flores waived their rights to remain silent "and confessed to participating in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States," the papers said. The Spanish-speaking defendants have argued that their post-arrest statements were involuntary and the result of an impermissible interrogation because they did not fully understand their US rights. Campo and Flores are scheduled to stand trial on the charges on November 7. If convicted they face up to life in prison. They have pleaded not guilty. JOURNALIST: What repercussions might the coup in Turkey have for our country, Mr. Minister? What worries you the most? N. KOTZIAS: For some time now, I have been underscoring that Turkey is distinguished for a restiveness, a term used to describe Germany in the 19th century. A restiveness followed by the more intensive presence of the Army. I was disparaged for these views, but developments have a way of bearing out sober assessments. What interests me is that any restiveness or worsening of domestic contradictions in Turkey not pass into inter-state relations; that the crisis not be exported through accidents. This is a basic criterion for handling the situation. JOURNALIST: Does any strengthening of Erdogan lead, in your opinion, to an upgrading of Turkish provocations in the Aegean? N. KOTZIAS: The Erdogan era is characterized by the fact that there has been no heated incident against our country. There have been violations of international law, of course. At least in the short term, they will probably decrease. If, of course, domestic authoritarianism increases in our neighbour, then, in the long term, these violations may increase. In any case, we have to be measured and cautious. Sober and calm. We need to take care to develop the friendship between the two peoples. JOURNALIST: Is there any lesson for the Cyprus issue from the coup attempt? N. KOTZIAS: The developments vindicate our position that the Turkish occupation force in Cyprus cannot be an agent for democratic peace or a guarantor of the implementation of a just solution. In fact, it is and will present a danger to any solution. A hotbed generating coups. A real solution includes the complete and definitive withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus, the elimination of the anachronistic system of guarantees. I hope everyone now understands this. JOURNALIST: Athens supports Erdogan. But isnt it worried by the authoritarianism shown by Erdogan following the coups failure, the way he is dealing with his opponents? N. KOTZIAS: Athens is against any form of coup. No one has the right to forget that those who attempted the coup acted against the institutions of Turkish democracy, however critical an opinion one has of those institutions. I believe that Turkey needs more democracy, not less. The victors of the internal controversy must show magnanimity to the defeated, ensuring that they are judged base of the rule of law, despite the gravity of their actions. The victors must show that they defend the constitutional institutions of their country and not the power of any given individual. That is why, from the very outset, I spoke of restraint and moderation. JOURNALIST: How should the European Union behave towards Turkey, Mr. Minister? Does the situation following the coup facilitate the visa liberalization Ankara is seeking? N. KOTZIAS: At the Council of Foreign Ministers last week, we welcomed the defeat of the coup. We agreed that Turkey should show a European political and legal culture; that the victors should show self-restraint and not bring back the death penalty. JOURNALIST: Many believe that Turkey, even in the short term, will face problems of cohesion and of maintaining its borders. Do you agree? N. KOTZIAS: The EU wants a democratic Turkey in which the interests and needs of all religious, ethnic and social groups are respected. We dont want a Turkey of revenge, of rifts, of destabilization. In this context, I think Erdogans statement regarding Hagia Sophia was counterproductive. JOURNALIST: And something else. What kind of coup was it that took place in Turkey and forced many to call it staged? N. KOTZIAS: It was a coup from another era, when it sufficed to take over the state radio stations. Back when there were no social media or private media outlets. It is a coup that struck at parts of the army itself and citizens; that started in the evening of a holiday, with the imams on the balconies, and not in the early-morning hours. There are quite a few who believe that there were forces who were preparing the coup and were discovered, and that, subsequently, perhaps they were trapped into acting early. JOURNALIST: Will Greece hand over the Turkish military personnel who requested asylum in Alexandroupoli, Mr. Minister? N. KOTZIAS: That will be decided by the judges and the competent authorities. The latter will certainly take into account the extent to which the eight were part of the coup. That their lawyers are saying they werent aware of the coup is their absolute and inalienable right. Let me take this opportunity to note something else. I cannot accept the insult of drawing a parallel between the struggle of those who fight for their rights nationally, socially and democratically, and those who mount a coup; who wanted to overturn the rights of society, who bombed the Parliament, killed and wounded protesters. They deserve anything but our solidarity. JOURNALIST: Turkey is threatening that there will be a deterioration in Greek-Turkish relations if you dont hand them over N. KOTZIAS: You are referring, I imagine, to the comments published in the Turkish ambassadors interview on Tuesday. But, as you saw, there was a clarifying statement as to what was said on his part. In the genuine text, no such threats are expressed. JOURNALIST: Does the ruling of the Court of Arbitration in The Hague, on the Philippines case against China, constitute a precedent for Greek-Turkish relations? Even if Turkey hasnt signed the Law of the Sea? N. KOTZIAS: We fought a successful days-long negotiation so that the stance and decisions of the EU on this issue would do three things: a) Protect our fundamental national interest with regard to the implementation of the International Convention on the Law of the Sea. This is the first time the EU so categorically supports its implementation. B) We raised a new issue, which we will raise more and more systematically: If the EU demands of third parties that they implement the Law of the Sea, then it should be even more demanding in this regard to candidate and associated states, with whatever that entails. c) Finally, any stances of the EU should not undermine our relations with our friend China. We managed to achieve multiple changes to the EU text, serving these three goals. JOURNALIST: Many people are raising the issue of the Turkish consulate in Komotini having exceeded its role. Even the President of the Republic made a warning on the subject. Do you share that view? N. KOTZIAS: The Turkish consulate often acts beyond its competencies. We have to take care to remind them of this. First of all, I note that the Muslim minority has always lived well in Greece, within a civilized framework and with its rights guaranteed. I also note that Roma and Pomaks, too, belong to this community. Two groups of Muslims of Thrace who are unrelated to those groups who are self-determined as being of Turkish origin. Moreover, one need do no more than compare the development of the Muslim community in Thrace with what the Hellenism of Asia Minor and Istanbul have suffered. JOURNALIST: After the latest slaughter in Nice, many are arguing that democracies have reached their limits and that the West should step up its military action against ISIS. Do you agree? N. KOTZIAS: The fight against fanaticism, every form of fanaticism, and terrorism must be unrelenting. Democracy does not have limits. With regard to the recent terrorist attacks in EU states, what is characteristic is that the vast majority of these attacks come from Muslim citizens of these states. There is a problem of their identity and integration into the societies of the EU member states. JOURNALIST: Do you agree with the escalation of tension between Russia and NATO? N. KOTZIAS: In the EU, more or less in NATO, there are two trends on handling Russia: one tough, one more realistic. This is why there are two positions set down in their decisions: Deterrence and dialogue. I often underscore that the main question is whether the West wants to consolidate a security architecture in Europe against Russia or with Russia, as happened during the Cold War and was institutionalized in the Helsinki Accords. I am in favor of the second option, as long as the other side helps through its choices. JOURNALIST: Will Greece agree to participate in military forces? N. KOTZIAS: Greece is not participating in NATOs new military missions in northeastern Europe. JOURNALIST: Should the issue of the sanctions against Russia be reconsidered? N. KOTZIAS: There are two types of sanctions. Those that are imposed to bring the opponent to its knees a lost cause and those that are aimed at bringing the opponent to the negotiating table. As a rule, sanctions do not have significant results. I believe that, in the fall, in the EU, we should discuss why and whether the EU wants to renew the sanctions against Russia. We need to have such a sincere discussion. Knee-jerk decisions never help. JOURNALIST: Following the Brexit, what changes do you think Europe needs to make, Mr. Minister? N. KOTZIAS: The EU needs to make a fundamental decision: Does it want to deepen the integration processes? And, if so, does it understand that these have to be in the direction of more democracy, of social justice and of growth? That the time has come to say farewell to the neo-liberal dogmas and memorandum policies? Because if it continues on the same course, it will probable founder in suicidal tendencies A disabled veteran and farmer could lose his top therapy tool if he is unable to come up with funding to make his farming operation legal. Robert Ragels, 47, a 100 percent-disabled Army veteran who served in the Gulf War and Bosnia, has a menagerie of therapy animals, which support their own upkeep on his small Texas farm via eggs sales and goat cheese made from grade-B goat milk. Despite a 2011 state law change that required him to produce goat cheese with only grade-A milk, he has continued to operate illegally rather than make the $250,000 investment to bring his farm into compliance. But now regulators are cracking down, he said, and his only option is to pay for the improvements or be shut down. Chief among his therapy animals are his 40 goats; his favorite is named "Bee" because she greets him and interacts with him every time he enters the pen, he said. His family of four also has nine dogs, including a certified therapy Pug; about 30 ducks; one mini- horse; seven cats; 100 chickens; and a guard llama, Ragels said. By making cheese from goat milk under a food manufacturer license and selling duck and chicken eggs, Ragels is able to turn about a $400 weekly profit, he said. Ragels received a 100 percent disability rating for post-traumatic stress disorder after he left the Army in 1999. He first realized the therapy power of his goats and other animals while receiving therapy from a Department of Veterans Affairs doctor in Arizona, he said. "Anything dealing with the animals, I'm totally at ease, whether it's going to Home Depot for fencing supplies, or to the feed store, or to the farmers market to sell cheese," he said. "They're pretty much just a mirror. Whatever you give them, they give back. There's no facade, there's nothing you have to hide.... I have no doubt that if I didn't have animals, I would be a lot worse off than I am today." But to keep the animals, he needs to bring his cheese production operation up to code, and that means producing grade-A instead of grade-B goat milk for the cheese, he said. To do so, he needs to make a variety of upgrades to his farm, including building a new facility that meets state standards and purchasing a commercial pasteurizer, with a price tag starting at $15,000. Ragels said he has tried applying for grants from government agencies such as the Small Business Administration, but thanks to budget cuts there aren't many available, and anyone who had been taking applications is done for the year. And while he is in the process of refinancing his home and has set up a GoFundMe account to come up with some of the money, unless he finds another way to pay for the changes, he won't be able to keep selling products or keep his animals. "I cannot afford the goats unless they pay for themselves, I just can't," he said. "I hate to beg for money. For me, it's almost not honorable to put your hat out and beg. I work every single day, I'm not a lazy guy -- but I simply can't do this." Ragels said he plans to finish construction by early next year, assuming he can find the funding. Although he knows talking about his illegal farm operation publicly will bring heightened attention from regulators, he is willing to take the risk if it means telling people about his struggle. "I honestly can't even think about not having animals around," he said. "It would be like you walking downtown naked. It's not something you could ever picture doing. It's something that you would be forced to do against your own will. I can't even comprehend not having animals." -- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com. Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV. Barcia Profile Photo Former state Sen. Jim Barcia, pictured at a February 2016 state of the community luncheon, squares off against incumbent Bay County Executive Thomas Hickner and Mark McFarland in the Aug. 2 Primary Election. (Yfat Yossifor | MLive File) BAY CITY, MI -- Former U.S. Congressman Jim Barcia has been out of politics since 2011 when his term as a state senator came to an end. As he remained active through volunteering, he says people in the community approached him about a run for county executive. He says he was under the impression that longtime County Executive Thomas Hickner wasn't going to seek re-election, but that turned out not to be the case. Both candidates have never lost an election. Barcia, who's leaning on his state and federal legislative experience, squares off against Hickner and Mark McFarland in the Aug. 2 Primary Election. The Bay City Times sat down with Barcia on Friday, July 22, to talk about what he hopes to accomplish as county executive, including economic development initiatives in the county, how he hopes to attract and retain millennials and his overall vision for the county. The following is an edited transcript: Candidate profile * Address: 3190 Hidden Road, Bay City, MI 48706 * Age: 64 * Family: (spouse's name and children names) wife Victoria, Dr. Frank Bartlett (stepson), Cindy Archambeau (stepdaughter) * High school: Bay City Central High School, 1970 * Undergraduate college: Bachelor of Arts Degree Public Administration - Saginaw Valley State University 1974 * Other education: Doctorate of Laws 2001 (Honorary Saginaw Valley State University) * Employment: Public Official (see below); Previous employment: General Motors Nodular Iron Foundry 4 years; United Parcel Service 2 years * List companies you own or hold more than a 5 percent stake: None * Corporate, civic, community memberships: Bay City Lions, Saginaw Valley State University Board of Fellows, Saginaw Valley State University Foundation Board of Directors, 100 Club Board of Directors, Bangor Township Downtown Development Authority, Honorary Lifetime Member Bay County Humane Society, Lifetime Member Polish Legion of American Veterans, Safari Club International, Sons of the American Legion Post 18, Member Moose Lodge 169, Member of Teamster Local 486 * Have you ever held public office? State Representative 1977-1983; state Senator 1983-1993; U.S. Representative 1993-2003; state Senator 2003-2011. * Have you ever run for public office and lost? No. * Website: http://www.JimBarciaCountyExecutive.com * Facebook: http://facebook.com/JimBarciaforBayCountyExecutive Source: MLive Voter Guide Q: What was the reason to come back into politics and seek this seat? A: People felt that my state and federal legislative experience, my contacts and my knowledge of the state programs and appropriations process... that I would be the ideal candidate to follow (Hickner). Did you have to think long about running? I remained very active in the community through volunteering, so when I broached the subject to my wife, she told me that I'm working all the time, anyway, so, why not run? Any unfinished business or projects you had out there that you feel, as county executive, you could accomplish? Sure, I'm currently working with... others who are concerned about securing federal funding with a state match to do a deep river dredging of the Saginaw River to, hopefully at some point in the future, establish a seaport, which would enhance our international trade by having a navigable river all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Some people who are looking at your decades in politics at the state and federal level might think you're trying to triple-dip the taxpayers for another pension. If you win this election, will you one day have three government pensions? When I was elected in 1992, we were a reform class with 113 freshmen after many of the incumbents retired or were defeated as a result of the House bank. One of the first items on our agenda was the elimination of the House bank to address that scandal. Congressmen were bouncing checks they couldn't cover. The second thing was the elimination of the congressional pension. As of 1992, my class -- and I voted for it -- was to eliminate future congressional pensions for any member elected 1992 or after. What I did, was place $1,000 of deduction in my payroll check into a private annuity account. I paid $1,000 per month over 10 years, about $120,000, and it currently pays about $15,000 per year gross, minus federal and state taxes. There were no public funds involved in that private annuity. Those were my personal funds. I receive one pension from the state for my work in the House and Senate, which I started drawing at the age of 59. Our household receives one pension, about $70,000 from the state. What experience can you point to that shows you have the skills to manage hundreds of employees? I had four offices (as a congressman) in Michigan. I had about 18 employees in Washington and I was the ranking member of the research and technology subcommittee, which had an additional 15 employees, which I supervised, and they had staff that worked for them as well. I'm a hands-on type of manager, but I do know when to delegate. I choose my staff very well. Many of my former staff members have gone on to prominent positions. What is the one thing that you're leaning on in this election as to why people should vote for you? I think I have more energy than the current incumbent. And I have a greater vision for Bay County when it comes to economic development. We have a small, but eager group of millennials in Bay County -- especially in Bay City. What can you do as county executive to retain and attract this age group, many of whom are entrepreneurs who have or who are launching small businesses here? We're losing population each and every year and the biggest portion we're losing is our younger generation that will be of child-rearing years. As our population declines, that impacts our federal and state revenue sharing. We have to grow our population and expand our tax base. How can we do that? By having a county executive be more like the three other county executives in Michigan. The county executives in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties are actually visible and engaged, which is what I would intend to be. At the same time, Bay County ranks No. 1 in Michigan for the highest percentage of population over 65. How do you juggle taking care of our senior citizens, while also retaining and attracting a younger generation? We need to recruit strongly throughout the state and Midwest technology-based companies that pay adequate or good salaries with healthcare and retirement security. That's how we're going to get our people to stay to purchase a home and raise children that will remain in Bay County. Let's move on to economic development. One of the most direct ways the county can support economic development efforts is by investing in Bay Future. The Board of Commissioners opted to not increase its contribution of $50,000 to the public-private economic development agency this year, despite it launching a $1.2 million capital campaign that promises to create over 600 new jobs. Meanwhile, other public entities, like Bay City, upped their contributions. Should the county give more to Bay Future? As a member of the Bangor Township DDA, I made the motion to double the amount of income paid to Bay Future in this latest campaign. Bay County is the only entity not to increase by one penny. That was because of a board vote, though. Can you as a county executive convince the board to change its mind and make a larger contribution? Yes, you only have to persuade four people. And what you have to do is sit down and explain to them why it makes sense. When I was in Congress, I had 435 colleagues in the House, 100 in the Senate and the Executive Office. To get a bill signed into law, I had to convince and persuade a majority of all of those people. I think with enough community engagement that we can have a cooperative board of commissioners. But I think if you don't make an effort, then you're going to end up with the result that we got. Saginaw County gives $200,000 to its economic development agency; Midland County gives $150,000. How much should Bay County give? I would say $200,000 at a minimum if we want to grow our tax base. Remember, by growing our tax base, we can avoid tax increases in the future. Another issue is the Monitor Township DDA, which has brought in dozens of business and more than 1,300 good-paying jobs to the region. It's sunsetting at the end of the year. Is that a good decision? It should have been extended because of the amazing success of that DDA. If elected, would you look to recreate that DDA again? Yes, I would certainly extend support and try and convince four members of the seven-member board to give them a two-year extension to capture some of the tax base so those companies that are already operating can help provide the infrastructure to new developments as an incentive to locate here, as opposed to somewhere else. One of the challenges you're going to have, if elected, is working with a board of commissioners. You also have to work with Bob Redmond, who advises the board of all issues. Does the county need an executive and a Bob Redmond? Bob gives advice the board and obviously, they're very fond of him. What I would try to do is work with the board and explain where I'm coming from on why I think we need additional economic development and more jobs in Bay County, which in the past, I don't think they've played a role in. Does the county board need an advisor? Well, it's a part-time position. I have no issue with a financial advisor for the board. Bay County is one of four counties in Michigan with an executive-style of government, the others being in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne. Is this style of government needed in Bay County? I think it's important that the four county executives communicate and I think we could be a voice for developing a new model of funding from the state legislature. Do we need a county executive style government? I think it's helpful. I think we need a visible leader in the community elected by the people who will outline a vision for the county. There's no accountability with a manager because you don't elect a manager. What types of improvements would you like to see in place? I would like to see our hiring practices improved, including adopting a nepotism policy, which we don't have in place. (Editor's note: Bay County does have an anti-nepotism police) I would also like to engage the public more and have higher attendance at our county board meetings. If we can get 100 to 200 to a board meeting, if I can't convince (the board), maybe their citizens or constituents can convince them. And I would like to see improvements with the management of the Bay County Civic Arena, which has been running at a deficit. I think the arena is an asset to have, however, I think we could utilize that structure a lot more aggressively than what we have. We could be hosting conferences, antique shows, various types of activities that could be held here, that could supplement the winter usage of the double ice rinks contained in the civic arena. That is a seasonal activity. We need to make the civic arena a year-round location through aggressive promotion and marketing. Bay County has a reputation of being a "good ol' boys club." The board is all white males and all but one is over the age of 50. What can you do as county executive to encourage a more diverse county board that includes women, minorities and a more diverse age range? Ultimately the voters will decide who comprises the Board of Commissioners. One of my goals is to meet with all county employees and make sure they now if there's a morale issue, I will be there to listen and help them out. Bay City unanimously adopted an anti-discrimination ordinance in August. Bay County didn't have enough votes to pass a dedicated ordinance that protects all individuals, including those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, when it comes to the hiring of employees and housing issues. The city is now talking about creating a human relations commission where a publicly appointed board could handle discrimination cases. Do you think more can be done to protect all individuals from discrimination? I have never believed in discriminating against any individual based on their nationality, their weight, their various factors take into consideration, in terms of discrimination against people being considered for employment in county government. Would you want to see a human relations board in the county? I think it would be helpful. What's Bay County's No. 1 strength today? I think it's the strong work ethic by our population. What about our No. 1 weakness? Our weakness is our predisposition to be satisfied with the status quo. We have to outline a vision of where Bay County will be in five years, 10 years and 15 years. If elected county executive, is this your final four years in politics? I don't know. I haven't made a decision regarding that. All I know is that I have a passion for public service and as long as the people and God will have me, I would like to contribute whatever I can to the improvement of the county I was born in. In terms of an additional term as county executive, I certainly wouldn't rule that out. knapp.jpg Colin Knapp, left, and his boyfriend, Frank Kong, both of Detroit, were vacationing in Eastern Europe at the time of the failed coup in Turkey. Days before the military action, Knapp was injured in a vehicle crash. He has since returned home. (Photo courtesy of Colin Knapp) DETROIT, MI - A Detroit man has safely returned home from Turkey, where he was recovering from a leg injury when an attempted coup incited national turmoil. Colin Knapp, 24, and his boyfriend flew on Friday to Amsterdam and then Detroit, a trip that, once concluded, brought Colin - and his parents and grandmother in Battle Creek - relief. He is healing well, able to walk with the aid of crutches, and working on stairs. "I'm finally starting to feel normal." Knapp, an organist trained at the University of Michigan, hopes to return to the bench by early September. He directs music at a church in Ypsilanti and works in audience engagement at the Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit. In the meantime, he is battling with insurance companies to cover his medical expenses and beginning physical therapy. Knapp was hospitalized July 13 in Istanbul after his left leg was badly broken in a crash. He and his boyfriend, Frank Kong, 50, on vacation in Eastern Europe, were riding in a taxicab to a restaurant when a vehicle hit the cab. The impact flipped it around and into the path of another vehicle. He underwent a surgery on July 15 that left him with a 12-inch scar. Hours later, tanks rolled onto the streets of the capital, Ankara, and uniformed soldiers blocked Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged people to take to the streets and stand up to the rebels, a military faction. More than 200 died and many more were injured during a long night of violence. Thousands have since been detained as the president works to crackdown on alleged coup plotters. Late last week, he issued a three-month state of emergency. Colin was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. He and Kong did some shopping and saw some interesting architecture before their departure. They saw only support for Erdogan. People were waving Turkish flags, which also hung in the windows of shops and businesses. Taxis honked their horns. Anyone who opposes the president is being understandably quiet, he said. There was extra security at the airport. Guards with automatic weapons were posted at the entrance or road to the airport and travelers had to go through multiple, thorough passport checks. Knapp and Kong had gone to Europe for the wedding of Knapp's Bulgarian coworker. They planned to travel to Greece before the coup, but the crash altered their plans, placing Knapp in a hospital instead of on an island beach. He is sad they did not enjoy their full vacation; he figures they will go back. "It really was an incredible country." They will let a little time pass. "I think it needs to cool down quite a bit there." Youth Summer Jam.jpg The Detroit Police Department, the Skillman Foundation and the Detroit Public Safety Foundation are scheduled to host the Youth Summer Jam in Detroit on Thursday, July 28 at Chene Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Courtesy of Detroit Police) DETROIT-- Police, the Skillman Foundation and the Detroit Public Safety Foundation plan to host the Detroit Youth Summer Jam Path to Greatness Festival at Chene Park on Thursday, July 28. The event, meant to aid police-community relationships, and provide youth with information on different topics is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Participants can meet with local celebrities, converse with Detroit police officers and engage in discussion regarding situations young people may encounter. Workshops on gun safety, distracted driving, LGBTQ awareness, cyber bullying, sexually transmitted diseases and health awareness are scheduled. Some of the stations such as the distracted driving workshop, will be an interactive way to show participants the dangerous when involved with certain situations. "This is a way to get youth involved and follow up on relationships with police," said Detroit Police officer Shenelle Williams. "We want to give them resources to help them think before they act." The event is open to youth of all ages. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets for prizes from Police will be issued at workshops stations. The workshops will run through 6 p.m., followed by a concert featuring local artists scheduled to last until 9 p.m. DETROIT-- Thousands of festival goers attended the first day of the Mo Pop festival despite temperatures reaching as high as 94 degrees. The crowd kicked up dirt as they danced away on the scenic West Riverfront in Detroit, host to the two-day music festival. Two Michigan natives performed back-to-back at the Mo Pop Festival Saturday. Flint's own Tunde Olaniran and his dancers got the crowd shaking on the Grande Stage before Grand Haven-native BORNS commanded the crowd on the Fender Stage. Olaniran's set was moved from his original 12:45 p.m. spot to just after 5 p.m. on the Grande Stage. Fidlar who was set to play the spot had to cancel due to an illness. Dance-friendly Glass Animals pumped up the crowd playing some of their hits, as well as performing covers from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kanye West. Haim, a female-fronted rock group, stepped out onto the stage applauding the excited crowd before beginning their high energy performance. Sunday's lineup includes Shakey Graves, Father John Misty, Matt and Kim, The Head and the Heart and M83. Single day tickets for General Admission are $89.50 and $199 for VIP. For more information on the line up and ticket information visit the Mo Pop Festival website. popcans.jpg (MLive.com File Photo) GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A Genesee County man faces a trial in Livingston County after he allegedly told police he planned on illegally returning thousands of nonrefundable bottles. Brian Edward Everidge, of Forest Township, had his case bound over for trial last week by Livingston County District Judge L. Suzanne Geddis, according to a Livingston Daily Press & Argus report. He's been charged with one count of beverage return of nonrefundable bottles, a felony punishable by up to five years behind bars, a $5,000 fine or both, per state law. Everidge was pulled over April 27 in Tyrone Township in a box truck after he was traveling above the speed limit for a vehicle of that type. The motor carrier officer that pulled him told the court the truck was filled to the brim with cans. The report states Everidge told authorities he'd traveled to Kentucky to pick up the cans. Marcus Wilcox, Everidge's attorney, argued the cans had not yet been delivered anywhere so there was no violation that had taken place. No additional court dates for Everidge have been scheduled at this time. Holland State Park-A-layout.jpg A rendering of the playground $65,000 playground that will be built at Holland State Park beach in August. (Courtesy image) PARK TOWNSHIP, MI -- A new playground will be built next month at Holland State Park's beachfront after the community quickly chipped in $17,000. It took just over a week -- instead of the month anticipated -- to raise the money needed for a matching state grant. The playground, which will be wheelchair accessible, is on track to go up the second week of August. "This is everybody's playground, with a real, collaborative community effort. Again I'm reminded of what a generous, supportive community in which we live," said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage, the economic development group that coordinated the crowdfunding campaign. A grandmother is credited for launching the effort to bring a playground to the state's most popular park, which draws 2 million visitors annually. Sally Starr was thinking of her grandchildren, ages 9 and 6, when she came up with the idea. "I'm ecstatic about this," said Starr, a retired preschool teacher from the Novi area who moved to Holland eight years ago. "I want people to know this story because I want them to know the little guy can get things done." When she first contacted the Department of Natural Resources which oversees the Michigan's state park systems in the spring, she figured the project would take a few years. Instead, it took a few months. "It was a matter of calling the right people and walking in the right office," Starr said. When she spotted the playground at Grand Haven State Park, she contacted the donors listed on the sign. They included Carter's Kids, the non-profit organization set up by TV personality and Michigan native Carter Oosterhouse, and Lake Michigan Credit Union. The credit union, partnering with Carter's Kids, put up half the money in Grand Haven and the non-profit provided the labor. Starr was told the playground could be built in Holland if she could raise $34,000. Starr's efforts doubled when she learned another Holland grandmother, Nancy VanEenenaam, had the same idea. The two began taking donation request packets provided by the credit union to area businesses. The biggest break came when she stopped into Lakeshore Advantage, while dropping off a packet to a nearby business. The economic development organization knew about Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Public Spaces & Community Places program, a new program that provided funding for improvements to public property. Staff also came up with the idea of using Detroit-based Patronicity as the online crowdfunding platform, and dispatching its interns to make a video. While most of the donations, ranging from $10 to $5,000, came from West Michigan, contributions rolled in from Texas, Florida and Washington. The biggest gifts came from Holland area employers Boar's Head Provisions, Gentex, Haworth, Herman Miller, and LG Chem Michigan, Inc. "These campaigns work best when they are community-imagined and community-led," said Katharine Czarnecki, the MEDC Community development director. "The time frame for meeting the fundraising goal speaks volumes to the excellent examples of citizen leadership and community contribution in the area." Lake Michigan Credit Union is providing $35,000 toward the $65,000 project. DNR is taking care of prepping the site. Donations are still being accepted through Aug. 8 at patronicity.com/hollandstatepark to pay for additional amenities as benches, slides, a sound element and a climber. The playground will go between the walkway and the park's existing swing set. Some have complained the playground will obscure the view of the water from the parking lot, where some drive up to watch the sunset. The playground will be located in front of a no parking zone so that shouldn't be an issue, Starr says. Judge Anthony Monton Oceana County 27th Circuit Judge Anthony A. Monton (Ken Stevens | MLive.com file photo) The following people were sentenced July 7-18, 2016, in circuit court. 27th CIRCUIT COURT OCEANA COUNTY Judge Anthony A. Monton Nicholas John Erickson, 38, of Mears, 284 days jail (time served), 24 months probation for assault with a weapon, $4,079.15 restitution/fees/costs. Timothy Edward Kevwitch, 49, of Rothbury, 262 days jail (time served), 12 months probation for public utility fraud over $500, $2,326.97 restitution/fees/costs. Joseph Wayne Lambrix, 36, of Pentwater, 363 days jail (time served), 24 months probation for controlled substance delivery/manufacture marijuana, $600 restitution/fees/costs, suspended license for six months. Jaqueline Grace Mansilla, AKA J, 33, of Shelby, 14 months to five years Michigan Department of Corrections for taking possession of and driving away with a vehicle, $398 restitution/fees/costs. Wesley Owen Pulsipher, 44, of Shelby, 11 months jail, 18 months probation for operating under the influence of liquor third or subsequent offense, $758 fees/costs. Alejandro Joseph Salazar, 31, of Mears, 278 days jail (time served), 24 months probation for assault with a weapon, $400 fees/costs, must complete recommended treatment following assessment. Fred Austin Tanner Jr., 29, of Mears, 310 days jail (time served), 24 months probation for assault with a weapon, $4,079.15 restitution/fees/costs. Timothy Lee Veltman, 32, of New Era, 264 days jail (time served), 24 months probation, $400 fees costs. Malachi Barrett covers community news for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at mbarret1@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @PolarBarrett or on Facebook. SAGINAW, MI -- Three people are vying to become Saginaw County's next clerk. Two newcomers to the political world and a veteran politician are asking voters to choose them to replace Sue Kaltenbach, who is retiring. Michael Hanley, the chairman of the county Board of Commissioners, is up against Tammy Bieszke, a clerk's office employee, on the Democratic ballot in the Tuesday, Aug. 2, primary election. The winner will face Amy Carl, a realtor and the chairwoman of the county Republican Committee who is running unopposed in the primary, in the November general election. All candidates appearing on the ballot had the chance to fill out the MLive Voter Guide. Here's where the candidates stand on the issues, according to their Voter Guide entries: Why are you running for office? Bieszke: Bieszke did not respond to this question. Carl: The reason I am running for the position of County Clerk can be best answered with the qualifications of a great County Clerk. She must possess a strong work ethic, excel in customer service, office management, communication, organization, and ensure efficiency for all elections and election related duties. I encompass all these qualities as well as having a true servant's heart. I have observed the dedication and diligence that is required for this position while on the Board of Canvassers, and it must be performed by a true public servant of the people. I will take great pride in performing all my duties of the office of County Clerk to the best of my ability, while meeting all the needs of all of the citizens of Saginaw county. Hanley: I have performed public service in several capacities over the years. I'm running for County Clerk because I want to use my experience to ensure that Saginaw County residents get the best quality service from this office. The Clerk's office serves the courts by keeping records, works with city, township and village clerks to conduct elections and keeps our vital records. I believe my experience in management, gained from leadership roles in the public, non-profit and private sectors make me the best qualified candidate for this position. What are your top three priorities? Bieszke: To continue implementing changes, e-filing, and saving Saginaw County the community money. Carl: Although the need for advancement of technology is a very pressing issue in the Clerk's office, I maintain the main function of the office is to provide excellent customer service to the public, the other governmental offices, and to all employees of the office itself. We must keep the best possible working conditions to be able to accomplish this. It will remain on the forefront of all the functions of the Clerk's office. It is also imperative to maintain efficiency while providing excellent customer service. This will also be integrated into all election processes. We are public servants and must be ever mindful that we are working for the people, and continually seek the most cost effective and expedient way to do business. It is my personal goal to perform the Clerk's duties with a high level of integrity, honesty, fairness, and a strong work ethic. I believe it is essential to hold these ideals to ensure all priorities of this position are accomplished properly. Hanley: 1) Continuously search for ways to provide the highest quality, most convenient and efficient service to the public. 2) Address the backlog of court records that need to be converted to digital form to save space and increase convenience of access for the public. 3) Advocate aggressively for reform of outdated state laws that force counties to incur costs that do nothing to benefit taxpayers. Michigan needs to allow and facilitate Counties taking full advantage of new technology to serve taxpayers better and most efficiently. What is the most pressing issue for this office? Bieszke: Continuing getting the old filing scanned into the system so they are available online and we can make e-filing available to the public. Carl: The most urgent and pressing issue in the clerk's office is integration of new technology to address the needs of the office itself, and to advocate the replacement the outdated voting machines. As Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum stated last March in the Bridge magazine, "Every election is like waiting for a catastrophe to happen, that's no way to run an election." I wholeheartedly agree, and will strive to achieve this very important change. In 2017, the new Saginaw County Clerk will be responsible for choosing the new voting machines that will be used county wide. I look forward to being an integral part of this exciting process. Hanley: I think the one best word to answer that questions is "efficiency". State law forces clerk's offices around the state to perform tasks such as microfilming (there are more examples) that are outdated. Taxpayer dollars are being wasted. The digital age has created great opportunities to cut costs and increase access, but converting to new technology comes with a cost as well. The challenge here is to minimize the cost and maximize the savings that can be realized by the use of new technology. Finally, I want to point out that while this issue of document/information management strongly affects the Clerk's office, it spreads through County departments and affects every level of government, from local to federal as well. Rather than tackle this issue one department at a time, we should investigate taking up this challenge collectively, at least in Saginaw County government. [July 23, 2016] GameAnalytics Behavioral Analytics Platform Acquired by Mobvista COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GameAnalytics, a leading behavioral analytics platform for game developers, today announces that it has been acquired by Mobvista, Asia's largest and fastest-growing mobile ad tech company. Through this acquisition, Mobvista significantly expands its international reach and service offering to bring game developers a complete advertising technology platform that drives revenue and maximizes lifetime value (LTV). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. With a global mobile ad network that captures more than 10 billion daily impressions from integrated ad spots and websites across more than 240 countries and regions, Mobvista is pursuing an aggressive overseas growth strategy. The acquisition of GameAnalytics in Europe follows the March 2016 purchase of NativeX in the U.S. With the addition of GameAnalytics, Mobvista is extending its international footprint while enhancing its advanced optimization capabilities and monetization solutions. Mobvista, whose clients include Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, Uber, Electronic Arts, SGN and Machinezone, selected GameAnalytics, whose clients include hit game studios such as Flaregames, PopCap Games, Illusion Labs and Hipster Whale, for its leading technologies and rich player insights. Together with Mobvista's proprietary ad tech and unique native ad mediation service, used by companies such as Camera360 and 360 Security, mobile developers will gain the ability to automate the understanding, retention, and monetization of users to maximize eCPM (effective cost per thousand impressions). Robin Duan, founder and CEO of Mobvista, says, "Acquiring GameAnalytics in Europe, like NativeX in the U.S., is helping us to rapidly develop a multi-dimensional, global ecosystem of mobile traffic. We're confident that GameAnalytics' best-in-class technology and 20,000-strong developer community will increase our mobile marketing solution's effectivenes to the benefit of both the supply and demand sides." Post-acquisition, GameAnalytics will continue to operate as an independent platform providing its core service, free analytics. GameAnalytics CEO Luke Aviet, previously Vice President and MD EMEA at AOL, says, "When I met Robin we quickly realized our companies shared similar visions for the mobile content and advertising industries. Since our businesses were global by design and had rapidly risen to market leading positions, the synergies were obvious. The combined services of each company will significantly increase the appeal to developers, publishers, and advertisers across the world." Morten Wulff, founder of GameAnalytics, said, "Together, the strengths of Mobvista and GameAnalytics create a one-stop, revenue-boosting solution for game developers. By combining the best monetization platform with powerful in-game behavior analytics, we can ensure the right ad is pushed to the right audience at the right time." Wulff continues: "We're very excited to join the Mobvista family, and we look forward to accelerate platform innovation and continuing to improve the ways game developers across the globe identify and monetize their most valuable players." About GameAnalytics GameAnalytics' free analytics service platform for game developers is one of the largest in the world, with over 25,000 registered developers and more than 1 billion unique players tracked since launch. Currently, the platform maintains over 350 million monthly active users and 22,000 active games. Founded in 2012 by Danish serial entrepreneur Morten E. Wulff, GameAnalytics has received over $8M in funding from investors including Sunstone Capital as well high-profile individuals such as AOL Content & Consumer Brands President Jimmy Maymann, Maker Studios President Rene Rechtman, GoViral Founder Claus Moseholm, TechCrunch Founder Michael Arrington, Podio Founder Tommy Ahlers and Paypal Head of Corporate Development Anil Hansjee. The company is headquartered in Copenhagen with an office in London. For more information, visit http://gameanalytics.com. About Mobvista Mobvista is the world's leading mobile advertising and game publishing platform, serving over 10 billion impressions each day from users in more than 240 countries and regions worldwide. The company's user database covers over 2 billion devices and 3000+ user-targeting labels, ensuring clients' achieve maximum monetization on a global scale. The company was listed on the NEEQ In November 2015, with a listed market value of nearly $1 billion. In the 2016 Appsflyer Performance Index Global Android Power Rankings, Mobvista held the No. 1 position in Asia and No. 3 worldwide, following Facebook and Google AdWords. The company has nearly 400 employees across global offices in Guangzhou, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New Delhi, Singapore, Minneapolis, Sartell, and Jakarta. For additional information, visit www.mobvista.com . To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gameanalytics-behavioral-analytics-platform-acquired-by-mobvista-300298758.html SOURCE GameAnalytics [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 24.07.2016 LISTEN International gospel act, Minister Sonnie Badu is all set to release his fifth album come August 23rd, this year. The album dubbed Soundz of Africa was recorded live in Maryland on November 1, 2014 at the New Psalmist Baptist Church. The album was recorded as classical hymns under the theme African Gospel in Classical Hymns and Songs. The album Soundz of Africa features American starts Jonathan Nelson and Darwin Hobbs and wife of Minister Sonnie Badu, Annie Badu. The album was recorded by award winning recording engineer Danny Duncan, the recording engineer behind Israel Houghton, Cece Winnans and Marvin Sapp. Armando is the sound engineer behind the album. Soundz of Africa has songs like Still You Reign, Free, Amazing God, Wone Alpha ni Omega, some new hymns and medleys, and Angels Cry (Sonnies gift of worship to Jesus) and a French rendition of his Baba song. In an interview with Sonnie Badu, he noted that the album has kept long in being released because there was a lot to add that was not added on the concert day. It has been an awesome journey. The album has to do with my experience and everything I have learnt. I am very proud of myself and I am happy that we have been able to achieve this, he reiterated. Ahead of the release of Soundz of Africa, Minister Sonnie Badu released Imani and Amazing God earlier this year. The album release will be on platforms like ITunes, Amazon, CD Baby and Google Play. Cairo (AFP) - The first solar-powered plane to circle the world took off from Cairo on Sunday for Abu Dhabi, on the final leg of its historic journey. Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard was behind the controls of Solar Impulse 2, which can fly for days on only energy from the sun. "It's a project for energy, for a better world," Piccard, 58, told journalists before taking off. The ground crew, who had dragged the plane out to the tarmac with ropes, cheered as it lifted off and disappeared into the night. It had been scheduled to leave last week, but the flight was delayed because of winds and Picard falling ill. Piccard and Swiss entrepreneur and pilot Andre Borschberg have taken turns flying the plane on its 35,000-kilometre (22,000-mile) trip around the world. Borschberg piloted the flight's 8,924 kilometre Pacific stage between Nagoya, in Japan, and Hawaii. Solar Impulse 2 arrived in Cairo after a two-day flight from Spain, finishing the 3,745 kilometre journey with an average speed of 76.7 kilometres an hour. It had earlier landed in Seville after completing the first solo transatlantic flight powered only by the sun. The single-seat aircraft, no heavier than a car but with the wingspan of a Boeing 747, is fitted with 17,000 solar cells on its wings. During night-time flights it runs on battery-stored power. It typically travels at a mere 48 kilometres (30 miles) per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight. - 'Close to the limits' - Piccard, a psychiatrist who had made the first non-stop balloon flight around the world in 1999, said the last leg of the Solar Impulse 2 tour would be difficult. "It's a very, very hot region... its going to be an exhausting flight," he said. Borschberg told journalists that the heat would be a new challenge for the plane. "Technically it's close to the limits that we have set in terms of temperature, so that's something which we did not experience before," he said via Skype from mission control in Monaco. "But with the temperature profile that we see over the coming days, we should be all fine." The plane set out on March 9, 2015 from Abu Dhabi, crossing Asia and the Pacific to reach the United States and then flying on to Spain and Egypt with the sun as its only source of power. Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control centre in Monaco, telling Piccard "you are released to proceed." Borschberg and Piccard have said they want to raise awareness of renewable energy sources and technologies with their project, although they do not expect solar-powered commercial planes any time soon. "There will be passengers very soon in electric airplanes that we will charge on the ground," Piccard had said when the plane arrived in Cairo. "On the ground you can charge batteries and you can have short haul flights, maybe 500 kilometres with 50 people flying in these planes" in a decade, he predicted. 24.07.2016 LISTEN Folks, when it was reported that President Mahama had nominated Emmanuel Habuka Bombande (former Executive Director of the so-called non-political civil society organisation called the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP)) as a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a John Bless Oti as the Deputy Minister of Local Government, I wondered what might be prompting such a move at this time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been without a Deputy for some time now, leaving the substantive Minister (Hannah Tetteh) alone to do the job of selling Ghana to the international community. Not so in previous circumstances when there were about two Deputy Ministers for that sector. So, what has woken up the appointing authority to bring in Bombande? And why Bombande? An attempt to compromise him as critics have alleged in the appointment of the anti-corruption campaigner, Batidam? The nomination of John Bless Oti came as a huge surprise, clearly because he isn't known. Who is he and why does the appointing authority think that he is the most suitable appointee for this all-important portfolio? Now that there is tension as a result of the inability of the political authorities at the Ministry of Local Government to reach an agreement with the CLOSSAG for the smooth-running of affairs at that Ministry, is it really necessary to nominate someone who is carrying so much baggage by way of authentic identification? Credibility problems at issue here already!! Hardly has the dust settled than interesting occurrences have cropped up to give us some anxious moments about these nominations and the intricacies. These moments provide some comic relief, even as they reflect a lot about our Ghanaian condition in terms of political office-holding. They do so too to remind us of how the injection of religiosity into national politics is more of a problem than a solution. We take on what happened during the vetting of Mr. Bombande to set the stage for the comic relief. According to him, there is nothing wrong with his being nominated for the post because he has always been tilted toward the NDC for its social democratic ideals. Without a card-bearing member of the NDC or not, he believes that social democracy is the route for human salvation. Buttressing his belief with allusions, he noted that even Jesus Christ was a social democrat. To him, "although Jesus was born for the entire world, He was largely fighting for the poor and the down-trodden and protecting their interests.... Jesus Christ was the first social democrat. (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/I-m-NDC-Jesus-Christ-was-a-Social-Democrat-Bombande-457505). His claim is interesting for all that it entails; but the rejoinder by the NPP's Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu adds a different complexion to the comical aspects. To him, Jesus Christ did not only work for the poor, but also for the rich... Jesus Christ loved good things and always associated Himself with the rich because he believed in prosperity. Really? Why would Jesus then tell Nicodemus to go and sell his property (to become poor) and "be born again" if he wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Or for him to establish the eye-opening paradigm of the "eye of the needle"? Or to enter the temple and lash the money lenders and others seeking to enrich themselves while desecrating his "father's house"? This part of the proceedings in Parliament stand out for all that it is. Jesus worked for the "poor in spirit" to redeem them, even as the rich in material things ridiculed him and worked hard for him to be crucified. Bringing this issue to the workings of our Parliament and using it to undermine the integrity of Bombande really spices our politics for the wrong cause. Perhaps, Bombande's elevation and inclusion in government only confirms suspicions that all those parading as a-political or Non-Governmental entities are nothing but disguised partisan political activists with biases that they nurse into fruition for political appointments!! And there are many on our Ghanaian horizon. Their public posturing and rhetoric belies all that they claim not to be doing. Liars and hypocrites to be pooh-poohed!! What are the implications for our democracy, then? I have little to say about the controversy and embarrassment surrounding John Bless Oti. Naming is important, and the fact that he is himself not sure of what constitutes his official name(s) should alarm us. In our kind of situation where people indulge in fraudulent acts to gain undue advantage, his particular example is regrettable, and he should be told the truth. Where is he coming from? He is not known for anything. What exactly are the qualities that have recommended him for the position that President Mahama wants him to fill? Folks, until anything new happens, we see these developments as a huge comic relief, even if they are disturbing enough to jolt us. We end with these questions: What is the urgent need for Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Interior at this time if we have lived without them all this while? And why nominate those who raise more questions than answers? It is likely that Bombande will prevail; but John Bless Oti may not, clearly because of the credibility problems aroused by his chain of names!! It is not good for an appointee to be so caught up. His fate will cast a serious doubt on the appointing authority and catalyze the Sam Okudjeto-led campaign of calumny. Not good for President Mahama and his government at this time. It is not too late for President Mahama to change his mind and nominate a different person. This John Bless Oti is a wash-out and should be brushed aside to help matters. I'm off for now, unhappy at these developments, but will return!! Dogs at play The Igbo believe that there is a standard rule of play which dogs observe when two of them are at play: When one dog falls on its back the other dog knows without any other prompting that the next time is his turn to fall too. In this way, the play does not turn into a fight and will last longer. The lesson here is that when I fall for you and you in turn fall for me, the world goes around and becomes a more peaceful place where we all work, play and prosper in the spirit of give and take. A Muslim becomes the Mayor of London On May 9, 2016 the new Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was heralded into office with a fanfare and much jubilation. By any stretch of the imagination the election of Khan, a Muslim whose parents were recent Pakistani immigrants to Britain was historic. For the next 4 years Khan will preside over the affairs of one of the greatest cities of Christendom and Western civilization London England. London, a Christian English city is only 60 miles from the famous cathedral in Canterbury where the revered Archbishop of Canterbury who is the global head of the Church of England lives. So, as well as being an important Western civilizations cultural center, to many members of the Anglican Communion, Wesleyan Methodists and many other Christians, London can also serve as a holy city comparable with any other religions holy cities anywhere else. For some people, especially the liberal politicians, the result of the London mayoral election was just the way its supposed to be. Such liberal thinkers argue that this is 2016 after all, and the world has come a long way in its journey towards tolerance and the integration of worlds diverse cultures and peoples. That notwithstanding, and given the prevailing realities of Islamic terrorism and violent jihad being unleashed by radical Muslims throughout the world, there are a large number of conservatives, including some moderates, who were shocked at Khans election as the new Mayor of London. Nevertheless, many have compared his election in London in some ways, to the 2008 election of Barack Obama into the White House as the President of the United States of America. But, as some people have observed; in Obamas case, he had to make an extra effort to assert and defend his Christian faith. While in Khans case, the people of London went a step further than the Americans; Sadiq Khan did not have to disguise his Islamic faith in his bid to become the Mayor of one of the most important Christian and Western cities in the world. In this regard therefore, Khans election became both a personal as well as a collective victory. The collective which won alongside Khan are all those who have campaigned to see a world where the populations of societies everywhere are more plural and diversified than closeted and mono-cultural. In this regard, the Western culture and education as represented by the city of London leads the way and has become the epitome of tolerance and liberty of the 21st century. London is now a city on the hill to which any other elsewhere that is eager to exhibit tolerance and integration will aspire to copy The dangers of Muslims resisting assimilation However, and unfortunately so, judging from current events and experiences in Europe and other Western societies, it shows that it is not enough to create multi-cultural societies through open liberal immigration policies. What is even more important is that recent immigrants should be encouraged to integrate with the native populations to which they emigrate. It is of primary importance that new immigrants should accept the ways and practices of their host communities. Sadly and very troubling too, most Muslim immigrants to Western societies have continued to resist assimilation into their host Western societies. This resistance therefore has continued to breed unnecessary social tensions and cultural clashes. Apparently and very absurd also, the Muslim immigrants are fighting to destroy the very cultural foundations and social practices that sustained the host societies and made them attractive to the newcomers to want to emigrate to them. Since the last few decades collective human civilization and progress have come under severe attack and threatened with real danger by unholy heat from radical Islam. And very disturbingly, this heat is fueled by these Muslims deep-rooted hatred and intolerance of other peoples views and cultures. Going by the Biafran experience, the danger of such antisocial behaviors as being displayed by these radical Muslims can be terrible and far reaching. When these excesses go unchecked for too long, they end up producing very serious crimes like complete social breakdown, genocide and other forms of crimes against humanity and civilization. Radical Islam was responsible for the Biafran Genocide As some readers may recall, it was the same intolerance and hate that led the Muslim dominated government of Nigeria, between 1966 and 1970, to commit the genocide of the Igbo in which more than 3.1 million Igbo perished. This heinous crime of genocide against the Igbo has so far gone largely unnoticed and unpunished, and as a result fifty years after, the world is witnessing an increased widespread impunity where the same group of people is committing the same atrocities against other populations. This world belongs equally to all the people here and no single group should lay claim to an exclusive right to control it and dictate for all others how they should live their lives. The people of the world should come together to save the world In 2016, fifty years after Biafra or Igbo Genocide, Muslim extremists have continued to pose real danger to not only Igbo people in Nigeria, Western civilization and its peoples, but also to all humanity, its civilizations, peoples and every progress that the collective humanity has ever made. And rather than continue to live in denial, human beings everywhere should now assume the responsibility by coming together to stop this bent by radical Muslims to destroy the world civilization as we know it. The international community must come together to fight this Islamic monster to a halt. The international community, led by the United Nations must declare a global state of emergency against intolerance, hate, violent Islam, sharia and jihad. Honest, sincere and practical steps must be taken collectively by the international community now to stop this madness or everything the world had ever held dear and all progress made by human beings will be doomed. The continued survival of the human race and their civilization is the collective responsibility of all people everywhere and the people must come together to save themselves. Extending London-example to Islamic societies Apart from the immigrants accepting, and in some cases willingly adopting the ways and cultures of their host communities, to accelerate the rate of integration of worlds cultures and populations, other cities and societies around the world need to follow in the path which the city of London has gone. In this regard it is necessary to particularly call out the traditional Muslim cities and societies. Tolerating and integrating with other cultures and peoples cannot be a unidirectional river that flows only from the West and other free societies toward the Muslims. Going back to the dogs rule of play with which we started this discussion; all Islamic countries and other societies which hitherto had been bent on remaining exclusive and intolerant of other cultures and worldviews must look up to Londons example and update their societies to the 21st century London-standards. In this same spirit of tolerance, it will be proper to see in no distant time, probably within the next decade, a Christian man or woman become the mayor, emir or its equivalent of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Within the next ten years there should be a Christian man or woman born by recent Christian immigrant parents elected to become the mayor or emir of Tehran. Also, as the West has shown through the election of a Muslim into the mayoral office in London, such Islamic terrorist groups like al Qaeda, Islamic State, Boko Haram among others which are bent on destroying everybody, all cultures and views that are different from theirs must reconsider their unholy barbarous campaigns and start working toward tolerating and accepting other people and cultures. They must accept and practically demonstrate that 21st century world and civilization have moved far away from the 7th century intolerant Arab barbarism on which Islamic sharia and jihad are based. Ordinary citizens of the West must have to defend themselves In the meantime as the rest of the world awaits this necessary shift in Islamic thoughts and behaviors, Western politicians must take unpretentious tougher steps to protect their societies and way of life from total destruction by radical Islam. But based on the look of things, the leadership in that direction will have to come from elsewhere. Unfortunately, the traditional political structures and leadership of the West seem to have been infiltrated and seriously compromised. Presently, the upper political and decision making class of most of these Western countries appears to have sold out to some kind of strange and indefensible culture of liberalism which is beclouding their vision and affecting negatively how they make decisions. Right now, the ordinary people of the West will have to look within themselves for their salvation. Because leading politicians of the West appear to be abdicating their sworn duties to the country and its people, ordinary citizens of Western societies must take their cue from the recent acts of the British people who demonstrated with the Brexit referendum that the people still have the capacity to take back their societies. They can do this despite some scandalous opinions and acts of some of their traditional politicians. Like the British people did, each society must adopt their own unique strategy to protect their collective value and society. It must be done one society at a time. Once the people have made up their minds on what they want they dont have to wait on their leaders. A Prime Minister who abandoned his people As the immediate past Prime Minister of Britain has shown, such a wait is unnecessary. The Prime Minister David Cameron chose being accepted and being popular with his friends and other people whose interests lie outside Britain over serving the interests and wishes of the majority of British people. So, he chose to resign rather than help the people implement their Brexit wish. If Brexit is the popular wish of the majority of the British people, and if the Prime Minister David Cameron was sworn into office to serve the interest of the majority of British people, and he chose to resign rather than serve to implement the popular wish of the British people, then something is wrong with that decision. By the Prime Ministers action it will be harder to conclude differently; that his allegiance may have always laid outside Britain. This generation must defeat ideas that restrict human freedom In this 21st century, people everywhere should come together to fight and defeat every idea and practice that curtail human freedom, degrade human life and debase human dignity. Any philosophy, religion or culture that restricts the human spirit should have no place anywhere in this 21st century world. Whatever progress and civilization that the world as a collective has achieved need to be protected jealously. One of the major reasons why Islamic terrorism has been on the rise is due to the unwillingness of some Western politicians to address directly the evil. They instead prefer to speak politically correct and hide behind flowery rhetoric suffused with ineffective sentimental liberalism. Standing together, this generation of human beings must not allow violent Islamic jihad to turn back the hand of clock and revert the world to the Dark Ages. aGovernments ignominious decision to reintroduce nurses trainee allowances is an act of cowardice, says journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baaku. The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper says the government has proven it lacks balls to stand by its decisions. Government announce dlast week to the shock of many, its plans to reintroduce allowances for nursing trainees. The allowances were withdrawn a few years back after government complained they limited intake by nursing training institutions. It was further argued that it was unfair for nursing and teacher trainees to receive allowances when other tertiary students didnt enjoy same. Since the withdrawal, the government has been praiaisng itself for taking a prudent decision which resulted in exponential growth in enrollment figures at nursing and teacher training schools across the country, thereby expanding access nursing and teacher training. The opposition New Patriotic Party has, however, insisted that the decision is senseless and imposed needless hardships on students and parents. The partys vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been campaigning tirelessly in nursing and teacher training institutions, promising that the allowances will be restored if his party wins this years elections. In an apparent response to the politicization of the issue, the health ministry issued a statement last week saying, A Technical Committee set up by President John Mahama to review the issue of nursing students' allowances has recommended the payment of an abated allowance with a possibility to migrate them onto the students Loan Scheme. The payment which will amount to about GHC150 a month is aimed at supporting 34,500 students who are currently pursuing various levels of health professional training across the country, Health Minister, Alex Segbefia explained. The payment amount would serve as a bridging mechanism pending the amendment of the Students Loan Trust Act, to enable students in non-tertiary Health Training Institutions access loans to support their education, the statement noted. But Kweku Baako told JM/MultiTVs news analysis programme, it was a cowardly decision. Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea said the decision is one more instance of the government not showing sincerity. He wondered whether the reasons proferred by government for scrapping the allowances no obtained. Private Legal practitioner and law lecturer, Yaw Oppong, also contributing to the discussion said, The President is a trustee; the president is vested with our money, our resources, to manage it for usthe beneficiaries [so] if the president takes a decision it must be a decision he believes will be for our best interest. Mr. Oppong said the President cannot just change that decision merely because another person thinks that decision is wrong; to do that will be to suggest that "that other person is rather more competent to manage our affairs." National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress, Kofi Adams said there was nothing wrong with the decision. He said government was reintroducing the allowances for trainee nurses because they currently do not have access to students loans unlike their counterparts, teacher trainees. He said the law is being amended to allow this to happen and until then, it is only proper that they are given some allowances. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Malik Abass Daabu (Twitter @MalikDaabu) The Electoral Commission (EC) has commenced a twenty-one day exhibition of the voters register from Monday, July 18, 2016 to Sunday, August 7, 2016. Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) wishes to use this medium to urge all registered voters to participate in this exercise to confirm that their names and details are on the voter register. Running concurrently with the exhibition exercise, from 18th 28th July 2016, is the re-registration of persons whose names are reported to have been deleted from the voters register in compliance with the Supreme Court order to the EC to delete the names of persons who registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Card. LMVCA is shocked at the deceitful actions of the EC in fabricating the list of 56,772 names of persons who supposedly registered with NHIS Cards in 2012. The extent of the anomalies and inconsistencies in the list submitted to the Supreme Court by the EC is such that the credibility of the EC has been largely compromised. During the press conference held on 6th June, 2016, LMVCA was emphatic that the EC could not produce the list of persons who registered with the NHIS card because the Form 1 A used in 2012 did not make provision for the type of identification card used for registration to be indicated on the form. LMVCA stated further that any such list provided by the EC would be spurious and should therefore be rejected by Ghanaians as such. The EC insisted that it did, actually, have the data of persons who registered with NHIS cards in 2012. Yet, in an affront to all Ghanaians, the EC submitted a list with a negligible number of 56,772 persons as representing the full list of those who registered with NHIS cards in 2012. This list represents a mere 0.404% of the total 14,031,793 in the 2012 voters register and 0.6% of the total number of 9,000,000 NHIS card holders. In clarifying its judgment of 5th May, 2016, the Supreme Court ordered the EC to delete the names of the 56,772 on the list submitted to the court. The Court, in admitting that the list presented by the EC was incomplete, also ordered the EC to delete the names of all other persons who registered with the NHIS card. LMVCA also wishes to remind the EC that its chairperson, Madam Charlotte Osei, informed Ghanaians that the EC would remove the names of 600,000 dead persons and over 200,000 multiple registrants (identified by the VCRAC Crabbe Committee) from the voters register during the exhibition of the voters register. The EC announced last week that it had deleted the names of the 56,772 persons it presented to the Supreme Court. The EC announced further that the re-registering of all such persons who showed evidence of their eligibility to vote, would take place from 18th to 28th July 2016. LMVCA maintains that the list submitted by the EC was fabricated cooked and forged. Indeed the glaring discrepancies in the list prove that the EC can not be credible. Anomalies in the list include over 200 cases of duplicate Voter ID numbers, over 700 cases of duplicate NHIS card numbers, 350 cases of names without corresponding NHIS numbers, over 4,000 cases of incorrect NHIS numbers, over 5,000 cases of incorrect Voter ID numbers, among others. These discrepancies are so significant that they cannot merely be overlooked as an oversight. Indeed, these inconsistencies could potentially disenfranchise unsuspecting eligible voters, thereby creating mayhem on election day. Only days after the publication of the list of persons whose names are reported to have been deleted from the voters register, hundreds of cases of misrepresentation have already emerged. Persons who have never owned NHIS card have had their names deleted as using NHIS card to register in 2012 registration, deleted names of supposed NHIS card registrants never found in the original voters register of 2012, thousands of persons who registered with NHIS card in 2012 but haven't found their names in the list of deleted names provided by the EC, the EC may be preparing us for chaos if these are not checked. LMVCA contends that the EC is taking advantage of the ruling of the Supreme Court to register persons who were never on the voters register. We therefore call on all polling station and constituency executives of the various political parties to be vigilant at the District Offices of the EC during the re-registration exercise. Before re-registration, it should be firmly established that the person(s) was indeed on the 2012 voters register. As the constitutionally mandated body in charge of elections, and the sole custodian of the source document for voter registration, the Charlotte Osei-led EC has demonstrated that it cannot be trusted. It told a lie to the apex court, forged a list of NHIS registrants, and proceeded to delete names, which never existed in the electoral roll with corresponding faked NHIS card numbers. LMVCA is carefully monitoring the ongoing voters' register exhibition exercise as a critical step in cleaning the register to ensure credible elections. However, in a total disregard for the recommendations of the Electoral Reforms Committee and the VCRAC Crabbe Panel, the EC has failed the test of transparency in the recruitment of officers for the exhibition exercise. LMVCA is concerned at the lack of professionalism exhibited by some officers who inquire about the political affiliation of registered voters who go to check if their names are in the register. In several places LMVCA visited in the Northern, Greater Accra and Eastern regions it was obvious that sympathisers of a particular party were deliberately recruited for the exercise. This is a dangerous precursor for the recruitment for election officers for election day where over 150,000 temporary staff are expected to be recruited. It appears that the EC has gone ahead on the blind side of the political parties at IPAC to do selective recruitment of National Service personnel to serve as election officers. This situation where members of one political party are targeted for recruitment as EC officials demonstrates that the EC is more interested in recruiting party polling agents than election officers. As a civil society group committed to preserving the integrity of the electoral process, LMVCA will not relent in its efforts to ensure clean and credible elections. We will monitor the ongoing voter register exhibition and re-registration exercises in all the 29,000 polling stations and district offices nationwide. We therefore charge all registered Ghanaians to be vigilant and to be actively involved in these exercises. Thank you. PRESS STATEMENT Thursday, July 21, 2016 LMVCA CHALLENGES FRAUDULENT EC NHIS LIST, CALLS FOR VIGILANCE DURING THE EXHIBITION The World Trade Centre (WTC) Accra in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ghana is spearheading a high-level executive business and networking meeting to discuss the implication of BREXIT on Ghanas international trade. The breakfast meeting scheduled for next week, 26th July 2016 in Accra dubbed Ghana Business Day would be under selected topics. These include Reducing the Cost & Time in doing business in Ghana and BREXIT: Implications for Ghana - UK Trade. The meeting is expected to bring together several discussants including business executives, industrialists, policy makers, diplomatic community and business owners. Minister for Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin and President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), James Asare-Adjei are key speakers. BREXIT, an abbreviation of "British Exit" mirrors Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. The withdrawal sparked some spontaneous reactions on global markets, including currencies, causing the British pound to fall to its lowest level in decades. Prime Minister David Cameron, who supported the UK remaining in the EU stepped down a few weeks ago. Supporters of Brexit had based their opinion on a variety of factors from the global competitiveness of British businesses to concerns about immigration. The Bank of Ghana has warned that Britains exit from the European Union (EU) bloc could negatively impact Ghanas trade sector, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the cedi. The central bank further points out that, Ghanas strong trade relations with both the EU and the UK could be affected, with Ghana losing some budgetary support from the EU. Recent statistics show that trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom has reached 1.3 billion. Ghana is currently the UKs fifth largest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. For Ghanaian exporters, this has created a lot of uncertainty in their operations. Hence, the need for businesses to attend this all important breakfast meeting to hear from the Minister for Trade and Industry and the British High Commissioner to Ghana about the international trade environment between the two countries in the coming years. While many have commented on BREXIT, this is the first forum that brings together Ghanas trade minister and the British High Commissioner to Ghana to discuss the issue in detail. There will also be a presentation on how to access the China-Africa Development Fund. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Ebenezer Sabutey | Joy Business The Kaasa dam at Siniesi in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region has dried up after a portion of its bank collapsed following massive floods. One other dam at Balansa is on the verge of collapse. These followed a recent downpour that led to serious floods in the area. The downpour started last Wednesday dawn and lasted for at least twelve hours. Residents are counting their losses, days after the floods, even as more rains continue to fall. The dam which serves Siniesi and other surrounding communities in the Kaasa town is a major source of water for cropping and for animals. The little water left continues to run out of the dam, through the collapsed portion of its bank, into open community lands, as community members look on helplessly. Assembly man for the area, Clement Akampaaba says if the dams are not repaired in time, it would affect dry season farming there. If the dam is not repaired, we will definitely lose our animals (in the dry season) because there is no other source of water and they will go looking for water elsewhere, and we are not sure we will get all of them back, Akampaaba said. Government Officials Tour Affected Areas Member of Parliament for the area, James Agalga together with the Upper East Regional Minister, Albert Abongo, the DCE for Builsa North and NADMO officials toured the flood-affected areas on Saturday. The tour revealed that several communities had been cut off from the rest of the Builsa North district, as many trunk roads were destroyed by the floods. District chief executive for Builsa North, Bonaventure Adangabey said the destruction caused by the floods was enormous. Bonaventure Adangabey He said the Chuchuliga Rice Support Project (about 52 acres of rice farm) has been washed away. Roads are destroyed. Teachers cannot get to school and the children cannot also cross. So it is a serious challenge for us, Mr. Adangabey lamented. What the Government is doing Member of Parliament for Builsa North and Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga told journalists that government would take interim measures to reduce the impact of the floods, whiles more permanent measures are looked at. We must immediately fill in the holes to make the roads motorable. When you are hit with disaster, you can only think positive. We will send a message across (to government) so we can start to rebuild, Mr. Agalga said. James Agalga Upper East Regional Minister, Albert Abongo donated some items including mattresses, food stuff and mosquito nets to the Builsa North District Assembly, for onward distribution to victims of the floods. He said the items were meant to help reduce the suffering of the victims and to show governments concern for them. NADMOs Assessment of the Impact of the Floods The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) puts the number of persons affected by the floods in Builsa North at 901. It says 718 acres of farmlands were also destroyed in that district alone. According to the NADMOs Upper East Regional Deputy Chief Disaster Control Officer in charge of Disaster and Operation, Paul Woomah, the Bolgatanga Municipality was also hit by the floods but the impact there was minimal, as only 364 residents were affected and 42 farmlands destroyed. Sandema residents count losses as more rains descend Meanwhile residents of Sandema, the Builsa North District capital, are still counting their losses, days after the floods. As at Saturday afternoon, many of these residents still had their soaked properties left in the open to allow their rooms to dry up. Some of them told Joy News they were not particularly interested in the meagre relief items the government often distributes to them. Rather, they want the District Assembly to expand the waterways within the township, so that water can flow freely anytime it rains. An obviously angry resident said; It is not mosquitoes that cause floods. The town is developing and many buildings are springing up. They (government) should take a look at the gutters and not wait for floods to come and they will come distributing things like mosquito coils and blankets to us. It appears the woes of these distraught residents are far from over, as more rains continued to pour in, as Joy News left the Builsa North District on Saturday afternoon. 24.07.2016 LISTEN By Albert Futukpor, GNA Tamale, July 24, GNA - Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seed Company of the United States. The aim is to restructure it (GILLBT) into a viable national organization, Dr Paul Opoku-Mensah, Executive Director of GILLBT, said. He said as a result of the MoU, various structures, systems and processes to ensure that GILLBT operate as an independent national organization had been put in place. Dr Opoku-Mensah said this when presenting a report during the 43rd Annual General Meeting of GILLBT in Tamale on Saturday to present its activities and financial statement for the year ended 30th September, 2015. The financial statements showed that GILLBT's total income, which comprised of grants and donations, increased to GH 4,454,477 during the 2015 financial year as compared to GH 2,005,411 recorded during the 2014 financial year. GILLBT is a language development and Bible translation institution, which also implements other social intervention projects. Dr Opoku-Mensah said the concept was to make GILLBT a wholly national organization with the necessary relevance to lead in national mother tongue development and Bible translation. He said it was also to make GILLBT to be in position to rally all organizations with similar objectives for Bible translation and national language policy setting. He said the MoU would help to create a sense of national ownership, vision sharing and partnership with churches, bible translation organizations and individuals. Reverend Thomas Sayibu Imoro, Board Chairman of GILLBT, said GILLBT's focus in the coming years would be to complete the task of Bible translation and provide continuous assessment of needs and support in the country. Rev Imoro said work was being done to revamp the GILLBT Printing Press saying this would help improve its performance and increase revenue generation. GNA July 24, 2016 Clinton Asserts Putin Influence On Trump - After Taking Russian Bribes Is Putin manipulating the Clinton campaign? Russia is weaponizing everything: Word files, federalism, finance and Jedi mind tricks - everything is transformed into a weapon if Russia or its president Putin is imagined to come near it. But Russia is secretly plotting even more nefarious schemes. Putin is infiltrating Europe. And not only Europe. Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, is influencing, manipulating and controlling many "western" politicians, parties and movements - in Europe AND in the United States. Here are, thanks to Mark Sleboda, a partial list of political entities and issue Putin secretly manipulates and controls: Putin is indeed everywhere: And now for the crown of it all. Putin is in cahoots with the Republican presidential candidate Trump - claims the Clinton campaign. Putin is behind, it asserts, the leak of the DNC emails which prove that the Democratic National Committee has been working against Sanders to promote Hillary Clinton. The leak of the DNC emails, says the Clinton campaign, is ..: .. further evidence the Russian government is trying to influence the outcome of the election. The "facts" proving Russian support for Trump are mostly lies, but Putin's nefarious intentions must still be speculated about. The Clinton campaign has not looked thoroughly enough into Putin's schemes. Reveal we can that Putin has penetrated U.S. politics even deeper than thought - right down into the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton family itself: As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium Ones chairman used his family foundation to make four donations totaling $2.35 million. That money, surely, had no influence on then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's decisions? And what about her husband? Mr. Clinton received $500,000 ... from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin These undisputed facts demonstrate that Putin is indeed waging influence by bribing U.S. politicians. But the Clinton campaign is be a bit more hesitant in pointing these out. Posted by b on July 24, 2016 at 14:29 UTC | Permalink Comments next page I think anything past a double D is starting to get out of control it feels like all you are is boobs. 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. During a recent interview I had with a couple of longtime oil industry folks out here in the Permian Basin, we got to talking about how theyve seen the industry change since the 1980s. Back then, you could still hit a dry hole, and if you were pumping 100 barrels a day, you were in a good spot. The thrill of the gamble in oil exploration, they claimed, is now gone, thanks to the advent of ultra-modern drilling and completion methods and other technologies that help explorers visualize whats underground even before spudding a well. To these gentlemen, the romance for the oil industry is gone. I disagree. For sure, horizontal drilling, improvements in hydraulic fracturing, better drill bits, 3-D modeling and other technologies have measured success not by striking black gold, but by how much black gold is recovered. Take a step back, though, and look at how far the industry has come. But dont look at the bustling 1980s or even the roaring 1920s, when the Permian joined the oil industry. At 7:45 p.m. on July 20, 1920, a 2,754-foot-deep well found oil from the Westbrook field in Mitchell County. Nearly 61 years earlier, the Pennsylvania well a man named Drake oversaw spawned the industry that would later define West Texas. I made my yearly trip back home to western Pennsylvania earlier this month. Im a native of Erie, located in the Keystone States chimney on the Great Lake of the same name. I spent a lot of my time growing up, however, at the family farm in Spartansburg. As my dad will tell you, if you mow the lawn on a spring morning or take a walk through the orchard, you just might find oil sheen on your white-soled shoes. Thats because the farm is in Americas original oil country, a place where oil seeps arent uncommon. The farm sits about a dozen miles north of where Edwin L. Drake drilled his famous well that set off the nations first oil boom. It wasnt until this last trip, however, that I ventured about a dozen miles south to see the Drake Well for myself. The well is housed in a board-for-board replica engine house and derrick at the Drake Well Museum, located just south of Titusville and right near Oil Creek, where seeping oil was skimmed and used for medicinal purposes before the former train conductor from New Haven, Connecticut, changed history. The well yields recirculated oil today, but a replica boiler feeds a steam engine pumping at a whopping six horsepower, which was just enough for the walking beam to drive a chisel-tipped bit as it percussed through bedrock at a rate of 3 feet a day. Drake hit oil at a depth of 69.5 feet, and thus the nations first free-flowing oil well was found, this one yielding 10 to 20 barrels a day. The museum and literature such as Paul H. Giddens Early Days of Oil, which this column draws largely as its reference paint a far fuller picture of the oil industrys nascent beginnings. There was Samuel M. Kier, the father of refining, whose Pittsburgh refinery built in 1847 produced petroleum, or rock oil A Natural Remedy! in half-pint bottles sourced from skimmed seeps. More importantly, Kier made kerosene, which soon would light the world. There was also Francis Beattie Brewer, a Titusville physician and Dartmouth graduate who in 1853 took a sample of petroleum from oil springs on his Brewer, Watson & Co. farm to Dartmouths Dr. Dixi Crosby and Professor O.P. Hubbard. They examined the oil and said it was valuable. This was followed by chance a few weeks later when New York lawyer and fellow Dartmouth graduate George H. Bissell saw the bottle of petroleum in Crosbys office and became interested in its illuminating potential. Bissell and his partner, Jonathan G. Eveleth, bought Brewers farm in November 1854, looking to produce mass quantities of oil so it could be made into kerosene. Among other investors in the newly formed Pennsylvania Rock Oil Co. was City Savings Bank of New Haven, Connecticut, President James M. Townsend, who bought into the venture and convinced acquaintance Edwin Drake to also invest. Drakes career with the railroad ended in the summer of 1857 when he fell ill, but he was still allowed to ride the rails for free, and thus was the one sent to examine the oil seeps on the farm. Upon Drakes report, the now-renamed Seneca Oil Co. stockholders appointed him as general agent at a salary of $1,000. Using a technique employed by salt well drillers in nearby Tarentum, Drake built an engine house and derrick. He hired Tarentum blacksmith and salt well driller William A. Smith, known affectionately as Uncle Billy, who made the tools used to chisel through bedrock. The well wasnt a gusher. Rather, oil pooled atop water in the pipe, which Uncle Billy discovered Aug. 28, 1859, a day after the bit slipped a few inches into a crevice just before the work day was over. Oil was struck, word traveled fast and the oil industry was born. Remember that these were the oil industrys earliest days. At its birth, there wasnt infrastructure in place to get oil to refiners. Drakes first oil was put in a bathtub. Coopers soon were in great demand, but the barrels had to travel. There were no railroads in Titusville, let alone tractor-trailers or pipelines. Enter teamsters who hauled the barrels by land and flat-bottom boats for transport on the rivers. What followed, too, were companies making better bits, nitroglycerin to wake up low-flowing wells and ramped-up engine manufacturing. There were oil companies to find the oil, landmen to acquire leases and salesmen to sell kerosene and lamps to the masses. Markets, speculation and trading developed, as did the push for better safety after spills and tragic fires. There were booms and busts, perhaps most notably in Pithole, just east of Titusville. Oil was discovered nearby in 1865, and, according to William C. Darrahs book Pithole: The Vanished City, Pitholes population rose to 20,000, only to be abandoned by 1877. Its now a mostly grown-over ghost town with a single small building where the story of its history is preserved. * * * Plenty of people say that this current oil industry downturn is unlike the others, that its not in a bust and that companies are much better positioned today than in the past. Considering the hustle and bustle here in Midland, I believe it. As for the industry itself, these arent stale times. Sure, it's easier though more expensive to strike oil, but its not without excitement. Explorers and producers are able to get more oil out of the ground than ever before using methods that are a far cry from Uncle Billys chisel-tipped bit smashing through rock. And the yield only creates greater opportunities to better peoples lives. The search for oil to make kerosene to light the darkness begat lubricants for machines, gasoline for engines, jet fuel for planes. Its the base for better fertilizers that help feed the world, various medical appliations that make people well and the plastics for the very bottles and bags theyre held in. To me, the romance isnt in the gamble its in the benefit. Theres no question the world has become a better place thanks to the people behind that first wildcat well in Pennsylvania long ago and the people behind the industry in the Permian Basin today. Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes. Saudi Arabias oil and natural gas production and drilling activities are unaffected by crude prices at current levels, the state-run producers chief executive officer said, signaling that the worlds biggest oil exporter will continue to protect its market share. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Saudi Aramco, will keep investing in oil projects for the long term, and its sales to buyers in East Asia are rising, Amin Nasser told reporters Wednesday at a signing ceremony for a gas-processing plant near the eastern city of Jubail. Aramco is still working on plans for an initial public offering and is studying whether to list shares on an overseas stock exchange as well as in Saudi Arabia, he said. Chesapeake Energy Corp., the company Aubrey McClendon built into a natural-gas giant, was sued along with his former partner by lease holders who say the pair conspired to rig bids for drilling rights during the shale boom. The lawsuit against Chesapeake and Tom Ward comes four months after a federal grand jury indicted McClendon on March 1 for allegedly fixing shale lease auctions. McClendon died a day later, at age 56, when the SUV he was driving slammed into a bridge in Oklahoma City, where he lived and worked. HOUSTON Oscar K. Brown is joining Occidental Petroleum Corporation as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Business Development, effective August 9. Brown will oversee the companys global business development functions across its business segments. He brings more than 25 years of energy banking experience to this new role. He joins Occidental from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he most recently served as Managing Director and Co-head of Americas Energy Investment Banking. Watson Valve names new president HOUSTON Watson Valve Services Inc. announces Robert Bob White as its new President. The current president, John M. Watson, will remain as the companys chief executive officer. Bob has served as executive vice president, and ownership, of Watson Valve Services since its inception in 2002. Prior to his executive vice presidency at Watson Valve Services, Bob spent over 39 years in executive management for Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, a sister company to Watson Valve Services. Sanchez Production closes sale of Oklahoma, Kansas assets HOUSTON Sanchez Production Partners LP has closed the sale of substantially all of its operated oil and natural gas wells, leases and associated assets and interests in Oklahoma and Kansas. After the sale, the partnership continues to own operated assets located in Osage County, Oklahoma, which are associated with the partnerships concession agreement with the Osage Nation, as well as interests in non-operated oil and natural gas wells and leases in Oklahoma and Kansas. The sale of these legacy production assets represents another stride in our continuing efforts to focus on opportunities that are more closely aligned with Sanchez Oil & Gas Corporations operational platform, said Gerry Willinger, chief executive officer of the general partner of SPP. The assets, initially offered for sale in March 2015, are considered non-core to the business of SPP. With the sale, which comes on the heels of our second midstream transaction with Sanchez Energy Corporation, our asset mix now more closely matches our long-term investment thesis for the Partnership. Mexico to auction 15 shallow exploration blocks in Gulf MEXICO CITY (AP) The Mexican government has announced plans for an auction of exploration and shared-production rights on 15 blocks of potential oil fields in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The blocks cover 3,440 square miles (8,908 square kilometers) and contain potential reserves of up to 1.58 billion barrels of crude equivalent. The Energy Department said the blocks will be put for bid on a shared-production basis with an initial exploratory period. The contracts would run for 30 years. The bidding is scheduled for March 2017. Mexico is offering the contracts under a 2014 law change that ended seven decades of state monopoly on the oil business. Mexico produces 2.2 million barrels of oil a day, down from a peak of 3.4 million barrels in 2004. Saudi Aramco signs $13B deal for new domestic gas project DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) State-owned Saudi Aramco says it has signed a deal for a new gas project that will be worth more than 50 billion Saudi riyals ($13.3 billion) when complete in 2019 aimed at meeting the kingdoms growing domestic demand for energy. The company said the project will help lessen dependence on oil for power generation and accommodate 4,500 training, temporary and permanent jobs for Saudis. The Fadhili project will process gas from onshore and offshore fields. Saudi Aramco says the Fadhili project will increase the kingdoms natural gas production to 17 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2020, in line with the countrys National Transformation Plan. The company says the deal was signed on Wednesday with Indias Larsen & Toubro, Saudi KAD, Saudi Electricity Company and Frances Engie. AUSTIN -- The Texas abortion law struck down last month by the Supreme Court appears to have curtailed access to the procedure for Hispanic women far more than any other group, a Dallas Morning News analysis of state data has found. In 2014 -- the first full year since restrictions on abortion doctors, pills and clinics forced facilities to close -- women in Texas had 9,000 fewer abortions than the year before. Thats a 14 percent drop in abortions statewide, a much bigger drop than seen in previous years. But among Texas Hispanic women, the drop in abortions was especially steep: The number dropped 18 percent from 2013 to 2014, data show. That drop of about 4,400 abortions in one year is more than three times what Hispanic women were experiencing before the law took effect, an analysis of the last five available years of data shows. Most of that decline can be traced to abortion clinic closures in the Rio Grande Valley, which is predominantly Hispanic. No other demographic came close to seeing that impact. Before clinics closed en masse, abortions among black women were falling annually at a clip of about 5 percent, according to data published by the Texas Department of State Health Services. After the law took hold, the number of black women getting the procedure dropped by 7.5 percent in one year. White Texas women were having about 9 percent fewer abortions each year before 2014. After the law, their abortion numbers dropped only 6.7 percent. The data shows not only that the drop in the number of safe, legal abortions provided was clearly linked to the elimination of access but also, and most especially, that the elimination of clinics disproportionately impacted Latinas, said Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health in New York. The data shows exactly why the Supreme Court struck down the provisions of the law, she added, because they are harmful to women and their families. The data was released days after the courts 5-3 ruling that the law, which caused more than half of the states abortion clinics to close, created an undue burden on women seeking abortions in the state. Its unclear how many of those clinics will be in a position to reopen, even with the law struck down. Nearly three-quarters of Texas counties saw fewer abortions among their residents from 2013 to 2014. Women living in the Texas Panhandle, West Texas and the Valley -- which saw the largest increases in driving distances to the nearest abortion facility -- experienced some of the biggest drops in abortions. The 2013 law had several parts, including a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy that was not challenged in court. The provisions that clinics found most damaging were requirements that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and the clinics meet the standards of outpatient surgical centers. When the law took effect, clinics across the state began closing immediately. In 2014 alone, the state lost 10 facilities. The number fluctuated throughout the year due to court rulings that either blocked certain restrictions temporarily or allowed them to go into effect. For a two-week period in October, only eight clinics were open. The state had 40 before the law was passed. Throughout the yearslong battle over the restrictions, abortion rights advocates pointed to the dearth of clinics in the Rio Grande Valley, where predominately poor and Hispanic women had to travel hundreds of miles for an abortion. That travel, they argued, was out of reach for women who couldnt afford the trip or take multiple days off to see a doctor. That concern was valid, according to data derived from characteristics the state requires clinics to collect on every abortion performed in Texas, including the womans ethnicity. Hispanic women who lived in Hidalgo County, in the Valley, had 60 percent fewer abortions in 2014 than the year before. Thats nearly five times the rate at which abortions fell for that demographic, in that county, in the four years prior. In Cameron County, the Valleys second largest, the trend is similar. Abortions among its residents dropped by about 49 percent after the law took effect, compared with an annual decline in preceding years of about 20.5 percent. More than 90 percent of women in each county are nonwhite, and 36 percent live below the federal poverty line. Republican lawmakers and state leaders maintain that they passed and support the law because it made the procedure safer for women. But the Supreme Court ruled that the virtual absence of any health benefit of the restrictions made enforcing them unconstitutional. John Seago, legislative director of the anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, said its undoubtable that the clinic closures contributed to the drop in abortions in 2014. But he said he doesnt believe thats the only reason Texas saw a decline. We are having a national trend of fewer elective abortions, Seago said. And thats going to continue, even after this (Supreme Court) ruling. The 2014 data was released three days after the Supreme Court voted to strike down Texas restrictions. Trisha Trigilio, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, alleges the state was sitting on the data because it shows that women living in regions that lost clinics and women of color were unconstitutionally burdened by the restrictions. The ACLU wrote to John Hellerstedt, the commissioner of the Department of State Health Services, on June 15 asking the agency to release the 2014 data. In it, the group said it had come to its attention that the data was ready to be published in March, and that upper-level supervisors within the department told employees to lie and say the information was not complete. State officials have said they couldnt release the data because the study wasnt yet finalized. ------ The Valleys only abortion provider, Whole Womans Health, a McAllen clinic and lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, was closed for the majority of 2014. It wasnt providing abortions from November 2013 to September 2014, when a lower court granted the clinic special exemptions from the law. The McAllen clinic is in Hidalgo County, where residents of all ethnicities had 704 fewer abortions in 2014 than the year before -- a decline of 58 percent. Nearly 97 percent of that can be attributed to a drop in Hispanic women who had abortions, state data indicates. While the McAllen clinic was closed, women in Hidalgo County had to drive about 140 miles to the nearest clinic in Corpus Christi. But in June 2014, that clinic closed as well, and the next-closest clinic was 180 miles away in San Antonio. Women living in West Texas also had fewer abortions after clinics closed. Lubbock County is now 244 miles from the nearest clinic in Fort Worth, and women there had 32 percent fewer abortions in 2014. Midland County saw a 36 percent decrease. Texas Panhandle residents in Potter County had 80 percent fewer abortions in 2014 after the distance to the nearest clinic increased by 180 miles. Neighboring Randall County saw a 72 percent decline in abortions in 2014; the nearest Texas abortion clinic is now 294 miles away, in Fort Worth. People in the Panhandle were having such a hard time getting together travel, time off, and money that they dropped off communications, and our best guess is that they were forced to carry to term, said Nan Little Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Dallas-based Texas Equal Access Fund, which helps women in North Texas fund their abortions. Weve heard from some clients that they had considered self-aborting. Others sought care out of state, Kirkpatrick said. Even when clinics hadnt closed, the restrictions and longer wait times were an effective deterrent, the data suggests. Even though El Paso County residents had access to at least one open clinic for most of the last three years, that county saw a drop in abortions of nearly 40 percent from 2013. Thats nearly five times what that county saw in prior years. Women living in the El Paso area could travel 10 miles to a clinic in New Mexico, but the state doesnt track how many Texans have abortions there. ------ If a woman is early enough in her pregnancy, she can take an abortion pill, commonly referred to as a medical abortion. A quarter of the women who had abortions in 2013 chose the pill method, but the 2013 law required doctors to administer the drugs precisely as written on the federal Food and Drug Administrations prescription label, which was considered outdated by medical professionals. A year later, 70 percent fewer women chose the pill-induced method -- 11,250 fewer women. The protocol required women to make four trips to an abortion clinic: to undergo a sonogram, obtain and take the first pill in front of the doctor, obtain and take the second pill in front of the doctor and follow up two weeks later to make sure the abortion was successful. Too many women couldnt find the time away from their jobs and families, nor the money, to get to our health centers for even one visit, much less four, said Kelly Hart, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which operates abortion facilities in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Those obstacles presented by the Texas abortion law were effectively quashed in March, when the FDA updated its label guidelines, making it easier for women to get a medical abortion. Hart said after that label change, a quarter of abortions at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas were using the pill rather than more invasive methods. Obviously, the rebound in numbers of women choosing medication abortion immediately after the label change underscores just how effective the restrictions were in impeding personal health decisions for women seeking safe, legal abortion, she said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. Some government officials and politicians are ... Divers have recovered the body of U.S. Navy Seaman Rolando Acosta, 21, in the waters of Norfolk, Va., after he reportedly fell overboard from a submarine. Acosta, who hailed from Plainview, reportedly fell into the water from the Los Angeles-class attack submarine the USS Boise around noon Saturday. Divers recovered the body about two hours after the fall at Naval Station Norfolk. Seaman Acosta was a hardworking and highly valued shipmate, said Cmdr. Scott Luers, Boise commanding officer His presence will be missed by USS Boise and throughout the submarine force. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. He was our fellow shipmate, and anytime we lose a service member, we are saddened by the loss. And our thoughts and prayers definitely go out to the sailors family, said Lt. Timothy Hawkins in an interview with Norfolk news station. The incident is currently under investigation, but a Navy spokesperson said it appeared that Acosta had drowned. The incident is under investigation, and obviously we care deeply about all of our sailors and personnel, and we are going to look at this very closely, Hawkins said. The submarine was reportedly tied to a pier at the time of the incident. Although the case is being investigated, unofficial reports are hinting that a wave swept Acosta overboard. Acosta was working on the ship as a part of a crew that helps maintain the ship, whether it is active or not. Acosta served as a sonar technician and reported to the Boise last December. The Virginia-based submarine was Acostas first assignment after he enlisted in the Navy in January 2012. To comment: hmarquez@hearstnp.com 806.296.1350 mySA.com and the San Antonio Express-News have pulled out all the stops to put together the largest restaurant gift card giveaway in South Texas! One lucky winner will take home 52 restaurant gift cards to San Antonios best eateries the stuff foodie dreams are made of! The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two Louisiana men Saturday after their boat began sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, some 125 miles southeast of Galveston, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said. Karl Shram, whose age was not immediately available, and Chris Bergeron, 61, called a private company that monitors satellite distress calls, saying that their 42-foot boat was sinking rapidly and they intended to swim to the nearest oil rig, Petty Officer Jennifer Nease said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW MILFORD - Officials finished putting out a fire at Lovers Leap State Park by Sunday evening, according to Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesperson Dennis Schain. The fire was estimated to be about 10 acres and started Friday night. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Twelve Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) firefighters and local departments worked Sunday to put out the flames, Schain said. He said the crews barriers around the fire held throughout Saturday night. The team strengthened these barriers Sunday by using water and removing nearby burning material. The Water Witch Hose Company #2 of New Milford posted on Facebook Saturday morning that the Northville and Gaylordsville fire departments, as well as crews from the Litchfield and Fairfield counties, fought the fire. Schain said the risk of forest fire will remain high across the state until it rains. When DEEP rates the forest fire danger level as high, people cannot burn brush on their property within 100 feet of a grassland or woodland, even if they have a permit from their local open burning official, according to DEEPs website. In order to prevent forest fires, those who use Connecticuts state parks and open spaces should keep flammable objects away from fires, dispose of hot charcoal and put out smoking materials, DEEP writes on its website. This article was updated around 6 p.m. on Sunday to reflect that the fire has been put out. The Daily News will run a weekly Political Round-up, highlighting the campaigns of candidates for both the 98th House and 99th House races. All five candidates have been contacted and asked to submit items for the round-up. In the 98th House District, Republican Gary Glenn, R-Midland, will be facing Democratic challenger Geoff Malicoat in the Nov. 8 general election. The 99th House race will have Democrat Bryan Mielke squaring off against the winner of the Aug. 2 primary between Republicans Roger Hauck and Robin Stressman. ROGER HAUCK As the primary election fast approaches, I reflect on the past few months Ive spent campaigning in Midland County, Hauck said. It has truly been a pleasure meeting and talking with the citizens as I went door to door, and attending the various meetings and activities. Im looking forward to going to Lansing to be a voice for all of you. For more information about Hauck: rogerhauck.com GEOFF MALICOAT Geoff Malicoat expressed disappointment that Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed a former lobbyist and BP executive to head the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. This is just another example of lobbyists being appointed to head public agencies. We have a disaster waiting to happen under the Straits of Mackinac with the aging pipeline, Malicoat said. He added, yet inexplicably, Gov. Snyder named a former oil and gas lobbyist, who was involved in the BP disaster, to replace his previous appointee, who oversaw the Flint drinking water debacle. It is unfortunate, and we can do better. For more information about Malicoat: malicoatforhouse.com GARY GLENN Glenn continues to receive support from small business owners and job providers, saying his highest priority will remain making Michigan more attractive for new plant sites and other new business and industry needed for job creation in Bay and Midland counties. Glenn has been named a Friend of Retail by the Michigan Retailers Association, which represents 5,000 member businesses, 15,000 stores and websites, and a retail industry directly responsible for 850,000 jobs and 18 percent of Michigans total economic activity. Glenn also received an endorsement from the Michigan chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, a statewide small business organization. Glenn said in the wake of the growing frequency of radical Islamic terrorist attacks in the U.S. and other western nations, and a single month in which ISIS claims to have killed over 5,000 people worldwide, he is deeply concerned that President Barack Obamas administration has located more Syrian refugees in Michigan than in any other state, with thousands more on the way this year. Glenn renewed his call reported worldwide following the terrorist attack in Paris last November for Gov. Rick Snyder to resist further relocation of Syrian refugees to Michigan after FBI Director James Comey told Congress the U.S. has no way to vet refugees to determine which may be using refugee status as cover for intended terrorist activity. Glenn has cosponsored a package of legislation to prohibit spending state funds to assist the federal governments resettlement program unless the legislature and affected county governments approve the resettlement. A second measure would ban resettlement of refugees from failed states that have widespread presence of terrorist activity and weak central governments incapable of maintaining criminal records. For more information: GaryGlenn.US David Horowitz, a Hollywood publicist who in just one week helped reverse Bill Clinton's national image from a bloviating convention speaker to a groovy, self-deprecating saxophonist, died July 17 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86. His death was confirmed by his wife, Lynn. Horowitz, a former film studio executive who also masterminded winning Oscar campaigns for, among other blockbusters, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," played a role in brokering Clinton's appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" after Clinton bombed in what was supposed to be, literally, his 15 minutes of fame at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Clinton spoke for more than twice that long, delivering a 33-minute nominating speech for Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts. The speech was intended to introduce Clinton, then the governor of Arkansas, to the U.S. television public, but it lost the attention of the delegates long before he uttered the two words that generated the greatest applause: "In conclusion." In an interview for an episode of the PBS program "American Experience," Clinton's friend Harry Thomason, a television producer and director, recalled how he and his wife and producing partner, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, responded to the speech that night. "We were very upset, you know, that it didn't go well," he said. "And we knew the press was going to make mincemeat out of him and people would be making fun of him. So we stew about it all night; this is a Thursday, you know. Sometime in the wee hours Linda wakes me up after a troubled sleep and she said, 'Look, he's got to go on the Carson show to make this right.'" They called Horowitz the next morning. Horowitz contacted Carson's producer, Fred de Cordova, "and he says Carson has never had a politician on his show in his entire career and he's not going to now," Thomason said. "And I said, OK," he continued, "and so sometime after lunch I thought of another idea and I just called Freddie de Cordova back direct and I said, 'OK, you've never had a politician on, but what if he comes on and plays the saxophone?'" Carson had joked after the speech that "the surgeon general has just approved Bill Clinton as an over-the-counter sleep aid." He placed a hourglass on his desk when Clinton sat down for the interview. But the next day, after Clinton played his saxophone on the air, The Associated Press declared: "Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton has gone from the media doghouse to media darling in one short week. And all it took was a smile, a few self-deprecating jokes and a song." Four years later, Clinton was pursuing the Democratic presidential nomination, and Horowitz arranged for him and Hillary Rodham Clinton to appear on "The Arsenio Hall Show" the day after the California primary, as his media adviser, Mandy Grunwald, had been recommending for months. While Clinton had clinched the Democratic nomination, his appearance (he donned dark glasses and played "Heartbreak Hotel") helped humanize him for a challenging fall campaign in which he started in third place against George H.W. Bush and H. Ross Perot. ("It's nice to see a Democrat blow something besides the election," Hall said.) A Bexar County Sheriff's deputy was hit by a car late Saturday night, but didn't suffer any major injuries, according to BCSO spokesman James Keith. The deputy was directing traffic at the East Commerce and Coca Cola Place intersection after the Garth Brooks concert at the AT&T Center when a driver allegedly struck him with the side mirror of her Camaro. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Taipei, July 24 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Sunday that it has been consistently protecting a Taiwanese fishing boat flotilla heading for Taiping Island in the South China Sea to highlight Republic of China sovereignty and fishing rights on and around the island, ever since the boats departed July 20 from a port in the southern county of Pingtung. Two years ago, Congress gave veterans facing long waits or who were forced to travel long distances to receive care the option to receive health care from non-Veterans Administration community care providers under the Veterans Choice Act of 2014. It created a partnership between VA and community care providers, giving veterans a choice to seek care from a community provider when the VA is unable to deliver timely, quality care directly. While there is still work to be done with the program, much progress has been made, including improving access and timeliness of care for veterans. As mandated by Congress under the Choice Act, the Commission on Care issued its report this month providing recommendations to transform the way the VA provides health care to our nations veterans. While this report should generate serious debate about the way forward, it is important that we acknowledge some basic facts about the unique role the VA plays in providing veterans the care they have earned and how the Choice program supports that vitally important mission. It has been established that the VA provides world-class care for veterans; this should not change. Dismantling the VA and privatizing care is the wrong prescription, and it breaks our nations promises to our veterans. The fundamental issue that caused the access crisis the ever-increasing demand for care from veterans of all eras remains the challenge today. TriWest Healthcare Alliance is proud to partner with the VA to help it serve veterans better and faster through the Choice program, and ensure they receive high-quality care in the community when they cannot be seen directly by the VA on a timely or geographically convenient basis. In the San Antonio VA medical service area, there are more than 3,200 community providers who have delivered veterans health care in the local area. Since the start of the Choice program in January 2015, these providers have served nearly 16,000 veterans in need in San Antonio. Across all categories of care, the average number of days to make an appointment with a TriWest provider is less than three; the average number of days to the first completed appointment with a network provider is 16. Program knowledge and usage are growing, with more and more veterans receiving increased access to high-quality health care from the community under the Choice program. Every month, TriWest handles nearly 1 million phone calls for veterans health care, with about 15,000 of those calls associated with the San Antonio service area. In the 28 states where TriWest operates, 180,000 community providers have now handled more than 1 million appointments. That is real, tangible progress for veterans. A successful Choice program depends on teamwork and collaboration among the VA, TriWest and the community care providers. The future of Choice is in all of our hands. Some would like to end the new public-private partnership and return to the old ways of doing things at the VA. Others would like to totally privatize the VA. Both miss the mark. I would submit that this public-private model of care is the right course for the future to deliver care for veterans in both urban and rural areas nationwide. Just like the Defense Departments Tricare program, this public-private partnership is critical for those who put on the uniform. It keeps our nations promise of access to care for veterans regardless of where they live. As program improvements are gaining ground, more and more veterans are served each day. Now is not the time to abandon this progress and break those promises. If we keep working together to build on the strengths of the VA, we will continue to improve and better serve those who have served our nation so well. Veterans deserve no less. David J. McIntyre Jr. is president and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Gov. Greg Abbotts proposal to make a crime committed against police a hate crime if it is undertaken out of bias against officers has merit. An announcement from the governors office says the Police Protection Act proposed for the 2017 Legislature would cover crimes that occur out of bias against the police. That bias part is key. There already are harsh penalties for using a gun against or otherwise assaulting police officers. When it comes to the law, those tasked with protecting us are highly protected. That is as it should be. It is tantamount to a capital crime to kill a police officer in Texas. Assault on a public servant in Texas, including officers, is a third-degree felony. Abbotts plan would increase that penalty for assault to a second-degree felony, and he proposes to increase penalties for any crime against officers. The plan occurs against a backdrop of attacks on officers that were in apparent retaliation for allegations of unjustified police shootings of African-Americans five officers dead in Dallas and now three in Baton Rouge, La. President Barack Obama correctly labeled the Dallas shootings a case of racial hatred. And the shooter in Baton Rouge, after the Dallas shooting, had mused on social media that society frowns on African-Americans fighting back. Purposely targeting officers seems to be the textbook definition of bias. Still, we understand the arguments against making crimes against officers a hate crime. Critics of a similar law passed in Louisiana say that it distorts the purpose of hate crime laws to protect people who are targeted for characteristics beyond their control. Race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation are such characteristics. Another argument cites the protections already in place for police officers. But trumping all these arguments, we believe, is the work that officers do. Their job is to protect us, and therefore they deserve the utmost protection. They uphold the rule of lawfully enacted law, without which we essentially have no protection. Abbotts proposal goes to what should be a core value protect the rule of law by protecting those who enforce it. Will this be a deterrent against those who target officers? Maybe not, but what if it prevents even one? And the same can be said of hate crimes generally. A real hater is unlikely to be deterred. Still, through these kinds of laws, society makes a statement, and the enhanced penalties are warranted. Abbott would also organize a campaign to educate young Texans on the value police officers bring to their communities, according to a statement from the governors office. This, too, has much merit. The Legislature should craft this law and pass it. Hello, Loo. Weve been holding our breaths for a while in anticipation of your arrival. That arrival in downtown San Antonio, city officials say, is imminent. It couldnt be more welcome. Lets just say that if you are not buying from some eatery downtown and nature calls, your options are limited. Signs that say restrooms for patrons use only are about as ubiquitous as coonskin caps on tourist kids at the Alamo. Officially, this restroom is called the Portland Loo. Why another citys moniker has to grace a new San Antonio inhabitant escapes us, but were happy to see its arrival nonetheless. Perhaps a naming contest? Just a thought. Downtown merchants have long complained about the mess and smell that occurs from lack of public facilities because of the citys homelessness problem. But we note that everyone downtown needs such facilities from time to time. Though some exist, theyre hard to find for the uninitiated. The loo will be located on the heavily traveled intersection of East Commerce and Losoya streets, an excellent choice. We second District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevinos desire to buy more, not an inexpensive proposition. The fabrication and delivery of the graffiti-resistant loo is $97,700, with another $88,196 for installation and other costs. But if it results in better access to facilities in our busy tourist-filled downtown, this is well worth the cost. Weve got it. Instead of Portland Loo, BeeBee Beautiful Bano. During the election, the Liberals ran on a platform that focused on leaving more money in the pockets of Canadians. Instead, the Liberal Government plans to hike payroll taxes by increasing the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premium rate. Unfortunately, this plan will do more to keep money out of the pockets of Canadians than in them. The Liberal Government is moving to take money from the paycheques of hardworking Canadians, leaving less for our savings accounts and putting hundreds of jobs at risk in the process. Individuals and the businesses that hire them will feel the consequences of this decision firsthand. For workers, higher mandatory CPP contributions will leave less money available for private savings. Workers will be paying thousands more every year making it more difficult for new grads to pay off their student loans or buy their first home, or for families to save for vacations or the kids post-secondary education. Small business wont have the ability to raise workers wages while some may have to make the hard decision to freeze hiring due to the increased financial pressures an expanded CPP brings. An analysis of the proposed new model by the C.D. Howe Institute concluded that Canadian workers will indeed see greater benefits from the CPP, but theyll be offset by clawbacks to other benefits. The elimination of income splitting, the cancellation of a number of popular tax credits such as the Childrens Fitness Tax Credit, and the reduction in annual TFSA contributions will only serve to increase the tax burden on Canadians when considered alongside the decision to expand the CPP. Rather than Prime Minister Trudeau dictating how Canadians must save for retirement, the Conservative Party believes that Canadians should be free to manage their own money. Thats why our previous Conservative Government helped Canadians save through tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) and opportunities to make voluntary contributions to the CPP. Everyone agrees its important to save for retirement, but there is no reason to assume that the CPP is the best mechanism with which to do that. Other optional savings vehicles like RRSPs and TFSAs provide a practical way for Canadians to save while ensuring they have flexibility with their money in the future. Posted on 07/24/2016, 10:00 am, by mySteinbach Manitoba Sustainable Development advises the emerald ash borer (EAB) is an extremely destructive insect that has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees in North America and has been spreading into the north eastern United States, Quebec and Ontario. While the EAB has not been found in Manitoba yet, it has been identified in Minneapolis and more recently in Thunder Bay. This invasive species is transported through the movement of infected ash firewood and the only proven way to manage this pest is to prevent its introduction to Manitoba. The province already has a number of monitoring and prevention programs in place including: partnering with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local communities to install and monitor EAB traps along highways, maintaining bins on main highways and reminding visitors to drop off firewood, and enforcing restrictions on movement of raw ash materials. Prevention is the key and the province is working with all levels of government to take additional steps to prevent the introduction of this devastating invasive species. Efforts include increasing public awareness on the risks of moving firewood, adding more highway signage to remind motorists not to move firewood and implementing stricter controls on the movement of raw ash materials. For more information on the emerald ash borer visit: www.gov.mb.ca. Posted on 07/24/2016, 1:00 pm, by mySteinbach On July 27, 2016, Ste. Anne Co-op will be presenting The Grande Pointe Homeowners Association with a cheque for $75,000 that will go towards a new four-season community clubhouse. The clubhouse will be built beside the outdoor rink to provide users with a place to warm up, access bathrooms and host other events. The funding is provided by Co-op Community Spaces, a program supporting community-based recreation, conservation and urban agriculture projects. This years 21 recipients span all four western Canadian provinces and include local organizations and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in their community and deliver important local services. Since launching in 2015, Co-op Community Spaces has provided almost $2.5 million to 37 local projects that benefit communities throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This years Co-op Community Spaces projects include an aquatic centre in Vanderhoof, B.C., an educational kitchen in Calgary, AB, a community greenhouse in Regina, SK and a new community club house in Grande Pointe, MB. For more information, and to view all funding recipients, visit communityspaces.ca. The thought had crossed my mind but I don't think it pays enough for the class of people one would be obligated to tolerate. Or having to be in Ottawa that much Lambert here: Hudsons views working on the assumption that both Trump and Clinton are operating with some minimal degree of good faith in presenting their policy positions look reasonably clear-eyed to me, especially compared to the hysterical and manipulative bloviation emitted by establishment Democrats and establishment Republicans, who seem to be adopting what William S. Burroughs would call the Liquifactionist Program, and merging themselves into a single quivering protoplasmic mass. Some readers may be troubled that Hudson passed over Trumps Nixonian call for law and order. (My current views on the 2016 choice can be found here.) Michael Hudson is a Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He is the author of The Bubble and Beyond and Finance Capitalism and its Discontents. His most recent book is titled Killing the Host: How Financial Parasites and Debt Bondage Destroy the Global Economy. Heres the interview with Michael Hudson on the Real News Network: And heres the transcript: SHARMINI PERIES, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, TRNN: Its the Real News Network. Im Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore. On Friday, just after the Republican National Congress wrapped up with its presidential candidate, Donald Trump, Paul Krugman of the New York Times penned an article titled Donald Trump: The Siberian Candidate. He said in it, if elected, would Donald Trump be Vladimir Putins man in the White House? Krugman himself is worried as ludicrous and outrageous as the question sounds, the Trump campaigns recent behavior has quite a few foreign policy experts wondering, he says, just what kind of hold Mr. Putin has over the Republican nominee, and whether that influence will continue if he wins. Well, lets unravel that statement with Michael Hudson. Hes joining us from New York. Michael is a distinguished research professor of economics at the University of Missouri Kansas City. His latest book is Killing the Host: How Financial Parasites and Debt Bondage Destroyed the Global Economy. Thank you so much for joining us, Michael. MICHAEL HUDSON: Its good to be here, Sharmini. Its been an exciting week. PERIES: So lets take a look at this article by Paul Krugman. Where is he going with this analysis about the Siberian candidate? HUDSON: Well, Krugman has joined the ranks of the neocons, as well as the neoliberals, and theyre terrified that theyre losing control of the Republican Party. For the last half-century the Republican Party has been pro-Cold War, corporatist. And Trump has actually, is reversing that. Reversing the whole traditional platform. And that really worries the neocons. Until his speech, the whole Republican Convention, every speaker had avoided dealing with economic policy issues. No one referred to the party platform, which isnt very good. And it was mostly an attack on Hillary. Chants of lock her up. And Trump children, aimed to try to humanize him and make him look like a loving man. But finally came Trumps speech, and this was for the first time, policy was there. And hes making a left run around Hillary. He appealed twice to Bernie Sanders supporters, and the two major policies that he outlined in the speech broke radically from the Republican traditional right-wing stance. And that is called destroying the party by the right wing, and Trump said hes not destroying the party, hes building it up and appealing to labor, and appealing to the rational interest that otherwise had been backing Bernie Sanders. So in terms of national security, he wanted to roll back NATO spending. And he made it clear, roll back military spending. We can spend it on infrastructure, we can spend it on employing American labor. And in the speech, he said, look, we dont need foreign military bases and foreign spending to defend our allies. We can defend them from the United States, because in todays world, the only kind of war were going to have is atomic war. Nobodys going to invade another country. Were not going to send American troops to invade Russia, if it were to attack. So nobodys even talking about that. So lets be realistic. Well, being realistic has driven other people crazy. Not only did Krugman say that Trump would, quote, actually follow a pro-Putin foreign policy at the expense of Americas allies, and hes referring to the Ukraine, basically, and its athes become a lobbyist for the military-industrial complex. But also, at the Washington Post you had Anne Applebaum call him explicitly the Manchurian candidate, referring to the 1962 movie, and rejecting the neocon craziness. This has just driven them nutty because theyre worried of losing the Republican Party under Trump. In economic policy, Trump also opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the TTIP trade and corporate power grab [inaud.] with Europe to block public regulation. And this was also a major plank of Bernie Sanders campaign against Hillary, which Trump knows. The corporatist wings of both the Republican and the Democratic Parties fear that Trumps opposition to NAFTA and TPP will lead the Republicans not to push through in the lame duck session after November. The whole plan has been that once the elections over, Obama will then get all the Republicans together and will pass the Republican platform that hes been pushing for the last eight years. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement with Europe, and the other neoliberal policies. And now that Trump is trying to rebuild the Republican Party, all of that is threatened. And so on the Republican side of the New York Times page you had David Brooks writing The death of the Republican Party. So what Trump calls the rebirth of the Republican Party, it means the death of the reactionary, conservative, corporatist, anti-labor Republican Party. And when he wrote this, quote, Trump is decimating the things Republicans stood for: NATO, entitlement reform, in other words winding back Social Security, and support of the corporatist Trans-Pacific Partnership. So its almost hilarious to see what happens. And Trump also has reversed the traditional Republican fiscal responsibility austerity policy, that not a word about balanced budgets anymore. And he said he was going to run at policy to employ American labor and put it back to work on infrastructure. Again, hes made a left runaround Hillary. He says he wants to reinstate Glass-Steagall, whereas the Clintons were the people that got rid of it. And this may be for show, simply to brand Hillary as Wall Streets candidate. But it also seems to actually be an attack on Wall Street. And Trumps genius was to turn around all the attacks on him as being a shady businessman. He said, look, nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it. Now, what that means, basically, as a businessman, he knows the fine print by which theyve been screwing the people. So only someone like him knows how to fight against Wall Street. After all, hes been screwing the Wall Street banks for years [inaud.]. And he can now fight for the population fighting against Wall Street, just as hes been able to stiff the banks. So its sort of hilarious. On the one hand, leading up to him you had Republicans saying throw Hillary in jail. And Hillary saying throw Trump in the [inaud.]. And so you have the whole election coming up with. PERIES: Maybe we should take the lead and lock them all up. Michael, what is becoming very clear is that theres a great deal of inconsistencies on the part of the Republican Party. Various people are talking different things, like if you hear Mike Pence, the vice presidential candidate, speak, and then you heard Donald Trump, and then you heard Ivanka Trump speak yesterday, theyre all saying different things. Its like different strokes for different folks. And I guess in marketing and marketeering, which Trump is the master of, that makes perfect sense. Just tap on everybodys shoulder so they feel like theyre the ones being represented as spoken about, and theyre going to have their issues addressed in some way. When it comeshe also in that sense appealed to, as you said, the Bernie Sanders people when he talked about the trade deals. You know, hes been talking about NAFTA, TTIP, TTP, and these are areas that really is traditionally been the left of the left issues. And now theres this, that hes anti-these trade deals, and hes going to bring jobs home. What does that mean? HUDSON: Well, youre right when you say theres a policy confusion within the Republican Party. And I guess if this were marketing, its the idea that everybody hears what they want to hear. And if they can hear right-wing gay bashing from the Indiana governor, and they can hear Trump talking about hte LGBTQ, everybody will sort of be on the side. But I listened to what Governor Pence said about defending Trumps views on NATO. And hes so smooth. So slick, that he translated what Trump said in a way that no Republican conservative could really disagree with it. I think he was a very good pick for vice president, because he can, obviously hes agreed to follow what Trumps saying, and hes so smooth, being a lawyer, that he can make it all appear much more reasonable than it would. I think that the most, the biggest contradiction, was you can look at how the convention began with Governor Christie. Accusing Hillary of being pro-Russian when shes actually threatening war, and criticizing her for not helping the Ukrainians when it was she who brought Victorian Nuland in to push the coup detat with the neo-nazis, and gave them $5 billion. And Trump reversed the whole thing and said no, no, no. Im not anti-Russian, Im pro-Russian. Im not going to defend Ukrainians. Just the opposite. And its obvious that the Republicans have fallen into line behind them. And no wonder the Democrats want them to lose. All of thatyouve had the Koch brothers say were not going to give money to Trump, the Republicans, now. Were backing Hillary. Youve got the Chamber of Commerce saying because Trump isnt for the corporate takeover of foreign trade, were now supporting the Democrats, not the Reepublicans. So this is really the class war. And its the class war of Wall Street and the corporate sector of the Democratic side against Trump on the populist side. And who knows whether he really means what he says when he says hes for the workers and he wants to rebuild the cities, put labor back to work. And when he says hes for the blacks and Hispanics have to get jobs just like white people, maybe hes telling the truth, because that certainly is the way that the country can be rebuilt in a positive way. And the interesting thing is that all he gets from the Democrats is denunciations. So I cant wait to see how Bernie Sanders is going to handle all this at the Democratic Convention next week. PERIES: All right, Michael. A lot to continue discussing there. I thank you so much for joining us today and look forward to a report next week. HUDSON: Yes, good to be here at this exciting time. PERIES: And thank you for joining us on the Real News Network. End DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. 'It just flipped': Busch details final season with Joe Gibbs Racing in 'Race for the Championship' In the latest episode of USA Network's "Race for the Championship," Busch describes the change at JGR and is introduced with a new team. Nicola Sturgeon takes political fantasy to new heights 23 July 2016The TelegraphIt was courteous of our new Prime Minister, within hours of her coronation, to visit Edinburgh to see Scotlands First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Ms Sturgeon, who we are routinely assured is a consummate politician who positively demands our unequivocal admiration, did not repay that courtesy. Instead, she spent the ensuing days mendaciously implying that she had some sort of veto over the United Kingdoms decision to leave the European Union . When even her usual toadies in the mass media struggled to believe this fantasy, she started peddling the idea also completely unsubstantiated that the rest of the UK could leave the EU while Scotland remained in.Although it is not unknown for politicians to be fantasists Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbott seriously seem to think that millions of people will one day let them run the country , for example Mrs Sturgeon has taken the art form to a new level. In September 2014, Scots voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay in the United Kingdom. Ms Sturgeon and her friends decided to ignore this democratic decision. It was useful preparation for them, and particularly for her, for choosing to ignore Britains equally democratic decision to leave the European Union, about which she has been blustering for the last month.To try to construct a domestic and, now, a foreign policy for an independent country that does not exist should cause us to question Ms Sturgeons sanity. Instead, much of the media treats her as though she is talking perfect sense. It is as if Ed Miliband, having lost the 2015 election, were going around pretending he was prime minister, claiming he could take key decisions, inviting himself to chat to foreign potentates on that basis, and the media finding such conduct quite normal.London, like Scotland, voted to stay in the EU demonstrating how out of touch it is with the rest of England. There were hysterical calls for a second referendum, and then, when it became clear that was not going to happen, for effectively a separate citizenship for Londoners. We have heard no more of that either. However painful for a minority of them, the English ruling elite are slowly realising that the world hasnt ended, and isnt going to end, following Brexit. The minority ruling elite in Scotland, sadly for their sanity and credibility, show no signs of doing the same.Whenever Ive written about Scotland Ive been inundated by emails from readers there reminding me, quite rightly, that although that country appears to be a one-party state, the public are far from unanimous in support of Ms Sturgeon. Twice in recent weeks that has been brought home. First, the Conservative Party in Scotland was so revived in the assembly elections in May that it is now the official opposition there, giving Scots a viable alternative for the first time in years. Previously, the choice had been between two sorts of Bolshevism the SNPs sort and Labours sort. Now, Scots can choose between Ms Sturgeons Bolshevism, which she conducts with the honesty and realism one associates with hard-line Left-wing dictatorships, and a progressive, individualistic, free-market conservatism championed by Ruth Davidson. The first cracks in the one-party state have appeared.Second, early briefings that 70 or 75 per cent of Scots would vote to stay in the EU proved wrong: the final vote was 62 to remain against 38 to leave. It was a good majority, but not the overwhelming vote of confidence nationalists had confidently predicted. It, too, shows how far Ms Sturgeons writ actually runs, and is another reflection of how unimpressed the Scottish people are with the crisis-hit NHS and the under-performing education system over which she presides.The type of nationalism she has developed is, as well as being rooted now in fantasy, deeply unpleasant. Intimidation was rife during the 2014 referendum. Xenophobia targeted against England is commonplace in the SNPs ranks. It was unfortunate that as many as 45 per cent of Scots were taken in by this two years ago. It was even more unfortunate that they swallowed it without Alex Salmond, the then leader, being able to tell them what currency an independent Scotland would have, whether or not it would remain in the European Union, and how it would pay its way.Nothing has changed. Ms Sturgeon rumbles on like a minor volcano, spewing out sporadic threats of a second referendum: but it is a referendum she is powerless to call, since that right rests with Westminster. She can always make a unilateral declaration of independence, if she wishes to sign her own political death warrant and humiliate Scotland internationally. She knows that if she managed to take Scotland out of the UK she would have to establish a Scottish currency, because the sterling zone would want nothing to do with her. With oil at $46 a barrel and its main banks effectively wholly-owned subsidiaries of the English taxpayer, Scotland has no visible means of support. And she knows, too, that the EU will not encourage her fantasies about the Union providing a safe haven for an independent Scotland, since the Spanish will veto anything that might encourage Catalonia to break away from Madrid. As with so much else, this aspect of Ms Sturgeons view of the future is based solidly on sheer fantasy.She is behaving as though she is already running an independent country that, thanks to its dependence on English money, can do as it likes in the world. She isnt, and it cant: a reality appreciated by a growing number of Scots, who are nowhere near as stupid or deluded as she would like to think they are. She had better get used to the idea of leaving the EU, and of going along with the decisions of the political union that her people, less than two years ago, elected to remain part of. And if there is much more of her absurd posturing, she is going to become a national laughing-stock. Enormous demand leads to shortages Big Organics pushing growth (NaturalNews) Consumer demand for organic foods has surged to such a degree that farmers can't grow enough to keep up with it."When you look at the percentage of the marketplace, what consumers are buying versus what farmers are producing, farmers aren't producing as much organic as consumers are consuming," said Alexis-Badden Mayer of the Organic Consumers Association.Between 2014 and 2015, the amount consumers spent on packaged organic foods climbed from $12.8 billion to $13.4 billion. Yet, the proportion of U.S. cropland dedicated to organic production is still just 1 percent.This means that producers of packaged organic foods are also experiencing shortages of basic ingredients.John Foraker, the president of Annie's Homegrown (owned by General Mills), said that over the past five to seven years his company has regularly experienced supply chain shortages. A few years, ago, for example, organic cornstarch "which you took for granted" became incredibly hard to find."All of a sudden it's in short supply and you can't figure out why," Foraker said.In order to combat this problem, several food giants are actually offering monetary incentives to encourage more farmers to go organic.According to industry observers, many more farmers would like to convert their farms to organic than are actually doing so, for one main reason: cost. While organic agriculture is actually more profitable, yielding higher prices, the time and expenses associated with achieving organic certification add up quickly.One of the largest financial costs of organic certification is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's requirement that a farm be free of prohibited chemicals for three years before receiving certification. The rationale behind this is that it takes several years for the biochemistry of soil to recover after years of intensive chemical abuse.The problem is that for those three years, farmers are bearing the costs of a transition to a different farming method, but are not yet able to get the higher prices commanded by an organic label. The prospect of this three-year transition prevents many farmers from making the switch.Large food companies such as General Mills and Kashi (owned by Kellogg's) are trying to incentivize more farmers to switch to organic. Thus, General Mills recently announced a plan to purchase organic milk from the Organic Valley cooperative at a higher-than-market price, on the condition that Organic Valley puts the extra proceeds into a fund to help defray costs for dairy farmers making the shift to organic. General Mills said that it expects the deal to add 3,000 acres of dairy pasture to 20 organic farms."What we can do by partnering with Organic Valley is making sure the economic engine is there to pull the train," Foraker said.General Mills is also pursuing other farmer partnership programs designed to add an extra 250,000 acres of organic farmland by 2019. One program involves developing a certification for transitional farms, which would ideally allow farmers making the organic switch to charge a partial markup during the three-year period.Other groups, such as California Certified Organic Farmers, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Quality Assurance International (QAI), already offer transitional certificates. The Organic Trade Association is also working on developing one.Kashi is promoting the QAI certificate by paying higher-than-market rates for red winter wheat bearing the label, and adding a "made with transitional wheat" seal to cereals made with the product.The most widely grown organic products in the United States are carrots, lettuce and apples, closely followed by dairy. Corn and soybeans the most common genetically modified crops account for only 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent of organic production , respectively. DuPont's days are numbered as corporation now liable for billions of dollars in damages globally (NaturalNews) One resident of the mid-Ohio Valley is finally seeing some glimpses of justice the way it was meant to be after chemical giant DuPont was ordered to pay $5.1 million in damages for polluting the Ohio River with C-8, a persistent chemical compound used in Teflon pans that's injured and killed untold thousands of people -- and in this person's case, gave him testicular cancer.The jury that heard the case presented on behalf of the plaintiff by "America's Lawyer" Mike Papantonio unanimously agreed that DuPont demonstrated "conscious disregard" for human health by routinely dumping C-8 into the Ohio River during the manufacture of Teflon pans -- and we now know that C-8 has since circulated globally, contaminating oceans, lakes, and other waterways throughout the world.DuPont acted not only in gross negligence by failing to properly dispose of C-8 in a way that wouldn't damage the environment and water supplies used by humans and animals, but also engaged in intentional vandalism and routine crimes against humanity. You see, C-8 doesn't break down like other compounds -- and DuPont knew all along that it was harmful to humans -- and yet the company chose to pour it into the Ohio River regardless.Because of this, DuPont now faces the possibility of additional punitive charges in addition to the $5.1 million, which have yet to be determined. Time will tell how many more Ohio residents and others exposed to DuPont-contaminated water will come forward with cancer diagnoses and other injuries resulting from exposure to C-8, demanding restitution for their pain and suffering.Cleansing foods and herbs like turmeric , by the way, are great for supporting the body's natural defenses.But the implications of this guilty verdict are much more far reaching than just Ohioans. According to public information provided by the Levin Papantonio Law Group , DuPont's dumping of more than 2.5 million gallons of C-8 into the Ohio River by the year 2003, roughly 50 years after the company first started using the chemical, has led to C-8 now being found in drinking water in at least 27 states.C-8 is now all over the, in fact, and people are reporting health problems ranging from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and hypertension to testicular cancer and thyroid disease. Ulcerative colitis is another common symptom of C-8 exposure -- how many people do you know today who have digestive-related health issues?A shocking 98 percent of Americans, it turns out, currently have C-8 in their bodies -- the result of C-8's incredible bio-persistence and inability to decompose. What this means is that millions, if not, of people now have legal precedence to sue the pants off of DuPont for this travesty, which if humanity is lucky will eventually put this monster of a corporation out of business for its crimes against humanity."DuPont only understands one thing -- and that's losing money," expressed Papantonio, with the support of his legal team, following the jury's guilty verdict. "They have a defective moral compass ."Individuals who suspect that exposure to C-8 may have caused them to develop a chronic health problem are encouraged to contact a lawyer to see if they have a case. DuPont doesn't care one iota about your health, and you should care even less about the company's bottom line, should it be forced to shell out many more millions, or billions, as payment for harming human life.As the DuPont watchdog group "Keep Your Promises" puts it:"To the extent that this is a signal of verdicts to come, this verdict alone will make the cost of DuPont's c-8 abuse skyrocket into billions of dollars, which so many residents and communities sorely need." Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are eliminating sex, gender (NaturalNews) The success of the globalists in perverting the minds of Western youth is evident in a new study by the Innovation Group, which found that most people between the ages of 13 and 20 what the mainstream media and social engineers have dubbed "Generation Z" no longer believe in strictly-defined gender identities like "male" and "female."These gender "binaries," which are really just the pronouns humanity has been using since the beginning of time to differentiate between individuals with external reproductive equipment versus internal reproductive equipment, are now "old-fashioned" to the youth of today, which the study found are more comfortable than previous generations using gender-neutral (and grammatically incorrect) pronouns like "they" and "them" to describe a single, genderless individual.A majority of Gen-Z respondents, 52 percent, indicated that they aren't completely heterosexual, while 35 percent an 11 percent increase compared to "Millennials" admit that they fall somewhere along the spectrum of bisexuality. This spectrum identification for sexuality is further reflected in the more than 38 percent of Gen-Zers who claim they don't believe gender defines a person.As far as the types of clothes and accessories they buy, 1320 year-olds are much more fluid when it comes to sticking to a gender norm. Only 44 percent of Gen-Zers buy clothes exclusively designed for their own gender , while an astounding 70 percent say they support the idea that bathrooms become "genderless," welcoming anyone and everyone who wants to use them.Gen-Z is likewise more accepting of others who don't identify by any specific gender pronoun, or who identify by "non-traditional" gender pronouns like "ze;" 74 percent of Gen-Zers fall into this category compared to just 62 percent of older Millennials between the ages of 2134. But the one thing on which both Gen-Zers and Millennials agree? More people than ever are experimenting with their gender identity. A 16-year-old pansexual (genderless) student from Nebraska by the name of "Madeleine" toldthat "it" (for lack of a better pronoun) learned more about gender and identity from its peers than from older people, and that "agender," or no gender at all, is a young people's phenomenon."I also notice that people my age are more open to gender and sexuality being fluid and subject to change," Madeleine told. "For a while, I identified as asexual, but as time went on and I changed, I realized that maybe I wasn't that way anymore."This lack of clarity about biological identity is a product of two things: relentless media propaganda and chemical poisoning with gender-bending chemicals found in plastics, herbicides and pesticides sprayed on our food, and environmental pollution. Chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA), glyphosate, soy and other hormone-disruptors are altering human genes and producing next-generation "robot" humans with no gender, and thus no identity.It's sad, really, because it could have been prevented through reforms that protect the people rather than the chemical and drug industries that produce these toxins. Food, water, air: It'stainted with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that, more often than not, mimic the effects of estrogen, meaning they deplete testosterone and create hormone imbalances that not only confuse children, but also affect their growth and development.Young girls are becoming more "masculine," while young boys are becoming more "feminine" an alchemy of the two sexes both physically and mentally that's changing the landscape of culture and civilization.We've identified many sources of EDCs through our ongoing work at the Natural News Forensics Food Lab , which I encourage you to check out in order to learn more. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a nearly 3-square-mile blaze in rugged mountains north of the majestic Big Sur region on Saturday, calling in Bay Area police departments to help control the fire. The blaze, five miles south of Garrapata State Park, posed a threat to 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated, Cal Fire said. A middle school in Carmel-by-the-Sea was readied as an evacuation center. A strike team from Santa Clara County met at a Gilroy fire station headed to the area Saturday. Jerri Masten-Hansen and her husband said she and her husband watched the fire creep in. "We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go," Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV. Her sister also left her home down the road. "I grabbed all the pictures of the kids and then I took the paintings of my parents that had been done by a local artist," Ellen Masten said. More than 300 firefighters were on the lines. A fire chief from San Francisco told NBC Bay Area that he sent crews down to for structure protection. Alameda County also had teams sent to Monterey. Highway 1 and businesses in the Big Sur area, a major summer tourist destination, remained open. Paying their respects to a lost member of the force, three South San Francisco police officers are traveling to Baton Rouge, Louis. to attend the memorial service for Montrell Jackson, one of the three officers gunned down last week during what police are saying was an "ambush" attack in the state capital. Jackson, a 10-year veteran of the police force, is being remembered as a "gentle giant" and a "protector." Jackson's wife will remember him not only as the father of their newborn child, but also as "Superman." According to police, a "Superman" shield will be pinned to Jackson's casket. Days before the deadly shooting last week, Officer Jackson, 32, elaborated in a Facebook post just how taxing it is to be both a police officer and a black man in Baton Rouge during a time of racial tension. "I swear to God I love this city but I wonder if this city loves me," he wrote. The memorial service for Jackson is scheduled for Monday. Storms have returned to the Chicago area this weekend, after a week of hot and humid temperatures and intermittent rain. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for 14 counties throughout the Chicago area around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The area under the alert includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Kenosha, LaSalle, Lake, McHenry, Will, Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago counties. The Watch will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday. Cook County was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning through 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. 3 to 4 inches of water were reported on some roads in Evanston, as well as branches down across the northern suburbs and wind speeds estimated at 55-60 mph in Skokie. I-94 was also temporarily shut down due to flooding around 7 p.m., according to the Illinois State Police. All lanes were closed and three cars were stuck in the water, police confirmed. No injuries were reported, and the expressway re-opened around 9 p.m. [[388044802, C]] [[388044802, C]] Because of the severe weather, Soldier Field tweeted that fans at the Coldplay concert scheduled for Saturday night were asked to seek shelter immediately. Both the Sox game and the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field were also delayed due to rain, according to multiple reports. 22,000 people were also left without power across Chicago and the northern suburbs, according to ComEd, who were working to restore the outages. The NWS also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Kane and McHenry counties until 6:15 p.m., urging residents to take precautions as storms could see strong, dangerous wind gusts and even hail. Kendall and Will counties in Illinois; Jasper, LaPorte, and Newton counties in Indiana; and Kenosha County in Wisconsin were also under a Heat Advisory until 7 p.m. Saturday. Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle also remained under an Excessive Heat Warning until 7 p.m., with high temperatures expected to reach the lower 90s and heat index values between 105 and 112 degrees. #BlastFurnace! This is pretty much all you need to know about today's HEAT INDEX temps. Use Caution! @nbcchicago pic.twitter.com/yZF1y0zyQ0 Andy Avalos (@AndyAvalosNBC5) July 21, 2016 On Sunday the Chicago area may see a small relief from the heat. A partly sunny and less humid day is in store with highs in the mid-80s to low-90s, and cooler along the lakefront. After severe weather returned to the Chicago area on Saturday night, residents were forced to clean up the damage the storms left behind. The entire Chicago area, including 14 counties, was under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of the day, with rain moving in and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for multiple areas issued in the evening. Massive flooding was one of the most prominent elements of the storm, with several inches of rainfall covering roads largely in the northern suburbs. I-94 was temporarily shut down twice in suburban Northfield due to flooding, according to the Illinois State Police. All lanes were closed near Winnetka Road around 7 p.m. and three cars were stuck in the water, police confirmed. Lanes reopened at 9 p.m., before heavy rainfall closed the expressway once more overnight. [[388044802, C]] Video of the scene showed people sitting on top of their nearly entirely submerged vehicles, waiting for assistance from rescue crews on inflatable boats. At least five people were rescued in the second closure, officials said, and no injuries were reported. All lanes were re-opened by early Sunday morning. Flooding also occurred near Green Bay Road and Burchell Road in Highwood, where cars were trapped in 2.5 feet of water, according to the National Weather Service. Multiple roads were closed on the south side of far northwest suburban Belvidere, which received a reported 3.41 inches of rain. Highwood in Lake County saw 4.25 inches of rain, the NWS confirmed, while Chicago saw 2.34 inches of rain. [[388049132, C]] 61,000 people were left without power across Chicago and the northern suburbs, according to ComEd. Crews worked through the night to fix the outages, and at 8 a.m. Sunday, 90 percent had been restored. Because of the severe weather, several special events throughout the city were canceled or postponed. At 6:41 p.m., Soldier Field tweeted that fans attending the Coldplay concert were asked to seek shelter immediately. The venue shared an update around 8 p.m. that everyone was allowed to return to their seats. The New Edition concert at the UIC Pavilion was canceled when the stadium flooded, with police confirming that even the stage had taken water. Both the Sox game and the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field were delayed due to rain, according to multiple reports. The Sox game then began late and was suspended due to rain following the bottom of the eighth inning, according to a release from the team. It will resume immediately before Sunday's scheduled game.[[388059532, C]] Sunday is expected to be hot, with storms possibly returning to the area in a similar manner as Saturday around 4 p.m. New Britain police have obtained arrest warrants for two people after a shooting outside a New Britain strip mall Sunday. Police responded to the parking lot of the shopping plaza at 220 E. Main St. around 4 a.m. Sunday and located four males. Three of the males were suffering from gunshot wounds while a fourth was assaulted. Three of the victims were taken to three different area hospitals by private vehicle. Another vehicle carrying the fourth victim was stopped a few blocks away. The victim was treated on scene then transported to the hospital by ambulance. None of the injuries were life threatening. Sunday evening New Britain police announced they had arrest warrants for Roberto Alicea, 24, of Atwood Street in New Britain, and Milton Figueroa, 26, of South Whiting Street in New Britain, in connection with the incident. Both men were shot during the incident. Police said Alicea faces charges of criminal possession of a firearm and third-degree assault. He was already in police custody on a related weapon violation, police said. He is being held on a $125,000 bond and due in New Britain court on July 25. Police said Figueroa faces charges of first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm. The warrant set a $350,000 bond. Figueroa is still being treated for his injuries and is on a police hold at the hospital. Police said the warrant will be served upon his release. Police believe those involved in the incident were members of a car club that was meeting in the parking lot. When the shots rang out, the group scattered. This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Det. Thai Tran at (860) 826-3140 or the Community Tip Line at (860) 826-3199. Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she will step down at the end of the party's convention in Philadelphia. DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as interim chair through the election. The announcement comes amid growing pressure for the Florida congresswoman to step down after email leaks suggested committee officials favored Hillary Clinton during the party's primary. "I think she should resign, period, and I think we need a new chair who is going to lead us in a very different direction," Sanders said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." The Vermont senator also reiterated his calls for Wasserman Schultz to resign on "Meet the Press," after more than 19,000 emails leaked Friday by the website WikiLeaks revealed that some DNC officials internally showed favoritism towards the Clinton campaign while outwardly claiming impartiality. "This really does not come as a shock to me or my supporters. There is no question but the DNC was on Secretary Clinton's side from day one," Sanders told NBC's Chuck Todd. The Vermont senator says a new leader is needed to focus the DNC on defeating Donald Trump, attracting young voters and improving the economy. The White House said President Barack Obama called Wasserman Schultz Sunday afternoon to let her know that he is grateful for her leadership of the DNC. Obama said Wasserman Schultz "had my back" and brought Democrats together to accomplish the party's shared goals for the country. "Her critical role in supporting our economic recovery, our fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair," the statement read. "Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend." Trump and his team responded to the news of Wasserman Shultz's resignation. In a tweet, the Republican candidate called her "neurotic," saying that she "is angry that, after stealing and cheating her way to a Crooked Hillary victory, she's out!" Trump's campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, called on Clinton to drop out of the race in a statement issued Sunday, saying Wasserman Schultz failed to "secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up" with Clinton. "Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while traveling abroad," he said. "Wasserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic Party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk. On the eve of the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, party officials were holding discussions about whether Schultz should resign as chairwoman of the DNC, the Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter publicly. Earlier Sunday, party officials announced Wasserman Schultz will not preside over the Democratic convention, voting instead to have Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio act gavel each session to order and close beginning Monday. Fudge said in a statement issued Sunday she is "happy to serve" as chair of the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia, and thanked Clinton for recommending her to the position. "I am looking to a great convention and our ongoing efforts as we work together for a strong party and a successful election," she added. Sanders was critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton. Saturday, an official with the campaign of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said: "We are very proud of the campaign that we ran. Hillary Clinton has said a number of times publicly that Sen. Sanders ran an extraordinary, hard-fought-campaign based on a real vigorous, and contested primary. As far as Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Bernie Sanders, that's a question to ask Debbie Wasserman Schultz." In the wake of last week's failed Turkish coup, a battle over the Gulen movement is shaping up in Kyrgyzstan that may soon be played out in many more countries. The contest pits two universities sharply against each other in the rugged Central Asian nation's capital, Bishkek, where both are ranked among the country's best institutions of higher learning and are located just a few kilometers apart. One, Manas University, is funded by the Turkish government. The other, Ataturk-Alatoo University, is funded by the global Islamic education network of Fethullah Gulen, the man Ankara blames for the July 15 coup attempt that killed hundreds. Gulen, who has lived in exile in the United States since 1999, denies any involvement. Immediately after the coup was crushed, the Kyrgyz rector of the Ankara-funded Manas University organized a forum to denounce the attempted putsch. Sebahattin Balf also used the forum on July 18 to publicly warn his fellow citizens that the Gulen group could equally make "people in Kyrgyzstan do terrible things in their own country." The rector's warning did not fall on deaf ears. It resonated with students at his institution, where some feel the Gulen network is an opaque organization whose aims may go far beyond the group's stated goals of promoting education, public service, and conservative Islamic values. "Many people are saying they could attempt to seize the power," Aigul, who studies at Manas, says of the Gulen crowd. "It's hard to say who is right and who is wrong. I have seen how those [Gulen] students keep together, they help each other, though I personally see no danger or threat coming from them." Such views are challenged by the professors and students at Ataturk-Alatoo, the Gulen-funded university. "What ideas or principles [does Gulen] promote?" asks Nurdin Kaparov, a teacher at Ataturk-Alatoo. "Spreading education, unity, stressing the importance of math, biology, chemistry, and other sciences, how can such ideas look suspicious?" It is a debate likely to be heard increasingly in many countries as Ankara cracks down hard on the Gulen movement at home in Turkey and now looks set to ask other states to do the same. The goal is to undercut the global network's source of funding, much of which comes from the institutions the Gulen network is best known -- and often praised for -- the private schools it operates in some 150 countries around the world. "There is an all-out war on Gulen [by Ankara], obviously heavily focused right now on the domestic situation in Turkey and heavily focused on the United States because of Gulen's residency there," says Wolfango Piccoli, an expert on Turkey at Teneo Intelligence, a U.S.-based political-risk-advisory service. "But certainly the next wave will be focused on wherever Gulen or associates of Gulen are operating, and I would expect Ankara to put pressure on those countries, asking them to stop these entities from operating." Early Indications Already there are early signs Ankara is gearing up for a push by the Turkish government, its embassies, and its government-linked organizations to roll back the Gulen movement. Erdogan has urged the United States to extradite Gulen over his alleged involvement in the failed coup, calling him a "terrorist," although no formal request was initially filed. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Washington might consider extradition, but would require not "allegations" but "evidence" that could prove the cleric's wrongdoing in a U.S. court of law. The Gulen movement is widely seen as being opaque in its operations, fueling speculation over whether it has hidden goals. On July 20, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly asked visiting Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili to closely watch the activities of Gulen schools in Georgia. Two days earlier, Turkey's consul in Georgia's port of Batumi urged parents there not to send their children to its Gulen-affiliated school, claiming it teaches in "accordance with a terrorist ideology." Similarly, Erdogan has reportedly pressed Azerbaijan to rein in Gulen-linked facilities. The day after a July 17 phone call between Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Baku ordered the temporary closure of a private television station that had announced it planned to broadcast an interview with Gulen. On July 20, Baku closed the Gulen-linked Qafqaz University (Caucasus University), widely considered one of the best institutes for higher learning in the country, along with at least one newspaper. Many other Gulen schools have already been closed in Azerbaijan in previous years based on requests from Turkey -- one of Azerbaijan's closest allies. WATCH: Azerbaijan Takes Over University Linked To Gulen Any Turkish effort now to globally roll back the Gulen movement is ambitious because it tackles one of the Muslim world's largest social networks, with schools, think tanks, and media outlets from Kenya to Kazakhstan. Gulen's Hizmet (Service) movement is said to have millions of members who follow the Turkish-born theologian's teachings that a Muslim's duty is to fund educational institutions, observe conservative Islamic values, and engage in community service. Public Ambivalence But Erdogan appears to be counting not just on Turkey's weight as an important financial partner for many of the states where Gulen operates. He also may hope to tap into existing public ambivalence in many countries regarding the Gulen organization. While many people welcome the schools as an addition to their country's educational systems, the Gulen movement is also widely seen as being opaque in its operations, fueling speculation over whether it has hidden goals. "Two problems with the Gulen movement that make them quite unique are the sheer scale of their resources, the network in Turkey extends into business and charities, but also what seems to be the political nature of the network's activities [in Turkey]," says William Park, an expert on Turkey at King's College in London. "So their tendency to rely on their own internal network can easily be made to look threatening, political, and driven." Like many networks, the Gulen organization encourages its members to rely upon each other, do business with each other, and contribute part of their income to the organization. Businessmen in particular are encouraged to set up local groups to fund schools and provide scholarships for poorer students who cannot afford the tuition. The schools teach a Western curriculum that includes English and Turkish and professors living in dormitories with students, where Gulen's writings on religion are studied after school hours and close links are formed that often continue into professional life. Eventful History The Gulen movement already has had an eventful history in Central Asia, one of the first regions where the movement set up schools in the 1990s as part of a then Turkish-government supported push to spread Turkish culture and influence abroad. The drive, which followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, saw schools established in all the newly independent Central Asian states with the support of local governments. However, several of the region's authoritarian leaders later turned against the schools. Uzbekistan closed the schools in the early 2000s, Turkmenistan in the early 2010s, and Tajikistan last year. Russia, which originally welcomed the schools in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, annexed the schools in the early 2000s by putting them directly under the state educational system. None of these countries provided a reason for shutting the Gulen schools. But some observers say that authoritarian governments are usually the first to feel threatened by the existence of any well-organized network in their countries that is not under their direct control. "In any authoritarian government, there is always a tendency to centralize power over concerns about any outside force that could topple the government from within," says Aaron Stein, a Turkey expert at the Atlantic Council in Washington. In now seeking to weaken the Gulen movement globally, Erdogan may have to convince some countries that host Gulen schools that his own motives are more than those of a powerful leader seeking to eliminate an organization which, ironically, was once allied with him. Erdogan and the Gulen network in Turkey cooperated in bringing Erdogan's religiously conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power in 2002. However, they soon fell out, reportedly over power-sharing issues and over Erdogan's leadership style. Since coming to power, Erdogan has accused the Gulen movement of being behind several attempts to tar his administration, notably during a police investigation of a 2013 corruption scandal that implicated some of the president's closest associates. That scandal was followed by the government dismissing many prosecutors and top officials involved in the corruption investigation, with Erdogan telling the public the purge was necessary to protect Turkey from "dark forces" bent on destroying it. RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service correspondent Bakyt Asanov contributed to this story Evacuations were ordered as a wildfire that began Friday in the Santa Clarita Valley continued to spread during hot and dry conditions in Southern California. Evacuations: Almost all evacuation orders were lifted as of 7 p.m. Monday but remained in effect for residents of Placerita Canyon Road from Running Horse Lane to Pacy Street, and along Little Tujunga Road from the Wildlife Waystation to Sand Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon Road. U.S. Forest Service officials said evacuation orders will also remain in place on Agua Dulce Canyon Road from Soledad Canyon Road to about a quarter- mile south of the Antelope Valley Freeway, and along Soledad Canyon Road for one mile on either side of Agua Dulce Canyon Road. Road Closures: The Escondido Canyon Road exit of the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway is closed, as are the Crown Valley Road exits of the northbound and southbound 14 Freeway. There was no entry into Sand Canyon from Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon roads; no access to Sand Canyon, Soledad Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon, Agua Dulce Canyon Road or Crown Valley Road from the Antelope Valley Freeway; and Sand Canyon Road was shut down east of Placerita Canyon to 12300 Little Tujunga Canyon Road. Where to Go: Highland High School 39055 25th Street Wes Highland High School 39055 25th Street West Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center 11075 Foothill Blvd, Lakeview Terrace, 91340 Hart High School 24825 N. Newhall Ave Where Animals Go: Shelter for large animals was made available at Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Ave in Woodland Hills. LA County Animal Control also said livestock could be taken to the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds at 2551 W Avenue H in Lancaster. Hansen Dam Equestrian Center had reached capacity, officials said. Small pets can be taken to Golden Valley High School at 27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway. Who to Call: Residents can call 626-574-5208 to get updates throughout the evening. The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs Station also reminded residents to keep the six "Ps" ready in the event that residents must evacuate: For the first time in its 36-year history, a Hemingway has won a competition seeking the man who most looks like literary giant Ernest Hemingway. Dave Hemingway was named the winner of the "Papa'' Hemingway Look-Alike Contest on Saturday in Key West, Florida. The winner said he is not related to the late author. The contest, which attracted 140 entrants, is the highlight event of the annual Hemingway Days festival that celebrates the author's legacy. It was held at Sloppy Joe's Bar, which was a frequent hangout of Hemingway's during his Key West residency in the 1930s. Hemingway, who won the contest in his seventh attempt, wore a wool, cream-colored turtleneck sweater similar to what the late author favored. "Even though this sweater is really hot, it was part of my strategy,'' he said. "And I think it worked really well.'' Like the author, Dave Hemingway said he likes to fish, to drink a little "and I like women. I like having a good time. I do feel like Ernest because I'm in the town he lived in so many years.'' The husband of celebrity cook Paula Deen, Michael Groover of Savannah, Georgia, finished in the top five for the second straight year. This is the sixth time he has participated in the contest. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is asking federal officials to review airports in the New York City area after an I-Team investigation showed surveillance blind spots at Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. Schumer is calling for the Department of Homeland Security to determine if the airports have vulnerabilities after the I-Team investigation showed security cameras inside baggage areas and near doors and pick up and drop off at both facilities do not have comprehensive video surveillance. Schumer said a review of security at all airports around New York City will help authorities fix any security lapses. He added that all problems uncovered through the reviews must immediately be addressed. The surveillance isn't mandated. Homeland Security offers recommendations to individual airports on security, but the tools and procedures by which security is implemented are at the discretion of the individual airports and their operators, according to security expert Manny Gomez of MG Security Services. The Port Authority of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but chief security officer Thomas Belfiore said at the time of the I-Team report "thousands of closed-circuit security cameras strategically placed in operation across all our facilities, including our airports, and we are continuing to expand our coverage and use of security cameras in existing areas and in new projects." "We continue to work with the TSA to ensure maximum camera coverage in critical areas of our airport facilities," Belfiore said. What to Know Two elderly people died in a fire that tore through an apartment complex in North Plainfield, New Jersey Eight families lost their homes to the fire and the Red Cross is providing them emergency assistance and temporary housing Ten firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion because of the intensity of the fire and the heat-wave temperatures Two people died Sunday in a fire that roared through an apartment complex in New Jersey, authorities said. An elderly man and woman who lived in the same unit at the Regency Village complex in North Plainfield perished in the blaze, said city Fire Chief William Eaton. Information about the couple wasn't available. One other resident was injured. Ten firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion caused the intensity of the fire and the heat-wave temperatures. Residents reported seeing smoke and flames at about 11 a.m. at the complex on Route 22. Several buildings were evacuated as dozens of firefighters battled the blaze. The Red Cross was providing emergency assistance, including temporary lodging, to eight families who lost everything in the fire, officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. What to Know Mari Gilbert was the mother of Shannan Gilbert, the escort who vanished on Long Island in 2010 The search for Gilbert led to the discovery of 10 sets of remains in the area, nine of which belonged to prostitutes Gilbert's remains were found in 2011, a half mile from where she disappeared. An autopsy was inconclusive The mother of a New Jersey escort whose 2010 disappearance led to the discovery of 10 bodies on Long Island was allegedly stabbed to death by her other daughter, a mentally ill 27-year-old who said she was hearing voices, police and an attorney for the family say. Police responding to the Ellenville home of Mari Gilbert, 52, Saturday afternoon after a family member requested a welfare check saw Gilbert's body through the window, authorities say. When they went inside, they saw her schizophrenic daughter, Sarra Gilbert, with blood on her clothing, police said. Sarra Gilbert was charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. A weapon was recovered at the scene. John Ray, an attorney who has represented the family in their quest to find answers in the death of Sarra Gilbert's older sister Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance on 2010 in Oak Beach prompted a search that would lead to a serial killer mystery, said Sarra Gilbert is sick and not mentally competent. Ray said Sarra Gilbert went to her mother's home Saturday because she was hallucinating, and Mari Gilbert "died while trying to help her mentally ill daughter." Ray, who is not formally representing Sarra Gilbert in the murder case at this time, said he would request a psychiatric review from the court. Sarra Gilbert had been hospitalized several times in the last year for her condition and had not been taking her medicine, Ray said. Sarra Gilbert is due to appear in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. Sarra Gilbert's sister Shannan was the 24-year-old escort whose disappearance six years ago sparked a massive search that led to the discovery of 10 sets of human remains believed to be linked to at least one serial killer. Shannan Gilbert was last seen screaming and running from a home in the Oak Beach complex, where she met her client. Before she disappeared, she called 911 from a client's home and told an operator someone was trying to kill her. Gilbert's remains were found in December of 2011 on Gilgo Beach. The search for Gilbert led to the grim discovery of 10 sets of remains, nine of which belonged to prostitutes, authorities said. Another set of remains were found to be a baby girl. Five of them, including the infant, have not been identified. Police have said that Gilbert's death isn't linked to the other bodies and that she drowned in the marsh where she was found. Her family, including her mother Mari Gilbert, has insisted otherwise. An autopsy report released in February shows Gilbert may have been strangled. Although the autopsy performed by famed forensic pathologist Michael Baden didn't conclude how she died, it did suggest that she had been the victim of some violence prior to her death. No one has been charged or named as a suspect in any of the killings. "They say she's at rest now, but she's not" Mari Gilbert said at her daughter's funeral. "She'll never be at rest until I complete the fight and give her justice." A Facebook page Mari Gilbert started dedicated to finding justice for Shannan Gilbert swelled with support for the mother and her mission Monday. "Mari Gilbert I will make sure your mission is met. Our hearts are broken. Rest in Peace, my love," one poster wrote. "I am so shocked and so upset and heartbroken. RIP Mari Gilbert you will be missed. We will continue to show support to all the Victims of the Serial Killer RIP," wrote another. Mari Gilbert last posted to the group page a week ago. In January, it was announced that two FBI agents would assist Suffolk County police in the five-year-old case. A witness to the shooting spree in Munich, Germany, recalled scenes of terror and panic Saturday as a memorial grew outside the shopping center where the rampage took place, NBC News reported. Huseyin Bayri, 29, who was at the Olympia Einkaufszentrum when the 18-year-old gunman opened fire Friday evening, told reporters that he held a teen who was shot and comforted him as the victim succumbed to his wounds. Bayri said he was thinking he could be next as the shooter approached. Bayri said hes haunted by the boys final words: "I can't get those words out of my head: 'Please help me, please help me.'" The witness said he heard the shooter yell I will kill you all and I am German before the first shots rang out. The rampage paralyzed Munich, as police conducted a manhunt for what was initially believed to be multiple gunmen. Police later said the shooter acted alone. The gunman shot himself in the head when police made contact with him, according to authorities. A Syrian man killed a woman with a machete and wounded two others outside a bus station in Germany Sunday before being arrested, NBC News reported. The 21-year-old asylum seeker, who was known to police, was having an argument with the woman at the central Omnibus station in Reutlingen before attacking her at about 4:30 p.m. The suspect, whose name was not released, wounded another woman and a man as he fled, according to local police. The woman died of her injuries at the scene, officials said. The attack comes as Germany remains on edge following a rampage in Munich, where nine people were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at a city shopping center Friday. Days before, an Afghan teen attacked passengers on a train, severely injuring at least three people. Update: Boathouse Row lights were upgraded and relit Saturday, July 23. Lights are in red, white and blue for the Democratic National Convention through Friday July 29. The Joanna McNeil Trust made a donation for the lighting installation. Boathouse Row will shine brighter this year. The 19th-century illuminated boathouses along the Schuylkill River have become a popular destination, but the last time the lights were replaced was back in 2005. Now there are plans to replace all the lights on Boathouse Row before the end of July. "We have every intention to get it done before the Democratic National Convention," Barry Bessler, chief of staff of the parks and facilities division of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, told the Philadelphia Business Journal. To read the full article, click here. For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal. The Philadelphia Fire Department and city is mourning a veteran firefighter who died on the job Saturday night while working a night shift. Gabriel Lee, 42, of Ladder Company 12, Engine 50, in North Philadelphia, served more than 20 years in the Fire Department, Commissioner Adam Thiel said on Sunday. A great firefighter who always gave his all & a great friend who always had your back. #DedicationAndService pic.twitter.com/76j1khU00X Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) July 24, 2016 Lee died while working night shift at the North Philadelphia firehouse, officials said. He was found unresponsive in the basement of the firehouse, on Cambria Street between 13th and Broad, overnight and taken to Temple University Hospital. Doctors pronounced him dead there. "Firefighter Lee was very well-respected, and the best way to say that is around 1 o'clock in the morning, at Temple [Hospital], we had more than 100 firefighters there, the mayor was there, on-duty, off-duty, to say goodbye," Thiel said. Lee's cause of death is not yet known. Officials said it is under investigation. The Philadelphia Fire Department on Sunday tweeted a photo of Lee's boots, uniform and hat marking his red locker in the firehouse. Several police and firefighters tweeted tributes to the fallen firefighter. The Philadelphia Fire Department has confirmed that Gabriel Lee passed away while on the job Saturday night. Sources say Lee was found unresponsive and was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney visited Temple University Hospital to pay his respects to Lee Saturday night. The Philadelphia Police Highway Patrol escorted Lee's body from the hospital to the Medical Examiner's Office. DES MOINES Agricultural education returns to the 2016 Iowa State Fair with activities on swine, dairy cattle, turkeys and more. Nothing Compares to My State Fair August 11-21. Back for another year, fairgoers can stop by the John Deere Agriculture Building to experience It takes an Iowan, an interactive exhibit focused on Iowans as leaders in the ongoing effort to provide food for the nation and the world. The exhibit highlights the advancement of technology to better produce food, as well as family friendly exhibits about agriculture around the world. The display highlights Iowans as leaders in feeding the world, but also in education, technology, communication, legislation and transportation. Just east of the John Deere Agricultural Building is the Hy-Vee Fun Forest Stage, featuring Blue Ribbon Kids Club. Blue Ribbon Kids events begin at 10 a.m. every weekday and feature make-and-take crafts for kids based around day-specific themes like beef cattle, conservation and service dogs. A short walk from Hy-Vee Fun Forest, the Animal Learning Center will once again feature hatching baby chicks, ducks and baby ostriches. Fairgoers can also stop in and see Thank A Farmer Magic Show, a fun, energetic and educational show that focuses on the importance and impact farming and agriculture have on our daily lives. Located next to the Animal Learning Center, Little Hands on the Farm is celebrating its 12th anniversary. Through this interactive adventure, kids can learn what it is like to do chores on a farm and earn play money to spend at the general store. The Boulevard of Dairy Breeds, located in the John and Emily Putney Family Cattle Barn, will focus on the six main breeds of dairy cattle in Iowa with new hands-on activities, cattle, baby calves and the favorite, I Milked a Cow display. Be sure to check out the public milkings daily at 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. in the renovated milking parlor. Returning for the third year at the fair is the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Ag Commodity Carnival located in the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building. Aimed at third-graders through eighth-graders, this activity teaches kids what it takes to raise a pig and how to discover profit or loss. The carnival will be operating Aug. 12-20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also returning to the 2016 fair are kid-friendly favorites; Ag-Venture Discovery Trail and Grape Getaway. For more information or how to register for Kids Club, contact Emily Wynn at 515-262-3111, ext. 244 or ewynn@iowastatefair.org East Coast saxophonist Dayna Stephens drove into town -- literally, because his flight from Santa Cruz was canceled. His heroic road trip found him arriving at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla with just minutes to spare before his set time. After a hastily organized soundcheck performed while the audience milled about the library, the concert began with no one worse for the experience. Indeed, the Stephens Quintets performance over two solid sets belied what must have been a horribly stressed out day. Stephens shared the stage with trumpeter Philip Dizack, a remarkably simpatico partner also from New York City, and a rhythm section comprised of Los Angeles cognoscenti, including Billy Childs on piano, Dave Robaire on bass and the exuberantly volatile Jonathan Pinson on drums. Opening with Weezy, a Stephens original, Pinson locked in a rimshot heavy groove with Robaire as Stephens carved oblique, yet ultimately swinging, contours into the intimate performance space. Dizack had a warm and fluid approach to the instrument -- he often sounded like he was playing the larger flugelhorn. That tone was doubly effective as a response to the swelling percussion of Pinson, who stoked with a knowing prod. Childs brought up the rear with cascading melodies supported by the pliant walk of Robaire, whose thick woody sound is always transformative. The Stephens group could have carried that identical post-Wynton blueprint into the evening without risk. What they did instead in the very next tune raised the bar in a way one rarely sees these days. Stephens picked up an EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) to introduce a synthesized aesthetic into what would otherwise be an entirely acoustic concept. Ive seen attempts like this fall flat on multiple occasions, and Ive got to admit, I had my doubts. But these cats knew what they were doing. All of a sudden, the new instrumentation brought new colors into the mix, without sacrificing the beauty of real instruments blending onstage. The tune, called Stuck, was anything but, darting in and out between pensive shadows and soaring fanfare while creating an instant highlight. Childs began Ran with an off tempo soft pastel approach layered by Stephens breathy Trane-like incantation, which gave way to strokes across the grain and opened the door for a beautifully structured Childs solo that seemed to fly off of his fingertips. Stephens returned to the EWI to begin Blakonia (a dedication to drummer Jonathan Blake) alone, showcasing the extended range of the instrument, which coursed from piccolo highs to contrabass lows and everything in between before exposing the tune itself, full of intricate turnbacks, plot twists and an explosive Pinson outburst. The saxophonist alluded to the backstory of his provocatively titled, Screwed Me, without actually explaining it, but I appreciated the stark contrast between Dizacks languid soliloquy, Pinsons relentless body shots and the Childs extrapolation, which carried the jagged theme to its logical conclusion. The evening concluded with the intricate boppish theme Contagion, which featured an irresistible ebb-and-flow, and a stand alone solo from Stephens, who seemed to be channeling a freer Dexter Gordon, leading to expansive spots from Dizack, Childs and Pinson over the relentless atomic clock-like accuracy of Robaire. There are very few rooms in San Diego jazz history with a pedigree like the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. Even on a day fraught with practical distractions like cancelled flights and an eight hour drive down the coast, the Athenaeum team and the Stephens Quintet partnered for an exhilarating sonic experience that wont soon be forgotten. Robert Bush is a freelance jazz writer who has been exploring the San Diego improvised music scene for more than 30 years. Follow him on Twitter @robertbushjazz. Visit The World According to Rob. San Diego Police are searching for a group of suspects wanted in two San Ysidro robberies. The robberies happened just minutes apart early Sunday morning on W. San Ysidro Boulevard, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers said. The first robbery happened at 2:57 a.m. on the 700 block of W. San Ysidro Blvd. when a man entered an Arco gas station and walked up to the counter to buy beer. Then, a second suspect walked in, got behind the counter and started demanding cash. The employee opened the drawer and gave the suspect an unknown amount of cash. A third suspect then came in and, along with the first suspect, began instructing the clerk and telling him what to get. The suspects took cash and cigars. All three suspects exited the store. Two suspects got into a silver, newer model 4-door sedan. A third suspect got into a different sedan. Both cars were last seen driving westbound on W. San Ysidro Boulevard. Police said two suspects were last seen wearing a black hate, dark hoodie and plaid pajama pants. The second robbery happened minutes later down the road on the 100 block of W. San Ysidro Boulevard at 3:09 a.m. A man walked into a 7-11, walking behind the counter with his hands in his hoodie. He demanded cash; the clerk gave him an unspecified amount of cash from the drawer. The man fled on foot and was last seen heading eastbound on W. San Ysidro Boulevard. The suspect was last seen wearing a black hate, dark hoodie and plaid pajama pants. Police believe the robberies are connected. Authorities are reviewing surveillance video. SDPD robbery detectives are investigating both robberies. Anyone with information is asked to call police. No other information was immediately available. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a house fire in Temple Hills, Maryland, fire officials say. The Prince George's County Fire Department responded to the fire in the 3000 block of Henry Avenue about 3 p.m. Sunday. The fire erupted amid scorching temperatures in the mid 90s and a cooling unit was dispatched to the fire because of the extreme heat. Everyone inside the home made it out unharmed, but the family dog died in the fire, the fire department said. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries and burns. Fire officials said the fire has been extinguished and the cause of the fire is under investigation. It is not known how much damage the house sustained in the fire. Stay with News4 as we continue to update this developing story. San Diego Comic-Con International will end with a bang Sunday after four days of comics, cosplaying, and superhero TV and movies. Even though it's the last day, Sunday includes a packed schedule to keep comic and pop culture fans satisfied until next year. Here are some events you shouldn't miss: Sherlock 10:00am - 11:00am, Hall H Join Amanda Abbington (Mary Watson), Mark Gatiss (co-creator/executive producer/writer), Steven Moffat (co-creator/executive producer/writer) and Sue Vertue (producer) as they disucss what's next for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in the upcoming season of Sherlock. Fantastic Fans and Where to Find Them 10:15am - 11:15am, Room 6A Come hear talks about the magical new additions to the world of Harry Potter including the new West End play "Harry Potter & The Cursed Child" and the upcoming film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." LEGO Dimensions 11:15am - 12:15pm, Room 6DE Get an inside look at what's new in the world of LEGO Dimensions with screenings of a new game trailer, new characters and game features. Everyone in attendance will also receive a limited-edition LEGO Green Arrow minifigure. Marvel: Women of Marvel 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Room 6DE This panel will feature women from all walks of the creative comic book process with Marvel talking about the future of industry. Join content development director Sana Amanat, producer Judy Stephens, social media manager Adri Cowan, Marvel Live host Lorraine Cink, writer G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) and Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." costume designer Ann Foley as they talk about their experiences as women in comics. World Premiere of Batman Unlimited: Mech vs. Mutants 12:15pm - 1:45pm, Room 6BCF Don't miss the world premiere of the third installment of the animated "Batman Unlimited" series. This time Batman is back to save the day from Killer Croc and Bane when they are turned into giant mutant monsters. The filmmakers and voice cast will be there to discuss the film after the screening. The 50-Year Mission: Star Trek Then, Now, and Beyond 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Room 25ABC Authors Mark A. Altman (Free Enterprise, The Librarians) and Edward Gross (Empire magazine) will discuss the work they did to detail the "Star Trek" phenomenon in their bestselling two-volume book series from St. Martin's Press, "The 50 Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored and Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek." Hank Green Does What You Want Him to Do 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Room 4 Don't miss your chance to hang out with popular YouTube vlogger Hank Green, co-creator of "SciShow," "Crash Course," "VidCon," "the Internet Creator's Guild" and "Vlogbrothers." Anything Goes with John Barrowman 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Room 6BCF Meet up with entertainer John Barrowman. The actor known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who" will be answering fan questions, singing and dancing. Buffy Musical: Once More with Feeling: An Interactive Whedon Musical 3:15pm - 4:45pm, Room 6BCF Don't miss Comic-Con's closing event and end the four-day convention with a bang with an interactive screening of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" musical episode, "Once More with Feeling." Actress Juliet Landau, who played Drusilla, and a surprise guest, will be in attendance. A man is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries following a stabbing in Arundel, Maine. The York County Sheriff's Department responded to a reported stabbing at 4:30 p.m. Saturday on South Skillings Road. Investigation revealed that Violet Walker, 50, had gotten into an altercation with another resident of the home. As a result, Walker allegedly stabbed the man in the neck with a pocketknife. The victim was transported to Maine Medical Center for treatment. Walker was arrested and charged with aggravated criminal threatening. She is being held on $1,000 bail and will make an initial appearance in court on Monday. A man was injured by a falling awning Saturday evening outside a hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Fire officials said the 60-year-old man was on the sidewalk outside the Lenox Hotel on Exeter Street at about 8 p.m. when he was struck in the head with the awning. The man, who was not identified, was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital where he was said to be conscious and alert. Officials could not confirm if the incident was weather related. A man who walked for five months from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean finished his trek Saturday in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben Davis started his walk as a personal goal but along the way became an inspiration to people. "I've gone through four pairs of shoes, this is my fifth," Davis said after arriving in Boston. "Boston streets, I've been going up and down, and up and down." Davis left from Los Angeles, California, on February 27 with a budget of $40 a day and a stroller packed with supplies. A real life Forrest Gump of sorts his reasoning was simple. He could, so why not? "When the only thing you do is wake up and walk for 12-13 hours, that becomes who you are," Davis said. "It defines my days, to think you know, 'what am I going to do tomorrow or the next day." His biggest challenge came March 22 when he hit a dust storm in Arizona it was the same day terrorists attacked the airport in Brussels. "I'm so desensitized now to all the negativity I didn't give it a second thought," he said. But a couple of months later that would change. "I got an email from a woman named Cameron and her husband was killed in the bombing," Davis recalled. The woman told him that following his journey has helped her cope with her loss. "My worst day was because I had dirt on me and it was kind of windy on the same day she lost her husband," Davis said. "And I made a promise to myself to give these things a little more than just a passing thought." Like Forrest Gump, he gained other followers during his 3,100 mile journey. And when it was over, Davis ended his journey the same way it began, with a dip in the ocean, this time the Atlantic. Police are searching for the thieves who stole three sets of body armor from Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. According to the Patriot Ledger, the metal armor included breast and back plates, upper thigh shields and a helmet and neck plate. Police told necn that the reproduction pieces were handcrafted in England. The paper reported that each set of armor weighs about 50 pounds and are valued at $2,900. Anyone with information should contact Plymouth Police at 508-830-4218. MANLY A 90-year-old World War II veteran from North Iowa didnt expect to be the center of attention during a recent international trip. Marcus Stub Bartusek of Manly, who was deployed in western Europe from 1944 to 1946, said the gratitude he received from strangers during a visit there in June was overwhelming, with people approaching him for photos, autographs and hugs. After 72 years, they still appreciate it, said Bartusek, who served in the Army. It made tears come to your eyes and would choke you up. Joined by his son, daughter and son-in-law, Bartusek was one of five veterans on the World War II Battlefields 72nd D-Day Anniversary Tour June 2 to 14. They visited war-related sites in four countries: France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. The expenses-paid excursion was a surprise from the Edward Tosel American Legion Post 110, to which Bartusek has belonged for 69 years. Mark Tomlinson said fellow members wanted to honor Bartuseks years of community service, and are in the process of continuing a program to honor those who go above and beyond. Although Bartusek left high school early for the draft at age 18, he still had enough credits to graduate. Part of the 106th Infantry Division, one of the last activated in the U.S., Bartusek in December 1944 was sent to the front lines of the German-Belgian sector, known as the Dragons Teeth. The area had reinforced concrete barriers dragons teeth aimed at impeding tanks. It was a very quiet sector, with only a few shells every now and then, he recalled. Their division was green, averaging 26-years-old and with no combat experience. The first combat he experienced was when he and a sergeant were sitting on a log one morning, sharing a chocolate D-bar. A sniper took out the sergeant, killing him instantly with a shot through the throat. He fell backwards and I was stunned, because I didnt realize what had happened, Bartusek said. A few days later, a barrage began at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 16, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge. Bartusek remembers it as being so foggy he could hardly see his hand in front of his face. The third day of the battle two regiments, the 422nd and 423rd, were captured. Bartuseks unit, the 424th, was spread thin over 27 miles and unsure of what was happening. They stayed until they couldnt get any more supplies, which had been cut off by the Germans. At 11 p.m. his regiment was told they were on their own and needed to find their way back. We were scared, young kids who didnt know what we were doing, he said. Spreading out in groups of three or four into the foggy, starless night, Bartusek followed telephone lines his group thought were Allied to a valley, where they heard conversation that wasnt in English. We got out of there real quick, he said. Bartusek was able to reach his destination safely, later fighting in the Attack on Manhay on Christmas Day. He was able to visit Manhay again on the trip, this time under better circumstances. They showed me the exact place I came out of the Ardennes on the attack, Bartusek said. Although the same forest and dragons teeth remain, much of the countryside looked as if nothing had ever happened there, he said. On his trip, Bartusek participated in memorial services in Normandy, France, laying the wreath for the U.S. at Omaha Beach. He also met local dignitaries, witnessed a parachute drop, visited where surrendering documents were signed and toured a number of historic sites: Dachau concentration camp, Nazi rally grounds, Adolf Hitlers Kelsteinhaus (Eagles Nest) home and several museums, where he recognized equipment on display. ST. ANSGAR Following a request to receive public input by ballot, the discussion on whether to take temporary ownership of the vacant elementary school is still an option for the St. Ansgar City Council. At a meeting this month, the council tallied 35 yes votes and 17 nos for retaining the elementary school. Ashley DeMaris, St. Ansgar resident and lead point in organizing to keep the elementary school standing, said she doesnt believe the city needs to do anything anytime soon as the elementary school will have to remain vacant for six months in order to be qualified for a grant to demolish the school, which could cost upward of $300,000. The district, DeMaris said, cant rip up old flooring or remove HVAC systems because it receives a credit for keeping those structures in the building. In her discussion with Superintendent of Schools Jody Gray, DeMaris said the district would rescind the current offer with the St. Ansgar Economic Development Committee. That offer involves the school tearing down the building and giving up the property for six single-family homes with the district possibly receiving a portion of the proceeds. DeMaris said she would keep delivering the surveys to the council. She said research is in the feasibility stage for long-term use and benefits of the elementary school building. Council members said insurance on the building while a plan was being put in place would cost $50,000 per year. The St. Ansgar School Board is scheduled to make its final decision on the building at its August meeting. Sixteen years ago I wrote a column headlined Black voters warm to GOP, which asked, Could it be the Republicans have finally gotten it right? I was referring to voter registration data that indicated the party of Lincoln was finally making notable progress in returning African-Americans to its fold. But as the saying goes, That was then, this is now. Research by the Joint Center for Political Studies showed the percentage of African-Americans identifying themselves as Democrats dropped from 74 percent to 63 percent between the 2000 and 2004 elections, while those claiming to be Republicans rose from 4 percent to 10 percent. That shift was evident in George W. Bushs corralling 11 percent of the black vote in his 2004 re-election bid. In Ohio, the black vote for Bush rose to 16 percent from 8 percent in 2000. That wasnt by accident. Bush made a concerted effort to reach out to African-Americans and evangelical Christians at the same time by appealing to black ministers across America. But Bushs efforts didnt repair the damage to the party caused by his poor response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, whose victims were overwhelmingly black. Current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is unlikely to get anywhere close to Bushs numbers. A Quinnipiac poll shows Trump with only 1 percent black support nationally. He does better in an NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll, with 6 percent of the black vote nationally, but zero black support in Ohio and Pennsylvania, two states crucial to any presidential nominee. Apparently, those polls didnt concern the Republican revelers who crowned Trump at the convention in Cleveland, where only an estimated 18 African-Americans were among the 2,472 delegates. By nominating Trump, who hemmed and hawed this year before finally disavowing the endorsement of former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, the party signaled its belief that the race-baiting Southern strategy birthed by Richard Nixon can again carry it to victory. There have been other signs that the GOP no longer feels it is important to be inclusive, including the departure this year of four African-American staffers at the Republican National Committee Tara Wall, Orlando Watson, Raffi Williams and Kristal Quarker Hartsfield who were hired to reach out to black voters. Two of the positions have been filled, by Lucas Boyce and Telly Lovelace, but some observers believe their jobs will only last as long as Reince Priebus remains RNC chairman, and he has said he wont run for the post again next year. The herculean task before Boyce and Lovelace is too much for two people. To make a difference the party would need grassroots operatives in each state. That was also the observation of the Growth Opportunity Project study, commissioned by the RNC after the 2012 election, which concluded that the party must be committed to building a lasting relationship within the African-American community year-round, based on mutual respect with a spirit of caring. The study dubbed the autopsy made 10 recommendations to build the GOPs black base, including: Hire African American communications and political directors for key states and communities. Establish a presence within black organizations such as the NAACP. Recruit and support African-American Republican candidates for office. Engage historically black colleges and universities to discuss Republican ideals and history. Little if any of that actually happened, which led Sean Jackson, head of the Republican Black Caucus of Florida, to tell Newsweeks The Daily Beast website, The RNC does not have a vested interest in black America. ... It has been part of the norm normal culture for so many years, of not engaging the black community that that engagement continues to be nonexistent. That appears unlikely to change with Trump, who with his antipathy toward worthwhile immigration reform has similarly shown little regard for past Republican efforts to cultivate more support among Latino Americans. Its doubtful, too, that many Muslim voters will feel warm and fuzzy about Trump, who has made disparaging remarks about their holy book, the Quran. I get tired of hearing Republicans accuse African-Americans of blindly clinging to the Democratic Party without considering why that might seem to be the case. Its not just that their party only pays lip service to adding more African-Americans to its ranks. On the issues most important to black voters income disparity, public education, fair justice, access to health care the GOP is out of step. And Trump seems uninterested in doing better. So, you are undoubtedly asking yourself, What does this new Republican Party, so chaotically forged in Cleveland, stand for? I know, I know. I ungrammatically ended a sentence with a preposition. But in this post-apocalyptic world of Donald Trump, do rules really matter? After the elephant-ear hats worn by would-be adults, the braying of angry speakers about their hatred of Hillary Clinton, chants to jail her, Melanias plagiarized passages and the whinnying of Trump that all press is good press, we are left with precious few details on how the Republican presidential nominee would create good jobs and bolster economic growth. Forget the unbuildable wall paid for by Mexico. Wont happen. Forget deportations of 11 million immigrants. Impossible. Forget the ban on Muslims. Unconstitutional. If you look beyond the balloons and the confetti, the bombast and the controversies, the Trump campaigns absolute denial that the GOP convention was anything but perfect, the insistence that its all the medias fault, the few specifics laid out by this strange, new Republican Party are, in a word, terrifying. If the bulk of Americans leaning to Trump knew what the partys new principles and policies are, they would reject them. Soundly. But, increasingly, presidential campaigns are sound-and-light extravaganzas, and specifics dont matter. Trump supporters and there are many like his toughness, also known as rudeness and bullying. They like his candor, although he has told endless lies, all documented. They applaud his refusal to bend to conventional politeness. But enough about Trump. Lets get down to the freshly minted Republican statement of its beliefs and stands on issues. Aside from the miasma of prejudice and bigotry that clings to all 66 pages of the partys official platform document, Trumps party has turned its back on the benefits of free trade and wants the United States to curl up into an isolationist ball. While this may temporarily soothe workers whose jobs have disappeared abroad, it is a sharp slap to American farmers and manufacturers who will face retaliation and fewer sales. While the rest of America is becoming more tolerant and accepting of gay, lesbian and transgender people, Trumps homophobic party platform is painfully regressive. It smiles on people who would discriminate. It permits states to deny bathroom services to people they dont like. Frankly, it would put into practice hateful, prejudicial behaviors and reject civil rights gains, including the Supreme Courts legalization of same-sex marriage. Immigration reform such as figuring out a way that undocumented immigrants who have jobs and families and pay taxes and mortgages may stay here is anathema to this Trump platforms statement of objectives. The GOPs once-vaunted big tent has turned into a pup tent. With millions of women dubious about Trump, the new GOP statement of principles bans all abortions, even for rape and incest. Health care would become far more difficult to get. Women soldiers trained for combat would be forbidden to do their jobs, sending them to the bottom of the ladder. Climate change is ridiculed as a fantasy despite near 100 percent agreement by the worlds scientists and undeniable evidence that extreme weather is getting more extreme around the globe. Instead of trying to get rid of the ozone-depleting effects of burning coal, King Coal is given a new crown. Trump Republicans want environmental protection regulations abolished, saying the job is done. Despite the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state, Trump Republicans demand that the Bible be taught as gospel in public schools. They want only judges who meet religious litmus tests, meaning they have the right family values. Tax-exempt institutions such as churches could specifically endorse candidates for political office. Despite the current wave of gun violence, Republicans oppose any new controls on who may buy guns, tougher background checks, curbs on automatic weapons or magazine capacity and anything else that might curtail gun deaths. Despite high college tuitions, Republicans would eliminate federal student loans. Students without fat trust funds would return to private lenders. Job growth? Cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Trump Republicans statement of their policies and principles has been plagiarized from the past and pays homage to old-fashioned thinking and prejudices repudiated by most Americans long ago. Now, lets see what mischief Democrats can muster. The song bellowing through the convention hall of the Republican National Convention as he took center stage should have been Que Sera, Sera. For Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the whatever will be, will be question is whether he will seek re-election in 2018 or make another run for the White House in 2020. The futures not ours to see, so the song goes, but heres hoping for the latter. Walker took to the podium in Cleveland on Wednesday night to support the candidacy of Donald Trump and reinforce the calculus that a vote for anyone else would be a vote for Hillary Clinton. Walker stepped back into the national spotlight after dropping out of the Republican presidential race in September. Since then, he has been in his home state trying to re-engage with the voters he neglected during his presidential ambition tour. Walker is no showboater. Hes the opposite a dull guy overseeing a state with more people employed today than in Wisconsins history. That boring Walker cut taxes by nearly $5 billion and has insisted upon a fully funded pension system. The states rainy day fund is roughly 150 times more bountiful than when the oh-so-monotonous Walker assumed office in 2011. Need-based financial aid for college students is on the rise. The states high school graduation rate ranks in the top five of states nationally. And the plain-spoken, tedious Walker has directed more money toward mental health services than any governor in the country. Remind me again. Whats wrong with boring? Walkers bland personality contributed to the death spiral of his presidential campaign after he, at first, soared to the top of the list of those expected to win the Iowa caucuses. How wrong political pundits were, myself included, to think that GOP primary voters wanted dull. That they wanted substance. That they wanted a candidate with specific plans to pay down the national debt, curb deficit spending, lead on health care reform and shrink government. How certain we were, instead, that Trumps pizazz would eventually fizzle and that the debates during the primary election would expose the hollow rhetoric of the guy with the crazy hair. Walker one of the countrys most tested elected officials survived a recall election and beat back organized labor. But he got crushed by the steamrolling Trump.Turns out, voters were tired of tightly messaged, politically correct leadership. They craved the crazy. They wanted the gaudy. Trump did not disappoint at the convention in Cleveland. His entrance onto the stage Monday night to introduce his wife included a smoke machine, a slow saunter to center stage and music roaring through the room. I have seen that routine before, but usually at bachelorette parties. This time it was to honor the Republican nominee for president. Walker made the rounds in Cleveland, including speaking to and reacquainting himself with the Iowa delegation. He doesnt want to be forgotten. Running for president in 2020 has already started, and his swing through the breakfast gatherings of important early primary states shows he is at least considering the possibility. Lets hope. At this moment in time, Trump has tapped into the deep frustration of an electorate demanding radical, even unhinged, leadership. Four years from now, we might be begging for boring. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). "We have not yet got the land in possession of musclemen, who are threatening to eliminate us," said the memorandum signed by the Dalits families. : Fifty Dalit families here in Madhya Pradesh have sought Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan's permission for euthanasia, alleging the land granted to them 15 years ago by government is occupied by musclemen which has left them with no means to sustain livelihood.The families belong to Nasrullahganj area in Budhni, the assembly constituency of Chouhan and had two days ago sent a memorandum to the chief minister's office in Bhopal in this regard.However, district authorities denied receiving any such complaint and said a case in this regard was being heard in the court."These families of Borkhedi, Vasudev, Sohankhedi and Jogala villages under Nasrullaganj police station area of Budhni in Sehore, the home district of Chouhan, have signed a memorandum that they have not yet got the tracts of governmentland given to them as help 15 years ago as it was in possession of influential persons," Rashtriya Dalit Chetna Manch state secretary Jaswant Singh said today.The local administration is helpless and the Dalits were not getting justice even after staging protests and agitation, Singh claimed."These oppressed people are living in abject poverty as they do not have any source of income. Therefore, they have sought to end their lives (mercy killing)," he added.Sources said the agricultural tracts were allotted to these families by the then Digivijaya Singh government in the state."No complaint of such a nature has come to me. If it comes to me, certainly action will be taken into it immediately," Sehore District Collector Sudam Khade told PTIover phone. The Collector said he along with the Chief Minister had spent around 10 hours amid people hearing their grievances in Nasrullaganj two days ago but during their presence no such complaint came from the Dalits.Those who have signed the memorandum include Ram Prasad, Sukhia Bai, Arjun Singh, Shoba Bai, Alam Singh, Kamla Bai, Rughunath, Jayanti Bai, Kamla Bai, Anokhi Bai, Phool Bai, Rameshwar, Lalita Bai, Vasu Bai and Ramesh."This issue pertains to the Revenue department and it is being heard by honourable court after an FIR was registered," Nasrullaganj police station Inspector Niranjan Sharma said. When contacted, the Chief Minsiter's media team told PTI that Chouhan was not available immediately for comments as he was out of state. New Delhi: The search operation for the Indian Air Force's (IAF) AN-32 aircraft - that has been missing since July 22 over the Bay of Bengal with 29 on board - entered third day on Sunday. On Saturday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar left for Chennai to monitor the massive search operation. Ashutosh Singh, son of Bhupath Singh, who was also on the missing AN-32 plane, said, "I want to request all of you to pray for my father and all people on board. We are really worried about the fate of the aircraft. So far we have not received any news about its location." He said, "My father told me that he will call after reaching Port Blair, but it never came. I want him to return home safely. We all are missing him." Sangeeta, wife of another missing IAF officer said, "On that ill fated day, my husband called me in the morning and said that he will be flying to Port Blair. Around 1 pm, I got to news that his flight went missing. I pray to god for his safe return." Defence sources said the search is in full swing and but no detection has been made till now. The transport plane of the Indian Air Force with 29 people on board, including four officers, went missing on July 22 while flying from Chennai to Port Blair. The AN-32 aircraft took off at 0830 hours from Tambaram in Chennai and the last contact with it was made 16 minutes later. The aircraft can fly for up to four hours without refueling. A massive search and rescue operation has been launched by IAF, Navy and Coast Guard, deploying one submarine, eight aircraft and 13 ships for tracking the upgraded plane. The 29 people on board the Air Force's workhorse for a long period included six crew members, two of them pilots and one navigator. Besides, there were 11 personnel from the IAF including an officer, two from the Army, one from the Coast Guard and 9 from the navy which included some from its armament depot. (With PTI inputs) Punjab Police on Sunday arrested AAP MLA Naresh Yadav who was booked in connection with the alleged desecration of Quran in Malerkotla on June 24. A team of police was sent to Delhi to arrest the AAP MLA earlier in the day, Punjab Police, IG (Patiala Zone), Paramraj Singh Umra Nangal said. Yadav will be produced before a magistrate where Punjab police will seek his transit remand to take him back to the state. Tension had gripped the Muslim-majority town after the recovery of torn pages of the Quran outside a cemetery on Khanna Road during the holy month of Ramadan. Yadav was booked under relevant sections of the IPC after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA. The Punjab police has already questioned the AAP MLA twice in connection with the incident. The MLA was booked under various sections of IPC including 109 (punishment for abatement if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony). Police had claimed that the accused Vijay had even met the MLA before the incident and calls were also exchanged between them. The Mehrauli MLA and his party have denied the charges and alleged it was a "political conspiracy" to malign the party's image ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab The void left by the untimely, stunning, heartbreaking death of Alex Kuhn can be measured in the many kind and comforting words written and spoken about him. They reflect the respect felt throughout Mason City and North Iowa for this handsome, approachable, eager-to-listen and eager-to-lead community servant. They reflect thoughts of all the good he did over his short life and all the potential he held. And they reflect the deep, gut-wrenching emptiness we all shared when learning of his death agony and hurt made even deeper by learning that he took his own life. State Sen. Amanda Ragan was one of many who eulogized Kuhn at his funeral on Thursday. She talked of one of his greatest traits concern for people he had never met. That was reflected in his opposition to the development agreement for Prestage Farms of Iowa. Kuhn did massive amounts of studying about the project and its ramifications, and he compiled a huge folder of documents related to it. His reason for opposing the proposal: He didnt think workers at the lower end of the spectrum would be paid a decent wage. It was his great concern for people he never met. And for those lucky enough to meet him, well, they and we could hardly forget his physical stature or that broad smile he shared so willingly. But as Ragan said, he stood even taller in his quest to do what he believed right for those who looked to him for answers and, often, help. He stood tall so often for a person, a project, an idea, Ragan said. Whenever you met him, you just felt better for having seen him. To that we can all agree. Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who recognized Kuhns great attributes when he worked for the senator in his Des Moines office, quoted Shakespeare in saying that an outer appearance may mask torment of the soul. Indeed, no one knows what troubled Alex Kuhn, much as is the case with countless other suicide victims. To that end, we should use this occurrence as a call to action in our communities to tackle this problem head-on. Let us recommit ourselves to mental health care, Harkin said at the funeral service. Let what Alex stood for live on in us. We can do no less in keeping his life and meaning alive. Where do we start? By recognizing warning signs. Many websites are devoted to the topic, and among the more common warning signs are: Excessive sadness or moodiness, hopelessness with little expectation for improvement. Sleep problems. Sudden calmness after a period of depression or moodiness, indicating a person has decided to end his or her life. Withdrawal from friends, family and social activities. Changes in personality or appearance. Dangerous or self-harmful behavior. Making preparations, such as putting personal business in order. Threatening suicide. From 50 to 70 percent of those considering suicide will give someone a friend or relative a warning sign, according to webmd. Every threat should be taken seriously. If we become at all suspicious that someone is giving even the slightest thought to harming themselves, become proactive: ask if the person is depressed or is considering harming himself or herself, and let them know that depression is temporary and treatable. Let them know about local facilities ready and able to help, or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255). Perhaps your talk, your gesture of friendship and caring, will be whats needed for that person to decide to get help. And we must all commit to working for better mental health treatment in our communities. It is a system that many professionals agree needs help. We can no longer let occasions like these cause temporary sorrow, then slip too quickly into distant memory. Alex Kuhns death was as stark a reminder as there could ever be of the distress suffered by so many, and the challenge for us to do what we can to try to help them. It wont happen overnight, but its something we must commit to. Much as we must commit in Mason City to honoring the good works of Alex Kuhn by continuing on the progressive path that has seen great strides occur in this community. We must work together to create jobs, to make our people feel good about their surroundings and, most of all, to feel good about themselves. God bless you, Alex, and thank you thank you for all you did, and mostly for the good things you stood for. We hope were worthy of carrying on in your stead. New Delhi: Congress has decided not to meet Union Home minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Kashmir on a two-day visit to review the law and order situation, on Sunday, alleging the PDP-BJP coalition government is not interested for the welfare of the people in valley. "We had a long meeting on July 21 with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti where even BJP ministers and leaders were present. It's been couple of days but we we yet to see any people-friendly step being taken by the state and the central government," Pradesh Congress President G A Mir said here. "They are only interested in meetings and not to translate the decisions taken into action," he added. Singh on Saturday began his two-day Kashmir visit to give a healing touch to the restive Valley, with two trade bodies boycotting him as curfew was lifted from four districts and parts of Srinagar town but remained in force in other areas as a precautionary measure. Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the day passed off peacefully. As the situation in the troubled Valley, which was on the boil for several days following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces, somewhat eased, Home Minister Rajnath Singh began his visit of the state to take stock of the situation. Singh met BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti government, including Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the Home Minister and apprised him of their problems. A Home Ministry release said Singh would meet Governor NN Vohra and the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti later on Saturday Mehbooba was away meeting families of those killed in action by security forces when Singh arrived. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, decided not to meet the Home Minister, saying such exercises in the past have been futile. Meanwhile, curfew was lifted from Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal districts and some parts of Srinagar city in view of the improving situation in these areas, a police official said. The official, however, said restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC will continue in the areas where curfew has been lifted. He said curfew remained in force in Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian districts of the Valley and eight police station areas of the city. Singh is scheduled to hold meetings with state government officials, political leaders and others during his two-day stay. However, representatives of the two trade bodies, who were to meet him today, decided to boycott him. Meanwhile, two senior police officers have been transferred from South Kashmir range, which was worst hit by violence following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Wani. Senior IPS officer Ghulam Hassan Bhat has been posted as DIG South Kashmir range, replacing Nitish Kumar, a government spokesman said. He said SSP Anantnag Abdul Jabbar was also transferred and replaced by SSP Traffic (Rural) Zubair. The KEA, in an open letter to the Home Minister, said while they could understand the urgency for his visit to Kashmir for assessing the situation, "we also can easily determine the futility of this exercise." In the hard-hitting letter, the trade body accused the Union ministers of showing "arrogance and hostility" to the people of the Valley about whose problems they had "no real knowledge". (With PTI inputs) Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 24, 2016 AAP MLA from Okhla Amanatullah Khan, who was booked for allegedly threatening a woman with dire consequences, was arrested on Sunday by the Delhi Police."AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was booked for threatening a woman, has been arrested by Delhi Police," DCP, South East, said.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, tweeted, "Just in - Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA."On July 10, the complainant called up Amantullah and even went to his Batla House residence to raise the issue of frequent power cuts with him. But the minister did not meet her.Meanwhile, when she was returning, a youth came out of the house and threatened her with dire consequences for politicizing the issue.Amanatullah, however, had said he did not even know if the woman came to his residence.Then, a case has been registered against the legislator under Sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi, the officer said.This is the fourth complaint against an AAP MLA in the last one month. New Delhi: Government is likely to list the much-delayed GST Bill for discussion in the Rajya Sabha this week after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley meets state finance ministers on Tuesday. Jaitley, who has been engaged in back-channel negotiations with Congress leaders to get the main opposition party on board, will discuss proposed amendments to the GST legislation passed by the Lok Sabha at the meeting of the empowered committee of state finance ministers. The meeting may take up changes as demanded by the Congress in the constitutional amendment Bill, including one for scrapping of one per cent additional tax in hands of the states, official sources said. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill will be listed for discussion in the Rajya Sabha after taking on board views of the states. On Friday, while listing out government business for the week beginning July 25, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha that the GST Bill will come up for discussion next week. "(This is for) further consideration and passing of the Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill, 2014, as passed by the Lok Sabha and as reported by the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha," he said in the Upper House. The Congress, which originally mooted GST in 2009 to replace all indirect taxes, has been demanding that the overall rate be capped at 18 per cent and scrapping of an additional 1% tax designed to compensate manufacturing states that fear losing out on revenue. It also wants an independent mechanism to resolve disputes between states over revenue sharing. While Jaitley has indicated his openness in scrapping the 1% additional tax after a panel headed by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian favoured it, the issue needs to be discussed with the manufacturing states. In order to mobilise support from regional parties for the long-pending indirect tax reform, Jaitley met Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and courted senior leadership of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the weekend. When I say Kashmir is ours, the people of Kashmir are also ours. This message has to be loud and clear," he said. : The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav today said, in the wake of violence which claimed46 lives in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani."In 1994, a unanimous resolution was passed in Parliament that the only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan is with respect to PoK. We tell our BJP-PDP government in J&K that you don't have any 'locus standi' when it comes to India and Pakistan.It will be dealt with by the Government of India," Madhav said here. "But, we all have to understand our outstanding issue is not Kashmir. It is ours. When I say it is ours, I am not talking of geography alone but I am also talking about the demography."If today some of them are on a wrong path, we will set them on right path. Have faith. People in PoK are also our people. We have to get that. But our problem is that in media studios, Wani is our man, not the peace-loving people of the state...some of them are violent, but many of them are peace loving," he said."There were 14 criminal cases against him (Wani), including attacks on army, police and killing of constable.These are very serious cases. He is a terrorist on whose head there was Rs 10 lakh reward," he said."One parliamentarian says you should have captured him and arrested him. During an encounter when bullets are flying do you check the bio-data while shooting?" he asked."Our soldiers, policemen, para-military personnel who went to capture him only know how to act against a terrorist.The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists," he said.Madhav further said Home Minister Rajnath Singh is camping in J&K and holding discussions to bring peace in the state.Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.Clashes between protesters and security forces have claimed 46 lives and left over 3,400 people injured in Kashmir Valley. Lucknow: Stepping up attack on BJP, Mayawati on Sunday alleged that it had "pressurised" the SP government in UP into lodging an FIR against her and was preventing arrest of Dayashankar Singh, who made derogatory remarks against her. The BSP supremo claimed that the controversy was raked up by BJP ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls to distract people's attention from the issues of atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat raised by her inside and outside Parliament. She alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against expelled BJP leader Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its "polluted" and "casteist" mentality. Mayawati also vowed to take stringent action in the whole episode once BSP comes to power in UP, if Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who calls her "'Bua' does not ensure the arrest and take stern action against Singh". "Slogans demanding Singh to present his mother, wife and daughter were raised. They (BJP) are viewing it with polluted mentality and publicising in media," Mayawati said amid a row over use of derogatory language by protesting BSP leaders against women members of Singh's family. Referring to BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui's remarks, she said, "Whether the mother, wife and daughter of Singh's family agreed with the language used by the expelled BJP leader against me. They were asked to clarify their stand. Siddiqui has said that no objectionable words were used against them." On the complaint by Singh's mother against her, the BSP supremo said, "It would have been better if she had also demanded stern legal action against Singh for using derogatory language against a Dalit's daughter." "She did not say a single word, which indicates their dual mentality towards mothers and daughters in general. Whatever is being done is being done to save Singh at the behest of BJP," she added. She alleged that at the behest of BJP, statements were being issued to distract attention from the "heinous crime" of Singh. She also termed the FIR against her in Singh's issue as "contempt of Parliament" and said that ruling SP has acted under pressure from the BJP. Mayawati said that "frustrated" with the manner in which she raised the issue of harassment of Dalits in Gujarat in and outside Parliament, BJP as a part of conspiracy used Singh to distract the attention of Dalits. "To distract attention of the people ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls from BSP, the issue was raked as a conspiracy," she said. The BSP supremo also announced that 'sarvjan hitay, sarvjan sukhaye' mega rallies will be held from next month to "expose" the "tacit understanding" between BJP and ruling SP to not arrest Singh. "These rallies will start from August 21 from Agra and I will address them," she said. San Francisco: Facebook Inc said it had completed a successful test flight of a solar-powered drone that it hopes will help it extend internet connectivity to every corner of the planet. Aquila, Facebook's lightweight, high-altitude aircraft, flew at a few thousand feet for 96 minutes in Yuma, Arizona, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on his Facebook page. The company ultimately hopes to have a fleet of Aquilas that can fly for at least three months at a time at 60,000 feet (18,290 metres) and communicate with each other to deliver internet access. Google parent Alphabet Inc has also poured money into delivering internet access to underserved areas through Project Loon, which aims to use a network of high-altitude balloons to made the internet available to remote parts of the world. Yael Maguire, Facebook's engineering director and head of its Connectivity Lab, said in an interview that the company initially hoped Aquila would fly for 30 minutes. "We're thrilled about what happened with our first flight," Maguire said. "There are still a lot of technical challenges that need to be addressed for us to achieve the whole mission." He said he hoped the system might be brought into service "in the near future." Zuckerberg laid out the company's biggest challenges in flying a fleet of Aquilas, including making the plane lighter so it can fly for longer periods, getting it to fly at 60,000 feet and creating communications networks that allow it to rapidly transfer data and accurately beam down lasers to provide internet connections. Maguire said Aquila will go through several more test flights and hopes it will soon break the world record for the longest solar-powered unmanned aircraft flight, which currently stands at two weeks. Facebook, which has more than 1.6 billion users, has invested billions of dollars in getting more people online, both through an initiative called internet.org - which offers a pared-down version of the internet to poor areas - and by building drones. Dhaka: Bangladesh police on Sunday arrested four suspected women operatives of homegrown militant group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) blamed for the country's worst terror attack on a cafe here in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. "We arrested the four women workers of JMB raiding a den of the outfit," a police officer told PTI. The four were arrested in northwestern Sirajganj district. Police also seized grenade manufacturing materials, six homemade bombs and several jihadi books from the hideout during the raid. Their arrest came days after police arrested a woman in connection the July 1 terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery here. Mass circulation Protom Alo newspaper quoting unidentified "sources" familiar with the investigation that she was previously known to at least one of the attackers. The woman was arrested after elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) released a video footage of four suspected terrorists, including a woman, believed to be directly linked to the July 1 Islamist attack. The attack left 22 people, including 17 foreigners, dead. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, but the government denied their presence in Bangladesh, saying homegrown JMB militants were responsible for the assault. In the CCTV footage of the attack, four persons including a woman were seen strolling around the western-style Spanish restaurant ahead of the attack. The woman was seen carrying something heavy in a vanity bag. Bangladesh launched a massive security clampdown following the July 1 attack and the July 6 assault on a Eid congregation. Four suspected women terrorists of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh were arrested on Saturday. Kathmandu: The Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Oli resigned on Sunday evening after two key allies withdrew support from his government. The Oli government lost its majority in the Parliament as a result of this withdrawal. No trust motion was initiated in the house by the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Maoists jointly, the second and the third largest party respectively in the Parliament. The Oli governments short stint in power was mired in controversies after he allegedly failed to serve power-sharing deal with its allies. Madheshis, a group of migrants from India, have reported discrimination on repeated occasions that also led to strain between India-Nepal relations earlier. KP Oli will continue to serve as a caretaker Prime Minister till the house reaches a consensus on the next Prime minister. Nineteen parties had already assented to the Nepali Congress and the Maoists move to initiate a no-trust motion. The no-trust motion in the 598-member Constituent Assembly was backed by 183 NC parliamentarians, 70 from CPN-MC and three from CPN-United. The three parties have a combined strength of 292 in Parliament. Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) has 175 Parliamentarians, a number far lesser than the required 299 in a house of 598 representatives. (With inputs from PTI) London: Police divers in the UK have found a bride-to-be's engagement ring, two weeks after she accidentally dropped it into Bristol harbour. Nicola Hazell contacted Bristol Harbour Authority on Twitter after losing her silver solitaire ring while out rowing in Bristol docks on July 9. The harbor master spotted Avon and Somerset Police's dive team on a training exercise there on Friday and challenged them to find the ring. Hazell was delighted when the divers found the ring just hours later. She tweeted: "Thank you SO much @ASPolice I can't believe you've reunited me with my engagement ring!! #herosindrysuits #SOhappy." Avon and Somerset Police's Nick Evans, who led the dive team, said: "We are delighted to have found it for Nicola. "We can't do this for everyone obviously, but we were here training anyway and we spend a lot of time looking for stolen property and other items, so it was a good challenge for the team," Evans was quoted as saying by the BBC. Munich: Investigators looking into Friday's mass shooting in Munich say the gunman spent more than a year preparing his attack. Bavarian investigator Robert Heimberger said the 18-year-old shooter, identified only as David S., visited the site of a previous school shooting in the German town of Winnenden and took photographs. He said the shooter, who likely got his illegal weapon through the internet's "dark net" market, was an avid player of first-person shooter video games, including "Counter-Strike: Source." Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, spokesman for Munich prosecutor's office said there is still no evidence of any political motivation to the crime, nor that the shooter killed specific victims. Kosovo held a day of mourning on Sunday for three young ethnic Albanians two women and one man who were among the nine people killed in the shooting in Munich. Flags were at half-staff at all public institutions. Two other Albanians of Kosovo origin wounded in Friday's shooting. Residents in the capital, Pristina, said they were horrified by the shooting. "This is really a big tragedy. People are speechless the way the life of those kids was cut short, without any guilt," said Bujar Vokshi speaking to The Associated Press in a Pristina street. "There is nothing worse, not only for Albanians but for the whole of civilization," added Luljeta Dragaj, another resident. Bavaria's top security official says Germany needs to be able to call upon its military in times of crisis like Friday night's shooting rampage at a Munich mall. With an eye on the Nazi era excesses, Germany's post-war constitution only allows the Bundeswehr to be deployed domestically in a national emergency. But state Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told Welt am Sonntag newspaper,on Sunday that the regulations are obsolete, with "an absolutely stable democracy in our country." "In extreme situations like for example the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels we should also be able to call upon the Bundeswehr in Germany," he said. "It makes no sense to say we categorically reject that." An 18-year-old with a pistol killed nine and wounded dozens on Friday evening before taking his own life. So, you run into a salad story written by a Mexican me and expect to see a taco salad? Not likely to happen. There are no taco salads in Mexican kitchens. At least I have never, ever seen or heard of a taco salad either in Mexico or served in a Mexican's home, wherever that may be in the world. I could attest to the same thing for the entire universe if it weren't for the fact that I haven't left this Earth. To be blunt, I do hope for a world without taco salads and the cold and soggy taco shells of their aftermath. Would you care for a burger-and-French fries salad with ketchup and mustard squeezed on top of dressed greens? Not I, although I would devour a bacon cheeseburger with fries any day, hot off the pan, with or without a plate. There are fabulous tacos of all different sorts for every mood and every occasion, and there are salads, just as extraordinary and with just as many options. Mexican kitchens are a brimming source for both. Sadly, not many people are aware of the latter. Maybe that's because in Mexico, "ensaladas" are likely to be served more often at home than in restaurants. Typically, they're not even referred to as salads; their names or titles tend to be based on a main ingredient often with endearment (a sign of how much we love them), followed by the way it is cooked. A chayote squash salad with a vinaigrette might be called "chayotitos en vinagre," while a green bean salad with tarragon dressing could be "ejotitos al estragon." Come to think of it, the term ensalada has been used in Mexico for any salad with some kind of lettuce, although that has started to change in the past decade or so. Nonetheless, the main point here is that tacos are tacos; salads, whatever we call them in Spanish, are salads. The taco salad must have been a fun and welcome addition to American menus when it made its first appearance in the 1960s. According to "Taco USA" author Gustavo Arellano's authoritative research, it was the man behind Doritos, Elmer Doolin, who had the idea of making a Doritos bowl with what, in that era, was considered the contents of a taco: ground meat, sour cream and cheddar cheese. Some undressed pieces of tomato and shredded lettuce might have shown up soon after. As a very early Tex-Mex creation, it has its place in history. But luckily, we have come so much further than that hard-shell version of a taco and a salad mixed together. Here's what I can say about Mexican salads: They are often unique, with an exotic element in them, with playful textures and multiple layers of flavor in the vinaigrettes or dressings. Those vinaigrettes or dressings tend to be so full of sazon which can be loosely defined as having the knack for matching and mixing ingredients and flavors they could be eaten on their own. Mexican salads are also surprising. You are likely to see Mexican ingredients you might expect, paired with ingredients you wouldn't necessarily think of as belonging to Mexican cuisine. In the accompanying recipes, youll find crisp chayote squash paired with tart Granny Smith apple and wet jicama sticks enveloped in a rich, velvety avocado dressing with a pepita (pumpkin seed) base and laced with dill. Youll find cucumber, radish and jumbo lump crabmeat in a creamy dressing packed with mint, basil and jalapeno. Youll see chunks of mushrooms and artichoke hearts bathed in an irresistibly tart lime vinaigrette touched by capers and thickened with dry and salty queso. Mexican salads are so eye-opening that they really help take Mexicanness out of the box that seems to equate Mexican food only with tacos. They also prove the point that tacos are exquisite and can shine on their own just like our ensaladas. Jinich, a chef and cookbook author most recently of "Mexican Today: New and Rediscovered Recipes for Contemporary Kitchens" (Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016), hosts "Pati's Mexican Table" seen nationally on public television. Downstairs in the Miller Center, water, fruit, board games and fans lined the walls Saturday afternoon. As temperatures climbed into the 90s and humidity soared, senior recreation specialist Micky Ferguson said the staff at the community center adjacent to Miller Park was prepared to offer a cool, safe place for Lynchburgs elderly community. Anybody outside needs to have some coolness, Ferguson said. By 1 p.m. Saturday, 11 people had taken advantage of the cooling center. At the end of the day, Ferguson said they had a total of 14 people come through. Electric fans were even donated by Teva Pharmaceuticals to anyone who may need them. I had one man call and say he works outside all day and doesnt have air conditioning, Ferguson said. I promised him Id hold a fan for him. The cooling center isnt something Lynchburg Parks and Recreation has done every year. Ferguson said the decision came once the department saw the high temperatures in the forecast for the weekend. We wanted to have a cool place for seniors to go because they have a higher health risk, she said. The heat isnt going away just yet, according to the National Weather Service Blacksburg Office, and high pressure is to blame. We have warmer winds coming in from the south, said Kerri Simmons with the National Weather Service Blacksburg Office. Theres warm air throughout the atmosphere. A lack of clouds also shares the blame for the heat, Simmons said. Saturdays temperature topped out at 93 degrees, well shy of the record for that date of 98 degrees in 2010. Today doesnt look much better. Simmons said it will stay clear enough for temperatures to approach just under 100 degrees. The reset of the week offers some relief, but not much. The forecast does call for a chance of thunderstorms each day through the week, Simmons said. That will cool it down a little. Ferguson said theyll be out at the Miller Center (301 Grove St.) again today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with movies, snacks, games and plenty of water. She said anyone who needs a cool place to stay is welcome. Im not turning anyone away, she said. Thats not nice. SAN DIEGO, July 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iMatrix, a leading Internet marketing solutions provider for health-focused businesses, has earned the prestigious title of Premier Google Partner. Google added the Premier designation to its Google Partner program last month as a way to recognize Partners who manage a successful and extensive portfolio of advertising campaigns for their clients. "This is a great milestone for our company, said iMatrix Director of Professional Services Anthony Howe, who was instrumental in securing the designation. Weve been awarded something very few companies are able to achieve. Its a great feeling to know Google has deemed our efforts among the best and that we are able to extend those best practices to the benefit of our clients. The highest level of Google recognition, the Premier status, can be earned by Googles most valued Partners measured in terms of the health and size of the AdWords accounts they manage. In addition to team member Google AdWords certification requirements, factors considered in qualifying for the Premier title include the number of accounts managed by the Partner and the growth rate and quality of those individual accounts. Performance metrics include best practice implementation, high click-through rates, high quality scores, and total advertising budget. Part of the new Premier program is a feature that allows Partners to further highlight their specializations including expertise in search, mobile, video, display, and shopping ads. In order to earn a specialization designation, Partners need to have a history of steady area performance. iMatrix was bestowed with three specializations for ad expertise in search, mobile, and video. iMatrix has long been dedicated to providing the most proactive and impactful services that are in line with Google best practices, said iMatrix Vice President of Client Experience Linda Wise. The Premier honor further supports that our work flow processes and strategic implementations are effective, and most importantly, generate measurable ROI for our clients." About iMatrix Founded in 2002, iMatrix provides small and medium businesses in the chiropractic, veterinary, and eye care industries with online marketing solutions for every need and within every budget. From mobile-friendly website design to advanced search engine optimization, iMatrix offers practice-based businesses a wide range of digital marketing tools and services. iMatrix is an Internet Brands company. Learn more at www.iMatrix.com I read with great interest Campbell County Supervisor James Borlands July 17 Community Viewpoint column, Dont burden taxpayers with Early College costs, which argued that helping to pay for a childs college education is a misuse of taxpayer dollars. Borland, as usual, misses several key points in his letter and passes the buck when it comes to responsibility for helping to educate the youth of Campbell County. Borland asserts that he desired to give a 2 percent raise to Campbell County teachers for the upcoming school year. He makes it sound as if the School Board had to make a decision between paying for a raise for its teachers and staff or continuing the Early College/dual enrollment programs. The only reason the School Board had to make a decision was because the Board of Supervisors decided to not give the School Board all the money that they requested for the upcoming school year. I rightly agree with the School Boards decision to keep the dual enrollment/Early College program, as I have seen the enormous positive impact it has on our young people. Shame on you, Mr. Borland, for not having the foresight or guts to support the 3-cent real estate tax hike proposed by three members of the board which could have helped support a raise and the dual enrollment/Early College program. Do you know what that big tax raise would have cost me? By my own math, about $8 a month. Im tired of listening to you and your fellow supervisors Bob Good, Eric Zehr and Michael Rousseau talk about all the people in this county who live on a fixed income and cant afford a small tax hike. Mr. Borland, as a teacher in this county, my wife and I live on a fixed income! My take-home pay for the 2015-16 school year was less than my first year in 2007-08. Maybe the real question you should be asking yourself is why you havent grown the county tax rolls more in your time on the board. Instead of telling us in the schools that we should be adjusting administrator pay to help save money, why dont you vote to consolidate schools, which would not only give students a better education but would save us hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in the long run? It baffles me that as a so-called fiscal conservative you want to keep wasting our money on keeping open schools that have extremely low enrollment and buildings that are literally falling apart. Our students in this county, not just at William Campbell and Altavista high schools, but also at Rustburg and Brookville, do not have the same opportunities that children in the City of Lynchburg or Bedford County have in terms of athletics, AP courses or electives. Do you know why this is, Mr. Borland? Because the Board of Supervisors wont take the necessary steps to explain to county residents why consolidation is a logical step to take, both financially and educationally. Mr. Borland, you attract talented teachers and educators to Campbell County Schools by offering competitive salaries. Though even I will admit a first-year teacher salary is in-line with others in the area, our pay scale flat lines at about the fifth year, just when teachers are starting to get into the meat of their careers. Because of our pay scale and the way its structured, almost a third of teachers in Campbell County are in their first five years of teaching. Everyone has to start somewhere in their career no matter what it is, but I cannot tell you the numbers of colleagues I have worked with that have left the profession to pursue more lucrative careers. These are talented professionals that are phenomenal teachers who love children. And I dont blame them for leaving one bit. At the end of the day Mr. Borland, the Board of Supervisors, not the School Board, is responsible for giving us our funds. We in the school system present to you what we need and then are forced, year after year, to make difficult decisions about our own budget because the Board of Supervisors will not step up to the plate and fund our schools like you all should. I am tired of hearing about how the Board of Supervisors has given us level funding and in some cases, a slight increase, since General Assembly funds have dried up since the late 2000s. Thats your job to do that! The 3-cent real estate tax raise presented by Supervisors Stanley Goldsmith, J.D. Puckett and Eddie Gunter would have kept Early College and given school employees a raise. Mr. Borland, I read in your column that you yourself paid for your bachelors degree, masters, and doctorate. I applaud you for that. Many students in Campbell County will not have that same opportunity. I myself worked full-time hours as an undergraduate and still had to take thousands of dollars of student loans out so I could pay for my education. Are you aware of how expensive college is today? Its estimated that by 2030 an average four-year degree from a public university in America will be anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000 a year. Do you seriously think that a college-age student can find a job that would pay for their tuition, room and board, a meal plan and spending money? What dream world do you live in? The Early College program is vital to our student population so they can get a head start on college credit hours. You claim that this program should be open to all qualified students, not just the few. How in the world is taking away county funding for this program going to get more students into it when they would be forced to foot the bill for the program entirely on their own? Based off of your proposal, sir, only students who can afford this program would be eligible. How is that fair? What kind of message does that send? Lastly, the quote in your column I find most appalling is the rhetorical question you ask: Why should any local taxpayer be burdened with paying for a high school student to attend a local college? Mr. Borland, a well-educated society is a must for our own economic well-being, national security and society at-large. The fact that you do not believe in helping our children obtain post-high school education and training tells me all that I need to know about you. I like living in a society that is educated, enlightened and open-minded. With your actions and some others on the board, Im not sure what kind of county you want this one to look like. Mr. Borland, I urge you and Supervisors Good, Zehr, and Rousseau to stop quarrelling with the School Board and those in the school system. I have witnessed several of your outbursts firsthand at Board of Supervisors meetings and leave with a mix of anger and embarrassment after watching these. Because of Board of Supervisor actions, my wife and I will have to seriously contemplate where we will send our children to school. Private school is not an option because it is too expensive, doesnt afford the same opportunities as a public school education and isnt held to the same standards we are in the public schools. Home schooling is not an option because we both must work, and I want my children to have the same positive experience my wife and I had in Campbell County schools years ago. Mr. Borland, fund the schools like you know they should be and need to be. As a citizen and constituent, Im begging you. Nagy is a teacher in the Campbell County Public Schools system. Quote: A. they can also pilfer valuable information such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans, and sell pilfer sell Quote: B. they can also pilfer valuable information that includes business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans, and selling Quote: C. also pilfering valuable information including business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans, selling pilfering Quote: D. but also pilfer valuable information such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans to sell are thieves able pilfer valuable information Quote: E. but also pilfering valuable information such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans and selling are thieves able pilfering valuable information So I've seen a lot of test-takers make mistakes on this question, usually because of overreliance on an idiom rule that doesnt really exist. If you see the phrase not only, that does NOT automatically mean that you need to have a but also somewhere else in the sentence! Theres no reason why you couldnt use the phrase not only by itself, as long as it makes logical sense with the context of the sentence.Dont get me wrong: not but phrases are pretty important on the GMAT, but only because they require parallelism. Basically, whatever follows the word not (or not only) must be structurally parallel to whatever follows the word but (or but also). (Similar parallelism rules apply to both/and and either/or constructions more on these in an upcoming Topic of the Week .)But again, theres nothing wrong with having not only without the but also.They jumps out at me right away, but I think its fine, since it refers to thieves. I suppose they could also refer to bank accounts, but I dont think the pronoun is automatically wrong. Ambiguity isnt an absolute rule (see our YouTube webinar on this pronouns for more), and they isnt particularly confusing here.The parallelism also seems OK, even if it doesnt sound great. We have two different lists going on in (A). First, we have a pair of parallel verbs: they can alsoinformation anddata That seems fine. We also have a list of the types of information that thieves pilfer: such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans Thats just three parallel nouns no problem. Keep (A).(B) is very similar to (A), except that the final and is followed by selling. And thats a problem, because I dont know what selling is parallel to: nothing in the sentence is in the same format. Logically, selling should be parallel to pilfer, but in that case, it should be they pilfer and sell, as in answer choice (A). (B) can be eliminated.The big change here is that pilfering and selling are now -ing words modifiers, in this case. (Feel free to check out our guide to -ing words for more on this topic.)But that doesnt really make any sense. As criminal activity on the Internet becomes more and more sophisticated, not only are thieves able to divert cash from company bank accounts,valuable information For this to be correct, pilfering valuable information would have to modify not only are thieves able to divert cash and it simply doesnt. These are completely different types of criminal activity, and the pilfering valuable information does not modify diverting cash.Similarly, selling is basically hanging out on its own. I guess its trying to modify the previous phrase beginning with pilfering, but I cant make much sense of that, either. (C) is out.OK, now we really do have a not only but also structure, which means that we need to think about parallelism again. Theres not much wiggle-room here: whatever follows not only needs to be parallel to whatever follows but also.So we have: not onlyto divert cash but also This isnt awful, but it doesnt quite seem parallel to me: not only are thieves gives us a subject and a verb, but the but also is followed only by a verb.Plus, to sell seems to only modify contract bidding plans, and thats not quite right: the thieves are selling the strategies and specifications, too. (A) makes much more sense than (D).The parallelism is much more thoroughly flawed in (E). We have: not onlyto divert cash but also Definitely not parallel. (E) is out, and (A) is the correct answer._________________ GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. Why Marvel Comics' Daredevil: Born Again may be difficult to adapt to the MCU Frank Miller's original comic book storyline will likely see significant changes for Marvel Studios Disney Plus version Democratic way of life preserved Even though the challenge to the provision came from retired police inspector Harridath Maharaj, the fingerprint of the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) is most discernible with Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar leading arguments before Justice Peter Rajkumar. It was perceptive of the Opposition to detect this seemingly innocuous clause but which had the potential to allow interference of the Government in the appointment of the Police Commissioner and his deputy. No democracy should ever allow any government to exercise control, however limited, on appointments to the police or the army, especially at the leadership level. My stint as high commissioner to South Africa brought me in contact with citizens of both Zimbabwe and Swaziland, whose tales of horror of political persecution in the name of civil prosecution at the hands of political police were simply distressing. These were horrible incidents experienced by victims and eyewitnesses of mans inhumanity to man. We have to exercise vigilance to ensure that our police are insulated from political manipulation. The UNC and its leader must be commended for exercising that vigilance. Harry Partap Tableland The rise of gangs in Enterprise Long-time residents of Enterprise recall a peaceful district, peopled mostly by squatters who occupied large parcels of land owned by late businessman and politician Bhadase Sagan Maraj, founder of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the countrys largest Hindu organisation. And while many of the early settlers struggled to earn a living, they were fairly decent people who led productive lives, residents said. Former Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagessar told Sunday Newsday that Enterprise, located in the Chaguanas East constituency, one mile east of Montrose, was once a lonely, peaceful place. Nagessar recalled that in the early days, the community was called Datsunville, because of the large discarded, wooden boxes from car shipments which the squatters used to construct their homes. He estimated that the squatters occupied about 100 acres of Marajs land. Today, Nagessar, who served as mayor from 1999 to 2013, said Enterprise was now a fully, self-contained residential community with a population of over 10,000 residents, comprising mostly low and middle-income earners. It has water, lights, Internet. It is a real developed area with paved roads, businesses and plenty shopping, he told Sunday Newsday. Nagessar claimed, however, that within the past five years, the criminal activity in the area has reached a head. People started calling it Central Laventille. It is now a hotspot community with competing gangs shooting each-other. We now have joint police and army patrols. That was never there before, he said. During his lengthy stint as mayor, Nagessar said he never had a close relationship with Alexis. He never really interfered with the borough. I remember him having one or two contracts handled under the URP (Unemployment Relief Programme) not the corporation. But I know that there have always been many rumours about him, he said of Alexis. Alexis, 51, was shot dead by assailants around 4.30 pm on Sunday at his car wash and grocery on Freedom Street, Enterprise. Two other men, including Kevin Escayg, believed to be one of Alexis customers, were also killed in the attack. It is alleged that Alexis was murdered because he had pledged to expose the operations of the so-called Unruly Isis gang, and their relationship with two major law enforcement agencies in the country. Alexis was laid to rest at the Munroe Road Muslim Cemetery, on Tuesday, following a funeral service at the Enterprise Community Masjid on Boodram Street. The killings have reignited calls for the implementation of a permanent police post in the area at a time when the Central Division is in a period of transition after Snr Supt Jason Ford recently proceeded on two years leave. The division is now being headed by Ag Snr Supt Florice Hodge-Griffith. In the wake of the killings, Nagessar said he participated in a recent town meeting in Waterloo which was attended by senior police officers, several MPs and residents. Saying that the MPs had all called for a permanent police post, Nagessar added: The stain of crime has put us back a little and it is time the people come together and get back some sanity in the area. This may very well be wishful thinking on his part. According to retired Snr Supt Johnny Abraham, a former head of the Central Division, a culture of peace can only be realised in Enterprise if there was a marked increase in police patrols with officers staying on the ground. There must also be significant intelligence- gathering capability and a lot of effort to rid the area of the criminal element, he said. I used to be on the ground with my officers all the time and I never ill-treated them, Abraham added. In a brief Sunday Newsday interview, Abraham, who retired from the Police Service last December, said he understood that the Unruly Isis Gang may have been a break-away group from a faction affiliated to Alexis. The retired senior police officer said it was difficult to put a handle on exactly when gang activity and violent crime reared its ugly head in Enterprise and Central Trinidad, but observed that it was not a new phenomenon. Even in the days of Dole Chadee (late drug lord and convicted murderer who was executed by the State for his crimes), there were gangs. It is just that there are plenty now, Abraham said. Dole Chadee probably never even considered it a gang but a group of men coming together to do something. It is just more prevalent now. Chadee, whose real name was Nankissoon Boodram, earned a reputation as one of the countrys top drug lords. He and eight members of his gang were convicted of the January 1994 murders of Williamsville residents, Deo, Rookmin, Hamilton and Monica Baboolal. The men were subsequently executed at the Port-of-Spain jail in 1999. More lately, it was widely believed that certain criminal operatives in central Trinidad had migrated from Laventille and that the rivalry involved men who had formed themselves into the central-based Muslims group and Rasta City, gangsters who also originated from the east Port-of-Spain community. However, there also was a school of thought which claimed that the violence in Central Trinidad was not a war between Rasta City and Muslims but rather between elder members of the Muslim gang and younger members of the same gang. Sunday Newsday learnt that there were persistent claims also that a former detainee during the 2011 state of emergency was inciting the young Muslims to commit warfare in the Enterprise area. Abraham, who had held a tight rein on criminal activity in Central Trinidad, was forced to stem many an incident in the region during his tenure, especially during the months preceding his retirement. In June 2015, Abraham joined forces with members of the Inter- Agency Task Force, following claims the rival gangs were leading a reign of terror in the region. The officers, who carried out searches of several homes in the area, seized shotguns, several rounds of ammunition and quantities of illegal drugs. Less than a year later, in April 2016, police instructed residents of Enterprise to stay indoors by 9 pm or face being arrested and charged for loitering. The move sought to enable law enforcement to get a grip on criminals who had turned the area into a war zone. This followed an arson attack on a Southern Main Road, Enterprise family-run business place, which was said to have been owned and operated by a close female relative of a gang member. It was alleged that the war between the rival gangs was the result of a contract awarded to build a concrete drain in Circular Drive, Enterprise: an area said to be controlled by the Unruly ISIS gang, the same group Alexis was reported as threatening to expose at the time of his shooting death, last week. But a prominent Enterprise resident, speaking on the condition of strict anonymity, said Alexis was highly-regarded by many and maintained a heavy influence in the community even though he had frequent encounters with the law over the years. Robocop has been living in Enterprise all these years and he has kept the peace. He was a nice fella, the resident said. But while he wanted to keep the peace, there some young unruly young boys who do not respect anyone. The resident claimed that all of the groups used to be together, liming on the savannah but now everything is about turf. The resident, however, did not support calls for a permanent police post in Enterprise but said a concerted effort must be made to save the younger children in Enterprise from a life of crime. Armour: No guarantees after law expires The expiry of the legislation for the deadline does not guarantee automatic release, Armour said yesterday as he responded to Attorney General (AG) Faris Al-Rawis statement that the Judiciary had been placed on high alert to deal with the rush of bail applications before next months deadline. Rather, Armour said an informed judicial discretion and judicial decision must be made on each application which comes before the court. Armour also said he expects that the relevant authorities, including the Police Service, will be equipped and ready to treat with the applications. The Law Association, therefore, expects that the Police Service, in particular, would be tracing all of the individuals that have been identified as being eligible for bail in August and will place the evidence which they have traced before each judicial officer before whom the applications will come after August 15, he said. Therefore, we expect in the circumstances that each application be assessed on its merits by each judicial officer. As it stands, persons charged with certain offences can be automatically denied bail for a period of 120 days. The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has not supported the legislation. Speaking to reporters following an event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Port-of-Spain, on Friday, Al-Rawi revealed that approximately 700 persons granted bail by the courts remained stuck in prison because of archaic systems and procedures. Opposition Senator and attorney Wayne Sturge, meanwhile, also supported Armours view. He claimed that although some 1,300 will be applicable for bail when the legislation expired, it did not mean that they will automatically be granted bail. The judges still have a discretion, he said. The only difference with the bill is that the judges did not have a discretion to grant bail. Sturge expressed hope that the judges will be able to exercise that discretion accordingly in the interest of the society. Sturge called on Al-Rawi to say why the Opposition did not support the Anti-Gang and Bail Amendment Bill, saying the bill had failed its intended purpose. They were totally ineffective... In essence, it would mean that citizens would be deprived of their liberty and that would be a punishment before conviction, which is wrong in principle. People will remove your Govt Roget, in a stinging condemnation of the Dr Keith Rowley administration, told the OWTUs 77th annual conference of delegates Friday afternoon, that what was wrong for the UNC (United National Congress) then, cannot be right for the PNM. Maharaj, who delivered the feature address at the unions Paramount Building, Circular Road, San Fernando, warned that with job losses every day and small businesses being forced to sell off plant and equipment, people would have to use the power they have to remove the Government. Roget delivered a wide-ranging address on the shrinking economies in Northern and Eastern Europe, but said the political will of leaders saw them clamping down on corruption and implementing measures to level the playing field between those who control the commanding heights of the economy, and the working class. Saying the PNM has been silent on many of the serious corruption issues raised during the last general election, and which came to the fore during the campaign trail, Roget called for the establishment of a corruption bureau. He said people like Maharaj and American forensic accountant Bob Lindquist, who played a role in several cases including the $1.6 billion Piarco Airport project, should be at the helm to probe the corruption scandals that had come to characterise the PP government. Roget said, While banks declare huge profits, workers are being sent home. And to add insult to injury, people are living in self-imposed curfews with crime at its highest. There is now a shortage of nurses and doctors at the hospitals, but we have a Government that is committed to spending money on the Brian Lara stadium. What was wrong then for the UNC, is now right for PNM. What was wrong for the UNC is also wrong for the PNM. Maharaj then spoke on the topic, The implications of the economic policies of the government on the rights and interest of workers. He harboured on the corruption issues raised against the PP government, saying that from Section 34, to sportsgate (LifeSport), a deafening silence on even emailgate, prisongate, and even Westgate. Maharaj told the large turnout of delegates and guests, among them Movement for Social Justice political leader David Abdullah who retired from the OWTU, that the PNM administration has possession and control of cabinet notes relating to the Section 34 fiasco. Every morning, every afternoon, every day, every PNM meeting, we heard about Section 34. The Government is now in position to tell the country; it has control of all the cabinet notes; it has control of all the information. What has happen with Section 34? Why we not told of it? What has happen to Westgate? What happen to Prisongate? What has happen to Sportsgate. Millions in legal fees, but what have we heard? Maharaj was referring to allegations relating to the passage in 2012 of sections of a law proposing to free persons with cases pending for ten years, which was repealed when the Director of Public Prosecutions raised concerns relating to several matters including the Piarco Airport corruption case involving businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson. Maharaj ended by telling the delegates and union members he wanted to leave them with the message that power lies with the people. He said, If the government betrays the people, then the people can remove that government. You must stand up for the principles of the OWTU. Maharaj said if thousands of people continue to lose their jobs, the country could face a crisis if the Rowley administration did not devise a plan, and make it public, on how it would bring relief to workers and their families. Ayrish wrote: One of the primary distinctions between our intelligence with that of other primates may lay not so much in any specific skill but in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones. (A) between our intelligence with that of other primates may lay not so much in any specific skill but (B) between our intelligence with that of other primates may lie not so much in any specific skill but instead (C) between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie not so much in any specific skill as (D) our intelligence has from that of other primates may lie not in any specific skill as (E) of our intelligence to that of other primates may lay not in any specific skill but Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: Concepts tested here: Meaning + Idioms + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy A: B: C: Correct. more D: E: entirely rather than more Hence, C is the best answer choice. Dear Friends,Here is a detailed explanation to this question-Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill. between A and B is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel. Transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not. not so much A as B is a correct idiomatic usage; A and B must be comparable and parallel. "distinction between", "distinction...from", and "distinction...in" are the correct, idiomatic constructions".This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("our intelligence") with B ("that of other primates")"; between A and B is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the transitive verb "lay" without a direct object for it to act upon; remember, transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not.This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "between A ("our intelligence") with B ("that of other primates")"; between A and B is the correct idiomatic construction; A and B must be comparable and parallel. Further, Option B uses the redundant phrase "but instead", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; this phrase is redundant, as "but" and "instead" both convey the same information.This answer choice correctly uses the idiomatic construction "not so much A ("in any specific skill") as B ("in our ability...ones")", conveying the intended meaning - that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may liein our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill. Further, Option C correctly uses the intransitive verb "lie" in the absence of a direct object. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic constructions "distinction between" and "between A ("our intelligence") and B ("that of other primates")". Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "not A ("in any specific skill") as B ("in our ability...ones")", leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may lie more in our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill; remember, not so much A as B is a correct idiomatic usage; A and B must be comparable and parallel.This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "not in any specific skill but"; the use of the idiomatic construction not A but B incorrectly implies that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may liein our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different onesin any specific skill; the intended meaning is that one of the primary distinctions between our intelligence and that of other primates may liein our ability to extend knowledge gained in one context to new and different ones than in any specific skill. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the transitive verb "lay" without a direct object for it to act upon; remember, transitive verbs always require a direct object to act upon, and intransitive verbs do not. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "distinction...to"; please remember, "distinction between", "distinction...from", and "distinction...in" are the correct, idiomatic constructions".All the best!Team_________________ Rowley: Im Jamaican too Those formative years were spent at the University of the West Indies UWI) Mona Campus between 1970 to 1978 following which he graduated with a doctorate in philosophy (PhD) in geology, after also obtaining BSc and MSc degrees in 1973 and 1975 respectively. So it was no wonder that Rowley in his bilateral meeting on Monday with his Jamaican counterpart Andrew Holness and his Cabinet, Rowley said, he was returning to a place well known to me and close to my heart. If I was in difficulty in this place, I would have claimed ownership and possibly ancestry. The TT Prime Minister said he probably knows Jamaica more than most Jamaicans because sitting in the meeting he pointed out someone who lived together with him in the great days of Irvine Hall, on the Mona Campus. I had the opportunity at an earlier time to share common ground with another member of this Cabinet, he said. On arrival at the Mona Campus on Wednesday, to be inducted into Prime Ministers Park a spot to honour UWI graduates who became heads of government, Rowley admitted to being lost until he saw Irvine Hall where he resided as a student. At the induction ceremony, he said when he embarked on this trip to Jamaica, he never knew he would have been taken so far back in his memories. He recalled that when he arrived without any documentation at Mona in 1970 on a scholarship to pursue his studies, he became a ward of this university. Awaiting registration, he said, he became a ward of then Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) Leslie Robinson and the registrar (administration). I was up and down campus without a line of documentation for two weeks, but it worked out well for him, he said, because he was probably the only student known personally by the PVC and the registrar, and I exploited that he said to laughter among his audience that included a number of Trinidad and Tobago medical students, UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles, and PVC Mona Campus Archibald McDonald. However, Rowley said, Nowhere in that period of my life did I dream that I would come back here with the responsibility, in the days of my retirement, as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to be inducted in this very unique park. Something else of significance happened during his stay in the country. He said he was trying to remember the name of the woman who took care of him when he was a ward of the university and during my period of vagrancy on campus here. He had lost contact with her and could not remember her name. On arrival in Jamaica, he said, he was assigned a protocol officer who was looking after him very well. He decided to ask her if she knew anything about the woman and provided her with descriptions. A clearly emotional Rowley said, the protocol officer revealed, She was my mother. The addition of Rowleys name to the honours roll brings the total of UWI-educated heads of government, inclusive of former TT prime ministers Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Patrick Manning, to 17. And still claiming a home in Jamaica, in his meeting with the business leaders on Tuesday at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Rowley said while he was there in his capacity as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago by office, he was also there in my capacity as an erstwhile Jamaican coming home and meeting so many friends. As a nature lover and a volcanologist by profession, Rowley told the business leaders that he probably knew the mountains of the Blue Mountain range better than most Jamaicans. US: We See No Signs Putin Will Use Dirty Bomb A worker at a Washington Heights store was killed after being pinned between the store's elevator and the first floor. A friend said, "Its just shocking. He worked here seven days a week." The 43-year-old male victim, who was not identified by police, had apparently been loading store merchandise into the elevator at 552 West 182nd Street, La Reguera Dominican before 5:45 p.m. yesterday afternoon, when, authorities say, the elevator "started to ascend and pinned him to the ceiling." EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. The Department of Buildings has no record of an elevator, according to the Daily News, which also reports, "Jose Cabral, the owner of a juice bar next door, said the elevator was installed a year ago when an auto repair shop was transformed into the discount store. The lift had no doors, but Cabral said he never heard any complaints from the employees." Cabral said of the victim, "He would never sit down at work. He was always moving around, moving boxes around." (Newser) About two weeks after American art teacher Dahlia Yehia messaged a friend to confirm that she had arrived in Pokhara, Nepal, her parents reached out to the US embassy in Kathmandu. Their 25-year-old daughter had left volunteer work in the earthquake disaster zone in Gorkha district and traveled to Pokhara to stay with a Couchsurfing host and restthen on Aug. 7, 2015, slipped completely off the radar. Friends began to spread fliers in English and Nepali and blasted emails to hundreds of Couchsurfing hosts in the region to sort out whether anyone had seen her. But when they finally found Narayan Paudel, the man who'd hosted her, the mystery surrounding what actually happened to Yehia only deepened, as journalist Joshua Hammer, who traveled there to interview Paudel, reports in a lengthy feature for Foreign Policy. Paudel, who had glowing reviews on the Couchsurfing site, was questioned extensively after police found that he had tried to use Yehia's iPhone more than 10 days after she was last heard from. He soon admitted he knocked her off a bridge while the two were walking, then changed his story to say he bludgeoned a sleeping Yehia to death and dumped her body into the nearby Seti River. But he tells Hammer that he was tortured into this story: "I could not have done that," he says. In May 2016, police learned that the body they'd recovered in the Seti was not Yehia's, though trace amounts of blood found in Paudel's apartment were. Just this month Paudel was convicted of murdering Yehia and sentenced to life in prison. "With her body still missing," Hammer writes, "the young woman's vanishing may remain painfully complete." Read the full story. (Read more disappearance stories.) (Newser) The severed head of Llewelyn Lucas, a beloved local pastor in Belize, was on July 16 found stuffed into a bucket in the back of a truck outside a bar. But as police began to investigate, things only got weirder, reports Vice in a lengthy look at last weekend's strange saga. William Masonwho was inside the bar and whose pickup also housed cash and firearmsand four others have been charged with the murder, and police are now investigating Mason for possible involvement in the kidnapping of a man and his wife two months ago. As 7 News Belize reports, Mason appears to be known in his community as a chef, a vet, a property developer with a mansion, and a pig farmer with a 160-acre ranch, but no one seems to know who the guy is. They only know that Mason is only one of the names he goes by. He's known in Guyana as Rajesh Ouellet and his nicknames include Ted, Teddy, Rajesh, Ramesh, Danny, and Raj; Vice uncovered what seemed to be fake and abandoned medical companies attached to him. Some reports have him as being born in Canada (though officials there couldn't confirm to Vice he was a citizen), while Breaking Belize News reports that the man has claimed to be born in Belize as well as Guyana, and that he "moves carefully and creatively, ensuring that police are unable to stop him." Or perhaps not: The Guardian Belize alleges a smoking-gun video exists that shows a kidnapped Lucas, along with two other victims who were later released, at Mason's home in the capital city of Belmopan on July 15. The site says Mason's surveillance system was active at the time and cites police as saying the alleged kidnapping was captured on video. Burnt remains are said to have been recovered on Mason's farm. (Read more con artist stories.) (Newser) Could earthships be the solution to the housing crisis in Canada's First Nations communities? US company Earthship Biotecture thinks so. This housing that we make is made to take care of people. Feed them, keep them warm, with no utility bills," the company's Michael Reynolds tells the Guardian. By contrast, he adds, Really, all government housing is junk." But what's an earthship? According to Inhabitat, it's a "low-cost home that strives for self-sufficiency ... built primarily with recycled materials." Earthship Biotecture has built earthships for people in need in several countries, such as Haiti, India, and Sierra Leone. Now it is building one on Canada's First Nations reserve. According to the Calgary Herald, the reality for many reserve residents is overcrowded, sub-standard housing. Take Francine Doxtator, for instance. She lives in a leaky trailer, "ravaged by mice and black mold," with her disabled daughter and five grandchildren. Soon, however, Doxtator and her family will be the first First Nations family to move into an earthship. "I still dont believe its happening, she tells the Guardian. The $57,000 house, funded by Earthship Biotecture, contributions, and fundraising, will include solar panels, a cistern to collect rainwater, and hundreds of old tires that will "create a dense thermomass" for temperature regulation. Local volunteers will help build it. The hope is to eventually have a local team that can help others build earthships of their own. But, one of the volunteers tells the Guardian, strict building codes may be a hurdle, as well raising the money to build an earthship in the first place. As excited as she is for her new digs, Doxator does have one concern: I just hope it doesnt look like a Flintstones house in the end. (Read more First Nations stories.) (Newser) Farmers in Nebraska, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New York are staging something of a mechanical revolt. They're attempting to get legislation passed in their states that would enable them, for the first time since the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, to repair their own tractors or get an independent mechanic to help. At the root of the morass is the software that helps run modern tractors and their sensors, diagnostic tools, and other high-tech elements. If farmers so much as open the metaphorical hood to check out the computers they could be violating the federal act, reports Modern Farmer. Mick Minchow, a Nebraska farmer for more than 40 years, is among the many who are fed up, reports Lincoln Journal Star. As it currently stands, any problem with his John Deere 8235 R requires a trip to the dealer and costs him important time. What he'd like to be able to do, per the paper, is something as simple as looking up the system code to determine if it's a serious problem or something as mundane as replacing a filter. John Deere's argument, as reported by Wired, is that giving farmers free rein over the software would "make it possible for pirates, third-party developers, and less innovative competitors to free-ride off the creativity, unique expression, and ingenuity of vehicle software." Other potential issues that have been floated: the financial hit such a change could wreak on dealerships, and the complications of buying used equipment whose software was improperly changed. (This copyright dispute involved a bustle in your hedgerow.) (Newser) Last week saw the mother of an American who died in Benghazi angrily indict Hillary Clinton in her son's death, using the Republican National Convention as her medium. Now, the mother of another American slain in the attack at the Libyan consulate, Ambassador Chris Stevens, takes to the pages of the New York Times to plead for the opposite: "As Ambassador J. Christopher Stevenss mother, I am writing to object to any mention of his name and death in Benghazi, Libya, by Donald Trumps campaign and the Republican Party," writes Mary F. Commanday in a letter to the editor. "I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection. I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign." (Read more Chris Stevens stories.) (Newser) Investigators looking into Friday's mass shooting in Munich say the gunman spent more than a year preparing his attack, reports the AP. Bavarian investigator Robert Heimberger said the 18-year-old shooter, whom the BBC identifies as David Sonboly, "received inpatient (psychiatric) treatment in 2015 for two months and after that received outpatient care," said Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, spokesman for Munich prosecutor's office. "The suspect had fears of contact with others" and also depression. Sonboly visited the site of a previous school shooting in the German town of Winnenden and took photographs. Heimberger said Sonboly, who likely got his illegal weapon through the internet's "dark net" market, was an avid player of first-person shooter video games, including "Counter-Strike: Source." Steinkraus-Koch said there is still no evidence of any political motivation to the crime, nor that the shooter killed specific victims. The number of injured has now risen to 35, notes the BBC. More on the gunman here. (Read more Munich stories.) (Newser) The US Coast Guard says it's looking for a man who has cost the service about $500,000 after responding to nearly 30 of his fake distress calls, reports the AP. In a press release published Friday, the Coast Guard says the 28 calls have originated from around the area of Annapolis, Maryland. Each call involved the same male voice and used an emergency radio channel. He's been making the calls since July 2014. The two most recent calls were made on the night of July 21 and the early morning of July 22. A hoax call is a deadly and serious offense, a Coast Guard rep tells NBC4, which notes that such calls are a felony that carry six years in prison, $10,000 civil fine, $250,000 criminal fine, and reimbursement to the Coast Guard. "Calls like these not only put our crews at risk, but they put the lives of the public at risk. (Read more Coast Guard stories.) (Newser) A Syrian man killed a woman with a machete and wounded two others Sunday outside a bus station in the southwestern German city of Reutlingen before being arrested, the AP reports. The woman who was killed in the attack was pregnant, according to the Sun. Police say there were no indications pointing to terrorism. Police spokesman Bjoern Reusch tells the AP that witnesses say the 21-year-old asylum-seeker, who was known to police, was having an argument with the woman before attacking her about 4:30pm. The suspect, whose name was not released, wounded another woman and a man as he fled. Investigators were still trying to determine the motive behind the attack, but Reusch says "there are no indications this was a terrorist act." The Bild newspaper reports the woman worked at the kebab stand near where confrontation took place. One witness tells Bild. "The perpetrator was completely out of his mind," and says the attacker was run over by a BMW before being arrested. The attack comes as Germany is on edge following a rampage at a Munich mall on Friday night by an 18-year-old who suffered psychological problems in which nine people were killed, and an ax attack on a train a week ago that left five wounded in southern Germany, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility. Some Germans are also fearful of any signs of a rise in crime or lawlessness after the country registered some 1 million asylum-seekers last year. (Read more Germany stories.) (Newser) Embattled Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday that she will step down, CNN reports. The announcement that she will resign following the party convention, which begins Monday, comes on the heels of leaked emails that appear to show that DNC officials were working to sabotage Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Wasserman Schultz's role at the convention already had been reduced to simply opening and closing the event. "I am confident that the strong team in place will lead our party effectively through this election to elect Hillary Clinton as our 45th president," she said in a statement, adding, "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as party chair at the end of this convention." Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge will chair the convention, the New York Daily News reports. And, per NBC News, Vice Chair Donna Brazile will steer the DNC through the election as interim chair. "I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership," Clinton said in a statement. Republican nominee Donald Trump tweeted, "I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!" (Read more Democratic National Convention stories.) Last week's Republican National Convention showed that there are some cracks in the GOP's unity thanks to Ted "Vote Your Conscience" Cruz's primetime non-endorsement of Donald Trump. Just when Democrats thought they could kick their feet up though, the New York Post has a bombshell story revealing discord in America's first family. That's right: Barack Obama's half-brother Malik told the tabloid he'll be voting for Donald Trump in November, because this election cycle is a tasting menu of absurdity and we've got many more courses to go. Why is Malik, a registered Democrat in the state of Maryland, voting for a man who devoted years of his life to spreading a racist falsehood against his half-brother? Oh, the same reasons any conservative Facebook group-joining uncle is: Hillary's emails! She should have known better as the custodian of classified information, Obama told the paper. Okay, so that's not the only reason Malik is voting for the anthropomorphic bottle of luxury spray tan. Obama thinks it was wrong of both his President brother and then-Secretary of State Clinton to get involved in the Libyan civil war that led to Muammar Gaddafi's death, since he believes that Gaddafi was making the world a better place. Obama also feels betrayed by the Democratic Party's embrace of same sex marriage, telling the Post that "I feel like a Republican now because they dont stand for same-sex marriage." So, if you were wondering, yes, Sasha and Malia have their own conservative uncle who ruins Thanksgiving. The only question remaining after Malik's Trump endorsement is whether this is the most embarrassing presidential sibling behavior in modern American history. Malik's got some stiff competition though. There's Jimmy Carter's Billy Beer-endorsing, airplane tarmac pissing on brother Billy Carter for one. Or how about Roger Clinton, Bill Clinton's half-brother, who was given the Secret Service codename of "Headache" and appeared in both Bio-Dome and The Blues Brothers Animated Series and just recently was arrested for a DUI? Or of course, Bush failson Jeb, brother of George W., who was humiliated over and over by Donald Trump on national television before Trump fed his political career into a wood chipper. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said any initiative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may take to resolve the current crisis in the Valley could calm tempers but if it is not followed up then it becomes difficult to sort out. He agreed with former Union Home Minister P Chidambarams views that the centre had broken promises on issues that formed the states accession to India, saying they have been dishonest with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It will help. It will definitely calm tempers but there will be far more suspicion today than a few years ago. Because if it is not followed through, every time a problem like this arises, then it becomes more difficult to bring an end to it, he told Karan Thapar on India Today TV. He was replying to a question whether a grand initiative by the Prime Minister could normalise the situation in the Valley. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kabul: Both India and Pakistan have condemned the deadly suicide bombing attack in Kabul (Afghanistan), claimed by terror outfit Islamic State. According to latest inputs, at least 80 people have been killed and over 200 injured in the tragic incident. A suicide bomber on Saturday detonated his explosives-packed clothing among a large crowd of demonstrators, officials and witnesses said. Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that "Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist acts in Kabul". "The government and the people of Pakistan extend their sincere condolences and profound sympathies to the families of the bereaved people and convey their earnest prayers and wishes for early recovery of those injured in this heinous act of terrorism," it said. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned a suicide attack in Kabul, saying India stands by Afghanistan in opposing all forms of terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled loss of lives in "senseless violence". (with PTI inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: UP Governor Ram Naik will be meeting the daughter of Dayashankar Singh, who was expelled from Bharatiya Janata Party after he allegedly made derogatory remarks on the character of BSP chief supremo Mayawati. Naik, who was here to attend a function, told reporters that he has received a call from Dayashankers daughter seeking an appointment with him. I have called her on Sunday at Raj Bhawan to listen to her grievances, he said. The BJP, which held demonstrations across the state demanding arrest of BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui over derogatory remarks made against women members of Singhs family, also handed over a memorandum in this regard. BJP district president Basant Tyagi, along with his party worker, handed over the memorandum to Naik, after the Governor unveiled a statue of founder of a Loni-based inter college and social activist RC Dixit. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Main opposition National Conference today asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. The party also said it would be a travesty to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a mere law and order problem.This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here since yesterday to review the situation, by a delegation of National Conference (NC), led by former Chief Minister and its working President Omar Abdullah. In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centres failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir as a political problem which requires political engagement both internally and externally. While it was palpable and shocking to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue, the party said. It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir operatively and militarily, rather than thinking out of the box, has further exasperated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism especially among the youth that could have adverse long-term implications. The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley. A continued failure to address growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India, they said.Registering its anguish, grief and sorrow over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the PDP-BJPs state Governments evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. I recently had the opportunity to taste the line of Diplomatico Rums at a tasting and dinner held at Barcelona Wine Bar in Boston's South End with Diplomatico's master distiller, Maestro Gilberto Briceno. Diplomatico was founded in 1959 and adhere to the traditional Venezuelan way of making rum. They have their own yeast strain for fermentation and use sugar cane molasses and honey from sugar cane for their rums. Diplomatico's distillation process differs from most Caribbean countries which use column distillation. Diplomatico uses column distillation for their light rum, copper pot (to get heavy alcohols), and batch kettle for medium alcohols. The copper pot tradition came about because Seagram's used to make whiskey in Venezuela. Anyway, the rums. We tasted six different rums from Diplomatico. Diplomatico Anejo This is their youngest product, which is aged up to 4 years and a mix of light and heavy alcohols (which they get from the different distillation processes). The rum itself has a hint of vanilla and with light sweetness. This rum is good for cocktails and a great value at about $15 a bottle! This is their youngest product, which is aged up to 4 years and a mix of light and heavy alcohols (which they get from the different distillation processes). The rum itself has a hint of vanilla and with light sweetness. This rum is good for cocktails and a great value at about $15 a bottle! Diplomatico Blanco The white rum is made from 50% pot distilled, 50% column distilled spirit. Unique to Diplomatico, this white rum actually had 6 years of aging (most white rums in the market are 6-12 months aged), then they do sieve filtration to get the clear color back. As a comparison, Venezuelan government requires a minimum of 2 years aging. There's a lot of fruitiness and coconut notes. The rum is sweet but complex. The white rum is made from 50% pot distilled, 50% column distilled spirit. Unique to Diplomatico, this white rum actually had 6 years of aging (most white rums in the market are 6-12 months aged), then they do sieve filtration to get the clear color back. As a comparison, Venezuelan government requires a minimum of 2 years aging. There's a lot of fruitiness and coconut notes. The rum is sweet but complex. Diplomatico Reserva This rum was aged in sherry barrels from Spain up to 8 years. Lightly sweet, smooth, more oaky, with hints of citrus peel. Made up of 50% heavy alcohol. Good for mai tai and Manhattan variations. This rum was aged in sherry barrels from Spain up to 8 years. Lightly sweet, smooth, more oaky, with hints of citrus peel. Made up of 50% heavy alcohol. Good for mai tai and Manhattan variations. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva This is their flagship rum and is best for sipping. This rum is aged up to 12 years. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and coffee notes. Retails for about $30 - again, a great buy. This is their flagship rum and is best for sipping. This rum is aged up to 12 years. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and coffee notes. Retails for about $30 - again, a great buy. 2002 Vintage This is the 12-year rum aged an extra year in sherry cask and has 43% ABV. Light sweetness with some bitterness. Diplomatico only produce 40,000 bottles of this rum per year. This is the 12-year rum aged an extra year in sherry cask and has 43% ABV. Light sweetness with some bitterness. Diplomatico only produce 40,000 bottles of this rum per year. Diplomatico Ambassador This rum is somehow more like port wine and has a smoky (leather) notes. Light sweetness, well balanced, with a hint of dried fruit (prunes). They produce only 5000 bottles per year. This rum is somehow more like port wine and has a smoky (leather) notes. Light sweetness, well balanced, with a hint of dried fruit (prunes). They produce only 5000 bottles per year. Noche Espanola 2oz Diplomatico Anejo oz Amontillado sherry oz lime El Juancho 2oz Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva oz Vermouth Royale Blanc oz grenadine 1 dash Suze orange bitters Daiquiri Royale 1 oz Diplomatico Reserva Lime juice simple syrup Willie Juancho and The Chocolate Factory 1 oz Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Dark Creme de Cacao Instant coffee Lime We rim of a snifter glass with lime and dip in instant coffee. The drink was also paired with three different Venezuelan cacao (60%, 70%, and Chuao (DOC chocolate from Venezuela). The drink was also paired with three different Venezuelan cacao (60%, 70%, and Chuao (DOC chocolate from Venezuela). Thanks to Maestra Briceno and the Barcelona's bar and kitchen team! After the tasting, we got some tapas paired with rum cocktails. The first course was Cana de Cabra a la Plancha, Eva's rhubarb, Marcona almonds. Cana de Cabra is a Spanish goat cheese, which here is topped with rhubarb and almonds. It's almost like a dessert! oz dark sugar simpleBacon-wrapped quail, sherry jus. Can't go wrong.Marinated beets with mint chimichurri Omni-pairAnd ... tableside jamon service! This jamon is a special one since it's a Mangalitsa pork leg.Seared red snapper, blood orange, snap peas, pea tendrils paired with Daiquiri RoyaleTop with cavaFor dessert, different Venezuelan chocolates, as well as a Chocolate pudding with bananas foster puree paired with The Chocolate Factory.This last drink, which I think was my favorite, is inspired by a Venezuelan tradition called El Ritual, whic his how they take a shot of rum. You dip one side of a lime wedge in brown sugar, the other side in instant coffee powder. Suck on the lime wedge and take your shot of aged rum!Diplomatico is also a green company. Did you know that to produce 1 liter of alcohol, you would produce 17 liters of waste? Diplomatico treats their waste to convert them to natural fertilizer and pesticide to feed the 20,000 water buffalos they have, and they also produce their own electricity! New Delhi: The government has decided to ensure that all Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) are linked to Aadhaar by the end of the current calendar year. While setting the ambitious target, the Centre has also decided to bring all subsidies and welfare schemes under the DBT net by March 31, 2017. The DBT programme, a major reform initiative to check leakages of welfare funds, was launched on January 1, 2013 with regard to 24 selected schemes of eight ministries. At present, benefits under 74 schemes of 17 ministries are being reached to the targeted people through DBT. It has also been decided to have a DBT cell in all central government ministries and state governments. An ambitious target of ensuring all centrally sponsored welfare and subsidy schemes are brought on DBT by March 2017, has been set, a senior official in Cabinet Secretariat said. Till date, about Rs 1.2 lakh crore has been disbursed through the DBT platform to nearly 30 crore beneficiaries. Through DBT, all cash benefits are transferred directly to the beneficiarys bank account. In order to give further fillip to the programme, DBT Mission was last year shifted to Cabinet Secretariat and its implementation is being monitored by the Prime Ministers Office. The scope of DBT has been expanded to include cash transfer to individual beneficiaries through (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labha or Pahal), transfer of LPG subsidy to individual consumers, wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and National Social Assistance Programme. All ministries have already been requested to examine various programmes and schemes implemented by them or their attached offices, public sector undertakings, autonomous organisations and implementing agencies, the official said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: There is an urgent need for reforms at the UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, former Under-Secretary-General of the global body Shashi Tharoor has said here. The UN is indispensable and has no alternative. Absence of reforms could discredit it and there is an urgent need for reforms, he said at a programme here yesterday. Tharoor, a Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram who quit the UN in 2007 after losing the race for the post of Secretary General to Ban Ki-moon, said already there was a danger that countries in groups were attaching importance to other fora like the G-20. He quoted former US president Harry Truman who said If we fail to do that (maintain UN), we will betray those who have died (read in the Holocaust, Hiroshima bombings and the two World Wars). There is now a need for even a stronger UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, he said. Regarding Indias permanent membership to the UN Security Council, he said that issue has been flogged to death. That issue is reflecting the geo-political situation of 1945 and not of today, Tharoor said. The UN, which completed 70 years of its existence two years ago, had been criticised for failing to meet the objectives of its charter but it has done many things which have prevented more damage to humanity, Tharoor said. What UN achieved is that it prevented the Cold War (between the US and USSR) from turning hot, vetoing the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, mounting peace settlements and ended numerous regional conflicts, he said at a session on UN at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). It has also ended many civil wars through mediation and facilitated more than 500 treaties though at times UN itself had been at the receiving end by all sides, said Tharoor, who spent 29 years of service at the UN. Stating that UN was an attempt to convert the wartime alliances into peacetime organisation with an aim to guide international behaviour to cooperate for common good, Tharoor said although there were voices from some quarters to dismiss it, it needs to be seen how the next US president and the one who succeeds Secretary General Ban navigates the world body to become more responsive to the voices of less powerful member countries and usher in a new order. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chennai: After 48 hours of frantic search involving assets drawn from Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard, airforce authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu police over the missing AN-32 aircraft. We have received a complaint that Air Forces AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing, a senior police official said today.The complaint was lodged last night with Selaiyur police, he said. The complaint says that 29 personnel on board AN-32 and the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu, the official told PTI. Such a complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar plaint was filed when Coast Guards Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.Meanwhile, the search operations for the AN-32 aircraft involving multiple agencies continued for the third consecutive day. AN-32, IAFs Port Blair bound transport plane went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base here by 8.30 AM on July 22.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The taxi drivers are likely to go on an indefinite strike in the coming days that is sure to cause trouble for the commuters in the city. The cabbies will stay off roads from Tuesday against cab aggregators like Ola and Uber. According to Swabhiman Taxi and Rickshaw Union president K K Tiwari, the taxi drivers as well as certain section of autorickshaws would remain on strike from July 26, till the government meets their demands. The taxi union has claimed that operations by cab aggregators like Uber and Ola are unauthorised. Our demand from the government is that the cab aggregators should be brought under the law. They are operating without mandatory permission from the RTO, Tiwari told PTI over phone. We also want that government should begin proceedings against those who have not followed the law ... we will be on strike till government meets our demand ... because of cab aggregators our drivers are having loss in income, he added. The unions and taxi drivers are also demanding implementation of the proposed city taxi scheme which would regulate the cab aggregators under the Motor Vehicles Act. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kuala Lumpur: Film Censorship Board of Malaysia today said the Rajinikanth starrer blockbuster movie Kabali will have a different ending in the country with a message of crime does not pay added at the climax. The decision has left local fans of the superstar fuming. LPF chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said the board had requested the makers for the alterations in the movie, so that the viewers continue respecting the law. Normally under our guidelines, there must be some kind of element of retribution in the movie. Especially if the characters shown in the movies are involved in crime, then there must be some kind of comeuppance for that. So, we asked the producer to put in a caption... This was to send a message that the law cannot be taken into your own hands, Abdul Halim told Malay Mail Online.The film ran to full shows yesterday with fans queuing up hours before the show. Set in Malaysia, the movie features Rajinikanth as a gangster, who was framed for a crime decades ago.The original ending scene in the movie was intentionally left ambiguous, but the local version leaves nothing to the audiences imagination. Abdul Halim also admitted that the board had censored several scenes in the Kollywood film, but stressed that all the cuts were only five minutes in total and that the storyline of the movie was still intact. He explained the cuts were only several seconds long for each scenes, including one controversial scene that included the use of the word keling a term derogatory to ethnic Indians in Malaysia. The word was muted in local screenings. We have our own guidelines and anything that we feel could be sensitive, we censor. We took off the word and it is better that way because if we do not do that, then the people will allege that we practice selective censorship. The scene in the original unedited version has since been slammed in Malay paper Mingguan Malaysia today. An article had accused the film of deliberately flaming racial tensions in the country by portraying the ethnic Indians as an oppressed minority. Another article also accused the film screenwriter of misunderstanding the lives of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia. Despite that, Abdul Halim said the main reason for the censorship was to make the movie a PG-13-rated film, so it could be seen by more Malaysians. Eight percent of multi ethnic Muslim majority of Malaysias population is Indian, mostly Tamil. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Describing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs rhetoric about accession of Kashmir to Pakistan as wishful thinking, a leading Pakistani daily today said statements like these will invite more trouble for the country as well as for the Kashmiri people. It has become a norm for politicians to make unrealistic claims and repeat popular phrases for getting votes... Talking about Kashmirs accession with Pakistan is easy but nobody knows how it will happen, the Daily Times said in an editorial referring to Sharifs recent statement that Pakistan is waiting for the day when Kashmir becomes its part. Slamming the prime ministers statement as mere rhetoric, it said that politicians utter these statements to win the masses support and the people continue to suffer due to this mentality. Pakistans official stance on Kashmir is that it extends all-out moral support to Kashmiris struggle for freedom, and will continue to raise its voice for their right to self-determination at every platform. This stance is commendable but making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate, it said. By uttering these words, in fact, the prime minister is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also, it said. The conflict over Kashmir, the editorial said, can be solved either through talks or war. There is no other solution to this seven decades long conflict, it said. The daily goes on to question what Pakistan can offer to Kashmiris when it is still coping with numerous challenges that are posing a threat to its own stability? Instead of talking about capturing more land, government needs to make Kashmir under its control a model state where all Kashmiris happily aspire to live. For the last 67 years, Pakistan has failed to ensure good governance in its Kashmir. Not only that, many areas of the country are still facing neglect where people have no access to basic needs of life, it said. Calling for a political solution, it asked the governments of Pakistan and India to resolve the bilateral issues amicably, saying, they must compromise in the larger national, regional and global interest, it added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beijing: Siberian tigers at a Chinese wildlife park here have mauled a woman to death while badly injuring one of her companion when they stepped out of their car. Tigers at the Beijing Badaling Wildlife World pounced on one of the woman when she stepped out of her private car. Another woman tried to help her but was badly injured when she was attacked by another tiger, local media reported yesterday. Video of the incident suggested park rangers in a vehicle were on the scene within seconds, but they were unable to save the woman. The local Yanqing district government has confirmed the tiger attack, saying the injured woman is being treated for her injuries. Visitors are allowed to drive in their private vehicles in the wildlife park but are not allowed to step outside. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: India moving close to victory as West Indies are 195 for 8. Ashwin picked up 5 wickets in total. Carlos Brathwaite and Devendra Bishoo are batting. West Indies collapsed under intense pressure created by Ashwin and Co on a pitch that offered assistance to the slow bowlers. Earlier, a short rain shower stopped Indias march as the hosts went into an early lunch at 76 for two at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. West Indies are 76 for 2 in their second innings with Marlon Samuels and Rajendra Chandrika are batting. West Indies were 76 for two in their . West Indies still trailed by 247 runs with eight wicketsremaining. Marlon Samuels and Rajendra Chandrika were batting on 39and 22 respectively at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. India amassed 566 for eight declared in their firstinnings and then bowled out West Indies for 243 and forced thehosts to follow-on. Brief scores:India 1st innings: 566 for 8 declared in 161.5 overs West Indies: 243 all out in in 90.2 overs (KraiggBrathwaite 74, Shane Dowrich 57 not out; Umesh Yadav4/41, Mohammed Shami 4/66) and 76 for two in 30 overs (MarlonSamuels 39 batting). West Indies are in trouble in the first test after they were forced to follow on. West indies were 21 for one in their second innings at sumps on day 3. India will be looking to put pressure on West Indies batting line up which has shown poor performance in the first innings. Names and faces Steffani Turner, MSW, LCSW, has been promoted to director of community services of Intermountains Community Service Clinic at 3240 Dredge Drive. In her new role, Turner manages the administrative and clinical aspects of the multi-service clinic which offers child and family outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, occupational therapy, and therapy for co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues as well as case management, home support services, family aide services and therapeutic foster care and adoption services. Turner has held various clinical positions at Intermountain since 2006. She is a graduate of the University of Montana in Missoula, completed her Master of Social Work there in 2004 and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2007. Kimberly Gardner, MSW, LCSW, LAC, is now the lead clinical supervisor for the Community Service Clinic including school based mental health services and the services for co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues. Her role includes oversight and coordination of the clinical development of therapists. Gardner is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed addiction counselor. She is an alumnus of Carroll College and graduated from the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work in 1995. Gardner is a current member of the State Board of Behavioral Health. Intermountain, a Montana nonprofit serving the emotional health care needs of children and their families since 1909, consolidated its Helena community services and opened its Dredge Drive clinic in 2014. Learn more at www.intermountain.org. *** Gabriel Clark joins Information Systems of Montana in business development. He brings with him four years of sales experience. Information Systems of Montana, with an office in Helena and Great Falls, is Montanas locally owned and operated IT consulting company, delivering technology sales, service and support. Information systems of Montana has more than 35 years of experience in business systems, network infrastructure, and technology. ISM can be found at www.infosysmt.com or 443-8386. *** RPA announces directors, trustees Robert Peccia and Associates is a 100-percent employee-owned ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) firm that offers professional civil engineering, planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying services. Robert Peccia, PE, was appointed to the board of directors as chairman of the board. The firms founder and CEO, Peccia is also on the board of directors of Valley Bank of Helena. Keith Jensen, PE, was elected to the board of directors and elected president. He has been serving as the firms president since 1998, and also serves as the quality assurance/quality control administrator. Rick Donaldson, PE, was elected to the board of directors and elected vice president of human resources and business development. Donaldson is the airport group manager and has been with RPA since 1992. Craig Jenneskens, PE, LEED, was elected to the board of directors and elected to the board of trustees. He is the site development group manager and has been with the firm since 1994. Lance Bowser, PE, was elected to the board of directors. He is a project manager with the airport group. Since joining RPA in 2004, he has managed many airport projects. Daniel Norderud, AICP, was elected to the board of directors and elected corporate secretary. He has been with the firm since 1978, and is the environmental studies group manager. Brian Wacker, PE, was elected vice president of business management and development. Wacker is the streets and highways group manager, and has been with RPA since 1996. Gregory Hurst, PE, was appointed to the board of directors. He is the Fort Collins, Colo., branch office manager and a senior civil engineer. Robert Morton, PE, LEED AP, CGWP, was elected to the board of trustees and also elected corporate treasurer. He is the natural resource group manager. Scott Randall, PE, PTOE, was elected to the board of trustees. He is the assistant manager of the traffic and transportation group, and has been with RPA since 2007. Toni Ballard was elected to the board of trustees. She is the firms staff accountant and has been with the firm since 2000. Ballard holds a BS degree in accounting and works closely with the firms board of directors, management, and independent auditors and government auditors with annual reviews of the corporate accounting records. Guidelines The IR welcomes reports of hiring, promotions, awards, recognition, learning opportunities and other news from local companies and nonprofits. We accept press releases and photos (digital images at 300 dpi or more are preferred, but we can also use regular photos; we dont guarantee return of these). There is no charge for items appearing in the Business Briefcase. Items are run on a space-available basis, and we reserve the right to edit and use information as we see fit. The deadline is Tuesday at noon to be considered for publication the following Sunday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON The audience of EMTs, educators, town officials and others was instructed to ask a question, a question that would make everyone uneasy. After seconds of awkward silence, the group creaked opened their mouths and asked one another: Do you want to kill yourself? Its something no one wants to ask a stranger, a loved one or an acquaintance, but one of those questions that need to be asked if you are concerned about someones mental health, Valerie English Cooper told the attendees of Washingtons first mental health first-aid training session. The 25 trainees from Washington and surrounding towns were to be taught, over two four-hour sessions, what to do when the answer was yes, how to recognize someone in mental distress, and how to help. It was the 11th such session held in Litchfield County since a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant was awarded in September to West Hartford-based Mental Health Connecticut to train 2,700 Litchfield residents in mental health first aid over the next three years. Classes began being offered in April. Although the concept of mental health first aid isnt new it was pioneered in Australia in 2001 and adopted in the U.S. in 2008 it has a small foothold in Connecticut, where 9,000 people have been trained so far. The grant was awarded to Mental Health Connecticut to serve Litchfield County for several reasons. Among them: the substance-abuse epidemic in the county, and people ages 16 to 24 are underserved in mental health support. More Information Mental health first aid checklist: Asses for risk of suicide or harm Listen nonjudgmentally Give reassurance and information Encourage appropriate professional help Encourage self-help and other support strategies See More Collapse So the organization was given $125,000 a year to train as many people as they can in free eight-hour courses. To do that training, there is a team of one. Cooper. A lofty goal: Cooper is to train those 2,700 people by September 2019. When she found out about the job, it felt like something I had to do, she said. On a recent Tuesday, she was in New Milford, for four hours of training, then to Washington, her hometown, for another four. Participants say Coopers work has already begun paying off. Barbara Henry, Roxburys first selectman, and a part-time EMT, took the training in May. Soon after, she was on an emergency call in which a person was threatening suicide, she said. In the back of an ambulance, the answer to Coopers question about suicide was yes, Henry said. You think back on some of the things that Valerie was teaching and talking about, Henry said. It was definitely helpful ... we had an opportunity to speak to this person, to try to calm them down, and to try to get inside their head. Several people who have taken the course said it has changed how they interact with people. There are people you meet at the grocery store, people you meet at the bank, said Amy DeLuca, who was trained in June. If everyone took the training, we would have kinder, gentler communities. Most of the training comes down to something of a change in our societal reflex to avoid the mentally unwell. We have natural response to avoid mental health issues; to distance ourselves from friends or strangers who exhibit signs of a common struggle. Like other diseases, cancers and pains, mental health disorders are prevalent and treatable. But we treat them differently, Cooper told attendees in Washington. Cooper referenced frightening statistics. Mental health has been the No. 1 reason for hospitalization for people aged 5 to 45 in Connecticut since 2012. We train people to administer first aid for cuts, and we train people to administer CPR when someone ceases to breathe, Cooper told the audience of teachers, professors, emergency medical services personnel, nurses and parents in Washington. But we dont teach people to help the mentally unwell until now, she said. We dont have to split mental and physical health, Cooper said. Our bodies dont do that, so why should we? The course doesnt teach people to diagnose mental health issues, Cooper said. Using mental health first aid is like someone administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. You dont need to know why a person isnt breathing, you just need to know how to help. If Cooper has her way, the people of Litchfield County will know how to help. When we can reach out to somebody, when we know they are struggling, we can encourage them to seek help, Cooper told the crowd in Washington. Early intervention means early recovery, she said. Connecticut is the third-smallest state; only Rhode Island and Delaware outrank us in being acreage-challenged. But Connecticut has the third-high number of land trusts, with 137. Only California and Massachusetts have more organizations dedicated to preserving open space. This is due to the stubborn independence of our 169 towns. Each guards its history, its borders, its individuality and its tax base with vigor. Counties in Connecticut are just lines on a map. Which is why the decision of two local land trusts in Danbury and New Fairfield to merge into the Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust was so surprising. In the Land of Steady Habits, people decided to do something different. And sensible. It just seemed like a good thing to do, said Michael Marcus, the former president of the Land Trust of Danbury and president of the Candlewood Valley trust through the end of this year. We are a small town, with a small land trust, said Richard Hlavenka, the president of the New Fairfield Land Trust, who will become the president of the merged group in 2017. We thought Danbury would be a good partner. The two groups talked about ways of joining forces for about a year before going ahead. What they have done, others in the state are considering. We are definitely seeing a heightened awareness about mergers, said Amy Blaymore Patterson, executive director of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, which works to help land trusts in the state. Ten years ago, no one was talking about it. It was considered too scary. Now, they are much more open-minded. Running a land trust even a small, local one requires certain things: a strong base of volunteers and regular influx of new members to bring renewed passion to the undertaking. And a trust needs cash, whether its to make proper surveys of the land it manages, to maintain that land or to insure the group against lawsuits. Buying land In Connecticut even land as critically important as open space is an expensive proposition. Even title searches dont come cheap. Everything involves more money, said Marge Josephson, president of the Naromi Land Trust in Sherman. For all these reasons, the Danbury-New Fairfield merger works. The two towns are neighbors. The two trusts each own about 200 acres, so their needs are fairly equal. We found we have strengths they didnt have, and they have strength we didnt have, Marcus said. For example, Hlavenka said, the Land Trust of Danbury was far along the path to becoming an accredited land trust. Thats important in several areas, such as applying for grants or talking to donors about giving land to a trust. Because of the work Danburys done in this regard, Hvlavenka said, the new Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust has a head start in gaining accreditation. It will also mean a few years grace period to survey the New Fairfield land. The merger also means a larger board, with more enthusiasm for the work at hand. The bylaws require that new officers regularly take responsibility for running the organization, so that one person isnt stuck with the job of being president year in, year out. And the merger will also mean money to run the Candlewood Valley Land Trust more professionally. It will have a part-time director, Christy Thompson, who Hlavenka said has boots on the ground experience in land management. Other land trusts are finding different ways of cooperating, including leaning on allies for support. For example, The Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, based in Litchfield County, is the states largest, protecting 9,000 acres in 17 towns. Because of its size, Weantinoge has a staff that local land trusts cant afford, so it does work gratis for those smaller trusts mapping land, setting up GPS systems, applying for grants. Catherine Rawson, Weantinoges executive director, said the group has provided about $25,000 in free services to a dozen different land trusts. We have such a strong community of land trusts in the state, Rawson said. We are all looking for ways to cooperate. Its a conversation were all having. Patterson of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council said that conversation, and changes, come as land trust leaders concentrate on the work at hand saving and protecting open space. It means that land will be preserved in perpetuity, she said. Land trusts have to start thinking about how to do that. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com NORWALK It took the death of her 16-year-old brother for her parents to obtain residency here. Her father, from Ecuador, and mother, from Mexico, were undocumented immigrants struggling to obtain residency for years. Such a harsh thing had to happen to us for them to be recognized, and for them to be given this dignity to obtain documentation, said Katherine Villeda, a 19-year-old Stamford resident. I just dont think thats fair. I dont think you should have to go through a crime, or get hurt, to get documented. That was one of a handful of stories of injustice that grew inside Villeda ever since she was a little girl. While she was born a citizen, Villeda recalls being criticized by an elementary school teacher for missing school to attend a rally for immigrant rights. Shes heard people say immigrants like her parents are stealing jobs, when her father has had to pay taxes, but has been unable to reap the benefits of government support. This January, she joined CT Students for a Dream, or C4D, and found an outlet for her emotions. She has attended a handful of rallies so far, from Hartford to Washington, D.C., advocating for immigration reform. And now, this Monday she will be driving up with 17 other Connecticut students, many undocumented immigrants and all part of C4D, to rally at the Democratic National Convention. Two Norwalk residents, Laura Veira and Sofia Ornelas will also be in attendance. Immigration reform like this is overdue, Villeda said. So Im going there to push for that and say were here, were present. Were trying to make ourselves heard. Safety concerns Veira was one of only three C4D students that attended the Republican National Convention last week, compared to the 18 that will be attending the DNC. Veira said she thinks the rallies at the DNC are going to feel pretty different. At the RNC, a lot of the fight was against the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his hateful rhetoric, she said. At the DNC, she expects it to be more about asking the nominees to include immigration reform in their platform. And possible reason for the discrepancy in attendance rates? Safety. We did believe it would be safer to bring people to the DNC than the Republican convention, said Angelica Idrovo, 20, of Danbury, who will be attending the DNC rally on Monday. These things that have happened recently with Black Lives Matter, we thought it would be safer to be bring people to the DNC than the Republican one. Last week, Eric Cruz Lopez, an undocumented immigrant living in Bridgeport, reported seeing police from different states dressed in riot gear countering his protest in a way that made him feel threatened. Multiple D4C students said they expected less counter-protests at the DNC. Another difference in sense of safety had to do with the state gun laws at the two conventions, which Villeda described as a game-changer. Going to Philadelphia I feel a lot safer and a lot more peace of mind. Whereas if I were going to Ohio I know Id be a lot more nervous, Villeda said. I probably wouldnt want too much attention on myself. But I think going to the DNC, Im more so excited and ready to go. Driving to the airport on Thursday, Veira said she was struck by the vast numbers of Trump supporters at the RNC though she knew they existed abstractly, seeing them in person was another thing. Being here, we did see the people who are going to be voting for him, there are a lot, Veira said. Its just that back in Connecticut we dont see them that often so we think they dont have that much power. But its a silent majority. I want people to know this is the real thing, and that something has to be done. Coming together While the conventions themselves are likely to be different experiences for the student protestors, theyre also different than most rallies because of the variety of organizations coming together. I do expect to see different causes coming together, where other rallies Ive attended usually focus on one cause, so Im eager to see how it will work out with multiple causes and how thats going to flow, Villeda said. Veira said that was what happened at the RNC people from all different communities and organizations came together to protest as one. It was great seeing all of our community coming together. Usually in our actions in Connecticut its just people who are either allies of the undocumented or part of the community itself, but this was different because it was like Trump hasnt just been throwing hate at our community, hes been throwing hate at all the marginalized communities in our country. So it makes everyone come together, she said. Racism in the United States is still alive, Idrovo said. Though she more aligns herself with the Democratic party, she said the set of demands to the Republican leaders is the same as those for the Democrats: make immigration reform and the termination of deportations part of your presidential platform. For Villeda, this will be another chance for her to be vocal and release the bottled up emotions of 18 years of fearing for the deportation of her parents. Last year, five years after the death of her brother, her parents finally obtained U-Visas, which grants them legal residency in the U.S. When I was younger we were always afraid that since they didnt have documentation, what would happen if they were discovered, Villeda said. This is my way of giving back to them and saying I appreciate all of your sacrifices, so Ill use my privilege to help in any way that I can. Villeda will be rallying at the DNC at 3 p.m. Monday. This fall, shell begin her junior year at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, majoring in physiology and neurobiology and minoring in human rights. SFoster-Frau@CTPost.com; @SilviaElenaFF Three Missoula entrepreneurs have unveiled plans to transform a blighted former industrial site on the banks of the Clark Fork River into Missoulas first hard cider production facility, demonstration orchard and tasting room. The Western Cider Company will be located at the site of the old Bakke Building, a 7,200-square-foot warehouse at 501 N. California St. that has languished in disrepair for the past 20 years. Now business partners Michael Billingsley, Jon Clarenbach and Matt LaRubbio are just beginning the process of investing nearly $1 million into a huge remodeling project they expect to complete by January. They hope to have a canning facility to distribute two types of alcoholic cider from Billingsleys apple orchard in the Bitterroot Valley. Theyll also have a 40-foot long bar and an outdoor seating area facing the river so people can come taste other varieties of cider at the site. In a river town like Missoula there is a surprising lack of businesses that have outdoor seating next to the river, and this project will be a significant step toward changing that. Billingsley said he began planting hundreds of apple trees six years ago on his orchard north of Stevensville, and now theyre literally and figuratively bearing fruit. Im really excited to see a return on investment, he said. Its been a lot of work. This is going to be our forever home and were excited. There are several cider tasting rooms in Ravalli County, but Missoula, until now, had seen booming growth only in craft breweries and micro-distilleries. The cidery means Missoula will join the re-emergence in the popularity of ciders, a trend that has particularly taken hold in the Pacific Northwest. Were kind of at the start of the craft cider renaissance, just like craft beer, Clarenbach explained. Angry Orchard holds about 80 percent of the cider market. So its a lot like the beer industry in the '90s or late '80s where Budweiser (dominated) and then all these upstarts like Redhook and Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam popped up. "Were going to be doing a lot of what the brewery industry did at the start: education, introducing new styles and then over time peoples palates will be more educated and theyll be able to appreciate things like English-style ciders,'' he said. LaRubbio compared ciders emergence in places like Seattle and Portland to the explosion of the craft beer and high-end coffee industries. The U.S. is starting to do the same, similar to the coffee and craft beer movement, he said. Theres a lot of experimentation, some traditional ciders. Kind of all across the board. Clarenbach said that Western Cider Co. will technically be classified as a winery, so they wont be bound by the same 48-ounce limit and 8 p.m. closing time that restricts craft beer breweries. They'll also be able to sell local meats and cheeses and have room for food trucks. Their canned cider may be fermented with hops and may appeal to beer drinkers, but many ciders especially those made with a single variety of apple are a lot like wines. Theres a little bit larger flavor profiles and a little bit more complex flavors, he said. Billingsley said that hes worked very hard to grow bitter, astringent cider apples that are harder to grow but make a high-end cider. However, another cider theyre making will come from dessert apples to make it appealing for sipping on river trips, and itll have a lower price point. Growing cider apples is really rare in the U.S., LaRubbio said. Theres a shortage here. We just dont have the kind of orchards that Europe has. MISSOULA -- During the Prohibition era, many old orchards in this country were cut down. After alcohol was legalized again, many brewers found it was easier to make beer out of grains rather than wait years for apple trees to mature. In places such as Spain and France, cider is much more commonplace. On Thursday, the trio was granted $50,000 in Facade Improvement Program funding from the Missoula Redevelopment Agencys board of directors, along with $17,203 in Tax Increment Financing and $9,315 in Life-Safety Code Compliance Program funds. The money will allow the developers to make additional improvements to the facade, including landscaping, a metal awning for the patio, more attractive and energy-efficient overhead doors, a double-door front entry, exterior lighting and upgraded paint types. LaRubbio said theyre excited that they finally found the perfect location in the heart of Missoula that's along the bike path, near an area like the Old Sawmill District that is undergoing a redevelopment, and also on the river. In Missoula its hard to find a building thats got large production space, has any real presence for a tasting room, he said. A lot of the great buildings have been (bought). So Mike became kind of a private investigator/realtor scouring the city. And he ended up finding this. Its definitely got an interesting history. The building was built in 1952 by Henry Silver for the Pacific Hide and Fur Co., and was later used as a tire retread facility by the Bakke Tire Co. The lot has been mostly consumed by weeds, stacks of building materials and odd vehicles for the past decade. Were looking to start an institution, LaRubbio said. We want something that lasts and can really be interesting and integral in the community. We hope to be an anchor tenant in this area. Were looking forward to the rest of this development. This area is just a little bit underutilized. Clarenbach said he hopes the business attracts a lot of bikers and pedestrians. They also plan to have some sort of lawn game in place to keep things interesting. We think this is a really good spot for us, he said. Kano was thrown into a state of mourning on Sunday morning following the death of an illustrious politician and former Deputy Governor of Kano state, Engr Magaji Abdullahi.Abdullahi, 69 was a grassroot politician and served as Deputy to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau between 2003-2007.A political aide to the late political icon, Abdullahi Kwakwatawa said that late Magaji Abdullahi died in the hospital Sunday morning after a protracted illness.The deceased was a one-time commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport between 1989 and 1990, and later commissioner for Water Resources.Abdullahi came into limelight when he contested for the governorship of Kano State under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991.In 1999, Abdullahi defeated Sen. Kabiru Gaya in the APP governorship primaries, but lost to Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso.He later became Malam Ibrahim Shekaraus running mate in 2003 and served as Deputy Governor under APP and later ANPP from 2003 to 2007.The deceased had since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites at the Dandolo grave yard at Goron Dutse in Kano metropolis.Among those who attended the funeral prayer were Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and his Deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as well as other top government officials and politicians from within and outside the state. The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of fleeing Pastor Francis Taiwo, Of the Key of Joy Celestial Church, Ajibawo, Atan... Chained 9-year-old The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of fleeing Pastor Francis Taiwo, Of the Key of Joy Celestial Church, Ajibawo, Atan-Ota, area of the state, who chained his 9-year-old son for weeks.Public Relations Officer of the Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspect was arrested on Sunday, with the assistance of his church members. Recall that Taiwo had been on the run since police and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, burst into his church, Friday, to rescue the victim, Korede.The victims stepmother had earlier been arrested by the police who announced that the malnourished boy will be handed to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare for further rehabilitation. President Muhammadu Buharihe has been applauded by Northern Inter faith and Religious Organisation for Peace for the absorption of some members of the Civilian Joint Taskforce known as civilian JTF fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east into the military and Department of State Services (DSS), saying such move is in the interest of peace after the war on terrorism has been won.Addressing journalists Sunday, national cordinator of the group, Bishop Musa Fomson said the concern has been how to disarm and demobilised the youths after circumstances compelled them to bear arms because of the terrorists insurrection.According to Fomson, those raising the concern were afraid of what would happen next when the military has completely defeated Boko Haram because the youths could have become a source of problem when they have the skills to fight without being gainfully employed.He said, But there is no need for such fear now that some of the former Civilian JTF members are now gainfully employed by being absorbed into the Army. It is something that can be done for the others that are willing to accept formal roles as they can be absorbed in other batches and into other organisations.This will of course ensure that they are not lured into misusing the experience and weapons they acquired in the course of supporting the military to fight terrorists. The strategy offers multiple advantages to the country and must be pursued with the necessary commitment. The youths knowledge of the locality will also ensure that the mopping up of defeated Boko Haram members that are trying to move into the society is easier and more thorough.Again, we commend President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief for buying into this strategy and we also commend the military high command for recognising and accepting the contribution of the youths towards the defeat of the insurgency. We appeal that this should be a continuous exercise so that the other youths that are part of the a-hoc security body are similarly absorbed.He however said the government must ensure that the screening of those being absorbed is thorough to ensure their psychological stability in view of the mental health issues that could have become widespread both because of the environment these youths have been in and the activities they had been engaged in to survive that environment.There have been reports that a total of 250 youths that were once part of the vigilante group fighting Boko Haram terrorist better known as Civilian-JTF have been trained and inducted into the Nigerian Army, with another 30 reported to have also been absorbed into the Department of State Services (DSS).Fomson said, it is on this ground that we want to thank President Buhari for this foresight. We also acknowledge the contribution of the military for the success they have recorded in turning the support of the local population to the countrys advantage. Had the contributions of the youths vigilante group been rebuffed we possibly would not be where we are today. Our hope and belief is that youths in any other part of Nigeria where criminal elements are fomenting would realise that the ultimate winning side is the government side and would thus naturally pitch their tent with our security forces.Instead of joining forces with those with evil plots it is far better to support security agencies to fight against them. The military and security services have indeed by this integration of the former Civilian JTF members solved some problems that concerned Nigerians had earlier flagged.He further suggested that the authorities strongly consider granting amnesty to members of Boko Haram that are not high up in its command structure as an incentive to make them drop their weapons without further human tolls.According to him, this should specifically target the non-combatant elements of the terror group and those that were coerced into joining the sect.He said, We must however warn that the amnesty being suggested should be aimed at demobilising Boko Haram members and must not be converted into a money dashing jamboree. It must also be monitored in a way that it is possible to keep track of those that sign up for the deal. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said weekend that the election of President Muhammadu Buhari last year saved Niger... Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said weekend that the election of President Muhammadu Buhari last year saved Nigeria from being a laughing stock among the comity of nations, arguing that the country would have collapsed totally by now if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had remained in government beyond May 29, 2015.Ngige, who addressed officials of All Progressives Congress, APC, from the 326 wards in the three senatorial zones of Anambra State, said Buhari was taken aback with what he saw on assumption of office, adding that though APC knew that PDP was running the country aground, the magnitude of mismanagement of the economy was beyond human imagination. While acknowledging the present hardship in the country, the Minister appealed to members of the party to be patient, assuring that the Buhari administration was making serious efforts to turn things around for the better. According to him, part of the delay in constituting the cabinet by the president was due to the bad shape of the economy when APC took over government, as most ministries, departments and agencies were discovered to be heavily indebted to their contractors to the tune of trillions of naira.He said: There was virtually nothing in the countrys reserve, despite what the PDP government officials were telling Nigerians. But the APC government has started organizing the economy by formulating policies that will put smiles on the faces of our people. For instance, the Federal Government has created job centers in all states of the federation where the unemployed will be exposed to skills acquiring on various trades. We are also introducing empowerment schemes and our party members will be given priority.In addition, government is also planning to introduce scholarship and bursary schemes and our party members will also be the first to benefit from it.Ngige also said that in addition to the 500000 jobs for the unemployed youths, government would also offer employment to all graduates of agriculture and allied fields, in view of the renewed emphasis on food security in the country. On federal roads in the South East, the minister said that the federal government had mobilized RCC, the construction giants, for the reconstruction of the dilapidated Enugu Onitsha expressway, while SETRACO is to handle the Enugu Umuahia Aba expressway. He said the main problem delaying the Second Niger Bridge was the problem created by some people, who were insisting that government must pay them compensation before the work could go on. T.B. Joshua, the Supreme pastor of The Synagogue Church of All Nations reveals what many do not know about his background in this intervi... The source of my power? It is written that by their fruits, you shall know them. If I open my mouth and say this is the source of my power, it would seem I am arrogant or boasting.Rather, I should boast about what God is doing in my life. It is by this kind of trial that you know the true minister of God.In the Act of Apostles, the early Christian preachers were being disturbed by the Pharisees, Sadducees and the High Priests in the Synagogue and the Temple in Jerusalem.But among the elderly religious Jews was a man called Gamaliel, a doctor of the law. He quoted the example of Theudas who boasted to be somebody and who attracted over 400 men. He was slain and his followers scattered.Gamaliele cited example of Judas of Galilee (not Iscariot) who rose in the days of the taxing. He attracted many people, but he perished while his adherents were dispersed. Those were in the days when Israel was under Roman colonialism.Gamaliel, therefore warned the Jewish, elders. Refrain from these men (Christian preachers) and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, yet, haply ye be found to be even to fight against God (Acts 5:38-39, King James Version).So, if I am not of God, I will not survive this trial. But if I am of God, this trial will not destroy me. Trial is the soil in which faith flourishes. God sees his own people through trial.I said God. Jesus comes to give abundant life, while satan comes to kill and to destroy.Are you saying that I use demonic powers to deceive all these foreigners you see around Synagogue here? Right now I am talking to you, there are over 400 foreigners from 10 different countries here. Are these people being deceived, destroyed or killed (as my detractors alleged)? If I have been using occultic power, the congregation here will not increase. If my mission here is not of God, it wont stand just as Gamaliel said.When people have their problems solved or they have salvation, they tell others.There was one Pastor Solomon who made some serious allegation against you. That you were born a Moslem, that your name was Fatai. That you learnt occultism in Kaduna from a Moslem palmist. Pastor Solomon even added that you consult snakes and even wanted to assassinate a woman journalist who wrote a story about youThis pastor Solomon you named was just a member of the church. So I will not bandy words with him or give dignity to his tissue of lies. Iro ni gbogbom kini yen o Olorun fori jin won o (these are all lies, God will forgive them). I have never done all these things.I was born a Christian, my parents were Christians. The only connection I had with Muslims was that I attended Ansar-Ud-Deen school, Ikare. I attended 10 different secondary schools under one year.I dont want to go into that. But I thank God.I have never visited India. It is a lie.If somebody taught you how to do something, will you be greater than he is? Tell me, somebody taught you how to write, can you beat that teacher? Can you beat that teacher? Can you beat your editor-in-chief in writing? Where then is the Mallam?If you maintain that you neither lived in Kaduna nor was trained by palmist, let us know your background.I was born 12 June 1963 at Arigidi, Ikare-Akoko, at Akoko North Local Government Area of Ondo state.My father was Pa Kolawole Balogun from Imo quarters and my mother, Madam Folarin Aisha Adesiji Balogun of Oosin quarters of Agbaluku in the city.Like the John Baptist, whose father went dumb when an Angel predicted his birth or Samuel whose coming was predicted , were there some signs that heralded your birth?That is a very good question. Over 100 years back, there was one Balogun Okoorun, a farmer, hunter and warrior who was from Oosin Quarters of Agbaluku, at Arigidi Akoko. The man had prophetic powers.He predicted that a section of my town would move from their original place to Imo in the north of Arigidi. That was fulfilled in 1952.The second prophesy was about my humble self. He said that a young man would emerge from Oosin quarters, who would be powerful, famous and would have a multitude of followers, as well as that his life and works would explain that the human grace is one, notwithstanding different religions, culture and skin pigmentation.It is one of the biggest towns at Akokoland in Ondo State and it has a population of over 70,000. The town has two nursery schools, 10 primary schools and three secondary schools. All these serve the different quarters of Agbaluku, Ayase, Ekiteji, Ilepa, Imo, Ita, Iyu, Oguo and Osin. The entire town is ruled by an oba called The Zaki of Arigidi.My mother was pregnant in April 1962. After six months, the foetus did not seem to be moving. My mother was taken to a medical doctor and the baby kicked.Wait now! The response was not permanent, because the child stopped kicking again. Seven, eight and nine months, there was no kicking. A strange man advised my mother to stop visiting medical doctors. The old man recommended prayers and that my mother should move to a different area entirely.After the 14th month, my mother gave birth to me. The information was conveyed to my father in the farm, who became so happy that he threw away his hoe and cutlass, ran home and named me Temitope (my experience requires gratitude to God).Let me narrate one story to you. On the eight day when people gathered for the naming ceremony of this new child, I was sleeping on a mat. Nearby, the Water Corporation contractors were blasting rocks to make way for their pipes. They were using this thing called dynamite. The site of the blasts is the present saint Lukes Anglican Church, Arigidi.As the blasts were going on, my mother carried me off the mat and placed me on her lap. No sooner did she do that than a big boulder pierced our roof and landed on the very mat that I slept. And would you doubt the mystery of that also?You see, I attended St. Stephens Anglican Primary school, Imo, Arigidi from 1971 to 1976. That time, I lived with an uncle of mine. In the secondary school, I taught my colleagues the Scriptures, although I did not have any Bible training. You can go and find out from one of my teachers, Mrs. Margaret Tolani Adejumo who would attest to my brilliance, ability to lead during school devotions and aura of power that surrounded me. At school, my mates called me Small Prophet because of my power to foretell.I used to bring children together for the word of God. In 1992, the church began because people who came to listen to the word of God were increasing in number.Thus, the Synagogue Church of All Nations became a church for the rich, poor, the powerful, the powerless.I am not the healer, but I know the healer. His name is Jesus Christ. If I collect money from you, then I am indirectly telling you that I am your healer. In Mathew chapter 10 verse 8, Jesus says: freely you receive, freely you should give.What a question to ask a man of God of this stature?I experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost which changed my life completely. Apart from experiencing peace and joy, I was able to praise God in other languages. I also conducted a service that was characterized by the power of the Holy Spirit.When I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, I had power in my prayers. I do everything in the power of the Holy Spirit who is a Divine Person, Helper and Comforter.Whatever happens, I give myself to prayer. When people hate or criticize you in spite of all you do, remembers Christs rejection. If Jesus Christ, himself could be ill-treated and called names, (he was even accused of using the power of Belzebub, the King of the devils), who am I, a mere servant, to feel exceptional?Nobody really knows you more than you know yourself. The belief of others about you does not really matter in life. Rather, it is what you believe about yourself.Persecution is a tonic to my anointing. Jesus was slandered and falsely accused. But he believed in Himself, knowing that his accusers were ignorant and proud. He ignored them because he knew the truth. He stayed focused. A man was beaten to stupor by staff of Arik Airline on Sunday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja for complaining about the cancellation of his flight for the whole day.The man who was travelling with his wife and children approached the Arik desk to get a boarding pass when he was told by a staff of the airline that we have cancelled all the flights for today.When he sought to know why, the staff told him Oga no disturb us. No be only you de travel .When he demanded for a refund of his money, two staff of the airline pounced on him and wrestled him to the ground while his wife and children watched helplessly.At this point, passengers who were waiting for other airlines intervened and save the situation which had already degenerated to a free for all. It took the intervention of some security men who tried to calm down the situation. When there was no end to the free for all, some soldiers were drafted into the hall to maintain calm. A staff of the airline blamed the problem on lack of aviation fuel for the cancellation. The teenage gunman who killed nine people in Munich on Friday had been planning his attack for a year, German authorities say.David Ali Sonboly, 18, who had a Glock pistol and more than 300 bullets, killed himself after the attack.Bavarian officials said the gunman, still not officially named, appeared to have bought the illegal pistol used in the attack on the so called "dark net".Vigils continue in the city to commemorate the victims.Seven of the dead were teenagers - two Turks, two Germans, a Hungarian, a Greek and a Kosovan.A further 35 people were injured, but only four of them have bullet wounds.The state government officials told a news conference that the victims of the attack had not been specifically targeted and were not classmates of the gunman.Also they did not include three youths allegedly involved in bullying Sonboly when he was at school.Robert Heimberger, head of Bavaria's criminal police, said the gunman had been planning the attack since he paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden - the scene of a previous school shooting in 2009 - and took photographs.He said it was likely the Glock pistol - which had been reactivated - was bought on the "dark net" market, an area accessible only with the use of special software. It had been a theatre prop.Sonboly was said to be a keen player of "first-person shooter" video games.Mr Heimberger added that the parents of the gunman remained in shock and were not able to be interviewed.He also said police had not found the manifesto of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik when they searched the gunman's room at his parents' flat.A day earlier, officials had raised the possibility of a link to Breivik, whose own attack was carried out five years earlier to the day.As to Sonboly's state of mind, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors' office told the news conference that the gunman had spent two months as an inpatient at a mental care facility in 2015 and was afterwards treated as an outpatient."The suspect had fears of contact with others" and also depression, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said.However, there was no evidence of any political motivation.Senior German politicians have called for tighter controls on the sale of guns in the wake of the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre.Munich's police chief has urged the media to respect the privacy of those affected by the attack on Monday, when schools reopen. REVEREND Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle assumed the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Wednesday, when he succ... REVEREND Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle assumed the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on Wednesday, when he succeeded Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor during a colourful handing over ceremony witnessed by many Christian leaders at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. Born on Friday, January 25, 1957 in Oyo, his home town in Oyo State, the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, NBC, who contested on the platform of the Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN, emerged CAN President on June 14, polling 54 votes to defeat his only rival, Elder Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW), who garnered 28 votes.He becomes the seventh National President of the largest ecumenical body in Africa, CAN, after Dominic Cardinal Ekandem (1976-1986), Anthony Cardinal Okogie (1988-95), His Eminence Sunday Mbang (1995-2003), Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola (2003-2007), John Cardinal Onaiyekan (2007-2010) and Oritsejafor (2010-2016). Ayokunle is taking the mantle of leadership at a very critical moment of inter-religious tensions and crisis in Nigeria that have left over 400 Christians dead. The biggest challenge the new CAN leadership will face is that of reconciling aggrieved parties in the association, especially the embittered President of the ECWA unit, Rev. Jeremiah Gado, who, until Tuesday, was in an Abuja High Court seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop Wednesdays inauguration of the new CAN leadership.There are daunting tasks ahead of Ayokunles administration which will require collective efforts to resolve in the spirit of the associations motto, especially the insurgency in different parts of the country. The motto of CAN is: That they all may be one, with inspiration from John 17:21 of the Holy Bible. The National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, an elite group established by the Oritsejafor administration of CAN, has, in a related development, argued that the devastation of Christian communities and infrastructure through religious insurgency requires concerted Christian action to rebuild, pointing out that critical Christian infrastructure were deliberately destroyed by Islamists in a bid to wipe out Christianity in Nigeria.Recent documents also predicted more serious religious crisis in Nigeria if proper attention is not paid to reports from the nations intelligence community. According to sources, the politically-motivated crisis may shake the nations unity in the wake of the killing of Christians by Muslims in the federal capital territory, Abuja, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue States. The sources also informed that the high rate of arms proliferation in key areas of Abuja and the six states is the reason this threat should not be taken lightly by the Federal Government, pointing out: We are working with agencies and have been submitting prompt Situation Reports on Abuja and states concerned especially Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau as launch pads for those masterminding politically-motivated religious crisis.Playing politics with Boko HaramIn a farewell speech delivered at the ratification and the handing over to the new CAN President, Oritsejafor, dressed in milk-colour flowing attire, recalled how certain northern Christians, worried about happenings in that region, took the pain to call on me to become the national leader of the Church in Nigeria. The immediate past CAN President went on: With hesitation and uncertainty, I offered myself to serve. On assumption of office, I was confronted with a Church in dire need of pragmatic leadership, with both internal and external challenges. We came in at a period when the challenges of the Church had reached a point that lots of Christians in northern Nigeria had been displaced from their homes and churches. Some pastors, particularly in northern Nigeria, were closing their churches. Lots of fellow Nigerians had become internally displaced persons in their homes. The financial situation of the association at that time, he stated, was precarious, but God helping us, we were able to raise the alarm both in Nigeria and in the international community that Boko Haram was a terrorist group when most people were playing politics with it. Oritsejafor continued: This necessitated my boldly addressing the American Congress and insisting that Boko Haram should be domesticated as a terrorist organization.To our delight, it was so domesticated though still wreaking havoc in some parts of Nigeria. We also took the pains to visit victims of the insurgency in most of the northern states, especially in Borno, Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau at the heat of the attacks to encourage our brothers and sisters to remain calm and peaceful. We were able to visit most Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps to provide them with relief materials and encouragement at personal costs. God also gave us the vision to initiate the building of The CAN Jubilee Resort and Leadership Training Centre which should serve as venue for church activities and revenue generation point for the body.Today, God helping us with the support of committed Nigerians, we have completed and commissioned the project. It is also important to mention that we have initiated the process of building a six-floor car park that would help generate even more income for CAN. In fact, the drawings are ready for the commencement of the project. In our attempt to ensure the achievement of the primary goal of CAN, which is to unite the Church and expand the gospel regardless of our denominations, doctrines and regions, I also took out time to visit and fellowship with all the church blocs in CAN.Youths radicalisationThere is no gain saying the fact that the rising tide of poverty in the country has played a significant role in the upsurge of radicalization among youths in the North. It was Guy Arnold, a British author, writing mainly in the areas of African history and politics, and international affairs, who, in 1977, lamented the Nigerian situation. Oil wealth has brought to Nigeria vast possibilities of breaking out of an old poverty and bringing development to all its people, but it has also brought with it problems: mal-distribution of incomes and rewards with their accompanying political and social complications; rising living costs; widespread corruption; violent crime; and a spirit of indiscipline that may easily arise when a country thinks it can solve all its problems with moneyin this case from oil, Arnold said, Taking a cue from this, Oritsejafor, who is also the founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State, having seen the precarious situation of Christians in some communities in the North, said: We decided to provide a revolving loan to some Christians from Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State and Hausa-Kanuri and Fulani Christians from selected communities in both the North-West and North-East, in addition to providing scholarships and other forms of empowerment to some victims of Boko Haram and, in some cases, feeding and securing alternative accommodation to seriously affected victims of attacks in different locations of the nation irrespective of their faith. According to him, out of the desire of his administration to help Christians in diaspora key into the vision of CAN back in Nigeria, we successfully established what is known as CAN-America where members are now praying for Nigeria and supporting many victims of attacks in Nigeria. Just last week, the former CAN President said he was in Johannesburg to inaugurate CAN-South Africa.Disunity among ChristiansDespite what is generally perceived as a frosty relationship with the other religion, Islam, Oritsejafor affirmed that his administration encouraged and built interfaith relationship with non-Christians and we participated actively in the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). Acknowledging the disunity in the Body of Christ, he said time and space would not permit him to dwell extensively on the challenges we went through before, during and after the election of the National President and Vice President. His words: Time and space will not permit me to make an analysis of all that happened because it will amount to defence. I have decided to let go of all the challenges and the several attacks I faced. I pray that God will heal our hearts in Jesus name. Reiterating his call for national/individual repentance and reconciliation without which there cannot be meaningful development, Oritsejafor averred that his administration had actually endeavoured to ensure that all parties were reconciled, expressing gratitude to the former leaders of CAN and good hearted individuals, who, he said, had made efforts to deepen the reconciliation. Let me use this opportunity to plead with us to ensure that CAN and the office of the CAN President becomes a respected institution, Oritsejafor said.He pleaded with all those who may have been hurt by any of his actions for forgiveness, saying: On my part, may I reassure this gathering that I hold no grudge against any man. In his acceptance speech, the new CAN President, while acknowledging the enormity of the task before his team, took time to appreciate the contribution of his predecessor who he described as humble, generous and committed to leading this Christian ecumenical body with integrity. Turning to Oritsejafor, Ayokunle said: Whether people really appreciate your contributions or not, the Lord whom you served would reward you abundantly in the name of Jesus Christ. We shall not only say thank you with the word of mouth now, but by the grace of God, we shall invite the entire world very soon to help us celebrate the end of your tenure through a befitting send-forth service. Ayokunle, who, until Wednesday, was CAN Vice President, left no one in doubt about the major assignment before him, which is to reconcile all warring groups within the Christian body, urging his listeners to cooperate with him to achieve the onerous task. We intend to facilitate a fellowship where love flows and peace prevails in all the member churches. To this end, all would be done to see that CAN is a united body and all wrangling within the body would be addressed for unity of purpose. This would be priority number one, he said, stressing we intend to lead CAN whose leadership is above board and would be able to provide credible leadership for Christians and other Nigerians to follow, the new CAN leader said.Mutual respectHe pledged his administrations commitment to support government to achieve noble goals that would lead to sustainable growth and development in the nation. CAN is not anti-government and the government should not be anti-CAN. We are supposed to be partners-in-progress. Each should respect the boundaries that would lead to mutual respect, Ayokunle said. We are not going to patronize the government and thereby fail in our responsibilities to speak against the excesses of those in political leadership. The Church is in the world to improve the world and shine as light of the world. The Church essentially is not of the world. We would stand out courageously and stand clean.Acknowledging that he had been called upon to serve at the most challenging time of the Church, he lamented that it is a time when a Christian preaching in the street can be gruesomely murdered with impunity in the federal capital, the supposed centre of civilization for that matter! It is a time when a Christian who is not under the laws to fast by force at a specific period can be stabbed and abused for eating when other religious adherents different from his are fasting without those in authority and law enforcement agents making the attackers to face the wrath of the law. It is a time when a Christian clergy (ECWA Pastor Joseph Kura) working in his farm can be attacked by herdsmen and killed with impunity. It is a time when a whole church (a Catholic Church) can be attacked and their property vandalized for daring to worship their God on Friday without much done to arrest and sanction the criminals who attacked such a church.While sympathising with the families and churches of those affected by what he described as the senseless acts of religious criminals, Ayokunle called on the government of the day to take decisive action over these occurrences because it is their constitutional duty to do so. He added: We shall not stop crying out for the government to do justice until we see that justice is done. Silence or inaction by those in government would continue to make the Christians express no confidence in them until they are ready to defend the rights of Christians and all Nigerians in this nation. We are aware, servants of God that we are in a time when the lives of those who speak against the ills of our society are greatly in danger. To assist the new CAN leadership in the task of raising funds to actualise some of its objectives, the NCEF initiated a trust fund to mobilize critical funding that will enable Christians respond to threats and challenges posed by the global Islamist movement.After years of preparation, the Nigerian Church finally has a strategy document for the expansion and preservation of Christianity in Nigeria. The strategy document was developed by the NCEF and it shall require funding to implement, to be managed by trustees representing each of the five blocs of CAN. They include Lt. Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (retd) TEKAN/ECWA Bloc, Dame Priscilla Kuye (ex-President, NBA) CSN Bloc, Justice Kalajine Anigbogu (retd) CCN Bloc, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren Chairman GTBank, OAIC Bloc, and Mr. Tunde Lemo (ex-Deputy Gov., CBN) CPFN/PFN Bloc, the CAN President said. While each denomination and ministry has the liberty of designing its evangelistic thrust as led by the Spirit, NCEF believes that the entire Church has a responsibility to unite to confront a common foe. A house that is divided, it shall not stand. A mysterious fire yesterday gutted part of the food stuff section of Abubakar Rimi Market, located in Sabon Gari area of Kano, destroying... A mysterious fire yesterday gutted part of the food stuff section of Abubakar Rimi Market, located in Sabon Gari area of Kano, destroying about 884 make-shift stalls with property worth several millions of naira.According to market sources, the fire which started at about 1:30 a.m on saturday, affected the Gidan Maggi area of the ever busy market.Timely intervention of officials of the state fire service, however, prevented the inferno from spreading to other parts of the market.Though the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, market sources said it could be as a result of carelessness on the part of market guards, who may have dropped inflammable objects within the area.Food stuff such as meat, beans, gari, rice, chickens, onions, beverages, as well fruits and other goods were all burnt to ashes.Kano State Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Shehu Haruna Lambu, who visited the scene on behalf of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sympathised with the traders and promised that the state government will investigate the cause of the fire.He urged traders to be more careful and promised that the state government will do all within its powers to assist victims of the fire incident. In 2012, Mr. William D. Fleiner was employed as the department head of Broadwater County Disaster & Emergency Services (DES). He also had a contract with Broadwater County under his personal company called Paradigm Communication and Preparedness Solutions, LLC. With approval from elected county commissioners, Mr. Fleiner procured tax dollars on behalf of the county DES and awarded those same funds directly to his company. The funds in question were procured from federal government programs. This act appeared to be a direct conflict of interest and a direct violation of law. A Coalition of Concerned Citizens (coalition) saw irregularities in the DES procurement activities and began to seek accountability. At that time county commissioners, the sheriff, the county attorney and other officials of Broadwater County made extraordinary efforts to dismiss calls for accountability. The coalition went public seeking transparency and accountability in 2013. The case opened an investigation by the FBI. The Montana attorney general also was brought in to investigate the allegations made by the coalition against elected and appointed officials of Broadwater County. The coalition was told for the past four years that the case was under investigation. With no accountability in sight and irregular activities continuing, we were led to believe that these officials are above the law. This all changed June 1, 2016. The coalitions continued quest for accountability in Broadwater County, finally resulted in a federal indictment. Mr. Fleiner has been charged with three counts that as an authorized agent of the county, he embezzled and intentionally misapplied $34,329.06 taxpayer dollars. A direct violation of 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1 )(A). The case brought forward by the FBI now opens the door to the Montana attorney general to do his job and bring forward a case against current and past elected or appointed officials for knowingly violating the public trust. Corruption cannot exist with transparency, and the citizens of Broadwater County expect nothing less. Tim Ravndal Broadwater County Coalition Concerned Citizens A large crowd of residents of Gbagyi Villa a suburb of Kaduna metropolis on March 17, trooped out, carrying placards in protest aga... A large crowd of residents of Gbagyi Villa a suburb of Kaduna metropolis on March 17, trooped out, carrying placards in protest against demolition notices issued to them by Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority, KASUPDA. The residents said they had been living in the community for decades and had acquired the necessary titles to the lands and, as such, were jolted by the intention of Kaduna State government to eject them.Mr. Chris Obodum, Chairman, Gbagyi Community, later told journalists that the community boasted of about 3,500 buildings, 40 churches, 16 schools and 35,000 residents. He narrated: The story of Gbagyi Villa is easy to understand. For hundreds of years, the area has been inhabited by the Gbagyi people. However, sometime in 2010, a suit was instituted against some members of the local community by Kaduna Polytechnic. In the course of the court proceedings, the polytechnic sought for settlement out of court.The court obliged and the matter was settled amicably. Thereafter the Kaduna State government issued a White Paper to that effect and the Surveyor General prepared a survey map demarcating the polytechnic land from that of the community. The polytechnic accepted the resolution of the dispute and, thereafter, proceeded to erect a concrete wall fence demarcating its land from that of the community. From the foregoing, it is clear to us that the polytechnic is not laying claim to Gbagyi Villa and has no pending case against us. For the Kaduna State government to claim that our community, after all these years of existence, sits on the polytechnic land is incomprehensible to us.Furthermore, the allegation by KASUPDA of non-possession of planning permits is false. KASUPDA knows this. It is just a veil to deceive the public and to obscure the true motive of government, shortly after the community headed to Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Hannatu Balogun, who granted an injunction stopping the state government, the Attorney General of the state, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority KASUPDA), respectively as respondents, either by themselves or through their employees, staff, servants, agents, proxies or whosoever, from demolishing or destroying the applicants buildings, until the case was disposed. The court order caused wild jubilation in the community, returning hope. Last Thursday, five months later, as Governor Nasir El-Rufai visited the place to see for himself, anxious residents lined the streets, not knowing what to make of the visit.But many of the residents, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard before the arrival of Russau (demolisher in Hausa tongue which seems to elate El-Rufai), said they were sure that when the governor saw the quality and number of buildings in the community, he would be moved by compassion to forget any planned demolition in the estate. He must have been told that this place has mud houses, that it is a trench town abode of law breakers. I am sure he will see how decent we are. I am happy that he is coming, one resident said gleefully.However, after the departure of El-Rufai, the wailing of the residents of Gbagyi Villa could be heard above the screaming sirens of his police outriders that cleared the path for him. The dark cloud that hung over Kaduna sky that evening could as well represent the forlorn feeling of the residents.El-Rufai later told journalists that the residents of Gbagyi Villa were illegal squatters and that anyone who did not have C-of-O and Building Permit would have his house pulled down. Since none of the residents has C-of-O, it invariably means that the Villa will be demolished.The governor, shown round the controversial estate by the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, said it was unfortunate that thousands would have to lose life-savings because they broke the law. Bello had told him that Gbagyi Villa was an illegal settlement which had taken over 70% of the allocated land of the polytechnic even after compensation had been paid the original owners of the land about 40 years ago. Fielding questions from journalists, El-Rufai said: This is a tragedy, because on the one hand, Kaduna Polytechnic got the allocation of this land, nearly 40 years ago for the purpose of establishing Mining Engineering School and subsequently a College of Environmental Studies.And not only the polytechnic would have benefited, but Kaduna state and the country. Unfortunately, as things stands today, according to the Rector, nearly 70 percent of the land has been encroached upon by illegal squatters. These buildings would have to go. We do not condone illegality in this state And in Kaduna State, you cannot hide behind religion or tribe to break the law and get away with it. We will go through due process; we will give everybody due process to find out if he or she has title to the land and permission to build. If you dont have the two, the law will apply and we will take your building down.It is unfortunate that some people have been deceived into thinking that this land is available for sale. It is unfortunate, and in our system, we are going to investigate all those involved in this deception and they will be dealt with. Having said that, the law will prevail, and ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It is very unfortunate that many thousands will lose millions of life-savings for building illegally. My call to all people of Kaduna State is that before you start any building, get a Certificate of Occupancy and ensure you have the approval of KASUPDA to build.If you dont have these two, your building is at risk. The point here is that the law has been broken, and as the executive arm of government, our duty is to enforce. I dont know any other thing, than upholding my mandate and enforcing the law. Going to court has very little to do with breaking the law. When you break the law, you cant go to court and withhold action. This is a criminal conduct. The case in court is a civil matter. You cannot steal from the state and go to court and say, stop, dont prosecute me for stealing. They are two separate matters. We shall look into it. The rule of law must apply and we must all obey the law to be safe. This is what everyone should understand. This is Kaduna State land allocated to the Federal Government. It is our job to ensure that Kaduna Polytechnic has its full title. President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan tightened has ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup.Turkish authorities also detained a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, the Anadolu state news agency reported.A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days.The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed.His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the northeastern city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported. Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a terrorist organization, the agency said.It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the failed coup.Turkey has also captured a key aide to Gulen, a presidency official said. Halis Hanci, described as the cleric's right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters.Hasan Karakus, the pilot who bombed the special forces command in Ankara and killed 42 police officers, was also caught in Turkey, said the official.Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticized a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party.Banners were hung on road bridges, subways and advertising boards around Istanbul with the words "Hakimiyet Milletindir" (The People Rule). Public buses and some private cars were adorned with red Turkish flags.Public transport in Istanbul has been free since Erdogan called people to the streets and will continue to be so until Sunday, when the main opposition CHP is staging a "democracy rally" in Istanbul's central Taksim square, to which it has also invited supporters of the ruling AK Party, to condemn the coup attempt.Turkey does not plan to extend emergency rule beyond a period of three months following the failed coup, but will do so if necessary, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said."Our goal is that it shouldn't be extended, but if the need arises it may of course be extended," he said in an interview with the ATV television station. EAST RUTHERFORD -- More than 30 arrests were made Saturday night at the Guns N' Roses concert at MetLife Stadium, police said. Sgt. First Class Gregory Williams, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, said he could not immediately provide details on the charges filed. However, aggravated assault offenses were filed against a concertgoer after two State Police troopers received minor injuries. Guns N' Roses will play again at MetLife Stadium Sunday night before heading off to Atlanta to play the Georgia Dome on Wednesday. They played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 14. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Progresso.jpg General Mills' Progresso soup plant in Vineland is possibly closing, the company announced. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com) VINELAND -- The sudden decision by General Mills to close its Progresso soup plant has officials, union leaders and residents scrambling to try and find a way to keep the 370 jobs in the city. General Mills, which owns Progresso, is continuing its discussions with UFCW Local 152 these coming weeks about the tentative decision to close the Elmer Road plant. Local and state officials also plan on getting together to find ways to retain or replace the business. "We have to come to the table to find out what we can do to make this work and keep jobs in Vineland," said Mayor Ruben Bermudez. General Mills announced to employees Thursday morning that the plant, which has roots in Vineland dating to 1942 and was recently touted in an advertising campaign by Progresso, will tentatively be closing by 2018. "The potential closing of the Progresso plant would be a terrible blow to the hard working employees from Vineland and the surrounding area," said City Council President Anthony Fanucci. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew and U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo have given their support in keeping General Mills in Vineland or finding a new business for the facility. A meeting could occur as soon as next week where officials can begin talking about either possibility. General Mills will be meeting with union officials in the coming weeks, according to General Mills spokeswoman Kelsey Roemhildt. UFCW Local 152 is putting together an information request for General Mills as the discussions begin. The biggest question they have for General Mills, according to union President Brian String, is why this didn't come up during recent contract bargaining completed in May. "The last thing Cumberland County needs is for 370 people to be out of good paying jobs in that community," String said. Cumberland County has the third-highest unemployment rate in the state, according to 2015 U.S. Census statistics, and 20 percent of its population lives in poverty. Businessman Praful Thakkar set up a petition to save the plant at Todd's News Agency on Delsea Drive, according to his wife Bina Thakkar. "We get a lot of customers that we always see from Progresso," she said. General Mills chose the Vineland plant due to its recent restructuring of its supply chain, according to Roemhildt. "The company has been reviewing its supply chain network to identify ways to optimize operations and reduce excess capacity," she said. "The ongoing review led us to this decision." In addition to Vineland, General Mills is also closing plants in Ohio, Brazil and China. The facility in Martel, Ohio, is being sold to the Mennel Milling Company. After being told Thursday about the tentative decision to close Vineland's plant, the employees were sent home for the weekend. They will return Monday and the plant will continue its operations until the decision to close is finalized. If the closure is finalized, General Mills is expected to pay $18 million is severance, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook. DNCclass.JPG Rowan University students will be covering the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia for a summer class devoted to the DNC. Associate professor Kathryn Quigley and Department chair Mark Berkey-Gerard will also be accompanying the students. (Submitted photo.) GLASSBORO -- Seven students from Rowan University received press passes and will be covering the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as student reporters this week. The students, all majors within the College of Communication, are a part of a three-week Reporting on the DNC summer class where they learned the ins and outs of the democratic convention. The first two weeks were held in a classroom with the students learning about delegates, political parties and what to expect at the convention. The third week they will be reporting live from Philadelphia. The students must cover the convention for at least two days and have to find stories with Rowan University and south Jersey connections. They will mostly be outside covering protests and happenings around the convention, but also get to sit in the press box inside the Wells Fargo Center to report on a speech of their choosing. "For journalists, this is our Super Bowl," said Kathryn Quigley, associate professor for the Department of Journalism at Rowan, who also instructed the class. "Part of the excitement is being in the media tent where our students get to meet other journalists, talk to them, watch them work and make connections." With temperatures set to reach the mid-90s and higher during the week, Quigley said she told her students that it will be hot and crowded, but that they're also witnessing history. The students will be live tweeting events as they happen, taking photos and video and writing stories throughout the week. "I want the students to learn about the political process and to experience what it's like to be a working journalist so they can see whether or not they want to do this as a career," she said. The students also had the option to choose a beat to report on during the convention. Senior journalism major Cierra Lewis chose to report on the Black Lives Matter movement. She will have the opportunity to write about the "Mothers of the Movement" speeches where family members of Eric Garner and Michael Brown will speak. Garner and Brown were both killed by police in 2014 which sparked an outcry around the nation about police brutality. "I'm excited to be there in the atmosphere," Lewis said. "It's gonna be like I'm a real reporter and not just a college kid." Lewis said she will be covering the convention every day but Monday, but said she will be watching the coverage from home and retweeting her fellow students' tweets. "The learning experience and learning how politics work will be a good opportunity for me," she said. "It will be great experience if I have to cover conventions later in life." Senior journalism major Leon Purvis will be reporting all four days as well as the protests on Sunday ahead of the convention. "I chose five days because I didn't want to miss any of the action," he said. "As soon as I heard there was a class covering the DNC, I knew I had to sign up for it," he added. "As a journalism student this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Purvis said he will be covering Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton's speeches, but he is most looking forward to President Obama's speech. Purvis is also interested in seeing demonstrators, what they're protesting about and what their messages will be. "I'm definitely excited to get out there, take photos, live tweet, shoot video and post online for community to watch and see," he said. During the convention, you can follow the Rowan students on Twitter @rowanujourn and see their stories at https://rowanudncnews.net/. CJ Fairfield may be reached at cfairfield@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @fairfielc4. Find NJ.com on Facebook. jersey city police car.JPG A 28-year-old was stabbed four times on Saturday night, police said. (Jersey Journal File Photo) JERSEY CITY -- A 28-year-old man was attacked and stabbed late last night on the south end of the city, according to a police report. At about 11:15 p.m., police found the Williams Avenue resident on the ground outside of Seaview Avenue home between Garfield and Ocean avenues. He told police he was assaulted by "a group of 20" on Old Bergen Road near Winfield Avenue, the report states. Police located a crime scene about five blocks away on Old Bergen Road. Five teens were questioned by officers at the scene, who said they did not witness the attack, police said. The victim was brought to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment of four stab wounds to his right side, according to the report. No one has been arrested in connection with the stabbing, police said. JERSEY CITY -- A New York Waterway ferry struck a Hudson Street dock in Jersey City Saturday night, leaving more than a dozen passengers with minor injuries, officials said. Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the ferry made a hard landing and 17 people were injured. "Most of the injuries appeared minor, however, three individuals were removed on stretchers," Morrill said. Five of the 17 injured passengers were transported to Christ Hospital and the other 12 people were taken to Jersey City Medical Center, according to Morrill. None of the injuries were serious, Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier told NJ Advance Media. The crash occurred around 7:20 p.m. Jersey City Medical Center spokesman Mark Rabson said Saturday night there were no reports of any broken bones, and the facility's patients were all alert and talking. Some were already discharged while medical staff continued to triage other passengers. New York Waterway spokesman Patrick Smith said 57 passengers were on the ferry. No crew members were hurt, Smith added. The ferry was heading from the World Financial Center in Manhattan when it hit the Paulus Hook dock, the spokesman said. "It was a hard landing," Smith said. The Coast Guard and New York Police Department were among agencies responding to the scene. Coast Guard officials were handling the investigation. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Sarra Elizabeth Gilbert is charged with murdering her mother, Mari Gilbert. The mother of Shannan Gilbert, a Jersey City woman who was found dead on Long Island in 2011, was killed inside an upstate New York home on Saturday, police said. Mari Gilbert, 52, was found dead inside an Ellenville apartment at about 2:15 p.m. The victim's 27-year-old daughter Sarra Elizabeth Gilbert has been charged with murder, according to a news release posted on the village's Facebook page. Shannan Gilbert was reported missing on May 1, 2010 and her remains were not found until 18 months later in a Long Island marsh on Dec. 13, 2011. Police said the 23-year-old was a prostitute, and authorities believe the woman drowned in the marsh. Gilbert's family, including her mother, have disputed the cause of the woman's death and believed she was the victim of a Long Island serial killer. Earlier this year, a pathologist hired by the Gilbert family said the findings of the 23-year-old's autopsy revealed she may have been strangled. While searching for Gilbert, police found the bodies of 10 other women. Police believe Gilbert's death was unrelated. Sarra Gilbert has been charged with second degree murder and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon. She is being held without bail in Ulster County Jail until her first hearing on Tuesday, police said. Gilbert's family attorney Johnny Ray told Newsday that Mari Gilbert was "knifed to death" after being "invited" over by her daughter. He said the 27-year-old was suffering from schizophrenia, the report states. Additional information surrounding Mari Gilbert's death is expected to be released tomorrow afternoon during a press conference at Village Hall. There is good news for members of the Native American community of New Jersey who are looking for meaningful employment and/or the training to keep them competitive in the job market. The New Jersey Indian Council is looking to expand its Native American Employment and Training program from its location in Mahwah into the southern part of the state. Training services will assist job seekers to learn new skills, become employed or find higher-paid employment, and gain work experience and career support and development. The program operates through a Department of Labor Workforce Investment grant awarded to the Rhode Island Indian Council of Providence Rhode Island. The grant operates offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Delaware and New Jersey. The Rhode Indian Island Indian Council Inc., a private, non-profit urban Native American Indian agency, has been promoting the social, economic and cultural well-being of all tribal communities in these states since 1975. The Rhode Island Indian Council Inc. has been promoting the social, economic and cultural well-being of all tribal communities in Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware since its founding in 1975. Services provided include job search and placement assistance, individual counseling/career planning and work readiness credential. Prerequisites to determine eligibility for the program and access to training funds offered include: * Documentation as a member of a state or federally recognized tribal group (or have a parent/grandparent documented). * At least 18 years of age and unemployed * Reside in New Jersey. * Males 18 to 25 years of age must be registered with Selective Service. There are many opportunities for funding of certification programs and some college tuition funding is available. The agency is interested in funding training in the top 25 in-demand jobs as listed by the Department of Labor. For more information and to apply for this program, call (201) 529-1171, ext. 205. For more advice on the job market, click here. It almost had the feel of one of those Wild West movies, when the new sheriff rides into town. The people in the Roseville section of Newark came to their porches to view the police with curiosity and relief during one of the city's ongoing quality-of-life sweeps. About 20 foot patrol officers, four motorcycle cops, a few extra black-and-whites, a mobile precinct and a handful of brass and a Crimestoppers van, converged at North 7th Street and 4th Avenue last week before spreading out over 30 blocks of city's northwest section. The official title for the program is Operation Neighborhood Focus. But it's really just tried-and-true community policing, so simple that you have to wonder why it ever went away. White cops killing black men and black men killing men in blue has the nation - from the president on down - desperate to dampen the fear and anger. MORE: Recent Mark Di Ionno columns On the day of the Dallas police funerals, President Barack Obama held a summit of civil rights activists, police chiefs, elected officials and clergy. Among the group of select urban mayors was Newark's Ras Baraka because Newark, like Dallas, is actually a leader in improving police and community relations. Exactly two years ago, the Justice Department released a report saying Newark police showed patterns of violating civil rights. The feds reached an agreement with the city to appoint a federal monitor to oversee the police department. It took a while, but former New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey was approved and began work on July 12. Baraka had been sworn in as mayor just weeks before the Justice report and he made abrupt changes to correct past sins. These changes included a new civilian review board and civilian oversight of police internal affairs. There was more training in conflict resolution and a call for greater restraint. This year alone, Newark police have seized 300 guns from people either in the commission of a crime or in the process of being arrested - and still avoided the kind of shooting that makes national news. Baraka has also put into play a series of meetings between police and community leaders, including everyone from criminology scholars to clergy to activists and ex-cons. Operation Neighborhood Focus is an extension of all that and began more than two months ago, well before the attacks on Dallas and Baton Rouge police. "It had to be done," said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, who was appointed by Baraka late last year. "The mayor wanted it done. I wanted it done. When he put on 80 new cops (this year), so we had the manpower to do it." More cops are coming. A class of 135 recruits began training this month and they, like the recent graduates, will start out walking the streets. "It's how you get to know the people. There's no substitute for it," Ambrose said. Foot patrols are a critical part of Operation Neighborhood Focus, and the added presence of cops is welcomed, especially by small bodega owners, who are most susceptible to armed robberies. "There's a lot of crime in the area," said Ramon Rodijue, owner of Bryant Deli & Market, on North 6th Street near Park Avenue. "It's good. It feels safe." Down the street, homeowner Ramon Martinez agreed. "We need more of this. It's a deterrent," said Martinez, who has lived in the city since 1966. "It's a good way for police to get back the respect they had. People get to know them." Acting Newark Police Capt. Adolf Perez said the face-to-face contact is critical. "The people are our best resource,'' he said. "We can't do it without them." Perez is in charge of the citywide operation, which has targeted areas of drug dealing, prostitution, panhandling and street racing, but also goes into the city neighborhoods, sector by sector. Before the cops hit the street, they are given maps of crimes and complaints from the last 50 days. There are legends for homicides, rapes, armed robberies, thefts and drug activities. "We're not coming out here blindly," Perez said. "We have crime stats and citizen complaints, so we know where to be." The maps show clusters of dots, which represent citizen "calls for service." That, in itself, says that people want the police in their neighborhood to root out drug dealers or loiterers who make them feel unsafe. Kiarah Davis says her block is good and the kids are safe playing in the street. "We're all out here watching, but to have the police is good, too," she said. The operation is 24-hour effort over multiple days in each targeted sector. The plan goes something like this: the 6 a.m. shift serves warrants; the midday shift does narcotic enforcement; and evening shift stabilizes the neighborhood with its foot patrol presence. When it gets dark, police cruisers move through the sector with their overhead lights on, to let people know they're there. The foot patrols also identify quality-of-life issues such as illegal dumping. On North 13th, they found the front end of a truck heaped onto a mound of trash. "We get sanitation and code enforcement out here with us," Perez said. "This will be gone by (the end of the week)." But the most important part is humanizing the police to the public ... and the public to the police. It's the only way out of this mess we're in. Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook. Im a mountain biker and Im proud to support the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project. There are a few special places that Ive encountered in my life that grabbed hold of me and refused to let me go. One of those special places is the Blackfoot Clearwater region, a place we have the opportunity to protect through the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP). I would like to explain why I, as a mountain biker, support the BCSP. Seven years ago, I had the privilege of working as a wilderness ranger for the Seeley Lake Ranger District. Charged with trail maintenance, visitor contacts, and backcountry campsite monitoring, I frequented the Scapegoat Wilderness, Monture Creek, and the Swan Crest -- areas that would benefit from modest wilderness additions through the BCSP. Exploring these lands as a wilderness ranger that season and the years since, Ive had countless experiences that demonstrate just how special this region is. Three years ago, deep in the Scapegoat Wilderness, I stood shoulder to shoulder with my dad and watched a grizzly sow tear apart a hillside in search of biscuitroot. I once witnessed a Canada lynx sip water from the North Fork of the Blackfoot during an October snowstorm. Mountain biking beneath the Swan Crest on a separate occasion, I was run off of the trail by a surprised bull moose. Wilderness designation, as proposed by the BCSP, would ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to experience this wild country -- as it is. The strong bond that this land creates with visitors is one of the many reasons why the BCSP has garnered such broad support. The long list of diverse supporters is the result of a decade-long grassroots effort from the local community. Local industry, and recreation groups came together to define the best collective future for our local public lands. This proposal has received the nod from Montanans, with 74 percent in support of the BCSP. Unfortunately, there have been a few hardline voices coming from the extreme mountain biking community in opposition to the BCSP. With claims that some recreation interests have been excluded from the process and that the BCSP will benefit only a select few, some mountain biking advocates are actively working against a grassroots, Montana-made solution for these lands. Its important to point out that these recent objections are not representative of all bicyclists. Ive mountain biked for more than half of my life and raced mountain bikes for five years. Im still an avid mountain biker that loves exploring our public lands over two wheels. Throughout these years, Ive come to respect and appreciate off-limit public land areas -- like designated and recommended wilderness areas. Just because I cant ride my bike in these areas doesnt mean that I dont care about protecting them. Thats why Im discouraged to observe the opposition to a widely supported, locally crafted proposal. As much as I love mountain biking, we already have so many outstanding riding opportunities on public lands in Western Montana that arent in designated or recommended wilderness. And while I value the folks working on behalf of mountain bikers in Montana, I think that there are better ways to serve the mountain biking community than by opposing a proposal supported by all other outdoor recreational interests and the vast majority of Montanans. Weve got an incredible opportunity to do right by these lands and our communities. The chances for new wilderness are too rare, the partnerships are too strong, and the momentum is too great to jeopardize this opportunity. Now were waiting on Montanas congressional delegation to close the loop on a decade-long process and make history with moving this proposal through Congress. Wes Swaffar Missoula PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia Fire Department firefighter died late Saturday while on duty, the department announced. Gabriel Lee, whose age was not immediately released, "died while working his night shift," the fire department said in a news release. A cause of death was not announced. "Details surrounding firefighter Lee's death are currently under investigation, information surrounding his death remains unknown at the present time," the release continues. Lee was assigned to Ladder Company 12, which is located in North Philadelphia. 6ABC reports that he was in his 40s. According to NBC10, Lee was unresponsive when he was found in the basement at a North Philadelphia fire house. The report adds that Lee was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital, which Mayor Jim Kenney visited to pay his respects. A lot of people paying respect to @PhillyFireDept Gabriel Lee tonight. pic.twitter.com/ommfa3NS6g David Bonk (@PPDDaveBonk) July 24, 2016 Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook. After a 15-year run as spiritual leader to more than a million Roman Catholics in New Jersey, Newark Archbishop John J. Myers is expected to submit a letter to Pope Francis this week seeking the pontiff's permission to retire. On Tuesday, Myers turns 75, the mandatory retirement age set by canon law. It remains to be seen how swiftly Francis will move to replace him. Some bishops continue to work a year or more after they reach 75. "The pope can do what he wants," said Christopher Bellitto, a church historian and professor of history at Kean University. "He can accept immediately, or he can say, 'Thanks for the letter. I'll let you know.'" Given that Francis had previously appointed a coadjutor bishop for the archdiocese, Bellitto said he suspects the pope will move more quickly than he might have otherwise. When Francis appointed Bernard Hebda as Myers' co-archbishop in September 2013, it was widely seen as a move to steady the archdiocese after controversy over Myers' handling of sexually abusive priests. Former coadjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda, right, during a press conference announcing his appointment to the Archdiocese of Newark in September 2013. Hebda was later reassigned to the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul. (File photo) Two years later, Francis named Hebda interim leader of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which had been indicted for what a prosecutor described as a systemic failure to protect children from sex abuse. At the time, Hebda remained Newark's coadjutor archbishop and presumed successor to Myers. That changed in May of this year, when the pope named Hebda the permanent archbishop in Minneapolis. Myers' successor has been a question mark since. Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the Newark Archdiocese, said the Vatican had not offered an indication of when a replacement would be named or who might be under consideration. He said Myers' retirement letter was "in the works." Until a successor is named, Goodness said, Myers will remain heavily involved in running the archdiocese. "He's working and still teaching and directing the diocese," the spokesman said, adding that the archbishop recently issued a pastoral letter on the eternal desire to search for meaning in the world and how God shapes the human experience. Once Myers' retirement is approved, Goodness said, he is expected to move to the Hunterdon County home that has served as his weekend residence since 2002. The five-bedroom house, on 8.2 acres in Franklin Township, became a source of controversy for Myers in February 2014 when The Star-Ledger reported the archdiocese was spending more than $500,000 to build a three-story, 3,000-square-foot wing on the structure, complete with a small indoor exercise pool, three fireplaces and an elevator. Goodness said Myers will continue to be engaged in church life once he retires, doing "retreat work" and meeting with priests. Myers, a canon lawyer, also continues to serve on the Vatican's council for legislative texts and as chairman of the board of governors for the Pontifical North American College in Rome. "He's going to be busy," Goodness said. Bellitto, the church historian, declined to speculate on Myers' replacement, saying Francis' three-year-old papacy has been one of surprises. "It's the name we don't know that's interesting, because if you look at names, who knew who Blase Cupich was? And he got Chicago," Bellitto said. Cupich, appointed to the Chicago Archdiocese in 2014, previously served as bishop of Spokane, Wash. Hebda, too, was not well known when he arrived in Newark, having been plucked from the small Diocese of Gaylord, Mich. Both Cupich and Hebda are viewed as the type of bishops who project an image of compassionate pastoral outreach and frugality in personal life. The Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit who serves as a senior analyst with the National Catholic Reporter, said he doesn't expect an immediate announcement by the Vatican. "Rome shuts down in August, so I would not expect something quickly," Reese said by email. "But since everyone knew this was coming, I think we will get someone before the end of the year. If his replacement is announced on his birthday, it means they knew a change was needed quickly." Myers, an Illinois native ordained in his home state, was named bishop of Peoria, Ill., in 1990. Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Newark in October 2001, as the region was dealing with the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. He reflected on the difficult period in his recent pastoral letter, writing that Americans posed basic, elemental questions in the face of terrorism and horror. "These were days and months of profound sadness and human suffering," Myers wrote. "They were also days and months saturated with an abundance of natural goodness and supernatural grace. In the wake of a sudden and massive experience of terror, there followed a sustained search for answers, meaning, solace beyond our daily existence -- a reaching out to the transcendent, a turning toward faith, a search for God." Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. TOMS RIVER -- A man who was convicted of raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl in 1985 is out of jail -- again -- after he posted bail two days after he was charged for failing to register as a sex offender. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed on Sunday that Shawn Milne, 46, was released from the Ocean County Jail after paying his $25,000 bail. Milne was released from state prison in November 2015 after serving 30 years for beating and raping his then 13-year-old neighbor, Barbara Harrison. Milne, who was 15 at the time, dumped the girl's body in Goose Creek in Toms River, where she drowned. On Wednesday, Milne was arrested at his home on Fischer Boulevard and charged with failure to register under Megan's Law, according to a news release from the Toms River Police Department. Milne faces up to five years in state prison with a maximum fine of $15,000 for each charge. Officer Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River police, said that Milne broke state law when he failed to register as a sex offender with the township, where he now resides. Police said he did not notify Toms River of his employment status, also a violation of Megan's Law. Milne, who was tried as an adult, was sentenced to 30 years for murder and 20 years for sexual assault. He had to serve at least 30 years before being eligible for parole. The victim's brother, Frank Harrison, said he was told Milne would be living in northern New Jersey with relatives upon his release from prison. It appears Milne moved back to the same street where Barbara Harrison was last seen leaving her family's home on Nov. 12, 1985. Milne had lived eight houses away from the Harrison family. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. We've finally learned the identity of a mysterious $1 million donor to a Super Pac supporting Jersey City mayor and aspiring governor Steve Fulop. It's the wealthy mogul behind the most notorious price-gouging hospital in the nation. Fulop once recommended this man's company for a city contract. Which raises the question: Could it look any worse? Vivek Garipalli and the for-profit hospital system he owns, called CarePoint, donated nearly a third of the $3.2 million raised last year by the Pac with close ties to Fulop, called "Coalition for Progress." More than three quarters of that total stash was from people who do business with Jersey City, either personally or through their companies, like Garipalli. The hospital exec formed a shell company in Delaware the day before making his donation, for the sole purpose of hiding it. Thanks to the Supreme Court decision Citizens United, Pacs can take and spend unlimited money from corporations. But it's illegal to intentionally mask the source of the donation. Only after pressure from watchdog groups, though, did the Pac finally reveal Garipalli's name. You see why he wanted to hide it. That this is the outfit now throwing serious muscle into Jersey politics on Fulop's behalf should give us all pause. Fulop, of course, is claiming cluelessness. Even though he threw a fundraiser for this Pac last year -- as did his long-time confidante, Tommy Bertoli, a political operative based in Jersey City -- he insists it has nothing to do with him. But he's certainly familiar with CarePoint, the company behind America's most expensive for-profit hospital, Bayonne Medical Center, and its shamelessly predatory business model. First it goes out of network with insurance companies. Then it tries to drive up traffic to its emergency room - and charges exorbitant fees for those out-of-network visits, like $17,000 for five stitches. It's a golden goose for Garipalli, who replicated this at his two other hospitals in Jersey City and Hoboken -- and bought jewelry designer Tory Burch's $11 million Hamptons estate in 2012, only to tear it down and build a bigger one. But it's a $1 billion-a-year-disaster for New Jersey. That's how much this shady tactic is adding to our health care costs. State law offers consumers some protection, so they may pay only a small portion of the bill. Yet insurers like Horizon get walloped, driving up prices and premiums for everyone. Despite the efforts of reformers like Sen. Joe Vitale, the Legislature has been unable to produce a solution. One key holdout is a Fulop ally, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, who has yet to move the stalled bill. So the public deserves to know: Does Fulop support CarePoint's predatory model, or Vitale's embattled legislation to rein it in? He won't say. But if Fulop doesn't come out now and denounce CarePoint's tactics as wrong, he'll join it as a bad actor. This isn't just a state issue, either. Since Jersey City self-insures its employees, his local taxpayers are the ones getting hit with these crazy out-of-network bills. Fulop's past actions also make this look suspect. A CarePoint lobbyist, former U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli, contributed $5,000 to Fulop and $2,500 to his slate of council candidates during the last election. Shortly after, Fulop tried to switch an ambulance contract from Jersey City Medical Center to CarePoint's offices. At the time, he said it was a better bid for the city, because CarePoint promised to give back $2.6 million annually for the contract. But it also would have funneled many more patients into CarePoint's emergency rooms, making that give-back pocket change for the company. Fulop ultimately lost the effort to switch the contract, and changed course under pressure. But you see the threat here. In his early days, he pitched himself as a campaign finance reformer. More recently, though, he's argued that as long as a Pac remains "independent" from the candidate it supports, it can take donations from anyone who does business with the city. How convenient. Does this mean Fulop's going to keep turning a blind eye to CarePoint's price-gouging? Or will he reverse course yet again, and do the right thing? Follow NJ.com Opinion on Twitter @NJ_Opinion. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. New Jersey Sandcastle Contest 2016 This photo of an entry in the 30th Annual New Jersey Sandcastle Contest in Belmar on July 13 shows a toilet that's just for looking at. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) (Rob Spahr) Even though the ad was tasteless, it was pretty funny, and it sure made its point: It showed a guy trying to wipe up some sticky chocolate with a dry tissue and smearing it all over. Then with a smirk, he said something about that being why he uses wet wipes he can safely flush. I saw it only once. Perhaps it offended some people or perhaps someone pointed out the man was not telling the truth. Whether they're called baby wipes or something specifically marketed to adults, those moist nonwoven cloths sold worldwide aren't really flushable and cost millions of dollars in clogged pipes and jammed sewer machinery. In 2013 Londoners were appalled by what the press dubbed the "Fatberg in the Thames," a 15-ton mass of congealed grease and nonbiodegradable materials flushed down area sewers. It took three weeks to dismantle it, while townspeople and visitors marveled at the mess they'd made. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, during the past few years American cities have spent millions for new equipment and maintenance of sewer lines clogged with materials sold as "flushable." They predict demand for such items will grow about 6 percent a year, and reports say disposable wipes already are a $13 billion dollar industry. There are no national standards or regulations guiding what can be marketed as flushable, but some states and cities are taking action on their own. California began a public relations campaign a few years ago to persuade consumers to toss used wipes into a trash can rather than flush them. But, not surprisingly, consumers didn't go along with that suggestion. Several cities enacted municipal ordinances banning the marketing of nonwoven wipes as flushable, but such local laws are difficult to enforce. However, New York City is giving it a try. With the backing of Mayor de Blasio, Councilman Donovan Richards is pushing an amendment to the city's administrative code prohibiting a nonwoven disposable product from being advertised, packaged or labeled as flushable or septic safe unless it passes a third-party test approved by the commissioner of environmental protection. Richards argues NYC has spent $18 million in repairing sewer equipment problems in the past five years. One Minnesota city filed suit against six manufacturers of so-called flushable wipes, alleging the products are not living up to the claims but are plugging pipes and sewer lines. Nice-Pak, which sells wipes under a variety of labels, was named in the suit but voluntarily agreed to change their labels. The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry recently updated its guidelines for members to use when deciding whether to market a product as flushable, but the guidelines are strictly voluntary. They call for a "Do Not Flush" label in some circumstances, but almost no manufacturer uses it. The manufacturers protest that all their disposable products do degrade in water - eventually. They say problems are caused chiefly when wipes catch on tree roots or other obstacles on their way to the pumping plant or they become mixed with cooking grease and other non-soluble items flushed down drains and toilets. They say that's not their fault. So far consumers have said little on the topic, probably because taxes spent on sewer repairs don't resonate with them and clogged pipes in their own homes are blamed on other causes. To date, there's no legislation pending in New Jersey to address this problem, but as the problem grows, and repair costs grow along with it, it's likely to get the attention of environmentalists and legislators. EDITOR'S NOTE: A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of the North Hudson Community Action Corp. and is also co-chair of the Hudson County campaign for Hillary Clinton. Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Don't Edit Philadelphia's place in political history Philadelphia has hosted 12 political conventions, according to the National Constitution Center. And next week's Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center will make it a baker's dozen. The first of these was attended by America's founding fathers, and from them emerged the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Since then, the city has hosted nominating conventions for the Whig, Republican, Democratic, American and Know Nothings parties. Click through for a review of some of the conventions to convene in Philly. Don't Edit First Continental Congress Philadelphia hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774, gathering delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies to draft a letter of grievances to King George for imposing taxes and other "intolerable acts." Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, (seen here in the HBO miniseries John Adams) were in attendance. They vowed to boycott British goods and meet again to take further action if the king did not comply with their demands. Don't Edit Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress: In 1775, delegates assembled at Independence Hall after the Revolutionary War erupted with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The delegates formed the First Continental Army, putting George Washington in charge, and created the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution. Don't Edit The Constitutional Convention Replacing the unwieldy and ineffective articles of confederation, founders wrote the U.S. Constitution, which carved out the roles of the federal government and Congress, and created the electoral college. It was ratified in 1789. Don't Edit Don't Edit Embed from Getty Images 1848 Whig National Convention Mexican-American war hero Gen. Zachary Taylor was all but recruited to run for president under the Whig Party banner, despite his aversion to politics and even voting. He won the nomination on a fourth-ballot vote during the one-day convention. But as a soldier and slave owner, Taylor repelled true Whigs and the party collapsed after he won the presidency. Don't Edit 1856 Republican National Convention The convention was the first held by the Republican Party, founded two years earlier on an anti-slavery platform. Former Sen. John Charles Fremont of California was nominated for the presidency, and Sen. William Dayton of New Jersey was selected as his running mate. Don't Edit 1872 Republican National Convention Republicans gathered there at the Academy of Music on June 5, 1872, to nominate President Ulysses S. Grant for a second term. "Since there was no question that Grant would be the unanimous choice of the delegates, the Philadelphia convention was mostly about pageantry and spectacle," reports USHistory.org. Don't Edit 1900 Republican National Convention President William McKinley was unanimously nominated for re-election. Theodore Roosevelt, his running mate, made his national political debut at the convention, held at the Exposition Auditorium, which was demolished a decade ago. Don't Edit 1936 Democratic National Convention President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was nominated for his second term. In his acceptance speech, Roosevelt said government could be the "embodiment of human charity." "To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny." Don't Edit Don't Edit 1940 Republican National Convention Republicans nominated Wendell Willkie, the president of a utility company and a political outsider, stunning the party. Willkie edged out establishment candidates and winning the nomination on a fifth-ballot vote. FDR won his third term in a landslide victory. Don't Edit 1948 Republican National Convention New York Gov. Thomas Dewey overcame a floor challenge and prevailed after the third ballot, edging three other candidates. The suspense of the occasion was captured on television for the first time. Dewey led in the polls and the GOP was perceived as the stronger ticket, but Truman surprised the pundits and press in a contest immortalized by the Chicago Tribune's infamous headline goof: "Dewey defeats Truman." Don't Edit 1948 Democratic National Convention President Harry S. Truman handily won his party's nomination. The real drama inside convention hall was over a fight to insert strong language supporting civil rights in the party platform. Hubert Humphrey, the mayor of Minneapolis and a candidate for U.S. Senate, delivered a rousing speech, declaring, "The time is now arrived in America for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights." The entire Mississippi delegation and half of Alabamas representatives walked out of the convention, but the measure passed. Don't Edit 2000 Republican National Convention George W. Bush emerged as the early frontrunner, over U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona in the primary election. Bush entered the convention with near-unanimous support. The controversy was outside what is now known as the Wells Fargo Center, where 400 protesters were arrested. Most of the charges were dismissed. TRENTON -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said during a television interview set to air Sunday the purported shift he's made on his controversial Muslim ban isn't a "rollback" but actually an "expansion." In December, the celebrity businessman and former Atlantic City casino tycoon called for the U.S. to battle terrorism by instituting "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." But in recent weeks, Trump has appeared to alter the proposal to focus not on Muslims but "terrorist countries." In his speech to close out the Republican National Convention on Thursday, the real estate mogul said: "We must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time it's proven that vetting mechanisms have been put in place." During an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" set to air Sunday morning, Trump said that shouldn't be considered a "rollback" of his plan. "I actually don't think it's a rollback," he said. "In fact, you could say it's an expansion. I'm looking now at territory. People were so upset when I used the word 'Muslim.' 'Oh, you can't use the word Muslim.' Remember this. And I'm OK with that, because I'm talking territory instead of Muslim." Trump suggested that he'll soon reveal which countries the ban will include. "It's very complex," he said. "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd then asked if that would mean countries like France -- where multiple terrorist acts have happened over the last year -- would be included in the ban. "They've been compromised by terrorism," Todd said. "They have totally been," Trump replied. "And you know why? It's their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory." Todd said it could come to the point where "you're not allowing a lot of people to come into this country." "Maybe we get to that point," Trump responded. "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong," he said. "We can't be the super people." Trump added that what he wants is "extreme vetting" of those entering the U.S." Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- This time, Donald Trump was quick to reject the support of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. On Saturday, Duke, a former grand wizard with the white supremacist group, announced he is running for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana, saying he's happy to see Trump's presidential campaign "embrace most of the issues that I've championed for years." But during an interview set to air Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump was quick to distance himself from Duke. Host Chuck Todd asked the Republican presidential nominee if he would "support a Democrat over David Duke, if that was what was necessary to defeat him." "I guess, depending on who the Democrat, but the answer would be yes," Trump responded. "Look: The answer is, as quick as you can say it." "Because last time with another person in this position, I did it very quickly," the celebrity businessman and former Atlantic City casino mogul added. "And they said, 'He didn't do it fast enough.'" "Rebuked. Is that OK?" Trump concluded. "Rebuked, done." Trump faced criticism in February after declining three times during an interview with CNN to immediately denounce Duke's support. "Just so you understand: I don't know anything about David Duke, OK?" he said at the time. "I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists." Trump later blamed the incident on a "lousy earpiece." Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. TRENTON -- The state Senate could vote as early as Aug. 1 on a plan to raise the gas tax and restart more than 1,000 idling road, bridge and rail construction projects across the state. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) announced Friday they were joining together on a slightly revised proposal to raise the tax on gasoline sold in New Jersey by 23 cents a gallon and offer several tax breaks, big and small. The proposal is similar to one the Legislature was moving toward approving last month, before Gov. Chris Christie struck a deal with the Assembly to cut the sales tax by one percentage point instead. The competing plans left the Transportation Trust Fund without a new source of revenue when it expired at the end of June. Officials have said it contains only enough money to continue operating through early August, and Christie ordered a statewide work stoppage to ration what little is left. With that road frozen and jobs at risk, Sweeney said, there's urgency to get a bill through the Legislature soon. "A lot of people are being hurt right now, so we really need to find a solution," Sweeney said. Industry experts estimate the the work stoppage took thousands of construction workers off the job and that the ranks will climb as it drags on. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee has been called to meet on Friday, after the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia wraps up, to take up the trust fund bill. The full Senate has a session scheduled for the following Monday. Sweeney said he's unsure when the Assembly might act. "I would hope that if we move, that they would move either the same day or within a day or two of us," he said Friday. In the meantime, the legislative leaders will likely be looking to line up support from Republicans to help mount an override if Christie vetoes the bill. "We wholeheartedly expect our Republican colleagues who made commitments to us that they're going to stick to them. We really expect that," Sweeney said. "At the end of the day, we're just working to try to get votes. And we think we've come up with a package that will get us there." Christie's office, though, had harsh words for the Democratic leadership. "The Senate president and the Assembly speaker must be more interested in publicly pretending that they have accomplished something on TTF before they go off to the Democratic convention rather than actually accomplishing something," Christie's spokesman, Brian Murray, said. He added the governor will review the specifics of the latest version, and "only then can he determine if their plan to fund the TTF with an increased gas tax offers tax fairness to the people of New Jersey in the form of significant broad-based tax relief." The plan isn't significantly different than the one Christie rejected in June. It accelerates the phase out of the estate tax and includes a fivefold increase in the retirement and pension income tax exemption and an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit Instead of a new tax deduction for charitable giving, there would be a gas tax deduction for people earning up to $100,000 and a $3,000 income tax exemption for veterans. Christie wants a reduction in the sales tax from 7 percent to 6 percent by 2018. But Sweeney has said he won't post that bill, and the price tag is too steep to pass his house. The governor and Senate president exchanged counteroffers in the past two weeks, but Christie called the Senate's "ridiculous," and Sweeney said Friday the governor offer isn't "acceptable." "We've come up with a plan now that both houses agreed to, that has Republican support in both houses. And we would hope either the governor would sign it or not get in the way and let the Republican (Assembly members) and Senators vote to do what needs to be done to get the Transportation Trust Fund fixed," Sweeney said. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Montanas gubernatorial candidates took swings at each other this week over access to public lands, both saying the other side has lied to voters. Public lands management has become central to the campaigns of incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte. While Democrats continued to highlight an easement dispute between Gianforte and the state, the Republicans camp critiqued Bullock appointees for considering the closure of a popular access point on Fort Peck Lake. Since May, Bullocks staffers and supporters have repeatedly criticized Gianforte for a lawsuit he filed against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in 2009 amid disagreement about easement boundaries, which opponents have characterized as an attempt by an out-of-stater to close off public access. Gianforte has consistently denied the allegations and called the issue a misunderstanding, noting the suit was never served. The Good Jobs Montana political action committee, which is funded by the Democratic Governors Association, has been airing a 30-second ad this month, titled Hooked, that implies Gianforte is a liar about his support for public fishing access sites. A millionaire from New Jersey thinks youre easily hooked, the narrator says before showing a clip of Gianforte stating the he supports public access rights. But official court records prove thats a fish tale. On Friday, former Gov. Brian Schweitzer rallied with Democrats in Missoula to protect Montanas stream access laws, again taking jabs at Gianforte. Some people think theyre able to negotiate our rights away if they send us threatening letters, if they sue us or just if they intimidate us in some way. Thats what he did, Schweitzer said after the event. But we dont back down because this is a value Montanans share. Last week, Gianforte fired back at the Democrats line of attack. James Bopp, Jr., and Anita Milanovich of the Bopp Law Firm, which has a Bozeman office, sent a cease-and-desist letter to All Montana Broadcast Station Managers on July 8, according to a copy released by Montana Democrats Spokesman Jason Pitt. The letter urged stations to stop airing the television spot because it is false and misleading and those that publish false statements made knowingly are liable for defamation. The writers dispute the characterization of Gianforte as a millionaire from New Jersey, noting the he was born in California and completed all his K-12 school in Pennsylvania before going to college and later working in New Jersey. He moved to Bozeman in 1995. They also argue that Gianforte did not sue to eliminate a popular access spot, noting the suit was never served on FWP, simply filed in state court as a placeholder. As the State Bureau has previously reported, the Gianforte-owned East Gallatin LLC sued Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in May 2009 to remove an easement that provided public access along the East Gallatin River, arguing that users were damaging adjacent land, the original 1993 agreement by a previous owner was invalid and that the public had sufficient access via two other nearby sites. Records show the complaint was filed to create a foothold for a case, but the papers were never served to the agency. The dispute was resolved after a department visit to the site in July 2009 led to trail and fence upgrades that did a better job keeping users off the rest of the Gianforte property and the agency updated records on the easement boundaries, according to state documents and emails. This week, Montana Democrats also released a screenshot of a July 11 letter written by John Langeliers, National Sales Manager for KULR-8 Television, in which the Billings station declined to stop airing the ad after researching the claims. We do not believe either statement to be blatantly false, he wrote. Pitt called the decision third-party confirmation that the claims made in the ad are valid and serve as proof that Gianforte has a habit of lying on the campaign trail. Because of this, will Gianforte change his tune? Pitt wrote in an email. Will he finally admit he filed suit to eliminate a popular stream access site? Gianforte Campaign Spokesman Aaron Flint held ground, calling the attacks lies that are part of a desperate distraction. It must be fair season in Montana because the Bullock campaign keeps trotting out its one-trick pony, he said. I think Montanans are already seeing through this debunked trick. Pitt disagreed and said the campaign would continue to talk about the suit "because access is an important Montana value." The Gianforte campaign flipped the conversation about public access with their own attack on Bullock this week. The State Parks Board, whose members are appointed by the governor, has for months discussed the possibility of closing the popular access point on Fort Peck Lake. The board has said it needs state legislators, federal partners or a private group to help fund infrastructure costs within the next few years or they will have to close it. Flint disputed characterizations that the state had not been able to afford to maintain the park. Instead, he pinned the blame on failed leadership by Bullock for not supporting parks with available funding, as well as contributing to declining state revenues that will make it harder to do so in the future. Greg Gianforte supports keeping Hell Creek State Park open and will work to do just that as governor, Flint wrote in a press statement. Asked the same question about keeping Hell Creek open on the same episode of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, Bullock refused to directly answer, and would not commit to keeping Hell Creek open. Citing the easement dispute, Pitt said Gianforte is "the last person anyone in Montana should trust on the issue of public lands." "As Steve Bullock finds solutions to access at Hell Creek State Park, Gianforte would rather just play political games," the spokesman said. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. BUTTE -- Only a month ago, a female patient punched registered nurse Amber Brensdal hard enough in the back of the head to knock her over. The patient then jumped her, ripped out handfuls of her hair and bashed her head against the wall and floor. Brensdal lost consciousness. Had this person attacked me in a grocery store or on a street corner, it would not be tolerated, but because it took place inside a health care facility, it is viewed as just a part of the job, said Brensdal. Enter the Your Nurse Wears Combat Boots roadshow, hosted by the Montana Nurses Association. It was in Butte Friday on its fourth leg of a statewide tour. It ultimately aims to pass legislation making it a felony for a patient or anyone to attack a health care worker. Little recourse exists for Brensdal, of Jefferson City, who received a horrific black eye, concussions, whiplash, anxiety and insomnia from the attack. These diagnoses in themselves can potentially affect my ability to make a living as a registered nurse, she said at Fridays gathering. The nurses group wants to change that culture. Sixteen other health care workers, mostly nurses, at the meeting also came forward as victims of on-the-job violence. Michelle Riordan, a registered nurse with the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department, said health care workers need to be taken care of. Were just as important as anyone else on the sidelines, and laws need to be in place to protect us. Workplace violence in hospitals has increased nationwide 110 percent since 2006, putting nurses at particular increasing risk while on the job, statistics show. The association hesitates to reveal the facilities where nurses work in order to protect them. Its not about the employer, said MNA spokeswoman Sandi Curriero Luckey. Its happening everywhere. Its about the nurse. The MNA plans surveys to collect fresh data, despite the fact that many nurses dont report assaults. Part of the problem is that nurses have been led to believe that it's part of the job to get hit and just keep going, said Luckey. So they don't report. We're working to change that culture. Brenda Donaldson, Combat Boots campaign chairwoman and Bozeman registered nurse, said patients assault nurses for several reasons, including grief, mental illness and reaction to a bad prognosis, for starters. Also, after working grueling 14- to 16-hour shifts, fatigue can make a nurse vulnerable. When you are tired, you are less empathetic and your ability to react has decreased, Donaldson told the audience. The MNA wants to help alleviate work place stresses and a general lack of awareness among patients, professionals and employers. Even Kurt Sheehan, a Butte-Silver Bow firefighter who previously worked as an emergency medical technician, has been a victim of workplace violence when responding to a call. This affects my life in two ways, he said. I work in the field and my wife is an emergency room nurse. I deal with violence every day on my shift, then I send them (violators) to her. Now he makes sure a colleague accompanies him on every call for backup. Its getting a lot worse in our society, added Sheehan. Nobody respects the badge anymore. Sheehan said the Montana State Association of Firefighters has pledged to work closely with the nurses association to see the Montana Legislature pass protective legislation. Brensdal, chairwoman for the Montana chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, said that group is also devising a zero tolerance policy for assault on a health care worker. MNA and ENA will likely collaborate on the campaign, too. This experience that I just went through is an all too real reminder of how fast something can happen and the unfortunateness that this is considered acceptable behavior in so many work places, Brensdal added. Butte legislator Edie McClafferty said she was shocked when a family member, a career health care worker, told her that being physically attacked is an accepted part of the job. As a lawmaker, I will stand beside you and help pass a law to make it a felony for anyone to attack you, said McClafferty. You take care of us when were dying with your tenderness and caring. Vicky Byrd, executive director of the MNA, added that by the end of the election, the group will enlighten other lawmakers, too, on the importance of workplace protection for nurses. Danette Melvin, clinical nurse at St. James Healthcare and Butte-Silver Bow Board of Health chairwoman, said everyone knows a nurse who has experienced trauma. "Maybe we can get to a critical mass to get the people of Montana to support legislation that would criminalize assault against healthcare workers, said Melvin. "I think it is just admirable that the MNA is taking this on as a project. It's been a long time that this needs to be addressed." LEIGHTON, Mark A., age 68 of Helena, passed away on July 12, 2016. A burial service will be held at the Chester Cemetery in Chester, Montana today, July 24th at 1:00 PM followed by a reception at Our Saviours Lutheran Church, 10 E. Madison Avenue, Chester. Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Mark. If you think this years Republican National Convention is contentious, you should have been in Chicago in June 1916. A bitter fight within the Republican Party in 2012 had aftershocks in 2016, when a splinter group held its own convention in Chicago at the same time as the Republican National Convention. Lets put the 1916 conventions in perspective, with the help of Peter Alter of the Chicago History Museum. President Woodrow Wilson was in office, and World War I was in full swing in Europe and other parts of the world. Some of the issues in 1916 continue to be divisive even today. Immigration, for example, was an issue then, resulting in immigration restrictions in the 1920s to limit the number of Europeans allowed to enter the United States. Other issues, though, would seem strange today. The GOP delegates voiced their support of womens suffrage, giving women the universal right to vote, at the 1916 convention. Bull Moose Party But, like today, there was division among conservatives. The Republican Party was so divided then that a former Republican president, Teddy Roosevelt, was the candidate of the Bull Moose, or Progressive, party in 1912. No one can deny Roosevelt was a manly man. He emulated the cowboys, led the charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba and even gave a campaign speech in Milwaukee on Oct. 14, 1912 after he had been shot. The 50-page speech he planned to give was in his pocket, and it slowed the bullets enough that he survived and gave a shorter speech to the audience after displaying the manuscript and his blood-stained shirt. It takes more than that to kill a bull moose, Roosevelt said. He received medical care after giving the speech. In June 1916, though, as the GOP and Progressive Party conventions were held, Roosevelt said he didnt want the Progressive Party to nominate him. Could the two parties come back together? That was why they held conventions at the same time in the same city, only a few miles apart, Alter said. The party leadership really wanted unity, Alter said, but that doesnt mean there wasnt rancor. In front of the Congress Hotel, two Pennsylvania delegates engaged in a war of words. A crowd gathered, prohibiting pedestrians from passing. They generated enough noise that they also generated news coverage at the time. Lakes waves The Lake County Times gave the conventions extensive coverage. Lake County Republican Chairman Miles Norton was hounded by locals seeking to attend the Chicago convention. Some time ago, this paper carried a story that Lake Countys apportionment of tickets to the big show was seven, and that the tickets had been turned over to Mr. Norton, The Times reported on June 5, 1916. That was the beginning of his troubles, and The Times unwittingly did him a great wrong. Those tickets melted away like a snowflake in July, and Mr. Norton has been forced to turn down thousands of applicants. That didnt stop folks from Northwest Indiana hoping to see the spectacle. Four days later, on June 9, 1916, a story on Page 2 was headlined, UNDERGROUND R.R. CARRIED TOO MANY NO SEAT FARES. The report is that some of Lake Countys most influential politicians were chased continually around the hall yesterday when, having been crowded out of some soft snap seat they were endearing to hold down, they took to the galleries and got that softly spoken but unmistakable and determined purr, move on, as some blue coat discovered they were lounging in a point of vantage, the story said. That afternoon, Chicago safety officials cleared the aisles. Joe Meade, ex-city chairman of East Chicago who had just run for prosecutor and was considered a potential mayoral candidate, was kicked out. Lake County Prosecutor J.A. Patterson and his assistant in East Chicago, H.M. Cohen, were also hustled out under the glowering skies. Justice for all Today, the Republican standard bearer, Donald Trump, has voiced his opposition to U.S. Supreme Court justices getting involved in politics. At the 1916 convention, Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes became the Republican nominee. Hughes resigned from the court June 10, 1916, to run for president. Charles W. Fairbanks, a Hoosier, was chosen to run as the Republican vice presidential candidate. Fairbanks had served as vice president under Roosevelt, from 1905 to 1909. Fairbanks died at age 66 on June 4, 1918, just two years after being selected to run as Hughes running mate. Roosevelt threw his support behind Hughes, and the Progressives were brought back into the Republican fold by the general election in November. Party unity was restored, which was good news for the Republican Party. They lost a close presidential race, however, with Hughes coming 23 electoral votes short. Accu-Mold LLC has hired Walter Hill as its strategic sales director. He will collaborate with the entire Accu-Mold team to develop short and long term sales plans that support the company's business plan. Accu-Mold specializes in metal to plastic conversion as well as manufacturing and assembly of plastic injection molded components for the automotive industry. Haire Group, of Merrillville, has welcomed corrugated industry veteran Tim Engle as its new machinery product manager. Engle will be responsible for heading up sales of new machinery, with a focus on Dong Fang machinery including APSTAR Rotary Die Cutters and APSTAR Flexo-Folder-Gluers. Engle has more than 16 years of experience in the corrugated box industry. Devin Hughes has been named the associate director of admissions for Ivy Tech Community Colleges Gary campus. He is a resident of East Chicago and previously worked as the dual credit coordinator at Triton College in River Grove, Ill. The Building Services Contractors Association International has awarded Corey Bush, of Bryco Services Inc., Merrillville, its Registered Building Service Manager designation. The designation means Bush has satisfied stringent criteria and passed an examination certifying he now meets the high standards of the association. The Pines Village Retirement Communities Inc. has named Karen Vogelsang to its Board of Directors. Vogelsang, a Valparaiso resident, is a senior financial advisor and registered principal of Vogelsang Asset Management LLC. Pines Village Retirement Communities provides housing, services and advocacy for older adults. The National Pawnbrokers Association has selected Greg Engstrom, founder of Ameripawn in Valparaiso, as the recipient of the 2016 Pawnbroker of the Year Award. The NPA Pawnbroker of the Year Award is presented to an NPA member who has demonstrated exceptional success in their business and local community and has made a significant contribution to the pawn industry. Buffalo Wings and Rings owner Mike Weyer, of Jasper, Indiana, and General Manager Ann Benet recently were awarded the Club Level Experience award for best customer service within the chain at the company's national conference. Cincinnati-based Buffalo Wings & Rings has almost 60 locations, with many located in the Midwest. Closed shops, empty shelves and higher prices. That's the current forecast of Indiana's vaping industry, which claims recent legislation has basically vaporized the e-liquid cigarette market throughout the state. Signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence in April 2015, House Bill 1432 is aimed at regulating e-cigarette liquids, which critics claim can hold health hazards of their own even though they do not give off tobacco smoke. Proponents say e-cigarettes are a safe, effective way for people to quit smoking. Blacksheep Vapors, previously of Highland, temporarily closed to move to a new location just over the border in Chicago Heights, Ill., to stop from going out of business altogether. Jazmin Esparza, general manager, said the move was "the hardest decision we have made," costing tens of thousands of dollars and weeks of paperwork. Blacksheep Vapors mixes its own e-liquids and Esparza said HB1432 makes it impossible for her to continue to do business in Indiana. "There is no way we would have been able to operate using our current model in Indiana without being in violation of HB 1432," Esparza said. "We would essentially have become a bootlegger of sorts, selling contraband products to our customers. Doing so would have put us at risk of severe financial penalties and would also have destroyed our reputation as a responsible and honest business." The e-cigarettes sold in vape shops today are actually electronic cartridges, looking a little like fancy pens in some cases, that are filled with custom-blended e-liquids or "vape juices" that consist of a glycerin base and other ingredients, which can include nicotine. Vape shops can buy the vape juices from bulk manufacturers or they can make their own, in which case they are regulated as a manufacturer under the new law. E-cigarettes can be used as an aid in quitting smoking, but some people smoke them simply for the pleasure they find in it. State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, was one of four state representatives from Lake County who co-authored HB1432. Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, sponsored the bill but could not be reached for comment. "I feel people should have confidence that what they inhale is labeled properly and manufactured in a clean environment," Olthoff said in an email. "The FDA also sees that this new industry needs regulating and has issued their rules. We are waiting to see if our Indiana's rules will be pre-empted by the Federal rules." Blacksheep Vapors is willing to comply with safety regulations and sees the need for industry standards, Esparza said. But the business is getting stuck in the red tape involving manufacture and mixing of e-liquids, just as are hundreds of other shops that produce their own product. Since the law went into effect July 1, only six bulk manufacturers have had their products approved for sale in Indiana under the new regulations. Without becoming a registered manufacturer, Blacksheep Vapors would have no choice but to sell only e-liquids produced by the six manufacturers, forcing it to compromise on the quality of their product, Esparza said. And those manufactured e-liquids are priced so high the company would not be able to maintain its profit margins. The 2015 law mandates all e-liquid ingredients must be listed on packaging, includes random testing of the product, limits ingredients in e-liquids and bans sales to minors. It also calls for specific conditions for manufacturing such as cleanliness. This is not the cause of controversy, shop owners and industry advocates said. Roy Story, CEO of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said a stipulation in the law that all makers of e-liquids must hire a security firm is one of the largest stumbling blocks. According to the law, the security firm must employ one or more people certified by the International Door Association as a rolling steel fire door technician and the Door and Hardware Institute, as an architectural hardware consultant. And the company has to have employed these certified persons one year before the regulations took effect in July. Only one security firm in Indiana, based in Lafayette, met these requirements, meaning all vape manufactures whose products are sold in Indiana would have to hire it, Story said. Olthoff acknowledged the law may need to be tweeked. "No one intended a monopoly," she said. "I feel for the manufacturers who weren't able to find a security firm to hire so they can meet their certifications," Olthoff said. "These regulations are new to the state and may need altering plus there are other issues in play, like the FDA rulings and their impact on Indiana's legislation. I'm sure the legislators will take another look to make improvements." Story said he sees the need for regulation, but the current law has to be changed. "Certainly we need oversight," Story said. "I am all for regulation, but responsible regulation and oversight." It's not just small businesses getting stumped by the legislation's requirements. Even large companies with multiple FDA and Alcohol and Tobacco Association monitored products such as National Tobacco Co. of Louisville, Ky., are not making the grade in Indiana. "It has been an issue with Indiana alone," said Brittani Cushman, National Tobacco Co. vice-president of external affairs. "No other states have instated this regulatory regime." In 2015, Cushman testified regarding HB1432 during a Senate Public Policy committee hearing. "It's shocking that the state has implemented this regime, where companies, large or medium in size, have no motivation or ability to comply," Cushman said. Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg, bill sponsor Sen. Ron Alting-R and other Indiana Senate leaders are now also calling for a review of the law. So far the bill has been tried in one federal court case and it was determined HB1432 does not violate interstate commerce rules. But Story hopes pending litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, e-liquid company GoodCat LLC et al. v. Cook et al., will help put an end to the law. "This is a product that has brought down the smoking rate for the past five years without any instances of harm," Story said. Lightning couldn't match the confetti, pyrotechnics and general explosiveness of Coldplays first of two sold-out performances at Soldier Field Saturday evening. Coldplay front man Chris Martin blasted onto the stage like he was shot from a cannon to begin the show with A Head Full of Dreams, and didn't stop until the band was actually forced to. Only fitting, since the band took the world by storm in 2000 with the single Yellow. Since then, the British pop-rock band hasnt stopped. They have produced hit after hit, ensuring their legacy in the music industry. Playing in a shortened concert due to torrential weather conditions Saturday, Coldplay still managed to play nearly an hour and a half and give the audience their moneys worth with favorites like, Yellow, Paradise, Viva La Vida, Clocks and more before closing the show encore free to A Sky Full of Stars. Then officials ordered them to end the show. One of the evening highlights came when Martin addressed the audience during Everglow, and reminded them to send good vibes and that collectively people make a difference. Toward the end of the song, video sound bites of Muhammad Ali and his quest for peace around the world. Coldplay, made up of front man Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion, used the audience as a background choir during hits like Paradise and Viva La Vida. Martin apologized emphatically for having to cut the show short but that didnt stop most of the 55,000 plus fans from weathering the downpour and even chanting the words to Viva La Vida in unison in the corridors as concertgoers left the venue. Fans also appreciated Coldplays version of the Blues Brothers Ode to he city Sweet Home Chicago. Considering the hurricane-like ambiance, Coldplay did not disappoint fans and it should be noted that the only reason the show ended was due to venue officials calling the performance for safety measures. Coldplay will be back at it again on Sunday before heading to Louisvilles KFC Yum Center on Wednesday. Brooke Fowler, of Highland, always had a fire for Jesus in her heart and a deep devotion to her Roman Catholic faith. That love intensified last September when she experienced Pope Francis first visit to the United States in Philadelphia, now leading her to the Holy Fathers World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland on Monday. (World Youth Day runs Monday through July 31). That experience changed my entire life, said Fowler. I wanted to be part of World Youth Day but thought it was financially impossible so I prayed on it. Those prayers were answered when she talked with the Rev. Steve Gibson, of St. Marys East Chicago, who had encouraged young parishioners to join him on a trip and told them not to worry about money because God will provide. Gibson asked Fowler, 23, to join them and told her they were minimizing expenses by staying at a convent in Poland and eating with the sisters to defray meal costs. All of a sudden my prayers were answered, Fowler said. I never met Father Gibson and his commitment to his parish youth and devotion to Christ inspired me to help them make this trip happen. Fowler said she couldnt believe the parishs dedication to fundraising for the trip and their unique strategies to make it happen. There I was helping to sell tacos, nachos, tortas (sandwiches) and horchata (rice water) after Sunday mass, said Fowler. This is what faith is all aboutspreading and sharing our love for Jesus. Fowler leaves in September for the Bronx to join the Sisters of Life formation. She feels shes most inspired by the work of the sisters and their commitment to helping the poor. Its an honor to be on this trip with the youth of St. Marys, said Fowler. Im very impressed with their strong faith and cant wait to experience this journey with them. Nervarroe Ramirez, 16, of Hammond, will also be joining the group and was on the trip to Philadelphia with the Rev. Gibsons flock last September. Ramirez faith journey took a much different route than Fowlers. Growing up, I didnt have church beliefs so I came to church once in awhile and all Father Gibson kept talking about was the Pope and Philadelphia, said Ramirez. I went and it changed my life because it opened my eyes. I had such a calmness that came over me and felt blessed to see kids my age that were proud of their faith. One such teen is Jose Jimenez, of Hammond. Jiminez, 16, joined the St. Margaret Mary church choir and was later called to join the youth group. We only have seven members but they are strong members, said Jiminez. We want our community to know that we could be spiritual leaders and that all teens are not bad or look for trouble. The Rev. Gibson feels providing these types of opportunities to the youth will only enhance their devotion to Christ. We have 54 going on the trip but could have easily doubled that amount, but many are undocumented and would have trouble getting back into the country, Gibson said. But that didnt stop them from helping to raise money for the others, which is a true testament to their faith. After all, that type of sacrifice is very inspiring. The Gary Diocese also had over 80 region Catholics heading to Poland earlier this week. Bishop Donald Hying celebrated a special mass with them on Monday at Holy Angels Cathedral in Gary. NEW YORK Less than two years after joining Oscar de la Renta and following in the footsteps of its late, legendary founding designer, Peter Copping is leaving his post as creative director to return to Europe. Copping said he was leaving the luxury label for personal reasons. The development was just the latest in a turbulent year for top fashion houses, with turnover at Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Balenciaga and Calvin Klein, among others. I have loved my time in New York where I hope to return at some point in the future, Copping said in a statement released by the company Wednesday evening. Copping, who is British, joined the company in October 2014, having previously served as creative director at Nina Ricci in Paris. He was hoping to work alongside de la Renta himself. But it was not to be: Just days after Copping was hired, the famous designer died of cancer. Copping presented his debut New York Fashion Week collection in February of 2015. This past February, several collections later, he spoke of a delicate balance between keeping de la Rentas legacy alive and also bringing fresh ideas to the label. Im very respectful of the legacy of the house but you have to challenge it as well, it cant just stand still, Copping told The Associated Press backstage at Fashion Week. You need to move forward. But its very important to do it gradually, step by step. Longtime devotees were surprised, at that show, to see a leather dress in a shade of raspberry something new for the classic label. It was something new to put into an Oscar de la Renta show, Copping said. I think the silhouettes felt very Oscar in some ways, fitted through the waist and then going into a bell skirt. But the material took it somewhere else. In an example of his efforts to mix old and new, Copping said he was looking at old 18th-century fabrics like tapestries to inspire his patterns, but was also inspired by contemporary artist Jeff Koons and his famous balloon animals. ISHPEMING, Mich. (AP) While waterways such as the Great Lakes are viewed by modern society as a source of recreation and transportation, it is easy to forget that local history was forged, in large part, by the water that surrounds us. The Marquette Maritime Museum has chronicled and celebrated life on the Great Lakes for well over a century, The Mining Journal reported. The crown jewel of its collection is, without a doubt, the 150-year-old Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. Museum board member Carolyn Northey said the museum moved into what was the city of Marquettes Water Works building in 1982. Over the decades the museum has built a collection of artifacts, including a unique assembly of lighthouse lenses, all procured from lighthouses within a 100-mile radius of the museum. I challenge anyone to find a better collection of lenses anywhere on the Great Lakes. Having a 2nd, 3rd, 3 1/2 and 4th order classical Fresnel lenses in the same exhibit hall concurrently is unheard of, Northey said. The museum also boasts an enclosed flotation device called a life cart that could transport four to five people stacked on top of one another from a shipwreck until they could get to a rescue ship. Other exhibits include the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck, the Henry B. Smith shipwreck and displays about the Stannard Rock Lighthouse, the Big Bay Point Lighthouse and the McClintock Annex, commemorating the World War II battle of Leyte Gulf involving two submarines, the USS Darter and the USS Dace. The battle, considered the largest in naval history, marked a pivotal point in the defeat of the Japanese. Museum visitors can peer through an authentic 40-foot-tall WWII submarine periscope, named for the Marquette native Navy Capt. David McClintock who commanded the Darter during the battle. Children who come to the museum can take part in a treasure trove of activities including the opportunity to dress up as a pirate, or take part in a scavenger hunt just to name two. Perhaps the biggest treasure for any MMM visitor is the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. Since the recorded population of the Upper Peninsula, lighthouses have been a symbol of the respect mariners have for the Great Lakes. The original Marquette Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1853, but the existing structure was built in 1866 with a second floor added in the early 1900s. The structure is pivotal in U.P. history as it was critical to the Great Lakes iron ore trade. Marquette was the premier shipping port for iron ore until the 1890s, and the lighthouse was vital for safe passage in and out of the harbor. The lighthouse is set high on the Lake Superior skyline built into a bed of rock. After a visitor walks up the 50 steps to the lighthouse, one of the first places inside the structure the guided tour stops is the winch room. Seasonal museum manager Ryan Dubay said before becoming the first electrically lit lighthouse on the Great Lakes in 1928, the lamp for the lighthouse was fueled by oil that had to be refilled regularly. Because of the lighthouses remote location up on a rock, an alternative to hand-carrying the oil containers had to be devised, thus a cart on a track would bring the oil to a trap door under the lighthouse where it would be winched into the building. Imagine carrying anything up all those stairs, Dubay said. This way they could bring in as much oil as they needed and even put several containers on reserve. The tour includes the lightkeepers living quarters, the breathtaking view from the lighthouse windows and the catwalk. In its 150 years, the lighthouse has seen its share of hope and tragedy. Dubay said the structure is haunted and he sometimes tells ghost stories on the evening tours. Early in the 1900s, a little girl died here. Her ghost haunts this place, Dubay said. The museum is partnering with the Marquette Board of Light and Power to host a party to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse from 1 to 4 p.m. July 30 on the grounds of the lighthouse. Northey said the date will also mark the lighthouse changing ownership, with the U.S. Coast Guard officially signing the landmark over to the city of Marquette. The museum has been leasing the lighthouse from the Coast Guard as well as 2.5 acres of land surrounding it since 2002. The celebration will include free lighthouse tours, tours of the Coast Guard Station, firing of the museums Lyle gun, a special raffle and a Marquette memorabilia auction. Visitors to the MMM can choose to self-tour the museum, a guided tour of the lighthouse, or both. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the museum is $3 for children under 12 and $6 for adults; lighthouse tours are $3 for children under 12 or $6 for adults. Visitors can get admission to the museum combined with a lighthouse tour at $5 for children 12 and younger and $10 for adults. Children 12 and younger cost $3 for museum or lighthouse, or $5 for both. The number of offenders from Northwest Indiana whose sentences were reduced by recent sentencing-guideline changes is just a sliver of what has occurred at the national level. While the change has reduced prison terms for thousands of people across the country serving time for a federal offense, experts said work still must be done to create a fair sentencing system. The balance sought has been tough to achieve: imposing firm guidelines on judges eliminates their discretion and can result in uniform but sometimes unfairly harsh sentences; too much discretion, on the other hand, can result in wildly disparate sentences for similar or even identical offenses. In 2014, the U.S. Sentencing Commission approved an amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines that reduced by two offense levels the quantity of most drugs. Prior to the changes, for instance, an offense level of 20 required that a drug case involve at least 200 grams of powder cocaine. Now, as a result of the new 2014 rules, a level 20 now requires there be 300 grams of powder cocaine involved in the case. The details might seem minuscule, but they are monumental to people awaiting sentencing in federal court, because the offense level determines the time range a person must spend in prison. Someone with an offense level of 20 could face 33 to 41 months in prison, though that range depends on the person's criminal history. There are 43 offense levels; the more serious the crime, the higher the level. An offense level of 43 calls for life in prison. In Northwest Indiana, 218 people applied to have their sentences reduced as a result of the changes, according to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report published in April. Of that number, 182 petitions were granted, 36 were denied. Nationally, 38,242 offenders petitioned federal judges to have their sentences modified. Judges granted 26,850 petitions, denied 11,392. In the Northern District of Illinois, which includes Chicago, there were 452 petitions for sentencing modifications. All but two of those were granted. About 31 percent of the cases in the U.S. involved methamphetamine, according to the commission. Another 28 percent of sentence reductions involved the distribution of powder cocaine, 20 percent involved crack cocaine, 8.9 percent included marijuana and 7 percent involved heroin. Kevin Ring, vice president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said his organization has heard the process has gone smoothly across the country. But he is concerned that even with the reductions, people still are serving extraordinarily long sentences. Average sentence reduction is 2 years According to the commission, the average reduction in sentence was 24 months, or about 17.3 percent of what an offender was previously serving. In the Northern District of Indiana, the average sentence decrease was 28 months, or about 16.9 percent. David Capp, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, said his office objected to petitions if the person had a history of bad conduct while in custody, or if there was an aggravating circumstance in the crime. Otherwise, he said his office did not object, because the law operates automatically on sentencing guideline changes. Jerome T. Flynn, executive director of the Northern District of Indiana Federal Community Defenders, said the sentencing commission provided a list of offenders who could qualify for a sentencing reduction. Judges have accepted sentence-reduction petitions done pro se, that is, by defendants on their own without an attorney's help. Flynn, whose agency provides a public defender to people facing federal charges who can't afford to hire an attorney, said federal public defenders have not represented most defendants who have petitioned the court for sentence reductions, just a few pro bono. That's because a 2013 decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the federal appeals court that includes Indiana, ruled that offenders seeking a lower sentence aren't entitled to an attorney at public expense. Late last month, Flynn said he planned to write letters to inform offenders their sentence could be reduced. The U.S. Sentencing Commission estimates that 46,000 people sentenced from 1991 to 2014 could be eligible for a sentence reduction. In the commission's review of the possible cases, the highest concentration of eligible offenders hails from districts in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Moving toward lighter sentences for drug offenses Ryan Scott, an associate professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, said the 2014 sentencing guideline changes were a step toward making sentences less severe for drug offenses. He said the amendment was a move away from judges placing importance on drug quantity when crafting a sentence for an offender. In the 1980s, Congress implemented mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. The quantity of drugs was added into the equation for how much time an offender could spend in a federal prison, because it was supposed to distinguish drug dealers from those who were addicted to drugs or dealing drugs on a small scale. In practice that theory didn't always pan out in federal courtrooms, Scott said. Many times, people charged in federal cases are accused of being part of a conspiracy. That means people are attributed to a quantity of drugs that may not represent their true role in the conspiracy, Scott said. Another criticism of relying on drug quantity is that the government in some cases controls how much drugs a defendant is accused of distributing. Scott said this is most true in cases where the sale or purchase of drugs involves a confidential informant or a sting operation organized by law enforcement officials. "That's another source of discomfort, because drug quantity is a manipulator in some ways," Scott said. Capp said the 2014 guideline changes haven't altered his office's focus. "We try to focus our resources consistently on (prosecuting) the worst of the worst," he said. Capp pointed to the racketeering indictments targeting Northwest Indiana gang members as examples of how his office combats drugs and violence. Advisory guidelines result in unpredictable sentences In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal sentencing guidelines should be advisory, not mandatory. IU law school's Scott said his research on changes made since sentencing guidelines became advisory found the potential has increased for greater sentencing disparity. "Practicing lawyers will tell you they are very excited or worried depending on who the judge is assigned to the case," Scott said. "The prosecutor knows this, too. They will take different approaches based on what is going to appeal to or wrangle a sentencing judge." Scott said, for instance, one particular judge could determine the drug quantity involved in the case is unimportant, and issue a sentence below the guideline range. But in an identical case, another judge could place greater importance on the sentencing guidelines and drug quantity. In 2010, the Fair Sentencing Act reduced the penalties for crack cocaine offenses, which Scott said made the penalties for crack cocaine closer to those for powder cocaine. "That was a significant development," Scott said. "It's the first time in a decade that Congress had reduced (sentences) for drugs." The guidelines apply only to federal cases, but Scott described them as tremendously important, because many states model their criminal laws based on what occurs at the federal level. "It's small but a noticeable change," Scott said. "One of the hopes of the sentencing commission was that some of the changes on the federal level will spill over in the state level." In Indiana, however, a law that went into effect this month requires that a person convicted of dealing heroin or methamphetamine and who has a prior drug conviction is sentenced to at least 10 years in prison. That law is in contrast to the 2014 Indiana criminal code revisions, which lowered penalties for most drug offenses. Judicial discretion a mixed blessing? Ring, with Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said common sense needs to be brought back to the criminal justice system. "Judges need to be able to use their discretion to discern if the matter or defendant is serious and warrants a serious sentence, or if the matter is less serious," he said. "They can't really do that with (sentencing) minimums." IU law school's Scott said one of the most debated topics among scholars is whether changes in federal sentencing have made it better or worse for groups such as African-American men, who historically have been affected by strict drug policies. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 8,868 offenders nationally who identified as African-American were granted sentence reductions following the 2014 guideline changes. The commission's report also indicates that 6,133 of successful petitioners were white, and 10,647 identified as Hispanic. Of the total number of 26,850 granted petitions, 24,496 were by men. Ring, whose organization aims to get rid of mandatory minimum sentences, said the commission has gone as far as it can. He noted President Barack Obama has used his power of clemency in drug cases, but he said any further changes to sentencing guidelines will have to come from lawmakers. "Ultimately, the change needs to happen in Congress," Ring said. "They need to fix sentencing laws. Getting relief from the president is like winning the lottery." PORTAGE Portage Christian School will break ground next month on a 10,700-square-foot addition to the school. Superintendent Larry Pender said the school, which is not affiliated with any church, continues to grow in enrollment and sees a need to add a high school/middle school wing to the building on Arlene Street. The addition to the west side of the building will house 10 classrooms and a teachers lounge. Included will also be a state-of-the-art science lab. The construction will also include renovations to the present building, including moving the library and adding two new locker rooms adjacent to the gym. The present middle and high school classrooms will be revamped for more elementary and special class space. "Over the last four years, elementary enrollment has doubled," said Pender, adding they have seen a 12 percent growth each year and anticipates an enrollment of between 320 and 330 students in grades kindergarten through 12 this year. The last addition was in 2011 which added the gym/worship center, two classrooms and library. The school, founded more than 30 years ago, started in extra space inside area churches before moving into its own facility about 25 years ago. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in August pending final approval by the Portage Plan Commission on Aug. 1. Pender said construction will begin immediately and the new classrooms should be ready after students return from Christmas break in January. Pender said while the school has seen exponential growth in its elementary program, growth had been slow in the high school classes. He said they hired a high school principal who added dual credit programs and for the first time in the history of the school, it appears high school enrollment will also increase this year. Pender said parents say they are attracted to the school because of its smaller classrooms and more individualized attention to students in addition to its ties with local evangelical churches. The addition also means hiring of staff including middle school English and fourth grade teachers as well as part-time Spanish and music teachers, said Pender. "This is an investment in the future and will allow for growth," said Pender, adding with the addition, the building will be able to house up to 500 students. When Twitter banned Milo Yiannopoulos, a blogger for the conservative news website Breitbart.com who used the Twitter handle Nero, Yiannopoulos reacted with characteristic modesty. He told The New York Times the ban launched "the beginning of the end for Twitter." Oddly, Yiannopouolos may be right. In February, the social media platform announced its "Trust and Safety Committee." With Orwellian overtones, CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted, "Twitter stands for freedom of expression, speaking truth to power, and empowering dialogue. That starts with safety." The San Francisco startup invites all comers to post their thoughts by name or anonymously. The more outrageous the tweets, the more attention they attract. Unbowed, Twitter HQ gets all sanctimonious when trolls get nasty. Like, who knew that would happen? Conservatives knew that the Twitter panel, comprised of left-leaning organizations, would target the right. Their suspicions were confirmed when Twitter promptly shuttered the account of Robert Stacy McCain, an anti-feminist blogger. Twitter would not disclose which Tweets led to McCain's ostracism. Likewise Twitter won't stipulate which Tweets were the reason Yiannopouolos had to go on Tuesday. In the brave new world of social media, no one talks on the record. No social media platform discloses which actions specifically led to a user's banishment. They give lip service to transparency, then hide behind their platforms and their doublespeak. So when I asked Twitter why it exiled Yiannopouolos, I got a vanilla statement emailed by a spokesperson who told me nothing and did not want to be named. I have to assume that Twitter talked to Buzzfeed, which reported Yiannopouolos was banned because he had "incited his followers to bombard 'Ghostbusters' star Leslie Jones with racist and demeaning tweets." The nasty racism unleashed in those tweets drove Jones off Twitter. As a private company, Twitter has the right to refuse service to unwanted individuals and set standards of acceptable discourse. Its prohibition on "hateful conduct" reads: "You may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease." That's a reasonable standard as long as it is applied fairly, or at least fairly most of the time. But there is nothing fair about the Trust and Safety Committee, a collection of left-leaning groups weaned on the expectation that institutions will protect them from the sharp elbows of partisan brawling. Yiannopoulos is a provocateur, a gay, alternative-right conservative who lives to push others' buttons. When a lefty group gets his "Most Dangerous Faggot Tour" banned from campus, it's like throwing him a steak. A shameless self-promoter, he flogs their intolerance, because, well, they are extremely intolerant. The proof is in the Twitter lifetime ban. Note that Twitter did not exile Yiannapoulos for anything he wrote, but for what his fans wrote. As the web site Recode reported, Twitter booted Yiannopoulos because he was "one of the main instigators. He tweeted that Jones was 'barely literate' and also referred to her as a man." The "barely literate" was in response to a grammatical error in a Jones tweet. (Who among us is without sin?) Jones is tall and strong, hence the dig at her femininity. I don't defend those remarks. I endure worse on a regular basis. So if Twitter wants to ban users for relatively tame criticism, it's going to become a lonely site fast. If Twitter can derail someone for what his or her followers do, then why not eject Black Lives Matter leaders for inciting the rogue Baton Rouge cop killer? That's where guilt by association leads. We all know that won't happen. This is left versus right. This is liberals deciding what conservatives should be allowed to say. More conservatives will leave Twitter, and more liberals will think that everyone agrees with them because their views are reinforced on the Twitter loop. It's easy to tout civil discourse when you've muzzled your opponents. My guess is many liberals will nod in agreement with this column, but they won't do anything about it because they'll think Yiannopoulos deserved to be banned. And that's the end of Twitter. VALPARAISO It was hot enough to melt the frosting off a cupcake. Yet the show went on Saturday afternoon at the annual Taste of 4-H food auction at the Porter County Fair. In the end, the auction of nearly 60 plates of cookies, pies, cakes, and bread, hand baked by 4-Hers, earned more than $14,400 for the John Keller Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awards $1,000 scholarships to 4-H members headed to college. This years total is the second highest in the 28 years of the show, paling only to 2011, when more than $15,600 was raised. To keep the audience members cool and the bidding hot, fans were set up in strategic locations in the Buggy Wheel Pavilion, while auctioneer Jonathan Kraft, of Kraft Auction Service, had fun with the audience and 4-H leaders paraded around with each treat enticing bidders. After 4-H members enter their baked goods in the 4-H competition, the best are invited to participate in the auction, said Brevin Wittmer, 17, a nine-year 4-H member whose cherry pie earned $350 in last years auction. Wittmer, whose sister Victoria, 15, also participated in the auction, said its not really weird for men in his family to bake and cook. His dad, Mathew, bakes and grills and does a lot of dinners, Brevin said. After making at least nine pies at home, Katie Henderson entered her apple pie in the 4-H competition and won champion in the pie category and reserve grand champion in the overall food category. Hendersons family benefits from her food trials at home, particularly from the apple pie that contained Crisco in the crust. I made that one and it was gone within a day, said Henderson, of Morgan Township. To date, the food auction has enabled the group to award more than 180 scholarships totaling nearly $233,000. Food auction committee member Lela Hewlett said she and a group of like-minded individuals started the auction in 1989 because after the 4-H food judging, they hated to see the food go to waste. This has helped so many kids go to college, said Hewlett, who noted that scholarship recipients have gone on to a variety of careers. Now the kids come back and tell us how much it boosted their confidence to get a scholarship. Auction chair Kara Moon, now 25, is a former scholarship winner who said she owes a lot to her 4-H experience and the scholarship. Moon, who recently graduated from Purdue University Northwest, said 4-H is responsible for where she is now in her life. I love giving back to the organization that gave me so much, said Moon, who is also superintendent of 4-H personality project. My involvement here has led to my career opportunities. Other former 4-H members were in the audience doing some bidding. Midway through the auction, former 4-H member Austin Gearhart had already spent $500 accumulating treats. Its a good cause. These are kids just trying to do projects and have fun, said Gearhart, of Hebron. When I was in 4-H, I showed livestock and people I didnt know bid on my stuff. I try to give back because a lot of people gave back to me. LOWELL Surrounded by ready listeners on bales of hay, historian Merle Miller swept his arms dramatically as if to encompass the height and breadth of the large, unique bank barn in which he stood. This is the Cadillac of barns, Miller, of LaPorte, said Saturday of Buckley Homestead County Parks barn. Learning more from Miller about the barn with its lower level livestock space and upper level grain and feed space was particularly appropriate Saturday as the living history farm and Lake County park celebrated the barns 100th aniversary with old-fashioned fun and, of course, ice cream and cake. The fun will continue today from 10.m. to 4 p.m. Jayne Kranc, of St. John, who has volunteered at Buckley for 24 years, said the farms original barn had burned down, and Charles Buckley had seen bank barns in the East and been impressed. He remembered them and liked them a lot. He wanted to recreate one, she said. Miller pointed to the sturdy barn floor actually made of two layers of flooring and various components of the barn that made farming operations labor-saving and efficient. Skeptics back then who were certain such a different barn would not last would be surprised to see it today, Meghan Faulkner, of Lake County Parks, said. Dave Bauman, of Lowell, enjoyed hearing about the barn. It was really good, he said of the history lesson. Baumans wife, Donna, said they walk several times a week at Buckley. Our grandkids think of it as our farm, she said with a smile. Impressed with the barn floor, she said, They turn it into a dance floor during (The Legend of) Sleepy Hollow, she said. Enjoying celebratory cake and ice cream in honor of the barn, Ron and Judy Pascu, of Hammond, were soaking it all in. The first-time visitors decided to stop by Buckley after reading of the event in The Times. I think its wonderful, Ron Pascu said. Judy said, Its driving 20 miles and youre in another world. Oppressive heat and humidity kept Saturdays visitor count low. In the barnyard under a tent, Hawk Van Lew, of Osceola, Indiana, said those stopping by his re-enactor station where he explained the firearms of that time were interested in learning about it all. Also a circuit riding preacher, Van Lew said he will be offering a 10:30 a.m. nondenominational service today. Visitors will get to say, cheers to a 100 years, and see the nine-layer cake topped with miniature cows, sheep, fencing and trees today as well as listen to re-enactors, get their pictures taken at the bath house Kissing Booth, play Buckley Bingo and more. Admission is $5. Buckley Homestead is 4 miles west of the Interstate 65/Ind. 2 interchange off of Hendricks Road. It is immediately east of Lowell. CROWN POINT Trinity Lutheran Church has added a third pastor to the congregations ministry team. Pastor Brett Satkowiak, who will serve as the churchs youth minister, joins Pastors Stephen Henderson and David Kipp. Trinity is such a dynamic congregation with a solid foundation in Gods word and our Lutheran confession of faith, said Satkowiak, who was ordained in June at Trinity. Building on that foundation, they have developed an extraordinary day school and a diverse set of ministries to serve their people and the Crown Point community. Pastor Henderson and Pastor Kipp are great men of faith with a lot of experience in ministry and so itll be fantastic to get to learn from that as I begin to find and develop my own voice and practice in ministry. On top of that, I get to spend a lot of my time working with young people, which is a huge passion of mine. In many ways, the call to Trinity in Crown Point is the best of all worlds for me. These are exciting times for Trinity, Satkowiak said. Next year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. And 2018 will be the 150th anniversary of Trinitys founding as a Christian congregation. And in the midst of all of that, we are considering a major building project that will better equip us to lead our people in worship to and through Jesus Christ, Satkowiak said. In his new role, Satkowiak, a graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, hopes to communicate and demonstrate a life of faith that extends beyond worship on Sunday into the other six days of the week. That means loving God through worship and loving those he places around you, understanding the seemingly mundane aspects of this life as the divine connections that they are, and coming to know more and more in newer and newer ways all that Jesus Christ has done for you and how that changes how you see yourself and the world around you in so many different ways. With an emphasis on youth and childrens services, Satkowiak will help lead regular worship services, preach and aid in other ways as needed. Satkowiak and his wife Jen have four children: Peter, 9, Claire, 6, Lily, 3, and Nora, 16 months. GARY The recent shooting death of Hammond teen John Lee Hennington is one of the reasons Edna Burrell is making gun violence the focus Saturday during Northlake Church of Christs annual youth summit. So many kids are dying, said Burrell, event organizer and the ministers wife at the Gary church. If we can save one although Id love to save more than one then thats my goal. Hennington, 15, was shot and killed July 7 as he talked on the phone outside his home in the 1100 block of Cleveland Street in Hammond. Police are investigating. The youth summit runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Northlake Church of Christ, 1000 E. 21st Ave., Gary. The event which is open to the public will include lunch, speakers, discussion and a question-and-answer session with officers from Gary and Chicago police departments. Burrell said the summits goal is to give children the opportunity to meet with local law enforcement, warn children of the dangers of gun violence, and to steer teens away from joining feuding area gangs. She also hopes officers can advise children how to best interact with police during encounters. Recent police shootings of black men and women across the nation are tragic, she said, but Burrell added youths equally need to learn to respect one another. All this talk about (police-involved shootings) ... Its deeper than that. Its bigger than that, she said. Its parents not teaching their kids. If theres no respect in the neighborhood for each other, theres not going to be respect for anybody else. Organizations invited to Saturdays summit include the Boys & Girls Club, the Crisis Center and a number of churches. Burrell encouraged organizations and individuals wishing to participate to call (219) 333-1802 or email her at edna54@yahoo.com. HAMMOND A plan designed to protect the citys basements from backups during heavy rains is not likely to have much of an impact on Griffith, while Highland looks for ways to stem any impact on its system. The Hammond Board of Sanitary Commissioners voted this month to have the administrator prepare an emergency action plan to deal with periods of heavy rain when the amount of storm and sewer water may overwhelm the Hammond holding basin. A draft plan is expected to be ready for review by the next meeting on Aug. 9. The basin can hold 38 million gallons of liquid, but there have been times when heavy rainfalls led to the basin overflowing into the river. This usually happens about four times a year. During these times, some Hammond basements may also experience flooding from backups from the overloaded lines. In the past, Hammond has continued to accept water from Highland, Griffith and Whiting, who have sanitary treatment service contracts with Hammond, even when it exceeds the amount the city has contractually agreed to take. City Engineer Dean Button, who is also heads the Sanitary Board, said in the future Hammond may use flow control devices to restrict the amount of water accepted from these communities to only the contracted limit to help protect Hammond basements. He didnt think such a plan would be put in place immediately, but could take place in the near future. Button said Hammond had to give the other communities three years notice that the flow restrictions could take place. The notice period ended last week, he said. Button noted that both Griffith and Whiting have basins that can handle some of the excess water, while Highland does not. Griffith Council President Rick Ryfa said he does not expect his community to be impacted by the rule. According to Ryfa, Griffiths contract with the sanitary district allows it to discharge 5.5 million gallons a day to the district and allow the flow rate to be exceeded slightly on high flow days. During the past five years, Griffith has discharged more than 5.5 million gallons to the district on only six days, according to data from the community. Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura said Whiting rarely, if ever, exceeds the amount it is contracted to send to Hammond. He said there may be times during dry periods when they send extra water to Hammond to empty the towns storage basin after first checking with the district. Button said that Highland, however, regularly goes over its contracted amount. He said Hammond will continue to accept the overages except in cases of extreme rain events like those seen in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Basement backups, said Dean, first and foremost, are a public health hazard, and Hammond also is subject to Environmental Protection Agency penalties as a result of basement backups. Highland Public Works Director John Bach said heavy rains like those seen in 2006 and 2008 are going to be a challenge to the system regardless if Hammond restricts the flow of water. He said in these extremely heavy rain events the town would look at bypassing some of the water into the Little Calumet River. Bach said the town is looking at designing and constructing large storage tanks in Highland to deal with periods of heavy rain and also try to see if Hammond would take additional water from the community in such circumstances. Computer modeling looking at dry weather and wet weather flow is being done now and could be completed by the end of August. The model will aid the community in determining how much storage it needs to build or how much additional flow officials may talk to Hammond about taking. Button said the city would continue to take additional flow when it can. He also noted Hammond has taken measures over the years to reduce the amount of basements backups, primarily through increased separation of the sewer and storm systems. LAKE STATION Lora Saczawa is carrying now. Im carrying now. Ive got naloxone, Saczawa said Saturday shortly after leaving a Lake Station Fire Department training seminar on how to administer the opioid overdose reversal drug. She hopes shell never have to use naloxone, she said, but she has her 28-year-old son, Joseph, to think about. Hes overdosed three times in his eight-year-long struggle with addiction, she said. In September, hes scheduled to return home after serving prison time on a theft charge. No one wants to be a part of this life. But we have to get rid of the stigma, said Saczawa, of Calumet Township. People can judge me. I dont care. (The drug epidemic) scares the hell out of me and someone needs to speak up and say something. She is a social media administrator for the NWI Drug and Addiction Help Group on Facebook, a place where loved ones of addicts can go for support. About 15 people attended Saturdays training, which was sponsored by Overdose Lifeline, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit. After discussion and a short demonstration, each received a naloxone nasal spray kit containing two doses and detailed instructions. A board member with the nonprofit, Indiana Deputy Attorney General Aaron Kochar, said the drug works by neutralizing the effect of opioids on brain receptors. An overdose is not instant, so every minute counts, he said. Kochar said there are critics who argue naloxone enables addicts to continue using. But through science, weve learned that addiction is a disease, and recovery is possible, Kochar said. Weve also learned you cant treat a corpse. The nonprofit was founded by Justin Phillips, who lost her 20-year-old son, Aaron, in 2013 to an overdose and helped lead a push for Aarons law. The Indiana State Department of Health issued a standing order, effective July 1, allowing pharmacies to dispense the drug to anyone without a prescription. Kochar led the training session, focusing much of the time on the connection between prescription painkillers and heroin, the ongoing epidemic and how to recognize overdose symptoms. Lake Station Fire Chief Chuck Fazekas said his department responds to two or four overdoses each week. He was happy to see some of his men attend the training seminar, but wants more of his team to carry. For more information about Overdose Lifeline or purchasing naloxone, go to Overdose-lifeline.org. MICHIGAN CITY An internationally renowned childrens gospel choir that has taken its powerful and energetic sound to the White House is coming to Michigan City. The Grammy Award winning Soul Children of Chicago is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 behind the courthouse on a stage to be set up in the parking lot along 4th Street. The performance will be part of the annual downtown Taste of Michigan City on Franklin Street to kick-off a weekend of racing on Lake Michigan by drivers with the Superboat International series. The 25 to 30 children in the choir will sing for about 45 minutes with Michigan Citys Soul Steppers group being the opening act. Both groups will share a meal at a reception afterward at the nearby Lubeznik Center for the Arts. We feel this event embraces our goals to celebrate the rich diversity of our city and county by bringing this special cultural experience to our downtown, said Mayor Ron Meer. The idea of reaching out to the group came from Mike Connor, who owns several businesses and buildings in the downtown. Connor said he saw the choir perform two years ago at the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago and went to Meer with a suggestion to bring them here. Connor said the parking lot due to being slightly elevated was chosen to give visitors the best sight lines. We can use the entire parking lot, the street and the Post Office across the street for crowds to view the event, Connor said. The choir performs regularly around the country and across the globe and its director is Walt Whitman Jr. who founded the non-denominational, nonprofit group together 30 years ago to utilize music as a motivator and catalyst for inspiring young people to have faith in themselves, each other and God, according to the groups webpage. The group in 2013 performed for president Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, for his second inauguration in Washington D.C. PORTAGE The Community Orchestra for Developing Artists will hold auditions for its 2016-2017 season on Aug. 14. A youth orchestra program based in Portage, CODA serves as both a community outreach program and an ensemble development class for Del Segno Studios. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome in the group; past young musicians have ranged from capable second-graders to high school juniors all having at least one to two years of solid instruction on their instrument. Del Segno Studios and the CODA program have continued to partner with local organizations to bring string education to the students of Northwest Indiana. The Portage YMCA serves as a rehearsal space for the group and local high schools reap the benefits of hosting this orchestras performances. The upcoming season holds outreach opportunities with local senior living centers and directors are looking for other volunteer opportunities with community partners. Any student interested in scheduling an audition can find more information at coda.delsegno.com. Times will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and auditions will be held Aug. 14 at Del Segno Studios. For information, call (219) 779-7440. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death and injury for children in America and child safety seats can dramatically reduce the risk. Yet, up to 75 percent of all car seats are installed incorrectly, putting children at risk, according to Valpo Fire Chief Chad Dutz. To safeguard children, 1st Source Bank has donated $10,000 to support the Valparaiso Fire Departments Car Seat Safety Program, where drivers can have their car seats inspected for safety and proper installation, and those in need may receive a free child safety seat. When we learned about the Car Seat Safety Program and how it works to keep kids safe, we were eager to get involved, said Matt Vessely, 1st Source regional president. Each of the departments nine accredited car seat technicians has completed a 32-hour training course, along with ongoing education. Since the Fire Department began offering the Car Seat Program, theyve installed nearly 600 car seats and provided more than 200 free car seats. There are 92 car seat safety stations in Indiana and were the third busiest statewide, Dutz said. The Car Seat Safety Program is so valuable in preventing injuries to children and giving parents the confidence of knowing theyre keeping children safe. Its also a wonderful touch point between our community and our firefighters, Mayor Jon Costas said. To learn how to receive a free safety seat inspection or qualify for a free car seat, contact the Valparaiso Fire Department at (219) 462-8325 or visit Valpo.us and search safety seat. EAST CHICAGO A retired Hammond firefighter and former battalion chief with the Lake County Marine Unit was among the two people who died early Saturday in an East Chicago marina boating accident. The death of Richard Wade, 68, of Hammond, came as a shock Saturday to Lake County Sheriff John Buncich. Buncich noted Wade's decades of experience on the water. "I knew Wade very well. He was one of the original members of the marine unit. Very well-schooled in boating. That's why it came as a very terrible shock," Buncich said Saturday. Wade and Timothy Dunlap, 62, of Lynwood, Illinois, were pronounced dead on scene early Saturday. A third person was injured in the crash. Police say a powerboat crashed into a break wall in Lake Michigan near the East Chicago Marina and ArcelorMittal. Lake County coroner's officials were called to the scene at 6:10 a.m. Reduced visibility, speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, according to a statement from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Hammond Fire Chief Jeffrey Smith said he worked only a short time with Wade, who retired from the department in the early 1990s. Smith said he knew Wade more through State Auto Body, a body shop in Hammond that Wade owned. "I talked to Rich maybe Monday or Tuesday. We were getting some body work done on one of our ambulances," Smith said. Smith said Wade was an avid boatman, and owned a boat at the East Chicago marina. He was known to spend his summer evenings at the marina, he said. "He will be missed," Smith said. "He was an all-around good guy. I never had a person said anything bad about him." A DNR officer said the boat involved was a 42-foot Fountain powerboat. Officers were using a remotely operated vehicle Saturday to search the site for other possible victims. Indiana conservation officers were assisted by the Lake County Sheriffs Department Marine Unit, U.S. Coast Guard, East Chicago Police and Fire Departments, the Hobart Fire Department, Portage Fire Department, Crown Point Fire Department and Porter Volunteer Fire Department. SPRINGFIELD Incumbent Democrats hold major fundraising advantages in legislative races that Republicans have identified as key to their effort to cut into the rival partys supermajorities in the Illinois House and Senate in November. Nine Democratic targets combined to raise nearly seven times as much money as their GOP opponents from April through June, and together they ended the quarterly reporting period with $3.9 million more cash in their campaign funds, according to an analysis of filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Democratic state Sen. Gary Forby of Benton and state Reps. John Bradley of Marion, Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg and Mike Smiddy of Hillsdale all outraised their challengers and ended the period with piles of campaign cash dwarfing those of their opponents. Forby raised $98,820 and spent more than $18,910, ending the period with nearly $498,000 remaining in his campaign fund. Thats compared with about $7,380 in the fund of his opponent, Dale Fowler of Harrisburg, who raised $4,050 and spent nearly $16,230. Bradley, meanwhile, held an even bigger advantage over opponent Dave Severin of Benton. The incumbent raised more than $75,710 and spent more than $78,660, finishing June with almost $608,930 to Severins roughly $7,180. The challenger raised almost $9,340 and spent more than $2,250. The gap was even greater for Phelps, who raised nearly $137,290 and spent more than $78,560 in his bid to keep his seat in the neighboring Southern Illinois district. Phelps had more than $647,160 in cash on hand to start July, compared with opponent Jason Kasiars $4.36. Kasiar, of Eldordado, raised more than $11,840 but spent nearly $17,650 from April through June. In the Quad-Cities area, Smiddy spent much more than he brought in, with almost $49,300 in expenditures against $27,850 in receipts. But he ended the period with more than $419,210 left over, while his opponent, Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie, had just over $21,420. She raised nearly $21,080 and spent nearly $13,170. But Smiddy said people shouldnt be deceived by the disparities in fundraising totals. The election Nov. 8 election is still more than three months away, but he and other targeted Democrats have been hit with a barrage of negative TV ads, campaign mailers and robocalls for weeks now. The House Republican Organization is spending $217,500 to run non-candidate issue ads on three Quad-Cities TV stations from July through Wednesday, according to contracts on file with the Federal Communications Commission. The House GOPs campaign committee received $2 million from the state Republican Party earlier this spring after Gov. Bruce Rauners campaign fund gave the party $5 million. The House Republican Organization has also made nearly $27,340 in independent expenditures directly supporting McCombie. Those expenditures legally cant be coordinated with her campaign. My opponent might not have the matching funds that I have, but she will have the outside resources, said Smiddy, who is backed by several organized labor groups and has received substantial contributions from the Illinois Democratic Party in the past, though not since 2014. The GOPs line of attack on its Democratic targets has been that they are under the control of House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago, who also chairs the state Democratic Party. A recent campaign mailer paid for by the Illinois Republican Party shows Smiddy dressed as a waiter standing behind Madigan and reads, Severing Mike Madigan in Springfield since 2013. He dismisses the attack. Of course theyre going to try to do everything they can to tie me to the speaker, but when I first ran, it was the speakers office that didnt want me to run, Smiddy said. His opponent, McCombie, did not respond Friday to a request for comment, and neither did Aaron DeGroot, a spokesman for the state GOP. Sarah Brune is executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, which tracks campaign finance through its IllinoisSunshine.org website. Brune said its fairly typical for incumbents to outpace their challengers in fundraising, particularly this early in the campaign. I do think its been interesting to see the Illinois GOP use independent expenditures as a way to support a lot of their new candidates who are challenging incumbents who have significant resources, she said. Its sometimes easier for ads to go negative when theyre tied to a party committee rather than an individual candidate, Brune said. Given whats at stake in November, she said she expects the flow of money on both sides to become even greater as Election Day approaches. LOS ANGELES Flames raced down a rugged hillside like a freight train, leaving smoldering remains of homes and warnings that more communities should be ready to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. Planes and more than a dozen helicopters dropped water and retardant on the blaze sparked Friday that has destroyed 18 homes and blackened more than 34 square miles of brush on ridgelines near the city of Santa Clarita. About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another fire spanning more than 16 square miles outside the scenic Big Sur region. Near Santa Clarita, residents of some 1,500 homes have been evacuated and authorities have found a burned body in a neighborhood. Shifting winds were pushing flames northeast through Angeles National Forest and toward the city of Acton, and residents were warned to prepare to leave, authorities said at a news conference. The fire has ripped through brush withered by days of 100-degree temperatures and years of drought. It started consuming houses that were non-defendable, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said, describing the flames as charging through terrain like a freight train. Juliet Kinikin said Sunday that there was panic as the sky became dark with smoke and flames moved closer to her home a day earlier in the Sand Canyon area of Los Angeles County. And then we just focused on what really mattered in the house, she said. Kinikin grabbed important documents and fled with her husband, two children, two dogs and three birds. They were back at home Sunday, breathing a big sigh of relief, she said. More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames threatening homes and commercial buildings. The blaze, whose cause is under investigation, sent up a huge plume of smoke visible across the region. The body of a man was discovered Saturday in a burned sedan outside a home in the fire zone. Los Angeles County sheriffs officials are investigating the death but said there was no evidence it was a crime. The fire destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. It also forced a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures to evacuate 340 of its more than 400 animals, including Bengal tigers and a mountain lion. Volunteers showed up with trucks and trailers and evacuated animals from early Friday to late Saturday, when fire officials felt the blaze was no longer a threat to Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar, spokesman Jerry Brown said. The fire surprised everyone and seemingly came out of nowhere, Brown said Sunday. But things are looking up, and officials say that although they have some hot spots near where we are, they dont see any active fire. The evacuated animals were housed in three or four locations, and the sanctuary will wait at least 24 hours before bringing them back, Brown said. North on the Central Coast, a blaze consuming brush in rugged mountains near Big Sur was threatening about 1,650 homes. It burned in inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park and forced the communities of Palo Colorado and Carmel Highlands to evacuate, Californias forestry department said. Jerri Masten-Hansen said she and her husband watched the fire creep in toward them Saturday. We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go, Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV. ___ Associated Press photographer Matt Hartman contributed from Santa Clarita. Writers Olga R. Rodriguez contributed from San Francisco. Visitors to the Pierogi Fest next weekend should look for an outstanding photo exhibit set up at Studio 659, the growing art studio in the heart of downtown Whiting. The exhibit will feature photos and artifacts of St. John the Baptist Church, the subject of the first Iconic Photo Contest timed for the Pierogi Fest. The Times Media Co., the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce and Studio 659 partnered to make this happen. Our photographers chose winning entries from photos of the church submitted in the past month by amateur photographers from throughout the Region. Those impressive photos are on display along with amazing photos taken from the inside of the church steeple, looking out, by our photographer, Damian Rico. The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 10, also includes original blueprints of the church. The South Shore posters featuring St. John the Baptist Church will be available. Its well worth a visit to see so many remarkable views inside and out of the church built in 1930. Its the focal point of our city, said Tom Dabertin, president of the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce and Pierogi Fest chairman, in announcing the first Iconic Photo Contest. Because of its impact on the community, we feel as though it should be the subject of the contest. Rico, who made the trek up a series of ladders into the St. John the Baptist Church steeple, recalls a wind tunnel that was quite surprising. As for the view outside, Rico said, When you see the whole city, this history of the steel mills comes to mind. Looking the other way you can see Willis Tower and know how close we are to downtown Chicago. Ricos photos are the centerpiece of the Studio 569 exhibit. Youll see many more than printed here today. Enjoy this exhibit, and thanks to everyone who submitted photos of the church. We look forward to a second Iconic Photo Contest featuring a different building next summer. Also, thanks to the many volunteers from across the Region who have stepped up to welcome visitors to the July 29-31 Pierogi Fest in the second annual Community Civility Counts greeting initiative. Connect with the Civility Counts Facebook page for ongoing coverage of this unique greeting effort. Vacation memories Speaking of photos, do you have a great photo from a recent vacation? If so, we invite you to submit it in a new Destinations Photo Contest. Photos can be submitted through Aug. 7 at nwi.com/travel. From Aug. 8-11, our readers as well as readers at other Lee Enterprises newspapers across the country will be invited to vote to determine the winners. Top prizes are $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third. The winning photos will be included in a special Destinations travel section that will appear in The Times on Aug. 24. Good luck. Maybe a great photo could lead to your next vacation. Thanks for reading us. Please contact me with any questions about The Times or our many publications. CLEVELAND On a glistening summer morning by the shores of Lake Erie, the bleary-eyed Indiana Republican National Convention delegation found themselves in the company of their vice presidential nominee. It came just hours after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence cruised his way through the fratricidal carnage at the convention, delivering what U.S. Sen. Dan Coats called a grand slam home run on the heels of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs epic vote your conscience speech that found him hounded by catcalls and boos as he exited the big stage. Pence endorsed Cruz just prior to the Indiana primary, but quickly shifted his allegiance to Donald Trump. Like an Indy 500 driver steering his way through wreckage, Pence offered up the clearest rationale for a President Trump. So moved was the nominee that Trump appeared on stage after Pence concluded and offered up an air kiss. Donald Trump gets it, Pence said in his half-hour speech in prime time. Hes a doer in a game usually reserved for talkers. He doesnt tiptoe around a thousand new rules of political correctness. Hes his own man, distinctly American, and where else would he find a following in the land of the free and home of the brave? Eight and a half hours later at the Shoreby Club, Mike and Karen Pence returned to their Hoosier peeps. What a morning, Pence said. I stopped by a television show this morning, and they told me, You didnt even look nervous last night. Well, looks are deceiving. I have to tell ya, when I looked out from that stage and looked out at all of you, it was an incredible source of encouragement. Whatever we have been able to do in public service over these past 16 years, all is owed to the Republican Party of the state of Indiana. The night before, Pence introduced himself in familiar terms as a Christian, conservative and Republican in that order. He quickly lauded Donald Trump. He is a man known for a large personality, a colorful style and lots of charisma, Pence then said. I think he was just looking for some balance on the ticket. Pence contrasted the GOP with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who he said, invented Obamacare and stands for more taxes, more regulation and more government. He said the former secretary of state seeks a new title, that of secretary of status quo. Pence talked of his term as Indiana governor, saying of his home state, We prove every day that we build an economy based on balanced budgets, good roads and health care. Conservative principles work every time you put them into practice. He added of his roots, Now if you know anything about Hoosiers, when we suit up, we love to win. Left behind in Pences ascension is an Indiana GOP faced with an unprecedented situation of choosing a new gubernatorial nominee next Tuesday. This hasnt happened in the states 200-year history. In a scant five days, the most unusual political sequence will take place at Indiana Republican headquarters when the 22 GOP Central Committee members meet to select the gubernatorial nominee to replace Pence. This caucus is tossup territory, with Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb a nominal favorite based on the next man up sentiment. His nomination of Pence at the Republican National Convention Tuesday on national TV with arena exposure on the Jumbotron at prime time was seen by some as a de facto nod from Gov. Pence. U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, State Sen. Jim Tomes and possibly Republican Chairman Jeff Cardwell could round out this fluid field. Brooks also had that kind of jumbotron exposure on Monday when she was featured about the Woman to Woman Conference designed to promote gender inclusion in the party. This in a state which has never had a female governor. Seventh Congressional District Vice Chairwoman Jennifer Ping said more than half the committee is undecided. For her, the key questions are which nominee can raise money and which one would be the most electable in a 100-day sprint race against Democrat John Gregg. Our responsibility is to win elections, Ping said. There have been moments in Cleveland in which Brooks, Holcomb and Rokita were circulating, along with Cardwell, who hasnt pulled the trigger, vowing to create a level playing field that ultimately may preclude his entry. It is unclear whether Pence will officially endorse anyone, though Holcombs convention introduction was seen as a tacit nod. Pences office wouldnt comment on political affairs, referring me to his campaign, which appears to be suspended as key figures have moved to Trump Inc. But at least one highly influential Republican, who spoke on background, said Pence will give his $7 million gubernatorial campaign war chest to the new nominee. So if you think Pences move to the national stage is a sensational story, theres another one just over the horizon. Any time innocent peoples lives are put at risk by specific acts, we must do all we can to discourage the behavior. Seems like a pretty simple concept. However, for many years, Lake County prosecutors werent putting their best foot forward in such endeavors where drunken driving cases were concerned. Thats why we all should feel encouraged by an announcement last week from Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter. Its better late than never. Carter, whos been prosecutor for 22 years, said his office has changed its policy on operating while intoxicated prosecutions to deliver justice more consistent with nearby Porter and LaPorte counties. He in essence proclaimed the woeful handling of drunken driving cases by his office where nearly 60 percent of all alleged drunken drivers were offered plea deals to lesser misdemeanor charges of reckless driving would finally end. Twice in the past five years, separate investigations by former Times investigative reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski and then reporter Ed Bierschenk revealed less than half of all people initially charged with drunken driving were actually convicted of that charge. Carters office admittedly was pleading the cases down, often to the lesser charge of reckless driving, reportedly to keep the cases moving through a crowded court docket. He said his office generally offered all first-time OWI offenders a reckless driving plea if their blood-alcohol level was .15 or less at the time of arrest. The outer limits of that threshold were nearly twice the legal driving limit of a .08 blood-alcohol content. The policy was sending actual or would-be drunken driving offenders sometimes even repeat offenders, as Times probes found a message of lax enforcement inconsistent with the rest of Northwest Indiana. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Porter and LaPorte counties largely werent putting the option of reckless driving pleas on the table. Porter County prosecutors push for OWI convictions in about 80 percent of their drunken driving cases, and LaPorte County pursues OWI charges in 64 percent of its cases. In Lake County, that number has been about 40 percent. Carter finally felt enough heat from the public to make changes to Lake Countys OWI prosecution policy. Much of the public outrage emanated from politically tied Region union official Randolph Randy Palmateers second drunken-driving charge within five years being reduced via plea deal, yet again, to reckless driving. Some of it came from Region residents tired of watching a prosecutorial system one that is supposed to protect them and their loved ones put courtroom expediency over public safety. The public safety threat from drunken driving is clear. In Lake County, 36 percent of all fatal driving accidents involved alcohol-impaired driving, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reports. Thats a whole 11 percentage points higher than the Hoosier state average of 25 percent. Now, Carter promises, Lake County will pursue a little truth-in-charging. Rather than being offered reckless driving pleas, alleged offenders can expect to be prosecuted for OWI when the evidence points in that direction, Carter said. Basically, we have taken the position that there will be no reductions, Carter said. This doesnt eliminate the important leeway prosecutors must have in negotiating with defense attorneys. Indiana law allows for various layers of OWI charges, from two different misdemeanor charges to two felony charges, depending on the evidence, blood-alcohol content, previous convictions and whether drunken driving led to death or injury. As part of plea agreements, prosecutors can recommend lighter sentences to judges or the reinstatement of driving privileges so offenders who deserve it can get to work. Lake Countys OWI prosecution statistics clearly showed a system that often lacked teeth to deter the criminal behavior. Extremists seize upon any dysfunctional foothold they can find on their ascent into both literal and figurative snipers nests overlooking our society. We saw it in the recent slayings of innocent police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas. In both cases, former military men, warped by extreme ideologies, sought vengeance against what they believed was an abusive government and justice system. Its a story with a genesis similar to the 1995 Oklahoma City federal building bombing carried out by extremists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Both men were part of an anti-government culture convinced that violent home-front attacks would further their cause. Its up to all of us to stand up against such extremism to decry it in our political process when candidates begin espousing such extremism or to challenge neighbors who spew such divisiveness. But its also our responsibility to demand that our leaders stop providing extremists with the footholds they seek to attack our society. The vast majority of police officers fervently believe in the oath they swear to selflessly protect us. But for the few bad actors, our judicial system must do a better job of holding them accountable. For every agent of our government who appears above the law, another rung is affixed on the extremists ladder. Eventually, they make their way to the top and open fire on innocent people police officers, government workers and our families. Extreme violence cannot define who we are as a nation. A system that fuels it cannot be tolerated. For every agent of our government who appears above the law, another rung is affixed on the extremists ladder. Eventually, they make their way to the top and open fire on innocent people police officers, government workers and our families. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A new Illinois law limits how police can use devices that cast a wide net in gathering cellphone data and are at the center of a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the legislation into law on Friday and drew immediate praise from civil libertarians. The technology, a cell site simulator, is perhaps best known by the brand name Stingray. It gathers phone-usage data on targets of criminal investigations, but it also gathers data on other cellphones hundreds or even thousands of them in the area. The new law requires police to delete the phone information of anyone who wasnt an investigation target within 24 hours. It also prohibits police from accessing data for use in an investigation not authorized by a judge. A dozen other states have adopted such regulations, and Congress is considering legislation that would strengthen federal guidelines already in place. Cell site simulator technology (is) too powerful to remain unregulated, Khadine Bennett, who is associate legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said in an emailed statement in which the group thanked the governor and Legislature for the new law. The federal government has adopted modest guidelines similar to those enacted today. If the restrictions are good enough for the FBI, they should be workable for local law enforcement in Illinois. Illinois State Police officials have taken a neutral position on the law and the Chicago Police Department did not take a position. Chicago police are being sued by plaintiffs who are trying to force it to release records about how it uses this technology. Privacy advocates worry that without limits on how much data can be gathered or how long it can be stored, law enforcement could use the technology to build databases that track the behavior and movement of people who are not part of criminal investigations. Authorities, though, have argued that cellphone tracking can be useful. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Seth M. Stodder testified before a congressional committee last year that Stingray technology led authorities to a 6-year-old girl who had been kidnapped in Arizona. KABUL, Afghanistan The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a peaceful protest in the Afghan capital on Saturday that killed at least 80 people and wounded more than 200, marking the first time the extremists have struck Kabul and raising fears of their growing strength and capability in Afghanistan. The attack was the deadliest to hit Kabul in 15 years of civil war. It struck a demonstration by Afghanistan's Hazara ethnic community, who were marching for a major regional power line to be routed through their home province. The Hazaras are Shiite Muslims, most Afghans are Sunnis. Footage on Afghan television and photographs posted on social media showed a scene of horror and carnage, with numerous bodies and body parts spread across the square. Bloodied survivors were seen being dragged clear for help, others walked around dazed or screaming. Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, but one of them was shot by police before he could detonate his explosives, according to Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said that three city district police chiefs were injured and another three security personnel were killed. Witnesses said that immediately after the blast, security forces shot in the air to disperse the crowd. Secondary attacks have been known to target people who come to the aid of those wounded in a first explosion. Road blocks that had been set up overnight to prevent the marchers accessing the city center or the presidential palace hampered efforts to transfer some of the wounded to the hospital, witnesses said. Angry demonstrators sealed some of the area around the square, and prevented police and other security forces from entering. Some threw stones at security forces. Outside hospitals, huge queues formed as the public offered to donate blood. The Afghan Interior Ministry said that 81 people had been killed and 231 wounded in the bombing. The ministry's deputy spokesman, Najib Danish, said the blast was the biggest in Afghanistan since 2001, when the Taliban launched their brutal insurgency after they were toppled by the 2001 U.S. invasion. According to the presidential spokesman, Chakhansuri, the organizers of the march had been warned of the possibility of an attack. "We had intelligence over recent days and it was shared with the demonstration organizers, we shared our concerns because we knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to our community," he said. Senior Hazara leaders were notably absent despite having attended a similar protest in May. The organizers could not be immediately contacted for comment on Chakhansuri's allegations. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its news agency, Aamaq. IS has had a presence on Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, mainly in Nangarhar province, for the past year, but this is the first time the extremist group has struck the Afghan capital. The bombing raises concerns over IS's growing capabilities in Afghanistan. Officials believe the fighters are made up of disaffected Taliban insurgents and members of Pakistani militant groups, and that they receive some funding and arms from IS in Syria and Iraq. In Nangarhar they have fought Taliban fighters as well as Afghan security forces, sometimes seizing control of whole districts in the east of the province. A surge in the number of attacks worldwide linked to the Islamic State group has been seen as an attempt to distract from a string of battlefield losses suffered by the extremists in Syria and Iraq, where the borders of their self-styled caliphate are shrinking. During the holy month of Ramadan which ended at the start of July a series of attacks, most linked to the Islamic State group, killed nearly 350 people in eight countries. President Ashraf Ghani has announced an upcoming military offensive in Nangarhar, expected to start within days, aimed at eliminating IS from the country. The Taliban issued a statement denying involvement in Saturday's attack, describing it as an attempt by IS to "ignite civil war." The statement may in part reflect the animosity between the two militant groups; Hazara were especially persecuted during the Taliban's extremist Sunni rule between 1996 and 2001. President Ashraf Ghani declared Sunday a day of national mourning. He ordered a commission be set up to investigate the incident and described the attack as a clear effort to divide Shiites and Sunnis. The Ministry of Interior issued a ban on "any kind of public gathering and demonstration" for the next 10 days. The move could be aimed at controlling any outbreaks of sectarian animosity. The second most deadly attack to hit Kabul since 2001 also targeted Shiites and was seen as an attempt to stoke sectarian violence. In 2011 a suicide bomber attacked worshipers marking Ashura, when Shiites commemorate the death of the prophet Mohammed's grandson, killing 70 people. That attack was linked to a Pakistani militant group. The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, denounced the attack. He said in a statement that "We strongly condemn the actions of Afghanistan's enemies of peace and remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the National Unity Government." The U.S embassy in Kabul also issued a condemnation. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the "heinous attack was made all the more despicable by the fact that it targeted a peaceful demonstration." He said the U.S. and the international community stand firmly with the Afghan people and their government "to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability and prosperity." The head of the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, called the attack a "war crime" because it had specifically targeted a large number of civilians. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "despicable crime" that "targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights." Violence had been widely feared at the Hazaras' demonstration, the second to take place over the electric power line. The so-called TUTAP power line is backed by the Asian Development Bank with involvement of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan routed the line through the Hazara heartland of Bamiyan province, but was changed in 2013 by the previous Afghan government. Leaders of the marches have said that the rerouting was evidence of bias against the Hazara community, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's estimated 30 million-strong population. They are considered the poorest of the country's ethnic groups, and say they suffer pervasive discrimination. ___ Associated Press Writer Karim Sharifi in Kabul, Afghanistan contributed to this report. In this hot steamy weather it can be hard to keep your cool. Officials warn that prolonged exposure to the heat can be harmful and potentially fatal. New Yorkers are advised to drink plenty of water and limit strenuous activity, especially during the hottest parts of the day. We spoke with a doctor at Lenox Hill Hospital who says heatstroke is a very real risk in these kinds of temperatures. "The most important thing is to stay indoors, stay cool and stay hydrated," said Dr. Tracy Catlin, an attending in the emergency room. "It's important to know that when you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. People who are most at risk are the very young and the elderly." Cooling centers across the city are open today and tomorrow. For a full list of cooling centers and more hot weather tips visit the city's "Beat the Heat" web site. PARIS Europeans like their food, their farms and their countryside, which explains why the European Unions 52-year-old Common Agricultural Policy gets high marks, even in a time of heightened euro-skepticism. And yet despite a 77 percent approval rating in a Eurobarometer poll conducted last December in all 28 member countries, the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP, barely gets a mention in the current campaign to elect a new European Parliament. Thats even true in France, Europes top agricultural producer, which will remain the largest single beneficiary of the CAP (about 14 percent of the total) even after a new set of policy changes kicks in next year. So why are so many French farmers tempted to vote for the National Front, the far-right party that is campaigning to take France out of the European Union, dump its currency, the euro, and renationalize its farm aid? Angela Shante Johnson and Seth Steven Rogers were married July 23 at the home of the grooms mother, Jocelyn K. Falvey, and stepfather, Michael E. Falvey, of Keuka Park, N.Y. The Rev. Jeffrey B. Childs, a United Methodist minister, officiated. The bride and groom are editors at Teacher Created Materials, an educational publisher in Huntington Beach, Calif. She works in the classroom resource division, and he works in the curriculum division. Mrs. Johnson-Rogers, 33, graduated and received a masters degree in curriculum and teaching from Fordham, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from City College of New York. She is a daughter of Marilyn O. Johnson of the Bronx and William Johnson of Peekskill, N.Y. The brides father is a service attendant in the Grant Hall cafeteria at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Her mother is the parent coordinator at East Bronx Academy for the Future, a public middle and high school in the Bronx. Corinne Raphel Sweeney, the daughter of Dr. Corinne R. Sweeney and Dr. Raymond W. Sweeney III of Kennett Square, Pa., was married July 23 to Taylor Paul Catarozoli, a son of Julie Bader of Fish Creek, Wis., and Samuel T. Catarozoli of Hales Corners, Wis. Steven E. Linberg, an uncle of the bride who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion, officiated at the Carnegie Abbey Club in Portsmouth, R.I. In September, the bride, 29, is to begin a postdoctoral fellowship in the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. She graduated from Wake Forest University, and received a masters degree in psychology from N.Y.U. and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her parents are professors of medicine at the New Bolton Center campus of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Kennett Square, where her mother is the associate dean and her father is the chief of the section of medicine and ophthalmology. Her mother is also a commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. The groom, 31, is responsible for the execution of investments in the aerospace and defense industry at Liberty Hall Capital Partners, an investment firm in New York. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Erica Elizabeth Zeiler and Christopher Michael Molaro were married July 23 at the Cadet Chapel at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. The Rev. Martin Cox, a United Methodist minister, performed the ceremony. Mrs. Molaro, 28, is a physician assistant at Relievus, a pain management and neurological clinic in Philadelphia. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh, with two bachelors degrees, one in biological sciences and the other in business management. She also received a masters degree in physician assistant studies from Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. She is a daughter of Brenda L. Zeiler and David R. Zeiler of Hawley, Pa. Mr. Molaro, also 28, is a founder and the chief executive of Things We Read, a nonprofit literacy and education group for veterans and active soldiers, and also of NeuroFlow, a biotechnology software start-up that seeks to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental health illnesses. Both are in Philadelphia. He graduated from West Point and is studying for an M.B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a captain in the inactive ready reserves after serving five years in the Army as a field artillery officer, including a deployment to Iraq in 2011. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He is the son of Kimberly Fasolakis of Lynbrook, N.Y., and Frank J. Molaro of Lords Valley, Pa. The couple met as seventh graders at the Wallenpaupack Area Middle School in Hawley in 1999. Melanie Manongdo Wang, the daughter of Amerfil Manongdo Wang and Dr. Benjamin J. Wang of Flossmoor, Ill., was married July 23 to Jonathan Mark Gair, a son of Juliana Gair and John Gair of Chicago. The Rev. Richard Rubietta, a United Methodist minister, officiated at the Rookery Building in Chicago. Ms. Wang, 31, will keep her name. She is the director for cultural planning in the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. She is also the chairwoman of outreach for the Young Leaders Fund of the Chicago Community Trust. She graduated cum laude and received a masters degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern. The brides father retired as an internist in Calumet City, Ill. Her mother retired as the interim dean of the College of Health Professions at Governors State University in University Park, Ill. Mr. Gair, 29, is a senior consultant at SDI Presence, a company in Chicago that provides technology-based professional services. He graduated summa cum laude from Miami University in Ohio. More than 900 firefighters were combating a wildfire across 20,000 acres in the mountains north of Los Angeles on Saturday night, prompting the authorities to order evacuations and close roads, the United States Forest Service said on Twitter. The evacuations encompassed about 1,500 homes, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. One structure was reported destroyed and 100 commercial buildings were threatened. Ten percent of the fire had been contained, the Forest Service said Saturday night. No information on injuries was immediately available. Firefighters contended with triple-digit temperatures and winds of up to 26 miles per hour on Saturday. The weather was not expected to improve on Sunday, with hot, dry conditions and wind gusts forecast. ORLANDO, Fla. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, speaking to thousands of Latinos at the annual conference of NCLR, also known as the National Council of La Raza, forcefully urged them to vote for Hillary Clinton while making only a passing, barely audible reference to Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, her newly named running mate. Ms. Warren mainly offered new invective against Donald J. Trump, with whom she has a running feud, saying he was a man born with cash in his fist and hate in his heart. She said Mr. Trumps questioning of the impartiality of Gonzalo Curiel, a Mexican-American judge hearing a case against one of his businesses, had sent a message as simple as it is disgusting: Since Trump is a bigot, a Mexican-American judge cant be fair to him. The crowd gave her a prolonged standing ovation when she said, We will never build Donald Trumps stupid wall. In a digital era, when ballet dancers have thousands of followers on Instagram (Sara Mearns, 44,600; Isabella Boylston, 149,000), Patsy Tarr, a publisher and philanthropist, has done something unusual: She has decided to publish a print magazine. It started with a fall. Ms. Tarr was at the New York City Ballet and looking forward to that evenings performance of La Valse. She dashed to the ladies room, slipped on the floor and shattered her kneecap. I ended up getting carted out of the theater through the lobby on a stretcher, she said. For a time, she couldnt walk, but she could read. Ms. Tarr, 68, who heads the 2wice Arts Foundation, immersed herself in back issues of her own much-admired publications Dance Ink (published from 1989 to 1996) and 2wice (1997 to 2012). Ms. Tarr, who over the past years had embraced digital media she produced a series of dance apps with her collaborator Abbott Miller said she came to a realization: She missed paper. I didnt really enjoy the process of making the apps, because so much of it was out of my hands, she said. I dont know how to write computer code. LENOX, Mass. In the music world, it is not uncommon to hear of stars who were plucked from the chorus. But making the leap from being in an orchestras stage crew the team that puts out chairs and music stands and sets up lights to being a player is altogether rarer. That was the jump made by Miles Salerni, a 25-year-old percussionist who spent the past two summers working here on the Tanglewood stage crew while trying to get his break, and who finally found himself onstage this month playing Siegfrieds Rhine Journey, from Wagners Gotterdammerung, as a fellow in the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. His story is partly about persistence and partly about the hypercompetitive world of classical music, where conservatories produce far more talented players each year than there are spots for at top festivals or orchestras. Mr. Salerni, who studied at Boston University, the New England Conservatory and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, had been trying to win a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center, the summer academy of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, since 2012 but never quite made the cut. With his hopes pinned on Tanglewood, where some of his teachers play as members of the Boston Symphony, he decided to get here by other means. I was just thinking, maybe I can be involved somehow, he recalled in an interview. I really wanted to be surrounded by music and be surrounded by my teachers, who I just absolutely love. You Are Having a Good Time Stories By Amie Barrodale 191 pages. Farrar Straus & Giroux. $14. The perfectly chosen epigraph of Amie Barrodales first story collection warns that between people there is only successful miscommunication and unsuccessful miscommunication; and when you have unsuccessful miscommunication, you are having a good time. This convincing, fatalistic formula comes from the Bhutanese lama Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, and though Ms. Barrodale is a Buddhist, her stories pulse with an irritated lack of Zen, a discomfort in navigating personal desires and interpersonal relationships that recalls the misanthropy of Lena Dunham, Tao Lin and Todd Solondz. Some of Ms. Barrodales characters can be monstrous, like the mother in Frank Advice for Fat Women who is concerned with her daughters weight. (I want a daughter who can wear belts, she says.) Catholic, about a womans ill-fated attraction to a drummer, contains admirably clear descriptions of awkward sex. Other characters face the demands of a moody film director, the perils of text messages and the sting of professional jealousy. Buddhism is an explicit element of several stories, including Night Report, in which, at one moment, those in a group of meditators at a retreat sit quiet and still, as though they were waiting to, or wondering if they would, feel something. Image Ninety-Nine Stories of God By Joy Williams 220 pages. Tin House Books. $19.95. Pious is not the first word that Joy Williamss masterly short stories usually bring to mind. And despite the title, Ms. Williams is her usual funny, irreverent self in this collection of very brief sketches sometimes only loosely connected to the theme of the divine. One story starts: The Lord was in line at the pharmacy counter waiting to get His shingles shot. Another: The Lord had always wanted to participate in a demolition derby. And perhaps the most Williamsesque of beginnings: The Lord heard that people in the southwest were adopting tortoises. Everywhere there is bemusement about the limitations of communicating with whatever out there might be greater than us. A deacon at a dinner party has a massive stroke; he dies with a shrimp on a toothpick still between his fingers, just as he remembers the words God once said to him on a sailing trip (but before, of course, he can relate them to his fellow guests). Ms. Williamss brain is always good company, though some of the shortest entries here are unnecessary. The story Museum simply reads: We were not interested the way we thought we would be interested. Its a sentiment that occasionally applies to this collection, which sparkles darkly but more intermittently than Ms. Williamss previous work. Image A Meal in Winter A Novel of World War II By Hubert Mingarelli Translated from the French by Sam Taylor 138 pages. The New Press. $19.95. That compares with Yahoos peak value of more than $125 billion, reached in January 2000. Marissa Mayer, Yahoos chief executive, is not expected to join Verizon, but she is due to receive a severance payout worth about $57 million, according to Equilar, a compensation research firm. Verizon and Yahoo declined to comment on the deal. Founded in 1994, Yahoo was one of the last independently operated pioneers of the web. Many of those groundbreaking companies, like the maker of the web browser Netscape, never made it to the end of the first dot-com boom. But Yahoo, despite constant management turmoil, kept growing. Started as a directory of websites, the company was soon doing much more, offering searches, email, shopping and news. Those services, which were free to consumers, were supported by advertising displayed on its various pages. For a long time, the model worked. It seemed as if every company in America and across much of the world wanted to reach people using the new medium, and ad revenue poured into Yahoo. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy skies early, then thunderstorms developing late. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then thunderstorms developing late. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Somebody just came up to our face and looked at us, she recounted last week in the restaurant. We thought he was too close. Moments later, he was gone, and so was the purse she had draped over a rail behind her stool. In and out, she said, clutching another purse in her lap. Im not letting it go now. There were two more thefts that day, at the fast-food restaurants Tossed and Chick-fil-A, both near Croton Reservoir Tavern. The videos of each theft showed the limping man. On June 17, he ventured downtown, to Le District, a French food hall at Brookfield Place, the office complex previously known as the World Financial Center. He stole a pocketbook and a cashmere sweater, the police said. Two days later, on Fathers Day, he returned to Tonys di Napoli. During the gay pride parade, on June 26, he stole a purse from Calle Dao, a restaurant near Bryant Park. June 30 brought the 11th theft this time at a huge McDonalds in Times Square and the 11th video for Detective Bia. The man did not match any criminals in the police database. The police provided a photo to the news media and circulated wanted posters to Manhattan precincts. On July 14, a woman was sitting at El Vez, a Mexican restaurant near the World Trade Center, at lunchtime when another patron noticed a man reaching for her purse and yelled. A bartender and another employee blocked the door and told the man to sit in a booth until the police arrived. He was arrested and identified as Mauricio Dominguez-Bernal, 64, the police said. Officers led him to a precinct in Midtown, where Detective Bia finally met the man from the videos he had been watching for weeks. Mr. Dominguez-Bernal looked at images from each video and admitted that it was him in every one, Sergeant Doty said. He had traveled here from Chile in early June, shortly before the first theft at Tonys di Napoli. His purpose for visiting New York City was to steal purses, he said. He did not attempt to use any of the credit cards in the purses. None of the property was recovered. He was very forthcoming in regards to himself, Sergeant Doty said. He was not forthcoming about where he was staying or who he was with. Mr. Dominguez-Bernal had booked his return trip home, he said, but not soon enough. His flight was scheduled for July 20. He was arrested on what would have been his last week in town. Jeans, of course, have a lot more drag than the swimsuits the parks agency allows. Drag is the enemy when a hundredth of a second matters, as it could in the timed retest. But Mr. Lester seems to be fighting for more than the right to wear the swimsuit of his choice. He seems to be defending the culture at Jones Beach, where guys, and since the 1980s, gals, have signed on as lifeguards when they were teenagers and returned summer after summer, if only on weekends. Some of them now have nearly 50 years under their elastic waistbands. Mr. Lester points to a camaraderie that bridges generations. The dress code for the retest, imposed in 2007, seemed to threaten that. It was such a blatant attempt to get at older guys, Mr. Lester said, adding that after filing the lawsuit, he obtained internal memos in which parks agency officials worried that older lifeguards might not make it if they had to run across the beach for a rescue. To Mr. Lester, who has taken part in triathlons for years, that bordered on an insult. Ive been all-American ever since I had my hip replaced in 2012, he said. I had it resurfaced. I was a good triathlete before, but the running was painful. Im still a fairly weak runner. Last year at nationals, I had a two-minute lead going into the run, and I ended up fifth in my age group. To read the court papers in this case is to catch a huge wave of legalese. One document included images of Speedos best-selling swimsuits and excerpts from a blog about older men wearing Speedos. Mr. Lesters talking points for oral argument touched on how tight a swimsuit has to be before it crosses over from a board short to a jammer. (A board short is as long as a jammer, but looser. A jammer is sometimes compared to cyclists shorts, typically snug around thighs.) A spokesman for the state attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, whose office is defending the parks agency, did not comment on the case. But the legal brief filed in opposition to Mr. Lesters claims said the swimsuit policy was not discriminatory because it applied to all applicants, no matter how old they were. The policy was imposed after discovering that weak swimmers taking the Long Island lifeguard examination were using speed-enhancing swimsuits, the brief from the attorney generals office said. On July 15, a rogue faction within Turkeys military attempted to suspend the Constitution, impose martial law and enforce a nationwide curfew. As troops and tanks blocked traffic crossing from Asia to Europe over the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul, a number of government buildings including the Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the intelligence headquarters were heavily assaulted. During a series of coordinated attacks, more than 240 civilians and police officers in Istanbul and Ankara were shot by snipers, run over by tanks, shelled by assault helicopters and killed by bombs dropped from hijacked aircraft. Meanwhile, the rogue faction seized a public broadcaster and held an anchorwoman at gunpoint to announce that they were now in charge. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called the coup illegal and, in consultation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ordered the police and other security forces to stop the coup plotters. Soon afterward, President Erdogan appeared on television to call on the people to resist the power grab. When Mr. Erdogans message was aired live on CNNTurk, a private TV channel, the junta soldiers invaded its premises as well. Millions heard the call and defied the rebels. Opposition leaders also deplored the coup and called for resistance. In the meantime, an elite military squad was sent to the hotel on the Turkish Riviera where President Erdogan was vacationing, to kill him and his entire family. Having survived the assassination attempt, Mr. Erdogan escaped on his official jet, which reached Istanbul safely after the pilot deceived rogue F-16s patrolling the airspace. In the wake of the bloody coup attempt, the government, acting on the recommendations of civilian and military leaders, exercised its constitutional mandate to declare a three-month state of emergency. Adopted by countries like France and Belgium in response to terror attacks, this measure is intended to expedite the legislative process and provide the authorities with legal tools necessary to bring those responsible to justice. After Nancy Hernandez gave birth to a baby girl in a hospital in Texas in 2013, she went to a county office to get a birth certificate, just as she had after her first two children were born in the state. But officials told Ms. Hernandez, a Mexican immigrant living in the United States illegally, that the rules had changed. Without valid documents, she would not be able to get a birth certificate to show that her daughter was an American-born citizen. Last year, Ms. Hernandez and about two dozen other immigrants sued, saying they could not obtain the documents Texas officials were demanding to prove their identities. On Friday, Texas agreed to a settlement that will expand the types of documents parents can present, allowing those without legal immigration status to obtain certificates for their children again. The babies whose parents brought the federal suit were born in Texas medical facilities, so it was not in doubt that they were citizens. Lawyers for the parents said the settlement would be life-changing for them. As union officials convene at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the president of the largest umbrella labor group in the United States is bracing for a battle against a Republican nominee who is making a direct appeal to union members. In a wide-ranging interview about the 2016 presidential race, Richard L. Trumka, the president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., spoke some of his warmest words about Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Partys presumptive nominee for president, and predicted that appeals from her Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, would sound hollow to working-class voters. I think shes running to change America, not to manage America, Mr. Trumka said, describing what he saw as a difference between the two. Asked if that meant he considered her to be an agent of change, he replied, I do. That is a case that Mrs. Clinton will seek to make herself at the convention, which will take place this week in a battleground state that the Trump campaign is seeking to put in play in the general election because of its density of working-class white voters, to whom he is directing his message. Ms. Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation after a private meeting with advisers and senior aides to Mrs. Clinton at a hotel here a day before the partys convention was set to begin. She had faced growing calls for her resignation over the weekend. In politics, you need to not only know when to draw your sword, but also when to fall on it, said James Carville, a longtime friend and adviser to the Clintons. The breach of the Democratic committees emails, made public on Friday by WikiLeaks, offered undeniable evidence of what Mr. Sanderss supporters had complained about for much of the senators contentious primary contest with Mrs. Clinton: that the party was effectively an arm of Mrs. Clintons campaign. The messages showed members of the committees communications team musing about pushing the narrative that the Sanders campaign was inept and trying to raise questions publicly about whether he was an atheist. Mr. Sanders said the situation was an outrage on Sunday before the resignation was announced, and called for Ms. Wasserman Schultz to step down. Afterward, he said it was the right decision. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race, he said in a statement. Mrs. Clintons campaign aides ignored questions as they quickly left a hotel a few minutes after the resignation was announced. Ms. Brazile emerged soon after the Clinton aides had left and said in a brief interview that Ms. Wasserman Schultz had called her Sunday afternoon and asked her to come to the hotel where the Florida delegation was staying. WASHINGTON As Donald J. Trump accepted the Republican nomination at his partys convention last week in Cleveland, President Obama did some subtle counterprogramming at the White House, hosting a reception honoring Muslim-Americans and inviting the Mexican president for a visit to highlight their close bond. The implied contrast could not have been stronger between Mr. Trump, whose convention speech depicted a divided nation in crisis, one fearful of outsiders, and Mr. Obama, who spoke of inclusion, prosperity and cross-border partnership. This week, Mr. Obama will take a more direct approach to countering Mr. Trump as he works to unite Democrats around Hillary Clintons candidacy and persuade independent voters to back her as well. In media interviews and a prime-time televised speech scheduled for Wednesday night, his aides say, the president will defend his economic and foreign policy record, arguing that the nation is safer and more prosperous because of them and that Mrs. Clinton is best positioned to protect them. The accumulation of work that we have done moved the needle, Mr. Obama told CBS in the first of those appearances, an interview that aired on Sunday on Face the Nation. It didnt revolutionize the country, but it bent that arc, and my job is to make sure that when I leave this place, America is a little bit better off. Itll be up to the next person to continue that process. Donald J. Trump suggested in an interview on Sunday that he would expand his proposed immigration restrictions to include anyone entering the United States from countries or territories compromised by terrorism, including allies such as Germany and France. Mr. Trumps comments, in an appearance on the NBC program Meet the Press, appeared intended to clarify portions of his speech at the Republican convention indicating that he might be rolling back his earlier proposed ban on Muslim immigration. Mr. Trump indicated that the United States needed to protect itself from the failures of countries like France, which he said had allowed itself to be infiltrated by terrorists. I actually dont think its a rollback. In fact, you could say its an expansion, Mr. Trump said in the interview with the NBC host Chuck Todd. Im looking now at territory. In the coming weeks, Mr. Trump told Mr. Todd, he would be unveiling a detailed list of countries and territories from which immigrants would be subject to extreme vetting. Follow along with our coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Michael R. Bloomberg, who bypassed his own run for the presidency this election cycle, will endorse Hillary Clinton in a prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention and make the case for Mrs. Clinton as the best choice for moderate voters in 2016, an adviser to Mr. Bloomberg said. The news is an unexpected move from Mr. Bloomberg, who has not been a member of the Democratic Party since 2000; was elected the mayor of New York City as a Republican; and later became an independent. But it reflects Mr. Bloombergs increasing dismay about the rise of Donald J. Trump and a determination to see that the Republican nominee is defeated. Mrs. Clinton is seeking to reach out to middle-of-the-road swing voters and even moderate Republicans uneasy about Mr. Trump. Polls show that significant numbers of Republicans remain wary of Mr. Trump, and question his fitness for the presidency. PHILADELPHIA A large, impassioned crowd of Bernie Sanders supporters chanting Hell, no, D.N.C., we wont vote for Hillary marched on Sunday afternoon to the site of the Democratic National Convention, promising a week in which the partys divisions will be on vivid display in the streets. More than 1,000 people from as far as Seattle and Florida participated in the first of what are expected to be many Sanders rallies during the convention, which formally begins Monday. The march, led by a banner proclaiming Help End Establishment Politics, Vote No on Hillary, was far larger than any of the protest marches last week in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention. Despite the size of the demonstration, it was a peaceful assembly with no signs of supporters of Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee, and the police maintained a low-key, even casual presence. Marchers headed down Broad Street past fire hydrants spraying cooling jets in the sweltering 97-degree heat. KATHMANDU, Nepal Nepals prime minister, K. P. Sharma Oli, resigned on Sunday, bringing an abrupt end to a nine-month-old government that struggled with the task of post-earthquake reconstruction and at times took a defiant stance against its large neighbor India. Mr. Oli resigned moments before the countrys Parliament was expected to pass a no-confidence motion. After defending himself against sharp criticism from opposition parties, he said he would step down to pave the way to elect a new prime minister in a changed context. Mr. Olis government was Nepals eighth in the last 10 years, and its end ushered in a new round of political turmoil. Two large political groups pushing for Mr. Olis removal, the Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), complained that he had failed to resolve disputes over the countrys new Constitution, to jump-start the stalled reconstruction process or to resolve cases dating back to the governments decade-long conflict with Maoist rebels, which ended in 2006. JAIPUR, India Several people in the southern Indian state of Karnataka have been accused of beating several men suspected of slaughtering a cow, the authorities said, and three of the men who were beaten were briefly taken into custody on charges of cow slaughter, one of the men said. The charges and countercharges have been filed with the police in the village of Shantipura, where a group of vigilantes descended on a house after hearing that a cow had been killed there. The episode occurred on July 10, but attracted widespread media attention only recently. The men accused of cow slaughter are members of the Dalit community, the lowest rung of Indias now-outlawed caste system. At least two of the people accused of attacking them belong to a vigilante group in the Bajrang Dal, a militant Hindu organization. Many Dalit work on farms and are involved in skinning or disposing of dead animals. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism, and killing them is illegal in some states, including Karnataka. At the same time, as meat consumption has gained more acceptance in India, cattle rustling and illegal slaughterhouses have become lucrative enterprises. MUNICH The teenage gunman who killed nine people in a rampage in Munich had been treated for depression and paranoia and appeared to have begun planning the attack about a year ago, the German authorities said on Sunday. The gunman, Ali Sonboly, who was the 18-year-old son of Iranian immigrant parents and held both German and Iranian citizenship, had sought refuge in the internet, where he immersed himself in a violent video game and the so-called darknet of encrypted networks, through which the authorities suspect that he acquired the pistol used to carry out the attack. Mr. Sonboly appeared to have begun planning the attack after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in Winnenden, Germany, in which 15 people were killed, initial evidence gleaned from his computer showed. We found a manifesto of his, in which he considers such attacks, said Robert Heimberger, the chief of the Bavarian State Criminal Police. From photos we found on a digital camera, we know that he visited the site and took pictures there. MUNICH A 21-year-old refugee from Syria killed a woman with a kebab knife in southwestern Germany on Sunday and was arrested after a motorist deliberately ran him down, according to the police. It was the nations second major act of violence carried out by an asylum seeker in a week. The man, whose identity was not released, had been involved in at least one previous violent episode, according to officials in Reutlingen, where the afternoon attack occurred near the central bus station. At this time, we suspect this crime is linked to relationship troubles, Michael Schaal, a police spokesman, said. Witnesses have told us that before the attack, they had argued. Mr. Breivik, in planning his 2011 attack, appeared to draw ideologically on European far-right websites on which he was an active commenter, according to a research paper by Raffaello Pantucci, a terrorism expert at Kings College London. Mr. Breivik wrote a 1,500-page manifesto that, like the propaganda of the Islamic State, provides ideological justification and some tactical advice for anyone interested in following his model. At a time when terrorism is a major issue in Western politics, defining something as terrorism is not just a matter of determining motive. It is a political statement in itself. Consider 22-year-old Dylann Roof, who last year killed nine people at a predominantly black church in South Carolina. A Facebook photo of Mr. Roof showed him wearing flag patches one from apartheid-era South Africa, the other from white-ruled Rhodesia that have been adopted by white supremacists. He later said he had hoped to ignite a race war. When the Justice Department announced charges against Mr. Roof, none mentioned terrorism. Legal scholars say that this accurately reflects federal law, which classifies only certain acts, such as airplane hijackings, as terrorism. But the decision appalled many African-Americans, who saw it as part of a pattern of playing down white supremacist violence against them. This spoke to the significance of labeling something as terrorism, which implies that the attack represents a larger threat and thus compels action against that threat. This is why many Republicans have criticized President Obama for, they say, being too slow to label an attack as terrorism, which they see as an excuse to avoid action. But it is also why Muslim and civil rights groups worry that lone madmen are more likely to be termed terrorists if they are Muslim, which they say encourages fear and suspicion of Muslims. Anti-Muslim attacks are rising in the United States and Europe, highlighting the consequences of that fear. JERUSALEM The Israeli soldier who fatally shot a wounded Palestinian attacker in March testified at his trial on Sunday that he fired because he saw a real and immediate danger and that others in the area had shouted that the Palestinian might be concealing a bomb. The soldier, Sgt. Elor Azaria, also fiercely criticized his company commander, Maj. Tom Naaman, who testified last month that the wounded Palestinian had posed no further danger after an attack in the West Bank city of Hebron. The commander, Sergeant Azaria said, was standing near the Palestinian and speaking on a radio, paying no attention as bystanders exactly which ones the sergeant could not recall warned of a possible bomb. After shooting the Palestinian once in the head, Sergeant Azaria said, he was berated by Major Naaman. The commander shouted, Are you crazy? Sergeant Azaria testified, according to Israeli radio, and then slapped him. It was the first time Sergeant Azaria claimed that Major Naaman had hit him, and the prosecutor immediately questioned why Sergeant Azarias previous written testimony did not include that detail. Thomas Sutherland, a former agriculture professor who was swept up in an international drama when he was kidnapped by Islamic militants in Lebanon in 1985 and held for more than six years, died on Friday at his home in Fort Collins, Colo. He was 85. His wife, Jean, said the cause had not been determined, though he had a heart condition. Mr. Sutherland was among dozens of Westerners taken hostage in Beirut in the 1980s at the height of Lebanons civil war. When he was kidnapped, he was the dean of agriculture at the American University of Beirut. After he was snatched near his Beirut home, where he lived with his wife, Mr. Sutherland was confined in a series of rooms, often blindfolded and chained to a wall, by gun-toting men who operated under Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. The Western hostages were abused regularly, hit with fists, sticks and rifle butts, said Terry Anderson, the longest-held American, who was a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press. Mr. Anderson said he and Mr. Sutherland had spent a great deal of time together, lying side by side on cots and engaged in conversation. A large explosion rocked the Alaverdi Copper-Molybdenum Metallurgy Factory yesterday evening, sending two workers to the hospital. Residents of the small mining town in Armenias northern Lori Province believe that the explosion was the result of re-firing the furnace that was damaged on July 15. Razmik Mouradyan, a surgeon at the Alaverdi Medical Center, says that the hospital received news of the accident at around 6:30 p.m. One worker was treated for light burns and later released. The other injured worker, Artur Hobosyan, is hospitalized with broken bones of the arm, thigh and pelvis. None of his wounds are life threatening. This reporter visited Artur Hobosyan in hospital and he told me hes been working at the factory for five years. I work at the furnace. I heard a pretty loud explosion and then blacked out. I dont remember anything, Hobosyan said. The July 15 accident sent two workers at the smelter, operated by the Armenian Copper Programme (a Vallex Group company) to the hospital with second degree burns. The company hasnt clarified what caused two industrial accidents in the span of eight days and refused to respond to a Hetq inquiry given its the weekend. Cut taxes and regulation. Get undocumented immigrants out of the workplace. Play hardball with our foreign trading partners. Those were key ingredients in Donald Trumps recipe to improve the U.S. economy, laid out Thursday night as he accepted the Republican nomination to run for president. Funny, thats sounds a lot like California in reverse. The state is known for high taxes and regulation. Need I repeat how low business leaders rank the states business climate? Plus, no state embraces undocumented immigrants like California, where many civic benefits are available to residents, no matter their legal status. And trade? Californias economy is as dependent on good relationships with overseas economies as any of the 50 states. So how is California faring so well with what Trump would likely consider handicaps? The day after the GOP convention ended, state jobs data for June were released. California added 461,000 workers in a year to a record 16.46 million. That wasnt just top growth in the nation, it was more than the combined job creation of No. 2 Florida (up 244,500 jobs) and No. 3 Texas (up 171,100 jobs.) These are odd times where numerous forces talk down the economy. And look, Californias economy can always use refinement. The recovery from the Great Recession hasnt cured all ills. And Ill agree there are many formulas for regional economic success. But Trumps theories seem to hold up poorly when looking at Californias success. Worse, if he does win the election and implements his plan, will Californias economy be damaged? Ill agree that California may not be the friendliest place for bosses. But those same laws that bug corporate leaders make the state dandy for many workers. Despite the hassles, California businesses added 2.27 million jobs since the recessions bottom in February 2010. That 16 percent hiring spree outpaced the nations 11 percent job expansion in the same period. Those new jobs helped cut the ranks of Californias unemployed to 1 million from 2.2 million six years ago. As a result, the state jobless rate fell to 5.4 percent from 12.2 percent. Yes, California has an estimated 2 million undocumented immigrants working. Someone like Trump might argue wed see a further dent in joblessness if those undocumented workers were forced out of the workplace, if not back to their native lands. Well, according to Public Policy Institute of California, most of Californias undocumented workers are employed in a narrow range of typically lower-wage industries farming, construction, production, services and transportation/materials moving. Consider California construction, a hot employment sector thats up 194,000 jobs, or 9 percent, in six years. Industry insiders suggest constructions biggest problem is a shortage in the skilled trades. There would likely be no one to fill certain industry jobs, and building projects might be slowed or cut if undocumented immigrants were forced away. Another hot sector tourism, hotels and restaurants could be hurt without these immigrants. Hospitality businesses created 1 in 6 new California jobs, or 348,800 positions, since the economic bottom. Trumps tough talk on foreign trade certainly puts the states 1.3 million manufacturing jobs at risk, though theres plenty of debate as to whether freer trade would help or harm Californias factories. Manufacturing jobs in the state fell by 30 percent from the turn of the century through the Great Recession and have meekly rebounded 3 percent since. Whats very unclear is how many white-collar jobs are tied to the volatile trade issues. Work in professional, scientific and technical services which includes designing and marketing gadgetry built overseas has been in high demand, with 259,000 workers added statewide in six years. Parts of that hiring spree equal to 1 in 9 jobs created by the recovery could be in trouble if trade wars were created by hardball negotiations. All these extra paychecks are a boost to California shoppers. Statewide consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, ran at a nine-year high in the second quarter. Californians are expected to buy a record 2.1 million new cars this year double 2009s pace, according to a forecast by the California New Car Dealers Association. Plus, sales of California existing homes have run at a 400,000-a-year pace for four consecutive months through June, according to the California Association of Realtors. This is the fastest buying pace in nearly four years. Or see the states progress in a global sense. The state Department of Finance said California passed France and India to become the worlds sixth largest economy in 2015, if the state was ranked as a nation. In mid-recessionary 2010, California had fallen to 10th place in these rankings. And those high California taxes boosted by revived economic activity helped balance the state budget that had a $26 billion hole during the recession. Wall Street ratings on state bonds are at the highest level since just after the turn of the century. In this ultracompetitive world, Californians must work hard to keep the economic momentum. Especially since the post-recession success runs counter to numerous business climate fix-it suggestions including those of Trump. I worry because while the economy statewide or nationally isnt perfect, the recommended medicine seems too harsh for the minor ailments. Dont fix what really isnt broke. Contact the writer: jlansner@ocregister.com BAGHDAD The Iraqi military will use a medieval tactic to keep control of Fallujah after recapturing it from the Islamic State group last month: It is digging a trench around the city. The trench will have a single opening for residents to move in and out of the city, which is virtually empty since the offensive that defeated the Islamic State militants, said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, deputy commander of the counterterrorism forces that led the successful campaign. It will be about 7 miles long and will protect the citys residents, who have lived through many tragedies, as well as security forces deployed there, al-Saadi said in an interview with The Associated Press at his Baghdad headquarters. Cutting off all roads but one will allow authorities to monitor the movements of residents more closely. Fallujah has been a source of car bombs used against Baghdad, which is 40 miles to the east. Restricting traffic will be one way to try to stop any explosives-laden vehicles from leaving the city. Besides the trench, more modern security measures also will be used. Personal details of the estimated 85,000 residents who fled during the May-June battle to liberate the city will be stored electronically, and forgery-proof ID cards will be issued, according to Mayor Issa al-Issawi. Cars owned by residents also will be issued display badges containing electronic chips. The trenches will be about 40 feet wide and 5 feet deep. Work has begun on the first leg, running about 4 miles on the north and northwest side of the city, al-Issawi told the AP. Digging the second leg, which runs 3 miles along the south and southeast, will begin soon, he said. The western edge of Fallujah abuts the Euphrates River, providing a natural barrier. On the east side is the heavily patrolled main highway to Baghdad, which will be the sole entrance to Fallujah. The two trenches run through open desert areas used in the past by militants, said Maj. Gen. Saad Harbiyah, in charge of military operations in western Baghdad. Iraqis have used various earthworks, walls and fortifications ever since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. During the war, Saddam had trenches dug around Baghdad, filled them with oil and set them ablaze, using thick, black smoke to obscure the view for U.S. warplanes. Bernie Sanders has moved into a support position behind Hillary Clinton, but his legions of backers will be unavoidable at the Democratic National Convention that begins Tuesday. Nearly 2,000 of the 4,768 delegates in Philadephia will be Sanders delegates. While Orange County favored Clinton, it will send more Sanders delegates (13) than Clinton delegates (9), thanks to a selection process that awards delegates on a statewide and congressional district formula rather than on a county basis. The keys to Clinton winning the backing of Sanders loyalists are the changes to the party platform. They include support for a $15 minimum wage, an end to the death penalty, free tuition to public colleges for most students and the opportunity to buy into Medicare for those 55 to 65 years old. RELATED: Clinton likely to use convention to assert, prove her integrity, but email issue concerns many Hearty support from Sanders, combined with Clintons experience, result in a superior candidate, said Oranges John Hanna, a Clinton delegate. Shell provide a steady hand during difficult times, and shes well versed on national and international issues, Hanna said. She supports policies that will improve the quality of life for all Americans. Delegates from both the Sanders and Clinton camps expressed concern that their partys nominee was not completely forthcoming about her use of a private email server and about her high-dollar speeches to banking interests. Hanna brushes those issues aside. Compare her track record to Trumps, Hanna said. This is a guy who hasnt released his tax returns. This is a guy who is being sued for fraud (by Trump University students). This is a guy who runs his businesses by bankruptcy. Its a pretty simple choice if youre looking for the person who is more ethical. Heres a closer look at three of Orange Countys delegates. The greenhorn Milana Oyenuga is on her maiden voyage to a national convention, only recently having become active in politics. But the Clinton delegate has been busy in the community for years. The mother of two has worked with youths at Santa Anas Second Baptist Church, been a committee chairman with the Boy Scouts and youth team manager. At the aerospace company where she oversees product development, Oyenuga revived a stagnant volunteer program to engage fellow employees in projects to help the homeless, veterans and local schools, and to fund breast cancer and multiple sclerosis research. With my children getting older, I see this as my next level of engagement, the 51-year-old Orange resident said of winning a delegate seat. Its a chance to really learn how the system works, to learn how to make an impact. Oyenugas parents were Democrats, and she remembers her mother campaigning for John F. Kennedy. As her political identity took shape, she found the Democratic Party a natural fit. In the social and collaborative language of Democrats, theres more of a feeling that minorities are part of the country, said the Cincinnati native, an African American. And hearing other minority voices was important to me. Oyenuga was an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama in 2008 and attended his inauguration. She says electing an African American president had a bigger impact than electing a woman would. At the same time, she was impressed with Clinton and had it in the back of her mind that shed support Clinton if she made a 2016 bid. Clintons work as secretary of state increased Oyenugas estimation of the candidate. She has compassion, leadership, resilience and understands the intricate dynamics economically, culturally and demographically of this great country, Oyenuga said. She thinks Bernie Sanders has, overall, had a positive impact on the Democrats presidential bid, particularly with his winning platform positions for a $15 minimum wage and free tuition at public colleges for families that make less than $125,000. Unlike some Clinton supporters, Oyenuga doesnt dismiss the discrepancies between the candidates account of her use of her private email server and the findings outlined by FBI Director James Comey including his contradiction of her claim that she never used the private email for classified documents. She definitely lied to the public, she said. That is an issue. But its not going to make me vote for Donald Trump. I trust her experience. She has been caught. She apologized. I think she learned from it. She has more of a legitimate interest in seeing our country move forward. Trump seems in it for his own good. The progressive Sanders inspired many young Americans to become engaged with the political process, but that Sanders even ran for president and as a Democrat is thanks to veteran progressive activists like Laguna Hills Bill Honigman. Honigman, an emergency room physician known in Democratic circles as Dr. Bill, has been a county and state leader of Progressive Democrats of America nearly from its start in 2004. The group was concerned that Clinton would be anointed as the party nominee and give short shrift to the organizations goals of Medicare for all, free college and mitigation of climate change. So it put together a petition drive to recruit the Vermont senator, an independent. I did everything possible to promote his candidacy, first in our Run Bernie Run campaign and then after he declared his candidacy in our We Want Bernie campaign, said Honigman, 62. Honigman traces his concern with social justice to childhood and making house calls with his father, a doctor. He also recalls walking precincts for school bond measures as a schoolboy, and later volunteering for candidates opposed to the Vietnam War. By the time he moved to Orange County in 1983 and started a family, he was devoting much of his free time to progressive politics. Hes served on the county Democratic Partys governing Central Committee for more than 20 years and he was a Jerry Brown delegate to the 1992 convention. Hes worked on advocacy projects for gun control, abortion rights, immigrant rights, health care and climate change, among others. The Progressive Democrats of America goals hes worked for have been dismissed by many as impractical idealism. But Sanders carried that idealism to the masses, attracted millions of votes and won key concessions to the party platform that Honigman said were unlikely to have made it otherwise. He outperformed everybodys expectations, Honigman said. What this tells us in the progressive movement is that theres widespread support out there for these issues. Theres reason to think we can make even more progress. Honigman expressed disappointment with Clinton both in terms of public trust and of being too moderate. But he said hes following Sanders lead by embracing Clintons candidacy, and hopes Sanders and his delegates can further embolden the candidate at the convention. Trump may be plenty scary enough, but without taking a strong stand on the real issues that matter to real people, she could lose this election, he said. Given a choice between someone who takes a strong stand and one who doesnt, the voters will take the strong candidate every time. The insider This isnt Clinton delegate John Hannas first rodeo. Its his fifth convention as a delegate, including one as a Clinton delegate in 2008. His lengthy resume in politics includes a stint as a congressional staffer and three years as chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County in the 1980s. Last month, he oversaw a breaking of bread between the states Clinton and Sanders supporters in his capacity as co-chairman of the state partys Resolutions Committee, a post hes held for 20 years. Sanders had complained that the partys superdelegates rigged the primary system in favor of establishment Democrats. Superdelegates, who are party and elected officials, account for about 15 percent of all delegates and are not bound to support candidates favored by voters. Clinton has the support of 602 of the superdelegates, while Sanders has the backing of 48, according to an Associated Press analysis. The resolution passed by Hannas committee calls on the national party in future elections to reduce the number of superdelegates by more than half, and would oblige those remaining to support the candidate favored by their states voters. It also calls for replacing all state caucuses with state primaries. I wanted to make sure we came out of this looking good, and I wanted to give the Sanders people something, said Hanna, whose wife voted for Sanders. The superdelegates have become our House of Lords. And the caucuses are our voter suppression, because most voters are working people and dont have time to attend them. Hanna, 65, has lived in Orange County since 1964. Thats when his father, a career Navy man, was assigned to his last post, at the now-shuttered El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Hannas early political influences included his father, who voted for Richard Nixon in 1960; his mother, who voted for Kennedy that year; and his paternal grandfather, an advocate of socialism. Hannas says his own activism picked up as he became involved with the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. The Orange resident currently works as an attorney and governmental affairs director for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Hes been a trustee at the Rancho Santiago Community College District since 1998. He said the biggest reason for supporting Clinton over Sanders is her experience and capability. With all due respect to Bernie Sanders, he hasnt gotten much done as a senator, Hanna said. I felt more comfortable that Clinton could work better with Republicans. She worked across the aisle in the Senate, and Bill Clinton worked well with Republicans. Hanna isnt worried about Sanders backers defecting to a third party candidate. Those people who arent going to vote for Clinton probably wouldnt vote for anybody but a socialist, he said. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com The nightly themes for this weeks Democratic National Convention include Stronger Together, Working Together and United Together. Hillary Clinton might want to add another: Trust me. The four-day convention, which starts Monday in Philadelphia, offers the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee a chance to win over voters skeptical about her integrity, doubts exacerbated by findings of an FBI probe into her email practices and a week of prime-time pounding during the just-ended Republican convention. Its unclear if Republicans achieved a basic goal of political conventions last week to present a united front going into the national campaign but they agreed on a mantra: Hillary Clinton must not be president. As Americans watched, speaker after Republican speaker declared Clinton guilty of deception, and delegates often responded by chanting lock her up. One Trump adviser and GOP delegate, Al Baldasaro, a New Hampshire state representative, went further, saying Clinton should be put in the firing line and shot for treason, over the 2012 Benghazi, Libya, attacks that killed four Americans. So the Democrats this week have work to do. Their convention will likely tout veteran office-holder Clintons qualifications while portraying GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, a political newcomer, as unqualified, bigoted and dangerous. The Republican convention has provided her with plenty of opportunities for contrast, said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College. Clinton will portray herself as confident, steady, experienced and knowledgeable. It will be the Donald versus the grown-up. EXTREMELY CARELESS A few weeks ago, it seemed the Democratic convention could become a final stand for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters in his long-shot bid to win the presidential nomination. Sanders endorsement of Clinton earlier this month inspired a moment of party unity. But a stinging rebuke by FBI Director James Comey over Clintons use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state rekindled nagging headaches. While Comey didnt recommend criminal charges, he said Clinton was extremely careless while handling emails containing classified material. His comments reinforced voters doubts about Clintons honesty and gave new fuel for Trumps Cooked Hillary line of attack. The FBIs findings are a glaring indictment of Hillary Clintons complete lack of judgment, honesty and preparedness to be our next commander-in-chief. And they confirm what weve long known: Hillary Clinton has spent the last 16 months looking into cameras deliberately lying to the American people, said Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee. Clinton has spent much of her adult life in the public eye, as an active, ambitious first lady, as a U.S. senator and as secretary of state. During much of that time, shes been dogged by decades of ethics questions; Travel Gate, Whitewater, Vince Foster. While those allegations ultimately lost traction, supporters say the relentless investigations served as motivation for Clinton to run a private email server. (For her) to have a guard, that shouldnt shock anybody, said Chris Robles, chairman of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party who worked in the Department of Energy during Bill Clintons presidency. Thats why Ive never hesitated in my support for her. Fair or not, the email questions are sticking. In a July CBS News poll, 62 percent of respondents said Clinton is not honest and trustworthy. Her saving grace? Similar numbers said the same thing about Trump. Clinton has maintained a narrow lead over Trump in recent polling. NEW NARRATIVE Academic observers say Clintons best strategy is to focus on her strengths. The goal for Hillary Clinton is to shift the narrative to which candidate can move the country forward, said Marcia Godwin, an associate professor of public administration at the University of La Verne. We will see a reintroduction of her public persona and accomplishments as subtle ways to reassure voters. There is absolutely no upside for the Democrats to get into details on the email scandal. Character issues will only come up as criticisms of Trump. Arthur Lupia, a political science professor at the University of Michigan, said Bill Clinton shifted questions about his integrity and whether he dodged the draft with a 1992 convention that cast him as a small-town boy who worked his way up and learned his ideals from John F. Kennedy. While the major parties have historically restrained themselves during the other partys convention, Lupia said he expects heavy counterprogramming from Trump during the Democratic convention. Lauren Wright, a political scientist who wrote a book on the role of first ladies in White House communication strategies, said using people other than Hillary Clinton to vouch for her honesty could be effective, especially if those voices come from the other party. Long-standing studies show that if you can get voters to listen to an unexpected source that they trust, they might consider it differently, said Wright, a member of the White House Transition Project. Rick Maurer, an author who writes about overcoming resistance to change in organizations, said Clinton needs to say, I am sorry, and say it in her regular speaking voice. Her campaign voice is different, and comes across to me as less personal, Maurer said. When I have seen moments when she appears to let down this candidate persona and speak personally to people, she comes across very well. WILL IT WORK? Will this weeks convention convince voters to trust Clinton? Opinions are mixed. The skepticism is based on cumulative ethically challenging situations and reinforced by the email problem, said Joshua Sandman, a political science professor at the University of New Haven in Connecticut who has studied presidential elections for five decades. Further, the unrelenting news cycle keeps her email matter, and by extension other ethical lapses, in the public eye. The Republicans have done an effective job of turning a technology, communications misjudgment into a serious ethical embarrassment. Historically, political conventions are a blip on the screen, said Renee Van Vechten, a political science professor at the University of Redlands. Come November, July will be a distant memory. But this year, Van Vechten said, voters are looking for ways to discount the other (candidate) to a much larger degree than before. Wright agreed the conventions wont have a long-term effect. Research has also shown that polling this far ahead of Election Day is not indicative of voting before Election Day, she said. What voters think of (Clinton) is not reflective at all of what theyll think of her (right) before the election. That said, Robles believes some voters can be persuaded by a strong convention performance by Hillary Clinton. In a tight election, that could matter. I think a lot of things need to happen, Robles said. I think one of those things definitely (is), she needs to speak from the heart. Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@pressenterprise.com Thousands of comic and pop culture fans cheered as Kylo Ren stopped battling with young Jakku scavenger, Rey, during Saturday nights Comic-Con Internationals Masquerade costume contest, got down on one knee and asked her to be his bride and she said yes. They were so loud you just couldnt hear anything, recalled Robert Monroe, 34, from Santa Clarita who convinced his usually shy and introverted girlfriend, Aly Ayers, 25, of New York to participate in the Comic-Con staple for cosplayers. I got a little nervous because I couldnt figure out what she said, but then a realized she had said yes and I picked her up and spun her around. Monroe and Ayers arent the first to have made the giant pop-culture convention the backdrop to their special day. In 2010, a man enlisted the help of Kevin Smith when he proposed to his girlfriend during the Q&A portion of Smiths Hall H panel discussion. The couple first met in person four years ago at New York Comic-Con. We had first met on social media, but our first meeting in real life was there, he said. That was our first date, but shell argue it wasnt. Photos: Comic-Con 2016 The two maintained their long-distance relationship and when they had the chance to both attend San Diegos Comic-Con, Monroes romantic wheels started turning and with help from SDCC officials, began planning the very nerdy and very public proposal. I figured this would be the perfect time to ask because she would be out here and Ive always wanted to do the Masquerade, he said. She was not so eager though. Having never set foot on a stage or even cosplayed, Ayers said she was out of her element. I actually thought he was being kind of a jerk making me do this, she laughed Sunday morning looking back at the events of the last 24 hours. But then he played the whole, You want to have adventures, dont you? Comic-Con: This 15-year-olds outfits are turning heads, even among cosplayers So, she agreed and the two chose to cosplay as Star Wars: The Force Awakens characters. During the couples rehearsed scene, Ayers and Monroe were to have a lightsaber battle and she was supposed to force push Monroe to the ground. He took that opportunity to stop, pull of his mask, reach into his back pocket for a bright red box holding her engagement ring. At first I thought I had really hurt him, she said. I got really scared and nervous. While the two were still reveling in their moment backstage, they were told they had won one of the awards. We couldnt believe it when they told us we won Audience favorite, said Monroe, who is a member of the 501st Legion, an international fan-based non-profit organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of replicas of Imperial Stormtrooper armor, Sith Lords, Clone Troopers, bounty hunters, and other villains from the Star Wars universe. The award came with a trophy and a $1,000 cash prize. The cross-country couple is now planning their future and Ayers says she hopes to soon be back in California permanently. God willing, my daughter and I will move here by the end of the year, she said. Its still all kind of new and unreal right now. A pack of pit bull prosecutors once attacked public corruption in Orange County. They took down scores of politicians county supervisors who sold their votes, city officials who squeezed money from strawberry farmers, a U.S. congressman who accepted bribes before he hit the big time. Crusaders Cecil Hicks and Mike Capizzi won convictions, guilty pleas, jail sentences and a curious combination of renown and resentment that, for Capizzi at least, hardened to scorn. Capizzis zealous pursuit of fellow Republican powerbrokers for alleged political crimes as Orange Countys elected district attorney earned him jeers of traitor and political grandstander. After years of bruising court battles, some cases were ultimately dismissed. The Republican establishment turned its back on him, and Capizzis quest for higher office came to a screeching halt. When Tony Rackauckas campaigned to succeed Capizzi in 1998, he pointedly promised to focus on attacking violent crime rather than generating political publicity. Four terms later, Rackauckas has kept his word. But has he kept it too well? And is additional investigative oversight of local agencies in the county needed? Rackauckas has investigated many public officials over the past 16 years. He has tended toward prosecutions involving public employees engaged in embezzlement and sexual harassment, as well as misconduct by police officers. Cases that fall into more nuanced political realms such as elected leaders accused of breaking campaign laws or taking actions that may benefit themselves financially are often passed to the states Fair Political Practices Commission, which can wag its finger and levy civil fines but cannot press criminal charges. Its possible that this D.A., unlike his predecessors Capizzi and Hicks, does not prioritize the value of prosecuting cases of political corruption, said Mark Petracca, political science professor at UC Irvine. Its certainly not like such cases have disappeared. Its that decisions are being made not to prosecute them. Rackauckas bristled at suggestions that he goes easy on public officials. His office looks into every corruption complaint it receives and brings criminal charges when theyre appropriate, the district attorney said, including cases filed against elected officials in Huntington Beach, Santa Ana and Laguna Beach. But he does not want his office played by warring political machines, he said. Particularly during campaign seasons, political candidates accuse their opponents of all kinds of bad and criminal things, Rackauckas said. They want to be able to say, So-and-so is under investigation by the District Attorneys Office. I dont think the D.A.s Office should be used as a political tool. That stance may be laudable, but Orange County voters are demanding more. Two grand juries have called for an independent ethics commission to police political misconduct in the county since 2013, citing its reputation for impropriety rivaling that of New Yorks Tammany Hall and a general reluctance among elected leaders to pursue political cases. Indeed, county supervisors repeatedly rejected calls for a new ethics commission, saying it was unnecessary and redundant. Fed up, citizen watchdogs launched a ballot initiative to force the creation of an independent ethics commission. It was approved in June by 70 percent of voters. Victory raises new possibilities, and issues: How robust should this new watchdog be? What about its reach and power? CONCERNING Several cases of potential conflicts or misuse of government resources have come to the fore recently. They include steeply discounted stays by county workers at a county-owned hotel in Dana Point; the failure of Breas former city manager to disclose more than $100,000 in payments from a private water company, even as Breas investments in that company skyrocketed; and taxpayer-funded mailers sent by a county supervisor. The D.A. is reviewing the first two cases, but no criminal charges have been filed. The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating the supervisors mailers and the former Brea city managers dual roles. Officials involved in the cases say they did nothing improper. However, a private attorney who has examined the Brea water deals asserted that the D.A. missed the boat. The then-city manager may have helped set the price for water rights and stock bought by the city and personally profited as a result, argued Patrick Munoz, the attorney with Rutan & Tucker who was hired by a Brea developer who has tangled with City Hall. Breas investment in the water company ballooned to more than $39 million from less than $400,000 while the then-city manager, Tim ODonnell, served on its board. ODonnell believed he didnt need to disclose payments because they came from the companys subsidiary, which didnt directly do business with Brea, the D.As office said. Even if he was obligated to disclose that income, or recuse himself from contract discussions, prosecutors would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he understood those requirements, and willfully chose not to follow them, the D.A. investigator wrote. The D.A. took for granted the assertion that the water company and its subsidiary are separate when they are one and the same, Munoz wrote in a letter to Breas City Council. After the FPPCs probe concludes, Rackauckas said, hell decide if anything further is warranted. The law requires prosecutors to weigh intent, said Ebrahim Baytieh, assistant D.A. and head of the special prosecutions unit that handles public-integrity probes. Theres a difference between doing things inefficiently and ineffectively and committing a crime, he said. PUBLIC INTEGRITY District attorneys in other large California counties Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Clara and Alameda among them have discrete public integrity units dedicated to investigating allegations of misuse of public funds, electoral fraud and professional impropriety by elected and appointed officials. But not Orange County. In 2012, Rackauckas sought funding for such a team from the county Board of Supervisors, which controls his purse strings. He cited increased complaints of illegal or inappropriate use of public funds, bribery, election and campaign violations, conflicts of interest and malfeasance in office. Supervisors balked, saying such a unit could launch unwarranted investigations to justify its existence. In the end, the board approved several new positions for Rackauckas existing special prosecutions unit, which pursues a wide variety of cases, including public corruption. That unit numbers 13 prosecutors for a county of more than 3 million people. As an independent elected official, Rackauckas could carve out a public integrity unit by reassigning prosecutors from his current staff. But that would leave the office short-handed elsewhere, he said. Many other large California jurisdictions also have had long-established, independent ethics commissions to probe allegations of political misconduct. Among them are the city of Los Angeles and the counties of San Diego, San Francisco, Ventura and San Bernardino. Finally, forced by voters, Orange County is joining their ranks. Officially called the Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission, the new watchdog unit here will provide administrative oversight of the local campaign laws regarding contributions, lobbyists, gifts and more. It is limited, at least for now, to cases involving county government, a nearly $6 billion yearly enterprise. The panel will have subpoena power and will track campaign contributions, as citizen watchdog and initiative sponsor Shirley Grindle has done by hand for nearly 40 years. Details are being worked out, but supervisors voted last month to add three full-time positions to staff the commission, at a cost of $549,000 this year. The panel wont have jurisdiction over the myriad local governments in the county cities, school districts and special districts. That might change. More agencies could contract with the new commission to police ethics, Grindle said. And they should consider it, she added. Much work remains: Will complaints that now pour into the D.A.s Office go to the ethics commission? How will the D.A. and the panel work together? We will have to see, Rackauckas said. If theyre seeking criminal prosecutions, they will have to come to us. PASS OR PROSECUTE? Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has drawn criticism over the years for his offices approach to cases involving powerful politicians and public employees. Its widely known that Tony Rackauckas does not prosecute elected officials accused of public corruption, said Fred Smoller, political science professor at Chapman University. The D.A. says such characterizations are incorrect and unfair. Heres a look at some political investigations during Rackauckas tenure: Smoller says: It took the feds to put Sheriff Mike Carona in jail. Carona was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he illegally accepted bribes of cash and lavish gifts in exchange for political favors and was convicted of a single count of witness tampering. Carona served a four-year prison sentence. Rackauckas rejected assertions that he let Carona slide. We had an agreement with the (U.S.) Department of Justice we split that, he said. We investigated allegations on (former Assistant Sheriff George) Jaramillo, and we sent everything we got concerning Carona to the DOJ. To suggest we were sitting on our duff during that is wrong. The D.A. investigated Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido in connection with a land-swap deal with a city contractor. After a lengthy probe, the D.A. handed the case to the FPPC, which fined Pulido $13,000 for voting to renew the citys contract with an auto parts dealer who had swapped land with Pulidos family. Days after hospital executives wrote checks totaling $5,000 for then-County Supervisor Janet Nguyens re-election in 2012, she voted to pay $750,000 to a hospital network owned by one of those executives to settle a lawsuit over unpaid bills. Nguyen, then a trustee with the countys health system for the poor, said she did nothing wrong, and the D.A. concluded there were no criminal conflict-of-interest violations. The FPPC concluded that conflict-of-interest laws didnt apply because the votes did not involve a license, permit or other entitlement pending before the agency. Rackauckas cites several sensitive public integrity cases his office has pursued, including: Former Assistant Sheriff George Jaramillo, who pleaded guilty to felony counts of perjury and misappropriation of public funds in 2007. Jaramillo lied under oath to the grand jury about getting paid by a private company; he used department employees to demonstrate that companys products; and he misused a helicopter and other equipment for personal travel. Carlos Bustamante, once the countys public works administrator as well as a Santa Ana city councilman, was charged and pleaded guilty to multiple sex-related charges after seven female county employees accused him of making unwanted advances. Two Fullerton police officers were charged with fatally beating Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill man, and three Santa Ana police officers were charged with petty theft, and one with vandalism, after raiding a marijuana dispensary and sampling the edibles. The Fullerton officers were acquitted, and the Santa Ana officers, who no longer work for the department, have pleaded not guilty. Contact the writer: tsforza@ocregister.com The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum has called on Armenian authorities to resolve the occupation of the Erebuni police department in Yerevan by armed Sasna Dzrer group without any further loss of life. In a statement released to the press, the Committee says that political tensions can only be resolved through dialogue and without recourse to the violence, which has already led to the death of one policeman and injury of four others. However, we stress that political dialogue can only be conducted under conditions of rule of law and democratic governance, which respect the will of the people as expressed in free and fair elections. Such conditions can only be put in place if the leadership of Armenia revises its current policies and establishes a regime without political prisoners and with mutual respect between the countrys rulers and political opposition, reads the Committees statement. Read full statement HERE BREA Police are seeking a man caught on camera assaulting an employee at a phone-repair shop before being pepper-sprayed. The incident happened earlier this week at the iCrackRepair.com store on West Lambert Road. The suspect came to the store for his repaired cell phone, which was not fixed because the new part hadnt arrived, workers told KABC-TV. In the video, the man stresses that he needs the phone. He threatens employees by saying to them they would not be able to go home that night. He then slams an employee to a work table behind the counter. The employee quickly picks up a pepper-spray container and uses it against the man to chase him out of the store. Police said that before he fled, the suspect snatched up his phone and an employees phone. Brea Police Lt. Bill Smyser said theres a robbery warrant out for the suspect. On Saturday, a store employee said hes been told not to discuss the incident, which happened on Monday. Contact the writer: 949-445-6397 or tshimura@ocregister.com It was a slow kick off to the U.S. Open of Surfing, with a thick fog Saturday delaying the start of the mens trials. By the end of the hazy day, a handful of Orange County surfers remained on the list of semifinalists. Starting at 7 a.m. Sunday , theyll continue their fight for a spot in the main mens event, which kicks off Monday. San Clementes Dane Gudauskas showed up at 6 a.m. to hit the waves and warm up for the first heat of the day, which didnt start until noon, a four-hour delay. The waves have been so good out there, he said after a morning warm-up in the 4-6 foot waves. Gudauskas doesnt do many contests these days but was hoping to join his brothers Tanner and Pat in the main event Monday. He took second spot in the first round of the trials, but was knocked out in the quarterfinals. Santa Barbaras Kilian Garland had a strong start after winning his Round 1 heat with a 9.83 score (out of 20). Its great to be back in Huntington and to see the crowd for the U.S. Open, he said before being eliminated in the following round. By the end of the day, San Clementes Kei Kobayashi was still in the running for a spot in the mens event, along with Huntington Beach surfers Matt Passaquindici and Derek Peters. Other California surfers still in the running include Ensenada surfer Jake Marshall and Venturas Cory Arrambide. When the mens junior event begin at 8 a.m. Sunday , several Orange County surfers will be battling it out. Newports Tyler Gunter surfs in Heat 2, and Kobayashi is in Heat 4. San Clementes Griffin Colapinto, who won the juniors event last year, is scheduled to surf in Heat 9. Contact the writer: lconnelly@ocregister.com NEW YORK There were dire warnings for the Boy Scouts of America a year ago when the groups leaders, under intense pressure, voted to end a long-standing blanket ban on participation by openly gay adults. Several of the biggest sponsors of Scout units, including the Roman Catholic, Mormon and Southern Baptist churches, were openly dismayed, raising the prospect of mass defections. Remarkably, nearly 12 months after the BSA National Executive Boards decision, the Boy Scouts seem more robust than they have in many years. Youth membership is on the verge of stabilizing after a prolonged decline, corporations which halted donations because of the ban have resumed their support, and the vast majority of units affiliated with conservative religious denominations have remained in the fold still free to exclude gay adults if thats in accordance with their religious doctrine. Catholic Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, S.C., whose duties include liaising with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, says he knows of no instances where a Catholic unit there are more than 7,500 has taken on an openly gay adult leader since the policy change. Gay sex and same-sex marriage are considered violations of church teaching. The Boy Scouts national leadership has been wonderfully supportive, Guglielmone said. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention were unhappy with the BSAs easing of the ban on gay adults, but did not call on individual churches to disaffiliate with troops that they sponsored. A year later, the number of Southern Baptist churches that did cut ties with Scouting is in the double digits, far outnumbered by those who continued their sponsorships, according to Ted S. Spangenberg Jr., president of the executive board of the Association of Baptists for Scouting. We kind of like the way it looks, Spangenberg said. if youre faith-based, its within your right to select the adult leaders who are going to uphold the tenets of your faith. Also pleased with the developments is Richard Mason, president of the BSAs Greater New York Councils, serving nearly 50,000 youths in the New York City area. In April 2015, the NY Councils played a key role in the BSA policy change, defying the ban by hiring an 18-year-old gay Eagle Scout to work at one of its summer camps. Mason said the aftermath of the change has been overwhelmingly positive in New York. Some corporations and liberal religious groups that cut ties with the Scouts have restored them, he said, while the Catholic archdiocese has remained fully active. Until last year, the Boy Scouts had adhered to a ban on gay adults for more than three decades, even taking a case to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000, when it won a 5-4 decision upholding its right to have exclusionary membership policies. That ruling fueled protests against the BSA by gay-rights supporters. After internal debate, the BSA leadership decided in 2013 to allow participation by openly gay youth. But it faced continued pressure to ease its ban on gay adults serving as paid staff or volunteers. At the urging of Robert Gates, the former defense secretary who was BSA president at the time, the Scouts National Executive Board voted 45-12 on July 27, 2015, to end the blanket ban on gay adult leaders while allowing church-sponsored units to maintain the exclusion for religious reasons. About 73 percent of Scout units are sponsored by churches, some of them open to participation by gay adults. Like several other major youth organizations, the Boy Scouts have experienced a membership decline in recent decades. Current youth participation, according to the BSA, is about 2.35 million, down from 2.6 million in 2013 and more than 4 million in peak years of the past. However, Gates, in a speech in May before stepping down as BSA president, said there were encouraging trends, with the overall rate of decline slowing and an increase in the number of boys joining Cub Scouts. We are on the threshold of a significant historical event a return to positive national growth for the first time in decades, Gates said. There are no official statistics on how many gay adults have been accepted as BSA leaders since the ban was eased. We do not inquire about the sexual orientation of our youth members, adult volunteers or employees, said BSA spokeswoman Effie Delimarkos. Though the policy change did not trigger massive defections, there were some emphatic departures. The Catholic bishop of Bismarck, N.D., David Kagan, announced his diocese would end its affiliation. In addition, about 20 individual Catholic parishes around the country dropped their sponsorship of Scout troops, according to Guglielmone. In Appleton, Wis., Faith Lutheran Church severed its ties with Boy Scout and Cub Scout units it had sponsored for 60 years. Pastor Dan Thews said he couldnt accept the idea of gay adults having influence over boys in the unit. In Utah, where most troops are sponsored by Mormon churches, the change appears to have had modest impact. The Mormon Church, which sponsors more Scout units that any other organization in the U.S., initially said it was deeply troubled by the policy change but later committed to sticking with the Boy Scouts. One of the groups that campaigned against the BSAs bans on gay youths and adults Scouts for Equality is trying to build a national network of Scout units that publicly identify as welcoming gays. Zach Wahls, a co-founder of Scouts for Equality, said this program is now active in 31 states, with participation by more than 4,800 youths and 2,300 adults. We still have a ways to go, said Wahls, 24, an Eagle Scout who was raised by lesbian mothers in Iowa. The First Amendment Defense Act is one of those proposals that will sound good to almost everybody until you read beyond the title. This Editorial Board applauds any effort to defend the First Amendment to the Constitution and its guarantees of Americans freedoms of religion, speech, press and peaceable assembly, as well as our right to petition the government. But defending the First Amendment isnt what this bill is really about. Introduced by Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, it plays offense more than defense. Its a new effort by some in Congress to expand the definition of religious freedom to make it something more like religious privilege. According to the official summary, H.R. 2802 prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage. By discriminatory action, it means, among other things, government action to withhold tax exemptions, contracts, loans and licenses to people or corporations that defy federal laws requiring equal treatment of LGBT people. The proposed law could be used as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding and to obtain compensatory damages or other appropriate relief against the federal government. Sen. Lee has said the bill is pushback against the Supreme Courts decision legalizing same-sex marriage. It is meant to provide legal protection, should protection be needed, for religious groups that object to gay marriage. This worries advocates of the LGBT community, who fear the bill could allow a business to deny time off to a gay or lesbian employee to care for an ailing spouse, an insurance company to deny coverage to a gay couple or a school to refuse to accept the child of gay parents. It also should worry those who believe in what Thomas Jefferson called a wall of separation between church and state. Americans should be free to believe and worship as they choose without interference from the government. They should not be able to wave their religious beliefs as Get Out of Jail Free cards to get around democratically elected laws that apply to everybody else. Finally, Americans who believe in limited government should oppose a bill that would have the legal system act as a biased referee, tilting the playing field to the advantage of people of faith. This wouldnt strengthen the First Amendment. It would twist the First Amendments fundamental value. Other House members from Southern California should make themselves heard in opposition to this misnamed and misguided bill. Finally, there is a form of gun control that Second Amendment friends and foes alike can get behind: the need to better secure the guns of government law enforcement agencies so that they do not fall into the hands of criminals. [S]ince 2010, at least 944 guns have disappeared from police in the Bay Area and state and federal agents across California an average of one almost every other day and fewer than 20 percent have been recovered, revealed an investigative report from the Bay Area News Group, which includes the Mercury News and East Bay Times newspapers. While the investigation focused on the Bay Area, this seems to be an issue statewide, including here in Southern California. In January, for example, an Orange County Sheriffs Department patrol deputy put a bag with his AR-15 rifle and three loaded 30-round magazines on the trunk of his patrol vehicle in Aliso Viejo, then got distracted and drove off without them. It was seven hours later before he realized the error, and a subsequent search failed to find the gun and ammunition. The analysis of 240 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies uncovered an alarming disregard for the way many officers from police chiefs to cadets to FBI agents safeguard their weapons, the news group concluded, noting that many police departments do not even audit their weapons inventories. Their guns have been stolen from behind car seats and glove boxes, swiped from gym bags, dresser drawers and under beds. They have been left on tailgates, car roofs and even atop a toilet paper dispenser in a car dealerships bathroom. One officer forgot a high-powered assault rifle in the trunk of a taxi. Stolen police guns have ended up in the hands of members and associates of notorious gangs like the Bloods, the Aryan Brotherhood and Nortenos, the report noted. One fell into the hands of a Reno pimp after a prostitute took a Kensington police officers Glock pistol and badge from his hotel room when he fell asleep. In several cases, stolen guns have even been used to commit murders, such as the widely publicized cases of Kate Steinle, who was shot on a San Francisco pier a year ago with a gun stolen from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangers car, and Antonio Ramos, an artist killed in October while working on an antiviolence mural in Oakland with a gun that had been stolen from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Stories of lost and stolen guns have even plagued the Secret Service. A male Secret Service agent assigned to Puerto Rico had his issued firearm stolen by a male prostitute who he solicited online with his government-issued laptop computer, alleged a government report obtained by Radar Online through a Freedom of Information Act filing and related in a recent expose of sex scandals, harassment of subordinate female employees and drinking on the job at the Secret Service. The weapon has not been recovered. Then there was the Operation Fast and Furious scandal, in which the Arizona Field Office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ran a gunwalking sting, in which licensed firearms dealers in the Phoenix area were encouraged to sell guns to illegal straw buyers, who would then, it was reasoned, turn the guns over to drug traffickers and high-ranking Mexican drug cartel leaders. The idea was to track the guns and take down these high-profile targets. Years later, however, only about one-third of the approximately 2,000 guns sold through the operation had been recovered, and the effort failed to nab any senior cartel members. Facilitating the transfer of weapons to violent criminals was never a good idea, and it did not take long to feel the blowback. A Fast and Furious gun was found at the scene of a shootout between five suspected illegal immigrants and U.S. Border Patrol agents in December 2010, resulting in the death of agent Brian Terry. In October 2011, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, who then chaired the House Oversight Committee, revealed that more than 200 Mexicans had been killed by guns linked to Fast and Furious. Even this may be small potatoes compared to the carelessness with which U.S. government weapons are treated overseas. Auditors were unable to account for 43 percent of the 474,823 serial numbers on record for the more than 747,000 weapons and auxiliary equipment mostly small arms that the Pentagon sent to the Afghan National Security Forces, according to a 2014 report from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction. Without confidence in the Afghan governments ability to account for or properly dispose of these weapons, SIGAR is concerned that they could be obtained by insurgents and pose additional risks to Afghan civilians and the [Afghan National Security Forces], it warned. It is against the law in California to store a gun in an unsafe manner so that a child under 18 years of age may gain access to it, yet law enforcement agencies seem to have their guns lost or stolen at an alarming rate, sometimes due to officers shockingly cavalier attitudes toward securing their weapons. Perhaps federal, state and local governments should clean up their own house instead of imposing ever more draconian gun laws on law-abiding citizens. Re: Realistic immigration reform not found in Republican platform [Opinion, July 22]: I am just curious why Sal Rodriguez does not understand that not just Republicans, but Democrats as well across the country are tired of a broken immigration system. They want the legal process to work. What part of illegal immigration do Mr. Rodriguez and millions of others not understand? When he says undocumented workers, he is part of the problem and not the solution. Political correctness is what America is tired of. These immigrants are here illegally and that is why you have the division we have. The majority of our ancestors came here from other countries and went through Ellis Island legally. They wanted to learn our history and culture and assimilate here in the U.S. When people see illegal immigrants in this country burning our flag or putting the Mexican flag over the American flag, it infuriates them because there is a proper and legal way to enter this country. They should show some respect for that. We welcome all types of nationalities in our country. Mr. Rodriguez also fails to report the billions of dollars that illegal immigrants cost our country through medical and housing costs. Our country is more than fair, but illegal immigration is the proper term. They are not undocumented workers. The American people want immigrants coming to our country legally regardless of party affiliation. Jeff Altman Anaheim Hills In his column, Sal Rodriguez shows his bias and hard heart toward those who have lost children at the hands of criminal illegal aliens. His brief acknowledgment was a snide swipe at them for having the audacity to complain. After all, illegal aliens commit violent crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. What a crass and demeaning comment. He fails to acknowledge that many people are murdered by criminal illegal aliens. If the Register keeps publishing columns like Mr. Rodriguezs without a rebuttal, I, for one, will no longer be a subscriber. Its disappointing. Marvin Tuomala Westminster Staff columnist Sal Rodriguez finds no friendly immigration views in the GOP platform. He finds the Republican approach to immigration reform a knee-jerk reaction that is counter to what makes America great. He goes on to cite a 2015 report by the American Immigration Council that illegal immigrants commit crime at a far lower rate than Americans claiming high rates of immigration are associated with lower rates of violent crime and property crime. On the same day in the Register there was an article on 112 illegal immigrants with criminal pasts arrested in operation by Immigration and Custums Enforcement in six local counties [Local, July 22]. Their offenses ranged from child sex crimes, assault, multiple misdemeanors, even attempting to murder a peace officer. ICE said it was rounding up what it considered the most serious offenders. How many didnt they target that were not the most serious? One hundred and twelve arrested in just six local counties? Multiply 112 by how many counties in how many major metropolitan areas. Add in illegals arrested in all areas of America and Id say you have a pretty large figure. Mr. Rodriguezs article does not add up when you look at the numbers ICE is targeting that are just the most serious illegal immigrants. He is apparently a believer in no borders and unlimited immigrants pouring into America with no checks or balances, meaning we inherit Mexico and Central Americas criminals that they dont want. Mexico cannot refuse to take back their criminals we send them, but the Central Americans can, meaning we are stuck with them. Mr. Rodriguez should check the other articles in the Register before submitting one like he has that is contradicted in the same section of the paper. Ed Bjork Fountain Valley The principles of local control and decentralization are generally virtues when it comes to governing, enhancing accountability and preventing government from getting too big and too powerful but not always. One of the more dictatorial powers of local governments is land-use restrictions such as zoning, which have infringed on property rights and precipitated other negative consequences the world over. A recent Foundation for Economic Education article illustrates the human costs of zoning in India. Delhi is one of the most crowded cities in the world, and there is great demand for floor space, writes author Shanu Athiparambath about the second-most populous city in the world. But real estate developers are not allowed to build tall buildings. Apartment buildings, for example, are restricted to a floor area ratio of 2, meaning that developers cannot build more than 2,000 square feet of floor space on a 1,000-square-foot lot. If the building takes up the entire lot, it could be no higher than two stories. Compare that with other major cities, where the FAR reaches up to 13 in Los Angeles, 15 in Midtown Manhattan and 25 in Singapore. This is compounded by rent control laws that have made office space in downtown Delhi among the most expensive in the world and serve as a disincentive to renovate or redevelop decaying buildings. Even with all the crowding in the city, it is not as if there is no land available. Land is not scarce in Delhi, Mr. Athiparambath reports. There is enough land for everybody to live in a mansion. Large tracts of land remain idle or underutilized, either because the government owns it, or because property titles are weak. As a result, millions of people nearly one-third of the citys population live in illegal colonies that defy restrictive building codes. Moreover, since zoning laws significantly drive up real estate prices by artificially limiting the amount of developable land, people are pushed to the periphery of the city or to surrounding towns, ensuring that the average commute is long, roads are too congested and Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. This offers a powerful lesson to be learned here in the United States, especially in California. We may not have quite the congestion, poverty or slums as Indias most populous cities, but our rent control laws, development fees of up to $100,000 per single-family home, excessive building codes, militant protection of open space, stringent environmental laws, NIMBYism, inclusionary zoning mandates, which require developers to set aside a certain number of units at below-market rates, and other obstructive land-use policies diminish property rights and lead to the same problems of congestion and a lack of affordable housing. All of this central planning has only made these problems worse, while violating property rights and fostering a climate of corruption, where developers with deep enough pockets can buy special favors or pay protection money to municipalities to avoid further governmental meddling and harassment. Eliminate the regulations and the red tape to enhance freedom, congestion relief and more affordable housing for all. The sad decline in race relations has focused, almost exclusively, on the age-old, and sadly growing, chasm between black and white. Yet this divide may prove far less important, particularly in this election, than the direction of the Latino community. This may be the first election where Latinos, now the nations largest minority group, may directly alter the result, courtesy of the race baiting by GOP nominee Donald Trump. If the GOP chooses to follow his nativist pattern, it may be time to write off the Republican Party nationally, much as has already occurred in California. Today, Latinos represent 17 percent of the nations population; by 2050, they will account for roughly one in four Americans. Their voting power, as the GOP is likely to learn, to its regret this year, is also growing steadily, to 12 percent of eligible voters this year, and an estimated 18 percent by 2028. Political geography may prove as critical here as rising numbers. African Americans, for historic reason, are heavily concentrated in deep blue cities, simply padding already existing Democratic supermajorities, or in the deep red South, where they are overwhelmed by a conservative white majority. In contrast, Latinos represent a growing constituency in critical swing states such as Florida, where they constitute one-fifth of the electorate, as well Virginia, Nevada, Colorado and, thanks to the genius of Donald Trump, perhaps even Arizona. The next African Americans or the new Italians? Not even considered a separate racial group by the U.S. Census Bureau until 1970, Latinos encompass many cultures and racial backgrounds from purely European to heavily Native American and African, with lots of mixing in between. Unlike African Americans, the Latino experience has not been forged by the crime of slavery, the primary source of our deep-seated racial discontent. Latinos either predated Anglos in Texas or the Southwest, or came here later to seek opportunity and improvement. Latinos, then, are more akin to Italians, an ethnic group who also came to this country largely poor and undereducated, than to African Americans. Like Latinos today, 19th century Italians were not generally cast in a good light by the ruling establishment. The New York Times in 1875 labelled them unflatteringly as the Chinese of Europe. Like all groups, Italians had their share of bad apples the Mafia, for starters but most were hard-working, family people. Over the years, they have succeeded and become property owners. They are hardly monolithic politically, having produced such progressive icons as Mario Cuomo and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as conservative heroes like Rudy Giuliani. In contrast, African Americans have, arguably, to their disadvantage, become a political monolith, voting 90 percent Democratic in virtually every major election. Since Richard Nixons first race for the White House garnered 32 percent of the African American vote, no GOP presidential contender has won more the 15 percent, and in the Obama years its been less than half of that. Latinos, at least pre-Trump, have been a contestable constituency. In 2004, Latino voters gave George W. Bush 40 percent of their votes. The GOP also has produced a strong group of Latino elected officials Gov. Susan Martinez of New Mexico, Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. On the state level, notably in Texas, the Latino vote has been highly contested; current Gov. Greg Abbott received 44 percent of Latino votes in his election victory over a white, pro-choice Democrat beloved by the partys white liberal base. What works after The Donald? Even before Trump, the need for GOP candidates to pander to nativist sentiments damaged Republican credibility among Latinos. The GOP brand is now so tarnished that Trump may actually do as well that is, roughly 25 percent as did Mitt Romney. Over time, this is the kind of performance that assures political death. Perhaps the most damaging long-term effect of Trumpism may be to drive Latinos to adopt the kind of racial identity politics already threatening to tear this republic apart. That African Americans have adopted this approach which relies heavily on central government intervention to address serious problems is understandable, given their historical experience. But whether this works for immigrants, whatever their ethnicity, and their children, is dubious. Ironically, Latinos have tended to do better in those deep red states, notably Texas, where broad based economic growth particularly in blue-collar fields like energy, home construction and manufacturing has taken place. Overall, Latinos suffer less unemployment, and achieve higher rates of homeownership and business ownership, in the Lone Star State than in progressive California. To be sure, real poverty may afflict many Texas Latinos, as it does in California, particularly in rural areas, but they tend to have a smaller gap with whites than here in the Golden State, where, according to the United Ways of California, half of Latino households barely make enough to pay their basic expenses. In Los Angeles, the number rises to 54 percent. Latinos and the future of the Democratic Party Due in part to Trump, the real action in Latino politics for now will be within the Democratic Party. In California, Latinos seem to be dividing between pro-growth, pro-business pragmatists and a more ideologically driven progressive faction that celebrates identity politics and adheres to the general progressive agenda that prioritizes redistribution over economic growth. Some activists also would like to see Latinos adopt the confrontational, anti-police politics now so widespread in the African American community. Others, like California state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, have cozied up to the green and smart-growth agenda favored by padrones like San Francisco hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer. Overall, the hard green agenda seems a poor fit for Latinos, many of whom work in industries manufacturing, construction and agriculture most affected by draconian regulatory policies favored by Steyer and his crowd. Sacramentos desire to force higher energy prices is particularly harmful to Latinos, many of whom live in the hot interior of California. The states draconian planning and regulatory policies also have continued to make California a no go place for most industrial firms, have stymied home construction and are preparing a graveyard for much of the agribusiness industry. Latinos constitute two-thirds of all agricultural workers, and are twice as likely as other Californians to tell pollsters that the drought was having a major impact on their lives. This divergence between progressive politics and economic self-interest provides a natural opening for more pro-business Democrats, like Rep. Loretta Sanchez, in her U.S. Senate race against predictably leftist California Attorney General Kamala Harris of San Francisco. She leads Harris two-to-one among Latinos, according to some polls. If Sanchez can meld her Latino, largely Southern California base with middle-of-the-road, and even conservative, Republicans and independents, she could begin to reshape the future of California politics. Latinos and the birth of multiracial America Such a mediating role for Latinos could help slow the racialism that is creeping into both parties. It is not healthy that the Democratic Party is almost 40 percent minority, while the GOP is 90 percent white. Some progressives openly see Trumps effort as a white Americas sad last stand. It is, thus, no surprise that many whites may see the Democratic Party as seeking to decimate both their place in society and their heritage. Joel Kotkin is an R.C. Hobbs Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University and executive director of the Center for Opportunity Urbanism in Houston. His newest book is The Human City: Urbanism for the Rest of Us. Re: Even HIV/AIDS patients not spared by overregulation [Opinion, July 14]: Gregory Angelo is simply wrong to say that the widely used chemical BPA is on the Proposition 65 list for causing cancer, and that scientists conclude it is safe. BPA is listed for causing reproductive effects based on a 2015 finding by a panel of expert California scientists including a UC Irvine Department of Medicine professor and an Orange County toxicologist for a major pharmaceutical company that BPA can harm the female reproductive system. Mr. Angelo also recklessly asserted that Proposition 65 warnings have likely discouraged AIDS patients from taking AZT. There is no specific Proposition 65 warning for AZT because federal labeling requirements for prescription drugs satisfy Proposition 65 requirements. AZT is on the Proposition 65 list because the federal government and the World Health Organization have identified it as causing cancer. Many drugs have serious side effects, and doctors routinely discuss these risks with their patients. Lauren Zeise, Ph.D. Berkeley Acting Director, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Council pulling a fast one Re: Dana Point quagmire [Opinion, July 22]: The recent editorial about Measure H in Dana Point is, in my opinion, the City Council at work trying to slant things again. A measure was approved by the voters several years ago about development heights and parking. The current council was trying to pull a fast one on that measure, by granting a variance to height and parking for developers on an apartment project. That is why there was a grassroots proposal to put the approved developments by the City Council back to a vote. Measure H passed in June by a majority of voters. I dont believe the Register talked to anyone except the city about this passed Measure H. Now the council and city attorney are sending an already approved measure from years ago back to the Coastal Commission. Many believe it is their intention to keep it in a pending status, while they proceed with the voted-against development. Time will tell if the council and city are doing what the citizens voted (again) for. Donna Grubbs Dana Point The Party of Lincoln When the Republican Party was formed in Wisconsin in 1854, it stood apart as an anti-slavery party. Liberty for all human beings, along with the rule of law, were major aspects of the vision of this new party. Freedom was cherished as a divine right for all. It was a party that was tailor made for Abraham Lincoln. He had a firm belief in the dignity and worth of all human beings regardless of creed or race. If you study his letters and speeches, you will also find that Lincoln was an advocate of free enterprise, civic virtues and a strong republic. Although the GOP has evolved to varying degrees over the past 162 years to meet the diverse challenges of each era, for the most part it has remained true to its core founding values. These values would include free- market capitalism, limited government, local solutions, strong family values, fiscal and social conservatism, robust national security and adherence to the Constitution. At the Republican convention in Cleveland, these principles were repeated in one form or another over and over again by speakers from all walks of life. While not all Republicans have been effective at practicing these principles, these ideals are shared by most Americans and likely will be solid guide posts into the future. Christian Milord Fullerton Based on Donald Trumps Republican Party presidential acceptance speech, which was one of the bleakest and darkest in modern U.S. history, America and the world are literally coming apart at the seams, with crime and violence tearing our country and the world apart and with Hillary Clinton responsible for many of its problems, particularly in the foreign sphere. Though there are serious problems in the U.S. and the world today, the outlook is not as gloomy and hopeless as Trump makes it sound. And Mrs. Clinton is hardly the direct cause of many of the problems, as there are many people responsible for our problems and the world problems, both Democratic and Republican, both past and present, both American and foreign. Things arent as simplistic as Mr. Trump makes them sound, or as easy to fix. Kenneth L. Zimmerman Huntington Beach HONG KONG Heavy rains this past week in northern China caused extensive flooding, overwhelming levees and killing at least 72 people in one province, with many others missing, state media reported. The death toll in Xingtai, an industrial city in Hebei province, rose sharply on Saturday, days after a wall of water descended on one village in the middle of the night with little or no warning, according to the Beijing News. In addition to the 25 people in Xingtai who were confirmed dead, 13 were missing, China National Radio reported on its official social media site. Jingxing County, part of the provincial capital, Shijiazhuang, received more rain on Tuesday and Wednesday than in all of 2015, and flooding causing 26 deaths with 34 others missing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. In both cities, the local government took days to make public the devastation and report the casualties. In Xingtai, the death toll on Saturday rose to 25 from nine in the span of several hours after first being reported on Friday evening, more than two days after the bulk of the rain and flooding. The reports were from only two locations in Hebei, a densely populated province on the North China Plain that abuts Beijing. On Saturday, the website of the local Ministry of Civil Affairs listed 72 deaths, 78 people missing and more than 298,000 people displaced across the province. Hebei has a population of more than 73 million. Large portions of China have been inundated with heavy rain this summer. More than 160 people died in southern China after heavy rains and flooding this month, with many people blaming the local government for failing to invest in proper drainage systems and for the extensive filling in of lakes that in the past could absorb much of the water. Chinese-language posts on Twitter, which is blocked in China, included pictures and videos purporting to show the devastation in the village of Daxian, which was inundated after a nearby levee burst. One video showed water cascading over homes, turning streets into rivers and apparently sweeping several people away. Other images showed corpses in farm fields. The images could not be verified as genuine. In a news conference Saturday, officials in Xingtai denied reports that the flooding had been caused by an unannounced discharge from a local dam, saying that the flood was the worst in the areas history and that people had been given warning of the heavy flooding through social media and television alerts. Of the 17 people who died in the area around the village, at least five were younger than 9, according to a list of the dead released by the local government. Calls to the Xingtai government on Saturday went unanswered, and it did not immediately respond to an email asking for information about the flooding. A call to a spokesman for the Hebei provincial government also went unanswered. It was not clear why the local governments did not report news of the flooding and deaths sooner, but it is not unusual for Chinese officials to want to play down bad news. In 2012, heavy floods in Beijing killed dozens of people, but officials were slow to disclose details. Effective flood control has been a marker of well-run governments in China for thousands of years. By Markar Melkonian According to the July 23 press reports, the hostage takers who call themselves Sasna Dzrer have released the last of the police officers held in Yerevans Erebouni district police station. This sets the stage, we hope, for a resolution of the standoff without further bloodshed. If this is right, then we may heave a sigh of relief. But not a big one. Police Colonel Artur Vanoyan lost his life during the ordeal. Let us honor his memory. Among other demands, the hostage takers call for the release of Jirayr Sefilian and several other political prisoners. However, it is not at all clear that Sefilian, a distinguished patriot who has been in police custody throughout these events, should be held responsible for the ill-considered actions of those who seized the police station on July 17. It might be said that the seizure of the police station was poorly timed, in view of the failed coup attempt in Turkey two days earlier and President Erdogans subsequent power play. But to say this is to miss the point. The hostage taking should never have taken place. It is one thing to occupy a city square to protest questionable election results, or to occupy a factory for non-payment of wages, or to close Baghramyan Street to demand an end to extortionate electricity rate hikes. It is quite another thing to level guns at the police or to hurl metal rods at them on Khorenatsi Street. As so often has happened, police reaction against protesters has been indiscriminate and too violent. We are lucky--at least so far--to have averted the all-too-predictable cycle of protest, police repression, larger and angrier protest, more severe repression, and so on. In addition to the release of leaders in police custody, the hostage-takers have demanded the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan. But throw the bums out is not a political program. Twenty-five years ago, a group of people took one step after another to destroy the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, but had nothing better to replace it with--or rather, nothing better for the majority population. The moral of this terrible lesson bears repeating: do not call for resignations or the destruction of institutions unless you are ready to put a better alternative into place. Nowhere have we heard the Sasna Dzrer oppose capitalist rule or the long-established economic orientation that has impoverished and diminished the country. It is not at all clear why the 90% at the bottom should support a group that offers no alternative to the same old neoliberalism that has caused so much misery in Armenia for a quarter of a century. In any case, we might need to remind ourselves that the poverty, the inequality, the corruption and official impunity that prevail in the country today did not begin in 2008, with the formation of the Serzh Sargsyan administration. Grievances have mounted from one administration to the next, but the stage was set for the worst of these developments more than twenty-five years ago, when a small group of aspiring capitalists, represented at first by the Armenian National Movement, hijacked what might otherwise have been salutary and peaceful exercise of Soviet patriotism. As soon as Armenias aspiring capitalist rulers took power they fell into squabbling among themselves for the spoils, and ushered in a period of steep national decline. The subsequent Kocharyan and Sargsyan administrations have just picked up the broken pieces where the ANM leaders had scattered them. Each of the post-Soviet administrations represents a different (but overlapping) clique within the same comprador ruling class that came together in the 90s. The Sargsyan administration, then, should not be singled out as the one single source of the countrys woes. When it comes to political repression, for example, we should recall that both former Presidents Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan ordered violent crackdowns, in September 1996 and March 1 to 2, 2008 respectively, against opposition supporters protesting what they believed were falsified presidential election results. Upheaval in Yerevan can have consequences that are far-removed from the intentions of the radicals. The most formidable enemies of the Sargsyan administrationand here we are not referring to Sasna Dzrer or their supporters on Khorenatsi Street - represent a real danger to Armenias welfare and security. The fact is that some of Sargsyans opponents, foreign and domestic, have been waiting for a chance to replace him with a leadership that will abrogate trade and military arrangements with Moscow, at a time when this could be particularly dangerous for Armenia. Armenia is not just a poor country; it is an impoverished country: it is a country that had been prosperous twenty-five years ago, but is now wracked with unemployment, massive emigration, corruption, and a level of official impunity that exceeds anything that had existed during the last decades of the Soviet period. This accounts for some of the anger on the streets. At the same time, thanks to the very same processes that set the process of impoverishment in motion, a generation of young people has been robbed of a conceptual vocabulary that could help them make sense of the countrys predicament. There is no class analysis in Armenia, no clear understanding of state power or imperialism. Those who struggle to understand the challenges can see only two alternatives, neither of which comes close to being satisfactory: on the one hand, there is the vocabulary of neoliberalism, free market capitalism, and all of the assumptions that come with it; on the other hand, there are increasingly strident versions of nationalism. Outside of the big NGOs and an insulated circle of narrow academics and indoctrinated technocrats, the neoliberal doctrine is by now widely discredited in Armenia: after three decades, it has failed to deliver on any of its promises. That leaves the frustrated, shrill nationalism of the injured, the dispossessed, those left out, those who are tired of waiting for some promised neoliberal solution that appears to be more distant today than it was twenty years ago. The problem is that nationalist rhetoric is not an alternative to neoliberalism; more often it is mere camouflage behind which the neoliberals continue to pursue their agendas. Meanwhile, the landscape outside of ideology has been changing, and the foreseeable consequence is more upheaval. The bottom ninety percent in Armenia does not need any more ill-conceived radicalism. The best way to avert the sort of armed violence and bloodshed that we have seen this past week is to start building organizations that hold out a realistic program for change. The stronger these working class organizations are, and the larger their basis of support, the less likely it will be that disaffected young men will take to the public squares to support the desperate acts of desperate men. Markar Melkonian is a teacher and an author. His books include Richard Rortys Politics: Liberalism at the End of the American Century (1999), Marxism: A Post-Cold War Primer (Westview Press, 1996), and My Brothers Road (2005). HOUSTON To hear Carlos Perez tell it, he got what he needed out of his trip back to the minors on the first day. He hit a home run. Just to get the confidence back, Perez said Saturday, his first day back in the majors after nearly two weeks in Triple-A. Just to be there and clear my mind and get the confidence back. Thats what I needed. I feel better now. Perez hit .355 with two homers in seven games in the minors, proving to the Angels that he was ready to come back. He returned Saturday and was in the starting lineup, with Juan Graterol returning to the minors without playing a game. Manager Mike Scioscia agreed that Perez didnt have to go down and make drastic swing changes. I think just getting at-bats down there and getting into an environment where he could experiment with some things if he had to was important, Scioscia said, but the bigger thing is just taking a step back and exhaling. Carlos is a much better player than hes shown so far up here. Hopefully well start to see that. Perez had won the Angels starting catching job late last season and he opened this season as the No. 1 catcher. However, he first lost his job to Geovany Soto. Then when Soto got hurt and Jett Bandy came up, Bandy also moved ahead of Perez, who was hitting .204. Through all that, Scioscia said he felt like Perez was the player who won the job last year, not the one who lost it this year. He played at a high level both behind the plate and in the batters box, Scioscia said. We feel thats the player Carlos can be. Perez also brought back with him some first-hand experience with Tyler Skaggs, who he caught in his last two Triple-A starts. Skaggs pitched 122/3 scoreless innings, with 26 strikeouts. Scioscia said Perezs demotion had nothing to do with wanting him to work with Skaggs. He threw a lot of strikes, Perez said. The breaking ball was awesome. The last start was great. Hes really good right now. Skaggs is expected to throw a bullpen session on Sunday with Salt Lake City, and then be promoted to start on Tuesday in Kansas City. ALSO Daniel Nava was not in the starting lineup on Saturday. Scioscia said the Angels are going to limit Navas playing time because hes been on the disabled list with different leg issues twice this season. We have to kind of space him out, Scioscia said. We dont want to put him back to where he was a month ago when his knees were flaring up. We have to pick and choose our starts with Daniel. Andrelton Simmons was moved up to the No. 5 spot in the order for the first time this season. He had hit in that spot only six previous times. The Angels are trying to take advantage of his hot streak. Simmons had hit .386 in his past 24 games. Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com At the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, the party will rally behind a platform that calls for seven days of paid sick leave for all employees. The party is responding to the actions of a handful of cities and states (including California), who now require private employers to provide the benefit. Supporters of a workplace sick leave mandate argue that everybody benefits employees, employers and the public. Credible evidence to support this claim is in short supply, however. And a new study of Connecticuts experience with the law suggests that many employees are paying for the cost of this benefit through lost work opportunities. Though San Francisco was the first city to pass a sick leave requirement in 2004, states werent quick to follow suit. (Connecticuts law wasnt passed until 2011.) This might be because even proponents evidence from San Francisco found very real consequences associated with the mandate: After the laws enactment, nearly 30 percent of the lowest-paid employees in the city reported layoffs or reduced hours at their place of work. Today, Connecticut is important because its the only significant source of data on a statewide sick leave law and thus the best preview of what might happen if a similar policy were adopted on the federal level. The early experiences werent promising: A survey of Connecticut employers shortly after the law was enacted found that roughly one-third of the surveyed businesses had reduced other employee benefits to account for the laws costs, one-fifth had raised prices and a similar number had reduced hours or staffing levels. A 2015 study published in the journal Applied Economics Letters looked at the immediate impact of the law in 2012 and found a roughly 1 percentage point increase in the fraction of jobless employees. With additional years of data now available, one of this earlier studys authors Dr. Thomas Ahn of the University of Kentucky analyzed the longer-term impacts of the sick leave law on the states labor market. (The report will be released next month by my organization.) Older employees in the state were more likely to have sick leave in place at work before the law took effect, and as expected the new mandate had little impact on their hours or employment. For younger employees in Connecticut aged 20-34, who were less likely to have the benefit before the law took effect, it was a different story. The added cost of the benefit meant that these employee saw a 24-hour reduction in annual hours worked, or the equivalent of roughly one lost week of work per year for someone working part-time in the service industry. Dr. Ahn estimates that these employees lost $850 in annual income. The workplace impacts of paid sick leave may extend beyond lost hours and income: A forthcoming study from Dr. Ahn and his colleague Dr. Aaron Yelowitz finds that recent paid sick leave policies in the United States have increased employee absenteeism by 1.2 days per year on average. Notably, these absences do not tend to occur in times of the most severe influenza outbreaks suggesting that employees may be using the benefit even when theyre not sick. The great irony of paid sick leave mandates is that they do very little to reduce workplace illness. In a comprehensive review by the Freedom Foundation of the five studies examining paid sick leave and its impact on workplace illness, four of them found no change in presenteeism (i.e. working while sick). For instance, in the aforementioned study of San Francisco employers affected by the citys sick leave law, just 3.3 percent reported that it reduced workplace illness. The emerging body of research on the downsides of mandating paid sick leave is unlikely to dampen proponents enthusiasm for the policy. But it should motivate fair-minded policymakers to look beyond the everybody benefits rhetoric. Michael Saltsman is research director at the Employment Policies Institute Not surprisingly, in the months leading up to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the media began focusing more attention on Donald Trumps wife, Melania and rightfully so. After all, she is a potential first lady. What once was considered a rumor has now been confirmed by multiple sources: Melania Trump never obtained a college degree or became an architect, both facts she had previously posted on her personal website. We, here in Orange County, have experience dealing with politicos who embellish their resumes. Back in 1988, when she ran for Congress, then-supervisor Harriett Wieder claimed she was a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit. By the time Wieder finally acknowledged the truth, the damage was done. She lost that race but remained in county government until 1995. Closer to where I live, who can forget Jon Madisons ill-fated campaign for Laguna Beach City Council in 2014? Madison, who had a long history of supporting nonprofit organizations in town, not only claimed he graduated from Cornell University in New York, he also said he was a graduate of UCLA Law School. Neither academic record ever was corroborated, nor his work experience as a lead architect on the restoration of Central Park or his career as an attorney. Like Wieder, Madison lost his race. Which brings me back to Melania Trump. I realize she is not running for office like her husband; however, as a potential first lady, the nation deserves to know the truth about her background. Politics is not for the faint of heart, either for the candidate or his or her family. As nice a person as she appears to be, Melania Trump had to know the truth finally would come out. Unfortunately, its being revealed now. Time will tell how voters react to this news. If Harriett Wieder and Jon Madisons experiences meaning anything, Im afraid its going to be a tough slog for everyone in the Trump campaign. Denny Freidenrich Laguna Beach Melania Trump is a remarkable woman with a remarkable background. Its a shame her speechwriter either plagiarized parts of Michelle Obamas 2008 DNC speech or encouraged her to do it for her own introductory speech at the RNC. Its also a shame that convention leaders chose to include that night in her official biography details about her graduation from college when she actually dropped out after her first year and never returned. Isnt what she has done since then in life remarkable enough including her ability to speak five languages without trying to make her into something shes not? Bonnie Compton Hanson Santa Ana Re: I am your voice [News, July 22]: The Register continues to move left with its agenda. First, David Montero mentions a relentlessly dark rendition of topics on the front page. The third page is consumed with all the negatives you can imagine in an analysis by David Lightman from McClatchy news service [Why the GOP Convention was a missed opportunity, News, July 22]. Lightman hammers the Republicans with total criticism and negativity. He obsesses with minutiae such as Melania Trumps speech and Ted Cruz mistake, neither of which has any significance in the presidential race. Trump addressed the LGBT, at length, in a positive manner. House speaker Paul Ryan was weak-kneed from the beginning, as far as I, and many others are concerned. Then we have Fact Check [News, July 22] from the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and all. The number of officers killed is up only 8 percent. Gee, I feel so much better knowing that its only 8 percent. The number of illegal immigrants was noted as a cherry picked number. The Post says Trump noted a number of crossings so far this year, then proceeded to quote a cherry-picked number October to June. The analysis is an opposing view. It belongs on the op-ed page. Your newspaper is attempting to play demographics with its readers. Im not buying it. Bob Underwood Yorba Linda The Register couldnt do any better than three negative stories? Almost two full pages on Ted Cruz, a lead story about the opinions of a few bar patrons in Cleveland, and yet another story about Melanias speech? What happened to coverage of the great speech by Eric Trump? His speech was dynamic and worthy of your reporting. How does anyone raise four children to adulthood, not to mention their respective spouses, who are so squared away? Few families of privilege can produce children who do not feel and act entitled. Donald Trump did it and then some. How his children publicly represent their father speaks highly of Trump you should be reporting that. There were so many other great speeches to include, like the one by Newt Gingrich, that were not even given honorable mention. With all the positive to report at the convention, it is concerning that you chose to focus on negative stories. Perhaps this is part of keeping your membership in the mainstream media? Ian B. Carter Santa Ana ISTANBUL In a new tactic against suspected coup plotters, Turkey on Saturday announced it had seized more than 2,250 social, educational or health care institutions and facilities that it claims pose a threat to national security. The health ministry said patients at hospitals that are being seized will be transferred to state hospitals, highlighting the sweeping impact of the governments crackdown after a failed July 15 coup attempt. A top Turkish official also accused some European countries of downplaying the grave danger posed by the failed insurrection, an apparent response to Western concerns about possible human rights violations in the governments crackdown. Some European colleagues think this is a Pokemon game, this coup attempt, said Omer Celik Turkeys minister for EU affairs. Come here and see how serious this is. This is not something we play in a virtual game. This is happening in real time in Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sharply criticized concerns that the large-scale purges, which have left at least 10,000 people in jail and about 50,000 fired or suspended, could jeopardize basic freedoms. Erdogan told France 24 on Saturday that Turkey has no choice but to impose stringent security measures, after the attempted coup that killed about 290 people and was put down by loyalist forces and protesters. We are duty-bound to take these measures. Our Western friends fail to see it that way. I cannot understand why, Erdogan said. Im under the impression that they will only see that once all the political leaders of Turkey are killed, and then theyll start to dance for joy. Turkey has imposed a three-month state of emergency and detained or dismissed tens of thousands of people in the military, the judiciary, the education system and other institutions. Turkish leaders allege that supporters of a U.S.-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, infiltrated state agencies and groomed loyalists in a vast network of private schools as part of an elaborate, long-term plan to take over the country. Gulen, a critic and former ally of Erdogan, has denied any knowledge of the attempted coup. Turkish officials say they will respect the rule of law during the state of emergency, although some commentators have wondered whether the purges are targeting opponents of Erdogan who had nothing to do with the coup. The Turkish treasury and a state agency that regulates foundations have taken over more than 1,200 foundations and associations, about 1,000 private educational institutions and student dormitories, 35 health care institutions, 19 labor groups and 15 universities, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported Saturday. Those institutions belong to, have ties with or are in communication with the Gulen movement, according to a decree published Saturday in Turkeys official gazette. Turkey has criticized the United States for not immediately handing over the cleric for prosecution. President Barack Obama says there is a legal process for extradition and has encouraged Turkey to present whatever evidence it has against Gulen. Turkish judges, military personnel, prosecutors and other civil servants who have been dismissed will lose any gun and pilot licenses and will have to vacate any publicly funded residences where they live within 15 days, according to the decree. Those dismissed cannot work in the public sector and cannot work for private security firms. The decree also extended the period that suspects can be detained without charge up to 30 days. All detainees communications with their lawyers can be monitored upon order of the public prosecutors office. Also Saturday, newly released video from the night of the coup attempt shows renegade soldiers arriving at an Istanbul social club and rounding up top air force commanders attending the wedding ceremony of a commanders daughter. The video, released by police and broadcast by Turkish media, shows soldiers ushering men in suits, some of them with their hands bound, around a club area. At one point, two detainees sit in armchairs as a soldier in full combat gear walks over and drinks from a glass. The commanders, including air force chief Gen. Abidin Unal, were removed by helicopter and later released when the coup attempt collapsed, according to Turkish media reports. PHILADELPHIA U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee chairwoman, said Sunday that she would step down from that role at the end of the partys convention this week after a hack into the partys internal emails revealed she and top aides had actively attempted to undermine Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential bid. Wasserman Schultz, of Florida, was meeting with advisers behind closed doors at a hotel here, a day before the partys convention was set to begin. She had faced growing calls for her resignation over the weekend. I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for Americas future, Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory. She added, Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. http://launch.newsinc.com/js/embed.js var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([embed]); A spokesman for Clintons campaign did not immediately respond to a request earlier in the day about whether her team was seeking the chairwomans resignation. But on the eve of Clintons nominating convention, some prominent Democrats, including friends of the Clintons, were openly calling on Wasserman Schultz to step down and spare the party the distraction this week. In politics, you need not only to know when to draw your sword, but also when to fall on it, said James Carville, a longtime friend and adviser to the Clintons. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., was even more blunt: She needs to resign before it gets worse. Wasserman Schultz had already been stripped of her speaking role at the convention, according to a senior Democratic official. She said in the statement that she would open and close the convention and address delegates about what is at stake in the election. Convention organizers expressed nervousness Sunday about the specter of Wasserman Schultz appearing on the convention stage at all during the four-day session. They were worried that what they intend to be a well-choreographed event, which officials hoped would contrast with the at times chaotic Republican convention, could be marred by Sanders backers booing and heckling her. The hack of the Democratic committees emails, made public Friday by WikiLeaks, offered undeniable evidence of what Sanders supporters had complained about for much of the senators contentious primary with Clinton: The party was effectively an arm of Clintons campaign. One email, for example, revealed party officials discussing how to plant stories before primaries in heavily religious Kentucky and West Virginia that would highlight what they suggested was Sanders atheism. Appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Sanders called the attacks on his faith an outrage and reiterated his demand that Wasserman Schultz resign. I dont think she is qualified to be the chair of the DNC, not only for these awful emails, which revealed the prejudice of the DNC, but also because we need a party that reaches out to working people and young people, and I dont think her leadership style is doing that, he said. Wasserman Schultz has faced a flurry of negative stories during her five-year tenure as the committees chairwoman, with critics charging that she was more focused on promoting her own career than on the party, but she has resisted quitting. She is said to now be concerned about the effect of her resignation on her own primary: She is facing Tim Canova, a supporter of Sanders, on Aug. 30. BERLIN Germany has some of the worlds strictest gun laws. But that did not stop Fridays Munich attacker an 18-year-old dual Iranian-German national from carrying out his shooting spree. The assailant most likely obtained his pistol illegally and did not have a license, German police officials said Saturday. That development could have worrisome implications for a country that has already exhausted most legal means to prevent such shooting sprees. Germany has a good system of legal gun ownership, but illegal firearms pose a big problem, said Nils Duquet, a weapons expert in Belgium who works for the Flemish Peace Institute. According to Duquet, there are millions of illegal weapons in Europe, but he said it is impossible to know exactly how many. Following two horrifying school shootings in 2002 and 2009, German lawmakers passed stricter gun legislation that made it harder to legally obtain weapons. Buyers younger than 25 must now pass a psychological exam before being able to acquire firearms in Germany. Shooting incidents significantly dropped as a consequence. Theoretically, those measures might also have stopped the 18-year-old Munich attacker from being able to buy a gun legally. Officials believe the suspect could have been depressed, and a video which police have said appears authentic shows the attacker saying he had gone through inpatient treatment. Most mass shootings in Europe that are not associated with international terror groups have been carried out with legally obtained weapons. The fact that he used an illicit weapon does not imply that he did not also search for ways to obtain one legally, at first, Duquet said. Duquet also emphasized that the attackers use of a pistol was significant. If you want to buy an illegal gun in Europe, whats important is having the right networks. For assault rifles, you need better criminal connections, said Duquet. But there are many hot spots in Europe where you can try, and that is whats worrying. The possibility that the 18-year-old acquired his pistol illegally will raise new concerns over the illegal-weapons trade not only in Germany. Among several other factors, the borderless Schengen Area within the European Union and Europes proximity to current or former war zones have facilitated illegal-weapons transports into the continent. An increasing number of terrorist attacks over the past two years were carried out with illegal pistols and semi-automatic rifles from Eastern Europe. The Balkans pose a particular risk as a source of weapons, where millions of firearms that were used during the regions wars are still believed to be in circulation. Although those weapons are older, they are still being smuggled and later sold in Western Europe. At least some of the weapons used in the January 2015 shootings in Paris were reportedly purchased legally in Slovakia, according to the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal. Metal pins were placed in the barrel to render the guns useless, allowing for their sale. But the pins were hammered out illegally after the weapons purchase. Reactivating a decommissioned weapon usually takes only hours, said Philip Boyce, a British firearms and forensics expert who often analyzes such cases as an expert in court. In an interview earlier this year, Boyce emphasized that continental Europe had long failed to pass stricter laws on the decommissioning of weapons, contrary to Britain. The British standards often make it virtually impossible to turn a decommissioned weapon back into an active one, Boyce said. In Britain the shooting mechanism of guns is usually completely removed in the process. But gun collectors in continental Europe have pressured lawmakers and salesmen to preserve most of the original firearm by not removing the entire shooting mechanism. Boyce and other experts say the lack of restrictions has mainly helped criminals. Several people have recently stood trial for reactivating such supposedly decommissioned weapons . IDA Ireland, the inward investment agency of the Irish Government, has reported a strong first half of 2016 as Ireland continues to be one of the strongest performers in Europe in the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector. Investments approved by IDA in the first half will lead to the creation of 9,100 jobs as companies roll out their plans over the coming months and years. This performance is on a par with H1 2015 which was one of Irelands best years for FDI. Ireland won 115 projects in the first six months of the year, the IDA said, compared to 110 in the same period last year. Technology and Business Services and International Financial Services were amongst the strongest performers in the first half of the year. This was followed by Life Sciences. While the US remains Irelands key source market, Growth Markets including Asia-Pacific are showing increased growth over a smaller base. IDA also pointed to the changing structure of the Pharmaceutical sector. Ireland is winning a significant amount of capital intensive bio-pharma investment to support the commercialisation of a range of new drugs. However, in parallel, some older plants are facing challenges to their competitive position due to their older product and technology mix. The organisation, which works with over 1,200 overseas companies, said it expected the recent UK referendum decision to leave the European Union (so-called Brexit) may present potential opportunities in the period ahead generated by newly mobile foreign direct investment, but it warned that the impact of Brexit on the global and the European economy was as yet unknown and it could have a dampening effect on FDI globally which was already expected to decline this year. Martin Shanahan, IDA Chief Executive Officer said that he believed that Irelands stability, the certainty on EU membership and therefore access to the European market, coupled with the strong value proposition that Ireland already offers would be important in the period ahead. This value proposition also includes access to talent (both Irish and European), a competitive, transparent and consistent taxation regime and the ease of doing business, he said. Shanahan added: Similarities between Ireland and the UK and attributes such as being English speaking, a common law system and geographic proximity means that Ireland will be the first choice for many companies that require a base within the European Union. IDA plans to work directly with companies in the period ahead on their international activities. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell OConnor TD said: "It is very positive that the IDA is building on last year's record results by maintaining its strong performance in 2016. Foreign direct investment (FDI) remains key to sustaining economic growth and job creation here. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... KEARNEY, Neb. Bill predicts we will see many sparrows. It is just after dawn, and we are hiking a trail near the Platte River. The path is canopied by giant ancient trees, thousands of them, an unending square footage of prime avian real estate. But the dense morning fog shrouds everything in mystery, which is one way to say that I cant see the rising sun. I cant see into the trees. And I sure as heck cant see many sparrows. Listen, Bill says. He stops, points to a low branch and then lifts his binoculars to his eyes. Hear that? Thats a field sparrow. And then the blanket of fog starts to lift, and a vast world of sparrows is all around us, chirping in surround sound. American field sparrows. Harriss sparrows. White-throated sparrows, which, Bill says, have a beautiful singing voice. And they do. Bill Flack was right about the sparrows, and that isnt surprising. Its not surprising because Bill is a serious birder who often travels from his Kearney apartment to the far corners of Nebraska in search of sparrows and eastern phoebes and buff-breasted sandpipers. And its not surprising because Bill is good at predicting things. Really good. So good that hes been interviewed by the co-authors of Freakonomics and featured in a book written by a University of Pennsylvania professor who has studied the art of predictions what he calls forecasting for decades. Bill Flack is in fact so good at predicting things that when he, on a whim, entered into a massive tournament sponsored by a U.S. intelligence agency, the following things happened: 1. He predicted the future results of super-complex foreign policy issues better than pretty much every foreign policy expert and intelligence analyst who participated. 2. He got a new title from the University of Pennsylvania professor. Now hes not just Bill Flack, retired U.S. Department of Agriculture employee, or Bill Flack, 57-year-old amateur bird-watcher from Kearney. Now he is Bill Flack, superforecaster. The whole (superforecasting) thing is a little strange, Bill says after we finish bird-watching, drive back to Kearney and take seats at a neighborhood doughnut shop, where he orders two doughnuts. I mean, I could maybe find Burkina Faso on a map, but I for sure didnt know who was president. But Bill Flack isnt a superforecaster because he knows the president of Burkina Faso, or the rules that govern Chilean elections, or the history of Japanese monetary policy. Hes a superforecaster because some strange brew of genetics and learned behavior makes his brain work differently from the way the rest of ours do. All of us make forecasts, both trivial and crucial, each and every day: Should I bring an umbrella? Should I buy this house? Is buying this engagement ring a good idea? Can I cross the street before that 18-wheeler hits me? Will we find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Yet experts say the truth is that, for all sorts of reasons, we are pretty crummy at forecasts. In viewing how Bill and people like him get forecasting right, experts say we can learn something about why the rest of us predict the future so very badly. Bills incredibly successful foray into forecasting started on a whim. He noticed the mention of a superforecasting tournament run by IARPA the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, if you are scoring at home an office within a U.S. intelligence agency. The yearlong competition would score individuals and teams based on how they predicted a series of complex geopolitical questions: What would happen with the Japanese stock market? Who would win the upcoming Chilean election? How long before the next war broke out in Africa? Sure, Bill thought, when he looked at the tournaments rules and the mystifying questions. Im retired. Why not? Because Bill didnt know the president of Burkina Faso because he didnt have a particular opinion about any of these questions he began to study. Hard. This of course shows that Bill was willing to spend long hours researching, which is clearly one character trait of anyone good at forecasting. But it also shows another, more-hidden trait of good forecasting, which is this: Sometimes being an expert actually makes you a crummy predictor. Because Bill didnt know much, and was willing to admit it, he went into that question about the Chilean election with zero preformed assumptions about Chilean politics. Instead, he came into that question and every other question with a truly open mind. As it turns out, far too often both foreign policy experts and us regular folk let our dogmatism our unwillingness to change our minds based on new evidence guide our thinking. And that adherence to dogmatism, to what we think we already know, is maybe the biggest reason we stink at predicting the future, according to Philip Tetlock, Penn professor and the author of several books on predictions. We do need people who can give you the detailed biographies of every member of the Chilean Congress, Bill says. But it could be that in the course of acquiring all this expertise you develop a model of how a country works, and then you tend not to consider things that go against your model. Bill also had some other things going for him in this tournament. Hes really smart. He understands numbers and probabilities, can feel the difference between a 50-50 chance and an 80-20 chance in a way that most of us cant. And hes a tad obsessive, too; the sort of man whose record collection is meticulously alphabetized. Those are all important. But so is the style in which he attacked each problem. Most people, when they are trying to predict the future, start from what they already know. They then search for information in a way that Tetlock describes as an inside view. For example: In trying to predict if and when an African dictator will lose his grip on power, most people will research the African country in question, and the dictator. Bill doesnt do it that way, because his brain works differently. Instead, he tends to start from what Tetlock calls an outside view. He researches other African countries and asks these questions: What has happened to the past 10 dictators in similar situations? Can he derive an educated guess based on the past history of all African dictators? The combination of Bills skills his tenacity, his intelligence and his style of problem-solving worked incredibly well. For a year, Bill competed against hundreds of others. The retired USDA field assistant was pitted against dozens of political scientists and dozens of intelligence agents who have spent their entire careers being paid to answer these types of questions. He finished in the Top 10. During the second year of the contest, he worked in a team of other superforecasters. He and his team dominated again. So at the end of year two, when he and various teams organized by Tetlock had proven all sorts of startling things about forecasting about how the experts and the government do it wrong, and how outsiders sometimes do it right was Bill Flack swimming in job offers from government agencies and massive corporations? No, he wasnt. He didnt get a single offer, he says with a shrug. Neither did any of the other superforecasters he knows. He went back to his life as a retiree and bird-watching enthusiast. As he finished his second doughnut at the coffee shop, I asked Bill: Shouldnt it scare us a little bit that a Kearney bird-watching enthusiast is better at this than some analysts who work at the CIA, FBI and NSA? Bill grins. I would say it should be an object of concern, yes, he says. And then I have another question. OK, smart guy, I say. You were right a bunch of the time. Is there anything that you have been just shockingly, terribly wrong about? The superforecaster grins wider. Donald Trump, he says. I agreed he wouldnt last. I was as wrong as everyone else. The HPV vaccine can reduce the rates of certain cancers, including many cervical and oral cancers, physicians and medical organizations say. But opposition by some individuals is strong, and HPV vaccination rates remain low when compared with other kinds of vaccinations recommended for adolescents. Because the human papillomavirus is sexually transmitted and seventh grade is considered the ideal time to receive the three-dose vaccine regimen, the issue is rife with sexual and moral implications. Perhaps more potent today, though, are Internet horror stories and concerns about side effects. A World-Herald Facebook request for views on the HPV vaccine generated far more negatives than positives. NO NO & NO!! There is NO reason for this vaccine, one wrote. Another called it a deadly shot. Two Omaha mothers who were interviewed expressed their belief that its wise to have children vaccinated, and said their kids suffered no side effects. But an Iowa man described health problems suffered by his daughter, and he and an Ohio physician believe the girl was injured by the HPV vaccinations. So mediocre are HPV vaccination rates that GSK, the maker of Cervarix, plans to cease distribution of its HPV vaccine in the United States in September. It will continue to supply it in many other nations, such as Great Britain, Germany, France and Mexico. The departure of Cervarix leaves the market to Gardasil, a vaccine produced by Merck. GSK has made the decision to stop supplying Cervarix ... in the U.S. due to very low market demand, the company told The World-Herald last week by email. Many doctors in the Omaha area express disappointment with the low HPV vaccination rates but are optimistic that the situation will improve. As pediatricians, were trying to change that, said Dr. Katrena Lacey, a Methodist Physicians Clinic pediatrician in Gretna. I think were on the right track. A survey of adolescents reported last year by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 39.7 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 had received the three-dose regimen of the HPV vaccine in 2014, and 21.6 percent of boys. This compares with 87.6 percent of boys and girls who had received the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccination and 79.3 percent who had received the meningococcal vaccine. Dr. Megann Sauer, a pediatrician with Boys Town Pediatrics, said parents accept use of the vaccine if its explained well and described as a cancer-prevention strategy. Its a huge responsibility for us as providers to offer this to our patients, Sauer said. My job is to keep my patients healthy. Gardasil was approved in the United States 10 years ago. It was met with concern that having a child vaccinated for HPV, which is the most common sexually transmitted infection, would promote promiscuity. Today, the global Christian ministry Focus on the Family says it supports universal availability of HPV vaccines, but it opposes government-mandated HPV vaccinations for public-school enrollment. The mandates are in place in Virginia, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Tom Venzor of the Nebraska Catholic Conference said the vaccine itself isnt morally problematic. But the promotion of chastity and parental consent should never be undermined in the promotion of the HPV vaccine, Venzor said in an email. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that there are more than 14 million new human papillomavirus infections annually in the U.S. Most resolve on their own, but some chronic HPV infections can embed in tissues and lead to cervical cancers and tongue, tonsil, anal, vulvar, vaginal and penile cancers. The American Cancer Society estimated there will be close to 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer this year and 4,120 deaths. HPV was detected in more than 90 percent of cervical cancers, a 2015 study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute said. If youve ever seen anyone die of cervical cancer, it will tear you apart, because its a nasty, nasty disease, said Dr. Steve Remmenga, a specialist in gynecologic oncology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Remmenga advocates getting the vaccination. The CDC recommends routine HPV vaccinations beginning at 11 or 12 years of age for girls and boys, but the series can start as early as 9 years of age. The second dose should be given a month or two later and the third at least six months after the first. The vaccinations may be completed by 26 years of age. The recommendations have been adopted by the American Cancer Society and other medical organizations. The recommendations suggest children receive the vaccinations so they are protected before ever being exposed to the virus, the CDC said. The agency said clinical trials indicate the vaccination provides limited or no protection against HPV-related diseases for women older than 26. The CDC says the vaccine has repeatedly been shown to be safe. Kari Nelson, a biology instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said two of her daughters, Claire and Emma, have had the full regimen and her third daughter, Gretchen, is about to get her second shot. I definitely believe in protecting my kids as much as possible, Nelson said. I do always try to weigh the pros and cons of anything. I just feel that the pros far outweigh the cons in this case. The Nelsons pediatrician, Dr. Tina Scott-Mordhorst, supports children and adolescents receiving the HPV vaccine. Why, she asked, would anyone not get a shot that might prevent cancer? It works, said Scott-Mordhorst, a clinical professor in UNMCs department of pediatrics. A study reported this year in the journal Pediatrics found that among sexually active females ages 14 to 24, the prevalence of four key HPV types was 16.9 percent among the unvaccinated and 2.1 percent among the vaccinated. Scientists say it can take many years for chronic HPV to turn cancerous. Dr. Bill Lydiatt, a head and neck cancer surgeon at Methodist Hospital, said oral sex and the sexual revolution of the late 1960s have contributed to an increase in cancers of the pharynx, or tonsil and back of tongue. The cancer society reported there will be 16,420 cases of cancer of the pharynx this year, most of them in men, compared with 8,950 in 2006. More than 3,000 will die this year from that kind of cancer, the society says. Lydiatt said scientists only about 10 years ago made the clear link between HPV and cancers of the pharynx and tonsils. There are more than 150 strains of HPV and more than 40 that can cause cancer, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported. The first form of Gardasil protected against four strains, including the two believed to be most prevalent in cancers. Two years ago the FDA approved a Gardasil vaccine that protected against nine strains. The study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute says that current vaccines will reduce most HPV-associated cancers. The vaccines are expensive. The Gardasil nine-strain vaccine is close to $250 per dose at Kohlls Pharmacy if a family pays out of pocket. But many insurers, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Aetna/Coventry and UnitedHealthcare, participate in the payment. A Merck spokeswoman said GSKs decision to cease supplying Cervarix to the U.S. market hasnt affected Gardasil prices as of now. An Omaha pharmacist said it wouldnt be unusual to see prices go up with the departure of a competitor. The reality is that they can, Mohamed Jalloh said. Im not saying theyre going to. Merck has applied to the Food and Drug Administration to market a two-dose regimen of Gardasil, which would reduce the overall price of the series. Facebook posts and the Internet contain scathing reviews of Gardasil, including stories of children being hurt and families being scared of the vaccination. Laura Hansen, a cancer researcher at Creighton University, said she wishes she could find the words to persuade people to get their kids vaccinated. About all of us have family members impacted by cancer, said Hansen, a professor of biomedical sciences. By having their kids vaccinated, she said, Every parent could make an impact on cancer deaths. She said its hard to fight Internet scare stories and anecdotal science as opposed to real science and legitimate studies. The discussion should be more about facts and less about hysteria, said Hansen, who saw to it that her two teen-age sons, Charlie and Jack, were vaccinated. Jeff Weggen of Muscatine, Iowa, has an entirely different view. Weggen said his daughter, Sydney, had the vaccines about four years ago. Soon after, she began to lose weight, suffered back pain and became pale. Over a period of months she was hospitalized and saw specialists in state and out-of-state. She was eventually found to have a fungal infection and a large tissue mass in her chest. Weggen eventually linked Sydneys ongoing medical problems to Gardasil, he said. Online groups, other parents and the timeline of her vaccines and her illness helped lead him to this opinion, he said. An anti-Gardasil Facebook post introduced him to a doctor in Ohio who early this year generally confirmed Weggens suspicions. Dr. Phillip DeMio of the Cleveland area said he has several patients he believes were sickened by Gardasil. DeMio, a general practitioner who said his practice focuses on chronically ill people, said some of his patients have been injured by other vaccines, too. These are challenging situations, no two ways about it, he said. Most people have received a variety of vaccinations, he said, and he believes the aluminum in Gardasil and other vaccines can be a problem for some people. He saw Sydney early this year. Based on the extensive testing that ruled out other diseases, the severity of her illness, the timing of vaccination and other factors, he said he believes theres a component of vaccine damage for her and for many of my patients. He said there are good reasons to have an adolescent receive Gardasil and mentioned the likelihood that some individuals will be sexually active. But it makes no sense to have a 9-year-old get it, he said. He said parents should be well-informed of the risks and benefits of Gardasil and other vaccines. I think people should have a choice, he said. Im not saying Im against the vaccine. The CDC sent a written statement saying that millions of doses of Gardasil have been administered. Scientific studies have detected no link to unusual or unexpected adverse reactions, the CDC said. Side effects can include pain from the shot and occasionally a patient might faint after any injectable vaccine, the CDC said. But the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risks. Pardon us if it seems like Berkshire Hathaway Inc. may not be bidding to acquire Oncor Electric Delivery Co., the Texas electricity distribution company that is coming out of bankruptcy. Sources are telling Texas newspapers that Berkshire Hathaway Energy is a bidder in a high-profile auction for the company after an earlier $18 billion purchase fell through. Nobody at Berkshire has confirmed the report. Maybe its true, and maybe one morning well learn that Greg Abel, head of Berkshires energy operation, has indeed outbid other would-be buyers as part of his plan to expand the utility business. But Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett has been so adamantly opposed to auction-style purchases that it could be the Berkshire rumors are being floated to keep other buyers interested and bidding as much as possible. Berkshire indeed has cash to invest, and Buffett is willing to pay what he sees as a fair price for an excellent company. But he also has been known, to use a metaphor of which he is fond, to keep his bat on his shoulder if an incoming pitch is too high. Strong-arm tactics The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Berkshire improperly reduced retirement benefits at its Acme Brick subsidiary, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The lawsuit, filed by Judy Hunter, Acmes retired chief financial officer, alleged that Berkshire used strong-arm tactics to reduce the benefits starting in 2006. Specifically, the suit alleged that Berkshire executives warned that Acme would be divested if the benefit reductions were not made, the story said. The appeals court ruled that Berkshire did not have authority to reduce company contributions to Acmes 401(k) retirement plans. Berkshires office did not respond to an email seeking a comment. 3G-like transaction If Berkshire and Quicken Loans Inc. founder Dan Gilbert end up buying Yahoo Inc., count on it being a 3G-like transaction for Buffett. The Detroit News, in Gilberts hometown, quoted Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer as saying the right transaction may happen this month, and unconfirmed news reports at weeks end said Verizon Communications is close to an agreement on acquiring at least part of Yahoo. Berkshire and 3G Capital, the Brazilian private equity fund, acquired and merged H.J. Heinz and Kraft Foods, with Berkshire providing some of the cash and 3G providing management expertise. That might work for Yahoo, with Berkshire putting up some of the cash some reports say the price would exceed $5 billion and Gilbert overseeing management of the troubled Internet company. Buffett said in May he might help Gilbert in such a deal but hasnt commented since. Pricey London digs Speaking of high prices, Wells Fargo & Co., of which Berkshire is the largest shareholder with about 10 percent, agreed to pay $396 million for a new headquarters building in London. The Malaysia Chronicle (dont you love the old British Empire connections?) reported the price for the 11-story building on King William Street, close to the River Thames and the Bank of England in Londons financial district, due to be completed in mid-2017. About 850 employees from four London locations would move there. By comparison, Berkshires headquarters staff of 24 occupies one floor of the 15-story Kiewit Plaza on Farnam Street, close to the Missouri River and Security National Bank in Omahas Blackstone District. It was constructed in 1961. Both are about the same square footage, but the Omaha building is valued at $14.8 million, 6 of the new Wells Fargo building. Some Londoners, worried that Britains exit from the European Union may harm property values, see the Wells Fargo purchase as a sign that values may hold up, the story said. Insuring mergers More evidence that insurance is more complicated than you think: Berkshires Specialty Insurance division plans to start insuring mergers, Jonathan Stempel wrote for Reuters. Business transactions can go awry, and documents such as warranties, contracts and agreements in principle often represent millions of dollars in liability if they are inaccurate or if something unexpected happens. A case in point: In 2008 Berkshire had agreed to buy Constellation Energy of Baltimore for $4.7 billion, but instead Constellation decided to accept a more lucrative offer from a French company. Under terms of their agreement, Berkshire received $635 million in cash and $527 million worth of Constellation stock in return for canceling the deal. Berkshires new transactional liability coverage would protect buyers and sellers from costs related to inaccurate documents or other matters in case transactions arent completed as planned. Tale of aircraft tails Its one of those hard-to-believe bits that, of course, wasnt true. StreetInsider.com noted that shares of Kellogg Co. stock dropped after a reporter quashed rumors of a Berkshire purchase. The price-boosting rumors had come from a hedge fund that tracks aircraft tail numbers as signs of coming corporate deals. The tracker supposedly saw a bump in traffic between Omaha (Buffetts home), Chicago (Kraft Heinzs home), Southern California (Charlie Mungers home) and Battle Creek (Kelloggs home). Visualize Munger, the 92-year-old vice chairman of Berkshire, flying to a secret meeting in Michigan to engineer a purchase of the cereal maker. If Buffett wanted to find out how Kellogg is doing, he could drive by the companys cereal plant in Omaha and take a whiff of Frosted Flakes. The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Can't see the chat, app users? Click here. Police have identified the 26-year-old man who was wounded in a shooting Saturday evening near 40th and Browne Streets. Kirk Carter of Omaha went to the Nebraska Medical Center on Saturday with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to Officer Jessica Swanson, a police spokeswoman. Police took two people into custody who were in a vehicle suspected of being connected with the shooting. A 24-year-old man was booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A 20-year-old man was booked on suspicion of obstructing a police officer and being an accessory to a felony. Officers went to the area of the shooting after ShotSpotter equipment recorded multiple gunshots. Carter was found inside a black Ford Mustang that had left the roadway about 7:20 p.m. Contact the writer: 402-444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com If you live in Nebraska and have ophiophobia a fear of snakes theres no reason to shake in your boots. The state has relatively few venomous snakes slithering around, according to Dennis Ferraro, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of herpetology. Ferraro talked about the elongated reptiles Saturday at Schramm Parks Aksarben Aquarium Outdoor Education Center in Gretna. The Snakes of Nebraska weekend is dedicated to learning about the conservation and ecology of Nebraskas snakes. Ferraro discussed many of Nebraskas 29 species of snakes. Water moccasins, also called cottonmouths, are common snakes that cause worry. But Ferraro said those snakes only get as far as eastern Kansas. Although he has caught thousands of venomous snakes since joining UNL in the 1990s, Ive never been bitten by a venomous one, Ferraro said. Theres a misconception that all snakes that make a rattle sound are dangerous. Not true, Ferraro said. Venomous rattlesnakes point their rattle upward, while other snakes vibrate their tails side to side on leaves or grass. The rattlesnake is the primary venomous snake of concern in Nebraska. People also worry about snake holes, Ferraro said. Most snakes cant dig their own holes and have to use a different animals home. They can be tricky to identify, he said. Color isnt a reliable indicator, as a snakes hue is genetic. I tell my students, If you go by color, you flunk. Throughout the hourlong presentation, Ferraro pulled out snakes stored in pillow cases. He said thats how theyre carried on field expeditions. The fabric bags mollify the snakes while allowing them to breathe. If you want to own your own pet snake, Ferraro suggests a corn snake. Theyre bred for captivity. And if youre looking to get rid of snakes, dont head to the chemical aisle. After studying snake repellents, Ferraro said theyre not effective at fending off the slithering reptiles. He did offer tips to keep snakes away from your home: Close holes in your homes foundation with caulk. Most snakes cant dig their own holes, so they look for existing ones. Use lava rock for the landscaping around your foundation. The rock is sharp, so snakes dont like to burrow in it. Cover any dryer vents that are less than 2 feet from the ground with a screen. Ferraro often gets calls from people in the fall who find snakes in their dryers. After the talk, children and families could touch the rattle of a rattlesnake. The snakes head was placed in a tube to keep the fangs at bay. Parker Bowne, 7, of Omaha, came with his dad. He wasnt thrilled after touching the rattlesnake. Thats scary, Bowne said. Snakes of Nebraska continues today. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ferraro speaks at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Contact the writer: reece.ristau@owh.com; 402-444-1151 A 17-year-old Omahan who died after going missing Thursday in the Missouri River just north of N.P. Dodge Park was a Westside High School senior. Omaha fire personnel recovered the body of Adrian Boatman, who went missing Thursday, on Saturday morning. Douglas County 911 received a call at 8:38 a.m. Saturday. The caller reported seeing a body in the river just south of Lake Manawa, according to police. At approximately 9:14 a.m., members of the Omaha Fire Department, with assistance from other rescue departments, recovered the body, police said. The body was released to Council Bluffs officials after being recovered on the Iowa side of the river and was to be taken to Des Moines for an autopsy, according to police. Boatman was with his aunt and four children when he disappeared Thursday in the river, authorities said. Omaha Fire Department divers entered the water about 10 a.m. Friday and searched until about 2 p.m., said Battalion Chief Tim McCaw, a spokesman for the department. After news of Boatman's disappearance was made public, Westside Principal Jay Opperman sent an email Friday night to district families saying that crisis counselors would be available for students and staff at Westside High on Saturday and again on Monday. He said that the counselors would continue to be available to students and staff in the coming days. "Please join us in keeping Adrians family in your thoughts at this difficult time," Opperman wrote in the email. PHILADELPHIA This may be Hillary Clintons show, but all eyes and ears will be on Bernie Sanders as the Democratic National Convention gets underway in this East Coast city. Sanders could play a major role in whether the Democratic delegates are able to unite behind their presidential nominee, or whether this weeks convention ends with Democrats as fractured as Republicans have been over Donald Trumps nomination. Sanders has endorsed Clinton, but he may not be able to sway all of his die-hard Bernie or Bust supporters. No one is expecting 100 percent unity at the Democratic Convention. There are some people (Sanders supporters) who may not yet be ready to be unified. Clinton will do her best to appeal to those folks, but they may not all get there by the end of the week, said Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs. Im prepared to go to the convention and deal with lots of happy people and some cranky people, added Gronstal, a Clinton delegate. Jane Kleeb, the incoming chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, agreed that not everyone will be on the same page by the end of the week. I think that people who have always been standing with Secretary Clinton dont quite understand the emotional attachment to Bernie Sanders, Kleeb said. For a lot of voters, its their first political campaign that they are engaged with. Sanders will help kick-start the convention Monday, giving one of the first prime-time speeches. His early placement on the convention calendar is not a coincidence, several political observers said. His job will be to set the tone of the convention and to try to persuade his passionate followers to back Clinton in the fall. Whether he succeeds remains up in the air, along with exactly how much enthusiasm Sanders will bring to his role as uniter in chief. An orderly convention where there is no unrest, where there are few disagreements on the floor and where it was less a coronation than more of an agreement among the delegates, that would be a big win for Secretary Clinton, said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political strategist from New York City who is not affiliated with Clintons campaign. Whatever happens, Sheinkopf doesnt believe the Democratic Convention will be as contentious as the Republican Convention, where anti-Trump delegates tried to stage a rebellion. He also doesnt think Sanders will pull a Ted Cruz and use his speaking slot to publicly snub his partys nominee. The theme for Monday nights speeches is United Together. Democrats collectively are a fractious group. It would not be unusual to see some discord, Sheinkopf said. But nothing like you saw in the Republican Convention. The four-day Democratic Convention is expected to follow a more traditional path than the GOP event in Cleveland last week. For example, all of the partys major leaders will be at the convention, including Elizabeth Warren, the darling of the progressive wing of the party. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak Wednesday. In contrast, some GOP leaders stayed away from the Republican Convention because of their dislike for Trump. Although party leadership is rallying around her candidacy, few think this will be the convention of Hillary Clintons dreams. There assuredly will be some Sanders supporters who will never support her and who may voice their displeasure with her on the convention floor. Jason Brown is a Sanders delegate from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who plans to vote for Sanders even though Clinton clearly has the votes to win the nomination. My vote as a national delegate at the convention represents thousands of caucusgoers, and Im not going to let them down, Brown said. He plans to be respectful of Clinton and her supporters, although there is talk that others have plans to mount some kind of protest of Clinton on the floor. Will they boo or at the least refuse to applaud when Clinton takes the stage? No one is quite sure. I cant predict the future, Brown said. Im not going to. Im a very polite person and Im not going to urge any kind of rudeness. Rallying Sanders delegates at the convention to join her cause isnt Clintons only challenge, however. She must find a way to convince Democrats and independents sitting at home on their couches that she deserves their votes after a lifetime in the public eye and numerous controversies involving her and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Though Clinton won the nomination at the ballot box, polls show that she, like Trump, has high unfavorable ratings with potential voters in the general election. That hasnt been helped by the controversy over her use of a personal server for work emails during her time as secretary of state, as well as the pointed criticism she received about that recently from FBI Director James Comey. She also has to overcome an enthusiasm gap that could favor Trump, said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the country, according to surveys, but Trumps fan base appears more motivated, Sabato said. Turnout is very important for Democrats. Democrats are not as excited about Hillary as Trumps supporters are about him, Sabato said. Sheinkopf and others said Clinton will most likely try to frame the race this way: No matter what people may think of her personally, she is the only candidate in the race with the temperament and experience to serve as president. He said if he were advising Clinton he would urge her to appear steady and presidential and not try to compete with Trumps showmanlike qualities. She should say Some of you dont like me. I understand. But Im right for this job because I know how to stand up to the Russians and I know how to create jobs, Sheinkopf said. * * * Voters voices and viewpoints In presidential politics, the views of voters are often drowned out by the bluster and fury of national campaigns. The World-Herald would like to give Midlands voters a chance to be heard in this election, whether you support Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or neither of them. Were looking for people who are willing to answer a few questions about what theyre looking for in a candidate and what they have found. If interested, send an email and tell us a little bit about yourself, such as your name, age, occupation and hometown. Send to: Leia.Mendoza@owh.com. There wasnt much subtlety in Donald Trumps acceptance speech or much innovation, either. Beforehand, some Republicans ventured that this was their nominees biggest opportunity to retool his agenda for the general election and to present a softer, more inclusive, more thoughtful Trump. That wasnt the Trump who showed up in Cleveland. Instead, his acceptance speech was a medley of greatest hits from his primary season: illegal immigration as a source of violent crime, bad trade deals as the cause of income stagnation and rampant corruption in Washington as the cause of every other ill. That, plus the new theme Trump has emphasized since five police officers were killed in Dallas: law and order. He announced his intention upfront: I am the law-and-order candidate. But what, exactly, did that mean? He wasnt specific, beyond appointing the best prosecutors and law enforcement officials in the country. Nor did Trump offer any new details about his plans for the economy, which might logically have been the centerpiece of a speech launching the general election campaign. Instead, he provided the same broad assertions that carried him through the primary campaign: that with a combination of big tax cuts and new trade deals, trillions of dollars will start flowing into our country. Its nice to think so, but it would be even nicer to see a few details. Trump did make a few rhetorical concessions to the fact that hes now seeking the votes of all Americans, not just the conservative minority who votes in Republican primaries. He made a point of saying his law-and-order crusade is meant to be inclusive to ensure that young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Ferguson (have) the same right to live out their dreams as any other child in America. And he completed the gradual evolution of his noxious proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States; now, instead, he wants to ban travelers from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism. Thats better, but confusing: Does he mean France as well as Syria? The general-election Trump is no clearer, and no more disciplined in his thinking, than the Trump of the primaries was. What you saw then is what youll get in both the general election campaign and in the White House, if Trump should win. Supporters and critics of campaign finance laws used to express agreement regularly on one thing: Transparency on campaign funding is important. It serves the public interest. In Nebraska, support for transparency disclosing the source and amount of campaign donations and spending was voiced time and again across ideological lines in the Legislature during impassioned floor debates over the states Campaign Finance Limitation Act. That law, passed in 1992, was declared unconstitutional in 2012 by the Nebraska Supreme Court, although not because of any transparency issue. The law violated the First Amendment, the court said, because it pressured candidates to keep their spending below a certain threshold so their opponents wouldnt qualify for public funding. At the federal level, the U.S. Supreme Court has emphasized the publics need to see the basic information about campaign contributions. The majority in the courts 2010 Citizens United ruling, which ended campaign-spending restrictions for groups such as corporations and labor unions, took pains to underscore that point. This transparency, the court said, enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages. In short, the issue boils down to answering two simple, important questions: Who, and how much? But these days, the rhetoric on campaign finance has changed. Many political activists now claim transparency isnt that important. In fact, they go much further. They say the law needs to shelter political donors from public disclosure of their often high-dollar funding of independent political committees. Their argument: If disclosed, the donors would be harassed for their political stands. That opportunistic turnaround is a woefully weak rationale for keeping the public in the dark. Its also a great example of how politics spurs such cynicism among the public. All this is relevant to what The World-Heralds Martha Stoddard found in reporting on campaign donations in the primary contests this spring for the State Legislature. Nebraska reporting requirements do apply to some types of political funds, and $1.83 million in spending was reported. But another set of donations quite possibly a large amount of campaign cash isnt being reported, given current law. This is spending by so-called political educational organizations that wield increasing clout in elections across the country. Such groups were active in Nebraska state legislative contests this spring and no doubt will be again this fall. Its unrealistic to think such organizations can be wished away. On the contrary, theyre likely to remain big players on the political scene. What the public should rightly expect is transparency about their funding. Which Texans, Floridians and Nevadans are possibly contributing dollars that those groups are then using to influence Nebraskas elections? Which Nebraskans including, possibly, current officeholders are contributing to such groups, perhaps in a major way? How much of the money is coming from inside Nebraska and how much from outside? How much is being spent by these groups to influence Nebraskas elections? Nobody outside those organizations knows the answers, and the organizations arent telling. These groups and their supporters want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want outsiders to be free to donate funds to influence Nebraska politics. Yet they want no public disclosure of the donors identities or contribution amounts. Again, little wonder the public is so cynical about politics. So far these groups are succeeding in shielding their donations and spending from public view. Proposals to pull back the curtain arise from time to time at the Nebraska Legislature, but opposing senators routinely beat back the efforts. This ill serves Nebraskans. Its time for Nebraska leaders to adopt sensible disclosure requirements so the public can be properly informed. Theres no reason why these groups shouldnt be required to show Nebraskans respect by answering two simple, understandable questions: Who, and how much? The bill is in the mail I read Melissa McCoys July 17 Public Pulse letter, Coordinate street repairs, just after I had written my third letter to Mayor Jean Stotherts office regarding Farnam Drive between 78th Street and 84th Street. The city filled many of the ruts and potholes on both sides of the street after my second letter. But those same ruts and potholes were back this spring. I even counted them and included that information in my latest letter to the mayor. Living in Arboretum on Farnam Drive, Ive seen the gutters on the street worked on numerous times; additional ones were installed this year. My letter to Mayor Stothert will include a bill for $971 for two rims on my Volvo that needed to be replaced because of the poor condition of the street. Dick Galusha, Omaha Mischief-making is this job description In the July 17 Pulse, Melissa McCoy wrote to suggest that Mayor Jean Stothert and the citys street crews do a better job of planning the sequencing of street repairs. I think there must be a guy at City Hall with that duty. For instance, if a contractor wants to tear up Pacific Street, this guys job is to check to make sure there will also be a project on West Center Road, the natural alternative. I believe he receives a bonus if he can also tie up Blondo or L at the same time. I think we can all agree that this guy does an exceptional job. Frank Blank, Omaha A responsibility to learn history Thanks to Matthew Hansen for his excellent column on the diverse nature of our history and its cultural and scientific foundations (Historians rebut Rep. Kings view of history, July 21 World-Herald). In an era when facts, history and science are widely downplayed and even rejected, it is refreshing to see an honest effort to set the record straight. We all have a responsibility to be informed and accurate when we ask others to subscribe to our views. Ken Keith, Omaha Certain flags also deliver a message I find it difficult to support almost any actions or statements by Iowa U.S. Rep. Steve King, but July 18 Public Pulse writer Rob Butler doesnt (Furor over flags). He defends the presence of a Confederate flag on Kings desk and asks if the same people upset by that would blame King for the Spanish Inquisition because a Vatican City flag is on the desk. Using that logic, Butler should be happy to fly a Nazi flag outside his home and defend the action by asking people, Are you going to blame me for World War II? Bob Winkler, Omaha Give him time to watch dumpster fires After U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse has embarrassed Nebraskans several times, shouldnt someone tell Sasse he works for Nebraskans? We dont work for him. His spokesmans comment that Sasse would rather take his kids to watch dumpster fires back home than attend the Republican National Convention should be a signal to voters that we made a mistake when we sent Sasse to represent our state in the U.S. Senate. Maybe the voters of Nebraska should look for dumpster fires rather than vote for a constant embarrassment to our state. Our state and our country deserve better than this. Fred Schubert, Bellevue Cruz putting his future ahead of country As a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, I wonder if I have been wrong all these years in believing that our national priorities were God, country and family in that order. Sen. Ted Cruz is obviously a very good family man and, I believe, a good Christian. But in what may be the most important presidential election in many score, he is acting like a spoiled brat and still trying to prove he is the rightful GOP choice when Republicans have overwhelmingly voted otherwise (Cruz leaves podium to boos after not endorsing Trump, July 21 World-Herald). Shame on you, Ted Cruz, and God bless this great country at this very difficult time. John E. Lehning, Omaha A winning issue for Republicans Frances Mendenhall says she wishes a carbon tax would be the top issue for Hillary Clinton, believing that would win over supporters of Bernie Sanders (A way Clinton can win Bernie supporters, July 17 Public Pulse). She must not have been paying too much attention to the campaign or what voters are saying. Climate change is not a major issue with many Americans. The economy, jobs and immigration rank higher. In fact, there are many who doubt the extent of climate change. Personally, I hope it is the main focal point of the Democrats campaign. They wouldnt be rewarded by voters for supporting policies that could double our electric bills. You know what? Good luck with that. Scott Bray, La Vista Fuzzy on the details In the July 20 World-Herald article Delegates: Trumps the one to spur job growth, Republicans say they are rallying behind Donald Trump because hes a billionaire businessman . . . better prepared to fire up a lagging economy than a longtime politician. But just three paragraphs later, Nebraska and Iowa delegates, when pressed for specifics on how this might happen, suggested that Trump would probably pursue standard GOP approaches. It seems they are advertising one thing and foolishly expecting another. Jon Bakehouse, Hastings, Iowa Plenty of sites for rallies Perhaps Black Lives Matter could hold its next rally at the park where a teenager was found murdered or on the street where a 5-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet while eating breakfast. If those dont work, there are many other sites with similar significance. Mike Goodin, Schleswig, Iowa A tough, thankless job Being a good cop is difficult. Have you ever been personally responsible for law enforcement? I have never been a cop or sheriff, but I was a member of the U.S. Navy Shore Patrol. It is not easy. The days job usually consists of 23 hours of boredom and one hour of sheer panic. How much force should law enforcement officers use to maintain security? In my opinion, they should use as much force as they deem necessary but no more. Sadly, that means they may have to use deadly force. But they should always use it as a last resort. I believe that those who are engaged in criminal activity have voluntarily forfeited many of their rights. Of course, there are a few bad cops, just as there are in other professions. Body cameras would be helpful in addressing that issue. But morality suggests this as the bottom line: Law enforcement officers must be allowed to use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves. To them, I say, thank you. And to the other guys, please behave. J.F. Johnson, Omaha Who owns this park, anyway? I recently had the privilege and the honor of attending the Relay For Life of Greater Omaha at Turner Park. The organizers did a wonderful job. Seeing all of the cancer survivors and the luminaries for people who did not survive really makes a person feel thankful for good health. But I was disappointed that the two Midtown Crossing restaurants that had said that they would sell food during the event backed out at the last minute. When two food trucks were called, they came to the rescue of the many people who were hungry including me. Then a gentleman who identified himself as the facility manager for the Midtown Crossing buildings and restaurants said the two food trucks could not be there because it was upsetting the restaurants in the area. Does anyone know who owns Turner Park and who paid for the streets? I am just guessing, but it must be the Midtown Crossing restaurants and not the taxpayers. Doug Arthur, Omaha Midlanders value their history The coverage concerning the monument dedication at Fort Robinson (Northern Cheyenne dedicate monument to mark site where ancestors suffered in Fort Robinson breakout, July 15 World-Herald) again points to the importance of history to the peoples of the Plains. The Cheyenne Barracks at the fort was reconstructed in 2002 through donations of Nebraskans and others nationwide. The Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation is proud to have raised the money to erect the barracks as a tribute to the spirit of the tribal members who risked their lives for freedom in that bitter January of 1879. We are proud to provide donors, large and small, with a way to support the cause of Nebraska history now and in the future. Leslie Fattig, Lincoln executive director, Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Truth has come out, says Sasikala in reaction to OPS's remark before panel Jayalalithaa death probe: TN cabinet to decide on enquiry against Sasikala and others Never interfered in medical treatment of Jayalalithaa: Sasikala denies all allegations levelled by panel Jayalalithaa orders Rs 10 lakh financial aid to actor's widow India oi-PTI Chennai, Jul 24: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today ordered a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the widow of a late yesteryear actor Pasi Narayanan, who is living in destitute circumstances. "I learnt through media reports that the family of 'Pasi' Narayanan is living in indigent circumstances and have ordered a payout of Rs 10 lakh to his wife Valli," an official release quoted her as saying. Narayanan had acted in over 500 films, including with AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran starrer superhit Tamil movies "Anbey Va," and "Ayirathil Oruvan." She said the amount will be deposited in her name in the Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation as a fixed deposit and the monthy interest of Rs 8,125 will be provided to Valli. PTI KSRTC indefinite strike from Jul 25 to leave Bengaluru paralysed; holiday for schools announced India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, July 24: The Karnataka government on Sunday declared two-day holidays for schools and colleges from July 25 due to KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) and BMTC strike. KSRTC and BMTC bus workers had earlier informed that they will go on indefinite strike from Sunday midnight. They have been demanding wage revisions (15% hike in DA) and according to reports talks with the government failed on the issue, due to which they will go on strike. "All schools across the state will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday to avoid inconvenience to students, as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation's (KSRTC) employees will be on strike after Sunday midnight," an official said. The state government has also declared two day holiday for all colleges in only Bengaluru, as the state-run Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation employees are joining the strike for 35 per cent hike in salary. Defying appeals by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to give up the strike in public interest, around 1.23 lakh employees of the corporation's unions have decided to stay away from work from Monday onwards. "As the state government is not ready to give us more than 10 per cent hike despite cost of living going up steeply, we will not operate bus services from Monday till our 35 percent hike demand is met," KSRTC staff and federation general secretary H.V. Anatha Subbarao told reporters after talks with Reddy failed again earlier in the day. About 23,000 state-run buses will stay off roads, state and national highways, affecting intra and inter-state services and disrupting passengers' movement. "The state government is not in a position to meet the union's demand as 35 per cent hike in salaries will burden the state exchequer by Rs 4,550 crore. We are ready to give 10 per cent increase," Reddy told reporters after talks with the union's representatives. Reddy also claimed that KSRTC employees' wages were higher than their counterparts in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra. Other unions have also decided to support the indefinite strike in order to get their demands fulfilled. OneIndia News (With inputs from agencies) Attacks on Hindus in UK: Are Muslims frustrated over spread and reach of Hinduism? Hijab ban: With SC delivering a split verdict, here is what happens next 'Only elite, not Muslim masses feel alienation in India' India oi-PTI New Delhi, July 24: Claiming complete absence of any feeling of growing alienation among Muslim masses in India, former Union Minister Arif Mohammed Khan has asserted that the alienation, if any, exists only among elite of the country's largest minority community. During the launch of a book written by veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi here recently, Khan sought to discount the Muslims' alleged perception of their growing alienation and seclusion in India, saying they are themselves to be blamed for it, if any, as they sought to maintain a distinct identity. Khan, who had quit the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986 in protest against the piloting of a bill to undo the Supreme Court ruling in the Shahbano case which had sought to provide alimony to the divorced Muslim women, sought to counter the perception voiced by veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi during the launch of his book "Being the Other: The Muslim in India." Naqvi had voiced his perception and concern saying that an "othering" phenomena, entailing a growing chasm of Muslims from Hindus and their growing alienation in India, has set in since long. While seeking to negate Naqvi's perception, Khan sought to squarely blame the community elites for the alleged onset of the "othering" phenomena, saying it's natural when the Muslims resorted to sloganeering like "ham apna milli tassakush barkarar rakhna chate hain (I want to maintain my separate identity)." Khan said the Muslims had resorted this sloganeering in the wake of the apex court verdict that stipulated alimony for the divorced Muslim women, but the Muslim clerics, banking upon the Sharait laws sought to discount the apex court verdict saying it was against their religious edicts. "What does it (this slogan) mean? It means I'm saying I am the other. The other person is not saying I am the other but I am telling them I am the other," he said. "It means I'm telling everybody that I don't want to integrate with you. I'm telling everybody I don't want to identify with you as I'm the other," said Khan, explaining the meaning of 'milli tassakut...slogan", which sought to assert the Islam's aversion to the modern laws and stick to its archaic distinctiveness. Khan asserted this problem of alienation of Muslims is only e perception among "ashrafia" (the elite among the Muslims) and not those of the Muslim masses, including the "Ajlafs (the lower community)." "The Muslim masses have no problem in integration with the Indian communities and they have always been the part of this countrys civilisation, which is more than 6000 years old," pointed out Khan. The former minister pointed out India has got its independence very recently - only in 1947, said Khan asserting that it's not a very long period and some such sporadic incidents of communal violence and aberrations cannot change its nature as India is essentially a pluralistic society. Khan's assertion attracted vociferous cheers from the audience, which included among others, BJP stalwart and former Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, senior Congress leaders Mani hanker Iyer and Salman Khursheed, veteran columnist Prem Shankar Jha, renowned photographer Raghhu Rai, besides several other intellectuals. Naqvi's book launch was compeered by veteran British journalist and former BBC's New Delhi bureau chief Mark Tully and former diplomat-cum-noted author Pavan K Varma, who too discounted Naqvi's fears and perception. As per a statement by Naqvi's publisher Aleph Book Company, the veteran journalist's book is "a remarkable one, which is partly his memoir and partly an exploration of the various deliberate and inadvertent acts that has led to the 'othering' of the 100 million Muslims in India." Naqvi looks at "how the division between Muslims and Hindus began in the modern era. The British were the first to exploit this division between the two communities in the in nineteenth and twentieth centuries." "In the run up to the independence and its immediate aftermath, some of India's greatest leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and others only served to drive the communities further apart," it said. PTI PTI There is urgent need for reforms at UN: Shashi Tharoor India oi-PTI Kolkata, Jul 24: There is an urgent need for reforms at the UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, former Under-Secretary-General of the global body Shashi Tharoor has said here. "The UN is indispensable and has no alternative. Absence of reforms could discredit it and there is an urgent need for reforms," he said at a programme here yesterday. Tharoor, a Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram who quit the UN in 2007 after losing the race for the post of Secretary General to Ban Ki-moon, said already there was a danger that countries in groups were attaching importance to other fora like the G-20. He quoted former US president Harry Truman who said "If we fail to do that (maintain UN), we will betray those who have died (read in the Holocaust, Hiroshima bombings and the two World Wars)". There is now a need for even a stronger UN to meet the challenges of international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and promotion of human rights, he said. Regarding India's permanent membership to the UN Security Council, he said "that issue has been flogged to death". "That issue is reflecting the geo-political situation of 1945 and not of today," Tharoor said. The UN, which completed 70 years of its existence two years ago, had been criticised for failing to meet the objectives of its charter but it has done many things which have prevented more damage to humanity, Tharoor said. "What UN achieved is that it prevented the Cold War (between the US and USSR) from turning hot, vetoing the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, mounting peace settlements and ended numerous regional conflicts," he said at a session on UN at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). It has also ended many civil wars through mediation and facilitated more than 500 treaties though at times UN itself had been at the receiving end by all sides, said Tharoor, who spent 29 years of service at the UN. Stating that UN was an attempt to convert the wartime alliances into peacetime organisation with an aim to guide international behaviour to cooperate for common good, Tharoor said although there were voices from some quarters to dismiss it, it needs to be seen how the next US president and the one who succeeds Secretary General Ban navigates the world body to become more responsive to the voices of less powerful member countries and usher in a new order. PTI Even if not contesting 2020 polls, Hillary Clinton will not be entirely out of scene Hillary Clinton will be sorely missed in 2020 presidential election, says Donald Trump Hillary Clinton says Julian Assange must 'answer for what he has done' Hillary Clinton retweets own tweet, she put after her 2016 defeat Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine make debut as running mates in Miami International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, July 24: Presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine spoke for the first time as running mates at a rally in Miami, Florida on Saturday, two days before the party's convention kicks off in Philadelphia. Kaine is "everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," Xinhua quoted Clinton as saying. She formally introduced her low-key Spanish-fluent ally to the crowd at Florida International University, where the student body is more than half Hispanic. [Hillary Clinton selects Senator Tim Kaine as running mate] "He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one and he is a progressive who likes to get things down," said the former Secretary of State, with a grinning Kaine at her side. At ease in the national limelight, Kaine showcased his fluency in Spanish, introduced himself and praising Clinton while attacking the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. "Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump," he said, claiming he and Clinton are "soulmates in this great fight" for progressive agenda. "From Atlantic City to his so-called university, he leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes," Kaine said. "We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country," Kaine said of the New York billionaire, adding that Trump's foreign policy positions are even considered dangerous among Republicans. Since Clinton announced her vice president pick via Tweet and text message to supporters on Friday, Trump has been ripping Kaine in a series of tweets, claiming the selection will unnerve supporters of Clinton's formal rival Bernie Sanders and therefore cause a floor fight at the upcoming Democratic convention. IANS US Navy tries to recover jet that fell into South China Sea Tensions soar as US destroyer sails near disputed islands in South China Sea South East Asia bloc pushes for South China Sea breakthrough International oi-PTI Vientiane, Jul 24: Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold crunch talks in communist Laos today at a summit already overshadowed by infighting over Beijing's sabre rattling in the South China Sea. The gathering in Vientiane is the first major regional talks since the UN-backed tribunal ruled earlier this month that China did not have historic rights to vast swathes of the strategic sea. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrives in Laos tomorrow, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are among the delegates attending meetings on the sidelines of the summit. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes four members who have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the strategic sea, has long presented itself as the best place for China to negotiate with neighbours over disputes. Beijing has resisted that approach, insisting that territorial disputes must be settled bilaterally. In recent years ASEAN has struggled to present a united front against China with allegations that the regional superpower has forged alliances with smaller countries like Laos and Cambodia through aid and loans. The UN tribunal ruling was a victory for the Philippines, which brought the case, and fellow ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia who also claim parts of the South China Sea. But it infuriated Beijing which rejected the verdict and has ramped up both its rhetoric and military manoeuvres in the disputed waters in the last two weeks. ASEAN diplomats have been working on a joint communique to be issued at the end of the five-day meeting but disagreements have festered on how to approach the tribunal ruling. Those involved in talks told AFP that Cambodia, a staunch Beijing ally, has so far opposed any mention of it. A working draft of the communique obtained by AFP yesterday showed the section titled "South China Sea" as blank. "Our house is in a mess right now," one diplomat involved in the talks told reporters late yesterday as the day's attempts to reach a consensus came to a close. Washington has backed the Philippines and other South China Sea claimants against Beijing, arguing for free passage through what it considers international waters. A State Department official said the US would push for ASEAN to ease tensions over the South China Sea and find common ground. But the official added: "I'd put a little more value on the conversation that happens among the ministers themselves than I do in the often lengthy and torturous prose that is pulled together by the staff afterwards." It is not clear whether Kerry intends to meet his counterpart Wang for talks during their visit. AFP Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Kolkata: 17-yr-old hit by broken liquor bottle during argument, dies Kolkata oi-PTI Kolkata, July 24: A 17-year-old boy died after being allegedly hit with broken liquor bottle pieces during an altercation at an upscale area of the city on Saturday. A senior police officer said as per preliminary probe, the minor was allegedly hit with broken liquor bottle pieces by a youth during an altercation after a girl's birthday bash at a city club. The altercation broke out as the girl and her friends reached her apartment in upscale Sunny Park under Ballygunje police station area and there was a scuffle. As the teenager slumped to the ground in a pool of blood in the basement, the alleged assasin sped away along with the other friends of the birthday party including the girl, the officer said. The senseless teenager was taken to a private speciality hospital in nearby Dhakuria area after the security guard of the apartment informed the girl's father at around 6:50 PM and he contacted the police, the officer said. He was declared brought dead and the hospital diagnosed the cause of death as profused bleeding and resultant multi-organ failure, the officer said. One person has been detained in connection with the incident, the officer said adding the other friends, including the suspected assailant, were still at large. Personnel of homicide squad collected samples including broken glass shards from the sprawling lawn and sniffer dog was also pressed into service. Not ruling out a love triangle in the killing, the officer said prima facie it appeared the teenager came into the girl's life after her break-up with another youth, known to both, and there was a probability of the estranged youth involved in today's attack. Both youths came to the girl's birthday bash along with a host of other friends numbering around 15 at Princeton and the arguments began once the party was over and they reached the girl's home, he said. The deceased, whose father had died earlier, was also a resident of nearby Southern Avenue. The boy's mother's statement was now being recorded by police. The incident sent shockwaves in the quiet, posh neighbourhood. PTI 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Architect Michael Ford, who has been picked to design the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in New York, plans to compile all of the ideas and several designs from Saturday, along with photos, into a book that can be presented to city officials. But hes not stopping there. He also wants to package the activities from the camp into a program that can be run in other cities. The events in Myanmar pose a challenge to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is struggling to decide whether to.. Deutsche Welle 29 Mar 2021 Rumble 19 Sep 2022 There is a wreck at Tucker Hill Road. But this wreck is not cause of the blackout. Power has been out in Del Valle to Bastrop.. A second man has been charged in connection with the death of a man whose charred remains were found at the site of a fire in a.. Belfast Telegraph 19 Oct 2021 Rumble 29 Aug 2022 A Ukrainian woman alleging to be part of the Rothschild family has been discovered to have been at Mar A Lago. Inna Yashchyshyn, 33.. Teaser Trailer 28 Oct 2022 The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Trailer - Plot Synopsis: This holiday season is going to be out of this.. Cherry Completes the Acquisition of 49% ComeOn Shares Published July 24, 2016 by Florin P Cherry AB spends a combined 80 million for 49% of shares in ComeOn Malta Ltd. Cherry AB continues its Scandinavian expansion and has strengthened its position by acquiring nearly half of ComeOn shares. By securing 49% and retaining the option of acquiring the remaining 51%, they now also own ComeOn, Mobilbet, Folkeautomaten and Casinostugan. The ComeOn Malta Limited includes all these brands, so the new owners will be able to tap into a significant customer pool. The company had to pay a total of 80 million, with half of this amount being paid in cash and the rest in B-shares. Cherry AB is not expected to feel the shock of such a significant expansion, even when they acquire the remaining 51%. By using an eclectic mix of cash and newly issued shares, they should be able to maintain the profit estimates for 2016. Good News for Online Casino Players This acquisition will make Cherry AB more competitive in the Scandinavian market, while guaranteeing better exposure for ComeOn. The two companies are not the only beneficiaries of the deal, as players are also expected to cash in on this agreement. By harmonizing their common values and working together, they will be able to strengthen their operations and better serve customers. As long as the integration process is swift and smooth, players will start feeling the advantages without any hassle. Fredrik Burvall, CEO of Cherry announced that the company he represents plans on following through with the acquisition of the remaining 51%. He expressed his enthusiasm for this deal that should advance the interests of both companies and make them a top player in Scandinavia. The new share price will be calculated during the next two weeks and the process is expected to conclude until the end of 2016. Meanwhile, the deal is expected to have an immediate positive effect on the companys earnings per share, as the deal was received well by shareholders. Some of the smarter Democrats who can read polls are getting worried. With Hillary Clinton as their presumptive nominee, they will "have to be prepared for a close election," as their dilemma was understated by Senator Bob Casey. In his keystone blue state of Pennsylvania, which cast its hefty electoral vote for Democrats in the last six elections, Donald Trump is polling ahead of Clinton. Superdelegates and other Democrats might have taken similar polls into consideration during the primary/caucus season when Sanders, but not Clinton, from the beginning consistently finished well ahead of Trump. If they want to stop being "freaked out," as another Democrat described their problem, they only need to change their candidate. Since May the DNC has been expecting attacks on Clinton's "ethics, transparency and campaign finance" - euphemisms for conflicts of interest, lies and corruption. Her liberal plutocrat VP, with his own ethics problem, is unlikely to be of much help. The margin of victory for Republicans is composed of people who will not vote Democrat because they specifically dislike and distrust Clinton. The original purpose of superdelegates was to correct for the folly of nominating a loser like Clinton, who had to steal the nomination, when a popular winner like Sanders is available. With Servergate swinging open, and the Republican base calling to "lock 'er up" as their loudest single demand, Clinton's prospects are unlikely to improve. The clock is ticking for the Democrats. Sanders could still be nominated, even though he is planning to support Clinton, for unpersuasive reasons including the false dichotomy of Lesser of Two Evils politics. He also tried to abolish the superdelegates which provided his only path to the nomination, but did not attempt to adopt a conflict of interest rule that would require superdelegates with financial ties to the Clintons to disclose those ties and recuse themselves. Notwithstanding Sanders' incompetent pursuit of the nomination, what Democrats need to do to win is what used to be called a "draft." Though Sanders prematurely capitulated, he could still be drafted to accept the nomination. If they would like to avoid the risk of electing Trump, instead of continuing their death march over the Clinton cliff, chanting their plutocratic catechism "Hillary Clinton is an ordinary liberal politician" and warmonger, these party leaders can still organize their fellow Superdelegates to help nominate their newest party-loyalist. The Superdelegates only need to abstain from the first ballot. This would release enough of Clinton's pledged delegates for a majority of them to nominate Sanders on the second ballot. The superdelegates only need to stay out of the nomination process, until the pledged delegates themselves discuss and decide the most prudent course for Democrats. To make it easier for the professional Democrats to get off the fence and opt for victory rather than risk defeat with Clinton, Cornel West and Jill Stein should announce that they are running a joint campaign for President and Vice President, if Sanders again ignores Stein's second invitation that he "explore potential collaboration" with the Greens. Stein and West stand for the same progressive themes that Sanders promoted in the most exciting primary contest for generations. But Sanders decided, in the end, to pursue those issues through a professional activist issue organization operating within a Lesser of Two Evils Framework rather than fighting both evils through 2016 electoral politics, and despite new Wikileaks confirmation of the bias in the nominating process. The Vice Presidency is a demeaning job having little purpose. Between two honest mutually respectful people who are trying to serve the public and not themselves, a deal could be made to equally share the office of presidency and thereby revitalize the Vice Presidency to become a co-presidency. This can be done within the terms of the Constitution, See Art 25(3). All significant presidential decisions would be made jointly, and resolved by the cabinet in the unlikely case of a deadlock. This arrangement would rival the Clinton's reprise of their "two-fer the price of one" co-presidency, which remains one of Clinton's few actual "qualifications." The time may also have come to implement the often-suggested idea of choosing a cabinet as part of the election process, so the public would also know who the tiebreaking team will be. This progressive ticket should initiate its campaign by announcing at West and Stein's first appearance as a joint ticket, their intention to terminate their third party effort and instead throw their support to Sanders if the superdelegates, instead of selling out to Clinton, do their job next week and allow the pledged delegates to choose the candidate who will win. They would ask Sanders to reciprocate the favor by sharing his famous mailing list with West and Stein so that they can get a jumpstart on their campaign. West and Stein; Stein and West. Both are qualified by their personal accomplishments, West as an academic, writer, and the nation's foremost public intellectual. Stein is a community activist and medical doctor who has studied the issues and organized at the grassroots. She engages in politics as a concerned mother. Both thus share Donald Trump's only outstanding quality to be President, that he is an outsider to politics with no experience in governing the corrupt system at all. West, like Trump, has also spent a lot of time in front of the camera and behind the microphone with Tavis Smiley and on many other programs. But this progressive team has none of Trump's bad qualities, like "lying" and an "absolute lack of interest in anything beyond power and money." West and Stein have forgotten more than Trump ever knew about government, other than exactly how to pay off an influence peddler. They could beat Trump, just as Sanders could beat Trump, by starting where Sanders left off. In 2016 Sanders proved it was possible to run a campaign by delivering over and over the same speech he has been giving for forty years and by thus establishing his apparent authenticity in backing a clearly progressive and very popular agenda. Then he stopped short of the goal without good reason. West and Stein are both more authentic than Sanders proved to be and more progressive on such core issues as civil rights and imperialism. This is easily said of West, who has had a productive academic and a long public life. West is as authentic as any public figure. Unlike Sanders, West is painfully honest about the great deceiver, Obama, whom he accurately and early called a "puppet of corporate plutocrats," while absorbing personal attacks from Obama surrogates for telling the truth. He then without hesitation also refused to follow Sanders into the safety of embracing the corrupt Clinton-Obama party, walking away from the prestigious Platform Committee seat his endorsement and campaign for Sanders had earned him. The reason he exited Sanders' "hot air filled progressive tent" was, he said, because "there's no way in good conscience I can say 'take it to the next stage'" by embracing the party of the Clinton, Inc., Democrats. " That's not my calling. I'm just being truthful. It'd be a violation of my own limited sense of moral integrity and spiritual conscience." With these words West distinguished himself from, and stepped into the leadership role vacated by, the hapless Sanders who, having made his separate peace with plutocracy, now has a book deadline to meet. West chose the fresh air of the only progressive electoral alternative, Jill Stein and her Greens. West is the visible connection to Sanders' campaign. If he brings with him only a small fraction of Sanders' followers, he could still multiply Jill Stein's now modest support. Greens have an opportunity to revive their flagging fortunes and merge with the progressive Sanders movement by adding West to their ticket. West's endorsement of Stein should be good enough for us progressives to accept Stein's co-leadership. As he says : " It's hard to find somebody at the national level who provides a certain kind of hope, given the unbelievable spiritual decline and moral decay." From what Stein has demonstrated over a far shorter time than West in national life, one would happily anticipate her debate with Clinton and Trump as much as West's own confrontation of corruption with virtue. Stein demonstrated her gritty commitment when she was arrested and handcuffed to a chair for eight hours in 2012 for trying to get access to the plutocratic debates that she correctly labeled " "this mock debate, this mockery of democracy." In 2016 progressives can adopt this priority example of Stein's "real solutions ... pushing for open Presidential debates." This is a progressive demand that helps to delegitimize the plutocrat media by highlighting that they would bar truthful voices while instead privileging those whose voices a majority of the American people do not trust and are probably tired by now, or soon will be, of even hearing any more. Open the debates to the fresh and honest voices of West and Stein! Some want to engage in argument about what the Greens are, or have been. But 2016 is about the future not the past. What the Greens can be is the means by which Sanders supporters can continue the struggle for progressive politics. Sanders was a useful catalyst, but proved an unreliable leader by embracing plutocracy in the end. Greens will have the only progressive ballot line in the general election, but it needs Sanders supporters to make it relevant. When West endorsed Sanders in August 2015, he said : "What we really need is a progressive to hit issues of Wall Street domination of the government.... But we've got to always let [Sanders] know that we keep the pressure on him." At that time Sanders had increased his share of Democratic voters to 27% from only 5% four months earlier. Stein has less than four months to get to 34% of all voters from a starting point of only 16% who are even "somewhat familiar" with her, and the 4% who support her. Cornel West should be able to help with that. In the last couple generations of national decline, Americans have tried a B-movie actor and a silver spoon CIA director, a crooked sexual predator and a pious dancing fool, and finally a brilliant fraud. None of this has worked as the rich got richer, the country turned ever more plutocratic, and its military fought incessant imperial wars of value only to plutocrats. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Michael Moore Website I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I gave it to you straight last summer when I told you that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee for president. And now I have even more awful, depressing news for you: Donald J. Trump is going to win in November. This wretched, ignorant, dangerous part-time clown and full time sociopath is going to be our next president. President Trump. Go ahead and say the words, 'cause you'll be saying them for the next four years: "PRESIDENT TRUMP." Never in my life have I wanted to be proven wrong more than I do right now. I can see what you're doing right now. You're shaking your head wildly -- "No, Mike, this won't happen!" Unfortunately, you are living in a bubble that comes with an adjoining echo chamber where you and your friends are convinced the American people are not going to elect an idiot for president. You alternate between being appalled at him and laughing at him because of his latest crazy comment or his embarrassingly narcissistic stance on everything because everything is about him. And then you listen to Hillary and you behold our very first female president, someone the world respects, someone who is whip-smart and cares about kids, who will continue the Obama legacy because that is what the American people clearly want! Yes! Four more years of this! You need to exit that bubble right now. You need to stop living in denial and face the truth which you know deep down is very, very real. Trying to soothe yourself with the facts -- "77% of the electorate are women, people of color, young adults under 35 and Trump can't win a majority of any of them!" -- or logic -- "people aren't going to vote for a buffoon or against their own best interests!" -- is your brain's way of trying to protect you from trauma. Like when you hear a loud noise on the street and you think, "oh, a tire just blew out," or, "wow, who's playing with firecrackers?" because you don't want to think you just heard someone being shot with a gun. It's the same reason why all the initial news and eyewitness reports on 9/11 said "a small plane accidentally flew into the World Trade Center." We want to -- we need to -- hope for the best because, frankly, life is already a sh*t show and it's hard enough struggling to get by from paycheck to paycheck. We can't handle much more bad news. So our mental state goes to default when something scary is actually, truly happening. The first people plowed down by the truck in Nice spent their final moments on earth waving at the driver whom they thought had simply lost control of his truck, trying to tell him that he jumped the curb: "Watch out!," they shouted. "There are people on the sidewalk!" Well, folks, this isn't an accident. It is happening. And if you believe Hillary Clinton is going to beat Trump with facts and smarts and logic, then you obviously missed the past year of 56 primaries and caucuses where 16 Republican candidates tried that and every kitchen sink they could throw at Trump and nothing could stop his juggernaut. As of today, as things stand now, I believe this is going to happen -- and in order to deal with it, I need you first to acknowledge it, and then maybe, just maybe, we can find a way out of the mess we're in. Don't get me wrong. I have great hope for the country I live in. Things are better. The left has won the cultural wars. Gays and lesbians can get married. A majority of Americans now take the liberal position on just about every polling question posed to them: Equal pay for women -- check. Abortion should be legal -- check. Stronger environmental laws -- check. More gun control -- check. Legalize marijuana -- check. A huge shift has taken place -- just ask the socialist who won 22 states this year. And there is no doubt in my mind that if people could vote from their couch at home on their X-box or PlayStation, Hillary would win in a landslide. But that is not how it works in America. People have to leave the house and get in line to vote. And if they live in poor, Black or Hispanic neighborhoods, they not only have a longer line to wait in, everything is being done to literally stop them from casting a ballot. So in most elections it's hard to get even 50% to turn out to vote. And therein lies the problem for November -- who is going to have the most motivated, most inspired voters show up to vote? You know the answer to this question. Who's the candidate with the most rabid supporters? Whose crazed fans are going to be up at 5 AM on Election Day, kicking ass all day long, all the way until the last polling place has closed, making sure every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Bob and Joe and Billy Bob and Billy Joe and Billy Bob Joe) has cast his ballot? That's right. That's the high level of danger we're in. And don't fool yourself -- no amount of compelling Hillary TV ads, or outfacting him in the debates or Libertarians siphoning votes away from Trump is going to stop his mojo. Here are the 5 reasons Trump is going to win: 1...Midwest Math, or Welcome to Our Rust Belt Brexit. I believe Trump is going to focus much of his attention on the four blue states in the rustbelt of the upper Great Lakes -- Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Four traditionally Democratic states -- but each of them have elected a Republican governor since 2010 (only Pennsylvania has now finally elected a Democrat). In the Michigan primary in March, more Michiganders came out to vote for the Republicans (1.32 million) than the Democrats (1.19 million). Trump is ahead of Hillary in the latest polls in Pennsylvania and tied with her in Ohio. Tied? How can the race be this close after everything Trump has said and done? Well maybe it's because he's said (correctly) that the Clintons' support of NAFTA helped to destroy the industrial states of the Upper Midwest. Trump is going to hammer Clinton on this and her support of TPP and other trade policies that have royally screwed the people of these four states. When Trump stood in the shadow of a Ford Motor factory during the Michigan primary, he threatened the corporation that if they did indeed go ahead with their planned closure of that factory and move it to Mexico, he would slap a 35% tariff on any Mexican-built cars shipped back to the United States. It was sweet, sweet music to the ears of the working class of Michigan, and when he tossed in his threat to Apple that he would force them to stop making their iPhones in China and build them here in America, well, hearts swooned and Trump walked away with a big victory that should have gone to the governor next-door, John Kasich. From Green Bay to Pittsburgh, this, my friends, is the middle of England -- broken, depressed, struggling, the smokestacks strewn across the countryside with the carcass of what we use to call the Middle Class. Angry, embittered working (and nonworking) people who were lied to by the trickle-down of Reagan and abandoned by Democrats who still try to talk a good line but are really just looking forward to rub one out with a lobbyist from Goldman Sachs who'll write them nice big check before leaving the room. What happened in the UK with Brexit is going to happen here. Elmer Gantry shows up looking like Boris Johnson and just says whatever sh*t he can make up to convince the masses that this is their chance! To stick to ALL of them, all who wrecked their American Dream! And now The Outsider, Donald Trump, has arrived to clean house! You don't have to agree with him! You don't even have to like him! He is your personal Molotov cocktail to throw right into the center of the bastards who did this to you! SEND A MESSAGE! TRUMP IS YOUR MESSENGER! And this is where the math comes in. In 2012, Mitt Romney lost by 64 electoral votes. Add up the electoral votes cast by Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It's 64. All Trump needs to do to win is to carry, as he's expected to do, the swath of traditional red states from Idaho to Georgia (states that'll never vote for Hillary Clinton), and then he just needs these four rust belt states. He doesn't need Florida. He doesn't need Colorado or Virginia. Just Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. And that will put him over the top. This is how it will happen in November. 2...The Last Stand of the Angry White Man. Our male-dominated, 240-year run of the USA is coming to an end. A woman is about to take over! How did this happen?! On our watch! There were warning signs, but we ignored them. Nixon, the gender traitor, imposing Title IX on us, the rule that said girls in school should get an equal chance at playing sports. Then they let them fly commercial jets. Before we knew it, Beyonce stormed on the field at this year's Super Bowl (our game!) with an army of Black Women, fists raised, declaring that our domination was hereby terminated! Oh, the humanity! That's a small peek into the mind of the Endangered White Male. There is a sense that the power has slipped out of their hands, that their way of doing things is no longer how things are done. This monster, the "Feminazi," the thing that as Trump says, "bleeds through her eyes or wherever she bleeds," has conquered us -- and now, after having had to endure eight years of a black man telling us what to do, we're supposed to just sit back and take eight years of a woman bossing us around? After that it'll be eight years of the gays in the White House! Then the transgenders! You can see where this is going. By then animals will have been granted human rights and a fuckin' hamster is going to be running the country. This has to stop! 3...The Hillary Problem. Can we speak honestly, just among ourselves? And before we do, let me state, I actually like Hillary -- a lot -- and I think she has been given a bad rap she doesn't deserve. But her vote for the Iraq War made me promise her that I would never vote for her again. To date, I haven't broken that promise. For the sake of preventing a proto-fascist from becoming our commander-in-chief, I'm breaking that promise. I sadly believe Clinton will find a way to get us in some kind of military action. She's a hawk, to the right of Obama. But Trump's psycho finger will be on The Button, and that is that. Done and done. Let's face it: Our biggest problem here isn't Trump -- it's Hillary. She is hugely unpopular -- nearly 70% of all voters think she is untrustworthy and dishonest. She represents the old way of politics, not really believing in anything other than what can get you elected. That's why she fights against gays getting married one moment, and the next she's officiating a gay marriage. Young women are among her biggest detractors, which has to hurt considering it's the sacrifices and the battles that Hillary and other women of her generation endured so that this younger generation would never have to be told by the Barbara Bushes of the world that they should just shut up and go bake some cookies. But the kids don't like her, and not a day goes by that a millennial doesn't tell me they aren't voting for her. No Democrat, and certainly no independent, is waking up on November 8th excited to run out and vote for Hillary the way they did the day Obama became president or when Bernie was on the primary ballot. The enthusiasm just isn't there. And because this election is going to come down to just one thing -- who drags the most people out of the house and gets them to the polls -- Trump right now is in the catbird seat. 4...The Depressed Sanders Vote. Stop fretting about Bernie's supporters not voting for Clinton -- we're voting for Clinton! The polls already show that more Sanders voters will vote for Hillary this year than the number of Hillary primary voters in '08 who then voted for Obama. This is not the problem. The fire alarm that should be going off is that while the average Bernie backer will drag him/herself to the polls that day to somewhat reluctantly vote for Hillary, it will be what's called a "depressed vote" -- meaning the voter doesn't bring five people to vote with her. He doesn't volunteer 10 hours in the month leading up to the election. She never talks in an excited voice when asked why she's voting for Hillary. A depressed voter. Because, when you're young, you have zero tolerance for phonies and BS. Returning to the Clinton/Bush era for them is like suddenly having to pay for music, or using MySpace or carrying around one of those big-ass portable phones. They're not going to vote for Trump; some will vote third party, but many will just stay home. Hillary Clinton is going to have to do something to give them a reason to support her -- and picking a moderate, bland-o, middle of the road old white guy as her running mate is not the kind of edgy move that tells millenials that their vote is important to Hillary. Having two women on the ticket -- that was an exciting idea. But then Hillary got scared and has decided to play it safe. This is just one example of how she is killing the youth vote. 5...The Jesse Ventura Effect. Finally, do not discount the electorate's ability to be mischievous or underestimate how any millions fancy themselves as closet anarchists once they draw the curtain and are all alone in the voting booth. It's one of the few places left in society where there are no security cameras, no listening devices, no spouses, no kids, no boss, no cops, there's not even a friggin' time limit. You can take as long as you need in there and no one can make you do anything. You can push the button and vote a straight party line, or you can write in Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. There are no rules. And because of that, and the anger that so many have toward a broken political system, millions are going to vote for Trump not because they agree with him, not because they like his bigotry or ego, but just because they can. Just because it will upset the apple cart and make mommy and daddy mad. And in the same way like when you're standing on the edge of Niagara Falls and your mind wonders for a moment what would that feel like to go over that thing, a lot of people are going to love being in the position of puppetmaster and plunking down for Trump just to see what that might look like. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Russian President Vladimir Putin warning about NATO missiles in Romania Reading Paul Craig Roberts latest [1] , it called to mind something read years ago to the effect, " when it comes to a nuclear confrontation the Russians will always back down," That may be the prevailing attitude in neo-con led Washington as it continues to provoke the Russian bear with the recent NATO troop exercises in Poland and the Baltic states while in May placing ABM missiles in Romania and Poland by 2018. Washington maintains the missiles are purely defensive with the ruse of defending against a potential Iranian nuclear threat. Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin sees through that falsehood warning such ABM missiles can become offensive missiles aimed directly at Russia "done by simply switching the software". [2] With the American military operating these missile sites the host country wouldn't even know of the switch. So Putin is fully aware of this capability and at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in June he castigated foreign journalists with "We know year by year what's going to happen, and they know that we know. It's only you that they tell tales to, and you buy it, and spread it to the citizens of your countries. You people in turn do not feel a sense of the impending danger-this is what worries me. How do you not understand that the world is being pulled in an irreversible direction? While they pretend that nothing is going on. I don't know how to get through to you anymore. [3] From here though Putin's frustration is clearly evident it would be a mistake to interpret his clear headedness as weakness. To this septuagenarian this is the most dangerous time since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 that brought the world to the brink of nuclear a conflagration. Back then diplomacy worked between President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. But certainly there is no Kennedy in the White House or any close advisors who recognize NATO's actions are seen as clear provocations against Russia that are unacceptable that Putin clearly recognizes as pulling the world in an irreversible direction, nuclear war. There you have it. The world sits at a precipice of nuclear annihilation though you'd never know it in the US. There's no discussion, no debate, no protests or demonstrations against the madness being perpetrated by Washington. Perhaps when most of us are all dead, with just a handful of the terminally ill soon to be dead in the nuclear winter unfolding before them, they'll be the awareness it was all so unnecessary. [1] "Armageddon Approaches", by Paul Craig Roberts, "Information Clearing House", July 23, 2016 Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). nuclear mushroom cloud (Image by andy z) Details DMCA Let us compare for a moment the public discourse with respect to both global warming and the initiative to overhaul our nuclear arsenal. This project would be easier if there were actually some public discourse about our trillion dollar program to refurbish our nuclear weapons arsenal. The project is going forward with very little controversy, debate, or even broad awareness. We know, however, that everyone involved in the decision chain remains persuaded that these strategic weapons are intended as a deterrent. The moment these weapons are actually unleashed, all predictions are off on what might happen once the smoke of battle clears. If these weapons are actually used, they will have failed in their mission. That is the strange logic of nuclear deterrence. Set in another frame, one might argue that sinking one trillion bucks into an inventory of bombs that are intended never to be used is kind of a waste. What makes such a waste even thinkable is that we are confronted with uncertainties with regard to our military and strategic future. It is deemed to be worthwhile to spend even that amount of money in order to cover some dire contingencies. Now consider global warming in the same light. We face uncertainties that simply cannot yet be resolved with current scientific models, but the credible scenarios for our potential futures are indeed foreboding. It is known to a certainty that we are on an unsustainable path; the only ambiguity is the rate at which we are getting there. And the path is strewn with potential tipping points into catastrophe. In this case, however, the existence of uncertainty is seen as an argument for not doing anything. We are not yet certain, it is argued, that something must actually be done to forestall unattractive futures, so there is no reason to go into action. This is clearly perverse, particularly because there are long lead-times for the creation of alternative futures. The Pentagon is starting to think about the national security implications of global warming, and they are grave. What is worse is that the solution to this threat is not under our control. Even if the entire nation were to become carbon-neutral by mid-century, we cannot control what others may do. We cannot solve the problem unilaterally. When it comes to nuclear development, we are at least dealing with technical issues that are in principle under our control. When it comes to global warming, there is additionally a realm of social issues in different societies that we cannot begin to control. We could not ask for a better example than the controversy that exists around this issue in our own society. Would it not be appropriate to act on the precautionary principle both with respect to global warming and military preparedness? If uncertainty is a mandate for action in one instance, how can it be the rationale for standing down in another? We have allowed the merchants of doubt to control the debate, when in fact uncertainty should be an imperative to action. "When they get you addressing the wrong question, they don't have to worry about the answers." In order to move our society beyond its current stalemate, we have to change the terms of debate. Uncertainty is the very thing that is worrisome. This is where the Pentagon could actually play a useful role. Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D. Reprinted from Reader Supported News If you had been on the streets of Cleveland this week, you would have witnessed a country being torn apart at the seams by ... Americans. Members of the KKK and right-wing hate groups clashing across police lines with progressives and liberals of all races. Then there were the folks from Westboro Baptist Church and other religious fanatics telling everyone that they were going to Hell. Divisions on the right and the left were on display. People with the same long-term goals were arguing about how to achieve them. Yes, I did say the left too. There was no one unifying event that sent a strong message to the Republicans convening in the city, and they too did not have an event that showed any unity. Donald trump and Hillary Clinton ... Really? Two extremely divisive figures are vying to lead our country. I know Jill Stein is running, but the system is rigged against anyone who isn't a Democrat or a Republican. That goes for Gary Johnson too. I am sitting at an outdoor cafe on 4th Street in Cleveland. The mood is tense. Hare Krishna drums can be heard as people mill about. It is a narrow street that leads to the arena where Donald Trump is about to accept the Republican nomination. There are hundreds if not thousands of people passing by. Some supporters of "The Donald" and many protesters. There are also some here to just witness the spectacle. Twenty-four hours ago, the festive atmosphere was shattered when police and protesters clashed during a flag-burning by the Revolutionary Communist Party. It was timed to take place amidst hundreds of Trump supporters on their way to the convention. Eighteen arrests were made, and for a brief time there was a melee with police tackling protesters and holding back delegates who wanted to implement their own justice. Overall it has been an uneventful week. The big excitement was Ted Cruz being booed and Melania Trump getting caught plagiarizing. I heard that the Texas delegates came to blows. Members of the KKK had urine thrown on them by protesters, and that's about it. I think there were under 50 convention-related arrests in Cleveland. Click Here to Read Whole Article A Letter to Ireland from World Beyond War Add your name here. Those of us outside Ireland, and in particular those of us in the United States, have a pressing and urgent responsibility to lend all the support we can to our brothers and sisters in Ireland who are resisting U.S. wars. Despite Ireland's officially neutral status and its claim to have not gone to war since its founding in 1922, Ireland allowed the United States to use Shannon Airport during the Gulf War and, as part of the so-called coalition of the willing, during the wars that began in 2001. Between 2002 and the present date, over 2.5 million U.S. troops have passed through Shannon Airport, along with many weapons, and CIA airplanes used to transfer prisoners to places of torture. Casement Aerodrome has also been used. And, despite not being a member of NATO, Ireland has sent troops to participate in the illegal war on Afghanistan. Copyrighted Image? DMCA Under Hague Convention V in force since 1910, and to which the United States has been a party from the start, and which under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution is part of the supreme law of the United States, "Belligerents are forbidden to move troops or convoys of either munitions of war or supplies across the territory of a neutral Power." Under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, to which both the United States and Ireland are parties, and which has been incorporated into very selectively enforced felonies in the U.S. Code since before George W. Bush left Texas for Washington, D.C., any complicity in torture must be investigated and prosecuted. Under both the U.N. Charter and the Kellogg-Briand Pact, to both of which the United States and Ireland have been parties since their creation, the war in Afghanistan and all the other U.S. wars since 2001 have been illegal. The people of Ireland have a strong tradition of resisting imperialism, dating back even before the 1916 revolution of which this year is the centenary, and they aspire to representative or democratic government. In a 2007 poll, by 58% to 19% they opposed allowing the U.S. military to use Shannon Airport. In a 2013 poll, over 75% supported neutrality. In 2011, a new government of Ireland announced that it would support neutrality, but it did not. Instead it has continued to allow the U.S. military to keep planes and personnel at Shannon Airport, and to bring troops and weapons through on a regular basis, including over 20,000 troops already this year. The United States military has no need for Shannon Airport. Its planes could reach other destinations without running out of fuel. One of the purposes of regularly using Shannon Airport, perhaps the main purpose, is very likely simply to keep Ireland within the coalition of the killing. On U.S. television, announcers thank "the troops" for watching this or that major sporting event from 175 countries. The U.S. military and its profiteers would hardly notice if that number dropped to 174, but their goal, perhaps their main purpose and driving objective, is to increase that number to 200. Total global dominance is the explicitly stated objective of the U.S. military. Once a nation is added to the list, all steps will be taken, by the State Department, by the military, by the CIA, and by any possible collaborators, to keep that nation on the list. The United States government fears an Ireland free of U.S. militarism more than we probably can imagine. The global peace movement should desire it more than we probably do, including for the example it would set to Scotland, Wales, England, and the rest of the world. How do we, outside of Ireland, know anything at all about what the U.S. military does in Ireland? We certainly don't learn it from the U.S. government or U.S. journalism. And the Irish government takes no active steps to reveal what it knows, which is likely not everything. We know what we know because of brave and dedicated peace activists in Ireland, representing majority opinion, upholding the rule of law, exercising creative nonviolence, and working through numerous organizations, most prominently Shannonwatch.org. These heroes have pried loose information, elected and lobbied members of the Irish legislature, entered the grounds of Shannon Airport to ask question and draw attention and face criminal prosecution for the cause of peace. If not for them, citizens of the United States -- a nation that literally bombs other countries in the name of democracy -- would have no idea what was happening whatsoever. Even now, most people in the United States have no idea. We have to help tell them. Even U.S. supporters of war don't support a mandatory draft, at least not until they themselves are too old to qualify. Many should be willing to oppose forcing Ireland to take part in wars it wants no part in. If U.S. military transport continues to make use of Shannon Airport, a disaster will inevitably occur there. Of course the moral disaster of participating in the mass killing of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc., is ongoing. The cultural disaster of insidiously creating the impression that war is normal is underway. The financial cost to Ireland, the environmental and noise pollution, the heightened "security" that erodes civil liberties: all of those things are part of the package, along with the racism that finds a target in the refugees fleeing the wars. But if Shannon Airport survives routine U.S. military use without a major accident, spill, explosion, crash, or mass-killing, it will be the first. The U.S. military has poisoned and polluted some of the most beautiful spots in the United States and around the world. The unsurpassed beauty of Ireland is not immune. And then there is the blowback. By participating in counterproductive wars that generate international terrorism, Ireland makes itself a target. When Spain became a target it pulled out of the war on Iraq, making itself safer. When Britain and France became targets, they doubled down on their own participation in terrorism-too-large-to-carry-that-name, generating more blowback and deepening the vicious cycle of violence. Which path would Ireland choose? We cannot know. But we do know that it would be wisest for Ireland to pull out of its criminal participation in the barbaric institution of war before the war comes home. Sign here. Please share. Twitter. Facebook. Now that she is the Democratic candidate can we give Hillary Rodham Clinton her due? She may not be perfect. What politician, or human being, is? But she has taken more heat than anyone running for office should have to, and now the time is here to "put a sock in it," as the British say. Or as my high school typing teacher taught us, "Now is the time to come to the aid of the party." Like lots of others I've had issues with Hillary. For a start I don't like political dynasties no matter which side they represent. I think she made a mess of health care reform during her husband's tenure and I don't like that she stood with him for punishing welfare reform. Some of her senatorial votes, especially regarding military intervention, were clearly questionable. Recently I could have throttled her as she pandered to AIPAC in her unconditional support of Israel with nary a mention of that country's transgressions against the Palestinian people. I get that she sometimes acts as if she were exempt from the rules. And I wish she had donated her Wall Street speaking fees. But Hillary is a woman of extraordinary intelligence, sound judgment, and experience that runs wide and deep. Her "skill set" is amazing. So is her patience and her cool in the face of contempt. (Think Benghazi and emails.) Much of that contempt derives from her being a woman. A lot of old white guys don't like smart, powerful women, and sadly neither do some women. Hillary has shown real fortitude as she's faced unfounded attacks on her character, personality and ability. It's time we gave her credit for that. I can say with some authority that she is also nicer than people give her credit for. The first time I saw her up close and personal was at an event honoring the late, great feminist leader Bella Abzug. Hillary greeted the audience warmly, her big blue eyes and wide grin a portrait of genuine friendship. She joked about Bella's hats and told tales about their shared experiences. When her remarks grew serious she moved us all, speaking passionately about issues she and Bella cared deeply about, women's rights and children's welfare topping the list. We felt her real concern and commitment to these and other matters, witnessing how they moved her. We saw in her the ability to act forcefully on behalf of others less fortunate than those of us in the room that day. We left inspired. Several years later I was in another room with Hillary. It was an auditorium in Hairou, China, site of the 1995 non-governmental forum at the Fourth World Conference on Women. She was America's First Lady, but that didn't stop her from speaking truth to power in Beijing's political halls. A few days earlier she had declared to China's leaders and the world, "Women's rights are human rights! And human rights are women's rights!" It was a stunning and courageous statement. When she came to the NGO forum to speak she was no less forceful and daring. Her words about the denial of women's human rights all over the globe resonated to the 3,000 women lucky enough to have gained access to the auditorium, to the more than 35,000 conference participants who heard or read her speech later, and to all the world's women waiting in homes and huts to learn what was happening at that awesome event. The power and passion in that speech was unforgettable. I'm not suggesting that I'm on Hillary Clinton's rolodex. I've never broken bread with her nor have we had personal exchanges. But having been in close proximity to her on a few occasions, I can say that she has been treated unfairly, mythologized, unduly doubted, diminished, and insulted without cause. It's time for all that to stop. For far too long now -- indeed through the ages -- women have been punished for revealing their intellect and their agency. They've been pilloried for being political, privately and publicly. Many have been silenced, tortured, murdered for daring to speak their minds or make their own choices. (Just a few days before I wrote this piece, a young Middle Eastern woman died in an honor killing for refusing to marry the man her father had chosen. Elsewhere a teenager died as a result of forced female genital cutting.) Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). David Gibbs (Image by Stephanie Chace) Details DMCA My guest today is David N. Gibbs, a professor of history and government at the University of Arizona who has written extensively on NATO. Joan Brunwasser: Welcome to OpEdNews, David. Many of us tend to disregard most of what Donald Trump says on virtually any subject. You have a different point of view, at least regarding NATO. Tell us more, please. DG: Well, let me start out by saying that most of Donald Trump's positions are classic demagoguery and are quite dangerous. But on some foreign policy issues he does occasionally make sense, especially with regard to the issue of NATO. He has repeatedly questioned the value of NATO to US security, as an overly expensive extravagance, and this is a very legitimate issue to raise. To my knowledge no other candidate in recent years, not even Bernie Sanders has been willing to address this issue. JB: You've studied NATO and written about it extensively. Can you flesh this out for us? What value, if any, does NATO bring to Europe, the US, the world at large? DG: NATO was officially created in 1949 to defend Western Europe against a possible Soviet invasion. With the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the value of NATO was essentially ended, and there was a widespread belief that NATO would simply dissolve as its former adversary bloc, the Warsaw Pact had done. However, there was a bloc of vested interests on both sides of the Atlantic that benefitted from NATO and wished to continue the organization, even though there was no enemy to defend against. There was then a clear emphasis on finding a new function for NATO, and over time the mission became humanitarian interventions and fighting terrorism. However these new missions seem more like excuses to justify the organization rather than real necessities. The main effect of NATO has been to start a new Cold War with post-communist Russia, which is a real tragedy and also very dangerous, given the large number of nuclear weapons on both sides. It is very difficult to see how any of this enhances global or US security. Mostly, NATO seems like an expensive extravagance, a military alliance in search of a justification. Candidates for president should be debating NATO's value. So far, only Trump is willing to engage the issue. JB: What's candidate Clinton's take on NATO? DG: Hillary Clinton has long been a supporter of NATO and America's interventionist "mission" in the world. She was of course one of the main figures in the Obama administration favoring NATO intervention in Libya, which led to the overthrow of Gaddafi and also the rise of the present day chaos in that country. She comes from an element of the establishment that views any calls for nonintervention as forms of isolationism, to be rejected out of hand. While Hillary Clinton has been on the hawkish side of the spectrum, the mainstream of both parties has been strongly supportive of NATO, and has favored efforts to find new enemies and new missions to justify the alliance. Until Trump's recent statements on the issue, there has been almost no criticism of the alliance, and no real debate. Hopefully that will change. It is a pity though that this criticism of NATO has emanated from such an unsavory figure as Trump. It is regrettable that the political left in the United States has been reluctant to take on this issue, and has instead, given it over to the political right. JB: You bring up an interesting conundrum. How can people explore a position only espoused by Trump who may have many fans but is considered an intellectual lightweight? The fact that Trump thinks this way about NATO so taints the whole subject as far as many citizens are concerned. Which further marginalizes the topic altogether. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from The Hill As Democrats gather in Philadelphia for the purpose of nominating America's first woman president, the heir to a legacy of leadership that began when Jefferson and Madison formed the Democratic-Republican Party to oppose rule by aristocracy and monarchs in America, one of the defining convention moments will be when Elizabeth Warren takes the podium and electrifies the convention with the passion and purpose of her presence. The Massachusetts senator's speech will be reminiscent of the give 'em hell speeches of Harry Truman in 1948, when he eviscerated Thomas Dewey and the do-nothing Republican Congress. Donald Trump, the billionaire tycoon whose staff spreads the word that he models his politics after Richard Nixon, the most disgraced president in history who escaped being convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors by resigning from office, is no Thomas Dewey, who was at least qualified to be president. And Elizabeth Warren is no Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz, who allowed themselves to be bullied by the childish nicknames and vindictive insults that Trump has hurled against women, Hispanics, POWs, the disabled, Native Americans and his GOP opponents. In one of the most fascinating developments of the 2016 campaign, which will be dramatized when Warren rouses the Democratic convention to standing ovations and deafening applause, the gentlelady from Massachusetts has repeatedly bested the ungentlemanly braggart and heir to Nixon who preternaturally divides the nation, believes he is right about everything, and has a problem dealing with brilliant and powerful women. As Warren continues her fusillade against Trump, it is comical to watch the befuddled GOP nominee reduced to nothing more than repeatedly and lamely calling her Pocahontas. Why has Warren mastered Trump so thoroughly? While Warren has spent decades battling for workers, consumers, minorities and women against those who would cheat and defraud them in a rigged economy, Trump has spent decades abusing and exploiting countless Americans who were unwise enough to trust him. Like Bernie Sanders, who has enriched our political discourse throughout the campaign and whose speech supporting Hillary Clinton will offer another golden convention moment for Democrats, Warren is a powerful and authentic champion of men and women of all races and backgrounds who want an American dream that thrives for the many and not merely the few. When she castigates Trump for making money from his dubious "university" that "teaches" its "students" to prey like vultures against citizens whose homes were foreclosed, she speaks the truth. While Trump masquerades as a populist while behaving as a crony capitalist, Warren, like Sanders and Clinton, champions the well-being of the people in the cause that is the soul of the Democratic Party. While Warren spent decades battling against corruptions of money and power, Trump spent decades committing them. Warren knows this, and it gives her confidence. Trump knows this, and it gives him fear. Democrats know this, and the rafters will shake when she says it in Philadelphia. This is why Trump reacts to Warren the way Count Dracula reacted to the cross. Her truths are the antidote to his poisons. In her convention speech, Warren will again offer the ultimate message, which is both positive and negative: positive supporting her egalitarian vision of an America with a rising tide that lifts all boats, and negative against the cold and cruel forces of selfishness, greed, division and the politics of bigotry that Trump personifies so perfectly as he exploits the pain of others to profit himself. There is indeed a progressive populist majority waiting to be born in America. This is why Sanders led Trump by huge margins in virtually all polls throughout the campaign. This is why it is so powerful that Clinton, Sanders, Warren and a united Democratic Party all rally together -- for free public college tuition for many Americans, for a public option to make healthcare more affordable, to seek a Supreme Court that will restore equal justice for all, to champion fair immigration laws, to stand for full equality for LGBT Americans and to call for the end to the corruptions brought by the Citizens United decision that is turning the land of the free and home of the brave into an oligarchy of aristocracy. Elizabeth Warren masters Donald Trump because she speaks for an America that is the birthright of all Americans, while he exploits the darker impulses of the spirit that tear Americans apart and would keep most Americans down. When she says this in Philadelphia the ground will shake and Democrats will roar as she speaks the truths that set us free. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Flipping a switch to turn on the lights or pressing a button to start a computer and connect to the Internet these are some of the daily functions most Americans take for granted. Thats not the case, though, for millions of people who live in remote areas around the world with no electricity or broadband access. Two Madison companies are working to change that and have won awards for their efforts. One is part of a huge, multi-billion-dollar plan involving celebrity investors from well-established companies. In sharp contrast, the other is a small startup by two UW-Madison graduate students. But both could be an important step toward bringing needed utilities to people without access. Design Concepts has designed a device for OneWeb, a project to make high-speed Internet accessible around the globe via hundreds of low-orbiting satellites. Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic and Paul Jacobs of Qualcomm are among those backing the proposal. NovoMoto is a startup created by two Ph.D candidates working on ways to bring low-cost electricity to rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo using solar power. The goal is to empower these people, said co-founder Mehrdad Arjmand. Design Concepts OneWeb founder Greg Wyler came up with the idea in 2012, according to the projects website, to build the worlds largest constellation of satellites that will cover the globe with high-speed Internet access. Based in Arlington, Va., the company says it plans to launch 648 satellites, starting in 2018, to circle the globe in low Earth orbit, or about 750 miles up. Nearly all of the satellites will be built in Florida, through an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space; the first few test versions will be assembled and tested in Toulouse, France. So how did a 48-year-old design firm in Madison with 63 employees get involved in the massive, global project? Through its small branch in San Francisco, established about three years ago, with seven employees, Design Concepts president Dave Franchino said. OneWeb heard about us ... They interviewed us to review our skill sets and capabilities. To be perfectly candid, the task was very, very hard and the timeline was very short, Franchino said. Design Concepts had less than two months to develop its model. Nineteen staff members worked on the project, including two employees in the companys San Francisco office. A lot of people touched this effort, Franchino said. The mission was to create a wireless terminal, like a router, to receive the Internet signal from a satellite transmission using solar-powered electricity. And there were complications. The device had to accommodate diverse and intense climates, be lightweight and low-cost to ship, and easy for any customer to install without special tools. This is a very different type of technology, said Joan Neeno, Design Concepts marketing manager. How do you make a router that can sit outside and take Sahara (desert) heat and monsoons? ... The goal was to have any adult be able to set this on their roof by themselves. The result was a small, solar-powered unit about the size of a large suitcase that can sit on the roof of a home or business and receive the satellite signals. The prototype won a bronze award in the International Design Excellence Awards presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America in Dearborn, Michigan in June. More than 1,700 design concepts were submitted from more than 30 countries; 136 won awards. Franchino said he was thrilled to work with Wyler, who previously founded 03b Networks, a 12-satellite telecom network. He has a strong sense of social purpose and higher mission. He is not only highly visionary but he is very inspiring, Franchino said. NovoMoto Aaron Olson, 27, was born in Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country formerly known as Zaire. His family moved to the U.S. when he was 2 years old. When Olson went back in 2015 to visit relatives in Mboka Paul, a rural village about 50 miles northeast of the capital of Kinshasa, he realized few people there have electricity in their homes. Sixty-eight million lack access to reliable electricity in the Congo, Olson said. So this is an immense problem. Rural residents depend on kerosene lamps for light at night, and charge their mobile phones and appliance batteries at diesel generators. The expense for both comes to about $22 a month, or 44 percent of the average annual income of $600 a year in Mboka Paul, Olson said. There are solar companies in Kinshasa but at a cost of more than $500 to buy and install the equipment, only the affluent can afford it, he said. Olson teamed up with fellow engineering doctoral candidate Arjmand, classmates in a UW course on entrepreneurship, to see how they could help. By November 2015, they had created NovoMoto Novo, meaning new, in Portuguese, and Moto, which means energy or fire in Lingala, the language in western portions of the Congo. Their first concept, to create solar-powered kiosks for groups of people to use as charging stations, won them $50,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy; a $20,000 Clean Cities Award; and $20,000 from the Hanley Family Foundation in the Clean Energy Trust Challenge in Chicago in April. But conversations with their partners in the Congo Olsons aunt, uncle and cousin modified their approach. They told us the people were more interested in home solar systems, Arjmand said. So Arjmand, 31, and Olson redesigned the prototype to a size suitable for use on a home or business. Electricity provides a lot ... So they can use a refrigerator, radio, TV or fan, and have access to laptops. Many of them dont have these appliances right now, Arjmand said. The revised concept won NovoMoto the third place award in the Cleantech University Prize National Competition in Denver in June featuring the top student teams in each of eight regional contests and an additional $20,000 DOE grant. A week ago, Olson returned from another trip to the Congo, invigorated with even more ideas and impressed with even greater needs of the people in the rural communities. It was an incredible trip, he said. NovoMoto started a pilot project in Mboka Paul, installing solar panels on three businesses. We had a huge amount of people come out and watch, Olson said. Customers kept telling us how important refrigeration is, he said. You can freeze fish, keep drinks cold. There is high value to a lot of people in rural communities. Through the solar utility company that Olson and Arjmand want to establish, NovoMoto will pay for the equipment and charge residents a small amount for installation plus a small monthly fee. Its a method of making this power accessible to a lot more people, Olson said. He said a company in Tanzania is using a similar business model. NovoMotos utility will have control systems, developed in Madison, that can turn a customers power on or off, if the bill isnt paid and that monitor the equipments status. If a battery is not operating correctly, you want to know before the customer has weeks or months of bad service, Olson said. He and Arjmand are working on the controls technology with UWs Microgrid Research group, part of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium. They are also trying to reduce the cost of their systems so the fees they charge are affordable. But electricity is not the only huge need in the rural Congo. Olson and his relatives met with local village leaders who asked for their help on other matters, as well, such as sanitation, building high schools and providing clean water. Water pumps had been put in some years ago, the leaders said, but the diesel generator that powered the pumps malfunctioned and damaged the system. All of this is now sitting there unused, and people are forced to get their water from a local swamp with ducks and pigs walking around in it ... It was really eye-opening, Olson said. With the money the team won in the Cleantech competitions, Olson and Arjmand said they hope to start installing the solar units in larger numbers by the end of 2016. Olson said if NovoMoto succeeds, he envisions using a variety of methods to provide solar power to rural Congo eventually individual solar units, neighborhood kiosks and small microgrids with power lines extending from several solar panels. Well take it step by step, he said. (Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of the name and age of Mehrdad Arjmand who is 31.) Madison police are investigating a shooting that occurred Friday night that sent a 19-year-old to the hospital. Officers were called to the 200 block of Swanton Road just after 10:15 p.m. for a report of shots fired and initially found nothing. Then the 19-year-old Madison man arrived at an area hospital with a gunshot wound, officials say. The victim would not provide details about the shooting to police, according to officials. Officials said upon further investigation, bullet casings were found in the area of Swanton Road. Police were still investigating the incident. The Midland City Council will hold another public hearing about new sign regulations for the Center City, and learn more about two reports compiled by city staff at the regular meeting on Monday. Steve Arnosky, Ward 3, motioned at the last meeting to table a decision regarding Zoning Text Amendment No. 158, which would amend a section of the City of Midland Zoning Ordinance to include restrictions on temporary signs. Temporary signs include feather signs and banners. Most of the current sign standards were applied in this ordinance, which also includes a permit restriction. Business owners can apply for a permit no more than four times a year, with each permit lasting 30 days. Arnosky had asked for clarification on the language of the zoning amendment and motioned to table the decision until the next city council meeting, which passed 4-0. Residents and business owners will have the opportunity to speak in favor or opposition of the zoning amendment. CITY-RELATED RESOLUTIONS Brad Kaye, assistant city manager of development services, will present two reports for consideration of the city council Monday. The first is the City of Midland Capital Improvement Plan, a 31-page report that is used to detail needs and funding sources for municipal capital projects, according to agenda information. It includes facilities, information technology systems, street lighting and large equipment. A first draft of the plan was presented to the Planning Commission in March 2015, and was later edited to include other capital projects that may be considered by the city in the future and information from City Engineering. City staff was assisted by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Redevelopment Ready Communities program. If approved by the city council, the Capital Improvement Plan would become city policy and help shape future capital projects. It would be renewed and adopted annually by the planning commission and the city council. The city council will also consider the City of Midland Public Participation Plan, an 11-page report that is required for certification as a Redevelopment Ready Community. It includes information and methods of public participation used by the City of Midland. It was first presented to the planning commission in November 2015, and was subsequently edited and presented again this month at the regular meeting. A public hearing is not required to adopt the Public Participation Plan. NEW ADDITION FOR CENTRAL PARK Karen Murphy, director of public services, will present information about a new pavilion to be installed in Central Park. The project has grown from the original $15,000 set aside for a small park pavilion, and will now utilize grants from multiple foundations to create an Alden B. Dow-inspired structure. The design has been selected by the Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundation, and includes grants from three philanthropic groups: $58,400 from the Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundation; $45,000 from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation; and $10,000 from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation. The project total is $113,400, with funds being held at the Midland Area Community Foundation. The project is expected to be complete this fall. The regular meeting of the Midland City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth St. The agenda can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/29ZvJQU. EDITORS NOTE OWI means operating while intoxicated. DWLS means driving while license suspended. (MC) is for Judge Michael D. Carpenter. (L) is for Magistrate Gerald Ladwig. (SC) is for Circuit Judge Stephen P. Carras. Sentences may vary based on previous offenses committed by the defendant. Some sentencings include other fees imposed by the state. Beaverton Phillip Anthony Arnold, 51, attempted obstructing police on March 31, one year in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $775 fines and costs, one year probation, not to be involved in any assaultive, threatening, intimidating, violent, aggressive, disorderly or abusive behavior toward any person, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed, sentence delay granted (MC). Dawn Mildred-Irene Willford, 23, third-degree retail fraud on Jan. 27, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $500 fines and costs, $13.90 restitution, 18 months probation (MC). Clare Timothy Jerry Britton, 33, impaired driving on March 12, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $775 fines and costs, three months probation, attend substance abuse program, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Coleman Colton Brian Morley, 20, OWI on Feb. 27, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $600 fines and costs, nine months probation, attend substance abuse program and Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Freeland Jacob Gerard Schwind, 21, allowing DWLS and no proof of insurance on May 3, $460 fines and costs (MC). Gladwin Zachary Mathew Schulz, 24, allowing DWLS on May 28, $250 fines and costs (L). Merrill Steven Robert Rohn, 49, disturbing the peace on May 25, $200 fines and costs (MC). Midland William Lewis Blimka, 32, Shaffer Road, second-offense DWLS on May 30, five days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $500 fines and costs, to submit 10 employment applications weekly until employed full time (MC). Joseph Korah Clingan, 53, Waldo Avenue, drunk and disorderly person on Aug. 25, $100 fines and costs (SC). Jacob Thomas Compton, 21, Boston Street, driving without insurance and DWLS on May 6, $700 fines and costs (MC). Chad Gerald Dehring, 40, Eastlawn Drive, DWLS on May 28, six days in jail with credit for time served (MC). Aaron David Dornbos, 23, Walter Court, OWI on Jan. 23, 93 days in jail with credit for one day, $975 fines and costs, six months probation, attend substance abuse program and Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Jessy Jo Frederickson, 24, East Ashman Street, malicious use of telephone on April 5, 35 days in jail with credit for 19 days (MC). Colin Sinclair Hufford, 26, Rosemary Court, allowing DWLS on June 4, $500 fines and costs (MC). Cody James King, 22, Monteray Drive, allowing DWLS on May 22, $350 fines and costs (L). Kyle Joseph Kronsberg, 19, North McCann Drive, domestic violence on March 11, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for three days, $975 fines and costs, one year probation, attend substance abuse program and Anger Management, not to be involved in any assaultive, threatening, intimidating, violent, aggressive, disorderly or abusive behavior toward any person, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Michael A. Lauer, 52, East Joshua Tree Lane, impaired driving on Dec. 6, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $775 fines and costs, three months probation, attend substance abuse program, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Adam Daniel Saead, 20, Rockwell Drive, fail to report accident on Feb. 15, $125 fines and costs (MC). Vincent Lee David Shannon, 25, East Cunningham Drive, no proof of insurance on June 13, $210 fine (L). Julie Ann Spurr, 49, Grandview Circle, driving with a high blood alcohol content on March 10, 180 days in jail with credit for three days, $975 fines and costs, one year probation, attend Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars (MC). Blake Robert Weakman, 27, Alpine Way, impaired driving on March 6, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for two days, $775 fines and costs, six months probation, attend substance abuse program, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars (MC). Saginaw Jasmine Ann-Marie Botello, 28, no proof of insurance on May 17, $210 fine (MC). Merritt Allen Kochan, 38, impaired driving on Feb. 13, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $775 fines and costs, six months probation, attend Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed, to be monitored by an alcohol tether for six months (MC). Demarcus Travon McNeal, 22, no proof of insurance and texting while driving on May 19, $450 fine (MC). Dejuan Ramon Nutt, 25, allowing DWLS on June 8, $250 fines and costs (L). Joseph Meadows Powell, 59, OWI on March 3, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for two days, $400 fines and costs, nine months probation, attend substance abuse program and Impact Weekend, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars (MC). Sanford Matthew Brian Miller, 22, driving without insurance on May 21, three days in jail with credit for one day (MC). John Wayne Slater, 46, disorderly person on Nov. 26, 90 days in jail with all but five days held in abeyance and credit for one day, $700 fines and costs, one year probation, no contact with the victim, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Shepherd Jurnee Lynn Atkinson, 21, no license on person on May 1, $100 fines and costs (MC). Jonathan Edward Porter, 20, no license on person on June 15, $200 fines and costs (L). Elsewhere James Edwin Arnett, 48, homeless, drunk and disorderly on July 10, 30 days in jail with credit for two days (MC). Russell William Burgdorf, 29, Lake Odessa, allowing DWLS on April 8, $500 fines and costs (MC). Harold Armstead Johnson III, 31, Flint, second-offense DWLS on Dec. 26, four days in jail with credit for time served, $475 fines and costs (MC). Jonathan Jerrod Kinchen, 23, Midland County Jail, assault and battery on May 23, 93 days in jail with credit for 45 days (MC). Heather Marie Wright, 25, Blanchard, allowing DWLS on June 8, one weekend in jail, $200 fines and costs (L). During a recent interview conducted just outside the GOPs ignominious convention in Cleveland, Michigans current Republican Attorney General, Midlands very own On Duty Bill Schuette, asserted that during the lost decade people voted with their feet. http://goo.gl/x6V2BU Michigans top cop was in Ohio to throw his conservative support behind the GOPs bombastic orange presidential bigot, Donald Trump. The career politician felt it necessary to gave veteran political reporter Chad Livengood a short history lesson for the benefit of those naive Detroit News readers and Pure Michigan residents who arent smart enough to understand what he meant. Once upon a time, Schuette explained, we had 19 members of Congress. Now we got 14. After the next census, there are going to be 13, right? Now what does that tell you? It means that people have voted with their feet. Theyve gone to states with greater opportunity. Michigans aspiring Almost Governor never actually explained what the significance of the term lost decade was for those dim-witted voters and undereducated families silly enough to still be living in the Comeback State. Perhaps he believed were all too slow to understand exactly what kinds of economic incentives and middle class perks those states with greater opportunity have used to attract and retain disenfranchised voters in the last 10 years rewarding jobs and bigger paychecks. A decade of verifiable statistics shows that not only has the unemployment rate dropped in Pure Michigan, but so have average household incomes and the related health, welfare and pension benefits that use to come with them. Michiganders have Gary Glenn, Midlands Freshman Legislator of the Year, to thank for that fact. Glenn, youll recall, is the former Mackinac Center for Public Policy analyst who co-authored Michigans hastily passed Right-to-Work for less law in 2011. Are you astute enough to recollect why Republican lawmakers like Midlands very conservative career politicians Jim Stamas and John Moolenaar had to vote on Glenns signature legislation behind locked doors that were protected by heavily armed guards? Did you ever wonder why the GOP law was referendum-proofed by the party in power? Or why Gov. Rick Snyder found it necessary to call hundreds of taxpayer-paid riot police to the peoples house in Lansing on that cold, calculating December day five years ago? Thanks to fiscally con servative Republican lawmakers, more middle-class Michiganders are now overtaxed and underemployed than anytime during the last decade. During the six-minute interview, @SchuetteOnDuty was so busy dodging valid questions from Livengood that he never clearly explained any of what he actually said or even why he was in Cleveland. Be honest! Do you really believe all those relocated taxpayers, retirees, pensioners, soon-to-be displaced coworkers, or former next door neighbors would characterize Pure Michigan as a jobs and paychecks state like Bill Schuette contends? Or are all those poor, unfortunate middle-class feet simply just necessary collateral damage in the Comeback states current dark-money driven political process? Fortunately, Michigan voters will have an opportunity to use both their fingers and free will to plug the dike and stem the tide against further loss of self respect and family livelihood in the next few days. On July 1, the Midland Daily News reported that attorney Debra F. Wirth will run as a write-in Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representative position in Michigans 4th Congressional district in the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 2. This campaign is a grassroots effort. To be successful, it will require coordination and ongoing communication with residents in all 14 mid-Michigan counties that comprise the 4th Congressional District. With enough write-ins from concerned voters, Wirth will oppose first-term Republican Congressman John Moolenaar on the state ballot during the general election in November. Visit www.wirthforcongress.com for more information about her candidacy and platform. The most important first step is effectively motivating everyone you know to get out and vote in the primary election on August 2nd. Let your fingers and free will do the talkin in the ballot booth, not your feet. You can quickly and easily do that by sharing, emailing, or discussing this simple How-To-Vote information to your family, friends and coworkers. Be sure everyone understands theyll need to print or write in Debra Wirth under Representative in Congress (4th District) section and fill in the oval on the right to complete the arrow. Then set a reminder on your computer, watch, phone, or favorite digital device to tap them on the shoulder again on Monday, Aug. 1. Remember, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 2. Voters must have a state-approved photo ID or be willing to sign an affidavit proving theyre not trying to illegally defraud the Comeback States intentionally elongated and increasingly convoluted election process. Absentee voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return their ballot to their local clerks office. You can get download an absentee ballot application here. http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,8611,7-127-1633-21037--,00.html First-time registered voters and mobility-challenged senior citizens may need a little help understanding these important rules of engagement. Its your responsibility to teach them how to use their fingers and free will to do it right the first time. Your efforts will be Wirth it. Eric Anders is a registered voter in Michigans 4th Congressional District To the editor: We are extremely disappointed by Gov. Rick Snyders recent decision to veto a key road-funding related bill that passed unanimously in the House and Senate. This bill SB 557 would have eliminated a local cost-sharing provision for road funding for cities over 25,000 in population on Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects. As members of the Michigan Municipal Leagues Board of Trustees who also represent communities that are negatively impacted by the governors veto, we believe SB 557 would have provided much-needed revisions to the states road funding law Public Act 51. The League and the bills sponsor, Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, worked extremely hard to convince the Legislature that fixing this provision within Act 51 was vitally important to the impacted communities the 45 Michigan cities with populations over 25,000. The Legislature agreed this change was needed and Republicans and Democrats in both chambers came together to pass it unanimously. We thank Sen. Knollenberg for his leadership and the Legislature for its support on this issue. But to then have the governor veto this bi-partisan legislation is baffling and an outrage. At a time when our communities cant even afford to maintain their own roads, the governor has continued the broken model of forcing communities to shoulder the burden of archaic state policy established more than six decades ago. Public Act 51 currently requires the 45 cities in Michigan with a population greater than 25,000 to pay a portion of the Michigan Department of Transportations project costs within those cities. Not a single county road agency, or cities and villages with a population less than 25,000, face that same requirement. This creates more inequity and a lack of fairness in the system. SB 557 would have removed this provision impacting these 45 cities. This would ensure that money intended to preserve local roads is invested back into those local road networks and restores equity amongst all local road agencies. In this veto letter, the governor mischaracterizes the negative impact of SB 557 and calls on the Legislature to enact a comprehensive rewrite of Act 51 by the end of the year. The governor has since called on the Legislature to work with his administration over the summer on the issue. While we support revising the formula, a full rewrite by the end of the year is very unlikely. So while more time and effort is dedicated to studying this issue, our communities will continue to suffer financially. As an example, look at Madison Heights, population 29,694. Without legislation like SB 557, the impact on a city like Madison Heights will be devastating. That community faces a $4 million bill from MDOT for their local cost share on the I-75 expansion project. This bill basically eliminates the equivalent of two years of the citys current Act 51 funding allocation, and severely limits the amount of work that can be done on Madison Heights local roads. Without SB 557, major inequities remain. While these 45 cities are required to financially contribute local road money to projects on roads owned by MDOT and not under their jurisdiction, their neighboring community or county road commission, which has the same road with the same general context, does not have to contribute to the cost of the project. Our cities are struggling after years of state cuts to revenue sharing and declines in property taxes. We seek immediate fixes, even incremental ones like SB 557 provided. We know our roads are crumbling and our infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. As a result we struggle to compete for jobs and lack the quality of life our people desire. The only certainty this veto provides is that 45 cities across Michigan will continue to pay the states tab to the detriment of local roads. We seek solutions like SB 557 and more partners like Sen. Knollenberg. Jack OReilly, Mayor of Dearborn, President of the Michigan Municipal League Rosalynn Bliss, Mayor of Grand Rapids, Vice President of the League Rebecca Fleury, Battle Creek City Manager, League Board Trustee Bobby Hopewell, Mayor of Kalamazoo, League Board Trustee Maureen Donker, Mayor of Midland, League Board Trustee Dan Greer, Jackson City Councilmember, League Board Trustee Mark Vanderpool, Sterling Heights City Manager, League Board Trustee Here are the delegates representing Wisconsin at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week. There are two types of delegates: pledged delegates who are bound to support a candidate in accordance with voting in the states primary, and superdelegates elected officials and party leaders who may support the presidential candidate of their choice. All superdelegates have announced the candidate they are supporting. For five generations, my family has been proud to raise corn and soybeans in Central Illinois. Protecting and growing the market for my crops is critical to my bottom line and that helps ensure sixth and subsequent generations of the Reed family can be farmers, too, if they choose. Ninety-five percent of the worlds consumers live outside our borders. The future of my own family farm, and American agriculture itself, will depend on trade. The Trans-Pacific Partnership presents a huge opportunity for farmers, as well as small business owners, our communities, and consumers throughout Illinois. TPP is a trade agreement between the United States and 11 countries along the Pacific Rim, which represent 40 percent of the worlds economy. Illinois already exports $46.2 billion in goods and services to TPP countries, supporting nearly 650,000 jobs. TPP will help us do even more. With TPP, U.S. agriculture exports will grow significantly, particularly for pork and beef. Thats important not just to livestock producers, but also to us as corn farmers, because 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop goes to livestock feed. More exports mean more farm income, more economic activity, and more job growth. But TPP isnt just about what the United States will gain; its also about what we will lose, and in fact are already losing, without it. Our competitors have negotiated regional and bilateral trade agreements that leave American farmers and ranchers on the sidelines. Take, for instance, a new free trade agreement between Japan and Australia. USDA projects that this deal will cost the United States $105 million in beef exports annually. Without TPP, we can expect more agreements like these in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout the world. BLOOMINGTON After three Pantagraph-area men traveled to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland and saw Donald Trump become the party's nominee for president, two local woman will help Democrats fete his opponent. Bloomington resident Patsy Henderson-Bowles and former Illinois State University student Ellen Ross will be delegates for Illinois' 18th Congressional District to the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia. They'll vote on several measures, including the nomination of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Bowles is a Clinton delegate; Ross supports Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who dropped out of the race in June. Also in Philadelphia will be 10 Illinois State University students led by political science professor Erik Rankin, who also is a Democratic member of the McLean County Board. Their visit follows a similar one led by professor Thomas McClure, a Republican, who headed a student group at the GOP convention last week. Both trips are part of a special college class. Bowles, a longtime supporter and personal friend of Clinton, said it will be a special moment for us, if it works out, to see our friend at such a historic time, referring to Clinton being the first female presidential nominee from a major party. Bowles said she's sympathetic to Sanders supporters who haven't decided to support Clinton because of her experience in 2008, when she was a Clinton delegate to the convention where then-Sen. Barack Obama was nominated. That was a tough thing, but we soldiered ahead, and everything came out OK, Bowles said. Ross said she looks forward to voting for Sanders on the convention floor, but its very important to hear him talk about party unity because of how ugly this election has been on both sides of the aisle." Im sure everyone will be talking about the importance of unification and coming together as a party, agreed Bowles. Ross said she's also looking forward to speeches from the president and First Lady Michelle Obama. "I can remember in Denver in 2008 it was very uplifting to hear all the speakers," Bowles said. Bowles and Ross both said they're also looking forward to attending caucus meetings, where groups like the Congressional Black Caucus and National Council on Disability host discussions near the convention. We are just inundated with different people having different get-togethers and parties and events, Bowles said. Its a pretty packed week. Both said they're aware of the tight security at the convention. Bowles is flying to Philadelphia; Ross will drive with her sister and a friend. "I'm a little concerned about all the crazy things happening in the world, but thats not stopping me, Ross said. One of the students at the convention, Caroline Kernan, an ISU senior political science and history major, said she relishes a chance to "learn more about the party and what they hope to achieve" at the convention. Kernan said her class reading, which covered the 1968 Democratic and Republican conventions in Chicago and Miami, respectively, showed "the 60s was a tumultuous time with a lot of violence going on." She hopes nothing similar happens this week. "A lot will be about Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter this year," she said, referring to movements drawing attention to violence against African Americans and against police. "Race has been playing a big role, in 1968 and now," she noted. While Kernan voted for Sanders in the primary, she said she's not hung up on seeing him speak at the convention. "I don't know where I'll be, so I don't know who I'll get to see (speak)," she said. "I won't be disappointed if I don't get to see a certain speaker." Kernan plans to fly to Philadelphia. Staying at Temple University helped make the trip affordable because the students are paying for most of the trip themselves; ISU is paying for students' on-site transportation and Rankin's salary to teach. Kicked to the streets at 15, she's never known a stable home. To survive, Brittany Carter stole food and clothing, slept at friends' houses, alone in parks, and quit school. Sometimes, she loses hope and drinks to escape but has avoided drug addiction and sex trafficking. She stole a car and got caught and has spent two long stints in Dane County Jail. Somehow, at 19, she remains sweet, quick to laugh, with a desire to help others. "I carry a lot of burdens and still make people smile," she said. Carter was last jailed from October 2015 through late April. No family or friends visited, leaving her alone with inmates and guards on her 19th birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In truth, she wanted to stay there until she could leave to stability and a chance to turn her life around. In late April, she got an opportunity, moving to transitional housing for young adults run by Briarpatch Youth Services. "Jail was my most safe place I had. I didn't have to worry about where I'd go that night to sleep," she said at the time. "This time around, I want to do everything right." Then, like many youth with a history of homelessness, came more chaos and uncertainty. 'There was always gunshots' The youngest and only girl among three siblings, Carter's parents split and she lived with her dad on Chicago's south side. "My dad was always on the streets," she said. "It was dangerous out there. There was always gunshots, people breaking into cars. Things like that." At 9, she moved in with her mother, her mother's girlfriend and daughter, bouncing around the city's suburbs for two years. The families followed friends to Madison, again doubling up and moving. School officials found abuse in the home and Carter and her brothers were placed in foster care. At 13, she was returned to her mother. In her early teens, Carter was kicked out multiple times at all times of the night, would stay with friends and return. "She called me so many harsh names and told me over a million times I would never be anything in life," she said. Finally, the mother told her 15-year-old to leave without a chance to pack her bags, and Carter's dysfunctional life became desperate. "I'd go to Copps and steal food. Wal-Mart. Woodman's. I had some jobs. It was hard for me to keep a job due to transportation." For clothing, she'd go to the mall, try on outfits and take them. Being homeless "made me more like a cutthroat," she said. "It made me feel I had to do bad things in order to survive. It broke me down." In May 2014, at age 17, she stole a car, thinking she'd sell it to a chop shop. By then, she'd made such criminal street contacts. Police were alerted. Carter ditched the vehicle and hid for more than a week before turning herself in. "I didn't have anyplace to go," she said. Carter had no previous criminal record but still spent months in jail awaiting completion of her case because her mother refused to sign a signature bond. She got three years probation. "It was more lonely than anything," she said. 'Keep me in jail' After release, Carter stayed with a boyfriend and his mother, but they moved away and she was again homeless, often sleeping in parks. She contacted her dad, then living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and left to be with him, breaking probation. When she arrived, she was snubbed at first and left homeless again but got jobs and moved in with her father and his girlfriend. In three months, the girlfriend threw her out. On the street, she was stopped by police, who found a warrant. She was returned to Madison and jailed. The first time behind bars, Carter was eager to leave. But not this time. "I said, keep me in jail until I have someplace to go," she said. "She didn't like rules. But it's how you survive on the street," said Tina Geier, a Madison schools teacher at the jail. But "she's got a beautiful sense of humor and she's kind to a fault. She still looks to help other people, sometimes at her own expense. I think it's amazing given the road she's taken to this point." Before release, Carter wrote the judge, apologizing, explaining her life and expressing gratitude to supporters. She said she wanted therapy, a diploma, positive friends and a stable home. She wanted to get a nursing assistant license and share her story with at-risk youth. On May 6, days after moving to transitional housing, Carter seemed content. "It feels comfortable," she said, a homemade card from an inmate friend on her bedroom wall and stack of adult coloring books that ease stress near her bed. "It feels stable." She resumed school and got a job. There were high points, like a playful Friday night when she and Geier cooked a chicken dinner for a gathering at the house. But two months later, upheaval. Briarpatch changed management and imposed new rules, which Carter resisted. She missed classes. A bus pass expired and she lost her job. Tenants left or were evicted. On July 1, unable to pay $200 rent and in violation of her agreement, she was asked to leave. "It's tragic and it's all too common," said Tyler Schueffner, Briarpatch's coordinator of street outreach and transitional programs, explaining Carter passed a tipping point between compassion and accountability. "It sucks. It just sucks." "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8 will mark the 100th episode of the series that was helmed by actress Angie Harmon, who famously play the role of Detective Jane Rizzoli. But in the upcoming episode Jane's life will be put at risk as she tries to find the suspect of a brutal murder inside a penal institution. Prior to "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8, the previous episode showed Jane's trip to Quantico, where she was tasked to give a lecture. During her teaching gig in Quantico, Jane's patience was tested as a bad-tempered student mocked her with sexist commentaries. But aside from giving a lecture, her trip to Quantico also turned into an investigation. Jane Goes Undercover In Prison In 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 7 Episode 8 In "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8 titled, "2M7258-100," however, Jane will experience life behind bars as she goes undercover to find a murder suspect. The upcoming episode was reportedly writer by showrunner Jan Nash. "In the series' 100th episode, Jane goes undercover in a county jail to draw out the killer of a brutal murder," "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8 official synopsis read, CarterMatt quotes. 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 7 Episode 8 Guest Star Since "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8 marks the 100th episode milestone for the hit TNT crime series, "Cagney & Lacey" alum and Emmy Award-winning actress Sharon Glesss will be making a guest appearance. According to Ecumenical News, Gless agreed to be part of the show's 100th episode after Harmon personally asked invited her to be the episode's guest star during their accidental meeting at a restaurant in Los Angeles. "[Gless' character is] in for a lesser crime and she tries to befriend Jane, and she looks out for Jane," Harmon told TV Guide of Gless' character. "Jane kind of brushes her off at first because she's in there with a job to do... But she does sort of change Jane's life." Angela Worried For Jane's Life As She Goes Undercover In 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 7 Episode 8 Due to Jane's undercover mission in "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8, her mom Angela was reportedly worried over her safety. Frankie (Jordan Bridges) also told his sister Jane that someone might try to kill her in prison but Maura (Sasha Alexander) told them to trust Jane as she's capable of protecting herself while in jail, Design & Trend reported. Meanwhile, "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8 is scheduled to premiere on Monday, July 25, at 9 p.m. on TNT. For the episode's trailer, watch it below. Are you excited to watch "Rizzoli & Isles" season 7 episode 8? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. On Wednesday Patently Apple posted a report titled "Chinese Nationalists Smash iPhones over the UN's Dispute over Developments in the South China Sea." Photos circulated online showin Chinese youth wearing scarves with patriotic slogans smashing Apple iPhones in protests spurred on by government accusations that Washington encouraged Manila to oppose Beijing's claims to vast tracts of ocean. While the mainstream media tried to play up the protests in China this week, most paid no attention to the misplaced anger of the dispute over development in the South China Sea. Reuters headline last night titled "Apple weathers anti-U.S. demo in China, where patriotic protests snowball," played up the short-lived protests by stringing together other minor brushes with the Chinese government of late insinuating that Apple's drop in sales may indicate a troubling trend, whereas the slump in smartphone sales has affected the entire industry. In a country with a population of 1.382 billion, Reuters points out that "over 100 protesters picketed four unofficial Apple dealers in Suining in the eastern province of Jiangsu for about three hours, urging customers not to buy the genuine Apple goods on sale. For the sake of argument that's 25 people protesting Apple outside of four non-Apple stores. Reuters reported that the protesters chanted "boycott American products and kick iPhones out of China." A few photos showed up on the Chinese social media site Weibo showing smashed iPhones like the one presented in our cover graphic. For all we know the anemic protest could have been partly staged by Apple competitors. But in general, the public weren't buying into the nationalistic rants. In fact, Reuters noted in their report that one young Chinese woman on Weibo who wrote that she had smashed her iPhone and accompanied her comment with a photo of the damaged handset, later admitted that she had lied. The report also quoted Shan Mimi, a 23-year-old assistant at a Shanghai law firm stating that "It's cheap nationalism and outright stupidity. But if you were to offer me an (upcoming) iPhone 7, then I would gladly smash my iPhone 6!" Mimi's great sense of humor helps us to put this week's protests into better perspective. Most Apple fans in China and around the world are more focused on Apple's next generation iPhone than news of international politics or a speed bump in annual sales that the press will, no doubt, play up next week when Apple announces their financials. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Patna: Just days after Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian Daya Shankar Singh was suspended from the party for calling former UP Chief Minister Mayawati a 'prostitute', another saffron leader was kicked out of the party on Sunday after an FIR was filed against him for attempting to molest a 12-year old girl in a running train. Tunnaji Pandey, a BJP legislator from Siwan with a long criminal record, was taken into custody at Hajipur railway station after the parents of a 12-year old girl told the police that Pandey tried to molest their daughter as she slept in an adjacent berth. The alleged incident occurred in Howrah-Gorakhpur Purvanchal Express. According to the police report, Pandey, who was traveling from Howrah to Hajipur, woke up early Sunday morning and started to grope the girl who was fast asleep on her designated berth. She woke up and screamed after which the parents called the security guards in the train and filed a complaint. The report further said that the BJP legislator also tried to lure the girl into the bathroom with the intent to molest her. Party state Vice President Sanjay Mayukh said that Pandey was suspended from the party effective immediately and an explanation was being sought from him about the whole sordid incident. Hajipur railway official Sanjay Singh said police were investigating the case. It may be recalled that Pandey, a liquor baron in the Eastern Uttar Pradesh, had lodged a case against the then Saran DIG Alok Kumar of demanding Rs. 10 crore from him for giving him permit to open liquor outlets in Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj. After an internal investigation, the DIG was suspended on charges of corruption and intimidating Pandey of dire consequences if he failed to pay up the extortion demand. Also see: Former Patna SSP Alok Kumar Facing Extortion Charges Saran DIG Alok Kumar Moved to Police HQ in Patna Former Patna SSP Alok Kumar Suspended News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. They are young. Alone. Vulnerable. Exploited. Every night, perhaps 300 "unaccompanied" teens and young adults in Dane County couch-surf, stay with unsafe people, or sleep in cars or outside, social service providers say. There are many causes. Their folks abuse alcohol or drugs. They flee child abuse or neglect. They can't communicate with parents or refuse rules. They're exiting foster care. They identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, which can mean rejection by family members. Dayton Hannon, 19, born in Chicago, saw his single mother and five siblings struggle throughout his life. They moved to Madison, Chicago and Indiana, and Madison again last November the family arriving homeless. They got an apartment but had problems with neighbors and to avoid getting evicted his family left and returned to Illinois. But Hannon, put out by his mother in the past, didn't want to go back to Chicago due to negative influences there. He became homeless this summer, sleeping in the basement, hallways and outside an apartment building. "It was terrible," he said. "I was alone, basically. I cried sometimes." Alone on the streets, some youth get assaulted and abuse alcohol and drugs fueling addictions that drive crime and develop mental health problems. Some engage in "survival sex," trading their bodies for food, clothing, drugs, money or a place to stay. An increasing number become ensnared in human trafficking. Their welfare often depends on who gets to them first: drug dealers and pimps, or school staff and contacts like Tyler Schueffner, who coordinates street outreach and transitional housing for nonprofit Briarpatch Youth Services. Many homeless youth show up Downtown. "We tend to see more unaccompanied youth in summer months," Madison Police Central District Capt. Carl Gloede said. "When they're out of school, there's a void of structure." Gloede estimates his officers regularly encounter about a dozen homeless youth on State Street, but he believes far more are hidden. "If you see 12, there are probably 10 times as many you don't see," he said. "I have no misconception that the numbers are out there." The district's neighborhood officers try to be preventative and proactive, Gloede said, stressing that homeless youth are not always in trouble. The danger, he said, is that youth mix with adults who drink, take drugs and sell sex. Increase in schools Area schools see a slowly growing number of children trying to make it with no parent or guardian engaged in their lives, data show. In the Madison schools, unaccompanied youth doubled from 52 in the 2009-10 school year to 104 in 2015-16, said Amy Noble, a social worker in charge of services for homeless students in middle and high schools. These students, she said, go through normal rites of adolescence separating and becoming independent but prematurely, and sometimes with developmental disabilities. To find a place to sleep, they engage people at malls, are the last to leave a party, stay with friends "all sorts of things," Noble said. "One kid was sleeping at a Denny's," she said. "Staff let him stay." "They definitely trade access to their bodies for places to stay," she said. "It doesn't stick out to them the way it does to us. It's part of the fabric of what you do." Still, many graduate and some pursue higher education. Individual challenges are immense, but the number of unaccompanied youth is modest, making the problem solvable with attention and resources, Noble said. "One hundred is not impossible," she said. 'A generational cycle' Desperate, youth seek critical services from agencies including Operation Fresh Start, which helps with high school diplomas, job skills and employment, and Briarpatch, which offers an array of services from street outreach to shelter and housing. In 2015, Briarpatch made 9,715 client contacts, not all homeless, including 1,501 youth and 1,064 adults the agency hasn't seen before. "We see a generational cycle of homelessness," said Schueffner of Briarpatch. "We see a lot of kids at a very young age and they now return to us as adults. I met this kid when he was 10 years old. Now they're turning 18 and they don't have any options." After a hard life, teen wants to avoid homelessness, jail Brittany Carter, homeless since age 15, wants a stable place to call home and a new start on life, but she's still struggling to fulfill her dreams. Briarpatch opened the county's only youth shelter with eight beds in October 2015, and 39 teens ages 13 to 17 have taken refuge there, said Jeanne Schneider, clinical supervisor and shelter manager. Of those, 26 were female, 23 black, and just over half younger than 15, she said. The agency's transitional housing opened about a year earlier in a nondescript two-story house on the North Side. It has beds for eight tenants and a house manager. Hannon connected with Operation Fresh Start and is now pursuing a high school diploma and working with a crew restoring a historic home at Silverwood County Park in Edgerton. A counselor at Middleton High School helped him secure an apartment through mid-August, and he's seeking to join transitional housing with Briarpatch. "I'm really hoping it will work out or I'll be homeless and go back to Chicago and that's not what I want to do," he said. He'd like to finish his schooling and get a job in the construction trades. Ron Burford, 28, is the live-in manager at the Briarpatch house, a clean, spacious haven. As a youth growing up in Chicago, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Burford's family lived in and lost housing, doubled up and stayed in cars as well as seedy motels infested with drug dealers and users. In 2013, his sister's boyfriend was murdered in an apartment were he was living on Fish Hatchery Road. For the next year, he lived doubled up or in motels. "We had to fill grown-up roles at younger ages," he said. "I never had a stable group of friends. I didn't stay at the same school." Leaning on his Christian faith, he persevered and is now employed at the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County and brings his life experience to his role at Briarpatch, an understanding that youth are often homeless due to "other people and their craziness." "It's a blessing to me," he said of his first stable home since 2013. "It gives me a place to stay. It's helping me build a rental history. I'm part of something that's giving." Foster care, then what? While not counted as homeless, about 250 children live in foster care on any given day in Dane County, and about 20 to 25 age out of those homes each year, often with limited options and potential for homelessness, said Marykay Wills of Dane County Department of Human Services. Beyond foster care, county data from May also showed about 300 youth staying with relatives who get financial support for their care, and about 75 more in group homes and substance abuse or correctional programs. The county, Wills said, needs more foster families for teens, and when youth age out of foster homes, they need safe, caring adults for ongoing support and guidance. "Many young adults who have aged out of care are not ready to live independently," she said. "They need a time of transition before being fully out on their own." The state delivered grants to the county and two other communities to test supervised independent living programs, called PATHS, for those ages 17 to 21, and Dane County has housed 17 young adults in scattered locations, Wills said. But the program is now serving its last few young adults and will end in November. What's needed, Wills said, is structured transitional housing, preferably something that doesn't feel like part of "the system." The attempted suicide of a 15-year-old girl in Riverside Countys psychiatric emergency room this spring shone a spotlight on the overstretched county behavioral health system. In that, Riverside County is not alone. Counties throughout the state need more funding to care for the mentally ill. But in a meeting with top county mental health officials Monday, I learned that the crisis is worse in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, because they receive less funding per capita than other regions of California. Sound familiar? Once again, Inland Southern California is being shortchanged. Ive written repeatedly about the shortage of judges in the two counties, where court caseloads are far higher than in other parts of the state. But this was the first I had heard that the mental health system gets short shrift, too. The reason for the shortfall is the same: State funding formulas were set decades ago, before the Inland counties experienced explosive population growth. The formulas havent been adjusted sufficiently for the greater number of residents. The inequity frustrates area leaders. Inland taxpayers are contributing the same share of their income and sales taxes as other Californians, said John Benoit, Riverside County supervisor and former state legislator. But theyre getting less in return. We just get second shift on a whole lot of things, Benoit said, wondering aloud if its a coastal vs. inland battle, Democrat vs. Republican or something else. Its becoming so misaligned, he said, Ive got to believe logic and common sense will override politics. How did things get in this sad shape? In 1991, the state shifted the responsibility for mental health care to the counties. It was called realignment. (That word resurfaced recently when the state pushed many prisoners out of the state system into county jails.) As usual with such shifts, its cause was a recession that pinched the states budget, said Sen. Richard Roth, D-Riverside. It was meant to stabilize mental health funding, and it sort of worked, Roth said. But the funding formula was based on 1991 caseloads, when Riverside County had 1.1 million residents. It now has more than 2.2 million. There was an effort to help under-equity counties, Roth said, by giving them a portion of increased state revenue. But the amount never made up for what they were missing. Riverside County finds itself in crisis mode, with fewer than nine beds per 100,000 population. The state average is 17.4 beds. The recommended number is 50, said Kim Trone, spokeswoman for Riverside Countys medical center, which includes the psychiatric unit. San Bernardino County has fared a little better, with 18.2 beds per 100,000 population. How did it do that? Private, nonprofit Loma Linda University Health fills the gap, Riverside County officials told us. Benoit said county supervisors are trying to address the funding disparity, including it in their legislative platform year after year. On a May trip to Sacramento, Benoit and Supervisor Marion Ashley spoke to the Inland Empire legislative caucus. Frankly, both Democrats and Republicans are 100 percent understanding and empathetic, Benoit said. Getting that translated into something in the budget to fix it is another thing. He pointed out that Roth has tried to address the shortage of judges, only to have Gov. Jerry Brown veto it. Well continue to carry it in our legislative program, and continue to lobby for it at every opportunity, even though it feels like youre banging your head against the wall, Benoit said. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors also has funding equity in its legislative platform, said Scott Vanhorne, spokesman for Supervisor Janice Rutherford. The 1991 mental health realignment actually had benefits for counties, Vanhorne said, enabling them to control where mental health dollars are spent. For example, Rutherford on Thursday announced a new, early intervention program to keep people out of the crises that land them in emergency rooms. Weve definitely done a lot with the limited funding we have, Vanhorne said. State Sen. John Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa, carried a bill to give counties more flexibility in how they spend mental health funds. It won bipartisan support, inspiring the Department of Health Care Services to clarify rules giving counties flexibility, even without the legislation. Moorlach was an Orange County supervisor when a mentally ill homeless man, Kelly Thomas, died after an encounter with Fullerton police five years ago. It inspired him to work on making treatment alternatives available for those needing mental health care. He said no one has ever brought the disparity in funding for the Inland counties to his attention, adding that he would gladly work with Roth or state Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, to get the inequity address. At the beginning of the next legislative session, Roth said he plans to work with county officials to figure out what the appropriate fix is. I am committed to work on this issue, because there is a mental health crisis in this state, he said. With bipartisan support like this for fixing the issue, perhaps theres hope. Otherwise, Inland advocates will keep feeling like theyre beating their heads against a wall. Contact the writer: 951-368-9470 or cmacduff@pressenterprise.com About 1600 Southern California Edison customers in San Jacinto and Hemet were left without power midday Saturday, July 23, after an object flew into a power line and caused an outage, an official said. Southern California Edison spokesman David Song said the outage started shortly before noon when the object, possibly a large box, flew into a power line on San Jacinto Avenue south of Midway Street in San Jacinto. Workers were sent to the area to reroute power and do repairs. Power was restored to all but 10 customers by about 1 p.m, Song said. Those 10 customers who were still without power were located closest to the power line that was affected, Song said. He said power was expected to come back on for those customers by about 8:30 p.m. Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@pressenterprise.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter. It was all about not forgetting. On Saturday night, July 23, cars on the dirt track carried the names of the 14 people killed Dec. 2 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. This was terrorism hitting way too close to home, said Bob Patison, president of Corona-based Lucas Oil, prior to the official start of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at Glen Helen. We want to help in some way with the recovery, said Patison, who later that evening presented San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis with a $5,000 check to be placed in a special SB Strong account set up for the attacks survivors. The event was also for the first-responders to the terror attack who are the definition of true heroes, Patison said. The tragedy would have been far worse without the first-responders, Patison said from the stage. There is a lot of crazy stuff going on in this world that is not right. We have policemen being shot, being ambushed, and that is just flat out wrong, he said, during the formal presentation. We owe these first-responders a great deal of gratitude and respect. The survivors and family members of those killed or wounded in the Dec. 2 attack asked not to be identified, Patison said. But we welcome you, he said. Patison hoped the event would put a smile on some faces. But the smiles still come amid difficult memories. Im glad to be here. This is a nice event, said Tracie Thompson, 49, who was shot in the right leg during the terror attack. She cut short the interview, saying she still is emotional about what happened. It is good to be here with some of my co-workers, said the 25-year employee of the countys environmental health unit. Summer Adams, wife of Robert Adams, one of the 14 killed, brought her 2-year-old daughter to the event. She also declined to speak with a reporter, saying she did not want to spoil the event for her daughter. We must never forget and that is what this 14 for 14 is all about, Patison said from a stage in front of the tracks stadium. For Australia-born racer Sarah Burgess, who represented Juan Espinoza in the race, it is an honor to play a small part in leading to a recovery. This is a great idea, Davis said of the event. While no amount of money can recover the loss Davis said the idea of the fund is to soften the blow for families. Contact the writer: jim.steinberg@langnews.com or @JamesDSteinberg on Twitter Everything looked clear, so Dan Timmes asked someone to cover for him, descended the ladder to the lookout tower and went to get a hot dog. Then something caught his eye. Craig said Ill substitute for you, Timmes said. I went down there, didnt even get the food, looked up and there was smoke rising. Even at informal gatherings like the 80th anniversary picnic for the Red Mountain Lookout held Saturday, July 23, the volunteers who spend hours gazing over the expanse of the San Bernardino National Forest for signs of fires dont let their guards down. When you see smoke rising, we are the first line, said Timmes, a 54-year-old Aguanga resident. Its been that way for decades at the fire lookout tower on Red Mountain, where the elevation is 4,573 feet. Its part of the Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness area in the San Bernardino National Forest. Located southeast of Hemet, the panoramic view from the station atop the tower affords captivating views of Diamond Valley Lake and Lake Skinner. It takes about 45 minutes to get there from Anza using Forest Service Route 6S22, a twisting dirt road. Its best accessed with high-clearance vehicles. Upon seeing the smoke, Timmes notified his relief man, Craig Bansmer, who called dispatch. Timmes is a former lifeguard. In a way he has traded in one tower for another. I love working towers, Timmes said while laughing. No, theres not a bunch of girls in bathing suits, I know that. Then he grew serious. Our best days are obviously quiet nature days when we dont have any smoke, Timmes said. But that wasnt today. Timmes said dispatch called back to say the blaze they reported ended up burning about three or four acres before being extinguished. Pam Morey and her husband, George, are fire lookout coordinators for the Southern California Mountains Foundation. They organized Saturdays gathering, which also marked the 80th year of service of the Red Mountain Lookout. The morning brought more excitement than expected. But Pam Morey said most of those at the party were lookout volunteers, and they know the drill. All you hear is dispatch dispatching all their fire trucks, the engines, the planes, Morey said. We just call it in. I like to think were the silent part of the fire. Moyer said the volunteers staff seven towers in the San Bernardino National Forest. They all closed in the late 1970s and early 80s because of budget and smog concerns, she said, but they began to reopen in the mid-90s. The Red Mountain Lookout returned in 1999. Paul McDonnell, a 63-year-old from Temecula, is todays Red Mountain lookout leader. A former Southern California Edison lineman and supervisor, he was accustomed to working outdoors and likes to hike, fish and hunt. A neighbor thought he might enjoy the life of a lookout volunteer, but McDonnell kept putting him off. I took a day off work and we came up here and thats all it took, McDonnell said. I was hooked and I just started doing it. Standing next to McDonnell as he told the story was Eileen Phillips, a 69-year-old Moreno Valley resident who preceded him as lookout leader. Red Mountain, Phillips said. You cant get it out of your system. Contact the writer: 951-368-9682 or tsheridan@pressenterprise.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Torrential rains have affected flood prone areas of the Upper East Region. Most residents of the Upper East Region are still counting their losses, following Wednesdays torrential rains that lasted for almost ten hours. Business activities in Bolgatanga and its catchment areas, have been greatly affected. The downpour which began around 4:30 am, resulted in flooding, causing severe destruction to farmlands. A number of houses in flood prone areas were inundated. Some of the affected communities include Sawaba, Damoen, Kalbeo, Kumbangre, and Tindonsolbogo in the Talensi District. Others are Winkogo, Nyaasa, Abi-yeri, Awusyeri, Kodeema, Kori and Alab-yeri. Most communities in the Builsa and Kassena-Nankana districts were not spared, as households and farmlands were submerged in water. In an interview with Radio Ghana, the Regional NADMO Officer in charge of Operations, Paul Woomha, said zonal officers are in the field compiling data on the affected persons and households to enable the organisation attend to their plight. Source: GBC 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 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Ken Isaac Yeboah, Northern Regional Police Commander, has said vigilante groups in the Northern Region would not be tolerated or allowed to operate. He said the Police Command has noticed that these illegal vigilante groups often, associated with some political parties, and formed at various vantage points across the Region were behind many violent incidents in the region. DCOP Yeboah said this when addressing the media and various political parties in Tamale on Friday as part of the activities of the Northern Regional Security Taskforce. He said some of the groups linked to various political parties in the region include Azorka boys, Kandaha boys, Aluta boys and Ghewah boys. He these groups were not recognised by the law and all members should comport themselves and abide by the dictates of the law. DCOP Yeboah, who is also the Chairman of the Taskforce, said various political parties have also denounced such vigilante groups as illegal saying that if any of those groups or any individual commits any crime, we shall deal with the full rigors of the law. He said in November we shall witness a competitive election to be fiercely contested by all political parties and urged all stakeholders to contribute their part in ensuring a peaceful election. DCOP Yeboah expressed unhappiness with the absence of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from the taskforce meeting saying that the meeting was crucial for all stakeholders in the coming elections. He urged all political parties and aspirants contesting this years elections to remember that elections are a normal a democratic process to choose good leaders to govern the country and this should not lead to violence. He also called on the media to conduct themselves in a professional manner as we consolidate the countrys democracy saying let your professional ethics guide your conduct as you go about practicing your profession. DCOP Yeboah urged the media to verify any information before reporting adding that accuracy and objectivity must be canons that must guide the conduct of journalism. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Actor John Dumelo has hit hard on the opposition New Patriotic Party [NPP] - saying they are a bunch of hypocrites. He seems to have taken an offence in the oppositions accusation that he is secretly campaigning for the ruling National Democratic Congress [NDC] and their flagbearer, President John Dramani Mahama in a Peace Tour he is embarking on in some selected Senior High Schools across the country. NPPs National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku who think otherwise of Dumelos campaign has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately halt his activities. According to him, the actor is rather campaigning for the NDC and president Mahama in the name of peace tour he also claimed the actor is using the recently launched 'Green Book' by the NDC as testament to campaign for the President. However, John Dumelo in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show 'Ghana Montie' rubbished Sammy Awukus accusation and questioned So what is wrong if I am campaigning for the president? When their vice presidential candidate [Dr Mahamudu Bawumia] goes to the tertiary school, he talk politics and campaign for his party. What are they [NPP] talking about? I can do exactly what their running mate is doing but I wont. The NPP must stop this hypocritical attitude, he fumed. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 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 Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has told the Chinese business community that Ghana is not looking for charity but potential investors whose investments would be beneficial to the two sides. He said Ghanaian businesses were willing to partner their Chinese counterparts for their mutual benefit. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said this when he opened the Ghana-China Business Forum 2016 in Accra. The maiden forum, an initiative by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China, is to stimulate, develop and strengthen the business relations between the two countries. Besides, the forum is to provide a platform for Ghana to present her trade and investment opportunities to the Chinese business community. Vice President Amissah-Arthur assured the Chinese business community that Ghana still provides the safest and conducive environment for investments in the sub-region. He said the social and political stability that the nation had enjoyed over the years provided an anchor for economic growth. He said the economic gains that the nation had made would not have been possible without an impressive track record in democratic governance. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the social and political stability of the country had allowed investors to invest with the assurance that conditions would remain safe no matter the outcome of elections every four years. He gave the assurance that the Government would continue to ensure that Ghana stays peaceful, stable, friendly, accommodating and most well governed country in Africa. He said the aggregate trade between Ghana and China in 2015 stood at 6.6 billion dollars. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the total investment of China in Ghana that same year was 1.3billion dollars making Ghana the fourth in rank with respect to Chinese investments in Africa. He said government was particularly interested in attracting investments into the agro-industrial sector where there were considerable opportunities for job creation. He announced that government had introduced an industrial policy to encourage the growth, diversification, upgrading and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. Ms Sun Baohong, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, said China was the largest trading nation of Ghana and in 2015 China-Ghana trade volume registered 6.6 billion dollars up 18.2 per cent on year-on-year basis. She said the value of Chinas newly-signed contracts in Ghana reached 1.3 billion dollars, ranked 14th in Africa. She said since the beginning of the year, economic and trade co-operation between Ghana and China had improved significantly. Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah, the Minister of Trade and Industry, called on the Chinese investors to set up manufacturing plants in Ghana to take advantage of the large market in the sub-region. He said Ghana offered an ideal location for their businesses in terms of stability and safe environment. He noted that currently there are about 500 Chinese companies operating in Ghana with some in the trade and distribution sectors. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By age 19, the petite, blond-haired woman was homeless, a slave to heroin and becoming ensnared by a sex trafficking industry that is quietly rampant in Madison. Eventually, she would sell her body to three or four men a day, most days of the year, making lots of cash but surrendering most of it to a lover-pimp who provided food, cheap motel rooms and "protection" and, most importantly, fed her drug addiction. At 22, heroin had transformed her body to an anemic rail and she estimates she'd been with 1,500 men. "Drug dealers will take what you want most and absolutely use it against you," she told the State Journal. Her sister lived the same life. So do hundreds of other girls and young women in Madison, most of them homeless. "It happens a ton," said Madison Police Detective Maya Krajcinovic, who works on sensitive crimes. "This is the new drug of choice in Madison trafficking kids." The girls and young women, sometimes boys and men, are recruited in shopping mall food courts, outside emergency shelters for the homeless or the Dane County job center, at bus transfer stations during the school year, on Facebook, at motels where homeless mothers with young children often stay. Most people call them prostitutes. In their ads they refer to themselves euphemistically as "escorts." But police and social service workers know them simply for what the vast majority are: victims. The pimps and victims are tied to all kinds of illicit activity, Krajcinovic said. "This population is involved in most of the other crimes in Madison," she said. "It's a criminal enterprise burglary, shooting, gang activity, drugs. You wouldn't believe how much these people do in a day." In almost every case under investigation or pending before a court, "the victims lack stable housing," said John Vaudreuil, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The victims become quickly trapped, becoming a reusable "product" easier and safer to sell than drugs, Vaudreuil said. The "escorts" are advertised online, with "dates" occurring in homes, motel rooms, truck stops or vehicles in parking lots at all hours of the day, he said. "The community must understand this is not about sex, nor is it a sex crime," he said. "This is about violence and we must look at it like we view other crimes of violence. Extremely vulnerable victims are being violently forced into commercial sex. This is nothing less than modern-day slavery, and no civilized society should tolerate these crimes." 'The seedy underbelly' It's around 11 a.m. on a Monday, and a plain-clothed Krajcinovic rolls her unmarked squad car through the parking lot of a Far East Side motel. She quickly recognizes a man in a yellow shirt standing next to a vehicle, talking to the driver. He's 19, just out of jail and a suspected pimp likely making a drug deal, she said "probably crack or heroin." Krajcinovic circles around the motel and spots a young woman and a man standing by an exit. "That's a working girl," she said. As she again passes the entrance, a woman with two children in tow crosses the parking lot. The woman, Krajcinovic said, is being trafficked. "She's homeless. She does a trick or two. She doesn't feel good about it, but she's got a roof over her head" and her children. Trafficking, Krajcinovic said, is pervasive. She pulls over and uses her cellphone to call up a website called Backpage that is loaded with local ads for escorts. The ads, which cost $7, have often raunchy text and some pictures, although many are stock photos. That day by 11:30 a.m., there already are ads from 35 available local escorts. The sex occurs all over the place, even in the parking lots of the motel or nearby East Towne Mall, Krajcinovic said. "It's just like doing a drug deal." At a nearby motel where the homeless use vouchers to stay, Krajcinovic immediately identifies a pimp and "escort" with orange-tinted hair sitting on a rock wall near the driveway entrance. "She's 18 or 19," she said. Soon, a man wearing a Brewers shirt and a weathered-looking woman with red hair exit the motel. She, too, is being trafficked. A bit later, Krajcinovic drives to the mall to check on the food court, and is surprised not to see the usual contacts being made men in their 20s or older approaching young teens. "There's a ton of runaways here," she said. "They're very naive. It takes 20 minutes in a food court to be manipulated into the lifestyle. They don't even know they're being victimized." The men let the girls stay in their hotel room and give them cash, food and clothes, Krajcinovic said. Soon, they want sex for their provisions. Then, they persuade the girls to have sex with others for cash and initially let them keep the money. After a few tricks, the men demand the money. There are threats and beatings. The girls, she said, are brainwashed, trapped. "They're doing this to survive and don't know how to get out of it." On the way out of the mall, several men and a young woman pass by. The woman, Krajcinovic said, is being trafficked, and her Backpage ad was one of those she had seen on her phone an hour before. "It doesn't affect the majority of the city. People just go about their lives and don't see it," Krajcinovic said. "This is the seedy underbelly." 'A new kind of evil' The term "human trafficking" conjures images of kidnappings and a slave or sex trade somewhere else. In reality, it's everywhere, brought through fraud, force or coercion. The women, vulnerable to threats or sometimes brutal and sadistic violence, have long been seen as criminals for prostitution but are increasingly viewed as victims. "It's only been within the last six or seven years that we started to recognize this was not just prostitution," said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. Homeless youth are especially vulnerable, he said, citing a study showing that once on the street, one out of every three teens will be approached about prostitution within 48 hours. Tyler Schueffner, street outreach and transitional living coordinator for Briarpatch Youth Services, sees a big increase in Dane County, where more awareness of the trafficking issue has exposed many more cases of sexual exploitation of teens in the form of online pornography and sex trafficking. "Some of this, there's a new kind of evil, to do what they do to another human being, let alone a child," he said. Homeless youth face peril on the streets Youth can be assaulted, abuse substances, develop mental health problems, and engage in "survival sex," trading their bodies for food, clothing, drugs, money or a place to stay. "This is a business, and like any business, where there is demand there is trafficking," Vaudreuil said. "The problem occurs across the state because the product can be easily and safely transported. A pimp driving with a female trafficking victim isn't like driving with drugs in the car for sale." In Madison, since 2012, police have identified about 300 girls under age 18 being trafficked. "These are only the ones we know about," Krajcinovic said. In a grim example, information from a juvenile trafficking victim triggered three criminal cases that eventually linked to activities of multiple pimps, some of whom are also drug dealers, and gang associates in Madison and Milwaukee from 2013 through 2015. The men were "grooming" or trafficking more than 20 girls and women, most homeless or living out of motels or fractured homes. The cases included a homicide, drug overdose of a boy, a shooting, and multiple cases of sexual assault. Another helped bust an East Side gang responsible for drive-by shootings, burglaries, robberies and drug dealing. Jan Miyasaki, executive director of Project Respect, which provides advocacy, counseling, crisis intervention, transitional housing and other services for women with prostitution histories, said Madison is ripe for trafficking. "Right now, Madison has a huge supply of people who have limited options," she said. "The homeless population is a huge supply." But Miyasaki put the onus on men paying for sex with desperate, vulnerable girls and women being trafficked. "We can't expect our kids to protect themselves," she said. "This couldn't happen if people weren't buying them." 'He's taking all my money' The petite blonde woman, raised in Green County by a single mother who had three children by age 20, is smart, articulate, resourceful. In grade school, she and her sister did beauty pageants. In high school, they did cocaine and painkillers. Both graduated. She agreed to tell her story to warn others about the dangers of the life she lived for four years. The State Journal is not naming her to avoid endangering her. Eventually, she moved to a duplex with a man in his mid-20s and soon learned the downstairs neighbor was a heroin dealer, a convenience that helped deepen her addiction. Later, the sisters moved in with their father, a drug addict who regularly got high with his daughters. By then, the pair were making frequent trips to Madison, hanging out with drug dealers, leaving for weeks at a time. During this time, the sisters sampled the sex trade. At first, they made cash through a scam, putting ads on the internet, telling men they needed to pay for an initial webcam meeting, and then using a fake image to dupe the client into making payment, never meeting face to face. Then they began to meet the men. "She did the first call," the woman said of her sister. "I followed. Nobody introduced us to it. We were in so deep. We took it to the next step." The first time, they met a man in Paoli, the sister joining him in his car. In less than five minutes, she came back with a $100 bill. They started selling sex daily, the ease of making hundreds of dollars in scant time intoxicating. A client who was a police officer from northern Wisconsin gave them an older car and roughly $15,000 over a few months. "Every once in a while, you end up with a sugar daddy," the woman said. "You'd be surprised at the type of guys who are into this." After a hard life, teen wants to avoid homelessness, jail Brittany Carter, homeless since age 15, wants a stable place to call home and a new start on life, but she's still struggling to fulfill her dreams. But almost all of the cash was consumed by their addiction. "Some of it paid for the hotel," she said. "The rest of it paid for heroin. We were doing so many drugs." One day, the father had enough, abandoning his daughters at a sleazy Beltline motel, leaving them with only $20 and a pack of cigarettes. "That's how we landed on the street," said the woman, 19 at the time. "At that point, we were officially on our own. If we couldn't find clients, we were sleeping in our car." But the sisters, both with prepubescent looks, were candy for men who prized young girls who saw them as fresh "like a schoolgirl." The encounters were "degrading and gross," the woman said, adding, "My sister and I were lucky we didn't come across some psycho." By now, the sisters were woven into a criminal underworld of dingy motels, pimps and trafficking, Backpage connections and heroin, their addiction costing $500 to $700 a day. "It always went back to drugs," the woman said. "Our drug dealers got the money." Like many girls drawn into trafficking, she fell for a drug dealer-pimp. In this case, a 38-year-old man who was married, had a child by another woman, and had other, ongoing sexual partners. "I fell in love with him," she said. But "it doesn't matter if they like you or not, they will take advantage of you." In June 2014, Krajcinovic began an investigation that led to the arrest of the woman and her pimp. He was charged with human trafficking, drug offenses and sexual assault and sentenced to 15 years in prison after a plea deal knocked off the sexual assault charge. She was charged with drug possession, fraud and bail jumping, but the felony counts were dismissed in a plea deal. Her probation ends next May. The woman, now 23, has been sober for almost two years and living content with an older man and their baby son in his creme-colored ranch house on the West Side. "When I got sober, that's when I got serious," she said. "I've never felt better than where I am." But she realizes, "I'm still recovering. "When you've lived that lifestyle so long, it's still a struggle every day not to go back to what I was doing." She still doesn't see herself as a victim, a reflection of the depth of a pimp's control. 'I don't even know who I am anymore' The psychological trauma of trafficking is profound, Miyasaki said. She's now working with an 18-year-old woman who was taken from her dysfunctional mother and lived in foster care and on Madison's streets as a runaway. The woman, who doesn't know her father, has been homeless since age 13, falling into heavy drinking, drugs, and trading sex for money or shelter while living in multiple states. She returned to Madison a few months ago, and continued her lifestyle, has been gang raped and trafficked. "I'm in a place where I don't even know who I am anymore," she told the State Journal in an interview with Miyasaki present. She describes her status among dealers and pimps: "I am a bitch. I have to stay in my place." She is now trying to escape a toxic haze of homelessness, addiction, violence and manipulative pimps. Dr. Mollie Kane, a family doctor who specializes in adolescent medicine, sees many girls through her work at Access Community Health Center and the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, the latter where she began encountering human trafficking victims a decade ago. "Over time, it led me to start screening all the kids," she said, adding that she now sees a large number of youth who trade sex for shelter, food and clothing and about five a week engaged in human trafficking. Their profile is young, 13 or 14 years old and mostly white, with a smaller number of black and Latino girls, Kane said. Often, vaginal trauma from sexual assault disappears before she sees the girls, but she sees black eyes and once even a pregnant girl with trauma to her belly, Kane said. "By far, the biggest problem we see around sex trafficking is drug addiction and mental health problems." Islamic State have claimed responsibility for yesterdays series of suicide bombings in Kabul, which left 80 people dead and over 260 wounded. #Kabul| I.S (v #Amaq) claim double suicide attack on large demonstration by Hazara minority killing 29, injuring 142 pic.twitter.com/mWi3VhOxma Mikey Kay (@MikeyKayNYC) July 23, 2016 The group say three attackers targeted a protest march in the Afghani capital, which was comprised mainly of Shia Muslims from the Hazara ethnic minority group. National officials say only one explosive belt detonated. One other detonation failed, while the third attacker was killed by government forces. BBC reports the group may have been specifically targeted by ISIS in order to intensify sectarian feuds within the embattled nation. FWIW, the Taliban have already denounced the attack. You really have to wonder what special kind of evil is required to make the Taliban distance itself from a suicide bombing. This is the first time ISIS have claimed an attack in the city as their own without dispute from the Taliban, marking a tragic and intensely worrying expansion of the groups impact outside the Middle East. In response to the attack, Sydneys Hazara community is holding a candlelight vigil tonight in Merrylands Park from 6pm. Source: BBC / CNN. Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty. Holy shit. Sydneys police force may just be the luckiest law enforcement outfit in the entire nation, because yesterdays surprise ice bust has amounted to the discovery of $45M worth of the illicit drug. via NSW Police Force / Facebook. And it all started with one dude using his phone while driving. According to NSW Police, that traffic infringement and the subsequent arrest of the 26-year-old driver led to two other apprehensions yesterday. First, police arrested a 30-year-old man who was in possession of 10kg of meth in St Johns Park. Following that, they searched a nearby home, only to find a cool $1.4M in cash. A 21-year-old was arrested at the scene. via NSW Police Force / Facebook. Another search fielded the same night in Marrickville uncovered the stonking 77.6kg mother lode. At that point, the police probably shook their heads in sheer disbelief, and promised to be a lot more vigilant for phone-using drivers. Speaking to the media today, Superintendent Danny Doherty said the bust is the equivalent of 900,000 street-level deals. He said I was there last night, and to see nearly 77 kilos of ice in a room thats the largest amount of ice Ive seen in 31 years in policing. TBF, thats probably more ice than 99.9% of the population have seen at one time, ever. The 30-year-old and the 21-year-old faced court today in Parramatta over a slew of charges pertaining to drugs natch and dealing with the proceeds of crime. The original driver, henceforth known as the unluckiest crim in Australia, will remain in custody before a court appearance on Thursday. Source: The Guardian / NSW Police. Photo: NSW Police Force / Facebook. UPDATE: As of 10 p.m., about 1,389 customers were without power. More than 3,000 residents in Lancaster County are without power Saturday evening following thunderstorms. PPL Electric Utilities is reporting 3,318 outages in the county. The power is expected to be restored in most areas by 8:30 p.m., according to PPL's website. Earlier this afternoon, the National Weather Service in State College issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Lancaster County. In the meantime, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Adams and York counties until 7:15 p.m. as storms continue to move across south-central Pennsylvania. A flood advisory has been issued by the weather service for urban areas and small streams in York and Lancaster counties until 8:30 p.m. Deadly driving months Whether it be for vacation drivers, holiday weekends or crowded roads, some months are more dangerous for drivers than others. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studied the factors that contributed to tens of thousands of driving deaths in 2014. The government agency looked at the times of collisions, weather conditions, blood alcohol levels, seat belt use and more. Auto Insurance Center, an online insurance news and information site, tracked that data to develop a series of lists. Heres a ranking of the most dangerous months to drive: Don't Edit Dozens of cars involved in a pileup on I-78 in Bethel Township, Lebanon County near Route 22, Feb. 13, 2016. James Robinson, PennLive.com James Robinson, PennLive.com 12. February February was the month with the fewest traffic fatalities with just 1,917 in 2014. Don't Edit Les Stewart, Lebanon Daily News 11. January While winter months are typically seen as dangerous for driving -- due to winter road conditions -- it turns out that they are some of the safest for driving. There were 2,186 traffic fatalities in January. Don't Edit Authorities investigate a passenger bus crash, which occurred approximately 8:50 a..m., on the Pennsylvania Turnpike east bound lane at mile marker 227 in Middlesex Twp. Two people were killed in the crash. State police report 22 passengers were on the bus, with many sustaining injuries. The bus is reportedly was transporting the women's lacrosse team from Seton Hill University, traveling to Millersville University for an afternoon game. Joe Hermitt, PennLive.com Joe Hermitt, PennLive 10. March In like a lion, out like a lamb. March -- the start of spring -- is the third safest month for driving. There were 2,255 traffic fatalities in March. Don't Edit Emergency personnel investigate a plane crash in Adams County Thursday morning, Dec. 26, 2013. (AP photo/York Daily Record) 9. December Crash experts and law enforcement officers says that people are more likely to pay attention and drive more careful during inclement weather. That seems to be the case for December. December -- another winter month -- had 2,322 traffic fatalities in 2014. Don't Edit Don't Edit Bee keepers try to salvage some of the bee hives that were dumped when a semi-truck rolled early Friday, April 17, 2015, near Lynnwood, Wash. Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via AP 8. April Traffic fatalities increase as the temperatures increase. With winter months taking up the first four spots on the list, April is the first warm weather month on the list. There were 2,354 traffic fatalities in April. Don't Edit Emergency responders were called to a vehicle and school bus crash on Monday. (Photo courtesy of Steve Roth | 911 Photography) Photo courtesy of Steve Roth | 911 Photography 7. September Labor Day is one of the most dangerous days to drive since many celebrate it with alcoholic beverages. September rounds out the bottom half of the list with 2,432 traffic fatalities. Don't Edit This car crashed in front of 133 Riverview Drive in Lehigh Township. The coroner was called to the scene. Mike Nester 6. November Millions of Americans travel to their friends and family members houses to celebrate Thanksgiving. With so many people on the road, theres bound to be a significant number of traffic fatalities. In 2014, there were 2,456 traffic fatalities in November. Don't Edit About 7:30 a.m. Friday Oct. 22 a blue VW Jetta carrying 5 teen occupants was traveling westbound on Wertzville Road in Silver Spring Twp. )^ 5. October October is a popular vacation month for people interested in leaf peeping in the northeastern United States. There were 2,509 traffic fatalities in October, making it the month with the fifth highest fatalities in 2014. Don't Edit Danielle N. Beard was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Route 322 about three-quarters of a mile east of State route 72. Cornwall Police described the incident as a "violent head-on crash" in a news release. (Cornwall Police Department) )^ 4. June Marking the beginning of the warm months on the list, June had 2,594 traffic fatalities. Don't Edit Don't Edit Speeds in excess of 100 mph are being blamed in the violent car crash deaths of two teens in western Pennsylvania Tuesday night. Screen shot/KDKA 3. May A three-day weekend for Memorial Day means a lot of people will hit the road having imbibed alcohol. There were 2,600 traffic fatalities in May 2014. Don't Edit Bystanders tend to two people who appear to be injured in a two car accident, at the intersection of Wertzville Rd. and Technology Parkway, as a fire starts in one of the cars, Wed. morning, July 15, 2015. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com 2. July July had the second highest number of traffic fatalities of all 12 months. There were 2,707 traffic fatalities in July. Don't Edit A blue tarp covers the cab of overturned big rig on I-81 near Carlisle, August 13, 2015. Photo by James Robinson. James Robinson, PennLive 1. August August -- the height of summer -- is the deadliest month for drivers. Theres a number of reasons why August is so deadly for drivers and passengers. Kids are out of school and people on going on vacation, which means theres a lot more traffic on already busy roads.There were 2,747 traffic fatalities in August. CLEVELAND We are husband and wife, and we protested the Republican National Convention and its pick for president in Cleveland last week. We both came to this country from Mexico almost 20 years ago in search of a better life. We met in Waukesha, and together have four beautiful children. In that time, things have gotten harder for undocumented people such as us. More immigrants have been deported under President Barack Obama than during any other presidency. Just last month, the Supreme Court blocked a program that would have kept families such as ours together and brought hard-working immigrants into the economy legally. And now theres Trump. Since Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president, our family has felt the open racial hostility his campaign encourages. White supremacist groups are flocking to Trump, whom they credit for bringing their fringe ideas into the mainstream. Racist organizations also traveled to Cleveland, some even carrying guns. But we were not intimidated. We are undocumented, but we marched unafraid. We marched to send a message to Trump and the GOP: We are going to keep fighting for our families, for our people and for the future of this whole country. Immigrants pick the food everyone eats. We pay taxes even though we are not eligible for many of the services our taxes provide. A 2009 study found that 40 percent of Wisconsins dairy workers were immigrants. Working families, including immigrants, not Trump, are who make this country great. For us, this campaign is very personal. Trumps election would be a disaster for our family and for millions like us. And its not only immigrants he has scapegoated. We also have a message for Muslims, African-Americans, for women and the LGBT community, for those concerned about global warming, and for all people disgusted by Trumps bigotry: Lets stand together. Lets fight together for a world where no one is discriminated against. We also want to reach the white people Trump is targeting with the old divide-and-conquer rhetoric of past demagogues. We want to tell white working-class people we are not your enemy. So-called free trade policies have caused economic hardship in rural Mexico similar to that seen in former industrial strongholds like Milwaukee. Trump himself profits from cheap goods made overseas. Trump preaches racism instead of responding to the real needs of working families. He has no plan to create well-paying jobs, support underfunded schools or expand access to college and health care. All working-class people, regardless of background, need a government that responds to the needs of our families. Our message has a second part: Vote! We will keep marching to save our country, and on Nov. 8, we want you to vote. For the sake of all our children, we must defeat this racist man and the dangerous ideas he represents. Sailing has been a part of Princess Kate and Prince Williams life together since they first met at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Yet it doesnt look as though Prince George is likely to join them onto the high seas just yet. What did he get for his birthday? Im not telling, William, 34, told competition winner Zak Kay, 10, ahead of the Americas Cup World Series racing event in Portsmouth, England, on Sunday. He got too many things. Hes far too spoilt. Hes not into boats yet. Neither George who turned three on Friday nor his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, 1, attended the Sunday event, which included having William and Kate tour the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) to meet the team plotting to bring the Auld Mug back to Britain for the first time since the yacht America won the inaugural trophy way back in 1851. She was lovely beautiful and friendly, Tiyah Windslade, 17, told reporters shortly after presenting a bouquet to Kate on behalf of the 1851 Trust, which is using the Americas Cup to inspire a new generation to become involved with the marine world with a strong focus on those from underprivileged families I almost started crying!, Tiyah added about meeting with Kate, who paired a BAR team shirt bearing the words The Duchess of Cambridge, with tight skinny jeans and beige espadrille wedges. She spoke a lot about mental health and how we need to stop people from feeling ashamed about themselves and come out and be very open about their mental health. And she sad that we are the voice reaching out to people because we are working with them on the ground. It is great to have them involved, Tiyah continued. They give us so much support. I was chosen to present the bouquet, she added. They told me a couple of moments before and it was so sudden, I was like I didnt know I was doing that!? I just knew I was meeting them and they said, Are you OK to take the lead and give them the bouquet? So I sad, Er, yeah, OK! Im already so nervous, now youve really shaken me! Thankfully, the royal couple calmed her nerves immediately. He was really lovely too, Tiyah added about William. Following an hour-long tour of the British teams headquarters, William and Kate boarded a BAR catamaran flying a royal standard to sail around Portsmouth. They then took a seat in the bleachers among thousands of sailing fans to watch the high-speed racing action, which drew teams from all across the globe. The couple will later visit the Race Village to meet the six international crews and hand out the trophy designed by competition winner Kay. Related Video: Princess Kate and Drew Barrymore Wear Same Tory Burch Dress on the Same Day This is Kates third visit to the Portsmouth leg of the Americas Cup World Series. In May, she had an exhilarating trip in the water, sailing around the Solent with four-time Olympic champion and reigning Americas Cup winner Ainslie and his crew. Ainslie told PEOPLE after the event that it was a wonderful sail. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. A few days later, Ainslie posted exciting GoPro-style footage of the trip, showing Kate in full control alongside her colleagues on board. Kate and William are both experienced sailors and frequently took a day on the seas close to their first marital home in Anglesey, north Wales. Kate also beat William in a sailing race in Aukland, New Zealand, during their tour of the country in April 2014. During their first royal tour in the summer of 2011, the famously competitive couple also took charge of a dragon boat race across a lake in Canada. Second Hand Drugs shuns mainstream with 'regressive rock' Michigan band Second Hand Drugs aims to make a splash by doing things its own do-it-yourself, back-to-the-future way from the regressive rock it creates to the way it markets and distributes its ISSUES.... Inside, confidential and off the record Oil prices down, Nigeria 680.000 bpd President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Ibe Kachikwu new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources CRUDE OIL PRICES HAVE FALLEN QUITE SHARPLY as support levels that might have been extant in Brent and WTI crude futures have proven wholly ephemeral in nature, with product prices leading the way lower and likely pointing to lower prices still. Crude came under pressure... as did most commodity prices... following comments by Mr. Kuroda, the Governor of the Bank of Japan; however when it became clear that the situation in Nigeria was becoming better rather than worse, what support might have been engendered and hoped for evaporated. The only possibly bullish fundamental to draw upon was that with prices falling as precipitously as they did the term structure seemed barely to follow; that is, we would normally expect to see the one year contangos widen by 10-15 cents/barrel when prices of nearby crude futures fall by more than $1.50/barrel. Instead, the averaged front month one year contango has widened by a scant 1 cent/barrel, rising from $5.06 yesterday to $15.07 this morning. However, this is 20 cents/barrel wider than where it was one week ago this morning as front month WTI has fallen $1.50/barrel in over that same time frame, so the relationship has held over the week, but not over a single day. Crude is continuing to bid for storage: Sep WTI down 160 44.40-45 Oct WTI down 169 45.10-15 Nov WTI down 161 45.83-88 Dec WTI down 161 46.54-59 Sep Brent down 147 46.00-05 Oct Brent down 154 46.42-47 Nov Brent down 157 46.79-84 Dec Brent down 160 47.33-38 OPEC Basket: $42.93 07/21 Regarding our comments above concerning Nigeria, the government in Abuja and t he Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group that has been attacking oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region, agreed to pursue a dialogue to end the violence there which has reduced Nigeria's daily oil production to 680,000 barrels per day. The meeting was held at the Governor's Office in Asaba, Delta State between Nigeria's new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, and representatives of Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups. We are so mewhat surprised by the Avenger's decision to take part in such talks for they've been wholly unwilling to do so in the past, seemingly intent upon disrupting governance in the region and moving toward eventual separat ion from the rest of the country. For those who do not know Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, we have been inordinately impressed with him and have given President Buhari very real credit for naming him to that post. Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has an LLM degree from Harvard with Distinction along with a Ph.D. and graduated first in his class in 1980 with specialization in Energy, Petroleum Law and Investment. He is also a native of Delta State in Southeastern Nigeria and is an Igbo speaker, so he has a far greater chance of dealing with the people of the region than have other Energy Ministers. Perhaps it is for that reason that the Avengers have chosen to open talks with Abuja. Dennis Gartman / The Gartman / June 22, 2016 ISSUES.... 07/ 25/ 2016 - Send Us Your Issues ISSUES.... Inside, confidential and off the record Is an independent journalist effort from Petroleumworld, on Inside, Confidential and Off The Record Information, its views are not necessarily those of Petroleumworld Lagniappe Kevin Ramnarine: Guyana's time has come ExxonMobil's second exploration well on the Stabroek block off Guyana's Essequibo area confirms a "world-class discovery" with a recoverable resource of 800mn-1.4bn bl of oil equivalent. For many years Guyanese politicians joked that God couldn't have been that unfair to give Suriname, Venezuela and Trinidad crude oil and to have left out Guyana. It was not as though Guyana was not trying to find oil. They had been searching for oil since the first half of the 20th century. They came close in 1974 when Shell drilled offshore and encountered hydrocarbons but had to abandon the well. In more recent times efforts intensified with attempts from companies like CGX. However, a border dispute with Suriname stymied exploration until the matter was resolved by the UN Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in 2007. One source of hope that there was petroleum in commercial quantities was a report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) published in 2000 and entitled The USGS World Petroleum Assessment. This report provided estimates for undiscovered petroleum resources outside of the United States. It noted that the Guyana Suriname basin had the potential for 15.2 billion barrels of oil and 42 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. This is an average. Only the Santos and Campos basins of Brazil held more potential in the South and Central America areas. It was therefore only a matter of time before hydrocarbons were discovered in commercial quantities in Guyana given that the economic geology of the entire region was underpinned by a cretaceous source rock that had given birth to oil industries in all Guyana's neighbours. Success finally came in May 2015 when Exxon announced that they had encountered hydrocarbons in their Liza 1 well. The Liza 1 well was drilled in 1743 meters of water which qualifies as deepwater or ultra-deepwater depending on how you look at it. On June 30th 2016 Exxon announced that the appraisal well (Liza 2) had confirmed a world class discovery with a recoverable resource of 800 million to 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The discovery is considered to be the largest of 2015 and is a giant oil field. The question we must ask is - what is the role of T&T in the development of Guyana's new oil industry? Naturally this must be a tremendous opportunity for the 400 plus energy service companies that operate in T&T. But what does 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent mean? For purposes of comparison, T&T has produced 8.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the period 1908 to 2015 (107 years). That means the Guyana discovery is 17% of all the oil and gas ever produced by T&T. In addition, the long history of the oil industry tells us that when discoveries like these are made it is only the start of things to come. That means that Guyana could be at the beginning of a long period of exploration that could result in more discoveries. This idea is explained in what exploration geologists call the creaming curve. Guyana is therefore on its way to being a major oil and gas producer. They would of course be wary of the fact that the discovery of hydrocarbons has led to what the academics call Dutch Disease and what British economist Richard Auty coined the Resource Curse thesis. In the case of Dutch Disease the dominance of the oil and gas sector leads to the weakening of other sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing and the appreciation of the real effective exchange rate. Guyanese policy makers must be getting a lot of advice these days. I suppose if you win the lotto everyone would be calling to offer advice on investment and to try to sell you something. Guyana must take steps to avoid the pathways taken by other oil and gas producing countries where wealth has been mismanaged. Last October I recommended that the coming windfall in Guyana should be used to develop the country's health and education sectors as a priority. Investments should also be made in the development of much needed infrastructure such as highways, power plants, electricity transmission lines, telecommunications and modern ports which can actualize the development of other economic sectors such as agriculture and mining. A portion of the new oil and gas revenue should also be saved in a sovereign wealth fund. While Norway is always held up as best practice, it should be noted that Guyana in 2016 is not where Norway was in 1969 when that country discovered oil. In 1969 Norway was already a well-developed economy. The Exxon Guyana discovery has the potential to dramatically change the economy of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean. I posit that it could be the most significant development of our generation as it has the potential to unlock the economic potential of the Caribbean's hinterland. Commercial oil production won't start anytime soon. Having gone through exploration and appraisal phases, Exxon and its partners must allocate capital to the development phase. This will take five to seven years. The interregnum gives Guyana time to plan and to put things in place to manage a new sector that will dwarf its entire economy. For the T&T private sector, Guyana is the next frontier. Kevin Ramnarine is the former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kevin Ramnarine is the former Energy Minister of Trinidad and Tobago . Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by te Trinidad Guardian , on July 12, 2016. 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Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8 +/ 800x600 pixels Brazil's Petrobras to sell voting control of BR fuels unit BidnessEtc Petrobras eyes sale of voting control in BR Distribuidora SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO Petroleumworld.com 07 25 2016 Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA said on Friday it plans to sell voting control of Petrobras Distribuidora SA after a bidding round for a minority stake in the fuels retailer failed to attract bids that met the state-controlled oil company's needs. Petrobras now plans to keep no more than 49 percent of the voting capital of BR Distribuidora, as the fuels unit is known, while remaining the largest shareholder of the company, according to a securities filing and company comments in a conference call. Petrobras is trying to sell BR Distribuidora, Brazil's largest fuels distributor, as part of a plan to sell $15 billion of assets by the end of this year. It is selling assets to reduce its debt, the largest of any oil company, in the face of a financial crisis caused by a corruption scandal and falling oil prices Petrobras said on Friday it would maintain its dominant share of fuel-unit profits by keeping a large stake in non-voting, preferred shares. It expects bids by the end of the year. "We see this model as the best way to get a good price for the company and maintain a share of profits," said Anelise Quintao Lara, general manager of mergers and acquisitions at the Rio de Janeiro-based company. The model could lead to a future initial public offering of shares in the fuels unit, she said. Reuters reported on Tuesday that the company was inclined toward selling control of BR Distribuidora to garner a higher valuation. According to one source with direct knowledge of the matter, the company wants to keep 100 percent of preferred shares in BR Distribuidora so it can profit from the results of a change of management in the future. Petrobras announced the sale model after rejecting three bids that it considered too low. The company wanted 30 billion to 40 billion reais for BR Distribuidora and the offers taken as a result of the previous sale process were in the 10 billion to 15 billion real range, Reuters reported. Quintao Lara declined to comment on bid values or the value Petrobras expects for a BR Distribuidora sale. The company had 118 billion reais ($36 billion) in revenue last year and owns Brazil's No. 1 gasoline station network. Preferred shares of Petrobras, the company's most widely traded class of stock, gained 1.9 percent to 11.77 reais, while common shares added 1.1 percent to 13.81 reais. Both stocks are up 76 percent and 61 percent this year, respectively. ($1 = 3.2559 Brazilian reais) Husky Energy pipeline Leaks crude oil into major canadian river The Canadian Press / Jason Franson Crews work to clean up an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan river near Maidstone, Sask. on Friday. NORTH BATTLEFORD, Saskatchewa, Canada Petroleumworld.com 07 25 2016 Attempts to stop a pipeline oil spill from flowing down a major river in Saskatchewan failed Friday and new steps were being taken to try to contain the slick. A government official said booms placed on the North Saskatchewan River by Husky Energy to contain the spill were ineffective because high water levels lifted the oil over the barriers. Crews work to clean up an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan river near Maidstone, Sask. on Friday. (Photo: Jason Franson/The Canadian Press) The official, who did not want to be named, said Husky Energy (TSX:HSE) and the government were placing booms further downstream and increasing skimming to try to remove oil from the water. Between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of crude oil and other material leaked into the river on Thursday from a breach in Husky's pipeline near Maidstone, Sask. The company shut down the line and put out the booms about 40 kilometres upstream from North Battleford. North Battleford saw signs of the spill as early as Friday morning and shut down its water intake plant. "Husky reported to water security that they ... saw a sheen and so everything gets shut right down," said Stewart Schafer, the city's director of operations. "How much, how big, I couldn't tell you." Schafer said the city has a backup supply of water in its reservoirs and water tower. It also has a ground-water treatment plant. "We have about three days and then we have to start up the other plant. By that time we are hoping that whatever contaminants hit the river are flushed down." The reservoirs and water tower had already been filled to capacity as a precautionary measure. North Battleford Mayor Ian Hamilton asked residents to slow the flow from their taps to help ensure an adequate supply. The city issued a news release telling people that car washes were being shut down, laundromats closed and citizens were being asked not to water their lawns or wash their cars. The city and Husky also were building a berm around the water intake at the water treatment plant to prevent oily water from getting in. Precautions for residents urged Prince Albert issued a statement late Friday afternoon urging its residents to fill bathtubs and water jugs with water over the next 24 hours. Oil from the Husky spill is expected to reach the city by Sunday, the city said, adding it will likely be shutting down its water treatment plant's intake from the river. Rob Peabody, Husky's chief operating officer, said some of the spilled oil was on land and was being recovered. "What we do know is the leak was not under the river, as far as we can see," he said. "The leak was kind of in a location near the river." The pipeline runs from Husky's heavy oil operations to its facilities in Lloydminster and carries oil mixed with a lighter hydrocarbon, called a diluent, that's added to ease the flow. "This is a rare event. We don't have incidents of this magnitude very often." Wes Kotyk of the department's environmental protection branch said the spill, which he said was equivalent to two rail cars, was of a "higher magnitude" than Saskatchewan is used to. "This is a rare event. We don't have incidents of this magnitude very often," said Kotyk, who added it's been a number of years since there's been an oil spill into water. Kotyk said fish and wildlife staff were developing a plan in case wildlife was affected. Peabody said it could be several weeks before a cause for the spill is known. He didn't know the age of the pipeline, but said it would have been regularly inspected under Husky's management plan. Premiers reiterate pipeline support Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said no one wants to see an oil spill occur, but the latest leak doesn't change his support for pipelines. "The facts remain that if we're not moving by a pipeline, it's going to move ... (by rail). We know that rail is actually more susceptible to spills and spills are often more intense," Wall said from Whitehorse, Yukon, where he was attending a premiers meeting. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who is pushing for a pipeline to get her province's oil to ocean ports so it can get to international markets, echoed Wall's assessment. "Even with this spill it remains the case that absolutely the safest way to transport oil and gas is by way of pipeline," she said. "Had a spill occurred on rail there might well be injuries involved. In everything you do there are risks, but I would suggest overall the risks (of pipelines) are low." CHICAGO If there has been any constant in the Republican worldview over decades, its that American strength, resolve and credibility are essential in foreign affairs, and weakness and uncertainty lead straight to disaster. The GOP legions regard Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as failures because they have been insufficiently willing to challenge our adversaries and stand with our friends. Our allies dont trust us, and our enemies dont fear us is a claim made by one Republican after another. But the Cleveland convention was a study in dissonance between the bedrock convictions of just about every loyal Republican and the opinions of the presidential nominee. People who denounce Obama for leading from behind, appeasing Vladimir Putin, failing to go to war against Bashar Assad and criticizing America lined up in support of Donald Trump whose policies are subject to exactly the same criticisms. There is much to fault in the GOPs past approach, but Republicans are in a strange position: They unquestionably affirm their long-standing policies without seeming to realize their candidate doesnt. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn proclaimed to the delegates, There is no substitute for American leadership and exceptionalism. Trump, however, affects nonchalance on such matters. Exceptionalism? I dont know that we have a right to lecture (other countries), Trump said in an interview with The New York Times. How are we going to lecture when people are shooting our policemen in cold blood? Imagine what Chris Christie would say if those words had come out of Obamas mouth. How about leadership? Trump indicated its no sure thing that wed honor our treaty obligation to defend any NATO member attacked by, say, Russia. If we cannot be properly reimbursed for the tremendous cost of our military protecting other countries, he said, I would be absolutely prepared to tell those countries, Congratulations, you will be defending yourself. Hmm. Its almost as though under President Trump our allies wouldnt be able to trust us. Asked about the value of our presence in South Korea, which has coincided with 60 years of peace, he scoffed. Without it, he speculated, maybe you would have had a unified Korea. Japan? Well, what are we getting out of this? All of these allies, he suggested, should never be completely sure of our commitments. In a deal, you always have to be prepared to walk, he explained. Compare Trumps comments about NATO with Ronald Reagans in 1988: We often say that if the bomb is dropped in Amsterdam, it is the equivalent of dropping a bomb on Chicago. Reagan would have said the same about Seoul and Tokyo. Trump apparently thinks a bomb dropped on Amsterdam is a bomb dropped on Amsterdam, nothing more. What about making sure our enemies fear us? Christie excoriated Clinton for once expressing hope that Assad would be better than his father, who preceded him as ruler of Syria. Trump, however, is not itching to go after the regime. I think that ISIS is a threat thats much more important for us right now than Assad, he said. Russia? I think Putin and I will get along very well, he said. It would be wonderful if we had good relationships with Russia so that we dont have to go through all of the drama. Republicans have denounced President Obama for denying lethal defensive military aid to Ukraine after its invasion by Russia. But Trump blocked an endorsement of such help in the platform which pledges only appropriate assistance. Do the delegates think that will make the Kremlin quake in fear? The GOP standard-bearer manages to distract attention from these violations of Republican security orthodoxy with his ostentatiously macho talk about bombing the Islamic State and vowing that Iran will never, ever be allowed to have nuclear weapons. But behind the rhetoric are ignorance and confusion. Never has the GOP nominated someone whose intentions are so unpredictable. The conservative principles for ensuring our security and spreading our values have been turned over to someone who doesnt seem to understand them, much less champion them. In effect, he has emasculated the partys foreign policy. In his acceptance speech, Trump drew lusty cheers as he blamed Clinton for all the trouble in the world. The stark irony is that if anyone in the race is likely to uphold the traditional Republican strategy, its Clinton. The delegates, like our enemies and allies, have no real idea how President Trump would operate in a perilous world. The difference is that our enemies and allies actually care. DeHy Cable-Remote for Reverb Dropper Posts Bike Yoke's DeHy cable actuator is more compact than the "Connectamajig" system of the Reverb Stealth's hydraulic module. Details: Bike Yoke's DeHy Reverb conversion kit allows you to use any Reverb Stealth seatpost in combination with a regular cable actuating lever (front fed). It includes all parts needed to convert your Reverb Stealth to cable actuation: actuating/linkage unit barrel cable clamp inner cable cable housing two housing endcaps inner cable endcap retails for 62,99 and shipping is free worldwide, when ordering directly from Bike Yoke's DeHy Reverb conversion kit allows you to use any Reverb Stealth seatpost in combination with a regular cable actuating lever (front fed). It includes all parts needed to convert your Reverb Stealth to cable actuation: actuating/linkage unit barrel cable clamp inner cable cable housing two housing endcaps inner cable endcap retails for 62,99 and shipping is free worldwide, when ordering directly from Bike Yoke (Here's the official press release) Rock Shox Reverb goes Triggy Bike Yoke's Triggy remote can be purchased with adaptors for Shimano or SRAM direct-mount shifters and also with a conventional handlebar clamp. DeHy - Reverb cable conversion kit: The DeHy module hooked up to a Triggy lever. The silver nub protruding from the top of the DeHy module actuates the Reverb dropper. The standard hydraulic actuator operates the post in exactly the same manner. Bike Yoke is a German accessory maker that produces yoke conversions for standard shocks to Specialized FSR bikes, cams to convert Shimano shifters to SRAM derailleurs and most recently, the "DeHy," which is German for "smarty pants," or something like that, and it replaces the hydraulic actuator piston and drive assembly that sits in the bottom of a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper seatpost. What the DeHy does is allow Reverb owners to switch from the slow-acting hydraulic push button remote to any cable-actuated remote lever. (Of course, the folks at Bike Yoke would like you to buy their Triggy remote to go along with it.) That's right. You can dump the entire hydraulic hose, remote, and the actuator, lose your bleed kit and the smelly oil in the bottom of your tool box, and switch over to a simple cable and housing. To RockShox purists, that may seem like rolling back to the Stone Age, but some Reverb owners are over hydraulics. Why toil with oil when cables are able?After BikeYoke s Triggy had been announced a few weeks ago, but was only available for front fed cable posts, the guys from Bike Yoke received a lot of questions about compatibility with Fox s new Transfer, or RockShox s Reverb dropper posts. RockShox Reverb is undoubtedly the most popular drop-post on the planet, but it features a lever some people think could be improved in ergonomics and compatibility.Some may ask, how this could even work, since RockShox s Reverb seatpost is actuated by a hydraulic hose, whereas Triggy is a wire-based remote. For the past few months, Bike Yoke has already been working on something very clever, which is now available and unique in the market: The hydraulic hose, including the actuation assembly, is only externally attached to the post. So why not simply replace it with a wire and a small lever unit that replicates the original bottom part of the seatpost? No more remote hydraulics involved, no more remote bleeding needed and a constant actuation feeling, regardless of temperature.Replacing these parts takes just a few minutes and does not involve any opening of the post Reverb s internal hydraulics remain completely untouched. Removing the remote hose and the actuator assembly from the bottom of the post is all you have got to do - and then replace it with the Reverb conversion kit and you are ready to connect your Reverb with BikeYokes Triggy or another cable remote, such as Specializeds SLR, Kindshocks Southpaw, or the RaceFace HopUp lever. The Reverb conversion kit will work with all Reverb Stealth seatposts. DeHy also builds much shorter than the original Connectamajig actuation and provides extra space for seat tube insertion when having a very short seat tube. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Anybody that had the disturbing privilege of watching Republican National Convention last week knows that it was an ugly one, from start to finish. It offered little to the American people in terms of how to make their lives better. Instead, it was simply an angry wink at the most deranged individuals in the GOP base. The vast majority of viewers faced a barrage of grim portraits of America, disgusting chants calling for the imprisonment of a political opponent, and cynical attempts to divide people and scare up votes. Thankfully, Republicans wont have the last word. On Monday, a unified Democratic Party will travel to Philadelphia to deliver a positive message to the voters: America is already great. Hillary Clinton and her newly minted running mate Tim Kaine who hit it out of the park in his first post-announcement campaign event on Saturday will likely talk about the progress of the past eight years and explain to voters how we, together, can address the obstacles we still face as a country. They will also explain that America is the best version of itself its strongest when we embrace our diversity and stand together to face down our challenges. Not when we insult entire minority groups or propose to ban an entire religion from entering the country. Democrats will propose that we build bridges instead of walls. They also wont rely on B-list celebrities to power their speaking schedule. Instead of Scott Baio and Antonio Sabato, powerhouses like Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will be on hand to deliver speeches that will likely rock the house in Philadelphia. These speeches will also lay out the stark differences between highly qualified Clinton and dangerously unfit Donald Trump. But theyll do it without making Americans think their nation is a third-world country that needs a spray-tanned conman to rescue it. When the Democratic National Convention concludes next Thursday after Hillary Clinton delivers her historic acceptance speech, Americans will feel a lot better about their country than they did following the chaos in Cleveland. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse * Over the past eight years many pundits have referenced the absurdity of Americans voting against their own self-interests. One could attribute the phenomenon to low-information, low-intellect or just rank stupidity, but it is more likely due to contempt for other Americans. By now though, even bone-head Republicans comprehend, or they should comprehend, that there is nothing whatsoever any Republican will ever do for the people; its just not in their religious conservative nature. Still, disparate special interest groups are supporting the GOP with full knowledge that Republicans are simply anti-everything and they will never change, especially now that a reality television celebrity is running the party. There is an old poem, or story, attributed to various peoples in history about a rattlesnake that fatally bites an idiot that took pity on the creature and picked it up to save the its life. As the victim lay dying they ask the snake why it bit them after being rescued. Of course the rattlesnake tells the dying good Samaritan that you knew I was a rattlesnake all along and you picked me up anyway. There are different ways to express the moral of the story, but suffice it to say that anyone who is intimately involved with evil should only expect that evil to be visited on them, because they knew they were cavorting with evil. Another moral for the story is dont be stupid. One group of Republicans were, and probably still are dazed, angry, and sufficiently confused over both the RNCs anti-LGBT platform as well as Donald Trumps choice of an anti-LGBT rights running mate in Mike Pence. Last week the story was that the only openly-gay Republican delegate ever to sit on the platform-writing committee was in tears as her Party steadfastly hewed to its evangelical extremism and included decidedly anti-gay rhetoric in the official Party platform. On the heels of that story was openly gay Log Cabin Republican (LCR) president, Gregory T. Angelo, unleashing Hell on the RNC and issuing a press release in the form of a fundraising-like letter to LCR members claiming he is mad as Hell; but he is still a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. In his press release/letter, Mr. Angelo said: Theres no way to sugar-coat this: Im mad as hell and I know you are, too. The Republican Party passed the most anti-LGBT platform in the Partys 162-year history. Opposition to marriage equality, nonsense about bathrooms, an endorsement of the debunked psychological practice of pray the gay away its all in there. This isnt my GOP and I know its not yours either. Logic would inform a person with even diminished cognitive abilities that: If the GOP is not your party and youre mad as Hell; and they are opposed to and hate everything about you and your way of life; and they literally want you dead to conform with their god and Christian bibles dogma, then logic and self-preservation demands that you flee the party with the utmost urgency. But that is not happening in GOP stupid land. As many pundits have noted over the past eight years, Republicans and their voters fulfill Albert Einsteins definition of insanity in doing something over and over again and expecting a different result. In this particular case, it is insane on the GOPs part to continue pursuing a policy of hatred toward LGBT people when the majority of Americans now support marriage equality and the Constitutions equal rights safeguards, but it is just batshit crazy for gay Republicans to cling to the Party and expect it to change and support LGBT equality. LCR cant comprehend that the GOP is the proverbial rattlesnake in the earlier referenced story and they keep clutching it to their bosoms and get angry they are getting bit. These Republicans, who are also gay, cannot or will not separate themselves from the Party no matter how much the social conservative Republicans want to harm them. So, besides the LCR president writing a letter, since the group was credentialed to attend the convention they attended the convention to raise Hell and: Take a stand. Now is not the time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. But were going to need your support to do it. Thats why Im writing to ask for your help. Please give today and give generously $500, $250, $100, or whatever you can giveto Take back the Platform. Take back the Partyand let the folks on the Platform Committee who paved the way to this foolishness know youre not going down without a fight! LCR did not take back their party, did not change anything, and did not even put up a fight. As a conservative over at RedState remarked: how could gay Republicans ever Take back what was never yours? Thats the problem. Im all for inclusion, [but] not at the expense of the soul of the party. The conservative writer claimed that LCRs intent is fundamentally changing the party to the point that there is no visible difference between the GOP and the Democrats. Another Republican idiot, obviously. Not openly calling for discrimination against LGBT people is in no universe the only difference between Republicans and Democrats and any American who watched any of the RNC hate-fest learned that first hand. If Mr. Angelo had actually kept tabs on the machinations that produced the anti-LGBT platform, he would be aware that there was an openly gay delegate on the platform-writing committee that wept while pleading with Republicans for a semblance of compassion for gay people and their constitutional rights. In fact, Rachel Hoff appealed to the Republicans saying, We are your daughters. We are your sons, your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, the couple that sits next to you in church. Freedom means freedom for everyone, including for gays and lesbians. Silly first openly-gay Republican delegate ever: doesnt she know that part and parcel of everything Republicans stand for is denying freedom to every American, particularly gays and lesbians? It is simply astonishing that any LGBT person, or advocacy group, even a Republican gay advocacy group, would think for one nano-second that the Party that exists to deny equality to well over half the population would suddenly embrace equality for the LGBT community; the evangelical right will never allow it and for LCR to think otherwise is beyond insanity; it is stupid. And as if to punctuate exactly how stupid it is, LCR went to Cleveland to support Trump and his anti-gay running mate, and then they will vote up and down the ballot for all the venomous Republicans who will bite them immediately on being sworn in office. Now, there are likely other groups in the Republican party that do not embrace every hateful policy near and dear to the party faithful, and they probably had high hopes that this year in this election things would be different. Now that there is stark evidence the GOP is more extreme than ever, and are Hell-bent on biting everyone in America who is not a white Christian male, it is curious why the party still has broad support from the various sub-groups among the rank and file. One expects poor, low-information yokels in the rural South and Midwest to consistently vote against their own self-interests; theyre stupid bible thumpers and dont know any better. However, for seemingly intelligent, informed and politically-engaged members of the LGBT community to continue supporting Republicans is not only stunning, its a special kind of stupid that makes those low-information yokels blush; it also informs that the stupid runs deep in Republican ranks. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Sen. Bernie Sanders said Debbie Wasserman Schultz made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party to step down as Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party, Senator Sanders said in a statement. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people, the Senator continued. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be resigning as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee at the end of the partys convention on this upcoming Thursday, after hacked and leaked emails showed favoritism for Hillary Clinton above Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary among some DNC staffers. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print After Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook suggested that experts say Russians are behind the DNC hacks and leaks, Donald Trump Jr. slammed the Clinton campaign for lying, claiming that if a Republican lied like the Clinton camp, they would bring out the electric chair. Watch here: Donald Trump Jr. on DNC and Clinton campaign: "They will lie and do anything to win" #CNNSOTU https://t.co/2IJJuGSeu9 CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 24, 2016 It just goes to show you their exact moral compass, I mean, theyll say anything to win, Donald Trump Jr said, working himself up into a state of indignant rage that anyone else would dare to treat the truth and facts like his father does. I mean this is time and time again, lie after lie, he wont say well, I say this, Trump Jr. continued. His house cat at home once said that this is whats happening with the Russians. Its disgusting, its so phony. Yes it would be outrageous if Mook had gotten this info from his house cat, which is akin to Donald Trump basing foreign policy off of things hes heard and seen that no one else can verify. However, Vox explained that security firms, not a house cat, came up with this theory about the Russians being behind the hack: Perhaps as important as the emails contents is who may have leaked them. The leak is believed to be the fruit of a network intrusion that was discovered last month by the DNC. According to security firms who spoke to the Washington Post, that was the work of hackers associated with the Russian government, raising the possibility that a foreign government is trying to manipulate the US election. Mooks exact quote to This Weeks George Stephanopoulos was, Whats disturbing about this entire situation is that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, took all these emails, and now are leaking them out through these websites. Obviously they have to determine whats accurate, whats been doctored, what hasnt been doctored. And its troubling that some experts are telling us this was done by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump. Im not sure how Trump Jr. got house cat from experts, but perhaps a vivid imagination runs in the Trump family. I mean I cant think of bigger lies, but that goes to show you what the DNC and the Clinton camp will do, Donald Trump Jr. said, repeatedly interrupting Jake Tapper to make sure his rage was clear. They will do anything to win. The thing is, there is a lot of smoke around Trump and Putin. Theres his effort to gut a pro-Ukraine provision in the Republican Party platform, theres connections to being paid to promote Russian propaganda TV RT, and more. Putin has made his admiration for Trump known, and Trump has reciprocated. Trump will not release his tax returns, either, leaving questions about financial dealings with Russia in the dark. What we have here is Donald Trump Jr. carrying on the family tradition of getting angry about things he doesnt understand and being outraged when someone repeats evidence. Mook didnt make up the evidence he referred to. The only thing he cant prove is that the Russians hacked and leaked the DNC in order to help Donald Trump. But we do know that Putin has gone to great lengths to install people like Donald Trump throughout Europe in an effort to dismantle NATO, and Trump has already suggested he would weaken NATO. Its really not a stretch with Trumps bizarre policies that help Putin. Its also odd that only the DNC that was hacked. Sadly for the Russians, no real dirt has come out of the hack so far. If a Republican did this, they would bring out the electric chair, Trump Jr. concluded falsely, since his father tells so many whoppers hes broken PolitFact. If they used electric chairs for telling huge lies, Donald Trump would be on his last cat life. Image: CNN State of the Union screengrab Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Hillary Clinton campaign went there today by connecting the dots and letting voters know that the Russian government is working to get Donald Trump elected president. Video: Transcript via ABCs This Week: STEPHANOPOULOS: What more is there to know? We see whats in them. MOOK: Well, whats disturbing about this entire situation is that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, took all these emails and now are leaking them out through these Web sites. Obviously, they have to determine, you know, whats accurate, what whats been doctored, what has been doctored. And its troubling that some experts are now telling us that this was done by by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump. We said STEPHANOPOULOS: For the purpose of helping Donald Trump? MOOK: Thats what some experts are saying. And so a STEPHANOPOULOS: Is that what you believe? MOOK: Well, I dont know. The experts need to tell us that. It was concerning last week that Donald Trump changed the Republican platform to become what some experts would regard as as pro-Russian. And so, again, the DNC needs to needs to look into this and take appropriate action. But but its its important to understand the broader perspective of of why this is happening. STEPHANOPOULOS: I want to stay on the WikiLeaks for a second, but but youre raising some important questions here. Do you think Donald Trump is too close to Vladimir Putin? MOOK: I think whats troubling is how he has praised Vladimir Putin. Its troubling that last week he said that or he questioned whether NATO should protect our Eastern European allies. So yes, I think thats troubling for any American, from a national security standpoint. It is the ugly little secret that the Trump campaign doesnt want to discuss. When Donald Trump Jr. was asked about support of his dad by the Russian government, he blew a gasket on CNN. Trump can ramble on about emails all he wants, but the reality is that there is only one candidate who us being backed by a government that the Republican Party considers an enemy to America. Donald Trumps praise for Putin is no coincidence, and the Clinton campaign is calling out the reason why. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trump actually thought that the best way to woo Sanders supporters was to attack Sen. Bernie Sanders. Trump tweeted: Sorry folks, but Bernie Sanders is exhausted, just can't go on any longer. He is trying to dismiss the new e-mails and DNC disrespect. SAD! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 An analysis showed that Bernie Sanders would have won the Democratic nomination if it were not for the Super Delegates. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 An analysis showed that Bernie Sanders would have won the Democratic nomination if it were not for the Super Delegates. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 Looks like the Bernie people will fight. If not, their BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS was a total waste of time. Kaine stands for opposite! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016 What Trumps little tantrum/tirade was about was that his whole strategy to win in November is based splitting the Democratic Party by moving the Bernie Sanders supporters into his column. The problem is that Donald Trump represents everything that the Sanders supporters are fighting against. The Sanders supporters will never support a billionaire who wont release his tax returns and stands for the kind of division and bigotry that Bernie Sanders opposes with every fiber of being. The best way not to get the support of the Sanders voters is to attack Bernie Sanders. The Bernie folks want a true leader and revolutionary, not a racist want to be third rate strongman. Donald Trump keeps finding new and different ways to make the supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders hate him. The U.S. government has issued a report this week on fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for U.S. cars and trucks that were first established in 2012. The report kicked off a two-year review process leading to a government decision on whether to leave the standards in place through 2025 or change them. A look at the standards: What are CAFE and GHG standards? CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) and GHG (greenhouse gas) standards are mile-per-gallon and emissions targets for cars and trucks set by the U.S. government. The standards are based on size and are weighted by sales. Each manufacturer has a different requirement based on the models it sells. Congress required CAFE standards in 1975 after several years of gasoline shortages during the Arab oil embargo. The standard for passenger cars stayed at 27.5 mpg from 1990 until 2007, when Congress required substantial increases in fuel economy. At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In 2009, the government set a standard of 34.1 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2016. In 2012, the government set a new target of 54.5 mpg by 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Does that mean my car could get 54.5 MPG in 2025? No. That figure comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is based on the fuel economy needed to achieve greenhouse gas reductions. Manufacturers can apply credits for various technologies to arrive at that figure. Real-world mileage is likely to be around 40 mpg. What's happening now? The government must decide whether the proposed standards for 2025 should stay in place or should be modified. When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency set the new standards in 2012, they agreed to conduct a mid-term evaluation for model years 2022-2025. That evaluation begins with the draft technical assessment, which was released Monday, and is expected to end in 2018 with a decision on whether the CAFE standards should be modified. What did the draft technical assessment say? The draft doesn't recommend whether to change fuel economy and emissions requirements. That will come later. It says automakers are well on their way toward meeting the 2012 standards, but it also says those standards might have to be lowered, since low gas prices have changed the mix of vehicles that automakers sell. More people are buying trucks and SUVs and spurning small, fuel-efficient cars now that gas prices are low. Why would the government change the standards? Gas is more than $1 per gallon cheaper than it was in 2012, when the standards were issued, which has hurt demand for more fuel-efficient cars. If automakers can't sell those cars, then they can't apply their high mileage toward their corporate average. But environmentalists and others say automakers are already beating the targets in many cases, so the government shouldn't weaken them. They also say automakers have been pushing SUVs because they are more profitable than cars. ADVERTISEMENT How are automakers improving fuel economy? The standards give manufacturers extra credit for new technologies, such as hybrid engines for pickup trucks and stop-start systems, which automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle stops. They also get greenhouse gas credits for more efficient air-conditioning systems. Manufacturers are raising their fuel economy with the introduction of electric cars like the Chevrolet Bolt, which is due out later this year, and the increased use of lightweight materials like aluminum and high-strength steel. Engine technologies, such as direct fuel injection, and more efficient transmissions are also contributing. Do added technologies make vehicles more expensive? Yes. In the report issued this week, the EPA estimates the fuel economy standards will cost $1,017 per vehicle between the 2022 and 2025 model years, while NHTSA estimates they will cost up to $1,245 per vehicle. The agencies differ on how much consumers would save in gas, but they estimate it's between $680 and $1,620 per vehicle. The battery on my husband's 2014 Lexus ES 350 died this weekend. He hadn't driven it for three days. This was about one week after a routine service checkup. The dealer jump-started it and, after checking it out in the service department, said there is absolutely nothing wrong. My husband is very uncomfortable with this diagnosis and is reluctant to drive the car. The dealer is keeping the car and checking it daily for drainage. My husband's lost confidence in the dealer and his car. It only has 19,000 miles. Any advice for next steps? A: Yes, counseling for your husband. I don't really understand his lost confidence or reluctance to drive the car. This is not a serious issue, and not driving the vehicle won't resolve it. To restore his confidence, buy him a jumper battery pack for his birthday or a late Father's Day gift. Have him learn how to use it to start a vehicle with a dead battery and leave it fully charged in the trunk. Only 19,000 miles on a 3-year-old vehicle indicates relatively infrequent use or frequent, short trips neither of which is particularly conducive to long battery life. It's time to fully test the battery. While cranking the engine, voltage should stay above 9.6 volts. After fully charging the battery, then turning on the headlights for 20 seconds to remove the surface charge, voltage at the battery should be 12.5 to 12.9 volts at 70 degrees. By the way, Toyota and Lexus specify battery maintenance for vehicles in their lots operate the engine for 30 minutes after 60 days in storage and every 30 days thereafter to help to maintain battery state of charge. If the battery passes these tests, the problem may be some type of parasitic current loss while parked. This is what the dealer is checking for. Speaking of the dealer, what exactly did they do during the routine service checkup? Perhaps a relay is stuck on or the glove box lamp is still on or something similar. ADVERTISEMENT In a continuing effort to improve fuel economy, car makers now tightly control alternator output to minimize power loss. The alternator on the Lexus actually is fitted with a clutch on its pulley so that the electronic control module can regulate its function. It might be worth checking this clutch. Q: I have a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan. I have recently noticed two black vertical lines in the back-up camera view that appear when I put the vehicle into reverse. These lines appeared only recently. Are these part of a screen center-line marker that was a part of an automatic software update of which I am unaware, or is there an issue with the camera that needs repair or replacement? The service person at the dealership said that their dealer runner Grand Caravan has these same vertical black lines in its back-up view. So I have now contacted Dodge Customer Service to get some clarification and insight. Any thoughts on this matter? A: I believe these vertical lines are guides for backing up that's why they only appear when you shift into reverse. Although I can't explain why they suddenly appeared, I believe you can choose whether or not these lines appear, through the back-up camera settings menu. Q: Both my son and I own Toyota products a 2009 Corolla and a 2013 Camry. Both have a similar problem getting the screws out of the rear license plate. Do you have any ideas? A: I found a number of suggestions online. Heat the bolt heads carefully with a small butane torch or soldering iron. Spray the back side of the bolts inside the trunk with a penetrating lubricant. Tap the bolt heads with a small hammer or slightly tighten the bolts before trying to loosen to break up the rust. When you do get them out, clean and coat them with anti-seize or replace them with stainless steel bolts. DECORAH, Iowa ArtHaus will host its annual Summer Art Fair July 29 and 30 in downtown Decorah. The fair coincides with the 50th anniversary of Decorah's Nordic Fest, held on the same weekend. Artists in a variety of media will display their work at ArtHaus and ArtHaus Studio, 508 W. Water St. and 516 W. Water St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 29, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 30. Admission is free. Rochester police have arrested a man and are searching for two others in connection with an alleged robbery and assault in northeast Rochester. A 35-year-old man from Plainview told police he left Top Shots bar early Friday morning with three men. Sometime between midnight and 5:30 a.m. the men assaulted him and stole his cell phone and wallet in the area of 14th Street Northeast and Viola Road. Shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday, police arrested Synika Roy Wagner, 23, of St. Paul, for allegedly having been involved in the assault. He was arrested near Top Shots bar in Rochester. Authorities are searching for two other suspects. One is described as a black male who is 28 to 32 years old with a shaved head and a short and stocky build. The other suspect is a white man who is 24 to 32 years old who drives a little black car. Residents in a southeast Rochester neighborhood are reeling from news that a recent house fire claimed the lives of a mother and son. Authorities say the Friday night blaze at 1024 10 Street Southeast killed 51-year-old Barbara Ruth Thoreson. Her son, Matthew Thoreson, 26, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He died on Saturday, according to a fire department news release. Neighbor Joe Jovanovich said he has lived in the neighborhood for 33 years and can't think of another tragic situation like this having happened. He said he got to know Matthew Thoreson, who delivered his newspaper. "He was very friendly, sociable," Jovanovich said. "He would always stop and chat, ask me how my day was going." The state Fire Marshal's Office is expected to release more information about the investigation on Monday morning. ADVERTISEMENT This is the second fatal house fire this year in Rochester. In March, Melissa Phiefer, 35, and her daughter, Emily Phiefer, 2, died in an apartment fire. Deputy Fire Chief Steven Belau said prior to this year, the city had not had a fatal fire since 2013. "Rochester is such a fire safe community. We don't see (fire fatalities) very often," Belau said. Crews responded to reports of a house fire shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday after someone passing by saw smoke billowing from the house and called 9-1-1. Firefighters encountered thick, heavy smoke when they entered the home, according to a fire department news release. It appeared the fire had been burning for a long time. Firefighters initially thought the home was empty but began searching the house to make sure. That's when they found the victims, Belau said. Rescue personnel got the mother and son out of the home. Attempts to resuscitate the mother were unsuccessful. They were able to resuscitate the son. He was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital Saint Marys Campus in critical condition. "It's just so frustrating when we can't save everyone," said Captain Craig Connelly of Engine Company 16 in a statement. Despite hot and humid weather conditions, firefighters were able to get the fire under control 16 minutes after arriving. Nonetheless, the home had already suffered serious structural damage and smoke damage. Belau confirmed media reports that the home appeared to be a "hoarder house" due to the number of items in the house. Neighbors interviewed said that Matthew Thoreson was often seen riding his bicycle around the neighborhood delivering newspapers. Barbara Thoreson preferred to stay at home and relied on a wheelchair to get around. ADVERTISEMENT Belau said fatal fires always hit first responders hard. He added, "It's always difficult when there's a loss of life." A doctor, a student and a retired engineer. Those are just some of the Democrats from Southeast Minnesota who are headed to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off on Monday. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to become the party's nominee. The Post-Bulletin chatted with some of the local delegates setting off for the City of Brotherly Love. Here's what they had to say. Muhamad Elrashidi Age:37 ADVERTISEMENT Hometown:Rochester Occupation:Primary care physician Bound delegate for:Bernie Sanders Can you remember the moment you realized you wanted to get involved in politics? "I don't really think of it as getting involved in politics, per se. It just seems to me a natural extension of what we're all supposed to do as responsible citizens. We're supposed to participate in the process and promote the best for our communities and our state and our country." Why did you want to be a delegate? "Every election is important, but I think this year the choices are very stark in terms of the directions that the two parties and the two now presumptive nominees are articulating and advocating. At a time when there is a strain of thought in our politics that maybe looks at certain people to exclude them or say they don't belong, it's important to participate." What are you most looking forward to at the Democratic National Convention? ADVERTISEMENT "The opportunity to get to meet a lot of different people that are energized and enthusiastic and are engaged in advocating for how to make our country better and from different parts of the country." Will you have time to do any sightseeing on the trip? "I'm hoping to. I'm looking forward to Valley Forge and that area. I didn't chance yet to catch Independence Hall and ever the Liberty Bell. I walked outside them before when I've visited, but I'm hoping I'll get a chance to check those out especially." John Mahanna Age:Declined to share Hometown:Rochester Occupation:Retired engineering manager Bound delegate for:Bernie Sanders ADVERTISEMENT Can you remember the moment you realized you wanted to get involved in politics? "I always voted, but I decided in 2000 to help the DFL where and when I could supporting candidates within the DFL that I identified with such as Paul Wellstone." Why did you want to be a delegate? "In watching (Bernie Sanders), he's been a person in politics not doing it for his own advantage to either gather wealth or opportunity or whatnot. He's been consistently fighting for people, so when he announced he was running, I decided I should get off my butt and help." What are you most looking forward to at the Democratic National Convention? "There's a lot of interesting meetings. There's talks on the future of America, there are some statistical analysis of election strategies that's going to be talked about. There's a whole series of things. It's ridiculous. I don't know how I'm going to sleep. I mean it starts at 7:30 in the morning and some nights runs until 4 in the morning." Will you have time to do any sightseeing on the trip? "I'm not of that ilk but I think there are those that are going to skip everything during the day and show up at the convention and night and do different things during the day. I want it to mean something more than a vote. I want to learn something." Zach Peterson Age:19 Hometown:Kasson Occupation:Student at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul Bound delegate for:Hillary Clinton Can you remember the moment you realized you wanted to get involved in politics? "It kind of started in history class -- our U.S. portion. And I think it was 11th grade. I was like, wow, we've been discussing the right to bear arms since the Declaration (of Independence) and we still don't have an answer. So I think that's what intrigued me." Why did you want to be a delegate? "To really get an idea of the political system and just jump in the pool of politics right away, see what it is really like at the top." What are you most looking forward to at the Democratic National Convention? "I get to meet a lot of other very passionate people like myself, talk to them and see where they got from this, too." Will you get a chance to do any sightseeing on trip? "Yes, we should. There are a lot of other events, too. I just got invited to an event from 11 at night to 4 in the morning and i'm like, is that healthy?" Randy Schubring Age:57 Hometown:Rochester Occupation:Policy development and government relations Bound delegate for:Hillary Clinton Can you remember the moment you realized you wanted to get involved in politics? "Absolutely. The summer of 1968 while all the other third-graders were enjoying their summer vacation outside, I was inside watching the raucous 1968 Democratic Convention from Chicago. Glued to the TV, I knew one day I had to be a part of that." Why did you want to be a delegate? "In '08 I was a supporter of Hillary Clinton when she ran the first time, and I didn't go to that convention. Then in 2012, I went to the convention but it was Obama's renomination, so I thought it would be interesting to go when you really have two very strong campaigns vying for the nomination." What are you most looking forward to at the Democratic National Convention? "I am looking forward to those dynamics of building unity. I've talked to many of the Sanders delegates, so watching the dynamic of the unity play out." Will you have time to do any sightseeing on the trip? "I've never been to Philadelphia, so hopefully I'll get over to Valley Forge and to Independence Hall." CLEVELAND -- Donald Trump's botched convention made Hillary Clinton's task in Philadelphia easier. Not necessarily easy, but easier. The Republicans' four days here were marked by disorganization, division and darkness. This was the Ronco of flubbed conventions: But wait, there's more. After the plagiarism debacle, a preventable problem made massively worse, came the Cruz fiasco, the news of his non-endorsement drowning out the vice presidential nominee. The mood among the GOP political establishment here traced a downhill trajectory from sour to disgusted. To talk to elected officials and political professionals was to encounter shrugged shoulders and shaking heads. No one could remember a convention this thoroughly, unnecessarily bungled. Trump could have used the convention, and his speech, to reassure doubting voters he possesses the judgment and temperament to be president, to expand beyond the base clamoring for Hillary Clinton's head. Trump and his children clearly have it in them. Ivanka Trump unsettled the convention audience with her unapologetic assertion that she is no reflexive Republican ("Like many of my fellow millennials, I do not consider myself categorically Republican or Democrat") and previewed a general election message on affordable child care and pay equity. ADVERTISEMENT Trump himself uttered the phrase "LGBTQ," twice, to cheers -- unthinkable to anyone who heard Pat Buchanan's "take back our culture" speech at the 1992 convention. But Trump chose, mostly, to rile up rather than reach out. Ronald Reagan spoke in 1975 of bold conservative colors, not "pale pastels." Trump's palette is Rembrandt dark, without the deft brushstrokes. His distorted vision is one of America under assault -- by criminals, by immigrants, by terrorists -- with Trump the only possible savior. "Beginning on January 20th 2017, safety will be restored," Trump proclaimed. And, "Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it." The authoritarian overtones were neck-prickling. So what is Clinton to do? Perhaps the country is in such a frenzy of disgust and despair that voters will be receptive to Trumpist fear-mongering, in which case she -- and we -- are in trouble. Not to discount the anger and frustration, yet Reagan succeeded by combining his muscular conservative message with a sunny, uplifting vision. The American people want to imagine their country as shining city on the hill, not the brutalized landscape of "Blade Runner." They want their anxiety acknowledged but their better angels channeled, away from anger and retribution. The challenge for Trump going into his convention was an amped-up version of the usual: to unify his party and cast himself in the eyes of voters as a man they can entrust with the presidency. He fell short, on both scores. Clinton's test is different. There may be lingering grumpiness among Bernie Sanders voters and distrust of the triangulating Clinton duo in the party's progressive wing. Yet nothing concentrates the Democratic mind, or unifies the base, like the prospect of Trump. The party Clinton will address in Philadelphia may not be uniformly ecstatic about her candidacy, but it is far less riven by the notion of her as president than were Republicans in Cleveland. Similarly, for all the particulars of Chris Christie's indictment of Clinton's supposed foreign policy blunders, voters' doubts do not center on her knowledge, her experience or her competence. ADVERTISEMENT They concern, as always, her honesty, trustworthiness and fundamental issues of character, not a problem capable of being solved by a boffo acceptance speech or a string of testimonials. If such rehabilitation were ever possible, which is remote, FBI Director James Comey dispensed with that in two damning words: "extremely careless." So Clinton's path lies in emphasizing the consistency of her biography, anchored in values. Where Trump declared bankruptcies and ripped off everyone from lenders to Trump University suckers, Clinton and her validators can be expected to argue that she devoted a lifetime to fighting for women and children. But biography means little without it being tied to a compelling picture of the future. Trump has run a campaign that is all slogan and little policy. Clinton, by contrast, has run a tapas campaign, serving up endless small plates of wonky policy. Each may be smart individually but these dishes lack an overarching theme, at least not one that she has succeeded in conveying to voters. Trump and his convention helped her by adding to the evidence about his own unsuitability. She needs to help herself not only by hammering that home, but by offering an affirmative case for herself and a vision of where she wants to lead the country. Ruth Marcus is a columnist for the Washington Post. A new net-metering option may be available to residents and businesses who are otherwise unable to take advantage of the program due to location or other factors. Sen. Dennis Rodriguez, chairman of the legislative committee on economic development, told the Post that he would be introducing a measure on virtual net metering within the next couple of weeks. Rodriguez said the purpose of the measure is to have more individuals and entities, including government entities, participate in renewable energy programs. "Establishing virtual net metering, which we're calling community-based renewable energy, creates new construction jobs and it will stimulate the economy ... when an individual is able to save on their utilities then that money can be used somewhere else," Rodriguez said. According to state net-metering policies from the National Conference of State Legislatures website, virtual net metering allows property owners with multiple meters to distribute net metering credits to individual accounts, such as to tenants in multi-family dwellings. Owners of non-adjacent properties could also use credits generated from one property for consumption at another. A related concept, community net metering or community-based renewable energy, allows for multiple users to purchase shares of a net-metered system either on-site or off-site. Utilities in five states have implemented some sort of virtual net-metering program and 11 states, along with Washington, D.C., practice community net metering. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. While the senator did not disclose all the details of his bill, he said some power consumers on Guam can't directly participate in the Guam Power Authority's net metering program, either because they are tenants that require the landlord's approval or because of their physical location. According to Joe Rosario and Jeff Voacolo, the director of business development and marketing and chief operations officer of Mirconesia Renewable Energy Inc. (MRE) respectively, individuals living under tin roofing or decorated rooftops, along cliff lines and heavy jungle areas - under shade for long hours - face challenges when it comes to utilizing solar power. Virtual net metering would allow these consumers to reduce their energy bills by gaining credits through solar power produced at off-site facilities, they said. Program review The possibility of virtual net metering comes at a crucial time for GPA. The utility reached just over 1,000 net-metered customers in July and is in the process of finalizing a report to submit to the Public Utilities Commission, the body that oversees rates on Guam. The PUC is expected to review the net-metering program and determine if any changes need to be made. GPA worked with rate consultant Black and Veatch to analyze the cost impact of the existing program and will be providing recommendations to the PUC in August. The net-metering program was established by Public Law 27-132. Under the current program, GPA provides one-for-one credit for the energy net-metered consumers produce and push back into the power grid. According to an April profile breakdown of such customers, nearly 500 customers produced enough power to only pay residential fixed charges, amounting to an average of $15 per customer. GPA and members of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, the body with policy oversight, have questioned the fairness of the program as solar users can generate enough power during the day to offset the costs of consuming GPA power at night - which is the peak load period - while not contributing to the cost of the grid at all. Consumers can also bank credits. In its presentation to the CCU on July 19, GPA noted ongoing debates in states like Hawaii, California and Arizona where net-metering programs are being modified, removed or replaced with alternatives. GPA also highlighted national concern over the utility "death spiral" which occurs when increasing penetration from solar providers and higher compensation to net metered customers forces utilities to recoup fixed costs with higher rates, further attracting consumers to solar power and reducing kilowatt-hour sales even more. Net metering and time-of-use The debate over net metering coincides with discussions over time-of-use (TOU) rates, which either increase or decrease depending on the time of day. Time-of-use rates are meant to encourage shifting power consumption from peak load periods, between 3 and 10 p.m., in order to alleviate strain on the grid. GPA is facing reduced power-generating capacity due to a fire that severely damaged the Cabras 3 and 4 power plant in August 2015. The PUC is in the process of reviewing a plan that includes new power generation while GPA overhauls existing generators to increase capacity and pays nearly $1 million a month to lease temporary power generators from supplier Aggreko. The current amount of net-metered customers can produce more than 12 megawatts during the day but the Black and Veatch report stated that this contributed nothing to reducing peak demand as the highest contribution occurs around noon and trickles off by sunset. "This is further confirmation that (net metering) for GPA has an energy only value and that the banking provision for excess generation over-compensates (net metered) customers for the value of the energy they produced," the report stated. Solar energy battery storage may help address some of these issues and Voacolo said implementing time-of-use rates would only encourage MRE customers to purchase these items as they would reduce reliance on GPA power at night, avoiding potentially higher rates at peak period. Moreover, PUC Chairman Jeff Johnson has expressed interest in rebates for residents who install solar battery storage. Savings questioned During the July 19 meeting, CCU Commissioner Simon Sanchez suggested obtaining solar provider information from net-metered customers to gauge how much customers are actually saving through the use of solar-power systems. "(Net metering) is going to continue to grow. Someday we're going to have people making 25, 30, 40 megawatts. Who's regulating them and who's regulating the guy selling (solar) to them?" Sanchez said. GPA General Manager John Benavente stated that the only customer they were able to get that specific information from was the Guam Department of Education, which provided its power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Guam Education Financing Foundation for review. GPA initially found that the rate structure in the agreement was too high to fall within the law specifying that GDOE cannot pay a solar provider more than 80 percent of its current billing from the power utility. GPA approved a renegotiated contract in March, but Benavente was unsure if the contract price of 19 cents per kilowatt hour with an escalator rate of 1.5 percent annually was the best deal GDOE could manage. GPA could be become a solar provider for community-based solar power systems, Sanchez said. He added that he wants to consider community solar, not only as a way for GPA to provide solar energy to customers who are normally unable to use it, but also so the utility could control pricing enough to be able to compensate for use of the power grid. The Black and Veatch report also recommended looking at community solar. "Community solar and utility-scale solar are least-cost solutions for adding renewable resources and doing so is more cost effective than promoting rooftop solar," the report stated. If I say I walked all the way from Thailand to Malaysia and you havent done that, chances are you wont believe me but I did! Traveling to Malaysia from Thailand is easy, especially if you are already staying near the border. I was at Narathiwat, Thailands southernmost city for a couple of days before I decided to proceed to Kuala Lumpur. If you are in Bangkok, its another story though that involves a two-hour plane ride or 14 hours trip on a bus. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Narathiwat is only an hour away by van from Su-ngai Golok Boundary Post and the van dropped me and my buddy Rolly right in front of the immigration building. I joined the long line to get my passport stamped with exit then we walked across the border to Malaysia, leaving Rolly on Thailand soil. The Customs and Quarantine officers in Rantau Panjang were friendly, asking light questions about the contents of my backpack (my only luggage) until I said I had a bottle of Excedrin. That was when the officers looked at each other and asked me to step aside. Then they inspected my backpack, something which they didnt do to others and asked me if I was feeling okay and how many days I had been sick. They said they needed to take my temperature and check if I had a fever or anything contagious. Baffled, I explained that the Excedrin was for my occasional migraine bouts and it had been in my backpack forever. One of the female officers touched my forehead, then let me go, apologizing for the delay. Then I was on Malaysian soil for the first time, all on my own and without one single Ringgit in my pocket. If you dont have Ringgits with you, cross the street after you exit the immigration building in Rantau Panjang and theres only one money changer in the area. I exchanged all the US dollars and Philippine pesos and Thailand Baht I had in my wallet for Ringgits then crossed the street. Communication is a challenge. I asked four people and after so many frustrated gestures I understood they all said the fare to Kota Bharu was 500 Ringgits. I waited with other passengers at the roofed walkway where Bus 29 stops by every 30 minutes or so. When the bus came, I hopped on, not sure if I had enough money for fare. Passengers are required to pay the driver as soon as they board. I showed the driver all the bills I got from the money exchange and he looked at me with a funny expression then peeled off five Ringgits from the wad of bills in my hand. I have never felt like a stupid tourist in my life than that moment. The bus ride from Rantau Panjang to Kota Bharu is about an hour and will take you through several interesting towns and villages. I reached the bus terminal just right after sunset and waited for the next bus to Kuala Lumpur for three hours. The trip to Kuala Lumpur took eight hours in a freezing bus with centralized A/C so if you cant stand the cold, bring a blanket. These buses usually dont hand out blankets and water and snacks, and there are no restrooms onboard either, so you have to take advantage of the short stops in between. Its a trip where people sleep. Shortly before sunrise, we entered Kuala Lumpur and everything spelled civilization. Here is a city where everyone still mistakes me for a Thai but where almost everybody speaks and understands English. By the way, the border from Thailand to Malaysia is less than half a mile away and crossing it on foot is no big feat. I got you there. In the annals of mewling idiocy emanating from Foggy Bottom, Secretary of State John Kerry must be given pride of place. Speaking to his friends in Vienna late last week, he contributed in a major way to man-made global warming if there is such a thing. Kerry was in Vienna to amend the 1987 Montreal Protocol that would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, from basic household and commercial appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and inhalers. As we were working together on the challenge of [ISIS] and terrorism, Kerry said. Its hard for some people to grasp it, but what weyouare doing here right now is of equal importance because it has the ability to literally save life on the planet itself. Via John Siciliano/Washington Examiner and Alyssa Canobbio/Washington Free Beacon. The Munich massacre was carried out by 18-year-old Ali Sonboly. While the murder spree had no apparent connection to Muslim ideology, the BBC didnt take any chances. As Raheem Kassam of Breitbart News documents, the BBC doggedly referred to the killer as David Sonboly, David being his middle name: The BBC has unilaterally chosen not to report the Munich attackers full name, in what appears to be an attempt to scrub any Muslim or Islamic heritage link to its coverage of the incident. At 3pm UK time on Saturday, the BBC made reference to the killer as Ali Sonboly. Within one hour however, the BBC had changed its references to the now dead culprit to David Sonboly. At 6:31pm, the news bulletin on the BBC News Channel referred to him as David Sonboly though at 6:32pm their correspondent in Germany referred to him as David Ali Sonboly. The BBCs online coverage says, at the time of publication [emphasis added]: His name has not been officially released but he is being named locally as David Sonboly. Kassam reached out the BBC with a series of questions: Dear Sir or Madam, Could the BBC please explain the decision to only refer to Munich killer Ali David Sonboly as David Sonboly? This is a pattern across online, broadcast, and social media and therefore leads me to believe this decision was taken at a very high level. Could you please let me know who took this decision and when, and why? I will be publishing on this shortly. Kind regards, Raheem Kassam Editor in Chief Breitbart London The BBC did not respond to Kassams inquiry, but it quietly changed its coverage. Without explanation, it began referring to Sonboly as Ali David Sonboly online, although on-air he remained David Sonboly. We know from statements made by Sonbolys classmates that they knew him as Ali Sonboly. The post read: I know this f****** guy, his name is ali sonboly. he was in my class back than (sic). we always mobbed him in school. and he always told us that he would kill us. And: Haupbuam said Sonboly had few friends at school and never attempted to mix. I know his brother very well but we never went around with Ali. He was just not interested. So there is no reason to think that the BBC was trying to refer to Ali Sonboly by the name by which he was generally known. Rather, it seems obvious that the network was trying to de-Islamize him by calling him David. This is a relatively minor, but still revealing, example of the ways in which the liberal media have their thumbs on the scale every day, trying to make sure that you dont get the wrong idea. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, says it is concerned about the increasing figure of non-performing insider loans in banks and has directed banks to impose strict sanctions on defaulters. This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Head, Communication and Public Affairs of NDIC, Hadi Birchi. It quoted Umaru Ibrahim, the Managing Director, NDIC, as expressing the concern when the newly elected President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Ajibola, visited him in Abuja. According to Mr. Ibrahim, the development had posed credibility questions which were capable of eroding public confidence in the banking system. He called for strict compliance with the existing code of conduct and a review of the existing laws to provide stiffer penalties for directors of banks who are guilty of the act. The NDIC boss also decried the casualisation of workers in the banking industry, adding that the development has a negative impact on the system. According to him, casual staff accounted for about 25 per cent of the banking industry workforce. He noted with concern the practice whereby some banks assigned sensitive roles to casual staff; thereby exposing the banking industry to cases of fraud and forgeries. Speaking on the recent staff rationalisation embarked upon by banks, Mr. Ibrahim enjoined the banks to exercise caution so as not to create industrial unrest in the industry. He therefore called on the CIBN to intervene by advising its members on the aim of the rationalisation, which should be to weed out bad eggs from the industry. Mr. Ibrahim said that the corporation would continue to partner with the CIBN and other professional bodies towards achieving effective capacity building among its staff. The NDIC boss also disclosed that 77 members of its staff were currently undergoing the Bangor/CB MBA programme which commenced three years ago. !The Bangor/CB MBA programme is an initiative of the NDIC, the CIBN and the Bangor University, Scotland, where staff of the corporation undergo up to 24 months training programme. They graduate with dual certification, an MBA and Chartered Banker of Scotland, and 14 members of staff have already graduated from the programme, he said. Mr. Ibrahim urged CIBN to fast track the accreditation of the Corporations Training Academy and the introduction of the Deposit Insurance System (DIS) in the institutes curricula to broaden professionalism in the industry. The CIBN President had earlier appreciated the corporation for its positive contributions to the activities and programmes of the institute. He commended NDIC for its support towards the establishment of the CIBN Bankers House in Abuja and for its contribution in ensuring stability in the banking system. Mr. Ajibola assured Mr. Ibrahim that the accreditation committee of the institute would soon visit the NDIC Academy. He appealed to the NDIC boss to further collaborate with the institute on training and other issues of mutual interest. On staff casualisation in the industry, Mr. Ajibola pledged to table the matter at CIBNs next meeting with banks CEOs with a view to addressing the issues. He also stated that efforts were being put in place by the CIBN to enhance the capacity of bank staff, particularly in credit administration. (NAN) The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it will reduce dependence on federal allocation by increasing its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to a monthly target of N30 billion in 2017. It also said that it would increase the IGR to N50 billion monthly in 2018 as it targeted a yearly budget of N1 trillion by 2018. This is contained in a communique issued at the end of a four-day retreat for members of the State Executive Council, Body of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies and Parastatals in Badagry. The communique said the retreat had the theme Reflect, Reappraise, Restrategise: Raising the Bar of Governance. On the budget plan, it said the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Akinyemi Ashade, described the target as ambitious, adding that appropriate measures were being adopted to achieve the plan. Yes, it is ambitious, it requires thinking and what we are going to do differently is to ensure that we use technology to drive it in terms of automation and collection. What we are also going to ensure is that the whole reform around consumption taxes is really taken to another level. The land administration system will support this initiative, the communique quoted Mr. Ashade as saying. It said that the government had resolved to scale up and run efficient revenue collection machinery through the convergence of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies operations and utilisation of cutting edge technologies. It also said the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, noted that participants agreed to achieve 100 per cent budget performance with a 58 per cent to 42 per cent ratio for capital and recurrent expenditure. It added that it was also resolved that efforts should be redoubled at reducing cost and blocking leakages. Meanwhile, it was resolved that those MDAs who are not yet integrated into the Treasury Single Account be brought in before the end of third quarter of 2016. Participants pledged to ensure timely preparation of the 2017 budget and its passage into law by the end of October 2016. This will facilitate the implementation of the budget from Jan. 1, 2017, it quoted Mr. Ayorinde as saying. The communique said participants deliberated on the six pillars of Lagos State Development Plan which included infrastructure development, sustainable environment, finance, economic development, social development and security and governance. As a government of inclusion, participants identified the need for partnership with persons and organisations that will create positive value to enhance the quality of life and standard of living of residents, it said. The communique said other conclusions included the need to improve on the performance of Lagos Water Corporation in the production of water and collection of water tariff. It said that participants resolved to also encourage private sector investment in production and supply of portable water and mapping out strategies toward food security. On tourism, the communique said that participants acknowledged the imperative and need to invest more in the sector. It said that they emphasised the need to improve on the technological capacity of the Lottery Board to create jobs and increase revenue generation. The communique said the government also urged individuals and corporate organisations to take ownership of its Tree Planting initiative to mitigate the effect of climate change by nurturing and ensuring survival of trees. (NAN) President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup. Turkish authorities also detained a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, the Anadolu state news agency reported. A restructuring of Turkeys once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days. The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed. His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the north-eastern city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported. Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a terrorist organization, the agency said. It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the failed coup. Turkey has also captured a key aide to Gulen, a presidency official said. Halis Hanci, described as the clerics right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters. Hasan Karakus, the pilot who bombed the special forces command in Ankara and killed 42 police officers, was also caught in Turkey, said the official. Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticized a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogans Islamist-rooted AK Party. Turkey does not plan to extend emergency rule beyond a period of three months following the failed coup, but will do so if necessary, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. Our goal is that it shouldnt be extended, but if the need arises it may of course be extended, he said in an interview with the ATV television station. Yildirim said only a few people who took part in the coup attempt remain at large a group of around 15 who attacked a hotel Erdogan was staying at in the resort of Marmaris and some who went to Greece. Turkey plans to dismantle the special presidential guard, he added. In his decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan also extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this would facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt. Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in fresh blood. Turkeys Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogans supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the governments control. Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting which usually takes place every August will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff. Erdogan, a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday, saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. The emergency allows Erdogan and the AK Party government, who are mildly Islamist, to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations. The first decree signed by Erdogan authorizes the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said. Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simple majority, which the government has. In an address to parliament late on Friday, Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist terrorist movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters. More rallies were planned over the weekend in many towns and cities. In Istanbul, Turkeys commercial capital, authorities have allowed people to travel for free on the metro system so they can more easily attend the rallies. Video screens on trains show pictures of citizens, or martyrs, killed in the violence. Cars and mini-buses honking their horns drive around the streets until late in the night carrying flag-waving supporters of Erdogan shouting patriotic or religious slogans. On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV that Turkey expected to complete within 10 days a dossier requesting Gulens extradition from the United States. Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the failed coup and Gulens extensive network of followers was very clear, adding that Turkey would do all it could politically and legally to secure his extradition. The U.S. has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulens involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say that process could take many years. After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week. Critics of Erdogan in Turkey and abroad fear he is using the failed coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on his opponents. They say the purges risk sweeping up innocent people too and that some institutions being shut down may have little or no connection to Gulens movement. Speaking at a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in China on Saturday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey would strongly adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law. In Ankara, the minister for European Union affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turks since the coup attempt. We are very surprised that our allies have not come to Turkey to visit even after one week has passed, Omer Celik told reporters. (Reuters/NAN) At least 80 people were killed in a bombing in the Afghan capital during a demonstration, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday of the attack claimed by the Islamic State extremist group. An estimated 231 people were wounded after two suicide bombers targeted a peaceful demonstration in Kabuls Dehmazang Square. At least 10,000 people were taking part in the protest, according to event organizer Mohammad Arif Rahmani. Most of the protesters were Hazaras, a Shiite minority from central Afghanistan, who have long suffered discrimination, especially under Taliban rule when thousands from the tribe were killed. The Hazara minority ethnic group makes up 22 per cent of Afghanistans Sunni-dominated population. The Interior Ministrys statement said that two attackers detonated their suicide vests, while one was killed by Afghan security forces. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, writing on its affiliated Aamaq News Agency that two of its fighters carried out the attack. Abu Ali, an Islamic State commander in Achin district of Nangarhar [an eastern Afghan province], reported to his commanders that three suicide bombers penetrated the demonstration in Dehmazang, an Afghan intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. The Hazaras are one of the poorest and least-assisted groups in a country where billions of dollars in aid have poured in since 2001. Hazaras have been targeted in both Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years. The protesters were demanding that the construction of an electrical transmission line from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Kabul be rerouted through their province of Bamyan, which is not currently connected to Afghanistans central electricity grid. The Afghan government had rejected protesters demands, citing further delays and added costs. Islamic State has been known to carry out brutal attacks against Shiites in Iraq and Syria, but this is the first attack they have claimed in Kabul against an ethnic minority. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was deeply saddened by the attack, adding that security forces were among the casualties, while Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack. The U.S. condemned in the strongest terms the vicious attack, and offered assistance to Ghani in the investigation. The innocent victims today were, as President Ghani said, exercising nothing more than their constitutional right of peaceful demonstration, according to a US State Department statement. They were gathered together as free citizens, protected by brave security forces who also fell victim in the line of duty, said State Department spokesman John Kirby. The bombing was also condemned by NATOs Resolute Support Mission and Pakistans Foreign Ministry. We extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims and express our solidarity with the Afghan people, according to a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. We stand by the Afghan authorities in the fight against terrorism and call on all Afghans to stay united in support of the efforts to fight this global threat, the EU statement said. Images on social media showed horrific scenes with scores of people wounded in the square where the protesters had gathered. Taliban militants denied any involvement. We want to make it clear Our Mujahideen had no hand in the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote in an email. (dpa/NAN) The police in Ogun State said they have commenced a manhunt for Francis Taiwo, a pastor of the Key of Joy Celestial Church, Ajibawo, Atan-Ota town of the state. Mr. Taiwo, along with other church members, is accused of chaining his 9-year-old son for weeks. The Ogun Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday said the boys health is improving. He said the boy will be handed over to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare during the week for further rehabilitation. The police working with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, had on Friday rescued the victim, Korede Taiwo, from an apartment in the church where he was chained. The authorities said they acted on a tip-off. Mr. Adejobi said the boys stepmother, Kehinde Taiwo, was already in custody while the police was yet to get details of his biological mother. The boy is better now, he can stand, the spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES. The father is on the run. No information about him yet but we have started intensive manhunt on him. He can only run for awhile and he cant hide. While the police search for the fugitive father, the Assistant Inspector General of Police for the zone, Abdulmajid Ali, warned residents that authorities would deal with anyone found maltreating children. Francis Taiwo, the fleeing pastor who chained his 9-year-old son for weeks, has been arrested. The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES said the suspect was arrested on Sunday, with the assistance of his church members. The suspect had been on the run since police and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, burst into his church on Friday to rescue the victim, Korede. The victims stepmother had earlier been arrested by the police who announced that the malnourished boy will be handed to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare for further rehabilitation. Mr. Adejobi said Mr. Taiwo, a pastor at the Key of Joy Celestial Church, Ajibawo, Atan-Ota town of Ogun State, will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed. Francis Taiwo, a cleric who chained his 9-year-old son for several weeks, has given reasons for his action. Mr. Taiwo, pastor of the Key of Joy Celestial Church, was arrested on Sunday after initially evading law enforcement authorities. His son, Korede, was rescued on Friday from the church premises where he was chained and appeared malnourished. Narrating his case to the police, Mr. Taiwo reportedly said he took the action because he believed his son was possessed with a stealing spirit known in Yoruba language as emi ole I chained my son because I felt he is possessed and Im not comfortable with his stealing habit, a police source present during his interrogation quoted the suspect as saying. He also told officials that he married Koredes mother who bore four children for him before their divorce in 2007. He said the victims mother, Marine Taiwo, was from Delta State and that Koredes siblings were not living with him. The 40-year-old suspect, who hails from Benin Republic, said he was born in Ota Town of Ogun State. He said he rose to be a pastor in the Celestial Church, CCC, and was ordained in 2012. The Church has already distanced itself from the controversial pastor. All we can say is that the man is not a registered or recognized pastor in the CCC, a church official sent from the Lagos headquarters told journalists on Saturday. The police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the suspects interrogation to PREMIUM TIMES, said he would be prosecuted once investigation is completed. Koredes stepmother is still in police custody for her alleged role in the boys ordeal. A former military president, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), has commended the leadership of Speaker Yakubu Dogara in the House of Representatives. Speaking when he received members of the House of Representatives led by the speaker in his Hiltop residence in Minna on Saturday evening, IBB described the Dogara-led House of Representatives as committed and dedicated, according to a statement issued by Mr. Dogaras spokesman, Turaki Hassan. The former Nigerian leader urged them to continue to display commitment and dedication to their duties as legislators. I am grateful that youve found time to be with us this evening. Im elated that you and your colleagues have had time to pay this visit, he said. Its always nice to see you all and the way you conduct yourselves for the purpose of piloting the nation. You can see knowledge and commitment being displayed during your various debates. Sometimes, tempers may rise but the ability to control situations is the hallmark of democracy. I want to commend the whole house for doing a good job. I think you have a unique advantage which we never had we are analogue, you are IT compliant. I want you to please keep it up. I want to commend and congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, for your very able leadership and I hope you will continue to do the country proud. I want to thank you once more for coming to visit, he said. On his part, the speaker emphasised the need for inter-generational interaction, in order to make progress by learning from the past. We are here to pay our respects, Mr. Dogara said. For us to make progress in this country, there has to be a meeting point between the past and the present, and seeking counsel helps us to be better guided. The anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari is being repelled on two fronts from beneficiaries of corruption in the previous administration, and enemies within the government, a senior lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, has said. In his lecture at the investiture of Dele Ologbede as the President of Rotary Club, Ikoyi, in Lagos on Sunday, Mr. Falana said after Nigerians had backed the government to reject claims of lopsided prosecution of anti-corruption campaign by those from outside, it was time for Mr. Buhari to fight the enemies within. As enemies within, he made references to Minister of Interior and former Army Chief, Abdulraman Dambazzau; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Comptroller-General of Prisons, Jafaru Ahmed; and the National Assembly. Since the Buhari administration commenced the war against corruption last year it has enjoyed the support of the Nigerian people, Mr. Falana said in his speech which he sent to PREMIUM TIMES. However, corruption is fighting back on two fronts. From outside the battlefront, the beneficiaries of corruption have accused the government of selectively targeting its political opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The allegation has been dismissed by Nigerians as all the suspects arrested by the EFCC have not denied their involvement in the mega looting of the treasury. Apart from the fact that majority of those who have been arrested are military officers and government contractors a number of the suspects who are members of the PDP have actually refunded part of the loot. He continued, From the home front, it is evidently clear that some highly placed public officers who have been linked with corruption are trying desperately to discredit and sabotage the war. Disturbed by the clamour for the removal and prosecution of such individuals the government has urged Nigerians to stop making baseless allegations against serving public officers. In spite of the clarification by the government the online media have continued to substantiate the allegations of corruption against the Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of Interior. Instead of attacking the imaginary enemies of the government, the anti-corruption war calls for an urgent review of strategies. For instance, it was recently reported in the media that 3 ex-chiefs of army staff had been indicted by the arms procurement panel. But when the report was eventually released the name of one of the 3 security chiefs who is a serving minister was missing. Not unexpectedly, allegations of cover up were raised in the media. Embarrassed by the development the government reacted by denying any cover up and explained that the panel had not investigated the arms procurement from 2007-2010 when the minister served as the chief of army staff. A fact-check by PREMIUM TIMES, showed that contrary to government claims, the arms procurement (2007-2015) probe panel investigated Mr. Dambazzaus tenure as Army chief. However, when the report was released, neither Mr. Dambazzau or Mr. Buratai were indicted, amidst allegations that the report was doctored. The federal government later said the probe exercise did not cover Mr. Dambazzaus tenure as Chief of Army Staff. Before the release of the controversial report a group had alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai had purchased some properties worth $1.5 million in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Mr. Falana said. In defending the allegation the Nigerian Army claimed that the general bought the properties from his legitimate earnings. In confirming that the properties were declared the Code of Conduct Bureau claimed that the army chief had declared them in the name of his wife! Aside the statement the CCB should proceed to investigate and confirm that the properties were legitimately acquired from the income of the general. This investigation should be speedily and transparently conducted to assure the Nigerian people that there are no sacred cows in the prosecution of the war against corruption. Another official whose conduct ought to be investigated by the government is the comptroller-general of prisons, Mr. Jafaru. According to media reports which have not been denied the prison boss is alleged to have reduced his age by two years. Since two judges were recently dismissed for reducing their ages and ordered to refund the money they had illegally collected the comptroller- general of prisons ought to be removed from office without any further delay. Similarly, having identified the top civil servants in the Presidency who padded the 2016 national budget the federal government should hand them over to the EFCC for prosecution. In his speech, Mr. Falana expressed worry that the All Progressives Congress-led National Assembly is also allegedly frustrating the anti-corruption war. Apart from the hot scandal of budget padding to the tune of N40 billion involving top members of the House of Representatives including the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Mr. Falana said both Senators and House members short-changed Nigeria by sitting below number of days constitutionally stipulated but collecting full jumbo pay. Whereas section 63 of the Constitution provides that the Senate and the House of Representatives shall each sit for not less than 181 days in a year section 68 thereof states that any legislator who fails to attend the proceedings of the house or senate for less than one third of the required number of days shall automatically lose his or her seat. For the first legislative year which ended on 9/6/16 the 8th session of the national assembly did not meet the constitutional requirement. Specifically, due to incessant recesses the House of Representatives sat for only 104 days while the Senate sat for 96 days. This means that the senate sat for barely 50 percent of the required sitting period. Indeed, some of the senators who had to attend criminal courts where they are standing trial for corrupt practices did not seat for up to 70 days throughout the legislative year. The Senate was actually shut down on a number of occasions to enable the senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki to attend the proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is standing trial for false declaration of assets. And in solidarity with him, a number of senators abandoned their duties to accompany him to the Tribunal. Since the labour policy of no work no pay is applicable to all public officers the federal legislators ought not to have been paid when they did not perform any legislative duty. In other words, having failed to sit for the mandatory period of 181 days the legislators were not entitled to payment of full salaries and allowances for the whole legislative year. Having been paid full emoluments when they failed to sit for the required number of days the federal legislators ought to refund some money to the treasury. In the circumstance, the Accountant-General of the Federation should ensure that the legislators are made to refund the money collected for the number of days they failed to sit in the national assembly, he said. He asked the Government not to compromise the anti-corruption war. He also said that officials who cannot explain sources of their wealth should be thrown out. He called for prosecution of suspected corrupt officials. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria ,IMN, has expressed deep concern about the health of their leader, Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky, currently in Department of State Security ,DSS custody. Close relations of Mr. Zakzaky had over the week visited him at the DSS office in Abuja. A statement on Saturday in Kaduna by Ibrahim Musa, President of Media Forum of IMN, said it is in the interest of the Nigerian State to release him unconditionally to enable him attend to his heath. From the report of the close relations, the health of our leader has deteriorated further, the statement said. His left eye is in dire need of specialized medical attention. The doctor assigned to the Sheikh has reportedly given up on getting it back to its normal state. His left arm where he sustained gunshot wounds is still demobilized and the wounds are yet to heal. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is deeply concerned about the health of our incarcerated leader and believe that it is in the interest of the Nigerian State and those holding him to release him unconditionally to enable him attend to his heath. The Nigerian people are aware and the international community is aware that our leader has not been accused of committing any offence and has not been charged for one and has not been arraigned before any competent court of the land for the past eight months. We firmly believe it was Allah that has spared the life of our revered leader out of his mercy, even though those who wish him dead were averse to it. However it is the height of injustice to deny the Sheikh the best medical attention taking into consideration all that has been done to him, his family and millions of his followers. Of what benefit will it be to our nation if his health deteriorates beyond salvation? The statement added: If at all the claim of the counsel to the DSS in a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Sheikh is in protective custody is to be believed, then attention to his health should be of paramount importance to whoever is holding him hostage. Even though a glimpse of the report of the Judicial Commission of inquiry submitted to Kaduna state government has indicted the Army for its brutality against the Sheikh and his followers in Zaria, the least expected from the government is his release to us for proper medical attention. Refusal to do just this is an indication that the federal government has some ulterior motives and wants to keep him in custody and allow his health to deteriorate further. We would like to appeal to those that have the ears of this government, well meaning Nigerians and the international community to insist on the unconditional release of our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and all those detained with him in the aftermath of the Zaria carnage last December. The Nigerian government has repeated its commitment to work towards the World Health Organisations certification as a polio-free country in 2017. President Muhammadu Buhari restated this commitment in a statement on Saturday as the country marked the second anniversary of the interruption of polio-virus transmission in the country. WHO regulation stipulates that a country must be have no new cases of polio virus transmission in three years before being certified polio-free. Mr Buhari said the government will strive to attain the polio-free certification by intensifying routine immunization and the revitalization of primary health care system. As a nation, we are cooperating with international public and private partners to ensure that in our lifetime our children do not suffer from this crippling disease again, he said. We recognize the power of global partnership to achieve a polio-free world and Nigeria will continue to honour its commitment to ensure that this disease is wiped off the face of the earth for good, he added. He said in the last year, the country has had to surmount dwindling revenue, disruption of services by health workers and insecurity in states with high prevalence of polio to make sure the crippling disease which targets children under the age of five did not make a comeback. He said in spite of these challenges, his government would not relent in the doing all that is necessary to achieve the WHO certification. We will continue to do our best to ensure timely release of funds required for polio eradication programme. The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain an important part of our drive to national development, he said. We have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles, yellow fever and others. He said his government will work at state and local government as well as religious and traditional leaders to increase supervision and improve surveillance of most at risk communities. He said all hands should be on deck for the country to achieve its goal of polio-free certification. He thanked foreign and local organization that collaborated or supported the government in its fight to eradicate the disease in the country. A year ago when Nigeria was delisted as a polio endemic country, I remarked that our fight against other communicable and non-communicable diseases must be anchored on a strong health system. I am pleased that the National Health Act has made provision for universal access to basic healthcare with a focus on the poor and the vulnerable as well as the basic healthcare provision funds to support its implementation. I thank our development partners particularly WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, USAID, US-Centre for Disease Control, Rotary International, and a host of others who contributed financially and materially to this effort. Together we can achieve our vision to make polio a thing of the past. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, has confirmed that it is indeed talking with the Federal Government of Nigeria as stated by President Muhammadu Buhari. President Buhari had while bidding farewell to the outgoing German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zinner, on Thursday, said his administration was talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region. He also said the government was studying the instruments of the amnesty programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered. We understand their feelings, the president said. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment; otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country, President Buhari said. In a statement on Sunday, MENDs spokesperson, Gbomo Jomo, said the group was having what it described as preliminary talks with the government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies as revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, July 21, 2016, MEND said. These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region. During the preliminary talks, the group said the government made it clear that it would not negotiate with criminals. It listed groups and persons the government reportedly said it would not negotiate with to include Niger Delta Avengers, internet-based militant groups such as Joint Revolutionary Council and the Ultimate Warriors. Others are those it called opportunistic tribal assemblies, who it claimed were compromised to keep silent during the six years of the Goodluck Jonathans administration, pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs and miscreants. The Borno State Government has directed all civil servants in the 10 local government areas of the state liberated by the military from Boko Haram to return to work with immediate effect. Usman Zannah, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, gave the directive while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Maiduguri. Mr. Zannah said: Governor Shettima has directed all workers from the 10 liberated local government areas to return to work with immediate effect following the return of relative peace to the towns. Local government areas like Mafa, Magumeri, Dikwa, Konduga, Benisheikh, Askira Uba, Kala Balge and Kaga, among others, were all free from Boko Haram and they are habitable. The whole of these local government areas were also rebuilt by the state Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement with the support of NGOs like Victims Support Fund, Dangote Foundation, among others. It is in line with this development that Governor Shettima directed that salaries of workers must be paid in all liberated local government areas. We dont see any reason why workers should remain in Maiduguri when many people have returned to their communities. As you can see, we passed through Benisheikh, now we are in Tomsukawuri, and we are also moving to Metakorori and Ngamdu, and majority of the inhabitants of the villages have returned, Mr. Zannah said. Over a million people were displaced from the North East, mainly Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, at the height of the insurgency. The Nigerian military has since reclaimed most of the territory initially occupied by the insurgents while the battle continues. (NAN) The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, has returned the corruption case file of a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, to Justice A.R. Mohammed and ordered him to continue presiding over the case. Mr. Suswam is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, along with his Commissioner of Finance, Okolobia Okpanachi, on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of state funds to the tune of N3.1 billion. Justice Mohammed had on June 6, 2016 handed off the case, and informed the court of his decision to return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment. He cited a May 27, 2016 report published on an online news medium SaharaReporters, in which it was alleged that Mr. Suswam entered into a financial agreement with the judge in order to grant the former Benue State governor a soft landing in the case. Despite persuasive arguments from the prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs, Mr. and Suswams counsel, Joseph Daudu, that the said report be discountenanced, the trial judge averred that, justice or the fairness of it is not as the judge, prosecution or defence sees it. Mr. Jacobs urged the court to take cognisance of all the witnesses the prosecution had called so far, which would cost the state resources to recall for the trial. Mr. Daudu, too expressed confidence in the trial judge. In returning the case file, the Chief Judge noted that there were no complaints or allegations of bias against the judge, either from the prosecution or the defence, and so Justice Mohammed should continue with the case where he stopped. Their trial has been fixed for October 4, 2016. Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity Suspected pirates have killed an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in an ambush in the creeks of Bayelsa. The pirates reportedly laid ambush on personnel of the corps who were returning from a surveillance operation. The operatives were on a surveillance duty at Ogbobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state when they were attacked. Desmond Agu, Bayelsa Commandant of NSCDC who confirmed the incident on Sunday described it as unfortunate and restated the commitment of his command to protecting critical asset of the government. He said that the pirates would not go unpunished, and would be apprehended and prosecuted; adding that his men gave a good account of themselves despite the ambush. He maintained that the command was determined and motivated to deal with criminals. My men of the anti-vandal unit on surveillance duty were ambushed at Ogbobiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. They were ambushed on their way back by sea pirates. One of them was killed. The incident happened on Friday at about 23.15 hours. We have recovered the body, Mr. Agu said. A source from the NSCDC command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commandant had deployed them in oil-bearing communities in the state following the activities of militants in the area. The source said, The team had conducted their daily surveillance and were on their way back when unexpectedly, some gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates, opened fire on them. The men fired back but because it was an ambush, one of them was killed. He said the incident happened on Friday at about 11.15 p.m., adding that the gunmen must have also suffered casualties. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the deceased was an indigene of Okodi in Ogbia LGA of the state. Local divers were said to have recovered the corpse of the killed officer. The Ogun State Government on Saturday said it shut down 26 private hospitals following their refusal to register or re-validate their facilities. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nafiu Aigoro, who led the Monitoring Team of the Department of Hospital Services ordered the closure of an additional six hospitals in Odeda and Abeokuta South, saying the measures were taken in the interest of the people. Mr. Aigoro, a medical doctor, said government records show an increase in maternal mortality in the state. He blamed this on the activities of quacks in the health sector. He said of the over 1,000 private hospitals in the state, more than half of them are yet to register or re-validate their facilities. He said the enforcement was not targeted at a particular set of people or facilitates, but to ascertain the compliance level of the exercise and shut down those who refused to register or re-validate their facilities. The monitoring team has shut down the total number of 19 private health facilities in Ijebu North, Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Imeko Afon and the six recently shut down in Odeda L.G, he said. The official said the exercise will continue until the 20 local governments across the state are sanitised of illegal hospitals. Mr. Aigoro also thanked the monarch, Oni Meko of Imeko Land, Oyediran Olanite, for supporting the state government to eradicate quacks in the health sector. He said the government would not hesitate to pursue any measure to enhance good and qualitative health service in the state. A 60-year-old man, Mayegun Alani, has been arrested by the police in Ogun State for allegedly raping a girl of 6 in Sango, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the State. The Ogun police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the suspect, a landlord, committed the crime on Thursday. Mr. Adejobi said the girls mother reported to the police after the victim complained of pains in her private part. The mother asked the little baby some questions which gave a clue that the landlord was responsible, he said. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the police. Initially he denied the allegation but later confessed to the crime, Mr. Adejobi said. He said that he has been having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl for at least a month. And medical report confirmed that the girl has been raped. The spokesperson said the Assistant Inspector General of Police in the zone, Abdulmajid Ali, has directed that the case be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence of the command for thorough investigation and prosecution. The traditional ruler died at the age of 90 in London after a brief illness. The late monarch ascended the throne on July 14, 1990,and was reported to have died in the presence of his wife, Abosede. He died Saturday evening in UK where he was flown to since July 17, this month, after a brief illness. He joined his ancestors in the presence of his Olori, Abosede, who accompanied him on the medical trip, a family source in Sagamu said on Sunday. The deceased royal father was a reputed philanthropist and a former chairman of Ogun State Council of traditional rulers. He was also a patron of many clubs and societies both in Sagamu and Lagos. The family sources said his demise has been communicated to the Ogun State Government while formal announcement would be made later after proper traditional rites must have been carried out. He is a great philanthropist; he donated 30-bed ward to the Ogun State Teaching Hospital, Sagamu at a point in time. I can vividly remember that, a Sagamu high chief said. Mr. Sonariwo, who was born in Ita Eleye in Lagos State in 1936, attended St. John School, Aroloya, Lagos from 1941 to 1949 before he proceeded to Methodist Boys High School from 1950 till 1955. He became an orphan at six and had dreamt of working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to become the governor so that I would sign my name on the naira notes. He later travelled abroad for further studies and series of training in tax and accounting profession, and worked with the Inland Revenue Service. Meanwhile, a visit to the palace showed residents and indigenes of the town loitering the vicinity, as the news first broke out. 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. Largest Trial in History of the Cayman Islands Begins in AHAB Case Against Al Sanea Liquidators AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding events in the last week represent an historic milestone in the efforts of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers ("AHAB" or "The Company") to resolve the largest and most complex financial dispute in the history of the Middle East. Historic Settlement Agreement AHAB has long sought a comprehensive settlement with all financial institutions that have claims against it ("Claimants"). In May 2014 the Company initiated a comprehensive settlement process and invited all Claimants local and foreign to participate. A five-member Steering Committee was formed to negotiate with AHAB, and the parties agreed detailed settlement terms, which were presented to the wider Claimant group at a meeting on 28 January 2016. As a further important step in formalizing this deal, AHAB has signed today a settlement support agreement with the five Steering Committee members. This agreement formally commits AHAB and the Steering Committee members to support the implementation of the previously agreed settlement terms. The next step in the process is for other Claimants to sign the Settlement Support Agreement. To date, AHAB has agreed with other Claimants (representing 89.9% by number and 56.3% by value) the amount of their claims and consented to their enforceability against AHAB as part of the settlement process. Claimants will be asked to sign the Settlement Support Agreement as soon as possible over the coming weeks. The process for resolving claims against AHAB was accelerated recently with the appointment of a three-judge Joint Directorate of Enforcement at the General Court in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia ("JDEK"), which is authorized to address claims against AHAB. The JDEK has publicly invited Claimants to submit their claims against AHAB by 21st July. In a further attempt to assist Claimants, AHAB has recently requested an extension of this deadline. AHAB intends, jointly with Claimants, to request that the JDEK implements and administers the agreed settlement. AHAB remains firmly of the view that the comprehensive settlement that has been agreed is in the best interests of all stakeholders. A lot of effort has gone into negotiating the deal and it is designed to incentivize AHAB to maximize returns to Claimants. It would also result in fair treatment of all claims in accordance with Shariah principles of equality and respect for the will of the majority. In addition, the settlement protects livelihoods of employees, eases administrative burdens and costs to the court and parties, and preserves the economy of the Eastern Province and the reputation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in international markets. Asked about the development, Stephen Jenkins of Arab Banking Corporation, a member of the Steering Committee, said, "By signing the settlement support agreement with AHAB, the five financial institutions that comprise the Claimant Steering Committee have committed themselves to support the deal on the agreed terms. The Steering Committee remain of the view that this is the best solution to reach a comprehensive agreement that maximizes recoveries for all claimants. We now look to the full claimant group to do the same." Largest Trial in the History of the Cayman Islands One of the most important components of the comprehensive settlement is the anticipated upside to Claimants from any recoveries that AHAB receives in the USD 7.3 billion legal case that it brought in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. The trial in the case began last week against seventeen (17) offshore shell companies (now in liquidation) that AHAB alleges participated in and benefitted from a massive fraud discovered in 2009. The fraud resulted in losses of billions of dollars to AHAB and more than 100 Claimants. AHAB initially filed its case in 2009 to prevent those responsible for the fraud from removing assets from the Cayman companies before AHAB could seek damages through the courts damages that AHAB believes it will recover and that it will then make available for distribution to Claimants as part of the comprehensive settlement. AHAB remains committed in its efforts to maximize recoveries from litigation and is incentivised to do so by the terms of the comprehensive settlement. AHAB is optimistic and determined that it will prevail in its Cayman Islands case and in defeating the counterclaim brought by one of the liquidators, Grant Thornton. AHAB has consistently and publicly stated that the Cayman claims should be settled in order to speed up the recovery to Claimants. In discussing the litigation, AHAB's CEO, Simon Charlton, said: "AHAB is seeking to make litigation recoveries that we will then return to Claimants through the comprehensive settlement. This will give Claimants a significantly greater recovery than would otherwise be available to them without a settlement. This has long been AHAB's objective and, while we are pleased with the progress that has been achieved, we will continue working hard on all fronts until it is completed." SOURCE Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers (AHAB) SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PokeMatch, the popular free Pokemon Dating app that went viral 4 days ago, launches on iOS and has already created more than 10 THOUSAND matches. PokeMatch co-creator Rene Roosen needed a date while wanting to catch Pokemon. He teamed up with his friends Pim de Witte and Troy Osinoff to Create PokeMatch. PokeMatch is an app that allows you to find dates or friends that play Pokemon GO. After launching Android-only, the app went crazy on Reddit and was covered by major news outlets such as CBS and Forbes. PokeMatch has already created more than 10 THOUSAND matches! Today, the app was released for iPhone. Pim de Witte, co-creator of the app says: "We're seeing insane growth. Something I've never seen before is happening to us, and it is feeling kind of surreal. People are using our app all over the world. With the launch of our new iOS app, we hope to connect every single Pokemon GO player." Players are not only using the app to find dates, but also to find other team members to play with. With the release of our new feature to find friends, we are helping bring more players together than ever. This highly requested feature will bring in a whole new audience into the app. This is no longer a Pokemon dating app, this is now an app to make connections. "It's not just a hook-up app, PokeMatch and Pokemon GO create actual connections between people, completely for free," says Pim de Witte. "Our objective since launch has expanded, from an app to find a date to an app to make connections. Pokemon GO has brought everyone outside to play Pokemon, our objective is to connect them," says Troy Osinoff. "We're also seeing people use it because they feel safer going Pokemon hunting with other people. It can be quite scary to go out on your own," says Rene Roosen. Rene has also managed to find a date himself using the app. Pim is already married and has simply been enjoying the ride. It can be found on the following links: IOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pokematch-meet-new-trainers/id1135238529?ls=1&mt=8 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pokedashmatch Images cleared for use: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BwsMM5hElkXEU1VYa0tkeFItSTA Related Links http://poke-match.com SOURCE PokeMatch SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Airbnb Global Head of Policy and Public Affairs Chris Lehane, Uber Senior Advisor David Plouffe, and David Binder of David Binder Research will brief members of the media and release new polling data regarding the 2016 Presidential race and the sharing economy on Tuesday, July 26 at 9:00 AM in Philadelphia. Later in the morning, Airbnb, in partnership with BET Networks, will host an additional event honoring members of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the historic challenge to the all-white, anti-civil rights Mississippi delegation to the 1964 Democratic National Convention. The event will feature a panel discussion focused on the legacy of the MFDP. The event will also showcase brief clips from the HBO movie "All The Way." Rev. Ed King and actor Bryan Cranston will participate in the event. Credentialed members of the media must RSVP to attend. Credentialed members of the media can RSVP here. WHO: Poll Briefing Chris Lehane David Plouffe David Binder MFDP Event Rev. Ed King Bryan Cranston WHEN: Tuesday, July 26 9:00 AM: Lehane and Plouffe Briefing 11:00 AM: MFDP Event featuring Bryan Cranston WHERE: Both events will take place at the American Institute of Architects 1218 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA Note: These events are open to invited guests and credentialed members of the media only. SOURCE Airbnb AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding events in the last week represent an historic milestone in the efforts of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers ("AHAB" or "The Company") to resolve the largest and most complex financial dispute in the history of the Middle East. Historic Settlement Agreement AHAB has long sought a comprehensive settlement with all financial institutions that have claims against it ("Claimants"). In May 2014 the Company initiated a comprehensive settlement process and invited all Claimants local and foreign to participate. A five-member Steering Committee was formed to negotiate with AHAB, and the parties agreed detailed settlement terms, which were presented to the wider Claimant group at a meeting on 28 January 2016. As a further important step in formalizing this deal, AHAB has signed today a settlement support agreement with the five Steering Committee members. This agreement formally commits AHAB and the Steering Committee members to support the implementation of the previously agreed settlement terms. The next step in the process is for other Claimants to sign the Settlement Support Agreement. To date, AHAB has agreed with other Claimants (representing 89.9% by number and 56.3% by value) the amount of their claims and consented to their enforceability against AHAB as part of the settlement process. Claimants will be asked to sign the Settlement Support Agreement as soon as possible over the coming weeks. The process for resolving claims against AHAB was accelerated recently with the appointment of a three-judge Joint Directorate of Enforcement at the General Court in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia ("JDEK"), which is authorized to address claims against AHAB. The JDEK has publicly invited Claimants to submit their claims against AHAB by 21st July. In a further attempt to assist Claimants, AHAB has recently requested an extension of this deadline. AHAB intends, jointly with Claimants, to request that the JDEK implements and administers the agreed settlement. AHAB remains firmly of the view that the comprehensive settlement that has been agreed is in the best interests of all stakeholders. A lot of effort has gone into negotiating the deal and it is designed to incentivize AHAB to maximize returns to Claimants. It would also result in fair treatment of all claims in accordance with Shariah principles of equality and respect for the will of the majority. In addition, the settlement protects livelihoods of employees, eases administrative burdens and costs to the court and parties, and preserves the economy of the Eastern Province and the reputation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in international markets. Asked about the development, Stephen Jenkins of Arab Banking Corporation, a member of the Steering Committee, said, "By signing the settlement support agreement with AHAB, the five financial institutions that comprise the Claimant Steering Committee have committed themselves to support the deal on the agreed terms. The Steering Committee remain of the view that this is the best solution to reach a comprehensive agreement that maximizes recoveries for all claimants. We now look to the full claimant group to do the same." Largest Trial in the History of the Cayman Islands One of the most important components of the comprehensive settlement is the anticipated upside to Claimants from any recoveries that AHAB receives in the USD 7.3 billion legal case that it brought in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. The trial in the case began last week against seventeen (17) offshore shell companies (now in liquidation) that AHAB alleges participated in and benefitted from a massive fraud discovered in 2009. The fraud resulted in losses of billions of dollars to AHAB and more than 100 Claimants. AHAB initially filed its case in 2009 to prevent those responsible for the fraud from removing assets from the Cayman companies before AHAB could seek damages through the courts damages that AHAB believes it will recover and that it will then make available for distribution to Claimants as part of the comprehensive settlement. AHAB remains committed in its efforts to maximize recoveries from litigation and is incentivised to do so by the terms of the comprehensive settlement. AHAB is optimistic and determined that it will prevail in its Cayman Islands case and in defeating the counterclaim brought by one of the liquidators, Grant Thornton. AHAB has consistently and publicly stated that the Cayman claims should be settled in order to speed up the recovery to Claimants. In discussing the litigation, AHAB's CEO, Simon Charlton, said: "AHAB is seeking to make litigation recoveries that we will then return to Claimants through the comprehensive settlement. This will give Claimants a significantly greater recovery than would otherwise be available to them without a settlement. This has long been AHAB's objective and, while we are pleased with the progress that has been achieved, we will continue working hard on all fronts until it is completed." SOURCE Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers (AHAB) DALLAS, July 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunnyland Patio Furniture, located in Dallas, Texas, has been named as a finalist for the 2016 Apollo Award. The prestigious award, presented by the International Casual Furniture Association (ICFA), recognizes excellence in the sales and marketing of outdoor furnishings. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160721/391977 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160721/391976 Sunnyland has been nominated 11 times in the past 12 years, and has won the award three times. The company is widely recognized as an inspiration to other casual furnishings retailers, setting the standard with outstanding interior and exterior displays and a wide variety of high quality offerings. The Schweig family actively participates with manufacturers and suppliers, maintaining relationships that directly benefit customers. The field for this award is very competitive across the United States. The finalists for the single store category, which includes retailers from Georgia, California and Illinois, competed against hundreds of competitors. In order to be nominated, retailers must demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and a commitment to customer service. The ICFA membership will vote on the finalists via an online ballot in each of two categories. The winners will be announced at the ICFA Awards Gala on September 18, 2016 at the Field Museum during the Casual Market Chicago. "We are honored to be a finalist for the 2016 Apollo Award," Schweig said. "We are a single location, family-owned business, and it is gratifying to see that our peers recognize our contribution to the industry. We offer a fresh approach which complements our customers' lifestyle, and our goal is to stay at the forefront of the industry. Extreme comfort and relaxation is the specialty of the house year round for this Texas retailer. The company's stylish selection of outdoor furniture rivals the best in home furnishings. Beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces are now the norm, and Sunnyland has redefined the way Texans enjoy the outdoors at home. Sunnyland Patio Furniture has had a record year, and Schweig attributes the company's success to a consistently high standard of customer service and innovative merchandising, all delivered by his experienced staff. Sunnyland participates in the Skills for Small Business Program offered by the Texas Workforce Commission. This exceptional opportunity is grant-based and supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Sunnyland employees are eligible to participate in business-appropriate continuing education programs offered through Brookhaven Community College. The company was recently awarded the Small Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility by Governor Greg Abbott's office. The award recognizes a company that has demonstrated a positive impact on society, contributing to the social or environmental well being of the community. In addition, Sunnyland was named the 2016 Reader's Choice award winner in the Best Outdoor Furniture Store category. The recognition is in conjunction with "The Best of Big D" awards that are announced annually. Sunnyland, family owned and operated for over 45 years, is comprised of an impressive 37,000 square foot showroom and an adjacent warehouse that exceeds 35,000 square feet. The innovative modular showroom is furnished with a gallery of signature vignettes featuring the latest collections from the country's best-known designers. www.sunnylandfurniture.com Media Contact: Sherri Yancey 972-889-0555 SOURCE Sunnyland Patio Furniture Related Links http://www.sunnylandfurniture.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 New Delhi, July 19 : The government on the occasion of Guru Purnima on Tuesday felicitated about 40 members of parliament who have an "academic background". Speaking at a gathering in parliament premises, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar paid glowing tributes to gurus or teachers and hastened to add that "today's function would also send out a right message about parliament". "In both the houses we have over 50 members of parliament with academic background. Similarly we have good number of doctors and over 300 post-graduates," he said. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too was invited but could not attend. BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi also missed the occasion as he is abroad, Javadekar said. The MPs who were felicitated included the following: Karan Singh, Janardhan Dwivedi, Rajeev Gowda, K.V. Thomas, Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Thokchom Meinya (all Congress), Subramanian Swamy, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ravindra Pandey, Jitendra Singh, C.P. Thakur (BJP), Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Sugata Bose, Saugata Roy (both Trinamool Congress), Chandumajra Singh (Akali Dal), P.K. Teacher (CPI-M), and P.J. Kurien (Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha). Javadekar said changes in the existing education system can come with focus on four points: Education for all, quality education, education that is affordable, and an education system that is accountable but also respectful to the teachers. In a lighter vein, he said, "I ensured good attendance of media for this function by requesting Subramanian Swamy to tweet because all of you follow his tweets religiously." Swamy belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Earlier in the day, he tweeted in his inimitable style: "On Guru Purnima, advice to Indian media: You have been so wrong, so often, and for so long. Improve!!" In his brief remarks at the function, Karan Singh stressed on the importance of teachers (gurus) in Indian culture. "From time immemorial we have cherished the saying: Swadeshey Pujyatey Raja, Vidwan Sarvatra Pujyatey (a king is venerated only in his kingdom, but a learned man is venerated everywhere)". Guru Purnima is generally regarded as an occasion to reflect on the role one's guru plays in one's life and to show respect and gratitude to him. The occasion is observed on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha -- i.e. June-July period -- and is popular in India and Nepal. Javadekar, known for being amiable and soft spoken, was elevated to the cabinet rank on July 5 and given the responsibility of Human Resource Department by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Each of the felicitated MPs was given a DVD on Mahatma Gandhi and a Tulsi plant. Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 Muzaffarabad (Pakistan), July 22 : Pakistanis are waiting for the day when Jammu and Kashmir becomes a part of Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared on Friday. In his first public address following his return from London after open heart surgery in May, Sharif urged Kashmiris in Pakistan "not to forget those in (Indian) held Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives to their movement for freedom. "Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed. All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan," the Dawn quoted him as saying. Sharif spoke after his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won a landslide victory in elections to the "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" assembly held a day earlier. The PML-N is set to form the next government in Pakistani Kashmir, whose official name is "Azad Jammu and Kashmir". "The day is not far when Jammu and Kashmir will become Pakistan," the Prime Minister said, adding that those in Indian Kashmir were facing the "worst violations of human rights". New Delhi accuses Islamabad of arming and training militants fighting to secede Jammu and Kashmir from India. Pakistan says it only provides moral and diplomatic backing to the separatist campaign. Pakistan has taken a stridently anti-India line since mass protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after the July 8 killing by Indian security forces of militant commander Burhan Wani. Street clashes between those protesting Wani's killing and the security forces have left over 45 people dead and hundreds injured. Many have been blinded by pellets used by the security forces. Chennai, July 23 : Superstar Rajinikanth-starrer Tamil action drama "Kabali" is off to a flyer in North America. From premiere shows alone, the film has collected $2 million from the US and Canada markets, according to distribution company CineGalaxy Inc. "It is easily the best opening for an Indian film from premiere shows in North America. The film has collected $2 million from the premiere shows and it includes both the Tamil and Telugu version of 'Kabali'," Sanjay Dusari, Co-Founder of CineGalaxy Inc, told IANS. "Kabali" released in over 400 screens in the US and Canada. Trade analyst Trinath believes only a Rajinikanth-starrer can register such huge opening. "No other star's film could've achieved this kind of opening. To collect $2 million from premieres is no easy feat and it was possible because of the excellent pre-release buzz and Rajinikanth's association with the project," he said. According to Trinath, the film could've easily raked in over Rs. 50 crore on release day worldwide. Released in nearly 5000 screens worldwide, the film narrates the tale of a gangster's shot at redemption and how he fights for equal pay rights for Tamils in Malaysia. "Kabali", which was also released in Hindi, co-stars Radhika Apte, Kishore, Dinesh, Dhansikaa, Kalaiarasan and Winston Chao. Bangkok, July 23 : Security issues and economy are at the top of the agenda for the ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that kicks off on Saturday in Laos. Foreign ministers from the ten countries comprising the regional bloc are expected to meet in the city of Vientiane to discuss the process of integration for the Asean economic community launched this year. The regional bloc comprises of Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, will also participate along with the Asean ministers and their counterparts from China, India, Russia, Canada, Japan and the European Union on Monday. On Tuesday, the ministers will meet for the Asean Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, the first of which will focus on security issues and the latter on economic topics. The meeting in Laos is expected to also take up the contentious issue of the South China Sea and the recent decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to reject the historical arguments of China claiming parts of the region to the detriment of the other claimants including Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The Court also failed to recognise exclusive economic zones and accused China of not preventing the ecological damage caused by Chinese fishing vessels in the area. Kolkata, July 23 : Patiently awaiting her homecoming, the family of Indian aid worker Judith D'Souza, who was rescued after being abducted in Kabul in June, is looking forward to a long-pending reunion sans prying eyes. Unlike June 10 when the news of Judith's abduction in Afghanistan cast a pall of gloom over the D'Souza household in central Kolkata, Saturday morning - despite the rain-laden clouds - turned out to be a radiant one for Judith's elderly parents and sister. Judith will reach New Delhi on Saturday evening, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said. "It is an occupational hazard. It could have happened to anyone. Judith is a thorough professional. We are looking forward for a much-awaited reunion," Judith's brother Jerome, who is also in the development sector, told IANS. Asked what would be Judith's next course of action, Jerome said: "Let her come back, let her spend some time, let her take a break and then she can take a call." Profusely thanking the Indian government, Jerome stressed on privacy. "It is a family issue and we want to be away from glare of the media," he said. Judith had come home three and a half-months ago and was set to be back in Kolkata in June. Mirroring Jerome's sentiment, Judith's sister Agnes also insisted on the same as reporters made a beeline for their first floor residence. "We are thankful to the Indian government for getting my sister back. We are also grateful to (Sushma) Swaraj. We request the media to respect our privacy," a smiling Agnes told the media here. The D'Souzas' joy infected the neighbourhood as well. Long-time neighbours said the D'Souzas were "finally breathing a sigh of relief". "Whenever I used to meet Judith's mother, I used to ask her about updates and she would say 'pray for her'," a neighbour told the media here. Hailing from Kolkata, Judith, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Network, was seized by gunmen on June 9 in the Qala-e-Fatullah area of Kabul while she was returning home after dinner at a friend's place. Appreciating Ambassador Manpreet Vohra for "an outstanding job", Sushma Swaraj said: "I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening. Ambassador @VohraManpreet is accompanying her." In her tweet, she added: "Thank you Afghanistan - for all your help and support in rescuing Judith."Judith was working with the NGO as a senior technical adviser since July 2015. New Delhi, July 23 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged that Delhi Police was framing party legislators in false cases at the behest of the BJP-led central government. Referring to the case of AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan, who was booked for threatening a woman recently, the party's Delhi convener Dilip Pandey alleged that the police tutored the woman to file the complaint of rape and death threats. "In a video that we have released today (Saturday) it has become clear that the Modi government has given instructions to Delhi Police to frame AAP leaders in false cases. We have raised this issue several times in the past", Pandey said. In a video released by the AAP, the woman was purportedly confessing to a man that the Station House Officer of a police station had asked her to file the complaint of rape and death threats against Khan. "He asked me to file a complaint of rape and death threat to make my case strong. He also asked me to meet the police commissioner with the complaint," the woman said in the video. Asked who recorded the video, accused Khan said that someone dropped the compact disc at his office on Friday. "I don't know who recorded this video. Someone dropped this CD at my office. I think the woman knows better who recorded this video," Khan said. Asked whether he checked the CCTV footage at his office to find out who dropped the CD, Khan said: "It was not important." He further attacked the Modi government for "indulging in childish and cowardly activities" to frame the AAP leaders. "Modiji must stop indulging in such childish and cowardly activities. We have been elected by the people to work for their welfare. We are here to serve the society and not indulge in such politics," he said. The case came to light when the 35-year-old woman filed a case against Khan for allegedly threatening her with dire consequences. The alleged incident took place on July 10, when the complainant went to the residence of the AAP MLA in South Delhi's Batla House locality after a telephonic conversation with him to complain about poor electricity supply in the area. However, Khan said that he was not in Delhi on July 10. New Delhi/Kolkata, July 23 : An Indian aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month reached New Delhi on Saturday after being rescued and was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Judith D'Souza was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra when she landed in New Delhi on Saturday evening. "Welcome to India, Judith," Modi tweeted after meeting her. "Would like to thank the Govt. of Afghanistan, especially President @ashrafghani for their cooperation in bringing Judith home," he added. Soon after her arrival, Judith, wearing a light blue salwar kameez, went and met Sushma Swaraj who hugged her warmly. Both Ministers of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and M.J. Akbar were also present. "Another safe homecoming! EAM and two MoSs meet Judith D'Souza in Delhi, after her release from captivity," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of Judith and the three ministers. Sushma Swaraj, Singh and Akbar accompanied Judith when she went to meet the Prime Minister. Hailing from Kolkata, Judith, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Network, was seized by gunmen on June 9 in the Qala-e-Fatullah area of Kabul while she was returning home after dinner at a friend's place. On Saturday morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that Judith was rescued in Afghanistan. "I am happy to inform you that Judith D'Souza has been rescued," Sushma Swaraj tweeted. Appreciating Ambassador Manpreet Vohra for "an outstanding job", Swaraj said: "I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening. Ambassador @VohraManpreet is accompanying her." Sushma Swaraj thanked Vohra and Afghanistan for the support. In her tweet she added: "Thank you Afghanistan - for all your help and support in rescuing Judith." Judith was working with the NGO as a senior technical adviser since July 2015. In Kolkata, Judith's family was looking forward to a long-pending reunion sans prying eyes. Unlike June 10 when the news of Judith's abduction in Afghanistan cast a pall of gloom over the D'Souza household in central Kolkata, Saturday morning - despite the rain-laden clouds - turned out to be a radiant one for Judith's elderly parents and sister. "It is an occupational hazard. It could have happened to anyone. Judith is a thorough professional. We are looking forward for a much-awaited reunion," Judith's brother Jerome, who is also in the development sector, told IANS. Asked what would be Judith's next course of action, Jerome said: "Let her come back, let her spend some time, let her take a break and then she can take a call." Profusely thanking the Indian government, Jerome stressed on privacy. "It is a family issue and we want to be away from glare of the media," he said. "Judith has been rescued by the government. Our family's joy knows no bounds. Gratitude to @PMOIndia @SushmaSwaraj @VohraManpreet," Jerome also tweeted. Judith had come home three-and-a-half months ago and was set to be back in Kolkata in June. Mirroring Jerome's sentiments, Judith's sister Agnes also insisted on the same as reporters made a beeline for their first floor residence. "We are thankful to the Indian government for getting my sister back. We are also grateful to (Sushma) Swaraj. We request the media to respect our privacy," a smiling Agnes told the media here. The D'Souzas' joy infected the neighbourhood as well. Long-time neighbours said the D'Souzas were "finally breathing a sigh of relief". "Whenever I used to meet Judith's mother, I used to ask her about updates and she would say 'pray for her'," a neighbour told the media here. Patna, July 24 : A BJP legislator was arrested on Sunday allegedly for eve teasing a minor girl in Bihar's Vaishali district, police said. The Government Railway Police have arrested Tunnaji Pandey, Bharatiya Janata Party MLC in Bihar on charges of eve teasing a minor girl, after the victim complaint against him, a police official said. According to police officials, Pandey was arrested at Hajipur railway station. "As per complaint of the victim, Pandey tried to molest her and also misbehaved with her early Sunday in a running train," police said. the victim and Pandey were travelling in Purvanchal express. Pandey, a criminal turned politician, also known as liquor mafia in Siwan-Gopalganj districts in Bihar. New Delhi : English speakers have long had an advantage for there are few classics from other literary traditions which are not available in the language. Translations of Homer, Rumi, Cervantes, Goethe, Pushkin, Dumas, Tolstoy, Kafka, and many others are so prevalent that it is easy to forget that these originally come from different languages. But translators may not always do a good job - one 19th century French author has suffered much at their hands. With his "Vingt Mille Lieues sous les mers" ("Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" for us), "Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours" ("Around the World in Eighty Days"), "Voyage au centre de la Terre" ("Journey to the Centre of the Earth"), "De la Terre a la Lune" ("From the Earth to the Moon"), Jules Gabriel Verne (1828-1905) is one of the world's most familiar -- and most translated -- authors. An inspiration to a galaxy of aviation and rocket scientists, astronomers, astronauts/cosmonauts and explorers, Verne is deemed a father of science fiction with his "fantastic" tales of exploration and credited with "inventing" submarines, helicopters, space flight as well as many other discoveries including computers (his "compteurs" is even close to the name). "Voyages extraordinaires" ("The Extraordinary Voyages"), on which his reputation is built, comprise 54 novels published between 1863 and 1905, and when he died, he left more incomplete manuscripts. His son Michel would subsequently publish them over the next two decades, though adapting or even rewriting some of them. One book, written in 1863 but locked away in a safe and forgotten after his publisher deemed it too fantastic and pessimistic, was finally published in 1994. But leave alone, for some other time, the question of how far it is correct to consider him a seer of scientific progress, or a progenitor of science fiction, it is more fitting to deal with how Verne's popularity and prodigious output paradoxically saw his reputation as an author suffer - both in his own land and the world outside. While in his own land, many contemporary critics held his commercial popularity meant he was only a mere genre-based storyteller than a serious author (though this would soon change), Verne, in the English-speaking world, was only deemed a writer for children and a naive proponent of science and technology - for which translators and publishers were solely responsible. US academician Arthur B. Evans notes that literary scholars agree that Verne's early English translations were "extremely shoddy" and "often bear little resemblance" to their originals. "In a rush to bring his most popular (and profitable) stories to market, British and American translators repeatedly watered them down and abridged them by chopping out most of the science and the longer descriptive passages (often 20 to 40 per cent of the original); they committed thousands of basic translating errors, mistakes that an average high-school student of French would have managed correctly; they censored Verne's texts by either removing or diluting references that might be construed as anti-British or anti-American; and, in several instances, they totally rewrote Verne's narratives to suit their own tastes (changing the names of the characters, adding new scenes, deleting others, relabeling the chapters, and so on)," he says in "Jules Verne's English Translations", journal 'Science Fiction Studies' , 2005. Two examples are telling. Take Verne's playful use of Newtonian laws for a lovelorn woman: "These scientists appeared worthy of her admiration and fully justified a woman's feeling attracted to them proportionally to their mass and in inverse ratio to the square of their distance. And indeed J.T. Maston was corpulent enough to exercise on her an irresistible attraction...." , disappears in one American translation: ".. these wise people seemed to her worthy of all admiration and support. She felt herself drawn strongly towards them. And J.T. Maston was exactly that kind of man and one she adored...." In "The Mysterious Island", where we learn the truth about Captain Nemo and his Indian origins, Evans translates the original as: "The British yoke had weighed perhaps too heavily on the Hindu population. Prince Dakkar became the spokesman for the malcontents. He instilled in them all the hatred that he felt for the foreigners...." However one English translation goes: "Instigated by princes equally ambitious and less sagacious and more unscrupulous than he was, the people of India were persuaded that they might successfully rise against their English rulers who had brought them out of a state of anarchy and constant warfare and misery, and had established peace and prosperity in their country. Their ignorance and gross superstition made them the facile tools of their designing chiefs.." It is such translations that we have read, and are also available online, that form our views of Verne, while obscuring his universalism and ambivalence about progress and technology. Corrective action is under way but many are even not aware anything was wrong. (Vikas Datta is an Associate Editor at IANS. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in ) New Delhi, July 24 : The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of having "anti-women character" after its Okhla legislator Amanatullah Khan was arrested for threatening a woman. "This party (AAP) has anti-women character and is filled with criminal minded people who don't respect women," BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay told IANS. "And when police arrested their party legislators and carried on its work, then (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind kejriwal tweets saying that Modiji's police is arresting its MLA," Upadhyay said. "Should police leave its role of maintaining law and order in Delhi? Should police allow lawlessness in the capital and allow jungle raj?" Upadhyay added. The BJP leader attacked the AAP after its legislator from south Delhi's Okhla constituency Amanatullah Khan was arrested on charges of threatening a woman of dire consequences. A case was registered at the Jamia Nagar police station against the AAP legislator on July 20 under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. Hitting out at the AAP, Upadhyay said, "The complainant is a member of AAP and in her complaint she has said she was threatened with dire consequences. This kind of people come out of Amanatullah Khan's residence who threaten and socially abuse the woman, who had gone to his residence to lodge her complain." "Today the women of Delhi are not safe on streets. Even the wives of their MLAs do not feel safe at their home, whether it is the case of Manoj Kumar or Somnath Bharti. And the example of AAP supporter Soni committing suicide is in front of all," Upadhyay added. Kabul, July 24 : A Pakistani militant leader was reportedly killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan, officials said on Sunday. Mangal Bagh, who heads "Lashkar-e-Islam" group in Pakistan's Khyber region, was wanted for his involvement in attacks on security forces and tribal elders, Xinhua news agency reported. The government had also announced a bounty amounting to Pakistani Rupees 20 million ($190,800) for him. Bagh had fled to neighbouring Afghanistan and had been operating from there, according to security officials. Dhaka, July 24 : The Bangladesh Police on Sunday said it had identified instigators of the Spanish cafe attack in Dhaka that killed 22 people. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told journalists that the instigators have been identified and their arrest was now a matter of time. He did not elaborate for the "sake of investigation". The July 1 terror attack at the Spanish restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave left 22 people, including 18 foreigners, dead. Six of the gunmen were killed while one was captured alive. But he later died in a hospital. Srinagar, July 24 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed for peace in Jammu and Kashmir and also asked Pakistan not to interfere in Kashmir's affairs. "I appeal to people to restore peace and normalcy" in the Kashmir Valley, the minister told the media at the end of a two-day visit to the troubled valley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very concerned over the situation in the valley, where over 45 people have been killed in street protests since the July 8 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani, he said. Saying the Indian government would never tolerate terrorism, the minister said while Pakistan carried out operations against militants in Lal Masjid in Islamabad, they encouraged youths to take up arms in Kashmir. "This should stop.... Pakistani's role is not right. They must change their attitude and mindset vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir." Rajnath Singh also expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the days of unrest. He urged security forces to avoid using pellet guns that have blinded several protesters. He said a dialogue can take place to resolve whatever differences people may have in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahmedabad, July 24 : Patel reservation stir leader Hardik Patel on Sunday alleged that the BJP governments in Gujarat and Rajasthan wanted to nail him down to a virtual house arrest in Udaipur. Hardik, convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, told an Ahmedabad-based Gujarati TV channel that the Udaipur police was not allowing him to stir out of the house where he was staying. Hardik is lodged in a swanky three-storey bungalow in Rajasthan's Udaipur after a court ordered him to remain away from his native state Gujarat for six months. The bungalow belongs to Puskarlal Patel (Dangi), a former Congress MLA and president of the Patel community in Udaipur. The address of his stay has been mentioned in his undertaking to the Gujarat High Court, which had granted bail to him on July 11 in the last of the cases against him and thus facilitated his release after nearly 10 months in jail. "The Gujarat government seems to have asked its party's dispensation in Rajasthan to keep me confined to this house," Hardik said. Hardik Patel has got bail in two sedition cases and one on the attack on the office of Visnagar BJP MLA Hrishikesh Patel and other government properties during the reservation agitation. Hardik claimed that on Sunday morning he wanted to visit a Lord Ganesh temple in Udaipur to offer prayers but as soon as he sat in the car the police came running asking him to return home. He told the police that the high court order was only to stay away from Gujarat for six months and there was no clause that he should confine himself to a house outside Gujarat. He alleged that the Udaipur police would not budge and said he needed prior police permission if he wanted to step out. The discussions gave way to a war of words and more police personnel were summoned lest he insisted on defying the police order. "I was forced to return to the house without going to the temple as I did not want any violence because of me," Hardik said. The Patidar stir leader said apparently the Udaipur police was behaving in such a way "only at the request of the Gujarat government". He said he believed that the Anandiben Patel government was worried of his movements in Udaipur, which had a large concentration of Patel population. "There are about 1.50 lakh Gujarati Patels living in Udaipur and the Gujarat government wants to ensure that I don't get the chance to meet them," Hardik said. The Gujarat High Court, while granting him bail in two sedition cases, had put the condition that he would not enter Gujarat for six months and, for another case, in Mehsana district, the hotbed of the Patel reservation agitation, for nine months. Meanwhile, the PAAS is resuming its reservation agitation which was dormant for the past several months. The samiti began with a rally in Visnagar town in Mehsana district on Sunday, in which thousands of Patels shouting anti-government slogans participated. Chandigarh/New Delhi, July 24 : The Punjab Police on Sunday arrested Delhi AAP legislator Naresh Yadav in connection with the Quran sacrilege incident in Punjab's Muslim-dominated town of Malerekotla last month. Punjab Police sources said that Yadav was arrested from Delhi and was being brought to Punjab where he will be produced in a court in Sangrur or Patiala towns. Godfather's Pizza Express We want to make it easy for pizza fans to get their hands on the food they love the most. Ambitious, excited and focused. Thats how Godfathers Pizza, Inc. (GPI) Vice President of Development Dave Gartlan describes the next nine months for franchisee, TA Operating. The Ohio-based company, operating a convenience store brand under the name Minit Mart, plans to add 40 new stores this year around Kansas City, Missouri; Lexington, Kentucky; and across the state of Illinois. This will more than double their convenience store locations serving A Pizza You Cant Refuse from 38 to 78. Minit Mart stores with Godfathers Pizza Express can already be found in Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. Earlier this year, TA Operating opened four limited-service stores with Godfathers Pizza Express in the St. Joseph/Kansas City area. Typical construction and implementation takes approximately 90 days to complete. The team at TA Operating sure know how to make a quick impact on the communities they conduct business, says Gartlan. Their drive and knowledge of the food industry, combined with their focus on service, has contributed to the overall success of our Express model. It may be an ambitious goal, but one that has been met with excitement and much preparation. We want to make it easy for pizza fans to get their hands on the food they love the most, says Craig Stanley, Category Manager of Foodservice for Minit Mart. Families and professionals alike have been requesting greater access to Godfathers Pizza and were more than happy to give it to them. Godfathers Pizza has been making pizzas for over 43 years and was recognized by consumers as the top choice for pizza, according to Nations Restaurant News. TA Operating is no stranger to the convenience store and pizza industry. Their partnership with Godfathers Pizza, Inc. began in 2013 in Kentucky. One-of-a-kind signature specialty pizzas like the Taco Pie, Classic Combo and Humble Pie are available from the Express location by the slice or as Larges. Combo meals, as well as Cheesesticks, Breakfast Pizza, Pepperoni Rolls, Dessert Pizzas, and Chicken Wings can be also be added to any order or purchased ala carte. Learn more about franchising opportunities with Godfathers Pizza by contacting Dave Gartlan, Director of Franchise Development, at DGartlan(at)Godfathers(dot)com, visiting Godfathers.com/Franchising, or calling 800-456-8347. Best Hire Career Fairs will be hosting a huge live hiring event in Atlanta, Georgia. Participants will get their chance to meet hiring decision makers from the areas best employers. They should attend the career fair; there will be hundreds of jobs available. All they need to do is dress professionally and bring lots of resumes to the job fair. Just walk in the event and start interviewing, its that easy. It saves energy, money and time. Participants can just stick to one location where they will get a chance to interview with multiple companies. The companies offer several openings and are anxious to meet applicants. Applicants just need to be at the event and be the one to impress the decision makers. For those that are in search of a job or tired of sending resumes that go nowhere, dont worry. Dress for success, update your resume then head on down to the Atlanta Job Fair. Here, participants will seek employment from the top employers in the city. These employers are the people who decide who gets hired. Stop wasting time and come down to the career fair and land a dream job. Those who participate will get a chance to market themselves to companies as the best candidate for the job. If you are an employer looking to hire, give Best Hire Career Fairs a call there is limited space available. 714-495-2428 San Diego Short Term Rentals San Diego and Southern California continues to experience phenomenal growth, which is important to note as most analysis focuses just on San Francisco and the Bay Area. Key Housing, a service with corporate housing in California cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, is proud to announce their guide to California corporate housing has been updated to reflect the latest information on the Golden State housing situation. One can read the important details here: http://keyhousing.com/California-Corporate-Housing.asp, and one should focus on the San Diego listings as examples. San Diego and Southern California continues to experience phenomenal growth, which is important to note as most analysis focuses just on San Francisco and the Bay Area, explained Robert Lee, President of Key Housing. Precisely because the Bay Area is such an overheated market, companies must now consider alternate areas for expansion. Places such as San Diego offer many of the same benefits such as temperate weather and access to Asian markets. A San Diego Example of Corporate Housing Many of the housing opportunities in Southern California offer a better value when the overall cost-of-living is considered. A good example of what can be found is The Promenade at Rio Vista, in central San Diego: http://www.keyhousing.com/rightside.asp?action=form3&ID=815 Corporate renters continue to flock to California, as the booming job market in San Francisco and most everywhere in the Southern portion of the state as well keeps them coming, from other locations in the United States, and indeed all over the world. For anyone who is looking for corporate housing in Los Angeles, a serviced apartment in San Diego, or short term corporate housing anywhere from Riverside to Redwood City, Key Housing is the place to find those scarce and short-lived furnished apartments for corporate housing when they do come available. Anyone who needs to look for corporate housing in California, our proprietary database and services can find the needle in the Golden State's haystack. Example: Browse San Diego Corporate Housing Online To browse other available San Diego corporate housing please visit http://www.keyhousing.com/GMcontact.asp?location=San+Diego. From there one can easily browse a plethora of available short-term housing for corporate renters available in the city, and as desired expand the search to the Southern California region, or to the state as a whole. Availabilities for corporate renters cannot be guaranteed; however, Key Housing has many other available opportunities in the hot San Diego and Southern California rental market. Interested parties are recommended to either use the website, or contact Key Housing directly for personal assistance with their San Diego temporary housing needs. About Key Housing Based in Folsom, California, Key Housing Connections Inc. specializes in corporate housing and corporate rentals in large cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Jose as well as smaller cities like Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento. Whether the need if for a serviced apartment or a short term rental, corporate housing or short term apartments, just browse our listings to find the rental that fits ones short term corporate housing needs. We are competitive with extended stay hotels in cities such as Cupertino, Santa Clara or even Long Beach, and many nurses, interns and people seeking pet friendly corporate rentals or corporate relocation services depend on us for their furnished apartment or other temporary housing needs. Whether after Los Angeles corporate housing, short term rentals in San Francisco, or a serviced apartment in San Diego - we can aid the search for the right apartment in the Golden State. After all, we're among the top-rated short-term apartment listing service in places like Redwood City, Santa Monica, Newport Beach and just about every city in California. Whether it's serviced apartments or a furnished rental, just search, click or call today! Key Housing (800) 989-0410 http://www.keyhousing.com/ Travel Security App - FoneTrac They say, 'You get what you pay for,' and this is certainly true for travel safety apps. IMG GlobalSecur, a leading international security consulting firm, is proud to announce a detailed article on features that define the best travel safety app. Consumers are finding that the many apps available on either the Apple or Google app stores are of limited practicality, especially for business travelers, senior executives, and students on study abroad programs. "They say, 'You get what you pay for,' and this is certainly true for travel safety apps," explained Chris Hagon, CEO of IMG GlobalSecur. "We find that decision-makers at many large corporations who must oversee employee and executive travel security are confounded by the absence of safety apps of practical useavailable in the app stores. Our article outlines some of the features to define the best travel safety app." To read the post in full, please visit http://www.fonetrac-go.com/blog/2016/06/best-travel-safety-apps-lets-tout-features/. Interested parties can explore the company's lively blog about travel security issues by clicking on the keywords to the far right. To learn more about the FoneTrac travel security app, in general, visit http://www.fonetrac-go.com/. Features of the Best Travel Safety App Among the features that constitute the best travel safety app are the following. First, for example, any travel safety app needs to be platform agnostic and work on both the Apple iPhone, Google android and Windows phone platforms. Second, apps should encourage two-way, interactive check-in's. This allows both the employee and the employer to communicate whereabouts and important information. Third, and most importantly, a travel safety app should do more than just send a panic alert to friends and relatives in the United States. It needs to be connected to a robust backend organization that can actually help the traveler in an overseas location. (An example is the GlobalSecur system, which can be investigated at http://www.globalsecur.com/). Finally, a robust and high quality travel safety app should be able to send out push alerts to warn an employee or traveler of potential problems. Interested parties are advised to read the article in full detail for a more robust discussion of how to evaluate a travel safety app. About the Incident Management Group (IMG) Incident Management Group is a leading international security consulting firm. Corporate or business organizations concerned about their need for robust travel security solutions can reach out to the IMG Group for assistance. The companys experts provide services such as executive, employee, VIP, and expatriate travel security, workplace safety, duty of care management, risk and threat assessments, workplace violence prevention, crisis management planning, and more. Tel. (877) 887-9914 Waiter Uniforms Online It's no secret that the restaurant vertical, and waiter uniforms in particular, is very important to the uniform business. Uniform Solutions for You, a top-rated employee uniform company at http://www.uniformsolutionsforyou.com/, is proud to announce an update to its information page on waiter uniforms online. Using a unique 'idea consultant' concept, the company offers a synergy between an online catalog where one can shop for waiter uniforms online and person-to-person service where one can get help on ideas for the best waiter uniforms. "It's no secret that the restaurant vertical, and waiter uniforms in particular, is very important to the uniform business," explained Bruce Bagley, Manager of Uniform Solutions for You. "By upgrading the information on our waiter uniform page, we want to clarify that it's not just the uniform for one waiter but for waitresses as well and including other wait staff such as cooks, greeters, and busboys. A total solution is what is needed, and our updated page reflects that fact." To view the newly updated information page, visit http://www.uniformsolutionsforyou.com/wait-staff-uniforms/. There one can drill down to specific employee categories as well as clothing types such as aprons or vests. Interested parties are urged to reach out to an 'employee uniform idea consultant,' as the company is very eager to help brainstorm the best uniform ideas for one's employees. It's Not Just Waiter Uniforms: It's Wait Staff Uniforms The gender specificity of the waiter uniform category can, unfortunately, the an impediment to a total solution with respect to employee uniforms online. Any restaurant worth its salt will once its brand image to be conveyed from the moment a patron enters the establishment. Starting with the greeter or maitre d', the restaurant and the uniforms of its employees should project the correct brand image, whether that image is one of a very elegant restaurant or a more casual dining experience. The search for waiter uniforms is usually the first step in a more complicated process of brainstorming the best uniforms for a particular restaurant. However, it is not just the male staff that needs good-looking uniforms! It can, of course, the females, as in waitress uniforms, and it can be what is called the front of the house versus the back of the house as well. By situating the choice of a waiter uniform within this larger context, the restaurant entrepreneur can truly create a brand experience for his or her restaurant. About Uniform Solutions for You Uniform Solutions for You is a division of Santa Rosa Uniform & Career Apparel, Inc. The division focuses on online sales of employee uniforms in key industries: restaurant, hotel, and casino. The website has a unique consultation request feature, wherein interested parties can reach out to a human uniform idea consultant to brainstorm employee uniform ideas. Uniform Solutions for You http://www.uniformsolutionsforyou.com/ Quad-Citians share their pet stories in Creature Feature, appearing Mondays on the Your Pets page. This story was submitted by Shirley Barrett, of Rock Island, on behalf of Gary and Penny, of Moline. If you want to share your pet's story, email your submission to features@qconline.com and attach a photo in JPEG form. Or send a story and photo via regular mail to Creature Feature, Features Department, The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus, 1720 5th Ave., Moline, IL 61265. Haven't seen the story you submitted in Creature Feature yet? Keep looking! Submissions are being used in the order they have been received. I met Sir Jack Daniels Blue recently. We sat down in the kitchen and began our conversation. He was given some fresh water to drink, and I was given a good old Mountain Dew. His owner handed me a glass to pour my drink into, and on the side of the glass was written "Jack Daniels." There were a few Jack Daniels collectibles sitting around, and when this puppy came along, the name was passed on to him. He fit right into the collection. It seems Sir Jack Daniels Blue is very proud of his name and is looking for more items that carry it. He would like to find a couple of doggie vests and a coat or two. There is nothing wrong with a dog who knows what he wants and then goes after it. It may take some howling, but he is very capable. Sir Jack Daniels Blue is a lively Doberman pinscher, and he is registered with the American Kennel Club. He may walk around with his head held high, but inside he is just a down-to-earth lovable creature. He loves to give out kisses, and he likes a good hand to caress his cute body. I showed him the name Jack Daniels on my drinking glass, and he sort of grinned. He knew what it was all about. Can't fool this Doberman -- so don't even think about it. Sir Jack Daniels Blue is 5 months old and came from a local breeder. His color does give off a hint of blue, and you notice it more when he stands or lies in certain ways. His eyes were as blue as the sky when he was much younger, but now they are sort of a light brown. His teeth are very white and just perfect. He gets dental treats to chew on, and he also has rawhides. He ate a couple while I was there, then he had another treat. He had all sorts of food in the pantry, so he was stocked up for a very long time. All he was drinking that day was water -- nothing with his name on it. He just wanted to make that point clear. TV can interest him if there are dogs barking. There are wooded areas behind his house so he can see the deer passing. Gary, his owner, takes him walking in the park nearby. He loves to walk. He also likes to ride in the truck. Sir Jack Daniels Blue loves to play fetch. He has some squeaky toys and tug-of-war ropes. He has this one long stuffed animal that squeaks and is a real deep purple. I never did figure out what it was and neither has he. It remains a mystery. All he knows is that it is a strange-looking creature. Sir Jack Daniels Blue went to PetSmart in Moline for grooming. I saw his report, and Haylee, who groomed him, said he was wonderful throughout it all. His ears were cleaned; his nails were trimmed; and his whole body was sparkling when he walked out the door. He has a large pillow that lies on the kitchen floor, and he lies right down on it to eat his treats and to rest. It looked mighty comfortable. He doesn't lie directly on the floor. He wants his big fat pillow. His owners plan to maybe get him into obedience training. He got excited when I was there, but then many dogs do this when someone visits. I don't mind this; I just welcome them with open arms and love them. I got my kiss from him, too, when he was near. It was quite a day when I met this wonderful Sir Jack Daniels Blue. I tipped my glass to him and took the last sip of Mountain Dew, and he lapped up some water in return. We walked out the door with Penny, and Gary was working in the yard. He put Sir Jack Daniels Blue on his leash, and we stood there talking for a few minutes. I told this interesting dog that if I ever got back to Tennessee, I would try to get him something special from the Jack Daniels Corporation. Because it's in my home state, I might have some sort of pull. Maybe a suitable collar might work. There are so many creatures coming out of those Tennessee hills, they might be wearing those collars, too! "Justice for Freddie Gray," it read. Inside, a fourth officer was about to be cleared of criminal charges in Gray's death last April, a week after Gray's neck was broken while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained in the back of a police van. Johnson has shown up for every trial, in pouring rain and sweltering heat. Thousands took to the streets last spring. The refrain of "No justice, no peace" rang through corridors on the city's east and west sides for more than a week; after a riot broke out, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake instituted a 10 p.m. curfew. The National Guard rolled into town to restore order. But these days, Johnson and his sign typically stand alone. The most recent acquittal, for Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking officer charged in Gray's death, was rapidly preceded by two others, including Officer Caesar Goodson, who drove the wagon in which Gray's spine was snapped. Still, where once the streets exploded in fire and fury, the sidewalks are calm; the flames extinguished and the palpable rage dissipated. Some activists say the anger many citizens feel is simply manifesting itself in different ways, and that the focus has shifted from the streets of Baltimore to the state's capital: due to increasing pressure, this year lawmakers enacted reforms to the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights for the first time since its inception nearly 40 years ago. Others say the feverish momentum of last spring was simply unsustainable. But all agree on one thing: although initially emboldened by the criminal charges brought against the officers by a fresh-faced state's attorney eager to make her mark, the procession of acquittals has left nearly hopeless the residents most familiar with the problematic police practices that landed the city under federal review in the first place. "There were hopes and expectations that these officers wouldn't just be indicted, but convicted," said Tawanda Jones, a well-known Baltimore activist whose brother died three years ago after an encounter with Baltimore police. "People felt hopeful, because this is the first time we've ever seen officers get prosecuted. But watching them one by one walk away, there's mournful disappointment," Jones said. "They've lost hope." Days after the riot last spring State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against six police officers in Gray's death, the most serious being second-degree "depraved-heart" murder against Goodson. Under Mosby's scenario, the officers loaded Gray who had run from police after making eye contact with a bike patrol officer into the back of a transport wagon as a healthy and physically able 25-year-old man, and carried him out with a spinal injury that quickly killed him. But after four unsuccessful prosecutions, and several admonishments from the presiding judge for prosecutorial violations including withholding evidence from defense attorneys, the case has all but fallen apart, leaving those most vocal about police reforms weary, and ready to focus their energy elsewhere. Adam Jackson, co-founder of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, an advocacy organization focused on policy changes, said police brutality toward the black community is so commonplace that people "just expect it," and that residents had braced themselves for not-guilty verdicts even before the trials began. "From the beginning, they knew these officers would get off. People are worn out from protesting and less concerned with the spectacle than what we can do to change the structures," Jackson said. Gray's death and the unrest that followed did yield some tangible results in Baltimore. Then-commissioner Anthony Batts was abruptly fired for his handling of the unrest. The mayor halted her re-election campaign. The department's use of force policy was overhauled. All officers will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras. But those reforms don't address the poverty and inequity that dog the communities at risk for volatile police encounters. Those vulnerable neighborhoods also are home to much of the city's vacant housing, including roughly 17,000 abandoned buildings, places known to perpetuate neglect, and breed drugs and lawlessness. Racial politics, too, is particularly complicated in Baltimore, a majority black city with a police force that's 48 percent African-American. Unlike Ferguson, Missouri, where the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of a white officer set off civil unrest that brought attention to the city and its police department's deep racial divides, Baltimore's mayor, top prosecutor, and until recently its police commissioner, are black. But having African-Americans in seats of political power in Baltimore doesn't necessarily solve the problem, Jackson said, and instead serves to mask it. "Residents see black people and they think, 'well, if there are black people in office they're representing us,'" Jackson said. "But if you have black people upholding problematic laws, structural racism is still in place." Duane "Shorty" Davis a highly recognizable figure on Baltimore's activist circuit attributed the lack of protest to the $6.4 million civil settlement the city made with Gray's family before the criminal prosecutions began. "If the family won't fight for it anymore, why will the people fight?" he said. "Is the community still supposed to fight? The city knew what they were doing: defusing the situation." The next officer to stand trial is Garrett Miller, who faces misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office charges. His trial is scheduled to begin Thursday. The attack was the deadliest to hit Kabul in 15 years of civil war. It struck a demonstration by Afghanistan's Hazara ethnic community, who were marching for a major regional power line to be routed through their home province. The Hazaras are Shiite Muslims, most Afghans are Sunnis. Footage on Afghan television and photographs posted on social media showed a scene of horror and carnage, with numerous bodies and body parts spread across the square. Bloodied survivors were seen being dragged clear for help, others walked around dazed or screaming. Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, but one of them was shot by police before he could detonate his explosives, according to Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said that three city district police chiefs were injured and another three security personnel were killed. Witnesses said that immediately after the blast, security forces shot in the air to disperse the crowd. Secondary attacks have been known to target people who come to the aid of those wounded in a first explosion. Road blocks that had been set up overnight to prevent the marchers accessing the city center or the presidential palace hampered efforts to transfer some of the wounded to the hospital, witnesses said. Angry demonstrators sealed some of the area around the square, and prevented police and other security forces from entering. Some threw stones at security forces. Outside hospitals, huge queues forms as the public offered to donate blood. The Afghan Interior Ministry said that 81 people had been killed and 231 wounded in the bombing. The ministry's deputy spokesman, Najib Danish, said the blast was the biggest in Afghanistan since 2001, when the Taliban launched their brutal insurgency after they were toppled by the 2001 U.S. invasion. According to the presidential spokesman, Chakhansuri, the organizers of the march had been warned of the possibility of an attack. "We had intelligence over recent days and it was shared with the demonstration organizers, we shared our concerns because we knew that terrorists wanted to bring sectarianism to our community," he said. Senior Hazara leaders were notably absent despite having attended a similar protest in May. The organizers could not be immediately contacted for comment on Chakhansuri's allegations. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued by its news agency, Aamaq. IS has had a presence on Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, mainly in Nangarhar province, for the past year, but this is the first time the extremist group has struck the Afghan capital. The bombing raises concerns over IS's growing capabilities in Afghanistan. Officials believe the fighters are made up of disaffected Taliban insurgents and members of Pakistani militant groups, and that they receive some funding and arms from IS in Syria and Iraq. In Nangarhar they have fought Taliban fighters as well as Afghan security forces, sometimes seizing control of whole districts in the east of the province. A surge in the number of attacks worldwide linked to the Islamic State group has been seen as an attempt to distract from a string of battlefield losses suffered by the extremists in Syria and Iraq, where the borders of their self-styled caliphate are shrinking. During the holy month of Ramadan which ended at the start of July a series of attacks, most linked to the Islamic State group, killed nearly 350 people in eight countries. President Ashraf Ghani has announced an upcoming military offensive in Nangarhar, expected to start within days, aimed at eliminating IS from the country. The Taliban issued a statement denying involvement in Saturday's attack, describing it as an attempt by IS to "ignite civil war." The statement may in part reflect the animosity between the two militant groups; Hazara were especially persecuted during the Taliban's extremist Sunni rule between 1996 and 2001. President Ashraf Ghani declared Sunday a day of national mourning. He ordered a commission be set up to investigate the incident and described the attack as a clear effort to divide Shiites and Sunnis. The Ministry of Interior issued a ban on "any kind of public gathering and demonstration" for the next 10 days. The move could be aimed at controlling any outbreaks of sectarian animosity. The second most deadly attack to hit Kabul since 2001 also targeted Shiites and was seen as an attempt to stoke sectarian violence. In 2011 a suicide bomber attacked worshippers marking Ashura, when Shiites commemorate the death of the prophet Mohammed's grandson, killing 70 people. That attack was linked to a Pakistani militant group. The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, denounced the attack. He said in a statement that "We strongly condemn the actions of Afghanistan's enemies of peace and remain firmly committed to supporting our Afghan partners and the National Unity Government." The U.S embassy in Kabul also issued a condemnation. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the "heinous attack was made all the more despicable by the fact that it targeted a peaceful demonstration." He said the U.S. and the international community stand firmly with the Afghan people and their government "to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability and prosperity." The head of the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, called the attack a "war crime" because it had specifically targeted a large number of civilians. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "despicable crime" that "targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights." Violence had been widely feared at the Hazaras' demonstration, the second to take place over the electric power line. The so-called TUTAP power line is backed by the Asian Development Bank with involvement of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The original plan routed the line through the Hazara heartland of Bamiyan province, but was changed in 2013 by the previous Afghan government. Leaders of the marches have said that the rerouting was evidence of bias against the Hazara community, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan's estimated 30 million-strong population. They are considered the poorest of the country's ethnic groups, and say they suffer pervasive discrimination. 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 project has been on the backburner for the past 30 years and this was the fourth time the business case had been evaluated. The 93.9km single-track line will run through the northern Gangwon region and provide Sokcho with a rail connection for the first time since the Korean War. The new line will begin at Chuncheon, the current terminus for Gyeongchun Line commuter rail services from Seoul. Services on the new route will also call at Hwacheon, Yanggu and Inje stations before reaching Sokcho. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, express services will operate at up to 250km/h, with a Seoul - Sokcho journey time of 1h 15min, half the time it currently takes to travel between the two cities by bus. Although there has been no official announcement on rolling stock, services are likely to be formed of new Hyundai Rotem EMU-250s ordered recently for the Gyeongjeon Line. The Ministry estimates that the Chuncheon Sokcho line will cost Won 2.06 trillion ($US 2.3bn) and once opened, is expected to boost the economy in the Gangwon region through tourism and other industries. The project will enter the design phase in the second half of 2017 and construction will take eight years, although there has been no confirmation so far on when work will begin. RT, July 23, 2016 At least 80 people were killed and 231 injured when a huge blast rocked a mass demonstration in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry has announced. The attack was claimed by terrorist group Islamic State. The numbers were confirmed to Afghan TOLOnews network and Pajhwok agency, as well as to Reuters. Officials have confirmed to TOLOnews that at least three suicide bombers were present at the rally. The first detonated an explosives vest, the second was killed by police, while the third had a defective explosives vest. The fate of the third attacker is unknown. Graphic photos have emerged on social media showing bodies at the presumed site of explosion. Graphic photos have emerged on social media showing bodies at the presumed site of explosion. "The dead and wounded were taken to Istiqlal hospital near the blast scene," Kawoosi said, as cited by AFP. TOLOnews reported that the incident took place in Dehmazang Circle during a mass demonstration. Security officials have arrived at the scene of the blast and the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals. Shortly after the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group was behind the bombing, saying it did not have any involvement or hand in this tragic attack. Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that its fighters detonated explosive belts at a gathering of Shiites, according to IS-affiliated Amaq news agency. Islamic State is now trying to claim responsibility for every terrorist attack both in Western countries and in the Middle East as it wants to impose itself as the only [organization] which is able to carry out such attacks and is powerful enough to have a greater reach, Catherine Shakdam, a political analyst and writer, told RT. At the same time, she stressed that the attack could also have been carried out by other groups trying to stir sectarian tensions, as there is almost a competition between different terrorist organizations and ISIL is really trying to impose itself as the only one worthy of supporting. She also said that it is a worrying trend because ISIL is extremely violent and bloodthirsty and the degree of its violence is troubling. However, there have been conflicting reports about the number of blasts that struck the demo. According to TOLOnews, two explosions rocked the protest. Some reports on social media suggested there might have been up to three explosions. Following the terrorist attack during a demonstration in Kabul, the Afghan Interior Ministry has announced a ban on "any kinds of demonstrations and gatherings" for the next 10 days, the BBC reports. The demonstration, organized by the Enlightenment Movement, gathered to protest over the Afghan government's planned 500kV power line project. Authorities want to run the power line to Kabul through the Salang area in northeastern Afghanistan. But protestors wanted the line diverted through the city of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to his Afghan counterpart, Ashraf Ghani, and expressed Russias readiness to fight all forms of terrorism together with Afghanistan. "The head of the Russian state strongly condemned this cynical crime committed against peaceful citizens and reiterated readiness to continue the most active cooperation with the authorities and people of Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism," the Kremlin said in a statement. Amnesty International said that the attack on a group of peaceful protestors in Kabul demonstrates the utter disregard that armed groups have for human life. "Such attacks are a reminder that the conflict in Afghanistan is not winding down, as some believe, but escalating, with consequences for the human rights situation in the country that should alarm us all." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he was "deeply saddened" by the massacre. Peaceful protest is the right of every citizen, but opportunist terrorists infiltrated the crowds and carried out the attack, killing and injuring a number of citizens including some security forces, he added. Many Taiwanese feel that the Taiwanese economy recently has been a disaster: low and stagnating wage rates, increasing income inequality, the hollowing out of domestic industries, and languishing exports. The new government of President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in May this year facing economic contractions for the past three quarters and a sharp decrease in exports for 16 consecutive months. Taiwan's exports are expected to fall continuously for the rest of 2016. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. 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Price: $ 197 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 2000 Fashion Show Drive Type: Attractions Number of Bedrooms: Studio Number of Bathrooms: 1 Location: 891**, Las Vegas, Nevada You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 1 SHARE Christopher Brian Couts Date of birth: Dec. 19, 1991 Vitals: 6 feet; 165 pounds; black hair, brown eyes Charge: Assault with a deadly weapon Alexander Devin Cousins Date of birth: May 25, 1996 Vitals: 6 feet; 160 pounds; brown hair, blue eyes Charge: Burglary Merum Matthew Choate Jr. Date of birth: Jan. 19, 1983 Vitals: 6 feet, 155 pounds; brown hair, blue eyes Charge: Fraud to obtain aid Sandra Ivette Villalobos Date of birth: Nov. 1, 1988 Vitals: 5 feet, 2 inches; 190 pounds; brown hair, brown eyes Charge: Possession of a controlled substance By Staff Reports Shasta's Most Wanted, featured in the Record Searchlight in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, targets people who have failed to show up in court for sentencing after being convicted. As of Friday a total of 651 arrests had been made through the Most Wanted program since it began in September 2013. Authorities say they have seen an increase in criminals failing to appear in court since the onset of Assembly Bill 109. Also known as prison realignment, the state program shifted certain state prison inmates to county supervision. Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti said court appearances have been going up since the rollout. Five new people are added each week. Those caught will be held until at least their next court appearances. Shasta County Secret Witness is offering a reward of up to $250 for information leading to an arrest. Tips can be provided anonymously at 530-243-2319 or at www.scsecretwitness.com/home/submit-a-tip. Anyone with information also can call SHASCOM at 245-6540. The feature appears Sundays in the Record Searchlight's Northern California section and on Redding.com. SHARE By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight An initiative on the November statewide ballot would make sweeping changes to California prison sentencing, give judges more authority in whether juveniles are tried as adults and possibly release more prison inmates to counties. The authors of Proposition 57 contend the measure, if approved by voters, would reduce wasteful state prison spending, emphasize rehabilitation by expanding credits for good behavior and education, and prevent federal courts from indiscriminately releasing prisoners. It could also save the state hundreds of millions of dollars in prison costs but shift those expenses to counties, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. The office hasn't given exact dollar amounts, instead saying counties could face costs in the tens of millions. Local law enforcement leaders who've repeatedly said the North State is already reeling from the effects of efforts to decrease the state prison population worry the measure will place more challenges on already stressed resources and create a greater threat to public safety. "This is a bad proposition," Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said. "It's bad for our communities, bad for our citizens." The measure is one of 17 qualified for the November ballot and has support from Gov. Jerry Brown, who's been outspoken about it since at least the beginning of the year. "California's prisons are under a court-ordered population cap, the prison population is expected to grow, and there are almost 5,000 inmates housed in out-of-state prisons," Brown said. "Without further action, the court will order the release of prisoners. This initiative through its nonviolent parole and earned-credit provisions will help ensure that any release of rehabilitated inmates is consistent with public safety." Redding Police Chief Rob Paoletti called Proposition 57 "AB 109 round three," referring to the state law that shifted nonviolent offenders from state prisons to county supervision. AB 109 itself grew out of a federal court order to reduce the state's prison population. It's the primary reason cited by Paoletti and Bosenko to explain rises in mostly property crime since the law took effect in 2011. "I'm not sure that, in the long term, that AB 109 is going to be a bad law," Paoletti said. "Can local jurisdictions deal with lower level offenders better than the state of California? Perhaps, but like I've said before AB 109 was rushed along way too fast and counties didn't have time to prepare and catch up with what was coming." Proposition 47 the 2014 voter-approved initiative that reclassified some felonies as misdemeanors ineligible for state prison further piled on to local problems as the Shasta County Jail sees more daily bookings than it has available beds, Bosenko has said. For Paoletti, that's seen in repeated arrests of the same people who are released from jail due to lack of space. More than a third of the more than 4,300 people arrested by Redding police in 2015 were on at least their second arrest, while nearly 400 people had five or more arrests, Paoletti said. "This is phase three of our shift of taking responsibility out of the criminal justice system and I don't think it's going to be good for California," he said. Paoletti's counterpart in Anderson Police Chief Michael Johnson said the measure could allow the early release of those with a history of violent offenses who aren't currently serving time for a violent crime. "They're trying to sell it on this reformation of the criminal justice system and rehabilitation, but it makes absolutely no sense," Johnson said. Outside local law enforcement, the bill is also opposed by the California District Attorneys Association. Bosenko said his organization, the California State Sheriffs Association, has yet to weigh in on the issue, though he's encouraging people to vote against it. "That's going to be one of the important issues on this November's ballot," he said. Alongside Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson supports the measure. Brown's ballot measure committee has contributed some $1.5 million to a committee supporting Proposition 57, according to the California secretary of state. A call to the Oakland attorneys who authored the measure wasn't returned. Their firm, Remcho, Johansen and Purcell LLP, practices political, ethics and public policy law, according to its website. Go to http://bit.ly/Prop57 to read Proposition 57 in its entirety. Photos by Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight John Burns (right) of Gold Country Sports from Newcastle talks with Dan Harrell (left to right), Jim Ellis and Jon Williams on Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Red Bluff during the Veterans of Tehama County Gun Show. SHARE Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Guns and gun equipment, such as these shell casings, were for sale Saturday at the Veterans of Tehama County Gun Show in Red Bluff. By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight RED BLUFF Hundreds of gun enthusiasts gathered at the Elks Lodge in Red Bluff on Saturday for the first-ever Veterans of Tehama County Gun Show. The two-day event is hosted by the Marine Corps League, Tehama Detachment 1140, to support veterans groups in the North State. "This is about veterans helping veterans," said J.D. Metcalfe, a member of the Marine Corps League. "Everything we do goes into veterans organizations." The event not only brought gun vendors and owners together including gun-law critics it raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project, Northern California Veterans Museum and Heritage Center, the Honor Guard and the Redding Veterans Home among many other causes, Metcalfe said. At the show, 18-year-old Troy Horrillo of Corning checked out an AR-15 that he later bought for himself. An enthusiast of target practice, he said he's familiar with a package of bills the California governor signed into law, including one that'll categorize his AR-15 as an "assault rifle." "I think it's absolute garbage," Horrillo said about the laws. "I can't take it to a shooting range unless I modify it." That means modifying the pistol grip and taking off the flash support, the parts of the gun that categorize it as an assault rifle, even if it has a bullet button, Jim Flinchbaugh, owner of Northstate Arms in Corning, clarified. Flinchbaugh said the AR-15 is a very popular gun, and right now his sales are increasing. But that could change after Dec. 31 when he won't be able to sell those guns, he said. And those who are buying now, are trying to get what they can't in January. Flinchbaugh said having a gun as an assault weapon "changes what you can do with a gun dramatically." "You can no longer sell it, will it, or give it away," he said. On Friday, the governor signed another bill into law aimed at gun hobbyists, that would make them apply for a serial number from the Department of Justice for their homemade firearms, also known as "ghost guns." David Dominguez, owner of Chico's Onpoint Firearms, and promoter of the gun show, said it's unclear how that process will be determined since the law is still fairly new, but with the new laws, it limits the type of gun a hobbyist can build, considering the restrictions on AR-15s. "It's like telling a car enthusiast they can no longer build a hot rod," he said. For others the idea to move out of state to protect their Second Amendment rights has come up. "It's actually a consideration I've been thinking about since Jerry Brown signed (the laws)," said Jim Faggar, a show attendee. Faggar, 30, said he found the new laws troubling. Although he doesn't own many guns, he said he doesn't like the idea of having to register his guns as assault rifles starting next year. "That stinks," he said. Dominguez, citing the new laws, has already made up his mind to move to a place with more lax gun laws. He said he'll be packing up and moving his business to Idaho in 2018. "Guns are such a big part of people's lives that they'll just up and relocate," he said. "We're so limited on what we can sell, so restricted on what we can sell, they're basically just forcing our hand." Bills signed into law Senate Bill 1235: Requires background checks on ammunition purchases and creates a statewide tracking system for ammunition purchases. The bill depends on voters passing a similar initiative in November, though absent that approval, the bill would ban ammunition purchases for those barred from buying guns. Senate Bill 880 and Assembly Bill 1135: Redefines assault weapon to include semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines. Assembly Bill 1511: Limits gun loaning without a licensed firearms dealer to spouses or other family members. Assembly Bill 1695: Prohibits anyone who files a false gun-theft report from owning a gun for 10 years after conviction. Senate Bill 1446: Imposes fines beginning July 2017 for anyone who owns a gun magazine that can hold more than 10 bullets. Assembly Bill 857: Requires a serial number or other official mark before assembling a gun beginning July 2018. Vetoed Assembly Bill 1176: Would place on the November ballot an amendment to Proposition 47 to make stealing a gun felony grand theft. Prop. 47 made all thefts below $950 misdemeanors. This bill proposes to add an initiative that is nearly identical to one which will already appear on the November 2016 ballot, Brown said. While I appreciate the authors intent in striving to enhance public safety, I feel that the objective is better attained by having the measure appear before voters only once. Assembly Bill 1673: Expands the definition of firearm to include homemade weapons that function the same way as a gun. This bill seeks to stem the growing tide of untraceable homemade firearms on our streets, Brown said. While I appreciate the authors intent, the actual wording of this bill is unduly vague and could have far-reaching and unintended consequences. Assembly Bill 1674: Extends state law limiting handgun purchases to one per month to every type of gun. While well-intentioned, I believe this bill would have the effect of burdening lawful citizens who wish to sell certain firearms that they no longer need, Brown said. Assembly Bill 2607: Expands the list of people who can petition for a gun-violence restraining order from immediate family members of the target of the order to employers, co-workers and mental health workers or school workers who have had contact with the person in the past six months. In 2014, I signed Assembly Bill 1014 which allowed immediate family members of law enforcement to petition for a gun violence restraining order, Brown said. That law took effect on Jan. 1, 2016, so at this point it would be premature to enact a further expansion. Senate Bill 894: Requires the victim of gun theft to report the crime to law enforcement within five days. I continue to believe that responsible people report the loss or theft of a firearm and irresponsible do not, Brown said. It is not likely that this bill would change that. SHARE Deputies: Woman bit medic on call Shasta County sheriff's deputies late Friday arrested a 35-year-old Redding woman in Shasta Lake after she bit a medic also responding to the call, authorities said. Deputies just after 11:15 p.m. went to Elizabeth Avenue and Elliot Street, off Cascade Boulevard south of Shasta Dam Boulevard, for a report of a woman screaming for help. Upon arriving, they found Lavonne Lowery-Moody was the one screaming, though she appeared intoxicated and was uncooperative with deputies, at one point challenging them to a fight, sheriff's Sgt. Gene Randall said. Lowery-Moody also tried to bite a deputy as they tried to take her into custody, Randall said. She did bite a medic who also responded, according to deputies. Officers never learned why Lowery-Moody was screaming for help, they said. Deputies took Lowery-Moody to the Shasta County Jail and booked her on suspicion of resisting arrest and battery on an emergency responder. CHP: DUI arrest made in hit and run California Highway Patrol officers Friday night arrested a 40-year-old Redding man after he hit another vehicle while driving under the influence and then drove off, the agency said. Paul Cortopassi was driving a 2004 Dodge pickup north on Old Oregon Trail approaching Viking Way, north of Highway 44, when he hit a 1997 BMW backing out of a driveway, CHP officers said. Cortopassi drove from the wreck to his home, where officers found and arrested him on suspicion of DUI and hit and run, both felonies, the CHP said. Two passengers in the BMW Nora Guthrie, 23, and Jeffrey Scott III, 1, both of Red Bluff, were taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The driver, Anthony L. Graves, 43, of Mount Shasta, complained of pain, according to the CHP. Big-rig crash slows Highway 299 traffic One lane was temporarily blocked on Highway 299 near Sugar Pine Camp Road on Saturday morning due to a big-rig rollover, the California Highway Patrol reported. The rollover was reported about 8:50 a.m. No injuries were reported. The wreck briefly shut down the highway and as of 11 a.m., a one-way traffic control was in effect, the CHP said. Team destroys cartel's pot plants The Shasta County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Investigation Team wiped out a large Mexican cartel grow early Friday, a sheriff's lieutenant said Saturday. The team, at about 6 a.m. Friday, went to the plot near the north fork of Battle Creek, roughly between Shingletown and Manton. Deputies removed more than 2,235 budding marijuana plants and found evidence that those working the grow had left just before the team arrived. "Rural grow sites like these prove a significant challenge to our officers not only to their safety but being able to insert into the area undetected," sheriff's Lt. Pat Kropholler said. A helicopter helped haul out the marijuana plants, Kropholler said. Deputies also found a large amount of garbage and a water diversion from Battle Creek, which posed a hazard to the environment and wildlife, according to the sheriff's office. The garbage was removed and the water diversion was dismantled, Kropholler said. Vegetation fire burns several acres Firefighters contained a vegetation fire in about 20 minutes Saturday afternoon off Airport Road near Meadowview Drive in Redding. The several-acre grass fire was reported about 4:08 p.m. and it was contained before 4:30 p.m., according to scanner reports. Driver from Oregon treated for injuries A Medford, Oregon, woman suffered major injuries Friday after the pickup she was driving rolled off Interstate 5 near Cottonwood, the California Highway Patrol said. Teresa Richardson, 57, was driving her 1998 Toyota Tacoma pickup south on I-5 near the Sunset Hills Road off-ramp in northern Tehama County when the truck blew a tire, sending it off the right side of the road and up an embankment before overturning, the CHP said. Emergency crews had to free Richardson from the pickup after the crash left her trapped inside. Richardson was wearing a seat belt but suffered major injuries, the CHP said. Medics took her to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Traffic slowed to a crawl in the area. The CHP says the median and right lane were blocked until about 7:30 p.m. Drugs and alcohol weren't a factor in the crash, according to the CHP. Crews respond to fire outside Burney Firefighters on Saturday afternoon were working to extinguish a small fire near Burney Mountain in eastern Shasta County that may have been started by logging equipment. The fire was reported about 3:15 p.m. about five miles due south of Burney. Initial reports described a gray column of smoke that was slowly getting darker. At 3:47 p.m., an air tanker crew reported there was little spread to the fire and it had boxed in a vehicle in the area with retardant. That vehicle likely was a piece of logging equipment, it was reported on fire in the center of the scorched vegetation. Fire burns area outside Redding Firefighters went to a vegetation fire several acres in size that was burning Saturday night in the area of Powerline and Weseman roads west of Redding. Crews were called out at 6:55 p.m. An air tanker dropped fire retardant while a bulldozer was cutting a fire line. The fire was reported in heavy brush and timber, but crews were getting a handle on it, according to scanner reports. CAF Bill's fate to be decided on Monday The Congress has yet again decided to oppose the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments Compensatory Afforestation (CAF) Bill, 2015, the fate of which will be decided in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The understanding between the government and us (the Congress) does not stand anymore after the happenings in Parliament on Thursday and Friday. We will table the amendments against the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and ask for a division of votes, regardless of whether we have the numbers or not, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told Business Standard. The Congress stance on Friday was different from the one Ramesh had taken on behalf of the party earlier, after a meeting of the Congress leaders with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave and other Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders. Ramesh, part of the meeting along with Digvijay Singh, had come out to announce that the two parties had struck a compromise: The Congress would not oppose the bill on the basis of an assurance from Dave on the floor of the house that its concerns would be incorporated later in the attendant rules of the new legislation. The proposed legislation is meant to unlock a fund of Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion) to which about Rs 2,000-4,000 crore (Rs 20-40 billion) gets added every year on an average. When industries and miners chop the forests to set up units, they have to contribute to this fund at a fixed rate. The money is meant to be used to do plantations elsewhere in the state in lieu of the forests lost. The fund was created in 2006 on the orders of the Supreme Court. Since then, nearly 90 per cent of the fund has accumulated and remained stuck with the central government instead of being reverted to states from where they were collected. The Union government wants to pass the Bill to reverse this situation and ensure that 90 per cent of the funds go back to the states and get utilised for forestry purposes. But, during the last monsoon session, the Congress, Left and other opposition parties such as Trinamool Congress and Janata Dal (United) found a reason to oppose the CAF Bill. They contended that the bill trampled over the rights of tribals granted under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Ramesh noted the common stance of these opposition parties. He said the FRA made the gram sabha (village council) the sole authority in charge of taking a final decision on what activities would be permitted on tribal and other forest dwellers traditional forest lands. He warned that previously, too, in many states, the tribals and state forest department had ended up in conflict, with the latter trying to impose plantations on traditional forestlands. The CAF Bill does not acknowledge the role or the power of the tribal and forest dwellers gram sabha explicitly. The opposition, led by the Congress, asked that the Bill be amended. Many tribal rights organisations and non-government organsiations, too, demanded the same. The then environment minister Prakash Javadekar contended that saying so in black and white was not essential. After an array of other reports on attempt to dilute the FRA provisions, media recently reported a story about the NDA refusing to act even as the BJP government in Chhattisgarh cancelled existing tribal rights under FRA to help the Adani Group mine the forests for coal. The Congress jumped at the occasion to call Narendra Modis government anti-tribal. It announced that Rahul Gandhi would soon launch a country-wide tour to drum-up support in favour of the FRA and against Modi governments attempts to dilute it. In the beginning of the monsoon session, on July 19, Congress President Sonia Gandhi told her Parliamentary Committee, The government has snatched away the rights of Adivasis, Dalits and traditional forest dwellers under Forest Rights Act and is weakening environment rights. But the very next morning, media reported that the Congress and the BJP leaders had struck a deal on the CAF Bill. The Congress had agreed to do what it had once opposed that the veto powers of tribals and others be reflected later in the rules that the government formulates to go with the CAF Bill and the government gives an assurance to this tune in Parliament. But by Friday night that mood in the Congress camp had changed again. We had a private member Bill on special status for Andhra Pradesh, which would have passed otherwise in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. But, they created the din to block it. Now, the agreement between us (on CAF Bill) is off. I dont think we can work with this government. The happenings have cast a shadow even on the possible passage of goods and service tax, Ramesh said. Photograph: Katy Migiro/Reuters Investors should quiz them to understand the product, which options to invest in, and how to get the final payout While investors have had the option of taking the help of distributors of various financial products such as mutual funds and fixed-income instruments, there was no support system they could fall back on while investing in the National Pension System (NPS). Until now, they went directly to a service provider and completed the investment formalities themselves. This is set to change, with the sector regulator having notified the rules on retirement advisors. Investors will have a set of intermediaries to assist them. However, the final responsibility will still rest with investors to ask their retirement advisors the right questions, and make the right decisions pertaining to their NPS investments. How does NPS function? How is it different from other retirement options? Most people who are looking at NPS to fulfil their retirement needs do not have a clear idea of how the scheme works. In the past, when they invested in a retirement instrument, they saw their money put into certain instruments, mostly debt-oriented, which then paid them a fixed rate of return. That is how traditional instruments like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Public Provident Fund (PPF) work. However, the NPS is different because it offers investors the freedom to choose from multiple types of funds and fund managers. It is also significantly different in the way it operates and in how it allows investors to use it. Many people use traditional retirement options like a temporary savings account from which they keep making periodic withdrawals. In the case of NPS, access to the corpus will be limited, which is why it is essential that investors acquire thorough knowledge of how the product works before putting in funds. What is the right exposure for me? How should I invest in the NPS? Since the NPS offers multiple options, including investing in equities, investors have to make several crucial decisions at the time of outting in money. They need to select the types of funds their money will get invested in, and also the proportion in which it will be divided among them. Retirement advisors should be able to help investors make the right choices based on their risk appetites. Investors also need to decide how they should make their contribution - through a single instalment or regular, multiple contributions spread throughout the year. Not only should the retirement advisor be able to guide the investor about how to make the contribution, she should also set up a system so that the individual is able to do so without any trouble. Hand holding by the retirement advisor should be able to set at ease any worries the investor has regarding her investments and the processes to be followed. This is often where investors fail when they set out on their own. Without any help, they simply give up rather than make the extra effort to make this investment. How are the various options performing? A big black hole in the entire NPS investment process is knowing the results, that is, how the funds where the money has been invested are performing. There is no way an investor, especially a small investor, can keep track of what is happening to her investments. Unlike other investment options, data is not available in an easy-to-understand format. Sometimes access to data is also a problem. This situation can be easily overcome if the retirement advisor makes this information easily accessible to the investor, so that she can see it whenever she needs to. Doing so will allow the investor to monitor her investments properly. This will help plug a big gap in the process and also build the confidence as the investor will know exactly what is happening to her investments. Can I set the system on auto pilot? Can I make the investment process easy? The NPS offers an automatic or default option to investors, which can do many things on their behalf. This option regularly rebalances the amounts allocated to the different investment options. This rebalancing is done each year based on the age of the investor. The allocation to equities is reduced as the person ages. It thus takes care of the important aspect of where to invest. Similarly, a system can be set up for regular monthly investments through direct debiting from the investors bank account, so that she does not have to remember to make the investment each month. Other areas like intimation of details of the investment can also be set up. The investor should ask the advisor to send her regular reports. People who want to know how the seven fund managers are performing, so that they can shift to a better-performing one if they wish to, should also get their retirement advisor to send them information in this regard. How should I deal with the investment after retirement? A key aspect of NPS is that there is a systematic way in which the payout is made once a person has stopped working. The investor needs to understand from the retirement advisor the process of taking an annuity and withdrawing the lump sum amount. Investors should clearly know the time period before retirement when intimation has to be given for the monetisation of their corpus in NPS and the process to be followed for this. The investor should not end up in a situation where because certain steps were not taken, a default option gets exercised, which then leads to cash flow problems and creates conditions that are not to the investors liking. Arnav Pandya is a certified financial planner The helping hand Advisors can answer investors queries and explain the scheme in detail They can help with risk profiling and help investors to get the right mix of equities, corporate debt and government securities The data from NPS is not readily available. Advisors can help investors monitor performance of their investments For those who cannot devote much time, the retirement advisor can set up an easy system of investing The retirement advisor can guide the investor in receiving the payout in a manner that suits him Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters The Bharatiya Janata Party has suspended its Bihar MLC Tunnaji Pandey hours after he was arrested for misbehaving with a girl on board a train in Bihars Vaishali district. BJP state spokesperson Sanjay Mayukh said that the party has suspended Tunnaji Pandey soon after he was arrested for harassing a minor girl in running train. BJP has also issued a show cause notice to Tunnaji Pandey in this connection he said. According to BJP leaders, the saffron party was embarrassed by Pandey. Tunnaji Pandey, a resident of a village in Siwan district, is a criminal-turned-politician. Earlier, Muzaffarpur superintendent of rail police B N Jha said that Tunnaji Pandey was arrested following a written complaint lodged by the father of the victim. According to Government Railway Police officer Sanjay Singh, who confirmed Tunnaji Pandeys crime, a 12 year old girl travelling on board the Purvanchal express from Kolkata to Gorakhpur, was sleeping late Saturday night when Tunnaji Pandey not only misbehaved with her, but also abused her. The victims father is a Thailand based businessman. He along with his daughter and two other family members were travelling in the AC 2 tier compartment of the train when the incident took place. Image: BJP MLC Tunnaji Pandey was arrested for his act following a complaint by the father of the victim. Photograph: ANI/Twitter Swati Singh, wife of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dayashankar Singh, who had questioned Mayawati's character, on Sunday met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and lodged a complaint over foul language allegedly used by Bahujan Samaj Party workers against women of her family during their protests. IMAGE: Expelled BJP leader Daya Shankar Singhs wife Swati Singh (C) and mother Tetra Devi (Left) give a CD to Governor Ram Naik at Rajbhawan demanding action against BSP leaders and security for them in Lucknow on Sunday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Swati said that she had lodged an FIR against the "misdeeds" of BSP workers led by Naseemuddin Siddqui "at the behest of Mayawati". She submitted a CD containing video of the protest by BSP workers on Thursday and the Governor has assured that necessary action would be taken after examining it, Swati said. She alleged that during the protest, BSP workers raised objectionable slogans against her mother-in-law, daughter and herself. If Mayawati was "hurt" by Singh's remark against her, then slogans raised by BSP workers were "equally disturbing" for Dayashankar's family, she said, adding the BSP chief's allegation that she is working on the directives of BJP is "completely baseless". After Dayashankar had sparked an outrage by his derogatory comments against the BSP supremo, the party had on Thursday held a huge protest in Hazratbal and raised slogans against the BJP's now expelled leader's family. An FIR was filed against Mayawati along with general secretary Siddiqui and others on Friday on a complaint of Dayashankar Singh's mother Tetra Devi. She had alleged that Mayawati used "abusive language" against the women members of the family and BSP leaders raised "derogatory" slogans at the protest in Lucknow on Thursday during which Singh's 12-year-old daughter was also dragged into the row. A delegation of BJP office-bearers, led by its state president, on Saturday met the Governor and demanded immediate arrest of Naseemuddin Siddiqui. They also submitted a memorandum stating that derogatory language was used against women members of Singh's family during protest by BSP workers. Expressing their anxiety and grief over the missing India Air Force AN-32 plane, Airman Bhupat Singhs family is hoping that everyone is safe and the rescue team finds the aircraft soon. We are waiting to get the news of his safety. We came to know about this through TV, said Sangeeta, the wife of Bhupat Singh. Bhupat Singh has 23 years of experience in the Indian Navy and seeks possessed knowledge about ships. Singh was busy with some official formality and said will call back after reaching Port Blair, said Ashutosh, the son of Singh. Singh was going to Port Blair for a routine check of ships and guns available on the Andaman Islands. It was a regular check-up that was carried out after every six months for taking care of weapons. A team is carrying out a search operation, as per the instruction they have been given by the authorities. Nothing has been found out till now, said B Rama Rao, under which Singh was assigned. Bhupat Singh was one of the passengers onboard the AN-32 along with 28 others. The aircraft left for Port Blair from Chennai air base in the morning and later went missing. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday conducted an aerial of the area where AN-32 is said to have gone down. A massive search and rescue operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and Coast Guard, deploying one submarine, eight aircraft and 13 ships for tracking the missing aircraft. Main opposition National Conference on Sunday asked the Centre to initiate a sustained dialogue with Pakistan as well as separatists groups in Jammu and Kashmir for evolving a consensus for a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue. The party also said it would be a travesty to treat the current unrest in the Valley as a mere law and order problem. This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Srinagar since Saturday to review the situation, by a delegation of NC, led by former chief minister and its working President Omar Abdullah. In a memorandum to the home minister, the NC expressed deep disappointment at the Centre's failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir "as a political problem which requires political engagement -- both internally and externally." While it was "palpable and shocking" to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, "it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue," the party said. It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir "operatively and militarily", rather than "thinking out of the box", has further exasperated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism especially among the youth that could have adverse long-term implications. The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley. "A continued failure to address growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India," they said. Registering its anguish, grief and sorrow over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party's state Government's "evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation." "Also, to blame external forces and vested interests alone would be a dangerous diversion that takes us away from the basis, for not only such unrests and agitations in Kashmir but also a prolonged political turmoil that has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives," the NC memorandum said. The delegation, which also comprised Ali Mohammed Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather and Nasir Wani, demanded a judicial probe into the "mishandling of the situation in the aftermath of Burhan Wani's killing, including the veracity of claims made by (PDP) senior leaders including its Member of Parliament for North Kashmir and the State's Finance Minister". Highlighting the handling of situation in the aftermath of killing of Wani, the NC leaders said when there was a need for dealing the situation in a political and humane manner, the situation was further compounded by contradictory statements by ministers and elected representatives belonging to the ruling dispensation. "While senior PDP Leader and Member of Parliament Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig has blamed 'internal rivalry' within certain sections of the state Police for Wani's killing, another PDP Leader and state Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu has termed Burhan Wani's killing a case of custodial execution by the State Police while speaking in a Cabinet Meeting," the opposition delegation alleged. It said the judicial probe should also ascertain "if excessive force was used against protestors in the Valley with an aim to initiate legal proceedings in cases where excessive use of force is proven. Timely and visible action should be taken in such instances." It also sought immediate restoration of mobile communications in the Valley and mobile internet services, saying "any prolonged clampdown on the telecom sector in the present day and age is an archaic, unimaginative and draconian approach to deal with public dissent and anger." The memorandum said by blocking telecommunication with the "purpose of cracking down on criticism of the government and growing dissent against the administration has resulted in untold miseries and suffering in the Valley". "The clampdown on mobile telecommunications in the Valley continues without any indication of restoration of services by the government. This too has fuelled the sentiment of alienation and isolation in Kashmir," it said. The NC demanded the judicial probe to fix responsibility for the crackdown on newspaper offices and printing presses, claiming that now the chief minister has denied her government's involvement in this repressive exercise. "Legal action should be initiated in this matter and the state government should extend an unconditional, unequivocal apology to the local media for this unwarranted repression," the memorandum said. The NC also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the home minister for promptly responding to Omar's appeal to send eye-specialists to the Valley to treat hundreds of cases of young men and women, who sustained "potentially handicapping, lethal injuries due to the unrestricted and wanton use of pellet guns on protestors." It sought all possible medical and financial assistance in the treatment of civilians who sustained grievous injuries, including specialised treatment outside the state. They also demanded a complete ban on 'non lethal' weapons that caused grievous, life-threatening and fatal injuries. While expressing strong condemnation of a "clear pattern" of excessive use of force on protestors across the Valley, the delegation informed the home minister that NC wasted no time in rising over partisan politics by reaching out to the state government "to lend our support to help and minimise the loss of young lives" despite having serious reservations about the state government's "inhumane, insensitive and chaotic response" to the situation in the Valley. The delegation informed the home minister that the party's working President Omar Abdullah had made a timely and prompt public appeal to the chief minister to lead a political effort to normalise the situation in the Valley. "It is tragic and condemnable that the chief minister and the state government did not respond to this appeal and expression of support when a collective, bi-partisan effort could have helped in the non-negotiable goal of preventing the loss of lives," they said. Justifying its stand to boycott the All-Party Meeting, the delegation said the party did not want to be part of an elaborate "theatrical charade by the chief minister to compensate for her shocking lack of a sense of responsibility to deal with the situation in the State. "We remain committed to helping the aggrieved and affected people and also playing an active role in any over- arching effort to normalize the situation in the Valley." Maintaining that the PDP-BJP government had adopted a 'good cop-bad cop policy', the NC said on one hand state government spokesperson and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar went on record to re-affirm and justify the government's media gag, on the other the chief minister, through her Advisor Amitabh Mattoo, sought to "deny the existence of the media gag while publicly and ironically promising action against those responsible for 'miscommunication' and 'misrepresentation'". "If this means possible action against the state government's spokesperson and education minister, or if this is just another elaborate enacting of the 'Good CopBad Cop' trick to isolate the chief minister from the ramifications of assaulting the media and curbing the fourth estate -- is a question that remains unanswered," it said. IMAGE: Home Minister Rajnath Singh meets the National Conference delegation led by Omar Abdullah. Photograph: ANI/Twitter Counting discrepancies could make a huge difference in classifying the Project Tiger a success or a failure, notes Pallava Bagla. IMAGE: According to recent figures, India has an estimate 2,226 tigers. Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters How many tigers are there in India? According to the most recent government estimate, it is 2,226. Extrapolations from scientific ground estimates could make the number swing between nearly 1,500 and 3,000, a swing like this can make a difference in classifying the high profile Project Tiger a success or a failure and hence estimates are crucial for policy formulation. Not all agree on this figure of 2,226. Wildlife experts use different techniques to estimate tiger populations. Experts from the governments Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, have suggested that in central Indias most famous tiger habitat Kanha National Park, some estimates could be higher by as much as 30 per cent. Yadvendradev Jhala, a well-known tiger researcher from WII, writes in a published scientific paper that experts using DNA fingerprinting techniques had estimated the tiger number in Kanha to be 89, while another scientific technique that relies on camera traps gave a much lower estimate of 60. No doubt tigers are reclusive animals and counting them is not easy but such a huge discrepancy of a third of the population casts a doubt on the reliability of both the techniques. Speaking at the tiger summit in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, India has a long standing and successful track record of protecting its tigers. We launched Project Tiger in 1973. Its coverage has increased considerably from the initial nine tiger reserves to 49 at present. Tiger conservation is a collective responsibility of the government of India and states... Our cultural legacy which encourages compassion and co-existence has played an important role in the success of Project Tiger. Due to such collective efforts, there has been a rise of thirty per cent in the number of tigers. It has gone up from 1,706 in 2010 to 2,226 in 2014. The same meeting of global tiger experts held in New Delhi gave an ambitious target of doubling the global population of tigers in less than a decade. This doubling was announced in the April meeting of Global Tiger Forum which said, A 100 years ago (globally) there were 100,000 wild tigers. By 2010, there were as few as 3,200. In 2010, tiger range governments agreed to act to double wild tigers by 2022. This goal is known as Tx2. A tall order, say some experts. IMAGE: From using cameras to collecting DNA, India has used various techniques for tiger counting. Photograph: S iphiwe Sibeko/Reuters In the last century when tiger numbers really dipped, it was at Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh that the now highly discredited system of counting tigers using pug marks was initially validated. It was assumed that each tiger has a distinctive pug mark and by collecting casts and tracings of tiger paw prints estimates of tiger numbers could be estimated. It was made out to be a scientific method by the iconic tiger conservationist H S Panwar who was then field director of the Kanha National Park for a long time. World's tiger count While Indias tiger count stands at 2,226 according to the latest survey, Russia holds the second highest number of wildcats at 433. Indonesia has 371 tigers while Malaysia 250. Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh and Bhutan have 198, 189, 106 and 103 tigers each, according to the data compiled by the wildlife groups. Other countries which have tigers are Myanmar, China and Laos. This technique came under a cloud when K Ullas Karanth, now Director for Science in Asia, for Wildlife Conservation Society, Bengaluru who took some pug mark casts from captive tigers taken under varying environmental conditions and asked experts to differentiate them, it exposed the utter weakness of the pug mark technique. This was then dumped for good. A new method called camera trapping was deployed initially in southern India by Karanths team to estimate tiger numbers by photographing them in the wild. Using some remote cameras, tigers were made to take selfies and it assumed that the stripe patterns of each animal is as distinctive as human fingerprints, then after collating a large number of pictures tiger numbers could be arrived at. This was an expensive but certainly more robust than chasing tiger footprints. Using some sophisticated statistical tools called capture and re-capture techniques and pattern recognition software, more reliable tiger numbers were arrived at. This technique showed that tiger numbers were dipping drastically and alarm bells rang out that the tiger may go extinct by the turn of the millennium. But, thanks to some very active policing by tiger experts like Rajesh Gopal, the head of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, it helped bring back the tiger from the brink of extinction. This method of using camera traps was then adopted by the WII and deployed in all tiger habitats and the latest estimate of 2,226 adult tigers in India is basically an outcome of using camera traps. Yet in some areas, especially where cameras are liable to be vandalised, or in areas where Naxal violence dominated it was impossible to use camera traps, this was now well into the 21st century and DNA techniques had been mastered. IMAGE: India has allocated Rs 380 crore for tiger conservation. Photograph: Reuters Experts started using DNA techniques to estimate the tiger numbers, for this either tiger hair is collected or the droppings of tigers are collected and then subjected to some nifty biochemical analysis. While the droppings or the poop of tigers contain a lot of remains of the animals it may have consumed but the scats, as the droppings are called by scientists, also have tell-tale signatures of the tiger. Scientists bring back bag loads of smelly tiger shit and then subject it to modern biotechnological procedures to literally arrive at the individual tiger numbers. This was likely to become the gold standard since it is hard to go wrong with DNA finger prints. This technique of using tiger droppings has been mastered at two top of the line laboratories in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Now the group from WII has questioned the veracity of the techniques used for DNA-based estimation in a cheekily titled paper Schrodingers scat a spin on the famous Schrodingers cat a 1935 thought experiment by well-known physicist Erwin Schrodinger which presented a theoretical scenario of a cat being simultaneously dead and alive. Jhala reports in this recent paper that the researchers were wrongly identifying leopards as tigers. A fatal error that can lead to the bloating of tiger numbers since leopards are far more common. In a statement, Jhala says, What are the implications of these findings? The authors point out that these erroneous (DNA) primers have been used in many prestigious publications. Due to the possibility of leopard scats being misidentified as tiger, this could lead to inflated tiger population estimates. For instance, the historical population of tigers south of the Narmada has been estimated at around 50,000, in one study using these primers. Given that these studies were conducted with the erroneous primers, this number may need to be revisited. Species misidentification from scat DNA also has other harmful effects. Incorrect inference of species has an impact on inferring conservation consequences of gene-flow and connectivity. It gives us a false sense of security because of a mistake at the basic species identification step, says Jhala, further highlighting the need for stringent quality checks on primers before publishing scientific studies. Damning indictment from one scientific group to another. IMAGE: A recent World Conservation Union assessment showed 40 per cent habitat loss in the last decade, and a spike in poaching pressure in many regions. Photograph: Sanjib Mukherjee/Reuters The war of numbers between different tiger experts does not end here. Four of the best tiger conservationists led by Karanth recently slammed the projected doubling of tiger numbers as scientifically not convincing. Further adding that using flawed survey methodologies can lead to incorrect conclusions, an illusion of success, and slackening of conservation efforts, when in reality grave concern is called for. Glossing over serious methodological flaws, or weak and incomplete data to generate feel-good news is a disservice to conservation, because tigers now occupy only 7 per cent of their historic range. A recent World Conservation Union assessment showed 40 per cent habitat loss in the last decade, and a spike in poaching pressure in many regions. This is not a time for conservationists to take their eyes off the ball and pat each other on the back, they said. Emphasising that even taking these putative tiger numbers at face value, simple calculations show that doubling of the worlds tigers in 10 years as hoped for in the Global Tiger Forum report is not a realistic proposition. Assuming 70-90 per cent of wild tigers are in source populations with slow growth, such an anticipated doubling of global tiger numbers would demand an increase between 364-831 per cent in these sink landscapes. We believe this to be an unlikely scenario. Evidence that scientists are literally clawing at each other. Karanth and his team say, Rather than engaging in these tiger number games that distract them from reality, conservationists must now focus on enhancing and expanding recovery and monitoring of source populations, while protecting their remaining habitat and their linkages, all the while being guided by the best of science. In his speech, Modi rightly raised the red flag by saying, It appears that tiger habitats have reduced drastically across tiger range countries. The situation has been aggravated further by the ongoing trafficking in body parts and derivatives of this magnificent animal. In India too, we have been facing the challenge of poaching and disruption in their ecosystems. But to ameliorate the Indian situation Modi announced that We have, this year, doubled our allocation for tiger conservation. We have increased it from Rs 185 crore to Rs 380 crore. But is money enough, to save Indias national animal the war that has broken out among two groups of scientists one based in Dehradun and the other in Bengaluru needs to be reconciled since the tiger needs a robust scientific management of its habitat for its survival. Meanwhile in a statesman-like fashion Modi strikes a balance by saying I strongly believe that tiger conservation, or conservation of nature, is not a drag on development. Both can happen in a mutually complementary manner. Over 250 people have been killed or missing in heavy torrential rains and floods that have wreaked havoc in China with about 2.5 lakh people still trapped in the central HubeiProvince. While the floods have claimed 114 lives with 111 missing in Hubei province during the past few days, 18 others have died with nine others listed missing in Anyang city, Henan Province. IMAGE: A man sits on top of a car as he is stranded on a flooded street in Tianjin, China. Photograph: Reuters Over 500 soldiers, 1,000 people and 62 speedboats have been sent for rescue work while more than 10,000 people have been sent to ensure the safety of river banks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. At least 114 people have been killed and 111 others missing in Hubei province. Local authorities have evacuated nearly 3.10 lakh people. Flooding and rain-triggered landslides have caused the collapse of 52,900 houses and damage to 155,000. Over 700,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over 16 billion yuan (Rs 16, 055 crore). The worst-hit Daxian Village of Xingtai City was almost empty after a flash flood swamped it early Wednesday. At least 8 villagers were killed and one missing. I heard people yelling flood about 2:30 am. I woke up my wife and children and rushed out of door immediately. In no time the water level was above my waist, said Zhang Erqiang, a local villager. My wife and I panicked and we climbed to a tree, and stayed there for several hours until rescuers arrived in the morning, Zhang said. But our daughter and son were washed away and their bodies were just found, he said. IMAGE: Automobiles are seen passing a flooded area during heavy rainfall in Beijing. Photograph: China Daily/Reuters Only a dozen villagers stayed to watch over the village, while the rest of the residents had left to take shelter with their relatives elsewhere. The news of heavy casualties in Xingtai, just 400 km south of Beijing, only began emerging over the past 24 hours when thousands of local residents took to the street to protest against the alleged belated disaster warning and ineffective rescue efforts, the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. Flood waters burst river banks and submerged at least 12 villages. Daxian village is one of the worst-hit, where at least nine people, including five school kids, are dead or missing, media reports said. Jingxing County, located in the west of the province, saw an average precipitation of 545.4 mm in the 19 hours between 1 pm Tuesday and 8 am on Wednesday, surpassing the amount received by the county in the whole of 2015. There have been power outages, disruptions to communication and other infrastructure and road closures across Jingxing. In the village of Renma, villager Ren Jingmin was clearing his home as his sofa, bed and other furniture were soaked and cracks had appeared in the walls. Power went out before the villages loudspeaker finished broadcasting. And soon floods submerged my bed, another villager Zhang Yechao said. IMAGE: A woman cries as she holds body of a dead pig at a flooded farm in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, China. Photograph: Darley Shen/Reuters Qiu Wenshuang, deputy mayor of Xingtai, said on Saturday that at least 25 people were killed and another 13 missing in the city. He said rescue operations and disaster relief have been initiated immediately after the flood. Nearly 30 speedboats and 300 soldiers were dispatched to repair breached levee and transfer trapped residents, while another 1,200 people joined the rescue operation later, according to Qiu. The local government has also sent 15 working teams into 12 flooded villages to investigate the situation, comfort villagers and carry out epidemic prevention. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang presided over a national meeting on flood control and disaster relief in Beijing on Saturday, urging governments at all levels to put safety of the people first and strengthen flood control measures. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday lashed out at Pakistan for instigating youths in Kashmir to take up arms, saying it has to change its policy, and asked the Centre to revoke AFSPA on trial basis from selected areas as a beginning towards "winning the hearts" of people. "Today when a Kashmiri child takes up gun, they (Pakistan) call him leader and say he is doing good, but when their own children, some from madrassas etc take up gun, they attack them with drones and hang them in military courts. "I feel Pakistan, which is viewed by people of Kashmir with sympathy, has this time committed excess. If they instigate our children to pick up gun and then say you will become our leader if you get killed in encounter, then I think they need to change this policy," Mehbooba told reporters in Srinagar. The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was speaking on a day she met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who took stock of situation in the Valley where 47 people have died and over five thousand civilians and security personnel have been injured in clashes that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "Pakistan says that we are victims of terror, their 146 children died in school attack in single day and people fear to go inside their mosques," Mehbooba said, hitting out at the neighbouring country for encouraging violence in Kashmir. The chief minister said there is a need to take "bold measures to address the issue as the people of Jammu and Kashmir were our own". She said there was an opportunity not just for the whole country but for Pakistan as well to have a dialogue and address the issue. Mehbooba said a start has to be made from somewhere to improve the situation in the state and suggested revocation of AFSPA from some areas, beginning with 25 to 50 police stations, as an experiment. "As far as AFSPA is concerned, we were not saying that it should be revoked in one go. But, as a test case, on experimental basis, if it is revoked slowly and it can be seen how the situation remained in such areas. "If the situation remained well, then it should be revoked entirely or it it can be reimplemented if you feel that militancy did not allow it to be revoked," the Chief Minister said. "The start has to be from somewhere, the experiments have to be from somewhere like it (AFSPA) be revoked from 25 or 40 police stations to see the reaction," she said. The controversial Armed Forces Special Forces Act gives immunity from prosecution and other legal proceedings to the armed forces and PDP and opposition National Conference have been demanding its revocation. Mehbooba said her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took two month to forge an alliance with the BJP and made an agenda of alliance to show a way to take J-K "out of the morass and that cannot be done only by money or packages". "There are some issues like dialogue, peace process, winning hearts of people here," she said. "I hope the home minister, whose statement in the Parliament was very good, he tried to reach out to the people of J-K, that has not been missed here. "I think today we have an opportunity, for the whole country as well as for Pakistan, that if they are really our well-wishers, then they should talk," she said. Mehbooba said there are lakhs of kanals of land under security forces, which they do not need now and should be returned for civilian use. "If you return them to us, we will construct colleges, universities or parks so that people feel that our situation is improving as security forces were moving backwards and institutions and recreational facilities are being constructed there," she said. The chief minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore in December. "It was not an ordinary gesture that the Prime Minister of a country goes like that, but unfortunately then Pathankot happened and because of that the process was stalled. The Chief Minister regretted that the political process started by her father and Vajpayee was not taken forward and held politicians responsible for stalling the peace process in the state. "I firmly believe in what (former prime minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee said that you can change friends but not neighbours, so till the time both the countries do not keep good relations and improve the situation, neither they nor we can progress. "Our prime minister had made a beginning by going to Lahore. That is the only way to remove poverty in both the countries and take Jammu and Kashmir out of the morass," she said, adding the fate of state and the country are intertwined. "The political process started by Sayeed from opening routes to healing touch, somewhere that has stopped and only governance and development were talked about and to what limit that happened, that is again a matter of discussion. "The roadmap by Mufti and Vajpayee that borders cannot be changed but made irrelevant so that people move across and there is trade. (Former PM) Manmohan Singh also took the process forward but the political process, the dialogue process, which started with L K Advani and the separatist leaders here, was not taken forward," she said. "Some buses move from here, some from there, but the communication, banking facilities, exchange of students, doctors and civil society, which should have been there, so that we see what is there and what problems they have and they can come here, but that did not happen," she said, adding, "the politicians are responsible for it". "The governments here, be it the NC-Congress government before ours, or the UPA in Delhi, we all are responsible for this that we think the situation has to be normalized whenever it is bad, but we forget once the situation is normal," she said. IMAGE: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti told the media of her recommendation to the Centre to revoke AFSPA on a trial basis. Photograph: ANI/Twitter A suicide bombing against a security check point in northern Baghdad has killed at least 15 people, Iraqi officials said on Sunday. IMAGE: Iraqi security forces gather at the site where a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at the entrance to Kadhimiya, a mostly Shiite Muslim district in northwest Baghdad, Iraq. Photograph: Khalid al Mousily/Reuters A police officer says a bomber on foot detonated his device today morning at one of the entrances of the Shiite district of Kadhimiyah, killing at least eight civilians and two policemen. At least 29 other people were wounded. A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack which bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group. Security forces and public areas, mainly in Shiite neighborhoods, are one of the most frequent targets for the extremist group, which controls key areas in mainly northern and western Iraq. The attack comes hot on the heels of the terror strike in Kabul that claimed over 80 lives. Reading, math scores down in 1st test since COVID. How Indiana did. DEAR ABBY: While our daughter was on vacation with our small grandkids, she bought them postcards and suggested they write us about their vacation. She said she laughed when the kids finished with the cards because she hadn't realized they didn't know how to write a postcard. The children had turned the cards sideways and had written across the entire card from top to bottom. Not wanting to hurt their feelings, she found a half-inch space on one side and in tiny print wrote our names and address. I would like to thank the postal workers in both Springfield and Wales, Massachusetts, and in Hartford, Connecticut, for caring, for taking the time to search for our address and forwarding these wonderful memories to us. Thankful Grandma J. DEAR THANKFUL: I'm pleased to pass along your message to the caring postal workers who ensured that you receive the postcards. They obviously take pride in their work. When I started writing this reply, I thought I'd begin by quoting the postal workers' official motto: "Neither rain nor hail nor sleet nor snow," etc. Then, unsure of the correct wording, I decided to look it up online. What I found fascinated me, and I hope it will you, too. Here's the gist: Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Postal Service has no motto. The familiar sentence "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" is actually just the inscription found on the General Post Office in New York City at 8th Avenue and 33rd Street. The inscription was provided by the architects who designed the building. The sentence appears in a translation of the account of the fifth-century B.C. Greek historian Herodotus and describes the expedition of the Greeks against the Persians. The Persians had a system of mounted postal couriers, and he was describing the fidelity with which their work was done. DEAR ABBY: Several months ago I spoke to a doctor friend about some medical issues my wife was experiencing. He specializes in this particular area. When he advised my wife to come into the office, I told him it was not a good time for us financially. He said not to worry about it. We made the appointment, and about two months later the bill arrived. We are on a high-deductible health plan and the bill is not cheap. How can I discuss this with my friend without offending? I don't want to sound presumptuous I know this is his livelihood but we would have stuck it out until we were better off financially. Financial Difficulty DEAR DIFFICULTY: Call your friend the doctor and explain the situation. If you do, he may reduce the amount of his bill or, alternatively, agree to a payment plan that you can manage. Shortly before noon on Monday, Aug. 1, 1966, 25-year-old Charles Whitman carried a footlocker full of weapons and ammunition to the top of the 30-story Tower at the University of Texas and opened fire on the unsuspecting pedestrians below. The slaughter 14 dead, 32 injured continued for nearly an hour and a half until Whitman was himself killed by Austin police. Whitman's death toll reached 17, including his wife and mother whom he murdered before taking over the tower's observation deck. One of the 32 injured would die years later, ruled a homicide dating back to the wound Whitman inflicted. A comprehensive new book by an Austin father and son team, Monte Akers and Nathan Akers, retraces the full story leading up to the mass murders and the resulting aftermath. 'Tower Sniper: The Terror of America's First Active Shooter on Campus' (John Hardy Publishing, $24.95 hardcover) comes out this week in conjunction with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the sniper attack. A trade paperback edition ($14.95) will be available in a few weeks, the publisher said. Dr. Roger Friedman, a clinical psychologist, wrote the foreword and a chapter reflecting on the traumatic legacy of the Whitman massacre. One of Friedman's closest childhood friends was killed that day. Despite the tragic loss of life, the authors write, the Tower story also brought out the best in people who reacted courageously and unselfishly. 'It is the story of people who did not look or walk away when they saw strangers in need,' they conclude. 'It is a story of humans at their finest.' Upbeat Stories: My brother Charlie Dromgoole, who lives in College Station, has penned a collection of stories laughing about and reflecting on his 42-year career as a chamber of commerce executive. 'Chamber Stories That I Can Tell (and some that I probably shouldn't!)' is not a how-to book about chamber management, but rather a personal, often humorous, look at situations and personalities he encountered along the way. The 45 pieces deal with his experiences in nine communities, including Abilene, where he was the chamber executive from 1988 to 2002. Some of the Abilene stories concern 'The World's Largest Barbecue,' Abilene being named an All-America City, and a time when he went all out to win a look-alike contest and suffered for it. Charlie will sign copies of his book ($11.95 paperback) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday (July 28) at Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St. downtown, directly below the Abilene Chamber of Commerce offices. Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net. Recently I wrote a column in which I addressed the question, 'What's this world coming to?' Basically, I said, despite the horrors we hear about daily, the world remains a 'mostly good' place. Bad things happen, but good things happen, too, far more good than bad. It's a matter of perspective, how we choose to look at it. As I finished that column, I could almost hear my mother say, 'You forgot to add 'Lord willing and knock on wood!' ' If you aren't familiar with the term, I'll try to explain it, but don't expect it to make sense. The first part, of course, is just a way of saying, 'God's will be done.' The second part is an old superstition, a silly belief that if you say something is good your health or luck or life in general you need to 'knock on wood' or the good thing you noted might soon turn to bad. It has to be wood. Plastic or metal won't work. And you have to do it right away, while saying the words, 'Knock on wood.' Far be it from me to put faith in superstition. But I am my mother's daughter and nobody's fool and, well, why tempt fate? I might've said, 'Lord willing and knock on wood.' But I forgot. And the very next day as a coincidence, I'm sure, not a consequence I tripped on my shoe, twisted my ankle and broke two bones in my foot. It was one of those bad things that happen to all of us. But it happened to me. And there was not one good thing about it. Except it could've been worse. Instead of my foot, it might've been my head. And it didn't require surgery or a cast. Just a big ugly boot with 40 Velcro straps to wear day and night, while also using a wheelchair, for six to eight weeks. And just like that, in the twinkling of an eye and the twisting of an ankle, I stopped being someone who could walk and drive and do as she pleased, more or less, and never liked asking for any kind of help. It's a sobering experience to suddenly lose something you've always taken for granted. My brother is blind and suffers from cerebral palsy. It shames me to admit he has complained less in all his years than I have in this past week. Fortunately for me, help is in good supply. My husband has outdone himself, proving to me and to anyone who wondered, why exactly I married him. How he'll hold up for another seven weeks remains to be seen. Friends and family have also offered to help, though they live miles away, and it's hard to send a tuna casserole by mail. My kids and grandkids call or text or FaceTime to check on me and the sound of their voices and the photos they send are almost as good as pain pills. My daughter and her 4 year old flew from California to spend a few days with us. 'I'm sorry you broke your foot, Nana,' Henry said. 'I'm going to take really good care of you.' And indeed he has (when he isn't shooting water cannons in the pool or watching cartoons with Papa Mark). Today we played hide 'n' seek, just the two of us. Henry hid in all sorts of good places, but I found him every time. That's what nanas do, even with a broken foot. My turn to hide posed a problem. Where exactly does a woman in a wheelchair hide? 'Here, Nana,' Henry said, handing me a sweater. 'Roll away some place, then put this over your head and wait for me to come find you!' I wheeled myself behind a chair, threw the sweater over my head and sat like a stump waiting for Henry to find me. He took his time, pretending not to notice the nana-sized elephant in the room. When he ran off to pretend to search the bedrooms, I wasn't worried. I knew for sure, sooner or later, he would find me. Bad things happen, but good things happen, too, far more good than bad. Love will always find us. Lord willing and knock on wood. Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077 or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com. Ken Barbian welcomed his former Army buddies to their reunion Saturday with a bang a great, big bang from a Civil War cannon. Barbian hosted the three-day reunion for 12 former members of the unit they were all members of during the Vietnam War 2nd Battery, 32nd Artillery of the 25th Infantry Division. 'There were more than 100 of us who served together from 1965 to 1971,' said Barbian, adding that his unit was responsible for manning and firing the M107 175mm howitzer and providing fire support for ground forces in Vietnam. 'Most of the guys here for the reunion were together for the first time since the Vietnam War in 2002, and we've tried to get together for reunions every year since.' The 'big bang' welcome was provided courtesy of a replica of an 1835 model 12-pound mountain howitzer, owned by Abilenian Jerry Johnson, a member of the Old Fort Griffin Memorial Regiment. 'We were pleased to welcome these fellow artillerymen to Texas,' said Johnson, who said the 1835 model was capable of delivering an explosive 12-pound shell from the cannon at a range of up to 1,000 yards. In comparison, the howitzer Barbian's unit fired could deliver a 147-pound projectile more than 20 miles. 'It was great to meet these guys and give them an opportunity to fire the 1835.' Barbian said the guys who made it to Texas for the reunion came from all over the country, including as far away as Rhode Island and California. 'This is the first time to have the reunion in Texas,' said Barbian, who noted that previous reunions have been held in Illinois, Minnesota, and Nevada. Next year's reunion will be in Tennessee. 'I am so pleased to see all these guys again and know that they are all in good health.' Dennie Wolfgang, who was a member of the unit in 1968 and 1969, said it was great to reconnect with the guys from his former unit. 'One of the best memories I have from being a part of the 2/32 is when I first got there,' said Wolfgang, who was 19 when he was drafted and sent to Vietnam. 'We were under fire for 42 straight days after I arrived. The guys who had been there for six to eight months showed the newbies how to take it all in stride, and that helped us all adjust to combat more quickly.' Barbian said when the group gets together, they all feel comfortable talking about their war experiences with each other. 'Many times, guys who've been in combat don't like to talk about it, but when we share similar experiences and talk about our time there, it's a safe environment,' he said. 'We all love to sit around and tell stories.' Johnson said his team enjoyed shooting off the cannon and allowing the reunion attendees to shoot off a few rounds as well. 'We also dressed a few of them up in some extra Civil War uniforms we brought with us to give them the look as well as the enjoyment,' he said. 2022 Abilene, Big Country high school volleyball playoff pairings Find out who your favorite Big Country high school volleyball team plays in the playoffs Terror again. More than 80 people, including 10 children. A father and son from Texas on vacation killed in Nice, France. We are rightly angered. And we ask, 'What can we possibly do?' There is something. It is simple and it is significant. Three weeks ago Monty Montgomery, a key Global Samaritan Resources volunteer, and I were in Iraq with Eskander Salih and Huner Askar from the Barzani Charity Foundation. They are friends and partners in getting food to refugees pouring out of Syria and southern Iraq. Near the Syrian border, we visited the frontline in the ongoing war with ISIS. One Peshmerga soldier told us, 'The people in Syria and southern Iraq are born in hell, live in hell,and die in hell.' In Erbil, we visited the U.S. Air Force facility where food Global Samaritan Resources sends arrives on C-130s. We met the U.S. Army personnel who offload the food when it arrives. Our food bypasses any chance it will be stolen, sold on the black market or pirated by ISIS. We toured the warehouse where the food is stored and spent our week in Iraq learning how it is distributed. In Duhok and Sinjar, we visited refugee camps and went inside the tiny tents and homes of people who receive the food. These are people who long for a change in their world. These are refugees who fled the hell where they were born and lived. Once professional people like lawyers and teachers and engineers, they are now among the poorest of the poor. They want peace. And they want to go home. I didn't meet one refugee who said they want to come to the U.S. or Europe. They want to go home. So what does this have to do with Nice and terror? We are helping our friends in Kurdistan (northern Iraq) provide a safe place for displaced people. This is peacemaking. It is long-term work. Like the guy who plants trees, this is for the next generation. We are investing in millions of refugee children. When they grow up we want them to think of us as the people that brought kindness and food into their hell. How might they ever think that? It's simple. We have to do that. In Iraq, we met refugees personally. They greeted us warmly with hot tea and a thankful spirit. But we also heard their personal accounts of atrocities, terrible things too graphic to tell. They are deeply wounded people, but not without hope. We saw it in their faces and the many times we heard, 'Tell our American friends, 'Thank you.'' Trouble in that part of the world is a great darkness. Sending food won't change the darkness into light or fix the conflict. But we can gather candles and light the way for many. We can show our love for a child, a family, and an entire community. This is bringing light into dark places. No one knows the number of lives and future decisions sending food will affect. But this is the answer to the question, 'What does sending food have to do with Nice, France and terror?' Maybe not much today, but maybe everything tomorrow. We cannot, as Christians, do nothing. We should not, as Americans do nothing. Arguing politics and policy accomplishes little, if anything. So what can we do? One U.S. Army sergeant told us, 'Keep sending food. Sending more compassion and kindness than we send bombs is our only hope.' I asked him how many others in the U.S. were sending food? He paused for a moment then said, 'You guys in Abilene, Texas, are the only ones.' Abilene and Global Samaritan are sending kindness and hope. It is something we can actually do in response to terror. Danny Sims is executive director of Global Samaritan Resources, which is based in Abilene. Ted Cruz laid his cards out during Wednesday's Republican National Convention. It was real-time master class in political maneuvering which only lacked someone off-camera crying, 'You sank my battleship!' If you missed it, here's the summary. Cruz appeared before vice presidential nominee Mike Pence to presumably endorse soon-to-be presidential nominee Donald J. Trump. I say 'presumably' because there was some doubt he would. Later, the Trump campaign would admit to knowing Cruz, in fact, would not. In his remarks, Cruz led the convention hall down an uplifting path of Republican ideals and history. He name-dropped Abraham Lincoln, celebrated the diversity of states and linked the party to the Civil Rights movement. He took the delegates by the hand, walked them right up to the bridge named 'I support Donald Trump' and just then just dropped that hand and walked away. I'd like to say he stood on the bridge Gandalf-like, shouting at the crowd, 'You. Shall-not. Pass!' But this is Ted Cruz we're talking about. But I wouldn't cast Trump as the Balrog pulling the wizard down at the last moment, either. Trump appeared offstage in the closing moments of Cruz's speech; conventional wisdom (see what I did there?) has decreed it was a strategic move. Trump's presence was meant to deflate Cruz's moment, goes the argument. It might have worked if he'd been there three minutes earlier. Here's the first rule of bubbles: Just because it was popped, that doesn't mean everyone forgot how huge the bubble was in the first place. All popping does is feed a hunger to see another bubble twice as big. Trump appearing at the end was too little, too late. The damage was done. Cruz's moment had peaked and people remembered. Why did this happen? Simple, Cruz placed a bet. He's seen current polling and he knows it shows Hillary with a possible landslide and accompanying down-ticket destruction on the Republican side. Nothing's set in stone, obviously, but acting on this was a thought-out calculation made by the junior senator from Texas. Think about Cruz's speech. It was a very old school, traditional Republican convention speech almost moderate, which I found surprising as I listened. It was very different in tone from anything I'd heard him say since he took office. Why give a speech like that? Easy, he wasn't talking to conventioneers, he was talking to the conservative folks at home who might sit out the election because they can't stand Trump. By appealing to them to 'vote their conscience' in essence, to ignore the presidential race, he instead reminds those voters that the Republican majority in Congress (and statehouses around the nation) is in jeopardy. He asked them to 'go around' the big race to save the smaller ones. That can't happen if they stay home in November. What does this do for Cruz? If the bet plays out in his favor, Trump loses but the down-ballot damage is minimal, Cruz will point to his appeal to voters during the convention as the man who rallied them to defeat the barbarians at their gate. That will serve him well for his re-election bid, and in another run at the presidency. If his gambit fails and Trump wins, Cruz still has another couple years to repair his image in the Senate and continue his spin as an outsider. Re-election might still be tough, but if he brings more legislation forward and gets it passed, he might have a better chance of standing on his record. Ron Erdrich is a photojournalist for the Reporter-News. The political ping-pong match regarding voter ID continues. On Wednesday, an appeals court ruled that Texas's requirement to show photo identification to vote was discriminatory to minorities and the poor. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated voters still must show an ID to vote but instructed Texas to develop an alternative plan for those who cannot produce one. This, with the clock ticking toward the Nov. 8 general election. The decision stating that our law violates the Voting Right Act comes on the heels of a similar judicial verdict in Wisconsin. Residents there will be allowed to vote in November without showing a photo ID. The Texas law, written in 2011 by state Sen. Troy Fraser, whose District 24 includes five Big Country counties, has been in effect for three elections. 'Voting is one of our most fundamental rights, central to American democracy,' Fraser said. 'I authored this common-sense legislation ... to ensure that the legitimate votes cast by Texans are not diluted by fraudulent voting practices. Voter turnout is negatively impacted if voters perceive the voting process to be unfair.' Which, of course, is what Democrats are arguing, too. Republican candidate for Congress, Jodey Arrington, said this: 'States should have the right to improve the integrity of their election process by enhancing voter fraud prevention measures as long as they apply to everyone.' Frankly, the effort to smack down the Texas law smacks of election-year politics. Timing is everything late in the campaign. Wisconsin and Texas are two states Democrats want to nab in the upcoming election. Wisconsin has gone Democrat the past seven elections while Texas is a solid red (Republican) state, going GOP the past seven elections. However, with a rapidly growing Hispanics population, Democrats see a potential shift in voting here. Opponents of the law say voter ID was implemented not so much to protect the integrity of the voting process but to keep these potential Democratic voters away. The U.S. Department of Justice was brought into the legal fight by the Obama administration, continuing a long-running back-and-forth between Texas and the federal government. Former Gov. Rick Perry thumbed his nose at Washington turning down funding in favor not being under the president's thumb. His successor, Greg Abbott, famously defined his workday as attorney general this way: 'I go into the office, I sue the federal government and I go home.' We previously have stated our support for the voter photo ID law, not so much to prevent runaway fraud (a Republican claim we believe is overexaggerated but still valid we need to protect our senior voters) and most certainly not to keep voters away. It just makes sense to ask for ID. If a store clerk can ask for ID on a debit or credit card purchase of less than $10, voters can verify that 'you are who you say you are,' in Fraser's word. A driver's license is the most common form of photo ID. We realize there are folks who don't drive. For example, older or physically impaired Texans, and the poor. Other accepted voter IDs are: Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by Department of Public Safety Texas personal identification card issued by DPS Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS U.S. military identification card containing the person's photograph U.S. citizenship certificate containing the person's photograph U.S. passport. Is our law strict? Yes. Too strict? Perhaps. But it's a common-sense law. It has been reported that more than a half-million Texans are eligible to vote but lack photo ID. Efforts have been made to correct that; the DPS, since 2013, has held community events at which free voter ID cards are issued to those qualified to vote. These were to be valid without expiration for residents age 70 and older, so as not to be an inconvenience. What more must we do? So much time and effort goes into encouraging pushing, enticing? Americans to exercise their right to vote. A right that is not granted, or trusted, in other countries but taken for granted here. We've made it easier to vote (mail-in ballots, early voting, voting centers, etc.), yet people don't vote. So, something in the system must be wrong, not them? Stay tuned. The ping-pong ball still is in play. Today in history: On July 24, 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court jumped into the middle of the Watergate Scandal. The nine justices ruled unanimously to order President Richard Nixon to hand over to special prosecutor Archibald Cox White House tape recordings. Nixon had begun secretly taping conversations he had in the Oval Office, other places in Washington, and even at Camp David. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Cambodian mourners pack the streets of Phnom Penh as Kem Leys funeral procession leaves the capital for his home in Takeo province, July 24, 2016. Millions of mourners lined Cambodias highways to pay respects to popular government critic Kem Ley on Sunday, two weeks after his murder shocked the nation and underscored simmering political tensions. Two million people turned out to see the flower-covered glass coffin of Kem Ley taken from Watt Bodhiyaram in the capital Phnom Penh to his home village in the southwestern province of Takeo. Mourners from all walks of life and many parts of the country joined in the funeral procession, some traveling the entire 78 km (50 miles) from the capital to Takeo. Others stood on both sides of the road as the funeral procession passed, sharing supplying food, fruits and water to marching mourners. Kem Ley, 46, who will be buried on Monday, was also honored in large gatherings across the nation on Sunday, two weeks after he was shot dead at a gas station convenience store where he was having coffee. The authorities must launch a full investigation with the participation of independent experts participate to reveal the truth, said Eng Chay Eang, a senior official of the opposition Cambodia National Renewal Party (CNRP), who joined the funeral procession. A Cambodian court charged a former soldier named Oueth Ang with premeditated murder on July 13 for the execution-style killing of Kem Ley. Authorities have said that Kem Ley was killed over an outstanding $3,000 debt to Oueth Ang, but many in Cambodia question that explanation. Prime Minister Hun Sen did not make any statement on Kem Ley funeral. But a spokesman from his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party expressed regret at the loss a prominent scholar and intellectual whose policy suggestions he said the CPP had adopted. We will make efforts to encourage the authorities to investigate the offender. We hope that Dr. Kem Leys soul will rest in peace, said CPP spokesman Sok Eysan. Cambodias Royal Palace also honored Kem Ley, calling him a hero of expressing opinions with Golden Words, providing insight on society through analysis. Political tension between long-ruling strongman Hun Sens CPP and the CNRP has been intensifying this year as the parties prepare to contest local elections in 2017 and a general election in 2018. About a dozen opposition party members, including lawmakers Hong Sok Hour and Um Sam An, are jailed in the countrys Prey Sar prison on various charges. CNRP leader Sam Rainsy is in exile, and acting leader Kem Sokha has been holed up in party headquarters since heavily-armed police attempted to arrest him in May for ignoring court orders to appear as a witness in a pair of defamation cases related to his alleged affair with a hairdresser. Asked about the prospect of restarting dialogue between the parties, the CNRPs Eng Chhay Eang said his party is the victim as they have arrested and put our activists in jail. They have banned our leader from returning to the country and our other leader has not been able to do any activity. CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said negotiations would resume after court procedures are completed on the opposition cases. He called on the CNRP, which believes its members are being jailed to discredit the party before elections, to end its boycott of the national assembly. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end. Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II." 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. Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations." The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination. Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War. Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second-largest Eastern Slav country. It is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas. The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine. WATCH: A local official told Russian conscripts "You are not cannon fodder" in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are. But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country. Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts. Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world. Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build." He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas. "We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud. "The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind, will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter. Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation. "It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine. Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections. "It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim. Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area. Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide." According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff." "We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military." A suicide bomber has struck a police checkpoint in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing and wounding many. Casualty figures in the July 24 attack remain unclear, with agencies quoting Iraqi officials as saying between six and 12 people were killed, with as many as two dozen injured. A medical official told the AP news agency that three of the dead were police officers. The Islamic State terrorist organization issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which happened at an entrance to the primarily Shiite district of Kadhimiyah. The Islamic State terrorist organization claimed responsibility for a blast in the capital on July 3 that left more than 290 dead. It also took responsibility for an attack on a Shiite shrine in Balad a few days later that left 40 dead. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, dpa, and AFP German authorities say a man suspected of fatally shooting nine people in Munich on July 22 underwent two months of inpatient psychiatric treatment last year due to social anxiety and depression. Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a spokesman for Munich prosecutors, told reporters on July 24 that the 18-year-old suspect "received inpatient treatment in 2015 for two months and after that received outpatient care." The alleged shooter has been identified as David Ali Sonboly, a German-Iranian man born and raised in Munich. Police say he was found dead about 1 kilometer from the Olympia shopping mall where the killings occurred, apparently shot in the head by his own hand, police said. Steinkraus-Koch said the suspect suffered from "fears of contact with others" and also depression. Bavaria police chief Robert Heimberger said on July 24 that the suspect had been planning the attack for a year. Meanwhile, the top law enforcement official of the state of Bavaria, of which Munich is the capital, said on July 24 that municipalities need to be able to call upon the military in such situations. Germany adopted laws in the postwar period banning the domestic deployment of the military except in a national emergency. State Interior Minister Joachim Herrman told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that those laws were obsolete considering the absolutely stable democracy in our country. Elsewhere, Kosovo is holding a day of mourning for its three nationals who were killed in Munich on July 22. Flags were lowered across the country on July 24. Two other Kosovars were wounded in the shooting rampage. Also on July 24, German police raised the official toll of those wounded in the Munich attack from two dozen to 35. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa Turkmenistan is apparently having enormous economic problems. The country's system is so opaque that it is always difficult to know much about what is going on there. But the recent decision to scrap the two entities that were overseeing the oil and gas sector and to restructure the management of that industry give the impression that the authorities in Ashgabat are getting desperate. The hydrocarbon sector, particularly natural gas, is critical not only to Turkmenistan's economy but to its authoritarian political system also. There have been large-scale layoffs in the sector this year. What does the restructuring mean for Turkmenistan, a country with the fourth-largest gas reserves in the world, and why were changes necessary? How bad is the situation in the country's hydrocarbon sector? And is there a way out of this for Turkmenistan? Those were some of the questions discussed at a Majlis, a panel, organized by RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk. Muhammad Tahir, soon to be RFE/RL's Washington-based media relations manager on Asian affairs, moderated the panel. Participating from Baku, where he was attending a conference, was legendary energy expert John Roberts, a resident senior fellow at Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council. From Scotland, our extremely knowledgeable friend Dr. Luca Anceschi, professor of Central Asian Studies at Glasgow University, took part in the Majlis again. I would have been happy to sit back and just listen to those two but I need to earn my paycheck, so I said a few things. Roberts started the talk by going to the heart of the matter, noting, "The only real source of income that Turkmenistan has is from gas." Anceschi followed that up by saying Turkmenistan has "essentially a mono-resource economy." So the need for restructuring of the gas and oil industry, the major provider of revenue for the country, sends a signal that there are some serious concerns within Turkmenistan. 'Deck Chairs On The Titanic' President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov issued a decree on July 15 that abolished the Oil and Gas Ministry and the State Agency on Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources. The latter was the more important entity, being subordinate to the president's office. But it is not clear what purpose the restructuring serves. Anceschi said the changes "probably won't affect [Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon industry] in any significant way." Roberts said, "I think you'll probably find that this is no more than moving the chairs around as the Titanic sinks. There isn't any real rational understanding." The decree divided the state oil company, Turkmennebit, and the state gas company, Turkmengaz. It made them, as "legal successors" to the state agency, separate entities, vaguely under the control of the Cabinet of Ministers. But the decree also says "relevant work on international oil and gas projects [is] entrusted to the State Concern Turkmengaz." Roberts explained Turkmengaz has the greater experience and has proven "in relative Turkmen terms" to be an efficient organization. This contrasts with recent problems at Turkmennebit. A multimillion dollar embezzlement scandal was recently uncovered at Turkmennebit and in late June there were reports that a reservoir tank at the Turkmenbashi oil refinery caught fire, killing at least several people less than two weeks after a new fire-fighting facility was commissioned at the refinery. The basic functions of the former Oil and Gas Ministry now fall to the Cabinet of Ministers, specifically to Deputy Prime Minister Yashgeldy Kakaev, a veteran of Turkmenistan's gas sector. Anceschi recalled that, among the regular purges that occur in all sectors of the government and key industries, "Kakaev survived, [and] is still the man in charge of TAPI (The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline), is still the man in charge of many other projects, so it seems to me that we can consider him now the most powerful figure in the gas industry." 'Impossible Job' Roberts said of Kakaev: "He thinks very carefully before he says anything and he is actually occasionally open to new ideas. It might be quite interesting now that he is no longer, as it were, one of the top two people, but is the undisputed person." But Roberts cautioned, "[Kakaev] has got the most impossible job you could have in energy on his plate right now, which is mainly trying to find how Turkmenistan can break out of its energy isolation at a time when it has no cash and when international interest in Turkmenistan is probably at an all-time low." Anceschi gave an example of what Kakaev has to deal with by noting, "revenues are actually decreasing quite drastically, whereas the amount of gas that they are selling is pretty much stable." So barring the appearance of new gas customers, it seems there is little Kakaev, or the changes in the gas and oil industry, can do to stop Turkmenistan's economic decline. The panel agreed that new ideas and policy changes are needed. Roberts pointed out that Turkmenistan's mentality toward gas sales needs to change. "The Turkmen for two decades...kept wanting to think big, 30 [billion cubic meters] to India, Pakistan, and India, 30 bcm or maybe more, maybe 40 or 50, to Europe." Roberts said Azerbaijan has approached Turkmenistan at least four times in the last two years to discuss sending "5 bcm, maybe as much as 10 bcm" but Turkmenistan appears to have shown little, if any, interest in the plan. The Turkmen government, Roberts said, "never understood that if things go bad, you need to think small." Onshore Vs. Offshore The subject of onshore contracts came up several times during the discussion. Many large foreign companies have shown interest in investing in Turkmenistan but only if they could get rights to develop sites on the Turkmen mainland and share in the profits. The Turkmen government has been loath to give any contracts to develop sites on its territory, but is less concerned at signing deals with foreign companies for exploration and development at Turkmenistan's offshore sites in the Caspian Sea. The sole exception is the China National Petroleum Corporation that works a gas field on the right bank of the Amu-Darya River. Anceschi said, "Obstructing the entry of foreign actors to onshore development is no longer sustainable." This would prove problematic for the isolationist Turkmen government, which obsessively controls its onshore sites and, more importantly, the opaque bookkeeping for the revenues. Roberts suggested that granting onshore contracts might now be Turkmenistan's last hope for turning its unfortunate economic situation around, and at this point even that might not be enough. "It's probably far too late, but should a major international company come to [President Berdymukhammedov's] attention with a suggestion for a combination of construction of a major external pipeline in exchange for a direct stake in the upstream sector, he should look very carefully and change, if necessary, whatever regulations would prohibit such an arrangement." The panel discussed these topics in more detail and looked at other issues connected to Turkmenistan's gas and oil industry. And audio recording of the Majlis session can be heard here: Listen to or download the Majlis podcast above or subscribe to Majlis on iTunes. 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." PATERSON, New Jersey -- The president of the largest mosque in northern New Jersey says Donald Trump's campaign for the White House has galvanized his community to raise its profile and reach out to non-Muslim neighbors. "We're cautious that we don't want people to know about us from Trump," says Omar Awad, president of the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) in Paterson, New Jersey. "We want people to know about us from us." Trump, who accepted the Republican Party nomination on July 21 and is all but certain to face Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 presidential vote, has had plenty to say about Muslims during his controversial campaign. In December, he called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Also late in 2015, he advocated the surveillance of mosques, appeared to advocate the registration of U.S. Muslims in a database, and made the false claim that "thousands and thousands" of Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the Al-Qaeda attack on the World Trade Center -- whose victims included many New Jersey residents working in the towers across the river -- on September 11, 2001. New Jersey has the second-largest Muslim population of any U.S. state -- a wide-ranging group that includes immigrants from the Arab world, Turkey, and Sudan as well as those born in the United States. Paterson, about 20 miles northwest of New York City, is a hub -- and Muslim life is thriving. There's a Muslim candidate running for the first time for the board of education in Clifton, next to Paterson. The ICPC mosque opened a second campus, in neighboring Clifton, in June. The main street connecting the two towns is a bustling monument to diversity: Turkish hair salons share sidewalk space with Palestinian sweet shops, a Syrian bakery and Lebanese hummus joints. Halal Chinese eateries and grocery stores catering to Spanish-speakers are sprinkled throughout. During a recent visit, signs along the street wished visitors a Ramadan Mubarak, a blessing for the holy Muslim fasting month that ended in early July. Standing Tall At Istanbul Cafe, Turkish-born English major Nesibe Kilic, 20, says that growing up in this environment was "kind of like you're in a bubble." Ringing up orders for the Turkish breakfast dish menemen -- scrambled eggs with tomatoes Kilic says that seeing Trump bumper stickers in the parking lot of Montclair State University, where she studies, felt like "a betrayal in my own home." "Honestly, if [Trump] becomes president, I don't even know if I would stay here," she said. "I have opportunities. I can move back to my country, I could go to Canada, my dad works there. A country with him as president would go into chaos." Trump's campaign, and the prospect of a Trump presidency, has prompted the ICPC to step up its outreach to non-Muslim neighbors. Awad says his mosque, which is a spiritual home for about 2,000 regulars, has long been involved in such efforts, whether through blood drives, feeding the hungry, or inviting non-Muslims over for holidays. Now, he says, the mosque is seeking extra attention. It's sending out more press releases. Teens from the mosque have handed out "Roses for Peace" in New York City and offered to speak to people about their faith. Also, the mosque is recruiting four social media interns. "We've been doing a lot of great work for the past 25 years," Awad says. "Maybe we need to have a better highlight and media exposure on the work we've been doing." At the same time, he said Trump's candidacy and comments have made New Jersey Muslims stand taller, not shrink from the spotlight. Egyptian-American Mona Ahmed, 55, who sat in the mosque's lobby before midday prayers, says she has not hesitated to wear her hijab, the Islamic head covering, in the months of Trump's campaign. "I feel more proud," she says. "Believe me. And you know something? I have a daughter who doesn't wear hijab. But since [Trump] talks about Muslims like this, she comescloser to Islam." Ahmed predicts that if Trump wins, America will become "a third world country" because foreign investment will dry up. Not all Muslims in the area share her view of Trump. Elena Serbest, 41, a Bulgarian Muslim immigrant, says she will vote for Trump because she likes his ideas for the economy. Maybe under Trump she could get a better job than her current employment as a cafeteria monitor, she says. Rita Makhoul, 51, a Syrian Christian nanny originally from Damascus, says she plans to vote for Trump because she is "sick of" the Democrats and believes Clinton "does not tell the truth." "I know you are surprised because I'm Arabic and Syrian," she says. "I like to change." Spreading The Word Jim Sues, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, says larger mosques in New Jersey are making efforts like those of the ICPC to connect with non-Muslim neighbors. "There, of course, has been Islamophobia for decades, but someone in a leadership position like Donald Trumpit kind of green lights that kind of feeling, that posture toward Muslims," Sues says. He says the Council is running voter-registration drives out of mosques across the state of New Jersey, whose Muslim population he estimates at 200,000-300,000. On the local level, outreach efforts seem to be working. When the ICPC opened its new campus in Clifton, Awad says, town council members came to show their support. One of those was Lauren Murphy, a Democrat who is not a Muslim. Before the opening, the mosque sent out fruit baskets to neighbors, which Murphy says was an unprecedented gesture from a religious community. There was some hesitation about the mosque among non-Muslim neighbors who worried about the increased traffic on the streets, she says. "Everybody is going to get used to it," says Murphy. Paterson resident David Read, 55, who is not Muslim, walked along Main Street with groceries. The retired chemist says he came to buy beer that he planned to drink while doing construction on his home. Living in Paterson gave him a peek at Muslims in America, Read says, and he liked what he saw. "They're the same as me," he says. Under Trump, he worried, "the way that people will look at different races, such as Muslims, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans especially I think you're going to see a very biased opinion from Trump trickle down." At the mosque, President Awad says the congregation was planning on renovating the building, originally a synagogue, to add more windows. The renovation was planned far before the election campaign, but it was a symbol of the community's move to connect more closely with the community. It's not because of Trump, Awad says. The Prophet Muhammad, who Muslims believe revealed Islam, was a messenger of God and told his followers to spread that message. "You can call it a marketing campaign, but it's pretty much coming out of the book of Muhammad," Awad says. Six Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the last 24 hours in fighting against Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country. Oleksandr Motuzianik, a military spokesman for President Petro Poroshenko, made the announcement on July 24, adding that 13 soldiers were injured. He did not give details of the deaths, but the press center of the Ukrainian military's "Antiterrorist Operation" (ATO) said on July 24 that Ukrainian forces were fired upon 77 times in the preceding 24 hours. That statement said the heaviest shelling came in the Mariupol area. According to the United Nations, more than 9,400 people have died since the fighting in eastern Ukraine began in 2014. Based on reporting by Ukrayinska Pravda and TASS On the eve of the July 25 opening of the four-day Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the Democratic Party was busy reacting to information from party emails leaked to the public. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign manager suggested that he believes "Russian state actors" may have been involved in the leak of party emails in order to help her Republican rival, Donald Trump, who has said he would seek to improve ties with Moscow if elected. Robby Mook told CNN in an interview broadcast July 24 that he does not "think it's coincidental" that the emails were released "on the eve" of the Democratic National Convention that kicks off in Philadelphia on July 25. The trove of more than 19,000 hacked emails published by Wikileaks show Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffers favoring Clinton over rival Bernie Sanders during the primaries, angering more progressive factions of the party. Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced later on July 24 she was resigning following the revelation the DNC had not given the candidates a level playing field. One leaked email showed a committee official deliberating about whether Sanders may be an atheist and whether this could be leveraged against him. Wasserman Schultz said she would step down as DNC chairwoman "at the end of this convention." During the CNN interview, campaign manager Mook said, "There's evidence Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole those emails, and there are experts saying they are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump.. The Virginia-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Inc. said last month that the DNC asked it to investigate a suspected penetration of its systems that began as early as last summer. Crowdstrike said it found evidence that two hacking groups tied to the Russian state were involved. The Trump campaign rejected Mook's suggestion of Russian involvement on behalf of the Republican candidate, who has said he would seek rapprochement with the Kremlin if elected to the White House. Ties between the two countries have plunged to Cold War-level lows following Moscow's forcible annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory in 2014 and its backing for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. In a statement to The Washington Post, Trump's campaign called Mook's assertion "a joke." "This shows that Hillary Clinton will do and say anything to win the election and hold onto power in the rigged system," Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser for Trump, told the newspaper in the statement. With reporting by CNN, AP, AFP, Reuters, Time.com, and The Washington Post Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A Henrico County man was killed and two other people wounded early Sunday in a shooting at an apartment building near Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond police were called about 2:45 a.m. to the 1300 block of West Broad Street for reports of gunfire and people shot. Officers found three victims with gunshot wounds in the common area of an apartment building. One of the victims, Erik R. McCorkle, 24, of the 1800 block of Regal Drive in Henrico County, died from his wounds at a local hospital. Two other victims a man and a woman remained hospitalized Sunday. The woman was in serious condition, while the man had wounds that were not considered life-threatening, police said. Police believe the shooting stemmed from an argument between two groups of people. No detailed suspect descriptions were available. We know there were many people who witnessed this shooting and have valuable information to share, said major crimes Capt. James J. Laino. With the right tip, we can make a quick arrest in this case. Police said none of the victims was a VCU student. BOSTON Former Culpeper Vice Mayor R.E. Deane liked to get a bottle of Jic Jac soda when hed often visit the general store here as a boy growing up in the farming hamlet west of town. You could get a Coca-Cola for a nickel, and youd get the deposit when you brought it back, he said. You could come to this store and get anything you can get at Walmart. They had meat, vegetables, groceries, gumboots, horseshoes. Its where people came to get together. For many generations, the general store in Boston in Culpeper County has been as integral to its close-knit community as the co-located post office that on Friday celebrated its 175th anniversary. Situated on Sperryville Pike a stones throw from the Hazel River and the Blue Ridge Mountain views of Rappahannock County, the post office/general store bustled with activity as friends and neighbors came by for cake, conversation and a one-day-only commemorative postmark stamped on old-time postcards. Country post offices are just wonderful, said retired educator Beth Boyd, who has lived in Boston with her husband, John, for 26 years. Hundreds of demonstrators marched from Brown's Island to the Executive Mansion on Saturday in protest of proposed pipeline projects and to call on Gov. Terry McAuliffe to support renewable energy. The group gathered for a rally on the James River before starting its "March to the Mansion." Protesters also said they want an end to coal ash disposal plans that they said pose a threat to rivers and drinking water. McAuliffe's office has defended the administration's record on pushing for cleaner energy sources. Heidi Cochran, a Nelson County landowner who has opposed the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, said in a statement that our constitutional rights to our private property and our rights to a clean and safe environment for our children's future are being threatened by the fossil fuel industry. A cheering crowd of friends and supporters greeted Sen. Tim Kaine late Saturday as he returned to his North Richmond home and the neighborhood that has sustained him from local office to a chance to be vice president. Kaine was welcomed by a crowd of more than 300 people, many of them from his Laburnum Park neighborhood, for a community block party. We have an opportunity to make history, Kaine said. Acknowledging the outpouring, he added, This is our home. You are our friends. We are so proud of this community. Kaine praised Hillary Clinton, commented on Virginia's role in the presidential race and offered encouragement to the already-enthusiastic gathering. "I'm just so grateful to Hillary Clinton for asking me to join her on this amazing journey. What a great public servant and a great woman. And she is going to be a fantastic president," Kaine said. He urged his supporters to "do our best work" to ensure victory. "We're a battleground state," Kaine added. "Everybody has to respect us." Neighbors, young and old, started gathering about 8 p.m., setting up tables and talking among themselves as they awaited the popular senator, fresh off his introduction as Clintons running mate. The welcome-home ceremony soon expanded beyond just the neighborhood as elected city officials and local candidates came out for the celebration. Other city residents got word and flooded from all directions to the grassy median in front of Kaines Confederate Avenue home. Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, Virginias secretary of education, arrived at about 10:35 p.m. after flying in from Miami, and both addressed the crowd briefly before entering his home for the night through a human tunnel made by neighbors. So many of you have helped us in so many ways and were proud to be with you. Were proud to be Virginians, Holton said. Kaine and Holton are scheduled to attend 9 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Highland Park on Sunday before leaving for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Our whole life revolves around our neighborhood and St. Elizabeth, our parish, he said. In addition to friends and neighbors, regional representatives from Clintons campaign were on hand as well and passed out homemade Clinton-Kaine posters. The block party was deemed an official campaign event with attendees being asked by the representatives to sign in. They passed out stickers with the campaign logo on them that many attendees proudly donned. Everyone is just fired up and was ready to come out, said Brandon Cox, an event organizer with the Clinton campaign. Campaign representatives led the crowd in a chant of TK for U-S-A and Tim Kaine! Singer Susan Greenbaum led the crowd in a chilling rendition of God Bless America minutes before Kaines arrival, followed by chants of Tim Kaine! Roxie Alison, 78, who lives across the street from the Kaines, and Nancy Snyder of Henrico County celebrated the moment with a glass of wine that they cheered with a small toast. A sign on Kaines door read, Stronger Together, the campaigns slogan. The sign was not there until the afternoon. Peggy Borgard, 78, of Henrico County wore a button she had kept from Kaines successful 2012 U.S. Senate run. Shes been a supporter of his since his political infancy in Richmond City Council and was excited to rally with community members Saturday night. Hes an awesome person. Hes honest, hes smart, hes genuine, she said. Hes just a real person. Hes the kind of person you want to represent you. The extraordinary gathering capped a day of excitement in the North Richmond neighborhoods where Kaine and his family have been long established. Residents talked about how they found out the first news Friday, their reaction to Kaines selection and their belief that he could have a positive impact in helping heal the divided national political scene. Sheena Mackenzie was in The November Theatre when her daughter leaned over and said the words shed been anticipating: Mom, its official. Mackenzie, 63, lives near Kaine and had been tracking the possibility of his being tapped by Clinton since it first was reported that he was the likely pick. On Friday night, the announcement was made on social media: Kaine had joined the ticket. Hes just a really good, genuine guy. Certainly a man of integrity, Mackenzie said. Mackenzie and other North Richmond friends praised Kaine as a good neighbor who has remained true to his community. Among those was Gunvor Sacks, who was out walking her dog past the home she once coveted on the corner of Chatham Road and Confederate Avenue. In 1992, Kaine and Holton outbid her for the two-story brick house. She now lives five doors down. Sacks celebrated a birthday Friday and it was made all that much sweeter when she got a text message from a friend saying Kaine had been tapped as the vice presidential nominee. It was quite the birthday present, she said. Sacks added that not only is it good for the neighborhood, but its certainly great for Richmond. Everybody is just over the moon about it, she said. Another neighbor, David Odehnal, taught Kaines three children as a social studies teacher at Binford Middle School. He can remember Kaine, as governor, attending parent-teacher conferences. He did all the parent things that parents do, he said. Odehnal described Kaine as someone who loves his community, holding camp-outs in his backyard with local children and coaching youth soccer. The 62-year-old retired teacher lives two houses down from the Kaines and said hed expected the announcement to come soon. The same can be said for Dean DeForest, the next-door neighbor of the Kaines. DeForest and his wife supported the senator during his City Council run in 1994, stuffing envelopes and helping any way they could. DeForest said his wife would joke that shed volunteer and stuff envelopes for Kaine all the way to the White House. Kirana Stover grew up in the neighborhood and was out for a walk with her mother and sister Saturday morning, taking a special route to see Kaines home. After a brief stop in the grassy median a block from the house, Stover scurried back to the corner to get a picture. She said her friends in Spain, where she now lives, would be impressed with her being so close to the home of the potential U.S. vice president. Stover, who is visiting Richmond, said Kaines ascendancy has helped her humanize politicians. It becomes like a real person since hes a Virginian, she said. Will Scribner, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years, said hes excited for Kaine but worries about the political attacks that surely will follow. Hes too nice a man for that, said Scribner, 68. Scribner, an architect, said he believes Kaine will be able to reach across ideologies to get things done. Always to me, Tim seemed to be the one you could check off the most boxes with when it comes to what youd want in a running mate and a person, he said. A few blocks away, folks at the Lewis Ginter Recreation Association, a pool and community center where the Kaines have been longtime members, were excited that one of their own was in the spotlight. Its a scary time, and we need stable people, said Ameigh Schwarz of Richmond. Caroline Hanes, an 18-year-old lifeguard at Lewis Ginter whose family is friends with the Kaines and has camped with them, said Kaine has support from across the neighborhood. Hanes, who is going to the University of Virginia in the fall, said shes excited about the announcement. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Saturday afternoon, Mekeysha Lipford watched about a dozen children play in bouncy castles and pelt each other with water balloons in Washington Park. The festivities part of event to memorialize the granddaughter she lost after a fatal shooting in Roanoke were exactly the sort the toddler would have begged to join , she said. Aryah would have loved this. This is Aryah, Lipford told attendeesat the event. My memories of her are just life with her. Spending time with her, playing with her, just having fun with her. Its just so much. Saturdays gathering was scheduled the day before what would have been Aryah Leigh Lipfords third birthday, Lipford said. The toddler was shot in the street on July 16, 2015 outside Warner Lovings Hunter IIIs former home on the 3100 block of Oakland Boulevard. Investigators learned that Hunter shot Aryah and her mother, Rachael Quesenberry, after Quesenberry returned a car she had borrowed from Hunter . Prosecutors said that Hunter warned Quesenberry he would kill both her and her children if she did not bring back the car. In January, Hunter was sentenced to life in prison for Aryahs death and 38 additional years for injuring Quesenberry. Roanoke man who shot and killed 23-month-old girl sentenced to life Friends and relatives of the man who recently shot and killed a Roanoke toddler said at his Kimberly Mitchell, an Americorps Vista volunteer working with Total Action in Progress, said organizers created Saturdays event not only to provide fun for children in memory of Aryah, but also to provide gun safety information to parents and other residents. The event was sponsored by several groups, including TAP, Blue Ridge Coalition Against Gun Violence, and the Community Outreach Program with the Trinity United Methodist Church. A booth providing free voter registration at the event featured a poster with Aryahs picture that read Aryah will never vote. Pledge to vote for her. Other organizers offered free gun locks to attendees. Mitchell said organizers hope to make the memorial an annual event where attendees can not only remember Aryah, but also advocate reforms to Virginias gun laws. Organizers did not mention specific changes to Virginias gun laws that they would favor. Even though she was a beautiful young girl, she will not be forgotten, Mitchell said. These families are still grieving, these families are still hurting because they never had a proper moment to let go. Community celebrates birthday of Aryah Lipford, who was killed July 16 Aryah Leigh Lipford was fatally shot on July 16 outside an Oakland Boulevard house in northwest Roanoke, and she was buried on her second birthday. Kayla Hicks, director of African American and community outreach with Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, urged attendees to be advocates for policy changes that will decrease gun violence in their community. If you just come here and have hot dogs, and you have the pictures of this beautiful child, and you have this family here, and you have the bouncy house and the kids playing and everything else is great, and you dont do anything else, then youve done nothing, Hicks said. Youve done nothing at all. Roanoke Vice Mayor Anita Price agreed that attendees should advocate sensible gun laws, saying that firearms are absolutely way too accessible. She also urged those in attendance to address domestic violence in their neighborhoods, saying residents could direct victims in their communities toward resources such as the Salvation Armys domestic violence shelter, Turning Point. Weve got to come up with a lesson plan. This baby cannot have died in vain, Price said. She was another victim of domestic violence, and domestic violence still permeates our community. There was perhaps no more ardent backer of Bernie Sanders in Southwest Virginia than Bill Bunch. The 67-year-old farmer and retired postal worker mounted a brief run for Congress this year with the sole purpose of spreading the Bern across the states coalfield country. But when the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Philadelphia this week, Bunch will be there, ready to rally around Hillary Clintons candidacy. Im still enthused for the long haul, because we have to be. We dont have any choice, said Bunch, who won a slot earlier this year as a Sanders convention delegate. The stakes are so high with climate change and our corrupt political system that has to be changed, and this is the start of it, he said. We need to work hard to get Mrs. Clinton elected and then work hard to push forward on the changes in our platform. The Democratic platform right now is the most progressive in history, and its needed. The Democratic convention, which gets underway Monday, puts a four-day spotlight on Clinton and her newly announced running mate, Virginas Sen. Tim Kaine, at a time when many Sanders supporters remain uncertain of how to proceed and rumblings of a possible floor protest linger. Nathan Auldridge, a Sanders delegate on the rules committee already meeting in Philadelphia, said he hoped party activists will be able to come together to keep progressive politics moving forward. Some believe the deck was stacked against Sanders, Auldridge acknowledged, a point the rules committee will debate this weekend as it crafts recommendations on issues like whether the party should continue using superdelegates. But while Clinton may have benefited from the current system, he said, she didnt put it in place and isnt responsible for it. She didnt start the fire, to quote Billy Joel, said Auldridge, who also serves as chair of the Salem Democratic Committee. Sanders, for his part, reportedly plans to address his nearly 1,900 delegates before the start of the convention and vowed in his endorsement of Clinton earlier this month to help her get elected. Auldridge who wont be a voting delegate at the convention itself but hopes to attend some of the events said he has no qualms about backing Clinton. Comparing Clinton to Trump, its Clinton easily, he said. Clinton has a lifetime of backing progressive issues and standing up for womens rights and a record of pushing for increased access to health care for Americans. The Democratic convention is expected to bring more than 4,700 delegates to the Wells Fargo Center near Philadelphias waterfront, along with a host of politicos, as well as activists planning to stage protests around the event. Local Democrats making the trek anticipated last week that it would be a less fraught affair than the Republican National Convention was at times. I think its always dramatic to nominate a candidate to be president of the United States. In fact, its probably one of the most dramatic things we do as citizens, said Victoria Cochran, a Clinton delegate who was also a delegate during the 2012 party convention in Charlotte. But do I expect anything to be reality TV dramatic? No, she said. Cochran, of Montgomery County, praised Sanders and the issues he brought to the forefront, but added she was glad to see him come together with Clinton. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and, I believe, the whole Democratic Party want to focus on the things that unite us, she said. We have so much more in common than we have that divides us, and yet Donald Trump wants to focus on the things that divide us. Steve Cochran, who was just elected to a seat on the Democratic National Committee, predicted the convention will draw a very clear distinction between Clinton and Trump. I think people are quickly going to see that if they want a steady hand in the White House, theyre going to want Hillary Clinton, said Steve Cochran, a former longtime chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee and husband of Victoria Cochran. And, I believe, in November the voters will make history once again by electing the first woman president, he said. Local delegates waved off Republicans focus on issues like Clintons handling of sensitive emails while secretary of state. Its become clear that shes disqualified herself from serving as president of the United States, U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke County, said earlier this month. Goodlatte, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has been at the forefront of the political backlash over the decision not to file criminal charges against Clinton in the email matter and recently co-signed a letter seeking an investigation into congressional testimony she gave on the issue. We cannot afford to have someone with such little respect for the law in the White House, he said. Mike Hamlar, a Clinton delegate and former candidate for Virginia Senate, said he isnt worried about how Clintons track record will measure up in the race. I think shell be just fine, he said. ... It all boils down to Hillary Clinton is the real deal. Shes the only choice for hardworking Americans. Donald Trump only cares about his own prosperity. She cares about prosperity for all of us. Hamlar, a local business owner and early Clinton supporter, said he was drawn to Clintons proposals to boost the middle class. Shes going to bring the jobs that we need. We dont want Virginia to be like Atlantic City, he said, echoing a recent speech Clinton gave in that New Jersey vacation spot ripping Trumps business record in the community. The opening day of the Democratic convention will feature speeches from Sanders and First Lady Michelle Obama. The announced theme is: United Together. Clinton will accept the nomination Thursday night. In between, a string of figures ranging from President Barack Obama to longtime Clinton confidant Gov. Terry McAuliffe will take the stage. Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, said he hopes the party resists the temptation to indulge in four nights of Trump bashing and instead positions itself as the party of ideas. Theres never been an easier target than Donald Trump for Democrats, he said. But every time we say anything negative about Republicans or about Trump, were turning people away, especially new voters. Both parties have been guilty of taking the easy way out and advancing divisive politics, and it has to stop ... Its not leadership. Leadership is about showing a vision and then paving a clear path to obtain that vision. Party leaders hope the Clinton and Sanders factions can coalesce around the common ground found on ideas like campaign finance reform, raising the minimum wage and debt-free college. Bunch, said while Clinton wasnt his first choice, hes excited for the election ahead and the prospect of electing the first woman president. Im sure there will be some hot feelings expressed, especially on my side, he said of the approaching convention. But I think people will keep their eyes on the prize. I think we have changed the Democratic Party, said Bunch, adding Sanderss headway could ease the path for future candidates like him to sweep to victory. Hes leading the way for people we might not even know about yet. Donald Trump and running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence are heading to Roanoke, choosing the city for their first post-convention campaign appearance. The event, a town hall set for Monday at 3 p.m. at the Hotel Roanoke, comes on the heels of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaines debut as Hillary Clintons running mate. The GOP tickets decision to launch its latest campaign swing from Kaines home state is significant, said Virginia Republicans. Its clear the Trump campaign is not going to be ceding Virginia, said David DOnofrio, a spokesman for the state party. The Trump camp already has taken aim at Kaine, painting him as a political insider and hoping to capitalize on the split between Clinton and Bernie Sanders supporters. Tim Kaine is, and always has been, owned by the banks, Trumps account tweeted early Saturday morning ahead of Kaines appearance with Clinton at a rally in Miami. Bernie supporters are outraged, was their last choice. Bernie fought for nothing! Plans for the Roanoke town hall were being made as early as Friday afternoon and firmed up Saturday, according to local officials contacted by organizers. The event is the first publicly announced campaign stop for Trump and Pence since they officially became the Republican Party nominees at last weeks national convention in Cleveland. It also coincides with the start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Trump likely hopes to use the visit to blunt whatever boost Kaines addition to the ticket gives Clinton, said political analyst Bob Denton. Kaine undoubtedly helps Clinton among coveted Virginia voters, he noted. Virginia is really more important for Republicans than even for Democrats, Denton said, adding without the state the GOPs path to victory grows very narrow. Its hard to see how a Republican can win without Virginia, quite frankly. The choice of Roanoke to launch Mondays counterattack makes strategic sense, Denton added. While the city itself runs blue, the western region of the state is home to the most pro-GOP swaths of Virginia. Certainly, I think, theres no doubt that they picked the right market, he said. Virginia Republicans said Trumps message is resonating with voters fed up with the status quo. I think hes exactly the kind of candidate who can beat Hillary and Tim Kaine in this state, said Charlie Nave, chair of the Roanoke City Republican Committee. This state has been reeling from the war on tobacco, the war on coal, the treaties that have let our manufacturing plants move overseas, and Donald Trump understands that and understands that the federal government needs to quit waging a war on jobs. It needs to encourage jobs, not exterminate them. Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea, who supports Clinton and Kaine, said Kaines addition to the ticket is a home run and voters will be able to see through Trumps attacks. Tim Kaine has a proven record in Virginia, Lea said. Hes never lost an election. I think hes well-respected and admired here. Hes always been motivated by the idea that you can make a difference in peoples lives through public service. Hes a genuine guy Let Trump come in with his campaign of fear and divisiveness. Let him come in. I dont think its going to gain too much here in Virginia. Mondays town hall will be Trumps second visit to Southwest Virginia this year after his pre-primary stop in Radford in February. Trump was last in Virginia two weeks ago for a rally in Virginia Beach and appeared in Richmond a month before that. Tickets for the Roanoke event are available through Trumps campaign website. No official cap on the number of tickets has been announced, but several local sources said around 1,000 tickets are expected to be available. Pam Morgan, 67, of Beaufort, N.C., formerly of Roanoke passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at UNC Chapel Hill Health Center. Family and friends were by her side as she peacefully went to join her parents, Jim and Ava Morgan. She fought the good fight but finally succumbed to complications following a double lung transplant performed last year.Pam, Virginia Tech alumni and former cheerleader, served her beloved community as a math teacher at Cape Lookout High School and math professor at Carteret Community College for many years, touching and even changing the lives of many students and colleagues along the way. Pam also taught in Roanoke County for several years before moving to Beaufort.A true animal lover, Pam was involved with feral cat neuter/spay efforts and has cared for countless otherwise unloved animals for years. As a result of her integral part of the Beaufort community, her beloved pets have already found ready and willing forever homes; she can now rest easily.An inveterate beach and boat lover, Pam was a longtime member of the Beaufort Oars, a part of the Maritime Museum that ran out of Gallants Channel. Her fellow oarsfolk and countless other friends will miss her feisty contributions to the community.She is survived and will be sorely missed by her brother, Jay Morgan and wife, Mary Jaye of Roanoke, Va. She also leaves behind beloved nieces, Mary Margaret Allen and Emily Janiece Morgan also of Virginia. Finally, she leaves her friend and best caretaker ever, Rose Caldwell of Monroe, Va.; and her many, many friends in Beaufort and Morehead City.A celebration of her life, consisting of a flotilla of Beaufort Oars gigs, private boats, kayaks, paddle boards and other sundry crafts, was held in Beaufort Gallants Channel docks on Saturday, July 16, 2016, with an "Oars Water Salute" salute in front of Duke Labs. It culminated in a beach potluck picnic on Carrot Island. Pam was all about good food, good wine, and good friends.Sign an online register book at www.omegafsc.com Erik Jens comes with professional experience in banking, financing and investments. He has specialised in private wealth management solutions, investments in hedge funds, private equity and real estate industry. Erik Jens has also held various senior executive positions at Fortis Meespierson in banking and investment services in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands Antilles, Ireland, United Kingdom, USA and Asia. And also served as director/advisor to various hedge funds and private equity funds at Fortis, which later became ABN AMRO. Erik Jens is currently the Global Head - Diamond & Jewellery clients - AMRO BANK N.V. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Erik Jens speaks about ABN AMROs operation pattern; and also suggests few changes that the gem and jewellery industry could make to strengthen its bankability. Some excerpts Is ABN Amro still the largest lender for the diamond and jewelry industry globally? How successful has the banks initiative, Borrowing Base Verification Program been till now; and how effective has it been on industry credit? Has underwriting any credit extended by a client company to its customers provide sufficient protection for the banks monies? ABN AMRO does not disclose any information on the size of specific business line portfolios, but it is safe to say we are amongst the top three providers of finance to the diamond and jewelry industry world-wide. We are often recognized by our thought leadership to taking interest in improving overall market perception, bankability, transparency and sustainability matters. Amongst that we have implemented the Know Your Transaction principle, next to our Know Your Client principle. In other words, we do not only want to understand everything about the client and its ownership structure for instance, but also understand our clients transactions and their counterparts. On the one hand to be able to conduct our business with the highest compliance standards and to understand operational risks, but on the other hand also to have a better understanding of our clients needs. Our Borrowing Base Verification program over the last few years made us learn more about the market and our clients. For instance, we can short cut basically all our clients transactions worldwide, have all checks and balances in place and quickly discover anomalies. Is ABN selective about this know your clients transaction or is it a standard part of the lending process which is followed irrespective of the client? As mentioned above the Know Your Transaction approach is a standard part of our risk and operational management for a client. It is important to mitigate risks and create transparency, like in normal trade financing or factoring business in other sectors. In the diamond industry, we apply standards we see in other industries as well. What, according you, are the loop holes that companies misuse and abuse, just to build up their bank credit? How do you think this should be tackled by the lending banks? Fortunately, the diamond industry itself is taking more and more measures in terms of self-regulation, look at for instance the efforts of the World Diamond Council vs Kimberly Process, or the World Federation of Diamond Bourses vs fair and orderly transparent trade, but also think of CIBJO and RJC for instance when it concerns sustainability and corporate social responsibility. We also see companies like Signet and Tiffany's working hard on implementing and monitoring sourcing protocols for a sustainable consumer confidence in the end product by understanding and reviewing the whole value chain. We as ABN AMRO support these initiatives which creates for us more insight in the value chain, its key players, and engage with the right side of the market and exclude areas which show less transparency or no willingness to learn and improve. We see other banks doing the same more and more. In the end there will only be credit lines available for companies with good corporate standards and track record, whether they are small or big, that doesn't count. How difficult is it to select a genuine company to service? If found that the loaned money has been deviated, how does the bank react and retrieve its money? Are such companies pulled up legally for their fraudulent acts? It's in our opinion really understanding what a client does and what not. The way they structure the business, their strategy, reporting, their transactions, ownership, etc. If a company gets into cash flow problems, we want to know about it. In the past we saw that in such a situation money and goods were rerouted, inventory disappearing, and that the market was paid and the banks got stuck. That practice is changing clearly fortunately. However, we deal with fraud rigorously and will pursue the wrongdoers. But again, these situations are exceptions fortunately. In comparison to other industries, how severe or large are such defaults/frauds by borrowers in G&J industry? Will a more professional (corporatized), transparent industry strengthen its bankability. Any suggestions to the industry players on how to change their ways of doing business to match the banking sectors ways? I don't think the diamond and jewelry industry is so much different than any other industry or mineral industry in particular. Fact is that the structural change from a supply side (miners) to a demand side driven market created pressure on cash flows and profitability. The market is going through that change and that creates casualties along the way. We expect more consolidation happening and certain companies go out of business. It's a healthy development, where only strong and modern companies can survive, certainly those who look at innovation and diversification. What are the banks financial services offered currently to support diamond and jewellery global businesses? In which countries do you operate at present? And what about profiles of your clients are they across the industry pipeline, including SMEs? What collateral does the bank ask for lending to the clients? We offer current accounts, payment, foreign exchange transactions, but mostly lending activities out of Hong Kong and UAE, Belgium and New York. A large part of our clients are to be found in the mid segment of the diamond industry, i.e. Traders and Manufacturers, but also Wholesalers and larger Retailers. For the latter group we particularly provide working capital and for the mid segment financing of trade receivables. How many clients are you servicing at present globally in the diamond and jewellery sector? The business being unique, how do you monitor your clients business progress? We do not disclose financial data as mentioned but we have a low load factor, i.e. the ratio of number of clients per relationship manager. That keeps our service at the required high level. And to understand clients needs and their business progress, we, as mentioned earlier, map the clients potential vs its performance and for instance help when we see the potential being underdeveloped. With many erstwhile lending banks leaving the industry, does ABN see this as an opportunity to move into the other countries where G&J industry is growing massively and expand its customer base? We are happy with the portfolio we have now but of course are open for new business in order to continuously improve our overall portfolio. We particularly look forward in cooperating with the other banks entering the industry and share our global knowledge. After all the industry doesn't need more finance, it needs more banks and we are quite actively promoting for instance club deals and syndications. And how can the Brexit be a major concern for ABN Amro? How does the bank plan to tackle impending problems, if any? From a diamonds and jewelry perspective we do not see a big impact from Brexit. Europe is not a big diamond market anyway. Plus it is expected that effects will be long term and mostly felt in the UK. Loan defaults by borrowers from diamond and jewellery sector is not new. But, how rampant is it in recent times? Are collaterals enough to keep control on such companies who fail to service their debts? What steps does ABN Amro take to safeguard itself from such eventualities? We don't generally see a worsening trend in default with the exception for India at the moment. The market over there is shaken up after too much money flew too easily into the industry. But that will pass as well, and might push consolidation forward even faster and make the Indian banks become more risk aware. Does ABN Amro serve diamond and jewellery clients as part of a consortium of banks or does it operate stand-alone? If so, what is the philosophy behind it; and how does it make more business sense for the bank? We do service our larger clients with club deals and syndicated loans. Always good for a client not to be dependent on one bank and for the banks it's good to share know-how and expertise. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished De Beers boosts Q3 output, maintains production guidance De Beers rough diamond production rose 4% to 9.6 million carats, mainly due to the treatment of higher grade ore at both Orapa in Botswana and South Africa as well as continued strong performance in Namibia, according to its parent company, Anglo... Hong Kongs major jewellery fairs are set to return in 2023 An announcement from Informa Markets Jewellery indicates that the industrys two biggest B2B sourcing events will be back in action in Hong Kong in 2023 following a three-year forced pandemic break. Diamcor rakes in $2.1mln from Q2 rough diamond sales Diamcor Mining sold 3,776.33 carats of rough diamonds for the interim period ended September 30, 2022, generating revenue of about $2,1 million, resulting in an average price of $556.08 per carat. It registered a net income of just above $1 million for... Lucapa boosts Q3 Lulo output as Mothae dips Lucapa Diamond produced 13,022 carats during the quarter that ended 30 September 2022, an increase of 38% compared to 9,444 carats in the corresponding prior year period. It said among the recoveries during the period were 270 carats recovered through... CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri has reported on the World Jewellery Confederation's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability programme to the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which currently is taking place in New York. CIBJO was one of only a handful of NGOs invited to make an oral statement at the session. The High-Level Segment brings together representatives from UN member states, the private sector, civil society and academia, and addresses ECOSOC's annual theme, which this year is "Implementing the post-2015 development agenda: moving from commitments to results." In his report, Dr Cavalieri described a series of programmes that have been introduced, which help optimise the involvement of the international jewellery sector in achieving the UN's sustainable development goals. At the same time, he said, they are meant to mitigate any negative societal effects that are directly or indirectly related to the sector's activities. Among the programmes that Dr Cavalieri reported on the ECOSOC session were: - A comprehensive set of courses in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability for professionals in the greater jewellery industry. - The development and roll out of an online system that will support all players in the industry in maintaining an ethical chain of custody, while at the same time reporting on proactive socially responsible policies. - Collaboration with government and civil society in the areas of biodiversity and the combating of the illicit trade in precious metals and gemstones. - The development and promotion of a framework that enables members of the jewellery industry worldwide to measure and offset their carbon footprints. In 2006 CIBJO became the industry's jewellery first and only representative in the UN body, which is charged engaging government, business and civil society in advancing the international community's development agenda. Since 2013 it has done this with the support of Fiera di Vicenza, which itself became the first trade show organizer to be recognized by the United Nations. Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels By PTI: New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) Thirteen new armed police battalions, including one comprising mostly tribals from the worst Maoist-hit districts, will be raised by the government to tackle the Naxal menace. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved 12 India Reserve battalions for the Left Wing Extremism affected states. Of the 12 battalions, four will be raised in Chhattisgarh, three each in Jharkhand and Odisha and two in Maharashtra. advertisement The CCS has made it clear that 75 per cent of the posts at constable level will be filled from 27 worst Naxal-hit states and there should be a relaxation in age and educational criteria as considered necessary for recruiting local youths, a Home Ministry official said. Besides, approval has been given to CRPF for raising a Bastariya battalion by recruiting youths from undivided Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. For this battalion, all constables will be recruited from tribal dominated Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur districts (all parts of undivided Bastar). Further, two already sanctioned India Reserve battalions will be converted into auxiliary battalions in CRPF by recruiting youths from 15 severely Naxal affected districts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Odisha. Out of these 15 districts, five belong to Chhattisgarh. The concept of Bastariya battalion was considered useful as the recruits will be mostly tribals who would help address local unemployment issue, provide tactical advantage to CRPF in operations, intelligence collection and language benefits. While in case of tribal candidates in rest of the country where the minimum height has to be 160 CMs, as many as 4.5 CMs has been given as relaxation for the candidates from Bastar region while there will be 10 per cent relaxation in weight, which has to be proportionate to height and age in case of other candidates. PTI ACB CPS DV CPS --- ENDS --- By PTI: From K J M Varma Beijing, Jul 24 (PTI) As many as 225 people have been killed or missing in heavy torrential rains and floods that have wreaked havoc in China with about 2.5 lakh people still trapped in the central Hubei Province. More than 6.80 lakh people were affected and 10 townships swamped following continuous heavy rainfall from July 18 to 20,Tianmencity government in the Hubei Province said. advertisement Over 500 soldiers, 1,000 people and 62 speedboats have been sent for rescue work while more than 10,000 people have been sent to ensure the safety of river banks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. At least 114 people have been killed and 111 others missing in Hubei province. Local authorities have evacuated nearly 3.10 lakh people. Flooding and rain-triggered landslides have caused the collapse of 52,900 houses and damage to 155,000. Over 700,000 hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over 16 billion yuan (USD 2.4 billion). The worst-hit Daxian Village of Xingtai City was almost empty after a flash flood swamped it early Wednesday. At least 8 villagers were killed and one missing. "I heard people yelling flood at about 2:30 AM. I woke up my wife and children and rushed out of door immediately. In no time the water level was above my waist,"said Zhang Erqiang, a local villager. "My wife and I panicked and we climbed to a tree, and stayed there for several hours until rescuers arrived in the morning," Zhang said. "But our daughter and son were washed away and their bodies were just found," he said. Only a dozen villagers stayed to watch over the village, while the rest of the residents had left to take shelter with their relatives elsewhere. The news of heavy casualties in Xingtai, just 400km south of Beijing, only began emerging over the past 24 hours when thousands of local residents took to the street to protest against the alleged belated disaster warning and ineffective rescue efforts, the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. Flood waters burst river banks and submerged at least 12 villages. Daxian village is one of the worst-hit, where at least nine people, including five school kids, are dead or missing, media reports said. Jingxing County, located in the west of the province, saw an average precipitation of 545.4 mm in the 19 hours between 1 PM Tuesday and 8 AM on Wednesday, surpassing the amount received by the county in the whole of 2015. There have been power outages, disruptions to communication and other infrastructure and road closures across Jingxing. PTI KJV ASK ASK --- ENDS --- advertisement If Dajuan Harris Jr. is underrated, its not by those at Kansas German Pathologist Dr. Gerhard Stauch is back in Samoa. This time, he is here to conduct a second Senior Expert Services (S.E.S) assignment for the National Health Services (N.H.S). At the end of last year, Dr. Gerhard set up the Tele Pathology at the Pathology Laboratory of N.H.S. He was training the staff, especially Seve Dr. Emmanuel Chan Chui as the team leader of the Pathology Lab. This time, Dr. Gerhard will remain in the country for about two months. He brought a lot of scientific books with him to extend the small library of the Pathology Lab. With your nice weather here in Samoa there is not much cloth needed, so I filled up my suitcase with useful material for the Pathology Lab, Dr. Gerhard said. His help is on a voluntary basis as all of the S.E.S Expert assistance around the globe. On top of ongoing training, Dr. Gerhard wants to look at different areas to improve further the services for the N.H.S in the Pathology field. His assignment is in the framework of the S.E.S, a German organization which sends retired experts around the world to assist in knowledge building. The S.E.S has a database of over 12,000 retired Experts out of almost every field like Agriculture, Art, Engineering, Sports, Teaching, Health etc. To launch an application in getting an expert is easy. The local Representative for the S.E.S and Honorary German Consul, Arne Schreiber residing at Papauta is the contact person here in Samoa. According to Dr. Gerhard, so far the project is running very well. The material that has been sent over the internet is very well prepared and the overseas Pathologists, who are connected to the Internet System and who are giving their expertise as well on a voluntary base, are very impressed. The Tele Pathology makes it possible to get a diagnosis on tissue samples in about five days, compare to three and more month if the tissue sample is been sent to an overseas Lab. Because the participation of this Tele Pathology System is without charge the N.H.S is saving about half a million tala every year. This time Dr. Gerhard plans to see more from the South Pacific region. He would like to include short visits of nearby islands during his time in Samoa. Maintaining a consistent supply of quality cocoa beans is problematic for smallholder farmers in Samoa. There is significant variability in smallholder fermentation and drying practices, often resulting in variable cocoa bean quality, including smoke contamination from wood fueled driers. The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (P.H.A.M.A) programme, funded through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (D.F.A.T) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.F.A.T), is helping provide technical support to improve the quality of processed Samoan cocoa. A cocoa solar drier unit, which had originally been tested by P.H.A.M.A in the Solomon Islands, is now being trialed with Samoan farmer groups under an adaptive research project led by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S). The unit is proving suitable for local conditions and results for cocoa quality have been positive. The trial is demonstrating how to further add value to the inherent high quality of the traditional Trinitario variety of cocoa grown in Samoa. Units are being trialed on two sites in Upolu and Savaii, and are intended for continuing S.R.O.S-farmer quality assessment. The targeted farmers have since engaged in proper fermentation and drying of the beans, and Saena Tialino Penaia of Malie (Upolu) was happy to comment. Sun drying is good for drying cocoa, but I cant be away from my place for too long because of the threat of rain, and I need to quickly collect the beans outside to avoid getting wet, he said. Often times, the beans are spoilt in storage because of too much rain, and the beans cant be put out to the sun. But now with the solar drier in my backyard, this is a significant development to my cocoa operations. I can attend to family and village obligations and not worrying if it rains. I have significantly increased the processing of beans now with the solar drier up and operational. The P.H.A.M.A National Coordinator, Asuao Kirifi Pouono, has confirmed similar feedback from Alo Kolone Vaai of Vaisala, Savaii. Both farmers have established, strong, traditional linkages to local and export markets, and are already enthusiastic to meet the consistent and quality supply of beans and other value added products to feed their market outlets. The Samoan Market Access Working Group (M.A.W.G) or Komiti o Oloa Faanatura mo Maketi Fafo (K.M.F), which has a leading role in promoting the export of agricultural produce from Samoa, sees the potential for the solar drier to provide a model unit for the Samoan cocoa industry, as well as other commodities that require drying in the respective value chains. S.R.O.S is acknowledged for its technical contribution and research into the solar drier prototype, and with further government-private sector initiatives in the pipeline for the Financial Year 2016-17. PR S.T.A The iconic Aggie Greys Hotel in the centre of Samoas capital city, Apia, reopens its doors as The Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel and Bungalows on Monday 1 August 2016. This is the second global-brand hotel that Samoa has welcomed, following the opening of the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Resort last year. Founded in 1933 by Aggie Grey, it has seen various reincarnations; from burger joint to serve the US troops to a hostel dormitory for visiting servicemen. Many people of note walked through its doors including international dignitaries, Royalty as well as Hollywood sensation Marlon Brando. The 200 rooms, bungalows and suites have been renovated and refurbished to contemporary standards with a distinct Samoan voice in the design. The Sheraton Aggie Greys Hotel & Bungalows officially opens on August 1, 2016, and to celebrate, the hotel is offering an exclusive rate of US$170 a night, which is valid until 3 November 2016. The hotel will feature two Restaurants, Lobby Lounge, Pool bar, Sheraton Club Lounge, Manaia Polynesian Spa & Fitness. Aggie Greys by Peter Kuruvita: This stunning new restaurant will be the Hotels signature and will celebrate the unique array of impressive fresh local ingredients of Samoa, bringing inspirational flavours from across the world. Experience true Samoan hospitality with cuisine by Peter Kuruvitas culinary team, from Flying Fish fame in Fiji and Australia. Feast Restaurant: Located by the poolside with courtyard views, experience delectable spreads of international fare at Feast, with all-day dining including buffet and a la carte options featuring the freshest of local and imported ingredients, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch. Lobby Lounge: An inviting evening retreat to gather with friends or family, enjoy wines, and cocktails. During the day we will feature high tea, and pastry selections. The gourmet deli will also will have take-away coffee, light snacks, sandwiches, pastries, and cakes. The property retains its colonial look enhanced with modern touches, designed to appeal to the modern traveler. Papaplii Sonja Hunter, C.E.O of Samoa Tourism Authority, says Samoa welcomes the partnership, especially from a global brand of Sheraton Hotels and Resorts who identifies Samoas unique selling point and respects and preserves its culture and unique identity. Aggie Grey herself is an icon and a much loved figure in Samoan history, and it is an honour for a brand such as Sheraton to come to partnership with Samoa and the Grey Family, Papalii said. Beautiful Samoa will be an excellent inclusion to the Sheraton clients travel planner, with our unique culture, pristine natural environment and friendly locals that will make you feel right at home. Samoans are known all over the world for our hospitality. Aggie Grey embodied this and it is wonderful to have the Sheraton recognize and immortalize this. For more information and bookings please go to The Sheraton Aggie Greys Hotel & Bungalows website or contact your local travel agent. With his observations and comments on the front page of todays edition of the Samoa Observer, the independent Member of Parliament for Salega East, Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai has undoubtedly found some fans. He touches on two main points: the superfluous staff of Government ministries and the lack of focus of support and commitment for the private sector. He says the government structure is costing the country millions while its organizations struggle to pay dividends to maintain its growing developments. And while he singles out A.C.E.O.s as examples of too many highly-paid managers doing too little work, he could also turn his attention in a cost cutting measure to the number of Cabinet Ministers (13) and Associate Ministers (13) that this small country of less than 200,000 people supports. And I do mean supports. Were talking salaries, vehicles, expenses overseas and trips are all part of their packages without mentioning unofficial and often substantial perks and other payments. As a comparison, neighbouring New Zealand with its population of four and a half million has just 20 Ministers 5 Ministers outside Cabinet. But Olos right; from the publics view, many government ministries are bloated, inefficient, often self-serving and costly. He also makes the valid point that by creating extra positions and adding to the payroll does not always result in better and more efficient work outputs. And in terms of Government structures, he could have also gone further and pointed to the money spent on grandiose, government buildings on Beach Road; money which could have been better spent on creating and supporting schemes to provide employment and generate revenue for individuals and the country. Instead the buildings sit there as a monument to what our leaders consider to be our priorities and prudent decision making befitting us as recently graduated from the Least Developed Country status. And while it was encouraging to hear the Prime Minister during his last days of holding the Finance portfolio in 2015, finally speaking of a need to cut spending, it was rather ironic. Firstly, because this advice was after the fact and had already come from several reputable world financial organisations. Questioned about the advice at the time, he pooh poohed it all. And secondly, because the Samoan public had repeatedly questioned profligate spending of our taxpayers money; much of which was carried out by members of his own political party - right under his nose. Now with a newly-appointed Minister of Finance with a genuinely strong financial background, we can only hope that the days of unbridled spending will soon be a distant memory. As an alternative to putting money into bigger and bigger Government offices and positions, Olo then goes on to urge the government to focus on where money is being generated from the private sector. Sadly, the private sector is an area of society government often takes for granted. Despite providing many services Government does not or cannot; producing goods and services; providing employment and skills and training and of course contributing to the economy. And if at times their worth to Government appears to be measured by the size of their contributions to the Manu Samoa team, most of the time, they are too engrossed in their day to day work to make much of a fuss. However Ad hoc holidays being introduced or extended at short notice is one irritating factor and an example of where government shows little concern for extra costs to the business community. It seems that it is dead easy to make decisions about money when it is not your own. By PTI: Hyderabad, Jul 24 (PTI) Vehicle riders under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limit will now have to carry Aadhaar card along with other necessary documents, failing which their vehicles will be seized, police said. "Keeping in view of the safety and security of the law abiding citizens commuting on the streets of Cyberabad, there is a need to strengthen the process of verification of documents to prevent the road accidents due to drunk driver and persons without DL," a release from Cyberabad Police said. advertisement Besides, the existing mandatory requirement of carrying documents like DL (driving license), Registration Certificate, etc. the vehicle drivers of two, three and four-wheelers will also have to possess Aadhaar card from today onwards under Cyberabad Commissionerate. "If anybody is found without carrying Aadhaar Card along with other necessary documents, the vehicle will be seized on the spot and a case will be booked under relevant sections of MV Act," the release said. The public was requested to carry their Aadhaar Card along with other driving documents while driving/riding a vehicle and exhibit to police (traffic and law and order personnel) wherever one is intercepted and asked for the documents, it added. PTI VVK NSK DBS BAS --- ENDS --- When thinking about the latest incidents which have concerned the people of Samoa, one might easily shake ones head about it. But most people do not spend too much attention on things they are not directly affected by. An exception is Moe Lei Sam, a local shop owner in Samoas capital. The woman is following the countrys current affairs with a sorrowful prospect of the future. When I read about a Chinese shop owner stating that Business is going well because Samoans eat everything, I was furious. I am angry about this statement and I know for a fact that others are as well concerned about it. How dare he be saying such things when we had that incident not long ago?. The incident Moe Lei Sam is speaking of, involves around the closing of an Asian restaurant last month as it was reported that the usage of dog and cat meat was approved at the place. Moe Lei Sam also spoke out against the decision of opening a cigarette factory in Samoa: Two or three weeks ago, the raising of costs for food and cigarettes was announced by a minister. Now they are planning a cigarette factory here in Samoa. I have so many children coming to my shop asking to buy cigarettes and of course I tell them to leave. But once we have that factory here, well find kids smoking all the time. As a worried Samoan, Moe Lei Sam does not understand why, according to her, nobody is doing something about those grievances. There is so much going on these days. You hear so much about violence, rape, and all these new shops owned by Chinese businessmen which are pushing local businesses out of the market. Some people might say that our country still is a safe place, some also claim it to be paradise, but I dont agree with all of that I ask Samoa: why dont we do anything about what is going wrong in our country? In other parts of the world, people are taking it to the street and complain about what is wrong. Why cant we do the same?. But the local shop owner does not only blame the people of Samoa for not reacting on what obviously concerns so many people in the country. I am also asking the heads of our churches, the mataii in the villages and the politicians: why arent you doing something the situation, isnt that why you all have those positions? PR - In the lead up to International Literacy Day on 8 September, the South Pacific Community (SPC) is conducting a campaign with Pacific education ministries to raise awareness on the importance of reading. The campaign includes the launch of a multi-media competition today which is open to children up to 16 years old from SPC member countries. Literacy and numeracy skills provide a foundation for future generations to succeed at school and in life. The campaign, led by SPCs Educational Quality and Assessment Programme aims to highlight how reading skills are of use in so many aspects of life beyond the classroom. Kids listen to other kids, so the idea behind this regional competition is exactly that, kids talking to other kids about reading. All they need to do is share a story, preferably their own experience, about how reading has helped them and their communities, Pacific Community EQAP Director, Michelle Belisle said. Bearing in mind the varied technological capabilities of Pacific Island countries and territories, entries can be submitted as a letter or email, a storybook with illustrations, a poster with illustrations or as a short video. The best entries from each of these categories will feature on selected websites, media platforms and shared with schools in the build up to International Literacy Day and can also be used in future campaigns to promote the importance of reading. The competition is open to entries from: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The District Court Judge Vaepule Vaemoa Vaai has dismissed one charge of theft against a 20 year old defendant, Eterei Faatupunuu. The decision was based on the evidence presented in court last week by the 70-year-old complainant, Moasegi Tito Leasiolani. Ms Faatupunuu was accused of stealing an ATM card belonging to the elderly father and withdrawing cash of more than $3,000 from his personal account. The complainant is a retired man from the United States of America to Samoa and was a taxi driver before his wife took over after the incident. Moasegi recalled that he answered a phone call to their stand to pick up a passenger from a BBQ place at Moataa, and when he arrived, the accused hopped in the car. He then took her for a ride around Aleipata, Falealili and they returned back through the Cross Island Road. He said when he dropped off the accused that day, he didnt know his ATM card was missing. In his evidence, he said the ATM card was wrapped in a piece of paper with the pin number on it. He said when he went to check his balance, someone has withdrawn money from his account. When Moasegi was cross examined by the accused, Faatupunuu asked him if he gave her the ATM card and told her the pin number? However, Moasegi denied that he had given her any card. Faatupunuu also told Moasegi that she didnt want to take the ATM card, but he had insisted because he wanted to meet up with her in a motel at the beginning of the week. Moasegi denied such evidence. In the defendants evidence, she admitted that she went with Moasegi for a ride to Aleipata and Falealili because they already made plans two day before the incident. She said Moasegi picked her up from the BBQ place at Moataa around 12noon and they went for a ride that day, and they made a stop at Moasegis family at Falealili. Faatupunuu told the court, during the whole trip she was sitting in the back of the car she only hopped in the front seat when she was driving the car from Tiavi to Apia. He gave me the ATM card and told me to do what I want and we would meet at Harbour View on Monday, said told the court. She denied the prosecutions questions that she took advantage of the complainant because he was old. Prosecutor Lucy Sios argument was, the accused knew that the complainant had an ATM Card and the pin was also written on the piece of paper wrapped around it. Not only that but Faatupunuu knew that Moasegi had a hearing problem and he tended to forget things easily. However, Faatupunuu said she never took advantage of the complainant, she knew he has a hearing problem but she never intended to take anything from him. He gave me the card and told me the pin because he wanted us to have a relationship thats why, she answered. After the trial yesterday, the court was not satisfied with the evidence by the complainant Moasegi that he did not give the ATM card to the accused. However, the court accepted the accused evidence that the complainant gave the ATM card and the pin number to the accused. That charge was dismissed. However Ms Faatupunuu will appear for sentencing on the 24 August in relation to the money she withdrew from the complainants account. Soon after Khan was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman, several AAP supporters gathered outside the Jamia Nagar Police station and blocked the traffic. By Parbina Purkayastha: Aam Aadmi Party supporters' protest over the arrest of AAP MLA Amanatullah left the commuters stranded in New Delhi, today. Soon after Khan was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman, several AAP supporters gathered outside the Jamia Nagar Police station and blocked the traffic. In their protest the supporters blocked the traffic near Jamia Nagar police station, Kalindi Kunj and Saket court. AAP VS AAM AADMI advertisement 'My father is at hospital, I am stuck at this place for two hours. This is stupid way of protesting, I regret voting this party' said a crying commuter. Delhiites expressed their anger for getting unnecessarily embroiled in the politics. "I have an old mother with me who is unwell, the situation has turned worse now, and who will take the responsibility?' Meanwhile, metropolitan magistrate Ashok Kumar sent the Okhla MLA, who was produced in court, on police remand after Delhi Police sought his custody for investigation into the complaint. Several AAP members, including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, allege that the charges against Khan are trumped up, and that the BJP is behind the episode. ALSO READ: Major setback for Kejriwal: Another AAP MLA arrested on charges of molestation Its holy war between Kauravas, Pandavas: Kejriwal on AAP-BJP --- ENDS --- By PTI: Jalandhar, Jul 24 (PTI) Congress leader Amarinder Singh today questioned the "mysterious silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over issues of alleged atrocities against Dalits and said a divide among its people does not auger well for an emerging world power. Condemning the "series of excesses and atrocities" against the members of Dalit community, the Congress Punjab unit chief said such incidents of class divide can have severe consequences. advertisement "We already have many external enemies ready to destabilise and weaken our country and let us not facilitate them and make their job easy by dividing our own people," he said while addressing a demonstration at Kartarpur near here to protest against the Dalit atrocities. "I was shocked and shaken after watching the video of three Dalit boys being beaten up after being tied up with a car," he said, adding, "this is the worst crime and the criminals must be dealt with severe punishment." "It was all the more shameful, since it happened in Modis home state (Gujarat)," he said. The PPCC president said "when the country should be concerned about its enemies along the borders like Pakistan and China, there are sections inside, who are trying to divide people." "Imagine what will happen if we place one community against the other in the name of caste and religion?" he said, adding, India is considered as an emerging power in the world and incidents like these should make everyone feel concerned. The former Punjab Chief Minister said there appeared to be a pattern in the violence against Dalits. "Gujarats was not an isolated incident. It was one in the series," he said, adding, "This is happening in UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and everywhere and the government is watching as a mute spectator." Amarinder also condemned Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his "silence" over what happened in Phagwara, where members of two Amarinder questions PMs silence on Dalit atrocities Jalandhar, Jul 24 (PTI) Congress leader Amarinder Singh today questioned the "mysterious silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over issues of alleged atrocities against Dalits and said a divide among its people does not auger well for an emerging world power. Condemning the "series of excesses and atrocities" against the members of Dalit community, the Congress Punjab unit chief said such incidents of class divide can have severe consequences. "We already have many external enemies ready to destabilise and weaken our country and let us not facilitate them and make their job easy by dividing our own people," he said while addressing a demonstration at Kartarpur near here to protest against the Dalit atrocities. advertisement "I was shocked and shaken after watching the video of three Dalit boys being beaten up after being tied up with a car," he said, adding, "this is the worst crime and the criminals must be dealt with severe punishment." "It was all the more shameful, since it happened in Modis home state (Gujarat)," he said. The PPCC president said "when the country should be concerned about its enemies along the borders like Pakistan and China, there are sections inside, who are trying to divide people." "Imagine what will happen if we place one community against the other in the name of caste and religion?" he said, adding, India is considered as an emerging power in the world and incidents like these should make everyone feel concerned. The former Punjab Chief Minister said there appeared to be a pattern in the violence against Dalits. "Gujarats was not an isolated incident. It was one in the series," he said, adding, "This is happening in UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and everywhere and the government is watching as a mute spectator." advertisement Amarinder also condemned Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his "silence" over what happened in Phagwara, where members of two communities, armed with swords and other sharp weapons, clashed on Friday and hurled stones at each other. He asked Badal to take strong action against trouble mongers. PTI VJ KIS RT KIS --- ENDS --- While there's still no single word from Google about a possible Nexus 2016 release date, rumors about the specs, features and price of the upcoming Google Nexus 2016 flagships codenamed "Marlin" and "Sailfish" have been hitting the web for quite some time now. Recently, Techdroider posted a picture of the HTC-made Marlin which the publication claims is the first real picture of the Nexus smartphone. The picture shows the handset screen which mentions it's running Google latest mobile OS Android Nougat with the latest July security patch. As the picture only shows the handset's front face, the actual design of the HTC "Marlin" still remains a big mystery. According to reports, Google is expected to release its next gen Nexus 2016 smartphones as early as next month alongside the Android 7.0 Nougat. The search giant has recently rolled out the latest beta version of Android N, dubbed Developer Preview 5. Previous reports suggest Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC is manufacturing the highly popular line of Google Nexus 2016 smartphones including a 5-inch device codenamed "Sailfish" and a 5.5-inch phablet known as "Marlin." There are also reports which claim that Huawei is developing a third Nexus smartphone. As far as specs are concerned, both the Google Nexus 2016 handsets are expected to come powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 821 processor and feature the same 4GB of RAM. There will a 12-megapixel main camera enabled with LED flash and an 8-megapixel front facing camera on board. Overall specs of the two handsets are expected to be the same except for their display size and battery capacity. Nexus Marlin is rumored to come backed by a massive 3450mAh battery, while its sibling Nexus Sailfish is expected to get a 2770mAh battery. Other rumored specs include a rear panel fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, bottom facing speakers, a top mounted headphone jack and Bluetooth 4.2 Readers are requested to take the information with a grain of salt as Google has not confirmed anything its upcoming Nexus 2016 handsets. While Microsoft has remained tight lipped about the next gen Surface Pro 5 release date, specs and pricing details, new reports suggest the next gen laptop-tablet hybrid will be completely game oriented. According to The Bitbag, Microsoft Surface Pro 5 might come featuring NVIDIA's Pascal-architectured graphics cards or Advanced Micro Device's (AMD) GPUs and new Polaris graphics architecture. This feature is sure shot to make the laptop a perfect game oriented device. Furthermore, the Microsoft tablet is also expected to sport a rechargeable stylus and dock. Among other specs, the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to come powered by the Intel Kaby Lake processor. However, the Kaby Lake chip is still under development and is expected to get released in early 2017. This will indirectly delay Microsoft Surface Pro 5 release date to 2017. The software giant intends to address the battery drain issues faced by previous Surface Pro devices with the use of the new generation processor. Also rumors are that the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will come pre-loaded with Windows 10 Professional Redstone 2 operating system. It is to be noted that the Redstone 2 version of the operating system is still under development and is expected to be available by spring of next year. There are reports which suggest that the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be rolled out in 2K as well as 4K display models. It is also rumored that the Surface Pro 5 will be quite good at multi-tasking with its 16 GB of RAM. In terms of camera, the device is set to have a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. It is reported that the laptop-tablet hybrid will sport a USB 3.1 Type-C port that will double the speed of data transfer between devices. Thunderbolt 3 is also rumored for the device. The Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to come with a price tag of $899 for the Core i5 variant, $999 for the Intel Core i7 variant, and $1,599 for the i7 Extreme variant. Readers are advised to take the information with a grain of salt as nothing yet about the Microsoft Surface pro 5 release date, specs and pricing details have been announced officially. Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 has been in rumors for quite some time now. While, the software giant has remained mum about the smartphone's release date, specs or price, new rumors indicate an early 2017 launch for the device. Recent reports suggest Microsoft's much anticipated Surface Phone 2016 will be rolled out in three variants and each one will have different specs and features. The entry level model is expected to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and 3GB of RAM, the midrange model is rumored to get 6GB of RAM, and the high-end variant is expected to feature a massive 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Rumor mills have it that one of the three Surface Phone variants will likely sport an Intel Atom X3 Processor. The Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 smartphones are also expected to come with the 'Continuum' feature that will enable users to use the device as a PC with the addition of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. Among other specs, all the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 variants are reported to come with an aluminum and magnesium casing along with a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a USB Type-C port and liquid cooling technology. Furthermore, the handsets are rumored to get a 20-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera coupled with Surface Pen functionality. The price range of the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 smartphones is expected to be somewhere around $700-$1100, depending on the model. As far as Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 release date is concerned, the handsets are expected to get a 2017 launch. The Bitbag reported that the software giant has put notes on a wall dedicated to showcasing Surface devices in the company's Building 88 in Redmond, Washington. One of the placeholders is marked "2016," while another three devices has "2017" label on them. It remains to be seen which Surface device will get announced by Microsoft this year. Readers are advised to take the information with a big grain of salt as nothing yet about Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 release date, specs and prices have been announced. FLORENCE, S.C. Florence pastor and businessman Tony McElveen said in the wake of the current violence across the nation, he is being proactive and plans to host a community forum this week to discuss ways to prevent similar situations from happening in Florence. The forum, entitled P.A.U.S.E (People Against Unarmed Shootings Everywhere), will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rooms R Us furniture store located at 131 Pamplico Highway in Florence. We will talk about the events that occurred and be proactive and make sure what we see displayed negatively on TV doesnt happen in Florence, McElveen said. But Florence residents dont have anything to worry about when it comes to the citys law enforcement, he said. The goal is the keep the harmony within the city. Recent police-involved killings have happened in Louisiana, Minnesota and Dallas. Each person who attends the forum will be able to ask questions to a panel of community leaders and express any feelings they might have about the tragedies that have occurred, McElveen said. The panel will include Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler, representatives from the Florence County Sheriffs Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a municipal judge and clergy members. I thought it was important to have our law enforcement present just to give us an opportunity to express our concerns and what theyre feeling across our country, said McElveen, who received 32.5 percent of the votes in June in an unsuccessful challenge to Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela. Since he announced the upcoming forum weeks ago, McElveen said officers are now being shot and killed, and people are retaliating the wrong way. I definitely want to address that. Thats the worst thing anybody can do, he said. Justice is one thing, and revenge is another thing. Im totally against the shooting of police officers. He said police officers are needed to protect and serve. And McElveen said he wants to give officers an opportunity at the forum to express ways to the community that both parties can help prevent tragic shooting incidents. Thursdays outdoor forum will not be the last community forum McElveen wants to have. He wants to have them regularly, possibly every quarter. CLEVELAND -- I have finally experienced my second childhood. It came in the form of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. I think it may have been the '70s since I started the day between 6 and 7 a.m. and hit the sack somewhere around 2:30-4 a.m. seven days in a row! Day Three: Gov. Scott Walker and Frank Luntz joined our breakfast session and discussed why this election is the most important election in our lifetime. Have you ever heard that before? Gov. Walker's discussion pretty much summarized his presidential campaign and the necessity of the GOP to come together to support the Republican nominee and at the same time keep the leadership in the House and Senate. Opinion time. If the GOP has any hopes of keeping control of the House and Senate the only way it can be done is by winning the presidential race. No win for Trump means low turnout, which equates to lost votes for the down-the-ticket elections. There was a great amount of anticipation and fear as the evening session began. The fear was centered on the nomination and vote to accept Gov. Pence as the vice president nominee. I know many of you are asking,"Who is Mike Pence? Short answer: the possible savior of Donald Trump. The longer answer: Gov Pence is a consistent conservative man with the qualities and experience which are lacking in Donald Trump. Spence is well-mannered, and he can speak and get his message across without the drama and "oopsies" we have all seen and heard coming from Trump. Pence has actual "political arena" experience, not just "boardroom" experience. Opinion time: Pence will be a great balance to Trump, who had better listen to his VP choice. I believe Trump knows this. I just hope he listens to him. Pence will also help calm the nerves of party leadership, including the so-called Christian right and those of us in the trenches working to maintain the conservative platform. The delegates recognized the usefulness of Pence as he was widely endorsed in the vote to make him the VP nominee. Donald Trump's vote was not as peaceful. By now you have heard about the great battle to prevent Trump's nomination. Folks, I'm not sure I was at the same convention as the world's media outlets. Yes, there was a movement by a small group of folks to hijack the process as a way to block Trump's nomination. It was doomed before the launch. Word spread like wildfire there was a group wanting to have all votes to be roll called. This means you would need a majority of the elected delegates or alternates on the floor to vote on all issues before the committee. If there was not a majority, no vote could be taken. The group failed in the attempt miserably. Of course the mainstream media presented this attempt to be a huge revolt that was splitting the party wide open. It was a show, but not a dramatic event. Trump won the nomination with ease. Day four of the event began with an early breakfast honoring the South Carolina congressional delegation, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Nikki Haley. Both presented the cause of the conservatives and their own state. The most publicized event of the evening was the address by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. As Cruz spoke it rapidly began to sound as if he were about to endorse Trump. Then he turned around and walked off the stage with this smirk on his face. Opinion time: I was so disappointed in Cruz. He refused to honor his agreement to support whoever won the nomination. Even after being one of the first to condemn Trump when he indicated he might run as a third-party candidate if not accepted by the GOP. I talked with several of the Texas delegates and they shared my opinions. One Texan summed it up: "So much for honor and integrity." Day five-the big night: As we gathered on the convention floor I was asked to accompany our 7th Congressional District congressman, Tom Rice, to the Congressional Suite to meet a few people and share some food and drink. I accepted the invitation and had about an hour of one-on-one conversations with several Congress members including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. You have already heard about the acceptance speech. Opinion time: I left Cleveland on Friday with a few thoughts: Trump can win! Will he? Gov. Pence is a great counterbalance for Trump and Trump recognizes his need for someone like Pence. He will help bring the conservative religious right even closer to Trump. He is an unknown-known. He has become a major leaguer without making a lot of noise or disruptions, unlike Mr Trump. Don't forget Indiana's "flip state" status. I like him. From Cleveland to you. Now it's up to us to determine who will be the next president of the United States. Bill Pickle of Florence is a first-time Republican National Convention delegate. CLEVELAND -- Donald Trump was a man in full Thursday night as he accepted the Republican nomination: Full-throated, full of fury and full of himself: "I am your voice"; "I alone can fix it [the system]"; "I am the law and order candidate." And the teeming throng of red-, white- and blue-bedecked patriots loved all 75 minutes of an acceptance speech in which the candidate promised to -- stop me if you've heard this -- make America great again. Personally, I'd settle for a smile, an expression that rarely bothered Trump's facial features, and a national day of no-yelling. All week, there was so much shouting and pointing. So much posturing and clenching of fists. So much anger as the crowd roared in unison: "Lock her up, lock her up, lock her up." New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, serving as a prosecutor/ provocateur, enumerated her crimes. "Guilty or not guilty?" he shouted from the dais, at least once struggling to keep a straight face. "Guilty!!!!" the crowd screamed with the bloodlust of Romans waiting for Nero's thumb. Ah, but it's just politics, giddy commentators reminded us the day after. This is what conventions are all about, riling the ready for the final slog. Nothing to see here but faith in the promise of a better, stronger, safer America -- all made possible by a red-faced, ham-fisted, copper-coiffed casino broker who until very recently was a reality show celebrity who jabbed his finger toward trembling wannabes and decreed: "You're fired!" Heads will roll, we can presume, but whose? If I were Ted Cruz, I'd keep mine down. The grandest of marketeers, Trump has cast a spell over a swath of America, inspiring them not with soaring rhetoric but with dark harbingers of worse to come. In the familiar way of despots, tyrants and kings, he has made the many feel better by singling out the few to fault. It is not for nothing that many have compared Trump's brand of rhetoric to some of humankind's worst, including, unavoidably, Adolf Hitler. Observing the convention, I was taken back to my uncommon childhood when I was exposed to Hitler's speeches. My father, a World War II Army Air Corps pilot, was also a kitchen historian who, post-war, studied Hitler in an effort to better understand him. This involved listening to his recorded speeches, which, in the dark, B.A. (Before Apple) era, meant we all listened to them. They made a lasting impression. Without understanding a word of German, it wasn't difficult to translate Hitler's message. The ferocious shouts of thousands of citizens, inflamed by and enamored of this strange little man, merged into a solid note -- a deafening roar freighted with the fears and furies of mankind's primeval past. "Lock her up" sounds a lot like "To the stockades." We affirm that such a thing could never happen here. Our Constitution and our system of checks and balances protect against totalitarianism. I share the faith that America yet remains too good and too strong for a complete breakdown of our ordered liberty. However. There are reasons for the comparisons between tyrants and Trump that transcend mere politics. There is also good reason that so many have accepted Trump as their leader. As one Republican loyalist explained to me: "He's a tough guy. They think he's going to punch (bad) people in the face." Indeed, Trump promised to end the Islamic State and to protect the LGBTQ community from "the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology," just as he has promised to bring back jobs and renegotiate trade deals. The how of these several vows remains a mystery. More pressing, meanwhile: What will be required of America in the process? How much freedom does law and order cost? We don't know because Trump probably doesn't know. What I do know is that the sound and fury I recall from my father's records are similar to what I heard in Cleveland from decent people who would recoil at the comparison. But imagine you're the person about whom thousands are chanting with the cadence of a lynch mob, "Lock her up!" How frightening that would be, even to a tough pro like Hillary Clinton. How horrifying it should be to all of us that the next president of the United States could be the man who inspired it. Kathleen Parker's email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. (c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group Amidst escalating "war of words" between India and Pakistan leaders, Border Security Forces and Pakistan Rangers are all set to hold talks in Lahore. By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: While leaders from India and Pakistan indulge in verbal duel over Kashmir, Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers to meet in Lahore for talks. The meeting is slated from 27th-28th July. A 25 member strong team will leave for Pakistan on Monday. While DG K K Sharma along with three senior officers will fly to Islamabad for discussion with the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale, the rest of the team will travel by road via the Attari Wagah. advertisement Sources said that BSF will not be mentioning "Pathankot attack" in its agenda for discussion with Pakistan rangers. It will raise ten serious agenda points which includes: Incident of ceasefire violation in October last year at the Jammu International Border, incidents of infiltration. Discovery of tunnels on Indian side from Pakistan. Defence construction near Border outposts ( BOP's). Smuggling of arms and ammunition. Smuggling of drugs and narcotics. Smuggling and circulation of fake Indian currency notes ( FICN), Stray or inadvertent crossing by Pakistan nationals. Joint verification. Illegal fishing in Sir Creek. Pakistan has shared its list of agenda with their Indian counterparts, and have also mentioned there should be "more talks" and prompt exchange of words to diffuse any tensions on ground. There is no mention of Kashmir by Pakistan Rangers as well. Itinerary 25th July : Departure to Pakistan 26th July : DG BSF meets Indian High Commission in Pakistan 27th July : Meet between DG BSF and Pak Ranger. 28th July : Joint Record of Discussion. 28th July : Return to India --- ENDS --- By PTI: magazines Jammu, Jul 24 (PTI) A BSF constable today allegedly stabbed a fellow jawan and fled with a Light Machine Gun (LMG) and over 10 magazines from Akhnoor sector in Jammu and Kashmir following which security has been beefed up in key areas here. The accused, identified as Rajeev Ranjan, entered into a scuffle with his colleague Rajbir Singh over a petty issue, following which he stabbed the latter with a knife, a BSF officer said. advertisement Before the senior officers could intervene,he fled the camp with one LMG and over 10 magazines, the officer said. The injured constable was admitted to government Medical College and Hospital (GMC) where his condition is stated to be stable. Meanwhile, the police have issued an alert and intensified checking at all the check points across the city. A manhunt has also been launched to nab the constable. "We have sounded a general alert and checking has been intensified at all the check posts across the city," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Sunil Gupta said. PTI TSS AB DBS RT DBS --- ENDS --- However, the Dubai-headquartered marine seismic company announced an encouraging half year net profit of $134.7m. This was due to an accounting gain of $177.8m on restructuring in the first quarter and a reduction in impairment charge in the same period. Three new contracts worth $150m secured during the second quarter helped softened the blow of an $11.2m loss for Q2 as the company continues to chip away at a net interest bearing debt currently standing at $260.3m, down from $588.1m as of 31 December 2015. In the second quarter the company reported revenues of $67.9m, up 7% from Q1. As expected, total cash dropped during the quarter as a result of a working capital build-up which should improve in the third quarter. The build-up is largely a result of extended payment terms negotiated earlier with one client, payment from whom was received in July, Polarcus ceo Rod Starr said. "Second-quarter revenue increased by 7% over the first quarter, driven by strong multi-client revenue from a converted contract project offshore Brazil. The project was carried out with high efficiency and strong cost control providing an extraordinary prefunding level in excess of 200%. At the same time, the contract business realised lower effective day rates which were impacted by certain turnkey projects. The three new contracts all represent new revenue sources. Two projects are located in countries previously uncharted by Polarcus while the third is to be acquired with its new XArray technology in Indonesia. XArray is a new configuration that enables increased efficiency while providing enhanced data quality to clients, further improving Polarcus competitiveness. To navigate the challenging market we remain focused on delivering operational excellence and on maintaining our strong backlog. Our technical downtime remains below 2%. Polarcus H1 result follows an agreement reached in January with key shareholders, including the companys banks, to restructure its balance sheet following a difficult 2015 when it recorded a $374.1m loss. Renegotiated lease terms and the introduction of new call options prices for bonds are designed to reduce debt by a potential $280m. In addition, debt service payments over 24 months will be reduced by approximately $140m. As part of the restructuring, charter rates for Polarcus Nadia and Polarcus Naila have been reduced by approximately 75% until January 2018 with an increase thereafter representing a reduction of 20% from current levels, subject to Polarcus being able to service its bank debt in full at the time. We continue to drive costs down to succeed in the current market, and as a result we realised a further drop in gross cost of sales by 4% from already low levels in the previous quarter, Starr added. An ultra-wide 3D marine seismic project offshore Myanmar early this year saw Polarcus set records. Polarcus Amani towed an in-sea configuration with a width of 1.8km across the front ends. With each of its 10 streamers separated by 200 m, the total area covered by the spread is 17.6 sq km the largest in-sea configuration ever towed by a single seismic vessel as well as the largest man-made moving object on earth. The acquisition plan in Myanmar was set to deliver up to 190 sq km per day, a production rate currently it claims is unrivalled in the seismic industry. Recent fatal police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota have sparked outrage across the country. Many are now questioning the fundamental nature of policing in America -- and demanding change. In today's Seeker Daily special report, Laura Ling investigates whether escalating incidents of police violence are having any effect on how police officers are being trained. While calls for reform have become more insistent in recent years, there are actually no federal standards for how police officers are trained. Policies vary widely from department to department. But according to the most recent data from the Department of Justice, the majority of training time at police academy is spent on "hard skills" like self-defense and firearms use. Critics contend that this leaves little time for the instruction of "soft skills" or what is commonly known as community policing. This approach includes training in communication, conflict management and relationship building. RELATED: How Did Police Violence In The U.S. Get This Bad? Sue Rahr, director of police training in the state of Washington, is co-author of a 2015 Harvard University study titled "From Warriors to Guardians: Recommitting American Police Culture to Democratic Ideals." The paper argues that current police training models encourage a "warrior mentality" that emulates military training. Rahr says we need to movie away from this mindset, in which the streets are treated as a battleground rather than a community. Principles of community policing have been taught in police academies for decades. In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act led to the allocation of $14 billion dollars to community policing initiatives. But a 2014 review of the policies showed that while many departments have adopted community policing on paper, few have actually incorporated the principles in training and in the field. Meanwhile, on the federal level, the Obama administration has strongly advocated for the use of police body cameras. Supporters of this approach say cameras will both hold officers accountable and reduce money spent on police misconduct allegations. Studies suggest that about 25 percent of departments in the U.S. are already using body cameras to some degree. Aside from the tragedies we see in the headlines each day, the hard statistical numbers are grim. According to a recent report by the Washington Post, nearly 1,000 people were shot and killed by police in 2015. Statistics suggest those numbers will be even higher in 2016. -- Glenn McDonald Learn More: ResearchGate: Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder and fear and increase satisfaction and legitimacy among citizens: a systematic review Washington Post: 990 People Shot Dead by Police in 2015 Vox: Police academies spend 110 hours on firearms and self-defense. They spend 8 hours on conflict management. Slate: Why Obama Is Making His Big Law Enforcement Speech in Camden, New Jersey Rajendra Kumar was accused of abusing his official position in awarding Delhi government contracts of Rs 9.5 crore to private firm Endeavour Systems Private Limited and is in judicial custody till July 27. Kumar was accused of abusing his official position in awarding Delhi government contracts of Rs 9.5 crore to private firm Endeavour Systems Private Limited. Photo credit: PTI By Parbina Purkayastha: A special CBI court on Saturday reserved its order for July 25, Monday on the bail application of suspended Delhi Chief Minister's former Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar in a corruption case. WITNESSES BEING THREATENED "We have evidence that even till today the accused are threatening the witnesses. Kumar's presence outside will create intimidating atmosphere for witnesses," CBI counsel told Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar. advertisement The CBI said that if granted bail at this stage, Kumar "may tamper with evidence. The money trail is still needed to be probed and the investigation is at its crucial stage." Regarding the alleged threat to the witnesses, the CBI claimed it has received complaint in this regard. KUMAR PLEADED BAIL Whereas Kumar's lawyer Mohit Mathur argued before the court that recoveries are already being made. Mathur said "a lot of people are coming forward to the CBI in this case which means there is no threat by Kumar." "My client's medical condition is such that he should be granted bail. Also, he is required to be present with his daughter to take care of her as she is seriously ill at the moment," the counsel said, while denying threat to witnesses. WHY IS HE IN? Rajendra Kumar, a 1989 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory cadre, was accused of abusing his official position in awarding Delhi government contracts of Rs 9.5 crore to private firm Endeavour Systems Private Limited and is in judicial custody till July 27. Beside Kumar, other accused in the case are Intelligent Communication System India Ltd (ICSIL) Managing Director R.S. Kaushil and former MD G.K. Nanda, Rajendra Kumar's aide Ashok Kumar, Endeavour Systems Pvt Ltd directors Sandeep Kumar and Dinesh Kumar Gupta, and former VAT Department Assistant Director Tarun Sharma. --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate From Gov. Jerry Brown to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, California Democrats are headed back to Philadelphia in force but with the exception of a couple of high-powered members of Congress, chances are you wont see them on prime-time TV. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a hero to the LGBT movement for his early backing of same-sex marriage, said: Everything is fluid, from his time slot to his topic. I was told Monday, then it was Wednesday. At first they wanted me to talk about job creation, then I got a call saying, Hold off. As for national exposure? Right now, Im just hoping that C-SPAN is up and running when I go on, Newsom said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco may get a prime-time appearance either Tuesday or Thursday. Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is leaving the Senate after this year, is in the running for a bright-lights address in which she would talk about her relationship with Hillary Clinton. That relationship goes beyond politics. Boxers daughter Nicole was once married to Clintons brother Tony Rodham, making Clinton the aunt and Boxer the grandmother of the couples son, Zachary. Justin Sullivan As for Brown? He may be the fourth-term Democratic governor of the biggest state in the country, but that apparently doesnt guarantee him a prime-time podium spot. Thats still up in the air. Sen. Dianne Feinstein? To be determined. Two faces you wont be seeing in Philly are California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton and Willie Brown, the longtime Assembly speaker, former San Francisco mayor and now Chronicle columnist. Im not up for sitting around listening to bunch of people talk, Burton said. Instead, hell be sending teenager Elmer Lizarde, whose parents brought him to the U.S. from Mexico without documentation when he was 5 years old. Hes one of the dreamers, undocumented youths shielded from potential deportation by order of President Obama, and is headed to UCLA in the fall. Willie Brown, who is a member of the Democratic conventions rules committee, was planning to go only if there was going to be a fight between Clinton and Bernie Sanders. No fight, no reason to go, Brown said. Besides, they expect you to pay your own way. Hold the presses: Businessman and former San Francisco mayoral candidate Clint Reilly, who has long had his eye on the news game, is buying an upscale monthly, the Nob Hill Gazette. Clinton Reilly Communications takes over the magazine of the swells on Aug. 1. Reilly is interviewing candidates for editor and publisher of the socially and culturally minded publication, which operates out of the Fairmont Hotel. Reilly told us that he has no immediate plans to change the magazines focus and that it was pretty much a business decision to buy it. Reilly also owns 465 California St., home of the Julia Morgan Ballroom, where dozens of social events are booked every year and what better place to feature photos of guests than in the Nob Hill Gazette? Of course, Reilly has a long memory. One of the things he hasnt forgotten is a last-minute attack mailer sent out with the help of the towns leading socialite, Dede Wilsey, that he contends cost his wife, Janet Reilly, a seat on the Board of Supervisors in 2010. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle That mailer was aimed at helping Supervisor Mark Farrell whose district includes a boatload of Gazette readers. It will be interesting to see how often those two turn up in the Gazettes society pages. Bureaucratic boom: Want to see how government grows? Take a look at the recent city controllers report on the effect of the sales tax being proposed for the November ballot by Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisors John Avalos, Mark Farrell and Scott Wiener. 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. According to the report, the proposed 0.75 percent sales tax increase is projected to bring $154 million a year into the citys coffers. It will also leave San Franciscans with less money in their pockets translating to a drop in spending of $150 million a year, analyst Ted Egan wrote. Less spending means less money going into businesses, which in turn could mean the loss of 430 to 480 jobs in the private sector, the report said. But! Remember, government will have more money, so the city will hire more employees and give new contracts to nonprofits that, in turn, will hire more employees. The controllers report estimates that a $154 million tax will create 500 to 550 new bureaucratic jobs or roughly 100 more than the private sector will lose. Better yet, as we know, city jobs are forever. So we get to pay for them forever. 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 Amarinder Singh said that over ten lakh acres of Malwa region go dry and people will not have even drinking water if SC decides against Punjab. By Manjeet Sehgal: Fearing a pro-Haryana decision, the Congress on Sunday said its MLAs will submit mass resignations in case the Supreme Court directs Punjab to share SYL canal water with neighbouring Haryana. Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday that after submitting their resignation, the Congress party will go to the people and seek their support and vote. "And after we form the government in 2017, we will initiate legal and constitutional measures to safeguard our waters like we did in 2004 when we enacted Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004", he added. advertisement NO OPTION Captain Amarinder said, in case the Supreme Court verdict goes against Punjab and it orders construction of the SYL, Punjab will be left with no option. And this, he added, will be only because of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's failure to act on time. "While we respect the Supreme Court, we are also duty bound towards Punjab, hence we will find legislative and constitutional ways and means to safeguard our water", he clarified, while adding, not only will over ten lakh acres of Malwa region go dry, people will not have even drinking water if SC decides against Punjab. Capt Amarinder said, the Congress party alone had watched the Punjab's water interests. He pointed out, it was the Congress government in 2004 which enacted the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act that saved its waters. "It is by virtue of the act that Punjab has managed to save its waters for last 12 years and now when the responsibility was with Mr Badal, he failed to rise to the occasion", he observed, while pointing out, how under his administration, Punjab's case appears to be the weakest ever, "so much so we are staring at an imminent loss in the SC". While asserting that the Congress party always stood by the government in safeguarding the Punjab waters, at the same time PCC president warned the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against any mischief that can imperil the peaceful atmosphere in the state. CM BADAL'S INTENTIONS "Either his (Mr Badal's) intentions were not honest, or these were not clear, which made him to vacillate and waste crucial time in getting the Governor's assent to the unanimous resolution of the Vidhan Sabha on SYL, thus providing enough time to Haryana to move the SC", he observed. The PCC president said that Mr Badal's stand on SYL had always been vacillating and ambiguous right since the day he accepted Rs 2 crores in 1978 from his Haryana counterpart Devi Lal, with whom he proudly claimed to have 'brotherly' relations, right up to now, when despite congress supporting a unanimous resolution for SYL, he wasted four important days in sending the bill to the Governor. "I know Badal very well and he will resort to his cunning and foxy means and ways and he won't think for a minute to push Punjab into turmoil to safeguard his own interests", he said, adding, "but I and my party will not let him to do that". There are always constitutional and legal means which must be exercised and which Badal unfortunately wasted and squandered, he added. advertisement OPPOSITION PARTIES' APATHY Capt Amarinder said, even the BJP led NDA government at the centre, of which Akali Dal is a part of and Mr Badal's daughter in law Harsimrat Kaur Badal is a cabinet minister in, through its Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi, sided with the Haryana government, saying it favoured and wanted the construction of the SYL. The former Punjab Chief Minister said, the most dubious role has been that of the Aam Aadmi Party and its convener Arvind Kejriwal, who changed his stand and statement within a span of 24 hours. He pointed out, while in Punjab, he said, Punjab had no spare water and SYL should not be constructed. And the moment he landed in Delhi, the same day, he said, the SYL was needed to be constructed and all the states including Punjab, Haryana and Delhi should get water. Besides, his legal counsel also supported Haryana's case in the Supreme Court and everything is on record, he added. The PCC president asserted that only the Congress party was clear and categorical in its stand on SYL that it cannot be constructed and Punjab did not have any extra water to spare for any other state. "We have never wavered or vacillated in our stand and nor shall we hesitate in future when it comes to watching and safeguarding the interests of Punjab and hence we have all decided unanimously that in case the Supreme Court decides against the interests of Punjab we will all resign our legislative positions and go to people's court and explore and find the ways and means to right the wrong and restore Punjab's right over its waters for good through legislative and constitutional means", he said. advertisement FRESH ASSESSMENT OF WATER AVAILABILITY Capt Amarinder reiterated his appeal to the SC judges, particularly the Chief Justice of India, that before pronouncing the final judgement, it must assess the availability of water afresh and not base it on the assessment that was made decades ago. He said, the Eradi panel had wrongly assessed the availability of water at 18 MAF (million acre feet), since that much water never flowed in Punjab. He clarified that when the measurements were taken, there were floods in Punjab and naturally the water level was high. He said, the actual availability of water currently is 13 MAF only. Besides, he added, it is likely to go down further as glaciers are melting and there is less snowfall in the mountains due to the global warming. In the coming days, leave aside the irrigation needs, we may not have sufficient water even to drink, he warned. advertisement Punjab has refused water to Haryana earlier this year by passing Punjab Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal (Transfer of Property Rights) Bill, 2016 . The state government had left Haryana high and dry by returning its share i.e. Rs 191.75 crore which it had deposited as its share.The state government had also vested the acquired land rights back to the farmers. However, the Supreme Court on March 17 ,2016 had put a break on Punjab's move and had directed the state government to maintain status quo. ALSO READ: Amarinder questions Sukhbirs moral authority to hit out at SYL canal row: Haryana khaps threaten to block Punjab's access to Delhi --- ENDS --- Brian Gorman/AP NEW YORK There were dire warnings for the Boy Scouts of America a year ago when the groups leaders, under intense pressure, voted to end a long-standing blanket ban on participation by openly gay adults. Several of the biggest sponsors of Scout units, including the Roman Catholic, Mormon and Southern Baptist churches, were openly dismayed, raising the prospect of mass defections. Remarkably, almost 12 months after the BSA National Executive Boards decision, the Boy Scouts seem more robust than they have been in many years. Youth membership is on the verge of stabilizing after a prolonged decline, corporations that halted donations because of the ban have resumed their support, and the vast majority of units affiliated with conservative religious denominations have remained in the fold still free to exclude gay adults if thats in accordance with their religious doctrine. WASHINGTON President Obama says GOP nominee Donald Trumps recent suggestion that the U.S. might not come to the defense of NATO allies is another sign of Trumps lack of preparedness on foreign policy. Obama said in an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS Face the Nation that Trumps comments to the New York Times in which Trump suggested allies that havent paid their NATO dues wouldnt be guaranteed of getting help if Russia invaded were an admission that the U.S. might not live by NATOs most central tenet. 40-year-old Judith, who works for Agha Khan Foundation - an internationally known NGO - as a senior technical adviser, was kidnapped on June 9 by suspected terrorists from near her office in Kabul. By Anindya Banerjee: It wasn't an immediate flight to Kolkata for abducted and now released Indian national Judith D'Souza who landed back in Delhi on Saturday evening. Sources in Judith's family suggest she was tired and emotionally traumatised and hence a break before flying off to her hometown. 40-year-old Judith, who works for Agha Khan Foundation - an internationally known NGO - as a senior technical adviser, was kidnapped on June 9 by suspected terrorists from near her office in Kabul. The incident took place in the vicinity of Qala-e-Fatullah area of Afganifan capital. advertisement JUDITH MET PM MODI, SUSHMA SWARAJ She met both the External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who greeted Judith with a warm hug and the prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening. All along she has been accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, who played a crucial role in securing D'Souza's release. Her family who lived under uncertainty for last one month is relieved and all set to welcome their girl. Speaking to India Today, Judith's sister Agnes said in Kolkata, "We are very grateful to the Indian government for the rescue operation. We are also thankful to Madam Sushma Swaraj." The excitement was evident on her face. On being asked what are the preparations to welcome her, Judith's family in Kolkata has requested for privacy at this hour. A member of the D'Souza family said nevertheless, they are counting every minutes till Judith's flight land at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport late this evening. Also Read Kidnapped Indian woman Judith D'Souza rescued from Kabul, tweets Sushma Swaraj Judith D'Souza, who was kidnapped in Kabul, arrives at Delhi's IGI Airport --- ENDS --- By AP: A shooting at a Texas apartment complex on Saturday left four people dead including the suspected shooter. Bastrop Police Detective,Vicky Steffanic said at a news briefing that the dead were one man, two women and a child. Another child was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening, she said. According to Steffanic, the shooter is among the dead and there is no further threat to the public. advertisement The identities of the dead are not being released pending notification of family. Steffanic declined to comment on a motive for the shooting.At least one nearby resident told the Austin American-Statesman that those found dead were residents of the complex. Police initially said there could be as many as five dead, but that was later revised to four when it was determined that the suspected shooter was among the fatalities.Bastrop is a town of about 7,500 people located 35 miles southeast of Austin. 9 p.m. Police say the four dead from a shooting at an apartment complex include one man, two women and a child. Bastrop Police Det. Vicky Steffanic says that another child was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. She says the suspected shooter is among the dead and there is no further threat to the public. The identities of the dead are not being released pending notification of family. 8:30 p.m. Residents near the scene of a fatal shooting in Bastrop, Texas say they are restricted from leaving or entering the apartment complex where the shooting happened. Kenyata Trigg told the Austin American-Statesman that her sister-in-law was in the apartment complex when she heard shots. Trigg said her sister-in-law saw the bodies of a man, a woman and two children, all of whom she knew as neighbors. Mai Mguyen, who's lived in the apartment complex for five years, said she was working at a shop nearby when she heard four gunshots. A sheriff's office spokeswoman earlier said that all four of the dead were adults. 7:30 p.m. The suspect in the fatal shooting of four people in Bastrop, Texas is dead. Bastrop County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dawn Adams quotes officers at the scene as saying the apartment complex where the shooting took place is now secure. No details were immediately available about the motive for the shooting. Adams said officers received a call about the attack at 6:13 p.m. In addition to the four dead, a child was taken from the scene to the hospital with minor injuries. 7:10 p.m. Four people have been found dead following a shooting at an apartment complex in Bastrop, Texas. Dawn Adams, spokeswoman for the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office says in addition to the fatalities, one child has been taken to a hospital with minor injuries. She said no details about the suspect or a motive for the shooting are available Bastrop is a town of about 7,500 people located 35 miles southeast of Austin. advertisement Also read: Munich shooting: 10 dead, sole shooter might have shot himself dead --- ENDS --- A violent night in Oakland claimed the lives of two men early Sunday morning and had authorities searching for a gunman who opened fire on an Oakland police officer late Saturday in East Oakland, officials said. A police supervisor, who was not named, was responding to a call on the 1900 block of 73rd Street around 9:30 p.m. Saturday when she was involved in a collision, said Officer Johnna Watson, an Oakland police spokeswoman. Shortly after the crash, a gunman approached the officer, opened fire on her patrol sport utility vehicle, and fled. The officer was not struck but was taken to Highland Hospital with unspecified injuries after the crash, Watson said. The officer was alert and recovering Sunday morning, police said. Officers from multiple agencies continue to scour the area around the shooting, about 1 miles from Oracle Arena. More for you Police Officer Shot At But Not Hit, Suspect At Large Authorities have not released any information about the gunman. In apparently unrelated incidents, two men were killed in shootings. The first took place at 1:15 a.m. in the 9200 block of Holly Street. Eight minutes later, in the 1000 block of Seventh Street, another man was shot and killed. No suspects have been taken into custody, Officer Nicole Allen said, and the names of the victims have not been released. Saturdays attack on the supervisor came as police around the country are on high alert after two ambush-style executions of officers. Three officers were shot dead and three others were wounded July 17 as they responded to a call about a man with a gun in Baton Rouge, La. On July 7, a gunman saying he was seeking revenge for two recent high-profile police killings of black men shot and killed five police officers during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas. Getty Images / / Since the Dallas attack, Oakland officers have been assigned partners while on patrol. The officer attacked Saturday was driving alone because she is a supervisor, police said. Evan Sernoffsky and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @ctuan By India Today Web Desk: Geeta Basra and Harbhajan Singh are all set to welcome their first child in early August or July end. Harbhajan is currently judging a comedy show and he had to take an off from the shoot for wife Geeta. The 36-year-old actor rushed to London to help Geeta during her pregnancy. ALSO READ: Geeta Basra is pregnant, and she has the world's best husband (NOT) ALSO READ: Geeta Basra pregnant, ready to welcome first child with Harbhajan Singh advertisement According to a report in the Times Of India, a source from the production house said, "Bhajji had informed us about his family commitment before taking up the show. The shoot will now resume after we get the good news from the Singh family. There will be a delay in the schedule, but that's fine." Well, Bhajji is all ready to enter fatherhood and wants to be around his wife in this time. In an earlier interview, Harbhajan had shared his experience and how is he dealing with Geeta's nature. He had said, "Pregnant or otherwise, it's not easy to stay with a woman (laughs). I try to be understanding, and I help her be comfortable. One must try to understand her situation and be as supportive as possible. That's what I do. Do gaali aur khalo jahan itni khayi hain. Kya jaata hai.. jab itni sun ke chup ho, toh do aur sunke chup raho (laughs)." Geeta Basra sparked speculation about her pregnancy at the opening ceremony of the IPL. Geeta was sporting a loose dress and comfy sneakers and her baby bump was visible. The couple tied the knot last November. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Anil K Joseph (With pix) Tsonjin Boldog (Mongolia), Jul 24 (PTI) Genghis Khan, the legendary Mongolian ruler and horseman who invaded half the world in the 13th century, now keeps a watch over the land- locked and scenic country from the steppes. The huge Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, part of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex is a 40-metre tall shimmering statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, is currently the biggest equestrian statue in the world. advertisement The impressive theme park is situated on the bank of the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog some 54 km east of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, where according to legend, he found a golden whip. The 250-tonne gleaming stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan, who is revered by nomadic Mongolians as a brilliant military leader who unified warring tribes to found the worlds largest empire, is symbolically pointed east towards his birthplace. It is on top of the Genghis Khan Statue Complex, a visitor centre, with 36 columns representing the 36 Khans from Genghis to Ligdan Khan. It was designed by sculptor D Erdenebileg and architect J Enkhjargal and erected in 2008. "We Mongolians are proud of this statue," a tour guide said. "We consider him as our hero, our father and our god," she said. Visitors can walk to the head of the horse through its chest and neck, where they can have a panoramic view of the Mongolian steppes. According to plans, the main statue area will be surrounded by 200 ger or yurts (a portable, round tent) . The cost of the complex is said to be USD 4.1 million, spent by The Genco Tour Bureau, a Mongolian private company. The museum, which charges nearly USD 4 per person as entry fee, has exhibitions relating to the Bronze Age and Xiongnu archaeological cultures in Mongolia, which show everyday utensils, belt buckles, knives and sacred animals. A second exhibition at the museum is on the Great Khan period in the 13 and 14th centuries which has ancient tools, goldsmith subjects and some Nestorian crosses and rosaries. Inside the two-story base of the statue, visitors can see a replica of Genghis Khans legendary golden whip, sample traditional cuisine of horse meat and potatoes. Visitors can ascend to the exhibition hall using a lift at the back of the horse and then walk to the horses head passing through its chest and the back of its neck from where they can have a panoramic view. advertisement An Indian visitor to the complex, said, the huge statue was highly impressive and the scenic beauty of the Mongolian blue sky and the steppes was breathtaking. Genghis Khan, 65, had been revered for centuries by Mongols, largely because of his association with Mongol statehood, political and military organisation, and his victories in war. He is regarded as one of the prominent leaders in Mongolias history and the symbol of Mongolian culture. PTI AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- Gabriel said German authorities were investigating how the German-Iranian dual national had gained access to a weapon despite signs that he had significant psychological issues. The youth opened fire near a shopping mall on Friday evening, killing 9 and wounding 27 more, before turning the gun on himself as police approached. Photo credit: Reuters By Reuters: Senior German officials on Sunday called for further controls on the sale of guns after Friday's deadly shooting in Munich that claimed the lives of nine people and the gunman, a deranged 18-year-old who was obsessed with mass killings. GUN CONTROL NECESSARY "We must continue to do all we can to limit and strictly control access to deadly weapons," German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the centre-left Social Democrats, told Funke Mediengruppe, which owns a series of German newspapers. advertisement Gabriel said German authorities were investigating how the German-Iranian dual national had gained access to a weapon despite signs that he had significant psychological issues. "Gun control is an important issue," Gabriel told the newspaper chain. REVIEW OF GUN LAWS AHEAD The youth opened fire near a busy shopping mall on Friday evening, killing nine and wounding 27 more, before turning the gun on himself as police approached. The Munich shooting was the third act of violence against civilians in Western Europe - and the second in southern Germany - in eight days. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in a separate interview that he planned to review German gun laws after the attack, and seek improvements where needed. De Maiziere said German gun laws were already very strict, which he considered appropriate, and it was critical to understand how the shooter gained access to the pistol used. DISCUSSION ON WEAPONS GUIDELINES "Then we have to evaluate very carefully if and where further legal changes are needed," he said in an interview published on Sunday. He said Europe was also debating new weapons guidelines that were up for discussion. --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) Government is engaging with various parties to ensure the passage of GST Bill during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said today. He said there is "widespread" demand for early introduction of the GST bill in Rajya Sabha, where it is pending for a long time, and government will make "best possible" efforts to make this key tax reform legislation sees the light of the day. advertisement "There is a widespread demand for early introduction of GST from almost all the political parties, state governments, trade and industrial bodies and even general public. Government is engaged in talks with political parties to ensure passage of the Bill during the current Monsoon session. "The government on its part would make the best possible effort to ensure that this long pending legislation sees the light of the day during this session. I appeal to all parties to sense the mood of the nation and cooperate in this regard," he said. Kumar said the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Rajya Sabha has already allocated five hours for discussing this Bill and termed it as an important development. The Minister said bills relating to afforestation fund, prevention of corruption, benami transactions and whistle blowers protection are on the agenda during the second week of the session. After a productive first week of the Monsoon session that saw passage of five bills out of 16 proposed by the government, he said five bills have been lined up for consideration and passage in the coming week. These include the Benami Transactions (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2015 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Lok Sabha and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Rajya Sabha. (MORE) PTI SKC SMJ RT SMJ --- ENDS --- The Jonas Brothers were once a teen pop sensation, and while Nick and Joe have gone on to have their own successful music careers, eldest brother, Kevin, switched gears. With JonasWerner Fine Custom Homes, Kevin Jonas launched a career in construction and built a mansion in Boonton, New Jersey for his new family to live. In the heart of Sonoma Valley, the charming village of Glen Ellen sits like a sweet, bucolic surprise. Once a sleepy little hamlet anchoring a web of some of the county's most beloved wineries, Glen Ellen is fast becoming a Wine Country destination, thanks to an alluring food scene, noteworthy lodging and proximity to the city it's just 50 miles from San Francisco. The slideshow above will help you make the most of your weekend in Sonoma's best-kept secret. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Before me, a wobbly wooden footbridge stretched across the valley. On the other side was a trail that wound through the forest to a remote mass of ice called El Ventisquero Colgante. The Hanging Glacier. Far below me, a milky-jade-colored river rushed over the rocks, meltwater from the snow-topped Andes racing through rapids, eventually to the Pacific. Immediately in front of me, a sign. Maximum capacity, four persons. The toll for seeing the ancient blue ice, apparently, is a little sweat. Our group was exploring Queulat National Park, on the western slopes of the Andes in the Aysen (or Aisen) region of Chile. While Patagonia, the vast region that makes up most of South Americas tail and is shared by Chile and Argentina, has become increasingly traveled and celebrated, this area is one of its lesser-known corners. Queulat National Park opened in 1983 after the Carretera Austral highway finally reached here that year so the parks 600 square miles of mountains, forests, rivers and glaciers are still pristine. The journey started with a flight to Balmaceda airport, about 2 hours south of Santiago and about three-quarters of the way down Chiles long stretch of 2,700 miles, and then it was a five-hour drive north on the Carretera Austral. The journey on the Carretera Austral offered a dramatic introduction. It was exactly how I imagined Patagonia, a wide-open landscape with cattle grazing on grasslands under a perfect blue sky, with a backdrop of the snow-covered Andes. Every so often wed pass a small wooden cabin with a spiral of smoke coming from a chimney, but these faded away as we drove north. The last hour of the drive, we were bumping along unpaved roads through the national park. Rodrigo Hernandez, the groups guide, explained how early explorers once thought that there were monsters Patagons here at the bottom of the world, hence the name Patagonia. It was getting dark, so I was hoping we wouldnt come across any. It was in darkness that we set off in a tiny boat across the fjord to Puyuhuapi Lodge, our base for a few days of exploring the park and the region. There was a full ceiling of stars across the clear night sky as we crossed the calm waters and docked at the small jetty. The lodge, which can only be reached by boat, is popular for its volcanic hot springs which we hoped would ease our post-hiking aches during the coming days. In the morning, I opened the curtains to see the completely still fjord with a light mist rising from it, and the snow-topped Andes silhouetted by the orange glow of the rising sun, perfectly mirrored in the water. Behind the lodge was dense forest and enormous nalca plants (Chilean giant rhubarb); the only sound was of running water in the distance the hot volcanic waters making their way down the hill to the springs. It was easy to understand why they say Puyuhuapi Fjord is south of silence. Rodrigo led us on the Chucao walking trail through the forest, listening for the distinctive call of the chucao bird and pointing out flora such as the canelo tree, which can live for 600 years and was important to the indigenous Araucano and Mapuche people. Pablo Ocqueteau/Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa When a Mapuche dies, they can live again in the tree, especially in the silver part of the leaf, said Rodrigo, as I quietly examined a few silver leaves for any signs of life. Perhaps I needed something to help. This tree is called sauco del diablo the Araucanos used to eat the seed. It was hallucinogenic and was used in rituals, especially by the machi (the elder), said Rodrigo, hurrying us along before we decided to put it to the test. Back across the fjord, we drove north for 20 minutes to the tiny village of Puyuhuapi to visit historian and author Luisa Ludwig, who lives in a large yellow wooden house that is also a guesthouse, Casa Ludwig. Luisas German father, Karl, was one of the three original founders of the town in 1935, when the Germans came here looking for a place to settle to escape the economic woes in Europe. At the start of the 20th century, the Patagonia area was so sparsely populated, the government offered free land to lure people to live here. Its still a bit sparse Aysen is Chiles least-populated region, with a density less than one person for every square kilometer. On the shores of the Seno Ventisquero fjord, Puyuhuapi now has a population of about 500. Although she misses the buzz and culture of a city, Ludwig says she loves living here. I dont have restaurants, bars or theater. I love that culture and I miss that, but I have other things here peace, tranquillity and security, she says. Theres only one road north and one road south. Although her home overlooks the fjord, looking out the side window of the house, she points out three volcanic pimples on the hill. Like much of Chile, the area is on an active fault line, and theres a volcano nearby, which could go off at any time. The town was officially recognized by the Chilean state only in 1971, she said, and it hasnt suffered a major catastrophe, yet. Yvonne Gordon/Special to The Chronicle The roads in the park wed been driving on were still being paved similar to portions of Carretera Austral. As more areas of the region become accessible, apparently, there are plans to open more national parks. The parks strength, however, is how quickly we were able to leave paved roads behind. One day we hiked through the Enchanted Forest in the national park, through unusually twisted branches and tree trunks encased in green moss, ferns and vines, making the scenery seem supernatural. After a couple of hours of climbing over trunks, passing small clearings and crossing wooden bridges, the trees came to an end and we reached snow on the higher ground. Rodrigo pointed out a large cat footprint in the snow. Near Los Gnomos Lagoon (Lagoon of the Gnomes), a glacier bowl with a huge lagoon of ice at the bottom, we sat on a rock with our picnic lunches and took in the scene, listening to the sound from the immense waterfalls. On another trek, after crossing the wobbly bridge in Queulat National Park being careful not to test the maximum capacity we followed the 2-mile, mostly vertical trail, climbing uphill over branches and following the mud path through the trees. Chucao calls echoed through the forest. Finally, we reached a view of the Hanging Glacier, a spectacular mass of blue-white ice that, like other hanging glaciers, terminates at the top of a sheer cliff. Waterfalls pour from each side to the valley and lake below. Suddenly one of the waterfall streams split into two as the glacier calved a car-size ice block, which plunged into the valley, followed by a thundering rumble as the crash of the impact reached us. The moment was one our group had pretty much to ourselves. We came across very few other hikers the entire park only gets around 13,000 a visitors a year. Back at the lodge, an elderly Chilean guest named Manuel, a farmer and guanaco conservationist, put the comparatively young region and the road that leads here into perspective. This is the New World, he said. I go to the Old World once or twice a year, South Africa, Paris or London, for culture. If you want nature, you go to Chile. Yvonne Gordon is a freelance writer in Dublin, Ireland. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @yvgordon If you go GETTING THERE From Chiles main international airport, Santiago, there are daily flights to Balmaceda airport (about 2 hours). From there, Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa is 175 miles, a five-hour drive, then the boat crossing to the lodge. WHERE TO STAY Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa: Bahia Dorita s/n, Puyuhuapi; +56 67 2450305; www.puyuhuapilodge.com. A night at Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa costs $130 to $160 per person (sharing) and includes breakfast, hot springs, boat shuttle and parking. What to do Guided hikes to the Enchanted Forest or Hanging Glacier cost $58; a guided hike on the Chucao trail walk is $15; and kayak rental from the lodge is $9 per hour. MORE INFORMATION Chile Travel: www.chile.travel/en Aysen-Patagonia: www.recorreaysen.cl While the Democratic National Convention will soon bring big bucks to Philadelphia, the citys Ritz-Carlton is banking on longer-term gains from its recent $25 million renovation. Built in 1908 as a reproduction of the Pantheon, the bank-turned-hotel on Penn Square now hosts celebrity chef Richard Sandovals Aqimero in its spectacularly domed lobby, while the design of posh guestrooms in the adjacent modern tower was inspired by the neutral colors and texture of money pops of bronze, nickel, copper and emerald green. Setting: Virtually in the center of Center City, perfect for any platform that includes supporting local businesses like shops, pubs and restaurants and the arts the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Rocky Balboa famously flexed his running muscles, is within an easy jog. Establish patriotic credentials with a 15-minute walk east to Independence Hall, or cast a vote for relaxation at the in-house Richel DAmbra Day Spa. In his letter to Lalu, Giriraj writes that the country was well aware of the divisive caste politics that Lalu played for 15 years between 1990-2005 and destroyed the state through rampant corruption during this period. By Rohit Kumar Singh: A day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad wrote an open letter to PM Narendra Modi, attacking him and holding him responsible for violence being witnessed across the country in the name of cow protection, now Union Minister Giriraj Singh has written an open letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad. In his letter Singh has started with slamming Lalu for continuously playing caste politics in Bihar. He writes that the country was well aware of the divisive caste politics that Lalu played for 15 years between 1990-2005 and destroyed the state through rampant corruption during this period. advertisement GIRIRAJ SINGH WRITES TO LALU Giriraj in his letter said that Lalu was the biggest example of a leader playing politics of opportunism. He said that Lalu's politics started and ended with playing politics of forward and backward. Singh said that during Lalu's regime Bihar witnessed innumerable caste related violence. He said that Lalu has used Dalits, backwards and poor only as his vote bank. Singh said that the uncountable Dalit atrocities witnessed his 15 years of rule was not a hidden fact from anyone in the country. Raising the recent incidents of Dalit atrocity in Muzaffarpur, Singh said attacked Lalu for maintaining a stark silence when Dalit youths in Muzaffarpur were beaten up and urinated upon two days back. " You kept mum on Muzaffarpur Dalit atrocity incident, on what basis can you say that you are the voice of Dalits, backwards and minorities ?," questioned Giriraj. Giriraj further slams Lalu for the worse law and order that Bihar witnessed between 1990-2005 when murders, loot, kidnapping had become a routine affair and how Jungle Raj word was used by the Patna Hight Court for the prevailing situation, then. " You should remember that how the Patna High Court has called your regime as jungleraj and how more than 50000 people were killed in your regime. Several kidnapping cases took place in your tenure for ransom and it was your MLAs and Ministers who were behind these kidnapping.", writes Giriraj Singh. CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS IN BIHAR Giriraj in his letter held Lalu responsible for criminalisation of politics in Bihar. He writes how criminals and mafia dons like Md Shahabuddin and Reet Lal Yadav are examples are terror in Bihar which are part of his party, RJD. He writes in the letter of how with the return of Lalu in power in Bihar, these criminal turned politicians have started to unleash their reign of terror again. " Bihar is once again back on the path of Jungle Raj and law and order is again at its lowest level possible. In your govt Pakistan flags are being unfurled in Bihar and Dalit atrocities are revived. 578 murders have taken place in the state in last 8 months of your govt", writes the Minister. advertisement The Union Minister further raised questions on Lalu over massive corruption especially the Fodder Scam that rocked not only the country but made global headlines. " You were part of the rampant corruption that took place during your tenure especially the Fodder Scam where you did not spare the livestock for cattle and Rs. 950 crore was looted from state treasury. This scam shamed Bihar not only nationally but also internationally. You have not done good for Dalits, backward and poor but definitely you have done a lot of good for your own family members", writes Singh. HOW DARE YOU WRITE TO PM MODI, SAYS GIRIRAJ SINGH At the end of his letter to Lalu, Giriraj Singh said that after being embroiled in so much of wrong doings, he had no moral right to write letter to PM Narendra Modi who has devoted his life for the country and for the people of the country. " How did you dare to use cheap words and write letter to him. Lalu should first reply to the questions raised by me. You should first repent for the sin you have done and then write letter to PM", Singh ended. advertisement Also Read Lalu Prasad writes open letter to PM Modi, condemns violence over cow protection Lalu attacks PM over his silence on Kashmir, says 56-inch chest is now just to 2 inches --- ENDS --- Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has written off A$309 million from the value of its New Zealand clothing and homeware retailer EziBuy and wants to sell the business as part of an overhaul that will also see some local Countdown stores closed. Woolworths bought EziBuy for NZ$350 million in August 2013 from founders Peter and Gerard Gillespie and Australian private equity firm Catalyst Investment Managers, with a view to learning from the New Zealand firm's success in selling through different channels. The Sydney-based company today said it has split EziBuy from its Big W business "following the recognition that the expected synergies between these two businesses have not been realised, and, in many cases, have resulted in dis-synergies for both businesses." EziBuy is expected to post an annual loss of between A$13 million and A$18 million before significant items when Woolworths reports its results on Aug. 25. The separation and poor trading performance prompted the impairment charges on goodwill and other intangible assets. "As a result, we have separated Big W and EziBuy and will look at options to sell EziBuy," chief executive Brad Banducci said in a separate statement. "The team have been working hard on a plan to transform EziBuy and that work continues." The changes are part of a wider move at Woolworths to lift profitability, with 500 jobs to be cut from the company's support office and supply chain and a further 1,000 to be moved from group office into the businesses. Woolworths will face A$959 million of restructuring costs in the 2016 financial year, including the EziBuy impairment, closing down underperforming supermarkets and scaling back new stores. The company closed three stores, including one New Zealand Countdown supermarket, in 2016 and plans to close 30 stores across its portfolio, of which six are Countdown supermarkets. Three more Countdowns have been marked as underperforming, out of the 34 stores whose future remains uncertain. The retailer said earnings before interest and tax from continuing operations were between A$2.55 billion and A$2.57 billion in the 2016 financial year. The ASX-listed shares last traded at A$22.45 and have dropped 8.4 percent this year. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update The Indian government's decision comes at a time when the two countries' ties have been under strain following China's refusal to support India's application for membership of the NSG at a meeting in Seoul last month. Indian media reports said the three Chinese journalists were based in New Delhi and Mumbai. By AP: The Indian government has asked three Chinese journalists working for official Xinhua News Agency to leave the country this month, refusing to extend their visas, an official said Sunday. The official declined to disclose reasons for refusal to renew the visas, but said Xinhua could send their replacements. VISA EXTENDED SEVERAL TIMES The official said the three journalists had received several visa extensions and one of them has been in India for the past seven years. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to reporters. advertisement A Hindu newspaper report on Sunday said the three traveled to Bangalore recently and met exiled Tibetan activists, which became an issue with the Indian government. Though the Tibetan government in exile is headquartered in Dharmsala, thousands of Tibetans live in Karnataka state, whose capital is Bangalore. CHINA YET TO COMMENT Xinhua and China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment on Sunday. Also read: China firm to build mega dam in PoK despite India's strong opposition A NEW WAY OF EXPELLING FOREIGN JOURNALISTS? Indian media reports said the three Chinese journalists were based in New Delhi and Mumbai. Non-renewal of visas is generally a step followed by various governments to expel foreign journalists. STRAINED TIES The Indian government's decision comes at a time when the two countries' ties have been under strain following China's refusal to support India's application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group at a meeting in Seoul last month. They also share a disputed Himalayan border over which they fought a bloody month-long conflict in 1962. Any border agreement resolving the dispute looks unlikely in the immediate future, but they appear to be willing to avoid incidents, such as incursions into the disputed territory. Also read: Indo-China ties upgraded but relations still complex, says outgoing envoy Manohar Parrikar begins Beijing visit, says China ties 'highest priority' --- ENDS --- STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A pedestrian alleges a car hit him in December as he crossed a New Dorp intersection -- ironically on the same day officials visited the location to promote driver safety throughout the holiday season. Huisok Shin was struck at about 7:20 a.m. on Dec. 21, 2015, at Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane, alleges a lawsuit recently filed in state Supreme Court, St. George. Shin's civil complaint contends he suffered "serious and severe" injuries, but does not provide details. His complaint contends the driver, identified as Genevieve Pepe, was negligent and careless "in the ownership, operation, maintenance and control" of her car. Shin seeks unspecified monetary damages from Pepe. Public records indicate Shin is 36 and lives in New Springville. Public records indicate Pepe is 72. Shin's lawyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the suit. Speaking on his wife's behalf, Pepe's husband, James, told the Advance in a brief phone conversation that Shin "walked into the back of the car and acted like he got hit." "There's not even a mark on the car," he said. The incident occurred shortly before city Transportation Department Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Chief Thomas Chan of the Police Department took to the street, in a planned event, to urge safer driving. During the promotional campaign, Trottenberg handed out Vison Zero literature to drivers waiting at red lights at the New Dorp intersection, according to Advance reports. "Certainly, it's a high-volume roadway," Chan was quoted as saying. "It's a major roadway that runs through the length of Staten Island itself. It's also a naturally collision-prone location." Both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Trottenberg have called Hylan problematic, and advocates last year renamed it the new "Boulevard of Death." The de Blasio administration launched its Vision Zero program in 2014 in a bid to decrease and potentially eradicate deaths on city roads. Vision Zero has significantly reduced pedestrian deaths through technology, including speed cameras; traffic-calming devices; enhanced law enforcement and other measures and made city streets safer than ever, contends the administration. According to Advance reports, there were 21 traffic fatalities on Staten Island in 2015 as of Dec. 21, with eight deaths occurring on Hylan, which extends for 14 miles. There have been two traffic fatalities on Hylan this year, one involving a pedestrian in Great Kills and another involving a motorcycle operator in Tottenville, Advance records show. Curiously enough, Chan and Trottenberg's pleas couldn't have been more prescient. Later that afternoon, before 5 p.m., an NYPD traffic agent directing traffic at the intersection was struck by a driver making a left turn from the Tottenville-bound side of Hylan onto New Dorp Lane, the Advance reported. A witness said there seemed to be confusion, because the agent was directing drivers to stop, although the light appeared to have just turned green. The witness said the driver, an older woman, pulled into a nearby 7-Eleven parking lot afterward, and the agent appeared to have suffered a leg injury. Police said the agent's injuries weren't life-threatening. No charges were filed against the driver, said police. Brazil National Drink Sunday is National Tequila Day. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) ORG XMIT: NYLS303 (Alan Diaz) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Raise your glass -- be it a shot of Jose Cuervo or a frozen margarita with salt -- because July 24 is National Tequila Day. Made from the blue agave plant, tequila has a rich history. Named after the small town of Tequila -- that today has a population of close to 30,000 -- in Jalisco, Mexico, the libation is really mezcal wine, according to the National Day Calendar. "Agave grown in the lowland regions have a more herbaceous fragrance and flavor. Like similar legislation for bourbon and cognac, Mexican law states tequila is only tequila if it is produced within Jalisco and limited regions in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. If the same ingredients are distilled anywhere else, it's not tequila," says the National Calendar website. TEQUILA HISTORY Jose' Antonio Cuervo held the first license for manufacturing the spirit, soon followed by Cenobio Sauza and Felix Lopez, whose businesses still thrive in some form today, according to the website. "While many have enjoyed tequila cocktails, such as the margarita, tequila sunrise, and mojito, a good tequila can be savored like a good whiskey. Tequila is experiencing a renaissance of sorts as savvy drinkers discover tequila doesn't have to be the firewater of our youth," says the calendar. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK. Nitin Singh was found covered with blood standing over his wife's body in their kitchen when emergency personnel arrived, according to Pennsville Chief of Police Allen Cummings. By Press Trust of India: A 46-year-old Indian-American man in New Jersey has been arrested and charged with murder for stabbing his wife to death in their apartment while the couple's three children were asleep. Nitin Singh was charged with murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. Singh is accused of stabbing his wife Seema Singh, 42, multiple times last week and has been remanded to the Salem County Correctional Facility in default of bail of a million dollars cash, the Pennsville Police Department said. advertisement SCENE OF THE CRIME A report in NJ.com said Singh was found covered with blood standing over his wife's body in their kitchen when emergency personnel arrived early Tuesday morning, according to Pennsville Chief of Police Allen Cummings. Cummings said Singh himself had called 911 seeking help for his wife. The couple's three children two boys, aged 16 and 6 and a 5-year-old girl were taken from the apartment through a side door so they did not see the crime scene in the kitchen, authorities said. The children were taken to the Pennsville police station and state protective services workers took custody of them, the report said. "This is a very horrific scene. It's a situation where there are children involved and they have lost their mother and their father is probably going to be incarcerated," Cummings said. Singh's wife was pronounced dead at the scene and had been stabbed multiple times in the face, chest and abdomen. DOMESTIC DISPUTE? While authorities are investigating the cause of the murder, police have indicated it could have been some sort of domestic dispute. Cummings said that Pennsville police had never been called to the Singhs' apartment for any type of domestic troubles in the past. The Singhs owned the building where the murder took place and had owned a convenience store in the locality. Neighbours expressed shock at the murder, saying it was hard to believe Singh could commit such a crime. "He's the nicest person I ever met. I never heard any type of fighting going on. They never raised their voice or anything," Singh's neighbour George Hemple said of him. ALSO READ: Hyderabad youth stabbed to death by roommate in US Infosys techie murder: Bloodstain on Ramkumar's shirt is Swathi's, say investigators --- ENDS --- nws Fossella Former Congressman Vito Fossella at the New York delegation breakfast in Cleveland Thursday during the Republican National Convention. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The 2008 re-election campaign of former Congressman Vito Fossella is the subject of a tax warrant from the state Department of Taxation. The warrant is against Fossella's 2008 re-election campaign, which allegedly didn't pay withholding taxes from its employees' paychecks, according to state Department of Taxation records. The current outstanding taxes owed is $3,298.92, according to state Department of Taxation records. The breakdown is as follows: a total of $980.04 is due in unpaid April 2009 taxes, there's a $726.82 penalty, and the remaining $1,592.06 is interest. A tax warrant is a lien on assets that enables the tax department to pursue collections actions, including levies on bank accounts and financial assets, as well as offsetting refunds and other federal/state payments. According to the state Tax Department, the next step is for the campaign to contact them to address the debt or interest will continue to accrue. When reached by the Advance, Fossella said it was "the first I'm hearing of this." "Had I been notified about this; it would have been rectified," he added. Fossella, who surmised that this could be related to his firing of a campaign treasurer, whom the National Republican Congressional Committee suspected of fraud. "At that time, we were trying to reconcile what was owned and a number of other things, and it was ultimately resolved in 2010. ...I have no campaign account left. It was dissolved, and quite frankly, the money was returned to U.S.taxpayers," he added. Fossella resigned from office in May 2008 after a public scandal involving a DWI arrest in Virginia that led to the uncovering of a second family, which was the result of fathering a child during an extramarital affair. While he now is employed at Park Strategies as a consultant, his name still comes up in political circles. Most recently, there was a buzz that he might have been an option to fill Former Congressman Michael Grimm's seat, who was forced to resign after pleading guilty to felony tax fraud. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK. According to police, a bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest during the morning rush hour at a crowded checkpoint near Adan Square. By India Today Web Desk: At least 12 people dead and over 20 others wounded in a suicide bombing against a security check point in Iraq's Shia-majority district of Kadhmiyah, earlier today. According to police, a bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest during the morning rush hour at a crowded checkpoint near Adan Square. THE LAND OF REPEATED BOMBINGS The attack killed nine civilians and three policemen and 20 people were injured, revealed two medical officials on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information. advertisement While no group has claimed the responsibility, the attacks is assumed to bear the hallmarks of the Islamic State group. Security forces and public areas, mainly in Shiite neighborhoods, are one of the most frequent targets for the extremist group, which controls key areas in mainly northern and western Iraq. ALSO READ: 80 dead, atleast 230 wounded in Kabul suicide blasts, ISIS claims responsibility Earlier this month, at least 11 were dead and as many as 32 injured in a suicide car bomb attack in an outdoor market in Shiite-dominated Rashidiya. The extremists have continued to carry out near-daily bombings in and around Baghdad, as well as complex attacks in other countries. With inputs from agencies. ALSO READ: Baghdad bombings: 83 killed, 176 injured, say Iraqi officials Nice Attack: Mohamed Bouhlel sent 84,000 pounds days before the heinous attack Munich gunman was 'obsessed with mass shootings Munich shooting: 10 dead, sole shooter might have shot himself dead --- ENDS --- By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree But more remarkable is what this place has become in the ensuing 169 years. From that relative handful of humanity who joined the native peoples already here, the Wasatch Front has grown to a metropolitan area of 2 million in a state of 3 million. Within years of the initial Mormon migration, immigrants from around the world began to arrive. The first Greek newcomer is said to have disembarked in the 1870s. His countrymen and women joined him to the point that the community was planning its first church in 1905. Harriet Elvin has given a fascinating speech in which she pays tribute to her mother and the other influential women in her life. The CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation was speaking at the National Library on Sunday as part of its Winter Tales series. It was in support of the Australian Women's Archive Project. Harriet Elvin is from a long line of strong and independent women. Credit:Elesa Kurtz Ms Elvin said her mother, who died earlier this year aged 83, left a small bequest to her, despite not being a wealthy woman "her riches were ones you couldn't put in the bank" and she decided to use the money to support causes that reflected her mother's values. So, with that in mind she announced at the end of the speech she was donating $1000 to the Australian Women's Archive Project. The heartfelt talk, Passing on the baton from our mothers, was around the theme of legacy and how she wanted to continue to pass on the support she had received. By PTI: New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) FMCG major ITC today reported an over 10 per cent rise in its standalone net profit at Rs 2,384.67 crore for the April-June quarter in spite of a challenging operating environment amid continued pressure on legal cigarette industry. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 2,166 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY2015-16. advertisement The Kolkata-based company also reported an increase of 8.28 per cent in net sales to Rs 13,156.68 crore for the quarter under review as against Rs 12,150.48 crore a year earlier, ITC said in a BSE filing. "The company delivered steady performance during the quarter despite a challenging operating environment marked by continuing pressure on legal cigarette industry volumes and persistently sluggish demand conditions prevailing in the FMCG industry," it said. However, operating conditions in hotels and paperboards, paper and packaging segment remained subdued, the FMCG giant said. ITCs overall expenses during the quarter moved up 8.11 per cent to Rs 9,988 crore as against Rs 9,238 crore in the corresponding period of 2015-16. Revenue from the total FMCG business including cigarettes increased 7.11 per cent to Rs 10,615.75 crore from Rs 9,910.93 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago. During the quarter, revenue from cigarettes increased 6.42 per cent to Rs 8,230.60 crore from Rs 7,733.43 crore in the year-ago period. "Despite the challenging operating environment, the company continues to consolidate its market leadership through relentless focus on delivering world-class products, continuous innovation and value addition and best-in-class execution," ITC said. Revenue from FMCG-Others segment was up 9.53 per cent to Rs 2,385.15 crore during the April-June quarter as against Rs 2,177.50 crore in the year-ago period as most categories witnessed margin expansion driven by enhanced scale of operations and product mix enrichment. "Segment results recorded improvement in comparison to the corresponding period in the previous year despite higher investment in brand building, consumer and trade promotion activities and gestation costs relating to new categories, viz juices, dairy, gums and health and hygiene segment," it said. However, revenue from its hotel business was down marginally by 0.16 per cent to Rs 287.36 crore during the quarter as against Rs 287.83 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal as it continued to be impacted by a weak demand and pricing scenario against the backdrop of excessive room inventory in key domestic markets. "Although segment results improved as compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year, the same remained muted due to the challenging business context as aforestated and gestation costs of the recently commissioned ITC Grand Bharat, Gurgaon," the company said. MORE PTI KRH MKJ --- ENDS --- advertisement We have been hearing plenty of whispers that Sakeena's Cafe will be staying at Cooleman Court after a community campaign to stop it from being forced from the shopping centre. Mirvac Retail, the owner of Cooleman Court, maintains there is nothing to report yet. So watch this space. Sakeena's Cafe owner Minas Stavrakis has the support of the community. Credit:Jay Cronan The company has previously not commented on whether the cafe was being asked to leave due to a request for more rent or because it wanted to put in a franchised outlet. But the Weston Creek and wider Canberra community has spoken up in defence of the much-loved cafe, with more than 2600 people signing a change.org petition to save it. Subsidies to the ACT's greyhound industry will be redirected into animal welfare for a rehoming scheme for former racing dogs, and the dogs can be vaccinated and microchipped for free, under an ACT Greens proposal. A package to transition the ACT's greyhound racing industry was launched by the Greens on Sunday, with the plan calling for an end to industry subsidies and for the money to instead be used to offer support to workers and greyhound owners to transition as the industry closes down. The package would include offering support including food for greyhound foster carers, free desexing, payments to vets for initial checks and treatments, and removing requirements for muzzling. "The greyhound racing industry in the ACT is small, exploitative and expensive," ACT Greens animal welfare spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said. A fire has caused $350,000 damage to a house in the south Canberra suburb of Waramanga. ACT Fire and Rescue was called to the house fire on Woralul Street shortly before 1pm Sunday. There are concerns the roof could collapse after the fire. Credit:Rohan Thomson It was initially feared that an elderly woman may have been trapped inside but a search revealed no one was inside at the home. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by about 1.35pm. The spot price for good quality Australian coking coal has recovered to around $US95 a tonne, with the prospect of success in China's drive to refashion its coal industry prompting some forecasters such as Macquarie Bank to raise to its near term forecasts for coking by as much as 5 per cent, and steaming coal by as much as 12 per cent. BHP Billiton is looking at buying some Queensland coalmines as the market ticks higher. Credit:Robert Rough Against the backdrop of firming coal prices as China moves to force through domestic coal production cuts, BHP Billiton via its joint venture with Mitsubishi Corp, is among bidders for Anglo American's Australian coking coal assets, which could cost as much as $US1.5 billion. Part of the reason for the optimism is the faster than expected impact of China's moves to cut output of poorer quality coal. Major Chinese coal producers such as Shenhua have jointly launched a company to help cut overcapacity, consolidate state-owned coal resources and push state-owned coal companies to restructure and upgrade. Earlier this year, China said it would close 100 million to 150 million tonnes of steel capacity and 500 million tonnes of coal production in the next three to five years. The firmer outlook for coal prices comes as Anglo American has delayed the decision on a winning bidder until next month, while the bidders conduct extended due diligence on the mines, sources said. A group led by Glencore has dropped out of the race. Anglo's chief executive Mark Cutifani wants to raise $US3 billion to $US4 billion from asset sales to reduce debt and refocus the company as a miner of diamonds, platinum and copper. The company announced in April the $US1.5 billion divestment of its Brazilian niobium and phosphate unit to China Molybdenum, after selling interests in Australian coal mines including Foxleigh, Callide and Dartbrook. Anemka Resources, the mining investor backed by Warburg Pincus, and a pairing of Apollo Global Management and Xcoal Energy & Resources also bid for the metallurgical coal assets, according to the sources. No final decisions have been made, and talks could still fall apart, the sources said. Control of Virgin Airlines is headed for Asia amid speculation Middle East airline Etihad may see its holding in the Australian carrier halved. Etihad is the largest shareholder in Virgin with a 21.83 per cent stake. However it has refused persistently to clarify whether it is to take up its entitlement to shares in Virgin's $852 million raising, which closes on Wednesday. Etihad Airways is yet to decide whether it will back Virgin's $852 million share raising Credit:Daniel Munoz Virgin is issuing shares at 21c each, and with its shares trading little moved from this price, the underwriters may be left with shares to take up as investors baulk at committing fresh funds to the company which has lost more than $500 million over the past three years. Additionally, the latest raising will push to more than $2 billion the company has raised through the sharemarket, with the company's market worth standing at around the amount it is seeking to raise in the latest issue. Software for cracking down on shoplifting and "drive-offs" at service stations may be able to help banks fight fraud that costs them millions, Westpac's venture capital fund claims. While most banks are putting money into financial start-ups, one of the more unusual investments from a major bank is Westpac Reinventure fund's 10 per cent stake in New Zealand crime-prevention software firm Auror, which is expanding in Australia. Auror allows retailers to report shoplifting within 10 minutes. Credit:Sylvia Vincent Across the Tasman, Auror began as a business for helping large retailers such as supermarkets alert police to small thefts worth less than $1000. Many of these go unreported, because it is often not worth the time involved with paperwork and other administration. Now the firm is working with Australian petrol stations and in talks with retailers, as it also eyes a role with financial services. Aldi has grabbed about 10 per cent of the Australian grocery market, leaving the big two chains Woolworths and Coles with a smaller combined stake of 70 per cent, the competition tsar says. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said the "biggest change" in Australian grocery in recent years was the growth of Aldi. "Aldi is probably getting close to north of 10 per cent of the market now," Mr Sims told Fairfax Media. Of Woolworths and Coles, he said: "A few years ago it was probably 75 [per cent], it's low 70s now and I think Aldi is making a difference, clearly. That's the biggest change." I can only agree with the negative reaction of previous correspondents to the appointment of Brendan Smyth as the ACT's first "Commissioner for International Engagement" ("Brendan Smyth taken out of race in government appointment", canberratimes.com.au, July 15). Such a cynical act could not occur in a mature democracy where politicians respect their role as custodians of the public interest, morally and financially. I am disgusted that the government chose to abuse the community's trust by using public funds to secure an electoral advantage. I am doubly disgusted that the Opposition applauded the appointment and endorsed the government's shoddy offer. Rather than congratulating Mr Smyth for walking out on the party when it has its best chance of electoral victory since 1998, Jeremy Hanson should have condemned the appointment for what it was. He had a choice stand up for integrity in government or be complicit in a grubby episode that has demonstrably served to further alienate public confidence in our elected representatives. Sadly, he took the low road and chose the latter. Gary Kent, former president, Canberra Liberals Griffith Solutions needed One expects ill-informed anti-renewables misinformation from the Murdoch press, but it is disappointing to find the Canberra Times editorialising the same myths. ("Sunny days turn cloudy for renewables", July 20, p14) South Australia has always had the highest electricity prices in Australia and the installation of increased amounts or renewables has actually reduced the frequency and extent of price spikes. The current, temporary supply problems relate mainly to the upgrade of the interconnector, which the electricity retailers had been warned about for 12 months but failed to take action to cover. The cost problems are aggravated, if not largely caused, by excessive gas prices, required to meet export cost parity. Sufficient and efficient local gas-fired back-up is available and could cost-effectively address intermittency while the interconnector is being upgraded if gas prices were kept reasonable in the national interest. The SA government is, very wisely, pushing ahead with plans to further develop renewables while simultaneously strengthening interconnecting networks, to enable their excess energy at times of high wind and sun to help the rest of the South-East Australian grid, but also to be able to import energy during occasional lulls. Given the gravity of the climate change problem we face, bitching about renewable energy, rather than working to improve its effectiveness within a rational grid, is unimpressive and far from being economically responsible, as implied. Felix MacNeill, Dickson Focus on sustainability Recently, the UN released its draft report card on its Sustainable Development Goals. Australia ranks 20th in the world, with Sweden at the top, and most western European countries ahead of us. This is because, despite our overall affluence and good health, we have continued to trash our environment and ignore our responsibility towards our biodiversity and the world's climate. Our sole goal seems to be to cram as many people into our bursting cities, and maximise profits for developers. Most of us have lost touch with the natural world, on which we ultimately depend. It is time to replace GDP with the Sustainable Development Goals as our national objective. Dave Kelly, Aranda Partisanship should have no place when it comes to ex-PM's UN bid Cory Bernardi, Peter Dutton, et al, who are attempting to block Kevin Rudd's nomination to the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations ("Rudd UN nomination divides coalition MPs", canberratimes.com.au, July 19) should reconsider their position. Most civilised democracies treat their former leaders with a modicum of respect. Barack Obama, for example, has shared the stage with George W.Bush on important occasions, most recently when honouring the victims of the Dallas shootings. Leaders of sham democracies treat their opponents differently, throwing them into jail for trumped-up charges of fraud, sedition, and sodomy. Before Tony Abbott's administration, Australia took the civilised route with (outside the theatre of Parliament) the conventions of good behaviour generally observed between the leaders of the major parties. Forcing two former prime ministers and a current ALP leader to sit in the the dock of his royal commissions, Abbott signalled that he preferred the intensely partisan approach. He probably thought he could get away with such behaviour because of his convincing victory in the 2013 election and Labor's disarray. Malcolm Turnbull has no such luxury. He has a wafer-thin majority in the Reps and the make up of the Senate means that he will often have to seek ALP assistance to get legislation passed. Blocking Rudd's nomination will make it much harder for Turnbull to foster the good will he will rely on to govern. Mike Reddy, Curtin Bulk billing bugbear Recent letters to the editor on the subject of Medicare all avoid what I see as the elephant in the room: the entitlement to receive bulk billing. Surely, if recipients of bulk billing were means-tested, doctors would be able to recoup a greater proportion of their set fees. Hopefully this would delay a rise in such fees and make the Medicare rebate freeze more palatable. I believe a minority of people in the ACT receive the benefit of bulk billing, apparently due to the shortage of doctors in our area. Relatives and friends who live in NSW, all in good financial circumstances, take bulk billing to be "the norm", and are amazed to hear so few Canberrans receive this benefit. They also agree that they can afford to pay a full medical fee, and be content with the Medicare rebate. Bulk billing should be a benefit to those on lower incomes, and not a right for the wealthy. (Mrs) Maureen Blackmore, Pearce Environment support Rod Holsgrove (Letters, July 20) is concerned that the change from a stand-alone Environment Department to a combined environment-energy super-portfolio will downgrade the environment section. The new minister, Josh Frydenberg, is Minister for Environment and Energy (note the subject "environment" comes before "energy") and it is to be hoped that good energy policy will contribute to driving good environmental outcomes. Environment need not be subservient to energy, provided that the minister oversees a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy that will reduce GHG emissions over time. Australia will need to do much more if it is to do its equitable share towards the Paris goal of limiting average global warming to not more than 2 degrees. During the election campaign, Malcolm Turnbull was of the view that Australia needed to negotiate future targets with other countries. But the Paris Agreement requires countries to set their own targets and expects advanced countries to take a lead. The new arrangements Mr Turnbull has put in place provide a golden opportunity to show leadership and provide innovative changes that will result in improved environmental outcomes. Minister Frydenberg has a complex and challenging portfolio to manage. But with strong support and leadership from Mr Turnbull, good outcomes can be achieved in both the environment and energy sectors, provided there is the political will to do so. Darryl Fallow, Stirling Hate from Hanson J.J.Marr (Letters, July 2) claims that Pauline Hanson's success highlights a Muslim problem in Australia. This is inflammatory. Hanson's only success is to play to the fears of the narrow-minded, and you've been played. Like Hanson and her supporters, you unfortunately conflate radicalised terrorists with all Muslims. You must understand that your words cause harm, that your attitude damages our society; it reduces all of us. You say that Muslims should bend themselves to interact, and that they should adopt a Western dress. How should they bend? Should they bow to you? I say they shouldn't bend or bow or dress in chinos and sportscoat. Our free society allows us to dress and bless however we like. I implore you to open your mind and allow Muslims to colour and enrich our society like so many people of different faith and culture have done before them. Just don't get played by Pauline. Wayne Strudwick, Weetangera SHOUT for help SHOUT (Self Help Organisations United Together) may also be a casualty of NDIS (Letters, July 21). It is an umbrella organisation providing resources, assistance and a central contact point for a number of self help/mutual support groups, some funded, some not. It has existed in our community for over 30 years. We may have to close our doors as early as March next year because our funding ceased at the end of the financial year. Several member organisations have already indicated that they will also cease to operate if there is no SHOUT. It is simply too hard to operate a community group from a dining room table with limited access to equipment and affordable meeting room hire which SHOUT currently provides. Having faced two potentially life-threatening conditions as well as other chronic conditions, I cannot speak more highly about the support I received during those dark times on my personal journey. I support the principles of NDIS but there is another element to making life better for those who need it, and that is the support and understanding of people who have experienced at first hand the impact of serious health issues for the individual and their families. Paula Calcino, Oxley TO THE POINT TURKEY'S CRACKDOWN Army officers. Teachers. Judges. Police. Journalists. University deans. Not killed, not yet in the aftermath of Turkey's abortive coup. Justice? Or political house-cleaning? Surely not, Turkey doesn't do that, does it? Yeah, right. Just ask the Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Maronites, Kurds. R. Neville, Fraser SHOOT THE MESSENGER The Barr government must be floundering if it thinks it is important that public servants must identify fellow workers who criticise government ("Dob in your colleagues", July 21, p1). It is a pity that priority cannot be given to establishing an independent anti-corruption commission and requiring public servants to refer to it suspected corrupt behaviour. Criticism trumps corruption. Tony Harris, Narrabundah Will ACT public servants be allowed to criticise the government if the Liberals win the upcoming election ("Dob in your colleagues", July 21, p1)? Brian Hale, Wanniassa CLEAR THINKING Colin Rubenstein's opinion piece "Want to fight xenophobia? Then speak clearly about Islam" (canberratimes.com.au, July 20) is a piece of clear thinking which actually proposes a starting point for achieving a solution. It should be recommended reading to the policy and decision makers in the 45th Australian Parliament. George Greenberg, Malvern, Vic DEAD END TO HABIT Ross Fitzgerald ("Why more drug consumption rooms are a must", Opinion, July 20, p16) is right. Helping drug users to stay alive for longer increases their chances of recovery. Dead users never kick the habit. Dr Peter Smith, Lake Illawarra, NSW Ross Fitzgerald understands that waging a war on drug users simply results in the deaths of more of our sons and daughters. Drug consumption rooms give them a chance to survive and get over their addiction. Sophia Yates, Parkville, Vic LIGHT CANBERRA UP Having had to drive more in the evening this winter, I am amazed and appalled at the lack of street lighting on some of the suburban roads, major roads and even the parkway here in Canberra. This city is the capital of Australia; so how about the appropriate authorities taking steps to light it up a bit more and making it safer for pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and tourists. Pauline Vincent , Wanniassa Have you been to Canberra Airport lately? If not, you would not yet have seen the very welcome images promoting our city specifically our 100 per cent renewable energy target and our leading educational institutions that have replaced some of the advertisements depicting Australia's readiness to go to war. A much better welcome home or welcome to visitors. The airport must be congratulated, but unfortunately not yet in the "full marks" category. Significant weapons promotions remain, inside and outside the terminal, and with them the question: just who are advertisements for fighter jets, armed drones and submarines aimed at? Most travellers are not really in the market for any of them. The No Airport Arms Ads campaign is petitioning for the removal of material promoting military arms at Canberra Airport. Credit:Rohan Thomson Some argue that the ads are targeted at the defence bureaucracy, to help them choose the best equipment to keep our troops and our nation safe. However, the notion that a glossy advertisement at an airport, placed by a company that wants tens of billions of our dollars, will help deliver us the best security is absurd. It raises serious questions about the decision-making process by which our military purchases are made. Setting aside for a moment the issue of who these weapons ads are really targeted at, one is also struck by their "misleading and deceptive" nature. The purpose for which weapons are built to kill or aid in killing is hidden behind the slick sophistication that epitomises modern advertising. When weapons are used, however, there is no glamour or prestige; it is simply messy and ruthless. The results are invariably brutal for someone, and that someone is generally a civilian. The scandal of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church will not be over until the lessons of this global tragedy are recognised and acted upon. From my own experience, I am convinced that to set things right the church (for which I retain respect) must abolish the requirement for priestly celibacy. The good news is that this change can be made. The requirement for celibacy has no basis in scripture; no aspect of Catholic faith is at stake in its abolition. Credit:Scott Cramer The requirement for celibacy has no basis in scripture; no aspect of Catholic faith is at stake in its abolition. It is a matter of what is termed "discipline" in the church and became mandatory only from the second Lateran council of 1139. Prominent church leaders have recently confirmed that it is open for debate. Pope Francis acknowledges the rule can change. The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, favours abolition. Christ had no issue with sexually active men leading his church. As four New Testament passages make clear the first pope, St Peter, was a married man who (by other historical accounts) fathered children. He is also the epitome of the forgiven sinner and was famously nominated, by Christ, as the rock upon which he would build his church. Jammu and Kashmir on red alert after armed BSF constable stabs colleague and flees from post. By Ashwini Kumar: Red alert in Jammu and Kashmir after an armed constable Border Security Force (BSF) fled from his post at Beli Azmaat, Akhnoor sector of Jammu. Constable Rajeev Ranjan had fled from the spot after stabbing his colleague over a minor scuffle. Sources from BSF said that at around 8 am, constable Rajeev Ranjan got into scuffle with constable Rajbir Singh over a petty issue. Ranjan later stabbed Singh with a knife. advertisement WOUNDED CONSTABLE RUSHED TO HOSPITAL Singh was rushed to Government Medical College in Jammu following the incident. However, Ranjan fled from the spot. Police said that Ranjan had one light machine gun (LMG) and about 10 magazines when he fled. The Jammu Police have alerted nakka points to arrest the absconding BSF constable. Staff at Jammu railway station and bus depot have been asked to be vigilant and to stop Ranjan from leaving the state. Meanwhile, a massive man hunt was launched with several BSF teams combing in border areas. --- ENDS --- There has been a lot of dancing on the head of a semantic pin in recent days, so it seems like a good time for us to come clean about racism what it is and what it isn't. A lot of people in Australia seem to think it is tremendously clever to say that you "cannot be racist against Muslims because Islam is not a race, it's a religion". What a load of codswallop. And yet one writer went further, saying that all those bandying around accusations of racism should have realised by now that there is no such thing as race, as "the very notion ... is incoherent". Hey presto! Without a coherent object, racism is eliminated as a phenomenon!! Let joy be unconfined! Malcolm Turnbull will introduce new national laws that would allow jailed terrorists who still pose a risk when their prison terms expire to be held indefinitely as his first order of business when Parliament resumes at the end of August. Mr Turnbull spoke with state and territory leaders on Sunday to inform them of his plans which he said needed to be dealt with urgently in the context of recent attacks in Orlando and Nice. The new laws, which were first agreed to in April, would effectively treat high-risk terrorists the same as paedophiles and extreme violent offenders who, in certain cases, can already be held as a purely preventative measure after serving jail time. Any extended detention period would be supervised by the courts, but legal groups have previously expressed "serious concern" about the new laws. Attorney-General George Brandis has warned against assuming all violent attacks are terrorism in the aftermath of the Munich shooting and urged people to be careful with the words they use. "Not every mass casualty attack is an act of terrorism. Not every premeditated act of violence is an act of terrorism," Senator Brandis told ABC television's Insiders program on Sunday. "Our law has a very specific definition of terrorism. Terrorism is an act of violence or a threat of violence perpetrated for a political, religious or ideological cause, to coerce government or to intimidate the public." German authorities have said the teenage gunman who opened fire in a shopping centre in Munich on Friday was acting on his own and had no links to extremist groups. The question put to voters in the same-sex marriage plebiscite should be as simple as possible to avoid any confusion, Attorney-General George Brandis says. Senator Brandis will take a submission about the plebiscite to cabinet in the next few weeks and says it is still his preference that it be held before the end of the year if the Australian Electoral Commission says this is possible. The newly sworn in Special Minister for State, Scott Ryan, will meet with the commission this week to discussion the practicalities of the timetable for the plebiscite. Parliament will first have to pass enabling legislation and there are signs conservative Coalition MPs opposed to changing the definition of marriage will seek to delay the plebiscite by making the legislation the subject of an inquiry before it can be passed. Hawley married Prue Fisher in 2011. Credit:Jacky Ghossein "That doesn't tell anybody anything," he said. "The whole point of releasing this information is to determine the cause of death and to see if there are trends. For example, is there a drugs problem or is there a problem with heart disease and so on. This kind of information should be publicly accessible. "It seems like [the OCME] is stalling because if they don't give out the toxicology report in this case then there is basically no knowledge coming out at all." He was a regular on red carpets, pictured here in 2003 with Antony, Antonia and Janelle Kidman at the Australian premiere of Cold Mountain, which starred Nicole Kidman. Credit:Peter Carrette Archive Mr Hawley, a former Scots College student, and business development manager at Valor Private Wealth, was said to be in good health when he travelled to the US with investor friends to attend a talk by American business magnate Warren Buffett on wealth accumulation. The fitness fanatic, who enjoyed a daily freshwater swim at Bondi Icebergs, had been out to dinner with a group of friends after a workout session on Saturday evening. He retired early for the night to the Brooklyn home he had rented with a handful of his friends at about 10pm. When they came home about 1am, Mr Hawley had collapsed on the floor. His older brother Phillip Hawley said in a statement at the time that Mr Hawley "had suddenly and very unexpectedly died of a suspected heart attack". A great-grandson of Grace Bros retailer and store founder Albert Grace, the one-time close friend and brother-in-law of Tom Cruise was a regular on the social circuit, often seen at VIP events and film premieres, even attending the Golden Globes in 2003 on the arm of Antonia Kidman and his sister-in-law, Nicole, who took home the Best Actress award that night for The Hours. Antonia Kidman and Mr Hawley had four children together Lucia, Sybella, Hamish and James but tabloid magazine allegations of an extramarital affair with the mother of their eldest daughter's friend rocked their marriage and they split in 2007, shortly after their youngest daughter was born in March of that year. A month later, on the advice of his late former father-in-law, clinical psychologist Antony Kidman, Mr Hawley sought help at The Sydney Clinic in Bronte which treats patients for acute and general psychiatry, mood disorders and alcohol and other drug addictions. At the time, Antonia Kidman said he was "seeking help to deal with anxiety and depression", but in 2009 Mr Hawley confirmed to Woman's Day his long battle with substance abuse which he said contributed to his marriage breakdown. "I was depressed, out of control and full of self-loathing, and I resorted to drugs to get through it," he said. "I might not take any drugs for three weeks, then there would be a week where I was hitting it every day. "At its worst, I didn't want to be alive. Of course, it affected my marriage ... I was very inconsistent and I wasn't in control, so I would often retreat." He added that counselling and support from family and friends helped him break his addiction to drugs, but he remained wary of a relapse. "I am not drawn to it any more but I am in recovery, so you can never say never. I'm really pleased with where I am at and I've got very stringent measures in place for it not to happen again," Mr Hawley said. Five months after he moved out of the Greenwich home he shared with Antonia Kidman and their children, he started dating Prue Fisher a nanny from Orange, who was once interviewed by Antonia Kidman to take care of the four Hawley children. Mr Hawley and Ms Fisher, the owner of Paddington fashion boutique Come As You Are, married in a low-key ceremony at a private Palm Beach home in March 2011. The 32-year-old was the chief mourner, along with her four stepchildren, at Mr Hawley's private memorial held at the Vaucluse mansion of his childhood friend, Sydney Merivale hotelier Justin Hemmes, in May last year. At a more public second memorial held at Taronga Zoo's bird sanctuary overlooking the Sydney Opera House, she was described as the "love of his live" in a eulogy by his brother David Hawley. The Press Council considered whether its Standards of Practice were breached by the publication of an article in The Sydney Morning Herald on 22 February 2016 headed "The horrifying untold story of Louise" in print and "The story of Louise: we'll never know the scale of the rape epidemic in Sydney" online. The article reported on the graphic account of the alleged rape of "Louise" by a number of men whom she said were Arabic-speaking and whom she described as "MERCs. Middle Eastern raping c---- ". An Australian Press Council adjudication has been published regarding "the story of Louise". The article also stated that the NSW Police took no action when Louise reported the rape. The Council asked the publication to comment on whether the material breached its Standards of Practice, which require it to take reasonable steps to ensure that factual material is accurate and not misleading (General Principle 1) and presented with reasonable fairness and balance (General Principle 3). Lifts will be installed at the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the end of next year, allowing those in wheelchairs, the elderly and parents with prams to avoid the 60-odd steps to the structure's pedestrian walkway. And the Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, has also held out hope for cyclists who have long lamented the lack of ramp access to the Bridge, saying that he will make an announcement about that project by the end of the year. Flanked by the Disability Minister, John Ajaka, as well as disability advocates, Mr Gay said on Sunday the government would spend about $10 million on lift access to the 84-year-old bridge's walkways and views. "We're going to hang a lift off the coathanger," said Mr Gay. A man has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing to death another man in front of several people at Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands. Police and paramedics were called to a home on Davy Street about 9.30pm on Saturday night after reports of an altercation. Murder charge: The alleged murderer knew his victim, police said. Credit:Marina Neil A 35-year-old man was found dead, stabbed several times. Police searched a neighbouring property and arrested 27-year-old Dylan John Bailey, charging him with murder. "They were at a mutual friend's house," Inspector Chris Sammut said. "We believe the men were known to each other." Two men were flown to safety after swimming in the notorious Figure Eight Pools in Sydney's Royal National Park. Emergency services were called to the pools at the southern end of the park on Sunday night following reports that people were in trouble after the tide had risen. Tourists pose for photographs earlier in January at the Figure Eight Pools in the Royal National Park. Credit:Wolter Peeters The men, aged 28 and 29, were winched to safety by a NSW Ambulance Helicopter. The 29-year-old was taken to Sutherland Hospital where he was treated for minor hypothermia and injuries. A five-year-old girl who ran away from home on Sunday afternoon has been found almost 24 hours later,with a few cuts and in good spirits. Jocelyn Lewis had run away from her Nielsens Road home at Carrara just after 4.30pm on Sunday and was last seen an hour later a few streets away at Alison Road. Police issued an Amber Alert for the young girl who has a medical condition, rallying the local community to get together and find the "beautiful, well-natured" girl. Carrara and Nerang residents searched their backyards, local parks and waterways for the girl who loves to play hide-and-seek, with many locals riding horses, motorbikes, bicycles to reach the more remote areas. A police command centre was established and a sausage sizzle set up to cater for those who had travelled from as far as Moreton Bay to help out. Just under 24 hours later, the young girl was found by members of the public at Spall Street, Carrara, about a kilometre south from where she was last seen. Her father, tightly hugging his only daughter, thanked the community and the 160 SES volunteers and police for banding together and helping to find the blonde-haired girl. "I was getting very concerned it was going to go the other way," he said. "Even though I am buggered that is why I came out here, to thank the community for everything they have done that is how she found just goes to show when you rally together, how well we can do. "I am going to clean her up and give her a good meal, all of us, we haven't eaten." The "resilient" girl, who was found with some cuts to her hands and feet, was taken to hospital, along with her family, for treatment. A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said despite being dehydrated and very hungry, she was still in good spirits. "She was joking with paramedics and telling them all about her adventure," he said. Thank you for following the rolling coverage of the search for Jocelyn and its happy ending. Check in with the main site for any updates. By PTI: Kolkata, July 24 (PTI) City-based Judith DSouza, an Indian aid worker who was abducted in Kabul last month by suspected militants, returned home today after being rescued from her captors. Accompanied by her brother Jerome and senior government officials, Judith arrived at the NSC Bose International Airport at 6.50 PM by an Air India flight amid tight security. advertisement Even as mediapersons were waiting for hours at the airport to have a word with Judith and her family members, she was whisked away through another gate on way to her residence in Entally area of central Kolkata. Judith reunited with her family a one-and-a-half months after she was abducted in Kabul, putting an end to the agonising wait for her family members. Judith had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj soon after her arrival in Delhi from Kabul last evening. The 40-year-old woman, who works for Aga Khan Foundation as a senior technical adviser, was abducted from outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9. It was not immediately known who were Judiths captors and how she was rescued. She was abducted along with two other persons. Judiths family had last month written to the Prime Minister and Swaraj seeking their intervention for her release. PTI AKB CORR MD SC --- ENDS --- One of The Chaser's founders and a former Fairfax columnist Mike Carlton will headline Brisbane City Council's Writers in Residence program, to be held in the city's libraries next month. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the $100,000 program was designed to use big-name authors to encourage reading and writing in local communities. Charles Firth Credit:Danielle Smith "Since launching in 2012, the Writers in Residence program has proved highly popular with literary fans, as well as engaging audiences of all ages, with diverse reading and writing interests," he said. "As well as providing emerging local writers with a chance to be inspired by experienced authors, the Writers in Residence program also showcases council's libraries as great venues for literary events. A proposal to build twin 44-storey towers containing an aquarium and a 1000-seat venue on the Southport Spit should be considered in the same way as Sydney's Opera House is judged, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate believes. "Wind back the clock," Cr Tate said. Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says Gold Coasters should view the Sunland proposal like their version of the Opera House. "And you look at the Sydney Opera House and what was there before," he said, making it clear his comments were his personal view, not the view of the Gold Coast City Council. "But you had environmentalists saying, 'No, no, no we don't want anything that looks a bit oddball and it's a bit high," he said. In two weeks, just before 1am on August 8, the last car will drive along the southern end of Acland Street, then the traffic barriers will go up and Yarra Trams will begin to convert St Kilda's famous shopping strip into a plaza. The plan to shut part of Acland Street to car traffic and remove its 51 on-street parking spaces has been known for more than three years, but has made unsteady progress in the face of strong local resistance, particularly among traders. Gideon Markham, owner of Monarch Cakes, is concerned about the ramifications of the closure. Credit:Arsineh Houspian The traders association is resigned to the plan, but still fears what it will do to business. Gideon Markham, veteran proprietor of Monarch Cakes, predicts the new streetscape will bring the worst of both worlds: bigger traffic jams as cars filter down tiny side streets and lost trade as people who can no longer park in front of the shops drive on. A sign posted outside a Bank of Melbourne branch in Footscray that called a rough sleeper "inconsiderate" has sparked outrage. The homeless person had been sheltering in the entrance of the bank, blocking access to the branch's ATM, which led an employee at the bank to post the notice. The sign read: "Due to an inconsiderate person using the foyer as a place to live and litter, we are having to close this part of the branch until further notice." A photo of the note was posted on the bank's Facebook page by Gemma Carafella, who called the bank's thinking "out of touch". A family of six, including three children, hid in terror in a bedroom as a gang of thugs burgled a Springvale house early on Sunday. Police believe four or five offenders broke a front window of the Heather Grove home at about 1.45am. A man who heard the break-in fled to a rear bedroom with his wife, three children and father-in-law, locked the door and huddled there until the thieves drove off in the family's two cars. The aggravated burglary sparked outrage and despair on social media, with posts complaining about rising crime rates and soft police and government response. The white Audi four-wheel drive stolen from the house was later found abandoned on Leonard Avenue, Noble Park. When John Gibbons arrived 30 years ago as a councillor at the old Shire of Werribee population 35,000 it was growing, but not particularly quickly. "Growth just wasn't an issue," says the councillor, who holds the housing portfolio for Wyndham Council, population 210,000. Today, the growth is swamping the area, as thousands of new housing lots come onto the market and demand for community services from new residents rockets but without a corresponding increase in state or federal government funding, says Cr Gibbons. Figures for Wyndham Council show the past financial year had the largest growth ever recorded for the outer west. More than 6500 housing lots were approved in Wyndham's areas in the year to July. There were almost 9000 applications for subdivisions in the area. Birth notices show more than 80 births a week are appearing for suburbs within Wyndham's catchment. Tie down your outdoor furniture and grab your warmest coat Victoria is set for a chilly, windy and showery week. In Melbourne, the mercury is set to to plunge to as low as 7 degrees some nights, with highs of just 12 degrees on some days. We're in for squally winds, rain and possibly hail, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Across the state, flood warnings have been issued for nine locations, and on Monday heavy snow falls are forecast for Alpine areas. State Emergency Service spokeswoman Susan Davie said volunteers were preparing some communities for floods. Fourteen more unprotected rail crossings in country Victoria will get a safety boost by April, in efforts to avoid another serious crash involving a train and road vehicle. Government corporation VicTrack last week called for bidders to submit tenders to upgrade 12 sites on the V/Line network, in the wake of a collision between a truck and a Warrnambool-bound train carrying 99 passengers west of Colac, which injured 18 people. The damaged train off its tracks at Pirron Yallock. Credit:Amy Paton Emergency services help passengers off the V-Line train. Credit:Amy Paton/Warrnambool Standard The work will include the installation of boom gates at 10 level crossings and four pedestrian crossings on the Seymour and Albury lines in north-east Victoria. This would delight me. It seemed a holy thing. To know the name of the trees! If we look back to one of the first stories from our tradition the story of Adam naming creation we are struck by the simple power that God is giving the human in the story. "Here," God is saying: "Name this, know this, love this, take responsibility for this." And yet, this "taking responsibility" is exactly what so many of us seem to find so difficult to do. We get paralysed by the overwhelming loss that looms ahead of us and so we turn away in a type of apathetic numbness. The challenge of climate change in particular is that, unlike belching coal or blackened lakes, it is, in a way, invisible. By PTI: Kuala Lumpur, July 24 (PTI) Film Censorship Board of Malaysia today said the Rajinikanth starrer blockbuster movie "Kabali" will have a different ending in the country with a message of "crime does not pay" added at the climax. The decision has left local fans of the superstar fuming. LPF chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid saidthe board had requested the makers for the alterations in the movie, so that the the viewers continue respecting the law. advertisement "Normally under our guidelines, there must be some kind of element of retribution in the movie. Especially if the characters shown in the movies are involved in crime, then there must be some kind of comeuppance for that. "So, we asked the producer to put in a caption... This was to send a message that the law cannot be taken into your own hands," Abdul Halim toldMalay Mail Online. The film ran to full shows yesterday with fans queuing up hours before the show. Set in Malaysia, the movie features Rajinikanth as a gangster, who was framed for a crime decades ago. The original ending scene in the movie was intentionally left ambiguous, but the local version leaves nothing to the audiences imagination. Abdul Halim also admitted that the board had censored several scenes in the Kollywood film, but stressed that all the cuts were only five minutes in total and that the storyline of the movie was still intact. He explained the cuts were only several seconds long for each scenes, including one controversial scene that included the use of the word "keling" ?a term derogatory to ethnic Indians in Malaysia. The word was muted in local screenings. "We have our own guidelines and anything that we feel could be sensitive, we censor. We took off the word and it?s better that way because if we do not do that, then the people will allege that we practice selective censorship." The scene in the original unedited version has since been slammed in Malay paperMingguan Malaysiatoday. An article had accused the film of deliberately flaming racial tensions in the country by portraying the ethnic Indians as an oppressed minority. Another article also accused the film screenwriter of misunderstanding the lives of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia. Despite that, Abdul Halim said the main reason for the censorship was to make the movie a PG-13-rated film, so it could be seen by more Malaysians. Eight percent of multi ethnic Muslim majority of Malaysias population is Indian, mostly Tamil. PTI JB SHD --- ENDS --- Victorians have lost $2.6 billion on the state's poker machines in the past 12 months, $44.7 million more than the previous year, figures from the gambling regulator show. The biggest losses continue to come from some of the state's most disadvantaged areas. Punters lost more than $143 million in the City of Brimbank in Melbourne's west, while in the City of Casey in the outer south-east, gamblers poured $124.8 million into poker machines. Losses were also more than $111 million in Greater Dandenong, Geelong and Whittlesea, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation figures for the 2015-2016 financial year show. The 17-year-old organiser of Saturday's Black Lives Matter rally in Perth is promising more protests to come. Yasmina Paige said the march had gone well and she believed their message had been well received by the general public in the city centre. Yasmina Paige and other organisers of Saturday's Black Live Matter rally in Perth. Credit:Yasmina Paige "Clearly black people in America have a much worse problem than we have here but there are still a lot of issues we need to deal with in Australia and that was what we were saying yesterday," said Ms Paige. She estimates that her rally attracted a crowd of between 500 and 600 people. They gathered in the Perth Cultural Centre and then marched to Forrest Chase. Bastrop, Texas: At least four adults are dead after a gunman opened fire at a Texas apartment complex. Bastrop County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dawn Adams quoted officers as saying the suspect was dead and the scene was secured. It was not immediately clear if the suspect was one of the four adults found dead. No details were immediately available about the motive for the shooting. Adams said officers received a call about the attack at 6:13pm on Saturday. A child was taken from the scene to the hospital with minor injuries. Berlin: A 21-year-old Syrian refugee killed a woman with a machete and injured two other people on Sunday before being arrested in the southern German city of Reutlingen, according to a police spokesman. The man, who had been seeking asylum in Germany, had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people, the spokesman said. No information was available on when the man arrived in Germany, or when the previous incidents took place. The assailant was apparently acting alone, the police official said. Fears Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump may be pursuing a Russian agenda with his candidacy have triggered a wave of alarm in the US. A series of links between Mr Trump's circle of advisers, his policy positions on the future of NATO, his statements of admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin and even the overlap between his supporters and those touting pro-Russia views online have contributed to this view. The concerns have prompted a series of high-profile American commentators and analysts to suggest Mr Trump may be getting backing from Russia for his US campaign. Respected publications such as Slate, economist Paul Krugman writing in The New York Times, and The Washington Post have commented on the convergence between Mr Trump's statements and geopolitical positions that Russia has long sought, with worrying implications should Trump become president. Born of a Sint Maarten father and a Saban mother, I was raised in a family with strong Biblical values. I left my parental home to further my education abroad, and took those values with me. Like most youngsters, when I tried to do my own thing, those values would tug at my conscience and keep me in line. Living, studying and working in the Netherlands have taught me to rely on the values I was brought up with and which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The teaching I have received at home, the experience I gained abroad and the fact that God has kept me, have shaped me into the person I am today. A person who is compassionate and empathetic. So being there for people comes natural to me. This is the reason why the slogan of the Sint Maarten Christian Party SERVING YOU FOR A CHANGE resonates strongly with me. I have learnt that an ideology is the foundation on which a political party is built and it sets the tone by which the country will be governed. If a party doesnt have a clear ideology or set of beliefs and principles one can safely assume that there is no sense of direction in that party and consequently there will be no sense of direction in government. If we look at Sint Maartens situation, I am unable to identify an ideology in the different parties. What I see is people coming together on a party list and as soon as their personal expectations are not met, they jump ship. And the business of the people is not taken into account because it was never about the people in the first place. This leads to instability and lack of continuity in government as well as to insecurity and distrust on the part of the people and investors. Eventually, we see a widening of the gap between the have and have nots. We also see an increase in crime, in poverty, in taxes as well as in the prices of goods and services. In general, the cost of living goes up and there is a noticeable erosion in the social-, economic- and financial fabric of our society. Sint Maarten is hemorrhaging profusely; the people are hurting and they are sick and tired of being sick and tired of the type of representatives that we have had. Government has failed the people. The lack of integrity, transparency and accountability is blatant. People want to know that their concerns are taken seriously and that the elected persons that they put in government are working on their behalf. As I look at all the problems facing our country they seem unsurmountable. However, sitting on the sidelines, feeling helpless about the situation and complaining about the government will not solve the problems. I had to ask myself. Do I want to be part of the problem or do I want to be part of the solution? I eventually decided to become a part of the solution. That is the reason I joined the Sint Maarten Christian Party which is a party that is concerned about the welfare of each citizen of this country. Its a party whose ideology is Christian based and as such it will uphold good governance and serve the people for a change. I realize that if we want to see a change on Sint Maarten, we cannot continue to vote the way we have been voting and expect a different outcome. And remember, that not voting is not an option! I am making myself available by becoming a candidate on the slate of the Sint Maarten Christian Party so that I can serve you the people and help to bring about the much needed change in our country. Beverley Gibbs 1-721-522-0578 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Recently, I read an article in the Daily Herald where Minister Gibson intends to table a policy in the Council of Ministers to limit the salaries of top executives of government-owned companies to match that of the Prime Minister. While I can agree with the Minister that the salaries and benefits for Top Executives in our government owned companies are out of proportion and do not seem to be based on production or results, I believe capping the salaries alone will not solve the inherent problems we see in our government owned companies as well as in government. This proposal is like putting cream on a reoccurring skin rash but never really trying to deal with the real cause of the rash. For years, I have been speaking of a TOP-DOWN APPROACH SOLUTION in which INTEGRITY, ETHICS, HONESTY and most of all ACCOUNTABILITY need to be the modus operandi. Our Top Executives and Management of Government and Government owned companies and foundations need to be held accountable for all their decisions. After all, this is why they are well paid positions. During my years working in the Hotel Industry in Aruba, it became very evident to me that as I moved up the ladder, not only my salary was increased but also my level of responsibilities and most of all ACCOUNTABILITY. The General Managers position, while being the highest paid, was also the most vulnerable position since the GM was accountable for everything. I see this TOP-DOWN APPROACH being implemented as follows in Government. This also applies to Government owned companies and foundations: 1) THE PEOPLE OF ST. MAARTEN-The people ultimately are the ones who hold the power in any society. We have the power to elect or not persons who are supposed to become the Guardians of the Country. As a people we must be able to STAND UP for our rights. It was very sad to read in the Transparency International Report where they concluded that the St. Maarten people seemed to have lost the ability to exact what they need from their leaders and Government (paraphrasing). SO IT ALL STARTS WITH THE PEOPLE. 2) PARLIAMENTARIANS- September 26th, 2016, election day can start this process. This is the time for the people to cast their votes based on the right criteria and vote their future. The 15 MPs elected on that day will be critical to the countrys success in the next four years. They are the ones who will be tasked with selecting and appointing Ministers. We need 15 people who can put the best interest of the People ahead of self interest. 3) PRIME MINISTER AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS- If the people make the right choices in step 2, we can actually appoint proper Ministers who are not put there to make MPs rich but to actually work for the people. They need to be professionals in their fields related to the Ministries in question. They also need to be strong managers and people to create and inspire teamwork. 4) SECRETARY GENERALS (SGs)- These are permanent civil servants who have a lot of power in the success of a Ministry and in the ability for the right Minister to carry out the Governing Program and vision for the Country. Unfortunately many times they are politically affiliated. SGs will have to be held to a greater standard and they will have to set an example for their subordinates. Failure to do so should come with consequences. After all they are the Generals in this process of government. You can not win a war if the generals are sabotaging the battle plan and can not rally the troops. 5) DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SUPERVISORS- We need to make sure they are very clear on their responsibilities and are qualified to do so. We know that over the years many people were promoted based on political affiliations and nepotism practices. Those who are not up to par should be given the proper training. All should undergo management training and training in ethics, corruption, customer service, team building techniques and whistlebowing. 6) CIVIL SERVANT CORP WORKERS- These workers should be assessed regularly by the chain of command and motivated to work efficiently for the people. They must be discouraged from engaging in corruption and encouraged to denounce it when necessary. They need to be well trained in customer service, efficiency and productivity. They need to be rewarded for good work and promoted to top management whenever possible instead of recruiting from outside. All in all everyone in this process from 1-6 should have to undergo a course in ANTI CORRUPTION AND ETHICS WITHIN GOVERNMENT and GOVERNMENT OWNED COMPANIES/FOUNDATIONS. In the last 6 years we have gotten many reports such as the Transparency International Report and the Judge Bob Witt report which I believe we need to use as guides to isolate our areas of concerns, priorities our approach to implement solutions. To this date all governments since 10-10-10 have just chosen to shelve these reports Government itself commissioned and cost tax payers thousands . I believe St. Maarten has the potential to be a great country and to provide great lives for its people. Yet, it is imperative that we all become part of the solution and not the destruction. CORRUPTION IS NOT MY CULTURE. DONT LET IT BE YOURS!!! Claude CHACHO Peterson SMCP Candidate Cell: +1-721-520-4792 Whatsapp: +1-721-520-4792 Ms. Ife Badejo, creator of Happy Power Hour, gave the key address St. Maarten/Anguilla:---- The Governors Reception of Anguilla, hosted by Her Excellency Ms. Christina Scott, started last year as a way to bring the private and public sector together in an effort to better strengthen Anguillas economy. In partnership with the Anguillan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACOCI), this year the reception took on the form of the Happy Power Hour, a premier networking event on St. Maarten. This is the first international Happy Power Hour, which to date has reached more than 1000 entrepreneurs and professionals. With the aim of expanding networks, growing businesses, and facilitating collaborative projects, the Happy Power Hour has had such speakers as Mr. Imran Amjad, chairman of NAGICO, Mr. Jean Arnell of COMPUTECH, and Dr. Will Moreland, Forbes featured entrepreneur and #1 Leadership Life Trainer in the US. Usually, behind the scenes and focused solely on facilitating the networking aspect of the Happy Power Hour, this is the first time that Ms. Badejo has come to the forefront to share her knowledge on entrepreneurship. The theme for the evening was Building Entrepreneurs for the Future. During the evening, the ACOCI presented Mr. Bren Romney of the Department of Youth and Culture with a check of US$2000.00 for the Business Plan Innovative Award of the GET SET program. This program works to remove four identified main barriers to entry for young entrepreneurs including financial and training barriers. Young entrepreneurs can get business plan training and up to $28 000 as seed funding if their business plan has been approved. About 70 entrepreneurs and decision makers listened to Ms. Mirabelle West, creator of OH YEA (Organization of Hustlers, Young Entrepreneurs of Anguilla), and Mr. Kenroy Herbert, Managing Director of Leviticus Lifestyle shared their entrepreneurial journey and the importance of entrepreneurship. Ms. West gave a lively presentation of why it important to work closer together. Mr. Herbert, told the story of a man who started his business at 65 years old and in financial ruin. He later explained that in his eighties he was a billionaire and beloved for his business: KFC. The man he spoke about was Colonel Sanders. As Ms. Badejo was called upon to speak, she did not hesitate to begin with facilitating the networking part of the evening. Before she spoke, she asked the audience to find at least three (3) people they did not know, collect their business cards and find out how they can support each other in business. Under the theme, Building Entrepreneurs for the Future, Ms. Badejo shared the 5Cs that are necessary for the 21st century entrepreneur. She explained how Character, Commitment, Communication, Community, and Collaboration are imperative to success in the 21st century. Character, though self-explanatory, is necessary as people also want to do business with those they like and trust. She highlighted that commitment is absolute and thus cant be provisional, you either are or you arent. To the point of communication, she elaborated on the importance of listening to make better decisions. As for community, her claim was simple, Success is a team sport and to find out who can be a part of success team in order to best collaborate. For which she reiterated Greg Satells point, that Collaboration is the New Competitive Advantage and summed it up like this: If you are not collaborating, then you are competing. If you are competing, then you are losing. Ms. Badejo invited the audience to the upcoming entrepreneurial getaway, DOMINATE 360. This three (3) day experience (Nov. 17-19) will provide entrepreneurs with in-depth, real time insights on how to achieve unparalleled success in their business. During this event, entrepreneurs will have fun and dynamic opportunities to connect with likeminded people from around the world on the in their business. For more information on DOMINATE 360 or INFOBIZZ, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Encouraged by Trump's Success, Duke Wants to Defend the Rights of "European Americans" It sounds like satire, but it's not. David Duke, former KKK Grand Wizard, founder of the National Association for the Advancement of White People, and Holocaust Denier, sees the GOP nomination of Donald Trump as a sign that America finally wants his brand of politics. "My platform became the GOP mainstream," he said. "I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I've championed for years." Duke, who calls himself a "racial realist," said on July 22 that he would be running for US Senate in his home state of Louisiana. Trump's campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks almost immediately announced that Trump "has disavowed David Duke and will continue to do so." The Presidential Nominee received some backlash earlier in his campaign after Duke publicly endorsed him. When CNN's Jake Tapper asked Trump on "State of the Union" if he would disavow the support of Duke and other white supremacist groups, Trump responded, "Just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke, OK?" Many Americans were shocked that Trump seemed unwilling to distance himself from hate groups. The next day, Trump claimed that he had misunderstood the question because of a "bad earpiece." Like Trump, the National Republican Senatorial Committee leadership quickly said that they would not support Duke's run "under any circumstance." The Republican Party of Louisiana chimed in, too, saying Duke's history of "hate" causes them to oppose his candidacy. "David Duke's history of hate marks a dark stain on Louisiana's past and has no place in our current conversation," the group said. Duke isn't new to politics, having run for various offices at both the state and federal level, first as a Democrat, then as a Republican. He won a seat in the Louisiana House in a special election in 1989, where he served for three unremarkable years before failing to be reelected. He now affiliates with the Tea Party movement. Duke supports the preservation of what he considers to be Western Culture, including Christian Family Values, Constitutionalism, abolition of the IRS, voluntary racial segregation, and white separatism. On the surface, he seems to be in agreement with many of the radical right voters who have launched Trump into the nomination, but his views on racial separation push him far into the extreme. He wrote in his 1998 autobiography "We desire to live in our own neighborhoods, go to our own schools, work in our own cities and towns, and ultimately live as one extended family in our own nation. We shall end the racial genocide of integration. We shall work for the eventual establishment of a separate homeland for African Americans, so each race will be free to pursue its own destiny without racial conflicts and ill will." As Grand Wizard in the 70's, Duke insisted he had modernized the KKK by allowing women and Catholics into the group. He said they were not "anti-black," but "pro-white" and "pro-Christian." David Ernest Duke (born July 1, 1950) is an American white nationalist, antisemitic conspiracy theorist, politician, and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The Anti-Defamation League has called Duke anti-Semitic, a charge he denies, though he has said he objects to the "promotion of homosexuality" by Jews. Very early in his career, he would sometimes appear in public wearing a Nazi uniform. Duke has been convicted of felony tax fraud, for which he served 15 months in prison and paid a $10,000 fine. He was deported from the Czech Republic in 2009 for denying the Nazi genocide and for promoting movements that seek to suppress human rights. A general residency ban, issued by Switzerland, now prevents him from living in any European Union country. That's right: other countries have banned David Duke, while one of our major political parties has nominated Duke's preferred candidate to become the leader of the free world. Now, after decades of being scorned and shunned, Duke believes that he, too, can be elected on a platform of racism and hatred. Oh, GOP, what have you done? Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association Calls for Suspension of Rights During RNC Sunday's shooting in Baton Rouge began when two police officers approached a man who was openly carrying two rifles. In the United States, open carry refers to the practice of "openly carrying a firearm in public", as distinguished from concealed carry, where firearms cannot be seen by the casual observer. The practice of open carry, where gun owners openly carry firearms while they go about their daily business, has seen an increase in the U.S. in recent years--Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry_in_the_United_States Stephen Loomis, President of Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association (CPPA), has asked the governor of the state to temporarily restrict the state's gun laws during the Republican National Convention. Police departments across the country are on heightened alert in light of the shooting that killed three officers in Louisiana on Sunday. "We are sending a letter to Gov. Kasich requesting assistance from him. He could very easily do some kind of executive order or something -- I don't care if it's constitutional or not at this point," Loomis told CNN. Ohio's "open carry" laws allow any licensed gun owner to openly carry any firearm not specifically banned by the state, except in a few very limited secure zones. The RNC site, Quicken Loans Arena, is a secure zone, but licensed owners can legally have any or many guns and rifles in the streets and parks surrounding the arena. Governor John Kasich has stated that he does not have the authority to arbitrarily suspend either federal or state constitutions or laws for any reason. With big crowds of both supporters and demonstrators expected in Cleveland this week, Loomis called it irresponsible to be in the convention area with a weapon. He compared it to screaming "fire" in a crowded theater, and warned that officers would be "looking very, very hard" at anyone with a firearm. First Amendment free speech protections do not extend to someone who falsely and intentionally creates a situation of panic and danger, such as yelling "fire" in a theater, but SCOTUS has never ruled on weather Second Amendment rights can be limited with that same reasoning. Loomis's request may not be legally possible, but it is based on a very real concern. A number of groups have scheduled marches or rallies around the convention, including Citizens for Trump and Black on Black Crime, Inc., a decades-old organization that has recently demonstrated alongside Black Lives Matter protestors. Large gatherings and clashes between groups could offer cover for an attack on either citizens or law enforcement. Republican national convention will probably include open carry as part of the party platform. Hoping to increase individual safety, the CPPA has asked that the Cleveland Police Department not station any officer alone without the protection of a vehicle. They also want all foot officers to be assigned in groups of three, to offer one another support. Police Chief Calvin Williams, has not yet responded to these requests. LAPD ALSO REACTS TO BATON ROUGE SHOOTING WITH NEW PROTOCOLS LAPD Chief Charlie Beck informed his force on Sunday that some new protocols would go into effect out of concern for officer safety: - All 911 calls in Los Angeles will now be "carefully screened" to avoid ruse calls meant to lure police into a trap. - Officers formerly on crime suppression detail will be shifted to patrol backup, so as to increase the number of cars arriving in response to all calls or stops. - Available air support will be doubled The Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor is off to London to spend some quality time with wife Ankita Bhargava. By India Today Web Desk: Karan Patel and Ankita Bhargava, who got married last year, have finally got some time off for their long overdue honeymoon. The couple are in London right now, having the time of their life, and their pictures are giving us major travel goals. "When in London, no need for filters! #londonlife with d love of my life... First evng together in our fav city," tweeted Ankita. Karan Patel and Ankita Bhargava's first selfie from their London holiday. Picture courtesy: Twitter/Ankita Bhargava advertisement And guess what? While chilling out in the city, Ankita also bumped into a close friend Tanvi Saxena. She has posted a pic with her also. En route to London. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Karan Patel Karan definitely deserved this holiday. The Yeh Hai Mohabbatein actor had been working hard on his body and his co-star Aly Goni and gym trailer helped him achieve his fitness goal. Much fitter and happy, Karan seems to be in a peaceful space right now. Ankita poses with a friend. Picture courtesy: Twitter/Ankita Bhargava In case you are wondering how the actor managed to take a vacation despite working in a daily soap, it has emerged that he has already shot for his sequences before his holiday. Have fun, guys! --- ENDS --- Former Virginia governor was almost selected by Obama as Vice President Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine seen here with his family, is a safe choice for Mrs. Clinton On July 22, 2016, Hillary Clinton announced that she had selected Tim Kaine as her vice presidential running mate in the 2016 presidential election. Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine, 58, is an attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, Kaine was elected to the Senate in 2012. Clinton named Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia to be her running mate Friday, according to a senior campaign official, selecting a battleground state politician with working-class roots and a fluency in Spanish, traits that she believes can bolster her chances to defeat Donald J. Trump in November, said the New York Times. Mrs. Clintons choice came after her advisers spent months poring over potential vice-presidential candidates who could lift the Democratic ticket in an unpredictable race against Mr. Trump, said the NY Times. The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos of Amazon and openly at war with Trump, today called the Republican nominee "a unique threat to American democracy, and unfit to be president. They said of Kaine: a former Virginia governor, Richmond mayor and Democratic National Committee chairman, was chosen after a search that included riskier and more unconventional candidates who offered greater appeal to the partys liberal base. He was a longtime favorite to become Clintons running mate, however, in part because of the political and personal attributes she considers well-suited to the governing partnership she seeks and in part because of the calculation that the experience of a Clinton-Kaine ticket would outgun Trumps outsider bombast. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kaine earned a law degree from Harvard Law School before entering private practice and becoming a lecturer at the University of Richmond School of Law. Kaine was first elected to public office in 1994, when he won a seat on the Richmond, Virginia City Council. He was then elected Mayor of Richmond in 1998, serving in that position until being elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2002. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine shakes a constituents hand at a Richmond parade. Kaine declared his candidacy for governor of Virginia in 2005 in a bid to replace Mark Warner (who was constitutionally precluded from serving another term). Kaine won in an uncontested Democratic primary, and faced Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore in the general election; Kaine won with 51% of the vote, to Kilgore's 46%. Kaine served as governor from 2006 to 2010. Upon becoming governor, Kaine gave the Democratic response to the 2006 State of the Union Address. He was considered a top contender for running mate in Senator Barack Obama's successful 2008 presidential campaign, but instead became the 51st Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, serving from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, after incumbent Senator Jim Webb announced he would retire, Kaine declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Kaine prevailed in the Democratic primary and faced former Senator and Virginia Governor George Allen in the general election. In the November 2012 election, Kaine won with 53% of the vote to Allen's 47%. Kaine was sworn into office on January 3, 2013. Hockey preview: All you need to know about Irish vs. Michigan State sports "The massive presence of troops in the state is a mistake. P Chidambaram was not able to lift Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir. There is a need to rethink the role of the Army in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," said Abdullah. Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said that any initiative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might take to resolve the current crisis in the Valley could calm tempers, but if it is not followed up then it becomes difficult to resolve. By Mail Today Bureau: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah maintained that the problem that had gripped the state was a political one, though one that had not been designed by Pakistan. NO LESSONS LEARNT In an exclusive interview with India Today TV's Karan Thapar, the J&K leader said Pakistan was only taking advantage of the situation. The former chief minister told India Today TV that no lessons had been learnt from the past and attacked the current dispensation, saying there was anger on the streets of the embattled state. advertisement "The massive presence of troops in the state is a mistake. P Chidambaram was not able to lift Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir. There is a need to rethink the role of the Army in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," said Abdullah. INDIA HAS BEEN DISHONEST He agreed with former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's views that the Centre had broken promises on issues that formed the state's accession to India, saying they had been dishonest with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah also told Thapar that India had been dishonest with the people of Jammu and Kashmir "The demands of the people need to be met. Many a promise had been made, but they have been forgotten," Abdullah said. He said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was a complicated one and there was an urgent need for the current regime to wake up to the reality. "There is unprecedented anger on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir The anger won't disappear overnight," said Abdullah, asserting that the problem of the state needed a sagacious political handling. "The government must accept the problem," he added. POLITICAL WILL NEEDED TO BRING CHANGE He also suggested that the solution to the problems of the state required political will. "Politicians lack the courage. The elected government must have courage," Abdullah said. He said any initiative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might take to resolve the current crisis in the Valley could calm tempers, but if it is not followed up then it becomes difficult to resolve. "It will definitely calm tempers, but there will be far more suspicion today than there could be a few years ago. Every time a problem like this arises, it becomes more difficult to bring an end to it," he told Thapar. He was replying to a question whether a grand initiative by the Prime Minister could normalise the situation in the Valley. Also Read: Fresh batch of 20 CRPF companies rushed to Kashmir to control violence Govt seizes newpapers, mobile network suspended as Kashmir reels under curfew --- ENDS --- Milwaukee-area runners, teams to watch at girls state cross-country A look at the top area competitors chasing titles as Saturday's WIAA state girls cross-country championships. According to intelligence agencies review, the reason for increased terror activity could also be attributed to the fact that killings of militants have doubled this year making terror outfits in Pakistan desperate to hit back. Two weeks of violence in Jammu and Kashmir after the death of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani, has claimed 45 lives and injured over 3,400 people. (Picture for representation) By Abhishek Bhalla : Target security personnel in Kashmir to spread local unrest - this is the two pronged strategy adopted by Pakistan as number of terrorists infiltrating from across the border has increased this year. With a surge in deaths of security personnel and infiltrations from across the border, forces have also retaliated resulting in killings of local as well as Pakistani terrorists. While the killing of 21-year-old Burhan Wani, a young local Hizbul Commander escalated the local unrest, reports suggest that the internal strife was brewing. advertisement ATTACKS TO RISE: SOURCES There have already been 30 deaths of security personnel reported till July 2016, whereas in all of last year 39 died. "With the way how things are going, more skirmishes are expected," said an official from the security establishment. The number of security personnel injured has also been on the rise. With 92 wounded in the first six months, the toll is nearing last year's figure of 103. Many of them have been injured in the recent clashes between protesting mobs and security forces following Wani's killing. PAK GENERATING LOCAL UNREST Two weeks of violence in the Valley has claimed 45 lives and left over 3,400 people injured. With successful infiltrations from across the border in 2016, Pakistan is using the strategy to generate local unrest. "This year in 2016, Pakistan's strategy has been to try and promote radicalization through the vested interest groups and social media so that this can be given the shape of civil resistance. Despite all this, the situation continued to improve. As a result of this the terrorist organizations got desperate and were incited to attack the security forces in Jammu & Kashmir," the home ministry stated in a parliament question. Compared to previous years, there is also a big rise in infiltration from across the border. While 90 attempts were made, 54 were successful. The success rate is much higher now. While in 2015, 29 attempts were made of which five were successful, in 2014 out of 29, terrorists succeeded five times. PAK DESPERATE TO HIT According to reviews done by intelligence agencies, the reason for increased terror activity could also be attributed to the fact that killings of militants have doubled this year making terror outfits in Pakistan desperate to hit back. Nearly 75 terrorists have been gunned down in 2016, while the number last year was around 35. There are around 145 militants active in Kashmir as of now and the number of local recruits is 91. Following the volatile situation in Kashmir with over 30 protesters dying in clashes, there have been at least five to six infiltration bids by Pakistan based terrorists, intelligence sources said. Intelligence sleuths have also intercepted chatter from across the border about infiltration plans. Also Read: Kashmir will never be a part of Pakistan: Sushma Swaraj hits back at PM Nawaz Sharif 43 dead, 3,600 injured in Kashmir Valley, Government blames Pak in Parliament advertisement --- ENDS --- The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to the Valley to take stock of the situation in the wake of deadly clashes that have left 46 people dead and 3,400 others injured. By India Today Web Desk: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Indian government doesn't want any "forcible" bond with Jammu and Kashmir but a relationship based on emotions. "We are not for a forcible tie-up with Kashmir but want to build emotional ties," Rajnath Singh told reporters while addressing a press conference in Srinagar, winding up a two-day visit to the restive Kashmir Valley. advertisement Here are the highlights Have asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible. Appeal the youth to not resort to stone-pelting Our government won't tolerate terrorism in any form. Appeal everyone to help restore peace in J-K Haven't said anything wrong, have just asked them (Pakistan) to refrain from interfering in internal matters of other country Will look into the suggestions made by Chidambaram ji, once normalcy is restored in J-K Pakistan's role isn't 'pak' (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour I have conveyed to J-K CM that if need be the injured can be sent to Delhi. Government will make sure that they are treated at AIIMS We will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in J-K Pakistan is in itself a victim of terrorism, it should not encourage violence in Kashmir Want to reiterate that if anyone has any grievances, it can only be solved through dialogue We don't need third party's involvement to address the situation that prevails in Jammu and Kashmir We will constitute a expert committee to find out ways to use of non lethal weapon. The committee will submit report in 2 months Want to make it clear that GoI does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir but a emotional relationship The minister's visit came amid street protests triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani which has left over 45 dead. Also Read: MHA to form an expert committee to look into alternative of pellet guns: Rajnath Singh --- ENDS --- This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD When British voters decided last month to leave the European Union, the seismic change reverberated more than 3,000 miles away. Throughout Stamford, investment professionals grappled with markets rocked by the fallout from the referendum. A number of firms that do business in the city saw their stocks plunge in the immediate aftermath. But Brexit, as it is known, did not shake Stamfords position as one of the East Coasts most important financial services hubs outside New York City. It comprises a crucial part of the local economy shaped both by growth of major firms and cutbacks among other companies. And local business leaders and public officials agree that they will have to keep improving the states economic climate if the city is to maintain its pull for firms in the sector. Overall, Id say the health of the financial services industry in Connecticut, including Stamford, is good and strong, said Catherine Smith, the states commissioner of economic and community development. But as goes the global market, so go financial services firms that do business here. We have to pay close attention. Struggles and success None of the financial services firms that do business in Stamford have announced changes to their local operations specifically in response to the Brexit vote. More Information A number of major financial-services firms have their headquarters or major offices in Stamford, including the following companies: Legg Mason, offices, 100 First Stamford Place Market capitalization (as of 11 a.m. Thursday): $3.5 billion Patriot Bank (Patriot National Bancorp), headquarters, 900 Bedford St. Market capitalization: $51.8 million Point72 Asset Management, headquarters, 72 Cummings Point Road Estimated net worth of Chairman and CEO Steven Cohen, whose assets are managed by firm: $11 billion RBS, offices, 600 Washington Boulevard Market capitalization: $29.7 billion Synchrony Financial, headquarters, 777 Long Ridge Road Market capitalization: $23.6 billion UBS, offices, 600 Washington Boulevard Market capitalization: $49.6 billion Source: New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, Bloomberg Billionaires index See More Collapse The headwinds that a number of those companies are weathering emerged well before Brexit. UBS has shrunk its operations in the city, decamping from the 720,000-square-foot UBS Center on Washington Boulevard to offices within RBS building across the street. RBS own retrenchment has opened up space within its Washington Boulevard complex, which serves as its American headquarters. The Edinburgh-based company has laid off about 120 Stamford-based employees this year, according to state Department of Labor records. In line with the strategy to make RBS stronger, simpler and more sustainable, we are reducing the size of the bank to focus on our core customers, products and locations, RBS officials said in a statement. This includes our trading and sales hub in Stamford. Messages left for UBS were not returned. Smith said that she was disappointed by RBS and UBS downsizing, but remained confident about their long-term commitment to Stamford. UBS has a deal with the state running through 2021 giving the Swiss company the incentive of a fully forgivable $20 million loan if it could keep 2,000 jobs in the state each year. UBS averaged only 1,792 jobs in 2015, according to state data. I follow those two companies in the announcement of their earnings, and theyve both been under considerable financial stress globally, Smith said. I try to remain in contact with them and stay supportive. Other financial services firms in the city have also faced recent travails that predate Brexit. CRT Capital Group made a significant number of layoffs last month. It attributed the downsizing to the failure to find a buyer for its remaining businesses after a number of its divisions were acquired earlier this year by another financial-services firm, Cowen. Other Stamford-based financial services businesses have carried on in recent weeks with minimal fallout from Brexit. We dont anticipate an impact now. I think the only question going forward is the confidence in the consumer, Synchrony Financial President and CEO Margaret Keane said in a speech last month after the British referendum. I think the biggest is the markets are back, so I think that will settle down. But obviously its something you always want to watch and understand. Stamford state Rep. William Tong, who is also co-chairman of the states Commission on Economic Competitiveness, expressed optimism about the post-Brexit prospects for Stamford and the rest of the state. The United States, and Connecticut, continue to be the most stable and predictable place to do business in the world, Tong said. To the extent that policy makers in the United Kingdom and Europe make decisions that create instability in those markets, I think were a very attractive destination for financial-services businesses. Brexit has also not disrupted the plans of some Stamford-based firms that are planning to grow. Point72 Asset Management, the family office that manages the personal fortune of billionaire hedge fund manager Steven Cohen, is expanding and renovating its headquarters in the Waterside section of the city. The project includes the construction of a new building for the firms real estate and facilities divisions. Point72 has a total of about 1,000 employees, about 550 of whom work primarily in Stamford. The capital expenditures would increase the Stamford campus capacity to more than 600. Stamford has been our home for a quarter-century, said Mark Herr, a Point72 managing director and head of the firms corporate communications. It has been a welcoming home. We have deep roots in this community. Thomas Madden, the citys economic development director, did not respond to a request for a comment. Looking ahead The long-term outlook for the financial services industry in the city has not changed drastically since Brexit. The sector accounts for approximately 14 percent of Stamford jobs, a number that has held steady in recent years. Stamford and other Connecticut cities main competition for attracting and keeping financial services firms doing business outside New York City still comes from Westchester County in New York, northern New Jersey, the Boston area and other states including North Carolina. Among the in-state obstacles to growing the economy, including the financial services sector, is the need for upgrades to the states congested roads and rail lines, business leaders and state officials said. Big companies are looking to be close to creative centers, and New York City is one of the great creative centers, said Joe McGee, the Business Council of Fairfield Countys vice president of public policy and the other co-chairman of the Commission on Economic Competitiveness. A 30-minute train ride from Stamford to Grand Central Terminal would reinforce that Stamford is a young, vital city. That is critical, quality-of-life issue tied to labor-force activity. Smith agreed with McGee about the need to improve infrastructure. She also cited an ongoing goal of trying to reduce the cost of doing business in the state. Tax cuts represent one way to achieve that goal, although Smith did not commit to pursuing that option. Amid the recent fluctuations in financial services, Jack Condlin, president and CEO of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, said he remains confident that the city will continue to remain a destination for firms in the industry. I dont think its anything to sound an alarm at this point, he said. Ten years ago, the financial institutions were chomping at the bit to come here, but right now theyre not. We have to be patient. Stamford is still a very desirable business address. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHILADELPHIA Not even the City of Brotherly Love can soothe a deep-seated rivalry among Connecticut Democrats torn between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. That division will be magnified with the opening gavel of the partys national convention Monday, with the number of pledged delegates from the state split between the former rivals. The factions have been assigned separate caucus rooms at the delegations hotel, the DoubleTree at the Philadelphia Airport, so they can hold private meetings. On the convention floor at the Wells Fargo Arena, delegates for Sanders are expected to sit together. Their mantra: Clinton needs us more than we need her. I personally think theres going to be a larger division than many of the establishment Democrats are willing to admit, said Nina Sherwood, a Sanders delegate from Stamford. Theres a ton of people in the Bernie community who are not going to vote for Hillary Clinton. Theres a lot of people who really dont like her and dont trust her. With the opportunity to party-build and hone their message comes a sense of urgency for Democrats to resolve the lingering schism from a tough primary campaign, not to mention repair the damage done to Clinton by her email scandal. The onus, they say, is on Clinton to pull the competing elements together so the party can focus on defeating Donald Trump. Clintons selection of Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate hasnt exactly ingratiated her with Sanders supporters. Many of them were complaining on social media about Kaines support of fracking and recent praises for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal between the U.S. and 12 Pacific Rim nations. Kaine, a former governor and former Democratic National Committee chairman, comes from the key swing state of Virginia. Fluent in Spanish, he is seen as more of a centrist than other contenders for Clintons vice president, including progressive favorite Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. I think there are some delegates that will never make their peace with Secretary Clinton, said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., a superdelegate and top fundraiser for Clinton. A lot of this is on the Clinton campaign that they hear Sanders. Clintons loyalists in the partys establishment wing downplayed the tension, including Himes, who said its highly unlikely Sanders delegates would heckle the former secretary of state the way Trumps supporters did to Ted Cruz last week in Cleveland. Id be surprised if there was anything of the magnitude of Ted Cruzs speech to the Republicans, Himes said. A 28-27 split In Philadelphia, there are 27 Sanders delegates from Connecticut and 28 for Clinton by virtue of her victory in the states April 26 Democratic primary. All but one of the states superdelegates, who are made up of statewide office holders, members of Congress and party leaders, committed to Clinton before the primary. The 16th was neutral. Democrats say no one brings the party together like Trump, who accepted the GOP nomination Thursday night in Cleveland. Im very hopeful, in fact, confident that we are going be strongly united going into this fall campaign because we have so much more in common than in conflict, and increasingly so as we watch where the Republican candidate is going, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a Yale Law School classmate of Clinton. Disharmony and disagreement are always a more interesting story than people cooperating and collaborating. I think the dynamic is very encouraging. At the delegations hotel, Clintons supporters are interspersed with Sanders supporters. But there are a number of events geared toward the Vermont senators progressive legions, including a Monday speech by Sanders. Theyre gonna kind of do what theyre told, Sherwood said of Clintons delegates. Theyre gonna follow the rules. The Bernie people are there for one reason to support Bernie. In addition to Sanders speech, there will be workshops tailored to his supporters on health-care reform and trade policy, including the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership. Sanders has been a unrelenting critic of the U.S. trade deal with 12 Pacific Rim nations. The partys platform committee, led by Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, balked at language opposing the deal that had been sought by Sanders supporters. People are not going to do work for her unless she really represents the people, Sherwood said. Elections arent won based on bashing people. Theyre won based on excitement and hope. Closing the divide Despite the competition between Clinton and Sanders, some delegates have already taken the opportunity to bond before coming to Philadelphia. Last weekend, Audrey Blondin, a top Sanders organizer and Democratic State Central Committee member, hosted a party for delegates on both sides of the divide in Litchfield. Were all Connecticut delegates, Blondin said. At this point, youre first and foremost (here) to represent your state. The past is the past and we must keep our eye focused on the ball. Michael Cacace, a Democratic National Committee member and Clinton superdelegate from Stamford, attended Blondins party. Frankly, I got the strong sense that we are going to have a very united delegation and I suspect by the end of the convention we are going to have a very united party, Cacace said. Leigh Appleby, a spokesman for the Connecticut Democrats, said the party is upbeat about the makeup of the delegation and that theres no vacillating on Trump. I think a lot of Connecticut Democrats do see Donald Trump as a threat to the future of this country, Appleby said. One prominent Democrat will be conspicuously absent from this weeks convention: Lori Pelletier, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. A three-time delegate and Clinton supporter, Pelletier contends that she was blacklisted for organizing a union boycott of the state partys June fundraising dinner over state employee layoffs. I do think the state party made a mistake, Pelletier said. Theyre the ones that are going to have to deal with that later. Theyre shorter on funds than they were two years ago. The party has denied that the union protest factored into Pelletier being left off the convention roster, which it says includes a number of labor activists. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy Ruban Sapru, a teacher in Srinagar is not comfortable about the current situation in Kashmir and wants the government to transfer him permanently to Jammu. Though he admits, he hasn't faced any problem in Kashmir, but he is part of an agitation by Kashmiri Pandits posted in Srinagar demanding a transfer to Jammu. By Naseer Ganai: For 73-year-old Bhushan Lal, nothing has changed since July 8 when protests broke out in Kashmir over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Muzaffer Wani. Lal, a retired teacher and a resident of the migrant transit camp for Kashmiri Pandit employees at Sheikhpora Budgam since 2008, is angry at the media for distorting truth, giving an impression that the Pandits are leaving the valley in droves for Jammu, in the wake of the current violence. advertisement CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH MUSLIMS "Look we have an excellent relation with our Muslim neighbours," he insists. "We didn't face any problem. We are getting vegetables and milk despite long curfew and strike and our Muslim neighbors are encouraging us to stay on," says Lal pointing toward a load-carrier laden with vegetables and milk. In fact, Lal is so wary of journalists that he insists this correspondent to show the notes to cross-check if he has been quoted accurately. He is also quick to admonish and silence people who add credence to the migration story by citing anecdotal examples, asking if they have actually witnessed them leave Kashmir. "Why are you speaking about something which you have not seen?" asks Lal. Also read: Kashmiri Pandits don't count, they are not a vote bank, says Anupam Kher STOP SPREADING LIES According to Arvind Bhat, a student at the University of Kashmir, Pandits and Muslims living in Sheikhpora have cordial relations for long. "During the 2014 floods, we helped each other," he says. He too directs his ire against the media for giving a voice to people who claim to speak on behalf of the community whenever a crisis strikes. "They are not the people living here. They don't have any idea about the ground situation or that of our relations with our Muslim neighbours. They have no right to speak on behalf of us," says Bhat. But others like Ruban Sapru who works as a teacher in Srinagar is not so gung-ho about the prevailing situation in Kashmir and wants the government to transfer him permanently to Jammu. Though he admits that he hasn't faced any problem in Kashmir, he is now part of an agitation by Kashmiri Pandits posted in Srinagar demanding a transfer to Jammu. ANOTHER VERSION: WE FEEL INSECURE "We have reports that the migrant camps at Haal Pulwama and Vesu in Anantnag and some places in north Kashmir were attacked by the mobs," he tells Mail Today over phone from Jammu. One of his colleagues, who wished to remain anonymous described the situation as "insecure" and insisted on a one-time settlement of Kashmiri Pandits. advertisement "Given the atmosphere in the valley you don't know what will happen and when. This makes us insecure", he adds. They have now given a joint representation to the Relief Commissioner, Jammu. Kashmiri Pandits invest mostly in the education of their kids and this is suffering due to the present crisis, he says. "Had we been living in big colonies with Muslims and other communities and been in higher numbers, we would not face any such issues of insecurity," he says. Vimal Pandita, a teacher in Kupwara, alleges that the police had to intervene to diffuse a tense situation at their camp. STONE PELTING IN PANDITS' CAMPS "Initially, stones were thrown. A mob then tried to attack and the police had to open fire to disperse it," Pandita tells Mail Today over the phone, adding that he was on a vacation in Jammu when the incident took place. Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara Ejaz Ahmad, however, has disputed Pandita's version. He insists there wasn't any attack on the camp of Kashmiri pandits in Kupwara. advertisement IT IS A LIE, POLICE SAYS "It is a lie, a big lie. Some of them had already left due to vacation, while others left on their own after protests erupted in Kashmir," he says. Agrees Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla: "Yes, there were protests in Baramulla after the killing of Burhan Muzaffer Wani. But I don't think any protester ever tried to go near a Kashmiri Pandit's camp. Not even a single Pandit faced any issue and there is no migration from the camp," says Mir. Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits: Modi government has no plan Onus on Kashmiri Pandits to return, nobody will come with begging bowl: Farooq Abdullah --- ENDS --- Families in Visakhapatnam hope for a miracle on the third day of the search operation for the missing IAF's AN-32 aircraft. By Ashish Pandey: Despite 48-hour-long strenuous search operation, the defence forces are yet to trace the missing AN-32 aircraft that went astray on Friday. Although the futile outcome has dampened the spirits of the relatives, they are clinging on the hope of a miracle. Six families from Visakhapatnam are eagerly awaiting for the return of their loved ones on the third day of the search operation. advertisement Sangeeta Singh (44), whose husband Bhupendra Singh was on board the aircraft, is anxious yet hoping for his return. Sangeeta last spoke to her husband who works at the Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Visakhapatnam, a Naval base of eastern command, on Friday morning. APPREHENSIONS SCALE UP Bhupendra who was in Chennai, told his family that he was flying to Port Blair, and will soon return home after finishing the work. The family's apprehension is growing with each passing day. Bhupendra's son who recently completed his B.Tech is very optimistic and is mostly consoling the family. He has been constantly assuring the family that the government is doing everything possible to search the missing aircraft and rescue those on board. All the six families have their kin working for NAD and were on the aircraft that was carrying 29 persons on board. The families are hoping that government will come out with a good news soon. --- ENDS --- A man has been charged with murder following the death of 20-year-old Bradley Quaresma who was fatally stabbed in Stratford. Portuguese national Mr Quaresma was knifed at the packed West Ham Lane Recreation Ground in front of horrified families on Thursday. Following his death, Mr Quaresma's family issued a heartfelt tribute, describing him as "a smart guy with a big heart." His relatives said: Bradley was a very friendly person. He was always keen to help others and the happiest person we have ever met. A smart guy with a big heart. Mario Albino Te, 20, of no fixed address, was arrested on Friday in connection with Mr Quaresma's death. He has been charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, and will appear in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday. Two teenage boys arrested on suspicion of murder remain on bail pending further enquiries. A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old are due to return on bail on a date in September. A young man has been rushed to hospital after he was repeatedly stabbed at an address in south London. Police and paramedics were called to a home in Wayside, New Addington shortly after 2pm to reports a 21-year-old man had been stabbed. A London Air Ambulance was also scrambled as part of the emergency response and landed in a nearby field. Police in Croydon said the young man was rushed to hospital by road as a priority after he suffered stab wounds. His condition remains unknown. No arrests have been made and enquiries continue. Police in Croydon were called to another stabbing in Thornton Heath just before 4pm. Officers attended an address in Langdale Road at the request of London Ambulance Service after a 20-year-old man was found with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to a south London hopsital where he is in a stable condition with non life-threatening injuries. Police said no arrests have been made and enquiries continue. F our girls as young as 15 are being held in police custody after teenagers stormed the McDonalds Marble Arch during a night of violence in London. The girls, all aged between 15 and 17, are being questioned about the disorder, which happened after a water fight in Hyde Park turned into a "riot". Three males aged 16, 17 and 18 were also arrested and released on bail. The teens were arrested after police released photos of suspects linked to the disorder that saw three people, including a police officer, stabbed. Police appeal for Marble Arch disorder 1 /6 Police appeal for Marble Arch disorder Anyone who knows the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Investigation Team on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police Anyone who knows the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Investigation Team on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police Anyone who knows the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Investigation Team on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police Anyone who knows the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Investigation Team on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police Anyone who knows the identity of those pictured is asked to call the Investigation Team on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Police A second officer suffered injuries from a flying bottle as officers tried to contain aggressive crowds in Hyde Park on July 19. The crowds spilled into the McDonalds, where they jumped over the counter and "trashed" the fast food restaurant whilst terrified staff reportedly hid. Seven of the suspects pictured in the appeal are yet to be traced. Police have released further images of people in connection with the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Contact police on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A teenager was rushed to hospital after he was found stabbed on a north London street. Police were called just 2am to reports of a man injured in Gladstone Avenue and arrived to find a youth, believed to be 17, with stab injuries. The boy was taken to an east London hospital by paramedics with injuries not considered life-threatening. Police said no arrests have been made and enquiries continue. A police cordon was put in place at the crime scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 A man has been rushed to hospital after he was struck by a council van while sunbathing in an east London park. The man, believed to be in his 30s, was rushed to hospital with a head injury after he was struck by a van in the barbecue area of London Fields. The incident happened just after 10.30 this morning at the Lansdowne Drive side of the Hackney park. London Fields is a popular spot for sun-worshippers as it is one of the few public green spaces in London that allows visitors to hold barbecues. London's air ambulance was scrambled and landed in the park, while police and ambulances rushed to the scene. Head injury: the man was taken to hospital as a priority / Francesco Fiori A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Landsdowne Drive at 10.35am. We sent multiple resources including air ambulance, an ambulance and a fast response car, and arrived on the scene in under four minutes. We took a patient with head injuries to hospital as a priority." Emergency: London's air ambulance landed at the scene / @janann24 A Met Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.38am, to reports of an injured man in London Fields, close to Lansdowne Drive, E8. "Officers attended the scene and found a man in his 30s with a head injury. He was taken to an east London hospital where we await an update as to his condition. "At this early stage officers believe that the male was run over by a vehicle as he lay on the ground in the park. Officers are not treating the incident as suspicious." A council spokesman said the park ranger was driving one of the council's smaller vehicles, and is believed to have been picking up rubbish when the incident happened. A police cordon has been put in place around the area, while the barbecue area of the park, which is run by Hackney Council, has been closed indefinitely following the incident. The local authority tweeted, saying: "Hackney Council London Fields BBQ area is currently closed due to an accident. Not yet known when it will reopen." A Hackney Council spokesman said: There was an accident this morning in the barbecue area of London Fields involving one of our parks vehicles and a member of the public. "They have been taken to hospital for treatment, and our thoughts are with them and their family. This is obviously a serious incident and both the police and ourselves are investigating. The barbecue area will be closed until further notice. T he father of a 13-year-old boy from north London who went missing five days ago tonight said he feels numb as police say they are increasingly concerned for his safety. Omar Bartocci from Wood Green was last seen at around 1pm on Wednesday after his school broke up for summer term. On Friday, police issued an appeal for Omars whereabouts following fears for his safety. His father Graeme Marsh told the Standard his sons disappearance has left him feeling numb. He said: Ive just tried to stay focused on achieving stuff every day and trying to get stuff done but it has made me feel numb. Missing: Omar Bartocci was last seen on Wednesday shortly after his school broke up for summer / Facebook Manila (Omars mum) has been up and down a bit more but shes very much the same. We have set up a Facebook page and weve also now got a WhatsApp group to widen the search as well as put posters up all over London. I dont know what to do with myself to be honest. Today I have been feeling emotional and Ive had a few breakdowns but I try to stay positive as much as I can. Police described Omar as being of small build and 5ft tall. He wears glasses and braces. He was last seen wearing black shorts, a black top with a Hindu symbol on the front, Adidas trainers with white stripes and was carrying a black rucksack. He was also riding a green BMX bike. He is possibly in possession of an Oyster card. Mr Marsh added: Omar we love you and you are not in any trouble all. There is no pressure on you we just want you to be safe. Anyone with any information as to Omar's whereabouts is urged to contact police on 101 quoting ref 16MIS031563 A man is fighting for his life in hospital after two jet skis collided on Loch Lomond. The collision happened at about 7.35pm on Saturday, and police rushed to the scene while the Loch Lomond rescue boat was dispatched. Family and friends hauled the man on to the island of Inchmurrin with the assistance of Loch Lomond National Park staff. He was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, where police said his condition remains "serious but stable". Loch Lomond is the most expansive body of water in the British Isles and Inchmurrin is the largest fresh water island. A statement on the Loch Lomond rescue boat website said: "The crew were advised of a male in the water who had been involved in a collision near to Inchmurrin island, sustaining serious injuries. "The crew launched immediately and proceeded to the scene. "Arriving on scene, the male was found to be still in the water suffering various injuries and been assisted to stay afloat by two persons in the water and with the assistance of the park authority staff. "The rescue boat crew then assisted in carefully removing the male from the water before taking over treatment and immobilising the patient. "Coastguard rescue 999 arriving on scene and was able to land on Inchmurrin island, with the assistance of the park authority transferred the male to that location where we continued to fully immobilise him on our vacuum mattress and give further medical treatment. "After a period of time the male was taken to the helicopter and loaded on board before been flown to Glasgow for further treatment. "Crew stood down after replenishing our used equipment at 8.50pm." A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "We got a call at around 7.35pm on Saturday to report that a man had been injured in the collision of two jet skis. "He was assisted by friends and family who managed to get him on to Inchmurrin island, and he was airlifted to Glasgow Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition." No details about the man's identity have been released by police. R escuers have reportedly recovered a body from the sea off Camber Sands as emergency teams searched for a London teenager. A huge emergency rescue operation was scrambled today in East Sussex after a 19-year-old man disappeared while in the water. Police, the RNLI and coastguard officials led the hunt after a call was received around 12.30pm. Pictures from the scene appear to show a body has since been recovered but it has not been confirmed if it is of the missing swimmer. At 9.30pm, the coastguard confirmed it had called off the search. A rescue helicopter is seen at the scene of a rescue operation in Camber Sands / Philip Smith In a statement they said: "After an extensive search of the Camber Sands area and the surrounding sea, UK Coastguard has called off the search for a missing swimmer who was seen struggling in the water earlier today." Police said two men were left fighting for their lives after they suffered cardiac arrests on the beach, having got into trouble in the sea. Both men were given CPR at the scene before they were rushed to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford where they remain in a life-threatening condition. Sussex Police said an operation to find the teenager was launched and dismissed reports the swimmers had been attacked by jellyfish after it was claimed they were stung. Inspector Mark Evans said: "We are working to establish who these two men are and trace their family and friends. We are continuing to support the coastguard and RNLI as they search for the 19-year-old man from London who who is still missing. "It seems this has been three people who have got into trouble while swimming with the changing tides and coastline." Julia Gosling of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency told The Independent there was a "good chance" the swimmer had drowned. She said: "There is a good chance the swimmer has drowned because they haven't been able to find them under water or across the beach. "Although survivability is higher in the summer, with the warmer water temperatures, there were definitely a lot of people around to see." Emma Watson was on the beach with her three young children when she witnessed the rescue. The 35-year-old care assistant, from Banstead in Surrey, said she saw people receiving first aid on the beach. She said: "It was absolutely horrific. The kids are now absolutely traumatised. "The tide was coming in rapidly, very quick. The current was very strong, it was very windy." D onald Trump has told of his shock after it emerged his presidential bid has been endorsed by Barack Obamas half-brother. Mr Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, tweeted Wow after Malik Obama said he would like to meet him in an interview with the New York Post. The presidents half-brother told the newspaper: I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. The newspaper reported that Malik Obama fell out with his brother when he did nothing to help his own political career in 2013 when he launched a bid for governor of Kenyan county Siaya. Speaking from his home in the Kenyan village of Kogelo, Mr Obama, 58, said he had switched support from the Democrats over disappointment in his relatives administration. He added the Democrats support of same-sex marriage had also caused him to drift away from the party. He told the New York Post: I feel like a Republican now because they dont stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me, he said The surprising revelation was quickly seized upon by Mr Trump who took to Twitter to inform his followers. He tweeted: Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else! The president didnt meet his half-brother until 1985 after his father left Kenya in 1959 when Malik was just a year old. M unich began to mourn the victims of Fridays shooting yesterday as names of those killed emerged. Candlelit vigils have been held outside the Olympia shopping centre where 18-year-old student, named locally as Ali Sonboly, went on a shooting rampage. A grieving father was amongst those who visited the scene where his son was killed as well as eight others, mostly teenagers. A further 27 people were injured in Friday's attack - 10 of whom are in a critical condition, including a 13-year-old boy. People mourn behind flower tributes near the Olympia shopping center / AP German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the tragedy had plunged Germany into "deep and profound mourning" that left a "night of horror" lying behind the people of Munich. The Munich-born killer is thought to have attempted to lure victims to a McDonald's with a fake Facebook profile, promising free food, before opening fire. Among the dead were two 14-year-old Kosovan girls, Armela Segashi and Sabina Sulaj, and their Turkish friends Can Leyla, 14 and Selcuk Kilic, 15, according to reports. A 17-year-old named in reports as Hussein Daitzik, of Greek origin, is said to have been shot dead as he heroically shielded his sister. People gather to read tributes among the flowers and candles / AP Another youngster, named locally as Guilliano Kollman, 18, reportedly died after being shot outside the McDonald's where Sonboly began his murderous rampage. On Saturday afternoon Naim Zabergja, a policeman of Kosovan heritage, visited the scene to lay flowers where his son, Dijamant, 21, was killed. According to reports the oldest victim of the killer was Sevda Dag, a 45-year-old Turkish woman. Sonboly was found dead by police following a suspected suicide. At a press conference Mrs Merkel said the events are "difficult to bear for everyone" and pledged to "find out the background" of what happened. She added: "What lies behind the people of Munich is a night of horror - we are still shocked by the pictures and reports of the witnesses. Victims: People leave the shopping mall after the mass shooting / AP Photo/Sebastian Widmann "Nine people who were going shopping on the Friday evening, or wanted to eat something, they are now dead- hit and killed by the bullets of one single perpetrator. "We are in deep and profound mourning for those who will never return to their families. The families, siblings, friends to whom everything will be void and empty today. Loading.... "I would like to tell them, in the name of many, many people in Germany, we share in your grief, we think of you and we are suffering with you. "Our thoughts also go out to the numerous injured people - may they recover quickly and completely - they will receive all the support they need. Shooting: The gunman lured people to McDonald's / NONSTOP NEWS via AP "Such an evening and such a night are difficult to bear for every one of us. They are even more difficult to bear because we have had so many different and difficult reports of horrors in the past few days." Officials said the killer used a 9mm pistol and had 300 rounds of ammunition in his rucksack when he went on what they called a "classic shooting rampage". There were indications the gunman had been in psychiatric care and treated for depression and articles about mass shootings were discovered when his flat was searched but there is no link to Islamic State. According to reports the killer had an "obvious" interest in Norwegian mass-murderer Anders Behring Breivik - who, five years to the day of the Munich attack, slaughtered 77 people. It is said that after 150 nautical miles East of Chennai into the sea, radar monitoring becomes weak and the pilots bound to Port Blair have two point zones from where they contact Air Traffic Control to inform their distance and flight status. A massive search operation on to locate the missing AN-32 of the Indian Air Force (Photo: PTI) By Pramod Madhav: The pilot of missing Antonov AN 32 which took off on July 22 from Tambaram Airforce base in Chennai had requested for a deviation from the designated route. Sources from Air Traffic control states that the last transmission from aircraft was a request to deviate to the right to avoid unpleasant weather around 8.46am and the plane allegedly disappeared by 9.15am. advertisement It is believed that during such flights, pilots generally deviate from the planned route to avoid turbulence. The distance between Chennai and Port Blair (Andamans) is 1362 km. The open flight over deep sea is one of the hardest without advanced navigation system but for which the IAF pilots are thoroughly trained for. It is said that after 150 nautical miles East of Chennai into the sea, radar monitoring becomes weak and the pilots bound to Port Blair have two point zones from where they contact Air Traffic Control to inform their distance and flight status. Another source form ATC stated that though the pilot requested a right turn, radar reports show that after the turn, the aircraft once again took a left turn and started to lose altitude rapidly. No Mayday call was made. The aircraft had fuel to fly for 4 hrs and 15 min and AN 32s have a general range of 2,500 km. 48 HOURS AFTER IT WENT MISSING, IAF AN-32 STILL UNTRACEABLE With over 48 hours gone by since the flight was reported missing, chances of survivors are considered bleak. As AN 32 was a cargo transport craft, it was not fitted with Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast systems which coercively determines aircraft position via satellite help and transmit report to ground control. Allegations have also risen that technical snags were reported on the missing aircraft in the past two weeks. Earlier a sluggish throttle movement, leak in the hydraulic systems and pressure leak from the port door were allegedly reported. But an officer from Tambaram base stated that no plane is allowed to take off unless 100% OK is given with the technical systems. The aircraft was part of the 33 squadron based in Sulur. SEARCH OPERATION UNDERWAY 13 ships, 2 Poseidon P8i and 2 Dorniers and an MI 17 helicopter have been deployed for SAR along with other ships, and the search operation is underway even the monsoon weather is unfavorable. The least point of search is 217 km East of Chennai based on last transmission from the aircraft. advertisement Speculations are coming up with a possible crash as the plane has gone missing for more than 48 hrs, specialists believe that a fire in the cabin could be a much presumably culprit disabling systems and thereby disengaging the crew from ground control. The incident has sparked debate on upgrading all defense aircrafts with advanced navigation and tracking system. Also Read Missing AN-32 aircraft: Families hope for a miracle IAF's AN-32 aircraft plunged from 23,000 feet before vanishing from radar, massive search on IAF AN-32 may have crashed, chances of finding survivors bleak: Defence sources to India Today ISRO to use radar imaging satellite to locate missing IAF plane --- ENDS --- A 16-year-old friend of the gunman who shot dead nine people on a murderous rampage in Munich has been arrested by police. The boy reportedly handed himself to police after the deadly attack on Friday evening which shocked the world. It is understood he might have known of the plans by the 18-year-old German-Iranian, identified in reports as Ali David Sonboly. German authorities said the teenager was a withdrawn loner who had been plotting the attack for up to a year. Officials said he had been a victim of bullying who suffered from panic attacks set off by contact with other people. The teenager had been seeing a doctor for treatment over a number of psychiatric problems which began in 2015 with inpatient hospital care, followed up with outpatient visits. Officers said medication for his problems had been found his room. Toxicological and autopsy results are still not available, so it is not yet clear whether he was taking the medicine when he embarked on his shooting spree on Friday. Investigators said the gunman had been bullied by schoolmates at least once four years ago, and had been fascinated by previous mass shootings. None of the bullies were among his victims, however, and none of those killed were known to him. Loading.... The attack took place on the fifth anniversary of the killing of 77 people by Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik, whose victims included dozens of young people. Additional reporting by agencies P olice in Florida Tasered a Pokemon GO player who resisted arrest when officers chased gamers out of a park after closing time. Tampa police said about 150 people were in Tampa's Ballast Point Park after it closed at dusk Thursday, with neighbours complaining there were still people there at 10.30pm. All parks in Tampa are open from dawn until dusk, but there are five "Pokestops" within Ballast Point, which draw gamers in after hours. Pokestops are places where players can visit to pick up important game features such as pokeballs and potions. Lieutenant Ricardo Ubinas from Tampa Police said everyone except David T. Mastrototaro-Baermude, 20, complied with officers' commands to leave the park. Mr Ubinas said that when police attempted to arrest him, Mastrototaro-Baermude grabbed an officer's arm. Police said Mastrototaro-Baermude then continued to resisting, almost pulling an officer to the ground, before the stun gun was used. Mastrototaro-Baermude was then handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of trespassing after warning and resisting arrest, police said. A Syrian refugee armed with a machete has killed a woman and injured a man and another woman during another shocking attack in Germany. Police said they were called just before 4.30pm after the 21-year-old man young man launched a savage assault on the woman, who was reportedly pregnant, outside a kebab house in Reutlingen, near Stuttgart. Police arrested the suspect and said the man is known to police. Witnesses said he was having an argument with the woman before he attacked her. Police arresting a 21-year-old man after a woman was killed in a machete attack / Reuters The motive for the attack remains unknown at this stage. Police spokesman Bjorn Reusch said the attack bore no hallmarks of a terrorist threat. He said: "According to current knowledge, it is a lone operator. A threat to the population in and around Reutlingen in the present state is not likely. Police provided a heavy emergency response to the incident in Reutlingen / AP An eyewitness told German newspaper Bild the attacker attempted to hide behind a police car before he was apprehended on the street. Pictures from the scene show a man in handcuffs with a weapon just yards away from him in front of horrified passers-by. They said: "The perpetrator was completely out of his mind. He ran with his machete behind a patrol car." Shocking: The latest attack comes after a gunman opened fire at a shopping centre in Munich and a teenager wounded five people on a train / AP The witness said a BMW driver ran the suspect over before adding, "he lay prostrate on the ground and did not move". Police confirmed the suspect was a Syrian refugee while the female victim is believed to have worked in the kebab house. The attack comes two days after a gunman opened fire at a shopping centre in Munich, killing nine people before he shot himself. On Monday, an Afghan teenager armed with an axe and a knife injured four people on a train in Wurzburg and another person as he fled the scene before he was shot dead by police. I n the glory days of Nineties weekend television, a few series truly stand out: Gladiators, Blind Date, and, of course, Robot Wars. The BBCs mechanical melee was a firm Friday night favourite with its key attractions: high-octane robo-battles, flamethrowers, and Craig Charles chainsaw-rev Scouse holler. While the original series went out with a whimper on Channel 5, its back with a bang on BBC Two for a highly-anticipated reboot. Even though its taking over the Top Gear slot on Sunday nights, Robot Wars is likely to be better-received than that other retooled series its just as good as you remember it being from back in the day. Wisely, the BBC havent changed much at all the nostalgia for the original show is all they need. That said, the robot battles themselves are more exciting than ever before. Technological advances in the intervening years mean that the amateur robots are faster and more powerful than ever, making the four-sided face-offs increasingly unpredictable. BBC Two's Robot Wars launch trailer The weapons are still the same though all hydraulic-powered axed, lethal spinning discs, and chainsaws. The arena, too, is pleasingly familiar, with unnecessary flames everywhere and the perils of the pit. One notable difference is the lack of Craig Charles hes been replaced as host by Dara O Briain. If his dulcet Irish accent seems a bit too lilting at first, dont worry there's a separate commentator on the battles who has nailed Charles excitable yell. 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 And what of the house robots? Sir Killalot, Matilda, Dead Metal, and Shunt are all retuning, faster and deadlier than ever though Sgt Bash hasnt made it out of retirement. If the battles are still thrilling, some of the behind the scenes stuff is still a bit slow. Even with an adult attention span, you cant help but wish theyd just get on with the fights but when they do, youll feel like its 1998 all over again. 3! 2! 1! Activate! BBC Two, 8pm A massive search operation on to locate the missing AN-32 of the Indian Air Force. By Pramod Madhav: The search for missing Antonov AN 32 which took off from Tambaram Airforce base on Friday morning has been intensified. The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre at Chennai has been coordinating round the clock surveillance towards search effort along with Southern Air Command of IAF, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Here is all you need to know about the aircraft: AN 32, considered as the work horse of Indian Airforce, extremely helpful in transporting cargo is well known for its capability to handle rough weather. The design derivative of AN 26, with engine nacelles placed above the wing allowed fixing of larger propellers and engines twice as powerful as on AN 26. The aircraft was designated to be well suited for operations in tropical regions and in unpredictable climatic conditions. The aircraft was chosen for the role of medium tactical military transport roles for the Indian Airforce which includes air-dropping cargo, passenger carrying, firefighting and paratrooping. The aircraft was inducted into Indian Airforce in 1984 and nearly 101 aircrafts are in service. But with the collapse of USSR, trouble in acquiring spares for the aircraft accumulated as the vital aircrafts' spare were manufactured in Ukraine which broke away from USSR. In 2010, following approval for upgradation, 40 AN 32s were upgraded in Kiev, Ukraine. But work got way delayed due to fighting in the Baltic country. AN 32 can fly at a maximum speed of 530 km/h and has a range of 2,500 km. It has a capacity to carry 50 passengers or a max takeoffs wait of 16,800 kg. advertisement The western alternative for AN 32 was C-2 Greyhound but it's payload capacity was reduced with a reduced body to be used extensively in supplying cargo to US Nimitz class aircraft carriers. The Indian Airforce had no idea of replacing AN 32s at anytime soon as more plans for its upgradation was underway. The first incident of a missing plane was reported on March 25, 1986 when an Indian Airforce AN 32 reportedly disappeared over Indian Ocean during a delivery flight from the Soviet Union via Muscat, Oman. With the recent reports of another missing AN 32 which was on its way from Chennai to Port Blair, serious questions about including modern navigation system into Coast Guard Aircrafts and Airforce Cargo flights are being discussed. Also Read IAF's AN-32 aircraft plunged from 23,000 feet before vanishing from radar, massive search on IAF AN-32 may have crashed, chances of finding survivors bleak: Defence sources to India Today ISRO to use radar imaging satellite to locate missing IAF plane --- ENDS --- The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association has announced the winners of its 2016 collegiate scholarships. This year, a total of over $15,000 is being awarded to seven students that are sons and daughters of MSOA members. The $6,300 Western Ideal/Hanover Shoe Farms/MSOA Scholarship will be divided between Sierra Manzi-Owens and Sara Zidek. Manzi-Owens will be a freshman this fall at Otterbein University, while Zidek will be a freshman at the College of Wooster. The $5,000 Meadows Standardbred Owners Association Scholarship will be split between Grace Paver and Brett Schoeffel. Paver attends Temple University, while Schoeffel is a student at Butler County Community College. This years $2,500 CSC Insurance/MSOA Scholarship will be shared by Cody Walters and Casey Hite. Walters will continue his education at Rosedale Technical School, while Hite will be a freshman at Bethany College. The $1,000 Dr. Barry C. Betts Memorial Scholarship, presented by LCM Nutraceuticals and the MSOA, has been awarded to Hunter Adams and Kassie Adams. Hunter is a sophomore at Otterbein University while Kassie attends Waynesburg University. The $580 Winning Key Farm/MSOA Scholarship has been awarded to Ryan Zidek. He will be a senior at Saint Vincent College this fall. The MSOA would like to not only congratulate this years deserving winners, but we would also like to thank all of our partners in helping us have a record year in terms of the number and amount of the scholarships we have been able to award, said Rich Gillock, MSOA president. Thanks to breeding donations and the generosity of all involved, we are able to assist these fine young men and women in their pursuit of a higher education, and we are proud to continue our program again this year. The recipients will be honoured in a winner's circle presentation at The Meadows Racetrack on Adios Day (Saturday, July 30). (MSOA) Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager not to bother applying because of her headscarf. By PTI: A 25-year-old Muslim girl in New Zealand was left embarrassed after she applied for a job at a jewellery shop and was told it was a "waste of time" unless she removed her hijab. Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager not to bother applying because of her headscarf. advertisement "I felt embarrassed as it took a lot of courage to walk into the shop and speak to the manager regarding a job, especially since I was afraid of the rejection," Alfadli said. Alfadli, who lives in Avondale, has been looking for a job after completing her diploma in applied computer system engineering. She said her aspirations for her life in New Zealand was to find a "safe" home for herself and her family, who settled in the country as refugees from Kuwait in 2008. "I can do any job, I don't mind, but I will keep my hijab, I will keep my identity, and respect my culture and my religion," Alfadli was quoted as saying The New Zealand Herald. She said she was told it was a "waste of time" if she would not remove her hijab. It was second incident at the jewellery store where in October former Kelston Girls College deputy head Fatima Mohammadi was turned away from an interview at the jewellery chains Henderson branch because of her hijab. Stewart Dawsons group chief financial officer Kevin Turner said he was "devastated" to learn of the latest incident. "The manager in question is new to the company, so she hadnt been with us for very long. Having said that she should have known better, she was not following company policy. We are taking this absolutely seriously, its not okay and we will be following it up in the appropriate manner," Turner said, adding that the company would apologise to Alfadli. Last year, Muslim-American woman Samantha Elauf successfully sued Abercrombie & Fitch when they refused to hire her because her headscarf apparently violated the company's look policy. The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, where justices ruled eight to one in Elaufs favour. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Visakhapatnam, Jul 23 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today laid the foundation stone for an MSME technology centre near here under a World Bank-funded programme. He said he has been visiting various countries to get investments so that Andhra Pradesh is able to compete with other states in the field of industrial development. Setting up of an industrial corridor in the region around Visakhapatnam district will help Andhra Pradesh become a hub of industrial activity in the country, he said. advertisement Naidu was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a facility to be set up under Technology Centre Systems Programme (TCSP) at Pudi village near here in Atchutapuram mandal. TCSP is a World Bank-funded project being implemented by Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Its main focus is to support industries, particularly MSMEs, through access to advanced manufacturing technologies, skilling manpower and providing technical and business advisory support to entrepreneurs. Naidu said the TCSP unit is being developed at a cost of Rs 140 crore. He also announced a development package for villages surrounding industrial centres in the district. Later, he visited the Brandix India Apparel City at Atchutapuram and interacted with workers. He asked the management of Brandix India Apparel City, recognised as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by the Union Government, to form a wage board for periodical hikes for its employees. Naidu also laid the foundation stone for 400 houses being built by the AP Housing Board for those who lost their dwellings in the 2014 Hudhud cyclone. He also inaugurated 200 houses built by Infosys. PTI COR RSY ABM BAS --- ENDS --- Wrestler Narsingh Yadav has failed the random dope tests conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency in July at the SAI centre in Sonepat. By India Today Web Desk: In a shocking development, Rio-bound wrestler Narsingh Yadav's Olympics dream seems to have crashed with him testing positive for steroid methandieone. But so far there is no official confirmation on this from the Wrestling Federation of India. Sources told India Today that Narsingh failed the dope tests conducted by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in July. It has also been learnt that both of the wrestler's samples have tested positive. advertisement NADA had conducted a random dope test on July 5 at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) regional centre in Sonepat - where both of Narsingh's 'A' and 'B' samples returned positive. The Director General of NADA, Navin Agarwal confirmed the reports and said that Narsingh's 'B' sample also tested positive for a banned steroid and he appeared before a NADA disciplinary panel yesterday. "Yes, he (Narsingh) tested positive for a banned steroid. His B sample was also found to be positive. Narsingh was personally present when his B sample was opened," NADA DG told PTI on Sunday. "He appeared before a disciplinary panel yesterday. The panel sought for more reports regarding the matter. We will proceed further and I am hoping that the panel will proceed quickly. Till then we will have to wait," he added. Asked if Narsingh will miss the Rio Olympics, Agarwal said, "It is too early to comment in that regard. We will try to complete the whole thing quickly. I cannot speculate on that." The wrestler won an Olympic quota place after winning a bronze at the 2015 World Championships. Then after fighting a lengthy legal battle with two-time Olympics medallist Sushil Kumar he got the Rio berth in 74kg freestyle category. Rio Olympics starts from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Srinagar, July 24 (PTI) A policeman, injured in the attack on a police station in Kulgam district on July 15, today succumbed at a hospital here, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 46. Constable Mudasir Ahmad became the second policeman to die in the violent clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. advertisement On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six cops including Ahmad.PTI MIJ DV --- ENDS --- Another busy two-day water tour is in the books, providing experiences and opportunities to participants of all ages and backgrounds. Wyoming Bureau of Reclamation Area Manager Carlie Ronca, as well as Wyoming State Engineer Pat Tyrrell, and Tom Hayden, superintendent of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources water office in Bridgeport, shared thoughts with the 42 tour participants. Local organizers also addressed activities and issues concerning their constituents. Robert Bob Busch, retired Mitchell Valley farmer, who was involved in the creation of the water tours in 1989, reviewed the changes and progress of the program. He said the idea was born of the belief that business people and farmers needed to know more and understand what was involved in getting irrigation water to the fields. Id come home from a tour, put on my irrigation boots, grab a shovel, and go to the field, he recalled. His efforts, as well as those of the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce AgriBusiness Committee, have paid off, he said. The tours make information available that most people in the community, including many producers, would never have access to. The tours have waiting lists each year. Also involved in tour scheduling and organization is the North Platte Natural Resources District, represented on the tour by General Manager John Berge. He updated the group on activities underway, or planned, for the NPNRD. These include increased use of technology to reduce costs in equipment, maintenance and man power, while increasing access to information critical to production operations. He said the main goal is to meet requirements of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, which is directed toward restoring the river to 1997 levels. This includes leasing and retiring irrigated acres, and finding other ways of recharging the aquifer through opportunities such as directing water through the irrigation canals to increase groundwater levels, prior to irrigation season, which was accomplished this year. During his presentation, Hayden reviewed the lawsuits that had hung over Nebraska and Wyoming producers for more than a decade. The arrival of Roger Patterson as director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and John Lawson as area manager of the Wyoming office of the Bureau of Reclamation, helped bring an end to the legal dispute several years ago. Water distribution in both Nebraska and Wyoming was addressed with mostly satisfactory results, that even though not perfect, were discussed and cleared up without involving the court system. It was a good settlement, Hayden emphasized. While in Casper, Wyoming, where the tour group spent the night, they visited the Bureau of Reclamation Wyoming office Wednesday morning. While there, they met with Area Manager Carlie Ronca who explained some of the activities necessary to run an operation that manages water in not only Wyoming and Nebraska, but also small parts of Montana and Colorado. Those two are power generation facilities. She said a lot goes on behind the scenes. The Bureau not only oversees distribution of irrigation water, but also generates power at most of the dams. The income from the sale of the electricity to the Western Area Power Administration provides enough income that the Bureau does not cost tax payers anything. Old structures must be maintained, which takes regular inspections and planning for necessary repairs or replacements. A lot of work on the dams must be done during the winter when water levels are low, she said. This means working in cold, damp conditions in order to have operations ready for the water season. We have confidence in our facilities, Ronca declared. Its the unknown that can cause problems. Mother Nature sometimes has different plans. Responding to a question about construction of new dams and or reservoirs, Ronca said it probably would not happen. One of the major issues with new construction is the cost. Ronca said the return in benefits would probably not out weigh the costs and environmental issues. Instead of new reservoirs, I think wed add on to what we have, she said. She cited the construction of the Pathfinder weir as an example. It added 54,000 acre-feet of space, making up for lost capacity, and creating an amount to meet several obligations, including conditions of the PRRIP. Ronca went on to explain that most of the dams and reservoirs were over-built. They were meant to have extra space, and deliveries are based on water rights. Tyrrell joined the tour during the noon break in Douglas. He addressed several items, including where Cheyenne gets its water supply, with a lot of it supplied through tunnels from the west slope of the mountains. He also explained how excess water in the North Platte system is managed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assumes management when levels in Glendo reach the flood pool. This is space set aside to hold water until it can be safely released downstream. When flooding potential is past, he said the water is released as soon as possible. Wyoming Governor Meads water strategy program was also covered. According to Tyrrell, one of the items is the creation of 10 dams in 10 years. He said this is not as impossible as it seems, because most of the dams are small and some were already on the drawing board or under construction. A bigger problem could be future funding, now that Wyomings main revenue sources, the energy sector of the economy have been reduced by more than half. Tyrrell also explained some of the issues that had developed this spring during the high water weeks along the North Platte River. He said the Gray Rocks Reservoir and associated power plant on the Laramie River near Wheatland, are a private enterprise, and consequently are not under direct control of either the state or the bureau. The Laramie River has always been a problem, Tyrrell said. And the state does not have a say in the plants day to day operations. They determine when they will make releases. Unless there is imminent danger, we are not involved. But we do have conversations, and ultimately it works out. The tour wrapped up with a stop at the Whalen diversion dam east of Guernsey where Tyrrell answered more questions and explained other operations. Those interested in joining the 2017 tour need to mark their calendars and watch for an announcement late next spring. A call for reservations is usually made in May, and they are filled within a few days. Call the Chamber office for more information, 308-632-2133. TORRINGTON, Wyoming The Goshen County 4-H Council is providing new opportunities for 4-H members. Because of the many outstanding senior members, the council established a scholarship program in 2015 to reward them for their many years of hard work and dedication to the 4-H program. Recipients must have been a 4-H member for the last three years or more, currently enrolled in Goshen County 4-H, and be a current year high school graduate. Other requirements include: applicants must be a member in good standing, and have submitted their current year portfolio (record book) by the county deadline. Applicants must also submit their completed application, transcript, and proof of enrollment for the fall semester. The application deadline is Sept. 30. Payment is made to the recipients after proof of spring semester enrollment is provided. Scholarships are awarded in the amount of $350, with the exception of two $1,000 scholarships. To qualify for these two scholarships, applicants must be members of the State 4-H Honors Club. The recipients will be announced at the county achievement program later this year. The application can be found at; wyoming4h.org/goshen4h/ The Goshen County 4-H Council Scholarship Committee invites all 4-H alumni to join them during the fair on Goshen County Day for an Alumni Appreciation Reception at 4 p.m., Thursday, July 28, in the Brand Room of the Rendezvous Center on the Goshen County Fairgrounds. All past 4-H members and leaders from anywhere in the United States are invited to come visit with old and new friends and reminisce and learn about the many opportunities in todays 4-H program. Proceeds from the Silent Auction, located in the 4-H Building during the fair, also help fund the council scholarship. Everyone is invited to check out all the great items donated by the 4-H clubs. On March 25, 2013, 88-year-old Lindsey Stikeleather went missing. Residents and law enforcement searched everywhere: old barns, wooded areas, abandoned homes. At first, they held out hope that they would find the missing man alive. As the hours ticked by, tips came in. None panned out. Deputies believed they knew who caused Stikeleathers disappearance. Bobby Joe Jackson, a Statesville man with a lengthy criminal history, was the last person to see Stikeleather alive. On March 27, detectives picked up Jackson. He led them to a bridge over Buffalo Shoals Creek on Eufola Road. Under the midnight moon, investigators descended a hill toward the creek. There the search ended with a gruesome discovery. Jackson was charged with Stikeleathers murder later that day. More than three years later, Jackson pleaded guilty in Iredell County Superior Court. He will now spend the rest of his life in prison. The crimes against Lindsey Stikeleather devastated the community. How could such a generous, kind man die in such a brutal way? As Stikeleathers granddaughter, Susan Rohrbacher, told the court during Wednesdays plea hearing: his last act on Earth was helping the very person that took his life. THE VICTIM Stikeleather spent his whole life in Statesville and built a reputation for respect and kindness, said Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell, who was a major with the sheriffs office at the time and heavily involved in the investigation. Stikeleather served in the Navy during World War II, and attended Concord Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and deacon. Kyle Goodman, a pastor at the church, said a grocery store in Statesville helped build his reputation. Stikeleather helped run the business -- Stikeleather Grocery -- with his brothers Grier and William Mack. Stikeleather also kept to a strict schedule, Goodman said. The pastor recalled Stikeleather attending Sunday school one snowy Sunday morning despite church being closed for the day. He had a perfect Sunday school attendance and the snow wasnt going to stop him from going, Goodman said with a laugh. He remembered Stikeleather as a quiet man who didnt say much in a group. But when he spoke, everyone listened, Goodman said. Everyone respected him and his faithful dedication. Stikeleather was generous man and thought nothing of lending a hand whenever he could. He would mow other yards in his neighborhood just to be kind, according to Rohrbacher. If someone needed something, he would help, Goodman said. That was the kind of person he was. The way he lived his life wasnt lost on his children and grandchildren. He taught each of us to be this kind of person by his actions and the way he led his life, Rohrbacher said in Jacksons plea hearing. In the years leading up to his death, Stikeleather owned rental properties. At one point, Bobby Joe Jackson was a tenant in Stikeleathers rental property on Deer Creek Trail. Stikeleather invited Jackson to his home for dinner on several occasions, and loaned him money. He even allowed Jackson to stay on the property when he couldnt pay rent. THE SUSPECT Jackson was considered a hard-worker and exceptional mechanic, said Harley Pool, a former acquaintance. Jacksons hands were his greatest asset. He could fix anything thats how good he was, Pool said. He could look at something thats broken and instantly know how to fix it. He was nice when I knew him; he didnt seem like the person he turned out to be. According to a court document, Jackson couldnt read or write and the highest level of education he completed was the sixth grade. Jackson was first convicted in 1997 of misdemeanor breaking and entering and larceny, according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Other convictions through the years included an assault on a female, possession of stolen goods and motor vehicle thefts. Former neighbor Linwood Small said he met Jackson in 2011. But Small kept his distance because Jackson seemed to act crazy, he said. Pool said something changed in Jackson after the death of a man named Billy who lived with Jackson in Stikeleathers Deer Creek Trail rental property. On March 18, 2013, Jackson was evicted from a rental home at 241 Mocksmill Road. He then moved into room 111 at the Economy Inn on Taylorsville Highway. MARCH 25, 2013 Jackson called Stikeleather at 12:45 p.m. and asked for help repairing a broken-down scooter. The scooter was in the parking lot of JR Factory Outlet in Newtowne Plaza on East Broad Street, Jackson told him. At some point in the hours after the call, Jackson told Stikeleather that an accomplice had his wife, Ruth, captive. It wasnt true, but Stikeleather didnt know that. Times are hard; you have money and I need it, Jackson told Stikeleather, according to Assistant District Attorney Mikko Red Arrow. Jackson demanded Stikeleather take out less than $10,000 from the bank so it wouldnt draw attention. During the robbery, Jackson kept a black and chrome BB pistol on his lap. Stikeleather believed it was a real gun. The two men drove off in Stikeleathers Jeep Comanche, and at 3:45 p.m., Stikeleather walked alone through the doors at the BB&T Bank on West Front Street. He approached the teller and withdrew $9,000. It was the last time he was seen alive. Stikeleather didnt immediately turn over the cash. He demanded to know that Ruth was OK. That defiance angered Jackson. Investigators believe that at some point that evening, the Jeep ended up at the Eufola Road bridge. The vehicle was then dumped about a mile-and-a-half away at the intersection of Lamb and Lewis Ferry roads. Later that evening, Jackson visited a man named Richard Beasley who lives on Lamb Road. While the men were together, Beasley noticed Jackson had a white envelope stuffed with cash, some of which was wrapped in bands marked with $1,000. Beasley asked about the money, and Jackson mentioned a deal gone bad. At some point during the visit, Jackson stashed his BB gun under Beasleys couch. He also buried a portion of the money on the property. Jackson then gave Beasley $40 for a ride to an unknown destination. Later that night Jackson gave a portion of the money to a man named Preston Kirk Long, who hid it somewhere along Airport Road. At 9:37 p.m., Stikeleathers daughter, Pam Marlowe, reported her father missing. The family last saw him about 1 p.m., she told authorities. It was unusual for him to be gone that long. Soon deputies released the description of Stikeleathers Jeep over a 50-mile radius of Statesville. Numerous agencies joined in the search. Sheriffs office K9 units, the Iredell Search and Rescue Team, the N.C. Highway Patrol helicopter and community residents helped. Our goal was to find him alive we were in life-saving mode, said Iredell Sheriffs Maj. Andy Poteat. The search went on around the clock, and we wouldnt even change our clothes, he said. Deputies main concern: Jackson was the last person who had contact with Stikeleather. MARCH 26, 2013 That night, deputies found Jackson at a convenience store on Newton Drive. When questioned, Jackson told the deputies he contacted Stikeleather earlier in the day looking to buy land on Windforest Drive. Jackson also told deputies that he asked Stikeleather for a ride to the Yamaha shop on West Front Street to buy a part to fix his scooter. Stikeleather dropped him off at the shop, then left to go back home, Jackson told them. After the interrogation, deputies released Jackson, but made plans to keep up with him. We were keeping close tabs on him, Campbell said. He knew he was a person of interest and we kept applying pressure. Around noon on March 26, Stikeleathers abandoned Jeep was found. Detectives noted a strong odor of kerosene inside the vehicle. Later that day, they searched the Jeep and recovered items such as two empty BB&T bank envelopes, various tools, a kerosene-filled water bottle and a shovel. Investigators knew there was no reason for Stikeleather to be traveling in the area where the Jeep was abandoned. About 3:30 p.m., detectives found Jackson again, and he agreed to come to the sheriffs office for another interview. When pressed, Jackson admitted he didnt tell the truth in the interview the night before. Jackson told investigators that he knew it looked bad that he was the last person to see Stikeleather, and that he was trying to distance himself from the situation. He also told them that he had received a ride the day before from a man named Chris, who deputies later learned was really Richard Beasley. At 7:38 p.m., detectives obtained a search warrant for Jacksons hotel room. Inside they found several pairs of gloves, Harley-Davidson apparel and items for an infant, including diapers, a diaper bag and a baby wipes container. MARCH 27, 2013 Deputies placed a GPS tracking device on Jacksons scooter. The monitoring revealed that Jackson traveled to Airport Road around 6 p.m. before heading to Davidson Mini Storage Warehouse on Buffalo Shoals Road. That night, Jackson met with detectives again and during questioning in the cruiser, he admitted to stealing the money. He also led them to the body. Under the bridge on Eufola Road, detectives were met with the worst possible outcome to the case. It was a lifeless Stikeleather, covered in blood. Detectives later learned that after Jackson struck Stikeleather in the head with a large rock, he left the scene. But he returned with a box cutter and sliced Stikeleathers throat. Jackson was charged with murder, robbery, kidnapping and extortion. Preston Long was charged with accessory after the fact to first degree murder and common law obstruction of justice. His charges are still pending. If convicted, he would face the death penalty. GUILTY PLEA CLOSES CASE After years of legal moves that saw appointed defense attorneys come and go, everything was set for the capital murder trial to begin Monday. But in a move that surprised even Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite, Jackson entered a guilty plea on July 20 to all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, 231 months for kidnapping, 204 months for robbery and 59 months for extortion. He has 14 days from the time of the conviction to file an appeal. The move came after attorneys received inconclusive mental evaluations of Jackson. During the plea hearing, Stikeleathers family members had the opportunity to address the court. Daughter Lisa Eidson stared down her fathers killer during her statement. I keep hearing what a terrible life you have had Not one thing you have been through in your 48 years of life can ever justify what (you) did to my father. The life you took from this world had so much more value than many will ever know. TIMELINE Unless otherwise noted, all dates are from 2013. MARCH 18 Jackson is evicted from his home at 241 Mocksmill Road. He soon moves into room 111 at the Economy Inn on Taylorsville Highway. MARCH 25 12:45 p.m.: Jackson calls Stikeleather asking for help with a broken down scooter. 3:45 p.m.: Jackson threatens Stikeleather, demanding money and saying an accomplice has his wife held captive. Stikeleather withdraws $9,000 from the BB&T on West Front Street. 9:37 p.m.: Stikeleathers daughter, Pam Marlowe, reports her father missing to the Iredell County Sheriffs Office. She tells authorities she hasnt spoken to him since about 1 p.m. that day. Also on this day: Jackson and Stikeleather go to a bridge on Eufola Road, and Jackson hits Stikeleather in the head with a large rock. Jackson leaves the scene and returns a short time later to cut Stikeleathers throat. Deputies find Jackson at a convenience store on Newton Drive and question him. He is later released. Authorities release information to surrounding counties to be on the lookout for Stikeleathers 1990 Jeep Comanche, while community members join in the search for the missing man. Richard Beasley gives Jackson a ride for $40, and later reports seeing Jackson with a large sum of money. Jackson gives friend Preston Kirk Long the money to hold. Portions of the money are later found along Airport Road. MARCH 26 5 a.m.: Jackson washes his clothes in a Statesville laundromat, discarding some items in the process. 12:15 p.m.: Stikeleathers Jeep is found abandoned at the intersection of Lamb and Lewis Ferry roads. 3:30 p.m.: Detectives locate Jackson again and he agrees to come to the sheriffs office for another interview. He admits to not telling the truth about where he was the day before. He is released. 6:07 p.m.: Detectives obtain a search warrant for Stikeleathers Jeep. 7:38 p.m.: A search warrant is issued for Jacksons hotel room. MARCH 27 A GPS is placed on Jacksons scooter, which later reveals that he travels to Airport Road and Davidson Mini Storage Warehouse on Buffalo Shoals Road. After his sister insists he turn himself in, Jackson is taken into custody. MARCH 28 12 a.m.: Jackson accompanies deputies to Eufola Road, where Stikeleathers body is found under the bridge. Soon after, Jackson confesses to the killing. 5 p.m.: Detectives obtain a search warrant for Jacksons storage unit. Also on this day: Jackson is officially charged with the kidnapping, robbery and murder of Stikeleather. A medical examiner performs an autopsy on Stikeleather and finds the cause of death to be blunt trauma to the head, while noting a gaping incised wound to the neck. APRIL 4 9 a.m.: Detectives obtain a search warrant to get a mouth swab from Jackson for DNA purposes. JULY 20, 2016 With less than a week to go until jury selection begins in his capital murder trial, Jackson pleads guilty to kidnapping, robbery, extortion and murder. He is sentenced to life in prison. Editors note: The information in this account was taken from interviews, court records, Bobby Joe Jacksons plea hearing and past media accounts. 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By Rahul Noronha: Renowned painter SH Raza was laid to rest at his native Mandla town on Sunday. SH Raza had passed away at a private hospital in Delhi following age related complications. The acclaimed painter, who depicted concepts like 'bindu', 'purush-prakriti' and 'nari' in his instantly recognisable geometric abstract works, passed away in New Delhi on Sunday. SH Raza was interred next to his father Mohammed Razi at a graveyard in the Bijhiya locality in Mandla town on the banks of the Narmada river. It was Razas wish to be buried in Mandla. advertisement Collector Mandla, Preeti Maithil and SP Rahul Kumar were present at the funeral. The police accorded a guard of honour during the funeral. RAZA'S LIFE Born in 1922 in Babaria in Mandla district to a forest ranger father, Raza took to drawing at the age of 12. After high school, he enrolled at the Nagpur School of Art (1939 43), followed by the J J School of Art in Mumbai (1943 47), before moving to Paris to study (1950-1953). He was awarded the Padma Shri and Fellowship of Lalit Kala Akademi in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013. Raza, credited for popularising Indian concepts and iconography, had built a towering legacy of modern art. Raza, who lived most of his life in France, was conferred in 2015 the Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur, the highest French honour for his artistic contribution. He was a co-founder of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group together with greats like F N Souza, K H Ara, M F Husain, H A Gade, S K Bakre and others. DEMISE MOURNED His demise was mourned by a string of artists and connoisseurs of art. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday expressed grief over Raza's death. In her message, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had described the artist's death as a huge loss for the world of art and the country. (With Inputs from PTI) ALSO READ: S H Raza passes away; 10 things you must know about the legendary artist --- ENDS --- Dad takes time off to stay home with a sick kid. Can the boss legally fire him? Maybe. A woman seven months pregnant asks the boss for light duty. Instead, he assigns her to lift 70-pound boxes onto a truck. Can a mean boss get away with that? Maybe. The boss notes that a new mother on his staff is very devoted to her baby. So, the boss mentally puts her on the mommy track, demanding less of her but also crossing her off the list for promotion. Is that legal? These kinds of questions are increasingly being answered in courtrooms. Family responsibility discrimination cases have more than tripled over the last decade, according to the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California Hastings School of Law. Its the fastest-growing area of employment law, said Joan Williams, the centers director and a law professor. The cases involve what happens when a persons family life pregnancy, illness and the need to care for others conflicts with work. There is good news for workers: They win 67 percent of cases that go to trial, according to the Center for WorkLife Law examination of 4,400 cases. Verdicts and settlements average $477,000. A workers first protection comes from the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. It allows a worker to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year to deal with sickness to the worker, or the workers spouse, child or parents. Parents can also take it to care for a new or adopted baby. (Baby leave is available to fathers as well as mothers.) But that safety net has some big holes. Only about 60 percent of workers are covered. It applies only to companies with 50 employees within 75 miles of the worksite. To be covered, a worker has to have been employed for a year, and worked 1,250 hours in the past year or about 24 hours a week on average. Workers can take it to care for themselves, their spouse, child or parents. Except for in the case of new babies, the workers have to show a serious health condition to get leave. In other words, you can stay home with a kid with cancer but probably not for a kid with an upset stomach. In between is a lot of gray. Rafael Gely, a law professor at the University of Missouri, notes a line of cases involving things such as ear infections. Does an achy ear justify medical leave in a judges eyes? Some said no, and some said yes, Geller said. Generally speaking, the illness has to be bad enough to keep a person out of action for three days if not treated. Employers can demand a note from a doctor describing the condition. Workers also have to give advance notice when they can. Employers arent allowed to discriminate against or fire a worker for taking leave. Thats where much of the trouble starts. Absent employees cause problems for the boss. A worker can take the 12 weeks all at once or intermittently, causing unpredictable disruption at work. Employers must maintain the workers health insurance during leave, and they cant fire somebody for running up their insurance bills. Kathleen Marez was a supervisor at Saint-Gobain Containers, which makes glass bottles in Pevely. She took about a months medical leave in the summer of 2007. The next January, she told her boss that she would take another leave to care for her husband after upcoming surgery. Two days after telling her boss, she was fired. Her employer said it was for foul-ups on the job. But other supervisors had made the same mistakes without being fired as Marezs attorney pointed out. Marez said she was fired for wanting to care for her husband. In 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals in St. Louis upheld a verdict against Saint-Gobain for $413,000. Unequal treatment That gets us to another difficulty with the Family and Medical Leave Act. Employers rarely say, Were firing you for taking family leave. But there are plenty of other reasons to fire someone. So, plaintiffs attorneys look for unequal treatment with other employees who made the same goofs. Timing matters. Firing someone two days after a leave request looks like cause and effect, but courts have also upheld claims against companies that waited two months to fire someone. Workers do well to keep their noses clean at work. They have a better chance of winning in court, notes Pauline Kim, law professor at Washington University. Bad performance reviews can justify a firing. Workers can hurt themselves by being closed-mouthed with their employers. They may call in sick so frequently that the employer fires them. Only then do they mention the serious illness that was keeping them out. They dont know to say the magic words serious health condition, Kim said. In 1978, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, declaring that discriminating against women because of pregnancy or childbirth is illegal sex bias. The act has a strange and strained interpretation from the courts. Boiled down: If the boss acts like a slave driver with everyone else, he can be a slave driver to pregnant women. Hes a non-discriminating tyrant. But if he shows a little mercy to anyone with a physical problem, he has to give the same break to the pregnant. So said the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving UPS, which demanded that pregnant women do heavy lifting. UPS requires that its drivers be able to lift 70-pound packages. When Peggy Young, a part-time driver, became pregnant, her doctor told her that lifting more than 20 pounds would be dangerous, and she asked for light duty. UPS said no, even though it offered light duty to people injured on the job and with other disabilities. The delivery company put her on unpaid leave, and she eventually lost her health insurance. Thats illegal, the court said. The key is whether the employer grants a break to anyone similar in their ability or inability to work. If so, then the pregnant get the same accommodation. Because injured UPS workers can get out of heavy lifting, so can expectant women. The principle stretches beyond hefting boxes. For instance, if an employer lets a man with a bad back start work late so he doesnt have to sit in rush-hour traffic, he has to let a woman with morning sickness come in late, too. The employer can wiggle out of that obligation if it shows a non-discriminatory reason that it cant accommodate a particular woman. But excuses such as Its too expensive or Its inconvenient or Shes a pain in the neck wont cut it. Reasonable accommodations Of course, the boss has the alternative of being equally heartless to everyone within limits. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for disabled workers. Pregnancy isnt a disability, legally speaking. But Williams, the law professor, says some provisions of the ADA can be applied to a pregnancy that is causing problems at work. For instance, a cashier who normally stands at work can be entitled to a stool, or a place nearer the bathroom. In 2013, Jennifer Price won a $35,000 verdict against UTI Logistics of Moberly, which fired her after a difficult pregnancy with twins that kept her bedridden. The company said she had exhausted her family leave, but Price claimed her firing was pregnancy discrimination forbidden under the ADA and Missouris human rights statute. Illinois state law requires reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees no matter what. Those include more bathroom breaks and rest breaks; private space for expressing breast milk and breast-feeding; seating, transfer to light duty and a modified work schedule. But Illinois employers also have an escape hatch if they can show an undue hardship that is prohibitively expensive or disruptive. Federal law also forbids employers from discriminating against mothers, Williams says. That means no mommy-tracking. They cant treat fathers any differently than mothers, she said. Rohtak Police has managed to arrest three of the five accused Amit alias Bittu, Jagmohan alias Dhaula alias Raju and Sandeep, all natives of Bhiwani district so far, but Aakash, along with Mausam, is still absconding. By Sneha Agrawal, Ajay Kumar: The families of the three accused in the Rohtak gang-rape case staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar claiming to have been falsely implicated in the matter and demanded fair investigation into the process. ALL THE ACCUSED HAVE ALIBIS Harbans Fogat, the younger brother of Jagmohan and one of the accused in the matter, said, "We have given the CCTV footage to police that show Jagmohan, Sandeep and Amit in different locations on the day of the incident." Jagmohan's family claimed that he was not in Rohtak anytime during the entire day on July 13, 2016. advertisement The CCTV footage includes his presence at a bank where he went to withdraw money. There is a withdrawal slip and they also claim that the bank officials have given their statement clarifying that Jagmohan was present at the bank on that day. The family claims to have proofs of Jagmohan's presence in Bhiwani for the entire day. Amit's family has also presented evidence of his presence away from Rohtak on the day of alleged incident. He went to his nephew's school to pick him up around 12 o'clock and there is a CCTV grab to prove this. Sandeep's wife said that on July 13, he took a train (Ekta Express) for Ambala at 4.20am. There are evidences of his presence at various locations in Ambala and Kurukshetra on that day and the next day too. She claims to have CCTV footage that shows Sandeep in Kurukshetra, minutes before he was allegedly abducting the girl in Rohtak. Rohtak Police has confirmed that it received CCTV footage from the family of the accused and the forensic report is awaited. Prashant Mali, advocate and cyber expert said, "CCTV footage is incriminating evidence. It is possible to tamper with CCTV footage but only if the footage is personally accessible. It is highly unlikely that they can manipulate the footage captured from a bank or a school. If anything like that has happened, it can be found through forensic investigation. Also, I think in these cases, the most clinching evidence is tower locations of the accused. A case can be easily cracked on the basis of this evidence. And if the tower locations of all the accused show locations different from the alleged place of crime, it definitely raises doubts." SIT TEAM FORMED Amid huge protest by the families of the accused, local police however are still clueless about the prime accused named Aakash, who is still at large and they have no information on him. Senior Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Arya, has constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) in this matter for thorough investigation. advertisement 2 ACCUSED ABSCONDING They have managed to arrest three of the five accused Amit alias Bittu, Jagmohan alias Dhaula alias Raju and Sandeep, all natives of Bhiwani district so far, but Aakash, along with Mausam, is still absconding. "The arrested accused were produced before district court on Friday which has sent them to a four day police custody. The process of interrogation is underway to ascertain locations of the remaining two accused", said an official spokesperson of Rohtak police. He added: "Though, we are yet to record the statement of the victim the prima facie investigation reveals that these three accused were involved in the gang-rape in Rohtak. Since, we have no information on Aakash, we have announced a bounty of Rs 10,000 on his head". According to Bhiwani Police, Sandeep, Mausam and Aakash were involved in the 2013 gang-rape in Bhiwani and Aakash is since then absconding. The victim had earlier claimed that she and her family were pressurised by accused's families to withdraw the case registered in 2013. They had also offered Rs 50 lakhs to settle the case. Also Read: Woman gangraped by 18 men near Gurgaon advertisement Congress tears into Khattar government on gangrapes --- ENDS --- Warwickshire Police are appealing for witnesses or information after an attempted rape in Bidford-on-Avon on Friday night (Friday 22nd July). An 18 year-old woman was walking on High Street around 11pm when two unknown men grabbed her and tried to take her to the churchyard on Church Street. The victim managed to free herself and both men then left the scene in the direction of High Street. The suspects are described as two men. The first man was believed to be aged around 30-35 years old, of thin build and approximately 6ft tall. He is described as wearing a black hooded top, a black cotton bandana covering his nose and mouth, light grey jogging bottoms and red and black trainers. The second man is described as being in his mid 20s, of thin build and about 5'3" tall. He was described as wearing a plain black hooded top, a black bandana with a white skull jaw and mouth design covering his mouth and nose, plain black tracksuit bottoms and plain black trainers. Both males were also believed to be wearing thin black cotton gloves. Detective Inspector Jonathan Belcher said: "We are taking this incident very seriously and are eager to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour to please come forward. "I would also like to reassure local residents that incidents of this nature are very rare, and we currently have additional officers working within the area to investigate this offence and to provide reassurance to the local community." Anyone who witnessed the incident or any suspicious behaviour in the area is asked to call Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 483 of 22 July 2016. Alternatively, information can be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org By PTI: New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The Supreme Court collegium is learnt to have recommended transfer of two judges from Rajasthan back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Centre said it is not advisable to have several judges from the same high court in another high court. Justices Jaishree Thakur and Anupinder Singh Grewal were transferred to Rajasthan from the Punjab and Haryana High Court soon after they were elevated as judges from the bar. After their transfers, the number of judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court posted at the Rajasthan High Court had risen to five. advertisement The other judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court posted at the Rajasthan High Court are Justices Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, Sabina and Nirmaljit Singh Kaur. Sources in the government said a few months back the Centre had told the SC collegium that it is not advisable to have so many judges from one court posted at another high court. When the collegium recommended elevating Justice Thakur and Justice Grewal from acting judge to permanent judge, it had informed the government that steps will be taken once the two are elevated. Now, it has recommended the transfer of the two judges back to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the sources said. While the Punjab and Haryana High Court has an approved strength of 85 judges, it is functioning with 46 -- a shortage of 39 judges. The Rajasthan High Court, on the other hand, has sanctioned strength of 50 judges but is functioning with 31 and faces a shortfall of 19 judges. PTI NAB SK CPS --- ENDS --- TORONTO, July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Several physicians recognized for their contributions to clinical research and advances in the treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease today called for immediate changes to how healthcare professionals approach the management of the disease. Citing statistics that show a lack of diagnosis and use of currently available prescription medicine proven to have important positive clinical impact, Gary Small, M.D., and Rachelle Doody, M.D., Ph.D., said that better education of primary care doctors to eliminate misconceptions is a critical first step to give people with Alzheimer's disease a "fighting chance." They emphasized that drugs that affect the cholinergic system are the only drugs shown to have a positive impact on all stages of Alzheimer's disease this has been established by two decades of clinical trials and real world observational studies. Furthermore, they also pointed out new data published by Dr. Harald Hampel, M.D., Ph.D., supporting important, new information on the role medicines targeting the cholinergic system may have in Alzheimer's patients. According to the Alzheimer's Association and published research: 46.8 million people worldwide1 and 5.4 million people in the United States2 are thought to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, with the numbers expected to reach 120 million globally by 2050. Less than 50% of affected individuals are correctly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease3. Less than 25% of the diagnosed patients receive treatment4. If prescribed treatment, less than 50% of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease remain on therapy after 4 years5. "It is unfortunate that only a minority of primary care doctors believe they have received sufficient training to diagnose the disease," commented Dr. Small, Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. "We see patients regularly for whom the diagnosis of Alzheimer's was missed. Unfortunately, the result is people with the disease are not getting treated. This robs them of the ability to perform everyday tasks independently and maintain quality of life. We must change this now. We know that research to find a cure is important. But so, too, is clinical research of medicines that can make an impact sooner." "Unfortunately, there is a general misconception among some doctors and patients that cholinesterase inhibitors do not provide much benefit," said Dr. Doody, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center at Baylor College of Medicine. "Years of study have shown that they do, and, therefore, it is very important to treat patients to preserve as much cognition and function as possible it is important to treat them immediately after diagnosis to slow down progression of symptoms. This improves the quality of life for individuals and families affected by the disease." "Results of our recently published brain imaging studies add to the growing amount of clinical and scientific evidence that supports the importance of the cholinergic system in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Hopefully, we will soon get additional innovative compounds and therapies that will further enhance the cholinergic brain system. Companies like Axovant and others are in the late-stage development process of such novel compounds. If they are successful with the development of these compounds, then we believe they could be used in combination with standard of care therapies that we have today. That's really good news for patients and caregivers," said Dr. Hampel, Professor at the Department of Neurology, Marie Curie University and AXA Research Fund Excellence Chair (Sorbonne Universities), and representative of the Hippocampus Study. In summary, some of the most prominent physicians in the field of Alzheimer's disease call for immediate action: patients consulting their physicians about possible early signs of Alzheimer's disease, physicians carefully assessing these patients, and in case of positive diagnosis prescribing appropriate medications targeting the cholinergic system to ensure maximum benefit. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States6. For more comments from Dr. Small:https://youtu.be/jQZunM9fbkA For more comments from Dr. Hampel: https://youtu.be/mb_G3HtnFHg Funding for this initiative was provided by Axovant Sciences Ltd. Axovant Sciences Ltd. (NYSE: AXON) is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics for the treatment of dementia. Axovant intends to develop a pipeline of product candidates to comprehensively address the cognitive, behavioral and functional components of dementia and related neurological disorders. Our vision is to become the leading company focused on the treatment of dementia by addressing all forms and aspects of the condition. Media Contacts:Scott Stachowiak or Victoria Meissner, M.D.Russo Partners, LLC (646) 942-5630 (646) 942-5627 [email protected] [email protected] Investor/Media Contact:Jonathan Neely Head, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Axovant Sciences(212) 634-9744 1 https://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics 2 http://www.alz.org/facts/overview.asp 3 Solomon PR and Murphy CA. Geriatrics 2005;60:2631 4 Small G and Dubois B. Curr Med Res Opin 2007;23:2705135 Data on file6 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alzheimers-experts-call-for-end-to-under-treatment-of-disease-300302936.html SOURCE Axovant Sciences Ltd. MIAMI, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, today announced the official opening of the Arison Maritime Center, its world-class facility dedicated to providing rigorous safety training for its bridge and engineering officers responsible for the navigation and operation of the world's largest fleet of cruise ships. The new 75-million-euro facility in Almere, Netherlands, just outside Amsterdam, was celebrated with a ceremony honoring longtime board chairman Micky Arison and his father Ted, founder of the company, that was attended by the company's global leaders, board members and government, community and business officials. The centerpiece of the seven-acre campus is a new and more than two-times-larger Center for Simulator Maritime Training Academy (CSMART), Carnival Corporation's world-renown maritime training, professional development and research facility that began operations in Almere in 2009. The center will feature bridge and engine room simulators that utilize the most innovative technology and training solutions in the maritime industry, modeled closely after the technology and practices used in the airline and other industries. "The opening of the new Arison Maritime Center and expansion of our CSMART Academy is a major milestone in our company's history and an exciting day for all of us at Carnival Corporation," said David Christie, senior vice president of maritime quality assurance for Carnival Corporation. "The safety and comfort of our guests and crew is our most important priority, and the Arison Maritime Center underscores the depth of our commitment to making sure our ships sail as safely as possible. Our bridge and engineering officers are the heart and soul of our ship operations, and this center takes to a new level our dedication to providing our officers with the maritime industry's most comprehensive and progressive safety training." Added Christie: "With 10 cruise line brands sailing 11 million guests a year to over 700 ports around the world, we take tremendous pride in having a team of highly trained, skilled and prepared officers operating the bridges and engine rooms on our ships. With the new Arison Maritime Center and CSMART Academy officially up and running, our tradition of excellence and continuous improvement in safety training is stronger than ever." At 110,000 square feet, the environmentally friendly facility is more than double the size of the company's current facility, allowing Carnival Corporation to provide annual training to over 6,500 officers and engineers across the company's 10 cruise line brands. It will also include an advanced medical center and an 11-story, 176-room hotel for Carnival Corporation trainees. World-Class Training at CSMART AcademyThe CSMART Academy will feature four full-mission bridge simulators and four full-mission engine room simulators designed to provide a wide array of programming and simulated exercises that can recreate an extensive range of maritime scenarios. The new five-story facility will also include 24 part-task engine simulators, eight debriefing rooms and eight part-task bridge simulators -- all designed to provide participants access to the visual elements of 60 ports around the world including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Singapore and Glacier Bay, Alaska. The state-of-the-art technology provides high-quality maritime training services that reflect real-world scenarios and sea conditions including ship traffic, aircraft interference, weather events and wildlife circumvention. Modeled after the newly designed bridge of the Koningsdam from the company's Holland America Line, CSMART Academy's full-mission bridge simulators provide an authentic shipboard experience for participants to build skills in navigating complex control and automation systems. Like the bridge simulators, the full-mission engine room simulators are based on actual ship layouts and systems, scaled to size and representing a diesel electric engine room comprising six diesel generators and two propulsion motors, along with ancillary and auxiliary equipment. The simulators allow trainees to navigate their way around the actual engine room of a ship to operate and repair equipment, with the genuine sights, sounds and even temperatures found in a cruise ship's engine room. The new facility and team of highly experienced CSMART Academy instructors have developed a curriculum that sets the industry standard for safety and maritime training and keeps pace with advances in ship technology, fostering critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making and confidence. The CSMART Academy has played a leading role in developing and refining a function- and team-based bridge and engine room management system on a large scale. This approach is based on roles rather than ranks, with officers operating as a coordinated team, with each officer assigned a role for specific functions. It also includes encouraging team members of all ranks and seniority to speak up to challenge or question a decision. In keeping with the faculty team's leadership, the Arison Maritime Center will provide the additional space needed to implement the industry's first Proficiency Training and Assessment (PTA) program. The week-long course is based on a specially developed curriculum that annually refreshes and then evaluates each of the corporation's maritime officers. With its scale, technology and equipment, and innovative training approach, the new facility will be the most progressive maritime center of its kind in the world for training and continually improving industry-wide safety and excellence. Honoring Ongoing Legacy of the Arison FamilyFollowing a speech by Carnival Corporation's CEO Arnold Donald at today's ceremony, the center was dedicated to honor the legacy of the Arisons, the first family of cruising. Micky Arison has been chairman of the board of directors for Carnival Corporation & plc since 1990. He began his career at Carnival Cruise Line in 1972 and was appointed chairman of Carnival Corporation in 1990, a title he still holds today. Considered one of the most respected leaders and experts in the cruise industry, Arison's vision and leadership played the central role in building Carnival Corporation into the world's largest cruise company and helping grow cruising from a niche holiday to one of the most popular vacation experiences available. His late father, Ted Arison, founded the company in 1972 with one ship with the firm belief that cruising is one of the best ways to enjoy a vacation and a commitment to making cruising available to people from all walks of life. Referred to by The New York Times as "the godfather of the modern cruise industry," he is credited with building cruise operations that give travelers the opportunity to enjoy a cruise vacation with prices that range from affordable to upscale. Today, the company has 101 ships, over 120,000 employees and welcomes 11 million guests annually. About one of every two travelers who go on a cruise vacation do so on a Carnival Corporation ship. Investing in Training through an Investment in the NetherlandsThe official grand opening of the center was commemorated today with a ceremony, tours and a celebration at the facility attended by Carnival Corporation's global leadership team and board members as well as government officials, including Maarten Camps, secretary general of the ministry of economic affairs for the Netherlands, and Franc Weerwind, Mayor of Almere. Carnival Corporation worked with Dutch property group AMVEST Vastgoed B.V. to purchase the seven-acre plot of land in Almere Poort called the DUIN, a planned business and residential community in Almere, one of Europe's newest and fastest growing cities. The center's campus and buildings were designed by Dutch architect Paul de Ruiter, and the Dutch construction company Dura Vermeer built the CSMART Academy and hotel. The design and construction were built to meet rigorous environmental and sustainability standards that will achieve "LEED Gold" certification, and the campus will fit esthetically into the Duin environment, per AMVEST'S original plan for the development. Carnival Corporation and the Arison Maritime Center, including the CSMART Academy, produce a significant economic impact in Almere and the greater Amsterdam region. It is estimated that Carnival Corporation and the Arison Maritime Center will generate an annual estimated economic impact of up to 17.5 million euros for the local community and region. Additional information on the new Arison Maritime Center can be found at http://csmartalmere.com/NewCsmart.aspx, including details on the CSMART simulators and training facilities. About Carnival Corporation & plcCarnival Corporation & plc is the largest leisure travel company in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia comprised of Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK). Together, these brands operate 101 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 225,000 lower berths, with 15 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2016 and 2020. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P500 and the FTSE 100 indices. Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.fathom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com,www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au, and www.pocruises.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/389632 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-corporation-opens-arison-maritime-center-for-world-class-safety-training-300298796.html SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MTPConnect The Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Industry Growth Centre today launched its Draft Sector Competitiveness Plan (Draft SCP), a 10-year strategic plan to boost the innovation, productivity and competitiveness of Australias medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical (MTP) sector. By vigorously tackling barriers to success, through traditional and non-traditional means, MTPConnect is charged with driving the sector to new heights in the global market. The draft plan, created in consultation with the sector, identifies priority areas for growth and importantly, outlines how to achieve it. Sue MacLeman, CEO and Managing Director of MTPConnect, said, Growth of the Australian economy in the 21st Century will depend on our ability to develop high-skill, value-adding industries that can compete in the global marketplace. While weve had some great success stories of companies making it onto the global stage, we still have a lot of work to do, particularly in later stage product development and commercialisation. We need to build on our achievements and collaborate further to translate our good ideas into marketable products. By addressing the key issue of information exchange, along with well-known barriers including policy and regulatory impediments MTPConnect will help to create a more productive commercialisation environment, solve some of Australias own healthcare issues, and transform a lot of small companies into more mature companies that are stable and successful. MTPConnects Draft SCP has identified seven Sector Growth Priorities, each addressing specific elements of the MTP value chain. They are: Identify and promote Knowledge Priorities focused on current and future market needs Create a highly productive commercialisation environment from research to early clinical trials and proof-of-concept Transform the SME sub-sector to support the growth of smaller companies into larger, more stable and successful companies Support the development of digitally enabled MTP solutions: devices and data analytics Strengthen Australia as an attractive clinical trial research destination Position Australia as the preferred partner for emerging Asian markets Support advanced manufacturing as a part of the broader Australian innovation ecosystem For more information, you can download the Draft SCP at http://www.mtpconnect-scp.org/. MTPConnect is holding stakeholder discussion and seeking feedback on the Draft SCP through a series of events, with the view of presenting its final Sector Competitiveness Plan in Q4, 2016. Background Information The size of Australias MTP sectorThe MTP sector is a significant contributor to the Australian economy, generating approximately $4.4 billion in gross economic value added (4.5% of Australias total manufacturing gross value added),i $4.0 billion in annual exports from manufacturingii and employing 48,000 people across medtech (c.10,000), biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals (c.22,000),iii and health and medical research (c.16,000).iv About MTPConnectMTPConnect was formed as a not-for-profit organisation in November 2015 as part of the federal governments $248 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative to accelerate the rate of growth of the MTP sector to achieve greater commercialisation and establish Australia as an Asia-Pacific hub for MTP companies. MTPConnect is an independent and trusted voice, calling for change to support the sector. It fosters collaboration and competition, aggregates existing knowledge and shares it with the broader sector. Finally, it jointly funds projects that address the Sector Growth Priorities and the constraints and gaps identified in the sector. The MTPConnect Head Office is located at the New Horizons Building at Monash University, co-located with CSIRO and industry. There are also key hubs at the University of Sydneys Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology and the Medical Device Research Institute at Flinders University at Tonsley in Adelaide. i CY2015. Australian National Account ABS 5206; ABS 8155 (for apportions) and ABS Census data (for apportions); L.E.K. analysis. Includes ANZSIC codes 1841, 2411 and 2412. The percentage has been calculated based on manufacturing as the ANZSIC codes for the MTP sector fall within the broader manufacturing sector of the economyii FY2015. ABS 5368; L.E.K. analysis. Includes Standard International Trade Codes 541, 542, 872 and 884iii Department of Industry, Innovation and Science supplied ABS data; ABS census data; L.E.K. analysis. ANZSIC Codes 1841, 2411 and 2412 are includediv c.8,000 in the university sector - NHMRC and Excellence in Research data, L.E.K. analysis; and c.8,000 working in medical research institutes (MRIs) and other medical research centres AAMRI Enhancing the commercialisation outcomes of health & medical research, 2012 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160724005007/en/ Media contact WE Buchan Cristina Whittington, +61-3-8866-1204 [email protected] Source: MTPConnect ORLANDO, Fla., July 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NCLR (National Council of La Raza) announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously voted in favor of policies aimed at reducing gun violence in the nation. The position, a first in the organization's 48-year history, was announced at the 2016 NCLR Annual Conference during the National Affiliate Luncheon, a gathering of the nation's Latino leaders representing NCLR's Affiliate Network of almost 300 community-based organizations. The announcement comes after the nation has experienced a series of mass shootings and other incidents of gun violence, most recently the horrific events in Orlando, Baton Rouge, St. Paul, and Dallas. "Our announcement today comes as we hold our Annual Conference in Orlando, the site of the largest mass shooting in our nation's history, which took the lives of 49 innocent people, most of whom were Latino," said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguia. "The tragic event at Pulse nightclub changed Orlando and it has changed NCLR. Today, by formally adopting this position, we join with the vast majority of Americans calling for an end to gun violence and we will urge policymakers to adopt common-sense measures to reduce mass shootings and gun violence, saving countless lives." The NCLR Board of Directors adopted a position to reduce gun violence that includes the following elements: Reasonable restrictions on the acquisition of firearms and ammunition consistent with the protection of the civil rights of all Americans, including support for universal background checks. A ban on assault weapons. Collection and analysis of data related to gun violence to understand causes and develop prevention strategies. In addition, NCLR will continue its work to expand the availability of bilingual and culturally appropriate mental health services, including violence prevention approaches, to all who need them. "These are common-sense steps that are long overdue. And it is incumbent on NCLR to give voice to the growing concern in our community over such violence," concluded Murguia. NCLRthe largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United Statesworks to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter. Contact:Julian Teixeira[email protected] (202) 776-1812 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nclr-adopts-policy-position-in-favor-of-reducing-gun-violence-300303028.html SOURCE National Council of La Raza Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government fire weapons during a battle with IS fighters in Sirte, Libya, July 21, 2016. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - "When everyone shouts 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Great) I know that a tank or a cannon will fire." So says Reuters photographer Goran Tomasevic, who has been travelling to Libya since the 2011 revolution, seeking to capture the pain and politics of a country at war with itself. His latest photographs, from the coastal city of Sirte, can be seen at http://reut.rs/2anKEnl Since early May, Libyan fighters have been waging a stop-start battle to recapture Sirte from Islamic State. After advancing rapidly to the edge of the town, for the past few weeks they have been struggling to break down the resistance of militants encircled in the city centre. The force is mainly composed of brigades from Misrata, a port city about 250 km (155 miles) north west of Sirte. Misrata gained fighting experience and power from its prominent role in the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. "I am constantly following the Libya story and I am in touch with few friends in Misrata since 2011 - they keep me updated," Tomasevic says. "My goal is to cover the final battle for Sirte." Islamic State took control of Sirte - Gaddafi's hometown - last year. The militant group turned the city into its North African stronghold, extending its control along about 250 km (155 miles) of Libya's coastline. Libyan officials say a few hundred militants are left in the city, including highly trained snipers who have inflicted heavy casualties on the Misrata-led forces, some of whom come to the front in flip-flops or jeans. Tomasevic says capturing the battle requires "more and less constant running and shooting pictures with small breaks between. If one group of fighters slows down I would go to check another group." "It is very difficult for me to communicate with the fighters because I don't speak Arabic and most of them they don't speak English. Most of the communication is by gesturing or shouting when the accurate IS fighters start firing." The latest surge by the Misrata-led brigades, which are aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government, came on Thursday. They said they took ground on several fronts, but at a cost of at least 25 dead and 200 wounded. "After sending the pictures I went straight to bed. All day running in the sun made me sick," said Tomasevic. Like the fighters, he has to compete with temperatures well over 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), though food and water are delivered into the thick of the battle. "It was challenging to shoot the pictures, I pushed very hard and I did not get what I really want, but I am still happy because I am covering such important story," he says. (Reporting by Goran Tomasevic; Writing by Aidan Lewis Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.) SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's defense minister said on Sunday there had been a rise in violations of its airspace by Russian military and commercial aircraft in the past month, calling the alleged breaches a "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". Nikolay Nenchev told Bulgarian television channel Nova TV that Russian military aircraft had entered what he termed "Bulgaria's area of responsibility" in NATO airspace four times in the past month. He said the planes had turned off their transponders communications devices that, alongside normal radars, make it easier for an airplane to be located, especially in congested air space. "It is very worrying, so we take preventive measures," Nenchev said. Any unauthorized entry of an aircraft required the scrambling of Bulgarian fighter jets, he added. Russian passenger planes breached the airspace six times in the past month, he said. Bulgaria had demanded an explanation from Moscow over the violations, Nenchev said, describing the incidents as "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". The Russian Defence Ministry was not immediately able to comment when contacted by Reuters. In January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to "take all necessary measures" to ensure NATO airspace was not violated. His comments came after Turkey shot down in November a Russian warplane flying a sortie over Syria that it said had violated its airspace, triggering a diplomatic rupture in which Russia imposed economic sanctions. Last September, Bulgaria denied Russian aid flights bound for Syria entry to its airspace, citing it had serious doubts about the cargo onboard. Bulgaria, a former Communist state and once staunch ally of Moscow, is almost entirely dependent on Russian energy supplies, and many Bulgarians feel a deep affinity for their giant neighbor across the Black Sea. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Additional reporting by Alex Winning in Moscow; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) YEREVAN (Reuters) - A soldier from the breakaway region of Nagorgo-Karabakh, which is controlled by pro-Armenian separatists, was killed and another was wounded on Saturday as a result of shooting from Azerbaijan's side, Nagorno-Karabakh's defense ministry said. A Moscow-brokered ceasefire halted four days of violence in the South Caucasus region in April, the worst flare-up in years, but sporadic shooting is still frequent. (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Susan Thomas) While, the marginally improved weather aided the search with deployment of additional assets, rough sea conditions are still posing challenge. By Manjeet Negi: Search operation for Indian Air Force's AN-32 aircraft, which went missing with 29 people on board on Friday, continues uninterrupted for the third consecutive day. A total of 12 India Navy ships, 4 Indian Coast Guard ships along with 17 aircraft from Indian Air Force have been mobilized in a massive search operation in the Bay of Bengal. advertisement Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was in Chennai yesterday, undertook a two-hour aerial survey of the area of operation. He instructed that more resources could be diverted for the purpose if necessary. FINDING AN-32 While, the marginally improved weather aided the search with deployment of additional assets, rough sea conditions are still posing challenge. Various other Government agencies have also been requested to provide satellite imagery of the area to aid the operations which will continue till further review of the situation. Meanwhile, the government informed the family of all personnel who were on board that the operation is underway. The aircraft with 29 people on board went missing over Bay of Bengal soon after taking off from Chennai for Port Blair. The plane took off from Chennai's Tambaram aircraft at about 8:00 am and was scheduled to land at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands around 11:20 am. The plane's last known contact with the ground control was at 8:46 am after which it vanished off the radar screens. ALSO READ: All 29 feared dead as IAF AN-32 goes missing over Bay of Bengal, massive search on Missing IAF plane: All you need to know about the AN-32 aircraft --- ENDS --- 'Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues,' the Daily Times said in an editorial. By Indo-Asian News Service: Slamming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for saying he was waiting for the day Jammu and Kashmir will join Pakistan, a Pakistani daily on Sunday urged him not to indulge in "wishful thinking". "Such statements are nothing more than rhetoric," the Daily Times said in an editorial. "Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues," it added. advertisement Pakistan's official stance on Kashmir is that it extends moral support to the Kashmiri struggle for freedom and will continue to raise its voice for their right to self-determination. "This stance is commendable but making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate," the daily said. "By uttering these words, the PM is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also." The daily said that talking about Jammu and Kashmir's accession with Pakistan was easy but nobody knew how to make it happen. "It could only happen through talks or war. There is no other solution... Kashmiris are already paying a heavy price for this conflict. "What can Pakistan offer to Kashmiris when it is still coping with numerous challenges that are posing a threat to its own stability?" The editorial said that instead of talking about capturing more land, Islamabad needed to make Pakistani-governed Kashmir a model state. Islamabad hold the northern state of the divided state. For the last 67 years, Pakistan had failed to ensure good governance in its own Kashmir, known as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir", it said. The daily urged India and Pakistan to resolve their bilateral issues amicably. "They need to get engaged in the dialogue process to pave the way for further talks to help find common ground to end differences... "Both Pakistan and India governments must take pity on their respective people and come to the negotiating table for striking a permanent peace deal." Also Read: Waiting for the day Kashmir joins Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif needles India again Pakistan announces 'black day' over Kashmir, don't interfere in our issue, India hits back Chidambaram to India Today: Jammu and Kashmir needs unique political system --- ENDS --- By PTI: Colombo, Jul 23 (PTI) Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today accused the countrys print media of backing the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a view to see him back in power. Addressing his United National Party (UNP) members in the central district of Kandy, Wickremesinghe said he would name the media personnel who had benefited during the Rajapaksa presidency and who are now bidding for his return. advertisement He named the Daily Mirror, the English daily, and its Financial Times daily, for allegedly favouring Rajapaksa. He said the Daily Mirror had called for the removal of Mangala Samaraweera, the foreign minister and the Financial Times was trying to undermine the governments economic management. "I have no issues of media becoming critical of the government, do it as you please but do not try to call for the return of rogues," Wickremesinghe said. "If they are trying to topple this government and bring him (Rajapaksas) back, we are ready for it," he said. Referring to the Rajapaksa groups opposition protest march from Kandy starting next week, Wickremesinghe said, "Let them walk, we are ready, we too can bring people to the streets". Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka from 2005 to January 2015. PTI CORR SUA SUA DK --- ENDS --- You have to be 18 years old to beat the censorship block on YouTube. But Te Pukes Wendy Dukes claims she and her family got Kanye West and 11 others bollocky, unblurred and uncensored at a family restaurant in Papamoa recently. Solutions to the housing problems in New Zealand will be a key item at this years National Maori Housing Conference being held in Tauranga. Tauranga Moana National Maori Housing Organising Committee chairman Puhirake Ihaka says hes pleased the conference is being hosted in Tauranga Moana from September 29 to October 1. Party Leader and Northland MP Winston Peters says how dare Silver Fern Farms board chairman Rob Hewett say to media the co-ops financials arent good when less than one year ago, his board had no clue theyd end up with an 86 per cent improved profit and slash debt by 18 per cent. Do these people only attend board meetings to eat the biscuits? Whats more, Mr Hewetts board and advisors said last year that things were so dire the co-op faced an immediate risk of receivership or liquidation. Funny how in 2016 those two words are missing from his vocabulary about tough times. If shareholders want another reason why this deal is bad now and would be diabolical later, it is Chinas ugly reaction to steel dumping. Fonterra and Zespri are being held by the short and curlies and Silver Fern Farms board wants to put its shareholders into the same bind. What would Chinese control do for our largest beef market - the United States? Yet while Mr Hewett is at it, maybe he can explain the $7m fund to meet the co-operatives directors fees and related costs into the future. Or why half of a co-op worth $627m, is actually being sold for $50m? Winston says Rob has not been straight with shareholders or workers. Given a near mythical $261m sum the media have swallowed like Kool-Aid, may or may not appear, until after the Chinese control all major decisions including the Board itself. Shareholders need to also ask themselves this - do they trust the Chinese Communist Government, for thats who this gutless board wants to hitch them up to, Winston says. Source: Winston Peters Office. The story of a Tauranga mans near-death experience has prompted calls for more life-saving heart defibrillators to be positioned strategically around the city. A non-smoking, moderate-drinking and pretty fit 53-year-old Cliff Tolley suffered a heart attack late last year. Warner Bros look to go the MCU way by unveiling quite possibly the funniest trailer from DC. By India Today Web Desk: With about a week to go for its worldwide release, Warner Bros hits us with the final trailer of Suicide Squad. The film follows Amanda Waller as she puts together in her words 'a bunch of bad people, who I think can do some good'. She puts together a team of some of the most dangerous super-villains to fight for humans. advertisement ALSO SEE: Gal Gadot blazes in all her glory in new trailer of Wonder Woman film The squad includes Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith), Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and the Joker (Jared Leto). There's a lot of talk surrounding Jared Leto's portrayal of the Joker which follows the epic act of Heath Ledger's in The Dark Knight. From the bits in the trailer, the audience is excited about Leto's rendition to the iconic comic book character. The film is directed by David Ayer, who has previously directed gritty action-dramas like End of Watch, Fury. This is his first film in the superhero universe. The film has been subject to re-shoots, after the dismal reviews Batman v Superman got for being grim and serious. Suicide Squad hits theatres worldwide on Aug 4. Here's the final trailer: --- ENDS --- A German GP who works with palliative patients has visited the Bay of Plenty to learn about the local approach to future care planning. Dusseldorf resident Dr Kornelia Hoppi Gotze spent two weeks travelling New Zealand learning about, and undergoing, future care planning training. Prime Minister John Key today announced Tonga Prime Minister Samuela Akilisi Pohiva will visit New Zealand later this week. I am very pleased to welcome Mr Pohiva to New Zealand on his first official visit as Prime Minister, Mr Key says. New Zealand and Tonga have a strong relationship, built around our long history of cooperation and the significant Tongan population in New Zealand. As one of our closest neighbours, working together to advance Tongas development objectives with support from our aid programme is a key priority, Mr Key says. Mr Pohiva will visit New Zealand between 27 30 July and will be formally welcomed in a ceremony at Government House in Auckland on 28 July. During his visit Mr Pohiva will take part in a wreath laying ceremony at Auckland War Memorial Museum and visit Tongan workers in Nelson who are part of the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme. SOURCE: Office of John Key CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. -- An Arizona teenager who went missing earlier this week in Oswego County has been found, state police said. Morgan LaRose, 16, was visiting family at a home on U.S. Route 11 in the village of Central Square when she went missing Tuesday. State police did not say what circumstances LaRose went missing under or if she suffered from any medical conditions. Sunday afternoon, troopers in Hastings, Oswego County, reported they had found LaRose "in good health." State police did not say where LaRose had been or where they found her, but she is now back with family members. "We would like to thank you for your assistance," state police said in a news release said. The asylum-seeking Syrian man had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people. By Reuters: A 21-year-old Syrian refugee killed a woman with a machete and injured two other people on Sunday before being arrested in the southern German city of Reutlingen, a police spokesman said. The asylum-seeking Syrian man had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to other people, he said. The spokesman had no immediate information on when the man arrived in Germany, or when the previous incidents took place. advertisement The assailant was apparently acting alone, the police official said. "There is no danger to anyone else at this time," he told Reuters. ALSO READ: Watch: Conversation with Munich shooter minutes before he opened fire German officials call for stringent gun laws post Munich attack --- ENDS --- SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- A man kayaking on Skaneateles Lake died Saturday afternoon in an apparent drowning, the New York State Police said. At 3:18 p.m. troopers, the Skaneateles Fire Department and SAVES ambulances responded to a report of a possible drowning near Tamarack Trail in Mandana, a hamlet on the west side of Skaneateles Lake in the town of Skaneateles. State police said a man was kayaking on Skaneateles Lake when the kayak overturned and he went underwater. The man was found and brought to shore by residents in the area, who began CPR. The man was rushed to Auburn Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. State police said they will not identify the man until his family has been notified. Troopers are continuing to investigate the death. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. Hangar_Theatre_Third.jpg David Patterson as Woodson Bull, III, and Dee Pelletier as Laurie Jameson in a scene from Hangar Theatre's "Third" (Hangar Theatre/Rachel Philipson) On the stereotype spectrum, some labels prompt moral outrage while others earn little more than a shrug. "Dumb jock" falls into the latter category. We know the term is a put-down, yet it reflects commonly-held beliefs. Brawn crowds out brains. If you play sports, you can't be too bright. "Third," currently onstage at Hangar Theatre and directed by Michael Barakiva, is a play that takes a hard swing at the dumb jock image, connects, and delivers a home run. The final work of Wendy Wasserstein--whose 1989 Broadway play "The Heidi Chronicles" earned her a Pulitzer and a Tony--"Third" hews close to the formula the playwright is known for: stories of intelligent, conflicted women who struggle with self-doubt. Laurie Jameson is a brilliant academician and campus superstar at a small prestigious New England college, a professor who draws students to the school and interprets everything through a feminist lens. If pride really does goeth before a fall, then we know early on where Laurie is headed. On campus she's erudite, arrogant, so full of hubris that it's tough to like her. At home, however, it's a different story. She mourns the absence of her younger daughter Emily, a freshman at another college; she wrangles her elderly father, a vague and rambling victim of Alzheimer's; and she winces every time her husband--a fellow academician exercising his way through a mid-life crisis--drops his weights. The simmering resentment she harbors toward the men in her life is obvious. When a new student--chatty, charming, boyish Woodson Bull, III, the "Third" of the play's title--rubs her the wrong way, she becomes negatively fixated on him, ultimately accusing him of plagiarism and launching formal proceedings against him. He's a dumb jock, she reasons, and the paper he handed in is so brilliant and articulate there's no way he could have written it. The assumptions she makes about him--his class, privilege, intelligence--begin to bleed into her other relationships, and each subsequent scene gives us glimpses into the intimate, fraught connections she has with family and friends. This intimacy is what makes "Third" moving and effective. Dee Pelletier inhabits Laurie Jameson with full-throated anger, frustration, and the manic moods only a woman in the throes of menopause can fully appreciate. She channels the frustrated feminist's fight in the face of patriarchal oppression but never lets her righteous fury slip into something cartoonish and stereotyped. Catherine Weidner plays Laurie's best friend, fellow English professor Nancy Gordon, with a delicate yet down-to-earth poignancy. Weidner, who is Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at Ithaca College, proves that those who can, teach as well as act. Another local, Syracuse University Drama associate professor Malcolm Ingram, submerges himself in the role of Laurie's father Jack Jameson. Ingram is both touching and compelling in his portrayal of a man losing his memory and independence, yet still possessed of his sense of pride, playful spirit, and love of family--even when he can't recognize them. Laurie's daughter Emily is the one character who can stand up to her mother's prejudices, exacting expectations, and harsh world views. Eunice Akinola plays Emily with a quietly powerful undercurrent of strength. She reads as youthful yet demonstrates a capable, old-soul wisdom that puts her mother's political posturings to shame. The show standout is David Patterson, forthright and engaging as Woodson Bull the Third. Throughout Act I he radiates such optimistic, honest sincerity you can't help but wonder, "Is he genuine? Is he lying? Of course he's lying. No, he can't be lying." It's hard to believe he's real--and the play hinges on that uncertainty. Patterson keeps us there without displaying a single note of artifice, and it's a masterful performance. The denouement--and the fallout from the clash between professor and student--is heightened in Act II, when Patterson shows even more depth as an actor and brings his character to places unexpected and thought-provoking. Shoko Kambara's clean, crisp set design is an example of clever duality: we see both an academic institution that's moribund and an appealing New England campus that no visiting student could resist. From the suggestion of a quad with herringbone brick paths cutting through swaths of grass to the imposing image of a college seal behind wooden doors that admit some and keep out others, the atmosphere is fully realized. Costume designer Suzanne Chesney is spot-on in her wardrobe choices for English professors Laurie and Nancy. Laurie's ethnic-inspired jackets with embroidered sleeves and Nancy's flowing, asymmetrical tunic tops and shearling boots capture the aging-yet-hip academician. The topic of student plagiarism at college is well-timed considering recent national events. For those dismissive of the Melania Trump plagiarism scandal at the Republican National Convention, "Third" reinforces how seriously intellectual theft is regarded in the academic world, and why opinion is split on this issue. For director Michael Barakiva (who is also Hangar's interim artistic director), this convergence of real life and art stresses the importance of character, integrity, acceptance, and coming together across cultural divides. In his curtain speech, Barakiva noted the ability of theatre to "unify us as a community celebrating diversity, love, justice, equality and most of all, hope....[and] advance the work of eradicating racism, sexism, classism, and all the other other horrible isms that stop our world from being the best it can be." Despite his uncertain future, in the final scene the title character advises us: "Always go with the hope." Go with "Third" at the Hangar Theatre and you won't go wrong. The Details What: "Third" Where: The Hangar Theatre, 801 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, NY When seen: July 22 Length of performance: 1 hour 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission Family guide: Suitable for high school and up Runs through: July 30 Ticket information and reservations: 607-273-2787 and www.HangarTheatre.org Cafe in Paradise participated in last year's Restaurant Week in Indian River County. Pictured is a fluffy three-egg omelet with feta cheese, chunks of tomato and spinach leaves. (FILE PHOTO) SHARE Cobalt participated in last year's Restaurant Week in Indian River County. This year's event has expanded to two weeks and will be Oct. 7-15. (FILE PHOTO) Bijou participated in last year's Restaurant Week in Indian River County. This year's event has expanded to two weeks and will be Oct. 7-15. (FILE PHOTO) Trattoria Dario participated in last year's Restaurant Week in Indian River County. This year's event has expanded to two weeks and will be Oct. 7-15. (FILE PHOTO) By Janet Begley, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers INDIAN RIVER COUNTY The successful Restaurant Week Indian River County has been expanded to include two weekends in early October, and for the first time, will include local bars serving food to customers. Last year, 20 restaurants participated in the week-long, county-wide event. From Oct. 7-15, participating restaurants in Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere will offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu showcasing their best creations. They will offer at least three options for each course at a price similar to early bird menu pricing. Bars will have specialty cocktails along with a variety of menu samplings, including appetizers and desserts, similar to what they offer during "Happy Hour." The event was so popular last year that organizers decided to expand it to allow diners more time to experience more restaurants. "The restaurants told us they wanted the event to last for a longer period of time," said Barbara Hoffman, executive director of the Cultural Council of Indian River County. "In fact, several asked us to extend the promotion for the whole month so diners could explore a variety of local cuisines." In a letter to the Chamber of Commerce, Polo Grill owner John Marx said he was delighted with the overwhelming response his restaurant received last year. "There were so many patrons who visited the Polo Grill for the first time and seemed to really enjoy the experience," Marx wrote. "In fact, most new customers said they would certainly return again in the near future. My only suggestion for next year is to make it for two weeks." Beth Mitchell, president of the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, said promotional efforts will encourage residents and tourists to visit the restaurants throughout the county. "I think Restaurant Week will be even bigger and better this year," she said. "I know that all of the North County restaurants that participated last year are coming back this year and many more will be joining in." The county's event is patterned after hundreds of similar restaurant weeks nationwide. It is a collaboration of six organizations: the Cultural Council of Indian River County; Historical Society of Indian River County; Indian River County Chamber of Commerce; Main Street Vero Beach; Oceanside Business Association; and Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce. How to participate All restaurants and bars in Indian River County are welcome to participate but the deadline to register is Oct. 3. There is a $50 discount for those who register before Aug. 1. To learn more about Restaurant Week Indian River County, contact project manager Kelly Holm at 772-567-3491, call the Cultural Council of Indian River County at 772-770-4857 or email info@restaurantweekIRC.com. A complete list of participating restaurants will be available at www.restaurantweekIRC.com in September. For more information, find Restaurant Week Indian River County on Facebook. By PTI: districts Srinagar, Jul 24 (PTI) With a constable and a civilian succumbing to injuries today, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir climbed to 47, while curfew remained in force in five districts of the Valley and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure. An uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day today even as security agencies braced for a march called by separatists tomorrow. advertisement "Curfew is in force in five South Kashmir districts - Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. While curfew has already been lifted from four districts - Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal, restrictions continue in these areas on the assembly of four or more persons, he said, adding the situation across the Valley is peaceful so far. Constable Mudasir Ahmad and a civilian, Sameer Ahmad Wani, who were injured in clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, succumbed today. Mudasir is the second policeman to die in the violent clashes. On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six personnel including Mudasir. Sameer Ahmad Wani, a resident of Khonmoh area of Pampore in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, was injured during the violent clashes on July 10. He died during treatment at SKIMS Soura, a police official said. Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Separatists have been spearheading the agitation and called for a march to Anantnag town tomorrow. The security grid has geared itself to ensure that the march does not take place, the police official said. He said police and CRPF personnel, who have already been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots across the Valley, have been directed to strictly implement the curfew and restriction. Over 5,000 civilians and security personnel have been injured in the violent clashes between protesters and security forces following Wanis killing. PTI MIJ DV NSD RT NSD --- ENDS --- The invasive Brazilian pepper seems to be a topic of concern lately. Gregg, who lives in Martin County ask via email if it is illegal to remove this plant from preserve areas. John questioned also via email 'I tried to find out what my rights are having a neighbor on both sides of me who have Brazilian pepper on their property that hangs over into my property in some areas 10 to 15 feet. I have been here for 20 years and the first thing I did when we moved in was get rid of all of that weed from my 5 acres.' Brazilian pepper, AKA Schinus terebinthifolius, is one of the most prolific plants brought to Florida. It originates in South America, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and was introduced in the 1840s intentionally. Though we have many lovely native hollies. This plant boasts shiny leaves and abundant red berries that show up around the winter holidays. Unfortunately, there is little here to stop the spread of Brazilian pepper and it tends to pop up in landscapes and native areas. There are plenty of other reasons to remove Brazilian pepper trees wherever they pop up; they are classified in plant family Anacardiaceae, which also contains poison ivy, poison oak, cashews, mangos and poison sumac. Folks sensitive to any of these plants may also be allergic to Brazilian pepper trees. Respiratory problems and contact dermatitis are commonly associated with contact with these plants, their sap or pollen when in bloom. Brazilian pepper is classified by the state of Florida as a 'noxious weed', thought the federal government does not list it as so. This means it is unlawful to introduce, possess, move or release any part of the plant in Florida. It also means it is not protected by any local or state laws or ordinances. However, there are no requirements to remove them from private property unless the property undergoes development and a permit of any type is required in Martin County; this applies to many other counties too. Often, invasive exotic plants must be removed as a condition of a permit. However, Brazilian peppers may be removed from your property without a permit. If any branches overhang your property, they may be cut to the property line. This is true of any tree or plant and in the case of desirable plants, the pruning must not kill the neighbor's tree. Preserve areas in Martin County are highly desirable and are often required to be maintained by the property owner whether that be an individual or association. Such maintenance usually includes the proper removal of invasive exotic plants such as Brazilian pepper. Preserve Management and Land Development Regulations are managed through the Growth Management Department in Martin County. Carol Cloud Bailey is a landscape counselor and horticulturist. Send questions to carol@yard-doc.com or visit www.yard-doc.com for more information. Dear Judie: Mom, 81, and Dad, 83, have always fought like cats and dogs. Now that I'm caring for them, I'm in the middle of the battle. A typical meal: Dad: "Are you trying to kill me? This smells like garbage!" "No, it smells like mushrooms. If you ever ate anything but junk food, you'd know that." Dad: "I don't want it. I hate this stuff." Mom: "I'm sick of your stupid complaining; eat it." I've learned to zone out most of this but Dad's new habit is dangerous: after 55 years of marriage, he's started leaving the toilet seat up in both bathrooms just to annoy Mom. One time she actually fell in. Any ideas for settling the "toilet seat caper" before Mom's seriously injured? Jane, Stuart Dear Jane: We understand your desire to head off a pending disaster, but it's unrealistic to think you can just ask for a cease-fire. You may be able to secure a bathroom truce if Dad will agree to use only one of the bathrooms and Mom will agree to use only the other one. That means moving all items belonging to either parent into that parent's bathroom so the other will have no reason to intrude. To avoid disappointment, be prepared for them to see only an opportunity for another fight by both claiming the same bathroom. Dear Judie: Mom, 87, has Alzheimer's and Dad, 88, wanted to be near her so they moved into a community where Dad lives in assisted living and Mom resides in the Alzheimer's wing. Six months ago, Dad had a stroke. Since then, he constantly complains the community isn't providing the services they promised. Please advise me how to help. Adam, Port St. Lucie Dear Adam: Residents and families often misunderstand the extent of services assisted living and Alzheimer's communities provide. Review your parents' contracts and compare them to Dad's complaints to determine whether the community is living up to its obligations. Either way, make appointments with the administrators and patient advocates to try resolving Dad's complaints. If you aren't satisfied, contact Florida Long Term Care Ombudsman Council 561-837-5038 (Palm Beach, Martin, St, Lucie, and Indian River counties). FILE PHOTO Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks in Cincinnati July 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) SHARE By Michael Collins, USA TODAY WASHINGTON Democrats Jeffrey Kushner and Larry Kellar strongly disagree on who the next president should be. Kushner sees Hillary Clinton as a fighter who's best qualified for the job. Kellar still holds out hope that, against all odds, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will somehow snag the nomination when Democrats gather in Philadelphia next week for their national political convention. The one thing both Floridians agree on: Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, should never be allowed to set foot in the White House. "Trump, in my opinion, is just a total menace and a loudmouth," said Kushner, a Fort Myers attorney. "I would never vote for Donald Trump," said Kellar, an arbitrator from Pensacola. Kushner and Kellar are among the 246 delegates Florida will send to the four-day Democratic National Convention. The event will be part pep rally and part infomercial for a party still looking to heal its wounds after a bitter, divisive primary. The convention the first for both Kushner, 73, and Kellar, 67 opens Monday and ends Thursday night, when Clinton is expected to make history by becoming the first woman to accept a major political party's presidential nomination. Clinton hobbles into the convention scarred by a contentious primary battle against Sanders and by fallout from her use of a private email server while secretary of state. Florida Democrats say the email scandal isn't a major concern for them. "The email issue and some of these other issues that are brought up, I think, frankly are red herrings," said Mark Lipton, 70, an attorney and delegate from Panama City Beach. "I think her character is beyond reproach." Florida delegates are confident Democrats will unite behind Clinton this fall and the convention will aid the post-primary healing process. That recovery started in earnest when Sanders joined Clinton at a New Hampshire campaign event two weeks ago and formally endorsed her for president. "Sen. Sanders was gracious, and he's willing to do the right thing," said Kenneth Bruder, 21, a delegate from Merritt Island in Brevard County who will be attending his first national convention. "I believe a vast majority of his delegates and his supporters are going to rally around Clinton and be enthusiastic for her in the general (election)." Judy Mount, a delegate from Marianna, said Sanders was a visionary candidate who brought excellent ideas to the primary debate, and she wishes he and Clinton hadn't been competitors. "They would have made the perfect team," said Mount, 56, treasurer for the Florida Democratic Party. Regardless, she said, Sanders will help unify his delegates with Clinton's. "They have to unify for us to beat Donald Trump," she said. "There is no way we can have Donald Trump in the White House to serve as president." Kellar, the Sanders delegate, agrees Trump should never be president. But he's not yet ready to throw his support to Clinton, not while there's even an infinitesimal chance Sanders could still win the nomination. "I'm not going to give up until it's exactly 100 percent impossible for him to get it," he said. Kellar said he didn't like how Clinton's campaign sometimes treated Sanders' supporters during the primary. Whether he supports Clinton in November depends in large part on what happens at the convention, he said. "If we're treated that way at the convention and I hope we won't be but if we are, it's going to be very difficult for me to vote for or support (Clinton)," he said, adding he might write in Sanders' name on the ballot in November. Florida once again will be a battleground state this fall. Clinton and Trump are essentially in a dead heat there, according to a RealClearPolitics average of recent polls that shows Clinton ahead by just 0.6 points. Kushner said it's understandable the race would be so close, given the beating Clinton has taken at the hands of Republicans during her two-and-a-half decades on the national stage. "The young people, especially the millennials, all they do is hear her bashed all day long," he said. "I think as time goes on and the election becomes more one-on-one, Hillary's campaign will focus not only what she will do in the future but what she has done in the past. I think the young people will be educated by that and will appreciate her a lot more." Marilyn Mordes, 61, a Clinton supporter and delegate from Stuart, chalks up the close race to the different styles of the candidates and their campaigns. "Donald Trump seems to have a little bit more flair and color," said Mordes, a registered nurse. "He's a bit louder. He takes every opportunity to get free media coverage. Donald Trump just needs a little extra attention wherever he goes and he gets it." SHARE By Kim Hughes MARTIN COUNTY ? On paper, South Fork High School student Katherine Hobson seems like your typical teenager. She enjoys singing, cheerleading, bowling and hanging out with her friends. In real life, however, Katherine is anything but typical. Confined to a wheelchair because of her cerebral palsy, she has a very limited vocabulary, requires a feeding tube and is completely dependent on others to meet her most basic needs. When three-month-old Katherine came to live with Deborah Hobson as a foster child, she was "a fetal alcohol crack cocaine baby." She was so small that a wedding ring fit on her wrist "like a bangle bracelet," Hobson said. Although the outlook was bleak, Hobson refused to allow Katherine to be institutionalized. She adopted Katherine, despite doctors telling her that she probably wouldn't live a year. Now approaching her 14th birthday, Hobson said "I absolutely love this child." Doris Davis, Katherine's teacher at South Fork, said Katherine's personality makes it easy to overlook her physical limitations. "She has so much inside of her. Her spirit is so positive. She's not a complainer." Tanya Vickers, a speech therapist at South Fork, said Katherine is "very bright and engaging. She always uses her manners. She's very easy to love and be friends with and work with." Katherine's fellow students echo the same sentiments. Stephanie Ponte, a senior and president of the CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) Club, met Katherine during her sophomore year. As a CEC club member, she was assigned to be Katherine's "lunch buddy" and spend one day a week eating lunch with Katherine. "We got so close I ended up sitting there three or four times a week. She became a very good friend of mine," Ponte said. Recently, Davis learned of a contest to send a special needs child and his or her family to Morgan's Wonderland, a park designed specifically for individuals with disabilities in San Antonio, Texas. "When I saw what Morgan's Wonderland looked like, I couldn't think of a more perfect place for her (Katherine) to go," Davis said. After getting her mother's approval, Davis nominated Katherine. South Fork students have mounted a campaign in school and the community encouraging people to vote for Katherine. Jamaica Major, a junior, said everyone has high hopes. "It would mean the world to her. She's such a kind-hearted person." Hobson said winning the trip would be wonderful for Katherine and the entire family, including 10-year-old Victoria, Katherine's biological sister, who also has special needs. Because the family financially lives "moment by moment," extras like trips are virtually non-existent. Although life is often a challenge for Hobson, a single mother for the past decade who is severely debilitated by arthritis, she is grateful. Of Katherine, she said, "She is appreciative of every little thing you do. I'd take ten like her. Every moment with her is wonderful." To vote for Katherine: Go to www.weareteachers.com. On the left hand side, under "Community," find the heading that says "Specialized Instruction." Under that heading, click on the words "Morgan's Wonderland" to go to the page where you can vote for Katherine Hobson. Votes must be entered by Oct. 20. One vote per email address is allowed. Nominees are ranked according to the number of votes they have received. For more information about Morgan's Wonderland, visit www.morganswonderland.com or call (877) 495-5888. Two New Sonic Games Announced, Seek to Recapture the Glory Days Sega announced two new Sonic games at its San Diego Comic-Con party to celebrate the blue hedgehog's 25th anniversary. The first game reimagines iconic levels from Sonic's past, while the second is an untitled game that stars classic and modern versions of Sonic in a new adventure against Eggman. Gamespot Hexen II's forgotten multiplayer mod Siege was the most ambitious shooter of the 90 In the summer of 1998, I was stuck indoors. My best friend had broken his leg, and so we resolved to beat the hardest video games either of us had ever played: Hexen: Beyond Heretic and its just-released sequel Hexen II. We beat both that summer and got pretty good at Deathmatch to boot. Since it was the days of dial-up, we spent our limited online time gaming and read very little about what was, at the time, a thriving mod community for games based on Quake's engine. PC Gamer EFF Lawsuit Takes on DMCA Section 1201: Research and technology restrictions violate the first amendment The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the U.S. government today on behalf of technology creators and researchers to overturn onerous provisions of copyright law that violate the First Amendment. EFF's lawsuit, filed with co-counsel Brian Willen, Stephen Gikow, and Lauren Gallo White of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, challenges theanti-circumvention and anti-trafficking provisions of the 18-year-oldDigital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). EFF Auto industry publishes best practices for cybersecurity The Automotive industry's main group for coordinating policy on information security and "cyber" threats has published a "Best Practices" document, giving individual automakers guidance on implementing cybersecurity in their vehicles for the first time. The Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) released the Automotive Cybersecurity Best Practices document on July 21st, saying the guidelines are for auto manufacturers as well as their suppliers. Security Ledger Neuroscientists just isolated the part of the brain that controls free will Free will might have been the province of philosophers until now, but we've cracked the problem with an fMRI. Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins report in the journal Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics that they were able to see both what happens in a human brain the moment a free choice is made, and what happens during the lead-up to that decision -- how activity in the brain changes during the deliberation over whether to act. ExtremeTech Rescue drone in development at University of New Brunswick A drone development team working out of the University of New Brunswick is taking robotics to the beach in order to save swimmers and assist lifeguards. The "Breeze Bird" development team is working on a concept the could see automatic drones launch over shorelines and coastal areas, identify people in danger of drowning, and drop flotation devices --- all with the push of a button. CBC Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 vs. 760 vs. 960 vs. 1060 Linux performance To complement yesterday's launch-day GeForce GTX 1060 Linux review, here are some more benchmark results with the various Nvidia x60 graphics cards I have available for testing going back to the GeForce GTX 460 Fermi. If you are curious about the raw OpenGL/OpenCL/CUDA performance and performance-per-Watt for these mid-range x60 graphics cards from Fermi, Kepler, Maxwell, and Pascal, here are these benchmarks from Ubuntu 16.04 Linux. Phoronix Forget Comcast. Here's the DIY approach to Internet access You can see the snow-capped Pyrenees mountains from Gurb, about 75 kilometers north of Barcelona. It's a quiet farming community of 2,500, and in most ways there's nothing special to set it apart from many such towns across the Catalonia region of Spain. So why do people like me eagerly journey to Gurb? Backchannel We threw a Minecraft party to test Samsung's Gear VR headset I've been lucky enough to have had some pretty unique VR experiences. In fact, my perspective is a bit warped (see what I did there?). Compared to other VR early adopters, I suspect that I'm more jaded by "normal" VR than most. By "normal" VR, I mean seated VR (like the Oculus Rift) that isn'tdecoupled and doesn't use motion controls. The Tech Report Biometrics researcher asks: Is that eyeball dead or alive? Imagine a high-security facility where government official X must verify her identity by positioning her eyes in front of an iris scanner. This kind of biometric identification is far more accurate than fingerprint scanning, but there's still a catch. A miscreant may be able to fool the system by simply holding up a high-res photo of X's eye. Or, in a grislier scenario, the imposter could come equipped with X's actual eyeball, which had been plucked from its owner's head. IEEE Spectrum A beginner's guide to understanding convolutional neural networks Convolutional neural networks. Sounds like a weird combination of biology and math with a little CS sprinkled in, but these networks have been some of the most influential innovations in the field of computer vision. 2012 was the first year that neural nets grew to prominence as Alex Krizhevsky used them to win that year's ImageNet competition... Adesh Pande The RedMonk programming language rankings: June 2016 With the spring and summer travel schedule drawing to a close, we finally have had time to sit down and run the numbers collected back in June. As always, aside from the fact that we run our own GitHub rankings now, the process used for our bi-annual programming language rankings remains the same as when Drew Conway and John Myles White first looked at the question late in 2010. RedMonk Microsoft responds to allegations that Windows 10 collects 'excessive personal data' Yesterday France's National Data Protection Commission (CNIL) slapped a formal order on Microsoft to comply with data protection laws after it found Windows 10 was collecting "excessive data" about users. The company has been given three months to meet the demands or it will face fines. Beta News The recent sewage spill has led to the closure of all beaches in Seal Beach and Long Beach in California. Last Tuesday, officials said that a sewage line has been damaged and spilled a whopping total of 2.4 million gallons of untreated waste into the Los Angeles River. The leak started about 2 p.m. last Monday. It stopped late Monday night but started leaking again on Tuesday due to the cracked pipe. According to City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works spokesperson Tonya Durrell, the overflow happened near Mission Road and 6th Street in Boyle Heights. On Tuesday afternoon, the leak fully stopped. According to officials, the 5-foot sewer pipe's top collapsed. This sent debris into the pipe and caused a clog that led to the sewage overflow into a 51-mile waterway in Los Angeles County that ended in Long Beach, California. Workers used pumps to capture approximately 750,000 gallons of sewage spill before the waste reached the river. However, officials still don't know what caused the collapse. "This is an old sewer, an aging sewer that was planned to be repaired. This one, we had a plan and it did not wait for us, it collapsed," said Los Angeles sanitation's assistant director Adel Hagekhalil. The massive sewer line was constructed in 1929. Hagekhalil added that they have a very good record in Los Angeles, spending more than $2 billion upgrading sewers in the past 10 years. On Tuesday, the sanitation team added a bypass system that will divert the waste flow around the old sewer pipe. But the recent sewage incident already posed several health risks apart from the foul smell. Untreated sewage spill is riddled with bacteria and even viruses, which could cause infections in the eyes, throat and ears. According to Long Beach's acting health officer Dr. Mauro Torno, they decided to shut down swimming along the coast and wait until tests show the water is safe. On Thursday, the Orange County Health Care Agency said the water tests showed the levels of bacteria are within the acceptable standards. This led to the re-opening of the Seal Beach, which lay between the Anaheim Bay and San Gabriel River Mouth. But the Long Beach health officials said on Wednesday that the initial water tests came back "mostly clean." However, additional tests indicated that the levels of bacteria still didn't drop to a level enough for the beaches to re-open. Officials are not expecting to re-open Long Beach until Saturday at the very least. Photo: Greg Gjerdingen | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In an open letter entitled "Letter to the Brazil of tomorrow," former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2011) promised on Thursday that if elected, he would... | Read More By PTI: Washington, Jul 24 (PTI) The mother of US Ambassador to Libya J Christopher Stevens, who was killed during a terror attack in Benghazi in 2012, has asked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the party to immediately stop their "opportunistic and cynical" use of her sons death. "I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection," Mary Commanday wrote in a short letter to the editor of The New York Times, which was published yesterday. advertisement "I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign," she said. Stevens, 52, is the first US Ambassador killed in the line of duty since 1979. The Benghazi attack took place on September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound, killing Ambassador Stevens and US Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. The Benghazi attacks were frequently mentioned in speeches at last weeks Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where speakers used it as a reason presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is unfit for the presidency, CNN reported. Clinton was secretary of state at the time of the attacks. Some conservatives blame Clinton and the Obama administration for security failures in Benghazi that they blame for the deaths of Stevens and three other Americans. At one point during the convention, another victims mother, Pat Smith, spoke before the audience and blamed Clinton for the death of her son, IT expert Sean Smith. AKJ --- ENDS --- The construction site of Lee & Man paper mill complex in the southern province of Hau Giang. Photo: Gia Bach The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed that the government scrap a Hong Kong-invested pulp plant in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, citing potential threats to the environment, local media has reported. Part of a US$1.2-billion paper mill complex developed by Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, the troubled plant has recently come under suspicion of harming the environment, even though it will not enter a test run until 2018. Local residents and seafood companies have protested the plant, saying that it will pollute the Hau River in the lower reaches of the Mekong Delta River and kill fish, when it goes into operation with an annual output of 330,000 tons. The opposition has prompted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to launch an inspection into the mill early this month. However, the inspection's findings are yet to be released. Meanwhile, in its proposal to the government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that since the southwestern region's terrain is low and has lots of rivers, it is not suitable for growing trees specific for pulp production, news website Saigon Times Online reported on Friday. Moreover, the ministry said pulp production uses many chemical substances, which will pose a great threat to the environment. Previously, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said in a petition for closing down the plant that while pulp production discharges sodium hydroxide, one of the most dangerous substances, Lee & Man has not developed a decent waste treatment system. The Lee & Man complex also houses a cardboard mill with an output of 420,000 tons a year, but it is apparently safe for now. The ministry was quoted as saying that cardboard production uses less chemical substances and poses less risks to the environment. As long as the mill meets all requirements for environmental safety, it is eligible to go into operation, it said. The mill is scheduled for having a test run this August. A slaughterhouse in Da Nang in central Vietnam has been fined VND87.5 million, or nearly US$4,000, for giving chickens a carcinogenic industrial dye for eye-catching skin. Officials checked the private abattoir of Nguyen Cong Ngoc last month but only issued the penalty Friday. Ngoc was found mixing gold coloring powder in water to dye the chickens before delivering them to the market. He sold around more than 100 chickens a day. He said the chickens sell better with gold-colored skin. Many Vietnamese believe they taste better than chickens with white, pale skin. The chemical, Auramine O, which is used as a paint and industrial dye, is banned in animal farming in Vietnam. It is known to have cause cancers. A Vietnamese Australian was arrested Sunday in Tan Son Nhat Airport when she allegedly attempted to board a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Australia with nearly 5 kg of heroin in her baggage. Customs and police officers said the heroin were split into 26 bags hidden carefully in her baggage. The 37-year-old woman, whose name was not revealed, told the police that she would be paid US$25,000 for the job. They estimated the value of the smuggled heroin to be as high as $750,000 once it could reach Australia. The police said they are investigating further. A court in HCMC last month sentenced another Vietnamese-Australian woman to death for attempting to smuggle 2.8 kilograms of drugs to Sydney. Vietnam's tourism ministry has asked immigration authorities to deport 66 illegal Chinese workers who were found in the resort town of Nha Trang during a recent inspection. A list of the 66 Chinese nationals has been sent to the Immigration Department, said Pham Cao Thai, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism on Friday. They were found working for local travel agencies without work permits. The inspectors also found wrongdoings at three local travel agencies, namely Khang Thai, Hoang Tra and Nha Trang Vacation. The companies were fined VND77 million ($3,440) each. Nha Trang Vacation in particular was banned from operating tours for foreigners. Similar inspections have been carried out in several Vietnamese coastal towns after local Chinese-speaking tour guides said their jobs were taken by Chinese nationals who don't have work permits. Chinese guides were also accused of distorting Vietnamese history while showing tourists around. Authorities of Khanh Hoa recently slapped a fine of VND80 million (US$3,590) on Silent Bay Travel and Trading Company for multiple violations, and will deport 64 Chinese nationals that company employed. Authorities of Da Nang early this week fined five Chinese nationals VND20 million, or around US$900, for working on tourist visas. Their employee, Nature Love company, was fined VND12.5 million. Both Silent Bay and Nature Love were banned the company from organizing tours for foreign tourists. Vietnam mulls test of motorbike emissions to cut urban air pollution In Hanoi and HCMC, motorbikes account for 94 percent of hydrocarbon and 87 pct of carbon monoxide emissions. Vietnam museum says all paintings fake in high-profile exhibition 'All local artists are outraged by the paintings which are bad and superficial copies. Anyone can see they are fake.' Vietnamese lawmaker dismissed for dual citizenship Dual nationality is not allowed for Vietnamese citizens. Hanoi cop suspended for kicking down motorbike rider The act was caught on camera, prompting an investigation. Vietnam plans to spend more on tourism promotion to boost growth The country's tourism growth was behind many other countries in Southeast Asia. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the Afghan capital Kabul that killed at least 61 people and wounded more than 200 when it tore through a demonstration by members of the mainly Shia Hazara minority. A man prays beside flowers laid in front of the Olympia shopping mall, where yesterday's shooting rampage started, in Munich, Germany July 23, 2016. Senior German officials called on Sunday for a review of gun laws and even stricter enforcement after Friday's shooting in Munich that claimed the lives of nine people and the gunman himself, a deranged 18-year-old who was obsessed with mass killings. "Gun control is an important issue. We must continue to do all we can to limit and strictly control access to deadly weapons," German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the center-left Social Democrats, told Funke Mediengruppe, which owns a series of German newspapers. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, vowed to review German gun laws after studying an investigation into the attack, and to seek improvements where needed. De Maiziere said German gun laws were already very strict, and it was critical to understand how the attacker had obtained his pistol. "Then we have to evaluate very carefully if and where further legal changes are needed," he told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. Bavarian state officials on Sunday said the German-Iranian dual national bought his reactivated 9 mm Glock 17 pistol - the most widely used law enforcement weapon worldwide - on the so-called dark net, a part of the Internet accessible only via special software. "I support stricter regulations on the weapons trade and the creation of a European weapons registry modeled on the German national registry," German lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a spokesman for Merkel's conservatives in parliament, told Reuters. He said German laws were already very strict and it would be wrong to cast suspicion on hunters or legal gun owners. Burkhard Lischka, a lawmaker and spokesman for the Social Democrats in parliament, said it was more important to step up enforcement of existing gun laws than to rewrite existing laws. "We must put a spotlight on the dark net," he told the German Welt newspaper in an interview to be published Monday. "We have to give our security agencies the staffing and financial resources to stop this illegal trade." The gunman, identified by sources as David Sonboly, opened fire near a busy shopping centre on Friday evening, killing nine and wounding 35 more, before turning the gun on himself as police approached several hours later. Officials say gunman visited site of previous shooting Bavarian officials said materials found in his home showed the gunman had begun planning the attack a year ago after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in southwest Germany in which 15 people were killed. They said none of Friday's shooting victims, eight of whom were between the ages of 14 and 20, were classmates of the gunman, and none of them had commented on a fake Facebook page which the gunman had used to invite people to the McDonald's restaurant where the shooting began. The Munich shooting was the third act of violence against civilians in Western Europe - and the second in southern Germany - in eight days. Officials said there were no signs of any links in this case to Islamist extremist groups. The gun control debate comes as the European Union considers reforms that would tighten controls within the bloc and make it easier to trace the origin of guns purchased legally. The proposed changes, which must still be enacted by EU member states, would also set more stringent rules for deactivating previously fully-functioning guns and making them available for sale. Member states have different criteria for what constitutes a deactivated weapon, a legal loophole exploited by criminals to import weapons that have only been superficially modified to appear non-functioning. The Glock 17 used by the Munich gunman, which had had its serial number filed away, was such a "reactivated" weapon last checked in Slovakia, Bavarian officials said. They said the origin of the gun remained unclear. News that a unit of German military police had been readied - but not activated - on Friday to respond to a possible large militant attack has also sparked a debate in Germany, given its strongly decentralized form of government. Twinkle Khanna has slammed veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah for calling her late father and Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna a "poor actor". By India Today Web Desk: Twinkle Khanna has slammed veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah for calling her late father and Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna a "poor actor". ALSO SEE: The colourful life of Rajesh Khanna In an interview to a newspaper, Naseeruddin was quoted as saying: "It was the 1970s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That's when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success, I think Mr. Khanna was a very limited actor. In fact, he was a poor actor. Intellectually, he wasn't the most alert person I have ever met. His taste ruled the industry." advertisement Not happy with the 65-year-old star's opinion about her late father, Twinkle took to Twitter on Saturday night to express her disapproval. "Sir if you can't respect the living, respect the dead -- mediocrity is attacking a man who can't respond Naseerudin Shah," Twinkle wrote. Sir if u can't respect the living ,respect the dead-mediocrity is attacking a man who can't respond @NaseerudinShah https://t.co/4EdyWmwiNj Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) July 23, 2016 Karan Johar also supported Twinkle: I agree with you @mrsfunnybones...due respect to seniority but this was in exceptionally bad taste and not becoming of a fraternity member.. Karan Johar (@karanjohar) July 23, 2016 Rajesh Khanna, who made his debut in 1966 with Aakhri Khat, gave several hits like Anand, Haathi Mere Saathi, Kati Patang, Bawarchi and Aradhana. He was officially bestowed with the title The First Superstar of Indian cinema at Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards in 2005. (With inputs from IANS) --- ENDS --- "The UKs actions in Libya were part of an ill-conceived intervention, the results of which are still playing out today." By PTI: London, Jul 24 (PTI) In a bizarre incident, a group of teenage boys in the UK went to school wearing skirts to protest a uniform policy after they were reprimanded for donning shorts on a sweltering hot day. Four boys at the Longhill High School, in Brighton, East Sussex, wore skirts to school in protest after they were pulled up for wearing shorts. advertisement The 14-year-old pupils were punished for wearing shorts in a bid to keep cool on the hottest day of the year. In protest, the students decided to borrow from the girls official uniform, The Mirror reported. Michael Parker, Kodi Ayling, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer were allowed to wear the pleated skirts as they are within the schools rules. They donned the skirts in protest of the schools decision to punish boys who wore school-issued shorts rather than trousers last Tuesday. On Tuesday -- the hottest day of the year -- around 20 boys wore Longhill-branded gym shorts. They were all punished by the secondary school as they were not wearing "regulation uniform". Some of the students were sent home and others were kept in isolation and excluded the following day. "Its not fair for boys to be roasting in black trousers on the hottest day of the year while the girls can wear skirts," Parker was quoted as saying. His mother Angela, said, "Were fully in support of the boys. I think what the headmistress is doing is discrimination and Im extremely proud of Michael and his fellow protesters." Wesley Allen, Kodis dad, said the schools decision to punish the boys for wearing shorts was "madness". "The shorts he had on have the school logo on them and I think should be allowed to wear them on hot days," he said. "I think its madness. The boys have done this to prove a point and I think its brilliant. I dont think Kodi will wear the skirt all summer but I do think he likes the attention," Allen said. Head teacher Kate Williams said, "I have high standards regarding uniform and in the warm weather, these high standards have been challenged by approximately two per cent of parents/students." "Four male students at Longhill High School chose to wear a skirt to school. Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform," she said. PTI ASK AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- advertisement U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness ran into a friend hed never known last week while raising money and support at the Republican National Convention. He was meeting with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a former Air Force officer, and some other Texas soldiers. Maness was an officer in the U.S. Air Force on 9-11, when terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 and flew it into the Pentagon. He tells the harrowing story of breaking through the rubble, then helping the injured. +3 Senate candidate Rob Maness fund raising at GOP convention Rob Maness, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana, is holding campaign fundraisers at At one point, Maness stood to the side of a badly bloodied and burned Army officer, holding together a broken IV tube that was administering life saving drugs. While waiting for what seemed like hours for the helicopters to arrive and evacuate, Maness chatted and prayed with the soldier who was so badly injured, he could not identify him other than by rank. Perry heard the story, and thinking Maness might be interested in meeting another 9-11 survivor sent his aides to find Texas State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who was also at the Pentagon that day. Birdwell had been burned over 60 percent of his body and underwent 39 surgeries. He was famously visited in the hospital by President George W. Bush. When they met Birdwell told his story. Maness told his, ending with waving the helicopter off to the hospital. And then, He said, That was me, Maness recalled trying to fight off tears upon meeting again the solider he had helped on that day. FILE - In this May 9, 2011 file photo, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is seen in West Feliciana Parish, La. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson expressed frustration as he questioned why prison officials won't spend roughly $1 million to install air conditioning on death row, since the state has already spent much more to fight this in court. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Our Views: In summer of fury, a hope for calm in Baton Rouge By India Today Web Desk: After she made her brief appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Gal Gadot is set to star in her standalone film also starring Chris Pine. Based on DC's superhero character, Wonder Woman follows the story of Diana, princess of the Amazons, who rescues American pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) only to find out about the World War. ALSO SEE: Batman recruits Aquaman and The Flash in new Justice League footage advertisement The film directed by Patty Jenkins, who also directed Charlize Theron's Monster, looks like the right mix of a period film, a Greek mythology, and a modern day action-adventure with Gal Gadot completely owning the action in the trailer, including the sword skills. The trailer was unleashed at the San Diego Comic Con Festival 2016, as the director, and cast leads took the stage to talk about the upcoming film and answer questions that fans at the comic con might have. Many were skeptical about Gal Gadot being cast as the woman superhero, but the Israeli actor who served in the armed forces at the age of 20, has turned quite a few heads with her electrifying presence. Wonder Woman is slated for a worldwide release on June 2, 2017. Watch the trailer here: --- ENDS --- 9:10am: We are aware of a crash at the Gold Creek School carpark. Police urge parents dropping off children in the area to take care. 9:08am: There has been a two-crash crash in Curtin. It appears to be on the intersection of Carruthers Street and Theodore Street. Police say a car is stuck in the middle of the intersection and is most likely causing traffic disruption. street sweepers should be there now. Jardine Street, from Highgate Lane to Giles Street, will be closed in both directions between 9am-4pm on periodic days from Wednesday until November 30 for building construction work associated with the Kingston Plaza refit. Corin Road is closed as work is undertaken to clear snow. Other roads that remain closed are Orroral Ridge Road, Angle Crossing, Sunshine Crossing, Murrays Crossing over Paddys River and Franklin Road at Bulls Head. Fire trails in Namadgi National Park are also closed. Only four-wheel drives can access Mount Franklin Road to the Mount Franklin Chalet, Bendora Road, Booroomba Rocks Road, the dirt section of Brindabella Road and the dirt section of Boboyan Road. If you see any accidents or have any info on the morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so. Email morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes. Calling all Dr Who fans, a Canberra collector is trying to break the Guinness World Record with his collection. The Bigger on the inside: Collecting Dr Who is on at the Canberra Museum and Gallery until November 20. Free entry. The ultimate foodie festival, the Canberra Region Truffle Festival continues for another year until August. Come to the National Archives and explore exquisite garments, sleek fashion shoots, designers, retailers and bloggers in Faith, Fashion, Fusion - Muslim Women's Style in Australia. Until September 4. TODAY'S CARTOON Cathy Wilcox editorial cartoon for July 24. Today: Cloudy with a high (70%) chance of showers. Winds northwesterly 25-40km/h. Max 10. Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a medium (40%) chance of a shower in the morning. Winds northwesterly 25-40km/h. Min 1, max 9. Wednesday: Cloudy with a slight (30%) chance of a shower. Winds northwesterly 15-20km/h. Min 1, max 11. One Nation senator-elect Pauline Hanson's views on Islam and immigration are "unhelpful" and "wrong" and must be defeated with reasoned debate and discussion, a senior government minister says. But Attorney-General George Brandis also warned it would be "ludicrous" for the government to simply dismiss her calls for action because they were shared by a significant number of people in the community. "500,000 [people] voted for Pauline Hanson. She's now a member of the Senate. The way to deal with these people is to explain why they are wrong," Senator Brandis told ABC television's Insiders program on Sunday. "To pretend that Pauline Hanson is not part of the national conversation ... is ludicrous." When she was starting her career in Nashville, Swift was more open, as she called out crushes such as "Drew" in Teardrops on My Guitar, and "Stephen" in Hey Stephen, revealed to be Stephen Barker Liles of country duo Love & Theft when the liner notes hint was "LOVE AND THEFT". After her first two albums, the codes got a bit harder. For example, The Story of Us code was just "CMT AWARDS", and ex-boyfriend John Mayer performed at the awards show. The All Too Well clue was "MAPLE LATTES", which Swift detectives realised was probably Jake Gyllenhaal because they were often photographed carrying coffee. The key difference is while West explicitly said "Taylor", Swift has made it a rule to rarely reveal the subjects of her songs. However, Swift critics don't think that distinction matters, because she strongly implies their real identities to the point where there's no question about who she's writing about. Not only does she give clues in interviews, but Swift famously leaves hidden messages in her liner notes for fans to decode, keeping some letters in the lyrics in all-caps to spell out a phrase. This week, Swift's "character assassination" cry is rankling those who remember the album track Better Than Revenge, widely thought to be about actress Camilla Belle, who dated Joe Jonas after he dumped Swift. In the song, Swift sings: "She's not a saint and she's not what you think, she's an actress/ She's better known for the things that she does on the mattress." While the song still only remains "allegedly" about Belle, the actress clearly has no love lost toward Swift; after Kardashian's Snapchat bomb, Belle Instagrammed a smug quote about karma starting with the phrase, "No need for revenge". Plus, Jonas spent years being asked about Swift on talk shows. Swift was unusually candid about that break-up in 2008, telling Ellen DeGeneres she wrote Forever and Always about Jonas after he dumped her in a 25-second phone call. Swift also mocked him in a video, holding up a Joe Jonas doll and saying: "This one even comes with a phone, see, so he can break up with other dolls." Other songs include the scathing Dear John, which left Mayer "humiliated" after people assumed he was the John who shattered Swift's heart when she was only 19 years old; The Moment I Knew, apparently about Gyllenhaal failing to show up to her 21st birthday party; Style, covering the pitfalls of dating One Direction star Harry Styles; and the infamous Bad Blood, which centres on a female artist who tried to "sabotage" her arena tour, as Swift told Rolling Stone. Immediately, online detectives deduced she was talking about Katy Perry, who hired some backup dancers away from Swift. The song was followed up by a celebrity-packed music video taking down an enemy. (Obviously, Perry can barely contain her glee as Swift's reputation has taken a hit this week.) Many would argue West is doing the same thing as Swift singing about someone who has had an impact on his life but he actually asked her about it first. Swift doesn't see it that way, especially considering the content of the lyrics, and something tells us her legion of devoted fans don't either. A fight has erupted over forced redundancies at electricity companies being partially privatised by the Baird government, in what is shaping up as a potential complication for the impending $10 billion lease of distributor Ausgrid. The Electrical Trades Union is warning a loophole in legislation allowing the lease of 50.4 per cent of Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy puts at risk a five-year job guarantee for workers secured by Christian Democratic Party leader, Reverend Fred Nile. Christian MP Fred Nile wants job guarantees for electricity workers written into lease contracts. Mr Nile is demanding NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian include a ban on forced redundancies in lease contracts for the two "poles and wires" companies. He is even offering to appear as a witness for the union before the Fair Work Commission to prevent any forced sacking of electricity workers. Tens of thousands of people flocked to this year's Splendour in the Grass music festival near Byron Bay over the weekend, more than doubling the shire's population. This year's attendees enjoyed fine weather, wearing singlets and hats instead of the gumboots and rain coats that were essential in recent years. Crowds at Splendour in the Grass enjoy fine weather and good music. Credit:Rachel Murdolo But it wasn't all smooth sailing as the opening night on Friday was plagued with transport issues. Festival goers queued up to three hours for buses, and a few gave up waiting and instead walked for hours to get back to their accommodation. Residents and workers could be put at risk during construction of the Metro Rail Project, with state government documents warning toxic gases, asbestos and contaminated groundwater will be dredged up as the cross-city tunnel is built. With more than 2 million cubic metres of material set to be excavated during construction equivalent to the capacity of 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools the government has been advised that the project will need to be managed carefully to ensure that any possible danger is minimised. "The potential interception of contaminated groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the project boundary during construction could lead to exposure risks to workers and the environment," the environmental effects statement for the project reveals. "Additionally, the potential movement of contaminated groundwater due to construction/operation activities may impact on the beneficial uses of third-party property owners." Bangkok: An Australian activist whose investigations led to the closure of a "tiger temple" in western Thailand faces a defamation charge brought by the temple. The charges against Sybelle Foxcroft, a director of the Australian based Cee4Life, an animal rights non-government organisation, were filed at a provisional police station late last week. A tiger stands in a cage at a property in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok. Credit:AP Foxcroft, as an undercover investigator, contributed to a 2008 report by British animal welfare organisation Care for the Wild into allegations of abuse against the tigers at the temple in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok. In January this year, the National Geographic used Foxcroft's investigations for a report into the temple. On the eve of the Democratic Party's national convention its head Debbie Wasserman Schultz has resigned amid a leaked email scandal. Lingering bitterness from the heated primary campaign between Hillary Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders erupted after more than 19,000 leaked emails seemed to confirm Sanders' frequent charge that the administrative arm of the party, played favourites in the race. The furore was a blow to a party keen on projecting steadiness in contrast to the volatility of Republican nominee Donald Trump, who was formally nominated last week. It comes after a top official with Hillary Clinton's campaign on Sunday accused the Russian government of orchestrating the release of damaging Democratic Party records in order to help the campaign of Republican Donald Trump Warning: Spoilers Below It's probably no accident that the movie of 'Looking'which premieres on HBO Saturday nightfeatures as its sole agitant Brady (Chris Perfetti), a journalist and mean drunk (who knows any of those? I mean, really), whose purpose, as well as being a generally negative presence, is to be finally shot down in verbal flames by winsome hero Patrick (Jonathan Groff). Journalists (confession, like me) have been 'Looking's' bete noire, and so in Brady perhaps is the creator's revenge: we are the sneering, arch baddie on screen, spoiling all the charming, self-indulgent conversations of Patrick and his buddies. The mini-confrontation between Patrick and Brady occurs towards of the end of the movie because of a foggy mix of jealousyBrady is with Richie (Raul Castillo), Patrick's exand because Brady, says Patrick, acts as if he is a member of the "gay thought police," and he is fed up of being told by Brady that he is a bad gay of some kind. Patrick's fightback mirrors presumably the irritation 'Looking's' own producers feel for criticism of their show, and the representation of a group of gay men living in San Franciscowhich centered on the men's tediously meandering conversations (frequently inaudible in season one) about themselves, which tended to lead nowhere, and a listless, dreamy lack of action that became the show's hallmark. The group seemed politically unengaged, wholly self-obsessed, and just dreary. After a tiresome early stretch of season one, 'Looking' livened up, and season two was genuinely involving and watchable. But by then it was a too late. The show was canceled, and the movie was its farewell. And a lovely, fitting farewell it is toowritten by series creator Michael Lannan, and directed by the masterly Andrew Haigh, most famous for the movie 'Weekend', which followed the tender and tense trajectory of a couple's temporally compressed love affair. In the Looking movie, Patrick is returning to San Francisco, after nine months away in Denver where he lives now. The occasion for his return is Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez) and Eddie's (Daniel Franzese) wedding. Dom's (Murray Bartlett) fried chicken stand is thrivinghe even has a 'parklet' patch of green outsidealthough he has sworn off sex. Doris (Lauren Weedman) is now happily settled into coupled life with Malik (Bashir Salahuddin)much to her own disgust. This new world of wine tours, The Container Store, and book clubs is far away from her old life of bar-hopping and bitching with Dom and the boys. You'd think Patrick had been away for years, given the gauzy gazing he does from the cab window, and the reaction of his buddies, but such is 'Looking's' unapologetic navel-gazingand it soon settles into its dreamy groove, the twinkling lights and city-scape of San Francisco blurred and bleached of color behind the men, as they begin to talk. And talk. And talk. As Patrick's thirties dawn, he toasts celebrating adulthoodalthough this seems more aspiration than ambition met. Dom has a beard and is muted; the restless, slutty Agustin is settling down for marriage (and, like Doris, drily asks himself and the group why), and Patrick himself is still struggling to get beyond what happened with both Richie and Kevin (Russell Toveyhe of the big ears and perfect ass), a relationship with the latter formed and fled from in season two. The changes and non-changes within them are marked by the friends in mostly joshing, sarcastic exchanges over drinks and on the dance floor. Looking always feels as if we are eavesdropping on snatches of conversation, rather than actual drama. Nothing big happens, but life pushes onin increments, rather than grand explosions and proclamations. Agustin's ex, Frank (O.T. Fagbenle)'s adviceborne of bitter experienceis for his one-time boyfriend to stay away from rent boys. Richie tells Patrick that sometimes you have to leave things behind to move forward. Some of the sweetest moments during the movie happen on the dance floor, and once or twice away from it, with Patrick swaying to music. This mini musical odyssey begins with Britney's 'Piece of Me,' which leads to him going home with a 22-year-old. Jim (Michael Rosen) also works in tech, and after they have fucked, the men talk and Patrick feels a stab of envy that Jim came out so young, at 16. "He's not so butch when he has his legs in the air," Patrick says of his ex Kevin, whom Jim has a crush on. On a walk the next day, Agustin frets to Patrick that he has sold out, and become "Neil Patrick Harris, although I can't tap dance." His dreams of being an artist have been traded in for a shop job. He has more life left to live, says Patrick, but later he too muses about time passing to Dom. In a great scene, Patrick wondersas many friends dowhy shouldn't they, Patrick and Dom, get together. They know each other, they understand each other, and so, a little high, they kissand laugh, and realize it would never work. The next day, Patrick goes to see Kevin, ostensibly to clear up some business about the video game they co-own. It begins gently, butin some brilliantly written scenesKevin's upset about Patrick bailing on their relationship surfaces, and angrily. Patrick, runs from things, Kevin says; Patrick says he wasn't sure Kevin would remain monogamous. Kevin says Patrick didn't even give the relationship a chance. It's a beautifully written, testy, moving exchange. But the two men part on good terms (indeed their final embrace and kiss, initiated by Kevin, was very moving). They part survivors leaving the battlefield, and Kevinback with his ex, and soon to leave for Londonbestows upon Patrick a professional opportunity to allow him to return to San Francisco. At City Hall, Patrick's quest to find the meaning of partnership and love continues at Agustin and Eddie's ceremony, which is presided over an officiant played by Tyne Daly. An ability to adapt, rather than change, marks a good participant in coupledom, she suggests to Patrickalthough she isn't married herself. What about the ring she wears, asks Patrick. Well, she says, you wouldn't choose a fat fitness trainer. Later Doris, opining that babies are harder to flush down toilets than wedding rings, reveals she is thinking about having a child, though hadn't told Dom because she always thought they would do that together. When Brady and Patrick set-to, she possibly has the best line of the movie, drily noting how great it is when gays argue with other gays about what being gay meanswittily nailing the media tempest 'Looking' itself found itself at the center of, and ultimately conquered, however successfully is up to you the viewer. After Brady accuses Patrick of trying to steal Richie away from him Richie breaks up with him (bloody annoying journalists!), and in the final scenes of Looking, Richie and Patrick interrogate whether they could be together and what that would mean, and whose desires would be met and what compromises would need to be made. The conversation, as any resident or visitor to gay San Francisco will know, takes place on the historic Castro itself, and then finallywhen a resolution of sorts is reachedthe pair join the others in Orphan Andy's, the 24-hour diner on the corner of Market and Castro. The last shot of 'Looking' pans away from the group, eating and chatting into the late night, on to the majestic lit-up sign of the Castro Cinema itselfan emphatic final visual message where 'Looking's' very gay heart belongs. In accordance with the rest of the series, there were no grand conclusions reached on love, or relationships. Politics again went completely unmentioned. The mood of 'Looking: The Movie' was the same as the shownatural, free-flowing conversations about love, commitment, personal growth, and friendship. This is fine, but with such little LGBT drama on television, a show where we are the heart still, to this viewer, feels like it should have more to say (and maybe we will find that larger, more ambitious focus in Dustin Lance Black's forthcoming, LGBT history-centered drama, When We Rise). 'Looking: The Movie' left our motley group as we had found themin blurry, unmoored process, and still yapping away. But now they are a little, older, wiser and hopefully kinder to themselves. And finally, yes, this journalistonce a dissenterwill miss them. On the first day of the Republican National Convention in 2016, congressman Steve King suggested that white people had been responsible for humanitys greatest achievements including, among other things, the spread of Christianity. It came about during an appearance on MSNBC when a panelist commented on the lack of diversity at the convention. King argued: Id ask you to go back through history and figure out, where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people that youre talking about? Where did any other sub-group of people contribute more to civilization? When he was pushed about whether or not he meant Caucasians, King responded, Western civilization itself thats rooted in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the United States of America, and any place where the footprint of Christianity settled the world. Lovely. A few days ago I stood in a hall where the heat of todays politics began to bend into hate. Up on the stage Donald Trump was explaining the reason, the singular reason, why he must be president: Only he could conquer a fear he defined as nearly universal, a fear that every American must be made aware of, a fear of violence that, to him, has assumed nearly epidemic proportion, a fear of the new, the other, the borders and the cloak of global humiliation and weakness he claims the United States now wears. As I watched him and listened to the crowd roar its approval it occurred to me that Donald is a guy who quite literally lives in the clouds. His life, his business, his outlook and viewpoint is located at the top of a tall building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan surrounded by stores that cater to the platinum rich among us. He is a marketing genius. He is a man of deft instinct when it comes to recognizing, speaking to and playing with the earned anger of the many who have been pushed to the economic sidelines of a shareholder economy. Corporate profits hit the skids? Lay off a thousand workers and the market will react with a positive nod. He is a Hall of Fame salesman, always pushing the perfect product, the only item that exists in his mind: himself. He views himself as the answer to everything that ails or angers us. Any ill at all, he tells us, will be dealt with and taken care of by mid-afternoon on Jan. 20, 2017 if only we will be smart enough to make him president. As he spoke and spoke and spoke many in the crowd stood and applauded his every assurance that he, only he, recognized the challenges, the anxieties, the fear of the future that surely engulfs a country that he claims has changed around them, making many feel like strangers on the street where they live. His definitions were thin but his meaning and his implied intent were as loud as the voice that filled the hall, his voice: The United States has been knocked to its knees because of political weakness, lack of leadership and undeserved attention to a political and cultural elite. Now, finally, a strongman stood in their corner. Donalds discourse contained a list of grievances you might hear at bar-side, late on a Friday night after glancing at what the government has swallowed from your pay stub. It also might be the same solid complaints you get from anyone who over the past 10 or 15 years has lost a job, a house or a son or daughter to our longest war. There are indeed the millions across the land who feel they have no voice, no clout, no margin for error, too little hope and too little optimism. Here, thick in the summer of 2016, anxiety is a huge portion of the gross national product. And the universal question isnt, Who will win?; its Whats next? More black men shot on a sidewalk? More police assassinated? More shopping malls, night clubs, offices or city sidewalks awash with the blood of victims of intended violence or planned terrorism? And this anxiety is high on the list within Donalds business plan to purchase the power of the presidency. He is a businessman whose principal and only business is his own brand, Trump. Its a brand Made in America, the only country in the world where he could achieve such success as winning the nomination of one of our two major political parties for President of the United States. But the other night as he provided a verbal portrait of the country he sees, he was like a guy painting by numbers while blindfolded. Sure, he gets the anger and the anxiety but he misses the every-day resilience found everywhere you look in the land. America is not crippled by fear. And the majority of Americans might indeed feel that the economy, politics, Congress are all taking us down the wrong track but do they really think we are about to go off the rails and over the cliff, soon to surrender to ISIS, to failure or to a panic that will have us standing in the street with pitchforks and shotguns? It appears we either do not know or fail to appreciate our very own history. For months now there have been all sorts of glib comparisons attempting to match the bizarreness of 2016 to the chaos of 1968. But thats like comparing a tavern brawl to Ali versus Frazier in Manila. In 1968 both political parties held their conventions in August; the Republicans in Miami and the Democrats in Chicago where the city was turned into a rolling riot. In addition to the scars cut into the countrys soul by the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy as well as the bonfires in the night as several major cities were burned and looted, there was a war raging in Vietnam. That August, 1,080 Americans were killed in that war. 813 died in July. 1,146 had been killed in June and the yearly total of those who never got to come home to vote, to marry, to hold their childs hand, to work, worry or simply live was 16,592. We endured. We didnt learn what we ought to have but we endured. So now, all these decades later we have Donald J. Trump telling us to be afraid, to be very afraid. He tells us the best way, the only way, to defeat the fear he defines and that defines his campaign for the White House is to follow him. Some will. Some wont. The math will be on the books in November and then we will find out if America buys what he is selling and the country he sees. Or well discover the America where we all live and Donald J. Trump will return to his penthouse in the clouds, a bigger brand than ever. A Tennessee pastor and his associate are accused of stealing state grant money to run a drug recovery program that served the dearly departed. Prosecutors allege that Mount Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church pastor Clinton M. Lewis Sr. and associate Andre Trice took more than $60,000 in state grants over four years for a supposed substance abuse and recovery program. An audit of the program, however, found that some of those listed as clients never received counseling, while others turned out to be incarcerated or dead. Lewis is a father of five and grandfather of two who was ordained more than 20 years ago. Hes been at Mount Hopewell since 2002 . According to his pastors bio, hes leading the church through the first phase of a multi-phase, multi-million dollar building project. According to The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Lewis and Trice started running their fraudulent drug program in 2011and by 2015, theyd allegedly defrauded the state of $60,000. Some of the drug rehab clients listed by Lewis and Trice told police theyd never received treatment from the organization. Others would have been hard to reach in prison. Still others were dead. The last publicly available tax form for the Mount Hopewell Community Development Corporation, the entity through which the addiction rehabilitation program was operated, dates from two years ago. (The form was marked as received by the IRS in 2015, despite covering the 2013 calendar year.) In it, Lewis notes that since 2010, the Mount Hopewell Community Development Corporation has received $61,200 in grants for the drug recovery program. It received $14,400 a year from 2010 to 2012, and $18,000 in 2013. Of the $18,000 received for the Substance Abuse Recovery Support Services program in 2013, $17,700 went to professional fees and other payments to independent contractors, Lewis marked on the form. The remaining $300 went to other expenses. Lewis listed himself as president of the organization, and named a staff of three other individuals: one secretary, and two board members. Lewis said he worked 10 hours a week on the project, while the others worked an hour each. None of them received any compensation, according to the form. Trice is not listed anywhere on tax forms reviewed by The Daily Beast. But Jasper Brewster, one of two board members listed on the tax forms, told The Daily Beast that he didnt consider himself a board member of the organization, and that he had moved out of town at around the time covered by the tax form. I cant recall making more one or two of the meetings, he said. Brewster is no longer involved with the Mount Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, though he said hed heard rumors about the criminal charges. He said he didnt know whether there was any truth to them. Nothing was set up back then, he said, referring to around three years ago. There was talk of things they wanted to do, but there was no school ... it was all to come. Was there a drug recovery program? Not that I recall, Brewster said. But then again, they could have it in [the] room next door. The TBI also found that people named by Lewis as rehab counselors didnt know the program was still running. Board members listed on other tax filings declined to comment to The Daily Beast. Attempts to call the church phone number were unsuccessful, and the voice mailbox was full. Numbers listed for Lewis were disconnected. Although Pastor Lewis is stunned by the Grand Jurys decision to indict him on these charges, he is comforted in the fact that he will have an opportunity to clear his name of any and all illegal conduct, Lewiss attorney, Jamaal Boykin, told Fox 17 Nashville. Under the strict advice of counsel, Pastor Lewis will not discuss any facts publicly surrounding this matter, but he would like to unequivocally assert his innocence as assumed at this point by both the State and Federal Constitutions. Boykin told The Daily Beast that he did not have further comment. He is presumed innocent under the laws of our State and Country and really would like that point driven to your audience, he said. Both Lewis and Trice are out on bond, a spokesman for the Davidson County Sheriffs Office told The Daily Beast. As recently as spring 2014, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services boasted about the Hopewell rehab in a newsletter highlighting partnerships with faith-based groups. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is dedicated to supporting qualified providers by funding programs to treat substance abuse issues and reduce illicit drug abuse and dependency among Tennessee citizens, spokesman Mike Machak told The Daily Beast. The department is committed to ensuring that public funds be properly used for individuals who are indigent and in need of treatment services for substance abuse. On Facebook, friends say theyre not judging the two men, and challenge those without sin to cast the first stone. Stop pointing fingers and Im talking about the incident with Pastor Clinton M. Lewis and Andre Trice we have all done some wrong we just havent got caught but keep on living your day is going to come I dont know about you but Im praying for the men of God, Lewis Brown posted . Let me tell you I can see God working some stuff out right now pastor Lewis and Andre Trice keep your head up put a smile on your face and know that God still have your back. Another friend, Michael Bennett, posted about spending time with Trice after he was let out on bond. I learned today that regardless of how bad your situation may be, God will and can hide you from all the naysayers and people who are really out for your destruction and allow you to prevail mentally through the situation peacefully with no worries knowing that we win, he posted . People are so quick to crucify and convict before all the evidence is presented, Antoine Barbee posted . My responsibility is to pray and not entertain the issue. I cant verify whether this is in fact true or not. And quite frankly, I care not to know. Trices criminal history shows he has a fondness for driving with a suspended licenseor without one altogether. But this is the first serious charge for both men. Days after hateful trolls came after Leslie Jones over Ghostbusters, wagingand losinga misogynistic Twitter war over the lady buster reboot, women took center stage at the biggest pop culture event of the year to claim their rightful place in geek culture. First there was Wonder Woman, who kicked off one of the most anticipated panels Saturday morning on the biggest day of San Diego Comic-Con. Gal Gadot had appeared on the Hall H stage for the past two years with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice co-stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. This time she didnt have to share the spotlight with Warner Bros. caped crusaders. For the first time at Comic-Con, Gadots Diana Prince/Wonder Woman got her own moment to bask in the adoration of over 6,000 Hall H fans who went wild for an action-packed first trailer for 2017s Wonder Woman. The crowds greeted the DC Extended Universes first superheroine, along with its historic first female director, Patty Jenkins, with enormous applause that jumpstarted a buzzy two-hour presentation. Moments later WB also earned a huge response for a few cheeky glimpses of Margot Robbies popular Suicide Squad antihero Harley Quinn, who is hands down the most cosplayed character from any universe at Comic-Con this weekend (and will star in her own spinoff film). After the disappointing BvS took some of the wind out of the Justice League sails, its the women of DC who are helping fans keep the faith. But if theres one timeless truism about attending Comic-Con, where geeks of all stripes flock each July and attendance has swelled to a near-unmanageable 150,000 in recent years, its that the expected showstoppers from Hollywoods biggest superhero studios will inevitably boil down to a Marvel vs. DC face-off. (That, and the a/c will never be strong enough to cycle out the sweaty hot dog smells of thousands of bodies crammed together in one giant room all day long.) Whose footage impressed the most? Who delivered the best and biggest surprises? Who won the contest to build the biggest buzz with exclusive trailers, news announcements, viral spectacle? Instead of comparing the nerdgasm-worthiness of Marvel and DCs respective Saturday showstoppers, two panels that had con-goers camping out for several days and nights just to be the first to see what treats Disney and WB had in store, its worth pointing out what the rival studios had in common coming into Comic-Conand at a time when Hollywoods slowly becoming more woke and audiences are, more than ever, vocalizing their demands for inclusion. After WB landed the one-two punch of feting their DC female stand-alone superheroine and its first woman helmer, Marvel followed suit by bookending its own stacked panel with its own notable firsts. Marvel Studios honcho Kevin Feige, a veritable Comic-Con celebrity in his own right, earned raucous cheers as he strolled onto the Hall H stage Saturday night. He quickly turned the mic over to director Ryan CooglerMarvels first African-American helmer, who in turn brought out Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, who will play his nemesis Erik Killmonger, and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyongo. It was Boseman who made the surprise announcement that they had another new castmate in tow from Black Panther, which begins lensing in January for a 2018 release. Out strode Danai Gurira of AMCs The Walking Dead, who will go from slaying zombies to battling alongside Boseman as Okoye, the leader of Black Panthers corps of female bodyguards known as the Dora Milaje. Among these intriguing tidbits is the promise that Nyongo, seen most recently as the CG-crafted Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and heard in this years The Jungle Book, is set for a considerable change of pace. Onstage it was revealed that shell play Nakia, the Wakandan woman who in Marvel Comics lore becomes the villainous Malice, turning an obsession with TChalla into a vendetta against him. Elsewhere on a Marvel panel stuffed with fan-pleasing new looks at Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and a quirky Thor: Ragnarok documentary, fans got a good look at Tilda Swintons Ancient One, who is sought out in the mountains of Tibet by Benedict Cumberbatchs desperate Steven Strange and promptly schools him in the wonders of astral-tripping through multiple dimensions. And, last but not least, Feige introduced Oscar winner Brie Larson as the titular star of Captain Marvel, a film penned by female scribes Nicole Perlman and Meg LeFauve thats set to hit theaters March 8, 2019. Shell serve as the first stand-alone superheroine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In between these bipartisan female firsts for superhero cinema, it was EWs annual lady power powwow, the Women Who Kick Ass panel, which underscored the importance of highlighting strong women at an event like Comic-Con. Connie Nielsen, who plays Queen Hippolyta in Wonder Woman, laid down the realest talk of the day addressing how much further Hollywood has to go to create worthy characters that represent a fuller spectrum of female life onscreen. Until we really ask, again and again, why we expect one thing from a female or a male character and why we accept that, well still see eight men and one woman as a line-up, she said. Until we really ask why is that acceptable, and why is it that you dont want a much more real experience? Because the reality is we are all here at the same time in these real numbers, and we need to be able to see that when we talk about who we are. On July 8, 2015, as I was in the midst of working on this book, United Airlines suffered a computer problem and grounded its planes. That same day, the New York Stock Exchange halted trading when its system stopped working properly. The Wall Street Journals website went down. People went out of their minds. No one knew what was going on. Twitter was bedlam as people speculated about cyberattacks from such sources as China and Anonymous. But these events do not seem to have been the result of a coordinated cyberattack. The culprit appears more likely to have been a lot of buggy software that no one fully grasped. As one security expert stated in response to that days events, These are incredibly complicated systems. There are lots and lots of failure modes that are not thoroughly understood. This is an understated way of saying that we simply have no idea of the huge number of ways that these incredibly complex technologies can go wrong. Our technologiesfrom websites and trading systems to urban infrastructure, scientific models, and even the supply chains and logistics that power large businesseshave become hopelessly interconnected and overcomplicated, such that in many cases even those who build and maintain them on a daily basis cant fully understand them any longer. In his book The Ingenuity Gap, professor Thomas Homer-Dixon describes a visit he made in 1977 to the particle accelerator in Strasbourg, France. When he asked one of the scientists affiliated with the facility if there was someone who understood the complexity of the entire machine, he was told that no one understands this machine completely. Homer-Dixon recalls feeling discomfort at this answer, and so should we. Todays technological complexity has reached a tipping point. The arrival of the computer has introduced a certain amount of radical novelty to our situation, to use the term of the computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra. Computer hardware and software is much more complex than anything that came before it, with millions of lines of computer code in a single program and microchips that are engineered down to a microscopic scale. As computing has become embedded in everything from our automobiles and our telephones to our financial markets, technological complexity has eclipsed our ability to comprehend it. We are of two minds about all this complexity. On the one hand, we built these incredibly complicated systems, and thats something to be proud of. They might not work as expected all the time, but they are phenomenally intricate edifices. On the other hand, almost everything we do in the technological realm seems to lead us away from elegance and understandability, and toward impenetrable complexity and unexpectedness. We already see hints of the endpoint toward which we are hurtling: a world where nearly self-contained technological ecosystems operate outside of human knowledge and understanding. This book argues that there are certain trends and forces that overcomplicate our technologies and make them incomprehensible, no matter what we do. These forces mean that we will have more and more days like July 8, 2015, when the systems we think of as reliable come crashing down in inexplicable glitches. As a complexity scientist, I spend a lot of time being preoccupied with the rapidly increasing complexity of our world. Ive noticed that when faced with such massive complexity, we tend to respond at one of two extremes: either with fear in the face of the unknown, or with a reverential and unquestioning approach to technology. Fear is a natural response, given how often we are confronted with articles on such topics as the threat of killer machines, the dawn of superintelligent computers with powers far beyond our ken, or the question of whether we can program self-driving cars to avoid hitting jaywalkers. Even if we arent afraid of our technological systems, many of us still maintain an attitude of distaste toward technology. We see this in our responses to the inscrutable recommendations of an Amazon or a Netflix. Many of us even rail at the choices an application makes when it tells us the best route from one location to another. On the other hand, some of us veer to the opposite extreme: an undue veneration of our technology. When something is so complicated that its behavior feels magical, we end up resorting to the terminology and solemnity of religion. When we delight at Googles brain and its anticipation of our needs and queries, when we delicately caress the newest Apple gadget, or when we visit a massive data center and it stirs something in the heart similar to stepping into a cathedral, we are tending toward this reverence. However, neither of these responseswhether from experts or laypeopleis good or productive. One leaves us with a crippling fear and the other with a worshipful awe of systems that are far from meriting unquestioning wonder. Both prevent us from confronting our technological systems as they actually are. Next time, the results of our failure to understand might not be as trivial as a frustrated Wall Street Journal reader being unable to access an article at the time of her choosing. The glitches could be in the power grid, in banking systems, or even in our medical technologies, and they will not go away on their own. We ignore them at our peril. Technology, while omnipresent, is not pristine or unfathomable because of its creation by some perfect, infinite mind. It is wonderfully messy and imperfect. My goal is to help each of us navigate a path between the two extremes of fear and awe, laying out an orientation toward our technologies that will allow us to make progress in how we approach them. This orientation will require us to meet our technologies halfway by cultivating a comfort with these systems despite never completely understanding them. As we will see, this orientation involves, among other things, each of us thinking the way scientists do when examining the massive complexity of biology. Despite all the overcomplication of the systems we vitally depend on, Im ultimately hopeful that humanity can handle what we have built. This book is why. Adapted from Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension by Samuel Arbesman, in agreement with Current, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright Samuel Arbesman, 2016. Samuel Arbesman is Scientist in Residence at Lux Capital, a science and technology venture capital firm. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Silicon Flatirons Center of Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado and a Research Fellow at the Long Now Foundation. His writing on science, mathematics, and technology has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. Arbesmans first book, The Half-life of Facts, examines how knowledge changes over time. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children. You like Trump, I like Trump, everybody likes Trump for president! Donald Trumps latest campaign ad, which he released on Twitter Saturday night, is strange in that it does something modern campaign ads so rarely do: It provides insight into the true character of the candidate. Clocking in at just 28 seconds, it is a collage of silent footage of Trumps speech at the Republican Convention in Cleveland on Thursday. As the images cut in and out, the words onscreen say the following: 75 MINUTES TOTAL SPEECH TIME, 24 MINUTES TOTAL APPLAUSE, 33% TIME SPENT APPLAUDING. (Which is wrongits 32 percent.) The screen fades to white, and then the Trump-Pence logo appears. Compare this with Hillary Clintons latest ad, called Dear Donald Trump, which features a collection of regular folka small child, some women, and some men, all of varying ethnic backgroundslecturing the Republican candidate about how his ideas and values are not representative of their own. Clinton herself does not appear. Or even compare it to any number of the ads produced during the last two general elections, by Mitt Romney, John McCain, and Barack Obama. In 2008, a Harvard Law professor talked about how inspiring Obama was and Sen. Claire McCaskill testified that he knew how to get things done in Washington. In another, a narrator made the argument that Obama could restore Americas place in the world and peoples faith in our government while uniting all people in the common quest for hope and change. And John McCain looked warmly into the camera while he promised to do better than the last eight years of George W. Bush. We need a new direction and I have a plan, he said. In another clip, a narrator labeled McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, the original mavericks who will make history and change Washington. In 2012, Obama used his ads to fact-check Romneys debate performance and impale him for his business record of outsourcing jobs overseas. Meanwhile, Romney enlisted a blue-collar man to criticize the president for his you didnt build that gaffe and hammered him for appearing weak on the worlds stage. There is a common denominator here, if you hate yourself enough to watch them all: These ads, even when they are laser-focused on needling the opposition, are about something greater than the candidate him or herself. Theyre about the country which the candidate seeks to lead. And even when the ads reference the good values and respectable nature of the candidate in question, we learn very little about who these candidates actually are as people because of that first thing, because thats whats understood the campaign-commercial-viewing public wants to hear about. Trumps new clip is different. First of all, its not a sleek, expensive productionTrump is notoriously cheap, and he has not thus far invested in traditional methods of campaigning, like glitzy commercials with primetime TV slots. Its a shoddy production in large part because of that, and surely also due to the speed with which it was produced (48 hours after the speech). But in just 28 seconds, we learn more about who Trump is than in dozens of ads produced by Clinton, Obama, Romney, and McCain. 75 MINUTES TOTAL SPEECH TIME, 24 MINUTES TOTAL APPLAUSE, 33% TIME SPENT APPLAUDINGthats all you need to get Trump. As a politician, Trump is not unique in his desire to be loved and accepted, of course. Most sensible people would stop at town councilman or state legislator if ego didnt have something to do with their desire to serve the public. In 1952, Citizens for Eisenhower released an ad that consisted of some cartoon white people singing, You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike for president! But to say Trump is driven by ego wouldnt be going far enough. You really have to take a moment to appreciate how utterly bizarre it is that, after winning the Republican nominationthe thing hardly anyone thought he could do, the thing he wasnt even sure he could doTrump only cares about ratings, like he doesnt recognize the difference between starring on NBCs The Apprentice and possibly becoming leader of the free world. 75 MINUTES TOTAL SPEECH TIME, 24 MINUTES TOTAL APPLAUSE, 33% TIME SPENT APPLAUDINGyou are kidding yourself if you think Trump did not personally order some poor idiot on his staff, probably Dan Scavino, to watch the speech again and crunch those numbers. Trump has no values, no internal world, no sincere desire to make concrete changes to this country to fix what supposedly ails us, he has only a primal need to know how long people cheered for him and how big of a deal that length of time is, given the total time of the event in question. If Trump had a thought-bubble floating above that glorious mane, it would say the following: 75 MINUTES TOTAL SPEECH TIME, 24 MINUTES TOTAL APPLAUSE, 33% TIME SPENT APPLAUDINGand then it would burst. Nearly 185 years ago, the first national nominating party convention selected an unconventional nominee. Not only did he not belong to the party that chose him, he had contravened their defining political principlerooted in a paranoid political panic as absurd as todays Birther blather. He had lost the O.J. Simpson-like trial of his day. And he had no interest in being president. Now I hate politics, and can never be a party man much less a party leader for I trust I have a good conscience, and in these times I doubt the practicability of a politician possessing such a blessing, he told a friend. Besides, I have not the nerve to bear the vulgar abuse which is the politicians standing dish. Nevertheless, the Anti-Masonic party convention, which assembled on September 26, 1831, in Baltimore, nominated William Wirt. The 59-year-old Maryland native, born to Swiss and German immigrants, was a best-selling author, oft-quoted orator, a superlawyer despite failing to convict former Vice President Aaron Burr of treason, a former attorney general, and former Mason. Politicians back then ritualistically professed disinterest in politics, awaiting the peoples call. Henry Clay would say in 1844, Id rather be right than president. Wirt meant it. He was a transition figure between his mentor Thomas Jeffersons republican elitism and his opponent Andy Jacksons vulgar populism. Wirt attended the convention reluctantly, hoping to unite the squabbling anti-Jackson factions behind Henry Clay. But the anti-Masons hated Clay, who had been a more enthusiastic Mason than Wirt. Given four hours to decide, Wirt accepted the nomination as his patriotic duty, writing, Not only have I never sought the office, but I have long since looked at it with more of dread, than of desire. Our party conventions, then, originated amid great political ambivalence and in the Anti-Masons wacky fight against the fraternal order of Masonry. These conspiracy theorists believed that Masons killed William Morgan, a former New York Freemason who disappeared in 1826. Morgan had threatened to spill the secrets of this elite fraternal order, which originated in the stonemasons 14th century guilds. Amid the chaos of industrializing and democratizing New York, Morgans disappearance gave the disgruntled anti-Masons scapegoats to blame for the uproar of the industrial revolution: the secretive, selective Freemasons. By 1828, the Anti-Masonic Party had formed in upstate New York, centered around the religiously inflamed, revivalist burnt-over districts. As the populist Andrew Jackson expanded presidential power to democratize America, he made many enemies, including the Anti-Masons. Seeking to go national, and prove their popularity, the Anti-Masons democratized the presidential nominating process for 1832. Initially, state legislatures nominated presidential candidates. By the 1820s, a more nationalistic congressional caucus usually selected a partys nominee. In 1822, two battling Jacksonians, New Yorks Martin Van Buren and South Carolinas John C. Calhoun, considered a national nominating convention to unite Democrats, but it never happened. On the state level, which piloted many democratic innovations, disenfranchised outsiders often called conventions to circumvent boss-dominated caucuses. On September 11, 1830, 96 delegates gathered in Philadelphia for the first Anti-Masonic convention. They realized they should seek delegates from every state to nominate a presidential candidate. They hoped the delay of a year will enable the people throughout the United States to form an opinion, whether those who may be candidates are firm and decided anti-masons. A year later, the convention settled on William Wirt, as essentially Americas first third party candidate, who in his acceptance letter admitted to having joined a Masonic Lodge three decades earlier. He claimed his nomination showed that this party would not seek an automaton President deploying powers to the vindictive purposes of party proscription and persecution. He continually regarded Masonry as nothing more than a social and charitable club. Wirt was a safe choice with a towering reputation. He made the attorney generals office formidable during a still-unmatched 12-year stint. His 1803 Letters of the British Spy was a sensation, evoking the world of the Revolution. His 1817 Patrick Henry biography reconstructedand probably embellishedthe immortal Give me liberty or give me death speech. And his 1826 eulogy of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson before Congress celebrated their reconciliation in their retirement as a lesson of wisdom on the bitterness of party spirit. Wirt argued his eras most consequential cases, spearheading the fight to recognize the Cherokee Nation as sovereign. In Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, in 1831, Wirt challenged the justices, asking, What is the value of that government in which the decrees of its court can be mocked at and defied with impunity? A year later, in Worcester v. Georgia, the Court followed Wirts wisdom. As a candidate, Wirt failed to unite the anti-Jackson forces or ignite the now-somewhat-defused Anti-Masonic movement. But todays democratic innovation is tomorrows hoary tradition: this first nominating convention begat others to demonstrate their responsiveness. On December 12, 1831, 156 National Republican delegates from 17 states gathered to nominate Henry Clay. They produced an angry, anti-Jackson Address to the People, foreshadowing the tradition of party platforms. These two conventions forced the Jacksonian Democrats to convene to compete on March 21, 1832. A combination of legislative caucuses, statewide conventions, county meetings, and congressional-district conventions selected 320 delegates. This convention started the traditions of determining the size of the state delegation by the states electoral votes, with voting culminating in that colorful roll call of states from the Great State of Loueeeziana and Kentuck-ee and on and on. New Hampshires Frederick A. Sumner opened the convention by articulating the hope with which all conventions begin but not all end: that this gathering of representatives of the people from the extremity of the union, would have a tendency to soothe, if not to unite, the jarring interests Jackson and his Democrats triumphed. Wirt won 8 percent of the popular vote and Vermonts seven Electoral votes. Wirt wrote what could be his epitaph. I am perfectly aware, he wrote a friend, that I have none of the captivating arts and manners of professional seekers of popularity. I do not desire them. I shall not change my manners; they are a part of my nature. If the people choose to take me as I amwell. If not, they will only leave me where I have always preferred to be, enjoying the independence of private life. Then as now, Americans love to yearn for such modestybut rarely reward it, especially because combative and colorful conventionsand candidatesare more fun. Last week I had an epiphany. I am not used to epiphanies and at first I thought it was a headache. The television set was on and the Republican National Convention was headed for its grand finale. Maybe its just me, but a week in Cleveland in July seems like more than whats necessary to make the point that you have lost your mind, when you could just as easily let the act of nominating Donald Trump for the office of president of the United States speak for itself. In any case, while I was having this headache/epiphany, my mind wandered back four years to Phoenix, and a medical facility called Select Specialty Hospital. It may be a stretch but I see The Donald and Hillary everywhere I look. The specialty at Select Specialty, as far as I could figure out, was waiting for guests to expire, and this was where I spent the meat of my 10-week visit into the strange, remote world between this one and the next, waiting to die of an infection. If you are interested, the infection was probably from a puppy bite, but nobody ever could say for sure. What everybody did know was that my goose was cooked. *** As for me, everything in the world I knew about dying of infection came out of a single short story by Ernest Hemingway called The Snows of Kilimanjaro. It is a great, clear story, among his very bestalthough I would add here that advising good writers on which of their stories/novels/poems are better than the others is never a good idea. You might as well rank your friends children. Anyway, The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a beautiful work and, without trying to tell you what its aboutwhich will miss the point every time if the storys any goodI would only say that apparently dying of an infection in sight of Mount Kilimanjaro is more thought-provoking than dying of the same thing in Phoenix. The boss of the hospital floor was a thick, stubby-looking registered nursetwo-fifty if she weighed an ounce. Middle-age, loud, one of those obese folks you run into now and then with more energy than you had when you were 16. I have worked for bosses myself who scared their staffs, and she was one of those. From the start, I was hanging in the balance; you do not come to this particular facility if you are not. A few days into my visit, my wife, Mrs. Dexter, stuck her head in the open door of the resident doctors office to ask about the next surgery, and without even looking up he told her that I wasnt leaving the place anyway. I would point out that this was a resident and not one of the bunch who eventually led me out the other end, alive. It was also early onwhen exactly I dont know. The days ran into each other, indistinct, even day and night, and there was nothing orderly or anchored left in my sense of what was going onso early on, the floor boss stepped into my room just as Mrs. Dexter was coming in to visit. The nurse complained to Mrs. Dexter that Id been a holy terror all nighthallucinations, pressing the call button to find out where I was and if somebody was taking care of my dogs. There was also a bear in the bathroom, eating the koi fish out of the toiletthis, by the way, was not a new hallucination. The first thing that always happens when I end up in the hospital is a bear goes after my koi in the toilet. All to say, the boss had had it up to here, and as I lay conscious, four feet away, exhaustedyou spend a night fighting a bear, youll be tired tooshe shrugged in my direction and said that even if I made it out of there Id never be the same person anyway. *** Mrs. Dexter did not think this was good for my morale. She walked from my room to the hospital administrator, told the man what happened, and said she didnt want the boss in my room anymore. I am not sure what happened next, except I never saw the boss nurse again. This did not mean she was out of my life. Suddenly nobody would answer the call button. One afternoon, still too weak to sit up more than a few minutes, I was left alone for four hours on a metal toilet seat in the middle of the room. Another morning I blacked out while an aide was washing me off, and when I came back Id gone to the bathroom and the aide was screaming the absolute filthiest string of words I have to this moment ever heard put together. You stupid, f, c faced, m. A good two minutes at the top of her lungs, and while some of the words were repeated, the phrasing was fresh all the way through. Later that day, the aide came backthere was another aide too, they were bringing the lunch traysand she picked up the water glass off the tray and threw itthe water, not the glassin my face. The following morning, the second-in-command boss of the floor came in and said shed heard that the woman had spilled a few drops of juice on my sheets, and she didnt want to hear me saying anything about it. The same woman was polite to my guests, politely suggesting I was not myself. This went on, one way and another, until the day I left. For those weeks, the bossand her nursescould do and not do whatever they wanted, and there was nothing to stop them. You could see that the quality of care dropped off when nobody expects you to live, and if the infection had progressed from my spine and kidneys, etc. into my heart or lungs, nobody would have answered the call button while it killed me. And nobody except my doctors and a single nurses aide who seemed ashamed of what was going on, none of them would have minded at all. *** And so, all this week I went back and forth from Cleveland to Phoenix, and kept coming back to Trump and Clinton and the mobs that dont care that what got them here, in addition to the treachery and lying, was all personal greed. Donald Trump, at the center of this half of things, takes the stage saying he will never, ever forget being nominated for president. Traditional values, making America great. And suddenly, you suspect air is being pumped into that old, flat tire. Suddenly you realize that now that he is so close, hes beginning to forget who he is. Last week Donald, this week Hillary. No amount of talking about each other will erase who each of them is. So I go back to an even better short story than The Snows of Kilimanjaro, by an even better writer. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by a woman named Flannery OConnor. The story ends along a quiet road with the murder of an old woman and her family. The old woman has been begging for her life when The Misfit shoots herlast, after all the others. She was a good talker, wasnt she? Bobby Lee said, sliding down the ditch with a yodel. The Misfit tells Bobby Lee to shut up. She would have been a good woman, The Misfit said, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life. I had to know the risks my mother and her lovermy fatherwere taking in Saigon: laughing together in a jeep with balloons, living together though the Foreign Office forbade it, making love with an armed guard posted outside his official residenceas there were at so many such residences at the time, in 1950-53. I had to know how much violence they faced, as a measure of how much they wanted to be together there. And I had to know for sure that I had come from love. Graham Greenes authorized biographer had insulted the memory of my mother, my father, that of the young man who would become my beloved stepfatherJim Floodand me. Norman Sherry had written in his biography of the late English writer that my father paid my mother $300 when she became pregnant by him and that he then returned to his wife in Englandthe truth of which is questionable and far from the whole not-simple and intensely romantic story. Then when I asked Sherry in an email why he used the word paid, he didnt answer me. So I was, in fury, turning many files inside out at the National Archives in Maryland. Four elderly CIA officers and many Foreign Service Officers who worked at the American Legation/Embassy in Saigon with Flood, and their wives, helped me; some said they were proud that I was making the record accurate. Thats how I found out about how Jeanne Skewes and Lydia James died, and later that Greene had used the poor womens deaths for personal political gain. I think of them allmy three parents, and Skewes and Jamesevery time I hear about the attack on Ambassador Christopher Stevens and his staff at Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012. This means I have been thinking of them plenty, too much, especially in recent months, and sometimes, recent weeks, coinciding with the impending publication of my book, The Unquiet Daughter: A Memoir of Betrayal and Love. In it, a New York journalist, born of the true wartime love triangle that inspired the one in Graham Greenes novel, The Quiet American, searches for her father after barely surviving a bizarre youth of privilege, bewilderment, estrangement, and cruelty. Michael Shelden, the Graham Greene expert, multiple biographer, and Pulitzer prize finalist, says: Danielle Flood is the child of an affair so much like the one described in the love triangle of Greenes novel that she is perfectly right to make her startling claim: I am a sequel he never wrote. *** Somehow Lydia Ruth James, 30, and Jeanne R. Skewes, 32, lost their shoes when they were shot in the back of the head at close range just outside Saigon on March 7, 1948. But Skewes, a divorcee, was still wearing her platinum and diamond ring when their bodies were found in their U.S. Information Service jeep. She was then acting USIS chief at the consulate where James deciphered coded messages. The authorities at the time, the French Surete, said the women told their servants, when they left their home in northwest Saigon at about 6 p.m., to make dinner and seat their friendsa reporter from the Associated Press, another from United Press, and a vice consulwho had been invited to arrive at 7:15 p.m. A report from the Surete stated investigators did not believe the bullet holes in the jeep coincided with those in the bodies. So it appears it was some work to put the bodies back in the jeep, tear the American flag off the front of it, pour their jerry can of gasoline over it and set it afire in a field off the bamboo-thicket-lined road in the area between northeast Saigon and Tan-Son-Nhut airport. *** Such assassinations affect some of us who are related to Foreign Service Officers, especially when they are working overseas, more than it does others. It has touched me to the core. You hear about Benghazi, or Skewes and James, and you think: Mom was there, in Saigon, a 20-year-old specialist equivalent to a sergeant, for four months when this happened to those women. It could have been her; maybe. Although she was born in Annam, and was part Vietnamese, her father was French, so as a French National she joined the French womens army corpsdes Auxiliaires Feminins de larmee de Terre. But she abhorred violence; her youngest brother, Guy, repeated to me in an extensive interview, in French, that she did not want a career in les militaires. So why was she staying in Saigon? It was still horrendously dangerous when her lover, the man who would become my father, arrived, almost a year later. I have thought hundreds of times of himand herin Saigon then as I read and wrote about: a French publisher being assassinated in his car on his way home for lunch; the riot where 4,000 students and workers protested the two U.S. destroyers docked downtown, the turning over of 15 trucks or buses, the tearing down of U.S. and French flags; the grenades rolling down the aisles in the cinema, or blowing up outside a casino or hotel, in sidewalk cafes, in cars and on the rue Catinat. When I was in utero, there was a double-assassination suicide bombing just outside Saigon that was considered, in a 2003 U.S. study, a terrorism classic. And then Jim Flood, the young Foreign Service Officer who my mother did marry, who I thought was my father for many years and always think of as Dad, came to Saigon in early 1951. He was a Saigon Legation/Embassy information officer and some 20 years later the U.S. Consul in Madras. In between, while I was going to school stateside, he worked in other dangerous places, including, in the 60s, Seoul, where my little sister said she watched two fighter planes in a dogfight in the sky from her schoolroom window. You worry. Yes, Foreign Service Officers get paid extra to work in places that are most dangerous, but for us who love them, the money means nothing. The fretting is a suffering. It can be a torment. Every time you hear of an FSO killing, you think it could have been that someone you love. When Benghazi happened, I asked an elderly foreign service officer who had been a colleague of Dads in Saigon if it was my imagination or what, that I felt injured by what happened to Ambassador Stevens, as if we were all physically connected somehow as State Department family members, even though Dad is dead. In college, when I worked for Associated Press photos, I saw many gory images but was never affected like I was by the one of Stevens dying as he was carried to a Benghazi hospital in his pieta-like stance. Dads colleague said he felt it, too. *** For the deaths of Skewes and James, the French Surete blamed a local band of five Viet Minh, which, the American Consul General told the U.S. Secretary of State in a now declassified letter, fit in suspiciously well with French desires Seven months later, an American missionary came forth to a U.S. Vice Consul with a report relayed by an old Annamese man who witnessed the killings. He said Skewes, driving the jeep, hadnt stopped when the French military shouted to do so. Shots were fired from the military post. One of the women screamed. Shortly after that, the old man heard more shooting. The prostitutes who frequented the post said the soldiers who had been posted there were transferred, and the military post, one of those tower-like structures near the perimeter of Tan-Son-Nhut airport, was pulled own. In February 2008, an elderly retired CIA officer told me that just before he was posted to Saigon in 1951 as a young recruit from Princeton, he had learned about Skewes and James and that the identity of their killers was termed murky. *** I hope I speak for other relatives of Foreign Service Officers, dead and alive, when I say how revolting it has been to see the Benghazi State Department staff deaths played with as political toys. The use of the deadespecially the assassinated, the executedas political silly putty is to disrespect, mock, and disallow all that is sacred in death, life, and the passing on to another realm. It derides the spiritual world thats all around and within us. It is uncivilized. I had wondered if there was some other-worldly reason for my finding out about Skewes and James, who had no children. The State Department said there was no budget for their hearses or a headstone for Skewes, who was buried in the European cemetery in Saigon. Jamess parents had her remains shipped home, where she was laid to rest near the Hillsdale, Indiana, farm where she grew up. Poor James. A week before she died, some 150 French and Vietnamese in a convoy outside of Saigon were killed; she had asked for a transfer. It took a while, but then I learned that Skewes and Jamess deaths, too, had not escaped being played with for political purposes. It was the English author Graham Greene, who very much disliked Americans, who did this. In February 1952, in Saigon, he became visibly angry, U.S. Vice-Consul Tom Peck said, because Peck had shortened Greenes U.S. visa from a year to a month, per the attorney generals edictbecause Greene was a communist. It has been rumored that Greene wrote The Quiet American, his anti-American novel, in retaliation for his visa problems with the U.S. CIA officer Charles Baker said, shortly before he died in 2005, that Greene was especially keen to spend time at length in the U.S. then because he had business and a lot of money there. Greene brought up his American Legation visa problems in Saigon repeatedly in communications to his lover, Catherine Walston; he wrote to her on Feb. 4, 1952, after telling her of complaining of his visa problems to the press, and that on that date, he thought today of a new novel. His authorized biographer said Greene began work on The Quiet American in March. These visa problems occurred in the wake of a significant two-car bombing on Jan. 9, 1952one of the most destructive explosions in Saigon to that date. The big two-car bombing, burning 13 cars, killed at least 12 persons, including two small children, and wounded some 25. Body parts were seen in the trees, and car parts were blown a block away from this downtown vicinity where the daughter of the British minister and more than half a dozen U.S. Legation wives, one with a 2-year-old, and employees were shopping or working. Greene said he based the single-car bombing in The Quiet American on that double bombing, but in his fiction, he upped the casualties to 50 dead and blamed its central character, young Foreign Service Officer Alden Pyle, for making it happen. Vietnam scholar Joseph Buttinger in 1967 wrote that Greene used his novel, taught in college classes on and off for decades, to accuse the Americans in Saigon of fomenting the bombing. Newsweek, in its 1956 review of The Quiet American, indicated Greene had created this anti-American work due to his American visa problems. In his New Yorker review, A.J. Liebling called the book Greenes nasty little plastic bomb and said Greene was calling the Americans in Saigon murderers. In reality, French and American sources suspected the bombing was the work of renegades and terrorists (many of the 10-15 Vietnamese political factions were suspected to be involved in terrorist activities in Saigon at the time) led by the self-appointed General Trinh Minh The. While I was working on my book, I was reading this and thinking: Americans in Saigon; that would be Dad. (It took a while to sink in, it was so in-your-face.) Dad involved in a bombing? His sister, Sue Flood, in Pittsburgh, had found in Graham Greenes authorized biography Norman Sherrys description of Dad, my mother, and my birth fatherthe love triangle in Saigonand Sherrys comparison of Dad to the Quiet American character, Pyle, as she took post-retirement courses at Carnegie Mellon. She had written to me, saying the similarity between what happened between my three parents and the narrative in The Quiet American was amazing. So I spent a lot of time combing through everything I could find about how Greene used fact in his fiction. I had to know the truth. Thats how I came upon this: Though Greene even quotes some of his Vietnam diary notes verbatim in The Quiet American, he never mentions Skewes and James or anyone like them in it. But some 25 years later, in his nonfiction book commenting on some of his writing, Ways of Escape, Greene asks who supplied the bombing material to the suspect, General The. There was certainly evidence of contacts between American services and General The. A jeep with the bodies of two American women was found by a French rubber planter on the route to the Holy Mountainpresumably they had been killed by the Viet Minh, but what were they doing on the plantation? The bodies were promptly collected by the American Embassy and nothing more was heard of the incident. Not a word appeared in the press. Greene is not accurate about this. The women, Skewes and James, were not found by a rubber planter: declassified State Department communiques say their bodies were collected by the French military. There is no rubber plantation on the aerial photograph of the site of their execution, which took place in the areaabout 20 minutes away from the womens home in northeast Saigonoff an extension of what was then called the rue Eyriaud des Vergnes, a secondary road to Tan Son Nhut airport. Official reports stated that their bodies were in a field or rice paddy. The Holy Mountain, to which Greene refers, is seven miles northeast of Tay Ninh, home of the CaoDai military religious sect, and about 6o miles from Saigon. The self-proclaimed General The had defected from the CaoDai army in the summer of 1951 and, according to U.S. Minister Donald Heath (soon to be the first ambassador to Vietnam), took to bush. The Associated Press story of the deaths of Skewes and James was published March 9, 1948 in The New York Times, in many U.S. newspapers including Stars and Stripes, and in Populaire, a local Saigon newspaper; and there was a long letter to the editor about it published in The Bangkok Post, reportedly from the Vietminh. Last but not least, the women died in 1948, almost four years before the car bombings in question. Rest in peace, ladies. This essay was adapted from reportage in Danielle Floods memoir-cum-journalism, The Unquiet Daughter: A Memoir of Betrayal and Love, to be published by Piscataqua Press on Sept. 1. In 1432, Jan van Eyck put the finishing touches on the large masterpiece that he began with his brother years earlier. The lesser known Hubert van Eyck didnt live to see the completed magnificence of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, which consisted of 12 panels depicting religious scenes and saints. It was one of the most intricate oil paintings to ever have been produced, and the result was a powerful and stunning work of religious art. The masterpiece was installed in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, ready for the adoring gaze of religious and art pilgrims for centuries to come. Or so the artists and their patrons intended. Little did they know, the Ghent Altarpiece, as it became known, was destined for a tumultuous, adventurous reign. Over the past five centuries, the painting has become one of the most coveted works of all time. According to art historian Noah Charney, who wrote a book about the work called Stealing the Mystic Lamb, it has suffered 13 separate crimes over its history, becoming the victim of thefts and fires, despots and madmen. (What is intact of the piece is presently being restored at the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent.) Each time, the work has been miraculously found and restoredall except for one panel, that is. The two-part, lower left hand panel known as the Just Judges remains missing to this day. The early years of the Ghent Altarpiece were relatively peaceful. But that all changed nearly 150 years after the painting took up residence in the Cathedral, when its first set of troubles began. In 1566, Protestants and Catholics were engaged in the age-old tradition of battling it out over whose religious beliefs were correct. To drive their position home, a group of angry Protestants decided to storm over to the Saint Bavo Cathedral, batter in the front door, and steal the Ghent Altarpiece, intending to destroy it in a fiery blaze of virtuous glory. But after they forced their way inside, they realized that the painting was missing. A group of Cathedral guards had been warned about the approaching mob and had dismantled the panels, hiding them safely out of reach in a church tower. This attempted act of devout thievery kicked off a centuries-long streak of individualsand even nationsseeking to acquire or destroy the Ghent Altarpiece. There was the time when the painting was censored by the local mayor after Pope Joseph II paid the work a visit and objected to one panels detailed nudity of Adam and Eve. Then, a few decades later during the Napoleonic Wars, a French general snatched the central panels for the glory of king and country. The panels were moved to the Louvre, where they stayed on display for French citizens until Louis XVIII kindly returned them to Belgium in 1814 after taking his throne back. One of Saint Bavos owna vicarstole several panels in 1816, which eventually found their way into the collection of Kaiser Frederick III and a museum in Berlin. The remaining panels were hidden by a church official during WWI to avoid further pillaging. It took the Treaty of Versailles to bring all of the panels back home and reassembled in Ghent. The real trial for the work came during WWII, when both Hitler and chief henchman Hermann Goring became desperate to acquire it for their personal art collections. The two madmen, who normally seemed so aligned in their attempts to destroy the world, now found themselves in a battle against each other to see who would win this coveted prize. According to Charney, a game of musical looting ensued. Hitler got his hands on the work first, when the Nazi unit assigned to plundering cultural treasures grabbed it from the castle in the south of France where the Belgians had attempted to hide it. Not willing to concede the prize, Goring had one of his aides seize the 12-panel piece. But Hitler found him out and ordered his men to step in and take it once more. The Ghent Altarpiece was stored along with many of the worlds greatest treasures in one of the infamous salt mines, where it was discovered by the Monuments Men at the end of the war. Its safe to say that the Ghent Altarpiece has been through its share of trauma, not to mention been witness to some major historical moments. But while religious wars, Napoleon, and even Hitler and Goring werent successful in stealing or destroying the work for good, petty thieves were. The only damage to the Ghent Altarpiece that continues to this day occurred in 1934, several years before the madness of WWII engulfed the region, when thieves hid in Saint Bavo Cathedral before closing one April night. After the doors had been locked, the thieves broke into the chapel where the painting hung and ripped the lower left panel, the Just Judges, from the rest of the altarpiece. They escaped with nary a trace. Belgium went on high alert when the theft was discovered the next day, according to an article in The New York Times. Extra policemen were called in, while ports and border crossings were closely monitored. Soon after the piece went missing, the police received a ransom note. The thieves said they would return the panel in exchange for one million Belgian francs. In something of a weird proof of life move, they sent part of the painting back. Then, in November of that year, a middle-aged stockbroker, Arsene Goedertier, gave a deathbed confession to his lawyer after suffering a heart attack that he was the only one who knew the location of the missing panel. In his bedside table, his lawyer found evidence that he may have been responsible for the ransom note in addition to another note that was never sent. It mysteriously read, [it] rests in a place where neither I, nor anybody else, can take it away without arousing the attention of the public. While officials concluded that Goedertier was telling the truth, the panel has never been found and evidence has since popped up that, at the very least, complicates this narrative. According to Charney, an officer remains assigned to the case to this day. Despite its missing piece, the Ghent Altarpiece remains just as powerful a religious symbol and historically important painting as ever. In 2010, the Getty Foundation awarded a grant for the conservation, restoration, and digital documentation of the piece. A reproduction of the Just Judges now fills the missing panels empty spot where the masterpiece hangs once more in Ghent. Despite the missing original, Jan and Hubert van Eycks painting remains just as powerful a religious symbol and historically important painting as ever. In 2010, the Getty Foundation awarded a grant for the conservation, restoration, and digital documentation of the piece. At the turn of the 15th century, religious pilgrims flocked to Ghent, Belgium to take in the wonder of the Ghent Altarpiece. Now, art lovers from around the world can examine the work up close and in minute detail through the interactive digital recreation. All except for the original Just Judges panel, of course, which the digital copy shows as a distant, greyed out reproduction of the vibrant panel that once hung there and that now remains hidden away, waiting to be found. Shortly before noon on Monday, Aug. 1, 1966, 25-year-old Charles Whitman carried a footlocker full of weapons and ammunition to the top of the 30-story Tower at the University of Texas and opened fire on the unsuspecting pedestrians below. The slaughter 14 dead, 32 injured continued for nearly an hour and a half until Whitman was himself killed by Austin police. Whitmans death toll reached 17, including his wife and mother whom he murdered before taking over the towers observation deck. One of the 32 injured would die years later, ruled a homicide dating back to the wound Whitman inflicted. A comprehensive new book by an Austin father and son team, Monte Akers and Nathan Akers, retraces the full story leading up to the mass murders and the resulting aftermath. Tower Sniper: The Terror of Americas First Active Shooter on Campus (John Hardy Publishing, $24.95 hardcover) comes out this week in conjunction with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the sniper attack. A trade paperback edition ($14.95) will be available in a few weeks, the publisher said. Dr. Roger Friedman, a clinical psychologist, wrote the foreword and a chapter reflecting on the traumatic legacy of the Whitman massacre. One of Friedmans closest childhood friends was killed that day. In spite of the tragic loss of life, the authors write, the Tower story also brought out the best in people who reacted courageously and unselfishly. It is the story of people who did not look or walk away when they saw strangers in need, they conclude. It is a story of humans at their finest. Upbeat Stories My brother Charlie Dromgoole, who lives in College Station, penned a collection of stories laughing about and reflecting on his 42-year career as a chamber of commerce executive. Chamber Stories That I Can Tell (and some that I probably shouldnt!) is not a how-to book about chamber management, but rather a personal, often humorous, look at situations and personalities he encountered along the way. The 45 pieces deal with his experiences in nine communities, including eight in Texas Jasper, Brenham, Port Arthur, Sherman, Abilene, Round Rock, Lufkin and Humble-Kingwood. One of the funniest stories You Dont Have to Be a History Buff to Be a Chamber Buff concerns a community effort to bring the Magna Carta to Sherman. On a more serious note, he reflects on Abilenes successful campaign to be named an All-America City in 1990. The book ($11.95 paperback) is available at texas startrading.com or contact the author at charlie Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@suddenlink.net. SHARE Driving down the interstate in Kentucky, you likely have seen a purple triangular shaped object hanging from trees. These are traps put out to monitor the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB). The traps are part of an emerald ash borer survey, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Forest Service. The Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist began overseeing the installation of traps during the third weekend in May. Traps are placed along the Ohio River from Ballard County to Boyd County and about two counties deep. In addition, traps will be at rest areas, campgrounds, state parks and other tourist attractions across the state. In total, they will install about 6,000 traps that will remain in place through the borer's flight, which ends in August. Ash borers are attracted to red and purple hues, hence the purple color. The traps also contain a combination of oils that are released by stressed ash trees that are the cues that the EAB uses to find a host tree. Sticky surfaces inside the traps will collect the borers. EAB was discovered in Michigan in 2002 and very quickly has spread throughout the eastern portion of North America and Canada killing thousands of ash trees. EAB was found in Kentucky in 2009 near Cincinnati. Since then, we have identified EAB infestations spreading from East to West covering almost 50 percent of the state. Just last week, EAB was confirmed just across the river near the Evansville riverfront. Currently there has been no confirmation of EAB in Henderson County. So you may ask, why is it so important to monitor the spread of EAB? Ash trees are common in North America; valued by homeowners for their shape, strength and beauty. Ash trees comprise a large percentage of our forest throughout the state, and the ash lumber has always been a valued commodity. Many of our downtown streets are lined with ash trees. Our understanding of how EAB can be managed successfully with insecticides has advanced in recent years. Controlling insects that feed under the bark has always been challenging but especially difficult with EAB. Effective control begins with preventive practices. First, keep your ash tree healthy. Be careful not to damage the base with lawn equipment as borers like to bore into wounded trees. A good tree fertility program will also keep the tree well fed and healthier. Consider watering your ash tree during long term drought making sure to water deep and out to the drip line. Even with healthy ash trees, EAB is still likely to move into your neighborhood. It is best to begin using insecticides as a preventive treatment before it is infested. An effective insecticide may stop additional damage but it cannot reverse damage that has already occurred, and it takes time for the tree to recover naturally. Most insecticides used for EAB control act systemically; the insecticide is transported within the tree. If the ash tree is already heavily damaged, the vascular system may not be capable of moving the insecticide throughout the tree. Insecticide applications must also be timed appropriately. Two life stages of EAB are targeted by treatments: adult beetles and young larvae. Adult EAB feed on ash foliage for 14 days before they begin to lay eggs. The onset of adult beetle emergence begins in early May and peak egg hatch and larval establishment occur between early June and mid-August, depending on weather. Considering the time we need for the insecticide to transport through the tree, treatment should begin about the time the trees leaf out. Timing your application correctly aligns the pesticide application with the larvae hatch. Several insecticides are available to professional applicators, but for the homeowner, choices are more limited. Imidacloprid is available at most farm supply stores and comes in liquid or granular. Both formulations need to be watered into the soil. It is also important to remove any leaf debris from the surface before applying. If you decide to protect your ash trees from EAB, there are several things to consider regarding timing, insecticide selection and application techniques, as well as the economics. Contact Andy Rideout at the Henderson County Extension Office at pandrewrideout@uky.edu, at 270-826-8387 or stop by the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Service at 3341 Zion Road, Henderson, KY for more information. SHARE By Erin Schmitt of The Gleaner Central Academy is undergoing a few changes for the 2016-17 school year. "I'm excited about the changes at Central Academy," said Principal Anthony Black. Black gave a PowerPoint presentation about the updates at the alternative learning school during a recent Henderson County Board of Education meeting. Central Academy is still set up with performance-based learning using more flexible schedules as well as daytime students who are there for various infractions at their home schools. Daytime students will be at Central Academy for 20 to 45 days. They will then be sent back to their home schools unless an administrator determines a longer stay is necessary. "We call it our rebound division," said Black. "A lot of students were coming here and staying here." There will be two high school classrooms with 30 students maximum, one middle school classroom with 14 students maximum. In the past, there were as many as 90 high school students, 30 middle school students and 16 short-term students there for three to 10 days. There will still be a maximum of 16 short-term students. All core classes will be completed through online curriculum from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be three electives and experienced-based work from noon to 3 p.m. "That's where we send our kids out in the community to work," he said, adding, "It teaches the kids those soft skills that they lack." There will also be guidance lessons and social interaction groups weekly, he said. Performance-based learning will remain for students age 15-21. It's for students who need a flexible, nontraditional schedule and who must successfully complete 24 credits. Students are referred to the principal and administration team, who then make a final decision on whether to enroll the student. The curriculum is technology-based. The performance-based school is in session from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Friday. When students aren't in class, teachers are in constant communication with parents and students, either via phone calls or home visits, Black said. Performance-based is split into a two tier system. In Tier 1, students must have 12 or more credits, be 18 years old or more and work a minimum of eight hours. Students schedule the times and days they will be at Central with staff a week in advance. Any students who participate in either Tier 1 or Tier 2 must provide weekly evidence of either holding a job or volunteering at a local business or agency. Tier 2 students must have seven or more credits. They must attend Central a minimum of 16 hours a week, three days a week. These students are also expected to schedule with staff a week in advance. E-learning students are referred to Central by the school principals. Their placement are made by a Central administrator. Any student with two or more policy violations are eligible for e-learning. Any student with severe violations, severe behavior, any student with an offense and/or policy violation that involves a weapon of any kind are recommended for e-learning. Online curriculum is followed from the student's home or another location like the JFK Center or Henderson County Public Library. Students are in contact with Central staff via messaging, phone and one-on-one appointments. Night school, which was for policy violators, has been eliminated. There will be an information night about these changes at the school on Aug. 3. Reloaded Iowa Hawkeye wrestling lineup ready for 2022-23 season A strategic blend of experienced veterans, some high-powered new faces, and hungry young guys will lead the Iowa wrestling team this season. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Kevin Johnson, local president of The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, will be the first to admit that the local lodge on Lexington Avenue in South Norwalk ran into tough financial straits. The passing or retirement of elder members, Johnson said, left newcomers learning the ropes. In turn, the Elks Lodges two properties on Lexington Avenue landed in the citys tax sale this month for failure to pay delinquent property taxes. Johnson, whose jurisdiction covers New England and eastern Canada, hopes to help turn the financial difficulties of the lodge around by growing local membership and interest. That is the plan, said Johnson, a Waterbury resident, standing inside the lodge at 92 Lexington Ave. We just got to get the community more involved and get more members back in to keep it going. Added Ruth Spencer, daughter ruler of the IBPOE No. 1533, Younger people. Johnson said the IBPOE No. 1533, which was originally located on Washington St., purchased the lodge building at 92 Lexington Ave. and adjacent apartment building at 94 Lexington Ave. in 1983. Photographs of past grand exalted rulers and granddaughter rulers as the lodge leaders are called adorn the walls of the first floor of the lodge. A bar stands in the middle of the room. An electronic dart game and electronic bowling game stand against the wall. A fan blows in the background. The meeting hall upstairs, where the lodges roughly 120 members meet twice a month, is also made available to the community for funeral wakes and other needs, Johnson said. A kitchen stands to the side. They talk about the community activities that theyre involved in, the programs and departments they already have established and keeping them going, Johnson said of the bimonthly meetings. An education group within the lodge gives away scholarships. Another group helps veterans, he said. Spencer has been in charge of the womens arm for approximately 40 years. I find most people are not interested in what the Elks is truly about: fellowship, brotherly and sisterly love and, of course, we offer a lot to different charities, Spencer said. The Daughters in Norwalk, our adopted charity is the Open Door Shelter. Spencer said the womens group donates to the shelter several times a year and is involved in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program. Additionally, membership in the lodge has allowed Spencer to travel to Las Vegas, Cleveland, the Bahamas and elsewhere for conventions and other events. I probably have been places that I would have never seen in my life, Spencer said. For health reasons, Spencer said she will not attend the IBPOE national convention in New Orleans, La., this August. Johnson does plan to be there. Founded in 1898, The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World or IBPOEW is an African-American fraternal order modeled on the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which began 30 years earlier. The IBPOE is the largest predominately black, fraternal organization in the world, and boasts a membership of over 450,000, with lodges and temples in the United States, Canada, Mexico, West Indies, Panama and the Bahamas, according to its website. In the Norwalks tax sale July 18, the Elks Lodges two properties on Lexington Avenue were auctioned off. The organization redeemed the lodge building the following morning by paying the Tax Collectors Office $33,747 and now hopes to do the same with the apartment building. Johnson said the goal is to regain tax-exempt status, which he said was lost about 10 years ago. The Internal Revenue Service has the local Elks Lodge categorized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose tax exemption was revoked automatically in May 2010. The Norwalk Tax Assessors Office, however, has taxed the Elks Lodge since at least 2000. If the lodge ever did enjoy tax-exempt status, it likely was a mistake, said Assistant Tax Collector Bill OBrien. OBrien said fraternal organizations that perform strictly educational and charitable work may qualify for tax-exempt status. But most dont, he added. I would say most are not, OBrien said. I cant think of one that would be exempt because they rent halls and they have other processes. At any rate, the Elks Lodge is welcome to apply. OBrien estimated that the Tax Assessors Office receives several hundred such applications when the applications come due every four years. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WILTON Its been a little less than a year since the Solarize Wilton movement formally coalesced around a contingent of concerned residents, but already the town may be seeing its localized efforts pay dividends. At the forefront of the movement to wean the town off fossil fuels and replace it with solar technologies, the Wilton Energy Commission has remained a driving force. Earlier this week the commissions sustained effort was vindicated as Eversource Energy accepted two state-sanctioned renewable energy grant bids, which would see solar panels installed at Middlebrook Middle School and Miller-Driscoll. The ZREC program, which was enacted by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in 2011 to direct Eversource and The United Illuminating Company to launch a 22-year program to promote, fund and expand renewable energy generation. In June, the commission applied for two medium-sized Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZREC) that would facilitate the transition to solar power at the two schools. Under this program, Wilton would be granted two medium-sized ZRECs that would be purchased back to Eversource to offset the costs of installing the photovoltaic panels at the proposed sites. As a result, Wiltons only expense in the process would be the purchasing of energy from Eversource for $.079 per kilowatt a reduction of nearly three cents per kilowatt from the current utility rates at both schools. If the schools were to switch to solar power not only would they be more eco-friendly, but in the first year of the alone, there would be a combined savings of nearly $27,000 $9,068 for Middlebrook and $18,189 for Miller-Driscoll. Over 10 years, the net savings on the two projects would equal out to over $450,000; over 20 years, the municipality would save over a million dollars. While this is an opportunity for Wilton to jump-start the solar switch for its schools and secure savings for the town, the Board of Selectmen have only a short amount of time pull the trigger on the deal. The Board of Selectmen has only until the programs deadline of July 28 to decide on whether or not to pay the one-time fee of $9,600 to secure the ZREC. The fee is a performance assurance bond that guarantees 10 percent of the first years value, or $4,840.30 per school. That bond is returned upon successful completion of the solar project. If the town posts the bond and does not proceed with the project, it is forfeited. We need to protect this ZREC, regardless of what we decide to do with it in the future. Its a small price to pay for such an opportunity, Glenn Hemmerle, a member of the Board of Education, said. This retainer fee would eventually go toward the structural analysis needed to put solar panels up, but it would not require the town to install solar should they change their minds in the future. While the timetable for making a decision is tight and only getting tighter, Thompson-Van is urging the Board of Selectmen to hasten the process because there is no guarantee that the town will receive an offer like this ever again. We were told it was a pipe dream, Energy Commission co-chair Debra Thompson-Van said in regards to the initial bid proposal. The commissions bids of $124.75 per renewable energy credit, Ross Solar Group Vice President Stephan Hartmann explained, is somewhat larger than what the energy companies typically accept for mid-tier ZRECs. For a project like this was about $75 per REC and they [Wilton] for a $125 per REC, which is just huge, Hartmann said. Basically, they swung for the fences and put in a really high bid they said if were going to do this, were going to make sure we get a good deal and they got it. Thompson-Van explained that since energy companies are required to use up the entirety of its $8 million in ZREC contracts, she believes that the reason these uncharacteristically high bids were accepted was a culmination of factors that is unlikely to occur again in the future. In addition to the shrinking timetable, there are also other concerns surrounding the project. Energy Commissioner Bruce Hampson pointed to potentially hidden costs that could wipe out the savings that the project promises. For one, Hampson highlighted that, if the project should fall through after some of the work is done, the town would be on the line for the cost of work done by the contracted solar company. Additionally, Hemmerle said that Board of Education members had also expressed concern on the unintended effects that the installation could have on the schools roofs especially in the case of the brand-new Miller-Driscoll School. My concern is that we had ongoing issues with roofing that have caused us great concern and great grief over the years, Hemmerle said. All it takes is one major issue or problem and it wipes out a month or two of savings, and skews the numbers terribly. Since the ZREC program was enacted five years ago, the Connecticut Green Bank, an entity charged with leveraging public and private funds to accelerate the growth of green energy in Connecticut, has been working toward negating potential issues. Over the years, this work has paid off in increasing satisfaction. In the first two years of the program, nearly 36 percent of participating businesses ended up terminating their services through the program. However, only seven businesses out of 360 customers statewide terminated their services over the past two years. If we are able to proceed, the ZREC award and the resulting cost savings will be great for the community, First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice said. To review whether the town will go forward with the program, Vanderslice called an impromptu meeting of the Board of Selectmen for next Tuesday, July 25. ptomlinson@hearstmediact.com; -203-354-1046; Tomlinson_PE Science Some of the would-be defenders were the New Humanists of Allen Tates era. He criticized Paul Elmer More, Irving Babbitt, and Norman Foerster for their facile attempts to undo the de-humanizing effects of modern natural science. Generally speaking, they held that religion could be used to elevate society beyond the useful. Tate understood that religion could not be merely civil religion (John Henry Newmans term). These Humanists thus participate in the American religion of the half-horse. In his Fallacy of Humanism (1930) Tate writes that their thought refuses to exceed the moralistic plane: they steadily repudiate all religious and philosophical support. Tate argues that in Mores writing, for instance, both religious and literary texts become opportunities for moral paraphrasing: In either case, the full content of the literary or religious text is left behind. The Humanists angered Tate, and he cites Aristotles critique of the sophists in the Nicomachean Ethics II.iv to explain why they cannot make good their values: taking refuge in talk they flatter themselves they are philosophizing, and that they will so be good men; acting in truth like those sick people who listen to the doctor with great attention but do nothing he tells them; just as these people cannot be well bodily under such a course of treatment, neither can those be mentally such by philosophizing.[26] Tate argues that, with their non-philosophic ideas and social consciousness, the Humanists cannot convince anyone or change anything. They cannot either think through or achieve an appropriate background, for they ignore the difficulty of imagining what the background should be. Accusing Humanism of the problem it sought to remedy, Tate concludes, It is a mechanical formula for the recovery of civilization. Humanist thought places the cart before the horse, and because it gives the philosophy in the wrong place, it invites philosophical attack. Humanism should be culture, but it may be a little untamed in the Humanists until, like the digging of graves for gravediggers, custom hath made it in them a property of easiness.[27] Humanists have not helped to address or solve the problem posed by a science which quantifies the world to bring about the conquest of nature for the relief of mans estate, as Francis Bacon recommended. The difference between the path that science has taken since Bacon and the older philosophic habit of empirical inquiry has shaped the tensions within the Western philosophic tradition. In sections III through V of Remarks on Southern Religion, Tate explains our nature as Westerners: we have a special notion of traditiona notion that tradition is not simply a fact, but a fact that must be constantly defended. He makes his point clearer when he takes some time to show the difference between Western religion, or more precisely, the religion of the European Middle Ages, and Russian, Orthodox, or Eastern spirituality. Following the classical philosophers, Western European Christians want to think about that which cannot ultimately be comprehended. As Westerners, we must satisfy ourselves that we have gone as far as we can according to the investigation of Nature on her own terms. We risk losing the vitality and mystery of faith, then, in an effort to defend religion in a rational way, i.e., through dogma. Dogma, as Tate presents its emergence, is arrived at in a way as exacting as the truths established by science; it quantifies in order to uphold the qualities (myth, symbol, image) of things. It becomes the fact of religion. In using rationality, then, religion comes to embrace practicality as its object, and nature then becomes the whole. Western Reason has always played the ostrich by sticking its head in the Supernatural. Tate then offers one of the most excellent insights of his essay, Woe betide when it took its head out and got so used to the natural setting that it found it good.[28] In his 1925 poem Homily, the tensions caused by this inverse conversion of religion by Reason, Science, or Nature[29] are explored in the internal torture of the mind. Assuming a vatic role, Tate in his epigraph quotes Christs saying, If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out. If your tired unspeaking head Rivet the dark with linear sight, Crazed by a warlock with his curse Dreamed up in some loquacious bed, And if the stage-dark head rehearse The fifth act of the closing night, Why, cut it off, piece after piece, And throw the tough cortex away, And when youve marveled on the wars That wove their interior smoke its way, Tear out the close vermiculate crease Where death crawled angrily at bay.[30] Tates poem shows that because of the radical division between the religious, the contemplative, the qualitative, on the one hand, and the scientific, the natural, the practical on the other,[31] the persona is tempted not by the flesh but by the mind. Illustrating Eliots dissociation of sensibility, Tates speaker inhabits the Cartesian closeted minda dark place of linear thoughts. Death would be better. On the other hand, Eastern belief does not produce either philosophy or dogma. It is quite simply supernaturalism or the naive religion of the entire horse. Despite this likeness to a whole religion, Eastern Christian belief insufficiently appreciates mans desire to question, the Westerners distinction and calamity, or warlocks curse. His commentary on Eastern Orthodoxy (the naive religion of the entire horse) continues in section III: It never suspects the existence of those halves that render our sanity so precarious and compel us to vacillate between a self-destroying naturalism and practicality, on the one hand, and a self-destroying mysticism, on the other hand. For it seems that we are not able to contemplate those qualities of the horse that are specifically religious without forgetting his merely spatial and practicable half: we cannot let the entire horse fill our minds all at once.[32] Tates condensed and provocative analysis of how the West has lost its love of learning for its own sake, love of God for His own sake, and connaturality with, not conquest of, Nature is, at times, cryptic but always leads us to find out the truth about ourselvesa task the American typically avoids. We seek to know what will work, he emphasizes, and America is the epitome of this European intellectual inheritance. But this is a difficult inheritance, one that leaves its beneficiaries on the edge of the abyss. As he writes in The Mediterranean, (1933) Weve cracked the hemispheres with careless hand![33] In a letter to Jacques Maritain, Caroline Gordon cites this line and comments, there seems nothing for young men to do except to dive into the abyss caused by the crack (that old Cartesian crack about which you have written so eloquently.)[34] Is there an antidote to such self-destructive violence? Politics and Economics When Tate thinks of the relation between America and Europe in his Remarks, he sees that the peril he has outlined is most typical at present in its American form. Though America has recapitulated practically every form of European polity Though she has repeated all the chief economic and political forms she has not repeated the religious forms. He goes on to make the statement most frequently quoted from this essay: This anomaly gave us that remarkable society of the old South, which was a feudal society without a feudal religion.[35] The Norths Protestantism was consistent with her economic and political life; a trading society was matched with the individualism of a trading religion. Tate is unrelenting on this point, critiquing New England while offering a version of Marxs economic basis of society and of Webers linkage between Protestantism and capitalism: [The Jamestown project] was a capitalistic enterprise undertaken by Europeans who were already convinced adherents of large-scale exploitation of nature, not to support a stable religious order, but to advance the interests of trade as an end in itself.[36] The Souths religion should have been medieval Catholicism, the one that would reflect their attitude toward the land, nature, leisure, storiesthe whole particularity of life that was not materialistic but sensuous.[37] Tates account of the relation between economics and religion at first glance seems to echo Marx. But he really turns Marx upside down, and in the process, he gets his readers attention on one of his major points: Because the South never created a fitting religion, the social structure of the South began grievously to break down two generations after the Civil War; for the social structure depends on the economic structure, and economic conviction is the secular image of religion.[38] Understanding that the South could not create its religion, Tate holds that the forms of an integral culture proceed from its religion. He writes in section VI: In fact, their rational life was not powerfully united to the religious experience, as it was in medieval society, and they are a fine specimen of that tragic pitfall upon which the Western mind has always hovered. The South, then, like the West generally, is another instance of the cracked hemispheres described in The Mediterranean. Lacking a full-grown philosophy, Southerners had no defense when the postbellum temptations of the devil, who is the exploiter of nature, confronted them.[39] Nevertheless, Tate suggests that the South should have seen that it could not defend itself with the Norths religion, hardly a religion at all, but a result of secular ambition. Instead, Southern clergy were satisfied to use the Bible to defend slavery, a device that could never win them the war nor save their culture. In effect, the South separated from the North too late, and so lost its cause.[40] The religion appropriate to the South was the religion of the whole horse. It is at this point in his essay that Tate penetrates to the basis of community: it lies in a religion which can shape the interior life of its members by a shared contemplation of its images. He employs his horse image again to make his crucial, thoroughly non-Marxist and typically medieval point: The Southerners were capable of using their horses, as they did one day at Brandy Station, but they could also contemplate them as absolute and inviolable objects; they were virtually incapable of abstracting from the horse his horsepower, or from history its historicity. For the horse fact and the historical fact, by remaining concrete, retained a certain status as images, and images are only to be contemplated, and perhaps the act of contemplation after long exercise initiates a habit of imitation, and the setting up of absolute standards which are less formulas for action than an interior discipline of mind.[41] This interior discipline of mind results not in dogma or in a logical series or abstraction but in community. In his Man of Letters in the Modern World (1952), Tate talks about freedom and the act of appropriating images to letters, our one indispensable test of the actuality of our experience. Letters yield the power of discrimination. This is the test that Southern letters of the old South failed before these new agrarians of little practical experience took their stand. In The Man of Letters, Tate restates his earlier distinction between dogma and the absolute standardof an interior discipline of mind. The poet and the free man of letters generally do not merely communicate, but they speak or write so as to bring about communion. Communion is understood as the recurrent discovery of the human communion as experience, in a definite place and at a definite time.[42] Tate sets up the Aristotelian triad of end, choice, and discrimination to show the process of general intelligence as radically different from the communicators whose key words are drive, stimulus, and response.[43] He explains: Is there in this language genuine knowledge of our human communityor of our lack of itthat we have not had before? If there is, he will know that it is liberal language, the language of freemen, in which a choice had been made towards a probable end of man. If it is not language of this order, if it is the language of mere communication, of mechanical analogies in which the two natures of man are isolated and dehumanized, then he will know that it is the language of men who are, or who are waiting to be slaves.[44] Tate suggests that what the South lacked and acquired too lateand only through the violence of suffering and defeat even thenwas the man of letters. In a real sense, as he indicates over and over in his essay, Southern life gave an experience of communion, but the tradition could not be defended because it was not fully free. Tates insight into communion, the basis of community, yields the thought that, without a sufficient symbolic language, all were destined for slavery in the South. Without a whole language of the worlds body, as John Crowe Ransom called it, a culture is vulnerable. Southerners had a religious life, Tate says toward the end of his essay, but it was not enough organized with a right mythology.[45] We go back to the original question of this essay, then, and the surprising call for violence, for revolution, so that the South might get hold of its tradition. When Tate says that the Southerner, or any die-hard agrarian, was not willing to subtract the human so as to set the [humane] principle free to operate on an unlimited program of practicality, he is affirming the realism of the non-Romantic agrarian. When, in section V, he evokes the image of the old Southerners highly critical of the kinds of work to be done, he shows a community which works not merely to survive or succeed, but to enjoy a rich private life, and which studies history not for the sake of knowing it, but simply for the sake of contemplating it and seeing in it an image of themselves. This life of leisure is the kind of life conducive to the interior discipline of the mind. It is the kind of discipline that brings insight into mans evil as well. The Southerner, grappling with the same ineradicable belief in the fundamental evil of nature[46] as medieval man, remained aware of the treachery of nature.[47] Playing off the ironic Marxist undercurrent of the volume, Tate hopes to arouse an awareness of this treachery of nature both outside and inside man, an awareness that can now only be regained through violence. What kind of violence is of course in question. To begin to recover tradition requires seeing the illness of the modern mind sundered from the sources of belief, from image, from things in their rich contingent materiality, as Ransom would write. The Southerner must face the dark center from which one may see coming the darkness gathering outside us.[48] In closing his Remarks on Southern Religion, Tate aims for his reader to face these outside political forces reflective of the inside ones. He aims, as the agrarian man of letters, to be cutting away the overgrowth and getting back to the roots so that communion is possible again. His writing is also an alert against the delusion of communism, which might be called the double of communion. (One discarded title for the volume, Ill Take My Stand, it should be noted, was Tracts Against Communism.) He knows that rearranging the foliage will not essentially change anything; that structural changes cannot reorder the soul.[49] As Glenn Arbery explains, Tates enigmatic ending implies that the Southerner as a twentieth-century revolutionary is a contradiction; one does not act like Lenin in order to become George Washington.[50] This is true enough. When Tate argues with mechanical politics, the kind that operates according to abstraction and not according to mans fallen naturethe modern view of politics which he characterizes as Jeffersonianhe is suggesting that there is an older view of politics, the classical, which looks to the order of the soul in order to found the good political order. This is the soul-centered, but more radical politics of an Augustine as well, one that requires the most radical of all movements, conversion.[51] Tates essay points to that inner restoration in the light-handed and ironic way that makes this essay nearly inscrutable. His ultimate conclusion points the way to a whole view of politics, one dependent on the deepest meaning of a whole religion: [The Southerner] must use an instrument, which is political, and so unrealistic and pretentious that he cannot believe in it, to reestablish a private, self-contained, and essentially spiritual life. The word instrument in this sentence evokes his whole distrust of politics, nature, and science viewed merely as means. In fact, at this point, Tate also seems to call into question the whole endeavor of Ill Take My Stand in a way that echoes the opening footnote in which he enigmatically objects to the title as too exclusive: it points to a particular house but omits to say that it was the home of a spirit that may also have lived elsewhere and that this mansion, in short, was incidentally made with hands.[52] Surely he seeks to remind us of the agrarian spirit that derives from Troy, Sparta, and Rome. But his Biblical language warns his fellows, with a kind of prophetic irony, not to idolize a South whose houses were incidentally made with hands. His poem Last Days of Alice, written one year after his agrarian essay, gives us the path to follow in what only can be an invitation to delve further into his work: O God of our flesh, return us to Your wrath, Let us be evil could we enter in Your grace, and falter on the stony path.[53] Tates call for violence understood as a boring from without, the sole alternative left to the Southerner, paradoxically proclaims the need for the recovery of what is essentially within, a spiritual life. This is a violence his essay cannot instigate on its own, without grace. His call in this volume is for nothing less than a spiritual revolution to restore the crack of the hemispheres, for in light of that rift, The setback of the war was of itself a very trivial one.[54] This is the second essay in a two-part series; the first may be found here. Books on the topic of this essay may be found in The Imaginative Conservative Bookstore. Republished with gracious permission from the Political Science Reviewer (Fall 2001). Notes: [26] Allen Tate, The Fallacy of Humanism, in The Critique of Humanism, C. Hartley Grattan, ed. (Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, Inc., 1930, 1968), 133. [27] Ibid., 166. [28] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion,Ill Take My Stand: The South and the Agrarian Tradition (Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University Press, 1930, 1980), 165. [29] Ibid., 164. [30] Allen Tate, Homily, Collected Poems: 1919-1976 (New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 1977), 4. [31] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 173. [32] Ibid., 163. [33] Allen Tate, Collected Poems, 66-67. [34] John M. Dunaway, ed., Exiles and Fugitives: The Letters of Jacques and Raissa Maritain, Allen Tate and Caroline Gordon (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1992), 50. [35] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 166. [36] Ibid., 167. [37] Ibid., 172. [38] Ibid., 168. [39] Ibid., 173. [40] Ibid., 168. [41] Ibid., 169. Emphasis mine. [42] Allen Tate, The Man of Letters in the Modern World,Essays of Four Decades (Wilmington: ISI Books, 1968, 1999), 11. [43] Ibid., 12. [44] Ibid., 14. [45] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 173. [46] Ibid., 165. [47] Ibid., 172. [48] Allen Tate, Preface to Reason in Madness, Essays of Four Decades, 615. [49] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 175. [50] Glenn Arbery, Dante in Bardstown: Allen Tates Guide to Southern Exile, Thought LXV (March 1990), 96. [51] See the excellent study of Augustines influence on Tate by Robert Dupree, Allen Tate and the Augustinian Imagination: A Study of the Poetry (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1983). [52] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 155. [53] Allen Tate, Last Days of Alice, in The Fugitive Poets, William Pratt, ed. (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1965), 99-100. [54] Allen Tate, Remarks on Southern Religion, 174. Its been 20 years since I graduated from the University of Nebraska with a double major in finance and economics. I remember spending money that I didnt have as major credit card companies would send me checks that all I had to do was cash and suddenly I would have money in my bank account to buy gas, groceries, and other things that I thought I needed. It was easy to justify, as I was certain that as soon as I graduated, I would have a great job, plenty of money, and I would be able to repay all of my debts quickly. Then, life happens. My expenses didnt go away and I began paying back student loans and paying for health insurance. Soon, I was married and began having children, and I figured out that my expenses were growing much faster than my income was. As a financial adviser, I knew it was important to sit down and put a plan together that would ensure I could keep my head above water. I sat down, figured out what expenses we could live without or postpone, and where I could earn additional income. Now, I get to do it all over again with the city of Grand Island. And this time, the questions are the same: What can we live without? What can I do to earn additional income? Approving my first budget last summer was a blur. I had just been sworn in and had recruited an experienced city administrator Marlan Ferguson back to Grand Island. I was knee deep in covert negotiations with Gov. Pete Ricketts about the return of the Veterans Home property to our community, and I began finding things I didnt like about our citys financial future. We immediately implemented a shift in focus to five-year projections for our budget, with upcoming fiscal years becoming nothing more than a formality, a small piece of a larger puzzle. Our staff built interactive spreadsheets that showed by remaining status quo from 2017-2021, wed go from having a positive $11 million cash balance in the general fund, to a negative $18 million cash balance nearly a $30 million cash burn over the next five years. We worked feverishly on these numbers and took the 2021 projected deficit down to $16.2 million, and then to $14.5 million. Im happy to say that due to the joint effort of all department directors and the guidance of new Finance Director Renae Griffiths and her staff, the projected 2021 deficit now stands at a negative $4.2 million. However, until the models show us maintaining a stable, positive cash balance perpetually into the future, our work isnt done. The impact of Grand Island becoming a Metropolitan Statistical Area, especially when it came to personnel costs, needed much more emphasis, planning and attention in earlier years. When coupled with the spiraling cost of health care benefits, this multiplied the problem. To put this into context, with zero additional full-time employees added to the city of Grand Island staff over the next five years, personnel services alone increase by over $7 million per year between now and 2021. My directive to our staff has been that I dont want anyone laid off, and I dont intend to raise the property tax levy this year. However, going forward, we are going to make decisions based on economics, and not politics. How do we fix it? In no certain order and absolutely not a complete list: We will look selectively at what vacated positions within our staff get replaced, with some potentially being left permanently vacant. We will use the food and beverage tax revenue to promote visitors coming to Grand Island so we can collect sales tax our most important form of revenue. We plan to ask the voters for an additional cent sales tax this November for infrastructure development and repairs. You will most likely see fee increases for certain city services, we may look at selling certain assets, and employees may be asked to pay more for their benefit plans. Just as I did with my own family, and just as I do with my clients, we will fix it. It wont be easy and it wont be fun, but it will get done. I sincerely hope for your support again this November when it comes to the additional cent sales tax initiative. Unfortunately, without it, next year at this time, we would be forced to make a choice between a dramatic increase in the property tax levy and massive personnel cuts potentially both. Im hopeful that doesnt happen, but as I stipulated in my campaign, you have my word that I will always tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. As always, thank you for the honor of serving our community. WASHINGTON So, you are undoubtedly asking yourself, What does this new Republican Party, so chaotically forged in Cleveland, stand for? I know, I know. I ungrammatically ended a sentence with a preposition. But in this post-apocalyptic world of Donald Trump, do rules really matter? After the elephant-ear hats worn by would-be adults, the braying of angry speakers about their hatred of Hillary Clinton, chants to jail her, Melanias plagiarized passages and the whinnying of Trump that all press is good press, we are left with precious few details on how the Republican presidential nominee would create good jobs and bolster economic growth. Forget the unbuildable wall paid for by Mexico. Wont happen. Forget deportations of 11 million immigrants. Impossible. Forget the ban on Muslims. Unconstitutional. If you look beyond the balloons and the confetti, the bombast and the controversies, the Trump campaigns absolute denial that the GOP convention was anything but perfect, the insistence that its all the medias fault, the few specifics laid out by this strange, new Republican Party are, in a word, terrifying. If the bulk of Americans leaning to Trump knew what the partys new principles and policies are, they would reject them. Soundly. But, increasingly, presidential campaigns are sound-and-light extravaganzas, and specifics dont matter. Trump supporters and there are many like his toughness, also known as rudeness and bullying. They like his candor, although he has told endless lies, all documented. They applaud his refusal to bend to conventional politeness. But enough about Trump. Lets get down to the freshly minted Republican statement of its beliefs and stands on issues. Aside from the miasma of prejudice and bigotry that clings to all 66 pages of the partys official platform document, Trumps party has turned its back on the benefits of free trade and wants the United States to curl up into an isolationist ball. While this may temporarily soothe workers whose jobs have disappeared abroad, it is a sharp slap to American farmers and manufacturers who will face retaliation and fewer sales. While the rest of America is becoming more tolerant and accepting of gay, lesbian and transgender people, Trumps homophobic party platform is painfully regressive. It smiles on people who would discriminate. It permits states to deny bathroom services to people they dont like. Frankly, it would put into practice hateful, prejudicial behaviors and reject civil rights gains, including the Supreme Courts legalization of same-sex marriage. Immigration reform such as figuring out a way that undocumented immigrants who have jobs and families and pay taxes and mortgages may stay here is anathema to this Trump platforms statement of objectives. The GOPs once-vaunted big tent has turned into a pup tent. With millions of women dubious about Trump, the new GOP statement of principles bans all abortions, even for rape and incest. Health care would become far more difficult to get. Women soldiers trained for combat would be forbidden to do their jobs, sending them to the bottom of the ladder. Climate change is ridiculed as a fantasy, despite near 100 percent agreement by the worlds scientists and undeniable evidence that extreme weather is getting more extreme around the globe. Instead of trying to get rid of the ozone-depleting effects of burning coal, King Coal is given a new crown. Trump Republicans want environmental protection regulations abolished, saying the job is done. Despite the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state, Trump Republicans demand that the Bible be taught as gospel in public schools. They want only judges who meet religious litmus tests, meaning they have the right family values. Tax-exempt institutions such as churches could specifically endorse candidates for political office. Despite the current wave of gun violence, Republicans oppose any new controls on who may buy guns, tougher background checks, curbs on automatic weapons or magazine capacity and anything else that might curtail gun deaths. Despite high college tuitions, Republicans would eliminate federal student loans. Students without fat trust funds would return to private lenders. Job growth? Cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Trump Republicans statement of their policies and principles has been plagiarized from the past and pays homage to old-fashioned thinking and prejudices repudiated by most Americans long ago. Now, lets see what mischief Democrats can muster. WASHINGTON The main purpose of the modern political convention is to produce four days of televised propaganda. The subsidiary function, now that nominees are invariably chosen in advance, is structural: Unify the party before the final battle. In Cleveland, the Republicans achieved not unity, but only a rough facsimile. The internal opposition consisted of two factions. The more flamboyant was led by Ted Cruz. Its first operation an undermanned, underplanned, mini-rebellion over convention rules was ruthlessly steamrolled on Day One. Its other operation was Cruzs Wednesday night convention speech in which, against all expectation, he refused to endorse Donald Trump. Its one thing to do this off-site. Its another thing to do it as a guest at a celebration of the man you are rebuking. Cruz left the stage to a cascade of boos, having delivered the longest suicide note in American political history. If Cruz fancied himself following Ronald Reagan in 1976, the runner-up who overshadowed the party nominee in a rousing convention speech that propelled him four years later to the nomination, he might reflect on the fact that Reagan endorsed Gerald Ford. Cruzs rebellion would have a stronger claim to conscience had he not obsequiously accommodated himself to Trump during the first six months of the campaign. Cruz reinforced that impression of political calculation when, addressing the Texas delegation Thursday morning, he said, I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father. That he should feel so is not surprising. What is surprising is that he said this publicly, thus further undermining his claim to acting on high principle. The other faction of the anti-Trump opposition was far more subtle. These are the leaders of the partys congressional wing whove offered public allegiance to Trump while remaining privately unreconciled. You could feel the reluctance of these latter-day Marranos in the speeches of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan. McConnells pitch, as always, was practical and direct. Weve got things to achieve in the Senate. Obama wont sign. Clinton wont sign. Trump will. Very specific, very instrumental. Trump will be our enabler, an instrument of the governing (or if you prefer, establishment) wing of the party. This is mostly fantasy and rationalization, of course. And good manners by a party leader obliged to maintain a common front. The problem is that Trump will not allow himself to be the instrument of anyone elses agenda. Moreover, the Marranos necessarily ignore the most important role of a president, conducting foreign and military policy abroad, which is almost entirely in his hands. Ryan was a bit more philosophical. He presented the reformicon agenda, dubbed the Better Way, for which he too needs a Republican in the White House. Ryan pointedly kept his genuflections to the outsider-king to a minimum: exactly two references to Trump, to be precise. Moreover, in defending his conservative philosophy, he noted that at its heart lies respect and empathy for all neighbors and countrymen because everyone is equal, everyone has a place and no one is written off. Not exactly Trumps Manichaean universe of winners and losers, natives and foreigners (including judges born and bred in Indiana). Together, McConnell and Ryan made clear that if Trump wins, they are ready to cooperate. And if Trump loses, they are ready to inherit. The loyalist (i.e., Trumpian) case had its own stars. It was most brilliantly presented by the ever-fluent Newt Gingrich, the best natural orator in either party, whose presentation of Trumpism had a coherence and economy of which Trump is incapable. Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence gave an affecting, self-deprecating address that managed to bridge his traditional conservatism with Trumps insurgent populism. He managed to make the merger look smooth, even natural. Rudy Giuliani gave the most energetic loyalist address, a rousing law-and-order manifesto, albeit at an excitement level that surely alarmed his cardiologist. And Chris Christies prosecutorial indictment of Hillary Clinton for crimes of competence and character was doing just fine until he went to the audience after each charge for a call-and-response of guilty or not guilty. The frenzied response was a reminder as to why trials are conducted in a courtroom and not a coliseum. On a cheerier note, there were the charming preambles at the roll call vote, where each state vies to out-boast the other. Connecticut declared itself home to Pez, nuclear submarines and ... WWE. God bless the United States. CLEVELAND Two topics getting a lot of attention here this week wont matter much in the fall. One is the Republican platform; the other is Donald Trumps choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. Platforms are generally forgotten as soon as they are adopted. As for vice presidents, studies consistently show they make little difference. In polling records for the last seven elections compiled by The Wall Street Journal, between 60 and 75 percent of all voters say the veep didnt affect their vote. Still, platforms and VPs reflect choices and priorities, and they contain useful information and important clues about how candidates will campaign and govern. What groups will they appeal to? Using what arguments? And what constituencies will they write off? The Republican platform and vice presidential pick both point strongly in the same direction to the extreme right. This is not a ticket that will try to win over doubters, late deciders, moderates or swing voters. It aims to excite and mobilize the conservative base of the Republican Party, not convert new supporters. Theres an old adage that politics is about addition, not subtraction. You have to start with your base but then add to it, especially in a close national election. But the Trump strategy seems to be one of consolidation, not addition and remember, thats basically the plan Trump followed during the primaries. The voters who decided early, the True Believers, went heavily for Trump. That worked in the primaries, where winning 41 percent of a small voter pool was more than enough to give Trump the nomination. General elections are very different with far larger and more diverse electorates. Which is why Trumps strategy leaves many Democratic operatives both puzzled and gleeful. For Trump to get elected, hes got to expand the group of people hes talking to and attracting, Steve Elmendorf, a Clinton backer, told The New York Times. A different choice by Trump (for vice president) might have changed the electoral calculation for her. But with Pence, Trump will still be losing among women, blacks and Hispanics. One key word is women. A huge gender gap threatens to engulf the campaign. In the latest Washington Post/ABC poll, Trump led with male voters by 8 points, but Clinton held a 14-point lead among women. Moreover, an astounding 77 percent of women hold an unfavorable view of Trump, with 65 percent viewing him in a strongly unfavorable way. Of course plenty of women love Trump. But on balance the policies on display here in Cleveland are not going to expand his appeal to women who made up 53 percent of the electorate four years ago. One delegate from Colorado proudly proclaimed that the GOP had passed the most conservative platform in its history, and that rightward tilt certainly played well in the convention hall, but it will be a burden in the fall. Take just one issue same-sex marriage. The GOP platform favors a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage and proclaims that children should be raised by a mother and a father. That policy tries to deny an unstoppable historical tide. It makes Republicans look both intolerant and out of touch. According to a Pew Research survey, 55 percent of Americans now favor gay marriage, with only 37 percent against, and the favorable number goes up to 58 percent among women. Thats the politics of exclusion, not inclusion. Thats subtraction, not addition. The choice of Gov. Pence strongly reinforces that strategy. His best-known act during four years as governor was to promote an anti-gay ordinance so extreme that he was forced to accept significant changes under heavy pressure. He signed one of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the country, adding to his political problems with Indiana women, who give him only a 41 percent approval rating. As a result, he was locked in a tight re-election race before he was picked for VP and might well have lost. As a member of Congress for 12 years, Pence allied himself closely with the tea party and its most extreme strategies closing the government to deny funding for Planned Parenthood and organizing coups against party leaders because they were not pure or rigid enough. So party platforms and vice presidents dont mean much. Except when they do. And this year they reveal the strategy Trump is following: Appeal strongly to the party base, divide and polarize the country and hope that will be enough. New Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent Tawana Grover isnt wasting any time. Instead of waiting for the school board and a consultant to develop a goal-setting plan, she came up with her own 12-page entry plan as she enters her new role. And its a very ambitious plan. Grover plans on meeting with a large number of focus groups to get their impressions of the Grand Island school district. These focus groups will be in three main areas. The first area is staff members, including administrators, teachers and other employees of the school district. The second area for the focus groups is students, including those at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Third is focus groups composed of community members. These could be parents, retired teachers, service clubs, community groups and others. Looking at all those groups, lets hope the new superintendent doesnt burn herself out. Realistically, its an excellent plan for Grover, who has moved to Grand Island from Texas. The best way to get to know how well the schools are doing is to talk to people and get their views and impressions. This includes teachers, who are doing the most important work in the classroom; the students, who are impacted the most by the districts policies; parents, who are advocates for their children and their learning; and community members, who are paying the taxes that support the school district. All of these voices are important and its good for the superintendent to hear from all of them. Grover says she will take what she hears, and working with the school board, shell mold it into a strategic plan for the school district that will be ready in the spring of 2017. Even before she started her new job on July 1, Grover was hard at work. She attended board meetings, retreats and community events. So when she officially became superintendent, she already had learned something about the community and the issues facing the school district. That is a strong commitment to Grand Island that bodes well for Grovers time here. A superintendent needs to be out in the community and in the schools, seeing and hearing what is taking place and being said. Grover has stated a commitment to doing that. It will be interesting to hear what the superintendent will come up with in the strategic plan and what the focus groups will say. Will there be discussion of a possible second high school? What is thought about the level of testing in the schools? What about class sizes? The Grand Island school district is already undergoing a transformation in many ways. With the $69.9 million bond issue passed two years ago, new buildings will replace three elementary schools (Starr, Stolley Park and Jefferson); two elementary schools (Shoemaker and Engleman) had additions built; Barr Middle School is expanding and a wing of Senior High is being renovated. This comes on top of the Career Pathways Institute that opened in 2013. Overall, the Grand Island school district is in good shape. It does face plenty of challenges, however. Among them are a high number of students who are from low-income families and a high number of students who are just beginning to learn English. There also are questions about the size of Senior High, which reached about 2,300 students last year. So Grover and the Grand Island school district have plenty of challenges ahead of them. Grovers enthusiasm for the job is welcome, though, and makes the future look bright for Grand Island students. J/Boats News is a digest of worldwide events, regattas, and news for sailing enthusiasts and members of our J Community. Contributions regarding your racing, cruising or human interest stories on-board J's are welcome- please send to "editor@jboats.com". A worker monitors the construction of the Ciledug-Tendean overpass in South Jakarta on Friday. The Jakarta branch of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) is discussing with the city administration the possibility of launching an investigative audit on the construction of Jakartas underpasses and overpasses to prevent misuse of public funds.(JP/Seto Wardhana)(BPK) is discussing with the city administration the possibility of launching an investigative audit on the construction of Jakartas underpasses and overpasses to prevent misuse of public funds.(JP/Seto Wardhana) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Sat, July 23 2016 Four Cirebon councillors were arrested for alleged gambling at a hotel in Bandung, West Java, late on Thursday. West Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said the police arrested six people in Room 707 on the seventh floor of the Prime Park hotel. Four of them were playing cards while two others were eating at the time. They were taken to the police office for questioning. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, July 23 2016 Last Supper at the Shang Palace Shangri-La Jakarta hotel, South Jakarta The Shang Palace at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, held a ceremonial dinner on July 18 to mark the closure of one of the citys most renowned Chinese dining establishments after 22 years. Slated for a update to its Classic Oriental decor, The Shang is expected to reopen by the years end with a look that is more contemporarily Chinese, along with touches of Indonesia. The new Shang is also expected to offer after its reopening a new signature dish: Beijing Duck, a slow-roasted and succulent whole Peking Duck served with thin crepe-like Lotus Leaf Pancakes, hoisin sauce and finely sliced green onions. Guests for the Shangs Last Supper received a collection of vintage-style postcards depicting the restaurant over the years. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sat, July 23 2016 Lately, the country and the world have been watching the frequent killing of Afro-American men by police officers. Americans are watching an increasing number of events in which police are seen using excessive force and unnecessary using lethal weapons to kill. The data clearly show that victims are disproportionally poor, Afro-American and Hispanic. I suggest the militarization of US police forces is one of the contributing factors for this trend. The militarization has happened in the transfer of sophisticated military weapons to police and the teaching of military tactics for use during terrorist attacks. The story of the Homeland Security Department transferring surplus military equipment to police forces is well documented. It has also made funds available to train officers in military tactics. What is not commonly known is the training of our police in Israel. They were taught the brutal Israeli tactics of shooting first and then asking questions and assuming the targets are enemies. In effect, Israeli exported its brutal massacre tactics, which it had successfully used to kill thousands of Palestinians over the last 70 years, to the US. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu, Central Sulawesi Sun, July 24, 2016 Two bomb threats terrorized Central Sulawesi residents on Sunday, only a day after the burial of East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group leader Santoso, aka Abu Wardah. The first bomb scare occurred in front of the Advent Church in Kawua subdistrict, Poso City, on Sunday morning, while the second threat took place in front of the Palu Indonesian Christian Church (GKI Palu) in Ampana, Tojo Una-Una regency, around 3 p.m. local time. The bomb threat in Kawua occurred during a service at the Advent Church. A bomb squad (Gegana) disposal unit dispatched from the Poso Police examined a package that aroused suspicions in front of the church. It turned out not to be a bomb. Its just like a bomb. Someone planted it without any serious consideration, Central Sulawesi Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Local residents packed the location to see the examination process conducted by the Gegana unit, forcing the police to move them away from the site. Stay alert -- Local residents gather along the street in Ampana, Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, on Sunday, after a bomb-like package was found in front of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Palu, Ampana. (thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji) In Ampana, local residents were similarly curious about a bomb-like package found in front of the GKI Palu. Local police cordoned off the area while they waited for the Geganas arrival. Ampana resident Erwin Husain told the Post that the situation remained calm despite the bomb threat. The terror did not disrupt local peoples activities, he said. Another Ampana resident Nudin Lasahido said the bomb scare did not cause local residents to panic. It remains unknown whether or not its a bomb. We are still waiting for the bomb squad from Poso, said Nudin. It takes approximately four hours to travel from Poso to Ampana. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, July 24, 2016 The Jakarta administration is set to use geomembrane technology to help prevent pollution emanating from the Bantar Gebang waste treatment facility in Bekasi, West Java, an official has said. Jakarta Sanitation Agency head Isnawa Adji said the geomembrane technology could protect soil and air in Bantar Gebang from toxic waste from the treatment plan. The use of the technology is a response to protests from local residents, who claim the water and air in their neighborhood is polluted by emissions from the waste treatment facility, he added. Residents who live around the Bantar Gebang landfill have complained that the water in their homes is polluted. They also complain of foul odors resulting from the waste-treatment facility. The Jakarta Sanitation Agency, as the new operator of the waste-treatment facility, is responsible for protecting the residents from the pollution, Isnawa told The Jakarta Post at his office in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Friday. Two former operators of the landfill, PT Godang Tua Jaya and PT Navigat Organic Energy Indonesia (NOEI), reportedly never solved pollution problems in Bantar Gebang after their work contracts as operators began in 2008. As operators, the two companies had the duty to protect local residents from pollution as stipulated in their contract documents. Meanwhile, the Jakarta administration also plans to build a waste-based power plant (PLTSa) in an effort to reduce garbage at the landfill. The power plant will produce five Megawatts of electricity by burning 1,000 tons of waste every day. The plant is expected to be finished in 2018. The PLTSa will help clear up more garbage, Isnawa said. (rez/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ken Thomas and Lisa Lerer (Associated Press) Miami Sun, July 24, 2016 Hillary Clinton debuted running mate Sen. Tim Kaine on Saturday as a can-do progressive committed to social justice and equality "everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not" at a boisterous rally ahead of next week's Democratic National Convention. "He is qualified to step into this job and lead from Day One. And he is a progressive who likes to get things done," Clinton declared at Florida International University. Kaine, a bilingual former Virginia governor, detailed his life in public service. "I like to fight for right," he said. And, as Clinton smiled broadly at her choice for vice president, Kaine greeted the largely Hispanic audience in Spanish. "We're going to be 'companeros de alma,' in this great 'lucha' ahead," he said, or "soul mates in this great fight ahead." Trump, in a text to his own supporters, said President Barack Obama, Clinton and Kaine were "the ultimate insiders" and implored voters to not "let Obama have a 3rd term." At the splashy rally, Democrats sought to offer a contrast with Trump and Pence, whose first appearance together in a New York City hotel ballroom included a lengthy speech by the GOP businessman and much more limited remarks from Pence, the Indiana governor. The two only briefly posed for photos at their campaign kickoff. Clinton chose to introduce Kaine as her running mate in the battleground state of Florida, waving to the large crowd of cheering supporters as they bounded on stage with their hands raised in the traditional sign of unity. Clinton sought to present the partnership as one built in optimism, panning the Republican convention, which ended two days earlier, as a display of "fear," ''anger and resentment." She noted that Kaine had taken a year off from Harvard Law School to do missionary work in Honduras and had worked as a civil rights attorney specializing in equal housing. Clinton said Kaine as governor worked with Republicans and helped his home state navigate the Great Recession without sacrificing funding for education. She also pointed to his work on gun control after the deadly Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, praising his efforts to curb gun violence before a nation still reeling from a series of shootings and violence against police. "Behind that smile Tim also has a backbone of steel. Just ask the NRA," Clinton said. Choking up, Kaine described the Virginia Tech shooting as the "worst day ... of my life." Kaine, 58, was long viewed as a likely choice because of his resume in government and his time as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He also had a particularly powerful backer in Obama, whom Kaine endorsed in 2007. Obama considered him for vice president a year later. Kaine showed a willingness to mix it up with the Republican ticket, assailing Trump as someone who had left "a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes." He also vouched for Clinton's trustworthiness, a major liability with voters, telling the crowd, "She has always delivered." He pointed out that his father-in-law was a Republican governor of Virginia who had integrated the public schools. He called marrying his wife, Anne Holton, "the best decision of my life." The couple planned to be back in Richmond on Sunday for 9 a.m. Catholic Mass. Holton, who wiped away tears during the speech, is the state's education secretary and a former state judge. The couple has three adult children, including a son, Nat, a Marine who is going on a deployment on Monday, aides said. Kaine is likely to be a valuable asset for the Democratic ticket in appealing to Hispanic Americans turned off by Trump's harsh rhetoric about immigrants. Trump was not making public appearances on Saturday but took to Twitter to seek to undercut Clinton's new addition, pointing to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and Wall Street as areas where supporters of one-time Clinton rival Bernie Sanders might split with Kaine. Trump tweeted that Kaine "has been praising the Trans Pacific Partnership and has been pushing hard to get it approved. Job killer!" In a tweet earlier in the day, Trump wrote that Kaine was "owned by the banks. Bernie supporters are outraged, was their last choice. Bernie fought for nothing!" Kaine is viewed skeptically by some liberals, who dislike his 2015 vote to provide the president with "fast-track authority" on trade deals and recent stances on Wall Street regulations, including rules governing regional banks. Clinton opposed the TPP during the primary against Sanders, citing concerns about job protections and national security. A Clinton campaign aide said Kaine made clear "in the course of discussions" that he shares Clinton's opposition to the TPP in its current form. But progressive groups said they want more assurances that the White House, which has pushed the trade deal, won't try to ram it through after the November election. "The selection increases the burden on Hillary Clinton to pressure the White House to take TPP off the table in a lame-duck Congress," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. But Larry Cohen, a former president of the Communications Workers of America union and a top Sanders adviser, said Kaine's record needed to be considered in its totality. "Most Harvard Law graduates don't go into civil rights work in the South," said Cohen, who first met Kaine when he served as Richmond's mayor. "His life has been those kinds of choices. He's never run after big money. He's always run after 'How can I make a difference?'" __ Lerer reported from Washington. __ Follow Ken Thomas and Lisa Lerer on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/kthomasDC and http://twitter.com/llerer (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agus Maryono (The Jakarta Post) Cilacap, Central Java Sun, July 24, 2016 Merri Utami, a death-row drug convict, has been moved to Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, as the next round of executions draws nearer. Merri, from Sukoharjo, Central Java, had been serving her sentence at the Tangerang Womens Penitentiary in Banten since 2004 before she was moved to Nusakambangan under tight escort at 4:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. Merri was sentenced to death for carrying 1.1 kilograms of heroin at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in 2003. The transfer of Merry to Nusakambangan indicates that the third round of executions of drug convicts on the prison island will be carried out in the near future. The transfer was carried out not long after the Supreme Court rejected a second case review request filed by death-row convict Freddy Budiman on Friday. Ive received a report that Merri Utami has been transferred to Nusakambangan and placed in a special room. Its probable that the executions will be conducted next week but for an exact schedule, please ask the Attorney Generals Office. Technically, Nusakambangan is ready for the executions, head of the correctional division facility at the Central Java office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Molyanto, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Merri has been placed in an isolation cell at the Besi Prison. She is now the only female inmate at Nusakambangan, where around 1,000 high-security convicts, 50 of whom are on death row, are serving their sentences. Attorney General HM Prasetyo had previously stated that the execution of several drug convicts would take place after Idul Fitri but the exact date of the executions remains unknown. In January 2015, six death-row inmates were executed in Nusakambangan, followed by eight more three months later. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java Sun, July 24, 2016 In commemoration of National Childrens Day, the SOS Childrens Village Bandung, a non-profit organization that takes in children in need, put on a recital at its office in Lembang, West Java, on Friday. SOS members, their foster parents and relatives, as well as locals and journalists attended the two-hour event, in which some of them showcased their traditional dancing skills, pantomime skills and musical talents. Aside from celebrating National Childrens Day, this event is one of our efforts to remind them of their childhood. As you can see, they are as content and playful as more fortunate Indonesian children, said SOS national director, Gregor Hadi Nitihardjo, on the sidelines of the event. SOS Bandung takes care of 113 children from various backgrounds. Its parent organization, SOS Childrens Villages, was established in Imst, Austria in 1949 by Austrian Hermann Gmeiner, the countrys serving soldier during World War II. The organization is now present in 134 countries including South Korea, Spain and Germany. SOS Bandung was established in Indonesia in 1972 by Agus Prawoto and now serves Indonesian kids in need in several cities across the country, namely Banda Aceh and Meulaboh in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Bandung (West Java), Jakarta, Medan (North Sumatra), Semarang (Central Java), and Yogyakarta. It has also opened representative offices on Bali and Flores islands. (adt/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, July 24, 2016 The Eastern Indonesia Oil and Gas Labor Union Federation has reported a Chinese energy firm, CITIC Seram Energy Ltd. (CSEL), to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) and the Manpower Ministry for punishing workers for being involved in a labor union. The federation chairman Indra Kurniawan said three CSEL employees, named Udin Jamaludin, Yudi Priyanto, and Putra Bustami, have been discharged from the field since April. The company refused to deploy them after they started to lead the union as chairman, vice chairman and secretary to fight for labor rights. "The union demands 149 contracted workers be promoted to become permanent employees. They have been working since 2007, but their status has remained unchanged. They sued the company in Ambon state court," Indra told thejakartapost.com on Friday in Jakarta after submitting the report to SKKMigas. CSEL's human resources manager, Agus Hidayat, said the management thinks that the three employees are no longer in line with their 'corporate' vision. Thus, the company offered them a mutual termination agreement (MAT). "However they have yet to respond to the MAT offer until now. Consequently, the company decided to put a hold on their deployment to the field," Agus said. The federation has requested SKKMigas and the Manpower Ministry to mediate the dispute. Currently, both sides were waiting for the institutions response. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, July 24, 2016 Dozens of parents held a peaceful rally in front of Harapan Bunda Hospital in East Jakarta on Saturday, demanding that the hospital reveal the names of patients vaccinated in the period between 2003 and 2016. We stage this rally, coinciding with National Childrens Day, to demand that the hospital take responsibility for our children and not ignore our request," said August Siregar, the chairman of an alliance of parents of fake vaccine victims at Harapan Bunda. He further said the group wanted Harapan Bunda to conduct medical examinations on babies vaccinated at the hospital to find out who had been injected with fake vaccines. The hospitals medical committee head, Seto Hanggoro, said earlier all vaccines administered before March this year and paid for through the hospitals cashier were genuine. The National Police have named Harapan Bunda paediatrician Indra Sugiarno and a nurse, identified only as Ina, suspects for allegedly administering fake vaccines to babies at the hospital. Harapan Bunda is among 14 health facilities accused of administering fake vaccines to their patients. Up until now, the parents said, their children had not been re-vaccinated since Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek revealed the names of the hospitals on June 14. August further said parents could not re-vaccinate their children in integrated health posts (Posyandu) because the posts required them to give a recommendation letter from the hospital. The hospital management has so far refused to give any clarification over the vaccination problems or to respond to the parents demand, he added. (wnd/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu, Central Sulawesi Sun, July 24, 2016 The wife of East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist group leader Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, Jumiatun Muslim, alias Umi Delima, surrendered when a group of Operation Tinombala Taskforce personnel were about to arrest her on Saturday, a police chief said. She did not attempt to resist the arrest, the taskforces spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto said on Saturday. He further said the arrest occurred when a team from the Army Strategic and Reserve Commands (Kostrad) Alfa 17 Raider Garut division patrolled along the location where a shootout between the Santoso group and taskforce personnel had taken place, leading to the death of the terror groups leader on Monday. The team later spotted a woman, suspected to be one of terror suspects who escaped Mondays shootout, walking near the Tambarana River, he went on to say. She was caught by surprise while she was walking [along the river], said Hari. He said the woman, who wore a veil every day, did not have any weapons when she was arrested. She also did not attempt to flee like she did in Mondays raid. The police say Umi Delima was taken to the Central Sulawesi Police headquarters in Palu under tight security. She is now being detained and given medical treatment in a special room at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital. Also on Saturday, thousands of people attended the burial ceremony of Santoso in Lantojaya village in Landangan, Poso Pesisir district. They hysterically shouted allahu akbar (God is Great) when Santosos body was taken to a cemetery in Lantojaya village for a burial. The burial process was led by Ustadz Adnan Arsal. An ambulance carrying Santosos body arrived in Landangan at around 12:10 p.m., local time, on Saturday, tightly escorted by his supporters. Around 100 motorcycles and 20 cars participated in the convoy. Three Islamic State (IS) movement flags were displayed during the procession and several Santoso supporters appeared with IS t-shirts. The burial procession ran smoothly and peacefully. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Vijay Joshi (Associated Press) Vientiane, Laos Sun, July 24, 2016 Southeast Asia's main grouping opened a meeting of their foreign ministers Sunday, deeply divided on how to deal with China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea that has impacted some of its members and whipped up an increasing diplomatic quagmire. Laos is hosting the gathering of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which traditionally ends with a joint statement. But the sticking point is whether to include a reference to the South China Sea. ASEAN's cardinal principle is decisions by consensus, which means any country can veto a proposal. This time, it appears to be Cambodia, China's close ally. In welcoming remarks, Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith made no mention of the dispute. In 2012, Cambodia also blocked a reference to the dispute, which ended with the ministers failing to issue a statement for the first time in the bloc's history. "Despite conflicts and challenges that have occurred in different parts of the world in general, peace, stability and development cooperation among nations remain the prevailing trend in this era," Kommasith said. "Our collective efforts are imperative to seize opportunities and address challenges facing various parts of the world in an effective manner." The Sunday talks are expected to deal with terrorism, economy, climate change, security, the impact of Brexit and other issues. But at the top of everyone's mind is the July 12 decision by The Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and the ruling should have emboldened ASEAN to challenge Beijing more forcibly. But that's being prevented by Cambodia, said diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. They said the draft statement to be issued by the ministers on Tuesday left blank spaces under the heading "South China Sea" until a consensus can be reached. Laos, which also is a China ally, has trod carefully and not taken sides because of their position as the host. A diplomat who attended closed door meetings told The Associated Press: "Cambodia is the villain deja vu 2012. It's really a loyalist of the big country C," the diplomat said, referring to China. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese government think tank, described the arbitration tribunal's ruling as very important because, theoretically at least, it should help resolve disputes, uphold the law and clarify the stance of the parties. "But at this point, it is not a magic stick ... it's not a solution to everything, but rather it needs to be combined with other measures." . The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didn't take a position on who owns the disputed territories. It did conclude that many of them are legally rocks, even if they've been built into islands, and therefore do not include the international rights to develop the surrounding waters. That and other findings invalidated much of what China's called its historic claims to the resource-rich sea. In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago. China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines. In recent days, its military has staged live-firing exercises in the area and said it would begin regular aerial patrols over the sea. It also has asserted that it will not be deterred from continuing construction of its man-made islands. The Philippines also remains in a tight spot despite the legal and moral victory it gained through the tribunal's decision. It simply cannot afford to antagonize China, especially since the country's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, has made friendly overtures to Beijing to repair relations that were strained under his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. The meetings will also be notable for the presence of Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, who will be attending an ASEAN meeting for the first time in that role since her party took power earlier this year after decades of military rule. ___ Associated Press writers Minh V. Tran in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kathleen Ann Kili (The Star Online) Kota Tinggi Sun, July 24, 2016 Four Indonesians including three women died while 33 others were saved when their boat capsized at about 80m from the shores of Pantai Batu Layar here. Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operation commander Azlan Mohd Sobri said that three officers from the Bandar Penawar station were deployed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 11.07pm Saturday before a search and rescue operation was launched. "Based on the information that we have, the boat had 37 passengers, all Indonesians, including 25 men and eight women," he said in a statement on Sunday. He added that 29 army personnel, 12 police officers, and three hospital staff members as well as officers from the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency were roped in to assist in the operation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Vijay Joshi and Daniel Malloy (Associated Press) Vientiane, Laos Sun, July 24, 2016 Southeast Asia's main grouping failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea, intensifying a diplomatic stalemate that officials said they hope to resolve in further closed-door parleys on Sunday. The foreign ministers of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations deliberated for about three hours, continuing the unfruitful discussions their senior officials had on Saturday, but with no result. "They haven't completed their discussion," said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee. "They are now having a working luncheon followed by an ASEAN retreat, so the issue will be discussed during the retreat." Like all other ASEAN meetings, the foreign ministers' conclave also traditionally ends with a joint statement. But the sticking point is whether to include a reference to the South China Sea. ASEAN's cardinal principle is decisions by consensus, which means any country can veto a proposal. This time, it is Cambodia, China's close ally. In 2012, Cambodia also blocked a reference to the dispute, which ended with the ministers failing to issue a statement for the first time in the bloc's history. Sek said the "joint communique is still being drafted." In welcoming remarks earlier, Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith made no mention of the dispute. "Despite conflicts and challenges that have occurred in different parts of the world in general, peace, stability and development cooperation among nations remain the prevailing trend in this era," Kommasith said. The Sunday talks are expected to deal with terrorism, economy, climate change, security, the impact of Brexit and other issues. But all this has been overshadowed by the July 12 decision by The Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and the ruling should have emboldened ASEAN to challenge Beijing more forcibly. That's being prevented by Cambodia, said diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. They said the draft statement to be issued by the ministers on Tuesday left blank spaces under the heading "South China Sea" until a consensus can be reached. Laos, which also is a China ally, has trod carefully and not taken sides because of its position as the host. A diplomat who attended closed door meetings told The Associated Press: "Cambodia is the villain deja vu 2012. It's really a loyalist of the big country C," the diplomat said, referring to China. Another diplomat said that the United States also did not push China during Saturday's discussions, leaving ASEAN countries with little firepower. The US was more keen on getting the region's support on chastising North Korea, and ignored the South China Sea during the discussions, said the diplomat. U.S. and Chinese officials were meeting ASEAN ministers as part of broader talks. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese government think tank, described the arbitration tribunal's ruling as very important because, theoretically at least, it should help resolve disputes, uphold the law and clarify the stance of the parties. "But at this point, it is not a magic stick ... it's not a solution to everything, but rather it needs to be combined with other measures." . The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didn't take a position on who owns the disputed territories. It did conclude that many of them are legally rocks, even if they've been built into islands, and therefore do not include the international rights to develop the surrounding waters. That and other findings invalidated much of what China's called its historic claims to the resource-rich sea. In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago. China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines. In recent days, its military has staged live-firing exercises in the area and said it would begin regular aerial patrols over the sea. It also has asserted that it will not be deterred from continuing construction of its man-made islands. The Philippines also remains in a tight spot despite the legal and moral victory it gained through the tribunal's decision. It simply cannot afford to antagonize China, especially since the country's new president, Rodrigo Duterte, has made friendly overtures to Beijing to repair relations that were strained under his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. ___ Associated Press writers Minh V. Tran in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report. (**) In recent years, to side step the piracy problem, those same studios have been releasing the footage they show there to the general public, within a few hours. Weve collected the best (or otherwise) footage revealed in the famed Hall H from the last few days, of the films you should know about over the next year. Spoiler theres a lot of superheroes..For many, Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice was a really bad movie. Even the trailers that made it look fun had a bizarre mixture of camp and elf-defeating grimness. This special preview footage of Justice League however (a movie that is still in production), is almost too exciting. So what if it seems like a reaction to the BvS reaction. This footage takes the few things that people liked about that film (namely Ben Afflecks Batman), dials back the murderous psychopathy, dials up the charm, and introduces us to the new superheroes beyond their appearance as Quicktime video files in an email attachment. Jason Momoas Aquaman may be angry, but hes definitely got the air of a badass; Ray Fishers Cyborg certainly looks like a cyborg; Ezra Millers Barry Allen is everything that the DC Films have needed. Hes funny, optimistic, and insanely powerful. The films coming to theatres in November 2017, which is a lot of time in which to screw up, but if were to adopt the same tone as this footage, its a lot more time in which to get hopeful for some fun at last in the DC films.Theres no avoiding the fact that this year has been a pretty weak one for fun blockbusters. However, with this new entry into the Harry Potter universe arriving at the end of the year, its hard not to get excited for whats coming up before the New Year. This SDCC trailer only builds on that excitement. The music is a perfect blend of the original Harry Potter series magic and a more bombastic, distinctly American attitude; the creatures on display are diverse and gorgeous, calling to mind the recent phenomenon of Pokemon Go; on top of which Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, and Katherine Waterston, all of whom are great actors, look to be having an absolute blast. Whats more, the prospect of a prohibition era magical adventure is looking more and more like one of the best, most pleasingly oddball ideas to be put to film a goblin-run speakeasy is a particular highlight.From quite possibly Warner Bros. most exciting showcase, to their weakest: the trailer for Guy Ritchies reimagining of the medieval legend. Despite a cast that includes Jude Law going full ham, Roose Bolton of Game Of Thrones fame (Michael McElhatton to you and I), and Charlie Hunnam, this looks like a bad idea. Its very grey, it contains a stop, rewind that joke, the tone feels like a bizarre match of Ritchies Lock, Stock forte, and any other ambitiously trashy fantasy that contains giant elephants. Either of those on its own would be entertaining, but theres something wrong about seeing them together. Still, maybe this is actually just a bad trailer, and the film is really good. Its out in March of 2017, so plenty of time to ponder the answer.Spinning off from the huge success of the character in 2014s The Lego Movie, and boasting easily the funniest trailer of the whole Con, The Lego Batman Movie is definitely something we can get excited about. Will Arnetts playfully arrogant, foolish take on Batman definitely stole the former movie, as it brilliantly deflated the bro-iness of so many of the Caped Crusaders fans. The film looks like itll do that even more, poking deserved, if loving fun at a man who dresses as a bat and invites young people to help him out. If for nothing else, theres something instinctively, perfectly British about Ralph Fiennes as Lego Alfred.Undoubtedly winning the prize for the most eye-catching footage was this trailer for Warner Bros. latest in reworkings of classic movie monsters (see 2014s Godzilla). The film boasts an incredible cast, including Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Straight Outta Comptons Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell, and Brie Larson. It feels like its been pitched as Apocalypse Now, with giant monsters. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts last (and indeed first) film was the delightful indie coming-of-age movie Kings Of Summer, but from the looks of things, that films personal size hasnt affected his grasp of scale.Yes, this film may be arriving in cinemas in less than two weeks (5th August) but that didnt stop DC from showing off a new trailer, full of content that weve seen before, along with a good handful of new things. If you still want to save the full experience for the theatre, we recommend avoiding this one, but if youre still not sure about it, or youre just too darn excited to turn away, check it out. This one gives us our best look yet at both the plotting, and of Jai Courtneys nutball Captain Boomerang we are surely blessed an actor of his talents has decided to embrace something this silly.Part of the Thursday Hall H showcase that featured Marvel TV displaying their plans for Netflix domination in the coming year, we got a look at whats being called by its creators the Wu-Tangification of the Marvel universe. Luke Cage, based on the classic 70s Blaxploitation-inspired hero, a black man with bulletproof skin, is coming to Netflix in September, so naturally nows the perfect time to release the first teaser trailer for the series. Theres nothing really in the way of plot, but its undeniably exciting to watch Mike Colters Cage seizing the spotlight in such a no-nonsense fashion, soundtracked to music thats been sorely lacking from any and all Marvel projects. This could very well be another homerun success for the Marvel-Netflix team, especially after last Novembers Jessica Jones, which so brilliantly introduced us to the character. In fact, given Jessica Jones and Luke Cages subject matter, theyre two of the most relevant superhero stories weve yet seen on our screens.Probably the biggest surprise of SDCC 2016 was the reveal that Adam Wingards upcoming horror film The Woods is actually a sequel to The Blair Witch Project. Taking the found footage aesthetic of 1999 and updating it to include modern technologies, the film will follow the brother of the original films Heather, whos convinced that shes still alive out there in the Black Hills woods. The new trailer not only comes clean with the reveal of this secret sequel, its also incredibly creepy. The shot of one girl crawling through what looks like a sewer pipe is enough to give claustrophobia to a whole generation. Theres been a lot of reason to lose hope that a good found footage horror film can be made, what with the glut of bad ones post-Paranormal Activity. Yet Wingards already proven himself an immensely talented genre filmmaker with his work on Youre Next and The Guest, so if anyone deserves a little faith, its him.In case you were wondering why we didnt mention Gal Gadots Wonder Woman in the Justice League footage, its because we were waiting to discuss how badass she looks in the trailer for her own movie! Yes, this 75-year old character, the most famous and iconic of all the female superheroes, is getting her first ever feature film in 2016; directed by Patty Jenkins, this footage is quite stunning. Set during World War I, Gadots Diana meets Chris Pines Steve Trevor, a U.S. fighter pilot who gets stranded on the Amazons (not related to the tax-evading, online consumerism giant) mystical island home of Themyscira. We see Amazons fighting soldiers on a beach, killing men with the use of bows and arrows; Wonder Woman using her iconic Golden lasso; Wonder Woman deflecting a mortar with her shield, like we might swat a fly; Wonder Woman pointedly remarking on the sexism within the secretarial role. This might just be the footage highlight of Comic-Con: this look at a female-led, female directed superhero film, looking for all the world like its going to show the men just how its done.Finally, Marvel unveiled a brand new trailer for the upcoming Doctor Strange. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular doctor, turned sorcerer after a car accident permanently damages his hands, its looking weirder and more wonderful by the minute. This footage not only gives us a very strong idea of the story (think Batman Begins style origins but with more colour and more magic), but it also shows off some insane, reality bending magic. This films going to be released just a few weeks before Fantastic Beasts, and it looks as if the J.K. Rowling adaptation is going to have its work cut out for it, in outdoing the marvellous, mystical wonders on display here. Even the way that Benedict Cumberbatch nonchalantly puts his cloak of levitation on is weird and cool! Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. 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[CLIP] Foreign college exchange students fined for filmed drunken public oral sex on Phi Phi KRABI: An American girl and Irish man wanted by police in three provinces for being caught on camera engaging in public oral sex on Koh Phi Phi last week, have turned themselves in, issued a public apology and each been fined B2,000. sextourism By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 24 July 2016, 09:35PM At 11am on Sunday (July 24) Krabi Police held a press conference, presenting the two suspects, named as Nadine, 21, from the US, and Sullivan, 24, from Ireland [names transliterated from Thai report]. Police in Krabi, Surat Thani and Chiang Mai were reportedly working together to track down the two foreigners, who had been featured in a video clip that had been uploaded to Youtube by an "enraged resident", who had reported that the incident took place at 7.30pm on July 18 on Koh Phi Phi. Upon learning that they were wanted by police, the American woman and Irish man both said to be exchange students at an unnamed university in Chiang Mai immediately returned to Krabi to turn themselves in and answer to charges of indecent exposure, and commiting an incdecent act in public. The woman had already returned to Chiang Mai while the man had been travelling in Surat Thani when news broke that they were wanted oral sex fugitives. The two explained that they were intoxicated at the time of the incident, and after apologizing for the deed, and waiing for the cameras, each were issued a B2,000 fine and released. WARNING: The following clip is inappropriate for immature and underage audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Youtube clip here Langkawi starts charging tourists daily fee MALAYSIA: Langkawi Municipal Councils tourism department has introduced a tourism promotion levy costing up to RM9 (about B80) on all tourists for every day of their stay. tourism By TTR Weekly Sunday 24 July 2016, 10:00AM Visitors at Pulau Payar Marine Park, south of Langkawi. Photo: Tourism Malaysia The fee, brought into effect on July 1, is charged according to the standard of accommodation, said Kedah Tourism Committee chairman Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid when announcing the fees last month. Tourists staying in one-star or two-star hotels are charged RM1 per room per night, while three-star or four-star accommodation will charge tourists RM3 per day of stay. Five-star accommodations will charge tourists RM5 per day, while six-star venues will charge RM7 and seven-star accommodations will charge a daily fee of RM9. Revenue generated from the fee will help fund improvements to infrastructure, public facilities and services that support tourism, said Mr Mohd Rawi. Before the fee was introduced, the councils sole revenue came from fees and taxes levied on the islands resident population, estimated at no more than 110,000 people who have homes on the island. However, the island attracts around three million tourists annually. Mr Mohd Rawi noted that similar levies are already paid by visitors in Melaka, Penang and Kuala Lumpur, and that the levy would be used entirely to support the tourism industry in Langkawi. Read original story here. Officials to round up 4,600 street beggars in Bangkok for rehabilitation, deportation BANGKOK: The government is moving forward with its mandate to sweep up more than 4,600 street beggars from the streets of Bangkok, 37 per cent of whom are reportedly foreigners. By The Phuket News Sunday 24 July 2016, 09:46AM Many construction cranes are active in line with development and gentrification agenda in the Thai capital in July, 2016. Photo: Steven Layne According to a report by the National News Bureau of Thailand, Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the move is part of a bid to combat human trafficking, in accordance with the Beggar Control Act of 2016, which was passed into law by the National Legislative Assembly in March. The law is poised to become effective 90 days after being published in the Royal Gazette. A total of 4,618 beggars have been found on the streets, 2,927 of whom are Thais with the rest being foreigners, Sansern said. He did not comment on the nationalities of the foreign beggars, but explained that all Thai beggars are being sent to homeless shelters to undergo rehabilitation, which he said include vocational training programs. However, he added that non-Thai beggars are being processed to be deported to their home countries. The spokesman added that the government has adopted the 3Ps Principle, namely Policy, Protection and Prevention, in determining a plan for controlling beggars in 2016. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has been instructed to strictly and continuously implement the plan. Penalties for traffickers and those seeking to benefit from begging amount to a maximum of three years in prison and a maximum of B30,000 fine. Members of the public are advised to immediately notify the authorities of any street begging or obvious homelessness via the Hotline 1300, around the clock. The 18-year-old, born and raised locally, opened fire near a busy shopping mall on Friday evening, triggering a lockdown in the Bavarian state capital, Reuters repors. Seven of his victims were themselves teenagers, who police said he may have lured to their deaths via a hacked Facebook account on what was the fifth anniversary of twin attacks by Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik that killed 77 people. The Munich shooting, in which a further 27 people were wounded, some seriously, was the third act of violence against civilians in Western Europe and the second in southern Germany in eight days. Bavarian state crime office president Robert Heimberger said the gunman, who German media named as Ali David Sonboly, was carrying more than 300 bullets in his backpack and pistol when he shot himself. Munich police witnessed the suicide at 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT), the police force said on Saturday. Following a police search of the attackers room, where a book on teenage shooting sprees was discovered, Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae all but ruled out an Islamist militant link to the attack. Based on the searches, there are no indications whatsoever that there is a connection to Islamic State or to the issue of refugees, he told a news conference. Documents on shooting sprees were found, so the perpetrator obviously researched this subject intensively. The gunman was born and brought up in the Munich area and had spent time in psychiatric care, and there was no evidence to suggest he had had an accomplice, Andrae said. It's our annual Labour Weekend tradition ...The Sound 'Hall Of Fame' Countdown... Where we honor the greatest 500 songs of all time as voted by you. If youre a regular reader of L Magazine, youve probably noticed weve launched a monthly womens leadership Q&A series. These articles feature extraordinary women, all leaders in the Lincoln community. Profiles of Leirion Gaylord Baird, Connie Duncan, Diana Buchanan, Shanna Letcher, Miki Esposito and Christie Hinrichs have appeared in print and online, as well as on social media. There are many more to come as there is no shortage of remarkable women in Lincoln. The profiles have been well received, and credit goes to Jackie Ostrowicki at the University of Nebraska for suggesting the series. We thought it would be a great way to take the annual Inspire Awards program and turn it into a regular feature throughout the year. Inspire celebrates womens leadership in our community with an annual awards program. Last September, nearly 400 attendees gathered at the Cornhusker Marriott and recognized women who have excelled in their personal lives and emerged as leaders and role models in the community. Winners of the 2015 Inspire awards included: Excellence in Business-Small, Liz Neeley, executive director of the Nebraska Bar Association; Excellence in Business-Large, Kimberly Rath, chairwoman and co-founder of Talent Plus; Excellence in Government Service, state Sen. Kathy Campbell; Excellence in Education, Marilyn Moore, president of Bryan College of Health Sciences; Excellence in Health Care, Marsha Lommel, president and CEO of Madonna Rehabilitation; Excellence in Philanthropy, Rhonda Seacrest, James C. and Rhonda S. Seacrest Foundation; Inspire Scholarship, Avary Pansing Brooks, student at American University; Inspire Future Business Leader, Elizabeth Whitacre, student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Tawnya Starr, vice president of sales for Firespring; and finally, the Inspire Woman of the Year, Donde Plowman, dean of the UNL College of Business Administration. I could not be more excited about the tremendous success of last years event. I also recognize that it can be challenging to top a successful first year. But we fully intend to do just that! Im thrilled to have the best advisory board leading our Inspire efforts this year. My sincere appreciation goes to returning board members Barbara Bartle (Lincoln Community Foundation), Pam Bourne (Woods & Aitken), Jenni Christiansen (Wells Fargo), Connie Duncan (Duncan Family Trust), Kimberly Moore (CHI Health), Jackie Ostrowicki (University of Nebraska), Donde Plowman (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Lisa Smith (Smith Hayes), Natalia Wiita (Lincoln Journal Star) and Katie Zulkoski (Zulkoski Weber). Im also delighted to be adding the following new board members: Ann Chang (Lied Center for Performing Arts); Christie Hinrichs (Tabitha) and L. Shanna Letcher (Lincoln Public Schools). Im honored to announce this years speaker will be Inspire 2015 Woman of the Year winner Donde Plowman. She takes her Start Something motto very seriously and models it in every aspect of her life. She makes great things happen and inspires others to make great things happen as well. She envisioned a new home for CBA and made it happen, spearheading the $84 million, 240,000-square-foot building, which will be the universitys largest privately funded project and prepare the college to be competitive with the elite business schools of the Big Ten. That vision and her commitment to Lincolns women in business is exceptional, making her the perfect choice for this years speaker. The Inspire event is just around the corner. The 2016 Inspire Awards will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 11:30-1 p.m. at the Cornhusker Marriott. Id like to thank our sponsors Tabitha, Liberty First Credit Union and Dillards for helping us bring this important event to the community. The nominations of extraordinary women in all categories are rolling in. I strongly encourage you to nominate the women who have mentored and/or inspired you at JournalStar.com/Inspire. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 3. Tickets to Inspire are available at JournalStar.com/Tickets. I look forward to seeing you there. Scientists at the Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have discovered a new genetic mutation linked to osteonecrosis of the hip, specifically the femoral head the spherical-shaped mass at the top of the femur. This breakthrough could allow doctors to identify and treat the disease before symptoms arise and potentially avoid hip replacements. Osteonecrosis, or bone death of the femoral head, is a serious disease that is caused by interruption of blood flow in the hip bone. Patients experience pain as the disease progresses and the bone and surrounding joint collapse. Ultimately, in end-stage osteoarthritis, the patient becomes unable to walk and the hip joint must be replaced. It is a severely debilitating disease that is usually linked to identifiable risk factors such as glucocorticoid treatments, blood cancers and in some rare cases, to a genetic cause, explains Dr. Chantal Seguin, Hematologist-oncologist at the Bone Engineering and Vascular Biology Research Lab of the RI-MUHC, and senior author on the scientific paper published recently in the Journal of Medical Genetics. Through the specialized Osteonecrosis Clinic established at the MUHCs Montreal General Hospital, led by Dr. Seguin and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ed Harvey, the researchers diagnosed advanced osteonecrosis in 4 out of 6 siblings in a family of European descent. Their team discovered a novel genetic mutation on a gene called TRPV4 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 4). The TRPV4 gene is known to play a critical role in blood flow control and bone cell development. Until this new discovery, only one other mutation had been identified in a few families of Asian descent and the findings have had limited potential for early diagnosis and new targeted therapy. The mutation was found to be common to all affected family members and absent in the unaffected family member, linking this new mutation to osteonecrosis, says Dr. Seguin. While it was known that pathogenic TRPV4 mutations affected the skeleton and the nervous system, this is the first time it has been associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Although the true prevalence of the disease is unknown, as many as 30,000 new patients are diagnosed each year in the United States, and the incidence is increasing. Many patients are under the age of 25 when diagnosed. The lack of knowledge surrounding osteonecrosis places a major financial burden on the Quebec and Canadian healthcare system. "If we consider all Europeans and their distribution worldwide, it is likely that this mutation could be found in larger populations, explains Dr. Seguin. The identification of this novel mutation will help to reveal the biological pathways that lead to the disease, and aid in the development of new treatments that target its cause rather than its symptoms." This novel discovery could also help to better understand the biological mechanisms in the much more common form of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, namely osteonecrosis induced by the use of glucocorticoids, or more commonly, steroids. Glucocorticoids are a family of medications used worldwide as either an anti-inflammatory agent, or as an important drug in many chemotherapy regimens used to treat patients with blood cancer. It is also well known that people who are using steroid medication for various illnesses are also at risk and it is estimated that greater than 60 million people are presently taking this medication worldwide. *** This research was funded by Fonds de Recherche Quebec - Sante (FRQ-S), Montreal General Hospital Foundation, Yvon Boulanger Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Institutes of Health, Fondation Leducq and Totman Medical Research Trust. The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is a world-renowned biomedical and healthcare research centre. The Institute, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University, is the research arm of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) an academic health centre located in Montreal, Canada, that has a mandate to focus on complex care within its community. https://muhc.ca/newsroom/news/researchers-discover-new-genetic-mutation-linked-osteonecrosis-hip RI-MUHC AB Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks at a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Hillary Clinton has chosen Kaine to be her running mate. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Dr. Chaim Waxman, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Rutgers University and Chairman of Behavioral Science at Hadassah College, delivered an electrifying presentation at the Center for Kehillah Development in which he revealed new findings that Orthodox drop- out rates are falling and retention rates are rising. Increasingly, Orthodox Jews are choosing to remain Orthodox, he told the crowd of avreichim at the CKD. After a decade of dire alarms over Orthodox drop-outs, trends have changed and Orthodoxy now has the highest retention rate of any denomination, followed by the Reform and then the Conservative. Describing Orthodoxy as the most vibrant of the movements, Dr. Waxman said that the Orthodox community is going to increase in size dramatically in coming years for many reasons. It is not just that more Orthodox are remaining Orthodox, he explained, It is also that Orthodox birthrates far outpace those of every other Jewish denomination. His research indicates that Chassidishe Jew have 12 times as many children as the non-Orthodox, and even the Modern Orthodox have 4 times the number of children as the non-Orthodox. They are a community on the rise, Dr. Waxman observed. According to Rabbi Leib Kelemen, founder of the CKD, this sudden growth in Orthodoxy requires urgent action. Read the handwriting on the wall, he said. Unless we help talmidei chochomim who havent yet taken leadership positions increase their knowledge of psak and communal leadership skills, the existing rabbonim could be overwhelmed by their growing communities and the growing number of new communities. Rabbi Kelemen said that some rabbonim already feel challenged to give enough personal attention to every member of their kehillos, and the ongoing Orthodox success-story could make instances like these more common. Rabbi Kelemen also warned that the need for a lot of rabbonim could tempt us to place people with weaker backgrounds into rabbinic positions, while the responsible strategy would be to help the biggest talmidei chochomim get the background and skills they need to assume communal leadership. We have giants in Torah who have tremendous maalos and beautiful middos, Rabbi Kelemen said, and many would be excited to take responsibility for the Klal. This is precisely the mission CKD has accepted in Rabbi Kelemens words: To give chashuve avreichim the time and training they need to become quality leaders. Rabbi Kelemen said that CKD is currently accepting applications for their five-year learning fellowship, and he encourages qualified talmidei chochomim to apply at www.c4kd.org. Dr. Waxman also shared data suggesting that the yeshivishe world is not just among the fastest growing, but also in some ways the most spiritually strong. When asked, How important is religion in your life?, 82.8 percent of the Ultra-Orthodox said Very Important compared to 77.4 percent of Modern Orthodox 44.3 percent of the Conservative, and only 17.2 percent of the Reform. When asked How certain are you about your belief in God?, 91.9 percent of the Ultra-Orthodox answered Absolutely Certain, compared to 87.4 percent of the Modern Orthodox, 47.5 percent of the Conservative, and 39.6 percent of the Reform. In an astounding projection, Dr. Waxman indicated that current data suggest the possibility that the majority of all Jews in the world will live in Israel within less than 20 years. If that were realized it would be the first time this has happened since the destruction of Bayis Sheni. He pointed out that this could have major repercussions in halachah. Dr. Waxman concluded his talk to the CKD avreichim by encouraging them to remain aware of trends in Jewish sociology: You are going to lead Jewish communities, and in that role you will need to know what is happening both inside and outside the Orthodox community. Hillary Clinton named Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her vice presidential running mate Friday, adding a centrist former governor of a crucial battleground state to the Democratic ticket. In a text message to supporters, the presumptive Democratic nominee said, Im thrilled to tell you this first: Ive chosen Sen. Tim Kaine as my running mate. Kaine himself tweeted, Im honored to be her running mate. The two will make their first appearance together as a ticket Saturday at a rally in Miami. Clintons decision caps a highly secretive, months-long process to find a political partner. Its also the final puzzle piece for the general election, pitting Clinton and Kaine against Republican Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence, the Indiana governor. Clinton called Kaine by phone around 7:30 p.m. Friday to offer him the job, and he accepted, according to a campaign aide. She then called President Barack Obama to inform him of the decision. Kaine, 58, had long been a favorite for Clintons ticket. Active in the Senate on foreign relations and military affairs, he built a reputation for working across the aisle as Virginias governor and as mayor of Richmond. Hes also fluent in Spanish, making him a valuable asset in Spanish-language media as the campaign appeals to Hispanic Americans turned off by Trumps harsh rhetoric about immigrants. Clinton weighed two finalists: Kaine and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a longtime friend of the candidate and former President Bill Clinton. Kaines strong ties to politically important Virginia, as well as his foreign policy experience, put him over the top, according to a person close to the campaign, who insisted on anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the process publicly. Kaine and Vilsack each had friends and allies lobbying the Clinton campaign on their behalf. But Kaine had a particularly powerful backer: Obama, who told the campaign during the selection process that the senator would be a strong choose. Trump, in a text to his own supporters, said Obama, Hillary and Kaine were the ultimate insiders and implored voters to not let Obama have a 3rd term. Kaine is viewed skeptically by some liberals in the Democratic Party, who dislike his support of free trade and Wall Street. Shortly after Fridays announcement, Stephanie Taylor of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said Kaines support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact gives Republicans a new opening to attack Democrats on this economic populist issue. Notably, a campaign aide said Kaine made clear in the course of discussions that he shares Clintons opposition to TPP in its current form. Clintons campaign closely guarded the selection process, keeping the names of finalists under wraps to try to maximize the impact of the announcement. Clinton held two lengthy private meetings with Kaine, including a lunch at her New York home last Saturday with their spouses and children. Clintons campaign teased the announcement throughout Friday, encouraging supporters to sign up for a text message alert to get the news a favorite campaign method for getting contact information about voters. The Democratic candidate made no mention of her impending pick during a somber meeting with community leaders and family members affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and a later campaign rally in Tampa. As Clinton finalized her decision, Trump met with supporters in Cleveland to run through a long list of thank-yous after his four-day convention. But rather than stay focused on Clinton or reach out to the general election voters he now must court, the newly minted Republican nominee spent considerable time stoking the fire of his bitter quarrel with Republican former rival Ted Cruz. Ted, stay home, Trump said, dismissing any interest in an endorsement the Texas senator refuses to provide. Relax. Enjoy yourself. Trump boasted of his TV ratings, his primary victories and other achievements, including winning over his wife, Melania, in a stream-of-consciousness delivery with Pence, standing quietly nearby. I dont do anything unless I win, Trump insisted. He promised to work so hard as the nominee and vowed his campaign was not going to disappear, even though he has no plans to campaign this weekend. No matter, perhaps, as that time will belong to Clinton and the Democrats, whose own convention begins Monday in Philadelphia. Kaine is expected to speak Wednesday, with Clinton delivering the closing address the following night. Before entering politics, Kaine was an attorney who specialized in civil rights and fair housing. He learned Spanish during a mission trip to Honduras while in law school. During his political career, hes demonstrated an ability to woo voters across party lines, winning his 2006 gubernatorial race with support in both Democratic strongholds and traditionally Republican strongholds. His wife, Anne Holton, is the daughter of a former Virginia governor, a former state judge and, currently, the states Education Secretary. The couple has three children. Some Democrats believe Trumps selection of Pence, a conservative white man from a largely Republican state, freed Clinton from pressure to add another woman or a minority to her ticket. Her short list included Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, two Latino cabinet secretaries and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, one of two black U.S. senators. Democrats argue that Kaine can help her woo moderate and even some Republican voters turned off by Trumps provocative rhetoric. Kaine got some practice challenging Trumps message when he campaigned with Clinton last week in northern Virginia, where he spoke briefly in Spanish and offered a strident assault on Trumps White House credentials. Do you want a youre fired president or a youre hired president? Kaine asked in Annandale, Virginia, as Clinton nodded. Do you want a trash-talking president or a bridge-building president? (AP) A union official said operator error isnt what caused a cranes 250-foot-long boom to collapse across New Yorks Tappan Zee Bridge. Jeff Loughlin, business manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137, told The New York Times ) on Friday hed spoken with the operator who claims to know what spurred the collapse. But Loughlin says he promised investigators he wouldnt publicly reveal the cause. Two drivers were injured after the sudden fall Tuesday snarled traffic, closed all seven lanes for hours and caused extensive damage to the 3.1 mile span between Westchester and Rockland counties. Federal and state officials are investigating. The newspaper said authorities have reviewed the cranes black box and interviewed the operator. On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that all seven lanes of the bridge had opened by late afternoon after around-the-clock repairs since Thursday. Cuomo said reopening all lanes were a priority since over 140,000 motorists use the bridge each day. (AP) Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy One simply has to look at the numbers and one realizes the demographic realities of Yerushalayim, as dati leumi and secular schools are emptying as the chareidim are choking for space. According to the official numbers, in the 5777 school year in the capital, 25,144 kindergarten age children are chareidi, 17,055 from the Arab sector and 13,104 are secular and dati leumi. In 2011 for comparison sake, there were 16,522 kindergarten age children from the chareidi sector and 9,063 from the secular and dati leumi. Another impressive figure is that 77% of the children entering first grade in the 5777 school year are from the chareidi and Arab sectors while only 23% are from the secular and dati leumi communities. This is the official number from City Hall and it does not include non-registered kindergartens. For example, in the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood there remains a single non-chareidi kindergarten while there are 58 kindergartens operating in that neighborhood in the chareidi sector, of which 11 were added in the past five years. The dati leumi community has decreased in size too and is in the midst of a battle to save its last two facilities. Parents of the Oshra dati leumi kindergarten finally managed to amass a list of 23 children to keep it operating. Councilman Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, who is deputy chair in the city responsible for the education portfolio states Even if there is a professionally correct decision, the reality is a different one in the eyes of the pluralistic minority in the community, and the reality being created is that ultimately the remaining members of this community will leave the neighborhood as well. Leibowitz himself is affiliated with the dati leumi community. Rechavia: The secular education system is fighting for survival too as there are four chareidi kindergartens while there are two secular ones and one for the dati leumi community. What might present a clearer picture of the trend is that in Rechavia, the chareidi community has doubled the number of kindergartens since 2011 while the others have diminished drastically. For example, regarding the secular kindergarten on Arlozoroff Street, a dati leumi facility will be replacing it in the coming year. Dr. Sharon Russo represents those parents, and she explains they are working to make sure they can still get a proper education for their children within the community. Some of the parents of secular families have turned to City Hall in their battle to keep the facilities in the area operating but it is becoming increasingly apparent to them they are fighting a losing battle. Nvei Yaakov: If we look at the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Nvei Yaakov, there are 82 chareidi kindergartens, reflecting the demographic change that took place during the last decade. In 2011 there were only 53 kindergartens in the chareidi community. On the other hand, while there were 5 kindergartens for the secular community in 2011, there are now only 3 remaining alongside 6 for the dati leumi community. The last secular public school in the community closed its doors four years ago and a tenacious battle was launched to save the dati leumi Bernadette School, hoping to prevent it from being handed over to chareidim. French Hill: The dati leumi community if gaining ground in this neighborhood. The number of dati leumi kindergartens have increase from six in 2011 to eight at present. Regarding the dati leumi community, it has increased from none in 2011 to two at present. Tensions are rising in this community regarding the operation of chareidi kindergartens in apartment buildings and cross-complaints have been filed with city officials. Givat Mordechai: Givat Mordechai for many years has been a Jerusalem symbol of dual existence between dati leumi and secular residents, alongside a marginal chareidi presence. Today however only one secular kindergarten remains, on Chaim Heller Street, serving 25 children. In addition, there are 11 dati leumi kindergartens in the community for 318 children. (some of these children are from secular homes but their parents prefer to send the children to dati leumi kindergartens). The chareidim have six kindergartens for 182 children, and a battle is ongoing for land and buildings for the growing chareidi tzibur. The city has allocated a plot for four new kindergartens and the chareidi representatives in the community are trying to receive control over the entire complex. The city has however registered children from all sectors to the new complex. Kiryat Yovel: This community has become symbolic of the battle between the citys growing chareidi community and the secular and dati leumi communities who are fighting this change. Today, there are 27 kindergartens. What is saving the secular facilities is the fact they are serving 6-7 special needs children in each facility. According to the city, there are 515 children in secular kindergartens alongside five dati leumi facilities serving 137 children and 16 chareidi kindergartens serving 173 children. The areas minhelet (local government) continues fighting to shut the unregistered chareidi kindergartens down, some operating in apartments. Ramot: This area too was by and large a mixture of dati leumi and secular residents but the demographic change is apparent. Five years ago there were six secular kindergartens and today, only four remain. In the chareidi community on the other hand, the number has risen from 118 in 2011 to 155 today. Regarding the dati leumi community, there are currently 10 kindergartens as compared to 11 in 2011. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The cabinet on Sunday, 18 Tammuz, approved the amended law so that yeshivos will not be compelled to teach core subjects in line with chareidi demands. Minister Ofir Akunis walked out of the cabinet meeting in anger. Akunis called the move a mistake, explaining he feels all chareidi schools should be taught basic secular subjects. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained the coalition exists based on the agreements with the chareidi parties. As a result of the vote, paragraph 10a of the Education Law which was to go into effect in 2018 has been cancelled, so in essence there is no change felt since the mandatory introduction of secular subjects in these schools never began. The law compelling them to include secular subjects in the curriculum was introduced by the previous government headed by the Likud, Yesh Atid and Bayit Leumi parties. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Hillary Clintons campaign manager, Robby Mook, indicated that he believes Russian state actors had some involvement in the leaked Democratic National Committee emails that show top Democrats writing off Sen. Bernie Sanderss chances during the primaries. Theres evidence Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole those emails, and there are experts saying they are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump, Mook told CNNs Jake Tapper in an interview that aired Sunday on State of the Union. Its no coincidence these emails were released on the eve of the convention. Mook said the idea that Russia leaked Democrats emails to possibly help Trump was disturbing. We need to be concerned Trump and his allies made changes to the platform to make it more pro-Russian, and we saw him talking about how NATO shouldnt intervene [in Russian disputes]. So I think when you put it all together, its a disturbing picture, he said. When Tapper pressed him further, Mook made a connection between the June breach of the DNCs network by Russian government hackers and WikiLeakss publication on Friday of 20,000 emails from DNC officials. Some of those emails appear to show party officials questioning Sanderss viability and discussing how to use his faith against him. If they are the ones that took them, we have to believe they are the ones releasing them, Mook said. He doubled down on that assertion in an interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. However they got released, some of the emails could be damaging to the Democratic Partys attempts to unify at its convention in Philadelphia this week. The DNC is supposed to be neutral throughout the primary process, but Sanders spent much of it accusing the DNC and its chair, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Fla., of supporting Clinton behind the scenes. Wasserman Schultz will not speak at the convention, CNN reported. On Sunday, Sanders repeated his call for Wasserman Schultz to resign. Mook did not go that far in his interviews on Sunday, instead saying, Im going to leave that to the DNC because I dont have all the facts. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Amber Phillips Equiniti can trace its roots back to 1836, as the Governments paymaster, responsible for the Armed Forces. The business has changed dramatically since then but, 180 years on, the Armed Forces are still a customer, using Equiniti to provide vital pension payment services. Other customers, including half of the firms in the FTSE 100 index of Britains biggest quoted companies, have worked with the group for rather less time, but many still have relationships with Equiniti dating back decades. Attention!: Equiniti has managed pension payment services for the Armed Forces since 1836 Equiniti listed on the London Stock Exchange in October last year at 165p per share. The shares reached more than 190p before the EU referendum but have drifted back to 171p. At this level, the stock is cheap and should move up as chief executive Guy Wakeley delivers on promises made at the time of the flotation and the group continues to grow. Equiniti consists of three main divisions. One provides share registration services for listed companies, making sure that investors are sent the right information at the right time, from notices about results to news about takeovers. It also ensures that dividends are paid and works with companies to provide the right advice to friends and family when a shareholder dies. Some 18 million shareholders are on Equinitis books and it is widely recognised as a leader in the field, with the service it provides being critical for listed companies. This division also creates employee share schemes for businesses, designed to motivate staff and provide long-term financial rewards. Such schemes play an increasing role in staff remuneration packages. Just ten years ago, only 11 per cent of employers used them. Equiniti administers schemes for more than 130,000 postal workers who work for the Royal Mail Today almost 60 per cent do, including the Royal Mail, where Equiniti administers schemes for more than 130,000 postal workers. As an adjunct to this service, Equiniti provides share-dealing facilities, not just for employees but retail shareholders too, under the Shareview brand. Equinitis second principal line of business revolves around pensions operating the systems and technology that calculate how much retirees should be paid and making sure they receive their money. Here, Equinitis clients are primarily public sector giants, such as the NHS pension service, which has 2.6 million members and is the biggest in Europe. Other customers include the Metropolitan Police. Overall, Equiniti administers pensions for nine million people in the UK. Like the share registration service, pensions administration is an essential part of an organisations activities and Equiniti has built a strong reputation the ability to manage complexity. Pensions rules are changing fast, as the population ages and employers work out how they can afford to pay staff pensions for many decades. Every time new laws are passed, technology has to be updated, which means more business for Equiniti. The third leg of Equinitis business involves helping companies mainly banks to handle complaints. High street lenders use complex technology, much of which has been bolted together over many years. In order to handle complaints efficiently, they need to be able to see which products their customers have bought, what accounts they have and how long they have had them. Equinitis software helps provide an overarching view of customers. It also offers to surf social media platforms for businesses so they can see if certain views negative or positive are taking root online. Half of the firms in the FTSE 100 index of Britains biggest quoted companies are customers of Equiniti The group has been instrumental in helping banks handle payment protection insurance complaints, which are expected to come to an end in 2018. But Equinitis technology is also used by banks to combat money laundering and this part of the business is likely to grow. Equiniti reports half-year results this Friday and brokers expect good growth, with profits of about 25 million and a maiden interim dividend of 1.5p. For the full year, profits of 60.5 million are expected, rising to 65 million in 2017. This years total dividend should amount to about 4.8p, increasing to 5.2p next year. Wakeley is ambitious for Equiniti, intending to deliver steady growth by adding to the services on offer to existing clients and acquiring new customers along the way. The groups business is largely driven by regulation so, as this increases, Equiniti should benefit. Most of the growth is likely to be organic, but the company has made acquisitions in recent years and Wakeley continues to look for firms that can add to the range of products he can offer to customers. Some investors worry that Equiniti will lose out if the economy slows down and there are fewer flotations and takeovers. Events last week when Japanese Softbank mounted a 24 billion takeover of UK chipmaker ARM Holdings would suggest that the takeover market is alive and kicking. Equiniti also had one of its best years in 2009 just after the financial crisis, when lots of companies had to raise money through rights issues. Midas verdict: Equiniti provides vital services to some of the biggest companies and organisations in the UK. With a reputation for reliability, and customer relationships stretching back decades, the group has plenty of growth potential. At 171p the shares are a long-term buy. As a policy advisor to the Donald Trump campaign, I frequently get asked whether he is serious about imposing a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports. Skeptics cry protectionism and warn of a trade war. Lets set the record straight. Trump will impose countervailing tariffs not just on China, but also on any American trade partner that cheats on its trade deals using practices such as currency manipulation and illegal export subsidies. Such tariffs are not protectionist but rather defensive and consistent with actions taken by American presidents from George Washington to Ronald Reagan. Indeed, one of the first bills Washington signed was a tariff, which Alexander Hamilton justified as a necessary defense against a mercantilist Europe. Is a 45 percent tariff too high? When Japan flooded global markets with underpriced computer chips in the late 1980s, Reagan slapped a 100 percent tariff on semiconductors, plus high-end computers and TVs. The total tariffs were based on the economic injury suffered by the U.S. semiconductor industry as result of Japans cheating on a trade agreement. This is the kind of flexible case-by-case approach that a Trump White House, Treasury Department, Department of Commerce and U.S. trade representative would use. Still, Trumps suggestion of a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports would, by my calculations, be an appropriate level. More than 10 years ago, I began analyzing exactly how Chinas state-run industries significantly undercut foreign manufacturers and found that lower labor costs accounted for only 39 percent of Chinas price advantage. Five other unfair trade practices the aforementioned illegal export subsidies and currency manipulation, along with intellectual property theft and lax worker safety and environmental regulations are the bigger story. For example, Chinas central bank keeps the yuan undervalued, thereby overstimulating the nations exports while discouraging imports from the United States. Such blatant currency manipulation contributes significantly to a $365 billion trade deficit last year with China that would not exist in a freely floating exchange rate world. Similarly, when China simply steals the intellectual property behind U.S. technology and avoids incurring substantial research and development costs it gains a huge advantage in key industries such as autos, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Likewise, when Chinese companies evade the environmental and worker safety costs imposed on American industry, made-in-China stuff can get even cheaper. When I added up the effects of such practices in China in 2006, they accounted for 43.7 percent of the artificially low price of Chinese manufactured goods almost exactly the amount of Trumps proposed tariffs. In the decade since my study was conducted, Chinas cheating has only worsened and become more institutionalized. For example, the bipartisan Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property in 2013 estimated that the U.S. loses more than $300 billion a year to intellectual property theft and blames China for 50 percent to 80 percent of the problem. The Peterson Institute for International Economics in 2012 attributed half or more of excess U.S. unemployment to currency manipulation and identified China as by far, the largest currency manipulator. Since 2009, the U.S. trade representative has taken 13 cases against China to the World Trade Organization. The most recent, filed just last week, targeted illegal export duties on raw materials such as copper, lead and tin. Meanwhile, the unfair trade advantages China reaps from lax environmental and health and safety regulations are written in blood: More than 60,000 Chinese workers perished in workplace accidents in 2014 and up to half a million people die prematurely because of Chinas horrific air pollution. China has been waging an undeclared trade war on the U.S. since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001. The casualties are obvious: More than 50,000 American factories shuttered. Zero gains in real household median income. Our annual GDP growth rate cut almost in half since 2001 compared with the last half of the 20th century. For Trump, steep tariffs are a key negotiating strategy to stop China, or any other country, from cheating on international trade deals. His broader goal is to eliminate our massive trade deficit, jump-start GDP growth and create millions of new jobs. That in turn will boost income levels and generate the tax revenue necessary to pay for the infrastructure, social services and defense needs of the greatest nation in the world. WASHINGTON -- Crucial political decisions often concern which bridges to cross and which to burn. Donald Trump's dilemma is that he burns some bridges by the way he crosses others. His campaign depends on a low-probability event, and on his ability to cause this event without provoking a more-than-equal and opposite reaction. Extrapolating from recent elections, the turnout of non-college educated whites this November would be expected to be 3 percent smaller as a portion of the total turnout than in 2012, and college educated whites a 1 percent larger portion. The core of Trump's support consists of non-college educated whites, a cohort whose 2012 turnout was 60.4 percent. There is a low probability that Trump can motivate recent non-voters in this cohort to increase the turnout to 67 percent. There is, however, a high probability that the way he stimulates such people -- still more insult oratory and fact-free "policy" expostulations -- will cause other groups to recoil. For the first time since at least 1952 -- the first election for which ample data is available -- Democrats probably will win a majority of voters with college degrees -- a large and growing group (In 1952, 6.4 percent of Americans had completed college; today, about 33 percent have.) Consider, particularly, women with post-bachelor degrees. This fast-growing group -- the percentages of women in law, medical and business schools' enrollments are 48.7, 46.9 and 36.2, respectively -- is already approximately 65 percent Democratic. Can Trump ignite a spike in the non-college white vote without causing a more-than-commensurate increase in the Democratic propensity of the college-educated? Speaking of low-probability events, Trump's literary interests were hidden until his vice presidential search took him to Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield," where he found Mike Pence, whose sometimes unctuous affect resembles Uriah Heep's: So very 'umble. The adjective "oleaginous" might have been invented to describe Pence's performance with Trump on "60 Minutes": Being chosen by Trump is "very, very humbling." Trump is "one of the best negotiators in the world" and will provide "broad-shouldered American strength." Trump -- "this good man" (what would a bad man look like to Pence?) -- "is awed with the American people." Pence, a broad-spectrum social conservative saddened by our fallen world, can minister to the boastful adulterer and aspiring torturer who Pence thinks belongs in the bully pulpit. Actually, the sole benefit of Trump's election would be in making the presidency's sacerdotal role -- the nation's moral tutor -- terminally ludicrous. In May, Pence endorsed Ted Cruz but larded his endorsement with lavish praise of Trump, who excuses Pence for buckling "under tremendous pressure from establishment people." In a year of novelties, now this one: A presidential candidate calls his running mate weak. It will be interesting to see if Pence will defend his defensible opposition, as a congressman, to Medicare Part D, the prescription drug entitlement. When George W. Bush proposed this bit of "compassionate conservatism," House Democrats voted 195-9 against it, deeming it insufficiently compassionate to seniors and excessively compassionate to pharmaceutical companies. Nineteen House Republicans, including Pence, voted against it, largely because this was the first major entitlement enacted without provision for funding. To give the Bush administration time to twist arms and dangle enticements, Republicans held open the floor vote for 2 hours and 51 minutes, twice as long as the previous longest House vote. It passed 216-215. If pharmacology had been as potent in 1965 as it has become, prescription drugs might then have been included in Medicare. Today, will a pliable Pence amend his convictions and repent his resistance to this now immensely popular entitlement? Trump, Pence's new lodestar, sees nothing amiss with the existing entitlement system and disparages those (remember the man who used to be Chris Christie?) who think trillions of dollars of unfunded liabilities are problematic. Pence also has strongly favored free trade, including the North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump calls "the worst economic deal in the history of our country." Never mind. In 1980, George H.W. Bush denounced Ronald Reagan's "voodoo economics" until Reagan selected Bush as his running mate, whereupon Bush decided that it was very good voodoo economics. The malleable shall inherit the earth. As Trump's campaign manager, Paul Manafort, says, Trump "has changed the face of the Republican Party" just as Ronald Reagan did. Indeed. A snarl has replaced the sunny Southern California smile. Trump, himself a brand, has completed the rebranding of the Republican Party. The following editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee on Thursday. Its impossible to miss the irony in the news this week the week of the Republican National Convention that Roger Ailes reign at Fox News has come to an end. No political figure besides, maybe, Ronald Reagan has had more to do with the rise of the right in this country, or its image. From the outset of his career, as New York Magazines Gabriel Sherman has reported, Ailes has preached that TV networks would someday take on the role of political parties. Certainly he has worked to make that his legacy. Television isnt a gimmick, he told Richard Nixon in the late 1960s, when, as a TV producer turned political operative, he helped restore the politicians presidential prospects. In the 1970s, he ran a TV network for Joseph Coors, the conservative brewing magnate. In the 1980s, he brought that experience back into politics, according to a recent profile by historian Jill Lepore in The New Yorker, helping elect Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, 13 Republican senators and eight members of Congress, including Dan Quayle and Mitch McConnell. In 1996, he was tapped by the media mogul Rupert Murdoch to launch Fox News, which he vowed would be fair and balanced. Fox was a latecomer, with less than a third of CNNs 60 million subscribers, but by 1999, thanks to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, business was booming and the line between opinion and news and Ailes Rolodex was steadily blurring. When Fox News called the 2000 election for George W. Bush, the Ailes employee manning the desk was Bushs first cousin. When the U.S. went to war in Iraq, Fox News was an unabashed cheering section. And in the years since, the network has been a generator of conservative red meat like no other: Fast and Furious. Benghazi. Planned Parenthood. All week, those and other Fox News staples have been front and center at the Republican National Convention, wrapped in glitzy, Fox News-style red-white-and-blue trappings. For the Ohio-born Ailes, now 76, this should be the most triumphant of times. But it is not. His resignation was announced Thursday, and there are the explosive, and growing, allegations stemming from a recent sexual harassment suit filed by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. And at the convention itself, there was Donald Trump, whose rise is in itself a sign of Ailes waning power. Clearly not the networks preferred Republican candidate at the outset, Trump fought back on his own powerful medium Twitter when Ailes protege Megyn Kelly confronted him at an early Fox News primary debate with a blistering question on sexism. Now, though Fox News may tout him, its clear that the network needs Trump more than vice versa. And Kelly is reported to have backed up Carlsons claims of harassment. In TV and politics, as in so much else, the guard appears to be changing. It remains to be seen whether thats good, bad or fair and balanced news. One of Nebraskas lawmakers ought to start working on a bill to require life insurance companies to search for beneficiaries. A multi-state task force led by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty found that life insurance companies had billions of dollars that should have gone to heirs. "Many life-insurance companies built in business practices that intentionally shielded them from knowledge of a policyholder's death, a practice which drastically reduces the number of policies that are properly and timely paid out," Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater told the Orlando Sentinel. More than 20 states already have passed such laws, as a recent story in the Journal Star pointed out. In those states heirs have been surprised by checks they did not know were owed them. Roberta Berchtold, 62, of San Diego told the Associated Press she thought everything was settled two years ago after her fathers death. She even received a check for $35,000. Since then she has learned she was owed money from two other policies. I never really trusted them. Berchtold said of the insurance companies. Some insurance companies support legislation patterned after a model drafted by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators which requires companies to cross check their data bases against the Social Security Administrations Death Master File at least once a year to see if heirs are owed money. The companies previously did that crosscheck to identify policyholders receiving annuities who had died, but they did not do the same for life insurance policies. In some cases the companies would deduct monthly payments until the money was gone. Then the companies would cancel the policy. In Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently signed into law a bill that requires companies to check policies dating back to 1992. In Nebraska Insurance Commissioner Bruce Ramge said the department is working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop a uniform model law. Its unclear, however, why this approach would be superior to the laws already on the books in other states. Those laws, based on the model drafted by the NCIL, have the support of the American Council of Life Insurers, which wants all states to adopt the model as a national standard. But not all insurance companies are on board. In Illinois life insurance companies owned by Kemper Corp. contend that the policies are contracts under which beneficiaries are required to make a claim. The trouble is, of course, that some people dont even know they were beneficiaries because there was no requirement that they be notified. A law requiring life insurance companies to search would be a welcome addition to Nebraska statutes. Thorbjorn Falldin, a pipe-smoking sheep farmer who became prime minister in Sweden\s first non-Socialist government after World War II, has died at 90. Falldin, who had led the Center Party, died on Saturday evening at his farm in northeastern Sweden, Center Party leader Annie Loof said. Loof described Falldin as one of the top political leaders of the 20th century in Sweden. "He was a sharp politician and confident leader and a committed and caring person," she wrote on the party\s website. "He is a true model and icon for many of us." As head of the agrarian party, Falldin led a center-right coalition to power in 1976, ending 40 years of Social Democratic rule. Two years later the government collapsed amid disputes over nuclear power, which Falldin\s party strongly opposed at the time. He was reappointed prime minister after the 1979 election, serving until 1982, when his government was defeated by Olof Palme\s Social Democrats. Falldin was born on April 24, 1926, into a family of farmers in the northern village of Hogsjo. Throughout his political career he remained close to his roots, returning to his farm on weekends to care for the sheep or dig up potatoes. Falldin\s calm, quiet manner contrasted with Palme\s wit and sometimes aggressive debating style. The two dominated Swedish politics until Falldin resigned in 1985 after a dismal election result. Palme was assassinated a year later, a murder that remains unsolved. Falldin rose through the ranks of the Center Party with grass-roots support and became party leader in 1971. He took the party in a pro-environment, anti-nuclear direction. To this day, the Center Party tries to be seen as the green alternative in Sweden\s non-Socialist camp, though it has relaxed its opposition to atomic energy. Falldin is survived by his wife Solveig, their daughter and two sons. SOURCE: AP Hopewell Community Park remains a 'labor of love' for local community The lush green park is a product of the combined efforts of the Hopewell Township community and a symbol of decades of conservation efforts in Beaver County. SHARE Oil and natural gas became a part of the Republican Convention in Cleveland when Oklahoma oilman Harold Hamm told delegates that Donald Trump wants to make the U.S. energy independent. It has been rumored that Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources in Oklahoma City, will be appointed to secretary of energy if Trump is elected. However, the Department of Energy doesn't have much to do with energy policy. Ever since Jimmy Carter created the cabinet-level agency in 1977, it has been more involved in overseeing nuclear issues than creating a broad-based energy policy. Actually, energy policy is achieved through 13 other agencies including the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Securities and Exchange Commission and on and on. Hamm would make an excellent adviser to any president regarding energy policy. He has been involved in advocating a strong domestic energy industry for many years. He has served as president of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and as head of two national organizations, Save Domestic Oil and the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance, of which he is the current chairman. Hamm served as energy adviser to Mitt Romney during his presidential campaign four years ago, and he led the successful charge to lift the ban on crude oil exports last year. Hamm began his speech at the convention by talking about the energy renaissance in America, and the danger the Obama administration has placed on becoming energy independent through a multitude of new regulations of the oil and gas industry. When U.S. oil production peaked in April 2015 at 9.7 million barrels per day, it was within 5 million barrels per day of being entirely self-sufficient in crude oil. Oil production has declined to 8.9 million barrels per day in April 2016 because of low prices and a decline in activity. At the height of the renaissance, net import of petroleum liquids fell to 25 percent of U.S. consumption. Liquefied Natural Gas facilities originally designed to import LNG have been retrofitted to export LNG because the U.S. produces an oversupply of natural gas currently. Even employment in the petroleum industry was rising at a record pace. Hamm said each barrel of oil produced in the U.S. creates jobs, pays taxes, builds the economy and replaces another barrel of oil that must be imported. Domestic oil enhances national security, he said. He noted that Hillary Clinton, the apparent nominee of the Democrats, wants to continue Obama's assault on fossil fuels, which would play right into the hands for foreign oil producers looking to increase their market share in the U.S. and abroad. He concluded by pointing out that building a strong domestic energy industry would "make America great again." Apparently we all can get along. Challenged by a friend on Facebook last week, I looked into which candidates my friends "liked." "Liked" is complex on Facebook. Saying you like someone or something in, pardon the cliche, real life, is much different in the world of social media. For the purposes of this little experiment, we're assuming "like" is really "like." Before checking the Facebook pages for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I suspected I could estimate the results. I'm a journalist. We're seen as liberal. So, Clinton would probably dominate my "friends." On the other hand, I live in Texas, where a Clinton is about as welcome as locust in a hay field. Then again, my journalist friends are also curious, and Donald Trump's social media posts can be entertaining, let's be honest. Especially at the beginning of his campaign, one might "like" his Facebook page or follow his Twitter for shock value alone. More recently, journalists needed to follow his Twitter to instantly learn he picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. "Like" isn't necessarily "love." I'll probably have an equal amount of both, Trump "friends" and Hillary "friends." Or so I thought. I fancy myself a well-rounded person who picks up friends from all walks of life, all ideologies, all religions. I even have a few atheist friends, Lord help them. I like to think I could gather around any table and welcome any conversation without the attendees behaving like a "Real Housewives" episode. They're my friends. I don't pick my friends based on their political persuasions. Contrary to what may seem obvious an editor who reads and writes opinion pieces every day I don't necessarily talk politics when I leave work. Every four years, that changes, sure. But come Nov. 9, 2016, the discussions will probably become less about Trump vs. Clinton. I hope. My gut feeling also came from what I have observed on Facebook, with only a few of my friends weighing in on the election. Last week's Republican National Convention changed that, sure, with those who normally post cute cat videos revealing their stripes. For the most part, I see a lot of cat videos. So, let's have a look, I thought. As of Friday, I have 694 friends, some I can't even tell you why. But that's another column. Hillary first only 18. That's interesting. We have about that many journalists at this newspaper. I know for a fact we're not all fans of Hillary. So, we're not all liberal. For kicks, I looked at Gary Johnson. Several of my friends have expressed their disappointment in the top two candidates and have thrown their support to the Libertarian. It's worth a look. Johnson 12. That's cool. Slightly less than Hillary, but more than I expected. You may not realize there's a Green Party candidate, Jill Stein. Eight of my friends "like" her. Now, for Trump shocker. Wow, 46 friends "like" The Donald. Whoa! Nearly three times as many of my friends "like" Trump over Hillary. Not surprising, one Facebook friend posted after I revealed my results. Typical of Wichita Falls, he said. He lives in Austin. A millennial who saw my post responded with her results and included I can't believe I forgot to check Bernie Sanders. Among her friends, 77 "like" the self-proclaimed socialist from Vermont. Her Trump friends outnumbered the Hillary friends by 9. Johnson came in fourth, followed by Stein. Let's check Bernie in my friends list. Twenty three. More than Hillary. Fascinating. Perhaps more fascinating, I hadn't "liked" a single one. News from the respective campaigns reaches me, don't you worry. The most fascinating, though, out of my 694 friends, 587 couldn't care less. As more individuals search for their chosen purposes in life, volunteering could fulfill voids. What is volunteerism? According to Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "volunteerism is the act or practice of doing volunteer work in community service." So who could be a volunteer? The dictionary said, "a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service." My favorite expressions "living the good life" and "leadership in action" are reasons why Nebraska is so great. "Volunteering is an excellent way to provide meaning in your life and help to give back to your local community" as stated by Peter Muggeridge. Richness as stated by Jobail Brcelona, "Discover why some of the richest people in the world are not millionaires, they are volunteers." And finally, "Giving back for those gifts you have been given is to volunteer your own time, resources or abilities so that others may also move forward," said Bryon Pulsifer. Ask what is my purpose in life and what would I like to do for others to remember me for doing or achieving? Ed George, Lincoln Here's what to know as the annual dove hunting season approaches PHOTOS BY Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Brandon Pannell, a 2008 graduate of Holliday High School, starts the clock on the beginner lane of the Warriors Course at Urban Air Trampoline Park as dozens of children and parents gather around to watch him Saturday afternoon. Pannell has competed on "American Ninja Warrior" for the last three seasons and qualified for the Philadelphia Regional Final this year. SHARE Pannell signs a playing card for several children during a meet-and-greet Saturday afternoon at Urban Air Trampoline Park. Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Brandon Pannell, a 2008 graduate of Holliday High School, helps a child complete Urban Air Trampoline Park's version of the spider walk obstacle on their Warriors Course Saturday afternoon. Pannell has competed on American Ninja Warrior for the last three seasons and qualified for the Philadelphia Regional Final this year. Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Brandon Pannell, a 2008 graduate of Holliday High School, competes on the intermediate lane of the Warriors Course at Urban Air Trampoline Park Saturday afternoon. Pannell has competed on American Ninja Warrior for the last three seasons and qualified for the Philadelphia Regional Final this year. Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Brandon Pannell, a 2008 graduate of Holliday High School, signs a playing card for several children during a meet-and-greet Saturday afternoon at Urban Air Trampoline Park. Pannell has competed on American Ninja Warrior for the last three seasons and qualified for the Philadelphia Regional Final this year. By Patrick Johnston, pjohnston@gannett.com Brandon Pannell looked reserved and shy sitting behind a table as dozens of children and their parents stopped by to get his autograph and take photos with him Saturday afternoon at Urban Air Trampoline Park. The Starbucks barista and Army veteran is still adjusting to the fame and recognition he's received from being competing for the last three seasons on "America Ninja Warrior" a reality show featuring contestants as they tackle various obstacles such as the salmon ladder and warped wall. "It's definitely awkward just trying to keep a humble perspective while people view you a certain way," Pannell said. "I don't know if they expect you to act differently, but it doesn't feel different to you. It's definitely a new concept to see how other people view me and take it in stride with how I see myself." After the autograph signing portion was over and he got to go through the Warriors Course at Urban Air, Pannell seemed much more at home. He set times for the beginner, intermediate and advanced lanes and then stepped back to root for the children and teens who showed up to challenge him. As they challenged themselves to best his marks, Pannell noticed several were already working on the skills necessary to be successful in the future if they wanted to tackle the "American Ninja Warrior" course. "We've got a lot of really good talent," Pannell said. "I look at all of the age groups sort of separately, and in each of them you can see where some athletes stand above their peers. You realize they are really into the show, and it's because of that they are pushing themselves further and further." Pannell, who graduated from Holliday High School in 2008, was glad for the opportunity to give back to the community he's been a part of since moving here as a child. "It's definitely very humbling for me to notice I make an impact like this toward future generations of our youth that want the same things and all have positive goals," he said. "You just want to be able to guide them through the same process you did but on a faster pace or something they're comfortable with." The event came about after Colby Cates, the local franchise owner, realized who Pannell was and wanted to give the community a chance to rally around him as he chases his dreams. "Brandon is one of our hometown young men," Cates said. "I think he's a great guy ... and I think it's important that the community pull together to find out about his adventure competing in this nationwide televised contest and support him the best we can." He made the Philadelphia regional final this year but cannot say if he advanced or not. The competition has been completed and taped, but the episode won't air until sometime in late August. "It's incredible for these kids to come in and see Brandon, who they've seen on their TV competing on 'American Ninja Warrior' with all the people cheering him on and supporting him," Cates said. "They get to come in to the park and watch him run our smaller version of a warrior obstacle course." Pannell hopes one day to conquer Mount Midoriyama an obstacle course modeled after the finals of the original Japanese show at the national finals in Las Vegas after reaching that stage in 2014. SHARE Contributed photo Deborah Burdette displays the 6-foot water moccasin she engaged in a fang-and-cleaver combat in her kitchen. By Linda Stewart, Special to the Times Record News Wilbarger County resident Deborah Burdette had a rude awakening Monday when she walked into her kitchen shortly after 8 a.m. and spotted a large black snake resting on the counter. "I thought to myself, no one is going to believe this, so I went to get my phone to take a picture," she said. "When I got back, it acted like it was coming after me, then it tried to get away by escaping through a hole behind the dishwasher." Burdette said she knew it wasn't a rattlesnake since it didn't have any rattlers. "I grabbed the snake to keep it from getting away, and it was very hard to hold onto," Burdette said. She tried using a knife in a nearby sink to kill it, but the strong snake kept trying to pull away. So she grabbed a new meat cleaver that was still in its plastic wrap and used her teeth to tear off the plastic while holding onto the snake with her other hand. "I was finally able to hit the snake on the head with the cleaver and immobilize it," she said. About 11 p.m. she went into the kitchen and, in the dim light, did not see a second snake lying on the counter near the sink. "It bit my hand," she said. "I killed it and called 911 because, at the time, I didn't know what kind of snake it was. But after the EMS arrived, we determined that it was a bull snake," Burdette said. Burdette said she sent pictures of the unknown species of snake to Texas Parks and Wildlife, which confirmed her suspicions that the first snake she killed was most likely a poisonous water moccasin. A spokesman for the parks department said they actually told Burdette it appeared to be a rat snake. Burdette lives about four miles south of Vernon on U.S. 183. "This experience has put pressure on me to keep the yard mowed and looking well maintained," she said. She found a large rattlesnake with 12 buttons on her patio a few months ago and shot it. Over the years, she has killed several rattlesnakes on the 20-acre property, made up of mostly uncleared land that serves as an impromptu wildlife refuge. "I keep a large tub of water near the tree line so deer and other animals can have fresh water," Burdette said. Burdette said she has filled the hole behind her dishwasher with Brillo pads and hopes that solves her problem with snakes getting inside her home. "I have a healthy respect for snakes as long as they are outside," she said. SHARE Didn't it seem odd to you that Melania Trump started to talk about the difficulties she faced as a black woman at Princeton? That's when I started to feel a little weird about her speech. I don't care who you are, that's funny. You might recognize "I don't care who you are, that's funny" as a line from Larry The Cable Guy because the comic has made it a part of his shtick. The words are widely circulated but still identifiable as Larry's and Larry's alone. What you might not have recognized, however, is that my opening line making fun of the apparent plagiarism in Melania Trump's speech Monday at the Republican convention, the bit about being a black woman at Princeton, is lifted from a Tweet by journalist Michael Crowley. I stole it, Crowley's funny comment. I mean, I could have thought of that idea; I might have thought of that idea. The wee fact that I didn't think of that idea is surely just a dumb detail, one only the most pedantic and persnickety, jealous and backbiting critic would notice. Besides, a woman like Trump wouldn't steal an idea. She would buy it, keep the tags on it and return it if it didn't work. Michael Crowley posted his quip on Twitter a few hours after Trump's speech was being dissected perhaps vivisected is more accurate in the media. Within minutes of the revelation of the significant and undeniable overlap between Trump's speech and one delivered by Michelle Obama in 2008, folks were tweeting gleefully. Bob Fisher channeled Donald Trump's wife, "Melania: 'These accusations about my speech hurt not only me, but also hurt my children Sasha and Malia," and Emma Kennedy followed with "I'm looking forward to Melania's next speech. 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman.'" I could have said I invented those funny comments, too, but in addition to respecting the intelligence of my audience, I'm aware that you are savvy enough to look stuff up. It's not hard to discover if material is plagiarized. As a professor, I'm forced to do it on occasion and I suggest to the junior colleagues I mentor (who teach students who understand less about the implications of the theft of intellectual property) that they do it regularly, or at least until both they and their students are fluent in what constitutes original work. As one of my former students, Chad Stanley, now a professor at Wilkes College in Pennsylvania, declared, "All subsequent campaign communications must be submitted to Turnitin." Turnitin is one of several websites where teachers or anyone can submit passages and papers to have them reviewed for examples of plagiarism. Such sites go beyond literary theft, and can help everyone learn to identify the 10 types of plagiarism. (I stole that description from their website.) There are hundreds of other websites offering similar services. Every educator I asked, from junior high school teachers to university administrators, agreed that a student who swiped as much text as Melania Trump would be expelled or, at the very least, put on double secret probation. Donald Trump doesn't seem to care. I suppose plagiarism doesn't matter at Trump University (which is where I assume Melania Trump's son Barron will be educated since she wants only the best for the next generation). Donald Trump tweeted that his wife's "speech and demeanor were absolutely incredible." Of course he said that. When Matt Lauer interviewed the Trumps, Melania said she wrote the speech herself with very little help. Several friends believe it was either an act of sabotage or a publicity stunt. Both these scenarios distance Melania Trump from personal responsibility for the words coming out of her mouth. Here's what my friends said: "The poor thing only does what she's told"; "They want to keep the media focused on Melania and it's been effective"; "Donald hired somebody who deliberately undermined him." Does it matter? The practice of taking something that is not your own and passing it off as yours should not be rewarded with anything except shame. That's a lesson worth copying out. (I plagiarized that from an article I wrote a few years back. You can look it up.) Gina Barreca is an English professor at the University of Connecticut and author. She can be reached at www.ginabarreca.com Amsterdam The Montgomery County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals needs donations after around 50 cats were rescued Sunday from a garbage- and feces-filled home. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office charged Paul D. Prill, 58, with 10 counts of animal cruelty and failure to provide proper sustenance. "Prill had a hoarding situation where cats were walking in numerous feet of feces and garbage inside the residence," the Sheriff's Office said. The Montgomery County SPCA needs cat and kitten food, specifically, Purina Cat Chow in the blue bag and Purina Kitten Chow in the yellow bag, as well as clay non-clumping cat litter. To help pay for medical care or cat food and litter, mail donations to MCSPCA, P.O. Box 484, Amsterdam, NY 12010; donate using the Paypal link at http://www.mc-spca.com; or drop off donations at the shelter, SPCA Road, Amsterdam. Phone: 842-8050. Montgomery County Adult Protective Services and town of Florida code enforcement were called in as well. Prill is due back in town of Florida court at a later date. jlawrence@timesunion.com 518-454-5467 @jplawrence3 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former Nassau woman who was ruled insane when she killed her young daughter in Illinois in 2010 may be one step closer to freedom, according to the Chicago Tribune. The paper is reporting that a therapist believes Marci Webber is "ready to rejoin society now." On Thursday, Webber appeared in DuPage County Court for a status hearing where Cindy Perlin, a licensed clinical social worker, said the woman is "not a danger to herself or others at this time." Webber, 49, filed a petition in August 2014, seeking a hearing on her sanity and asking for her release. She has been confined to the Elgin Mental Health Center in Elgin, Ill., since 2012, after a judge found her not guilty by reason of insanity in the November 2010 death of her 4-year-old daughter, Maggie. Webber struggled for years with mental illness, suicide attempts, alcohol abuse, failed marriages and prolonged family court legal battles, according to records and previous interviews with Webber's friends. Authorities say Webber gave her daughter sleeping pills and cut her throat during a visit with Webber's mother, who lived in Bloomingdale, Ill. "She was mentally ill ... is mentally ill ... my MOM didn't do this ..." her oldest daughter, Mallory, wrote in a Facebook message to the Times Union at the time of the incident. Mallory Webber, who lived in the Bloomingdale, Ill., area at the time, found her sister's body in the bathtub and the words "divine mercy" written on the wall in what appeared to be blood. Webber had allegedly done it to protect her daughter from what she thought were Internet sexual predators. Mallory Webber called police in time to save her mother, who had tried to kill herself by slashing her wrists and throat, police said. At trial, psychiatric experts testified that Webber was suffering from hallucinations and paranoid delusions at the time and was not in touch with reality. After ruling her not guilty by reason of insanity, the judge ordered her committed to a mental health center. Police searched her then Nassau home as part of the investigation into the 4-year-old's death. Webber had been committed for two years when she filed paperwork in 2014 saying she was no longer insane and should be released. She also said she needed to care for her father, who is in poor health. Perlin, the social worker, said Webber's actions in 2010 were set off by medication she was prescribed. Meantime, the staff at Elgin Mental Health Center are considering whether to grant Webber some additional freedoms, which could include unsupervised access to the grounds. Webber's next court date is in September. Former New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who bypassed his own run for the presidency this election cycle, will endorse Hillary Clinton in a prime-time address at the Democratic convention and make the case for Clinton as the best choice for moderate voters in 2016, an adviser to Bloomberg said. The news is an unexpected move from Bloomberg, who has not been a member of the Democratic Party since 2000; was elected the mayor of New York City as a Republican; and later became an independent. But it reflects Bloomberg's increasing dismay about the rise of Donald Trump and a determination to see that the Republican nominee is defeated. Clinton is seeking to reach out to middle-of-the-road swing voters and even moderate Republicans uneasy about Trump. Polls show that significant numbers of Republicans remain wary of Trump and question his fitness for the presidency. Bloomberg will vouch for Clinton "from the perspective of a business leader and an independent," said Howard Wolfson, a senior adviser to Bloomberg. "As the nation's leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle," Wolfson said. "This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton." Bloomberg, who has been sharply critical of Trump's views on immigration and the economy, may fortify Clinton's appeal to the political center. And with the Republican nominee basing his campaign on his background as a businessman, Bloomberg, a billionaire media executive and philanthropist, may help counter the Trump sales pitch. It is unusual, but not unheard of, for a speaker who is not a member of a political party to address that party's convention. Bloomberg is expected to speak Wednesday, the same evening as President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Bloomberg and Clinton are not personally close but had a positive working relationship when he served as mayor and she as a senator from New York. Wolfson said the Clinton campaign had contacted Bloomberg several weeks ago to ask if he would be willing to address the convention. Bloomberg, he said, mulled over the idea and ultimately agreed to speak, after drafting a speech that reflected his distinctive set of political views rather a boilerplate Democratic message. Wolfson also said Bloomberg was pleased by the selection of Sen. Tim Kaine, a former mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and a strong supporter of gun control, as Clinton's running mate. Bloomberg is not an entirely natural fit for the Democratic Party of 2016: Though he has been an energetic advocate on issues related to guns, immigration and climate change, he has also been a vocal ally of the financial services industry and has defended the strict policing tactics his administration employed in New York. Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton's communications director, said Bloomberg would bring to the convention "a unique and important voice that lays out the choice in this election." "As a business leader and philanthropist, Michael Bloomberg has lived his values and fought to make a difference for others," Palmieri said. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the past, Bloomberg has rebuked Democrats for attacking Wall Street a part of his record that may sit uneasily with liberal Democrats, and especially with the supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont who are already smarting from his defeat. Bloomberg has been quiet about the presidential race in recent months. But in the past he has criticized Trump in stark terms, describing him as a threat to American security. When he decided late last winter not to run for the White House, Bloomberg explained that he could not take the risk of running an independent campaign that might inadvertently ease Trump's path to power. Bloomberg castigated Trump at the time for his proposals to ban Muslim immigration and deport millions of immigrants in the country illegally, as well as his pledge to launch trade wars with China and Japan. "These moves would divide us at home and compromise our moral leadership around the world," Bloomberg wrote. "The end result would be to embolden our enemies, threaten the security of our allies, and put our own men and women in uniform at greater risk." In April, he warned in a commencement address at the University of Michigan that the country faced an unprecedented political threat from "demagogues" in both parties. Bloomberg, who served for 12 years as the mayor of New York, has never addressed a political convention in a partisan capacity. He appeared at the 2004 Republican convention in New York in his role as mayor of the host city. He endorsed Obama for re-election in 2012, writing in a column that his views on climate change had been the decisive factor. I was amazed to read and see the large color photo and article on the front page of the Lincoln Journal Star on July 16 ("Sculpture takes shape piece by piece"). Since 2012, Mayor Chris Beutler and his elite art committee have promoted the construction of a decorative installation composed of steel, glass and lights, for the Pinnacle Bank Arena Plaza. This project will cost Lincoln tax payers $972,000! Oregon artist Ed Carpenter is responsible for this upside down lighted Christmas tree, just one of many similar constructions he has promoted and installed throughout the United States. As it happens, a similar piece was installed in downtown Orlando, Florida way back in 1992, where it was unkindly referred to by many unhappy citizen-taxpayers as a clump of asparagus, unfortunately minus the covering of cheese sauce. The Orlando taxpayer's wrath did not just go away and, ultimately, the clump of asparagus was dismantled and transplanted in some less noticeable and controversial location. Rather unbelievably, very similar towers of steel, glass and lights have sprouted up in many cities around the USA thanks to Mr. Carpenter and his unwitting hosts of mayoral admirers and complacent taxpayers. A sheaf of wheat, a clump of asparagus or a fountain, take your pick and call it what you want. It's your money! C. Patrick Rowan, Lincoln Washington Delegates to the Democratic National Convention are giving mostly positive reviews to Hillary Clinton's choice for vice president, saying Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine will appeal to moderates but do little to soothe disenchanted Bernie Sanders supporters. Kaine is receiving praise for his wide-ranging experience, even as many delegates acknowledged that he would not generate the level of enthusiasm or party unity as a progressive or first-ever Latino pick. Sanders delegates in particular hoped for the selection of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who aligns more closely with Sanders on positions such as regulating Wall Street. More Information On the web Follow Times Union state editor and columnist Casey Seiler for updates on the Democratic convention in Philadelphia: Twitter: @caseyseiler Web: http://timesunion.com and at the Capital Confidential blog, http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol See More Collapse "People are going to discount Tim Kaine, and have in the past, and it's going to be a lot more exciting than maybe what Bernie Sanders delegates will think," said Katie Naranjo, a Clinton superdelegate from Austin, Texas. She said that while Kaine may seem like a "conventional choice," he will balance the ticket well for the election. Delegates were heading to Philadelphia for the convention starting Monday, with those who support Sanders indicating uncertainty about embracing a Clinton ticket. Sanders endorsed Clinton last week. It "was a horrible pick," said Angie Morelli, a Sanders delegate from Nevada. "In a time when she is trying to cater to Sanders supporters, it was more catering to conservative voters and she's not going to get any wave from it." She said she's bothered by Kaine's association with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global trade pact that Sanders and Clinton oppose. Kaine voted to back "fast track" authority for the TPP, a pact that President Barack Obama favors. Dwight Bullard, a Florida state senator, said not one of the 70-plus Sanders delegates in his state including himself is happy with Kaine's selection. He worried that the centrist choice could magnify progressives' view that Clinton will backtrack on issues important to them, such as climate change and tuition aid for college students. "If you bring in someone with great credentials, that's fine, but inclusivity of the progressive agenda can be a more important message," Bullard said. Sanders delegates were mulling ways to show support for Sanders during the convention, such as a walkout after the roll call of states Tuesday, according to excerpts of a Slack thread Friday obtained by The Associated Press. But many others also said they wanted to get direction from Sanders, who was scheduled to meet privately with his delegates Monday. Clinton settled on Kaine after vetting a diverse group of candidates that included Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and Labor Secretary Tom Perez. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, one of two black senators, was also considered. Clinton delegate Roger Salazar of California said he was rooting for Clinton to select Rep. Xavier Becerra, a Hispanic and one of the most powerful Democrats in the House. But Salazar, a longtime party strategist, called Kaine "a pretty solid choice." Jocelyn Bucaro, an Ohio superdelegate and Clinton supporter, praised Kaine as someone who will appeal to a broad range of voters in swing states, even Republicans uncomfortable with Trump. "The most important consideration is his ability to step in as president, and he clearly has the experience, knowledge, intelligence and temperament to do that," Bucaro said. Albany I've somehow managed to write five columns about little Loughlin Street on the city's western edge. Three were about the controversial acquisition of its houses for a dorm plan that eventually triggered a state attorney general investigation into possible bid rigging by SUNY Polytechnic Institute. There's certainly plenty of fodder there. One of the columns, though, was about a topic far more sanguine: A turkey named Tom who, in the late 1990s, made his home along the street and became a favorite of residents, even though he frequently attacked the mail truck. More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse Another column was about how Loughlin Street in the 1960s became one of the few places that black families could purchase a house, given the fierce discrimination that kept them out of other neighborhoods with single-family homes. Loughlin Street was special. It had a quirky charm and an old-time sense of community. It was, in many respects, exactly what a neighborhood should be. But the Loughlin Street of old is gone for good. The houses have been emptied of residents, and the site along the Northway and near the ever-expanding SUNY Poly campus, the University at Albany and Stuyvesant Plaza is too valuable for single-family homes. That's the reality. Meanwhile, the controversial dorm plan has been scuttled, leading to a new proposal for 170 apartments. Given the surroundings, the plan makes sense. Many of the new residents would undoubtedly walk to work at the schools, and they could stroll over to Stuyvesant Plaza to shop and dine. But, of course, the plan has opposition as is usually the case when development is proposed near existing neighborhoods. The opponents live mostly in the McKownville section of Guilderland, and they're raising the usual traffic and quality-of-life concerns. That's understandable, given that the neighborhood has faced heavy development pressure in recent decades. But there's another consideration: Albany badly needs more apartments. At the risk of boring you silly, I'm going to hit you with census statistics. The total number of housing units fell from 48,411 in 2010 to 47,385 in 2014. Nearly half of Albany renters spend more than 35 percent of their income on housing. Fifty-five percent of the city's housing units were built before 1939, while just 2.6 percent were built in the last 15 years. Given the laws of supply and demand, those statistics show why rents in the city are spiking. The only solution to that, of course, is increased supply. Nevertheless, opponents of the Loughlin Street project helped convince the Albany County Planning Board to vote against a rezoning that would allow apartments on the land. The vote doesn't kill the project, but it does mean that a supermajority of the Albany Common Council would need to approve a zone change for the plan to proceed. And that doesn't seem likely. On Friday, I talked to a clearly frustrated Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who notes, as she so often does, that the city badly needs to boost its tax base. New construction is the best way to do it. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. I also talked to Councilman Michael O'Brien, who represents the Albany part of the neighborhood. He notes that suburbs have been booming for decades without concern for the commuter impact on Albany, so it's therefore rich that Guilderland residents would expect the city to care about suburban traffic woes. It's a fair point, actually. As Sheehan noted, opposing the apartments could also backfire for McKownville. That's because if private development is blocked, state ownership of the land is probably inevitable. The state could then build without submitting to a planning process that would listen to neighbor concerns. State ownership would also take the property forever off the tax rolls. And it would mean fewer apartments for a city that badly needs them. There has been recent progress in that respect. There are hundreds of new apartments in the Park South and Sheridan Hollow neighborhoods, along with the downtown residential boom. But the census numbers I mentioned suggest that new construction isn't happening rapidly enough to counteract units being lost elsewhere in the city. Who loses? The poor, since they can least afford higher rents. But that's often the cost of the Not In My Backyard NIMBY dynamic. It zealously guards the investment of established homeowners, who have oversized sway with elected officials, while making it harder for others to climb the economic ladder. It's another reason the poor stay poor. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dr. Robert Busch sees the $785,000 he received from pharmaceutical companies last year, for activities unrelated to research, as fair compensation for his second job. "I like treating my patients in the day, and at night, I like to teach," said Busch, an endocrinologist at The Endocrine Group, a medical practice affiliated with Albany Medical Center. Busch isn't referring to teaching students, but to lecturing other physicians about diseases and their treatments. The first half of those lectures, he said, are typically about an illness diabetes or high cholesterol, for instance, conditions that Busch specializes in. The second half is about the drug made by the company paying him to speak. Busch said the speaking engagements and other work he does for drug companies improve his doctoring by keeping him up-to-the-minute on research in his field. But not everyone sees the long-established, perfectly legal practice of drug and device manufacturers paying physicians or buying them meals in such a positive light. More Information Look up your doctor's payments https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ About the data The last time the Times Union analyzed CMS Open Payments data was in October 2014, the first time the it was released. A major complaint of doctors was that the figures lumped together research and non-research dollars. Experts agree that payments for research activities, like conducting studies of experimental drugs on patients, are critical to the nation's system of getting safe and effective medicines to consumers. CMS now differentiates between payments for research and non-research activities. This story looks only at payments that were not related to research. The agency collects the data from the companies, and physicians who register with CMS are able to review the data. See More Collapse Instead, they view the remuneration as a way the for-profit companies exert undue influence over medical decisions. "The industry knows and the data shows that in fact these (payments) are associated with increased prescribing," said Eric Campbell, an associate professor at the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Partners HealthCare System in Boston. "The only people who deny that are the people who are taking (the payments)." The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began releasing data on the companies' payments to doctors in 2014 as a requirement of the federal Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. Patient advocates argued that giving the public access to the information would expose conflicts of interest that affect doctors' decision-making in matters like prescribing drugs. CMS released data for 2015 last month. Nationwide, drug and device makers paid doctors more than $7.5 billion, with $2.6 billion for activities unrelated to research, like speaking, consulting, meals and travel. Following the data release, the American Medical Association, whose members are doctors, criticized CMS for technical issues that prevented physicians from adequately reviewing the transactions to verify them. The organization also said it opposed unethical financial transactions between doctors and the pharmaceutical and device industry, stressing, however, that some transactions are not only legitimate, but important to advancing medicine. "There are relationships that can help drive innovation in patient care and provide significant resources for professional medical education that ultimately benefits patients," the AMA said. In the 24-county region covered by the 518 area code, which stretches from south of Albany to the Canadian border, doctors received $6.1 million in non-research related payments last year. Statewide, that figure was $217 million. In the four-county Capital Region, a dozen doctors each received non-research payments totaling over $100,000 last year. Seven of those doctors are affiliated with Albany Med. A spokeswoman, Sue Ford, said the medical center complies with all rules governing companies' payments to doctors and has procedures in place to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. In the Capital Region, Busch was the top recipient of drug- and device-maker payments by a wide margin; the second was Dr. Charles Argoff, an Albany Med pain specialist whose non-research payments surpassed $300,000. In fact, Busch's receipts were the second-highest in upstate New York, behind only a Buffalo-based doctor who took in $1.3 million. (That happens to be about the amount Busch received in separately calculated research payments.) His gain didn't come close, however, to that of Dr. Yves Gobin, a neurosurgeon, who topped New York physicians in his non-research payments from drug and device makers. The New York City doctor took in close to $13 million. Studies have shown these payments can influence a doctor's decision-making. The most recent, published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed a link between a doctor receiving even a single meal valued at less than $20 from a pharmaceutical company and an increase in prescriptions the doctor wrote for the company's drug. Busch, however, said the payments do not play a role in how he treats patients. When deciding which medication to prescribe, he said he weighs the evidence on benefits and risks, as well as a patient's experience with medications. The research he is paid for often keeps him apprised of drugs that his patients might benefit from, before they even hit the market. "When I'm prescribing a medication ... that decision-making is a risk/benefit analysis for that particular patient," Busch said. Sean Philpott-Jones, director of the bioethics program at Clarkson University in Schenectady, took issue with Busch's position. Even free coffee mugs and pens have been shown to influence doctors' judgment, Philpott-Jones said. "Anyone who claims that receiving $800,000 doesn't affect their practices is deceiving themselves," he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Even though CMS now separates payments for research from non-research dollars an improvement from the initial data release Busch said the figures can still be misleading. The non-research figures include, for instance, amounts he receives for lectures given out of town, which he characterized as a legitimate payment. But they also include what he spends eating and staying overnight in the location where he's lecturing, which he considered a reimbursement for expenses he shouldn't have to cover on his own. The Mongan Institute's Campbell, whose own work has focused on physician conflicts of interest, countered that all non-research payments are questionable. A drug company may ask a doctor to speak based on expertise, which is a sound reason. Or a doctor may be chosen due to the company's express interest of increasing prescriptions of its drug. A doctor may prepare his own lecture, perhaps a legitimate reason for paying him, or be paid to recite a canned presentation from the drug company, which requires no expertise at all. As for travel, the payment's legitimacy depends on where the doctor is sent, Campbell said. A conference center in Atlanta, say, is one thing; a hotel in Venice, quite another. "Is it a free trip?" he asked. "I don't think you can make hard and fast rules." The real atrocity in the company payments to doctors is that they raise medical costs, opponents said. They result in the prescribing of more brand-name drugs, which may be no more effective than less costly generics, Philpott-Jones said. And the drug companies factor the cost of payments to doctors into the price of their medications, Campbell said. Americans are concerned about the relationships between pharmaceutical and device makers, according to a survey by Consumer Reports. But it remains a question whether they are using the CMS data. Campbell suggests consumers use the database as one tool in managing their health care. If a doctor is changing a prescription, for instance, it is worth checking to see what relationship she has with the drug company, and asking for the reasons behind the new recommendation. His own perspective is that outside of research, there is no good reason for a doctor to accept any payment from a drug or device manufacturer. "If doctors want to meet with drug companies, I don't have a problem with that," Campbell said. "I have a problem with them taking food and beverages and going to fancy restaurants to listen to companies. "Doctors are well paid in our society," he said. "I believe they can buy their own meals." chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire Cathleen Crowley analyzed data for this report. I have been following with great interest Paul Grondahl's series on the Walk of the World in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Many years ago, Tulip Queen Jill Harris Johnson and I traveled to the Netherlands to familiarize ourselves with the rich heritage Albany shares with the Netherlands, and especially Nijmegen. I believe that Albany citizens would be quite surprised at the number of visitors from the Netherlands that annually visit our upper Hudson Valley region. This history and our own cultural vibrancy is important and provides a rich foundation for future programming. The Appleseed that was planted in a Lincoln basement 20 years ago has grown into a sturdy tree, branching out to advocate for low-income workers, immigrants and families in need. Nebraska Appleseed now spreads across the ninth floor of a downtown Lincoln office building, counts 27 full-time staff members and continues to grow as it expands its mission and its reach. Over time, the advocacy organization has grown from its original base in litigation -- it was founded as the Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest -- into the legislative, policy and regulatory arena with a more recent outreach into civic engagement. Among central issues on the table now: * Health care insurance coverage for an estimated 97,000 low-income working Nebraskans who fell through the coverage crack in the Affordable Care Act opened by a U.S. Supreme Court decision. Accessing more than a billion federal Medicaid dollars available to Nebraska to accomplish that has been an uphill struggle in the Legislature. * Protection of immigrant rights and response to immigrant needs, some of which has been addressed by high-visibility legislative action to allow young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally when they were children, but have lawful presence in the country, to acquire Nebraska driver's licenses and professional or commercial licenses. * Worker rights, including the ongoing challenge of protecting the health and safety of workers in meatpacking plants where a largely immigrant workforce labors on fast-moving production lines. * A new emphasis on civic engagement, with a focus on voter registration and voter participation coupled with opening the door for immigrants, the working poor and others to communicate with state senators and members of Nebraska's congressional delegation. Appleseed has experienced successes on issues like child welfare reform and earlier immigrant legislation, including a bill to provide prenatal care for immigrant women who may be in the country illegally. "Our role is to use law and policy to help make positive change on large-scale social problems," Appleseed executive director Becky Gould says. "The issues that have been our focus continue to be the most pressing issues," Gould said during an interview at Appleseed's quarters in the Terminal Building. She's been at Appleseed for 15 years and its director for nine years. "The clear goals that we strive for are achievable," Gould said. "And that means putting a big dent in poverty and injustice." As Appleseed grows and evolves, Gould said, "we try to get more hands at the table in terms of support and funding." "And there are more connections to community now." Appleseed is 85 percent funded by private foundations and grants. One of its greatest attributes, Gould said, is that "we have the ability to be nimble and adjust, to try to go where the needs are, engage with people and partner in advocacy." Appleseed maintains an advocacy, or lobbying, presence at the Legislature, where many of the battles are fought. "It's very hard for the people we represent to come to the Legislature," Gould said. "When folks can't be there, we're there." And Appleseed is "unusually effective" in dealing with the Legislature, Sen. John McCollister of Omaha said. "They are highly respected by Nebraska senators. They are great partners and great collaborators (and) a very knowledgeable repository of information as well." McCollister, who is a Republican, was chief sponsor of the 2016 Medicaid funding expansion bill. And he supported the successful proposals to assist so-called DACA immigrant youths who have lawful presence in the country under the terms of President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive action. About 42,400 undocumented immigrants live in Nebraska, according to estimates by the Center for Migration Studies. Expansion of health care coverage to the working poor is "especially important," Gould said. And that has been especially difficult to achieve. "It's a pressing, urgent problem," Gould said. "Too many people are living in that coverage gap. Our challenge is to have that urgency felt more by the Legislature and the governor." Annual efforts to offer revised legislative proposals that attempt to meet the objections raised by legislative opponents have floundered before they could reach the governor's desk, where a veto essentially has been promised in advance. In addition to meeting the health care needs of the working poor, Medicaid expansion offers "a huge economic development opportunity" for the state, Gould said. "There's not a logical reason, but a political reason, that stops this." This year's legislative effort was offered in the form of a three-year pilot project but was shelved on a 28-20 vote. That count left the bill 10 votes short of the 30 senators that would be required to override a gubernatorial veto. Appleseed met with Gov. Pete Ricketts before the 2016 legislative session to discuss Medicaid expansion, which he strongly opposes. Although its arguments were unsuccessful, that meeting led to "a positive conversation about adult education," Gould said, an opening perhaps to common ground. Now, Appleseed is beginning to sit down with legislative candidates who cleared their primary election hurdle in May, earning a spot on November's general election ballot. There will be at least a dozen new senators at the Capitol when the Legislature convenes next January. New battleground; new challenge. And, as the 2015 freshman class dramatically demonstrated, a new ballgame with new senators who can be unpredictably independent. Nebraska is "a place where exciting things can happen," Gould said. "You can be on the front lines of very important things in Nebraska (with) an ability to shape the future." With a new two-year state budget to construct, a dip in anticipated revenue and political pressure for another round of tax reduction all combining to confront the Legislature next year, Appleseed will be there. "Our view is that you need to think about the priorities of the state," Gould said. "In our most recent conversations, we have opposed ideas that would shrink the state's revenue base. There are key investments we could be making. "And we need to prepare for a tougher farm economy," she said. "Shrinking the revenue base when you have an impending revenue challenge seems unwise." Milo Mumgaard originally planted the seed 20 years ago in the basement of a home at Sixth and Washington streets, and he has seen it blossom and grow. "I never envisioned it would be this large," he said. "Appleseed has had a huge impact on how people think of issues and how politicians ultimately have to think about issues," Mumgaard said. "Issues like welfare reform, immigration reform, meatpacking workers who get injured on production lines." Mumgaard, who now is executive director of Legal Aid of Nebraska, said the result is people are "forced to talk about and work on things that otherwise they didn't have to. "Nebraska is a whole lot different because of Appleseed." [July 23, 2016] IoT Growth Is Non-Cellular LPWA's Greatest Ally, But Its Biggest Foe Is Lack of Standards LONDON, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The market for non-cellular (non-3GPP) M2M Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technologies, such as LoRa and SIGFOX, holds the potential for healthy growth, says ABI Research. But with no set standard among proprietary vendors, growth will be conservative until influential vendors identify and address the challenges to widespread adoption, which include opening up the vendor ecosystem and developing a feasible revenue model for public networks. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO Addressing such challenges is critical for continued growth, as proprietary LPWA technologies face fierce competition from cellular LPWA standards such as NB-IoT, EC-GSM-IoT, and eMTC that have strong backing from an open and robust cellular vendor ecosystem. Important non-3GPP LPWA technologies providers include Semtech Corporation, SIGFOX, Ingenu, Sensus, Microchip, Silicon Labs, and Kerlink. "While network operators typically favor non-cellular LPWA technologies for their low deployment and maintenance costs, the lack of standards among proprietary vendors is a drawback to wider adoption of these technologies," says Adarsh Krishnan, Senior Analyst at ABI Research. "The closed ecosystem is limiting market innovation and suppressing year-on-year growth." The Weightless SIG consortium is working on a standard-based LPWA technology to propel the market forward but remains plagued by its past failures to deliver a credible solution. It recently unveiled plans to develop its new Weightless-P technology in collaboration with Taiwanese company M2COMM. The LPWA technology is expected to be available by Q3 2016 for both public and private network deployment. Private networks are popping up everywhere, favored by utility companies that need to cater to smart grid applications. However, public network infrastructure is gaining ground, and by late 2017 to early 2018, it will become the gateway for more intelligent and reliable LPWA technologies to come into play. "This is one market ripe for development, and there are many application segments out there in which LPWA technologies can be utilized but did not find their place yet, such as connected agriculture and commercial building automation," concludes Krishnan. "Once the infrastructure for nationwide public networks takes off and standardizations are set, we will start to see these new applications come out of the woodwork, and we believe it will signify big opportunity for the non-3GPP LPWA technologies." These findings are from ABI Research's Non-Cellular M2M: Low-Power Wireless Access Market Update (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/product/1023409-non-cellular-m2m-low-power-wireless-access/). 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, data, and analyst insights. 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: +44.203.326.0142 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 23, 2016] Primitive Logic Joins Bit Stew's Global Partner Program to Help Solve the Data Integration Challenge of Industrial IoT Data Premier Business Consulting and Technology Solutions Firm Becomes Gold Level Reseller and System Integration Partner with Bit Stew BURNABY, BC, July 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Bit Stew Systems, developer of the premier platform that solves the data integration challenge in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), today announced that Primitive Logic, a leading business consulting and technology solutions firm, has joined its Global Partner Program as a gold level reseller and system integration partner, to bring its MIx Core platform to the oil and gas, manufacturing, agriculture and utilities markets. As a gold level partner with Bit Stew, Primitive Logic will resell Bit Stew's MIx Core platform to provide situational intelligence which includes complex data integration, data analysis and predictive automation to gain greater insights on the operational and IT data generated throughout industrial enterprises. As a Bit Stew system integration partner, Primitive Logic will offer product installation, configuration and customization for MIx Core. Bringing Time to Value for Complex Industrial Data Integration Projects "Primitive Logic's broad expertise in business, technology strategy and enterprise solutions will drive the rapid adoption of Bit Stew's MIx Core platform in new vertical industries and geographic markets," says Jett Winter, EVP, Business Development at Bit Stew. "This partnership will enable our customers to solve the data integration problem first, and then convert that data into unprecedented visualizations for our customers." "We are pleased to partner with Bit Stew to combine their deep data integration expertise with our business transformation, system integration, and strategy experience to olve the complex IIoT data challenge for our customers, says John Keast, Senior Director at Primitive Logic. "We believe that Bit Stew's MIx Core provides an unmatched capability to integrate data in even the most dynamic and complex industrial environments to gain control of operational performance through predictive analytics and visualization." John adds, "Primitive Logic brings over 30 years of experience working with world-leading software solutions such as Salesforce, Oracle, and Tableau, and we will apply our vast expertise to create better business outcomes for the Industrial IoT, with Bit Stew's MIx Core platform." Enabling Intelligent Data Automation with MIx Core v.10 Bit Stew recently launched version 10 of MIx Core and also introduced four easy-to-understand product packages that are priced to fit any sized Industrial IoT data project. Bit Stew's Broad Partner Ecosystem The Bit Stew's partner program enables IoT ecosystem companies to deliver greater value to their industrial enterprise customers while generating additional revenue. About Bit Stew Systems Bit Stew provides the premier platform for handling complex data integration, data analysis, and predictive automation for connected devices on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Purpose-built for the IIoT, Bit Stew's MIx Core platform solves the data integration challenge at scale for complex industrial data environments. Bit Stew has earned global recognition by being named to Gartner's Cool Vendors List and as Frost & Sullivan's Entrepreneurial Company of the Year North American Service Solutions. In 2015, Bit Stew was ranked as one of the Top 100 Analytics Companies and Top 100 IoT Startups by Forbes. Incorporated in 2009, Bit Stew is a venture-backed private company that is headquartered in Canada with offices in the USA, Australia and Europe. Visit www.bitstew.com to learn more. About Primitive Logic Primitive Logic, founded in 1984, is the premier business consulting and technology solutions firm developing and implementing solutions that create value for market-leading corporations. We provide full life-cycle management and execution services from strategy and planning to creative, design, architecture, development and implementation. Primitive Logic collaborates with our clients to realize their strategy whether it's web, cloud, or mobile, on any platform. We are proud to serve many of our original clients -- leading organizations in their industry -- allowing them to evolve as technology changes. SOURCE Bit Stew Systems Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 23, 2016] InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance Members Share Expertise at Intelligent Building Conference ATLANTA, July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance, an international alliance of independent building automation contractors, participated in the 2016 Realcomm/IBcon conference in San Jose, Calif., June 21 24, 2016. The event brings commercial property owners and managers together with technology experts to explore the possibilities of fully connected intelligent buildings. InsideIQ maintained an exhibit booth during the event and participated in The Intelligent Buildings Boot Camp, Smart Building Integrator's Summit and one member received an award for integrating a smart commercial office building. "Since its inception, Realcomm/IBcon has brought together the brightest minds in the industry with the most innovative solutions for creating intelligent buildings, and this year was no exception," said Leroy Walden, president of te InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance and vice president of Atlanta-based McKenney's Inc. "The event featured six unique tracks with education sessions presented by experts from the real estate, technology and system integrator communities. InsideIQ members were there demonstrating our expertise in applying the latest smart building technologies." InsideIQ was a co-sponsor of the Intelligent Buildings Boot Camp, an event designed for anyone at the early stages of trying to better understand the basics of a smart building. InsideIQ members presented case studies illustrating how to transform any building operations program into a comprehensive smart building strategy. InsideIQ Member CBRE/ESI Principal Paul Oswald chaired the Smart Building Integrator's Summit where InsideIQ members Jacob Jensen of HCRT, Frank Rotello of Alpha Controls & Services and Leroy Walden shared best practices with a select group of industry leading integrators and facility owners and managers. On the final day of the event, InsideIQ member HCRT of Amsterdam, Netherlands, received a Commercial Real Estate Digital Innovation, or DIGIE, Award in the category Most Intelligent Building Projects Office Building. The DIGIE recognized HCRT's achievement integrating smart building technology at The Edge in Amsterdam. "This is the fourth year that I have attended the conference and I find its relevance increases each year as more and more of our real estate clients struggle to incorporate technology into their businesses and increase the benefit to their organizations," said Walden. InsideIQ member companies represented at Realcomm/IBcon this year were Airmaster Australia, Alpha Controls & Services, Automatic Controls Engineering Corporation, CBRE/ESI, HCRT, McKenney's Inc., Servi-Tech Controls Inc. and SmartEdge. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151027/281107LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insideiq-building-automation-alliance-members-share-expertise-at-intelligent-building-conference-300298905.html SOURCE InsideIQ Building Automation Alliance [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 23, 2016] ServiceTitan Partners with the Joseph Groh Foundation GLENDALE, Calif., July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ServiceTitan, the leading provider of cloud-based business management software for residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies, today announced the results of a fundraising partnership with the Joseph Groh Foundation. The nonprofit organization provides financial support to people associated with the construction and HVAC trades who are living with life-altering disabilities. ServiceTitan raised $10,000 with the help of the trade community and Service Roundtable, an industry best practice organization for HVAC, electrical, solar, and plumbing business owners. For every Service Roundtable member that signed up with ServiceTitan in April or May, the company donated $1,000 to the Joseph Groh Foundation. The founder, Joseph Groh, was employed for 35 years in the HVAC industry prior to being rendered a quadriplegic after a bicycle accident in 2008. "Since 2010, the Joseph Groh foundation ha made life-changing grants to 33 recipients with items ranging from handicapped vehicles to rehabilitative equipment," said Ara Mahdessian, co-founder and CEO of ServiceTitan. "Joseph is an inspiration to all of us that know him and his work, and we are proud to help drive support for this cause." "It's great to see new sponsors like ServiceTitan," said Groh. "As word of our foundation grows, so do the requests for assistance. We are unique in that we are the only foundation who provides 100 percent of its grants to individuals connected with the trades, and the grants have a very meaningful impact on the recipients we have been fortunate to fund." The full list of companies that participated in ServiceTitan's fundraising effort is below: Ace Pelizon Plumbing Air Solutions Heating Cooling & Plumbing Anyzek Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Auchinachie Services Bailey's Comfort Services Commonwealth Cooling & Heating Epic Services J&W Heating and Air Quinn's Plumbing and Heating Service Professionals To learn more about the Joseph Groh Foundation, visit josephgrohfoundation.org. For more information about ServiceTitan, visit www.servicetitan.com. About Joseph Groh Foundation The Joseph Groh Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to those connected with the construction trades industry (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.) who are living with life-altering injuries. About ServiceTitan ServiceTitan is a mobile, cloud-based software platform that helps home service companies streamline operations, improve customer service, and grow their business. ServiceTitan's end-to-end solution for the multi-billion-dollar residential home service industry includes CRM, intelligent dispatch, comprehensive reporting, marketing management tools, mobile connectivity for field techs, and Quickbooks integration. ServiceTitan brings a fully operational modern SaaS infrastructure to an industry traditionally underserved by software. ServiceTitan is the preferred software for hundreds of the world's most successful plumbing, HVAC, and electrical companies in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ServiceTitan, visit www.ServiceTitan.com. Media Contact: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160714/389629 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/servicetitan-partners-with-the-joseph-groh-foundation-300298822.html SOURCE ServiceTitan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] What you need to know about Colts starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger 1876: Doane College at Crete had a senior class of four, a junior class of three, no sophomore class, nine freshmen and 35 in the preparatory department. 1886: Hillsdale suburb, north of A and east of 20th streets, was placed on the market by C. J. Ernst. 1896: Judge Samuel Maxwell was nominated for Congress by the Populists and Democrats at Norfolk. 1906: In his annual report, Lincoln schools Superintendent W. L. Stephens urged the erection of a new $200,000 high school building at 22nd and J streets. He declared this would prove an ideal site because of its central location and reasonable price of the land. (The school, called Lincoln High, was built a few years later.) 1916: The Senate confirmed the nomination of Thomas S. Allen of Lincoln as Nebraska's district attorney. 1926: More than two miles, made up of 34 city blocks, were paved at a cost of $100,000 to the city. 1936: Nebraska temperatures soared as high as 113 during the day and 91 at night. These were records for the state. 1946: The municipal power plant at 29th and A streets went out of service temporarily, causing a 15-minute blackout for those Lincoln residents who were served by the city-owned power system and resulting in a drop of water pressure because the pumps stopped. 1956: A campaign to raise $300,000 from 1,700 persons for a new educational center in College View was launched. The funds provided a nine-room elementary school, an auditorium and a junior academy to be operated by the Seventh-Day Adventists. 1966: Holmes Lake, a recreational and flood-control development southeast of Lincoln, claimed its first drowning victim, a Lincoln boy, 15. 1976: Fifty-eight percent of Lincolnites surveyed favored locating the new Southeast Community College at 84th and O streets. Thirty percent opposed the site and 12 percent had no opinion. 1986: Farm real estate values dropped 55 percent, the largest decrease since the U.S. Department of Agriculture statistical series started keeping track in 1912. People's City Mission reached its goal of $1.3 million for a new building at First and Q streets. 1996: A 60-foot crop circle mysteriously appeared in a Boyd County barley field. The Nebraska State Patrol continued investigations of fraud involving the effort to place congressional term limits on the November ballot. Allegations included the purported appearance of signatures of dead people on petition forms. 2006: For the 19th consecutive year, a nationwide study of 106 cities ranked the rates paid by Lincoln Electric System customers among the lowest 10 percent in the country. The average residential bill in Nebraska is $65. Omahas City Council repealed the communitys historic ban on carrying concealed weapons and is now in step with the states new law allowing Nebraskans, with permits, to carry concealed weapons. On Wednesday, July 27, one of four contestants will be named the 37th Racine County Fairest of the Fair and begin her year-long reign. But in the final weeks leading up to the coronation, each contestant is already hard at work. Before a Fairest is even chosen, all contestants go through a process that includes a workshop, an individual interview, creating a self-introduction and a radio commercial, a group interview, questions on knowledge of the fair and assembling a basket that helps support the program, said 23-year-old Jenna Franseen, the reigning 2015 Racine County Fairest of the Fair. Franseen, who grew up in Caledonia and has been involved in 4-H since the second grade, explained the road to being crowned Fairest of the Fair is more similar to a job interview than a pageant. I was once asked what my talent was for the competition and I replied, Loving the Racine County Fair, said Franseen. She said another misconception many people have about the program is the amount of work contestants put into their roles as Fairest of the Fair and court members, even after the Racine County fair is over. Many people dont realize the role encompasses so much more than simply walking around the county fair all week, Franseen said. The Fairest of the Fair is the ambassador for the county fair for one year. This role includes attending events, competing in the state convention, helping the new contestants on their journey, and representing the county fair to the best of their ability. A year as the Fairest Over the course of her reign, Franseen attended the county fairs of neighboring counties, Wisconsin State Fairest of the Fair convention, Racine Harvest Days, Red Power Round Up 2016, holiday parades, 4-H meetings and several other community events. The demanding interview process and, if chosen as Fairest of the Fair, year-long schedule can be a lot to juggle, especially because many of the women are juggling other jobs, school and as was the case for Franseen internships. Last summer, Franseen, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in marketing and international business and now works in Chicago in digital consulting, had a summer internship with the Target Corp. headquarters in Minneapolis. In order to attend all the events leading up to the crowning of Fairest of the Fair, I took overnight buses from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, she said. Those buses sure were exhausting. But any sacrifices, long hours and hard work are well worth the rewards the experience brings, she added. When youre passionate about something, its easy to share the message, Franseen said. The Fairest of the Fair program gives someone the opportunity to share their fair story, hear others fair stories, and learn about the incredible Wisconsin fair industry. TAKE A PEEK AT THE TOP TOY TRAIN STREETCAR CHEERLEADERS EXPLAIN THEIR PRICEY PROMO WORK!!! "The branding was developed by Kansas City firm Willoughby Design Inc. as part of its $80,000 contract for branding and design. President Megan Stephens and Senior Design Director Nicole Satterwhite said the streetcar image is derived from the universal symbol for light rail and will be modified in playful ways to promote happenings and events along the streetcar line. They also developed a "love Kansas City streetcar" design that they hope will be used on T-shirts, bags and buttons, among other things. "Come hear Willoughby Designs President Megan Stephens and Creative Director Nicole Satterwhite describe the process of branding not just a streetcar, but a regional transportation system. Get the inside scoop on the KC Streetcar names that were considered but discarded, and learn why the timing of this new/old mode of transportation is spot-on for Kansas Citys renaissance. " Interesting opportunity this week for the marketing denizens of our blog community . . .Here's a look at their logo goodness:All that for the low, low price of $80K and counting . . .Most of us think their work looks like a smoker . . .And actually, if anybody can really explain how the won and kept this contract . . . Thatbe worth the price of admission.You decide . . .Deets:More info . . .Join us:Friday, July 29th11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.Check-in & networking begin at 11:30 a.m.Presentation begins at Noon.Lunch served at Noon.Location:Bloch Executive Hall at UMKCThe Bloch School and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame5108 Cherry St., Kansas City, MO 64110Cost: $20 Members, $20 Associate Members, $35 NonmembersCost includes presentation, meal, beverage, tax and tip.RSVP by 11 p.m., Wednesday, July 27, 2016.Anyone is welcome to attend at the appropriate rate. Nonmembers who register at the member rate will be asked to pay the remainder/difference upon arrival.Space is limited. To ensure your spot, RSVP NO LATER than the deadline. Due to venue requirements and advance ordering, we regret to inform you that cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice cannot be refunded.###################### THE LATEST FROM JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATS . . . Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton announced to supporters that she has decided on US Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine as her running mate for the November election. Kaine, a former Governor and Lt. Governor, sits on multiple critical Senate committees including Armed Services, Budget and Foreign Relations. As a Senator, he has been a strong voice for addressing climate change, sensible gun laws and advancing health care policy.Kaine has major local ties to Jackson County as he graduated from Rockhurst High School in south Kansas City and then went to the University of Missouri as an undergraduate. Just four years ago, Kaine was the featured speaker at the annual Truman Gala benefiting the Jackson County Democratic Committee. Missouri's US Senator and former Jackson County resident Claire McCaskill quickly voiced her support in a Tweet with the famous "M I Z" call. Much of Kaine's family still resides in the area.With the extreme unfavorable rating for Republican nominee Donald Trump, Missouri appears to again be a swing state for the 2016 election. Having one of our own on the ticket will only excite local voters and create more volunteers who want to do their part to ensure the Clinton/Kaine team wins come November. As the excitement builds, the JCDC will work with volunteers across the region to support our nominees.###Developing . . . "Today, leaving the funeral for KCK Captain Melton in Leavenworth at the military cemetery, A LOCAL POLICE OFFICAL apparently couldn't wait to process out of the cemetery with the literally hundreds of other police vehicles. He decided to drive through the cemetery grass in his police car past the other police vehicles. Had this just been a normal grassy area I get it. It was not. This is a United States government and military cemetery where thousands of our veterans, some of whom died in battle are buried. I hate to even call him LAW ENFORCEMENT because he doesn't deserve the title, much less the badge. Several people and officers saw this and were disgusted . . ." Here's an important share from our blog community which featuresand some of the discourse during a tragic occasion.We're posting this as abecause we know the funerals are tough and everybody grieves in their own way . . . But it also deserves mention because it reminds us thatwho have their differences, disagreements and drama just like everybody else.Here's the word . . .Now . . .We absolutely understand the outrage here from theand a couple of others on the issue of conduct atwhere Capt. Melton was put to rest . . . But let's also not forget that this is a time of grief and stress for the law enforcement community across the nation so we reserve judgement and, again, simply to remind folks that debate is part of the cycle of life . . .You decide . . . Djuki Mala perform a high-energy and entertaining fusion of traditional indigenous culture, contemporary dance and storytelling Photo source: Sigmalive.com Alan Sweetman, Australia's High Commissioner to Cyprus, has tweeted that Elcho Islands Djuki Mala arrived in Cyprus yesterday. Welcome to Aphrodite's island guys! We can't wait for your performance tomorrow night - the grand finale after a successful European and Middle Eastern tour, Sweetman wrote on Twitter and Facebook. Djuki Mala (Djuki meaning 'Chooky' with a Yolngu accent and Mala meaning 'mob') perform a high-energy and entertaining fusion of traditional indigenous culture, contemporary dance and storytelling. Since their 2007 clip of 'Zorba the Greek' went viral, they have thrilled audiences with reinterpretations of popular culture and traditional dances in a way that juxtaposes contemporary Yolngu culture. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Prime Minister of IsraeI, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that he ascribes great importance to the relations between Israel and Cyprus, especially at this time Prime Minister of IsraeI, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that he ascribes great importance to the relations between Israel and Cyprus, especially at this time. In his remarks at the beginning of Israel`s a cabinet meeting, on Sunday, Netanyahu referred to the meeting he will have this evening, in Jerusalem, with Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, noting that "naturally, we will discuss developments in the region and the question of the gas outline and the supply of gas, that interest our countries and others." "This evening I will meet with the President of Cyprus, my friend Nicos Anastasiades. He is coming to Jerusalem," Netanyahu noted, adding that "of course, many things have taken place in the region, and I ascribe great importance to our relations, especially at this time." Source: CNA RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Canada will establish and staff a field hospital in Iraq as a part of its contribution to the expected battle for Mosul, a report said. As part of our ongoing commitment, Canada will soon deploy up to 60 medical personnel who will be leading a medical facility alongside coalition partners in northern Iraq, Canadian Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan was quoted as saying by Iraq Business News. The move will be welcomed by Iraqi and Kurdish commanders planning for the fight, which is expected to be the most difficult battle against the Islamic State so far. Further growth is expected in the health insurance sector in Saudi Arabia after the full application of the single health insurance policy for the employer, according to an insurance expert. The new policy follows the resolution of the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) that came into effect on July 10 this year. Omar Al-Mahmood, the vice president of medical insurance and Takaful at Tawuniya, explained that implementing the single health insurance policy for the employer will greatly reduce fraudulent unreal insurance. It also places restrictions on the issuance of individual policies and the system will allow for issuing only one insurance policy for the employer including his employees and their dependents. He added: The new regulation will make it mandatory for the employers to insure all employees who work in their organization and their family members. This will contribute to expanding the mandatory health insurance to include the employees whom employers, especially at Small to Medium Entities (SMEs), were not keen to provide them with insurance. Al-Mahmood stressed that CCHIs resolution allows the issuance of one insurance policy under only one sponsor number, he pointed out that this amendment may double the administrative load for customers and insurance companies, but it will lead to the accurate calculation of health insurance loss ratios and then determine the price based on the actual results, as well as generate proper technical procedures to manage them. In line with this new regulation, Tawuniya has completed its readiness to implement the single health insurance policy for the employer. The company has also launched a campaign to create awareness among its customers and prepare them for activating this regulation on the due dates recommended by CCHI to avoid the ceasing of their insurance policies. - TradeArabia News Service Audi aims to have three electric car models by 2020 and for electric vehicles to account for 25 to 30 per cent of its sales by 2025, chief executive Rupert Stadler told a German newspaper. Audi's electric cars push, reported by Reuters earlier this week, is part of a strategic overhaul following the emissions scandal at parent Volkswagen. Under the plan, which Stadler presented to Audi managers this week, the group will focus more resources on electric cars, digital services and autonomous driving. Stadler told daily Heilbronner Stimme in an interview published on Saturday that Audi's offering of electric cars would also include small vehicles in the A-segment. The company also plans to set up a subsidiary, to be called SDS Company, to develop an autonomous car. "This is about a robot car that may not even need a steering wheel or pedals, so it's ideal for urban traffic," he said, adding Audi was still looking for joint venture partners who would help with the technology. In return for stepping up its focus on electric vehicles, autonomous driving and digital services, Audi will seek to reduce complexity in other areas, Stadler said. "We have discussed what would happen if we dropped the two-door version of the A3. I think we would barely lose any customers. We'd rather invest the money that is freed up in new models and other derivatives," Stadler said. A company source told Reuters that management would also reduce orders assigned to external development service providers and shift funds from that area towards electric cars, autonomous driving and digitalization. Weekly magazine Automobilwoche had earlier reported that Audi was cutting budgets for external projects. In addition, CEO Stadler said fuel cell cars were a "must", though he said he could not yet say how large demand would be. "That is less a question of technology, we are already quite good at that. It's rather going to be a question of infrastructure," he said. Audi's technical development chief Stefan Knirsch told Stuttgarter Zeitung in a separate interview published on Saturday that he expected Audi would not start serial production of a fuel cell car before 2020 because of the lack of charging stations. Reuters RACINE COUNTY As the political world shifts to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, local delegates believe their event will lack the intra-party drama sometimes seen at last week's GOP convention. Three DNC delegates who will make the Democrats' nomination official are from Racine County: state Rep. Cory Mason of Racine, Democratic Party of Racine County Chairwoman Meg Andrietsch, and Dave Palmer. State Rep. Peter Barca of Kenosha, whose district includes part of Racine County, also is traveling to Philadelphia as a delegate. Andrietsch and Mason, who backed presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton in the primary, said they are excited to nominate the first woman to a major-party ticket. Both were delegates in 2008 when then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama became the first minority candidate nominated. "These are history-making events," Andrietsch said. "And to be part of it and to represent all the people who worked so hard, it's humbling." Palmer is a delegate for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won the April 5 Wisconsin primary. He did not return messages seeking comment. Parallels to 2008 While much attention has focused on Republicans' attempts to unify around nominee Donald Trump, Democrats are also seeking to rally behind Clinton after her drawn-out primary battle with Sanders. Mason noted it took time for many Clinton supporters to come around to Obama in 2008. At that year's convention, Clinton threw her unconditional support behind Obama as he consolidated support. Mason expects a similar scenario in Philadelphia. "I don't anticipate there being some sort of Ted Cruz-like moment," Mason said, referring to the Texas senator's controversial RNC speech in which he did not endorse Trump. "I think you're going to see people very enthusiastically getting behind the ticket ... I think we're going to be in a position to have a historically good year for Democrats with Hillary at the top of the ticket." Leaders of the Sanders and Clinton camps in Wisconsin have worked well together heading into the convention, Andrietsch said. Democrats award delegates proportionally based on primary results; Sanders got 48 pledged delegates in Wisconsin compared to Clintons 38 after his decisive Wisconsin win April 5. "Everybody wants to do the right thing," Andrietsch said. "They want to elect a Democrat president." The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) have signed an operating support services agreement (OSSA) for the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at Enecs headquarters in Abu Dhabi in the presence of senior management representatives from both companies. Under the agreement, KHNP will dispatch experienced and qualified nuclear plant personnel to the Barakah nuclear power plant (BNPP), including main control room operators and local operators, to support Enecs operating subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah). Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of Enec, and Seok Cho, CEO of KHNP, confirmed the joint commitment of both companies to the safe operations of the four APR-1400 nuclear units under construction at Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. As part of the scope of the OSSA to contribute to safe operations and maintenance of the nuclear energy plants, an estimated 400 KHNP experts will support operations at the Barakah site every year until 2030. As per regulations of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), KHNP experts will be required to pass regulatory exams to be licensed to operate and manage APR-1400 technology in the UAE. Al Hammadi said: Enec continues to progress construction to the highest international standards of safety, quality and excellence. The OSSA provides the framework for KHNP to share its knowledge that it has accumulated throughout its 40 years of experience in operating 25 nuclear power plants in South Korea, with Enec. We are entering a crucial phase in the development of the Barakah plant and we are looking forward to working with the experts from KHNP to ensure the operational readiness of the Barakah plant, continued Al Hammadi. Over the next decade and beyond, the agreement will continue to build on and enhance the existing long-term nuclear energy partnership between the UAE and South Korea, added Al Hammadi. The construction of the Barakah NPP commenced in 2012, and is scheduled for completion in 2020. With four reactors online, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAEs electricity needs and save up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year. The project at Barakah is progressing steadily. Overall, construction of Units One to Four is now more than 66 per cent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid, pending regulatory reviews and licensing. TradeArabia News Service Twin explosions tore through a demonstration by members of Afghanistan's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority in Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding more than 230 in a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State. Graphic television footage from the site of the attack showed many dead bodies lying on the bloodied road, close to where thousands of Hazara had been demonstrating against the route of a planned multi-million-dollar power line. "Two fighters from Islamic State detonated explosive belts at a gathering of Shi'ites in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan," said a brief statement on the group's Amaq news agency. If confirmed as the work of Islamic State, the attack, among the most deadly since the U.S.-led campaign to oust the Taliban in 2001, would represent a major escalation for a group hitherto largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The explicit reference to the Hazara's Shi'ite religious affiliation also marked a menacing departure for Afghanistan, where the bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims typical of Iraq has been relatively rare, despite decades of war. Islamic State is an ultra hardline Sunni group. Officials in Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), said the attack was planned by an individual named Abu Ali, an Islamic State militant they said was based in Achin district in Nangarhar. They said three bombers were involved in the attack. The Persian-speaking Hazara, estimated to make up about 9 percent of the population, are Afghanistan's third-largest minority but they have long suffered discrimination, and thousands were killed during the period of Taliban rule. "We were holding a peaceful demonstration when I heard a bang and then everyone was escaping and yelling," said Sabira Jan, a protester who witnessed the attack and saw bloodied bodies strewn across the ground. "There was no one to help." The Taliban, a fierce, albeit Sunni enemy of Islamic State, denied any involvement and said in a statement posted on its website that the attack was "a plot to ignite civil war". The attack succeeded despite tight security which saw much of Kabul city centre sealed off before the demonstration, with stacks of shipping containers and other obstacles and helicopters patrolling overhead. An Interior Ministry statement said 80 people had been killed and 231 wounded, with local hospitals straining to cope with those being brought in. The worst previous attack against the Hazara was in December 2011, when more than 55 people were killed in Kabul during the Shi'ite festival of Ashura. That attack was claimed by a Pakistani Sunni militant group called Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. OUTRAGE President Ashraf Ghani declared a national day of mourning and vowed revenge, while the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, condemned the attack as a war crime. The United States and Russia condemned the attack and renewed pledges of security assistance to Kabul. "We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistan's security, stability, and prosperity," the White House said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his "readiness to continue the most active cooperation with ... Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism", Russian news agencies quoted a Kremlin statement as saying. Saturday's demonstrators had been demanding that a 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Kabul be re-routed through two provinces with large Hazara populations, saying they feared being shut out of the project. The government said the project guaranteed ample power to the provinces, Bamyan and Wardak, which lie west of Kabul, and that altering the planned route would delay it by years and cost millions of dollars. But the resentment felt by many Hazaras runs deeper than simple questions of energy supply. In November, thousands of Hazara marched through Kabul to protest at government inaction after seven members of their community were beheaded by Islamist militants, and several protesters tried to force their way into the presidential palace. The protests by a group whose leaders include members of the national unity government have put pressure on Ghani, who has faced growing opposition from both inside and outside the government. They also risk exacerbating ethnic tensions with other groups and provinces the government says would have to wait up to three years for power if the route were changed. The transmission line, intended to provide secure electricity to 10 provinces, is part of the so-called TUTAP project backed by the Asia Development Bank, linking energy-rich states of Central Asia with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Reuters A German-Iranian teenager who shot dead nine people in Munich was a deranged lone gunman obsessed with mass killings who drew no inspiration from Islamist militancy, police said on Saturday. The 18-year-old, born and raised locally, opened fire near a busy shopping mall on Friday evening, triggering a lockdown in the Bavarian state capital. Seven of his victims were themselves teenagers, who police said he may have lured to their deaths via a hacked Facebook account on what was the fifth anniversary of twin attacks by Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik that killed 77 people. The Munich shooting, in which a further 27 people were wounded, some seriously, was the third act of violence against civilians in Western Europe - and the second in southern Germany - in eight days. Bavarian state crime office president Robert Heimberger said the gunman, who German media named as Ali David Sonboly, was carrying more than 300 bullets in his backpack and pistol when he shot himself. Munich police witnessed the suicide at 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT), the police force said on Saturday. Following a police search of the attacker's room, where a book on teenage shooting sprees was discovered, Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae all but ruled out an Islamist militant link to the attack. "Based on the searches, there are no indications whatsoever that there is a connection to Islamic State" or to the issue of refugees, he told a news conference. "Documents on shooting sprees were found, so the perpetrator obviously researched this subject intensively." The gunman was born and brought up in the Munich area and had spent time in psychiatric care, and there was no evidence to suggest he had had an accomplice, Andrae said. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said it was also too early to associate the Munich shootings with Breivik, who in 2011 shot dead 69 attendees at a youth summer camp hours after murdering eight others by detonating a van bomb in Oslo. But he told German public television the government would look carefully at its security measures once the investigation was completed to see if any changes were needed. De Maiziere said a unit of federal police had been readied on Friday given initial indications of a possible large militant attack, but in the end it was not used. FAST-FOOD INVITE? Robert Heimberger, president of the Bavarian state criminal agency, told the news conference police were investigating findings suggesting the Munich gunman invited people to a fast food restaurant at the mall via the Facebook account. "(He) said he would treat them to what they wanted as long as it wasn't too expensive - that was the invitation," Heimberger said. He added that this still needed to be verified, but there were many clues suggesting the attacker had set up the invitation and sent it or posted it online. Turkey's foreign minister said three Turkish citizens were among nine people killed in the Munich attack while Greece's foreign ministry said one Greek was among the dead. According to foreign media reports, there were also three Kosovo Albanian victims. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "mourning with a heavy heart" for those killed, and that the security services would do everything to ensure the public was safe. Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer said the killings - together with an axe attack by a 17-year-old asylum-seeker that injured five people in Wuerzburg, also in Bavaria, on Monday - should not be allowed to undermine democratic freedoms. "For the second time in a few days we've been shaken by an incomprehensible bloodbath ... Uncertainty and fear must not be allowed to gain the upper hand," a visibly distressed Seehofer told reporters. Both the Wuerzburg attack, and the Bastille Day rampage by a truck driver in Nice, France that killed 84 people on July 14, were claimed by Islamic State militants. 'WHY KIDS KILL' The Munich gunman, whose father a neighbour said had worked as a taxi driver, had no criminal record but had been a victim of theft in 2010 and assault in 2012, police said. De Maiziere said there were indications the killer had been bullied "by others his age". He also cited concerns about the role violent video games may have played in the crime. Police commandos, with night vision equipment and dogs, raided an apartment in the Munich neighbourhood of Maxvorstadt early on Saturday, where a neighbour told Reuters the gunman had lived with his parents for about four years. In the killer's room, police found a German translation of a book entitled "Why Kids Kill - Inside the Minds of School Shooters". Asked if the gunman had deliberately targeted young people, Munich police chief Andrae said that theory could be neither confirmed or ruled out. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said there were several signs he had been suffering from "not insignificant psychological troubles." Three of his victims were 14 years old, two were 15, one was 17 and one 19. The others were 20 and 45, the police chief said. Police will also have to find out how the 18-year-old obtained the firearm in a country whose gun control system is described by the U.S. Library of Congress as being "among the most stringent in Europe". "The investigation is still trying to determine where it came from," Heimberger said, adding that the assailant was not the registered owner of the gun. "I am shocked. What happened to the boy? Only God knows what happened," Telfije Dalipi, a 40-year-old Macedonian neighbour, told Reuters. "... I have no idea if he did anything bad elsewhere." Reuters Oil investors who missed the chance to buy crude at multi-year lows earlier this year might get another shot at securing a bargain, as prices are likely to slip in the near term before recovering more steadily, analysts said. Crude prices have risen more than 70 percent to around $46 a barrel since hitting 12-year lows in January. However, investors baulked at pushing the price beyond $50, unsettled by the risk an uncertain global economic outlook poses to the broader market, analysts noted. Uncertainty stemming from Britain's decision to leave the European Union, a stronger U.S. dollar and robust oil output from Opec that has fed a persistent supply glut, have lowered the chances of a brisk rebalancing of supply and demand. "On one hand, there is uncertainty about future demand now that Brexit increased risks for lower global economic growth," Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro, said. "On the other hand, there is uncertainty about future supply. Although there is still an oversupply in place, the effects of low oil prices are being felt badly." Britain's vote to leave the EU wreaked havoc on global markets in late June, knocking as much as 5 percent off crude prices on the day of the referendum result. Some analysts say the impact of Brexit could see prices fall below $40 a barrel. "Strong rhetoric over the negative effects of Brexit, a cessation of hostilities in Nigeria, the continued restart of output in Canada and further progress in Libya. Combine this with additional concerns over growth in China and elsewhere and you could easily see oil back below $40," Capital Economics analyst Thomas Pugh said. The prospects of returning production from Nigeria, Canada and Libya amid a bleak outlook for global demand growth could hamper any significant price recovery, analysts said. Analysts believe oil should trade below $45 a barrel to encourage fresh production cuts and provide the kind of boost to demand that would elicit renewed investor interest. "Should we return towards the lows reached earlier in January-February, this could revive long-only interest in oil given the prevailing consensus of much higher oil prices by 2018-2019," said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity strategy at BNP Paribas.--Reuters An aircraft powered by solar energy left Egypt on Sunday on the last leg of the first ever fuel-free flight around the globe. Solar Impulse 2, a spindly single-seat plane, took off from Cairo in darkness en route to Abu Dhabi, its final destination, with a flight expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. The plane, which began its journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, has been piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies. "The round the world flight ends in Abu Dhabi, but not the project," Piccard told Reuters a few days before takeoff. Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel, its four engines powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells in its wings. It relies on solar energy collected during the day and stored in batteries for electrical energy to fly at night. The carbon fibre plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car can climb to about 8,500 metres (28,000 feet) and cruise at 55-100 kph (34-62 mph). "The project is a big promotion of clean technologies around the world and the legacy of Solar Impulse is the created international community," Piccard said. Last week, the solar-powered aircraft landed in Egypt for on its penultimate stop. The flight's takeoff from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates was delayed due to a heatwave in Saudi Arabia. "I started to dream about this project 17 years ago in 1999 when I finished my hot-air balloon landing in Egypt, so 17 years later I take off where the balloon landed," Piccard said. Reuters Kuwait-based Action Group will be investing $56 million to upgrade its hotel project in Dubai Healthcare City to a four-star property, said a report. The hotel, which was scheduled to open as a three-star property this year, will see construction work begin next month and is set to open in 2018, a report in The National said. The companys subsidiary, Action Hotels, will own the property, which will now be operated by AccorHotels Novotel brand as a 220-room hotel. The Dubai Health Authority has set a target of 500,000 medical tourists by 2020, up from 107,500 in 2012. Initially planning to develop the hotel on a leasehold basis, the company said the project would be funded through a mix of equity and bank financing of about $35.2 million, the report said. This will be Action Hotels first property in Dubai. Johann Schneider-Ammann, President of Switzerland will participate at the celebrations of the final journey of the Solar Impulse 2, a jet that runs solely on solar power, according to Hotelandrest.com, a leading UAE-based travel website. The jet is making its final journey of its historic international tour from Cairo to Abu Dhabi, UAE and is scheduled to land at Al Bateen Executive Airport Abu Dhabi on July 27. Hotelandrest.com confirmed Schneider-Amman who will reach Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi on July 26, is one among numerous high profile VIPs who will attend the Solar Impulse 2 success party. The Solar Impulse 2 embarked on the first leg of its tour in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi. The party will honour the 17th final and successful journey of the revolutionary Solar Impulse 2, from Cairo to Abu Dhabi. The co-pilot and co-founder of the jet, Bertrand Piccard aimed to prove the efficiency of clean technologies using solar energy. The jet is powered by 4 engines that draw power from the 17,000 photovoltaic cells placed on the wing of the Boeing 747 that coverts sunlight into energy. The airplane is constructed from carbon fibres that permits the vehicle to be light in weight, equal to that of a car. The plane flies to a height of 28,000 feet above sea level, and can attain speed that ranges between 55- 100 kilometres per hour. TradeArabia News Service Everybody knows that change is happening, but thanks to the fossil fuel economy, we are all having such a good time. In describing Canadian politician Maxime Bernier recently, I called him a climate arsonist. A reader complained: Perhaps a decade or two ago, one could accept that there might be climate skeptics, who honestly questioned the science of climate change and whether it was happening at all. Then you got climate deniers, who in the face of all evidence said 'it's orbital mechanics or sunspots or this always happens.' It is hard to believe that today anyone still believes that nothing is happening or that it is sunspots. What we have now are people who just don't care, or have other interests that take priority. Arson defined in Wikipedia: Arson is the crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to or charring property. Though the act typically involves buildings, the term arson can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercraft, or forests. Climate Arson was a term I first heard from Seattle architect Mike Eliason, who used it on twitter to describe people who go beyond simply denying the reality of climate change, but through their actions actually abet it. A climate arsonist knows that what he is saying isn't true, but willfully does it anyway for personal or political gain. But perhaps it is not the best term; others are making the same point with "climate nihilist." Bernier, and American politicians who put the fossil fuel industry ahead of climate, probably fit in this. Charlie Smith wrote in the Georgia Straight last year: At the root of climate nihilism is the endless pursuit of fossil fuels to power the economy, regardless of the ecological consequences.... The nihilists are basically saying: "To hell with carbon budgets in the Paris climate agreement. To hell with scientists raising alarm bells about the melting of the polar caps and ice on Greenland. To hell with farmers who are not going to have water to irrigate crops. To hell with the billions of people who rely on rivers fed by glaciers for their drinking water. To hell with plant and animal species that are going extinct. To hell with those who have to endure more intense hurricanes. We simply don't care." The NRDC notes that climate nihilism is prevalent in the American government too. Last year, when gutting the fuel efficiency standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the planet was warming, but that reducing carbon emissions from cars wouldn't make much of a difference, but would make cars cost more. So why bother? Jeff Turrentine writes about the difference between skepticism, denialism, and nihilism: This is, to put it mildly, a twist on the usual rules of engagement between those who advocate for climate action and those who dont. Were used to fighting skepticism. But outright nihilism? Thats a new one. Weve been rebutting climate change deniersand their faulty data and conspiracy theoriesfor years, and as disturbing as it is to see their ilk installed in the executive branch, we at least have a template for fighting back: Lead confidently with the science, never let a bogus claim go unchallenged, and have faith that truth will ultimately win the day. But how are you supposed to respond when those who oppose climate action actually do accept the science behind global warming, and do understand that climate change poses an existential threat to humankind . . . but simply dont care? . MIT Press/ Energy and Civilization MIT Press/ Energy and Civilization It is likely that, in fact, some of them do care, but they are making a choice. As Vaclav Smil noted in his book Energy and Civilization, fossil fuel energy drives everything, and the more we have of it, the cheaper it is, the more the economy booms. To talk about energy and the economy is a tautology: every economic activity is fundamentally nothing but a conversion of one kind of energy to another, and monies are just a convenient (and often rather unrepresentative) proxy for valuing the energy flows. There is barely an aspect of our lives that doesn't involve fossil fuels, from the fertilizers on our cornfields to the plastic packaging that we get our food and everything else in to the transportation systems that deliver it all. There is probably barely a job in this country that doesn't depend on fossil fuels in some way. Fossil fuels have made us what we are, as Smil notes about our transition to an economy based on them: By turning to these rich stores we have created societies that transform unprecedented amounts of energy. This transformation brought enormous advances in agricultural productivity and crop yields; it has resulted first in rapid industrialization and urbanization, in the expansion and acceleration of transportation, and in an even more impressive growth of our information and communication capabilities; and all of these developments have combined to produce long periods of high rates of economic growth that have created a great deal of real affluence, raised the average quality of life for most of the worlds population, and eventually produced new, high-energy service economies. TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images No wonder these protests are probably wishful thinking, and why almost every politician is ultimately a climate nihilist; it is all just a matter of degree. Bill de Blasio isn't willing to do anything more than Donald Trump when it comes to dealing with cars; Justin Trudeau isn't willing to do anything less than Maxime Bernier when it comes to building pipelines; they know they won't get elected because every voter who has a job and a car has a stake in the energy economy, and the alternatives are too difficult to contemplate. As Smil concludes: Such a course would have profound consequences for assessing the prospects of a high-energy civilizationbut any suggestions of deliberately reducing certain resource uses are rejected by those who believe that endless technical advances can satisfy steadily growing demand. In any case, the probability of adopting rationality, moderation, and restraint in resource consumption in general and energy use in particular, and even more so the likelihood of persevering on such a course, is impossible to quantify. This is why climate denier is no longer strong enough. I like climate arsonist, and it was coined by a friend, but climate nihilist is actually a better term. These people know the consequences of their actions, have decided that it is in their own interest, and the interest of a large enough number of voters, not to care. And inevitably, at some point, I will be calling them climate murderers. Voltaire wrote Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien, often translated as "The perfect is the enemy of the good;" he might well have been talking about residential construction. You run the gamut from the typical American 2x4 frame wall all the way to Passivhaus construction with 12" of insulation and incredible care in detailing and construction. Proponents keep saying that Passivhaus only costs 10% more than conventional construction, but they are not talking about Pulte and KB Homes, which is what I consider conventional. How do we upgrade the standard builder spec to build a high performance wall that doesn't cost the earth or reinvent the wheel? Architect Greg Lavardera has been thinking about this, and has done some interesting work. But first, let's look at what's out there. hand drawings by Lloyd Alter; excuse the quality, it has been a few years The Standard American Wall The wall everyone knows how to build is the standard 2x4 stud wall with fiberglass insulation, sheathing on the outside and a poly vapour barrier under the drywall on the inside. It has a nominal R value of 12; when you build the same thing with 2x6 studs, it has a nominal R value of 20. But it never really does; the studs have a lower resistance to heat transmission than the insulation and act as thermal bridges. The insulation is never absolutely perfect because there are wires in the cavity and you need to be really careful about installing around them and the electrical boxes. But more importantly, research has shown that air infiltration and leakage is more important than the insulation, and that vapour barrier is shot full of holes for wires, boxes, misplaced nails and just general sloppy workmanship that comes from having people in a hurry working with an unforgiving system. There is also a real problem where it meets the floor, and how the floor sits on the foundation; it is tough to really seal these well. The "Canadian" Wall An improvement is what I will call the "Canadian Wall", developed in the seventies by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Instead of plywood or OSB sheathing on the exterior, it uses up to 2.5 inches of extruded polystyrene. This effectively eliminates the thermal bridging through the studs, significantly increases the insulation value of the wall and solves the foundation connection problem by running right past the floor. You can keep going right to the footings if you plan it properly. Although this wall has been used for decades in Canada, there are concerns. There are essentially vapour barriers on the inside and the outside; moisture that gets into the wall has no place to go. It could condense inside the wall and cause mould and rot. It sure could use a really good vapour barrier, but has the same one as the standard wall, a sheet of poly full of holes. Why no spray foam options? Spray foams, either polyurethane or evenicynene that I used to love, are conspicuously absent here. Lately I have been reading a lot of anecdotal stories of people having to move out because of fumes; they are difficult to deconstruct; many are extremely flammable; they are not in common use among conventional builders. Insulated Concrete Forms Others have suggested that we should abandon the wood frame wall altogether, and go with solutions like the insulated concrete form. The ICF manufacturers (like this one) claim that their product is green, providing 70% energy savings "compared to traditional building methods using wood." Of course, they say that it contributes to LEED points. I have been seriously criticizedfor suggesting that they are not green. But I continue to take the position that a polystyrene and concrete sandwich cannot be green; they are both fossil fuel hogs. The polystyrene is treated with flame retardants that should not be in a house, or even in the country. The manufacturers claim that a life-cycle analysis shows that the carbon footprint of their manufacture is paid off in a few years by the energy savings; that is only true if you compare it to a 2x4 wall. If one compares it to a frame wall with the same R value, there is in fact no comparison in the footprints. Then there is the fact that by today's standards, they are not even that good of an R value. On their own, they vary between R 16 and R 20, and one needs to add more insulation to get any higher. At BuildingScience, they write: ICF construction is more expensive that standard construction and is usually prohibitively expensive in residential housing....Generally, ICF construction alone cannot achieve a high R-value and will require other insulation strategies in combination for cold climates, which is commonly done in practice. ICF is generally only used in multifamily and mid rise buildings, and not in residential housing. It will find customers in high-end custom work and in tornado alley, but it is not a mainstream wall. Structural Insulated Panels image credit: Postgreen Structural Insulated Panels, or SIPs, are another sandwich, made of polystyrene or polyurethane on the inside and OSB (oriented strand board) on the outside. They can be made almost any thickness, and are great insulators. They work best with very simple geometries; complex shapes like the popular pseudo-tuscan gablegablegable suburban designs would be tough. But on simple boxes like those that PostGreen builds, they are an interesting solution. BuildingScience wrote: The cost and simple geometries of SIPs houses are two of the main reasons why this technology is not used more often. I will also confess to some conservatism here; I am just not convinced that gluing two pieces of board to a slab of styrofoam makes a wall. Does the glue never dry out and give? How do you fix it? I confess that it makes me a bit nervous using them as structural elements. Some, like Tedd Benson, have used them as cladding on top of timberframe; I can understand that. The USA New Wall Finally, let's look at Greg Lavardera's USA New Wall. It does a couple of things really well; it uses conventional materials that are familiar to anyone, but adds a horizontal furring strip to separate the drywall from the vapour barrier, and to provide a chase for electrical wiring that is not in the main insulated wall, the major cause of insulation discontinuities. After the wiring is done, more insulation is added in the furred out space, increasing the R Value of the wall. It isn't fancy and doesn't use a lot of high tech materials, but it makes sense. Greg writes: Why not use new materials and techniques? How can you make a New Wall that everybody is going to know how to build? We want to create a wall that can be widely adopted, something that any builder can start building tomorrow without any new training, without finding any new suppliers, with out changing the way they run their business. If we want the greatest number of builders to build more efficient houses we need a wall they understand immediately, we need a wall that they can purchase materials for from their existing suppliers, use their existing sub-contractors, and a wall that is familiar enough for them to reliably price and schedule. New materials and new techniques throw off all of this and become barriers to adoption. We don't want barriers. We want everybody to start building more efficient houses. There are other methods that one can use; Chad of Postgreen writes "I'm still not quite convinced a double 2x4 is not less expensive and easier for the trades", but I have built those and found them to be a pain to frame at windows, and that vapour barrier still is within reach of errant screws and nails during drywalling. I think Greg is onto something here. I asked him a few questions about it: This is not the "greenest" or the "best" wall. Why did you develop it? Thats right. It not the best performing wall you could build, but its not about that. Its about creating the best wall system for widespread adoption. That means something any builder can build with the skill set they have now. It means they get to buy materials from the same vendors, hire the sub-contractors they already know and trust, it means they are already competent at it, they can estimate it and price it reliably, and they know how long it will take them to build. Why develop it? I believe we need efficient wall designs that the industry will embrace. In the end we will benefit more from a wall that performs at around 75% of the best that we can do, but can be implemented 90% of the time, than we will from a wall that performs 95% of the best we can do but would only be adopted for 2-3% of the houses. Have you actually built one yet? No I have not, but very similar wall systems are the norm in Sweden. They took this approach 40 years ago and now every house in Sweden is built this way. So I would say that this has already been spectacularly vetted for build-ability and common sense. What do you think are the biggest problems in getting widespread implementation? The biggest issue is communication - letting builders know about this. It takes very little explanation to understand. Once they see it they will know what to do. Reaching them is the challenge. The second biggest problem is the resolve to improve our building without being forced to by codes and taxes. This is something we can do today. Its a more complex wall, and there is no free lunch - it delivers more value, and it costs more to build. But we can pay for it today with a simple trade off with our expectations. We trade some size for better performance and reduced ongoing energy cost. The way we appraise houses has to start recognizing the performance side of home values. Where do you stand on cellulose/glass/rock wool vs foams, polyurethanes etc? Without writing a book? Blown-in dense cellulose has gained much more popularity with green builders than I ever expected. But the wider housing industry has not embraced the blown-in installation. I think that remains a barrier to wider adoption. I think the best place for blown-in to gain ground in the market is deep attic insulation - say up to 24". Its fast and easy for this and could become the de-facto way to insulate above our heads. Fiberglass I have some issues with. First, its given batts a bad name among green builders. Poor installations are the culprit, and frankly getting batts into a wall crisscrossed with wires is too much of a challenge. Compounding this is relying on integral vapor retarders - these will never make a tight wall. Integral batt vapor retarders are good for one thing - the manufacturers who sell it. If you want a tight house, you need a separate sheet. My last gripe against fiberglass is the big manufacturers already make better performing, higher R-value batts. You can get them in Canada. They won't sell them here. Shame on them. Mineral Wool is my new favorite. Right now its the highest R-value batts you can get - R23 for 2x6 walls, and R28 for 2x8 walls. Its now widely available in the US under the Roxul brand, however you may need to order it. Big box retailers like Loews and Home Depot offer it as well. I think builders will find its actually much easier to work with than fiberglass. It cuts easily, and it has a firm composition that does not sag and makes it easier to fill every void. Foams have their place in construction. I just don't believe that its on the cold side of the wall. Any foam insulation will form a vapor barrier. If you put it on the outside of the wall in a cold climate, well then you've potentially trapped moisture within your wall. Not that this can not be done successfully. You can leave your wall cavity to dry to the inside, but you have to design it carefully for your climate to ensure your dew point is not in the cavity. Rather it should be in the foam layer. But beware of out of range temperatures that can cause condensation in your wall space. I have a conservative view on this, I realize. There is good reason to insulate on the face of the wall. It breaks the thermal bridge of the studs. But there are good alternatives to foam for this location. Mineral wool has been used for cavity insulation in commercial construction for many years. It sheds water and passes vapor. In time we'll learn that foam's best use is with insulating edge forms for slab on grade construction, and monolithic below slab insulation for the same. MOUNT PLEASANT When residents head to the polls in November, the village is hoping they will see many more poll workers than usual. Mount Pleasant wants to roughly double its typical number of poll workers for the high-turnout presidential election, Village Clerk Stephanie Kohlhagen said. It now has a pool of about 80 people to work the polls, with about 11 to 12 people at each of its six polling places. The village would like to see upwards of 20 people at each site in November, she said. Mount Pleasant is hoping to get the word out to recruit more workers, especially young people. Our veteran election officials are a huge asset; however, we would like to see more younger, working people, Kohlhagen said. The push comes after some have complained about slow election results in the village, as well as slow-moving lines, particularly in gubernatorial and presidential elections. More poll workers could help make the voting process more efficient helping people make sure they are in the correct line and polling place and are registered and have voter identification, Kohlhagen said. Poll workers While important, a poll workers job isnt always easy. Anyone interested in helping at the polls should prepare for a long day. The village can sometimes accommodate half-day requests, but most poll workers put in a full day, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its kind of long and grueling, Kohlhagen said. The pay also isnt great. In Mount Pleasant, workers are paid $8.57 per hour, a wage Kohlhagen hopes to boost to $10 in the future. But Kohlhagen said workers are provided training beforehand, and on the job, to ease the burden of learning election rules. Poll workers in Mount Pleasant must live in Racine County. To apply, residents can fill out an application on the village clerk section of Mount Pleasants website: www.mtpleasantwi.gov. Residents can also call Village Hall at 262-664-7800. RACINE No one was injured, but a family of five was displaced when a fire likely caused by a lightning strike damaged their home Saturday. The fire, which occurred during Saturday afternoons thunderstorm, caused $10,000 in overall damage to a home in 2200 block of Shoop St., according to a Racine Fire Department release. The occupants heard a loud boom, noticed smoke within minutes, exited the home and called 911. Firefighters located the fire in the attic and extinguished it within 20 minutes, according to the release. The American Red Cross assisted with the familys immediate arrangements. The release states that the probable cause of the fire was a lightning strike. Scanner reports at the time of the storm reported a lightning strike in the same location. Willow tree felled in Mount Pleasant Lightning wasnt the only force wreaking havoc during Saturdays storm. High winds knocked down a 100-foot willow tree near the Mount Pleasant Walmart. The sad part of it is we just had work done on it in the winter of 2015 to clean it up and now its completely gone, said Jude Treleven, who lives at 6635 Durand Ave. with her husband, Dave. Because they live on a hill, Treleven said high winds are usually a problem on their property. Fortunately for them, their home didnt sustain any damage in Saturdays storm. We were lucky with the direction of the wind; we were spared, she said. 4,400 lose power About 4,400 Racine County residents were without power as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, after a severe thunderstorm rolled through the region. The majority of those residents, 3,400 of them, live within the Racine city limits, according to We Energies Spokesman Brian Manthey. Another 800 residents were affected in the Village of Rochester. Racine was the most affected SE Wisconsin county, according to Manthey, with Kenosha coming in second with 2,800 outages. Southeastern Wisconsin saw more than 10,000 outages overall due to the storm. As of 6:30, We Energies had begun its local response. Crews have just started to get onto scenes, Manthey said. Theyre out patrolling the lines trying to find the sources of the outages. WATERFORD The Waterford High School Board will be discussing a proposal for a new field house and fitness center on Monday at 6:30 pm at Waterford High School, 100 Field Drive. In April, a referendum for the field house and fitness center was voted down but now the board is discussing it again. Superintendent Keith Brandstetter said the board is going to be more transparent this time around. People didnt know enough about the project, Branstetter said, adding Our debt is falling off and there will be no property tax increase. Branstetter said this proposal is the same as the one that was voted down. He added that he believes this is something that is really needed for the community and he hopes this meeting will help answer any questions. School board President Kevin Malchine said after the referendum was defeated individuals felt that they were open to the field house and fitness center but wanted to know more about it. Were just hearing from community members to put it back on the ballot, Malchine said. I dont know which way were going to go. Malchine said during this meeting they will be hearing the proposal and hes unsure, at the moment, if it will be put back on the ballot or not. Rajinder Nagarkoti/ Akash Ghai Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 23 The Kajauli Waterworks stopped functioning after it developed a snag today, affecting the supply of water in the tricity Chandigarh, Mohali and parts of Panchkula. Since the authorities are yet to repair the machines, water supply in the tricity will be affected tomorrow morning and evening. In Chandigarh, water supply will be at low pressure tomorrow in the morning and evening, In Mohali, there will be no water supply in the afternoon tomorrow, but there will be low pressure water supply in the morning and evening. The delivery header of the Kajauli Waterworks, Phase I and II, maintained by the Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Division, burst at around 5 am today. The water flooded the two pump houses, which have machineries of Phase I, II, III and IV. As a result, all eight motors in both the pump houses stopped functioning. With this, all the motors, panels and other machines installed there got submerged in water. To pump out the water, fire tenders from Ropar and Chandigarh were pressed into service. The development took place following a power failure early this morning. There was backflow of water in the pipeline to Chandigarh, which filled the pit, in which the motors were installed, said HPS Dhillon, Executive Engineer, Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department. Chandigarh MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma said his team of officers, including XEN Harish Saini, SDO Jaidev Sharma and JE Nirmal Sharma, were there at the Kajauli Waterworks since 5 am. As per report submitted by the officers, the water was pumped out by late in the evening. The Chief Engineer said the motors had been dismantled and sent to different agencies by the MC and the Punjab Water Supply Department, to Chandigarh and Panchkula for repair. Transformers were also sent for repair. Three motors will be made operational by tonight and the rest will be made functional by tomorrow evening, he said. He said tomorrow morning and evening, water supply would be at low pressure. If no major repairs are undertaken, then the water supply in the evening will be normal tomorrow, he said. No evening supply in many sectors There was no evening water supply in parts of many sectors. Those who were residing on top floors complained of no water supply. Janki, a resident of Sector 45-D, said there was no evening supply on Saturday. Even those residing on the ground floor complained of low pressure supply. 37 water tankers pressed into service As there was water crisis in the city, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Saturday evening pressed 37 water tankers, including 20 private ones, into service. The MC staff was sending these tankers to the area from where they got the complaint of no water supply. City to get 25 MGD water today If the authorities manage to repair the three motors, as claimed by the MC, then the city will get a total of 30 MGD water. Out of 30 MGD, 5 MGD will be given to Mohali. There are four phases of Kajauli and each phase has two motors. Every motor supplies 10 MGD water to Sector 39 waterworks. A re-run of the 2013 crisis The city remained waterless for 15 days following a leakage in the Phase III and IV pipelines of the Kajauli Waterworks in 2013. The MC had started providing water to residents with the help of tankers, but that too failed to tide over the problem. Mayor holds late night emergency meeting Mayor Arun Sood held an emergency meeting with MC Chief Engineer NP Sharma and other officials at the MC building, Sector 17, on Saturday night. The Mayor said they would request the DC to arrange for private water tankers for the disposal of the MC for managing water crisis. Besides, he would meet the Punjab CM over the maintenance work of Kajauli water supply lines. At present, the MC only manages Phase III line, whereas three phases are maintained by Punjab. Besides, directions were also issued to run tubewells round the clock in the city to manage water crisis, the Mayor said. Govind Talwalkar A TERRORIST taking heavy toll of human lives in Nice, followed by the ambushing of the police in Dallas, Texas and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have undermined the confidence of the ordinary Americans, who already had been on edge due to the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernadino and Orlando. The American constitution guarantees the separation of the church and the State. Even so, some are advocating bringing God into our lives. Some are in a mood to revise their long cherished dreams and their liberal instincts. No wonder that on the eve of the Republican convention in Cleveland, Donald Trump, as expected, at the outset referred to the terrorist attack in Nice and repeated his warning that the present dangerous world requires us to be vigilant against the enemies. The general reaction in the US seems to concede this. He called himself a Law and Order candidate and lambasted the Obama administration for its foreign policy, which, according to him, has not only failed, but has also increased the national debt and threatened its security. In his campaign, Trump has never tired of proclaiming that he was proud to be a Conservative candidate and would appoint a Conservative judge to the Supreme Court, when the occasion arises. Therefore, it is no wonder that he has selected Mike Pence, the Indiana Governor, as his running mate. Conservative credentials of Pence are admired by the tea party wing of the Republicans. Though Pence started his political career as a Democrat, he joined the Republican Party under the spell of Ronald Reagan. He served as a member of the Congress for 12 years and became the Governor of Indiana. He is opposed to abortion and gun control. He is an ardent supporter of the usual Conservative plank, even going to the extreme of rejecting the theory of evolution. By selecting Pence as a running-mate, Trump has tried to unite his party. He was alienated from the core of the party establishment and the lobbyists who usually donate generously to the Republican presidential campaign. Strangely, despite being a billionaire himself, Trump has not succeeded in collecting millions by way of campaign donations. By inducting Pence, Trump now has not only assuaged the feelings of the party bosses, but also those of the lobbyists. Recently in Orlando, the LGBT club was the target of a radicalised Muslim attacker. People celebrating Bastille Day on July 14 in Nice on the French Riviera were massacred by a Tunisia-born Muslim extremist. France seems to have been the target of Muslim terrorists. It has had several such attacks in the past two years. The confidence of the American people in general is not very high because of the recent happenings, here and abroad. Trump has not failed to remind the people that he was the first to sound the warning about the external and the homegrown terrorist threat. In shops, restaurants or even hospitals, one comes across people who feel relieved talking to somebody and expressing their anxiety whether we would have 9/11 or other such terrorist attack again. In the same mood, several people express their anger and resentment about President Obamas insistence on not using the words radical Islam to describe Muslim terrorists or even the ISIS. They ask whether the jihadist by another name would automatically be law-abiding and aware of the civic duties and be very gentle. Since the answer is no, why does the administration not want to identify the jihadists by their religion in which they themselves profess pride? In general, this is the mindset of the common folks, irrespective of race. Such a mindset in this election season might weigh on the voting process. Also, Obamas plan to settle some thousands of refugees from Syria in the US might be opposed by some members of the Congress and the Senate. That Hillary wants to quadruple the number of such refugees has created resentment, which may cost her votes. There has been a deep racial divide due to police brutality experienced by blacks over the years, despite the existence of the Civil Rights Act for the past 50 years. The division has now raised its head horribly due to recent unjustified shooting of blacks by the police. Nevertheless, both blacks and whites are united in opposing the influx of Muslim refugees. The mood to re-examine and, if need be, to revise the liberal instincts of society, in general, is palpable. But this seems to be the present trend the world over. The British voting for the exit from the European Union is, in a way, a manifestation of nationalism. In next years elections in France, Germany and Italy, the verdict may go against the European Union. In America, Trumps slogan is America first. He denounces various international trade pacts. Standing for America first might cost this country its world leadership. But Trump does not mind, as he says that the so-called world leadership brought huge debts and decade-long wars which have brought nothing but the rise of terrorist organisations and their constant threat. People are scared and tired of instability. On the other hand, the policy of leading from behind, as advocated by Obama, has created more mess and widespread bloodbaths and suicidal attacks. Those who used to indulge in loud shouts, but had no solid party behind them, were hailed as harbinger of the Arab Spring in Egypt and were to usher in a new regime of peace and prosperity. The demand of those revolutionaries for new order vaporised and they themselves joined hands with their so-called enemies. This tragedy is graphically described in the eyewitness account by Robert Worth, The New York Times representative in the Middle East. So, in these trying and dangerous days, let us hope that the retrospection by the Americans might bring some sobriety which the rulers have lost over the past 16 years or so. Moreover, the federal government does not wield all the power here, states also assert authority and it is rare that the same party has the power at the centre and every state. These checks and balances help rein in extremist tendencies of both parties. So, there is hope. The writer is a well-known commentator and author It is usually the opposition MPs who disrupt Parliament. On Friday, however, the roles were reversed. MPs belonging to the ruling BJP and its coalition partner, Shiromani Akali Dal, led the noisy protests for action against Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann for compromising the security of Parliament by filming his entry into it and making the video public. They had the option to speak on the issue in an orderly way but instead they chose to perform for the TV cameras, reducing Parliament to the level of a Khap Panchayat. Other than the concern over security there was a political reason behind the clamour for action. In Punjab both parties are pitted against AAP and here was an opportunity to fix one of its key leaders. Among the vociferous protesters was Union minister Harsimrat Badal. She has accused two Congress members Jairam Ramesh and Renuka Chowdhury of misbehaviour and threatened to move a privilege motion against them. The two Congress MPs reportedly stopped her from disrupting the proceedings of Rajya Sabha, which was scheduled to take up a private members Bill for the grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. The BJP was caught in a difficult situation since the Bills approval meant an additional financial burden on the Centre and its rejection would embarrass its ruling ally, TDP, in Andhra. The adjournment of the House came to the governments rescue. Why Harsimrat Badal chose to leave the Lok Sabha of which she is a member and move to the Upper House to voice her concern over Parliaments security remains unexplained. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, could have shortened this drama of absurd by announcing some plan of action to discipline Bhagwant Mann or accepting his unconditional apology. Another MP from Punjab, Harinder Singh Khalsa, has added his bit to the drama by complaining in writing that Mann smells of alcohol in the House. The BJP has its majority in the Lok Sabha. Should it take so much time for the Speaker and Parliament to discipline one member? Obviously, the Mann issue was overblown for causing political damage to AAP. Sat Singh Tribune News Service Bhiwani, July 23 We pray that not only our daughter, but all 29 on board AN-32 return home safely, the parents of Flight Lieutenant Deepika Sheoran stoically said here today. They have not given in to despair. They believe they will be reunited with their eldest child soon. The family belongs to Todda Dhani village in Bhiwani district. Deepika was a brilliant student. After BTech, she was preparing for the civil services when she decided to sit for the Combined Defence Services test. She made it in her first attempt, recalled Dalip Sheoran with pride. An XEN (Public Health), he is posted at Hansi. Deepika joined the Indian Air Force in 2013 and her first posting was at Port Blair. She married Kuldeep Dalal of Bhiwani, Commandant with the Indian Navy, on November 22, 2015. Her mother Prem Lata said she had spoken to her on the phone on Thursday night. She told me that their plane would be returning to Port Blair on Friday. The Sheorans appealed to the Central Government to step up efforts to locate the missing plane and bring back the survivors. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu today met family members of employees of the Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Visakhapatnam. Eight employees of the depot were among those who boarded the AN-32 aircraft. Our Correspondent Una, July 24 The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has appreciated the role of the state government in implementing projects funded by it. The agency is keen on funding more projects in the state now. This was stated by Sachiko Imoto, senior representative, JICA India office, on the completion of the Rs 160-crore Swan River Integrated Watershed Management Project (IWMP), which was funded by the JICA in Una district. Besides Sachiko Imoto, JICA programme specialist Yakuri Inagaki and principal development officer Subroto Talokdar were also part of the team that visited beneficiaries in the project area and inspected development activities undertaken during the execution of work. The 10-year project, started in 2006, aims at integrated watershed development activities in 96 panchayats of Una district, checking soil erosion, enabling increased percolation of rainwater in the ground aquifer, increasing vegetative cover, constructing check dams for water conservation, irrigation, fisheries, promoting small savings and linking all above activities with the livelihood of rural folk. Swan river IWMP Deputy Director RK Dogra said women were the main beneficiaries of the project, adding that they had set up self-help groups (SHGs) for income generation. Dr RK Dogra said as many as 7,000 women are part of the Swan Women Federation. Srinagar, July 24 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, along with several ministers of her government, on Sunday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the Valley to take stock of the situation in the wake of the deadly clashes that have left 46 people dead and 3,400 others injured. Mehbooba led the government delegation which called on Singh after the Home Minister had met representatives from the ruling PDP and BJP besides the opposition National Conference separately. The meeting is still in progress. The Union Minister will address a press conference later in the day before he returns to Delhi, a state government official said. Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure as an uneasy calm prevailed in the Valley where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day on Sunday. The situation across the Valley is peaceful so far, an official said. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. PTI Srinagar, July 24 Appealing to people in Kashmir to help restore normalcy, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Centre wants an emotional relationship with the state and not just need-based, even as he warned Pakistan not to interfere in India's internal affairs. Sending a strong message to Pakistan, Rajnath also said the neighbouring country should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here after winding up his two-day visit to the state after holding talks with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and several delegations both in Srinagar and Anantnag, Rajnath said the Centre will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "As far as the Government of India is concerned, I want to make it clear that we don't just want need-based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir," he said, reaching out to the people in the Valley while making a fervent appeal to them to help restore peace and normalcy in the state. Attacking Pakistan on its role in Kashmir, he said, "Its role has not been 'paak' (pure) on Kashmir. Pakistan should change its attitude and approach towards Kashmir." Asking people to give their "constructive suggestions" to bring peace in the state, he said, "There is no need of any third force to improve the situation in Kashmir." Singh hit out at Pakistan, which he said is itself affected by terrorism and to end it on one hand it is killing terrorists after entering the Lal Masjid, while on the other it is asking our youth in Kashmir to take to arms. "This must stop," he said. Appealing to the youth to not to resort to stone-pelting, Singh said he has asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8 resulting in 45 deaths. Rajnath said, "I am very concerned at the situation in Kashmir and our Prime Minister is also very concerned over it. Along with expressing regret over what happened here, I offer my condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives." He made it clear that the government will not tolerate terrorism in any form and said once normalcy and peace is restored in the state, there will be further engagement with all while moving forward in resolving issues. "If there are any differences or disapprovals, they can be resolved through talks mutually. Because, there cannot be any other solution. "I feel that if there is place of Kashmiriyat in democracy, it will only be of humanity," he said, adding that the people of the entire country want that Kashmir should once again become "firdaus" (paradise). He also said he has asked the security forces to adopt restraint while dealing with the protesters and said that the government would review the use of pellet guns and a committee has already been set up by him to look into the use of non-lethal weapons which will give its report in two months. The Union Home Minister, who was accompanied by Union Home Secretary and Joint Secretary in his Ministry, took stock of the situation in the state which has been on the boil since past few days following violent protests that erupted in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. To a question on whether there will be any talks with separatists, Singh said, "Let normalcy and peace be restored first. We will talk to the chief minister here and we will work only after taking her into confidence." "Let us first ensure that normalcy returns. Then, we will talk to whosoever we want." Asked about the suggestions of former Home Minister P Chidambaram on granting more autonomy to the state, he said, "We will look into the suggestions made by Chidambaram, once normalcy is restored in Kashmir". He said various delegations who met him informed about the injuries to several people due to use of pellet guns by security forces and he has assured them of treatment of the injured in AIIMS in Delhi. Singh said he talked to Union Health Minister J P Nadda and asked him to appoint a nodal officer in AIIMS to ensure the treatment of all injured in Kashmir there. He said six people are already getting treatment there. The Home Minister said the Centre has also evolved a programme for providing employment opportunities to Kashmiri youth and engage them. PTI When bars in Racine have problems, the owners are called before the Citys Public Safety and Licensing Committee. There, aldermen discuss the issues that have been brought to their attention and they figure out courses of remediation with the managers. If all goes well, the issues can be addressed. But, if the problems cannot be fixed the aldermen call for the establishments to be shut down. That makes sense. That is how it should work. Yet, that doesnt appear to be how it works for motels. Riverside Inn, 3700 Northwestern Ave., has a history of problems and it doesnt appear anything is being done about it. In an article that ran last Monday, Judy Hart, who has lived there since 2009 detailed some of the problems, which include widespread bedbugs and mildew. Thats just the start. According to Health Department records, received through a records request, there have been at least 22 inspections over the last three years, yielding over 100 violations. One inspection this January yielded 21 new violations. Its not just health issues. Police also handle a significant amount of calls from the motel, according to Racine Police Deputy Chief Al Days. Journal Times archives show 104 entries when the terms Riverside Inn and police are entered. Among those reports were cases involving drugs and prostitution. There was also a March 29, 2015, stabbing incident and an overdose death there on June 3, 2012. Yes, motels are going to have problems from time to time. But over the years, Riverside has gone from a motel into what has really become an apartment building, with many guests becoming long-term residents. In an article two summers ago, Racine Police Chief Art Howell said more must be done. He said he was well aware of the issues at the Riverside, which slowly deteriorated from a Holiday Inn to a Days Inn and now doesnt have any chain name attached to it. Weve been dealing with them for a while, he said at the time. Racine Alderman Sandy Weidner also expressed her concerns two years ago about the motel, saying issues go back a dozen years. Two years have come and gone and it doesnt appear anything has changed. In comments in an article that ran Monday, Sixth District Alderman Sandy Weidner, who represents Riversides neighborhood, said, I cannot imagine anyone living there long-term Ive had lots of calls over the years, complaints involving drug dealing, prostitution and the condition of the property there. Mayor John Dickert echoed concerns and said his office has been keeping a very close eye on Riverside due to the number of violations the hotel has accrued. The owners of the property have to start playing by the rules and playing by the ordinances and if they dont, theyll be penalized accordingly, he said. They should be penalized accordingly and those words should be turned into action. The problem motel should be treated like a problem bar. Aldermen should call the owners before them to discuss issues. If those problems cannot be resolved, the motel should face the same consequences problem bars face. Chandigarh, July 24 A team of Punjab Police on Sunday arrested from Delhi AAP MLA Naresh Yadav who has been booked in connection with the alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24. Yadav was booked under relevant sections of the IPC after one of the accused, Vijay Kumar, arrested in connection with the incident, claimed he had done it at the behest of the AAP MLA. Read: Its holy war between Kauravas, Pandavas, says Kejriwal SP (Detective) Jaskaran Singh said Yadav will be produced before the court tomorrow. The Punjab police have already questioned the AAP MLA twice in connection with the incident. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Yadav was booked under various Sections of IPC, including 109 (punishment for abatement if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 injury or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion of any class). Police had claimed Vijay had even met the MLA before the incident and calls were also exchanged between them. The Mehrauli MLA and his party have denied the charges and alleged it was a "political conspiracy" to malign the party's image ahead of Assembly polls in Punjab. Agencies Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, July 23 More than two years after bifurcation, the truncated Andhra Pradesh is still grappling with an uphill task of relocating its employees from Hyderabad to the temporary secretariat complex near Vijayawada. Though the Chandrababu Naidu government made it mandatory for the staff to shift to the interim complex at Velagapudi, pending construction of a new capital city, a majority of the employees has been unable to move because lack of minimum infrastructure and facilities at the under-construction site. There is no drainage. No drinking water. Even the basic facilities are lacking. Construction works are nowhere near completion. How can we work from there? wondered an officer of the Roads and Buildings Department who along with 45 of his colleagues has returned to Hyderabad. In the first week of July, many employees attended an inaugural function of the temporary secretariat, only to return to Hyderabad the same evening due to lack of basic infrastructure. The interim government complex is estimated to be ready only by the second week of August. Many employees are also reluctant to shift to Andhra as they have to leave behind their working spouses or school-going children. Earlier, the state government had set June 27 as the deadline for nearly 15,000 employees to shift to the interim headquarters. But, not many could shift, citing inadequate infrastructure in Vijayawada, a congested coastal town of ten lakh population, and other logistical problems. A temporary Secretariat complex is coming up at Velagapudi village, about 15 kms from Vijayawada. This would serve as the seat of administration till a permanent state capital is built at Amaravathi, a task that might take more than a decade to complete. Though the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 provides for Hyderabad serving as the common capital for Telangana and AP for 10 years, the TDP government is keen that its staff moves out of Hyderabad as soon as possible to ensure that it is closer to the people. The employees are reluctant to move. My spouse is working in Hyderabad and I have school-going children. Displacement at this stage is going to put my finances under severe strain, said Purnachandra Rao, an official of the State Information Department, echoing the predicament of thousands of employees. Adding to their woes, the rents and property values in Vijayawada and Guntur have soared abnormally in anticipation of the influx. All we want is provision of basic amenities. We have appealed to the Chief Minister to relax thedeadline and give more time. Paying three months rent in advance, finding facilities, including school or college for their wards, is definitely hurting the employees, said P Ashok Babu, president of the AP Non-Gazetted Officers Association. In order to soften the impact of displacement, the government has announced a slew of incentives to its staff working from the temporary capital including five-day work schedule, flexible work hours, 30 percent hike in house rent allowance and leave to visit families in Hyderabad over weekends. New Delhi, July 24 AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was on Sunday arrested after a woman alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts, making him the tenth party legislator to be arrested. He was sent to one day's police custody by a court here. Metropolitan Magistrate Ashok Kumar sent the Okhla MLA, who was produced in court, on police remand after Delhi Police sought his custody for investigation into the complaint. Khan was first detained for questioning and then arrested, a day after he alleged in a press conference that the woman was pressed by police into giving a false statement against him. Read: Its holy war between Kauravas, Pandavas, says Kejriwal On July 22, the woman had recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. She had alleged that while she was returning from the legislators residence, a vehicle tried to mow her down and Amanatullah was sitting in it, said Joint Commission of Police, Southeast Range, RP Upadhyay. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Prior to that, she had on July 19 filed a complaint with police alleging that at the AAP MLA's residence in Jamia Nagar, a youth had on July 10 abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered. After her statement to the magistrate, Section 308 (attempt to culpable homicide) was added to the FIR, the officer said. It is a non-bailable charge and we have arrested Khan, Upadhyay said. Reacting to Khans arrest, Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, Modi ji arrests one more AAP MLA. Further, he tweeted in Hindi, Anandiben in Gujarat sends Dalits and Patidars to jail in false cases, Modiji sends Delhiites to jail in false cases. Delhi and Gujarat will now fight together. The woman on Saturday had filed three police complaints alleging that she was receiving threats from unidentified people, following which she had been provided security. The woman, a resident of Jasola, had last week in a police complaint said that she had telephoned Khan on July 10 and later went to his Batla House residence to raise the issue of power cuts with him. She claimed that the minister did not meet her and while she was returning, a youth came out of the house, abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. Later, the FIR was registered against an unidentified youth under Sections 506 and 509 of the IPC at Jamia Nagar police station. Amanatullah had, however, said he did not even know if the woman came to his residence. The AAP on Saturday had rubbished the allegation levelled against the MLA, claiming Delhi Police had pressed the woman into giving a false statement against Khan. PTI Patna, July 24 The BJP on Sunday suspended its Bihar Legislative Council member Tunna Ji Pandey from the party after he was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl on a train. The suspension order came along with a show-cause notice asking Pandey to explain his conduct. The party has suspended Pandey and issued a show-cause notice to him in view of the allegations levelled against him. The party believes in standards and that purity must be maintained in politics, Bihar BJP vice-president Sanjay Mayukh told PTI. Pandey was arrested by rail police in Hajipur on Sunday morning on the charge of sexually harassing a minor girl on board the Howrah-Gorakhpur Poorvanchal Express. PTI New Delhi, July 24 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged a pro-Khalistan militant who was accused of hijacking a Srinagar-New Delhi Indian Airlines flight in 1984 and taking it to Lahore with having acquired an Afghanistan passport under an assumed identity to migrate to Canada. In a recent charge sheet filed recently, the agency accused Parminder Singh Saini alias Harfan Maula for procuring a fake Afghanistan passport in the name of Balbir Singh in Pakistan in 1995, CBI sources said. The agency has said that Saini used this passport to migrate to Canada, where he got himself a driving and social security licenses on the basis of forged travel documents acquired in Pakistan. The sources said although the agency had taken over the hijacking case on July 5, 1984, it could not begin criminal proceedings because of a conviction in Pakistan for the same crime. He was later released and migrated to Canada using an assumed identity, the sources said. In its charge sheet filed in Patiala House Court, CBI has cited Letters Rogatory received from Canada, where Saini was detained in 1995 after his fraud was found, the sources said. Saini was deported to India in 2010 after a long legal battle in Canada, where he had sought permanent residence. Indian Airlines flight IC 405 from Srinagar to New Delhi carrying 255 passengers and a crew of nine was diverted and forced to land in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 6, 1984. The terrorists demanded the release of Harmandar Singh Sandho, General Secretary of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, among other prominent members leaders and $25 million ransom. PTI Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 23 The Congress today kicked off its Uttar Pradesh election campaign with a bus journey traversing 600 km through the western belt of the state and some other regions. The highlight of the first phase of the yatra, which will see 27 editions over the next two months, will be Congress president Sonia Gandhis road show in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on August 2. Sources in the party said plans were to keep building the momentum as the 2017 UP poll drew near and take on all rivals the BJP, the BSP and the ruling SP. Sonias show in Varanasi is part of the strategy to tell adversaries that the Congress is geared for the big battle ahead. Prior to Sonias show, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address workers in Lucknow on July 29 to galvanise cadres for the election. That apart, the Congress is fashioning its campaign around the theme of governance, with former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit appointed as the UP CM face on purpose. Her job is to sell the Delhi dream to UP, a leader says. The Congress bus journey slogan is 27 saal, UP behaal and the idea is to target all non-Congress governments in the state where the party was voted out of power 27 years ago. As the first leg of the bus journey was today flagged off by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary in charge for UP Ghulam Nabi Azad, UP Congress president Raj Babbar, Sheila Dikshit and partys campaign panel chief Sanjay Singh were seen aboard. They will address rallies across several towns of Meerut, Moradabad and Bareilly before winding up the journey in Kanpur on July 25. Todays voters seek a personal touch. You can no longer wave at them and expect them to follow you. You have to make sure you reach them. The bus journey is an attempt to reach UP voters, a leader said as Congress veterans Azad and Sheila waving at onlookers from inside an air conditioned bus made a compelling visual. There were reports that Priyanka may join Rahul at the July 29 workers address in Lucknow. Her entry into the UP election scene is still carefully planned lest the Congress loses the ammunition before the war even begins. The party wants the timing to be perfect and is still thinking whether to send Priyanka to UP alone or involve her for a national role. She, however, is integral to all brainstorming sessions involving partys UP strategy. Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 23 The Division Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Shekher Kumar Dhawan today asked the Haryana Government to make its stand clear on the Prakash Singh panel report regarding the role of government officials during the Jat stir in February. Those responsible for the mayhem are liable to be proceeded against. Why are you shielding them? Political compulsions? the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bench asked the state counsel as the suo motu or court on its own motion case came up for resumed hearing this morning. The second volume of the Prakash Singh committee report on Intelligence and related issues was submitted to the court. The Bench said if the state government was to blame for the failure to act during the Jat agitation, its post-stir conduct was equally deplorable for having failed to build an image of effectual governance. It hinted at a probe by another agency and asked the state counsel to make a statement on the inability to handle the investigation. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Not having procured from the High Court registry the reports submitted by magistrates on the police investigations into the FIRs, the counsel cut a sorry figure. The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had adjourned the case for today after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had sought time to respond to the reports. Mehtas absence today invited the courts disapproval. The Bench said the magistrates had forgone their vacation to prepare the reports, but the Advocate Generals office had not cared to have a look at these. You are just buying time and doing nothing We are shocked at you. You want the Haryana Police to play a band to call the accused? The Advocate Generals office and the government are in a slumber. What has prevented the AG office...? What is the difficulty? Should we transfer the investigations? If it goes to the CBI, I fear for the Haryana Police, the Bench observed. Justice Saron asserted: You want to give the matter a quiet burial. We will not permit it. What are you up to? We cannot tolerate when the AG office sleeps We have to monitor the AG office, the DGP office and the Home Department. Amicus curiae (friend of the court) Anupam Gupta said the reports suggested complete inaction on the part of the police. Except for 22 cases, concrete steps had not been taken in 1,199. Rather, strictures had been passed against the investigating agency. Nonika Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 23 "I believe in Christ and Krishna. I believe the gods are for everyone." Ranjha ranjha aakhdi mein aape ranjhan hoi. To become one with the muse is the ultimate ode to an expression of art. One of Indias most eminent painters, the modernist SH Raza, who passed away today aged 94, achieved exactly that point. Or shall we say bindu the fulcrum of his artistic odyssey. Who knew what began as a simple concentration exercise in school when a teacher asked him to keep looking at a dot to control his wavering mind would one day become his single-minded preoccupation. And it were not only his friends like Krishen Khanna who felt that Raza and bindu were one, he himself professed bindu as the most important thing. And it was bindu that remained the constant artistic companion of the man who lived to paint and painted to live. Be it Aarambh or the exhibition Nirantar that he put up this very year, geometric motifs recurred ceaselessly in his inimitable style. He began as an expressionist landscape painter and a colourist, but even when he moved to metaphysical subjects, the essence of life zeroing in on primal energy, panchtatva, prakriti and more, the theory of colours never escaped his attention. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) He would often compare the putting of two colours to the coming together of two human beings and thus fraught with harmony or conflict. If painting was akin to an act of meditation for him, so was thinking aloud with fellow progressives, forming the Progressive Artists Group in 1947. Unlike his contemporary, the equally legendary MF Husain who exiled himself, Raza returned to India in 2011 after six decades in France, that honoured him with its highest civilian honour, the Legion of Honour. Back in time in 1956, if he created ripples when he was awarded the Prix de la Critique in France, more recently his paintings Saurashtra (which sold for Rs 15.9 crore), and La Terre (Rs 18.8 crore) set new auction benchmarks. He paid crores in taxes but believed money wasnt everything and instead spoke of the need to go back to our roots. As he famously said, India is always in my heart and I put that in my paintings. Nor did he forget his days of struggle when after passing out from JJ School of Art, he wouldnt find buyers. No wonder he patronised budding artists and would often be the first to buy their works. His Raza Foundation besides conducting art lectures and publishing journals, gives out fellowships. The most seductive thing about art is the personality of the artist himself, said Paul Cezanne. Syed Haider Raza was every bit a gentleman who enraptured the world as much with his art as his generosity. The man who believed in Krishna and Christ and who never got tired of bindu enriched the art world with his exploration of Roopadhyatmik (abstract beauty). Like he said, I want to find colours that are happy together. Manas Dasgupta Ahmedabad, July 24 Exiled Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti convener Hardik Patel today accused the BJP government in Gujarat of requesting neighbouring Rajasthan to keep him under house arrest in Udaipur. Hardik today told an Ahmedabad-based television channel that the Udaipur police were not allowing him to leave the house. He claimed he wanted to visit a Lord Ganesh temple in Udaipur to offer prayers but as soon as he stepped out of the house, the police intervened and asked him to return home. He told the police that the Gujarat High Court had only ordered him to stay away from Gujarat for six months and that there was no clause of confinement. The Udaipur police insisted he would have to take permission from the police if he wanted to leave the house, he claimed. After heated arguments, more policemen were summoned. He said it seemed the Udaipur police were following the directions of the Gujarat Government. He said he believed the Anandiben Patel government was worried about his movement in Udaipur, which had a large Patel population. There are about 1.50 lakh Patels in Udaipur and the Gujarat Government wants to ensure I dont get a chance to meet them, Hardik said. The High Court had granted him bail on the condition that he would not enter Gujarat for six months. He was also asked to keep off Mehsana district, the hotbed of the Patel reservation agitation, for nine months. Meanwhile, the PAAS is restarting the reservation stir, which has virtually remained dormant for the last six months. A rally was held in Visnagar town in Mehsana district today, which was joined by thousands of Patels who raised anti-government slogans. Agartala, July 24 A four-day Inspector General-level meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) began here on Sunday to discuss and resolve issues between the two neighbouring countries. A 21-member delegation of BGB led by its Chittagong sector Regional Director Brigadier General Mohammad Habibul Karim arrived here for the meeting with BSF led by Tripura frontier Inspector General JB Sangwan. Relations between the two border guards are excellent. We are cooperating to deal with any border-related development. Except some minor issues, no major problems exist along the India-Bangladesh borders now, Karim said at the Akhaura checkpost. Border crimes, smuggling, erection of fences at zero point in certain places along the border, cross-border movement of inimical elements will be discussed at the meeting, a BSF official said. Of the 856-km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura, over 85% is fenced. IANS Rajkot, July 23 Attacking the BJP government over the Dalit thrashing incident, leaders of various non-BJP parties today accused it of being anti-Dalit and promoting Hindutva fascist forces even as they questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis deafening silence over it. A host of leaders met the victims at the Rajkot civil hospital and Mota Samadhiyala village, and lashed out at the BJP dispensation for not taking prompt action against those behind the beating. CPM politburo member Brinda Karat, who also visited Mota Samadhiyala village where seven people belonging to a Dalit community were brutally flogged by self-styled cow vigilantes, took exception to Modis deafening silence over the incident. JD-U stalwart Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja and Babasaheb Ambedkars grand son Prakash Ambedkar also visited the victims, expressing strong concern and anguish over the incident. Yadav lashed out at the state government for not taking prompt action against the culprits and questioned the BJPs claim of safeguarding the Dalits interests. He said victims were beaten up with public looking on and police did not act despite a police station being located nearby. We have come here to give encouragement, strength to the victims and their family members...The state government did not take prompt action which indicates how the government is concerned about the safety of Dalits, Yadav said. Had the government been competent (in protecting Dalits), no atrocity would have taken place., he said, while demanding immediate release of dalits jailed on fake charges. Raja, who accompanied Yadav, said the incident was a projection and promotion of Hindutva fascist politics. Seven persons from the same family were beaten up by self-styled cow vigilantes for skinning a dead cow, sparking protest and condemnation after its videos went viral. The police have arrested 16 persons. PTI Chennai/Vishakhapatnam, July 24 As the arduous operation to trace the IAFs missing AN32 aircraft with 29 people on board stretched into the third day on Sunday, the search and rescue team is now seeking satellite imagery to find any clue of the plane that lost contact over the Bay of Bengal. There is no sign of the plane as yet, a senior defence official said. At least 18 navy and Coast Guard ships, including a submarine, and eight aircraft like P 81, C 130 and Dorniers, are involved in the round-the-clock operation to search for the Port Blair-bound transport plane which went missing after it took off from the Tambaram air base near Chennai at 8.30 am on July 22. Inclement weather is posing a major challenge in the operation. The authorities are now seeking satellite imagery of the area. The search operation is continuing on a 24-hour basis and all resources at disposal are being used. We have also sought satellite information, Eastern Naval Command chief Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht said in Vishakhapatnam. The depth of water there is about 3,500 metres and in some place it is even more. As the depth increases, challenges also increase, he said, adding that the weather is rough and it is raining. He said the families were being updated on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Air Force authorities have lodged a formal complaint with Tamil Nadu Police over the missing aircraft. We have received a complaint that the Air Forces AN-32 transport aircraft has gone missing, a senior police official said on Sunday. The complaint was lodged with the Selaiyur police on Saturday night, he said. The complaint says 29 personnel on board the aircraft have gone missing. Among the missing personnel is one person from Tamil Nadu, the official told PTI. The complaint has been lodged for legal purposes. A similar complaint was filed when Coast Guards Dornier aircraft went missing last year. The wreckage of the CG Dornier aircraft and bodies of its crew were later found off Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The Russian-made workhorse made the last radio contact at 8.46 am, 16 minutes after the take-off on Friday. Worries mounted for the authorities as time is running out and no positive signals emerged from the operations. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday undertook an aerial survey to personally monitor the search and rescue operations. PTI Chennai, July 23 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday arrived in Chennai to monitor the search operations of the AN-32 aircraft that went missing with 29 people on board. Reached Tambaram to monitor operations on IAF AN-32 aircraft, Parrikar tweeted upon his arrival at the suburban air force here. The aircraft of the Indian Air Force went missing on Friday over the Bay of Bengal on its way to Port Blair from here, raising concerns over its fate. A massive search operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard for tracking the upgraded plane which made the last radio contact at 8.46 am, 16 minutes after take-off from Tambaram air base on Friday. PRO of the Indian Navy, Captain DK Sharma said the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are engaged in intensive search operations to locate the aircraft. As per reports, INS Jalashwa is expected to reach the area on Saturday to assist in the search operations. The AN-32 are being used by the IAF to carry the personnel of the Army, Navy and the Air Force and Coast Guard and defence civilians posted in Indias only integrated command in Andaman and Nicobar. They also carry tonnes of materials like food items and medicines. This is the first time ever an AN-32 has disappeared over the Bay of Bengal. Apart from the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force, the Tamil Nadu Coastal Police have also participated in the search operations in the possible area of lose of contact by the missing aircraft. The defence authorities have already informed of the incident to the families of the six crew members and the 23 other personnel. A submarine has also rushed to the probable area. The signals of the locator beacon of the aircraft hold the key to the search operation. Agencies Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 24 Ever thought about the quality of food your revered shrine is serving? Well, the countrys apex food regulator is thinking about that on your behalf. For the first time in the history of Indias food safety movement, efforts are afoot to see that food and prasad served by temples, gurdwaras, mosques and churches conforms to the highest safety and hygiene standards and shrines voluntarily open their kitchens up for scrutiny. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Lakhs of people throng places of worship, which mostly have large kitchens and pose potential health hazards to pilgrims. We are engaging the managements of shrines to help them implement food safety management systems for which we have prepared a draft manual. We are planning a workshop shortly for representatives of about 40 religious places in India. Our effort is to sensitise them on the significance of safety and hygiene in large community kitchen settings, CEO of Food Safety Standards Association of India Pawan Agarwal told The Tribune today. On the list of FSSAIs invitees for the workshop, where the draft manual for food safety in places of worship will be circulated, are the Golden Temple, Gurdwaras Nanded Saheb and Patna Saheb; all four dhams of Hindu religion Badrinath, Dwarkadheesh, Rameshwaram and Jagannath Puri; Siddhivinayak, Balaji, Shirdi and Akshardham temples. In the category of mosques, Dargah Ajmer Sharif, Nizamuddin, Haji Ali and Kashmirs Hazratbal are to be invited. We will also invite representatives of deras like Beas, Sacha Sauda and Patanjali yogpeeth, which cater to a large number of people. If we can get shrines and deras to implement food safety management systems, we can secure large sections of our population from any potential contamination or infection by way of food. Around 10 per cent of the countrys people are affected by the food and prasad served at religious places, says AK Singla, Joint Director, Food Safety Management Division of FSSAI. The workshop follows a successful experiment on the implementation of food safety systems in the kitchens of Shirdi and Siddhivinayak temples. The exercise was conducted by All India Food Technologists Association, which will partner with the FSSAI to take the exercise forward by piloting the same experiment in 100 places of worship. The upcoming workshop is the first step in that direction. FSSAI officials say places of worship are mandated to be covered under the FSSAI Act. The Act covers all catering establishments under which all places of worship fall as they serve food and maintain kitchens. All such establishments, including charity organisations like shrines, are required to be registered under the food safety law but registrations are low due to lack of awareness among their managements. Our workshop will help create awareness about the need for places of worship register and practice highest food safety standards, Singla adds. Under the FSSAI Act, any catering establishment with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh needs to be registered with the state government; establishments with a yearly turnover between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 20 crore need to be licensed by the state. Tribune News Service Lucknow, July 23 A large number of BJP workers across the state staged demonstrations demanding the arrest of Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui. BJP workers are demanding the immediate arrest of the BSP leader for reportedly using foul language against expelled BJP vice-president Daya Shankar Singhs minor daughter. BJP workers clashed with the police at the Hazratganj crossing when they were prevented from moving towards the BSP office and national president Mayawatis residence. Similar demonstrations were held in other district headquarters where BJP workers handed over memorandum to the district magistrate demanding the arrest of the BSP leaders, including Mayawati. In Lucknow, BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya alleged the Samajwadi Party and BSP were hand in glove as the FIR lodged against Naseemuddin Siddiqui was registered under less stringent sections. Later, a delegation of the state BJP leaders met Governor Ram Naik at Raj Bhawan where they reiterated their demand for the immediate arrest of the BSP leaders. In view of the BJP agitation, the state government increased security at the BSP state headquarters, besides residences of Mayawati and other BSP leaders. From Dalit to women issue New Delhi: BJP leaders said after Siddiquis comment, the issue was no longer about Dalits, but of the dignity of all women in the state. The party has launched the beti ke samman mein, BJP maidan mein campaign to prove its point and show solidarity with the expelled leaders mother and wife who have alleged intimidation and threat to their lives. They have also filed an FIR against Mayawati, Siddiqui and other BSP workers. Siddiquis comment has taken the steam out of plans of Mayawati, who was raring to turn it into an issue related to Dalits honour and pride. Rallying behind Daya Shankars family, the BJP has also sent a signal to his community (the upper caste Thakurs) that the party was with them. Questioning Mayawatis commitment to the Dalit cause, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said she did not visit the home of any Dalit woman who was sexually assaulted under the SP government. The cases of atrocities against women in UP are more than anywhere else. Did Mayawati visit any Dalit victim? he said, saying over 1000 Dalits were killed when she was the CM and over 29,000 cases of atrocities against them were registered. Vibha Sharma Islamabad, July 24 Slamming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for saying that he is waiting for the day Jammu and Kashmir would join Pakistan, a Pakistani daily on Sunday urged him not to indulge in wishful thinking. Such statements are nothing more than rhetoric, the Daily Times said in an editorial. Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues, it added. Pakistans official stance on Kashmir is that it extends moral support to the Kashmiri struggle for freedom and will continue to raise its voice for their right to self-determination. This stance is commendable but making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate, the daily said. By uttering these words, the PM is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also. The daily said talking about Jammu and Kashmirs accession with Pakistan was easy but nobody knew how to make it happen. It could only happen through talks or war. There is no other solution. Kashmiris are already paying a heavy price for this conflict. What can Pakistan offer to Kashmiris when it is still coping with numerous challenges that are posing a threat to its own stability? The editorial said that instead of talking about capturing more land, Islamabad needed to make Pakistani-governed Kashmir a model state. Islamabad holds the northern part of the divided state. For the past 67 years, Pakistan had failed to ensure good governance in its own Kashmir, known as Azad Kashmir, it said. The daily urged India and Pakistan to resolve their bilateral issues amicably. They need to get engaged in the dialogue process to pave the way for further talks to help find common ground to end differences. Both Pakistani and Indian governments must take pity on their respective people and come to the negotiating table for striking a permanent peace deal, it said. IANS Jaipur, July 24 Six persons were killed and five injured in a collision between two SUVs at Kohina village of Churu district after a firing incident on Sunday. The mishap occurred when a gang of criminals was fleeing after opening fire at villagers over a land dispute. Their vehicle collided with an unidentified vehicle that was carrying passengers in the Bhaleri Thana area. The alleged land grabbers were challenged by villagers when they tried to lay seize to agriculture land at gunpoint. The deceased and injured, including two members of the gang, were rushed to nearby government hospitals, Churu SP Rahul Barhet said. The land grabbers had allegedly come from Haryana to seize agriculture land belonging to a person who was living there for the last 20 years. OC Kabul: Twin explosions tore through a demonstration by members of Afghanistans mainly Shiite Hazara minority in capital Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding more than 230 in a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State. Thousands of Hazaras had been demonstrating over the route of a planned multimillion dollar power line. The attack was the worst in months and if confirmed as the work of IS, would represent a major escalation for a group which has hitherto been largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The Taliban, a fierce enemy of Islamic State, had issued a statement denying any involvement. Reuters (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Patna, July 23 The police on Saturday arrested two of the 11 accused in a case in which two Dalit youths were beaten up for allegedly stealing a motorcycle in Muzaffarpur. SP Vivek Kumar said raids were continuing to arrest nine others. As per preliminary investigation, it was found that two Dalit youths were wrongfully confined and beaten up by some men. However, it's not clear whether these men had urinated upon the youths as well, he said. IANS BD Kasniyal Pithoragarh, July 24 Amid weak communication network on network of the BSNL and increasing dependence of Pithoragarh residents on Nepalese telecom operators, there is a threat to the national security. Pithoragarh shares boundaries with China in the north and Nepal in the east. If a person in India uses a telecom network of an international operator, the Indian security agencies cant hear that conversation but agencies of the neighbouring country can. Besides, the BSNL, is losing a revenue of crores of rupees whereas the Nepalese operators are minting money. The BSNL has limited towers in this part of the border. Sources in the BSNL say the stretch of over 100 km from Dharchula to Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district near the China border has no local communication network. Private telecom companies are not allowed to operate in the border region due to security reasons. Bhupendra Singh Thapa, a Dharchula-based trader, said, Due to lack of communication network in remote border areas, residents of over 36 villages in Pithoragarh and 46 villages in Champawat are dependent on the strong Nepalese communication network. Thapa has written several times to the Central Government for a sound communication network but to no avail. Not only residents in Vyans, Darma and Chaundas valleys use Nepalese network, but security personnel, posted in higher reaches near the China and Nepal border, are also using the foreign network, said Thapa. Dealers, who sell recharge coupons of various telecom companies, say residents, who make frequent calls to their acquaintances in Dharchula, Jhoolaghat, Jauljibi, Baluakot and nearby towns, prefer to buy SIM cards of Nepalese telecom operators which have a strong connectivity. Though they have to pay international call rates, they still go for it for a good telecommunication service, said Mohan Bhatt, who sells recharge coupons of Idea in Pithoragarh. BSNL officials, posted in the border region, also accept that lack of towers here has not only put the national security in jeopardy but also resulted in a loss of a huge revenue. We are losing a revenue of around Rs 3 crore per year to Nepalese telecom operators, said PS Dharmashaktu, a BSNL official in the Pithoragarh circle. He said security agencies couldnt hear the communication of anyone in the district if the person used the network of a foreign operator. But the Nepalese authorities can easily hear the conversation. Besides, if a person using a domestic SIM makes a phone call through an international network, he would have to pay international charges, said Dharmashaktu. Mahendra Pati, GM, BSNL, Almora, said, We have covered over 80 per cent of the population under our communication network by installing 70 towers in the remote areas of Pithoragarh and Champawat districts. We have also been providing Internet facilities. Officials of the BSNL said several political leaders in Nepal had been issuing anti-India statements and praising China. Under such circumstances, India should become cautious with regards to its security. If Nepal collaborates with China, the use of Nepalese communication network in the Indian territory can result in a threat, said Dharmashaktu. He said India should make the BSNL network strong near the border areas. We should install BSNL towers at Gunji in Vyans Valley and also on the 70-km Darma-Vyans stretch to end the monopoly of foreign communication network, he added. Istanbul, July 24 At the crossroads between a divided Europe and a convulsed Middle East, Turkey is caught in a power struggle between former Islamist allies which is shaking democratic institutions and raises questions about its future path. Since a failed coup on July 15, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) founded by President Tayyip Erdogan has gained the upper hand in its battle with clandestine networks in the military, judiciary and bureaucracy loyal to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. This fight to the bitter end has alarmed the West and unsettled the country of 80 million, which borders the chaos in Iraq and Syria and is a Western ally against Islamic State. Erdogan accuses Gulen of masterminding the attempted coup by a faction within the military and has rounded up more than 60,000 people in an operation which he hopes will cleanse Turkey of what he calls the Gulenist virus. The purges go beyond the more than 100 generals and 6,000 soldiers held, or the nearly 3,000 judges detained. They already encompass 21,000 teachers and much of the academic community, and new targets in a media already hit by years of firings and fines, jailings and closures. They are traitors, Erdogan told Reuters in an interview on Thursday. He described Gulens network as like a cancer and said he would treat them like a separatist terrorist organisation and root them out, wherever they may be. Gulen, 75, denies plotting against the state and suggested the day after the abortive coup that it may have been staged to justify a crackdown on his followers. Gulen, a Muslim imam self-exiled in Pennsylvania since 1999, has built a franchise of schools in Turkey and around the world, promoting the importance of education, scientific progress, religious coexistence and fighting poverty. After their ascent to power, Erdogan and the AKP became dependent on the Gulenists in their common fight against the army. The struggle between the former allies started in late 2011. Erdogan had been re-elected that summer for a third term as PM, making no secret of his presidential ambitions. His posters emphasised power until 2023, the centenary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's founding of the modern republic. Reuters Vientiane (Laos), Jul 24 Southeast Asian nations failed to find common ground on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on Sunday after Cambodia stuck to its demand the group make no reference to an international court ruling against Beijing in a statement, diplomats said. Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for the first time since the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the maritime dispute earlier this month. The ruling denied China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce. The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, ASEAN diplomats said on Sunday. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling in the closed-door meeting with ASEAN counterparts in Laos on Sunday, sources said. But in the run up to the meeting, China's closest ASEAN ally Cambodia has put up opposition to mentioning the ruling, throwing the group into disarray. Cambodia supports China's opposition to an ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, and Beijing's preference for dealing with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis. First deadlock since 2012 Cambodia's foreign minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country's position on Sunday. Despite a late night meeting of foreign ministers called to thrash out the issue late on Saturday, the region's top diplomats were unable to find a compromise. ASEAN is now facing the prospect of being unable to issue a statement after a meeting for only the second time in its 49-year history. The first time, in 2012, was also due to Cambodia's resistance to language around the South China Sea. "We have been here before and I hope they can solve it," said one official from the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. "It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012." The group has given itself until Tuesday to come to an agreement and issue a statement, said one ASEAN diplomat. Over the next two days, ASEAN members will meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Wang, who started bilateral meetings with ASEAN members on Sunday, declined to talk to reporters on arrival in Vientiane. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting. It is unclear if he will meet Wang, but China reacted angrily to Kishida saying he would discuss the sea if they do meet. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, in a statement posted on the ministry's website, said the sea is not Japan's concern. "We urge Japan not to hype up and meddle in the South China Sea issue," he said. "Japan is not a concerned party in the South China Sea, and because of its disgraceful history is in no place to make irresponsible comments about China." The United States, allied to the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court's ruling. It has criticised China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights. But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior U.S. official said ahead of his trip. Chinese state media called for "damage control" at the meetings. A commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday said the court ruling was a "blow to peace and stability in the region.... and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence." Barack Obama is set in September to become the first US President to visit Laos, attending an annual summit hosted by the country that holds the ASEAN chairmanship. Reuters Baghdad, July 24 A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 15 people in a Shiite area of northern Baghdad on Sunday, security and medical officials said. The bombing, which struck near a checkpoint in the Kadhimiyah area, home to a major Shiite shrine, also wounded at least 29 people, the officials said. Islamic State issued a statement claiming the attack, saying it targeted soldiers and pro-government paramilitaries in the area. The jihadist group frequently carries out attacks on security forces, and also often targets members of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, whom it considers heretics. An Islamic State suicide bomber struck shoppers in Baghdad's central Karrada district earlier this month, killing 292 people. The group also claimed an attack on a Shiite shrine in Balad, north of the capital, that left 40 dead a few days later. Islamic State overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. The jihadists have responded to the battlefield setbacks by striking civilians, and experts have warned there may be more such attacks as the jihadists continue to lose ground. AFP 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. Bruised, woman returns from Kuwait empty-handed A Nepali woman, who had left the country with a labour permit, has returned home from Kuwait after enduring two-and-a-half years of physical abuse at the hands of her employer. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). City 2.0 There is a need to re-think cities in order to make urbanisation a positive and productive transformation Discussions on no-trust motion underway in parliament Parliamentary discussions are underway on the no-confidence motion registered by some political parties including the main opposition Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center ) against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Deuba, Dahal meet Prez Bhandari Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held separated meetings with President Bidhya Bhandari on Sunday. All the latest Uttoxeter news Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Church News October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in... Church News October 13, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Natures Therapy The pine tree with its solemn dignity lifts its branches to the sky as if to give... Employer mosquito The mosquito is the largest employer in the world Bill Nash SHARE All it takes is a quick glance at the photo that accompanies this column to tell I don't pay much attention to my hair. I keep it short because I really can't be bothered with it. It's essentially the same haircut I had in the fifth grade. Others, however, are much more interested. Take, for example, French President Francois Hollande. It was recently revealed that not only does Hollande have his own barber on call, he pays him the equivalent of about $132,000 a year in salary. The French taxpayers may want to look into this because, frankly, President Hollande's haircut isn't all that great. Most men get their hair cut every three to four weeks. If you take the monthly figure, President Hollande is having his hair cut about 13 times a year and paying $10,154 per cut. A recent article on the Angie's List website says that men's haircuts cost between $10 and $100 in the United States with the average being $28. President Hollande could fly to the United States, have his hair cut here, fly back and still save the French taxpayers some money. A report from the mobile payment company Square shows that, in the United States, women pay about 50 percent more on average for a haircut than men. The nationwide average for a woman's haircut is $44. It's $69 in Los Angeles, $61, in Chicago and $73 in New York. A man's cut in Los Angeles is $45. I pay considerably less than that. My haircut with tip is $20. (Larry, if you're reading this, don't get any ideas!) Of course, my haircut is pretty simple; it's only one step away from a buzz cut. But Larry does a nice job of making it look neat and professional for a while. My hair looks really good for the first few hours after I leave the shop, and then I cease to pay much attention to it for the next few weeks. During a recent haircut, I asked Larry if he was a barber or a stylist. He was slightly insulted and told me he had graduated from barber's college and had a barber's license. Conventional wisdom says that men have their hair cut by a barber and women by a stylist, or cosmetologist. Not true, Larry told me. Either can cut men's and women's hair. The difference is in the training. Barber shops have long been known as a place for a shave and haircut, some male camaraderie and a man-cave kind of atmosphere. But the barbering profession goes back for centuries, back to a time when they were even called upon for medical procedures. The traditional red, white and blue barber's pole reflects that history. And even today's barbers carry on some of that tradition, at least in terms of their education. "On the barber's pole," said Larry, "the red represents blood and the blue represents bandages." I requested that neither of those be part of my haircutting experience that morning. But he told me that to get his license, he was required to take a number of classes in anatomy. In the mornings, he learned about the human body's nerves, circulatory system and skeletal system. In the afternoons, he cut hair. I don't know if President Hollande's hair stylist is actually a barber or a cosmetologist. But if he's a barber, it might make a little more sense. A $132,000 salary is pretty expensive for someone to cut your hair, but it would be cheap for a doctor. And doctors don't cut hair. Bill Nash is a Star columnist. Contact him at bnash805@aol.com. His novel, "Stolen Dream," is available at www.billnashonline.com, on Amazon.com or as an e-book. STAR FILE PHOTO A snowy plover rests in the sand at Ormond Beach. SHARE Spending time at the beach is a time-honored American tradition. Whether it's an ocean or a lake, we enjoy beach and water play, often with our best canine friend. Problem is, some of the activities we enjoy endanger local wildlife. When dogs at the beach chase birds, the birds expend energy needed for migration, and nesting birds may abandon their young. Fortunately, one of our local beaches provides a relatively safe place for wildlife and it will soon become even better. Ormond Beach near Oxnard will soon benefit from the most significant wetland restoration project in Southern California. Restoration will make a portion of the Ventura County coast comparable to the way it was prior to development: a complex of dunes, lakes, lagoons and salt and freshwater marshes, rich in biodiversity and resilient to climate fluctuations. While most coastal ecosystems have been degraded or converted to human uses, a remnant still exists at Ormond Beach. It is one of the few areas in Southern California with an intact system of dune, transition zone and marsh. More than 200 migratory bird species have been reported there, and more shorebird species use Ormond Beach than any other site in Ventura County. It is a critical rest stop along the Pacific Flyway, the atmospheric highway many birds follow between nesting grounds in the Arctic and wintering homes in Central and South America. It has earned Audubon's designation as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance. Recognizing this, the City of Oxnard adopted an ordinance in June that ramps up environmental protections for Ormond Beach as part of the restoration plan. The ordinance prohibits activities known to harm wildlife and habitat. Dogs, horses and other domestic animals are prohibited, as are camping, bonfires and dune modification. Violators are subject to citation and fines of up to $500. Among the many species that depend on Ormond Beach and its rare dune habitat, two in particular are iconic: the western snowy plover and the California least tern. This month, both species are valiantly defending their vulnerable young. The process began in March when they instinctively constructed nests above the surf line, exposed to potential harm from dogs or off-road vehicles. Later, chicks come, and they are even more vulnerable to these dangers. If adults are frightened and the threat to life is deemed severe enough, the tern or plover might abandon its nest or become separated from their chicks. During most of the thousands of years these birds have made local beaches their home, humans were not present, so they have not had the opportunity to adapt to our interference. For these creatures to survive, people must allow them space and quiet throughout their spring and summer nesting season. Ormond Beach is the least developed beach in Ventura County and very important, if not critical, to their survival. These creatures, along with many others, depend on an undisturbed dune habitat. Coincidentally, humans also benefit from a healthy dune ecosystem because it can absorb large waves and protect developed areas from sea level rise. These species and the ecosystem sustaining them have been the focus of the Ventura Audubon Society's Shorebird Recovery Program. Education is the key to protecting and preserving important wildlife areas. People whom Audubon members encounter often have no idea that these tiny birds are nesting behind the delicate fences erected more as a warning than as a barrier. Working with California State Parks, Audubon supports a program training stewardship volunteers to help educate beachgoers on all the beaches where nests are found. Audubon has also forged a relationship with CSU Channel Islands and its Environmental Science and Resource Management Program to provide stewardship training to students, who in turn provide service hours at Ormond Beach. Also offered is Audubon Adventures, a classroom program for children in grades 3 through 8. It introduces young people, their families and their teachers to the fundamental principles by which the natural world functions. Ventura Audubon can help fund the program in local schools. You can keep your "eye on the environment" by contacting the Ventura Audubon Society for more information on programs. Go to www.venturaaudubon.org or email info@venturaaudubon.org. Bruce Schoppe is president of the Ventura Audubon Society, and Cynthia Hartley is the Ventura Audubon Society's shorebird recovery project biologist at Ormond Beach. Representatives of government or nonprofit agencies who want to submit articles on environmental topics for this column should contact David Goldstein at 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Veteran Mary Ahern, an Army nurse during World War II, is interviewed at the Palms at Bonaventure Assisted Living in Ventura on Saturday. SHARE JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Mary Ahern, an Army nurse during World War II, responds to a question from Mike Farrar during her interview Saturday at the Palms at Bonaventure Assisted Living in Ventura. The interview will be archived with the Library of Congress. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Veteran Mary Ahern, an Army nurse during World War II, is interviewed at the Palms at Bonaventure Assisted Living in Ventura on Saturday. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/THE STAR Mary Ahern, an Army nurse during World War II, responds to a question from Mike Farrar during her interview Saturday at the Palms at Bonaventure Assisted Living in Ventura. At left is Ahern's great niece Vanessa Fleur. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO A photo shows Mary Ahern when she was an Army nurse during World War II. By Jeremy Foster, Special to The Star Ventura resident Mary Ahern served during some of the darker moments of World War II. As an Army Air Corps nurse, the 101-year-old tended to wounded soldiers at several Army hospitals during the war, and witnessed firsthand the atrocities of the Nazi death camps. The story she has shared with family and friends was preserved in perpetuity Saturday with the Veterans History Project, which collects veterans' wartime memories for archive with the Library of Congress. Mike Farrar, director of the Veterans History Project and an emergency services volunteer for the Red Cross Los Angeles chapter, has interviewed more than 160 people since 2010, when he launched the program. "We do so much for our active military soldiers and families, and this is a way to give back to our veterans," Farrar said. "We've acquired more than 500 interviews for the Library of Congress, and it's especially important that we interview veterans like Mary because we're losing our World War II veterans at more than 1,000 per day. If we don't capture these stories, we risk losing them forever." Farrar has interviewed people ranging from Medal of Honor recipients to onetime first lady Betty Ford's personal nurse. "Not only is Mary 101 years old, but she served during World War II as a nurse in the European Theater, helping people everywhere, including those who were hurt during the Battle of the Bulge and those who were prisoners in concentration camps," Farrar said. Ahern was born in the small town of Saco, Montana, the third of 10 children, several of whom served in the war. "I knew when I was very young that I would become a nurse or a teacher," she said. "I knew that sooner or later, I would leave home." Ahern was a nurse and volunteered to serve, first in February 1944 in Spokane, Washington, rehabilitating soldiers with elephantiasis from the South Pacific. Soon after, she was sent to Santa Ana Army Air Base to care for injured airmen from South Pacific battles, many suffering from injuries complicated with severe depression. She also served at a Victorville base for pilots, airmen and bombardier trainees who needed specialized treatment for air battle injuries. Ahern said she volunteered because it was the right thing to do. Increasing numbers of women were actively taking part in helping with the war effort, and she wanted to do her share. As a first lieutenant with the Army Air Corps, she served in an evacuation hospital in Europe, which meant she and her fellow nurses followed the troops, tending to them under tents around the clock even as fighting erupted miles away. In La Havre, France, at an Army general hospital, she saw quite a few cases of trench foot along with other injuries. She saw soldiers who had thrown the nurses a party in the tents the next day with missing body parts. "It was a time when legs and arms were lost," she said. "One young man has his lower jaw shot off. I couldn't believe how brave these men were." The war was moving rapidly, she said, and when the fighting pushed just south of Cologne Germany, her company crossed the Rhine River on pontoon bridges as they continued tending to the wounded. The threat of death was ever-present, and the sight of it overwhelmed her even as she spoke about it Saturday when she and others came upon survivors of the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp, which had been liberated days before. Prisoners were dying of starvation, and she remembers being ordered at first not to feed them because it would lead to prisoners "tearing each other apart for food," she said. "Many of the prisoners could not be moved because they were so close to death," she said. "Those are the things you don't forget." After treating camp patients, her nursing crew was sent to the Czechoslovakian-German border to prepare for the invasion of Japan which never happened as the war came to a close. "Today, you see photos of people cheering, but that wasn't true where we were," she said. "I think it took a little while to comprehend that the war had ended." Despite the haunting memories, Ahern is proud to have served her country and said she hopes younger people enlist. "Don't be reluctant or afraid to volunteer, because doing so offers opportunities you might not get otherwise," she said. "I volunteered and can't believe how appreciated I am by the community." SHARE We're living in a black-and-blue America, bruised by racial tensions erupting on both sides of the divide. Micah Xavier Johnson was a racist, taking aim in Dallas to kill as many white policemen as possible. The copycat murders of officers in Baton Rouge and other cities have just escalated the crisis. Some police may have harbored racist beliefs that helped fuel unjustified use of force with innocent black civilians. Racism remains, but harping on the past and the few officers who live out their bias cannot be the answer. Most Americans detest racism of any color from police and citizens alike. First, police have an obligation to treat everyone with respect and to act within the confines of the laws and limits they're required to follow. Needless to say, every unjustified police shooting of an unarmed civilian is an unacceptable crime. Of course, there are bad cops and bad Americans of every race. All need to be held accountable for their crimes. No one deserves to be murdered. Every innocent killed is a tragedy no matter what the race or the profession. It's also evident that black lives have mattered in the rich tapestry of American history. From historical figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. to today's Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Dr. Ben Carson, Dallas Police Chief David Brown and President Barack Obama, all have made an enduring impact on our country. But it's the black Americans who have personally touched and enriched my life whom I will never forget. To name a few, they include my fellow speaker friends, the late John Alston and Lenora Billings Harris; my fellow congregation members; Friday O. and his family; my GOP buddies, Charles and Martha House; and my Uplift VC friend and protege, Margraretha Wells. Of course, I noticed the color of their skin when I first met them. Whenever we meet now, I just see a smile from a friend. I'm sure I'm not alone in this experience. It's too tempting for some to say, "Well, they're not like the rest of those (whites or blacks). They're more like us." We work with them. We worship and pray with them. We have dinner and laugh with them. There can be no resolution without each of us discharging our own responsibilities as citizens to be part of the answer. We need the personal connection that comes from blacks, blues and whites getting to know one another; marching together instead of against each other. We also need to support and thank the thousands of responsible officers who do their best to protect us. In Dallas, as people marched against police racism and their use of deadly force, it was the police who watched and protected their right to protest. It was peaceful; there were conversations and moments of personal connection. When shots rang out, demonstrators ran for cover, protected by the very people they marched against. Police ran to neutralize the shooter. Some of those officers gave their lives that day. Others helped protect and save wounded demonstrators. More are trying to build critical bridges. After a local Black Lives Matter activist told the Wichita, Kansas, chief of police that he was planning a protest, the chief, Gordon Ramsay, proposed a counter offer a First Step Cookout. In an attempt to bridge the divide, many from both the police department and Black Lives Matter came together for a social event few will forget. Chief Ramsay suggested that more communities do the same. He told KMUW-TV, "It takes two parties to make a healthy relationship." We have spent decades dividing America into groups. We can continue to throw data and videos back and forth in support of either "side," but we might remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, who led this great country at a time of our worst divide. After overhearing three politicians talking about a political opponent they detested, Lincoln interrupted and said, "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." The strength of our country lies not only in our liberty, but also in our unity and shared responsibility. The vision of what we can be is on our coins and currency E pluribus unum. It translates into a call for us to reach out across our treasured diversity "Out of many, one." Are you ready for a few more First Step Cookouts? Terry Paulson, of Agoura Hills, is a speaker and author of "The Optimism Advantage." Email him at terry@terrypaulson.com. Communities In Schools of Nevada is reaching out to Las Vegans to help them with a community wide clothing drive to help them provide cold weather clothing for at-risk students. Communities In Schools of Nevada is looking for community groups to collect gently used clothes of any size. Through a partnership with Goodwill, Communities In Schools then turns these donations into vouchers for families to use to purchase uniforms and other needed goods at Goodwill stores. Its easy and fun! Many of our families do not have the money to purchase new school uniforms for their children. As the weather turns cold, many of our students are forced to wear short sleeved shirts and shorts which makes it very uncomfortable and difficult to concentrate on class work, noted State Director, Louise Helton. If we can provide these families with vouchers to Goodwill, they can purchase appropriate clothing and their children can focus on learning. People can drop off bags of used clothing at any Goodwill store location. Just say the donation is for Communities In Schools of Nevada or simply mark your bags with CIS. Goodwill Store Locations: 1280 W Cheyenne Ave. 31 N Nellis Blvd. 9230 S Eastern Ave. 3011 N Rainbow Blvd. 6344 W Sahara Ave. 3345 E Tropicana Ave. 1421 W Warm Springs Rd. 4380 W Craig Rd. To get more information about how you can help, please contact State Marketing Director, Carolyn Wheeler, (702)339-8516 or by email at Carolyn@cisnevada.org This Saturday, August 6, select performers from Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casinos premier male revue, Chippendales, are hosting the weekly Bikini Contest at the Pleasure Pool at Planet Hollywood. All guests must be 21 or older and entry to the contest is free. Prizes are given out for the top three finishers, with first place taking home $500 cash and second and third place receiving $200 and $100 bar tabs, respectively. During the contest, one winner is chosen from each of the five competing heats with a showdown between the last five standing. The winner is chosen by crowd applause. The Pleasure Pool is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cover charge may apply. WHEN: Saturday, August 6 2:30 p.m. Contest registration 3 p.m. Bikini Contest begins WHERE: Pleasure Pool Planet Hollywood Las Vegas 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Fair catching fancy of visiting students The second day of The Kathmandu Post Career Edufair saw a large number of visitors compared to the inaugural day, as students aspiring for higher studies thronged to various stalls in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Saturday. The murder of popular political analyst Kem Ley earlier this month, and the fallout from the killing, could push more Cambodians to question the actions of authorities and even to stand up against the ruling party, local observers say. Kem Lay was gunned down on July 10 while enjoying his regular morning coffee at a busy Phnom Penh intersection. A suspect has been apprehended for the murder, but many believe the analyst, an independent-minded critic of powerful people in Cambodia, was the victim of a political assassination. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Sunday for a funeral procession, in which Kem Leys body was paraded from a pagoda on the Chroy Changva peninsula to his birthplace in Takeo province. His killing came amid increasing use of the court system to arrest opposition lawmakers and other critics of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) and its leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen. The political oppositions main leaders are out of actionone, Sam Rainsy, is in self-imposed exile and the other, Kem Sohka, is confined to the headquarters of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, avoiding charges relating to an alleged extramarital affair. Still, the ruling party warns of the danger of a color revolution in Cambodia, drawing dark comparisons with the Arab Spring uprisings that have led to civil wars in Syria and Libya. Meas Nee, a social development analyst who worked alongside Kem Ley, told VOA Khmer that Cambodias ruling elite should in fact be more concerned about a revolution taking place in the minds of Cambodians. Increasing numbers of people showing up to support Kem Ley, even after his death, for several days, is a signal to the government of this thinking revolution, said Meas Nee. The government needs to be cautious and to understand clearly, because the people who used to be seen as stupid and lacking in thinking ability now begin to stand up to speak out and let the government know. Immediately after the shooting, hundreds of people gathered outside the gas station convenience store where Kem Leys body lay motionless in a pool of blood. They blocked police from taking the body away, and instead held a procession of Kem Leys corpse to the Wat Chas pagoda, several kilometers from the scene. There the body had remained in repose until Sunday, visited in the meantime by thousands of people, many traveling from the furthest corners of Cambodia. Domestic politicians and foreign diplomats also attended, including Tom Malinowski, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor. During his life, Kem Ley repeatedly vowed he would continue his work of researching and writing on social issues, despite the sensitivity of many of the subjects he tackled. He often predicted he would one day be shot dead because of this work. He was working on a collection of 99 fableshe had so far written 19 and posted them on Facebookusing animals as characters and other devices to criticize individuals indirectly, both people within the government and the opposition, and those in powerful families, including Hun Sens. Kem Ley was also carrying out what he called a 100-night campaign, traveling around the country and talking to people about the problems they face. This included visits to islands near the borders with neighboring countries, an interest that touched on the highly sensitive issue of Cambodias border with Vietnam, over which two opposition politicians have been detained in the recent past. Just days before his murder, Kem Ley publicly discussedincluding in an interview with VOA Khmera report by Global Witness detailing the relationship between the longevity of Hun Sens power and his familys business empire. CPP spokesman Sok Eysan told the Hello VOA radio program on Monday that the ruling party and government had been the losers from Kem Leys murder, since many people were quick to blame them for the death of a popular figure. We do not have any objections to the opinions expressed, he said. Everyone has different opinions, but I think we should let our authorities do their thorough work. Much of Kem Leys work was focused on mobilizing the population to stand up against abuses of power. But the possibility of so-called people power taking root unsettles the countrys rulers. Officials have warned that any talk of color revolution will lead to consequences. In March, university student Kong Raiya was sentenced to 18 months in prison for allegedly calling for such an uprising in a Facebook post. Amid the shock of Kem Leys death, the country has grown more tense. Reports spread last week that the Cambodian military was moving tanks from their positions along the Thai border toward Phnom Penh. An overseas activist and former solider called in video shared online for a military coup against Hun Sen, to little effect. Meas Nee insisted that for the government to fear something like a color revolution was missing the point. Cambodian society today has reached a crossroads where we see people are having a thinking revolution, he said. But the government does not think that way. They think people are ready for color revolution, so we have seen they have taken the measures of intimidation and cracking down against it instead. This only makes things worse, Meas Nee said. People have changed the way they think from depending on their parents to taking social issues into their own hands, he said. They will be more unsatisfied with and angry at the government if it cracks down. Pa Nguon Teang, the executive director of Cambodian Center for Independent Media and a member of a committee in charge of the funeral, said Kem Leys bravery had already had an impact on the Cambodian people. His model already got deep inside the peoples hearts, especially in young people. So I believe they will stand up and continue Kem Leys mission, he told VOA Khmer. The two shots killed one Kem Ley, but injured millions of Cambodians. Tens of thousands of Cambodians joined the funeral procession Sunday of a prominent government critic whose murder earlier this month raised concerns of political violence in the run-up to elections. Kem Ley, a widely revered public figure, was assassinated while drinking his morning coffee at a gas station in Phnom Penh two weeks ago, sparking a mass outpouring of sorrow, frustration and fury across Cambodia. Kem Ley was a powerful orator who reached millions through his regular dissections of politics on the radio. He founded the Grass Roots Democracy Party, an entity in which he refused to take a formal position after it was established. Oeut Ang has been charged with murder in connection with the killing. He claimed the shooting was about an outstanding debt. Still, suspicions mount that the shooting was motivated by Kem Ley's activism and his outspokenness about Prime Minister Hun Sen's 30-year grip on power. Kem Ley, who was 46, had recently delivered a lengthy commentary on a report that detailed the wealth amassed by the prime minister and his family. Hun Sen has ordered an investigation into Kem Ley's assassination, which comes at a time of political tension between the prime minister and an opposition challenging the prime minister's long hold on power in local elections in 2017 and a general election in 2018. Kem Ley's body has been on display during a two-week mourning period in a transparent casket at a Buddhist temple in the capital where people have paid their respects. "The assassination of Kem Ley a calamity in itself sadly reaffirms the primacy of violence in the politics of Cambodia," said John Coughlan, an Amnesty International researcher. Sunday's procession began at dawn for the 70-kilometer march to Kem Ley's home province of Takeo. The hearse was followed by people on foot, motorcycles, cars and motor rickshaws. Anti-riot police were stationed along the route that was lined with thousands of mourners. Many of the marchers wore white T-shirts with pictures of Kem Ley. Some shirts had the printed slogan: "Wipe our tears and continue your journey." Kem Ley's funeral will be held Monday in Takeo. Chinas standoff with its neighbors over the South China Sea territorial dispute is expected to again be a focus as foreign ministers from the region and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gather in Laos this week, making the landlocked country the next battleground for behind the scenes diplomatic maneuvers over maritime quarrels. The Hague tribunal's ruling on the South China Sea disputes largely invalidated most of Beijing's claims in the region, leading to worries that it could increase tensions. The East Asia Summit and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum are the first regional meetings since the July 12 ruling. Washington is redoubling diplomatic efforts through face-to-face conversations to de-escalate tensions. White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice is meeting with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Beijing. The U.S. will underscore its commitment to expanding practical cooperation and constructively managing differences with China, said the White House in a statement. Meanwhile, Kerry is sitting down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Vientiane, Laos. Senior officials said Washington would continue freedom of navigation and support unimpeded lawful commerce, while calling on Beijing to exercise restraint and respect the rights of others. In a recent interview with VOA, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Strategy and Multilateral Affairs Colin Willett said there is an expectation that the rule of law will be upheld, and many countries in the region are looking for a diplomatic way forward. The South China Sea has been one of the top political and security issues in the region, and as such, it is extensively discussed whenever we have these multilateral meetings, Willett said. Members of ASEAN have been working for more than a decade to hammer out a binding code of conduct for the South China Sea as Beijing continues to expand its footprint there. Senior U.S. officials had said that Washington hoped Beijing and ASEAN would make accelerated progress and reach a code of conduct with acceptable patterns and norms of behavior in the South China Sea. But analysts said that could be a tall order. Until China proves its willingness to negotiate in good faith, said Greg Poling, Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, no effort by ASEAN is going to matter. The idea that Beijing is willing to accept the binding code of conduct that will actually restrict Chinas actions, that seems like, well a pie in the sky right now, he said. Poling warns that competing narratives between the U.S. and China will continue, with the U.S. insisting on rule of law and carrying out freedom of navigation patrols, while China vows to counter any aggression in waters that Beijing claims as sovereign. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissed China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, saying certain Chinese actions had violated the Philippines sovereign rights, including fishing rights at the Scarborough Shoal. A senior faction of South Sudan's armed opposition has moved to replace its leader, First Vice President Riek Machar, who went into hiding this month for fear of being killed by supporters of his longtime rival, President Salva Kiir. The push to replace Machar surfaced Saturday after he failed to heed a 48-hour ultimatum from the president to return to the capital, Juba. Kiir demanded the vice president's return, in his words, to "continue building and promoting peace" in the aftermath of fighting this month between Kiir loyalists and troops backing Machar. Combat in Juba between the rival militias killed at least 300 people and wounded hundreds of others July 8-11. Machar has not been seen in public since then. He fled the capital as fighting raged, and his residence came under attack. He has since said he will not return until an outside force can guarantee his safety. A rebel spokesman said Saturday that senior opposition fighters were shifting their allegiance to another government official, Mining Minister Taban Deng Gai. He said Deng would act as first vice president until Machar's return. Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer tribesman, fell out in 2013 just over two years after South Sudan gained independence when Kiir fired the vice president after accusing him of conspiring against him. A two-year civil war followed that killed more than 10,000 people and displaced more than 2 million others, leaving Africa's newest country in shambles. A 2015 peace deal ended the fighting, and another agreement in April led to the formation of a transitional unity government and to Machar's reinstatement as vice president. However, Kiir and Machar have yet to integrate their forces. Saturday was another very hot day in much of the United States, and weather experts said the nation would experience warmer-than-normal temperatures for the rest of summer and into autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The National Weather Service issued an excessive-heat warning for much of the U.S., from North Dakota to the Mid-Atlantic states and into the South. Meteorologists blamed the miserable conditions on a "heat dome" over the country a stationary or extremely slow-moving high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere that holds a large mass of hot, humid air in place, causing sweltering conditions on the ground below. The excessive heat zone included Philadelphia, where the Democratic National Convention will open Monday. Officials cautioned anyone planning protests or other demonstrations outside the convention hall to be careful, drink lots of water and avoid camping outdoors near the site. Medics will be standing by to treat anyone affected by the dangerous weather. Temperatures as high as 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) were expected in some areas through Monday. High humidity caused by extremely warm water in the Gulf of Mexico will make the weather even more oppressive. All but one of the 48 continental U.S. states recorded temperatures of 32 degrees C (89 degrees F) or higher on Friday. Washington state on the Pacific Coast was the lone exception to the high heat. (The customary "lower 48 states" designation in weather reports omits Hawaii and Alaska, because they are so distant from the other states.) Thunderstorms in some areas may provide relief, but only a brief respite from the heat, which is dangerous to people, livestock and crops. In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani spoke to VOA's Ali Javanmardi at his office in Irbil about plans with the U.S. to regain control of the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters, as well as about Kurdish independence and the attempted coup in Turkey. This conversation was translated from Kurdish and edited for clarity and length. On Mosul VOA: What role will the Kurds play in reclaiming Mosul from Islamic State militants? Nechirvan Barzani: Mosul is close to Irbil and Dohuk, and can greatly impact Kirkuk. Therefore, the liberation of Mosul is very important for Kurdish Regional Government [KRG]. Our Peshmerga forces will have the central role, and we coordinate with Baghdad, the international coalition, and particularly the United States. We are at the planning stage. VOA: There is a great deal of anxiety about more refugees coming to Kurdistan once the Mosul operation starts. What preparations are underway? Barzani: As you know, the KRG is experiencing a serious economic crisis. In spite of that, we have created a center within the KRG Ministry of Interior that is in contact with the United Nations to plan for the flood of refugees. We have selected certain regions to create camps for refugees. Recent estimates indicate about 500,000 new refugees will come to the KRG. We are working with Baghdad and looking forward for assistance from the international community. At this time, we anticipate receiving refugees from Makhmur and Shargat. VOA: How long do you anticipate the operation in Mosul to last? Barzani: In the operation to liberate Fallujah, Diyalah we anticipated much more resistance. If the trends are what we have seen, I do not think the operation will take long. At this time though, liberation plans are not ready yet. VOA: Why is the operation still in the planning phase? Barzani: There are two reasons From the military and security point of view, who will control the city in the future? The control of the city must be carefully evaluated. In my view, who controls the city after the liberation is of utmost importance. Aside from this, the Iraqi Army is not adequately ready and could take months to get ready. VOA: What is the content of the KRG's agreement with the United States regarding Mosul? Barzani: The agreement contains two parts: The first is devoted to the financial contribution of the United States to the Peshmerga; and the second part is a military protocol between the United States and the KRG. According to this, the military contribution should be given directly to the KRG and no one else. The protocol has been signed by both sides. Additionally, the agreement covers the cooperation and coordination between both sides for liberation of Mosul and other regions captured by Daesh [Islamic State]. VOA: There was a report that Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, asked Nouri al-Maliki, president of Iraq's ruling Islamic Dawa Party, to block the U.S.-KRG agreement, and that he does not want U.S. military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan. How much coordination did you have with Baghdad on this agreement? Barzani: I am unaware of this information. I do not believe it is correct. VOA: Is Baghdad aware of the content of this agreement? Barzani: We informed Baghdad in advance. I think the U.S. had also informed Baghdad of this agreement. The agreement is not new. It is the result of many meetings and months of exchange of views between us and the Americans. VOA: You previously indicated that Islamic State resistance has weakened. What is your plan if IS is defeated? Barzani: It is possible following the liberation of Mosul that Daesh will not have any territory to continue its "caliphate." But in my view, Daesh will remain a terrorist organization, only their tactics may change. Now, we have territorial confrontation with Daesh, but [after their defeat] it will create secret cells and will start a guerrilla war in Iraq. Iraq has no military solution for the dilemma of Daesh. It is necessary that this phenomenon be studied thoroughly from a political aspect in the hope of finding a solution to eliminate it. On Kurdish independence VOA: Assuming that the political problem of Islamic State is eliminated, what is the future of Kurdistan's independence efforts? Barzani: The independence of Kurdistan is the right of our people. Choosing our destiny is a legitimate right and will remain a goal for us and all the Kurdish people. What is important for us after Daesh is Kurdistan's borders. We will decide the extent of our borders by what has been liberated with the blood of our Peshmerga. Whether we remain with Iraq or be independent or be a part of a federation or confederation, our priority will remain the delineation of our boarders. VOA: Once your borders are set, do you think your two principal neighbors, Iran and Turkey, will oppose your independence? Barzani: Whatever decision we arrive at independence or confederation Baghdad will remain our strategic partner. We will discuss these problems with Iraq. At this stage, neither Ankara nor Iran will be the deciding factor. We will solve the problems through negotiations with Baghdad. On the attempted coup in Turkey VOA: The failed military coup in Turkey that led to vast arrests. What is your position? Barzani: I am happy for the victory of the people. If you look at the history of military coups in Turkey, you will find all military coups have had dreadful consequences for the Kurds. The KRG is happy that the Turkish people kept in power a government that received its legitimacy from its nation. On Iran VOA: One of the important problems for KRG are the activities of Iran's Kurdish Peshmerga and their confrontation with the Revolutionary Guards in Iranian Kurdistan. Many of the Revolutionary Guard commanders among them Mohsen Rezaee as well as some Islamic Republic authorities have claimed that these activities are supported by Saudi Arabia through Kurdistan. They claim that Saudi Arabia has created a training center for Kurdish Democratic forces of Iran in KRG and that you ignore it. How true are these accusations? Barzani: These claims have no foundation. Saudi Arabia, like other countries, has a consulate here and acts within the set protocol with Iraq, and is engaged in diplomatic practice. The accusation that the Saudis sponsor a training center here is far from the truth. Our friendly relations with Iran are very important for us. In the past, we have proven that we have been a factor of stability, both for Iran and Turkey, and in the past for Syria. This is the framework of our foreign policy. On the Kurdish economic crisis VOA: A final question: On the streets of Irbil, people talk about the economic crisis facing the KRG. What steps have you taken to address this? Barzani: Certain events caused this crisis for the KRG. First, in 2014, without any previous consultation, Baghdad cut our budget. Second, the war with Daesh. We have a 1,100-km border with Daesh. Up to now, we have lost 1,500 Peshmerga and more than 8,000 have been injured. Third, there is the arrival of 1.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons from Syria and inside Iraq. These followed one after the other. In addition, the price of oil dropped considerably, increasing the seriousness of the crisis. We have tried to stop this crisis. We have reduced our government expenses. However, we need foreign assistance to ride out this crisis. We are discussing remedies with the World Bank, the IMF and Baghdad. All these efforts must go through Baghdad. Unfortunately Kurdistan has no priority in Baghdad. Finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies have pledged to boost the global economy, which they say is showing a weak recovery. Delegates meeting in the Chinese city of Chengdu issued a statement Sunday at the end of their two-day gathering expressing concern about Britain's plan to leave the European Union and how Brexit will affect the world's economy. They said, however, that member nations are "well positioned to proactively address the potential economic and financial consequences" from such developments. Britain's new Finance Minister Philip Hammond told fellow ministers that concerns about his country's withdrawal from the EU should diminish once London lays out a future vision of how Britain will relate with the rest of Europe. Several ministers urged Britain and the EU to move quickly to resolve Brexit issues. The G-20 finance ministers also vowed to reject trade protectionism, which became a prominent issue at the meeting since U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he wants to revamp the country's trade deals, adding various restrictions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, speaking Sunday in Chengdu, said the American economy is currently strong and the job market is healthy, but the global outlook remains uncertain. The closing G-20 statement expressed the importance of reducing the excess production of steel that has led to a glut on the global market. The issue is of major concern between China and its trading partners, who say Beijing exports steel at unreasonably low prices. Instances of collaboration between humans and wild animals are rare. One of the most noteworthy is that of the greater honeyguide bird, found in Africa, which seeks out humans and solicits their help to get a free meal. New research published in Science magazine now shows that this intriguing indicator ("indicator" is the genus of honeyguide birds) also responds to human requests for help in finding beehives. The study reveals a mutually beneficial partnership for two very different species. Follow the bird The Yao people in Mozambique harvest honey using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations. Hunters head out into the bush in search of bee hives, but they do not set out alone. They always call a friend: the greater honeyguide. Honeyguides eat beeswax but are not especially good at obtaining it, since bees tend to react strongly to intruders who enter their hives. Previous studies with other African tribes found that honeyguides seek out humans to help them. The birds produce a unique call to alert hunters they have found a beehive. Then they flit from tree to tree, leading their human companions to the hive, where they patiently await their reward. The Yao dispatch the bees using smoke and chop down the tree holding the hive, so they can retrieve the sought-after honeycomb. Once the honey is extracted, the beeswax goes to the honeyguides, along with many of the stunned bees. Bloodthirsty 'brood parasites' Although honeyguides appear to cooperate with humans, their relationship with other avian species is quite different. Honeyguides are "brood parasites," meaning they rely on other birds to hatch their young. Honeyguide nestlings hatch with hook-shaped beaks, which they use with deadly effectiveness to guarantee their survival in a crowded nest. The newly hatched honeyguides use their hooked beaks to toss other chicks, the original occupants of the nest, to the ground below. They also puncture their host's eggs and kill her nestlings with repeated slashes of their beaks. There is nothing mutually beneficial about that relationship. But the honeyguides relationship with human bee hunters is what intrigues Claire Spottiswoode, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Cambridge in Britain and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She wanted to know if these birds were actually responding to hunters calls for guidance. Or were they just seeking out humans independently to enlist help in their quest for beeswax? Spottiswoode played three different sounds that might be of interest to honeyguides: a person saying words associated with honey hunting, regional dove calls and the Yaos' actual brrrrr-hm call. Our experiments showed that it really works, Spottiswoode told VOA. Giving the [Yao] sound doubled the chances of being guided by a honeyguide, and tripled the overall chances of actually finding a bees nest. Honeyguides really are paying attention to signals that humans communicate back at them. Unique relationship Human and wild bird interactions are commonplace. Many people own bird feeders, or go bird watching. Geoff LeBaron, director of the Christmas Bird Count program for the National Audubon Society, notes that many birds will recognize the human responsible for filling the feeder. Bird watchers and counters also use a method called pishing to attract birds. This involves making a "psh psh psh" noise to arouse birds' curiosity. But neither of these examples is the same as what happens between honey hunters and honeyguides, LeBaron told VOA. Spottiswoodes study clearly shows that the honeyguides only respond to Yaos calling out to them when they know a beehive is nearby. The bird has learned that the Yao call means these particular humans are looking for honey, and if the bird leads the humans to the hive, the two-legged hunters drive off or subdue the bees that guard the honeyguides prize. So theyve got the humans well trained is really what it is, chuckles LeBaron. Its a very mutualistic and learned behavior on both the people and the birds part. Tanzanians whistle to draw birds Mozambique's Yao are not the only humans the honeyguides have contact with. Tanzania's Hadza people call out to honeyguides using a melodic whistle. Although both groups call on their feathered friends to help them find beehives, that is where the relationship similarities end. Spottiswoode notes that the Yao present their guides with a beeswax salad, laying cleaned honeycombs on a bed of leaves for the birds to enjoy. The Hadza, on the other hand, hide or destroy the honeycombs they gather, hoping the birds that guided them, still hungry for beeswax, will lead them to another hive. The relationship thus involves elements of both mutualism and manipulation, Brian Woods, a professor of anthropology at Yale University who studies the Hadzas relationship with the honeyguides, told VOA by email. But that unique relationship is becoming more difficult to study. A dying practice Honey hunting is in trouble because store-bought honey and sugar is so easily available. Birds and human hunters cooperate only in places where human residents coexist with wild animals. Mozambique's Niassa National Reserve has provided a protected area where the Yao and honeyguides can hunt together without interruptions from the modern world. The difference in regional honey-hunter practices raises an intriguing possibility, Spottiswoode says: "There might be a mosaic of honeyguide cultural variations across Africa that reflects that of their human partners. It would be really wonderful to understand this part of our own ecology and evolution before its too late. For now, the honeyguide will continue to work alongside the Yao, hopping through the trees to show them the honey so the birds can enjoy a beeswax salad. While state-run church parishioners continue to face challenges in some Chinese provinces, adherents of unrecognized Christian house churches in Guizhou province are being threatened, so much so that students have been warned their continued participation will leave them barred from attending college. According to the human rights group China Aid, some adult members of nonsanctioned house churches have been required to sign documents waiving their right to bring minors to pray. Parents also have been told that they will be sued if they do so. Yesterday morning, I questioned a government official in our township, saying, 'We do not accept the way you handled our church's public meetings,' " Mou, who administers a house church in the Guizhou province town of Huaqiu, told VOA's Mandarin service. " 'What regulations does the central government have prohibiting [church] meetings? Let us see them.' " According to Mou, who declined to provide a surname, the official replied: The higher-level leadership ordered us to do this; we are just doing [as they say]. In an interview with VOA Weishi, China Aid founder Bob Fu explained that, although China's constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of religion, Chinese law prohibits people under 18 from participating in religious activities. That's why local Huaqiu officials have threatened students with barring them from taking college entrance exams. Fu also said local officials threatened to cut off government subsidies to low-income families if they go to church. When asked whether incidents similar to those occurring in Huaqiu were happening in other parts of China, Fu said 36 Christians in Sichuan province were detained for attending Mass in 2014 alone. According to statistics, in recent years, Chinas unofficial house churches have expanded faster than government-sanctioned churches. Chinese authorities, Fu said, appear eager to curb this trend. Govt urges prez to remove constitutional hurdles for new govt formation The government has recommended President Bidya Devi Bhandari to invoke Article 305 of the Constitution to remove the constitutional the hurdles for the formation of a new government. The mother of Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador killed in Libya four years ago, is objecting to the Donald Trump campaign's use of his name and fate as part of the Republican's run for the White House. In a letter to the editor of The New York Times bearing Friday's date, Mary F. Commanday wrote, "I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection. I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign." There has been no response from Trump's campaign. Stevens and three other Americans were killed in 2012 when Islamic militants attacked and burned the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Trump and other Republicans have blamed the attack on then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the presumptive 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. They contend her office failed to improve security at the consulate and made no effort to rescue the diplomats. Clinton and State Department officials have rebutted those charges, and a Republican-led congressional investigation of the Benghazi attack failed to place any direct blame for the four Americans' deaths on the former secretary of state. Pat Smith, the mother of U.S. diplomat Chris Smith, another of the Benghazi victims, spoke at the Republican convention this past week. She said she blamed Clinton for her son's death and accused her of lying to the Smith family. German investigators say the teenage gunman who killed nine people Friday in the Bavarian state capital of Munich received psychiatric treatment and planned the mass shooting for more than a year. Eighteen year old David Ali Sonboly received inpatient treatment in 2015 for two months before getting outpatient care, said Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors' office. In addition to suffering from depression, "the suspect had fears of contact with others," Steinkraus-Koch said Sunday. Sonboly, who killed himself after the attack, did not target specific people nor is there evidence the shootings were politically motivated, Steinkraus-Koch said. Bavarian investigator Robert Heimberger said the shooter took photographs when he visited the site of a previous school shooting in the southwestern German town of Winnenden. Heimberger said Sonboly probably bought his illegal weapon on the internet and added that he was an avid player of shooting video games. Guns are tightly controlled in Germany and authorities investigating precisely how the shooter obtained the Glock 17 handgun used in the attack. Bavaria's top security official says Germany's military should be able intervene in crisis situations like Friday night's shooting rampage at the Munich mall. The mass shooting has senior German officials calling for a review of the country's gun laws. "We must continue to do all we can to limit and strictly control access to deadly weapons," said German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere vowed to review Germany's gun laws after an investigation into Friday's attack. "Then we have to evaluate very carefully if and where further legal changes are needed," he said. Friday's attack took place four days after a 17-year-old Afghan refugee attacked passengers with an ax and a knife on a train in the German city of Wuerzburg. The teenager wounded four people before police shot him dead. Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack. In late June, a masked man opened fire at a German movie complex in the western town of Viernheim, near Frankfurt, wounding several people. Special police officers shot him dead and freed several hostages. Stephen Szabo of the Transatlantic Academy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told VOA the Wuerzburg attack, followed by the Munich shootings, will focus new scrutiny on Germany's policy of accepting refugees fleeing world trouble spots. Chancellor Angela Merkel's open policy on refugees is "very different than the policies you've seen in France and Belgium," Szabo said. "...It means that the political ramifications are going to be pretty strong against her and against this open-door policy Meanwhile, the southeastern European territory of Kosovo is having a day of mourning Sunday for three ethnic Albanians who were among those killed in Munich. Flags are at half-staff at all public institutions. Two other Albanians of Kosovo origin were also wounded. Nepal's prime minister resigned Sunday, plunging the south Asian country into another period of political and economic uncertainty. Prime Minister K.P. Oli resigned just minutes before parliament was to vote on a no-confidence proposal he probably would have lost. Oli's departure marks the 23rd time the Nepali government has fallen since a multi-party democracy was created in 1990. The no-confidence motion was made by former Maoists rebels who stopped supporting Oli after accusing him of reneging on a power-sharing agreement. Oli's former allies also accused him of not addressing political concerns of Nepal's ethnic Madhesi minority, which complained the creation of new federal states marginalized them by splitting their homeland. Not addressing this concern and failing to rebuild many homes destroyed in earthquakes last year as promised "made us unable to continue to work with him," Maoist chief Prachanda told parliament Friday. Prachanda is the favorite to replace Oli, who will continue his duties as prime minister until parliament selects a replacement, a process that could take several days. President Vidhya Devi Bhandari is expected to give political parties one week to select a candidate for prime minister. If a candidate is not chosen, legislators will try to elect a new prime minister with a vote on the house floor. Two of Nepal's neighboring countries, China and India, are wrestling for influence over the young republic out of concern that political turmoil could turn one of the world's most impoverished nations into a refuge for criminals and militants. Solar Impulse 2, an aircraft powered only by the sun's rays, took off from Cairo Sunday morning on what should be the last leg of its history-making flight around the world. If all goes as planned, pilot Bertrand Piccard will steer the plane across the Arabian Peninsula and land in Abu Dhabi early Tuesday, completing the first global airplane flight using only energy from the sun not a single drop of aviation fuel. Piccard and the project's co-founder, Andre Borschberg, have taken turns flying Solar Impulse 2 since departing from the United Arab Emirates in March 2015 to begin their 35,000-kilometer journey around Earth. The plane can carry only one pilot. Piccard says circling the world in the pioneering aircraft is both an adventure and a project that can lead to a better world: "If we want to protect the environment, if we want to fight climate change ... if we want to give access to energy to the poorest people in the world, to the most remote villages, we need renewable energy." Solar Impulse 2, built of lightweight materials, is an enormous but slender aircraft. Its wingspan is wider than that of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, but the entire plane weighs less than 2,300 kilograms, including 17,000 solar cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy. The energy is stored in lithium batteries, which allows the plane to keep flying during the night. Its slow flying speed only 10 percent to 15 percent as fast as a jetliner, or near top speed for an ordinary car makes it necessary to stay aloft for days on end. Stops on its global journey have included Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, Hawaii, several U.S. cities and Spain. The plane arrived in Cairo about two weeks ago. A weeklong festival of books, culture and literature kicked off Saturday in Hargeisa, the capital of the internationally unrecognized breakaway republic of Somaliland. Authors, artists and scholars from around the world are attending this little-known but significant Hargeisa International Book Fair. Now in its ninth year, the event attracts representatives from 12 countries, including Nigeria, Germany, Britain, Ghana, Italy, France and South Africa. Somalia's civil war and former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre's brutal war with Somaliland in the 1980s took a toll on the region's cultural centers. "This has diminished arts and productivity. Composing plays and finding spaces where youth can showcase their art and skill did not grow," said Ayan Mohamoud, managing director of Kayd Arts and Culture, the organization that coordinates the book fair. Sharing knowledge The Hargeisa book fair invites authors and artists from African countries every year to learn about Somalia. Ghana is this year's guest country. Previous years' guest countries include Nigeria and Malawi. Mohamoud said the idea behind inviting other countries is to help Somalis learn about other African countries. "Somalis have little knowledge about Africa," she told VOA. "We believe inviting the scholars from these countries, be it Ghana or Kenya, will shape the views of their people toward the Somalis in their countries." This year's theme is leadership and creativity, and the role literature plays in good leadership. "Ghana is a country where there has been no civil war, it's a good example for Africa, it had a good leader, and it's a good example for the theme," Mohamoud said. The event also brings together Somali authors regardless of political beliefs. "The biggest part [of the festival] is showcasing books and creativity of the Somalis," Mohamoud said. Preserving the Somali language There are fears that a lack of cultural development and the effects of civil war will lead to the disappearance of the Somali language. The country's literary community and avid readers converge not just for their common love of books, but also to preserve their culture and language. Authors, poets, composers and artists come to display their work and creativity. "The enthusiasm and encouragement it has created among the young people is unmeasurable, there are reading clubs everywhere, there are so many authors who want to present their work and books," Mohamoud said. Farah Gamute is one of this year's participants. He said he came to the event to raise awareness about preserving the language. "We are participating with our old work and to tell about the role of literature and how it benefits mother tongue," he said. "The Somali language existed thousands of years without being written, it held on against other neighboring languages, and the reason is because of the literature." Author Abdullahi Awad Cige said he came to pass on experiences with the younger generation. "The young has a chance to learn about what is missing from their work, grasp a lot, ask questions and help preserve the language," he said. The Hargeisa book fair inspired the launch of similar events in Mogadishu and Puntland, and Somali heritage festivals in Kenya and in Europe. "There is an increased interest in culture and literature," said Mohamoud. "The goal is to reestablish cultural intuitions; no people progress without the development of their arts, culture and literature." South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar has called for President Salva Kiir not to violate a peace accord signed last year by recognizing and confirming Taban Deng Gai as his replacement. Machar spokesman James Gadet Dak says Gai's nomination as first vice president could scuttle the peace process and create unnecessary discomfort and tension. Efforts to replace Machar came after Kiir's 48-hour ultimatum for Machar to return to Juba expired Saturday. Kiir had invited Machar, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition, for a meeting to resolve recent clashes between opposing groups loyal to the two men that have left at least 300 people dead. The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission that oversees the implementation of the peace accord issued a statement sharply opposing news of Kiir's replacement as first vice president. "We recognize First Vice President Riek Machar as the legitimate leader of the SPLM-IO. A change to the leadership depends on the IO itself, and we are not here to speculate as to any change of leadership," the commission was quoted in the Sudan Tribune as saying. Machar's spokesman, Dak, says it is illegal to nominate Gai because he was fired from his post in the SPLM-IO. The peace agreement stipulates that if the first vice president is away for any reason, he would delegate a person to act on his behalf, according to Dak. Supporters of the president say Kiir needs a partner to work with in the implementation of the peace accord, and the refusal of Machar to return to Juba inhibits the process. They also say the first vice president appears not to working to resolve issues with the president. Dak disagreed, saying Kiir should have accepted a proposal by both the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to have a third and impartial force involved to improve security. Meanwhile, South Sudan Information Minister Michael Makuei said Friday that a coup attempt led to the recent clashes in Juba, but he did not say who was to blame. "There is no doubt that it was a coup," Makuei said. "There are some ministers and civil servants who have not reported to work since the fighting started. The council of ministers has directed that those people report to work this coming Monday [July 25] or face some consequences." But Dak says there wasn't any attempt to overthrow the government. "They like the word coup, he said. If it were a coup, I think it was the force loyal to President Kiir who attempted the coup, because they are the ones who fired the first bullet at our forces. Syrian government airstrikes struck five makeshift hospitals Saturday in rebel-held areas, killing one infant and jeopardizing medical care for more than 200,000 civilians in rebel-held areas, according to a British-based human rights group. The Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrikes disabled four clinics in the provincial capital of Aleppo and one in Atareb just west of the city. Syrian government and allied forces last week surrounded rebel-held sections of Aleppo, which has been contested for four years. The siege has reportedly created food shortages for residents in those the rebel-held areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports Syria was the most dangerous place in the world for health care workers in 2015. WHO says there were 135 attacks on health care workers and health facilities last year. The Syrian government said on Sunday it was prepared to resume peace negotiations in an attempt to end the five-year conflict. The state News agency SANA quoted a foreign ministry official as saying, "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations. The United Nations hopes to start a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva next month, according to Syrian envoy Staffan de Mistura. Peace negotiations broke down this year as fighting escalated. The United States and Russia, which support opposing sides in the dispute, are discussing a U.S. call for closer military cooperation and intelligence sharing to fight extremist groups in Syria. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this month the U.S. and Russia had agreed on steps to resume the process of restoring peace to Syria. Two large wildfires are raging in Southern California, threatening thousands of homes and forcing evacuations. Firefighters are battling a blaze near the city of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest that has charred 88 square kilometers, while about 500 kilometers to the north, another fire is burning in the majestic Big Sur region. Authorities on Saturday found a body outside a home in Santa Clarita, and detectives are trying to determine whether that person was killed by the blaze something else. The area was one of several neighborhoods ordered evacuated as the fire raged through bone dry canyons and ranchlands. Fire officials say more than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames threatening about 1,500 homes and 100 commercial buildings. "It's not a one direction type of fire,'' said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the Angeles National Forest. "It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. It's doing what it wants.'' The fire also forced the evacuation of Bengal tigers, a mountain lion and other animals from a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. Northward on the Central Coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a blaze in rugged mountains north of Big Sur. The fire poses a threat to about 1,000 homes and the community of Palo Colorado was ordered evacuated. Members of Turkey's ruling and main opposition parties are rallying together in support of democracy and to condemn the bloody coup attempt July 15. The rally, held under tight supervision Sunday in Istanbul's iconic Taksim Square, was called for by Turkey's largest opposition group, the secular Republican People's Party. It was joined by other opposition parties and President Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic Justice and Conservative Party (AKP), which has ruled Turkey since 2002. Another public demonstration of unity came from the head of Turkey's air force, which released a rare statement emphasizing "absolute obedience" to the chief of the military General Staff, Hulusi Akar. Some members of the air force were involved in the coup attempt, during which Akar was held hostage. Erdogan, who escaped capture and possible death, has declared a state of emergency that enables him to sign laws without parliamentary approval in an attempt to identify supporters of the failed coup, during which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured. Turkish authorities have investigated, detained or suspended more than 60,000 civil servants, judges, police, soldiers and teachers in the past week on suspicion of association with the uprising. Amnesty International said Sunday that it has "credible evidence" that some detainees in Turkey are being beaten, tortured, raped, and denied food, water and medical treatment. The human rights group also said people are being held in "unofficial detention centers," and are being denied access to lawyers and family members. Amnesty said it has received information about the conditions from lawyers and doctors, as well as one person working at a detention center. The organization is calling on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture to make emergency visits to Turkey to monitor the conditions. Amnesty said that, as a member of the Council of Europe, Turkey is obligated to allow visits from the CPT, which Amnesty says is the only independent group with the authority to conduct arranged visits to all detention facilities in Turkey. Some of Erdogan's critics claim he is using the failed coup to indiscriminately crackdown on dissent. Erdogan has ordered the closure of thousands of charities, foundations and private schools with suspected ties to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many supporters in Turkey. Erdogan has blamed Gulen and his supporters for planning the coup. Gulen has denied any involvement. Western countries have promised support for democracy in Turkey, but have expressed concern over the magnitude of dismissals from state institutions. Hundreds of houses inundated in the East Floods triggered by heavy rains inundated hundreds of houses in eastern Tarai in the past 24 hours. A boy drowned while another went missing in Sunsari. Despite Beijings rejection of the recent tribunal ruling on the South China Sea issues, the U.S. military keeps pushing for closer ties with the People's Liberation Army. Admiral John Richardson, chief of U.S. naval operations, visited China this past week, while the PLA continues participation in U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise in Hawaii. Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the Joint Intelligence Center of the U.S. Pacific Command, told VOA the U.S. still considers China a partner in maintaining global security. The message we are sending is: We are not happy with what you are doing in the South China Sea, but nothing you have done is irrevocable, and we still see you as a partner, we still want to work with you. And above all, we are not your enemy, Schuster said. In an interview with VOA in Hawaii after visiting a PLA ship there in July, Mark Swain, principal director for humanitarian assistance at the Office of Secretary of Defense for Policy, said China can and should be a partner in humanitarian assistance. We have proved here countries can work together for humanitarian assistance, to provide for needed assistance to citizens affected by some disasters, he said. Schuster thinks, however, that the military-to-military relationship between the U.S. and China can take a dramatic turn if Beijing conducts some irrevocable act, such as declaring an Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea. A zone of this kind signifies airspace in which the identification, location and control of civil aircraft is performed in the interest of national security. Is the deterrence value and the engagement value of working with them, does that compensate for the secrets they learn and what they learn about us?" he said. "As a general rule, as long as you are not enemies, the answer is yes. The payoff exceeds the risk. But if you believe they are out to do some irrevocable set of acts, then the answer is no. Some observers are concerned that China may engage in what the United States considers irreversible behavior in the South China Sea, including announcing the establishment of the South China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone by 2020. A U.S. Democratic Party rules group has voted against doing away with the superdelegate system demanded by supporters of former candidate Bernie Sanders. The role of superdelegates was the main topic of discussion at the party convention rules committee meeting Saturday, ahead of its national convention in the eastern U.S. city of Philadelphia where Hillary Clinton will formally accept the nomination for president. Superdelegates, elected officials and party insiders who can vote for the candidate of their choice at the convention, strongly favored Clinton. She had 602, versus the 48 pledged to her main Democratic opponent. Sanders has consistently said he wants to see the role of superdelegates re-examined. What he got instead after Saturday's meeting was the promise of the party to establish a commission to draft changes to the superdelegate system, with a report due in 2018 two years before the next presidential election. Sanders, however, was able to leave his mark on the party's campaign platform. A draft of the party's campaign platform includes proposals for a $15 federal minimum wage, abolition of the death penalty and free college tuition for some students basic tenets of Sanders' campaign. The inclusion of the proposals means any divisions in the Democratic Party are less likely to spill onto the floor of the convention later this week. The Democrats want to portray themselves as a unified party. However, the recent release of hacked Democratic National Committee emails, detailing the split between the DNC and Sanders, may put a damper on that goal. More and more Americans are in favor of tougher gun laws, but are pessimistic that lawmakers will do anything soon to bring about changes, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents support stricter laws, while most favor nationwide bans on the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, such at the AR-15, and on the sale of high-capacity magazines holding 10 or more bullets. Results also broke down along partisan lines. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats polled said they support stricter gun laws compared to 41 percent of Republicans. The percentage of Americans who want the tougher laws is at the highest since the pollsters began taking the gun survey in 2013, about 10 months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting in Newton, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six educators. A majority of the respondents said they favor a national approach to gun laws rather than a jumble of state and local regulations. Less than half of those polled, however, said they did not think lawmakers would enact tougher gun laws in the coming year. The poll results revealed that Americans are not feeling safe and are concerned they or a relative will be a victim of gun violence. The Associated Press-GfK poll was conducted July 7 to 11, shortly after the nightclub massacre in an Orlando nightclub that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, and the fatal shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota by police at point-blank range. Most of the interviews took place after the sniper attack in Dallas, Texas, that killed five police officers. However, the level of concern about being victimized "is not uniform." The poll says non-whites are significantly more likely to be very or extremely concerned about being victims of gun violence. Alonzo Lassiter, who is African American, said he is worried about his 17-year-old autistic son being a victim of gun violence, either by a robber or the police. "If somebody told him to get on the ground and put his hands up or told him to give up his headphones, he wouldn't readily identify those instructions," Lassiter said. "He may be an easy target." Milonne Ambroise, a native of Haiti who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 50 years told pollsters "I'm looking for exits. This isn't something I did before." Zanu PF lawmaker and Member of Parliament for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba, who is also a war veteran, says some former freedom fighters are now mobilizing themselves to counter moves by members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association to dump President Robert Mugabe. Speaking on Studio 7 Livetalk on Friday, Chinotimba said the war veterans, who decided last Thursday to abandon President Mugabe ahead of the 2018 general election after accusing him of being a dictator and allegedly destroying Zimbabwe, were not the first to make such a declaration. People like (Victor) Matemadanda and (Douglas) Mahiya are not the first ones to do so. I wish to inform all war veterans that the meeting that was convened by Matematanda and others had no clear agenda. They were people who were just holding a meeting and appeared to be doing so just for the sake of it. There were no tangible agreements on this issue. There were no signatures in a communique they issued after the meeting and no specific provincial representatives that were part of it. By so doing, these people have expelled themselves from the war veterans association like what happened to (Margaret) Dongo (former Zanu PF member and independent lawmaker). Matematanda and Mahiya are the secretary general and spokesperson respectively of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. Chinotimba said other war veterans are now mobilizing their base to counter moves by the Matematanda group to dump the president, whose party is riddled with factionalism pitting two factions allegedly led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Grace Mugabe, said to be haboring presidential ambitions. These war veterans that you are talking about are just making noise like kids. We are strategists. War veterans are strategists. You heard (Thomas) Ngwenya (Livetalk guest) saying they are out of all this and noting that they (former Zipra combatants) are now Zapu and has nothing to do with what is happening in the war veterans association (and Zanu PF). People like (Max) Mnkandla (another Livetalk guest) have been crying and crying like babies for a long time and they did the same during the 2013 general elections They have been crying like babies. Chinotimba, well-known as a Zanu PF hardliner and comedian, stressed that war veterans were expected to hold several provincial meetings, starting with Manicaland on Saturday. The war veterans are united and these (Matemadanda group) are just individuals (crying like babies). As I am speaking to you right now I am in Manicaland. I will be holding a big meeting with war veterans here and then go to Masholand East and then I will restore order in Mashonaland West, Midlands and other places. War veterans and President Mugabe are one. (President) Mugabe is a hero. He noted that when they received gratuities of $50,000 in the 1990s they had asked President Mugabe to address their problems. Some independent economists say Zimbabwes economic recession kicked in following these payouts, which some war veterans are unable to account for. Mnkandla and Ngwenya dismissed Chinotimbas claims saying he is allegedly part of the Zanu PF gravy train. Chinotimba has the right to say whatever he wants to say. What was said by the war veterans is a final decision. And it is pathetic for those war veterans who will say there were no signatures (on the communique). They (war veterans) are vetted individuals and they are known that they are war veterans (who dumped Mr. Mugabe). On the other hand, Ngwenya said the Zipra Freedom Fighters Association was not part of the resolutions made by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, which mainly comprises former Zanla combatants. We are former Zipra combatants and we have nothing to do with this issue. We dont even know what is happening in Zanu PF because we are not part of that organization. They elected (Mr.) Mugabe into power and now they have to deal with it their own way. Leave us out of all this as it is their (Chinotimba and other war veterans) problem. Zimbabwes former freedom fighters led by Christopher Mutsvangwa have been angered by Zanu PFs move to expel Mutsvangwa and recall him from parliament after he allegedly undermined the authority of the president. Mutsvangwa is aligned to a faction said to be led by Mnangagwa calling itself Team Lacoste, which wants him to succeed the 92 year-old Zimbabwean leader. The other faction Generation 40 is allegedly led by Mrs. Mugabe. Zimbabwean business mogul, Strive Masiyiwa, is happy that he has been working with United States President Barack Obama in the last few years in fighting against poverty in the world. Masiyiwa last Wednesday introduced President Obama at a White House Summit on Global Development, which brought together top global experts to talk about the progress that President Obama and his administration have made in energy, food security, global health, good governance, development partnerships and youth initiatives around the world. In a Facebook message, Masiyiwa said this was a special day for him. . (Wednesday) was a very special day for me and Ive been looking forward to sharing it with all of you. I was given the honor by the White House to introduce President Barack Obama to a global audience, and to talk about the efforts during his presidency, to help the poor throughout the world. Masiyiwa, the owner of a billion-dollar mobile phone company Econet Wireless said, There are certain moments in life when you just say wow! and this was one of those moments. Speaking before introducing Mr. Obama to the excited audience at the White House, Masiyiwa said he first met then Senator Obama 10 years ago over lunch in Johannesburg, South Africa, on one of his many visits to Africa. He said President Obama had sought me out because he knew I was part of a small group of African and global leaders who had been assembled by out-going UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. We had to find solutions to address hunger, food security and nutrition in Africa. During lunch, Masiyiwa said, he quickly recognized Senator Obama as a man of great vision a leader with a heart not just for the people in his own country, but for the whole world, and for the African continent in particular. He did not need me to tell him that women smallholder farmers are the backbone for agriculture in the developing world, or that in parts of Africa and India, close to 40% of children are stunted, or that over one billion people still have no access to electricity. He already knew. He also understood it required bold leadership and unprecedented cooperation on the part of governments, donors, philanthropists, civil society and the private sector to address these issues. Masiyiwa said President Obamas presidency has been a testament to this vision. Even as the global financial crisis into which he was elected raged around him, he put global development at the center from the very beginning, and he stayed the course. He was truly an eagle in a storm! As president, hes championed major initiatives such as Power Africa, to bring electricity and economic growth to sub-Saharan Africa; Feed the Future to dramatically improve food security and nutrition; the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) to nurture the next generation of leaders; the Global Entrepreneurship Summit to pivot our focus to entrepreneurship and job creation and more, much more. He said even when the Ebola crisis threatened to blow everything away, Mr. Obama was there too, personally and deeply engaged in taking decisive steps to mobilize the world again, an eagle in a storm! Masiyiwa added that when he first met him, he was Senator Obama, a promising leader whod just published his book, The Audacity of Hope. Now even as his presidency of the US draws to a close, Masiyiwa said he has no doubt hell continue his visionary global leadership, transforming that hope into innovative actions to help the poorest of the poor uplift themselves to prosperity. As the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, James MacGregor Burns, wrote: The most lasting tangible act of leadership is the creation of an institution a nation, a social movement, a political party, a bureaucracy that continues to exert moral leadership and foster needed social change long after the creative leaders are gone. And when he finally introduced the president to the audience, this is what Masiyiwa said, On behalf of all the hundreds of millions of people whose lives you touched and continue to touch through the initiatives you launched: Asante Sana, Tinotenda, Amhlope. Thank you. In response, Mr. Obama thanked Masiyiwa for his sterling work in fighting against poverty throughout the world. U.S. Democrats gathered Sunday for their national convention, set to acclaim former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the party's 2016 presidential nominee, the first time a major U.S. political party is picking a woman as its standard bearer. The convention opens Monday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the City of Brotherly Love, but it is starting on a discordant note. WikiLeaks disclosed nearly 20,000 emails from Democratic Party leaders over the last year and a half that showed how they mocked and criticized the upstart campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, while he was waging an unexpectedly tough challenge to Clinton over months of state-by-state contests for the nomination. One of the emails suggested Sanders might be an atheist, even though he embraces his Jewish heritage. Sanders, in a CNN interview Sunday, called the comments in the emails "outrageous," but said it was "not a shock to me." He added, "It's what we talked about six months ago, that the [Democratic National Committee] was supporting Hillary Clinton and was opposed to my campaign." Some Democratic leaders called for the resignations of party officials including Democratic chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz who made objectionable comments about Sanders in what they thought were private emails. Sanders has since endorsed Clinton and is speaking Monday at the convention on her behalf, as is first lady Michelle Obama. Sanders said he will "do everything I can to make sure" Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, does not win the November national election to pick the successor to President Barack Obama when he leaves office next January. A fixture on the American political scene for decades, Clinton is headed to the party's quadrennial convention after naming Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her vice presidential running mate. Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, told cheering supporters Saturday in Miami that Kaine is ready to become president if she were to die in office. He is "everything that Donald Trump and [his Republican running mate] Mike Pence are not," she said. The Democratic contender said her party's convention "will offer a very different vision for our country" than Trump did at last week's Republican national convention. Clinton said her campaign is "one that is about building bridges, not walls, embracing the diversity that makes our country great." Trump: US must be sharp, vigilant, strong Republicans, over months of contests throughout the country, picked Trump over 16 other challengers, many of them seasoned politicians. That made the billionaire real estate tycoon and one-time television reality show host the first major U.S. party presidential nominee in more than six decades to claim a major party's nomination without previously having been elected to any public office. Trump has called for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border to thwart the stream of undocumented migrants from entering the country. He told NBC's Meet the Press show Sunday that people coming from countries where terrorist attacks have occurred, including staunch U.S. ally France, may need to be subjected to "extreme vetting" before being allowed to enter the United States. "Maybe we get to that point," Trump said, adding, "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong." In the interview, Trump acknowledged that critics viewed his presidential nomination acceptance speech as "a little dark," but said he "thought it was very optimistic" because "we're going to fix the problems." He defended his comments last week questioning whether a would-be President Trump would defend the other 27 NATO allies if they were attacked a bedrock principle of the U.S.-European military alliance since the end of World War II if they were not spending enough money on their own defense. Speaking to CBS News Sunday, President Obama said Trump's comment concerning NATO is another sign of his "lack of preparedness" on foreign policy issues. Trump has said Clinton's record as the top U.S. diplomat from 2009 to 2013 "has been a disaster." Trump and Clinton both are viewed unfavorably by more than half the American electorate, polls show, with Trump more so than her. She holds a slight edge in national political surveys over Trump three and a half months before the election. Through the mystic arts we harness energy and shape reality. Thats how Tilda Swintons character The Ancient One describes her abilities in Marvels forthcoming movie, Dr. Strange, which just got a fresh trailer out of San Diego Comic-Con. This new clip shows us Chiwetel Ejiofors Baron Karl Mordo and gives us a better look at both The Ancient One and Kaecilius, the villain played by Danish villain-actor Mads Mikkelsen. Strange will kick off Marvels weird phase in earnest, which will take viewers to different realms and different planes of existence more frequently. With the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has stayed mostly terrestrial and mostly in the same dimension up to this point, but after Dr. Strange we will go back to Asgard for Thor: Ragnorak and into the Cosmos with Guardians 2. So get ready for extra helpings of magic and mysticism in the MCU, and let Benedict Cumberbatchs Dr. Stephen Strange light your way in the dark. On Saturday at Comic-Con, Bryan Fuller, writer and creator of the next Star Trek series, Star Trek: Discovery, led a tent revival in Hall H. The text of Gene Roddenberry was his scripture. I didnt want to be a writer, he began. I wanted to be a Star Trek writer. And so being here today is really a dream come true. He then walked his congregation through the gospel that will save them all with the help of his apostles Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, and William Shatner. Basically, if you had been left feeling spiritless after the Republican National Convention this past week, the Star Trek 50th anniversary panel was your baptism. Fuller went on about how we can better ourselves through the teachings of Roddenberry, saying, Fifty years, 50 years of a promise of planet Earth uniting its citizens under one flag as a species going out into the galaxy. Just take a moment and think about that. Two hundred and fifty years into the future, think about where we are today. Think about whats happening in America, and think about the promise of Star Trek and what we can all do to get there. Here is Fuller on the importance of identity and representation: Individuality is very important for all of us and it should be celebrated whenever it can be. Fuller on the great rainbow of humanity: Star Trek is about celebrating diversity. It is infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Fuller on the importance of science: Starships are not built with cynicism. Theyre not built with fear-based hate. Theyre built with science. And one of the most beautiful things about science is that scientists know that they have to collaborate And only working together can they find a better future. Fuller on who will save the world: The freaks have to unite, and the freaks are who are going save the planet. And were all freaks here. And heres Fuller on, well, Star Trek: One of the most beautiful things about Star Trek is that you have people who see this show and they want to be scientists. They want to get into space. They want to make to make it to the future in one piece, and I think that is incredibly beautiful, because we do have to celebrate a progression of our species because right now it feels as though we need a little help, and theres nothing like the guiding light that Gene Rodenberry hung in the sky. Fuller even advocated for adopt dont shop, reminding his audience that, They need love and you need love, too. It was a full on love-in. Spiner talked about how the human race needs to have more respect for one another, and said if he could make one Trek device real it would be the replicator so we could solve the worlds food crisis. Bakula talked about how science fiction can help guide us past our prejudices into a better future. Ryan talked about the need for inclusiveness and the right of self-determination, while Shatner drew parallels between human extinction and dwindling salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest, because of course he did. The guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi believes that if you get enough people in one place all meditating at the same time, it would bring about world peace; and the Guru Bryan Fuller tried his best to manifest Roddenberrys vision when he closed the panel by asking everyone to join hands with their neighbors and said, As we chart a path to the 23rd century, lets make a promise to everybody in this room. Look at each other and make a promise to leave this room with love. Leave this room with hope. Leave this room taking responsibility to craft a path to the future that Gene Roddenberry imagined. It was all very earnest. And it was all very inspiring. But it was also devoid of any concrete information about Star Trek: Discovery, beyond the fact that it will premiere in 2017 on CBSs online portal called All Access. Fuller did say, Were going to be telling stories like a novel, instead of in a conventional episodic stricture, but when asked what the new series will bring to viewers, Fuller deferred by asking the panelists what they wanted to see before saying, What the new series has to do is remind the audience about the message of Star Trek Really, if anything, what I feel like the new series has to do is continue to be progressive, continue to push boundaries, to continue telling stories in the legacy that Gene Roddenberry promised, which is giving us hope for a future. So, even if we didnt get anything close to what we hoped for by way of details about the new series, we recommend reading Fullers affirmations daily. And, um, maybe email him some script ideas, because its possible hes still looking for them. Heres the tiny new teaser for a look at the U.S.S. Discovery, with music that sounds suspiciously like the theme to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Hell on Wheels Done Season 5 Episode 14 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Tim Guinee as Collis Huntington. Photo: Michelle Faye/AMC Say what you will about Thomas Durant surely, itd be more than he had to say in response to charges of bribery, fraud, and corruption but that was one impassioned speech in the closing minutes of Hell on Wheels. And why wouldnt the final oratory go to a man who longed for a legacy that history couldnt erase? Its a thoroughly defensible bit of bravura shaming, a Hail Mary meant to ensure hes forever remembered as a titan of industry who got his hands dirty building the American Dream while Washington fat cats played hot potato with peoples lives. Its not as if Cullen Bohannon would storm in and clarify Durants grandiose delusion. When it comes down to it, our weary protagonist is a simple Southern man. The call of duty and subsequent determination to endure thrust him into an iconic role, but he shuns it all to find Fong and pursue happiness in the here and now, rather than get lost in the fog of war or anything else. And so, there goes our mangy, moody, future unsung legend, heading off into the Pacific Ocean to find his lady love, with little more than an address and aspiration to leave his tenuously united nation way back in the distance. Sure, his heated romance with the androgynous forewoman of his Chinese labor crew came on suddenly, in a soapy course of events that could only be outdone if Cullen first had to rescue and reconcile with his Mormon wife and their ill-conceived son. You get the gist. Its been a weird couple of seasons. Its been a bemusing run for Hell on Wheels as a whole. Why not call it a day by sending one guy halfway across the world (Cullen), a whore-turned-horse-enthusiast toward the horizon with a stack of cash (Eva), and a gritty Irish barkeep and secret softie off to San Francisco with nary a flower in his hair (Mickey)? Why not top it all off with the aforementioned robber baron, Durant, offering a thundering final sermon on ethics and freedom as if he were a prototypical Donald Trump feigning kinship with the middle class? Amid all that, Done does its due diligence, coming full circle by letting Bohannon step inside the right side of a confession booth for a moment of Zen. The scene is a bit melodramatic, but an effectively far cry from the man who masqueraded as a compassionate priest before killing a Union soldier to avenge his familys deaths. As the show has readily acknowledged in its waning episodes, Cullen got a tad off track (pardon the pun) from his early reasons for heading west, so its a wise idea to reconcile the gunslinger we first met with this introspective soul setting off for Asia. A slow clap is also in order for outing Louise as a cultural tourist whod been lurking behind a crusaders facade. Granted, a gals gotta be somewhat self-interested and given to sensationalism in male-dominated, post-Civil War society if she stands a chance in journalism. Still, her twin admonishments to Eva about exploiting her tragedy in the form of a scandalous and misleading memoir This can be a way in for you, and This is the best you could hope for, are aptly petulant. If anything, Eva is a saint for not slapping her in the kisser. (Pun on their short-lived lesbian affair very much intended.) One shudders to think what Eva would have made of General Custers remarks concerning the sexual bloodlust of Apache women. Though it follows the finales 19th-century spin on a slobs-versus-snobs motif, this version of Custer is just the right amount of slimy to serve as Cullens foil and all but guarantee Bohannon would spurn President Grants proposal to kill Native Americans like a good soldier. Cullens turnabout in the face of Custer and Grants regressive, divisive rhetoric is a bit pat, but pshaw to anyone whos watched this far and still wanted an ending that didnt involve our hero breaking the cycle of servitude and self-hate. Besides, who cares what the president and his shotgun-toting lapdog have to say about Cullen Bohannon? Does it really matter how they choose to negate his contributions to industry? Durants monologue hits the golden spike on the head: Truths delivered by lies are no less true. That much has been driven home by these last few episodes, as milestone moments were orchestrated, manipulated, and reverse-engineered to narrowcast hundreds of lives so they fit into a primitive camera lens or telegraph wire. Hell on Wheels has made its final stop, but a freeze-frame of where it pulled in would shine bittersweet light on a country moving full-speed ahead like a train in vain. Apart From All That: MJF-L withdraws support to Oli The Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Loktantrik has decided to pull out of the government. Photo: 2016 Getty Images Ian McShane, dressed in a ball cap and a barely buttoned silk shirt, proved to be a convivial Comic-Con presence last Friday when Vulture found him at a cocktail party for the cable channel Starz. McShane was in San Diego to promote his role as Mr. Wednesday in Bryan Fullers upcoming adaptation of the Neil Gaiman work American Gods, but after a little chat, we asked if we could discuss his recent gig on Game of Thrones. If you must, McShane said, laughing. McShane appeared on the seventh episode of this past season as a warrior turned septon who mentors the long-lost Hound (Rory McCann), though he doesnt survive to see episode eight. They said its a good, juicy, one-episode part that has a big monologue, and wed love you to go and do it, said McShane. Also my grandkids are huge fans of the show, and my son is, so it was kinda like, Yeah, absolutely, why not? And though, with Deadwood, McShane once toplined an entire HBO show himself, he was content this time to simply cameo. I didnt want to do the whole thing, the whole series, he said. Its a good plot. I got hung. Im outta there, man. Months before his episode aired, McShane gave a revealing interview where he basically implied that hed be bringing back the long-thought-dead Hound, and he has no patience for anyone whos still put off by his spoiler. They take it very seriously, some people, McShane sniffed. Dear God! I mean, I didnt have to sign one of those contracts where you dont talk about it. And on the other hand, if you tease it up, more people will watch it. So it wasnt exactly bad publicity for HBO, you know? Has he ever been the sort of person to take his acting roles too seriously? No, said McShane. Seriously enough to be quite good at it, but not seriously enough to think Game of Thrones is gonna change my life. Photo: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images When Mad Max: Fury Road was released last year, many hailed Charlize Therons striking Furiosa as a female action icon in the mode of Aliens lead Ellen Ripley and Terminator heroine Sarah Connor, two characters created by director James Cameron (and embodied by Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hamilton, respectively). Earlier today, I caught up with Cameron at Comic-Con, where hes promoting the 30th anniversary of Aliens, and asked him what he thought about Furiosa rubbing shoulders with the famous women he wrote. I would concur with that, Cameron said, heaping praise on Therons Fury Road performance. Shes a world-class actress, as Sigourney is. Even in the middle of an action scene, shes acting, shes so heartfelt. You cant remember the guys in [Fury Road], but you remember her, added Gale Anne Hurd, who produced Aliens. It should have been called Furiosa. Cameron nodded. Well, Tom Hardys a great actor, but hes not as memorable in that film as she is, he said. These iconic characters come along every few years. Hollywood tries to do it from time to time, but As Cameron trailed off, I wondered why we still see so few of those truly galvanizing action heroines. While Jennifer Lawrence found favor with The Hunger Games and actresses like Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson have established tentpole-movie bona fides, its telling that Furiosa was compared not to any of them but to two characters created decades ago. Theres an oomph, a pop that Ripley and Sarah Connor possess, that isnt easy to come by. Cameron said the discrepancy can be blamed on Hollywoods tendency to hire a disproportionate amount of female directors, since the overwhelming amount of men who do make big tentpole movies have little interest in empowering women. Im basically a pretty hardcore feminist, said Cameron, so I have no problem writing a script in which the males become subservient to the females, which is what happens in Aliens Its up to Ripley to win the day. There arent too many male writers and directors who feel comfortable doing that. I guess its deeply hard-wired. Or they create a character with all male characteristics, and cast a woman to play it, said Hurd. And that doesnt work either! No, because it has to be written from the standpoint of a female psyche, which at least has some sort of nurturing and emotional connection that is processed differently, said Cameron. Youve got to write to that, you know what I mean? Sarah Connor became iconic not from the first Terminator but from the second one, where she was a mother. The same thing with Ripley: As good as Alien was, I dont think Ripley would have had the stature as an iconic strong female character without the mother aspect, without the emotional aspect. Her strength is an emotional strength, and its an intellectual strength, her native intelligence as a survivor. Added Cameron, Hollywood is also a culture that rewards a certain type of beauty and behavior pattern, so that its hard for actresses to emerge that are amazing, strong actresses. I dont mean physically strong, but strong in their emotive power, who can take a movie and carry it and be the one on the marquee. You think of people like Tom Cruise and Matt Damon who carry action franchises and it doesnt happen as much for women because theyre not handed that bat to hit the home run. That, said Cameron, is why Aliens continues to compel: Weaver hit a grand slam with her heroine, and generations of moviegoers have responded to that: I have to take my filmmaker hat off and look at it as a fan, he said. Gee, I really like those characters. Photo: Dave Mangels/Getty Images At Saturdays Women Who Kick Ass panel, a group of veritable ass-kickers including Connie Nielsen, Ming-Na Wen, Morena Baccarin, Melissa Benoist, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Tatiana Maslany discussed many of the challenges facing female actors today. Nielsen talked the lack of meaty roles for women who are neither young nor old, the traditional territories of the Best Actress Oscar; Baccarin expressed her desire to play both James Bond and a Bond girl; Maslany praised the influence of Jill Soloway and Lena Dunham on television; and Wen, like a true vet, broke down the finer points of fighting in heels versus lingerie. Even these aspirational figures seemed to be inspired by another presence in the room, though. When asked what dream role shed love to play, Wen looked down the length of the table and said, I want to be Lucy Lawless. Lawless, who ascended into the realm of iconography with her role as Xena, the Warrior Princess, seemed to function as a sort of Ass-Kicker-in-Chief for the Hall H panel. At one point, she had some hard-earned professional advice for her peers on stage: Especially when youve been having babies, right, you think, nobodys ever going to hire me again. So you take a show with the title that has three exclamation marks at the end. Thats a giveaway, by the way: if its name is, Vampire Bats!!!, thats not a working title: thats the title. Youre going to be in Vampire Bats!!! But Lawless officially stole the show when the moderator asked the panelists to describe their most unusual encounter with a fan. As you might expect, the women had some creepy stories to share: apparently, people go up to Nielsen in elevators and whisper, I loved you in The Devils Advocate, which is weird as hell and a thing you should not do; a dude asked Emmanuel to send him a pair of her underwear, because of course; and while working on V, Baccarin received a picture in the mail of a chocolate penis cake. Lawlesss story, however, came from a very different place. Its a weird story it makes me seem weird, she began. Its a downer I dont know if I should tell you, actually. Of course, that guaranteed no one was leaving Hall H without hearing this story, and after much oooing from the audience, Lawless got into it. I was at the deathbed of one of my fans. It was amazing and beautiful. In the early days of fame, you get much closer to the fans than you do when its later, because you just cant keep it up. But I just got to know this amazing woman called Elena Santiago [Ed. note: its not clear if this was the exact name], big Xena fan. She had been like she used to transport nitroglycerine or some sort of bomb-making material in her undies when she was a kid for rebels in Cuba. Anyway, it all went horribly wrong, her family got broken up and dispersed, but she went on to become a very excellent human being and an educator. And I loved her, and then she got cancer, and at some point after Battlestar [Galactica] I said Ill come back to L.A. and come and see you, so I did, and I made it there and she went off watching me watching videos of her dad in Cuba back in the day. This is, undeniably, an unusual encounter! But you also get the sense that, if any actor were to appear at the deathbed of a fan, it would be Lucy Lawless. Lucy Lawless is a living legend. For all the superhero-on-superhero fights weve watched this year in films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War theres one comic-book title bout that still takes the cake, and thats Marvel vs. DC. In one corner, we have seemingly bulletproof Marvel Studios, putting out one hit after another and showing Hollywood how a shared cinematic universe is done; in the other, the fledgling DC unit is leveraging some the most famous comic-book characters ever created, for an interconnected franchise thats just getting off the ground. Both superhero juggernauts came to Comic-Con today, for the two most anticipated movie panels of the weekend. How did they fare when it comes to the measurements that matter most? New Trailers During todays Warner Bros. presentation of DC movies, the studio showed off a pretty great Wonder Woman trailer, as well as a surprisingly full-fledged Justice League teaser, given that Zack Snyders film is still shooting. Both clips went heavy on the DC Universes newly prioritized sense of humor, to great effect: Wonder Womans feminist certainty sets up an endearing culture clash with World War I pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), while its nice to see that Justice League gives Ben Afflecks Batman more notes to play besides glowering, especially now that a winning Ezra Miller has been added to the mix as the wisecracking Flash. Both those trailers are now online, as is a capable but superfluous new teaser from the heavily advertised Suicide Squad. If you wanted to see Marvels major clips, though, you had to be at Comic-Con. The studio put its new Doctor Strange trailer online, but in Hall H, they also showed a key sequence from the film in which Benedict Cumberbatchs title character meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who judo-chops the arrogant docs spirit straight out of his body. We also saw, early on, intriguing teasers for Thor: Ragnarok (in which Mark Ruffalos Hulk dons gladiator armor, Cate Blanchetts villainous Hela wears an antler couture, and Chris Hemsworths Thor gets a radical, new shaved-sides haircut) and Spider-Man: Homecoming, which mostly eschewed special-effect sequences to give us an appealing sense of the high-school life of Peter Parker (Tom Holland). But the trailer that had everybody rolling was Marvels tease for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which reunites the whole team for a new, colorful adventure, and even more jokes at each others expense. My favorite? When Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) takes offense at being called a raccoon, so Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) instead dubs him a trash panda. (Plus, Baby Groot is back, and somehow the little tree-being is more adorable than ever.) Big Surprises While DC had nothing new to offer on this front, Marvel threw some casting curveballs, including the addition of The Walking Deads Danai Gurira to Ryan Cooglers Black Panther. Shell play the head of TChallas elite unit of female bodyguards known as the Dora Milaje, while co-stars Lupita Nyongo and Michael B. Jordan were announced as Nakia and the villainous Killmonger, respectively. The biggest Marvel shocker? Yes, as predicted, Kurt Russell is playing Star-Lords dad in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but director James Gunn has scrambled Star-Lords origin story and given him a peculiar new pop: Russells character is Ego the Living Planet, one of Marvels most unusual characters. Out of simple curiosity, this living, breathing planet has taken on a human form; filterless Drax (Dave Bautista) immediately asks Ego what sort of genitalia hes crafted, much to Star-Lords chagrin. That Gunn would pull Ego the Living Planet into his franchise signals that hes not done living dangerously with Guardians just because the first one was such an unexpected hit. Cast Chemistry While Justice League has been putting together its group over three films now, David Ayers Suicide Squad comes fully stocked right out of the gate, and its impressive just how much his sprawling cast seems to be on the same page. When Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and their cohort took the stage in Hall H, they delighted in ribbing one another, and never more than when describing the antics of Jared Leto, whose Joker-style gifts for the rest of the cast have become infamous. The Oscar-winning actor sent Robbie a dead rat from Mr. J, and recounting the incident, Smith laughed, If I had had pearls on, I would have clutched them! Ayer has said that hed love to spin off several characters from the movies extensive cast, and it will be ironic if this baddie take on the Justice League ends up outdoing the more clean-cut crew. Meanwhile, Marvel is doing something unique with Spider-Man: Homecoming by treating it almost as a teen-ensemble comedy, which makes the spliced strands of superhero DNA all the more enticing. Director Jon Watts has surrounded Tom Holland with a murderers row of standout young actors, including Zendaya (whose smart, under-the-radar burnout may end up Peters love interest), Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys), and Michael Barbieri (Little Men). The teaser explores Peters teenage world so appealingly, that its startling at the very end when Michael Keatons winged Vulture appears, raining down death. The last few screen iterations of Spider-Man have rushed Peter out of high school and given him awfully few friends to bounce off of, so lets hope that Marvels more measured approach will give us a great new take on the hero and better integrate his supporting cast. Diversity When it comes to diversity behind the camera, DC has done the most in a very short time. The DC panel opened with a directors summit that included helmers James Wan (Aquaman), Rick Famuyiwa (The Flash), and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), while its taken Marvel 17 films to hire its first nonwhite director (that would be Taika Waititi, whos in production on Thor: Ragnarok). The studio still hasnt made a movie with a female director or sole female lead, though theyre intending to accomplish both feats with 2019s Captain Marvel. DC will beat Marvel there when Wonder Woman debuts next year, but the studio behind Iron Man and Captain America has still made encouraging progress when it comes to diversifying its casts. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black Panther have all cast black women in the love-interest roles (none of whom will be shrinking violets). The black excellence on display was striking when Ryan Coogler brought Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongo, Michael B. Jordan, and Danai Gurira to Hall H to tout Black Panther. While more work needs to be done casting Tilda Swinton as Doctor Stranges traditionally Asian character, the Ancient One, has proved more controversial than studio chief Kevin Feige anticipated, and Marvel still lacks any sort of gay character on the big screen at least progress is coming, in fits and starts. Future Teases Im surprised that the DC panel didnt mention Margot Robbies rumored Suicide Squad spin-off, which would surround her breakout character Harley Quinn with other comic-book femme fatales. DC made no new film announcements and, like last year, teased future installments like Cyborg and Green Lantern Corps in name only. Are they playing it safe for now, waiting for Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman to open before deciding where to put their resources next? Over at Marvel, Feige brought out Brie Larson at the very end of the panel to confirm her rumored casting as Captain Marvel, but he didnt announce a director for the film, which would have been real news. He also neglected to talk about the next two Avengers movies, which will concern a space-spanning Infinity War, or to bring out Comic-Con stalwarts like Robert Downey Jr. (whos in Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Tom Hiddleston (who was on hand at Comic-Con today promoting Kong: Skull Island) to work the crowd. And maybe he didnt need to. Marvel still slayed, having built up real good will with this crowd, which DC will now try to match. Will a blockbuster-in-waiting like Suicide Squad tip the scales? For now, Marvel retains its edge in this contest, but check back next year because like any good comic-book story line, this one is to be continued. You can never have too many eccentric British detectives right? Here, we have a new look at BBC Americas upcoming Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency series, which is perhaps best described as a hearty mix of the following: the murder-mystery narratives of Sherlock, the campy sci-fi elements of Doctor Who, and the goofiness of Psych. The show follows the surreal misadventures of the bizarrely holistic detective Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) and his hesitant assistant Todd (Elijah Wood), as they attempt to solve various crimes together. Based on the original novels by Douglas Adams and adapted for the small screen by Max Landis, Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency is set to air October 22. Watch the latest, megaconspiratorial teaser above, and then check out the Comic Conoccasioned first look, below. San Diego Comic-Con is sadly coming to an end, ladies and gentlemen. But dont frown because its over, smile because it happened, and also smile because Comic-Con brought with it the release of a solid amount of trailers for some of the most hotly anticipated films of 2016 and 2017. Hooray! Below youll find all of the major trailers that premiered over the long weekend, gathered together in one place for your convenience. Happy watching. Wonder Woman Gal Gadot bursts into the superhero spotlight as the iconic DC Comics heroine in the very first trailer for Wonder Woman, and hot damn, shes looking fierce in her battle armor as she attempts to stop a world war. (As does Robin Wright, riding on horseback.) Itll fly into theaters on June 2, 2017. Justice League Oh hey, killer White Stripes soundtrack! Justice League looks like its having waaaaay more fun than Batman v Superman, with Ben Afflecks Batman, Gal Gadots Wonder Woman, Ezra Millers Flash, Ray Fishers Cyborg, and Jason Momoas Aquaman delight with some quips and some smirks. The quintet will be in theaters on November 17, 2017. Suicide Squad Sure, there have already been a few trailers released for Suicide Squad, but you can never have too many bizarre and screwy teases, right? (Jared Letos Joker is a different story.) This trailer plays out like an extended music video, and itll certainly keep you on your toes until the films finally in theaters on August 5. Dr. Strange More weird Marvel movies, please. The new Dr. Strange trailer gives us the first look of Chiwetel Ejiofors Baron Karl Mordo character, as well as new peeks at The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), the villainous Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), and Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) himself. Buckle up for a weird ride. Itll be out later this year November 4, to be precise. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them There there, Harry Potter aficionados, you have found the beasts. (Er, the trailer, that is.) The eccentric Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is still in America, hunting for those pesky beasts with the help of some new friends after they escape from his magical briefcase. The magic is aplenty, as are the wands. The HP universe will officially expand when the film is released on November 19. Blair Witch Get ready for a trip back to the place of your childhood or earlier-adulthood nightmares: Burkittsville, Maryland. AHH! Lionsgate surprised Comic-Con audiences with a trailer for a top-secret follow-up to 1999s The Blair Witch projected titled Blair Witch, which will follow a group of young campers as they return to the scene of the original film. In theaters September 16. Kong: Skull Island The first look at Kong: Skull Island is pretty scary dont go on vacation there, okay? as it follows the likes of Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, and John Goodman who are blissfully unaware that their Pacific island expedition is, in fact, in prime King Kong territory. Oops! The fun begins on March 10, 2017. Sherlock, Season 4 Will Moriarty be back for Sherlocks fourth season? The new trailer doesnt say yes, necessarily, but it also doesnt say no! The short trailer also gives us a glimpse at our new villain, played by the wonderful Toby Jones. Sherlock will return to PBS, finally, in 2017. Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency Eccentric British detectives? Check. The name Dirk Gently? Check. BBC America? Check. Coming to your TV in October? Check. Damn, this show has it all! Legion FX debuted the trailer for Legion, its X-Men-themed series from Fargo creator Noah Hawley, during the shows panel at Comic-Con on Saturday afternoon. Now you can watch it on your computer, and then you can watch the full version on your TV in early 2017! Vikings, Season 4 Vikings will return to finish its fourth season this fall, and it will bring with it the return of Ragnar, lots of fur, good hairdos, and a lot of violence. The Walking Dead, Season 7 Im gonna beat the holy hell outta one of you The trailer for the Walking Deads seventh season brings with it Negans spiky bat, a quick look at Ezekiel and his kingdom, and everyones scared faces. Tune in to see more scared faces on October 23. Fear the Walking Dead, Second Half of Season 2 In the trailer for the second half of its second season, the survivors of Fear the Walking Dead are wandering south of the border. Do you think theyll meet zombies there? Watch the trailer now and the season starting on August 21 to find out. American Gods Meet the new gods, (theyre not the) same as the old gods. The power struggle between traditional mythology and modern deities in Neil Gaimans TV adaptation will begin in 2017. Ian McShane will be there! Munich shooting: Gunman planned attack 'for year' The teenage gunman who killed nine people in Munich on Friday had been planning his attack for a year, German authorities say. Downtown property owners who challenged abrupt increases in their tax appraisals this year were successful in getting them reduced by an average of 20 percent. But while the tax protest process is finished, unrest over downtown values isnt. Top city leaders have joined with downtown advocates in questioning the appraisal process they say resulted in wildly inflated property values. The McLennan County Appraisal District board, which includes city representation, has asked the district staff to make a presentation on the downtown values at a meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at MCAD headquarters, 315 S. 26th St. I think everybody is concerned about revitalization downtown and growth downtown, and were glad to see values increasing, Mayor Kyle Deaver said last week. But the rate of increase in the latest appraisal seems unrealistic at best. Id like to understand their model and see if theres some way they can take another look at it. The independent Appraisal Review Board wrapped up protest hearings this week, and MCAD will certify the tax rolls Monday for all entities countywide. In the Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 1, which encompasses downtown, Elm Avenue and the Brazos River corridor, the final value is $421.5 million, up 30.6 percent compared to last years value of $322.9 million. The preliminary values proposed by MCAD staff would have increased values by 46 percent in the TIF Zone. Through informal meetings with appraisers and formal review board protests, property owners in the TIF got $72 million knocked off their original appraisals, a 19 percent savings. In the Public Improvement District, which focuses more on the Central Business District, the reduction was 20 percent. Shane Turner, a leading downtown developer involved in numerous loft apartments and the Waco Hippodrome, saw major increases in his property values, most notably in his new Tinsley Place townhouses at 715 Cleveland Ave. Turner hired a firm to handle his protest and got the Tinsley Place valuation knocked down from $23.7 million to $16 million, which he said is closer to what it cost to build but still too high. It was way out of line, he said of the original appraisal. It was laughable. I think what they did was irresponsible and extremely reckless. For those of us who have put time into downtown development, its very frustrating. I feel like downtown will continue growing, but who knows how this will affect that business. Now theres an uncertainty of what taxes are going to do in the future. It can be scary for small business. Brett Jameson, co-owner of Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits at 508 Austin Ave., had suggested he might have to close if his new tax values stood. Jameson hired a tax consultant to fight the values and got them lowered from $646,620 to $532,510, just about $7,000 above last years appraisal. They did lower ours significantly, he said. But I had to hire somebody to fight something that was ridiculous to start with. Quadrupled values Dichotomys case was typical of downtown property protests this year in that its land values were not reduced. The coffee bar and other properties along lower Austin Avenue saw their land values quadruple this year to $40 per square foot, a figure that real estate professionals have called unrealistic. Chief Appraiser Drew Hahn said he thinks the land values are pretty close to market rates, though the scarcity of raw land sales in downtown makes it hard to judge. You have to break it out in some way, and it may not always be exactly right, Hahn said. Sometimes the land is more valuable than the improvement. Nonetheless, he said the total appraisal is what matters and is what state officials look at when they do audits of the appraisal districts work. Hahn said downtown properties vary widely in value, especially as revitalization progresses, and MCAD often suffers from a lack of information on sale prices, which dont have to be disclosed under Texas law. They need to realize that when they dont give us any information, were going to have to shoot high to get the information, he said. Sales disclosure City Center Waco executive director Megan Henderson, who has spoken out on behalf of downtown property owners in the value fight, said Hahn has a point. We as a community have to do some serious talking about sales disclosure, Henderson said. It may help the individual to keep them secret, but it harms the collective. . . . We need to be a model for reporting and making sure were shouldering our fair share so as a market were getting it right. But Councilman Dillon Meek, who as part of the Rydell investment firm is involved in downtown development, said he would like more scrutiny of the appraisal district. There needs to be a community conversation and an examination of the system, Meek said. He said he has been seeing downtown properties valued far higher than he would ever consider reasonable as a sale price. We want development downtown, and with that comes value, and thats to be celebrated, Meek said. But with this years appraisal, values are higher than I believe anyone would pay. McLennan Community College officials say they hope to give all employees a raise for the 2016-17 school year and at the same time, lower the schools tax rate. Officials project $51,978,824 in income and $54,244,492 in expenditures for the year, according to a budget presentation to the schools board of trustees Saturday. Spending projections increased about $2.2 million from last years budget. MCC President Johnette McKown has said she hopes MCC will be able to lower its tax rate for next year. Preliminary figures show marked increases in property values. Final tax valuations from the McLennan County Appraisal District will arrive Monday. The board will examine those numbers at its monthly meeting Thursday and set a proposed rate. Final numbers from the appraisal district should provide clarity as the board works to finalize the budget. On taxes, we dont know for sure until next week, McKown said. Those things change on valuations and new properties. I still feel confident that well be able to lower the rate. Well see. The board will vote on the tax rate at its August meeting after a pair of public hearings. Trustees raised the tax rate 7.95 percent last year to offset a $1.7 million cut in state appropriations. The average homeowners tax bill went up about 21 cents. Officials say they expect to get $12,110,806 from the state for the upcoming budget the same as last year. Trustee Earl Stinnett Sr. said he favors salary increases to send a positive message to faculty and staff. I think were doing a tremendous job of supporting students and trying to ensure student success, Stinnett said. But the very people delivering those services directly, even though we tell them we really appreciate them, at the end of the day when you pay bills and take care of a family, the way to say we appreciate you is through compensation. MCC gave $600 raises for more than 400 employees last year to offset increased health insurance and retirement contribution costs. McKown said the school will aim for at least a 3 percent increase to salaries for next year. The budget presentation Saturday listed a 2 percent increase. A 3 percent raise would add $962,566 to the budget, and a 2 percent raise would add $641,710. Despite favorable property valuations and hopes of cutting the tax rate, trustees still face a more than $2 million gap between revenue and spending projections. One step trustees plan to take is leaving about 13 faculty positions unfilled next year, saving about $900,000. McKown said she meets with her vice presidents in these situations and often finds temporary solutions, such as using adjunct professors. A 22-year-old man was arrested Saturday afternoon after he portrayed himself as Beverly Hills police officer and told a Crawford officer he was interested in working for the Crawford Police Department, Crawford Chief Clay Bruton said. Ulises Jesus Sanchez, of Waco, was arrested on a charge of impersonating a peace officer after he made contact with a Crawford reserve officer at Tonkawa Falls in early July. Sanchez told the reserve officer he was employed with the Beverly Hills Police Department for the last eight months and was interested in working with Crawford police as a reserve officer, Bruton said. Sanchez allegedly attempted to conduct himself as a peace officer by instructing visitors of the park to follow city ordinances and park rules, according to an affidavit for his arrest. Sanchez had handcuffs and a police officers vest, according to the affidavit. Bruton said Sanchez was never armed with a service weapon. In the week after speaking with the officer at Tonkawa Falls, Sanchez took an application to apply for a reserve officers position, Bruton said. Sanchez never submitted the application, but Bruton started to research Sanchez as an interested applicant, he said. Bruton said he found no peace officers license issued to Sanchez, and Beverly Hills police told him Sanchez was never an officer with the department. Background checks also showed that Sanchez has never had a peace officers license in Texas and has not been enrolled in a law enforcement academy within the last year. Sanchez was arrested on the impersonation charge and had two outstanding traffic warrants out of Waco, jail records indicate. He remained in McLennan County Jail on Saturday evening. No bond was immediately set. This month Robert W. Zahirniak will celebrate his 86th birthday. He has much on which to reflect, including a long military career and a full list of activities since leaving military service over 40 years ago, including serving as an honor guard and volunteering for Meals and Wheels. Born and raised in West, Zahirniak grew up during the Great Depression milking cows, picking cotton and doing various other jobs with his seven siblings, many of whom served their country. One brother was on the beach on D-Day, another served in the Navy and Air Force and yet another was in the Marines. Zahirniak served in the Air Force. Military service has been a family tradition. One of Zahirniaks sons retired as a lieutenant colonel. His youngest son served in Desert Storm and Iraq with the Texas National Guard and his granddaughter just graduated from Texas A&M as a commissioned second lieutenant in the Army. Zahirniaks military career spanned 27 years. He left high school during his junior year to join the Air Force in 1948, along with three friends. For me and . . . guys at that time, the ticket out of West was the military, he said. Because he was only 17, his parents were required to sign his enlistment papers. In basic training for 13 weeks, Zahirniak remembers nearly every detail, from the buzz haircut he received to the military fatigues that replaced his old, worn clothes. When we came out, we all looked the same, he said. Heading west to the East From Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, he was assigned to Hamilton AFB in San Rafael, California, to prepare to go overseas. On Sept. 20, 1948, he boarded the USS General D.E. Aultman. The troops on board knew they were bound for the Far East, but werent told exactly where. A fleeting glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge was the last time Zahirniak would see the United States for three years. After enduring seasickness, a typhoon and lost power, the ship finally reached Yokohama, Japan, on Oct. 15, 1948. The troops watched Mount Fuji grow larger as the Aultman drew closer to the harbor. Half of the U.S. Navy was there, Zahirniak said. Submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, battleships including the USS Missouri. Yokohama was still burned out from World War II, he added. The troops including two of his original three friends left for Camp Zama, where processing for all military personnel took place. Zahirniak was assigned to Johnson AFB near Tokyo to the 35th Fighter Group in the 41st Fighter Squadron with the 5th Air Force. Zahirniak received on-the-job training as a radio operator and went to Keio University in Yokohama to train in fundamental electronics and communications. The squadron flew P-51 Mustangs, converting later to F-80 fighters; Zahirniak worked as an avionics technician. Korean War declared in 1950 One leisurely day on June 25, 1950, during a softball game, an announcement instructed the men to convene on the flight line There the base commander told everyone, Gentleman, we are at war, Zahirniak said. Most troops went to the southern tip of Honsu, the main island of Japan, about 200 miles from South Korea. Zahirniak eventually joined them, although he didnt see combat. After the initial announcement, there was an air of excitement for there was much work to be done. At that time there were so many airplanes in the southern part of Japan that there was no room for any more, he said. The most amazing part was, where did they get all the ammunition? he said, adding that the planes made about three bombing runs a day. In November, U.S. forces were at the Yellow River. In December, the 41st returned to Johnson Field. It was shortly after this that Zahirniak got his first good scare. He was among nine men assigned to go to on a special mission to Niigata AFB to support four F-80s that were put on strip alert. They boarded a train with an oil truck, a fuel truck and four power units. They were connected by a small caboose to a steam-powered train headed north. That evening he lay down by the front door to sleep, while the others played cards. Among his supplies were a field jacket, a blanket, his gun and two issues of K-rations. Four hours later Zahirniak woke up with a headache and an upset stomach. His first thought was that it was the K-rations. It turned out to be much worse. NEXT WEEK: Zahirniak would serve a second stint in Korea and go on to serve in Vietnam. He was later stationed at James Connally Air Force Base for several years. He eventually left the Air Force after 27 years. Voices of Valor, featuring stories about Central Texas veterans, publishes every Sunday in the Waco Trib. To suggest a story about a Central Texas veteran, email voicesofvalor@wacotrib.com. Voices of Valor is proudly sponsored by Johnson Roofing. Nepals imports shrink to Rs 782b in 2015-16 The countrys imports declined in the last fiscal year as the supply channel was badly disrupted by four-and-half-month-long Indian blockade and the Tarai unrest. Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. NHRC reminds govt to prosecute Godar massacre The state security force killed five Dhanusha youths on suspicion of helping the insurgency in 2003 S&P 500 3,807.30 DOW 32,033.28 QQQ 272.87 3 Roughed-Up Dividend Aristocrats with Good Long-Term Prospects 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Strong Fundamentals Make Bristol Myers Squibb Stock a Real Value Be Sure You Own United Parcel Service for the Right Reasons 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Biden zeroes in on economic message as campaign winds down Top 10 Horror Movie Entrepreneurs Under $5 a Share (Ad) Auto prices finally begin to creep down from inflated highs Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities S&P 500 3,807.30 DOW 32,033.28 QQQ 272.87 3 Roughed-Up Dividend Aristocrats with Good Long-Term Prospects 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Strong Fundamentals Make Bristol Myers Squibb Stock a Real Value Be Sure You Own United Parcel Service for the Right Reasons 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Biden zeroes in on economic message as campaign winds down Top 10 Horror Movie Entrepreneurs Under $5 a Share (Ad) Auto prices finally begin to creep down from inflated highs Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities S&P 500 3,807.30 DOW 32,033.28 QQQ 272.87 3 Roughed-Up Dividend Aristocrats with Good Long-Term Prospects 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Strong Fundamentals Make Bristol Myers Squibb Stock a Real Value Be Sure You Own United Parcel Service for the Right Reasons 4 Down Market Stocks (Ad) Biden zeroes in on economic message as campaign winds down Top 10 Horror Movie Entrepreneurs Under $5 a Share (Ad) Auto prices finally begin to creep down from inflated highs Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. 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Read More Pacts signed by Oli govt will be implemented: Deuba Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the pacts signed by KP Sharma Oli government will be implemented. Peace award for Prof Regmi Prof Murari Prasad Regmi, former head of the Central Department of Psychology at Tribhuvan University, has received the Dean of International Peace Prize. Search of Mayfield home snares alleged meth trafficker and two others Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jul. 23, 2016 | ARLINGTON, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jul. 23, 2016 | 06:25 PM | ARLINGTON, KY An Arlington man is behind bars on assault charges after state police say he assaulted a woman. According to Kentucky State Police, troopers went to the Jackson Purchase ER in Mayfield on Thursday over an apparent assault that put the victim in the hospital. Troopers met with the victim, a 49-year-old Arlington woman that West Kentucky Star has chosen not to identify. Troopers say the woman was allegedly assaulted by her roommate sometime on Thursday by 56-year-old Harold Edward "Eddie" Turner of Arlington. Troopers got an arrest warrant for Turner for assault. Police say they located Turner along County Road 1219 in Arlington, and arrested him. As they were arresting him, trooper say they found small metallic pipes containing a small amount of methamphetamine. Multiple items of drug paraphernalia containing Methamphetamine residue were found in the residence as well. Turner was arrested and charged with the warrant for assault, first degree possession of a controlled substance, 1st offense methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia Buy/Possess (Class A Misdemeanor). The investigation is ongoing by Tpr. Cody Cecil. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jul. 23, 2016 | 10:17 PM | FANCY FARM, KY The Fancy Farm Picnic is just a couple of weeks away and some of the biggest names in state and national politics have already confirmed they will attend the annual church picnic. The picnic has evolved into the state's premier political event, serving as a kickoff of sorts for the fall campaign season. Fancy Farm political chairman Mark Wilson said Gov. Matt Bevin has already signed up to speak at Fancy Farm, as has Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul. Paul's Democratic opponent, Jim Gray has also confirmed he will speak. Also confirmed to speak are State Senator Stan Humphries, State Representative Richard Heath and his Democratic challenger Jesse Wright. Wilson said surrogate speakers for all three presidential candidates have been invited to speak. Candidates for all state-level offices -- including attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer, agriculture commissioner and lieutenant governor have also been invited speak at the picnic. This year's Fancy Farm Picnic is set for Saturday, Aug. 6. The political speaking starts at 2 pm. By West Kentucky Star Staff Jul. 23, 2016 | 05:01 PM | MAYFIELD, KY The Graves County Board of Education has asked a judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals to re-affirm a district judge's decision to place the proposed annexation of Graves County school property into the city of Mayfield on the ballot for voters to decide. "The Graves County Board of Education has submitted a brief to the Kentucky Court of Appeals asking the Court to affirm the decision of Graves County Circuit Judge Tim Stark," said C. Ed Massey, the attorney representing the school board. "That decision determined that the petition filed by the board was in compliance with applicable statutes. It ordered the issue concerning annexation of school property to be placed on the ballot at the next general election." Massey continued, "The board believes the argument presented has merit and the board, unanimously has taken this action to protect the interest of the employees of the Graves County Schools." The proposed annexation would nearly double local taxes employees of those schools would pay, by imposing additional city taxes on the employees working in the buildings brought into the city of Mayfield, Massey said. They include Graves County Middle School, Central Elementary, and the Graves County Schools' central office. "All attempts to mediate and or settle the matter have been unsuccessful," Massey explained. "Therefore, the Graves County Board of Education stands by the decision of Judge Stark and has asked the Kentucky Court of Appeals to affirm the decision." ARTS COUNCIL'S "BRING US YOUR BEST" SET FOR AUGUST 5 AT BRCC The opening reception and awards ceremony for the 13th annual Bring Us Your Best art exhibition will be held Friday, August 5, from 5pm to 7pm. This all-media visual art exhibition will be on display through Friday, August 19 in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall of the TEDC building at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. First ($250), second ($150), and third ($100) place awards will be presented in four categories: 2-dimensional art, 3-dimensional art, fine craft, and photography. In addition, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville is sponsoring and selecting the One Planet, One World award. The winning artwork will be the best representation of a world community recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all beings, and the oneness and interdependence of all life. For a fourth year, an Artists Choice award will be sponsored and presented by two artist patrons. This award is selected by all artists who have work in the show. The Artists Choice award winner will be announced at the opening, and will receive a $300 cash prize. The Starving Artist Art Supply and Custom Framing Shop is sponsoring the Peoples Choice Award, which will be announced on Friday, August 19, the last day of the exhibition. This award winner will be determined by the votes of all gallery visitors who will be encouraged to cast votes for their favorite piece in the show, and will receive a $250 gift certificate from The Starving Artist. Ten Honorable Mention awardees will receive $25 gift certificates from The Starving Artist at the reception. All artwork displayed at Bring us Your Best is for sale. Regular gallery hours for Bring Us Your Best XIII will be 10am to 4pm Monday through Friday, and 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays. A prospectus for the show is available on the Arts Councils website,www.acofhc.org. The exhibition is sponsored by The Wax Family Memorial Funds, the Dr. Minor F. Watts Fund at the Community Foundation of Henderson County, The Starving Artist Fine Art Supply and Custom Framing Shop, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville. For more information please contact The Arts Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828-693-8504. The web address is www.acofhc.org. The Arts Council of Henderson County is a community organization that promotes, advocates for and nurtures the arts in Henderson County and western North Carolina. Its office is located at 401 North Main St., Ste. 302, Hendersonville, NC 28792. (Entrance on Fourth Avenue West.) The Arts Council is supported in part by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources; funds administered by the Community Foundation of Henderson County, Henderson County, Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, and the City of Hendersonville. PM Oli addressing House at 5pm (Watch LIVE) Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is addressing the parliament to respond to queries regarding the no-confidence motion against him. Police lathicharge on Dr KC supporters Police on Sunday lathi-charged at the protesters who were on their way to picket Bhatbhateni-based the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) head office expressing dissent over the anti-graft body's interference during the Kathmandu University medical entrance exams and calling Dr Govinda KC mad. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/07/2016 (2287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. According to the website www.thetoptens.com, the most popular music acts on the planet in 1976 were Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones. Proving once again the more things change, the more they stay the same, when Gurinder Nirula, owner of O Calcutta, a Portage Avenue store specializing in rock-related goods, was asked which bands merchandise customers are most interested in when they walk through his doors, he replied, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones. When it comes to classic rock bands, I sell their T-shirts to people in their 50s, and I sell them to people in their teens, said Nirula, whose store is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Customers who havent been here in a whilewill come in, take a deep breath and say,Thats the smell I remember about O Calcutta Gurinder Nirula on burning incense Things like the Beatles, AC/DC and (Bob) Dylan? You can never have too much of that stuff. Heres the funny thing: when pressed, the father of two described himself as a casual music fan at best. Sure, the radio behind his cash register is perpetually on, he mentioned, but does he always twig into what songs are playing or catch himself humming along to More Than a Feeling from time to time? Not so much. PHOTOS BY ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gurinder Nirula (left) with his parents, Sartaj Nirula and Jasbir Nirula. The couple opened O Calcutta, a store that sells T-shirts and pop culture paraphernalia, 40 years ago. You wont really see me wearing any of the clothes we sell here, either, Nirula said, stylishly dressed in leather sandals, jeans and a slim-fit, pale blue shirt he picked up at RW & Co., one of my favourite stores. My wife likes Pink Floyd, so when Roger Waters was here for The Wall tour, I got tickets for our anniversary. And I do like the Who and actually thought about going to their last show (in May), but in the end I didnt bother. Nirula was born in India. His mother, Sartaj, moved to Winnipeg in 1967. Nirula, his father, Jasbir, and his older brother followed suit a year later. (Nirula doesnt remember his first snowfall, but he does recall catching chicken pox not long after he arrived in Canada, he said with a chuckle.) When I was growing up, my mom was working as a guidance counsellor. But she had to resign from her job when she got pregnant with my younger brother because in those days you didnt get maternity leave, he said. My father had done different jobs through the years, but after he became the chief breadwinner in the family he got the idea, Why dont we start our own business? The first incarnation of what would eventually become O Calcutta was decidedly different from what the place looks like today, with its wall-to-wall array of T-shirts, hoodies and flags. (Hey ho, lets go: if you think your newborn would rock a Ramones onesie, hes got that, too.) ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A customer browses for T-shirts. Nirulas father opened Universal Imports on the north side of Portage Avenue in 1972, near what is presently Elements the Restaurant. It was a boutique type of store, Nirula said, that offered garments and jewelry brought in from their native country. After a 1974 fire that started in an adjacent building pretty much gutted the place, Jasbir shifted over a few blocks to the basement of the former Club Morocco, his son said. Universal Imports operated there until a smallish location inside the old Colony Theatre, at the corner of Portage Avenue and Colony Street, became available in 1976. Thats when the focus of the biz began swinging more toward pop culture paraphernalia and also when the name was given a refresh. For years, Nirulas customers have assumed O Calcutta is a reference to where his family lived before they arrived in Canada. That isnt the case, he said, noting he and his parents hail from Indias capital city of New Delhi. Back in the 70s, there was a famous stage play a nude play, as a matter of fact called Oh! Calcutta! Because of that, and because of the connection in the title to India, my dad decided he would put up a sign in the window of the building we were moving into that read, Coming soon: O Calcutta. It was a bit of a marketing ploy, for sure, but the name stuck. O Calcutta was expropriated from its 459 Portage Ave., spot in the mid-1980s to make room for Portage Place, a set of circumstances that still rankles Nirula, who, by that time, was helping his parents out as much as he could around his university schedule. I understand why (the city) did it because at the time, the south side of Portage had Eatons and the Bay, and thats where the majority of the foot traffic was. Here on the north side were mostly record shops and arcades, which the powers that be saw as a negative, he said. Im not saying the city was wrong, but it was a shame to see all those unique, independently run places just taken away. ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Pop culture paraphernalia for sale. The store specializes in rock-related goods. Following the expropriation order, the Nirulas moved to the Avenue Building at 265 Portage Ave. The rent there was substantial, however, and it wasnt long before his father began shopping around for a space he could buy outright. In 1995, Nirula was put in charge of negotiating with a party that owned the 7,000-square-foot building at 319 Portage Ave, opposite what was then Eatons. The two sides went back and forth for a few weeks, but when the negotiations broke down that summer, they were still $50,000 apart. Time was of the essence because our lease was going to be up (at the Avenue Building) in December (1995), and we knew if we got this place, there were going to have to be a bunch of renovations before we could be up and running, Nirula said. After a month of sitting around and waiting for the phone to ring, Nirula was told by his father to table a second offer, slightly higher than the first. It was accepted, and the Nirulas moved into their present digs on Jan. 1, 1996. Given its location directly across from the MTS Centre, it isnt surprising to learn O Calcutta has seen its share of famous faces since the downtown arena opened 12 years ago. Paul Stanley from Kiss came in with his bodyguard one time, looked around a bit and said, Cool store you got here, Nirula began when asked for a whos who. Motley Crue was here, I remember that; my wife once got into a conversation with Eddie Vedder (from Pearl Jam) one time, and even though I wasnt in the store that afternoon, in one of these drawers is an American Express receipt with Rob Halfords (from Judas Priest) signature on it. ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS People pass by O Calcutta on the north side of Portage Avenue., one of the longest-running family businesses in the area. Nirula also recalled an occasion when a person from Green Days entourage rushed in just before the store closed to hunt for items the California band could wear onstage during their concert that evening. Nirula laughed when a scribe mentioned his own son always knew if one of his presents under the Christmas tree was bought at O Calcutta because he could smell the incense through the wrapping paper. Weve always burned incense in the store, and I guess the smell gets into the clothes somewhat, but its true what you say because customers who havent been here in a while will come in, take a deep breath and say, Thats the smell I remember about O Calcutta, he said. Nirulas parents retired a number of years ago, but Nirula said his father still drops by from time to time to chat with longtime customers people who now show up with their kids or grandkids in tow or sweep away a cobweb or two. My dad is in his 70s, and the first thing hell do when he gets here is ask, Wheres the mop? Wheres the broom? Nirula said, breaking into a grin. His thought process from the very beginning was you have to present a good image because the image the store presents is us. In the old days, he would always arrive a couple of hours early if it had snowed the night before to make sure the sidewalk out front was shovelled. Hed wash all the windows, make sure everything inside was spic and span and then, at the end of the day, put everything away properly so the store was ready for the next day. That sense of hard work and pride are things Ive always tried to instil in my children. Not that theyre going to end up working here, necessarily my 27-year-old daughter is a doctor and my 21-year-old son is completing his bachelor of commerce degree but those are good values to have, period, I believe, and ones that apply to anything you choose to do in life. david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Employee Yuvraj Basra hangs T-shirts. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 24/07/2016 (2287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CLEVELAND Americans viewing the recent failed coup attempt in Turkey as some exotic foreign news story the latest, violent yet hardly unusual political development to occur in a region constantly beset by turmoil should pause to consider the prospect of similar instability would not be unfathomable in the United States if Donald Trump were to win the presidency. Trump is the most brazenly authoritarian figure to secure the nomination of a major American political party. He expresses his support for all manner of strongmen, and his campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has actually worked for one: former Ukrainian president and Vladimir Putin ally Viktor Yanukovich. At the Republican National Convention Monday, Manafort put some of the tricks he learned overseas as a dictator whisperer to good use, employing underhanded tactics to avoid a roll-call vote on the conventions rules package and quietly removing language from the party platform expressing support for Ukraines democratic aspirations. Throughout the campaign, Trump has repeatedly bragged about ordering soldiers to commit war crimes, and he has dismissed the possibility he would face any resistance. JESSICA GRIFFIN / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week. They wont refuse, he told Bret Baier of Fox News this year. Theyre not gonna refuse me. Believe me. When Baier insisted such orders are illegal, Trump replied, Im a leader. Ive always been a leader. Ive never had any problem leading people. If I say do it, theyre going to do it. Oh really? Blimpish swagger might fly within the patriarchal confines of a family business, a criminal operation (the distinction is sometimes blurred) or a dictatorship. It does not, however, work in a liberal democracy, legally grounded by a written constitution, each branch restrained by separation of powers. Try to imagine, then, a situation in which Trump commanded the U.S. military to do something stupid, illegal or irrational. Something so dangerous it put the lives of Americans and the security of the country at stake. (Trumps former rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Marco Rubio, said the U.S. could not trust the nuclear codes to an erratic individual.) Faced with opposition from his military brass, Trump would perhaps reconsider and back down. But what if he didnt? In that case, the nations military men and women, who swear to uphold the U.S. Constitution and a civilian chain of command, would be forced to choose between obeying the law and serving the wishes of someone who has explicitly expressed his utter lack of respect for it. They might well choose the former. I would be incredibly concerned if a president Trump governed in a way that was consistent with the language that candidate Trump expressed during the campaign, retired air force general Michael Hayden, who served as head of the CIA and the National Security Agency under President George W. Bush, said in response to Trumps autocratic ruminations. RON EDMONDS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Retired U.S. air force general Michael Hayden says hed be incredibly concerned if Trump follows through on his autocratic statements. Asked by TV host Bill Maher what would happen if Trump told American soldiers to kill the families of terrorists, as he has promised to do, Hayden replied, If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act. You are required not to follow an unlawful order, Hayden added. That would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict. Previously, in those rare situations when irreconcilable disagreements have arisen between Americas civilian and military leadership, it is the latter who were ultimately deemed out of line. This was the case when Harry S. Truman acrimoniously fired Douglas MacArthur after the general publicly criticized the president for denying him permission to bomb China in the midst of the Korean War. Though MacArthur returned to the U.S. with a heros welcome, Trumans decision endures as one of the most important in the history of American civil-military relations. Trump could pull a reverse-Truman, firing a general who refused to bomb. If this scenario sounds implausible, consider Trump has normalized so many once-outrageous things from open bigotry to blatant lying. Needless to say, such dystopian situations are unimaginable under a Hillary Clinton presidency. Whatever her faults, she would never contemplate ordering a bombing run or heaven forbid a nuclear strike on a country just because its leader slighted her small hands at a summit. Rubio might detest her, but he cannot honestly say Clinton, a former secretary of state, should not be trusted with the nations nuclear codes. Trump is not only patently unfit to be president, but a danger to America and the world. Voters must stop him before the military has to. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES U.S. President Harry S. Truman pins a medal on the shirt of Douglas MacArthur in October 1950. He fired the general the next year. James Kirchick is a fellow with the Foreign Policy Initiative. His book, The End of Europe, is forthcoming from Yale University Press. Tribune News Service Prime Minister Oli calls it quits Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli officially stepped down on Sunday nine months after assuming the post. Local businesses recently supported Ready Set School through donations and raising awareness of the nonprofit, which provides school supplies to children across Winona Coutny. Ready Set School would like to thank the following local businesses: Blooming Grounds, Lakeview Drive Inn, Bloedow Bakery, Winona Verizon, Winona Lodge #17 and Godfathers Pizza. Bryan Hunt has a host of professional theater credits to his name, but hes just as proud of being called upon to teach the next generation of thespians. Thats thanks to the Great River Shakespeare Festival, where Hunt is the project director for the festivals apprentice program. I can directly trace the steps to my success right back to this festival, Hunt said. That success includes associate director for the world premiere of Christopher Durangs Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Lincoln Center, a Broadway run that garnered the play a 2013 Tony Award for best play, and director credits that include Macbeth, As You Like It, and Urinetown, among many others. He has an equally impressive list of assistant director credits on his resume. When he first came to GRSF back in 2007, he didnt quite know what he was in for. As a sophomore at Southern Methodist University in Texas, Hunt was quickly taken in by the company in Winona, where he understudied five roles in As You Like It on the main stage, and took on a role in the apprentice production of Julius Caesar (ironically, both shows are on the 2016 main stage). It was his first professional theater gig. For me, Hunt said, it was the best way. He learned what he called a bedrock, which includes working in a room with pros, analyzing text at a serious level, how to trust people, and how to be a good ambassador. All the things he hopes to impart to the 14 acting apprentices and 12 design interns who are bringing Shakespeares classic Coriolanus to life this week. Hes seen many apprentice classes at the festival before, but the mix he has now of 19-to-32-year-olds, some of whom are working on their undergraduate degrees, some who have recently graduated, and others working on their MFAs, is special. This one is really advanced, he said. Casting with such a relatively young troupe also forces Hunt to use his directing chops in a very different way. Take, for instance, Taylor Harvey. She assumes the role of Menenius, an aged sort of father figure to the plays title character, a wise old patrician of Rome. But, as Hunt has envisioned it, Harvey plays the character as a 22-year-old woman which, in fact, she is. I was a little bit curious about how this was going to go down, Harvey said. She didnt have to wait long before she found out. Among other things, shes learned how infinite Shakespeares universe can be. In the end, the character has turned out to be a perfect fit for her. There really is no limit to what you can do with his language, she said. The other things include the apprentices requirements of class time, understudying a main stage role (in this case, Rosalind in As You Like It), working in both the technical shop and the front of house, as well as rehearsing their own production. Coming to Winona, she said, is so much bigger than I thought it would be. Twenty-one-year-old George James agrees. A rising senior at Texas State University, James was looking for summer stock opportunities, but since he doesnt do musical theater he was feeling a bit unlucky. Once he auditioned for GRSF and got in, he said, he didnt feel so unlucky after all. Its nice to grow with the ensemble, James said. Its also a lot of work. He was leery of the technical aspect, especially since props arent really his thing. Still, hes created bouquets for the final scene in As You Like It, and he said hes as proud of them as anything else hes done at the festival. It wasnt just the fake flowers which pushed him out of his comfort zone. In Coriolanus he plays Tullus, a general at the heart of a clash of clans, and a real gift for a performer: hes a man who wants to achieve something, but just cant, no matter how hard he tries. Its definitely a role I wont forget, James said. That kind of spirit runs like a rivulet through the apprentice company, which Hunt said is a special program at a special festival in a special city, all of which positions it in a special place in his heart. Theres definitely something in the water here that brings out the good in you, Hunt said. It would almost be simpler to list the subjects Gabriel Martinez is not planning to study. Martinez, who hopes to triple-major in math and astronomy and law, is getting an introduction to college this month at Saint Marys University. Hes slept in the dorms and eaten the food. Met the professors and taken the courses. And during this baptism into university life, he and his friends have developed a fierce preoccupation with water kickball. Theyre kids, said Alisa Macksey, executive director of Saint Marys First Generation Initiative. They love anything with water. They were just outside, and I asked them what they were playing. It actually wasnt a game. They were just throwing buckets of water on each other. The Countdown to College program at Saint Marys, created in 2010, is intended to prepare high-schoolers from across the country for the demands of college. Every summer, the university brings in about 80 students teetering on the edge of adulthood, and shows them why college should be a part of their plans. Students arrive the summer before their freshman year and come back every summer after that, earning college credit and even scholarships to attend Saint Marys. My parents are proud of me just being here, said Martinez, a sophomore from Tucson. Getting a scholarship here would make me proud of myself, said Katherine Galvan, a freshman from Chicago. Countdown to College attracts Latino, Native American and African-American students who flash potential but live in rough or underprivileged communities. Many of these students will be the first in their family to attend a college or university. When Im here, said Marisol Sanchez, of Waukegan, Ill., Im never sitting down or bored. We go swimming, we play volleyball in the water. I love my professors. I never know if I remember the information or just the activity we did. Youre learning, but youre having so much fun you dont even know it. Macksey, who has overseen the program since last year, said the courses are designed to be rigorous but engaging. In vocabulary, students act out skits using the words theyve learned. In science, they research the water quality of their hometowns and then present their findings. They play academic Jeopardy! every chance they get. I try to eliminate their anxiety, said Joe Tadie, a Saint Marys philosophy professor who has been teaching the students a course in phonetics. I try to give them roots and tools, he said, so they can work out a word theyve never seen before. Countdowns upperclassmen have already gone home, yielding the campus to the underclassmen. Theyll be here through Friday, contemplating poetry and practicing their free-throws during lunch. Macksey said the program has made an observable difference since it was founded in 2010, funded by benefactors. Every student who has completed the program has also graduated from high school a feat, she said, considering some of those high schools have graduation rates near 50 percent. Additionally, 75 percent of students who have completed the Countdown program have gone on to college. We engage students who might not have thought college was for them, Macksey said. Their parents come here with them, and a lot of them might never have spent time at a university. Like roughly half of Countdown graduates, Alexis Cummins went on to Saint Marys. The young woman is entering her junior year, studying criminal justice and human services. Cummins has been working as a program counselor the past couple weeks, helping kids like the one she used to be. Growing up, I didnt think I could do these things, just because I didnt look like everyone else, said Cummins, who has decided she will be a social worker in Chicago, or in some other place where too much potential falls away, unrealized. I want to show them they can do these things, she said, because I did them. MOORHEAD, Minn. Erik Runquist saw it for a moment. Then it was gone. Walking a tract of Nature Conservancy-owned prairie outside Moorhead, Runquist caught a glimpse of a Dakota skipper, a thumbnail-size, orange and brown butterfly. It perched atop a coneflower before disappearing into the prairie grass. Skippers are evasive. You may get only a few seconds to be able to find it before it zips off the coneflower, especially if its a windy day, said Runquist, the Minnesota Zoos butterfly conservation biologist. Once they get in flight, its almost impossible to find them again. Fifteen years ago or so, it wasnt so hard to spot a Dakota skipper in Minnesota. But somethings changed. Butterflies that once numbered in the millions have virtually disappeared from Upper Midwest prairies. Another once-abundant butterfly, the Poweshiek skipperling, has also vanished in that time. There hasnt been a sighting here since 2008. Its on the federal endangered species list. Runquist and other scientists arent sure whats happening, but they worry the butterflies disappearance is an ecological warning shot, a sign of a larger environmental problem on the prairie. Butterflies are tremendously sensitive to small changes in environmental conditions, he said. Theyve alerted our attention that, yeah, there are probably some pretty significant problems on our prairies that we werent necessarily tuned to. Prairie butterfly populations naturally declined as Minnesota prairies were turned to farmland over the past century, but their dramatic decline in the past 20 years has scientists puzzled. We dont have a cadaver to do post-mortem on, said Robert Dana, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources entomologist who searches for Poweshiek skipperlings and Dakota skippers at sites across the state every year. Prairie butterflies began to disappear rapidly in the early 2000s, despite efforts to preserve and restore prairies, he said. Its very disconcerting to discover that after saving so many prairies, we are not yet on secure ground with the insects. It doesnt help that Poweshiek skipperlings and Dakota skippers spend their lives in an area the size of a Walmart parking lot bad weather at the wrong time in a the butterfly life cycle can wreak havoc on local populations. Dana, though, says theres a long list of potential reasons the butterflies are in trouble. Fragmented prairie habitat, invasive predators like the multicolored Asian lady beetle, climate change, and pesticides are a few of the possibilities. Scientists are monitoring several prairie locations for pesticide contamination. They are also trying to get a better idea what prairie habitat gives the butterflies the best chance of survival. Runquist has a federal permit to capture female butterflies. He keeps them in paper cups lined with grass for a couple of days while they lay eggs. He then returns them to the prairie. Harvesting the eggs is part of an ambitious plan to save these once abundant species. No other organization or agency in the world is rearing and breeding Dakota skippers or Poweshiek skipperlings, said Runquist. The Minnesota Zoo now has about 300 Dakota skippers bred in captivity. Runquist hopes that number will double by next year. The plan is to release some butterflies into the wild next summer to boost breeding populations. The zoo plans to do the same with the endangered Poweshiek skipperling, although theres no guarantee of success. In the wild, only about 3 percent of butterfly eggs survive to adulthood. The zoo has raised the survival rate to nearly 30 percent. But if something on the prairie is killing the butterflies, the captive bred butterflies might not survive. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year designated about 19,900 acres of critical habitat in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota for the threatened Dakota skipper, and about 25,900 acres in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin for the endangered Poweshiek skipperling. The prairie problems, however, might be bigger than two butterflies. The DNR is now monitoring 13 prairie insect species, and it appears nearly all are in decline, as are many bird species that feed on them, Dana said. If we are indeed depopulating these prairies of their insect fauna, thats going to have consequences for the grassland birds that use these habitats, he said. It is a big deal. The Republican convention is over. I guess it can best be summed up by what Donald Trump said in his acceptance speech, so I will concentrate on that. Early on, he stated that he would be truthful and then he began spinning. I learned that Trump is an excellent spinner. In that respect, he is already an experienced politician. What bothers me, however, is not that he spins the truth into yarn. Its not that he weaves the yarn into cloth. What bothers me is the cloth he is weaving. Trumps entire speech seemed to be focused upon one thing fear. Everything he said even when making reference to positive changes he would make, like bringing jobs back to America was based upon an underpinning of fear. Fear was the common element running through everything he said. Trump is capitalizing on the fears that many of us have. Will we have enough saved up for retirement? Will I ever be able to pay off my college loans? Will I lose my job to an evil foreign country? Did I lose my job to an evil foreign country? Will the U.S. be taken over by ISIS? Will illegal immigration destroy our culture? Have illegal immigrants stolen our jobs? Have all of these others who are not like you and me made America unsafe? I could go on and on, because Trumps message is one of fear. That is the lever he is using to gain support. Fear is the easiest way to generate a mob mentality and during his acceptance speech, Trump once again proved how effective fear is at bringing people together. At one point, when Trump was demonizing Hillary Clinton, the convention goers began chanting, Hang Her! Hang Her! Hang Her! As I watched, I could not help hearing in my mind, Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Is this a civilized response to a social problem? Are we witnessing a resurgence of a KKK-like mentality where undesirables are strung up over tree limbs without due process? Proclaiming death to opponents who have not been convicted of any crime, by the way has become common language by representatives of the Trump campaign and now the Republican party itself. This is not a healthy outcome, because unfortunately the fear lever also opens the furnaces of hell. That fear lever led to the crucifixion of Jesus. That fear lever led to Japanese internment camps in America. That fear lever led to the exporting of Jews from Germany. Eventually, that fear lever led to the deaths of millions of Jews in Europe. Yes, the fear lever opens the furnaces of hell and it does this so slowly that the mobs do not see it coming And now, less than a century after World War II, that fear lever is already leading conservatives to thoughts of lynching political opponents. That fear lever is already leading people to thoughts of violating the civil rights of citizens who happen to be Muslims. That fear lever is leading people to believing that constructing a wall around America will make us safe. That fear lever also leads people to look for the one leader who can alleviate their fears. Trump knows this. Thats why he says, And only I can fix this. In effect, he is saying that he is the only one who knows how to deal with your fears fears, incidentally, that he planted. Hes right. He gave us our fears and he can take them away. Frankly, I am fearful of where such a mob mentality might lead America. Am I the only one? A sea of colorful umbrellas and, at times, pouring rain, provided the backdrop for Saturdays fourth annual Big Top Parade on the streets of downtown Baraboo. Thunder and lightning blended in with the horns of high school marching bands as the parade's 75 units went on regardless of the weather. There were plenty of heat-related preparations by a number of agencies in the city of Baraboo with emergency responders and a veterinarian at the ready, free packets of electrolyte drinks and inexpensive or free water in certain areas. We created those comforts for the spectators and anyone who comes early, Baraboo's Big Top Parade and Circus Celebration publicist Keri Olson said. We wanted to be over prepared for that. We felt if we took these measures and people were questioning whether they should go or not, we want them to know were dong everything to facilitate their comfort. Instead, the rain kept away the heat, while kids played in the puddles. By the end of the parade, the rain had stopped and the sun had started to shine, making Olson make light of the rainfall. Despite a few raindrops and rumble of thunder here and there, the parade atmosphere was sunny and happy, she said. The rain was a welcomed addition for horse owners in the parade. Mike and Nancy LaCrosse of Kewaunee have been raising Clydesdales for 20 years and brought a team of them to Baraboo to pull one of the circus wagons for the second year in a row. Last year it was hotter, said Mike. I dont worry about them ever. Theyre not working hard. Celebrating circus heritage This year marks 125th anniversary of the founding of the Gollmar family circus that preceded the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Gollmars were first cousins of the Ringling Brothers. It is also the 100th anniversary of the end of the Gollmar Circus. Gail Gollmar Phillips and her sister Sandra Gollmar Edwards, descendants of the original Gollmar family, served as grand marshals for this years parade. It was a fitting selection to keep the family at the forefront for the anniversary. The Gollmar brothers made sure their circus parade in Baraboo traveled past their parents home on the corner of Third Avenue and Birch Street. The Gollmar family has been so important to this community and to recognize their descendants in the parade is wonderful, Olson said. As the parade celebrated the famous and historic circus families, several thousand families lined the streets to wave at the people riding circus wagons, horse-drawn wagons, ringmasters, clowns, stilt-walkers, high school students providing big band music, dancers of all ages, and even a ring-tailed lemur and a giraffe. The Peters and Puzek families of Baraboo were among the few people who werent seated under umbrellas. They didnt need them. The eight of them arrived at the parade route at 5 a.m. Saturday to get their prime seating in front of the Al Ringling Theatre doors and under its marquis. Its the circus parade, Martin Puzek said. We wouldnt miss it. Last year the sun was so bright so we decided to put up chairs on this side. When the theater doors open its air conditioned. We didnt know it was going to rain. Pat Thielitz, 65, is a lifelong Baraboo resident who was celebrating his 55th year of volunteering at the Circus World Museum by dressing as a clown, pushing a cart and picking up garbage off the streets. I started when I was 10 years old down at the museum being a clown, Thielitz said. We lived behind the museum and I jumped the fence and cleaned all the animals up. When the museum opened, I would be dressed as a clown. Cara Thompson came to Baraboo all the way from Ireland to visit family. Neither Thompson or her aunt, Monica Mcreath minded the rain. In fact, Mcreath danced through the rain drops with her friend Brian Moeller. It rains every single day in Ireland, so Im used to the rain, Thompson said. Best of the parade Three parade units came away winners in three categories. Best Commercial Entry went to Cycropia Aerial Dance Troupe of Madison with its stilt walkers and other dance performers; the Forward Marching Band of Madison received Best Non-Commercial Entry; and the Grand Prize went to the Baraboo High School Thunderbird March "Clown" Band for which the entire band dressed as clowns. Celebrity judges were Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett; Tom Farley, and award-winning Fox6 (Milwaukee) news anchor and Baraboo High School alumni, Ted Perry. Response so far has been very positive Jay Ram Khanal, the principal of Medhavi College, is also marketing and promotional committee coordinator of Pokhara University. Forty of the total 58 colleges affiliated to Pokhara University (PU) are participating in the Edufair. The Kathmandu Post caught up with Khanal to talk about the fair and higher studies. Excerpts: If you think voters have less influence on their lawmakers than big donors and lobbyists, youre not alone. A Gallup Poll conducted in June asked Americans: How much influence do you think each of the following has on how members of Congress vote on legislation? Sixty-four percent of respondents answered that major donors have the most influence. Fifty-five percent put lobbyists right below major donors. Only 14 percent believe constituents have much influence. When Gallup separated responses based on preferred political party, the numbers werent much different. Voters from both parties know whats going on. In Wisconsin, a mining company got to write the mining bill after its owners gave $700,000 to Republican campaigns. After billionaire Diane Hendricks gave Gov. Scott Walker a $500,000 donation and asked what he was going to do about the unions, the so-called right-to-work bill was written and passed. Its the same in Washington, D.C. In his book The Party is Over, Mike Lofgren, who worked almost 30 years for Republican congressmen, tells how the hallways of Congress are full of lobbyists and other generous donors asking for, and usually getting, the legislation they want. Thats why prescription drug prices are so high, why defense contractors build equipment the Pentagon doesnt need, why wages have stagnated and taxes on the middle class are higher than those of the rich. As Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said for years, The system is rigged. But if we all get together, we can un-rig it. One way is for voters to loudly demand campaign finance reform. I know, its been tried before. The bipartisan, 2002 McCain-Feingold Act limited how much individuals and organizations could donate to campaigns. But the act lost its power when conservative members of the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in the Citizens United case. So now anyone can give as much as they want to super PACs and interest groups that support candidates. Unlike candidates actual campaigns, those groups dont have to disclose donors names or business affiliations. Unbelievably, Wisconsins Assembly Speaker Robin Vos sees no problem with that. On Feb. 27, 2013, he spoke at Marquette University Law School. According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, he told the audience he favored the least possible restrictions on campaign contributions and expenditures. He also said he was for greatly increasing the limits on donations to candidates and parties, or have no limits at all. In contrast, Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, said that one of the first things shed do if shes elected is to work to repeal the Citizens United ruling. That would be a good start. Redistricting reform is another change that would give more power to average citizens. After each 10-year census, many district boundaries are redrawn. The practice was meant to ensure all districts end up with an almost equal number of voters. But like a lot of things, politicians use it to skew the votes in favor of their parties candidates. Thats called gerrymandering. To understand how they do this, do a Google search for gerrymandering images. Look for the image showing three rectangles made of blue and red squares. Each square represents one voting precinct, 60 percent of which are blue and 40 percent red. In the middle rectangle, the precincts are divided straight across into five equal districts. When done that way, blue wins because there are more blue voters overall. The far right rectangle shows how manipulating the lines of voting districts (gerrymandering) gives an unfair advantage to the red voters so their party wins more legislative seats, even though its candidates are supported by fewer voters. And thats what happened after the last census when Wisconsin Republicans had district lines redrawn to favor their party. As a result, our new voting districts often resemble Swiss cheese, with loops, curves and zigzags that skew the election results in favor of Republicans. Theres proof of that. In the last Wisconsin election, even though Democratic candidates received more votes, Republicans won more seats in the legislature. Both parties do it, and thats why everyone, no matter how they vote, needs to demand a federal law outlawing the practice of gerrymandering. A redistricting system based on the one used in Iowa would make sense. There, every 10 years, a non-partisan panel draws the lines based purely on population changes and uses straight, sensible, natural boundaries. Redistricting and campaign finance reform need to be top priorities if voters ever want a voice in government. Ask the candidates how they stand on those issues. Their answers may tell you if they deserve your vote. This is the week the GOP has to figure out how to shine with Donald Trump. Its also time for the NeverTrump crowd to realize it is more important for conservatives to accept NeverHillary. Its also the week Trump needs to earn their support. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland got off on the right foot earlier this week with the Rules Committee striking down a movement to allow delegates to vote their conscience. It was a smart move that protects the votes of millions of voters who voted for Trump in Republican primaries. The challenge for Trump is he needs to rise above statements that the media, and Hillary Clinton, exposed due to his lack of political savvy. Its easy to spew out rhetoric that grabs a headline when you are chasing away 18 other respectable candidates. Its harder when the spotlight is on just two. The reality is Trumps vice presidential selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wasnt sexy. It was safe. Pence is a political insider who served 10 years in the House of Representatives and is hated by the left in his home state. Unlike then-political newcomer Sarah Palin it certainly wont excite the base, but it might bring some supporters who might believe he is beginning to take this campaign seriously. The convention has a long list of notable speakers all agreeing to rally the troops around the presumptive nominee. One of those speakers, Wisconsins Gov. Scott Walker, even went as far as announcing other candidates needed to get out of the race last November to defeat Trump. Now that Trump is the last man standing, Walker will stand against Clinton. Other speakers this week included politicians, business people, veterans, and ministers. Even actor Scott Baio took the podium on July 18 demonstrating Clint Eastwood isnt alone in the Hollywood corps of conservative actors. Of course, Trump is going to have to prove he can fill Eastwoods symbolic empty chair to garner additional conservative support. On July 21, Trump gets the stage all to himself. Trump is going to have to shine and, contrary to claims by those who adulate him, he wont be Reaganesque. He will, however, have to appear serious and capable of reaching out to a broader audience. Its easy to build a wall, but tearing one down is another story. Trumps been pegged by the national media as being a racist for claiming immigrants are rapists. Hell have the national stage to state he is talking about the lowest of the low sneaking into this country by means of illegal immigration. Hell also have to articulate how he might actually keep illegal immigrants out of this country and present a practical solution for dealing with the 11 million that are already living here. This one political miscue has defined his candidacy and it is important he clarifies the matter. Illegal immigration has been a bane in this country for the past 40 years or better. Can he present a solution that is practical and acceptable to both sides of the debate? In spite of terrorist attacks around the globe, he will also have to clarify his anti-Muslim rhetoric. He has stated he wanted to stop all Muslim immigration, but later clarified himself as to mean only those people from ISIS-states. In his GOP spotlight, he will need to outline a very clear and concise plan that will not ban someone from entering this country for their religious beliefs, but for their beliefs they are waging a war against the United States. Trump also needs to avoid recanting any of the conspiracy theories that he embraced along the campaign trail. Its political fodder that attracts voters who live on the fringes of the political spectrum, but it is definitely not the sort of rhetoric that will garner mainstream Republican support and it certainly wont sway those voters who flip-flop between Democrat and Republican candidates every two years. One thing is for certain, a lot of people have spent convention week presenting a Republican plan for Making America Great Again. Many believe these same folks are committing political suicide by taking one for the team. Trump, and the Republican Party, cannot afford another unscripted speech from New Yorks favorite real estate mogul turned reality TV star. This is Trumps prime time debut. Either he takes the lead over Clinton or he fails. Heres hoping the guy who hates losing delivers the speech of a lifetimethe speech that finally puts an end to NeverTrump. School headmaster assaults Mugu DEO A school headmaster in Mugu has been arrested after he assaulted the district education officer (DEO). China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Sharada Chitrakars odyssey I was simply struck by the Chitrakar tradition of not giving their daughters the family art education Cooking on stove (illustration) By: Feng Qian (Scroll down for video) An apartment building was evacuated after residents reported a strong odor coming from one of the units, according to police in Massachusetts. Amherst police said that the incident unfolded on Wednesday afternoon, at the Brandywine apartment complex. Residents called police after noticing a bad smell coming from one of the 12 units. When firefighters entered the apartment, they saw a man stirring a pot on the stove. The hazardous materials team and the bomb squad were called in to investigate and clean the building. On Thursday morning, police said that the liquid was tested and it turned out to be urine. The man said that he wanted to use the liquid for medical purposes. No charges were filed, police said. The residents of the other 11 apartments were allowed back inside. However, the manas unit remains sealed until the health inspector gets a chance to review the evidence at the scene. Boys wearing skirts at school By: Feng Qian A group of boys in the United Kingdom, showed up at school wearing short skirts after they were sent home for wearing short pants on a very hot day. The incident unfolded at the Longhill High School in Rottingdean on Thursday. Four 14-year-old boys, George Boyland, Jesse Stringer, Kodi Ayling, and Michael Parker, wore the skirts to school on two consecutive days. On Tuesday, a group of 20 boys showed up at school wearing short pants as the temperature reached 86 degrees. The principal told them to change into long pants, but they refused. Some of the kids were sent home while others are kept in isolation. The childrens parents expressed their outrage as the schoolas website states that students are allowed to wear short pants when the temperature rises. The principal allowed the boys to wear the short skirts in school as they are part of the approved uniforms. American flag (illustration) By: Tanya Malhotra (Scroll down for video) A man was arrested on a charge of flag desecration after flying his flag upside down in order to protest a pipeline project, according to police in Pennsylvania. Now, the Allegheny Township will give $55,000 to 39-year-old Joshuaa Brubaker, as his civil rights were violated. Brubaker was arrested and charged with flag desecration after an upside down American flag was observed on his property. Brubaker admitted to deliberately flying the flag upside down and writing the letters AIM on it. AIM stands for the American Indian Movement. Brubaker claimed that he flew the flag upside down in order to protest the Keystone Pipeline through the site of the Wounded Knee confrontation in South Dakota. A judge dismissed the flag desecration charge, saying that it was constitutionally protected free speech. The town has now ordered the police to ignore the flag desecration law. The thieves By: Wayne Morin (Scroll down for video) Police in Australia, are looking for two young thieves who got away with more than they bargained for during a robbery. Police said that they analyzed clues left behind by the clumsy robbers in order to catch them. The robbers of Perth, went into a pharmacy and attempted to steal items, but they were unsuccessful. The two did not give up and soon returned for a second try. This time, the armed men managed to steal several items, including expensive sleep apnoea gear. While running away from the scene, the thieves, who are said to be between 18 and 21 years old, tried to hurt employees who were chasing after them. While doing so, one of the men pepper sprayed his own face and the other then pulled out a knife and accidentally cut himself. Police said that they collected a DNA sample from the blood in order to catch the thieves, who were the only ones who were hurt during the ordeal. Thousands rally behind Dr KC As the indefinite hunger strike of Dr Govinda KC entered its 14th day on Saturday, thousands of supporters hit the streets in Kathmandu to draw the governments attention to his demands. Youth rescued, two girls injured in lightning strike The police have rescued a teenager who was swept away by the Khado river in Saptari. You are the owner of this article. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Isolated thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Getting help for mental illness: Where do you go? Scenes of a collection of Native American baskets, bags and other handcrafted items, made by Klikitat artists, known as the Wyers Collection, CAIRO- An experimental solar-powered airplane took off from Cairo for Abu Dhabi early Sunday on the last leg of its globe-circling voyage, mission organizers said. The Mission Control Center tweeted that the Solar Impulse 2 is expected to land in Abu Dhabi after a 48-hour flight. Mission Control said it had identified a weather window that could allow the plane to overcome the challenging high temperatures across Saudi Arabia. "Just took off from Cairo to achieve the 1st round-the-world solar flight. A dream I have since 1999," pilot Bertrand Piccard tweeted after Solar Impulse 2 was airborne. Sgt. Elor Azaria claimed in court on Sunday that he shot dead a wounded terrorist in Hebron because he sensed clear and present danger." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "I acted because I saw the clear and present danger. I felt I didn't have a choice, and that this could have ended with casualties," the soldier said. Azaria, who was charged with manslaughter, began his testimony to the court on Sunday and is expected to testify for two additional days. Azaria began by describing the general atmosphere in Hebron, where he was serving with the Kfir Brigade. "In that area of operations, the magazine is always in the weapon because there is a lot of friction there, and you are under constant threat. There is always a feeling of tension in the air, especially in Tel Rumeida, which is the site of most friction between Palestinians and Jews anywhere in the world. It's a stressful place," he said Sgt. Elor Azaria crying in court (Photo: Yariv Katz) "You can't walk through Hebron like you can in Tel Aviv. There is always fear in the air. You hear shooting and explosions at night when you're trying to sleep, he went on to say. Speaking about the incident itself, Azaria recounted, "I was in the guard tower at the Jilber checkpoint, close to where the incident took place. We were there in order to stop terror attacks. We were briefed about the rules of engagement and when to open fire during the briefing, along with talking to us about intent and ability (for terrorists to carry out attacks ed), and stabbing attacks. In one of the briefings, one of the company commanders told us that we shouldn't walk around with the Mak Porek (a kind of safety bullet ed.) in place in certain areas of the city due to the tensions." Sgt. Elor Azaria arriving in court with his parents (Photo: Motti Kimchi) He also addressed the rules of engagement, saying "No one has spoken to us about what to do when there's a bomb, or a combined attack. I heard the Yehuda Division commander saying if there was a knife attack it's unlikely there'll be a bombing. We saw last week in Jerusalem that there was a terrorist with both a bomb and knives." "The fact soldiers aren't briefed on explosives is a mistake that can cost lives," he said in criticism of his commanders. Recalling the incident itself, Azaria said: "I was sleeping right before the incident. That morning, one of the soldiers came into my room and said 'Elor! Wake up! There's an emergency!' I woke up quickly and ran to the company commander's office and he wasn't there. I didnt understand what was happening at all. I ran to the gate and asked what was going on. The guard at the gate told me that there was a terror attack, and that A. was stabbed. I ran to the area of the attack, and the company commander was there and told me to begin treating A." "I saw blood spurting out of A.'s wound," Azaria continued. "I pressed down on the wound with my handshe was bleeding really heavily. It was the first real injury I treated." A., the wounded soldier, being treated at the scene of the attack (Photo: TPS) "I tried to calm down A.," he said. "He was evacuated on a stretcher while things were still crazy around us, when all of a sudden peopleI dont know who exactlystated screaming and shouting 'careful! It looks like he has a bomb! No one touch him until the sapper arrives! Look, he's moving! Make sure he doesn't jump up and attack us! It looks like he's booby trapped!' "I looked at him and saw that he was wearing a black coat, and that there was a bulge in itas if there was something hidden inside," he continued. Sgt. Elor Azaria in court (Photo: Motti Kimchi) "I remembered the warnings we got about the possibility of a huge attack. I thought that perhaps this was the attack they were warning us about. There was supposed to be a Purim festival parade with hundreds of children from the Tel Rumeida area to Kiryat Arba. I saw the terrorist move his head and hand," he continued."I remembered the videos of attacks we were shown. I looked again at the terrorist, and he was moving his hand, and it seemed very suspicious to me. I thought that this was the attack that they warned us about," he said. "I took my weapon," he recalled, "and I gave my helmet to the soldier who was standing next to me. I pointed my weapon 60 degrees into the air and cocked it, and was adjusting sights. I was yelling at people who were just standing there, 'move! Get back!' Then, from 7-10 meters away, I shot the terrorist once in the head." Azaria then explained that he shot the terrorist in the head instead of the body because he didn't want to set off the bomb in case there was one. "It's not a shooting range where you wait for your commander's order to fire. If you see a clear and present danger, you're supposed to act." He added that "one of the commanders explained to me in the past that 'the only way to neutralize a terrorist is a bullet to the head, because the brain sends commands to the body.'" "I shot him to neutralize the threat," he continued. There was a knife next to the terrorist. The way the terrorist was dressed was suspicious, especially in light of the warning we got regarding the potential Purim attack." The terrorist and the knife Azaria denied some statements attributed to him, saying "I'm pretty sure I didn't say the sentence 'A terrorist should be killed' after the shooting. Maybe my words were misinterperted. I might have said a terrorist needed to die to not pose further danger." He also argued that if he had shot the terrorist to take revenge for attacking his friends, "I would've shot the terrorist at point-blank range and not from 7-10 meters away." Azaria claimed that the videos from the scene of the attack did not faithfully present everything that happened. "When you're sitting at home, you see things differently. In the field, you can suddenly end up dead." Azaria claimed that he was under a lot of stress after the incident because it was the first time he had treated a serious injury, and the first time he shot someone. 'The company commander slapped me' In implied criticism, Azaria asserted that "The scene wasn't closed off at all. People were just standing there. My hands were still covered in A.'s blood. There was tension, and it felt like a warzone. "It was as if the entire incident was over, with the civilians who were there yelling and the photographers who were trying to come onto the scene despite the fact that it was supposed to be a closed off military zone. From what I saw, the scene wasn't being controlled like it was supposed to," he said "There very well could have been a secondary attack there," Azaria added. Azaria continued his criticism of his commanding officers, noting that the terrorists knife " was close enough for him to reach out and grab it. The commanders were completely complacent and weren't even dealing with the terrorist. The company commander was speaking on the radio and wasn't aware of what the others were saying (about the potential bomb). They weren't acting as commanders ought to act." On Tuesday, Azaria sought to add more details to his testimony to the IDF's criminal investigation division (CID), claiming his company commander, Maj. Tom Na'aman, slapped him several times after the incident while the officer was questioning the soldier about the shooting. Azaria's company commander Maj. Tom Na'aman (Photo: Motti Kimchi) At court, Azaria stated, "I answered the company commander's questions, telling him I was the one who shot (the terrorist). He yelled at me 'What are you doing? Are you f***ed up?' He slapped me twice." After being hit by his commander, "I explained to him that I was worried about the situation, about the knife that was close to the terrorist. I also explained to him about my suspicions that the terrorist had a bomb. But the commander cut me off and told me that the terrorist was finished and was dying, Azaria said. "I almost couldn't get a word in edgewise when I was telling my commander that I was worried that the terrorist might continue to attack, he added. Azaria went on to say he felted "betrayed," accusing his company commander of humiliating him. "I heard my commanders lying here," he charged. "They've made a mistake and they want to protect themselves. They didn't want to listen to me." He also leveled accusations at IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon, saying "I've been hearing comments made by the defense minister and IDF chief condemning me and not waiting for the legal proceedings to conclude or to hear my version. I've lost all trust in the top echelons of the IDF and in the defense minister. I was thrown to the dogs to please the media and the world." "I've been abandoned, made into a scapegoat just so the army can clean its hands," he added. Both Ya'alon and the IDF declined to comment to Azaria's accusations. Likud MK Oren Hazan attends the trial hearing (Photo: Motti Kimchi) In late March, two Palestinian terrorists armed with knives stabbed a soldier at an IDF post near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron, moderately wounding him. The two were shot and neutralized by soldiers from the IDF's Kfir Brigade. A video filmed several minutes later by B'Tselem volunteer Emad abu-Shamsiyah shows one of the terrorists, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, lying on the ground motionless, when an IDF soldier, Azaria, aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head. A pathologist testifying earlier in the trial determined that a-Sharif was alive when Azaria's bullet hit his head. Azaria is the first witness for the defense, after which will be several military experts. The expert witnesses are expected to testify that there was indeed suspicion of a bomb, and that Azaria acted in accordance with IDF protocol. Psychologists who have examined Azaria will also be called to the stand to testify, and are expected to confirm that the defendant acted under extreme pressure due to the fact he feared there might be a bomb on the terrorist. Also, several retired generals are expected to come to Azaria's defense and argue that the statements made by high ranking officials such as IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, former defense minister Moshe Yaalon, and the IDF Spokesperson's Unit have all influenced the investigation. Despite vehemently denying in public any inappropriate conduct, Brig. Gen. Ofek Buchris has reportedly admitted to kissing one of the two women who complained against him in his interrogation at the IDF's criminal investigation division (CID). Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Buchris was charged with rape, indecent assault and inappropriate behavior on Thursday, which he allegedly committed during his previous command in the military. From the moment the story broke, and even after the indictment against him was filed last week, Buchris has denied having any physical contact with the two complainants. Brig. Gen. Ofek Buchris (Photo: Gil Nechushtan) In a private polygraph test, taken shortly after the story broke, Buchris said, "This never was and never existed. Not sex, not even stroking." Later, one of his friends attested, "He insists nothing happened." On Thursday, after the indictment was filed against him, Buchris delivered a statement to the press outside his home, publicly addressing the allegations for the first time. "This never was and never existed," he claimed. "I've decided to respond to the media, in an unusual move, after having kept silent for almost five months, because I owe an explanation to the public I've been serving my entire adult life. We were shocked about the decision to file an indictment." Buchris makes a statement to the press after being indicted (Photo: Avihu Shapira) But he told a different version of events to the CID, according to a report on Channel 2 on Friday night. "There were hugs, maybe kisses," Buchris reportedly told his interrogators. "It was consensual. There was one time in which we kissed, and later we had a conversation in which we said this was a one-off thing, that we were going to stop immediately. People shouldn't think there was a romantic relationship. We got carried away once. We kissed on the cheek and then on the lips and that's it... it happened in (kibbutz) Nahal Oz, in some office." Over the weekend, Buchris received support from his former commander, Maj. Gen. (res.) Gershon Hacohen, in a comment that caused outrage. In an interview with Army Radio on Friday morning, Hacohen said, "We must remember Buchris's bravery, despite the serious acts he is accused of. I'm with the Bible on this. David remained the King of Israel despite the fact it was clear what happened with Bat Sheva." Hacohen was harshly criticized for praising Buchris while blatantly ignoring the allegations against him, and issued an apology on Saturday night. "I did not condone heroes taking the women of the IDF, that's outrageous," he said. "I didn't mean to defend him; I meant to say that the man has rights. Did I dispute the incitement? No. All I did was say this is a hero that soldiers followed, and this cannot be taken away from him. The fact he did bad thingsGod preserve us. Those who understood (from my comments) that he could be king like Davidmisunderstood. That's not what I meant and I apologize." Meanwhile, the name of one of the two women who complained against Buchris was exposed on Facebook on a page supporting in support of the disgraced officer that has over 8,500 followers. This is considered a criminal offense, as the law forbids exposing the identity of complainants in sexual offenses without their explicit consent. One woman posted the complainants name on the page, writing "Why did you beg to stay in the army with Buchris? Is this the behavior of a serial rape victim? Or perhaps it was fun for you to imagine and delude yourself into thinking that an officer in such a high rank was interested in you? Your allegations in the indictment are so serious and described well. Do you have evidence to any of these allegations? You are indeed a girl with a very rich and developed imagination. Perhaps you should use it to write a good book instead of ruining people's lives." The post exposing the complainant's name (Photo courtesy of Channel 2) Adva Azar, who runs the Facebook page in question, denied involvement in the exposure of the complainants name and said she worked to remove any mention of her identity as soon as she learned of the post. While Azar, who served in Golani's 51st Battalion which Buchris was in command, is in contact with his relatives, she stresses the page is not officially linked to Buchris or his lawyers and is a private initiative of hers. Police said Sunday that it would investigate the leaking of the complainant's name. The Foreign Ministry said Sunday a senior official has met with a visiting former military general from Saudi Arabia. The meeting marks a rare public engagement between countries that have no official relations. Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold met with Anwar Eshki at a Jerusalem hotel. Eshki currently heads a Saudi think tank in Jeddah but is believed to have close ties with the kingdom's rulers. Official government permission was likely necessary for him to make such an overt visit. Saudi Arabia has floated a plan for a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. It has unofficially grown closer to Israel in recent years over their shared concerns regarding Iran. Yes, its hard to to tell when one enters the city limits Yes, they will make the city more inviting Maybe ... does it really matter? No, the signs in place are fine No, it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars Vote View Results BEIRUT - Syria's government said on Sunday it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations," state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. The UN hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August. Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated. Media personalities and social media "celebrities" are convinced the world revolves around them. They are the ones running the world, for better or worse. They have no doubt, for example, that President Obama wakes up every morning in panic, asking with a shaky voice: "What did one or the other write about me today? What are their new suggestions against the invasion to Iraq, whaling in Japan and the escape of the giraffe from the Miami Beach Zoo? Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Media personalities worldwide want to know everything right away, and also be the ones to report it. Preferably first and exclusively. In Israel, for example, if Danny Kushmaro says on Channel 2 that the color of the terrorist's shoes is black and his socks are red, Ayala Hasson will not repeat it on Channel 10 and this vital information will remain unknown to her viewers. The famed commentator who is brought into the studio will explain to the people of Zion without delay who is behind the attack: ISIS, al-Qaeda, or perhaps the terrorist's lover who sent him packing. Terrorism constantly provides the media with juicy headlines and breaking news broadcasts, even though those planning and carrying out the attacks know terrorism cannot strike, only sting, even when it's a mass-casualty event. The US did not collapse after the 9/11 attack, Israel has not given up despite a thousand terror attacks. Terrorists seek to induce fear and panic, and what they and their senders need most in real time is information about what's happening on the ground. Munich terrorist Ali Sonboly. For example, one of the terrorists who committed the Ma'alot massacre in the '70s followed the gazes of the Israelis who were standing nearby and watching the standoff. It is possible that this is how the terrorists knew of the Golani Brigade's preparations to storm the high school they were barricaded in, which cost the lives of dozens of teenagers held hostage there. During the Beit Lid massacre in the '90s, a second terrorist blew up that security forces had no knowledge of. Had they known, perhaps the dozens of people who came to aid the wounded from the first blast would not have been allowed into the scene and the second terrorist might have been caught before blowing himself up. Except that, as always, the gathering of intelligence was done while the incident was still ongoing, which is far more difficult when it comes to a lone terrorist. That is why it was hard to listen to Israeli TV newscasters on Friday complain: "It's been 45 minutes since the attack and the Munich police doesn't know much... it's been an hour and 15 minutes... it's been over two hours... an entire city is under siegenobody comes, nobody goes. People are stuck inside buses for three hours now... that's not okay..." what's not okay? After all, every one of those killed in that attack or any other would have preferred being stuck inside a bus for a few days, so long as they survive. Scene of the attack in Munich (Photo: Getty Images) When there is no information, it is the commentators' time to shine: They don't know any more than any regular Joe, but they're already prattling and babbling just so they could keep the viewers from switching to other channels. And thank God, the commentators on other channels don't know much either. "Well," the commentators would say, "perhaps it's ISIS, maybe a frustrated immigrant, or it might actually be a local radical." And this is also the time to explain to the viewers about Germany's relations with Micronesia during the last generation. And then the magic words come: "In Israel..." If this happened in Israel, we would have captured the terror within minutes and within hours released the names of the dead. In Israel, in Israel, in Israel. And in Israel, by the way, two advanced Patriot missiles were fired last week to intercept a drone coming from Syriaand missed. That too happened in Israel. DUBAI - Iran confirmed on Sunday the detention of an Iranian-American visiting the country, the latest in a string of arrests of dual nationals in the past year. Asked about reports of the arrest of a dual citizen on national security charges, Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told a weekly news conference: "The report on the arrest of an Iranian-American dual national is correct," the semi-official Fars news agency said. "But I don't know what the charges are. The person was arrested in Gorgan ... but the trial may be held in Tehran," Mohseni Ejei added. It was not immediately clear if he was referring to the case of San Diego, California-based Robin Reza Shahini who was detained while visiting his mother in the northeastern city of Gorgan earlier in July, according to the Los Angeles Times and other Western media. BEIRUT - Government air raids struck five medical clinics Sunday in the northern province of Aleppo, where violence has intensified in recent weeks, Syrian opposition activists said. The International Committee of the Red Cross tweeted after reports of the air raids on the provincial capital of Aleppo and the nearby town of Atareb: "Harrowing news: More hospitals hit in #Aleppo this morning. Civilians and hospitals are" not a target. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four clinics are now out of service in the city of Aleppo as well as a fifth in the town of Atareb just west of the city. Aleppo-based activist Baraa al-Halaby confirmed that five clinics were hit, adding that an infant was killed in a clinic in the Shaar neighborhood in the early hours of Sunday. He added that a blood bank was struck in Aleppo as well. The head of a rare Saudi delegation to Israel and the West Bank met a senior Israeli government official during his trip, the Foreign Ministry told AFP on Sunday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the meeting between retired Saudi general Anwar Eshki and ministry Director General Dore Gold took place at the prestigious King David hotel in west Jerusalem but did not give further details. Israeli media reported that Eshki was leading a delegation of "businessmen and academics" on a mission to promote a stalled Saudi-led 2002 Arab peace initiative. Gold in a previous meeting with Eshki (Photo: CFR) He reportedly met with Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, head of the COGAT, military body that coordinates Israeli activities in the West Bank and Gaza, and talked Friday in the West Bank to a group of Israeli opposition MKs. Israel and Saudi Arabia have never had diplomatic relations but there have been media reports of intelligence-sharing in the face of shared concerns about Iran and the Islamic State group. Eshki and Gold shared a platform in June last year at the Washington headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations and "met to discuss opportunities and challenges in the Middle East," the council said on its website at the time. "Their speeches focused on the danger Iran posed to their countries, and they revealed that they had been in secret discussions for a year, and had now decided to go public about their talks," it added. Army Radio on Sunday aired an Arabic telephone interview with Eshki, chairman of the Jeddah-based Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies, in which he denied that his country had security links with the Jewish state. "To my knowledge there is no cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," he said. He said that Israel would only be able to make peace with the Arab world when it had resolved the conflict with the Palestinians, in accordance with the 2002 Arab proposal. It calls for Israel to withdraw from the disputed territories and resolve the issue of refugees with the Palestinians, leading to the creation of a Palestinian state, in exchange for normalized relations with Arab countries. "Peace will not come from Arab countries, but the Palestinians and the implementation of the Arab peace plan," Eshki said. The radio quoted him as saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is not the cause of terrorism, but it provides a breeding ground for conflict in the region." Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel. For the first time since his arrest, Michael Schlissel - the brother of Yishai Schlissel who is currently serving a 31-year sentence for stabbing to death 16-year-old Shira Banki at last years Jerusalem Pride Parade - has publicly condemned his brother's nefarious actions. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter I am against violence and the actions of my brother. I told him that during a conversation with him, said Michael. The two brothers were arrested last week ahead of the parade on suspicion that they planned that Michael would carry out a similar attack during this years parade which took place in the capital on Thursday. Michael was released on Friday to house arrest which officially expired on Sunday. However, the Jerusalem police stated that the investigation against him is ongoing. Michael Schlissel (Photo: Ofer Meir) Despite the investigation and his arrest, Michael maintained that he is completely innocent and never had any intention of attack participants of the march. Yishai called me on Friday. He said that he thinks that the Gay parade is a serious desecration of Gods name, and he called us to participate in the prayer service that was taking place in Jerusalem as an answer to this desecration. I asked him, Do you want me to use violence? to which he said just come to the prayers. No violence. Michael added, I told him that I was against it and that I didnt see it as a desecration of Gods name. I dont know what got into his head about this particular issue. I am against violence. It doesnt solve problems but only exacerbates them. We have to follow the path of explaining things. That is how the conversation went. I presented him with these thoughts and said to him, You understand I am your nemesis (biblical reference-ed.) on this issue. At this point the police came into the picture. They asked me what this word means. It seemed that they didnt understand. Yishai Schlissel (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Recalling the police investigation Michael said that they were particularly hung up on the word.: They wanted me to recount the conversation. I did so in a transcript as I have presented here. The investigator focused on this word nemesis so I explained to him that it was a very simple reference in Aramaic - two people who disagree about (all aspects of a matter). You say permissible, I say forbidden, he clarified. On the act which landed his brother in jail, Michael said: the Chazon Ish (Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, a famous leader in the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community in the 1930s, 40s, and early 50s. -ed), may he rest in peace, said that violence in our time is only harmful and does not contribute anything positive. Shira Banki killed at Jerusalem Pride Parade He also offered his condolences to Shira Bankis family for their tragic loss: I can say to the Banki family that I am certainly against the act. It is a great shame that what happened, happened. I am so sorry that it happened and that she lost her life. Michael went on to describe the pain which his arrest has brought to his entire family: The feeling was extremely difficult. The treatment that I received from the prison guards in the cell was not nice. Also there was an injustice to my family. I, nor my brothers, (except Yishai) have ever given any impression that we were any more zealous than anyone else. My brothers suffered through no fault of their own. Marchers (Photo: Gil Yohanan) In addition to Michaels and Yishais arrest, their mother was also detained for investigation while their four brothers were ordered to leave Jerusalem during the marchs procession. On Thursday during a hearing on extending Michaels remand, Eliezer Schlissel, the brothers father expressed deep remorse for the murder of Shira Banki: I wanted to hug (Shira Bankis) father. He didnt want to meet with me. I sent a few representatives and he said it was difficult for him. That was last year. I fully sympathize with the pain. Itamar Ben Gvir (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum) The police said that Yishai was suspected of having asked his brother to commit a similar attack during the parade and was therefore taken from his prison cell to be investigated in Jerusalem which lasted 3 days. On Sunday morning he returned to jail and the police have stated that there is sufficient evidence to put him on trial. His lawyer, Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the decision to arrest Michael arguing that the police did so merely in order to compensate for their failings of the previous year: The police understand today that Michael is innocent but it is a shame that it took them three days to understand this. The investigators didnt understand that the term nemesis (recorded in the conversation) was michael disagreeing with his brother which, in my opinion, justifies enlisting Haredi investigators in the police." The government approved on Sunday the cancellation of core subject requirements for ultra-Orthodox educational institutions. The move will mean that these institutions will now eligible for government funding without teaching their pupils basic subjects such as math, science, and English. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Minister of Science, Technology, and Space Ofir Akunis (Likud) left the government meeting in protest ahead of the vote saying, "I am for all Israeli children learning English, mathematics, and science. It's the right and just thing which preserves the children of Israel and the whole state as a groundbreaker and innovater in the world. This cancellation is an error." The initiative to cancel the requirement was only recently promoted,much to the dismay of Education Minister Naftali Bennett. Last week, a memorandum on the issue was released following an agreement with the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party. The legal adjustment effectively annuls a planned reform, which was intended to make the teaching of core subjects a condition upon which the funding of ultra-Orthodox education institutions would be dependent. The leaders of United Torah Judaism during coalition forming negotiations in 2015. (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The core subjects requirements were part of a platform put forth by the Yesh Atid party during the time of the previous government, specifically by former Education Minister Shai Piron. According to the plan, the amount of funding educational institutions would receive would be commensurate with the empahsis placed on the teaching of core subjects, with those choosing to negelect their teaching receiving no government funding at all. These core subjects include languages, literature, mathematics, nature, and science and technology. The actions are based on a coalition agreement put in place before the formation of the current government, as part of the ultra-Orthodox parties' conditions for joining it. Minister of Science Ofir Akunis. "This cancellation is an error." (Photo: Gil Yohanan) While the ultra-Orthodox parties agreed to postpone the cancellation, they did not give up their efforts to stymie the new laws which were set to be implemented at the start of 2017. Around 430,000 pupils are currently studying in ultra-Orthodox education institutions and he new turn of events will affect some 30,000. Officials from Yesh Atid responded to the government's actions by saying, "The Israeli government is leading an underhanded move to cancel mathematics and English studies for Israeli children. The government continues to move Israel backwards. All it cares about is politics in order to hold onto its seat. Everything is permitted." Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Sunday night in Jerusalem. The two leaders reportedly spoke about the fight against terrorism and cooperation in time of emergency. They also discussed the development of energy sources on the eastern side of the Mediterranean, and agreed that solbing the differences between Cypress and Turkey would quicken the advancement of future projects. Border News Phoenix, Arizona - A Salvadoran national arrested by federal officers near the Nogales border in 2014, who is wanted for three fatal shootings in his native country, was turned over Wednesday to authorities in El Salvador by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) at the international airport in La Paz. Edwin Alexander Garcia-Pimentel, aka Huezo, 41, was transferred by ERO officers to the custody of Salvadoran law enforcement officials. An arrest warrant issued in June 2013 by a judge in El Salvador charges Garcia with aggravated murder. According to the Salvadoran warrant, Garcia is a known member of the Colonia Palos Grandes clique of the notorious 18th Street Gang. On Nov. 6, 2012, Garcia and several other 18th Street Gang members allegedly shot and killed three young gang members following an argument in which the suspects purportedly accused the victims of rebelling against gang leadership. A fourth individual was seriously wounded in the altercation. Following the killings, Garcia and the other assailants fled the scene. After assuming custody of the accused triple murder suspect, ICE placed him in removal proceedings and an immigration judge determined Garcia had no legal basis to remain in the U.S., paving the way for Wednesdays repatriation. Garcia likely believed hed succeeded in evading justice, said Enrique M. Lucero, field office director for ERO Phoenix. However, he clearly didnt realize the level of ongoing law enforcement cooperation to locate and capture foreign criminal fugitives. ICE is continuing to use every tool at its disposal to ensure foreign fugitives are made to answer for their crimes. Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,150 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the United States. Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. Border News Green Valley, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued 15 individuals Tuesday trapped in an open-pit mine in Green Valley, Arizona. Agents assigned to the Tucson Station were tracking a group of suspected undocumented migrants on Duval Mining Company property when the subjects entered the mine. Agents risked their own safety and climbed down to the group to prevent them from endangering themselves further. After ensuring no one was injured, the agents realized that loose soil lining the mines edge would make it too dangerous for anyone to exit safely. Tucson Sectors BORSTAR agents then deployed to the area to conduct an emergency extraction using ropes. Agents later identified the group to be adult males from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, illegally present in the United States. Health News Rochester, Minnesota - You're not alone in having pain after breast surgery. Studies of women who had a variety of breast cancer operations found that between 25 and 60 percent reported some level of pain after breast surgery two to three years later. Breast cancer surgery requires that some nerves in the breast be cut. Currently, there is no way to avoid this given the latest surgical techniques. This can lead to chest pain, including phantom breast pain and supersensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia). Normally painless stimuli may now be perceived as painful (allodynia). Neuromas abnormal nerve growths in an area where scar tissue and nerves grow together can give rise to allodynia. Sensations of burning and constricting or lancing-type pain also may occur, as can a loss of feeling in the area of the surgery. Treatment for breast pain after surgery depends on the type and severity of pain you're experiencing. Nerve-related pain may be treated with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications, including painkillers or medications used to treat seizures. Inflammation of the skin may be treated with topical pain medications, such as capsaicin, which has been effective in treating jabbing pain. Muscle spasms have been effectively treated with injections of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox), the same substance used to reduce wrinkles. Alternative therapies, including acupuncture, acupressure, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, relaxation training, biofeedback, hypnosis and yoga, also may be of benefit in reducing pain. Talk with your doctor about what may offer you the most relief. Latest News Washington, DC - Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged all State Health Officers to use the resources and opportunities provided through their Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) agencies in their substance misuse prevention efforts. Vilsack made this announcement at a town hall in Missouri to discuss the opioid epidemic, which accounted for more than 28,000 deaths nationwide in 2014. From 1993 to the 2013, opioid use has increased by 400 percent, exceeding 250 million prescriptions per year. Substance misuse may particularly impact the WIC population because the use of opioids can result in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal disorder some babies experience after exposure to drugs while in utero. There was been a five-fold increase in NAS from 2000 to 2012. Research has shown that newborns with NAS are more likely to have low birthweight and respiratory problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal every 25 minutes, leading to an average hospital stay of 16.9 days versus 2.1 days for a non-NAS child and to $1.5 billion in additional hospital costs. "Because of the devastating toll that opioid misuse has taken on our communities, and particularly rural areas, I have tasked USDA with creatively using all of the resources at our disposal to stem the tide of this epidemic," said Secretary Vilsack. "For many women, WIC is their first point of entry into the health care system, and we have an opportunity to intercept and potentially prevent dangerous health outcomes for both the mother and the child. But just using our existing resources won't be enough to help the women and families who are already struggling. Congress recently missed an opportunity to pass new funding for addiction treatment and I am urging legislators to return to Washington to pass the President's budget request of $1.1 billion to help those who are struggling." WIC plays an important role in providing mothers and young children with access to nutritious food, while also serving as a useful conduit to other health resources. As an adjunct to healthcare, the WIC Program is uniquely positioned to help pregnant women and mothers who may be struggling with addiction to access the help they need. To assist WIC agencies in their substance misuse prevention and referral efforts, USDA released guidance in 2014 designed to help WIC agency staff integrate information on alcohol, drug and other harmful substance use and referrals to other treatment resources into their clinic activities. The recent guides, Substance Use Prevention: Screening, Education, and Referral Resource Guide for Local WIC Agencies and Give Your Baby a Healthy Start, the Dangers of Smoking, Drinking and Taking Drugs include a variety of educational materials and resources for WIC participants as well as training materials for WIC staff. The approximately 1,900 local WIC agencies and 10,000 WIC clinic sites nationwide can play a major role in increasing participants' awareness of the dangers of substance misuse during pregnancy and while breastfeeding since they are required to provide participating women with this information. About 85 percent of income-eligible infants participate in WIC in their first year of life, totaling approximately half of all infants born in the U.S. WIC local agencies are also required to coordinate with local alcohol and treatment services to maintain and make available a list of local resources for addiction counseling and treatment. WIC is one of FNS' 15 nutrition assistance programs, which also include the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Together, these programs comprise America's nutrition safety net. Latest News Washington, DC - Our thanks go to the thousands of law enforcement and homeland security personnel who contributed to the security of the Republican National Convention, the Convention site, and the City of Cleveland this week. Today I visit Philadelphia to inspect the security for the Democratic National Convention that takes place next week. Planning for the security of both the RNC and DNC began more than a year ago. Given that the Conventions are designated National Special Security Events, the U.S. Secret Service was and is responsible for coordinating the security for these events. I am enormously proud of the men and women of DHS today. Approximately 3,000 DHS personnel, from the Secret Service, TSA, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, FEMA, the Coast Guard and other DHS components were on hand in Cleveland this week, along with approximately 1,100 other U.S. government personnel. The security for massive events like a national political convention is business as usual for the Secret Service, but they deserve our praise and appreciation for this incredible effort. I thank the other components of DHS who always support the Secret Service for these events in large numbers, without exception or reservation. Another one of these operations is now taking shape in Philadelphia, only a few days after the last one. The larger debt of gratitude for public safety in Cleveland this week goes to the Cleveland Division of Police, under the leadership of Chief Calvin Williams. With dozens of other law enforcement agencies from across the country in support, and in coordination with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio National Guard, Chief Williams led a remarkable public safety effort on the streets of Cleveland. This past week, thousands of people converged on the streets of Cleveland to demonstrate or march, representing dozens of different groups from across the political and ideological spectrum including those openly antagonistic to each other. Throughout the week, law enforcement personnel in Cleveland acted with restraint and professionalism, to protect and serve the public. The outstanding actions of our law enforcement and homeland security personnel in Cleveland this week, and in Philadelphia next week, serve as a timely reminder that these men and women are prepared to put their bodies and their lives on the line for the people they protect and serve, regardless of who we are, our cause, our political affiliation or ideological belief. Thank you again! Latest News Washington, DC - Three Palm Beach County, Florida, residents were charged with conspiring and attempting to support the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBIs Miami Field Office and members of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) made the announcement. Gregory Hubbard, aka Jibreel, 52, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Darren Arness Jackson, aka Daoud, 50, also of West Palm Beach; and Dayne Atani Christian, aka Shakur, 31, of Lake Park, Florida, were charged by a criminal complaint with knowingly conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIL. Christian was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The detention hearing will take place on July 27, 2016, and the defendants will be arraigned on Aug. 5, 2016. According to the complaint, these defendants conspired and attempted to provide material support to ISIL and one of the defendants was arrested attempting to travel overseas to join and fight for the deadly terrorist organization, said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. The National Security Divisions highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who conspire and attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations. Individuals seeking to travel and take up arms with ISIL pose a threat to the United States and humanity across the globe, said U.S. Attorney Ferrer. The U.S. Attorneys Office, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force continue to work proactively in order to stifle and disrupt any potential danger posed by the terrorist organizations and their supporters. Terrorism-related arrests such as this serve to remind us of the importance of being vigilant, said Special Agent in Charge Piro. When you see something that doesn't seem right, report it to law enforcement. Fighting terrorism is the FBIs number one priority. Any information that can put us on the trail of individuals intent on terrorist acts is valuable. According to the allegations contained in the complaint, Hubbard expressed support for ISIL and told an FBI confidential human source (CHS) that he wanted to travel to Syria and join ISIL for the purpose of engaging in violent jihad. Hubbard introduced the CHS to Christian and Jackson, both of whom provided weapons and firearms instruction to Hubbard and the CHS, whom they understood were preparing to travel overseas to join and fight for ISIL. The complaint further alleges that Jackson and Christian also expressed a desire to join ISIL. Hubbard purchased an airplane ticket to Germany, where he planned to board a train to Turkey and then head to Syria. Hubbard was arrested on July 21, 2016, at Miami International Airport prior to the first leg of his overseas trip. Jackson, who had driven Hubbard to the airport, was arrested after he left the airport premises. Christian was arrested at his place of work. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the material support charge. Christian faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and JTTF investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Transportation Security Administration; Miami International Airport Police Department; Boca Raton, Florida, Police Department; Palm Beach Sheriffs Office; and City of West Palm Beach Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen E. Gilbert, Brian K. Frazier and Edward C. Nucci and Trial Attorneys Larry Schneider and David Cora of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. Los Angeles: Wildfire fuelled by high heat has so far spread across at least 11,000 acres in California`s Santa Clarita Valley area, fire officials said. A brush fire broke out along the northbound Antelope Valley around 2 p.m. on Friday, near Sand Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. The blaze was contained only about 10 per cent on Saturday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Hot and dry temperatures, together with gusts of up to 65 km per hour helped the fire burned more than 2,000 acres, Xinhua news agency reported. Residents reported of smoke-filled air and falling ash in many parts of the greater Los Angeles area, and at least one building was believed to have been damaged or destroyed. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze, the department confirmed. Fewer than 100 people were evacuated from the area of Capra Road off Soledad Canyon road because of the flames, county fire officials said. About 300 firefighters were battling the flames from the ground and air. The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a water-dropping helicopter to join the county fire department. Eight fixed-wing firefighting aircraft were also called in to attack the blaze. A smoke advisory was issued on Saturday night for the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Pomona/Walnut Valley, and the central Los Angeles area, as smoke from the fire drifted southeast toward Los Angeles. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said those areas were susceptible to direct smoke impact and unhealthy air quality, and recommended that people stay indoors and avoid using swamp coolers and wood-burning appliances. Washington: Republican Party's presidential nominee Donald Trump has claimed that the European Union was created to beat the U.S. in terms of making money. In an interview with NBC News, Trump while commenting on the EU said, "The reason that it got together was like a consortium so that it could compete with the United States. The EU was founded in 1952 in an effort to promote strong cross-border ties in Europe and avoid future wars. Since then it has evolved to a customs union and eventually to the transnational entity devoted to removing internal trade barriers, building a common market and a fiscal union, reports the Guardian. The New York billionaire`s anti-European statements come after he repeatedly praised Brexit, the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Trump defended his recent remarks on Nato, saying the countries in the organization need to pay more to the U.S. so that Washington meets its treaty obligations of mutual defense. He also called both the World Trade Organization and Nafta "disasters".On his call to ban the people in the U.S. from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism, he said that it was an expansion on his infamous Muslim ban of December 2015. "I actually don`t think it`s a rollback. In fact, you could say it`s an expansion. I`m looking now at territory. People were so upset when I used the word Muslim. Oh, you can`t use the word Muslim. Remember this. And I`m okay with that, because I`m talking territory instead of Muslim," he added. Trump also confirmed reports that he would seek revenge against former presidential nominee rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz.He said that he would do it by funding a super Political Action Committee (PAC) in the 2018 cycle to help defeat their respective attempts to win the gubernatorial election in Ohio and U.S. Senate election in Texas. Kathmandu: CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka 'Prachanda' was on Sunday all set to make a comeback as Prime Minister of Nepal, a week after the Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties pledged to throw their weight behind him. The resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli earlier in the day paved the way for Prachanda to become the 39th Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation. He got the coveted post in 2008 for the first time when the Maoists became the largest party in the Constituent Assembly but the stint did not last beyond one-and-half years. Though the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) had moved a no-confidence vote against Oli, which was due for continued discussion followed by a vote thereon in Parliament on Sunday, Oli announced his resignation minutes before the discussion -- begun on Friday -- recommenced. According to the constitutional provisions, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will call on Parliament to install a consensus-based government within seven days, which seems a difficult proposition as the second largest party -- the Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) -- is all set to stay in the opposition. The single largest party, the Nepali Congress, has already extended its support for Prachanda and signed an agreement that the former Maoist leader will lead the government for the first nine months. Thereafter, Prachanda will hand over the leadership to Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. As per the agreement, Prachanda will hold local elections that have not been held for the last 20 years, while Deuba will hold elections to the provincial assemblies and Parliament during the remaining nine months. Prachanda has secured the support of the NC and other small parties so that it is easy for him to ensure a majority votes to install the new government. "We will try our best to install the government based on consensus but it seems difficult. So after the expiry of the seven-day deadline, we will stake claim to form the party on the basis of a majority," said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak. Out of 298 seats required to form the government, the emerging alliance can garner the support of 331 lawmakers if Madhes-based parties under the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha vote in favour of Prachanda. The NC and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have 207 and 82 seats, respectively, while the Morcha with seven Madhes-based parties has 39 seats. The CPN (Samyukta) has three seats. A day after pulling out of the government, the NC last Wednesday officially endorsed the seven-point deal reached between Dahal and NC President Deuba on government formation. The Madhes-based political parties -- though decided on toppling the Oli-led government -- have not yet made up their mind to join the new government under Prachanda. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav confirmed that the Morcha had agreed to vote against Oli. "The Morcha will take appropriate decision depending on how things unfold," said Yadav. Some Madhesi leaders had hinted that they will, in principle, extend "support to topple the Oli government". The Maoist leaders said the SLMM has so far agreed to oust Oli and participate in the new government's formation if the NC and the CPN (Maoist Centre) "agree to address the Madhesi parties' demands on restructuring of the provinces". The CPN (Maoist Centre) bid to form a new political alignment received a major boost after the Madhes-based parties agreed to oust Oli. Patna: Siwan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Tunna Pandey, who was arrested by Government Railway Police early today on charges of molesting a girl on board a train, has been sent to 12-day judicial custody. The incident took place on Sarai station near Hajipur-Muzaffarpur zone. Sanjay Singh, GRP, Hajipur confirmed the report and told media that the BJP MLC was taken into their custody after a girl's parents lodged a complaint accusing the Bihar lawmaker to harassing the minor on board in the train while she was asleep. "The girl was sleeping in a train berth, Tunna tried and molested her. He also tried to take her to the bathroom. FIR has also been registered in the matter and Tunna Pandey has been arrested," Sanjay Singh said. Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi announced that the party has suspended Pandey, accused of molesting a girl. BJP has suspended party MLC Tunna Pandey. Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) July 24, 2016 The girl, 12-year-old was travelling with her parents from Kolkata to Gorakhpur in the Purvanchal Express. She alleged that the Bihar lawmaker touched her inappropriately while she was sleeping and even attempted to forcibly kiss her. She also claimed that Pandey asked her to accompany him till the bathroom after which started screaming in fear and narrated the episode to her parents. An FIR was registered against Pandey at Gorakhpur. The Siwan police arrested Pandey and charged him under POSCO Act since the girl is a minor. Pandey however, denied all the charges and said that he only tried take out his phone charger and did not touch the girl at all. "I was just taking out my phone charger,didn't even know whether it was a girl who was sleeping or a boy," Pandey told ANI. I was just taking out my phone charger,didn't even know whether it was a girl who was sleeping or a boy:Tunna Pandey pic.twitter.com/Sxcj9Qj89F ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Pandey has been known to be an alcohol mafia in Uttar Pradesh, and had a thriving liquor business in Bihar as well. However, after state chief minister Nitish Kumar imposed a liquor ban in Bihar this year, Pandey's business wasn't doing well in the state. Chennai: It's been more than 48 hours since Indian Air Force's AN 32 went missing, but the plane is still untraceable. The aircraft disappeared over the Bay of Bengal on Friday morning after taking off from Chennai. Several ships and aircraft are searching for the plane in the Bay of Bengal. Defence Minister conducts aerial survey Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday conducted an aerial survey to monitor the search and rescue operations for the missing IAF plane. He boarded an aircraft from Tambaram and was briefed by the IAF and Navy personnel before leaving for the aerial survey. Former Air Marshal A.K. Singh has said the chances of survival have reduced significantly since the most crucial time has passed. Massive search operation launched A massive search and rescue operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and Coast Guard, deploying one submarine, eight aircraft and 13 ships for tracking it. While IAF has pressed into service a C130 plane along with two AN32, the Navy has deployed two P8i maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the strategically important Port Blair, home to India`s only tri-service command.Coast Guard has rushed four ships to the spot besides two dorniers. The Navy has also pressed into service two Dornier aircraft and 12 ships with the Eastern Fleet Commander on board for the search and rescue operation. Indian Navy PRO Captain D.K. Sharma said the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are engaged in intensive search operations to locate the aircraft. The Russian built twin engine AN 32 aircraft had undergone an upgrade in Ukraine. However, what adds to the concern is the fact that this aircraft can only fly for up to four hours without re-fuelling. Families pray for good news As search for the missing AN-32 IAF aircraft with 29 people on board is on, the family and friends of two Kerala defence officials who were on the plane are praying fervently and hoping to hear some good news. The last that the anxious relatives heard from Naik I.P.Vimal and Petty Officer Sajeev Kumar, who hail from Kozhikode, was that they are about to board the aircraft bound for Port Blair. Chennai/New Delhi: The Indian Navy, which has pressed a flotilla of vessels, including a submarine, to locate a missing an Indian Air Force transport aircraft, on Sunday said it has sought the satellite imagery of the area from ISRO. Until Sunday, there was no trace of any debris or signal from the AN-32 transporter which went off the radar on Friday morning over the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast, barely half an hour after take-off with 29 people on board. "A large number ships, helicopters and aircraft are all contributing to the search efforts and the efforts are increasing," Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral HCS Bisht said on Sunday. "We are also seeking ISRO's help to get satellite imagery of that area so that we have at least some information... but parallelly we are also reaching out to families," Bisht said. ISRO or the Indian Space Research Organisation is the space agency of the central government. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, after reviewing the search and rescue operations on Saturday, had asked the commanding officers to keep in touch with families of those on board the missing aircraft. Bisht said the search has been made difficult by the monsoon weather conditions over the sea. "The only challenge we are facing is of monsoon condition, rough seas; another challenge is depth which is around 3,500 meters and at some points even more than that," he said. The cloud base is low and it is raining continuously in the area, he said. The search continues despite odds and 12 ships are deployed at the time, Bisht said. "We are continuously searching the area. As of now we have 12 ships, and we will be increasing the assets. We are also doing regular aerial surveillance. The aim is to harness as many resources as possible," he said. A submarine is also deployed in the area. It will dive on getting some lead, said Bisht. The aircraft, an upgraded AN-32 belonging to 33 Squadron, took off from Tambaram Air Force Station in Chennai at 8.30 a.m., and was expected to land at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.30 a.m., officials said, describing it as a "routine sortie". The recorded transcript of Chennai air traffic radar showed last pickup of the aircraft was 151 nautical miles east of Chennai, when the aircraft was observed to have carried out a left turn with rapid loss of height from 23,000 feet. The AN-32 is a twin engine turboprop, medium tactical transport aircraft of Russian origin. It can carry a maximum load of around 6.7 tonnes or 39 paratroopers. Its maximum cruise speed is 530 kmph. New Delhi: Central security agencies have alerted police establishments and their senior officials working in the national capital region to remain alert and step up vigil of their campuses and personal safety after recent intelligence inputs indicated probable terrorist strike threats against them. Official sources in the security establishment said an intelligence input has been received this week which advised headquarters of central police organisations like CRPF, BSF and ITBP, snoop agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and RAW and those belonging to Delhi Police to beef up security deployment and review the security of senior officials during their movement in and around Delhi. The alert has asked police organisations in the national capital and adjoining areas like Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon to take all "preventive and precautionary" measures to effectively thwart any such terrorist sponsored attacks. The security teams guarding such installations have been asked to step up "perimeter vigil and night patrolling" and ensure fool proof visitors entry drills and counter-sabotage checks to tackle any attempt that could be used to launch a hit against them. "All police and related establishments in the NCR region have been alerted in view of recent threat inputs. The personal security of senior officials of these organisations have also been asked to take precautionary measures," they said. Sources said the inputs have asked the allied establishments of these departments to take similar precautions. The inputs are seen as a stepped up vigil in the wake of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on August 15, they said. New Delhi: More than 90 percent of the over 4.75 lakh candidates who had registered for the NEET II exam for admission to medical and dental colleges took the test on Sunday in 56 cities, including violence-hit Srinagar. The combined result of NEET-I and NEET-II will be declared by August 17. In a statement, CBSE, which conducted the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), said the test was conducted at 739 centres in 56 cities. Strict vigil was maintained at all centres and no untoward incident was reported, it added. "Total candidates registered for the examination were 4,75,785. As per preliminary reports received from across the country, more than 90 per cent candidates were present in the examination," the statement said. The NEET examination was also held peacefully in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and 93 per cent of registered candidates took the exam there, it added. To ensure smooth and fair conduct of examination, CBSE had made elaborate arrangements and besides CBSE officials, more than 2,000 observers were deputed. All state governments supported CBSE by deputing security forces at the centres, the statement said. A special team was sent to Srinagar in advance to ensure complete preparation for the conduct of NEET-II. The state government has given extraordinary support to CBSE and its team, the statement said. State Government provided two examination centres, deputed invigilators at short notice, made security arrangement for candidates across Srinagar division, CBSE said. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar expressed happiness over successful completion of the test, it said. The CBSE Chairman visited a few examination centres in Noida and Ghaziabad to oversee the conduct of examination, the statement said. Gurgaon: A village panchayat in Haryana's Gurgaon issued a bizarre diktat to a school here and allegedly slapped a fine of Rs 5.5 lakh for organising a special assembly marking Eid. The panchayat ordered the school to remove all Muslim staff and students and change the uniform for girl students to salwar kameez, said a Hindustan Times report. The panchayat also banned the school administration from hiking its fees for next two years. After the panchayat's ruling, the lone Muslim teacher in the school was forced to quit her job and move to Delhi, the school manager told HT. Some of the residents of Hindu-majority Tauru town in Haryana accused the school management of propagating Islam and forcing its students, mostly Hindus, to follow Islamic rituals during the Eid celebration event on July 6. However, the police and the local MLA said the panchayats diktat held no meaning as Tauru is governed by a municipal committee and added that there was no tension in the area. On the other hand, several parents and members of right-wing groups, denied any such report and said 'rumours are being blown out of proportion'. "My children studied there and now my grandchild too. We have never faced any such issue. There's no truth in the incident, said Pawan Bhardwaj of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. New Delhi: There seems to be no end in sight to the controversy over Dayashankar Singh's remark against Mayawati. BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday launched a scathing attack on BJP alleging that the saffron party made Dayashankar Singh use foul language against her. "BJP is making him do this, they want to protect Dayashankar," Mayawati said. "It's a conspiracy of BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP)," Mayawati added in a press conference. "BJP had thought that suspending Dayashankar will win hearts of dalits but this took a U turn," Mayawati alleged. The BJP on Saturday held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh against the abuses hurled by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers at the wife and the minor daughter of Dayashankar Singh, the expelled state BJP vice president. However, pushed to the backfoot on charges of abusing the wife, mother, sister and minor daughter of expelled Dayashankar, BSP clarified that it did not mean to target his family. An FIR was also lodged against Mayawati and three others by the family of former BJP Vice President Daya Shankar Singh at Hazratganj police station on Friday. Jammu: A BSF constable today allegedly stabbed a fellow jawan and fled with a Light Machine Gun (LMG) and over 10 magazines from Akhnoor sector in Jammu and Kashmir following which security has been beefed up in key areas here. The accused, identified as Rajeev Ranjan, entered into a scuffle with his colleague Rajbir Singh over a petty issue, following which he stabbed the latter with a knife, a BSF officer said. Before the senior officers could intervene,?he fled the camp with one LMG and over 10 magazines, the officer said. The injured constable was admitted to government Medical College and Hospital (GMC) where his condition is stated to be stable. Meanwhile, the police have issued an alert and intensified checking at all the checkpoints across the city. A manhunt has also been launched to nab the constable. "We have sounded a general alert and checking has been intensified at all the check posts across the city," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, Sunil Gupta said. New Delhi: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking "stern action" against Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Renuka Chaudhary, accusing the duo of humiliating her in the House. Referring to the sequence of events preceding the adjournment of Rajya Sabha for the day on July 22 which saw disruptions over AAP member Bhagwant Mann's live streaming of Parliament video, Badal said Ramesh and Chaudhary used "derogatory language" against her and "violated her dignity both as a woman and a minister". "After the House adjourned for the day, to my surprise Jairam Ramesh came rushing towards me and started using foul and offensive language without any provocation. "He used highly objectionable aggressive discriminatory words for me. He questioned my propriety to speak in Rajya Sabha and also my presence in the House," Badal, the Akali Dal MP from Bathinda, said in her letter. She said Chaudhary also used derogatory language against her and sought action against both the Congress MPs. "In the meantime, Renuka Chaudhary came rushing into the House and despite being a lady started using loud derogatory language against me and called the government and its ministers kachra (garbage). Both kept screaming at me... I was ridiculed and humiliated in the presence of my colleagues and house staff and my dignity both as a minister and a woman were violated," the Food Processing Industries Minister said. The minister said the attempts of Ramesh and Chaudhary to "intimidate" her had "hurt her deeply". "I had never thought I would be subjected to such obnoxious behavior inside the House. The conduct of these two members was highly objectionable and totally unacceptable. I request you to take stern action against them in order to protect healthy democratic traditions," Badal urged Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari. Badal said she was in the House trying to give some information about Mann's video. A war of words followed between Badal and Ramesh and Chaudhary, who objected to her interventions during the proceedings related to a private member's bill. Just when Badal was speaking, Congress MP KVP Rao's private member's bill on special package to Andhra Pradesh was to be taken up but that could not happen and the House was adjourned for the day around 2.44 PM. Badal, in her letter to the RS chairman, defended herself saying, "As a minister I have every right to have access to both the Houses and express my views. Moreover I was speaking with the permission of the Chair. And as long as I have permission of the Chair no one can deny me this privilege." Badal has also threatened to move notices of breach of privilege against Ramesh and Chaudhary. Agartala: A four-day long Inspector General level meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) began here on Sunday to discuss and resolve border issues between the two neighbouring countries. A 21-member delegation of BGB led by its Chittagong sector Regional Director Brigadier General Mohammad Habibul Karim arrived here for the meeting with BSF led by Tripura frontier Inspector General J.B. Sangwan. "Currently relation between the two border guards is excellent. We are cooperating with each other to deal with any border related issues. Except some minor issues, no major problems exists along the India-Bangladesh borders now," Karim told the media at the Akhaura checkpost. "Border crimes, smuggling, erection of fencing at zero point in certain places along the border, cross-border movement of inimical elements would be discussed in the meeting," a BSF official said. "Such meetings to resolve pending border issues happen routinely both in India and Bangladesh after a regular interval," the official added. Four northeastern states of India -- Tripura (856 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) -- share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. Of the 856 km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura, a little over 85 per cent is fenced so far. Srinagar: It's a major relief for the people of Jammu and Kashmir after witnessing several days of violence and protests over terrorist Burhan Wani's killing. According to the latest development, authorities on Sunday lifted the ongoing curfew from four districts of the Kashmir Valley as the law and order situation showed marginal improvement. FOUR DISTRICTS The districts were Ganderbal, Badgam, Bandipora and Baramulla, police confirmed. The state government has already ordered opening of schools in these four districts. Officials said curfew and restrictions would, however, continue in parts of Srinagar city. There was some civilian activity in parts of Srinagaron Saturday as pedestrian and private transport movement was seen in the City's uptown areas. Rajnath Singh's visit Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh currently on a two-day visit to the Valley met many delegations on Saturday at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar. Official sources said these delegations included members of the civil society, clerics, Sikh, Pandit community members and traders. Important local trade and industry bodies including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) decided not to meet the Union Home Minister despite an invitation from him. Reports said Rajnath Singh told the delegations that the ongoing unrest was triggered by "forces from across the border". "While deciding to evolve a mechanism to engage the people of Kashmir in a dialogue process to work out solutions for the problems faced by them, the Union Home Minister does not favour an engagement with the separatists who take their directions from across the border," official sources said. Rajnath Singh had a detailed discussion with state Governor N.N.Vohra. He is slated to meet meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti later on Sunday. Before leaving for Delhi, the Union Home Minister will chair a high level security meeting to discuss the prevailing law and order situation, officials said. Political party delegations scheduled to meet Rajnath Singh on Sunday include one from the National Conference (NC). However, the Congress party has decided not to call on the minister. G.A.Mir, president of state Congress unit stated that there was no point meeting Rajnath Singh saying, "There has not been a single people friendly measure from the state government since the Chief Minister chaired an all party meeting which was attended by us (Congress)." In the meantime, four patients suffering from serious eye injuries due to pellet gun shots were airlifted on Saturday for specialized treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Train services Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Bannihal town in the Jammu region, however remained suspended for the 16th day on Sunday. Islamabad: A leading Pakistani Daily on Sunday describing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's rhetoric about 'accession' of Kashmir to Pakistan as 'wishful thinking' and said that such statements will invite 'more trouble' for the country. The article comes on the heels of Sharif's statement on July 22 when he had said that Pakistan was waiting for the day Kashmir becomes its part. Read excerpts from the article below: (Courtesy - Daily Times ) - Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering after the PML-Ns Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) electoral win, said that Pakistan is waiting for the day when Kashmir becomes its part. Such statements are nothing more than rhetoric as politicians utter these statements to win the masses support. It has become a norm for politicians to make unrealistic claims and repeat popular phrases for getting votes... ...The PMs statement has not much to do with the official stance of the state. Instead of indulging in wishful thinking, the PM needs to sit back and think with a cool mind the ways to resolve the regional issues. History shows that wars or war-like tactics do not help resolve the conflict. Rather the masses continue to suffer due to this mentality... ...Making statements about the accession of Kashmir without any clear policy seems inappropriate. By uttering these words, in fact, the PM is challenging the authority of India and inviting more trouble not only for Pakistan but Kashmiris also. In this way, the relationship between India and Pakistan will remain tense... ...Instead of talking about capturing more land, government needs to make AJ&K a model state where all Kashmiris happily aspire to live. For the last 67 years, Pakistan has failed to ensure good governance in AJ&K. Not only AJ&K, many areas of the country are still facing neglect where people have no access to basic needs of life. Extending moral support to Kashmiris is good but making such statements is totally uncalled for... Waiting for day Kashmir becomes part of Pakistan: Sharif Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarabad, after his party PML-N swept PoK's legislative Assembly elections, Sharif had urged Kashmiris "not to forget those in Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives for their movement for freedom". "Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed. All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes (part of) Pakistan," Sharif was quoted as saying by Dawn News. Sushma Swaraj slams Sharif for 'delusional, dangerous' Kashmir dream On the other hand, in a strong attack on Sharif, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on July 23 told him that his dream of J&K becoming a part of his country "will not be realised even at the end of eternity". Taking umbrage at Sharif's statement, she said in a statement that this "delusional though dangerous dream" was the reason for Pakistan's "unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism". "The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a terror hell," she said. Noting that in the last few days, leadership of Pakistan, including its PM has praised Burhan Wani, a wanted terrorist 'commander' of the banned terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, as 'martyr', Swaraj wondered did he not know that he was carrying an award of Rs 10 Lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security personnel. P.S. - Read 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' as mentioned in the Pakistani Daily as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). (With PTI inputs) Srinagar: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that Pakistan needed to change its behaviour as far as Kashmir was concerned. He also said that grievances, if any, of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, needed to be solved through talks. However, he made it clear that government will not tolerate terrorism in any form. But at the same time, Singh, who was on a two-day visit to the Valley to take stock of the situation in the wake of deadly clashes that have left 46 people dead and more than three thousand others injured, appealed to the people to help restore peace and normalcy in the region. "Pakistan is in itself a victim of terrorism, it should not encourage violence in Kashmir. Pakistan's role isn't 'pak' (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour. We don't need third party's involvement to address the situation that prevails in J&K," he said. "I haven't said anything wrong, have just asked them (Pakistan) to refrain from interfering in internal matters of another country," he further said. "Want to make it clear that Government of India does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir but an emotional relationship," Singh added. He said he had met at least 13 delegations during his stay in Srinagar and asked them "to help the government with constructive suggestions in bringing peace and normalcy. "If there are differences of opinion, those can be resolved through dialogue," Singh said. On the issue of pellet guns, the HM said, "We will constitute an expert committee to find out ways to use of non-lethal weapon. The committee will submit report in two months," and added, "I urge the youth of Kashmir not to engage in stone-pelting and also ask the security forces to avoid using pellet guns against protesters as far as possible." Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti along with several ministers of her government today met the HM. Mehbooba led the government delegation which called on Singh after the Home Minister had met representatives from ruling PDP, BJP and opposition National Conference separately. Curfew remained in force in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure as an uneasy calm prevailed in the Valley where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day today. The situation across the Valley is peaceful so far, an official said. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces a day after the killing of militant 'commander' Burhan Wani in an encounter. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: In a strong attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his statements on Kashmir, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday blasted him by making strong statements. Here are top quotes from the Sushma Swaraj's statement- - Pakistans unabashed embrace and encouragement to terrorism lay its delusional though dangerous dream that Kashmir would one day become Pakistan. - The whole of India would like to tell Prime Minister of Pakistan that this dream will not be realised even at the end of eternity - The whole of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. You will never be able to make this heaven on earth a haven for terrorists. - Pakistan has never exported good wishes to Kashmir but only weapons and terrorism. Sadly, its not Pakistans good wishes or moral or diplomatic support but its weapons and terrorism that it has exported to Jammu and Kashmir. - Pakistans dirty money, dangerous terrorists and duplicitous state institutions sought to destabilise the region. - The statement of none other than the Prime Minister of Pakistan has betrayed this despicable design. But I would like to repeat that this dream of Pakistan will never be fulfilled. - In the last few days, the Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Sharif, have praised as a martyr a wanted terrorist like Burhan Wani. He was carrying an award of Rs. 10 lakh on his head because he had perpetrated heinous crimes including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces/personnel. - Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistans state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations. - The country (Pakistan) has used fighter planes and artillery against millions of its own people has no right whatsoever to point a finger against India's brave, professional and disciplined police and other security forces. Sushma Swaraj was flanked by Ministers of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and M.J. Akbar as she read out the statement. Her strongly worded statement comes after Sharif's statement on Friday at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir that Pakistanis were waiting for the day when Jammu and Kashmir would become a part of Pakistan. New Delhi: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday favoured a complete abrogation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir in an apparent bid to gain goodwill from the public after the widespread violence in the state following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. After revoking AFSPA in few areas, we can assess the situation there. If successful we can revoke it in entirety, CM Mufti said. She quickly added that it does not mean AFSA should be revoked immediately and in entirety, but the process can be started on experimental basis. The chief minister also slammed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the state. Pakistan claims it is a victim of terrorism but it encourages the Kashmiri youth to take up guns, she said. Pakistan needs to change this policy. She also favoured the resumption of dialogue and confident building measures between the two nations. She said that as a goodwill gesture, PM Narendra Modi met Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif by visiting Lahore but unfortunately the dialogue process got stalled after Pathankot. She accused Islamabad of being a hypocrite, saying Pakistan punishes children who take up gun in their country but glorifies youth taking up gun in Kashmir. We understand Pakistan herself is a victim of terrorism and that is why they had to launch Lal Masjid operation, she added. Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir needs a political solution and not economic packages, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Sunday. On the second and last day of his visit amid unrest that has left over 45 people dead in the Kashmir Valley, Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level security meeting and met delegations of political parties. Abdullah, leading a delegation of National Conference, told reporters that he put forward some suggestions on how to control the violent unrest in the valley. "But we also told him that unless some long term measures are taken," the Kashmir issue will continue to burn, he said. "First of all, we have to accept that Jammu and Kashmir is not an issue of money. You cannot solve it by sending (economic) packages. It is not an issue of gun either. The gun has, of course, played a role in this issue. But fundamentally, it is not an issue related to the gun," he said. He said he explained to Rajnath Singh that "Kashmir is fundamentally a political problem". "And till we accept that, we cannot a find a solution to it." The former Chief Minister said his party leaders told Rajnath Singh that the central government should "muster courage" and accept the reality of the Kashmir issue. "Then you can involve people with different opinions. Talk to them. Bring in all stakeholders within the ambit of dialogue and arrive at a solution that is acceptable to all." He said he also requested the Home Minister to stop using pellet guns at protesters and relax the curfe that was imposed after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, sparking the violent unrest. Rajnath Singh was slated to visit Anantnag in south Kashmir, the worst affected region in the turmoil that has also left hundreds injured. The minister also met a delegation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other political leaders. He chaired a security review meeting attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, bureaucrats, police officials and those from the state and central intelligence agencies besides top officials of paramilitary forces. Rajnath Singh will fly back to New Delhi on Sunday evening. Authorities earlier lifted curfew from four of the 10 districts in the Kashmir Valley. Restrictions imposed in the rest of the areas were slightly eased as the ground situation has showed marginal signs of improvement after 15 days of heightened tension across the valley. Srinagar: A policeman, injured in the attack on a police station in Kulgam district on July 15, today succumbed at a hospital here, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir to 46. Constable Mudasir Ahmad became the second policeman to die in the violent clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six cops including Ahmad. Srinagar: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged Kashmiri youths to end their protests and ordered security forces to avoid pellet guns to bring peace in the Kashmir Valley. He also told Pakistan not to encourage people in Jammu and Kashmir to become terrorists. At the end of a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar and Anantnag included, the minister said New Delhi was ready for talks that will help bring "peace and normalcy" in the state. His trip came amid the deadliest unrest in years that has left 45 people dead in violent stone-throwing protests following the July 8 killing of top pro-Pakistan rebel 'commander' Burhan Wani. "I urge the youth of Kashmir not to engage in stone-pelting and also ask the security forces to avoid using pellet guns against protesters as far as possible," Rajnath Singh told reporters here. He reiterated his commitment in Parliament that the central government would set up a team of experts to find ways of using non-lethal weapons to control mobs that will submit a report in two months. "I appeal to people to restore peace and normalcy," he said, adding New Delhi was ready for a "constructive" dialogue which can help in restoring normalcy in the troubled valley. He said he met at least 13 delegations during his stay in Srinagar and asked them "to help the government with constructive suggestions in bringing peace and normalcy. "If there are differences of opinion, those can be resolved through dialogue." Asked if the government was ready to talk to separatist leaders, Rajnath Singh didn't rule it out but said normalcy was the priority. "Let us first ensure normalcy. Then, we can decide whether we talk to separatists or any other group." Saying the Indian government would never tolerate terrorism, the minister said while Pakistan carried out operations against militants in Islamabad's Lal Masjid in July 2007, they encouraged youths to take up arms in Kashmir. "I would like to tell our neighbouring country, you are affected by terrorism. You had to storm the Lal Masjid to kill the terrorists. But on the other hand, you appeal to Kashmiri youth to take up guns. "This should stop.... Pakistani's role is not 'pak' (pure) on Kashmir. They must change their attitude and mindset vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir." Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had hailed the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander as a "martyr" who fought for Kashmir's "Azadi". And on Friday, Sharif said his country was waiting for the day Kashmir becomes a part of Pakistan. Rajnath Singh, in no ambiguous terms, asked Pakistan to stop meddling in Kashmir affairs. "We do not need the involvement of any third power to address the Kashmir situation." He said his government didn't want "a relationship with Kashmir that is forcible and based on necessities. We want to build a relationship based on emotional bonds." He said steps were being taken to ensure Kashmir becomes a "firdous" or heaven again, remembering a famous Persian couplet that praises the serene beauty of the land and refers to it as the "paradise on Earth". "I have spoken with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured her that any injured person who are unable to get proper medical treatment here can be sent to Delhi for treatment. We will ensure they are treated at AIIMS." Srinagar: The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service will resume tomorrow after remaining suspended for two weeks in view of the unrest in Kashmir Valley that has left 45 people dead and 3,400 others injured. "The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus, also known as Karwan-e- Aman (Peace Caravan), service will resume its weekly operations from tomorrow," a police official said. Passengers travelling across the Line of Control by the bus have been asked to report at SRTC Yard, Bemina, at 3 AM, he said. The bus service was suspended in the wake of violent protests in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8. The violence left a total of 45 people dead but the Valley has been calm for a few days. The bus service was started in April 2005 as part of the confidence building measures between New Delhi and Islamabad. Srinagar: CPI-M leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami on Sunday urged the central government to open an "unconditional dialogue" with all the stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, "particularly the voices of dissent", to bring peace in the violence-ravaged state. The lone Communist lawmaker in the state assembly and some of his party leaders met Home Minister Rajnath Singh here. The Home Minister was on a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley in the wake of the violent unrest that has left more than 45 people dead in clashes between protesters and security forces. Tarigami blamed the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir for the "unfortunate deaths of dozens of unarmed civilians" and called for an "immediate end to this use of brutal force". He said he urged Rajnath Singh "to initiate a process of unconditional dialogue with all the stakeholders, particularly the voices of dissent" in the state, referring to separatist leaders in Kashmir. Tarigami, who represents a constituency in the worst-hit south Kashmir region, said he told Rajnath Singh that the "people of Kashmir believe that they have been ignored time and again and whatever promises have been made have not been fulfilled". He said "those who are at the helm must draw lessons and understand the serious implications of the situation" that the new unrest has unfolded in the valley. "We are afraid if appropriate response is not evolved, the situation may worsen in the coming future." He urged the central government to take immediate measures "which can treat the wounds and address the injured psyche of Kashmiris. It brooks no delay". Srinagar: With a constable and a civilian succumbing to injuries today, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir climbed to 47, while curfew remained in force in five districts of the Valley and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure. An uneasy calm prevailed in Kashmir where normal life was paralysed for the 16th consecutive day today even as security agencies braced for a march called by separatists tomorrow. "Curfew is in force in five South Kashmir districts - Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian and eight police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure," a police official said. While curfew has already been lifted from four districts - Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam and Ganderbal, restrictions continue in these areas on the assembly of four or more persons, he said, adding the situation across the Valley is peaceful so far. Constable Mudasir Ahmad and a civilian, Sameer Ahmad Wani, who were injured in clashes that erupted in the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, succumbed today. Mudasir is the second policeman to die in the violent clashes. On July 15, a mob pelted stones at police station Yaripora in Kulgam. During the stone pelting, suspected militants hurled a grenade at the police station, resulting in injuries to six personnel including Mudasir. Sameer Ahmad Wani, a resident of Khonmoh area of Pampore in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, was injured during the violent clashes on July 10. He died during treatment at SKIMS Soura, a police official said. Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since July 9, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Separatists have been spearheading the agitation and called for a march to Anantnag town tomorrow. The security grid has geared itself to ensure that the march does not take place, the police official said. He said police and CRPF personnel, who have already been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots across the Valley, have been directed to strictly implement the curfew and restriction. Over 5,000 civilians and security personnel have been injured in the violent clashes between protesters and security forces following Wani's killing. Bengaluru: At least four members of a Dalit family were recently attacked allegedly over beef issue in Karnataka, a News18 report said on Saturday. The attack has come to light even as Gujarat is burning over a similar atrocity on Dalits in Una. As per the report, the incident took place on last Sunday in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum general secretary AK Ashok told media, "Four Dalit youths were attacked last Sunday by Bajrang Dal members who alleged that they were storing and eating beef at home." As per the report one of the family members, who were thrashed by the group, is a physically-challenged person. Local police filed a case against three members of a Dalit family in on suspicion of cattle theft and cow slaughter besides booking seven members of Bajrang Dals local unit on charges of raiding their home and attacking the Dalit family members. The Bajrang Dal activists were booked under Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015, after Dalit rights groups insisted that action must be taken against them. Meanwhile, Dalit groups are planning to launch a protest in Bengaluru over the beef assault. Mumbai: A retired police dog named `Tiger` passed away on Saturday. Tiger had helped police officials in detecting bombs during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and was on duty for several days outside the Taj hotel in Colaba. The 26/11 hero was on Saturday laid to rest in a farmhouse he was living in post-retirement. Tiger, the black Labrador, was suffering from lung infection. Fizzah Shah, animal activist, whose Fizzah Farms in Virar was home to four 26/11 sniffer dogs-Max, Sultan, Tiger and Caesar, said the dog was on regular treatment for lung infection but its condition worsened on Friday night. Shah also recalled after Tiger`s childhood buddy and colleague Sultan passed away in the farm, Tiger became lonely. Tiger, the Labrador was attached to the bomb detection dog squad at Goregaon, which also comprised of Max, Caesar and Tiger. Max had died in April this year. "After Sultan went away, Tiger got very depressed. When Max went away, these three used to roam around his grave. Caesar is also not keeping well these days. When Tiger died, Caesar just sat down and he was not ready to get up," she said. Caesar is the only sniffer dog of the 26/11 Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team left in the farm.Tiger was given a dignified burial in the Virar farms itself. Tiger`s funeral was performed in Mumbai with full state honours. The funeral was attended by other dogs, who stayed in the farm with Tiger, including Caesar. On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorist entered Mumbai from the Arabian sea front and went on a carnage killing and injuring a total of 466 people. (With agency inputs) Bhubaneswar: Asking Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to own responsibility for the death of five persons in Kandhamal, Congress said it on Sunday would raise the issue in Parliament as such killings in the name of anti-naxal drive shows BJD regime's "anti-tribal and anti-dalit" psyche. "The chief minister must own moral responsibility for the killing of five persons including a 13-month-old child, in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district recently. The state's own force was involved in it," senior Congress leaders Kishore Chandra Deb and Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. They were briefing reporters after a five-member Congress team formed by party president Sonia Gandhi yesterday visited the site of the incident that took place on the night of July 8 at Gumudumaha village and interacted with relatives of those killed and injured in the tragedy. Coming down heavily on the chief minister for the incident, both Deb and Ramesh said four such incidents has taken place during the past 12 months - two in Kandhamal and one each in Nuapada and Kalahandi districts - but Patnaik has been maintaining silence. Asking Patnaik to take concrete steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents involving police, they said a mistake can happen once or twice due to carelessness. But it has happened four times in a year, which showed the BJD government's mindset to work against the interests of tribals and dalits, said Ramesh accusing the Patnaik government of failing to deal with such incidents with sympathy and sensitiveness. Stating that Congress would raise the issue both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, they said the five-member team would submit a report on its fact-finding visit very soon. Rubbishing the version that the incident took place duringpolice-Maoist crossfire, the Congress leaders claimed that the killing of five villagers a fortnight ago was nothing but a cold-blooded murder as evidence showed there was firing from only one side and there was no encounter. The elite Special Operation Group (SOG) created by Odisha government is supposed to deal with law and order problems and not to kill innocent civilians, Deb said adding they should be trained and sensitised properly and made to follow standard operating procedures (SOP). Hitting out at the BJD government over backwardness in Kandhamal, both Deb and Ramesh said there is no road to Gumudumaha village which is also deprived of safe 'drinking water' supply. Huge funds including Rs 7,500 crore for rural development given to the state during UPA-rule appeared to have remained unutilised, they claimed. Claiming that Odisha received maximum funds for welfare and development programmes during UPA's rule, Ramesh and Deb said despite this the situation in Kandhamal was pathetic as people of the tribal-dominated district were far from socio-economic mainstream and deprived of development. Noting that Panchayat elections in the state was fast approaching, Ramesh said Congress would corner the ruling BJD and seek detailed accounts about utilisation of central funds meant for various programmes and schemes. Basic facilities are yet to be provided to tribals, they said demanding stern action against those responsible for the killing of the villagers. Mounting a scathing attack on the chief minister, former union minister Deb said poor people, particularly tribals and dalits, were suffering due to Patnaik's lack of understanding and knowledge of Odia language and people's problems. Moreover, the state government also failed to properly implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006, they said. Besides Deb and Ramesh, the other team members of Congress who visited Kandhamal were Arun Oraon, Vincent Pala and KH Muniyappa. Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Yadav, booked in connection with alleged Malerkotla sacrilege incident on June 24, was arrested by Punjab police on Sunday. Punjab Police IG (Patiala Zone) Paramraj Singh Umra Nangal said in Chandigarh, "We have arrested AAP MLA Naresh Yadav from his house in Delhi. He will be produced in the Malerkotla court tomorrow." Nangal said an arrest warrant was procured from a local court to arrest Yadav, who is AAP legislator from Mehrauli. The MLA was booked under various sections of IPC including 109 (punishment for abatement if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 injury or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion of any class). The Punjab police has already questioned the AAP MLA twice in connection with the incident. The AAP lawmaker was booked following revelations made by one of the accused arrested in the case. Main accused Vijay Kumar, who claimed he was paid Rs 1 crore by Yadav for the act, recorded his statement last week before a magistrate. Sangrur police had arrested Kumar, Gaurav and Nand Kishore on charges of desecration of the Quran and said they belonged to VHP. There was arson in Malerkotla on June 24 night after pages of the holy book were found dumped near a drain. Several vehicles were set on fire and other property was damaged as the situation remained tense on June 25. The mob also exchanged gunfire with police, leaving several injured. Yadav earlier claimed that he had nothing to do with the incident. "I am joining the Punjab Police investigation. I am here to answer all questions," Yadav said, as per IANS. Another AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested by Delhi police Meanwhile, another AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested by Delhi police today in the national capital after a woman alleged he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts. Khan, also the chairman of the Delhi Waqf board, was first detained for questioning and then arrested, a day after he alleged at a press conference the woman was "pressurised" by police into giving a false statement against him. "On July 22, the woman had recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC. She had alleged while she was returning from the legislator's residence, a vehicle tried mowing her down and Amanatullah was sitting in it," said Joint Commissioner of Police, Southeast Range, R P Upadhyay, as per PTI. Prior to that, she had on July 19 filed a complaint with police alleging that at the AAP MLA's residence in Jamia Nagar, a youth had on July 10 abused her and threatened that she would be killed if she did not stop politicising the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered in this regard. After her statement to the magistrate, Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) was added to the FIR, the officer said. After her statement to the magistrate, Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) was added to the FIR, the officer said. "It is a non-bailable charge and we have arrested Khan," Upadhyay said. With the latest developments, the number of AAP legislators held by police in different cases has climbed to eleven. The Arvind Kejriwal party has 67 legislators in the 70-member Delhi Assembly after it swept to power in February 2015. (With Agency inputs) Chandigarh: All Congress legislators in Punjab will submit mass resignations in the event of the Supreme Court deciding the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) canal case against the state, Punjab Congress leader Amarinder Singh said on Sunday. Amarinder Singh said that the Congress legislators had unanimously agreed to the move to resign en masse. He said that he would also resign from Lok Sabha if the SYL ruling goes against Punjab. "While we respect the Supreme Court, we are also duty-bound towards Punjab, hence we will find legislative and constitutional ways and means to safeguard our water," he told media here. "Not only will over 10 lakh acres of Malwa (south of river Sutlej) region go dry, people will not have even drinking water if SC decides against Punjab," Amarinder claimed. "In case the Supreme Court verdict goes against Punjab and it orders construction of the SYL, Punjab will be left with no option. The responsibility of this will be on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's for his failure to act on time," Amarinder said. "We will initiate legal and constitutional measures to safeguard our waters like we did in 2004 when we enacted Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004," Amarinder said. "Either his (Badal's) intentions were not honest, or these were not clear, which made him to vacillate and waste crucial time in getting the Governor's assent to the unanimous resolution of the Vidhan Sabha on SYL, thus providing enough time to Haryana to move the SC," he observed. New Delhi: A crazy-looking, experimental, fuel-free plane, Solar Impulse 2 with a mission to circumnavigate the world has finally started the final leg of its historic journey and took off from Cairo on Sunday for Abu Dhabi. The solar powered aircraft will take 48 hours to reach Abu Dhabi- the place it began the circumnavigation in March 2015. "We thought it was going to be an easy flight because it's always good weather between Egypt and Abu Dhabi across Saudi. But actually, it's extremely difficult to find a good strategy," Piccard told BBC News before take off late Saturday night. Piccard added that the warmer, thinner air above the Saudi desert also means Solar Impulse's motors will have to work harder to propel the vehicle forward. This will require careful management of the energy reserves in the plane's lithium polymer batteries, to be sure they can sustain the aircraft through the night hours, BBC quoted the pilot as saying. The Solar Impulse has covered some 30,000 km in its quest to become the first plane to circle the world using no fuel, just the energy from the Sun. The Cairo-Abu Dhabi flight marks the 17th and final segment in the journey, which has included crossings of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Piccard has alternated pilot duties with his friend and business partner Andre Borschberg. Lucknow: Stepping up attack on BJP, Mayawati on Sunday alleged that it had "pressurised" the SP government in UP into lodging an FIR against her and was preventing arrest of Dayashankar Singh, who made derogatory remarks against her. The BSP supremo claimed that the controversy was raked up by BJP ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls to distract people's attention from the issues of atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat raised by her inside and outside Parliament. She alleged the remarks made by her party leaders, who were protesting against expelled BJP leader Singh, were deliberately misconstrued by the saffron party, reflecting its "polluted" and "casteist" mentality. Mayawati also vowed to take stringent action in the whole episode once BSP comes to power in UP, if Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who calls her "'Bua' does not ensure the arrest and take stern action against Singh". "Slogans demanding Singh to present his mother, wife and daughter were raised. They (BJP) are viewing it with polluted mentality and publicising in media," Mayawati said amid a row over use of derogatory language by protesting BSP leaders against women members of Singh's family. Referring to BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui's remarks, she said, "Whether the mother, wife and daughter of Singh's family agreed with the language used by the expelled BJP leader against me. They were asked to clarify their stand. Siddiqui has said that no objectionable words were used against them." On the complaint by Singh's mother against her, the BSP supremo said, "It would have been better if she had also demanded stern legal action against Singh for using derogatory language against a Dalit's daughter." "She did not say a single word, which indicates their dual mentality towards mothers and daughters in general. Whatever is being done is being done to save Singh at the behest of BJP," she added. She alleged that at the behest of BJP, statements were being issued to distract attention from the "heinous crime" of Singh. She also termed the FIR against her in Singh's issue as "contempt of Parliament" and said that ruling SP has acted under pressure from the BJP. Mayawati said that "frustrated" with the manner in which she raised the issue of harassment of Dalits in Gujarat in and outside Parliament, BJP as a part of conspiracy used Singh to distract the attention of Dalits. "To distract attention of the people ahead of 2017 UP Assembly polls from BSP, the issue was raked as a conspiracy," she said. The BSP supremo also announced that 'sarvjan hitay, sarvjan sukhaye' mega rallies will be held from next month to "expose" the "tacit understanding" between BJP and ruling SP to not arrest Singh. "These rallies will start from August 21 from Agra and I will address them," she said. Baharampur: A Trinamool Congress worker was on Sunday shot dead by unidentified assailants at Majjampur village under Beldanga police station in Murshidabad district, police said. The incident occurred this morning when Achhor Ali (35) was going from his home to a tea stall and was shot dead by assailants who also hurled several bombs to scare the local people. Enraged over the incident, the locals later gheraoed Beldanga police station and National Highway 34 for several hours to protest against the murder, police said. Beldanga Block president Gholam Kibriya alleged that the miscreants were from Congress party. Congress MLA of Beldanga Safiujjaman, however, said it is not a political incident. "It is a result of turfwar among miscreants," he said. Two persons were detained in connection with the killing, police said. Kibriya claimed that two elderly persons, Akhtar Ali (70) and Nouza Bibi (65) died of shock on hearing the bomb blasts near their homes in the village. However, there is no official confirmation on this. Madhyamanchal: Nepal's K.P. Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister on Sunday, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament he was certain to lose, plunging the impoverished, quake-hit nation into fresh turmoil. Oli was forced to quit after former Maoist rebels deserted his fractious, ruling coalition, accusing him of reneging on past deals and following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. "I have decided to open the road to elect a new prime minister in this parliament and presented my resignation to the president," Oli, who has only been in power for nine months, told lawmakers ahead of the no-confidence vote. Nepal`s president is now expected to ask political parties to try to form a new power-sharing government and nominate a consensus candidate for prime minister. Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal could become the new premier after the former rebels and main opposition Nepali Congress party said before the vote that they would try to form a new administration if Oli lost. A letter from the president`s office read out in parliament said the current cabinet would continue until a new government was formed, a process expected to take at least a week. Dahal, the country`s first prime minister after the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, pulled his party from Oli`s coalition two weeks ago, leaving it without a majority. In his speech, the embattled premier accused the Maoists of undermining his government, which he said was working to rebuild the Himalayan country after a devastating earthquake last year. "I am concerned that the steps taken were driven by selfishness and revenge (and they) will cause a long-term negative impact and push the country to instability," he said of the motion, during the nearly two-hour speech. Oli`s resignation is the latest crisis to hit Nepal which has suffered from years of political instability and struggled to get back on its feet since last April`s quake that claimed almost 9,000 lives. The Maoists joined Oli`s government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted the new national constitution. Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the constitution, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. Cracks began to appear in Oli`s coalition two months ago when the Maoists threatened to topple him, prompting the premier to draw up an 11th-hour deal with Dahal. But Dahal later withdrew from the coalition, citing the government`s failure to implement that agreement to withdraw war cases from Nepal`s courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist conflict. Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, painted Oli as an egocentric who refused to listen to the people and demanded that he resign. After debate on the no-confidence motion kicked off on Friday, two smaller parties also abandoned the coalition, leaving Oli`s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) floundering for support. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal`s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. Beijing: China has completed production of the world`s largest amphibious aircraft, state media has said, the latest effort in the country`s program to wean itself off dependence on foreign aviation firms. The state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled the first of the new planes, dubbed the AG600, Saturday in the southern port city of Zhuhai, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The aircraft, which has a maximum range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles), is intended for fighting forest fires and performing marine rescues, it said. At around the size of a Boeing 737, it is far larger than any other plane built for marine take off and landing, Xinhua quoted AVIC`s deputy general manager Geng Ruguang as saying. However, its wingspan is considerably smaller than that of the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, which was designed in the 1940s to carry Allied troops into battle. It is regarded as by far the largest seaplane ever built although it only ever made one flight, in 1947. The Chinese plane, which is targeted at the domestic market, will be "very useful in developing and exploiting marine resources," the article said, adding that it could be used for "environmental monitoring, resource detection and transportation". Beijing is currently locked in disputes with several of its neighbours, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, over the rights to develop economic resources in waters off its shores. The AG600 could potentially extend the Asian giant`s ability to conduct a variety of operations in the South China Sea, where it has built a series of artificial islands featuring air strips, among other infrastructure with the potential for either civilian or military use. Xinhua said AVIC has received 17 orders for the plane so far. China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector to reduce dependence on and even challenge foreign giants, such as European consortium Airbus and Boeing of the United States, though analysts say it could take years. Despite a history of delays and problems, China`s aviation industry has made rapid progress in the last year. In June, the Chinese-made ARJ21 which stands for Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st century made its first commercial flight, when Chengdu Airlines flew one from its home base to Shanghai, and the country`s military began using its homegrown Y-20 heavy transport plane earlier this month. It rolled out the C919, China`s first domestically developed narrow-body passenger plane, in November last year Beijing: China on Sunday asked Japan to restrain itself from interfering in the South China Sea dispute, saying Tokyo should instead consider its "shameful history" before accusing it of expansionist behaviour in the strategic region. China took exception to Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks that he would discuss the dispute over territorial claims with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Kishida had said he would talk about the maritime dispute if he gets a chance to meet Wang during the series of foreign ministers' meeting involving ASEAN and other Asian countries. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that the arbitration by a UN-backed international panel based in The Hague was "illegal and invalid" from beginning to the end. China has rejected the ruling by The Permanent Court of Arbitratioon on a case brought before it by The Philippines after years of negotiations between the two countries. It had also refused to participate in the arbitration process, claiming the tribunal lacks jurisdiction. The Chinese spokesperson said that China's rejection of the award was "indeed in accordance with the international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea." "Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue, and considering its shameful history, it has no rights whatsoever to accuse China on the matter," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying. The court found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters of the South China - through which more than USD 5 trillion in trade passes annually - around the Philippines. It has similar claims against other ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia. China and Japan have had a rather frosty relationship over a range of matters - including historical and economic issues. Bilateral ties also strained due to a territorial row over a group of islands, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. The issue ignites nationalist passions in both countries. Washington: The US Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to pull the US out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if his proposal on penalising the US companies for moving overseas is blocked. "Meet the Press" that he, if elected President, would impose a tax on US companies that shift production overseas then sell the products back to the US, Xinhua news agency qouted Trump as saying. "If they are going to fire all their people, move their plant to Mexico, build air conditioners and think they are going to sell those air conditioners to the US, there is going to be a tax," Trump told NBC news. The tax rate could be 15 per cent, 25 per cent or 35 per cent, and could be different for different companies, he added. When told that such tax would not get through the WTO, Trump said he would then renegotiate "or we are going to pull out." "These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. WTO is a disaster," Trump said. Trump reiterated his support to Britain for its exit from the Europe Union, which he said he foresaw before it happened. Asked about his previous remarks that the US protection of other Nato members should be conditional on their financial contribution, Trump firmly stood by his position. "We have Nato and we have many countries that are not paying for what they are supposed to be paying, which is already too little but they are not paying anyway," he noted. The countries Trump mentioned which have to pay for the US protection included Japan, Germany, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Bavaria: The 18-year-old gunman who killed nine people in a shooting spree in Munich had been planning his crime for a year but chose his victims at random, officials said on Sunday. "He had been preparing (the shooting) for a year," Bavarian police chief Robert Heimberger told a news conference. Chief prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch added that he did not specifically choose his victims. "It is not the case that he deliberately selected" the people who he shot, he said. In total, 58 shell casings have been recovered from the crime scene, fired by a Glock 9mm pistol that David Ali Sonboly illegally acquired via the internet. A further 300 bullets were found in his rucksack. Sonboly was obsessed with Anders Behring Breivik, who massacred 77 people in Norway five years ago. But police also believe he was influenced by a previous shooting in Winnenden, south west Germany in 2009 when a 17-year-old shot 15 people in his former school before killing himself. "Preliminary indications suggest that he was interested in that incident" and visited the site a year ago and took photos, said Heimberger. He subsequently planned his own crime, he added. Prosecutor Steinkraus-Koch said there was no indication that the shooting was politically-motivated or that he chose the victims because of their nationality. The people who died had Hungarian, German-Turkish, Turkish, Kosovar or Greek nationality. Heimberger noted that the area where the shopping mall was situated and the McDonald`s outlet where Sonboly began his rampage were frequented by both foreigners and Germans with migrant backgrounds. The attacker set up a fake Facebook account in May, stealing the profile of a real user and sending out invitations to lure people to the fast-food restaurant. Police corrected earlier reports that Sonboly had hacked into an existing account. But there was no evidence yet that any of the people who had interacted with Sonboly via the fake account had responded to the invitation in which he offered meals and drinks. None of the people who died appeared to have interacted with him. Sonboly appeared to have been the victim of bullying by fellow pupils back in 2012, filing a complaint against three of his tormentors. But none of them were among the victims of the shooting. Police found medical documentation in his room that suggested he suffered from anxiety attacks and "social phobias", particularly when it came to contact with others, prosecutor Steinkraus-Koch said. He was admitted to hospital for two months in 2015 to receive treatment for his psychological problems after which he continued treatment as an outpatient. Investigators found medication in his room but have so far been unable to ascertain whether he had been taking it on a regular basis. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week, after Sonboly went on a shooting spree at a shopping centre on Friday before turning the gun on himself. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Munich had suffered a "night of horror". Melbourne: A 25-year-old Muslim girl in New Zealand was left embarrassed after she applied for a job at a jewellery shop and was told it was a waste of time unless she removed her hijab. Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager 'not to bother applying' because of her headscarf. "I felt embarrassed as it took a lot of courage to walk into the shop and speak to the manager regarding a job, especially since I was afraid of the rejection," Alfadli said. Alfadli, who lives in Avondale, has been looking for a job after completing her diploma in applied computer system engineering. She said her aspirations for her life in New Zealand was to find a safe home for herself and her family, who settled in the country as refugees from Kuwait in 2008. "I can do any job, I don't mind, but I will keep my hijab, I will keep my identity, and respect my culture and my religion," Alfadli was quoted as saying 'The New Zealand Herald'. She said she was told it was a waste of time" if she would not remove her hijab. It was second incident at the jewellery store where in October former Kelston Girls College deputy head Fatima Mohammadi was turned away from an interview at the jewellery chain's Henderson branch because of her hijab. Stewart Dawsons group chief financial officer Kevin Turner said he was devastated to learn of the latest incident. "The manager in question is new to the company, so she hadn't been with us for very long. Having said that she should have known better, she was not following company policy. We are taking this absolutely seriously, it's not okay and we will be following it up in the appropriate manner," Turner said, adding that the company would apologise to Alfadli. Last year, Muslim-American woman Samantha Elauf successfully sued Abercrombie & Fitch when they refused to hire her because her headscarf apparently violated the company's 'look policy'. The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, where justices ruled eight to one in Elauf's favour. Berlin: A woman was killed and two people injured by a 21-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker armed with a machete on Sunday in the southwest German city of Reutlingen, the local police said. The man, who has been detained, "had a dispute" with the woman and killed her "with a machete" before injuring a second woman and a man, according to a police statement that offered no explanation on the cause of the attack. The man was "known to police", the statement said. "According to the information available, the perpetrator acted alone, the people of Reutlingen and its surroundings are very probably not in danger," it added. News channel NTV said there were scenes of panic in the city centre following the attack. Munich: German police said they had arrested a 16-year-old Afghan friend of the gunman who killed nine people in a rampage at a shopping centre in Munich. "We suspect that this boy aged 16 years could have been aware of the act," police said in a statement yesterday following Friday's shooting spree after which the 18-year-old German-Iranian attacker, David Ali Sonboly, killed himself. The arrest is the first in the investigation. The teenager "handed himself in to police shortly after the killing spree and had been questioned on his relationship with the perpetrator," the statement added. But officers had "uncovered contradictions in his statements" and he was now being held in custody for withholding information about a crime. Police also said that the young Afghan may have posted on Facebook after the killings a similar message to the one the killer posted in an attempt to lure victims. The suspected posting related to "a meeting in a cinema complex near to Munich central station", police added. After Friday's killings, it emerged that Sonboly set up a fake Facebook account in May, stealing the profile of a real user and sending out invitations to lure people to a McDonald's restaurant. There was no evidence, however, that any of the people who had interacted with Sonboly via the fake account had responded to the invitation in which he offered meals and drinks. Kabul: Three key commanders of the Taliban group have been arrested during a joint clearance operation in Afghanistan`s northern Samangan province. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) in a statement on Saturday, said the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and National Directorate of Security (NDS) launched a joint operation to clear armed Talibans from Dara-e-Sof district. "As a result of this joint operation, three armed Taliban key commanders were arrested named Khairullah, Abdul Haq and Bakhtiyar," Khaama Press quoted the statement as saying. The statement added that the commanders were involved in many terrorist activities in the district and other areas of Samangan province. Following the arrest, the Ministry of Interior said this move will have a positive impact over the security situation in Dara-e-Sof district. So far, the anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report. Mexico City: Two men involved in one of Mexico's most shocking kidnapping and killing incidents have each been sentenced to 520 years in prison, media reported on Saturday. Mario Alberto Rodriguez Ledezma and Gabriel Carrasco Ilizaliturri must additionally pay a fine of more than $270,000 for their role in kidnapping 13 people, including an 18-year-old, at a bar in a central tourist district of Mexico City in May 2013, Xinhua reported. The men are ineligible for parole and if unable to pay the fine, must serve 39,000 days of community service, La Jornada daily reported. The crime, carried out by armed men at a bar known as Heaven, shocked the nation as a dozen of youths were killed. A total of 22 people have been charged in connection with the crime, among which eight have been sentenced, online news magazine Proceso said. Last September, the owner of the bar, Ernesto Espinosa Lobo and two other people received sentences of more than 500 years in prison, the magazine said. Two other perpetrators were sentenced to 520 years in December. The bodies of the missing were later found in a mass grave in a town near Mexico City. They were believed to have been kidnapped and killed in an act of revenge for the death of a drug dealer. MPs last month backed a non-binding motion for Philip Green to be stripped of his knighthood and called on him to "urgently" address the BHS pension fund shortfalls British MPs branded a billionaire tycoon the "unacceptable face of capitalism" in a report on Monday about the collapse of department store chain BHS which caused the loss of 11,000 jobs. The lawmakers also called on former boss Philip Green to address "urgently" the shortfalls in a pension fund of 20,000 former employees. "The tragedy is that those who have lost out are the ordinary employees and pensioners. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism," read the unusually scathing parliamentary report. Green "owes it to the BHS pensioners to find a solution urgently. This will undoubtedly require him to make a large financial contribution. He has a moral duty to act," it said. BHS, which sold clothing and homeware, failed to keep pace with traditional rivals such as Marks & Spencer and online giants like Amazon, resulting in a major loss of market share. The 88-year-old company had 163 stores and 74 franchise operations across 18 countries. When it collapsed last month, BHS had debts totalling more than 1.3 billion (1.6 billion euros, $1.7 billion), including a 571-million deficit to its pension fund. Frank Field, chairman of parliament's work and pensions committee, said of Green: "His reputation as the king of retail lies in the ruins of BHS. His family took out of BHS... a fortune beyond the dreams of avarice. "What kind of man is it who can count his fortune in billions but does not know what decent behaviour is?" he said. Green bought BHS in 2000 for 200 million and sold it in 2015 for 1 to Dominic Chappell, a former bankrupt businessman with no retail experience. The government is currently reviewing Green's knighthood and the report is expected to boost calls for the honour to be revoked. A government spokesman said the case showed the need "to tackle corporate irresponsibility and reform capitalism so it works for everyone". Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants to be tough on "irresponsible behaviour in big business" including through the introduction of binding shareholder votes on corporate pay and worker representation on company boards. 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 Southeast Asian nations were deadlocked Sunday about how to confront China's territorial claims in the South China Sea as pressure from Beijing again drove a wedge between countries on the region's toughest security challenge. Their gathering in the Laos capital is the first time regional players -- including China and the United States -- have met en masse since a UN-backed tribunal delivered a hammer blow to Beijing's claim to vast stretches of the sea. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) boasts four countries who have competing claims with Beijing to parts of the sea, and is fiercely divided on the issue. Rival claimants have accused China of deftly forging alliances with smaller member countries like Laos, this year's host, and Cambodia through aid and loans to divide the once consensus-driven bloc. Chinese pressure was blamed last month for a startling show of ASEAN discord when countries swiftly disavowed a joint statement released by Malaysia after an ASEAN-China meeting. That statement had expressed alarm over Beijing's activities in the South China Sea. Cambodia and Laos were later fingered as being behind moves to block it. Those divisions were on stark display once more in Vientiane on Sunday as regional foreign ministers met for talks. Insiders accused Cambodia of scuppering moves to include a response to the tribunal ruling in a joint ASEAN communique -- by the end of the first day of talks there was still no agreement. "We need to put our house in order," one diplomat involved in discussions told AFP Sunday. "But we still have not agreed on anything." Another ASEAN diplomat added: "We remain deadlocked. We're back to the negotiating table." The main sticking point was over whether to refer to the international tribunal ruling and if so how, a Southeast Asia diplomat told AFP. Some countries are pushing to include a reference that urges all countries to fully "respect diplomatic and legal process", he said -- in line with statements released by the European Union, the US and Japan following the UN-backed decision. Other countries are opposing any mention of the ruling. Another diplomat said ministers would continue talks on Monday but warned that if a statement was published in the coming days it would likely be "really watered down". - Competing influence - The impasse in Vientiane has led to fears of a repeat of a 2012 summit in Cambodia where the bloc failed to issue a joint statement for the first time in its history because of disagreements over the South China Sea. A failure by ASEAN to respond to the tribunal will not do much to counter criticism that the bloc risks fading into obscurity as a talking shop with little real diplomatic clout. The UN tribunal ruling earlier this month infuriated Beijing but was a victory for the Philippines, which brought the case, and for fellow ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia who also claim parts of the South China Sea. The bloc's paralysis on how to respond comes as China ratchets up its rhetoric and military manoeuvres in the sea whilst hitting out at the US. Washington says it takes no position on the territorial disputes but argues for free sea and air passage through what it considers international waters. US Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Laos Monday morning. It is not yet clear whether he will meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who is also attending. A State Department official over the weekend said the US would push for participants to ease tensions over the South China Sea and find common ground. But Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin warned ASEAN against being influenced by outside powers, a clear rebuke to Washington. "They (ASEAN) should in particular guard against the intervention in regional cooperation by big powers outside the region," he said according to the Xinhua news agency. ASEAN boasts a diverse array of countries ranging from communist one-party states like Laos to the Islamic sultanate of Brunei, military junta-led Thailand and raucous democracies like Indonesia and the Philippines. Its ability to deal with Beijing is seen as a test of whether it can jointly confront other pressing regional challenges outside of trade. Many thousands of Turks massed Sunday for the first cross-party rally to condemn the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid a purge of suspected state enemies. Istanbul's Taksim square was transformed into a red sea of national flags as Erdogan's ruling Islamic-conservatives and the opposition secular camps briefly set aside their differences in a show of national unity. But in stark contrast to the broadly celebratory mood in Istanbul, human rights group Amnesty International in London claimed it had "credible evidence" of the beating and torture of post-coup detainees. The official number of those in custody since the July 15 putsch has surged above 13,000 soldiers, police, justice officials and civilians in a wave of arrests that has alarmed NATO allies and European leaders. Despite the high tensions since the coup attempt, the mood at the Istanbul rally was strongly patriotic. "We defend the republic and democracy" read one sign in the vast crowd, while others declared "Sovereignty belongs to the people alone" and "No to the coup, yes to democracy!" - 'Turkey stood proudly' - A few banners also protested the post-coup state of emergency, with one proclaiming "No to the coup, no to dictatorship". The mass event was called by the biggest opposition group, the secular and centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP), many of whose members carried pictures of modern Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Its leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu told the crowd that, amid all the turmoil, "the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, lawmakers stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!" But he also stressed that now "the state should not be governed by anger and revenge". "The culprits of the putsch should be tried lawfully," he said, warning that torture and ill-treatment would put the state on par with the putschists. In London, Amnesty charged that the government was already using such methods, citing interviews conducted with lawyers, doctors and one person on duty in a detention facility. Amnesty claimed it had "credible evidence" some detainees were being "subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, in official and unofficial detention centres in the country". The group said it had received reports that detainees were being denied food, water and medical treatment and being held in "stress positions" for up to 48 hours. "Turkey is understandably concerned with public security at the moment, but no circumstances can ever justify torture and other ill-treatment or arbitrary detention," said Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen. He urged the Turkish authorities to stop "these abhorrent practices" and allow international monitors into detention centres. - 'In cold blood' - In Ankara, a senior official denied Amnesty's claims, saying: "The idea that Turkey, a country seeking European Union membership, would not respect the law is absurd". "We categorically deny the allegations and encourage advocacy groups to provide an unbiased account of the legal steps that are being taken against people who murdered nearly 250 civilians in cold blood." Turkey has undergone a seismic shift since the night of violence when renegade soldiers sought to topple Erdogan but were stopped by crowds of civilians and loyalist security forces. In the latest reaction, Yildirim said Turkey would disband Erdogan's 2,500-strong Presidential Guard, almost 300 of whose members have been detained. Under new emergency powers, they can be held without charge for 30 days. Erdogan's government has also sacked thousands of teachers, professors and civil servants and closed schools and universities. Also detained in the sweep was Halis Hanci, an alleged senior aide to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen -- the reclusive spiritual leader whom Turkey accuses of having orchestrated the plot to overthrow Erdogan. The preacher, who lives in a compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. Its been said before in previous Sunday Services, but its worth repeating again that Channon King was easily one of the most underrated UK heads of the mid 90s to early 2000s, appearing alongside Frank Stephens in plenty of East Anglia scene videos, including Tough Guys, Grow Up and Ex-Rental, racking up a couple of Sidewalk covers and plenty of mag coverage along the way. Channon eventually landed himself a long overdue spot on Blueprint throughout the Waiting for the World/Belong Tour era, before retiring himself from sponsored skateboarding due to reoccurring injuries. With a solid as you like style, a deep trick bag and a tendency to skate God-awful spots like no-one else, it was a shame to see Channon drop off the coverage radar so quickly. More recent Channon footage can be located on Monster Networks video Never Forever (2008), a full part in the 2010 MN production In Between Days and a grip of clips in the Russ Cowling and Channon King produced Twenty (2012). Anyway, hit the play button for Channon Kings banging part from the legendary Ex-Rental video, released in 1999 by Adam Mondon and David Underwood. By Lauren Hirsch and Greg Roumeliotis (Reuters) - The board of the charitable trust that controls Hershey Co (HSY.N) said on Friday it had reached an in-principle agreement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office that would avoid a legal row in exchange for reforms in how it is run. The settlement could provide stability to the trust following months of infighting and confrontation with the attorney general's office. It could also offer the clarity needed for Mondelez International Inc (MDLZ.O) to make a new approach to acquire Hershey. The $12 billion trust, set up by company founder Milton Hershey over a century ago to fund and run a school for underprivileged children, must approve any sale of the company. It rejected a $23 billion cash-and-stock offer for Hershey by Mondelez, the maker of Oreo and Cadbury chocolate, last month. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, the trust's sole overseer, had threatened legal action to remove trustees unless a settlement over its governance was reached by the end of July. "We have reached an agreement in principle and are working on the final details in productive discussions with the Office of the Attorney General," Kent Jarrell, a spokesman for the trusts board, said. "Yesterday, I met with board members and a lawyer for the Trust, along with our people, and I agreed on behalf of the Attorney General in principle to a series of changes that the Trust would implement," said First Deputy Attorney General Bruce L. Castor Jr. "When that is reduced to writing, and if it is signed by us and them, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane will make the terms public." The agreement will impose 10-year term limits on trustees, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the settlement's details have not been announced. Three trustees - Joseph Senser, Robert Cavanaugh and James Nevels - will have to step down by the end of the year, the people said. Senser and Cavanaugh had been trustees since 2001, while Nevels has been a trustee since 2007. Story continues Hershey Trust board Chairwoman Velma Redmond, who joined the trust in 2003, will stay on to ensure continuity, but will step down by the end of 2017, along with James Mead, a trustee since 2007, the sources added. Mead, Nevels and Cavanagh are the trust's three representatives on Hershey's board of directors. Caps on trustees' compensation are also part of the settlement, though these exclude salaries of trustees at Hershey and other affiliates, the people said. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office will also be given a 30-day window to object to new trustees, the people added. The agreement is unlikely to please many Milton Hershey School alumni that had been calling for deeper reforms, said Ric Fouad, a prominent alumnus and a board member for Protect the Hersheys' Children, an organization that calls for significant changes at the trust. "They have squandered the ability to get reforms. A broken oversight office can't fix a broken charity," said Fouad, referring to the fact that Attorney General Kathleen Kane has had her legal license revoked and will not be seeking re-election in November. TURMOIL The trust has been rocked by internal dissent and turnover since it last reached a reform agreement with the attorney general's office in 2013. Trustee Joan Steel resigned earlier this month, following the departures of Richard Zilmer, John Fry and Stephanie Bell-Rose over the past year. The trust normally has 10 board members. Cavanaugh was the subject of an internal conflict of interest investigation stemming from his role in helping secure a summer internship for his son at one of the trust's investment management firms. Cavanaugh, appointed to the board in 2001, was the trust's chairman at the time. This year, the trust fired its executive vice president, after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud associated with campaign contributions. It also fired its chief compliance officer, after placing him on leave, when a letter he wrote detailing the trusts bitter feuds leaked to the public. Stability at the trust could make it more open to reviewing its ownership of Hershey. The trust owns close to a third of Hershey, but the company accounts for more than two-thirds of its investment holdings. In 2002, the trust cited the need for diversification as a reason of putting Hershey up for sale. Hershey then attracted a $12.5 billion offer by chewing gum maker Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. However, the deal was abandoned after Pennsylvania's Attorney General successfully petitioned a court to block the offer amid opposition from the local community. "This portfolio that is meant to rescue needy children is being exposed to needless risk that could be diversified away without compromising expected return." said Robert Sitkoff, a Harvard Law School professor specializing in wills, trusts, estates, and fiduciary administration. (Reporting by Lauren Hirsch and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Leslie Adler and Tom Brown) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attends a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin Russian warplanes bombed a garrison used by US and British forces in Syria twice last month, despite being warned by a US surveillance aircraft flying nearby that the base was not occupied or being used by members of ISIS. The airstrikes which hit the base in southeastern Syria just 24 hours after 20 British special forces had left and killed four US-backed rebels appear to have been Moscow's way of pressuring the US into sharing military intelligence and coordinating more closely with the Russians in Syria, The Wall Street Journal's Adam Entous reported. Moscow initially told the Pentagon that it thought that the base was being used by ISIS, according to the report. It later claimed that US Central Command's refusal to provide Russia with the garrison's coordinates was largely to blame for the incident. Nearly a month after the first incident, Entous reported, Russia dropped cluster bombs on another US-linked base on the Jordanian border housing CIA-backed rebels and their families. Washington's reluctance to coordinate with Moscow in Syria has largely stemmed from the Russians' pattern of targeting US-backed rebel groups there under the guise of defeating "terrorists" who oppose Syria's president and Russia's close ally, Bashar Assad. putin Russia's intervention in the war on behalf of Assad last September has created a catch-22 for the Obama administration, which remains divided over whether sharing military intelligence with the Russians in Syria would make them more or less likely to target the country's non-jihadist opposition. This incident "brings out something that was already evident to almost everyone who has spoken to US foreign policy officials recently," Mark Kramer, Program Director for the Project on Cold War Studies at Harvard's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, told Business Insider on Saturday. Story continues "Namely, that the Obama administration is deeply divided over how to respond to Russia's inflammatory actions in Syria and elsewhere." He continued: Many on the NSC [National Security Council] staff, as well as in the Defense Department and CIA, worry that Obama's timidity and inaction are simply encouraging the Russians to step up their dangerous and provocative actions...The State Department is highlighted in the WSJ article as the defender of a timid approach in the face of Kremlin aggression, and there is certainly a good deal of truth in that. But the real problem is Obama himself, who seems to have no desire to take a firm stand against Russian actions." 'The president has authorized and ordered this track' US President Barack Obama decided earlier this month that working more closely with the Russians to target Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, aka Jabhat al-Nusra, would serve US national security interests long-term. Obama and Putin reportedly spoke by phone in early July and confirmed the plan that will involve enhanced sharing of information about the group's positions. US Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Moscow shortly thereafter and met with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He has declined to comment on the "internal negotiations" ongoing between the US and Russia. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands during a joint news conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, July 16, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin "The president of the United States has authorized and ordered this track," Kerry told reporters on Friday. "It is the presidents desire to test whether or not the Russians are prepared to do what they said during our negotiations in Moscow that they will do." According to the leaked text of the coordination plan known as the Joint Implementation Group the US will share intelligence with Russian officials about Nusra if Russian warplanes refrain from launching airstrikes outside certain "designated areas." It also proposes that the Syrian army completely halt its aerial bombardments. As analysts have noted, however, the proposal has several loopholes including one that seems to explicitly allow Russia to "strike in areas where the opposition is dominant," even if Al Qaeda has only "some possible" presence there. From the proposal (emphasis added): "Designated areas include areas of most concentrated Nusrah Front presence, areas of significant Nusrah Front presence, and areas where the opposition is dominant, with some possible Nusrah Front presence. Even prior to the establishment of the JIG, technical experts from the U.S. and Russia will plot the geo-coordinates of these designated areas." As Middle East expert Andrew Tabler, the Martin J. Gross Fellow at The Washington Institute's Program on Arab Politics, noted in a recent policy analysis, "Russia's track record in Syria indicates that it would continue air operations against non-designated rebel groups under the proposed TOR [terms of reference]." russian airstrikes syria July Washington has noticed that trend and has repeatedly called on Moscow to stop launching airstrikes in areas under non-jihadist rebel control. It has continued to do so for the better part of 10 months, largely to no avail. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an intelligence official told Reuters that "it isn't clear" why the administration thinks that it can enlist the Russians to support its goals in Syria. The proposal amounts to "ignoring the fact that the Russians and their Syrian allies have made no distinction between bombing ISIS and killing members of the moderate opposition, including some people that we've trained," the official said. "Why would we share intelligence and targeting information with people who've been doing that?" the official added. With reports that Russia purposefully targeted a base used by British and American special forces, that question is poised to take on even greater urgency. NOW WATCH: GREEN BERET: Why our strategy against terrorism is making things worse More From Business Insider NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - July 22, 2016) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until September 12, 2016 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stericycle, Inc. (SRCL), if they purchased the Company's common stock or depository shares between February 7, 2013 and April 28, 2016, including in the September 15, 2015 public offering (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Stericycle and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com). If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by September 12, 2016. About the Lawsuit Stericycle and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. Stericycle allegedly routinely and systematically raised the rates it charged its smaller customers in violation of the contracts it had with those customers, resulting inflated revenue and growth. On October 22, 2015, Stericycle disclosed disappointing growth and revenues during the 2015 third quarter and lowered its guidance. Then, on April 28, 2016, Stericycle disclosed that its results for the 2016 first quarter were below its guidance and analysts' expectations, and lowered its guidance. On this news, the price of Stericycle's shares plummeted. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Tom Keeling of the Freeman Firm in Stockton said the court did hand Delta landowners a limited victory in the case by reforming the statute at issue to allow the landowners the right of a jury trial. The California Supreme Court on July 21 overturned a Court of Appeal decision that favored Delta landowners in their legal battle against the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), eliminating one of the many hurdles faced by the Brown administration in its campaign to build the Delta Tunnels.The court ruled that state officials are not required to pay landowners to access their land to conduct surveys needed for planning the construction of Governor Jerry Browns Delta Tunnels, renamed the California WaterFix in 2015. Tunnels opponents consider the WaterFix to be the most environmentally destructive public works project in California history.The court said they reject the landowners claim that the Department of Water Resources overreached its authority in entering private land to drill test borings for the twin tunnels.We conclude that the current precondemnation entry and testing statutes are properly interpreted to encompass the type and degree of precondemnation environmental and geological testing at issue here, the court ruled. Accordingly, we reject the landowners claim that the Department overreached in invoking the precondemnation entry and testing statutes in order to obtain authority to conduct the precondemnation activities proposed in this case.The ruling is available here: http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S217738.PDF Tom Keeling of the Freeman Firm in Stockton, representing dozens of landowners, said the court did hand Delta landowners a limited victory in the case by reforming the statute at issue to allow the landowners the right of a jury trial.DWR had requested court orders that would allow DWR agents to enter Delta properties to conduct investigations in support of the Governors controversial twin tunnels project. The proposed investigations included geological, biological and cultural surveys DWR said were essential for the twin tunnel project to continue, according to a statement from Keelings office.Keeling focused on the fact that DWR did not offer to pay for its proposed entries. DWR argued that the entries should be granted without compensation under a pre-condemnation entry statute. That statute requires a deposit of probable compensation for actual damage to property, but no right to a jury within the proceeding, said Keeling.Keeling argued that the proposed entries would amount to takings of private property that require just compensation. This was the same argument he had made in the Court of Appeal, resulting in the 2014 decision favoring the landowners.In reversing that 2014 decision, the Supreme Court assumed, without deciding, that the proposed entries amounted to takings or damaging of private property. It also held that even if such entries would be a taking of private property, government may use the pre-condemnation entry statute to acquire that property," according to Keeling.The Supreme Court reformed the pre-condemnation entry procedure to allow landowners the right of a jury trial on the measure of damages at the proceeding, noted Keeling. Our successes in the lower courts achieved a 6-year delay in gathering information DWR said is essential for engineering and planning the twin tunnel project. But we had hoped the Supreme Court would take this opportunity to protect California landowners against governmental overreaching in the future. We had argued for a result that would apply existing law to balance the needs of government and the rights of landowners.Keeling said the Supreme Courts new decision effectively changes California law, in our view.Although it did reform the pre-condemnation entry statute to provide the right to a jury trial within that proceeding, the decision is likely to make landowners in this State more vulnerable to aggressive tactics such as those DWR tried to use against Delta landowners, Keeling concluded.Restore the Delta (RTD) reminded people that the court decision is just a battle in one long war.We won't win every battle, but we will win the right battles. Federal agencies have not approved the project, and the State Water Resources Control Board is just beginning a long administrative process to consider granting a permit for the project. There will be many battles before it is over, the group said.The Delta Tunnels will hasten the extinction of Central Valley steelhead, Sacramento winter-run Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, and green sturgeon, as well as imperil the salmon and steelhead populations on the Trinity and Klamath rivers.A broad coalition of recreational and commercial fishermen, Tribal leaders, family farmers, environmental justice advocates, Delta residents and elected officials opposes the construction of tunnels to divert Sacramento River water under the Delta to facilitate water exports to corporate agribusiness interests and Southern California water agencies. News.com.au reports: Asked a question by the Labour leader about job security, Mrs May ripped into Mr Corbyn for ignoring the clamour from his own MPs for him to resign, being forced to ask his few loyal MPs to take on multiple jobs and managing to change the party rules to allow him to contest the upcoming leadership contest. Im interested that he refers to the situation of some workers who might have some job insecurity and potentially unscrupulous bosses, she quipped. I suspect that there are many members on the opposition benches who might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss. A boss who doesnt listen to his workers. A boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload. And maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career. Pausing for dramatic effect she leaned across the despatch box and added: Remind him of anybody? Stuff reports: A young principal has been given the ticket to move a lower decile school away from close Government monitoring. Reviewers from the Education Review Office (ERO) were visiting Glenavon School every one to two years. But the Blockhouse Bay school will now likely have its next review in four to five years, according to its latest ERO review. The report identifies Glenavon School as a high performing school. Principal Phil Toomer, now 31, arrived at the school in 2014, when he was just 28-years-old. He came from Redoubt North School in Manukau where he was a teacher, deputy principal and acting principal over seven years. Back then, he had planned to build the Glenavon School in all areas, with student achievement a big focus. There is no excuse just because a school is low decile to underachieve, Toomer says. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results After months of rumors, Disney has confirmed that the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride in Disney California Adventure will be replaced by a new attraction based on the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and comics. The ride was announced earlier tonight at the Marvel Studios panel at the San Diego Comic Con, and it was subsequently confirmed on the Disney Parks Blog to be replacing Tower of Terror. Disney also released a video with Imagineer Joe Rohde talking about the upcoming ride. When rumors first started circulating about Disney replacing Tower of Terror with a Guardians ride, the majority of Disney fan sentiment was opposed to the idea. Beyond the fact that an outer space theme will clash with the 1930s Hollywood theme of the Hollywood Land area, it would mean the end of one of the most popular and most intricately designed attractions at the park. Its also been rumored that a Guardians attraction replacing Tower of Terror would be the first step in the creation of a larger Marvel-themed area at Disney California Adventure. That wasnt addressed at the Marvel Studios panel, but Rohde mentions in that video that this ride will be the first in what will become a whole new universe in Disney California Adventure. It was also announced at the Studios panel that Benicio del Toro will reprise his Guardians role as the Collector for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. The ride will apparently open in 2017, so if youre a Tower of Terror fan and worry you wont be able to make it out to ride the original at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando any time soon, you might want to get to Disney California Adventure while you can. The Tower of Terror is scheduled to close in early 2017, according to the Disney Parks Blog. Prometheus, the mythological Greek heroic deity, has been given a namesake in a new species of tiny rain frog, discovered in southwestern Ecuador. The name was chosen by the international team of scientists, led by Dr Paul Szekely, Ovidius University, Constanta, Romania, in acknowledgement of the Prometeo program, funded by the Ecuadorian government. The description of this new species (Pristimantis prometeii) is the result of the cooperation between three Romanian Prometeo investigators affiliated with the Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja and Universidad Nacional de Loja, and two Ecuadorian specialists from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador. The full study is available from the open access ZooKeys. During the day, frogs of the new species were found hiding in flowering plants, while at night -- perching on leaves at low heights in well preserved cloud forests. They grow to 2-3 cm with the females being larger than the males. The newly described species is part of a group of frogs called Terrarana (meaning 'Land or terrestrial frogs'). This is a lineage of frogs that has evolved directly developing eggs, which are deposited in terrestrial habitats. Unlike other frogs, these ones do not have an aquatic tadpole stage and the embryos develop directly into froglets on land. The newly described species is only known from Reserva Biologica Buenaventura, southwestern Ecuador, at elevations between 878 and 1082 m. This reserve is privately owned by the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation. The reserve has at least another four endemic species of amphibians, reptiles, and birds. With more than 470 species, the directly developing rain frogs of the genus Pristimantis continue to surprise everyone. "While new species are described every year, there are over a hundred discovered over the last decade only," remind the authors. A study by researchers at North Dakota State University, Fargo, found that 51 percent of labels on e-cigarette liquid nicotine containers from 16 North Dakota stores don't accurately reflect the levels of nicotine found in the products. In one instance, actual nicotine levels were 172 percent higher than labeled. The majority of e-cigarette liquid containers also did not provide child-resistant packaging. Published in the July-August issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, the study examined products purchased from North Dakota retail stores selling e-cigarettes, but not required to have a tobacco retail license. The research team noted that 23 e-liquid containers claimed to have no nicotine, but 43 percent did, in fact, contain nicotine. Levels of nicotine in those e-cigs averaged 0.19 mg/mL, with the highest level found at 0.48 mg/mL. The NDSU research team includes Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, associate professor of nursing; Donald R. Miller, professor of pharmacy practice; and research scientist Narayanaganesh Balasubramanian. Of 93 e-liquid containers examined, 70 claimed to contain nicotine ranging from 3-24 mg/mL. Among those containers, 51 percent had nicotine outside the labeled amount, with 34 percent having less nicotine and 17 percent having more than labels specified. Actual content of nicotine ranged from 66 percent under the labeled concentrations to 172 percent over the labeled concentrations. The Core Synthesis & Analytical Services Facility at NDSU measured the contents of the containers, using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. Results allowed for +/- 10 percent variation in nicotine concentration. The study also found that 65 percent of the e-liquid containers were not child-resistant, with the potential to be easily ingested by a curious child. "Mislabeling of nicotine in e-liquids exposes the user to the harmful effects of nicotine," said study author Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, associate professor of nursing at NDSU. "In areas without child-resistant packaging requirements, children may be exposed to harmful nicotine." Depending on the size of a child, even small levels of ingested liquid nicotine could severely impact a child, according to Buettner-Schmidt, and result in nicotine toxicity, accidental poisoning or death. The cross-sectional study of e-liquids included products purchased between June 9 and June 26, 2015 from 16 North Dakota retail stores that sell electronic nicotine devices, but are not required to hold a tobacco retail license. The study was conducted prior to new state requirements covering e-cigarettes. The North Dakota Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy funded the study titled "Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids: Child-Resistant Packaging, Nicotine Content, and Sales to Minors." In August 2015, North Dakota banned the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco for those under 18 and now requires child-resistant e-liquid containers, although the amount of nicotine content remains unregulated. In August 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to ban sale of e-cigarette products to those under 18, and prohibit free samples, false or misleading advertising of e-cigarette products. By 2018, the FDA is scheduled require warning labels for e-cigarette products. An additional study available online in the journal Tobacco Control, examined whether 16 retail stores selling e-cigarette products were compliant with North Dakota's smoke-free law. Use of e-cigarettes or evidence of use was observed in 50 percent of stores associated with the study, making them non-compliant with state law. Only 6 percent of stores in the study complied with indoor smoke-free requirements and 44 percent of stores complied with outdoor smoke-free requirements of the state. Bangladesh has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, from the gruesome slayings of secular bloggers to the recent hostage crisis that left 28 dead. Now comes The Black Coat, a dark look at the early years of Bangladesh by Neamat Imam, a first-time novelist living in Edmonton. He brings an unfettered eye to one mans attempt to live through the catastrophic famine that occurred just a few years after independence in 1971. Khaleque Biswas is an idealistic journalist with the newspaper The Freedom Fighter who finds himself unemployed after the countrys liberation from Pakistan his dreams of covering the new countrys problems left unfulfilled. One day, a young villager named Nur Hussain appears at his door in Dhaka, sent by a distant connection. Unable to tempt him with any occupation, Khaleque is beside himself until he notices Nurs uncanny ability to mimic a cassette recording of the most famous speech by the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Soon Khaleque realizes that the two can make a living with the mostly-mute Nur reciting the speech on street corners while dressed in the leaders iconic black sleeveless coat. The pretense is successful enough that, despite some misgivings, he allows an influential politician to engage Nur to perform at his own rallies. Khaleque is told to obtain his own Mujib-style coat and falls prey to the cult of personality surrounding the nations first prime minister. As famine-ravaged villagers flood the city, Khaleque becomes more hard-hearted, keen to prove his loyalty to his political masters. Nur, who had previously gone along with the schemes, finally exits his stupor to comprehend what his self-proclaimed protector cannot: Bangladesh is a country starving itself, literally and metaphorically. This sets Khaleque down a desperate path, knowing that his benefactors will have no patience for Nurs new outspokenness. Imam is not a writer prone to sentiment or nostalgia; rather, he is adept at pinpointing the hypocrisy at play in a society under pressure. Told strictly from Khaleques point of view, the books mood goes from a wry start to one of unrelenting bleakness where desperation is the rule. The Black Coat is a stark and occasionally cryptic novel that revisits a harsh time with unflinching candour. Piali Roy is a Toronto writer. SHARE: Toronto police are searching for a man after a woman was assaulted multiple times in the citys east end. Investigators say between July 18 and 22, a man went to a hotel several times near Markham Rd. and Highway 401 where he then allegedly assaulted the same woman every time. In the most recent incident, officers went to the hotel, but the man had already fled, police said. The woman was treated in hospital for her injuries and later released. Keegan Bankasingh, 31, of Toronto, is wanted for three counts of assault, uttering threats, two counts of failing to comply with probation and two counts of driving while under suspension. He is described as being five-foot-seven, 150 pounds with a musclar build, a short afro and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a blue tank top and blue jeans. SHARE: If youre looking for reprieve from summer in the city the heat, the noise, the rush some face time with nature may be just what you need. But you dont need to go far to escape Torontos concrete jungle: the Redwing Institutes Culture and Nature Discovery Walks offer a quick escape into the great outdoors, just a few subway stops from downtown. Beginning at the front doors of Old Mill Subway Station, the interactive three-hour tour winds through a series of connecting paths and parks to reach the Humber Bay Arch Bridge where the Humber River meets Lake Ontario. The tour was started by Lisa Gervais less than one year ago, shortly after founding the Redwing Institute, an experiential learning organization. Gervais, who spent the first half of her career in digital marketing, launched Redwing as a source of educational programming based in nature that builds character strengths, self-confidence and creativity. Its mission, Gervais explained, is to inspire people to live to their fullest potential, using the outdoors as a classroom. I want people to know what their character strengths are, Gervais said. The Culture and Nature Discovery Walks is the Redwing Institutes inaugural program. Gervais hopes that the tour will introduce participants to the psychological benefits of nature. She calls the tour Torontos best kept secret. The tour is centred on Ontarios indigenous culture the historical significance of the Humber River Valley, and the customs and values of indigenous peoples. The walk is a full-sensory experience: Gervais employs music and food to enhance the journey. Traditional aboriginal teachings are melded with research gleaned from positive psychology, which examines the sources of individual and community well-being. Drawing from this research, Gervais encourages participants to practice strategies of mindfulness throughout the tour. To Gervais, such strategies coupled with time in nature are crucial in preventing mental illness. I think theres a real missed opportunity, Gervais said, with respect to prevention. Time in nature builds creativity and innovative thinking, and contributes to stronger mental health overall. Gervais hopes to have a positive impact on 100,000 people through Redwing Institute programming over the next five years. Already, the walk has gained international recognition: the program was awarded the title of Unique Experience of the Year for Toronto by the Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards 2016. Gervais offers walks twice a day, seven days per week: 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sundays. She currently leads about four walks per week, with two to 12 people per walk. The guided tours are now available in English, French and Spanish. SHARE: Ursula Franklin, the prominent University of Toronto professor, feminist, peace activist, and Holocaust survivor, died Friday afternoon. She was 94. Her eldest son, Martin Franklin, told the Star on Saturday she had been living in a Toronto nursing home for several years along with her husband, Fred Franklin. She died at the nursing home surrounded by her family, he said. Franklin was the first woman to join what is now the University of Torontos department of metallurgy and material sciences in 1967. While she retired in 1989, Franklin is still listed as a professor emerita. Along with her prominence as a material sciences and metallurgy researcher, Franklin studied the social impact of technology and pioneered the field of archaeometry. She was also named as an officer of the Order of Canada, and served on the Science Council and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, as well as many other scientific organizations. She was very much in the public, her son said. Franklin was also a devoted pacifist, feminist, and Quaker, who co-founded the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. Her scientific research sometimes overlapped with her pursuit of social justice such as her studies into the levels of radioactive isotopes in childrens teeth. Her findings were used to justify the ban on atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the 1960s. Peace is not the absence of war but the absence of fear, is one of Franklins more famous quotes. She was born in Munich, Germany, on Sept. 16, 1921, to an art historian and ethnographer. In 1940, she attended university in Berlin and became fascinated by the properties of material structures. Her studies were cut short by the Nazi regime (Franklins mother was Jewish), and she spent 18 months imprisoned in a work camp. After her liberation, Franklin returned to university. She graduated in 1948 with a doctorate degree in experimental physics, and first arrived at the University of Toronto a year later as a post-doctoral student. After graduating, she worked at the Ontario Research Foundation for 15 years, and returned to the U of T to serve as a professor. She later delivered the 1989 Massey Lecture, which was later published as The Real World of Technology. Franklin is survived by her husband, two children and several grandchildren. SHARE: The provinces police watchdog is investigating what happened when Jenyn Middleton, 30, was shot in the chest in Roncesvalles Village early Sunday morning. Toronto police arrived at a non-profit co-op home at 55 Howard Park Ave., after getting a call just before 6 a.m. about a potential shooting in the area. Middleton was shot after police arrived, said Special Investigations Unit spokesperson Jason Gennaro, and was taken to St. Michaels Hospital without vital signs. He was pronounced dead shortly after. A 25-year-old woman was also taken to hospital with serious injuries, including a gunshot wound to the leg, the SIU said. Gennaro couldnt confirm whether Middleton was armed when he was shot, or if officers fired their weapons at any point during the incident. All of this is part of the investigation, Gennaro said. The SIU typically doesnt disclose details such as this until its work is done. We will be looking at all the surveillance video we can gather, both in businesses and residences in the area, as well as what may have been captured on video inside of cruisers, Gennaro said. Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook couldnt confirm whether police had evidence of a shooting before the police arrived. Police services under the SIUs scrutiny are forbidden from disclosing details of an incident under investigation. No subject officers (those actively being investigated for suspected wrongdoing) have been designated as of yet, Gennaro said. However we might be designating subject officers. Were unsure at the moment, he said. The SIU is a provincial agency that investigates incidents involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Correction - Sept. 28, 2020: This archived article was edited from a previous version that misstated Jenym Middleton's given name. With files from Fakiha Baig and Brennan Doherty SHARE: KABULAfghanistan marked a national day of mourning on Sunday, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 80 people who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Kabul. The attack was claimed by Daesh. Authorities say another 231 people were wounded, some seriously, in the bombing Saturday afternoon on a march by members of the ethnic Hazara community, who are predominantly Shiite Muslim. Most Afghans are Sunni, and Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, regards Shiites as apostates. The attack was the first by Daesh on Kabul and the capitals worst since a vicious Taliban insurgency began 15 years ago raising concerns about the groups reach and capability in Afghanistan. Bereaved families collected their dead from hospitals and morgues across the capital, and began digging graves as the first funerals went ahead in the west of the capital. Many people chose to bury their dead together with others rather than in traditional family plots encouraged by organizers of the Saturday demonstration, who call themselves the Enlighten Movement. In a hilltop graveyard in the Surkh Abad suburb of southwestern Kabul, hundreds of people, most of them men, braved high winds and swirling dust to conduct the Shiite funeral rites. Simple wooden coffins covered in the green Shiite flag were carried by men on their shoulders and lowered into graves that relatives had dug themselves with shovels. In the citys west, in Omaid-a-Sabz, the grieving chose to bury their dead side by side in long rows. Mullah Mohammad Hassan Rasat said the Hazara people felt a deep sense of injustice and anger that the government had not kept its election promise to ensure that development was equal for all Afghan ethnic groups. Our people only want justice and equal development for all, he said. Hazaras account for up to 15 per cent of Afghanistans population, estimated at around 30 million, and say they face discrimination. During the Talibans 1996-2001 rule, the Hazaras were often brutally treated. The Taliban were quick to deny culpability for the Saturday attack, however, issuing a statement before Daesh claimed responsibility. The Saturday attack has raised concerns about sectarianism, and the Interior Ministry announced a ban on public gatherings and demonstrations in an apparent bid to avoid any inter-communal strife. A presidential spokesman pointed out that the ban on public gatherings would not apply to the funerals for Saturdays victims. IS has had a presence in Afghanistan for the past year, mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar along the Pakistani border. The Afghan military, backed by U.S. troops, is planning an offensive against Daesh positions in Nangarhar in coming days. Prior to the Saturday attack, thousands of Hazaras had marched through Kabul to demand the rerouting of a power line through their impoverished province of Bamiyan, in the central highlands. It was their second demonstration; the first was in May with a much better turnout and attended by senior Hazara politicians, who were absent from Saturdays march. The office of President Ashraf Ghani said that march organizers had been warned to call off the demonstration after intelligence was received that an attack was likely. Daud Naji, an Enlighten Movement leader, said on Sunday that they had been told only that there was a heightened risk of attack and had subsequently cancelled nine of 10 planned routes. On Sunday, Ghani attended a memorial prayer service in a mosque on the grounds of the presidential palace, his spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said. The office of the United Nations assistance mission in Afghanistan issued a statement conveying its deepest condolences and solidarity and noting that people of all ethnicities across the country were still queueing at hospitals to donate blood for the wounded. Hazara demonstrators have continued to occupy Demazang Square, where the attack took place as the march was winding down and some prepared to set up a camp, Naji said. They would stay until three conditions were met, he said. The Enlighten Movement wished to have its own representatives, as well as others from international human rights organizations, involved in a commission Ghani has established to investigate the Daesh attack. The movement also wanted the power line rerouted through Bamiyan, as originally demanded. The multimillion-dollar regional project was routed away from Bamiyan by the previous Afghan government for financial considerations, according to people involved in the planning, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. Thirdly, Naji said, they wanted the name of Demazang Square changed to Shahada or Martyrs Square, to honour the memories of those who were killed, along with a picture of everyone who died there. Ghanis spokesman Chakhansuri confirmed that the president has issued a decree to change the name of the square as the Hazaras had asked. He also said that Enlighten Movement members would participate in the investigation commission. In response to the rerouting demand for the so-called TUTAP power project, Chakhansuri referred to a contract signed on June 21 for the transmission of a 300-megawatt power line from the north into Bamiyan. Like the TUTAP line, it is also funded by the Asian Development Bank. The death toll in Saturdays attack was not yet finalized Sunday, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said on Saturday that 80 people were killed; Naji said the Enlighten Movement puts the death toll so far at 84. Read more about: SHARE: VIENTIANE, LAOSSoutheast Asias main grouping apparently failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with Chinas territorial expansion in the South China Sea, intensifying a diplomatic stalemate despite three rounds of formal and informal talks Sunday. The foreign ministers of the 10 countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations deliberated for several hours during the three sessions, including over lunch, but remained deadlocked because Cambodia didnt want China criticized, diplomats said. Its really a loyalist of the big country C, a diplomat who attended closed-door meetings told The Associated Press, referring to China. The stalemate puts pressure on ASEANs cherished unity and also gives an upper hand to China, which has used every diplomatic means at its disposal to stave off wider international criticism over moves its made in the South China Sea that have impacted four Southeast Asian countries. Certainly, Cambodias paralysis of ASEAN . . . hurts ASEANs unity, cohesion, relevance and reputation, said Malcolm Cook, an analyst at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, a Singapore think-tank. It makes ASEAN peripheral, not central, on this issue. A bland press statement issued at the end of the first round of talks Sunday said only that the ministers had a candid and constructive exchange of views on regional and international issues ... as well as developments in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea. After that, the foreign ministers broke for lunch before going into a so-called retreat, where they were by themselves and in less formal surroundings. It was not clear whether they made any progress because many of the ministers came out and said nothing to waiting reporters. No statement was issued. Like all other ASEAN meetings, the foreign ministers conclave also traditionally issues a joint communique. But the sticking point is whether to include in it a reference to the South China Sea. ASEANs cardinal principle is decisions by consensus, which means any country can veto a proposal. This time, it is Cambodia, Chinas close ally, invoking its veto. In 2012, Cambodia also blocked a reference to the dispute, which ended with the ministers failing to issue a statement for the first time in the blocs history. Sundays talks were expected to deal with terrorism, the economy, climate change, security, the impact of Brexit and other issues. But all this has been overshadowed by the July 12 decision by a Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines. The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims that clash with Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, and the ruling should have emboldened ASEAN to challenge Beijing more forcibly. Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media, said the draft communique to be issued by the ministers left blank spaces under the heading South China Sea until a consensus can be reached. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee Sek said the joint communique is still being drafted. Laos, which also is a China ally, has been careful not to take sides because of its position as the host. But it supports Cambodias veto. For Laos and Cambodia, they clearly see relations with China as more important than their membership in ASEAN and are willing to damage ASEAN to aid their relations with China, said Cook, the analyst. The South China Sea is dotted with reefs and rocky outcroppings that several governments claim, including China and the Philippines. The arbitration panel didnt take a position on who owns the disputed territories. It did conclude that many of them are legally rocks, even if theyve been built into islands, and therefore do not include the international rights to develop the surrounding waters. That and other findings invalidated much of what Chinas called its historic claims to the resource-rich sea. In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago. China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines. In recent days, its military has staged live-firing exercises in the area and said it would begin regular aerial patrols over the sea. It also has asserted that it will not be deterred from continuing construction of its man-made islands. In a commentary Sunday, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency urged East Asian nations to be vigilant against U.S. interference in the region and to foster closer ties with China, a market no country can afford to lose. Read more about: SHARE: PHILADELPHIAThousands of demonstrators took to Philadelphias sweltering streets Sunday, cheering, chanting and beating drums in the first major protests ahead of the Democratic National Convention, as the city wilted during a heat wave. Throngs of Bernie Sanders supporters marched down a main thoroughfare to show their support of him and disdain for Hillary Clinton ahead of the convention. Chanting Hell No, DNC, we wont vote for Hillary and This is what democracy looks like, the marchers headed from City Hall down Broad Street, the main north-south artery that leads from the city centre to the convention site about 6 kilometres away. Though planned for months, Sundays marches came as fractures appeared in the party that had been trying to display a show of unity in recent weeks. Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned Sunday as Democratic Party chair over an email suggesting the DNC had played favourites for Clinton during the primary. It was a stunning leadership shakeup as party officials gather in Philadelphia to nominate Clinton. The Democrats had been trying to avoid the divide that was apparent in Cleveland during the Republican National Convention last week. But the hacked emails, published by WikiLeaks, further fired up Sanders supporters, who long accused the party of favouring Clinton despite officially being neutral. Sanders had called for Wasserman Schultzs resignation, and said Sunday night she made the right decision for the partys future by resigning. Darcy Samek, 54, travelled alone from Minneapolis to protest through the four-day convention. She said Wasserman Schultz has been a miserable failure who needed to be gone. Everyone kind of knew (the Democratic party was against Bernie Sanders), but that doesnt mean it will change now that its proven. Its just more of the same, she said. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross and other officers walked alongside Sanders protesters. Ross said he liked what he saw Sunday: a peaceful protest. The heat wave that descended on the city was showing no mercy, with temperatures reaching the high 30s and the city under an excessive heat warning by the National Weather Service. Its expected to peak Monday, the conventions first day, with temperatures possibly hitting 38C, but feeling like 42C. Earlier Sunday, thousands of clean energy activists jammed a downtown street in their more than one kilometre-long march from City Hall to Independence Hall, near the Liberty Bell. They held anti-fracking and anti-pipeline signs, some with illustrations like a train surrounded by a fireball and the words No Exploding Trains. Others held Bernie or Bust signs. Sam Miller, 82, travelled from Erie, Penn., to join the march that stretched several blocks and across a wide street as temperatures in the city soared into the mid-30s. He said he was inspired because fracking is invading Mother Earth. Like in Cleveland, police were using bicycles as barricades along the streets, and volunteers were handing out water to marchers. Shoppers came out of stores to watch the march like a parade. Chants of Bernie! Bernie! were met by counter echoes of Hillary! Hillary! Sunday night, more than 1,000 people joined Hollywood stars including Shailene Woodley, Susan Sarandon and Danny Glover in Philadelphia for a climate rally. The vowed to keep fighting for climate and environmental justice issues, even though their preferred presidential candidate, Sanders, would not be driving the partys agenda. Many in the crowd wore Sanders shirts, buttons or lanyards. Some carried signs like, Bernie would end fracking, and the now defunct Bernie for President. Some of the largest protests and demonstrations start about 6 kms north of the arena where the convention is being held. In Cleveland last week, most protests during the Republican National Convention were concentrated in a tight, three-square km zone downtown. A heavy police presence and fewer than expected protesters helped keep the calm. There were only about two dozen arrests and no significant injuries. More than 5,000 delegates are among the 50,000 people set to attend the gathering at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia, which is expected to culminate with Clinton being named the partys official nominee for president. The former secretary of state and first lady has named Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate. Read more about: SHARE: For more than two decades, Terry Jude Symansky appeared to lead an ordinary life in Pasco County, Fla. He had a wife and a teenage son, owned property and worked odd jobs, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The only problem, police say, was that Terry Jude Symansky wasnt really Terry Jude Symansky. He was actually an Indiana man named Richard Hoagland who vanished 25 years ago and has been considered dead since 2003, the paper reported. The lie lasted more than two decades. In the end, a single online search was all it took for the ruse to unravel. The truth began to surface when a nephew of the real Terry Symansky who drowned in 1991 at age 33 started an Ancestry.com family search, according to ABC affiliate WFLA. Knowing that his uncle was dead, the nephew was surprised to find someone with the same name living in central Florida. He looks up his real uncle Terry Symansky and realizes that he died in 1991, which the family knew, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told the station. He then starts scrolling down the page and sees more details that Terry Symanksy was remarried in 1995. He owns property in Pasco County, Florida. Fearing that their fake relative might try to harm them, family members waited three years before eventually contacting authorities in April, police told the Tampa Bay Times. Hoagland, 63, was arrested Wednesday and charged with fraudulent use of personal identification, the paper reported. How exactly Hoagland came to assume the identity of Terry Symansky who moved to Florida from Cleveland to work as a commercial fisherman remains a complicated mystery. The Tampa Bay Times reported that investigators suspect it occurred as follows: Hoagland once lived with Terry Symanskys father in Palm Beach. Hoagland found a copy of Terry Symanskys 1991 death certificate and used it to obtain a birth certificate from Ohio. With the birth certificate in hand, he then applied by mail for an Alabama drivers licence and used that to obtain a Florida drivers licence. Thats how deputies think Hoagland came to spend more than two decades living in Florida as Terry Symansky. As Terry Symansky, he married Mary Hossler Hickman in 1995. The couple lived in Zephyrhills. He also fashioned a medical card to obtain a private pilots licence as Terry Symansky from the Federal Aviation Administration. Before he began the process of assuming a new identity, Hoagland left his old life which included a wife and four children behind in Indiana, according to Bay News 9. His former wife in Indiana told police that Hoagland had three businesses related to insurance. She told investigators that Hoagland told her in the early 1990s that he was wanted by the FBI for embezzling millions of dollars and had no choice but to leave town, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In reality, police told the paper, Hoagland told investigators that he left Indiana to get away from his wife. Eventually, the paper reported, Hoaglands wife assumed her husband was dead. This is a selfish coward, Nocco said. This is a person who has lived his life destroying others. Gerry Beyer, a law professor at Texas Tech University who studies identity theft, told the Tampa Bay Times that Hoaglands alleged actions are unusual because most identity thieves steal peoples names to commit crimes. He told the paper that the fact the real Symansky never married or had children made him a perfect candidate for identity theft. And yet, he noted, Hoaglands ability to maintain the lie for more than two decades was shocking. It was a lie that was probably made easier, Beyer said, because it began before digital records were commonplace. You just never know, Beyer told the paper. It will all catch up with you. Hoaglands Florida tenants told Bay News 9 that they were shocked that their landlord wasnt who he said he was. Weve been personal with him quite a bit, and Terrys the nicest guy anyone could ever meet, Gregory Yates told the station. Hes a really nice guy and hes a really good landlord, Dean Lockwood, another tenant, said. Never would have known this, couldnt imagine this was happening. Perhaps most damaged by Hoaglands hoax, police said, was his wife in Florida, who learned about her husbands alleged crimes only when detectives showed up at her door last week. For 20 years, shes been lied to, so now she doesnt know what she has to do as far as whether her marriage is even legal whats going to happen to all the properties they own, their bank accounts, Detective Anthony Cardillo told Bay News 9. The son has the last name Symansky. SHARE: LOS ANGELES A Flames raced down a steep hillside like a freight train, leaving smouldering remains of homes and forcing thousands to flee the wildfire churning through tinder-dry canyons in Southern California, authorities said Sunday. The fire that has destroyed at least 18 homes in northern Los Angeles County gained ferocious new power two days after it broke out, sending so much smoke in the air that planes making drops on it had to be grounded for part of the afternoon. For this time of year, its the most extreme fire behaviour Ive seen in my 32-year career, County fire Chief Daryl Osby said. About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another fire spanning more than 16 square miles and forcing evacuations outside the scenic Big Sur region. The Southern California blaze has blackened more than 34 square miles of brush on ridgelines near the city of Santa Clarita, and authorities found a burned body in a car. No new measurements were available, but officials said the fire might now be double that size. Planes were unable to make drops over the fire for a long stretch of the afternoon, but helicopters are releasing retardant around the perimeter. The fires just doing what it wants right now, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Nathan Judy said. We have to stick back, let it do what it wants to and attack it where we can. Juliet Kinikin said Sunday there was panic as the sky became dark with smoke and flames moved closer to her home a day earlier in the Sand Canyon area of Los Angeles County. And then we just focused on what really mattered in the house, she told The Associated Press. Kinikin grabbed important documents and fled with her husband, two children, two dogs and three birds. They were back at home Sunday, breathing a big sigh of relief, she said. Residents of thousands of homes were evacuated, and a 40-mile stretch of State Route 14, known as the Antelope Valley Freeway, was closed except for those evacuating. Shifting winds were pushing flames northeast through Angeles National Forest, where additional evacuations were ordered in the city of Acton and other residents were warned to prepare to leave, authorities said. Lois Wash, 87, said she and her daughter and her dog evacuated, but her husband refused. My husbands stubborn as a mule, and he wouldnt leave, Wash told KABC-TV. I dont know if he got out of there or not. Theres no way of knowing. I think the last time I looked it was about 100 yards from us. I dont know if our house is still standing or not. All we can do is pray. The fire has ripped through brush withered by days of 100-degree temperatures and years of drought. It started consuming houses that were non-defendable, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp said, describing the flames as charging through terrain like a freight train. More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames that sent up a huge plume of smoke visible across the region. The body of a man was discovered Saturday in a burned sedan outside a home in the fire zone. Los Angeles County sheriffs officials are investigating the death. The fire destroyed film sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. It also forced a non-profit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures to evacuate 340 of its more than 400 animals, including Bengal tigers and a mountain lion. North on the Central Coast, a blaze consuming brush in rugged mountains near Big Sur was threatening about 1,650 homes. It burned in inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park and forced the communities of Palo Colorado and Carmel Highlands to evacuate, Californias forestry department said. Brock Bradford lives in a historic house in Palo Colorado and could see the flames coming down the road as he evacuated. I hope I dont have to rebuild my house, he told the Monterey Herald. Im 66. SHARE: Like most of you, I am a proud Canadian. There are few things not to be proud of, but surely one of them has to be the treatment of our Indigenous people. I have just returned from a four-day visit to the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) and Bearskin Lake First Nations communities. They are located about 1,800 km northwest of Toronto, about as far away as Bermuda. These communities are only accessible by air. I went, at my own expense, in part because of my natural curiosity but more significantly because I felt that as mayor of Canadas largest city I had an obligation both substantively and symbolically to show our support for the reconciliation process now being embraced across Canada. While my principal responsibilities lie here at home, I do have a role to play in addressing some of our pan-Canadian problems as well. People also overlook the fact that Toronto is home to some 35,000 indigenous people in fact 30 per cent of the clients of our homeless shelter system are urban indigenous people though they represent only 1 per cent of the population. I will soon be sitting down with the leaders of our Aboriginal Affairs Committee to see how the lessons of my visit to KI and Bearskin can be applied here in Toronto and how we might also help those living in faraway places. What are those lessons? 1. Contrary to what most school kids are told, Jacques Cartier did not discover Canada and Christopher Columbus did not discover America. On the shores of Big Trout Lake near KI, skeletal remains dating back 5,000 years have been unearthed. History is very clear on who was here first, its what happened since which gets debated. 2. Treaties were signed during those 5,000 years. Many of them. And while there are still dozens of proceedings involving those treaties, lets just say it is far from clear whether Indigenous people knew what they were signing let alone whether those treaties have been honoured. Naturally this has contributed to a great sense of unfinished business and injustice. 3. Even respected elders alive today, let alone those who are gone, cherish the traditional way of life of our Indigenous people. I sat with those elders and heard them say, Yes, it was difficult, we had to struggle to follow the resources, but we survived. It was our ancestors who pushed Indigenous people away from their traditional way of life because it suited our conveniences and prejudices. 4. Our history, yes Canadas, is replete with examples of overt, legislated discrimination against our first people. I will return to residential schools but beyond that shameful chapter, Canadian law denied Indigenous people the universal right to vote until 1960. In the 20th century, performing an Indian dance in costume could lead to imprisonment. Just two of many examples. Is there a chance all of those measures and what lay behind them left scars which are still very real today? Indeed. 5. Residential schools. I sat with Dora McKay, a grandmotherly elder, as she told me about being taken away from her family at age 4. Taken to a faraway school where she was forbidden to speak her Indigenous language. Where the work these kids were ordered to do made her feel like a slave. Schools where thousands of these children died from disease and neglect and were just buried. They never came home. 6. All of these past acts have a lasting negative impact. The broken relationships, broken families and broken hearts have continued to reflect themselves down through the generations. I believe it because I have seen it. And it helps me to better understand the lasting negative impact on groups like our African Canadian and Jewish communities, scarred by historic discrimination and still facing it in too many places today. 7. Even in the 21st century we seem prepared to accept living conditions for Indigenous people in remote communities that we would never accept for ourselves. These places are, after all, in Ontario. Schools like the one in KI just end at Grade 10. If you want to graduate, you have to leave the community. Is it any wonder more than half just dont finish high school? What would we think if the Grade 8 teacher just left the school weeks before the end of the term? That happened this spring in Bearskin Lake. Clean water is often supplied by truck. As in one truck. When it is broken, families often go without water for three or four days. Food prices are astronomically high. A wilted head of lettuce for $8.79. Peanut butter for more than eight dollars. Is it any wonder poor eating habits lead to a diabetes rate of more than 50 per cent? I could go on to discuss housing, health care and a myriad of other issues that make our first people decidedly second-class citizens in a country that profoundly rejects the idea of multi-tier citizenship. I stayed in KI and Bearskin Lake for four days because I wanted to listen, to learn and by living with families in their homes, I wanted to get a first-hand sense of their living conditions. In that time I got to know a warm, generous, respectful people. Not as much angry about past and present injustices as they are sad. People who when they go hunting dont keep all of the moose meat for themselves but announce their bounty and share it that day. People who respect the land, water and resources in a way we might just now be beginning to understand. Kids who are as bright as any kids who live in Toronto. Who are confronted by what seems like a bad choice: stay home where kids are committing suicide due to a lack of hope or leave to pursue a dream and lose all contact with their traditional way of life. So what to do? The process known as reconciliation is a good start. We can learn the history, warts and all. We can reach out and embrace these wonderful accepting Canadians. We can learn from them and about them and that includes teaching in schools where I was exposed to less indigenous history than I have just learned in four days. We can work together to address the basics. Education, housing, food, water, health care. The people in these communities actually see a glimmer of hope that our multiple governments might actually be starting to work together. Leave jurisdiction at the door and actually get things done. Help them address their own challenges, dont assume our way is better. I believe this trip made me a better leader. A better informed Canadian. A more complete citizen. Sitting on a couch in a home as impoverished as any you would see in this hemisphere, praying with a mother and grandparents of a young mom lost to suicide was a profoundly moving experience. As was coming together with those same families who work all day and share, in order to offer you a meal of pickerel and moose together with their fascinating company. I understand the fact that not every Canadian has the opportunity to take the trip I just took. But if we decided one person, one family, one neighbourhood at a time that we were going to do something to tangibly demonstrate that we have turned the page, we would all be the better for it, including our Indigenous people. That is what reconciliation is all about. Im very glad I went. John Tory is the mayor of Toronto. Read more about: SHARE: Its never easy to get a conviction in a sexual assault case that turns on he-said, she-said versions of what occurred. Thats one of the reasons that few victims report an attack to police, never mind see it through a lengthy, torturous court proceeding. Indeed, research by University of Ottawa professor Holly Johnson released four years ago showed how few sex crimes get reported and how even fewer are prosecuted. She found that 460,000 women told a Statistics Canada survey in 2004 that they had been victims of sexual assault, but only 15,200 reported it to police, 5,544 charges were laid, 2,824 cases were prosecuted and just 1,519 offenders were convicted. The most difficult cases to prosecute are those in which victims claims arent found to be credible because of how they dressed, their earlier willing sexual involvement with the accused, the fact they had been drinking, or that they went back to the aggressors home. But as of Thursday, the courts have a powerful new statement of why none of that should matter. The idea that any of those factors implies consent was rightly and forcefully rejected in the 179-page verdict handed down by Ontario Court Justice Marvin Zuker in the case of Mandi Gray and the man he convicted of raping her, Mustafa Ururyar. In his well-argued decision, Justice Zuker painted a clear picture and important pathway for judges hearing cases in the future on what constitutes consent. Or more to the point, what doesnt. Justice Zuker found Gray, a York University doctoral student, most definitely had not given consent, despite the fact she had been drinking before the rape with the perpetrator, had had sex with him on prior occasions, had willingly gone to his home, and had texted him about hot sex before the evening had begun. It doesnt matter if the victim was drinking, out at night alone, sexually exploited, on a date with the perpetrator, or how the victim was dressed, the judge wrote. No one asks to be raped. Justice Zuker said things that have long needed to be said. That they came from a judge in such a case makes it all the more important. He found that Grays prior sexual relationship was not an invitation to have sex without consent anymore than a married womans sexual relationship with her husband is. Society no longer tolerates the medieval idea of a woman signing away her rights over her own body. Nor did he find that passivity implies consent, citing studies of how victims often dont resist, though they are not giving consent. Each rape victim does whatever is necessary to do at the time in order to survive. Nor can consent be given in advance, as Grays hot sex text might seem to have implied. Consent must not only be given for the sex act to begin, but it can be revoked at any time, he wrote. Without consent, No means No, no matter what the situation or circumstances. He relied not only on testimony before the court and past cases, but on analysis of numerous studies on the psychological and physical state of rape victims to bust more myths that explain why Gray did not call out or fight back, why she stayed the night with Ururyar, a fellow graduate student, and why she did not report the rape immediately. Unlike the Jian Ghomeshi case, in which the court did not find the alleged victims stories to be credible, Justice Zuker wrote at length about why it was Ururyar who was not credible in this case even though he presented as a nice guy. We cannot perpetuate the belief that niceness cannot co-exist with violence, evil or deviance, and consequently the nice guy must not be guilty of the alleged offence, he wrote. Justice Zuker has turned a page for victims of sexual assault. The takeaway? If you have a credible, consistent story, the court will believe you. SHARE: Re: Eggleton supported gay rights, Letter July 16 Eggleton supported gay rights, Letter July 16 From 1984 to 1990, the Lesbian and Gay Pride Day Committee requested that Mayor Art Eggleton recognize and declare Pride Day. Each year he refused the request and refused to meet with the committee. I recall being told by the mayors staff that Pride was not something the mayor could support, yet he declared such events as Muppet Baby Day and Red Skelton Day. Appended to our requests were samples of the Pride declarations that mayors across the United States had made in their cities. But Mayor Eggleton steadfastly refused. Finally in 1991 city council took the designation of Pride Day away from the mayor. As a result, a majority of councillors voted to recognize Pride Day that year, and each year since. Who knows what personal motivations compelled Eggleton to deny our simple request, and applying his personal view of what deserved recognition. We never got the opportunity to discuss it with him. Council realized that civic recognition should be in their mandate and not in the hands of one person. Kyle Rae, co-ordinator from 1981 to 1986, Lesbian and Gay Pride Day Committee, Toronto SHARE: Special education and the needs of at-risk students will be among Mitzie Hunters top priorities, as another round of tough teacher negotiations looms for Ontarios new education minister. We know we want to ensure that every child succeeds in our system, she said in a recent, sit-down interview with the Star, her first since taking on the position. We are really focused on student achievement and Im also looking forward to working with groups that need additional supports and making sure that all students have opportunities to succeed, whether they are First Nations or youth in care. She said her work in her Scarborough-Guildwood riding, where she was first elected in 2013, has shown her there are certain groups that need additional supports and that the health and well-being of all students is an important aspect as well. We are looking at the whole student. Hunter, 44, also said shes looking into boards complaints that special education funding is inadequate, and making sure that were providing enough resources and enough supports in the system to address the need. Special education is an area were focused on, and making sure that all students in our school system have the supports they need to succeed. Since being named education minister in mid-June, Hunter said shes continued to attend graduation ceremonies in her riding, as well as her nieces recent graduation from Grade 8 at a Whitby school. Shes had meetings with ministry officials and been briefed on current issues and initiatives. Her first big announcement, in late June, was to pledge $1.1 billion for renovating and upgrading schools across the province. That was something that we knew was needed in terms of timing, she told the Star. We wanted to ensure we caught the summer season and boards can work on their list of priorities and take care of those repairs, large and small, that are needed to make our school environment better for kids. Hunter, who was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada as a young child, attended Glengrove Public School in Pickering and then Scarboroughs Winston Churchill Collegiate, graduating from the University of Toronto/Scarborough with a bachelor of arts, and then earning her MBA at U of Ts Rotman School of Management. She was elected MPP in a byelection three years ago and re-elected in 2014. Prior to taking on education, shed headed the effort to create a provincial retirement pension plan. For her, initiatives like practical, hands-on learning through co-operative education and other programs, is important, and was recommended in a recent panel report for all secondary students. I think its fantastic a way for us to connect what students are learning to the world of work, and to start to imagine ideas about where their life will take them. Hunter grew up with three brothers and lively family conversations around the dinner table, which she says gave her the confidence and made her comfortable, and confident, in getting involved at school, including running for student council president in high school, which she won. I needed to be the voice for the student body, and connecting with administration was very natural for me. Being part of clubs and activities and groups, I always felt I could connect across all groups, she said. High school was an exciting place (for me), she also said. A place where you just built friendships and built relationships, and learned. Now, as education minister, she said shes doing the same thing, reaching out to many of our partners including the unions, whose contracts are up next summer. Senior administrators are also complaining because the provincial wage freeze means they havent received raises since 2015, though some boards have not followed the rules. We share a common goal student success is our common goal, Hunter said of those involved in the education system. We have a great system weve built here in Ontario, and I want to focus on bringing out the excellence and need to work collaboratively to do so. SHARE: McDonalds largest franchise has had to stop selling the Big Mac in Venezuela as it cant source the bread it needs to make the famous sandwich. (Toru Hanai/Reuters) Business Roger Ailes resigned as head of the Fox News Channel, felled by sexual harassment accusations leveled by a former anchor, leaving his boss and longtime ally, Rupert Murdoch, to settle frayed nerves at the most-watched U.S. news network. 21st Century Fox, which owns Fox News, confirmed that Ailes will become an adviser to Murdoch, who at 85 will be chairman and acting chief executive for the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network. Verizon emerged Friday as the most likely buyer of Yahoo for a reported price close to $5 billion for its core Internet business. The deal would follow a tumultuous run for chief executive Marissa Mayer, who tried to reinvent Yahoo. If finalized, the nations largest wireless carrier would add the iconic Web pioneer and its millions of daily users to a growing stable of media properties. Elon Musk offered his master plan for Tesla Motors, a 1,500-word manifesto laying out lofty ambitions for an integrated solar and battery product and, someday, electric trucks and buses. Tesla shares slid 1 percent on the announcement. Airbnb hired former U.S. attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. to help it craft an anti-discrimination policy. The home-sharing company has come under fire in recent months following complaints of racial bias by its hosts. While we have a policy that prohibits discrimination, we want this policy to be stronger, chief executive Brian Chesky wrote in a blog post. McDonalds largest franchise has had to stop selling the Big Mac in Venezuela as it cant source the bread it needs to make the famous sandwich. Verizon emerged as the most likely buyer of Yahoo for a reported price close to $5 billion for its core Internet business. MetLife, the New York-based insurer that traces its roots to the 1860s, said its new U.S. retail unit will be known as Brighthouse Financial once it is broken off from the parent company. Capital Business DynCorp International was sued by the Justice Department, which alleged the contractor knowingly inflated claims in connection with a State Department contract to train Iraqi police forces. The government said the McLean-based company allowed one of its subcontractors on the contract, awarded in 2004, to charge excessive and unsubstantiated rates for hotel lodging, translator, security guard and driving services and overhead expenses. The company said it is disappointed with the decision and that it denies the allegations. Deals SoftBank Group agreed to buy ARM Holdings for $32 billion, securing a slice of virtually every mobile computing gadget on the planet and future connected devices in the home. Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller, received Justice Department approval for their $100 billion merger, in a deal that would create a global giant controlling much of the worlds beer. U.S. antitrust officials spent more than a year studying the deal, concerned the new company would have too much market power and drive up prices. Economy The European Central Bank kept its stimulus program unchanged as policymakers try to assess the economic damage inflicted by Britains vote to leave the European Union. Officials left the main refinancing rate at zero, the deposit rate at minus 0.4 percent and asset purchases at $88 billion. Americans bought more homes in June, the fourth monthly gain, as the sales rate climbed 1.1 percent, reaching its highest level in more than nine years. Transitions Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency. Searing temperatures caused by climate change may cost global economies more than $2 trillion by 2030, restricting working hours in some of the poorest parts of the world, according to United Nations research. As many as 43 countries, especially those in Asia, including China, Indonesia and Malaysia, will experience declines in their economies because of heat stress. Amanda Wendler, 31, rests on the couch in Farmington Hills, Mich. She is a recovering addict who lives at home with her mother and stepfather. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) She had already made it through one last night alone under the freeway bridge, through the vomiting and shakes of withdrawal, through cravings so intense shed scraped a bathroom floor searching for leftover traces of heroin. It had now been 12 days since the last time Amanda Wendler used a drug of any kind, her longest stretch in years. Clear-eyed and sober, read a report from one drug counselor, and so Amanda, 31, had moved back in with her mother to begin the stage of recovery she feared most. Is this everything I have? she asked, standing with her mother in the garage of their two-bedroom condominium, taking inventory of her things. There were a few garbage bags filled with clothes. There was a banged-up dresser she had put into storage before moving into her first abandoned house. Wheres my good makeup? Amanda asked. Maybe you pawned it with the jewelry, said her mother, Libby Alexander. What about all of my shoes? Oh, God. Are you serious? Libby said. Do you even know how many pairs of shoes youve lost or sold? Amanda lit a cigarette and sat in a plastic chair wedged between the cat food and the recycling bins in the garage, the only place where she was allowed to smoke. This was the ninth time she had managed to go at least a week without using. She had spent a full decade trying and failing to get clean, and a therapist had asked her once to make a list of her triggers for relapse. Boredom, loneliness, anxiety, regret, shame, seeing how I havent gone up at all in my life when the drugs arent there, she had written. She had no job, no high school diploma, no car and no money beyond what her mother gave her for Mountain Dew and cigarettes. A few days earlier, a dentist had pulled all 28 of her teeth, which had decayed from years of neglect. It had been a week since shed seen her 9-year-old twin sons, who lived in a nearby suburb with their father, and lately the most frequent text messages coming into her phone were from a dealer hoping to lure her back with free samples: Got testers, he had just written. Get at me. Theyre going fast. In the addicted America of 2016, there are so many ways to take measure of the pain, longing and despair that are said to be driving a historic opiate epidemic: Another 350 people starting on heroin every day, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; another 4,105 emergency-room visits; another 79 people dead. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States worse than guns, car crashes or suicides. Heroin abuse has quadrupled in the past decade. Most addicts are introduced to heroin through prescription pain pills, and doctors now write more than 200 million opiate prescriptions each year. But the fact that matters most for a chronic user is what it takes for just one addict to get clean. The relapse rate for heroin has been reported in various studies to be as high as 97 percent. The average active user dies of an overdose in about 10 years, and Amandas opiate addiction was going on year 11. She believed her only chance to stay sober was to take away the possibility of feeling high, so she had decided to pursue one of the newest treatments for heroin. It was a monthly shot of a drug called naltrexone, which blocks the effects of opiates on the brain and makes getting high impossible. But the shot came with dangerous side effects if she still had opiates in her system. Doctors had told her that first she needed to pass a drug test, which required staying clean for at least two weeks, which meant her appointment for the shot was still four days away. Soon you can breathe. You can start getting your life back, Libby said. Thats all just days away. Days are forever, Amanda said. Do you even know how hard it is to go for one minute? She had been trying to occupy herself with coloring books and cellphone games, anything to keep her hands busy. Now she picked up a hand-held mirror and began reapplying her makeup for the second time that morning, even though she hadnt left the house in a few days. She had worked as a model in high school, but now her gums were swollen and her arms were bruised with needle marks. She tugged down her sleeves and put away the mirror. Shame was a trigger. Regret was a trigger. She grabbed her phone and looked at the dealers latest text message. She wondered if her mother was still locking her car keys in a safe. She wondered if she could find a ride into Southwest Detroit for one last $10 bag: the euphoria when the drug entered her bloodstream, the full-body tingling that moved in from her hands to her chest, erasing pain, erasing fear, erasing sadness, erasing anxiety and feelings of failure until finally the tingling stopped and the only thing left to feel was blissful numbness, just hours of nothing. One minute she could make it one minute. She watched a video on her cellphone. She sorted her nail polish and lit another cigarette. Libby came back into the garage, setting off the burglar alarm she had installed a few years earlier, after Amanda had helped a boyfriend steal $5,000 worth of guitars from Libbys husband. I hate that sound, Amanda said. It brings everything back. Its a trigger. Im sorry, Libby said. Its our reality. Yeah, I know, Amanda said. And realitys a trigger. Libby Alexander, left, gives daughter Amanda money for food, sodas and cigarettes. With no job, no high school diploma and no car, she has no money beyond that. In weak moments, Amanda has pawned her belongings. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) Their condo was tucked away in a small development surrounded by pine trees and occupied mostly by retirees: no loud noises, no solicitors, no unauthorized visitors allowed beyond the guard shack after 8 p.m. Libby was usually in the living room with the TV on mute. Amandas stepfather was in the study, playing chess online. It was a place so quiet that Amanda could sit in the garage and literally hear the clock tick. Seventy-two hours left until the shot. Seventy-one. Seventy. No way Im going to make it, she said. She was sweating and picking at her nail beds, and when she said that she might know of a few clinics where she could get the shot right away, Libby agreed to drive her. They drove out of the exurbs, through the suburbs and into the city. Libby tucked her purse against the drivers side door, where Amanda wouldnt be able to reach it. She relocked the doors as she drove and cupped her hands over the car keys, remembering a time when Amanda had grabbed her keys and refused to give them back unless Libby paid her. For most of the last week, she had been requesting time off from her job as a beautician, afraid of what could happen if she left Amanda alone. Amanda sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window as they came into Southwest Detroit, passing the overgrown lots and decaying houses where she had spent so much of her adult life. Her first opiates had been a prescription for 120 tablets of Vicodin, offered by a doctor to treat a minor snowmobiling injury in high school. The pills chased away that pain and also the anger left over from her parents divorce, her depression, ADHD and self-doubt, and soon she was failing out of high school and becoming increasingly dependent on pills. Just one or two to make it through another shift at work, a pawnshop where she stood behind the counter and gave addicts their $25 loans. Just two more to pass the time spent alone watching TV while her husband, a truck driver, was traveling. Just three or four to get going with the twins in the morning, to feed them, to sing to them, to feed them again, to sit and play all day in a lonely trailer out in Macomb. Just five when it started to feel like she was suffocating, 24 years old, divorced and already so stuck. Just a dose every five or six hours throughout the day to quiet the noise in her head, so why wasnt she numb? Why was 15 pills each day still not enough? If only there was something cheaper, stronger, and so in 2012 a boyfriend had introduced her to heroin, and she had been injecting it into a vein in her forearm twice a day ever since. Now they drove past the boarded-up trap houses where shed met dealers and learned how to buy a $10 bag, until her tolerance grew and she needed five or six bags each day. They continued past the corner where shed panhandled; and the blocks of abandoned houses where shed learned how to strip out copper wire and sell it for scrap; and the motel where shed worked from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., shooting up before and after each shift, the only housekeeper in a 31-room motel where the rooms were rented in three-hour blocks and the best tips were drugs left behind by customers. Amanda speaks with Jay, a 20-year heroin user who lives under the Detroit bridge where she once spent a couple fearful nights. Amandas opiate addiction is stretching into its 11th year, and she struggles to stay clean. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) They continued past a decaying apartment tower and then a small Victorian with busted windows. It reminded Amanda of a vacant house where shed squatted for a while with a dozen other users, a rat-infested place without heat or electricity. Shed tried to make it feel like home, scrubbing the floors with Pine-Sol and hanging a poinsettia wreath on the boarded-up bedroom door. Shed met a girl there who had become like a little sister a young runaway from Tennessee who was always using too much at once and risking an overdose. I want to go find Sammy, Amanda said now, turning to her mother. What? Whos that? Libby said. What about finding a clinic? This is more important, Amanda said, and so she began to explain how Sammy reminded her of herself, and how they had looked out for each other in the abandoned house. If she sees Im doing good, maybe I can convince her to go into rehab. This better not be some kind of scheme, Libby said, but she also remembered this side of her daughter from before the addiction selfless, determined, enterprising, sometimes sneaking extra cash into the loans she handed out to desperate customers at the pawnshop. Maybe helping someone would boost her self-esteem. Okay, Libby said. Tell me where to go. Up there, Amanda said, pointing to a two-story building with no windows, no door and trash spilling out from the entryway. Libby pulled over and Amanda jumped out. How long? Libby said. Not long, Amanda told her and then disappeared into the building. Libby tapped her hand against the steering wheel and stared out the window. She could see a sleeping bag and a needle near the buildings entrance. She saw something moving on the second floor. Come on, come on, she said, until a minute or so later Amanda stepped out. Shes not in there, Amanda said. Try that next one, and so Libby pulled up to another decrepit house, where a few people were sitting on the porch and others were pacing outside. One of the men waved to Amanda. Be back in a minute, she told Libby, and then she hurried out of the car. Libby checked the clock on her dashboard and thought about all of the other times she had watched Amanda disappear. Once she had stolen Libbys car and run off for a week; another time she had gone out to buy a Mountain Dew and then called a few days later from Florida. Let Go and Let God, was the advice some other mothers had repeated in Nar-Anon group meetings, but instead Libby had gained weight from stress, developed insomnia and started losing her hair. How many times had she filed a missing persons request? How often had she called the police station, and then the hospitals, and then the morgue to ask again for Jane Doe and to describe Amandas birthmarks and her Wild At Heart tattoo? This was so stupid. This was a mistake, she said now, banging her fist against the steering wheel. She checked for her keys. She felt for her wallet. It was all there, but Amanda had been gone for seven minutes. Libby sent her a text message. This doesnt look good at all, she wrote. Im about to walk back, Amanda responded. Libby drove around the block and pulled closer to the house. She saw a man digging into his pockets. She saw other people walking up to that man carrying cash. Twelve minutes Amanda had been gone now. Libby drove around the block again, drumming her hands against the steering wheel, possibilities racing through her head. Was Amanda using? Where had she gotten the money? What had she done to get it? She felt again for her wallet. She checked again for her keys. This is bullshit, she texted to Amanda, but there was no response. Come on, she wrote, and still nothing. So over this. Come on right now. She started to circle the block for a third time, and then suddenly there was Amanda, walking down the sidewalk and opening the passenger door. What the hell was that? Libby said. What do you mean? Where the hell were you? Wheres Sammy? I found her, and we called her parents, but she decided she didnt want help, Amanda said, and to prove it she handed Libby her phone and showed her a seven-minute call made to a number in Tennessee. So that was it? Libby said, staring at her daughter. Her eyes were clear. Her hands were steady. She looked the same as she had when shed left the car. Another 79 opiate addicts dying every day, but today her daughter wouldnt be one. A 97 percent chance to relapse, but at the moment Amanda looked clean. Okay, Libby said. Lets get the hell out of here. Libby heads for home after running errands with Amanda. At times, the mother has resorted to locking her keys in a safe. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) She had been an admitted opiate addict for 11 years, five months and 14 days, and on almost every one of those days she had promised to quit. She had tried therapy and group counseling, inpatient and outpatient. Shed run up thousands of dollars in credit-card debt to pay for a wellness retreat in the woods, and shed slept on a cot in the hallway of a Medicaid addiction center. She had tried flushing away her supply; and erasing every number in her phone so she couldnt contact dealers; and waiting again on the long list to get into the citys free medical detox; and showing up at the hospital psych ward to say that she was suicidal. Shed searched for God at 12-step meetings and instead found new dealers. Shed tried methadone and Suboxone, two synthetic opiates used to treat heroin addiction, but instead wound up abusing those synthetics to get high. She had even tried an earlier version of the naltrexone shot a few years back, and it had helped her stay clean for five months until she relapsed. Maybe this time it would last. Nineteen hours now until her appointment. She lit a cigarette and sat down in the garage. The air was still and the neighborhood was quiet. A group of retired women walked by in visors and spandex, making their usual morning loop. She had been warned by a doctor that it was normal in the first year of sobriety to feel bored, flat, depressed, blah, tired, anxious a change in brain chemistry that exacerbated so many of the longings that made heroin appealing in the first place. Im not seeing whats so great about being clean, Amanda already had told her mother once, and in an effort to feel better she had started thinking back to a time when she was 19, hopeful and sober. For most of that year she had traveled with her husband as he drove long-haul loads. They had made it to 48 states without ever planning beyond the next week. Maybe they would stay for a while in Texas. Maybe they would move up to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. All that sky. So many possibilities. And then eventually the job had gone away and the road had led them back to Michigan to the trailer, to the pawnshop, to the pills, to the twins, to a dissolving marriage and a courtroom dispute for custody, and it felt to Amanda like shed been fighting to hang on ever since. The walkers circled past the garage on another loop. Amanda stomped out her cigarette and headed inside. Seventeen hours, her mother said, greeting her. Amanda sat down next to Libby on the couch, where Libby was watching daytime TV and scrolling through Facebook on her phone. Lately, Libby had been spending a few hours each day in a conversation group for addicts mothers. It had more than 20,000 members, and Libby came to them for support, advice and most of all for a reminder that the addiction overtaking her house was also ongoing for 1.6 million other chronic heroin users and 8 million abusers of prescription drugs. I just got the call, read the first post of the day. My son was alone in his hotel room. I cant breathe. OD #6 but hes alive, wrote another mother. Hospital kept him a couple hours and put him back on the street barefoot in scrubs with a map. Libby set down her phone. She looked up at the clock. Still almost 17 hours to go. These days are like dog years, she said. She leaned her head against Amandas shoulder and kept scrolling through her phone. My addict son and his girlfriend were just found passed out at home with their baby crying. When does this nightmare end? Dead in a walmart parking lot . . . On our way to view her remains . . . My daughter was last seen around midnight . . . Libby stood up and walked into the kitchen. How many times had she reworked Amandas obituary in her head: a sarcastic sense of humor, a sharp wit, a patient mother of young twins, a woman so disarming that once, when agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration came to confiscate her prescription pills, she wound up dating one of the agents. Amanda watches television as Libby brings in some cold drinks. In a condo with noise restrictions, the TV often is on mute. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) Do you want a Mountain Dew? Libby called out to Amanda, but when Libby looked into the living room, Amanda was pacing and talking on her phone. What do you mean theres a problem with my appointment? Amanda was saying now, and Libby started cursing under her breath. I really need this to happen tomorrow, Amanda was saying, and Libby balled her fists and knocked them against the kitchen counter. Amanda hung up and told Libby there had been a miscommunication between her Medicaid insurance and the doctors office. She said Medicaid needed more time to approve coverage of the shot, and without coverage it would cost more than $1,000. Instead of getting the shot in 16 hours, she would have to wait five more days. Thats not possible. Call back, Libby said, because she wasnt sure if Amanda was telling the truth or inventing a reason to put it off. Amanda dialed again. Libby stood close so she could listen. Im seriously worried Im going to relapse, she heard Amanda say. Please, Im trying to do good here, she said. Theres really nothing you can do? Fine. See you next Tuesday, she said, and then she hung up. Amanda walked out to the garage to light a cigarette and Libby followed. If this is all a big lie, just tell me now, Libby said. Jesus. Cant you ever trust me? Amanda said. I want this shot way more than you. How are you going to make it five days? Libby said, her tone softening. You need a plan. Youre the one freaking out, Amanda said. What about you? Libby and Amanda look at urban sculpture in Detroit. Southwest Detroit had been Amandas go-to neighborhood for heroin. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) Four days left to go, three days, two, and as the hours crawled by until the appointment Libby decided she needed to leave the house. She asked her husband to keep an eye on Amanda and went to have dinner with two of the women shed met in the Facebook group for addicts mothers. For nearly a decade, Libby had avoided talking to anyone about her daughters addiction, mostly because Amanda didnt want people to know. Hows Amanda doing? friends and relatives would ask, at every graduation, wedding and baby shower, and what was Libby supposed to tell them? That while everyone elses life was marching along in neat succession, her daughter was still sleeping late in the basement? That she was giving Amanda an allowance for cigarettes and cleaning up her moldy cereal bowls? Shes just fine, was what Libby had always said, until eventually people stopped asking, which felt even worse. So Libby had started spending more time at home, and then more time on Facebook, where she had connected with a group of local addicts mothers who had become her closest friends. Hows Amanda? asked one of them, Mary Carr, as they sat down at a restaurant and ordered drinks. Who knows? Libby said. Clean? Using? Youd think by now I could figure it out, but I honestly have no idea. Theyre masters of manipulation, said another mother, Dana. My rule at this point is dont believe anything, Mary said. Otherwise you end up feeling naive. Im done with that. Mary said that she had bumped into her son a few nights earlier in their neighborhood. He was 27, and he had been homeless for parts of the last 12 years, but lately he had been living with a girlfriend. He looked good and it was nice to see him, Mary said, but later that night he had called her a dozen times, harassing her and begging for money. Do you know how many times hes done that? Mary said. So Im finished. For the first time ever, I actually blocked him on my phone. See, thats the part Im no good at, Libby said. I cant let go. I always think I can save her. Libby had been a mother for only three months the first time Amanda got sick. Doctors had told her it was just a stubborn cold, until one night Libby went to check on her infant daughter and found her wheezing in the crib. The baby was turning blue. She couldnt breathe. Libby picked her up, blew air into her mouth and rushed her to the emergency room. They stayed in the neonatal unit for the next two months as doctors ran tests to see what was wrong. Finally Amanda had been diagnosed with a severe kind of asthma, treated and sent home, and for the next year Libby had stood over her crib for a little while each night watching her breathe. Now she had spent 11 more years trapped in that cycle expecting her daughter to die, sacrificing her sanity to save her, and doing most of it alone. She rarely talked to her ex-husband about Amandas addiction; her current husband was patient and supportive, but sometimes, as Amandas mother, Libby felt that the responsibility was mostly hers. So Libby had gone by herself to heroin awareness rallies at the state capitol. She had forced Amanda to take monthly drug tests and locked her out of the house. She had gone through the medical records Amanda left lying around and cursed out the doctors, pill mills and pharmacists who continued filling her prescriptions. She had tried, most of all, to be loving and patient with her daughter and to remember what so many experts had told her, that addiction was not a choice but a disease, even as Amanda stole her checks and then her credit cards, running up more than $50,000 of debt. And then, finally, nine years into her daughters addiction, Libby had come up with a plan to be done with all of it. She had put on a bathing suit beneath her beautician uniform one morning and driven out of the city toward Kensington Lake. She had been a competitive swimmer as a teenager, but now she was out of shape. If she could swim out for a mile or so, she would be too exhausted to make it back. Nobody would see her. Nobody would hear her. She sat at a picnic table and stared out at the water. She watched a family shove their canoe into the lake. She watched two kids throwing rocks. She sat for hours until the sun descended over the water and then she got back in her car and drove home, resolved to seek help. She met with a therapist, confided in her husband, consulted with a bankruptcy lawyer and started talking regularly with the mothers shed met online. If I cut the cord with Amanda, would she recover faster? Libby asked them now. Would it be easier on both of us? Theres no one right way, Mary said. I worry about enabling, Libby said. But what if I kick her out and she dies in some abandoned house? How do I live with myself? Nobody answered. They sat in silence for a moment and Mary reached for Libbys hand. Youre doing everything you can, she said. I dont know where to draw the line, Libby said. Amanda visits a dentist in Detroit while Libby watches nearby. All of Amandas teeth needed to be pulled, and she is being fitted for dentures. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) I need your pee, Amanda was saying to her mother now, on the last day, just hours before her appointment for the shot. She had come upstairs with darkened eyes, a runny nose and a confession. Excuse me? You need what? Libby said. I need your pee. For the drug test. Otherwise Im not going to pass and I cant get the shot. What are you even saying? Libby said, and so Amanda began unwinding the lies she had been telling her mother for the past week. That day she jumped out of the car in Southwest Detroit and then disappeared for 12 minutes? She had been trying to find Sammy, but she had also been trying to buy heroin, and she hadnt been able to find any. The appointment five days earlier that had been postponed at the last minute because of insurance? She had actually canceled it and then made a series of fake phone calls to confuse her mother. That night earlier in the week when she said she was going to sleep over with her twins? She had stayed with them for a while, played with them and taken them to a movie, but then she had found a babysitter and gone to a motel with a friend, where she had gotten high on $50 worth of methadone, a long-acting opiate that was still running through her body now. It would be at least two weeks before the methadone was out of her system and she could pass a drug test. In two weeks, Amanda said, Ill probably be using and back out on the street. Libby started to shake her head and bite her nails, cursing under her breath. Its always the same with you, isnt it? she said. I need the shot now or Ill never do it, Amanda said. I can deal with the sudden withdrawal. I cant believe youre even asking me to do this, Libby said, but she had already decided that she would help Amanda, even if it required going to extremes. Withdrawal might send Amanda to the emergency room, but it was still safer than going back on heroin. Libby went into the bathroom and came out carrying a small bottle, and they drove together to a clinic wedged between a liquor store and a pharmacy near the Detroit River. Amanda checked in at the main desk and then waited outside the front door, smoking a cigarette until a nurse came out to get her. There are a few things we need to go over first, the nurse said, leading her back to a small exam room. She explained that the shot was an opiate antagonist. She explained that if Amanda still had drugs in her body the shot would cause an immediate and severe reaction: muscle spasms, cold sweats, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, impaired breathing. When did you last have opiates in your system? the nurse asked. Im not really sure, Amanda said, looking down, picking at her nail beds. Has it been over 14 days? I think so. No heroin? No Suboxone or methadone? Amanda looked across the room at Libby, who stared back at her and nodded. Amanda sat for a minute and thought about telling the truth. Her appointment would be rescheduled. No shot. No muscle spasms or impaired breathing. She would be outside in a few minutes smoking a cigarette, and she could catch a ride to Southwest Detroit and be high within an hour. Yes. Im clean, Amanda said finally. Its probably been, like, 20 days. Well need to do a drug test, the nurse said, handing her a small cup for a urine sample. She said the test was mostly for record keeping. Right now? Amanda said. I dont really have to go. Thats fine. You can do it after the shot, the nurse said. The nurse left and returned with a long needle. Im not ready. Im not ready, Amanda said, and then she said to just do it and closed her eyes. The shot was over in 10 seconds. She thanked the nurse, went into the bathroom to leave Libbys urine sample and then hurried outside. She lit a cigarette. She took a deep breath and wiggled her toes and squeezed her arms and rolled her neck and decided she felt . . . fine. I think Im actually okay, she told Libby. Amanda and Libby wait at the clinic, having made it to the appointed day for Amandas shot of naltrexone, a monthly injection that makes it impossible to get high. (Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post) Youre great. Youre clean, Libby said. She looked at Amanda with relief and then reached over to squeeze her shoulders. Twenty-eight days without having to worry about this nightmare. I cant believe I actually did it, Amanda said. Pretty damn brave, Libby said, but now as she looked at her daughter she saw that her face was turning pale and there was sweat on her forehead. Amandas right leg began to tremble. Her left leg jolted forward and she almost fell to the curb. She dropped her cigarette and crawled into the back seat of the car. Take me to the emergency room, she said, and Libby started driving. By the time they arrived at the hospital 10 minutes later, Amanda was in full withdrawal because of the methadone that had still been in her system. She couldnt stand, so Libby got her into a wheelchair. She couldnt steady her hand to fill out the intake forms, so Libby helped do them for her. Heroin? the receptionist asked, because the hospital had already seen 11 of those cases in the last 24 hours. Yes, Libby said, and then added: Recovering. Okay. Have a seat and wait to be called, the receptionist said. They sat in the waiting room for five minutes, then 10, then 30. I need medicine, Amanda began to moan. Put me to sleep. Give me something. She started to tremble and then convulse. Her arms swung wildly and collided hard against her legs. Her muscles cramped, and she slumped in the wheelchair and slid toward the floor. Can I get some help over here? Libby asked, but nobody answered. Amanda threw up in the bucket, in a trash can, and then all over the bathroom floor. How much longer until we get seen? Libby asked, and finally after about half an hour a nurse came out to check on them. Sorry, maam, she said. Well get to you soon. But theres no one else here, Libby said, gesturing around the empty waiting room. We have to go by priority, the nurse said. People who are having chest pain come before other things. And this isnt a priority? Libby said, pointing to Amanda, who now was crying and saying that she needed a sedative, that she wanted to be knocked out. She had vomit caked in her hair and welts rising on her legs in the places where shed been hitting herself. Shell make it, the nurse said, looking down at Amanda. We see a lot of addicts in withdrawal. She needs help, Libby said, her voice rising. Its too much. Cant you see that? The nurse walked away and then a few minutes later a doctor came out into the waiting room. He grabbed Amandas wheelchair and started rolling her back into triage. He told Amanda the hospital would take good care of her. He said she would be out of withdrawal and feeling better within three or four days. Congratulations on Day One, he said, but Amanda didnt seem to hear him. Every nerve in her body was on fire. She was sick. She was clean. She was scared. She was feeling all of it now, so many sensations rushing in at once. Please, she said, reaching up for the doctors arm, tugging at it. Make me feel nothing. Alexandria company Ketchung! makes two varieties of sauces. (Goran Kosanovic/For The Washington Post) SAUCE IT: Helen Beaudreau, co-owner of Ketchung! Specialty Sauces with husband David Beaudreau, has been making her own spicy sauce since high school. Id put it in a jar, give it to friends and everyone loved it, she said. The flavors and spicy heat are inspired by her Korean background; her family moved from South Korea to California when she was 2 years old. When the two first met in the District in 2010, David Beaudreau a Pittsburgh native tasted the Ketchung! sauces and said they should bottle and sell them. (The name is a mash-up of ketchup and Chung, Helens maiden name.) Six years and a Kickstarter campaign later, their products can be found around the District, Maryland and Virginia, both in stores and featured on restaurant menu items. The Beaudreaus are also members of food business incubator Union Kitchen. We like the Signature Sauces spicy punch and almost-jammy tomato flavor and appreciate the sweetness in the Barbecue Sauce, which has depth from molasses but lacks the cloying sweetness found in other sweetened condiments. The Beaudreaus recommend using either version for almost anything: hamburgers, ribs, chicken, deviled eggs, dips for vegetables or even bloody marys. We found that the sauces provide a nice kick to scrambled or fried eggs. Kara Elder 10 ounces, $5.99 to $7.99. ketchung.com. Available in 18 locations around the District, Maryland and Virginia, including Hills Kitchen in the District, Gunpowder Bison & Trading Co. in Maryland and Maple Avenue Market in Virginia. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence celebrate on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Only a few minutes into Donald Trumps acceptance speech Thursday night, he started his familiar attacks on the media: If you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully crafted lies and the media myths the Democrats are holding their convention next week. Go there. Casting himself as Truth Teller In Chief, he doubled down: I will tell you the plain facts that have been edited out of your nightly news and your morning newspaper, he said. And this: Big business, elite media and major donors are lining up behind my opponent because they know she will keep our rigged system in place. His words brought roars of approval in the Cleveland arena at the Republican National Convention, and the next morning they brought approving smiles from Mary Sue McCarty, a delegate from Dallas who came to the convention bound to Trump. Wearing a cowboy hat and pearls as she waited for her flight home, the vivacious car-dealership concierge told me that Trumps media criticism hits home: Somebody is finally saying what we think. Signs in Cleveland reminded longtime television journalist Ted Koppel, seen talking on Jonathan Alters satellite radio show, of the 1964 Republican National Convention. (Kirk Irwin/Getty Images for SiriusXM) If its a Republican, its investigated to death. If its a Democrat, its breezed over, she said. I pointed out to McCarty that it was the New York Times that broke the story about Hillary Clintons email misdeeds, and mainstream media organizations (including The Washington Post) also have exposed the dubious financial practices of the Clinton Foundation and the special treatment for her friends at the State Department. She shrugged that off. You didnt see the media pressing those as much. Journalists arent doing their jobs. They are protecting a certain class. And Trump hammers home that populist point. More than anyone I can remember, he lumps us in with the elite, said Dean Baquet, executive editor of the New York Times. His criticism of the press, Baquet said, is hypocritical because he attacks us but loves the attention from us. Of course, candidates including Sarah Palin (the lamestream media), Richard M. Nixon and Spiro T. Agnew (nattering nabobs of negativism) have vilified the press, and gained points doing it. In 1964, Barry Goldwater got the Republican presidential nomination in Californias Cow Palace, where, longtime TV journalist Ted Koppel recalled, signs proclaimed Dont Trust the Liberal Media. He said he saw similar words projected on huge screens on the streets of Cleveland. Its a 52-year-old meme, Koppel told me. But perhaps no candidate has attacked the media as relentlessly as Trump or with as little regard for reality. The press may be vulnerable to these broadsides because trust in journalism is so low. A Media Insight Project study revealed that only 6 percent of Americans have much confidence in news organizations. That is in part the medias doing, as recently as Rolling Stones disastrously flawed reporting of an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia and the revelation that a Politico reporter agreed to show his Hillary Clinton story to a Democratic National Committee source before publication. So Trumps attacks fall on fertile ground, despite the strong and important journalism that keeps coming from the best news organizations. (Its worth noting that The Post led the way in setting the record straight on Rolling Stones screw-up). American citizens certainly would be much worse off without the press, but Trump and his fans never connect the dots. If these same pilloried news outlets hadnt revealed and then written article after article about Clintons email practices, Republicans would have been deprived of their most powerful talking point. The press gave blanket coverage to FBI Director James B. Comeys blistering criticism, which in turn led to a packed Cleveland arena thundering with cries of Lock her up! What makes this candidate different from those in the past in attacking the press, Koppel told me, is that Trump has no shame hell say anything, no matter how demonstrably untrue. In this presidential race, falsehoods by both candidates arent hard to find. And yes, both candidates deserve to be called out consistently, clearly, determinedly. But they arent close to equal. The nonpartisan PolitiFact project found that Trumps untruths during the campaign have far outpaced Clintons. When it checked questionable statements, it rated 60 percent of Trumps as false, as opposed to 13 percent of Clintons. Trumps charge that the mainstream media has hidden Clintons misdeeds or edited out the truth from news reports is another one of his falsehoods. Theres no more evidence of this than of the thousands and thousands of Muslims cheering 9/11 in Jersey City or of his early opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Trump has created a win-win position with the media, Koppel told me. If the coverage is positive, he pockets it, he said. But if its negative, he plays it as a battle hes fighting to fend off the apocalypse. And as he benefits from free exposure, he attacks the messengers as dishonest and corrupt. Now thats what Id call a rigged system. For more by Margaret Sullivan, visit wapo.st/sullivan Jacob Douglas, 3, left, and sister Nyla, 6, play in pools along Tasker Street in South Philadelphia on June 29. Philadelphia, known for a being a working-class city, prepares for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) This city is more complicated, more beautiful and verdant, more interesting, more more than outsiders believe it is. Philadelphia where the Democratic National Convention is about to convene is a secret of a big city, one that often acts like a small one. Its perpetually underrated. It is Washingtons opposite: friendly, passionate, muscular, a bit rough, huge of heart and frequently thin on ambition. If you melded my home town of Washington, with its drive and smarts, with my adopted town of Philadelphia, with all its character and texture and zeal, you would have the nations best city. But it would never happen. Philadelphia is a city of stoops and row homes and civic squares. Rittenhouse Square is our sumptuous shared living room and Washington Square our front garden. Were all about the neighborhoods, fiercely championed, some of them very nice, indeed, and others so busted by poverty they will break your heart. You will be called hon, sometimes endearingly. Your name with be minced to a diminutive, even by the mayor and former governor. You will see grown men at work dressed like their children, sporting the Full Philly shorts (even in winter), sneaks, possibly shower shoes with socks, swag showing allegiance to a team, possibly two, simultaneously (though not the dismal, expletive-inducing Sixers). This is a wonderful place to walk and not to drive, with many of the historic streets designed for horses rather than cars. In parts of the city, parking is a birthright and prerogative, including smack dab in the middle of South Broad, a major artery. As the sun sets on downtown Philadelphia, people play with their dogs at Drexel Park. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) We tend to move slower whats the hurry? and without the need to yammer constantly on our phones to show the world how important we are. Things dont happen fast here, especially with a City Council whose members tend to think small, taking care of their own as in getting reelected before taking care of the city. There is no downtown. It is Center City, always. (Why? No idea.) Lots of people live there, more than 183,000, not all of them rich. In Philadelphia, jawn is a thing. Specifically, it means a thing a place, an object, any jawn you want it to be. We dont do smug. Thats a New York jawn. Dont put down our sports teams. Thats our job. Despite the absence of automated fare cards (that ambition issue), our regional rail system works. Or rather it worked until early this month, when significant structural defects caused the system to go full Metro just in time for the Democratic convention. However, the squalid, smelly subway system, the Broad Street Line, which serves the Wells Fargo Center, home of the convention (and the aforementioned Sixers), operates just fine. Philadelphia suffers because its smack dab in the middle of New York and Washington, says former Gov. Ed Rendell, chairman of the Democratic National Convention host committee. Generally, we have a little bit of an inferiority complex. Outsiders tend to reduce the city to a cliche, invariably Rocky seven sweaty variations on a single theme that makes Philadelphia appear relentlessly dark, dated and monosyllabic. Im over Rocky, says Mayor Jim Kenney, who took office in January but not before dressing up as Buddy the Elf for a Christmas event. I love it, but were so much more than that. Its got a younger feel. The rising immigration levels have given it a different tone. Like becoming the first major city to tax soda and other sugary beverages to fight obesity, diabetes and fund preschool, community schools and health centers. People think the city is all about the Yo plenty of us never say it and the working man, but meds and eds dominate. The University of Pennsylvania is the citys largest employer. Its hospital and Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia are on a building tear. Cranes dominate along the banks of the Schuylkill River. Visitors to Philadelphia can get a panoramic view of the city from the One Liberty Observation Deck as well as take in a contemporary twist on a Founding Father in this giant geometric sculpture of Benjamin Franklin. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) This is the city that had a contentious protracted legal battle over moving an art museum, the storied Barnes Foundation, from the Main Line to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. In some quarters, you can still launch a fight just by mentioning the move near the Philadelphia Museum of Art that Albert Barnes loathed as fervently as he adored Renoir, acquiring a record 181 of the artists paintings. The Barnes is one of Philadelphias most elegant new buildings, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, whom President Obama recently tapped to create his presidential library in Chicago. After years of fretting about the brain drain legions of college students leaving after graduation the city has attracted a vital new core of young adults. In recent years, it has become there is really no other word for it hip, not through any government initiative and certainly not reduced taxes (hah!), but because Philadelphia is absurdly affordable, sandwiched between cities like Washington and New York that are so woefully not. Says Kenney, You can rent a three-bedroom house with a basement for what a bathroom rents for in New York. In Philadelphia, this constitutes bragging. Bike lanes, pop-up beer gardens and Im sorry to report this man buns flourish throughout the city. This is a tremendous beer city. Because of the states antediluvian liquor laws, established four days before Prohibitions repeal in 1933, it is a less-bilious wine city. Then Gov. Gifford Pinchot founded the control board to discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as inconvenient and expensive as possible, a promise it has made good on to this day. The birthplace of cheesesteaks has become acclaimed for vegan cuisine. Philadelphia is a great food city, sophisticated and street. As Rendell notes, We have great junk food. We have fun junk food. [The search for Americas best food cities: Philadelphia] True Philadelphia story: John Bucci Jr. owns the venerable Johns Roast Pork, deep in South Philly and heartburn close to the convention site. Its a wooden shack, opened in 1930, that was later upgraded to brick. Fancy. Yes, they serve acclaimed cheesesteaks (no Cheez Whiz Bucci understands it is not cheese), but only a fool would pass on the superior ambrosia of the best Philadelphia sandwich: roast pork with sharp (provolone) and greens (spinach). John Bucci Jr., owner of Johns Roast Pork and winner of a James Beard Award, serves up a cheesesteak sandwich in South Philadelphia. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Ten years ago, Bucci got the call that he had won a coveted James Beard Award. Im sorry, he says he informed the official, but I dont know what that is. The city has racial parity among African Americans and whites the Hispanic population is 14 percent, Asians constitute 7 percent but poverty is the problem that Philadelphia owns: a quarter of its residents mired below the poverty line, the largest percentage of any major U.S. city, many of them in neighborhoods that resemble bombed war zones. The drug bazaar at Kensington and Allegheny under the Market-Frankford Elevated features some of the strongest heroin to be found anywhere. Almost all of our problems are related to poverty, our educational system is really challenged and our prison population is way too high, says Sister Mary Scullion, one of the citys most beloved residents and co-founder of Project HOME, which serves the homeless. But were not a silo city. There are plenty of places where people can work together, play together with all these public spaces that people share. In Philadelphia, Democrats outnumber Republicans 7 to 1. To be Republican here is to feel like a political eunuch, an escapee from the GOP-controlled legislature in Harrisburg, which has no love for the states largest city or funding the distressed public school system. Kenney, summing up the relationship, says: We provide the lions share of the money, and were treated as if were a burden. Even though the legislature is overwhelmingly Republican, Pennsylvania has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992. This is no Cleveland. Philadelphia is not getting wiggy about the convention the way it did about the papal visit in September, which was preceded by a full year of Lexapro-popping coverage that life would end as we know it, the city would shut down entirely and nothing else would get done. Which is sort of what happened. And then we got over it. Quickly in a way that were still not over the 2004 Super Bowl. Please dont bring this up, either. This is not Philadelphias first time to the political prom. Republicans convened in 2000 at the same soulless arena. That was several bank names ago, when it was known as the First Union Center or, more fittingly, by its first two initials. We fought hard in 2000 to get a convention to show the world what had happened in Philadelphia, says Rendell, who was mayor at the time. Since then, the city has continued to explode up and up. Sure, they put up some banners, but we always do banners. Donkey sculptures graze around town. But the roads are as shredded as ever. The parkway, usually the citys showcase, resembles a Parris Island obstacle course a pity because its the gateway to one of our crown jewels: Boathouse Row. Plenty of folks are staying put and not high-tailing it down to the Shore. (It is always the Shore never the beach, as in Jersey, specifically South Jersey.) I think visitors are going to be surprised by the energy, the vitality and the creativity that is throughout our city, Scullion says. Philadelphia is a city that doesnt give up. Michelle Obamas opening-night appearance at the Democratic National Convention is a reflection of her huge popularity with the Democratic base. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Nine years ago, Michelle Obama was a reluctant political spouse. The Chicago hospital executive made little secret of her distaste for the process as she stepped onto the national stage, calling partisan politics a cynical business. Her raw authenticity, at times, hurt her husbands campaign for the presidency. Today, the first lady is a fully evolved political superstar, hugely beloved within the Democratic Party and a force within popular culture. Handed a prime-time speaking spot at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, she has been tapped to serve as a crucial validator for Hillary Clinton among groups who may remain skeptical of the partys nominee. Im glad that she was selected to speak on the first night, the opening night of an historic convention, said Donna Brazile, the longtime Democratic strategist. The country trusts her. People know shes authentic and will be honest, and [they] want to know what she thinks. In nearly eight years as first lady, she has deliberately avoided partisan issues but in her address she will fully endorse Clinton. According to an official familiar with her written speech, she plans to talk about the role a president plays in the lives of the nations children, shaping their values and aspirations. She will also discuss why she thinks Clinton has the character, temperament and experience to be president, and how Clintons career reflects ideals such as opportunity, equality, inclusion. Personally, its a big step: Mrs. Obama hasnt been particularly close to the Clintons in the years since her husbands bruising 2008 primary campaign against Hillary Clinton. But now, the legacy of President Obamas administration rides on her victory. [What kind of ex-president will Barack Obama be? POTUS plans for the future.] She is there, in part, to be a coda and also to be a bridge, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University who studies political mobilization. Shes there to wrap up the Obama administration and provide a transition to what a Clinton presidency could be. Her opening-night slot reflects more than just her steady popularity: Organizers also appreciate her unerring knack for making headlines and capturing the attention of people who dont otherwise follow the news cycle closely. Come Tuesday, there will be stories about everything from how warmly she spoke about Clinton to which fashion designers clothing she wore. Even while absent from the action, she ended up at the center of the news last week when Melania Trumps speech at the Republican National Convention turned out to have borrowed from her 2008 DNC speech, and the Trump campaign was forced to acknowledge that Melania is an admirer of Michelles. (She stayed mum throughout Melanias ordeal.) Melania Trumps speech at the GOP convention in Cleveland is drawing comparisons to Michelle Obamas speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. Heres a side-by-side look at both. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) [How Michelle Obamas team wrote the speech that sparked the Melania Trump controversy] It was an ironic flub for the Trumps after all, the decision to have the first lady open the convention for Democrats is not without peril. For all her popularity among party faithful and young pop-culture obsessives (57 percent of Americans viewed her favorably in a January 2015 Fox News poll), she may not be the most effective figure for wooing swing voters or peeling off Trump-skeptical Republicans. While her predecessor Laura Bush was viewed warmly by many Democrats even as their disdain for her husband grew, many Republicans see Michelle Obama more unfavorably. In a 2014 Pew survey, 46 percent of Republicans rated their views of her as very unfavorable. Conservative pundits have portrayed her advocacy for healthy food and exercise as a scolding, big-government intrusion into private lives; other critics have turned up their noses at her easy fluency in youthful hip-hop culture. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan described the first ladys appearance at the 2013 Oscars as disquieting and questioned this White Houses lack of hesitation to insert itself into any cultural event anywhere. As it happened, Michelle Obamas most visible appearance last week was her instantly viral Carpool Karaoke segment with The Late Late Show host James Corden, in which she sang along to Beyonces Single Ladies and rapped along to Missy Elliots 2001 hit Get Ur Freak On, accompanied by Elliot herself. Vanity Fair, upon seeing this, dubbed her the Coolest First Lady. [Michelle Obama joins James Corden for Carpool Karaoke ] In her DNC remarks, though, she will attempt to connect her life story to broader political and policy themes. Her personal narrative of being reared in working-class Chicago shows up in nearly all of her speeches, and she probably will use it again to motivate the young people Democrats want to turn out to vote. In February 2013, Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance on the Academy Awards show, via satellite, to present the best picture Oscar. (Pete Souza/The White House) Her Carpool Karaoke segment on The Late Late Show With James Corden was just the latest of her many efforts to make a mark on popular culture. (CBS/via AP) The first lady takes a very active role in her speeches, Tina Tchen, the first ladys chief of staff, said in an interview earlier this summer. She wants to communicate that these are the circumstances under which I grew up, and I never dreamed Id be in the White House, and now I am, and you can do that, too. Thats a theme woven through her speeches. Over nine years of telling and retelling her trajectory from the South Side to the Ivy League to motherhood and a legal career, her story has become more polished thanks in part to the small cadre of White House speechwriters who have channeled her voice. [The solemn, midnight ritual of a veteran Democratic convention organizer] In 2007, she would try to connect with other women over their household duties, doing a lot of juggling, a lot of balancing, as she told a New Hampshire crowd: For the most part, if a toilet overflows, were the one scrambling to change the meeting time to be there to meet the plumber. Can I get an Amen, ladies? Stories like that have fallen away now that she is a globe-trotting first lady. She continues to describe her own family life as busy but affectionate. Yet it has been a long time since she sounded as if she was writing her own speeches. Democrats have high expectations for what she will bring to this political moment, particularly after Clintons choice of mild-mannered Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia as her running mate, said Jamal Simmons, a Democratic strategist who served as DNC communications adviser during the Obama 2008 campaign. Clinton is going to need to create as much sex appeal around her candidacy as she can, Simmons said. People will be looking for some excitement. The big stage also provides an opportunity for Obama to foreshadow the role she hopes to play after January 2017. The first lady has spoken of the isolation she feels living in the Executive Mansion. While riding with Corden, she mentioned how rare it was for her to be riding in the front seat of a car, listening to music. Clearly, she is ready to regain more control over her private life. But her speech may hint at her future as a public figure. Sunday, July 24 Pringle House Hospital Weekend To commemorate the 155th anniversary of Ben Lomond being used as a Civil War hospital, the site will host a Civil War encampment, medical demonstrations by living historians and specialized tours. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas. 703-367-7872 or pwcgov.org. $5, children 6 and younger free. Cabaret Prince William Little Theatre the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical, which takes place in Berlin in the early 1930s. 2 p.m. Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 703-993-7759 or hyltoncenter.org. $25; seniors, military and students, $20; children $15. Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open Sundays at noon; games begin at 2 p.m. Doors open Mondays at 5:15 p.m.; games begin at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. $15 minimum. Ice cream social The Moonlight Jazz Orchestra performs. 3 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free. Art With Luster Photography by Gerry Gantt and wood-turning by Greg Wandless, both of Fairfax. Through Aug. 1. Artists Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. Red, White, and . . . Watercolor paintings by Terry Anstrom. Through July 31. Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117. loftgallery.org. Free. The Painters Journey Nancy Brittle, Janie Mosby, Chris Smith and Kathleen Willingham explore rural life in this collaborative exhibition. Through Friday. Center for the Arts, 9419 Battle St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. center-for-the-arts.org. Free. Monday, July 25 Job search network group Includes a discussion of 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.; games begin at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum. Cabin Branch Quilters meeting 7 p.m. Lake Ridge Baptist Church, 12450 Clipper Dr., Lake Ridge. 571-285-5405 or cabinbranchquilters.org. Free. Potomac Nationals The first of three games against Salem. 7:05 p.m. G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge. 703-590-2311. potomacnationals.com. $9-$16. Captured An exhibition of photographs by Donna Bellows, Elena Stewart and Cole Whitworth. Through Friday. Manassas City Hall, 9027 Center St., Manassas. 703-257-8200. Free. Tuesday, July 26 Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and Of Mice & Men 6:30 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400. livenation.com. $30-$70. Wednesday, July 27 Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Age 18 and older. Members 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 or lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. Membership fee $34-$64. Thursday, July 28 Historic Manassas walking tour Learn the history of the city. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Thursday and Friday at noon, Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873 or manassasmuseum.org. Free. Friday, July 29 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 or vapost364.org. $5-$15. Saturday, July 30 Yoga on the Lawn Vinyasa yoga taught by certified instructor Christopher Glowacki. 9 a.m. Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge. 703-499-9812 or pwcgov.org/ripponlodge. $5. River Mill Park grand opening A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be sponsored by a concert by the Ashleigh Chevalier Band, a scavenger hunt and childrens activities. 10 a.m. River Mill Park, 458 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-491-1918 or occoquanva.gov. Free. Counting Crows, Rob Thomas and K Phillips 6:45 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400 or livenation.com. $26-$80.50. Ghost Hunting 101 The Ben Lomond Historic Site, which once housed a Civil War hospital, is partnering with East Coast Research and Investigation of the Paranormal for a seminar on current paranormal theories and techniques. After the seminar, participants can choose to help with a paranormal investigation. 7 p.m. Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas. pwcgov.org/historicsites or 703-367-7872. Seminar $40, seminar and investigation $100. Reservations required. Movie Under the Stars: Pixels 7 p.m. Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 14900 Potomac Town Pl., Woodbridge. stonebridgeptc.com. Free. Pr. William, Fairfax officials to speak at breakfast The Prince William Chamber of Commerces Government Contracting Council will play host to a breakfast and a talk from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inns Dumfries-Quantico Center, 3901 Fettler Park Dr., Dumfries. Adam Manne and Jason Im, directors of procurement for Prince William and Fairfax counties, respectively, will speak at the event. Tickets are $30 for Chamber of Commerce members and $50 for nonmembers. To register, visit events.pwchamber.org. Super Summer Author Fair at Manassas bookstore Several authors from Write by the Rails, the Prince William County chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, will be at McKay Used Books, 8345 Sudley Rd., Manassas, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for a Super Summer Author Fair. The writers will sign copies of their books and donate $1 of each book sale to the American Cancer Society. Antonia Kilday, Natalina Reis, Zachary and Mickey Tamer, P.M. Hernandez, Carol Covin, Maria Yeager, Lincoln Farish and Victor Rook are scheduled to attend. Manassas official publishes 2nd book on local history Lisa Sievel-Otten, who is with Manassass Department of Community Development, recently released her second book, Manassas (Postcard History). The book gives a glimpse into life in post-Civil War Manassas through vintage postcards that tell stories from the emerging town and the creation of the Manassas National Battlefield Park. It recounts the role of railroads, the establishment of the states first public school and the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth, and the towns emergence as a tourist destination. Sievel-Otten will donate all proceeds from sales of her book to the restoration efforts at Liberia Plantation. She is also the author of Liberia Plantation: Sentry of the Ages. Go to manassasechoes.com for information, or visit Echoes, the Manassas Museum Store, at the museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. Thetis Nixon-Jackson, wife of Alonzo Jackson, is embraced her husbands cousin, Linda Jenkins, during a vigil Sunday. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post) A man has been arrested in the killing of Alonzo Jackson, 68, the retired Safeway employee and former Marine who was shot to death last week in Prince Georges County after pumping gas, police said Sunday. Jackson was shot Wednesday at a gas station in the 4900 block of Marlboro Pike in Capitol Heights. His car was taken, and the vehicle later was found abandoned. It had been set on fire. County police said Demarko Wheeler, 20, of the 2000 block of Stanton Road in Southeast Washington, was arrested Sunday in the District. He was charged with first- and second-degree murder and related charges, police said. They said Wheeler was in D.C. police custody and was awaiting extradition to the county. The 7 a.m. shooting occurred a little more than a mile from Jacksons home in Southeast Washington. After dropping off his wife at work, Jackson was at the gas station preparing his black 2015 Dodge Charger so he could take his best friend to a medical appointment. The friend was having complications from knee replacement surgery, Jacksons son said. Demarko Wheeler. (Prince Georges Police Department) A vigil for Jackson was held at the shooting site Sunday evening, and when the news of the arrest was announced, the crowd cheered. Balloons were released. At the vigil, family members wore shirts emblazoned with Jacksons face that read gone but never forgotten, and we miss you. Police said a preliminary investigation showed that Jackson had just filled up the car when he was approached and shot. The killer then drove off in Jacksons car, police said. It was not clear what, if anything, provoked the gunfire. Although Jackson prized the vehicle, his son, Alonzo Jr., 47, recalled Sunday that he played down the importance of such possessions. He had to preach it to me, the son told a reporter: If somebody wants that car, if somebodys gonna rob me for that car, he always said, Give it to him. Just let him have it. A tip helped identify a suspect in the case, police said Sunday. Police had posted a brief video clip online Friday of a man they described as a suspect in the killing.They also said that a $25,000 reward was being offered. A nephew holds a family photo showing Alonzo Jackson and Jackson's wife. (LaVendrick Smith/The Washington Post) Jackson was a father and grandfather. Raised in the District, he was a longtime Redskins fan. He was the sweetest guy in the world. Everybody looked up to him, said Rodney Nixon, 39, Jacksons nephew and godson. Just a sweet old man. For this guy to kill him for nothing was just senseless. Didnt even want the car. Everybody loved him. Jackson served as a sergeant in the Marines for three years beginning in the late 1960s, his brother said, adding that he had been stationed in places including Norfolk and Nova Scotia, Canada. The Rev. Reginald Jackson, 64, of Southeast remembered him as a plain and simple guy who loved the District and was just a D.C. boy. He liked the weather, even on a a day like today, Jacksons brother said. It was hot and humid during the vigil, with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees. Still, the crowd appeared to number in the dozens. The slain mans nephew and godson Clifton E. Powell Jr. denounced the killing to The Washington Post last week as a senseless act of violence. He said it had outraged relatives and friends. It was not his time to die, Powell wrote of his uncle, especially [for] a materialistic item such as his car! Speaking for the family, Powell wrote: We demand justice. Family members and friends had altered their Facebook profile photos to show an image of the slain man. Beneath it, in red lettering, was the word justice. In a statement read for her at the Sunday evening vigil by a relative, Jacksons wife of 10 years, Thetis Nixon-Jackson, addressed his killer. She said a brief conversation with Jackson would have shown that he was not the type of person you would have killed. The statement said: You have no idea the pain you have caused me, my family, friends, and this community. We expect justice to be served. And maybe one day we will forgive you. May God have mercy on your soul. Seventeen people were injured and taken to hospitals Saturday night after a collision between a bus and a car near Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport, authorities said. The bus left the roadway, crashed through a guardrail and ended up in the woods, said Capt. Russ Davies, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel County fire department. The crash occurred about 8:40 p.m. near Dorsey Road and Shipley Avenue. Davies said most injuries were minor, but two occupants of the car were taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, with possibly serious injuries. One was a 17-year-old male and the other was a 20-year-old woman, he said. Davies said six people from the bus declined to be taken to the hospital. The cause of the crash was not known immediately. The bus involved appeared to belong to the Regional Transportation Administration, which serves central Maryland, including Howard County, Anne Arundel County, the city of Laurel and northern Prince George's County. A 36-year-old man is dead after leading a law enforcement official on a high-speed chase from Maryland to the District and crashing into a tree, authorities said Sunday. Ever Moises Fuentes, of Brentwood, Md., was driving a 2008 GMC Yukon Denali near the Maryland-District border about 5 a.m. on Saturday when a Mount Rainier law enforcement member tried to stop him, D.C. police officials said. Instead of pulling over, police said, Fuentes sped onto Eastern Avenue in Northeast Washington and eventually onto Michigan Avenue, where the SUV crossed the intersection of 14th Street, swerved to the right side of the road and mounted a curb before hitting the tree. When D.C. officers arrived at the scene, they removed Fuentes, who was unconscious, from the vehicle and administered CPR. He was taken to a hospital, where authorities said he later died as a result of massive blunt force trauma to his head and body. Before the crash, authorities said, Fuentes tossed a firearm out of his window and police later recovered it in the 1400 block of Michigan Avenue NE. Detectives from the Districts Major Crash Unit continue to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or send an anonymous tip by texting 50411. Early Sunday morning, according to authorities, two would-be robbers in Maryland picked a formidable target: an off-duty sheriffs deputy. Prince Georges County police said two men, one who was wearing a mask and armed with a handgun, approached the off-duty deputy, who was not in uniform, about 1:50 a.m. in the 10500 block of Campus Way South in Largo. The masked man, police said, announced it was a robbery and fired at the deputy. The deputy, Sgt. Keenan Connley, a 15-year veteran of the agency, was armed with his duty weapon and fired back, police said. The two men then fled in a vehicle driven by a third person, police said. Authorities said there were no injuries. The Prince Georges County Police Department is investigating the felony assault against Connley. Meanwhile, the Prince Georges County Sheriffs Office of Internal Affairs Division will be conducting an administrative investigation. Connley was placed on routine administrative leave. People with chronic sinus problems often turn to medication to ease the pain and inflammation. Might non-drug treatments, such as a sinus rinse, be a viable option? This study The study involved 961 adults with chronic or recurrent sinusitis, most in their early 50s and more women than men. They were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: to use a neti pot to irrigate their nose once a day with a homemade saline solution; to inhale steam for five minutes a day by placing a towel over their head and leaning over a bowl of boiled water; to use both nasal irrigation and steam inhalation; or to continue with their usual treatment. All participants were allowed to take medication during the study period if their doctor recommended it. After six months, those who had used nasal irrigation had fewer headaches and used over-the-counter medication less often than those who had not used nasal irrigation. They also said they were less likely to consult a doctor for future sinusitis issues than were participants who had not used nasal irrigation. Inhaling steam reduced headaches among those who used the treatment but essentially had no other effect on sinusitis symptoms. The researchers noted that nasal irrigation was most effective when used in combination with inhaling steam. Who may be affected People with frequent sinus problems. The sinuses hollow spaces in the bones around the nose produce mucus that normally drains into the nose. If the sinuses become inflamed by infection or allergies, perhaps, the swelling blocks drainage and pain results. Antibiotics, decongestants and pain relievers are common treatments. About 12 percent of U.S. adults have a sinusitis diagnosis. Caveats Data on sinusitis symptoms came from the participants responses during periodic assessments. Whether more frequent use of steam or irrigation treatments would have been more effective was not tested. Find this study July 18 online in the Canadian Medical Association Journal ( www.cmaj.ca ; click on Research) Learn more about Information on sinusitis is available at www.entnet.org and care.american-rhinologic.org. The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician. Silvia Fajardo Hiriart, medical coordinator of a Florida Early Steps program at the University of Miami, works with 9-month-old Taylor Moore as her brother Marion watches. Taylor does not have Zika, but is undergoing developmental tests that children with the virus will likely face. (Scott McIntyre/For The Washington Post) At least 12 babies in the United States have already been born with the heartbreaking brain damage caused by the Zika virus. And with that number expected to multiply, public health and pediatric specialists are scrambling as they have rarely done to prepare for the lifelong implications of each case. Many of Zikas littlest victims, diagnosed with microcephaly and other serious birth defects that might not immediately be apparent, could require care estimated at more than $10 million through adulthood. Officials who have been concentrating on measures to control and prevent transmission of the virus are now confronting a new challenge, seeking to provide guidance for doctors and others who work with young children with developmental problems. The White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are holding regular talks with experts and nonprofits about the array of services the infants and their families will need well into the future. Advocacy groups are seeking to raise awareness among parents and day-care providers, and some high-risk states are streamlining existing programs so that they can rapidly connect Zika babies with physical, occupational and other therapies. On Thursday and Friday, CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics convened a special meeting in Atlanta to establish guidelines on how to evaluate and care for infants whose mothers were infected with the virus during pregnancy. They heard ophthalmologist Camila Ventura of Brazil, the epicenter of Zika in the Americas, describe how extremely irritable, even inconsolable, the newborns with microcephaly are. The babies cannot stop crying, she said. Carla Severina de Silva's husband left her after their baby was diagnosed with microcephaly. Now de Silva is fighting for her daughter's future. (Whitney Leaming,Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Just as daunting is the question of how to best monitor those exposed in utero but without obvious abnormalities at birth. Vision and hearing problems can surface, as can seizure disorders. That uncertainty and lack of information will be very stressful for the families, CDC physician Kate Russell said. The urgency of these discussions increased after Congress adjourned in mid-July without taking action on additional Zika funding. Lawmakers will not return to Washington until September. People have been so focused on prevention, said Katy Neas of Easter Seals, a nonprofit that provides services to children and adults with disabilities. Now were getting to Holy moly, were actually going to have kids here with Zika, and what do we need to do? Federal and local health officials are monitoring at least 400 pregnant women with Zika in the 50 states and the District, up from 346 a week ago, and another 378 pregnant women in the U.S. territories, most of them in Puerto Rico. In addition to the babies already born with Zika- related problems the latest was announced Friday by New York City health officials at least six women have lost or terminated pregnancies because their fetuses suffered brain defects from the virus. Florida is investigating two possible cases of locally transmitted Zika the first in any state. Should the virus spread there or elsewhere in the region, it would be the first outbreak linked to serious birth defects since the 1964 rubella outbreak that killed 2,100 babies and left 20,000 others at risk of deafness, heart damage and microcephaly. Its been more than 50 years since weve seen an epidemic of birth defects linked to a virus and never before have we seen this result from a mosquito bite, said Margaret Honein, chief of CDCs birth defects branch. But unlike with rubella, the vast majority of people with Zika have no symptoms. That poses enormous diagnostic challenges because the most accurate tests need to occur within the first two weeks of infection. Also unlike rubella, researchers do not truly know the magnitude of risk for a pregnant woman passing Zika to her fetus. This is new territory, said Anne Schuchat, CDCs deputy director, with public health officials simultaneously having to learn about Zikas grave impact on fetuses while devising interventions for the consequences. Were trying to prepare ourselves and prepare pregnant women for when those babies are born and what should happen to them. In addition to microcephaly, a rare condition usually characterized by an abnormally small head and underdeveloped brain, Zika can cause neurological harm affecting vision, hearing, and muscle and bone development, research shows. The range of impairment can be vast. Some babies lack the most basic sucking reflex, which means they might never develop the ability to swallow. Even in babies who look absolutely fine at birth, ongoing screening may be necessary to detect subtle changes that could signal serious problems. Abnormal movement and prolonged staring, for example, could indicate an emerging seizure disorder. Developmental specialist Stephanie Honorat, center, and psychologist Michelle Berkovits work with Taylor Moore during her development evaluation. (Scott McIntyre/For The Washington Post) Honorat, left, checks Taylors movements as her mother, Rochelle Beckom, looks on. The Miami clinic assesses more than 3,500 children a year. (Scott McIntyre/For The Washington Post) You have to really follow them and check, explained V. Fan Tait, deputy director of child health and wellness for the American Academy of Pediatrics. What do you need to do for the evaluation, and who else needs to be involved? . . . We know the worst-case scenario, but what we dont know is the continuum. Although the pediatric neurologist acknowledged that it is unclear how many children could be affected, in my mind, it will stretch the system that we have to care for them, she said. Federal law requires every state to have an early intervention program that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers up to 36 months old who have significant developmental delays or conditions likely to result in such delays. The programs, typically funded with state and federal dollars, represent a critical support system for children with complex needs. In Florida, which has 46 pregnant women with Zika, officials recently decided that any child with a confirmed Zika diagnosis automatically qualifies for early screening and intervention. [Zika can cause microcephaly even if moms have no symptoms] Were anticipating this is going to be a major problem, said Charles Bauer, a professor of pediatrics and neonatology at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development. The university runs one of the states 15 Early Steps programs, and its pediatricians, psychologists and other specialists see more than 3,500 infants and toddlers a year. Were trying to prepare ourselves to identify these babies and get them into services as soon as possible, Bauer said. This is a new category of at-risk baby. Children in the universitys program are evaluated by specialists, such as Silvia Fajardo Hiriart, a pediatrician, and Michelle Berkovits, a psychologist. Each goes through a series of physical and neurological tests to gauge developmental milestones. The team checks to see that babies are batting at toys at about 3 months old, sitting on their own by 9 months and saying their first words by about their first birthday. Speech pathologist Glendys Sanchez performs a development evaluation with 2-year-old Namine Andino as his father, Miguel Andino, watches at the Early Steps program clinic at the University of Miami. Namine does not have Zika, but children with the virus could face similar developmental assessments. (Scott McIntyre/For The Washington Post) The program also helps mothers go through the grieving process. What we see with most of our moms is that they lost their expected normal baby, Fajardo Hiriart said. We try to focus on what their child is doing and focus on the positive and provide support. With Zika, that support will be harder. It is a new disease. No one knows how a childs development will be affected in the long term. Parents of a child with autism or Down syndrome can turn to well-established organizations offering resources and showcasing successes, but Zika-affected families have no such help. At least not yet. For a family, its going to be more isolating because . . . theres not a support group, Berkovits said. Across the South and Southwest, where the mosquito that is the primary carrier of Zika is endemic, advocates and officials are worried about the ability of private and state systems to handle more children with special needs. Many Early Steps programs in Florida, for instance, are near capacity and already struggle to meet the federal requirement that all children be evaluated within 45 days of referral for developmental delays, Bauer said. The exploding prevalence of Zika in Puerto Rico could be a further strain if new mothers there begin seeking care for their babies on the mainland. Several dozen pregnant women are being infected daily on the island, CDC officials said. But many parents might not have alternatives. The parts of the South that are most vulnerable to the virus are home to some of the nations poorest mothers with the least access to health care. In Miami, you may have access to a full range of specialists, but if youre on the Gulf Coast, in a small town in Alabama, forget it, said Cynthia Pellegrini, a senior vice president at the March of Dimes Foundation. Funding for support services often is low, is rarely assured and varies tremendously by state. Only intervention by the Texas Supreme Court delayed $350 million in Medicaid program cuts from taking effect recently. Lawmakers there had approved the cuts last year, putting physical, speech and occupational therapies to disabled children at risk. In confronting a disease that has no treatment, experts said it may take years to fully grasp the damage Zika does over a childs lifetime. Were at the beginning of the process of discovery. Were going to find out more and more unsettling issues about this virus, said Irwin Redlener, a Columbia University public health professor and president of the Childrens Health Fund, which assists disadvantaged children. Theres going to be a significant uptick in the babies with the obvious consequences, like microcephaly, and an unknown uptick in babies with more subtle problems that have to be assessed. Being sedentary in moderation is unlikely to cause heart disease, according to a new review of past research. Researchers concluded that only very high levels of sedentary time more than 10 hours a day are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular-disease-related death. Compared with sitting for less than three waking hours a day, more than 10 hours of sedentary time was tied to an 8 percent increase in the risk of developing heart disease, according to results in JAMA Cardiology. Our findings suggest that sedentary time is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of other potential risk factors such as body mass index and physical activity, only at very high levels, said lead author Ambarish Pandey of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. It hadnt been clear how much sedentary time should be avoided to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, Pandey said in an email. The researchers analyzed data from nine long-term studies that had followed more than 700,000 adults and calculated the association between inactive time and the incidence of such events as heart attack and stroke. Sedentary time included any low-activity periods, including time spent sitting, watching TV or driving. Half of the studies followed people for more than 11 years. People who were the most sedentary, about 12 hours a day, were 14 percent more likely than those who were sedentary only 2 hours a day to develop cardiovascular disease. But more moderate amounts of sedentary time were not tied to increased risk. Yeonju Kim, a research specialist at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, who was not part of the new study, said more studies are needed before issuing a guideline, such as limiting sedentary time to less than 10 hours a day. There is previous literature to suggest that lower sedentary time is associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels, which may underlie some of the observed association, Pandey said. Staying active and getting regular exercise can help lower cardiovascular disease risk, he said. Increasing physical activity, avoiding prolonged sitting time, workplace interventions such as sit-stand work stations and activity-permissive desks may be useful to lower sedentary time, he added. NEPAL Leader quits after loss of majority support Nepals prime minister resigned Sunday shortly before he was to face a confidence vote in parliament that he expected to lose, further aggravating political instability in the Himalayan country. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Olis nine-month-old government had lost its majority support this month after the Maoist party pulled out of the coalition, accusing Oli of failing to honor power-sharing agreements. In a nationally televised speech in parliament, Oli said Sunday that the way he was forced to resign would have far-reaching implications for the country and lead to further political instability. The opposition parties hatched a conspiracy for narrow interests, and I am stunned by that, he said. A change in government is nothing new in Nepal, with Oli the eighth prime minister in 10 years. The Maoist partys chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is expected to try to form a new coalition government with the help of the Nepali Congress and other groups. The Maoists are former communist rebels who fought government troops for 10 years until they signed a peace agreement. The Maoist partys major complaint was that Olis government failed to take proper legislative action in favor of the Maoist cadres facing trials over wartime crimes. Associated Press IRAN Iranian Americans detention confirmed Irans judiciary has confirmed the detention of an Iranian American who was visiting family in Iran, the countrys semiofficial ISNA news agency reported Sunday. The report did not name the Iranian American or say when he was arrested. It quoted a spokesman for the judiciary as saying that the man was arrested in the city of Gorgan on unknown charges and then referred to the Iranian capital for investigation. On Thursday, the U.S. State Department said it was looking into reports that Iranian American Robin Shahini has been detained in Iran. His girlfriend said she was worried that Shahini was arrested over online comments criticizing Irans human rights record. She said he was arrested in Gorgan, where he was visiting his family. She said that Shahinis sister told her that Iranian authorities took him into custody on July 11 and that he has not been heard from since. Shahini, 46, left Iran in 1998 and lived in San Diego. Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, which means he cannot receive consular assistance. Three dual nationals and a Lebanese man have been detained in Iran in recent months. Associated Press SYRIA Airstrikes hit 5 clinics in Aleppo province Government air raids struck at least five medical facilities in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, where violence has intensified in recent weeks amid a siege by government forces, opposition activists said Sunday. The activists said the air raids began late Saturday and continued until after midnight, killing at least five people, including an infant. Rival sides in Syrias five-year-old conflict have targeted hospitals and clinics in the past, mostly in the north. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four clinics were out of service in the city of Aleppo, as was a fifth in the town of Atareb to the west. It said five people were killed in Aleppo city. The Observatory said the clinics closed because they feared being targeted again. Aleppo-based activist Baraa al-Halaby confirmed that five clinics were hit, adding that an infant was among those killed. He said a blood bank was struck in Aleppo, as well. One of the facilities hit, al-Bayan Hospital, posted photographs on its Facebook page showing the damage to the building. A caption said the hospital was subjected to more than one airstrike by warplanes causing wide damage and completely putting the hospital out of service until further notice. According to Physicians for Human Rights, 750 medical personnel have been killed in the Syrian conflict, 698 of them in attacks by government forces and their Russian allies. The group says that between 2011 and May this year, there were 373 attacks on 265 medical facilities. Associated Press Ukraine says 6 soldiers killed in east: A spokesman for Ukraines military operation against rebels in the countrys east said six soldiers were killed over the past day. The statement comes amid increasing concern about a recent escalation in fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels. The Donetsk Peoples Republic, one of two self-proclaimed separatist republics in the east, said Ukrainian forces had shelled positions there more than 600 times in the past day, the Russian news agency Tass reported. 2nd Mexican mayor shot in two days: The mayor of a town in one of Mexicos most violent drug corridors has been fatally shot, the second mayor killed in Mexico in two days. Ambrosio Soto was mayor of a township that includes Ciudad Altamirano, a known haven for drug traffickers in southern Guerrero state. On Saturday, a mayor and four others were fatally shot in San Juan Chamula in southern Chiapas state. Attack in Baghdad kills at least 14: A suicide bomber attacked a security checkpoint in northern Baghdad, killing at least 14 people, Iraqi officials said. A police officer said the bomber was on foot and detonated his device at one of the busy entrances to the Shiite district of Kadhimiyah, killing at least 10 civilians and four police officers. At least 31 people were wounded, he added. Three more civilians were killed and 11 wounded in a bombing in Baghdads western suburb of Abu Ghraib, another police officer said. Greek far-rightists, police clash during Muslim party march: About 150 far-right militants clashed with riot police in the northeastern Greek city of Komotini as they attempted to attack a peaceful march by members of Greeces Muslim minority. The far-rightists threw rocks and chairs at police, who countered with tear gas and stun grenades. No arrests were reported. The march, organized by the small Friendship, Equality and Peace Party, was in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the death of its founder, Achmet Sadik. From news services Rome City honors top citizen, business ROME CITY At a ceremony Friday outside Town Hall, the Rome City Chamber of Commerce honored Dave Abbott as its Citizen of the Year and Bradys Landing as its Business of the Year. Abbott has served on several Rome City boards and commissions over the years and was a member of the Rome City Town Council for 26 years, mostly as president. Abbott was elected in May to the Noble County Board of Commissioners. Bradys Landing, also known as Grannys, was named Business of the Year for its continued community support, and as a location to promote and sell tickets to events, Stone said. Its is celebrating 88 years in business. Middle school bids are under $30 million KENDALLVILLE Base bids for the East Noble Middle School building project came in between $28.4 million and $29.4 million. Last years voter-approved referendum limits spending on the project to a maximum of $38.8 million. Fetters Construction Inc. submitted the lowest base bid of $28,350,000. Other bids were received from the Hagerman Group, $28,695,000; Michael Kinder & Sons Inc., $29,198,000; and Gibson-Lewis LLC, $29,400,000. The bids do not include much of the cost of equipping and furnishing the new middle school, which will be built at the corner of Drake Road and Weston Avenue in Kendallville and is expected to open in fall 2018. Economic development director resigns ANGOLA As the Steuben County Economic Development Corp. was in final steps in the process of applying for Regional Cities Initiative funding for its Steuben County Enterprise Center, its executive director has resigned. Craig Ralston, president of the SCEDC, announced in a news release the agency had accepted Dave Koenigs resignation Thursday. Mr. Koenig has supported the SCEDC in his role as the executive director for the past four and a half years. His leadership has furthered many of the efforts of the SCEDC Board of Directors, not the least of which is the acquisition of the new Enterprise Center campus located at 907 S. Wayne St. in Angola. He has been integral to the success of the SCEDC, and we wish him well with his future endeavors in his professional career, Ralston said in a prepared statement. The SCEDC will name an interim director Monday, Ralston said. Ligonier chamber honors citizens, business LIGONIER Joey Nelson, pastor of Stones Hill Community Church, was named the Citizen of the Year at Tuesday evenings Ligonier Chamber of Commerce banquet. Awards were presented after a dinner at the Ligonier United Methodist Church celebrating the organizations accomplishments over the past year. Nelson wasnt the only one to be recognized for good works in the community. Cindy Miller, KPC Media Group Inc. marketing consultant, was chosen Chamber Member of the Year after heading the committee for new membership. KPC Media Group publishes The Advance Leader. After presenting the award to Miller just minutes before, Melvin Troyer had to stand up again to receive Business of the Year on behalf of his auto repair shop, Tire Star. New principal chosen for Lakeland LAGRANGE Lakeland High School has a new principal. The Lakeland School Corp. Board of Trustees approved hiring Anthony Tony Harl Monday night, replacing former principal Eva Merkel, who was tapped this spring to be the districts new superintendent. Harl was at the meeting Monday night to be officially introduced. An Anderson native, Hart earned a degree in marketing before returning to school to earn a teachers license. He later went on to earn a masters degree in education. A classroom veteran, Harl spent 12 years working for East Noble School Corp. as a teacher and a coach. More recently, he spent three years working as the assistant principal at Goshen High School, and the last year and a half as the principal of Kokomo High School. Weaver to be interim superintendent GARRETT The Garrett-Keyser-Butler school board will appoint Tonya Weaver as interim superintendent to replace outgoing Superintendent Dennis Stockdale, according to a news release. The regularly scheduled school board meeting will be Monday at 6 p.m. in the school board meeting room. The school board will conduct a hearing Monday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m., and hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for approval of Weavers contract in the school board meeting room. Over the next 90 days, the board will work closely with Weaver to develop a long-term contract as well as establish goals and objectives for the coming school year. Weaver has been employed with the Garrett-Keyser-Butler school district for 26 years, serving as elementary teacher, Reading Recovery Specialist, literacy coordinator, assistant elementary principal and elementary principal. For the past three years, Weaver has served as the director of administration and innovation. Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio. July 31, 2016 Hillary Clinton is seen aboard the campaign bus in Cleveland on the third day of a bus tour through Pennsylvania and Ohio. Melina Mara/The Washington Post The former secretary of state, senator and first lady is the Democratic nominee for president. The former secretary of state clinched the number of delegates needed to be the Democratic presidential nominee. The former secretary of state clinched the number of delegates needed to be the Democratic presidential nominee. A top official with Hillary Clintons campaign on Sunday accused the Russian government of orchestrating the release of damaging Democratic Party records to help the campaign of Republican Donald Trump and some cybersecurity experts agree. The extraordinary charge came as some national security officials have been growing increasingly concerned about possible efforts by Russia to meddle in the election, according to several individuals familiar with the situation. Late last week, hours before the records were released by the website WikiLeaks, the White House convened a high-level security meeting to discuss reports that Russia had hacked into systems at the Democratic National Committee. Although other experts remain skeptical of a Russian role, the hacking incident has caused alarm within the Clinton campaign and also in the national security arena. Officials from various intelligence and defense agencies, including the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, attended the White House meeting Thursday, on the eve of the email release. If the accusation is true, it would be the first time the Russians have actively tried to influence an election in this manner, analysts said. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said she will resign this week in the aftermath of the release of thousands of internal email exchanges among Democratic officials. (Thomas Johnson,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Clintons campaign chief, Robby Mook, told ABC News on Sunday that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke in to the DNC, took all these emails and now are leaking them out through these Web sites. . . . Its troubling that some experts are now telling us that this was done by the Russians for the purpose of helping Donald Trump. Trump campaign officials rejected the suggestion as absurd. The most sensational revelation so far in the emails is that officials at the supposedly impartial DNC were in fact helping Clinton during the primary. One email written May 5 to Luis Miranda, the national communications director for the DNC, from another party official suggests that the party could help Clinton by raising questions about Sanderss faith. Other emails generally disparaged Sanders and indicated a preference for Clinton. The emails have infuriated Sanders supporters, who have repeatedly accused the DNC of improperly helping the Clinton campaign during the primary. The episode prompted the resignation Sunday of DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. They said they were neutral, which we knew not to be true, said Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver. Now we have evidence in black and white that they were trying to put out negative stories about Bernie Sanders. People are very angry about these leaks, and rightfully so. Theres no doubt about that. Beyond Mook, DNC and Clinton campaign officials have not responded to requests for comment Friday as reporters and unnerved campaign staff tried to assess the damage caused by the release, which comes just as the party holds a nominating convention in Philadelphia designed to project unity after a bitter primary season. The emails were released Friday on Twitter by WikiLeaks. The document dump follows a report last month by The Washington Post that Russian government hackers had penetrated the computer network of the DNC, gaining access to an entire database of opposition research, among other material. The Post's Ellen Nakashima goes over the events, and discusses the two hacker groups responsible. (Jhaan Elker/The Washington Post) Other emails offered details of perks provided to party donors attending the convention and other events involving Democratic officials. On Sunday, Mook and others noted that Trump has taken positions in the campaign that seem to align with those held by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He cited Trumps recent statement on NATO that he might not provide assistance to member states that hadnt contributed their financial share as a sign that the Republican nominee is taking positions favorable to Putin. I think when you put all this together, its a disturbing picture and voters need to reflect on that, Mook told CNN in an interview Sunday. Trumps campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, flatly denied the insinuation, calling Mooks comments pure obfuscation on ABCs This Week. What they dont want to talk about is whats in those emails, Manafort said. Last month, the forensic firm CrowdStrike said two competing Russian intelligence hacker groups penetrated the DNCs computers. In the past 24 hours, cybersecurity experts have said that the email cache released by WikiLeaks on Friday appears to have been given to the anti-secrecy group by Russian intelligence. Thomas Rid, a professor at Kings College London, said in an interview that in a private chat on Twitter on Saturday, he communicated with the entity that claimed to have released the email cache to WikiLeaks. The party, which calls itself Guccifer2, last month claimed responsibility for the DNC hack. Several independent analysts have concluded that Guccifer2, who claimed to be Romanian, is likely linked to Russia. Weve been looking at this very closely from both the technical and non-technical spheres, said Richard Barger, chief information officer for ThreatConnect, a cyber-intelligence software firm. Based on our analysis, we strongly feel Guccifer2 is linked to a Russian information operations campaign and is not the independent Romanian hacker that he claims to be. The apparent link to Russian intelligence raises troubling implications for U.S. foreign relations and national security. Russia has not to date tried to interfere in U.S. elections, analysts say. But if this is a deliberate effort by the Kremlin to meddle, it is worrisome, they say. Michael G. Vickers, who served as undersecretary of defense for intelligence from 2011 to 2015, said an effort by the Russians to release intelligence in advance of a U.S. election is likely unprecedented. What is really new here is the attempt to influence the politics of the United States. That is the problem, he said. Vickers said that the Russians have attempted to influence elections in states closer to their border but that seeking to do so in the United States would represent a historic and significant change, even in an era when Russian intelligence gathering has become more aggressive. Because he is no longer in government service, Vickers said he had no direct knowledge of the forensic evidence in the DNC email case. However, he said that people who have looked at it have said it looks like groups that have been tied to Russian intelligence. Fiona Hill, a former Russia expert on the National Intelligence Council, said putting the emails out on WikiLeaks for the world to see is consistent with her view of the modus operandi of Putin and Russian intelligence. Theyre doing what they do best, said Hill, now a Brookings Institution senior fellow. They would not be doing their jobs as intelligence officers if they were not trying to outsmart their main opponent and to have influence on their politics. But, Rid pointed out, what we dont know is whether this is a top-down order or not. Russian Embassy officials did not respond to a request for comment Sunday. In the past, Russian officials denied any involvement with the hack. I completely rule out a possibility that the [Russian] government or the government bodies have been involved in this, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, told the Reuters news agency in Moscow. Eugene Rumer, a former analyst on the National Intelligence Council who left in 2014, said that, if the accusation is true, the implication is troublesome, no question about it. One possibility is the Russians are trying in some way to influence the election outcome and perhaps promote Trump by embarrassing Clinton. If that is the case, Rumer said, it suggests the kind of misunderstanding of American domestic politics. To think that they can affect the outcome in a country of over 300 million people, with billions spent on electoral campaigns, in a country where there is free media Another possibility is that this is part of an information warfare campaign that involves the release of compromising materials, or what in Russian is called kompromat. You release dirt on me. I release dirt on you, Rumer said. The Russians have made clear that they believe the United States is behind the release of the Panama Papers, which include material embarrassing to Putin. They are upset about the Olympics doping scandal, which they also believe was fomented by Western intelligence agencies. Whoever is behind this may feel, well, you people try to tarnish our leader, were going to dump this and show that your politics is no better than ours, Rumer said. One U.S. official, who like others interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the email dump would be the worst possible way to influence an election. It just seems a little clumsy. It just seems a very odd way of going about it. WikiLeaks is nonetheless an ideal venue for gaining exposure, other analysts say. The site, cofounded in 2006 by Julian Assange, promotes itself as an anti-secrecy organization and promises leakers anonymity. If youre the Russians and you want to leak information for maximal effect, WikiLeaks is a great platform for that, said one analyst, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because his work involves studying Russian intelligence and he did not want to draw attention to himself. Russia has intervened in other countries elections. For instance, in Ukraine in 2004, a Russian hacker group calling itself Cyber Berkut claimed it hacked and disabled the electronic vote-counting system of the Ukraine central election commission three days before the presidential election. The election followed the toppling of a pro-Moscow leader, a move that set off Russias invasion and annexation of Crimea. Analysts have attributed the hack to the GRU, one of the same Russian military intelligence services said to have hacked the DNC. They said that the agency created Cyber Berkut, which portrayed itself as an independent hacktivist group but in reality was used to further Moscows political interests in Ukraine. Likewise, French authorities say a cyberattack last year on the French television network TV5Monde was carried out by Russian hackers. A group posing as being linked to the Islamic State and calling itself Cyber Caliphate posted jihadist propaganda on the stations website an apparent effort to deflect suspicion away from Russia and plunged the networks TV channels into darkness. Again, it was the GRU that was said to be behind the attack, the French authorities said. Some analysts said they believed the attack was Russian retaliation against France for backing out of a deal to sell helicopter carriers to Russia because of Moscows aggression in Ukraine. Within 24 hours of the news breaking of the Russian hack of the DNC, files that purported to be from the servers began to appear online. Guccifer2 claimed credit for the hack and portrayed itself as independent of Russia. But a number of independent experts pointed to evidence that Guccifer2 appeared to be linked to Russia and said they believed Guccifer2 was trying to deflect blame from Russia. The Post has previously reported that Trump has had a long-standing interest in Russia. In addition, The Post found that Manafort has multimillion-dollar financial ties to oligarchs in the former Soviet Union. The Democratic Party arrived here still divided over the results of its presidential primary season, with anger at the nominating process, the Clinton-Kaine ticket and hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee spilling into the partys final meetings before the convention begins. On each count, supporters of Bernie Sanders found new reasons to bristle about their choice in November. Hillary Clintons selection of Sen. Timothy M. Kaine (Va.) as her running mate angered progressives who had lobbied for someone from their movement. The partial failure of a push to end the use of superdelegates the party activists and elected officials who are unbound by the primary results dredged up feelings that the Clinton-Sanders face-off had not been fair. And the leaked DNC emails, which showed party leaders writing off Sanderss chances and speculating about how his religious views could hurt him politically, embarrassed Democrats who wanted to put the primaries behind them. Before the partys rules committee began, Clinton supporter Donna Brazile could be seen walking over to Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver to say that nothing she wrote in the emails differed from what she had said in public. [Clinton and Kaine debut the Democratic ticket in Florida] Certainly, someone should be held accountable for those emails, Weaver said in an interview. We spent days talking about who in the Trump campaign should be held accountable after a few sentences were lifted from Michelle Obamas speech. Certainly, the DNC should be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign. The rules committee, which typically approves the partys nominating process with little debate, became an outlet for that frustration. Sanderss supporters arrived with plans to end superdelegates altogether. Plan B was to compromise with Clinton supporters and reduce the superdelegates number or voting power. Plan C was to get enough votes on their amendments to demand a minority report, which could be voted on at the convention itself, with thousands of journalists watching. The first plan failed, despite pleas and heckling from Sanders supporters who snaked around the hallway outside the meeting room and chanted No more superdelegates! and Open the doors! Inside the room, a smaller group chanted Shame! and Youre killing the party! as each amendment went down. If we walk out of this room with our heads hung low, affirming the status quo, that is going to be a statement to voters of this country, said George Albro, a labor organizer and Sanders-backing member of the rules committee. Do you want to walk out divided and to give Trump the ability to say we had an undemocratic election? [Democrats vote to bind most superdelegates to state primary results] Clinton supporters called for unity and dismissed the idea that the partys rules were disenfranchising anyone. Former congressman Barney Frank, a Clinton supporter whom Sanders had wanted off the committee, presided over it with occasional notes of sarcasm. Listen to your voters! yelled a Sanders supporter at one point. Oh, sorry I wasnt listening to you, Frank joked. Other Clinton supporters argued that they were ill-equipped to decide the fate of superdelegates or that Sanders supporters, many of whom became active in politics only because of his campaign, didnt appreciate the system. I watched Latino women and men rise up the ladder to become superdelegates; I watched African American men and women rise up that ladder, said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), a Clinton supporter. We have never in any way skewed an election. Later in the evening Sanders supporters won a partial victory: A new Unity reform commission that would bind most superdelegates to the primary results, while allowing free votes for members of Congress, governors and party leaders, passed on a 158-to-6 vote. The Sanders supporters also won more than 50 votes on their key amendments enough to demand a vote on the convention floor, which Sanders delegates intended to do. I feel like we lost the vote, but we won the debate, said Diane Russell, a Maine state legislator who had been campaigning to end superdelegates by getting state parties on record against them. In some ways, the Kaine pick was an even taller stumbling block. In interviews, a dozen Sanders delegates unanimously said they were not enthusiastic about Kaine; some admitted that they had never heard of him before. [Kaine sought to boost his brand after being passed over for VP in 2008] I think that Kaine is a wonderful guy, but this was an opportunity to reach out to progressives, and the opportunity was missed, said Rod Halvorson, a Sanders delegate from Minnesota. By Saturday afternoon, some Sanders supporters were exploring the possibility of putting an alternative to Kaine into nomination. National Nurses United, one of the first and largest unions to endorse Sanders, suggested that Ohio politician Nina Turner, one of Sanderss most prominent black surrogates, run as a Kaine alternative. A loose alliance called the Bernie Delegates Network, which had polled members and found 88 percent opposed to Kaine, planned to hold a Sunday morning news conference. The outrage is not just smoldering it is burning, said Norman Solomon, a California delegate and leader of the Bernie Delegates Network. There has been an insurgency in the party, far beyond anybodys expectations. Hillary seems to have gone out of her way to say not just to her delegates but to progressives that she hasnt learned anything from that insurgency. Sanders supporters who defended the Kaine pick did so tentatively and with the hope that Clinton picked him to turn out Hispanic voters. (Kaine is a fluent Spanish speaker.) There are other senators who would have been more helpful to her campaign, no doubt, but Tim is the pick now, and they need to focus on maximizing his strengths, said Benjamin Jealous, a former NAACP president. His strengths will only manifest if they focus on turning out the black and brown vote. But no Sanders supporter could find an upside in the DNC emails. During lulls in the rules meeting, they talked about the latest revelations from the emails, such as DNC Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz reacting to Sanderss call for her ouster by saying he would lose the nomination anyway. Its heartbreaking, said Raisa Donato, a Sanders supporter who led a cry of baaaa to mock the people she labeled as the sheep voting to save superdelegates. I had a lot of faith in our party, and thats been challenged over the last week. Robert Becker, who ran Sanderss campaign in Iowa, said he was personally offended by one of the leaked emails. Having run large organizations before, if my chief financial officer sent an email saying, Hey, lets attack a candidate on his religion, my reply-all wouldnt have been Amen, Becker said. Thats what bothers me the most: The lack of professionalism and decency from the DNC in those emails, in going after Bernie Sanders. Weaver, who spent much of the day trying to craft deals on amendments, said that the emails confirmed that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is really a divisive figure in the party rather than someone who can bring about unity against Donald Trump. In absentia, Trump was trying to prove that. The Wikileaks e-mail release today was so bad to Sanders that it will make it impossible for him to support her, unless he is a fraud, Trump tweeted Saturday afternoon. At the same time, Democrats in the rules committee on both sides were arguing that failing to support their positions would give Trump the presidency. Youre sending a message to all the people coming into the Democratic Party, who say: Somethings not right here, said John Little, a Sanders supporters and rules committee member from Indiana. Thats going to help Donald Trump. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said she will resign this week in the aftermath of the release of thousands of internal email exchanges among Democratic officials. (Thomas Johnson,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said she will resign this week in the aftermath of the release of thousands of internal email exchanges among Democratic officials. (Thomas Johnson,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) The Democratic National Committee chairwoman resigned under fire Sunday, on the eve of a national convention meant to project competence and unity in contrast to the turbulence of the Republicans gathering last week. The disarray threatened to upend Hillary Clintons plan to paint the Democrats as the party best prepared to lead a divided and anxious country and herself as the leader who can offer an optimistic alternative to Republican Donald Trump. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida was forced aside by the release of thousands of embarrassing emails among party officials that appeared to show coordinated efforts to help Clinton at the expense of her rivals in the Democratic primaries. That contradicted claims by the party and the Clinton campaign that the process was open and fair for her leading challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. [Warren, Sanders to speak as party tries to move past email leak, drama] The trove of messages released by hackers on the website WikiLeaks proved to be the last straw for Democrats, including top Clinton advisers. The Post's Ellen Nakashima goes over the events, and discusses the two hacker groups responsible. (Jhaan Elker/The Washington Post) Myself and other Democrats who were Clinton supporters, we have been saying this was serious. It truly violates what the DNCs proper role should be, said Edward G. Rendell, a former DNC chairman and former Pennsylvania governor. The DNC did something incredibly inappropriate here and needed to acknowledge that, Rendell said. Republicans, led by Trump, jumped to portray the episode as evidence that the system was rigged for Clinton, whom Trump calls Crooked Hillary. The Democrats are in a total meltdown but the biased media will say how great they are doing! Trump said on Twitter. E-mails say the rigged system is alive & well! Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who is Wasserman Schultzs counterpart, told reporters, There was no way out. The end has come. There wasnt any other outcome that was foreseeable. Sanders said he was not surprised by the email revelations. He is scheduled to address Mondays opening night of the Democratic convention. While he is expected to stress unity, many of his supporters say they are furious about what they see as evidence of party bias. The Clinton campaign and several cybersecurity experts said the leak was a political ploy carried out by the Russian government to aid in the election of Trump. 1 of 46 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad What the scene in Philadelphia looks like as it readies for the DNC View Photos Protesters, Bernie Sanders supporters march through the City of Brotherly Love before the start of the Democratic National Convention. Caption Protesters, Bernie Sanders supporters march through the City of Brotherly Love before the start of the Democratic National Convention. July 24, 2016 People stand near a large cut-out photo of Bernie Sanders during The Climate Revolution Is Up To Us rally at Vernon Park in Philadelphia. Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. [Cyber experts agree with Clinton campaign: Russia is behind email release] That didnt stop a massive political firestorm directed largely at Wasserman Schultz nor strong pressure from the Clinton campaign and others for the chairwoman to step aside, according to a senior Democrat familiar with the negotiations. She finally did, but not before speaking with President Obama and not without a fight, according to Democrats familiar with the negotiations. Wasserman Schultz, a member of Congress from South Florida, said in a statement that her resignation will take effect upon the close of the convention. Donna Brazile, a longtime Democratic strategist, will take over as interim chair, according to the DNC. I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for Americas future, Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory. The controversy blew up at a key political moment for Clinton, just as convention delegates were descending on Philadelphia and just as her campaign was hoping to patch up disagreements with Sanders supporters over superdelegates, the party platform and her choice of her running mate, Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia, who is seen by some as insufficiently progressive. Erin Bilbray, a DNC member from Nevada who supported Sanders in the primaries, said there had been talk about some delegates turning their backs on Wasserman Schultz in a show of protest during the convention if she didnt step down. There definitely would have been some anger in the convention hall, Bilbray said. Hopefully, this will be a good thing for unity in Philadelphia. In pressuring Wasserman Schultz to resign, campaign officials argued that she had become a lightning rod for divisions within the party. Democrats said pressure was applied, both publicly and behind the scenes, in hopes of getting the embarrassing episode over as quickly as possible. Democrats began lobbying Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta on Saturday, arguing that the campaign had to step in before the damage worsened. And the chairwomans resignation may not be the end of it. R.T. Rybak, a former Minneapolis mayor and a DNC vice chairman, said in an interview that Wasserman Schultz did the right thing by resigning and allowing the rest of us to clean up this mess so that we can quickly pivot to talking about Hillary Clinton. Rybak called for DNC staff members who wrote emails aiming to discredit Sanders or any other candidate to be dismissed. There is some deeply disturbing information in the emails, but they dont need to distract from the convention if the DNC takes clear and immediate action, Rybak said. We should clearly state that any person from the DNC who worked to discredit another presidential candidate, especially on DNC time and equipment, should be fired immediately. No question. According to one Democratic member of Congress involved in the discussions leading up to her resignation, Wasserman Schultz strongly resisted giving up her position amid discussions that staff members should shoulder some of the blame. Among the options discussed was having Amy Dacey, the DNCs chief executive officer, put out a statement, according to two Democratic sources. That served to exacerbate other Democrats frustration with Wasserman Schultz and led to accusations that she had made the situation worse by not acting swiftly to step aside as the convention loomed. There was a lot of drama, this lawmaker said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. She made this as painful as she could. She did not want to go. . . . She wasnt going to resign until the president called her. She put a lot of people through hell. We were going to come into the week and be united, said the member of Congress. But she did ugly and messy and stepped on the message of unity. This person said that senior Democrats expect there to be additional departures from the DNCs senior staff in coming days. Brazile is taking over as the interim chair, but discussions were underway Sunday about who might be suitable to step in as chair between now and the November election. Among the Democrats mentioned: former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, Rep. Steve Israel of New York and EMILYs List President Stephanie Schriock. All are loyal supporters and trusted allies of Clinton. Less clear is how much turmoil remains within the party, even with Wasserman Schultz gone. According to one top Democratic official who requested anonymity to speak candidly, People feel the culture of the DNC is not right, and it starts at the top. In addition to the friction with Sanders and his supporters that was revealed in the email hack, donors were upset about the way they were talked about in some of the emails. In one email exchange in May, national Finance Director Jordan Kaplan and one of his deputies, Alexandra Shapiro, strategized about where to seat a major Florida donor, Stephen Bittel, at a DNC fundraiser featuring Obama. Bittel, a real estate mogul in South Florida, appears to have exasperated the officials, the documents suggest. He doesnt sit next to POTUS! Kaplan wrote. Bittel will be sitting in the sh---iest corner I can find, responded Shapiro, who also referred to donors who had yet to confirm for the event as clowns. Wasserman Schultz expects to continue to help out through the end of the convention. In addition, Clinton issued a statement in which she announced that Wasserman Schultz would serve as honorary chair of the campaigns 50-state program as well as continuing as a surrogate nationally and in Florida. In a statement, Obama said he was grateful for Wasserman Schultzs service. Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth, the president said. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Others were less generous. On the whole, Id rather she not be in Philadelphia, said James Carville, a longtime Clinton confidant. [Clinton campaign manager: Russians leaked Democrats emails to help Donald Trump] Clintons campaign manager, Robby Mook, said that the DNC would need to investigate the hack, including checking to see whether any emails were doctored, and that the party would take appropriate action. Whats disturbing to us is that experts are telling us that Russian state hackers broke into the DNC, stole these emails, and other experts are now saying the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump, Mook said on CNNs State of the Union. I dont think its coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention here, and thats disturbing. Trumps campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, said Mooks Russia theory is absurd. Asked about Mooks allegation that the Russians were trying to help Trump by releasing damaging DNC emails, Manafort said, Its a far reach, obviously. The Washington Post reported last month that Russian government hackers penetrated the DNC, stealing opposition research about Donald Trump and compromising the partys email and chat systems. But that explanation seems unlikely to mollify Sanders supporters who are angry about the messages and distrustful of Clinton and the party. The emails revealed a DNC official apparently discussing how to use Sanderss religion against him to help Clinton ahead of the Kentucky and West Virginia primaries. In another email, a Clinton campaign lawyer suggested to the DNC how it should respond to claims from the Sanders campaign that it was improperly using a joint fundraising committee with state parties. The messages also reveal the prized perks given to the partys top donors. Central themes of the Democrats convention will be optimism and inclusion, in direct contrast to what Clinton calls Trumps divisive and dysfunctional politics. Democrats have planned to use the spectacle of the Republican convention as Exhibit A for how not to lead. DNC spokesman, Luis Miranda, who announced Brazile as the interim party leader in a Twitter message Sunday, had earlier recapped the Republican convention by saying it was a chaotic week that set a low bar. Mondays convention program is expected to open with some of the partys biggest political stars, and it will highlight some of the partys most progressive voices. Sanders, first lady Michelle Obama and Warren, the senator from Massachusetts and a liberal firebrand, are expected to kick off the opening session. Sanders moved quickly Sunday to separate the dispute with the DNC from his support for Clinton. He strongly denied that the revelations had changed his support for her and said the real threat was Trump. To my mind, what is most important now is the defeating of the worst candidate for president that I have seen in my lifetime, Donald Trump, who is not qualified to be president by temperament, not qualified to be president by the ideas that he has brought forth, Sanders said on ABC. Brazile, a vice chair of the convention, also was caught up in the leak. Asked for comment in an email from a Washington Post reporter about negotiations between the Sanders campaign and the DNC about the composition of the partys convention committees, Brazile forwarded the reporters request to DNC officials. I have no intentions of touching this, she said. Why? Because I will cuss out the Sanders camp! Phillip reported from Washington. Dan Balz, Lois Romano and David Weigel in Philadelphia, Karen Tumulty in Washington and John Wagner in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report. Sen. Timothy M. Kaines stance on trade has been at odds with progressive groups, particularly over the Trans-Pacific Partnership but has championed other liberal causes as governor of Virginia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) For those who know Sen. Timothy M. Kaine well in his home state of Virginia, there is rich irony to the blowback from liberal advocacy groups upset that Hillary Clinton did not pick someone more progressive to be her Democratic running mate. Throughout his time in politics here, there has always been this question about whether Tim Kaine was too liberal for Virginia, said Bob Holsworth, a longtime political analyst. No one has ever suggested this was a moderate who couldnt be counted on to support liberal values. Before entering politics, Kaine worked as a civil rights lawyer, focusing on housing discrimination affecting African American families and representing inmates on death row. He began his political career in 1994 by winning a seat on Richmonds City Council, whose majority-black members selected him as mayor four years later. In the two decades that followed, Kaine rose through the political ranks to serve as Virginias lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator. In those positions, he successfully pushed a smoking ban in restaurants in a state where tobacco giant Philip Morris is a major employer. He advocated gun control in a state where the National Rifle Association has its headquarters. He spoke out against the death penalty in a leading state for executions. And hes remained a close ally of labor groups in a state that prides itself on its right-to-work status. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's vice presidential candidate. Here's what you need to know about him. (Sarah Parnass,Osman Malik/The Washington Post) I dont understand it, said Mo Elleithee, a friend and longtime Democratic operative who once worked for Kaine. My sense is most of the progressives whove been concerned dont know him and have another candidate they would have preferred. The critique in recent days from national progressive groups some with ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), the runner-up in the Democratic primaries has focused on a handful of issues, related primarily to trade and banking. And some liberal activists have expressed dismay that Clinton passed over Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), a darling of the partys left wing whom Clinton had dangled as a possible pick. On Sunday, Sanders said during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press that he would have preferred Warren. Sanders said Kaine is more conservative than him but praised his Senate colleague for being smart and a very nice guy. Winnie Wong, an Occupy Wall Street veteran who founded the group People for Bernie, said Clintons pick of Kaine showed a woeful disregard to the progressives who fought so hard this year to create conditions for transformational change this country desperately needs. Norman Solomon, the coordinator of a group billing itself as the Bernie Delegates Network, called Kaine a loyal servant of oligarchy. If Clinton has reached out to Bernie supporters, it appears that she has done so to stick triangulating thumbs in their eyes, said Solomon, whose organization claims to represent hundreds of Sanders delegates attending the convention in Philadelphia but is not coordinating with the campaign. Kaines stance on trade has been at odds with progressive groups, particularly over the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pending trade pact being championed by President Obama but opposed by most liberal interest groups and most liberal Democrats in Congress, including Sanders. Kaine was one of 13 Senate Democrats who voted in June 2015 to grant Obama fast-track authority to push the deal through Congress. Why would I not give to this president the same tools to negotiate a trade deal that other presidents had? Kaine told reporters Thursday, the day before he was picked to be Clintons running mate. Speaking of the deal itself, Kaine also said, I see much in it to like. During her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton called the pending pact the gold standard of multinational trade, but she has since announced her opposition, and Kaine is expected to fall into line, citing some of the same reservations. Kaine also drew fire from liberal groups for signing a bipartisan letter last week urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to carefully tailor its rulemaking regarding community banks and credit unions so as not to unduly burden the institutions with regulations aimed at commercial banks. Kaine said that the letter merely reflected the differing environments under which different kinds of financial institutions operate, but the activist network Democracy for America, which backed Sanders in the primaries, said his action should be disqualifying for any potential Democratic vice-presidential pick, calling it an attempt to help banks dodge consumer protection standards. Holsworth, the longtime Virginia political analyst, said that part of the friction between Kaine and these groups can be attributed to an evolving definition of what it means to be a progressive. Kaines progressivism is rooted in a civil rights and social justice tradition, Holsworth said. But now theres a growing emphasis on more adversarial relationships with large institutions, including Wall Street firms and large corporations, he said. Thats not the kind of tradition Tim Kaine comes out of. Most governors, Holsworth argued, tend to be more sympathetic to businesses, because part of their job is attracting them to their state. And in the case of Virginia, which is home to one of the nations larger deep-water ports, its also important to understand the benefits of trade. There are particular issue areas where Kaine can be vulnerable to the progressive critique, but when you look at his entire career, its hard to say he isnt closer to them than the Blue Dogs or other more moderate factions, he said. Kaine is also considered well to the left of Virginias senior senator, Mark R. Warner, a venture capitalist and one of the Senates wealthiest members. The political distance between the two is often overlooked, given that Kaine served as lieutenant governor during Warners tenure as governor, and some cast Kaines 2005 bid for governor as an extension of Warners service. Neil Sroka, communications director for Democracy for America, one of the liberal groups that have been critical of Kaine, said theres much to like about him. His record on civil rights and guns is unquestionable, Sroka said, but he argued that doesnt erase his groups concerns. A willingness to take on the corporate establishment is essential to this election, he said. Kaines boosters say theyve been puzzled by the progressive groups that have spoken out against his being chosen. Since winning his Senate seat in 2012, Kaine has won perfect or near-perfect scores from an array of liberal interest groups, reflecting a record that is in line with their positions on abortion rights, gun control, gay rights and labor interests. In 2013, Kaine also made history with a floor speech entirely in Spanish, an address in support of an immigration law overhaul. During her introduction of Kaine to a national audience Saturday at a rally in Miami, Clinton repeatedly called Kaine a progressive who likes to get things done. Elleithee and others point to several defining moments in Kaines career that speak to his progressive values. In his race for governor, for example, Kaine was hit hard by his Republican opponent, Jerry W. Kilgore, for his personal opposition to the death penalty. Kilgore ran television ads that featured family members of murdered Virginians denouncing Kaine. Kaine countered with an ad in which he stared straight into the camera and declared his position a matter of faith but pledged to carry out the law. As governor, he did allow executions to continue but vetoed bills seeking to expand the application of the death penalty. Kaine also clashed with Republican legislators early in his term when he sought to appoint an old friend and longtime labor leader to be secretary of the commonwealth, a position responsible for making thousands of appointments to state boards and commissions. In a rare move, the House of Delegates voted down the nomination of former AFL-CIO state director Daniel G. LeBlanc, citing concerns about his long-standing opposition to right to work labor laws. In an interview, LeBlanc described himself as one of those guys who was pushing for the Democrats to be more progressive in Virginia and praised Kaine for what he did next: appoint him to another Cabinet-level position that didnt require confirmation by the legislature. In that position, which LeBlanc described as a workforce development czar, he was able to work in areas closer to his expertise. Kaines national politics also have showed a progressive bent. During the 2008 presidential cycle, he was the first governor outside of Illinois to endorse Barack Obama. What the scene in Philadelphia looks like as it readies for the DNC What the scene in Philadelphia looks like as it readies for the DNC It has been an open secret for some time that one of the weakest elements of the extended Democratic Party family under President Obama has been the Democratic National Committee. This neglected institution has become a public embarrassment on the eve of a national convention designed to highlight party unity. The cascade of internal DNC emails released Friday by WikiLeaks underscore what Sen. Bernie Sanders and his advisers have long claimed: The DNC appeared to have its finger on the scale for rival Hillary Clinton through the long nominating contest. In some ways, that is not entirely surprising, because Clinton is the institutional choice of the Democrats and because DNC members are the partys establishment. But the national committees role is to maintain strict neutrality during the primaries, and the emails indicate that did not happen. The emails also paint a picture that confirms what has long been assumed, that of a DNC more or less isolated from key elements of the party including the White House and left to the devices of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), its long-standing chair. Her swift resignation, under pressure from Clintons team, will help move her out of the way, but the potential for more embarrassing emails being released this week and beyond remains. Clinton did not win the nomination because of nefarious help from the DNC. But there always were questions about the DNCs leanings. A small example was the debate schedule. Whether because of outright favoritism toward Clinton or something else, the schedule limited in number and out of sync with many of the early primaries and caucuses was considered initially more helpful to Clinton than her challengers. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said she will resign this week in the aftermath of the release of thousands of internal email exchanges among Democratic officials. (Thomas Johnson,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Wasserman Schultz denied it, and she said correctly that those Saturday night debates came at the demands of the major broadcast networks. But after seeing what was being said about Sanders in some of the emails, the senator from Vermont and his advisers have concluded that Wasserman Schultz and others were quietly cheering for Clinton. Sanders has every right to feel aggrieved. [DNC emails leaked, to partys embarrassment] But this is more than an issue of whether Sanders got fair treatment in this campaign. The problems at the DNC date back years. Instead of being dealt with by those who had the power to do so, they were left to fester. Obama came to the presidency without deep ties to the institutions of the party. He owed few people much and liked it that way. During the first two years of his presidency, the DNC was used to develop and test some of the infrastructure data collection, analytics and modeling techniques that allowed them to jump-start the work of his 2012 reelection committee. Although it took all of 2011 and much of 2012 to perfect those tools (they werent always perfected), the reelection team had a running start because of what was funded through the DNC. Other than that, the Obama political operation has been largely separate and free-standing, through various committees with the initials OFA Obama for America, Organizing for America, Organizing for Action, etc. The DNC had to compete for money with those Obama-linked organizations. Also, it was not until the summer of 2015 that the Obama committees information was fully shared with the national committee. My colleague Juliet Eilperin recently reported that in 2010, at a meeting of Democratic governors, one governor asked an administration official, Will the OFA please join the Democratic Party. The president did little about the conditions at and leadership of the national committee. He helped raise funds, but overall, the DNCs fundraising has trailed that of the Republican National Committee. According to data from the campaign-finance watchdog OpenSecrets, the DNC has raised $128 million this cycle, compared with $181 million for the RNC. The party that holds the White House should do better than that. Given her role, Wasserman Schultz has been one of the most visible faces of the party, a frequent guest on cable television who has delivered the partys talking points about the opposition with robotic discipline. But she has been a controversial chair, with Democrats privately questioning her effectiveness as a spokeswoman and a party builder. The email leaks turned that into a public conversation. [Mook says Russians leaked emails to help Trump] On Sunday morning, Sanders called on her to resign. Others followed, and by mid-afternoon she issued a statement saying she would step down after the convention. As such controversies go, it was resolved relatively swiftly. But it was hardly a full resolution of the issue and raised the question of why it came to this before action was taken. There have been private complaints about Wasserman Schultz for a long time. She is no favorite of Democratic congressional leaders, who earlier this year floated the possibility that she could be moved aside before the election. It did not happen, in part because it could not easily be done unless she was willing to go. Clintons team has long known that Wasserman Schultz was an unpopular chair. But the feeling inside the Brooklyn campaign headquarters was always that her removal was not worth the time, effort or public brouhaha that would result. The Clinton campaign always had bigger issues to deal with, such as winning the nomination against a stronger-than-expected challenge from Sanders and now dealing with Donald Trump, an opponent who plays by new rules. Worrying about the chair of the party through all this seemed like a small-bore problem. The team was always content to let things go through the duration of the campaign. The Washington Post reported in June that Russian government hackers penetrated the DNCs computers and stole opposition research about Trump. Making the rounds of the Sunday morning political talk shows, Robby Mook, Clintons campaign manager, said experts informed the campaign that the email leak was the work of Russians trying to help Trump. The timing of the leak certainly seems more than coincidental, and that leaves open the possibility that more material is to come. The leak left Wasserman Schultz in an untenable position at the start of a convention that she and the DNC have been planning for many months and in which she would have been a highly visible presence. Only a day earlier, she was one of the speakers at the rally in Miami where Clinton unveiled her running mate, Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia. Now she will be mostly in the background and then gone as chair of the party. Clinton cares more about party-building and party institutions than Obama does. She made it part of her campaign appeal as she worked to gain support of state party officials and other superdelegates during the primaries. As president, she would probably restructure the committee and probably would have brought in her own person as chair to run it. That timetable was accelerated by the WikiLeaks dump. For the Democrats, its ironic that a long-standing problem that could have been dealt with before has emerged as a disruptive force at a moment of maximum visibility. Men carry the coffin of a victim on Sunday, one day after a suicide attack killed more than 80 in Kabul. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday ordered a 10-day ban on public protests after a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State killed more than 80 people and wounded hundreds at a peaceful demonstration here Saturday. The protesters, mostly members of the Shiite ethnic Hazara minority, were demanding better access to electrical power in several rural provinces. But the devastating terrorist attack, the deadliest in Kabul since the overthrow of Taliban extremist rule in 2001, raised fears that sectarian violence could be unleashed in the Sunni-majority Muslim country, deliberately fanned by the eruption of mass carnage in the Afghan capital at the hands of the Islamic State, the Middle Eastern-based Sunni group known here as Daesh. If Daesh has indeed conducted this attack as they claim, then their first goal is clear: to kill the Shiites here as they have been killing them in Iraq, said Ahmad Zia Rafat, a professor at Kabul University. Their second goal is to create panic, destabilize society and put pressure on the government. The two-year-old Ghani government has been struggling to meet public demands for reform and improved living standards while trying to beat back an aggressive Taliban insurgency, which has launched repeated attacks in Kabul and other parts of the country this year. Until Saturday, the Islamic States recruitment and armed operations had been confined to a far eastern region near Pakistans border. Earlier this month, President Obama announced he was slowing the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, leaving about 8,400 in the country through the end of 2017. His move was supported by numerous military officials and experts, who said Afghan forces were not yet prepared to defeat the Taliban on their own and that the United States needed to reinforce its message of long-term commitment to the country. Most U.S. troops are involved in training or counterinsurgency. Now, with both the Islamic State and the long-oppressed Hazara minority flexing their muscles, the Ghani government must deal with a new source of potential upheaval and seek to ensure that Afghanistans Western-backed war does not veer into sectarian conflict. Even as Ghani declared Sunday a day of national mourning and Hazara community members buried dozens of victims in a hastily dug mass grave southwest of the capital, some Hazara leaders blamed the president for failing to protect their gathering and said they would press on with their demands despite the ban on protests. More than 100 young people died for the cause. If the government doesnt reroute the power line, we will continue our protests even if it costs our lives, said Raihana Azad, a Hazara member of parliament and leader of the power movement. If we dont continue to protest, it will be an insult to the blood of those who were killed yesterday. In recent years, Afghanistan has largely avoided a reprise of the sectarian clashes that destroyed Kabul during the civil war of the early 1990s and that in recent years have brought bloodshed and chaos to Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. The only previous major attack against Afghan Shiites was the bombing of a Kabul mosque in 2011 during a religious holiday. That attack, which left 70 dead, was claimed by Pakistani Sunni militants. But the once-docile and impoverished Hazara minority, long abused and ostracized by ethnic Pashtun Sunni leaders, has been gaining strength and voice under civilian rule, holding ever-more elaborate religious holidays, demonstrating against discrimination and insisting that the government route power lines through their rural heartland. Shiites make up about 10 percent of the Afghan population, with power bases in Kabul and the north-central province of Bamian. Since taking office, Ghani has tried to appease the Hazaras by allowing them to hold peaceful demonstrations and offering to negotiate over the placement of power lines. Senior Hazara leaders have opposed the recent protests, which have been led by dissident leaders, students and community activists, and the government has placed cargo containers on major roads to contain their marches. In addition, there are outside forces that could exacerbate sectarian conflict here. Iran, which took in huge numbers of Shiite refugees from Afghan wars, has sought increasing influence in postwar Afghan society. In Syria, some Hazaras have fought on the side of government troops against Sunni militias, including the Islamic State. The goal of Daesh is to fan sectarian war in Afghanistan, but they will not succeed because the people are smart and have learned a lot from years of long wars, said Mohammad Nateqi, a former Afghan diplomat and analyst. But several Hazara political and intellectual figures said they were concerned that the Ghani government would not be able to protect them, and some suggested that Saturdays attack was abetted by collaborators inside the government. Mohammed Alizada, a Hazara member of parliament, said the Islamic State has two factions of loyalists operating in Afghanistan, one made up of moderate former Taliban members and one more foreign-dominated and extreme. If the second group grows stronger, he said, I dont think the Afghan government will be able to defend Shiites against them without the help of the international community. Constable reported from Fairfax, Va. Sayed Salahuddin contributed from Kabul. Read more: Blast kills at least 80 during peaceful protest in Kabul After suffering under the Taliban, an Afghan minority faces new threats Fear of the Islamic State spawns a renegade Afghan militia Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Two longtime veterans of the industry have purchased and renamed whats now known as Neuies Vogue Bar & Grill at 1820 George St. on the citys North Side. Scott Neumeister and his wife, Lisa, hadnt owned a bar since the 2013 sale of Neuies Varsity Club at 1920 Ward Ave. and Neuies North Star at 1732 George St. This one became available and its the Vogue, Scott Neumeister said last week of the couples decision to buy the building and business June 22. We were excited about the opportunity. The Neumeisters immediately closed it for three weeks of updating, and reopened under the new name July 15. The business had operated as DJs Vogue Bar & Grill from 1995 to January 2015, when new owners renamed it Roscoes Vogue Bar & Grill in honor of the late Roscoe Short who had operated the Vogue Bar there from 1946 to 1987. Shorts father, Roscoe Short Sr., and a friend had started the business in 1935. We have all of the DJs favorites, such as the Flashburger, which is huge, Scott Neumeister said of the food menu. And we also have some of our own favorites from the couples years in the industry, as well as some popular new Tater Tot entrees. The menu will expand in about a week. Laura Richmond has returned as kitchen manager, and Adam Kressel is our bar manager, Neumeister said. Neuies is open from 10 a.m. to bar time seven days a week. Kitchen hours are 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Neuies is on Facebook and soon will have a website. River-N-Ridge Outdoors will hold its grand opening Saturday at 60 S. Front St., below Gracies Hutch along the Mississippi River in downtown Lansing, Iowa. Mark and Amy Peterson opened the new store on June 23. It sells bait, tackle, fishing gear, ice, firearms, ammunition, firewood, apparel, beer, soda pop, snacks and cheese, ice cream and other products made by WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon. River-N-Ridge began offering kayak rentals two weeks ago and might rent canoes in the future, Mark Peterson said. He also repairs guns on site and outsources fishing rod repairs. Peterson said he started Blackhawk Firearms, which sold guns, in 2012 from his home near New Albin. He decided to expand and rename the business River-N-Ridge Outdoors and move it to downtown Lansing. The store has a dock for customers who choose to arrive by boat. River-N-Ridges summer hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. It will be open year-round. For more information, call 563-538-4188 or visit the stores Facebook page. It soon will have a website. Bebob & Bundles LLC, which offers Music Together music and movement classes for children ages birth through 7, will move into its new studio location at 1221 Caledonia St. next month. Bebops director, Kathryn Skemp Moran, bought the building. Since 2010, Bebop has been holding its classes at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse and at Mistys Dance Unlimited in Onalaska. An open house at its new studio will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 20. Fall classes begin Sept. 17. Free demonstration classes are available until Aug. 13 at The Pump House and will be available at the new studio for Big Kids (ages 5 to 7) on Aug. 16 and for Mixed Ages (birth to 5 years) on Aug. 16 and 20. For more information and registration go to www.bebopandbundles.com; click on Classes and Schedule a Demo. Bebop also will partner with the Holmen Parks and Recreation Department to offer classes at the Halfway Creek Park west shelter in Holmen. Fall enrollment will be through the department; visit www.holmenwi.com. To register for an Aug. 18 free demonstration class for Mixed Ages in Holmen, go to www.bebopandbundles.com. They ostensibly rallied here Sunday to protest the attempted overthrow of their government. But what seemed to worry them was the direction of that same government and a crackdown led by its powerful leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Im afraid. Erdogan is trying to become a dictator, said Ahmet, a 21-year-old university student who joined thousands of other demonstrators in Istanbuls Taksim Square. He declined to give his last name because, like many in Turkey, he feared being swept up in the extraordinary purge of state institutions triggered by a failed coup by renegade soldiers on July 15. The measures have involved the detention, suspension and firing of tens of thousands of people, including soldiers, police, judges and civil servants. On Saturday, Turkeys presidency ordered the closure of 1,043 schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions. Participants at the rally waved Turkish flags and chanted nationalist slogans. Some drank beer an unspoken rebuke to the Islamist orientation of Erdogans government and held up posters showing the visage of Turkeys secular founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. They were united in expressing concern about the turbulence shaking this Middle East nation of 75 million people. Many also seemed careful not to criticize the president at least not in public or in front of foreign journalists. A climate of fear has gripped many Turks, who say the governments response seems more about Erdogan consolidating his power than just rooting out coup plotters. Turkeys allies, including the United States, have expressed similar concerns. Supporters of the Republican Peoples Party the countrys main opposition, referred to as the CHP have long been critical of the Turkish leaders religious agenda and attempts to silence journalists and critics. Even so, the CHPs secular-leaning leadership tried to extend an olive branch to Erdogan and his Islamist allies. The party organized Sundays rally, and its officials formally extended an invitation to Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its supporters. That gesture felt at odds with comments Friday by the CHPs head, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. He suggested that Erdogan had taken the purge too far. We want all those who are prosecuted on coup-related charges to be tried in line with democracy and the rule of law. We dont want a witch hunt, Kilicdaroglu told NTV, a private broadcaster. Government officials say the crackdown is meant to root out loyalists of Fethullah Gulen, a dissident cleric who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Authorities have accused Gulen of orchestrating the attempted coup, which included warplanes targeting the parliament and rogue soldiers carrying out an apparent attempt on Erdogans life. Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar and cleric from Turkey. He left Turkey in 1999, and is now living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. (Claritza Jimenez,Jason Aldag/The Washington Post) Gulen has denied any involvement. The Reuters news agency reported Sunday that Turkeys air force head issued a pledge of absolute obedience to the chief of the militarys general staff, Hulusi Akar. Akar was held hostage during the coup attempt. Erdogan has vowed to restructure the military, and authorities have detained nearly a third of its serving generals in connection with the coup. Sundays rally seemed to attract a variety of people representing the countrys complex ideological spectrum. Most dressed in Western attire, such as jeans and tank tops. Others apparent supporters of the AKP wore religious attire, including veils for women. Like others at the rally, Deniz Yazar declined to elaborate on his views of hot-button political issues here, such as the emergency measures imposed last week that give authorities enhanced powers to impose curfews and detain people. Look, I dont want to criticize Erdogan or those people. Im not a supporter of the president. Im just here to show that I support democracy, said Yazar, 50, a hotel owner in Istanbul. Nor did many seem willing to discuss the recent rallies involving Erdogan supporters, who have filled the streets and squares of Istanbul since the coup attempt. During the evenings, Taksim Square has felt like a festival for the Turkish leaders supporters, even drawing fundamentalist Islamists who sport bushy beards and robes. The presence of religious conservatives has alarmed many of the citys more secular residents. In 2013, a small park near the shopping district turned into a rallying point for large demonstrations against Erdogan. Sarra Akcan, a photographer, recalled observing those protests and how, ultimately, they failed to curb the Turkish presidents powers. She found herself taking pictures of protesters in the Taksim area on Sunday, but she didnt hold out much hope. This feels more like a festival, but Im still not convinced, she said. Ive not been optimistic about our future for a long time, and this doesnt change that. Read more Turkey detains 6,000 in failed coup amid signs of chaos in the military With Turkey in chaos, its secular citizens feel even more nervous Turkey declares a state of emergency for three months Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A memorial of candles and flowers is seen in front of the Olympia shopping center in Munich, where an 18-year-old German-Iranian student went on a shooting rampage on Friday. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week. July 24, 2016 A memorial of candles and flowers is seen in front of the Olympia shopping center in Munich, where an 18-year-old German-Iranian student went on a shooting rampage on Friday. Europe reacted in shock to the third attack on the continent in just over a week. Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images At least nine people were killed and 16 others injured Friday in a shooting rampage at a busy shopping area in Munich. At least nine people were killed and 16 others injured Friday in a shooting rampage at a busy shopping area in Munich. At least nine people were killed and 16 others injured Friday in a shooting rampage at a busy shopping area in Munich. The father sat on his sons bed, his voice so ragged from grief he could only speak in a whisper. He talked about calling his childs mobile phone over and over. No answer. He spoke about the dread, then panic and anger, until nine hours after his 14-year-old boy went missing, the authorities finally told him that Can Leyla had been shot dead. In the rampage in Munich, the third in nine days in Europe, the immediate focus has been on the young man who stalked and killed nine and wounded two dozen at a fast-food restaurant and a mall in a placid German suburb. Who was the killer? Why did he do it? Was he a terrorist? On the other side of the news are the devastated families of the victims, who themselves tell something about Europe today. The nine dead were overwhelmingly young eight of the nine were under 20. Three were just 14. They were mostly the children of immigrants, with last names like Sulaj, Dag and Dayicik. Three teens were of Turkish descent, and three youths had parents who came from Kosovo and Albania. Another boys parents were from Greece. They are the young faces of Germany. Most are believed to be German citizens, who had German futures. But Can Leylas father, Hasan, said Germany abandoned his family in its hour of need. I dont blame Germany for what happened to my son. I blame Germany for how we have been treated, he said. The 45-year-old employee at the nearby BMW factory said he was pushed away from the mall where the shooting occurred; sent to a crisis center where no one knew anything; ignored by authorities, put on hold, given the run-around. It is because of the way I look. Because of my name, he said. Leyla was finally allowed to see his sons body Sunday. While condolences and offers of help poured in from the local Turkish community, nobody from the German federal or municipal government has called although the Turkish foreign minister phoned the family personally. I will always be treated like a foreigner here, said Leyla, who was born and raised in Germany. His father came from Turkey to Germany in 1966, one of millions of Turkish guest workers. The Washington Posts security correspondent Souad Mekhennet, who is based in Europe and specializes in covering terrorism, is related to the Leyla family. She was reporting on the Munich shootings when she learned one of her relatives was among the dead. German police said the teenage gunman who went on a rampage at a shopping center Friday had no ties to the Islamic State or other extremist groups, but the authorities said he had been planning his attack for a year and may have been inspired by a similar assault by another German youth in 2009. At a news conference on Sunday, German authorities said evidence continued to support their theory that David Ali Sonboly, 18, was obsessed with mass killings and may have been a depressed loner who was bullied in school. Robert Heimberger, head of the Bavarian criminal police, said Sonboly had visited the German town of Winnenden last year, the scene of a similar shooting spree seven years ago by a 17-year-old that left 15 students and teachers dead at his former school. The Munich shooter took photographs at the site, authorities said. German police also said Sunday that it was likely the pistol used in the Munich attack was bought by Sonboly via the darknet, a corner of the Internet where users employ encryption, anonymity and special software to trade restricted items, pornography, ideas, files and whistle-blowing alerts to circumvent government snooping. Hueseyin Bayri, who witnessed one teenagers death, told the Associated Press on Sunday that the assailant shouted profanities about foreigners, adding, I will kill you all! as he fired rounds at his victims. In an amateur video that shows hecklers taunting Sonboly during his rampage, the shooter yells back, I am German! and complains about years of being bullied by his peers. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci called for a day of mourning for three young ethnic Albanians who were killed in Munich. He called them heroes in the war for the joint freedom and values in Europe, according to Sky News. Another of the victims was Huseyin Dayicik, 17, whose parents were originally from Greece. German news media say he lost his life trying to protect his sister. Greek parliamentarian Andreas Loverdos tweeted that Dayicik's courageous act will inspire all Greeks, all people. Hassan Leylas son was shot by Sonboly while he was dining with his best friend, Selcuk Kili, 15, at the McDonalds. Kili was also killed. The two boys lived next door to each other in a Munich suburb. Leyla described his son as obsessed with soccer. He was attending a special sports high school for gifted athletes. He awoke at 5:30 a.m. and trained every day. I not telling you this because he was a son. But he was a peacemaker; he befriended the weak, he said. While many in Munich have praised the police response to the shooting rampage with saving lives, Leyla doesnt see it that way. There were thousands of police, including many in military gear. Yet the shooter wandered around for two hours. If the terrorist didnt shoot himself, maybe the killing would have continued even longer. In the southwestern city of Reutlingen on Sunday, a 21-year-old man with a machete killed a woman and injured two others before he was arrested, police said. The suspect is a Syrian asylum seeker who had gotten into an argument with the woman, police said. The slaying adds to a string of recent attacks in Germany, including a teenager who police said used an ax last week to injure five people on a commuter train. Kirchner reported from Berlin. Tracing the path of four terrorists sent to Europe by the Islamic State Migrants find doors slamming shut across Europe Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A Venezuelan woman illegally crosses the border into Colombia, with the help of a young Colombian porter. For 2,000 Colombian pesos ($.65) porters help migrants cross the river and carry their bags. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) It wasnt much, but it was all she could afford a sack of laundry detergent, a package of tampons and 18 rolls of Colombian toilet paper. Marys Rosalba was carrying the prized goods back to Venezuela with a tight grip and a fierce look that said: Dont even think of trying to rob me. The three items had cost her an entire weeks wages. I used to have my own little market, said Rosalba, 50. Now I clean houses from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. When Im not standing in line. Up ahead on the bridge over the Tachira River was the border checkpoint, and on the other side an oil-rich country of empty cupboards and supermarket queues stretching for blocks. Cucuta, long known as a city of contraband goods, has suddenly became a lifeline for desperate shoppers in neighboring Venezuela, and one of the starkest illustrations yet of its panicky, gnawing hunger. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans like Rosalba have streamed across the border for basic goods in recent weeks as their countrys economy collapses under the weight of the worlds highest inflation rate and chronic mismanagement, which has produced shortages of everything from diapers to milk. Just days before Rosalba made her meager purchases, more than 120,000 Venezuelans poured across the border as both countries agreed to briefly reopen several crossings that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered shut last August. An additional 35,000 shoppers did the same on July 10. They used to come here to sell. Now they come to buy, said Colombian shopkeeper Viviana Lozano, who had to hire 10 friends to cope with the crush of customers. She needed a money-counting machine to process their giant wads of Venezuelan bolivars, whose largest-denomination bank note, a 100-bolivar bill, is worth only 10 U.S. cents. It was too crazy, Lozano said. Viviana Lozano, 31, works at La Guaira, a shop she recently opened in Cucuta, Colombia. When authorities opened the border to Venezuelan shoppers July 16 and 17, she hired 10 friends to help and sold nearly everything on her shelves. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) Some Venezuelans traveled hundreds of miles through the night on long-distance buses to make the crossing during the weekend openings. They hugged Colombian border guards and went racing for the supermarkets. Stuffing suitcases and duffel bags with as many items as they could fit and their bolivars could buy, they went home with sacks of rice, sugar, corn meal and milk powder, like sailors preparing for a long voyage at sea. [Venezuelans are storming supermarkets as food supply dwindles] It was a short reprieve. In recent days, border traffic has been much more limited. Colombian authorities worried the growing crowds could spiral out of control say they want to end the ad hoc crossings and reopen the border on a long-term basis. Both governments say they are in negotiations to do so, although Maduro administration officials have bristled at the Colombians depiction of Cucuta as a humanitarian corridor. They insist the claims of spreading hunger are part of a smear campaign by Venezuelas opposition. But on Cucutas border bridges in recent days, where a smaller but steady trickle of people are allowed to pass, stories of hardship and indignity appeared to be the only thing in abundance. Venezuelans with doctors notes, kids enrolled in Colombian schools and Venezuelans with dual nationality were among the lucky ones still allowed to cross. Venezuela residents cross the border bridge to return home from Colombia. When authorities opened the crossing during two weekends earlier this month, more than 150,000 people streamed across to buy goods that are scarce in Venezuela. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) The Venezuelan economy is projected to shrink 10 percent this year, according to a recent International Monetary Fund report, and consumer prices are on pace for a 700 percent increase. Over there, you wait in line all day for a kilo of rice, and sometimes it runs out before your turn comes, so its all for nothing, said Carlos Ortega, 68, a retired geology professor trudging home after a doctors appointment in Colombia. His Venezuelan pension was good for only a few pounds of Colombian beans, sugar and flour. This government has looted our country, he said, glaring at the Venezuelan border guards. And theyre still doing it. Never been hungry like this Maduro ordered the border closed after three Venezuelan soldiers were injured in a shootout last August with alleged smugglers. The president claimed that as much as 40 percent of Venezuelan goods were being leached out of the country by people seeking to take advantage of how cheap they are thanks to the socialist-inspired governments subsidies and price caps. But those same policies have contributed to shortages that have grown ever more severe as low oil prices crimp Venezuelan government finances, limiting the import-dependent countrys supply of basic items. Carlos Luna, president of the Cucuta Chamber of Commerce, said the surge of Venezuelan shoppers this month was a burst of business for Colombian vendors, but thats not the kind of border that we want. Luna said that he expects the border to be permanently reopened soon and that both countries are more committed to cooperation on enforcement. [The only number that matters in Venezuela is this one] But nearly a year after Maduro launched his crackdown, the economic incentives that make smuggling so lucrative are unchanged. The contraband trade appears to be primed for a new boom when the border reopens and cars and buses once more stream across, something that could make Venezuelas scarcities even worse. A porter carries the bags of a migrant crossing illegally into Columbia from Venezuela. For 2,000 Colombian pesos ($.65) he and other porters help migrants cross the river and carry their bags. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) The wind moves the grass in path used by illegal Venezuelan migrants to reach Colombia. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) Venezuelas military deployment at the border has slowed, but not stopped, the flow of goods into Colombia. Just a few hundred yards upriver from the official crossing, Venezuelans wade through the shallow river in plain sight of armed Venezuelan border guards. Theyll look the other way for a small bribe, according to residents here. The footpaths and motorcycle trails through the riverbed reek of gasoline, carried over after dark in six-gallon plastic jugs called pimpinas. Venezuelan government service stations sell top-quality high-octane gasoline for 2 U.S. cents a gallon. On the Colombian side, grizzled old men sit in the shade along the roadways selling pimpinas at $10 a pop, waving their funnels at passing motorists. At the wholesale market in central Cucuta, huge piles of containers of powdered milk stamped with the Venezuelan governments Mercal label were being unloaded in broad daylight. Dozens of tanks of smuggled gasoline for sale are stocked in a private house in Cucuta. Each 6-gallon jug sells for about $10 on the Colombian side. In Venezuela, government service stations sell high-octane gasoline for $.02 a gallon, the cheapest in the world. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) Carolina Higuera, 34, who runs a money-changing operation at the border, noted how the economic crisis in Venezuela has altered the longtime dynamic between the neighboring nations. For as long as she could remember, she said, Venezuela was the rich country, and Colombia was poor. People went there to find jobs. Now its the other way around, she said. Venezuelans bolivars have depreciated so fast that many who arrive in Colombia find they cant stock up on much. Venezuelas currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value in the past two years. Several Venezuelans, including Rosalba, the house cleaner, said they werent getting enough to eat, admitting that many of their meals now consist of little more than cornmeal cakes and fruit. Im 50 years old, and Ive never been hungry like this before, Rosalba said. Venezuelas crisis does not appear acute enough yet that its citizens are coming to Colombia in large numbers as refugees. But there is nearly universal resentment here about a rigidly controlled border in a region that has never had one, and where Colombians and Venezuelans are used to living, working, shopping and marrying on either side. Benedicta Vera, 57, moved to Venezuela three decades ago. Marxist guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, drove her family from their small farm, she said, and the four youngest of her 14 children were born in Venezuela. It was too hard to think of moving the whole family back and starting over in Colombia. It cant go on forever like this, she said. At some point it has to end. After a day of cleaning houses on the Colombian side, she walked toward the Venezuelan checkpoint, carrying little more than a bag of sugar and a sack of rice. Benedicta Vera, 57, returns to Venezuela from Colombia with bags of groceries. Basic goods such as cornmeal and rice are scarce in Venezuela, and many families say theyre eating only one or two meals a day. (Nicolo Filippo Rosso/For The Washington Post) Read more Venezuela faces worst-case scenario as Zika outbreak expands Harrowing scenes of Venezuela on the brink of collapse Venezuela declares a 2-day workweek because of dire energy shortages Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Labours leadership election campaign has opened amid a barrage of dirty tricks and slanders by the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), using a pliant media as an echo chamber. The immediate aim is to denigrate incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters in the hope of maximising the vote for challenger Owen Smith. But with little chance of a Smith victory, the campaign is ultimately designed to sanction whatever anti-democratic measures are taken to either sabotage the contest or to justify a split in the event of a Corbyn victory. Last week, in the two-day window declared by the National Executive Committee (NEC), an extraordinary 184,000 people signed up as members or union affiliates of the Labour Partypaying 25 for the right to vote in the contest. The NEC had withdrawn the right to vote for over 300,000 sign-ups since January, who had paid 3 in order to support Corbyn while recruiting their own base of support. The rights Save Labour campaign claims some success, but most estimates are that a majority of new voters are with Corbyn. Moreover, new signers will vote alongside 380,000 longstanding members and an estimated 160,000 affiliated supporters from unions and other organisations who overwhelmingly back Corbyn. Smith, the former shadow work and pensions secretary, has the backing of 162 MPs but trails 22 points behind Corbyn in opinion polls. Blairite leadership challenger Angela Eagle this week gave way to Smith, as he was considered to be more likely to beat Corbyn as a clean skinsomeone not directly associated with either the most right-wing excesses of Labour or the coup plot. But his claim of being left and untainted does not stand up to scrutiny. In 2002, he became a special adviser to Paul Murphy, the Blairite Secretary of State for Wales and followed him into the Northern Ireland Office. In 2005, Smith became Head of Policy and Government Relations for Pfizer, the pharmaceutical corporation, and in September 2008 he joined Amjen, the UKs biggest biotech firm. Smith claims to have been a convinced opponent of the Iraq War and that he would have voted against if he had been in parliament. But when he was a candidate in the 2006 Blaenau Gwent by-election, he said, I thought at the time the tradition of the Labour Party and the tradition of left-wing engagement to remove dictators was a noble, valuable tradition, and one that in South Wales, from the Spanish Civil War onwards, we have recognised and played a part in. While working for Pfizer in 2005, Smith endorsed a report promoting greater choice for patients in the NHS, including focus group research on direct payments for some services. He supported Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, telling Wales Online, If PFI works, then lets do it. ... Im not someone, frankly, who gets terribly wound up about some of the ideological nuances that get read into some of these things, and I think sometimes they are totally overblown. Speaking in a parliamentary debate on epilepsy in 2010, he called on ministers to improve incentives for pharmaceutical companies and warned the government to be careful about generic substitution of drugs in all markets in medicine. In 2011, Smith voted in support of setting up a no-fly zone in Libya and in 2014 for air strikes in Iraq. He also supported the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme and has said that as prime minister, he would authorise a nuclear strike. Smith is the best the PLP could field only because the choice of alternatives is so rotten. Millions of working people see this. Support for Corbyn, portrayed by the right as the product of a personality cult, is in fact a measure of the hostility towards New Labours agenda of austerity, toadying before big business and embrace of militarism and war. Every day, the partys MPs parade their latest lying claims of sexist or anti-Semitic intimidation for which Corbyn is supposedly responsible. Eagle, who claimed to have been subject to an anti-gay attack at a local party meeting that she did not even attend, has accused Corbyn of stirring, while Smith said he was creating a culture of bullying. The truth is that if not for Corbyns refusal to politically oppose them on the basis of preserving party unity, his critics would not have been in a position to wage their anti-democratic and filthy campaign. On Wednesday, at a meeting to launch his election campaign, Corbyn responded to a question on whether MPs would face the prospect of mandatory re-selection by their local parties. He replied that because of the Conservative governments plans to cut the number of parliamentary seats from 650 to 600 in 2018, all Labour MPs would face re-selection if this parliament runs to the full term. Everything Corbyn said at his campaign launch made clear that his was not a threat to actually move against the right wing. Offering the hand of friendship to his opponents, he stressed that after the September 24 leadership election result the party must unite: Im very disappointed that those people resigned, often without really giving me any satisfactory explanation as to why they were resigning. Smith, he added, would be very welcome to re-join the shadow cabinet. Corbyns appeals serve only to chloroform his supporters as to the nature of the enemy they faceacting instead as the last line defender of Labours stranglehold over the working class. On Tuesday, the High Court will hear a legal challenge brought by millionaire Labour donor Michael Foster aimed at removing Corbyn from the Labour leadership ballot. Fosters legal team argues that last weeks NEC split decisionsecured largely by the trade union voteto automatically include Corbyn as sitting leader, misinterpreted conflicting legal advice. Other candidates in the election had to secure the backing of 50 MPs. Such is the depth of the right wings hostility to Corbyn that both sides in court would have been represented by his opponents. The legal challenge named Labours General Secretary Iain McNicol as defendantsomeone who wanted Corbyn to be excluded and only allowed legal opinion to this effect to be read out at the NEC. Corbyn was forced to launch a successful legal bid to get himself included as a second defendant on the basis that it was pressing and obvious that he was not adequately represented in the same way as other Labour members by McNichol. Labour MPs take their orders from the ruling class and have been told in no uncertain terms to pursue their conflict to the endup to a split and the formation of a new party if necessary. In the pro-Tory Daily Telegraph, James Kirkup writes, There are wars where the two parties fight in the hope of seizing territory, righting a wrong or making a point, before settling the conflict with a deal each hopes will be advantageous to their interests. And then there is total war, when each side knows that the fight only ends in the total destruction of one side, or perhaps even both. This is a fight to the political death. Rupert Murdochs Times declares, If Mr Corbyn is not deposed, his MPs will have no responsible option but to split from a man who is leader in name only and whose ideology is alien to the partys and the countrys values. Acting on cue, one former shadow cabinet member told the Independent, Most of the Parliamentary Labour Party will not serve under Jeremy. His position is untenable. Another Labour MP said, At some point before the next general election, he will go. The only question is when. A socially awkward secret service agent reluctantly makes the acquaintance of both a beautiful Russian spy and a barely-tolerable Estonian modern poet in helmer-writer Toomas Hussars absurdist second feature The Spy and the Poet. Like Hussars debut Mushrooming, this is idiosyncratic, cross-genre filmmaking that may have more detractors than champions; nevertheless, festival programmers should check out this highly stylized, convoluted black-comedy/thriller, which provides a sarcastic reflection on the identity and concerns of contemporary Estonia. With no one in his ultra-modern, minimally furnished apartment to rush home to, the agent, former alcoholic Gustav (Jan Uuspold), is a regular at a bright, busy downtown cafe where he mournfully nurses a non-alcoholic beer before returning home to watch nature programs about animal sex on the tube. One evening, the cafe provides an unexpected dose of excitement when mangy-looking poet Miku (Rain Tolk) makes a pass at Nala (Lana Vatsel), an exotic-looking, dark-haired woman, and is curtly rebuffed. On his way home, Gustav stumbles across Nala, lying helpless in the street as if shes been accosted, and helps her get back on her feet. Later, she tracks him down and comes on strong. Suspecting a trap set by omnipresent Russian agents (because, really, what woman in her right mind would throw herself at Gustav?), Gustavs colleagues install secret cameras in his apartment and order him to play along. Meanwhile, Miku, who lives in some kind of commune/squat, procrastinates instead of taking the manuscript of his poetry volume to the publishers. When Nala moves in, every rigidly orderly fiber of Gustavs being revolts, but ultimately he falls for the femme fatale. Nala, who initially rebelled against her assignment, also ultimately seems content. (Is the nerdy agent a tiger in the sack?) As in The Maltese Falcon, complicated crosses and double-crosses take place in the background without it ever being entirely clear to the audience what is happening or why. At the same time, quirky minor characters come and go. But here, the peculiar atmosphere and digs at Estonias place in world politics are more the point than any straightforward drama. Story continues The positioning of post-Soviet Estonia as a western, Scandinavian country is one of the films particular concerns, as is the very notion of Estonian identity. When Gustav first meets Nala, he continually questions her about her background and refuses to believe she is Estonian. And in the films final frame, a heavily pregnant Nala is sitting in a cafe in some other European country. The bartender pointedly asks, Is it a boy or a girl? Its an Estonian, comes the reply. Director Hussar favors a poker-faced performing style, ultra-crisp cinematography from talented DP Rein Kotov (Tangerines, 1944) and in contrast to the rural forests of Mushrooming, slickly constructed urban interiors and the mean streets of Tallinn by night. Related stories Film Review: 'Lost in Munich' Film Review: 'Doomed Beauty' Film Review: 'Normal Autistic Film' Inequality is one of the hottest-button issues of our time the source of fiery debates over its extent, how to reduce it and even whether its really a problem. For starters, though, itd help to define what were talking about when we talk about inequality: gender, sexual preference, race, economic? Access to resources (and which resources)? Among countries or within countries? One lover of such precision is Dambisa Moyo, a Zambia-born macroeconomist who started off as a banker at the World Bank and then Goldman Sachs and is now one of the worlds most prominent thinkers on international development. She published her first book, Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa, in 2009, just as the effects of the global financial crisis had begun reverberating through supposedly developed economies. And indeed, much of her work about infrastructure and education in the United States and growth in China has tended, deliberately, to interrogate the line between developed and undeveloped. We caught up with Moyo at OZY Fusion Fest yesterday before she appeared on a panel, sponsored by the Ford Foundation, on inequality. Let it be known that Moyo is a kickass dresser with a charming British accent and that this interview has been edited for clarity. OZY: Why is income inequality worsening in the United States? Its a complex issue, of course, but what major trends do you think have widened the gap? Dambisa Moyo: Its a terrific question. I believe that at its very core, income inequality is growing because of the erosion of social mobility. We as economists and public policymakers know that income inequality has been an issue from time immemorial. The difference now is in the expectation of being able to deal with it. We were once quite optimistic that when people were able to get an education, get a job and therefore get a higher income, that would close the income gap. But weve seen a significant erosion in social mobility. For example, if you were born into a household below the bottom 25th percentile of income, your chances of ending up in the top 25 percent have halved in just the past 30 years. So those types of statistics are quite disconcerting. And it is worth pointing out that this is not just about the United States. Story continues This is a global phenomenon, though. Even apart from the wealth gap today, the 62 wealthiest people in the world have more wealth than the bottom half of the worlds population income inequality has increased for many countries around the world. Particularly developed countries. OZY: What are some of the best policies to increase social mobility and reduce income inequality? D.M.: I would frame it as needing to separate short-term interventions versus long-term interventions. It behooves and is advantageous for society to ensure that every member of society is living at some basic level of income. The public policy interventions there tend to be around transfers and minimum wages. But longer term, you need to invest in education and infrastructure. And here, in the U.S. in particular, there has been an underinvestment in quality education. On a dollar basis, education spending is up, but the quality of education outcomes has deteriorated significantly. To put it in context, the OECD has a very scary statistic that this generation of Americans, for the first time in the 300-year history of the United States, is the first generation that will be less educated than the preceding generation. This is quite damning. And its not just about the United States growing its about the global economy too. Many countries depend on the United States to be a leader, especially in things like R&D. OZY: What say you about the state of womens equality? Well, obviously, the good news is that weve had a lot more women coming into the workforce. If you think about the United States in the 1950s and even since World War II, a lot of women were absorbed into the economy as workers. So the whole economy has benefited considerably, not just from the advent of technology, but also from the changing demographics of women in the workforce. If you look across the world right now, even in Africa, we have two female presidents, very senior policymakers, and not just in Africa, either. Really, across the world, weve seen womens aspirations and opportunities expand quite considerably. Nevertheless, because women tend to be the homemaker and, increasingly, primary income earners in the household too, the income-inequality issue takes on even more importance. One of the common statistics is that women are earning a fraction of the income on the mens dollar. Related Articles Experts say the development of self-driving cars over the coming decade depends on an unreliable assumption by many automakers: that the humans in them will be ready to step in and take control if the cars systems fail. Instead, experience with automation in other modes of transportation like aviation and rail suggests that the strategy will lead to more deaths like that of a Florida Tesla driver in May. Decades of research shows that people have a difficult time keeping their minds on boring tasks like monitoring systems that rarely fail and hardly ever require them to take action. The human brain continually seeks stimulation. If the mind isnt engaged, it will wander until it finds something more interesting to think about. The more reliable the system, the more likely it is that attention will wane. Automakers are in the process of adding increasingly automated systems that effectively drive cars in some or most circumstances, but still require the driver as a backup in case the vehicle encounters a situation unanticipated by its engineers. Teslas Autopilot, for example, can steer itself within a lane and speed up or slow down based on surrounding traffic or on the drivers set speed. It can change lanes with a flip of its signal, automatically apply brakes, or scan for parking spaces and parallel park on command. Joshua Brown, a 40-year-old tech company owner from Canton, Ohio, who was an enthusiastic fan of the technology, was killed when neither he nor his Tesla Model S sedans Autopilot braked for a truck making a left turn on a highway near Gainsville, according to federal investigators and the automaker. Tesla warns drivers to keep their hands on the wheel even though Autopilot is driving, or the vehicle will automatically slow to a stop. A self-driving system Audi plans to introduce in its 2018 A7, which the company says will be the most advanced on the market, monitors drivers head and eye movements, and automatically slows the car if the drivers attention is diverted. But Browns failure to brake means he either didnt see the truck in his path or saw it too late to respond an indication he was relying on the automation and his mind was elsewhere, said Missy Cummings, director of Duke Universitys Humans and Autonomy Laboratory. The truck driver said he had heard a Harry Potter video playing in the car after the crash. Drivers in these quasi- and partial modes of automation are a disaster in the making, Cummings said. If you have to rely on the human to see something and take action in anything less than several seconds, you are going to have an accident like we saw. Operators an airline pilot, a train engineer or car driver can lose awareness of their environment when they turn control over to automation, said Rob Molloy, the National Transportation Safety Boards chief highway crash investigator. He pointed to the crash of Air France Flight 447 into the Atlantic Ocean while flying from Brazil to France in 2007. A malfunction in equipment used to measure air speed caused the planes autopilot to disconnect, catching pilots by surprise. Confused, they caused an otherwise flyable plane to stall and fall from the sky, killing 228 people. Planes and trains have had automation for 20, 30 years and there are still times when theyre like, Wow, we didnt expect that to happen, Molloy said. Part of the problem is overconfidence in the technology causes people to think they can check out. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx warned automakers on Tuesday that they should realize that drivers will be tempted to use the technology in irresponsible ways and take that into account as they build their robotic systems. People are getting distracted by the coolness of the technology, Foxx said following a speech at a self-driving vehicle conference in San Francisco. In many cases, they are going beyond what the technology is capable of doing.Not long after Tesla introduced its Autopilot system, people were posting videos of car with the self-driving mode engaged cruising down tree-lined roads or even highways with no one in the drivers seat. Brown, for example, had posted videos lauding the Autopilot system and demonstrating it in action. There is a tendency of people to take one ride in one of these vehicles and then conclude that because they have not crashed over the course of 10 minutes that the system must be ready, said Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina professor who studies the technology. Some experts think the ability of people to monitor autonomous systems may be getting worse. With the advent of smartphones, people are accustomed to having their desire for mental stimulation satisfied immediately. Go into Starbucks, for example, said Cummings. No one can just patiently wait in line, theyre all doing something on their phones. Its kind of pathetic. Google, meanwhile, is aiming for a car thats fully self-driving and may not even have a steering wheel or brake pedals. Maryland lawmakers join the White House in calling for more than $1 billion to fund the fight against heroin and opioids. The money would go toward helping pregnant addicts, cracking down on excessive opioid prescriptions and move the system toward medication-assisted treatment. While both the U.S. House and Senate have already passed legislation on the issue, lawmakers say more needs to be done. Plus, it's the FDA's most serious warning for prescription drugs: The Black Box Warning. Now health officials are calling on the agency to add the warning to opioids and benzodiazepines. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen emphasizes how the warnings would help both patients and doctors. The clock. The boxes. The dink! dink! dink! dink! ticking. Theyll all be there when 24: Legacy debuts in February, producers and stars of the Fox series assured fans during a San Diego Comic-Con panel on Sunday. And please, dont call it a reboot. This is more of an expansion of the 24 universe, producer Manny Coto told fans in Hall H, likening the upcoming series to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Its really just another story in the same world that introduced us to the original versions Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland. RELATEDPrison Break @ Comic-Con: Michaels New Ink, T-Bags Epiphanies and More So does that mean that Jack & Co. will show up to give new central character Eric Carter (played by Straight Outta Comptons Corey Hawkins) an assist? You never know when those worlds may intersect, Coto teased, later adding, I think all of us really want to finish that story. Stars Hawkins, Miranda Otto and Jimmy Smits and producers Coto, Howard Gordon, and Evan Katz took part in Foxs Action Showcase, an event that also included Prison Break stars Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Sarah Wayne Callies and Robert Knepper and producer Vaun Wilmott. RELATED Prison Break @ Comic-Con: Michaels New Ink, T-Bags Epiphanies and More Heres what the 24 group discussed: * Hawkins described his character, a former Army Ranger returned to the United States after taking part in a high-profile operation, as a new hero for a new day torn between responsibilities to his country and his family. He makes morally questionable choices in the same way that Jack Bauer did, but the difference is that hes a soldier, Hawkins added. The rules of engagement are different in the homeland He struggles with that, internally. * The series previewed two sneak-peek clips. One showed the extended version of the home invasion depicted in the previously released trailer. Another had Eric and another man under siege at a construction site; a lethal, rolling section of pipe, an impaling and plenty of bullets were involved. Story continues * Otto, whose Homeland character wasnt exactly on the up-and-up, was asked whether her 24 alter ego Rebecca the former head of CTU can be trusted. I think Im all that I seem, she said. I guess you never really know on this show where your character is going to go. I feel like Im a good guy this time, but well see. RELATEDPrison Break Sneak Peek: Michael Hatches His Latest, Daring Escape Plan * When a fan asked whether or not well see Hawkins Walking Dead character Heath again, the actor kept it vague. Well see what the future for Heath is on that show, he said. The journey of being on this show is completely different. * Does Eric invoke one of Jacks favorite phrases and say, Damnit! He might, Hawkins said, laughing. Its a long day. 24: Legacy will premiere Sunday, Feb. 5, after Super Bowl 51 on Fox. Launch Gallery: Exclusive Comic-Con Portraits From Favorite Shows Related stories Wentworth Miller: Prison Break Revival Asks, 'Does Michael Deserve a Reunion With Sara?' (And Will He Die Again?) Prison Break @ Comic-Con: Michael's New Ink, T-Bag's 'Epiphanies' and More Prison Break Sneak Peek: Michael Hatches His Latest, Daring Escape Plan By Dominic Patten It is not a reboot, it is an expansion of the 24 universe; Jack and Chloe are still out there, 24: Legacy EP Manny Coto said today at the second-to-last presentation in Hall H for Comic-Con 2016. You never know when those worlds will intersect, he added, keeping the flame lit that EP Kiefer Sutherland might make an appearance. There may be an intersection with those other characters down the line, said EP Evan Katz. Offering no details about Sutherland or Mary Lynn Rajskub joining Legacy, Gordon and the other EPs also said that they hoped to finish the Jack Bauer story one day if the stars align. We all felt, Kiefer included, that Jack Bauer had told his story in Live Another Day, fellow EP Howard Gordon said on the panel, and that character was exhausted. The Tyrant EP added, Fortunately, Kiefer read the script after it was written and saw the pilot after it was shot and was all behind it and that was nice. Gordon, Coto and Katz were joined on the panel by lead Corey Hawkins, Homeland alum Miranda Otto, and former Sons of Anarchy actor Jimmy Smits. Comic-Con vet Sutherland was not in Hall H on Sunday. With the story of the military team that killed a top terrorist as one narrative, 24: Legacy also will follow the presidential campaign of Sen. John Donovan (Smits). Adding a further twist, as the initial trailer revealed, the candidates wife is former CTU director Rebecca Ingra (Otto). Fans of the original series will remember that its Season 1 story followed a terrorist cells plot to assassinate White House hopeful David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). With a graphic that said in part, the follow San Diego Comic-Con presentation takes place between 1:PM and 1:30 PM, the panel started off with the previously released trailer. The panel also showed another clip from the pilot of Hawkins character fighting off a murderous home invasion of the henchmen of the Osama bin Laden-like figure he helped killed in a military raid. The third clip shows Corey Hawkins character and old Army buddy fighting off a group of assassins on a construction site. Fox execs say the video wont be released online because it includes music whose rights havent been cleared. Story continues With the tagline New Day. New Hero, the time-crunching CTU reboot will debut February 5 in the primo post-Super Bowl spot, followed by another new episode on at 8 PM February 6. Snagging the Monday primetime slot that the original 24 held for its eight-season run, Legacy will air that night for the rest of its first season. Sutherland, of course, is back on Big 4 TV this fall with ABCs political drama Designated Survivor. The show had a preview screening plus a marketing presence both on the convention floor and on the side of nearby Petco Park, but no formal SDCC panel and no Sutherland in attendance. Related stories Dominic Purcell Reflects On His Injury During Prison Break Shoot - Comic-Con 'SNLs Cecily Strong To Guest Star On 'Scream Queens Season 2 - Comic-Con 'Ice Age: Collision Course Gets Largest Promotional Push In Its Franchise History Get more from Deadline.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter NextShark Jahrah, who only has a first name as customary in Indonesia, went out to collect rubber on Sunday morning in the forest in Jambi Province on Sumatra Island, Indonesia. The search parties only found success a day later, on Monday, when they discovered a 22-foot-long (6.7-meters-long) python with a bulging stomach resting in the woods. Her family then reported her missing to the local authorities, and a search has been carried out since then, Anto, the local villages chief, said. From Indias first commercial airline to the worlds thinnest watch, here are five things we have JRD Tata to thank for. July 29 in the birth anniversary of JRD Tata. JRD wore a lot of hats. He wasnt just an industrialist he was also a keen aviator and a philanthropist. But what made JRD really stand out was his foresight. Several things that we enjoy today are all thanks to JRDs beliefs. So what would we not have had it not been for JRD Tata? 1. Air India, Indias first commercial airline In what is a well-documented story, JRD Tata founded the airlines that went on to be known as Air India. Founded in 1932, Tata flew its first aircraft that carried airmail from Karachi to Bombay and later continuing to Madras (present-day Chennai). Today, Air India has a fleet size of 109 aircraft, flies to 84 destinations and is Indias flag carrier airline. He is rightly called the father of Indian aviation 2. Tata Memorial, Asias first cancer hospital The Tata Memorial Centre of Cancer, Research and Treatment is one of the best hospitals for cancer in the country. It is, in several ways, the final hope for several cancer patients who travel here from all corners of the country and indeed the continent. One of Tata Memorias specialities is acute lymphoblastic leukemia and it has a record of curing 99 per cent of the patients suffering from this particular form of cancer. 3. Titan Edge, worlds thinnest watch Unlike Air India, Titan wasnt the first Indian watch manufacturer. It is, however, the only one of the first three Allwyn and HMT being the other two that is still in business. Today Titan is the fifth largest watch manufacturer in the world and has the distinction of manufacturing the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world Titan Edge that is just 1.15 mm thick with a case thickness of 3.5 mm. As with everything else in the list, Titan too was founded by JRD Tata albeit at the suggestion of Xerxes Desai, who headed it till his retirement. Story continues 4. Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world Sure, the credit for launching the much-publicised Nano goes to Ratan Tata, JRDs successor. But none of the Tata cars we see today would have ever existed if it hadnt been for JRDs foresight of establishing TELCO, the company that we now know as Tata Motors, under whose roof Nano was rolled out. 5. Lakme, Indias first cosmetics brand We bet you hadnt known this one. The number one cosmetics brand in India may be owned by Hindustan Uniliver today but when it started out, Lakme was a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills. The story of Lakmes founding is just as fascinating. It was started in 1952 at the behest of the then prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who seemed concerned that Indian women were spending foreign exchange on beauty products. And so it was at his personal request that JRD started out Lakme, named after the eponymous French opera. Interestingly, opera itself has an Indian connection; it is set in India and is named after its female protagonist, Lakme, a derivation of the Sanskrit, Laxmi. New Delhi, July 24 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatulla Khan who was earlier today arrested on charges of threatening a woman, was sent to one-day police custody on Sunday. Complainant Vimla Ahuja alleged that the MLA from Okhla threatened her with rape and murder when the former visited his house to complain about electricity problem in her area. Following the incident, Ahuja registerd an FIR under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 509 and 506 against Khan in the Jamia Nagar Police Station earlier on July 19. In her complaint, she stated that the decision to go his house was made after Khan gave a very casual response to her complaint. She alleged that after not getting appropriate response, a person came out of Khan's house and hurled abusive language against her and also threatened her of rape and murder. The person said that the words uttered are the words of Amanathulla Khan. However, Manohar, lawyer of Khan, refuted the claim and said the charges are baseless. "We completely deny this charge we have neither objective nor motive to kill someone," he told the media here. Ahuja earlier on Friday filed another complaint stating that Khan and few others allegedly tried to run her over near Ashok Park, New Friends Colony. Hence, based on her statement another case was filed under the IPC Section 308 in view of the FIR. On Saturday, she again gave a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South-East, after alleging of inaction on part of the police officials. Earlier today, based on her complaint, MLA Khan was briefly interrogated, arrested and produced in the Saket Court complex. The police officials said that further investigation is being carried on based on the FIR and threats received by the complainant. (ANI) BERLIN (Reuters) - German police arrested a 16-year-old Afghan youth on Sunday on suspicion of a connection to the killing of nine people by an 18-year-old gunman in Munich, authorities said. The youth was under investigation for possibly having failed to report the plans of the gunman, who later shot himself, a police statement said. "There is a suspicion that the 16-year-old is a possible tacit accomplice to (Friday's) attack," it said. Police earlier said the gunman was a deranged Iranian-German who was fixated with mass killings but not inspired by Islamist militancy. The Afghan youth was questioned after he contacted police following the shooting on Friday, the statement said. Investigators later uncovered contradictions in his statements, it said, without providing any further details. A squad of police commandos arrested him around 6:15 p.m. at an apartment in the Munich neighborhood of Laim. The gunman began planning the shooting attack a year ago after visiting the German city of Winnenden where another teenager killed 15 people in 2009, Bavarian officials said on Sunday. The statement said the Afghan youth was also being investigated for his role in a Facebook posting that invited people to a meeting at a cinema near the Munich central train station, but it gave no further details. Bavarian officials said on Sunday the gunman had lured people to the McDonald's restaurant where the shooting began on Friday, using a fake Facebook page he had created in May. The Facebook page had used photographs and information from a Turkish woman's account, according to German media reports. It was not immediately clear whether the same Facebook account was used to invite people to the cinema meeting, when that meeting was due to occur, or if further violence was expected there. The police statement added, however, that it would use all means necessary to prevent "further copycat crimes." "Such actions endanger people and trigger police measures for which those responsible will be held fully responsible," the statement said. A spokeswoman had no further information on the Facebook issue, or how long the Afghan youth had been in Germany. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Peter Cooney) ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in an audio interview calling on fighters to take Western hostages and exchange them for jailed jihadists, the monitoring service SITE Intelligence Group said on Sunday. In recording posted online, Al-Zawahiri called on the global militant network to kidnap Westerners "until they liberate the last Muslim male prisoner and last Muslim female prisoner in the prisons of the Crusaders, apostates, and enemies of Islam," according to SITE. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the recording. Zawahiri is believed to be seeking refuge in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area that is the Taliban's base. (Writing by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) San Diego (AFP) - Filmmaker James Cameron and Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver were surprised by a fan proposing to his girlfriend as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of sci-fi classic "Aliens." The pair were swapping nostalgia and behind-the-scenes anecdotes at San Diego Comic-Con when the man got down on one knee during the audience Q&A section and popped the question. The lucky lady said yes, prompting Cameron, 61, to remark: "May you be happy and have many spawn." Cameron and Weaver, 66, were joined by other cast members including Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser and Bill Paxton as well as producer Gale Anne Hurd. The panel was asked for details of progress on an upcoming fifth "Alien" film to be made by "District 9" and "Elysium" director Neill Blomkamp. Although it has not been officially announced, Blomkamp himself has given interviews confirming that he plans at least one sequel with Weaver in the lead role. The filmmaker announced on Twitter last October that the project had been put on hold while "Alien" director Ridley Scott worked on "Alien: Paradise Lost," -- the sequel to his "Alien" prequel "Prometheus." Weaver told Comic-Con however that a script had been completed and that Blomkamp "has work to do and I have work to do, but I'm hoping when we finish those jobs we'll circle back and do it." The pair started developing ideas while Weaver was shooting Blomkamp's 2015 robot movie "Chappie," she said. "That whole first day we spent talking about it, and four months later, I got a script that was so amazing and gives the fans everything they are looking for, plus innovates in a lot of ways that immediately, to me, became a part of the world," Weaver added. Weaver made her name -- and received an Oscar nomination -- for playing Ellen Ripley, a tough-as-nails warrant officer and pop culture icon widely viewed as one of the most significant female protagonists in cinema history. But the actress admitted to the Hall H audience she can't bear to watch Hurd's hit horror series "The Walking Dead." Carrie Henn, who played young survivor Rebecca "Newt" Jorden in her only film role and is now a fourth grade teacher, said students' parents show up with DVDs for her to sign. July 24 (Reuters) - A new top executive at German insurer Allianz wants to forge closer ties with its U.S. asset management business, Pimco, according to the Financial Times. A report in Monday's editions of the newspaper quoted Jackie Hunt, Allianz's new asset management chief, as saying Pimco and Europe's biggest insurer both saw a need for a closer relationship. "You'll see Allianz being more involved in the asset management businesses than in the past," Hunt told the FT. Hunt started her new role earlier this month. She oversees asset managers at Pimco and Allianz Global Investors, as well as Allianz's U.S. life insurance business. Last week, Pimco appointed a new chief executive officer, Manny Roman. It has faced turmoil following significant investor outflows in recent years and the departure of key executives, including its founder and former chief investment officer Bill Gross in 2014. (Reporting by Carl O'Donnell; Editing by Tom Brown) Flu vaccine drips out of a syringe as a nurse prepares for a patient at a clinic in central London November 22, 2005. HEALTH REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Over the past 35 years, the way researchers have approached HIV has shifted. Now, with advancements in the way HIV is treated, the focus has shifted earlier and earlier on prevention efforts. Business Insider spoke with Johnson & Johnson's chief scientific officer, Paul Stoffels, whose company is working on trials for an HIV vaccine, as well as a long-acting injectable form of HIV medication that could replace daily pills with a shot taken on a monthly basis. But the HIV vaccine is a particularly tricky approach to tackle. The HIV vaccine has been elusive over the past few decades, despite tons of research and money spent on the problem. Were making vaccine research the highest priority of anything that were doing. More money is going towards [the vaccine] than any other component of HIV research, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told BuzzFeed News last year. J&J is one of the companies working on a vaccine. It's something the company's been working on for more than a decade. And on Tuesday, it announced that it had fully enrolled one phase 1/2a trial that recruited 400 volunteers from South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Thailand, and the US. The company on Tuesday also started enrolling a second phase 1/2a trial. The vaccine will be given as a series of injections over the course of a year. The goal of these earlier trials will be to figure out if the vaccine is safe, and if so, what's the best way to administer the vaccine. Right now, Stoffels said, it's too early to predict what an HIV vaccine would look like: It could be just one set of shots you get at one point in your life, or it is possible you might need follow-up booster shorts later down the line. "That would take more research, to figure out if years from now would we have to boost," he said. "It's not impossible, but at the moment, it's too early to predict." Story continues For now, the important thing is to keep plugging away at these earlier-stage trials that will judge the vaccines' safety and tolerability as well as its ability to provoke an immune response. If that works out, companies can begin to think about what a late-stage trial that gears up for an approval will look like. More From Business Insider Buenos Aires (AFP) - Hundreds of women turned out in Argentina to breastfeed in public, in protest at the removal of a mother for nursing publicly in a Buenos Aires square last week. Waving signs that read "No repression; nursing is not up for discussion" and "My breasts, my rights; I'm not interested in your opinion," some 500 women demonstrated in support of Constanza Santos, who police took from the square for nursing her nine-month-old. Instead of a sit-in, some called the protest a breastfeed-in. Supporters said the case was disturbing and that they were not going to let mothers' rights be trampled on. Similar demonstrations were held in other cities, including Mar del Plata, Tucuman and Neuquen. "This is great because it sheds light on a problem. And police need to be on the public's side and not work against them," said Argentine human rights activist Adolfo Perez Esquivel, the 1980 Nobel peace laureate. Ariana Grande just got bangs and she looks GORGEOUS Ariana Grande just got bangs and she looks GORGEOUS Okay, theres a certain amount of buzz that accompanies any celeb hairstyle change, but when someone with a signature look as recognizable as Ariana Grandes goes and shakes things up, the fan freakouts are inevitable. So when Ariana posted some pictures on Instagram of herself with bangs, naturally, we lost it. Yup, her iconic ponytail is now accompanied by some frontal fringe, and she looks seriously adorable. We got the first inkling of the big change yesterday, when Ariana posted this dark, blurry selfie the bangs are unmistakable. A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jul 23, 2016 at 12:11am PDT Later, she posted this photo, where you can see how the fringe is angled on the sides, giving it a choppier, edgier appearance. Were into it, especially paired with those acid-wash mom jeans. A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jul 23, 2016 at 12:12am PDT And then, finally, Ariana shared a much clearer, close-up shot so that we could all bask in her bangs glory. A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Jul 23, 2016 at 4:41pm PDT As Teen Vogue pointed out, Ariana was cast as Penny Pingleton in NBCs Hairspray Live!, so its very possible this hairdo is part of her role. Well have to wait and see, but in the meantime, she looks amazing with this new cut! The post Ariana Grande just got bangs and she looks GORGEOUS appeared first on HelloGiggles. By Manuel Mogato and Michael Martina VIENTIANE (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations failed to agree on maritime disputes in the South China Sea on Sunday after Cambodia blocked any mention to an international court ruling against Beijing in their statement, diplomats said. Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for the first time since the U.N.-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the dispute this month. The ruling by the court in The Hague denied China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes each year. China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce. The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers after their meeting to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, ASEAN diplomats said. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling with ASEAN counterparts in the Laotian capital. But before the meeting, China's closest ASEAN ally Cambodia opposed the proposed wording, throwing the group into disarray. Phnom Penh supports Beijing's opposition to any ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, and its preference for dealing with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis. FIRST DEADLOCK SINCE 2012 "We are still working on it," Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told Reuters after the meeting on Sunday, adding that she hoped the ASEAN members would reach an agreement. Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country's position on Sunday. Even after a late-night meeting of foreign ministers called to thrash out the issue late on Saturday, the region's top diplomats were unable to find a compromise. The group has given itself until Tuesday to come to issue a statement, said one ASEAN diplomat. ASEAN is facing the prospect of being unable to issue a statement after a meeting for only the second time in its 49-year history. The first time, in 2012, was also due to Cambodia's resistance to language about the South China Sea. "We have been here before and I hope they can solve it," said one official from the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. "It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012." Over the next two days, Southeast Asian nations will meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry and Wang are also expected to meet and discuss the maritime issues. Wang, who started bilateral meetings with ASEAN members on Sunday, said he thought the media focus on the South China Sea issue was "very strange". It was "not a China-ASEAN issue," he said, adding that disputes should be resolved among the parties involved. Japan's Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting. It is unclear if he will meet Wang, but China reacted angrily to Kishida saying he would discuss the sea issue if they do meet. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, in a statement posted on the ministry's website, said the sea is not Japan's concern. "We urge Japan not to hype up and meddle in the South China Sea issue," he said. "Japan is not a concerned party in the South China Sea, and because of its disgraceful history is in no place to make irresponsible comments about China." U.S. ROLE The United States, allied with the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court's ruling. It has criticised China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights. But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior U.S. official said ahead of his trip. Chinese state media called for "damage control" at the meetings. A commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday said the court ruling was a "blow to peace and stability in the region ... and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence." Barack Obama is set in September to become the first U.S. president to visit Laos, attending an annual summit hosted by the country that holds the ASEAN chairmanship. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is also in Laos, making her debut at ASEAN meetings as the foreign minister for Myanmar. (Additional reporting by Simon Webb in Vientiane and Lesley Wroughton in Paris; Editing by Tom Heneghan) MIAMI (AP) Hillary Clinton debuted running mate Sen. Tim Kaine on Saturday as a can-do progressive committed to social justice and equality everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not at a boisterous rally ahead of next weeks Democratic National Convention. He is qualified to step into this job and lead from Day One. And he is a progressive who likes to get things done, Clinton declared at Florida International University. Kaine, a bilingual former Virginia governor, detailed his life in public service. I like to fight for right, he said. And, as Clinton smiled broadly at her choice for vice president, Kaine greeted the largely Hispanic audience in Spanish. Were going to be companeros de alma, in this great lucha ahead, he said, or soul mates in this great fight ahead. Trump, in a text to his own supporters, said President Barack Obama, Clinton and Kaine were the ultimate insiders and implored voters to not let Obama have a 3rd term. At the splashy rally, Democrats sought to offer a contrast with Trump and Pence, whose first appearance together in a New York City hotel ballroom included a lengthy speech by the GOP businessman and much more limited remarks from Pence, the Indiana governor. The two only briefly posed for photos at their campaign kickoff. Clinton chose to introduce Kaine as her running mate in the battleground state of Florida, waving to the large crowd of cheering supporters as they bounded on stage with their hands raised in the traditional sign of unity. Clinton sought to present the partnership as one built in optimism, panning the Republican convention, which ended two days earlier, as a display of fear, anger and resentment. She noted that Kaine had taken a year off from Harvard Law School to do missionary work in Honduras and had worked as a civil rights attorney specializing in equal housing. Clinton said Kaine as governor worked with Republicans and helped his home state navigate the Great Recession without sacrificing funding for education. She also pointed to his work on gun control after the deadly Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, praising his efforts to curb gun violence before a nation still reeling from a series of shootings and violence against police. Behind that smile Tim also has a backbone of steel. Just ask the NRA, Clinton said. Choking up, Kaine described the Virginia Tech shooting as the worst day ... of my life. Kaine, 58, was long viewed as a likely choice because of his resume in government and his time as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He also had a particularly powerful backer in Obama, whom Kaine endorsed in 2007. Obama considered him for vice president a year later. By Amanda Becker and John Whitesides MIAMI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Tim Kaine made his first appearance on the campaign trail as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate on Saturday, touting an optimistic view of America and leaping to attack Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's record. Joining Clinton at a rally in the battleground state of Florida, the bilingual Kaine peppered Spanish-language phrases into a speech focused on introducing himself to voters unfamiliar with the low-key U.S. senator from Virginia. Kaine criticized Trump's recent suggestion he might not honor U.S. security commitments to NATO in Europe, and the real estate mogul's history of casino bankruptcies and founding the failed Trump University. "When Donald Trump says he has your back, you better watch out," Kaine said, with Clinton sitting at his side nodding. "He leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes. We cant afford to let him do the same thing to our country." In contrast, he said, Clinton "doesn't insult people, she listens to them. What a novel concept." He said they shared a common creed: "Do all the good you can." Clinton unveiled her choice of Kaine late on Friday, grabbing the political spotlight from Trump, who accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday night after a chaotic four-day convention. The former secretary of state will formally be nominated as her party's presidential candidate in the Nov. 8 election at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, which opens on Monday. In choosing the soft-spoken Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor with a long establishment resume, Clinton opted for a steady and experienced hand who she hopes will offer a clear alternative to Trump's volatile campaign and his Republican vice presidential choice Mike Pence. "Senator Tim Kaine is everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not. He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one," Clinton told the Miami crowd. Trump was unimpressed, saying on Twitter he had watched the joint appearance and "ISIS and our other enemies are drooling. They don't look presidential to me!" In his speech, Kaine said he was an optimist and described his childhood in Kansas City helping his father in his metal-working shop and his Catholic mission to Honduras, where he helped teenagers with carpentry and welding and they taught him Spanish. FAITH, FAMILY AND WORK He said in Honduras he learned the values "Fe, familia, y trabajo" -- faith, family, and work. Kaine became emotional when he recalled the 2007 shooting deaths of 32 people at Virginia Tech University during his stint as governor, calling it the worst day of his life. He promised to take on the National Rifle Association and fight for "common sense" gun control. Judith Sweeney, 58, from West Park, Florida, said she knew little about Kaine before attending the speech but was impressed by his resume and liked his civil rights work and school reform efforts. "Wonderful, very experienced, an innovator," she said. Peter Daou, a former adviser to Clinton who now owns a media company, said Kaine's speech would turn around some of the doubters about the choice. "The combination of his tone, his demeanor, his life story -it just said a lot about her capacity to choose the right person and not listen to pressure from the outside," he said. Clinton is hoping Kaine will help her appeal to independents and moderates, but some supporters of Clinton's Democratic primary rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, were dismayed by the choice because of Kaine's past advocacy for an Asian free-trade pact. But in a nod to party liberals, the Clinton campaign said Kaine will not support the final version of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, which is pending in the Senate. A spokeswoman for Kaine confirmed his opposition to the pact. The decision drew cheers from liberal groups and labor leaders. "We're glad to see the Clinton-Kaine ticket taking steps to campaign on big, bold, populist ideas that voters want to hear from Democrats," said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progessive Change Campaign Committee. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, said Kaine's decision to join Clinton in opposing the trade pact "sets an irretrievable, progressive path forward for America." In picking Kaine, Clinton passed over liberal candidates who would have generated more grassroots enthusiasm like U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Hispanic Cabinet members Julian Castro and Thomas Perez. Clinton tried to reassure party liberals, offering an extended list of Kaine's efforts on behalf of low-income workers, education and civil rights, and for expanded gun control laws and immigration reform. "He fights for the people he represents, and he delivers real results," Clinton said, applying one of her favorite self-descriptions to him. "When I say he's a progressive who likes to get things done, I mean it." Sanders supporters lost their bid to eliminate or reduce the influence of superdelegates, party leaders who are not bound to any candidate, during a meeting of the convention rules committee in Philadelphia. Sanders had complained about the superdelegates, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton. But enough committee members backed the effort to let them take the fight to the convention floor during next week's convention, participants said. (Editing by Alistair Bell) Benedict Cumberbatch can do anything, like bends time and space, in the first trailer for Doctor Strange Benedict Cumberbatch can do anything, like bends time and space, in the first trailer for Doctor Strange Benedict Cumberbatch + Marvel + superheroes + MAGIC = everything we could have ever wanted in a movie and more. cumberbatch The first full-length trailer for Cumberbatchs Doctor Strange is here, and its our Cumberbatch like weve never seen him before. Its anything but strange. Its actually quite brilliant, and after checking out this first two-minute video of Steven Stranges adventure through time and space, we are hooked. Also bonus, but youre not going to see a whole lot of it in the trailer, sadly: The movie is funny. A video screened during the Marvel San Diego Comic-Con panel had Steven Strange cracking jokes about Adele and Eminem, and it was great. The trailer sets up the basic premise of the movie, which has Steven seeking out the help of the Ancient One to fix his broken hands hes a doctor, and he needs them to perform surgery. However, heading down this path takes him somewhere completely different, and suddenly hes bending, and traveling, through reality and time, making the whole thing look a lot like Inception. We are on board with this. Doctor Strange will be a departure from other Marvel movies, since it is really rooted in a log of ~magic~. And hey, if theres anyone who can pull off a ton of cool tricks, its our Cumberbatch. Also, please note, Rachel McAdams is in the movie, and though she doesnt get a whole lot of screentime in the trailer, shes without a doubt going to be awesome, as usual. Doctor Strange hits theaters on November 4th, 2016. The post Benedict Cumberbatch can do anything, like bends time and space, in the first trailer for Doctor Strange appeared first on HelloGiggles. One day after taking the stage in Hall H for Marvel's Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch charmed the Comic-Con crowd once again -- this time, for the Emmy-nominated series, Sherlock. It's been a long wait for season four of the beloved series, which will finally debut in the U.S. and U.K. in 2017. Cumberbatch and company flew out straight from the set after a week of night shoots to attend the annual San Diego convention. WATCH: Benedict Cumberbatch Debuts Mind-Bending 'Doctor Strange' Teaser Trailer "We're two weeks from finishing series four. We have to fly back tonight," executive producer and star Mark Gatiss said. "Benedict and I have an enormous scene [to shoot] on Tuesday morning." "There's about 26 pages of dialogue that we're doing next week. It'll be very interesting," added Cumberbatch. The British actor celebrated his 40th birthday last week, and the Hall H crowd even did an impromptu rendition of "Happy Birthday" midway through the session! Fans were given a treat as well -- the first real look at the next three new episodes of Sherlock in an exclusive teaser trailer following Moriarty's shocking declaration that he's back. Like Cumberbatch said, it's dark. PHOTOS: Go Inside ET's Action Hero Photo Booth at Comic-Con! "There's an evolution to all the characters," Cumberbatch said of the 90-minute episodes. "There's a lot of that in the new season A lot of things come home to roost. It's the thing of what's familiar, and it's the thing of what confounds expectations." "What we're doing now is so ambitious," he added. Co-star Amanda Abbington echoed Cumberbatch's sentiments, warning that season four is "the darkest that Mark and Steven [Moffat] have written. If we can pull this off, then it's amazing." "It's a genuine rollercoaster," Cumberbatch said, noting that the signature dry humor is still present. "The learning curve is massive -- with jokes! There are some great jokes. But there are quite a few tears." Story continues NEWS: Marvel's Surprise-Filled Comic-Con Panel: 'Black Panther,' 'Captain Marvel,' 'Doctor Strange' and More! Things got noticeably darker when Moffat warned that some main characters may not make it out alive at the end of season four. "Why is everyone assuming they survive series four?" Moffat teased. Hmmm Rumors have circulated that Sherlock could be ending in the near future. Though at the moment, there is no end date in sight, Gatiss joked, "There won't be a season five but there will be a season six." PHOTOS: See the Stars at San Diego Comic-Con! In 2015, Cumberbatch became a father himself, welcoming a son with his wife, actor and director Sophie Hunter. When the panelists took a brief moment to congratulate him, the actor blushed at the mention. Though Sherlock has held several Comic-Con panels in the past, shockingly, this marked the first time Cumberbatch appeared at the convention with his show. Sherlock returns in 2017 as part of PBS Masterpiece in the U.S. WATCH: Benedict Cumberbatch Debuts Mind-Bending 'Doctor Strange' Teaser Trailer Related Articles Bernie Sanders said on Sunday that the leak of Democratic National Committee emails that show its staffers plotting against him proves Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign. Shortly after the interview aired, CNN reported that Wasserman Schultz will no longer serve as chair of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, which begins Monday. According to CNN, shell be replaced at the convention by Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge. On CNNs State of the Union, Sanders said the email leak proved once and for all that Wasserman Schultz was unfit to lead the committee. I dont think she is qualified to be the chair of the DNC, the Vermont senator said on CNNs State of the Union Sunday. Not only for these awful emails which revealed the prejudice of the DNC but also because we need a party that reaches out to working people and young people, and I dont think her leadership style is doing that. I think she should resign, period, Sanders said on ABCs This Week With George Stephanopoulos Sunday. I think I told you a long time ago that the DNC was not running a fair operation. That they were supporting Secretary Clinton, he continued. So what I suggested to be true six months ago turns out, in fact, to be true. Im not shocked. But I am disappointed. And that is the way it is. Included among the emails released by Wikileaks was a message from DNC CFO Brad Marshall in which he suggested raising the issue of Sanders religion to dissuade support for him in states like Kentucky and West Virginia. It might may [sic] no difference, but for KY and WV can we get someone to ask his belief, Marshall wrote in an email on May 5. Does he believe in God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My southern baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. Sanders, who is Jewish, addressed Marshalls rumormongering Sunday. Story continues I am not an atheist, he said. But aside from all of that, it is an outrage and sad that you would have people in important positions in the DNC trying to undermine my campaign. It goes without saying, the function of the DNC is to represent all of the candidates, to be fair and even-minded. The release of the DNC emails comes on the eve of the convention in Philadelphia, where Hillary Clinton will formally accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday. Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said the leak of the emails was part of a coordinated hack by the Russians to help Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Whats disturbing to us is that experts are telling us Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails, Mook said on CNN. And other experts are now saying that the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump. Mook added: I dont think its coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention. Sanders, who endorsed Clinton earlier this month, said the DNC emails will not stop him from supporting the former secretary of state in her campaign against Trump. The focus that I am going to go forward on right now, is to make sure that Donald Trump perhaps the worst Republican candidate in the history of this country, somebody that by temperament, somebody that by ideology, must not be president of the United States I am going to do everything I can to defeat him, Sanders said, to elect Hillary Clinton, and to keep focusing, keep focusing, on the real issues facing the American people. The Vermont senator is scheduled to deliver a primetime address at the Democratic National Convention on opening night Monday. And Sanders campaign spokesman Michael Briggs offered a preview of his speech in an email to reporters. Bernie Sanders will make it clear that Hillary Clinton is by far superior to Donald Trump on every major issue from economics and health care to education and the environment, Briggs wrote. Sanders will stress that the most progressive platform in Democratic Party history includes agreements he reached with Clinton to dramatically expand health care access and to make public colleges tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes up to $125,000 a year. According to Briggs, Sanders also plans to rip into Trump for siding with the Koch brothers and echoing fossil fuel industry claims that climate change is a hoax despite the virtually unanimous scientific consensus that the warming planet is causing devastating harm. The self-described Democratic socialist will also call on his supporters to continue the revolution his campaign started. Together, Sanders is planning to say in his speech, we continue the fight to create a government which represents all of us, and not just the 1 percent a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice. _____ Related slideshow: Demonstrators protest outside the DNC >>> Bernie Sanders on Sunday called for Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign after leaked emails appear to show party officials trying to aid Hillary Clintons campaign during the primary. The Vermont senator said he was disappointed but not shocked at what the reported WikiLeaks emails purported to show. Top DNC officials mocked Sanders during the primary race, and at least one email exchange showed officials considered using Sanders religious beliefs as a way to hurt his campaign, according to the New York Times. I told you long time ago that the DNC was not running a fair operation, that they were supporting Secretary Clinton, Sanders told ABC News George Stephanopoulos on This Week. So what I suggested to be true six months ago turned out to be true. Sanders urged Wasserman Schultz to step down from her post just days before the Democratic National Convention was set to begin in Philadelphia. Wasserman Schultz will not be speaking at the convention in the wake of the email scandal, CNN reports. The senator said he is still working to defeat Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and get Clinton elected. 632372 If youre not a fan of the heat, weve got some bad news for you: there is a lot of it in our latest round-up of the best new mixes streaming right now. With fire from the Fade To Mind crew, a very warm De La Soul dedication, bubbling beats from Cookin Soul and a selection of tunes from Yuksek thatd set any given dancefloor ablaze, we advise you stick on a pair of sunnies, slap on some sunblock, and enjoy these mixes as much as we are. Cookin' Soul: Summer Waves Vol. 6 Cookin' Soul: Summer Waves Vol. 6 Image via Cookin' Soul on Facebook True to form, Cookin Soul has served up a smoking selection of tracks for summertime listening. Alongside the mix, the Spanish duo heralded the arrival of more sunshine: Summer 2016 is here and its only right for us to release a new edition of our classic mix series dedicated to the hottest season of the year! A curated selection of slow soulful jams, warm funk, hot disco and sizzling Spanish and Brazilians vibesThe perfect mix to enjoy the sunshine on a terrace, beach or pool with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Yuksek: Summer Tape '16 Yuksek: Summer Tape '16 Image via Yuksek on Facebook Another of the big names in bloghaus bringing it back on a beauty of a mix is Yuksek. Unlike A-Traks niche example from November last year however, this mix from Yuksek could bring as much life to a boat party as it could a barmitzvah. Ive put together some songs I love and played a lot this last year, some songs that influenced me, and some of mine. Old, new, only sweet club songs about DANCE. Ballroom dance, belly dance, rain dance, fire dance or whatever. Have a peaceful summer. Chris Read: 'Stakes Is High' 20th Anniversary Mixtape for Wax Poetics Chris Read: 'Stakes Is High' 20th Anniversary Mixtape for Wax Poetics Image via pastemagazine.com No less relevant since the original release in 1996, De La Souls classic Stakes Is High LP is the focus for this new mix from DJ and superfan Chris Read. Cooked up for the people at Wax Poetics, Chris evidently took a lot of time on this one, and as youd expect, tracks from the LP, alternate versions, and original sample material all feature. Story continues Total Freedom, Nguzunguzu, Kingdom, Prince Will: Fade to Mind 5 Year Special on Rinse FM Total Freedom, Nguzunguzu, Kingdom, Prince Will: Fade to Mind 5 Year Special on Rinse FM Image via YouTube The Fade To Mind label, which was originally launched by Kingdom in L.A., has been going strong for five years. Kingdom himself kept the pace going in a raucous session for Rinse FM, flanked by Nguzunguzu, Total Freedom, and Prince Will. The b2b2b2b is heaving full of the labels signature, bass-heavy/club ready sounds, and serves as a pretty good benchmark for the labels history and as an indicator of where they will go in the future. New Jackson: All City Mix New Jackson: All City Mix Image via The Sextant on Facebook This mix from New Jackson for All City Records out in Dublin is a slow burner to say the least, and does well to lull the listener into a warped state of mind over the space of around three hours. Everything from 80s boogie to hip-hop beats via house, indie, krautrock and everything in-between like a good old fashioned radio show. Keep an eye out for New Jacksons as-yet-titled release on All City early next year! Onra & Lexis: Throw'Em Up 4 Onra & Lexis: Throw'Em Up 4 Image via Soundcloud By now, many of you are already familiar with Onra & Lexis tight ThrowEm Up mixes, but for those who arent, theyve introduced the latest with a little bit of context. When we put out the first volume of our Throw Em Up mixes over 3 years ago we never thought the era and sound we wanted to cover would go that deep. We thought our knowledge was pretty advanced but have come to realize that there are so many hidden gems. Its become a part-time obsession to collect vinyl-only rare remixes, CD-only versions and so on. If you are new to the mixes, the era we cover here is almost exclusively 1993-1996. A very brief period of a couple years in which Hip-Hop and R&B producers to artists started collaborating and influencing each other. That era we affectionately called Throw Em Up (inspired by how people were dancing in all videos) was musically very different than its predecessor (New Jack Swing) and what followed after with the more futuristic, synthesized production style of Timbaland, Darkchild, The Neptunes and others who followed. Well always love the classics of the era but with each edition of these mixes we love bringing you deeper forgotten selections discovered from rare CDs and overlooked vinyl bins all over the world. Dan Foat, Mr Assister & Frank Tope: Live Mix for 0800 DINOSAUR (5+ hours) Dan Foat, Mr Assister & Frank Tope: Live Mix for 0800 DINOSAUR (5+ hours) Dan Foat, Frank Tope, and Mr Assister recorded this mix last year to mark the end of the 0800 Dinosaur nights. Worry not, however, as theyll be embarking on new nights together as NASA at The Yard, London. Albeit an old recording, Mr Assister astutely pointed out on his Soundcloud, the mix is ..almost 6 hours of pure bangers. Thats just about enough to soundtrack the first two Lord of the Rings films, and with that in mind we kinda couldnt resist including it. Moods: The Radar Mix Moods: The Radar Mix Image via Calin Ilea/Moods on Facebook For anyone who got out on the right side of bed, stick this mix by Moods on to make your day shine that little bit brighter. Selects from the Dutch DJ include personal favourites from Kerri Chandler, Jackson 5, Mr Scruff and more. Super chill. Doorly: Doorly's Wunderground Roadshow of Wrong Mixtape Doorly: Doorly's Wunderground Roadshow of Wrong Mixtape Image via Doorly on Facebook What to put on at the afterparty? is a question which rarely gets answered correctly, so Doorly did his best to adress the issue in his inaugural mix for the hard-hitting music news outlet Wunderground. Anyone who knows me, knows how I love an afterparty! Especially one of those ones back at my place where everyone involved tries to find their weirdest, trippiest music and funniest YouTube clips in contribution to the vibes at the party. This mix has been a labor of love for the best part of the last year for me and something Ive been really excited to share with the world. Welcome to my Roadshow of Wrong! A new series of mixtapes and parties for the late night thinkers out there! I have taken inspiration from Chris Morriss old Warp Records podcasts, and things like Adult Swims Off The Air series a mix of great music and comedy. I wanted to design something that the listener can sit down with people they love, put their feet up, get in the zone, form a cuddle puddle if at all possible, and listen to these mixes like watching a good movie. They will be trippy, immersive and a journey for the senses. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I did making it. Cuthead: Flux Podcast Cuthead: Flux Podcast Image via Maxime Chermat Photography/Cuthead on Facebook If anyone knows how to seamlessly blend hip-hop and house its the man known as Cuthead, as per his latest mix for the folks at Flux. The German promoter, producer and DJ gets down over for a second shy of an hour, serving up Dilla, DOOM, and Nottz alongside various denominations of house. More from Pigeons & Planes Myra Strober is a labor economist and Professor Emerita at Stanford University. MIT Press recently published her memoir, Sharing the Work: What My Career and Family Taught Me about Breaking Through (and Holding the Door Open for Others). As the Democratic National Convention kicks off this week, it's a good time to take a look at the presumptive Democratic nominee's views on one of the biggest issues facing American families today: affordable child care.Although Hillary Clinton has yet to release the details of her child care plan, its two cornerstones are exactly right--subsidizing care so that no family pays more than 10% of its income on child care and raising the wages of child care workers. Her intentions are welcome news and long overdue. It will be worth seeing if she will have anything more to say at the big event in Philadelphia. The last time the U.S. dealt seriously with creating a child care system was 45 years ago, when Congress passed the 1971 Comprehensive Child Development Act to provide quality child care, including education, medical services and nutrition in locally administered centers, and use federal dollars to subsidize fees on a sliding scale. But President Nixon forcefully vetoed the bill, arguing that responsibility for child care belongs to parents and that federal funds should not be committed to communal child care. Forty-five years later, the fundamental question Nixon raised is still at the heart of the childcare debate: who is responsible for child rearing? The clear answer is that both parents and government have responsibilities. We have already put that philosophy into practice for older children. We send children through K-12 schooling because we think families need major assistance in providing their children with the cognitive and social skills required in a complex society, and we fully fund those systems because we think that education is a public good--that the benefits of education accrue not only to children and their parents but also to the public, especially to our economy and our democratic institutions. We need to extend our thinking about the public benefits of education to infants and toddlers. In 1971, it was hard to convince people that there were benefits to be had from infant and toddler education, but since then, the evidence has become unequivocal. Neurological studies of the brain show decisively the importance of the experiences of infants and toddlers on the development of their cognitive abilities, and studies of Head Start and other pre-school programs point to positive benefits that exceed costs. Many conservatives would like to return to an era when mothers did not have a paid job. But in the 45 years since Nixon's veto, the labor force participation rate of mothers with young children has risen considerably. Today, almost two-thirds of mothers with children under the age of 6 are in the workforce, and for black mothers, the rate is slightly more than 70%. Parents who are employed experience three difficulties with child care --availability, affordability and quality -- and the market system by itself cannot remedy them. A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute(EPI) across 10 metropolitan areas found that families paid between $67,536 and $108,313 a year (depending on their geographic location) for child care for one infant and one 4-year old, which made up between 19.6% and 31.2% of their median family income. The study also found that almost all families in more than 600 communities were spending more than the 10 % affordability level established by the Department of Health and Human Services. Low availability and lack of affordability are two sides of the same coin. New providers do not come into the market because there are not enough customers willing to pay what child care costs, and these potential suppliers see no way to decrease their costs. Although other industries in our economy have been able to lower their costs through improvements in productivity, childcare has not and cannot. The technology for caring for young children and educating them has remained the same for decades, and about 80% of the cost of child care is labor. Child care workers are some of the poorest paid in the country The mean hourly wage of child care workers is $9.99, less than half the wage for all workers ($23.23), and lower even than the wage for parking lot attendants ($10.83). But even with these low wages, unless parents receive a subsidy, many cannot pay what child care costs. Quality is a more complex issue. Studies on the quality of child care are outdated at best; they're 10 to 20 years old, and they paint a dismal picture. Although many parents are paying astronomical fees, most of it is not of high quality. Raising the wages of child care workers is an important means of increasing quality, even though it simultaneously makes child care more expensive. Higher wages will attract more highly trained people as child care providers and lessen their turnover. Right now, child care workers have one of the highest turnover rates in the economy--about 30 percent. This high turnover makes it more problematic for children to develop secure bonds of attachment with their caretakers, and more challenging for caretakers to track their children's social, emotional, and language development. Quality child-care depends upon teachers -- their knowledge base and their interactions with children. To deal more directly with quality, when Clinton fleshes out her child care plan, she urgently needs to include funds earmarked for community colleges to train child care workers on site. Many child care workers do not have cars to travel to community colleges; nor do they have the time. Two of my doctoral students and I interviewed workers at a child care center in Santa Clara County, CA., where a community college had done on-site training. One of the workers poignantly related her appreciation of the training. For the first time, she said, she understood why children bite one another. And based on that understanding, she now recognized that she could lessen the incidence of biting by teaching children alternative ways to express their anger Donald Trump has said that he thinks employers should provide child care for their workers and that it is simple to do so -- just hire a few caretakers. A new child care system should definitely encourage employer-based child care because it is often of very high quality. But it is not possible for all employers to provide child care. And to create a high-quality center requires more than just a few caretakers. For the economics to work, the employer has to be fairly large and have a considerable number of young parents or parents-to-be. Some employers purchase slots in existing child care centers as an employee benefit, and that should also be encouraged. But as we have learned from our health care experience, relying solely on employers to provide health or child care benefits to all who need them leaves too many unserved. We need a mixed system where parents can use their subsidies for care run by employers, non-profits, for-profit centers and governments. It is not accidental that the first woman candidate for the U.S. presidency is already working toward policies to support women with children. If we can enact Clinton's agenda, millions of families could benefit and our economy and society will be stronger. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) Cheering and whistle blowing filled the coast of Pompano Beach on Saturday as approximately 300 boats watched Lady Luck sink on Saturday afternoon. I think it went down just the way that we wanted, said Dennis MacDonald, the artist of the underwater casino. It was incredibly beautiful. The underwater attraction sank about two hours later than expected. South Florida Divers sent a team of 12 divers into the water immediately after the sinking to verify the former tankers location. Tom DiGiorgio, the chairman of the Economic Development Council of Pompano Beach, said that the divers plan to signal Broward County officials and coast guards that will allow more than 250 divers to go down and see Lady Luck. Divers returned hours later without being able to see much of the underwater casino. The visibility is very bad and there was a lot of stuff coming out of the ship, said Jeff Torode, owner of South Florida Diving Headquarters. Torode, one of the first divers to see the shipwreck from underwater, also said that although it was hard to find the shipwreck because of poor visibility, he was able to see the white Isle Casino Racing sign located on the top deck. John Chatterton, who was tasked with dropping the hatches after the sinking, said that the shipwreck settled upright. Chatterton also said that after a few days, divers will be able to enjoy the shipwreck and marine life. The sharks and the art that was added are going to take on an entirely different appearance, Chatterton added. There are lots of ships that are sunk, DiGiorgio said, but this will be the only one that is truly interactive and with artwork on it. As one of the most accessible major dive sites in the nation, Lady Luck is expected to lure approximately 35,000 divers each year. DiGiorgio said that after a 10-year search for the right vessel, Pompano Beach has finally found an economic engine for Floridas tourism industry. Its going to help the hotels, the restaurants and the ancillary effect is going to ripple out for years to come, said DiGiorgio. The 324-foot tanker was built in 1967 and was towed from New York to Florida earlier this year. It was lowered off Pompano Beach on Saturday afternoon. Heres how Beyonce responded to the dude who claimed she stole Lemonade Heres how Beyonce responded to the dude who claimed she stole Lemonade Its not unusual for massive celebrities like Beyonce to be sued by random people claiming their ideas were stolen and theyre therefore entitled to a large portion of the profits. Maybe the person suing wrote similar song lyrics, or had a vaguely similar idea for a music video, or maybe they rocked a certain hairstyle first, or they share the same name and think they own it, etc. People can basically sue for any reason. Or no reason at all. Filmmaker Matthew Fulks filed a lawsuit against Beyonce saying she stole the inspiration for Lemonade from him. Queen Bey took it upon herself to respond. Fulks claims Beyonce stole ideas for her visual album from his 2014 short film, Palinoia. Apparently, his film tells the story of a failed relationship, and so does Lemonade. He also says they share similar visual elements, including images of graffiti and persons with heads down, red persons with eyes obscured, parking garage, black and white eyes, the grass scene, and side-lit ominous figures, according to Perez Hilton. So like, normal music video things. Beyonce is calling some major BS. Bey says both projects have completely different narratives. While Lemonade tells the story of an African-American woman who progresses through stages of suspicion, denial, anger and, ultimately, reconciliation in her relationship, Palinoia is about a white man who is distressed in the wake of a failed relationship. Burn. The post Heres how Beyonce responded to the dude who claimed she stole Lemonade appeared first on HelloGiggles. Happy Birthday, Bindi Irwin! In celebration of the nature conservationist and Dancing With the Stars champ turning 18 on Sunday, we've rounded up 18 reasons why we love her. Check 'em out below! WATCH: Bindi Irwin Celebrates Mom's Birthday With Sweet Flashback Pic 1. Preserving her late father's legacy. It's been nearly 10 years since Bindi's father, Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin, died. Since then, the wildlife warrior has taken it upon herself to preserve her dad's legacy at the Australia Zoo. The birthday girl is celebrating the milestone with a "Camping With the Stars" celebration at the 100-acre animal park, where she'll enjoy a brekky barbecue, three-legged races, rock-wall climbing and plush croc wrestling with visitors. 2. She's just like us! She may be a household name, but Bindi proved she's just like any normal teen when she Instagrammed this delightful, down-to-earth video of herself jamming out to Adele's "Hello" during a car ride with her boyfriend, Chandler Powell, and brother, Robert. WATCH: Bindi Irwin Poses in a Wetsuit in the Middle of Australia's Winter 3. Her smile is contagious. It's rare to see a photo of Bindi not smiling -- she's constantly flashing her picture-perfect grin! 4. She encourages us all to be better. Take one quick look at Bindi's Instagram page, and you'll instantly be inspired. The TV personality frequently posts uplifting, motivational messages to the popular app. PHOTOS: Bindi Irwin's Cutest Pics: Family, Friends & Animals 5. Like father, like daughter. In addition to preserving her dad's legacy, she also reminds us he'll forever be her role model. "Steve and Bindi were just absolutely inseparable," Bindi's mother, Terri, said of her late husband during a taping of Dancing With the Stars. "I'd never met anyone bigger, tougher, stronger, and yet more sweet and sensitive. Especially when it came to Bindi." Story continues "I can remember being little and the one thing I wanted to do was be just like dad when I grew up," Bindi added. "I still feel like that." 6. She enjoys posting a sweet selfie every now and then. This gorgeous selfie proved she's all grown up (and has officially entered her "rebellious" phase). WATCH: Bindi Irwin Can't Stop Gushing over Boyfriend Chandler Powell 7. Her and Chandler Powell = #RelationshipGoals! Bindi and her professional wakeboarder boyfriend are constantly giving us all the feels. Whether they're gushing over each other in interviews, or posting sweet messages via social media, their love story couldn't be any cuter. "[Chandler's] such a kind and genuine person that I'm really blessed," Bindi told ET in March. "He's a huge part of my journey in life. At this point in my life, I'm looking forward to a lot of things. I'm going to be 18. There's so much on the horizon!" 8. She encourages others. Not only does the Australian native inspire us daily, but she has a heart of gold that certainly doesn't go unnoticed. While she was competing on season 21 of Dancing With the Stars, Bindi -- who went home with the mirror ball trophy -- was always praising others' performances. Even though it was a competition, Bindi loved cheering on the other contestants! "The kindest human being. Thank you for always making us smile in the studio and giving such terrific hugs!" she captioned a photo of her and fellow contestant Andy Grammer backstage. WATCH: Bindi Irwin Makes Everyone Cry With Emotional 'DWTS' Dance Honoring Her Father 9. Her modeling skills are next level. Move over, Britney Spears! Bindi makes posing with a snake look effortless and somehow, shockingly adorable. 10. She makes everyone feel special. When one of Bindi's friends, role models or family members turns a year older, she is always one of the first people to hop on social media and honor them with a special birthday message. Plus, the accompanying pics are equally sweet. WATCH: Bindi Irwin's Rep Shoots Down Marriage Rumors 11. She's constantly reaching for the stars. Never stop dreaming, Bindi! 12. Bindi may officially be an adult now, but her adorable demeanor clearly hasn't changed one bit. Her throwback pics? The most precious! "This is a 4 year old Bindi, with my beautiful corn snake," Bindi captioned one of her latest vintage snaps. "Back then all my best friends were usually animals." RELATED: Bindi Irwin Looks Gorgeous in Formal Fashion as She Poses With Exotic Bird 13. She appreciates the little things in life. Bindi leads a busy lifestyle, but she still finds time to take "beautiful" trips -- like this one to Rotorua, New Zealand -- with her friends and family. 14. Work hard, play hard! It's no secret that Bindi takes her career very seriously, but at the same time, she's never afraid to let out her silly side. You do you, girl! NEWS: Bindi Irwin Is Adorably Entering Her 'Rebellious' Phase 15. She finds peace through painting. She acts, she dances, she sings. Is there anything she can't do? Apparently not -- Bindi's also an artist. 16. She pokes fun at herself at photo shoots Back in February, Bindi looked lovely while rocking a red-hot dress, ankle boots and fedora, but she couldn't help herself from joking about the "funny" photo shoot that was out of her element. "I would like to send my most sincere appreciation to Mick, for holding this lovely umbrella for me while I was busy trying to figure out how to walk in this rather huge, beautiful dress," the teenager, who admits she "lives in khaki shorts and the same old shoes," shared via Instagram. NEWS: Bindi Irwin Shares Adorable Throwback Tribute to Her Dad: 'I Hope I'm Making You Proud' 17. but rocks it on the red carpet! Bindi appeared flawless during her latest red carpet appearance at the Steve Irwin Gala Dinner in Los Angeles in May. She donned a flowy black-and-white dress, heels and a sparkly statement necklace. So chic! Getty Images 18. She never forgets where she came from. Through good times and bad, Bindi can't stress the importance of family enough. Her father may be gone, but he'll always hold a special place in her heart. "We are so close," she recently told ET of the special bond her family has created. "Because we truly believe that the meaning of life is unconditional love, and as a family, we're always there for each other." Related Articles BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least six people were killed and 20 wounded in a suicide bomb attack claimed by Islamic State in a mostly Shi'ite Muslim district of northwest Baghdad, police and medical sources said on Sunday. Amaq, a news agency that supports Islamic State, said a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest had targeted security forces at the entrance to the Khadimiya neighborhood. The ultra-hardline militants, who have been pushed off much of the territory they seized in northern and western Iraq in 2014, have stepped up attacks in the capital and other cities. The group said it was behind a suicide blast this month which left 292 people dead, one of the largest attacks of its kind since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Sources in Kadhimiya hospital, where the victims of Sunday's explosion were taken, said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in a critical condition. (Reporting by Kareem Raheem and Omar Fahmy in Cairo; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Louise Heavens) Illustrations by Elliot Salazar. When you think of a relaxing day at the spa, your mind generally conjures up images of someone massaging every last knot out of your shoulders or layering on a mud mask. What doesnt usually come to mind is having your blood drawn a procedure typically reserved for the doctors office. Related: The Best Way To Get Rid Of Acne Scars But if you happen to live like one of the #RichKidsOfInstagram jet-setting about for lavish long weekends (or youre a globe-trotter and simply understand the finer things in life) you might have noticed that some of the higher end spas have become extremely interested in your medical history in recent years. Many of the top spas around the world are investing in medical services in order to deliver wellness practices to correct what ails you whether its related to weight loss, energy loss, your immune system, your digestive system, or simply stress. Related: Heres Your Dream Sephora Starter Kit In order to achieve this, theyre working with their patients on getting blood samples prior to their spa stays to make sure theyre offered just the right treatments. Of course, we had to learn more about this crazy trend. We spoke with multiple spas about this newfound blood thirst and even lent a vein in the name of research. Your Blood Horoscope At Espace Chenot at LAlbereta a health and wellness spa picturesquely situated in a vineyard in a small wine region of Northern Italy called Franciacorta Dr. Elena Rossetti, the in-house doctor, told us that the staff works to pair their medical knowledge with appropriate treatments for each patient. Thats where the blood tests come in. Based on the results of the blood tests and anti-aging tests, the doctor proposes a personalized process. Related: This Is What Female-Directed Porn Looks Like We had the opportunity to try out Ozone Therapy one of the spas star treatments during a recent trip to Franciacorta. The treatment is given to patients multiple times a week during their stay to, purportedly, boost the metabolism, help the immune system, improve memory, and assist with weight loss. Dr. Rossetti explained that during Ozone Therapy, 100ml of your blood is drawn, mixed with oxygen, and then basically put back in your body. The oxygen is nutrition for the cells, so it helps them to grow, says Dr. Rossetti. Related: This Brow Gel Changed My Life If we were patients at the spa (and staying the normal two weeks suggested), she would recommend this treatment up to 10 times during the stay in order to truly get the most out of it, and then to return once a month for maintenance. Considering each treatment costs about $170 a pop, this is pretty much a 1%-only type of deal. Story continues Testing, Testing The doctors measure the therapys effectiveness by conducting more blood tests throughout the treatment and at the conclusion, testing for things like cholesterol and glucose levels. As for the procedure itself, it took all of 15 minutes. Blood doesnt make us queasy, but this is definitely not for the faint of heart. Being hooked up to a machine and seeing so much blood taken out (and mixed in a glass bottle hanging above our head) was a little unnerving. Our first thought was along the lines of: What the hell? I want my blood back Thankfully after mere minutes, the entire 100ml of blood was back where it belonged and we were on our way. Related: What No One Tells You About Going Platinum Blonde After Ozone Therapy, it was time for a massage, which Sara Suardi, the spa director, informed us was to go hand-in-hand with the treatment. The Chinese massage technique is said to help boost metabolism and purge the body of the mental and environmental aggressors that can show up on your skin. We thought the blood part was going to be the weirdest, but the massage was one of the strangest and most intricate ones weve ever had and being in the beauty business, weve experienced hundreds. The therapist concentrated her efforts along the spine with a vibrating stone, and then she went to work hand-massaging the stomach for about 20 minutes. Massaging the stomach and digestive organs is said to be good for your digestion, but it is also very uncomfortable if you feel like youve been eating a lot for the past few days. But that discomfort did lead to some positive results typically, traveling can cause a little bit of, um, blockage, and this massage worked out any evacuation (read: poop) issues. So, whatever her magical hands did, it worked. Related: What Going Paleo Did To My Body For a lengthier stay, a guest would receive multiple treatments like this throughout the week. But even after our one treatment, we noticed some great results: Immediately after, we didnt struggle at all with jet lag or feel run-down, and we were nonstop touring a new country, which can be pretty exhausting. Mail-Order Blood In Saint Lucia, The BodyHoliday has also been doing medical analysis to recommend appropriate treatments. But instead of going through rigorous rounds of testing when they first arrive, guests receive a series of online questionnaires. The spa sends them a lab-test kit with step-by-step instructions in the mail. The kit might even ask for a stool sample (depending on the guests needs). Side note: This might be the only situation in which sending poop in the mail is considered acceptable. Although wed hate to be the post-office employee who has to handle that particular package. On arrival, guests go through a non-invasive test (i.e. no blood removed from your body and swished around in a jar over your head) to analyze more than 130 blood parameters. Those are grouped with the results from the test kit for a complete pre-treatment health profile. The BodyHolidays Wellness Centre leader Dr. Arun Pillai tells us that the aim of this kind of treatment is to take people to a place of more efficient cellular and improved metabolic function, and a better immune function. This is done through a combination of specialized treatments, healthy food, and advanced nutritional supplements specifically aimed at correcting any measured imbalances. Dr. Pillai says that, unlike many other spa treatments, this practice is rooted in functional science. This is purely based on medical science. The goal of the examinations is to determine changes in composition ofchemical reactions shaped by the bloodthat have interconnections with oxygen consumption and carbon-dioxide exhaust regulated by organisms [that] have influenced the level of protein and lipids in cell membranes, Dr. Pillai tells us. Finding Balance Other well-known (and celebrity-frequented) spas like Canyon Ranch have been using medical science to assist with wellness treatments for years, but do not (as of yet) use any blood tests to determine treatments. Instead, according to Canyon Ranchs medical director, Stephen Brewer, MD, physicians help direct their guests toward a healthy-living plan throughout their stay. Only time will tell whether more spas will use medically directed approaches in the future. But since the majority focus on beauty and relaxation, rather than diagnosing health issues, this isnt something we see becoming the norm anytime soon. Yet, as Dr. Pillai so accurately points out, a blood test can speak volumes and if we have to spill a little blood in order to whip our immune systems into shape, so be it. By: Rachel Adler. Credit: saintrecords/instagram Blue Ivy Carter definitely inherited her mom's natural star quality. Proud aunt Solange took to Instagram today to share two fashionable photos of her beautiful niece, and the 4-year-old is giving us so much attitude in the snaps that we can't even handle it. In the first 'gram, Beyonce and Jay Z's daughter wears a ruffled pink top, matching tutu skirt, and black necklace adorned with a blue flower as she smiles and strikes a sweet pose for the camera (above). "Gucci campaigns can't even touch her w a pinky toe.... #proudauntie," Solange captioned the adorable picture. In the second 'gram, little Blue lets her inner diva free and adds a pair of chic Ray Ban sunnies to her ensemble that she holds sassily on her face (below). And aside from looking like an old pro at the whole photoshoot thing, the young cutie is apparently also very particular about her image. "(Ps: She does her OWN photo edits/selections...as she should) #proudauntie," Solange wrote. Credit: saintrecords/instagram RELATED: Beyonce, Jay Z, and Blue Ivy Play on the Beach Together in Hawaii There's no doubt that Blue is the coolest preschooler on the block. Chengdu (China) (AFP) - Britain could unleash a government stimulus package this autumn to counter the negative effects of its vote to leave the European Union, its finance minister said Sunday. "We have the option of a fiscal response, and we will do that on our normal timetable around the autumn statement," Philip Hammond told reporters on the sidelines of a G20 finance ministers meeting in the Chinese city of Chengdu. His remarks came after closely-watched survey data Friday showed that Britain's economy was battered by the Brexit vote last month and faced a "dramatic deterioration" in activity. Hammond said the private sector business activity figures "underscore the hit to confidence from the uncertainty that the referendum decision has created". "The reality is that there will be a measure of uncertainty right up to the conclusion of our negotiations with the European Union," he added. There is a two-year window for negotiations from when Britain triggers the Article 50 clause, something which Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May has signalled she might not do until next year. But Hammond added: "The uncertainty will only end when the deal is done." He said that Brexit had been a "major topic of discussion" at the G20 meeting, where finance chiefs from some of the world's most powerful nations and major emerging countries said that Brexit was a risk to global economic growth. Hammond would not give details on the possible stimulus. Governments typically increase spending during recessions to balance plummeting private sector activity. Economic data available in the autumn would allow London to "to reach a proper conclusion as to whether a fiscal stimulus is required", he said. Britain's ruling Conservative party abandoned its policy of reaching a budget surplus by 2020 following the shock Brexit vote, potentially freeing up funds for spending. Story continues Hammond said a "new framework" for Britain's budget would be released in the autumn to "give clarity to investors", without giving details. A plunging pound following the Brexit vote has made British assets cheaper for some foreign investors, and Japan's SoftBank said last week it would buy British iPhone chipmaker ARM Holdings for $32 billion. Hammond said he was interested in drumming up more foreign investment, including from China. But he said overseas firms should make a "long term commitment", and that he was "sceptical of asset stripping". London (AFP) - British MPs branded a billionaire tycoon the "unacceptable face of capitalism" in a report on Monday about the collapse of department store chain BHS which caused the loss of 11,000 jobs. The lawmakers also called on former boss Philip Green to address "urgently" the shortfalls in a pension fund of 20,000 former employees. "The tragedy is that those who have lost out are the ordinary employees and pensioners. This is the unacceptable face of capitalism," read the unusually scathing parliamentary report. Green "owes it to the BHS pensioners to find a solution urgently. This will undoubtedly require him to make a large financial contribution. He has a moral duty to act," it said. BHS, which sold clothing and homeware, failed to keep pace with traditional rivals such as Marks & Spencer and online giants like Amazon, resulting in a major loss of market share. The 88-year-old company had 163 stores and 74 franchise operations across 18 countries. When it collapsed last month, BHS had debts totalling more than A1.3 billion (1.6 billion euros, $1.7 billion), including a A571-million deficit to its pension fund. Frank Field, chairman of parliament's work and pensions committee, said of Green: "His reputation as the king of retail lies in the ruins of BHS. His family took out of BHS... a fortune beyond the dreams of avarice. "What kind of man is it who can count his fortune in billions but does not know what decent behaviour is?" he said. Green bought BHS in 2000 for A200 million and sold it in 2015 for A1 to Dominic Chappell, a former bankrupt businessman with no retail experience. The government is currently reviewing Green's knighthood and the report is expected to boost calls for the honour to be revoked. A government spokesman said the case showed the need "to tackle corporate irresponsibility and reform capitalism so it works for everyone". Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants to be tough on "irresponsible behaviour in big business" including through the introduction of binding shareholder votes on corporate pay and worker representation on company boards. There will be treasures to find and baubles to buy at the 58th Art Fair on the Green, which will run July 30 and 31 on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus lawn. Professional artists from across the country, as well as local high school and college students, will display and sell their work. "There will be everything you can imagine," said first-year publicity chair Marian Schiesser. "Pottery, jewelry, weavings, paintings. People say the art keeps getting better and better." The fair is put on by the American Association of University Women and averages between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors each year. Admission fees and concession sales fund scholarships for area students. Exhibited artists are eligible for the best 2-D, 3-D, people's choice, or green awards. "We gave away 25 $1,000 scholarships last year," said Schiesser, a four year member of the sponsoring association. "The event is a great way to support creative people and our mission to promote women." Darryl and Delores Heiden of D&D's Rock and Wire in Onalaska will have a booth at the fair for the fifth year. After retiring years ago, the couple started to make stone and wire jewelry as a hobby. Eight years ago, they transitioned into a jewelry business. The Heidens have always had a fascination with rocks, having been collecting them since their honeymoon. The pair take yearly trips around the country to dig for rocks, and also purchase some from foreign countries. "We go through a multitude of rocks," Darryl said. "We may bring 50 home, and only a couple are usable." Delores is able to identify "dozens and dozens" of stones, one of her favorites being the colorfully-banded laguna agate. Darryl is taken with picture rhyolite, a stone known for its vivid landscape-type images. "Each piece has a little scene in it," Darryl explained. "You'd swear someone painted it on." The couple also works with rutilated quartz, dendritic opal, ruby-in-zoisite and others. "We're like a pair of crows," Delores said. "We like anything that glows." Jewelry making is a team effort for the Heidens. Darryl cuts, shapes and polishes the rocks, creating cabochons. Delores specializes in wire and filigree settings, as well as meticulous Egyptian-style coil work. "Delores has a recognizable style," Darryl said. "I could never do that intricate detail." "Filigree takes a cool hand and a keen mind," Delores laughed, adding that the stone is "always the centerpiece. We don't want to overpower it with too much wire." The couple take pride in the uniqueness of each piece, which takes up to 10 steps and two days of combined effort to complete. "Sometimes people refer to our work as a craft, but we consider ourselves to be jewelry designers," Delores said. "We try to be multi-faceted," Darryl said of their freehand style. "People like the out of the ordinary. We want to tap into the interests of many." The Heidens sell their creations at numerous fairs, but the Art Fair on the Green is a favorite. Delores, a former UW-L professor, says being on the campus feels like home. "This fair has lot of traffic and is very well run," Delores said. "I love the camaraderie. If people stop at our booth, it means they like rocks and we have kindred spirits to talk to. Everyone is very gracious." "Its nice to sell something you worked hard on to somebody who appreciates it," Darryl added. The Heidens plan to continue expanding their repertoire, taking new classes and adding to their tool collection. "There are always more rocks out there," Darryl said. "And people like pretty, shiny things." Schiesser encourages the community to visit the Heidens and the 77 other artists featured at this year's fair. "We anticipate people will be pleased and surprised by the quality of the art," Schiesser said. You might even find something pretty to buy. London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday promised a "practical solution" on the Irish border after Britain leaves the European Union in a bid to allay fears about a return to tough checks. She spoke on her first visit since taking office to Northern Ireland, which has what would become the United Kingdom's only border with the EU after Brexit. "Nobody wants a return to the borders of the past," May said in Belfast, where she met Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. "What we do want is to find a way through this that is going to work and deliver a practical solution for everybody," May said in televised comments. Cross-border relations with the Republic of Ireland are a prime concern for Northern Ireland in negotiations on Britain's departure from the European Union, and May said Belfast would be involved in the talks. Britain and Ireland share an open-border Common Travel Area (CTA) that dates back to the 1920s, continuing arrangements from before Irish independence. However, questions and concerns have been raised about what Brexit would mean for the CTA and for both economies on the island of Ireland -- and whether the reimposition of border checks could undermine the peace process. Northern Ireland was riven by three decades of sectarian violence up until the 1990s over whether it should remain part of Britain or join with the Republic to the south. May took office on July 13 after David Cameron resigned following the June 23 referendum. While a majority across the kingdom voted for the UK to leave the EU, a majority in Northern Ireland, -- like Scotland and London -- voted for the UK to stay. May has put British unity at the heart of her premiership. Since taking office, she has visited both Scotland and Wales. On Friday, Foster and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Brexit must not mean the establishment of a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "Hard borders would not be accepted in the south or the north," said Kenny. "We have difficulties but I expect us to retain the Common Travel Area. It's a fundamental part of who we are." SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's defense minister said on Sunday there had been a rise in violations of its airspace by Russian military and commercial aircraft in the past month, calling the alleged breaches a "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". Nikolay Nenchev told Bulgarian television channel Nova TV that Russian military aircraft had entered what he termed "Bulgaria's area of responsibility" in NATO airspace four times in the past month. He said the planes had turned off their transponders communications devices that, alongside normal radars, make it easier for an airplane to be located, especially in congested air space. "It is very worrying, so we take preventive measures," Nenchev said. Any unauthorized entry of an aircraft required the scrambling of Bulgarian fighter jets, he added. Russian passenger planes breached the airspace six times in the past month, he said. Bulgaria had demanded an explanation from Moscow over the violations, Nenchev said, describing the incidents as "provocations toward Bulgaria and its air forces". The Russian Defence Ministry was not immediately able to comment when contacted by Reuters. In January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to "take all necessary measures" to ensure NATO airspace was not violated. His comments came after Turkey shot down in November a Russian warplane flying a sortie over Syria that it said had violated its airspace, triggering a diplomatic rupture in which Russia imposed economic sanctions. Last September, Bulgaria denied Russian aid flights bound for Syria entry to its airspace, citing it had serious doubts about the cargo onboard. Bulgaria, a former Communist state and once staunch ally of Moscow, is almost entirely dependent on Russian energy supplies, and many Bulgarians feel a deep affinity for their giant neighbor across the Black Sea. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Additional reporting by Alex Winning in Moscow; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) (Reuters) - A Northern California police officer was shot at while sitting inside a patrol car after a traffic accident, police said on Sunday. The Oakland Police Department supervisor, who was not injured, was responding to a call at about 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, the department said in a statement. "Shortly after the (traffic) collision, a male suspect approached the supervisors vehicle and fired a round striking the patrol vehicle," the department said. The officer was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Police are searching for the shooting suspect. The incident came hours after the burial of one of three Baton Rouge police officers fatally shot by a black former Marine from Kansas City, Missouri, who police say intended to kill as many officers as possible in retaliation for police violence against black men. The shootings were the latest in a series that have sparked debate over policing and minorities in the United States. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) Hundreds of mourners gathered outside the Munich shopping mall on Sunday, July 24, where a gunman killed nine people and injured dozens more on Friday. This video shows the Syria-Munchen choir singing the Ode to Joy near the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum shopping mall. On Sunday, investigators said the gunman had been planning for a year, was obsessed with mass shootings, and that there were no links to terrorist groups, according to a local report. Credit: Instagram/Giorgio Montersino As she prepares to claim the Democratic presidential nomination this week in Philadelphia, former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton must brace for the very real possibility that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will get a sizeable bump in the polls after his performance at the GOP convention in Cleveland. Trumps lengthy 75-minute acceptance speech Thursday night was largely panned by the news media as too dark and negative, and overly consumed by his attacks on Clintons character, honesty and judgment as a policy maker. Clinton brushed off Trumps performance at the GOPs raucous convention as over the top and not in keeping with Americans values. Related: Trump Reveals His Vision in Grim Speech: Call It Twilight in America' Well, you know it was kind of perversely flattering, Clinton said during a campaign event in Tampa Friday afternoon. Its hard to believe they spent so much time talking about me and no time talking about jobs or education or health care. Yet the relentless Republican assault on Clinton for her mishandling of sensitive government email, her fat speaking fees from Wall Street and her questionable decision-making as President Obamas chief foreign policy adviser on the Middle East clearly stung. Millions of American TV viewers were treated nightly to the spectacle of GOP delegates calling for her imprisonment. Despite criticism that Trump spent more time tearing down the country than offering positive solutions, a snap poll by CNN shortly after his acceptance speech showed that the vast majority of Americans contacted liked what they heard. The survey found that 56 percent of the viewers said they were more likely now to vote for the billionaire businessman after seeing his speech in which he spelled out his vision for the country and vowed to fight for the forgotten men and women of our country. Overall, 57 percent of the viewers said they had a very positive response to Trumps tough, law-and-order style speech while an additional 18 percent said they were somewhat positive. Only 24 percent said they had a negative reaction. Story continues The poll is far from definitive, and there are likely to be more sophisticated and comprehensive polls coming out this weekend and in the days to follow. Clinton held a narrow 2.7 percent lead over Trump in the RealClear Politics cumulative average of national polls, through July 20. The cutoff was the day before Trump delivered his blockbuster acceptance speech. Related: Trumps Massive Tax Cuts and New Spending Alarm Fiscal Conservatives Voter attitudes are likely to change in the coming days, as Americans continue to absorb the week of antics and fiery speeches in Cleveland and listen to what Clinton and her Democratic allies have to say in Philadelphia. Moreover, Clintons campaign advisers reportedly are confident that Trumps speech did more harm than good to his campaign in trying to pull together the fractious party. As Geoffrey Skelley, associate editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball, wrote last week, nobody should be surprised to see Trump benefit from a sudden surge in the polls, given the history of presidential campaigns. The main point is that conventions almost always generate an increase in a nominees polling numbers during and after his or her convention, but often times the bounce is short-lived, he wrote. Democratic presidential nominees going back to the 1988 convention benefitted on average from a 5-point bump the week after they were nominated, while Republican nominees claimed a similar 4.5-point bump the week after they became their partys standard-bearer. Related: Trump Mum as Anti-Clinton Mood in Cleveland Reaches Outrageous Levels In some cases, the bump simply fades away and the polling reverts to where it was before the conventions. However, some of the bump can be preserved if it reflects an increase in party unity. Both Trump and Clinton are facing substantial rifts: Dissident conservatives led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) refuse to line up behind Trump, while Clinton is still struggles to patch up differences with the liberal wing of her party after her bruising primary battle with liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. According to Skelley, Trump needs to get his support among Republicans up to around 90 percent in the polls (right now its in the 80 percent to 85 percent range) while Clinton needs Sanders supporters, especially independents, to begin to line up behind her. It should surprise no one if Trump gains in surveys following the Republican confab, Skelley wrote. In fact, as we said when reacting to Trumps choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, its quite possible that Trump will surpass Clinton in the poll averages. And Clinton will probably get her own bounce after her nomination is made official in Philadelphia. Here are two interesting charts that describe the effects of past presidential campaign bumps: Tables 1 and 2: Median poll bounce for major-party nominees, 1988-2012 Convention Bump Sources: The Hotline, HuffPost Pollster (2008, 2012), Polling Report (2000) RealClearPolitics (2004, 2008, 2012), Roper Center *Clintons 1992 post-convention high is disproportionately large because Ross Perot momentarily withdrew from the race on July 16, making it a two-candidate race until Perot re-entered at the start of October. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: After his debut in this summer's Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland's Spider-Man swung back into action Saturday evening during Marvel's Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. Holland and Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts took the stage, with the actor offering the same "Hey, everyone!" introduction that Spider-Man used in Captain America: Civil War to talk about the upcoming reboot for Marvel's wall-crawler. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige made a point of crediting Sony's Amy Pascal as being the one responsible for allowing the character to return to Marvel for future big-screen adventures. Watts described the pic as "a straight-up high-school movie" that, unlike other Marvel features, offers a ground-level view of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The helmer joked that his appearance with Holland prevented them from actually shooting the film, which started production last month, before introducing new footage to the crowd. Spider-Man surprises #SDCC! Here's the first look of the Concept Art featuring the Vulture in #SpiderManHomecoming pic.twitter.com/RDVEVsDHQa - Spider-Man (@SpiderManMovie) July 24, 2016 Set to Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation," the footage showed the daily life of Peter Parker: secretly making web fluid in high school science class, biting his tongue as girls in gym class share crushes on the Avengers (no one, sadly, likes Spider-Man) and having to get out of class early in order to save the day. The latest cinematic incarnation of the iconic Marvel character brings the teen hero back to his comic book roots as a high-school loser who finds an outlet for his frustration and anxiety in fighting crime in disguise. One important difference between the newest version of the hero and the classic flavor, however, is the patronage of one Tony Stark, Esq. - Robert Downey Jr. will follow up on the relationship established in Civil War with an appearance in Homecoming. Story continues The film, a co-production between Marvel Studios and Sony's Columbia Pictures, also stars Marisa Tomei, Michael Keaton and Donald Glover. Spider-Man: Homecoming will weave its way into theaters July 7, 2017. Read More: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Adds 'Nice Guys' Breakout Angourie Rice (Exclusive) Legendary and Warner Bros unveiled a King Kong for the 21st century with their presentation of Kong: Skull Island. "Kong is film history, Kong is where genre went mainstream," said director Jordan Vogt-Roberts Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. "We tried to tell a new mythology. We've seen the beauty and the beast tale." The new movie is set in the 1970s, a deliberate choice. "It was the last time were myth could still exist," Vogt-Roberts said before the advent of higher technology such as cell phones and satellite mapping took away most of the planet's mysteries. The story follows the discovery of an island in the South Pacific protected by a storm system. Scientists and soldiers are sent in. Mayhem and monsters ensue. The footage brought comparisons to Apocalypse Now, the 1970s Vietnam war drama that featured chopper attacks, and Aliens, the 1980s Alien sequel by James Cameron that featured soldiers fighting creatures. Brie Larson, who plays a war photographer in the movie, was on hand, making jokes about the contrast between this movie and the one she had done right before, her Oscar-winning drama Room. "I had better insoles in my shoes. I had sunscreen," she said. "I just found a better Airbnb." Tom Hiddleston stole many a heart during the presentation, fielding many cries of "I love you!" from the Hall H crowd. John Goodman closed out the panel on a funny note when the assembled cast, which also included Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell, was asked by a member of the audience what they liked to Netlfix and "just chill" to. "I like to watch Roseanne and say the lines before they appear on screen," said the actor who starred on the show for nine seasons. "Sometimes I come up with better lines." Kong: Skull Island hits theaters March 10, 2017. Bookmark THR.com/ComicCon to keep up with all the highlights. var el = document.getElementById('targetParams');if (el !== null && typeof(el) != 'undefined') {var srcParams = $('.advert iframe').attr('src');var addParams = srcParams.split(";");for (i=1;i<=addParams.length - 1;i++) {if (addParams[i] != '=null' && addParams[i] != 'dcopt=ist' && addParams[i] != '!c=iframe' && addParams[i] != 'pos=t' && addParams[i] != 'sz=728x90') {el.value += addParams[i]+";";}}}brightcove.createExperiences();>>>>>>> Deputy died helping others BATON ROUGE, La.: The Baton Rouge sheriffs deputy killed last Sunday ran to help another officer when he could have stayed safe in the convenience store where he was working off-duty, a minister said at his funeral Saturday. Its a remarkable story, the story of Brad Garafola, said the Rev. Jeff Ginn, lead pastor at Istrouma Baptist Church. He had a place of security ... a place where he could hide. He left that place of safety. Garafola and two Baton Rouge police officers were killed outside the B-Quik convenience store by 29-year-old gunman Gavin Long, who was killed by police. Three other officers were wounded. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux told mourners Saturday that one remains in critical condition and another faces a third operation on his shattered arm. Wildfires burn near Big Sur LOS ANGELES: Wildfires burned out of control Saturday in mountains north of Los Angeles and near Big Sur on Californias scenic Central Coast, posing a threat to 2,000 homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals that was being evacuated, authorities said. Southern California firefighters toiled in another day of triple-digit heat from a dome of high pressure over the region. While Central Coast temperatures were more moderate, conditions included winds and low humidity. The fire in northern Los Angeles County grew to 20,000 acres, or more than 31 square miles, spreading smoke across the city and suburbs, reducing the sun to an orange disk at times. Containment was estimated at just 10 percent. Shooting at leaves at least 4 dead BASTROP, Texas: At least four adults were found dead after a gunman opened fire on Saturday evening at an apartment complex in Bastrop, Texas, police said. Bastrop County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Dawn Adams quoted officers at the apartment complex as saying the suspect was dead and the scene was secured. It was not immediately clear if the suspect was one of the four adults found dead. DNC to review superdelegate policy PHILADELPHIA: The role of superdelegates could be significantly reduced in future Democratic presidential primaries under a compromise deal struck at the Democratic National Convention rules committee Saturday. Efforts by Bernie Sanders supporters to pass amendments eliminating or limiting the power of superdelegates failed to win approval at the committee meeting in Philadelphia. But campaigns for Sanders and Hillary Clinton worked out an agreement to create a unity commission to revise the nominating process, including changing superdelegate rules. Internal reviews underway officers BALTIMORE: Two outside police departments are conducting investigations into the conduct of three Baltimore officers who have been cleared of criminal charges in the death of Freddie Gray. Montgomery County police, with the help of Howard County officers, have launched reviews to determine whether Lt. Brian Rice and Officers Caesar Goodson Jr. and Edward Nero broke department policy during Grays April 2015 arrest. Gray died a week after his neck was broken while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained in the back of a police van. President Barack Obamas half-brother is coming out of the woodwork to let everyone know hes voting in the 2016 U.S. presidential election despite living in Kenya. In a New York Post story published Sunday (July 24), Malik Obama (who says hes allowed to vote in the state of Maryland where he once lived) announced that he wants Donald Trump for president. I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart, Malik said from his home in the small western Kenyan village of Kogelo. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him. Malik and his half-brother have a complicated relationship. The 58-year-old has blasted him before, sold an old letter that he received from the POTUS. On a more personal family note, Malik is a legal polygamist and married a teenager after her mother finally gave him permission. Nonetheless, Maliks ready to sway from the Democratic party to the party of Lincoln due to his deep disappointment in his brothers administration. His grievances include Hillary Clinton dodging indictment in the email scandal. She should have known better as the custodian of classified information, Malik said. Hes not too pleased with Clintons work in Libya either, and the killing of Muammar Gaddafi. I still feel that getting rid of Gaddafi didnt make things any better in Libya, he said. My brother and the secretary of state disappointed me in that regard. Another sore spot is gay marriage. Hes not for it, so hes voting Trump. I feel like a Republican now because they dont stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me. To summarize, if President Obama decides to throw a family cookout, Malik probably wont get invited. Corbin Bleu has tied the knot. The High School Musical star, 27, married fellow actor Sasha Clements, 26, on Saturday night, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm. Speaking to PEOPLE Bleu said: "Getting married to Sasha today was the best moment of my life." The couple wed in the Santa Barbara area of California in front of 160 guests. The newlyweds' first dance as a married couple was a salsa number choreographed by Bleu's Dancing with the Stars partner Karina Smirnoff. Talking about the big day, Bleu added: "I have to say my favorite part was the feeling that started in my toes and went all the way to the top of my head when Sasha came through the gate to the entrance of our venue and walked down the aisle. From the flowing veil in the wind as she walked, to the big smile on her face, it suddenly hit me that this stunning woman that was looking at me was going to marry me and make me the happiest man in the world." Corbin Bleu Is Married! The High School Musical Alum Ties the Knot!| Wedding, Corbin Bleu Corbin Bleu Is Married! The High School Musical Alum Ties the Knot!| Wedding, Corbin Bleu RELATED VIDEO: Flashback to Corbin Bleu's High School Musical-Days Clements added that the ceremony was "perfect" and went off without a hitch. "Today was the most perfect day. There is not one thing I would change. Corbin's vows were incredibly beautiful and it was truly the best day of our lives," she told PEOPLE. Guests enjoyed a family-style Italian dinner, a three-tier cake from Sweet E's bakery, and late night snacks from In-N-Out. Bleu and Clements got engaged in Disney World in October 2014. They first met in a Toronto grocery store in 2011. Credit: TREVOR COLLENS/AFP/Getty Images Another era has come to an end at yet another fashion house: Oscar de la Renta Creative Director Peter Copping has stepped down from his post--just before reaching his two-year milestone with the brand. "After almost two years at Oscar de la Renta, personal circumstances require me to return to Europe. I have loved my time in New York where I hope to return at some point in the future," Copping said in a statement released on Wednesday, WWD reports. As for what's next: It may be too soon to tell who will follow in the designer's footsteps. "We have always been in the business of creating beautiful clothes and two of our greatest assets are our design studio and atelier," Oscar de la Renta Chief Executive Officer Alex Bolen said in the statement. "Our team will continue to work on next season's collection with a keen focus on the level of sophistication and craftsmanship that are the hallmarks of our house. We wish Peter well in his future." Copping first joined the brand in November 2014 and was the first successor of Oscar de la Renta himself, who passed away in October 2014. The news of Copping's exit follows what feels like dozens of designer departure and arrivals across brands like Lanvin, Christian Dior, and Saint Laurent, to name a few. WWD reports that Dior's former artistic director, Raf Simons, is in line to return to the spotlight as chief creative officer at Calvin Klein. RELATED: Ashley Graham on the 5 Staples That Should Be in Every Curvy Girl's Closet Right Now Only time will tell. DC's Legends of Tomorrow is going to look a little different in season two. After bidding farewell to several members of the team last year, The CW's superhero team-up series will introduce several new characters. "I just don't want to mess anything up," said new addition Nick Zano, who plays Citizen Steel, at Saturday's Comic-Con panel. "I spent three days working so far and I had a moment with Victor [Garber] and I've always wanted to work with Victor. I was doing a scene with him and I'm staring at him and there was silence and he said, 'Your turn.'" EXCLUSIVE: 'Legends of Tomorrow' Star Dishes on the Big 'Arrow' Surprise For Zano, who is attending his first Comic-Con this year, getting used to the convention life has been a journey, to say the least. His one lesson: "Not spoil any more secrets!" Maisie Richardson-Sellers, who joins the team as Vixen, hopes to bring a "new energy to the team." "Right out of the gate, we're blending these worlds," executive producer Phil Klemmer said of the new episodes. Executive producer Marc Guggenheim revealed that the Legends premiere will feature a familiar archery expert. "We're going to see Mr. Stephen Amell playing Oliver Queen right from the very beginning," Guggenheim said, slipping in that Oliver will be the Star City mayor. PHOTOS: ET at Comic-Con 2016 -- Go Inside Our Action Hero Photo Booth! As for who the Legends will be fighting in the new season, it'll be a team of villains being dubbed the Legion of Doom that will consist of Reverse Flash (Matt Letscher), Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman, who crashed the panel), Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Damien Dahrk (Neal McDonough). DC's Legends of Tomorrow returns Oct. 13 on The CW. Related Articles By Shadia Nasralla VIENNA (Reuters) - A global agreement on cutting the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - potent greenhouse gases used in aerosols, refrigerants and air conditioning - seems within grasp, delegates said on Sunday after ten days of talks on climate change in Vienna. A final deal is expected to be reached at a meeting in October in Kigali, Rwanda. If successful, it would be the biggest single measure to limit global warming since governments adopted the Paris Agreement last December, seeking to limit heat waves, floods, droughts and rising seas. At the Vienna talks, the last before the Kigali meeting, almost 200 countries convened to lay the groundwork for such a deal, hammering out details and timetables for almost eliminating the use of HFCs. "At the (conference) in Vienna the basis was reached today, in the early hours of Sunday, for a political agreement on the sustainable reduction of climate-damaging gases," Austria's Environment Minister Andrae Rupprechter said in a statement. "The text that has been worked out ... should be conclusively decided on ... in October in Kigali. This decision is a milestone for the reduction of climate-damaging gases," he added, echoing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was among those who took part in high-level talks on Friday. Under the current draft of the agreement, rich nations would get a target of almost eliminating HFCs by the 2030s, while poorer nations - which may struggle with the high costs of shifting to new technologies - would get a decade or so longer. "The odds are very high for a deal in Kigali," David Doniger of the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council told Reuters. Developing nations would also get financial support from nations led by the United States and the European Union. India was the least ambitious among major nations, favouring a freeze on growth in HFCs only in 2031. "This single step could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 Fahrenheit) of warming by 2100," the EPA said of cutting the use of HFCs. Clare Perry of the Environmental Investigation Agency, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization, said countries are moving in the right direction but there is a huge amount of work to be done before October. "Discussions on the HFC schedule for developed countries lacked the ambition we expect," she said. Paris set a goal of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2100, mainly by shifting away from fossil fuels, and a target of limiting a rise in average global surface temperatures to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial times. Temperatures this year are on track to be the warmest on record, eclipsing 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Temperatures are already about 1C above pre-industrial times. The HFC talks are part of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which succeeded in slashing the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to help protect the ozone layer, which shields the planet from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer. But the HFCs that have often replaced them, while better for the ozone layer, are greenhouse gases thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. "These negotiations narrowed gaps on key issues like the HFC phase-out timetables, creating strong momentum for Kigali," said Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton White House climate adviser attending the talks. (With extra reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Alister Doyle in Oslo; Writing by Alister Doyle; Editing by Andrew Bolton) UPDATED: Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will step down following next weeks Democratic National Convention, she announced on Sunday. My first priority has always been serving the people of the 23rd district of Florida and I look forward to continuing to do that as their member of Congress for years to come, Schultz said in a statement. Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention, the statement goes on. As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans. We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had. It was reported earlier that Schultz would not have a significant speaking role at the convention. DNC vice chair and CNN political commentator Donna Brazile will serve as interim chair in this election cycle. She and CNN have suspended their contract for the time being, with plans to revisit the contract after Brazile is finished with her role. The decision comes shortly after the leak of nearly 20,000 DNC emails, some of which suggest that the Democratic party may have tried to derail Bernie Sanders campaign in favor of Hillary Clinton. Schultz faced serious pressure to resign over the weekend, and CNN reports that the decision for Schultz to step down was supported by both Sanders and Clintons camps. Following the resignation, Clinton released a statement in which she said shes named Schultz an honorary chair of her campaigns 50-state program. I want to thank my longtime friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the Democratic National Committee over the past five years, she said. I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this years historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this weeks events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership. Theres simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaigns 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states. I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election big because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people. Story continues President Obama issued a statement on her resignation on Sunday, thanking Schultz for her service. For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back, it says. This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful. Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country. Her critical role in supporting our economic recovery, our fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair. Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend. Vice President Joe Biden also voiced support for Schultz in a statement on Sunday. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had the Presidents and my back over the last eight years and were incredibly grateful. Shes been part of our efforts to build an economy from the middle-out, to deliver quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans, and to protect equal rights for everyone. Governing is serious business. The country deserves and needs serious leaders like Debbie. A fighter for womens health and rights. A fierce advocate for seniors and working families. A Congresswoman who knows her first job is serving her constituents and her first obligation is always to her beautiful family Steve, Jake, Rebecca, and Shelby. Debbie is an incredible public servant, and she will always be my friend. In a statement, Sanders praised Schultz for making the right decision: Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race. Sanders publicly called for Schultz to resign in an interview with ABCs This Week on Sunday, before the news officially broke. We need a new chair that is going to lead us in a different direction, he said. The Democratic National Convention will kick off Monday in Philadelphia. Related stories Democratic National Convention Poised to Kick Off Amid a Bit of Party Drama Michael Bloomberg to Endorse Hillary Clinton for President Susan Sarandon, Shailene Woodley to Attend Progressive Rally Leading to DNC Philadelphia (AFP) - Embattled Democratic Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Sunday she is resigning, following a leak of emails suggesting an insider attempt to hobble the campaign of Hillary Clinton's rival in the White House primaries Bernie Sanders. Wasserman Schultz will step down at the end of the Democratic National Convention, she said in a statement on the eve of the confab in Philadelphia that is set to anoint Clinton as the party's presidential nominee. Her departure, long sought by Sanders, is aimed at drawing a line under the scandal as establishment Democrats seek desperately to unite the party behind the campaign of former secretary of state Clinton, who goes up against Republican Donald Trump in the November presidential election. Wasserman Schultz, a congresswoman from Florida, reiterated her intention to be a surrogate for Clinton in the presidential campaign, but said her five-year stint leading the Democratic National Committee was over. "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as party chair at the end of this convention," she said in a statement. She said she will still open and close the convention. A cache of leaked emails from Democratic Party leaders' accounts includes at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to cripple the upstart Sanders campaign that had competed with Clinton -- including by seeking to present him as an atheist to undermine him in highly religious states. The Vermont senator Sunday repeated calls for the resignation of Wasserman Schultz, whose leadership was already under fire and whose impartiality was called into question by the leaks. President Barack Obama said he called Wasserman Schultz Sunday to say he was "grateful" for her years of service. "Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country." Story continues Yet Wasserman Schultz recently proved a divisive leader, with the Sanders camp and its supporters concerned the DNC was angling for a Clinton nomination. "The emails just proved what we believed to begin with," Dora Bouboulis of Vermont told AFP as she marched in a Philadelphia demonstration. Clinton issued a statement to thank Wasserman Schultz and to state her friend "will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states." Trump however was quick to pile on. "I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems convention is cracking up," he taunted on Twitter. Clinton Sanders endorsement Democrats are hoping that any lingering rifts in the party can be healed by a Democratic convention united in opposition to Donald Trump. Days before the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia is set to kick off, party leaders are promising a departure from Trump's dark version of an America in decline. In a call on Wednesday, Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that the Democratic convention in Philadelphia would attempt to strike a positive tone, and would be "unrecognizable" from its Republican counterpart. "Republicans should be ashamed that theyre spending this entire week lying from a stage where the American people should expect better than what is being viewed from that podium by their speakers," Schultz said. "The lies, the vitriol, the hatred. We are so much better than this." But while Trump's anti-Clinton convention theme dismayed many top Democrats, when Sen. Bernie Sanders takes the stage on Monday, he'll still have a long way to go to unite the party. Some Sanders supporters remain skeptical of Clinton's ties to the financial industry as well as her foreign-policy legacy, particularly her support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Some liberal activists have been unsettled by endorsements from high-profile members of the right-leaning foreign-policy establishment. The tensions have only escalated over the past several days, after damaging internal Democratic National Committee emails published by Wikileaks appeared to show the party's hostility toward Sanders' candidacy. Among other things, top Democratic officials were shown to have scoffed at Sanders supporters and even at one point questioned Sanders' religious beliefs. "Well, I think it's outrageous, but it is not a great shock to me," Sanders told CNN on Sunday. "I think, as I said, it's what we talked about six months ago. I mean, there's no question to my mind and I think no question to any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton, was in opposition to our campaign. So I'm not quite shocked by this." Story continues Schultz, whom Sanders called on to resign immediately, announced Sunday that she would resign after the convention. The revelations have provided a new source of fury to Sanders' grassroots supporters, who so far haven't been ready to let go of his candidacy even if top Democratic leaders are. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally in Manhattan. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson CNN political commentator and columnist Sally Kohn said that since endorsing Clinton following the California primary, pushback from Sanders supporters has been frustrating. "There are some trolls who, by the way, didnt like any time I said anything critical of Bernie," Kohn said. "They now think Im a traitor, [that] in fact I was never really a Bernie supporter, [that] I was a plant. Which, lets be honest, sucks. Ill put my progressive cred up any time. Ive earned it." Kohn qualified that she doesn't assume that, "the people who chime in most vociferously often are representative of most progressives, most liberals, most Democrats." Nomiki Konst, host of SiriusXM's "The Filter," and one of Sanders' most high-profile surrogates on Fox News, said that while she hasn't endorsed Clinton, some Sanders supporters on Twitter had been alienated by the radio host's rationale: that compromising and pushing Clinton is far easier than attempting to work with Trump. "Ive gotten a lot of pushback on twitter who said theyd unfollow me. They assume that Im endorsing Hillary, and I never said that," Konst said. "Ive said over and over that [Clinton] needs to earn my support as a surrogate. I havent received a phone call from Hillary or her team. Ive worked for the Democratic Party. I know a lot of these people." She added: "It is concerning to me that people are turning on [Sanders], but more importantly that theyre trying to vote in the Green Party. The bottom line is in swing states right now it is so tight between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump that a vote for Jill Stein would be destructive." "Im not saying that Hillary is perfect and shes the candidate thats going to lead us towards peace. But shes not a fascist." While groups like MoveOn.org have switched camps to Sanders, others are taking time to fall in behind the former secretary of state, saying that they do not want to be taken for granted. Friends of the Earth Action a prominent environmental group that still touts its support for Sanders in a large photo at the top of its website hasn't endorsed Clinton. "We will at some point consider endorsing Secretary Clinton, but were not there yet," President Erich Pica told Business Insider recently. The backlash online doesn't appear to be translating into real support in the polls. In a recent Washington Post/ABC poll released in June, just 8% of the senator's former supporters in the Democratic primaries reported that they would support Trump over Clinton in the general election. In May, 20% of Sanders supporters responded they would back Trump over Clinton in a hypothetical general election match-up. While Sanders' attempt to boost other progressive primary candidates has had mixed results, former surrogates like Konst and Josh Foxx, the director of the documentary film "Gasland," are trying to keep the grassroots movement Sanders rallied from becoming complacent. Sanders activists are pushing next week to during rules-committee meetings to include a provision that would eliminate superdelegates, high-profile Democratic lawmakers and party officials who play a small role in selecting the presidential nominee. Konst told Business Insider that the activists will be releasing videos from supporters of both Sanders and Clinton calling for the end of superdelegates, many of whom Sanders criticized for backing Clinton before the primary process began in earnest. Though the threat of a fight on the convention floor from Sanders supporters seems nullified, activists are still planning to raise many of the issues at the convention. Some activists, like actress Shailene Woodley, are also organizing caravans to convention next week, where they are planning protests aimed at raising awareness of "political and corporate corruption." For their part, party leaders are publicly worried about Sanders holdouts. Schultz, the DNC chair, told Business Insider that she wasn't concerned at all about Democratic voters being alienated by support from hawks, saying that Clinton had support and endorsements "from across the political spectrum of politics, and particularly of our party." "We have a very, very comprehensive amount of support from our progressive wing," Schultz said. "Hillary Clinton herself is a proud progressive, and we certainly welcome the support of any American who believes, like we do, that Hillary Clinton as president of the United States will not only make sure that America is safer, but that we can continue to help Americans reach the middle class." This post has been updated. NOW WATCH: Malcolm Gladwell on the presidential election: Both sides have to chill' More From Business Insider If 95 degrees seems hot to you, it feels even hotter to a dairy cow. The thermo-neutral temperature for a cow is about 42 degrees. In other words, above 42 degrees, a cow needs to get rid of excess heat from the breakdown of feeds in her rumen. Think of the cows rumen as a furnace inside her, regardless of the ambient temperature. In cool or cold weather, she uses fermentation heat from the feeds she eats to maintain normal body temperature. During these hot and humid summer days, however, she must deal with fermentation heat and ambient heat, and its a real challenge for farmers to minimize adverse effects of heat on the cow, her appetite, and her milk production. When cows get hot, they eat less feed. Our Jersey cows normally eat about 47 or 48 pounds of feed dry matter a day. The first 22 pounds of feed the cow eats keeps her alive for another day, providing nutrition for normal essential physiological functions and pregnancy. The next 26 pounds of dry matter is what makes the milk. If the cows dry matter intake drops by three pounds a day, for example, during hot weather, we could lose six to eight pounds of milk per cow. Besides lost milk, the heat stress takes a toll on the cows immune systems. An increase in clinical mastitis and other bacterial infections can happen during heat stress. It is more difficult to get cows pregnant when its hot. We try to disturb the cows as little as possible on very hot days encouraging them to just eat and rest when they arent in the milking parlor. The dairy industry currently refers to mitigating heat stress as heat abatement. One of Wisconsins biggest advantages as a dairy state is that we only have a couple of hot months year. Florida for example has oppressively hot weather for cows much of the year. Several techniques can be used to minimize heats adverse effects on dairy cows. Our free stall barns have no sidewalls, so we capture as much natural ventilation from air currents as there is. We also ventilate barns with fans. We spray cold water over the cows backs when they come to eat at the feed bunk or are waiting to be milked in the holding area. Fan movement of air over the wet cows facilitates evaporative cooling. Drinking water is free choice and clean, and water tanks are available to the cows in several locations. We have found the smaller Jersey cows to be more tolerant of heat than our Holsteins were. Some of that has to do with the adult Jerseys relatively more surface area to dissipate heat per pound of body weight. Any way you slice it, however, this past week of heat and humidity has been a challenge to all cows and to all of us carrying out the work at area farms. Even Jimmy, our border collie, gets hot and will hop up in to a water tank for a cool dip ... cant blame him. debbie wasserman schultz Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz will step down after the party's convention this week, following leaked internal emails that showed key members of the organization speaking critically of Sen. Bernie Sanders in his primary fight against Hillary Clinton. In a statement Sunday afternoon, the chair touted her accomplishments running the DNC during President Barack Obama's reelection campaign but acknowledged that her resignation may help ease concerns about institutional bias against Sanders. "As the mother of my three amazing children and the Representative of Floridas 23rd congressional district, I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for Americas future. I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory," Schultz said. She added: "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans." "We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had." Vice Chair Donna Brazile, who said Sunday that she apologized to the Sanders campaign for the emails, will serve as the interim chair. The chair has faced increasing pressure to step down after internal emails showed top staffers considering leaking negative information about Sanders, as he publicly criticized the chair for alleged bias against his campaign. Among other things, top Democratic officials were shown to have scoffed at Sanders supporters and even at one point questioned Sanders' religious beliefs. Story continues DNC Vice Chair R.T. Rybak, who was an unusually vocal critic of the chair's leadership, told Business Insider that he heard about Schultz's resignation from a reporter Sunday afternoon. The former Minneapolis mayor said he was disturbed by the content of the emails and applauded Brazile's selection as interim chair. "The emails were very disturbing with some serious issues and it required immediate action," Rybak said. "This requires constant scrutiny to make sure that the DNC stays the neutral player it must be in party contests. That's going to be a long conversation that will start right after this election, but by resigning today, it allows us to spend the next couple months talking about how to win. Then after that it allows us to talk a lot about party reform." Rybak acknowledged the institutional challenges that can keep the DNC from connecting with grassroots voters. The mayor suggested that he'd be open to electing, rather than appointing, a DNC chair in the future, noting former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's bid for DNC chair in 2005. "I was appointed by President Obama, and that makes it harder to hold someone like me accountable," Rybak said. He added: "One of the best exercises in party democracy was when Howard Dean chose to run a campaign for DNC chair. We should be talking about that when the election is over, about whether the contemporary party should bring more democracy into choosing people who run the party." While Schultz's resignation may help quell discontent on the left, it's unclear what the impact will be on the DNC in the long run. If elected, the incoming president typically appoints an ally to head the party organization. Indeed, the Clinton campaign effectively took control of the DNC by appointing former SEIU political director Brandon Davis as the chief of staff of the DNC. Following Sunday's announcement, Clinton praised Schultz in a statement, and promised to campaign for her reelection in Florida. "There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states," Clinton said. NOW WATCH: The DNC chair was heckled by protesters while trying to talk at a Florida delegate breakfast More From Business Insider debbie wasserman schultz Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will no longer speak at or preside over her partys convention, CNN reported Sunday, citing sources. "She's been quarantined," a top Democrat told the cable-news outlet. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders additionally said on "Meet the Press" Sunday morning that, "it's clear she's not going to be speaking at the convention." Neither a spokesperson for the DNC nor Hillary Clinton's campaign immediately responded to a request for comment from Business Insider on Sunday morning. The shock news came after Wikileaks published thousands of emails showing the DNC appearing to tip the scales in favor of Clinton and actively working to undermine the campaign of Sanders. Sanders had made similar allegations for months and called for Wasserman Schultz to resign, but the emails published Friday offered irrefutable proof. "Well, I think it's outrageous, but it is not a great shock to me. I think, as I said, it's what we talked about six months ago," Sanders told CNN on Sunday. "I mean, there's no question to my mind and I think no question to any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton, was in opposition to our campaign." The leak is certain to deepen the divide between Clinton supporters and Sanders supporters as the party attempts to unify itself this week at the Philadelphia convention. The emails were published as a result of a hack linked to Russian intelligence services. Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook suggested on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had orchestrated it to help Donald Trumps campaign. Asked about suggestions the New York businessman colluded with Putin in the hack, Trump's campaign manager called such allegations absurd and said there was no basis for them. NOW WATCH: Watch Hillary's brutal attack ad showing children watching Trump's controversial statements More From Business Insider GOP nominee Donald Trump dodged Chuck Todds question as to the accuracy of reports that ousted Fox News chief Roger Ailes is advising on his campaign. Here is how the exchange aired on NBCs Meet The Press: CHUCK TODD: Finally, Roger Ailes. Is he helping you? Is he advising you? DONALD TRUMP: Well, I dont want to comment. But hes been a friend of mine for a long time. And I can tell you that some of the women that are complaining, I know how much hes helped them. And even recently. And when they write books that are fairly recently released, and they say wonderful things about him. And now all of a sudden theyre saying these horrible things about him. Its very sad. Because hes a very good person. Ive always found him to be just a very, very good person. And by the way, a very, very talented person. Look what hes done. So I feel very badly. But a lot of people are thinking hes going to run my campaign. CHUCK TODD: Yes, whats DONALD TRUMP: My campaigns doing pretty well. CHUCK TODD: Mr. Trump, until we meet again. DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. Ailes, chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, and chairman of Fox Television Stations, resigned from his role, effective immediately, on Thursday. The move, not unexpected, came two weeks after former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment suit against her ex-boss. The announcement effectively ended Ailes 20-year career as founder of Fox News Channel, the powerful news network and political force that, for the past two decades, has billed itself as the fair and balanced antidote to what its on-air talent often called the lamestream liberal media. Related stories 'BrainDead' Slips To Low In Move, 'Big Brother' Inches Up To Sunday Highs, '60 Minutes' Clinton Ratings Match Trump Donald Trump Takes To Reddit; Tim Kaine Talks To Telemundo Tonight John Oliver Roasts Donald Trump's RNC As Controversy Roils DNC Opening Donald Trump in a new interview defended the speech he gave at the Republican National Convention as very optimistic amid criticism that the GOP presidential nominees message was too dark. Trump told NBCs Chuck Todd in an interview that aired Sunday on Meet The Press that his speech Thursday night which painted a picture of an America plagued by crime, murders and lurking terrorists was optimistic because were going to stop the problems. To me, it was an optimistic speech, Trump said. I think the only negativity, and, you know, the hate, I call them the haters, and thats fine. But the only negative reviews were, A little dark. And the following day, they had another attack, and then today you see what happened in Afghanistan with many, many people killed. The real estate moguls speech on Friday drew remarks from President Barack Obama, who cautioned against Trumps assessment of the nation and said the fears conveyed by speakers at the Republican National Convention just dont jibe with the facts. Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation, Trump said in his speech in Cleveland. The attacks on our police, and the terrorism in our cities, threaten our very way of life. Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country. A bad story about the economy can be bad for the economy. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) The economy doesnt just happen. You have to actually do stuff for the economy to work. As such, the willingness to do stuff is just as important as the ability to do stuff. Consumers must buy expensive steak dinners just like they buy toilet paper. Businesses must pay for their fancy renovations just like they pay for licenses to use Microsoft Word. Governments must build that new bridge just like they restore that hurricane-torn public park. Add all of this up, and you get approximately $18 trillion worth of economic activity in the US a year. All of the wealth in the world does your economy no good if sentiment is so sour and uncertainty is so high that none of that wealth is put to work. In a new piece for Project Syndicate, economist Robert Shiller examines the sources of uncertainty that may cause folks in the economy to hold off on their purchases. Stories really do affect perceived economic uncertainty Shiller begins by saying: Economic slowdowns can often be characterized as periods of hesitation. Hesitation has the consequence of slowing down a growing economy, which can have the unfortunate consequence of feeding back into more hesitation. But what is the source of hesitation? Shiller argues one possible source may be uncertainty about economic policy, which seems reasonable considering things like taxes and regulation are a critical part of capital budgeting plans by businesses. Furthermore, the work of Baker, Bloom and Davis and their Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) indices have made this correlation observable. As for cause and effect? From Shiller: But do contractions cause uncertainty, they ask, or does uncertainty cause contractions? Given that we know that people are highly reactive to each other, the causality most likely runs both ways, in a feedback loop. There remains the question of what triggered any of that feedback loop. Shiller goes all the way back to the Great Depression to advance an explanation. From his piece (emphasis ours): Story continues As for the Great Depression, one wonders if the high degree of EPU was linked to social trends after the excesses of the 1920s, fueling fear of Communism and, in the United States, of the New Deal. One wonders if fear of fascist regimes, and of a coming war, prolonged the depression after Hitler came to power in 1933. The attention devoted to Johannes Steeles 1934 book The Second World War, which predicted that eponymous event, indicates that fear of war must have been talked about enough to underpin some hesitation. To people who lived through World War I, the thought of a sequel must have seemed nightmarish. Of course, whether the Great Depression was really prolonged by these stories or ideas cannot be proved. How do we know which stories were affecting peoples thinking? On the other hand, we can be fairly certain that some of these stories really do affect perceived economic uncertainty. Perception can be a powerful influence on behavior, regardless of whether it contradicts reality. And this in turn affects our willingness to do stuff, despite our ability. All of this is important as we ingest stories about the economy and policy. The economy may in reality be in great shape. But if you read or hear repeatedly that the economy is not great, then the resulting faulty perception could have the consequence of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Read Shillers whole piece at Project Syndicate. Sam Ro is managing editor at Yahoo Finance. Read more: How historys most successful investors think about wild market swings Heres the irony of trying to predict the next stock market crash A single word explains why financial markets everywhere are nosediving Merrill Lynch chief economist nails the truth about risk in a perfect 3-word sentence Brussels (AFP) - The EU should suspend structural funds to Spain and Portugal after they failed to rein in their debt, according to a letter from the European Commission seen by AFP. Eurozone finance ministers agreed this month to impose unprecedented sanctions against Spain and Portugal for overstepping the bloc's budget deficit limits. The penalties would be the first time Brussels has wielded its disciplinary powers over member states' budgets, in a move that has inflamed tensions over its power. European Commission vice president Jyrki Katainen said "socio-economic factors," including the Iberian countries' high rates of unemployment, should be taken into account when deciding how much to suspend. "We remain at your disposal to participate in a structural dialogue with the European Parliament on the application of these measures, with a view to make a balanced proposal," he said in a letter to the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. Attached to the letter was a list of 12 Portuguese funds and 60 Spanish that could be suspended, either completely or in part. Structural funds are used to address regional disparities within the bloc. Earlier this month, eurozone finance ministers found Portugal and Spain had not taken "effective action" to rein in their deficits, which remain larger than EU rules allow after years of painful austerity. Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged the Commission to propose the complete or partial suspension of structural funds for projects in 2017 as a penalty. The EU's executive branch could also hand down huge fines that could reach up to 0.2 percent of their GDP. A source, who asked not to be named, said that is expected to be decided by July 27. The penalties have inflamed tensions in the EU at a time when politicians are seeking more political unity after Britain's surprise vote to leave the bloc. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa hit out against the plans on Saturday, saying: "There is no justification for imposing sanctions for not reaching a target in 2015, when the European Commission itself recognises that we will reach this year's goal." Portugal is aiming for a budget deficit of under three percent of GDP, down from 4.4 percent last year. Spain, which has been in political deadlock since December, reported a deficit of 5.1 percent of GDP in 2015, way off the target of 4.2 percent set by the Commission. By John Whitesides PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The head of the Democratic Party resigned on Sunday amid a furor over embarrassing leaked emails, hoping to head off a growing rebellion by Bernie Sanders supporters on the eve of the convention to nominate Hillary Clinton for the White House. Lingering bitterness from the heated primary campaign between Clinton and Sanders erupted after more than 19,000 Democratic National Committee emails, leaked on Friday, confirmed Sanders' frequent charge that the party played favorites in the race. In a statement, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the best way for the party to accomplish its goal of putting Clinton in the White House was for her to step aside. Sanders had demanded earlier in the day that Wasserman Schultz resign. The furor was a blow to a party keen on projecting stability in contrast to the volatility of Republican candidate Donald Trump, who was formally nominated at a raucous convention in Cleveland last week. It also overshadowed preparations in Philadelphia for Clinton's coronation as the nominee to face Trump in the Nov. 8 presidential election. She will be the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party. The four-day Democratic convention will open on Monday. In some good news for Clinton, The New York Times reported that businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will endorse her in a prime-time speech on Monday, saying she will be the best choice for moderate voters in 2016. The cache of emails leaked on Friday by the WikiLeaks website disclosed that DNC officials explored ways to undermine Sanders' insurgent presidential campaign, including raising questions about whether Sanders, who is Jewish, was really an atheist. Sanders said Wasserman Schultz, a U.S. representative from Florida, had made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. "The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race," he said. 'A RUSSIAN CONNECTION?' The Clinton camp questioned whether Russians may have had a hand in the hack attack on the party's emails and were interested in helping Trump, who has exchanged words of praise with Russian President Vladimir Putin. What's disturbing to us is that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails and other experts are now saying that Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump," Clinton campaign chairman Robby Mook said on CNN's "State of the Union." Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort said the Clinton camp was trying to distract from its party discord ahead of the convention. "What's in those emails show that it was a clearly rigged system, that Bernie Sanders ... never had a chance, Manafort said on ABC. Clinton, 68, a former secretary of state, and Sanders, 74, an independent U.S. senator from Vermont who ran for president as a Democrat, waged a bruising months-long battle for the nomination. Branding himself a democratic socialist, Sanders galvanized young and liberal voters with his calls to rein in Wall Street and eradicate income inequality. But Sanders repeatedly voiced frustration with a DNC and party establishment he felt was stacked against him, and the resentment from Sanders and his supporters threatened to disrupt the convention. "I'm not shocked but I'm disappointed," Sanders said of the emails earlier on Sunday on ABC's "This Week." The emails showed DNC officials pondering various ways to undercut Sanders. Brad Marshall, the DNC's chief financial officer, apologized on Facebook on Saturday for an email in which he discussed how some voters in upcoming nominating contests in Kentucky and West Virginia would reject an atheist. "He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage," Marshall wrote in a May 5 email to three top DNC officials. No names were mentioned, but Sanders was the only Jewish candidate. "I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist." Clinton told CBS's "60 Minutes" in an interview that aired on Sunday that she had not read any of the emails but it was "wrong and unacceptable" to bring religion into the political process. SANDERS SUPPORTERS ANGRY The emails angered many Sanders supporters who were already dismayed by Clinton's choice on Friday of low-key U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her vice presidential running mate. Kaine, 58, who could appeal to independents and moderates, has never been aligned with party liberals. Sanders, who has endorsed Clinton and will speak on her behalf to the convention on Monday, said he would have preferred she pick U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a favorite of the party's liberal wing, as her No. 2. "I have known Tim Kaine for a number of years. ... Tim is a very, very smart guy. He is a very nice guy," Sanders said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "He is more conservative than I am. Would I have preferred to see somebody like an Elizabeth Warren selected by Secretary Clinton? Yes, I would have," he said. Carrying pitchforks meant to portray Clinton as the devil, hundreds of Sanders supporters took to the streets of Philadelphia earlier on Sunday to say they felt betrayed by the DNC. "It just validated everything we thought, everything we believed to be true, that this was completely rigged right from the beginning, and that you know it was really about what they were doing everything to set it up so she would win," Sanders supporter Gwen Sperling said. DNC Vice Chairwoman Donna Brazile will serve as interim chair through the election, the DNC said on Twitter. (Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Labib Nasir in Philadelphia; Editing by Howard Goller and Peter Cooney) CLEVELAND David Blaska, a Wisconsin delegate to the Republican National Convention, went to Cleveland hoping to see the party nominate anyone other than Donald Trump. But after a week of hearing speeches from top GOP brass and hobnobbing with fellow party members from across the country, he has come up with a justification for how hell vote in November. Im going to vote for Pence, Blaska said, referring to the vice presidential nominee, which will effectively count as a vote for Trump. Im swallowing hard. Blaska, a well-known conservative blogger and former Dane County board member, said the best things that Trump have going for him are Pence, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who Republicans fear will be replaced by a liberal justice, changing the composition of the court for decades. That fear about the court lurching to the left was part of Gov. Scott Walkers message to the Wisconsin delegation Thursday. He said the three words that should instill absolute and total terror in your hearts and minds: Justice. Elizabeth. Warren. Walker also provided a more detailed defense of Trump than he gave in his convention speech Wednesday night. I believe that Donald Trump is fundamentally prepared to change Washington and take power out of that city and send it back to our states, Walker said. By putting Mike Pence out there as his (vice presidential) candidate, it should send a message: This is a guy whos ready to govern. Hes not just talking about shaking things up in Washington, hes prepared to do it. Walker also noted Trump was not his first pick (I was my first pick, he joked), but while Trump may not be perfect, the last time there was a perfect person on this planet was 2,000 years ago. The focus Wednesday night was supposed to be on Pence, but Texas Sen. Ted Cruz stole the spotlight by, rather than endorsing Trump, urging conservatives to vote their consciences in November. Speaking with reporters Thursday, Walker reiterated that during a debate in Cleveland last August, he pledged to support the nominee and is endorsing Trump because he meant what he said. Walker declined to criticize Cruz for not endorsing, saying that voters will have the ultimate say on Cruz. Vote your conscience was a rallying cry of the anti-Trump forces that unsuccessfully tried to change the rules of the convention to deny Trump the nomination. Although Cruz didnt criticize Trump, his pronouncement ripped the scab off the partys wounds, emboldening those like Bill Folk, an alternate delegate from Racine who remains anti-Trump and is considering voting for libertarian Gary Johnson. Even if that means Hillary Clinton wins, so long as I dont vote for her, so be it, Folk said. The nation needs to grow up a little bit more in order to support the values I truly believe in as a Republican. To be perfectly blunt, I dont know that (the convention) brought unity, Folk added. If I heard We must unite one more time I was going to pull my hair out. A far greater number from the state delegation who responded to the State Journal supported Trump heading into the convention and said the event fostered unity. Oh yeah, the convention is helping Republicans unite, said Keith Best, an alternate delegate from the 5th Congressional District. The grassroots teams understand why we need to unite, said Sue Lynch, an alternate delegate from the 3rd congressional district and a past president of the National Federation of Republican Women. Every delegate I talked with from other states and I talked to lots of them said they were supporting Trump, enthusiastically, said Bob Spindell, a delegate from Milwaukee. Many delegates if not becoming pro-Trump, are really taking (seriously) the reality that we have to be anti-Hillary and that being anti-Hillary means voting for Donald Trump, said Brian Westrate, a delegate from Eau Claire. He said for the most part he encountered two groups of Trump voters at the convention: People whose primary motivation is that they dont like Hillary Clinton and people whose primary motivation is they like Donald Trump. If both of them go into the polling place in November and cast the same ballot we can win, Westrate said. Roger Stauter, a delegate from Monona, said he still wont vote for Trump, especially after he made comments suggesting he would abandon the nations European allies. Stauter said while he has seen some of the unification that tends to happen at conventions, there is an undercurrent of unease, which he described as regretful guarded hopefulness. The regret is that everything was teed up for a Republican victory, Stauter said. The hopefulness is guarded because of the unfiltered comments Trump makes. There is a hopefulness because Hillary Clinton is carrying a ton of baggage as a candidate and may be very defeatable. By Nate Raymond NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are set to face off with a former Wall Street investment banker in their first insider trading trial since a U.S. appeals court curtailed their ability to pursue such cases. Jury selection is expected to begin on Monday in the case of Sean Stewart, an ex-banker at Perella Weinberg Partners and JPMorgan Chase & Co accused of supplying inside information to his father about unannounced healthcare mergers. Prosecutors say accountant Robert Stewart, the father, and Richard Cunniffe, an acquaintance who worked at a boutique investment bank, made $1.16 million trading on tips about five healthcare deals provided by the younger Stewart. The mergers included INC Research's 2011 acquisition of Kendle International Inc. The case has resulted in guilty pleas by Robert Stewart, 61, and Cunniffe, 61, who, according to prosecutors, secretly recorded the elder Stewart saying his son criticized him for not trading on a tip. "I handed you this on a silver platter and you didn't invest in this," Robert Stewart quoted his son as saying, according to prosecutors. Sean Stewart, 35, is expected to argue he believed his father would keep the information secret and not trade on it, according to court records. "After a year of being dragged through the mud, he is looking forward to clearing his name at trial," said Martin Cohen, Stewart's lawyer. The case is being pursued by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office, which has charged 107 people with insider trading since 2009. The trial is his office's first since suffering a major setback in 2014, when an appellate court limited the scope of insider trading laws, causing charges against 14 people to be dropped or dismissed. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that to prove insider trading, prosecutors must establish that a tipper received a benefit in exchange for the information that was not just friendship but of "some consequence," like money. Story continues The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to examine that issue in a different case in October. Bharara has said the 2nd Circuit's ruling could allow executives who tip family members for no pecuniary benefits to avoid prosecution. In Stewart's case, prosecutors say evidence shows his father used some trading profits to pay $10,055 toward his son's wedding. Stewart's lawyers have called linking the payment to the trading "ludicrous" since it is customary for a groom's parents to pay for some wedding costs. The case is U.S. v. Stewart, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 15-cr-00287. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Andrew Hay) Get ready for a new season of Gotham! Ben McKenzie and his superhero drama co-stars joined ET's Leanne Aguilera for a Facebook Live chat during day three of Comic-Con on Saturday, where they dished on what's in store for Gotham City's residents. "There's a lot of girl power this season!" McKenzie reveals. Jessica Lucas, who plays Tabitha Galavan on the show, elaborates, "We team up and open a nightclub in Gotham called Sirens. It's gonna be the new hang out for criminals, and all the people of the underworld." PHOTOS: See the Stars at San Diego Comic-Con 2016! And Camren Bicondova, who plays Selina Kyle (a.k.a. 'Catwoman') confirmed that there will probably be some major catfights (get it?) in store between her and the new older, recast Ivy. "Poison Ivy will be introduced," Bicondova reveals of the recast character, who will now be played by Maggie Geha. "She's 5 years older than the Ivy that we have known, and the relationship between Ivy and Selina ... will be reversed." WATCH: Katie Cassidy Is Returning to the 'Arrow' Universe -- Plus, Watch the Cast Sing 'Hamilton'! "Selina's always been this older sister and now that Ivy is older physically than Selina, it's gonna be a bit of a power struggle," she adds. Check out the whole chat below for more. To see what happens between Selina and Poison Ivy, we'll have to wait until the third season of Gotham premieres on Monday, Sept. 19 on Fox. EXCLUSIVE: Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin Adorably Gush Over Each Other During First Post-Baby Red Carpet Related Articles By Ahmad Ghaddar, Libby George and Aidan Lewis LONDON/TUNIS (Reuters) - Libya's hopes to boost crude exports have been dealt a blow after the head of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) objected to a deal between the government and local guards to reopen key ports. In a letter seen by Reuters to U.N. Libya envoy Martin Kobler and a number of oil and diplomatic officials, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said it was a mistake to reward Ibrahim Jathran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), for a blockade of the oil ports of Ras Lanuf, Es Sider and Zueitina. The PFG confirmed on Friday that it would implement an agreement with Libya's U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to reopen the ports within days, following a visit by Kobler to meet Jathran in Ras Lanuf. The terms for ending the blockade have not been made public, but an initial payment for salaries for Jathran's men has been agreed, sources familiar with the matter say. In the letter, Sanalla said the deal included payments that would encourage other groups to disrupt oil operations in the hopes of a similar payout. "It sets a terrible precedent and will encourage anybody who can muster a militia to shut down a pipeline, an oilfield, or a port, to see what they can extort," the letter said. Sanalla said the NOC would not lift force majeure at export terminals if a payout went through due to the risk that the corporation would face liabilities. Should any court cases arise internationally for losses stemming from the blockade, "we, as NOC, are determined not to be attached to these lawsuits", the letter said. The NOC also threatened to withdraw its recognition of the GNA's leadership, or Presidential Council. Ali al-Hassi, a PFG spokesman, would not confirm whether any money had been received, but said the guards' salaries should be paid now that the force was fulfilling its promise to open the ports. OPEC member Libya has been in turmoil for years, with rival governments and complex alliances of armed groups vying for power and a share of the country's significant oil wealth. Armed factions, labour disputes and security threats have helped slash oil output to less than a quarter of the 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) seen before the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. The blockade by Jathran alone has cost Libya some $100 billion in lost export revenue, according to the letter. Sanalla's letter said that due to attacks from Islamic State militants and other damage, exports from the ports would struggle to surpass 100,000 bpd in the near term, a fraction of their designed capacity. He added that NOC's largest subsidiary, Agoco, would be able to increase production by that amount if it received its operational budget from the government. "To pay Jathran instead of Agoco makes no sense, politically, economically or legally," Sanalla said. Asked about the terms of any deal with the PFG, Ahmed Maiteeg, a member of the GNA's Presidential Council, said only that he hoped the ports would open soon so Libya could earn badly needed foreign currency. The country faces a financial crunch because of the collapse in its oil revenues. "We heard many times from the PFG that they will open the oil ports," he told reporters in Tripoli. "Hopefully this time it will happen." Jathran led blockades of the ports starting in 2013 saying he was trying to prevent corruption in oil sales, though others have disputed his motives. The PFG has since helped push Islamic State fighters back along the coast to Sirte, where they are surrounded by GNA-aligned forces. Kobler's visit to Jathran focussed on continuing security cooperation with the GNA, diplomatic sources said. (Additional reporting by Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli, Michelle Nichols in New York and Ayman al-Warfalli in Benghazi; Editing by Dale Hudson) Wentworth Miller is equally pumped for Fox's limited-series Prison Break revival as the rest of us. ET's Leanne Aguilera caught up with the 44-year-old actor at San Diego's Comic-Con on Saturday, where he spilled on the series' fresh new take. WATCH: Wentworth Miller Pens Powerful Letter About His Suicidal Past "[My co-star] Dominic [Purcell] tells me that we did a Prison Break [panel] at Comic-Con when the show was originally airing," Miller said of the cast being at the convention for the original show, which ran from 2005 to 2009. "I have no recollection of that, but I just trust that he's telling me the truth." "It's nice to be back, even though I don't remember what happened before," he added. "But it makes sense to me in a strange way that Prison Break is at Comic-Con, because it's got kind of a comic book element to it and always has, so in that way, it feels like a marriage." Miller is reprising his role as Michael Scofield, and he joked that performing his own stunts once again has been, well, interesting now that he's in his mid-40s. RELATED: Fox Resurrects Fan Faves 'Prison Break' and '24' -- Watch the Heart-Pounding Trailers! "[Stunts are] a lot different at 44 then they were at 34," Miller explained. "I do what I can, but if I need my character to look cool and like he knows what he's doing and my stunt double can execute that better, then I'm happy to step aside. It's just in service of telling the best story possible." In addition to Miller's exciting Prison Break revival gig, he recently entered into a series regular contract with Warner Bros. that will allow him to portray roles in various Greg Berlanti-produced shows simultaneously, including Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash, Deadline first reported. "Yeah, it's a sweet deal," Miller, who is no longer a series regular on Legends, gushed. "It's the most fun I've had as far as a character." Story continues NEWS: DC's 'Legends of Tomorrow' Introduces New Team Lineup "I have a lot of respect and love for Michael Scofield, but Captain Cold is a good time, and so the opportunity to kind of pop up and do a little song and dance for The Flash or Legends -- and then get out and then not have to do the expositional heavy lifting that Michael Scofield has to do, it's a good time," he added. But when it comes to choosing between playing a villain or a hero, the Princeton grad says he doesn't have a preference. "I like a degree of both," he revealed. "I like characters that are somewhere in the shades of gray -- not strictly black, not strictly white." WATCH: 'Prison Break' Star Dominic Purcell Opens Up About Gruesome On-Set Injuries Last month, Miller's Prison Break co-star, Purcell, suffered a gruesome injury while filming scenes for the highly anticipated revival when an iron bar fell on top of him, resulting in a major gash in his head and a broken nose. Miller later described the traumatizing experience in detail when ET visited the show's Vancouver set. Hear more in the video below. Related Articles Gstaad (Switzerland) (AFP) - Spain's Feliciano Lopez claimed his first clay-court title on Sunday with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Dutchman Robin Haase in the final in Gstaad. Top seed Lopez, who finished runner-up in Switzerland 10 years ago, broke Haase's serve in the fifth game as he took the opening set and then fought back from 3-0 down in the second to wrap up a fifth ATP Tour title. "It's an amazing feeling, I've been waiting 10 years to win this title," said the 21st-ranked Lopez, who became the sixth Spanish title winner on the ATP circuit this year. "It's been a long wait since 2006, but it's been worth it. This is a very special tournament, with a lot of tradition, where a lot of Spaniards have won in the past. It's a unique place to play." For Haase, the world number 95, it was a second finals defeat in four years in Gstaad having lost the 2013 title decider to Mikhail Youzhny. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. (File Photo / Microsoft) Marc Benioff doesnt give up easily. The Salesforce CEO read LinkedIns account of its acquisition negotiations with Microsoft and Salesforce filed with the SEC after Microsoft reached an agreement to acquire the business social network for more than $26 billion and told LinkedIns Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner that Salesforce would have bid even more, if they had continued talking. Thats according to a new regulatory filing by LinkedIn, which describes a recent email to Hoffman and Weiner from the CEO of Party A, widely reported to be Salesforce. The new filing explains, Reflecting on the additional proposals it made after LinkedIn and Microsoft agreed to exclusivity, the email indicated that Party A would have bid much higher and made changes to the stock/cash components of its offers, but it was acting without communications from LinkedIn. Heres what happened, according to regulatory filings: LinkedIn received best and final offers from Microsoft and Salesforce on May 13. Microsoft offered $182/share in cash, and Salesforce offered the same amount in cash and stock. At that point, LinkedIn decided to negotiate solely with Microsoft, and informed Salesforce that it was entering into exclusive talks with another company. Undaunted by those exclusive negotiations, Salesforce revised its proposal on May 20 to the equivalent of $188/share in cash and stock. LinkedIn decided not to respond to that proposal, given its exclusivity agreement with Microsoft. Pressing his case, Benioff wrote to Hoffman and Weiner on May 25, pointing out that an increase in Salesforces share price had pushed the value of its offer even higher. LinkedIn reached an agreement on June 11 to be acquired by Microsoft for $196/share in cash, or $26.2 billion, the largest deal in the Redmond companys history. A few weeks later, on July 1, LinkedIns regulatory filing provided new details about the previously private negotiations. And thats what promoted Benioff to send his latest email to Hoffman and Weiner, telling them they could have done even better if they had kept talking. Story continues The continued lobbying by Benioff is notable in part because Microsoft and LinkedIn havent completed their transaction yet. Under terms of the acquisition agreement, LinkedIn would need to pay Microsoft a $725 million termination fee if it accepts an unsolicited superior proposal from another company. However, Benioff didnt receive an official response from LinkedIn to his latest email, either. According to the filing, a LinkedIn board committee considered the contractual provisions contained in the definitive merger agreement with Microsoft, including those relating to discussions with third parties, and determined not to respond. More from GeekWire: Paris (AFP) - Five key moments in Chris Froome's 2016 Tour de France victory: Deflategate With the top contenders watching each other like hawks and generally remaining close together, young Briton Adam Yates took a rare opportunity to streak clear and steal a few seconds on the seventh stage. But his progress was halted in stunning fashion as the inflatable archway indicating the final kilometre collapsed on him. A fan had accidentally dislodged a pin and the arch came crashing down, knocking Yates off his bike and leaving him with a bloody chin. "I've got stitches in my chin and my legs are sore but I got pretty lucky," Yates said. Daring descent Arguably the eighth stage was the one that set the tone for what was to follow as Froome demonstrated a never-before-seen dexterity. The renowned time-trialer and climber proved just as agile on a breakneck descent to the finish of the stage in Bagneres-de-Luchon. "It was when we went over the top of the mountain, I thought, 'maybe I can make a difference here'. I tried, it was incredible as I'd never won a stage like that," said Froome. He attacked over the top of the final climb and while Nairo Quintana, his expected main rival, hesitated, Froome adopted an awkward, crouched position on his bike while pedalling furiously to snatch 23 seconds from his main challengers, winning the stage and claiming the yellow jersey that he would never relinquish. Taming the wind Froome consolidated not only his lead in the race but his growing reputation as the complete rider as he broke away alongside world champion Peter Sagan in the final 12km of the 11th stage. "All day my team-mates protected me, right to the end of the stage. When I saw Sagan go away I thought, 'I have to follow him and maybe together we can get there'," said Froome. He predictably lost the sprint finish to Sagan but his mastery of the perilous crosswinds, helped by faithful lieutenant Geraint Thomas, allowed him to snare another 12 more seconds. Story continues Running man The image that will ensure this Tour lingers long in the memory is that of the yellow-shirted and yellow-helmeted Froome running, bike-less, to the finish line on the iconic Mont Ventoux. Pandemonium reigned in the final kilometre of the 12th stage as encroaching fans blocked the road to the finish, forcing a photographer's motorbike to stop short. Richie Porte crashed into the back of it, with Froome and Bauke Mollema following suit. "I heard on the radio our car was a long way back, there was just a kilometre to go, I thought: 'I've got to keep going forward'," said Froome. His bike was broken but not his champion's spirit. He simply set off on foot until a replacement bike could be proffered. And again, he increased his lead. Geraint's bicycle A rare moment of drama for Froome, potentially more penalising than his fall on Ventoux. Froome hit the deck again, this time on a slippery descent as rain fell on the 19th stage. But again he didn't panic, and Thomas came to his aid, handing over his bicycle for Froome to ride the final 25km to the finish, bloodied and bruised. "I thought straight away: 'I have to change bikes again and get going again'. I had no doubts, I looked for my team-mates, my friends. Geraint Thomas gave me his bike right away. That's the race, the race goes on, it doesn't stop," said Froome. He lost a handful of seconds to fellow rivals but actually gained time on Mollema, thus again, despite adversity, extending his lead. Suspect obsessed with mass shootings MUNICH: The gunman whose rampage at a Munich mall left nine people dead was a depression-plagued teenager who avidly read books and articles about mass killings and apparently tried to lure young victims to their deaths through a faked Facebook posting, authorities said Saturday. Information from witnesses indicated that his hatred of foreigners might have played a role in the mass shooting, even though he himself was the German-born son of Iranian asylum-seekers. The 18-year-old high-school student from Munich with Iranian and German citizenship also wounded more than two dozen others Friday night before turning his illegal Glock 17 pistol on himself. Solar plane aloft again CAIRO: An experimental solar-powered airplane took off from Cairo for Abu Dhabi early tonday on the last leg of its globe-circling voyage, mission organizers said. The Mission Control Center tweeted that the Solar Impulse 2 is expected to land in Abu Dhabi after a 48-hour flight. Mission Control said it had identified a weather window that could allow the plane to overcome the challenging high temperatures across Saudi Arabia. The solar plane had arrived in Cairo on July 13 after a flight from Seville, Spain. The aircraft landed in Seville on June 23 after an unprecedented three-day flight across the Atlantic. Man tries to steal Olympic torch SAO PAULO, Brazil: A man was wrestled to the ground and detained after he tried to steal the Olympic torch as it passed through the Brazilian town of Guarulhos. In the video on news portal G1, the unidentified man is seen trying to break through the line of security guards accompanying the torch in a parade in Sao Paulo state. The man was taken away and the torch bearer continued the run on Saturday. The torch will be in Sao Paulo for the next days and will arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 4. YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) - A Nigerian former militant group said on Sunday it has been holding talks with the government to end a wave of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta which has crippled the country's crude output. On Thursday, the office of President Muhammadu Buhari said the government was using oil firms and security agencies to talk to the militants "to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region". "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies," the group said in a statement. MEND is a major former militant group which signed in 2009 an amnesty in exchange for cash and job training brokered by the previous government. It said the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has claimed responsibility for a series of recent attacks, would not be part of the dialogue. "The Federal Government made it clear during our meetings that a negotiation with criminals is out of the question," MEND said. "The Niger Delta Avengers...fall under this category." The Niger Delta Avengers group had on Thursday said it was not aware of any talks with the government. Security sources have linked the Avengers to former commanders in MEND. Both groups hail from the same area. Militants say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth to go to the impoverished Delta region. Crude sales make up about 70 percent of national income and the vast majority of that oil comes from the southern swampland. Nigeria, an OPEC member, was Africa's top oil producer until the recent spate of attacks pushed it behind Angola. Enforcing any peace deal would be difficult as the militant scene is divided into small groups where leaders do not control the unemployed youth they recruit. (Reporting by Tife Owolabi and Ulf Laessing; Editing by Mary Milliken) Beirut (AFP) - Rebel rocket fire hit central Damascus late Sunday after air raids struck four makeshift hospitals in Syria's battered city of Aleppo, jeopardising medical care for more than 200,000 desperate civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least eight people were killed and 20 wounded when rockets rained down on several neighbourhoods of Old Damascus. Syria's state news agency SANA, quoting police, denounced a "terrorist attack" that it said killed five and wounded 16. In the north, the bombardment of Aleppo since Saturday has worsened the plight of residents of besieged eastern neighbourhoods, where food and medical supplies are becoming increasingly scarce. The hospitals and a blood bank that was also hit are in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood of Syria's second city, said the Independent Doctor's Association, a group that supports clinics in Aleppo. It said a two-day-old baby was killed in the children's hospital early Sunday, the second raid on the same facility in about nine hours. "After the second strike, we had to move him (the baby) downstairs to the bomb shelter, and that's why he died," said Malika, the hospital's head nurse. Footage posted by the IDA of the aftermath showed agitated doctors carrying a tiny baby in a room lined with incubators, with sandbags piled high outside the entrance. All four hospitals and the blood bank were out of service Sunday, the city's opposition-run "health directorate" said, and warned that doctors cannot get medicine into Aleppo or transfer the wounded out. - 'War crimes' - Opposition-controlled areas of the city are regularly hit by air strikes by the regime and its key ally Russia. According to the World Health Organization, Syria was the most dangerous place for health workers in 2015, with 135 attacks on health facilities and workers. The Syrian Observatory said at least five civilians including a child were killed in further air raids Sunday. Story continues According to the IDA, five hospitals are left operating in eastern Aleppo, devastated by a regime siege since earlier this month. "We demand an immediate end to and accountability for the collective punishment the city faces," it said, denouncing what it called "war crimes". Marianne Gasser, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria, said the hospital strikes filled her with "overwhelming despair". In Damascus, rebel rockets fired from insurgent positions on the outskirts of the capital hit several central districts, the Observatory said. An AFP correspondent said he saw bloodied people running in the streets, calling for help and waiting for ambulances. A Facebook page dedicated to pinpointing rocket and mortar fire in the city posted pictures of destruction at a restaurant, showing overturned chairs and tables and blood on the floor. "I hid in the entrance of a building... and saw people running. Some were wounded and their clothes were stained with blood," said Layla al-Jawabrah, 23. - Talks target - Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since morphed into a complex multi-front war. At least 280,000 people have been killed and more than half the population have been forced to flee their homes, as world powers are increasingly drawn into the conflict. Repeated attempts to broker a political settlement built on a teetering ceasefire have failed. Moscow and Washington are nominally co-chairs of international efforts to bring President Bashar al-Assad's regime to the negotiating table with opposition groups. The UN has set August as the target for talks to resume. On Sunday, Damascus said Syria "is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions, in the hopes that this dialogue will lead to a comprehensive solution". The statement on SANA, quoting an unidentified foreign ministry official, said Syria would be "ready to coordinate air operations against terrorism as part of the agreement between Russia and the United States". Moscow has sought to work with Washington on military action against the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Sunday saw heavy clashes in the northern town of Manbij, where the Syrian Democratic Forces alliance is pressing its campaign against IS, the Observatory said. It reported at least five SDF fighters and 18 IS militants killed, as well as eight civilians. The US-led coalition has carried out air strikes against IS since September 2014, and Russia began its own bombing campaign backing Assad's forces a year later. Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on "concrete steps" to salvage the failing truce and fight jihadist factions, without announcing details. The Exorcist is baack. On Friday, Comic-Con fans got the first look at Foxs TV adaptation of the 1973 horror film, which premieres in the fall. The audience was treated to the entire first episode following the panel, which included showrunner Jeremy Slater and cast members Geena Davis, Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera, Briannae Howey and Hannah Kasulka. Inspired by William Blattys original book, the one-hour drama is set in Chicago and takes place 40 years after the Georgetown exorcism. There is no bigger fan of the original than myself, so if anyones gonna screw it up thatll be me, Slater laughed. Slater, whose writing credits include Fantastic Four, exec produced the show with James Robinson, David Robinson and Barbara Wall. Before the pilot screened, the Exorcist cast, along with Slater, told funny stories about the frightening impact it had on them personally and professionally. (It) scarred me for life, Davis said. I saw the movie as a kid in my basement and heard scratching on the window, Slater recalled. It was (only) a possum the movie gets inside your head makes you feel like you did something wrong. When asked if this was the scariest role shes researched, the shows possessed teen, played by Hannah Kasulka, said, I grew up hearing about it, learning in church playsI always played the angel, but always wanted to play the devil. Daniels, who stars as Father Marcus Lang, said he was initially skeptical when he first heard about Foxs plans to remake the iconic film. You cant remake that movie, he said. It would be awful. It wasnt until he read the script that he felt safer, at least for the time being. After researching with a priestI got even more freaked out, he admitted. The Exorcist premieres Sept. 23 on Fox. Related stories '24: Legacy' Producers Talk Potential 'Intersection' with Jack Bauer 'Supernatural' Season 12: Stars Talk Mary's Return, 'Back to Basics' Approach 'Prison Break': Fox Unveils New Footage From Series Revival Munich (Germany) (AFP) - Investigators were seeking clues Sunday into the mind of gunman David Ali Sonboly, the teen author of one of Germany's bloodiest killing sprees. Sonboly's rampage at a Munich shopping mall on Friday sparked a terror alert, with fears that Germany had followed France and Belgium this year in becoming targets of the Islamic State (IS) group. But after a forensic sweep of Sonboly's home, investigators on Saturday ruled out any link with the ruthless jihadists. Using a 9mm handgun, the 18-year-old German-Iranian shot dead nine people, most of them fellow teenagers, before killing himself with a shot to the head. Thirty-five others were injured, 11 of them seriously, according to a new toll released by Munich police Sunday. Those figures included people who hurt themselves while fleeing. - Lured through Facebook? - While investigators have ruled out a link to IS, their probe has turned up another dark scenario -- of a violence-fixated youth who tempted his young prey to their fate via the internet. Sonboly probably hacked a girl's Facebook account and used it to lure victims to a McDonald's outlet where they expected to get vouchers for price reductions, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said, describing it as "particularly underhand". But if a clearer picture is emerging of how Sonboly planned the killing, his motive remains unclear. Investigators describe Sonboly, who lived with his parents in social housing, as a depressive obsessed with shooting sprees and a devotee of violent video games. They found documents about far-right fanatic Anders Behring Breivik who murdered 77 people in Norway in 2011 -- a massacre that occurred exactly five years to the day before the Munich shootings. But what drove him to commit a mass killing? Neighbours said Sonboly was born to Iranian parents, a taxi driver father and a mother who worked at a department store. They arrived in Germany as asylum seekers in the late 1990s. Story continues Of Shiite Muslim origin, Sonboly appears to have converted to Christianity, hence his first name David. The family lived in the well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood in a tidy social housing block that is mostly home to immigrant families. One idea put forward by the mass circulation newspaper Bild suggests Sonboly had been bullied by Turks at school, and wanted to take revenge against foreigners. The dead included three Turks, two of whom had dual German nationality, a Hungarian, a Kosovan, a Greek and an individual who was stateless, according to the latest figures. Video footage from Friday also apparently shows Sonboly on a car park roof in a heated exchange with a man on a nearby balcony. "I'm German, I was born here," the assailant replies after the man swore at him, using curse words for foreigners. - Gun laws - Another question is how Sonboly acquired the Glock 17 handgun -- by coincidence or not, a type also used by Breivik -- whose serial number had been filed off. A debate is already underway as to whether Germany's gun laws, which are already strict, should be tightened further. Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, in an interview with the Funke press group, called for a maximum effort to "restrict access to lethal weapons and monitor it closely". European leaders swiftly voiced solidarity with Germany as the terror alert was launched -- a sign of the jittery mood after a string of jihadist assaults. The attack came just four days after a 17-year-old asylum seeker went on a rampage with an axe and a knife on a train in Bavaria, injuring five people. He was believed to be a "lone wolf" Afghan or Pakistani inspired by IS. And in occurred just over a week after a Tunisian used a truck to mow down 84 people after a Bastille Day fireworks display in Nice, the third major attack on French soil in the past 18 months. IS described Nice gunman Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel as one of its "soldiers", though investigators have not found direct proof of his allegiance to the jihadists. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in the colours of the German flag late Saturday in tribute to the Munich victims. By Aditi Shah NEW DELHI (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N) is re-evaluating its planned $1 billion investment in India and has put on hold moves to bring a new car platform to India as it re-assesses its strategy in the country, according to company officials. The rethink comes as GM's India sales have fallen nearly 40 percent in the year to end-March, and its share of the domestic passenger vehicle market is now below 1 percent. Sagging sales and a regulatory crackdown on diesel-powered vehicles are now forcing GM to redraw plans. In 2015, the U.S. automaker had committed to investing $1 billion in India to boost its domestic market share and make the country a global export hub by improving its manufacturing base and launching strategic products. "The billion dollars was committed based on a certain product portfolio," Jack Uppal, vice president, marketing at GM India told Reuters. "As the product program could change, the amounts that are required to invest would also change." GM's original $1 billion plan included, among other things, the launch of a multi-purpose vehicle Spin and a new modular platform, designed to build low-cost cars for emerging markets. "We are conducting a full review of our future product program in India," Swati Bhattacharya, a spokeswoman at GM India told Reuters in an emailed statement. "As a result, we are also putting on hold future investment in our all-new vehicle family in India until we firm our product portfolio plan." The new platform would have helped GM price cars competitively in a market like India where buyers prefer low-cost cars and which is dominated by Maruti Suzuki India (MRTI.NS) and Hyundai Motor . Instead of launching the Spin MPV, GM is focused on bringing a compact SUV to India soon, said Uppal, adding GM still plans to launch small cars like the Beat Activ hatchback and Essentia compact sedan in 2017, as it attempts to bolster sales. GM is not the only foreign automaker battling to crack India's passenger car market forecast to be the world's No 3 by 2020. Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), Nissan and others have struggled to significantly raise market share in the price sensitive Indian market. Story continues GM's looming change in its India strategy follows a series of restructurings and reviews it has undertaken across Asia Pacific. Last year, GM said it was shuttering a key assembly plant in Indonesia, and ceasing production of its Chevrolet Sonic car in Thailand, as it moved to focus more on SUVs and pickups in Southeast Asia. GM last week also said that it and Isuzu Motor have agreed to end a tie-up in Asia. (Additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Beijing; Editing by Euan Rocha and Raissa Kasolowsky) Among the many teasers for its upcoming films revealed at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel also announced some theme park news. A Guardians of the Galaxy ride is coming to Disneyland in California. It will be called Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT! and will presumably be based on the teams prison escape from the first film. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn shared concept art for the ride and showed a behind-the-scenes video of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista doing stunts in front of a green screen for the ride. He said Disney is planning to launch the ride next summer, the same time that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters. The ride could be the first phase in Disney incorporating Marvel movies into its theme parks the way it has its other properties, like Star Wars, which is getting its own land in Disneys parks. Porsche has been in its new North American headquarters in Atlanta for a little over a year now. Everyone has had time to settle in and find the water cooler, so its time for a visit, dont you think? This $100 million facility is a truly interesting space. After all, very few offices are built with a view of a test track. But theres a lot more going on here than just 9-to-5 business. Theres a fine dining restaurant, museum exhibits, an engineering department, dealer training, a workshop, and a test track for Porsche owners and wannabes to thrash their favorite German speed machines. Most of the space can also be rented out for other companies to host their seminars (it was even used in the latest Captain America flick.) All of Porsche North Americas day-to-day corporate business was brought under this one roof. Youre not reading Bloomberg, so well skip over the details. But just know that everyone is herefrom the people who track the ships from Germany (in real-time) to those who help finance the final purchase. RELATED: See Photos of the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 There are more employees than tourists in the building, but the whole facility showcases Porsches love for cars. The main lobby looks out on the test track and a courtyard where customers take delivery of new vehicles. Down on this patio level is also the entrance to the on-site workshop. It acts as an arm of Porsches service and restoration facilities in Germany. Send it here, and you are bringing it back to the factory, explains Ray Shaffer whos in charge of the classic collection and delivery center in Atlanta. But they keep their schedule open for more than just high-dollar restorations. You could even just get an oil change if you want to. Next to the workshop is a two-level gallery thats small but important. It features a rotating display of significant cars placed among artifacts and timelines specific to America. We are an important part of Porsches story. One example is Max Hoffman who was more than just their first New York importer. He helped craft the worldwide icon as a leading influence behind benchmarks like the 356 Speedster and the Porsche family crest. So this and other significant milestones that dont always get featured Stuttgarts museum find a proper home in Atlanta. Story continues RELATED: See Photos of the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS But the main reason most tourists visit this headquarters is to drive the product. Porsches test track is just like the time you got to go over to the rich kids house and play with all of his best toys. Everything is available to rent from the Macan crossover to the street-legal track car known as the 911 GT3 RS of course, the faster you want to go, the more it costs. Participants take these out on a high-speed gauntlet, slick skid pad, and a mini road course. Its a real life version of the hot wheels track, but instead of that problematic loop, Porsches signature piece is its kick plate. Right before participants enter an inch of water, they drive over a shifting table that allows their instructors to randomly shudder one particular part of the suspension. This results in some spectacular spinouts directly over the center of the track where all visitors can see. RELATED: A Never-Raced, 1-0f-17 Porsche GTR Comes to Life While it may sound like Porsche only built the handling circuit for some automotive tourists to have fun, Shaffer tells tales of the secretive engineering department getting to play out there under the cover of night. Porsche doesnt have to worry about too many unauthorized prying eyes during this time. No one gets on the property without prior approval. It might feel like an elitist measure, but Porsche didnt make the decision. The property sits on the edge of ATL one of the busiest airports in the world. So Homeland Security requires that all visitors are pre-registered. That doesnt mean you have to break the bank to rent a Boxster for an hour. A reservation at the restaurant also gains access to the property. So you might overpay for some soup, but the view is worth every penny. RELATED: The Rear-Engine Studebaker With the Heart of a Porsche Words/Photo Credit: Myles Kornblatt for BoldRide By William Schomberg CHENGDU, China (Reuters) - Britain's new finance minister Philip Hammond, under pressure from his peers from around the world, said on Sunday there could be more clarity later this year on how the country will exit the European Union. Several nations called on Britain during weekend talks on the world economy to explain how the politically fraught Brexit process will unfold in order to avoid adding a new drag on the long and slow recovery from the financial crisis. "It's right at the top of the agenda here at the G20," Hammond said at the end of the two-day meeting of the Group of 20 leading economies in the Chinese city of Chengdu. "It's a new factor affecting the global economic outlook and it has increased the uncertainty which the world economy faces." Britain was plunged into its biggest political crisis in decades by the June 23 Brexit vote and so far it has resisted calls from some other EU countries to trigger quickly the two-year process for negotiating its exit from the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May, who has been in her job for less than two weeks, traveled to Germany and France last week to explain why she needed time to come up with an exit strategy. The EU's top economic official, Pierre Moscovici, said the bloc understood that Britain should not be rushed but "at the same time... let's not waste time, let's not have too much uncertainty, let's act and choose as swiftly as possible." Hammond told reporters on Sunday the two-year negotiating period, once launched, represented "quite a tight timescale" and Britain needed to go into it with clear objectives. "We have to do that before the start of the process because when we serve that notice, we need to hit the ground running," he said. But Hammond also showed he was aware of the need for some clarity on Brexit: "What will start to reduce uncertainty is when we are able to set out more clearly the kind of arrangement we envisage going forward with the European Union." "If our European Union partners respond to such a vision positively - obviously it will be subject to negotiation - so that there is a sense perhaps later this year that we are all on the same page in terms of where we expect to be going, I think that will send a reassuring signal to the business community and to markets," Hammond said. May has said she does not plan to launch the formal negotiation period this year. It remains to be seen if other EU countries would enter informal talks with Britain before the formal negotiations, something they have previously ruled out. GOVT, BANK OF ENGLAND HAVE TO BE READY Financial markets have stabilised after the initial shock of the referendum result which saw the value of the pound plunge by more than 10 percent and trillions of dollars wiped off stock markets worldwide. But economists are expecting Britain to fall into a recession, according to a Reuters poll. Hammond said he did not think that a survey of British businesses published on Friday, which showed the sharpest fall on record in a purchasing managers index, was a sign that the economy was in already in a recession. "What it does is underscore the hit to confidence," he said. Hammond warned that Brexit-related volatility in markets would be a risk throughout the two-year negotiation period. "We have to be ready as government, the Bank of England has to be ready as monetary authority, throughout that period to respond to any instability created by that uncertainty and to ensure that the economy continues to operate smoothly," he said. The BoE is expected to cut interest rates and possibly announce more stimulus measures on Aug. 4. Hammond has said he could ease fiscal policy in the autumn if more help is needed. Asked about a comment he made on Friday, that he might "reset" fiscal policy to cope with the Brexit fallout, Hammond said Britain's still high levels of debt meant it needed a new framework on its public finances to give clarity to markets. "What that framework will look like will depend on the decisions we make about whether or not any fiscal stimulus is required on the basis of the data we will by then have available," he said. (Additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Raissa Kasolowsky) Superman definitely enjoys messing with the bad guys. Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill wanted to meet the cast of Suicide Squad at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, but considering the struggles between their onscreen character, he had to be very stealth about it. In a video shared on his Instagram on Saturday, Cavill donned a Guy Fawkes V for Vendetta mask to safely explore the Comic-Con floor without getting mobbed. He posed for photos and gazed around the displays before making his way over to the meet-and-greet table for Suicide Squad. The 33-year-old actor asks Will Smith for a photo, lifting his mask to smile next to the unknowing Smith. When they talk after the picture, Smith realized the true identity of the fan and started to crack up. A video posted by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on Jul 23, 2016 at 4:28pm PDT Related Video: Watch: The Many Looks of Henry Cavill Despite being a movie star himself, Cavill proceeded to make his way down the line and have the cast of Suicide Squad sign his t-shirt. He captioned the video, "Best Comic Con yet. I got to be here for Justice League but couldn't miss Suicide Squad." Even Smith's children, Jaden and Willow are excited for dad's new role. "This is the type of thing that, no matter how cool you think you are, your kids think you suck," Smith, 47, shared at a Saturday panel. "This is like the first time where like I'm cool for real. The Suicide Squad, I don't know what it is, but something about this idea and something about this cast has really captured something." Suicide Squad hits theaters August 5. Washington (AFP) - On the subject of women in politics, Hillary Clinton is fond of quoting the words of another illustrious first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who once said: "You need to grow a skin as thick as a rhinoceros." When out on the stump, in cafes, and rallies across the country, Clinton talks of the adversity she has faced down over the course of four decades in public life. "I have the scars to prove it," quips the former secretary of state, painted by her enemies as "crooked," "corrupt" and even an enabler of her husband's affairs. A Machiavellian image clings to the ambitious Midwesterner, dating back to her years in the political spotlight as a tandem with Bill. She is considered "dishonest" by a majority of Americans, and the mudslinging is only set to intensify as she heads into a brutal showdown with presidential rival Donald Trump. And yet, at age 68, Clinton now stands at the threshold of the White House. On Thursday she accepts her party's formal nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, having made history this week as the first woman to carry the colors of a major US political party in the presidential race. "Yes, there are still ceilings to break for women and men, for all of us. But don't let anyone tell you that great things can't happen in America," Clinton told supporters at a rally in New York, fired up by her victory in the Democratic primaries. President Barack Obama delivered a soaring testimonial Wednesday, praising her caliber and readiness for the job. "I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman ... more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president," he said. - From Chicago to Arkansas - Hillary Diane Rodham was born October 26, 1947 and raised in a middle-class household in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge. She adored her mother Dorothy but described her father, Hugh Rodham, born from Welsh immigrants, as a rigid taskmaster. Story continues He imposed his work ethic on young Hillary, but also his frugality. She still puts uneaten olives back in the jar and is loath to waste anything, she wrote in her 2003 autobiography, "Living History." Clinton shared her father's Republican convictions in adolescence, as well as his thunderous laugh. The family is Methodist, and to this day Hillary remains in the church. Since her school days, she chased success, earning honors and accolades that could fill a bookcase. Smart and ambitious, Clinton was admitted in 1965 to Wellesley, an elite women's college near Harvard, and eventually elected class president. It was the social tumult of the sixties, and Clinton learned of the struggle for civil rights, the explosive debate over Vietnam and the fight for gender equality. When she was accepted in 1969 at Yale Law School, she met Bill Clinton, the "Viking" from Arkansas who would change her life. After working for the Children's Defense Fund, and a period in Washington in 1974 on the commission investigating the Watergate scandal, she gave in and joined Bill in Arkansas. He was soon elected governor and Hillary Rodham joined a prestigious law firm, eventually becoming its first female partner. Chelsea, their only child, was born in 1980. - Political first lady - She soon dropped her maiden name and became Hillary Clinton, first lady of Arkansas and then the nation after her husband's 1992 presidential election victory. Her assertive style contrasted with that of her predecessors. She played an active political role as first lady. But her relations with lawmakers and journalists quickly soured over her efforts to reform health care, a role bestowed by her president husband. Republicans branded her a radical feminist. She suffered intense humiliation when news of Bill's affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky surfaced in 1998. But her popularity has never been higher than the 67-percent approval rating she enjoyed that December, a Gallup poll at the time showed. - Solo career - Pressured by friends and associates in Hillaryland, the first lady launched herself into politics, winning a US Senate seat for New York in 2000. Eight years later she challenged fellow senator Obama, who savaged her vote supporting the Iraq war, in the presidential race. Clinton chose to run on her experience, refusing to campaign on gender. But Americans opted instead for the 40-something political neophyte Obama, bringing hope of change after eight years of George W. Bush. Following detente with his party rival, Obama appointed Clinton secretary of state. Her critics argue she can claim no major diplomatic successes, and Republicans accuse her of incompetence over a 2012 militant attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans. Her use of a personal email account instead of an official government remains a scandal for her. When the FBI chief declared he would not recommend charges be brought against her, it only heightened suspicions that the Clintons see themselves as above the law. But her four globe-trotting years as secretary of state also cemented her image as a powerful stateswoman and that potent mix of tenaciousness and cold realism finally saw the better of her idealist Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders. Suzanne Salomon, a development consultant and former Wellesley College dorm mate of Hillary's, said "I don't see that much change in her." "She was a leader when we were 19 years old," she told AFP. "She knew what she wanted to do, when some of us had no clue what we were going to be when we grew up." Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine will not stoop to Donald Trumps level of name-calling during the race for the White House, they said during their first joint interview. The two on the Democratic ticket address the Crooked Hillary epithet that Clintons Republican rival often uses in his campaign in an interview that airs Sunday evening on 60 Minutes. I dont call him anything. And Im not going to engage in that kind of insult fest that he seems to thrive on, Clinton tells CBSs Scott Pelley, according to a short excerpt released before the episode aired. So whatever he says about me, hes perfectly free to use up his own air time and his own space to do. Im going to talk about what hes done, how he has hurt people in business time after time after time. Kaine chimed in, praising Clinton for how she has handled Trumps insults, which the senator called ridiculous. It is beneath the character of the kind of dialogue we should have, because we got real serious problems to solve, Kaine said. And look, most of us stopped the name-calling thing about fifth grade. Clinton officially introduced Kaine as her choice for vice president on Saturday at a rally in Florida. [CBS] The Democratic gathering in Philadelphia this week to nominate Hillary Clinton for the fall presidential campaign is threatening to become as fractious as last weeks stormy GOP convention in Cleveland. Liberal activists who had supported Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont for their partys nomination are visibly disappointed with Clintons choice of centrist Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate, and they may try to offer an alternative candidate on the convention floor. Related: Hacked Emails Expose DNC Plan to Undermine Bernie Sanders They are also seething over leaked Democratic National Committee emails showing efforts within the party to undermine Sanders challenge from the left one that galvanized millions of young and progressive voters and nearly toppled Clinton. The controversies over the emails and the choice of Kaine are likely to reverberate throughout the four-day convention during a sweltering heat wave in the Northeast. The convention comes at a critical moment when an unpopular Clinton troubled by email controversies of her own tries to stitch together her party against what is certain to be a formidable challenge from Republican Donald Trump. Obamas camp sought to tamp down the major flap over the DNC emails, to the point that campaign manager Robby Mook blamed the Russians for hacking and leaking the DNC email in a bid to embarrass Clinton and help Trumps campaign. Mook said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union that unidentified experts were telling him that Russian state actors" broke into the DNC's emails "in order to help Trump. He said that other experts say these Russians are now selectively releasing the emails. Related: Clinton Makes Safe Choice of Tim Kaine as Her Running Mate Noting that Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin, Mook said that Trump made changes to be more pro-Russian, and when you put all this together [it] is disturbing." Sanders, the self-styled democratic socialist, bitterly complained throughout the campaign that DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz was attempting to rig the system to help Clinton, the partys favorite, lock up the nomination. Story continues Schultz did that, he claimed, by scheduling Democratic presidential debates on weekends or odd times to limit viewership just as Sanderss campaign was taking off, and by opposing rule changes that might have enabled more independents to vote for him in Democratic primaries. Sanders on Sunday renewed his call for Schultz to step down and echoed the sentiment of many other Sanders supporters that she should not be allowed to speak during the four-day Democratic convention. I told you a long time ago that the DNC was not running a fair operation, that they were supporting Secretary Clinton, Sanders said on ABC Newss This Week. So what I suggested could be true six months ago turns out in fact to be true. Im not shocked, but I am disappointed, and thats the way it is. Related: Are Clinton and Trump Really in a Dead Heat? However, he strongly signaled that he would not allow the DNC email flap to reopen old wounds between him and Clinton or prompt him to renege on his recent endorsement of Clinton. Sanders is scheduled to deliver the first major unity address of the convention Monday evening. The Clinton campaign is counting on him to help persuade many of the 13 million Americans who supported him during the primaries to set aside their festering grievances and rally round Clinton to defeat Trump. Sanders was dismissive of a question from ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos concerning whether he was tempted to break away and mount a third party challenge, noting that the stakes for the country were too high with Trump threatening to seize the White House. This is a very momentous moment in American history, Sanders said. To my mind, whats most important now is defeating the worst candidate for president that I have seen in my lifetime. Asked later this morning on NBCs Meet the Press whether he was tempted to take up an offer by Jill Stein of the Green Party to join forces with her to seek the presidency a move that would invariably take support away from Clinton Sanders replied: No, no, no. We are going to do everything we can to protect working families in this country. Negotiations that finally brought Sanders and Clinton together were difficult and time consuming. Sanders, his campaign manager Jeff Weaver and other advisers continued to fume until recently about what they considered to be the DNCs unfair backroom dealings to frustrate their campaign. It was a charge that Trump, happily picked up on in his acceptance speech last Thursday night, denouncing the rigged political system of both parties. Trump told Chuck Todd of Meet the Press that Sanders had been gamed by the DNC and that Clinton had delivered another slap in the face by choosing Kaine as her running mate over other more liberal possibilities. Sanders was dismissive of Trumps feigned sympathy, but acknowledged that he would have preferred a more liberal vice presidential candidate than Kaine, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Sanders and Kaine have sharp disagreements over trade policy and banking issues, among others. Related: Sanders: It doesn't appear that I'm going to be the nominee Tim is a very, very smart guy, Sanders said of his Senate colleague. Hes a nice guy. His political views are not my views. The anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks dropped a bombshell on the Democrats Friday afternoon by releasing nearly 20,000 hacked DNC emails that revealed an embarrassing and unflattering view of the inner workings of the party. In one of the emails, a DNC press secretary posed the idea of feeding a storyline to reporters that Sanderss campaign organization was a mess. Another message from Brad Marshall, the DNCs chief financial officer, suggested somehow raising questions about Sanderss Jewish faith and whether he wasnt really an atheist. Marshall said that hinting that Sanders was an atheist might help Clinton among Southern Baptist voters in Kentucky and West Virginia, where she was badly trailing Sanders. Marshall apologized in a Facebook post Saturday, saying his emails were written in the heat of the moment. Relatated: Clinton Should Brace for a Post-Convention Trump Bump in the Polls Mook, the Clinton campaign manager, said that the DNC needed to investigate the emails and take appropriate action at some point preferably long past the convention. But he dwelled on his theory that the Russians had orchestrated the leaks to help Trump win the White House. The highly embarrassing email dump on Friday came on the heels of a Washington Post report last month that Russian hackers had penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee and obtained access to the partys database of opposition research. Paul Manafort, Trumps campaign manager, told ABC News Sunday that Mooks allegation of some kind of ties between Trumps campaign and the Russians is absurd and had no basis to it. Its pure obfuscation on the part of the Clinton campaign because they dont want to talk about what the email showed about the rigged system, Manafort said. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: New Delhi's home minister called for "maximum restraint" in Indian Kashmir on Sunday after weeks of clashes between protesters and security forces that left scores dead. At least 49 people have been killed in clashes in Indian-administered Kashmir following the death of popular young rebel commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight with security forces on July 8. Speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the restive region, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he was concerned about the violence and called on both sides to ease tensions. "I am worried about the situation here, so is our prime minister," Singh told reporters after meeting with business, government and other groups during the visit. "I have asked the security forces to exercise maximum restraint." Singh also urged residents to refrain from violence in the disputed territory, which is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both. More than 5,500 people including 2,259 civilians, have been injured in the latest clashes, including scores who were shot in the eyes with pellets by troopers and may have been blinded. One more protester injured during earlier fighting died in a hospital on Sunday, taking the death toll to 49. Large parts of the region remained under a security lockdown for the 16th day as mobile phone and internet networks remained suspended. Singh accused Pakistan of inflaming violence in the Muslim-majority region after Islamabad announced a "black day" to show solidarity with Kashmir residents living under Indian rule. "Pakistan is itself a sufferer of terrorism and they should not instigate Kashmiri youth to pick up arms. This should stop," Singh said. The clashes are the deadliest in Indian Kashmir since 2010 when massive demonstrations were staged against Indian rule. Several rebel groups have been fighting for decades an estimated 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with rival Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting. I live in two worlds. In one of them, the education world, there are angry and divisive battles over our public schools. But in the other one, known colloquially as the real world, theres an enormous degree of consensus about them. Witness Hillary Clintons recent speech to the National Education Association, the nations largest teachers union. It was a love fest, for the most part, as Clinton endorsed higher teacher pay and the other standard items on the associations wish list. She also distanced herself from the Obama administrations emphasis on standardized testing, especially as a way of evaluating teachers. But one line in Clintons address earned her boos from this otherwise friendly crowd, and it spoke volumes about polarization inside the world of education. When schools get it right, whether they are traditional public schools or charter schools, lets figure out whats working, Clinton said. Clinton didnt call for more charter schools, another long-standing Obama goal. She simply said that we should use the example of successful charters to improve education for everyone. But that was too much for the association, which sees charter schools most of which are nonunionized as a scheme to break its back and to destroy public education along the way. And thats the way it goes inside the education world, the huge network of unions, policymakers, and researchers that surrounds Americas schools. Its a political hall of mirrors, where each side says it cares about the kids and the other side doesnt. So if you favor charter schools, you obviously aim to enrich private entrepreneurs. If you back the Common Core curriculum, youre a shill for testing companies. If you endorse Teach for America, you want to unleash waves of untrained neophytes on Americas least advantaged students. And so on. Supporters of these reforms engage in the same kind of black-and-white rhetoric, refusing to acknowledge any shades of gray. The anti-charter movement puts union interests ahead of the kids (always the kids!). Opponents of Common Core want our students to remain mired in mediocrity. Critics of Teach for America fear it will show up veteran teachers and undermine the standard preparation they receive. Whats missing is any sense that decent, good-hearted people might differ in their views about whats best for Americas kids. But the real-world public seems to get that, even if the education world doesnt. As last years EdNext survey on school reform demonstrated, a strong majority of Americans want to continue the annual student testing requirement from the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act. Yet, they also worry about the federal governments increased role in school governance, preferring that states take the lead. And guess what? In December, Congress passed a measure that said exactly that. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which reauthorized No Child Left Behind, states will still be required to test students each year. But the new law bars the federal government from promoting any single set of standards (read: Common Core) or from requiring states to evaluate teachers via test scores. Like No Child Left Behind, which garnered overwhelming bipartisan support, Every Student Succeeds passed by huge margins: 85-12 in the Senate and 359-64 in the House. And it was signed into law by President Barack Obama, who hailed it as a Christmas miracle. But there was nothing miraculous about it, really. It reflected an evolving consensus on education, which stands in stark contrast to the partisan rancor and gridlock that typically hold sway in Washington. Schools should test kids each year, but they shouldnt hinge too much on the results; teachers should have more autonomy in their classrooms, but we should find ways (beyond test scores) to hold them to higher standards; the Common Core might be a good or a bad thing, but we should leave it up to states to decide. And what about charter schools? According to the EdNext survey, about two-thirds of Americans favor them. The support is even stronger among minorities, who often view charter schools as their only alternative to inadequate traditional ones. To be sure, there are good reasons to question some of the claims made by charter operators especially for-profit ones about their alleged successes in boosting student achievement. And its also reasonable to ask whether charters are hurting other public schools by diverting scarce resources and high-achieving students away from them. But we should be able to debate these issues without demonizing our opponents, as Clinton noted in her speech to the National Education Association. Weve got no time for all these educator wars, Clinton calmly insisted after delegates booed her comment about charters. Lets sit at one table. Lets sit and listen to each other. In the real world, thats what people do. Lets hope the education world can learn to do the same. By Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - India has asked its security forces to exercise restraint in responding to protests in disputed Kashmir and replace pellet guns with non-lethal weapons, its home affairs minister said on Sunday. Forty six people have been killed and more 5,000 wounded, including Indian security forces, since protests erupted after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Normal life remains paralyzed because of the curfew imposed by the government and calls for a shutdown by separatist leaders. "I appeal to the youth not to resort to stone pelting and I also want to appeal to the security forces not to use pellets. I have told security forces to use maximum possible restraint," Rajnath Singh said, winding up his two-day visit to Kashmir. Kashmir has been at the center of a tussle between New Delhi and Islamabad for decades, as both claim the region in full but rule it in part. "We don't need the involvement of a third party to address the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I want to tell my neighbor that you are yourself a victim of terrorism," said Singh. Since they split some 67 years ago, India and Pakistan have fought each other in three wars, two over Kashmir. There has not been a full-blown war since they both tested nuclear weapons in 1998. Singh on Thursday told lawmakers that India would set up a panel to look for an alternative to pellet guns. More than 300 people have suffered because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, Kaisar Ahmad, principal of the Government Medical College in Srinagar, told Reuters. (Editing by Euan Rocha and Raissa Kasolowsky) (Getty Images) Iowa defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie said he was stopped in a park earlier in the week while he was playing Pokemon Go because he fit the general description of a bank robbery suspect. Ekakitie posted his account of the story to Facebook and thanked the Iowa City Police Department for its professionalism regarding the search. Ekakitie said he had his headphones in and didnt hear police officers, who then approached him with their guns drawn. Heres how he described the encounter: [Wednesday] I was surrounded and searched by approximately five Iowa City Police Officers. My pockets were checked, my backpack was opened up and searched carefully, and I was asked to lift up my shirt while they searched my waistband. Not once did they identify themselves to me as Iowa City Police officers, but with four gun barrels staring me in the face, I wouldnt dare question the authority of the men and woman in front of me. This is what happened from my point of view. From the police officers point of view, all they knew was that a bank had just been robbed less than ten minutes ago. The suspect was a large black male, wearing all black, with something on top of his head and the suspect is armed. As they drive past an Iowa City park that was less than 3 minutes away from the bank that was just robbed, they notice a large black man, dressed in all black, with black goggles on his head. They quickly move to action and identify themselves as the Iowa City police and ask me to turn around and place my hands up. I do not comply, they ask again, and again no response from me. So they all draw their guns and begin to slowly approach the suspect. In this situation, what the media would fail to let people know is that the suspect had his headphones in the entire time the Police Officers approached him initially. The suspect had actually just pulled up to the park because he was playing a newly popular Game called Pokemon Go. The suspect didnt realize that there were four cops behind him because his music was blaring in his ears. The suspect had reached into his pockets, for something which was his phone, but for all the cops could have known, he was reaching for a gun. The suspect could very well become another statistic on this day. I am not one to usually rant on Facebook or anywhere else, but with all of the crazy things that have been happening in our world these past couple of weeks it is hard to stay silent. I am thankful to be alive, and I do now realize, that it very well could have been me, a friend of mine, my brother, your cousin, your nephew etc. Misunderstandings happen all the time and just like that things can go south very quickly. It is extremely sad that our society has brainwashed us all to the point where we cant feel safe being approached by the police officers in our respective communities. Not all police officers are out to get you, but at the same time, not all people who fit a criminal profile are criminals. Story continues [Check out Dr. Saturday on Tumblr for entertaining things you wont see on the blog] ESPN said an Iowa spokesperson confirmed Ekakities account and Iowa City PD also confirmed he had been searched on Wednesday. Ekakitie had 13 tackles in 2015 as a junior with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. [Visit Dr. Saturday on Facebook for stories you might have missed and chat with the writers] Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! By Mirwais Harooni KABUL (Reuters) - Twin explosions tore through a demonstration by members of Afghanistan's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority in Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding more than 230 in a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State. Graphic television footage from the site of the attack showed many dead bodies lying on the bloodied road, close to where thousands of Hazara had been demonstrating against the route of a planned multi-million-dollar power line. "Two fighters from Islamic State detonated explosive belts at a gathering of Shi'ites in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan," said a brief statement on the group's Amaq news agency. If confirmed as the work of Islamic State, the attack, among the most deadly since the U.S.-led campaign to oust the Taliban in 2001, would represent a major escalation for a group hitherto largely confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar. The explicit reference to the Hazara's Shi'ite religious affiliation also marked a menacing departure for Afghanistan, where the bloody sectarian rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims typical of Iraq has been relatively rare, despite decades of war. Islamic State is an ultra hardline Sunni group. Officials in Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS), said the attack was planned by an individual named Abu Ali, an Islamic State militant they said was based in Achin district in Nangarhar. They said three bombers were involved in the attack. The Persian-speaking Hazara, estimated to make up about 9 percent of the population, are Afghanistan's third-largest minority but they have long suffered discrimination, and thousands were killed during the period of Taliban rule. "We were holding a peaceful demonstration when I heard a bang and then everyone was escaping and yelling," said Sabira Jan, a protester who witnessed the attack and saw bloodied bodies strewn across the ground. "There was no one to help." The Taliban, a fierce, albeit Sunni enemy of Islamic State, denied any involvement and said in a statement posted on its website that the attack was "a plot to ignite civil war". The attack succeeded despite tight security which saw much of Kabul city centre sealed off before the demonstration, with stacks of shipping containers and other obstacles and helicopters patrolling overhead. An Interior Ministry statement said 80 people had been killed and 231 wounded, with local hospitals straining to cope with those being brought in. The worst previous attack against the Hazara was in December 2011, when more than 55 people were killed in Kabul during the Shi'ite festival of Ashura. That attack was claimed by a Pakistani Sunni militant group called Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. OUTRAGE President Ashraf Ghani declared a national day of mourning and vowed revenge, while the top U.N. official in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, condemned the attack as a war crime. The United States and Russia condemned the attack and renewed pledges of security assistance to Kabul. "We remain committed to work jointly with the Afghan security forces and countries in the region to confront the forces that threaten Afghanistans security, stability, and prosperity," the White House said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his "readiness to continue the most active cooperation with ... Afghanistan in fighting all forms of terrorism", Russian news agencies quoted a Kremlin statement as saying. Saturday's demonstrators had been demanding that a 500 kV transmission line from Turkmenistan to Kabul be re-routed through two provinces with large Hazara populations, saying they feared being shut out of the project. The government said the project guaranteed ample power to the provinces, Bamyan and Wardak, which lie west of Kabul, and that altering the planned route would delay it by years and cost millions of dollars. But the resentment felt by many Hazaras runs deeper than simple questions of energy supply. In November, thousands of Hazara marched through Kabul to protest at government inaction after seven members of their community were beheaded by Islamist militants, and several protesters tried to force their way into the presidential palace. The protests by a group whose leaders include members of the national unity government have put pressure on Ghani, who has faced growing opposition from both inside and outside the government. They also risk exacerbating ethnic tensions with other groups and provinces the government says would have to wait up to three years for power if the route were changed. The transmission line, intended to provide secure electricity to 10 provinces, is part of the so-called TUTAP project backed by the Asia Development Bank, linking energy-rich states of Central Asia with Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi, Omar Sobhani, Jibran Ahmad and Omar Fahmy in Cairo, Roberta Rampton in Washington and Dmitry Solovyov in Moscow; writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Hugh Lawson, Clelia Oziel and Mark Heinrich) Nearly two weeks after a scary collapse during a concert in Brooklyn, New York, Joe Perry is back performing with The Hollywood Vampires. After missing five concerts and a charity performance, the guitar legend took the stage on Friday night for the band's show in Rohnert Park, California. WATCH: Hollywood Vampires Cancel 'Late Show' Appearance After Joe Perry Collapses During Concert And judging by their Instagram, the rock supergroup --which also includes Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper -- couldn't have been happier to have him back. "Welcome back Joe Perry!" they posted on Friday, along with a shot of the 65-year-old, guitar in hand. Perry was seen playing in another post by the band, captioned, "Ladies and gentleman #JOEPERRY! Live from #WeilHall!" Perry collapsed during the The Hollywood Vampires' concert at the Coney Island Amphitheater on July 10. The Aerosmith guitarist reportedly collapsed during the band's first song and was quickly rushed to Coney Island Hospital by EMTs. While Perry's bandmates continued with the show, they provided constant updates on his condition via social media later that night. RELATED: Johnny Depp Still Touring With the Hollywood Vampires Amid Legal Drama With Amber Heard "Thanks to everyone asking about our brother @JoePerry," Cooper tweeted. "He is stable right now, with family and is under the best care." See more in the video below. Related Articles In 2008, Barack Obama famously wanted a team of rivals in his administration. He began with his running mate, who was utterly unlike him. Obama was a political newcomer; Joe Biden was a Beltway veteran. Obama appealed to African Americans and upscale liberals; Biden appealed to blue collar whites. Obama was disciplined; Biden was unruly. Obama was cool; Biden was warm. Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has chosen a male version of herself. Like Clinton, Tim Kaine is a culturally conservative liberal. Hes a devout Catholic who personally opposes abortion despite believing it should be legal. For her part, Clinton is a devout Methodistshes taught Sunday school, lectured on Methodist theology and participated in various prayer groupswho is personally skeptical of abortion, too. In 2005, she called it a sad, even tragic choice to many, many women and looked forward to the day when the choice guaranteed under our Constitution either does not ever have to be exercised or only in very rare circumstances. Like Clinton, Kaine has intimate ties to the black community. In his first case after law school, he represented a victim of housing discrimination. To this day, he and his wife belong to a mostly African American church. In her first job after law school, Clinton worked for Marian Wright Edelmans Childrens Defense Fund. African American women have been among her closest aides since she entered national politics in the 1990s. Finally, Kaine, like Clinton, is wonky, hard working and cautious. For Clinton, who famously said shes cursed with the responsibility gene, Kaines chief attractionaccording to media reportswas not his ability to help her win the presidency. It was his ability to be president. As one Clinton confidante told Politicos Glenn Thrush, Shes been in the White House, and knows the kind of person who can really do the job He gives off president vibes. And thats all that mattered to Hillary. Recommended: America's Rejection of the Politics of Barack Obama Responsibility, even dull, nerdy responsibility, is a good thing in a president. If Americans had valued it more highly in 2000, the United States would be in a better place today. But its worth noting that Hillary Clintons definition of responsibility has ideological overtones. It inclines her toward the political center. And the Kaine selection illustrates that, too. In foreign policy, Clinton has tended to define the responsible position as the more hawkish one. Her comment about being cursed with the responsibility gene, for instance, came during an explanation of why she wouldnt support a full withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in 2007. In 2008, she employed the same language to critique Obamas offer to meet the leaders of Iran and North Korea without preconditions. That, Clinton explained, was irresponsible. Its not surprising, therefore, that Kaine, Clintons responsible choice for vice president, is relatively hawkish himself. Like Clinton, and unlike Obama, he backs a no-fly zone in Syria. Like Clinton, hes criticized Obamas emphasis on not doing stupid stuff because, in Kaines words, it also keeps the president from not doing stuff thats stupid not to do. Its also telling that Kaine, the responsible pick, has more centrist economic views than potential veep candidates Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, and Tom Perez. Kaine voted for the fast-track trade authority that Obama needs to get the Trans-Pacific Partnership through Congress and recently signed a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to weaken regulations on local banks and credit unions. Recommended: From Whitewater to Benghazi: A Clinton-Scandal Primer To be sure, being a responsible centrist Democratic doesnt mean the same thing today it meant 10 or 20 years ago, when the Democratic Leadership Council remained a powerful force. Since then, the party has shifted left, and so has Hillary Clinton, especially on domestic policy. Still, the Kaine pick suggests that, unlike Obama, who has often prided himself on standing athwart Washington conventional wisdom, Clinton will more often incline towards it. Her choice of Kaine underscores her disciplined, serious, earnest approach to governing. But it also underscores her tendencyso tragically in evidence when she voted to invade Iraqto run with the Washington herd. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. By Yara Bayoumy, Jonathan Landay and John Walcott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Skeptics in the U.S. government, European allies in the anti-Islamic State coalition and the main Syrian opposition, distrustful of Russia's intentions, are questioning Secretary of State John Kerrys latest proposal for closer U.S.-Russian cooperation against extremist groups in Syria. Several U.S. military and intelligence officials called the plan naive, and said Kerry risks falling into a trap that Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid to discredit the United States with moderate rebel groups and drive some of their fighters into the arms of Islamic State and other extremist groups. Some European members of the coalition against Islamic State forces have expressed concern about sharing intelligence with Russia, which they say has been an untrustworthy partner in Syria. The current proposal, which Kerry hopes to conclude within weeks, envisions ways in which Washington and Moscow would share intelligence to coordinate air strikes against the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and prohibit the Syrian air force from attacking moderate rebel groups. Kerry's State Department and White House allies say the plan is the best chance to limit the fighting that is driving thousands of Syrians, mixed with some trained Islamic State fighters, into exile in Europe and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching tens of thousands more, as well as preserving a political track. In the end, according to two officials who support Kerry's efforts, there is no alternative to working with the Russians. "There are reasons to be skeptical, as with any approach in Syria, but those who criticize this plan as unlikely to work or flawed on other grounds, like working with Russia, have the responsibility of presenting something better or more effective," said former White House Middle East advisor Philip Gordon, now with the Council on Foreign Relations think tank.Kerry's critics say the plan is flawed, in part because as it now stands it would leave the Russians and Syrians free to use ground troops and artillery against moderate groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. 'TWO BASIC PROBLEMS' They also say targeting the Nusra Front is difficult because in some areas its fighters are comingled with more moderate rebels. "That underscores two basic problems that Kerry seems to be ignoring," said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "One: The Russians' aim in Syria is still either keeping Assad in power or finding some successor who is acceptable to them. ... And two: Putin has proved over and over again, and not just in Syria, that he cannot be trusted to honor any agreement he makes if he decides it's no longer in Russia's interest." Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, will have an opportunity to meet this week at the ASEAN summit in Laos. But even if it is adopted, the plan is unlikely to provide quick relief for civilians trapped in a five-year-old civil war that the United Nations estimates has killed 400,000 people. Kerry told reporters on Friday that Obama had "authorized and ordered this track" and that the plan would be based on specific steps, not trust. But even Kerry has refrained from voicing optimism, instead saying the effort was showing "a modicum of promise." A European diplomat said Kerry and Lavrov have agreed to draft a map showing where the Nusra Front operates. "The two sides would then, through joint analysis, decide who to target ... by getting the U.S. in the same tactical room; Moscow would then have to guarantee that Assad's planes stopped bombing," the diplomat told Reuters. "He is, in his Kerry way, optimistic. But the devil is in the details, and we're not convinced that Moscow is serious." British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the United States and Russia have an understanding to minimize the danger of aircraft interfering or colliding with each other, and that the British were covered by that understanding. "But it certainly does not extend to any cooperation over targeting, and we would not welcome that," Fallon said at an event in Washington. Many U.S. officials are concerned that sharing intelligence with Russia could risk revealing U.S. intelligence sources, methods and capabilities. 'EXPECT TRICKS' Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia's upper house of parliament, said that even if the plan is agreed upon, it would be for only a short time, until the next U.S. administration takes office. Obama's presidency ends in January. "I'm afraid Assad will expect tricks from the Americans," Klimov told Reuters. "They have been saying constantly he's an outcast ... and now they're about to tell Assad, 'You know, please give us a day's advance notice before you want to trash someone with your forces.'" "Every time while talking to Assad we have to convince him, give arguments, additional guarantees. ... We can't give him orders, he's on his own soil." Following a meeting with Putin last week, Kerry expressed concern about indiscriminate bombings by Syrian forces, but did not mention Russian violations of a cessation of hostilities agreement, although the CIA publicly has pointed to them. "What's striking is not what Kerry has said, but what hes failed to say," said another U.S. official, adding that Kerry had left out the "inconvenient facts" about Russian violations. Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria and now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, told Reuters that whether it was Moscow's bad intent or lack of leverage, "it's not clear to me that the Russians can deliver on their side of the deal." The Syrian opposition said it was concerned whether Russia could succeed in getting the Assad's government to ground its air force. "The (Obama) administration has put its bet on the good faith cooperation of the Russians, with so far very disappointing results," Basma Kodmani, a member of the main Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee, told Reuters in Washington last week. (Additional reporting by Lesley Wroughton and John Irish in Paris, Maria Tsvetkova in Moscow and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by John Walcott and Will Dunham) Bastrop shooting Authorities say at least four people have been killed in a shooting in Texas, The Dallas Morning News reported. The shooting apparently happened at an apartment building in the town of Bastrop on Saturday. The suspected gunman is dead, the Austin-American Statesman reported, citing local sheriff's deputies. Bastrop County sheriff's deputies were called to the Arbors of Bastrop Apartments around 6 p.m. local time, Police told reporters one child was injured and taken to a hospital, according to the Statesman. More From Business Insider Lee Majors made his first ever Comic-Con appearance today at Starzs Ash Vs. Evil Dead panel. As previously reported, hell play the father of Bruce Campbells Ash Williams, the one-handed chainsaw man. This is a guy who had two series go over 100 episodes, beamed Bruce Campbell in his introduction to Majors. Said co-creator Sam Raimi, We get to learn about Bruces character through Lee Majors. We get to see where Ash got all of his bad habits, said Campbell in the panel moderated by Deadlines Dominic Patten. You and I are the only actors in Hollywood who both still have hair on their chests and havent gotten rid of it, joked Campbell to Majors. The only thing I dont like about the show is him calling me Pops!, exclaimed Majors. The Six Million Dollar Man and Fall Guy headliner said he watched the first episode and immediately became hooked on the show. It was a bloody good time, said Majors in regards to joining the Ash vs. Evil Dead motley crew. Season 2 picks up with Ash Williams (Campbell) leaving Jacksonville to return to his hometown of Elk Grove to confront and join forces with his former enemy, Ruby (Lucy Lawless), in their fight against the deadites. Joining him are his sidekick, Pablo Simon Bolivar (Ray Santiago), still coping with the intense trauma he suffered in season one, and Kelly Maxwell (Dana DeLorenzo), grief-stricken over the deaths of her parents and bent on revenge against the undead. Explaining why it was better to extend the Evil Dead universe on TV versus the big screen, Campbell explained that Starz enabled Raimi and the shows creators the opportunity to provide unrestricted content and to have as few restrictions as possible. Raimi added, Starz wanted to provide something that couldnt be found anywhere else. And were on cable, and wanted it to be a unique experience. The intensity of the second season pushes in that direction. Ash vs. Evil Dead is based on the classic Evil Dead horror-comedy films directed by Sam Raimi and starring Campbell. Sam Raimi serves as executive producer with Rob Tapert, Bruce Campbell and Ivan Raimi along with Craig DiGregorio who serves as executive producer/showrunner. Aaron Lam and Moira Grant serve as producers. Story continues Related stories Rick Springfield Joins Cast of 'Supernatural' In Devilish New Role - Comic-Con Dominic Purcell Reflects On His Injury During 'Prison Break' Shoot - Comic-Con 'Sherlock' Season 4 Trailer: It's Not A Game Anymore, And Something's Coming - Comic-Con Update: In a statement, High Times said, We have no idea why, after a stellar performance by B.o.B, Lil Wayne suddenly ended his performance after just four songs when he was contractually committed to performing for an hour for the fans. We are truly baffled by why Lil Wayne would do this in front of thousands of Cannabis Cup attendees in total disregard for his fans and are awaiting an explanation from his team. Lil Wayne was evidently not having the chillest of times at last nights Medical Cannabis Concentrates Cup, a three-day marijuana festival hosted by High Times magazine in San Bernardino, California. Video posted by TMZ shows Weezy exclaiming, Dont you ever, ever, ever ask me to do this s**t again! and dropping the mic before walking off stage. His set reportedly ended after just a few songs. The Cannabis Concentrates event also featured informational seminars (How to Make the Best Cannabutter) and performances by flat-earther rapper B.o.B and Latin hip-hop and funk group Ozomatli. Attendees were required to have California medical marijuana cards. Watch Lil Wayne have absolutely none of it below. Lindsay Lohan accused Egor Tarabasov of cheating and hinted she may be pregnant in a series of now-deleted messages on Twitter and Instagram. The first hint of trouble came Friday, when the 30-year-old actress spoke about her potential relationship drama in a Snapchat video, marking the first time she's referred to Tarabasov as her "fiance." Lohan's rep at the time previously denied the Mean Girls star was engaged. "My fiance's being really angry at me, but I'm drinking water to get him to come home. Honey, come home, please," she said, captioning the video "ET phone home." The social media rant continued on Saturday, with Lohan posting a photo of her and the Russian business mogul on Instagram with his face scribbled out. In another picture of the couple, the caption read, "I guess I was the same at 23a Sh*tty time - it changes at 26/27." It continued, "@e2505t thanks for not coming home tonight. Fame changes people." A photo posted by Lindsay Lohan (@lindsaylohan) on Jul 23, 2016 at 10:54am PDT Not long after, Lohan posted a snap of Tarabasov at a party. She wrote, "Wow thanks #fiance with Russian hooker @dasha_pa5h," tagging Dasha Pashevkina, the creative director of PA5H. Another post also accused Tarabasov of cheating. She captioned a video of her fiance partying with the caption, "Home? First time in my life-bare with he/ he cheated on me with hooker." Lohan then tweeted what seemed to be personal information of the woman with her fiance, but deleted it shortly after. Lohan continued her posts with a shocking tweet implying she was pregnant. She posted a link to the poster of her 2009 film Labor Pains, in which she plays a woman who fakes a pregnancy before getting pregnant for real, on Twitter. The caption read, "Lindsay lohan labour pains trailer I am pregnant!!" Most of the posts were later deleted from Lohan's social media pages. Since moving to London in 2012, Lohan has been more at ease, according to insiders. Sources tell PEOPLE she's kept a lower profile and is enjoying spending time with family, friends and of course, Tarabasov. "She's not partying as much like she used to," a source revealed. "She's doing really well and she is taking cooking classes with some girlfriends ... She has been happy staying out of the public eye. She likes staying in and flying under the radar and staying out of trouble." Weeks after Lindsay Lohan and fiance Egor Tarabasov professed their love for each other at the actress' 30th birthday party, it seems there may be trouble in paradise. Lohan took to social media on Saturday to air out some possible relationship drama in a series of posts. WATCH: Lindsay Lohan Snuggles With Shirtless Fiance Egor Tarabasov in Bed "I guess I was the same at 23 Sh*tty time- it changes at 26/27," she wrote, along with a snap of herself and Tarabasov. "@e2505t thanks for not coming home tonight. Fame changes people." Instagram Moments later, the Mean Girls star posted another photo, this time of Tarabasov at a party. Next came a video of her fiance in a club, which she captioned "Home?" And an hour later, LiLo followed up with this bombshell of a tweet, seemingly implying she's pregnant. "Lindsay lohan labour pains trailer I am pregnant!!" she wrote, along with a link to an image of herself from the 2009 film. RELATED: Lindsay Lohan at 30: After a Decade of Turmoil, We're Ready For a Comeback Twitter ET has reached out to Lohan's rep for comment. Lohan and Tarabasov met last summer; Tarabasov popped the question to the former child star in April. Soon after news broke of the pair's engagement, Lohan's father, Michael, gushed to ET about her relationship. "I'm so happy that Lindsay has found true happiness," he said. "It's written all over both of them." Just days ago, the couple seemed more in love than ever, as they frolicked around Greece, posting sweet snaps of each other on social media. See more in the video below. Related Articles The cast of Marvels Black Panther has been the talk of the town ever since word got out Creed director Ryan Coogler would be at the helm. More news of the filmset to hit theaters in 2018was revealed at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, which only solidified just how lit the film will be. Joining the Black Panther himself Chadwick Boseman is Fruitvale Station actor Michael B. Jordan. According to Marvel, Jordan will play the resident bad guy Erik Killmonger who is the son of an exiled Wakandan that was hired to kill TChallas father. Since being exiled, Killmonger has developed a deep hatred for the Black Panther and returns in an attempt to usurp the Black Panther. Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyongo will bring to life Nakia who is part of Dora Milaje, a skilled group of bodyguards to the king. In the comics, Nakia is described as an intimidating 60 160 pounds. Its unclear what story arch she will occupy, but a lot of a** kicking should take place. Lastly, Walking Dead star Danai Gurira rounds out the cast playing Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje who has gained the Black Panthers loyalty. To cap off the amazingness that is the Black Panther cast, the logo for the film was also revealed. black-panther-logo A Massachusetts mayor has made headlines due of his refusal to remove a Black Lives Matter banner from City Hall, which has been hanging since August 2015. The Somerville Police Employees Association published a letter to Mayor Joseph Curtatone asking that it be replaced with an All Lives Matter banner. It is inconceivable to us as it is demoralizing that our city would propagate its support for this movement while standing silent over the seemingly daily protest assassinations of innocent police officers around the country, said Michael McGrath, the unions president. The mayor, although sympathetic to the many brave men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty, stood firm in his refusal to take down the banner. My unwavering support for our police officers does not and cannot preempt our commitment addressing systemic racism in our nation, Curtatone said in a statement. The City of Somerville stands against all violence and all injustice, which is why a Black Lives Matter banner hangs at City Hall and why a banner in honor of the slain officers is hanging at Somerville Police Headquarters where it would provide the most moral support to our officersboth on my order. Curtatones decision has ruffled a few feathers and also brought him praise by those who support his defiant decision. His choice to stand firm behind the banner coincides with his Twitter bio that reads 7th term Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts. Working 24/7 to make the American Urban Renaissance happen. @JoeCurtatone Its disgustingly offensive how you selectively decide which lives matter, Mayor.Clearly only black lives matter in Somerville Davis (@DavisFoxNC) July 21, 2016 BATON ROUGE, La. (TNS) From a distance, his tie looks to be a seamless monochrome. Up close, it reveals itself as a speckled pattern of ocher dots on a cream background. That has always been Kip Holdens talent to make the crowded, messy integration of disparate elements look, from a distance, united. But as mayor of Baton Rouge, Holdens ability to hold together a city he has cajoled, flirted with and chided for a decade as its leader is being tested. A black man named Alton Sterling is dead, killed by police here. Three police officers one black, two white are dead as well, gunned down while on routine patrol. The gunman also was fatally shot by police. The coalition of black Democrats and white Republicans that powered Holden to his first election in 2004 and had long stood by him splintered quickly after Sterling was shot. Meanwhile, the rich, white enclave of south Baton Rouge has launched a campaign to split off from the poor, majority-black north, into a new city called St. George. Holden has fought the separation in every way possible, even annexing the land under the stores at the Mall of Louisiana to keep their massive sales taxes in the city of Baton Rouge if the secession is successful. The break would prove devastating to the remaining city of Baton Rouge, according to a Louisiana State University economics study. It would also be a major blow to the legacy of a mayor who has preached unity. He has long tread a cautious line between supporting the right of people to demand better treatment from their government while refusing to endorse the protests. But few areas of Baton Rouge are neutral anymore. So Holden finds himself largely sequestered in his home and office, taking calls, speaking to victims families, taking the occasional midmorning nap and mostly staying out of the spotlight. Where is Mayor Kip Holden? asked local ABC affiliate WBRZ, which sent a reporter to track him down after Sterlings death. The story suggested the mayor had made only a single brief appearance to comment on Sterlings death despite rallies that had devolved into skirmishes between protesters and police. The mayor was also a no-show at Sterlings July 15 funeral. At the start of a new week, Holden walked from television tent to television tent in front of the Baton Rouge Police Department on Monday, raising expectations he would confront his critics and discuss the violence and death that had been heaved upon the city. In a decade in office, he retains most qualities from his initial run for mayor. He is still given to delivering rambling allegories. He is more hunched, his belly a little rounder, his hair a bit thinner, but he maintains the ephemeral, giddy nature of a retail politician, seemingly shaking every hand at once and grinning widely while eyes dart from person to person. Look at this man. Isnt that one of the greatest smiles youve ever seen? said then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco at Holdens January 2005 inauguration. To me, that smile just exudes optimism. Eight months later, Holden would be forced to rely on that optimism when all else failed, including the citys traffic system, and again when evacuees were driven north from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. But the killing of Alton Sterling has challenged Holden in ways for which he was not prepared. Protests have pressured him to choose a side. And, so far, he has chosen silence. Hes just not there for us, LaQuake Brown said. When Sterling was shot, where was he? Police get shot and hes giving them (condolences). Where is it for that poor boy? Holdens reign has been focused on improving the infrastructure and livability of Baton Rouge, but few would call him an ardent administrator. Instead, he turns to people around him who help lead the city a criticism his opponents have used against him. Voters didnt seem to care. Holden won re-election in 2008 with 71 percent of the vote. Under his administration, Baton Rouges languishing downtown riverfront has flourished. He built a new sewer system, supported improvements to the library system and rebuilt roads. He could also be thin-skinned and crushingly sensitive, said Lanny Keller, a Baton Rouge Advocate political columnist. With a quick wit and acid tongue, Holden presents a formidable opponent in public settings. I may not have graduated magna cum laude; I graduated, thank you, lordy. But look whos the mayor, he said at a contentious 2008 debate. Now, hes preparing a run for Congress. He hasnt filed his papers yet the deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. He hasnt raised very much money, just as he failed to raise much during a failed campaign for lieutenant governor in 2015. The larger stage has rejected him so far, but at noon on Monday at WBRZs studios in his hometown, Holden was in his element. They dont know where I am all the time, he told the Los Angeles Times. Im in meetings, sometimes with the victims family, sometimes with law enforcement. Im not going to go broadcast that every time someone wants to know where I am or where Im going. History will regard him as a great mayor, Keller suggested. Hes more successful than he is popular. There just hasnt been enough time and space to see that. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg will endorse Hillary Clinton for president at the Democratic National Convention next week. He will make his speech at the DNC on Wednesday night, Bloomberg spokesperson Marc LaVorgna told the Associated Press on Sunday. He will attempt to make the case for Clinton to moderate voters in the prime-time slot. The move comes as a surprise to many, as the billionaire media mogul has not been a registered Democrat since 2000. He switched to the Republican party before successfully running for mayor in 2001, and served three terms. He later became an independent and an advocate for gun control. As the nations leading independent and a pragmatic business leader, Mike has supported candidates from both sides of the aisle, Bloomberg senior adviser Howard Wolfson told the New York Times, which first reported the news. This week in Philadelphia he will make a strong case that the clear choice in this election is Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg gave up his own shot at a run for the presidency earlier this year. Speculation had swirled that he would campaign for president as a third-party candidate, but he announced in March that he would not run, fearing that it would help Donald Trump, who was then the Republican frontrunner and is now the official candidate, in taking away votes from Clinton. Bloomberg has been openly critical of Trump through this election cycle. He has especially taken aim at Trumps controversial rhetoric on immigration. Related stories Democratic National Convention Poised to Kick Off Amid a Bit of Party Drama Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Step Down as Democratic Party Chair Susan Sarandon, Shailene Woodley to Attend Progressive Rally Leading to DNC With some of the summer's hottest temperatures so far scorching much of America, police say one Arkansas woman made the decision to leave her infant daughter in the car while she ate pizza. Police in Jonesboro in the northeast corner of the state cited Brittany Reeder, 25, with child endangerment Wednesday after they say she left her 4-month-old daughter in the car outside a Larry's Pizza. According to KAIT, it was 96 degrees outside with a heat index of 108. Read: Carrie Underwood Saves Son from Hot Car: What You Can Do In Same Situation Reeder herself reportedly called 911 herself after her aunt asked about the baby 10 to 15 minutes after they went into the restaurant. Officer Keith Baggett said in his report that Reeder told him the baby was sleeping when she arrived to the restaurant and she decided to leave her in the car. According to Baggett, Reeder "could not give a logical reason why she would leave her child in the vehicle during these conditions" and the ignition was off and the windows all rolled up. Read: Police Dog Named Totti Dies After He's Locked in Hot Car for 2 Hours When Reeder removed the baby from the car, she called 911 because she was acting strangely. Reeder was "very distraught about the situation" according to the report. An ambulance transported the girl to a hospital, where her body temperature was reportedly 99.9 degrees around 45 minutes after she was taken from the car. Police forwarded their report to the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Hotline for a possible investigation. Watch: Couple Charged After Leaving 3 Young Kids Alone In Desert As Punishment: Cops Related Articles: Washington (AFP) - France's Gael Monfils saved a match point and battled back with sharp returns in sweltering heat to defeat Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in Washington Open final. The 29-year-old Frenchman on Sunday took his sixth ATP title, his first since 2014 at Montpellier, first outside of Europe and first outdoor trophy since Sopot in 2005 as well as claiming the top prize of $348,200 (317,266 euro) on the US capital hardcourts. "I'm very happy," Monfils said. "It has been a good year so far. It's a good step but hopefully I will have bigger." Monfils withstood a barrage of 27 aces from the 37-year-old Croatian, firing back 16 of his own. He ended Karlovic's streak of 70 unbroken service games when the Croatian served for the match in the 10th game of the second set. "If it was a normal match I would have won it right there," Karlovic said. "At that moment, I just didn't have it. I'm not used to that. Usually I'm able to just win it. Today I didn't. I'm disappointed a lot." Flamboyant Monfils denied Karlovic on a match point in the second-set tiebreaker as well, broke him again in the third game of the final set and held from there to win in two hours and 13 minutes. "Today was pure luck," Monfils said. "It was a few opportunities, a few shots, and I managed to make it. It was just a few shots. It wasn't like a regular win." Monfils became the third French player to win the Washington crown after Yannick Noah in 1985 and Arnaud Clement in 2006 and noted how Noah and 1973 winner Arthur Ashe were special inspirations to him. "To have my name with them, it means a lot to me," Monfils said. Monfils improved to 6-19 in ATP finals, including a 2011 Washington final loss to Radek Stepanek. Monfils had dropped his prior three finals in a row, including in February at Rotterdam and April at Monte Carlo, and eight of his past nine finals since 2011. Story continues Karlovic, who fell to 7-9 in ATP finals, won his seventh career title last week on Newport grass to become the oldest tour singles champion since 1979. But a ninth match in two weeks proved too much for him. "I was better in the first two sets and after that I was dead," Karlovic said. "It was really hot out there. I just didn't have any energy left but I was trying to push myself." - Wickmayer takes two crowns - Belgian seventh seed Yanina Wickmayer, a 2009 US Open semi-finalist, defeated 122nd-ranked American Lauren Davis 6-4, 6-2, to capture her fifth WTA title and her first since last year in Tokyo. "This has just been an amazing week for me," said Wickmayer, who also won the women's doubles crown alongside Romania's Monica Niculescu. "Conditions were really hot out there. It was tough." Monfils, who will jump from 17th to 14th in the world rankings, squandered three break points in the 12th game and dropped the first set on a Karlovic overhead smash. Karlovic, who will jump into the top 30 in the rankings, broke to lead 5-4 in the second set but again handed Monfils triple break point only to save them all. Monfils hit a forehand volley winner and Karlovic sent a forehand long to surrender a break. "It's tough to serve and volley for two hours in the heat," Monfils said. In the tie-breaker, Karlovic had match point at 6-5 but Monfils answered with two service winners of his own and Karlovic netted a forehand volley to surrender the set. Monfils broke in the third game of the final set and held from there to take the match. "I was very lucky he missed that volley," Monfils said. "There was the belief (I could win), but it was very tough." The Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival is heading to Netflix, TheWrap has learned. The news came just ahead of the shows San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday. Netflix confirmed the news by tweeting an image of the shows iconic silhouette featuring a man and two robots watching a movie. It does not yet have an official premiere date. In addition, original series cast members Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester), Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo/Professor Bobo) and Bill Corbett (Crow/Observer) will write for and make cameos on the show. Also Read: 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Reboot Smashes Crowdfunding Record Joel McHale, who was previously announced as a guest star, will also join the shows writing staff alongside Community creator Dan Harmon. Joel Hodgson, the creator of the original Mystery Science Theater 3000, began a Kickstarter campaign to relaunch the show last year. It raised more than $6.3 million, surpassing the record set by the Veronica Mars movie, which raised $5,702,153. The MST3K campaign raised $5,764,229 off of Kickstarter and $600,000 from online merchandise sales, with more than 47,000 people contributing. Patton Oswalt joined the project to write and play TVs Son of TVs Frank, the offspring of the character TVs Frank from the original show, as played by Frank Conniff. Felicia Day will play the daughter of Dr. Forrester, who was played by Trace Beaulieu. Other new cast members include Hampton Yount, Baron Vaughn and new host Jonah Ray. Also Read: Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Hamill, Joel McHale to Appear on 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Reboot Mystery Science Theater 3000, which launched on a Minneapolis UHF station in 1988, featured Hodgson and, later, Mike Nelson and two robot sidekicks as they riffed on cheesy B-movies by providing their own hilarious commentary. The show then moved to Comedy Central and finished its run on the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) in 1999 after 197 episodes. Hodgson recently acquired the rights to the show in a joint venture with Shout! Factory. By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Two political parties left Nepal's ruling coalition on Sunday, deserting the fractious alliance ahead of a vote of no-confidence that Prime Minister K.P. Oli looks likely to lose. The no-confidence motion, lodged by former Maoist rebels who installed Oli in October but fell out with him after accusing him of failing to honor a power-sharing deal, is due to be put to a vote in the 595-member parliament later on Sunday. Nepal has been plagued by turmoil for years and the latest uncertainty over Oli's fate risks the further sapping of business confidence. "We were left with no alternative because of the arrogance of the prime minister and his party," Kiran Giri, a senior official of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) told Reuters, referring to party's decision to abandon Oli's coalition. The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal (Democratic) is the other party that said it was leaving the alliance. Both parties said they would join the opposition in Sunday's vote aimed at toppling the Himalayan country's 23rd government since multi-party democracy was introduced in 1990 after bloody protests. Oli was not available for comment but aides said he would respond to opposition accusations in parliament. Nepal's neighbors, China and India, jostle for influence over the volatile young republic and are concerned that prolonged political paralysis could turn one of the world's poorest countries into a haven for criminal gangs and militants. Nepal has been flirting with crisis since September when it adopted its first republican constitution. The ethnic Madhesi minority in the south of the country rejected the constitution, saying new federal states marginalized them by splitting their homeland. The Maoists called off a bid to oust Oli two months ago after he said he would address the Madhesi concerns and rebuild homes destroyed in earthquakes last year. But Oli's critics said he did not do as he promised. "The prime minister became ego-centric and self-centered, refusing to listen," Maoist chief Prachanda, said in parliament on Friday. "This made us unable to continue to work with him." Prachanda, who goes by his war nom-de-guerre meaning "Fierce", is the favorite to replace the 64-year-old Oli. Minority Madhesis blocked border trade points with India for four months to demand the redrawing of provincial borders and a fair say in government. They ended the blockade in February after more than 50 people were killed in clashes with police and widespread criticism of the protest that choked off supplies of vital imports from India, including fuel. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by Robert Birsel) WASHINGTON President Barack Obama fiercely rejected Donald Trumps depiction of an America in crisis on Friday, arguing that violent crime and illegal immigration have plunged under his leadership to their lowest rates in decades. Looking to Novembers election, Obama said, Were not going to make good decisions based on fears that dont have a basis in fact. At a news conference alongside Mexicos president, Obama sought to undermine two pillars of Trumps speech Thursday night in which he accepted the Republican presidential nomination. Trump said that if he is elected, safety will be restored at home and abroad. This idea that American is somehow on the verge of collapse, this vision of violence and chaos everywhere, doesnt really jibe with the experience of most people, Obama told journalists. The violent crime rate, he said, has been lower during his presidency than any time in the last three or four decades. While he acknowledged an uptick in murders in some U.S. cities this year, Obama said the violent crime rate today is still far lower than when Ronald Reagan was president in the 1980s. The violent crime rate has been on a long-term decline, receding to 366 per 100,000 people in 2014. It was 758 per 100,000 in the peak year of 1991. Obama used the same marker for immigration, describing todays rate of illegal border crossing as only a third of what it was during the Reagan administration, and lower than at any time since. About 331,000 people were apprehended crossing the Mexican border illegally last year; there were 1.6 million arrests in 1986. Speaking after an evening in which Trump laid out his case to be the next commander in chief, Obama grimaced noticeably when a reporter suggested the billionaire businessmans message appeals to working-class Americans. Its not really clear how appealing it was, Obama said. Obama said he will let the U.S. public decide if the vision of Republicans or Democrats for the nation is more persuasive. Hillary Clinton, Obamas 2008 primary rival and then his secretary of state, will receive the Democratic nomination next week. She is expected to announce her running mate soon. Still, Obama sought to paint a contrast between Trumps picture of rising crime and uncontrolled borders and the brighter reality he sees. He said he hopes people walked outside the next day to chirping birds and sunny skies, essentially accusing the Republican candidate of fearmongering and distracting from the real issues of jobs, inequality, wage stagnation, education, the budget and the tax system. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, for his part, tried to exercise restraint, saying he is ready to work with whoever prevails in the presidential election. Previously, he had likened Trumps language to that of Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini, though he said such comparisons were taken out of context. Trump on Thursday repeated his assertion that he would build a wall across the U.S.-Mexican border to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence, and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities. At one point, the crowd chanted, Build that wall. Of the U.S. presidential campaign, Pena Nieto said, Mexico will not give its opinion; it will not get involved. Instead, he showered Obama with praise, calling him a very good neighbor and saying U.S.-Mexican relations are in one of their best ever periods. Obama said the heated rhetoric of the political season shouldnt overshadow the strong cultural and commercial ties between the two North American neighbors. Some $1.5 billion in cross-border trade and investment occurs daily, he said, supporting 1 million U.S. jobs. Fridays announcement of a new air transport agreement will open more U.S.-Mexican flight routes. Energy talks are planned for later this year. And Mexico and the U.S. will co-host refugee talks at the U.N. in September. Obama said the two countries both want to see the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement enter force so that it puts workers across the Asia-Pacific region on a level playing field. Kathmandu (AFP) - Nepal's K.P. Sharma Oli resigned as prime minister on Sunday, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament he was certain to lose, plunging the impoverished, quake-hit nation into fresh turmoil. Oli was forced to quit after former Maoist rebels deserted his fractious, ruling coalition, accusing him of reneging on past deals and following deadly unrest over a divisive new constitution. "I have decided to open the road to elect a new prime minister in this parliament and presented my resignation to the president," Oli, who has only been in power for nine months, told lawmakers ahead of the no-confidence vote. Nepal's president is now expected to ask political parties to try to form a new power-sharing government and nominate a consensus candidate for prime minister. Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal could become the new premier after the former rebels and main opposition Nepali Congress party said before the vote that they would try to form a new administration if Oli lost. A letter from the president's office read out in parliament said the current cabinet would continue until a new government was formed, a process expected to take at least a week. Dahal, the country's first prime minister after the Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, pulled his party from Oli's coalition two weeks ago, leaving it without a majority. In his speech, the embattled premier accused the Maoists of undermining his government, which he said was working to rebuild the Himalayan country after a devastating earthquake last year. "I am concerned that the steps taken were driven by selfishness and revenge (and they) will cause a long-term negative impact and push the country to instability," he said of the motion, during the nearly two-hour speech. Oli's resignation is the latest crisis to hit Nepal which has suffered from years of political instability and struggled to get back on its feet since last April's quake that claimed almost 9,000 lives. Story continues - Coalition cracks - The Maoists joined Oli's government last October, weeks after Nepal adopted the new national constitution. Oli has faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the constitution, which triggered a months-long border blockade in southern Nepal by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who said the constitution left them politically marginalised. Kathmandu accused New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade" on the landlocked nation in support of the Madhesis, who share close cultural and family links with Indians across the border. Cracks began to appear in Oli's coalition two months ago when the Maoists threatened to topple him, prompting the premier to draw up an 11th-hour deal with Dahal. But Dahal later withdrew from the coalition, citing the government's failure to implement that agreement to withdraw war cases from Nepal's courts and offer amnesties to people accused of abuses during the decade-long Maoist conflict. Dahal, better known by his nom-de-guerre Prachanda, painted Oli as an egocentric who refused to listen to the people and demanded that he resign. After debate on the no-confidence motion kicked off on Friday, two smaller parties also abandoned the coalition, leaving Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) floundering for support. The new constitution, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to cement peace and bolster Nepal's transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But ongoing discussions between the government and protesters over the charter have failed to yield agreement. Reutlingen (Germany) (AFP) - A Syrian refugee was arrested after killing a woman with a machete in the German city of Reutlingen, in an incident police said did not bear the hallmarks of a "terrorist attack" and was more likely to have been a crime of passion. Three people were also injured in the assault, which ended when the 21-year-old assailant was hit by a car. "At this stage of the enquiry we have nothing to indicate this was a terrorist attack," local police said in a statement. Nevertheless, the drama sparked fresh jitters in a country still reeling from other deadly attacks on civilians in recent days. Police said the machete attack happened after the perpetrator "had a dispute" with a 45-year-old Polish woman. After killing her, the suspect briefly went on the run before being struck by a BMW, allowing officers to overpower him. The incident took place at around 4:30 pm (1430 GMT) near the main bus station in the centre of Reutlingen, a southwestern city of some 100,000 near Stuttgart. The attacker was already known to police for previous acts of violence, a police source said. German news agency DPA quoted a police spokesman as saying that officers were working under the assumption that the machete attack was "a crime of passion". German media reported that the attacker and the murdered woman worked in the same Turkish fast-food restaurant, where the argument also started. The incident sparked scenes of panic in the city, NTV news channel reported, with Germans still on edge following Friday's mass shooting in Munich, where a German-Iranian teenager killed nine people and injured 35 others before committing suicide. It also came six days after a teenage asylum seeker went on a rampage with an axe and a knife on a regional train near the southern city of Wuerzburg, injuring five people. While Germany has so far not suffered the type of large-scale terror attacks seen in neighbouring Belgium and France, the train assault was claimed by the Islamic State group, its first attack in Germany. Story continues - Stopped by BMW - A police spokesman said he could not confirm a story in the bestselling Bild newspaper that the woman murdered in the machete attack was pregnant. An employee at the Turkish restaurant told the Stuttgarter Zeitung that the Syrian asylum seeker had arrived in Germany by himself about 18 months ago. NTV showed amateur video footage of the suspect running away from the scene before cutting to him lying on the ground, his face bloodied and his hands cuffed by police. Earlier, as he tried to make his escape, he smashed a car windshield with his machete, injuring the female driver. He also injured a young man in the face. Another woman lightly hurt her head when she was knocked over by the fleeing assailant, reports said. A police spokesman told AFP the drama ended when the man was "hit by a BMW as he fled," but he could not say if the driver had deliberately run the man down, as some media were reporting, or if he had been struck by accident. Pictures from the scene showed forensic police sealing off the area and erecting a tent over the white BMW. A woman's body was also seen lying on the pavement. "The perpetrator was fortunately arrested and no longer represents any danger," said regional interior minister Thomas Strobl. While the latest incident does not appear to be linked to terrorism, the fact that the perpetrator is a recent arrival from Syria could pile pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel over her open-door asylum policy. Germany took in more than a million asylum seekers last year, but the public mood towards the newcomers darkened after migrants were blamed for a wave of sexual assaults during New Year's Eve festivities in the city of Cologne. Credit: Marry Yourself Vancouver When Alexandra Gill was a little girl, she dreamed up her perfect wedding. But 10 years ago, when she said "I do," she stood at the altar alone -- without a groom -- and married herself. RELATED: Want More Wedding #Inspo? Like Us on Facebook! Alexandra, a journalist who created Marry Yourself Vancouver with friend Tallulah, is an advocate for women foregoing finding Prince Charming and tying the knot with themselves. "It's definitely not for everyone," Alexandra told InStyle. "It's very niche. It's a little out there. It's for any single woman who is just happy being who she is. Being single, being free, and being independent." Alexandra notes that societal pressures puts on women to conform to a "conventional lifestyle" of getting married, having kids, and getting the white-picket fence in the suburbs. This, she proposes, is a way for those who want to take a different path in life to celebrate themselves. RELATED: Here's Why You Should Consider a Pop Up Wedding Credit: Marry Yourself Vancouver "Ten years made a lot of difference in my life," she said, reflecting on her non-legal commitment to herself a decade ago and the recent celebration of that occasion. Alexandra still dates and foresees "many relationships" in her future but her hopes and dreams are no longer rooted in social norms. "I'm 46 years old and I have no desire to get married," she explained. "I'm really happy on my own. I have a very fulfilled life and I'm celebrating the fact that I followed my passions and I did the things I wanted to do in life." Alexandra acknowledges that the act of marrying oneself has become more accepted and widespread since she did so and she thinks it fills a void of ritual in our lives these days. RELATED: Read This Before Planning a Destination Wedding "Weddings are a marker in life and if you don't have that, what do you have?" she asked. "Somehow, just by making it a wedding to yourself, there's a moment to sit back, take measure and stock in your life so far, and make promises to yourself in the future." Story continues This moment hit Alexandra during her own nuptials. "Sitting down to write my vows and speaking them in front of a group of people, that was the most important part to me," she said. "I really felt that I was honoring myself. It was very profound." So the next time you're sitting around mourning your Tinder experience and swiping left on a Friday night, remember there's always another option. Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama questioned Republican nominee Donald Trump's readiness to be commander-in-chief, in an interview broadcast Sunday. Weighing in on Trump's suggestions that the US might not meet its mutual defense obligations in NATO, Obama told CBS it highlighted a "lack of preparedness that he has been displaying when it comes to foreign policy." Obama has repeatedly called on European allies to boost defense spending, but has not questioned America's role in the alliance. Trump has repeatedly indicated that the United States might not come to the defense of a NATO ally -- a treaty obligation -- if they were not pulling their weight. "Anybody who's been paying attention knows there is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenet of the most important alliance in the history of the world,'" Obama said. Under Article Five of the NATO treaty, members agree to regard an attack on one member as an attack on all and promise to mobilize together to defeat the threat. An Ohio judge jailed an attorney on Friday (July 22) when she refused to remove a Black Lives Matter pin during a hearing. Andrea Burton was sentenced to five days in custody and removed from court in handcuffs, after Youngstown Municipal Judge Robert Milich found her in contempt. He indicated to me that he didnt know whether I was trying to seek attention from the news or whatever the case was, but that legally Im not aloud to wear it, Burton said. I deferred and said Im respecting my First Amendment right. Burton added that she told the judge, Im not neutral in injustice and to remain neutral becomes an accomplice to oppression. Burton was released on a stay of appeal. However, she must refrain from wearing things that make political statements in court. A judge doesnt support either side, Milich explained to WKBN. A judge is objective and tries to make sure everyone has an opportunity to have a fair hearing, and it was a situation where it was just in violation of the law. Local community activist Kim Akin feels theres a hypocrisy at play. No one wearing an American flag button, no one wearing a crucifix or a Star of David would be removed, so why this particulate statement bothered him so much is borthersome, she said. Millich said Burtons pin doesnt fall in the same category. Theres a difference between a flag, a pin from your church or the Eagles, and having a pin thats on a political issue, he said. The Youngstown NAACP is monitoring the case, and questions whether or not Burtons civil rights were violated. See more below. RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The Australian Olympic team refused to move in to Rio de Janeiro's village for athletes on Sunday, saying the accommodation was "not safe or ready" for next month's games. "Due to a variety of problems in the Village, including gas, electricity and plumbing, I have decided that no Australian Team member will move into our allocated building," delegation head Kitty Chiller said on Sunday. It is the first time the Olympics have been held in South America. Chiller cited problems including "blocked toilets, leaking pipes and exposed wiring." Some Village apartments had water running down the walls and "a strong smell of gas," while stairwells were unlit and floors were in need of a thorough clean, she said. The first Australian athletes to arrive in Rio were due to move into the Village on July 21 but have instead been living in nearby hotels. "We will stick to our plan of no athletes staying in the Village for next 2 days," Chiller said later on Sunday. "I am reasonably confident we will be able to enter the Village on Wednesday." Australia, which finished eighth in the medals table four years ago, is to bring 410 athletes for the games which start on Aug. 5. Rio de Janeiro officials referred to "teething troubles" and promised that crews "will be working 24 hours a day until the issues are resolved." "Athletes that are arriving in the Village and whose accommodation is not finished will be placed in the best available accommodation in other buildings," said a statement from organizers. "We will be working hard to ensure that the ongoing works do not disturb their preparations for the Games preparations that will be taking place in fully checked, top quality training venues. We regret any inconvenience that this may cause and we greatly appreciate the understanding of the National Olympic Committees at this time." Chiller said she had raised concerns on a daily basis with the organizers and the International Olympic Committee. Extra maintenance staff and more than 1,000 cleaners were engaged to fix the problems and clean the Village, Chiller said, but the faults, particularly with plumbing, were not resolved. Such problems are not uncommon in Brazil where narrow pipes and poor plumbing mean residents throw toilet paper in bins rather than flush it away. Australian team staff are continuing to set up for the arrival of athletes and for those coming in the next three days alternative accommodation has been arranged. But while Chiller said the New Zealand and Great Britain teams had experienced similar problems, officials from Team GB distanced themselves from the controversy and Rio officials said more than 200 athletes from other nations moved into the village on Sunday without complaint. "We are confident that our accommodation is ready to receive athletes and will be to the highest standards within the Village," Team GB Communications Director Scott Field said in a statement. "Whilst we have encountered some maintenance difficulties, this is not uncommon with new build structures of this type and we have been working hard to overcome them." Local media have reported that some team delegations have sought to hire their own maintenance crews to make their quarters suitable. There have been complaints before other big spectacles in Brazil, such as the 2014 World Cup where stadium crews were still wielding paintbrushes and screwdrivers minutes before kickoff. Chiller has already demanded a review of security procedures after a Paraolympic sailor and another team official were robbed at gunpoint in June. Tens of thousands of troops and law enforcement officials spread out across the city on Sunday in a show of force. Rio last month declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfill obligations for public services during the Olympics. (Reporting by Andrew Downie and Ossian Shine, Additional reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier. Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Ruth Pitchford) Berlin (AFP) - A woman was killed and two people injured by a 21-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker armed with a machete on Sunday in the southwest German city of Reutlingen, the local police said. The man, who has been detained, "had a dispute" with the woman and killed her "with a machete" before injuring a second woman and a man, according to a police statement that offered no explanation on the cause of the attack. The man was "known to police", the statement said. "According to the information available, the perpetrator acted alone, the people of Reutlingen and its surroundings are very probably not in danger," it added. News channel NTV said there were scenes of panic in the city centre following the attack. MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all agencies directly under his watch to open their records to the public as part of his promise to crack down on corruption and promote transparency in government. Legislation is still needed, however, to ensure other branches of government will do the same. The last Congress adjourned without passing a new law, the Freedom of Information (FOI) act, even though Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino had backed the idea. Duterte signed an executive order on Saturday to allow public access to official documents and records, two days before he delivers a much-anticipated state of the nation address. He is expected to reiterate a pledge to weed out corrupt officials and tackle crime. Success in tackling corruption and criminality, he has said, should bring benefits on many fronts, including lowering poverty, improving government finances and making the country more attractive for investment. Martin Andanar, the president's communication chief, said Duterte's order would be welcomed by "every Filipino soul who has fought tooth and nail" for the right to information. One of the biggest promoters of the law was Duterte's election rival, Senator Grace Poe, who on Sunday urged the president to waste no time and press a new incoming legislature to pass the act. (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel) While Manila triumphed over Beijing in a historic legal decision last week, the fight in the South China Sea is far from over. On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a 500-page unanimous ruling in Republic of Philippines v. People's Republic of China and found that Beijing had violated the Philippines' economic and sovereign rights. The court concluded there was no legal basis for China's nine-dash line territorial claim, which encompasses approximately 85% of the South China Sea. However, within a day of the ruling, China landed a civilian aircraft on Mischief Reef a tiny bit of land in the Spratly Islands that was found to belong entirely to the Philippines. Chinese state-run media published photos of the China Southern Airlines crew posing in front a plane after the landing. China Southern Airlines "That timing [of the flight] was clearly a signal of discontent of the ruling, but this was going to happen sooner rather than later," Gregory Poling, director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider. "Of course, in light of the ruling, this is rubbing salt in the Philippines' wound," Poling added. "The court ruled China's initial occupation of Mischief Reef and its construction of facilities there illegal," Poling said, "so every day that China continues to make use of those facilities it is violating international law." NOW WATCH: The US Navy just flexed its muscles in the world's most contested region More From Business Insider Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Prince Harry is experiencing quite the philanthropic summer. Just one week after the royal impressively got tested for HIV on Facebook Live in London, he spent Thursday at the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, following a trip to his Sentebale foundation headquarters, which uplifts impoverished children with HIV AIDS. At the weeklong conference, Harry joined youth ambassadors to share his words of wisdom and spent time with another major supporter of HIV/AIDS research: Sir Elton John. The English duo came together to sign UNAIDS's #ProTESTHIV wall, which encourages people to get tested. So what did Harry write on the wall? "Get tested! Why wouldn't you?" he wrote and then signed with his squiggly "Harry" signature. Prince Harry's message on the @UNAIDS #ProTESTHIV wall - 'Get tested! Why wouldn't you? Harry' pic.twitter.com/V53wSF5ZTM -- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2016 John signed the wall as well and later sat down with the royal to speak with Yolanda and Beatrice, two representatives from Children's Radio Foundation, an organization that teaches young people across Africa how to become reporters. Harry also addressed the crowd inside of the conference on behalf of Sentebale and passionately spoke about how his mother, the late Princess Diana, also supported the cause. "When my mother held the hand of a man dying of AIDS, no one imagined a quarter century later HIV positive people would love full, healthy, loving lives," he said, according to Kensington Royal's Twitter account. 'When my mother held the hand of a man dying of AIDS no one imagined a 1/4 century later HIV+ people would live full, healthy, loving lives -- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2016 RELATED: Gigi Hadid's Major Eyeshadow Serves Major Mermaid Realness Prince Harry and Sir Elton John sign the UNAIDS #ProTESTHIV wall at #AIDS2016. Get tested. Know your #HIV status. pic.twitter.com/bP78xR4oga Story continues -- UNAIDS (@UNAIDS) July 21, 2016 Credit: KensingtonRoyal/Twitter Credit: KensingtonRoyal/Twitter We're sure the late Princess Diana would be proud. Sailing has been a part of Princess Kate and Prince William's life together since they first met at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. Yet it doesn't look as though Prince George is likely to join them onto the high seas just yet. "What did he get for his birthday? I'm not telling", William, 34, told competition winner Zak Kay, 10, ahead of the America's Cup World Series racing event in Portsmouth, England, on Sunday. "He got too many things. He's far too spoilt. He's not into boats yet." Neither George who turned three on Friday nor his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, 1, attended the Sunday event, which included having William and Kate tour the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) to meet the team plotting to bring the 'Auld Mug' back to Britain for the first time since the yacht "America" won the inaugural trophy way back in 1851. Prince William Jokes That Prince George Is 'Spoilt' During America's Cup Event with Kate| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince William "She was lovely beautiful and friendly," Tiyah Windslade, 17, told reporters shortly after presenting a bouquet to Kate on behalf of the 1851 Trust, which is using the America's Cup to inspire a new generation to become involved with the marine world with a strong focus on those from underprivileged families "I almost started crying!," Tiyah added about meeting with Kate, who paired a BAR team shirt bearing the words "The Duchess of Cambridge," with tight skinny jeans and beige espadrille wedges. "She spoke a lot about mental health and how we need to stop people from feeling ashamed about themselves and come out and be very open about their mental health. And she sad that we are the voice reaching out to people because we are working with them on the ground. "It is great to have them involved," Tiyah continued. "They give us so much support." Prince William Jokes That Prince George Is 'Spoilt' During America's Cup Event with Kate| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince William "I was chosen to present the bouquet," she added. "They told me a couple of moments before and it was so sudden, I was like 'I didn't know I was doing that!?' "I just knew I was meeting them and they said, 'Are you OK to take the lead and give them the bouquet?' So I sad, 'Er, yeah, OK! I'm already so nervous, now you've really shaken me!' " Thankfully, the royal couple calmed her nerves immediately. "He was really lovely too", Tiyah added about William. Following an hour-long tour of the British team's headquarters, William and Kate boarded a BAR catamaran flying a royal standard to sail around Portsmouth. They then took a seat in the bleachers among thousands of sailing fans to watch the high-speed racing action, which drew teams from all across the globe. The couple will later visit the Race Village to meet the six international crews and hand out the trophy designed by competition winner Kay. Related Video: Princess Kate and Drew Barrymore Wear Same Tory Burch Dress on the Same Day This is Kate's third visit to the Portsmouth leg of the America's Cup World Series. In May, she had an exhilarating trip in the water, sailing around the Solent with four-time Olympic champion and reigning America's Cup winner Ainslie and his crew. Ainslie told PEOPLE after the event that it was "a wonderful sail." Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. A few days later, Ainslie posted exciting GoPro-style footage of the trip, showing Kate in full control alongside her colleagues on board. Kate and William are both experienced sailors and frequently took a day on the seas close to their first marital home in Anglesey, north Wales. Kate also beat William in a sailing race in Aukland, New Zealand, during their tour of the country in April 2014. During their first royal tour in the summer of 2011, the famously competitive couple also took charge of a dragon boat race across a lake in Canada. Princess Charlene of Monaco doesn't need a crown to show off her regal style. The wife of Prince Albert looked stunning in a glamorous floor-length lilac and blue gown at the 68th annual Red Cross Gala in Monte Carlo on Saturday. She accessorized with diamond drop earrings and a beaded clutch. The 38-year-old mother of two, who is skipping the Olympic Games in Rio due to concerns over the Zika virus, also glammed up her blonde hair in a pushed-back wavy style. Albert, who looked dapper in a white tuxedo jacket and black bowtie, told PEOPLE earlier this week that he didn't know what his wife planned on wearing to the event, where the royal couple served as guests of honor. "She sometimes asks for my opinion but never for something like this," he said. "She likes to surprise me." Related Video: 3 Reasons Why Prince George Is Royally Cute! Pitch Perfect Broadway Dream" data-ad-channel="peoplenow" data-ad-subchannel="peoplepicks" data-auto-play="no"> The prince also gave an update on his 19-month-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. "They're doing great!" he previously told PEOPLE, adding that the twins swim twice daily, are learning their ABCs in both French and English and have begun playing with others in daycare. "They're roaming around, starting to repeat words," he said. "They almost know their ABCs and numbers." While Gabriella is showing signs of being an early math whiz, Albert suspects her brother will be just as brainy. He said, "Gabriella's really very good with her numbers. Jacques is a little bit lazier but he catches up fast and will pass her." With reporting by PETER MIKELBANK A scene from Foxs Prison Break revival debuted at Comic-Con By Kimberly Roots Prison Breaks Dominic Purcell remembers very clearly the first time he met co-star and on-screen brother Wentworth Miller. Miller was was a private and gentle man, Purcell recalled during Foxs Action Showcase at San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, and the most beautiful looking man I had ever seen in my life. He laughed. And I was like, Hang on, I thought I was the stud on the show. Purcell, Miller and co-stars Sarah Wayne Callies and Robert Knepper joined producer Vaun Wilmott on Foxs Action Showcase panel Sunday at Comic-Con in San Diego; they shared the event with 24: Legacy stars Corey Hawkins, Miranda Otto, Jimmy Smits and producers Howard Gordon, Evan Katz and Manny Coto. Here are the highlights from the Prison Break folks: * Miller offered an update on his characters series-centric body art: Michael has a fresh set of tattoos and they are central to the plot but they dont work the same way they did the first time around. * When a fan remarked that Michael was dead at the end of the original series, Callies joked, Weve all been dead, sweetheart. * Knepper said that the catharsis and the epiphanies that T-Bag has experienced during six years in prison as well as what Knepper has experienced in his own life are incorporated into the revival. * He has always had a comic-book facet, a superhero facet. He can endure what the next person would not, Miller said when asked how his Prison Break alter ego would do on The Flash or Legends of Tomorrow. I dont think he and Snart would get along, necessarily, because Snart doesnt get along. Callies added, I think Sara Tancredi in the zombie apocalypse might not necessarily last too long, a nod to her (ultimately doomed) role on The Walking Dead. * The panel turned serious for a moment when Purcell took an opportunity to thank his co-stars, Fox and the series producers as well as girlfriend AnnaLynne McCord (90210) for giving him the time and space to heal after a heavy piece of the set fell on him during the revivals on-location shoot in Morocco. Miller remembered hearing the news of his co-stars injury: It was upsetting, of course. The man is my brother, in every way but blood. Story continues Prison Break is slated to return at midseason. Related stories Prison Break Sneak Peek: Michael Hatches His Latest, Daring Escape Plan Gotham Shocker! Which Character Will Become [Spoiler] During Season 3? Gotham @ Comic-Con: Bruces Double Trouble, Jims New Gig, But No Ras (Yet) Plus, Watch a Season 3 Teaser Get more from TVLine: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter For a dead man, Prison Breaks Michael Scofield certainly gets around. A new sneak peek at the upcoming revival which debuted Sunday during the Fox series panel at Comic-Con in San Diego features footage shot on location in Morocco. And weve got your exclusive first look. In the clip, Michael (Wentworth Miller) and a fellow prisoner revisit their plan to break out, ideally before a buncha nogoodniks are released from solitary confinement. Press play above to chew on how Scofield will set their escape in motion. COMIC-CON 2016 Exclusive Photos, In-Depth Interviews, Behind-the-Scenes Scoop and More! The nine-episode continuation picks up years after Michaels apparent death, with Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies) raising her and Michaels son with a new husband (Mark Feuerstein, Royal Pains). But when evidence surfaces suggesting that Michael may be alive, Sara and Michaels brother, Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), work to pull off an insanely ambitious escape. Three of Fox River State Penitentiarys most notorious inmates, T-Bag (Robert Knepper), C-Note (Rockmond Dunbar) and Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), join them. RELATEDPrison Break: Dominic Purcells On-Set Injury Wont Delay Production The cast also includes Prison Break alum Paul Adelstein, as well as new additions Inbar Lavi (The Last Ship), Rick Yune (Marco Polo) and Augustus Prew (The Borgias). Press PLAY on the video above to watch Michael & Co. do their thing abroad, then hit the comments: Are you looking forward to Scofields next great escape? Launch Gallery: Exclusive Comic-Con Portraits From Favorite Shows Related stories Wentworth Miller: Prison Break Revival Asks, 'Does Michael Deserve a Reunion With Sara?' (And Will He Die Again?) 24: Legacy @ Comic-Con: 'A New Hero For a New Day,' Death By Construction Site, the Fate of 'Damnit!' and More Prison Break @ Comic-Con: Michael's New Ink, T-Bag's 'Epiphanies' and More The Queenstown Airport in New Zealands South Island was evacuated on Sunday, July 24, after a cleaner found a note mentioning a bomb was on a plane on the tarmac, according to New Zealand Police. The police did not find any explosives on the Qantas plane, which flew in from Sydney. There were no passengers on board when the note was found, according to one local report. Authorities continued to search baggage and the terminal buildings on Sunday. Credit: Twitter/RichDid By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A fast-moving wildfire that has forced hundreds of people to flee from their homes in the drought-parched foothills northwest of Los Angeles had blackened some 20,000 acres by Saturday night and was threatening homes and commercial structures, fire officials said. The so-called Sand Fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday and spread quickly near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of the city, prompting evacuation orders covering about 1,500 homes. By late Saturday night the Southern California blaze was 10 percent contained, and was casting a pall of thick black smoke over much of Los Angeles and threatening about 100 commercial structures. Los Angeles County Sheriffs homicide detectives were investigating circumstances surrounding a man found dead in an evacuation area. Media reported a resident was found dead in a burned car, citing a neighbor who said the man's house has burned down. Residents earlier posted pictures on social media of the sun blotted out by the towering plumes and the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory, warning of unhealthy air conditions in the region. Officials said one firefighter sustained a minor injury, and that structures had been destroyed or damaged in the Bear Divide and Sand Canyon areas. "Because this is the fifth year of an ongoing drought we have a lot dry vegetation," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told a news conference. "Some of these fuels, they haven't burned in decades. This fire has increased to about 11,000 acres just overnight." Some 900 firefighters were battling the flames in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius), with the aid of 28 helicopters and eight fixed-winged aircraft. But fire managers said crews were struggling in very rugged terrain as they tried to defend homes in the community of Little Tujunga and stop the spreading blaze that is burning through chaparral and brush. Evacuation shelters have been set up for residents in the area and about 10 roads have been closed due to the fire. A number of roads in and out of foothill communities were shut down. The fire is one of a series this summer that have hit the drought-stricken state, where dried grass and bush land as well as high temperatures have helped fuel the blazes. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Alistair Bell, Robert Birsel) Beirut (AFP) - Rockets rained down on several Old Damascus neighbourhoods Sunday, including one known for its cafes and restaurants, killing at least eight people and wounding 20 others. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from rebel positions on the outskirts of the capital. "At least eight people were killed and more than 20 others were wounded when rockets hits several neighbourhoods in Old Damascus," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Syria's state news agency SANA, quoting a police source, denounced a "terrorist attack" that it said killed five people and wounded 16. SANA said the rockets hit the mostly Christian neighbourhood of Bab Tuma. The Observatory said rockets also struck Bab al-Salama and Qaymariyeh in Old Damascus. A restaurant in Qaymariyeh was hit, it said. An AFP correspondent who went to Bab Tuma said he saw bloodied people running in the streets, calling for help and waiting for ambulances. A civilian in a pick-up truck ferried several people to hospital, the correspondent said, explaining that ambulances could not enter Bab Tuma because of its narrow alleyways. A Facebook page dedicated to pinpointing rocket and mortar fire in Damascus posted pictures of destruction at a restaurant, showing overturned chairs and tables and blood on the floor. Layla al-Jawabrah, 23, said she had been heading towards Bab Tuma when she saw security forces shouting and telling people to run. "I hid in the entrance of a building... and saw people running. Some were wounded and their clothes were stained with blood," she said. The rocket attack was the first to target Damascus in months, since a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia in February. But the truce has been violated repeatedly, and Washington and Moscow have tried to reinforce it with temporary or local ceasefires to no avail. Damascus is mostly controlled by regime forces, but rebels hold districts on its outskirts and positions in the countryside. The capital has been largely spared the deadly violence that has spiralled and engulfed Syria since the conflict erupted in 2011 with peaceful anti-government protests. More than 280,000 people have been killed over the past five years and millions displaced. (Adds details, quotes) By Tessa Walsh PORTSMOUTH, England, July 24 (Reuters) - Skipper Ben Ainslie and Britain's team Land Rover BAR repeated their 2015 home victory in the America's Cup World Series sailing regatta after finishing second in the final race on Sunday. The win moved the team into the lead in the overall standings, securing points that bring Britain closer to challenging to compete in the America's Cup in Bermuda in 2017. BAR clinched the regatta win on England's south coast in a nail-biting finish in the final leg of the last race on Super Sunday as the world's top sailors competed for double points in sailing's Formula One equivalent on high-tech state of the art catamarans. Ainslie showed the aggressive tactics that helped him to win his fourth Olympic sailing gold medal in 2012, securing the second place he needed in the third and final race to win the regatta. The British team's finish also point put team Land Rover BAR at the top of the standings in the overall series, ahead of defending America's Cup champion Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA with Emirates Team New Zealand in third place. "The last two races were very tactical. We had a big fight between Oracle and ourselves, it was very tight racing," Ainslie said. Breezy conditions tested the elite crews racing the 45-foot twin-hulled catamarans, which were moving at speeds of over 30 knots (55.56 km per hour) on hydrofoil wings for more than half the course, providing a thrilling spectacle for the crowd as the boats raced to the finish along the shoreline. "Coming down the last downwind leg and the reach to the finish we were aware that we had to be conservative, not take too much risk and deliver the boat to the finish line," Ainslie said. "Winning felt incredible, we're a new team and to perform well at the top of the fleet in front of a home crowd was amazing. The final two races of the America's Cup World Series will take place in Toulon, France in September and Fukuoka, Japan in November. The winners of the World Series will take on Oracle Team USA in next year's America's Cup in Bermuda. (Editing by Ed Osmond) SAO TOME (Reuters) - A Sao Tome and Principe court ruled on Sunday that the island nation's presidential election will go to a second round between incumbent Manuel Pinto da Costa and ex-speaker of parliament Evaristo Carvalho. In provisional results from elections held last Sunday, Carvalho looked to have won with 50.1 percent of votes, with De Costa coming second with 24.8 percent. But the supreme court overturned them, saying the electoral commission should have waited for results from a town, Maria Louise, that voted on Wednesday, and for results from the diaspora. When factored in, they left Carvalho just shy of the 50 percent needed for an outright win, it said. The run-off will take place on August 7. The small island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea is a former colony of Portugal and has a semi-presidential system. The prime minister heads the government but the president is more than a figure head, wielding considerable executive power over matters such as security. The country has 19 oil blocks in its exclusive economic zone and an additional joint exploration zone with Nigeria, but it is yet to find any commercially viable oil. (Reporting by Ricardo Neto; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Tom Heneghan) Jerusalem (AFP) - The head of a rare Saudi delegation to Israel and the occupied West Bank met a senior Israeli government official during his trip, Israel's foreign ministry told AFP on Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the meeting between retired Saudi general Anwar Eshki and ministry Director General Dore Gold took place at the prestigious King David hotel in west Jerusalem but did not give further details. The Jerusalem Post newspaper said Eshki led a delegation of "businessmen and academics" on a mission to promote a stalled Saudi-led 2002 Arab peace initiative. It said that he met Major General Yoav Mordechai, head of the military body that coordinates Israeli activities in the West Bank and Gaza, and talked Friday in the West Bank to a group of Israeli opposition MPs. Israel and Saudi Arabia have never had diplomatic relations but there have been media reports of intelligence-sharing in the face of shared concerns about Iran and the Islamic State group. Eshki and Gold shared a platform in June last year at the Washington headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations and "met to discuss opportunities and challenges in the Middle East," the council said on its website at the time. "Their speeches focused on the danger Iran posed to their countries, and they revealed that they had been in secret discussions for a year, and had now decided to go public about their talks," it added. Israeli army radio on Sunday aired an Arabic telephone interview with Eshki, chairman of the Jeddah-based Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies, in which he denied that his country had security links with the Jewish state. "To my knowledge there is no cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," he said. He said that Israel would only be able to make peace with the Arab world when it had resolved the conflict with the Palestinians, in accordance with the 2002 Arab proposal. Story continues It calls for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and resolve the issue of refugees with the Palestinians, leading to the creation of a Palestinian state, in exchange for normalised relations with Arab countries. "Peace will not come from Arab countries, but the Palestinians and the implementation of the Arab peace plan," Eshki said. The radio quoted him as saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "is not the cause of terrorism, but it provides a breeding ground for conflict in the region." Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel. Credit: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic We've come to expect a lot from Amber Rose--body positivity, feminism, and not to mention, impeccable makeup and killer outfits. The one thing we usually don't see from her are frequent changes from her short blonde hair. Well, Amber Rose just switched things up a bit with a new hairstyle, debuting it on her talk show, The Amber Rose Show. She shared a series of photos on her Instagram of herself with lob-length platinum blonde waves, as well as bright blue contacts and purple lipstick. Side note: Can we please get the exact shade of that matte lipstick, please?! The iconic Hollywood hairstyle was done by hairstylist Tony Medina, who specializes in retro glamour (his clients include burlesque queen Dita Von Teese and Tess Holiday). We wouldn't get too used to this look, though. It seems like this 'do was only for Amber Rose's new talk show hosting gig. Guess we'll have to wait and see! Selena Gomez just bared her heart to her fans on Instagram Selena Gomez just bared her heart to her fans on Instagram Uh ohit looks like Taylor Swift isnt the only member of her squad dealing with some stuff right now. Yesterdaythe day after her 24th birthdaySelena Gomez posted a note on Instagram that says she felt unauthentic and unconnected to both myself and my music. She closed out the note by saying, I need to rethink some areas of my life creatively and personally. not being negative about anything I've done. I'm grateful for every single moment I get here -Indonesia you were LOUD and clearly inspiring. Love you so much A photo posted by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Jul 23, 2016 at 8:42am PDT The message was posted after a performance in Jakarta. During the show, Selena got emotional right before her new song Kill Em With Kindness, and told the crowd: The next song, before I go home, is a song thats so important to me, because I get really frustrated. I get stupid sometimes. I say things that I dont mean, or that come out wrong, just because I care so badly. But Selenawhat do you mean? Her cryptic messages might be referring to the recent Taylor SwiftKimye feud, during which Selena stood up for her bestie on Twitter with some specific tweets that actually had surprisingly beautiful life advice: There are more important things to talk about... Why can't people use their voice for something that fucking matters? Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) July 18, 2016 Truth is last thing we need right now is hate, in any form Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) July 18, 2016 This industry is so disappointing yet the most influential smh Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) July 18, 2016 Sounds like Selenas been through a lot over the last week! But what does she mean by rethinking some areas of her life? We think shes pretty wonderful the way she is so hopefully this wont affect how much we get to enjoy her playful personality and her wonderful music. Story continues Going through old pictures today, because @selenagomez just turned 24! I can't imagine my life without you, Selena. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 22, 2016 at 3:22pm PDT We hope Selena finds the time she needs to work on everything she needs to deal with. Theres no doubt that being famous aint easy, but she does it with grace so shes definitely earned any little break she may need. The post Selena Gomez just bared her heart to her fans on Instagram appeared first on HelloGiggles. Somehow, an entire Aliens reunion passed without someone forcing Sigourney Weaver to yell, "Get away from her, you b**ch!" The actress, who iconically portrayed Ripley, joined co-stars Bill Paxton (Private Hudson), Lance Henriksen (Bishop), Michael Biehn (Corporal Hicks), Paul Reiser (Burke), and even Newt herself, Carrie Henn, to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the film at Comic-Con. Naturally, the conversation eventually turned to a sequel. Getty Images WATCH: Ben Affleck and the 'Justice League' Assemble for the First Time at Comic-Con -- Check Out the Trailer! "There is an incredible script," Weaver confirmed of the next installment, written by Neill Blomkamp. The 66-year-old actress said that while shooting Chappie, they started talking "about how the series left Ripley," admitting, "I had not wanted to do a fifth one -- I didn't want to go to earth. I thought going to earth was a little boring." "That whole first day we spent talking about it, and four months later, I got a script that was so amazing and gives the fans everything they are looking for, plus innovates in a lot of ways that immediately, to me, became a part of the world," Weaver revealed. As for the latest status? "He has work to do. I have work to do," she teased, optimistically. "But I'm hoping when we finish those jobs, we'll circle around and do it." Before that update, the cast -- along with director James Cameron and producer Gale Anne Hurd -- reminisced about shooting the film and shared a few hilarious anecdotes. RELATED: William Shatner Says 'Hell Yes' to Playing Captain Kirk Again -- Plus Scoop on New 'Star Trek' TV Series "I always that we believe the alien queen was real because Sigourney made us believe she was," Cameron told Hall H, to which Weaver interjected, "It wasn't real? Now you tell me!" The director explained that the alien puppet was wired down and operated by a number of crewmembers. "Sigourney didn't want to know about any of that stuff, because she wanted it to be real in her mind," he said. "You know it was rubber, right?" Story continues "I'm convinced she is out roaming about this world, hungry and angry," Weaver replied, before turning to the audience. "And you should all watch out." One of the most pleasant surprises during the panel was an appearance by Henn, who was only 9-years-old when the movie was filmed. She has never starred in another movie and is now a fourth grade teacher. Getty Images "There are some times that my students come and say, 'My parents let me watch Aliens this weekend,' and I'm thinking, 'Oh, what are you thinking?!'" she said. "And around Christmas or their dad's birthday, sometimes they'll pull out the DVD and say, 'Can you sign this?'" PHOTOS: ET at Comic-Con 2016 -- Go Inside Our Action Hero Photo Booth! Henn's father was in the Air Force, so she was living in England when the movie was being cast, where she was discovered in her school's cafeteria. When she first met Weaver for an audition, Henn said, "I was like, 'Oh my gosh, Ghostbusters! This is so amazing!'" Less amazing was one scene Cameron recalled where Henn had to be covered in goo. "In a slight British accent, she says, 'You know, it should be illegal for you to do this to little kids,'" he recalled. Thirty years later, he offered an apology. "Permanent trauma, yes or no?" Cameron asked, to which she smiled and replied, "No." Related Articles San Diego (AFP) - It was the largest data leak in United States history, fueling a firestorm over the issue of mass surveillance that resonated with Americans and ignited around the world. Oliver Stone's hotly-anticipated "Snowden" tells the story of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in dramatic form for the first time -- but the movie almost never made it to theaters. "Frankly, it was turned down by every major studio. The script was good, the budget was good, the cast was good. It was definitely... self-censorship," Stone, 69, told San Diego fan convention Comic-Con International on Thursday. "I don't believe there was an enemy such as the NSA lurking in the background. But definitely self-censorship is a huge issue in this industry, and it blocks so much of the truth from coming out. "Every studio, every corporate board that runs the studio, more than the studio people, said no." Snowden was charged by US authorities with espionage and theft of state secrets after releasing thousands of classified NSA documents to journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Ewen MacAskill in 2013. Considered a traitor by some and a hero by others, the 33-year-old fled to Hong Kong and was given political asylum in Russia after the US revoked his passport. He now leads a reclusive life there. The documents he leaked revealed the extent of surveillance programmes run by the NSA and started a debate about privacy and the role of state security agencies which still rages today. - 'Old-fashioned gentleman' - Stone was joined on stage at Comic-Con by cast members Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- who plays Snowden and accompanied the director to Moscow to meet the exiled security contractor. Gordon-Levitt describes Snowden as "very polite... almost an old-fashioned gentleman" who came across as warm and optimistic about how technology can strengthen democracy. Story continues "We sat and talked for hours. It was interesting because I think most people that sit down and talk with him are approaching him from the position of politics," the actor said. "I was trying to get to know him on a different level because I can read about his politics. I wanted to understand who he was. We got to sit down and have a meal. I think you can tell a lot about a person by how they are when you sit and eat with them." Stone, a trenchant critic of the American political establishment, bought the movie rights to "The Snowden Files," a chronicle of the affair by Luke Harding of Britain's Guardian newspaper. He also based his screenplay on political thriller "The Time of the Octopus" penned by Snowden's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena. The Moscow-based attorney told AFP in 2014 he had written the novel -- which Stone likens to George Orwell's 1984 -- because he could not remain indifferent to his client's ethical dilemma. - 'Rules broken in secret' - "I have become a witness to the moral paradox, so to speak. I have become imbued with his emotional state, he transported me into his world," said Kucherena. Gordon-Levitt believes comparisons of the NSA scandal with the totalitarianism Orwell wrote about might be missing a "more complicated and subtle" issue thrown up by the Snowden case. "To me, the question is not about whether you need privacy or whether you don't need privacy," the 35-year-old Californian told the Comic-Con panel. "The question is that we are promised privacy in the constitution and if the government is going to change those rules, then they have to be open about that. "That to me is actually even more important than the questions of privacy and mass surveillance in the Snowden story -- the question of government transparency." Gordon-Levitt says he would welcome an open, public debate about whether mass surveillance of the population is a good idea, or even an affective bulwark against security threats. "The problem was that decision wasn't made out in the open. The rules were broken in secret, and then lied about," he added. Independent production company Open Road, which picked up a best film Oscar for "Spotlight" in February, agreed to distribute the movie in the United States, with its release scheduled for September 16. Cairo (AFP) - The first solar-powered plane to circle the world took off from Cairo on Sunday for Abu Dhabi, on the final leg of its historic journey. Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard was behind the controls of Solar Impulse 2, which can fly for days on only energy from the sun. "It's a project for energy, for a better world," Piccard, 58, told journalists before taking off. The ground crew, who had dragged the plane out to the tarmac with ropes, cheered as it lifted off and disappeared into the night. It had been scheduled to leave last week, but the flight was delayed because of winds and Picard falling ill. Piccard and Swiss entrepreneur and pilot Andre Borschberg have taken turns flying the plane on its 35,000-kilometre (22,000-mile) trip around the world. Borschberg piloted the flight's 8,924 kilometre Pacific stage between Nagoya, in Japan, and Hawaii. Solar Impulse 2 arrived in Cairo after a two-day flight from Spain, finishing the 3,745 kilometre journey with an average speed of 76.7 kilometres an hour. It had earlier landed in Seville after completing the first solo transatlantic flight powered only by the sun. The single-seat aircraft, no heavier than a car but with the wingspan of a Boeing 747, is fitted with 17,000 solar cells on its wings. During night-time flights it runs on battery-stored power. It typically travels at a mere 48 kilometres (30 miles) per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight. - 'Close to the limits' - Piccard, a psychiatrist who had made the first non-stop balloon flight around the world in 1999, said the last leg of the Solar Impulse 2 tour would be difficult. "It's a very, very hot region... its going to be an exhausting flight," he said. Borschberg told journalists that the heat would be a new challenge for the plane. "Technically it's close to the limits that we have set in terms of temperature, so that's something which we did not experience before," he said via Skype from mission control in Monaco. Story continues "But with the temperature profile that we see over the coming days, we should be all fine." The plane set out on March 9, 2015 from Abu Dhabi, crossing Asia and the Pacific to reach the United States and then flying on to Spain and Egypt with the sun as its only source of power. Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control centre in Monaco, telling Piccard "you are released to proceed." Borschberg and Piccard have said they want to raise awareness of renewable energy sources and technologies with their project, although they do not expect solar-powered commercial planes any time soon. "There will be passengers very soon in electric airplanes that we will charge on the ground," Piccard had said when the plane arrived in Cairo. "On the ground you can charge batteries and you can have short haul flights, maybe 500 kilometres with 50 people flying in these planes" in a decade, he predicted. By Lila Hassan CAIRO (Reuters) - An aircraft powered by solar energy left Egypt on Sunday on the last leg of the first ever fuel-free flight around the globe. Solar Impulse 2, a spindly single-seat plane, took off from Cairo in darkness en route to Abu Dhabi, its final destination, with a flight expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. The plane, which began its journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, has been piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies. "The round the world flight ends in Abu Dhabi, but not the project," Piccard told Reuters a few days before takeoff. Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel, its four engines powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells in its wings. It relies on solar energy collected during the day and stored in batteries for electrical energy to fly at night. The carbon fiber plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car can climb to about 8,500 meters (28,000 feet) and cruise at 55-100 kph (34-62 mph). "The project is a big promotion of clean technologies around the world and the legacy of Solar Impulse is the created international community," Piccard said. Last week, the solar-powered aircraft landed in Egypt for on its penultimate stop. The flight's takeoff from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates was delayed due to a heatwave in Saudi Arabia. "I started to dream about this project 17 years ago in 1999 when I finished my hot-air balloon landing in Egypt, so 17 years later I take off where the balloon landed," Piccard said. (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f153008%2f66b2e099558844159a4303e3f8424fa2 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump likes to say that he's going to make America's space program "first" again. The details of his plan to make that happen are pretty much non-existent and he hasn't actually explained why NASA isn't "first" these days. But honestly, who cares. The fact is, it shouldn't matter if America is "first" in space or not. In fact, a go-it-alone strategy on space exploration would be a huge mistake. SEE ALSO: At Republican convention, astronaut Eileen Collins will talk about 'making America first again' in space Talking about access to space as some kind of national rat race to the top is damaging for every nation hoping to extend its reach into the solar system in the increasingly globalized world we live in. The ability to launch satellites and people to space is not only a point of pride for nations, it's also quickly becoming an absolute necessity. The United States is increasingly reliant on space-based assets for navigation and imagery, and other countries need to have a part in that too, or they will be left behind. Instead of calling on private companies and nations the world over to work together to accomplish costly and important spaceflight goals as 15 nations did to build the International Space Station Trump and others are falling back on out-dated nationalistic appeals that actively undermine the United Nations-supported goal of keeping space accessible for all. Making America great in space again "Nations that lead on the frontier, lead in the world," retired NASA astronaut Eileen Collins said during a speech at the Republican National Convention on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. "We need that leadership that will make America's space program first again. And we need leadership that will make America great again." That kind of nationalistic thinking is a hard habit to break. Story continues It's no secret that nationalism got us to the moon in the first place. It was the U.S. race to the moon with the former Soviet Union that propelled Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the lunar surface. But, we aren't racing another country back to the moon or to Mars today. In fact, Russia is now one of our strongest allies in spaceflight. The country's Soyuz spacecraft transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Even when tensions between Russia and the U.S. were the highest they've been in recent memory, the Russian space agency and NASA cooperated to make sure that the astronauts and cosmonauts on the space station stayed safe and were insulated from the foreign policy disagreements. The truth is, even during the Apollo years, we weren't as nationalistic as we thought we were. "For all mankind" In July 1969, when Aldrin and Armstrong touched down on the moon, a plaque attached to the lunar lander read: "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." Yes, Armstrong and Aldrin planted the American flag in the lunar dirt as well, but instead of a plaque saying that Americans came in peace for all "Americans" the plaque included the world in this triumph of human ingenuity. Image: NASA Plus, in the case of Apollo, nationalism didn't have staying power. An American hasn't set foot on the moon since 1972, with the last Apollo mission, and public support for space has waned. It might be time to try something different. Instead of taking a bunch of Americans to Mars NASA's long-term goal wouldn't it be better to carry a crew representative of Earth itself? If we are truly going to live off-world, shouldn't the people that serve as our vanguards to the solar system be representative of the rest of our planet, a sampling of the best and most diverse minds we have to offer? Plus, NASA may not be able to get to Mars without working with other countries. A crewed mission to Mars would cost tens of billions of dollars for any nation aiming for it, so spreading that cost out among other countries may actually make it an easier feat to accomplish. Even today, the U.S. collaborates with other space agencies and private companies to fly experiments to the Space Station and launch specialized instruments on spacecraft or satellites necessary for exploring the cosmos. If that kind of collaboration goes away, we'll all be weaker for it. But what about launching our own astronauts? While it's true that NASA hasn't launched Americans from U.S. soil since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011, that doesn't mean spaceflight in America is dead. It's simply evolved into something different, and perhaps, something better. The space agency now has contracts with two American companies SpaceX and Boeing to fly people to the Space Station on multiple missions starting as early as next year, assuming Congress funds those efforts at the level requested. This public-private partnership in space was even praised in the Republican Party's platform this year. The government money being funneled into the private companies under contract with NASA allows them to push the boundaries with building and testing new launchers and space vehicles. In many ways, Elon Musk's SpaceX is around today because of NASA money. Now, SpaceX is helping other countries access space by launching satellites and spacecraft for nations around the world. American innovation is boosting other countries to orbit. This private partnership will also allow NASA to push farther into the solar system, focusing on stretching its reach to Mars or other worlds, but none of that matters if those that run our government don't accept that we're living in a new era of globalized spaceflight. By limiting our view and ambitions to just Americans, we're wasting what could be a driver of collaboration and peace between nations the world over. Isn't that worth setting nationalism aside for a least little while? Los Angeles (AFP) - A fire burning out of control in Southern California has grown to a massive 20,000 acres, officials said Sunday, as residents in an area north of Los Angeles were forced to evacuate. The blaze, which has been dubbed the "Sand Fire" after a nearby neighborhood, is only 10 percent contained, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). Local media reported that a burned body had been recovered in the city of Santa Clarita, located some 35 miles (55 kilometers) from downtown Los Angeles, although it was unclear if the individual had died in the blaze. The fire has been burning in California's Santa Clarita Valley since Friday, but has now shifted to threaten more populated areas such as the Sand Canyon neighborhood of Santa Clarita, county fire officials said, according to the Los Angeles Times. At least 1,500 homes are threatened, the Times reported. Orange flames could be seen lapping at the night sky early Sunday, as a number of roads remained closed and health officials warned of poor air quality and hazardous smoke. More than 900 firefighters are battling the blaze and residents have been evacuated, NWCG reported. It added that structures had been destroyed or damaged although it was unable to confirm specific properties. Local media reported that ash and smoke could be seen as far away as Pasadena and Malibu. California is experiencing a record five-year drought and trees and brush are at risk of igniting from the smallest spark. Nikhil Puthran To boost the Hyundai sales in the monsoon period, the automaker is offering special benefits across its line-up in India. Potential customers can avail benefits ranging between Rs 10,000 to up to Rs 1.5 lakh. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Hyundai has introduced the special edition variants in Xcent and Grand i10. Staring with the entry-level Hyundai Eon, the carmaker is offering total benefits of up to Rs 40,000 on the petrol/LPG variants. The next in line i10 hatchback is offered at a discount of up to Rs 42,000 on the petrol/LPG variants. As for the Grand i10, Hyundai is offering benefits of up to Rs 63,000 on the petrol/LPG variants and Rs 71,000 on the diesel version. The stylish and sporty Elite i20 is offered with benefits of up to Rs 10,000 on the diesel variant. Recently, Hyundai achieved a new milestone with over 1 million unit sales of the i20 premium hatchback. However, the company has not revealed any plans of introducing a special edition variant of the i20 to celebrate this special occasion. Hyundai India is offering benefits of up to Rs 47,000 on the petrol and Rs 52,000 on the diesel variant of the Xcent compact sedan. The Verna is offered with benefits of up to Rs 80,000 on the petrol and diesel variants. Moreover, the Verna is offered at a special price tag of Rs 6.99 lakh. The premium sedan Elantra and the premium SUV Santa Fe attracts the highest special benefits of up to Rs 1.5 lakh on the formers petrol and diesel variants, and the latters diesel trim. The special edition Xcent carries all the features from the S trim while additionally offering a 6.2-inch touch screen AV system, sporty red and black seats, chrome radiator grille, body graphics, boot lid spoiler with reflector and boot lid chrome garnish. Similar features will also be offered on the special edition Sportz trim of the Grand i10. Both the special edition models are available in petrol as well as diesel variants and will be available only in one colour option pure white. 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 Marvel premiered the first footage for Spider-Man: Homecoming at Comic-Con on Saturday, and it looked like, well, a high school movie. The superhero, played by Tom Holland, joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War, but now hes heading back to high schoolthough that hasnt stopped him from watching YouTube videos of himself during class. Its a straight up high school movie. Its about a 15 year old kid. This is the ground level of the Marvel Universe, director Jon Watts said. We know what its like to be a playboy billionairea Norse Godand now well know what its like to have just gone through puberty. The panel went on to compare it to a John Hughes film. In the clip, Peter Parker goes through his day at Midtown high school, doing science projects, trying to overhear which girls have crushes on which Avengers and sharing secret handshakes with his best friends. But his life isnt totally normal: he battles villains, hangs out with Iron Man and encounters a dastardly villain in The Vulture (probably played by Michael Keaton). San Diego (AFP) - US television network CBS celebrated the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek" at San Diego Comic-Con, revealing that the keenly-awaited new series is to be called "Star Trek Discovery." The name was revealed on Saturday at the end of a 76-second teaser trailer shown at the sci-fi and fantasy festival which showed a starship pulling out of its mooring inside an asteroid. Bryan Fuller, a "Star Trek" veteran who started out in the 1990s writing for "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager," is to return as co-creator and executive producer of the new show. "We're telling stories in a new way. We're not so much episodic. We're going to be telling stories like a novel," he told the Comic-Con audience. He didn't elaborate, but "non-episodic" series typically have story arcs which run across a whole season or even longer, unlike the previous five "Star Trek" shows, which were mainly made up of self-contained episodes. The new series, which begins filming in Toronto in September ahead of a premiere planned for January next year, will be the franchise's first new outing in more than a decade. The premiere will be broadcast on CBS's main channel, with the rest showing on subscription service CBS All Access in North America and Netflix -- with a delay of 24 hours -- in the rest of the world. The original "Star Trek" told the story of the flight crew aboard the USS Enterprise spaceship, which ventured around the galaxy exploring new worlds. It snowballed into a cultural phenomenon in the 1970s and 80s, making household names of the late Leonard Nimoy, who played the half-human, half-Vulcan "Mr Spock," and William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk. Shatner was joined onstage for the panel by other actors in the "Star Trek" canon, including Scott Bakula Michael Dorn and Jeri Ryan. Shatner described the "Star Trek" ethos as "the basis of law and order" and "the basis of civilization." "I think Star Trek in general has been about individual rights and about respecting everyone, no matter who or what the are," said Brett Spiner, who played the android Data in the "Star Trek: The next Generation" television and film series. "A lot of our politicians and our fellow citizens could take a page from 'Star Trek' and have a bit more respect for each other and for all of us," he added. Miss Earth Singapore winner Manuela Bruntraeger (second from right) with (from left) Miss Earth Singapore Air Toh Xin Pei, Miss Earth Singapore Water Shronn Tay and Miss Earth Singapore Fire Vanessa Rani. (Photo: Yahoo Singapore) Miss Earth Singapore winner Manuela Bruntraeger (second from right) with (from left) Miss Earth Singapore Air Toh Xin Pei, Miss Earth Singapore Water Shronn Tay and Miss Earth Singapore Fire Vanessa Rani. (Photo: Yahoo Singapore) Student Manuela Bruntraeger won the coveted title of Miss Earth Singapore 2016 at the pageants grand finals held on Saturday (24 July) evening at The British Club. The 23-year-old, who is currently pursuing an arts degree at the LASALLE College of the Arts, beat seven other contestants for the crown, and is now in the running to become Miss Earth 2016 in the international round in Manila on 15 October. The runner-ups, who received the titles for Miss Earth Singapore Air, Fire and Water, were contestants Shronn Tay, 22, Vanessa Rani, 21, and Toh Xin Pei, 22, respectively. Meanwhile, the Miss Photogenic, Miss Popularity, Best in Swimsuit and Miss Friendship (an award for the friendliest contestant) titles went to Ann Lopez, 18, Toh, Bruntraeger, and Janice Tay, 25, respectively. During the question-and-answer segment, the eight judges took turns to grill the contestants, mostly on the topic of saving the environment. The judges were PestBusters chief executive Thomas Fernandez, PengWine founder Chris Milliken, Lampe Berger CEO Simon Gay, Miss Earth Philippines 2012 Princess Lieza Manzon, The British Clubs head of activities and events Chris Olayres, Channel NewsAsia newscaster Timothy Goh, C.T. Hansen CEO Cheryl T. Hansen and Miss Earth Singapore 2007 winner Nicole Chen. Hansens question to Bruntraeger What makes you cry? was probably easiest of the night. If I see something thats worth the emotion, that touches me, itll make me cry, Bruntraeger replied. Milliken asked Janice Tay about what could be done to save the worlds endangered penguins. The PengWine founder has named his wines after the 17 species of penguin that exist today. Janice Tay cheekily replied with Stop drinking before breaking down into tears after Milliken urged her to be serious. Ill get some of the girls well brainstorm (and think of) something, she added, teary-eyed. The event, organised by C.T. Hansen, was the 10th Miss Earth Singapore pageant held in the Republic. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's government said on Sunday it was ready for further peace talks with the opposition and that it was intent on a political solution to the five-year conflict. "Syria ... is ready to continue the Syrian-Syrian dialogue without any preconditions ... and without foreign interference, with the support of the United Nations," state news agency SANA quoted an official in the foreign ministry as saying. The U.N. hopes to convene a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva in August, its Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said this week. Previous rounds of talks this year broke down as fighting escalated, particularly around Aleppo, where government forces recently cut off the only road into rebel-held areas of the divided northern city. The United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the conflict, are meanwhile to discuss an American proposal for closer military cooperation and intelligence sharing on Syria to combat extremist groups. Secretary of State John Kerry said this month that Washington and Damascus ally Moscow had reached a common understanding on the steps needed to get Syria's peace process back on track. (Reporting by John Davison, editing by Louise Heavens) By Andrea Shalal BERLIN (Reuters) - A 21-year-old Syrian refugee was arrested on Sunday after killing a pregnant woman with a machete in Germany, the fourth violent assault on civilians in western Europe in 10 days, though police said it did not appear linked to terrorism. The incident, however, may add to public unease surrounding Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door refugee policy that has seen over a million migrants enter Germany over the past year, many fleeing war in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. German police said they arrested the machete-wielding Syrian asylum-seeker after he killed a woman and injured two other people in the southwestern city of Reutlingen near Stuttgart. The Syrian had been involved in previous incidents causing injuries to others, and had apparently acted alone, a police spokesman said. "Given the current evidence, there is no indication that this was a terrorist attack," a police statement said. "The attacker was completely out of his mind. He even ran after a police car with his machete," the mass-circulation Bid newspaper quoted a witness as saying. A motorist knocked down the attacker soon afterward and he was then taken into custody by police, the witness told Bid. The police spokesman said the man was being interrogated after receiving medical treatment. Neither Sunday's attack nor a shooting rampage by an 18-year-old Iranian-German man that killed nine people in Munich on Friday bore any sign of connections with terrorism, police said. The Islamist militant Telegram channel, however, seized the moment to urge more "lone wolf" attacks. "Perhaps (any) small attack you do may add to the cause for the disbelieving (governments) to finally retreat from attack or oppressing Muslim lands," the group said in an online post, according to the SITE Intelligence Group monitoring organization. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for both a July 18 ax attack by a 17-year-old refugee that injured five people near Nuremburg in southern Germany, and a July 14 attack in which a Tunisian man drove a truck into Bastille Day holiday crowds in the French city of Nice, killing 84 people. MANY ATTACKS PRE-EMPTED IN GERMANY Unlike neighbors France and Belgium, Germany has not suffered a major deadly attack by Islamist militants in recent years, though security officials say they have thwarted a large number of plots. But opposition critics pin the blame for any violent attacks by migrants on Merkel's liberal refugee policy. A leader of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD)posted a Twitter message after the Munich shooting that said, "Merkel's unity party: thank you for the terror in Germany and Europe!" The message was later deleted. The gunman, identified by investigative sources as David Sonboly, opened fire near a busy shopping mall, killing nine people and wounding 35 more, before turning his pistol on himself as police approached several hours later. Bavarian state investigators said materials found in his home showed the gunman had begun plotting the attack a year ago after visiting the site of a 2009 school shooting in southwest Germany in which 15 people were killed. Munich police on Sunday arrested a 16-year-old Afghan youth as a possible "tacit accomplice" to the shooting and said he was suspected of having failed to report the gunman's plans. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, a member of Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, pledged to review both gun laws and security policies and seek improvements where needed. But De Maiziere, a strong advocate of increased video surveillance, said German gun laws were already very strict and it was critical to understand how the attacker had obtained his pistol. Bavarian state officials said on Sunday the Munich gunman bought his reactivated 9mm Glock 17 pistol - the most widely used law enforcement weapon worldwide - on the dark net, a part of the Internet accessible only via special software. German lawmaker Stephan Mayer, a spokesman for Merkel's conservatives in parliament, told Reuters he supported stricter regulations on the weapons trade and the creation of a European weapons registry modeled on the German national registry. Burkhard Lischka, a spokesman for the Social Democrats in parliament, told Die Welt newspaper: "We must put a spotlight on the dark net. We have to give our security agencies the staffing and financial resources to stop this illegal trade." The European Union is considering reforms that would tighten gun controls within the 28-nation bloc and make it easier to trace the origin of weapons bought legally. The proposed changes, which must still be enacted by EU member states, would also set more stringent rules for deactivating previously fully-functioning guns and making them available for sale. (Additional reporting by John Walcott in Washington, Markus Wacket and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Kizito Makoye KIKWEMBE, Tanzania (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - - Tatu Mtulya looks older than her age. Her sun-parched skin and the repairs to her well-worn dress say it all. She is poor. The 49-year-old single mother lives in a grass-thatched house with her four children in a village next to a highway in Tanzania's northern Muheza district. She is among thousands of women from families deemed extremely poor who have been singled out to receive cash handouts as part of the government's efforts to lift its citizens out of poverty. Mtulya spent her grant of 355,000 Tanzanian shillings ($160) to set up a small cafeteria selling homemade dishes of rice, meat, chicken and the local staple ugali so that she could earn a regular income. "Through my business I get a good income to help me pay for what my children need," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "On a good day I could get up to 30,000 Tanzanian shillings ($140 in profit a day." While she has now has a modicum of financial security, Mtulya, whose husband left her years ago, is still in her two-roomed shack that's prone to flooding. Her two daughters, aged 19 and 15, share a narrow bed in one of the rooms. Mtulya sleeps in the other room with her two sons aged 11 and 8. A dusty old mattress lies on the floor. Chicken droppings litter the floor and a hungry cat meows from afar. More than 6,000 families in Muheza - at the foot of northern Tanzania's Usambara Mountains - have received financial support to improve their livelihoods under the conditional cash transfer initiative run by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF). In the same village, six and eight-year-old girls Sakina and Zulfa were born out of wedlock and live with their grandmother, Tatu Mfanga, who could barely afford food and clothes for them, let alone send them to school. The frail-looking 63-year-old also qualified for a cash grant which helped her join a women's enterprise processing and packaging cassava. She can now cover her grandchildren's basic needs. "I'm glad my grandchildren are now going to school," she said. "Cassava flour is very marketable especially in Dar es Salaam, we package and sell many kilos every week." Family breakdown is a huge problem in Kikwembe village. Fathers often walk out on their partners and children to avoid the financial responsibilities, say village officials. CASH TRANSFERS Through TASAF, more than 6.6 million Tanzanians deemed to be extremely poor are likely to benefit from a cash transfer with $200 million in new World Bank funding, according to a statement from the bank issued in June. A 2013 World Bank report suggested that Tanzania cash transfer programme had proved to be a successful method for reducing income poverty, and women beneficiaries are more likely to prioritise the welfare of children. "As household incomes and livelihoods improve, they have been able to increase their consumption of education and health services which are crucial for their self-sustenance," Manuel Salazar, World Bank Lead Social Protection Specialist, said in a statement in June. In order to receive payments, targeted families have to abide by the conditions set by a locally-elected village committee, which monitors how the cash is spent. For those who fail to comply, the committee will decide on punishments - such as ordering the offender to fetch water for the village clinic for several days or undertake some construction work. An average of $200 per household is then given to families to enable them invest in small-scale income generating activities such as poultry businesses or vegetable farming. "Poor people often fail to meet their needs because they don't have cash, but once they get it they usually spend it wisely," Anne Masha, a senior economist in the Tanzanian ministry of finance told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She said cash grants could often be more effective than other traditional forms of aid such as food handouts because the process of transferring it to the recipient is faster and cheaper. BELOW THE POVERTY LINE Shadrack Mziray, TASAF's auditing manager in the Tanga region, said about 6,422 poor households in Muheza had benefited from the programme. "Our focus is to reach people who are extremely poor so that we can help them to gain skills on how to invest their money in income generating activities," he said. The programme targets people living below the poverty line of one dollar a day, which, according to Tanzania Bureau of Statistics data, includes 13.5 million people across the country. For those who benefit, the small grants can be life-changing. "I have set a target to save money and build a new house," said Mtulya. "With a roof made from iron sheets." ($1 = 2,184.0000 Tanzanian shillings) (Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit www.trust.org) BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two 8-year-old girls in Thailand have been charged for violating campaigning rules ahead of a contentious referendum next month after tearing voter lists off a wall because they liked the pink paper they were printed on, police said on Sunday. The military government has clamped down on dissent ahead of the Aug. 7 vote on a military-backed constitution that it says will ensure stability in a country rocked by political turmoil for more than a decade. The girls were charged with obstructing the referendum process and destroying public property after tearing down the lists posted outside a school, said Damrong Phetpong, police commander in the northern province of Kamphaeng Phet. "They confessed to tearing down the voter lists because they liked the color pink," Damrong told Reuters. He said they would not face punishment because they were so young. The referendum will be the first big test of the public's opinion of the military government since it came to power after a May 2014 coup. Critics, including major political parties, say the draft charter would give the military too much power over elected governments, and would not resolve differences between populist political forces and the military-dominated establishment. The government, which appears increasingly jittery ahead of the vote, has brought in a law banning discussion of the constitution and lobbying, both for and against, with a 10-year prison sentence for anyone who breaks it. (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Robert Birsel) (Photo: Getty Images) Stress. We all experience it at some point. The biting, nagging, foreboding feeling that puts us on high alert. The associated exhaustion, guilt and suffering. Stress can make us want to do things we wouldnt normally do like eat junk food, punch things, cry or scream. You may have heard some people say the phrase, It just makes me want to pull my hair out! in order to convey the severity of their stress. I know I used to say it a lot when I was younger. Little did I know the connotations of that phrase and that it would actually come to haunt me in my early 20s. Related: To the Woman on the Beach Who Thanked Me for Rocking a Bikini I have trichotillomania, and it literally makes me pull my hair out. It is a torturousimpulse control disorder, in which I actually lose control of my actions and pull hair from my eyebrow, eyelashes and scalp. The pulling sensation is preceded by extreme, unbearable tension; the pulling causes a release. I am very open about my diagnosis in my daily life but that does not mean I am at peace with it. As hard as I try, the seemingly harmless actions and words of others can actually be hurtful, especially when someone tells me they could just pull my hair out! (Photo: Sarah Smith) Related: What the Starbucks Barista Didnt Know When She Wrote Smile on My Coffee The phrase likely originates from people who observed those with trichotillomania or compulsive hair pulling, which has been reported as far back as ancient Greece. Repetitive use of a phrase within a society causes the phrases to be colloquially entrenched in culture. A phrase often becomes automatic or subconsciously related to expressing a certain emotion. Therefore, the problem isnt that the phrase pull my hair out is common. The problem is it is most often used by people who will actually never experience the traumatizing compulsive disorder that is trichotillomania. So please, the next time you hear yourself or anyone say it, remember how those words could affect someone around you. Trichotillomania isnt always a visible illness, but it still hurts. Help eliminate the culture of stigma and appropriation by thinking before you speak and teaching others to do the same. On behalf of the entire trichotillomania community, I thank you. Story continues Related: To the Couple in Line at CVS Who Saved My Life Without Knowing It If you truly do mean what you say and actually pull your hair out when faced with a stressful situation, please seek the help of a medical professional. No one should have to suffer in silence. By Sarah Smith More from The Mighty To the Strangers in Whole Foods Who Surrounded Me After News of My Fathers Suicide What Its Like to Have High-Functioning Anxiety When Youre in the Gray Area of Being Suicidal brides grab rush crowd bridezilla It hasn't been this tough to be in the housing market since the financial crisis. To recap the problem, the supply of housing, especially in the affordable entry-level segment, is not keeping up with huge demand from first-time buyers and existing homeowners looking to upgrade. Zillow's latest Real Estate Market Report released on Friday shows that homes are selling faster than they have at any time since 2010. In June, the median number of days a home stayed on the market was down to 78 eight fewer than the same time last year. "If you're looking for a home, be prepared to move quickly," said Svenja Gudell in a release on Friday. She noted the vicious cycle where even though rising home prices are attractive to sellers, homeowners looking to list do not put their houses on the market. They're concerned that they won't quickly find a new, affordable one or would have to enter a stressful bidding war in the buying process. And so, inventory remains limited. "Until the supply increases, it will remain a tough market to find a home," Gudell said. The markets with the biggest year-on-year change in time on the market in June included Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Charlotte, where the average period shrank by at least two weeks. 1 DOZ At the same time, there were 4.7% fewer homes for sale compared to a year ago. Combined with the high demand, this helped push Zillow's Home Value Index up by 5.4% year-on-year to $187,000. Listed on Thursday, deadline on Monday Redfin, another brokerage firm, said that in June 2016, the housing market was at its fastest and most competitive since 2009. Redfin on Thursday said the typical home went under contract in 41 days in June, the briefest period since they started counting in 2009. "Homes are listed on Thursday, with a deadline for offers on Monday," said Michelle Ackerman, a Redfin agent in Denver, which the firm identified as the nation's hottest market. "Many homes are technically under contract by Monday but that status is often not reflected in the MLS [a listing portal for brokers] until Tuesday." Story continues Redfin's chief economist, Nela Richardson, noted that the solution to this inventory crunch rests on how many willing sellers there are. Buyers are plenty, thanks to low mortgage rates and a healthy job market. "In an environment where one may have only a few days to decide to make an offer on a home, its critical that buyers and sellers enter the market prepared and with clear eyes, and to resist the temptation to settle for a home that may not suit their needs in the interest of just buying a place," Zillow's Gudell advised. NOW WATCH: Nobody wants to buy 50 Cent's massive $6 million mansion More From Business Insider More than 200 homes were evacuated due to the Sand Fire which began on the northbound side of the 14 Freeway near Sand Canyon Road on July 22. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that eight fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters are being used to fight the 11,000 acre fire, and that they were expecting more aircraft to help in their efforts on July 23. The Los Angeles Fire Department said that a five-year drought in the area has contributed to the severity of the fire, and that the fire has increased to 11,000 acres overnight. This video shows a timelapse of the fire spreading on the night of July 22 and morning of July 23. Credit: YouTube/Brian Eikenberry Kong: Skull Island, which just debuted its new trailer at the Warner Bros. Comic-Con panel on Saturday, is only the latest screen incarnation of the mammoth monster which first wreaked havoc in 1933s King Kong. So what makes this one different? Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and part of his cast, including Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, Corey Hawkins, and Jason Mitchell stopped by the Yahoo Movies Comic-Con studio, and we asked them to explain. Related: Massive King Kong Looms in Kong: Skull Island Comic-Con Trailer There is a giant ape involved spoiler alert! joked Goodman, about the 70s- set adventure that finds a group of explorers which also includes Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson encountering more than they bargained for on the title island. We didnt want to tell the beauty and the beast story over and over, said Vogt-Roberts. We wanted to tell a new story within this mythology. The director also talked about creating as many practical effects as possible to make sure Skull Island felt like a real, tangible place. A portion of filming took place in Vietnam, among other exotic locales These were not easy places to shoot, says Hiddleston. They were spectacular. Some of the most beautiful and remote places on earth. Added Hawkins: No pun intended or maybe all pun intended it was guerrilla filmmaking. Kong: Skull Island hits theaters on March 10, 2017. It's been a wild summer for Tom Hiddleston. In April, the English actor captured our attention with his role as former British soldier-turned undercover government spy in AMC's critically-acclaimed six-part series The Night Manager. The show went on to earn 12 Emmy nominations, which Hiddleston calls a genuine thrill. "Iam so proud of The Night Manager and the work everybody did in it and to see it nominated for 12 [Emmys]," Hiddleston told PEOPLE at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday. "To see Hugh Laurie nominated and Olivia Coleman and [director] Susanne Bier, itas really really thrilling. You never know when you make something when it is going to catch fire and people will receive it with the same passion in which it was made and it felt like that, so it's really exciting." In June, Hiddleston and Taylor Swift surprised nearly everyone when news broke of a budding new romance, which has included romantic dates around the globe and meetings with both sets of parents. Tom Hiddleston Talks His Summer in the Spotlight| San Diego Comic-Con, Taylor Swift, Tom Hiddleston And now this month, Hiddleston returned to his fan-loved role Loki for the beginning of production on Thor: Ragnarok in Australia, along with a San Diego Comic-Con appearance Saturday in support of his upcoming film, Kong: Skull Island. "Itas amazing to be back, amazing," he says. "I've only shot for about a week but itas so much fun, because I haven't played the character for three and a half years and the script is brilliant, [director] Taika Waititi ( What We Do In The Shadows) is brilliant. I've shot a couple of scenes and itas just the best fun. It is like seeing an old friend again." So how is Hiddleston handling all this new attention in several different areas? Related Video: Tom Hiddleston on His New Relationship with Taylor Swift: 'It's Not a Publicity Stunt,' Says the Actor "I don't know, it comes down to being authentic," he says. "Everything you do you have to make sure you truly believe in it and as long as you know that, it doesn't matter what anyone else says about it because the nature of being a public figure is that everyone will have an opinion about anything you do, and as long as you know why youave done something and you've committed to it with authenticity then you're okay. Kong: Skull Island hits theaters March 10, 2017. Thor: Ragnarok opens Nov. 3, 2017. hildren study at an experimental school on November 7, 2007 in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Students attending the school are supported financially by the 'Golden Phoenix' project, whereby local government allocates a $17.2 subsidy for every junior high school student living in the mountainous areas towards food, clothing, transportation and hot water costs, and provides each of them with free dormatory accommodation to enable them have equal chance of high quality school education in the city. The predominantly Asian approach to teaching mathematics in schools, called the "mastery approach," is spreading, largely due to the fact these countries are high-performers on international tests. For example, half of primary schools in England are getting 41 million (roughly $54 million) over the next four years to teach the method, according to the UK government. It's a vast departure for the UK, that, like the US, has embraced a different method for teaching math: the "mindset approach." The mastery approach is used predominantly in South Asia and is particularly prevalent in Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Under the mastery approach, students learn a specific concept before moving on to more complex ideas, in a rigidly linear progression, as Alexei Vernitski, a senior lecturer at the University of Essex, wrote for The Conversation. When using the mastery approach in Shanghai, students aren't broken into separate groups depending on their perceived intellectual abilities. Instead, students all perform the same work at the same time before mastering and advancing to the next concept together. By contrast, the mindset approach aims to teach students to have a more intuitive understanding of math concepts and starts with a broader concept before breaking down a math problem into the specific steps for solving. math class green chalkboard For example, "A mindset-approach teacher can introduce addition via joining two heaps of cardboard counters (or other props) together, explore properties of addition via activities, and only then break the process of adding numbers into procedural steps," Vernitski explained. The mastery-approach teaching model has been steadily gaining traction in the UK. In 2015, 30 teachers from Shanghai, China, were flown to the UK by the Department for Education to teach the mastery approach to English teachers. Story continues The Guardian detailed the experience that one London-based school, Fox School, had when Shanghai teacher Lilianjie Lu, brought the mastery approach into a classroom of 7- and 8-year-old students: "Lu begins by asking the children to read out the fractions on the screen. One child gives the answer 'a half' then the rest of the children repeat. Another child identifies a third, everyone repeats, a quarter, and so on." "At the end of this part of the lesson the children give themselves a clap not a boisterous round of applause with whoops and cheers, but five precise claps in a set rhythm. Then the children read the fractions out all over again before Lu moves on to how to write fractions." math The lessons taught in the mastery approach classroom were also much shorter than normal lessons in UK classrooms, with about 35 minutes of lesson time followed by 15 minutes of playtime, The Guardian reported. Theres a lot of chanting and recitation which to our English ears seems a bit formulaic, Ben McMullen, deputy head at Fox School, told The Guardian. But its a way of embedding that understanding. Additionally, a 2015 study of 140 schools in the UK by the UCL Institute of Education and Cambridge University found that the mastery approach improved the speed with which students learned math skills. Aside from data, the mastery approach has also had wide buy-in from other education experts in the UK. "Countries at the top of the table for attainment in mathematics education employ a mastery approach to teaching mathematics," Charlie Stripp, the director of the UK's National Center for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, wrote on the organization's website. "Teachers in these countries do not differentiate their maths teaching by restricting the mathematics that weaker children experience, whilst encouraging able children to get ahead through extension tasks," he continued. Stripp is likely referring to results of the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. The PISA exam is a worldwide study conducted every three years by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It measures 15-year-olds in 65 countries in math, science, and reading. The 2012 PISA results, the most recent data available (the 2015 results are due to be released in December 2016), show that Asian countries far outperformed the UK and US in mathematics. China broken into the distinctions of Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong and Singapore, swept the top four slots. The UK ranked 24th on the list, and the US came in at 35th. 2012 PISA Rankings But not all education professionals are sold on the mastery approach. Ruth Merttens, professor of primary education at University of St Mark and St John, thinks that pointing solely to the mastery approach as the reason for high achievement overlooks the idea that other factors may be at play. "We dont know what elements of Shanghais education produces good mathematics education," she wrote in The Guardian. "One thing to note, however, is that Chinese teachers have a five-year education training, specifically targeted at teaching primary children, whereas we have systematically cut the time we give to trainee teachers," she continued. Similarly, there are experts who say that Chinese students' successes on standardized testing shouldn't be heralded as evidence that Chinese students are more successful than students in other countries. For example, author Yong Zhao's book, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon?" takes a critical look at major flaws in China's education system. "Chinese education produces excellent test scores, a short-term outcome that can be achieved by rote memorization and hard work," writes Zhao, who grew up in China and taught there. "But like the Chinese government itself, it does not produce a citizenry of diverse, creative, and innovative talent." The Chinese educational system excels at transmitting a narrow amount of content and prescribed skills that its students must master, Zhao argues. Still, with mounting pressure for the US and UK to improve their standing on international math exams, the question of whether they should grow closer to the mastery approach will likely continue. NOW WATCH: Step inside Shanghai Disneyland the 3.8 billion park that just opened with Disney's largest castle More From Business Insider Lesbos (Greece) (AFP) - When a sea of humanity landed on their island's rocky shores last year, the people of Lesbos turned out with blankets and hot food to help thousands of refugees emerging from the cold waters of the Aegean. In the months that followed, Lesbos' citizens were hailed for their compassionate response by everyone from Pope Francis to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Queen Rania of Jordan and Angelina Jolie. But praise from such global luminaries has not helped restore the island's tourist trade, with many foreign visitors seemingly put off by the migrant influx. "We were bracing for a difficult season after the migrant crisis but it's even worse than we could imagine," said Marilena Gourgoutzi, staring at the empty tables in her restaurant in the normally bustling port village of Molyvos. Hotel operators say that only one in 10 rooms is occupied and tourism business is down 64 percent compared to last June, according to the local chamber of commerce. - 'Unfair' - "It's unfair," said chamber chairman Vangelis Myrsinias. "All those who thanked the inhabitants of Lesbos for lending a helping hand to the refugees should visit our island," he added. Over 800,000 refugees and migrants, mainly from war-torn Syria but also Iraq and Afghanistan, passed through Lesbos last year en route to northern Europe. Hotel owner Theodoros Vathis, 74, remembers days when 400 people would arrive at once, and he would help drive entire families to a registering centre in his van. "At the time there were no aid groups present, we were the ones to give them clothes and food," he said. A deal between the EU and Turkey in March drastically reduced the flow to a few dozen arrivals daily, but the damage was already done. Faced with Europe's greatest migration challenge since World War II, several EU countries opted to shut their borders to migrants early this year, trapping over 57,000 people in Greece. Story continues - Last year's footage - Images of beaches littered with discarded lifejackets and torn dinghies, though no longer accurate, continue to hurt the island's image, said Gourgoutzi, the restaurant owner. "Foreign clients tell me that certain news outlets are still showing last year's footage with drowned migrants, and dirty beaches which have now been cleaned up," she told AFP. Island mayor Spyros Galinos said that charter arrivals fell from 27 to just nine per week, and that despite crisis-management efforts, summer season arrivals were expected to drop to 80,000 from 120,000 previously on average. Instead of Germans, Britons and Dutch, Lesbos had hoped at least to fall back on visitors from neighbouring Turkey, even for short three-day trips. But the failed July 15 coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan changed that too. As Turkish authorities began a purge in search of the plotters, over 10,000 people have been detained, thousands more have had their jobs suspended, a state of emergency has been imposed and annual leave for civil servants has been cancelled. "Two weeks ago we were full of Turks for the end of Ramadan," said Gourgoutzi. "But after the recent events there has been a clear drop," she added. Jeweller Yiorgos Frangoulis last year offered a cut of his earnings to aid groups helping to bring succour to refugees. This year, he says he'll donate the money to organisations helping poor Greeks. "It's the fault of our government which allowed such a great number of migrants to arrive in Greece but at the same time increased taxes," says Vathis, the hotel owner. "And it's also the fault of journalists -- Greek and foreign -- who only broadcast images of misery from Lesbos," he says. The United States Embassy in Myanmar held a tear gas training exercise on Sunday night that sparked rumours of an explosion and brought emergency services to the scene, a police officer said. Speculation rippled across social media after fire trucks and ambulances were seen outside the embassy compound in Myanmar's largest city, but local officer Zaw Win told AFP "it was not a bomb explosion". "They were testing tear gas inside the practise grounds of their embassy. Gas came out onto the road in front of the embassy and some people smelled it and informed us," he said. No one was injured and the gas did not cause any damage to the embassy, he said. The embassy had apologised for not informing police of the test in advance, he added. While bombings were relatively common under the former junta that stepped down in 2011, such incidents have been rare in recent years. A series of small blasts rocked the country in October 2013 after they appeared to target tourist spots just as the emergent nation was experiencing a flood of foreign visitors following the end of military rule. A trans student is suing after being forced to wear an identifying armband to school A trans student is suing after being forced to wear an identifying armband to school The issue of trans bathroom usage is obviously one that has a lot of people talking recently. But weve learned that the Kenosha Unified School District in Wisconsin has taken it to another level by issuing a pretty disturbing request. Theyve asked asked its guidance counselors to give bright green wristbands to transgender students so that the school district could monitor these students bathroom usage. via GIPHY As a result, 16-year trans boy Ash Whitaker is suing his school district (with his mother Melissa acting as co-plaintiff) under the federal Title IX law (which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity). As the Daily Beast reports, the lawsuit states that after having come out to his family and a few close friends in the 8th grade, Ash revealed to his fellow students and teachers that he was trans his sophomore year of high school. He was subsequently informed by his administration that he would not be allowed to use the boys bathroom. Instead, he would either have to use the girls facilities, or an office restroom that (according to Ash in the filed complaint) was an unacceptable option because it was both far from most of his classes and because it would both segregate and stigmatize Ash. After a year of avoiding the bathroom and restricting his liquid intake (which led to health complications, including worsening migraines and fainting spells) and a number of uncomfortable situations, Ash begin using the boys bathroom his sophomore year. For a while this worked for Ash, and then the school authorities started cracking down, forcing Ash to choose between the girls bathroom or the office facilities, and then introducing the unsettling wristband program. via GIPHY Ash explains more about the issue in a statement issued by the Transgender Law Center (the group that co-filed Ashs lawsuit) Story continues My peers and many of my teachers know me as a boy, and have been incredibly supportive. But the school administrators have made my life miserable every school day since this spring, when they told me I could no longer use the boys restrooms, which Id been using with the support of my classmates for months. I worry about how Im going to navigate the demands of senior year if I cant even go to the bathroom without worrying that Im being watched. This type of discrimination, which would force a trans student to wear an identifying item for the express purpose of preventing him from using the bathroom of his gender choice is a whole new level of awful. We are rooting for Ash and proud hes making big changes in his hometown. Hes already won one major battle against his school district in order to run for Prom King (instead of Queen as they were forcing him to). We wish him total success in his new fight against trans discrimination. The post A trans student is suing after being forced to wear an identifying armband to school appeared first on HelloGiggles. Washington (AFP) - Toughening immigration checks for the French and Germans, questioning NATO obligations and hinting at an exit from the World Trade Organization: Donald Trump cast further doubt Sunday on US alliances and commitments around the world. In his first wide-ranging interview since he was crowned the Republican Party's White House nominee, the billionaire and political novice spelled out his stance on a slew of foreign policy, international trade and national security issues. If he wins in November, he told NBC's "Meet the Press," France and other nations hit by recent terror attacks would be subjected to "extreme" immigration checks as a deterrent to attacks on US soil. Trump recently shifted from calling for a ban on Muslims entering the United States to advocating freezing flows from what he calls countries "compromised by terrorism." "We have problems in Germany and we have problems in France," he said, arguing that in his view the French "have totally been" compromised by deadly Islamist attacks in Nice and last year in Paris. "And you know why? It's their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory." Asked about the risk his proposal could drastically limit the number of people allowed into the US, Trump said: "Maybe we get to that point," adding: "We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong." - 'WTO is a disaster' - Beyond questioning free travel from Europe to the United States, Trump put forward a vision of Europe as an economic competitor to be bested at all costs. Asked, in relation to the British vote to leave the European Union, whether a fractured Europe was good for America, Trump equivocated. "No, no -- but we're spending a lot of money in Europe," he said. "Don't forget, Europe got together, why primarily did they get together? To beat the United States when it comes to making money. In other words, on trade. Story continues "Look at Airbus," he said. "They got together, all of these countries got together so they could beat the United States. Okay?" Trump, who has already threatened to renegotiate or rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement, went on to suggest that the United States could pull out of the World Trade Organization under his presidency. In the interview, he put forward a plan for punitive import taxes of up to 30 percent on firms that move manufacturing activities abroad, citing NAFTA partner Mexico as an example. When show host Chuck Todd objected that such plans would be challenged at the WTO, he responded: "Doesn't matter. We'll renegotiate or pull out. These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster." Asked if he was concerned such actions could rattle the world economy -- much as the Brexit vote has done -- Trump was dismissive. "I'm the only one that said Brexit is going to happen," he said. "What did it do? The stock market is higher now than when it happened." - 'Taking advantage of us' - Trump doubled down on a recent warning that the US might not meet its mutual defense obligations in NATO under his presidency -- if he deemed that a member state was not pulling its weight financially. President Barack Obama weighed in, questioning Trump's readiness to be commander-in-chief in an interview on CBS. "Anybody who's been paying attention knows there is a big difference between challenging our European allies to keep up their defense spending, particularly at a time when Russia's been more aggressive, and saying to them, 'You know what? We might not abide by the central tenet of the most important alliance in the history of the world,'" Obama said. Pressed on the issue by Todd, Trump was unapologetic, repeating that he would make allies shoulder defense costs that the United States has borne for decades. "Now, a country gets invaded. They haven't paid. Everyone said 'Oh, but we have a treaty'." "We have countries within NATO taking advantage of us. With me, I believe they are going to pay," he said. "If they don't pay -- Chuck -- this isn't 40 years ago. This isn't 50 years ago. It's not 30 years ago. We're a different country today." Trump said his demands for a review of defense spending by US allies would go beyond NATO. "We take care of Japan. We take care of Germany and South Korea and Saudi Arabia and we lose on everything," he said. "We can no longer be the stupid country." Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian dissident Mohsen Marzouk opened a congress of his new party, rejecting religion in politics and vowing to be a force for change. Marzouk launched the Tounes Movement Project in March, basing his policies on those of independence leader Habib Bourguiba. More than 3,000 people attended Saturday's opening of the constitutional congress in Tunis, which will continue for the next two days in the northeastern town of Hammamet. "We are in total disagreement with all those who mix politics and religion," Marzouk said, referring to the Islamist Ennahda party, which controls the most seats in parliament. "The time has come to reform the country. We are the party of reform and we have decided to be a force for constructive plans," party founding member Mondher Belhaj Ali told AFP. Marzouk stepped down down as secretary general of Nidaa Tounes after a split with the president's son, Hafedh Caid Essebsi, over who should take over as leader. Tensions came to a head in October after accusations that Essebsi supporters wielding sticks had blocked rival party members from a meeting of its executive committee. The crisis saw 22 lawmakers leave Nidaa Tounes in January to form their own Al-Horra (The Free) bloc, making Ennahda the largest group in parliament. Nidaa Tounes now has only 64 MPs as against 69 for Ennahda. Nidaa Tounes was created in 2012 and included political personalities from the left and centre right, as well as officials from the former regime of toppled ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The political backbiting comes as Tunisia, the cradle of the Arab Spring, has been gripped by protests against poverty and unemployment in the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolution. (Adds EU's Moscovici confirming Turkey ambition) CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - Turkey wanted the final communique of the world's financial leaders meeting in China this weekend to include an endorsement of the current government after the failed coup attempt last week, but did not succeed, G20 officials said. Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, attending the meeting, denied Ankara had sought such a reference, tweeting: "We have no such initiative." But European Commissioner for Economic Affairs confirmed on Sunday that Turkey had sought such a mention. "It is true that Turkey wanted a line on that, that was debated in the drafting sessions but the minister, after talking to a few of us, estimated that it was wiser not to raise this issue in the G20 session itself. That was wise," Moscovici told a news conference. Finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 of the world's biggest economies (G20) met in the Chinese city of Chengdu to discuss, among others, risks to the global economic outlook, clouded by Britain's decision to leave the European Union. The Turkish government, which introduced a state of emergency on Wednesday after the failed coup and is considering bringing back the death penalty for the plotters, wanted the final communique of the G20, closely watched by markets, to include a paragraph on Turkey. "Strengthening the rule of law is fundamental for sustainable development and we support the legitimate government of Turkey in its endeavours to enhance economic stability and prosperity," the additional paragraph of the G20 was to say. Officials from European Union countries, however, did not support that and the final communique did not mention Turkey. Western countries backed Turkey's government during last week's failed putsch, but are increasingly worried about Ankara's subsequent crackdown against thousands of members of the security forces, judiciary, civil service and academia. The possibility of Turkey bringing back capital punishment for the plotters has put further strain on Ankara's relationship with the EU, which Turkey seeks to join but which demands candidates forego the death penalty. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Additional reporting by Gareth Jones in Istanbul; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Istanbul (AFP) - Many thousands of Turks massed Sunday for the first cross-party rally to condemn the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid a purge of suspected state enemies. Istanbul's Taksim square was transformed into a red sea of national flags as Erdogan's ruling Islamic-conservatives and the opposition secular camps briefly set aside their differences in a show of national unity. But in stark contrast to the broadly celebratory mood in Istanbul, human rights group Amnesty International in London claimed it had "credible evidence" of the beating and torture of post-coup detainees. The official number of those in custody since the July 15 putsch has surged above 13,000 soldiers, police, justice officials and civilians in a wave of arrests that has alarmed NATO allies and European leaders. Despite the high tensions since the coup attempt, the mood at the Istanbul rally was strongly patriotic. "We defend the republic and democracy" read one sign in the vast crowd, while others declared "Sovereignty belongs to the people alone" and "No to the coup, yes to democracy!" - 'Turkey stood proudly' - A few banners also protested the post-coup state of emergency, with one proclaiming "No to the coup, no to dictatorship". The mass event was called by the biggest opposition group, the secular and centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP), many of whose members carried pictures of modern Turkey's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Its leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu told the crowd that, amid all the turmoil, "the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, lawmakers stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!" But he also stressed that now "the state should not be governed by anger and revenge". "The culprits of the putsch should be tried lawfully," he said, warning that torture and ill-treatment would put the state on par with the putschists. Story continues In London, Amnesty charged that the government was already using such methods, citing interviews conducted with lawyers, doctors and one person on duty in a detention facility. Amnesty claimed it had "credible evidence" some detainees were being "subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, in official and unofficial detention centres in the country". The group said it had received reports that detainees were being denied food, water and medical treatment and being held in "stress positions" for up to 48 hours. "Turkey is understandably concerned with public security at the moment, but no circumstances can ever justify torture and other ill-treatment or arbitrary detention," said Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen. He urged the Turkish authorities to stop "these abhorrent practices" and allow international monitors into detention centres. - 'In cold blood' - In Ankara, a senior official denied Amnesty's claims, saying: "The idea that Turkey, a country seeking European Union membership, would not respect the law is absurd". "We categorically deny the allegations and encourage advocacy groups to provide an unbiased account of the legal steps that are being taken against people who murdered nearly 250 civilians in cold blood." Turkey has undergone a seismic shift since the night of violence when renegade soldiers sought to topple Erdogan but were stopped by crowds of civilians and loyalist security forces. In the latest reaction, Yildirim said Turkey would disband Erdogan's 2,500-strong Presidential Guard, almost 300 of whose members have been detained. Under new emergency powers, they can be held without charge for 30 days. Erdogan's government has also sacked thousands of teachers, professors and civil servants and closed schools and universities. Also detained in the sweep was Halis Hanci, an alleged senior aide to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen -- the reclusive spiritual leader whom Turkey accuses of having orchestrated the plot to overthrow Erdogan. The preacher, who lives in a compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. By Gareth Jones and Ercan Gurses ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup. Turkish authorities also detained a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, the Anadolu state news agency reported. A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days. The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed. His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the northeastern city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported. Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a terrorist organisation, the agency said. It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the failed coup. Turkey has also captured a key aide to Gulen, a presidency official said. Halis Hanci, described as the cleric's right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters. Hasan Karakus, the pilot who bombed the special forces command in Ankara and killed 42 police officers, was also caught in Turkey, said the official. Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticised a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party. Banners were hung on road bridges, subways and advertising boards around Istanbul with the words "Hakimiyet Milletindir" (The People Rule). Public buses and some private cars were adorned with red Turkish flags. Public transport in Istanbul has been free since Erdogan called people to the streets and will continue to be so until Sunday, when the main opposition CHP is staging a "democracy rally" in Istanbul's central Taksim square, to which it has also invited supporters of the ruling AK Party, to condemn the coup attempt. Turkey does not plan to extend emergency rule beyond a period of three months following the failed coup, but will do so if necessary, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. "Our goal is that it shouldn't be extended, but if the need arises it may of course be extended," he said in an interview with the ATV television station. Yildirim said only a few people who took part in the coup attempt remain at large -- a group of around 15 who attacked a hotel Erdogan was staying at in the resort of Marmaris and some who went to Greece. Turkey plans to dismantle the special presidential guard, he added. In his decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan also extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this would facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt. Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood". Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government's control. Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting - which usually takes place every August - will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff. Erdogan, a popular but polarising figure who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday, saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup. The emergency allows Erdogan and the AK Party government, who are mildly Islamist, to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. PURGES Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations. For a factbox on Gulen and his movement click The first decree signed by Erdogan authorises the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said. Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simply majority, which the government has. In an address to parliament late on Friday, Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist "terrorist" movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters. More rallies were planned over the weekend in many towns and cities. In Istanbul, Turkey's commercial capital, authorities have allowed people to travel for free on the metro system so they can more easily attend the rallies. Video screens on trains show pictures of citizens, or "martyrs", killed in the violence. Cars and mini-buses honking their horns drive around the streets until late in the night carrying flag-waving supporters of Erdogan shouting patriotic or religious slogans. On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV that Turkey expected to complete within 10 days a dossier requesting Gulen's extradition from the United States. Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the failed coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure his extradition. The United States has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen's involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say that process could take many years. After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week. In Ankara, the minister for European Union affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turks since the coup attempt. "We are very surprised that our allies have not come to Turkey to visit even after one week has passed," Omer Celik told reporters. (Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Istanbul; writing by Gareth Jones; editing by Mark Heinrich and Adrian Croft) Late Rajesh Khanna enjoyed the stardom in Bollywood in the 70s like no other actor would have dreamt of. The King of Romance had delivered back-to-back hits, enjoying immense fan-following and love and adulation from all quarters. However, actor Naseeruddin Shah feels otherwise, blaming that late Rajesh Khanna introduced mediocrity in Hindi films in the 1970s! Recommended Read: Solid partnership of friendship: KJo on uniting with Farhan, Ritesh In an interview with a popular daily, Naseer quoted, It was the 70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. Thats when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success, I think Mr Khanna was a very limited actor. In fact, he was a poor actor. Intellectually, he wasnt the most alert person I have ever met. His taste ruled the industry. Rajesh Khannas daughter, Twinkle, an active columnist, didnt take lightly to this remark and blasted Naseeruddin on Twitter with a terse reply. She posted - "Sir if u cant respect the living ,respect the dead-mediocrity is attacking a man who cant respond @NaseerudinShah Standing in Twinkles support was good friend and filmmaker, Karan Johar, who also tweeted, I agree with you @mrsfunnybonesdue respect to seniority but this was in exceptionally bad taste and not becoming of a fraternity member. What do you think of Naseer-Twinkles take on this? CHENGDU, China (Reuters) - The United States and China discussed the importance of working together to negotiate new international guidelines governing the provision of export credits and on addressing global excess industrial capacity, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said. Lew made the comments during a meeting with Chinese Minister of Finance Lou Jiwei on the sidelines of a G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in China, according to a statement issued by the Treasury on Sunday. Lew also expressed support for multilateral initiatives to discuss steel excess capacity and structural adjustment, the statement said. The two finance ministers also discussed the importance of China implementing its ambitious structural reform agenda to rebalance the Chinese economy toward household consumption and services. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Britain's finance minister warned Brexit would cast a "shadow" over the world economy but said he was eyeing a free trade deal with China in interviews with the BBC and Sky News on Sunday. Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 meeting of leading world economies in Chengdu, China, Philip Hammond told Sky that the vote to leave the EU was "not the only shadow the world economy faces". "There is going to be uncertainty about the outcome hanging over the world economic outlook for perhaps the next couple of years," Hammond said. "At the same time there are very exciting opportunities opening up with China, with Australia, with India, and with many other countries" once Britain has withdrawn from the EU, he said. Asked by the BBC if he could envisage a free trade deal with China, he said: "Definitely I could see such a thing." "We already have a strategic partnership with China... Once we are out of the European Union then I have no doubt on both sides we will want to cement that relationship into a firmer structure in a bilateral way," he said. G20 finance ministers on Sunday said the Brexit vote heightened risks for the world economy and vowed to use "all policy tools" to boost growth. China President Xi Jinping before the referendum had said that he hoped Britain would remain in the 28-nation bloc to promote the "deepening development of China-EU ties." Senior figures from some of Britain's biggest financial services companies, including HSBC, Virgin Money, the London Stock Exchange and Standard Life were travelling with Hammond. Prime Minister Theresa May also discussed a trade deal with Australia in a phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier this month. Foreign Office junior minister Alok Sharma was also travelling to India on Monday on his first visit since his appointment. "Britain is open for business and thriving on the world stage. We want the strongest possible relationship with India," Sharma said. CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - British finance minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday that uncertainty about how the country will leave the European Union could be eased later this year once the negotiating positions of both sides become clearer. "What will start to reduce uncertainty is when we are able to set out more clearly the kind of arrangement we envisage going forward with the European Union," Hammond told reporters at the end of the meeting of top finance officials from the Group of 20 economies. "If our European Union partners respond to such a vision positively - obviously it will be subject to negotiation - so that there is a sense perhaps later this year that we are all on the same page in terms of where we expect to be going. I think that will send a reassuring signal to the business community and to markets," he said. The shock decision by British voters in a referendum to leave the EU has featured heavily in the G20 meetings in Chengdu on Saturday and Sunday. Officials from many countries have said they want more clarity on how the Brexit process will unfold. (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) * Britain comes under pressure at G20 to give Brexit clarity * Hammond says UK needs time to come up with strategy * Greater clarity on way forward possible by year end * EU economics chief says don't delay too long (Adds Hammond comments, EU's Moscovici, background) By William Schomberg CHENGDU, China, July 24 (Reuters) - Britain's new finance minister Philip Hammond, under pressure from his peers from around the world, said on Sunday there could be more clarity later this year on how the country will exit the European Union. Several nations called on Britain during weekend talks on the world economy to explain how the politically fraught Brexit process will unfold in order to avoid adding a new drag on the long and slow recovery from the financial crisis. "It's right at the top of the agenda here at the G20," Hammond said at the end of the two-day meeting of the Group of 20 leading economies in the Chinese city of Chengdu. "It's a new factor affecting the global economic outlook and it has increased the uncertainty which the world economy faces." Britain was plunged into its biggest political crisis in decades by the June 23 Brexit vote and so far it has resisted calls from some other EU countries to trigger quickly the two-year process for negotiating its exit from the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May, who has been in her job for less than two weeks, traveled to Germany and France last week to explain why she needed time to come up with an exit strategy. The EU's top economic official, Pierre Moscovici, said the bloc understood that Britain should not be rushed but "at the same time...let's not waste time, let's not have too much uncertainty, let's act and choose as swiftly as possible." Hammond told reporters on Sunday the two-year negotiating period, once launched, represented "quite a tight timescale" and Britain needed to go into it with clear objectives. "We have to do that before the start of the process because when we serve that notice, we need to hit the ground running," he said. Story continues But Hammond also showed he was aware of the need for some clarity on Brexit: "What will start to reduce uncertainty is when we are able to set out more clearly the kind of arrangement we envisage going forward with the European Union." "If our European Union partners respond to such a vision positively - obviously it will be subject to negotiation - so that there is a sense perhaps later this year that we are all on the same page in terms of where we expect to be going, I think that will send a reassuring signal to the business community and to markets," Hammond said. May has said she does not plan to launch the formal negotiation period this year. It remains to be seen if other EU countries would enter informal talks with Britain before the formal negotiations, something they have previously ruled out. GOVT, BANK OF ENGLAND HAVE TO BE READY Financial markets have stabilised after the initial shock of the referendum result which saw the value of the pound plunge by more than 10 percent and trillions of dollars wiped off stock markets worldwide. But economists are expecting Britain to fall into a recession, according to a Reuters poll. Hammond said he did not think that a survey of British businesses published on Friday, which showed the sharpest fall on record in a purchasing managers index, was a sign that the economy was in already in a recession. "What it does is underscore the hit to confidence," he said. Hammond warned that Brexit-related volatility in markets would be a risk throughout the two-year negotiation period. "We have to be ready as government, the Bank of England has to be ready as monetary authority, throughout that period to respond to any instability created by that uncertainty and to ensure that the economy continues to operate smoothly," he said. The BoE is expected to cut interest rates and possibly announce more stimulus measures on Aug. 4. Hammond has said he could ease fiscal policy in the autumn if more help is needed. Asked about a comment he made on Friday, that he might "reset" fiscal policy to cope with the Brexit fallout, Hammond said Britain's still high levels of debt meant it needed a new framework on its public finances to give clarity to markets. "What that framework will look like will depend on the decisions we make about whether or not any fiscal stimulus is required on the basis of the data we will by then have available," he said. (Additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Raissa Kasolowsky) The US Coast Guard rescued two men in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, July 23, after they had been missing for hours. Karl Shram and Chris Bergeron, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, were rescued 125 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas. Shram was treated for dehydration after the rescue. The two men sent a distress call via a satellite phone at about 10:30 am and told the Coast Guard their boat was sinking quickly and planned to swim to a nearby oil rig, the Coast Guard said in a press release. After several hours, the two men were able to contact family via the satellite phone and set off a satellite-based distress beacon, which helped direct the guardsmen to their location at 6:28 pm. A helicopter crew dropped a a rescue swimmer to help the men dewater the sinking boat, and the guardsman stayed with the men until a Coast Guard boat arrived at 7:15 pm. Bergeron stayed with the board while Shram was taken to be treated for dehydration. Bergeron and the guardsmen were able to get the flooding under control. The boat was escorted by the US Coast Guard toward Cameron, Louisiana. Credit: US Coast Guard Washington (AFP) - Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady admitted being part of a cocaine smuggling scheme in a US sting operation before their arrest last year, according to recently filed court documents. Details of the alleged confessions by Efrain Antonio Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freita were recounted in documents US prosecutors filed Friday in the US federal court in Manhattan. The two -- sons of brothers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife Cilia Flores -- were arrested in Haiti in November 2015 and flown to New York by US Drug Enforcement Administration agents. The pair are accused of plotting to smuggle at least five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine into the United States. They were also accused of taking part in meetings to plan a shipment of cocaine to the United States via Honduras. The newly released court documents show how Campo and Flores and others worked together to try to send hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to Honduras so that the drugs could be imported into the United States. The drugs were purportedly to be bought by Mexican drug traffickers, who were in fact sources acting under instruction from the DEA. During recorded meetings in Venezuela, Honduras, and Haiti, the defendants discussed transporting multiple loads of cocaine via private aircraft, the papers said. The defendants understood that the narcotics would end up in the US in transactions "that they hoped would generate millions of dollars in proceeds." US officials believe much of the cocaine produced in Colombia passes through Venezuela before being transported to the United States and Europe. During an October meeting with DEA sources, Campo described connections to the Venezuelan government and later stated, "we're at war with the United States... with Colombia... with the opposition," according to the documents. The defendants, rather than the DEA, initiated the drug trafficking activities at issue in the case, prosecutors said. Story continues The two men were arrested in Haiti at the request of the DEA, and taken into custody by the agency. During the November 10 flight to the US, Campo and Flores waived their rights to remain silent "and confessed to participating in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States," the papers said. The Spanish-speaking defendants have argued that their post-arrest statements were involuntary and the result of an impermissible interrogation because they did not fully understand their US rights. Campo and Flores are scheduled to stand trial on the charges on November 7. If convicted they face up to life in prison. They have pleaded not guilty. By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two nephews of Venezuela's first lady, who face charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, confessed to U.S. agents after being arrested in November to being involved in the drug scheme, newly-filed court records state. Details of the confessions by Franqui Francisco Flores de Freitas, 30, and Efrain Antonio Campo Flores, 29, were contained in documents U.S. prosecutors filed late on Friday in a Manhattan federal court. The papers include summaries of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration interviews conducted on a Nov. 10 flight to New York from Haiti, where authorities had arrested the two nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores. The summaries were filed as exhibits to a motion by prosecutors opposing a bid by the men to have their post-arrest statements suppressed on the grounds that they did not fully understand their rights under U.S. law to remain silent. Both men have been held without bail since their November arrest and indictment for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. According to the DEA records, Campo Flores said they planned to get the cocaine from an individual who was in turn supplied by the Colombian paramilitary group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Asked why he got involved in the deal, Flores de Freitas said: "To make money." Specifically, he expected the first load to make $5 million, earning him $560,000, the records state. Prosecutors said the pair had hoped a series of drug shipments they would be involved in would generate $20 million. A lawyer for Campo Flores declined comment, while a lawyer for Flores de Freitas did not respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors accuse the nephews of working with others to try to send 800 kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to Honduras so that the drug could be imported into the United States. The case is one of a series of enforcement actions and investigations by U.S. authorities which have linked individuals connected to the Venezuelan government to drug trafficking. The nephews' case has been an embarrassment for Maduro, who is embattled by a political and economic crisis in Venezuela. In Friday's motion, prosecutors said recorded conversations involving the cousins before their arrests suggested they lived lavishly in Venezuela. Campo Flores was recorded saying he owned Ferraris, and that "ever since we started making money we've been flashy". But according to court records, Campo Flores told the DEA he did not have even $10,000 to his name and earned just $800 per week through taxis he owned in Panama. (Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Eric Meijer) (Adds background) July 24 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc will announce an agreement on Monday to buy Yahoo Inc for about $5 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. The announcement will come before the start of New York trading hours, the source added. The deal will end months of uncertainty about Yahoo's future after the company announced plans to review strategic alternatives in February. Yahoo and Verizon both declined to comment. Bloomberg first reported the deal would be announced on Monday for $4.8 billion. Reuters reported on Friday that Verizon had emerged as the front-runner in the Yahoo auction. The transaction would boost Verizon's AOL internet business, which the company acquired last year for $4.4 billion, by giving it access to Yahoo's advertising technology tools, as well as other assets such as search, mail, messenger and real estate. It would also mark the end of Yahoo as an operating company, leaving it only as the owner of a 35.5 percent stake in Yahoo Japan, as well as its 15 percent interest in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N). Started in 1994 by Stanford graduate students Jerry Yang and David Filo, Yahoo in its early years was the destination of choice for many making their first forays onto the World Wide Web. By 2008, Yahoo was fending off a contentious takeover bid from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and struggling to define its mission. That question was never really answered, leading to years of management instability and shifting priorities. In December, Yahoo scrapped plans to spin off its Alibaba stake after investors fretted over whether that transaction could have been carried out on a tax-free basis. It instead decided to explore a sale of its core assets, spurred on by activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP. (Reporting by Liana Baker in San Francisco and Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Peter Cooney) Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's war veterans' surprise attack on President Robert Mugabe signals the "beginning of the end" for the long-time leader, already buckling under pressure from a restive population angry over worsening economic woes. In a rare public rebuke to the world's oldest president, war veterans decried Mugabe's "dictatorial tendencies" and vowed to withdraw their support if he seeks re-election in 2018. "This is the beginning of the end for Mugabe," said Takavafira Zhou, a political scientist from Masvingo State University. "The war veterans have realised Mugabe is sinking and with him his regime. They don't want to sink with the ship," said Zhou. For decades, the war veterans who fought in the 1972-1979 war of independence have propped up Mugabe as the "heart and soul" and "foot soldiers" of the ruling Zanu-PF party, said analyst Charles Laurie of London-based risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. But during a meeting last week, the war veterans said their relationship with Mugabe, 92, was seriously damaged. "The relationship between us as war veterans and the president has broken down. He and the party do not like us anymore," the war veterans' political commissar Francis Nhando said. The ruling party this week launched a project to reward party loyalists with housing plots, but excluded war veterans who over the years were given first priority in party and government projects. "We very angry with what the president is doing," Beta Guvheya, a war veteran, told AFP. "There is no money in this country not because the country is poor... but we don't have a manager," said Guvheya. "That is the reason we are saying Mugabe must go. Mugabe is not going to win an election. No one is interested in Mugabe's government now." Former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda said: "We have reached rock bottom. People are angry." Story continues Sibanda who was expelled from Zanu-PF party for warning over the excessive influence of Mugabe's wife Grace, said the country's leadership "has lost touch with reality". - 'People are angry' - "By withdrawing support for Mugabe, the war veterans have dealt a serious blow to the embattled dictator," said Laurie, adding that their "proclamation seems to mark a decisive break with Zanu-PF". Editor of the privately-owned Zimbabwe Independent Dumisani Muleya said the country was in unchartered territory. "The war veterans' historic stand against Mugabe could be Zimbabwe's political decisive moment. It might be a turning point of epoch-making proportions," Muleya said. Muleya warned that if the war veterans joined forces with the national resistance movement driven by civic groups, churches and opposition parties, Mugabe "could soon face his Waterloo". The country has in recent weeks been hit by protests including a mass strike called by an evangelical pastor Evan Mawarire, which shut business earlier this month. "I am glad everyone is standing up" (against Mugabe), said Sibanda. Authorities in Zimbabwe on Saturday denounced the war veterans' statement as "treasonable" and "traitorous" and said they were investigating its origin and threatened to prosecute the authors. Starting in 2000, the war veterans led seizures of white-owned commercial farms in what Mugabe said was a reversal of imbalances from the colonial era. Their statement came in the wake of a surge of public anger against Mugabe, triggered by an economic crisis that has left banks short of cash and the government struggling to pay its workers. Mugabe's party is split between his wife Grace and vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa as Mugabe's possible successors. As the 2016 Democratic National Convention kicks off, Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as DNC chair under pressure after a massive cache of leaked internal emails suggested the party was siding with Hillary Clinton in the primaries. The 49-year-old South Florida congresswoman came under withering scrutiny in the middle of a growing controversy over the trove of hacked emails exposed by WikiLeaks. The leak raised questions over the DNC's impartiality as Clinton was locked in a tense primary battle with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders . The exposed missives showed DNC staffers collaborating with Clinton even as they attempted to undermine Sanders' presidential bid, which began as quixotic but gathered momentum. Wasserman Schulz, an 11-year congressional veteran, will step down after the Democrats conclude their convention at the end of the week. DNC vice chair Donna Brazile, a political vet who ran Al Gore's 2000 White House bid, will serve as interim chair until a permanent replacement is selected, the party organization said. "I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for America's future," Wasserman Schultz said in her resignation statement Sunday. "I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory." Earlier in the day, CNN reported that Wasserman Schultz would not preside over the convention based on a decision made by Democratic officials who were trying to contain the fallout from the scandal. "She's been quarantined," an unnamed senior Democrat told CNN on Sunday about Wasserman Schultz. Wasserman said she would assume her ceremonial duties of opening and closing the event, as well as speaking to the delegates. "We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats," she said. "I am proud of my role in leading these efforts. Story continues Yet with the WikiLeaks controversy swirling, it raised the possibility that Sanders supporters might not be assuaged by the resignation. Many of his backers felt the DNC unfairly favored Clinton in the primary, and Sanders himself was a fierce critic of the congresswoman. In a statement after her resignation, Sanders called on the party to promote "new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. "The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race," he added. The emails show DNC staffers disparaging the Sanders' campaign, as well as the candidate himself. The senator has been a sharp critic of Wasserman Schulz, whom he accused of favoring Clinton's candidacy from the outset. In a statement, President Barack Obama said Wasserman Schultz played a "critical role in supporting our economic recovery, our fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans," he said. He called her a "dear friend." Clinton also referred to the congresswoman as a friend. Wasserman Schultz is facing re-election in November, and the presumptive Democratic nominee said she would back Wasserman in that effort. "I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people," Clinton said. More From CNBC By Alex Stedman Alden Ehrenreich is officially the new Han Solo, having nabbed the role for the upcoming Star Wars anthology film. But the casting process wasnt easy, and he apparently had to beat out some seriously A-list stars to score the highly coveted role. In a clip TBSs Conan aired this weekend, Melissa McCarthy, Bill Hader, Will Arnett, Jeff Goldblum, Adam Sandler, 50 Cent, Jodie Foster and Silicon Valleys Thomas Middleditch and Kumail Nanjiani put on the famous smugglers vest and try to become a part of the franchise. Though McCarthy certainly brings conviction to her audition, the wigged Ghostbusters star confuses Star Wars for the Harry Potter franchise, and isnt quite sure was a parsec is, confusing it for parsnips. Parsnips is funnier, she assures the casting director. No one knows what a parsec is. Hader, who kicks off the clip, tries to take a different approach to the Han Solo character. Hes young, right? he asks before launching into his best angsty teenager impression. I wanna do the Kessel Run in 16 parsecs, Mom! Sandler channels his Billy Madison character in his audition, and Goldblum is at peak Goldblum as he vies for the role. If I get the part, Ill research believe you me what all that means so I can give it a little more credibility, he says. Watch all the auditions above. Related stories Mattel Reports Ghostbusters Toy Sales Have 'Exceeded Expectations (EXCLUSIVE) Was 'Ghostbusters Too Expensive to Launch a New Franchise? Melissa McCarthys 'Life of the Party Coming to Theaters in 2018 Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter A congressional report says the Chinese government likely illegally entered computers of an American federal agency. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, supervises banks. The report says employees of the agency hid news about the computer attacks -- which took place in 2010, 2011 and 2013 -- to protect the head of the agency. The report noted that an FDIC investigation said the Chinese government was probably responsible for the attacks. Congressional investigators said the attacks were hidden to protect Martin Gruenberg, who was named to lead the agency in 2011. Lamar Smith is a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Texas. He is the chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He said the committees report shows weaknesses in the FDICs computer security efforts. He also called the FDICs reported attempt to escape congressional supervision a serious offense. He said there is a culture of concealment at the FDIC. There is growing concern about the openness of the international banking system to computer criminals. The attack of the FDIC computers could be an indication of how deeply China has illegally entered U.S. government computer networks. However, the congressional report did not give evidence that China was responsible. Shane Shook is a computer security expert. He has investigated some of the attacks on U.S. government computers. He said the congressional report did not persuade him that the Chinese government hacked the FDIC. As with all government agencies, there are management issues stemming from leadership ignorance of technology oversight, Shook said. In Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said China opposes hacking and has taken actions against computer criminals. People should provide evidence for their accusations, he said. He told reporters the U.S. governments accusations against China were extremely irresponsible. The FDIC holds secret information about the countrys largest banks and its customers. The FDIC did not answer press questions about the report. But on Thursday, Gruenberg admitted to members of the committee that the agency had failed to protect important banking information. He said the agencys computer security plans did not work. In Gruenbergs words, this is a serious matter that must be addressed so that it does not happen again. The U.S. has accused China of hacking several federal agencies. In one incident, American officials say, China stole more than 21 million computer records about former and current federal employees. In May, the news media began reporting that a foreign government may have illegally entered the FDICs computer systems. Some lawmakers said at the time that China was a suspect. In 2013 the FDICs top independent investigator identified China as the likely suspect. The new congressional report is the first public release of information about that finding. The congressional report says even the former Chairwomans computer had been hacked by a foreign government -- likely the Chinese. Sheila Bair led the agency from 2006 until 2011, when Gruenberg was named temporary chairman. The report says criminals illegally entered 12 FDIC computers. They include those of the former top assistant to the agencys chairman and the agencys former top lawyer. The congressional report also said 10 servers were hacked. Other reports say many more computers were illegally entered and the information of individual bank customers was stolen. A witness told congressional investigators that a top FDIC official told workers not to report the hack to protect Gruenbergs chances of being confirmed as chairman of the agency. On Thursday, Gruenberg told members of Congress that he did not know about any possible efforts to cover up reports about the hacks. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. Reuters reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story indication n. something (such as a sign or signal) that points out or shows something conceal v. to keep (something) secret hack v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage, etc. stem from phrasal verb to be caused by (something or someone); to come from (something or someone) Marvel announced Saturday night at Comic-Con that Brie Larson will take on the role of Captain Marvel in Marvel Studios first female-led superhero film. Captain Marvel doesnt hit theaters until 2019, but fans at Comic-Con greeted the news that the Room actress would be taking on the role with cheers. And with good reason: Brie Larson will make a fantastic Captain Marvel. She even got Captain America actor Chris Evans seal of approval. For the uninitiated, Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, is a fighter pilot with alien DNA. She can fly and shoot beams out of her hands. A control freak, she has the swagger of Chuck Yeager and the wise-cracking tendencies of Tony Stark. In the comics, she works with both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, which means she just might be the linchpin to the Marvel universe when those two teams eventually have to come together to battle one big enemy. (Read a full explainer of Captain Marvels origin and powers here.) Brie Larsons roles in Trainwreck and 21 Jump Street often had her playing the straight woman to comedians like Amy Schumer or Jonah Hill. But they did prove she can snark with the best of them. Shell be able to hold her own among, say, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Pratt. Room and indie film Short Term 12 demonstrated the emotional depth she can bring to a character, an essential trait for Marvels films that strike a careful balance between drama and fun. As far as the physical side of things, Larson said she put on 15 pounds of muscle training for Room, and she recently filmed Kong: Skull Island, where as a war photographer, she had to wrangle with the wild terrain of Vietnam and Australia and master the run-away-from-a-giant-ape sprint. Perhaps most important, Larsons rapid ascent to stardom suggests that she can handle the pressure that comes with this role. In an age where about three superhero films are made a year, its been over a decade since a major studio has produced a female-led superhero film. Executives have long assumed that audiences, and especially male audiences, dont want to see a woman kick butt. Thats begun to change with the success of films like The Hunger Games and characters like Black Widow from The Avengers and, more recently, Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. Story continues And now were finally getting female superhero movies with DC and Warner Bros. Wonder Woman out next summer, and then with Captain Marvel. Both will be scrutinized more than any male superhero film to see if they have mass appeal. During her press tour for Room, Larson spoke out about the lack of female stories on screen. Perhaps more important, she helped make an indie movie about an abused mother and her child popular enough to win an Oscar. Thats no small feat and speaks to her appeal as both a powerful actress and an advocate for her work. Shes also been careful to choose robust rolesoften in smaller films like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World or Spectacular Now. Thats good preparation for Captain marvel, who is way more than a spandex suit. The test that I always give young writers is if you can take out your female character and replace her with a sexy lamp and your plot still functions, youre doing it wrong, current Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue DeConnick told TIME in 2014. Odds are that Larson will shine brighter than any sexy lamp ever could. Hubertus Andrae, the Munich chief of police, shook his head and let out a sigh when asked about the gunmans politics. Not even a day had passed since a shooting rampage on his patch of southern Germany had left nine people dead, most of them teenagers. But the chief already felt confident enough in the investigation to dismiss any links to Islamic extremism. The young killer, a dual citizen of Germany and Iran who was born and raised in Munich, had an obsession with indiscriminate violence, Andrae said, and apparently decided to run amok outside the citys biggest shopping mall. Still, it seemed a bit early to call the case closed. When we spoke at police headquarters on Saturday afternoon, the chief conceded that his officers had not yet analyzed all the gunmans computers and social media accounts. Nor had investigators been able to question all the witnesses of the rampage, one of whom told CNN that the gunman shouted Allahu Akbar God is great while firing his Glock into a crowd of people near a McDonalds restaurant. Pressed on this point, Andrae was dismissive. Even if he would have said this, it would not automatically indicate anything, he told me. Not everyone who uses this saying, which is now famous around the world, is automatically linked to ISIS. Read More: Munich Attacker Obsessed With Mass Shootings Clearly not. That phrase is an everyday expression of faith for many of the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims. But shouting it during a shooting spree is also a hallmark of Islamist violence, one of the few reliable signs that investigators have at a time when the very idea of what is terrorism and what is crime has become increasingly hard to pin down. That is the reality ISIS has helped create. In their propaganda, the groups leaders have been happy to claim responsibility for any atrocity their death cult inspires, even when the perpetrator has had no discernible ties to the group other than the vague and virtual relationship often referred to as self-radicalization. Germany has learned that lesson. On July 18, a young Muslim asylum seeker armed with an ax and a knife attacked a group of passengers on a train in the town of Wurzburg, leaving five people gravely injured. In a video posted online, that attacker had pledged allegiance to ISIS, which in turn took responsibility for the bloodshed he caused, calling the 17-year-old axman a soldier of its self-declared caliphate. At least on an ideological level, the link to ISIS seemed as plain as it could be. Read More: 80 Killed in ISIS Attack on Afghan Protest But in that case, too, German authorities were careful not to draw too clear a line between the perpetrator and any kind of Islamic extremism. Even after confirming the authenticity of the Wurzburg attackers suicide videoin which he pledges allegiance to ISIS and vows to kill non-believersGermanys top police official would not qualify the attack as an act of terrorism. It is in a grey area between a rampage and terrorism, said Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, using the German term Amoklaufliterally, running amokitself a borrow from a Malay word, which normally refers to mass shootings and other attacks with no clear political motive. There could be many reasons for this abundance of caution on the part of German authorities. For one thing, they may not want to play into the hands of ISIS, which has sought to convince the world that its reach is limitless exactly because it can inspire attacks without explicitly directing them. We tend to focus on their messianic vision of killing the infidels, but in reality ISIS leaders are students of geopolitics, says Michael Weiss, co-author of ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror. The logic is dialectical: encourage or inspire jihadi attacks; precipitate anti-Muslim backlash (which can take the form of simply everyone assuming that a mass shooting must be Islamist, even when it isnt) and wait for the West to cannibalize itself. Read More: Why Germany Cant Figure Out the Identity of Its First ISIS Attacker That is exactly what Germany has been keen to avoid, especially in the wake of such shocks to the Western order as the British vote to leave the European Union last month. The day after the shootings in Munich, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkels party, the Christian Democratic Union, said the nations priority in the wake of the latest attack should be to stamp out hate speech, or as he put it, to avoid the brutalization of language. Regardless of what his motives or his personal disposition, Volker Kauder, the head of the partys parliamentary faction, wrote in a statement on the Munich shootings, we have to pay even more attention to the fact that hatred and violence generally does not continue to spread in our society. But that focus on maintaining social harmonyrather than identifying criminal motiveshas fueled a different sort of hostility. It has allowed the right-wing to accuse the establishment of whitewashing the facts of the case. On the evening of July 23, the U.S. news website Breitbart, which takes a hard line against immigration in general and the encroachments of Islam into Western society in particular, accused the BBC of attempting to scrub any Muslim or Islamic heritage link to its coverage of the incident. The evidence seemed weak at best. While many media outlets in Germany and abroad identified the Munich shooter with the vaguely Arabic-sounding name Ali David Sonboly, the BBC referred to him in a tweet and other coverage as David Sonboly. The BBC has gone to extraordinary lengths to try to keep any reference to his heritage out of its coverage, Breitbart wrote, suggesting that this was all part of a mainstream conspiracy to brush aside any religious motives in the attack. (BBC has so far declined to comment. On its website, it names the attacker Ali David Sonboly, or David S.) In Germany, the radical right has taken the conspiracy theory even further. One of the leaders of the anti-Islamic movement known as PEGIDA, which stands for Patriotic European Against the Islamization of the West, accused the German government and media of ignoring the obvious fact that the Munich shooting was an act of religious extremism. The whole thing stinks to high heaven, Tatjana Festerling, who has recently founded a new, pan-European movement against Islamic immigration, wrote on her Facebook page. In reality, there seemed to be nothing obvious about the Munich shooters supposed links to Islamic radicalism. Even before the Munich police chief briefed reporters on the investigation Saturday afternoon, it seemed clear that the gunman was not a typical jihadi. For one thing, he ended his rampage by killing himself, which is forbidden under Islamic law. For another, his family hails from Iran, a Shiite Muslim nation that has been fighting the Sunni militants of ISIS ever since they declared their caliphate two years ago. A video posted online also appeared to show the gunman shouting I am German! during his rampage hardly the slogan of a would-be mujahid. These early indications seemed to square with what police found in the gunmans apartment in the early hours of Saturday morning. Nowhere among his possessions did investigators uncover any Islamist literature, Chief Andrae said. Instead, they found a collection of books and articles about mass shootings, including the German edition of a book titled, Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters. They also found signs that the gunman may have been inspired by Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing radical who murdered 77 people in Norway during a gun and bomb attack in 2011. The Munich shooting took place on the fifth anniversary of those attacks, and for Chief Andrae, the connection between the two incidents seemed obvious, he said. At least politically, this may have come as a relief for Chancellor Merkel and her government. Since the arrival last year of more than a million asylum seekers from the Muslim worldand especially since one of those asylum seekers went berserk last week on a train in WurzburgMerkel has faced intense criticism for allowing so many foreigners to enter the country without much vetting. Two Islamist rampages in the course of a week would not have helped Merkel to calm such criticism. So in the wake of the stabbings in Wurzburg, her government tried to play down the fact that the attacker was a refugee. You cannot say there is no connection between refugees and terrorism,conceded de Maiziere, the interior minister. But the danger was high before and remains high, regardless of questions about refugees. Though he is not a politician, the Munich police chief also took pains to point out that Fridays gun massacre had nothing to do with the refugee issue. This was obviously true: The gunman in Munich was born and raised in Germany. But was it equally obvious that he had no Islamist sympathies of any kind? Are police sure, for example, that he did not shout Allahu Akbar while gunning down innocent people? That we dont know, the police chief told me. We would need actual facts and background information to know the mindset, the demeanor of the person. This early in the investigation, perhaps it would have been better to leave the preliminary conclusions at that. Jonathan Pryce makes a strong case for Shylocks infamous demand for a pound of flesh in Shakespeares Globes gorgeously stylized production of The Merchant of Venice. But in order to pull off this tricky adjustment to the most reviled Jewish character in dramatic literature, director Jonathan Munby had to flip the customary dynamic and turn Shylocks Christian adversaries into heartless fiends. The stagecraft is so stunning, and the acting so dazzling, you might think the play had actually been written this way. Pryce is such an on-demand actor in film and TV roles (from the bewigged Governor Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies to High Sparrow in Game of Thrones), its a rare treat to catch him at this years Lincoln Center Festival in his original and most natural metier as a stage actor par excellence. Here, hes giving a towering performance as Shylock, turning one of Shakespeares most vilified characters into a tragic figure deserving of compassion. The Welsh actor delivers Shakespeares immortal lines on the common humanity of all mankind Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? with deeply, honestly felt emotion. Although Shylock is the stern, overly protective patriarch with his daughter, Jessica (played with exquisite sensibility by Pryces own daughter, Phoebe Pryce), his grief when she elopes with her Christian lover is pitiful. And at the end of his trials, when Antonio makes the ultimate demand that this deeply religious Jew renounce his religion and embrace Christianity, the anguish and despair on Pryces face is devastating. Because this Shylock has more pride and dignity than any weve seen, his rage at being mocked, spat upon, and otherwise humiliated by the merchant Antonio (Domenic Mafham) feels entirely righteous. The problem, of course, is that Antonio, who is elsewhere portrayed as the kindest and most generous of men, must mutate into a snarling, sneering, anti-Semitic beast. Well, so be it. Mafham, a Royal Shakespeare Company veteran with abundant credits, deals with that jarring character incongruity without breaking a sweat. Story continues Munby assists in bringing out such unorthodox character nuances with copious bits of stage business. Even as hes negotiating with Shylock for a large loan, Antonio snatches the moneylenders prayer book and callously drops it to the floor. He spits a fat glob of phlegm onto the front of his cloak. And when the deal is made and sealed with the traditional handshake, he ostentatiously wipes his hand of Shylocks touch. The strength of this production owes much to its seductive visual effects. Enhanced by Oliver Fenwicks shadowy lighting, Mike Brittons austere black set lends a sinister backdrop for the opulent Renaissance costumes and Commedia dellarte carnival masks. Lucy Hinds stately choreographic movements are beautiful, but quite chilling when executed by tall men in black cloaks. The extraordinary music composed by Jules Maxwell soars through the spacious settings to ominous effect. More medieval than Renaissance, these severely liturgical strains would seem more suitable to the cavernous interiors of medieval monasteries and cathedrals than on the lively streets of Venice in carnival season. But the sonorous sounds are just the ticket for the dark mood of this revisionist production. Munby reserves his most theatrical effects for the dramatic (if textually suspect) moment when Antonio enthusiastically takes his vengeance on Shylock, undone in the trial scene by the keen wit and passionate oratory of Portia, a dynamic heroine in Rachel Pickups animated performance. With full religious pomp, a procession of priests clad in ecclesiastical white vestments conduct portions of the Catholic Mass in high Latin while stripping Shylock of his own religious garb and his Jewish identity. Although this one last piece of stagecraft is totally over the top, submitting this devout Jew to a Catholic baptism gives Pryce one last chance to bare Shylocks tragic soul while daughter Phoebes Jessica sings a keening song of death and loss that cuts like a knife to the heart. Related stories 'Game of Thrones' Cast Reveals Lighter Side in Blooper Reel (Watch) 'Game of Thrones' Cast and Creators Talk Season 7 Delay, Jon's Parentage and Sansa's Goals New Shakespeare's Globe Chief Talks Diversity, Gay Updates and Brexit The hack attack comes amid growing concern in Hong Kong over shrinking freedoms as Beijing flexes its muscles (AFP Photo/THOMAS SAMSON) (AFP/File) A series of spectacular cyber attacks against banks, resulting in the theft of tens of millions of dollars, has heightened fears for an industry becoming an increasingly attractive target for hackers. Banks in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam and Ecuador have been victimized over the past year in the attacks on the global interbank service known as SWIFT, and some analysts expect more attacks to become public. After news of the $81 million heist from Bangladesh's central bank became public in May, SWIFT said the incident was "not a single occurrence, but part of a wider and highly adaptive campaign targeting banks." Since then, officials said banks have also been hit in the Philippines and Vietnam. Meanwhile Ecuador's Banco del Austro claimed in a lawsuit that hackers made off with more than $9 million through fraudulent SWIFT transfer requests. Cyber security specialists say these attacks are likely just the tip of the iceberg, and expect more revelations. "Cyber criminals are no longer targeting grandmothers at home for small amounts, but going directly where the money is," said Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a researcher with the security firm Kaspersky. Guerrero-Saade said it's not clear where the attacks are coming from, but that the hackers are using techniques similar to those developed for cyber espionage. "I don't think this implies it's nation-states, it's more of an evolution," the analyst said. "It's criminal actors taking on some of those techniques." Kaspersky researchers last year uncovered a hacker group which targeted banks in Eastern Europe, estimating losses totaling up to $1 billion. Dan Guido, cofounder of the security firm Trail of Bits and former hacker-in-residence at New York University's engineering school, said the recent security breaches are not surprising. "I didn't think it would take this long," Guido said. "There are a large number of attacks like this possible if someone has the resources to do it." Story continues Guido said a relatively small team of determined hackers could carry out the kind of hacks that went through SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, a Brussels-based network which is used by more than 11,000 financial institutions in 200 countries. - More aggressive security - The blame, Guido said, rests squarely with SWIFT for failing to bolster its software or require more secure hardware. "It's clearly within their control to have prevented incidents like this," Guido said. "They could have had more aggressive security requirements, they could have had protective hardware." On July 11, SWIFT announced it had hired cyber security firms BAE Systems and Fox-IT while creating its own security intelligence team in an effort to thwart attacks. In the United States, concerns have been raised among officials, industry leaders and lawmakers about potential threats to banks from hackers. Data breaches in the past affected some tens of millions of JPMorgan Chase customers, and accounts from financial giant Morgan Stanley. And a congressional report in June found "major data breaches" at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Senator Tom Carper last month asked the Department of Homeland Security for a briefing for an investigation into vulnerabilities of the US financial system. The American Bankers Association in July joined with other financial and security organizations to warn of possible risks. "While recent events targeted national financial institutions with access to a global payment network, financial institutions should assess the risk of all critical systems to ensure appropriate controls are in place," said the warning, calling for a series of new controls and safeguards against cyber attacks. - Doing reconnaissance - Christiaan Beek of Intel's McAfee Labs said the hackers that targeted SWIFT were well organized and resourceful. "We can see that the attackers have done their reconnaissance properly and may have used an insider to get the details they needed to prepare their attack," Beek said in a blog post. "The attackers have a very good understanding of the SWIFT messaging system and how to manipulate the system to prevent the detection of their fraudulent attempts of transferring the money." Researchers at the security firm Symantec concluded that malware used in the bank hacks shared code with that used in the massive 2014 cyber attack against Sony Pictures. Guido said it is entirely plausible that US banks could face similar attacks. "I don't see why it can't happen here," he said. "There are a lot of smaller banks that don't have expertise and guidance to protect their interconnections." Guerrero-Saade said a key part of staying ahead of hackers is sharing information about threats to enable security solutions, since many companies fear disclosure would hurt their business. "Sadly most companies don't tend to be very forward looking, they think that if they don't sound the bell themselves no one will find out," he said. "It's much better for us to get ahead of this as an international community." The Islamic State terrorist group is not very effective in Southeast Asia right now. But, terrorism experts warn, the group could become stronger with more training and better leaders. IS followers are spread throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines. Experts say they have been influenced by IS leader Abu Bakar al Baghdadis calls to carry out attacks. IS followers are also reportedly motivated by the groups desire to control areas of Southeast Asia as part of its caliphate, even as the group loses territory in Syria and Iraq. IS attacks in Southeast Asia Police said the first IS attack in Malaysia took place in June this year. A grenade exploded outside a bar near Kuala Lumpur, injuring eight people. And, in Indonesia this month, a suicide bombing was directed against police in the city of Solo. Only the bomber was killed. Both attacks took place during the holy month of Ramadan. But little was reported about them because 350 people were killed at the same time in a series of attacks in several other countries, including the United States and Turkey. The attacks in Malaysia and Indonesia were also not very effective. Experts point to the inexperience of the attackers, and to the strength of the security forces. Badrul Hisham Ismail is an analyst with Iman Research, a Malaysian group that studies religion and society. He says the grenade attack in Malaysia was an example of the low level of ability of IS in the country. But he said it was also a sign of how the group is training to have a larger effect in the future. The threat level has risen because IS has shifted focus to build an Islamic state in this region, Ismail said. Sidney Jones is the director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. She also noted that the IS threat, while low, has increased across Southeast Asia. One reason is that IS supporters throughout the region are starting to connect with each other. We need to be open to the possibility that both the method and the professionalism of attacks could increase, Jones said. Aggressive recruitment IS recruitment in Southeast Asia has also become more aggressive. For example, in May IS launched a website in the Malay language, which is understood throughout Malaysia and Indonesia. Brigadier General Hamidin, who uses just one name, is the director of prevention at Indonesias counter-terrorism agency. Hamidin said that in the past, officials could monitor traditional recruitment methods, such as indoctrination at Islamic study groups. But now, Hamidin says, those methods have been replaced by instant messaging and social media, which are not easy to monitor. IS has also attracted the support of existing networks of fighters in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, militants who follow Santoso -- Indonesias most-wanted militant -- have said they will follow IS. And in the southern Philippines, a group best known for theft and kidnappings has also declared its allegiance to the Islamic State. The group, called Abu Sayyaf, now includes some Malaysian and Indonesian militants. In fact, IS released a video in June showing an Indonesian, a Malaysian and a Filipino in Syria acknowledging an Abu Sayyaf leader as the head of IS in Southeast Asia. Sidney Jones says it is possible that some Abu Sayyaf members could train terrorists in Indonesia how to make bombs. Jones said, One would think there would be some [thinking] among Indonesian leaders in Syria about how to be more effective. The only answers are training and leadership, and the question is where they will come from. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. The Associated Press reported this story from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Jakarta, Indonesia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story motivated v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something caliphate n. a government under an Islamic ruler who is a successor of Muhammad allegiance n. loyalty to a person, country, group, etc. The top American diplomat working to lessen the effect of terrorist messages says the Islamic States recruiting efforts on the Internet have been slowed. Richard Stengel, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, says the news is not all good, though. The terrorist groups message continues to motivate angry and mentally unstable Muslims. Stengel recently spoke to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives. His testimony was more positive than statements made by other American officials in recent weeks. The virtual caliphateis shrinking, he said. Now we see the tide turning. He told committee members that the amount of anti-IS information on the Internet is six times higher than pro-IS information. Stengel helps direct officials from several agencies that seek to tell people in other countries the truth about terrorists. The group has also worked with technology companies, Hollywood filmmakers and Muslims around the world to fight terrorist propaganda. Stengel noted that thousands of pro-terrorist Twitter accounts have been cancelled. And he said YouTube and Facebook are removing terrorist material. Stengel told the House committee that the Islamic State terrorist groups military losses are also beginning to affect their capabilities on the Internet. With our success on the military battlefield -- getting back almost 40 percent of the territory in Iraq that [IS] once held -- we are getting rid of a lot of those people who were creating [terrorist information on the Internet]," he said. But Stengel said the terrorists online messages are still reaching people. Stengel said the groups messages are not taking nice, young Muslim boys and girls and turning them into foreign terrorist fighters. Instead, he said, the terrorists are tapping into an already-existing market of grievance and unhappiness that [exists] throughout the Muslim world. They are sometimes pushing on an open door. Republican Congressman Ed Royce of California is the chairman of the committee. He said the Islamic States online messages are still effective. IS "operates a vast network of online recruiters [and] online propagandists, Royce said. They use popular media sites, and through that process [IS] can reach a global audience -- it does this within seconds. Recently, Assistant FBI Director Michael Steinbach told a Senate committee that the Islamic State had increased the quality and quantity of its messages on the Internet. No matter the format, the message of radicalization spreads faster than we imagined just a few years ago, Steinbach said. The most concerning trend that weve seen in the past year when we identify these individuals online is the speed with which they mobilize. Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel said that pressure against the Islamic State must continue. He said, Were connected on a global scale like never before. And so much good can come of that. But we know it cuts both ways. This incredible tool can also be used for incredible harm. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. This story was reported by VOA Capitol Hill Correspondent Michael Bowman. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story motivate v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something virtual adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet tap into expression connect with vast adj. very great in size, amount or extent format n. the form, design or arrangement of something radicalize v. to cause (someone or something) to become more radical especially in politics mobilize v. to bring (people) together for action scale n. the size or level of something, especially in comparison to something else Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an order directing the Philippine people to address him simply as president. Dutertes executive order banned the use of honorifics for himself or his cabinet. Honorifics are titles or terms of respect. Duterte approved the executive order on July 15. The order was issued to stop the use of terms such as honorable or his excellency. While Duterte will be called president, the order suggests the term secretary" be used for the countrys ministers. Dutertes officials say the order is a step aimed to reinforce the presidents simple style. Though he will formally be addressed as president, Duterte still prefers to be called "mayor," according to a statement from the presidents staff. For more than two decades, Duterte was the mayor of southern Davao City. There, he became an admired public servant and crime-fighter. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the executive order was intended to preserve Dutertes populist style. He encourages less ceremonial communications, Abella added. The order will not surprise the millions of Filipinos who voted for Duterte. He became popular due to his down-to-earth style and clothing. The new president took office three weeks ago. He will give his first State of the Nation address on Monday. The State of the Nation is an extraordinary affair more like a fashion show than a political speech. However, the Duterte administration did make a change to the event. The budget has been reduced for this years State of the Nation address. This years event will have fewer guests and a business dress code. Im John Russell. Reuters contributed to this VOA News story. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story honorifics n. titles used in speaking to or about a superior or elder executive order n. an order that comes from a president or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law excellency n. used as a title for some high government officials populist adj. relating to a political party that claims to represent ordinary people fashion show n. an event at which newly designed clothing are modeled for an audience Freedom of speech is protected in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But universities across the U.S. are debating if they will tolerate all kind of speech on campus even speech that students say is offensive, hateful or divisive. For example, in 2015 a University of Kansas professor almost lost her job after students complained that she used the racial slur known as the n-word. The word has historically been used in the U.S. to demean African-Americans. However, a four-month investigation showed the professor used the word not as an insult but as part of a discussion on race. At Yale University two professors, a husband and wife, both stepped down from their positions in May 2016. This came after students demanded they be removed for an email one of the professors sent to students. The email criticized the university administration for asking students to avoid wearing costumes that might be considered culturally insensitive for the holiday called Halloween. And in Illinois last year, Northwestern University investigated one of its professors after she wrote a controversial article for the Chronicle of Higher Education. In it, the professor criticized some universities new rules against sexual relationships between professors and students. She said the rules promoted an idea of professors as having nearly unlimited power over students. And, she said, the rules promoted an idea of students as victims. Those ideas, she said, create a feeling of extreme fear about sex. Students reacted strongly to the article. They said the professors words made them feel uncomfortable about reporting sexual misbehavior on campus. Eventually, the university announced the professor had not violated any law. What is the role of the university? "That is part of the college experience: to read, to think, to hear ideas..." In answer to these events and others, university leaders are discussing how free speech fits into higher education. Scott A. Bass is the provost at American University, or AU, in Washington, DC. He has worked in higher education for almost 40 years. Bass says professors have a duty to challenge their students thinking. He says professors should discuss topics that may be controversial or make students feel uncomfortable. "That is part of the college experience: to read, to think, to hear ideas that may be congruent or different than what you have long thought. That is part of the development of intellectual life and part of what a university stands for." Bass says the faculty senate at AU shares this view of a college experience. In 2015, the senate voted to approve a statement protecting freedom of speech at their school. Bass says the faculty senate at AU rarely completely agrees on anything. But every single member agreed to the statement released last September. The statement said, in part: "As laws and individual sensitivities may seek to restrict, label, warn, or exclude specific content, the [university] must stand firm as a place that is open to diverse ideas and free expression. These are standards that American University will not compromise." Controversy outside the classroom AU is not the only university to make such a statement. In the last two years, faculty committees at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota formally defended freedom of speech at their schools. Colin Campbell is the head of that faculty committee at the University of Minnesota. He says the faculty chose to approve the statement following several student protests about controversial events outside the classroom. In one event, students objected to a poster that showed an image of the Muslim religious figure Mohammed. The image was originally published by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, after a 2015 attack on its offices in Paris. Faculty created the poster to advertise an event discussing, ironically, free speech. "Your ability to understand your own arguments becomes stronger when theyre challenged..." But University of Minnesota students complained that the poster was offensive to Muslim people. Most Muslims around the world object to drawings or other visual images of Mohammed. In another event at the University of Minnesota, some students protested when other students invited a divisive journalist to speak on campus. Journalist Milo Yiannopoulos is well known for making controversial statements. Stephanie Taylor helped organize the protest. She belongs to a group called Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, or SDS. The group objects to Yiannopoulus, calling his language and ideas "hate speech." Taylor says the protests were not trying to prevent Yiannopoulus from speaking or anyone else from listening. But, she says, her group believes they must speak against people they feel use their public identities only to spread hate. "These are speakers that have free speech all the time and they actually have more platforms than most people do on this campus. That is, the positions of power that theyre in, the money that they are being given to spew, for lack of a better word, ideas at people that are not, in our opinion, furthering a greater good." Campbell says students often protest when controversial public figures come to campus. He agrees that universities hold power when it comes to who teaches and whom they invite to speak. Yet, Campbell says shouting and making noise does not help people with different beliefs reach common ground. "Your ability to understand your own arguments becomes stronger when theyre challenged. And I feel like our culture would be strengthened by examining and debating and discussing with individuals with whom we dont agree." Campbell adds that free speech at universities has brought positive social change. He says that 30 years ago, most people did not want to discuss HIV/AIDS because it was a disease that mostly affected the homosexual community. But because universities were able to explore a controversial topic, researchers could achieve many successes towards treating the disease. Can young people today accept different opinions? Bass at American University says young people today have problems accepting opinions different from their own. Social media makes it possible for young people to read and hear only information they already agree with, he says. Indeed, public opinion in the U.S. seems to moving toward limiting free speech. A 2015 Pew Research Center study showed that 40 percent of Americans between 18 and 35 years old believe the government should be able to censor language that is offensive to minorities. But Bass says it is important to remember that censorship has a dark history. In the U.S. in the 1940s and 1950s, government officials used censorship to prevent people from supporting communism. At the time, Senator Joseph McCarthy became known for investigating so-called critics of the government. His campaign unfairly ruined the careers and reputations of many people. Other solutions Sarah McBride offers another point of view. She asks universities simply to proceed carefully with heated subjects. McBride is the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, or HRC. The HRC is a non-profit group that supports equal treatment for homosexual and transgender people. "Schools individually should and can make the decision about what is hate speech and what is offensive..." McBride says students from marginalized populations have often lived through horrible experiences. Sometimes discussing these topics can cause people to relive those experiences. Many young people have asked professors at least to warn students that difficult topics will be discussed. However, Bass at AU says professors cannot possibly know of every bad experience that every student has ever had. Universities should try to create support and community for these students, he says. But creating that kind of warning system, called trigger warnings by some, would be almost impossible. McBride acknowledges that students and faculty must work together to find solutions. "Schools individually should and can make the decision about what is hate speech and what is offensive. But its not this black and white conversation that I think folks on both sides tend to make it out as." Campbell at the University of Minnesota agrees with McBride: neither side of this debate is completely right, they say. For one thing, Campbell says, his students objections to some speech suggest they are much more understanding of other people and cultures than students were in his generation. And, he says, that attitude makes him proud. But in the end, Campbell adds, universities can only create policies which suggest what sort of language and activity they feel is inappropriate. It is the role of the U.S. Supreme Court to decide what is legally protected under freedom of speech. Im Pete Musto. Pete Musto reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Is freedom of speech protected in your country? Are there some topics teachers should not discuss with their students? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tolerate v. to let something that is bad or unpleasant exist, happen, or be done divisive adj. causing a lot of disagreement between people and causing them to separate into different groups complain(ed) v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, or uncomfortable or that you do not like something slur n. an insulting remark about someone or someone's character demean v. to cause someone or something to seem less important or less worthy of respect costume(s) n. the clothes that are worn by someone such as an actor who is trying to look like a different person or thing insensitive adj. showing that you do not know or care about the feelings of other people controversial adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument uncomfortable adj. causing a feeling of being embarrassed or uneasy misbehavior n. to behave badly provost n. an official of high rank at a university challenge v. to say or show that something may not be true, correct, or legal congruent adj. matching or in agreement with something faculty n. the group of teachers in a school or college sensitivities - n. the tendency to become upset about things that are done to you, are said about you, or relate to you diverse adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other poster n. a usually large printed notice often having a picture on it that is put in a public place to advertise something ironically adv. strange or funny because something such as a situation is different from what you expected journalist n. a person whose job is collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio campus n. the area and buildings around a university, college or school spew v. to cause something to flow out in a fast and forceful way homosexual adj. based on or showing a sexual attraction to people of the same sex censor v. to examine books, movies, or letters in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society reputation(s) n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something proceed v. to continue to do something transgender adj. of or relating to people who have a sexual identity that is not clearly male or clearly female marginalized adj. put or kept in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group proud adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to inappropriate adj. not right or suited for some purpose or situation Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Sunday she will step down from her post following the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia. Wasserman Schultz faced intense pressure to resign Emails released by Wikileaks point to effort to undermine Sanders campaign Sanders campaign has long argued Wasserman Schultz is not impartial Wasserman Schultz released a statement in which she announced her intention to step down but said she would fulfill her duties as chairwoman through this week, including gaveling in and out the convention and speaking to the delegates. According to our partners at CNN, Wasserman Schultz spoke to both President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton before making her announcement. She also stated that she remains committed to doing everything she can to help usher Clinton into the White House as the nation's 45th president. In a statement, Wasserman Schultz said: "Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. ... As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans." U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders also released a statement Sunday: Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race." Wasserman Schultz's move comes in the wake of thousands of DNC emails leaked to the public by Wikileaks on Friday. Those emails pointed to an effort by DNC staffers to undermine Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign for the party's nomination. In the days following the leak, pressure reportedly mounted on Wasserman Schultz to resign from both Clinton and Sanders supporters. On Saturday, the DNC Rules Committee announced that Wasserman Schultz would not be speaking to the convention or gaveling in and out the proceedings. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, was to serve as permanent chairwoman of the convention in her place. According to CNN, chants of "Debbie is done!" broke out at a pro-Sanders rally in Philadelphia following the announcement. On Sunday, the convention announced that DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as interim chairwoman of the committee through the election. This story orginally ran in July after the Republican National Convention ended. We brought it back as part of our tribute to members of the military on this Veterans Day. The flight from Cleveland to Charlotte may have been short, but I will have the memory of the man next to me for a very long time. He was in his seat when I boarded, sitting next to the window watching quietly at what was happening outside as passengers filed on slowly. A woman walked by, asked whether I was "8F," then noticed the decorated war veteran in full uniform next to me was in her seat. She glanced at the boarding pass in his hand and quietly went to the seat he was supposed to be in behind us. After an exhausting week of work that has physically and emotionally drained me, I could have easily ridden in silence. It was easy to tell when I sat down that the man was hard of hearing and had a thick accent that made him hard to understand, so conversation wasn't going to be easy. But I couldn't not ask. I couldn't not ask what brought him to Cleveland. I couldn't not ask when he served our country. I couldn't not ask about the medals on his chest. So I did. Freedom He came to the Republican National Convention, he said, because it's America, he's free and he can. He served in Korea, he said. It was obvious the veteran was an immigrant and had not lost his accent, so I asked where he was born, and he said the Philippines. What comes next is a testament to what America stands for, the freedoms we enjoy and the current political process of choosing a president. Fame Academia, 88, doesn't just understand it, he lived it. He wasn't free until America freed him. When he was 7, the Japanese took over his country. Because his father was a mayor, the foreign troops put him and his family in a stockade. They beat his father, and when Fame tried to defend him, the Japanese soldiers beat him. So badly, he said, he saw "stars around his head." They punched him in the head, the chest, the stomach and the legs. Then came the Bataan Death March: Fame and his family were walked the 65 miles to prison camps. He remembers Gen. Douglas MacArthur's promise to return. At some point, Fame and his family were released. They retreated to their farm of coconut groves, and when American planes came back to the island to fight the Japanese, Fame and his family helped rescue pilots who were shot down and hid the Americans in their groves. When the U.S. had gained control, Fame was finally free. U.S. Navy Humbled by the turn of events in his life, Fame joined the U.S. Navy and fought for our freedom for the next 28 years. In Korea, he helped smuggle 100 Chinese soldiers, who didn't want to fight, back to their country. He recalled the trip the soldiers dressed in civilian clothing locked away in the bottom of the ship because they still couldn't be trusted in the dead of night, setting sail without lights dropping the Chinese off at shore then returning to Manila Bay, still in the cover of darkness. Fame knows what could've happened if they were caught. Then, on one of the runs his ship was making to carry ammunition for the United Nations, Fame was on a 24-hour security shift when two drunk men came on board with a cleaver. They cut the tendons in his ankles so he couldn't run, but Fame found a makeshift weapon and kept fighting back. Today, he wears a Purple Heart pinned on the lapel of his U.S. Navy uniform, an award for his heroism and selfless act to save the ship and the men on board. Even then, Fame kept serving. He has flown with admirals and served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was in a destroyer off the Cuban coast waiting to intercept Russian ships at during the Bay of Pigs invasion. Fame said, "I've had many near life experiences." He means near death, but when you think about it, either way tells the story of his life. There weren't just stories of war and hardship; at one point, when he told me a story about sailing through a storm, Fame started singing, "Chasing Rainbows, da da da da da da ....," and said that's what was playing on the radio while the ship rocked up and down on the waves waves he compared to those in the movie, "A Perfect Storm." Fame hummed for a little longer, and it was almost as though that was somehow a good memory. RNC trip Fame's wife didn't want him to go to the convention alone, because he doesn't get around well, and she was worried about him. But fate intervened on her behalf. On his flight to Cleveland, a young woman sat next to Fame and introduced herself as the secretary to House Speaker Paul Ryan. She offered Fame a pile of badges that allowed him easy entrance and VIP access for the two days he was there. Fame became the guest of one of the most powerful men in this country, and he took in every ounce of the experience. He smiled and giggled like a boy when he was talking about where he was sitting and the extraordinary view he had of the stage. During our conversation, Fame leaned in close and said, "Whoever you vote for, just use the privilege and go vote." As I start another arduous week of work, prepared to face protesters and politicians, Fame reminds me it's about more than that. It's about honoring him and the men who, like him, continue to make it possible for me to live free. And to think I almost didn't say hello. Caution: Spoilers ahead The unfortunate problem with a film starring Super Star a mild descriptor perhaps, but thats what it universally is is that films invariably need to be crafted around him. Unlike the pedestrian Lingaa, Kabali actually has at its core, an interesting thought; the plight of immigrant Indians in foreign countries due to rampant racism, among other things. The truth of the matter then, is this: Kabali could have been a far better film if it did not star Super Star Rajinikanth. The film has been moulded around his aura; but, with Rajinikanth playing his age for the first time, theres a lot of what he usually does, that he doesnt do in this film. (He even puts on his sunglasses like an ordinary mortal would, yes.) Additionally, his presence means that the concept of an Indian fighting to be accepted as an equal in a foreign land is virtually lost. Yet, around his blazing persona; the rather meandering screenplay that inexplicably takes too long to make a point; and a fine actor like Radhika Apte spending most of her screen time being pregnant and/or looking at Rajinikanth with devoted adoration; one interesting aspect of Kabali is the character of Kabalis daughter. (Spoiler alert!) The character of Yogita, played by Dhansika, could and should have been explored further, yet the way she has been treated in the film is a distinct departure from the otherwise thoroughly commercial, stereotypical (and hence obviously patriarchal) nature of the film. We dont get too many female assassins in our cinema, and weve rarely seen a father and daughter fight side-by-side in a gangland battle. Dhansika, with her intense eyes and confident screen presence, stands right next to Rajinikanth in a number of scenes, engaging in decent physical combat and action. In fact, the gender neutral treatment of her character, whether intentional or unintentional, is a refreshing change in any commercial film at all, but even more so for what is essentially a gangster flick. Even the way Kabali treats his daughter makes you feel that the gender of a person does not really matter in any profession. Kabali initially develops paternal feelings towards another girl a more homely person (so to speak). Yet, when he realises that his child actually happens to be someone starkly different; someone who, in the moral code of our pitiful world, would be the antithesis of a decent girl, Kabali doesnt bat an eyelid. If anything, his eyes open wide with pride. Clearly, for Kabali, the gender of his child matters far less than her abilities. It may be a very subtle point, but it goes a long way in making a devoted audience feel the same way. These are the kind of gentle shifts that we need to see in our big, star-studded blockbusters, which can help change the way we define and bind our mothers and daughters to behaviour and an existence that only the patriarchal establishment deems fit. (This was a lesson that Mr Sultan learned rather late.) Yes, one wishes that Yogita didnt also have to crop her hair to a style that made her seem less feminine, but then the film is not devoid of gender judgement anyway, so expecting that much would perhaps seem like expecting too much. Despite the hiccups, Kabali ends up being a fair one-time watch primarily because of Rajinikanth never once failing to ooze style. Hopefully though, the treatment of Kabalis daughter can help mark a new way in which we see important female characters on our screens. New Delhi - Warning black money holders of stringent action including imprisonment after 30 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said those with undisclosed wealth, most of which is parked in jewellery and real estate, should come clean to sleep peacefully. At a function jewellers organised to felicitate him, Modi said he is aware of people going to bullion merchants with "cartload" of money and a message has to be delivered to them to come clean using the one-time compliance window closing on 30 September. Stating that people have been jailed in the past for evading taxes, he said the government should not be forced to resort to the same after 30 September. "Aur us paap ko karna nahi chahata hu jo September 30 ko mujhe karna padega (I do not want to commit the sin which I will have to do after 30 September against black money holders)," he said. Under the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) which opened on 1 June, black money holders can come clean by declaring the assets by 30 September and paying tax and penalty of 45 percent thereafter. Those who fail to take advantage of the scheme will have to face stringent actions, including imprisonment. The Income Tax department has already identified 90 lakh high value transactions without PAN. New Delhi: US aircraft maker Boeing will deliver two Dreamliners to Air India this year and four more next year to complete the airline's order of 27 of these aircraft, even as the national carrier grapples with glitches in its fleet of 787-800 planes. Once described as a "game-changer," Air India was one of the launch customers of the Boeing 787-800s and had started inducting them in its fleet about four years ago. Since then, the airline has been facing a series of technical glitches and other malfunction issues with regard to the Dreamliner fleet. Boeing's Senior Vice President Sales (Asia Pacific and India) Dinesh Keskar said two Dreamliners would be delivered this year. "The delivery of Dreamliners start in November this year... It (delivery) is on schedule. First plane in November and the next in December. Four more in 2017," he told PTI in an interview. Air India currently has 21 Boeing 787-800s in the fleet. It has not taken delivery of these planes since May 2015. In January 2006, it had placed orders for 68 Boeing aircraft, including 27 Dreamliners and 41 B-777s and B-737-800s. Occasional glitches have forced Air India to ground these planes multiple times, causing long flight delays and significant loss of revenue. Playing down instances of operational woes faced by some planes, Keskar asserted there was no delay in the delivery schedule for Air India. "You don't hear about it. So they have been taken care of. The aeroplane (Dreamliner) has stabilised. That is the thing now," Keskar said. On whether Boeing was in discussions with no-frills airline SpiceJet for plane orders, Keskar indicated they were in talks. "The answer is very simple. They have already ordered Boeing 737 MAX planes. They have been operating Boeing planes from day one. All they are looking at now is what kind of price Boeing will offer or what benefits Airbus will offer. When the time is right, they will make their decision," he said. B-737 MAX is a narrow-body, single-aisle jetliner series being developed by Boeing as a successor to the B-737 Next Generation series. It is scheduled for first delivery in 2017. Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet have Boeing planes in their fleet. Srinagar: Separatist leaders in Kashmir have called for a protest march on Monday to Anantnag in the worst hit south Kashmir region in the recent unrest, throwing a security challenge to the authorities in the state. Police sources told IANS that the government won't allow the march and strict curfew would continue in major towns and cities of the Kashmir Valley. Normal traffic won't be allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway that passes through south Kashmir, which has seen most of the over 45 deaths in clashes between security forces and protesters in the deadliest unrest the valley has witnessed in years. The violence broke out after the 8 July killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Authorities imposed strict curfew across the valley a day after the killing of Wani who was popular among Kashmir's new generation. The restrictions were partially lifted in four districts on Sunday. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen Malik on Sunday reiterated their call for the Monday march to Anantnag and extended their shutdown call till Friday. "As per the programme, glowing tributes will be paid to the recent martyrs and all the martyrs of Kashmir's resistance movement at the historic Lal Chowk in Islamabad (Anantnag) district on Monday," they said in a statement. They asked people to observe a shutdown up to 2 pm on Tuesday when it will be relaxed till evening. They also called for a "complete shutdown" and a protest march to south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Wednesday. On Thursday, they asked people to continue with the shutdown and assemble in their areas and stage peaceful protests. On Friday, they asked people to march to Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid and participate in a public rally. Hyderabad: The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday said, in the wake of violence which claimed 46 lives in Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "In 1994, a unanimous resolution was passed in Parliament that the only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan is with respect to PoK. We tell our BJP-PDP government in J&K that you don't have any 'locus standi' when it comes to India and Pakistan. It will be dealt with by the Government of India," Madhav said. "But, we all have to understand our outstanding issue is not Kashmir. It is ours. When I say it is ours, I am not talking of geography alone but I am also talking about the demography. When I say Kashmir is ours, the people of Kashmir are also ours. This message has to be loud and clear," he said. "If today some of them are on a wrong path, we will set them on right path. Have faith. People in PoK are also our people. We have to get that. But our problem is that in media studios, Wani is our man, not the peace-loving people of the state...some of them are violent, but many of them are peace loving," he said. "There were 14 criminal cases against him (Wani), including attacks on army, police and killing of constable. These are very serious cases. He is a terrorist on whose head there was Rs 10 lakh reward," he said. "One parliamentarian says you should have captured him and arrested him. During an encounter when bullets are flying do you check the bio-data while shooting?" he asked. "Our soldiers, policemen, para-military personnel who went to capture him only know how to act against a terrorist. The country has to stand by the security forces and not terrorists," he said. Madhav further said Home Minister Rajnath Singh is camping in J&K and holding discussions to bring peace in the state. Life in Kashmir has been paralysed since 9 July, a day after Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces. Clashes between protesters and security forces have claimed 46 lives and left over 3,400 people injured in Kashmir Valley. Judith D'Souza, the 40-year-old Indian woman abducted in Kabul on 9 June, was rescued and brought back to India on Saturday. She met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon her arrival. Swaraj announced the news of her arrival early on Saturday on Twitter. Judith D'Souza is with us - safe and in good spirits. She will reach her Motherland at the earliest. Vande Mataram. https://t.co/VAfBWpBAeN Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016 Judith was received by Swaraj and Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh. Swaraj tweeted, "Our daughter Judith D'Souza is back with us." Our daughter Judith D'Souza is back with us. pic.twitter.com/R6fvGxi4lI Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016 Judith also met Modi at 7 RCR, who as Swaraj claims, had talked to Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani four times regarding her release status. Delhi: Kolkata's Judith D' Souza (who was rescued from Kabul) meets PM Modi at 7 RCR pic.twitter.com/ollSimacXj ANI (@ANI_news) July 23, 2016 Prime Minister @narendramodi spoke to President Ghani four times for Judith. pic.twitter.com/BJub6GTIoG Judith D'Souza with Prime Minister. Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016 Swaraj on Saturday thanked Afghanistan for their help and support in securing Judith's release. She applauded India's ambassador to Afghan, Manpreet Vohra, for doing an "outstanding job". Judith's brother Jerome D'Souza too took to Twitter to thank the Indian government and the people for their wishes. He also announced that she will return home on Saturday evening. Judith has been rescued by the Government. Our family's joy knows no bounds. Gratitude to @PMOIndia @SushmaSwaraj @VohraManpreet jerome dsouza (@jeromedsouza) July 23, 2016 The motive of her abduction was deduced to be ransom and the Taliban had no hand in her kidnapping, as was suspected by many. She was reportedly kept in the Shomali plains, close to the house of the two men in custody. Jerome said, "I am grateful to the Government of India and particularly to the tireless efforts of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj." The Indian authorities were constantly in touch with the Afghan government to secure Judith's release. The authorities were also in touch with her family. Judith was working as a senior technical advisor for an NGO Aga Khan Development Network in Kabul. After she went "missing" on 9 June, Judith's father received a call from the Indian Embassy in Kabul informing him that his daughter has in all probability been abducted," Firstpost had reported. He was informed that three persons Judith, a security guard, and the driver of the vehicle were abducted. However, The Hindu reported that the two men were let off because they were Afghan and Judith was asked if she was a "foreigner". However, her abduction made the police suspicious and the two men, who were released were taken into custody. Interrogating the men revealed significant details about the abduction and Judith's whereabouts. Bhubaneswar: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will launch a nationwide campaign next month to highlight the significance of proper implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) to empower the tribals besides checking Maoist activities, party leader Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday. Rahul would launch the campaign in Vizag area of Andhra Pradesh on 6 August, while the second programme would be organised in Odisha likely in September, where effective implementation of FRA is essential, he said at a press meet in Bhubaneswar. The awareness campaign would also be undertaken in a number of states including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat, Ramesh said. "Effective implementation of FRA would go a long way in empowering the tribals and the forest dwellers and elevating their socio-economic status," the Congress leader said, adding it would also play a significant role in reducing Maoist activities. Therefore, FRA needs to be properly implemented in a state like Odisha which has a sizeable tribal population and its 18 districts face Maoist menace, Ramesh said. "However, BJD, which is in power in Odisha, appears to be in a mood to support Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Bill. If the Bill in its present form is passed in Parliament, Maoist activities will increase," he claimed. Ramesh said Congress has moved several amendments on CAMPA as the bill in its present form is opposed to the FRA, and does not address the legal rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (OTFDs). The present bill also has no provision for consent of the Gram Sabhas for implementation of compensatory afforestation on their customary lands, he said. Coming down heavily on the BJD government for "poor implementation" of FRA, Ramesh said only around 3.7 lakh land pattas have been distributed under the Act in Odisha since it came into force in 2006 as against over six lakh applications submitted for the purpose. Similarly, only around 6,000 community rights pattas were given out of over 13,000 applications, he alleged. Asserting that in about 30,000 out of the around 57,000 villages in Odisha, community forest rights can be conferred under FRA, Ramesh claimed only around 5,000 villages have so far been provided with this rights. Torrential rains on Sunday caused water logging in many parts of Siliguri in West Bengal, distressing the locals and throwing normal life out of gear. Siliguri has witnessed heavy rain since 20 July. According to The Telegraph, landslides took place in at least five places in the region over the last three days. "The southwest monsoon is active over sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim. That is why heavy to very heavy rain has occurred in some places. The axis of the monsoon trough at the mean sea level continues to run in the foothills of the Himalayas. There is forecast of more rainfall in the region in the next four-five days," The Telegraph quoted a source at the Regional Met Office in Jalpaiguri. Last month, PTI reported that routes of several trains in Siliguri were diverted after a pillar in the Sevoke Rail bridge showed cracks due to torrential rains which softened the earth at its base. Meanwhile, torrential rains have flooded low-lying areas in Mal sub-division and inundated a large part of Jalpaiguri town, as rivers Teesta and Karala were in spate, a district official told PTI. Siliguri (WB): Rain water enters houses in low lying areas as heavy rains continues to lash the city pic.twitter.com/psevwIhDYI ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Siliguri (WB): Incessant rains causes water logging in many parts of city, causing a lot of distress to the locals pic.twitter.com/yZ7M896qmC ANI (@ANI_news) July 24, 2016 Over 4,000 people have been affected by the floods, according to the PTI report. With inputs from PTI Washington: The world's most sensitive dark matter detector has failed to yield any trace of the elusive substance thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass of the universe, even after 20 months of operation. The Large Underground Xenon (Lux) dark matter experiment, which operates beneath a mile of rock at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in the Black Hills of South Dakota, has completed its silent search for the missing matter of the universe. Lux's sensitivity far exceeded the goals for the project, scientists said, but yielded no trace of a dark matter particle. Its extreme sensitivity makes the team confident that if dark matter particles had interacted with the Lux's xenon target, the detector would almost certainly have seen it. That enables scientists to confidently eliminate many potential models for dark matter particles, offering critical guidance for the next generation of dark matter experiments. "Lux has delivered the world's best search sensitivity since its first run in 2013," said Rick Gaitskell, professor at Brown University in the US. "With this final result from the 2014 to 2016 search, the scientists of the Lux Collaboration have pushed the sensitivity of the instrument to a final performance level that is four times better than the original project goals," Gaitskell said. "It would have been marvellous if the improved sensitivity had also delivered a clear dark matter signal," he said. Dark matter is thought to account for more than four-fifths of the mass in the universe. Scientists are confident of its existence because the effects of its gravity can be seen in the rotation of galaxies and in the way light bends as it travels through the universe, but experiments have yet to make direct contact with a dark matter particle. The Lux experiment was designed to look for weakly interacting massive particles (Wimps), the leading theoretical candidate for a dark matter particle. If the Wimp idea is correct, billions of these particles pass through your hand every second, and also through the Earth and everything on it. However, because Wimps interact so weakly with ordinary matter, this ghostly traverse goes entirely unnoticed. The Lux detector consists of a third-of-a-tonne of cooled liquid xenon surrounded by powerful sensors designed to detect the tiny flash of light and electrical charge emitted if a Wimp collides with a xenon atom within the tank. The detector's location at Sanford Lab beneath a mile of rock, and inside a 72,000-gallon, high-purity water tank, helps shield it from cosmic rays and other radiation that would interfere with a dark matter signal. The 20-month run of Lux represents one of the largest exposures ever collected by a dark matter experiment, the researchers said. Bhubaneswar: Asking Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to own responsibility for the death of five persons in Kandhamal, Congress on Sunday said it would raise the issue in Parliament as such killings in the name of anti-Naxal drive shows BJD regime's "anti-tribal and anti-Dalit" psyche. "The chief minister must own moral responsibility for the killing of five persons including a 13-month-old child, in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district recently. The state's own force was involved in it," senior Congress leaders Kishore Chandra Deb and Jairam Ramesh told reporters in Bhubaneswar. They were briefing reporters after a five-member Congress team formed by party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday visited the site of the incident that took place on the night of 8 July at Gumudumaha village and interacted with relatives of those killed and injured in the tragedy. Coming down heavily on the chief minister for the incident, both Deb and Ramesh said four such incidents has taken place during the past 12 months two in Kandhamal and one each in Nuapada and Kalahandi districts but Patnaik has been maintaining silence. Asking Patnaik to take concrete steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents involving police, they said a mistake can happen once or twice due to carelessness. But it has happened four times in a year, which showed the BJD government's mindset to work against the interests of tribals and dalits, said Ramesh accusing the Patnaik government of failing to deal with such incidents with sympathy and sensitiveness. Stating that Congress would raise the issue both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, they said the five-member team would submit a report on its fact-finding visit very soon. Rubbishing the version that the incident took place duringpolice-Maoist crossfire, the Congress leaders claimed that the killing of five villagers a fortnight ago was nothing but a cold-blooded murder as evidence showed there was firing from only one side and there was no encounter. The elite Special Operation Group (SOG) created by Odisha government is supposed to deal with law and order problems and not to kill innocent civilians, Deb said adding they should be trained and sensitised properly and made to follow standard operating procedures (SOP). Hitting out at the BJD government over backwardness in Kandhamal, both Deb and Ramesh said there is no road to Gumudumaha village which is also deprived of safe 'drinking water' supply. Huge funds including Rs 7,500 crore for rural development given to the state during UPA-rule appeared to have remained unutilised, they claimed. Claiming that Odisha received maximum funds for welfare and development programmes during UPA's rule, Ramesh and Deb said despite this the situation in Kandhamal was pathetic as people of the tribal-dominated district were far from socio-economic mainstream and deprived of development. Noting that Panchayat elections in the state was fast approaching, Ramesh said Congress would corner the ruling BJD and seek detailed accounts about utilisation of central funds meant for various programmes and schemes. Basic facilities are yet to be provided to tribals, they said demanding stern action against those responsible for the killing of the villagers. Mounting a scathing attack on the chief minister, former union minister Deb said poor people, particularly tribals and dalits, were suffering due to Patnaik's lack of understanding and knowledge of Odia language and people's problems. Moreover, the state government also failed to properly implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006, they said. Besides Deb and Ramesh, the other team members of Congress who visited Kandhamal were Arun Oraon, Vincent Pala and KH Muniyappa. Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik turn "mouni babas" (silent monks) on issues of attacks on Dalits and tribals. "Both Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik are like mouni babas. When there is attack on Dalits, the Prime Minister maintains silence," Ramesh told reporters in Bhubaneshwar. Similarly, the Odisha Chief Minister was maintaining silence despite the killing of five civilians, including three tribals and two dalits, during a so-called encounter between the police and Maoists in Kandhamal district on 8 July, the former Union Minister claimed. His remark came amid attack on Modi from different quarters for his silence over the issue of public thrashing of Dalits in a Gujarat village recently. Coming down heavily on Patnaik over the Kandhamal tragedy, Ramesh said though tribals have fallen victim in four such incidents during last one year, the Chief Minister has not uttered a word. "This shows how insensitive and unconcerned the Chief Minister is towards the tribal people," he said, adding the response clearly demonstrates the "anti-tribal" approach of Patnaik and his government. New Delhi: A furious Aam Aadmi Party has lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of party MLA Amanatullah Khan, saying Modi was scared of its "rising graph", while Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also accused him of sending Delhiities to jail under false cases. Khan was arrested on Sunday after a woman alleged that he tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts, making him the tenth AAP legislator to be arrested. In a news conference on Saturday, Khan had claimed that the SHO of the Jamia Nagar police station had tutored the woman to name Khan in the case and released a video to buttress his claim. He also alleged that the woman was in touch with BJP leaders. AAP leader Ashutosh claimed Khan was not even allowed to wear slippers by the police which came to arrest him and they turned all the CCTVs towards the ceiling. He said the BJP was scared because of the rising popularity of AAP. "Amanatullah was not even allowed to wear slippers, and the police also turned all CCTV cameras towards the ceiling while arresting him. This is Modi's law. He gives a dam to law and evidences. People are watching. AAP's rising graph has scared Modi," Ashutosh tweeted. This is Modi's law. He gives a dam to law and evidences. People are watching. AAP's rising graph has scared Modi. https://t.co/IUqSapTMT4 ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) July 24, 2016 Comparing the arrest of Patidars in Gujarat to ones in Delhi, Kejriwal tweeted, "In Gujarat, Anandiben Patel sends dalits and Patidars to jails under false cases. In Delhi, Modi ji sends Delhiities sends to jail under false cases. Now Delhi and Gujarat will fight (against this) together." "10th AAP MLA arrested. The same Delhi Police also beat the hell out of vol.s (volunteers) trying to file an FIR against a rapist," Kejriwal said, while retweeting a tweet by composer Vishal Dadlani, an ardent party supporter. Party leader Ashish Khetan termed the arrest as the "darkest time" after Emergency. "Another AAP MLA arrested on spurious charges. History will record the Modi rule as the darkest time for democracy post Emergency," Khetan said. MIAMI/WASHINGTON Democrat Tim Kaine made his first appearance on the campaign trail as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential running mate on Saturday, touting an optimistic view of America and leaping to attack Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's record. Joining Clinton at a rally in the battleground state of Florida, the bilingual Kaine peppered Spanish-language phrases into a speech focused on introducing himself to voters unfamiliar with the low-key U.S. senator from Virginia. Kaine criticized Trump's recent suggestion he might not honor U.S. security commitments to NATO in Europe, and the real estate mogul's history of casino bankruptcies and founding the failed Trump University. "When Donald Trump says he has your back, you better watch out," Kaine said, with Clinton sitting at his side nodding. "He leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes. We cant afford to let him do the same thing to our country." In contrast, he said, Clinton "doesn't insult people, she listens to them. What a novel concept." He said they shared a common creed: "Do all the good you can." Clinton unveiled her choice of Kaine late on Friday, grabbing the political spotlight from Trump, who accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday night after a chaotic four-day convention. The former secretary of state will formally be nominated as her party's presidential candidate in the Nov. 8 election at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, which opens on Monday. In choosing the soft-spoken Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor with a long establishment resume, Clinton opted for a steady and experienced hand who she hopes will offer a clear alternative to Trump's volatile campaign and his Republican vice presidential choice Mike Pence. "Senator Tim Kaine is everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not. He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one," Clinton told the Miami crowd. Trump was unimpressed, saying on Twitter he had watched the joint appearance and "ISIS and our other enemies are drooling. They don't look presidential to me!" In his speech, Kaine said he was an optimist and described his childhood in Kansas City helping his father in his metal-working shop and his Catholic mission to Honduras, where he helped teenagers with carpentry and welding and they taught him Spanish. FAITH, FAMILY AND WORK He said in Honduras he learned the values "Fe, familia, y trabajo" -- faith, family, and work. Kaine became emotional when he recalled the 2007 shooting deaths of 32 people at Virginia Tech University during his stint as governor, calling it the worst day of his life. He promised to take on the National Rifle Association and fight for "common sense" gun control. Judith Sweeney, 58, from West Park, Florida, said she knew little about Kaine before attending the speech but was impressed by his resume and liked his civil rights work and school reform efforts. "Wonderful, very experienced, an innovator," she said. Peter Daou, a former adviser to Clinton who now owns a media company, said Kaine's speech would turn around some of the doubters about the choice. "The combination of his tone, his demeanor, his life story -it just said a lot about her capacity to choose the right person and not listen to pressure from the outside," he said. Clinton is hoping Kaine will help her appeal to independents and moderates, but some supporters of Clinton's Democratic primary rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, were dismayed by the choice because of Kaine's past advocacy for an Asian free-trade pact. But in a nod to party liberals, the Clinton campaign said Kaine will not support the final version of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership, which is pending in the Senate. A spokeswoman for Kaine confirmed his opposition to the pact. The decision drew cheers from liberal groups and labor leaders. "We're glad to see the Clinton-Kaine ticket taking steps to campaign on big, bold, populist ideas that voters want to hear from Democrats," said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progessive Change Campaign Committee. Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, said Kaine's decision to join Clinton in opposing the trade pact "sets an irretrievable, progressive path forward for America." In picking Kaine, Clinton passed over liberal candidates who would have generated more grassroots enthusiasm like U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Hispanic Cabinet members Julian Castro and Thomas Perez. Clinton tried to reassure party liberals, offering an extended list of Kaine's efforts on behalf of low-income workers, education and civil rights, and for expanded gun control laws and immigration reform. "He fights for the people he represents, and he delivers real results," Clinton said, applying one of her favorite self-descriptions to him. "When I say he's a progressive who likes to get things done, I mean it." Sanders supporters lost their bid to eliminate or reduce the influence of superdelegates, party leaders who are not bound to any candidate, during a meeting of the convention rules committee in Philadelphia. Sanders had complained about the superdelegates, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton. But enough committee members backed the effort to let them take the fight to the convention floor during next week's convention, participants said. (Editing by Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Iraq: A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 15 people in a Shiite area of northern Baghdad on Sunday, security and medical officials said. The bombing, which struck near a checkpoint in the Kadhimiyah area, home to a major Shiite shrine, also wounded at least 29 people, the officials said. IS issued a statement claiming the attack, saying it targeted soldiers and pro-government paramilitaries in the area. The jihadist group frequently carries out attacks on security forces, and also often targets members of Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, whom it considers heretics. An IS suicide bomber struck shoppers in Baghdad's central Karrada district earlier this month, killing 292 people. The group also claimed an attack on a Shiite shrine in Balad, north of the capital, that left 40 dead a few days later. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained significant ground and are conducting operations to set the stage for the battle to recapture Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country. The jihadists have responded to the battlefield setbacks by striking civilians, and experts have warned there may be more such attacks as the jihadists continue to lose ground. Beijing: China on Sunday asked Japan to restrain itself from interfering in the South China Sea dispute, saying Tokyo should instead consider its "shameful history" before accusing it of expansionist behaviour in the strategic region. China took exception to Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks that he would discuss the dispute over territorial claims with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Kishida had said he would talk about the maritime dispute if he gets a chance to meet Wang during the series of foreign ministers' meeting involving Asean and other Asian countries. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that the arbitration by a UN-backed international panel based in The Hague was "illegal and invalid" from beginning to the end. China has rejected the ruling by The Permanent Court of Arbitratioon on a case brought before it by Philippines after years of negotiations between the two countries. It had also refused to participate in the arbitration process, claiming the tribunal lacks jurisdiction. The Chinese spokesperson said that China's rejection of the award was "indeed in accordance with the international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea." "Japan is not a party to the South China Sea issue, and considering its shameful history, it has no rights whatsoever to accuse China on the matter," state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted him as saying. The court found that China had no basis for its expansive claims to territorial waters of the South China - through which more than USD 5 trillion in trade passes annually - around the Philippines. It has similar claims against other Asean nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia. China and Japan have had a rather frosty relationship over a range of matters - including historical and economic issues. Bilateral ties also strained due to a territorial row over a group of islands, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. The issue ignites nationalist passions in both countries. Los Angeles: Wildfires burned out of control in mountains north of Los Angeles and near Big Sur on California's scenic Central Coast, posing a threat to 2,000 homes and a sanctuary for exotic animals which was being evacuated, authorities said. Southern California firefighters yesterday toiled in another day of triple-digit heat from a dome of high pressure over the region, and while Central Coast temperatures were more moderate, conditions included winds and low humidity. The fire in northern Los Angeles County grew to more than 17 square miles, spreading smoke across the city and suburbs, reducing the sun to an orange disk at times. Containment was estimated at just 10 per cent. The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that at times air would reach unhealthy levels. Suburban Glendale closed its municipal pools due to air quality and falling ash. The fire erupted Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita near State Route 14 as the region was gripped by high heat and very low humidity. Winds pushed it into the adjacent Angeles National Forest. The fire was a threat to 1,000 homes by yesterday afternoon and those communities were advised to pay attention to news, said Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp. "But if we were to get very extreme fire behavior we're up to 45,000 homes ... mainly down in the San Fernando Valley," Tripp said. Neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles lie along the so-called urban-wildland interface at the northeast edge of the valley. Tripp said the Los Angeles fire chief was ready to join the incident command. Hundreds of county and Angeles National Forest firefighters battled the blaze, aided by three dozen water-dropping helicopters and retardant-dropping airplanes. Some 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest. The sanctuary's Facebook page appealed for donations of flatbed and enclosed trucks as well as an air-conditioned warehouse to house the animals. Over many years, the sanctuary has cared for thousands of animals ranging from lions and tigers to primates and exotic birds. Metrolink train service in the area was halted Friday and on yesterday was subject to delays. Paris: French President Francois Hollande was to meet the president of the European Commission on Sunday to discuss Britain's decision to leave the European Union. The dinner meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker comes just days after Hollande received the new British Prime Minister Theresa May. Juncker and Hollande were to discuss Brexit and prepare for reforms to be presented at an informal summit of EU leaders to take place in Bratislava in September, newspaper Le Figaro reported. They were also to discuss security, after a terrorist attack in Nice, France, that left 84 people dead. May succeeded David Cameron, who stepped down after failing to convince constituents of his "Remain" position in a June 23 referendum on Britain's EU membership. Before arriving to Paris on Thursday, she had travelled to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During May's visit to Paris, Hollande had reiterated France's position that London should begin the formal exit process as soon as possible, and said that there was no way for Britain to have access to the single market without respecting other European norms like freedom of movement. London's new government must invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to trigger a two-year period to negotiate Britain's departure from the 28-member bloc. Beijing: Finance officials of major economies pledged on Sunday to boost sluggish global growth but announced no joint initiatives and promised to defend against the shockwaves of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. In a joint statement after a two-day meeting, envoys of the Group of 20 also rejected trade protectionism, an issue that has risen in prominence as US Republication presidential candidate Donald Trump has talked about restricting access to American markets. The United States, China, Britain, Germany and other governments at the meeting in Chengdu in western China pledged to use spending, monetary policy and regulatory reforms to strengthen growth. They promised to strengthen communication and cooperation but announced no joint action, as some financial traders had hoped. "We are taking action to boost confidence and promote growth," said the statement. It promised to use "any and all policy instruments" to achieve "strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth objectives." US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said ahead of the meeting that it was not the right time for coordinated action similar to that in 2008-09 following the global crisis because economies face different conditions. The gathering of finance ministers and central bank governors took place against a backdrop of a weak global recovery, tension over Chinese exports of low-priced steel and Britain's EU vote, which jolted global markets. Sunday's statement called for a "close partnership" between Britain and its European neighbours in the event British leaders go through with plans to leave the trade bloc. On Friday, the director-general of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde called for quick action to end uncertainty about the British-EU split. She said that turmoil prompted the IMF to cut its forecast of this year's global growth by 0.1 percentage points. The referendum "increased global economic uncertainty," said Sunday's statement. "G20 members are ready to actively respond to the potential economic and financial impact brought by the British referendum," it said. "In the future, we hope to see Britain as a close partner of the EU." The envoys also pledged to avoid devaluing currencies to boost exports. "We will oppose all forms of protectionism," the statement said. Trump, who was named the Republican Party's nominee for president on Friday, setting up a race with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, has stirred alarm about the trade by calling for measures to protect American industry, though he has given no details. Sunday's G20 statement also cited the importance of reducing excess production capacity in steel and other industries that have led to a glut of supply and depressed prices. That is a source of tension between China and trading partners that accuse Beijing of exporting steel at improperly low prices, hurting competitors and threatening a loss of jobs. Beijing has announced plans to shrink its coal and steel industries, eliminating millions of jobs. The United States has imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel and European officials have launched trade probes. Lew emphasised US interest in seeing progress on that during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Lou Jiwei, according to Lew's department. AMMAN Several people were killed when a mortar bomb hit a restaurant in the government-controlled ancient quarter of the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday, a monitor and a witness said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said dozens were also wounded in the attack. A witness told Reuters there were at least six dead in the restaurant in the Bab Touma district of Damascus. Mortar attacks on government-controlled areas of Damascus from rebel-held areas just outside it are relatively rare. (Reporting by Kinda Makieh in Damascus writing by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; editing by Mark Heinrich) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Melbourne: A 25-year-old Muslim girl in New Zealand was left embarrassed after she applied for a job at a jewellery shop and was told it was a "waste of time" unless she removed her hijab. Mona Alfadli, who applied for a job as a sales assistant at Steward Dawsons in Auckland, was told by a prospective manager 'not to bother applying' because of her headscarf. "I felt embarrassed as it took a lot of courage to walk into the shop and speak to the manager regarding a job, especially since I was afraid of the rejection," Alfadli said. Alfadli, who lives in Avondale, has been looking for a job after completing her diploma in applied computer system engineering. She said her aspirations for her life in New Zealand was to find a "safe" home for herself and her family, who settled in the country as refugees from Kuwait in 2008. "I can do any job, I don't mind, but I will keep my hijab, I will keep my identity, and respect my culture and my religion," Alfadli was quoted as saying 'The New Zealand Herald'. She said she was told it was a "waste of time" if she would not remove her hijab. It was second incident at the jewellery store where in October former Kelston Girls College deputy head Fatima Mohammadi was turned away from an interview at the jewellery chain's Henderson branch because of her hijab. Stewart Dawsons group chief financial officer Kevin Turner said he was "devastated" to learn of the latest incident. "The manager in question is new to the company, so she hadn't been with us for very long. Having said that she should have known better, she was not following company policy. We are taking this absolutely seriously, it's not okay and we will be following it up in the appropriate manner," Turner said, adding that the company would apologise to Alfadli. Last year, Muslim-American woman Samantha Elauf successfully sued Abercrombie & Fitch when they refused to hire her because her headscarf apparently violated the company's 'look policy'. The case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, where justices ruled eight to one in Elauf's favour. Los Angeles: Thousands of homes were evacuated on Sunday, as two massive wildfires raged in tinder-dry California hills and canyons. Authorities also said one burned body was found in a neighborhood swept by the flames. Since Friday, firefighters have been working a fire up and down ridgelines that has blackened 31-square miles of brush on the edge of Santa Clarita and the Angeles National Forest. About 300 miles up the coast, crews were battling another blaze across 10-square miles north of the majestic Big Sur region. The body of a man was discovered inside a burned sedan on Saturday evening outside a home in Santa Clarita, just north of Los Angeles. There was no evidence the death was crime-related, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said, as the investigation continued. The area was among those ordered to be evacuated as the fire raged through brush withered by days of 100-degree temperatures as Southern California sweltered through a heat wave. After flames driven by gusty winds swept through an evacuated neighborhood, firefighters reported that some buildings had been engulfed, but it was not immediately clear whether they were homes, outbuildings or garages, said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for the US Fire Service. Late on Sunday night, he said the area was still unsafe. "You've still got hotspots in that area, a lot of smouldering stuff," and trees that might fall because their roots had burned, Judy said. More than 900 firefighters and water-dropping helicopters battled the flames overnight on several fronts. "It's not a one-direction type of fire," Judy said. "It's going in different directions depending on which way the wind is blowing. It's doing what it wants." Despite firefighters' efforts, the blaze destroyed sets at Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita, which has Old West-style buildings used for movie locations. "It was a horrific firestorm," owner Derek Hunt told KABC-TV. "At some point, you know you're defeated and you have to step back and save what you can. We fought as best as we could." Smoke and ash from the fire cast a pall over neighboring Los Angeles. Air quality officials advised people with respiratory problems to stay indoors. Bengal tigers and a mountain lion were among several hundred animals evacuated, as flames partially ringed the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures in Sylmar. LOS ANGELES A fast-moving wildfire that has forced hundreds of people to flee from their homes in the drought-parched foothills northwest of Los Angeles had blackened some 20,000 acres by Saturday evening and was threatening homes, fire officials said. The so-called Sand Fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday and spread quickly near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of Los Angeles, forcing the evacuation of some 300 people. As darkness fell across Southern California on Saturday the blaze was only 10 percent contained, throwing a pall of thick black smoke over much of Los Angeles. Residents posted pictures on social media of the sun blotted out by the towering plumes and the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory, warning of unhealthy air conditions in the region. One firefighter sustained a minor injury but as of Saturday morning no structures had been destroyed, officials said. No deaths have been reported. "Because this is the fifth year of an ongoing drought we have a lot dry vegetation," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told a news conference. "Some of these fuels, they haven't burned in decades. This fire has increased to about 11,000 acres just overnight." Some 900 firefighters were battling the flames in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius), with the aid of 28 helicopters and eight fixed-winged aircraft. But fire managers said crews were struggling in very rugged terrain as they tried to defend homes in the community of Little Tujunga and stop the spreading blaze that is burning through chaparral and brush. Evacuation shelters have been set up for residents in the area and about 10 roads have been closed due to the fire. A number of roads in and out of foothill communities were shut down. The fire is one of a series this summer that have hit the drought-stricken state, where dried grass and bush land as well as high temperatures have helped fuel the blazes. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Bernard Orr and Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. KABUL A rocket hit an area of central Kabul on Sunday, an interior ministry official said, triggering alarms in foreign embassies that were on high alert following a suicide attack a day earlier in which 80 people died. The rocket hit an empty school building but caused no casualties, the official said. (Reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Washington: The mother of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who died during the 2012 Benghazi attacks, in a letter to the New York Times asked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to stop talking about her son's death. "I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection," Mary Commanday wrote in the letter, which was published on Saturday. "I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign," the letter added. The Benghazi attacks were frequently mentioned in speeches at this week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where speakers used it to reason that presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is unfit for the presidency, CNN reported. Clinton was Secretary of State at the time of the attacks took place on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya. Some conservatives blame Clinton and the Obama administration for security failures in Benghazi that they blame for the deaths of Stevens and three other Americans. At one point during the convention, another victim's mother, Pat Smith, spoke before the audience and blamed Clinton for the death of her son, IT expert Sean Smith, CNN added. Ankara: Turkey has arrested a key aide to the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was accused by Ankara of plotting the failed coup attempt, local media reported on Saturday. Halis Hanci, designated as Gulen's henchman, came to Turkey two days before the coup attempt, Xinhua reported. He has distributed money to Gulen, who has been living in the US since 1999. Turkish authorities earlier on Saturday detained Mohammet Sait Gulen, one of Gulen's nephews, NTV reported. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly demanded the extradition of the cleric and the government has filed an official request with the US for it. The failed coup attempt, which began on 15 July, was crushed the next day; at least 290 people, including more than 100 "coup plotters," were killed, authorities said. In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen talked about Taiwanese-mainland relations, Taiwan independence, U.S.-Taiwan relations and the reason for Taiwans rejection of the international arbitration of the South China Sea dispute. In the rare, one-on-one interview Tsai's first since assuming office she said her party expected Chinese President Xi Jinping to show a greater flexibility in handling cross-strait relations while recognizing that the island nation's democratically elected legislators are obligated to respect public opinion. In response to the question of whether Xi has a certain deadline for her to accept the "1992 consensus" in which both sides insist there is one China but agree to disagree on what this means Tsai said it isnt likely that the government of Taiwan will accept a deadline for conditions that are against the will of the people." "I hope that [Xi] can appreciate that Taiwan is a democratic society in which the leader has to follow the will of the people," she said. Taiwan-mainland relations Around the time of the inauguration, Tsai the first woman to hold Taiwan's presidency said she tried to narrow the gap between the two sides in terms of bilateral relations, and that she hoped Beijing had recognized her goodwill efforts. Over this past period we have handled relations with China very carefully," she said. "We do not take provocative measures, we make sure that there are no surprises, and we hope that through channels of communication, we can gradually build up trust." Independence, unification Because many young Taiwanese people are more pro-independence than older generations, the Post reporter said, they think of themselves as being distinctly Taiwanese, and not Chinese. It could be difficult for Tsai to balance the pressure to please her followers with the need to maintain stable cross-strait relations, the report suggested. Different generations and people of different ethnic origins have different views on China," Tsai said. "But they all agree on one thing that is democracy. US-Taiwan relations On the question of U.S.-Taiwan relations, Tsai said that regardless of whether Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton won the upcoming presidential election, she hoped to develop closer relations and mutually beneficial relations. She also said she hoped the United States would provide military support to Taiwan, including submarines, ships and air defense apparatus, as well as network security. South China Sea dispute Lastly, Tsai reiterated Taiwan's refusal to accept a Hague tribunal's recent ruling on South China Sea arbitration, which was decided in favor of the Philippines. We will not accept their decision," she said. "There are a couple of reasons for that. Taiwan is an important interested party in this case, but we were not invited to participate in the proceedings. Secondly, we found it unacceptable that we were referred to as the Taiwan Authority of China. The third reason is that [Taiping Island really is] an island. Tsai went on to elaborate on Taiwans position regarding the South China Sea dispute, which she said should be settled peacefully based on international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Taiwan should be included in multilateral dispute settlement mechanisms, she added, saying that all countries involved are obliged to maintain freedom of flight and navigation throughout the disputed maritime region. Taiwan advocates "shelving disputes and seeking common development," she said. The Hong Kong Book Fair 2016 is scheduled to close tomorrow. The Cultural Affairs Bureau along with the Macao Foundation and other local organizations are attending the cultural event for the sixth year in a row. According to a report by Jornal Cheng Pou, nearly 1,000 books published in Macau had been presented at the fair. Several lectures featuring Macaus publishing industry were also presented at the event, focusing on how western printing technology came to Macau through priests. The book fair has taken place now for 27 years, having attracted participants from 30 countries and regions. This year alone, more than 600 exhibitors were present. New facilities for police dog squad The Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) will build new headquarters for the police dog unit of Unidade Tactica de Intervencao da Policia (UTIP) in Coloane, according to a statement by the DSSOPT. The new building will consist of two units, including a three-storey dog apartment and one administration building. The construction site is located at the conjunction of Estrada de Hac Sa with Avenida de Luis de Camoes, occupying a total area of 2,200 square meters. The entire construction project will include outdoor training fields and police dormitories in addition to other offices. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year. New Fu Luen School campus to open in September The building of the new campus of Fu Luen School at Hac Sa is now complete, and will commence operations in September. The campus is the first initiative resulting from the citys Blue Sky Project. The campus will hold a total of 39 classes, including kindergarten and primary school levels, providing for between 800 to 1,000 local students. The schools old campus located at Rua do Campo, will be replaced by a nursery center with 300 to 400 additional vacancies to be offered. The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) together with the Macao Foundation invested over MOP305 million in the new campus. The new campus occupies 22,000 square meters, making it seven times bigger than its old space, and with a main building comprising of 12 storeys. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has presented a number of new concept proposals for the update of the Macau Grand Prix Museum last week, detailing its plan for the remodeling project. After an engineering evaluation, it was decided that the building should be remodeled while maintaining its core structure, as opposed to being rebuilt. MGTO director Helena de Senna Fernandes, deputy director Cheng Wai Tong, engineer Diamantino Torrado and architect Filipe Coutinho met with the media at the Tourism Activities Centre last week, where they unveiled the remodeling project plan. MGTO intends to remodel the entire five-storey building of the Tourism Activities Center into the Macau Grand Prix Museum, according to a statement released by MGTO. Once the remodeling is complete, the total floor area of the museum will be expanded by six times to a total of 16,000 square meters. According to the same statement, MGTO has calculated preliminary costs for the remodeling based on current market prices, amounting to approximately MOP19,000 per square meter or MOP304 million in total. MGTO wrote in the statement that the remodeling project mainly consists of a consultation service for an electrical and mechanical equipment plan, a fire protection plan, an air conditioning and ventilation system plan, a structural plan, water supply, drainage and a piping system plan. Among those outlined, the office has only completed the public tender for the consultation service. The other areas will be opened for tender some time early next year, according to MGTOs expectations, with the hope that the museum will be opened to the public by the end of 2018. The museum will feature a racing vehicle display, a movie theatre, a wax figure display, a cultural and creative zone as well as an interactive family zone, all with the aim of raising awareness of and interest in the Grand Prix event among residents and tourists. DB The overseas Filipino workers are often called the unsung heroes of their families as they choose to pack up for a distant foreign land, live abroad and leave their families behind to work toward fulfilling their families dreams. Despite the hardships at work and the fact that they are holders of only a work permit (commonly known as a blue-card), some Filipino parents based in Macau try to keep their children with them, facing legal hurdles and other obstacles. The increased cost of living in the region makes sustaining this family unity even harder. Libby Anover, a household worker for 22 years, opted to raise her children who were born in Macau even though her expenses sometimes exceed her salary. Along with her husband, Allan Anover, who currently works in a Food and Beverage department in one of the leading gaming resorts in the region, they have been raising their twins in the city for 13 years. We really decided to raise them here because I can see a lot of our Filipino friends who are really struggling because they are far away from their family, said the Anovers. I myself grew up without my dad because he was a seaman and we were just so estranged from each other, Libby Anover said. Although the couple admitted that raising children here in Macau is difficult and expensive, the hardships do not matter to them, as it is one of their chosen priorities to witness their childrens growth and development. The couple said it still surprises them that they can overcome the difficulties they are experiencing and manage each day as it passes. Resources-wise, [] the finances are limited. We can say that whenever we spend, it should go somewhere important. We set aside our personal wants [because] we have to prioritize our childrens needs and then utility bills, explained Allan Anover. It doesnt matter if were able to save money or not because the important thing is that were together, he added. The couple admitted that after they made the decision to be with their children in Macau they have never pursued their personal wants because theyd rather spend the money on the familys basic expenses. Its like youre working but you cant buy anything. Youd set it aside for the most important needs, stressed Libby Anover. Another couple echoed the sentiments, emphasizing the importance of staying together as a family. Thats how family is supposed to be. It has to be whole, it has to be together, said Ayrelyn Benas who also gave birth to her children in Macau. The expenses are high, its hard to save, so they [the children] are then our investment, she added. Benas, whose three children are studying at a local Chinese school, considered it wise to raise her children in the region despite the increasing living costs. You can guide them [here], unlike when they are far away from you. You might be sending money but theyre not studying. If theres a chance to be together, why not? said Benas who works in a restaurant that was previously distinguished by the reputed Michelin guide. The mother also revealed there are some activities and competitions in schools, which their children are not eligible to join since they are non-local. Yet since the competition prizes come from government entities, she understood that the government prioritizes residents. However she noted that some of the local foundations have acknowledged her childrens academic excellence and as a result they have been receiving cash prizes. Another parent, Gigilyn Tambot, stressed to the Times through a phone interview that there is a great need for non-resident workers with families here to be thrifty. She admitted to avoiding family activities such as visiting Hong Kong Disneyland since they have to save for her daughters tuition fees. We dont give [in to] the wants of our daughters but we explain to them, said Tambot, who works in a resort in the region. You can always find money but you cant buy the moments spent on your children. Its very important for a family to stay together, she concluded. The blue-card holders the Times interviewed also hoped that the government could also support them in several ways. The parents admitted that the high rental costs constitute a substantial amount to their expenses. According to Libby Anover, there is a great need for non-skilled foreign workers to work hard for their living costs if they live with their family in the region, as Macau, unlike other countries, does not provide support to its foreign workers. The parents noted that their primary school children, whose visas are attached to their current working visas, are studying in Chinese public schools and are paying MOP4,500 to MOP6,000 a year. Meanwhile, Libby Anover explained that her employers had to help her to prepare her childrens visas with the assistance of a lawyer as their application was rejected the first time. Tambot said if it were not for her previous employers support, it is unlikely that her daughters visas would have been approved. In contrast, another parent, Myrelle Saddi, said the reunion visa applications of her sons were rejected. She explained that she applied for an attachment of her two sons visas to her working visa, as her husband is also working in the region. However, she said the immigration department denied their application because their monthly earnings were insufficient. Saddi also shared her struggle in keeping their newborn baby in Macau, stressing that two of their relatives have been alternately coming to the region to help them take care of the infant since their work permit does not entitle them to have a quota to hire a helper. At least they should give the non-resident people [workers] a chance to be with their kids. Whether the baby was born here or not, she explained. Several parents who gave birth in the region find it problematic to care for their children in Macau, as it is impossible for them to legally hire a helper. On an online platform for the Filipino community in Macau numerous parents are looking for people on tourist visas to help look after their children. According to a parent who did not want to be identified, some would resort to hiring an overstay tourist to solve the problem. Lynzy Valles Provincial authorities in northern China said yesterday that they have suspended four local officials for inadequately responding to floods over the past week that killed 114 people and left 111 others missing. The Hebei provincial government said on its official microblog account that it was suspending the head of a development zone in the city of Xingtai, the chief engineer of a city transport bureau and two other bureaucrats. The move comes as Chinas government has been fighting massive flooding this summer that has also threatened embankments along rivers in central China, with authorities mobilizing troops and heavy equipment to fill the gaps. Already, 576 people have been recorded as dead or missing nationwide in the first half of the year. President Xi Jinping last week warned the country to be prepared for more hardship to come and said officials found negligent in their duties would be severely punished. In Hebei, the officials were being suspended for being ineffective in flood prevention and rescue and relief work, the provincial government statement said. Xingtai was among the provinces worst-hit areas, with floods there killing 25 people and leaving 13 others missing. Villagers complained that a Xingtai official tried to cover up the casualties in an interview last week by saying no one died or was hurt. Residents also complained that officials had failed to give them sufficient warning before the flood hit. The village chief informed us about the flood situation around 2 a.m. that day, but the floodwaters had almost arrived by that time, said a villager who would only give his surname, Zhang, when reached by phone yesterday. We had no time to make preparations. We want the government to tell us the truth, including the death toll in our village, Zhang said. Reports say eight people died in his village of Daxian. The citys mayor, Dong Xiaoyu, made a public apology and bowed at a news conference Saturday, saying the government had underestimated the intensity of the rain and the risk of flooding. AP A car has rammed the fence of the landmark Erawan shrine in central Bangkok, injuring several people, in what police say was an accident and not a deliberate act. The Erawan shrine was the site of a bomb attack in August last year that killed 20 people and more than 120 injured. Police Lt. Gen. Sanit Mahathavorn, acting chief of the Bangkok metropolitan bureau, says the incident late Friday was caused by the driver who suffered a stroke and lost control. The driver has been hospitalized. The Bangkok Post daily says the injured include several tourists from Indonesia, Singapore and China. The Macau Tourism Crisis Management Office stated that it is paying close attention to the car accident. After contacting the Government Tourism Office representative in Thailand and the members of the local travel industry, there is no indication that any Macau tour groups or Macau residents have been affected by the Erawan accident. MDT/AP Think Chinas plans to build railways across central Asia will be a boon for global trade? Consider this: The mighty Trans-Siberian Railway carried about as much east-west container traffic last year as youd get on a single boat. Transit container traffic over the network amounted to 109,000 20-foot equivalent units in 2015, its owner Russian Railways said last month. The worlds biggest container ship, the MSC Oscar, can carry 19,224 TEUs and takes about two months to make the return trip from Asia to Europe. That should be a cautionary tale for those expecting great things from President Xi Jinpings plans to build a revived overland Silk Road between China and the west. Maritime trade may not be sexy, but right now its a lot cheaper to move things round the world on the high seas than on a train. Chinas existing trade is a decent guide. Freight volumes through its major ports comfortably outstrip total rail-freight traffic through its border provinces, according to data compiled by Bloomberg and that comparison heavily skews things in rails favor, given how much of the land-based traffic is domestic. To be sure, the disparity is recognized by China. Land-based spending forms the belt in Xis One Belt, One Road policy while the road, confusingly, consists of maritime projects such as a planned USD10 billion upgrade at Malacca port in Malaysia. The USD40 billion Silk Road Fund and $100 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank established by Beijing will be financing both. While China has traded with the west via central Asia since antiquity, its likely that even then ocean routes through hubs in southern India were taking the bulk of the traffic. A single Roman cargo ship could shift 350 metric tons or more, about what can be carried by 4,000 camels. Writing around the lifetime of Jesus, the Greek geographer Strabo noted that about 120 ships a year were sailing from Egypt to India. The first Roman ambassadors to China appear to have arrived by sea in the second century A.D., carrying ivory, rhinoceros horn and turtle shells that seem to have been picked up in India, Southeast Asia or Africa. For all that the global shipping industry is in the doldrums, infrastructure investors tempted to come in on Xis projects should stick to the high seas. With the exception of some much needed oil and gas-export infrastructure, most of Chinas planned investments in central Asia seem to have limited economic logic. Arguably, theyre more about deepening ties with regional governments, providing work for Chinese industrial companies and damping separatist tendencies in its own Xinjiang province. A much-touted rail link between Madrid and the Chinese city of Yiwu southwest of Shanghai had carried just eight trains-full of Spanish exports in its first 15 months in operation, El Pais newspaper reported in March. With ocean-freight rates running about a third cheaper than rail, even the offer of free advertising on Chinese state-run television for companies that use the route hasnt sparked much traffic. Long railway journeys through expansive Kazakh steppe sound terribly romantic. When it comes to real trade, though, shipping is always going to be where its at. David Fickling, Bloomberg The Twin Falls School Districts migrant summer school is about writing and math. But it's also about not picking rocks or feeding calves. At least for three short weeks. TWIN FALLS After a few months at El Milagro Housing Project, the Becerras are getting settled. They rearranged living room furniture, moving a sofa to a window and adding a second recliner at their rented home in the Twin Falls migrant complex. They decorated a table with flowers and large animal figurines. For nine years, Porfirio and Yolanda Becerra moved around the Magic Valley for work. Now, they hope to put down roots. They want their 6-year-old son, Jesus whos going into first grade to finish his elementary years at Oregon Trail Elementary School. The couple was home on a Thursday afternoon in mid-June, the second-to-last day of migrant summer school for Jesus. El Milagro was quiet until a school bus rolled up around 2:40 p.m. to drop off children. Migrant summer school was a chance for Jesus to work on academic skills such as writing letters. Sometimes, he mixes up similar letters such as b and d. Its better that hes attending school instead of being here doing nothing, Yolanda said through an interpreter. For the rest of the summer, Jesus would be at home with his mother. One big change for the family: About three weeks earlier, Porfirio got a new job at Cedar Ridge Dairy in Filer. Porfirio is happy with his new job. Unlike his past jobs, hes not working with calves. Instead, hes leading cows to milking machines. A former construction worker, restaurant cook and dairy milker, Porfirio took care of calves for about seven years at various dairies. He said he was paid like a beginner about $8 per hour at his most recent job and worked up to 10 hours per day, six days a week. Now, at Cedar Ridge, he works the morning shift, from about 4:30 a.m. to noon. He likes that schedule better because it gives him more time with his family. After four days on, he has one day off. Porfirio said hes also earning more about $13 per hour. Thats not the standard pay rate, he added, but his current boss saw Porfirio working at a past job and noticed he was a hard worker. The Times-News messages left at the dairy werent returned. Porfirio said hell receive health insurance and work clothing after three months on the job. Hell be able to earn one week of vacation time for his first year and two weeks annually after that. Hes never had paid vacation before. Porfirio wants to get his eyes checked once he has health insurance. He wants to clean out his eyes after working at dairies for years. That way, I will feel better, he said through an interpreter. Yolanda, meanwhile, is earning money by baby-sitting three boys while their parents work. Before Jesus was born, Yolanda worked at a variety of temporary jobs: cleaning hotel rooms in California, cleaning beans on overnight shifts, sorting potatoes by size. Now, shes a stay-at-home mother. She did the same with her oldest son, whos now in his early 20s. The Becerras are both from the state of Nayarit in west-central Mexico. When they first came to the U.S., they lived in Houston for seven years. They went back to Mexico for 1 1/2 years, then to California in 2000. They came in 2007 to Idaho, where Jesus was born. Porfirio said theyve gotten a work permit renewed every four years to work legally in the U.S. Now theyre applying for permanent residency. The Becerras have turned in paperwork, are getting letters of recommendation and have an interview in October in Boise. Porfirio said theyd love to buy a house someday. But there could be financial hurdles. They bought a house on Van Buren Street in 2007 but defaulted on the loan in 2011 after their mortgage payments went up to $1,000. After that experience, Yolanda said, theyll read the fine print and be more cautious. After losing their home, the couple moved to Colonia de Colores another migrant housing complex in Twin Falls for six months, then onto the dairy where Porfirio worked. Since the Becerras moved earlier this year to El Milagro on Washington Street South, theyve hosted out-of-town guests. Porfirios two sisters came up from Riverside, Calif. Later in June, Yolandas sister planned to visit from San Jose, Calif.; they hadnt seen each other in eight years. As Porfirio talked that mid-June afternoon, a fly buzzed against the living room window, and Yolanda grabbed a fly swatter from the kitchen. Later, she returned from Jesus room with a stuffed cow she bought for 99 cents. She tells her son its a cow like the ones his father works with. She propped the stuffed animal against the sofa and pushed a button. The cow sang, and the couple howled with laughter. Porfirio chimed in singing in English: Dont worry, be happy. After getting back on topic, Porfirio said he hopes everything goes smoothly with his new job and that he can stay for a long time. Another benefit of the job: the responsibilities are outlined in a contract. Porfirio likes that specifics are in writing; for instance, he must notify the owner if hes injured on the job. And his new boss speaks Spanish. The company takes excellent care of the cows, Porfirio said, as well as the employees. Workers tend to stay for a long time often three or four years, he said. His boss told him, I know you wont leave because youll like it, Porfirio said. As he talked, Yolanda cuddled with the familys dog, Dragon, a Chihuahua mix they got about six weeks earlier. As she petted it, the dog tried to bite her fingers. Later, Dragon jumped off her lap and lay on the living room floor gnawing a bone. Jesus grandfather gave him the dog, Yolanda said. The man isnt a blood relative, though. Yolanda describes him as a good family friend whos an adopted grandpa. The Becerras dont have relatives in the Twin Falls area. The adopted grandpa, who owns ponies and about 20 dogs, lives off Addison Avenue West just inside the Twin Falls city limit. He and the Becerras used to live on a dairy where he and Porfirio worked. The man brings cake and presents for Jesus birthday and sometimes, for no particular reason. The white orchid in a lime green pot in the Becerras living room is from the man and his wife. Yolanda pointed out a Spiderman bicycle helmet hanging on a hook inside the front door. It was another gift from the couple. Jesus loves Spiderman, Yolanda said. TWIN FALLS Eva Arroyo spent a Friday off work in late June catching up on errands, taking her 16-year-old son along to the bank. It was the familys first day back in Twin Falls after a weeklong trip to Mexico to get remaining items from a room they rented at Arroyos uncles apartment. The mother, father and three children came to the Magic Valley four years ago with only one suitcase enough to bring two outfits each. With no furniture, they spread blankets on the floor to sleep. But they got help from Abby Montano, migrant coordinator for the Twin Falls School District, and nonprofit organization La Posada. After this summers trip to Mexico, they could finally bring back more possessions. The most treasured items: framed photos of the three children as babies. Now, the photos hang in the familys apartment at the Colonia de Colores migrant housing complex in Twin Falls. Every time I look at the pictures and those smiles, its worth it, Arroyo said through an interpreter. She plans to give the photos to her children when they grow up. The family arrived home around midnight after their trip. Arroyo and husband Enrique Gomez finally fell asleep at 3 a.m. On Friday evening, 10-year-old Reina and 12-year-old Maria played outside with friends, while 16-year-old Juan napped on a living room sofa. Maria had gotten braces that morning something her mother saved up money for and her teeth were hurting. She pulled out a bag from her orthodontist with a toothbrush, handheld mirror and pieces of wax to put on the braces. All three children were born in Tijuana, Mexico, where they couldnt depend on free public schooling past middle school. Now, Juan is enrolled at Canyon Ridge High School, Maria at Robert Stuart Middle School and Reina at Oregon Trail Elementary. Migrant summer school ended just before the familys trip to Mexico. Arroyo wasnt sure what options existed for her children for the rest of the summer, and she was concerned about them being at home all day with nothing to do. Her work day sorting potatoes typically starts at 7 a.m., and she doesnt return home until late at night. Juan takes care of his sisters during the day, and Arroyo leaves meals in the refrigerator. Enrique takes over by late afternoon once hes off work. The one rule in the family is (the kids) cant go out until their dad is back, Arroyo said. Theres one exception: Juan, who has his drivers license, may take his sisters to the library. As Gomez stood outside the apartment that Friday evening, he held up a bright yellow shirt he wears to work with the companys name and logo. He has worked for Daron Brown Small Tractor Works for about a year. On Mondays and Tuesdays, Gomez mows lawns. On Wednesdays and Fridays, he pours concrete for new curbs. During summer its busy, he said through an interpreter. As long as theres work, we try to take advantage of that. Arroyo had been coming home late from her job at Eagle Eye Produce in Twin Falls anywhere from 5 to 9 p.m. Right now, theres obviously a ton of work, she said, with separating potatoes that are rotten or have a lot of roots. But theres a promising change, she said: New management has indicated workers will have year-round work instead of being laid off for a few weeks each summer. When Gomez and Arroyo first came to the U.S., they stayed about a month in Jerome Arroyo working at a potato plant and her husband washing cow-cleaning rags for a dairy. Then Gomez stayed behind for a year working, while Arroyo took the children back to Mexico. In 2013, the mother and children came back to Twin Falls. All five family members have permanent residency in the U.S., Arroyo said. If I was not legal, I would not take the risks of all the things involved to get to this country. She said she wants people to know theyre a hard-working family trying to better their lives. Even when the family lived in Tijuana, Mexico 15 minutes from the U.S. border Arroyo didnt want to jump the line, she said. Now, the Gomez Arroyos want to put down roots in Twin Falls. Still, they qualify for another three years in the Twin Falls School Districts migrant program because Arroyo briefly worked in onion fields in December in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Montano, the migrant liaison, helped the Gomez Arroyos get library cards at the Twin Falls Public Library. The migrant program also helped connect the family with a Boise nonprofit that donates computers to Idaho students; the children needed a computer to do homework. When Juan got his drivers license this year, the school districts migrant program offered to help cover that expense. But Arroyo said it doesnt sit well with her to be asking for every little thing. She doesnt want her family to be a burden. The migrant liaisons have children, too, so Arroyo said shes conscious of calling too often or asking for too much help. They always want to tend to our needs. Montano lives near the family, so she can swing by if they need anything, Arroyo said. Arroyo also loves the districts other two migrant liaisons, Carmen Castillo and Lucinda Padilla. During the school year, migrant liaisons help Gomez and Arroyo communicate with their childrens teachers. Without (the liaisons) being diligent, its hard to know whats going on in the classroom, said Arroyo, who has an elementary-level education. Until this school year, Reina was getting failing marks, Arroyo said. But because she excels at music and dance, Montano approached the teacher who leads Oregon Trail Elementarys choir. After joining choir, Reina earned As and one B, her mother said. The motivation: If Reina didnt keep up her grades, she wouldnt be allowed to participate in choir. Before the family left for Mexico, Montano called to check in just before she took three weeks off. The family and Montano didnt communicate during the trip to Tijuana because cell phone coverage was spotty, Arroyo said. Migrant liaisons help out of the goodness of their heart, Arroyo said, and even answer their phones on Saturdays and Sundays. We dont know where wed be without the migrant program. TWIN FALLS With paper cutters and tape, Jose Juarez and his middle school peers made marble mazes on a June afternoon. But once migrant summer school ended, 14-year-old Jose would labor in Hazelton bean fields again. Yes, the Twin Falls School Districts migrant summer school is about writing and math. But it's also about not picking rocks or feeding calves. At least for three short weeks. The district's annual June program helps fill academic gaps for children who move frequently, and organizers say it also keeps them out of agricultural fields. But when summer school ends, many migrant students head back to work. Their summer school lessons aim to help them see beyond the fields. This is Jose's second summer of farm work, clocking in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last year, he earned $2,000 and gave it to his mother. I dont like staying at home doing nothing, the Robert Stuart Middle School student said. I like being out in the fields. The district's migrant program, however, aims to help students finish their educations and find more stable lifestyles. Some parents plan their work schedules around migrant summer school, said Abby Montano, migrant coordinator for the Twin Falls district. But after that, some families move for summer jobs perhaps in California, Texas, Minnesota or Arizona and come back to Twin Falls in the fall. Growing enrollment While the number of migrant families has dropped across Idaho, enrollment in Twin Falls' migrant summer school rose sharply this year. Normally about 100 students sign up for the summer school, which the district has offered for more than 20 years. This year, 160 registered. Parents asked the district to expand summer school to include middle schoolers, Montano said, so their children weren't home alone. This is the second year that middle schoolers were included, and their numbers doubled to 26 students. About $72,000 of the school districts $232,357 in annual federal migrant money goes toward operating summer school for students up through eighth grade. Academic instruction focuses on key subjects such as English and math. For middle schoolers, theres a stronger focus on math and science. Thats the areas where they struggle more during the school year, middle school migrant liaison Carmen Castillo said. For high schoolers, the district last year launched a summer program where they can make up lost class credits in English, math or social studies, or get extra academic help. Younger students often ask about migrant summer school during the school year and look forward to it, Montano said. About four years ago, organizers revamped it into a camp-like atmosphere with cheers and dances every day. And instruction revolves around a different theme each year. The kids are really excited because weve made that change to themes, Montano said. This summer, students went on field trips to the College of Southern Idahos outdoor challenge course, Zoo Boise, Twin Falls City Park, KMVT and a radio station, and downtown Twin Falls. Students also build friendships. Children from three families were meeting Twin Falls peers for the first time because they moved at the end of the school year from Kimberly and Filer. Its still school Migrant summer school may feel like a camp, but it still stresses academics. And it still looks like school. On June 1, the first day of summer school, a long line of parents and children formed at Oregon Trail Elementary Schools front lobby. Are we trying to find classes? a school secretary asked one family. She switched to Spanish to talk with a mother. Principal Shari Cowger stood in the junction of two hallways helping students find the correct classrooms. First and second (grades) this way, she said, pointing down a hallway. Three school buses were running late and finally arrived at nearly 9 a.m., about 30 minutes after the first bell rang. In one classroom, dozens of students in third through fifth grades found chairs at pods of four desks facing each other. Teachers Katrina Allen and Noell Bautista greeted children some of whom were former students. In the back, 16-year-old Juan Gomez Arroyo whos too old for summer school was watching his sisters' classroom along with several other helpers. The teachers were expecting 56 third- through fifth-graders, Bautista said as she cradled a large stack of notebooks in her arms the biggest group shed ever had for migrant summer school. Cowger's voice on the intercom welcomed students, quoting from a Dr. Seuss book and telling students to work hard and enjoy the experience. Make it a great day or not, she said. The choice is yours. Across the hallway, teacher Julie Delia told middle schoolers that migrant summer school would include fun activities. But she told them to take it seriously. She wrote a list of expectations on the whiteboard. The first: This is a school. Her hot-button issue is disrespect, she told students. As she explained her expectations, the classroom was completely quiet. Finally, one of her former students said: I know. I pushed it last year. Exploring careers This year's theme: A Day in the Life. Children explored career options and what steps theyd need to take to achieve their goals. On the first day, Cowger brought a stack of Career Day picture books into the third- through fifth-grade classroom. Bautista told students to keep track of their books. Were going to be moving rooms all the time. Students also received journals they wrote in every day. And throughout the three-week program, they heard from guest speakers and toured Twin Falls workplaces. Whats a career? Bautista asked on the first day. A boy raised his hand. Its like a job, he said. She asked students to share what their ideal career would be. Reina Gomez Arroyo, 10, was the first to raise her hand. Doctor, she said, and Bautista wrote that on the whiteboard. Others were interested in teaching or art. In the middle school classroom, Delia told students they have fewer than 10 years before theyll be in the workplace. Its important to find your passion, she said. Farther down the hallway, Jesus Becerra, 6, glued together pieces of yellow construction paper as he and the other kindergartners made chef hats. Teacher Erin Brittain stapled a piece of tissue paper inside each hat. One boy returned to his desk with a huge smile. Im a chef, he said. A week later, around 40 third- through fifth-graders took a field trip June 8 to downtown Twin Falls to learn about careers. After getting off a school bus at the Twin Falls School District office on Main Avenue West, students grabbed water bottles from underneath the bus. They broke into small groups, each led by a teacher. In front of Fuller Law Offices with six students, school librarian Alisa Radmall described why people may need an attorney. She gave a scenario, describing what would happen if someone robbed a bank or were falsely accused of a crime. She also described the education needed to become an attorney. Do they have to go to school for a long time? she asked. Students nodded. Their next stop: Rudys A Cooks Paradise. They sell stuff to help you cook, Radmall told students, pointing out colorful strainers displayed in the store window. Its one of Twin Falls original buildings, she said, although it wasn't always a cooking store. Look up here, Radmall said, pointing to a date on the side of the building. It says 1904. Do you see that? In front of Sav-Mor Drug, Radmall described a pharmacy's purpose: This is a place where you can get medicine to help you feel better. Students met with owners of a photography studio and Bath N Body Boutique. Inside the boutique, students petted the owners dog, but Reina was too scared and hurried past. Dont touch anything, teachers frequently told the students. Bath N Body Boutique owner Debbie Parker said the store, about three years old, sells soaps and fragrances, focusing on natural and organic products. Good customer service is an important part of business, she told students. She wants to make sure everyone who comes in has a good experience. To open a business, Parker said, you start out with your vision and dream. She saved money for 12 years to open her own store and rents the building space. It took about $100,000 in startup costs, she said, adding it typically takes three to five years for a new business to make a profit. Camp-like atmosphere Summer school has a camp-like atmosphere to make the experience more enjoyable for students particularly those who dont like school. Each morning, students gathered to do a dance and cheer. Delia told middle schoolers on the first day it may feel silly or ridiculous, but she encouraged them to help younger children. Sometimes when we are having the most fun, were being silly," she said. The class planned a trip the next day to CSIs outdoor challenge course. They also visited Zoo Boise later in June, and students were particularly excited about riding on a charter bus. Those look legit, one girl commented, and her classmates laughed. Life skills Beyond academic instruction, summer school students learned life skills. On Tuesday of the second week, kindergartners through second-graders listened to a nutrition lesson from Carol Biggers of the University of Idahos Extension office. She told students they should eat whole-grain breads and pastas, which are healthier for our bodies" and have more fiber, vitamins and minerals. Who likes pasta? Biggers asked about 40 students, and nearly all raised their hands. She also talked about limiting sweets, calling a doughnut a once-in-a-while treat. Biggers quizzed students by holding up empty, collapsed cereal boxes and asking them to give a thumbs up or down to indicate whether its a whole-grain cereal. Demonstrating knowledge On June 17, the last day of summer school, it was time for students to demonstrate what they learned for their families. Third- through fifth-graders were getting ready for a dance performance girls in white shirts and colorful skirts, boys in sombreros and fake bow ties made of ribbon. Inside the gym, Montano had a huge smile. Im so happy, she said, looking around at dozens of parents and children who came for the open house. All my families came. As an exchange teacher from Mexico directed about 30 students in Spanish where to stand before a dance performance, Reina twirled her skirt. She fidgeted and crossed her arms after the teacher put her in the front row. Smile, Reina, Cowger called out. Nearby, Juan waited to join the young dancers for the performance. After the show, parents followed students back to their classrooms to see their projects. In one hallway, middle schoolers displayed poster boards about careers and demonstrated the paper marble mazes they created. Kindergartners waited anxiously for their parents to pick them up. One boy stood out in a hallway, repeatedly calling out, Mommy? Earlier that day, elementary schoolers sat on a grassy lawn behind the school under the shade of trees. They watched as middle schoolers tested their hot air balloons made of tissue paper. Montano passed around a glue stick for last-minute repairs. Two employees turned on a portable propane stove and held each balloon over it to heat it. Then they gently gave the balloon a push to send it into the air. Some of the balloons had holes and didnt go far. But others sailed farther, and with each successful run, children cheered and clapped. Once or twice, they chased hot air balloons that soared above the playground. A few balloons landed on the school roof, where a custodian waited to retrieve them. Jose tried out his hot air balloon that day. But soon, hed be back in the farm fields. Its a tiring job. At the end of a work day, he said, I just want to take a shower and lay down. But Jose, born in Twin Falls, has bigger dreams: becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. I like protecting my country. TWIN FALLS Theres a strong demand for health care workers, but two College of Southern Idaho programs have fewer applicants than usual. With the start of fall semester only a month away, the medical assistant and surgical technology programs are seeing lagging numbers and have extended application deadlines. Whats causing the drop in interest? A strong economy across south-central Idaho and a low unemployment rate, hovering around 3 percent, a CSI dean says. When people have an easier time finding a job, theres often fewer applicants for college programs, CSI instructional dean Jayson Lloyd said. Thats the cyclical nature of education. But here in the Gem State, health science is among five college degree areas that will be in the highest demand by 2018, according to report released two years ago by Idaho Business for Education. And jobs typically offer solid starting salaries and benefits. Health care fields are very rewarding and they are very high paying, said Rene Rambur, a CSI student adviser for health sciences and human services. CSI announced last week that applications for the medical assistant program are due Aug. 1. Fall semester starts three weeks later on Aug. 22. Certified medical assistants help patients feel at ease in doctors offices and explain physicians instructions. They assist with clerical duties, insurance billing and coding, minor in-office procedures, and other administrative and clinical tasks. Once students complete the 10-month program at CSI, they must pass a credential exam. The average yearly wage is $31,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Traditionally, theres about 25 applicants for 12 slots in the medical assistant program. Rambur didnt have applicant numbers available Friday for fall semester. Ultimately, we want to choose the best candidates for those positions, she said, so students have the best opportunity for success. For the surgical technology program, June 1 is typically the application deadline. But with only 10 applicants for the program which can take up to 14 prospective students can still apply. A lack of applicants for surgical technology programs is a statewide trend, Rambur said. And here in south-central Idaho, its good to let people in this valley know that theres a great opportunity to get a high-paying job, Lloyd said. Median pay for surgical technologists is $44,330 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For both the medical assistant and surgical technology programs, students must meet prerequisites, including taking certain classes such as anatomy and physiology. And they must go through a rigorous application process. More than a dozen other CSI health science programs are full for the fall semester. And theres an especially huge interest in registered nursing. For fall, the number of RN applications was one of the highest in three years, Rambur said. The nursing program is moving forward quite well. A cohort of 50 RN students will start in August. In June 2015, CSI announced it wouldnt accept applicants for its RN program for the two semesters. Thats because the college eliminated its waiting list. Students who were on the list were enrolled in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters. But applications were accepted again started in January. For the RN program, 80 percent of seats are awarded based on a point system, factoring in a students academics and portfolio. The other 20 percent are filled on a lottery system among students who reach a minimum number of portfolio points. Students must show academic competency to be accepted into health science programs, Rambur said. I think that sometimes intimidates or deters some people. Lloyd suggests students who are interested in health science programs to start planning. For example, prospective students for a paramedic program that starts in January must apply by Oct. 1. If youre interested, talk to an adviser now, Lloyd said. A lot of programs have pre-requisites students need to have done. Albert Hunt By choosing Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate, Hillary Clinton opted for governing credentials over political pizzazz. Kaine, a former governor of his swing state, is an experienced public official and mature moderate who could step into the presidency. And while Kaines home-state popularity may have figured in his selection, he lacks what some party activists say Clinton most needs: excitement and enthusiasm, something that the first female presidential nominee has yet to generate. Earlier this week, in an interview with PBSs Charlie Rose, she said she was afflicted with the responsibility gene in picking a running mate. Kaine is a responsible choice. He has a lot in common with his Republican counterpart, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana. Both are deeply religious, Kaine a Roman Catholic, Pence an evangelical Christian. Both have been state chief executives and members of Congress. Both have about two decades of political experience under their belts, and both are relatively mild-mannered and temperamentally ill-suited for the role of leading attacks against their opponents. Thats something the principals dont need much help with, anyway. The Virginian is respected by Republican and Democratic senators. He got high grades as mayor of Richmond from 1998-2001, presiding over falling crime, and as governor from 2006-2010. He also served briefly as national Democratic chairman. By Virginia standards hes a progressive, and was once considered too liberal to win statewide. He favors gun control, opposes the death penalty and, in tobacco country, initiated anti-smoking measures. Left-wing activists have lobbied against his selection. They note his general support of free-trade measures and charge that he hasnt been hostile enough to Wall Street and big banks. Bernie Sanders, in an interview with me for Roses PBS program a few weeks ago, made it clear that he didnt think Kaine should be Clintons choice. While praising his Virginia colleague as a very decent guy, he said Clintons running mate should be a very strong progressive who has a history of standing up to big-money interests. He left no doubt that Kaine didnt meet that standard, A strong asset Kaine brings to the ticket is fluency in Spanish; he gave the first Senate speech entirely in that language. Democrats are putting exceptional emphasis on turning out Latino voters this autumn, hoping to benefit from Donald Trumps scornful comments about Mexican immigrants. Kaine also has been a voice on national security, serving on both the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. He is especially passionate about requiring congressional authorization for military actions, particularly in the war against the Islamic state. He is a practicing Catholic who took a year off from Harvard Law School to volunteer with Jesuits in Honduras. Hes married to Ann Holton, the Virginia Secretary of Education and daughter of Linwood Holton, the first elected Republican governor in Virginia history. Virginia has lax ethics rules and, as governor, Kaine accepted some free trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors. His successor, Bob McDonnell, a Republican, was convicted for taking lavish gifts amid charges of quid-pro-quo arrangements. The conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in a case that turned on subtle differences between corruption and legal influence peddling. Trump undoubtedly will seize on this and try to paint Kaine as crooked. But any parallel to McDonnell is flawed; there was no suggestion of any quid pro quo in Kaines case. Republicans and Democrats have both praised Kaines integrity. The following editorial appears in Saturdays Washington Post: Donald J. Trump, until now a Republican problem, this last week became a challenge the nation must confront and overcome. The real estate tycoon is uniquely unqualified to serve as president, in experience and temperament. He is mounting a campaign of snarl and sneer, not substance. To the extent he has views, they are wrong in their diagnosis of Americas problems and dangerous in their proposed solutions. Mr. Trumps politics of denigration and division could strain the bonds that have held a diverse nation together. His contempt for constitutional norms might reveal the nations two-century-old experiment in checks and balances to be more fragile than we knew. Any one of these characteristics would be disqualifying; together, they make Mr. Trump a peril. We recognize that this is not the usual moment to make such a statement. In an ordinary election year, we would acknowledge the Republican nominee, move on to the Democratic convention and spend the following months, like other voters, evaluating the candidates performance in debates, on the stump and in position papers. This year we will follow the campaign as always, offering honest views on all the candidates. But we cannot salute the Republican nominee or pretend that we might endorse him this fall. A Trump presidency would be dangerous for the nation and the world. Why are we so sure? Start with experience. It has been 64 years since a major party nominated anyone for president who did not have electoral experience. That experiment turned out pretty well but Mr. Trump, to put it mildly, is no Dwight David Eisenhower. Leading the Allied campaign to liberate Europe from the Nazis required strategic and political skills of the first order, and Eisenhower though he liked to emphasize his common touch as he faced the intellectual Democrat Adlai Stevenson was shrewd, diligent, humble and thoughtful. In contrast, there is nothing on Mr. Trumps resume to suggest he could function successfully in Washington. He was staked in the family business by a well-to-do father and has pursued a career marked by some real estate successes, some failures and repeated episodes of saving his own hide while harming people who trusted him. Given his continuing refusal to release his tax returns, breaking with a long bipartisan tradition, it is only reasonable to assume there are aspects of his record even more discreditable than what we know. The lack of experience might be overcome if Mr. Trump saw it as a handicap worth overcoming. But he displays no curiosity, reads no books and appears to believe he needs no advice. In fact, what makes Mr. Trump so unusual is his combination of extreme neediness and unbridled arrogance. He is desperate for affirmation but contemptuous of other views. He also is contemptuous of fact. Throughout the campaign, he has unspooled one lie after another that Muslims in New Jersey celebrated after 9/11, that his tax-cut plan would not worsen the deficit, that he opposed the Iraq War before it started and when confronted with contrary evidence, he simply repeats the lie. It is impossible to know whether he convinces himself of his own untruths or knows that he is wrong and does not care. It is also difficult to know which trait would be more frightening in a commander in chief. Given his ignorance, it is perhaps not surprising that Mr. Trump offers no coherence when it comes to policy. In years past, he supported immigration reform, gun control and legal abortion; as candidate, he became a hard-line opponent of all three. Even in the course of the campaign, he has flip-flopped on issues such as whether Muslims should be banned from entering the United States and whether women who have abortions should be punished. Worse than the flip-flops is the absence of any substance in his agenda. Existing trade deals are stupid, but Mr. Trump does not say how they could be improved. The Islamic State must be destroyed, but the candidate offers no strategy for doing so. Eleven million undocumented immigrants must be deported, but Mr. Trump does not tell us how he would accomplish this legally or practically. What the candidate does offer is a series of prejudices and gut feelings, most of them erroneous. Allies are taking advantage of the United States. Immigrants are committing crimes and stealing jobs. Muslims hate America. In fact, Japan and South Korea are major contributors to an alliance that has preserved a peace of enormous benefit to Americans. Immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans and take jobs that no one else will. Muslims are the primary victims of Islamist terrorism, and Muslim Americans, including thousands who have served in the military, are as patriotic as anyone else. The Trump litany of victimization has resonated with many Americans whose economic prospects have stagnated. They deserve a serious champion, and the challenges of inequality and slow wage growth deserve a serious response. But Mr. Trump has nothing positive to offer, only scapegoats and dark conspiracy theories. He launched his campaign by accusing Mexico of sending rapists across the border, and similar hatefulness has surfaced numerous times in the year since. In a dangerous world, Mr. Trump speaks blithely of abandoning NATO, encouraging more nations to obtain nuclear weapons and cozying up to dictators who in fact wish the United States nothing but harm. For eight years, Republicans have criticized President Obama for apologizing for America and for weakening alliances. Now they put forward a candidate who mimics the vilest propaganda of authoritarian adversaries about how terrible the United States is and how unfit it is to lecture others. He has made clear that he would drop allies without a second thought. The consequences to global security could be disastrous. Most alarming is Mr. Trumps contempt for the Constitution and the unwritten democratic norms upon which our system depends. He doesnt know what is in the nations founding document. When asked by a member of Congress about Article I, which enumerates congressional powers, the candidate responded, I am going to abide by the Constitution whether its number 1, number 2, number 12, number 9. The charter has seven articles. Worse, he doesnt seem to care about its limitations on executive power. He has threatened that those who criticize him will suffer when he is president. He has vowed to torture suspected terrorists and bomb their innocent relatives, no matter the illegality of either act. He has vowed to constrict the independent press. He went after a judge whose rulings angered him, exacerbating his contempt for the independence of the judiciary by insisting that the judge should be disqualified because of his Mexican heritage. Mr. Trump has encouraged and celebrated violence at his rallies. The U.S. democratic system is strong and has proved resilient when it has been tested before. We have faith in it. But to elect Mr. Trump would be to knowingly subject it to threat. Mr. Trump campaigns by insult and denigration, insinuation and wild accusation: Ted Cruzs father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; Hillary Clinton may be guilty of murder; Mr. Obama is a traitor who wants Muslims to attack. The Republican Party has moved the lunatic fringe onto center stage, with discourse that renders impossible the kind of substantive debate upon which any civil democracy depends. Most responsible Republican leaders know all this to be true; that is why Mr. Trump had to rely so heavily on testimonials by relatives and employees during this ast weeks Republican convention. With one exception (Bob Dole), the living Republican presidents and presidential nominees of the past three decades all stayed away. But most current officeholders, even those who declared Mr. Trump to be an unthinkable choice only months ago, have lost the courage to speak out. The partys failure of judgment leaves the nations future where it belongs, in the hands of voters. Many Americans do not like either candidate this year. We have criticized the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, in the past and will do so again when warranted. But we do not believe that she (or the Libertarian and Green party candidates, for that matter) represents a threat to the Constitution. Mr. Trump is a unique and present danger. Twin Falls is a great community. By and large, Twin Falls is a safe community. Twin Falls is lucky to have active, attentive, responsive law enforcement agencies working hard to make sure our citizens are safe. Every so often an issue arises that threatens to divide Twin Falls citizens against one another. The current controversy about the incident at Fawnbrook Apartments is one such issue. This case is full of emotional ingredients: a vulnerable child victim, appalling accusations, a sympathetic family and underage accused offenders. And, it has one more: The refugee issue, which is currently so important in our national debate, looms over this case because many citizens justifiably distrust and oppose the federal governments refugee policy. Who are these refugees? Where do they come from? Can we trust that they dont mean us harm? My answer: I dont know. The Twin Falls County prosecuting attorney has nothing to do with federal refugee resettlement. I am as troubled as anyone by FBI Director Comeys admission that it practically would be impossible to ensure that any given refugee entering the U.S. is not a terrorist. But, lawmakers above my grade are wrestling to square that threat against our countrys traditional role as the beacon to the oppressed. My job is much simpler: to prosecute cases in Twin Falls County against anyone who breaks the laws of our state. In doing so I dont ask where a victim or offender is from. The same laws apply to all. I attempt to do so fairly, firmly, and always according to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Idaho. These documents both empower and restrict my authority. Most citizens know and understand that juvenile cases are sealed, and that law enforcement records about ongoing cases are not released to the public. This can be frustrating when the public has a particular interest in whats happening in a given case. But, there are good reasons for these restrictions: They protect the integrity of the case its impossible to reliably investigate a case if the public and potential witnesses see the details of the police investigation in the media. They protect the identity and privacy of the victim especially in cases of sexual abuse, it is important for the recovery and treatment of the victim that they be shielded from excessive publicity. They protect the rights of the accused to a fair trial trials, especially jury trials, are susceptible to influence from the media and the public. Rules sealing cases, especially juvenile cases, are designed to limit this possibility. They protect juvenile offenders Idahos system of justice is designed to hold juvenile offenders accountable, but also to focus on rehabilitation. Excessive publicity makes these goals harder to achieve. Most citizens also know that victims and their families have certain rights. These rights are guaranteed under Idahos Constitution. They have the right to be informed about their cases; to participate in discussions about resolution of those cases; to be informed about evidence and trial preparations. In the Fawnbrook case, the victims family has been kept informed at every step of the case. They have been told that, while they cannot have copies of the police reports and evidence (for the reasons cited above), they are free to fully view these documents at any time of their choosing. This case has been and continues to be fully investigated and fully prosecuted. This is an ongoing process and, as with any case, new evidence and new analysis may change the landscape of the case as it moves through the process. Prosecutors have to walk a fine line in any criminal prosecution. We are at once the voice of the victims and the protectors of the rights of the accused. We are at once the representatives of the people and officers of the court. We are at once citizens of the community who are passionate about issues effecting its welfare and dispassionate analysts of and presenters of the facts. This line is even finer in juvenile cases or in cases where the publics emotions are justifiably touched. While no prosecutor can ever guarantee a particular outcome in any case, I can guarantee that this case has the full attention of my entire office: extremely experienced litigators and staff have been assigned to this case. This case has the full cooperation of the Twin Falls Police Department. This case will continue to be investigated and prosecuted to the limits of the law and in accordance with the evidence. And, above all, my office will continue to try to help the family, which has been so badly scarred, recover from this incident. If youre looking for a growth industry, check out Idahos food and agricultural exports: The number of jobs supported by agricultural exports has been trending upward since the 1990s. More than 1 million American jobs are supported by agricultural exports, including 24,000 jobs in Idaho. Thats a substantial part of the estimated 11.5 million jobs supported by exports all across the country. Agricultural exports help support rural communities across the country, with each dollar of exports stimulating another $1.27 in business activity. Our states agricultural exports support jobs in transportation, processing, packaging and many more areas; roughly 80 percent of these jobs are in non-farm sectors. So while the benefits of trade for Idahos rural farmers and ranchers are clear, there are also positive impacts rippling throughout the entire job market stimulating our national economy. Here in Idaho, were accustomed to producing the best agricultural goods. Our producers keep Americans fed and clothed while contributing to the food security for nations across the globe. Their hard work is a symbol of where we come from, a reflection of our shared values, and an economic driver for our states economy. For the U.S. economy as a whole, agricultural exports represent a consistent success story through good times and challenges. Agricultural exports have grown much faster over the past decade than even manufacturing exports. In fact, over the past seven years, U.S. farmers and ranchers are responsible for exporting $1 trillion in food and agricultural goods to countries around the world. At USDA, were working aggressively to maintain this historic momentum by expanding foreign markets to help drive demand for American-grown goods. Were leading more trade missions and generating more sales as a result than ever before. We have saved U.S. businesses billions of dollars by removing unfair barriers to trade. In 2015 alone, USDA resolved more than 150 trade-related issues involving U.S. agricultural exports valued at $2.4 billion. And weve worked to expand trade relations with many of the worlds fastest-growing nations. More simply, as the rest of the world continues to become more developed and populations grow, so does the demand for American agricultural exports. That is why the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement s so important to Idaho. The TPP is a 21st century trade agreement that helps to level the playing field for American businesses while ensuring the highest labor and environmental standards. U.S. trade with the 11 TPP countries accounted for 43 percent of U.S. agricultural exports in 2014, contributing $63 billion to the U.S. economy. Easier access to these markets with fewer taxes on our goods allows for even the smallest-scale producers to expand their reach. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, ratifying the TPP will boost annual net farm income in the United States by $4.4 billion. The TPP also removes 3,900 taxes on U.S. agricultural goods, such as beef, wheat, potatoes and dairy products grown right here in Idaho. Failure by Congress to pass the agreement, however, costs the U.S. economy a permanent loss of $94 billion each year. With TPP, local products are able to compete on a more level playing field, reaching high-demand markets both at home and abroad. And, most important, TPP provides the United States an opportunity to help write the global rules on trade rather than nations like China. While China moves forward with its own trade deals that dont reflect our interests and our values, TPP promises to make a lasting contribution to the American economy by giving more Americans a fair shot, more higher-paying jobs, and households with paychecks that go further. Strong trade deals like TPP that meet our standards, reduce taxes and level the playing field for our businesses can power Idahos economy for decades to come. Lets hope Congress gets the message. With another school year behind us, it is important to reflect on the many great things happening in Idaho public schools. This spring, two Idaho high school students were named Presidential Scholars, one of the highest academic honors in the country. New data shows the states graduation rates are climbing and nine Idaho high schools were named to The Washington Posts list of most challenging in America because of high test scores and graduation rates. All proof that Idaho students are succeeding. Some may lead you to believe a different story, but dont be fooled. Our students are neck and neck with, or outperforming, their peers across the country. According to the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a standardized test given to a sample of students from each state every other year, eighth-graders in Idaho have higher average test scores in reading and math than the national average. Math and reading scores for Idaho fourth-grade students were not statistically different from the national average. This is a long-standing trend. For each NAEP since 2003, Idaho fourth- and eighth-grade-students test scores have exceeded or statistically matched the national average. Does that sound like failure to you? It doesnt to us either. When we tell Idaho students they are failing not only are they discouraged, but it takes away from all of their accomplishments. If we want our students to continue to grow, challenge themselves, and become future leaders they need to know we support and believe in them. Just look at what happened to the students at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum, when they were told they could succeed. They became the only K-12 school across the country in 2016 to develop a project that was selected by NASA to be taken up into space as part of the Cubesat Launch Initiative. Next summer their nanosatellite, Da Vinci, will start its official NASA mission. The students satellite will beam a Morse code radio signal back to earth. As it passes over schools, students can receive and decode the signal, giving them the opportunity to learn about radio waves, engineering, space propulsion and geography. This is just one example of the outstanding achievements of students in our state. Across Idaho, teachers, administrators, parents, and school board members are working tirelessly to help the next generation reach their goals and realize their full potential. Do not let the words of a few make you blind to all the good that is happening in our schools. Students are succeeding and we couldnt be prouder of their incredible accomplishments. Its time we stand up for our students and for Idaho public schools. In "Words Matter" (Pastor's Corner, July 16), Elizabeth Greene puts forth partial truths in an effort to further the "Add the Words" movement. She mentions the Canyon County incident involving Steven Nelson, but neglects to include the fact that the reported reason he ventured to Lake Lowell in the middle of the night was to engage in an act of prostitution with another man, which is illegal in Idaho (and immoral everywhere). In February of this year, a man in Harrison Township, Mich., was robbed and beaten by four people including two female prostitutes after he attempted to solicit sex via the internet. Would Greene construe this as a hate crime against someone who was targeted because he was straight? Should there be "words added" for such people? What happened to Steven Nelson is a regrettable case of one criminal done wrong by other criminals, and nothing more. If Greene insists on saying that words matter, perhaps she should consider not omitting words that are critical to recounting the news objectively. Lance Wells Hammett The Nigerian army on Friday said nineteen soldiers were missing after they were ambushed by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the north-east of Nigeria. The soldiers went missing on Thursday while returning from a raid on a Boko Haram base in Yobe State, the army statement read. General Lucky Irabor said there are three officers and 16 soldiers missing. 16 other soldiers and three civilian militia helping the army fight Boko Haram were also wounded. The missing soldiers had reportedly killed many assailants, according to General Lucky Irabor. Heavy weapons including a truck with an anti-aircraft missile have been recovered in the assailants camp. The group, allied to Islamic State, had been fighting for at least seven years to carve out an Islamist caliphate in the region in a conflict which has displaced more than 2 million people and killed thousands. Boko Haram controlled a swath of land in northeast Nigeria about the size of Belgium at the start of last year, but under President Muhammadu Buharis command and aided by Nigerias neighbors, the army has recaptured most of the territory seized by the islamists. Yet, the group still regularly stages guerrilla attacks. @PatriciaMazzei A week before the start of the Democratic National Convention, its chairwoman, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, strolled into the arena of the opposing partys presidential convention. Heads turned. Whats she doing here, mouthed incredulous Republicans at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. But Wasserman Schultz, persona non grata at the GOP, wasnt engaging in covert political ops. She was being escorted into one of CNNs makeshift studios to do what she does best: aggressively deliver the Democratic Party line. We should never let Donald Trump anywhere near the White House, she said in another CNN appearance later in the week. Consider it a warm-up for the Democratic convention, which begins Monday in Philadelphia and which will mark the culmination of more than a years work for the Weston congresswoman. For Hillary Clinton, the presumptive presidential nominee, the convention will feel like a coronation. For Wasserman Schultz, the target of devotees of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders, it will probably feel much different. The woman tasked with holding the national party together is one of the reasons some of them feel divided. On Friday, the WikiLeaks website published a trove of more than 19,000 Democratic National Committee emails that detail the partys rancorous relationship with Sanders campaign. Last month, Wasserman Schultz acknowledged a serious email breach, that people knowledgeable about the incident blamed on Russian hackers. More here. UPDATE: CNN reports Wasserman Schultz won't deliver a convention speech -- unlike her Republican counterpart Reince Priebus last week -- "to keep the peace" among delegates in the wake of the email leak. Award-winning journalist and author Gwen Florio has returned to the Missoulian as its city editor, where she will help direct coverage of news throughout the region. Florio, who has been both a reporter and editor since first joining the Missoulian in 2007, won the Lee Enterprises Presidents Award for her coverage of the way police, prosecutors and the University of Montana handled rape allegations in Missoula in 2012. Before moving to Montana to cover the Capitol in 2005 for the Great Falls Tribune, Florio worked for the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore News-American and the Associated Press. Her roles included editing and reporting political, national and foreign stories. She took a break from journalism in 2013 to write fiction full time and is the author of three successful novels with two others in the pipeline. The heart of Ace Atkins' novels featuring former Army Ranger Quinn Colson look at a community populated by people who want to do the right thing but whose good intentions are often thwarted by the evil that flows through the Mississippi town of Jericho. Horrible crimes come to Mississippi's Tibbehah County, and Atkins delves deeply to thoughtfully illustrate how people cope with these intrusions and how Quinn's sense of justice infuses his actions. "The Innocents" picks up a year after Quinn lost his re-election as sheriff. He then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian helping train the local police force. Now back in Jericho, Quinn is adrift, trying to figure out what is going on with his girlfriend who may not be getting a divorce, and contending with his estranged father, who has grandiose ideas about developing land adjacent to Quinn's farm. His nemesis, the corrupt businessman Johnny Stagg, is in federal prison, but even more ruthless criminals may have moved in. The horrific death of teenager Milly Jones pulls Quinn back into law enforcement when his help is needed by Sheriff Lillie Virgil. Milly had been a popular cheerleader, but this year after high school graduation has been rife with family problems. Her latest job was working as a stripper. Milly's death uncaps a swath of racism and fear as many suspects try to place the blame on others. Quinn's friendship with Lillie and his love for his family are foremost, with his need for justice for Jericho and its people a close second. Yet Atkins allows Quinn to make mistakes and have foibles, making him an even more complex character. "The Innocents" moves at a brisk pace through Mississippi backroads to diners and cigar bars where deals are made but not always carried out. Atkins, who is also continuing the late Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, delivers another rousing thriller. MISSOULA Kent Bryan Perelman died outside on the porch of his home in Missoula, early in the morning of Saturday, July 16, 2016. The waxing moon set in the west, darkening the sky and brightening the stars to light his way. Like the sky that night, Kent was quiet and contemplative. He was known to have a sharp focus in his work and life, and as a woodworker and craftsperson, he was driven by detail. Gibran wrote: Work is love made visible. Kents life and creations are a reflection of love; for the natural world, his work, family and community. His dear friend and colleague, Tom Dolese said, I always wanted to linger in his presence. I learned to slow down and pay attention from Kent and now I teach this to my students. Kent was deeply curious and mostly self-taught. In addition to his mastery with wood, he could tell you in detail about grasses, trees, First Nations, history, North America and the West, literature, geography, animals, social injustice, and the lives of the people on his Meals on Wheels route. He was a voracious reader. He loved to dumpster dive and make something beautiful from that which was cast off. His barbed wire sculptures reflected his resourceful nature. He loved rocks, rusty metal, long walks, and resting on the good earth. He believed in the value of every person, even if reality challenged this notion. He loved dogs. Kent said of dogs, they are all heart. Nikko slept under his bed throughout his illness. His life was a commitment to his passions, and he had many. Kent was born on Feb. 21, 1962, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the third child of Melvin and Jill Louise (Stott) Perelman. In 1964, the family moved to England and lived there for eight years. England had a lifelong influence on him; his speech, values and mannerisms had a subtle but distinct sophistication. In life and until the moment he died, he was a consummate gentle man. The family returned to Indianapolis in 1970 and settled on a farm in Carmel, Indiana. Kent was happiest when he was with animals or wandering the woods surrounding the farm. His brother, Steve, remembers being jealous of his ability to gather feral cats onto his lap. Kent graduated from Carmel High in 1980 and the following year moved to San Antonio, Texas, to work as a carpenter. Rough framing ignited his desire to produce finer work, and he applied to the Primrose Furniture Making School in Missoula. Kent described his journey to Missoula from the plains to the Rocky Mountain Front as an epiphany; he loved the landscapes of Montana. Kent attended the Primrose Center from 1985 until 1987. Upon graduation he moved to Vermont to work for Wall-Goldfinger. While there that he met Nancy Hiller. In February of 1988 they left Vermont to search for a new home together, eventually returning to Montana. Woodworking jobs were difficult to find for both of them and they dreamed of a business of their own. In the fall of 1988, they married and moved back to Indiana where they established Credence Furniture at a home shop north of Bloomington. After separating from Nancy in the fall of 1993, Kent adopted Barley, a timid Lab/Setter mix. Kent and Barley moved back to Missoula in the spring of 1995. Kent said he would not leave Montana again and was true to his word. Kent partnered with a Primrose Center colleague, Steve Dundas, and with him, bought a building where Steve built looms and Kent built furniture. Kent worked there until he moved into his own space on Defoe Street in March of 1996. Eventually, he was joined by Nick Boynton and Tom Dolese. At a Thanksgiving dinner in 1995, Kent met Mary Shaffer. They found a deep ease in each other. In July of 1997, they moved to their home on Missoula Avenue. After marrying in September of the following year, Kent and Mary honeymooned by tearing the roof off the house and settling in the basement during construction. The following August, their first son, Ethan, was born. In 2006, they welcomed their second son, Leo Jose Rafael, home from Guatemala. Kent loved being a father and loved his sons. He was deeply sentimental about their babyhood, especially the books he read to them over and over again. He loved to play and wrestle and build toys and play structures for them. He recognized their unique and distinct characters and did his best to support them in their endeavors. His deepest sadness was that he would not get to see them grow into men. Mary and Kent met as equals, artistic collaborators, adventure buddies, parents, lovers, and best friends. They delighted in blurring typical gender roles in their marriage; letting ability or interest assign the tasks of life. They worked to create beauty and welcomed a diverse community of people to join with them; to eat, explore, love, conserve land, play music, make art, laugh and dream. Kent approached his terminal diagnosis with uncommon bravery and a dry wit. When told of an experimental therapy that involved injecting fecal material into brain tumors his immediate reply was Then I really will be shit for brains! In the end Kent accepted his death as he lived his life. He chose for quality in each day, to focus on joy and the moment, to be with the people he held dear, and to be with Mary, Ethan and Leo during the glorious days of spring and early summer. A remembrance of his life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25 at The Wilma Theatre from 4 to 8 p.m. Please join us. Kent would ask that in remembering him you would give of yourself and share your passion with others. He would want you to work; for the good of those less fortunate, for vibrant friendships and communities, for the arts, the health of our planet, and for love. Kent would tell you not to postpone joy. As an engaged Montanan, I have come to expect a certain level of genuineness and honesty from our state's representatives. Congressman Ryan Zinke has failed this test yet again and voted against hard-working Montanans when he backed a plan enabling dark money to continue flowing into our campaigns. Zinkes primary responsibility is voicing Montana values in Washington and not the concerns of his donors. The resolution at hand is an attempt to further solidify the terrible U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United ruling by letting special-interest groups and foreign governments anonymously donate unlimited amounts of cash to U.S. political campaigns. H.R. 5053 allows dark-money groups to remain cloaked in secrecy, which will hurt hard-working Americans and benefit special-interest groups. They will continue to hide their donations and influence our elections the exact opposite of our Montana values. While I am disappointed in the congressman's actions, I am hardly surprised. Zinke has a history of voting for Republican special interests, and has his own super PAC, allowing unlimited amounts of special-interest money to go toward his campaign. Zinke does not represent me, or the best interests of Montana. This is why I support Denise Juneau for Montana U.S. representative in November. Juneau is fair-minded, a straight-shooter and someone who will advocate for Montana values in Washington. Our current representative has put his own interests first in Washington. Juneau will change this. She will put Montana issues first again, and bring independent thinking back into focus. She will get things done for Montanas people, land and economy. I am voting for Denise Juneau because I know she is running a candid campaign, is trustworthy, and will put Montana first when representing us in Washington. I urge you to advocate for Montana with a vote for Denise Juneau in November. Michael J. Kello, Butte HELENA The rhythmic drumbeat grew louder from across the water. In the distance the paddles rose and splashed, propelling the canoe up to racing speed before settling into the cadence. As they passed the docks on Hauser Reservoir, the paddlers dug deep for a six-count before scaling back, shouting commands and encouragement before digging in again. "The hardest thing about dragon boat racing is learning how to cooperate, forget you're an individual and become one," said Phil Cohea, who steered from the stern. "It's like being in a band." Associated with the Helena Outdoor Club, paddlers meet twice a week to practice their skills for the upcoming dragon boat races on Flathead Lake scheduled Sept. 10-13. Helena has fielded a team the past two years, but with a growing local interest, will send one women's and one mixed team to the big race on the big lake. They haven't quite decided on team names yet. "We were actually short that first year, and we had some folks from Canada row with us," said Jo Anne Thun. "That taught us a lot about dragon boat racing that it's not all about competition, but people interacting between teams and helping each other." The Flathead races are a lot of fun and take on a bit of a party-like atmosphere, she said. Dragon boating uses a long, slender design complete with a dragon on the bow. A drummer sits up front, followed by pairs of paddlers 10 deep and a paddler on the stern acting as a rudder. Dragon boats date back more than 2,000 years in southern China, according to the International Dragon Boat Federation, with popularity growing in the last 25 years across other continents. Paddling takes near perfect coordination between pairs, said Sandy Standley, beating the drum and giving instructions. Paddlers need core strength to maintain stamina during lengthy races with long strokes and concentration on form. "I love it," said first-year paddler Judy Fay. "I was watching it and now I have the opportunity to get into the boat, and that's been great." Dragon boat racing requires a vessel. At Flathead Lake the organizers provide the boat, but the budding Helena racers make do for practice with an old canoe that limits the number of paddlers and means practices must be held on two different nights. "It's a lot of money for our own boat - between $5,000 and $11,000 - but that's our goal," Thun said. Thun launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for a boat, and the club is also hoping to attract some sponsors. While teams have been set for this year, the club welcomes anyone who would like to give dragon boat racing a try to meet for practice at Lakeside Marina at 6:30 p.m. on Monday or Thursday. If interest continues to grow, a third team could be on the water for next year, Thun said. "That's our big vision for the world. I'd like to see us have some expeditions and maybe even a dragon boat race out here one day," she said, gesturing to the waters of Hauser. For the first time in a few days, the lightning-caused Blue Lake Fire southwest of Ennis has gotten smaller instead of bigger. Fire crews went to around-the-clock operations Saturday night and, as of Sunday morning, the fire covered 442 acres down from about 500 Friday and Saturday. Seven engines, two heavy or medium helicopters, one light helicopter, four Hot Shot crews and one night operation crew were among personnel and equipment on the scene. Agencies included the U.S. Forest Service, Madison County Volunteer Fire Department and the Madison County Sheriffs Office. The fire, about 10 miles southwest of Ennis and 1.5 miles from Axotol Lake, was first reported Thursday. Winds were much calmer Saturday than on Friday, Peri Suenram of the U.S. Forest Service told The Montana Standard. Officials met with area residents around noon Saturday to discuss the firefight and progress. People had not been evacuated, she said, but were put on alert for that possibility and informed of preparations that should be made. Madison County Sheriff Roger Thompson said early Saturday evening that no structures had been damaged but there was a small flare-up in the Shining Mountains subdivision due to wind. It died down and progress was made, he said. Light winds were expected throughout Sunday with highs in the mid-80s, hopefully helping firefighting efforts on the south flank of the fire and enabling planned burnout operations. But more spoke was expected to be visible throughout the day. Golden morning light soaked hay fields and bounced off the blacktop of Highway 2 as a short, white bus carried passengers in one of the most rural regions of America. The scene between Havre and Fort Belknap Agency is at odds with the mental image many people have of public transit: a large bus stopping every few blocks as it crawls around urban streets with riders grabbing overhead bars for balance when the seats have filled. In truth, thousands of Montanans use public transit every month, an increasingly common way to get from place to place in a state where it could take hours and a hefty gas bill to drive to the nearest shopping center or major hospital. Excluding the big transit systems in Billings, Missoula and Great Falls, just nine rural operators offered in-town or inter-city rides to the general public in 2004. Today, the state has at least 37 federally funded public transit systems scattered from Ekalaka to Libby. I dont think a lot of people appreciate it until they use it, or until they need it, Bill Lanier said, sitting in the front seat of a Northcentral Montana Transit bus as it carried him 21 miles from a Havre grocery store parking lot to his job at Blaine County offices in Chinook. I had thought it was mostly a convenience, but the more I use the bus the more I see its a necessity for people. Nationwide, transportation is the second-largest expense in family budgets behind housing. For most Montanans, getting from here to there is the costliest part of living in the state. Families with two working adults who earn the median household income which ranges from $30,900 to $56,050 depending on region spend more on transportation than housing costs in all but Missoula, Gallatin and Lewis and Clark counties, according to an analysis of federal housing, transportation and Census data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. After the 2005 federal transportation bill nearly tripled the annual funding available to rural public transit operators in Montana, many systems that first offered rides to seniors and people with disabilities expanded to serve their whole communities, hoping to make education, employment and health care opportunities more affordable. Some Montanans ride for convenience, finding fares cheaper than the gas to commute or preferring to let a professional drive in winter weather. For others, public transit is essential. In addition to elderly residents who make up a growing share of rural populations each year some riders do not have a drivers license, a car, the money to buy gas or relatives who can provide rides. Without us providing that transportation, logging nearly 400 miles day on daily bus routes, Northcentral Montana Transit Director Jim Lyons said, People dont come to jobs, dont go to hospitals, dont go to the services they need. They dont go shopping. They dont go to college. Life for them has just stopped, he said. Put your keys on the table. How will you get to school? To work? To the doctor? To wherever you want to go? Most people dont get it until they think about it on a personal level. Martha Olson of Thompson Falls admits she never thought about public transit until she needed it. I love to drive, she said. Its simple until its a necessity. Shortly after her husband died, she fell and broke her hip, spending months at a Missoula rehab center. Even when she was released home and cleared by the doctor to drive again, Olson was nervous, fearing that the lingering pain would slow her reactions or leave her unable to change a tire should she get a flat en route to faraway doctor appointments. Sanders County Transportation gave her a worry-free way to go to the grocery store or the senior center for meals. On Wednesday, feeling as good as she does these days, Olson still rode the bus rather drive herself to Missoula, where she received arthritis shots and visited the rehab center to sing hymns with old friends. I do it because I love to be amongst the people, she said, chuckling. My voice is pretty shot, but thats because Im out of practice. If I take more trips, Ill get more practice. In the seat to Olsons right, Dan Herring reached into a Taco Bell bag for dinner. After a dialysis appointment that left him physically exhausted, he had to eat. For 21 years, he has had blood filtered three times a week. When he first moved to Plains nine years ago to live closer to family, his brother drove him to Missoula, the nearest dialysis center. He works, Herring said, explaining why that didnt last long. You know, Im on a machine for five hours. Its a long time. Hes got to take care of his family. I tried driving, he said. I fell asleep and ran into the ditch. I almost ended up in the river. Staff at the dialysis center told him about the bus and hes been riding ever since, becoming friends with the drivers, especially Krazy Ernie Franke. Even for those who can drive, public transit provides cost effective options for maintaining their quality of life or connecting with neighboring towns. If you can find work, you get minimum wage here, Sanders County Transportation Coordinator Ayla Blasius said. You cant afford $30 in gas to go to Kalispell or Missoula. Because of the distances to basic services and the need for longer commutes to find work in a place where the timber industry has collapsed, Sanders County residents spend a larger share of their income on transportation costs than anywhere else in the state, as much as 72 percent for people who live on less than $11,720 a year, the national poverty line. Even two-parent families who make nearly $70,000 a year reported spending about a third of it on transportation, according to the federal study. The figures are similar in Hill and Blaine County where Northcentral Montana Transit operates. The service, launched by nonprofit social service organization Opportunity Link in 2009, has found that the bus makes it easier for residents to tap the collective resources of the Hi Line communities rather than being isolated in one. Now people are able to stay in their homes and not have to move to a bigger community, said Patrick Sanders, transportation coordinator for the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Lyn Hellegaard of the Montana Transit Association agreed that mobility is too often overlooked when elected leaders develop policies and programs. For instance, the Legislature expanded Medicaid this last session, she said. Well, you can expand it as much as you want but if the people who need it cant get there, whats the point? Operators also report that employers trying to recruit skilled workers to work at area colleges and clinics can offer more options for where to live. In Bozeman, Streamline transit runs a handful of commuter lines to neighboring towns where housing is cheaper for people who work in the city. At the back of the Northcentral Montana bus, ecology professor Brian Grebliunas said the bus is a selling point for people moving to the area, including himself. The Illinois native aimed to find a teaching job in Montana or South Dakota because of his love for the outdoors. He was hired by Aaniiih Nakoda College in Fort Belknap Agency, but lives in nearby Chinook where he catches the bus. Its the best of both worlds and it saves a bunch of diesel fuel, he said. I drive a bunch for hunting and fishing on the weekends. Lanier said saving money and reducing vehicle wear-and-tear also are his primary reasons for using transit from Havre. To be honest, I probably wouldnt still work out here if it wasnt for the bus, Lanier said, also mentioning the stress of commuting during Hi Line winters. When he stepped off the bus in Chinook, nurse Joan Bell took his seat. She grew up in the area and returned about two years ago to work at the Indian Health Service clinic in Fort Belknap. The bus lets her live in Chinook with her family, she said, without having to forfeit big money for the commute or consider whether to move closer. Despite a growing number of riders around the state, some communities still do not have public transit and challenges remain for existing operators. Livingston, one of the largest towns without general public transportation, is considering whether to start a service and has formed an advisory committee. A decade ago, a similar group decided the town did not need one, noting a slew of small operators served seniors and people with disabilities. Last time we couldnt get anywhere. We just hit a dead end, said David Eaton, a member of the committee and director of Counterpoint, which provides disability services. Maybe they were right that we werent ready yet. This time, Eaton said he's more hopeful. The formation of the committee was spurred, in part, by the construction of a new hospital building. It replaced the hospital that was right in a residential area of town, he said. Now, its across the bridge across the Yellowstone River. Theres this thought that, Geez, with such a big entity not right in town, we have to make sure we have the infrastructure we need to make sure folks who need to get to the hospital can. David Kack, mobility and public transportation manager for the Western Transportation Institute, said rural notions of public transit are changing, albeit more slowly in some places than others. What does it mean when you say mobility? he said. In the past it means you have a car and drive everywhere. In Montana and probably other rural areas, especially in the west, theres this thought of self-sufficiency that means were all going to have our own car. In Sanders County, Blasius hopes to grow the ridership of Sanders County buses, particularly among young adults. She says most residents assume the buses are only for seniors. The stickers on the side of the bus did say Senior Bus, she said, noting one has since been rebranded. We dont have the money to advertise the way wed like to." Its often more expensive to operate a rural system than an urban one. The remoteness. You know, thats the big challenge, said Fort Belknap Transportation Director John Healy, who runs one of several tribal transit systems in the state and has worked on rural transit priorities with national organizations. The math is simple: Fewer people need to go longer distances and hefty capital costs like buses and maintenance barns are split fewer ways. Operators end up having to balance quality and quantity of service, hopefully in a way that still makes transit useful enough for people to ride. With those distances and rather limited funding, you can only provide so many roundtrips a day, Kack said. Do I serve a smaller service area more frequently or do I say Ill go further out to different communities but probably dont have the money to do that quite as frequently? Federal law requires public transit providers to coordinate schedules as much as possible so that riders can more easily string together rides across greater distances. Kack said the cost of making a connection to a neighboring service might sometimes be hard to make work in financially responsible way that also is practical for riders schedules. Carrie Kissell from the National Association of Development Organizations also noted that federal rules which require services to report a tally of their riders, which factors into how much funding they receive, can actually discourage coordination. If everybody needs to also have riders then its hard to give up your rider to another service, she said. That, I think, is a policy barrier for doing it the most efficient way. Although federal funding accounts for most of the operating revenue for most public transit programs in Montana, the grants require a local match to be released. Finding that money in the communities that need transit most can be difficult, Lyons said. Hellegaard said the investment is worth it. Transit benefits more than just the person who rides, she said. It benefits the family as a whole. It benefits businesses and the community as a whole. In a jump short in distance but long on sentiment, Jesse McCloud honored his grandfather Evel Knievel by sailing a motorcycle over two pickup trucks Saturday in the late daredevils hometown of Butte, Montana. Several thousand onlookers hollered and cheered as the 24-year-old McCloud sweetly and smoothly replicated his granddads first professional jump 50 years ago by gunning a motorcycle up a ramp on Granite Street and clearing two rust-colored 1964 Chevrolet pickups parked end-on-end about 6 feet apart. McCloud had never jumped a motorcycle ramp to ramp until some practice runs earlier Saturday, he said, but when his aunt asked him a month ago to do it at the 15th annual Evel Knievel Days festival, he agreed. I didnt think she was serious, but she was, and you dont say no to something like that, he said before the jump. This is definitely a tribute to my grandfather. That is the real reason Im doing it. But Im also doing it for Butte. Bill Rundle, a longtime friend of Evels who helped found the festival in 2002, said he watched McCloud practice earlier in the day. They wanted him to make the jump on a road bike similar to the one Knievel used in the California jump in 1966, but it had mechanical problems so they scratched it. McCloud got on a 250 Kawasaki dirt bike provided by Copper Canyon Harley-Davidson in Butte instead and did a few ramp drive-bys, wheelies and some hand-slaps with people who lined the street shortly before 7 p.m. Then, in typical Knievel fashion, he hit the ramp slowly the first time, stopping just before it ended. A little Knievel drama for you, an emcee said, his voice blaring through loud speakers. Finally, he gunned it, hit the narrow lead ramp, soared in the air with one arm extended in the air his hand gesturing No. 1 and touched down perfectly on the other side to roars from the crowd. When the cheers died down, he got them going again with an encore jump that was just as perfect. He then rode the bike up the far ramp once again, got off at the top, shed his helmet and thanked the spectators, smiling widely. It was great a ton of fun, he said just after that as kids swarmed around him for high fives and pictures. There were definitely some butterflies before it. McCloud lives in Miles City, where he teaches art and physical education at the Pine Hill Youth Correctional Facility. He arrived in Butte for this visit on Wednesday, the day before the three-day festival began Uptown. It is definitely great to be back and see some family and friends, he said about 90 minutes before the jump. Everyone has been super encouraging. I have a lot of great memories here and as a kid we were always in and out of Butte when Gramps was still alive. Knievel died in Florida in late 2007 at age 69 and is buried in Butte. McClouds mother, Tracey, is one of Knievels four children. One of his sons, Robbie Knievel, also has jumped motorcycles daredevil style. Although Evel was an only in America persona and icon, McCloud said he wasnt that to all his grandkids. We didnt really know him as Evel Knievel, he said. He was Grandpa to us and he was always super fun and he had great stories. But to us he was just a great grandpa. Rundle said he was thrilled McCloud was doing the jump. I never thought I would see a third-generation Knievel do this, he said. Just before the event, Rundle walked to the top of one ramp and thanked the crowd for making Evel Knievel Days a successful festival once again. We will be back next year to make it bigger, better and badder again! he said. MISSOULA The Florence Building, which houses 52 tenant businesses in downtown Missoula, is considering closing its public lobby due to what the building's key tenant calls the worst downtown crime activity hes ever seen. David Bell, CEO of the Attorneys Liability Protection Society, the company that owns the Florence, said that aggressive transients are harassing his staff and hes concerned about their safety, particularly female employees. I have some strong feelings about public safety downtown, he said. In my experience and in the experience of many members of my staff, things are worse now than theyve ever been. People who have lived their entire lives in Missoula say its the worst it's ever been. We have a serious issue downtown. Downtown crime has become a hot topic this summer. Missoula Police Chief Mike Brady has made a request to the City Councils budget committee for an additional $374,000 each year to hire two full-time sworn officers and two full-time community service specialists for parks and trails. They would focus much of their efforts on increasing the law enforcement presence downtown. The proposal has the backing of Mayor John Engen. Weve had requests and an increase in activity downtown, Brady said. Weve had numerous requests for more coverage downtown and the parks and trails. Bell has thrown his support behind the project, and told the budget committee this week that the police need more help downtown. Given the repeated incidences of theft, trespassing and most importantly, intimidating altercations, especially to my female colleagues and tenants, I am now forced to consider closing the lobby to the public, he said. No one wants that outcome, least of all me, but my primary responsibility is for the safety of the people who call The Florence home. Currently, the lobby provides free high-speed wi-fi, couches and a roaring fire in the winter. Its a popular spot, but Bell said lately people have been getting partially undressed, sleeping on the couches and becoming violent or aggressive when asked to leave. Weve done a lot to make the Florence and its lobby a community asset, Bell said. We are proud of having a property that is inviting to people. But my primary obligation is to my staff and the 52 businesses that are tenants in the Florence.'' This week Bell sent an email soliciting input from his staff asking if they had experienced harassment downtown. He was shocked when his inbox was bombarded with stories of people being accosted. One person had their laptop stolen, and several people found vomit and human feces inside the building. A man with a knife was found trying to pry brass off a counter, and one woman was grabbed by a transient as she was entering the building. Another employee said an aggressive transient threatened to beat him, take his wallet and follow him home. People are saying for the first time they dont feel safe downtown, Bell said. This is not just a couple of people all wound up. This is a pervasive sentiment. The reason why it exists is we dont have a strong enough police presence downtown. Frankly, I dont believe were empowering our law enforcement officials to address the problem. Ann Franke, who works at the cooperative Artists Shop in downtown Missoula, said she is one of those who doesnt always feel safe downtown. I really watch my back at night when Im walking back to my parking spot, she said, particularly when passing by people "just hanging out'' on street corners. "I feel uncomfortable walking by them,'' she said. Stephanie Parrish and Maya Shaughnessy work at La Bella Vita, a clothing and furniture store downtown. Like Franke, they both said they have never experienced aggressive transients harassing them at work. But both say they wouldnt feel comfortable walking downtown at night. "I dont know how many downtowns across America I would feel safe walking around at night, Parrish added. Honestly, whenever Im downtown I see cops at night. I dont see them as much during the day when theres not as much of a problem. I think they do a pretty good job at night. Bell was quick to praise the work of Andy Roy, the citys officer dedicated to downtown. He also said all the officers hes seen downtown have done a great job. He just thinks there needs to be more of them. The mere existence of uniformed police is a crime prevention tool, he said. The people who visit here and the people who live here are having a negative experience when they are confronted in an aggressive and violent way.'' City council member John DiBari said that while he supports the idea of more public safety resources downtown, he is also mindful of numerous other needs across the city that have to be paid for. At this point Im advocating for the addition for one police officer as to what Id like to be funded out of this budget, he said. Council member Emily Bentley has also expressed support for funding one additional police officer for downtown, although budget negotiations are expected to continue for the next month. Bell said he hopes he hopes the city can find a solution soon so that he wont have to close the lobby. Cap-and-trade has become a familiar phrase in energy policy discussions. Where U.S.-Canadian lumber imports are involved, its more about cap or trade. Last week, Montanas senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines added their signatures to a call for faster resolution of a softwood lumber dispute on the northern border. A new agreement could impose a cap on how much Canadian lumber can come south, or set trade rules for the amount of customs duties each truckload has to pay. Softwood means the conifer wood used for 2-by-4s and other housing construction boards. A 10-year agreement governing how the two nations would manage imports of Canadian softwood expired last October, and a one-year standstill intended to provide bargaining time for a new deal nears its deadline, too. Subsidized and unfairly traded lumber imports continue to severely harm United States mills, workers and communities, Tester and Daines wrote in a letter co-signed Tuesday by 23 other senators. Indeed, current import data show that Canadian imports are capturing an ever larger market share, displacing domestic manufacturing. Its definitely very important for us, said Tony Colter of Sun Mountain Lumber, a mill in Deer Lodge. They (Canadian mills) dont compete for stumpage, so their pricing isnt on a fair market value. Its a negotiated thing for them, and we think its an unfair advantage. Colter said American lumber production has risen along with a renewed housing market lately. This year appears on track to have 1.2 million housing starts nationwide. Thats below the industry norm of 1.5 million. But its much better than the 450,000 starts recorded 2009, when the recent recession was at its depth. Canadian mills compete to supply boards to that U.S. building sector. Colter said right now, the Canadians also benefit from a currency exchange rate that makes northern lumber even more economical. A U.S. dollar buys around $1.30 Canadian. And the Canadians need the American softwood market, because a once-thriving trade with Asia has cooled along with the Chinese economy. During the one-year standstill, neither the United States nor Canada can impose duties or quotas on lumber moving across the border. The old agreement was based on trade charges in turn based on the price of lumber. According to an analysis by Testers congressional staff, that benefited the Canadian side because its low prices rarely triggered the tariff, allowing it to flood the American housing market with cheap 2-by-4s. So this time, U.S. trade representatives have pushed for a volume restriction, limiting the number of wood shipments regardless of price. That doesnt sit well with the Canadians, who disagree with the premise of the U.S. position. They maintain the the cost of the previous trade agreement was a $4 billion loss. On Wednesday, Canadian Ambassador David MacNaughton responded with a letter of his own to Sen. Ron Wyden, the lead author of the U.S. letter. He warned that inflated rhetoric and mischaracterizations about the nature of Canadian lumber complicated the negotiations. It is for this reason that I am disappointed with some of the inaccurate language that is contained in your letter" to U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman, MacNaughton wrote. A successful negotiation is not guaranteed. Part of that may stem from Canadas lack of a national bargaining position. While much of British Columbias timber is owned by the provincial or federal government, eastern Canada's forests are much more in private hands. A contentious negotiating point has been whether individual regions or companies can stay out of the deal and cut separate trade arrangements. Montanas delegation has been bird-dogging the negotiations since the previous agreement expired last year, according to Daines office staff. In September, Daines and Rep. Ryan Zinke wrote letters to Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell seeking relief for sawmills as foreign exchange rates rocked the timber industry. The whole state delegation met with Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer in October, asking for Canadian commitments to work on a renewed softwood agreement. Daines and Zinke sent another letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shortly after the Canadian leader was elected last winter. In addition to congratulations on the new position, the Montanans asked Trudeau to prioritize talks on the softwood agreement. They repeated the concerns to Froman, the trade ambassador, in advance of Trudeaus state visits with President Obama. The next scheduled U.S.-Canada trade meeting takes place Tuesday. Canada needs to come to the table and stop propping up its domestic industry to the detriment of Montanas lumber mills and their workers, Daines said in an email. Renegotiating an effective Softwood Lumber Agreement is critical, and it also highlights the importance of forest management reform to get more Montana logs to our mills and get folks back to work. DAVENPORT, Iowa Iowans are living longer than ever before, with one out of every five residents now aged 60 or older. That number is expected to grow over the next few decades, with the vast majority of individuals stating they would prefer to age in place, in their homes and communities of choice. To ensure that option is a viable one, a comprehensive network of long-term supports and services will have to be available statewide, and older Iowans will need to know how to access those resources. Are Iowa communities equipped to offer the wide range of services aging individuals will need to maintain their long-term independence? Do older Iowans and their families know what types of services they need and which ones are available locally? And how will Iowa adapt to ensure its aging population will be able to maintain the highest quality of life possible? Those questions and others will be discussed during a special statewide event when the Elevate Aging Collaborative presents Join the Conversation: Iowa Dialogue on Helping Older Adults Maintain the Highest Quality of Life Possible on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon at Milestones Area Agency on Aging, 935 E. 53rd St., Davenport. With community conversations taking place in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Mason City and Waterloo, Join the Conversation aims to continue a statewide discussion about issues like the changing dynamics between generations; the challenges of caregiving; the financial considerations of elder care; and the realities of aging, both physical and mental. As Iowans share their thoughts, concerns, opinions, and ideas, they will be documented and shared with all Iowans and, in particular, policymakers and Iowa leaders. The non-partisan event is free and open to the public. Choose the location that is nearest you. For additional information, call LifeLong Links at 866.468.7887. MUSCATINE, Iowa Local religious leaders hope daily acts can have a lasting effect on relationships in Muscatine and the rest of the United States. In the wake of police shootings in Dallas on July 7, Baton Rouge on July 17, and the fatal shooting of Philando Castille on July 6, and other unrest, local religious leaders are addressing their congregations on how Muscatine residents can make a difference in their interactions with people right here at home. Trinity Episcopal Church Rev. Cathi Bencken of Trinity Episcopal Church in Muscatine said addressing recent events, including the police-involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, was unavoidable. The parable of the good Samaritan, she said, was helpful as part of the discussion because it is not only a story about people not accepting and helping each other. Its also a story about coming near to somebody whos different from you, Bencken said. Their church, at Walnut and Second Streets, has a sign with a quote from Holocaust survivor, the late Elie Wiesel: The opposite of love is not hate, its indifference. Bencken said that quote resonated with her because silence would not help solve any problems. To not say anything is not helpful at all, most especially if you are a person of white privilege. Thats what were called to do as followers of Christ: to speak for people who are on the margins poor, widows, orphansto address those needs. Thats what the prophets were doing, she said. Bencken said members of the church cannot ignore the events occurring around the country . Thats what were called to do, she said. Making change, she said, starts with a change in perspective. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me, Bencken said. The first step is to pray. We hope that prayer changes our hearts and helps us to listen to Gods voice about whats next, Bencken said. Church-wide, Episcopal leaders are having conversations about contacting legislators, and talking in the months to come about non-violent response and different kinds of violence, surrounding racism, gender, and guns. And were talking about trying to do some community education about non-violent response, Bencken said. Bencken hopes those discussions and advocacy will help at a local level. We cant manage what goes on in the world, but we can help make Muscatine safe, she said. Samaritans, she said, were not widely accepted and were often discriminated against, and yet a Samaritan stopped to help the man who was beaten. The Samaritan was a hated person somebody that you didnt associate with. Jesus was very profound in naming the person that was hated as the person who did the right thing, Bencken said. Bencken said people in Muscatine and around the nation should think about their own perspective. Imagine what its like to be the person in the ditch. Faith United Church of Christ Rev. Robert Koepcke, Faith United Church of Christ Interim Pastor, said his sermon only needed minor changes Sunday the 10th after the shootings that took place. His sermon was focused on being a good Samaritan, and how being a good neighbor could mean all the difference. His sermon, he said, started with speaking about recent incidents, and where they begin. Who is my neighbor? Since we havent had that exact incident that were aware of in Muscatine, how do we relate to our own individual lives, he said. Koepcke gave an example in his sermon of one of the daily acts he hopes can help improve relationships. He said he was driving down the street, and a man waved to let him go first at a four-way stop. Koepcke said he waved back and smiled. As I told my congregation, his skin was much darker than mine will ever be, Koepcke said. The smile and wave, he said, was a small example of us honoring each other whatever our race or color. It may not seem like much but the little things will add up, Rev. Koepcke said. We need all the courtesy and civility we can get these days. Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church Father Troy Richmond, pastor of Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic Church in Muscatine, said he has not specifically addressed the shootings, but has talked about the good Samaritan, and about love. Obviously, I preach that we need to love and respect each other, he said. He said that love and respect would be the solution to the violence. If everyone would love each other and follow the golden rule, our society would not have the woes weve experienced today, Father Richmond said. Although he said many in the country have fear or are wary of law enforcement officials, their purpose is protection. Theyre there ultimately for our protection, they risk their lives dailyMy hat goes off to anyone in law enforcement, first responders, that put their lives on the line, he said. Bahai Janet Brookhart, a member of the Bahai faith, said tragedies that have recently occurred in the U.S. are often answered with prayer. The religion does not have clergy, but they meet in homes in Muscatine to pray together. Tragedies our country has recently experienced are addressed during our Bahai worship services with prayers for unity, sharing guidance from the Bahai writings and looking for ways we can be of service to our communities and the world, Brookhart said. She said they believe mankind is going through a difficult stage. We view the times were living in right now as part of the maturing of mankind. We have gone through different stages just like a human goes through childhood, were leaving adolescence. That process is very painful, we have trials, but we have the tools we need to work our way through, she said. Their religious faith focuses on the unity of mankind. The major theme being the recognition that there is only one race the human race, she said. She said the process still has a long way to go. Were kind of being pulled through this kicking and screaming, many things that are well-established will take a while to see change, Brookhart said. Brookhart said members of the Bahai faith focus on promoting acceptance that The earth is one country and mankind its citizens. We believe that we will not be able to truly solve the ills of our modern day world until this is accepted by a majority of people, she said. WEST LIBERTY, Iowa Adults and children left Saturday's KFC-sponsored Wing Eating Contest at the Muscatine County Fair with saucy hands and faces. The contest was organized by Heidi Nobling and Brian Grassi, of West Liberty, who own a KFC in Iowa City. Grassi said the event grew out of a comment by an acquaintance suggesting he start a wing eating contest at the fair, and provide the prizes. "And I said yeah, that makes sense," he said. As each of the competitions commenced, the crowd counted down, and cheered on their favorite competitors. 12-year-old Brianna Staley, of Muscatine, took first place in the children's category. Staley repeated as champion having taken the title last year. Jacob Seering, 11, of West Liberty, won second place. He said it felt good. "And a little full," he added. Nine-year-old Addyson McKillip, of Iowa City, entered to try to beat her brother, who had participated in the contest last year. She succeeded. "It feels good," McKillip said. The adults in the competition were already sweating in the heat in the Midway Pavilion at the fair, and began to sweat more as they dug into their wings, which were given a bath in extra hot sauce before the competition got underway. Tom Bowie, originally of West Liberty now living in West Branch, won the first place with a time of one minute, six seconds. "I've been in this contest twice and I've won both times," he said. The second place winner, Pat English, of Bettendorf, had a time of one minute, 48 seconds, and third place winner Brent Parizek, of West Liberty, came in at two minutes even. The first place adult winner was awarded $100 in cash, and a T-shirt. Everyone who participated got a prize in the kids' category, ages 12 and younger. The first place winner was awarded $50, second place $20, third place $10, and fourth place $5. Each participant was also awarded a gift certificate for food at the KFC in Iowa City, as well as a T-shirt to commemorate the event. The first place adult winner was awarded $100 in cash, and a T-shirt. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] First National Bank (FNB) clients around South Africa have reported issues with the banks digital channels. People took to social media to complain they were unable to withdraw money from ATMs, perform transactions through cellphone banking or the FNB app, or pay by swiping their cards. The banks customer service account on Twitter, @RbJacobs, has told clients that the problem has been resolved. There was an intermittent issue experienced. All systems are up and running. Apologies for any inconvenience caused, said FNB. ADSL outage Subscribers to FNBs ADSL services have also complained about an outage, saying the banks broadband services have been down. Really sorry for any inconvenience caused. We are working on resolving this as soon as possible, said FNB. Downtime caused by connectivity problem, which has been fixed FNB said it has fixed a connectivity issue that impacted its services on Sunday. On Sunday morning, FNB also sent text messages to clients of its mobile network FNB Connect to apologise for intermittent data and calling issues which it was seeking to resolve. A spokesperson for the bank told Fin24 just after 15:00 on Sunday that the connectivity issue, affecting bank services, has been resolved. But the spokesperson did not disclose the exact reason for the downtime. FNB experienced a connectivity issue which affected various banking channels, Mo Hassem, chief information officer for FNB, told Fin24. The problem has since been resolved and all services are up and running as normal. FNB apologises to customers for any inconvenience caused. In January, FNB was also briefly hit by downtime when customers reported issues with accessing the banks online services. Reporting with Fin24 More on FNB FNB warning SARS eFiling scam in South Africa Absa Twitter banking is a fad: FNB FNB introduces alerts for all new debit orders FNB banking fees increased the details FNB teasing new fixed LTE broadband service Vodacom is looking for companies to acquire elsewhere in Africa, its chairperson Peter Moyo told the City Press. Moyo said Vodacom is interested in expanding from the five African countries in which it currently operates. It will be disciplined in its approach to such acquisitions, said Moyo. He said the main issue is that Vodacom has been struggling to find available opportunities. We have been looking and will not stop looking, but are going to be very responsible, said Moyo. The statement follows the groups Q2 2016 trading update, which showed its active customer base declined by 2.6% to 61.8 million, but South Africa delivered strong active customer growth up 5.4% to 35.1 million. The full report is in the City Press of 24 July 2016. More on Vodacom Why Vodacom and MTN can ignore Telkoms price cuts Prepaid price shootout: Vodacom vs MTN vs Cell C vs Telkom Vodacoms big customer growth in South Africa Vodacoms big data win Vodacom vs MTN: best and worst mobile network in South Africa Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has said that the utility was forced to buy solar and wind-generated electricity from independent power producers (IPPs) that it did not need, the Sunday Times reported. He said the push to add renewable energy sources to the grid was based on the 2011 integrated resource plan, which is outdated. It was supposed to be revised every two years, but it hasnt been, said Molefe. A new integrated resource plan is due later this year. Defending Eskoms decision to stop signing new power purchase agreements with IPPS, Molefe said that signing more such 20-year deals would further raise Eskoms cost base. Molefe said renewable energy sources were unable to guarantee power during Eskoms peak demand period from 18:00, when it needed about 35,000 megawatts every day. Molefe said what he really needs is base-load power from nuclear and coal plants. If one is really in favour of a green economy, one would actually support nuclear, he said. Bright future for renewables The Sunday Times reported that despite his misgivings, Molefe said he thinks renewable energy has a bright future. He said improved storage technology will be developed, but for now it feels as though the deployment of renewable power stations is still very clumsy. I think they are still at the development stage, he said. Independent power producers slam Eskom The South African Independent Power Producers Association (SAIPPA) slammed Eskoms decision to stop signing new agreements with IPPs, the Sunday Independent reported. This gives the impression that Eskom has certain powers outside or over and above the ministers who have not only openly endorsed, but consistently implemented the programme of involving the private sector in power generation, said SAIPPA. The action taken by Eskom is fraught with risks of further eroding the existing level of confidence. The full reports are available in the Sunday Times and Sunday Independent of 24 July 2016. More energy news The case for nuclear energy in South Africa No load shedding for the foreseeable future: Eskom Medupi and Kusile power stations will cost over R100 billion more Eskom storing 1,419 tons of radioactive waste See South Africas new giant solar power plant photos South Africans are being exposed to increasing amounts of fake news online, particularly through false articles posted and shared on Facebook. According to a report by the Sunday Times, news websites are posting breaking news often with gripping headlines which is completely fake. Attention leads to traffic, which potentially leads to advertising. The danger is that some of the fake news reports can go viral through a few gullible individuals falling for them and spreading them via social media, said Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx. Digital marketing consultant Alex Wright said the more traffic these fake news sites generate, the more money they make. This leads to sensationalised stories which aim to create the most hype on social media being posted, regardless of their authenticity. The overall risk is that the Internet becomes awash with sensationalism. Facts become distorted propaganda and the truth becomes less valuable, he said. South African artist murdered A recent example of this fake news was a report that artist Ayanda Mabulu the man behind the Zuma-Gupta state capture painting had been shot and killed. The Sunday Times phoned Mabulu, who was alive and voiced his displeasure at the fake article. My friend saw the story on social media. He called me but I was doing interviews so I couldnt answer. Only once he called my wife did he find out that nothing had happened, he said. Other examples are a report that DJ Black Coffee died in a European hotel room, and Judge Thokozile Mapisas car was torched. The full report is in the Sunday Times of 24 July 2016. More on websites South Africas biggest municipalities websites ranked South African university website hacked Innovation has been resisted for centuries. From refrigeration to margarine, recorded music and, more recently, robotics and artificial intelligence, new technologies face opposition by people. In a newly released book, Professor Calestous Juma of the Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs chronicles the history of this opposition to change over 600 years. The Conversation Africas Samantha Spooner asked Juma about his main findings. Your study tracks resistance to new technologies and innovations. What were the main drivers of this resistance? The main driving force behind the cases of resistance to new technologies that I address in the book is the perception of loss. People do not oppose technologies simply because they are new or because they are ignorant. They resist loss. The loss can be in the form of income, identity, worldview or power. The key point here is that resistance to new technologies is driven by perceptions, not actual evidence. The perception of loss can be amplified by factors such as social inequity. For example, resistance to new technologies is intensified by the perception that its benefits are likely to accrue to a small section of society while the risks could affect a wider section of society. Similarly, the perception that new technologies could lead to immediate impacts while the benefits will be realised in the long run tends to intensify opposition. Providing scientific evidence as a way to address the opposition may intensify the resistance if it doesnt address the underlying factors related to loss. What form did the resistance take? The resistance takes many forms, which include delaying adoption, seeking additional information on the risks and benefits of new technologies, or engaging in outright opposition. In cases involving outright opposition, political tactics are usually used. This often involves seeking to expand the base for opposition through recruitment campaigns. In these cases the end tends to justify the means, so it is not uncommon to see opponents rely on demonisation, misinformation, downright lies and innuendo. Legal means have often been used to block the spread of new technologies. This takes the form of demands to prove that new products are safe. As was done in the case of margarine in the US, laws related to taxation, labelling, production and sale are introduced, but with the intent of blocking the product. There are also many examples where research facilities have been vandalised as a way to prevent the generation of information that could be used to approve new products. Can you give examples of interactions between new technologies and African cultures? Cultures are dynamic and co-evolve with new technologies, as has been shown in the case of mobile phones in Africa. Early concerns that mobile phones could cause cancer waned as the benefits of the technology became more evident. Today mobile phones have become part of the culture. Transgenic crops, however, continue to be challenged across Africa, partly because of the perceived risks that they create for incumbent farming systems. Adoption of these crops is selective, reflecting the slow pace at which agricultural systems change. Other examples of tensions between technology and incumbent agriculture include opposition to the adoption of mechanical harvesting of tea in Kenya. Another area of technological anxiety includes conflict between traditional and Uber drivers, also in Kenya. Why is resistance to change a problem? Resistance to innovation is a problem because it may deny society the opportunity to use new technologies to address a variety of economic, environmental and governance challenges. This is why it is important for society to have a better understanding of the sources of opposition to technology rather than rely on cliches such as resistance is futile or a dismissive reference to Luddites. There is a paradox of mounting economic and ecological challenges and accelerating technological advancement. This would suggest that humanity has more opportunities to address the challenges using new technologies. However, the rate of change is now manifestly so rapid that it is creating technological anxiety. This could lead to low rates of technology adoption and general disenchantment with innovation. There is general disquiet over emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, gene editing, robotics, drones and 3D printing. This is mainly because the potential impact of these technologies is likely to be qualitatively different from historical experiences when large sections of society had sufficient time to adjust to change. Today machines can learn to perform certain functions faster than we retrain the affected workers. This type of scenario is largely unprecedented and technologies will need to be governed differently. Is resistance to innovation today as strong as it was, say, 100 years ago? The dynamics of resistance to innovation have hardly changed over the 600 years that my book covers. This is partly because human nature has not changed over that period. Even more important is the fact that uncertainty, which is a key trigger of public controversy, is only compounded by technological advancement and diversity. What is different, however, is that the pace of advancement is manifestly rapid and that we now live in a world where the effects of new technologies are more manifest. Equally important is the fact that neoliberal ideologies have helped to create a world in which inequality is accepted and supported by business models that glorify social disruption. These developments are no good for innovation. What innovations are being resisted today that could have a dramatic effect in addressing major global challenges such as poverty and climate change? In the 1980s I did my graduate studies on renewable energy. My MSc thesis at the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex was on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. Then the cost of PV was about US$20 per kilowatt hour. Today the price is about 25 US cents. With this drop we have also seen resistance to renewable energy from the fossil fuel industry. Such opposition could compromise our ability to address climate change. Another important area is artificial intelligence, which will affect every aspect of human life, including the manufacture of top hats and, in the near future, the generation of cartoons. Leading technologists and scientists such as Bill Gates and Martin Rees at Cambridge University are sounding their caution and urging society to reflect deeply about the implications of such technologies. The point here is not to oppose the technology but to find a new modus vivendi that reflects contemporary times. Whats the solution? In searching for solutions we should return to the core concerns about loss and technological exclusion as a major driver of resistance. Take the case of transgenic crops in Africa. Much of the opposition comes from a deep feeling of being excluded from the technology. This is then reflected in rejection of products that are developed without local input. A large part of the solution lies in designing inclusive innovation strategies that allow society to share both in the benefits and risks of new technologies. It is about creating a fair society that celebrates an open, creative and inclusive future. But that future has to start now. Technological abundance, coupled with political reforms that seek to reduce inequities, offers the best chance for humanity to benefit from its most important traits creativity and innovation. Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies, Oxford University Press, 2016. Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development, Harvard University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. More gaming news Watch what happens when this skateboarder crashes into a R3,550,000 Maclaren Find the best Pokemon in South Africa with PokeVision Nvidia reveals monstrously powerful Pascal Titan X A rookie Calistoga police officer is being hailed as a hero by city officials, and his boss, Calistoga Police Chief Mitch Celaya, for his quick thinking and reaction during an incident last week involving alleged armed and dangerous men. Calistoga Police Officer Luis Paniagua spotted and pursued the two armed robbery suspects caught in Calistoga last week who, according to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office, are likely involved in several other crimes throughout the state. Because of the circumstances, Paniagua did not have time to pull his weapon and used his quick thinking, his good judgment to use his vehicle to quell the serious threat the suspects posed, and was able to capture and arrest one suspect, Celaya said. He was able to take the suspect. The person was standing and walking toward him, and his car door was open, when Paniagua used his patrol car to hit one suspect. The other suspect fled, triggering a shelter-in-place lockdown in the city for about four hours. Were it not for the actions of Paniagua, the situation in Calistoga could have been tragic, Celaya said. Sergey Gutsu, 24, of Antelope and Ivan Morales, 23, of Lakeport were arrested after one of them allegedly shot a security guard in Windsor, robbed an armored vehicle, fled to Calistoga, and later shot at Paniagua on Mitzi Drive. One or both suspects could be responsible for an armored car robbery that occurred on March 29 in Granada Hills as well as a robbery and homicide that took place June 2 in San Dimas, said Sgt. Cecile Focha of Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. Gutsu, who is suspected of shooting at Paniagua, and is expected to be charged in Napa County for attempted murder, is also expected to be charged with the 2015 murder of a Quiznos sandwich shop owner in Los Angeles County, according to a Press Democrat story. Morales is accused of shooting the 55-year-old Loomis security guard in Windsor, according to reports. Gutsu and Morales were arraigned on charges of attempted murder, armed robbery and conspiracy in Sonoma County Superior Court last Thursday. Both men are being held without bail. Details of the investigation were not released. When Paniagua heard the lookout call from Sonoma County law enforcement, he put himself in a position to view the heavily traveled intersection in Calistoga where the suspects may be traveling, Celaya said. Paniagua pulled into the parking lot of Highlands Christian Fellowship church on Petrified Forest Road, and no sooner sees the vehicle matching the description from the robbery alert. The vehicle turned left on Foothill Boulevard, and then right on Mitzi Drive. Paniagua called for additional units as he followed, and realizing there was one way in and one way out he stopped and waited for additional units, Celaya said. The suspects vehicle went around the block then back on Mitzi and past Paniaguas patrol car. Paniagua made a U-turn behind the suspect vehicle, trying to keep some distance, but the suspect vehicle abruptly pulled over. Just after that is when one suspect shot at Paniagua, who used his vehicle to stop the suspect. The other suspect fled on foot. Celaya said Paniagua is a hero not only to other officers but to our community and gave props to our fire department for the aid they provided to him. They were Johnny-on-the-spot, he said. The numerous law enforcement teams that flooded Calistoga were responsible for keeping the other suspect from traveling far and caused him to hunker down and hide. That suspect was later arrested after a Sonoma County Sheriffs deputy heard noise from a nearby brushy culvert where Morales was found hiding. SWAT teams and law enforcement spread out in Calistoga, focusing attention on the river and creek beds, inspecting culverts and riverbeds throughout town in search of the one suspect. Helicopters aided in the search. Some in Calistoga said they were not informed of the police activity in town despite multiple law enforcement agencies sending out alerts via Nixle, a free app that sends out notification services for local police and emergency departments. The Weekly Calistogan and Napa Valley Register provided up-to-date news stories as well as posts on Facebook. City officials lamented at Tuesdays council meeting that not all residents are connected to Nixle, and will make an effort to get Calistogans connected. For those who dont have a smartphone, there are other ways to keep people informed, Mayor Chris Canning said, and they will work at improving communication of such emergencies. Its builder came west for the Gold Rush, then arrived in Napa as California was becoming a state. Now, the home that has formed a link to the citys earliest days will become a haven for wine country tourists. The owner of the Williams Smith House has cleared the last hurdle to transforming the landmark at 1929 First St. into a seven-room bed-and-breakfast inn. A vote of support by the City Council last week gave the green light to Shahin Shahabi, who over the past two months had won over Napas Cultural Heritage and Planning commissions, despite some neighbors worries about increasing noise in a section of town already well stocked with B&Bs and vacation rentals. Though Shahabi gained the right to open the B&B at the historic home, the debate shone a light on the conflicts that can appear between neighbors when a private house is turned outward to paying visitors. This isnt a nonresidential area, and sometimes people forget that, said Malcolm Mackenzie, an attorney working with Ralph and Ladan Dalla Betta, a couple whose home borders the future inn. Before the councils decision, he and the Dalla Bettas asked the city to impose nighttime quiet periods and block outdoor fixtures as conditions for letting vacationers into the landmark. Its just as residential as my quiet street in Browns Valley, and you need to use the same standards you would use in any residential area, Mackenzie told councilmembers, four of whom voted to approve the bed-and-breakfast. (Juliana Inman recused herself because she lives within 500 feet of property.) In approving the B&B at the landmark house, councilmembers forbade the inn from adding a swimming pool or hot tub, and required guests to be notified of nightly quiet hours after 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends. Shahabis new inn will give the public its closest view of the Williams Smith House, which was built around 1868 and is named for its first owner Williams Smith, a Massachusetts native who first came west to the Golden State in the 1840s and settled in Napa in 1850. In later years, he helped found the Smith & Cheeseborough Hardware Co., one of Napas first hardware sellers. Shahabis architect described the inn as the surest way to pay for the upkeep of the nearly 150-year-old residence and ward off any neglect. The main goal is to restore this historic building to its former glory, said John Kasten. This will allow many more people to experience it at a personal level, (and) it also will make restoration financially feasible. The wooden Second Empire exterior of the home, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, would remain, as would the two-story section that was added later in the 19th century. Shahabi plans to remove a non-historic garage beside the house, replacing it with space for eight vehicles. The interior would be remodeled with three guest rooms on the ground floor and four upstairs, as well as a dining room, common room and a unit for the on-site manager. Shahabi, the proprietor of Stonehedge Winery, first applied to open the B&B in 2015 but was turned down by the Planning Commission after nearby residents shared their worries about lost privacy and peacefulness with more tourists in their midst. A revised plan reduced the number of rooms to seven from 10, eliminated extra window openings, dropped a bocce court and reduced the size of the inns outdoor sign. Councilman Scott Sedgley acknowledged the concerns of those who soon will share their block with strangers, but added that inflated real-estate prices make the search for private owners increasingly difficult. Id much rather see a young family with kids buy the house and pass it down for generations but financially it just doesnt work out that way, he told the audience at City Hall. And if someone wants to do that, I imagine they could afford to build a swimming pool. Elected officials across Napa County have started preparing their re-election campaigns with the opening of candidate filing last week. The nomination period will close Aug. 12. In Napa, Mayor Jill Techel and City Council members Scott Sedgley and Mary Luros announced they have taken out papers to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. Luros and Sedgley said they will focus on the importance of keeping Napa livable to as wide a population as possible, even amid swelling rents in the city and throughout the Bay Area. My big issue is affordable housing in Napa, and affordability in general, Luros said Thursday. Its getting harder and harder to raise a young family in Napa. Sedgley, who announced his re-election effort July 18 by email, pledged to continue advocating for an increased housing supply even when his stance sometimes clashes with the wishes of existing homeowners. NIMBYism is a challenge because established neighborhoods dont want to see change, he said. We try to find compromises that are workable between all parties. Thats my goal, to try to find solutions. Its not our agenda but the communitys agenda. Techel, who could not be reached for comment last week, is the longest serving of the Napa leaders, having been on the City Council for two decades and the mayor since 2005. Sedgley was elected in 2012, and Luros was appointed in 2015 to replace Alfredo Pedroza after his appointment to the Napa County Board of Supervisors. American Canyon City Council For the first time in four years, American Canyon voters will choose from challengers as well as incumbents for City Council in November. Unlike 2014 when no one ran against Councilmembers Belia Ramos and Mark Joseph, 2016 will see incumbents Kenneth Leary and Joan Bennett square off against two residents new to local politics: Napa County Deputy Sheriff Tony Heuschel and attorney Mariam Aboudamous. Council seats are elected in staggered terms, with Leary, Bennett and Mayor Leon Garcia up for re-election this year. All three incumbents have declared their intent to run again, though they had not filed their paperwork with the City Clerks office as of Friday morning. They have until Aug. 12 to do so. Bennett, 77, will seek her fifth term on the council. Leary, 65, will bid for his second term. Garcia, 73, has served as mayor since 2006. Non-incumbents also have until Aug. 12 to file. If no incumbent files for re-election, challengers are given until Aug. 17 to submit papers to the City Clerk. Heuschel, 45, and Aboudamous, 29, said this week they will vie for the City Council seats held by Leary and Bennett. Both challengers pulled papers this week from the City Clerk. The top two candidates to receive the most votes will win the seats in the at-large election. No mayoral challenger has yet surfaced for Garcia, who runs separately from councilmembers. Heuschel began campaigning in March with a kickoff event at the wetlands. He also entered a float in the citys annual Fourth of July parade to introduce himself to voters. The deputy sheriff previously served as an officer in the American Canyon Police Department, and founded the California Cadet Academy, a summer program for teens interested in public safety careers. Aboudamous is an attorney specializing in immigration, business and real estate. She grew up in American Canyon, and graduated from Vintage High School in 2004. She currently serves on the Napa County Democratic Party Central Committee. Voters will also decide in November whether to re-elect two American Canyon residents to local school boards. Napa Valley Unified School District Joe Schunk, 58, who represents Area 4 on the Napa Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, has said he will seek another term. He has been on the board since 2008. The NVUSD board will have four other seats up in November: Area 1 (Helen Busby), Area 2 (Carlos Hagedorn), Area 5 (Frances Ortiz-Chavez) and Area 7 (Jose Hurtado). Busby, a newcomer appointed to the board in May 2015, said on Wednesday she would not run to complete the four-year term she inherited from Trustee Jacqueline Chilton, who resigned last year to move to the Los Angeles area. Hurtado, a board trustee since 2004, said he intends to run again. Hagedorn, 40, a trustee since 2012, and Ortiz-Chavez, a trustee since 2003, did not respond as of Friday morning to queries regarding their re-election plans. On Monday, Stacy Bratlien became the first challenger to announce the possible pursuit of a NVUSD board seat. The yoga instructor and founder of the Napa Valley Yoga in the Park program said she will form an exploratory committee to look into running for the Area 1 seat being vacated by Busby. Napa County Office of Education Lisa Lindsey, 59, the Napa County Board of Educations trustee for Area 3, has declared her intention to run for re-election. She will seek her second term. The board has three other seats facing election in addition to Lindseys. Area 5 Trustee Steve Orndorf, 69, submitted his paperwork to the county elections office last week. He will seek his fourth term on the board. Area 6 has been vacant since Trustee Ken Slavens resignation on June 1. Area 7 Trustee Jennifer Kresge, who has been on the board since 1990, said she will seek re-election. The only non-incumbent so far to pull papers for the Office of Education board is James Charles Haslip, for Area 6. Yountville Town Council In Yountville, three of five Town Council positions will be in play this fall and one winner is guaranteed to be a newcomer. The departure Tuesday of Vice Mayor Richard Hall, who is moving to Napa after 5 years on the council, leaves a vacancy for the remaining two years of his term. Also planning to be on the ballot are Halls former colleagues Margie Mohler and Jeffrey Durham, both of whom have pulled their candidacy papers to serve for another four years. Both councilmembers said they would throw much of their attention toward Yountvilles coming update of its general plan, a development template that was last revised nearly a quarter century ago well before the arrival of fine restaurants, luxury hotels and an increasing number of vacation-home buyers. We need to reach out to those people who have second homes and may not be voters, because its their town, too, and make a new vision for a much more diverse demographic, Mohler said. Mohler was elected to the council in 2008, and Durham was appointed last year when former Vice Mayor Lewis Chilton moved to Southern California. As of Thursday, neither the incumbents nor any challengers had finalized their candidacies in Yountville, said Town Manager Steve Rogers. Napa Valley College Board of Trustees At Napa Valley College, Dan Digardi became the first of three trustees to formally declare his re-election bid, filing to seek a new term representing the 1st District in south Napa. Also preparing to file for the race are NVC board members JoAnn Busenbark in the 6th District, which includes Yountville and St. Helena, and Rafael Rios in the 7th District, which includes Calistoga, Angwin and Pope Valley, although neither has yet finished filing an application, according to college spokesman Doug Ernst. The NVC race is poised to include at least two challengers. Jennifer Baker, the former director of the St. Helena Library, has pulled filing papers to compete in Digardis district. After leaving the library last year, Baker said she began eyeing a seat on the NVC board after talking with friends working at the college and observing the aftermath of the two-year schools failed bond measure vote in 2014. Healing frayed links of trust and communication among NVCs administration, faculty, students and the public is the key to creating a spirit of partnership that can carry out funding drives and build schooling programs that meet residents needs, she said. The college is in need of critical thinkers with good communication skills, said Baker. I have the skill set and experience to be effective in that role. Debra Alter-Starr of Yountville announced in an email Saturday she intends to run for the boards 6th District seat held by Busenbark. St. Helena City Council In St. Helena, incumbent Mayor Alan Galbraith had taken out papers to file for re-election, and Geoff Ellsworth of the community group Citizens Voice had pulled papers for a regular council seat. Neither had completed the filing process. The City Council seats held by Galbraith and Councilmembers Sharon Crull and Greg Pitts are up for grabs in the Nov. 8 election. The school board terms of Trustees Jeff Conwell and Jeannie Kerr are also expiring. The deadline to file is Aug. 12. However, if an incumbent does not file for re-election, the filing period for that seat will be extended to Aug. 17. Calistoga City Council Three positions on the Calistoga City Council will be on the ballot. Mayor Chris Canning is running for re-election. Seats occupied by Michael Dunsford and Irais Lopez Ortega will also be before voters. With reports from Noel Brinkerhoff, editor of the American Canyon Eagle; Jesse Duarte, reporter for the St. Helena Star; and Anne Ward Ernst, editor of The Weekly Calistogan. NASA Will Put Rocket Raccoon And Groot On Its New Mission Patch, Gizmodo A major mission for us here at CASIS is to find unique and innovative ways to bring notoriety to the ISS National Laboratory and the research that is being conducted on our orbiting laboratory, said CASIS Director of Operations and Educational Opportunities Ken Shields. Its also part of a secret mission that might help us get a Rocket and Groot of our very own. The reward for us [is that] well actually have two characters go into space, said Mitch Dane, director of custom publishing. Then he joked, With a little luck, therell be a little cosmic radiation going on, theyll come back alive. Guardians of the Galaxy team up with NASA: Groot, Rocket Raccoon on mission patch, Washington Times Director James Gunn, whose Guardians of the Galaxy grossed $773 million worldwide in 2014, was awed by the decision. So cool. NASA Oasis has paired with Marvel and is using Rocket & Groot as an official emblem for the mission to Mars, Mr. Gunn wrote. A Closer Look At The CASIS Space Is In It Endorsement, earlier post On 31 March 2016 NASA International Space Station Director Sam Scimemi sent a letter to Greg Johnson on a number of topics. Scimemi said: We would advise caution in the lending of the ISS National Lab brand (via your Space is in it certification) too freely; care must be taken to that research performed on the ISS has actually influenced product development in advance of awarding the certification. Failure to do so weakens the brand and may lend an air of being nonserious in our mutual quest to fully utilize the ISS as a national lab. Keiths note: CASIS issues a press release that mentions that Marvel comic book/movie characters at ComicCon are now ISS mascots or something. Alas NASA is there too as @NASASocial at the Marvel booth and neither @NASASocial or @ISS_CASIS mention one anothers presence. Apparently CASIS thinks that Groot, a giant rock tree man thing, and a foul-mouthed raccoon are better poised to explain ISS science than ISS scientists. So the movie director whose characters are being featured refers to CASIS as OASIS and doesnt seem to know that this is all about the International Space Station referring instead to the mission to Mars. Meanwhile NASA makes no mention of this news and NASA is never mentioned in the CASIS press release. Yet news stories say that NASA is behind all of this. NASA only gets the credit from third parties and when they get mention it is factually mangled. Nice job CASIS. So cool. NASA Oasis has paired with Marvel and is using Rocket & Groot as an official emblem for the mission to Mars pic.twitter.com/0ox5vnMEFS James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 22, 2016 Oddly enough NASA posted a picture of astronaut @astro_kjell at the Marvel booth at ComicCom. Marvel is the same company that is sponsoring the whole Groot/Raccoon logo thing with CASIS and yet CASIS makes no mention of NASAs presence at the same event at their co-sponsors booth. CASIS whines and complains that NASA is not giving them enough quality time and then they go off and mount an uncoordinated PR stunt like this without asking NASA? NASA has already expressed concern that CASIS has marketing practices that are misleading. Can we get any more dysfunctional CASIS? DELAND, Florida A Florida woman is in the Volusia County Jail after deputies say she doused her boyfriends shorts with an accelerant and then set him on fire because she was mad at him for not providing her with drugs. The incident occurred in a homeless camp in the woods off of North Woodland Boulevard north of DeLand, Florida. The Sheriffs Office was initially alerted to the situation shortly after 4 p.m. by someone who said that a woman had asked her to call 911 because her boyfriend got burned while they were trying to start a fire. The woman then pedaled off on a bicycle. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Several minutes later, while a Sheriffs Office dispatcher was still talking to the caller, she reported hearing faint screaming sounds coming from the woods. Moments later, the caller said there was a naked man in the middle of the road arguing with a woman. Around the same time, the Sheriffs Office received two other calls from witnesses who reported seeing a naked man on the side of North Woodland Boulevard. One caller said he was yelling for help, and the other said he appeared to be writing in pain. Paramedics were first on the scene and started treating the 34-year-old homeless man and preparing him for an ambulance transport to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida before deputies arrived. Once Sheriffs deputies arrived, they were told that this was no accident. Despite his injuries, the victim was able to tell deputies that 41-year-old Annie Harper had poured lighter fluid on him and then set him on fire. The boyfriend, who suffered burns over about half of his body, was stabilized at Halifax Health Medical Center and then transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Centers burn unit. Responding deputies spotted the girlfriends bicycle at a nearby convenience store and then quickly located her and took her into custody. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] An international team of astronomers has reported the single largest haul of planets discovered and confirmed using NASA's Kepler spacecraft on its K2 mission. Among the 104 confirmed planets is the first planetary system comprising four potentially Earth-like planets. The researchers achieved this extraordinary roundup of exoplanets by combining Kepler's data with follow-up observations by ground-based telescopes, including the Automated Planet Finder (APF) at UC's Lick Observatory, the twin Gemini telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, and the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) operated by the University of Arizona. The plentiful bounty of newly discovered exoplanets demonstrates the potential for similarly successful observations in support of future missions such as NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The discoveries are reported in a paper to be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters and currently available online. Kepler's initial mission focused on measuring the frequency with which planets whose size and temperature are similar to Earth occur around stars like our sun. K2 looks at new types of populations, including a larger fraction of cooler, smaller, red dwarf-type stars, which are much more common in our Milky Way than sun-like stars. "Because Kepler's mission required it to observe only a small patch of sky, it was designed to conduct a demographic survey of the different types of planets. The K2 mission allows us to increase the number of small, red stars by a factor of 20, significantly increasing the number of astronomical 'movie stars' that make the best systems for further study," said Ian Crossfield, a Sagan Fellow at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, who led the research effort. Crossfield will be joining the astronomy department at UC Santa Cruz in August. Andrew Skemer, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, is a coauthor of the paper. Rocky quartet One of the most interesting sets of planets discovered in this study is a system of four potentially rocky planets orbiting a star less than half the size of (and much fainter than) the sun. The planets, all between 20 and 50 percent larger than Earth by diameter, are orbiting the M dwarf star K2-72, found 181 light years away in the direction of the Aquarius constellation. Their orbital periods range from five and a half to 24 days, and two of them may experience irradiation levels from their star comparable to those on Earth. Despite their tight orbitscloser than Mercury's orbit around the sunthe possibility that life could arise on a planet around such a star cannot be ruled out, according to Crossfield. After the Kepler space telescope had revealed more than 4,000 candidate exoplanets and many confirmed and validated planets during its initial four-year survey, NASA decided to modify its mission after two of the spacecraft's reaction wheels, which help maintain its precise orientation in space, malfunctioned. Under the K2 mission, the telescope no longer stares at one small patch of sky to detect as many planets as possible, but instead scans a much larger portion of the universe while traveling around the sun. Like the initial Kepler mission, K2 discovers new planets by measuring the subtle dip in a star's brightness caused by a planet passing in front of its star. To validate candidate planets identified by K2, the researchers obtained high-acuity images of the planet-hosting stars from Keck, Gemini, and LBT (among others), as well as high-resolution optical spectroscopy using Keck and the APF. By dispersing the starlight as through a prism, the spectrographs allowed the researchers to infer the physical properties of the starsuch as its mass, radius, and temperatureand of any planets orbiting it. Upcoming missions According to Crossfield, these observations represent a natural stepping stone from Kepler to NASA's other upcoming exoplanet missions such as TESS and JWST. "Our analysis shows that by the end of the K2 mission, we expect to double or triple the number of relatively small planets orbiting nearby, bright stars," Crossfield said. "And because these planets orbit brighter stars, we'll be able to more easily study everything possible about them, whether it's measuring their masses with Doppler spectroscopyalready underway at Keck and APFor measuring their atmospheric makeup with the James Webb Space Telescope in just a few years." This work was performed in part under contract with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) funded by NASA through the Sagan Fellowship Program executed by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute. For a full list of authors and funding information, see the research paper, "197 Candidates and 104 Validated Planets in K2's First Five Fields." Authorities on Sunday lifted the ongoing curfew from four districts of the Kashmir Valley as the law and order situation showed marginal improvement. The districts were Ganderbal, Badgam, Bandipora and Baramulla, police confirmed. The state government has already ordered opening of schools in these four districts. Officials said curfew and restrictions would, however, continue in parts of Srinagar city. There was some civilian activity in parts of Srinagaron Saturday as pedestrian and private transport movement was seen in the City's uptown areas. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh currently on a two-day visit to the Valley met many delegations on Saturday at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar. Official sources said these delegations included members of the civil society, clerics, Sikh, Pandit community members and traders. Important local trade and industry bodies including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) decided not to meet the Union Home Minister despite an invitation from him. Reports said Rajnath Singh told the delegations that the ongoing unrest was triggered by "forces from across the border". "While deciding to evolve a mechanism to engage the people of Kashmir in a dialogue process to work out solutions for the problems faced by them, the Union Home Minister does not favour an engagement with the separatists who take their directions from across the border," official sources said. Rajnath Singh had a detailed discussion with state Governor N.N.Vohra. He is slated to meet meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti later on Sunday. Before leaving for Delhi, the Union Home Minister will chair a high level security meeting to discuss the prevailing law and order situation, officials said. Political party delegations scheduled to meet Rajnath Singh on Sunday include one from the National Conference (NC). However, the Congress party has decided not to call on the minister. G.A.Mir, president of state Congress unit stated that there was no point meeting Rajnath Singh saying, "There has not been a single people friendly measure from the state government since the Chief Minister chaired an all party meeting which was attended by us (Congress)." In the meantime, four patients suffering from serious eye injuries due to pellet gun shots were airlifted on Saturday for specialized treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Bannihal town in the Jammu region, however remained suspended for the 16th day on Sunday. --IANS sq/ksk ( 414 Words) 2016-07-24-08:20:00 (IANS) Chandigarh and its neighbouring towns of Mohali and Panchkula faced a major water crisis on Sunday due to a snag in the water supply system. The snag occurred at the Kajauli Water Works, about 30 km from here, from where the water supply to Chandigarh and the two adjoining towns, in Punjab and Haryana respectively, is made. The problem began in the water delivery header, which burst, leading to flooding of the pump house at the water works. The pump house motors were damaged. Residents claimed that they got no water supply on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. "There is no water to drink, leave alone for a bath or other activities. The overhead water tanks are all empty. The Municipal Corporation (MC) and the Chandigarh Administration have been caught napping. They did not have any alternate arrangement in place in a crisis like this," Arun Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh's Sector 46, told IANS. MC officials said that technical staff were trying to repair the snag and normal water supply was unlikely before Monday. Low pressure water supply was made to some parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula on Sunday morning. Chandigarh MC chief engineer N.P. Sharma said that officers and staff of the public health and water supply wings of the MC were supervising the repair work at Kajauli, which is located in neighbouring Punjab. Residents in Chandigarh's southern sectors, which are thickly populated and have thousands of flats, were the worst sufferers due to the failed water supply. "There is no water supply and the authorities have not even bothered to inform people properly. There is no back up for water supply in this city which is supposed to by the most modern and planned one in the country. Even the water purifiers, which work on fresh water, are not working and we have no drinking water available. We have to buy mineral water bottles from the market for drinking," Pooja Sharma, a resident of Sector 49, said. Even in Chandigarh's upscale northern and central sectors, residents had to face water crisis. "There is neither water supply nor any help. The government water tankers are only catering to houses of officers," Pankaj Dhawan, a resident of Sector 7, told IANS. MC officials said that 37 water tankers, half of them private ones, were pressed into service to supply water in the worst affected areas. Chandigarh Mayor Arun Sood, who held an emergency meeting with MC officers on Saturday night, said that water tankers were being arranged. He said that he will take up the issue of the maintenance of the Kajauli water works with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Chandigarh and other areas had faced a water crisis in 2013 as well following leakage in the water supply pipes. --IANS js/ksk ( 473 Words) 2016-07-24-08:28:01 (IANS) Besides curfew in other districts in valley, the restrictions under Section 144 have been lifted in four districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, Budgam and Ganderbal. Barring BSNL post paid landline, mobile and broadband internet services, all private mobile telephone services continue to remain suspended. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to review overall situation in Kashmir, has said all required measures will be taken to bring back normalcy in the valley. Singh yesterday appreciated the initiative of delegations for putting forth free and fair feedback and suggestions which will help in restoring normalcy in the region. The Home Minister also assured the delegations that necessary tangible action would be taken to address the concerns and difficulties. He will today meet different political leaders and several civilian groups in an attempt to restore peace and calm across the state. The violence started on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed in a gunfight with security forces. The civilian death toll since that day stands at around 46 with one policeman also dead. The police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh government has drawn upon an elaborate strategy to offer bus services between Lucknow and Kathmandu and connecting most of the cities of Bihar and Haryana by next couple of months. UP transport department officials said proposal for running daily bus to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal from Lucknow has been mooted after the success of the Varanasi-Kathmandu bus service introduced last year. Sources here today said the proposal has been sent to the Nepal government and after its approval, the buses would start plying. There is a proposal to run 15 buses each from both sides monthly. After a two-decade wait, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments will ply buses between the two states from September next. An agreement between both the states were done on May 6 and it would take another month to complete the formalities, sources said. Roadways buses of both states would ply on 45 identified routes with UP roadways in 25 routes and Bihar in 20. UP Roadways buses would go to Patna, Aurangabad, Muzaffarpur, Gaya , Buxar, Ara and Raxaul from different cities of the state. On the other hand Bihar buses would come to Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Azamgarh, Ballia and even go to Anand Vihar in New Delhi. Meanwhile, talks were underway for an agreement with Haryana government for plying of buses between both the states. Sources said after the agreement, UP Roadways buses would go up to Chandigarh, Ambala and Panipat.UNI MB PY ADG 1005 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-852147.Xml Even as preparations were going on in full swing for laying the foundation stone for a memorial in honour of former President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam at his burial site at Pei Karumbu in Rameswaram on July 27, the Ramanathapuram District "Jamaathul Ulama Council has strongly opposed the installation of the statue of Dr.Kalam." "We are against installing the statue, as it was against Islamic culture and Muslim Personal Law (Shariat). Islam was against "Idol" worship and individual eulogy," A.Valiyulla Noori, President of the Council told newsmen after chairing the high-level committee meeting held here last evening. Dr.Kalam could be honoured by following his ideals and realising his vision for a stronger and developed India. He always wanted the youth to dream to achieve high. Hence, fulfilling his wishes would be the best way of honouring him, he said. Noori said building a memorial, auditorium, knowledge centre or museum, depicting the life history of Dr.Kalam would help inspire the youth and the authorities could avert installation of the statue. However, the Council made it clear that it would not try to stall or stage protest if the authorities went ahead with their decision to unveil the statue of Dr.Kalam. July 27 will mark the first death anniversary of Dr.Kalam. The construction of pedestal for installing the statue was nearing completion at the site. The seven-foot-tall statue, similar to the one installed at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) complex at Hyderabad, was expected to be transported from Hyderabad to Rameswaram either today or tomorrow, official sources said. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year announced that a memorial would be constructed to commemorate the life and works of Dr.Kalam in his native Rameswaram. UNI GSM CS 1154 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-852276.Xml Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the state government's ambitious 'Bhageeratha'drinking water supply scheme in Telangana on August 7 Mr Modi, on his maiden visit to the state, will launch the scheme, aimed at providing drinking water supply to every householdin the state, at Gajwel, the Assembly Constituency of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister on Monday last invited Mr.Modi to launch the Mission Bhageeratha when he calledthe Prime Minister in New Delhi. During his hectic one-day visit, Mr.Modi will leave from Medak district to Adilabad after the launch to inaugurate the thermal power plant set up by the state-owned Singareni Collieries Company. He will lay the foundation stone for a power plant to be built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and later unveil a pylon dedicated to "Mission Kakatiya" irrigation scheme in Warangal district.MORE UNI SMS CS 1424 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-852468.Xml A senior police officer said the incident took place outside the Bhram Shakti Hospital. He said at 0300 hrs, Dushant (23) went out with his friend Rahul (25) to have 'paratha'. "Both friends had heated arguments and verbal abuses with an unidentified person, who was also standing there to have 'paratha', over who will be served first. The accused then took a knife and stabbed them. Dushant received injuries on his abdomen while Rahul on his thighs. "Later, Dhushant succumbed to his injuries and Rahul is stated to be out of danger," the official said.Police is conducting further investigation. UNI SHS SV ADG 1405 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-852401.Xml It was a gathering of different kindat the Aakash Fertility Centre and hospital, who were thefirst to offer treatment for infertile couples. To mark the World In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Day, which falls tomorrow, parents of more than 2,000 babies born in the hospital through IVF method, assembled under one roof and shared their experiences. The occasion saw jubilant scenes and also poignant moments as some of the women were moved to tears, while profusely thanking the Hospital Founder Dr T Kamaraj and Dr Jeyarani Kamaraj for giving them the joy of bearing a child. Couples from various parts of Tamil Nadu were on attendance to celebrate the World IVF day. Some of them said they came from Tirunelvleli, Tiruvarur andMayiladuthurai districts. Several women shared their mental agony for not bearing a child and the stigma they faced both withinthe family and in the society. The women were seen touching her feet and seekingher blessings for realising their dream of having their own genetic child. ''We have visited several hospitals. But we could not have a child, even 12 years after the marriage. When we came here, Dr Jeyarani gave us the hope and promised that they will walk out of the hospital with a child'', one of the woman said. ''Patience is they key to success and finally Ibecame a proud mother through IVF treatment. We will be indebted to Dr Jeyarani for ever'', she said. Among the parents was 58-year-old man and his wife who were able to have a child more than 30 years after their marriage. One of the couples said they were issueless for12 years after their marriage as she suffered six abortions during this period. ''Seventh time, it turned out to be lucky, thanksto the IVF treatment provided by Dr Jeyarani. Our family will be indebted to her for ever'', they said. It was a momentous occasion as the proud parentsshowed their gratitude to the hospital and the doctorby presenting them with gifts, bouquets and basket of fruits. They also posed for photos with the doctor. Some of the parents suggested that such events should be held at least once in two years. The World IVF day was being organised to celebrate the birth of first IVF baby in London on July 25, 1978. They said Patrick Christopher Steptoe, a British obstetrician and gynaecologist and a pioneer in fertility treatment, along with biologist and physiologist Robert Edwards were instrumental in developing IVF through which Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby, was born 38 years back. Stating that the IVF invention by Robert Edwards and Steptoe has revolutionised the IVF treatment, Dr Jeyarani said earlier there were only two options for issueless couples, either to go for adoption or a re-marriage. ''But the IVF has come as a blessing in disguise for the infertility couples. A lot of changes and advanced treatment modalities have emerged, thanks to the advent of the technology'', Dr Jeyarani said. ''Now all issueless couples have their own genetic baby as there are a lot of treatment options for infertility'', she added.UNI GV CS 1515 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-852529.Xml Congress floor leader in the Lok SabhaMallikarjun Kharge today accused Pakistan Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif of trying to 'impress' terrorists over the prevailing situation in Kashmir,and said Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India for ever. Speaking to reporters here, he said, Mr Sharif is probably tryingto please the terrorists in his country by making such statements.The dream of the neighbouring country politicians that Kashmir willbe part of it will never happen. Kashmir is an integral part ofIndia and will be till eternity,'' Mr Kharge said. The Congress leader from Karnataka said the people of India wereunited to condemn such statement. The Pakistan Prime Minister had earlier called terror leaderWani, who was killed by the Indian Army, as a martyr and accusedIndia of human rights violations in the valley. He also saidthat Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political anddiplomatic support to the Kashmiris in their struggle. Referring to the steps initiated by Jammu and Kashmir ChiefMinister Mehbooba Mufti over the unrest in the valley, Kharge said,"Ms Mufti knows the situation well and she should take some seriousaction and if she fails she should be held responsible''.UNI SD RS CS 1538 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-852558.Xml Following the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, several party workers today held protest outside the CR park police station, where the Okhla legislator has been kept.The protest also led to traffic congestion in the area, disturbing the normal schedule of the people. Agitated with the protest, several commuters also had heated arguments with AAP workers, who had choked the road.One of the lady commuters, who was agitated over not being able to go to the hospital, had arguments with the workers, who in reply asked her to take another route and tell the police to do it. Other commuters joined her and said, "Thousands of people are suffering because of one MLA." To this, the AAP workers started shouting at the people, saying "You care about ambulance, what about our MLA? They have arrested him and you are least bothered about it. We are pained because of our MLa's arrest." Khan was arrested today on charges of threatening a woman, following a complaint lodged by her.Khan was booked on July 20 by Jamia Nagar Police Station after the complaint was lodged by Dr Sameena, alleging that the MLA threatened her of sexual assault and getting her crushed under the car.However, the AAP yesterday accused the Delhi Police of pressuring the woman to lodge the FIR against Khan and the party also released a purported sting video to substantiate its claim.UNI SHS RJ 1526 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-852510.Xml Bharatiya Janata Party National General Secretary V Ram Madhav has asserted that "Kashmir is undoubtedly ours". In a talk on "Look East, Act East, What Next?, organized by "Awareness in Action Hyderabad", Mr Madhav said Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India from time immemorial. He recalled that in 1994, when former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao was heading the then Government and the BJP was in the opposition, the Parliament had passed a unanimous resolution making it clear that the only outstanding issue between India and Pakistan was with respective to the status of "Pak Occupied Kashmir". Mr.Madhav went on saying "We tell our government in Jammu and Kashmir run by PDP-BJP that you do not have locus standi when it comes to India and Pakistan. It was dealt by government of India. I am not talking about geography of Kashmir , I am talking about demography of Kashmir. When I say Kashmir is ours I mean the people of Kashmir are also ours. This message has to be loud and clear" . Unfortunately some people say that Burhan was innocent, Mr.Madhav said, adding 14 criminal cases had been registered against him. Of them 8 cases booked for attack on Army and Police and six cases of violent provocations against India and its coverings of constitution. How can such a person be innocent as claimed by some Immams.UNI VV SMS cs 1713 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-852739.Xml Arshi Qureshi and his close aide Rizwan Khan, who played a major role in connecting Keralites to terrorist organisation ISIS, were arrested from Mumbai. The accused, arrested from Mumbai for allegedly recruiting youth to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), brought to the state by a special flight here and after completing the procedural measures were taken for further interrogation and would be produced at the Ernakulam CJM Court tomorrow. Rizwan, taken into custody in a raid conducted following the statement given by Qureshi following the complaint of Ebin Jacob, brother of Mer, native of Palarivattom Thammanam suspected to have joined ISIS. The Kochi city police have registered a case as per UAPA against Qureshi and Mer's husband Yahiya. Earlier, preliminary investigation found that Qureshi had converted 800 from Hindu and Christian religions, majority from Mumbai, to Islam, sources said. UNI CGV JW RJ 2010 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-853082.Xml The accused, identified as Mohammad Shahid Mohammad Qadar, a resident of Parbhani city, was arrested by the sleuths of Anti-Terrorism Squad, Aurangabad and they seized documents and other explosive materials from his possession. The ATS got the lead from earlier arrested suspected Nasirbin Abubkar Yafi (Chaus) on July 14, who was in the ATS custody. Qadar was in touch with 31-year old Yafi, a civil contractor arrested last week on the charges of involvement with ISIS. After his arrest, the ATS team brought him here and later produced before holiday court judge S L Pathan. The court granted him PCR till July 29. Meanwhile, the ATS refused to divulge details about the ongoing investigation.UNI VKB PR -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853129.Xml Former leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently quit the Bahujan Samajwdi Party, today said the `Loktantrik Bahujan Manch' floated by him was getting huge support from across the state.He said the leaders and cadres from all the political parties, particularly from the BSP are joining the Manch. Mr Maurya, who has already organised one meeting of the new political outfit in Lucknow has already announced to hold a big rally of his supporters here on September 22. He held a meeting with the activists of the Loktantrik Manch from 9 divisions of the state which included West UP and Bundelkhand region. He said over 1,000 persons participated in the meeting here. Mr Maurya said from July 31 he will start his tour of east UP district. Mr Maurya said the Loktantrik Manch would cease to exist on September 22 as it has been created for the specific purpose of organizing a rally. He said the launch of a new political party is likely to be announced on September 22. He however, refused to reveal the name of the proposed party.UNI MB AKC PR 2149 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853142.Xml Exiled Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel has alleged that the Rajasthan police have kept him under house arrest in Udaipur under instructions from the Gujarat government. Hardik told an Ahmedabad-based television channel that the Udaipur police was not allowing him to stir out of the house and demanding that he keep himself confined to the house which he had mentioned before the court as his address during his stay in Udaipur. He claimed that this morning he wanted to visit a Lord Ganesh temple in Udaipur to offer prayers but as soon as he sat in the car the police came running asking him to return home. He told the police that the high court order was only to stay away from Gujarat for six months and there was no clause in its order that he should confine himself only to a house outside Gujarat. The Udaipur police alleged to have insisted that Hardik would have to take prior police permission if he wanted to go out of the house at any time. As the discussions turned into heated arguments, more police personnel were summoned in case he insisted on defying the police order. "I was forced to return to the house without going to the temple as I do not want any violence due to me," Hardik said. He said apparently the Udaipur police was behaving in such a way "only at the behest of the Gujarat government." He said he believed that the Anandiben Patel government was worried of his movements in Udaipur which had a large concentration of Patel population. "There are about 1.50 lakh Gujarati Patels living in Udaipur and the Gujarat government want to ensure that I don't get the chance to meet them," Hardik said. The Gujarat High Court while granting him bail had put the condition that he would not enter into Gujarat for six months and in Mehsana district, the hotbed of the Patel reservation agitation, for nine months. Meanwhile, the PAAS is restarting the reservation agitation which virtually remained dormant for the last six months or so. As the first step, it took out a rally in Visnagar town in Mehsana district today which was joined by thousands of Patels who shouted anti-government slogans. UNI ND PR 2205 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853152.Xml Former Bahujan Samaj Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya has lashed out at the Bahujan Samaj party for the protest demonstration in Lucknow over the derogatory remarks against her by the former BJP leader Daya Shankar Singh. Calling the protest demonstration by the BSP leaders here on July 21 as `bluff and bluster' Swami Prasad Maurya said `` it's a matter of shame that Mayawati is so perturbed by a remark against her but she never reacted as chief minister when thousands of dalits faced atrocities and brutalized by the feudal forces''. Maurya was the leader of s opposition in UP assembly who had quit the BSP in June last. Asking Mayawati to do some introspection Maurya said ``what kind of politics Mayawati intends to pursue where under her direction, senior BSP leaders vied with each other in hurling filthy abuses on the mother, wife and minor daughter of the former BJP leader''. The former BSP leader said this particular incident has exposed the political limits of Mayawati that she was in no position to the fight the feudal class and was forced to cancel the state wide protest demonstration on July 25 against the derogatory remark by the former BJP leader. Endorsing the critics of Mayawati, former BSP leader said ``Mayawati was no longer a `dalit ke beti, she is daulat ke beti''.UNI MB PR 2325 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853204.Xml Additional police superintendent A K Gupta said here that on thebasis of complaint lodged by Dr Bikram Singh Chauhan and Dr NawalKishore Pandey, an FIR charging MLA with demanding extortion of Rs 20lakhs, was registered at Panchrukhi police station. In the FIR, it was alleged that MLA Mr Singh had demanded Rs 20lakhs from the two doctors when they were making measurement of theirplot. JD(U) MLA along with his supporters had threatened both thedoctors not to take-up any construction work, unless they coughed-upthe extortion money. " The case was being investigated and lawful action would be takenif allegation was found to be true", Mr Gupta stated.UNI XC KKS RL PR 2327 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853211.Xml Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu for wholehearted support from the Centre for development of India's eastern most state.Hardly a week after taking over the reins of Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu made a courtesy call on Prime Minister at the latter's 7 Race Course residence today.In a fruitful discussion for over 30 minutes, Prime Minister advised the new government must work towards making Arunachal Pradesh an organic state and focus on prominent sectors of Tourism. He further said HydroPower needs to be harnessed sustainably. He also laid emphasis on digital governance, official sources informed here.He further emphasized on the importance of connectivity through road, rail and air to usher all-round development in the state. Cutting across party lines, he underscored development of the stateshould not suffer at any cost.Drawing attention of the PM towards the current issue of floods creating havoc in the region, the Chief Minister elaborated on the grim situation in more than 24 villages severely affected covering four districts of the state - Changlang, Lohit, Namsai and Lower Dibang Valley. He requested the Prime Minister to depute aninter-ministerial team for immediate assessment of flood damages for further necessary action.Khandu, meanwhile, extended an invitation to the PM to visit Arunachal possibly in the month of October or November next, which Mr Modi gladly accepted. UNI PB AKC PR 2321 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853229.Xml Presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine spoke for the first time as running mates at a rally in Miami, Florida on Saturday, two days before the party's convention kicks off in Philadelphia. Kaine is "everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," Xinhua quoted Clinton as saying. She formally introduced her low-key Spanish-fluent ally to the crowd at Florida International University, where the student body is more than half Hispanic. "He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one and he is a progressive who likes to get things down," said the former Secretary of State, with a grinning Kaine at her side. At ease in the national limelight, Kaine showcased his fluency in Spanish, introduced himself and praising Clinton while attacking the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. "Hillary Clinton is the direct opposite of Donald Trump," he said, claiming he and Clinton are "soulmates in this great fight" for progressive agenda. "From Atlantic City to his so-called university, he leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes," Kaine said. "We can't afford to let him do the same thing to our country," Kaine said of the New York billionaire, adding that Trump's foreign policy positions are even considered dangerous among Republicans. Since Clinton announced her vice president pick via Tweet and text message to supporters on Friday, Trump has been ripping Kaine in a series of tweets, claiming the selection will unnerve supporters of Clinton's formal rival Bernie Sanders and therefore cause a floor fight at the upcoming Democratic convention. --IANS sku/ ( 279 Words) 2016-07-24-03:48:01 (IANS) Nepal's Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, who is facing certain defeat in today's no-confidence motion against him in Parliament, is going all out to trigger a constitutional crisis in order to prolong his stay in office. The beleaguered Prime Minister is claiming that the new Constitution is silent on procedures for formation of a new government if the incumbent is pulled down by way of a no-confidence motion. Oli, who until recently was offering the Prime Ministership to Pushpa Kamal Dahal, commonly known as Prachanda, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), in order to 'ensure Left unity' when the Maoist leader first withdrew support, and more recently made overtures to Ram Chandra Paudel (who recently lost the Nepali Congress Presidential contest to Sher Bahadur Deuba) to remain in government, is clearly having double standards with regard to Constitutional provisions. When it suits his candidates, the much touted Article 268 of the Constitution (which clearly provides for formation of a new government) has the required enabling provisions, but when it comes to Prachanda or Deuba forming a government, Oli is quick to point out that Article 268 is but a one-time provision which enabled him to become Prime Minister in October 2015. Political watchers in Nepal say in that any parliamentary democracy, the Prime Minister of the day would have resigned and paved the way for the formation of a new government, the moment a coalition partner withdrew support and reduced the government to minority. But not so in the case of Oli, who is seeking to cling onto power, even in a caretaker capacity, for as long as he can. While pro-Oli legal experts in Nepal have doctored their legal advice to 'suit their boss' by stating that no provisions exists for the formation of a new government, and these include responsible government functionaries such as Law Minister Agni Kharel and Attorney General Hari Phuyal, other legal luminaries are of the unanimous view that not only does Article 268 provide for a smooth transition, but even unwritten constitutions of the world and international jurisprudence provide enough precedence for formation of a new government in lieu of one that has lost the confidence of the House. Oli's obvious intention is to engineer a constitutional crisis by asking his former aide and close associate President Bidya Bhandari to rule in favour of his legal interpretation. Such an interpretation, or a reference of what is essentially a political issue to the judiciary, would, in Oli's assessment, ensure that he can continue as Prime Minister for an indefinite period. Ironically, one of the reasons being given for Oli to continue is to ensure that he is in office when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Nepal later this year, en-route for the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. In a tactical move to substantiate his view point, Oli went so far as to field former Speaker and senior UML leader Subhash Nemwang to speak immediately after Prachanda introduced the vote of no-confidence on July 22 and got him to state that "while the NCM will compel the Oli government to resign, the formation of a new government would not be possible in the absence of provisions for the same in the Constitution". This, however, has been contested vehemently by subsequent speakers in Parliament, during the debate on the no-confidence. While Bimlendra Nidhi of the Nepali Congress said that the process of change of government was 'the beauty of democratic systems, and that the same would strengthen parliamentary democracy in Nepal', Ramesh Lekhak, also of the Nepali Congress, questioned the motive behind Oli's interpretation and wondered how the Constitution makers would not have envisaged a change of government in a democracy, if Oli's view were to be accepted. Notwithstanding Oli's efforts to drag his feet and prolong his Prime Ministership by advancing meaningless arguments regarding the absence of provisions for a change of government in the Constitution, sooner rather than later, Oli will be evicted from office, however reluctantly he leaves. But the damage to the UML is likely to be colossal, as the party would end up paying a heavy price during the elections for Oli's misguided moves. Elections to the Village Development Councils, Provincial Assemblies and eventually to the Parliament are due in quick succession between now and 2017. Nepali political analysts say that the country and its polity would heave a big sigh of relief after the departure of Oli, who has proven himself a cunning and treacherous partner, double crossing his political allies and violating the 'gentleman's accord', which had paved the way for his Prime Ministership. The Prachanda-Deuba tie-up, which has led to the ouster of Oli, is expected to auger well for the future of Nepal and its public. Prachanda, despite his Maoist background, is now a man of peace, and his broad alliance with Deuba and the Madhesis would usher in a regime working for the resolution of outstanding problems, and bringing about much needed peace and unity to a fractured and divided country. (ANI) Thousands of people attended a funeral procession in Cambodia's capital today for a prominent government critic, Kem Ley, whose killing has raised fears about political violence in the run-up to elections.Kem Ley was shot dead in a shop in Phnom Penh on July 10. Police have arrested a suspect and say they believe the motive for the murder was a debt.Government critics in a country with a long record of violent politics believe Kem Ley was killed because of his work as an activist and his political analysis though they say there is no evidence for that."I am here to accompany him for the last time," said Chhouk Da, 28, a volunteer helping to direct traffic as the procession made its way with Kem Lay's body in a refrigerated glass casket on a truck, flanked by Buddhist monks."He was just helping the nation," said Chhouk Da who was wearing a T-shirt with the words "Wipe your tears, continue your journey".The killing comes at a time of rising political tension between Prime Minister Hun Sen and an opposition hoping to challenge his 30-year grip on power in local elections in 2017 and a general election in 2018.Members of the opposition and activists have been jailed on charges they say were trumped up by the government as part of a crackdown to mute critics.Mourners wearing white shirts held small flags, lotus flowers and pictures of Kem Ley, 46, as the procession including motorbikes and cars moved out of the capital to Kem Ley's home province of Takeo, about 70 km to the south.Anti-riot police were on guard outside government buildings along the route.Human rights group Licadho said the procession was at least 8 km long with thousands of people also lining the route.A police video posted online showed the arrested suspect, Chuop Somlap, 38, whose name means "meet to kill", saying he killed the political commentator over a 3,000 dollars debt.The United States has called for a credible investigation. The European Union and United Nations have expressed concern about political tension.Human Rights workers say the killing is bound to have a chilling effect on political activism."The assassination of Kem Ley - a calamity in itself - sadly reaffirms the primacy of violence in the politics of Cambodia," John Coughlan, a researcher at Amnesty International, said in a statement. REUTERS RSD PR1128 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-852243.Xml Police in Bangladesh arrested today four female members of a home-grown militant group blamed for a bloody attack on a cafe in which 22 people were killed, most of them foreigners, an officer said.Authorities have intensified a hunt for militants after five young men stormed the upmarket restaurant popular with foreigners on July 1. Among those killed were nine Italians, seven Japanese, an American and an Indian.The five militants were gunned down when security forces moved in.Police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, played a significant role in organising the group of privileged, educated young men who carried out the attack.The four women members of the group, aged 18 to 30, who were arrested in from the northwestern district of Sirajganj, were believed to have been plotting an attack, police said."Acting on a tip-off, our force raided a rented house where a large amount of grenade-making materials, crude bombs and jihadi books were also found," district police superintendent Siraj Uddin Ahmed told reporters.The women would be interrogated to determine if they had any link to the Dhaka cafe attack, he said.On Thursday, four other members of the banned group, including a regional head, were arrested.The cafe attack was one of the worst militant attacks ever in Bangladesh.Al Qaeda and Islamic State have made competing claims for a series of killings of liberals and members of religious minorities in the country over the past year.The government dismissed the claims and instead blamed domestic militant groups, but security experts say the scale and sophistication of the cafe assault suggested links to a trans-national network.REUTERS JW BD1451 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-852496.Xml The chairman of Britain's Conservative Party said the vote for Brexit to leave the EU referendum would be binding on parliament and Article 50, which formally starts the exit process from the bloc, would be triggered before the next election. "I'm quite clear that the referendum result is binding on parliament," Patrick McLoughlin told the BBC's Marr show on Sunday. McLoughlin also said Article 50 would definitely be triggered before the next election. REUTERS JW NS1514 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-852517.Xml In a statement, the ministry said it renews its keenness to achieve a political solution that meets the aspiration of the Syrian people and enjoys the support of the UN and the international community, Xinhua news agency reported. It added that the Syrian government was ready to continue peace talks on the crisis created by the protracted civil war without preconditions, in the hope of achieving an "inclusive solution drawn by the Syrians themselves without foreign interference". Several rounds of previous Syrian talks in Geneva had ended with little, but no tangible results. The Syrian civil war is one of the deadliest conflicts the 21st century has witnessed thus far. Five years since the conflict began, more than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, and almost 11 million Syrians -- half the country's pre-war population -- have been displaced from their homes. The government of President Bashar al-Assad currently controls the capital, Damascus, parts of southern Syria, portions of Aleppo and Deir Az Zor, much of the area near the Syrian-Lebanese border, and the northwestern coastal region. Rebel groups, the Islamic State militant group, and Kurdish forces control the rest of the country. --IANS ksk/dg ( 235 Words) 2016-07-24-16:14:04 (IANS) Southeast Asian nations failed to find common ground on maritime disputes in the South China Sea today after Cambodia stuck to its demand the group make no reference to an international court ruling against Beijing in a statement, diplomats said.Foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met for the first time since the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague handed an emphatic legal victory to the Philippines in the maritime dispute earlier this month.The ruling denied China's sweeping claims in the strategic seaway, through which more than 5 trillion dollars in global trade passes each year.China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. Beijing says the ruling has no bearing on its rights in the sea, and described the case as a farce.The Philippines and Vietnam both wanted the communique issued by ASEAN foreign ministers to refer to the ruling and the need to respect international law, ASEAN diplomats said today. Their foreign ministers both discussed the ruling in the closed-door meeting with ASEAN counterparts in Laos today, sources said.But in the run up to the meeting, China's closest ASEAN ally Cambodia has put up opposition to mentioning the ruling, throwing the group into disarray. Cambodia supports China's opposition to an ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, and Beijing's preference for dealing with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis.FIRST DEADLOCK SINCE 2012Cambodia's foreign minister Prak Sokhon declined to comment on his country's position today.Despite a late night meeting of foreign ministers called to thrash out the issue late on Saturday, the region's top diplomats were unable to find a compromise.ASEAN is now facing the prospect of being unable to issue a statement after a meeting for only the second time in its 49-year history. The first time, in 2012, was also due to Cambodia's resistance to language around the South China Sea."We have been here before and I hope they can solve it," said one official from the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. "It is the same story again, a repeat of the meeting in 2012."The group has given itself until Tuesday to come to an agreement and issue a statement, said one ASEAN diplomat. Over the next two days, ASEAN members will meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State John Kerry.Wang, who started bilateral meetings with ASEAN members on Sunday, declined to talk to reporters on arrival in Vientiane.Japan's Foreign Minister Fumiko Kishida will also be in Laos for the ASEAN regional forum meeting. It is unclear if he will meet Wang, but China reacted angrily to Kishida saying he would discuss the sea if they do meet.China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, in a statement posted on the ministry's website, said the sea is not Japan's concern."We urge Japan not to hype up and meddle in the South China Sea issue," he said. "Japan is not a concerned party in the South China Sea, and because of its disgraceful history is in no place to make irresponsible comments about China."The United States, allied to the Philippines and cultivating closer relations with Vietnam, has called on China to respect the court's ruling.It has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to the disputed territory to assert freedom of navigation rights.But Kerry will urge ASEAN nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tension over Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint, a senior US official said ahead of his trip.Chinese state media called for "damage control" at the meetings. A commentary published by the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday said the court ruling was a "blow to peace and stability in the region.... and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence."Barack Obama is set in September to become the first US president to visit Laos, attending an annual summit hosted by the country that holds the ASEAN chairmanship.REUTERS JW VN17121713 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-852743.Xml Acting on a tip-off, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police raided Riazuddin Bazar area of Chittagong and recovered over 50,000 illegal SIM cards from six shops of the market, reported the Daily Star. They were reportedly selling these SIM cards belonging to different telecom operators to people under different names. Selling of SIM cards in the open market without proper authentication of buyers poses a serious security threat as these can be used by anti-social elements for illegal purposes. (ANI) Democrat Bernie Sanders demanded the party chairwoman resign and questioned the vice presidential pick of Tim Kaine today, raising doubts about Hillary Clinton's chances for party unity on the eve of her presidential nominating convention.Lingering bitterness from the heated primary campaign between Clinton and Sanders erupted after more than 19,000 leaked Democratic National Committee emails seemed to confirm Sanders' frequent charge that the DNC played favorites in the race."I'm not shocked but I'm disappointed," Sanders said on ABC's "This Week," repeating a demand he made earlier this year that DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz step down from the post.CNN reported Wasserman Schultz would not speak or preside at the convention, a blow to the leadership of a party keen on projecting steadiness in contrast to the volatility of Republican nominee Donald Trump.The controversy overshadowed preparations in Philadelphia for the four-day coronation of Clinton as the Democratic nominee to face Trump in the Nov. 8 White House election. The convention will open tomorrow.The cache of more than 19,000 emails leaked on Friday by the WikiLeaks website revealed DNC officials explored ways to undermine Sanders' insurgent presidential campaign, including raising questions about whether Sanders, who is Jewish, was really an atheist.The day after Kaine, a US senator from Virginia, made his campaign trail debut as Clinton's potential running mate, Sanders also said he would have preferred she pick US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a favorite of the party's liberal wing, as her No. 2."I have known Tim Kaine for a number of years... Tim is a very, very smart guy. He is a very nice guy," Sanders, who has endorsed Clinton, said on NBC's "Meet the Press.""He is more conservative than I am. Would I have preferred to see somebody like an Elizabeth Warren selected by Secretary Clinton? Yes, I would have," he said.A RUSSIAN CONNNECTION?The frustration from Sanders, a US senator from Vermont, suggested the convention could be less serene than hoped by the Clinton camp, which wanted to offer a contrast with last week's chaotic Republican convention.Liberal groups and Sanders supporters were dismayed by the pick of Kaine, who could appeal to independents and moderates but has never been aligned with party liberals.But the flap over the Wikileaks documents posed a new threat to party unity. Brad Marshall, the DNC's chief financial officer, apologized on Facebook yesterday for an email in which he discussed how some voters in upcoming nominating contests in Kentucky and West Virginia would reject an atheist.No names were mentioned, but Sanders was the only Jewish candidate."He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage," Marshall wrote in a May 5 email to three top DNC officials. "I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist."Sanders said he had not received a personal apology.Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, raised questions about whether Russians may have had a hand in the hack attack, and were interested in helping Trump, who has offered praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin."What's disturbing to us is that experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails and other experts are now saying that Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump," he said on CNN's "State of the Union.""I don't think it is coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention," he said.Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort said the Clinton camp was trying to distract from its party discord ahead of the convention."Well, it's pure obfuscation on the part of the Clinton campaign," Manafort said on ABC. "What's in those emails show that it was a clearly rigged system, that Bernie Sanders - Sanders never had a chance."REUTERS AKC RAI2256 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853248.Xml Tens of thousands of supporters of Turkey's ruling and main opposition parties, usually bitter foes, rallied together today in support of democracy following a failed military coup as President Tayyip Erdogan tightens his grip on the country.Demonstrators held a cross-party "Republic and Democracy" rally in Istanbul's central Taksim Square in a spirit of unity following the failed coup, in which at least 246 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured.In a rare move, pro-government channels broadcast a live speech from the podium by main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu."This is a day to unite, a day to stand up against coups and dictatorial regimes, a day to let the voice of the people be heard," he said at the rally, organised by his secularist opposition CHP but also backed by the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party and by other opposition groups."We are all together in Taksim today. Today is a day we made history all together."Erdogan will probably try to capitalise on the large size of the crowd of all political persuasions to try and reassert full control over the country, a NATO ally and an important partner in the US-led fight against Islamic State.In another demonstration of unity after the coup, which was staged by a faction within the armed forces, the head of Turkey's air force issued a rare statement stressing "absolute obedience" to the chief of the military General Staff. Some members of the air force were involved in the coup.The chief of the military General Staff, Hulusi Akar, who was held hostage by the plotters on the night of July 15, condemned the plotters on Sunday as "cowards in uniform" who had greatly harmed the nation and the army.Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the attempted coup, has declared a state of emergency, allowing him to sign laws without prior parliamentary approval in a drive to root out supporters of the coup.His critics fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week.Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday authorities had taken around 13,000 people into custody over the coup attempt, including 8,831 soldiers. He pledged they would have a fair trial.Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt."It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held," said Amnesty's Europe director John Dalhuisen in a statement.Erdogan has extended the maximum period of detention for suspects from four days to 30, a move Amnesty said increased the risk of torture or other maltreatment of detainees.But for now, the crackdown appears to be broadly popular."The state of emergency is a good thing and it's good that many people have been arrested and that the length of detentions has been extended," said demonstrator Harun Kalyancu, 34, a furniture designer and supporter of the ruling party. "If people lost their jobs they must be guilty."Zuhal Tolbert, 56, who is retired, said the government should be more inclusive."The government has to think about the mistakes they have made they have to think about the other half of the population. (who did not vote for them)," she said. "We all have to come together."SHOW OF UNITYErdogan has accused US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey, of masterminding the abortive coup. In his first decree Erdogan ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and foundations with suspected links to Gulen, who denies involvement in the coup.The CHP and other political parties swiftly joined the ruling Islamist-rooted AKP in condemning the coup attempt, mindful of four other military interventions in Turkey in the past 60 years. The last full-scale coup in 1980 led to mass arrests of politicians and others, torture and executions.Taksim Square, like much of Istanbul and other cities, is awash with Turkish flags and CHP supporters were also carrying pictures of their hero Kemal Ataturk, the soldier who founded the secular republic on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.Supporters of Erdogan's AKP, which has ruled Turkey since 2002, have generally tended to use religious symbols and rhetoric. But the coup has united both sides in a blaze of nationalist fervour. Istanbul's AKP mayor, Kadir Toptas, has provided free public transport for the rally.Opposition parties have mixed backing for purging coup supporters with calls for reconciliation and restraint."Turkey should completely be purified from the rule of the putsch," said a "Taksim Declaration" issued by the CHP's Kilicdaroglu. "The state should not be governed by anger and revenge. The culprits of the putsch should be tried lawfully with the understanding of abiding by the rule of law," it added.Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28. Erdogan told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood".After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, but have also expressed concern over the scale of subsequent purges of state institutions. REUTERS AKC GC2319 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-853260.Xml RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- French President Francois Hollande is among 45 foreign leaders to have confirmed their presence at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian government said on Saturday. Others to commit to the August 5 event include Mauricio Macri (Argentina), Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia), Horacio Cartes (Paraguay) and Matteo Renzi (Italy), officials said. The leaders will meet at the Itamaraty palace in the center of Rio before traveling in a motorcade to the Maracana stadium in the city's north, according to foreign relations minister Jose Serra. "It will be the largest [security] mobilization in our history," Serra said. "All of our security forces have been mobilized: the local police, the federal police and the armed forces." Brazil will deploy 88,000 soldiers and police during the August 5-21 Games, more than double the number used at the London 2012 Olympics. According to the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, there will be a special security plan in place for Hollande during the opening ceremony. France has been the target of three major terror atrocities in the past 18 months, including an attack in Nice this month when 84 people were mown down by a truck while celebrating Bastille Day fireworks. Intelligence agencies from more than 100 countries are working in tandem with Brazil's federal police and armed forces to combat terror plots in Rio, according to the government. RIO DE JANEIRO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United have stepped up their attempt to sign Gabriel Jesus as a bidding war looms with Manchester City for the teenage Brazilian sensation. United have offered to pay 29 million pounds (38 million US dollars) for the 19-year-old Palmeiras striker, according to the Globoesporte news portal. The offer is said to be around 2.5 million pounds more than that made by their cross-city rivals. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly invited Gabriel to join the Etihad Stadium in a telephone conversation this week. United boss Jose Mourinho could also speak personally to the starlet, the report said, citing sources with knowledge of negotiations. Last month it was reported that the Brazilian's 40 million-euro (US$44 million) release clause had been reduced to 24 million euros for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United or Bayern Munich. However Manchester City's interest is understood to have prompted Palmeiras to scrap the discount offer. Even if a deal is struck before the close of the transfer window on August 31, Gabriel is likely to remain at Palmeiras until the end of the Brazilian Serie A season in December. He is currently the top scorer in Brazil's top flight with 10 goals from 14 matches and is equal third on the assists chart with four. The forward is expected to start alongside Neymar in Brazil's opening Rio 2016 Olympic Games fixture against South Africa on August 4. HAVANA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Cuba signed a contract Saturday with Russia for the purchase of 75 locomotives for the transport of sugar cane. Russia's Sinara Transport Machines will supply 75 diesel TGM-8 and TGM-4 locomotives between 2017 and 2021. The contract also contains provisions for the modernization of a locomotive machine shop in Havana and the delivery of spare parts for the maintenance of Cuba's fleet of locomotives and technical assistance for Cuban personnel. "For us, the re-establishment of ties is highly important, as the majority of the TGM locomotives acquired by the country have been in use for more than 40 years," Havana-based Prensa Latina news agency quoted an official of the Cuban Railway Union as saying. TRIPOLI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Presidential Council has summoned the French ambassador to Libya to protest French military intervention in the country, council Vice Chairman Ahmed Maiteeg said Saturday. The council rejects French intervention in Libya, Maiteeg told a press conference. French President Francois Hollande revealed on Wednesday that three French soldiers were killed in Libya in an intelligence mission. Dozens of Libyans on Friday protested before the Foreign Ministry in Tripoli against French military intervention in Libya and accused the government of "allowing foreign occupation." The Presidential Council on Wednesday issued a statement condemning French involvement in Libya. "The Presidential Council deplores the announced French presence in eastern Libya without knowledge of the council," the statement said. "We appreciate and support the international effort and alliance to fight terrorism. However, this does not justify any intervention without prior coordination with us." PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of mourners on Sunday attended the funeral procession of slain Cambodian political analyst Kem Ley, who was shot dead two weeks ago. The procession was to carry the body of Kem Ley from capital Phnom Penh, where the body had been on display at a Buddhist pagoda, to his hometown in southern Takeo province, where the body would be buried. Hundreds of security forces and traffic police officers were deployed along the route to tighten security and to facilitate the flow of traffic. Kem Ley, 46, director of the Organization for Social Development, was shot dead at a mini-mart in Phnom Penh on July 10 when he was having a coffee. Police arrested a 38-year-old suspect with a Glock pistol shortly after the murder, according to National Police spokesman Gen. Kirt Chantharith. The suspect identified himself as "Chuob Samlab," which translates in English as "Meet Kill." He confessed to the crime, claiming that he got furious with Kem Ley, who owed him 3,000 U.S. dollars, but failed to pay him back, according to the spokesman. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on July 13 charged the gunman with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a firearm, who could face a life imprisonment if convicted. HOUSTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and another injured on Saturday in a shooting in Bastrop, a town in the central part of the U.S. state of Texas. The shooting took place just after 6 p.m.(2300 GMT) and the suspect is dead, according to ABC13 TV. A child was sent to hospital with minor injuries. A police spokeswoman said that the apartment complex where the shooting happened is now secure, but she did not give any details about the shooting or the motive for the shooting. Bastrop, a town with a population of around 7,500 people, is located 56 km southeast of Austin, the capital city of Texas. by Xinhua Writer Liu Chang BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Pacific boasts the world's most dynamic economies, highly lucrative markets and captivating cultural diversity. It could well become the future of the world. Yet some meddlers are jeopardizing that prospect. Starting from Sunday, foreign ministers of the East Asia Summit countries will be under the same roof in the Laotian capital of Vientiane for a series of meetings. The coming days are a chance for the top diplomats to start engaging in damage control after the recent null and void award on the South China Sea arbitration, a blow to peace and stability in the region. Worryingly, the arbitration, a unilateral move by the Philippines, has set a fraught and dangerous precedent of mishandling maritime disputes. Worse still, a handful of countries within and outside the region have urged China to follow the ruling by a highly questionable arbitral tribunal in The Hague, which has clearly acted beyond its jurisdiction. The ruling by no means helps solving the problem by peaceful ways and only serves to increase the likelihood of confrontation and turbulence. In a latest positive sign, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos has accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to be special envoy to China, opening the possibility of dialogue between Beijing and Manila. It is a testimony that the South China Sea disputes can be solved by directly involved parties, without the interference from outsiders. Still, the risks of rising tensions, fanned by a few countries may not be underestimated. Despite Washington's denial, it clearly has a hand in this. During the past eight years, the Obama administration has mostly seen China as a potential challenger to its "leadership" in the region and has been seeking to curb its rise with its iconic "Pivot to Asia" policy. By excluding China, the world's second-largest economy, from the Trans-Pacific Pact, Washington tries to be the only one who wears the pants in the region. Meanwhile, the United States has left no stone unturned to sow discord between China and its neighbors. In the South China Sea, the United States paints China as a threat to freedom of navigation and accuses it of weaponizing the area. On the Korean Peninsula, it, under the pretext of deterring the missile menace from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has managed to get the Blue House to okay its deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. As the U.S. surveillance range penetrates deep into Chinese territories, tensions between Beijing and Seoul are flaring. Japan is also good at muddying the waters. Tokyo tries to pressure Beijing on the South China Sea front, hoping that China will not be resourceful enough to handle the island contention in the East China Sea simultaneously. However, this tactic of distraction will not pay off given China's determination and capability to defend its territorial integrity. The firebrands need to be careful of what they wish for. Their strategy of fanning China-phobia is only going to instigate distrust and disorder, and invite recession to the region, while their own security and economic interests will suffer heavy setbacks. As for the East Asian nations, they have to stay vigilant about the U.S. foray into the region, and should refuse to be used as pawns in Washington's geopolitical board game. One would believe that the leaders of these nations would be wise enough to at least learn some lessons from the disgraceful Iraqi war and the following bloody interference in Libya and Syria that have turned almost the entire Middle East upside down and fostered the emergence of global terrorism's new standard-bearer, the Islamic State group. Right now, the global economic recovery is still weak and unbalanced, while Asia's economies are also facing serious challenges. To get out of the economic wilderness, the East Asian nations need to forge even stronger partnerships, and turn away from ill-intentioned troublemakers. China is the top trading partner of many East Asian nations, including most of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, while their past economic transactions have proved mutually rewarding. As Beijing is getting ready to promote its Belt and Road Initiative, its neighbors would reap far more tangible benefits if they choose to broaden their cooperation with China, a market no country can afford to lose. Related: China, ASEAN seek to jointly build community of common destiny VIENTIANE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their dialogue partners including China will gather here on Sunday for an ASEAN ministerial meeting as well as a series of related regional talks. Chinese leaders have vowed to build a community of common destiny with ASEAN as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship. Bilateral trade reached 472 billion U.S. dollars last year, up from 7.96 billion U.S. dollars in 1991, with an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent. Full story Chinese ambassador calls for closer cooperation to promote China-ASEAN ties HONG KONG, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should join hands and work closely together to promote new progress in bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Xu Bu said on Friday. Major efforts should be made to enhance political and security mutual trust and strategic communication between the two sides, the ambassador said in an interview with Xinhua. Full story Biden reiterates importance of Australia in U.S. military pivot to Asia SYDNEY, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia is key to the core of the United States' Asia-Pacific pivot as each country has the other's back, visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said as he ends his visit here on Wednesday. RIO DE JANEIRO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Three stations on a new express bus corridor connecting Rio de Janeiro's international airport to Olympic Park were closed after a shootout between police and drug gangs. Authorities said the Madureira, Mercadao and Otaviano stations were shut for almost an hour on Saturday after traffickers opened fire on a police car near the Serrinha favela in Rio's north. The stations are part of the newly opened Transcarioca bus line, built for next month's Olympic Games. No injuries were reported from the exchange of fire and there were no arrests. Authorities in Rio are battling to contain a rise in violent crime as the city prepares for the August 5-21 Olympics. In the first five months of 2016, the number of homicides in Rio rose by 18 percent to 1,870 compared to the same period in 2012 when killings reached their lowest rates of the past decade. Brazil will deploy 88,000 soldiers and police during the August 5-21 Games, more than double the number used at the London 2012 Olympics. (Source:Xinhua) KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 80 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded in a twin blast targeting a mass protest in the Afghan capital on Saturday, the deadliest attack Kabul has ever seen since 2001. The attack prompted growing fear about security in the country since it also marked the first time the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has staged such carnage in Kabul. According to an IS statement, two of its suicide bombers detonated their explosives among the demonstrators. Reports said there was a third suicide bomber, but police officers shot him before he could cause any harm. The Taliban denied any involvement in the attack. The demonstrators, mainly from the Hazara ethnic minority, were protesting the route of a planned power line, which they say should not bypass the Hazara heartland of Bamiyan province. The twin blast inflicted the highest toll compared with similar attacks Kabul has witnessed in the past 15 years, and TV footage showed a hellish scene of bodies strewing the street and blood-soaked survivors calling for help. Rescue efforts were hampered by roadblocks that had been set up by the police for the purpose of crowd management. Outside hospitals, there were long lines of local residents who offered to donate blood for the victims. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said he was deeply grieved by the tragedy, noting that the government "puts all efforts to provide security for the protestors, but terrorists entered the protests, and carried out explosions that martyred and wounded a number of citizens including members of security and defense forces." He declared a day of national mourning and ordered the authorities to use all available resources to help the victims. While the Afghan leader promised to uphold citizens' right to protest, the government decided to ban all forms of public gathering for the next 10 days. Many countries, including neighboring India, Pakistan, as well as leading NATO members, have sent condolences to Afghanistan over the incident. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the terrorist attack. "This despicable crime targeted citizens peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson. Related: IS bomb attacks kill 13 civilians in Iraq's besieged town VIENTIANE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) promised to continue efforts to advance peace, stability and development in the region as their foreign ministers gathered in Vientiane for regional meetings on Sunday. Foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc for the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) were welcomed by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who called for "frank and constructive discussions" between member states and partners, "contributing to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world." Thongloun identified a range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges including extremism and terrorism, natural disasters and climate change, refugee issues and human trafficking as well as economic developments including the recent "Brexit" as requiring close attention of the ministers. Chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, the AMM comes following talks between the region's senior officials and diplomats in Vientiane since Thursday as representatives seek progress on regional and international issues of common concern and interest. The 10 ministers of ASEAN are to be joined by counterparts from dialogue partners including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Japan's Fumio Kishida and South Korea's Yun Byung-se in attendance for associated talks including the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting. Foreign Ministers and representatives from dialogue partners, including India, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, are also set to join forums to push forward respective relations with the 10-member ASEAN as well as via associated fora. Associated meetings to be hosted in Vientiane include the 17th ASEAN plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting (APT), the 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as well as the meeting of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty Commission. The AMM is one of the multi-sectoral meetings being hosted by Laos as per its 2016 ASEAN chairmanship, culminating in the heads-of-government East Asia Summit set for Sept. 6-8 in Vientiane. BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Wang Yong on Sunday went to Hebei Province to oversee the disaster relief and relocation work following recent flooding. Wang's mission was assigned by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, accompanied by officials from relevant departments under the State Council, a brief statement said on Sunday. Torrential rain and floods last week left 114 people dead with 111 others still missing in Hebei, according to the provincial civil affairs bureau. Nearly 310,000 people have been evacuated. BAGHDAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 11 wounded on Sunday in a suicide bombing attack in the holy Shiite district of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua. HO CHI MINH CITY, July 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese police officers transfer two Chinese economic fugitives in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, on July 24, 2016. Vietnamese police have returned three Chinese economic fugitives arrested in Vietnam to a Chinese police working team in capital Hanoi and southern Ho Chi Minh city respectively on Saturday and Sunday. (Xinhua/Tao Jun) HANOI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese police have returned three Chinese economic fugitives arrested in Vietnam to a Chinese police working team in capital Hanoi and southern Ho Chi Minh city respectively on Saturday and Sunday. According to Zhao Wanpeng, police counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Vietnam, upon receiving request for help to arrest the suspects from China, the Vietnamese police paid great attention and launched an operation soon. After consistent efforts, the Vietnamese police located the suspects and arrested them in a short period of time, said Zhao. This is the first time that Vietnam has transferred as many as three suspects at a time to China. Police of the two countries started joint efforts to catch escaped suspects in 2014 and so far they have assisted each other in arresting and transferring over 60 suspects. BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday that it had started anti-dumping duties on oriented electric steel imports from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the European Union. The move came after an investigation found evidence of dumping that was harming Chinese industry, the ministry said on its website. The anti-dumping duties, which have been levied since Saturday, range from 37.3 percent to 46.3 percent and will last for five years. BAGHDAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Up to 14 people were killed and 20 wounded on Sunday in a suicide bomb attacks in the holy Shiite district in north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua. "The latest report said 14 people were killed and 20 wounded in Kadhmiyah suicide bomb attack," the source said on condition of anonymity. The attack occurred during the morning rush hour when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a crowded checkpoint near Adan Square at the entrance of Kadhmiyah district, the source said. The blast set fire to several nearby civilian vehicles and damaged many others, along with destroying part of the checkpoint's building, the source said. Earlier in the day, the source put the toll at three killed and 11 wounded in Kadhmiyah blast, citing initial police report. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in downtown Baghdad, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide attacks, targeting areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq. Iraq has been hit by a new wave of violence since the IS terrorist group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. A report by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated that 662 Iraqis were killed and 1,457 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June across Iraq. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. Courtesy School of Rock Head on downtown to take advantage of the amazingly audacious variety of live music happening in clubs on Central between First Street and Sixth Street tonight!There's plenty of action from rap to rock and beyond, but these are the two events that caught my attention. The Co-Op (415 Central NW) presents a concert by students from the School of Rock. Albuquerque SOR operator Robert Montoya told Weekly Alibi this show features School of Rock students from all over the planet, saying, "There are seven different touring groups that are starting in different cities around the country. Team Five Touring Group had their dress rehearsal at the Co-Op on Friday and will play a full show along with our ABQ School of Rock House Band to kick off their tour! They play Denver and Red Rocks next, then Omaha, Neb. and DeKalb, Kansas before ending up at Lollapalooza in Chicago on July 28." The SOR Tour kicks off at 6pm at the Co-Op, Tickets cost $10 online or at the door. All ages are welcome. After you've caught a glimpse of the next generation, troop your rocked out form over to Launchpad (618 Central SW) to check out one of the premier, genre-defining bands of this age. In case you wanna know, they are called Wavves and they are from Califas. Totally worth it, totally talented and totally kings of the beach. It will cost $17 to interact with this beachy slice of the California Republic and members of the public over the age of 13 are invited to do so. Doors are at 8pm; the gig's at 9pm. DUBAI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Solar Impulse 2 (SI2), the fully-solar energy powered plane, has left Egypt on Sunday for its last stop of global tour of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), UAE state news agency WAM reported. Piloted by the Swiss project's co-founder, Bertrand Piccard, the zero-fuel aeroplane took off Cairo at 3 a.m. UAE time (GMT2300 Saturday). The flight will take approximately 48 hours and be expected to arrive at Al-Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Swiss adventurer and environmentalist Piccard, who initiated the project 12 years ago, said that Egypt was where he first began thinking of making a circumnavigation using only solar power. "I'm excited to come so close to the goal, but unfortunately there are still so many people we have to motivate before having a world running on the same clean technologies," UAE daily The National quoted Piccard as saying. The plane is co-sponsored by Abu Dhabi's government-controlled environmental company Masdar (Arabic for resource), and it took off for its round-the-world journey in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi. The final leg of the journey is expected to be as challenging as the previous 16 cities, mostly due to the summer heat in the Middle East. The hot temperatures will test the limits of the plane and can cause thermals and turbulence, forcing the pilot to wear an oxygen mask for extended periods of time. "We have never had to deal with temperatures so high before on our round-the-world tour, but a little challenge at the end of our mission is always good," the Solar Impulse said on their blog. The plane has been piloted by both Piccard and Borschberg around the world, stopping off at 16 cities, among them Nanjing, China, to raise awareness on the viability of renewable energy. An Iraqi policeman inspects the aftermath scene of a mortar and bombing attack on the Sayyid Mohammed shrine in the Balad area, located 70 kilometres (around 45 miles) north of Baghdad, on July 8, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua) BAGHDAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Up to 14 people were killed and 20 wounded on Sunday in a suicide bomb attacks in the holy Shiite district in north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua. "The latest report said 14 people were killed and 20 wounded in Kadhmiyah suicide bomb attack," the source said on condition of anonymity. The attack occurred during the morning rush hour when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a crowded checkpoint near Adan Square at the entrance of Kadhmiyah district, the source said. The blast set fire to several nearby civilian vehicles and damaged many others, along with destroying part of the checkpoint's building, the source said. Earlier in the day, the source put the toll at three killed and 11 wounded in Kadhmiyah blast, citing initial police report. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in downtown Baghdad, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide attacks, targeting areas where crowds of people gather, including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq. Iraq has been hit by a new wave of violence since the IS terrorist group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. A report by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated that 662 Iraqis were killed and 1,457 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June across Iraq. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. SHIJIAZHUANG, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Four government officials in north China's Hebei Province have been suspended from their posts for dereliction of duty in the response to deadly floods. Torrential rain and floods have left 114 people dead and 111 others missing in Hebei by Saturday. Meanwhile, nearly 310,000 people have been evacuated. The four officials include two Communist Party of China (CPC) officials in Xingtai city, a chief engineer of Shijiazhuang municipal bureau of transport, and a deputy head of Jingxing County, according to a decision made by the Hebei Provincial Committee of the CPC. They will be subjected to accountability investigations and could face further punishment, according to the decision. The mayor of Xingtai apologized Saturday night for inadequate responses to the storms that have caused 25 deaths and 13 missing in the city. BERLIN, July 23, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A pedestrian walks past flowers for mourning in front of the representation office of Bavaria in Berlin, capital of Germany, on July 23, 2016. "With heavy heart, we all mourn with the families," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday in her first statement after the shootout in Munich killed 10 and injured 27 people on Friday night. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) by Xinhua Writers Ma Xiao, Jiang Hanlu BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The recent bloody attacks in Germany have given German Chancellor Angela Merkel more headache as she is beleaguered by criticism of her open-door refugee policy. On Friday, an 18-year-old German-Iranian opened fire at the innocent crowd in a fast food restaurant and in the Olympia shopping center, leaving 10 people dead and injuring 27. Although police said the perpetrator of the shootout has no relation to the Islamic State, the attacker's dual citizenship still aroused some fear. In the same week, a 17-year-old asylum-seeker from Afghanistan assaulted passengers on a German train with an axe on Monday night. Police reported finding a "hand-painted Islamic State (IS) flag" in the asylum seeker's room. Germany is known by many as an orderly and disciplined country, and its security capability and investment rank among the top of European countries, said Zhao Chen, chief of the Department of International Relations Studies at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Germany also maintains a close tie with the United States on intelligence cooperation, and has strong anti-terror abilities and strict gun controls, Zhao told Xinhua in an interview on Saturday. Nevertheless, the tragedies still happened, which shows Germany is facing a severe security situation and is exposed to a very high level of threat, Zhao said. In contrast with Germany, gun controls in its neighboring countries are looser. Thus, the free movement of people among Schengen member states put immense pressure on the German government to prevent weapons from entering the country, Zhao said. Germany was not a target of attack from extremist forces in the Middle East as the country has held a cautious and conservative stance on its foreign policy, he said But now, refugee integration issues has caused a lot of headache for Germany, he added. On the one hand, European leaders over-estimated the European society's ability to accept and assimilate the Middle East refugees. On the other hand, many of the refugees, who used to have a certain level of financial ability in their own country, feel dissatisfied when they find that living standard is lower now, the expert said. Zhao said the public order and security issues resulting from the influx of refugees has stirred up repulsion from the local far-right in Germany and even the entire Europe. Zhao noted that Merkel's open-door refugee policy has received a lot of criticism, and the recent attacks could lead to a further tightening of the policy. "But it remains to be seen to what extent this might shake the German politics," he said. It's obvious that the refugee crisis has weakened Merkel's governing foundation. Results of some surveys showed record low popularity towards the Merkel administration. However, Zhao believes that currently no one in the ruling party nor the opposition party has the ability to replace Merkel's position in German politics. In the aftermath of the recent attacks, Germany and even the entire Europe could block the paths that refugees take to enter the European continent, Zhao said. According to the expert, there are mainly two routes that refugees take to enter Europe -- one leading from Turkey into Greece and the other being a sea route across the Mediterranean Sea into Italy. Zhao noted that Europe is imposing tougher asylum rules to stem migrant inflow. Greece only opened a few islands for asylum seekers and the next step is to block the sea route to prevent illegal immigrants from entering Italy, he said. Moreover, Europe will speed up the process of returning refugees who failed to meet the refugee standards, he added. KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people believed to be illegal immigrants were found dead after a boat capsized in Malaysian waters in the southern Johor state, local media reported Sunday. The boat carrying suspected illegal immigrants were believed to be heading to Batam, Indonesia when it capsized late Saturday in big waves, reported state news agency Bernama. Some 34 were rescued while seven bodies were recovered, police said. A search and rescue operation is ongoing as initial investigation suggested that there were some 60 people in the boat. Salam, an injured eight-year-old Syrian boy, cries as he waits for medical care at a makeshift clinic after a reported air strike on July 16, 2016 in al-Rehan, near Douma, a rebel-held town east of the capital Damascus. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government is ready to continue peace talks without pre-conditions in a bid to achieve a political solution to the country's crisis, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday. In a statement carried by state news agency SANA, the ministry said it renews its keenness to achieve a political solution that meets the aspiration of the Syrian people and enjoy the support of the UN and the international community. It added that the Syrian government is ready to continue peace talks on the Syrian crisis without preconditions, in the hope of achieving an "inclusive solution drawn by the Syrians themselves without foreign interference." Staffan de Mistura, the UN's special envoy to Syria, said recently that "the next three weeks are going to be extremely important to give a chance for not only intra-Syrian talks, but also some possibility of reducing violence." Speaking during his visit to Germany on Jully 22, Mistura said that hope could be found in the recent efforts by the United States and Russia, which are apparently aiming to find a common course of action to end the long-running conflict. "We are eagerly waiting to see those steps become concrete and visible," said Mistura. Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry said that the U.S. and Russia had agreed to cooperate in Syria against the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, in an effort to "restore the cessation of hostilities, significantly reduce the violence and help create the space for a genuine and credible political transition" in Syria. In its Sunday statement, the Foreign Ministry in Syria welcomed the remarks of Kerry made after meeting with Russian officials in Moscow last week. Several rounds of previous Syrian talks in Geneva had ended with little, but no tangible results. A cessation of hostilities have been achieved in some areas, save for major frontlines. A siege on rebel-held areas, and government-controlled ones have loosened a bit with the entry of aid supplies to such areas respectively. Still, no major breakthrough has been achieved, and the outlooks of the upcoming talks are still vague given the complexity of the Syrian crisis. Participants pose for group photos during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) VIENTIANE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) promised to continue efforts to advance peace, stability and development in the region as their foreign ministers gathered in Vientiane for regional meetings on Sunday. Foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc for the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) were welcomed by Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who called for "frank and constructive discussions" between member states and partners, "contributing to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world." Thongloun identified a range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges including extremism and terrorism, natural disasters and climate change, refugee issues and human trafficking as well as economic developments including the recent "Brexit" as requiring close attention of the ministers. Chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, the AMM comes following talks between the region's senior officials and diplomats in Vientiane since Thursday as representatives seek progress on regional and international issues of common concern and interest. Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith (front) addresses the retreat session of ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Yun) The 10 ministers of ASEAN are to be joined by counterparts from dialogue partners including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Japan's Fumio Kishida and South Korea's Yun Byung-se in attendance for associated talks including the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting. Foreign Ministers and representatives from dialogue partners, including India, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union, are also set to join forums to push forward respective relations with the 10-member ASEAN as well as via associated fora. Associated meetings to be hosted in Vientiane include the 17th ASEAN plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting (APT), the 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as well as the meeting of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty Commission. The AMM is one of the multi-sectoral meetings being hosted byLaos as per its 2016 ASEAN chairmanship, culminating in the heads-of-government East Asia Summit set for Sept. 6-8 in Vientiane. Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith addresses during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Yun) JUBA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Twelve-year-old South Sudanese William Nyarcoth has spent five days in a cholera treatment center at Juba Teaching Hospital after developing severe diarrhea that left him dehydrated and weak. The ailing teenager is receiving treatment for suspected cholera infection, which the South Sudan ministry of health said has been reported on more 140 people. Meanwhile, six deaths have been recorded since a suspected cholera outbreak was declared on July 18. Nyarcoth's mother, Martha James said she suspected her son contracted cholera after he consumed unhygienic food at a center for displaced people in Juba after seeking safety there following days of fighting the capital. "My child ate in the evening and he went to bed without any problem. The next morning he woke up with a terrible diarrhea accompanied with vomiting. We took him to a military hospital where they immediately rushed us to a cholera treatment center in Juba Teaching Hospital," Martha told Xinhua on Saturday. According to Martha, she has learnt a lesson after seeing the devastating effects of diarrhea on her child and dozens of other patients admitted at the cholera treatment facility. "I have seen how bad this disease (cholera) is. Look how my child has grown thin... I urge people to be careful with their hygiene," Martha told Xinhua. The UN children's fund (UNICEF) said on July 20 that dozens of people may have cholera following a rise in suspected cases in the capital Juba, Terekeka and Jonglei states. However, the mystery still remains unconfirmed due to lack of laboratory equipment needed for diagnosis. UNICEF South Sudan spokesperson, Timothy James Irwin, told Xinhua that tackling the current outbreak seems difficult because of security threat to aid workers, bad roads and reduction in number of aid partners needed to deliver health services to affected populations. "It won't be easy to contain the outbreak within the current context where the majority of national and international organizations have significantly scaled down their operation and geographic access to affected population is constrained as a result of the prevailing security situation, the rains and bad roads," said Irwin. Irwin said despite formation of an emergency task force by the Health Ministry and World Health Organization (WHO) to arrest the current outbreak, continued behavioral change and communication efforts are required to ensure immediate health-seeking behavior in high risk areas. He said UNICEF is working with the ministry of health to supply sanitary materials, tents, cholera beds and hydration supplies and also engaging in social mobilization campaigns to rescue the situation. WHO said on July 9 that the latest wave of violence in South Sudan has forced many health facilities to shut down, rendering basic health services inaccessible in some parts of the country. The UN estimates that about 14,900 people remain displaced in Juba following fighting that erupted on July 7 between rival army factions in the country. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that combined efforts need to be put in place to stem the spread of cholera throughout the country. "Good hygiene is crucial to stemming the spread of cholera. IOM is intensifying training of health and hygiene promoters to spread basic messaging on best practices such as hand washing and drinking safe water," said Kelsi Kriitmaa, IOM South Sudan migration health programme manager. ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani militant leader, Mangal Bagh, has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in eastern Afghanistan, section of the Pakistani media reported on Sunday. Bagh, who heads "Lashkar-e-Islam" group in Pakistan's Khyber tribal region, was wanted for his involvement in attacks on the security forces and tribal elders. The government had also announced 20 million rupees bounty on the head of the militant leader. Bagh had fled to neighboring Afghanistan and had been operating from there, according to security officials. Pakistan leading private Geo television reported that a U.S. drone targeted Mangal Bagh in Nagarhar's Khoi Khula area, bordering Pakistan. The TV quoted unnamed intelligence and Taliban sources as confirming the drone strike on July 22 that eliminated the militant leader. Bagh's Lashkar-e-Islami has not confirmed the incident. Reports suggest that the United States has stepped up drone strikes in Afghanistan after President Barrack Obama approved in June aerial strikes against the Taliban. According to media reports, U.S. and Pakistani officials said last week that an airstrike in Nangarhar killed Umar Mansour, the mastermind of the terrorist attack on a Pakistan military-run school in 2014 that killed nearly 140 people, mostly students, in December 2014. A file photo showing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Sun Baohong (R) presents some Chinese books as a Christmas gift to an official from the Ghana Library Anthority during the handing over ceremony in the main library of Accra, capital of Ghana, Dec. 17, 2014. (Xinhua/Lin Xiaowei) ACCRA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- China is prepared to participate in the economic development of Ghana and the West African sub-region, Sun Baohong, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana has said. Addressing the one day Ghana-China Investment Forum recently, the ambassador urged the Ghanaian side to roll out more preferential policies, and create a more congenial environment for business activities to attract more investors. "China is willing, under the framework of FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), to focus more on requirements of Ghana; explore multiple ways of cooperation and make full use of the tool of investment, vigorously participate in Ghana's industrialization," she said. Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2015 shows a view of the refurbished parliamentary office in Accra, capital of Ghana. The refurbishing work was conducted by China's State Hualong Construction Ghana Limited. (Xinhua/Lin Xiaowei) The ambassador added that China will also play a part in the country's agricultural modernization and overall regional development as well as implement more projects in Ghana and enhance its capacity for sustainable development. She called for exchange of ideas and experiences between China and Ghana with the two jointly building their capacities to pave the way for the integration of their policies and development strategies, calling for peaceful resolution of problems arising between the two. "As our cooperation goes wider and deeper, some problems will arise inevitably. Just as a proverb goes, 'the teeth sometimes bites the tongue'. In dealing with these problems emerging in the course of progress, we should abide by the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation and solve them through friendly negotiations." The Ghana-China Investment Forum, an initiative of the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Embassy of China in Ghana, seeks to stimulate development and strengthen business relationship between China and Ghana. Vice President of Ghana, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur who opened the forum, said that the stock of Chinese investment in Ghana has increased to 1.3 billion U.S dollars and the office of China Africa Development Fund (CADFund) has opened in Ghana's capital to cater for West Africa. Photo taken on Sept. 28, 2015 shows a view of a court complex for the judicial service in Accra, capital of Ghana. The 42-room facility was constructed by the China State Hualong Construction, Ghana Limited. (Xinhua/Li Ziyun) "We accept the endorsement of China that Ghana is indeed the gateway to West Africa. It is in the light of the growing trade and future prospects that the government decided to organize this forum," he stated. Amissah-Arthur said the economic gains of Ghana will not have been possible without an impressive track record in democratic governance. "Investors feel that the social and political stability are even more important than we've put in point. Social and political stability have provided the anchor for the growth of our economy," he said. The Vice President maintained that the West African country was not looking for charity, but, "we are looking for potential investors whose investment will be beneficial to the two sides." MANILA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the executive order "operationalizing" the freedom of information in the executive branch, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced Sunday. In a press conference in Davao City, Andanar said Duterte signed the executive order at 7 p.m. Saturday. "President Duterte signed the cornerstone executive order called the freedom of information," Andanar said. The Malacanang presidential palace released a copy of the six-paged order "operationalizing in the Executive Branch the people's constitutional right to information and the state policies of public disclosure and transparency in the public service and providing guidelines" on how Filipinos can access public records. The order allows "every Filipino to have access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for public development." It says the order covers "all government offices under the Executive Branch, including but not limited to the national government and all its offices, departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges." "Local government units are encouraged to observe and be guided by this order," it says. However, the order says "access to information shall be denied when the information falls under any of the exceptions, enshrined in the Philippine constitution, existing law or jurisprudence." "The Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General are hereby directed to prepare an inventory of such exceptions and submit the same to the Office of the President within 30 days," the order says. Anadanar said Filipinos who wish to access to public information needs to submit a written request to the government office concerned. BAGHDAD, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a suicide bomb attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Sunday rose to 21 people and 35 others wounded, a police source told Xinhua. "Our latest report said 21 people were killed and 35 others wounded in the suicide bomb explosion in Kadhmiyah district," the source said on condition of anonymity. The massive blast occurred during the morning rush hour when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a crowded checkpoint near Adan Square at the entrance of the Shiite district of Kadhmiyah, the source said. The blast set fire to several nearby civilian vehicles and damaged many others, along with destroying part of the checkpoint's building, the source added. The Islamic State (IS) militant group has issued a statement, claiming responsibility for the attack in downtown Baghdad. Earlier in the day, the source put the toll at 14 killed and 20 wounded in Kadhmiyah blast, according to previous police reports. Iraq has been hit by a new wave of violence since the IS terrorist group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. A report by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated that 662 Iraqis were killed and 1,457 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June across Iraq. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. HO CHI MINH CITY, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese police on Sunday detained a 37-year-old Australian woman of Vietnamese origin for transporting 5 kg of heroin when she was boarding a flight at an international airport in Ho Chi Minh City. When checking the woman's suitcase at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, local customs officers found 14 cakes of heroin weighing 5 kg hidden in personal belongings, said the Tan Son Nhat Border Customs. The woman confessed she was about to bring the drug to Australia for a transport fee of 25,000 U.S. dollars. The airport's customs have detected nearly 15 kg of lab-made drugs since June. According to Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. File photo shows Taban Deng Gai, chief negotiator of the rebel group known as SPLA-IO, addresses a news conference after arriving in South Sudan's capital Juba, December 21, 2015. (Reuters) JUBA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A section of Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) on Saturday endorsed ex-peace negotiator Taban Deng Gai to act as the First Vice-President in South Sudan's unity government despite a directive from the party chairman Riek Machar dismissing him. The move follows a meeting held in Juba under the leadership of General Alfred Lado Gore who is second in command in a bid to implement the peace agreement which was signed in August 2015. "In the temporary absence of the First VP Machar, the opposition leaders in Juba have nominated Taban Deng Gai to act as the first VP," Ezekiel Luol Gatkuoth, head of external affairs for SPLM-IO told journalists. He said Gai promised to relinquish his new post if Machar who fled the recent fight in Juba, returns to take up his duties. On his part, Gai said his nomination to be the acting vice-president in the unity government was to fill the vacant post as stipulated in the agreement and to continue with the implementation of the peace accord. "I am assuring you that as the person who has participated in the liberation of this country, I will make sure that there is no going back to war," Gai said. He appealed to the former rebel factions to join hands with him to persuade Machar to return to Juba. "I will step down and allow Machar to resume his position if he returns," Gai said. He said he has been loyal to all leaders since 1983 during the liberation struggle that resulted in the secession in 2011. Gai was among party members in Juba who issued a statement on Friday, asking Machar to either return to Juba and resume his duties, or face removal from office. The latest move may escalate the political crisis in the world's youngest nation as it threatens to split the SPLM-IO into two factions, one faction that recognizes Gai as a valid member of the movement and the new first vice president, and the other faction remaining behind Machar. Analysts say the rift between Machar and Gai raises fears of further crisis after months of fighting as some of the former rebel leader's senior appointees are backing Gai. Machar had on Friday sacked Gai as minister for mining and expelled him from his position as member of the SPLM/SPLM -IO political bureau. Machar told to party members and his military commanders on Friday evening to cut off any links with Gai whom he said had defected to President Salva Kiir's party. "By his action of defection, I have therefore relieved him from his positions as member of the SPLM/SPLA-IO Political Bureau and as chairman of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Healing," Machar said in the letter to Kiir. Gai was the chief opposition negotiator during the IGAD mediated peace efforts in Addis Ababa. The talks resulted into the signing of the Peace agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan. President Kiir on Thursday gave Machar 48 hours to return to the country's capital Juba to continue work on implementation of the peace agreement they signed in August last year. The former rebel leader left Juba last week following days of intense fighting that claimed lives of 272 people and displaced more than 30,000 others. President Kiir has however pledged his full commitment to ensuring Machar's security while in Juba, following the fighting that erupted between rival troops just as the two leaders were meeting on July 8. LAGOS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's main militant group in oil rich Niger Delta region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Sunday confirmed that it has been in preliminary talks with the government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies. Jomo Gbomo, the group's spokesperson, said in a statement reaching Xinhua that these preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region. On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, that dialogue is held with key Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region. He said his administration was studying the instruments of the amnesty program inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments that were undelivered. Two weeks ago, the MEND said it has set up a peace broker committee to mediate between them and the government, and gave the government a two-week ultimatum to commence dialogues. The Niger Delta is an unstable area where inter-ethnic clashes are commonplace. Access to oil revenue is the trigger for the violence. NAIROBI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said on Sunday more than 20 African leaders are expected to attend this year's Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development to be held in Nairobi next month. State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said the Aug. 27-28 summit will provide African and Japanese governments with opportunity to renew and strengthen existing partnerships. Esipisu said the summit will have three main themes that include promoting structural economic transformation through economic diversification and industrialization, promotion of resilient health systems for quality of life and promotion of social stability. "It is clear to us that industrialisation and innovation are key drivers of prosperity, right across the world. It is equally clear that these are two areas in which Japan has experience and expertise to share," he told journalists in Nairobi. Esipisu said the African countries have identified the shortfall in industrial skills as a central hindrance to prosperity. Esipisu said the East African nation is also gearing itself to take as much benefit as it can on health matters during the conference. "We must strengthen our health systems so that we are better able to prevent threats to public health as well as respond quickly and effectively to these threats. I am pleased to say that there will be extensive discussion of this theme at the conference," he said. XIGAZE, July 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu is seen near a mandala made of colored sand in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 24, 2016. The first Kalachakra ritual given by the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu concluded on Sunday. The four-day Kalachakra (wheel of time) ritual was held in the New Palace of the Panchen Lama at the request of the monks of the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the home temple of Panchen Lamas, in Xigaze. More than 100,000 believers attended the ritual each day. Cumulative attendance for the four days reached 426,000. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) XIGAZE, Tibet, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The first Kalachakra ritual given by the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu concluded on Sunday. The four-day Kalachakra (wheel of time) ritual was held in the New Palace of the Panchen Lama at the request of the monks of the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the home temple of Panchen Lamas, in Xigaze. It was the first large-scale kalachakra ritual held in Tibet for 60 years. Records from the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery showed that the 10th Panchen Lama performed one in 1954. The ceremony began with a closed-door observance by senior monks from Labrang Lamasery in northwest China's Gansu Province and Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery every morning from July 21 to July 24. Every afternoon, Panchen Lama gave four hour sermons, chanting mantras, explaining scripture and giving blessings. Yanglha, 76, was grateful for the rare teachings. "An ordinary person would be hoarse after speaking for hours, but Panchen Lama's voice is always loud and resonant," she said. Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery began preparations one month ago. A mandala made of colored sand by 20 senior monks was displayed to devotees on Sunday. Some 100 lamas and 5,000 monks and nuns from Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan attended the ritual that is to help people through the cycle of life. Despite intermittent rain, more than 100,000 believers attended the ritual each day. Cumulative attendance for the four days reached 426,000. Four LED screens and dozens of loud speakers ensured the audience could clearly follow the teachings. Hong Song, 56, a Tibetan from Qinghai Province, left four days in advance with his family. They flew from Yushu to Lhasa and took a train to Xigaze. He carried three kilograms of fried highland barley for breakfast and snacks in case there was no time for meals. He called the teachings "very, very precious". Lama Thubten Drakpa with the Gyatso Ling Monastery said Panchen Rinpoche has "set a good example for living buddhas, especially the young ones." Currently serving as vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, Panchen Lama, 26, has received some 1,000 initiations and given head-touching blessings to about 1.5 million Buddhists. In Zhaxi Lhunbo last December, he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his enthronement. Dawa Tsering, a monk and president of the Buddhism Association of Shannan City of Tibet, was present to receive the kalachakra teachings. He said he was very grateful to Panchen Rinpoche's confident and thorough explanation of the teachings. "I think he is an honor to Tibetan Buddhism and as followers we feel blessed,"said Dawa Tsering. LAGOS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Sunday said it was yet to empower 11,768 former Niger Delta militants out of the 30,000 that were granted amnesty in 2009. Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Paul Boroh, who disclosed this to reporters in Abuja, the country's capital, said the Presidential Amnesty Office had facilitated the employment of more than 13,348 ex-agitators within and outside the country on vocation, while 924 of them were on education. The presidential aide said 2,849 delegates are exited so far. According to him, the office trained the ex-militants in various vocational skills centers and educational institutions in Nigeria and abroad. Boroh, a retired military officer, said new persons cannot be accommodated into the program because the aim of the program was to train ex-agitators who submitted their arms within the window period set by the government. In June 2009, the Nigerian government offered amnesty to gunmen in the oil rich Niger Delta region, urging them to lay down their weapons by Oct. 4 in a bid to end unrest, which has cost Africa's top oil exporter billions of dollars in lost revenue. Scores of Nigerian armed youth gave up their weapons and embraced amnesty offered by the Nigerian government in the most concerted effort yet to end years of fighting in the oil producing region. The Niger Delta is an unstable area where inter-ethnic clashes are commonplace. Access to oil revenue is the trigger for the violence. MOMBASA, Kenya, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police on Sunday heightened security at Likoni crossing channel following intelligence reports of planned terrorist attack in the coastal city of Mombasa. Mombasa County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed said detectives and anti-terror officers have been deployed to the busy channel after reports warned of possible terror attack. "We are on high alert and we assure citizens that all is safe, each ferry will have at least three armed security personnel and most of them plain-clothed detectives," Maalim told journalists. A recent intelligence report revealed that Likoni Ferry is vulnerable to terror attacks orchestrated by Al-Shabaab returnees. The two waiting bays that accommodate nearly 3,000 people each and a parking lot were said to be more susceptible to terror attacks. Four ferries operate at the crossing channel when traffic is at its heaviest and two at off-peak hours. About 300,000 commuters and 5,500 motorists use ferries daily, according to statistics from Kenya Ferry Service. On Thursday two terror suspects were shot dead in the coastal city with their weapons recovered. The two were killed after anti-terror police raided their house, where they were allegedly plotting an attack in the seaside city. Among the weapons recovered included three hand grenades, 17 rounds of ammunition and two detonators. Two suspects however managed to escape according to Kisauni Police Chief Walter Abondo, who said "a pursuit has been launched in a bid to arrest them." According to police, the two suspects killed were among most wanted terror suspect behind past terrorist attacks in Mombasa. BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua)-- China on Sunday condemned a suicide bomber attack on a peaceful demonstration in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan that killed at least 80 people, injuring 230. "China strongly condemns the attack in Kabul," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press release. China expressed condolences for the victims, their families and the injured, according to Lu. China will continue to firmly support efforts by both the Afghanistan government and people to fight terrorism, safeguard national stability and security of the people, he added. The incident took place on Saturday at around mid-day when thousands of people were holding a demonstration to protest over a change in route of a major electricity line. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. KATHMANDU, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma has announced his resignation from the post while addressing the House session on Sunday evening. He informed that he submitted the resignation to President Bidya Devi Bhandari as a reply to the no-confidence motion filed against him in the Parliament. TEHRAN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned recent suicide bomb attack in the Afghan capital of Kabul, urging collective campaign against terrorism, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. The attack is "inhumane and non-Islamic" and tackling terrorism would be impossible without global cooperation and mutual understanding within the international community, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. Qasemi offered condolences to the Afghan government, nation and families of victims. Earlier on Saturday, at least 61 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded after an explosion ripped through a peaceful demonstration in western Kabul. MUNICH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The German-Iranian teenager who shot dead nine people in Munich on Friday started planning the attack one year ago, a German official said on Sunday. David Ali Sonboly, 18, began the planning after visiting the scene of a 2009 school shooting in the southern German town of Winnenden, a Bavarian official said. According to German authorities, the German-Iranian teenager did extensive research on mass shootings before carrying out the attack. He stored a copy of the manifesto of Norway attacker in his computer, according Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann. The shooter played regularly a video game "Ego-Shooter", which featurs mass killings, according to a police statement. German prosecutors said the shooter acquired the semi-automatic pistol he used in the killings on the dark web, which can only be accessed via special software. The police and prosecutors confirmed that the shooter, who received medical treatment for a long time, stayed in a closed psychiatric ward from July to September 2015, while the last treatment with a doctor could be traced to June 2016. According to the police, 58 bullet casings were found at the shooting scene. 57 of them were from the gunman's weapon, while one was from a police weapon. Based on the findings, the police and prosecutors announced there was no second suspect. Among the nine victims, five were men and four women. Another 35 people were injured, 10 of whom seriously. David Ali Sonboly killed himself after the attack. VIENTIANE, July 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) VIENTIANE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Sunday that China will continue sticking to the "dual-track" approach to solve the South China Sea issue. Wang made the remarks when meeting with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lim Jock Seng on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Lao capital. Bearing the overall bilateral relations and the China-ASEAN ties in mind, China and Brunei have maintained good communications on the South China Sea issue, he said. The "dual-track" approach -- disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiation between the parties directly concerned, and China and ASEAN countries should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea -- was first initiated by Brunei and supported by China. The Chinese top diplomat believed the "dual-track" approach, which complies with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and principles of the UN Charter emblematic of international law, serves the common interests and desire of countries in the region. For his part, Lim Jock Seng said Brunei has always advocated the "dual-track" approach and a peaceful solution to the South China Sea issue through bilateral dialogue and consultation. ASEAN nations and China should earnestly implement the DOC while pushing forward consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which he said is vital for safeguarding the regional peace and stability. A woman places flowers near the attack scene to show condolence in Munich, Germany, on July 23, 2016. An 18-year-old German-Iranian gunman opened fire in a crowded shopping mall in Munich on Friday evening, killing 10 people and injuring 27. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan) MUNICH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The German-Iranian teenager who shot dead nine people in Munich on Friday started planning the attack one year ago, a German official said on Sunday. David Ali Sonboly, 18, began the planning after visiting the scene of a 2009 school shooting in the southern German town of Winnenden, a Bavarian official said. According to German authorities, the German-Iranian teenager did extensive research on mass shootings before carrying out the attack. He stored a copy of the manifesto of Norway attacker in his computer, according Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann. The shooter played regularly a video game "Ego-Shooter", which featurs mass killings, according to a police statement. German prosecutors said the shooter acquired the semi-automatic pistol he used in the killings on the dark web, which can only be accessed via special software. Police officers secure the area near the Olympia shopping mall in Munich, Germany, on July 22, 2016. Nine people were killed and 16 others injured in a shooting attack in southern German city of Munich on Friday evening before the shooter shot himself dead, said Munich police early on Saturday. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan) The police and prosecutors confirmed that the shooter, who received medical treatment for a long time, stayed in a closed psychiatric ward from July to September 2015, while the last treatment with a doctor could be traced to June 2016. According to the police, 58 bullet casings were found at the shooting scene. 57 of them were from the gunman's weapon, while one was from a police weapon. Based on the findings, the police and prosecutors announced there was no second suspect. Among the nine victims, five were men and four women. Another 35 people were injured, 10 of whom seriously. David Ali Sonboly killed himself after the attack. Enditem STOCKHOLM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 sexual assaults were reported at a music festival in Sweden over the weekend, local media reported on Sunday. The incidents happened at the Trastock festival in Skelleftea, northern Sweden, where last year there was one reported case of sexual assault, according to Swedish national public TV broadcaster SVT. In some incidents, several men attacked women together and many of the attacks happened during concerts, police said. "We have received one report where there is an identified culprit who stuck a hand down the complainant's skirt," said Mattias Brandt of the Umea police. Another girl was allegedly groped from behind. The apparent sexual assaults happened despite festival organizers' efforts to raise awareness of sexual assaults, for instance by organizing a panel discussion about masculinity. There have been several reports of sexual assaults at music festivals across Sweden recently. In July, the British band Mumford and Sons vowed to boycott the Swedish music festival Bravalla after it emerged that 17 women had been sexually assaulted at the event. BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Over 59,000 armed police have joined flood rescue work in China, helping to relocate more than 88,000 people across the country. Wang Qilong of the Chinese Armed Police Force (CAPF) headquarters said 16 CAPF corps, seven divisions and other troops joined the work, using 590 inflatable motor launches. Armed police have worked on over 375 km of dikes, repaired almost 1,000 km of roads and dredged over 80 km of river courses. Heavy downpours and resultant floods in many parts of China have killed hundreds of people nationwide. Image taken on July 15, 2016 shows Camilo Cruz, co-founder and manager of Colombian company Ganja Farm inspecting an indoor marijuana cultivation in Bogota, capital of Colombia. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz) by Cesar Marino Garcia BOGOTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- As Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed into law on July 8 the scientific and medical use of marijuana, it offers new prospects for turning illegal drugs into positive uses. This law, first drafted in 2014, met with strict opposition from conservative political forces, before Santos approved it, stating it was part of a new strategy to deal differently with the war on drugs in the country. Colombia has strict rules concerning the production, sale, import and export, transportation or use of the seeds of marijuana. The new law empowers companies to grow and sell the plant in limited amounts. An example of this is Ganja Farm, a company in Bogota, which has become a pioneer in Colombia for research in the medical uses and properties of cannabis. "Cannabis has actually been legal for medical uses since 1986 but regulation was lacking. This law provides the state with resources from the production and sale of the plant's derivatives," Camilo Cruz, owner of Ganja Farm, told Xinhua. "This law will raise the international profile of our cannabis industry, allowing producers to also export and import the drug, and learn from new cultivation methods." Colombia's tropical conditions make it an ideal place to grow cannabis, since the plant ideally needs 12 hours of sun and 12 hours of night to grow fully. Ganja Farm uses its limited laboratory and agricultural space to investigate. It is certified to produce creams, gels and pills that can serve to fight the symptoms of conditions, such as arthritis, epilepsy and Alzheimer's, among others. "From the flower, we make a concentrated extract that can be diluted into oral products or topical medication. Topical agents such as creams, oils or soaps can have higher concentrations of marijuana," said Cruz. Image taken on July 15, 2016 shows some products prepared with marijuana of Colombian company Ganja Farm, in Bogota, capital of Colombia. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz) This law should see more companies like Ganja Farm pop up with a brighter future and shows that Colombia, the country long associated with drug trafficking, can turn illegal drugs to positive uses. "Fortunately, we have seen many patients almost completely reduce their episodes of epilepsy, and where Alzheimer's sufferers have not lost their minds. We have over 1,500 patients in our database, presenting various conditions but being treated with cannabis in various medical centers," he claims. However, according to Cruz, "the cannabis industry around the world remains in a legal limbo. It remains illegal in almost all countries. Colombia has the chance to break this legal obscurity and provide an industrial, productive and judicial alternative for the world." While Colombian-Canadian firm, PharmaCielo, became in June the first to be granted the license to produce drugs with cannabis derivatives, the country's taboos remain in place. It is the hope of Cruz and other activists that the work of such companies will lead to the stigma of marijuana, as nothing more than a harmful hallucinogenic, being lifted. MANILA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will become the first president from Mindanao to deliver a State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. Communications secretary Martin Andanar said on Sunday that the speech, which is expected to be delivered in English, has been written mostly by the president himself and had already undergone more than 10 revisions. He said the speech, which he described as "powerful," will run for about 38 minutes. The tradition of the delivering a SONA in the country started in 1935 when then president Manuel Quezon addressed a special session of the National Assembly on November 25, 1935. While first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo delivered a speech during the Inaugural Session of the Assembly of Representatives or the Malolos Congress in Sept. 15, 1898, it was not considered a SONA but a congratulatory message to the Assembly. The SONA, after only being enshrined in the 1935 Philippine Constitution, became an annual practice since the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Since then, as stated under the 1935 Constitution, the delivery of a SONA became a constitutional obligation and yearly tradition where president reports on the status of the country, unveils the government's agenda for the coming year, and proposes to Congress certain legislative measures. The delivery of the SONA is made by the president in the presence of a joint Congress and is usually delivered in the Session Hall of the House of Representatives. A briefer prepared by the Official Gazette said a total of 76 SONA have already been delivered since then and Duterte's address tomorrow will be the 77th. There were at least four years when the annual SONA was not delivered which happened during the World War II or Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1944, and in 1986 after the first Edsa People Power Revolution. BUJUMBURA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian army Saturday sent two battalions to the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in a takeover, replacing two other battalions that have completed their one-year duty, the Burundian army spokesman has said. "Since the beginning of this month, we are sending two battalions made up of 1,700 peacekeepers to the AMISOM and another 200 soldiers at the AMISOM headquarters for the Burundian contingent," said Burundian Army Spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza. According to Baratuza, the two battalions that have been sent to Somalia include the 38th and the 39th battalions that are replacing the 32nd and the 33rd battalions. "Since 2007 when Burundi started sending peacekeepers to Somalia, achievements are numerous. The situation was chaotic in 2007 with Al Shabaab terrorists shooting aircrafts at Mogadishu Airport, but now the traffic is high at the airport, maritime activities are underway and traffic on roads is also normal thanks to efforts of peacekeepers from Burundi and other countries," said Col Baratuza. Burundi is among the main contributors of troops in AMISOM. Since December 2007, the east African nation has deployed six rotating battalions in Somalia. Earlier in June, the Burundian government said that the European Union's decision to cut funding for the AMISOM was unfair. The EU in April announced it would cut by 20 percent its financial support to AMISOM due to competing priorities in Africa and the world in general. Burundian External Relations and International Cooperation Minister, Alain Aime Nyamitwe, said the funding cut was unfair and would destabilize AMISOM while the AU peacekeepers were fighting terrorism. Enditem HELSINKI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Four to six possible mass shootings have been prevented in Finland annually after the country improved its working method to prevent such attacks, Finnish police have said. The discussion over threats of mass shootings in Finland came in the wake of the attack by a teenager who killed 10, including himself, and wounded 35 in Munich, Germany on Friday. Police inspector Timo Kilpelainen from the National Police Board said the Finnish system was improved following a series of school shootings in the 2000s. "There are currently several dozens of persons under surveillance, both in real-life situations and in the cyber world," Kilpelainen said in an interview with national broadcaster Yle on Saturday. The pre-emptive system comprises joint teams of social workers and the police. Such groups work in major towns. The social workers do not act as criminal investigators but can alert the police. "Advance notification of someone's behaviour gives the police a chance to intervene," Kilpelainen said. Kilpelainen noted in open societies such as Finland or Germany, mass shootings can not be completely prevented "as individuals have great freedom and privacy." But an assessment system of threats and behaviour has been developed. Nearly 10 years ago, Finland awoke to the violence involving young people who suffer mental problems. In 2007, eight people and the shooter were killed in a school in Jokela, near Helsinki, and in 2008, 10 people and the shooter were killed in Kauhajoki, western Finland. Additionally, there have been several fatal stabbings in Finnish schools. In Finland, gun licences are issued for sport shooting or hunting purposes only. An individual can not obtain a gun for self-defence purposes. A citizen must be 18 years old to possess a gun, while a 16-year-old can have a parallel licence. An appliant's request to own a gun will be turned down if he or she has health issues or criminal records. In the 2008 case, a policeman questioned the shooter on the day before the shooting after the shooter placed violent videos on the Internet. However, his gun licence was not revoked. The police officer received a warning after the shootings. NEW DELHI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 12 others were injured Sunday after a building under construction collapsed in southern Indian city of Hyderabad, officials said. The two-storied building collapsed at Film Nagar in Hyderabad city, the capital of Telangana state. "Two laborers were killed and 12 others injured when a portion of an under-construction building collapsed here," a police official in Hyderabad said. "The slab of the building suddenly broke down and fell on the workers burying them under debris." Following the accident authorities launched a rescue operation and rushed the injured to hospital. "Two bodies were retrieved from the debris and 12 laborers were pulled alive," the official said. "The search and rescue work is in process." According to police officials, the condition of four workers was stated to be critical. Reports quoting local authorities said 15 to 20 workers were present on the site when the accident happened. Deadly accidents due to falling infrastructure (new or old) is not uncommon in India. Construction experts blame the lax administration and corruption in India for flouting building rules that often results in using poor quality materials, inadequate supervision, poor safety standards for workers. Enditem A vehicle of police stands guard at the site where a police officer of Municipal Police were murdered in Tijuana, to northwest of Mexico, on June 2, 2015. (Xinhua/Guillermo Arias) MEXICO CITY, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Two men involved in one of Mexico's most shocking kidnapping and killing incidents have each been sentenced to 520 years in prison, media reported on Saturday. Mario Alberto Rodriguez Ledezma and Gabriel Carrasco Ilizaliturri must additionally pay a fine of more than 5 million pesos (some 270,000 U.S. dollars) for their role in kidnapping 13 people, including an 18-year-old, at a bar in a central tourist district of Mexico City in May 2013. The men are ineligible for parole and if unable to pay the fine, must serve 39,000 days of community service, La Jornada daily reported. The crime, carried out by armed men at a bar known as Heaven, shocked the nation as a dozen of youths were killed. A total of 22 people have been charged in connection with the crime, among which eight have been sentenced, online news magazine Proceso said. Last September, the owner of the bar, Ernesto Espinosa Lobo, and two other people received sentences of more than 500 years in prison, the magazine said. Two other perpetrators were sentenced to 520 years in December. The bodies of the missing were later found in a mass grave in a town near Mexico City. They were believed to have been kidnapped and killed in an act of revenge for the death of a drug dealer. BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A woman was mauled to death and another injured by a Siberian tiger in a wildlife park in Beijing Saturday. The tragedy happened on Saturday afternoon when the two women left their car while touring Badaling Wildlife World in the northern outskirts of Beijing, the Yanqing district government said on Sunday. Visitors are warned not to get out of their cars, but some disobey the rule. The injured woman is out of danger. An investigation has begun and the zoo has been temporarily closed. Badaling Wildlife World covers an area of 400 hectares and has about 10,000 wild animals. DAR ES SALAAM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) has urged Tanzanian business firms to participate in China's 2016 Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo. Godfrey Simbeye, TPSF Executive Director, said the Chinese Expo will provide a golden chance for Tanzanian businesses to showcase and explore new business opportunities. He said similar to the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, the annual 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo will take place on October 27 in Dongguan city in southern China's Guangdong Province, where exhibitors will be given four days' hotel accommodation and free transport between hotel and the venue of exhibitions. "This is a golden chance for Tanzania's small, medium and big firms to learn the best practices from other exhibitors across the world," said Simbeye. He said Tanzanian enterprises could also use the event to get new markets for their products as well as establish partnership contracts with other investors. "This will enable our country to have an opportunity to exhibit business opportunities of investment, economic and trade cooperation among countries," he said. Enditem WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Americans' satisfaction with the state of affairs dropped 12 percentage points in the past month, amid high-profile police killings of black men and mass shootings of police, found a latest Gallup poll. Currently, only 17 percent of Americans are satisfied with the state of affairs in the U.S., sharply down from 29 percent in June, according to the July 13-17 poll. Americans' satisfaction hit the lowest record of 16 percent in October 2013, when Republican-controlled Congress caused a federal government shutdown due to its political feud with the Democratic-led Obama administration. For the past two years, Americans' satisfaction has been in the 20s and 30s, Gallup found. This 12-point drop in satisfaction within one month is tied for the largest decrease in October 2008, when the financial crisis was deepening. The poll came after a recent spate of violence between police and black citizens in the U.S., which have led to heightened racial tensions. Eight police officers were killed and a dozen others were wounded by two black gunmen in the states of Louisiana and Texas in the past weeks. The two incidents were preceded by two shootings in which two black men were killed by police in Louisiana and Minnesota. The killings sparked angry black protests nationwide, calling for justice for the African Americans in the country. As a result, the poll found a surge in concern about race relations, with 18 percent of Americans saying race relations or racism is the most important problem facing the nation, a 13-point jump in the past month. With political conventions and the possibility of ongoing racial unrest, satisfaction with the U.S. may remain low as uncertainty persists at least until the presidential election in November, Gallup said. Donald Trump was nominated by the U.S. Republican Party for president at the just-concluded Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton is to become the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention to be held next week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SANAA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition warplanes killed at least 20 fighters from Yemen's dominant Shiite Houthi rebels on Sunday in the Yemeni port city of Mocha, security officials and residents said. The airstrikes targeted a convoy of three military vehicles carrying Houthi fighters deployed along the battle fronts in the Red Sea port city of Mocha, officials said. While other air raids hit a warehouse, few miles away in the outskirts of the city, "which was used for storing weapons and fuel as a number of the militants were inside," one of the officials said on condition of anonymity. Residents said many dead bodies were scattered in the road after their vehicles were destroyed, burned and torn apart, among them were several passersby. Meanwhile, Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported that the airstrikes hit a house in Mocha, killing ten citizens and wounding scores of others in nearby streets. It gave no further details on the Mocha air raid, but recorded "over 20 airstrikes on civilian targets across several Yemeni provinces during the past 24 hours." Saudi Arabia has been leading a war against Houthis in Yemen since March 26, in support of the elected government of a country torn by civil war since three years ago. Iranian-allied Houthis, who are based in the far north border province of Saada and backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, stormed the capital Sanaa and forced internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with his government into exile in 2014 over charges of corruption. The civil war and airstrikes have killed more than 6,400 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two millions, according to humanitarian aid agencies. The warring parties have been holding peace talks in Kuwait since April under auspices of the United Nations to seek political compromise to end the war. On Friday, the Houthi group warned that continuing airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition would certainly abort the UN-brokered peace talks underway in Kuwait, according to a statement released by Saba. NEW DELHI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Border guard forces of India and Pakistan will hold their bi-annual director general-level talks this week in Pakistan on issues relating to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border, said local media Sunday. The Press Trust of India quoted officials here as saying the meeting will take place in Lahore with India sending a 22-member delegation through the border check point of Attari-Wagah at Amritsar, northwest India. The last such meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers was held in Delhi last September, during which the two sides agreed not to fire heavy artillery like mortar shells and ensure that civilians living along the border area were not harmed. The Indian side, during their talks at the Rangers headquarters in Lahore, is also expected to raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the border, said the report. A google map shows the location of German town Reutlingen, where a man wielding machete killed a passer-by on July 24, 2016. BERLIN/FRANKFURT, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A man on Sunday attacked passers-by in southwestern Germany, leaving one dead and two others injured, according to the German media Focus online. The man wielded a machete and randomly attacked passers-by in the southwestern German town of Reutlingen, killing one woman and wounded two others, according to reports. Police have arrested the attacker. A statement made by the town identified the attacker as a 21-year-old asylum seeker from Syria whom was known by the police earlier. The attack happened just two days after a shooter randomly opened fire at people and killed nine people and injured more than 30 in the southern German city of Munich. VIENTIANE, July 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on July 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) VIENTIANE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called to promote the China-ASEAN relations by enhancing mutual trust, deepening cooperation and maintaining regional stability. Wang made the remarks in meeting with his ASEAN member counterparts attending the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, capital of Laos which takes the ASEAN's chairmanship this year. In meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Wang Yi said China appreciated Thailand's part in promoting the development of China-ASEAN ties, saying that the two sides should work together to upgrade the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, taking the opportunity of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relationship. What is important for the moment is to jointly and comprehensively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and support parties directly concerned to resolve their disputes peacefully through negotiation, Wang said. Pramudwinai said Thailand cherishes the sound relationship between the ASEAN and China. The ASEAN and China should work together to ensure the sound development of their ties as as to achieve a win-win situation. The two sides should continue comprehensively implementing the DOC and promoting negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea to enhance mutual trust and maintain regional stability, he said. Thailand welcomed that the Philippines and China resumed bilateral dialogue, the Thai foreign minister told Wang Yi. During his meeting with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Wang Yi said while the development of the China-ASEAN relations was generally in good momentum, challenges do exist, which necessitate all parties' joint efforts to maintain the overall development of the ties. China is willing to work along with Singapore, which is the coordinating country of the China-ASEAN relations and other ASEAN members to remove all possible obstacles to ensure the development of China-ASEAN ties stay in right track, Wang said. China and the ASEAN should enhance political trust, deepen cooperation and maintain regional stability to build a closer community of common destiny, Wang said. The Singaporean foreign minister said the ASEAN-China ties are generally in good shape, and though there might be some challenges, the two sides should and will not allow disputes to hinder the overall development of their ties. The two sides could reach consensus and agreements through dialogue and cooperation, which would also become an illustration of the strength of their ties. Singapore is willing to work along with China to render the current ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting a success, help it achieve progress and thus send a positive signal of deepening cooperation between the ASEAN and China, Balakrishnan said. DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 20 others wounded Sunday when mortar shells struck residential neighborhoods in Damascus, a well-informed source told Xinhua. The fresh shelling targeted the old city of Damascus, including a restaurant, the upscale neighborhood of Malki and the Christian-dominated district of Bab Tuma. Sources from Bab Tuma said the authorities sealed off streets in Old Damascus to allow an easy move for the ambulances. Most of the wounded in the attack were taken to the French Hospital in the nearby Qassa area. The mortar, which landed on a restaurant in the Qaimariyeh neighborhood in Old Damascus, caused a state of chaos, as the wounded were being taken to hospitals. The attack is the first major one to hit the capital since February, when a "regime of calm" was reached between the Syrian forces and the rebels following a U.S.-Russian deal. It wasn't clear what has triggered the new attack, but clashes were raging in another hotspot in the northern rim of the capital, followed by news reports from the official SANA news agency that the rebels blew up the water line feeding the capital with drinking water. It added that the maintenance workers rushed to fix the damage caused by the explosion of the water line. Damascus was almost the sole beneficiary of the several truce deals and cessation of hostilities that have been recently declared. The abandoned streets in the evenings have regained their lost glamour over the past few months, however the new mortar attack could threaten the peace felt by Damascenes recently. Demonstrators protest against police shootings of two African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota, outside the White House in Washington July 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Americans' satisfaction with the state of affairs dropped 12 percentage points in the past month, amid high-profile police killings of black men and mass shootings of police, found a latest Gallup poll. Currently, only 17 percent of Americans are satisfied with the state of affairs in the U.S., sharply down from 29 percent in June, according to the July 13-17 poll. Americans' satisfaction hit the lowest record of 16 percent in October 2013, when Republican-controlled Congress caused a federal government shutdown due to its political feud with the Democratic-led Obama administration. For the past two years, Americans' satisfaction has been in the 20s and 30s, Gallup found. This 12-point drop in satisfaction within one month is tied for the largest decrease in October 2008, when the financial crisis was deepening. Demonstrators protest against police shootings of two African-American men in Louisiana and Minnesota, outside the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington July 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) The poll came after a recent spate of violence between police and black citizens in the U.S., which have led to heightened racial tensions. Eight police officers were killed and a dozen others were wounded by two black gunmen in the states of Louisiana and Texas in the past weeks. The two incidents were preceded by two shootings in which two black men were killed by police in Louisiana and Minnesota. The killings sparked angry black protests nationwide, calling for justice for the African Americans in the country. As a result, the poll found a surge in concern about race relations, with 18 percent of Americans saying race relations or racism is the most important problem facing the nation, a 13-point jump in the past month. With political conventions and the possibility of ongoing racial unrest, satisfaction with the U.S. may remain low as uncertainty persists at least until the presidential election in November, Gallup said. Donald Trump was nominated by the U.S. Republican Party for president at the just-concluded Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton is to become the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention to be held next week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. TEHRAN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian police has seized more than two tonnes of opium in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the provincial police chief said on Sunday. Anti-narcotics forces in Iran targted major drug rings that attempted to smuggle huge cargoes of illicit drugs, Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi was quoted as saying by private Tasnim news agency. In a successful operation on Saturday, the police arrested eight smugglers, seizing 1,165 kg of opium, a truck and two cars, Rahimi said. In another raid, the police targeted members of a major drug ring in the province and seized 864kg of opium, he added. Iran said earlier the crackdown on drug trafficking has cost it over 700 million U.S. dollars over the past two years. Some 5,000 Iranian troops have been killed in fighting with drug traffickers near border areas over the past three decades. Iran has long suffered from drug trafficking, as it is at the crossroads of international drug smuggling from Afghanistan, the world's top opium producer, to Europe. BUJUMBURA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 70 percent of Burundian refugees who had fled to Tanzania due to the crisis in April 2015 from the Burundian's southern province of Makamba have already returned home, the governor of Makamba said Sunday. "Since September last year, 34,953 out of about 50,000 refugees (some 70 percent) who had fled some localities of Makamba province in the aftermath of the crisis have returned to their homes. Most of them were in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania," said Makamba Governor Gad Niyukuri. According to him, most of those returnees are from Nyanza-Lac and Kayogoro districts. Niyukuri said, "Burundian refugees are now returning massively, which proves that the province of Makamba is enjoying peace and security." He indicated that he met with Tanzanian administration authorities on June 15 in the Tanzanian town of Kigoma and requested them to facilitate the repatriation of Burundian refugees living in Tanzanian refugee camps. Burundi descended into violence in April last year when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would seek a third term, which he later won. Opponents say the president's move violates the constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement, and mounted waves of protests. Over 500 people are said to have been killed in violence while 270,000 Burundian citizens are reported to have sought exile in neighboring countries. Tanzania received the biggest number of refugees, estimated at 144,000. Enditem KIGALI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda National Police announced at the weekend a unit rotation this month involving 160 peacekeeping police officers in Haiti. The routine rotation saw 160 police officers under Rwanda Formed Police Unit Six (RWAFPU6) return home on Sunday, after accomplishing their one year peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). This was replaced by a similar number which left Kigali on Friday for a one year peacekeeping mission. The contingent which left is headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Faustin Ntirushwa while the returning contingent was led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Joseph Mugisha as its commander. This is the seventh Rwanda National Police rotation in Haiti since 2010 following a deadly earthquake that left thousands of people dead and more than 1 million others displaced. Police spokesperson, ACP Celestin Twahirwa, said: "Rwanda National Police is committed to Rwanda's policy of contributing to international peace building and that's why another contingent has also been generated and ready for deployment in South Sudan in September." Rwandan Police maintains five contingents of 820 officers in three UN missions, including three in Central African Republic and one each in South Sudan and Haiti. Rwanda ranks third largest police contributing country after Senegal and Bangladesh respectively, according to the UN. Enditem (L to R) COSCO PCT CEO captain Fu Chengqiu, Greek Potami (River) Party leader Stavros Theodorakis and Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli shake hands while taking a tour at COSCO's subsidiary Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) premises at Piraeus port, Athens, Greece, on May 15, 2015. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- An overwhelming majority of Greeks have a positive view of China and Chinese people and welcome bilateral cooperation, according to an opinion poll conducted by polling firm Public Issue for "Avghi" (Dawn) newspaper on Sunday. Seventy percent of Greeks have a positive opinion about China and the Chinese people, while 67 percent of the respondents see the economic cooperation with China as a good opportunity for growth, the survey showed. Regarding relations within the European Union (EU), euroscepticism in Greece remains high with 55 percent of Greeks expressing a positive opinion about the euro and 44 percent of respondents a positive opinion about the EU, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Asked what they would vote if a referendum on Grexit was held today, a 56 percent of Greeks said they would vote in favor of remaining in the eurozone and 39 percent against. Meanwhile, 72 percent of respondents said they would prefer national governments took back some powers from Brussels. LOS ANGELES, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A body has been found inside a burned out car near the wildfire in Santa Clarita that made several homes damaged or destroyed and 1,500 threatened, authorities said. The body was found at 7:20 p.m. Saturday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Lisa Jansen. "The victim was pronounced dead at the scene," Jansen said. Investigators have now learned the car in which the body was found was parked in the driveway of a house, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez. She noted that there appears to be no crime involved in this death. But the reason for death needs to be determined by an autopsy, she added. Several homes have burned and more than 1,500 homes are still threatened by the massive blaze, which took over about 22,000 acres (about 89 square km) as of Saturday night, according to United States Forest Service and the sheriff's department. The fire also destroyed a western town set on the Sable Ranch, a well-known and well-used filming location, according to authorities. The blaze remains at 10 percent contained, according to officials with the Angeles National Forest. An estimated 100 commercial buildings also were threatened and one was destroyed, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. Evacuations were ordered Saturday afternoon from Lost Canyon to the Bear Divide and Placerita Canyon to the Nature Center to Sand Canyon. Earlier, between 200 and 300 homes in the Little Tujunga area were under a mandatory evacuation order, according to the sheriff's department. And fewer than 100 people were evacuated from the area. One firefighter suffered a minor hand injury battling the blaze, according to fire authority. No other injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze, which began at 2:11 p.m. Friday, near Sand Canyon Road, along the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway. Authorities said Saturday night that 1,919 firefighters were battling the flames from the ground and air and firefighters from around the Southland were arriving to assist them. The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a water-dropping helicopter to join four from the county fire department. Eight fixed-wing firefighting aircraft also were utilized to attack the blaze, according to authorities. Residents have reported smoke-filled air and falling ash in many parts of the greater Los Angeles area as a result of the fire. A smoke advisory was issued through midnight Sunday for the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Pomona/Walnut Valley, and the central Los Angeles area, as smoke from the fire drifted southeast toward Los Angeles. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said those areas were susceptible to direct smoke impact and unhealthy air quality, and recommended that people stay indoors and avoid using swamp coolers and wood-burning appliances. This file photo taken on April 19, 2016 shows a farmer harvesting opium sap from a poppy field in the Chaparhar district of Nangarhar province on April 19, 2016. Global opium production plunged almost 40 percent last year but the world remains awash with heroin, the narcotic that still kills the most people worldwide, the UN drug office said on June 23, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) TEHRAN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian police has seized more than two tonnes of opium in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, the provincial police chief said on Sunday. Anti-narcotics forces in Iran targted major drug rings that attempted to smuggle huge cargoes of illicit drugs, Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi was quoted as saying by private Tasnim news agency. In a successful operation on Saturday, the police arrested eight smugglers, seizing 1,165 kg of opium, a truck and two cars, Rahimi said. In another raid, the police targeted members of a major drug ring in the province and seized 864kg of opium, he added. Iran said earlier the crackdown on drug trafficking has cost it over 700 million U.S. dollars over the past two years. Some 5,000 Iranian troops have been killed in fighting with drug traffickers near border areas over the past three decades. Iran has long suffered from drug trafficking, as it is at the crossroads of international drug smuggling from Afghanistan, the world's top opium producer, to Europe. LOS ANGELES, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S being driven by its Autopilot feature, self-driving technology development won't be halt. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not the only one dreaming of a self-driving future. With the coming autonomous cars heat, self-driving technology has become more and more ubiquitous among auto industry and tech companies. In the crowded field, Google is the acknowledged leader with its self-driving car often making headlines. The tech giant tested its self-driving car prototype on employees a few years ago and said it hopes to put such vehicles on the market at the soonest by 2019. When Google's project is still very much in experimental mode, Tesla is already selling its partially autonomous cars. But the company has come under fire for deploying autopilot technology that appears to have contributed to at least one fatality that killed a driver in Florida using the feature in May and possibly a couple of other crashes. As a controversy around Tesla's Autopilot feature continues to ramp up, Musk recently announced the second phase of its master plan for the future, which includes making self-driving cars 10 times safer than those driven by humans. Autonomous vehicles still seem to be in the early experimental stage, all contenders in the world are racing to perfect self-driving technologies and are working to develop their own versions. In a recent study, published in April, which looks at self-driving car initiatives among 12 companies, carmakers, not technology companies, are in the driver' s seat in developing autonomous cars. In its rankings, Lux Research puts Japan' s Toyota Motor Corp in the lead, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Honda. BMW and Tesla both rated relatively highly, but were not in the lead. While mass-market adoption is still several years away, but 2016 will be another important year dominated by autonomous car stories, involving many new players and new partnerships. Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies, Inc. has begun testing a self-driving car in Pittsburgh. And Lyft, Uber's biggest rival in the U.S. market, has partnered up with General Motors in developing and promoting autonomous vehicles. In China, there are also many new players of this field. BYD is one of them. The China-based electric car manufacturer has been developing its self-driving technologies both in house as well as partner with Chinese Internet giant Baidu. It's noted that BYD's partnership with Baidu will mainly focus on the mapservice needed for self-driving vehicles. "We will make the safest vehicle in the world," Stella Li, president of BYD Motors and senior vice president of BYD company Limited, told Xinhua. Other Chinese companies, including Chery Automobile, Baic Motor Corporation as well as Internet company LeTV also unveiled cars with self-driving functions early this year. In April, two self-driving cars vehicles, produced by Chang'an Automobile, wrapped up a 2,000-km journey in China's first long-distance road test for autonomous vehicles. The maximum speed of the cars reached 120 kilometers per hour. The company plans to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018. Baidu, China's largest search engine provider, also has big plans for self-driving cars. The online search company debuted its driverless car last year and generated a lot of excitement when it successfully completed a rigorous road test in Beijing in December. The company is aiming to commercialize the driverless technology by 2018 and to achieve mass production of the cars by 2020. One of the biggest challenge is to make self-driving cars as safe as possible under all conditions. Many tech companies are moving in this direction. Mobileye, the Israeli technology company helping power Tesla and other carmakers' autonomous driving technologies, said that it has worked with China' s Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport to test the company's collision avoidance technology on commercial vehicles. The company also announced that it teams up with BMW Group and Intel to bring solutions for highly and fully automated driving into series production by 2021. Many experts in this field agree future self-driving technology could save numerous lives in vehicle accidents involving human errors. According to US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are around 32,500 traffic fatalities that occurred on US roads in 2015 with 94 percent of those attributable to driver choices and human error. But the road to self-driving cars isn' t just about technology. Public also need to understand and learn the limitations of the current technologies. Currently, features such as Tesla's Autopilot is a driver assistance system, and a damned good one, but it's not a driver replacement system. Recent incidents involving Tesla's autopilot function also raise questions about whether these partially autonomous technologies should be fielded before full government regulation. The U.S. government seems will not abandon efforts to speed the development of self-driving car. Local media quoted Mark Rosekind, head of NHTSA, as saying that and the agency is bullish on the potential of autonomous driving technology. Donald Trump takes the stage on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States, July 21, 2016. New York billionaire Donald Trump officially accepted the presidential nomination of the U.S. Republican Party Thursday night on the final day of the Republican National Convention. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to pull the U.S. out of the World Trade Organization (WTO) if his proposal on penalizing U.S. companies for moving overseas is blocked. Trump said in an interview with the NBC "Meet the Press" that he, if elected president, would impose a tax on U.S. companies that shift production overseas then sell the products back to the U.S. "If they're going to fire all their people, move their plant to Mexico, build air conditioners, and think they're going to sell those air conditioners to the United States, there's going to be a tax," Trump told the NBC host Chuck Todd. Trump said the tax rate could be 15 percent, 25 percent or 35 percent, and could be different for different companies. When told that such tax would not get through the WTO, Trump said he would then renegotiate "or we're going to pull out." "These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster," the brash U.S. billionaire said. In the interview, Trump reiterated his support to the United Kingdom for its exit from the Europe Union, which he said he foresaw before it happened. He said a fractured Europe is not necessarily bad for the U.S. because the primary reason that European countries got together is to defeat the U.S. on trade. "I'm just saying, the reason that it got together was like a consortium so it could compete with the United States," Trump aid. Asked about his previous remarks that the U.S. protection of other NATO members should be conditional on their financial contribution, Trump firmly stood by his position. "We have NATO and we have many countries that aren't paying for what they are supposed to be paying, which is already too little but they're not paying anyway," he said. The countries Trump that mentioned that have to pay for the U.S. protection included Japan, Germany, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. "We're a different country today. We're much weaker. Our military is depleted. We owe tremendous amounts of money. We have to be reimbursed," Trump said. "We can no longer be the stupid country," he added. RIO DE JANEIRO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- At least six inmates were killed and 15 were wounded after fighting broke out at a prison in Caruaru, in Brazil's northeast state of Pernambuco, the military police reported on Sunday. The clash took place Saturday night between members of two rival gangs competing for control of the facility, the agency said in a report. Portions of the facility were set on fire during the incident, so more bodies may be uncovered as officials sift through the rubble, the report said. Like most prisons in Brazil, the one in Caruaru houses more inmates (1,850) than it was designed to. According to non-governmental organizations, Pernambuco has the country's worst prison overcrowding, with 32,500 inmates and facilities for only 10,500. Navigate panel of aTelsa sedan is seen during the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, on Jan. 7, 2015. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) LOS ANGELES, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S being driven by its Autopilot feature, self-driving technology development won't be halt. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not the only one dreaming of a self-driving future. With the coming autonomous cars heat, self-driving technology has become more and more ubiquitous among auto industry and tech companies. In the crowded field, Google is the acknowledged leader with its self-driving car often making headlines. The tech giant tested its self-driving car prototype on employees a few years ago and said it hopes to put such vehicles on the market at the soonest by 2019. When Google's project is still very much in experimental mode, Tesla is already selling its partially autonomous cars. But the company has come under fire for deploying autopilot technology that appears to have contributed to at least one fatality that killed a driver in Florida using the feature in May and possibly a couple of other crashes. As a controversy around Tesla's Autopilot feature continues to ramp up, Musk recently announced the second phase of its master plan for the future, which includes making self-driving cars 10 times safer than those driven by humans. Autonomous vehicles still seem to be in the early experimental stage, all contenders in the world are racing to perfect self-driving technologies and are working to develop their own versions. In a recent study, published in April, which looks at self-driving car initiatives among 12 companies, carmakers, not technology companies, are in the driver' s seat in developing autonomous cars. In its rankings, Lux Research puts Japan' s Toyota Motor Corp in the lead, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Honda. BMW and Tesla both rated relatively highly, but were not in the lead. While mass-market adoption is still several years away, but 2016 will be another important year dominated by autonomous car stories, involving many new players and new partnerships. Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies, Inc. has begun testing a self-driving car in Pittsburgh. And Lyft, Uber's biggest rival in the U.S. market, has partnered up with General Motors in developing and promoting autonomous vehicles. In China, there are also many new players of this field. BYD is one of them. The China-based electric car manufacturer has been developing its self-driving technologies both in house as well as partner with Chinese Internet giant Baidu. It's noted that BYD's partnership with Baidu will mainly focus on the mapservice needed for self-driving vehicles. "We will make the safest vehicle in the world," Stella Li, president of BYD Motors and senior vice president of BYD company Limited, told Xinhua. Other Chinese companies, including Chery Automobile, Baic Motor Corporation as well as Internet company LeTV also unveiled cars with self-driving functions early this year. In April, two self-driving cars vehicles, produced by Chang'an Automobile, wrapped up a 2,000-km journey in China's first long-distance road test for autonomous vehicles. The maximum speed of the cars reached 120 kilometers per hour. The company plans to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018. Baidu, China's largest search engine provider, also has big plans for self-driving cars. The online search company debuted its driverless car last year and generated a lot of excitement when it successfully completed a rigorous road test in Beijing in December. The company is aiming to commercialize the driverless technology by 2018 and to achieve mass production of the cars by 2020. One of the biggest challenge is to make self-driving cars as safe as possible under all conditions. Many tech companies are moving in this direction. Mobileye, the Israeli technology company helping power Tesla and other carmakers' autonomous driving technologies, said that it has worked with China' s Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport to test the company's collision avoidance technology on commercial vehicles. The company also announced that it teams up with BMW Group and Intel to bring solutions for highly and fully automated driving into series production by 2021. Many experts in this field agree future self-driving technology could save numerous lives in vehicle accidents involving human errors. According to US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are around 32,500 traffic fatalities that occurred on US roads in 2015 with 94 percent of those attributable to driver choices and human error. But the road to self-driving cars isn' t just about technology. Public also need to understand and learn the limitations of the current technologies. Currently, features such as Tesla's Autopilot is a driver assistance system, and a damned good one, but it's not a driver replacement system. Recent incidents involving Tesla's autopilot function also raise questions about whether these partially autonomous technologies should be fielded before full government regulation. The U.S. government seems will not abandon efforts to speed the development of self-driving car. Local media quoted Mark Rosekind, head of NHTSA, as saying that and the agency is bullish on the potential of autonomous driving technology. Enditem SANYA, July 9, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A missile frigate of Chinese navy sails to the venue for the missile launch during a military exercise in the water area near south China's Hainan Island and Xisha islands, July 8, 2016. Chinese navy conducted an annual combat drill in the water area near south China's Hainan Island and Xisha islands on Friday. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming) LONDON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The South China Sea arbitration is in essence "a political farce under the cloak of law," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming wrote in an article published Sunday. "Such a recklessly partial tribunal creates more problems than it solves, and intensifies rather than solves disputes," Liu wrote in a signed article published by the British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph. In the article, the ambassador stressed that a legitimate arbitration needs to meet certain conditions, but the tribunal fails to do so. "First, the tribunal shall have jurisdiction over the subject matter. Second, the arbitrators shall be impartial and authoritative. Third, the procedure must be reasonable. Fourth, the ruling on the substantive issues should help resolve disputes," he argued, noting that the South China Sea arbitration does not meet any of these conditions. On jurisdiction, Liu said the subject matter of the arbitration initiated by the Philippines, and the real intention behind it, is in essence related to territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. "Issues of territorial sovereignty are clearly beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and issues of maritime delimitation have been excluded by the declaration that China made years ago in accordance with UNCLOS," he elaborated. "The arbitral tribunal in fact expanded its power into areas outside of its jurisdiction," added the diplomat. The article pointed out that the tribunal is "an ad hoc body having nothing to do with the International Court of Justice" and its composition is "questionable." "None of the five arbitrators is from Asia or has much knowledge of Asian history and culture. Most inconceivable in the arbitration process was that two arbitrators totally abandoned the opinions that they used to hold," the article said. "This only increases doubts about the impartiality, representativeness and the authoritativeness of the tribunal." Liu also wrote that "the procedure of the arbitration went against normal practice" and that the dispute settlement system of the Convention requires that bilateral channels between state parties come before arbitration. "However, disregarding prior bilateral agreements between China and the Philippines to resolve the disputes through negotiations and consultations, the tribunal forced ahead with the arbitration proceedings," he observed. "Such procedure is utterly unreasonable and it contravenes the general practice of international arbitration under the Convention." Quoting an old saying "There's no free lunch", the ambassador said it "sums up the actions of the tribunal, paid with Philippine money." "To cater to the Philippines' claim, the tribunal shrank the Taiping Island into a rock and was denounced by all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," he emphasized in his article. To save the Philippines from breaching its own commitment to bilateral negotiations, Liu said, the tribunal "belittled and nullified the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) reached between China and ASEAN countries." The article also quoted the view of a former legal advisor at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chris Whomersley, who argued in a recently published law research paper that the tribunal is "potentially destabilizing" the overall stability of international relations. "The impressive-looking arbitration is in essence a political farce under the cloak of law. Pretty words about protecting the law cannot gloss over the illegal essence and practice of the tribunal," Liu stressed. Noting that the law has been "a victim of politics" throughout this farce, he further explained: "If such a farce were regarded as international law, and if international disputes were to be 'settled' in this way, the authority of international law and the peace between nations would be compromised." "By not accepting or recognizing the ruling, China is not violating but upholding the authority and dignity of international law," he said. In the article, the ambassador reiterated China's consistent position to resolve issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation through peaceful negotiations. "We welcome the new Philippine government's recent statement about its willingness to re-open consultation and dialogue with China on the South China Sea issue," said Liu. "We hope this positive gesture will be followed by real actions and that the Philippines will return to the track of negotiation at an early date, work with China to properly manage differences and jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea," he concluded. CAIRO, July 25, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed receives an interview with Xinhua in Cairo, Egypt, July 24, 2016. Egypt has seen promising growth in the number of Chinese tourists this year, yet the country is exerting more efforts to increase the number in the near future, Yehia Rashed told Xinhua in the interview Sunday.(Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has seen promising growth in the number of Chinese tourists this year, yet the country is exerting more efforts to increase the number in the near future, Egyptian Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed told Xinhua in an interview Sunday. The number of Chinese visitors to Egypt increased from 65,000 to 135,000 in 2015, and the tourism ministry has been targeting to greatly multiply the number in 2016 amid recession in Western tourists, given the distinguished ties and the growing partnership between the most populous Arab country and the most populous country in the world. "The growth is promising. However, we're still far away from the targets we want to achieve. We certainly appreciate and value the Chinese tourists coming to Egypt. I think we don't have enough share out of that market," the minister said, stressing that his ministry is working on all of the strategies to attract more Chinese tourists. Rashed explained that his ministry is currently working on all relevant mechanisms, including airline shares, development of the marketing and the advertising strategies and others "to increase the volume that we generate from the Chinese market." Egypt has been suffering a sharp decline in the tourism sector over the past few years due to political turmoil. The situation further deteriorated due to the Russian plane crash in Sinai that killed over 200 in October last year, an Italian student's death from torture in Cairo in early February and a tragic fall of an EgyptAir flight in May that killed all 66 people on board. Tourism is one of the main sources of national income and foreign currency reserves in Egypt, with about 4 million Egyptians working in the industry. In 2010, it brought the country about 13 billion U.S. dollars as over 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt. The number of visitors kept falling until it reached 9.3 million in 2015 with 6.1 billion dollars in revenues. The Egyptian tourism minister argued that the attack on tourism is not restricted to Egypt, citing some recent terror and violent acts in Munich, Nice, the United States and others, stressing his country's massive efforts to fight against terrorism in and outside its territories. "We need global cooperation to make the world much safer," he said. Many Russian and Western tourists listened to the travel advisories of their governments to avoid Egypt for safety reasons, yet Egypt is noticeably achieving more security and stability as testified by most foreigners visiting the country. "The message is that Egypt is where the history started," Rashed told Xinhua, adding that he has talked to many Chinese living in Egypt, and "they all feel very comfortable and safe to live, walk in the streets and drive here, which is a testimony that Egypt is evidently safe." Egypt launched on Saturday the first Afro-Chinese Arts and Folklore Festival in the capital Cairo under the auspices of the tourism ministry, featuring various kinds of arts and performances from 17 countries including Egypt, China, Morocco, Algeria, Cameron, Ethiopia, South Sudan and others. The minister said that tourism is a very cultural embedded industry, boasting that Egypt has one-third of the antiquities of the world "besides the largest beaches on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea that are so attractive to all visitors including the Chinese." "I certainly believe that this festival comes on time, and we really need to work together to make it more popular to bedazzle people outside Egypt and urge them to the visit the country," Rashed told Xinhua, describing the festival as a proof of Egypt's safety and "an additional value" to visiting the country. Yehia Rashed, minister of Egypt's Tourism Ministry, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Cairo, Egypt, on July 24, 2016. (Xinhua Photo) CAIRO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has seen promising growth in the number of Chinese tourists this year, yet the country is exerting more efforts to increase the number in the near future, Egyptian Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed told Xinhua in an interview Sunday. The number of Chinese visitors to Egypt increased from 65,000 to 135,000 in 2015, and the tourism ministry has been targeting to greatly multiply the number in 2016 amid recession in Western tourists, given the distinguished ties and the growing partnership between the most populous Arab country and the most populous country in the world. "The growth is promising. However, we're still far away from the targets we want to achieve. We certainly appreciate and value the Chinese tourists coming to Egypt. I think we don't have enough share out of that market," the minister said, stressing that his ministry is working on all of the strategies to attract more Chinese tourists. Rashed explained that his ministry is currently working on all relevant mechanisms, including airline shares, development of the marketing and the advertising strategies and others "to increase the volume that we generate from the Chinese market." Egypt has been suffering a sharp decline in the tourism sector over the past few years due to political turmoil. The situation further deteriorated due to the Russian plane crash in Sinai that killed over 200 in October last year, an Italian student's death from torture in Cairo in early February and a tragic fall of an EgyptAir flight in May that killed all 66 people on board. Tourism is one of the main sources of national income and foreign currency reserves in Egypt, with about 4 million Egyptians working in the industry. In 2010, it brought the country about 13 billion U.S. dollars as over 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt. The number of visitors kept falling until it reached 9.3 million in 2015 with 6.1 billion dollars in revenues. The Egyptian tourism minister argued that the attack on tourism is not restricted to Egypt, citing some recent terror and violent acts in Munich, Nice, the United States and others, stressing his country's massive efforts to fight against terrorism in and outside its territories. "We need global cooperation to make the world much safer," he said. Many Russian and Western tourists listened to the travel advisories of their governments to avoid Egypt for safety reasons, yet Egypt is noticeably achieving more security and stability as testified by most foreigners visiting the country. "The message is that Egypt is where the history started," Rashed told Xinhua, adding that he has talked to many Chinese living in Egypt, and "they all feel very comfortable and safe to live, walk in the streets and drive here, which is a testimony that Egypt is evidently safe." Egypt launched on Saturday the first Afro-Chinese Arts and Folklore Festival in the capital Cairo under the auspices of the tourism ministry, featuring various kinds of arts and performances from 17 countries including Egypt, China, Morocco, Algeria, Cameron, Ethiopia, South Sudan and others. The minister said that tourism is a very cultural embedded industry, boasting that Egypt has one-third of the antiquities of the world "besides the largest beaches on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea that are so attractive to all visitors including the Chinese." "I certainly believe that this festival comes on time, and we really need to work together to make it more popular to bedazzle people outside Egypt and urge them to the visit the country," Rashed told Xinhua, describing the festival as a proof of Egypt's safety and "an additional value" to visiting the country. WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she would resign at the end of the party's convention, amid furor over leaked emails showing DNC's bias against presidential contender Bernie Sanders. Donna Brazile,the DNC's vice chairwoman, will step in as interim chairwoman, DNC communications director Luis Miranda tweeted. Brazile previously ran Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign and is a regular on cable news. "The best way for me to accomplish those goals (of this election cycle) is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans," Wasserman Schultz wrote in a statement. "We have planned a great and unified convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had," she said. Schultz's announcement came amid a scandal involving the leaked emails from the DNC, which exposed its staff members favored Hillary Clinton over Sanders in the heated primary contest. The DNC staff members reportedly covertly tried to push false stories about Sanders and question his religious belief. Sanders, who has repeatedly called on Schultz to step down, reiterated his call in an interview with CNN on Sunday, saying he believed that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and "at opposition to our campaign all along." Shortly after Wasserman Schultz announced her move, President Barack Obama and the Clinton campaign released statements respectively to express their gratitude for the DNC chair's work. Obama said "her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together." For her part, Clinton praised Schultz, who she called as a "longtime friend," for her leadership, saying there's "simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie." Schultz will serve as honorary chair of the Clinton campaign's "50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country," Clinton added. Republican nominee Donald Trump responded with a tweet: "Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz" The four-day Democratic National Convention will kick off on Monday in Philadelphia, where Clinton is expected to be officially announced as the party's nominee and Sanders will also make a speech calling for the party's unity. BEIJING, July 18, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Undated photo shows a Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling islands and reefs including Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea recently, which will become a "regular" practice in the future, said a military spokesperson on July 18, 2016. The PLA sent H-6K bombers and other aircraft including fighters, scouts and tankers to patrol islands and reefs including Huangyan Dao, said Shen Jinke, spokesman for the PLA Air Force. (Xinhua/Liu Rui) Related: China's air force conducts combat air patrol in South China Sea BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducted a combat air patrol in the South China Sea recently, which will become a "regular" practice in the future, said a military spokesperson on Monday. PINGDINGSHAN, July 23, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Tourists visit Linfeng village, a complex built with red rocks, in Tangjie Town of Pingdingshan City, central China's Henan Province, July 23, 2016. The village features rock walls with seven meters tall and 1,100 meters in length. There are over 20 courtyard dwellings and around 400 houses of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) built inside. (Xinhua/Li An)